Last year Anika attended a summer soccer camp held by Challenger Sports, and this year I think that I will have Noah attend British soccer camp. He has fallen in love with soccer and I think he is at the perfect age to attend something like this.
Compensation for this picnic post provided by Snack Pack® via Mode Media
Across the country many kids are heading back to school. I’m happy that our school district doesn’t resume classes until Labor Day. I’ve been trying to make the most of our last few days together at home.
We love to do little picnics in our yard here, tea parties, lunch, and brunch. We’ve done them all – but we’ve never done a sweet treat afternoon Snack Pack® picnic before!
This shop for road trip snacks has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripHacks #CollectiveBias #Albertsons
I feel like we’ve been traveling a lot lately and for our family I guess we have. We began the month with a 5 day road trip to see family in southern Oregon. Afterwards I jetted off to New York for another 5 days. This week we are planning to drive down to the beach and spend three nights camping in a yurt.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
#BackToClean #CollectiveBias
#BackToClean #CollectiveBias
This year will be Anika’s second year of middle school – and that makes me both happy and sad. I’m sad because I’m having a hard time with the fact that my baby is now a 7th grader, though I’m happy for her because things will hopefully be a little easier this year with a few less changes.
Moving from elementary school to middle school is a big wake up call for a lot of kids – they have more teachers, new classes, are the ‘young’ ones at the school, and they have lockers. In other words: they have a lot more responsibility. And that’s a scary thought not only for the middle schooler, but also for the parents who have to allow their child to start having more independence.
I asked Anika to write down a few things she thought were necessary to keep in her locker, now that she has had a year of locker experience under her belt – and this is what she came up with:
- An extra jacket: “Just in case! Sometimes it’s easy to forget to bring a jacket, and sometimes the weather can change on you pretty quick!”
- Extra pencils (that are already sharpened): “Sometimes your pencils can break in class and it’s nice to have extra ones all ready to go for your next period.”
- Tissues: “Because there will be one day; and you will have a runny nose, and it will be faster if you have some in your locker all ready to use!”
- Extra folders, paper, binders, etc.: “Everyone will need extra supplies at some point – better to have them now than be sorry!”
- Plastic zip up bags: “It’s great to have a couple of these in your locker in case your crayon box gets ruined, or you need to keep paper clips or pencils together in one spot.”
- Clorox Disinfecting Wipes: “ You should definitely keep these in you locker because when you are going from class to class you don’t have a lot of time, so if you get something sticky or just need to wipe something clean, you don’t have to waste any time – so you won’t have to worry about being late for class!”
I just loved learning the way a 7th grader thinks! I obviously love the Clorox Disinfecting Wipes because they can quickly remove germs and bacteria that are lurking around (like inside of those school lockers!) They can also be used on multiple surfaces – like appliances, shopping carts, tables, sinks, etc. and the regular Clorox Disinfecting Wipes canisters are made from a recyclable number 2 class of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) – and I’m all for recycling.
From July 19th – August 1st (while you are doing your back to school shopping) at Target you can also save 5% off of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes when you use your Cartwheel App!
The Clorox Disinfecting wipes can be found in the cleaning aisle as well as on special displays in the store.
Middle school: year #2 isn’t that far away – and I’m not too worried….because my little Miss Anika managed to pull off a 4.0 last semester (insert: mom bragging moment here). I’m excited to see how this year goes for her!
Do you have a middle schooler? What was the hardest transition for them to make?
~Melissa
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DadsMyHero #CollectiveBias
Hello everyone! Can you believe that Father’s Day is now less than a month away? I know I’ve said this many times, but I still cannot believe just how fast this year is flying by!
I always make sure that we do something special for Wayne on Father’s Day. I think it’s very important to teach the kids to give back, be kind, and downright spoil their Dad at least one day out of the year. Some of you may not know, but Wayne isn’t Anika’s biological father – though he has raised her since she was 18 months old, and to him, she is his. Family doesn’t always equal blood – it’s who is there for you no matter what.
Thanks to Tree Top for sponsoring this conversation! All opinions are of my own. 
We’ve been so lucky in our little community. It seems as if there’s always a small group of people willing to go the extra mile to ensure that our kids have opportunities available for them in this small town, whether it be field trips and assemblies at school, sports programs, reading programs, and now – a community garden at the grade school.
I didn’t grow up here, and neither did my husband – we just took a leap of faith when we moved here 8 years ago, and I’m glad we did.
Someone at the grade school worked hard, and we now have a school garden to show for their diligence. While I didn’t attend the planning comity (I’ve been keeping pretty busy with the PTSO these days) I wanted to make sure that I was able to participate with the kids in this program in some way. A few weekends ago we all headed over to the garden site and pitched in with getting the area ready to plant. It was a lot of work and by far the largest garden area that my kids have ever helped with. The best part about it is that it’s right behind our house, adjacent to the grade school, so we will literally be able see the progress and plant growth every day, and will probably help care for the garden in the summer as well.
After helping prepare the school garden, the kids (especially Noah and Emma) were even more excited to plant our own garden. You may remember that last summer was the first year we had planted a raised garden of our own in our side yard. Noah is just now really old enough to full understand how planting a garden works and the work that goes into making it a success – and all of that comes from hands on education and awareness – it makes it so much more exciting for young kids, and they are more eager to try new vegetables’ after they’ve put the work into caring for the plants.
Tree Top is a brand that we’ve always loved because they are located in the heart of Washington’s apple country, and we love supporting local companies whenever possible. Tree Top is a grower-owned co-op that is also rooted in the communities where they work and live. Tree Top has been a trusted brand with top-quality products like juices, smoothies and sauces for over 50 years – and their growers are committed to raising top quality fruits for our families to enjoy. As part of their commitment, Tree Top is partnering with KidsGardening.org to help change the world by growing the next generation – one child, one school and community at a time. For every purchase of Tree Top Apple Sauce pouches, Tree Top donates a dollar to KidsGardening.org to help fund community garden projects across the country! How amazing would it be if all kids had an opportunity like this?
Not only is Tree Top devoted to supporting KidsGardening.org – but their products are a delicious snack for hungry helpers! Their apple sauce pouches are mess-free, taste great and super convenient for little working hands to consume because you don’t need a spoon!
We’ve got about half of our little garden finished at this point and Noah is proud to have his first “garden” barrel of his very own this year.
Does your kids’ school have a community garden? Check out KidsGardening.org for some helpful educational resources so you can talk to your kids about where their food comes from!
Be sure to enter below for a chance to win a $60 gardening set!
- The giveaway will be open from April 7, 2015 to May 15, 2015 at midnight PST and will be sponsored by Sway Group.
- Forty winners (from all 40 giveaways) will be selected to receive a gardening set valued at $60.
- Sway Group will select the winners on or about May 18, 2015 and we will follow up with the prizewinners. No further action will be needed from the campaign participants.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tree Top
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AvengersUnite #CollectiveBias
Yesterday Noah and I did something a little bit different. It was a gorgeous day outside and I had recently bought half of the flat of strawberries, knowing that I was going to make strawberry shortcake soon.
Noah had been wanting me to play with him for quite a while, but I’ve been so busy lately that I, unfortunately, hadn’t taken a couple of hours out of my day to just play pretend with him – and I felt bad.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SidelineHero #CollectiveBias
You guys – tomorrow it officially starts – all three of the kids are now in sports and at the same time! This should be an interesting journey that we are beginning! While Emma and Noah are doing a new sport, Anika is still happily busy with soccer.
I was a little leery putting her on a club because I knew there would be more driving involved and the seasons were a little different (her games continue through Memorial weekend so there’s a month of overlapping sports), but so far it hasn’t been too bad and she loves her coach. Our babysitter’s husband is actually the girls high school soccer coach, and Anika really wants to play with him in a few years, so we knew she needed to continue playing in middle school if she wanted a shot, so she’s chosen soccer as ‘her sport’.
Since I’ve been doing this ‘soccer mom’ thing for quite a few years now (and I have a few more to go!), I’ve learned a trick or two, especially with having younger kids who tag along and are sideline heroes for every game.
We’ve all spent hours cheering Anika on from the sideline over the years, handing out POWERADE® and snacks when needed. I prefer to give the kids good snacks that will keep them happy and full until the next meal time, so I keep a lunch cooler that the kids bought for me stocked with things to keep everyone happy.
These are 5 must have snacks that you need to pack before soccer games:
1. Drinks – we always have cold water on hand, but we also like to have POWERADE® for everyone too – POWERADE® is formulated with Vitamins B3, B6, & B12 to support energy metabolism, and a 6% carbohydrate solution to help provide energy to working muscles.
2. Fresh Produce – there’s nothing better than munching on some fresh fruit and veggies – and next time you are shopping look for a coupon on the 12-pack 12 oz POWERADE® packages and you can get $1 off Walmart fresh produce when you buy two 12-pack 12 oz POWERADE®. (Hurry this deal is only available while supplies last!)
3. Cheese – cheese sticks or slices are always a favorite with the kids.
4. Nuts and crackers – mixed nuts and crackers are good because they don’t need refrigerated and can be kept in the car for emergencies (like if the game goes over or you run out of other snacks)
5. Yogurt – kids love a sweet treat, and yogurt satisfies their cravings. There is a lot of options for yogurt nowadays, from yogurt in squeeze tubes to drinkable yogurt, you don’t always have to pack a spoon if you don’t want to.
You can find the 12 pack (12 ounces each) POWERADE® in the beverage aisle at Walmart – they are the perfect size for thirsty players!
~Melissa
This post is sponsored by Mott’s.
I have a confession to make: a few weeks ago I did something terrible – I forgot to add lunch money on to Anika’s account at school…a few days in a row.
She came home, slammed her bag down and immediately ran over to our snack cupboard and grabbed some beef jerky and a Mott’s® Snack & Go pouch and plopped herself down on the couch. I asked her how her day was and she proceeded to give me “the look” that pre-teen girls seem to have perfected. “I didn’t have any money on my lunch account, so they would only let me get fruit, salad, and water!”
Oops.
My point in sharing my little mistake is that we all goof up sometimes and forget things (sometimes even when we get an automated call from the school the night before!) and you know what? Life goes on. Unfortunately I’m sure she was a little embarrassed, however no harm was done and I think that it is a good thing for our kids to see that we aren’t perfect and that we all are trying our best. With that being said, I know that I’m a busy mom and there are some little things I do to make things like after school snacks and on-the-go meals a little easier for everyone.
1. Keep a snack cupboard. The first thing I do is stock the snack cupboard – I’m not very good at preparing an after school snack every day for the kids, so I don’t worry about it and leave that up to them. They have their own designated snacks cupboard filled with things that they can get without assistance like jerky, crackers, protein bars, and Mott’s® Snack & Go applesauce pouches. That way they have a variety of things to eat that all provide them with some sort of nutrition – the applesauce is convenient because each pouch is a serving, I can keep them in the cupboard vs. the fridge, and they are an excellent source of vitamin C.
2. Freeze Breakfasts ahead of time. I’ve talked about this a time or two before; most days the kids are happy with cereal or oatmeal, but on days that we are running late it’s nice to have something available for them in the car, so I always have breakfast bars on hand and will try to keep frozen breakfast sandwiches or burritos that I’ve made ahead of time that can be quickly warmed up in the microwave. If I’m going to spend any time prepping for meals or snacks, this is the first thing I will do.
3. Make the kids help. Now, I know what you are thinking…this doesn’t make it easier! I know that initially it takes more work to teach your kids to help make a few meals and it does take a greater effort on your part – but what you are doing is making an investment towards more free time later on. Teaching kids to make simple things like grilled cheese sandwiches, oatmeal, and pancakes will not only help them learn responsibility, but can help you later on with dinners too. At least a couple of times a month I have Anika in charge of dinner, and she’ll make waffles or soup and sandwiches, and by spending a little extra time teaching her the way to do things, it’s made life a little easier here and there for Wayne and I.
Do you have any shortcuts that help make mealtimes easier for your family?
Mott’s® Snack & Go is the nutritious applesauce kids love in a squeezable pouch they can take with them wherever they go. Mott’s is also the only applesauce brand with Box Tops for Education, helping to support kids’ schools. Visit us on motts.com to learn more.
~Melissa
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Motts® via Mode
Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative
of the opinions of Motts®.
Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative
of the opinions of Motts®.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurellWipes #CollectiveBias
My kids – oh how I love them – those crazy little beings. We fight, we argue, but I’ll never forget these silly little moments when they are in their element – playing outside in all of the glorious dirt and mud and having fun.
You guys know that I’m a nurse, so I know all about germs – but thankfully I don’t let them get the best of me. If I worried about germs all of the time I would go crazy! Thankfully, I too was raised playing in the outdoors and my imagination ran wild in the grassy fields and beneath old plum trees – and you know what? For the most part the saying is true, ‘dirt don’t hurt.’
However, when the kids clean up I still like having a peace of mind that they are, you know, actually clean, and lots of times I’d keep PURELL® Hand Sanitizer on hand for such jobs, but now there are new PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes which are absolutely amazing! Not only do they clean up dirty hands and faces, but it also wipes away the germs as well and is perfect for those moments when you need to both clean and sanitize your hands.
They are located in the household cleaning aisles at Walmart and come in a 70-count clean refreshing scent canister as well as a 35-count fragrance free canister.
PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes have been proven to reduce the transmission of germs in households! A study recently conducted by a leading researcher at the University of Arizona showed a significant reduction in risk of infection with use of PURELL® Wipes in the home at least once per day. Used with or without alcohol-based gel hand sanitizers, a superior form of reducing germ transmission, wipes have the added convenience of removing soils. Wipes are a convenient way to both cleanse the hands and reduce transmission of germs – which makes this mama happy!
PURELL® also has a loyalty program you can check out as well as a coupon for $1.00 on any PURELL® Wipes canister or Save $1.00 on any two PURELL® products!
Kids should be happy and have the freedom to create however they want. Let them play in dirt, fling paint, smash chalk – after all, they are only little once! Do you agree?
~Melissa
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