FREE Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

My kids have done this program the past couple years. It's fun and easy and helps keep them reading all summer long.

From the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Website:

Kids Earn a Free Book!

Here is How

Step 1. Fill out the Summer Reading Triathlon Reading Journal (PDF).
Step 2. Bring the completed Reading Journal to your local B&N store. Find a Store.
Step 3. Choose a FREE BOOK from our selection on the Reading Journal list at the store... Enjoy reading!

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Our closest Barnes and Noble is about an hour away, so we usually combine it with some other summer field trip I plan with the kids and hit up the one at the Mall of America.

If I had to guess what books they would pick, I am sure my daughter will pick the American Girl one "Lea Dives In". For my son, I am inclined to say he might pick out the "My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish".

#ad DIY 18" Doll Nightgown Kit

My Thoughts:

I love that this DADM 18" Doll Nightgown Kit comes with everything you need to complete this project. My 9 year old daughter started hand sewing this winter and has been making little projects for her dolls and stuffed animals and was very excited to try a larger project. The instructions are simple and easy to follow. My daughter easily made this on her own with only some minor verbal instructions from me. It comes with a pattern that kids have to cut out and a piece of fabric. The pattern is basically a long rectangle with two rectangles on the top for the sleeves, so there is no curves to cut around, just simple straight cuts. The fabric has finished edges which helps make it have a more finished look without the child having to hem anything.

My daughter has saved the pattern and plans to look for some remnants at JoAnn's so that she can create a t-shirt for her American Girl dolls by shortening the length of the gown to shirt length. She wants to now get the leopard print kit to make a top and pants for one of her dolls.

My daughter found it easier to sew the pieces when she had it on her doll that just holding the pieces in her hands when she got to the top of the arms and shoulders so that she knew how far she should sew in so she had enough room for the head to go in and out of.

I was given this product to review for free or a discount. No monetary compensation was received. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are my own.

Buy this DADM 18" Doll Nightgown Kit on Amazon!!!

10 FREE Summer Camps & Classes for Kids

There are a variety of Summer Camps out there for FREE for kids. Yes, I did say FREE camp!  None of them are overnight camp, but you can provide your children with activities and socialization (and some learning too!) during the day.

• Maker Camp by Google - There may be a location near you that is providing this program, or you can do the program online. Check out the website to find out more info and look for locations.
• Bass Pro Shops FREE Family Summer Camp - A variety of camp experience including archery, casting, crafts, smores and more.
• Apple Store Camp - My daughter did one of these camps last year. She did the iBook camp and had a blast learning about it and creating her own story. You do not need to have any Apple products to do this camp, they provide them for use while they attend.
• Microsoft Young Developers - I don't know much about these classes but you can better that I will be keeping my eye out for classes that will be of interest to my kids. It looks like one of the camps teaches them about coding.
• American Girl Events - Some events are FREE, but some do have a cost associated with them. Check out what is available on their website. Not all activities are available at each locations. We have done some of the free craft activities at the Mall of America location. Some other events include a book club, shows, dining events, hair styling tutorials and more!
• Vacation Bible School - In my experience, church's do not require for you to be members in order for your children to attend their VBS. Many VBS programs are free or have a nominal fee or will ask for donations. Call or check the websites or nearby churches to see what is offered.
• Summer School - So, this may not be camp, but often a child can attend summer school even if they are not required to do so. Check with your school to see if it is offered and if it is a free program or if any fees are associated.
• Library Summer Programs - Many library have free classes, shows and activities during the summer. They are usually only 1-2 hours long. Check with your nearest libraries to see what they have planned. Remember, you can go to libraries in other communities as well. You might not be able to check out books unless they are part your library system, but you can still attend their programs. Be sure to find out if you need to reserve a spot at a particular activities. Library programs can be very well attended.
• Places to Go Camping for FREE - this is a good place to start to see where you can take your family camping for free. There are locations in every state
• Summer Camp at Home - You can read all about how I planned an overnight "traditional" camp experience for my daughter with another friend and two of her daughters in my post about MOM Camp. I also plan to do some day camp themes at home with both of my kids and have created pinterest board to gather my ideas, feel free to follow my boards and do these same cay camps at home.
• Plants vs. Zombies (gardening and plants)
• American Girl Camp (camping is miniaturized for dolls and stuffed animals)
• Wild Kratts - Aquatic Habitat (all water animals, sea life and things to do with water)

Also be sure to check with your local park and recreation department, community education and ECFE (if you live in MN) programs because they often offer classes and camps for a low cost.

Don't forget to check out some other FREE printables from my blog:

• 102 Things to Do This Summer
• Summer Goals Printable (fill in with 10 things you hope to do)

Homemade Christmas Gifts

This holiday season our family has received so many awesome homemade gifts from friends and family and I wanted to share with you the hard work others have done. Maybe these ideas will help give you some ideas of your own for gifts that you want to make in the future.

This is my son with his Stegasaurus backpack and hat that my parents gave him.

This is my wooden door mat that my parents made for me.

This is my daughter with the quiver my parents made for her. Her arrows are all at home and weren't available for this picture, but she is anxious to use this with them when she goes to Archery practice.

Some yummy ice cream toppings that my parents made (well, probably just my mom.)

This is some homemade lavender-mint fabric softener that a friend made. I have already been using it so the cute tied on label is gone, plus 1/4 of the fabric softener is gone.

My MIL made me this present, which will go to the cabin with us. It is a table runner (folded in half in this picture), a button on towel, napkins, and potholders.

My parents made this wooden slide-in sofa side table for my husband. He actually has one they made him a couple years ago but we use it so often (usually the kids have confiscated it) that he really wanted to have a second one.

My MIL made this beautiful dress for my daughter and a matching one for her American Girl doll. 

My daughter made me this bracelet.

My son made these bird feeders for his grandparents.

What is missing from these pictures of homemade gifts we received are:

* Winter Survival Kit (we have already taken this apart to use, it had in it Kleenex, Airborne, Ricola cough drops, lip balm, hot cocoa, and tea) - from my parents

* Homemade Candies - caramels and peanut clusters made and given by a friend in book club

* Homemade Playdough with a cookie cutter- for my son from his preschool teacher

* Handpainted Snowman Jar filled with a tealight and candies made by my son while at preschool

* Elf/SantaCandy Jars filled with Hersey kisses and a little felt hat on top and black belt for the kids from my parents

* Hand painted picture of our cabin from one of my friends (this is still in process, I was just given a picture of the work in progress so I haven't actually received it)

Plus, I wouldn't want to forget about the gifts of time a couple of friends have given me. One friend treated me to a pedicure at a local spa and another friend took to to a dinner at a winery with thieving from the barrel. 

Gosh, I hope I didn't forget any homemade gifts. They are all wonderful and I really appreciate the time people have spent making those gifts and thinking of us. 

We also received lots of other wonderful gifts that we are extremely thankful to have received and feel very blessed to be gifted with. We are very fortunate.

Thrifty Thursday: Cheap Belt Idea for an American Girl Doll

These top two pictures you can see how we used a dog collar from the dollar store as a belt for an American Girl Doll. We picked out one that had rhinestones on one side, so we could use it to look like a dressy sash on a dress, or you can see below when we turn it around it looks like a typical belt.

$1!!! That's it!!! A size Small dog collar from the Dollar Tree and now we have a cheap way to accessorize my daughter's American Girl Dolls. For other thrifty American Girl Doll ideas, check out my post "Thrifty Guide to the American Girl Culture" as well as my other posts on Save Green Being Green involving American Girl Doll Crafts.

Try It Tuesday: Make a Scarf! 15 Options!

Which Scarf Will You Make?

Sequins and Lace Cowl

Chunky Cowl

Quick and Easy Loopy Scarf 

Ruffle Scarf

Skinny Looped Infinity Scarf

Loom Knit Snake Scarf

Loom Knit Ribbons Scarf

Handmade Fleece Scarf and Mittens

Wide Figure Eight Scarf

Leftover Fabric Scarf

Straw Weaving Scarf #1

Straw Weaving Scarf #2

American Girl Doll Scarf

Two T-Shirt Scarves

Try It Tuesday: American Girl Glass Magnets

If you have an American Girl fan in your family, you know just how much the dolls, clothes and accessories all cost. There are even American Girl craft kits, that are not exactly cheap either. But you know what is free? The American Girl catalogs they send you! And that is exactly what we used to make these magnets.

Supplies Needed:
* American Girl Catalog (or any other type of catalog or magazine you want to cut pictures out of)
* Clear Glass Pebbles (Available at Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart, and craft stores)
* Heavy Duty Adhesive
* Magnets

Directions:
Cut out the picture you want to use to the size of the glass stone. The stone will have a flat side and a rounded side. Apply adhesive to the flat side and press your picture on top (image facing the pebble so that you can see it through the rounded front). You can then put more adhesive on the back picture right away and press a magnet on top. Allow to dry for 24 hours before using. Quick & Simple!

Wordless Wednesday: American Girl Bistro w/ LINKY

My daughter's choice for an after shopping treat was the 

American Girl Bistro 

at the Mall of America