Summer looks a little different this year, and many of us have had to postpone our beach vacations for a season. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have your own backyard beach party! Get ready to dig out your swimsuit because we’re bringing the beach to you! Here are 23 ideas for a beach staycation! 

1. Beach and Sea Squish Bags– Kids can start to explore the wonders of the ocean with Fantastic Fun and Learning‘s sensory bags.

2. Water Fight Kit– Can’t have a beach day without water and Inner Child Fun‘s water fight kit is just the thing!

3. Butterscotch Crunch Starfish– These yummy starfish look almost real! Try this treat at Hungry Happenings!

4. Mason Jar Aquarium– Make this fun aquarium without all the maintenance at A Little Claireification.

5. Pool Noodle Fishing Game– Here’s a fun easy game from Happy Tot Shelf that is perfect for your littler grandkids!

6. Shark Fruit Salad– Maybe if sharks tried some fruit salad, they wouldn’t be such dangerous predators anymore…. Find this amazing idea at Kid Friendly Things to Do.

7. Marbled Seashell Art– Turn seashells into a work of art with Projects with Kids‘s marbles seashells.

8. Flying Fish Catch– A fun, easy water game from Mrs. Plemon’s Kindergarten  that kids will love!

9. Glitter Fish Painted Rock– Learn how to make these beautiful rocks at I Love Painted Rocks.

10. Sea Glass Candy– Happiness is Homemade ‘s sea glass candy looks almost too real and pretty to eat…. almost….

11. Beach Water Table– Little hands will love exploring the wonders of the ocean with Sugar, Spice, and Glitter‘s fun water table idea!

12. Beach Fruit Dip– This fun fruit dip is a kid favorite! Make it right here at This Grandma is Fun!

13. No-Sew Felt Mermaid Headband– If you have a mermaid for a granddaughter, then you will love Lia Griffith‘s pretty and simple headband!

14. Shark Surfboard Craft– Nothing says the beach like sharks and surfing. Find this craft at Artsy Momma.

15. Clam Cookies– If you’re looking for a treat that is easy but eye-catching, then this is the treat for you! Check it out at Frugal Coupon Living.

16. DIY Slip and Slide– For some natural beach waves in your hair, you’ll have to try All Things Thrifty‘s slip and slide! It’s sure to do the trick!

17. Candy Seashells– Just from the picture, I know I’d be snacking on these gorgeous chocolates all day long. Learn how to make them at The American Patriette.

18. Jellyfish Races– Bring out the family competition with Living Porpoisefully‘s exciting game!

19. Ocean Sand Art– What’s the beach without sand? Make beautiful works of art with The Growing Creatives‘s sand activity.

20. Mermaid Ice Excavation– This activity from Mama. Papa. Bubba. is sure to keep the kids occupied for hours. Perfect for when you need a break!

21. Flip-Flop Sandwiches– These sandwiches from Cutefetti really are the cutest!

22. Water Balloon Volley Ball– A true summer classic, this game from It’s Always Autumn fits right in with a beach staycation!

23. Beach Books– When it’s time for a little bit of quiet, Fantastic Fun and Learning‘s got you covered with this list of beach themed books the kids are sure to love!

Which of these 23 ideas for a beach staycation are you going to try out first?

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It’s summer again, and I’m sure many of you are excited to see your grandkids! That’s why I’ve made this page of essential safety tips every grandparent should know when they visit. They are tips that I’d never put much thought into before, but now I see why they are so important. Let me start with a story about my own cute grandkids:

My year is always filled with multiple trips to Arizona to see my grandchildren. One reason my grandkids love visits from Grammy is the special treat I bring in my purse – my breath mints!  I have one two year old little granddaughter, that when she sees me, she doesn’t even say hi.  She immediately asks, “Mints?”

While I am at their homes, I also always catch them searching through my purse looking for them. But mints aren’t the only thing that is in my purse. I also carry small bottles of medication. My grandkids are too small to see the difference between mints and pills, which could easily be mistaken for candy or tic-tacs. Clearly, leaving them in my purse for them to find later is putting them at risk.

That’s why I’ve decided to keep my purse along with my medications “up away and out of sight.” Up and Away and Out of Sight is a reminder for all of us grandparents (and any other adults) to keep pills and medication safely away from innocent, little hands. Accidents happen more than you may think with about 60,000 children ending up in emergency rooms every year for ingesting medicine that wasn’t safely stored.

It’s easy to remember to keep medicine away from kids when you’re at home, but accidents don’t take vacation. Even when you’re traveling, you need to safely store all medication away and out of sight of from children.

To help keep your sweet babies safe, whether they are in your home or you are at theirs, keep these 3 tips in mind:

• Keep medicine in the original container- Unfortunately, re-sealable bags and pill organizers are easy for children to figure out and open, so make sure that your medicine is safely stored in the original container. These containers are specially made to be child-resistant and difficult for little ones to open. And sometimes adults too. As in me. Yes, I too can not always open those safety locked caps, which, oddly enough, brings peace of mind.
• If you’re staying with your grandchildren in a hotel, make sure to secure medicine and vitamins somewhere up high, where they can neither see or reach them.
• When you stay over at your children’s homes, remember to ask your now adult kids where you can safely store medications. Just remember to keep it up, away, and out of sight!

Medication safety has never really crossed my mind until now, and I am so glad that I read through Up and Away and Out of Sight’s safety tips. It never occurred to me that telling my grandchildren their medicine was candy to help them take it was actually a dangerous thing to do (though now, it completely makes sense!). I’ve even saved the Poison Help hotline (800-222-1222) on my phone because with little children, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Well, it is time for me to head on down to the hot, hot heat of Arizona to spend some quality time with my little loves. Hope your summer is filled with lots of fun, safe visits from your grandchildren! You deserve it!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Educational Foundation. The opinions and text are all mine.

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1. Baking Sheet Magnet Boards- Why I have I never thought of doing this?! These baking sheets from Love Grows Wild are so clever!

2. Portable Travel Tins- I need a grown-up version of these tins from CBC Parents. I think I would put make-up and chocolate in them…

3. Portable LEGO Kit- Ok, what kid doesn’t love to play with legos? These Lego kits from Fun At Home With Kids are going to keep them occupied forever! Plus, this site comes with free printables!

4. Road Trip Activity Bags- I feel like these activity bags from The Nerd’s Wife would also be good at home, when you need a little quiet.

5. Word Building Activity- This activity from I Heart Crafty Things is perfect for kids learning to read!

6. Road Trip Binder- Check out these binders from Glue Sticks Blog! It has links to all the printables to make your own.

7. Road Trip Pillow Cases- I love these pillow cases from Amazing Mae! It also functions as a carrier for toys and activities. I think I’ll make one for myself. The comfiest purse ever made…

8. Car Kit- Ingenious! This car kit from Mother’s Niche has everything you and your darlings need to survive a long drive!

9. Road Trip Snack Necklace- How fun are these necklaces from And This is How the Story Goes?! These are sure to last a good, long time, and your sweet grandkids will have fun making them!

10. On-the-Go Snack Basket- Yaaaaaas! My favorite part of any road trip is the snacks. What a great organization idea from The Realistic Mama!

11. Travel Tray- These travel trays from Somewhat Simple are so cute! It’s versatile and the kids are sure to love it!

12. Snack Kit- Another great way to organize snacks from Dine and Dish! I’m thinking about making one of these little boxes for my purse…

13. Mason Jar Snack Shaker- These snack shakers from Babble are incredibly innovative. Spill proof, easy to make, and fun to shake, these jars are sure to be hit! Best of all, they make for some lovely percussion on the road!

14. Shower Caddy Organization- The only word I can think of for this idea from Grey House Harbor is brilliant. Truly, truly brilliant.

15. Grab Bags- How clever are these grab bags from Make and Takes? It’ll keep an element of surprise throughout the road trip, which, I am convinced,  will literally save lives.

16. Survival Kit- Now, this one is for us, the grammys, nanas, and grandmas. I love that Mom On Timeout calls it a “Survival Kit” because really, road trips, especially with kids, make you feel like you’re on an episode of Survivor. So, this ones for you because heaven knows you need your own special treats too!

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Located at 6919 W Ray Rd in Chandler, AZ,  Makutu’s Island was a lifesaver as the temperatures climbed closer and closer to three digits.

Makutu’s was perfectly air conditioned and perfectly priced with kids from 1 thru 17 for $11.99 and for every child, an adult gets in for free.

Wrist bands are given to every participant and the bands are numbered and assigned to the head of your party.  When you are ready to leave, the Makutu staff checks the numbers to make sure that every child is leaving with the correct person.  This Grammy appreciated the attention to their security detail.

All of my grown children know very well how much I dislike Toon Town in Disneyland. When my children were littler, it made me so nervous to have them go in the door of a building there and then they would disappear and I had no idea where they would be coming out.  That makes for one very nervous mama!  Good job Makutu’s on making Grammy a little less worried.

The inside of Makutu’s is brightly colored and very engaging and stimulating.  All of the attractions that kids can play on had a jungle theme and they had two slides that looked like elephant trunks.  Very cute!

The entrance to some tunnels. Roar!

Do you think this is where Toucan Sam lives?

More tunnels and slides!

Their brightly colored aquarium:

They also have an arcade which we didn’t take advantage of.  We needed all of our little  “honey bunches of oats” to get their wiggles out and mom is not a big fan of just playing video games.

There is also a little restaurant where you can order the usual amusement park snacks.  We brought our own and took a time out for everyone to refuel and get ready for round two.

Oh and there is a little corner sectioned off for crawlers and toddler with padded cushions to crawl over and a small slide they can go down (with some adult help!)

Overall we had a great time and I would definitely recommend Makutu’s Island to those in or visiting the Phoenix area.

It’s a “cool” place to go. Both for fun AND their air conditioning!

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Do you get excited as I do when you hear the words “ROAD TRIP!”?  My husband and my kids know that I am always up for a road trip.

I recently went on a road trip with my wonderful daughter and awesome daughter-in-law.  We decided that we wanted to have a girls getaway weekend and so we headed on down to St. George, UT.  One of the things that we did while we were there was seeing the play Beauty and the Beast at the Tuacahn Theatre.  The amphitheatre is outside, the weather was perfect that night and we had the best time.

Before we left, I happened to notice that my local Maverik Gas Station had a new Nitro Debit Card so I applied and got my card.   The signup process was “beauty”fully” easy.  (pun intended) Because it’s not a credit card, there’s no credit check.  Your bank account just needs to be verified and your card will be on it’s way in the mail.  The “beauty” of this card is that it’s not a credit card and I don’t get a huge  “beastly” bill at the end of the month.  All charges are just taken directly  from your checking account and you’re done.

Another “beauty”ful feature of this card is that you earn rewards.  Look at what you get with this card:

•    Save 6¢ per gallon on fuel — every gallon, every day
•    Instant price match on fuel — Maverik matches the pump price of any qualified local competitor if it’s lower than the everyday 6¢ discount
•    $1 fountain drinks (up to XL cups or 64-ounce refills)
•    Earn 2x Trail Points and spend ’em to…
•    Win Stuff like trips, adventure vehicles & more
•    Buy Stuff like G-Cards, mugs, apparel & gear
•    Give Stuff by turning your Trail Points into charitable donations
•    “Nitro Nights” — free access to movie premieres, concerts, and events when you present your Nitro card.
•    Follow Nitro on social media for the hook-up: (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
•    Get an instant $5 G-Card just for signing up!

So, back to our Beauty and the Beast road trip.  Of course we three gals stopped off at my nearest Maverik to get our road trip snacks and here is a picture of my favorite drink.  Isn’t she a thing of “beauty”?

If you are wondering what this is, it is a coke with some French Vanilla Creamer mixed in.   Pure bliss.

Mine was an XX Large but with your Nitro Card you can get XL Drinks for just a buck and you can earn rewards for a free one.  Just look, I’m on my way!  When applicable items are purchased with your Nitro Card it automatically keeps track of your purchases online.   Not another punch card for your wallet!  “Beauty”ful!!!

Now, can we talk bathrooms?  After my XL drink, we obviously needed to make a pit stop and everyone knows that gas station bathrooms can either be “beauty”ful or “beast”ly.  Our family thinks that the restrooms at Maverik’s have always been one of their greatest selling points because their restrooms are clean and “beauty”ful.  Nuff said.

One last thing about Maverik is that we have always encountered the nicest people working there.  While I was taking a picture of my “beauty”ful coke and creamer drink, one of Maverik’s employees was teasing me and struck a pose for me.  I’m sure that you’d agree that he is far from having a “beast”ly demeanor!

So if saving money is a “beauty”ful thing for you, or if you are as hungry as a “beast”,  then hurry up and get your Nitro Debit Card and head on down to your local Maverik Adventure Stop.  They are a class “act”.

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I will be taking three of my grandchildren to the happiest place on earth next month.  My oldest grandson is turning five and this is his birthday present.  I am so excited to go during October because Disneyland will be decorated for Halloween but the park is also still celebrating their 60th Diamond Celebration.

Can you say double magical?!!

If this is making you consider going during Halloween Time too, you are going to want to visit Get Away Today (affiliate) for the best deals on tickets and hotel packages.  Depending on the details of your stay, there is the potential of getting your third, fourth or fifth night for free.  You know you want to go.

In doing my research and reading for this trip, we will be trying out a lot of the tips and tricks I’ve read about and in a future post I’ll let you know how well they worked.

The ride my grandson is most excited about is the Jungle Cruise, although he’s a little worried that he’ll get bit by a hippopotamus.  {giggle}  I can’t wait!

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Have you had any thoughts about going to Disneyland at all this year?   Because if you do, now is the time to buy your tickets!  Get Away Today is bringing back their biggest ticket sale of the year where you can save up to $18 PER TICKET!

Time is limited though.  This sale will be ending Monday, May 18th, 2015 so get your tickets today BECAUSE….

May 22nd starts Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration with a brand new Forever Fireworks Spectacular Show! 

Disneyland is celebrating 60 years of Magic and the entire resort will be glistening with enhanced attractions along with a diamond studded Sleeping Beauty Castle.

It is going to be a celebration that you won’t want to miss!  I know that I will be going this year and bringing my five year grandson to experience the Magic for the first time and I can’t wait!

Time’s a wastin’!  Get YOUR tickets before Monday, May 18th!

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I can’t remember how I first heard about the Fairy Forest in Kamas, Utah but after some internet searching, my two daughters and I bundled up my grandsons and off we went!

Just a word of warning that it is a little tricky finding the place on the highway where you need to pull off and enter the forest but here are the directions: Drive on up to Kamas and then take the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway (Hwy 150). There will be an entrance fee – I think we paid $6. Continue on Hwy 150 until you see mile marker 17 on the right hand side and that is where you pull over. There’s not a lot of parking, it’s just on the side of the highway and there will be nothing else indicating that the Fairy Forest is close!

Follow the trail to the right and that takes you through a campground to a creek. At some times of the year there is a little water in like when we went. Other times it will be dry. Cross the river by climbing over the rocks (boys LOVE this part!). After crossing the creek bed, head down to the right and the Fairy Forest is about 30 yards away. If you go farther than that and you can’t see it, you’ve gone too far.

At the Fairy Forest, you will see tons of painted “fairy” rocks, “fairy houses”, “fairy toys”, and “fairy” treasures etc. It was WAY larger than what we had imagined.

It really did just go on and on. “Do you think the fairies are home right now Grammy?”

Did you know that fairies even live in teepees?!

And sometimes in burrows? “Grammy, are they in there RIGHT NOW?”

We brought some painting supplies with us and we painted our own rocks to leave for the fairies in the Fairy Forest. Do you think that the fairies will like black? That’s a boy for ya!

To make it a better experience for the next time we go, we will probably paint our rocks, or houses or whatever it is that we will bring for the fairies at home first. Painting outside was a little tricky. Let’s just say that there were two pairs of shorts that had paint all over them.

My oldest grandson still remembers this trip and really wants to return there because he wants his black rock back.

So sorry fairies.

We’d love to hear from you if you make this trip and what you thought!

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I now have grandchildren and can’t wait to take them for their first experience at Disneyland!  Which is why I am so excited to participate in this Huge Disney Giveaway!  If you love all things Disney like me, you are going want to enter this giveaway which includes a chance to win a FREE 2 night stay AND 2 tickets to Disneyland!

Get Away Today has locked-in  low prices on Disneyland Resort Tickets today only! (3/2/15) The discounted tickets are valid for travel through December 31, 2015.  Now is the time to purchase for the coming year for Spring Break, summer vacations Halloween or even during Christmas time!  Their no-interest layaway plans allow you to lock-in their savings for only $125 down.

So if you would like to book your vacation and lower your prices, click here!

In addition to the Disneyland Vacation Getaway there are NINE other Disney related prizes that you can enter to win like a Mickey Waffle Maker, Disney Gift Cards or our prize which is a Mickey Cake Pop Maker!

All you need to do to enter for the Cake Pop Maker is to answer this question!

Including all of the Disney movies, which Disney character is your favorite? 

Then click on the red rectangle below to be taken to the next blog.

Be sure to continue clicking through until you reach the blog that has the Vacation Package Giveaway!

Click HERE to go to My Mommy Style to enter to win her Disney Prize!

GOOD LUCK!

If you have any questions about package deals make sure to call GET AWAY TODAY (today 3/2/15) for the lower pricing and mention “MFPinterest” for $10 off your package!

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Now for the giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive:

1)  3 Night Hotel Stay in the Anaheim, California Area

2)  2 Adult and 2 Kids passes to TWO Southern California Attractions*

3)  $600 Visa Gift Card

Valued at $1,800 to $2,100 (depending on attractions winner chooses)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

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We head home tomorrow afternoon after a week full of fun and food. So far we have seen the Old North Church, Faneuil Hall, Old State House, State House, MIT, USS Constitution, Beacon Hill, Salem and Little Italy. We all agree that we have “eaten” our way through this trip. If you are ever in Little Italy don’t miss “Mike’s Pastry Shop”! The cannoli’s and macaroon’s are to die for! We found a bread bakery down an alley and all they make is artisan bread from 6am to 12am! We thought we had died and gone to heaven!

The day we found the bakery we had eaten a “big” italian late lunch. What’s a girl(s) to do for dinner”? Buy a loaf of artisan bread from the bakery and butter from the corner market. On the way home to the hotel, get a gelato and then come back to the hotel. In your hotel room have bread and butter for the rest of  “dinner”. This is what you do when your wonderful husband and darling children are no where to be seen!  Boston is a wonderful city, but it is not the location that makes this trip special.  It is all about family….let me explain.

If there is one thing my sister’s and I know how to do well it is to have fun with each other anywhere, anytime. When we laugh it is not the “normal” kind of laugh, it is the “throw your head back, mouth wide open, loud till you cry” kind of  laugh. It is this crazy sense of humor that has gotten us through trials such as breast cancer, meningitis, lost pregnancy and the passing away of our father  to cancer ….. I’m not sure what I did to deserve these amazing women in my life, I only know it must have been something truly amazing to earn the honor of having them for sisters and such a wonderful mother.

Today is our last day in Boston, I thought it would be fun to share a few pictures of our “escapades” with you. Monday we will be back on “schedule” with something new we tried from Pinterest. In the meantime……..

On our way to the Old North Church we walked by this cemetery and there sits this beautiful black cat. Really? A black cat in the cemetery right before Halloween, love it!Debbie took this while we were walking to see the USS Constitution. Love the fall colors with the flag off to the side.The “baker” explained what every loaf of bread was and what specialty flours were used to make it. Amazing! We are going back tomorrow so we can each purchase a loaf to take home and share it with our families.

Below is Debbie in front of a ginormous piece of Kraft Mac & Cheese. Yes, Kraft Mac & Cheese is a fav on our family!

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Never happened.

Until now, thanks to Jenn Allyson at The Project Girl for her post on guest baskets. The free “Welcome” printable made it easy.

My original idea involved a clear plastic box from Target. BORING! Jenn’s basket inspired me to do better. I found my baskets at TJ Max. I love burlap and I had some pearls left over from my daughter’s wedding.

I remembered a  wreath I had pinned on Pinterest with large burlap flowers. I grabbed my glue gun and got started.

The flowers were easy to make and I love the pearl in the center. Some people may not think that burlap and pearls go together, my basket should prove them wrong.

This project was quick and easy with great results. If I can make a basket look this good, anyone can.

The first basket went so well that I made a second one for when we have multiple families come stay with us.

Now I look organized and crafty at the same time. I must say that…….

This Pin ROCKS!

Linking to:  DIY Showoff –  Somewhat Simple –  Fireflies & Jellybeans –  The 36th Avenue – Thrifty Decor Chick – Live Laugh Rowe – Glued To My Crafts – Something Swanky – Tidy Mom – See Vanessa Craft

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Laurie’s picture is full of pink, ruffles and pearls. Thank you Laurie from Tip Junkie for this great pin. My picture is all boy, grey, blue, red and bold stripes. This was a trip we took to Utah for our daughter’s graduation from college and my nephew’s wedding.

It did take longer to get all of Landon’s clothing packed and put into the ziploc bags. I wondered at the time if it would really be worth it.  Of course I had to “burp” each bag to get out the extra air. This helped to save some extra space in his suitcase. Some of his clothes were a tight fit for the bags. Next time I’m at the grocery store I’m going to purchase some of the larger bags for future travel.

 

Both Landon and I agree,

This Pin ROCKS!

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