Summer Fun

This will be the first summer that I'm not working full-time, and I'm busy planning some summer activities to keep us busy and away from the TV and electronics. Today I'll feature some Season Pass information for the Norman, Oklahoma area, along with a few from surrounding cities worth the drive.

1. Andy Alligator's Water Park. Through April 30, seasons passes are $80 per person.

The $4.2 million-dollar park features a variety of attractions including a lazy river, double tube slide, the first four-lane mat racer in Oklahoma, an 800-gallon bucket of water that will be regularly dumped on kids. (from the Moore Daily)

2. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. A family membership is $45 and includes complimentary admission for two adults & children (or grandchildren) in the family under age 18.

From their website: Through world-class exhibits, educational programming for children and adults, public programs, special exhibitions and outreach, the museum brings Oklahoma to the world, and the world to Oklahoma, in a manner that is entertaining and accessible for visitors of all ages and all walks of life.

3. Oklahoma City Zoo. A Family membership is $65 and admits two adults (one adult named on card must be present) and up to five children ages 3-18 years old. A $5 discount is offered through March 31. This could be easily split between two families.

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is a zoo and botanical garden located in Oklahoma City's Adventure District in northeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The zoo covers 119 acres and is home to more than 1,800 animals. (from Wikipedia)

4. Science Museum Oklahoma. A Silver membership is $115 and is shared by 6 people- great to split between families. You can even add two additional people on the pass for $30 each.

You can also upgrade your membership to an Oklahoma Museum Network Affiliate Membership for $40 and get general admission for any 5 people to the OMN Partner museums: Science Museum Oklahoma, Jasmine Moran Childrens Museum: Seminole, Leonardo's Discovery Warehouse: Enid, Museum of the Great Plains: Lawton.

Note: Old schoolies like me still call this the Omniplex.

From their website: Science Museum Oklahoma is a hands on learning environment for families and general science enthusiasts.

5. Earlywine Family Aquatic Center. Season passes for a family of 4 is $150, and $35 for each additional family member.

From their website: Earlywine Family Aquatic Center integrates a beach-like pool entry with the excitement of high-energy water toys, super tube slides, swimming lanes and twelve gently bubbling geysers.

6. Star Skate. A summer pass is $5 and entitles you to skate for only $3 at their skate sessions. During the summer they have afternoon sessions on Thursdays and Fridays.

7. Kids Bowl Free at Sooner Bowling Center. By signing up, your kids can bowl 2 games free all summer long, M-F. Shoe rental is not included and is $3. You can also purchase a Family season pass for $25 so that you can bowl 2 games per day with your kiddos.

Let me know if there are things that I have missed! I'll do a post on camps and other fun programs soon so feel free to leave me info on those too.

Movies Movies Movies!

I don't think I have purchased so many movie tickets in such a short time, like ever, but there have been so many good movie come out recently!

 

 

First, I am a big Marshmallow and love love love me some Veronica Mars. OF COURSE I had tickets to see The Veronica Mars Movie on the release night! It did not disappoint....... it was Epic I will say, and if you are a VM fan, that might be a little spoiler for you.

 

And Divergent, oh Divergent. I might just see it twice this weekend! Cannot wait. Yes, Theo James is my new fake boyfriend.

 

I have also seen The LEGO Movie twice in the last few weeks and loved it both times. So many things for kids and adults to enjoy! We will definitely be adding this one to our collection when it comes out on DVD.

 

 

Frozen was such a delight, and both my 10 year old son and 8 year old daughter LOVED it. I did have to find the poster featuring Olaf for this post- love that character! I'll be purchasing this one this week, I think at Target since they have some bonus features on their $20 DVD/Blu-ray combo.

 

 

 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire recently arrived at my house and I can't wait to watch it again with the Mr. I saw it twice at the theatre and am looking forward to seeing it again.

What movies have you seen recently that I need to check out?

#afflinks

Five Friday Things

1. Wednesday night I made a recipe I had pinned - Crockpot Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken from TheFrugalGirls.com - and every single member of my family loved it! It's basically just chicken and these two yummy ingredients:

 

2. Have you seen Jimmy Fallon, Idina Menzel and The Roots singing "Let It Go" with classroom instruments? Genius. Love when he does these!



3. I have been laughing all week about this pic that went around Facebook last week among my fellow Okies.

4. BASEBALL STARTS NEXT WEEK! Yay! Go Mudcats! Luckily it's one of Will's favorite sports too! I'm ready to wear my new Mudcats hat.

5. Spring TV is SO GOOD! Mr. Sasha and I are so glad our three faves are back on! Nashville, Scandal and Dallas!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

10 Makeup Products I'd Repurchase: Updated

I thought I'd update a tag I did in 2012. The question is, if you lost all your makeup (stolen, luggage lost etc), what 10 products would you re-purchase? Some of my answers are still the same, some have changed.

1. Foundation: Urban Decay Naked in Shade 3 - $39. I know this is a high price-point, but I love it! I reach for it pretty much every day, even though I have about 20 to choose from. The bottle I have has lasted me for probably a year at least.

2. Powder: ELF HD Powder - $6. We have discussed before how this is a dupe for MUFE HD Powder, which costs $30.

3. Blush: ELF Blush in Pink Passion - $3. Great pigmentation for a great price.

4. Eye shadow primer: Too Faced Eye Shadow Insurance in Candlelight - $18. It's a splurge, but it lasts FOREVER- I have used it everyday for about a year and am just now getting low.

5.  Eye shadow: L'Oreal The One Sweep Eye Shadow in Natural Blue Eyes - $10. Although I hated the idea behind this product and it did not work they way it was intended, I have found that I LOVE the cream and brown shades in this and I love using them individually with my eye shadow brushes.

6. Eyeliner: Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum in Deep Brown - $11. I love love love this liner- it's so easy to get a nice straight line and even to do a bit of a cat eye with this liner.

7.  Mascara:  CoverGirl Clump Crusher in Very Black - $6. I think I've been using this for about a year and now consider it my HG. I have found that it works great as a topper over about any mascara. There's something about using two mascaras that gives a fabulous effect.

8.  Lippie: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick - $9. I have a large container of lippies, yet I reach for this most days.

9.  Brushes: e.l.f. Studio 11 Piece Brush Collecion - $30, but you can often get it for 50% off. This is a fabulous set to start with.

10. For my 10th item, I'd add one of e.l.f.'s $3 stipple brushes to use with highly pigmented blushes- it gives a nice blended look.

I tag YOU! I'd love to see what you'd repurchase!

J'Adore VoxBox and Peanut Butter Blossoms

 

I was excited to be chose to receive the J'Adore VoxBox from Influenster! There was some really fun stuff in there, but I bet you know what my favorite was..... the Hershey Kisses! I knew I could make my family very very happy by making them their favorite treat, Peanut Butter Blossoms!

 

If you haven't made them before, they are super easy!

 

You just need a peanut butter cookie mix (note that I did NOT use the snack size because I knew my family would be hungrier than that!) prepared based on the ingredients on the back. Create 1 inch balls and bake as directed. Some people roll them in sugar before they bake them, but it's no necessary- they are sweet enough as is.

Right when you take them out of the oven, be ready to press down an unwrapped Hershey Kiss in the middle of each cookie.

Here's my final product! Of course they were eaten super-fast. Next time I'm going to use a gluten free cookie recipe so I can join in too.

Reading Material

I absolutely love to read, but over the past few years haven't found much time to enjoy that hobby. I've been trying to read a bit before bed each night and am really enjoying getting back into it.

 

Here's a few books on my nightstand:

 

The Antelope in the Living Room: The Real Story of Two People Sharing One Life

 

I enjoyed Melanie Shankle's Sparkly Green Earrings, so I was sure I'd love this one too. Excited to get started on it.

Working It Out: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Hope

 

Last week I listened to a recorded Proverbs 31 call with Abby Rike, a former Biggest Loser contestant, and knew instantly I needed to read her book. What an amazing girl Abby is!

  

Multiple Bles8ings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets

 

I know I'm behind the times, but I've been watching Jon & Kate Plus Eight on my Amazon Prime and wanted to know a bit of the back story on them. I know there is quite a bit of drama on down the road, but I'm still watching the first few seasons and those kids are so darn cute!

 

 Stress Free Kids: A Parent's Guide to Helping Build Self-Esteem, Manage Stress, and Reduce Anxiety in Children

And I'm *almost* done with this one, sent to me for review. Expect a review soon- I am really getting a lot of good info from this book!

From Amazon.com: Kids today are more stressed, overwhelmed, and struggling with anxiety than ever before. Children are not born with the coping strategies needed to navigate today's increasing demands of technology, bullying, academics, and family dynamics. You yourself might wonder how your own stressed-out lifestyle is affecting your children. Based on Lori Lite's award-winning series, Stress Free Kids provides relaxation techniques you can use to free your child from stress.


What are you reading?

Friday Update

Just a few updates on this beautiful Friday! We have a fun weekend planned and I am so looking forward to it. Tonight we are going to dinner with some friends while our kids attend Parents Night Out at our church. Reese and I have some booth sales planned with our Girl Scout troop, and Sunday night is our kick-off meeting for VBS leaders- I'm excited to hear what our theme will be this year and ready to get started planning.

 

 

1. Reese and I are ready for March and a new calendar page! This vulture was Mr. February on our Zoo Friends calendar and while I think all animals are beautiful and a gift from God, I have to admit his pic gives me a fright every time I go in her room! Ha!

2. Since I'm home now during the day, I'm obviously using our home computer much more. The set-up we had was slow and old so Mr. Sasha set this up for me last night and I am so glad to have 2 monitors again! I was so spoiled having this at work. You really don't realize how handy it is until you don't have it anymore! I'm hoping to making a trip down to IKEA next month and find a new desk. I love IKEA but hate that it is 3 hours away!

3. The amount of Legos that Will has is out.of.control. I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm thinking of putting up a shelving system on the wall in his room to store all these. Thoughts? IKEA?  He doesn't want to take them apart- he loves setting up battles and boy stuff like that with the completed sets.

4. If you are a fan of YA dystopian fiction (Hunger Games, Divergent etc) and you haven't discovered the Legend Trilogy , STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and dive in. I think most people agree that the conclusion of the Divergent trilogy left something to be desired...... but I finished the last Legend audiobook last night and it was divine! Such a good book!

Hope you have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

Dove Advanced Care Deodorant with Nutrium Moisture

Dove Advanced Care Deodorant with Nutrium Moisture

Influenster recently sent me Dove's newest deodorant offering, Dove Advanced Care Deodorant with Nutrium Moisture, to try. I've been using it for about 2 weeks and am happy to report that I love it! It works so well and smells nice too. 

When I read the product stats, it was interesting to see that 36% of what you remove when shaving is SKIN! Since I do share under my arms every day, that's quite a bit of skin I'm losing. And the idea of using a lotion under my arms is just not something I'd consider. But a deodorant that provides moisture benefits? I was glad to try that.

If you visit this link at Walmart.com, there's a $2 coupon to print.

Here's some additional product info:

Introducing the best care ever for the armpit. NEW Dove® Advanced Care is the only (Anti-Perspirant) Deodorant formulated with NutriumMoisture™. NutriumMoisture™ is comprised of ingredients that are known to moisturize and nourish the skin. 

• Armpit skin requires the same care and attention given to the rest of women’s skin
• 36% of what you remove when shaving is skin (64% is hair)
• As a result of the damage done by shaving, armpit skin loses 50% more moisture, which can lead to dryness and irritation
• The NEW Dove Advanced Care deodorant provides softer, smoother armpit skin in just 3 days

The Busy Mom's Mani

OPI A Woman's Prague-ative

(3 coats)

from the Spring 2013 Euro Centrale Collection

I understand how hard it can be to find the time to pamper yourself with things like manicures. But over the years, I've developed a method that allows me to do a home mani in a short amount of time right before I go to bed. The secret is the fast-dry topcoat- my nails are completely dry by the time I hit the sack, and I don't get sheet marks at all! Start to finish, a mani takes me less than 20 minutes. Who doesn't have 20 minutes to pamper themselves?

And my secret to pretty nails? Always keeping them painted! It adds strength and keeps them from breaking.

So without further ado, here are my favorite nail products, shown in order of use for the perfect salon-quality mani. For all products, I start with the pinkie of one hand and continue on to the other hand before I move to the next step. And there's no need to let the coats dry in between steps- just start with the same nail each step.

1. Sally Hanson Instant Cuticle Remover. To have a long-lasting mani, you've really got to prep your nails. Removing cuticle overgrowth is a key step. I apply this all around my cuticles, wait a bit (you can wait longer that it says), then use the thumbnail of my opposite hand to push back/scrape the cuticles. I typically do this twice. Find this at drug stores and mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.

2. Orly Bonder. This rubberized basecoat overrides any oily residue on your nails and gives your polish something to stick to, another secret of a long-lasting mani. Find this at Sally Beauty.

2.5. Apply your favorite shade of polish. I'm a firm believer that if you use the right base and top coats, any brand of polish can work. Some of my favorites that vary widely in price are OPI, China Glaze, Sally Hansen and NYC.

3. NYC Grand Central Station. This is my new HG topcoat... it works just as well as the pricy Seche Vite, but it's only $2! You know I love a bargain. Find this at drug stores and mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target.

4. Poshe Cuticle Care.  Keeping your cuticles neat and free of hang-nails is another secret to making your manicure last longer. This product is fabulous and I massage this into my cuticles twice a day to prevent hangnails and prevent cuticle buildup. Find this at Ulta for around $9.

5. Nail Polish Remover Dip-It. I change my polish pretty often, and this little treasure makes it quick and easy. Inside this tub are plastic bristles that really help scrub the polish off. Find this at mass-market retailers like Wal-Mart and Target for around $3.

Now, if you are trying to remove a glitterbomb polish, that's another issue, and you'll need to visit this post on my nail blog to see the trick for that.

Do you have any nail products to recommend to me? I love trying new products and would love to hear about your favorites!

Did you know I love nail polish so much that I've got a separate blog just for my nail polish reviews and pictures? Visit me at http://www.manicuremommas.com/ if you like nail polish as much as I do!

Ch-ch-ch-changes......

Oh friends! I have a had BIG life change! I am no longer working outside the home! 

After about 17.5 years with the same employer, Mr. Sasha and I decided in the fall that it was time for me to spend some more time concentrating on our family, and specifically, our kids. I resigned from my full-time position in September, but let them know I'd be open to staying on in a part-time position. So I've been working about 20 hours a week to help with the transition since then, and last week was my last week. Hallelujah! You've never seen someone pack their office so fast! Ha!

I've been having the best time getting our house decorated and organized. I'm embarrassed to say that we've been in this house since 2000 and it has always looked like we just moved in. Or were renting..... Not much on the walls, not much decorating.

But now! I have the gift of time!

  

Here is one of my first purchases: Will had this giant blank area next to his bed, and I found the perfect canvas at Hobby Lobby, in the clearance section no less. It adds so much to the room.

And don't you love my new dining room decorations? Ha! Those, my friends, are just part of the 200 cases of cookies Reese's troop ordered. I'm serving as Cookie Mom for the third year and so we operate a bit of a cookie store at our house. The kids love it and are learning so much about business. If you are local and need some cookies, you better believe I can hook you up!

So hopefully you'll be hearing a bit more from me. I  have lots of books to read and report on, lots of decorating projects, and lots of new recipes I am trying. I am so excited about this next chapter in my life!

Recommendation: Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child

Last fall when I did an online bible study over Renee Swope's book A Confident Heart, I also purchased her book Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child.

The book includes:

• 24 character traits
• Related Bible verses for each trait
• Easy-to-understand definitions
• Creative and easy ideas to live out what you learn
• Lists of traits that represent the "dirt" that buries the gold and Bible verses for correction

I decided we'd take one of the character traits each week and focus on it. I framed this week's trait in our kitchen, along with the definition, and we've been discussing it over dinner, reading the bible verses that go with it and talking about different situations and opportunities to use this character trait. I think it's going to be a neat family project for us to do this year!

Say Goodbye to Survival Mode Challenge: Day 6 (Find an Accountability Partner)

Today is my Day 6 of Money Saving Mom's "Say Goodbye to Survival Mode Challenge".

Day 6 of this 7 day challenge is "Find An Accountability Partner". I am definitely an introvert, and after reading about this I decided that the Chore Planner I purchased for $6 from Motivated Moms would definitely work here.

I am LOVING my chore planner! 

The Motivated Moms Chore Planners map out a plan for what chores you should do each day and week to stay on top of your household organization and keep your home in great shape.

I don't promise that I will get every single task done every day but I always have the weekend to try to catch up! I just like have the accountability of having items to check off a list.

12 Months to a Healthier You

I think Money Saving Mom is my new favorite website! Last Friday she posted about her 12 Months to a Healthier You challenge and I decide this would be perfect for me to participate in!

 

January's focus area is exercise.

Now that I know my weight gain was most likely casued by my recently-diagnosed Celiac Disease, I am working pretty hard on getting back in shape. I've already lost a few pounds and have more energy, so I decided I was ready to start a new exercise program in the new year. I have done several Beach Body programs in the past and really did like them, but there is just something about Jillian Michaels that I LOVE! I guess Amazon knew this because right after the first of the year they alerted me to a special deal on her Body Revolution program and of course I jumped on it.

Jillian Michaels Body Revolution

 

The best way to describe the program is this description I found in the reviews section: "There are 15 dvds (12 strength, 3 cardio). Each workout is 4 circuits and 25-35 minutes. The cardio dvds include a single circuit repeated 3 times. You change strength dvds every 2 weeks and cardio dvds each month. You workout 6 days per week (2 days of cardio and 4 days of strength)."

 

I've already got one full week under my belt and I LOVE this program! 30 minutes is totally doable.

 

Do you have a fitness goal for the new year? Want to join the challenge with me?