Summer Bucket Lists + lots of chances to WIN!

The summer is already half over, but there are still lots of things I'd love to do with my kids before school resumes. Time goes by much too quickly and, unless I've got a list of adventure "To-Dos", many of them are left by the wayside come September.

That's why I love all of the amazing Summer Bucket Lists that are popping up everywhere. Pinterest, alone, has so many that I'd never get through them all. Based on the feedback we've received from our fans on social media, they love them too! So, in case you're still looking for a few more adventures to share with your family this summer, here's a round-up of some of the best bucket lists.

Sunny With a Chance of Sprinkles

Image: Sunny With a Chance of Sprinkles

Fancy Shanty

Image: StacyMolter.com / Fancy Shanty

U-Create Crafts

Image: u-createcrafts.com

If you have a bucket list you'd like to share, please connect with us on social media!

         

And now for some more fun - giveaways!! 

We have lots of wonderful bloggers who love our labels and are spreading the word. If you'd like to enter to win a School Package of labels and tags in time for back-to-school season, check out the reviews and giveaways, below. All are open to residents of Canada and the US. Good luck!

Celiac Baby - ends August 10, 2013

Kiddies Corner Deals - ends August 10, 2013

The Koala Bear Writer - ends August 13, 2013

Homeschooling Mom 4 Two - ends August 21, 2013

Ways To Beat The Summer Heat

We've had a hot spell here the past few weeks and, now that school's out, the days can be tough to fill with activities. Who wants to get active outside when it's so hot?

There are lots of fun ways to keep cool in the summer, so why not turn them into special events for the kids to look forward to on the hottest of days?

Simply grab a mason jar and write down your family's favorite fun summer activities onto strips of paper. You can make it as budget-friendly as you wish, determining in advance how many days each week you'll do a special activity, and what those activities will be. They can range from simple, stay-at-home activities, to more extravagant adventures. 

Then check your local weather listings to find out which days are slated to be the hottest each week, and let your kid(s) choose an activity from the jar on each of those days.

Some ideas to get you started:

• making homemade ice cream (you don't need an ice cream maker!) or popsicles
• hosting a Hawaiian-themed sprinkler party in the backyard, complete with homemade hula skirts and leis (don't wear them in the sprinkler, though!)
• a day of fun at a waterpark
• making homemade edible peanut butter play dough with your kids - a great, unexpected treat!

Get your kids involved and let them have a say in what goes in the jar - you'll be assured of having active, involved participants in any activity that's chosen.  Make it a special treat, allowing each of your children to take turns picking from it.

Have any other fun ideas? Comment below or share them on our Facebook page, Twitter or Google+ page. And, if you've got some more ice cream recipes or popsicle ideas, our Pinterest page is just the place to show 'em off!!

Here's to a fun-filled summer!

Food and Family

It’s amazing how food brings family together. For as long as I can remember, cooking with my mom has been a tradition. Not only did I cook with my mom, but also my grandmother. It was something we loved to do together when my sister and I were young, and still love to do it to this day.

Now that I’ve got kids, I continue the tradition with them. I must admit, while I love to cook, my real passion lies in baking. Aaahhh, do I have a sweet tooth!  My kids’ favourite recipe has got to be chocolate chip cookies, but I really love trying new recipes in hopes of finding our next “family favourite”. This past year, I’ve tried to be a little more adventurous with meals, so that we don’t end up eating the same-old, same-old every week. In turn, I’m going to share a few of our new favourites. These are all from Allrecipes.com, which I happen to LOVE because of the rating/review system that helps me pick those recipes that seem to be loved by all. It truly takes the guesswork out of trying a new recipe!

Broccoli Salad

Turkey Pot Pie

Bolognese Sauce 

Oatmeal Cookies

With both the Canada Day and Independence Day long weekends coming up, I hope you will take some time to try something new – you’ll love it! (Especially if it’s a 5-star recipe!!)

Planning for Summer

June is a busy month! I hear all my friends with school-aged kids say that the summer is a nice break after the craziness of June.

With standardized testing happening in many school districts, school fundraisers, graduation (for some), summer birthdays, end-of-year events for cubs/scouts/brownies/guides… well, it’s a lot of work! Then, we get busy planning excursions, registering for camp & booking play dates in the hopes of ensuring our kids are sufficiently stimulated – mentally & physically – during the summer. It’s practically a full-time job!

It can be quite overwhelming and we, as parents, can tend to over-schedule our kids. It’s a very fine balance between planning too many activities and having bored kids. So, in an attempt to save your sanity (!), here are a few tips to help you plan your family’s summer.

• Plan activities or outings with other families
If you’re a parent who works outside the home, this can be a great way to allow your kids to get out more often, by trading off child-minding duty with other parents. You may choose to lead an activity on the weekend, while your kids enjoy an outing with friends during the work week.

• Let your kids plan one special outing per week
This could be a trip to the water park that your daughter has been talking about or a barbeque at the beach that your son is keen on… whatever it is, make it special by letting each child choose a special outing (alternate weeks between children).

• Plan family movie nights and unstructured play days
Movie nights with popcorn and snuggles are the best – and they’re practically free, to boot!! And what's better than letting kids play in the yard or at a park, maybe bringing a picnic or snack, laying down a blanket and gazing up at a cloudy sky. ☺

• Don’t underestimate the value of rest and free time
It’s okay to let your kids have some time to “veg” out… that’s what summer is for!

Whatever you choose to do with your family this summer, remember the number one rule – have fun!

101 Things To Do With Your Toddler

My last post was all about engaging with my kids in a more meaningful way. Well, today I stumbled upon a great blog - Counting On Me - and one of their posts entitled “101 Things To Do With Your Toddler”. What a fabulous idea! It’s like a bucket list for your summer with the family…

I am going to have fun with this and see if I can check each activity off the list! How about you? ;)