Danielle - Busy Moms Helper

Birthday Invitations the Way YOU Want Them!

June 24, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post about totally customizable birthday invitations is sponsored by Basic Invite. Photos courtesy of Basic Invite. All opinions are mine alone.

Is it just me, or is one of the most frustrating parts about planning a party the invitations? I mean, I don’t have much time anymore to design exactly what we want, yet most sites you’re stuck with the one option – maybe a couple variations – but that’s it. Luckily I found out about Basic Invite, where you can completely customize your invitations – colors, designs, envelopes and more! Now you can get Birthday Invitations the Way YOU Want Them with hardly any hassle!

Because I know the first thing many of you will wonder is what type of invites they have – there’s tons! Not just awesome birthday ones, but also for weddings, baby, holidays and more. Being busy moms, though, I think the birthday ones are probably are biggest focus year-round. They have plenty of simple party invitations, but also awesome ones your kiddos will go crazy for – such as space themed, circus, candy land, sports, monsters, watermelon, and so many others!

So how can you customize your invite? After you’ve selected which awesome one you want – perhaps like these cute mustache birthday invitations – the real fun begins. Change the color – and not just from a handful of choices. You have over 180 different color options, so you can make the card exactly the way you want it – and since you can change colors on each element on your card, even the littlest detail is your choice!

Another great thing – especially for us moms who really want to see EXACTLY how things will print out, and how they feel (paper quality is hard to tell without having it in your hands, right?) – is that Basic Invite gives customers the ability or order an actual printed sample of the invitation before placing their final order. That means you get to see and feel YOUR invitation, that you customize – so you have no doubt it’s the way you want it.

Once you have your incredible invitation – whether it’s a fun shark themed one or one of their more classy birthday invitations – you also get to customize it even more by choosing from over 40 different colors of envelopes. That’s right, Basic Invite is as colorful with their envelopes as with their invitations! With this, you can set your card to stand apart even before it’s opened! Plus, an extra bonus for us parents, all of the envelopes are peel and seal, making it quick to close them securely.

I don’t typically invite a ton of kids because – well, sanity – but I still appreciate their address capturing service. With this, you can simply share a link on social media to request friends and family’s addresses. It’ll then store them in your account, and you can select which ones to include during the design process. Basic Invite even offers recipient address printing at no cost on all Christmas card orders, which can save a bundle during the holidays!

If you like to get fancy or make your invitation stand out even more, foil cards are an option in gold, silver and rose gold. Plus, all of their foil designs have the choice of flat or raised foil!

Since we parents LOVE saving money (and parties are expensive, anyway) you can save an extra 15% on Basic Invite with Coupon Code: 15FF51

Be sure to ceck out Basic Invite on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter for more invitation ideas and fun!

Benefits of Music Lessons for Kids

June 22, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

School of Rock provides us complimentary lessons so we can fully review this program. All opinions are mine alone.

I grew up taking piano lessons, and for a long time I was so frustrated that my mom wouldn’t let me quit. Now that I’m a parent, I look back and realize all that I gained from that – not just learning more piano, but also real life skills. Now that two of my boys are taking lessons for guitar and drums, I enjoy watching their growth and excitement each week. Many parents don’t realize how valuable taking lessons can be for their children – so today I’m sharing 5 Benefits of Music Lessons for Kids!

When I say music lessons, I’m not talking necessarily just guitar and drums (that’s just what my kids are doing right now) – I mean any instrument, vocal lessons, or even just learning how to read or write music! They all have these same benefits, just with varying methods. Here’s some of the benefits of music for kids – and just some of the reasons I’m thrilled my boys are taking lessons at School of Rock!

Learning Hard Work to Reach Their Goals

In real life, things don’t come easy to most of us. If we have goals we want, we need to make hard work towards them, sticking to it even when it gets hard or frustrating. It’s best for kids to learn this when they’re younger, so it’s not a ‘rude awakening’. By working towards mastering a certain song on their instrument, or having a goal to play drums at a certain tempo with no mistakes, they’re learning this process at a younger age so that when it’s the ‘big things’, they’re ready.

Time Management Skills

Just like with any skill, it takes practice – which means making time regularly to work on the music, practice their instrument, and really build up those skills. Just like when they’re adults needing to manage their time with tasks at work, they’re learning to do so not only with something they’re passionate about, but also how to overcome those slump days when they just don’t feel like making it a priority – but doing it anyway!

Improving Their Music Skills

Who knows if my boys will grow up to be in a world-famous band, write record-breaking tracks or just simply enjoy breaking out their guitar or drums for some fun time with friends. Perhaps they’ll teach lessons to others when they’re grown, passing on the skills they acquired from their own amazing instructors at School or Rock. Whatever they choose to do with these specific talents and knowledge of music and their instruments, they’ll have plenty options and enjoyment!

Building Friendships/Relationships

Not only do they build respectful relationships in their teacher-student situations, but with their group band lessons they’re making friends, learning to work and grow together, and acquiring great teamwork skills. They get to see the results when everyone puts in the hard work, and how all the parts fit together for a rockin’ good time!

Improve Memory & Cognitive Skills

I loved this article that School of Rock shared about how important it can be for children. Not only does learning the music, the parts and workings of their instrument, and the parts to various songs help their memory skills, but it makes strong connections in different parts of their brain. This development can keep their mind sharper for longer, and make it easier to learn other information or skills because their brains already have experience building those networks.

BONUS: Build Confidence

Confidence is something that’s of high importance to many parents, since it can be the foundation for a happy, healthy life for their kids. It’s one of my favorite benefits of music lessons! With all of the hard work, managing their time, working together, sticking with it even when they want to quit – then seeing the amazing results at the end, they can help strengthen their confidence because THEY did that. They put in the work. They progressed in their skills. They took the steps to go further and further, and now can look back to see how far they’ve come since the start – and how far they can go if they continue.

I love seeing the growth my boys have had already, both with the music AND the life skills. I can’t wait to see how much more will happen as they continue their music lessons with school of rock, and where these important life skills will take them in their lives!

Show Your Love for Toy Story 4

June 21, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post featuring incredible Toy Story 4 themed items sponsored by shopDisney. All opinions are mine alone.

Call me crazy, but I’m a HUGE fan of Toy Story characters – they’re fun, spunky, and always full of surprises. I mean, how likely is it that you can go anywhere and say ‘to infinity, and beyond’ and people won’t know exactly what you’re quoting? With the latest movie hitting theaters NOW, it’s the best time to Show Your Love for Toy Story 4 with awesome clothes, toys, games, accessories and much more! And seriously, who could resist stuff that has that adorable, derpy spork “Forky” on it?

A talking forky toy, I mean come on – that should be top of most kids’ birthday lists, right? Ok, maybe I’m just dorky (like forky – hah, get it? Ok, I’ll stop), but I really love this little guy in the new movie. But this toy is super cute and fun, plus unique. Plus the pjs saying ‘get me outta here!’ are totally adorable! I have to say that despite the many options of cool Toy Story 4 clothes, though, the one I want the most is this Forky flannel shirt – I’d wear it on all my Disney trips. And for any baby showers, totally getting them this sweet Rex outfit.

Now there’s not JUST clothes at shopDisney featuring your favorite toys – there’s tons of other items, too! I wonder if I could convince hubby to let me get this Forky MagicBand for our upcoming trip to Walt Disney World…

For the kiddos, it’d be really fun to take in not just a regular ol’ pencil case to school – but a Pizza Planet Claw one! Man, school stuff sure is more cool now than when I was a kid.

The whole family can enjoy plenty of Toy Story 4 themed games – but the one that stands out to me the most is their version of Kerplunk. This old favorite has a whole new twist inspired by Toy Story 4 – you’ve gotta try not to let Bunny and Ducky (once you see the movie, you’ll know why people love this dynamic, slightly crazy duo) fall down the tower – themed after the carnival!

One of my girls has a birthday coming up, and since she collects Pop! Vinyl Figures by Funko, I know she’d absolutely love getting this Forky one to add! Ok, I admit that I would want this as well – but I could still enjoy seeing it on her shelf in my house 🙂

These are just my top picks from the HUGE assortment of Toy Story 4 stuff at shopDisney. After you see the movie (which you should do asap – it’s hilarious, plus so sweet with some real life lessons), see which character you liked the most then go online to shopDisney.com to pick out something to show your love for this childhood favorite film!

Toy Story 4: Laughs and Feelings!

June 21, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Call me nostalgic, but I have to admit that I’ve loved following every moment of our favorite toys’ adventures over the years. I feel like they’re MY toys, in a way, as they’ve shared years of growth, learning, saying goodbyes and much more in the previous films. The 4th is no exception, answering some lingering questions while also filling in a gap we didn’t realize we had! If you loved the excitement from the previous movies, Toy Story 4 will give you laughs and feelings, to Infinity and Beyond! The humor alone makes it a total must-see, but all the emotions and tender spots are some delicious frosting on top! (no spoilers)

Reason #1 to see Toy Story 4:

You get to see many of our favorite toys from the previous films, along with several new friends that you can’t help but love. Their story isn’t finished, but they’ll need more help than just Bonnie’s toy gang to tackle their next adventure.

Reason #2:

There’s more to the ‘villain’ than meets the eye. In the past, I feel that some of the ‘bad guys’ our toys face (such as Lotso, Sid or the Prospector) didn’t give their whole story – or how it really ends for them. In Toy Story 4, there’s more there than you realize, and I loved how it all tied off at the end in the most touching way!

Reason #3:

We FINALLY learn what happened to Bo Peep and her sheep (Billy, Goat & Gruff), and as we fill in more of her past several years it gives a great message to all of us – especially kids, who are really the main purpose of our beloved toys.

Reason #4:

Along with all those feels, it brings us back to times in our life when we were nervous or afraid, and having a friend – be it a real person or just a faithful toy – made all the difference.

Reason #5:

Speaking of some great messages, even the ever-posing adventuristic toy Duke Caboom (voiced by Keanu Reeves) gives a little tidbit that could be a great reminder about toys ‘living’ up to expectations.

Reason #6:

The imagination by two of our new friends – Bunny and Ducky – is out of this world, and made for so many hilarious, laugh-out-loud moments in the theater! Their ideas for solving problems are certainly not conventional, but leave us quite entertained.

There’s so much in Toy Story 4 that you will love – laughing ’till your sides hurt, holding back tears, and feeling pulled into yet another adventure with our toy crew. Things don’t always end perfectly, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the ending we all want and feel a sense of completion after all is said and done. From Andy, to Bonnie and on, our toys have a lot more ahead of them – so be sure to catch up with their newest fun!

Disney Pixar’s Toy Story 4 is in theaters NOW – so hurry and nab some tickets, then share this childhood favorite with your own family to see why it exceeded expectations and leaves us feeling happy-sad, in the most incredible way!

Boston Market Lunch Date You Won’t Want to Miss!

June 20, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Boston Market

We’re only a few weeks into summer break, and already the lunch routine is getting stagnant at our house – but luckily, the other day I got to surprise the kiddos with a special trip to try the NEW Boston Market Lunch menu! Trust me, this is one lunch date you won’t want to miss out on. Plus, it was a fun bonding time for my kiddos and I to just have fun together!

And guess what – you can try it FREE with their ‘Sandwich Throwdown’ happening Friday, June 21st! From 11am – 2pm, Boston Market wants everyone to really put it to the test pitting their sandwiches against the regular corner cafe or bakery. Stop by your nearby Boston Market during those hours on June 21st for a FREE SANDWICH – just bring in your current favorite sandwich, then you can taste the difference of Boston Market’s fresh, never frozen rotisserie chicken. You’ll be hooked! After you try it out, guests are invited to vote for the superior sandwich and ‘throwdown winner’ with an online survey. *Free sandwich upgrades offered while supplies last.

As busy moms, y’all know how hard it is to find something the whole crew will enjoy. Varying tastes (and attitudes!) make it a challenge, but I love that Boston Market’s brand new lunch menu has the same quality proteins that we all love and that made them a go-to dinner destination. Life’s busy, so as moms we’re looking for healthy, quality meals for our family – but that are QUICK! That’s one great thing that sets Boston Market apart from other lunch places.

With several new, tasty and fresh sandwiches (on a really delish ciabatta bread) plus some flavorful salads, there was something for everyone on our lunch date! The girls’ favorites were the Caesar Salad with romaine lettuce, 3-cheese blend, croutons and Caesar dressing (with chicken, of course) – as well as the Chicken Avocado Club on ciabatta with bacon, avocado, Tillamook cheddar cheese, lettuce, red onion and herbed mayo. That herbed mayo, by the way, is phenomenal!

The boys had different favorites – one loved the Southwest Chicken BLT on ciabatta with Cholula bacon, avocado, Tillamook pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and chipotle aioli. The other two enjoyed the more simple (yet still amazing) Turkey on ciabatta with smoked cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion and that same tasty herbed mayo (you can also get this with chicken instead of turkey).

With our varying favorites, we were able to try several of the new Boston Market lunch options, but two I still want to try are the Chicken Salad on multi-grain hoagie roll with sliced tomato, lettuce and mayo. My salad-loving girl can’t wait to try the Southwest Cobb Salad with romaine and leaf lettuce blend, bacon, avocado, corn relish, pico de gallo, red onion and chipotle ranch dressing. Yum!!!

This is like THE place for us busy moms to take our families for a lunch date, not only because Boston Market lunches are super quick and convenient when we’re in a hurry (which seems to be too often!) – but because of the amazing quality. Their lunch options feature the same rotisserie chicken and meats we’ve come to know (and totally love), making Boston Market a healthier lunchtime option than other places! It’s like their home style rotisserie meals that we expect at dinner are now available even at lunch.

Be sure to enjoy $3 off any sandwich, salad (or choose two) using Promo Code: 39175 so you can give Boston Market’s new lunch menu a try for yourself!

Best Magic Kingdom Foods in a Hurry

June 19, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

If you’re cruising around Magic Kingdom, you don’t want the fun to stop. Getting a good bite to eat at the last second can be a tough job, though. You don’t waste time around a crowded park, looking for an accommodating restaurant when you’re hungry. So, when you need a solution right away, you can turn to one of these five Best Magic Kingdom Foods in a Hurry, that will help give you that extra boost of energy to power onward. Sorry, nothing listed from Tomorrowland here, but if you are stuck there, there are plenty of vendors there with some snacks that didn’t make this list.

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Cinnamon Roll at Gaston’s Tavern

When thinking about a quick bite at Magic Kingdom, the very first thing that should spring to ming is the massive and flavorful Cinnamon Roll offered at Gaston’s Tavern in the new Fantasyland. It may not be as pretty as the Mermaid Donut at Prince Eric’s Market, but it’s substantial enough to share and much more satisfying. You can’t go wrong with this as a last minute Magic Kingdom order.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake at Aloha Terrace

The only way to top the classic Dole Whip is by putting an upside down pineapple cake beneath it. Dole may have other flavors, and they may have special tricked out versions in other places, but I love the simplicity of this pineapple treat. The cake is delicious and the Dole Whip on top hits the spot even more, when its creamy texture is coupled with fluffy cake.

Hot Dog at Casey’s Corner

There is nothing more American, or more Disney than having a hot dog on Casey’s Corner. To make it even more enticing, Casey’s frequently changes their menu with new updated specialty dogs to keep things interesting; but it doesn’t get any better than a classic chili cheese dog. They’re one of the more popular Magic Kingdom foods to try!

Waffle Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow

It really doesn’t matter what you have in it, there’s nothing better than a good waffle. These delicious waffle sandwiches come with sweet and spicy chicken which is obviously a timeless combo, or you could go with the even more classic fruit option which includes fresh fruit and a chocolate hazelnut spread, just to make it perfect (that ones my fav).

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Chili Queso Fries at Golden Oak Outpost

Finally, way in the back of Frontierland, is a frequently changing menu at Golden Oak Outpost. They usually have something amazing to offer during different times of the year and right now the Chili Queso Fries are it. This is a hearty snack that’s even better if you’ve been treating yourself to sugar all day (I’m totally guilty of this). Waffle Fries topped with warm delicious chili and a white queso sauce for a southwestern flair. Yeehaw!!

What’s Your Favorite?

These accessible places in Magic Kingdom make terrific last minute Magic Kingdom meal solutions, whether you are desperate for something to eat, or just looking for a satisfying snack. Do you have a favorite fast bite that didn’t get mentioned here? Let me know in the comments!

Best Disney World Ride Hacks

June 12, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

When you wait over an hour to finally experience a Disney attraction, you want the experience to be an incredible one. In most cases, the experience is more or less the same no matter where you sit, or what you do. However, sometimes you need to make a request in order to have the most fun. In some cases, it’s essential to avoiding disappointment. Here are five of the Best Disney World Ride Hacks for an even better attraction experience.

Check out Get Away Today for great vacation prices! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Top Center– Soarin’

Soarin around the world is an exhilarating attraction full of breathtaking sights… for about 1/3 of the passengers. Unfortunately, the film’s focus on towering structures often undermines the intended illusion. The curvature of the images get more distorted the further you are from center. Given how long the wait can sometimes be, make sure you ask to be seated in the center. Ask for Row B1 (top center), or B2 (dead center) for the best view.

Front of the Train — Expedition Everest

In most cases, Roller coasters are best experienced from the back of the train. Disney has a few exceptions to this rule and Expedition Everest is one of them. Spoiler alert, if you’ve never been on the ride or seen it in action– it goes backwards. Besides the backwards motion, the show elements leading up to the reversal are way more impressive from the front of the train. Cast members are very accommodating if you request to wait for a front row seat. Do this on Space Mountain as well, as the ride is even more thrilling when nothing is in front of you.

Back of the Train — Big Thunder Mountain

Big Thunder is a classic coaster and it definitely works best from the back of the train. It’s more fun the way you get whipped around, particularly when you get pulled down over the inclines. The front of the train gets far less out of the drops and the view is obstructed by the engine.

Read the Warnings — Mission Space

Mission Space is a controversial ride. It’s a lot of fun, for some people, but others get sick. It’s important that you take the cautions seriously and consider taking the less intense version of the ride, or not riding at all. Personally, I think this is a great ride overall and don’t want to put it down, but I can’t ride it anymore due to the motion sickness and head vertigo it gives me. It’s so important that you don’t have a negative experience on this intense simulator attraction, so make the best choice for you.

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Galactic Hero — Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

This is one of the best ride hacks, and I learned it from my friends at Michael’s VIPs! It’s up to you if you want to share this trick with your friends and family, or just let them marvel at your Galactic Hero stature. All you have to do to max out your score on this ride is hit three targets. They aren’t even difficult targets – you just have to hit them hard when they come around! The first target is the inside of the orange robot’s right arm. Hit it with everything you’ve got and then wait for target two to come around. Target two is the volcano. There are two volcano targets, so aim at the top one. Finally, you will confront Emperor Zurg. On this stage, fire as much as possible on the target at the bottom of Zurg’s rocket. These three targets are the highest scoring and if you really go after it, you will have no trouble reaching the scoring threshold.

Do you know any Disney World Ride Hacks?

Father’s Day Star Wars Bottle Gift Printable Set

June 7, 2019 by Danielle 2 Comments

Let your Dad know he’s the ‘Best Dad in the Galaxy’ with this super fun Father’s Day Star Wars Bottle Gift Printable Set! Dark side or light? You don’t have to choose, just do one of each! This is the perfect Star Wars gift for dad, and it’s really easy to put together.

You can also mix and match the bottle wraps – cool backgrounds, just characters or with some text. We just made a few changes to our Graduate Star Wars Bottle Set so it was focused on the Dad in your life, and we know he’ll love it!

Supplies

Download your Printable Sets Here:
- Bottle Wraps: Background Only or Characters or Text
- Front Label & Handle: Dark Side or Light Side
- Side Labels
Scissors & Tape
6-pack Glass Bottle Set

Directions

Download and print the sheets (links above in supplies), then cut them out.
Tape into their spots on your bottle set, then gift away!

Told you it was easy – yet awesome!

Father’s Day Craft Lightning Features:

I wish I’d made these cute Foiled Baby Footprints like Hey Let’s Make Stuff when my twins were born!

You can really have fun with these Personlized Coasters from Tried & True Blog!

Loving this Father’s Day Coupon Book from Jen Gallacher – it’s only $1.99 in her store!

These Star Wars Father’s Day Treats from Clever Pink Pirate are right up our alley

I’m loving this DIY Painted Pint Glass from Laura’s Crafty Life

Have your kids help with this DIY Dad Brag Book from 100 Directions

As you know, I love mason jars – so these fabulous Mason Jar Father’s Day Tags & Treats from Beth Watson Design Studio are perfect!

Get our favorite crafts started, because Father’s Day will be here before you know it!

Best Disneyland Foods in a Hurry

June 5, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Disneyland is not just an awesome place to have a fun time with your friends and family – its become a destination for food! There’s a chance element when it comes to getting food at Disneyland, quick bites, especially. The hit-and-miss ratio is kind of tight. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the risk, because some Disneyland quick eats are out of this world. Some of these delicious and sizable snacks are clever and dramatic twists to old classics and standbys. Others are just plain amazing. Here are my top five choices for the Best Disneyland Foods in a Hurry!

Check out Get Away Today for great savings on your vacation! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Corn Dog at the Little Red Wagon

The legendary Hand Dipped Corn Dog at Disneyland is something you just can’t get anywhere else. Even Walt Disney World corn dogs don’t even come close! Like so many great Disneyland attractions, you can only get it here. Even among the three places in the Disneyland Resort that sell Hand Dipped Hot Dogs, the Little Red Wagon does it best.

Mint Julep and Beignets in New Orleans Square

Don’t worry, this is a non-alcoholic drink with a delicious mix of flavors. To go with it, grab a tasty, warm beignets that even come in pumpkin flavors during certain seasons!

Churro at Any Churro Cart

Here’s another thing that Disneyland does like nobody else. The churros in Walt Disney World are tasty, and they do have the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich, which is actually really cook. However, Disneyland Churros are served hot and fresh and that makes a ridiculous amount of difference. If you’ve ever had a Disneyland Churro, chances are, you have a hard time getting into the premade versions they have in the other Disney parks.

Loaded Whip at Tropical Hideaway

Just a simple Dole Whip is good enough. It’s refreshing, nostalgic, creamy, perky… It’s basically perfect. However, you can’t miss the chance to completely over indulge with a Loaded Whip at Tropical Hideaway. This unique, over the top take on the Disney classic is something you have to try at least once. The price is shockingly reasonable and it’s edible fun in its purest form.

Bengal Beef Skewer at Bengal Barbecue

Or anything else here really. You may have a hard time wrapping your head around two food stops as you go through Adventureland, but if you factor in the Tiki Room, the Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones and Tarzan’s Treehouse; it warrants stopping for another bite. The Bengal Beef Skewer is a tasty chewy treat, that’s even better when combined with other delicious skewers and a tropical beverage.

Check out Get Away Today for great savings on your vacation! Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

Bratwurst at Troubadour Tavern

In the back of Fantasyland, near Mickey’s Toontown Station, you’ll find a little known, unassuming quick service location that serves a unique assortment of satisfying snacks. The Bratwurst is something Cosmo Kramer would hop off of the Disneyland Railroad for. It’s served on a garlic and herb brioche bun with hickory smoked bacon sauerkraut. This is also the only place where you can get a BBQ version of the famous Disneyland Turkey Leg.

What’s Your Favorite Disneyland Foods you can get in a hurry? I’d love to know your favorite quick bites as well. Do you have a Disneyland food that you have to get every time? Share your favorite (or least favorite) Disneyland foods below!

Superhero Dad Gift Free Printables

June 3, 2019 by Danielle 12 Comments

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared some of our ‘geek-ness’ with you, so I don’t feel the least beat ashamed of sharing with you a new superhero-themed post. As you may have guessed, it’s also in preparations for the big Father’s Day coming up (already? yikes!). I give you…drumroll please……

Superhero Dad Gift Free Printables!

Okay, okay, I know we DID give him a Superhero Dad Gift last year….remember the Superhero Soda Gift? It was AWESOME, and he LOVED it! So yes, it’s yet another superhero thing….but that’s how our family rolls 😉

But wait…I’m not just giving you ONE free printable Superhero sign you can give ol’ daddy-o this year. I’m giving you THREE options to choose from! Or don’t choose, take them all, that’s what we did!

They’re awesome, I know….and I think I’m safe to bet that he’ll put them straight into his office (when the boys are out of it and back in their room, as we’re currently doing heavy construction in their bedroom…but more on that later). These will look rockin’ on his wall!

So first, we have this one, that’s too cute and stylish for words!

Then these two break down just how totally SUPER your dad really is….and you have a Marvel Universe theme, and a DC Universe theme! In case you don’t know the difference (don’t worry, I didn’t until hubby made a total geek out of me)……

Here is the DC Universe theme…which is basically Justice League heroes.

And here is the Marvel Universe themed printable…..so Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, as the big ones.

See, they’re just perfect for the Superhero in your life! Print them out, frame them up if you’d like, and enjoy the grin on his perfectly-geeky wonderful face!

Fun Summer Learning

May 31, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by Carson Dellosa Education as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #CarsonDellosaEducation #IC

Summer break is finally here – woot woot! The kids are excited for days full of swimming and sunshine, and I’m eager for some breaks from our homeschooling, as well as a more relaxed schedule when we do fit some in during the summer months. One thing I’m not stressed about is keeping their minds sharp, not letting all they learned during the school year fade out – because they actually enjoy some fun summer learning with these amazing Summer Bridge Activities workbooks!

My favorite thing about adding these learning books into our summer schedule is that it’s just a quick 15 minute learning session – not a ton of time, but it keeps them sharp and completely prepared when the next school year begins. Instead of spending a few weeks re-adjusting, they can jump right in where they left off and keep on running!

Despite all the crazy activities, pool days and more during summer vacation, it’s super simple to include 15 minutes of learning with these fun daily activities to help fight off the learning loss that can occur during the long break. Let your kids change things up by allowing them to do their activities in somewhere new – the park, by the pool, in a comfy bean bag chair, or wherever makes it seem extra special. Sometimes my boys even sport their superhero costumes while tackling the activities!

My kids really enjoy the Carson Dellosa Education workbooks, with my younger ones often not even considering it ‘school work’ because it’s just fun! They also have a great variety inside, from math to language arts, even some bonus science experiments – because we all know how much fun learning kids have while doing interactive activities.

Helping my mom with her in-home daycare while a teen and a young adult, each summer she’d include these Summer Bridge Activities Workbooks. She could see how well they helped the kids keep their minds ready for the upcoming school year, while still having a fun time. Even I could see the difference they made for those kids as opposed to their fellow classmates (since I subbed at the school often), so have kept it up with my own kids once they each hit their school years!

As a parent, we want our kids to have amazing summers playing, getting outside and just being free – and know that 15 minutes a day of a creative activity from their workbooks will also ensure their summers are complete with learning. I love that we can trust Carson Dellosa Education as a top resource outside of the classroom for continued education, even during the long and exciting summer vacation!

Grab Summer Bridge Activity workbooks for your kids in K-5 for fun summer learning!

Hollywood Studios Things to try Before Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge

May 29, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Every Star Wars fan can’t wait to see what Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be like when it finally opens – seriously, I get giddy just from the anticipation! August 29th seems so far far away, but Hollywood Studios is already the place for Star Wars – more than ever for fans to experience before Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens it’s gates and lets everybody in on the big secret. Here’s some suggestions we can all enjoy in the park before the grand opening!

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Guided Tour

For a full tilt Star Wars experience, you can reserve a Star Wars Guided tour. This $93 per person experience gives you access to every Star Wars activity and attraction there is in Hollywood Studios. If you’re like me and can’t easily swing that cost, you can have your own Star Wars day with these other exciting Hollywood Studio Star Wars highlights.

Star Tours — The Adventures Continue

Take a photo on a speeder bike and enter the Ewok village on your way to your Star Speeder which now offers several tours around the galaxy. Guided by C3PO, your tour group will explore any of the wide variety of worlds found in the original Star Wars Trilogy and the prequels. The adventure even climaxes with a 3D encounter with a Sith Lord seeking out a rebel spy from among your ranks.

Jedi Training

Enroll children ages 4-12 in this Jedi training course in a secluded Jedi temple. Young trainees will learn the ways of the Force and how to wield a lightsaber. Hopefully, training won’t be interrupted by any agents of the dark side… right? The registration for this event is open from the start of the day and availability is on a first come first serve basis (it often fills up FAST, so hurry to get your spot right when it opens). All participants must be present to register.

Star Wars Launch Bay and Theater

In the Animation Courtyard, you can get photo ops with Star Wars scenery, view concept art, movie props and wardrobe, and finally have an encounter with Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, or BB8. This unique character meet and greet is prefaced with a variety of behind the scenes looks for those who are interested in Star Wars as a series of films. There is even a theater with a continuous running documentary.

Live Shows

Take a Star Wars Break throughout your day with two live shows. Star Wars: A Galaxy Far Far Away is a stage show in the center of the park that features popular characters and scene reenactments from across the franchise. The show features, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, BB8, Darth Maul and Darth Vader. March of the First Order also takes the stage in a demonstration of Captain Phasma’s power.

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Hollywood Studios Star Wars Spectacular

When night falls a stunning spectacular of pyrotechnics and projections illuminate the night sky. The exciting show features immersive starship battles and action sequences set to the moving compositions of John Williams. The show now features an action packed segment from Solo: A Star Wars Story as well. You can get in on the action without camping out before hand if you buy tickets for the dessert party for this climactic presentation. Indulge in limitless desserts and savory treats, themed beverages and preferred viewing of the show.

Learning Hard Work to Reach Their Goals

Time Management Skills

Improving Their Music Skills

Building Friendships/Relationships

Improve Memory & Cognitive Skills

BONUS: Build Confidence

Reason #1 to see Toy Story 4:

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Do you know any Disney World Ride Hacks?

Supplies

Directions

Father’s Day Craft Lightning Features:

Corn Dog at the Little Red Wagon

Mint Julep and Beignets in New Orleans Square

Churro at Any Churro Cart

Loaded Whip at Tropical Hideaway

Bengal Beef Skewer at Bengal Barbecue

Bratwurst at Troubadour Tavern

Superhero Dad Gift Free Printables!

Grab Summer Bridge Activity workbooks for your kids in K-5 for fun summer learning!

What will you do before Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens to prepare?