trampoline water park

Trampoline Water Park… A Cool Way to Beat the Heat! (she: Jamie)

ByJamie S.

Hi, it’s Jamie, stopping by from Prepared Housewives to tell you about our trampoline water park project that will make you a super-hero in your kid’s eyes 😉

It’s hot, really hot (at least in Texas)! Which means sending the kids out to play only lasts a few minutes before they need drinks, Popsicles, & Band-Aids for their boo-boos.

I would love to fill our days with outings and fun trips to Disney, but the fact is bills need paid and laundry needs done.
Luckily, my husband saved my sanity by deciding to turn our trampoline into our own personal water park. He still won’t admit he stole the idea from Pinterest, but it doesn’t matter – it has entertained our kids, the neighborhood kids, and even some adults for hours.

It’s super simple, and with just a little PVC pipe you can survive the heat and save your sanity too..

father's day treat
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Easy Father’s Day Treat {Mustache & Tie Edition} (she: Brooke)

ByBrooke

Hello everyone! How are you all? It’s Brooke from Blissful Roots. Are you in the full-swing of summer vacation mode? We sure are, and I’m loving every minute of it! My four-year-old, and I, are thrilled to have my twins home all day. It’s so fun to plan different activities, or just spend some relaxing playtime at home. I’m just hoping all of our summer vacation weeks go this smoothly!
So, today’s post. I was in my favorite local scrapbook store (Pebbles in My Pocket) a few weeks ago, and they had this adorable Father’s Day treat put together. Mustaches are everywhere these days, aren’t they? And while my husband doesn’t have a mustache, and I don’t know that ties are his favorite, I absolutely loved how they dressed up a simple bag of candy (which my husband does love).

Strawberry Pretzel Popsicles | Baking a Moment
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Strawberry Pretzel Popsicles (she: Allie)

ByAllie

Hello again, friends! Allie here, from Baking a Moment, to share this really fun, easy, and delicious recipe for summertime!

Promise me you won’t think I’m weird, or like a big food dummy, but honestly? I never even heard of that Strawberry Pretzel Salad thing until a year or two ago. I do not know how I made it through (ahem) thirty-mumble-mumble years without this ever crossing my radar. Especially considering food is my life. For reals. Like, sometimes I feel like it’s all I think about.

And, when I first started seeing it on Pinterest and stuff I thought it sounded kinda gross. I mean, sweet cream cheese and strawberries, yes. But pretzels? Not so sure. But here’s how the idea for strawberry pretzel popsicles was born:

family games
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Entertaining Kids Without Electronics: 8 Family Games They Will Love (she: Jamie)

ByJamie S.

It’s easy to overdose kids with TV, video games, and catapulting Angry Birds around (everything my kids are currently doing right now 🙂 – but I encourage you to try to disconnect from electronics a few times this Summer and teach your kids they can actually survive without them. Entertaining kids without electronics doesn’t have to be a lot of work!

Many families pass down photos, memories, & names – well our family passes down GAMES! I decided to share our absolute favorite ones with you! Each time we play these I can’t help but think of going to Grandma’s and having some good ol’ family fun!

favorite garden books for kids
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Favorite Garden Books for Kids (she: Brooke)

ByBrooke

Hey! It’s Brooke from Blissful Roots. Summertime means garden time for our family. My husband and I both grew up in families that planted a garden every summer (which I am very grateful for!). I guess you can say it’s in our blood. Do you garden? I don’t want to spend this entire post on a gardening soap box, but I can’t tell you the number of benefits that come from having your own garden. My boys (and myself) have learned work, patience, you reap what you sow, the miracle of a tiny seed, the beauty of nature, enjoying the fruits of your labor, living off the land, being self-sufficient, and much, much more. It’s work, but magical!

Okay, enough of my gardening soap box! What I’d really like to share today are some of our favorite garden books for kids. I can’t say I really plan out themes for my boys all summer long, but I do like to build upon what we’re already doing. I love having great books to go along with the summer activities we do. And let me tell you, gardening takes the whole summer. Not all day, every day, but once again, you reap what you sow.

play time with toddlers
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Tips for Surviving Play Time With Toddlers (she: Heather)

ByHeather

Happy Mother’s Day to you, and to all the special moms in your life. It’s Heather, back to share a few ideas to help you as you play with your young children.

Spend a few minutes with your little ones and you realize how much they love to play. Play is vital to their emotional, physical, and social growth. It helps them build confidence, self esteem, and even teaches them to control their emotions. But… their games and activities can start to grate on moms. The next time you wonder if you can spend one more minute playing kitchen or Candy Land, remember all the benefits that come to kids from playing. And use the following suggestions to make things a little easier during play time with toddlers. Remember, you are not alone. These feelings are very normal.

Fun Easter Egg Spelling Scramble for #Easter morning. www.orsoshesays.com #games
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Easter Egg Word Scramble – A Spelling Game for Kids! (she: Brooke)

ByBrooke

Happy spring Or So She Says readers! It’s Brooke again and I’m happy to be visiting you today from Blissful Roots. Don’t you love this beautiful, refreshing time of year? It’s one of my favorite seasons. Come to think of it, I say that at the beginning of every season, and then by the end of some seasons I’m complaining a bit. But never with spring! Spring could last forever in my book!
Today I have a fun, easy educational holiday game for you to do- an Easter egg word scramble.
When I taught first grade, we did a lot of great activities for our literacy centers. This was always a hit with my students during the weeks leading up to Easter. When I taught, we didn’t use Easter words, we used our spelling and/or high frequency words, but since Easter is just around the corner I think Easter words are perfect for this activity!

Family Night – Teaching Kids Their Words Matter! (she: Tonii)
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Family Night – Teaching Kids Their Words Matter! (she: Tonii)

ByTonii

Hello everyone, it’s Tonii again and I am so glad to be back with another fun and simple Family Night! This month, I felt inspired to talk to my kids all about the importance of WORDS. The words that we use, and the way that we use them. It’s so important to spend time teaching kids their words matter.

To get started I whipped up a simple printable with the words I say to my kids every day before they head off to school… Check it out!

st. patrick's day tic-tac-toe
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Printable St. Patrick’s Day Tic-Tac-Toe (she: Brooke)

ByBrooke

How is it already the middle of March? I love this time of year! But I feel that way about every new season. I love the anticipation of what’s to come. The warmer weather, the spring flowers, the green grass, and blossoms on the trees. Such a beautiful, refreshing time of year! And, of course, I love the holidays associated with each season as well.
Along with leprechaun traps, we always love a good St. Patrick’s Day game. Last year I shared our Roll-A-Leprechaun game (still a family favorite) here at Or So She Says, and this year I have a printable St. Patrick’s Day tic-tac-toe game for you. I have a valentine tic-tac-toe game that we use at our house, and my four-year-old loves it! So, I thought I’d make a St. Paddy’s Day version in honor of this Irish-inspired holiday.

Banana Split Mini Bundts | Baking a Moment
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Banana Split Mini Bundt Cakes (she: Allie)

ByAllie

Banana Split Mini Bundt Cakes are such a Fun Treat! Moist Banana Cake is Filled with Pineapple, and Topped with Strawberry Buttercream, Chocolate Sauce, Peanuts, and a Cherry on Top. Perfect for your next Party!

When I think of Spring, I think of birthday parties. Both my boys were Spring babies, and I love that! When they were first born, I loved that just when we were ready to venture out of our little cocoon, gorgeous warm breezes were beckoning us to go on long stroller walks. And now that they’re bigger, I love that presents, parties, and games are there for them, just when their house-bound stir-craziness is at a fever pitch.

Since baking’s my favorite, I always try to come up with something super-special and fun for them on their birthdays. I think these Banana Split Mini Bundt Cakes definitely fit the bill!

postcard printable
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Postcard Printable … Because Everyone Loves Mail! (she: Sharon)

Bysharon

Hello again!

This is Sharon from Lemon Squeezy with another free printable download. I’ve made a simple postcard printable to mail to your family and friends to give them a little pick-me-up! My daughter has been writing notes to her friends and grandparents lately and mailing them, and absolutely loves to receive their notes in return. These 4×6 postcards are a simple way to send something yourselves, with the back completely blank for you to fill in your address information and your letter.

family reunion planning
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Jump Start Your Family Reunion Planning (she: Allison)

Byallison l.

Hello! It’s Allison from Tips for Family Trips. I believe that travel makes families stronger, smarter and happier, and there is no better way to strengthen families than through family reunions. If it has been a few years since your family has come together, this can be the year to make it happen!

A family reunion can be as simple as a picnic in the park with your parents, siblings and their children (heaven knows that just getting that group together can be hard enough), or a multi-day vacation that includes second and third cousins. Whatever works for your family is the right way.

If you want to plan a reunion for this summer, now is the time to start. Here are five steps to follow to help you with your family reunion planning: