Inspirational Quote – Size 0
July 23, 2015 by
9 Tried and True Beach Foods
July 21, 2015 by
It’s beach season. Do you have plans to head to the beach within the next month to soak up a little sun and have a little fun? When I head to the beach I stay for most of the day. That means I pack plenty of food, drinks and a good book. Over the years, I’ve had food fails and successes when packing our lunch/snack bag. Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on beach foods.
I’ve learned to invest in a good insulated food bag to ensure the ice doesn’t melt and having it on wheels doesn’t hurt either. My cooler has 4 plates, which is great for the kids. I pack it with plenty of ice so everything stays cool. Baggies are my best friend on the beach. I double bag everything to ensure the food stays dry and to help keep the sand away. Sand somehow seems to land on everything, and we all know that it sticks. I actually have a cooler for the food that needs to stay cool and tote for the dry goods like chips, crackers, cookies/brownies, wipes, small cups, forks, plastic grocery bags etc.
I’ve also learned to pack foods that can be handled by both children and adults. Finger foods are great beach foods. I can have the children sit and relax in their beach chairs and they can handle the finger foods on their own or with a napkin. Finger foods are also easy to obtain from a container or baggies.
Our favorite foods to take to the beach are:
1. Lettuce Wraps – Lettuce wraps eliminates the need for bread and is a much healthier alternative. The wraps go over much better with adults. Anything green is still an enemy for the kids. Another reason we love wraps is because they are so versatile. You can wrap chicken or tuna salad, spicy shredded beef etc., and control the size of the wraps. If you pack anything with mayo make sure is housed on ice. I use plastic containers to house the wraps because they are water proof and I can cover the container well with the ice.
2. Pepperoni Slices – These are great for both the kids and adults. You can pack low fat or turkey pepperoni. Pack plenty, these are a favorite.
3. Fresh Fruits – I love freezing seedless grapes. They are so refreshing after being out in the sun. I also slice a seedless watermelon and cut each slice into 4-6 pieces. I place the slices into gallon zip lock baggies. The children can handle eating it, and the adults devour their share too. Chopped cantaloupe, honeydew or strawberries will work too. Just chop it and place in a gallon baggie. Use a plastic cup to hold the chopped fruit when you’re ready to eat it.
4. Mason Jar Salads – These are great for adults. I would recommend chopping your ingredients into bit size pieces before you place them in a pint size jar. You can add your favorite dressing before leaving the house. A plastic fork is the only utensil you will need.
5. Fried or Baked Chicken Wing Pieces – These are a huge hit with the kids. They are easy to handle and eat without a plate. I double bag these in gallon baggies and just let the kids grab a few. Place the bones in a plastic bag and just throw them in the trash.
6. Cheese Cubes/Slices and Crackers – The kids love cheese cubes. I buy a bag of the cubed cheese and transfer it to a zip lock baggie. It’s easier to access them from the baggie than the package from the store. I also pack sliced cheese to place between crackers for the kids. They love it.
7. Brownies – My family loves brownies. I cut them into small squares and place them into baggies. Nice sweet treat without the mess.
8. Rolled Deli Turkey or Ham – I take deli ham or turkey and roll it. I take a long toothpick and place it through a few olives before placing it through the rolled meat. Both the kids and adults like this. You can also add a slice of cheese to the top of the meat before you roll it.
9. Chips – Not healthy, but always great at the beach. You can purchase low fat or baked. My family doesn’t care. If the bag says chips, it’s on.
Last, be sure to pack plenty of water, Gatorade, or flavor infused water. It’s better than sugary fruit drinks. I also take a container of wipes that I purchase from the dollar store to whip hands before and after handling the food. Finally, what’s your favorite foods to take to the beach? Please add them to our list, we may want to pack them to.
Free Ant-Man Activity Pack Printables
July 20, 2015 by
Virginia Beach Neptune Festival
July 19, 2015 by
If you’re looking for an event to attend with the family in the Hampton Roads area, check out the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach, VA. It’s a great way to spend the day with the family, soak up some sun and end the summer with a bang. It’s been on my list of travel destinations for several years.
First, the festival starts in September. So, be sure to check the site for up to date information. You can stroll along the boardwalk from 18th – 29th street and find vendors under a sea of white canopies selling their wares. Furthermore, the smell of delicious foods will engulf you. If you decide to attend, find the vendor selling the fish tacos. They are yummy in your tummy. Also, they sell veggie burgers, gyros, and a variety of other foods. Musicians will gladly entertain you throughout the day.
Next, what excites me about the festival is the artists who create the sand sculptures. They are amazing. So, the sculptors bring their skills from the USA and around the world. I have seen sculptors from Russia, Holland, Canada, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Ireland and Singapore. As a result, big money is up for grabs and big sand sculptures will rise up on the sand. The precision that the sculptors use is incredible. As a result, it is so much fun to walk along the beach and check out these beautiful works of art. To give you a taste of what you will see here’s a few pictures from prior festivals:
As a matter of fact, the first time that I saw sand sculptures was in Venice Beach, CA. I couldn’t believe that such beautiful artwork could be made out of sand. I was hooked. Fortunately, my daughter moved to Virginia Beach years ago. So, I try to attend the Neptune Festival when I can. The sand artists never disappoint.
Additionally, if you’re willing to pay an entry fee, you can sit under this massive canopy. If the weather is not cooperating, it’s a perfect place to watch the artists sculpt. The fee also allows you to mingle with the artists.
Last, mark your calendar for the annual Neptune Festival. Parking can be found on Pacific Avenue without too much trouble. And, it allows easy access to the boardwalk. Be sure to bring a stroller for baby, hat and your sunscreen. You’ll want to spend the day. Finally, you may also like 9 Budget Friendly Activities in Virginia Beach.
Sunday’s Best Linkup – #29
July 19, 2015 by
Welcome to Week 29 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. This week the theme is Everything’s Beachy. Families are enjoying their backyard pools and heading to the beach for a little fun and sun. This is a great time to share your beach theme crafts, tablescapes, safety tips and anything else that you love about the beach.
We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover and gardening tips, SEO and blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeovers, summer organization tips, ideas for backyard BBQ, summer flower arrangements and more.
Blow the dust off your old posts and link those too. They’re great for inspiration. Don’t have posts that fit into the theme, link up whatever post you would like to share. We would love to have parenting tips, DIY projects, homesteading, homeschooling, and your posts on family and life. Your linkups and giveaways are welcome here too. Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like.
Each week your hosts will select their favorite post and it will be featured the following week. An image from your post will be used on my blog the following week with a link back to your blog. Be sure to check back to see if you’re a Sunday’s Best featured blogger. All Featured Bloggers will have their posts Pinned to the Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board.
What’s New: We would like readers to select their favorite posts. Voting will start at noon every Friday until mid-night. We will be adding the post with the most votes from our readers to our Sunday’s Best featured bloggers. Be sure to have your blog readers and social media followers head over to vote for your post on Fridays.
All posts linking to Sunday’s Best will be promoted on Twitter.
In addition to the reader’s and hosts selections, a post for our monthly themes will be selected and featured each week as well.
If you are interested in becoming a Sunday’s Best host, please contact me for details at rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts.
Your Hosts Are:
Rhonda – Mother 2 Mother Kim U. – Pinterested Parent Kim M. – Life In A House of Testosterone
Here’s the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:
Mother 2 Mother: Please like my Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin or subscribe/join my blog on the right before you leave.
The Pinterested Parent: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin before you leave.
Life In A House of Testosterone: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin, or Instagram before you leave.
Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. If you are selected as a Featured Blogger please let your readers and followers know. They may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. I appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now lets party!
The Sunday’s Best Posts are:
Kim U. selected the DIY Tree Wall Art from Little Miss Dexterous
I selected 10 Lies We Love To Tell Our Children from Fun Money Mom
Kim M selected DIY Light Box For Photos from The Blue Blanket
and
The Readers Selected:
Simple Ice Coffee Recipe from Living Off Love and Coffee
and
Tropical Fruit Cheesecake Bites from The Soccer Mom
The Favorite Theme Posts
Everything’s Beachy!
5 Must Read Books For Summer from Janine Huldi at The SITS Girls
Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and I appreciate each of you linking up. I would like to invite all of you back to linkup your post(s) again, it could be selected this week. While you’re here take a minute to visit these great blogs. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love.
10 Beach Safety Tips
July 14, 2015 by
Kids often get excited and need reminders on beach safety. Being safe in and around the water is a must. Although my granddaughter doesn’t like the ocean, she heads toward the water to fill her bucket for sand castles. As a result, we need to have somebody watching the water and somebody watching her on the beach. My grandson on the other hand will stay in the water until he shrivels up. We need someone to stay in the water with him until it’s time to take a break. Today, we are sharing parenting tips on beach safety.
I’ve put together a few rules that we use for beach safety. Our beach safety tips will help keep your child out of harm’s way in and out of the water. As parents it is our responsibility to keep our children safe:
- Never enter the water alone – Make sure children understand that they should only enter the water with an adult or older child.
- Set limits – Provide an area that they are not to wade past while in the ocean.
- Observe your surroundings – Teach them to look for family or landmarks when they want to come out of the water.
- Train your children to listen – Teach them to listen for the lifeguard’s whistle when they’re in the water and to follow instructions from the lifeguard and family.
- Stay Hydrated – They should understand the importance of taking a break from the water to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Offer water, fruit flavored waters or Gatorade instead of soda or sugary fruit drinks.
- Apply Sunscreen – Make sure everyone is adequately covered in sunscreen. My dermatologist recommended Neutrogena. A beach hat is a good idea too.
- Explain Signs – Make sure kids understand safety signs posted around the beach.
- Provide Adult Supervision – Make sure an adult is always present to oversee the children in the water and on the beach.
- Re-enforce Stranger Danger – The beach is full of people, so go over the rules of interacting with strangers, especially adults.
- Provide a Shaded Area – Set up an umbrella so everyone can rest in the shade and allow the body to cool down and refuel.
What rules do you have for the beach? We would love to add them to our list. You may also like: 15 Summer Activities For Kids
11 Reasons To Visit St. Thomas
July 13, 2015 by
Today, I’m sharing reason why you should vacation in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. It is now one of my favorite places to visit, and I’ve added it to my favorite travel destinations. So, at least once a year I head to the Caribbean or some other destination on my bucket list. And, I always return with a positive outlook and feeling relaxed. I found St. Thomas to be truly breathtaking from the condo that I rented for the week. I don’t think I could have made a better selection. Let’s check out why you should visit too.
Here’s 11 Reasons Why You Should Visit St Thomas Virgin Islands:
1. First, these are pictures from my balcony, which overlooked the harbor in Charlotte Amalie. The view was just as spectacular during the day as it was at night. St. Thomas is hilly as you can see in the pictures. As a result, many homes and businesses are built into the hills. Reaching certain destinations can be a struggle if you’re walking around the island. If you decide to visit and rent a car. As a matter of fact, I would suggest a jeep. You may also want to remember they drive on the opposite side of the road in the Virgin Islands. If you’re not comfortable with that concept, cabs are plentiful.
2. Next, this is a picture of Blue Beard’s Castle named after the Pirate Blue Beard. The castle is actually a tower that sits on a hill. It was used as a look out by Blue Beard for ships coming into the Charlotte Amalie Harbor. The canons used by Blue Beard on still on the premises, Also, a statute of Blue Beard is pictured below. The tower is open several days a week for tours.
3. Cruise ships dock in St. Thomas. The ships actually passed my balcony before docking in the harbor. I captured these pictures after they had docked on the other side of the resort. They arrive around 6:00 – 7:00 am several days a week and normally depart around 9:00 pm that night. Cruise passengers must shop and explore the island between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
4. St. Thomas offers world class shopping for the rich and famous as well as unique boutiques and shops for the everyday person. Many of the shops are housed in narrow alley ways, but they also have major shopping areas with stores like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Cartier, Rolex etc. They are a little to rich for my pocket, but you can also find flea market type items at Vendor’s Plaza. Nice place to visit for tees, jewelry and other items for souvenirs.
5. Historical churches and landmarks are a big part of St. Thomas too. This is the world famous Frederick Lutheran Church. It’s the oldest church in St. Thomas and the second oldest church in the western hemisphere. Also shown is the oldest building in St. Thomas, Fort Christian, built in 1671.
6. Exotic fruits and hot sauces are plentiful. It was interesting to see coconuts in their original state after being picked from the palm trees. What we see in our stores are coconuts that have the shell shown removed. The coconut has reached its final stage, and contains the coconut meat that we use for cooking. Fresh mangoes are huge on the island too. I’m a lover of all things hot, so I went in search of unique hot sauces to bring back to the states. I found the perfect stand at Market Square. The vendor allowed me to taste the sauces before purchasing to ensure I went home with the perfect sauce. I did!
7. I enjoyed watching the yachts of the rich and famous pass my balcony as they headed out to the Caribbean Sea and their next destination. You see million dollar yachts on television, but to see them in person is truly amazing. This one has a helicopter on board, see it on the back of the yacht?
8. I love eating native dishes when I’m traveling. Gladys’ Cafe came highly recommended. So I headed there for lunch. The cafe is downtown and specializes in Ox Tails and curried dishes. They were both amazing. The Cafe is very small. Pauline was our waitress and the only waitress. What amazed me the most, the cafe didn’t have a rest room. In the states, a business would not be able to operate.
Patrons were required to go outside and several doors down a small building housed the Ladies and Men’s rooms. Most of the establishments are open for either breakfast and lunch or they’re just open for dinner. Those that are open for breakfast and/or lunch close by 5:00 pm. Since many businesses depend on tourists, the money must be spread around.
9. Also, you can find Green Iguanas in many areas in St. Thomas. The Green Iguana is native to Central and South American. Wondering how they have populated the Caribbean? Biologist believe they arrived via hurricanes over the years. This is an older Iguana. Unfortunately, they loose their bright green color as they age. It appeared to be used to people and was enjoying crackers when I spotted it.
10. There’s nothing like relaxing with a little steel drum music when your vacationing in the Caribbean. As a matter of fact, one evening we were entertained by a brother and sister team pool side. In addition to Calypso, you will find Reggae which is popular on the island of St. Croix. Furthermore, salsa dancing in the Virgin Islands is a must too. So, be sure to brush up on your moves before you arrive.
11. So, the supermarket in the background below was about a mile from my condo. Some items were reasonable and some caused my mouth to hang open. For example, $9.00 for a gallon of ice cream, $10.00 for a gallon of milk, and $5.00 for a dozen of eggs. Needless to say, I didn’t purchase any milk or ice cream. Truthfully, it was cheaper to eat it out. In spite of the of the high prices, the views are awesome on the island. They make-up for the high cost of living. As a result, things balanced out for me.
Last, rent a vehicle. If you’re simply going to cruise around the island, I would recommend a convertible. Remember, the maximum speed limit is 35 mph on the island and it’s hilly.
Finally, I wish I could share all of my photos of this trip. It is a beautiful island. Unfortunately, I was unable to visit several places during my visit. So, I will be returning in the near future. In my opinion, turquoise water, beautiful beaches, great food, and nice people make another trip worth it. In closing, you may also like 18 Places to Travel Off Season.
Sunday’s Best Linkup – #28
July 12, 2015 by
Welcome to Week 28 of Mother 2 Mother’s Sunday’s Best Linkup. This week Everything’s Beachy. Families are enjoying their backyard pools and heading to the beach for a little fun and sun. This is a great time to share your beach crafts, safety tips and anything else that you love about the beach.
We also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover and gardening tips, SEO and blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeovers, summer organization tips, ideas for backyard BBQ, summer flower arrangements and more.
Blow the dust off your old posts and link those too. They’re great for inspiration. Don’t have posts that fit into the theme, link up whatever post you would like to share. We would love to have parenting tips, DIY projects, homesteading, homeschooling, and your posts on family and life. Your linkups and giveaways are welcome here too. Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like.
Each week your hosts will select their favorite post and it will be featured the following week. An image from your post will be used on my blog the following week with a link back to your blog. Be sure to check back to see if you’re a Sunday’s Best featured blogger. All Featured Bloggers will have their posts Pinned to the Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board.
What’s New: We would like readers to select their favorite posts. Voting will start at noon every Friday until mid-night. We will be adding the post with the most votes from our readers to our Sunday’s Best featured bloggers. Be sure to have your blog readers and social media followers head over to vote for your post on Fridays.
All posts linking to Sunday’s Best will be promoted on Twitter.
In addition to the reader’s and hosts selections, a post for our monthly themes will be selected and featured each week as well.
If you are interested in becoming a Sunday’s Best host, please contact me for details at rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts.
Your Hosts Are:
Rhonda – Mother 2 Mother Kim U. – Pinterested Parent Kim M. – Life In A House of Testosterone
Here’s the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:
Mother 2 Mother: Please like my Facebook Page, follow me on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin or subscribe/join my blog on the right before you leave.
The Pinterested Parent: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin before you leave.
Life In A House of Testosterone: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Bloglovin, or Instagram before you leave.
Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. If you are selected as a Featured Blogger please let your readers and followers know. They may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. I appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now lets party!
The Sunday’s Best Posts are:
Kim U. selected the Cucumber Mint Chickpea Burgers from Krystal Kitsch
I selected 20 Summer BBQ Food Ideas from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
Kim M. selected Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks from Sweet C’s Designs
and
The Readers Selected:
5 Tips to the Perfect Family Movie Night from Confessions of a Mommyaholic
and
35 Recipes for S’Mores from Sweet C’s Designs
The Favorite Theme Posts
Hail To The Red, White, and Blue
Star Spangled Flower Pots by The Scrap Shop Blog
and
Patriotic M & M Fudge from Diana Rambles
Congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and I appreciate each of you linking up. I would like to invite all of you back to linkup your post(s) again, it could be selected this week. While you’re here take a minute to visit these great blogs. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love.
How to Bargain Shop For Kid’s Clothing
July 10, 2015 by
Today, I’m sharing tips on how to bargain shop for kid’s clothing. It‘s amazing how much children grow in a year. Have you noticed that problem with your children? Kids grow out of pants, shirts, shoes and it happens quickly. At least 2 – 3 times a year I find myself going through my grandchildren’s clothing or asking their mother what kind of clothing they need to get through the summer, winter and the school year. Unfortunately there’s nobody to pass hand me downs too in the house for either, so I look for ways to shop wisely and within my budget.
How to Bargain Shop for Kid’s Clothing:
I’ve found ways to cut down on clothing expense and the children look fabulous. Just walking into a store at any given time and just purchasing clothing is not an option for me. I shop on a budget and I want quality. Here’s 7 ways while shopping for kid’s clothing that have helped me cut down on expenses:
- Purchase clearance items – I purchase coats, tees, jeans, shorts, sundresses etc. in a bigger size for the next season.
- Shop sales – You can score some great buys during the holidays too. Check on-line and your local advertisements for sale items.
- Free shipping and discounts – Not paying shipping costs or getting a discount on your order can help cut down on expenses.
- Shop thrift and consignment shops – I send tons of clothing to thrift shops that are in excellent shape. Others do the same. So check them out.
- Don’t purchase designer items unless you’re getting a huge discount – Kids outgrow them too quickly, and you will rarely get your money’s worth.
- Check out neighborhood yard sales – You can find bargains on jeans for boys to play in and adorable dresses for girls. If you have a newborn, I’ve seen tons of baby clothing that look brand new.
- Check out on-line yard sales – I’ve seen great deals on local Facebook sites too.
I don’t recommend purchasing used shoes for children nor do I think everything has to have a designer label. I would rather save my money for week-end activities and educational items for my grandchildren instead of having them dressed in designer cloths and too broke enjoy life. We hope you enjoyed our tips on how to bargain shop for kid’s clothing.
What savvy tips do you have on how to bargain shop for kid’s clothing. We all want to save money. You may also like: 8 Back to School Shopping Tips
