Category Archives: Family

August 7, 2015 · 2:02 am

Get Organized With These DIY Rain Gutter Bookshelves #Back2SchoolReady

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Back2SchoolReady #CollectiveBias

We are a book loving family. My kids love getting new books even more than new toys! No bedtime routine is complete without us reading aloud together and it’s one of my favorite things. Sharing a great book with my children, the discussions they spur and that quality time we spend reading is priceless.

This time of year has people focusing on Back to School. Thinking about school supplies and clothes shopping as well as getting your pantry and freezer stocked with quick, nutritious breakfast, lunch and after-school snack foods. Kellogg’s has lots of products to choose from to help with that.

I was in Walmart recently and in their seasonal aisle it was stocked with like Nutri-Grain breakfast bars, Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats and more.

Over in the frozen section there were so many boxes of delicious Eggo Waffles to choose from! As I was making my selections, I saw something amazing on the boxes! Each specially marked box was redeemable for a free Scholastic Book!

Great Kellogg’s product and free books made me a very happy camper.

My kids love Eggo Waffles and they are easy to make even on busy school mornings.

Nutri-Grain breakfast bars let you enjoy a nutritious and delicious breakfast on the go! They are a favorite choice for this busy mom. My kids love them for breakfast, in their lunchbox and even as an after school snack.

Rice Krispies Treats are another favorite lunch box snack for my boys. Who can forget one of my favorites growing up, Pop-Tarts! They are still going strong and one my kids choose for a quick snack or after school treat. With Kellogg’s there is never a reason to skip breakfast! After all, it is the most important meal of the day!

This Kellogg’s free Scholastic book promotion is truly the icing on the Kellogg’s cake! Every specially marked box has a code inside redeemable for a Scholastic Book of your choice. This free book promotion is great even if you don’t have little ones. Think about donating the books to less fortunate children and share the gift of reading. Donate them to a school, day care or nursery school in the area. For teachers this is a great way to get books for your classroom. I am so excited about this, can you tell?

It is so easy to redeem the codes for these free books. If you do not have one already you just set up a Kellogg’s Family Rewards Account HERE and then just put your code in and choose from a drop down list the store you purchased the product from. You can then enter more codes and when you’re done order your books.

You can choose hard copy or eBooks with your codes. You can choose to donate a book to the school of your choice online. You can only donate hard copy books. When you donate a book to the school of your choice it will ship in an envelope that says it was generously donated by your family. All codes must be redeemed within 14 days of purchase. All books are shipped free of charge. Spanish titles are also available.

It is easy to choose your books and you can select by reading level. Have your child choose books that interest them. You can easily add all kinds of topics and reading level books to your home library. Having a good variety of books encourages kids to read.

We just redeemed 5 codes and ordered 2 Magic School Bus Books, A Clifford Book, 100 Most Feared Creatures and There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Book! We are excited to get them!

You can also buy direct at Walmart.com and receive free book purchases from purchases made between 7/21/15-9/11/15. Look for Buy Now button HERE for a list of all eligible items. E-commerce redemptions are made via receipt scanning. See full details at the HERE link above. Remember whether purchased in store or online you must redeem your code within 14 days to get your free book!

With all the great books we have and all the new free Scholastic books that are on their way to us, we needed some more book storage. If you’re in the same boat, I want to share an easy, fast, inexpensive book storage solution that looks great too!

These book shelves that my husband and I recently put up in our son’s room are made from inexpensive vinyl rain gutters you can pick up in most home improvement stores.

They are very inexpensive, we purchased a 10′ rain gutter for under $4. You need end caps and they are about $3 a piece and sold in sets of two. We used screws with anchors to attach them to the wall. For less than $10 each we had two 3′ book shelves and another 4′ book shelf we are putting by his bed. We love the results so much we are putting many more of these up. In our music room we plan to put some up to hold all the music books.

I would advise you purchase the vinyl rain gutters over the aluminum for a number of reasons. First and foremost they are safer, no sharp edges for kids or adults to get cut on, no shards of metal from drilling for screws or cutting. They will not get dented or bent the way aluminum gutters will. There is no crimping that needs to be done to attach the end caps as the vinyl end caps fit on easily and cleanly.

We cut the 10 foot gutter up into two 3 ft. pieces and one 4 ft. piece. There are lots of options with these gutters and you can even get connecting pieces to let them wrap a corner.

When we brought them home we just attached the end caps to each 3 foot section.

Next, my husband easily drilled three holes for the screws. We put 1 screw on each end and one in the middle. We used wall anchor screws and we added a washer that you fit under the lip of the gutter on the inside of the shelf and stops the screw from puckering the vinyl on the interior of the shelf.

Then he put the shelf on the wall, leveled it and marked the screw holes. He then put the anchors in the wall. After that he just attached them to the wall with the screws and we were good to go.

Easy inexpensive book shelves made from vinyl rain gutters! #storage #books #diy #Back2SchoolReady #Ad #mommyramblings

A video posted by Mommy Ramblings (@mommyramblingsblog) on Aug 6, 2015 at 9:59am PDT

These rain gutter shelves are super sturdy, hold lots of book and look great! Let me know what you think? What do you do for your book storage?

31 Comments

Filed under DIY, Family, Home & Garden, Main Page Post, Shoppertunity

Tagged as #Back2SchoolReady, Back To School, Bookshelves, Breakfast, DIY, Donate Books, Eggo Waffles, Free Books, Kellogg's, lunch, Nutri-Grain Bars, Pop-Tarts, Rain Gutter, Scholastic Books, Snacks

August 1, 2015 · 2:20 pm

How To Save & Share Your Summer Memories

Are you capturing lots of sweet summer memories on your digital camera? Looking for a way to turn them into beautiful keepsakes to treasure for a lifetime? AdoramaPix helps people do just that with their custom photo books that let you display your captured memories in rich color and vibrant detail.

Thick, durable, professional grade photo paper resists fading and ensures that your photos will be just as colorful for future generations. The binding is lay-flat, so even panoramic images can splash across two pages without any separation. Your memories deserve to live in a stylish, archival home with AdoramaPix photo books.

You can find all the fun gift ideas HERE! Good news you can save 25% on AdoramaPix square photo books (6×6,8×8,10×10,12×12) when you use the promo code pxusfam25 at checkout. Offer expires 9/30/15 so keep capturing those memories and then use the code to create your summer memory book at a great savings!

LEGO Brick Fest Live Lets LEGO Lovers Get Their Brick Fix! #BrickFest

One of our summer day trips recently took us to Brick Fest Live at the Meadowlands Expo Center in New Jersey. Our kids are huge LEGO fans, so this was something they were really looking forward to. We arrived at the center for one of the 4 hour sessions.

When we walked in we were immediately greeted by a full size Woody from Toy Story figure made entirely out of LEGO bricks. We looked at amazing LEGO structures of all kinds-motorized, glow-in-the-dark and one of a kind creations like the full size portrait of Bonnie Raitt.

Then they tried some hands on fun in the huge pit of red LEGO bricks of every shape and size. My kids loved sitting in a sea or red LEGO bricks and building structures they could then leave for all to see on a display table.

There was a LEGO brick character to take pictures with, LEGO miniature golf, free build areas where you could design your own creations on vertical panels adding to a LEGO billboard of design. Build creations and add them to the LEGO City. Build a race car then race against others. There was a section for little LEGO lovers that featured multiple sit and build play space filled with single color Duplo blocks.

Of course there were vendors where you could find all kinds of minifigures or build your own, find that rare figure you were looking for and even a bargain LEGO club deal that we could not pass up. Our kids had a great time and came home with some custom minifigures, a Hulk LEGO, the T-Shirt, backpack, and LEGO building sets and accessories deal.

If you have LEGO lovers big or small and have the opportunity to attend Brick Fest Live you will not be disappointed. Have you been to a LEGO Brick Fest Live event? If so, I would love to hear about your experience. Please tell me about it in the comments. If you are planning a trip I would love to hear that as well too.

#BeeBold For Bees & Join Friends Of The Earth BeeAction Campaign! We Did!

I love being outside this time of year because there’s so much beauty to be seen. I have my perennials exploding with color, gold and rose finches by the dozens, cardinals, doves, robins, wrens, chickadees, woodpeckers, swallowtail butterflies and even a pair of majestic bald eagles that nest on our lake all around. Of course along with the birds we have our helpers the bees who keep our flowers, vegetables and fruits pollinated.

I am very opposed to any type of pesticide use that is not natural or organic. Did you know that bees are dying at alarming rates due to the use of pesticides that are toxic to bees called neonic pesticides. Did you know that many bee friendly plants you can buy have neonic pesticides in them? Neonic pesticides are one of the most widely used class of insecticides in the world and are manufactured by Bayer and Syngenta.

Bees are crucial for our food system. Are you aware that bees and other pollinators are essential for two-thirds of the food crops we eat everyday such as almonds, squash, cucumbers, apples, oranges, blueberries, and peaches.

One out of every three bites of food we eat is pollinated by honeybees. The land around our home is a pesticide free zone and we garden organically and the many sunflowers, perennials and vegetables and fruits we have growing all over are flourishing thanks to bees.

Neonics are also harming other helpful insects and animals critical to sustainable food production and healthy ecosystems, like wild bees, butterflies, dragonflies, lacewings, and ladybugs,birds,earthworms,mammals and aquatic insects. There is an urgent need to restrict neonics in the United States and Canada.

Bees contribute over $20 billion to the U.S. economy and $217 billion to the global economy. Neonics are widely used in the U.S. on 140 crops and for cosmetic use in gardens. Neonics can last in soil, water and the environment for months to years to come. Neonics can kill bees outright and make them more vulnerable to pests, pathogens and other stressors while impair their foraging and feeding abilities, reproduction and memory.

Beekeepers have lost an average of 30% of their hives in recent years, with some beekeepers losing all of their hives and many leaving the industry. This is too high to be sustainable. Recent losses are staggering making it difficult for beekeepers to stay in business and for farmers to meet their pollination needs for important crops like almonds and berries.

Friends of the Earth is helping to do something about the declining bee populations and the use of neonic pesticides. Bringing awareness of the dangers of using neonic pesticides and with their “bee’n’bee” kits that allow people to create a bee oasis in their backyards.

BeeAction-Create A Bee Friendly Yard:

Friends of the Earth U.S. had “bee kits” and “bee’n’bee” houses. The kits contain organic sunflower seeds and resources, a bee-safe and pesticide-free zone aluminum yard sign and other informational materials. The “bee’n’bee”kits will include a mason bee house and resources to maintain the house and create pollinator friendly habitat.

Both kits will include resources that will allow people to get more involved with Friends of the Earth and its #BeeAction Campaign. The goal is that after taking action in their own backyards through the “bee map” and kits, individuals and families will use it to connect and stay engaged with Friends of the Earth and the campaign on marketplace and local, state and federal organizing around protecting bees and other essential pollinators.

We recently received a “bee’n’bee” kit with a mason bee house and resources to create a pollinator friendly habitat. It is advised to hang the mason house on a tree, fence or your house about 3-6 feet above the ground in an area that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. It is also advisable to have a wide range of annuals and perennials for the pollinators we are attracting.

Some Good News:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it will phase out neonics by 2016
More than a twenty nurseries, landscaping companies and retailers across the U.S. are taking steps to eliminate bee harming pesticides from their garden plants and their store
BJ’s Wholesale Club , announced they will require vendors to remove neonics from plants by the end of 2014 or else they will carry warning labels.
Home Depot, has decided to label plants with neonicotinoids and is working with its suppliers to “find alternative insecticides for protecting live goods and bees.
Lowe’s, made a public commitment to eliminate neonicotinoid pesticides from its stores including products and plants treated with them, redouble existing integrated pest management practices for suppliers and provide additional material educating customers about pollinator health.
Whole Foods issued a new product rating system, which identifies pollinator protection as a priority by restricting neonicotinoid pesticides.
Cities, states and universities across the U.S. have taken steps to restrict neonicotinoids.

We Need To Do More!

We need to change the law to restrict neonics in the U.S. as Europe and Ontario, Canada have done.

Our own survival is tied closely to the survival of bees and other pollinators. Find out more how you can help the bees and other pollinators at BeeAction Campaign. Follow Friends Of The Earth on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

This post is sponsored by Friends of the Earth. As always my words and views are 100% my own.

Today Is The Day! Scream For Ice Cream Sundaes and Saving Money! #BRSundae

Did you know July is National Ice Cream month? Oh no, you didn’t? I am so sorry. You are probably bummed since it’s the last day of July and you’re finding out now. Maybe you feel like you’re always the last to know this good stuff. Don’t despair! I have great news! Baskin-Robbins is holding a “Celebrate 31” promotion today,Friday, July 31st!

Head on over to your nearest Baskin-Robbins and enjoy your favorite Sundae at a 31% discount. This is like having your cake and eating it too except it’s ice cream and not cake, unless you count a brownie as cake, because you can get the discount on a Brownie Sundae too! You can choose Classic Two-Scoop Sundaes, Brownie Sundaes, Banana Royale Sundaes, Classic Banana Splits which I know are not really Sundaes and Layered Sundaes.

Now if you like plain ice cream, you can save on a Two-Scoop Sundae with no toppings, I know that’s not really a Sundae but it still counts so why push the envelope here. Some people just enjoy the deliciousness of Baskin-Robbins ice cream on its own and that’s okay! That’s exactly what my daughter did. She ordered up 2 scoops sans any toppings of OREO® Cookies & Cream and Cookie Dough ice cream-As you can tell she likes cookies!

One of my sons chose a two scoop cone with chocolate and vanilla ice cream and rainbow sprinkles that was upgraded to a waffle cone for free. My other son had a 2 scoop sundae with OREO Cookies & Cream and OREO Chocolate Malt ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. I had my all-time favorite Jamoca Almond Fudge that I have loved since I was a kid and OREO Chocolate Malt Ice Cream in a 2 Scoop Sundae with hot fudge, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. My husband had OREO Cookies & Cream and OREO Chocolate Malt ice cream, caramel, whipped cream, nuts and a cherry in his 2 Scoop Sundae! It was a night of yummy, delicious ice cream all around!!

Want more good news? I know you do, and you’re thinking what could be better than a discount on Baskin-Robbins delicious ice cream Sundaes right? Well, you might want to sit down for this-Baskin-Robbins July Flavor of the Month is OREO® ‘N Cake, see there’s that cake again! The popular flavor is a sweet combination of cake-flavored ice cream and OREO® cookie pieces with chocolate cake batter flavored ribbon-Yummy!

Okay and please remain seated because I want to let you know that for this month of July Baskin-Robbins has been letting customers upgrade their double scoop of ice cream with a free freshly baked waffle cone. Okay so what are you waiting for? The day will not last forever, head on over to one of Baskin-Robbins nearly 2,500 shops in the U.S. and indulge in the extensive library of ice cream flavors, customizable ice cream cakes, frozen beverages and sundaes!

Now let me share one last thing so you don’t miss out on this kind of stuff again. Visit and follow Baskin-Robbins on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so you are in the loop on these great happenings in the future. Okay now let the screaming for ice cream commence!

This post is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins as always my views and words are 100% my own.

17 Comments

Filed under Family, Family Fun, Rewards, Sale

Tagged as 31% Off, Baskin-Robbins, Ice Cream Sundaes, National Ice Cream Month, Oreo Cake Ice Cream, Save

July 27, 2015 · 1:22 am

Back-To-School-Keep You Kids Belongings Safe & Save Money

I don’t even want to think about back to school yet, but I know some of you in the south are facing that reality. I am sure you have spent a big chunk of change on your children’s new backpacks, shoes, sneakers, jackets, clothing and supplies to start the year. Don’t let anything get lost because it wasn’t labeled. Right now you can save 20% on Label Daddy labels!

Label Daddy is the number one solution for labeling your belongings! Remember to label all clothing, sports equipment, electronics, musical instruments, backpacks, calculators and other personal belongings your kids bring to school, camp, sports practice, day care, vacation, and other places. Label Daddy labels keep them from getting lost or mixed up with others. These labels are great for adults too! — Put them on your sunglass/eyeglass case, phone, camera, sports equipment, tablet, e-reader, hats, clothing, and more.

These labels are super durable, peel-and-stick washable labels — they’re washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant! Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! Pick from tons of colors, sizes and logos, including Disney and Marvel characters, MLB, NBA, and NHL team logos, other sport and fun logos, and more. Their exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for camp! These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.

I just ordered both of my boys MLB, NY Yankees Label Daddy Labels! They are just going to love them and we also have the Marvel Label Daddy Labels in Hulk and Captain America. I label everything! Better safe than sorry, we spend too much money on their belongings to just leave it to chance.

Save 20% on your entire Label Daddy order – this is the best discount available anywhere. Use code USFAMILY20 at checkout, to start shopping click HERE! Do you have any tips for keeping your child’s belongings safe? I would love to have you share with me in the comments.

14 Comments

Filed under Discount Code, Family, Home, kids, Sale, USFG

Tagged as Back To School, Discount Code, Label Daddy, safe, Sale, Save 20%

July 20, 2015 · 4:04 am

Crystal Springs Resort-The Perfect Summer Staycation Destination-#ExploreCrystal

If you are in the New York, New Jersey or Connecticut area or plan to be traveling in that area you need to check out Crystal Springs Resort. The Crystal Springs Resort is the perfect destination for your summer staycation that you will never want to leave! I was so surprised that just a little over an hour from our home was an oasis of lush landscape filled with gardens, spectacular pools, trails, activities, golf courses, spas, fine dining and more.

We recently stayed at the Grand Cascades Lodge, the highlight of the three unique upscale lodging properties of Crystal Springs Resort, located in Sussex County, N.J. We were amazed from the moment we arrived. We were immediately greeted by a young attendant who looked just like a young Ricky Schroeder and had a personality to match! His smile and friendly demeanor put us right at ease as he guided us to the lobby to check in.

Walking through the front doors to the front desk was amazing this lodge is rustic elegance at its best. Large leather couches and chairs surround a gas fireplace that was roaring even in July and had people sitting nearby reading the paper or their tablets. The front desk staff were very attentive and quickly assigned our one bedroom suite with fireplace and deck . Our luggage was loaded onto a cart by an attendant who escorted us up ot our home away from home. The free valet parking gave us one less thing to worry about and allowed us to go right up to our room to get settled.

This suite had a full gourmet kitchen with an eat at counter and the dining area featured a large round table with plenty of chairs. A closet in the kitchen had a stack-able washer and dryer which was so convenient. The huge bathroom with jet tub and shower, double sinks and loads of fluffy towels had a door off the main living area as well as one from the bedroom.

The bedroom had a huge king size bed, full length cheval mirror, TV, huge closet and seating to make us feel right at home. The living room featured sleeper couch, love seat, flat screen TV, grandfather clock, gas fireplace that ignites in a second with a switch on the wall and a door leading to a deck area with large table and four large, thickly cushioned patio chairs. There was a built in desk with free high speed internet connection between the dining and living area. Everything was beautifully decorated and family friendly just perfect for any family staycation.

We took advantage of the free turn down service that lets guests choose from a selection of times for staff to come in and turn down your beds, get the sleeper sofa set up and put chocolates on your pillow. The staff was gracious and accommodating to our every need, providing laundry soap and even a shaving kit when my husband realized he forgot his.

During our short stay we ate at the Crystal Tavern an upscale but still family friendly pub for dinner and breakfast. Another great option given the gourmet kitchen, is for families to prepare some of their own meals. The kitchen has everything you need and adequate space to do it. The full size gourmet stove and oven is perfect for whatever you want to cook and the cabinets are appointed with all the dishes, glassware, serving, cooking and baking pieces and accessories you would need. Down the road from the resort, you will find several grocery and department stores for food or whatever else you may need during your stay.

The Grand Cascades Lodge features the 10,000 square foot Biosphere Pool Complex which is a tropical oasis pool with water slide and lagoon feel. It has a smaller pool that connects the inside with the outside and you can swim through a passage and arrive outside in a small pool which you can exit to enter a larger outdoor pool with gorgeous rock waterfall and lush landscaping of beautiful perennials.

A short walk from there, is the Vista 360 pool that has a water slide that younger kids can go on. The slide in the Biosphere has a minimum height of 48″ which our older son just made by the hair on his head but our younger son needed more than some spiked hair to reach 48″. The water slide at the Vista 360 was the perfect option to let the under 48″ crowd play on a super cool water slide that was really appreciated by this mom. The vista is a series of pools that are on different levels with waterfall features and a vortex pool, where a constant circular current of water creates water merry-go-round that kids and adults alike will enjoy.

The outdoor Chef’s Garden is an inspiring outdoor venue that allows guests a truly unique “garden-to-table” al fresco dining experience set amidst beautiful organic vegetables,flowers, herbs and Kittatinny Mountain Range backdrop. Throughout the resort there are dispensers of ice-cold water with lemon always available. You can also get your food and drinks served poolside!

Like to golf? There are 6 award-winning golf courses (Ballyowen, Black Bear, Cascades, Crystal Springs, Minerals,
Wild Turkey) including NJ’s 1 rated Ballyowen! There are 2 luxury spas – Reflections and Elements, voted in top 100 Spas of America offering a variety of services from manicures, pedicures, massages and more! If you want to relax and be pampered you will want to check those out.

The Adventure Center features all kinds of activities like archery, hiking, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, water trampoline and horseback riding in a mountaintop setting with pristine lake. There are available babysitting services and fitness facilities available as well. The concierge at each hotel provides an activity calendar that speaks to all of Crystal Spring’s on site events.

We spent the majority of our time there in the pools that are kids just loved. The water slides were fabulous and they literally wore themselves out on them. During our time there we got to witness a set up for a wedding that was later that afternoon and what a beautiful setting for a wedding! We were told that Winter experience at Crystal Springs is something to experience as well with all kinds of winter activities like snow tubing and skiing.

As a germophobe, I will tell you the rooms are so clean and the hotel is as well. I did not even feel the need to do the extensive checking I normally do, even in 5 star resorts to make sure things were clean. Everything was immaculate. It was such a relaxing time and you may have noticed my absence from the blog for a few days as I totally unplugged.

I really cannot say enough good about this resort and my kids are already asking when we can go back. I know it will not be long, it is definitely on our radar now and we feel blessed that it’s only a stone’s throw from our house. I hope this post filled you with staycation ideas. There are Specials & Packages available too, check out the special discounts and promotions below for Mommy Ramblings’ Blog Readers!

Special Discounts & Promotions For Mommy Ramblings’ Readers:

Stay 2 nights and receive the 2nd night at 50% off
Stay 3 nights and receive the 3rd night free!
Stay mid-week and enjoy up to $225 in resort-wide credit

Stay one night at Grand Cascades or Minerals and receive $50 in resort credit
Stay two nights at Grand Cascades or Minerals and receive $150 resort credit
Stay three nights at Grand Cascades or Minerals and receive $225 in resort credit
Call 844.840.7392 to book your stay just say you saw the discount on Mommy Ramblings Blog to redeem the specials above.

Follow Crystal Springs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up to date discounts, promotions! Have you ever stayed at any of the three Crystal Springs properties? If so, I would love to hear about it, just leave me a message in the comments. If you have any questions you can ask in the comments too!

This post is sponsored by Crystal Springs but as always my words and opinions are 100% my own.

14 Comments

Filed under Attractions, Family, Family Fun, Travel

Tagged as #ExploreCrystal, Crystal Springs, Family Staycation, Golf, Grand Cascades Lodge, Mineral Springs, Mommy Ramblings, Pools, Spa, Staycation Ideas, Summer Staycation, travel

July 7, 2015 · 12:49 pm

How I Created A Nursery That’s A Jungle Of Fun-#MagicBabyMoments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
#MagicBabyMoments #CollectiveBias

Living on a lake in a resort town, we do a lot of entertaining, especially in the summer. When you factor that we have 2 large homes on this lake, we get our share of company. Having five kids, we have loads of baby and kid gear, so if someone forgets any baby gear or accessories, we have extras. We decided it would be a good idea to help our guests out and make things as easy as possible when traveling with baby. We have a large home with many bedrooms so we thought about creating a nursery in one of the guest spaces.

The youngest 2 of our five kids were super close in age and both in cribs at the same time, so we had all the major pieces. We decided to set up a crib and create a nursery space that will be a welcome relief to our visiting family with babies and toddlers. We think it will be a huge relief to them not having to stuff more oversized baby gear in their car or van when visiting.

I was in Walmart the other day and saw their Disney Baby bedding collection. It was literally flying off the shelves it was so popular. I spoke with an associate who told me that was why it seemed sparse. I was lucky to find an adorable Disney Baby Lion King Jungle Fun, 3 Piece Bedding Set that would look great and was unisex. The set has accents of tan, aqua, ivory, green and brown that give me lots of decorating and painting options.

I also picked up a coordinating super soft plush Disney Baby Lion King Jungle Fun Plush Blanket and Knit Beanie. The 3 piece crib set includes a dust ruffle, crib sheet and comforter. Everything is affordably priced and perfect for a brand new nursery or as an easy way to update an existing one.

Heading home I could not wait to deck out the crib with the new bedding. I was impressed with the quality of the set. For such a small price, I didn’t expect it to be so nice. What a pleasant surprise to unpack the items and find the great quality. The darling appliqued comforter is a large 42″ by 33″, the fabric is a 100% polyester microfiber that feels great. The three pieces are easy to care for and are machine washable and dryable. The comforter is so nice and has one cub with a velvety feel that little ones will just love.

The coordinating Lion King plush blanket is super soft and comes with a knit beanie with cute playful ears in a golden shade of yellow great for boys or girls. The blanket is 30″ by 40″ and is machine washable and dryable for easy care which I love. It will be easy to freshen the bedding between our little guests.

I am in the process of going through and adding all the Lion King accents we have like the Pumba and Timon. I have all of the characters in plush, even figurines. I am going to add to a cute little shelf I just painted aqua and will hang on the wall. I still have a lot I want to do like paint the walls a shade of green and bring the changing table in too! I am a perfectionist so I want everything perfect but decided to just get going and get the biggest piece in and work around that. I will update when it’s all finished.

I think the Disney Baby Lion King Jungle Fun 3 Piece Crib Bedding Set and blanket with cap make an adorable theme for this new guest nursery. What do you think? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments

8 Comments

Filed under Baby, Baby Gear, Disney, DIY, Family, Family Fun, Home, Home & Garden, Home Improvement, Shoppertunity

Tagged as #CollectiveBias, #MagicBabyMoments, Disney Baby, Jungle Fun Bedding, Lion King, Nursery, walmart

June 22, 2015 · 12:01 pm

Great Ways To Get That Energy Out This Summer #HealthyHabits

I am part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network and this post is sponsored by the Together Counts/Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital. As always my words and views are 100% my own.

Some of my greatest memories growing up are from great times had as a Girl Scout. The activities, crafts, learning experiences and outdoor adventures have remained with me all my life. Those experiences inspired me to lead my daughter’s Girl Scout troop. Seeing the Girl Scouts as both a scout and a leader showed me what awesome resources there were for girls and their leaders. I remember going to many leader trainings and the sense of camaraderie was so heartwarming.

I learned some great life lessons and values in my time as a scout and as a leader I tried to do that for the girls I was leading. I am excited to share the collaboration of the Girl Scouts Nations’s Capital and the Together Counts program. Together Counts is a program by the “Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation” to reduce obesity through active and healthy living. Inspiring physical activity and good nutrition are the fundamentals of this program.

Balancing Act:

The principle behind the Together Counts is called Energy Balance, which just means balancing the calories we consume with the calories we expend.

Energy In: the calories you get from eating and drinking.

Energy Out: the calories you burn from physical activities.

Now that Summer is officially here, some great ways to get Energy Out are camping, hiking, swimming, biking, planting gardens, mowing lawns, running, community service and so much more. Just getting out and being active makes such a difference. See our list below for inspiration and ideas how to get that Energy Out!

Great Resources:

Girl Scouts in partnership with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation developed three “Healthy Habits” booklets. These free booklets are an excellent resource to use with Daises, Brownies, Juniors, Girl Scout leaders, volunteers and their families to guide them in fun, easy ways to achieve “energy balance.” They provide inspiration and ideas to help girls learn the habits and lead healthy, active lifestyles. The Healthy Habits booklets are helpful for volunteers to use in conjunction with their Journey Adult Guides.

The 3 Healthy Habits booklets available for download include:

Between Earth and Sky with Healthy Habits – girls learn about the many plants, trees,and animals that flourish in nature, and also build important leadership skills.
WOW! Wonders of Water with Healthy Habits – girls discover the many forms and paths that water takes and how to protect it. They also learn how to engage in teamwork,speak effectively to convey a message, and inspire others.
Get Moving! with Healthy Habits – girls learn how to use their energy to protect Earth’s energy and build important leadership skills.

Girl Scouts

My involvement with the Girl Scouts has been such a treasured time of my life as well as my daughter’s life. I love that Health and fitness have been part of Girl Scouting since girls ran foot races in 1912! Camping is essential to Girl Scouts mission. It is about the outdoors, and developing a deep appreciation for nature. I can recall many enjoyable, active outdoor activities and camping trips. Girls enjoy camping with their troop or attending a Girl Scout day, evening or resident sleep-away camp. From high adventure with kayaking, archery and rock climbing to traditional camps with crafts, singing, hiking and cooking over an open fire, Girl Scout camps give girls an opportunity to grow, explore, and have fun under the guidance of caring, trained adults. Find your local council to enroll girls in camp programs.

Girl Scouts’ leadership program is girl-led. And Girl Scouts sure do a lot with guidance from caring adult mentors! From national badge programs to council-wide events, each council offers a variety of exciting program opportunities for girls of all ages. Volunteers are supported with program level and subject training courses online and in classroom settings. There is a lot of peer-to-peer support and mentoring, and quality publications to support the delivery of high quality programs. To locate the council nearest you, see the Girl Scout Council Finder.

Follow Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital on Twitter and Facebook for council information including awards, photos, resources, highlights from council events and volunteering as well as partner content for Together Counts!

Helpful Links:

Together Counts Website –The website is consumer friendly—aimed at parents and educators and provides resources, tips, recipes and more.
Together Counts Blog – The Together Counts blog is the main source of all consumer-friendly news including HWCF campaigns, announcements and content from HWCF partners around the topic of healthy eating habits and incorporating more physical activity.
Together Counts Twitter – On Twitter, Together Counts shares everything from digital assets(video, infographics) to industry or conference news related to food in addition to campaign and partner news.
Together Counts Pinterest – Together Counts’ resource for sharing recipe inspiration from across the network, family activity ideas and pins from partners that relate to family eating and activity including Girl Scouts, Healthy Dining Finders, etc.

Would love to have your thoughts on this great collaboration as well as any of your experiences as a scout or leader you would like to share in the comments.

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Filed under Education, Family, Family Fun, Main Page Post

Tagged as “No Girl Left Inside”, Active, Activity, Energy Balance, Energy Out, Family, Free Booklets, Girl Scouts, Healthy Habits, Obesity, Outdoors, Together Counts, Volunteers

June 18, 2015 · 3:08 pm

See How I Am Celebrating Our Anchor This Father’s Day-#NauticaForDad

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NauticaforDad #CollectiveBias

Since losing my dad 9 years ago, Father’s Day is and always will be bittersweet. The man who I celebrated as the best dad in the world is no longer in this world with me. I miss him every day but thank God for all the years, memories and life that we shared. My father was the greatest and he was someone who really cared about people no matter what their status in life. He was a loving and caring husband, a devoted and loving father, and a brilliant and successful engineer and business owner. I learned so much from him and miss him being here with us.

I am thankful to have my husband by my side and enjoy watching him with our children especially our young sons. I am amazed at how much our youngest idolizes his dad and wants to be like him in every way and how his older brother is so incredibly like his father in personality and temperament. The three of them are super close and do almost everything together. My husband is fully involved and engaged with our kids, coaching little league, teaching them about life, sharing his love of math and science and sports.

He is definitely someone they look up to and admire and our anchor in this family. For Father’s Day this year we plan to spend a relaxing day on the lake we live on. Living on the water is something we all cherish and so last weekend when I saw the Nautica Voyage Gift Set at Macy’s, I knew he would love it .

Nautica Voyage is perfect for my husband because it has an undeniably masculine scent- an anchor of woody amber balanced with musk and damp moss. That really fits my husband to a T and Macy’s had a great deal on the gift set which is a $128 value priced at just $65! The value, brands and selection at Macy’s is why it has been my go-to department store for as long as I can remember. It really never lets me down no matter who or what I am shopping for.

The design of the bottles in this set is so classic and sleek you want to leave them on display because they are too gorgeous to hide in the vanity or medicine cabinet. My husband is going to love this set and the smaller eau de Toilette spray is perfect for travel, like the getaway we have planned for next month.

The shower gel and after shave balm along with the fragrance will have him smelling great whether we get that rare date night on the town together or spend the day just hanging out with family and friends. I cannot wait until he sees it this Sunday! So who are you celebrating this Father’s Day?

You can stay in the loop with Nautica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and be sure and enter the giveaway below for your chance to win big!