ABC Jar Find It Style

Being the mother of a 4 year old is a lot like being a boy scout... We have the same motto anyhow. Always Be Prepared. For me, that means always have a change of clothes, baby wipes, a snack and toys on hand.

In my purse you will always find a few small toys. While I like for Roo to play with cars, action figures and puzzles- I want to keep him entertained and I want him to learn or to brush up on what he knows via playtime whenever it is possible.

I created the perfect size toy for carrying in a handbag or diaper bag. This is ideal for pulling out on a long car trip or at a restaurant.

To make an ABC Jar : Find It Style  you will need:

a small baby food jar ( I used Beechnut Stage 2 size)
beads
foam abc beads
glue

Make sure your baby food jar is clean and dry.

Pour your beads into the jar, filling it 3/4 of the way full

Add 10-15 ABC Foam Beads

Line the lid with glue
Seal the jar
Shake

There you have a DIY toy that will help kids with letter recognition and keep them busy shaking the jars to find more letters.

My idea behind this was that Roo knows his ABC's really well, practicing letter recognition out of the sequence he recognizes the alphabet in would be good practice.

Whenever I pull the ABC Jar out of my purse I get an average of 6 minutes of entertainment while Roo is shaking and spotting letters.

Rice Krispie Treats: 5 Ways

My family holds the opinion that there should always be treats in the cookie jar... I am not much of a baker but I can meet them in the middle and hook up Rice Krispie style treats on a moments notice. Thanks to all of the awesome bloggers that link up with us at Tell Me About It Tuesday I have an array of yummy recipes to try out on my family and I couldn't resist sharing a collection of Rice Krispie Treat recipes.

Peanut Butter Cup Rice Krispie Treats combine 3 of my favorite things. Check out the recipe on the 3 Boys and a Dog site.

My Coconut Rice Krispie Treats were a hit with the 6 and under crowd.

Bitz N Giggles shared the cutest dessert ever! Rice Krispie Treat Ice Cream Cones are on my list to make asap.

Crystal and Comp shared Not Your Mama's Rice Krispie Treats- don't miss this colorful and delicious recipe.

Cocoa Pebble Treats are always a hit with my family.

A Checklist for Mountain Biking in Punta Cana

A trip to Punta Cana is a dream for many travelers. The location is stunning and the atmosphere makes even the weariest traveler feel at home. The lush landscapes and ample opportunities to relax or embark on an adventure make this unlike any other place on Earth. A trip to Punta Cana is not complete without a mountain bike tour of the area.

A mountain bike tour is the perfect way to see the real Punta Cana. You will glimpse the daily life of locals, pass through villages and learn so much about the country simply by passing by on your bike!

To help you prepare for an excellent trip through the modern foothill trails that can take you off the beaten path or the ancient coastal path, or wherever your legs may pedal you I have a checklist to help you make the most of your Punta Cana mountain bike excursion.

1. Get fitted for equipment. A helmet and a good bike are essential and you don't want to find your bike is not the correct size, or your helmet is too small after you start pedaling!

2. Pack gloves, glasses, sunscreen, and water! These are essential items for any ride!

3.Create a repair kit. Get a spare tube for your bike, or a patch kit. Should an issue arise, you will want to continue the ride! A compact pump is also a good choice for an adventure!

4. Pack a few small personal items for comfort. A change of socks, lip balm and an energy bar make good options for staying fueled and comfy on any ride.

5.View maps of the areas you wish to explore to gauge distance, terrain, difficulty of the ride and more. Be sure to let someone know where you are headed before you pedal off into the sunrise!

6. Remember that eyewear should also always be on the list. While biking, dust and other particles can quickly get into your eye and cause irritation. Therefore, it’s essential to always remember eyeglasses or sunglasses to offer protection and comfort. Luckily, there are many options available to ensure you get exactly what you need while also looking great! The last thing you want while trekking up a mountain is to get something in your eye while trying to maintain your balance, so rather be safe than sorry and invest in a pair of glasses.

After you return, get ready to rest your sore muscles at a great home away from home, like one of these Punta Cana Hotels. You might take in a massage to rejuvenate your body and spirit after your mountain bike tour, or grab a bite to eat at one of the exquisite restaurants.

Of course, after seeing the sights of Punta Cana by bike, there is no shame in heading to the beach, where a serene surf awaits you. Punta Cana is known for its gorgeous stretches of beach with clear blue seas. Snorkeling, wind sailing, kayaking and more await for you for a seaside adventure unlike any other! If you feel like relaxing with the soundtrack of the ocean to soothe you, that is a completely possible goal too!

Punta Cana is the perfect place to mix adventure with relaxation. The offerings of this popular vacation spot for luxury travel are vast and varied, making it possible to explore the area on a mountain bike, pamper yourself at the spa, indulge your preference for local fare and gourmet flavors and to soak up the sun poolside or seaside on any given day.

Black & Blue Pancakes With Krusteaz

My family loves breakfast! Every other weekend we go to breakfast together. My husband likes scrambled eggs, my daughter likes biscuits. My son, he is a sausage guy. Me? I like runny eggs and toast. But there is one food we can all agree on. And it is not uncommon for me to make a huge batch of pancakes on a whim and feed them to my family as breakfast, lunch or dinner, or sometimes a combination of the three.

This week has been a very busy one. So busy in fact that I have not made it to the grocery store yet. After looking in an empty refrigerator and an empty freezer I considered my options... We could order out. But we do pizza way too often...

I had a few boxes of Krusteaz Pancake and Waffle Mixes in my cabinet. On a whim I came up with a delicious pancake that was as easy to make as 1,2,3.

Black & Blue Pancakes

2 cups of Krusteaz Blueberry Pancake Mix
1/2 cup of crushed black walnuts
1 cup of water
1/3 cup of milk


Mix ingredients well. Let the batter rest for about 10 minutes. 
Heat your griddle to 325 degrees. Spray with cooking spray.

Pour 1/4 cup portions of batter onto the griddle.
Flip when the bubbling of the batter slows.
Cook for an additional minute.
Serve warm, with butter and your choice of syrup.





My family really liked these fluffy, nutty, fruity pancakes! This recipe is a keeper. My husband liked the strong nutty flavor that black walnuts offer, but if you do not like the intense flavor of black walnut, feel free to use regular walnuts, finely chopped. With the walnuts falling from trees right now this is a great time to pin this recipe for a great future breakfast.

If you feel lucky enter to win a great breakfast pack from Krusteaz! One lucky reader will win:
Buttermilk Pancake Mix (1), Blueberry Pancake Mix (1), Belgian Waffle Mix (1) and Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix (1) as well as Krusteaz coupons for free product.


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Travel With Kids: What to Do in Richland County Ohio

My family had the chance to visit Richland County last month. This was a big step for us, to be branching out into the arena of family travel. Once upon a time, my husband and I could throw a few items in a bag and hit the open road, a trip to the beach {700 miles...} no problem... now we have 2 kids. Our traveling has up until this point has been limited to the time frame of 15 minutes between stops to wipe a nose, find a binky, retrieve a lost toy. Richland County was the perfect place to start our travel adventures as a family. Let me tell you why.

First off, Richland County offers so many possibilities for family entertainment and activities! My kids were thrilled to visit the Mansfield Fire Museum. The display of working firetrucks of the past had my son so excited he could not contain himself. My husband and I enjoyed learning about the history of the area, the fire chiefs of the past and the replicated scenes from Mansfield.

One of the many fire trucks on display at the Mansfield Fire Museum

My daughter adored the trip to the Richland Carousel Park in downtown Mansfield, but my son went wild for it. This is a lovely carousel that has the distinction of being the only new, hand carved carousel to be made in the USA since the 1930's. The animals are lovely, beautifully detailed. The ride goes surprisingly fast to the delight of kids. The music? Classic! It completes the experience in a wonderful way. We loved the gift shop as well, they had tons of great trinkets and toys to make ideal souvenirs.  We loved that the rides are affordable and the carousel was truly a work of art.

Girls just wanna have fun on the carousel...
funny faces for selfies anyone?

He loved it! He wanted to do it again and again! 

Roo loved the carousel. He is still talking about it!

Malabar Farm was the home of famed author Louis Bromfield, this is a lovely property with a rich history. Unfortunately I cannot share much of that with you, we found that the house tour and wagon ride of the property were not child friendly. At least not for our fussy kids. I managed to get a few photos before being effectively sent on my way with my squawking kids. My husband and I agreed we would love to return, without the kids someday. Either way, we are going to try to visit again for Heritage Days this month.

The desk of Bromfield

Papers still in the drawer of the desk.

I will be featuring the Ohio State Reformatory in a post later this week, as well as the scoop on where to stay and what to eat while you are in town with the kids. Have you ever been to Mansfield or Richland County? If so, give us the goods on what is good, what is fun and where feels like home!