Mommy Octopus

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Giveaway: SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE Movie Tickets

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Looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend?  Great news!  April 7th is the theatrical release for the new SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE movie.  Join all of your favorite Smurf characters in this new movie!

Growing up I absolutely loved watching the Smurfs!  So fun that I can now share Smurfs with my kids!

Check out the Official SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE trailer below!  Looks cute!

For More Information:

For more information, please visit the Smurfs Movie website for extra fun and ticket information plus

  • Downloadable content
  • Family discussion guide
  • Coloring/ activity pages
  • And more free content!

Giveaway:

One lucky winner will win a Fandango code good for two tickets to SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE  during the first two weekends of release, Friday, 4/7 through Sunday, 4/16.  This is a quick turnaround so make sure you can go see the movie before you enter.  Fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meal Plan Monday

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It’s meal planning day!  Sadly our plans over the weekend didn’t pan out and my husband and I weren’t able to get a few nights away for our 15th anniversary.  Really disappointed, but it’s par for the course for us.  We had a good time together regardless.

The week ahead brings lots of catching up on homeschool work.  We haven’t done much at all with moving gradually and trying to get the new house in order.  We are pretty much there, only have to unload a few more boxes and then hang up some decor.

Looks like there are going to be bad storms today in Georgia.  Be sure to keep an eye on the weather.  I like to follow the AthensGA Weather facebook page.  They are pretty accurate for our area.

Here’s what I plan to make this week:

Monday: Taco salad

Tuesday: Kielbasa, brussels

Wednesday: Burgers, broccoli

Thursday: Breakfast for dinner!

Friday: Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas, salad

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Cheesy Bacon Chicken, italian potatoes, green beans, salad

What are you making this week?

Spring Diaper Bag: 10 Must Haves

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This review was made possible by iConnect and Luvs.  I was provided compensation to facilitate this post, but all opinions stated are 100% mine.

 

The weather is warm and spring cleaning is in full swing around here.  With spring comes switching out all of the children’s clothing and making sure they have what they need for spring.  One thing that I often forget to switch out is the items in our toddler’s diaper bag.

In the winter, we keep warm clothing, mittens, and hats in the bag, but those items aren’t needed during spring here in Georgia.  Today I have put together a list to help you switch over from the winter diaper bag to a spring diaper bag.

10 Must Haves for a Spring Diaper Bag

Extra Clothing:

Extra clothing is always an essential.  Depending on your location, you might want to toss in a light jacket for chilly mornings or evenings.  Shorts and pants can be appropriate for spring and a short sleeve shirt.  Extra socks and shoes or sandals can be helpful for kids that love to splash in puddles from spring showers

Sunscreen:

SPF 30 or more is recommended.  Be sure to check expirations on your sunscreen and toss ones that have expired!

Sunglasses:

If your little one will wear sunglasses, that’s great!  Pack a pair for baby and for yourself!

Diapers, such as Luvs Ultra Leakguards with NightLock Plus™:

No diaper bag is complete without diapers of course!  You won’t want to get caught without a diaper during a time of need.  Softer and more absorbent than ever before, and a money-back guarantee, Luvs Ultra Leakguards with NightLock Plus™ provide the high-quality features babies and parents need for less than many other brands.

Wipes:

Wipes are perfect for diapering and for wiping down hands after an ice cream cone or popsicle.

Sunhat:

Keep your little one’s head covered and sun out of their face with a simple hat that can be thrown in the diaper bag.

First Aid Kit:

My littles play so hard outside in the spring and are always getting scrapes, bumps, and bruises.  Having a first aid kit handy with cream and bandaids is a must!  Toss in a bite stick as well just in case of sings or insect bites.

Bug Repellant:

Evening picnics and chasing fire flies also bring out the bugs!  Protect your littles by keeping this on hand and in the diaper bag.  Make sure to find one appropriate for children.

Snack:

Summer snack ideas are simple crackers or small bags of cheerios.  Be careful with any item that needs to be refrigerated.

Sippy Cup With Water:

Hydration is key to having a great outing in the spring!  Bring baby a cup and yourself as well.

More Information on Luvs:

If you want to stock up on diapers for spring, this week Luvs is offering up a $2 coupon to save on Luvs diapers.  You can rest assure with these diapers because of the Luvs Money Back Guarantee, where if you aren’t satisfied with the leakage protection of Luvs, Luvs will refund your money. See www.luvsdiapers.com for details.

Luvs are available in sizes newborn through size 6!

 

 Can you think of other Must-Haves?  What would you add to this list?

Meal Plan Monday

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We’ve moved most of our stuff to the new house from the old house and it’s coming along nicely.  Having breathing room has been beneficial to all of us.  Now I’m having fun decorating and reminding the 18 month old that the table isn’t for standing 🙂

The week ahead brings a friend staying with us a few days and then our 15th anniversary!  I can’t believe it’s been that long.  It’s surreal.

Here’s what I plan to make this week:

Monday: Dinner out with friend

Tuesday: Lazy Lasagna

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken in the Crock pot

Thursday: Eggs, sausage, toast

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Chicken quesadillas

Sunday: Poppyseed Chicken, salad

Hope you have a great week!

Disney Giveaway – ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

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Great news Star Wars fans!  You don’t have to wait too much longer before ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY is released!  It will be available On Digital HD March 24 and Blu-ray™ April 4.  

My husband and son have been wanting to see this, but we have just been too busy the past few months!  We will definitely be snagging the digital HD download so they can watch it over and over.

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Synopsis:

From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.

Giveaway:

2 lucky readers will win a digital HD download code for this movie!  Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

7 Tips For Making the Most of Dinosaur Explore at Stone Mountain Park

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7 Tips for Making the Most of Dinosaur Explore at Stone Mountain Park

 

Stone Mountain Park has recently completed a new attraction in their Crossroads area.  Dinosaur Explore is set to open on March 30th and runs through the 2017 season.  This attraction features more than 20 life-size dinosaurs with special effects that give them the appearance of moving and roaring just like dinosaurs might have when they were alive.  The Dinosaur Explore attraction is included with a daily Adventure pass and with Mountain Membership.

We had the privilege of being at Dinosaur Explore during the ribbon cutting ceremony this past week and being among the first to check out the new exhibit.  We were blown away!  All 7 of us had a great time visiting the dinosaurs and digging in the sandpit for fossils.  If you’d like to see what to expect on the path, check out my Facebook live video.

My 18 month old couldn’t get enough of the dinosaurs and we ended up walking through the exhibit several times to satisfy his desire for seeing the dinosaurs.  He wanted to stop and wave at each one and then growl at it!  Even the 13 year old and adults were having fun exploring the exhibit.

It was so much fun that the park employees are completely in character at this attraction.  There are dinosaur trainers and even a scientist that talks about how he made the Dinotorium.  Very well done all around.

There are so many things to experience in Dinosaur Explore.  I’ve posted some tips below to make sure you don’t miss a thing.

7 Tips For Making the Most of Your Dinosaur Explore Trip at Stone Mountain Park

  1. Be sure to visit each dinosaur along the path and read the facts.  There are interesting tidbits all along the path so your Dinosaur Explore trip can count as a learning activity, too!
  2. Take your time and watch each of the dinosaurs move.  You never know how they will move or the sound that they make.  Let your little ones set the pace and watch as they soak it all in. 
  3. Visit the Dino Dig and dig in the sand.  At the bottom, you just might find a fossil or even a bone!  We did!
  4. Visit with Bagel!  Look for times posted when Bagel, the dinosaur in training, makes his presence.  The trainer will walk the audience through helping Bagel perform tricks including singing!  Feel free to ask questions about Bagel.  The employees are all in character and love to talk about the exhibit.  You can pet Bagel as well.
  5. Watch for Hattie, the baby dinosaur.  Hattie is seen in a little carrier being held by her handler.  She loves interacting with the public, but remember use only 2 fingers and pet the dinos only on their nose or chin so they don’t get nervous 😉
  6. Look for Reggie, the dinosaur that walks around and visits with the public.  He’s fun to pet as well.
  7. Swing by the Dinotorium to let the kids unwind and run off some energy.  The Dinotorium is 4 levels of fun, featuring super slides, trampoline floors, climbing structures and over 65 interactive games for families and children.

For More Information:

For more information and tickets, you can visit Stone Mountain Park’s website.  Dinosaur Explore is available as part of the Adventure Pass.

Also, be sure to read our post about camping at Stone Mountain Park.  It’s fun for the whole family!

Huge thank you to Stone Mountain Park for inviting us out to check out this new exhibit.  We had a blast!  

 

Zipadee-Zip Review and Giveaway from Sleepingbaby

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I’ve been hearing a lot about the Zipadee-Zip from other moms, mainly from the little boy I keep once a week.  His mom is a huge fan of the Zipadee-Zip and they’ve been very pleased how it keeps him warm and cozy and comfy!  We have had the opportunity to write a Zipadee-Zip review for you guys and we will even have one to give away as well!

About the Product

The Zipadee-Zip has pointed sleeves and a starfish design to help transition little ones from a swaddle.  The Zipadee-Zip provides the comfy, enclosed feeling and sensation of the womb or swaddle but with full range of movement to push up and roll over.  It’s thin enough to use right in the carseat to keep baby cozy.  Designed for babies 3 months old and up, sizes continue to size XL, which is geared toward  a 3-6 year old!  Their prints are limited, so if you see one that you like, be sure and grab it up before it sells out.

After your little one starts outgrowing the Zipadee-Zip, Sleepingbaby offers a fun pajama called the Flying Squirrel.  Made from the same comfortable material as the Zipadee-Zip, but with optional hand and feet covers.

Our Zipadee-Zip Review:

When I first pulled the Zipadee-Zip from the package, the first thing I noticed was how soft and comfy it felt!  It gets even softer after being washed.  I can’t help but wonder if they would consider making adult sizes!  I know I would wear it!

We received the adorable Busy Town Zipadee-Zip print to review since we have a thing for police car stuff 😉  It’s super easy to slip on and zip right up for bedtime and nap times.  I really appreciate that the zipper has a little cover because Simon has been able to bust out of other brand sleep sacks lately!  I’m hopeful that it will be a bit before he figures out how to escape from the Zipadee-Zip.

Simon knows that when the Zipadee-Zip goes on, it’s time for some snuggles, stories, and then sleepy time.  It’s a great way to get him into his bedtime routine and off to dreamland with little to no fuss.  Consistency helps big time when you’re dealing with toddlers and sleep.

We are very pleased with the Zipadee-Zip and wish we had one when he was smaller!  I bet that would have helped with all those sleepless nights!  Nevertheless, toddlerhood is the perfect time to start using the Zipadee-Zip  to make sure he’s not kicking off covers in the night or taking off his diaper….

For More Information:

For more information on the Zipadee-Zip and the Flying Squirrel, please visit the SleepingBaby website.  You can also find out more on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Giveaway:

One lucky reader will get their chance to pick their favorite product from the SleepingBaby website.  For your chance to win, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meal Plan Monday!

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I certainly am late getting this up, but with good reason.  We have been moving this weekend!  It’s gone pretty well, despite several of the kids being sick last week and ending up with a sinus infection myself.  It’s been a challenge, but it’s going to be worth the work.  Above, you can see that the chalkboard wall in the schoolroom has been a big hit. The kids love it!  There is dust,but nothing a broom can’t handle.  I had the school room flooring done in sheet vinyl so it would be easy to clean up with our school projects.

The week ahead brings fun and adventure with a journey to Stone Mountain Park for their new Dinosaur exhibit.   I’ll have information on that up after we check it out!  It looks like a ton of fun.

Here’s what I’m making this week:

Monday: Cajun Cream Chicken, okra, salad

Tuesday: Hamburgers, zucchini, salad

Wednesday: Black bean burritos

Thursday: Dinner out

Friday: Homemade pizzas, salad

Saturday: Chicken and Brown Rice Soup

Sunday: Chicken Fajita Casserole, salad

What are you making this wee?

Review & Giveaway: Laura Story Open Hands CD

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I have been a huge fan of Laura Story’s songs for a while.  Her song Blessings makes me cry almost every single time!

We are happy to announce that Laura Story has released a new CD called OPEN HANDS.  This one is just beautiful!  Sometimes I can’t find time to have a quiet time, but I love having good Christian music playing in the background during the day.  This can make a difference in everyone’s mood around here.

You can find OPEN HANDS on Amazon or other retailers.  It is also available on iTunes.

 

For More Information:

For more information, please visit Laura Story’s website,  or find her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

 

Giveaway:

One lucky reader will win a copy of Laura Story’s Open Hands CD!  Fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

LEGO Easter Chick

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Have you seen this adorable LEGO Easter Chick?  This would make a great Easter basket filler for your LEGO fan!

  • Create a variety of cute poses.
  • This set includes over 110 pieces and offers an age-appropriate building experience for ages 7 and over.

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