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- Give yourself enough time.
- Use metered parking because it is SO much cheaper because it is $4 versus $12.
- Pack lunch for the break and then go out for dinner after the visit because there are great restaurants in the area.
- Leave your littles at home. We left our 15-month old at home because as I predicted it would have been hard for her to enjoy the crafts or even to do something that would not be appropriate for her.
- If you want to save on tickets, go online and save $4 on the ticket by buy online. This is good until 12/31/16. If you are a teacher you can also take your immediate family and save 50% on tickets on Saturdays. What a deal!
- Vitamin B12: I want to feel my best so I take Vitamin B-12 to support my energy on a cellular level.†
- Iron: It is essential and vital for red blood formation and is an essential part of hemoglobin, the protein substance which enables red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body.†
- Magnesium: Helps support nerve,muscles, and heart function and also supports healthy teeth and bones!†
- Peanut Butter & Co. Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter
- Dinner Mixers by Tastefully Simple
- Twist’n Sprout™ by Chef’n
- StalkChop™ by Chef’n
- Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes
- Popcorn, Indiana Sweet & Salty Kettlecorn
- Calling
- Grace
- Law
- Inability
- Identity
- Process
- Lost
- Authority
- Foolishness
- Character
- False Gods
- Control
- Rest
- Mercy
A Crayola Birthday Experience
November 10th, 2016A birthday experience was complete with a visit to Crayola Experience with our oldest daughter. What great memories we made and hopefully you can create the same memories.
Time flies
My oldest daughter turned 5 this past and I simply cannot believe how quickly time has gone by. It was just yesterday that we moved into our townhouse in the Philly suburbs. I was 6 months pregnant with my middle daughter and my oldest was just around 10 months old. It actually makes me tear up because I miss that baby stage now that I see my youngest turning into a real toddler.
This year we decided not to do a birthday party but decided to give our daughter an experience. While she expected the party, we did not tell her our plans until the week of her birthday. She was not immensely disappointed but instead when she heard that her birthday was going to be spread among a few days, she was elated. Who would not be?
Festivities at Home
Since our daughter’s birthday fell in the middle of the week, we opened her gifts that day and I made her a nice full breakfast. She pretty much had a great day because she had her birthday gifts opened and she was the line leader at her school which also meant she was in charge of bringing a snack. I cam in to read her favorite book to the class instead of having sweets since there are so many allergies in her class. It was great!
On Friday I prepared a special cake that she had requested made with mangoes. Even though it was out of season, I was able to work around this using frozen mango and mango products from the local Indian market. She simply loved the cake so that made the evening great.
Easton, Pa
Our daughter totally was excited to visit Crayola Experience for the first time with only mommy and her middle sister. My husband stayed home with our 15-month old so that we could have a smoother time. I am glad we did because it was a packed day! After driving an hour and a half to Easton, Pa, we arrived to horrific traffic. Why was there horrible traffic you may ask?
In addition to our planned activity there was also a BACON FEST happening in town! It took about 15 to 20 minutes to get into the town and then another 10 minutes to find parking. I think we only found parking because some people leaving the market told us that we would do better using metered parking, so we waited for them to get out. PRIME location parking. We only had a 5 minute walk to Crayola Experience and we skipped on the crazy traffic trying to get to the parking garage.
Crayola Experience – Fourth floor
I had purchased our tickets beforehand so that we could get through the line. We each received plastic baggies with tokens and a map of what each floor offered. I decided we should start on the top floor so that we could work our way down to the bottom floor.
We arrived at noon even though my goal time was to arrive at 11am but it was fine. The top floor consisted of molding and projects with melted crayons. Before we left home, I made sure the girls did not have on nice clothes for this experience but somehow we got stuck with nice fleece jackets on. Whoops. I was trying not to freak out on unwanted melted crayon on anything.
I breathed in and relaxed. It was my daughter’s birthday and it was her day. I looked over and she was having a great time already. There were not any signs around letting us know what to do in the stations laid out. I then noticed that there were 3 staff members working a WHOLE floor for three stations. For a busy Saturday, I think it required more personnel. We finally figured out the melted wax station where kids made their own creations using different melted crayon liquid.
The girls then melted crayon and chose to make a mold of a ring. It was cool to see the process and then end up with a crayon ring. We all decided to switch when we each received our own mold.
Crayola Experience – Third Floor
This was probably the best floor for the girls. There was a large indoor play area in the middle of the room surrounded with multiple stations with different crafts. After 30 minutes of playing I coerced them to come out and join me in a craft. They each made a pretend magnifying glass that they made out of a paper plate. They used watercolors to decorate the ring and then dried it. They proceeded to tape and attach string to end up with a cool craft!
Birthday girl wanted to go back to the playground so I let her play for 10 minutes before I decided I really could not see her. There were a lot of people and I felt like she would feel lost trying to find me if she grew tired. We then chose to try Doodle in the Dark. They loved they glow in the dark aspects especially with the coloring. We then moved on the Create your Own Puzzle station. They LOVED this area. The great thing is that parents get to interact and participate. The girls each colored and created their own pictures and then they placed the paper in a cutting mill where it created a 6-piece or 12-piece puzzle. It was a smash.
Lunch
Since we arrived right at lunch time, I decided to feed them a snack to hold them over. Right at 2:15pm I decided to call a break, for my sake as well, and have lunch. I thought choosing a food truck outside the premises at the Bacon Fest would have been easy but it was not. The whole world seemed to be at the festival and it proved to be claustrophobic and not a great place for kids. We ended overspending at some indoor market which made me wish I had just packed our lunches. I later saw there was a corner cafe offering discounts for those at the Crayola Experience.
I think, if the Bacon Fest had not been in town, we would have had better luck eating somewhere fun but we will only know next time. After lunch, I added more money to the parking meter for another 3 hours and headed back to our amusement.
Crayola Experience – Second Floor
The second floor was lots of fun, with the girls making their own labels and choosing their crayon colors. They named their crayons and even thought of their little sister at home. It was so cute! The tokens we had in our bag were used for this room but no one explained where else these tokens COULD be used.
After that station we got to a creative computer section where the girls used screens to color or design their photos. After they finished they could email them to me or send it on big screen for them to find. It was LOTS of fun and the girls really loved using the screen to color. Since we do not use screens at home, places like this and the library to use computers to make their pictures.
The rest of the floor required either more tokens or purchase of products to create projects but before we left we came across a giant crayon for coloring pages and another station where there was a photobooth that created coloring pages of themselves posing with different scenery. It was hilarious and the girls could not wait to come home to color our faces.
Birthday Experience
I lean heavily on experiences that spending too much money for memories that will not last. The birthday girl loved the day and everything we did. We left with so many crafts, laughs and memories. We were there for FOUR hours and we probably could have stayed another hour. Despite running through the girls’ nap time, they still were energized, even though there were some tired legs.
Several things for you to think about when you go visit.
Hope you enjoy this post and that is helpful! We will definitely go back in the future to Crayola Experience and to Easton, Pa.
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Striving for Balance with Healthy Choices
November 6th, 2016This post was sponsored by Nature Made® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.
Long weeks
Fall is quickly coming to an end and I am not happy about it. With the time change coming up and the busy weeks, the holidays could definitely be a time of respite. Unfortunately, weekends can get just as busy as the weekdays and the sign of any relaxing disappears. With all that in mind, I know that I have to get enough sleep and keep in good health for my little family.
After this past week, I am looking forward finding a pace that is not so hectic. Is this even possible as a mother of three toddlers? I think it is a good mission to have even though some weeks it seems hopeless.
Mind and Body Balance
Balance seems like such a funny word in my vocabulary because it seems virtually impossible. I tell the truth because I have two toddlers in school and an active 15-month old at home and a list of chores, errands and exercise to balance. I simply am not a person who lets one category go because I want to focus on another is not how I do things.
At the moment, making sure that my family is healthy and eating right is my biggest goal with the next being a clean home. letting go of what cannot be done on certain weeks is necessary and is a work in progress. My biggest concern is making sure my health is in check so that I can keep going when others get sick.
How do I do this? 
Healthy Choices
One of the healthy choices I have made is making home cooked meals for my family. Even though I can be as busy as the next person, my goal is to make fresh meals that take me under 30 minutes to make and that are well-balanced. I also make sure that my kids drink enough fluids, wash their hands and get out of their school clothes when they get home. There are so many germs that simply come home and invade our home.
In addition to my kids getting their vitamins, I really try to take my own vitamins and supplements. Some of the ones I take are by Nature Made® and are an easy, convenient way to help your body get the nutritional support it needs every day, whether it be to support bone health, immune health or energy metabolism (helping convert food into energy).† They are somewhat easy to find at Walmart along with the rest of the supplements in the health section of the superstore. My husband is probably the only one that knows that I take a variety of supplements to keep me balanced.
Nature Made® Vitamins and Supplements
Nature Made® has a variety of vitamins, minerals, and supplements (VMS) to help support nutritional gaps with your health goals in mind ranging from Digestive Support, Heart Health & Function, Energy Metabolism, Women’s Health and much more!† I have had a chance to continue my B12 supplements with Nature Made® as well as my doses of iron and magnesium.
The following supplements are the ones I have been taking:
Nature Made® is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended brand for many key dietary supplement categories* and can be found at Walmart, where you are sure to find everyday low prices.
Nature Made® Probiotics and Products
If you are into probiotics or are looking for one, Nature Made® Probiotics: Nature Made® Advanced Dual Action Probiotic has been clinically studied and provides dual support to both your small and large intestine for comprehensive coverage to help support digestive balance and healthy gut flora.†
It feels good to be able to trust a brand that has been around for a while. The probiotic can be specifically be found at WalMart SuperCenters so when you are out and about doing your shopping, check out Nature Made® vitamins and supplements: An easy, convenient way to help your body get the nutritional support it needs every day, whether it be to support bone health, immune health or energy metabolism (helping convert food into energy).†”
Giveaway and Further Info
For more information on Nature Made® vitamins and supplements available at Walmart, visit the Nature Made® Retailer Hub . Also, make sure to enter to win one of 60 Walmart gift cards (each worth $50) by taking part in the sweepstakes on the site! (No Purchase Necessary).
†This [These] statement [statements] has [have] not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This [These] product[s] is [are] not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
*Based on the 2016 U.S. News & World Report – Pharmacy Times Survey.”
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Fun and Tasty Fall Essentials for Every Cook
November 1st, 2016No one can have enough kitchen gadgets or even delicious new food products in their kitchen. Each season can have its own unique essentials. Below I will be sharing some fun and tasty fall essentials that every home cook needs. This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.
Fall Essentials with Babbleboxx
If you came into my kitchen, you might be dumbfounded by how a foodie and home cook like me could have so many spices, gadgets or variety of foods. I am always looking to try something new. I can safely say I am a collector of everything foodie.
If you are a fan of subscription box, this box is definitely catered to the home cook. Inside my box I received SIX different items that were both inedible and edible. Here is what I received:
Doesn’t this list just entice you? It was hard not to break open the peanut butter and the popcorn but I refrained until I looked through everything.
Peanut Butter & Co. Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter
What else cries seasonal during the fall besides pumpkin? As soon as the weather cools off and the leaves start turning brown, I am ready to get my baking with pumpkin. This is Peanut Butter & Co. ‘s first seasonal flavor which mixes their award-winning smooth peanut butter with real pumpkin and pie spices to create a limited edition, which means it is only available while supplies last!!
I chose to use my pumpkin butter to make a Pumpkin Protein Smoothie to enjoy while the kids are napping. It was so creamy and delicious and I definitely knew I was getting my protein punch. Like all Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butters, this seasonal spread is made with USA-grown, non-GMO peanuts, and contains no cholesterol, trans-fats, and hydrogenated oils. It is also free of dairy and soy.
I plan to make some apple nachos with drizzled Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter very soon. For more recipes, visit http://recipes.ilovepeanutbutter.com/tag/pumpkin-spice/. You also can try your own jar and save some money by printing a $1 coupon to take on your next grocery visit. Check out where you can find this brand at your local store.
Dinner Mixers by Tastefully Simple
While I have heard of Tastefully Simple, I have not had the pleasure of trying their product. Their Dinner Mixers are a meal-starting kit with three recipes that includes a recipe for a main meal, a side, and another meal. It also includes pre-measured Tastefully Simple products that can are to be used for the recipe in addition to the other ingredients the home cook includes to create their own meal. The Dinner Mixer options change every month providing new ways to mix up your dinner routine and try new dinner recipes each month.
Wow! I really loved this concept because I usually plan meals the same day and sometimes I really do not know what I am going to make. Some weeks I have meal planning pat down but other weeks I could definitely use these dinner mixers to have my dinner prepared in a very quick time. As a mother of three, I can safely say that the dinner prep hour is crazy. I rather have my meal prepared in the morning or early afternoon so I do not have to deal with the stress.
In my box, I received the Wahoo Chicken recipe but unfortunately I got the wrong chicken as listed on the recipe. Instead of bone-in I got ground chicken. I easily modified the recipe by still using the spices but I combined the suggested recipes into one main meal. I simply cannot follow a recipe without giving it my own spin, but I still enjoyed the spices provided.
If you’re a busy mom or parent who is in charge of cooking, trying the Dinner Mixes might just be the perfect thing for you. Purchase them on the SITE and save $5 off Dinner Mixers by using promo code DINNERMIXERS at checkout through 11/15/16.
Twist’n Sprout™ and StalkChop™ by Chef’n
Let’s talk about gadgets! Sometimes we don’t realize we really need gadgets until someone invents them, and then you wonder where they have been all your cooking life. This is how I felt with the Chef’n Twist’n Sprout which is made for Brussels sprouts and the StalkChop made for cauliflower.
These veggies are two that I prepare a lot during fall season. Truthfully I really do not know if I have been cutting Brussel sprouts correctly but after seeing the picture and description I believe I have been going about it all wrong. The gadget preps sprouts in a snap by my simply pressing the Brussels sprouts onto the tip of the tool and then twisting to remove core for a more evenly cooked vegetable. What an easy way to make a cook’s life more simple.
The StalkChop quickly removes cauliflower stalks and strips florets, separating stems from stalk without waste. It is dishwasher safe and it also works great on broccoli too! I really love this gadget because it keeps your hands free from slicing your finger when using a knife. This tool focuses on the core of the veggie and then on the individual florets.
Check out the website for more details and save 20% plus FREE SHIPPING with code fallprep at checkout through November 10th 2016.
Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes
Every time I go out with the girls, I make sure I go prepared with essentials including hand wipes. I then realize that this is not the only place I need them. Now that the girls are getting older, they help a lot in the kitchen. If I am short on time, I really do not have time to wash hands in between the girls cracking eggs or if they are touching their faces while helping me with meals. Sometimes having something handy like antibacterial wipes just gives me a peace of mind.
Since we are mostly on-the-go, the 20-count travel packs are more convenient for us especially since they feature a new Wet Lock™ seal technology. The improved and innovative packaging features a thin, rigid plastic closure that’s proven to help the wipes retain their moisture over 15 percent longer. Interested in purchasing them? Check them out here.
Popcorn, Indiana Sweet & Salty Kettlecorn
Popcorn is a favorite snack in our home. Unfortunately, the girls have only tasted salty and buttered popcorn, sometimes made at home. Well, sometimes, making popcorn is just not ideal in some situations so buying it makes it more convenient. A new product I had not tasted was Popcorn, Indiana Sweet and Salty Kettlecorn which was included in our box. Sadly, I have only one photo of that bag because it was consumed in 5 minutes between me and 3 kids. Everything in that little bag included a thin layer of salty sweetness surrounding every bite of wholegrain goodness.
Thank you
I hope that I intrigued you with a few new products and that you decide to learn more and take advantage of the offers in each section. Fall essentials for cooks can be fun and tasty and I was happy I could enjoy these. My collection has received these really well.
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The Truth About Parenting + Giveaway
October 27th, 2016Are you a first time parent or a parent of multiples? I am reviewing Paul David Tripp’s newest book called PARENTING: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family. It is very eye-opening and such a great book to read as a couple or on your own.
When you have low days
Yesterday I broke down crying. Not because I am a female and I have hormones but because I was emotionally exhausted. I realized that I was correcting and parenting ALL DAY LONG. It was 9pm and I had not had dinner yet and I had been going nonstop since 8am in the morning.
Do other moms get me? I am sure you are in the same spot. I think it is okay to be able to communicate that parenting is HARD and a HUGE challenge. It is not easy. I do not consider myself a helicopter mom but a mom that is trying to teach her kids the most about life and how to be a loving human being by knowing the truth of the Gospel.
Looking at Yourself
Parenting has made me look at myself and question my identity. The truth is that the way I respond and react to my kids only tells me about MYSELF and how much work I need in myself. Whether you want to believe it or not, our parenting methods come from what we SAW in our home life whether positive or negative.
If you had a difficult childhood, you might imitate the same parenting with your own children OR you might just go the extreme opposite and be passive about parenting at all. While this might be a lot to take in, That it is something I have been thinking about for a long time and really only after I had my second daughter.
PARENTING: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family
Paul David Tripp is a best-selling author and totally not new to our family. During the summer we attended a parenting series at out church for the summer. It was the most eye-opening time for me and my husband. We learned a lot about how to parent the way that God loves us and see us. Imagine trying to wrap your mind around this!! It is huge!
This summer was revealing in so many aspects because it made me realize how much of my childhood and what I saw affected and still affects how I parent. BUT one thing I am sure is that things get better and can only go one way: UPHILL!
When I became a mother I did not know that I would feel pressure to do the best and for my kids to be the best in public. As I read Paul David Tripp’s newest book, he specifically pin pointed on fourteen foundational principles that are focused on the Gospel. He shares that there is more than the latest parenting books or techniques and that our view of parenting must be shaped by GRACE in order for us to parent correctly.
It is not about parenting in order to raise GOOD kids but making sure our mentality as parents is sound, directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. God is in control of our kids hearts and of change as well as change in our hearts as parents.
Over our heads
If you have been looking for practical or easy how-to tips on how to parent, this really is not your book. I was unsure of how I would respond but I continue to read each chapter, convicted of the ways I have focused incorrectly how to raise, respond, and react to my children. If anything, I know that parenting sure is a mirror of who I am, and I know that I thank God for the work in progress that I am. So, what are these principles?
I hope this list piques your interest because I am giving a copy away to any parent that is interested in reading this book. Paul David Tripp speaks truth even telling stories on he has stumbled as a parent in raising his kids. He focuses everything back to the Bible and what God says about each principle relating to us and our relationship to God and our kids.
If you struggle with your children and feel hopeless, please consider reading this book because it brings and gives hope. There is always an opportunity for change and for another viewpoint when it comes to parenting. We are not alone and parenting should NEVER be negative because we, after all, are equipping these little ones to go out into this world and live and some day be parents themselves.
Giveaway
For all my US readers, please leave a comment below letting me know what is the hardest part of parenting. Giveaway will end on November 2, 2016 at midnight.
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Keeping a Balanced and Active Lifestyle with Dole Packaged Foods
October 24th, 2016This is a sponsored post with Dole Packaged Foods and We All Grow Latina Network. All opinions are my own and based on our personal experiences with our active lifestyle.
It has been 6 weeks since I quit my job in the medical field and 6 weeks since I have been a full-time stay-at-home mom. Truth be told I was doing both at the same time while parenting and it was really challenging. Now that I am a stay-at-home mom, I realized it has its own challenges.
Busy mom of three
Somehow it seemed easier doing it all. Actually I was not doing it all because I focused on my job, taking care of the girls and doing the necessary chores to keep my head above water. The stark reality is that keeping a home and raising kids is definitely a big job even more when the kids start going to school.
I consider myself a mom who is always on the go, I think I get some of this from my mother. I plan activities for our girls and for our family on the weekends, so I really try hard to prepare in advance to have the essentials for my girls when we go places. It does not go so well when I am just too tired to get my act together because I definitely pay for it later.
Wizard of Oz
Last weekend, I took the girls to a local theater to watch Wizard of Oz. It was perfect timing since we had just finished reading the book. Since it was a matinée and a long show a that, I knew that I had to be prepared to have something for the girls to munch on besides the normal concessions. I prefer to give my girls healthy snacks like Dole Packaged Foods which definitely came in handy as I packed our to-go bags. Dole Packaged Foods offers high quality, contemporary products from a long-standing, trusted company that’s been around for over 160 years.
During intermission, the Fruitocracy fruit pouches came in handy for my 3 1/2 and 5 year-old daughters. It made for a great combination with the packaged almonds. If anything, I make sure that my girls are getting a great balance of healthy that is also fun. Fruit pouches are actually pretty special treat for my older girls because it is fast, convenient and satisfying.
Active kids
My girls know I like the be outdoors and for me, it is easier to manage my girls in an outdoor setting. During the weekdays, after I pick my older two girls from preschool, I chose an area playground and have lunch packed for them. My youngest toddler, who is 15-months old, is definitely ready to eat by 11:30, so if I plan to go anywhere, I must have a snack available.
It is definitely a challenge to be prepared on days that are tight with dropping kids to school and cleaning the daily mess, I know that I have my go-to snacks that I can pop into my lunch bag. Hey, even I can have my daily fruit intake with Fruitocracy pouches. Thanks to Dole Packaged Foods for having fun flavors to keep my kids entertained and even nourished when out and about.
Busy and active lifestyle
I will admit that I am not used to slowing down because having little ones keeps you going but my life has always been like that even as a single woman. It almost seems natural to keep the energy going with your family. Although our family is not quite involved in extracurricular activities like sports, gymnastics and dance, we take a rest in order to enjoy the joys of community with our church.
Knowing that this keeps us busy twice a week is enough to give the other activities a rest until the girls are little older. Sometimes I feel like I need to have an ice chest of snacks ready instead of packing them daily which is what I will probably do next. What an idea!
But while busy schedules and weeks go by, I know that having some downtime at home with my girls is always important in order for them to realize that home is where rest is. Even if it is our communal backyard, I know that letting my girls run in the grass and climbing the trees is just as good as racing around in a car making it to local playgrounds. Even so, the convenience of fruit pouches like Fruitocracy and Dole Packaged Foods make our busy lives so much more easier.
