January 22, 2019 by Krista

Spa Date Night and Massage Kit for an Awesome At Home Date

Looking for a romantic gift idea for the sweetie in your life? Or need a special date night that won’t mess with the budget? A good, at home spa date night will leave you and your sweetheart feeling relaxed, reconnected and rejuvenated. Put together a simple and super effective Massage Kit – complete with massage coupons, lotions, oils, hot stones and all good things massage – for a night you and your sweetie will enjoy!

RECONNECT WITHOUT LEAVING HOME

Life gets crazy sometimes, am I right? I’m a huge believer in “date night”, but I’ve honestly don’t remember the last time I went on an actual date with my husband. Between work, kids, church, chores, errands and all the other things that make up life it can be hard to fit everything in. And, if your budget is tight, it can complicate things in a whole new way. Finding a sitter for starters, right?

But, reconnecting with your dream boat doesn’t have to cost a lot. And it doesn’t have to take a lot of time either! You probably have all the things you need to put together a spa date night and massage kit already. And, trust me, you’ll both be thankful for the pampering and quality time. And you don’t even have to leave home.

IS A SPA DATE NIGHT WORTH IT?

A spa day with lots of fancy treatments sounds nice, but the small detail of wandering around in nothing but a robe with strangers touching me gives me second thoughts. And spas are expensive. But, I can get behind doing that with, and for, my husband. Especially if it doesn’t cost a week’s paycheck.

Is an at home spa night something you’d enjoy? Are you:

looking for a romantic gift idea for the sweetie in your life?
in need of a special date night that won’t mess up the budget?
wanting to reconnect with your sweetheart without leaving home?

Then YES! This is the perfect date for you! Because it’s simple to organize, easy to do, it doesn’t cost a lot and you don’t need a sitter for the kids. Quality time to pamper and reconnect with your special sweetie. Who wouldn’t want that?

THE PERFECT GIFT: AN AT HOME SPA DATE NIGHT AS A GIFT

An at home spa date night makes a great gift. A massage kit with some great coupons (who doesn’t love to cash in a coupon?) and some massage basics are the perfect tangible gift. Pair it with a scheduled night to get to use those coupons and the goodies in the kit, and you’ve got a romantic gift you’ll both look forward to using!

CREATE THE PERFECT AT HOME SPA DATE NIGHT

Whether you decide to give the spa kit and massage coupons as a gift and do the date night later or whether you choose to plan a whole special spa date night, just remember to focus on your sweetheart. Relax, reconnect and rejuvenate each other because that’s what this whole thing is about!

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT:

Massage Coupons your sweetie will love. You can grab the coupons I used in my massage kit from my Etsy shop. There’s even an editable PDF file you can use to create your own coupons super easy.
Comfy bath robes (my favorite women’s robe | my favorite men’s robe)
Favorite body butter or body lotion (my favorite hand repair cream and it smells like cake!)
Favorite massage oil or personal lubricant (I personally prefer lube and recommend this brand of lubricant. It’s smooth, not greasy and safe for all body parts, if things get carried away during your massages…)
Favorite sparkling beverage and chocolates
Relaxing music – I like this Spotify playlist
Smooth stones. You can get a small bag of decorative stones at Dollar Tree and they work great so grab a bag of those next time you’re there!
Rice bag or heating pad to warm up your stones or relax tense muscles.
Massage tools – this is totally optional and definitely not a must-have for a successful evening.
Favorite bath salts or bath bombs or make your own (My DIY Bath and Body Recipes Pinterest Board has some great ideas so come check those out and follow me while you’re there!)
Favorite bubble bath

GATHERING TOGETHER YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT

Step #1 – Make any DIY products if you’re going to do that. Or rummage through your body care

stash and see what you can use that you already have because free is the best price, right? But, if you need to make any purchases, now is the time to do it. Just remember, simplicity is good too. This is all about your time together!

DESIGNING YOUR MASSAGE COUPONS

Step #2 – Make your massage coupons. While you definitely don’t HAVE to include any coupons, it would be fun to know that this isn’t necessarily a one-time deal. My husband and I have a deal that once one of us redeems the coupon I used Photoshop but you can make them with whatever you’d like. Open your favorite word processing program, image editing software or go old-school and grab some paper and pens.

Some ideas for your coupons:

scalp and neck massage
back massage
foot massage (with or without a hot water soak)
hot stone massage (if you do this one, keep it safe. We use a small rice bag heated in the microwave and sandwiched over our rocks for a couple minutes to warm them. This is perfect because we can easily keep and eye on them and make sure they aren’t too hot. And, remember, different parts of the body have different heat sensitivities.)
hydro-massage (hot shower or tub, especially nice if you have a shower head with a wand and adjustable pressure settings)
full body massage

If you don’t want to bother with making your own, don’t forget you can get a copy of the massage coupons I designed in my Etsy Shop, along with the editable PDF file that will let you design your own really quick.

I also included an “exclusive members” coupon that pulls out all the big spa-like treatments. Hot soak in a bubble bath with bubbly beverage, full body massage with lotions and oils, facial, his choice of other massage technique. Something super special for after a rough day… or week.

YOUR SPA DATE NIGHT KIT IS ALMOST READY TO GO!

Step #3 – Gather your massage goodies and put them in a basket or other container so everything is together and neat.

If you’re going to give them as a gift, you can dress them up fancy with a bow. If you’re going to use them as a date night, you can just use the basket so everything is in one place.

Cue up your music, put your bubbly beverage on ice (or in the fridge) and let the romancin’ begin!

A NIGHT TO RELAX, RECONNECT AND REJUVENATE WITH YOUR SWEETHEART

Remember, it doesn’t have to be a crazy grand gesture that takes a lot of time and planning and supplies. Your at home spa date night should be about reconnecting with your dream boat so .

Keep it simple. Make sure you reciprocate equally. And enjoy each other.

Relax. Reconnect. Rejuvenate. And you don’t even have to leave home.

CHECK OUT MORE DATE NIGHT IDEAS TO KEEP THE ROMANCE ALIVE, EVEN WHEN LIFE GETS CRAZY!

June 8, 2018 by Krista

168 Kids Activities that will Rock Your Summer

I love summer. Usually. Some times, it gets a little crazy, but that’s why I put together a fun Summer Boredom Buster Jar full of kids activities for my boys (and me!) to use when things were just a little too relaxed.

Or we’re a little too tired and it’s not quite nap or bed time yet. Or when things get a little too wrestle-y. Because… boys.

It saved my bacon more than once last summer.

I have plans this summer and our kids activities jar has a starring role in my attack on unruly boys. I divided the activities into seven categories.

If you’re looking for some fun things to do this summer, take a look at this huge list and then make your own Summer Boredom Buster Jar with the ideas.

168 KIDS ACTIVITIES TO TRY THIS SUMMER

FUN WITH FOOD KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make popsicles. Get as creative as you little heart desires.
– Banana Boats in the fire pit. Don’t know what banana boats are, check out the link.
– Make ice cream in a bag
– Fruit Loop necklaces
– Make peanut butter play dough
– Make S’mores

– Decorate cupcakes
– Make colorful cookies
– Create a new smoothie flavor
– Make Jell-O
– Build with marshmallows
– Make popcorn necklaces
– Create the ultimate ice cream sundae!
– Edible finger painting

– Make slushies
– Make Jell-O play dough
– Roast hot dogs over a fire
– Make candy bars
– Make a banana split

QUIET TIME KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Story stones or tiles
– Write letters
– Felt fishing game math practice
– Googly eye drawings
– Write in your story journal
– Movie Marathon!
– Illustrate a picture book
– Get a new ebook or learning app – Our favorite ABC apps, preschool apps

– Play with blocks. Creation Blocks, Tinkertoys, Cardboard Blocks and our Wooden Blocks are time-tested favorites.

– Do a practice worksheet.
– Play with Water Beads
– Do puzzles
– M&M math practice. Add and subtract with the candies. You can also practice colors. Of course, you’re finished when you’ve eaten all the candies.
– Draw with the Window Markers
– Play learning games on the tablet
– Make a straw bead necklace
– Build with sponge building blocks – cut several sponges into strips and stack them
– Read stories with Mom
– ABC match game
– Practice with the lacing cards

OUTSIDE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a fun obstacle course with PVC pipe sprinklers
– Water gun tin can target practice
– Water balloon towel toss
– Garden for letters: dig & spell
– Target sponge toss
– Have a picnic on the swing
– Go on a walk
– Have a bike wash. A car wash… for bikes.
– Make mud pies
– Create a water wall with plastic bottles
– Water balloon pinata
– Create a tin foil river. Float paper boats in them.
– Water balloon fight!
– Blow bubbles
– Go on a nature scavenger hunt
– Ride bikes

– Sand box treasure hunt
– Create a chalk maze
– Ice boat races
– Sponge water fight
– Play in the pool
– Ice block toy rescue
– Play in the sprinklers
– Draw with chalk on the sidewalk

ENERGY BURNING KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Glow balloon ping pong
– Paper plate ring toss

– Masking tape bean bag toss (or paper plate toss)
– Sing songs!
– Dinosaur fossil hunt
– Super chore race!
– Masking tape maze
– Paper plate frisbee

– Make a mini golf course
– Dance Party!
– Duck, duck, goose
– Go on a treasure hunt
– Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
– Build an obstacle course
– Put on a circus
– Nerf gun wars
– Glow in the dark bowling

THINGS TO MAKE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a wind chime
– Construct a city for your cars from cardboard boxes
– Paper Airplane Races
– Make Olliblocks

– Make a rain stick
– Make DIY paint with water pages
– Tin can telephones
– Make a musical instrument
– Make a lemonade stand
– Bow & Arrow practice. Not a real bow an arrow. There’s lots of fun ideas for DIY toys.
– Make sugar cube castles
– Q-tip painting.
– Make an I Love You chain
– Make a shoe box shape sorter for a baby
– Draw a treasure map!
– Make a marble maze
– Make pet rocks
– Masking tape city and roads
– Trace around your body and make a “Flat Me”
– Make toilet paper tube race cars

– Use old crayons and make sun catchers
– Make straw rockets
– Masking tape maze
– Macaroni noodle necklace
– Make constellation cans
– Make slime!
– Use popsicle sticks to make puppets. Have a puppet show.
– Make shadow box piggy banks
– Make Gak

– Cardboard box cars
– Paint rocks for the garden
– Salt painting
– Make paper
– Build something with a box
– Corn syrup paintings
– Make paper dolls

THINGS TO DO KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Go on a monster hunt
– Learn some words in a new language
– Mess-free finger painting
– Make “potions”
– Play with letter magnets (these are my favorite, though kinda pricey)
– Build a fort!
– Clean something

– Play with the felt fishing game
– Have a science day
– Dress Up!
– Bathtub fishing
– Balloon Rocket Races
– Shaving cream bath tub painting
– String maze
– Photo booth
– ABC scavenger hunt
– Play with the Gizmos
– Play with the Pattern Blocks
– Make a life-size board game.
– Pajama Day!
– Take photos for an ABC book

– Do a science experiment
– Ivory soap clouds
– Write invisible letters and mail them
– Stay/day-cation
– Play with Legos
– Make and play with a sensory bin
– Camp out in the family room
– Act out a story
– Play on the Wii
– Make shadow puppets
– Play a board game. Junior Suspend is one of our favorites!

FAMILY ACTIVITIES (this is great for weekends!):

– Make pretzels
– Movie night on the big screen
– Go bowling!
– Launch rockets
– Have a fire and star gaze
– Go to the drive-in
– Go to the marina or river park.
– See a movie at the theater
– Go to the Discovery Museum

– Have a popcorn bar!
– Play in the fountains
– Fly a kite
– Star gazing
– Go to the library
– Camping
– Go to the beach
– Go to Sonic!
– Get ice cream
– Go to the splash pad

You can check out some of our favorite summer products on Amazon. These are all things we own and love and can’t live without when the days are long, the air is hot and the sky is sunny!

What’s your favorite summer time kids activities? I’m always looking to add to our collection. Leave a comment and let me know!

November 14, 2017 by Krista

13 Gifts For Kids that Mom & Dad Won’t Hate

Finding the right gifts for kids can be so hard. As a mom, I want toys that will help my kids learn and grow, not just cheap pieces of plastic. While I am all about the thought of the gift and being grateful for all the things people give my kids, I will admit that sometimes I groan on the inside when my kids get gifts that I know are going to be forgotten about in a week or two. Or worse yet, broken. So, if you’re wondering what to get those kids on your gift lists, here are some gift ideas for kids that they will love, and so will mom and dad.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #1: LEGO BRICKS

Lego Bricks. While there’s definitely an appeal to the cool sets (we own so many Star Wars sets, I’ve lost count), I like the basic standard bricks too. We started our collection with the LEGO classic medium box and it served us well for many years. We still play with this set of classic blocks often. It’s perfect for building houses, vehicles, and more!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #2: GIZMO GEARS

Gizmo Gears. We got this set back in 2012. They have been through all of my kids and are still holding up. There have been a few casualties, but the majority are still in great shape. My 8-year-old doesn’t play with these as much any more, but he’ll still sit down with his brothers and build for a while. My 5-year-old enjoys pulling them out and my 3-year-old is obsessed. They snap together relatively easily, but little hands might need some help.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #3: SNAP CIRCUITS

Snap Circuits. These are great for a little bit older kids. My 8-year-old LOVES them and making different contraptions, including a radio. My 5-year-old doesn’t quite understand the science behind it. While he likes to snap the pieces together, he gets frustrated when nothing happens because the pieces aren’t put together correctly. This is perfect for teaching the basic laws of conductivity and electric currents.We bought the larger set because I knew my science-loving boy would grow with this set. They do have a smaller Snap Circuit set, if you want to try them out first before you shell out for the big one. However, the big one is TOTALLY worth it!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #4: TOY CARS

Toy Cars. My kids have all loved to play with cars. For hours. Sometimes they like to play with a car mat, but you can almost always find a few cars in our diaper bag… and there might even be one or two in my purse. The chunky cars with big wheels are perfect for little hands and we have more die-cast cars than I can count. These Blaze and the Monster Machine cars are a big hit with my boys, especially the younger ones. And I really love the variety of vehicles available in die-cast cars. This Matchbox set has lots of cool options to play with.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #5: WOODEN TRAIN SET

Wooden Train Sets. We have been building our wooden train set collection since my 8-year-old was born. We scored some at garage sales, were gifted some, have found great deals and our collection has just kept on growing. It’s one of the first toys that come out when we have play dates and everyone loves to play. This is one I like to play with my kids. We work together to build amazing tracks.This set of tracks is a great starter kit and these train cars are fun, brightly colored and will fit with any future wooden train toys you decide to acquire. This is a toy that all my kids like to play with, despite their age differences and has grown with my kids.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #6: MAGNETIC TILES OR BLOCKS

Magnetic Tiles or Blocks. We got a set of the real-deal Magformers a couple years ago for Christmas and my boys LOVED them. I got a few more to supplement their stash this past summer when I knew they would all be playing with them at the same time, but this time I tried a knock-off brand of magnet tiles and they fit in well with our brand-name tiles. There is a slight size difference, but all the tiles still line up and stick together. We will be adding more tiles to our collection yet again this Christmas and Santas is going to throw in these cool train car bases as a little bonus. All of my kids still play with these usually 2-3 times a week, even though they’ve been around a few years. Those are the toys I find worth having!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #7: BOARD AND CARD GAMES

Board and Card games. We love a good game night, but it can be hard to find games the whole family enjoys playing together. My mom gifted my oldest with Grabolo this past year and we just love it. All of us really legitimately enjoy playing this game together. It’s fast action, it’s all about observation, reaction time and memory. But, the rules and game play are simple enough for my littlest kids (3 and 5 years), even though the box says 6+ years.

We also really like Suspend – there’s also a Junior edition that has plastic sticks instead of metal ones. I like the durability of the metal ones, but I’ll admit the sticks have tried to become swords in our home. Both games are a blast and I recommend them both. Rack-O is another family favorite that we have recently been playing with our boys. The two little boys (ages 3.5 and 5.5) play on a team with mom or dad and our 8-year-old can play on his own, with minimal help. This has been perfect for helping my kindergartner practice his numbers to 100.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #8: ACTIVITY TUNNEL

Activity Tunnel. I got one of these for my kids a few years ago and they still play with it. It’s is great shape, considering how my boys play with it. It wasn’t super expensive so I didn’t have to worry about it getting ruined. It’s been used as a hiding spot in Hide-&-Seek, as a tunnel to play with cars in, as part of countless obstacle courses and even as “secret play place” – that was the easiest “fort” I have ever set up! We have one very similar to this Doug & Melissa caterpillar version – the exact one we have isn’t on Amazon anymore and is an off-brand. All of our other Doug & Melissa toys have held up well and this tunnel reviews great. These activity tunnels provide a contained outlet for some of the crazy energy they always have, can be played with indoors and folds up super compact for storage.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #9: SMALL SLIDE

Small Slide. A small slide offers the same pro of helping the kids constructively use all that pent-up energy when it’s too cold to play outside. Ours is used mostly indoors and comes out to play when my kids are good helpers and clean up our family room or when they are jumping off my furniture and clearly need a better outlet for their energy. Even though my oldest has outgrownn this slide, he still enjoys playing with it. And, it makes a really cool ramp for cars… and stuffed animals too. This little slide is great for younger toddlers (1-3 years).

There is a big kid version if you are hoping for something a little taller for your kiddo to grow into. This one fits older toddlers and preschoolers well. I really like the size and compactness of the little one, but my kids love playing on their cousins’ larger slide too, when we visit. And I like that our small one is less distance to the ground if (and by if, I mean when) my kids fall.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #10: DRESS-UP CLOTHES

Dress-Up Clothes. Dress up clothes are definitely NOT just for girls. We have a huge bin full of dress up and it’s one of my boys go-to activities. It often gets pulled out when their friends come over too. Dress up offers so much room for imaginative play! I love that. Most of our dress up collection from old Halloween costumes; but, a couple years ago, our kids received Star Wars costumes (Jedi, Darth Vader and Yoda). We made them lightsabers out of pool noodles. Those were the coolest gifts they’d ever been given. And – bonus – we just raided the dress up box for Halloween the next year and we did a family Star Wars theme. It was super fun (and totally affordable, since we had half the costumes already)!

These superhero capes are awesome for every kid who wants to run like The Flash or shoot webs like Spider-Man! If your kiddos are into more realistic pretend play, this doctor costume and accessories set look like a ton of fun and are perfect for exploring caregiving. Or maybe you just have a kiddo who loves Doc McStuffins and wants to run their very own little stuffed animal hospital. And, sometimes you don’t need the whole costume. I really like this set of hats that will get the creative juices flowing. I can only imagine what my kids would come up with between the crown and the cowboy hat.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #11: WOODEN BLOCKS

Wooden Blocks. If you only get your children one kind of blocks, get a set like this! Seriously. These blocks are so versatile. My kids love to build towers with them, of course. But, they also use them with their toy cars, their dinosaur and super hero figurines, and they make race tracks for their hex bugs (another super fun toy). They test their building skills with competitions on who can make the tallest towers, who can build the tower with the most blocks and anything else they can come up with. All of my kids still play with these (and so does my husband…); it’s definitely a must-have toy in my opinion.

The biggest con is the storage space; but, if you take the time to put them away neatly, it really isn’t too bad. We keep our set in a treasure chest box my mom found at a thrift store. Having a specific container to put them all in definitely makes a big difference and this set comes with a great wooden box just for that purpose.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #12: KEVA BLOCKS

Keva Blocks. We first discovered these fun, seemingly too simple toys at our local children’s museum. How much fun can you have with a bunch of wood planks that are all the same size and shape? Well, we easily spent an hour playing with just these blocks the first time. We’ve since been back to our museum and have played with only these – for the whole entire visit. So, turns out, you can have a TON of fun with them. I love that they allow for open-ended play and cater to a variety of skill levels. My husband was building structures several feet tall while out 8-year-old was trying his hand at building bridges he’d learned about at school. My 5-year-old spent time exploring basic balance and weight principles. And my 3-year-old and I built small towers that he thoroughly enjoyed knocking down.

The box says ages 7+ and I would say that is an accurate suggestion for solo play, but our whole family enjoys playing with these. This beginner kit isn’t huge (it only has 20 planks and 30 instruction cards in it), but this is a case of less is more. The idea is to figure out how 2-dimensional images become 3-dimensional when you build them. It’s a great STEM activity and, of course, you can use them in free play too. If you want to expand your collection, you can get this expansion pack and increase your fun and Keva planks by 10 times! You’ll build some pretty great things with 220 planks. Or check out this cool contraption set with 50 more planks and 6 ideas for some fun Rube-Goldberg type contraptions (my kids are super into dominoes right now and they would LOVE the contraption set).

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #13: A SUBSCRIPTION BOX

Subscription Boxes. These are all the rage right now and why wouldn’t they be?! Everyone likes to get mail, especially kids. And there are some really cool subscription boxes for kids! While these may not technically be toys, I couldn’t leave them off this list of Gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad Won’t Hate because these are awesome gifts! My favorite subscription boxes for kids are the KiwiCo Boxes because they have an awesome variety and you’re sure to find a box your kids will love. But, there’s a lot of options out there, so do a little research and check them all out. If you decide to check out KiwiCo, make sure you scroll down under the image and hit that 60% off link to get the best deal!

KIWICO HAS SUBSCRIPTION BOX GIFTS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!

The Cricket Crate is designed for kids 0-2. In each box you’ll receive a toy (think soft toys, wooden blocks, bright colored toys and chewables). You’ll also get a board book, which I love. I want all the books. There’s a magazine on child development for mom and dad and access to more online resources. There is a “Newborn Crate” specially designed for babies 0-3 months.

The Koala Crate is designed for ages 3-4. Each of these boxes focuses on one topic – like transportation or reptiles. It contains “creative materials” (mostly art supplies for your child to explore). There’s a guide for parents with activity ideas that support inquiry-based learning. A magazine with information on the topic of the box will expound on the things your child is learning. This magazine makes learning about the topic easy and fun. And all the information is right there, done for you. You’ll also be able to access more online resources and ideas.

The Kiwi Crate was the original boxes this company started with and they were amazing back then. Kiwi Crates are designed for 5-8 year olds. Each Kiwi Crate contains an age-appropriate project. Sometimes it focuses on art. Sometimes it’s more STEM. They’ll get creative learning materials and kid-friendly instructions to encourage their imaginations and tinkering. The Explore magazine with games, experiments and comics will further increase your child’s understanding of the project they did. And, of course, access to more online ideas and resources is also included.

DON’T FORGET THE OLDER KIDS!

The Doodle Crate is for kids 9-16+ and focuses on creative DIY projects. These aren’t just some lame projects, though. It’s things like making color-blocked candles or a wooden clock. If your kiddo is all about visual and creative arts, this is perfect for them. Each box includes everything your child needs to complete these projects, including all materials. There are also step-by-step instructions so they can do the projects and a guide with inspiration and ideas. If the written instructions and inspiration guide aren’t quite enough, they’ll be able to access online videos of the project.

The Tinker Crate is for kids 9-16+ and focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) projects – projects like building a trebuchet or hydraulic claw or using fiber optics to explore constellations. Each box includes all the materials needed to complete each STEM project and a detailed blueprint with step-by-step instructions. They’ll also get the Tinker Zine that has additional experiments and other activities. And there’s the access to online guides, in case the written instructions aren’t enough.

If you order anytime from now until November 28th, 2017 you can enjoy 60% off your first box. That’s double their usual first month promotion! Try out KiwiCo for less than $15, . Cancel your subscription any time.

Do you have any suggestions of gifts your kids have been given that you’ve loved? Share in the comments! I’m always looking for ideas to pass along.

September 6, 2017 by Krista

30+ Healthy & Low-Prep Snack Ideas for the Busy, Pregnant Mom

Anyone who has ever been pregnant knows there’s a lot of information on eating healthy while you’re growing that little babe. The do list, the don’t list, the healthy recipes and even how often you should eat and drink. But sometimes all of that is easier said than done. I get that, really I do. When you’re eating every couple of hours or less, it can be hard to plan all that out. Eating that often means you need lots of snack ideas that are low-prep or you’ll be in the kitchen for the remainder of your pregnancy. I’ve got just what you need…

THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTHY SNACK IDEAS DURING PREGNANCY

I’m 8 months pregnant with my 3rd baby. I’m not a newbie to this pregnancy thing.

This wasn’t an unforeseen complication. It could have been prevented.

I know all the do’s and don’t’s. I know the importance of staying hydrated and fed.

But, last week I ended up spending about four hours in the hospital.

It was a busy morning getting Big J off to preschool and Little J had absconded with about half my breakfast… because, it’s always better off Mommy’s plate, or something. I was so busy I didn’t realize what I was depriving myself – and my baby – of. Food. Fuel.

PRIORITIES DON’T HAVE TO BE TIME CONSUMING

It can be so easy to get so busy that things just slip by us. Mom life is a busy life. It can happen to any of us. So, learn from my oversight, my busy mistake, my imperfect mom life.

And keep this list of healthy, low-prep snack ideas on hand for the next time you make out your grocery list or just need some ideas.

It’s the perfect solution when nothing really sounds good. Or maybe you’re so full of baby, you don’t feel hungry. Whatever the case, pregnancy can be hard enough – let’s make it a little easier.

After some research and brush up from all those health classes I took once upon a time, I came up with a list of snacks that are easy to make with little to no prep and are healthy. I’ve divided them into categories: high in iron, high in calcium and high in protein. Some of them appear in more than one section.

Snack Ideas High in Protein

– Cottage Cheese and Fruit
– Jerky (choose a low-sodium, low-sugar brand or make your own)
– Mixed Nuts or Trail Mix
– Eggs
– Deli Meat (choose one low in sodium and preservatives. Put it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to be safe, if you’re pregnant)
– Protein Shakes or Bars
– Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (here’s a Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie recipe, a Cranberry Almond Oatmeal Cookie recipe and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal cookie recipe – try them all! The cranberry almond is my favorite though. And hang on to these after baby is born. Oatmeal can give you a boost while you’re lactating too!)
– Hummus and Veggie Dippers
– Cheese and Crackers
– Chocolate Milk
– Greek Yogurt and Fruit
– Peanut Butter or other nut butter (low-fat and crunchy is best)
– Soy Nuts
– Roasted Edamame
– Tuna (eat sparingly while pregnant)
– Lentils (a yummy, pre-cooked bean salad, perhaps?)
– Oatmeal (pre-packaged flavored packets are super simple and quick!)

Snack Ideas High in Calcium

– Leafy Greens
– Low-fat Cheese
– Milk
– Yogurt or Greek Yogurt
– Broccoli
– Okra
– Green Beans
– Almonds
– Fortified Cereals
– Fortified Orange Juice
– Soybeans
– Enriched breads
– Oranges
– Oatmeal
– Milkshake
– Omelette
– Cream Cheese on Enriched Bagel

Snack Ideas High in Iron

* If you eat high vitamin C foods with these, your body will better absorb the iron.

– Raisins and Peanuts
– Whole Grain Cereal
– Jerky
– Protein Bars and Shakes
– Meat (Chicken, Beef, Fish – Add these to meals or salads)
– Dark Chocolate (at least 80%)
– Dried Apricots
– Potatoes
– Quinoa
– Beans (black, kidney – on Nachos made with whole grain chips and low-fat cheese or in a salad)
– Broccoli
– Enriched Pasta
– Rice
– Artichokes
– Dried Fruits

What’s your favorite, easy snack? Give me your ideas in the comments!

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July 20, 2017 by Krista

5 Money Saving Tips that will Help you Have More Cash

Hey there! I’m so glad you’re here! Thanks for stopping by. So, you’re looking for some ways to keep a little more cash in your wallet, right? But, if you’re anything like me, you don’t have a lot of time to spend clipping coupons, chasing down deals or mailing in rebates. Can you really still save money and find good deals, keeping more cash in your pockets? Of course! And I’ve got 5 money saving tips to help you do just that!

TIME IS MONEY. SPEND BOTH WISELY.

You’ve heard that before, right? Time is money. My husband used to say this to me ALL THE TIME because I’d take on projects that were costing me so much time, it wasn’t worth the money I was making on them. The same is true of some of the most popular money saving tips and techniques out there.

To be blunt, that pretty much sums up how I feel about couponing. You’ve probably seen photos where the proud purchaser has 12 bottles of juice, 18 tubes of toothpaste, 4 bottles of shampoo and 28 boxes of birthday candles that cost a whopping $19.38, right? While impressive, where would I put 28 boxes of birthday candles? And I’m picky about my shampoo.

Basically, extreme couponing isn’t for me. Know yourself and figure out what will work for you.

NOT EVERYONE SAVES MONEY THE SAME WAY

These are ways I help my family save money. I definitely didn’t use these same money saving tips when I was a college student. And another mom may not use the same methods in her family that I use in mine. Figure out what will work for your situation and do it! If something is helping you keep more money in your wallet, that’s all that matters.

Use these tips, adjust these tips or just plain ignore them. Do what works for YOU and forget what doesn’t. Maybe you try something new and discover it isn’t for you. That’s okay, now you know. Knowing what doesn’t work can help you save just as much money as knowing what does work.

5 MONEY SAVING TIPS TO KEEP MORE CASH IN YOUR WALLET

Money. Everyone wants more. But, when you’re trying to make ends meet, it can seem so much more important than just a lofty goal and a wild ambition. It feels like sink or swim. No one wants to sink. Whether your trying to pay the rent, get out of debt or inflate your savings account, here are 5 money saving tips to help you keep more green in your wallet TODAY.

MONEY SAVING TIP #1: MEAL PLAN

I don’t know about you, but our food budget is one of the largest parts of our monthly expenses. It’s not quite up there with the mortgage yet; but, it rivals our car payment, and sometimes surpasses it. Feeding my four guys is much more affordable when I plan out our meals. I use these printables and plan one or two weeks at a time. This stops us from buying food we’ll end up throwing out because we didn’t have a plan for it and it’s gone bad. It also helps us not eat out as often.

MONEY SAVING TIP #2: SHOP WITH A LIST

One of the small things that actually helps us save money is to use a list when we go shopping, and not just to the grocery store. We make a list of items to buy before we go into any store, generally speaking. I do this when I’m shopping online too. It’s so easy to add those little extra things to your cart. “It’s only $5.” Even if it’s just $5 a week, that’s $20 a month. But, think how far that $20 could go on your grocery budget or the diaper budget. You know, money you actually need to spend.

I keep a list on my fridge and when we run out of something or need to replace something, I add it to the list. Shampoo, toilet paper, new socks, contact solution – not just groceries. I meal plan and then make a grocery list from our meal plan so we aren’t buying things we don’t need. Shopping with a list helps us only spend money on things we actually need, and not on impulse buys.

MONEY SAVING TIP #3: COUPON APPS

I’m not a big couponer, really I’m not. But, there are some coupon apps that make it easy to use rebates or coupons. I like a lot of these apps because you don’t have to do the coupon redemption while you’re at the store. My faves are:

Ibotta. I mainly use Ibotta for groceries, but they have a lot of other offers too. You can find offers for multiple stores and you have up to two weeks to upload a receipt and get the rebate. I try to upload my receipt when I’m putting my purchases away at home.
Restaurants and fast food. If you frequent a particular restaurant, you might as well be using their loyalty program. Capriotti’s and Costa Vida are really the only ones I use, but it helps make our occasional meals out a little more affordable.
Retail stores. It seems every store has an app, right? The ones I use offer a little something extra usually. Walmart (for their savings catcher), Costco (for the member coupons) and Target (for their cartwheel coupons only available in the app). If I’m in a particular store, I might download their app while I’m there and see if there are any coupons available. I especially do this for craft stores.

MONEY SAVING TIP #4: AUTOMATE YOUR SHOPPING

If you routinely buy something, automate that! Not only will it take the task off your to-do list, it can save you a trip to the store. Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program will have these things show up on your doorstep when you need them with ZERO EXTRA EFFORT FROM YOU. That’s something this busy mom can get behind. You can save up to 15% when you use the Subscribe & Save option and there are over 100,000 products available for Subscribe & Save.

Walmart has introduced same-day pick up at some of their locations. You do your shopping online, submit your order, and then you can pick it up later that day. They’ll even bring it out to your car for you. If you have a hard time sticking to a shopping list, something like this could be really helpful.

MONEY SAVING TIP #5: NO-SPEND CHALLENGE

In my house, with all the testosterone floating around, a little competition can accomplish great things. When things get tight or we want to bulk up the bank account, we institute a no-spend challenge.

Follow these 3 steps to have a successful no-spend challenge.

Define the goal. Are you trying to make ends meet, get back on track or get caught up for any reason? Do you need to buckle down and have absolutely no spending? Or are you trying to save money and pad your bank account? Do you need to save as much as you can or a set amount? Figuring this out will help with the next step.
Set your rules. No spending at all or just the bills? What about groceries or gas? When does your challenge start? When does it end? Set rules so everyone knows what is expected.
Evaluate your challenge. Once your challenge is over, evaluate how you did. Did you stick with your rules? Did you accomplish your goal? How could you have done better?

BONUS MONEY SAVING TIP: KNOW WHEN TO BUY IN BULK

Warehouse stores can be great. But, it’s so hard to get out of there without spending $100, am I right? Will you really eat all of those 5 lbs of strawberries or will you end up throwing away half of them because you can’t eat them fast enough? Do you have somewhere to store that 36 pack of toilet paper? There are definitely things worth buying in bulk from a warehouse store. If it doesn’t have an expiry date (like toilet paper), you’re probably pretty safe.

Check bulk items at grocery stores too! You don’t need 5 pounds of baking soda from the warehouse store, but it’s usually a lot cheaper to refill your baking soda container than it is to buy a new one. And you can buy as much or as little as you need. Dry goods are a great place to save buying in bulk. Candy is another good one because you can get just a little bit and it’s cheaper than checkout stand goodies.

PUT THE CASH BACK IN YOUR WALLET TODAY!

So, there’s 5 money saving tips I use keep more cash for my family. Some of those may not work for you, and that’s okay. Try another one. Remember time is money. Spend both wisely. If it doesn’t work, it’s okay to move on. But, these methods won’t bulk up your bank account over night. Try these strategies for at least 30 days to see what they can really do for you and your family. It might seem like just $5 today, but you might be surprised to find it’s a $20 pack of diapers by the end of the month. Go see how much cash you can hang on to!

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