What is Maker Camp? A Free Virtual Summer Camp for Teens

Have you heard about Maker Camp yet? Well, my friend Julie from Joplin's Local Family Fun just told me about this FREE virtual camp by Google and Radio Shack that is starting July 8th!

What is Maker Camp?

Maker Camp is a 6-week virtual summer camp for anyone interested in DIY, making, creating, crafting, hacking, tinkering, and discovery. It's free and it starts on July 8! Join Google for 30 days and 30 projects. They will post projects and activities, and use Hangouts to visit cool places and meet interesting makers.

How do I join in?

You can sign up for Maker Camp here, but, pre-registration is not necessary. You can attend this virtual camp and join in on whatever days you choose. They do recommend beginning when camp starts on July 8th since all of the details and materials lists will be posted in advance.

How old do you have to be to participate?

This camp is geared towards teens ages 13 and up. However, kids and tweens under 13, can attend Maker Camp on Google+ with a parent, using his or her Google+ profile.

Can I participate with a local group?

Yes! Various libraries and other organizations around the country are hosting Maker Camp sessions that you can attend in person. Continue here for a full list of locations.

To participate in Maker Camp, be sure to follow:

+MAKE on Google+: g.co/makercamp

And for more information, please visit www.MakerCamp.com

Robot image via  makezine.com/maker-camp/

4th of July Crafts for Kids

Looking for some fun 4th of July crafts & activities for the kids?  Here are a few that I found in this week's edition of the Kid's Co-op:

Drinking Straw American Flag from Reading Confetti

Patriotic Practical Life and Math Activity by Living Montessori Now

Sticky Paper American Flag by Gift of Curiosity

Statue of Liberty Torch and Crown by Buggy and Buddy

4th of July Noise Maker by School Time Snippets

Patriotic Banner from Imprints from Tricia

If you want more free or inexpensive activities to do with your kids this week, don't forget to check out my Local Family Fun Calender.  There is free bowling, free skating, free crafts, and more, all across the U.S.

What makes an epic playdate? #EpicPlaydate #CGC

I love a good party. Bonfires, gigantic inflatable water-slides, dancing and swimming have all been part of some of our best parties with friends and family. If I was going to think big, I would love to have a huge family playdate with all of those things. But, when I'm planning playdates for my kids, sometimes less is so much more.

Epic: extending beyond the usual or ordinary

Ever since spring began, we've been busy with school, sports, birthday parties, and lots of other events.  Down time is something that I treasure.  I love those moments when we don't have anything scheduled.  It means we have more time for playing in the yard, eating dinner as a family, and letting my kids explore.

Down time also means we have more time for spontaneous playdates. When my boys were younger I was little reluctant to invite friends over for playdates but now I know what works and it's fantastic. It's not about having amazing crafts or toys lined up. A great playdate is all about friendship. It's about imagination, quality time spent together and fun!

For us, an epic playdate usually consists on having one friend over. That's it... just one. This gives my kids a chance to really bond with their friend. We've had lots and lots of playdates over the years and whenever we have one special friend it always works the best.

Moms know, that when their kids are happy they're happy, right?  It really doesn't take much to make a kid happy.

So, a playdate at home, with a special friend may not seem "epic" to some people, but for us it is.  This summer, I plan on continuing these play dates with my kids and their friends. I'm happy to spend so much time with my kids and give them an opportunity to nurture & develop their friendships.  To me, that is priceless!

If you could have an epic playdate, what would it be like? Did you see Jordan's amazing play-date in the Red Woods on the Oh Happy Day blog? If not, take a peek at her epic playdate video here.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Preschool Summer Bird Craft: Paper Plate Seagull

Sometimes I feel like our backyard is a bird sanctuary. We're lucky to have bright red cardinals all the time and we have even have seen hawks and turkey vultures too! So, naturally, we're drawn to easy bird crafts. My son learned how to make this paper plate seagull at preschool and I'm excited to share it with you.  It's so easy and perfect for a beach themed preschool lesson.

Here's a quick step-by-step photo tutorial!

Take a plain white paper plate. Draw a head shape at the top of the plate with pencil or crayon.

Next, cut around the head but leave it connected at the bottom (as shown above.)

Then, fold down the wings! It's starting to look like a seagull, isn't it?

The last step is just adding detail.  Add little feet, a beak and eyes. If you have silver glitter, it looks great on the wings, too! Doesn't it look cute?

This is one of my favorite easy preschool summer crafts.  You can find even more simple summer kid's activities on my Summer Fun Pinterest Board. If you make anything from there, let me know how it turns out. I'd love to share your experience on the blog or facebook page!

Our Family Tradition: Parties & Coffee

Have I ever mentioned how much I believe in aroma-therapy? There are certain scents that make me so happy and coffee is one of them. I absolutely love the smell of a freshly opened pack of coffee or freshly brewed coffee. For me, the smell of good coffee is almost as good as drinking it. Ahhh...

Safeway grocery store, in itself, is a feast for the senses.  The store is lit just the perfect amount, so it's relaxes you and puts you in a good mood. Everything is perfectly decorated.  The fresh baked goods smell so good that they are impossible to resist, and I was really impressed with the prices too. 

 When I was recently at Safeway, I picked up a bunch of different things, including flowers for a friend (which she loved). I also got some goodies from the bakery section, two veggie trays and some Gevalia coffee for my nephew's birthday party. The convenience of Safeway and the great prices on a variety of items make it easy to host a party whether it’s big or small.

In my family, whenever it's time for dessert, it's also time for coffee.  At the birthday party, we had cake, krispie treats, cookies and Gevalia coffee.  My mother-in-law was the one who first introduced me to the Gevalia brand. Did you know that Gevalia began brewing coffee in Gavle, Sweden in 1853?  This is where traditional cast-iron roasting developed its distinctively rich, smooth taste that’s never bitter. That must explain why it tastes so good!

I'm a flavored-coffee-kind-of-girl. For regular morning coffee, we usually don't do flavored coffee, but whenever I get to choose something special, I always lean towards a flavor. The Gevalia vanilla coffee is really nice and rich.  It also comes in a variety of flavors and roasts, most of which are available at Safeway.

Everyone at the party really enjoyed the coffee.  It was the perfect compliment to the treats from Safeway, and it gave me more energy for the rest of the night.

Do your family parties always include a pot of coffee too?  What are your family traditions?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Celebrate Summer with Kids

Welcome to this week's edition of the Kid's Co-op!

5 Reasons Why Drinking Water Is So Important #MomsWisdom

Perfection is, broadly, a state of completeness

and flawlessness. - Wikipedia

Flawlessness? No matter how hard I try, that's not going to happen.  I've locked myself out of the house twice in the past week.  While strawberry picking with my kids, I was accidentally shocked by an electric fence {true story}.  I'm constantly battling laundry, and I'm spending one more summer at a weight that I really don't want to be at. So, I'm taking a page out of my mother's book.  My mom has taught me never to give up, to take care of myself and RELAX!  

Those words of wisdom are going to get me through these long summer days.  No matter how busy we all are, everyone can take 5 minutes to relax and re-focus. Staying hydrated truly does keep me on track.  When I was a little girl, my friend's mom used to call me "Thirsty Heather," and ever since those days, water has been my favorite drink. 

Here are 5 reasons why staying hydrated is so important:

1) When you're dehydrated, it can impair cognitive performance and mood. Every cell, tissue, and organ in the body needs water, and the brain is no exception.  I'm juggling so many daily tasks, it's hard to keep up, but water helps me think straight. (source / source)

2) Water helps to keep me looking good. Did you know that 60% of an adult body is water? "Dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration." says Atlanta dermatologist Kenneth Ellner, MD. (source)

3) Water can help you de-stress. "Being sure to sip water throughout a stressful day can soothe stress-induced symptoms as diverse as headaches, tense muscles, fuzzy thinking, a pounding heart, and low energy. That's because stress taxes all your basic body systems - and when you're dehydrated, the effects are magnified," says Paula Spencer Scott. (source)

4) Drinking water can help control calorie intake - According to Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD "Food with high water content tends to look larger, its higher volume requires more chewing, and it is absorbed more slowly by the body, which helps you feel full."  (source)

5) Water helps to regulate body temperature -  Last summer, I remember many days hovering near 100 degrees.  Nobody is happy when they're hot and cranky.  Keeping myself and my kids hydrated keep our bodies cool and makes us a lot less agitated in the summer heat. (source)

Do you want to drink more water this summer? Last year, over 100,000 fans joined the Nestlé® Pure Life® Hydration Movement by pledging to swap one sugary beverage a day with water for a year to cut 50,000 calories from their diet.  Wouldn't it be cool if we could double that number this year?

Hop on over to the Nestlé® Pure Life® Facebook wall and take a simple online pledge to drink more water.  You can also enter to win prizes and share your own words of wisdom passed down to you on the Nestlé® Pure Life® Facebook wall and see what others have to say.

Thanks to Nestlé® Pure Life® Purified Water for sponsoring today's post.

Global Smurfs Day - June 22, 2013 #Smurfs #happysmurfsday

 Celebrate Global Smurfs Day - June 22, 2013!

Isn't it funny when things come full circle?  I remember watching the Smurfs as a kid, and now, I watch the new Smurf movies with my kids.  We really enjoyed the Smurf movie with Neil Patrick Harris and I think my kids are going to love Smurfs™ 2 which will be in theaters July 31. If you haven't watched the movie trailer yet, you have to see what the new "naughty" smurfs are all about!

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In honor of the Smurfs timeless message of harmony with the environment, the studio is orchestrating a nationwide series of environmental efforts celebrating “America the Bluetiful,” in which kids and their parents can meet the Smurfs as they clean up their local parks, encourage recycling, plant trees, and discover other ways they can help “bluetify” our country.

You can also find the Smurf Village Pop Up Tour in the following cities:

• June 21st - 23rd in San Antonio, TX.

• June 28th, 29th tand 30th in Los Angeles, CA

• July 4th - 7th in San Francosco, CA

• July 13th & 24th at the California State Fair

•  July 25th - 31 in New York City, NY

Six Flags Smurf Day

Heading to Six Flags this weekend?  Celebrate Global Smurfs Day on Saturday, June 22nd 2013! According to the AmericaTheBluetiful.com, if you dress as a Smurf or wear Smurf attire and get early ride time access.

Get Smurfy at Home

If you want to have some Smurf's fun at home, check out the offical Smurf website for videos and kid's games.  This website is pretty cool.  I can't wait to show it to my kids.

Do you have memories of watching the Smurfs as a child like I do? Do you plan on seeing any movies this summer?

 Image and Video from Sony Pictures. This is not a sponsored post.

How to Make a Birthday Balloon Wreath

If you haven't yet made a balloon wreath, you have to make one! My sister and I made ours about a year and a half ago and I have used it so many times since then. When I first made the wreath, I wrote up a blog post with a balloon wreath tutorial and I'm excited to bring it to life again.

Balloon wreaths are incredibly easy to make. You don't need any special artistic talents or fancy materials. You just buy a few items at your local craft store and you can complete your wreath while chatting with friends and having a glass of wine.

Some of my friends and I have always wanted to do girls craft night, and this would be a perfect project for a fun get together.  These balloon wreaths are easy to customize for any occasion.  You can use your school colors, holiday colors, or anything else you fancy.  I like the plain ol' birthday balloon colors, because it's festive, colorful, and looks just as fun for my husband's birthday as it does for my 5-year-old.

Continue here to read: Easy Craft: How to Make a Balloon Wreath

Summer Fun for Kids: Minor League Baseball Games

Growing up with my sisters, I never thought twice about baseball. We played sports throughout childhood, but weren't particularly "sporty." An afternoon at a baseball field would have felt like torture, but, it's amazing how being the mom to 2 boys has completely changed me. Over the past few years, my sons have grown to love baseball, and my husband and I are along for the ride with our hands held high!

Our local MLB team is the Philadelphia Phillies and there are a million reasons to love them.  There is no doubt that going to a Phillies game is exciting, but, sometimes less is more. When it comes to Minor League vs. Major League baseball, I have to admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for the minors. 

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Here are 4 reasons why I love taking my kids to the Minor League baseball games:

• The kids can actually see the players.  When you're at a smaller stadium, there really isn't a bad seat in the house.  This is great for younger kids who tend to lose interest more easily.  When they can actually see the players up close it helps to keep them focused on the game.

• I get to enjoy myself too! I don't feel overwhelmed by taking my kids to a Wilmington Blue Rocks baseball game.  As a parent, it can be stressful going to over-crowded places where I could blink and lose my child. However, the local Minor League stadium is smaller which makes everything easier and more fun. The free parking is just steps away from the main gate. Finding our seats is a piece of cake, and the bathrooms and concessions are all extremely convenient too. 

• The tickets are a fraction of what it would have cost to go to a Major League game. We're on a budget and family entertainment can add up fast.  My family had 6th row tickets to the minor league game and it only cost about $50 for the entire family. That's a great price for a night out with the family!

• Minor League baseball games tend to be very family oriented.  I've seen moon bounces, clowns, and on-field entertainment throughout the game to keep the kids entertained. If my husband and eldest son are glued to the game but my younger son loses interest, I can just stroll around the stadium with him and find other things to do.  Often times, we even see people we know, which makes it more fun too.

Overall, it's a much more relaxed setting, which is great for families of young children. 

Have you ever been to a Minor League Baseball game with your kids? Will you be watching some baseball games this summer? Click here to find a Minor League game near you.

10 Preschool Summer Water Activities

It can be hard to keep a preschooler busy during the summer.  It's the age where nap-time seems to disappear, but they still want A LOT of attention.  With warmer months ahead, it can be fun to incorporate water activities into your summer routine.  Water play for preschoolers gives kids a chance to get wet, use their senses and play. What could be better for a 3-5 year old?

I've done some research and found 10 Fun and Easy Water Activities for preschoolers.  Here they are:

1. Water Wall from Frogs Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

2. Soap Boat from I Heart Naptime

3. Over 15 Ideas for Water Balloon Games for Kids

4. Water Blob Tutorial from Clumsy Crafter

5. DIY Spash Balls from Mom Endeavors

6. Homemade Slip & Slide from Inner Child Fun

7. Sponge Brigade from Spoonful

8. Front Yard River from Camo and Bows

9. Water Limbo from Go Go Squeez

10. Kiddie Car Wash from Mom Endeavors

Over the summer, I'll be sharing more wet n' wild ways for kids to have fun and stay cool, so be sure to come back!  If you have any creative ideas for preschool or big kid water play, leave a comment below or send me an email.  I may feature your idea in an upcoming blog post! 

Now, onto this week's Kid's Co-op! 

Parrot Hand & Foot Print Craft

My kids have been coming home from school with different craft projects for years, and the hand & foot print crafts are always some of my favorites. Their little hands and feet grow so fast, it's nice to capture this moment in time.

This vibrant parrot craft is super cute, and the colors are perfect for summer. What do you think? 

Things To Do With Kids: June 2013

Wondering how to keep the kids busy this June?  There are lots of fun local events happening all around the U.S. and I've been keeping track of everything on Local Fun for Kids Calendar.  All of these events are free or very inexpensive and make it easy to fill up your calendar with fun things to do for June 2013.

For exact dates, times and other specific information, just click on the title of each event.

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1)  Bank of America Museums On Us Program -  

Did you know that Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit/debit card holders get FREE admission to more than 150 museums nationwide with the Museums on Us program? This program takes place the first full weekend (Sat & Sun) of each month, which means that this weekend, June 1st and 2nd , get free general admission to select museums with your photo ID and with your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card.

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2) Free Craft at LakeShore Learning - Saturday, June 1, 11am – 3pm - Kids can make a High Flying Sky Diver! "This super exciting crafts lets young parachutists take their imagination sky high... and dive into fun."

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3) Free Redbox Rental at Kroger - Sunday, June 2nd - Kroger & affiliate locations are offering up 1 FREE Redbox movie code every Sunday through June 16th! 

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4) Lego Mini Model Build: LEGO Fisherman - Tuesday, June 4, beginning at 5:00 pm (until supplies last) children ages 6 to 14 are invited to the LEGO Store and learn how to build a special LEGO model - then take that model home, for FREE! 

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5) National Doughnut Day is Friday, June 7th 2013 - Krispy Kreme would love you to come and celebrate with them with a free doughnut! Participating Dunkin' Donuts restaurants nationwide will offer guests a free donut of their choice (while supplies last) with the purchase of any beverage.

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6) Build a Monster's University Scarer at Lowe's -  Saturday, June 8th and Sunday June 9th - It’s going to be a monster summer at Lowe’s! Bring your child to Lowe’s this Saturday and they can build Mike and Sulley Scarers inspired by Disney•Pixar’s upcoming release Monsters University! (Registration required)

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7) National Geographic Little Explorers at Pottery Barn Stores - Saturday, June 8, 10am 

Come to Pottery Barn and celebrate World Oceans Day! Kids will learn all about the ocean and it's marine dwellers at this FREE event.

8) Free Craft at LakeShore Learning - Saturday, June 8, 11am to 3pm  - Kids can make an Under the Sea Porthole! "Kids make a porthole to frame an awesome ocean scene filled with stunning sea life."

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9) Juneteenth Celebrations Across the U.S. - Wednesday, Jun 19, 2013  - Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

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10) Build a Monsters University Chest at Lowe's - Saturday, June 22 & Sunday, June 23  - The monster fun continues at Lowe’s this weekend! Your child will love building this chest inspired by Disney•Pixar's Monsters University. REGISTRATION OPENS ON JUNE 5th.

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11) Simply Spray® Canvas Bag project at AC Moore -Wednesday, June 26, 1pm to 3pm - On June 26, shoppers at all 139 A.C. Moore stores can purchase a canvas tote bag for $1. All monies raised through the sale directly benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. kids can use Simply Spray® to create a special design on their tote bags for free while learning more about holding their own lemonade stands in support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and pediatric cancer research. Lemonade stand projects can be found at the A.C. Moore website, www.acmoore.com. Shoppers can also donate to the foundation via the purchase of paper “lemons” at checkout.

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12) Kids Bowl Free - This program is designed by bowling centers to give back to the community and provide a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this summer.

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13) Kids Skate Free -  Do you want your children to get out of the house and get active? Many local skating centers are offering FREE admission each week throughout the summer.

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14) Free and Reduced Price Events By Target - Target has connected with museums and arts organizations across the U.S. so that you can get reduced or free admission to local arts & cultural

events.

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15)  Regal Summer Movie Express is here!  Each Regal Movie Theatre location will host the Summer Movie Express on Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10am for nine weeks. Admission is $1 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Will Rogers Institute.

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More Ideas:

Ten Reasons Why your Local Library is Perfect Place for Local Fun

5 Reasons Why We Love Our Local Arboretum

Fun for Kids at the State Park

Water Balloon Games and Activities for Kids

+ Check the Local Fun for Kids Calender for more summer events!

Have anything else to add to the list?  Leave a comment below or send me an email.

Note: These are pre-scheduled events and are subject to last minutes changes and cancellations, please always call or check the site to confirm.