happy healthy families

Cool 4th Of July Craft Idea {Got Potatoes?}

Planning a Fourth of July party? Or maybe you just need a cool 4th Of July craft idea for the kids? This project is easy-peasy, fun and makes a great way to decorate for summer parties as well!

Cut a washed and dried potato in half.

Draw a star on one of the potato halves (on the fleshy side)

Cut away the surrounding potato (about 1/4" deep) until you have a star-shaped stamp that kids can hold onto.

Pour a little blue paint in a bowl and let the kids sip in their potato star stamp.

Make more potato stamps and use red paint for some red stars too!

Then let the kids can get stamp happy and craft all kinds of fun Fourth of July decorations - such as....

T-Shirts

Posters

Napkins

Tablecloths

{How soon will we be talking Thanksgiving and Christmas?? Eek.}

Kids' Bathing Suits, Shorts, Rompers & More On Sale At Tea Collection

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Tea Collection has some of the. cutest. kids' clothes around. Right now, Tea Collection is offering up to 50% off on all of their spring collections. These major sales only happen twice each year - so if the lazy days of summer at your house need a jump start with new fun outfits for the kids, check out this sale.

A complimentary peek of the cute stuff on sale just for you!

Cute stuff. Up to 50% Off. Hurry.

'Make Your Heart Berry Happy' Milkshake {Yummy Recipe Ahead!}

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In the mood for a yummy summertime milkshake recipe that is actually healthy for you? This shake is made with two different kinds of berries {you can always feel free to add more though!} which we know are very good for your heart's health. Plus, this recipe calls for replacing ice cream with Greek yogurt which really boosts the health benefits.

The Good Stuff You'll Need:

3/4 cup plain Greek Yogurt
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup strawberries
1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. honey (for sweetness)

The Easy-Peasy Directions

Get out your blender and blend away! Pour this yummy berry shake in a cold glass - enjoy!!

{P.S. This drink goes really well with a new summer mystery and/or while getting your legs ready for summer!}

Blurb: Create Personalized Books With Your Favorite Photographs

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Aside from enjoying some quality reading time, I know I will be busy taking lots of pictures of the kids this summer - just like every year. This time around, I am super excited because I will be turning those sweet 'moments-in-time' memories into actual books that can be shared for years to come! If you have yet to try this - you really should! And Blurb will help you get started!

They are is giving all of us the opportunity to put our photographed memories into beautiful personally made books. I have a promo code for all of you to get 15% off your next purchase: BOOKSFORSUMMER. Use this code when you checkout to receive the discount. If you are planning a summer trip during June, you can still create a book at the end of the month, because the code doesn't expire until 6/30/13! You can even start your project now and come back in a few weeks after you have taken more photos to finish the project.

My sister-in-law gave me a book she created using photos from our family Christmas gathering last year, and I absolutely love it! All our pictures from the holiday are in one beautiful book which sits on the living room coffee table for all to enjoy.

I honestly recommend preserving your family memories in a personalized book. My guess is that you will be hooked after you create your first one!

(P.S. these photo books make awesome presents for the holidays too!!)

Fun Summer Read: Wedding Day Murder

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One of the perks of summer is getting to indulge in some lighthearted fun reading. I will be sitting by the pool much of the summer - hanging out with my boys, so a good book is a must for me.

Wanna see the latest book I am set to read next? It's said to be a fun mystery with just a bit of romance. I am a sucker for those 'Who Dun-It' books - so this one sounds exactly like my cup of tea when it comes to reading.

Yep. Cannot wait to get started either! School is over after this week for the boys - so I plan to have this book in hand, along with a giant bottle of sunscreen by the weekend. Did I mention that I will be proudly showing off my recently shaved legs - minus any signs of razor burn - at the pool??

Summertime Means Shorts, Shaving, and Razor Burn {EEK}

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Okay. It. Is. Summer. Kids are ~~bored after one day of summer vacation~~ home, the scent of suntan lotion is wafting gently in the air, and one of my worst nightmares is upon me.

Shorts.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love shorts. I really do. Just not on me. However, I wear them. Yes. I. Do. I make the ultimate sacrifice because my family ~~pressures me nonstop~~ really wants to see my summer spirit expressed via my wardrobe.

Be careful what you ask for, I tell them.

Of course, wearing shorts requires one shave their legs first. In my case, that means I get a heavy-duty razor that can handle my months long growth of leg hair which I have previously kept happily hidden under jeans.

Sorry...is this TMI??

Shaving my legs guarantees one thing. Razor burn.

What soothes razor burn? I am asking because I have not found anything that really helps.

Until now.

I found this wonderful tip for easing the pain of razor burn in a magazine the other day, which made really excited!!

{It's the simple things that make me happy, don't ya know?}

So ladies, make note of this razor-burn relief tip because it is actually a good one -

Eye Drops And a Cotton Ball.

These two things will give us {After all, I cannot be not the only mom in town that suffers from 'short-wearing phobia - induced razor burn' - am I??} all much-needed relief from razor burn.

Put a few drops of eye drops on the cotton ball, then gently dab the affected area.

The key is that you must use eye drops with these specific ingredients:

**potassium chloride and tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride.**

Did you get all that?

Apparently Visine Advanced Relief Eye Drops meet the criteria.

So I am doing three things today.

1. ~~Drinking Heavily~~ Shopping for eye drops.

2. Shaving my legs while ~~drinking heavily~~ keeping my newly purchased eye drops by my side.

3. Hiding my bathing suits. Every. Last. One.

Get Your Free Doughnut - Today is National Doughnut Day!

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Today is National Doughnut Day! Who knew? I sure didn't until I came across an article about it while surfin' the web. Here are two places where you can get a doughnut for free today:

Krispy Kreme ( free doughnut without any purchase -yay! Only while they last though.)

Dunkin Donuts (free doughnut when you buy a beverage.)

In addition, Entenmann's will donate $1 to the Salvation Army for every person who "likes" the Entenmann's Facebook Page. (A nice way to celebrate the day without indulging in the extra sugar!)

For those of you who would rather celebrate this awesome national holiday by doing a little baking of your own at home, check out Modern Mom's Sneaky Chef's healthy homemade doughnut recipe. I think I will have to give this a try with my kids!

Enjoy, Indulge and Celebrate (and put the bathing suits back in the closet for another day.)

Crayola's Big Colorful Birthday Adventure {Enter To Win!}

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To celebrate their 110th birthday, the 8 original crayons are throwing a birthday bash at the new fun-omenal Crayola Experience, the world's only interactive Crayola family attraction. Right now, they're out on a colorful adventure to spread the news, and you're invited to join the fun!

And Your Family Could Be Invited To The Party!!

Just FOLLOW the crayons on their adventure, LEARN more about each color and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayola Experience this coming May, 2013!

Visit the Crayola Facebook page and click "enter now" for your chance to be first in line when the Crayola Experience reopens.

The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three-night, all-expenses paid stay!! The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child's creativity to life!

It's an experience your kids will never forget - and neither will you!

Disclosure: All contest information and entry details have been provided by Crayola.