The Pickle Jar

I can't remember the last time I saw an old fashioned pickle jar, but I loved the trip down memory lane.

What is there to do? Go to Hotel Transylvania 2! (Review)

The weather is turning cooler.  The leaves are starting to change color.  Halloween decorations line the aisles of every store I walk into.   Fall is here, and that is one of our favorite seasons as a family. We love to go apple picking, hiking through the crunchy leaves in the woods, and running through the corn maze.  We decorate our entire  house for Halloween and look forward to picking out a new costume or revamping a previous one.   We have several other Halloween traditions as well.  Each year we listen to the audio version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in the dark with a fire roaring in the fireplace. We also watch Hotel Transylvania.  It has been a favorite since we first saw it while on vacation several years ago.

When I was asked to attend an advanced screening of Hotel Transylvania 2 with my family,  I jumped at the the chance.   We couldn't wait to see what Johnny and Mavis were up to.  Without giving too much away, I can say that they are still together and now have a little one to keep up with. Hotel Transylvania 2 tells the story of Johnny, Mavis, and their little boy, Dennis.  Like any new parents, they have some struggles trying to figure out what is best for their little boy.  Also like many parents, they have the thoughts, actions, and opinions of others to contend with.  What results, is a great family movie!  We all laughed at the silly antics that Drac and his pack got involved with.  As parents, we could relate to the difficult decisions that Johnny and Mavis had to make.  I left the theater with a smile on my face, happy that we had found another great family movie to enjoy together.

Want to learn more about Hotel Transylvania 2?

You can follow them here:

Follow @HotelT2 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HotelT

Like ‘Hotel Transylvania 2’ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HotelT

Visit the Hotel Transylvania 2 Official Website: http://www.hoteltransylvania2.com/

#HotelT2

*Disclaimer:  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  I was not given any compensation in exchange for this review.  

After - Anna Todd

Welcome 2015!

It is officially a new year, which means new opportunities, new hopes, new dreams and new resolutions.  While I don't generally make too many actual resolutions at the start of a new year, I do think about what I would like to achieve or accomplish in the coming year.  

What would you like to achieve this year?

Do you want to learn a new language?  Take a class?  Lose weight?  Travel to a  new or favorite destination?  Write a book?

All of the the goals that I now have, seem like them are becoming a bit more realistic to achieve. There are apps, devices, and sites that allow you to monitor and track your progress toward achieving what you want.  You still have to put in the work, and make yourself accountable, but with all of the new technology, things that once seemed like they could only be a dream can now become a reality. 

Take Anna Todd for example.  In 2013, this 25 year old decided to write a book using the free social reading and writing app, Wattpad.  She wrote much of the book, After, on her mobile phone while waiting for various appointments and running errands.  As she wrote, she would publish new installments of the book every couple of days using Wattpad. By 2014, After had been read over 1 billion times and had more than 6 million comments.   As the popularity of her story grew, it attracted the attention of Simon & Schuster, who decided to publish the print version beginning in October 2014.   If you are interested in reading it, you can get your copies at Barnes & Noble - http://w.tt/wp or for your e-reader http://w.tt/sns2.

Who would have thought that a simple hobby, some free time, and a free app could create such an amazing success story.  It is truly inspiring to think what we each are capable of accomplishing with the right tools and effort.

So, what is Wattpad?  I know that is the question I was asking myself when I heard about this success story!

Wattpad is a new storytelling experience that connects authors and readers in a social way.  More than 40 million people have joined Wattpad, and there are more than 80 million free stories available. Many authors share their work one chapter at a time.  Readers receive notifications when a new installment is available.  They are then able to share plot suggestions with the author via comments and messages.  What a great way to get feedback on a story!  You know what people like as you're writing as opposed to after you've already finished your book.

Do I have any readers that are aspiring authors?  If so, check out Wattpad and see what you think.  I'd love to hear your comments and opinions.

Disclosure:  I participated in the After by Anna Todd blog program as a member of One2One Network. I received compensation but all opinions are my own.

Spicing Up Our Dinner - Ranch Buffalo Shredded Chicken Recipe

Pumpkin LOVES spicy foods!  If you give her a choice for dinner, she is likely to pick buffalo wings. While I enjoy wings as much as the next person, I don't love that they are fried, and more skin than actual chicken.  I was searching for an easier and healthier way to serve her wings and I thought that there must be a way to make them in the slow cooker.   That is when I found this recipe on allrecipes.com.

Chicken, wing sauce, butter, and Hidden Valley Ranch - Can it get any easier?

This is now a family favorite in our house!  Everyone loves the combination of buffalo sauce and Hidden Valley Ranch dressing.  We've used bottled ranch as well as the seasoning packets, and love the way it turns out every time!

A Wake Up Call

This morning I went in to wake up my sweet Pumpkin so that she could get ready for school.  She was awake, but lying peacefully in her bed.  I sat next to her, rubbed her back, and whispered, "Good morning Sunshine!"

She looked at me, smiled the faintest smile, and said,  "What day is it?"

"Monday October 27, 2014" was my response.

"I wish it wasn't a Monday.  I just want to stay here in bed for a while."

I gave her a kiss on her forehead and said, "Mondays are tough.  What exciting things do you have on your schedule today?"

She talked a bit about which specials she has, an upcoming test, and getting ready for Halloween.  After a few minutes, she was ready to get up and start her day.

Walking from her room into the kitchen to begin breakfast making, lunch packing, etc.  I got a little teary eyed.  I missed a last.  I remember when every morning I would wake to the sound of one of my munchkins chatting happily, crying, or shouting "Mama!"  Each day, I would wish I could sleep just a little bit longer, wanting "to stay here in bed for a while".  Times have changed.  Roles have reversed. While I love and am proud of my girls and how much they've grown, I sometimes wish I could slow them down just a little bit.

Wordless Wednesday - Groundhogs & Spiders & Snakes, Oh My!

Do You Hear What I Hear? - Train's Bulletproof Picasso

The weather is changing.  It feels like fall outside.  I've had to trade in my shorts and tank tops for jeans and sweaters.  With the new season comes new activities, new moods, and new experiences.  All of the music that we listened to on the boat or at the beach just doesn't seem appropriate for soccer practice, homework, "fall" cleaning, and running 5Ks.  Rather than listen to "feel good" music, I'm now in the mood for something with a bit more substance. 

Train has brought that substance in the Bulletproof Picasso album that will be released today, September 16, 2014.  Overall, an upbeat album with deeper emotional feeling than some our favorite summer songs, Bulletproof Picasso has songs that I can listen to on repeat.   To get a glimpse of the style and tone of the songs, take a listen to the title track, Bulletproof Picasso:



While I love the song, Bulletproof Picasso, the album is filled with even more songs that I can connect with on some level.   Don't Grow Up So Fast is a beautiful slower song that makes me think of my children and their race to be "older" than they already are.   Wonder What You're Doing For The Rest of Your Life is a very peppy pop-style song.  It is the kind of song I can dance to in my kitchen with the kiddos on dance-party evenings. In fact, I don't know that I could pick a song that I didn't enjoy on this album.

If you have previously enjoyed other songs by Train, like Hey Soul Sister,  Drops of Jupiter, and Drive By, then I am pretty confident that you'll love this new album too.  

If you want to order this album, head over to iTunes or Amazon.  (At the time of this posting it looks like the price is $7.99 at iTunes and $9.99 on Amazon.)

  * iTunes: http://smarturl.it/bulletproofpicasso
  * Amazon: http://smarturl.it/bulletproofpicassoAM

*Disclosure:  I participated in the Train Bulletproof Picasso album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.

The Little Things

Sometimes it is the littlest things that make me happy.  When I was recently visiting my parents, my mom gave me this box of candy because she saw it and thought of me.  I'd never had it before.  It was good, but what made it even better was knowing that I was on someone's mind for no special reason.

So, if someone is on your mind today, let them know.  You don't have to find a candy that has their name in it.  Just send a text, write a letter, make a phone call, or do something else that you know will make them smile.

Happy Monday!

Back to School with Mabel's Labels

Peanut and Pumpkin returned to school last week.  The return of school means the return of after school activities.  From soccer and running club to piano and guitar, we are now on the run!  I don't know about you, but for us, times of transition tend to result in more items lost and forgotten.

What can you do about all of these items that end up misplaced, left behind, or borrowed and accidentally taken home by the wrong person?  We used to just write them off as a loss.  No one knew who the pencil/shoe/lunchbox/sweatshirt belonged to, so people would take it with the best of intentions of finding the rightful owner.  More often than not, it wouldn't happen.  Even when an item ends up in the lost and found at school, it is rare for the owner to return to claim it.  Often, they'll check when they first lose it, and it won't be there yet.  Once it is returned, the child will have forgotten, gotten a replacement, or just got caught up in the craziness of life and neglect to check again.

The best way to make sure you get your items back is to have them clearly labeled with your name. A lost item with an unknown owner will result in minimal effort in creating a happy reunion.  People are just too busy to search long and hard, especially when there isn't really a huge benefit for them. However, if someone knows who something belongs to, the effort required is minimal to return it safely home. We used to just use a Sharpie to label our important items.  Unfortunately, Sharpie wears off.  It does it so subtly that you don't even realize that your label is unreadable until it is too late.  I knew there had to be a better way, but I was too busy to figure out what it was.

Then, several years ago, we discovered Mabel's Labels.  My grandmother was in a nursing home and many of her items seemed to disappear from her room or wouldn't come back from the laundry.  We looked online and found that Mabel's Labels makes Tag Mates labels.  Tag Mates are sticky labels for clothing. No ironing required!  We ordered some and loved them so much that we started to think about using them for school items as well.

Mabel's Labels has labels for just about anything you'd want to keep track of.  You can buy items individually (if you only need shoe labels, for example), or you can buy them in bundles.  Personally, I love the Tween Pack and the Stylish Scholars Combo.  The Stylish Scholars Combo has over 100 labels in various sizes and shapes that are most practical for labeling your every day school items.  The designs are attractive and fun, and would work for any age.  We ordered a Stylish Scholars Combo with our last name so that the girls could share one pack.  There are more than enough labels for them to share, and we still have some for items that need to be labeled throughout the year.  We may even have enough for next year.  The Tween Pack only has 25 labels, but they are so much fun, that they make a great back to school gift for your child that wants to express his/her unique personality with their labels.   We ordered a Tween Pack a couple years ago.  Because these labels are so unique, the girls use them sparingly.   They place these labels on items like a binder that will be used all year, and can be used again in the future.   Items like pencils or pens get a Skinny Mini label from the Stylish Scholars Combo.

Since we've started using Mabel's Labels, I'm buying fewer replacement items for Peanut and Pumpkin. I think they may end up paying for themselves over the course of a school year.  (I know they did last year!) They also definitely decrease our stress over misplaced and stolen items.  We love our Mabel's Labels for keeping track of all our stuff!

*I was sent a Stylish Scholars Combo in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way.  All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Webby Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday - Flashback

Back To School = An Empty Tire Swing

Back to School Blues (and Hopes)

Today is a day I've been both looking forward to and dreading at the same time.  It is the first day of school for Peanut and Pumpkin.

I am sitting here feeling a bit morose, yet hopeful.  I miss my girls - my reading buddies, my house cleaning helpers, my background musicians, my constant sources of surprise and amusement.  I miss our amazing and sometimes profound conversations.  I love our time together where we can create our own schedule, rules, and fun.  I already miss the random hugs throughout the day for no reason at all.  I miss listening to them play together (even when they argue).  I even miss the constant interruptions when I'm trying to get something done.  (I feel like I should probably accomplish more when they are back at school, but somehow, I don't.)

While there is so much that I miss when my girls are at school, I send them because I have hope.  I hope that they will learn more than I would be able to teach them. I hope that they will develop friendships that will help them through the difficult tween/teen years. I hope to expose them to people that are different than they are.  I want my children to be kind, compassionate, and open-minded.  I hope that school provides them with unique perspectives so that they can make well informed decisions about what they think, feel and believe.  I hope that they will find their voices, their passions, their paths in life that will make them the most content.

Avoiding Summer Slide (And Beyond) - #3 Financial Awareness

Several summers ago, when I was growing tired of Peanut and Pumpkin asking me for snacks, treats, etc every time we went into a store or past an ice cream shop, I decided that I needed to give my kids more financial responsibility.  I was tired of saying "No", but I certainly wasn't about to start saying "Yes" to all of these extravagances.  I took several steps to increase their financial awareness.

1)  More responsibility at home.  

My girls have been doing chores since they were tiny.  Before they could even speak in complete sentences I would have them find all of the socks in the laundry.  That was their only job - find socks. Then we moved on to finding socks and matching them.  Eventually they found, matched, folded and put socks away in the appropriate drawers.  Now they can pretty much do their own laundry from start to finish.  While we prefer to do it all together - we've had some amazing conversations over the laundry basket - the girls can handle it if I ask them to do it.   This is just one of their "required" chores. Just as no one pays me to cook dinner or drive the girls to practices and events, Peanut and Pumpkin do not get paid for required chores.  (Each year I reevaluate what the girls are capable of doing and modify their chore list.  During the summer they are able to do more than they are during the school year.)

2)  An opportunity to earn their own money.  

While the girls don't get paid for required chores like laundry, wiping down the bathroom sink, sweeping and vacuuming the kitchen floor (essentially cleaning up after themselves), they do have the opportunity to earn money by doing other chores.  The paid chores are listed in the kitchen pantry with the job, the frequency with which it can be done, and the pay rate.   If Peanut and/or Pumpkin are saving up for something, if they are bored, or if they just want to earn a little spending money, they can look at the list and choose something to do.  (FYI - My pay rate is pretty low.  The girls don't really need an overabundance of spending money.  If they have too much, then they don't really have to think too hard before making financial decisions.)

3)  Keeping track of their money.  

Since the girls are earning money, I think it is also important for them to keep track of it.  Peanut and Pumpkin have a checkbook that has a record of the money they've earned and the money they've spent. When they earn money by doing a chore, they add it to their checkbook (which I keep in my purse). This works well for us for a couple reasons.  1 - I don't always have to have cash to pay them for their chores.  2 - They are learning to balance a checkbook.

4) Making their own financial decisions.

Now, when the girls ask for some item that I think is silly or frivolous, I don't have to say "No".  I simply tell them that they can buy it if they have enough money in their checkbook and decide that they want to.  The change in their desire to spend money is amazing.  They are so much more aware of how much things cost.   For example, Peanut loves ICEEs.  Every time we would see a place that sells ICEEs she would ask to buy one.  Now, she asks how much it costs.  Before, she didn't realize that the same item can vary in price from $6.00 at a theme park, to $3.00 at the mall, to just over $1.00 at Sam's Club. This new appreciation for the value of products is refreshing.   I've found that both girls check prices even when we're shopping for items that they need and know that I intend to buy for them.

So far, these four steps have worked really well to make Peanut and Pumpkin more financially aware and more financially responsible.  Do you have any tips that you use with your kids?

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

This past weekend, a couple dear friends of mine lost someone that was very special to them.  As they go through this difficult time, I am reminded of the amazing people in my life that I was blessed to know and heartbroken to lose.  While it is true that the sadness and pain do seem to lessen with time, it is also true that it can sneak up on you again at any moment without notice.

Missing someone isn't about how long it's been since you've seen them last or the amount of time since you've talked. It's about that very moment when you're doing something, and you wish that they were right there with you.

--Unknown 

Avoiding Summer Slide - Tips & Suggestions (#2 Reading Together)

I divide all readers into two classes; those who read to remember and those who read to forget.

–William Lyon Phelps

I love to read!  Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Suspense, True Crime, Nonfiction - I read them all.  More often than not, I am a read to forget kind of girl, however I do occasionally read to remember. I have found that I can learn quite a bit about myself, others, and the world in general by reading a good book.  Because I have an appreciation for the knowledge and escape that comes from reading, I have always had a desire to pass that on to my children.

From the first day that I brought my babies home from the hospital, we have read together.  While some people thought that it was a bit extreme to read with my girls at such a young age, I have never regretted it.  Though the girls are now 8 & 10, and can (and do) read just as easily on their own, we still read together almost every day.  

Researchers have studied the benefits of reading with children, and I have yet to hear of one that doesn't recommend it.  However, experience has given me my own list of reasons why we love to read together:

1)  Vocabulary - It is very rare for Peanut or Pumpkin to come across a word that they don't recognize or can't figure out with context clues.  Occasionally, if they're feeling lazy, they'll ask what a word means, but usually they read ahead a bit or reread a sentence to figure out what it means on their own.  By reading books by authors from other countries, classic books that are written using terminology from a previous generation, and books and may be a bit older than their reading level, they are exposed to words, sentences, and phrases that make them think.

2)  Bonding - When we read together at home, the girls and I squish into our chair and a half, cuddle up with a blanket, and relax.  It is one of my favorite places to be.  While the girls still love hugs and are very affectionate, our reading/cuddle time is reminiscent of when they were babies and we'd sit cuddled together for hours at a time.  It is comfort!

3)  Conversation - Reading together gives us something to talk about.  We can talk about the book, or even topics that the book brings up.  I feel that serious topics, like death, drugs, poverty, etc., are a bit easier to discuss when they are relevant only in a book and not necessarily in their real lives yet.  Books open the door to discussions that need to take place.

Do you read together with your kids?  What benefits have you found?

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

 Another Wednesday means it is time for another quote.  Here's the latest food for thought:

"The most influential of all educational factors is the conversation in a child's home." -William Temple

While many would like to blame the schools and the government for the state of education in our city, state, and country (and they certainly aren't blameless), we must also look to ourselves for some of the failures that we see.  Personally, I think that what we teach our children at home is most influential in determining what they believe and are able to achieve.

*Credit for quotes may be incorrect, but regardless of who said them, I like them.  

Box Tops for Education - Meijer Box Tops Sweepstakes

For those of you that are Meijer shoppers and Box Tops for Education clippers - here is an opportunity to win some bonus Box Tops for your school!

From August 1st to August 14th, when you purchase five General Mills participating products at Meijer in a single trip, you'll receive a special code.† Enter that code here for your chance to win up to 10,000 eBoxTops^® for your school – it's that easy!

Plus, when you enter your code, you'll have a shot at winning 100 eBoxTops for your school INSTANTLY. So what are you waiting for?

Guess what?!

If you check out the rules here, you'll find that you don't even need to make a purchase to enter and win.  They list a free code you can use to enter.

Good Luck!!

Avoiding Summer Slide - Tips & Suggestions (#1 Khan Academy)

I LOVE summer break!

From the beach to boat trips to lazy pajama days, there is so much that makes me happy about the summer.

I like to be able to take my girls out to experience life.  I want them to have amazing memories from their childhood.  When they look back on their lives as they get older, I want them to smile - not because they remember the things they had, but because they remember their feelings and experiences.  

While there are so many fun things for kids (and adults) to do when they're on break, that doesn't mean that responsibilities can be completely neglected.   This is especially true if you're trying to avoid the dreaded summer slide.  

I consider myself to be quite fortunate.  My girls are bright.  Even if they do experience a bit of summer slide, they are able to quickly recover.  Last summer, I made sure that Peanut and Pumpkin both read, but other than that, I didn't really worry too much about their "schooling" during the summer.  This year, I tried to create a schedule that would allow them to work on more than just reading during these fun-filled summer months.  

Have you heard of Khan Academy?  

Khan Academy is an organization on a mission. We're a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.

All of the site's resources are available to anyone. It doesn't matter if you are a student, teacher, home-schooler, principal, adult returning to the classroom after 20 years, or a friendly alien just trying to get a leg up in earthly biology. Khan Academy's materials and resources are available to you completely free of charge.

I had an amazing friend tell me about Khan Academy last year.  This summer, I decided to sign my girls up and have them work on their math skills (though there are many other subjects to choose from as well).  Peanut and Pumpkin spend 1/2 hour each weekday morning practicing skills that they have previously learned as well as learning new skills.  The curriculum includes questions/problems to solve, hints, and even videos explaining topics that might be new to you or your children.   Generally, the girls can practice on their own while I am getting other things done around the house.  Only occasionally do they have a question that one of the videos or hints doesn't answer for them.

One of my favorite things about Khan Academy (other than the fact that it is completely FREE!) is that they send me a weekly update telling me how much time my kids have spent on the site.  They also send a breakdown of the skills they are working on, having trouble with, and have mastered.   Another bonus - my kids enjoy doing it!  :)

While I can't say exactly the impact that Khan Academy has had on my girls' success in school, I do have to say that it does seem to be a wonderful program.  I have recommended it to all of my friends and family with children (and may actually brush up on my own math skills this fall).   I'd be interested to hear your opinions as well.

I have a few more tips and suggestions that I'll be sharing in future posts.  Do you have any other ideas or sites that have been helpful for your family in preventing summer slide?

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

I love looking up fun and inspirational quotes to suit my mood.  Today I happened upon this one and thought it was highly appropriate as we get ever closer to our first day back at school.

"The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson."- Tom Bodett

Perhaps we need to change how we teach our children, since it seems like life lessons are always a bit easier to remember long term than typical school lessons.

*I don't really know if Tom Bodett said this, but no matter who did, I like it.  :)

Box Tops for Education - Receipts Promotion

I am a HUGE fan of Box Tops for Education (except for the days when I have to sort, count, and send them in).  I am always asking friends, family, neighbors, and anyone that will listen for their Box Tops if they aren't going to use them.  

Every Box Top is worth $0.10 to your school!  While a dime might not seem like much, it really adds up if you can get the entire school paying attention and clipping instead of tossing those tiny pieces of plastic, paper, cardboard, etc.

My favorite thing about the Box Tops for Education program is that they actually send a check directly to your school!  You don't have to save up points for items that you may or may not need.  Your school gets money that can be used for just about anything.

While the Box Tops themselves add up fairly quickly, I love when BTFE offers promotions that allow you to earn bonus Box Tops.   Here's a great one that is going on right now:

For every 10 participating Box Tops for Education™ Receipt Rewards products you purchase in a single transaction between 7/21/14 and 8/31/14 at a participating grocery retailer, you can earn 50 bonus eBoxTops™ for your selected school. By 10/1/14 either upload a picture of your receipt to BTFE.com/receipts, or email or text a picture of your receipt to submit@btfereceips.com. A star must be placed next to the date of purchase, the UPC codes for all 10 participating products and the total amount of your receipt transaction, and each starred item must be legible in the photo. After your receipt has been validated, you will receive a reply email or text with a unique code. enter the code at www.BTFE.com/redeem by 12/1/14. All eBoxTops will be awarded directly to the selected school. Only BTFE registered schools can redeem eBoxTops. Each eBoxTops credit is worth 10 cents to the redeeming school. All eBoxTops are subject to the Official Rules available at www.boxtops4education.com. Limit 10 participating BTFE products per transaction. Limit 5 receipts per phone number or email address. Msg & data rates may apply. Must be 18+ to send text. Subject to General Mills privacy policy at www.BTFE.com.

I'll be heading out to the store this week to pick up my 10 BTFE items (we're almost out of cereal anyway) and my bonus $5.00 for my kids' school.