Kid Friendly Hot Spots to Visit in St. George, Utah

St. George, Utah is a popular destination throughout the year. We love going down in the spring when we are antsy for blue skies and warmer weather. Every year we meet up with family to spend a few days together. That means we have a lot of kids, which makes our activities very kid friendly. Here are 5 kid friendly spots you need to check out the next time you are in St. George, Utah.

  1. Snow Canyon State Park. There are so may different hikes to go on at this state park. One of our favorite is the Butterfly trail. It’s perfect distance for younger kids.
  2. Pickle Ball Courts. Have you heard of pickle ball? It’s becoming more and more popular. St. George has many spots around that you can play for FREE. So grab some paddles and balls and go play.
  3. Pioneer Park. This park has a large trellis pavilion with two barbecues and fire ring, several smaller picnic areas with tables, two with metal trellis pavilions, and a separate fire pit with an amphitheater. It’s a great one to see the view of St. George below. Walk around and enjoy the red rocks.
  4. Thunder Junction Park. This park includes complete wheelchair accessible playground equipment, climbing wall, an “erupting” volcano, splash pad, and a “roaring” C.P. Huntington 1/4-scale train on a 2,700-foot track. My kids LOVE this park.

Make Mom Feel Loved and Special This Mother’s Day without Breaking the Bank!

Mother’s Day can be tough for so many different reasons but it’s important to make that special person in your life feel loved. We don’t usually buy big gifts for each other on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day but that doesn’t mean we don’t spoil each other! Here’s some simple, cheap and even free ideas of ways you can celebrate Mother’s Day!

Breakfast in bed – this is our tradition and one that really, I LOVE! We’re not big breakfast people meaning we usually have our tradition cereal or morning shake every day. But Mother’s Day morning I get a hot breakfast served in bed.

Sleep in – let mom finally get a morning to sleep in. Slip out of bed when the kids wake up and close the bedroom door behind you. Give her the chance to wake up to no alarm or kids needing her help.

Make a nice dinner – there’s so many fun recipes available on the internet. Find out Mom’s favorite meal and make it for dinner that night. Don’t forget to include the kids.

Get the kids to make something for her – get out the paper and markers and let them make mom a card. Pull out stickers, scissors, glue and anything else your kids can craft with. Or make mom her favorite treat together in the kitchen.

Let the kids buy mom something at the store – go to the dollar store and help them pick out something fun and new for mom. They have nail polish, makeup and other fun finds. Or even Walmart for some bath bombs, new earrings, jewelry and more.

Let mom choose a family activity – what if mom got to decide what everyone is doing for the day? Sounds like a win win for me! You could go for free and take a hike together, play board games, watch a new movie etc.

Heart attach mom – it doesn’t always have to be on Valentine’s Day. Why not heart attack mom’s door or mirror the night before so she has sweet messages to wake up to on the special day.

Memory Movie – put together some old photos and videos to music and watch them together with mom. She’s going to love all the memories! This is even a good one for the grandparents.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas on a Budget

mothers day gift f2dMother’s Day is coming up on May 12th and it’s time to get those Mother’s Day gifts in order. Every year I have to think of what I can get for my mom that would be sentimental, yet in our budget. Here are a few ideas that won’t break the bank and hopefully bring a smile on your moms face.

  1. Gift Cards. Make this gift card personal to a specific store. If I receive a gift card to Target or Walmart, I’m not super excited. I’ll most likely buy essentials or groceries. However, if I were to get a gift card to See’s Chocolates, ULTA Beauty, or to a  Spa I would be much more excited. This way I get to spend the money on ME! So think of your mom and her favorite places and spoil her with an excuse to go shop!
  2. Personalized Items. I love checking out Shutterfly this time of year. Make a personalized canvas print, blankets,or a mug. Personalized items are so much more fun especially when grand kids are involved! Check their front page to grab coupon codes to save money. There are gifts for any budget on this site.
  3. Getaway. If it’s been awhile since your mom has been on a getaway, check into Groupons Getaways and see if there is one close by that you can score. I know these are more expensive, but get a few siblings together and split the price, that way it wouldn’t be too bad. This is one that probably can’t be done every year, but if you could pull it of, she would be SO surprised!
  4. Jewelry. There are so many custom made jewelry stores and boutiques out there these days. Try looking at Jane and the different boutiques that offer fun jewelry options. Be sure to order yours soon so it can arrive in time for Mother’s Day. Again, there are some super affordable options.
  5. Garden Flowers or Trees. This is something my own mom loves getting each year. We actually go shopping together and she picks out which plant or tree she wants for her yard. She’s already planning and researching which one to get! To help with money, be sure to look on the Garden Nursery’s webpage for any coupons available.
  6. Grandma Questionnaire. For the grandmas out there, have the grand kids fill out these fun questionnaires. These are so fun to see what the kids say. This is a totally free gift and one that grandmas love and keep forever.

Fun Things to Do on the Trampoline This Summer!

The weather is warming up and the trampolines are starting to come back out! In our case we bought a new one this spring since our last one had seen better days. So with our new trampoline set up the kids have spent lots of time out there jumping and practicing their “tricks”. But there’s so much more than just jumping you can do on your trampoline! I’ve put together some fun ideas you can do this summer on your trampoline!

Chalk – the trampoline is like a big huge canvas and with the dark background the chalk colors really stand out. This is one my kids have loved doing and it’s easy to wash off.

Sprinkler – this was a childhood favorite I have my kids do and I’m sure lots of yours do it too. We’ll attach a sprinkler head to the hose and put it under the trampoline for some water fun. I even love this idea of running a hose around the trampoline!

Soap – add some soap to your water fun to make it into a slip and slide. This is super fun, I just recommend you have a net for this one cause it can get really slippery.

Outdoor Movie – If you have a projector your trampoline net is the perfect place to hang a sheet and enjoy a movie night out back. Grab some popcorn, blankets, pillows, and you’ll be set.

Campout – get adventurous and sleep on your trampoline. All you need is your blankets and a nice warm night.

Star Watching – this is another childhood favorite. My dad and I would have lots of great conversations while watching for shooting stars and satellites.

Ball Pit – Remember all the ball pits we grew up with? Make your own with your trampoline! The kids will love jumping into them and the net will keep them all on the trampoline.

Games – there’s some fun trampoline games you can look up online or bring back the classics like duck duck goose, Simon Says, hot potato, crack the egg and dead man.

Top 5 Places to Visit in Austin, Texas

We recently got back from a trip to Austin, Texas. It was our first time exploring the city and it was simply amazing. It’s a city with a great variety of things to do and beauty is all around. We have 4 kids, so the activities we chose were more kid friendly, however I’m pretty sure all ages would enjoy these. Here are our top 5 spots to visit in Austin, Texas.

  1. Bike around Lady Bird Lake. We rented bikes from a local bike shop and rode the full 10 miles on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike trail. It was perfect weather and beautiful. There are a lot of places to stop if you need a quick break. We were able to see a ton of turtles in the lake, Texas bluebonnets scattered around the path, and a group of people rowing on the lake. You can pack a lunch and bike around, taking as many stops as you would want. This was a favorite spot of ours.
  2. Hike to Mt. Bonnell. This is more of a walk up 115 (or so) stairs. Once you reach the top you’ll see a breathtaking view of the river and also the city of Austin. This is the highest point in Austin which makes the view great. We were able to see it at sunset which made it even more spectacular.
  3. Zilker Park. This park is close to the lake/river too. There is a cute train that takes you on a tour of the park. It’s a good 25 minute train ride, so you’ll be able to see a lot of the park. Our kids love trains, so this was definitely a highlight. Be sure to check out their hours and prices before you get there. This park is HUGE and a good one to bring a ball and go play.
  4. See the Austin Bats. Did you know this was a thing? Apparently around 1.5 million bats live under the Congress Avenue Bridge. At dusk during certain times of the year, you can see them fly all around you from that bridge. If you think that’s cool, then for sure go enjoy this unique experience.
  5. Eat Yummy Food. It’s true this isn’t just one stop, but whenever we visit a new city we like to try unique places to eat. When in Austin, you’ll want to eat some Texas BBQ, Torchy’s Tacos and try out the delicious donuts at Gordough’s. You can always check out Yelp and see what everyone is loving in the city.

Simple & Cheap Ways to Love Your Home Again!

We’re coming up on 5 years in our home. We loved our house when we found it, it was perfect just the way it was. But over time there’s been things we would like to change/do to the house to make it more our own and fall in love with it again. So if you’re in a rut and just looking to love your home again checkout these simple & cheap ways you can do just that.

  • Rearrange – if you don’t already do this you’ll find out fast how rearranging some of your furniture can really change the way you feel about the space. And, it will cost you nothing.
  • Declutter – Here’s another great way to love your home without spending anything. Sometimes when you live in a space for so long you fill it full. But simply getting rid of the things you don’t use and need can make your space not only look bigger but feel bigger too.
  • Add Color – A great way to brighten a place and make it feel inviting is to add some color. If you’re working on loving your master bedroom why not find some fun colored pillows for your bed. You don’t have to go get a whole new bedding set, start small and add color to the space.
  • Eat at Home – as simple as this sounds it can make a difference about how you feel at home. If you’re enjoying your home, using it and being there, you’ll start to love it.
  • Add Plants – for me this one’s tricky cause I don’t have a green thumb. But if you could add some plants maybe in the kitchen, bedroom and even living room you’ll feel a difference in that room.
  • Add Art – so maybe the plant thing isn’t for you, find some art you can add to your walls. I even love the idea of adding family pictures around the house. It will help it feel more homey and liven up the space you’re in.
  • Scents – who doesn’t love the smell of fresh made cinnamon rolls or home made bread? Add your favorite scents to your home. I have a few different ones I love to use to add scent to my home. Often times I’ll turn on our diffuser, light a candle or even spray fabreeze through the house.
  • Slow Down – Take time to breathe in your own home. Grab your favorite drink, a good book, and just sit down. Take time with your family, listen to the birds, watch the rain, get off your electronics and really enjoy your surroundings.

Space Center Houston: Tips to Know Before You Go

I’ve always had a fascination with space. The Space Center Houston has been on my bucket list for years. Just recently we were able to visit the space center and it did not disappoint. Being the money conscious person I am, I always like to know how to go places for cheap. So here are 5 tips that will save you time and money at Space Center Houston.

Admission tickets: When shopping for tickets, there are a few decisions you need to make. If you are spending more time in the Houston area, then you’ll want to check out the Houston City Pass. The pass includes:Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston Zoo OR Museum of Fine Arts, Kemah Boardwalk OR Children’s Museum of Houston. If you have time to do all of these, then for sure grab that ticket. Another way to save on admission tickets is to be part of the ASTC Travel Passport Program. You may already have a membership for a different museum that is part of this program. If so, that membership will let you in for FREE! For example, I have a Thanksgiving Point membership here in Utah, which is part of the ASTC program. So I was able to get 2 adults and 2 kids in for FREE. Yay! This membership will also save money on parking as well.

Tram Ride: The highlight of the center is the tram ride to the mission control building and the astronaut training center. The big tip for this is if you have a membership, like the ASTC or become a Space Center member, you have a separate line to get on the tram which will save you SO much time. These two tram rides are about 45 minutes each, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. You can’t bring any food or drinks on your ride.

Food: They do have a nice food court available for eating your food. You can either bring your own lunch and snacks or buy some there. They have a good family pizza meal deal that we decided to do for our family. Also, be aware that the food court closes early as well. Be sure to grab your food before 4:00. They have soda machines and Dip n Dots machines, but they only take cash, so be prepared.

Planning Your Time: When you arrive, be sure to ask what special events they have going on. When we were there, they had a real astronaut that was able to speak to us and answer questions. Events like that are so worth going. Be aware that the center starts closing BEFORE the 5:00 hour. If you want to go out on the deck and see the shuttle and plane, you need to be out there by 4:15 to look around. They start closing it down about 4:45 or earlier. You’ll want to be on the tram even earlier. Check with the workers there to see when the last tram ride will leave.

FREE Admission to National Parks on Saturday! (Plus all Dates in 2019)

If you have a National Park near you, enjoy FREE admission on certain days this year. The next free entrance day is coming up, Saturday April 20th! Most kiddos are off school that day, so why not take them on a little adventure?

Jan. 21st: Martin Luther King Jr Birthday
– April 20th: 1st day of National Park Week
– Aug. 25th: National Park Service Birthday
– Sept. 28th: National Public Lands Day
– November 11th: Veterans Day

So start planning to get out and have some family time in the great outdoors!

**Fine Print: Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

5 MORE Fun & Unique Ways to Have an Easter Egg Hunt!

Easter is this weekend can you believe it? I’m not a huge fan of the crazy public egg hunts but my kids love going around collection eggs so I’ve come up with some ways we can, at home, still have fun hunting for eggs!

  1. Neighborhood Hunt – we put out word that we’ll be hosting an egg hunt (usually the Friday or Saturday before) and anyone who would like to participate with us just needs to donate 10 filled eggs. Then the day of the hunt, every kid gets to go hunt for 10 eggs. There’s no fighting over eggs or someone getting more than someone else and they get all different kinds of goodies since everyone donates different things.
  2. Golden Ticket – similar to the golden egg ideas that we talked about last year but this is hidden inside the egg so no one knows who won the ticket until they sit down to open their eggs. (You could easily make one for each kid so you don’t have upset/hurt fillings)
  3. Reverse Egg Hunt – this year have the kids fill the eggs. Inside have them write on slips of paper things they’d like (extra TV time, stay up late, etc.) and let them hide them. Then you (the parents) have a set amount of time to find the eggs. Which ever eggs you don’t find, they get to keep!
  4. Scrambled Egg Hunt – inside each egg put a letter. Once the kids have collected all the eggs they need to unscramble the letters to figure out what their prize is. This is perfect if you’re getting the kids a new bicycle, swing pool or other bigger item you can’t fit in an Easter Basket.
  5. Egg Hunt for Adults – You could have so much fun with this if you have all adult children or you just want to do something fun with your spouse. Come up with some fun things to put inside your Easter eggs and go on a hunt. You could incorporate any of the other hunts from this article or last years to make it fun and unique (I love the idea of doing a glow in the dark egg hunt with my husband, could make it a fun at home date night idea!)

8 Fun & Unique Ways to Have an Easter Egg Hunt

Easter is just around the corner. I have to admit, when I was little I was never super fond of Easter Eggs hunts. It seemed like I was always the one at the end who couldn’t find those last few eggs. It was only months down the road that those eggs would show up! So that’s where they were! However, being a mom of little kids, I have to give in and do egg hunts every year. Most years it seems like we end up doing one with each side of the family so MORE egg hunts for us! I will admit it is pretty fun to see the kids eyes light up with excitement as they find those eggs. So, if they are happy, I’m happy. Here are 8 unique Easter Egg hunt ideas that just may have you (and me!) a little more excited for egg hunts this year.

  1. Scavenger Egg Hunt: Write a clue in the first egg that will direct them to the next egg. Continue with this for however long you want until they get to the last clue with the prize/presents at the end. You could even make a scavenger hunt for each kid if they are old enough to do them on their own.
  2. Color Code Eggs: This is a tradition in my family. Every Easter morning we are given a color that is our color for the egg hunt. That means we can only find those eggs that have stickers with our color on it. If we see an egg with a different color sticker on it, then we leave it and don’t tell anyone. We have a number of how many eggs/prizes we get to find. This helps with those little kids that may need some “easy” hiding places. Put those out in the open and hide the older kids a little harder. This way you can also get the same amount of eggs/prizes for every kid. No fighting!
  3. Gold Easter Egg: Tell the kids that during their hunt they each get to find one Gold Easter Egg. Inside put something special and personal. Like “Date night with mom & dad” or “Late Night with Friends” or “Let’s go to the Movies!” Something that would help you spend more time with them. This gives a little more excitement to the hunt as well.
  4. Tag Team Easter Egg Hunt: If you are having an egg hunt with a big family, this is super fun! Split the group into even teams. Then you say “Go!” the first person from each team runs and finds an egg and brings it back. They tag the next person on the team and then they go find an egg. The first team to get through their whole team either once or twice (depending on how many eggs you have) wins.
  5. The REAL Egg Hunt: Does anyone ever use REAL eggs anymore? I feel like they are mostly plastic now days. But with this hunt you need to make and dye Easter Eggs. Which is half the fun, right?? Once they are dyed and decorated then hide them in designated location. Have each person try to find a certain number of eggs and none of them can be ones that they made. This is super fun at the end to see the designs of other people.
  6. In the Dark Egg Hunt: This is super fun for those older kids that may think they are done with eggs hunts. Put small pieces of glow sticks in Easter eggs and hide them around the yard when it’s dark outside. You can then let them outside and see who can get the most or just let them go for it. It makes it pretty cool looking too.
  7. Let’s Move! Egg Hunt: In each egg have an action or exercise that they need to accomplish before going on to the next egg. It’s funny to watch them go find the eggs. You’ll suddenly see them start doing jumping jacks, somersaults, cartwheels, jumping and running. If you need to get energy out or if you don’t want more candy, this is a great way to do it!
  8. Puzzle Egg Hunt: Buy a puzzle that is appropriate for your age group. When you buy it you need to put it together first and then write your secret message on the back. It could be a rhyme or poem describing where they can find their end treasure. Then put 1 piece of the puzzle in each egg. The kids have to work together to find all of the eggs and then put the puzzle together. They then need to solve the question on the back of the puzzle and go find their prize. So fun!

5 Creative Spring Snacks Your Kids Will Love

It’s spring time which means the birds are chirping, the rain is falling and the sun is shining just a little more than before. I love the symbols of spring. I was noticing all of the cute snacks that people make associated with spring. My kids tend to eat better when the snack looks “cute.” Here are 5 spring snacks that my kids loved and I hope yours will too.

Chocolate Pretzel Birds Nest by Our Kids Mom is so fun and easy. It’s a quick snack the the kids could actually help you make.

Mom Endeavors has these cute kid snacks that are cut and shaped in fun ways. This might be a great way to get those picky eaters eating a healthier snack. I love that you can use a variety of fruits to make these.

How cute are these? You can make these Buzzing Bee Snack Bags by My Home Based Life and completely customize them to your kids preference. Put in one size of their favorite cereal and the other with a fun snack. Super easy and the kids and make their own bee so they know which bag is theirs.

I don’t know about you, but spring brings a TON of worms around our house. These Oreo Dirt Cups are not only one of my kids favorite snacks, but I really enjoy them too. Shari Blogs has the easy directions to make this yummy spring treat.

I love a quick snack and this is super cute for the spring time. These yummy snacks work really well together too. Head over to A Cup Full of Sass and you can get see the items she puts in this mix. Obviously, you can switch out and add in your favorite’s!

Yummy Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad Recipe

I really don’t like thinking about what to make me for lunch everyday. It’s exhausting! So when I saw this recipe I know this would be one I could make over and over again. If you are on a low carb diet, then just put this on a bed of lettuce and go to town. This one is easy to make and super yummy.

Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad
Recipe and picture by Jam Hands
Makes about 6 cups

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. cooked chicken breasts, cut into 1/2″ cubes  (I like to use rotisserie chicken)
  • 1 cup good quality mayonnaise
  • 1 cup finely diced celery
  • 1 cup halved purple grapes
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
  • 1 Tablespoon finely chopped parsley (I used 2 teaspoons dried)
  • 1 tsp, kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup freshly whipped cream
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. If you  haven’t already done so, toast the almonds (400-f degrees for 7 minutes) and whip heavy whipping cream.
  2. Combine the chicken, mayonnaise, celery, grapes, almonds, parsley, and salt in a bowl. Add whipped cream and pepper; fold to combine.
  3. Serve on lettuce or a croissant.

Fun Rainy Day Activities the Whole Family Can Enjoy

It’s officially spring which means the weather guessing game begins. Is it going to be sunny and warm or rainy and even snow? Where I live we can get that mixture in the same week. The kids get a little antsy when those rainy days come and seem to never go away. I’ve put together a list to help you and your kids enjoy this crazy season of spring.

  • Find a new indoor pool and go swimming. This is a family favorite of ours, and the kids get so worn out!
  • Invite a new family in your neighborhood over for dessert and games.
  • Buy a new board game and learn together as a family.
  • Find a new museum near you that you want to explore.
  • Spring means March Madness! Order a pizza and turn on the basketball games. If you haven’t yet, have each member of the family fill out their own bracket. You could even make it into a friendly competition.
  • A walk in the rain. Grab your jacket and umbrellas and go for a walk in the rain. I love the smell of fresh rain and trees.

Don’t Forget These 5 Most Forgotten Spring Cleaning Places!

It’s officially spring!! Who’s ready to get the spring cleaning started? The beautiful weather has me itching to get some cleaning and organizing done! I’ve put together my have to do list and added these top forgotten places to it!

  1. The Closet Floors, Shelves and Walls – now is the perfect time to pull everything out of the closet and clean it from top to bottom! Don’t forget the most forgotten place in the closet, the walls. Believe it or not, these collect dust and hand prints all over them.
  2. Garbage cans – maybe you’re thinking I always clean those but do you get your big street garbage can as well? This one often gets forgotten but needs a good soaking and scrub both inside and out.
  3. The Couch Cushions – this one is at the top of my list because they need a good scrubbing. Don’t forget to vacuum between the cushions as well as move them and get underneath.
  4. Behind Furniture – this including the piano! Lots of dust collects back there. Move everything that sits against the walls and wipe them down freeing them of all the months of dust and cobwebs that have collected.
  5. Top of Door Frames – I’m not tall so often times I forget to look up and see things that need to be cleaned but this is a great place for dust to sit. Grab a cleaning rug and wipe down your door frames this spring.

What’s on your list? Do you get these top areas that are often missed? Make the time to get your cleaning down and including everyone in the home!

Fun Food Ideas for St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is on Sunday and my kids are so excited. Besides wearing green, we don’t do much else to celebrate this day. This year I thought it would be fun to have some St. Patrick’s Day foods throughout the day. That basically means food that is green…right? Here are a few fun ideas that you can do to make your day a little more festive…and green.

Breakfast: Start your day with this  Sweet Potato Corned Beef Hash. This looks amazing.  If you don’t want to go to this full effort you could always make pancakes or waffles and turn them green, that’s easy peasy.

Lunch: Maybe take a break from the Corned Beef for lunch?? Instead of another meat, you could make these delicious Irish Nachos. You could serve these with a veggie or fruit tray, just to give your stomach some nutrition!

Dinner: For a traditional Irish dinner, you’ll want to do the Corned Beef and Cabbage. This is a great recipe you can follow- all done in a slow cooker! YAY. That’s my kind of cooking.

Dessert: End your day with this yummy Paddy’s Pudding. It’s simple and looks so yummy.

Drink: If you missed our post last week, then head here and check out this recipe for Shamrock Lime Punch.

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