Shaun the Sheep Movie Giveaway

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Lionsgate. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Final Poster

We are huge fans of Shaun the Sheep and his crazy flock around our house, and can’t wait to see the Shaun the Sheep Movie when it comes out on August 5th. In this full length movie, Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun and gets a little more action than he bargained for.  A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan, and a very steep hill leads the flock to the Big City. Shaun and the flock have to work together to return everyone safely to the green grass of home. In honor of the upcoming premiere, I’m hosting an awesome Shaun the Sheep Movie giveaway and sharing a preview of the movie today. Watch the preview below and enter to win the prize package for your flock.

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Seven Simple Tips for Family Travel on a Budget


Seven Simple Tips for Family Travel on a BudgetFamily travel can seem out of reach when you are living on a budget, but it doesn’t have to be. With planning and strategy, we are able to have incredible adventures with our family without busting our budget. Today I’m sharing seven simple tips we’ve learned over the last few years living in financial freedom and finding space in the budget for travel. Before I start, let me say that we put travel on hold while we paid off all of our debt and created an emergency fund. While I believe travel is an important part of our lives, it is a luxury. Though we live debt free, we are on a teacher & part time blogger/non-profit salary, so we aren’t exactly rolling in the dough.  If we can do it, so can you.

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Learn with Play ~ Get 150+ Ideas for Year Round Fun and Learning for Kids of All Ages

KBN coverY’all, I could not be more excited. One of my lifelong dreams has come true – to be published in a book! I collaborated with an amazing group of bloggers from the Kid Blogger Network to bring you the new Learn with Play book, available now as an ebook, Kindle, or paperback. In this book you will find fresh ideas with clear instructions for activities, crafts, and so much more for kids of all ages. The book is easy to use and will help your kids to learn through play. The book makes a great gift for parents and educators, and I couldn’t be prouder of this project.

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Fisher at Age Four

fisher in the wildflowersMy wild and crazy first born turned four recently. He is such joy and stubbornness and sweetness and strength all wrapped up in a burly bear of a boy. He goes hard all the time until he crashes and sleeps. His energy level is full tilt and he loves life, people, sharks, and everything else.  He will great you with a hug, tell you about his shark tooth collection, and might ask you about your favorite dinosaur. He truly brings joy wherever he goes.

He loves to explore the world around him, and wants to learn about everything he sees. He loves to visit the library and pick out new books and movies to enjoy. He loves animals and will tell you all about them. He has an imaginary friend named Record who goes on all sorts of adventures.  I asked him a few questions about himself to take a snapshot of who he is at this moment. Please note that we just attended his friend Grant’s birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese in which he received a toy rocket to shoot, which may have influenced some of his answers.

Fisher at Four:

  • Favorite Food: toast
  • Favorite Color: red
  • Favorite Animal: shark
  • Favorite Show: Curious George
  • Favorite Book: all shark books
  • Favorite Movie: Peter Pan
  • Best Friend: Grant
  • Favorite Place: Chuck E. Cheese
  • Favorite Activity: shoot rockets

Fisher, you are the most precious gift and I’m so thankful you made me a mommy.

 

Experience NASCAR Racing from Inside the Stock Car

Experience NASCAR Racing from Inside the Stock CarHave you ever wondered what it would be like to ride around the track at high speeds in a NASCAR stock car? My husband did just that a few weeks ago, and he says it was one of the coolest gifts he has ever received. Gifts that give your loved one an special experience are the best kind of gift. Today I’m sharing what the ride was like and how you can experience it yourself or give it as a gift, just in time for Father’s Day.  To find incredible bucket list, once-in-a-lifetime dream gifts for your friends and family, check out Cloud 9 Living. Use the code: dadsdayFEET15 from June 1-22, 2015 to save $15 off your experience.  

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Using Essential Oils to Get Better Sleep for the Whole Family

When our family made the decision to try essential oils back in February, one of my top priorities was to try use them to help us get better sleep. I’ve had trouble falling asleep for my entire adult life, and was pretty desperate for help. My son was also struggling, taking almost 2 hours to fall asleep some nights. Some of the oils we’ve tried have really helped us, so today I’m sharing how to get started using essential oils to get better sleep for the whole family. I’m not a doctor and can’t tell you what is best for your family, and this is not medical advice in any way. I’m just a mom who is trying out natural remedies with my family and sharing what has worked for us with you. Click here for more information on why we use essential oils and to see our current oil deal.

Using Essential Oils to Get Better Sleep for the Whole Family

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20 Ideas for Summer Fun with Preschool Kids

20 Ideas for Summer Fun with Preschool KidsSummer is here and we are ready to play! Are you looking for fresh ideas to keep your little ones entertained this summer? Here are 20 ideas for summer fun with preschool kids to help you have fun with your family during the hot months ahead. Need ideas for your toddler? You’ll find five fun ideas to entertain your toddler this summer here. I’ve joined with my favorite kid bloggers to share our favorite summer ideas for kids and families, so be sure to hop around to the links at the bottom of this post.

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Family Fun in DFW: Amazing Jake’s Plano

Family Fun with GoKarts at Amazing Jakes

Summer days are long and hot in Texas, and we are always looking for a way to beat the heat and have fun as a family. Recently we had the opportunity to visit Amazing Jake’s in Plano, and it was a blast for the whole family. Located close to 75/North Central Expressway in Collin Creek Mall, Amazing Jake’s is worth the drive from all over the metroplex. Read on to find what we thought about the entertainment at Amazing Jake’s for toddlers, preschoolers, and adults.

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One Easy Way to Get Kids to Want to Brush Their Teeth

One Easy Way to Get Kids to Want to Brush Their TeethManaging your child’s hygiene can be a daunting task. Those little fingernails grow so fast, the dirt just seems to stick, and they never want to brush their teeth. While the nails and the dirt can’t be helped, we’ve found the easiest solution to get our kids to brush their teeth. I shared strategies for teaching kids how to brush their teeth last week. Establishing healthy oral care routines for kids is so important, so this time I’m sharing how to get them WANT to brush their teeth. It is so simple, I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out.

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Five Simple Strategies to Help Kids Conquer Bed Wetting

5 Simple Strategies to Help Kids Conquer Bed WettingIt isn’t fun to talk about, but bed wetting can be such a frustrating struggle for kids and their caregivers. Our son was potty trained for months, with no accidents during naps or a night when all of a sudden he started wetting the bed again. It was so hard not to get mad and frustrated when we were changing the sheets AGAIN after months of dry nights. When I learned that enuresis (bed wetting) is normal for kids long after the potty training years, I realized we needed to develop a few strategies to make sure we were all getting good sleep and help us conquer bed wetting.

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