Travel Activites for Kids from The Dollar Tree to DIY!

Long trips in the car can go two ways- Stressful or Fun! I dont know about you but FUN sounds way better to me! To help pass time for our 20 plus hour journey in a vehicle I prepped by making activities for the kids.

Heres some super simple and inexpensive ideas that will keep those little minds busy!!!

1- DIY Geo Board
I purchased push tacks, bag of rubber bands and clear zipper pencil holder at the dollar tree. I found a piece of wood in the garage and spray painted it white. Using a ruler make 1-2 inch spaces and mark with a pencil. Take the push pin and gently hammer/rubber mallet it in and TADA!!! This was used the entire trip!

2- Dollar Tree metal baking sheets, magnets, and dry erase markers. Clip your artwork for easy coloring, color directly on it with dry erase markers or play with magnets! It can also be used for a tray when eating on the go!

I purchased clear zipper pencil holders to hold the markers and magnets. The Dollar Tree has some awesome activity books that have mazes, seek and finds and connect the dot pages. Either have them color directly on it or put it in a clear page protectors and use dry erase markers!

3- LEGOS. A small bin from the Dollar Tree filled up with legos. It can sit on the seat and the kids will be occupied by building their projects right on the dollar store baking sheet!!















4- Dollar store puzzles in a zipper holder. You can even stick magnets on the back of the pieces so they don't fall off.

5- Little totes. These make AWESOME snack holders! Keeps the wrappers off the floor and the treats within reach!

I put all the activities in clear zipper pencil holders and kept them together with a clip. It reduced pieces and toys flying all over the vehicle!

Hopefully some or all of these tips help you keep your littles occupied on your next adventure!!!

Making life easy with an Instant Pot

I am so excited that I finally went out and purchased an instant pot. I have heard so many things about them. Its super easy and fast PLUS its healthy!! This thing has done wonders for my family especially during our summer vacation with the kids and two adults in an RV. With minimal counter space available to prepare meals it definitely makes things challenging when cooking for a large family.

So far all the recipes we've tried have rocked. My kids loved the BBQ chicken (click here for recipe). The only change I made was using the wired rack that's included with the instant pot to hold the potatoes on and cook them separately from the chicken

With living gluten free (not by choice since I have Celiacs) we are constantly learning and researching brands and recipes. Oh- that little cooker is our rice cooker. I had rice and veggies cooking in that one since the instant pot was full! And let's not forget to mention Advocares amazing SPARK focus drink! If your never had Spark you need to seriously contact me so I can send you a sample to try. Its amazing and keeps this mom on her feet with a TON of energy.

If you're on the fence about purchase one of these - DO IT! You won't regret it! I'm already debating an upgrade since that smart bluetooth one is pretty darn cool. Heres the instant pot website! 

Find the right food for your 24 day challenge

TWO MORE DAYS !! Can you tell I'm excited??

                      You should SERIOUSLY join us! 

Check out our Advocare site and lets start your new healthy life already :)  You can do it and we are here to help you be successful!

tessandkyle.com 

Why YES! Kyle and I are SUPER excited to begin our very first 24 day challenge 

I want to take a moment and blog about a super important topic...which is purchasing the correct food choices by following the grocery guide 

(pic below or click on the link to take you to a better copy). 

The first part of the 24 day challenge is the cleanse. During this phase your body is as I like to put it "ridding the waste and resetting the pace." Phase one supplements and clean eating are SUPER important because if you misfire, you wont start properly! 

This video will help you with understanding what we should avoid.

Many people have difficulty with changing their eating habits. Its unfortunate that we have become so accustomed to prepared meals, fast entree's, and on the fly dinners. 

I believe this challenge will help you feel better not only with overall wellness but you will become an awesome role model for others who are interested in the same journey! 

Eating clean is ALOT easier that eating out of a box. Make this challenge fun!

•  Take a chance at new recipes
•  Have fun cooking with your children 
•  Enjoy a sit down meal that is properly portioned 

YOU CAN DO IT! 

Remember, your NOT alone! This is our first challenge and just like you we have SO many questions! Resources are available 24/7 through Kyle and I, your sponsor, and there is a 24 day challenge app available for IOS and Android!

PLUS check out the Daily Guide and my Pinterest for some awesome recipes! 

I'm so excited to blog about our success!  

SO.. here is my BEFORE picture of ME!! 

(Kyles will be added soon)

Advocare is AWESOME! Not only has it made me feel better, it has allowed me to enjoy life and become financially stable with something I LOVE DOING!!!

                   

 Interested in Advocare products or becoming a distributor on our team? 

Contact us today! 

24 Day Challenge

This summer has been awesome! It has been filled with laughter, fun times and lots of "not so healthy foods". So with going back to school there is no better time to start Advocares amazing 24 day challenge. 

If anyone has done or heard about this challenge, its completely amazing. Its not a 24 day diet... Its an amazing program that you can visually see and physically feel. It is designed for everyone. Whether your looking for an increase in energy, a boost in your metabolism or to loose weight this challenge will give you results.You will feel amazing! 

September 6th the Back to School 24 challenge and we would LOVE it if you joined us!!

Signature Spectrum Smoothie

This smoothie is a signature breakfast in my home. It is SOOOOO tasty and all my littles love it too!!

• 8 oz Milk
• 1/4 Cranberry Juice
• 1/2 Cup Spectrum Blend Frozen Fruit
• 1 Scoop of ON (Optimum Nutrition) vanilla ice cream protein powder

This is seriously the BEST TASTING protein powder I have yet to find. Since I'm not a fan of meat I need to find other ways to get in my protein. 

This flavor is seriously delicious! 

Recycled Bird Feeder for Kids

Summer is here in Wisconsin!! YAY!! I love that we are finally able to enjoy the heat and the sounds of birds happily chirping in the morning.

I wanted to do a fun art activity with my daughter. I noticed that our yard was missing something important, a bird feeder!! We thought of some cool things to use that could hold the seed and we chose to use an empty milk jug.


This is perfect for a feeder. The indents on the plastic jug are the perfect size/shape to cut out. We cut out two holes and went on a hunt for sticks.























We made small holes and pushed the sticks all the way through so that they were on each side and criss crossed in the middle.

On too decorations! We used craft super glue to make a wood roof. This was her idea and I think it adds a little home cuteness to the project! Then we colored away with sharpie permanent paint markers.



Once the glue was nice and dry I punched two holes through the top and fed through some thick twine that we found in our garage (love finding treasures!)



We added bird seed and hung in the tree that we can view from our kitchen window.

 It has been a few weeks and the birds LOVE it. It is holding up nicely and it was such a fun project to do!

Our children only grow up once. We should cherish the time we have with them! Be creative with each other and make your own bird feeder today! 

How easily I almost forgot

I'm not going to lie, today could have been awful...

I woke up with an intense migraine. Seriously, that is the WORST. All I wanted to do was crawl back into my super warm and comfy bed but I couldnt. Kyle was on his way home from work and my amazing three littles were slowly awaking as I could hear their blissful sibling chatter.

Life has been so busy lately with nursing school, the children, and our "behind the scenes" of misery that taunts our every inhalation and exhalation...

It is so easy to get wrapped up in negativity. Especially when the misery tries to drowned you in it.

With the migraine, my massive to-do list and knowing that after today it would be another two days before I saw my hubby. Grrrrr.
Why does life have to throw everything at us once??

I headed off to take the older two to swimming and Kyle started his to-do list. I love watching them swim! But,why does everyone have to stare at screens? Whats the point of "watching" them when in truth the screen is being watched...And the other people there, geesh- dont they have anything nice to say? I'll I could hear is complaining.
I was excited to get out of there! I get home and have to bolt out to make it to my haircut.

As I'm driving to my appointment, my mind just continues to flood with negativity. The skies are dark, its raining and freezing cold... actually it just SNOWED IN MAY!!! Ridiculous...

Then, I see light shine through the clouds and something that resembled a cross.... I pulled over to the side of the road and snapped a picture.  I prayed and cried. I sat in peace looking at this beautiful sky. Within minutes, positivity overcame me and my energy was cleared.

There is ALWAYS light after darkness. 

I needed a visual reminder to stay positive and not to allow misery to sedate me. 

I love my life. God has blessed me with an amazing husband, children, health, and happiness. 

How easily I almost forgot. 

Thank you God for reminding me

DIY Family Command Center

The BEST way to keep a busy family organized is with visuals! Nothing is more awesome than a family command center and they are super easy and inexpensive to make. .

To get the most out of your command center you'll need to create a list of your "most importants".

    My families "most importants"

•  Monthly calendar 
• Two week food menu with grocery list 
• Place for Love notes
• Keys
• Place for important cards, reminders, etc 
• Art area and display

The space to the left of the command center was an "updated" waste of space created by previous owners. The shelf is low but not low enough for a bench and the cabinet, NOT ideal because the kids would just pull everything out of it...We needed to make this  FUNCTIONAL!

So.. we put our fish tank there!!! Yes- that is a goldfish! That fish is ridiculous but, super friendly (it will take food from your pinched finger- love!),

We removed the cabinet doors and gave each child their own cube to hold a pair of shoes, sun glasses, a hat, etc. This is great because it's helping them learn to be responsible for their belongings plus, they love having their own space!

Then,we added two shelves.
- First shelf for writing utensils and a bin for pocket junk.
- Second shelf  for cookbooks, workbooks, and art supplies.

BUT, The COOLEST  part is that the art display flips to a chalk board!! The kids can be creative at their leisure! And, we have noticed that they spend the most time creating art while we are busy cooking dinner! WIN WIN!!

So where did we get all the stuff? Well, 

Dry erase calendar- most expensive and at Target! I dressed it up by cutting the tie strings off old seat cushions and hanging it.It makes it more accessible when I revamp and change it to the next month. 
Love Note & Menu- I found free printable's online and framed them with frames from the dollar store.
Square Note holder- I used a square cork board and glued fabric around it to dress it up
Key holder- Found a goodwill (seriously goodwill is my second heaven)
Art work display with verse chalk board- A beautiful handmade gift from my amazing father in-law!
Gray Bins of Shelves- Family Dollar
Kids Cubes and Chalk tags- Dollar Store
Writing utensil holder- Made with small glass canning jar, glue and hemp string.






   

Super functional command center!









Keeps my fam organized and spreads the love through art appreciation and mommy/daddy notes!


But, the best thing is... I no longer lose my KEYS!!

Hope this helps with ideas! I'd love to see your command centers or help with ideas!

Cheers!!!



UPDATE!!
I just added some more pop to my cute little shoe nook thanks to the Dollar Tree! I scored with some awesome contact paper that matched my kitchen perfect!! Check it out! I think its super cute and it costed me less that $5.00!

Its ALMOST Summer!

So happy that this is my last week of nursing school (until August :) ). I am not sure what I'm doing to do with myself, NOT! I have SO many!

 Not being overwhelmed with life, school, exams, and clinicals for almost 3 months sounds soooooo wonderful!!!

So many projects, ideas, and DIY projects have been piling in my brain! I cant wait to have the time to do them and share them! Camping is almost here, more fun playtime with the kids is almost here! Oh, Graduation cannot come soon enough.

Holy Costco!

So today on a whim we decided to go to Costco. Why? Well, Kyle and I like to make two week dinner menus as it makes our lives SO much easier. But, (this will sound crazy to most) getting to the grocery store every other week with a handful of coupons and the weekly ad is difficult. Three children 4 and younger + grocery shopping for two weeks = not so much fun for the kids.Between nursing school, gym time, kids activities, husbands work schedule, cleaning, laundry, blah blah…grocery shopping is my amazing husband going at 10 pm on a Saturday night.

SO, instead of wasting time shopping every other week we have taken the amazing advice of our friends and are going to try this bulk buying…

Needless to say, I was super impressed. Organic galore, healthy snack, great ingredients! Wholly molly! I will have to say that not everything is a deal. Kyle had is phone in constant working mode comparing the Costco bulk price to Target. Lots of great deals but also lots of not so deals.

We spent what we would spend in two weeks of groceries and if all is happened right Kyle we will be good for a month! Plus we get 2% back on purchases and all these other bonuses! 

So on the positive side of things, we saved money and even though it was shopping, Kyle and I got to shop together! However, next time we will go kid less (Hint Hint Grandma & Grandpa)!

Dont forget to breathe

Your a mom, a wife, a friend, a college, a shoulder to cry on and sometimes a rage of hormones... Right?? Don't forget to love yourself. Don't forget to breathe, Don't forget to remember that everything in life happens for a reason. If you weren't able to multitask and juggle multiple life havoc's than its simple, you wouldn't. BUT- you are one that CAN.. Stop saying you cant, your tired, your out of ideas. Perhaps right this second you are but you wont be soon enough. Don't forget to breathe.

If your stressed overwhelmed and want to scream at the sky.. then close your eyes, breathe and picture yourself where you want to be, not where you are right now. 

You can do it, your amazing and don't forget to breathe. 

Tips for Preschoolers!

Its so incredibly important to engage with your child(ren) daily. Did you know that one of the reasons children fight parents when its time to go to bed is because they (parents) haven't engaged with them enough or spent enough time one/one with them? I wasn't aware of this until my two year old was fighting me to go to bed. I did some research and read about this. The next day my husband and I spend more time with her and lights out was easy peasy..and it still has been

With our two year old we focus on daily lessons of reading, imaginative play and art.

Its important to purchase toys that have an educational meaning. Not just something that "lights up". Melissa and Doug are probably one of the best toy companies on the market. Not only are they made with safe paint, they are also wood and educational. Our learning room is FILLED with their puzzles, magnet boards, latch boards, etc. And they get used daily.

Try to spend at least 45 minutes with your child(ren). Whether its playing doll house, coloring, building towers or making an art project together. They need to be engaged with YOU.. not just the sitter or the sibiling.

One cool project is to use all the left over noodles that are taking up space in your pantry and put them into artwork! Glue them, paint them, put stickers on them! The kids love it!


















Another awesome thing we do are flash cards. These were given to me by my sister. They are the best I've seen mostly because the pictures are actual pictures and on the back that have "facts" so that help you engage more on the topic.. The flash cards are made by Baby Einstein .. Sit on the floor and show them a card. Be excited!!! Ask, what is this? And talk about it, contiune the topic until they loose interest.

Another way to engage is to play "look and see with ABC's, 123's and Shapes" We have the alphabet, numbers and shapes posted in our learning room. The letters came with two of each so one letter is on the wall and then I hold the other. I will grab a letter and say.. "what letter is this" if they don't know it I will say,, T like Truck or Toilet.. Then I will say lets find it on the wall. And they will find it! We also do that with the numbers and shapes on the wall too!

 Children are like sponges! Engage them in things other then screens and stimulate their minds. I would LOVE to hear about some other fun games to play with our preschoolers! So please share!