The Weekly Kid's Co-op is back!

If you've never been to the Kid's Co-op, here's how it works:

1. Feel free to browse all of the creative ideas and if you have one to add, just link it up!

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text.

Here's the code for the button: 

/">src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i357/localfunforkids/kidscoop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" />

My Review: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus 2013

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to town last week, and it was so good, my son literally fell off his seat! Seriously, my seven-year-old was completely captivated by the show. When you go to an event and your kid is watching so intently that he falls off his seat, you know it's a WIN!

It's been a few years since we've been to the circus. The last time we went, my 5 year old was only a little baby. This time around was even better because both of my kids were old enough to enjoy it. My 5-year-old loved seeing the tigers and a basketball game where the players were on uni-cycles the entire time! My seven year old was blown away by the acrobatics and gymnastics.

I loved that there was something for everyone. If animals or clowns aren't your thing, there are so many other performers at the circus to get excited about. There was a girl who flew from a cannon, acrobats inside giant hamster wheels and a very cool trampoline routine too. The music, the colors, the costumes and the set was all fun and cheerful.

We had a fantastic night! Did you see the Philadelphia show too?

Chick-fil-A's Daddy-Daughter Date Night, March 4th, 2013

Select Chick-fil-A® restaurants are hosting a Daddy-Daughter Date Night on March 4th, 2013.

Areas include:

Palm Beach & Martin County, FL
Chicago, IL
Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC
Philadelphia, PA
and Triad, NC coming soon!

 

There is no admission fee, just the cost of the food you order.  Reserve your table here.

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic- February 23, 2013

 

Lowe's is having a FREE Kid's Build & Grow Clinic this weekend that you won't want to miss!  Your kids can build their very own Monster Jam® Grave Digger® Truck!

Every child who participates will get to complete this project for FREE at the workshop, plus they'll get a free Apron and a patch.

When:  Saturday, February 23 (10:00 AM)

Location: Your Local Lowe's Store

Don't forget to register on the Lowe's Website to reserve your child's space.

Totsy Free Shipping On Any Order Over $75

Everyone I know is talking about Totsy.

Totsy offers Moms access to brand-specific sales, up to 80% off retail.  Each sale lasts only 48 to 72 hours and features unique items for kids, ages 0-7, and their Moms. 

With Totsy, you will find top brands for mom, baby, and child.

Some deals include: Prenatal care products, baby gear, travel accessories, bedding and bath, children's clothing, toys, DVDs, and educational materials are just a sampling of a selection that promises only the best in quality and designer brands.

Click here to sign up for Totsy now!

 

*Affiliate Link Included in this post

World's Largest Christmas Tree Maze at Linvilla Orchards

Attention Philadelphia Area Readers!

Now through mid-March, Linvilla Orchards in Media, PA, has two fun activities for your family to enjoy! If you’re looking for something unique to do with your kids and want it to be both fun & educational then head on over to Linvilla for mini-golf and the recycled Christmas tree maze.

Have you ever wondered what happens to all of those unsold Christmas trees after the holidays? Usually they are just made into mulch, but Linvilla has come up with a fun and green way to use Christmas trees that were never purchased! Linvilla is home to the world’s largest Christmas Tree Maze.

Over 1400 unsold Christmas trees have been collected from around the region to create this exciting new attraction that is fun for all ages. The maze takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get through. My family went through the maze a few weeks ago and had a blast! We also loved the fact that after the Christmas Tree Maze is over, the trees will be recycled. How cool is that?

Fore the Planet! offers the fun of mini-golf mixed with interesting facts all about the environment.  I wrote all about this last winter.  Read more here: Linvilla Orchards Mini Golf Review- Media, PA

All New Kid's Co-op!

Hello again & welcome to the Kid's Co-op! 

I've seen a lot of wonderful craft and kid activity collections on the web, but I think this one is the best!  Every week, bloggers come together to share their ideas for playing, crafting and learning with your kids.  It has been fun seeing all of the unique Valentine's ideas, and in the weeks to come, we'll have lots of St. Patrick's Day and Spring crafts and activities for kids coming your way!

If you've never been to the Kid's Co-op, here's how it works:

1. Feel free to browse all of the creative ideas and if you have one to add, just link it up!

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text.

Here's the code for the button: 

/">src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i357/localfunforkids/kidscoop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" />


How to Teach Kids To Be Grateful


Many nights when I'm putting my kids to sleep, I ask them to tell me 3 things they are grateful for.  It's a moment to focus on our happy moments and the little things in life that really matter.  We don't remember to do this every night, but when we do, it's always very special. If my sons are ever reluctant to share, I'll go first and tell them what I'm grateful for, then, they usually quickly chime in with their own answers. It's such a nice way to end the day and it helps me recognize the things in their life that are really important to them.

There is actually quite a bit of research that shows the positive effects of this simple routine. Renee Jain, a certified coach of positive psychology, says "One of the most well-known practices uncovered from this research is known as the Three Blessings exercise.

Each night before going to bed you write down three good things (ordinary or extraordinary) that happened to you during the day. Studies reveal those who continue this exercise for one week straight can increase their happiness and decrease depressive symptoms for up to a six-month period." (source)

How do you teach your children to be grateful? 

Check out this article on PsychologyToday.com: Gratitude is Good Attitude: Teach your children to be grateful and they will lead happier lives

Do you do anything to practice gratitude with your children?

KaBOOM! #ILoveMyPlayground Contest

Are you ready for Spring?

Playing in the yard, going on walks with friends, and letting the kids play in the playground - that's what I want! I am really looking forward to good play-ground weather and KaBOOM is ready too!

KaBOOM!, a national non-profit that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child, is holding a contest, and it's easy to enter.

In celebration of Valentine's Day, share a photo of a playground you love and you'll be entered to win great outdoor toys.

Just submit your photo by Tuesday, February 19. A team of judges will pick their favorites based on your photo and caption.

Learn more on the KaBOOM! Facebook Page.

Image Credit: KaBOOM!

Hello There, Non-Candy Valentine Treat!

Hello, there!  After nearly a whole week of no blog updates, I feel like I should have something phenomenal to share with you... something big! But, sometimes, being a Mom, Wife, Sister Daughter & Friend takes precedence over all else.

Nothing extraordinary has happened. I was sick. My son was sick.  We had snow, school and sports, of course. We were celebrating two very important birthdays with family. Then, there's all the everyday 'mom' stuff like work, cleaning, taking care of the kids, and the never ending task of matching socks!

Now, we're all healthy and we're getting ready for Valentine's Day! I got some super cute Valentine cards from Shutterfly for my kids to hand out at school. Both of my kids wanted the orange cards which made me really happy. In the photo below, I blocked out my son's name and photo, but you can still see how cute they are. I love these personalized cards and I think they go perfectly with a little clementine.  It's a nice, healthy, non-candy Valentine treat!

What do you think? Do you have your kids' Valentine's cards ready or are you going to whip something up at the last minute?

I will definitely be posting more this week. See you then!

Valentine's Day Snack Ideas for Kids

Valentine's day is on my mind right now and I know a lot of moms are wondering what they can do to celebrate with their kids. If you're anything like me, you want to celebrate, but you also want it to be EASY!

I've been checking out lots of kid-friendly blogs and trying to find some fun and unique Valentine's Day activities and snack ideas. Even though I could write a post with a ton of different links, I thought it would be easier to give you ONE link! 

Just head on over to my Valentine's Day Ideas Pinterest board.  This is my own personal library for all of my favorite V-day ideas including many Valentine's Snack Ideas for Kids! As I find new ideas, I'll be pinning them there, so be sure to follow me on Pinterest. 

If you know of a kid-friendly Valentine idea, just leave me a comment below and I'll pin it!

 

Philly Readers: Enter to win Circus Tickets Here!

Just a quick reminder that I'm giving away tickets to the Ringling Brother's Barnum and Baily Circus at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Two family four packs of tickets that are up for grabs. 

Enter here for the first set of 4 tickets (by 2/7/13) and find a promo code.

Then, head on over to the Local Fun for Kids Facebook Page for another chance to win (Enter by 2/9/13)!

Easy Kid's Craft: Valentine Paint Chip Bookmarks

Is it just me, or do all the things in your house seem to break at the same time. We've been spending way too much time at Home Depot recently, but, luckily, it gave me a chance to pick up a few paint chips for a quick little Valentine craft.

I got the idea for this craft when I saw Valentine bookmarks on Pinterest. I decided to change them up a bit and make heart shape bookmarks instead.  This is how to make them:

Choose a paint chip in whatever color you like.  Since we're so close to Valentine's Day, I chose pretty shades of pink.

Take a heart cookie cutter or stencil and trace out your hearts.

Cut out your heart. Punch a hole in the corner.  I prefer to use a hole punch that makes a smaller circle, because it's a little more discrete. Then, cut a piece of ribbon and pull it through.

This project is really easy, inexpensive and I think the results are super cute. Mel, the Crafty Scientist has an amazing Pinterest board full of very creative Paint Chip Crafts.  Are you getting crafty this Valentine's day or making it simple and using store bought cards?

What is unconditional love?

There are so many inspiring quotes out there, but this one (shown right) really touched my heart. It's almost Valentine's day and love is in the air, but nothing is more precious that Unconditional Love.

So, what is unconditional love?

Unconditional love is known as affection without any limitations. Each area of expertise has a certain way of describing unconditional love, but most will agree that it is that type of love which has no bounds and is unchanging. It is a concept comparable to true love, a term which is more frequently used to describe love between lovers. By contrast, unconditional love is frequently used to describe love between family members, comrades in arms and between others in highly committed relationships. An example of this is a parent's love for their child; no matter a test score, a life changing decision, an argument, or a strong belief, the amount of love that remains between this bond is seen as unchanging and unconditional.

Source: Wikipedia

There are so many Valentine themed events going on this time of year to help you connect with your kids.

Check the Best Blogs for Local Fun to see what's going on in your area.

Groundhog Day Song to Celebrate Early Spring!

It's official, an early spring is on its way!  Pennsylvania's own "Punxsutawney Phil" emerged from his dwelling at Gobbler's Knob this morning and did not see his shadow.

How did the Groundhog Day legend come to be?  According to the The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club:

Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.

If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.

If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.

Here's a really easy Groundhog Day song for kids to brighten up the day.

Enjoy your weekend!

1st week of February! Kid's Co-op

Thanks for stopping by to check out this week's Kid's Co-op! 

If you've never been to the Kid's Co-op, here's how it works:

1. Feel free to browse all of the creative ideas and if you have one to add, just link it up!

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text.

Here's the code for the button: 

/">src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i357/localfunforkids/kidscoop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" />


Save 15% on Emeals: Coupon / Voucher Code

There's one thing that most of my friends agree on. No matter how hard you try to get organized and please everyone at dinner-time, meal planning for a busy family can be tough! Sometimes, you get stuck in a rut, and you have no idea what to make for dinner.

A while ago, I heard about eMeals and I started using their meal plans. It made me feel so much more organized and ready for the week. The people at eMeals come up with your entire grocery list for the week along with fresh and healthy recipes to suit your family. It's so refreshing to have your meal plan done for you. You just print off your grocery list, check it off as you go, and voila, you're done. 

Picky eaters or pizza night with friends? eMeals has got you covered. If you decide that you don't want a certain meal that's on the plan that week, you just cross those groceries off your list. Each meal is given a number, so that if you choose to skip meal #4, you don't need to buy any of the groceries with the corresponding number. It's that easy.

There are so many different plans to suit your lifestyle. Interested in learning more?  Click the image below to find out all about eMeals affordable plans. If you purchase a new plan by February 10th, you can get 15% off with the code "NEWYEAR."

New Year, New You Save 15% with code "NEWYEAR" on eMeals - Exp 2/10/13

 

Please see my full disclosure here. Affiliate link included in this post.

Space Adventures Goldfish Crackers

I have a ton of blog posts in the wings, but I wanted to quickly share a cool new product that I found in Target. Pepperidge Farm now has Space Adventure Goldfish Crackers. There have spaceships, stars, moons, fish and planets, and the colors are all from natural ingredients. Maybe I'm too easily amused, but finding these at the store put a smile on my face and I know my kids will enjoy them too!

Philadelphia Circus Promo Code & Ticket Giveaway

 

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly announces Built To Amaze!, a new 90-city North American tour.  Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Built To Amaze!, is an extraordinarily engineered circus experience where Children Of All Ages® find out what it takes to build The Greatest Show On Earth®. The foundation is set and the rising anticipation of high-energy, high-jinx and hilarity is ready to be transported by colorful circus machinery and unleashed from shipping crates right before the audience's eyes!

The Circus will be in Philadelphia February 13, 2013 through February 17, 2013 at the Wells Fargo Center.  Is the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's circus is coming to your area? Check here to see on Ringling.com

Do you want to buy discounted tickets to thePhiladelphia show?

Here's a Coupon Code for you: Just enter the Discount Code: MOM  This promo code entitles you to $15 flat price tickets (valid on all $30, $25 seats) Valid 2/14 10:30 and 7pm and 2/15 10:30 and 7 pm

Want to win tickets?

One of my lucky readers will win 4 tickets to the Philadelphia Barnum & Bailey® Built To Amaze! show - Valid for weekday performances (excluding Friday evening)

Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please see my full disclosure & gsweepstakes policies here.