This content is sponsored by Kohl’s as a part of their #DestinationSummer campaign.  Although this is a sponsored post, all opinions (and crazy comments) are always my own.

This week, I’m excited to be working with Kohl’s and some truly amazing bloggers on the #DestinationSummer project. 

In addition to their Pinterest Virtual Road Trip, Kohl’s also has a great in store campaign taking place this summer called “FindYourYes”. 

The idea is to find what matters to you. 

For us parents, a huge ‘Yes’ is our kids.

But while I was watching the #FindYourYes video and thinking about my kids, I began to wonder – what’s their “Yes”; what are the things that matter to my kids?

  You are going to LOVE me when you taste today’s post! Seriously, it’s one of those “how did I not know about this sooner!” type of snacks 🙂 We were planning a family movie night this week — trying to decide whether to watch an old Muppets movie or find a newer flick to …

 

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Sprint. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and to thank me for participating

There were two things uttered almost immediately when we opened the box for the newest phone review in the Sprint Ambassador program and saw the Kyocera Hydro Vibe Smartphone —

The first was “Man, I wish we had this when my phone went into the washing machine!”

And the second, “This would be the PERFECT first phone for my tween who drops everything” 😉

Wow has summer just flown by or what?!  The kids only have a few more weeks before they start classes here (they are NOT ready to go back) and this is the last topic in our Summer Science series.

If you’ve missed the previous science projects and booklists, please check out the links at the bottom of the post — Trisha (Inspiration Laboratories) and I have had such a fun time pulling together hands-ons science and many of the activities can be used year round!

 

Time with the kids is precious. 

You really begin to understand this as the kids grow up and especially as those long, relaxing days of summer turn into the more busy back-to-school hours that are beginning this month.

When the kids are born, you have approximately 940 Saturdays together before they fly the coop.  Yes, someone somewhere counted up all those days and we get less than a thousand weekends (really not much when you look at it like that, is it).

When they’re young, “The days are long but the years are short” as Gretchen Rubin would say.  Then they get older and both the days and the years fly by quickly.

I only have 55 more Saturdays with my oldest.

And here’s what’s been eating at me lately — as the kids get older, their schedule becomes full of things (fun things) that they want to do.  BUT (and it’s a big but), they still REALLY need that time with you!

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone.

 

I know, we all dread them — the annual requests for fundraisers.

Just this past week, I’ve received notices about the middle school fundraiser, the choir fundraiser, the Senior class fundraiser and a fall fundraiser.

I’m all for helping the schools to raise money but my time is limited and I don’t like to continually ask family and friends to support these causes (heck, they all have kids too).

BUT, there is one fundraiser that I can get behind 100% —

because it doesn’t cost me any additional money or time

AND the kids can do it all on their own!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Sprint. I received a sample device to facilitate this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

 

You know when the stars seem to align and a few things just fall into place at the right time.  Well, that’s just what happened when we received our newest Sprint item to review this month.

 

 

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.   I’ve been in a parenting quandary lately. My oldest is a senior in high school (I know – when the hell did that happen!)  And as we are doing college prep and visiting campuses, it’s really hitting me …

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.   Sometimes kids so want to make a difference in the world and do something AMAZING – yet their age can get in the way.  Like many kids, my daughter is a HUGE animal lover.  She’s in  love with …

We were compensated for this post by Blickenstaff’s as part of a campaign with The Mom It Forward Blogger Network and are thrilled to be working with them to share more about family traditions.   This is the time of the year when I always revisit our family traditions.  I don’t know if it’s the …