This Moscow Mule Teacher Thank You Gift is the perfect End of the School Year gift for teachers everywhere! Start summer off right with a Moscow Mule to drink complete with all the ingredients necessary to make one! I know I've shared it a few time before on here, but one of my favorite drinks is the Moscow Mule. And not just to drink but to serve when we have get … [Read more...]
The Best Teacher Appreciation Wine Gift with Free Printable
This Teacher Appreciation Wine Gift is the perfect last day of school gift idea for all the wonderful teachers in your life! Last week was Oliver's very last week of preschool...I officially have a kindergartner on my hands, whaaat!? All four of my kids have gone to our preschool...so at two years a piece, we have had a child there continuously for since 2010!!! We … [Read more...]
Making Memories with HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Hershey Company. All opinions are 100% mine. This is a sponsored post created with The Hershey Company The other night as I was getting the kids ready for bed, my littles wanted to look at a few photo books I made about our previous summer adventures and our summer bucket lists from the past four years. I started to … [Read more...]
End of Summer breakFEAST Party + Giveaway!
*Giveaway is now closed!* *As a participant of the Hungry Jack Ambassador program, I’ve received compensation for my time and product samples for review purposes. Opinions are my own. My kids and I wanted to throw a little get together with their friends to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. A little 'Good Bye to Summer and Hello to the … [Read more...]
Paleo Gluten and Dairy Free Blueberry Crumble Recipe
The kids and I went blueberry picking this week and came back with a whole bunch of sweet, delicious blueberries!! We found tons of small sweet berries this late in the season so I consider ourselves lucky. The little berries lend themselves well to lots of baked goods like pancakes, muffins, and of course my favorite Paleo Gluten and Dairy Free Blueberry Crumble!! This … [Read more...]
Summer Snacking Ideas with Jif
One of the best parts of summer is that we can relax a bit on our 'eat 'em quick, hurry out the door' school routine and we can slow down a bit more and enjoy hanging out most mornings. Part of actually getting to enjoy our breakfast is being creative with making it! Presentation is half the experience of eating anyways, right? My kids love when we design a fun meal which … [Read more...]
No Churn Chocolate Puppy Chow Ice Cream Recipe
As of this week there is exactly one month of summer left for my kids, you guys, one month! I am making it a point to be outside more with the kids, to be at the pool more, to create more, to craft more...less structure and more fun. We only have a month before bedtimes need to be reinforced and after school activities hit us full force! We aren't letting go of summer … [Read more...]
Recipe: Fresh Homemade Strawberry Sauce
Have you picked strawberries yet this season? We make a point to do this every summer and we look forward to it so much! It is always a good time and is a great way to get everyone outdoors and doing something fun. The first time we went this season we picked 10 lbs and they were gone in just one day!!! Oy! These kids will eat me out of house and home! One of our favorite … [Read more...]
Recipe: The Best Gluten and Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookie for Ice Cream Sandwiches
I hope y'all have been having a great summer so far, can you believe it is already July? We have been living it up! And if you follow me on Instagram (here) or on Facebook (here)...PS. you are missing out if you don't! ;-)...you know that we had ourselves a Ice Cream Sandwich party just a few weeks ago (we are checking off that summer bucket list like it's nobody's … [Read more...]
2016 Summer Bucket List
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones® Hand Wipes. The opinions and text are all mine. We are about 2 weeks into our Summer Break and we couldn't be having more fun! On the last day of school we sat down on our porch and the kids brainstormed our 2016 Summer Bucket List. They came up with the idea and I wrote them on a huge piece of poster … [Read more...]
DIY Sunglasses Case Tutorial
Ahhh! We are officially on summer break and that means lots of hanging out outside…to the pool, to the beach, to the zoo, to the park!!! Finally! And of course with all those adventures means constantly losing my sunglasses because I never remember where I left them. Either that or they get broken by one of my adorable little children (love you guys!!!) Good times. So to … [Read more...]
No Churn Dairy Free Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
One of my favorite things about summer is ice cream! We love, love, love making our own ice cream because we can personalize it to our own likings with mix-ins and of course I love it because I can buy the ingredients so I know exactly what is in it! One of our favorites is this super easy to make and better-for-you Paleo and Dairy Free friendly No Churn Dairy Free … [Read more...]
Easy Tips for Gardening with Kids: Miracle-Gro Gro-ables
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro Gro-ables. All opinions are 100% mine. Hooray for Spring and (finally in Chicago after much back and forth!) Spring-like weather! One of our family's favorite things to do this time of year is PLANT OUR GARDEN! We hem and haw the first few months of the year about what we want to grow…we always grow salad … [Read more...]
Ice Cream Sundae Happy Mail Surprise
Here's a fun idea we did at the end of the summer. We gifted a few of our friends with Ice Cream Sundae Happy Mail! Each box we made contained a little bit of everything you need to make your very own ice cream sundaes. It was the perfect end of summer/back to school gift! And of course my four little ones received their very own box too, it's so much fun mailing a gift to … [Read more...]
Recipe: Easy Stars and Stripes Sundae
This post brought to you by Breyers. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Smashed Peas and Carrots. One of my favorite things about summer is all the warm nights we spend as a family sitting outside enjoying a game of Monopoly or Crazy 8's and having something sweet to eat after dinner. Much of those desserts we love center around ice cream. How could they … [Read more...]
Fluffy Chocolate Fruit Dip Recipe
Are your littles back in school yet? Well mine are heading back in a less than 3 weeks!! Now that it's August I have really started thinking about school starting up again. We have been scouting out school supplies and sizing feet up for new gym shoes. And I have been trying to figure out what our family will be doing for school lunches again…has it really been that … [Read more...]
Recipe: Grain-Free Gluten-Free Fruit Pizza
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Wet-Nap®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ConquerTheMess http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV One of the summer bucket list activities my littles came up with this year happened to be that they wanted to bake something with me in the kitchen. I love how they are into … [Read more...]
General Mills Cereal and Minions Movie Gift Card Giveaway!
*This giveaway has ended! OMGosh. It's finally here. Today is THE day. The Minions movie is out in theaters and we are all super excited to see it!!! Are you going? We were just at the theater earlier this week to see another movie and the preview for the Minions came on…it looks so cute…and funny. My kids are PUMPED! … [Read more...]
Minions Backyard Bash and How to Make Minions Rice Krispie Treats
*This post was brought to you via Universal Pictures. All ideas and photography, as per usual, are my very own. You don't know how excited my kids have been during the last few weeks as we have been planning Oliver's 3rd birthday party... our Minions Backyard Bash! We have adored all the Despicable Me movies and have been ready and waiting to see the Minions movie that … [Read more...]
5 Tips for a Kid-Friendly Picnic
One of my most favorite things to do with my little ones in the summer is to pack up a picnic and head out on an adventure. The adventure can really be anywhere…it might be a visit to a local park, a trip to a zoo, or even a surprise set up in our own backyard. Now, I know that picnics, or really anything you do with kids, can often contain a bit of drama or even, dare I … [Read more...]
Pina Colada Popsicle Recipe
Hooray, hooray! We are finally getting some beautifully hot and sunny summer days! It's finally been officially hot enough to go to the pool and Penny is cast-free as of last week so we are living it up, crazy-style! One of my favorite things to make (and my littles to eat) in the summer are popsicles. I'd rather make them myself so I know exactly what ingredients are in … [Read more...]
DIY Bug Repellant Spray
I am so pumped to share this DIY Bug Repellant Spray with you today because you just don't understand how many natural and less toxic bug sprays our family has gone through over the years to come and find out that so many of them do not really work all that well. Eloise is super allergic to mosquito bites and she swells up like crazy when she gets bit. So badly that one … [Read more...]
Family Game Night Concession Stand
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of JOLLY TIME Pop Corn. All opinions are 100% mine. With all the technology out there these days my kids as well as my husband and I, can easily get sucked into our phones and tablets. So any chance we get to get quality time together and disconnect from it all is always welcome. This is why my family has really loved JOLLY … [Read more...]
Happy Mail: Orange You Glad It’s Almost Summer Gift Idea
With school almost out (less than a month to go!), I thought it would be fun to send out some happy mail to get our sweet little school aged cousins excited about all things SUMMER (said in my very best Olaf voice!) This gift idea is a spin on the sunny yellow themed 'Hello Sunshine' gifts I did last year (seen here). I thought it would be fun to send an 'Orange You Glad … [Read more...]
Soccer Life: Team Snacks and Capri Sun
These days if your child is participating in any kind of sport you have a very high likelihood that there will be some sort of team snack schedule that you will be a part of for the duration of said sport. We have had our two oldest in soccer and team snacks after every game are a just a part of soccer life. The kids look forward to them after each game. Every child can't … [Read more...]
Penelope’s 6th Birthday Garden Party: Party on a Dime Charity Challenge with Balloon Time
I am so excited to share today's post with you, it's all about the fabulous Garden Party we threw for our little Penelope's 6th birthday for her and her adorable friends right before school started. It also happens to be a part of the Party on a Dime Balloon Time Charity Challenge where they asked eight party planning bloggers to throw a party on a budget using only $100, … [Read more...]
End of Summer Ice Cream Sundae Party and a Smucker’s Giveaway!
Over in our neck of the woods school's almost back in sesh. Gah! Where has it gone? My littles start in just a few weeks. Unreal. So we filling up the last few days of summer with all sorts of goodness. Some days are lazy, some days are full of adventure, and some days…well, we throw a party for all our friends and spend it eating ice cream and laughing until our bellies … [Read more...]
Water Balloon Vowel Game
If your little ones are anything like mine, they don't jump up and down begging to practice school work during the summer. It just isn't in their DNA. So to keep them learning over the summer months I need to get creative. Since we always have water balloons and squirt guns on hand in the summer I came up with fun way for them to practice their vowels and a few power words … [Read more...]
Summer Drinks: International Delight Coffee Frappé
*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine. As a momma to 4 little ones I really love my coffee….and I really NEED my coffee too. It keeps me sane. Especially with my early bird little guy waking up at 5:30 in the morning (!!) Darn birds singing so sweetly with the rising sun right outside his … [Read more...]
Hello Sunshine: A Happy Gift Idea
We just happen to have two sweet little cousins that live all the way across the country in California and since we don't get to see them too often my littles and I thought it would be fun to send them a box of happiness in the mail. Everyone, even little kids, loves getting some good ol' snail mail, right?! And with it begin summer and sunny most of the time these days … [Read more...]
Summer Fun with Lipton Cold Brew Iced Teas
*This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Lipton, but all my opinions are my own. #bemoretea #pmedia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV We are currently in full swing summer mode at our house, yippee! And on those hot summer days there is nothing more fun than suiting up the kids in their swim suits, grabbing a bunch … [Read more...]
Ice Cream Sundae in a Box Gift Idea
At our house Summer = Ice Cream. I mean, we really, really, really love our ice cream. There I said it. We actually make it a point every summer to do an Ice Cream Bucket List of sorts where we right down all the fun mom and pop ice cream shops we can think of and then try to hit one of them up every week all summer long. It's so much fun and we all really look forward to … [Read more...]
Confetti Popper Toilet Paper Tubes
I save empty toilet paper tubes like there's no tomorrow. I figure there is always something fun to create with them and since they take up very little space why not!? It's one of those craft items that I seem to come across at least once a day in our house, thankyoumyfourlittles. And since they are basically free you can't really beat crafting with them! … [Read more...]
Family Movie Night Snack Bar with Dixie Ultra Moments® Tableware
I used to adore going to our local drive-in movie theater in the summers, laying out blankets, eating popcorn and candy during the double feature, and getting to talk and chatter as much as we wanted because we were in our own little bubble in our car. However, since we've had children, and our oldest is only 7, we just don't get to do it anymore. With the first feature … [Read more...]
Ice Cream Sundae End-of-the-School-Year Scavenger Hunt
We are inching closer and closer to my little ones last day of school. Artwork folders are coming home, they are bit by bit cleaning out their desks and classrooms and sending the kids home with their decorated name tags and colorful locker swag. Every year on the last day of school we like to do something fun to say 'goodbye to school' and 'hello to summer'. … [Read more...]
How to Make a Paper Fan
This is a sponsored post for the Elmer’s “Crafty Mamas” Blogger Crew. I have received compensation for this post, but the ideas and opinions are , as always, 100% my own! With summer break on our heels my mind has been spinning trying to come up with all sorts of summer crafts for my little ones. I have been trying to make a list of fun activities that they can do with … [Read more...]
RECIPE: Peaches n Cream Popsicles
We have been loving creating fun popsicle flavors this summer and one of our favorites has been using deliciously sweet peaches that we seem to find perfectly ripe in all the grocery stores right now. There is just something about a perfectly ripe peach. Biting into it and having that sticky sweet juice drip down your arm. They are even better in popsicle form when … [Read more...]
Picnic in the Park Date
I love a good picnic in the summer. And even better, I love a good picnic with my husband...just us! It could be at a local park, in our backyard, or even on our screened in porch after the kids are in bed, it really doesn't matter. With four little ones and no family close by it isn't the easiest thing for us to have date nights out often. Picnics are great because they … [Read more...]
TUTORIAL: How to Make Water Fireworks PLUS Martha Stewart’s Favorite Crafts for Kids Book Review and Giveaway
**This giveaway has ended. See below for the winner.** I was contacted at the beginning of summer to see if I'd like to review the new book, Martha Stewart's Favorite Crafts for Kids, and as y'all know of my love for a.) my kids b.) Martha Stewart and c.) crafting well of course I was all, 'heck ya, baby! We are always on the look out for some fun crafting ideas this … [Read more...]
RECIPE: Vanilla Strawberry Jam AND Ball Fresh TECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker Review and Giveaway!
**This giveaway is now closed. See below for the winner!** I was asked to try out one of the newest Ball brand canning products, the Fresh TECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker earlier this summer and since I have an affinity for mason jars, canning my lovely garden produce and, well, anything Ball brand I was in! The Fresh TECH Automatic Jam and Jelly Maker allows … [Read more...]
Oliver’s First Birthday: A Circus Party!
As many of you already know, my little guy, Oliver, turned a whole ONE year old in June and we threw him a fun Circus-themed birthday party to celebrate him in style! I'm finally getting his birthday party post up, man, summer just keeps getting busier and busier (ya feel me!) So here is a look at his big day and some of the fun we had! We had around 50 people come and … [Read more...]
RECIPE: Paleo Pudding Pops
The other day I was thinking about Pudding Pops, remember those? Those awesomely delicious pudding pops hawked by Mr. Bill Cosby himself, oh the commercials! Can you hear him saying it now...."Pudding Pops!" with that weird sort of T-rex arm dance he would do, ha! Loved it! It's sad to think that they no longer make them. I really liked them. It's also sad to think … [Read more...]
TUTORIAL: Bald Eagle Spoon Craft
How about a fun project for your littles to do this week before the 4th of July? This one is easy peasy and turns out oh-so-cute...it's a Bald Eagle Spoon Craft. Yup, you read that right, this project take one simple plastic spoon and transforms it into a bald eagle...totally rad, right! This craft is part of Michaels' Passport to Imagination program that is going on … [Read more...]
4th of July Gift Basket Idea
We have some sweet friends of ours moving into a new home this weekend and not being one who could ever pass up an opportunity for gifting I thought they needed a housewarming gift to go with that new home of theirs :-) Since the 4th of July is next week I decided to make a fun 4th of July themed gift basket that they could enjoy in their new backyard (complete with an … [Read more...]
Michaels’ "Unplugged Summer Pact"
Back in May, I was asked to be a part of the Summer Adventure Mom Blog Challenge sponsored by Michaels. As I read through the challenge, I thought that this was such perfect timing. This would be the perfect way to help me entertain my 4 littles this summer engaging them in more crafts and creative activities and less 'let's just watch Netflix kids all morning', you know? … [Read more...]
(mini)TUTORIAL: Embellished Flip-Flops
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores asked me not too long ago to take a look at their Cape Discovery Craft Catalog and have some fun with my kids. So we flipped through the pages of this... You can find it in stores now or here online. I love that it was full of fun and totally kid-friendly crafts...right up our alley as my littles LOVE to get their craft on! The catalog … [Read more...]
Color Your Summer: Pink Laminated Cotton Placemats-TUTORIAL
**Hi everyone! Here is my guest post I did over at KojoDesigns earlier this summer! Thought I'd post it here for all those who may have missed it! I'm so happy to be here today to share some pink goodness with y'all! Isn't this series so much fun...I love seeing all the fun, bright-colored projects that all these talented ladies keep coming up with, it suits my happy … [Read more...]
Adventures in Strawberry Pickin’
We had ourselves a little family adventure yesterday... We picked a lot of these babies. Well, some of us did. Other little ones of the less than 2 year old variety needed to think about it. Until we figured out why we were there. Sampling is the best part, no? We had lots of good helpers this year. They each filled a basket and wanted to stay longer to fill … [Read more...]
How I Make My Sweet Tea {Recipe}
First off, can I tell you I have been reading all your emails and I hear ya loud and clear, these Mason jar drink dispensers are the cats meow! It makes me smile to hear how many of you are fellow Mason Jar lovers :-) I am so glad that you enjoy their awesomeness as much as I do! Now I am trying my hardest to find the store that I bought them at but it's taking a … [Read more...]
Make Your Own Postcards {Free Printable}
Now that preschool is out for summer I have been trying to come up with some fun things to do with the kids when they are in need of just a little bit more structure. You know Momma can never compare to all that jam packed class time. Messy art projects by the minute, crafts, story time, outdoor play, you name it and they have me beat no matter how hard I try! Noah … [Read more...]
Summer Lovin’
Hope you all had a great weekend! I just wanted to post some pictures of what we were up to the past two days...playing outside and enjoying some humidity-free weather, WAHOO! The kids did a lot of this... Yup, slip n' slide fun...remember this from when we were little? Oh, let me tell you how happy I was to see them making a comeback. We have been lovin' our slip n … [Read more...]
Happy 4th of July to YOU!
Today is a day for some Red, White and Blue... {even if it is in the form of a swimming suit or two!} Hope you enjoy some pretty FIREWORKS tonight!! … [Read more...]
Strawberry Upside Down Cake
Ok, here is a great little recipe for ya'll if you are in need of something easy and delish for the upcoming long weekend we are about to have here...July 4th, anyone!! This was a recipe I did as a guest post for Leca at Leca Unplugged...it's a winner in my book and super easy to make so I thought I'd re-post it on the 'ol blog in case some of you missed me over there. … [Read more...]
The Best Bubbles Ever!
Oh, man...I have been meaning to post this for awhile but I kept on getting side-tracked by other things, rats for that!! Good thing you still have 2 months of summer left to get some use out of this post (and trust me you will!) Okay, so the kidlets and I have really been enjoying our bubbles this summer. Noah and Penelope are both a great age for it plus it's the … [Read more...]
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