This has been a fun summer so far

While stores are getting ready for back to school sales, I'm still finishing up the summer activities with my kiddos. The Lego store started giving away the second Lego Star Wars poster in the once-a-month promotion they run. Now until the 28th I believe, buy ANY Star Wars merchandise and you get the newest poster. 

Next one comes around July 20-26. 

Any I do mean ANY Star Wars purchase. I bought a small keychain for $5 to get mine. Plus Carlos hooked me up with a Ninjago dual-sided poster. 

After the Lego store we went to Barnes and Noble to turn in our book list and get our free books. The kids picked out some cool ones. I wish I could've gotten one...

Sadly it's one per child, per summer. They do have a great variety of books though. So get reading! And enjoy the last bit of summer. 

A busy weekend, but full of fun!

I spent Thursday night after work cleaning and making the cake. today, Friday has been spent catching up on reviews and finishing up laundry. While I was at it, I started some organizing to clean up what I have. 

This is what happens when I'm stuck with the kids at home and don't have to work. 
My oldest also finally lost that second tooth. Both of his adult teeth grew in behind his baby teeth. He was updating me daily and even hourly today on how much more "wiggly" it had gotten. Along with asking, "Mom, do you want to feel it move?" 

My daughter wanted to color her princess pictures. It has been determined that pink is most definitely her favorite color. Can you see why? 

I've taken some breaks in between. We watched John Carter since it arrived from Disney Movie Rewards. Soon we will be chasing bad guys through the wild west with the Lone Ranger! 

I love my new Star Wars book mark too! I found an article about the future Star Wars movie. December will be a special month for sure! 

I also had a chance to surf the internet. My mom clued me in to a channel on YouTube that I have now fallen in love with. Check out Story of This Life. The video for today? This is probably why divorce rates are so high in America.

Tomorrow I will take the kids to Toys R Us for a Lego building event.

And  then perhaps get a visit from my dad who flew in from Florida. And I've made a special treat for a get together with friends from my job. 

This is what I started with. 

This is how they ended up. 

They didn't come out just like they should have. 

But hopefully next time they will. 

One more thing I found that I wanted to share was this link with some very helpful hacks for cleaning. This was on the Krazy Coupon Lady blog. 

Subscription box savings

Bramble Box is offering 30% off your first box purchase.

Just use the code SUMMER30 at checkout. These boxes are designed for kids 3-8 to encourage exploration and imagination. They also come with free shipping. 

Time Saving, Creative Fun Do you wish you had more time to pull together creative activities for your kids? Let us save you some running around. Bramble box monthly subscription boxes and pretend play prop boxes for kids age 3 - 8 contain all the materials required for hours of open-ended fun; building and strengthening essential development skills. Including themed, pretend play props, crafts, activities and more! We save you time by sending mom designed activities to your door every month or just once. Encourage Open-ended Educational Play Materials are carefully selected to be versatile, to allow children to extend and elaborate on their play. Hours of fun and learning. Hand's On Activity ideas are included for additional inspiration. Each kit is designed to nurture the imagination and allow children to explore the world around them. Themed A new theme - like post office, detective, scientist, florist or community helper - every month.  Lots of Options Buy a single box or a monthly or 3, 6, 12 month subscription for extra savings. Graze is another one with a deal going on. Right now you can get your first box free to try some snacks and also get free shipping. You sign up for the subscription like normal and just have to cancel future subscriptions or if you like what you see, it will automatically deduct the amount from your payment information in the subsequent months. Its certainly a neat idea. Snacks by mail!

Mediterranean Snacks have a new product review

I love being a brand ambassador for Mediterranean Snacks. They always send such yummy treats to try out. The latest big box they sent out was filled with what they call Bean Stalks.

These are straw-like chips made from beans! Extra crunchy with that salty flavor that is still better than your leading brand chips. Plus the beans give these snacks added fiber value which is better for your digestion. You won't have colorful fingertips for your kids to decorate the furniture or their clothing with either. They use cannellini, green and pinto beans to make these. There are three flavors; BBQ,

cheddar,

and sea salt.

My kids definitely devoured the BBQ and cheddar ones first. I love the crunchy and flavorful addition they bring to our snacking habits. They have 50% less fat than regular chips. This is how its put when you pose the question, Why beans? 

"Beans have been a staple in the Mediterranean region for centuries, packed with protein and nutrients our bodies crave.

This modern day superfood, allows us to create better-for-you snacks with simple, ancient ingredients."

As a bonus, they sent me this nifty little notepad with pen.

Its perfectly pocket-sized and good for someone constantly writing while on the go! 
I sent some out to friends and family. One bag accompanied my friend and her family on the road from Texas to Florida. They sent me this picture when they stopped to snack. 

So check them out!