LeapFrog Summer Camp!

Thank you to LeapFrog for sponsoring my post about Leapfrog Summer Camp. To sign up for LeapFrog Summer Camp, please click here. #CleverLFCamp #spon

Every year our teachers remind us that a good percentage of what the kids learned over the year will be forgotten over the summer if they don't keep up with their studies. So they usually send home some sort of summer worksheet packet for them to do. Those are fine, but I thought we'd do something a bit more fun and interactive this year!

The LeapFrog Summer Camp is beginning soon and we are going to be playing along! From June 4-July 29, we are going to try to keep the learning going all summer long through exciting weekly themes and free, do-anywhere learning activities that explore geography, writing, science, art and more!

The summer camp is designed for children ages 4-7. This is perfect for my children! Check out the fun line-up of weekly theme topics!

	Out & About—Learn about the people and places in our world on your way to becoming a global citizen.
	Caring for Animals—Experience animals in new ways and explore themes of responsibility and compassion.
	Puzzle Time—Build logic and reasoning skills as you puzzle your way through brain-bending activities!
	Art & Music—Let your creativity run wild as you experiment with a range of media, including handmade instruments, crafts and a home art gallery!
	Writing That's Real—Explore fascinating nonfiction topics and try your hand at investigative writing.
	Storytelling—Bring your ideas to life through storytelling, music, art, drama and pretend play!
	Science Adventures—Observe, ask questions and draw conclusions as you explore and investigate the world around you.
	Friendship Week—Get ready for school and International Friendship Day by exploring what it means to be friends. Here is a preview of one of the activities during the "Out & About" week! Nobody wants to hang out inside during summer, but we all have down time or rainy days when the kids ask "Can I watch a movie?" or "Can I play Wii?". So instead of caving, we'll fill those voids with something fun and educational. We invite you to join us and play along! Check back during the week of June 11th to see what we've been up to during summer camp!

This post is sponsored by LeapFrog. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Snap Trap Wallet {for the boys!}

I feel like I am always sewing for my girls, but not as often for my boys. So when the need arose for a project for the little men of my life, I was excited to get to work. We had a yard sale recently and the kids had a lemonade stand set up. They were absolutely darling and did a great job. And when it was all said and done, they needed a place to store their little pile of cash.

So I decided to make them each a wallet.

Do you remember the slap bracelets we had as kids? Well, they are back and this wallet utilizes the "slap" function in keeping the top pocket closed. And do you know what you use to make it snap? A metal measuring tape! You learn something new every day! Thanks to Just Another Hang Up's tutorial, I was able to make these wallets for them and they were perfect for their needs.

A zippered pocket on the front...

With a slap style closure on the top.

Perfect for their bills and coins....

And an area for gum or a small toy.

(The slap closure secure enough for larger items, but not for coins.)

Aaron thought it was just about the coolest thing and couldn't figure out how I did it. Was it a snap? Was it magnetic? Magic?

Nope, just a measuring tape!

I can see myself making these for birthday  gifts for the kid's friends. Maybe with a few bills stashed inside the pocket and a treat inside the snap pocket. Perfect! and such a great way to use up some scrapp fabric.

Tutorial

It Pays to Stay At Home {Sweepstakes}

This post brought to you by The Clorox Company. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's summertime and the last thing we want to do is stay at home, but since the house won't clean itself, I usually take a couple of mornings to play catch up before we head out to the next fun activity. And since cleaning isn't fun, the faster I can get it done, the better. My favorite {must haves} for cleaning are Clorox Disinfecting Wipes®. I use them on a daily basis!

 All of my favorite cleaning products can be found at the Dollar General store around the corner from my house and right now the Clorox Company is sponsoring a sweepstakes at Dollargeneral.com.

Check out the It Pays to Vacation at Home for a chance to enter our sweepstakes and play the instant win game. 20 lucky grand prize winners will be selected at the end of the program to receive a $500 "paycheck" and 100 lucky winners will be chosen to win a $25 Dollar General gift card. Best of all, you could be an instant winner of a $10 Dollar General gift card by playing the  “Wipe To Win” game after you complete your registration. Good luck!

I went ahead and entered. Why not? Didn't do so well, but I was still entered in for the grand prize.

Click here for a chance to enter the It Pays to Vacation at Home too! The sweepstakes runs from

May 20th-June 24th! Good luck!

Summer Activities for Kids! & the "Get Your Brag On!" Link Party!

Last year I hosted the Summer Link Party for Kids. With the ideas I shared, plus the links added, there were over 175 ideas of fun summer activities to keep your little ones busy! Feel free to check it out for ideas to use this year! Click here.

So let's do it AGAIN! Starting June 15th be sure to come back here and LINK UP! We will be  pausing the "Get Your Brag On" Link Party (after this week's party)  until we are settled in our new home. We are moving from Ohio to California and driving across the county. 2 adults, 4 kids, a guinea pig, traveling in 2 cars....it will be awesome! ;)

Even though I won't be around, I hope you'll still stop by Gluesticks every now and then as I have many fun projects post-dated to share with you over the summer. I hope you have a fun and relaxing summer!

Brandy & Family

30 Summer Activity Ideas for Kids!

Link Party begins June 15th to share yours!

1. Sticky Poster

2. Microwaved Potato Chips

3. Frozen Banana Pops

4. Giganto S'mores

5. I spy Box

6. Teddy Bread 

7. Frozen Grape Pops

8. Salt Dough

9. Homemade Noise Putty 

10. Clothespin Caterpillars

11. Minions!

12. Grass Heads

13. Birds!

14. Rainbow Cookies

15. Freezer Paper T-Shirts

16. Brown Bag Popcorn

17. Wooden Sorting Dolls

18. Our Favorite Play-Dough

19. Micro Masterpieces

20. Tie Dye Party

21. Homemade Soaps

22. Felt Apple Activity

23. Glow Stick Lanterns

24. Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

25. Ice Excavating

26. Dry Erase I-Spy

27. 30 Minute Lightsaber Pillows

28. Watermelon Shark

29.  1 Hour Beach Robes

30. Homemade Sprinklers

Road Trips with Kids

This post brought to you by PA Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

We have gone on many road trips as a family. Many more miles in our short 10 years together than I ever had done as a child! Derrick comes from a family who loves to travel. An 8 hour drive is nothing to them. I grew up traveling about an hour or so from my home town, rarely venturing out from that radius. So when we got married and moved to Alaska, I was persuaded into their way of thinking. After driving to Alaska, an 8 hour road trip seems like nothing! And it can be fun!

We are gearing up for our move from Oh to CA in a month! And we are going to make the most of it. We've mapped it out and decided on our stops. We can't wait!

We do several things to make the trips enjoyable for ourselves as well as the kids.

#1: Snacks. The kids pick out their own snacks. They don't get to eat them at will, but every hour or so they'll get to choose one and they look forward to it.

(Aaron making homemade Chex Mix for one of our trips)

#2. Pace out the day. There have been days where we needed to pack in the miles. Like driving 10 hours with 3 kids. But on this trip with baby Ruby, we are only doing 6 hours or so a day and taking our time. Lots of stops to stretch out their wiggles.

#3. Make the most of it! It isn't any fun to go on a long road trip just to go from point A to point B. Enjoy some things along the way! There are many wonderful resources for planning out trips online. What a time saver!

#4. If you have young children (girls especially) keep a small training potty in the back of your car. This has come in handy MANY times when we are in the middle of nowhere and Kaylee needs to go. I could post a pic of her on the tailgate, but I wouldn't embarass her like that. We'll wait until she is dating.


#5. Organization! These seat organizers have been wonderful! I need to make new ones as these have been worn pretty well, but it saves me from having to hand things to the kids in the back over and over.

#6. Entertainment. Of course we have DVD players for movies, but we also bring books on tape, CDs to listen to, play the "ABC" game as we are driving down the road and check out library books. It's a great time for family bonding although after a long day we all feel like zoning out in front of a movie. So those are good too ;)

We are in Ohio which is centrally located to many wonderful places. Two years ago we took our family to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is absolutely beautiful! We drove to Sesame Place hung out with the Sesame Street characters that day. It was a blast! Our kids still talk about going there.

While in Philadelphia, we went to the Hands On Museum for kids. We could have stayed there ALL day. From the outside it looks like a classic museum/gallery, but when you go inside it is all about the kids. Things to climb on, in, touch, run around, etc.

On our way back we stopped by Hershey. Another wonderful visit.

I wish pa-roadtrips had been around when we were planning this trip! I have a feeling that we missed many small stops along the way! When you visit pa-roadtrips and check out their RoadTrip-a-Matic, you can customize a trip for you based on your interests.

When browsing the site, I chose to check out the Kidsylvania Trip. A 3 day, 2 night trip. All mapped out for me! Stops included the Hands On Museum (which we would love to go back to), Heritage Discovery Center, and the Johnstown Inclined Plane.

Traveling can be stressful, but with tricks and tips from awesome sites like this, these roadtrips can be the ground for growing memories that the kids will talk about for years to come.

Why I Shop Online

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of MyPoints for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ordering online has become second nature to me. I LOVE not having to drive out and go shopping sometimes. I especially learned how to shop frugally on the web when we lived in Alaska and the biggest store we had around was Walmart. Other options in stores was a MUST! I love finding a great deal and then doing a bit more leg work to find a promotional code to use on top of the already great deal to get it even cheaper, and usually with free shipping too! And if I am ordering a gift to send to a family member several states away, it is nice to have the option to send it directly to them vs. having to mail it out myself. I usually opt for handmade gifts, but I'll take that shortcut if I know that the perfect gift for that family member is just a few clicks away.

I recently signed up to get Great Offers and Deals at MyPoints. MyPoints allows you to shop your favorite brands and earn points to redeem for valuable rewards, including gift cards to your favorite stores, cash or travel miles. Signing up is easy. You create a profile (takes less than 5 minutes) of the types of online purchases you make, and you are all set! Then when you want to shop, you go to MyPoints and search for your favorite brands from their site.

I love Target and they usually have some awesome online deals . So if I wanted to make a purchase online, I can Save Money at MyPoints by visiting their site, finding the Target store on there and purchasing my items that way. Not only would I earn points for my purchase (up to 8 points for every dollar), but MyPoints also has coupons that you can use towards your favorite stores. They do the leg work of finding promotional codes FOR YOU!

They also have coupons for other stores. I love this feature! Why clip when you can click? Print our online grocery coupons and earn some rewards points (10 points for every coupon printed, plus 25 bonus points for 10 coupons printed and redeemed).

There are other ways to earn points too.

Fill Out Surveys

Answering a few questions from us can earn you some quick points.

Search the Web

Searching the Web through MyPoints.com can also net you Points.

Play Games

Playing games just got more fun. Earn Points while playing your favorite online games.

You can earn points for referring friends and earn 750 points when they sign up, plus 10% of eligible points that they earn. And new members earn double the points on purchases that they make the first 30 days.

So if you are like me and oftentimes prefer to online shop over going to several stores to find the perfect item, sign up to get Great Offers and Deals at MyPoints and start getting your Awesome Daily Deals!

I Pinned It & Made It: Activities for Kids!

Ideas I found on Pinterest that I tried!

Mommy Savers: Frugal Bathtime Fun

We didn't use these in the bathtub, we used them with Sprite. I filled the ice tray with colored water and the kids put them in their cups, mixing different colors, etc. Then we added Sprite. The soda instantly changed colors. They loved it!

Meet the Dubiens: Tub Paints

Kaylee & Aaron had a BLAST painting in the tub. I loved how easy it was to mix these up together! Food coloring + shaving cream in muffin tins!

Preschool Alphabet: Baking Soda Mini Volcano

My kids LOVED doing this activity. I gave them each little eye droppers and muffin tins filled with colored vinegar. It kept them busy for quite some time!

Oopsey Daisy: Puff Paint

Half shaving cream, half craft glue: Puffy Paint! We used this for snow pictures, but you could use it in different colors for so many different scenes!

How to Make a Naked Egg: Imagination Station

This was just plain cool!

Apartment Therapy: Make Fireflies that Really Light Up!

We had some leftover LED lights from Halloween and made these cute lightning bugs. They were super easy and the kids loved them!

Ivory Soap Explosion: Toys in the Dryer
Oh yes! We've done this 3 or 4 times. By ourselves and with friends! It is TOO cool!


To follow me on Pinterest, click here!

Kick off to Summer!

Summer is back and so is our watermelon shark! The kids are out of school, we move to California in less than a month, and we are off to a BBQ tonight with our best friends. Definitely starting the summer out right!

 Have a wonderful weekend!

Did You Know {The Power of OJ}

This post brought to you by Florida Orange Juice. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Morning routines vary so much from home to home, but here is ours:

7:10 wake up.

7:20 make breakfast and pack lunches

7:40 Dallin's bus comes

7:45 Take shower and try no to wake up Ruby

8:00 Get the girls dressed for the day

8:30 Aaron's bus comes

As you can see, a lot happens in that first hour of the day. I'm usually busy getting ready for the day and skip breakfast. Then 10 or 11 rolls around and I am too hungry to wait for lunch so I grab some sort of snack to tide me over. I am much more conscious, however, with what my kids eat. Breaskfast, every day, and milk, water, or 100% juices with their meals. Saving sugary sodas and drinks for rare occasions.

And not all 100% juices are the same. Take, for example, Florida Orange Juice.

Did you Know...

One 8‐ounce serving of 100 percent orange juice is a good source of potassium and folate and an excellent source of vitamin C.
o These are three important nutrients that are under consumed in the United States, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

· One serving of 100 percent orange juice is more nutrient dense than many commonly-consumed 100 percent fruit juices.
o A refreshing glass of 100 percent orange juice has no added sugars or artificial sweeteners, which may be found in many fruit juice cocktails and sports drinks.

It isn’t easy to always find a quick and easy food/beverage that will jump start our day. These points make Florida Orange Juice a perfect choice for a morning beverage.

For more ideas on how to make smart food choices, check out the following tips from Kathleen zelman, MPH, RD. Also check out Florida Orange Juice on Facebook for expert tips and recipes.

· Jumpstart your morning with a nutritious meal that includes protein, fruit and energizing nutrient-dense carbs.
o Think you don’t have time for a complete breakfast? Blend your favorite fruit with 100 percent Florida orange juice and low-fat yogurt for a convenient, on-the-go smoothie.
o Want to jazz up your weekend breakfast? Substitute 100 percent Florida orange juice for water in your pancake batter to give your meal a zesty, new taste.

· When looking for a snack, think outside the box before trying to satisfy your cravings from roadside convenience stores or airport kiosks.
o Plan ahead and take a cooler with portable, smart snacks that fit your on-the-go lifestyle like nuts, hummus with veggies, granola bars and 8-ounce cartons of 100 percent orange juice that will help give you the energy and nutrients you need to get through your travel day.

· Outdoor grilling and dining is a great way for your family and friends to enjoy the warmer weather.
o Protein is a vital part of your daily diet, as it provides nutrients and may help satisfy hunger longer than most fats or carbohydrates.
o Choose leaner cuts of beef, pork, and poultry to grill and pair your protein with other nutrient-rich foods, such as high-fiber fruit, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. Add 100 percent Florida orange juice to marinades for poultry and pork for a refreshing citrus zing and pour a glass of 100 percent orange juice to accompany your meal.

EASY Homemade Focaccia Bread

Homemade focaccia bread is very simple to make and absolutely delicious! Aaron doesn't care for pizza (I know, I'm half way thinking of taking him to the doctor over this), so I made him a batch of foccatia bread the other night and homemade pizza for the rest of us. The focaccia bread was the highlight of the meal. We all LOVED it and we ate it up quickly. So full of flavor, soft, with a bit of crispy cheese on top. Garlic and herbs in every bite.

I will be making this many many times in the future and think it would be great for get togethers and sandwiches. Dallin saved 2 slices for his lunch the next day :)

Homemade Focaccia Bread

source: food.com

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon white sugar

1 (1/4 ounce) packet active dry yeast

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1 dash ground black pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (grated)

1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Mix the yeast and water in a small bowl. Let proof for 10 minutes (until bubbles begin to form).

In large bowl, stir together flour, salt, sugar, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, basil, and black pepper.

Add the yeast mix and vegetable oil to the dry ingredients and combine.

When dough has pulled together, turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.

Lightly oil a large bowl, place dough in bowl, and turn to coat with oil.

Cover with damp cloth and let rise in warm place 25 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Punch dough down, place on greased baking sheet.

Pat dough into 1/2-inch thick rectangle (doesn't have to be perfect).

Using your knuckle, make indentations in the dough about 1/2-inch apart, then prick dough with fork.

Brush top with olive oil, then sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese

Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.

Pretty White Tee

I showed this little tee to my husband and he asked if it was new. Nope. Not new at all, just fixed up a bit to add a few more months of wear in it. I bought Kaylee some little tees to wear under jumpers and with skirts, etc. The second time she wore this, she got Sharpie pen on it. Right by the neckline. It was very visible. And if it wasn't Sharpie, it would have been something else. Like juice, or paint, or food stains. She's 3, so it's inevitable!  I thought of just keeping it around as an undershirt, but figured I had nothing to lose in trying to cover it since she wasn't going to wear it like this anyways.

So I found some lace trimming that I had in my sewing stash, measured around the neckline and cut 3 pieces of the lace.

I started by pinning the bottom layer of lace on the shirt and stitching it into place. Then I added the 2nd and 1st layers by pinning and stitching. With the 3 layers in place, you can't see that black Sharpie mark at all and it turned out darling!

 

I may start doing this to Ruby's onesies too. She has one that has a pink stain from antibiotics right by the neckline and I've tried everything to get it out, with no success.

 

10 minutes of time to add many more uses in this little tee. I wish I had lace in different colors to do this to some of her other shirts. It is SO much faster than gathering fabric ruffles!

Monsters in May? {shirt & cupcake idea!}

Monster stuff in May? Did I get ahead of myself and post 5 months early? Nope! Aaron's kindergarten class did a Monster unit right before school got out. Monster activities, snacks, costumes, movie, games, etc. It was a blast!

The kids were asked to dress in costume and we didn't have any monster themed outfits for him to wear. The night before costume day, I sat down and added a bit of life to this stained t-shirt.

I used felt scraps. I began cutting and sewing, cutting and sewing...about 30 minutes later I had this tee and matching eye ball headband for him to wear. He loved it and I loved that this old shirt looked new again. Projects like these are fun. No pattern....just go with it!

I bought a bag of chocolate eye balls after Halloween since I knew that his class would be doing Monster week in the spring time. Talk about the easiest cupcakes E.V.E.R! They were super fun and quick to make.

And here is out goofy little monster all ready for school! He had a GREAT week and loved seeing all of the costumes that day. Including his teacher with feathers and a tail ;)