Coffee has been apart of my mornings for as long as I can remember.  When I was little, my Gangan would make me a cup of coffee on the weekends.  She always cooked breakfast and had my sweet coffee ready- it was more milk and sugar than coffee.  Coffee isn’t just a treat these days- it’s almost necessary!

How many bottles does one person need?

It wasn’t until 2009 (yes, I totally remember!) that I discovered something that would change my coffee forever- Coffee-Mate creamer.  French vanilla, to be exact.  I had some coupons that made the creamer super cheap, so I picked up a couple bottles.  That was all it took.  Coupons or no coupons, I have to have my Coffee-Mate now.

So when given the opportunity to shop for and try out the new Natural Bliss creamers from Coffee-Mate, I could not say no.  After printing some coupons, hubby and I went to Walmart specifically for Natural Bliss creamer.  While there we picked up a couple other items, but really Coffee-Mate was the star of the show.  I bought my old stand by too- French Vanilla.  They only had one big bottle left and it took some work, but we finally got it out.  You can see our full shopping trip including photos of my sweet husband struggling to get this one last creamer for me over at my Google+ Natural Bliss Coffee-Mate album.

The new Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss creamers have only 4 ingredients and come in three delicious flavors- vanilla (low-fat is available now too!), caramel, and sweet cream.  It’s no surprise that the Vanilla Natural Bliss creamer is my favorite!  It tastes almost identical to the French Vanilla creamer but is made with only four natural ingredients- milk, cream, sugar, and natural vanilla flavor.  Even better, it only has 35 calories per serving or if you go with the low-fat vanilla, it only has 20 calories per serving.  The only problem I have with it is that so far, I’ve only found small 16oz bottles.  This mama needs the biggest bottle possible to get me through the week!  I did see on the Natural Bliss Facebook page that there are 32oz containers available, I just haven’t been able to find them at our local stores yet.

Mmmm.. delicious.  Bliss?  Definitely.

Where do you find your morning bliss?

If like me, you find it in a good cup of coffee, you’ll want to print this coupon to save $1 off 2 bottles of Natural Bliss creamer.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric

and I got one!
Bryson is actually in mid-run, but this one is still my favorite.

Bella wasn’t having any more photo taking, so she isn’t in this one.
I sure do love my boys!
and my girl too, of course

When I first decided to make a water wall, I knew that if it turned out well, I would want to share the details with y’all.  So, I also knew that I wanted to use items that are easy to find and affordable.  Fortunately, it turned out to be so super simple so I’m excited to share the details!

Water Wall Cost & Supplies

Pallets – FREE  (hubby’s work – ask around & you’ll find them for free or super cheap)
Funnels – $0.58 each  (auto department at Walmart)
Hose – $18 (plumbing department at Home Depot)
Plumbing Ts, Elbows, etc – $.50 – $2 (plumbing department at Home Depot)
Recycled Containers – FREE

Final Cost – $25

As you can see, our biggest expense was the hose.  You might have something already on hand or there are cheaper options.  I chose this hose because it’s clear so the kids could see the water running through it.  It’s also very thick and sturdy, so I know it will hold up.  With a different hose, you could probably make a water wall for less than 10 bucks!

The plumbing department will be your best friend during this project.  If it looked like it would be fun for the kids and it was cheap, I threw it in the shopping cart.  Running traps, elbows, Ts- I purchased all kinds of things that I have no idea what they are really used for, but they are fun on a water wall.

My husband and I are great team.  I come up with these crazy ideas that I have no idea how to actually build.  He tackles ‘em for me and makes it happen, usually better than I had even imagined.  This water wall was no different- I told him what I wanted, helped pick out supplies, then he built the base and we attached the accessories together.

 Justin made the base into a “V” or house (as my kids call it) by nailing boards on each side.  He sawed those down so they weren’t sticking out.  This wasn’t my original idea, but as I mentioned above- he usually  takes my ideas and makes them better.  Bryson calls this his “water house” and both kids crawl in the middle to hang out in their house.  Building it this way also gives each kid their own side to play at, if they want.  They play together well so having their own side isn’t important right now.

After the base was built, we started attaching the accessories.  There was no rhyme or rhythm to this and you can’t mess it up.  Justin used screws to attach all the pieces.  If you put something up and it doesn’t work like you want, take it down, rearrange, and screw it back in.  Seriously, it’s SO easy!  We used empty bottles (salsa, mouthwash, drinks, etc.) and poked holes in them for different effects.  My favorite is the mouthwash bottle on the bottom- hubby put holes in the front of it, so when it’s filled with water- the water sprays out toward the kids like a shower.

It’s still a work in progress.  As we grocery shopped over the weekend, we picked out some new bottles to add when they are emptied.  It went something like this:

Me:  We need orange juice.
Hubby:  Here’s your favorite brand.
Me:  Oh, look- it comes in a cool bottle.
Hubby:  That will be great for the water wall.
Me:  Score!

Yes, we selected our groceries based on how “cool” the bottles were and how much fun they would be on the water wall.  LOL

It doesn’t look like much, I know.  And it isn’t much at all, but that’s the beauty of it.  It’s basically wooden pallets with funnels, hoses, and empty bottles screwed into them and the kids love it.   That’s all that matters- the kids love it.  It’s fun.  It’s cheap and easy.  What’s not to love!?

We’ll keep adding to it as we come across empty containers.  For now, Bryson uses the emptiness to climb up and down it so it doubles as a jungle gym.

If you are inspired to make something similar, please e-mail me photos so I can see!

So that was our weekend in a nutshell.  The kids slept until almost 10AM this morning, so it must have been a tiring one!

Breakfast

• French Toast
• Pancakes
• Waffles
• Fruit and yogurt
• Biscuits, gravy, sausage

Lunch

• Leftovers
• Chicken fingers, mac & cheese
• Hot dogs, fruit
• Peanut butter sandwiches, yogurt
• Fish sticks

Dinner

• Family dinner for Mother’s Day.  (I took Chicken & Dumplings.)
• Lasagna
• Grilled pork chops
• Smoked chicken wings
• Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni
• Dinner at my parents.
• Cook out

I’m looking forward to lots of grilling this summer!  What’s on your menu?

I didn’t categorize our list like last year, instead I just typed everything as it popped into my head.  It’s possible that I’ll update the list with more ideas and I’ll add links to relevant posts.  Some things are simple like taking a walk around the lake while others will require preparation and work like making a water table out of an old sink.  Hubby finished up that project today, so I’ll try to have it posted soon.  If you want a sneak peek, there are some photos of the water table on my Facebook page.  It’s really awesome- my husband rocked it!

Our Family Summer Bucket List

• Day Out with Thomas
• Potato Festival
• Fireworks on the 4th of July
• UFO Days in August
• Petting zoo
• Homemade liquid sidewalk chalk masterpiece
• Water table out of an old sink
• Build a water wall
• Eat fresh from the garden
• Fly a kite
• Roast marshmallows and make smores
• Camp out in the backyard
• Rainbow pudding pops
• Catch lightning bugs
• Homemade bubbles
• Outdoor waterbed
• Go out on Pop’s boat
• Water balloon fight
• Splash pad
• Family picnic at the lake
• Car wash
• Fishing
• Swimming
• Cook-outs and campfires
• Playground
• Homemade ice cream
• Feed the birds
• DIY bird treats
• Build a fort
• Plant flowers
• Family walk around the lake
• Shaving cream painting
• Cabinet makeover
• Story time
• Bedroom switch-a-roo
• Playroom decorating
• Water wall building
• Take flowers to Kolby
• Try out the new frozen yogurt shop “The Freeze“
• Go to the dragstrip
• Eat a watermelon
• Visit the 4.17.11 Tornado Memorial Monument
• Take a trip to see family

So there is our summer bucket list.   What’s on YOUR list?

When I was growing up and our family would go to the mall, we would always park at Sears and go in there first.  Why?  Because that is where my dad stayed.  My mom and I could go shop the mall for hours and come back to find my dad still in Sears.  I don’t remember him ever even going out into the actual mall- he was content to stay in Sears.  Men.

Instead of heading right to the store, now we can research and shop online to make sure we buy the best quality product for the best price.  Justin and I utilized the Sears online catalog and the Grill Finder at the Grilling Is Happiness website to find the perfect grill and accessories.  We didn’t have much luck with the Grill Finder, but the catalog offered a wealth of information at a quick glance.  We liked being able to see several options on one page with the features and price clearly listed. After we placed our order, we waited on e-mail letting us know our items were ready for pick-up.

The awesome thing about ordering online and picking up in-store is there is no waiting once you get to Sears.  Their goal is to have your items out to you in less than 5 minutes.  They were short-handed while we were there and they still had our truck loaded in less than 5!  We were more than happy with the service and the selection and will definitely utilize these tools along with the Sears Local Ad again- hopefully for a patio set next.  You can check out our full shopping trip in my Google+ album.

Next came the fun part- spending time with our family and friends while trying out our new grill and smoker.  Hubby couldn’t buy just a grill, he had to have a gas smoker too.  He assembled them both Saturday, then we took them to the river and put them to use Sunday.  This was our third weekend in a row to have a cookout at the river and our biggest crowd.  The sun was beaming down, the kids were able to swim and play in the water, everyone sat around talking- it was the best day we’ve had thus far.  #GrillingIsHappiness

Justin cooked chicken wings and drunk chicken in the smoker.  On the grill, he cooked steamed vegetables, beans, and hot dogs.  The entire meal was delicious!

If I’ve said it once, I’ve probably said it a thousand times, but we are so truly blessed to live so close to this gorgeous river.  With the exception of last year, we’ve spent every summer since 2006 on the water.  I love that my kids are going to grow up with such wonderful and close family and friends and that they’ll have an appreciation for the great outdoors.  Bryson caught a fish yesterday and it was so fun to watch him enjoy something that I grew up doing with my dad.

This is our happy place.  It holds a lot of very special memories and I know there are many more going to be made here this summer and in the coming years.

I know I’ve overloaded y’all with photos, but I think the pictures tell the story.  I could never put into words what this place and these people mean to me.  We have another cookout planned for this coming Sunday which is also Mother’s Day.  I can’t wait to celebrate such a special day with the people that mean the most on this beautiful river with some delicious food.  I’m seeing some ribs and stuffed peppers in my future. 

If you want to create your own outdoor oasis, there are some deals and promotions going on at Sears that could put you on your way.

• FREE in-store assembly on all gas grills
• Save $100 on Kenmore 4-burner Gas Grill. Now $399.99!
• Save an extra 10% off Patio & Grills
• Shop Your Way Rewards members save more each and every season and for every $1 you spend you get 10 points
• Lock in today’s low prices for all of your upcoming events with Sears Layaway!

Be sure to keep up with Sears on Facebook and Twitter.  You can find Sears Shop Your Way Rewards on Twitter too.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric

And light up, they did.  We arrived and the weather was beautiful.  The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum has several trains to look at, go in, etc.  We were there for Thomas so we didn’t go in any of them this time but I would love to go back and do that one day.   Everything was set up like last year and we felt more prepared to enjoy all of the different exhibits, petting zoo, etc.  You really should set aside a few hours to take everything in at Day Out with Thomas because the event has a lot to offer!  Before you even park your car, a friendly staff member asks if you’ve been before, gives you a map, a menu, and all of the information you could possibly need.

Our first stop was the Imagination Station, something we missed last year.. and maybe should have missed this year.  (LOL)  Bryson’s entire face lit up when he spotted the huge train table available for the kids.  He LOVES those trains and didn’t want to leave them. It was an almost identical situation to his 3rd birthday when we took him to the Discovery Museum.  He only wanted to play with the trains even though there was so much to see and do.  They were tables set up for building Mega Bloks, coloring, and stamping.  My husband got himself a temporary Thomas tattoo, but we couldn’t pull Bryson away from the trains to get one.  Justin is the biggest kid of all, it seems. 

Let me tell you, it was hard to pull that cute face and those sparkling eyes away from the train table, but we did.  He was quite unwilling, but we managed.  We made sure to visit each location so we could collect all 4 stamps on our map and get a prize before leaving.  After the Imagination Station, we went to the petting zoo.  It was one of Bryson’s favorite parts last and was Bella’s favorite this year.  Goats, llamas, turkeys, ducks, and even a donkey- she chased them all down to pet them.

Next we got our photo made with Sir Topham Hatt and made sure to get our map stamped.  We headed inside for storytelling and video-viewing (another map-stamp location) after that.  Justin and I were thankful for a small break to cool down.  When Thomas went off, the entire room clapped along to the beat, the kids were dancing, and Bryson was having so much fun.  He danced the entire way out of the room, down the stairs, and back outside.  Justin and I were laughing so hard- it was adorable.

By then, it was time for what we thought would be the highlight of the day for Bryson- a ride of Thomas.  We went to the boarding area and thankfully, the event is very organized and it’s easy to find the car number you need.  By this time, Bryson is back to whining about the “little trains” as he calls them.  Bella, on the other hand, loved the train ride.  She was so content and happy, smiling and jabbering with other passengers.  The ride lasts about 25 minutes and is very comfortable.  I love that they don’t pack the cars full so there is plenty of room for everyone and it doesn’t feel crowded.

And this is where the hard parent part comes in.  Bryson acted horribly on the train ride, to the point where we realized we had to leave when the ride was over.  Our entire family looked forward to the event and as disappointing as it was to leave, Bryson’s behavior was even more disappointing.  So instead of going back to the train tables, we grabbed his prize and left.  It was such a hard decision because Thomas only comes once a year, but I think it will stick with Bryson that you have to act nicely to get what you want.  Bad behavior won’t be rewarded.  When we arrived home, I asked him if he knew why we left and he said “Because I was being a whiny boy.” which made me feel good about our decision to stand firm.  He got it, he took it to heart, and maybe he learned from it.

I was able to snap a couple photos of him where he doesn’t look so upset.  Most of them were full of tears and tired faces.  Three is such a tough age.  Even so, we plan on going back next year, and the year after that, and so on.  It’s a great family-friendly event and it really is for kids of all ages.  I hope next year goes a little more smoothly for us, but either way, I’m thankful for the opportunity to take my children to such a fabulous event!

If you are local, Thomas is still in town!  He’s here this weekend and next Saturday.  You can check availability and order tickets online.

Not to mention, how cute is this Mickey Mouse Greenhouse!?
Super adorable, right?

We’ve actually had this kit for a while, but with the craziness and the unexpected loss of Kolby, it has sat collecting dust for some time.  I’ve declared this our week of getting back to real life, returning to (a new) “normal” (what is that? ) if you will.  Justin planted our big garden on Monday and I watched the kids eagerly help him and tromp through the dirt.  This neglected kit caught my eye Tuesday evening and I decided it was time plant with the little ones!

As soon as I told Bryson that we were going to finally plant our Mickey Mouse garden, his face lit up in excitement.  He’s wanted to do this since the kit first arrived weeks ago.  Bella had to jump in and help too.  I followed the simple directions and assembled the greenhouse.  Then, Justin and Bella moistened the soil to get it ready for the seeds.  Bryson took the honor of planting the cucumbers, tomatoes, and sweet peppers.  He also made sure to put our markers in so we would know which was which.   It was a family affair. 

Bryson was bummed that there was no Pluto! (LOL)

After the planting, I quickly put together the top and we all stood back to admire our work.  Mostly Bryson was admiring his work while Bella tried tearing it apart.  The Mickey Mouse ears kept falling off until Justin finally took them and snapped them in correctly.  Whoops!  That was my only complaint, but since it was user (mama) error, I have absolutely no complaints at all.  When you put the ears on, don’t be afraid to give them a good push and when you hear them click, you’ll know they’re in correctly.

The Disney Mickey Mouse Greenhouse from Miracle-Gro® Kids comes with easy to follow instructions, a guide for planting and transplanting, a cool “Gro-Chart” to track each plants growth, and other learning information.  It is a great kit for teaching your children to garden and how to grow food at home.  We’ll update you in a few weeks on our little garden and how it’s coming along.

The Miracle-Gro Kids gardening sets are available in a wide variety of themes and fruits, veggies, & flowers.  You can find them at stores like Lowes, Kmart, Walmart, Home Depot and online at Amazon.com.  Using the location finder, I noticed that they are even available at one of my local fruit markets!  A full list of kits is available at the Scotts website and the Miracle-Gro Kids site offers ton of fun things like recipes and learning activities.

We received the Disney Mickey Mouse Greenhouse from Miracle-Gro® Kids free of charge.  All thoughts and opinions (and cute kids) remain my own, as always.

]]> http://itsgravybaby.com/2012/05/our-little-gardeners-their-first-garden/feed/ 5 http://itsgravybaby.com/2012/04/great-outdoor-toys/ http://itsgravybaby.com/2012/04/great-outdoor-toys/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:32:13 +0000 Whitney http://itsgravybaby.com/?p=4259 We are blessed to live in an area surrounded by beautiful parks, lakes, and rivers.  One our favorite places to spend time is at the river where my parents camp all summer long.  Bryson spent his first couple summers on the river, playing in the dirt, and riding on his Pop’s boat.  Unfortunately, we weren’t able to enjoy it last year after the devastating April 27th tornadoes.  Thankfully, we are back at it again this year!

We’ve already gone quite a few times and Bryson has made several new friends.  He talks about those friends a lot and looks forward to seeing them when we go.  A few weeks ago, the older kids were nice enough to take Bryson out on their paddle boat.  I loved watching him have a blast with them!  They have a huge tub full of sand & water toys- shovels, buckets, strainers, etc. that they always share.  It’s basically a community toy chest for the kids at the campground.

Working from the idea of a community toy chest, I chose to perform my SIMPLE Service Project for the kids at the river.  I wanted to buy some toys they could play with outside of the water- maybe on cool days or just when they are taking a break.  I gave you a sneak peek of the items I chose in my Google + album and in my first Champion for Kids blog post.  Walmart has a great selection of outdoors toys for the younger crowd so it was easy to shop.

I purchased:

• a golf set
• a frisbee
• 2 glove/ball sets
• 2 jump ropes
• a jumbo tennis ball
• an ultra catch set

Those toys will give the kids plenty to do outside of the water and should keep them busy for a while.  Hopefully it will help them burn off some energy and take goods naps and sleep well at night.  (That’s the mom talking, huh?)   I know there will be tons of boating, fishing, and playing in the water but they’ll have just as much fun playing on land now too!

It doesn’t take a lot of money to perform a SIMPLE Service project and be a Champion for Kids.  You don’t have to donate fancy items- kids don’t care, they just want to have fun.  Most of the sets I bought were $5 or $6.  To learn more about how you can get involved, find Champions for Kids on Twitter and Facebook.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric