Every single time I go shopping, my youngest son, Xander, reminds me to pick up more donuts. 

Every. Single. Time. 

It seems that in his mind, there is no better treat than a flavorful, moist Entenmann's Donut. Whether it's one of their mouthwatering chocolate varieties, powdered, plain, or even Entenmann's Softees, he never seems to tire of donuts. I guess in my house, donuts are the new bacon. Or something. They're definitely a hit, possibly bordering on a foodie obsession here. 

Donuts aren't just a breakfast craving, either. He's been known to ask for a donut with dinner or even as a snack. 

Let’s be honest. Summer isn’t the easiest month to budget for. At least with Christmas and the festive season you can plan well in advance how much you’re going to spend! When it comes to summer, everything seems so much more expensive…and days out, ice creams, holidays and summer clothes, sunglasses – check out this link for the latest in Transition sunglasses – it all quickly adds up.

So, what’s the answer? Well, I’ve come up with 5 tips and activities to help you save the pennies this summer. Good luck!

Head to your local market
Fresh produce, local crafts, collectables and curios, the opportunity to support local businesses, even tastier sessions and entertainment. There’s always lots going on at your nearest farmers market. You can take the kids, try some free samples and see what’s going on during the holidays, or you can buy some of your fruit and veg there! The kids will probably love watching the stall holders weigh out the produce and entice passers-by with some creative calls. You could even make a visit to the market a regular thing!

Go for a walk
You don’t have to live near a mountain range to enjoy a good family walk. Check out public footpaths in your local area, or if you prefer – drive out a little further and make a day of it. Bring a picnic, plenty of water and a good pair of boots for everyone and you’ll all enjoy a day out in the fresh air!

Have a water fight
Got a paddling pool? Fill it with water, turn on the sprinklers, break out the slip and slide, load those water pistols and let loose with some large water balloons! The kids will love this activity! It’s the perfect way to stay cool, keep them busy and watch your pennies at the same time. If someone in your family has a birthday party coming up – then it’s the perfect activity! Who says you need to go to an expensive water park to have fun?

Head to the library
The kids might groan at the very idea. But did you know that during the summer break, the library is a hub of activity? From reading clubs and challenges, to pop up cinema, guest authors reading from their bestsellers, plays, puppet shows and even a chance to try something imaginative like a creative writing class or even a comic book design afternoon. Pop along and see what’s going on. The kids can pick up some books too – the perfect way to spend those inevitable rainy days.

Have a game night!
Declare your Friday night – family game night! Turn off the TV, help the kids to make their own pizzas and dig out those family board games. Any chance to get the kids away from technology is a blessing and it’s a wonderful way to spend time together – even if someone is accused of cheating and doesn’t like the result of the game!

Recently, I got to check out some of the wholesome yet tasty snacks from a local Ohio brand, Crazy Richard's. (You can peep that post HERE.) 

I thought it would be fun to have a quick chat with the President of Crazy Richard's, Kimmi Wernli, to learn more about her brand and her vision. 

Q: Tell me more about your brand! I hear you’re from the Buckeye State as well! I’d love to know how you came up with the name Crazy Richard’s!

A: We are from the Buckeye State! We are so proud of it in fact that we even have a “Raised in Ohio” symbol on our new Wholly Rollies packaging. The name Crazy Richard’s comes from the fact that we are “crazy” about wholesome foods and clean ingredients. When Crazy Richard’s was founded 20 years ago, there was not a "Natural/Organic" section in the grocery store and many retailers thought that shoppers did not care about clean labels. But shoppers do care! And they have demanded more natural and wholesome foods over the years and we are proud to be one of the pioneers of this category.

Q: I understand you do a lot to give back. That's important to me as a consumer and human being. Tell me about your charitable efforts.

A: We at Crazy Richard's are "crazy" about helping others and established the Healthy Kids Happy Future project to give us a platform to do this. Peanut Butter is the number one most requested item in food banks nationwide - and we have lots of peanut butter! We donate to food banks and other charitable organizations who help support children's healthy and nutrition. We want to take an active role in fighting childhood hunger and we know that often starts with helping support families. Our employees also donate their time and energy to various organizations. We truly believe that one person or one small act can make a huge difference - in fact we are "crazy" enough to think that our family owned company can change the world!

Q: What do you do to support the environment? Do you have sustainable practices? 

A: Crazy Richard's is proud to be the first nut butter company and one of only a handful in the state of Ohio to receive the B Corp Certification! We support recycling programs and are actively against food waste. Our main product - peanut butter - is made from just one ingredient: Peanuts! We only source our peanuts from American peanut farmers. Importing peanuts from overseas may be cheaper, but in the long run it is more expensive for the environment. We are proud to support US agriculture and almost all of our charitable efforts are done locally in the US. Peanuts themselves are sustainable! The most sustainable nut there is, and one of the most sustainable sources of protein available on the market. Peanuts are a Zero Waste product - there is not a part of the peanut plant that goes unused. The outside shell and husk are ground up and used as animal feed or bedding, the peanut can be used in peanut butter or other foods or smashed into peanut flour and the oil extracted and refined into cooking oil. The stems and leaves of the peanut plant are pushed back into the soil in which they are grown because they are full of vitamins and are nitrogen fixing which means that they actually help replenish the earth for future crops!

Q: What are YOUR favorite snacking tips I can share? 

A: Snacking is a way of life for most Americans and we are on a mission to help Snack Frozen! Our new product Wholly Rollies is made from just a handful of ingredients and are ready to eat fresh from the freezer! We believe that food tastes better without preservatives, stabilizers or added sugars. Wholly Rollies are made with wholesome ingredients for the whole family and are my current favorite way to snack! Another snack tip is to pour a jar of Crazy Richard's creamy peanut butter in a squeeze bottle and keep on hand in case of a snack attack. Our PB is so creamy that a squeeze bottle is an easy and fun way to top anything with a little PB drizzle. Toast, yogurt, fruit, pancakes or even sweet potato fries!

Thanks so much for chatting with me, Kimmi! 

Be sure to check out all the awesomeness that Crazy Richard's has to offer on their website. 

I know my kids like to eat, especially during the summer break when boredom and hunger seem to be synonymous. Who knew that not having anything to do could bring on such fierce hunger pangs from kids who just ate something literally TEN. MINUTES. AGO? 

But I digress....Anyway, my kids are bottomless pits during the warmer months, so I am always looking for snacking options that are nutritious, tasty, and won't bring on tons of Mom Guilt for letting them snack....Again....All day long. 

Recently, I got to check out healthy snacking choices from a few awesome brands: OH SNAP!® Pickling Co., Vegetarian Traveler, and a local to me Ohio brand, Crazy Richard's. I'd love to share some of our favorite summer snacks from these brands, as well as a fun Q&A with Kimmi of Crazy Richard's. Keep reading for more! 

As a homeschooling family, we always try and make learning as hands-on as possible. We incorporate "field trips", documentaries, and more into our day to day lives to ensure learning never takes the proverbial backseat, even during the summer months. 

One thing we do during the summer to ensure the kids' minds don't turn to absolute mush is reading and exploring the world around us and all of its wonders. National Geographic Kids offers a ton of books that allow us to do just that. Our favorite as of late would have to be the brand new National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020. 

I have to admit, I didn't always have the nicest smile. In fact, it was awful. You see, I spent many years without access to dental care. I also suffered through an abusive relationship which completely and utterly destroyed my self-esteem....I was told every single day how ugly and inferior I was. I was told I'd never be good enough, and that I should be disgusted by my own reflection. I was told that no one could ever love me, and that if people were nice to me, it was merely out of pity.

​This treatment unfortunately led to a battle with Bulimia that ultimately made me sick all the time and completely destroyed my teeth. I was isolated, out of shame, for close to 20 years. I was terrified to open my mouth to speak to new people. I was scared of judgement and ridicule, and I couldn't stand my own reflection. I avoided leaving my house, and when I had to, my main goal was to remain as invisible as possible. 

Thankfully, a miracle happened, and a very kind man who I'll always consider my hero changed my life forever by giving me a smile makeover. For the first time in my whole entire life, I am not ashamed to smile. 

Did you know that poor dental health can impact your overall health, and can even cause some very serious problems such as heart problems or even strokes? It's true! I know my health suffered when my dental issues were present, and I felt sick, tired, and was in excruciating pain every single day of my life. ​

I've made it a point to take very good care of myself, and have made a ton of lifestyle changes. The way I see it, having beaten Bulimia and being blessed with a brand new smile, I owe it to myself to be as healthy as possible. 

I quit smoking after being a smoker for most of my life. I stopped drinking pop in exchange for sparkling water. I sleep more. I use sunscreen. I try and stay active. When my dental health improved, my confidence improved. In fact, my entire life changed for the better and I have never had a healthier lifestyle than I do today. 

Body hair is a subject of concern for everyone, especially when it grows in unwanted areas. You can remove it yourself at home in most cases. The question is should you? The answer is not necessarily, especially if it is growing in an area that is difficult to see or reach. You also may be fed up with home hair removal techniques like waxing or shaving. After all, they are time consuming and no always completely accurate. If you are looking into clinical alternatives, one to explore is laser hair removal.

Laser Hair Removal Functionality and Popularity
Laser hair removal is simply the process of using focused light to treat hair follicles. Follicles are better thought of as hair roots. When particular types of light are used and the laser is properly calibrated, entire strands of hair are treated. That includes parts you cannot see, like the follicles.

Laser skincare procedures first started to reach a level of mainstream popularity in the United States in the 1990s. Laser hair removal has emerged as one of the top forms not only of laser procedures, but also of cosmetic procedures in general. That is due, at least in part, to the ease of undergoing laser treatment. There is very little preparation required. Also, most laser procedures do not require hospitalization or at-home recovery periods.

Why Laser Hair Removal is so Useful
Laser hair removal is useful for a variety of reasons. For example, top laser hair removal tools are known for their speed. When you go in for a laser appointment, the technician points the laser device at your skin and uses very fast pulses of light
to treat it. Each pulse lasts for less than a second and can treat an area about the size of a quarter. The speed of laser treatment means the longest you should spend in the laser clinic is approximately an hour. If you are having a spot treatment on a small area, you might be done in a matter of minutes.
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Lasers are also known for the ability to surpass shaving and waxing in terms of accuracy. Not only do they treat every hair in the chosen area, they also do so without harming the skin tissue in the surrounding area. That is, as long as you select treatment with the right laser device. You must also make sure your treatment is performed by a trained technician.

Getting Ready for Your Laser Hair Removal Appointment
Getting ready for your laser hair removal appointment is a fairly simple process. First you must schedule an appointment at an accredited clinic with a positive reputation. You must also avoid any treatments that remove or damage hair roots for about six weeks before each procedure. Such treatments include plucking hairs or waxing them off your body. Leaving the roots, or follicles, intact is essential so the laser device can treat them.
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Another important aspect of laser hair removal preparation is staying out of the sun. It is widely recommended that you do so for six weeks before the procedure, but your clinician will give you exact instructions. Avoid too much sun exposure for a similar time period after treatment is also important. The laser procedure makes your skin temporarily hyper sensitive to sunlight.

Scheduling and Having Laser Hair Removal Treatments
Laser hair removal is not a one-time procedure. For the best results, you have to repeat the process several times. You may also need future maintenance treatments. Your clinician will schedule your appointments several weeks apart. At each appointment, your skin is numbed or cooled during the procedure to keep you comfortable. You should also receive a list of things you cannot do the day of your procedure, such as wear perfume or lotion.

In my little city, we have a ton of things to do for families. That's actually one of the reasons I am so incredibly grateful to be raising my kids here. There's still a sense of community for the most part, and there are oodles and oodles of things to do and places to go that the entire family can enjoy. 

One of our favorite things to do as a family, especially during the nicer months, is to visit one of our many local parks. We have over 25, and they offer wonderful ways to be active, appreciate nature, and just enjoy being with the ones you love the most. 

Now that winter is (finally) over here in the Cleveland, OH area, it's time to get our gardening on....Okay. I confess....I actually don't really have a lot of gardening experience, and am totally new to the idea of growing our own herbs, flowers, fruits, and veggies. In fact, it seems a little intimidating to me, if we're being completely honest here. 

Even though it's new territory, after watching a good friend have a very successful garden on via her Facebook posts, we've decided to attempt to hopefully grow some things of our own this year. 

We've planted a few Lilac bushes, some Blackberries, and some Strawberries, too. I also hope to grow some different peppers and an herb garden, too. Yes, I have high hopes here, and we're going to do our best to be successful in our new gardening endeavors. 

Does anyone have any food allergies or sensitivities in their home? Or perhaps just picky tastebuds? Maybe members of your household have a special diet and are avoiding or eliminating certain products, or swapping them out for healthier choices? 

Let's be real here. Prepping, cooking, and serving your family a nutritious meal that suits everyone's tastebuds, allergies, and mood can more than just take extra time... it's exhausting at times! 

Thanks to a Pinterest recipe gone wrong, Gail Becker founded CAULIPOWER -- America's #1 better-for-you pizza. Gail's desire to feed her family a celiac friendly, easy and tasty meal lead her to create one of the crispiest, most delicious cauliflower crust pizzas on the market. 

After seeing the success of the-little-pizza-that-could, she decided to expand her veggie empire, creating Sweet PotaTOASTS and CAULIPOWER Tortillas. All ready to eat in 15 minutes or less, CAULIPOWER's suite of products are a simpler way to get your family to be veggie-first.

We recently received an assortment of CAULIPOWER's best selling products, and I'd love to share our experience. This was our very first time taking on a cauliflower-crust pizza, and we had questions....And doubts. How did it go? Well, keep reading and find out.....