Do your kids love science and engineering? Science is my 8 year old daughter, Sophie's favorite subject ever. She lives, sleeps, and breathes science. In fact, some of her favorite things to do include a trip to the Great Lakes Science Center up in Cleveland. Thankfully, we're members, so we can visit as often as we'd like. 

One of the films we loved seeing in the Dome Theater is Dream Big: Engineering Our World. This awesome film celebrates technological advances in engineering, which allows kids to dream big and help design our future engineering marvels. It was amazing on the HUGE screen, but soon, this hit will be available from the comfort of your own home, too! 

Get ready to explore our world when the critically acclaimed film Dream Big: Engineering Our World(narrated by Jeff Bridges)is released in a 2-DVD set by Shout! Factory on July 24, 2018. Originally filmed for and seen in IMAX® and Giant Screen theaters, this stunning film will now be available in living rooms across the country.

The education-focused 2-DVD edition ofDream Big: Engineering Our World will offer the complete movie along with a 150-page educator’s guide (12 lesson plans, including handouts), 10 educational shorts, 8 behind-the-scenes featurettes and 8 more short “Fun Fact” videos. This set brings the wonder of engineering to life for students everywhere.  ​

Have you ever been overwhelmed by choices while shopping? I mean, it's so easy to see all the different product options on the shelves, not knowing which ones are the best values for our families. 

This is where BrandSpark International's Best New Product Awards can help! 

As the leading consumer-voted awards program in North America, the Best New Product Awards honor consumer-packaged products in the categories of Health & Personal Care, Beauty, Food & Beverage, Household and Kids. 

Recently, I was sent a great assortment of this year's WINNERS. Yep, the votes are in, and these are just a few of the fantastic, consumer-chosen products that made the cut and have been deemed excellent in quality and in value. 

In a world that seems to be getting increasingly hostile, personal safety is incredibly important. As a woman, I feel even more compelled to take personal safety into my own hands. As a survivor of Domestic Abuse, I will NOT allow myself to be made a victim in any capacity if I can help it. 

Also, I am the mother of an 18 year old gay son. He, too, risks his safety just by walking out the door every day. He encounters discrimination often, and who knows when hate-fueled words and ridicule could become physically violent in nature? 

Personal safety and prevention is KEY. It's important to be able to protect and defend one's self, and to always be ready for the unexpected. 

No, I don't mean everyone should be strapped like Yosemite Sam. This is 2018, and this isn't the Wild, Wild West. Carrying a firearm isn't for everyone, and thankfully, there are other, less lethal, methods of self defense.

We carry various personal safety products from SABRE. Whether you are traveling, camping, barbecuing in your backyard, or visiting your city's local attractions, make sure to prioritize safety. Check out a few of SABRE’s most popular safety products to keep you and your family while celebrating the season. 

Keep reading to learn more about a few of my go-to personal safety helpers from the awesome folks at SABRE. 

Like many of you, I sometimes enter sweepstakes or contests I see online, often through Facebook. Well, I don't win much since I stay too busy to enter like I wish I could....But recently, I won something AMAZING, and I'd love to share it with you all! 

I won one of the Bud Light Lake Getaway experiences, this one in Cleveland, OH. This "staycation" included a 2 hour long Bud Light Party Cruise on the Nautica Queen, which of course offered food and all the Bud Light one could handle! (I actually don't drink....At all...The hubby enjoyed the beer, and I stuck to ice water, meatballs, and cheese. Heck. Yes.) There was music and dancing on deck, lots of laughter, and of course, plenty of Bud Light VIPs.  We were all friends for an afternoon, and it was AMAZING. 

After seeing the gorgeous cityscape and crashing waves of Lake Erie, we were also treated to an amazing concert experience at Jacob's Pavilion, which is an ampitheater style venue right on the water. We saw KT Tunstall, Better Than Ezra, and The Barenaked Ladies! My phone ended up dying, so I didn't get too many concert photos.

Check out my slideshow above, and enter to win your own Bud Light Lake Getaway HERE. (Rules are on the sponsor's page.) 

Again, not sponsored, just sharing my win and hoping you enter, too! 

As you may have noticed, Summer '18 is all about things that are wild....Things like the Dinosaurs brought back to life in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and of course, next week? Well, that's one of the most celebrated weeks of the whole entire year: Shark Week! 

In celebration of these favorite "wild things", we've rounded up some of the hottest toys that celebrate both sharks and dinosaurs! These come from favorite brands like Dolce, Wild Republic, and ALEX, just to name a few. 

Take a minute, check them out, and then order some for your own kids to enhance their wild summer adventures! The kids will not only be thrilled, they might actually learn something, too. And hey, learning through play? That's one of our favorite pastimes! 

One of the things I love most about the summer season is grilling. We grill a LOT. Several times a week, actually. Whether it's burgers and dogs, various kinds of chicken, steak, or even grilled veggies, our grill puts in overtime when the warmer months hit. 

​One thing that makes or breaks grilled foods is the seasoning. Yes, it's true that everything looks delicious to the eye, but tastiness is measured by the taste buds. I've had dishes before that looked fantastic but were blander than...well...Hospital food. That says a LOT right there. 

One of our favorite ways to make sure our food not only looks great but tastes great, too, is by choosing only the best quality seasonings. Our favorites this grilling season are from Pereg Natural Foods' Gourmet Spices. They offer some of the best, most inspired spices and seasoning blends, and they contain ONLY the best that Mother Nature has to offer. 

One thing I always make sure to keep handy are my sunglasses. I keep a pair in each of our cars, as well as several others. Hey, gotta coordinate with my outfits. Anyway, sunglasses as a must in my home. This is especially true during the hot summer months, although I do use them year round. Hey, the sun doesn't take a break, so my eyes need constant protection from potentially harmful rays. 

Since I have several pairs of sunnies, as well as some "fake glasses" for fashion purposes only, I refuse to pay crazy prices that break the bank. I have kids. I have a busy life. Accidents happen. Therefore, I can't drop hundreds of dollars on my sunnies. It's just not possible, practical, or smart. 

That's where the awesome folks at Sunglass Warehouse come into play. Sunglass Warehouse offers TONS of hot, high quality styles, all for incredible prices that are kind to the wallet. Oh, and if you're in need of reading glasses, the same value can be found at Readers.Com. 

With summer in full swing, moms are always extremely busy during this time of year. Between swim lessons and trips to the park, doing what’s best for the family still remains at the top of the to-do list, which often means a healthy and sustainable household. 
 
From the kitchen sink to the bathroom shower, Softsoap Earth Blends has you covered with a paraben-free and dye-free moisturizing line made from biodegradable cleaning ingredients. An easy way for moms to do good, this Walmart exclusive allows for an effective and trustworthy clean, every time.

My oldest son just turned 18, graduated High School Magna Cum Laude, and is now focusing on becoming a bona-fide adult. This means he's working, continuing his education, and ultimately honing in on his ultimate goal of having some sort of creative career, whether it's with his art or as a budding tattoo artist. He's got immense talent, and an incredibly bright future, if I do say so myself.

My 18 year old son also...well...smells like an 18 year old young man. I don't know how to state that delicately, so I won't. Sometimes, he gets funky, and it's less than pleasant for those in the same room.

That's why I decided to treat him to a wonderful assortment of masculine smelling, natural personal care products from Nubian Heritage. Their Abyssinian Oil & Chia Seed line will not only keep my young man clean and pampered, they will also help him smell less like a barnyard animal. Good for him, good for my nose. It's a win for everyone! ​
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