Disclosure: I received these books in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
With more time at home, now is the perfect time for some activity books (for both kids and adults!).
Ocean Life, by Jill Richardson, has a good variety of activities for kids, all with a fun ocean theme. There are word searches, dot-to-dots-, coloring pages, and mazes. I also like how there are facts about various sea animals woven through the activities. I would recommend this book for younger elementary school-age kids,
100 Large-Print Crossword Puzzles, by Chris King is a good book to have when you want a quick diversion. I think these puzzles are pretty easy, (as indicated in the sub-title), but they do require some thinking. The large squares are nice for those who have a difficult time working smaller puzzles.
I would say that the title of Only The Hardest Puzzles, by Willa Chen, is very accurate. I tried doing the first crossword puzzle and the first “warm-up” Sudoku puzzle, and I failed. I am going to have to save this book for my retirement-ha! If you know someone that needs a challenge, or maybe that someone is you, I would recommend this book. It is sure to keep you engaged for hours!
n and I wore our masks outside the house for the first time, during our walk.
Unemployment in the United States is over 10%, which is astronomically high.
We watched an interesting and entertaining National Geographic Documentary called “Science Fair” on Disney Plus. I liked how the documentary showcased teenagers from very different backgrounds. Even D said it was better than he thought it would be-ha! Highly recommend.
4.9.20 (Thursday):
More rain. During a break in the rain I decided to do a Costco run since I heard that our store had toilet paper in stock. I wore my mask. There was no line to get in, and I was able to buy a big package of Kirkland toilet paper-score! I also noticed that the price of eggs has gone way up.
I cleaned out and organized my baking drawer.
We have been watching Gordon Ramsay’s show, Uncharted. The first two shows were about Peru and New Zealand. It is a fascinating look into how others live.
4.10.20 (Good Friday):
At Costco, I saw this Urban Pie pizza for the first time, so I decided to try it out. I think it was only like $5 for two pizzas! Pretty good!
In the early evening we participated in communion through our church’s online Good Friday service. We were not prepared, as we did not have grape juice, but we made do.
We watched the documentary African Cats. I could not believe the footage that the cameramen were able to capture! Apparently I am a bigger fan of nature documentaries than the rest of my family, however.
4.11.20 (Saturday):
Even though Saturdays do not really feel like Saturdays anymore, it is nice to have a break from all the Zooming/Google Meets, etc.
Still taking our scooter walks.
4.12.20 (Easter Sunday):
He is Risen!
It was a drizzly day. D made eggs and bacon and I made a giant pancake in the rice cooker using this recipe.
I sewed up some Easter baskets for the kids using this tutorial. They ended up being a little too big since I did not have much to put in them except for some candy. I am thinking they can use them to organize some of their clothes.
We watched our church’s Easter service online. So glad that we are still able to worship and celebrate the Resurrection in this way. We did not dress up at home, like I saw some other people doing on social media.
For dinner, D cooked salmon for us. I made a giant m&m cookie for dessert.
We watched a National Geographic documentary on Apollo at night. It seemed fitting since today was the 59th anniversary of the first manned flight to outer space.
Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Springtime is here, and I recently discovered the perfect snack if you are searching for a bite-size sweet: Wiley Wallaby Organic Bites.
Wiley Wallaby Organic Bites are small licorice candies that have a satisfying soft and chewy texture. They come in four delicious flavors:
Strawberry
Tropical
Mixed Berry
Black Licorice
Wiley Wallaby’s Organic line is unique because it uses organic cane sugar and real fruit juice and does notcontain GMO’s, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial colors and flavors.
I like how the Organic Bites come in a resealable pouch, which makes it easy to share and keeps the candy fresh.
My kids were eager to do a taste test.
They both liked the Strawberry flavor best, but it was a close call!
I joined in on a Google Meet for our kindergarten class for the first time since we started online distance learning. It was so nice to see all those cute faces! I also made a video of me reading a book from ReadingIQ using Screencastify for our class. It is fun learning about all the educational online resources that are out there, but it can be somewhat overwhelming.
We joined our small group via Zoom again. This time we were able to watch part of a DVD series and answer some questions.
4.4.20 (Saturday):
Last night I had a disturbing dream that the kids and I had symptoms of Covid-19. It is sad that I immediately start to worry at the smallest cough or sneeze from anyone in our family. (We are currently all fine, health-wise).
I made a “snacky” lunch with carrots, cucumbers, hummus, tuna salad, cheese, crackers and grapes.
It is always nice when the kids are not arguing. Here k is being a helpful older sister by videotaping n doing his soccer skills. n is supposed to turn these videos into his coach each week.
At night we watched “Breaking 2” on Disney Plus. It is a National Geographic documentary about three men attempting to run a sub-two hour marathon. Highly recommend!
4.5.20 (Sunday):
Breakfast is served!
We watched our church’s Palm Sunday service online.
For the record, we completed our third 1,000 piece puzzle.
Our eating out treat for the week was the “Share the Love” Deal from Hopdoddy: $5 hamburger, comes with a side of fries. Good alternative if you do not feel like waiting in the drive-thru line at In-n-Out next door. They offer curbside pick-up, like most restaurants are doing these days.
4.6.20 (Monday): It was a rainy day, but I still managed to take 10,000 steps inside the house.
I went to Trader Joe’s for the first time since the stay at home order went into effect. I had to wait outside in line for about twenty minutes (in the rain, but luckily there was an overhang). They had pretty much everything in stock, with no limits, except there was no toilet paper.
This is how our crazy kids practice the keyboard together.
For dinner, we had one of our go-to quick & easy meals. Ground turkey, spinach, onions and carrots with some Soyaki sauce (Trader Joe’s).
4.7.20 (Tuesday):
Second day of rain, and this time I did not even come close my 10,000 step goal. I tried a Zumba class online, but it was more strength training.
n’s teacher did an online lesson on 3-D drawing, and this is n’s final result. Can’t believe he will be registering for middle school pretty soon!
We had our first virtual meeting “fail”. n was supposed to be on his soccer team’s call at 6:00, but we forgot about it until 6:20. It ended at 6:30. Whoops. We have all of our calls listed on a master calendar in the kitchen, but maybe we need an audible reminder as well.
We watched Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe. It was just ok.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Don’t Overthink It, by Anne Bogel, presents an interesting framework for looking at the everyday decisions we face in our lives. As someone who tends to “overthink”, over-analyze and second-guess my decisions, I found the guidance given in this book to be helpful. Thinking about decisions is valuable, but only to a certain extent. By sharing some of her own life experiences, Bogel shows us how overthinking can cause unnecessary worry and rob us of joy.
I found that Bogel’s advice especially insightful regarding smaller decisions. A couple of the chapters that really resonated with me concerned the topics of splurging and identifying “small treats”. As a frugal person by nature, sometimes it is difficult for me to figure out when a splurge or treat is “worth it”. Bogel’s writing style and thinking reminds me of Gretchen Rubin (author of The Happiness Project). If you are a fan of this genre of books, I think you will enjoy Don’t Overthink It.
Disclosure: I received a sample in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
We have been to 25 national parks as a family, and we like to share about our experiences here on the blog. When our friend told us about a board game called Trekking the National Parks, I was intrigued.
Trekking the National Parks is a board game where players try to earn the most points by claiming Park Cards and collecting trail stones. The game was invented by a family who had a goal to visit all of the national parks, just like us! At first, the rules seemed a little overwhelming. However, after playing a round, it was fairly easy to understand. I can now see how different strategies may be implemented to make the game exciting and competitive. It is a game that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
The board itself features a beautifully illustrated map of the United States and all of its magnificent national parks.
The high quality of the playing pieces is impressive. I like that they have a nice heft to them.
The Park Cards have beautiful photographs and interesting facts about each park. They make us think back to the trips we have taken, as well as introduce us to the parks we have yet to visit.
Trekking the National Parks deserves to earn a permanent place in your game collection. I can see why it won the Mensa Select Award and Parents’ Choice Gold Award!
Trekking the National Parks is designed for 2-5 players, ages 10 and up. I am not sure we will ever have the opportunity to visit all of the National Parks, but playing this game is a fun way to have an educational glimpse into all of them.
3.29.20 (Sunday): We watched our church’s online service on YouTube again.
D went on a massive gardening spree, and finished ripping out all of the plants on the side of our house.
We did a game/puzzle swap with my nephew.
D and n started watching The Mandalorian on Disney Plus.
President Trump announced that his stay at home orders are now in effect until April 30. That is a relief to me, since before he was telling reporters he thought America should be back to work by Easter.
3.30.20 (Monday): Back to school/work! k started her assignments from her actual teachers (instead of the district). n and his teacher seem to have a better handle on how assignments are given and turned in.
We did the BOGO X-Large pizza deal from Northwood Pizza. It is kind of fun looking for different pizza places since we usually overly rely on Costco.
3.31.20 (Tuesday):
I went grocery shopping, this time at Ralphs again. The situation was somewhat better. There was no line to enter the store. There was no flour, toilet paper or rice vinegar (I know, probably not a staple for most people!) The checker told me they are no longer allowed to bag groceries.
D in “work mode”.
Online distance learning!
n also had a Zoom meeting with his soccer team.
The California Superintendent made an announcement warning school districts that they should be prepared for online distance learning for the rest of the school year.
4.1.20 (Wednesday):
It is April Fool’s Day, but I think people are not really in the mood to play jokes on one another.
I put a bear in our window in case any of the kids in our neighborhood are doing the “Going on a Bear Hunt” game.
I had two Google Meets for work.
I made the trending Dalgona Coffee. Will try to do a separate post later.
Saw a group (4 teenage boys) of Covidiots playing spike ball at the park! AHHHH!!!
I am grateful that my daily walk has three different path options (dirt, asphalt, sidewalk) and four, if you include the bike lane! It makes it fairly easy to maintain a six feet bubble from others.
Our school district announced that we will be doing online distance learning for the rest of the school year!
4.2.20 (Thursday):
We hit the depressing statistic of having one million cases of COVID-19 around the world.
k did another online basketball training with Ironmen.
It seems that the guidelines regarding face masks are changing. Before the authorities were saying they are not helpful, and now California is recommending them when you are out in public. However, they are also warning people to leave the medical-grade masks for hospitals. According to the California Department of Public Health,
A cloth face covering may be factory-made or sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items such as scarfs, T-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.
Using this tutorial and scraps from my fabric stash, I whipped us up some masks.
Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
If you are looking for dietary supplements for kids with no added sugar, consider the Little DaVinci® line of supplements. The Little DaVinci mighty vites is a multivitamin in powder form that is formulated for kids. It contains only high quality, raw ingredients, including probiotics, curcumin, and elderberry to support immunity and gut health.
My son tried the mighty vite powder mixed into water. It is supposed to have a fruit punch flavor, and he said it actually does taste like fruit punch. I could see it also being blended into a smoothie, or something else that has a fruity flavor. mighty vite would be a good product for kids who do not like chewable vitamins.
With everyone looking to boost their immune systems these days, it is also worth looking into Little DaVinci immuni-z. These natural lemon-flavored lozenges contain Zinc and no artificial dyes or preservatives. The directions say to let the lozenge dissolve in your mouth. My son thought the initial lemon flavor was good, but detected a slight aftertaste. (It might be a good idea to have something else to eat right after). This supplement is formulated to promote healthy immune system function.
Where to Purchase (Plus Discount!)
Little DaVinci® mighty vite and their other supplements can be purchased on the Little DaVinci® website. Plus, save 20% on any purchase on Little DaVinci®’s website at momsmeet.link/davincishop with the promo code MOMBLOG. Offer ends June 3, 2020.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Although the WAY we celebrate Easter may look different this year, the reason WHY we celebrate Easter remains the same. The Way to the Savior, by Jeff and Abbey Land, is a timely Easter devotional that can bring your family closer and direct your attention to Jesus during the days and weeks leading up to Easter. This beautifully illustrated book includes forty devotionals designed to be read with your family. Each devotional includes a short story, prayer and “Cross Connection” (an explanation of how the Bible passage can relate to everyday life). I must admit, some of the Cross Connections have caused some contention: “As a family, rate each member on a scale of 1 to 10 on how good he or she is at waiting.” Ouch! Nevertheless, reading The Way to the Savior as a family is a thought-provoking way to turn your heart and mind towards the cross this Easter season.
Disclosure: I received a sample box in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.This post contains affiliate links.
With all of this extra time at home, we have definitely been in spring cleaning mode. The April Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box provides recipes and ingredients to make your own non-toxic cleaning solutions.
The April Simply Earth Recipe Box contains the following:
The following recipes are included in this month’s box:
Shine Spray
Grout Scrub
Gunk Remover
Beeswax Furniture Polish
Happy Home Diffuser Blend
Work It Roll On
Shine Spray
This Shine Spray is super simple to make. Just combine vinegar with the Clean & Fresh Essential Oil Blend. It can be used to clean windows, wipe away dust, or on stainless steel. I used it on my refrigerator, and it worked great!
Grout Scrub
One of my least favorite chores is scrubbing grout. One day, I hope to eliminate as much of the grout in our home as possible. Until then, this Simply Earth grout scrub will come in handy.
This grout scrub is also super simple to make. However, because it contains vinegar, it is recommended to use it only one to times a year to avoid damaging grout.
You can definitely tell the difference after using this Grout Scrub. (The left side is the “before” and the right side is the “after”).
Cleaning your home should not have to involve the use of toxic chemicals. Making your own cleaning supplies also reduces excess packaging. The April Simply Earth Recipe Box is an easy way to start cleaning your home in a more environmentally-friendly way..
Simply Earth Promo Code
Simply Earth is offering a great deal for my readers. When you start an Essential Oil Recipe Box Subscription, you will also receive a Big Bonus Box AND a free $40 eGift card when you use the code LIMBYLIMFREE at checkout. (New subscribers only).
Giveaway Time
Enter to win a Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box below!
