Kids

15 + Fall Leaf Crafts for Kids

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Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Check out these 15+ Fall Leaf Crafts for Kids. There is something for everyone, and these crafts will keep the kids busy for hours! These would also be great if you are a teacher and looking for fall craft ideas!

Fall Leaf Sewing Cards by Kids Activities Blog
Leaf Fox Family by Sweet Silly Sara
Clay Leaf Bowls by Make Life Lovely
Watercolor Leaf Garland by
Stained Glass Fall Leaf Craft by Ginger Casa
Watercolor Leaf Wreath by Happiness is Homemade
Crayon Shaving Leaves by Meaningful Mama
Yarn Wrapped Leaves by Paper and Glue
Leaf People by Fantastic Fun and Learning
Pretty Leaf Garland by Paper and Glue
Thankful Tree Craft by Meaningful Mama
Leaf Peg Dolls by In the Playroom
Paper Leaf Wreath by Polka  Dot Chair
Scrapbook Paper Leaf by Cutesy Crafts
Leaf Rubbings by KC Edventures

See Why Our Family Loves Baby Magic Products + Enter to Win $100!

This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All comments and opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy)

I have a little secret for you. My youngest son Brady is 8 years old, and to this day, I still use Baby Magic products on him! When I brought both of my boys home from the hospital, I began using Baby Magic products and instantly fell in love with them. In fact, I love this brand so much that I use the products as well! There is a reason that this brand has been loved by protective parents for over 65 years. 

Baby Magic nourishes baby’s skin with wholesome ingredients and is Dermatologist recommended for a baby’s delicate skin. I also appreciate that Baby Magic products are free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates & dyes. Oh, and did I mention the smell? When you combine things like calendula, coconut oil, and aloe you are sure to have a scent that the entire family will love! When I smell Baby Magic products, it also takes me on a trip down memory lane and to when my boys were tiny babies. The smell of a baby is unlike any other, and I love that Baby Magic allows me to keep those memories alive. 

I encourage you to see for yourself why our family loves Baby Magic products so much, and to check out all of the fabulous products that they have to offer on Amazon. There are lots of options to choose from, but our family favorites are the Baby Magic 2 in-1 Wash and the Baby Magic Calming Lotion.

The Baby Magic 2 in-1 Wash is a tear-free and sulfate-free formula that is enriched with nourishing Calendula and Coconut Oil. It nourishes and cleanses at the same time while being gentle on the skin. My son Brady still hates to get soap in his eyes so this is the perfect solution for him. I love when he gets out of the bathtub and smells so fresh and clean! 

My personal favorite Baby Magic Product is the Calming Body Lotion. If you love the soothing scent of lavender and chammomile, this product is for you. Not only does it smell amazing, but your skin stays super soft and subtle all day long! I also appreciate that the Calming Body Lotion is vitamin-enhanced and hypoallergenic.

As someone who is always trying to find ways to save for my family, I appreciate that Baby Magic Products are budget-friendly. Right now you can sweeten the deal by saving $1 off any Baby Magic Product with the printable coupon HERE.  In addition, select households will receive an additional $1 off Baby Magic coupon from Valpak, so be sure to check your envelope! 

How would you like to win some extra cash? I have an easy way for you to win $100! Savings.com is giving away 10 $100 Visa e-gift cards on behalf of Baby Magic! Just click on the image above to enter! 

Giveaway Details: 

  • Tuesday, September 1st at 12:00 AM PT to Wednesday, September 30th at 11:59 PM PT.
  • Ten (10) winners will receive a $100 Visa e-gift card.
  • Users enter the giveaway by heading to the Grocery page on Savings.com and submitting their email address on the form on the page.
  • The winners will be chosen through a lottery drawing and notified on Thursday, October 1st via the email address they used to enter.
  • See complete Official Rules for entry instructions, full prize descriptions, restrictions and other important details.

Tips for Back to School Shopping & School Supply Price Point List!

(All posts may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Back to school shopping is in full swing! Whether you are sending your kids to a brick and mortar school or plan on homeschooling them this year, you will more than likely need to purchase some new school supplies and other items. I have several tips and a price point list that will be helpful during this time. Many families are already stressed out enough these days over our current situation, so the last thing that we need to be thinking about is back to school shopping.

Here are a few tips and ideas to help you put together a Back to School Shopping plan:

Tax Free Shopping Days-

Check your local state to see when/if they are participating. Here in the state of Florida, we can take advantage August 7-9. Participating items include:

  • Clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item
  • Certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item
  • Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories selling for $1,000 or less per item, when purchased for noncommercial home or personal use.

Take advantage of student discounts-

Best Buy offers exclusive student deals. Just go their website and sign up under the Student Deals page. As an example, you can get a set of Jabra Wireless Earbuds for $20 with the purchase of a chrome book of $299 or more.

Apple is offering a free pair of AirPods with the purchase of a MacBook or iPad.

Amazon offers a Free 6 month trial of Amazon Prime to College Students. After the 6 month trial you will receive 50% off the regular monthly price. You will also receive student-only discounts and offers.

Technology Deals-

This year with more families homeschooling, the cost of back to school shopping is supposed to be at the highest it has been in years. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family will spend over $789 per child this year! This is due to many people having to buy new computers and accessories to go with them. Best Buy currently has an ASUS – 11.6″ Chromebook for $189. That is a super deal considering most stores are already sold out of the better deals on chromebooks and laptops. All of the stores will be competing for the best prices so be sure to shop around. Some stores may even offer a price match so be sure to ask!

Drive Up/Pick Up or Free Shipping with No Minimum- One of my biggest tips for Back to School Shopping 2020 is to utilize Free Drive-Up pick up options and Free Shipping when possible. Stores like Target and Walmart both offer Free Order Online and Drive Up Pick up. You never even have to step foot in the the store. Some stores will even offer an extra discount if you use this service. Staples is currently offering Free Shipping with no minimum purchase. Between these options and the sales, I got both of my boys school supplies for around $50! The best part? I never stepped inside a store!

Get the most bang for your buck- Even if you are shopping from the convenience of your home this year, I still suggest shopping around at different stores to find the best deals. Be aware though, that some stores do have product limits on how many items that you can purchase at one time. In this case, you may need to do several transactions.

 Coupons are still alive and well- I have noticed several coupons both online and in the Sunday newspaper for school supply items. Don’t be afraid to utilize those to help you maximize your budget even more.

School clothes closet sales- Check to see if your kid’s school has a closet sale of uniforms and other items that have been left behind. I just bought my boys’ uniform shirts and jackets (their school has a required logo shirt) that were in like-new condition for only $5 each! My oldest son’s school did a virtual closet sale so we didn’t even have to leave the house.

Stack the savings! This is probably one of my biggest tips for ways that you can save on school supplies. When you stack store promotional offers, coupons and money-saving apps with discounts and rewards you can save BIG! And, don’t forget at places like Target you will save an extra 5% off when you use your Target REDcard! If you don’t have a Target REDcard, consider shopping with a credit card that will earn you cash back or points. Apps like Fetch Rewards allow you to scan your receipt (even online purchases) and to get points for your purchases. Those points can then be redeemed for gift cards and cash.

Masks/Hand Sanitizer/Essentials- This year looks a lot differently in more ways than one. If you are sending your child back to school, masks are more than likely to be required, and the other essentials like Hand Sanitizer and Disinfectant Wipes will be vital. I would suggest that you shop around for the best prices for these items. I would say that the Hand Sanitizer, Medical Masks, and Wipes can be hard-to-come by so when you see a deal on Amazon or the store, buy then. For the best deal on masks, I would suggest Target. They have a 2-count pack for kids and adults for just $4. Our family has these masks and we like them the best of all the ones that we have tried.

Know the price points of school supplies- and what you should be paying for those items. I have put together a list below of my price points for school supplies. You may be able to find these items even cheaper than I have posted. If you do, stock up!

Below is my list of price points for school supplies. You can view it here and download to print.

 I hope that these tips were helpful as you navigate your Back to School Shopping for 2020!

 

8 Budget-Friendly Ideas for a Summer Birthday Party

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Summer birthday parties are usually accompanied by great weather and holiday vibes. There are lots of great ways you can create exciting and fun parties on a budget for kids and adults alike, so here are a few ideas to take inspiration from:

Kids Parties:

1)    Choosing a Theme

Having a theme makes it easier to take inspiration, so consider what your kid enjoys. Nintendo’s game Animal Crossing is currently a great fun choice for themed parties, as it is a game that’s loved by both kids and adults. Many people enjoy throwing virtual parties in the game itself, but the cute art style and elements within the game give plenty of inspiration for a real-life party.

2)    Entertainment

When it comes to entertaining kids, there needs to be lots of things to do. Take into consideration their hobbies and interests to generate a theme but keep the activities all-inclusive. Scavenger hunts and treasure hunts are great fun, and you can incorporate their interests to create a themed hunt. You can DIY some clue cards and hide ‘gift bags’ for kids to find.

3)    Fun Place Settings and Decor

Characters from their favorite games or tv shows can be used as markers, or even as table place settings. You could use some of their toys, or even models or figures of their favorite characters. Nendoroids are very popular collectible figures, and you can even buy them online, but they also make ideal place markers, scavenger hunt markers, or even gifts. In fact, you could even use one as a fun cake-topper!

Food and Drinks:

4)    Barbeque

BBQs always make for great parties, but if you needed a good excuse to get the BBQ out, a Birthday celebration is definitely the perfect one. Owning a decently sized barbeque and purchasing some ingredients is the only big expense. You can also make this a daytime or evening event, whichever you prefer.

5)    Tropical Party

Fitting perfectly in the theme of Summer, hosting a Hawaiian or tropical themed party can be great fun. Make sure you have plenty of fruit like pineapples, mangoes, and coconuts and set up a cocktail bar too. Just make sure everyone wears their best Hawaiian shirt!

Evening Parties:

6)    Movie Night

The perfect way to celebrate when the sun starts to set is by setting up a screen and projector outside. Having an outdoor, backyard movie night can be great fun. Simply set up your projector and screen, some string lights or candle lanterns, and bring out the comfy blankets and cushions. You should also make sure to get lots of popcorn!

7)    Camping and S’mores

If your backyard is big enough, a great party idea is for everyone to bring along their tents. For an outdoor version of a pajama party, set up a small campfire and roast some s’mores. This is a great way to enjoy a group camping trip in your own backyard. Lots of stores sell campfire kits, but you can also DIY one too!

Summertime Fun:

8)    Pool Party

If you have your own pool, a pool-party is a no-brainer. The perfect thing to go with hot weather is a dip in the pool, so start blowing up your favorite pool inflatables and picking out your swimwear. Some iced drinks and sun chairs and a fun music playlist make a pool party fun and relaxing. If you’re throwing a pool party for kids, make sure everyone can swim and that someone can supervise at all times!

The summer weather means there are plenty of great options available to throw a fun birthday party, even on a small budget. Just don’t forget to wear sun lotion!

The Home Depot is Offering Free Kids Workshop Kits!

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You may have heard that The Home Depot has cancelled their Kid’s Workshops due to the current pandemic. They recently announced that in place of these workshops, many stores will be handing out Workshop Kits for FREE! You can GO HERE to find a Home Depot location near you, or I would suggest that you give them a call to see if they are participating. 

Fluxx Kid’s Scooter Review + Giveaway!

Disclosure: I was provided with product to facilitate this post. (All posts may contain affiliate links and/or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

Update: The winner is Crystal! Thanks to all who entered!

If you are anything like our family, we have been spending a lot of time outdoors these past few months. It has been so nice to walk while the boys ride their bikes and scooters. I am always looking for ways to get the boys out of the house and to be more active, so when the folks at Fluxx Scooters asked me if I would be interested in reviewing a couple of their scooters for Brady I was so excited to jump at the opportunity! We were sent the Fluxx SSX Pro Stunt Scooter in Green, and the Fluxx DuoMini 2-in-1 Kick Scooter with Foldable and Removable Seat in Blue. We also received an awesome helmet, theGotrax Kids Bike Helmet, 2 in 1 Full Face Multi-Sport Helmet. Brady absolutely loves this helmet! 

The Fluxx SSX Pro Stunt Scooter lets you ride like a pro! Recommended for kids ages 8 years and up, this scooter is lightweight and easy to handle and maneuver. This is very helpful for kids to develop riding skills and makes it easier to get progression. In addition, this is a smooth running scooter that is not only safe but also continue their enthusiasm for this trick’s sport. The two big wheels on the front help to keep the kids safe, and it has a lean-to-steer mechanism which helps to build balance skills at an early age. The ABEC-9 bearings are much smoother and quieter than most of sticky bearings, so kids can easily control the scooter. Assembly is super easy. Tighten 3 bolts only, then you’re ready to go! This scooter is available in several color options. We were sent the green one and I just love how vibrant it is! 

The Fluxx DuoMini 2-in-1 Kick Scooter with Foldable and Removable Seat is a great scooter for kids ages 2-8 years old. We particularly love the 2-in-1 feature of this scooter and that young kids can sit down as they glide, and then move up to scoot mode as they grow up and gain more balance. Such a great learning tool! The scooter also has a foldable/removable seat! Kids can sit down and parent can push them forward. What’s more, you can easily fold the handlebar within 3 seconds. Talk about perfect portability! I personally feel that this is the perfect scooter for kids just starting out. The rustproof aluminum alloy T-bar tube has 3 adjustable height options (24.4/28.3/31.5 inch), and the rubber handle grips are comfortable and wick sweat. The wide brake is durable and made of stainless-steel and ABS. Brady has so much fun cruising along on the Fluxx DuoMini 2-in-1! Choose from Pink, Purple or Teal. 

No scooter ride is complete without the perfect helmet! Brady loves his new Gotrax Kids Bike Helmet! This helmet is actually a CPSC Certified full face helmet for kids that provides maximum protection, especially to protect the cervical spine. And you can easily detach the face guard to change the look and improve ventilation. The Kids Helmet adjusts from 20 – 22 inches (52-56 cm) which fits for kids age of 3-12 years old. It features a dual adjustable system, quick release buckle straps, and adjustment rotation wheel for comfortable wearing. Available in 4 color combinations, this versatile kids helmet is perfect for Bicycle, Scooters, Skateboards, Hover boards, Roller Skating, or any Activity that requires head protection. I highly recommend this helmet for your kiddos! Brady loves his! 

A huge thanks to Fluxx and GoTrax for sending us these items!

Fluxx Scooter GIVEAWAY!!! 

I have some exciting news for you! The wonderful folks at Fluxx Scooters are going to give away one of these amazing scooters to you! The winner will get to choose between the Fluxx SSX Pro Stunt Scooter or the Fluxx DuoMini 2-in-1 Kick Scooter with Foldable and Removable Seat. Choose whichever scooter works best for you and your family. I know that you will enjoy your GoTrax scooter as much as we do! 

How to enter:

This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents 18 years of age and older.

Leave a reply on this post (at the top of the page) and tell me which scooter that you are most excited to try. That’s it! Entry is easy peasy!

This giveaway will end on Sunday, May 31 and a winner will be chosen. Winner will be notified via email.

In the meantime, be sure to check out GoTrax on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up-to-date on all of the latest and new products!

Homeschool Essentials

(All posts may contain affiliate links and/or sponsored content. Please see my disclosure policy)

I thought it would be helpful to put together a list of items that you may need for homeschooling. During this time of uncertainty and with many stores out of items, Amazon is a great resource for supplies. Some items may take longer to ship than normal, but it is worth not having to go to the store. I actually just purchased many of these items for my boys. If you can think of anything else that I should add to the list, please let me know! (The items that I ordered are supposed to arrive on Sunday)

30-Count Elmer’s All Purpose School Glue Sticks $5.82

Westcott 5” Hard Handle Kids Blunt Scissors 2Pk $1.82

Ticonderoga Pencils, Wood-Cased #2 HB Soft, Pre-Sharpened with Eraser, Yellow, 12-Pack $2.79

Electric Pencil Sharpener with Rust-proof Spiral Blade $6.99

Five Star Loose Leaf Paper, 3 Hole Punched, Reinforced Filler Paper, College Ruled $3.59

AmazonBasics Fine Point Tip Permanent Markers – Assorted Colors, 24-Pack $6.57

BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point (1.0mm), Black, 60-Count $4.89

BIC Round Stic Xtra Life Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point (1.0mm), Blue, 60-Count$4.89

Scotch Super-Hold Tape, 3/4 in x 800 in, 3 Rolls, 1 in Core $5.97

Scotch Desktop Tape Dispenser Silvertech, Two-Tone (C60-St), Black/Silver, 1 Pack $3.98

 

Amazon is Offering Free Audio Books for Children!

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Audible, an Amazon company is offering Free Audio Books for Kids right now. This is regularly priced at $14.95 per month so what a nice savings!

All you have to do is download the free app. From there, you will find a variety of children’s stories for all ages including teens! 

GO HERE to take advantage of this offer.

DIY: Kid’s Homemade Slime Recipe

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Are the kiddos driving you crazy? One thing that you can do to occupy their time is to make homemade slime! I recently did this with Brady and we had a blast! This recipe is super easy and literally takes less than 5 minutes to prepare.

Slime Ingredients:

8oz. of Glue. (I used 8oz. of  Elmer’s Glue-All – I would suggest buying a big container like this one to have it on hand)

1 TBSP of Baking soda

Your choice of food coloring

2 TBSP of Contact solution

Optional: You can add beads, glitter and any other fun items that you wish! Look HERE for some fun ideas.

 

Slime Directions: 

Place the 8oz. of glue into a bowl.

Add the baking soda and mix together.

Add food coloring until it is the desired color you prefer.

Add in the contact solution.

Mix together until a ball forms and the mixture becomes harder. The trick here is to keep adding contact solution if the slime is still too sticky to the touch. This cannot be any easier to prepare and it is very budget-friendly too!

Enjoy! Brady and I had so much fun making this!

 

Register Now for Challenger International Soccer Camps!

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While many of us are enjoying cooler temps and summer seems far away, it will be here before you know it! In fact, I am already looking at summer camps that my boys are interested in as they tend to fill up quickly. My son Brady who is 8, really wants to attend a soccer camp this summer, so I was thrilled to see that Challenger International Soccer Camps is coming to our area!

Challenger Sports, the largest soccer camp company in North America, is coming to a community near you, and bringing over 30 years of coaching experience. I love that their international staff will work with your children to teach fun, technical and tactical curriculum that’s filled with training sessions from five of the world’s leading soccer nations! Challenger’s International Soccer Camp offers instructional camp programs for all age and ability levels! They offer both half and all day camps for kids of all ages!


Right now, when you register for Challenger’s International Soccer camp, you will get a free international soccer ball, t-shirt, poster, player evaluation and access to TopYa!’s Juggling Club sampler! AND, if you register 30 days before camp and qualify for a free International Game Jersey!

You can GO HERE to see all of the details and information.