How Long Does It Takes Food To Spoil? Get The Answers In This Awesome Food Safety Guide

If you’re a busy mom or have a big family like me you might find yourself buying extra food to store in the fridge, freezer, or pantry to keep your kids tummies full and your family happy. But it’s easy for those half eaten cartons of leftover foods to get pushed to the back of the fridge or pantry and forgotten about. 

This post contains affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Here is something we are all guilty of - leaving food out too long and not refrigerating it in a timely manner! I still get teary eyed when I think of a time I made a pork tenderloin for dinner and left the unplugged crockpot out on the counter cool for a bit before sticking it in the fridge. Well needless to say I got completely distracted, left the poor roast out all night and came down to the kitchen in the morning to find the crock pot just where I left it - roast and all! The budget conscience side of me tried to convince the rational safety conscience side that the roast was fine and I should just pop it in the fridge and pretend nothing happened. 

Thankfully I listened to the more responsible voice and tossed the whole thing out (while wiping tears). Food poisoning is nothing to mess with especially if my kids were to get sick. I would never forgive myself. 

I know this was an extreme case but don't you ever wonder how long food is safe sitting out? Even food that has been in the fridge for a bit can make you ask yourself the same question - is it still okay to eat? What's even more confusing is that the not all food has the same lifespan  So before you choose to eat it or toss it make sure you know the proper lifespan of your food - both fresh and cooked.

Luckily, this helpful guide by Kitchen Cabinet Kings clears up any confusion with an average lifespan for common household foods. It’s broken down by freezer, refrigerator, and pantry and every typical item you’d take home in your grocery haul is included. The guide can also be downloaded and printed out so you can keep it close by as a reference.

You should consider adding a simple organizational system to your groceries, like food labels or a calendar and chart to keep track of when you purchased something or when it’s set to spoil. Or if this is too much work just grab a Sharpie marker and write the date of purchase on your food as you put it away after a grocery shopping trip.

This simple extra little step can help you reduce throwing away food, save some bucks by not doing so, and most importantly avoid getting you or the little ones sick from eating food that’s gone bad

The visual below is a great reference next time you’re wondering about the shelf life of your favorite food!  

via: Kitchen Cabinet Kings

Here are some handy items to help you keep your food safe!

food label stickers (Amazon)

For awesome kitchen guides and a free kitchen design service please visit my friends at Kitchen Cabinet Kings. Design a kitchen that is functional, beautiful and affordable. A well functioning kitchen helps you store food safely and efficiently!

Make Your Wedding Day Unique With DIY Newlywed Tip Jars

DIY Trendy Newlywed Tip Jars

Weddings are a special time to come together and celebrate your love with family and friends. You have planned out this day for a long time, and want to have a special memento from each guest to look back on later. That's why Personal Creations has put together a FREE PRINTABLE titled Newlywed Tips that guests can fill out before or after the ceremony.

If you haven't heard of this tending DIY idea, a newlywed tip jar is a unique way to allow guests the opportunity to offer advice to the newlyweds Simply print out the tip ideas, decorate a mason jar for guests to place the completed printables and set on a table at your wedding. Add a few pens for guests to use, and let their creativity begin! From managing finances to navigating the first year of marriage, getting insight from loved ones who have gone through it themselves can be extremely helpful.

Not only is this alternative guest book budget-friendly, the tips are unique and useful for years to come. Once they have written their insights on the printables, just place them in the jar folded. Then when the two of you are looking for some real-life advice down the road, you'll have a plethora of wisdom from loved ones!

Here is what the free Newlywed Tip Jar Printables look like! Pretty amazing, right? From words of wisdom to date night tips, these printables are the perfect way to leave your favorite couple with a keepsake they can enjoy long after their big day- customize them yourself and add to the wedding tip jar!

Words of Wisdom:

printable HERE

Date Night Tips:

printable HERE

Tips for the Mr. & Mrs

printable HERE

If you haven't heard of Personal Creations you need to check out their website NOW! They have the most amazing gifts for all occasions that can be personalized. Here is my favorite personalized wedding gift:

find it HERE

This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please read my Disclaimer page.

Budget Friendly Bridal Shower Ideas

We all know that weddings are expensive but the cost of throwing a bridal shower can drain your bank account quickly too! Don't worry I have put together some great ideas to help you save money without sacrificing quality when throwing a bridal shower. For more awesome budget friendly wedding and wedding shower ideas read 10 Ways To Throw a Bridal Shower That Won't Break The Bank.

Click HERE

Awesome Science Craft Project For Boys - The Bird Kite

This year my 9 year old son is studying science using the Apologia Young Explorers Series Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day book. We are just getting started and already just after a few pages the creative juices started flowing. The book is full of great experiments, which is my son's favorite part about science but I wanted to throw in a simple arts & craft project to go along with the science theme.

In an effort to kill two birds with one stone (couldn't help myself!) the idea of making kites that look like birds began to form in my head. I wanted to incorporate a craft that used some of the science he had studied. The first chapter explains how the shape of a bird's wings contributes to its ability to fly. We had a lot of great discussion about this and how the study of birds has helped humans learn to fly airplanes.

I found a great tutorial on Krokotak and we went to town making a flock of seagulls....kites (ok, I'm sorry, it just slipped out!). This project required a minimal amount of supplies that you probably already have handy which makes it so easy to pull together last minute.

Now because my youngest, who just started kindergarten wanted to participate in the crafting I used this time to teach shapes, follow directions and measure the length of yarn. Cutting skills, coloring, folding and measuring are great skills for your little one to practice.

Here is what you need to make your own bird kite (a list of where I got my supplies is at the end of the post)

KITE INSTRUCTIONS:

8 1/2 x 11 piece of construction paper (white copy paper works fine too)
1 small scrap of orange paper cut into a triangle for the beak
3-4 small scraps of other colored paper for tail feathers (approximately 2" x 3")
scissors
stapler & staples
glue stick
18"- 24" piece of yarn
black crayon or marker to draw on eyes
hold punch

Fold the 8 1/2  x 11 in half matching the short sides together. The fold becomes the belly of the bird.

Next take the two of the corners at the top of the folded paper and bend them backwards towards the fold. As you fold them back until the tips of the paper meet at the fold. Staple the folded back tips right at the fold (belly of the bird body) to make the wings.

Next make a hole with the hole punch just behind where you stapled the wing down. Thread the yarn through the hole and tie it securely to the belly of the bird.

Now take the triangle shaped piece of orange paper and put a little glue on both sides of one of the triangle bases. Slip the glued edges into the narrow end of the folded paper where the bird's head is. It should now start to look like a bird with a beak.

With the marker draw eyes on both sides of the head just behind where you glued the beak.

Lastly, cute 3-4 long feather shapes from the small scraps of colored paper and glue the ends together one on top of the other. Put a dab of glue along both outsides of the stack of feathers and insert them at the back of the bird inside the fold to give your bird tail feathers.

Take the completed kite outside (or in a big open space inside) and gently pull the kite along with the yarn. The bird kite should fly even if there isn't any wind. Shorten the yarn to make the flying bird kite even easier to handle for younger children.

For the full video from Krokotak click here:

Of course this awesome craft project isn't limited to just boys! Girls are welcome to make these kites too. I just happened to make these fun kites with my two boys and thought it would be fun to write a post specifically for boys.

Supplies Found Here:

This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please read my Disclaimer page.

Here are some of the supplies we used to make our kites:

Walmart

hole puncher from Walmart

yarn from Amazon

via: Amazon

Easy Homemade Caramel Corn & Kettle Corn Recipes

Popcorn two easy ways! Caramel corn & Kettle corn recipes you can make right in the comfort of your own home. Gluten-free and full of great flavor make these two recipes so good!

I have always loved popcorn. I think my love for it is genetic. My dad has consumed mass quantities of popcorn on a regular basis over his lifetime! He loves to eat air-popped, lightly salted popcorn while watching a sports game. 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

When it isn't doused in butter, popcorn can really be a healthy and satisfying snack.

When I need something sweet to snack on I love to make a batch of homemade kettle corn or homemade caramel corn. It is a sweet treat that I like to indulge in for special occasions...or anytime really. 

If you are intimidated about making homemade kettle corn or caramel corn you don't have to be any longer! My caramel corn and kettle corn recipes are super simple, quick, and DELICIOUS!  

Ingredients for Caramel:

6Tbsp unsalted butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3-4 Tbsp light corn syrup

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/8 tsp. Baking soda

1/8 tsp. Vanilla extract

How To Make The Best Caramel Corn:

• Preheat your oven to 315 degrees Fahrenheit. 

• Pop your popcorn either in an air popper or in a traditional popcorn popper. Make 6-8 cups of popped popcorn then pour the popped popcorn in a large roasting pan and set aside. 

• In a medium size saucepan mix the following ingredients (below) - except for the baking soda and vanilla extract over medium high heat, stirring constantly.

• Let boil for five minutes continuing to stir. Turn off heat and add the vanilla and baking soda stirring to combine. 

• Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn in the roasting pan and stir to coat evenly. Put the roasting pan with the caramel covered popcorn into the oven and bake for 10 minutes.

• Stir the caramel corn and bake an additional five minutes. 

• After it is done baking scoop the caramel corn into a large bowl (or two) and stir occasionally to break up the chunks as it cools.

• Let the caramel corn cool for about 10 minutes and then enjoy!

Pour the cooled caramel corn into your favorite bowl and prepare to dig in! Be careful - it is very easy to eat it all in one sitting, I may or may not be speaking from experience!

Here is the printable recipe card for this amazing recipe!!

PRINTABLE CARAMEL CORN RECIPE CARD

Let's try my homemade kettle corn recipe. This recipe requires the popcorn to be made in a traditional oil popcorn machine. If you don't have one (you should get one) you can use a large pot with a lid to make the popcorn in instead. 

* My all-time favorite popcorn popper is the Whirley Popper!! Trust me when I tell you this is the best because I have tried tons of different kinds of popcorn poppers and this is by far the best. 

Homemade Kettle Corn Recipe

• Pour 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in the popcorn popper or pot along with 2/3 cup of popcorn kernels. ( I prefer yellow popcorn versus white but use whatever you like best. ) 

• Next, sprinkle  2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar (white sugar) over the un-popped kernels. 

• Over medium-high heat using a Whirley popper popcorn machine begin to pop your popcorn or if you are making it in a pot on the stove, put the lid on and turn the heat to medium-high. Shake the pot every few seconds to keep the kernels moving.

• Once the popping stops remove the pot from the stove or turn off your popcorn machine and pour the popcorn into a large bowl. Lightly salt the kettle corn if you desire. 

Here is a printable for the Kettle Corn Recipe:

Printable Kettle Corn Recipe Card

Since this post is all about popcorn I thought I'd share with you the tools I use to make the best popcorn. 

My favorite traditional popcorn maker is the Whirley Popper Popcorn Machine. It is the most amazing popcorn popper. This popper can make 6 quarts of popped popcorn in 3 minutes! (I timed it and sure enough it only takes 3 minutes). You can make the kettle corn recipe (above) right in this popper too!

Amazon

Since I am a popcorn junkie it would be a big tragedy if my popper broke and I was left popcorn-less! To make sure this never happens I keep a backup popcorn popper.  My backup popper is this cute air popper machine from West Bend called the Stir Crazy Popcorn Maker.

click HERE

If you are really in a bind and don't have access to a popcorn machine you can just use what you have on hand like a large stockpot with a lid. This method too can make a pretty tasty batch of popcorn. I got my large stock pot on Amazon.

I'm not overly picky about popcorn kernels however I do prefer yellow popcorn over white. I think yellow popcorn is bigger and has that fluffy appearance whereas white looks small and crumbles easier. White popcorn is the perfect kind to use when making popcorn balls though because of its size.

Did you know that there are blue popcorn kernels? The blue (or purple) corn tastes similar to standard popcorn and is fluffy with very little crunch. Some would say it has a sweeter taste with a milder popcorn flavor. I recommend this Amish Country popcorn that comes in a 3lbs bag. If you have never had it you should give it a try!


On a side note - did you know Home Depot sells popcorn? Weird (but totally awesome) right? I discovered this the other day when my husband and I were there shopping for some plumbing parts. I love wandering around the store just looking at things! That is when I discovered popcorn! Here is one of my favorites - a 4 lb. Yellow Popcorn in a plastic container with a screw-on lid! Keeps it fresh and 4 lbs should last a little while.

Other Popcorn Toppings

Since I am a huge fan of popcorn it won't surprise you that I've tried a variety of different toppings as well.  Right now my favorite flavors are white cheddar, cheddar and ranch. I've lost count as to the number of times I've ordered these flavors on Amazon but I haven't tired of them yet. 

What is your favorite popcorn topping? The fact that you can put just about anything on popcorn as a topping makes this treat so much fun! 

Enjoy your popcorn, I know I will.

Rock Your Child's Lunch Box With Lunch Box Jokes

School is back in session and while many parents are busy preparing to send their child off to school or start their home school schedule all kids need to eat lunch! Why not make their lunchtime extra special with a treat. 

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclaimer page for more information.

I'm not talking about a sugary treat I'm talking about the kind of treat that will make them laugh and want to share with their friends. JOKES! 

What kid doesn't love a great joke, right? My boys especially love hearing and sharing jokes with their friends. It is so much fun watching them crack each other up! 

Thankfully, Personal Creations has done all the work and created printable lunch box jokes that kids can receive whether they are at school or in the comfort of their own home! Put a smile on your child’s face and print out a few jokes, and surprise your child with a printable joke under their plate at lunch or tuck a joke inside one of their school books for them to find as a surprise. Get creative and place them on the back of assignments, and tell them to flip their assignment once they’ve finished.

They’ll get a kick out of the jokes and will appreciate your efforts to make them laugh!

Look at these colorful, awesome lunch box jokes!

There are a variety of themes like sports, animals, school so you can mix it up each time you add a little "treat" to your child's day. This cool printable is easy to use - just print, cut and pack one in their lunch!

Looking for more cool printables? The Personal Creations blog is full of amazing printables for all occasions. I love using printables but sometimes I just can't find the time to make them on my own and now I don't have to! In addition to all the cool printables, Personal Creations has a sweet store where you can personalize gifts for life's special occasions. Check it out here.

Got any good jokes your child loves? I'd love to hear them, and get a good laugh! Please share them in the comments section.

Even though we home school there are many times we end up doing school on the road ("road"schooling) and need to pack lunch to go. Check out these cool lunch boxes!

via: Amazon

via: Amazon

Routine Rehab: 5 Tips To Get Your School Age Child Back On A Schedule After Summer Break

photo credit: freepik.com kids-at-school

This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page.

The long summer days are beginning to get shorter and shorter as the sun starts setting earlier and earlier. I'm always torn during this time of year because I really LOVE summer and want to enjoy every last drop of it but by late August I'm ready for a seasonal change.

Maybe I'm just burned out on BBQ (everything) and can't wait to pull out the crockpot and whip up a big batch of chili.

The end of summer also signifies the start of many new beginnings, one being school. For us as homeschoolers I have always given my kids the summer "off" which means we don't follow a traditional school year schedule during the summer.

So what are some of the best ways to get your school age child back on a schedule? Whether they are homeschooled or go to a public/private school these 5 tips will help you as a parent get your child back on a schedule that works for both child and parent!

5 Tips To Get Your Child Back On A School Schedule

1. Recognize That it is a Process:

Don't wait for the last minute to change your child's schedule instead plan ahead and work into the new schedule slowly.

Starting our homeschool schedule each year takes a little easing into since the kids have adjusted to a relaxed summer schedule and now have to shift into our school schedule. For us the adjustment to a new schedule is done as a gradual pace to allow the kids time to adjust to the change.

During the summer my kids go to bed much later than they would during the school year (even the 5 year old!) and so they sleep in a little later in the morning. Pretty typical right! So how do we gradually adjust our schedule to get back into the groove of the school year schedule?

First we start implementing an actual bedtime that gradually gets bumped back earlier and earlier for our youngest two kids. The older two don't have a set bedtime but I do require them to be ready for bed and in their rooms doing something quiet like reading or listening to music. The waning hours of daylight helps me accomplish the earlier bedtime for the younger ones!

Next, I start waking the kids up in the morning at the same time during the week. This helps their internal clock get used to a new rhythm.

As the saying goes "practice makes perfect", so putting into practice a new routine in advance of when it needs to start happening should help reduce headaches when the rubber hits the road!

Children's Alarm Clock via. Amazon

2. Talk About School And Your Expectations

My youngest, if not warned in advance to any upcoming change will freak out if I don't prepare him in advance to the changes. Do you have a child like that? He needs time to process the upcoming change so he is prepared when it happens. How much time does your child need? Well that can vary from child to child but for all kids just having the conversation several days or a week before a shift or change happens can relieve a lot of stress.

I start talking about the different subjects or classes they will be taking this upcoming year as a way to get them thinking about school. If I'm excited about what they will be learning I've found that this excitement rubs off onto them too.

While we are talking about what they will be learning about this upcoming year I like to get their input regarding the time of day they think it would be best to learn each subject. For example, my two middle children like to tackle their tougher subjects mid morning so I know that starting with math is a bad plan but it is doable a little later in the morning after they finish their daily Bible study.

3. No Electronics Before Bedtime

Even though we homeschool my kids are just like every other kid and they love playing on electronic devices like tablets, ipad,  phone and watching TV. In moderation, these devices are perfectly fine to use however we have implemented some guidelines regarding the use of them in the evening especially before bedtime.

Studies show that your body and your child's body respond to electronic stimulation in a way that can inhibit your body's ability to fall asleep. For example, the physical response to a video game your child is playing whether it is Mario Kart or Roblox, is to tense up. The "tensed up" feeling triggers the body to go into the "fight or flight" response resulting in the release of cortisol, a stress hormone produced in the adrenal gland. Trying to get your child to go to sleep after a healthy dose of cortisol has been sent pumping through their body won't work.

Letting your child "chill out" with the tablet before bed to Pinterest or check their Instagram account sounds harmless enough but did you know that the glow from the electronic device can rob your child from a good night's sleep? That little glowing light from electronics passes through the retina in your eye into the area of the brain that controls sleep activities (hypothalamus) and can delay the release of melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep inducing hormone.

So cutting off electronic time at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime should help your child get to sleep better and help them adjust to a new schedule.

4. Create a Family Calendar & Planner

via Sunny Day Family

Are you a visual learner? I am which means I need to "see" what is going on in order to get it to sink into my brain and make sense. Creating a family calendar is a great way to help your child adjust to the upcoming school schedule. I like to write the times as well as the activity on the calendar in chronological order so I (and my child) can get a good idea of what to expect during a specific day.

Not only will a family planner and calendar help you stay organized as the number of activities is sure to increase but the communication between everyone in the family is sure to benefit from this tool as well!

Looking for the perfect tool to create a family planner? I found the perfect solution to your needs - The Printable School Planner by Sunny Day Family!!

Totally customizable and it includes a 25 page printable where you will find:

• Front and Back Covers including a space for your name and information.
• School Information Sheet - important contact information, addresses, and classroom information on one easy to find page.
• Lunch Ideas Planner - a place to list out all your kids' favorite lunch items and snacks, so that you're not struggling to come up with new ideas every week.
• Weekly Lunch Planner - a sheet to plan lunches for the entire week so you can make things ahead of time and reduce morning stress (this page can also be laminated and hung in the kitchen as a reusable dry erase board).
• Before & After School Checklists - a place to help you and the kids to stay on track with the morning routine, any morning chores, and a list of items to remember before heading out the door. The after school checklist helps track homework, any afternoon chores, along with other daily to dos.

Printable School Planner by Sunny Day Family

5. Stay Positive

Being excited about something, especially when it involves big changes, can be contagious. Positive attitudes from parents towards the upcoming schedule changes helps transition your child from their relaxed summer routine to the new more structured school schedule.

Get your child excited with some new school tools! Remember when you were in elementary school and couldn't wait to bust open that new Trapper Keeper notebook the first day of school? Yeah, those were the good ole days! Kids love using their new supplies and can't wait to do so! Harness this excitement and stay positive about the transition from summer to school.

Need help finding awesome back to school supplies - don't forget to check out the Dollar Tree! They have a great stock of school supplies that won't break the bank! Read my post here about the The Top Ten Back To School Supplies From The Dollar Tree.

Amazon.com

via. Amazon

via. Amazon

Remember all kids adapt differently to change so please have patience during the transition period knowing that things will improve as the days go by! 

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Why Having Bored Kids Is A Good Thing

*This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer page for more information.

"I'm BORED!!!!!"

It's a phrase every parent dreads hearing and seems to raise its' ugly head repeatedly over summer break. Some parents respond with knee jerk reactions shoving the closest electronic device into their poor child's hands in an attempt to prevent said boredom. Quiet kids = peaceful home, right?

NO! As a parent of four, I hear the "I'm bored" complaint my fair share each day but instead of panicking and pacifying them with a tablet or phone I look them straight in the eye and say "It's about time! Now you are ready to create something really fun to do! Boredom doesn't scare me! I love when you are bored because you are finally to a point where you are ready make or do something awesome that you create on your own."


Now I know this response will probably elicit a massive eye roll, and dramatic sigh from your child but wait - Just Wait. The best IS yet to come. It just takes time and some practice.

Your child will eventually find their inner curiosity and imagination that so often gets snubbed out by over scheduled play dates, structured sports practice and electronic devices. Your job is not to play cruise director or entertainment specialist. Instead, be an encourager and challenge your child to make something or draw something or make up a game. Kids who haven't been exposed to this will balk at it at first possibly pouting, fighting against it and whining but once they do discover the art of making something fun to do on their own I promise it will be worth it - to you and them! Stick to your guns, momma - hide the ipad and hold firm. You are not scarring them for life if they feel a little bored!

As a mom I try to have some ideas in my back pocket to help "inspire" them. The inspiration I provide might be a pile of cool rocks and some paint and paintbrushes, cardboard boxes, notebooks, magnifying glasses, rope, scrap wood and tools. Children of all ages can find inspiration in these types of items, younger children just exploring how to use a tool or pile up a stack of rocks and older children actually creating or building something by using their imagination. Giving your child the opportunity to use a real hammer and nail (while supervised) is fun! Making anything out of cardboard, think castle, car or maybe a marble run, is a great way to bust the boredom of summer.

And Momma, don't be afraid to dig in deep and find your imagination and make something alongside your kiddo! Come up with a sculpture, game or even build a tent to play in - your child will love seeing mom's imagination come alive with theirs. Don't make something for them, that's their job, make something for you and then show your child what you made. They will love this!

Inspired by The Great Outdoors

Nature all on its own is just so inspiring. Collecting flowers, leaves, rocks and sticks and putting them in a notebook or on a poster is a fun way to display found treasures. Taking pictures like a close up of a bee on a flower or a worm wiggling in the grass provides loads of fun exploration time. How can your child be bored when they are fully engaged in the beauty of creation!

Remember, getting your child engaged with the great outdoors without structured/planned play takes some practice. You might have to lead the charge here and show them how to start if they haven't been exposed to this type of activity. Be ready, once they start to understand how to engage this part of their brains and lose themselves in imagination land it might be hard to get them to come inside at night for dinner or bedtime!

We have a small wooded area behind our house that to my boys becomes a playground every fall. I remember the first time I handed a hand saw to my oldest son and and directed him to saw a felled tree into chunks - he just lit up with the biggest smile every! My younger son even got a chance to saw a log in half too! You would have thought we were in Disney with the amount of joy and excitement these boys displayed. They gathered tall branches and stacked them up around a big tree and made a shelter to play in and used other branches to clear an area around our new "homestead". This was one of the most memorable afternoons ever!

If you need a little help finding ways to inspire your children to get busy making something I wrote the perfect book for you! Secret Garden Crafts: 10 Nature Inspired Craft Projects will certainly help you get your creative and imaginative juices flowing. Using items found in nature like sticks and leaves as well as craft supplies easily found around your house is all your need to make some of these fun projects. I recommend keeping any structure or planned playtime out of this activity and allow your child unencumbered exploration and creating. You can find this book on Amazon here:

click to purchase here

I hope these tips will help you survive the "I'm Bored" moments of summer break and get your kids engaged in outdoor activities that will inspire them and provide many hours of fun.  

Follow my blog to read more parenting ideas, tips and tricks! Surviving the suburbs can be a challenging job for parents but with a little help and inspiration you can do it! 

Let me know how you handle your child's moments of boredom - leave a comment below!