***DIsclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** Woo-Hoo! It's Labor Day Weekend!
What does that mean? Well, for one, summer is pretty much over, and kids are about to head back to school, if they haven't already. (All 3 of my kiddos are already back into the swing of things, as we start school in mid-August here in NE Ohio.) Still, Labor Day Weekend is known for fun, food, and enjoying time with family and friends. We decided to celebrate by packing up some red, white, and blue snacking options and heading over to the F.A. Sieberling Nature Realm, which is in Akron, OH right next to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. They have an interactive nature center, a rock and herb garden, hiking trails, and more. Oh, did I mention it's absolutely gorgeous there? The Sieberling Nature Realm is literally the perfect place for a picnic. The kids agreed, so we grabbed our tote filled with Red, White, and Blue snacks and hit the hiking trails to find the perfect snacking spot.
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Get Grilling Help from LongHorn Steakhouse’s Expert Grill Masters This Labor Day Weekend #Partner8/30/2017 ***Disclosure: Information and photos have been supplied by LongHorn Steakhouse. I will receive a promotional item for sharing this information. As always, all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** Labor Day is the last official grilling holiday of the summer, and LongHorn Steakhouse’s expert Grill Masters are on-hand to help guests prepare at home. For the third and final time this summer, at-home grillers can dial into the Grill Us Hotline for immediate help from grilling experts. For grilling advice from the pros, call 1-855-LH-GRILL on Sunday, Sept. 3 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET. Every LongHorn Steakhouse across the country has a team of certified Grill Masters specially trained in the art of grilling. For the past five years, the Grill Us Hotline has tapped into these pros to help at-home grillers become the master of their own craft. Top tips, tricks and techniques are also available via social media, text and web:
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Just because summer is over doesn't mean all the fun and games need to stop, too! (Imagine the shock my kids felt when I let them in on the fact that fun actually DOES exist outside of the summer months.) We like to stay active as we settle back into our school year schedules, so we take the kids on several local "Field Trips". This not only helps supplement learning, it also helps keep the kids active. It's a win-win situation for everyone.
Last week, we headed out to the F.A. Sieberling Nature Realm in Akron, OH. This is right next to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and is located very close to our home. This is a wonderful place for families, and includes a hands-on Nature Center, hiking trails, ponds, and even a fantastic Rock & Herb Garden. There are even some beautiful picnic areas to sit and have a nice lunch, or even settle in for some reading with a good book. There are plenty of potential hidden costs of any given vacation, right?
Luggage feeds. High gas prices. Surcharges. However, what about the not-so- hidden cost of feeding your family while on-the- go? From constantly eating out to dealing with high food prices in tourist areas, you can quickly eat through your vacation budget before you know it. Literally. That said, there are ways for savvy families to keep costs down when it comes to food without having to solely eat discounts fair. With the right planning and a bit of creativity, your family can eat like kings while on-the- go. Keep the following five tips in the back of your mind to keep everyone in your pack fed without breaking the bank. Cook Your Own Meals Simply put, the easiest way to save on meals while traveling is to take a DIY approach to cooking while on vacation. Not only does hitting up a grocery store or bringing your own dishes via cooler means more money in your pocket, but cooking together as a family is an old-school bonding experience right? In some cases, your meals serve as activities in and of themselves. For example, these Outdoorsy tips for cooking your own breakfast while camping show that cooking is a tasty and rewarding experience for families spending time in the great outdoors. Pack Some Non-Perishable Fare Perhaps this is a no-brainer, but don’t forget about the importance of bringing non-perishable and portable snacks for while you’re on the go. Snacking throughout the day can keep you from getting too hungry when mealtime rolls around. Protein bars, bottled water and simple sandwiches (think: peanut butter and jelly) are totally fair game and can be taken just about anywhere. Do Your Homework Prior to Traveling Especially if you’ll be hanging out in “touristy” areas that hike up prices at restaurants, make a point to do some research on the best budget spots to eat for families so you don’t get burned by a bad meal. Likewise, you can try to scout spots where kids eat free or run regular Groupons and discounts for larger parties. There are also plenty of restaurant budgeting apps out there that could save you a buck or two while eating out. Be Prepared to Save Your Meals Whether you bring Tupperware or Pyrex bowls and containers, keeping your leftovers safe and sealed can ensure that you don’t waste food and have extra meals on deck for the next day. As such, it’s also a good idea to bring along some sort of cooler, especially if you’re camping or don’t have a fridge in your hotel room. Rethink How You Eat Finally, it’s a good idea to have some sort of plan regarding what’s going to be your biggest meal of the day. For example, if you cook your own big breakfast or lunch, you don’t have to worry as much about paying for dinner. Similarly, if you have a paid dinner planned out you can snack throughout the day to get your money’s worth when supper rolls around. There’s no reason why you can’t keep your family’s bellies full even if you’re traveling on a budget. Having a variety of tasty options available and accessible ensures that you can worry less about where to eat and instead focus on having a great vacation. ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Do you have any Star Wars fans in your family? My kids and husband are all absolutely hooked on this franchise, whether it's the live-action hit movies, or the Disney XD animated series. Needless to say, they were thrilled when I told them that Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season Three is coming to Blu-Ray and DVD!
Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season Three delivers all 22 action-packed episodes of the hit CG animated series’ third season, plus exclusive, never-before-seen bonus material on Blu-ray™ and DVD! The story threads begin to tighten in this thrilling season of Star Wars Rebels, drawing connections to The Clone Wars, Rogue One and the original Star Wars trilogy into the series’ epic storyline. Available August 29, Star Wars Rebels: Complete Season Three delivers some of the most critically-acclaimed Star Wars storytelling to date, with engaging characters, harrowing conflicts, and spectacular space battles on par with those seen in the films. Having established a secret base on Atollon, the Ghost crew, now led by a more powerful Ezra, strengthens the Rebel fleet by acquiring new resources and recruits eager to stand against the Empire. However, the Imperial efforts to eliminate the Rebellion are now being led by the coldly analytical Grand Admiral Thrawn, whose strategic, tactical and cultural insights make him a threat unlike any they have faced before. Ezra and Sabine must take on new roles and challenges as the Rebels prepare for their biggest mission yet – a direct assault on the Empire. ***Disclosure: Foster Farms has provided me with materials and information. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Whew! We did it! We officially survived the first week of school.
In our home, this is kind of a big deal, considering 2 out of 3 kids are homeschooled using the K12 program, and the other is a Senior in High School. Yep. Kyle is a SENIOR. I'm not entirely sure how that even happened. It feels like only yesterday that he was in Kindergarten! Anyway, all the kids had mountains of paperwork to be filled out, school supplies to get in order, and of course, there's all the meetings regarding extra-curricular activities and "Meet the Teacher" events for our K12 students. Yes, K12 students have actual teachers that they interact with, as well as classmates, even though the bulk of their learning takes place at home.
While chaotic has been an understatement regarding our back to school schedules, at least dinner has come easy, thanks to easy to prepare, quick dinner options from the folks at Foster Farms.
Foster Farms can help you “Rule Your Roost” by providing an incredible range of tasty, protein-rich, super easy-to-prepare meals your family will love. Just think about how stocking up on Foster Farms frozen crispy strips, buffalo wings, chicken nuggets and many other frozen chicken products as well as a variety of corn dogs. ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
It was announced at the D23 Expo that in August, one of the biggest animated films in history—“The Lion King”—joins the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection. The coming-of-age masterpiece, filled with humor and heart, breathtaking animation and soul-stirring Academy Award®–winning music (1994: Best Original Score and Best Original Song, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”), arrives on Digital on Aug. 15 and on Blu-ray and DVD on Aug. 29.
Audiences will fall in love all over again with the treasured classic, and a new generation of fans will laugh with Timon and Pumbaa, cry with Simba and Mufasa, burst into song, and find their place in the “Circle of Life.” The Walt Disney Signature Collection release includes over three hours of classic bonus material and exclusive, brand new features inviting viewers to sing along with the film’s award-winning music, observe recording sessions, step inside the story room, witness the evolution of a villain, and join Nathan Lane (voice of Timon) and Matthew Broderick (voice of Adult Simba) for an extended conversation regarding the legacy of “The Lion King.” ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
As a homeschooling family, we're always looking for fun ways to enhance and supplement our learning. Whether it's going on relevant field trips, doing activities, or even watching documentaries, we're always looking for ways to expand our horizons and bring newly found knowledge to life.
That's why we're SUPER stoked about the newest installment from the fantastic Disneynature series: "Born in China." Narrated by John Krasinski (“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,” NBC’s “The Office,” “Amazon’s “Jack Ryan”), Disneynature’s newest true-life adventure film “Born in China,” journeys into homes on Digital, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital) and On-Demand on August 29. And in continued efforts to help protect the wild animals featured in the film, Disneynature through the Conservation Fund has made a contribution to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to focus efforts that benefit wild pandas and snow leopards. “Born In China” transports audiences to some of the world’s most extreme environments of China where few people have ever ventured to witness wildly intimate and adorable moments in the lives of three animal families - a doting panda bear mother, a 2-year-old golden snub-nosed monkey, and a mother snow leopard. It is the seventh theatrical release from Disneynature, which brings the world’s top nature filmmakers together to share wildlife stories that engage, inspire and educate. The breathtaking footage and high-definition quality picture is captivating for audiences of all ages and is a must-add to the in-home collection. ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
This August, Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” the blockbuster sequel featuring the world’s favorite band of intergalactic misfits, blasts into homes digitally in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Disney Movies Anywhere on Aug. 8 and physically on 4K Ultra HD,™ Blu-ray and DVD on Aug. 22.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” marks the Studios first in-home title to release in stunning 4K Ultra HD format, providing consumers with the ultimate home entertainment experience with next-generation high dynamic range visuals and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. 4K Ultra HD provides four times sharper resolution of HD with exceptional HDR which produces brighter brights, deeper blacks and richer colors than ever before. The galaxy has never looked so good! Delivering the ultimate in-home experience is the Ultimate Cinematic Universe Edition (which includes a collectible poster while supplies last) comes packaged to include a 4K Ultra HD version of the film, a Blu-ray, a Digital Copy and more than 80-minutes of exclusive, never-before-seen bonus materials. Bonus will take fans behind the scenes with the movie’s diverse, dynamic cast of misfits and inspired team of filmmakers, debut an all-new original music video starring David Hasselhoff and special guests, hilarious outtakes, deleted scenes, audio commentary by director James Gunn, and more. We were SO EXCITED to watch this new movie, and we were definitely not disappointed. There was tons of action, amazing special effects, and the storyline? Well, I'd be lying if I said there were no tears shed. Oh, and the soundtrack? Just as awesome as the last film! It even opened up with a song I'm VERY familiar with, being that my name is Brandy. Watch the film. You'll see. Back to School with Our American Plastic Toys Study 'N Play Desk & Chair Plus GIVEAWAY #Partner 9/158/21/2017 ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
While my oldest son goes to a brick and mortar, Public school, my 2 younger kids learn here at home. We use the K12 Online Learning Program, and have been doing so for the past 2 years. I really can't say enough good things about our online school....The teachers and support staff are wonderful, the lesson plans and activities are comprehensive and easy for littles to understand, and there are also tons of face to face opportunities for Sophie and Xander to see and interact with their teachers and classmates.
Plus, we can do our schoolwork in our pajamas, take breaks whenever we'd like, and our hours aren't set in stone. Definitely added perks there! Anyway, my 6 year old, Xander, is now officially a first grader. To help ease him into a new academic year, we thought he should have his very own workspace. This Study 'N Play Desk & Chair Set from American Plastic Toys looked like the perfect, space-saving solution! |
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I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
June 2023
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