Posted by cassie on Wednesday, 18 June, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
I admit it! I’m suffering from the shop-a-holic bug and can’t go out just yet w/ Vince (just now a week old). So what’s a girl to do? Sample shop! Oxymoron I know but the phrase says it best. I’ve been signing up for various samples recently, all set to start arriving in my mail box any day now and it’s really given me something to look forward to.
Here are some of the sites I’ve stumbled across, if you want to join in my sampling foray!
Let me know of any other sites you use and I’ll add them to my list 
Posted by cassie on Monday, 9 June, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
As part of their Chillbreaker promotion, Starbucks is offering iced coffee samples from June 9-13, and June 16-20 between 4-6pm at participating locations. You can sample as many as you like! Call your local store to see if they’re offering this deal.
Posted by cassie on Thursday, 5 June, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
With Vince due any day now - 38 weeks and counting!! - I’ve been trying to pick up little things here and there to entertain Anthony when the time comes. Not only when Granny is watching him when Daddy and I are at the hospital but the all important week or two after we come home and Mommy needs to rest.
Here’s what I’ve got so far - PLEASE feel free to chime in with other ideas:
- Books and activity books from Goodwill
- Movies from half.com and GameStop. Titles include: various Winnie the Pooh, Tigger the Movie, Brother Bear, and Charlotte’s Web. I also have some Sesame Street movies he hasn’t watched yet (OT: But GameStop has Buy 2, Get 3 Free on movies right now. Good deal if you ask me)
- New-to-him (Goodwill purchase) train set and track
- Put-it-together wooden airplane from Aunt Kat at xmas
Comment below - What other forms of entertainment do you think will make him happy for awhile? Keep in mind we live in FL and it’s already in the low 90s so outside activities are rather limited.
Posted by cassie on Wednesday, 4 June, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
Several weeks ago we decided to try finger painting. Now this is a big to-do in my house since Anthony is very anti-anything touching him. He hates dirt, tells me he has dirt on his hands if he uses his fingers to eat with, etc. So how did it go? NOT so well!
He was terribly excited. Loved putting on the smock and getting the colors all set up. Yes, before you ask it’s washable finger paint - I’m not completely nuts. We put out our newspaper on the kitchen table and set up our paper. And then! OOOO No!!! He had to touch it. Yea…..
Fast forward to last week. He keeps seeing the paints sitting on my desk and goes bonkers over it. Apparently forgetting he didn’t want it touching him last time… So we try it again. We get out everything, get it all set up and then! inspiration struck! I remembered that I had different size paint brushes from when I painted the decorations for his room. Phew! I got out of another tantrum on that. He had a blast with the paints and used several different brushes. He even let me help him, which we all know is a feat for a 21 mo old. They, apparently, can do everything by themselves, or at least they think so!
So, if you have a kid like mine or want to minimize messy fingers - grab some paint brushes and let them have a hey day! It’s a good activity to while away the summer hours (or at least an hour) and you have artwork you can then use to send to grandparents, other loved ones, use for wrapping paper, display, etc. This may become a weekly activity in my house. Now I just need to find a large roll of paper…..
Posted by cassie on Wednesday, 28 May, 2008 @ 9:42 am
This is a post from Freebies 4 Mom from about a week ago and I forgot to mention it until now. I’m not sure if Anthony would have any interest in this just yet but it is too much fun to keep to myself. Besides, with summer on the way (and no school) we all need a little bit more entertainment for the kiddos.
Did you know that you can get a free download of the current Sesame Street Magazine? I didn’t know this until just now - have my readers been keeping this freebie a secret? My son is talking about Elmo today and I can’t wait to see what he thinks about seeing Elmo in this digital magazine! You can browse this 16-page PDF file and then print the activity pages that you want. It looks like they offer this free download every month!
Posted by cassie on Wednesday, 23 April, 2008 @ 8:54 pm
Looking for something to do with the kids when there is a day off from school or planning your summer? Rebekah at Motherhood Moment mentions a site called Free-Attractions.com that lists (you guessed it!) attractions across the country that are free for families. On her blog, Rebekah writes: “It isn’t a comprehensive list yet, but hopefully it will become so in time. It is ad-heavy, but may provide some ideas for your next trip!”
Posted by cassie on Thursday, 17 April, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
… are celebrating Earth Day together! See below for more information. You can even purchase your ticket 5 days in advance and save some $$.
“Join us on Saturday, April 19 for this tree-mendous Earth Day celebration! Enjoy Earth Day activities and get helpful tips on what you can do to help our planet stay green.
Fisher-Price®’s Little People® characters, “Sonya Lee” and “Eddie,” will be making special appearances as they venture through the Zoo greeting little ones, and each child who attends will receive a free Planet Heroes activity book!
For kids and adults alike, this is a great way to learn what you can do to help save Planet Earth!
See you at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo,
Your friends at Fisher-Price”
Posted by cassie on Wednesday, 16 April, 2008 @ 7:58 pm
My MIL donates to the Shriners and received 2 tickets for the Shriner’s Circus that is this Friday and Saturday. She offered the tickets to me so I’m going to take Anthony along with a girlfriend and her little girl. What fun!!
27th Annual Sahib Shrine Circus
Appearing at Robarts Arena
April 18 & 19, 2008
General Admission $12.00 · Children 13 & Under $6.00
Shows at:
Friday
10:00 a.m. (schools and general admission), 4:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
For Ticket Information or to Advertise in the Circus Program Call (941) 366-0730
Posted by cassie on Tuesday, 15 April, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
I was in Lowe’s with Anthony several weeks ago and scored a small, plastic (so neither of us can break it. lol) hummingbird feeder for a whopping $1. I’ve always loved hummingbirds and want to pass on that love to my kids so I’m trying to find a great AND easy recipe to make their food. I know it’s basically sugar water but that is about it.
I did a quick search and found a very helpful website that shares a simple to make recipe (featured below). They also include hummingbird FAQs and info on making a garden to attract them. OOO don’t get me started on that one folks!
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
1 part sugar/4 parts water
Boil the water first, then measure and add sugar, at the rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water.
Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until ready to use.
Do not add food coloring, honey (which ferments), or artificial sweetener, which has no nutritional value.
You will need to clean your feeder every few days, with hot water and a mild (10%) bleach, or a water and vinegar solution, to inhibit mold. Rinse very thoroughly before refilling with water syrup.
Some things I learned while doing my research:
- Don’t use red dye in the food, which can be cancerous to them. They are attracted to the brightly colored feeders themselves.
- Don’t use honey EVER
- They are very territorial so multiple feeders, one in the front of the house and one in the back is best.
After learning they are territorial little creatures I’m now inspired to drag my little one into making another feeder for them. Of course, I’ll wait to see if we can attract any of them first, but what fun! Here is a link (branches off to several more) on how to make your own feeder.
Posted by cassie on Tuesday, 15 April, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
Put on by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute this is a yearly event, held on April 19th from 10-4p. My SIL attends this every year and raves over how wonderful it is. I think Anthony is still a little young to drag up to Tampa for something like this but I think next year will be just right. Here is a small blurb from their website (below). See video from 2007 and learn more by visiting their website.
FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue Southeast
St. Petersburg, Florida
… MarineQuest, the annual open house of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). Join us on Saturday, April 19, 2008, for the most fun you have ever had out of the water. This award-winning event is an opportunity for you and your family to learn about Florida’s fish and wildlife and FWRI’s new and exciting research.
New stations, featuring topics such as whooping cranes, black bears, wildlife diseases, and Florida’s native reptiles, will showcase some of the exciting wildlife research programs that are being conducted by the Institute.
… MarineQuest offers events for all ages, including several hands-on activities that will help our younger visitors learn about the fascinating marine life found in our oceans. Kids can dive into the water with their hands and pick up horseshoe crabs, sea stars, spiny lobsters, and other marine critters commonly found in Florida’s waters. Through the age-old practice of “gyotaku,” or fish printing, they can create their own artwork. Kids can also learn how to make marine-related origami—such as fish and whales—have their faces painted, put together a manatee skeleton, touch sharks and rays, and much more!