Whether you’re road tripping to an awesome destination, hiking a new trail or simply having a family picnic in the park, there's still time left to Get up and GO this summer.

We did! 

We decided to celebrate the end of summer by hitting up one of our local wading pools before it closes for the season. We've got several big, 1 ft. deep pools at various parks, and the kids always have a blast. Sure, it's only a foot deep...But a lot of fun can be had in that 12 inches of cool water! Crab-walking, splash wars, floating, etc. Good times. 

Of course we made sure to have the essentials on hand before heading to the park for a day of fun in the sun. We packed towels, sunscreen, extra clothing, and of course, some snacks. Go Organically® Fruit Snacks sent us some of their delicious USDA Certified Organic Fruit Snacks to try for ourselves, and they made the perfect snack! 

Are your kids ready for summer to end? Mine have mixed feelings. My youngest son, Xander, is eager for school to start. My other kids? Well, they're not quite as enthusiastic. They aren't ready for their summer fun to end just yet. There are still more lightning bugs to catch and more adventures to be had. 

One way my littles are keeping the vacation spirit alive even as school approaches is by having imaginary cruises. Yep. They're cruising the high seas with their PLAYMOBIL Cruise Ship!

The Cruise Ship brings all aspects of summer fun into one colorful, unique play set. Kids will love using their imagination and creativity to bring these figures to life. Simply pull out the lower deck, lounge in the spacious guest room, sunbathe on the top deck, have a bite to eat at the restaurant, or slide down into the refillable pool!  

Wherever you're sailing, PLAYMOBIL's Cruise Ship will surely make it an adventure. 

dThe end of the summer may be approaching rapidly, but there's still plenty of time for a few more adventures. Whether it's a trip to the beach or amusement parks, an excursion to local parks, or just a road trip to Grandma's house, summer is a great time to travel with family and friends. 

As we head out onto the highways and byways for some end of summer fun, please keep safety in mind. It's so important that infants and children are in proper car seats. This will protect their little bodies if heaven forbid an accident should occur. 

Our go-to car seat brand is diono. Hands down. My kids' safety is one area I refuse to skimp on, and diono offers top of the line in comfort, versatility, and safety. 

Let me tell you, those mamas out there that are familiar with diono and their very high quality standards would definitely "get it". diono is second to none when it comes to safety, versatility, and functionality. Not to mention, they offer some of the most visually appealing car seats on the market today! And let's be honest: Looks DO matter, especially when it comes to things for our little ones! 

Good looks aside, as a mom, the most important factor when considering car seats is safety. Something can be gold-plated, blinged-out and gorgeous, but if it's not safe, it's not going into MY shopping cart! After all, car seats carry the most precious cargo around, my babies. Their safety is paramount. The diono radian rXT Convertible Car Seat is among the safest on the market, and has been rigorously tested, passing NCAP crash tests, and is even approved by the FAA for aircraft use. 

***This is a sponsored post. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.***
 
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With International Cat Day happening on August 8, and Happy Healthy Cat Month in September, now is the perfect time to address the 'cat in the room'—and that's your feline friend's diet.

I'll also take this time to introduce a little Tiger kitty that showed up in my yard and clearly isn't leaving. In fact, she seems to love Dan and the kids. I am still in denial that we have a new pet, so I call her Nope. Yes, her name is Nope. As in Nopesauce. 

Anyway, we have a new friend, and yes, we have been feeding her. How can we say no to that face and hungry, teeny little meow? We want to give Nope, along with our existing kitties, only the best food possible. 

I'll be the first to admit my own cat's diet isn't 'purr'fect. My indoor kitties  can be a picky eaters, or ignore their water bowl even when it's placed right next to their food. I struggled to understand how I could address these issues. But then I realized I wasn't alone—my cats were just experiencing one of the three most common cat concerns: picky eating, weight gain, and urinary tract issues. 
 
I learned about the Big 3 by partnering with Weruva [http://www.weruva.com/]—a luxurious, natural pet food dubbed "people food for cats" which is launching a full line of gluten, grain, and carrageenan-free cat food in honor of International Cat Day. It's called B.F.F. OMG! (that stands for Best Feline Friend, Oh My Gravy), and it's all about preventing these Big 3 Cat Concerns.

See that gorgeous young man standing beside me? That’s my 17 year old son, Kyle. Kyle is not only easy on the eyes and a pro when it comes to liquid liner application, he’s also completely, totally, and fabulously gay. (You can read more about him and how being his Mom saved me HERE. It’s a good read. Promise.) He is colorful, he is flamboyant, and he is a bit of a diva. I wouldn't change him for all the riches in the world. 

​Anyway, Kyle is going to be a Senior in High School this year.

A SENIOR.

I’m not entirely sure how that even happened, or where the time has gone.

​It seems like only yesterday, I was kissing his boo-boos and snuggling with him while we watched movies or read a book. Now this young man, who used to fit perfectly nestled in my lap, is a good foot taller than me. And he comes with a heart that is 2 sizes too big for his 6 foot tall body. 

​You see, Kyle is a kid...Oops, young man...that is going places. He is going to change the world one day, and he's overcome many obstacles to achieve the things he has so far in life. He is a consistent, High Honor Roll Student, a Rotary Scholar, a member of his school's Gay Straight Alliance, and also part of an anti-bullying group, STAND. 

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I don't know what it's like where you live, but here in the Cleveland, OH area, it's been H-O-T. Sauna-like, even. During the summer, I take extra care to make sure that my family stays in tip top shape, despite the nasty, oppressive summer temperatures. Thankfully, the folks at Superior Source also has some awesome supplements to help you beat the heat! 

The best part about these microlingual tablets is that they don't have to be swallowed. This is a good thing for a few reasons: For one, a lot of folks, like my husband, have a hard time swallowing even the tiniest of pills.

Also, since these tablets dissolve under the tongue, they retain their potency. When swallowing traditional supplements, their potency can be greatly reduced due to the acrid environment in the stomach. The folks at Superior Source have bypassed this common issue, ensuring that their products live up to their name.

Here are some great supplements designed specifically to keep you looking and feeling your best, from the inside-out....Even during oppressive, summer heat!