June Goal: Week 4 Recap

Well we come to the end of June, which means it is time for another weekly June goal update. It has ben another crazy fun and adventure filled week. We managed to meet our 3 a week. Let me tell the sense of accomplishment that I have, well not just me, the kids too. I told them this was their goal for the month as well.

Week 4:

Craft: Family Flag

Something we love: playing in the sprinklers

Something new: Charity Walk

Family Flag: You can read step by step how to make it.

Something we love: Sprinklers: Who doesn't love a cooling off and playing in water on a hot summer day.

Something New:  Charity Walk, although we have done walks in the past, this was the first time that we did it at this location; therefore we counted it as our new.

What a great month we have had. Not, only did we accomplish our goal, but we spent quality time together.

Lawn Stars

A fun and easy way to decorate your lawn for the holidays.

I only got one as we were filling the yard it started to rain! :(

Create a stencil of a star. I used an old cereal box for mine.

drew it on and then cut it out, simple and effective

Lay the stencil on the ground, gently sprinkle powdered sugar or flour into the stencil.

Peanut had a blast making them, until the rain

Remove the stencil and you have a fantastic, easy, budget friendly way to decorate your yard.

I have tried cookie cutters for this, fail!

You can make them last longer but using chalk spray (the same things they use to line the field for sports.)

Or make your own:

4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup warm water
4 to 6 drops food coloring

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into a small plant mister.

Shake before using to avoid clogs. You can use this to create designs on sidewalks, in the snow, or at the beach for colorful sand sculptures.

Total cost of our lawn stars: $2.00 for the bag of flour.

Summer Bucket List and Can

I, Love, with a capital L, countdowns or cross off lists. They help the little ones to keep track and even help to develop the concept of time (OK, their concept of time). Who I am kidding, they help me get excited as well. One of my favorite parts of summer is being able to enjoy time off of work and school to play and enjoy each other's company. For years, I have I have written a list of items or places that I wanted to visit and this year was no different.

It was different actually, I wanted to make something special for the kiddos to be involved.  Low and beyond over at Tatertots and Jello, a bucket list was featured. I was excited and inspired. Even better, to help save time and money, there was a printable to download! Score!

supplies

I printed off the strips for the bucket list and went through them, picking out the ones that pertained to my family and was even able to create a few of my own. Let me tell you how much I love not having to make something from scratch, but still being able to do what I want. To help make them last all summer and to have the possiblity to keep them for future use, I laminated them.

love all of the summer colors on the printables

I wanted something that the kiddos could reach into and pull something out, once we were done we could post them on the wall of accomplishment! I had a little plastic paint can from a gift and decided it was perfect. Using the print off labels, I cut them and placed them inside. Now, what to do with the outside, after all it has to be pretty and functional.  I searched through my computer and found some printables that I had downloaded from somewhere. Printed them off and attached them with clear tape. This way, when summer is over, I can use my bucket again.

finished can

top of the can

The best part of the summer bucket can is that we have already completed some of our items. I think next year when school is out and we have our end of the year celebration, it will be a great time to introduce our bucket can, but I am getting ahead of myself. 

Hopefully this will inspire you to have an adventure filled summer.

Beautiful Summer Toes

Who doesn't love a good pedicure? Woo at one point, I was getting them once a month, it was my addiction. It was so bad I would actually babysit to bring in the extra money to support my pedicure addiction. I love going and soaking my feet, having someone rub my feet and legs, then walking away with beautiful toes on top of it, gets me all excited just thinking about it.

OK OK, I will stop. Once I got out of my non realistic phase and discovered how much money I actually was spending (insert ridiculously loud gasp here), in one year I spend $360, and that's not including tip, so it was probably closer to $500. YIKES! That is just insane.

I had to find a way to have the best of both worlds. I need my pedicures, after all, I am always running around in my bare feet, but it has to fit into my budget.

I found a recipe online for homemade pedicures and I couldn't be happier. I have such soft feet and of course pretty toes!

Step One: Combine equal parts olive oil and sea salt. Scrub away. If you add a tiny drop of hand soap, it helps to clear the dead skin.  Really any oil will work and you can use sugar instead of sea salt, it is really whatever that you have in your pantry.

Step Two: Grab a basin and some warm water. I like to fill my water with essential oils (lavender) works wonders for relaxation. You can also add marbles or party beads for a massage.

Step Three: This step is optional but really helps to lock in all the moisture, grab a pair of socks and your favorite foot cream or lotion. I love Burt's bees milk and honey! Rub your feet and then put the socks on to help keep the heat in. 

I usually do this before I got to bed at night, while I am watching TV or even blogging. In the morning, when I wake up, I have soft skin and relaxed feet. Great for pushing back your cuticles and added your favorite coat of polish.

*This scrub also works wonders on rough hands, my love lets me do this every once in awhile. It is an on going joke in our household, he says he has to have man hands, and I tell him I don't enjoy being rubbed with sandpaper. Guess who wins?*

June Goal: Week 3 Recap

You ever have one of those decisions, that you couldn't understand why you didn't think of it is sooner. This has been my "30 goal year plan". Why I never thought of this sooner is well just a mystery to me! I have had time to focus on what is important and what I want my life to be like! With that being said, we have had another crazy and adventure filled week at Barfoot in Paradise!

Our craft project this week was building Lego's for Peanut's birthday party! More about those next week!

Something we love: Hiking with the family

Something New: Lego Fest!

Legos coming soon!

Something we love: Hiking with the family

Something New: Lego Fest

Epilepsy Walk

What a great morning and walk we had! I must say that I was proud to be apart of something so worth while. It was a great morning, not too hot and a day filled with friends and family, they usually don't get better than that! Our team raised over $3,500 since April. that's amazing :)

Not only was the walk great exercise and a bunch of fun but we were doing something to help raise awareness and hopefully one day lead to a cure. The best part was that we were teaching our children that time that we can donate and others is important!  I was so proud of Peanut when we left and he said, "Mama, I feel good because he helped to stomp out epliepsy!" So PROUD!!!!

Thank you for all of your support and well wishes!

The kids- how cute are they!

Flag Etiquette

Growing up in Scouting, we learned to honor the flag and our country. To help prepare for the Fourth of July, I wanted to shae some etiquette rules. More information can be found here at USA Flag Info

Federal law stipulates many aspects of flag etiquette. The section of law dealing with American Flag etiquette is generally referred to as the Flag Code. Some general guidelines from the Flag Code answer many of the most common questions:

• The flag should be lighted at all times, either by sunlight or by an appropriate light source.
• The flag should be flown in fair weather, unless the flag is designed for inclement weather use.
• The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
• The flag should not be used for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.
• The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard.
• The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.
• The flag should never have any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind placed on it, or attached to it.
• The flag should never be used for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
• When the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. To store the flag it should be folded neatly and ceremoniously.
• The flag should be cleaned and mended when necessary.
• When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner.



The first Flag

The Meaning behind the flag: The flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes Hardiness and Valor, White symbolizes Purity and Innocence and Blue represents Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.

Folding of the Flag

More Flag Etiquette

Story of Old Glory

Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!

50 Things to do with your Children this Summer

It's that time of year again, when children are running around and enjoying the sun and having the lazy days of summer! This is by far my favorite summer time song, a little old I know but still great!

Now, that we are in the summer mood, here are my top 50 things to do with children during the summer.

1. Take a walk

2. Go to the beach and build sandcastles

3. make watermelon pops

4. Research your family tree
5. Make bubbles and bubble art

6. Read books and turn them in for free books at Barnes and Noble

7. Celebrate the 4th of July by watching and making fireworks

8. Make ice cream

9. Go Camping

10. Make a summer bucket list

11. Learn a new skill

12. Build a tent

13. Paint with Marbles

14. Go hiking

15. Explore your city like a tourist

16. Visit the drive-in, or if you don't have one, build a movie theater in your back yard

17. Have a wii fit contest

18. Take a road trip

19. Give yourself a budget friendly pedicure

20. Build a fire

21. Look at the stars

22. Pick strawberries

23. Make bath tub paints

24. Keep a journal of your summer adventures

25. Clean and organize your room

26. Participate in a charity walk

27. Celebrate summer! and have a bbq
28. Go on a nature scavenger hunt

29. Play and build with cardboard boxes

30. Catch fireflies

31. Hold a car wash or garage sale

32. Visit a fire station

33. Make a musical band out of things around the house

34. Learn to cook

35. Attend a baseball game

36. Plant flowers and watch them grow

37. Plan a treasure hunt

38. Volunteer

39. Create a collection, based off of your child's interest, make it special by framing it

40. Ride a horse

41. Watch a parade

42. Go on a bug hunt

43. Dance in the rain and go puddle jumping

44. Work in the yard
45. Visit with friends and family
46. Ride bikes
47. Visit a farm
48. Create your own puzzle
49. Fly a kite
50. Be a photographer
51. Become a Follower of Barefoot in Paradise
May you have a safe, happy, and memoriable summer!

Wordless Wednesday

Bubble Art!

One of my favorite activities is bubble art! Cheap Inexpensive, can be done with things your already have around the house.

You will need:

bubble (store bought or homemade)

food coloring

a cup (one per color)

a straw

and paper

Fill your cup about 3/4 of the way full

Add food coloring to create your desired color

insert your straw and blow bubbles until the bubbles pour over the side and on top the paper.

Pop the bubbles on the paper and you have fun creative and bubble created art!

practice-

showing pumpkin it isn't scary

popping bubbles

Nothing beats bubbles! Enjoy

 

June Goal: Recap Week 2

What a crazy couple of weeks it has been here! We have done so many fun and exciting things, that I think I met the goal for June and beyond! But what a ride it has been :) Remember my rule of 3: a craft/art project a week (if not more), something we love to do and something new and exciting.

June week 2 breakdown:

Craft: present for Peanut's teacher. We created a chalkboard flower pot.

Something we love: picking strawberries

Something new: hiking in a cave

One of our favorite summer past times: Strawberry Picking. I absolutely love going for a few reasons but mainly because I want my children to learn and understand that food grows and doesn't come from a bag all of the time. It is a blast to see them discover each berry and try and eat them. Guess this is about the time that we should start building a garden.

Something New: Hiking a cave and learning about the geological makeup of my hometown area.

My life: My family

Dada, Pumpkin and Peanut

Part of our trail

They called this the Christmas Tree Grotto

I love trying new things and going new places and this week, we were able to go exploring under a cave. It was amazing, not only did we have fun and it was a bonus as it was exercise as well, but we spending time together and learning. The cave tour lasted 45 minutes and we were able to see different animals and by the time it was all said and down we had hiked 45 stories below ground and back up! What a great way to spend an afternoon.

Road Trip (Part 3)

Our last and final day of the trip, we started off with a nice breakfast and playing around with the kids. We spent a few minutes by the river again and then started our journey to Gettysburg. After brief snag, we got the car locked and had to wait for triple A, no we didn't lock the keys in our car, well long story short. The went into lock mode because one of the boys hit the car handle as we were clicking the clicker and the car thought it was being stolen. Not a fun time, but hey no trip is perfect and now it is a funny story to tell :)

We drove about 45 minutes to Gettysburg and did a quick drive of the town. Chelle and I loved it but the boys were not so much interested. Then we entered Boyd's Bears! Heck of a fun time! We started at the top, where you can build our own bear and then worked our way down. Since we were traveling on the fourth of July weekend, there were a lot of fun and extra stuff to do as well as traditional. A lot of people shy away from traveling during the holidays and I say depending on where you are going, you might have a better trip. Again, all depends and this is when your pretrip research comes into play.

Once we finished touring Boyd's Bears, we ate lunch and headed home. Now, I know what you are thinking, that wasn't such an exciting day. We had two very tired and worn out little boys and decided that it was time to call it a trip.

Here is the total cost of our trip:
Food $75, two splurge meals $45-total of $120
Ice for four days for food $10
Hotels for three nights and we got a certificate for a free night on a next trip $168
Rental Car- $175
Admission to events (train, museums, boat rides)- $30 for adult, $20 for Monkey and $4 for Peanut
Mine and Peanuts Souvenirs- $15 (yes, we bought things, but coupons come in handy and saved us more money).

If you break it down even more you will see that my entire trip for thee and a half days came to $282 dollars! Not bad for a road trip to four major cities!  With a little bit of prep work and time, saving money, while having a great trip is easy to do!