Family Adventures {Sip on Something Good with Capri Sun}

 

With school starting this week for two of my littles, I think it is safe to say summer has ended for us. We have had one fun-filled, memory-making summer though so it's okay that we are moving onwards. We spent a whole lot of time together doing things we love, trying new things as a family we may or may not have loved, and intentionally checking off our summer bucket list filled with ideas we came up with to get us outside spending quality time together.

Sure, we had some rough patches. It's hard to please 6 people at home on any given day let alone pinpointing an activity that everyone will enjoy at the exact same time. We had moments where Clif and I thought, what the heck were we thinking taking four kids 6 and under to do this, let alone a 14-month-old. But then some of our ideas for quality family time this summer were absolute home runs.  We hit a few right out of the park, and that is what it makes it all worth it. Trips where everyone got along, there were smiles all around, and little voices begging, Can we please do this again! Memories made for a lifetime.

And that's what we were after to begin with, right?  Memories to hold on to.  Our kids are only little for so long and taking the time to create some fun, family-focused activities doesn't really take that much effort but can have such a lasting effect on all of us. Some of our activities were simple...a hike in the woods, making ice cream and snow cones, backyard camping, making s'mores, bike rides to the lake, flying kites in our tree-filled street and trying hard not to let them crash into the trees.

And some took a bit more effort...a trip to the zoo, a paddle boat ride around the lake, visiting a local fair for amusement park rides, heading up to Wisconsin to tour around some old haunts from our life before kids. But whatever the activity, we did it as a family. Creating memories for a lifetime.

Of course any activity in our home requires food and lots of it. Picnic lunches and snacks galore were a must for our summer bucket list activities. We always need to pack enough sustenance to get us through the hiking, biking, strolling, paddle boat peddling, and chasing.  Easy things to pack that we love include dried fruit and nuts--my energy bites recipe is always a hit--string cheese, fresh fruit, cut up veggies...easy to grab is always good!

And of course cold drinks are a must. My kids love juice box-type drinks and as we are a water at home kinda family, I indulge them for special outings.

Capri Sun has a great drink called Capri Sun Super V Fruit and Vegetable Juice Drink that healthy-minded mommas everywhere can appreciate. It has 1 combined serving of fruit and vegetables* so I feel better about giving this to my kids than a lot of other juice drinks out there. A juice drink minus the artificial colors, additives, and preservatives and tastes great and is a win/win for both of us!

Good food, good drinks, good company, and good times. Definitely our recipe for fun family memories this summer. Well, that and patience, a good nap, smiles for miles, and some of our favorite family songs :-)

Hope your summer was full of memories too!

XOXO,

*Each pouch provides 1/2 cup of fruit and vegetable juice. According to US dietary guidelines, Capri Sun Super V Fruit and Vegetable Juice Drink contains one combined serving of fruits and vegetables--3/4 from fruit juice and 1/4 from vegetable juice. Be sure to feed your kids a variety of whole fruits and vegetables each day.

TUTORIAL: Magnetic Paint Craft Pumpkins with Magnetic Letters

If you remember from this post here, I was invited to participate in Michaels' Great Pumpkin Challenge where they sent me a box of their neat-o craft pumpkins to create, carve, or design something fun with them for Fall/Halloween. Since we are in Back to School mode as my kids are finally starting school (Noah started his first day of FULL day school today, hold me!) I thought how fun would it be to use those colorful magnetic letters we all have on our fridge and make a magnetic pumpkin to spell out fun Halloween-type words!

This project is so, so easy! All it takes is a few short 5-10 minute stretches of time over a couple of days as you will need a few coats of magnetic paint to get a good magnetic attraction going.  Here is how I did it...

Magnetic Paint Craft Pumpkin with Magnetic Letters

Craft pumpkin

Can of magnetic paint 

Foam brush

Painter's tape

Small can of latex paint in the color of your choice (will be the final color of the pumpkin!)

Magnetic letters 

Can of Primer for Plastic

Can of spray paint in the color of you choice (for the letters!)

For this project I used the largest craft pumpkin sold at Michaels...it has the most surface area for spelling out fun words! Since you will be painting over it with the magnetic paint you can use any color pumpkin.

I bought this small can of magnetic paint at Michaels (found in the spray paint aisle). I used about half of it for this project!

Take your painter's tape and tape off the stem to protect it from the paint. Then using your foam brush, give the pumpkin one coat of magnetic paint and let dry for 24 hours (as per the can instructions). The can states you will need at least 2 coats of paint but I found the magnets were still falling off with 2 coats so I did an additional 3rd coat which ended up being the perfect amount of magnetic attraction!

Once your last coat of magnetic paint is dry (another 24 hours!) you can paint over the magnetic paint with any color latex paint.  Since I wanted my pumpkin to be used for Halloween decorating, I painted mine Gloss Black in color but how cute would a cream color be with gold letters! Let your topcoat dry for a few hours. You can remove the painter's tape once the paint is dry.

In between coats of magnetic paint you can spray paint your magnetic letters. Remember these? I think we have about 32,498 of them on our fridge and laying around every one of my kids' rooms.

Since the letters are plastic you will want to spray them with a coat of Primer made for Plastic.  I happened to have some of this Krylon Fusion for plastic so I used it like a primer! Once the primer coat is dry you can spray the letters with your topcoat color of choice.  I love the look of a silver metallic on black so that is what I chose :-)

And there you have it...silver metallic letters on a jet black magnetic pumpkin...Happy Halloween indeed!

Now, your kids (or you!) can have fun spelling out lots of fun Halloween-y type words!

Enjoy! See, I told you this one was easy!!

Oh and PS. Just in case you didn't know...

·         All Michaels locations are hosting a Great Pumpkin Event on Saturday, October 5 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. For only $6 (which covers the cost of a 9” carveable pumpkin) kids can create their own pumpkin design and a free face painter will also be on hand. A great weekend event for the whole family!

·         Did you know that Michaels offers custom carved pumpkins that can be personalized with a variety of designs and names? Prices start at $19.99 and you can them order at all Michaels locations, just make sure to place your order by Oct. 13 so that it will be completed by Halloween. Visit www.michaels.com/custom-carved-pumpkins for more information.

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,

*I received compensation for this post; however, this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience with the product.

TUTORIAL: Gold Accented Decoupaged Pumpkins

I was contacted by Michaels and asked to be a part of their Great Pumpkin Challenge and with my deep love of the Fall and Halloween I was pumped to participate. They sent me a box of their craft pumpkins and was told to create a look for them...how fun, right!

These are what the pumpkins looked like.  Michaels has a whole array of awesome craft pumpkins in stores now. They come in lots of different sizes and colors...cream, black and original orange....so you can create a whole multitude of looks.  And the best part is they never spoil! So you can paint them, carve them, glitterize them any time (like say August!) and they will last for months and years to come.

I am really into the gold color scheme these days and my first thought was that I wanted a cream and gold look for my pumpkins, how pretty and chic and perfect for Fall, right! I found the perfect shade of gold spray paint at Michaels, some pretty paper doilies in the cake decorating aisle, and then I fell head over heels in love with the awesome rolls of Martha Stewart's new Decoupage papers as one set had the coolest gold cross-hatch design. All pure perfection for my idea to become reality.  Here is how I made them...

Gold Accented Pumpkin using Decoupage Paper

1 roll of Martha Stewart Decoupage papers

Mod Podge

Foam brush

Decoupage Tools from Mod Podge

Using the foam brush, cover the pumpkin with a thin layer of mod podge. Cut the decoupage papers into smaller strips based off of the curves of the pumpkin and brush mod podge on the wrong side of the paper. Place the decoupage papers onto the pumpkin (mod podge side facing the pumpkin) and smooth out the wrinkles as you go using the decoupage tools. Once completely covered wait 15-20 minutes for mod podge to dry. Add a coat of mod podge to the outside of the pumpkin (over top the decoupage papers) to seal, let dry, and have fun decorating with your new pretty pumpkin!

Ahhh, gold and cream prettiness!

Gold Accented Doily Pumpkin with Initial

Krylon Champagne Nouveau spray paint

Krylon Primer spray in White (if needed!)

Small 4" paper doily

Scissors

Mod Podge

Foam brush

White Paint Pen or Chalk Pen

This is the gold spray paint that I just fell in love with...it is the perfect shade of gold!!!
Spray your pumpkin all over (in a well ventilated area...outdoors is best!) and let dry for a few hours.

Once dry, take your doily and cut out the center of it.

Using the foam brush, mod podge the pumpkin in the area you would like your doily to be placed. Mod podge the wrong side of the doily too. Place the doily (mod podge side facing pumpkin!) onto the pumpkin and let dry.

Once dry, place another layer of mod podge over top to seal the doily onto the pumpkin. Once that layer is dry (the modge podge should be invisible when it is dry!) you can take a paint pen or a chalk pen and write the initial of your family's last name!

And now I'm off to a great start on my Fall decorating, thanks Michaels!

Also, did you know...

·         All Michaels locations are hosting a Great Pumpkin Event on Saturday, October 5 from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. For only $6 (which covers the cost of a 9” carveable pumpkin) kids can create their own pumpkin design and a free face painter will also be on hand. A great weekend event for the whole family!

·         Did you know that Michaels offers custom carved pumpkins that can be personalized with a variety of designs and names? Prices start at $19.99 and you can them order at all Michaels locations, just make sure to place your order by Oct. 13 so that it will be completed by Halloween. Visit www.michaels.com/custom-carved-pumpkins for more information.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

 XOXO,

*I received compensation for this post; however, this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience with the product.

Brew Over Ice: Review and Giveaway!

Have you tried the new Brew Over Ice drinks for your Keurig® brewer?  Oh My Heck! They are sooo good! They are the newest member of the K-Cup® and are packed with the perfect amount of ingredients for you to brew over ice without your drink tasting diluted. Have you ever tried that with a regular K-cup? No bueno!

I love my Keurig, I actually think I have one of the first models they ever made, when I see all the new models I get a little jealous of all the updated bells and whistles, sigh. But my Keurig is still going strong so holla for that!

I was sent a few of the new Brew Over Ice flavors to try out and I gotta say, I really enjoyed them all. Snapple Iced Teas in peach and lemon,  I mean who doesn't love Snapple anything? The Brew Over Ice Iced Coffee was the perfect afternoon treat. And my favorites, the Vitamin Burst flavors in Strawberry Pomegranate and Acai Berry were soooo good! The Vitamin Burst flavors use Stevia and Sugar instead of aspartame or Splenda which I really liked and they are caffeine free so I felt pretty good letting the kids have some :-)

Well, wouldn't you know it but Brew Over Ice is offering my lovely readers some fun products for you to try the new Brew Over Ice K-cups yourself!

How do these goodies sound...

3 Brew Over Ice K-Cup® samples to help you find your favorite icy brew

1 Brew Over Ice tumbler

4 Brew Over Ice coasters

1 Brew Over Ice light-up ice bucket with ice tongs to help keep those cold drinks a-brewin'

Sweet! I thought you might like them!

Enter via the rafflecopter link below or click here now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Click here to download a $2 off product coupon and watch the Brew Over Ice video

Click here to participate in the "Brew Over Ice Sweepstakes"

Connect with Brew Over Ice on Facebook or Twitter!

XOXO,

*I received compensation for this post; however, this is my personal, honest opinion based on my experience with the product.

RECIPE: The Best Homemade Pancake Mix Ever!

After I posted our family's favorite recipe for The Best Homemade Waffle Mix Ever, I received a whole boat load of emails asking if you could use that recipe for pancakes too.  Now, while I am sure you could, I never do.  Instead I use our family's most favorite recipe for The Best Homemade Pancake Mix Ever...haha, seeing a theme here? ;-)

This mix, like the other, is so easy to make.  And, just like the other, you can also make it Gluten-Free, wahooo! All you do is sub out the all-purpose flour for the Gluten-Free blend of your choice.  I also don't add xanthum gum as some had asked about...you totally can but I usually don't...we don't notice a whole lot of difference either way with pancakes or waffles!

The Best Homemade Pancake Mix Ever! (makes 8-10 pancakes)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose or Gluten-Free flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
1 1/4 cup milk (can use coconut or almond as well)
1 egg
3 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.  Slowly add in the milk, egg, butter, and vanilla and mix until just blended.  The batter should be runny.  Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray or melt a pat of butter. Pour pancake batter onto griddle. Cook until bubbles form, then flip and brown the other side.

These pancakes are seriously sooooo good...light, airy, and just the right touch of sweet.  I even made a big batch for these Mini Pancake Push-Up Pops!

If you are looking for a go-to winner of a pancake mix, I highly suggest you give these a whirl!

Enjoy!!!

And thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,

Mini Pancake Push-Up Pops

Holy cats, we have less than a week before school starts, I cannot believe the last week of summer is finally here! So, like a good momma, I have been diligently trying to come up with a fun first day of school breakfast.  You might remember last year's here (and here!)

This year since Noah is heading into first grade, Penny is starting kindy, and Eloise is starting her first year of preschool, I have staggered first days. Our area schools do the whole first through the twelfth grades start one day and then the kindergarteners start the following. Then the following week the preschools start up. I have a whole lots of firsts coming up and I better be prepared!

I want to make them a breakfast that is fun and nutritious yet easy/quick to eat in case we have a late sleeper. PS. Please remind me that I really need to start getting them to bed earlier these next few days or we are sooo going to be in TROUBLE! 

I thought I'd try a spin our on last year's breakfast of mini pancakes but instead I used a small biscuit cutter to make them tiny enough in diameter to fit into those cute push-up pop containers and layered with some blueberries, chopped strawberries, and fresh whipped cream. Ta-da!...Mini Pancake Push-Up Pops!

They are almost too pretty to eat...almost! My kids loved them, hooray! So these will definitely be a contender for next week's First Day of School breakfast :-)

Have your kids started school yet? We are getting so excited over here!!

XOXO,