Using Yaktraks for Outdoor Running/Walking in the Winter

Not sure what to do about the ice or snow outside but the weather is finally getting warmer to where you actually want to get outside to walk or run? Then consider getting a pair of YakTrax. I haven't used them for running, but have used them for walking and they work well. They just pull over your boots or shoes and you are ready to go! I bought these for myself and thought other people might be wondering just what they might need to run or walk in Minnesota in the warmer winter months.

Where Did We Go Wednesday? St. Paul Winter Carnival

 For the first time, we attended the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. Unfortunately, it was the last day of the carnival that usually last around 2 weeks. So you won't be able to attend at this year but you can add it to your list of ideas to do next year. It is free to walk through Rice Park.

 We only went to the activities at the rice Park location but there were other events going on at the State Fairgrounds. At the rice Park location is where you will find the ice castle and all of the ice sculptures. There is also a stage that host a variety of performers.

We coupled this with a visit to the Science Museum and just walked the one block from the science museum to Rice Park.

Review: Ice Castles

The Ice Castles experience wasn't open for very long in Minnesota this year. Last year we missed out on it because they closed just two days before we were supposed to go. This year they had closed briefly in January because the weather was warm and the castles were melting and they couldn't keep adding more ice to them. Thankfully they reopened and continue to grow the castles and the experiences taller.

As soon as I had heard they were reopened I immediately went on to book tickets for us but found that the first weekend they were reopened they had already sold out of every time available. I promptly then looked at the next weekend after and obtained our tickets to go then. We had heard from friends who had went a couple years ago that the best time to go to see the castle both during the daytime and also lit up at night is to go around 5 p.m. so that is exactly what we did.

You will see some of the pictures here are colored lights that they have at night and some pictures are obviously taken during daylight. It was an incredible experience and I had some amazing photographs as a result. The kids had a fun time and enjoyed going down the big ice slide.

There is some entertainment there on the weekends as well. Because my kids are older we didn't care to be there when the Disney Princesses were, but we did arrange our timing to be there when the fire dancers were there. It was quite packed when watching the fire dancers and it was hard to see unless you were right in the front. After a while we just chose to go explore the castle one more time before we left that evening. On your way out they give each person a button if they choose.

I know this is an experience that my kids will not forget and I now have a desire to see real life ice castles up north that are created by Mother Nature.

You may be able to still check out Ice Castles in other states, but it was just too warm in Minnesota this winter for it to be here for too long. If anything, add it to your winter bucket list for next winter!

Review: Scrape-A-Round Complete System

We have had a few opportunities now to try out and review the Scrape -A- Round. Scraping off ice from your windshield and windows on your vehicle is always a tedious task. We often are parked inside the garage and don't need to worry about that unless we have gone somewhere and are parked outside. In those instances we have had the opportunity to try this out, plus we had a pretty warm January.

I was sent the complete I scraping system which cells for $18 for the three pack. The blue and the red are virtually the same type of scraper. They are the larger at the scrapers and have an attachment that goes on the top to help chip or scrape away tougher ice. The green ice scraper is actually two ice scrapers in one. The larger end of the green scraper is smaller than the blue and the red but the top of that one removes and has a smaller Scraper on it.

My husband said he really liked how it covered a larger area at one time and seem to remove quicker doing a circular motion than the standard ice creepers that you go back and forth in a narrow strip. The one time we had an issue trying to scrape off was when we had a very thick layer of ice on our vehicle but I don't think any scraper could have really scrape that off where we ended up running the vehicle with the heat on high to help loosen the ice and then used the scraper to scrape the ice off.

You can purchase this on their website, Scrape-A-Round.

15% OFF at Ice Castles in Eden Prairie!!!!

WHAT: Acre-sized, all-ice castle in Eden Prairie, MN. One of four Ice Castles in America.

WHERE: 17970 East Miller Parkway

Eden Prairie, MN 55347 USA

WHEN: Jan 23rd -March 5th

M - Th: 3pm to 9pm

Tuesday: Closed

Friday: 3pm to 10pm

Sat: Noon to 10pm

Sunday: noon - 8pm

VISUALS: -- Amazing ice features including archways, tunnels, slot canyons, ice slide, caverns, glacial waterfalls and a frozen throne.

-- Kids and families squeezing, squishing, sliding, stomping and crawling through parts of the stunning, Narnia-like display.

-- Natural frozen ice tones during the day; colorful LED-lit ice set to music at night.

My readers get to save off admission! Fun and Unique experience with your family at Amazing Ice Castles! UT,NH,MN,and AB! Save 15% off admission! .@usfg USE CODE: USFAMILY

Wordless Wednesday: Women's Wellness Weekend at Long Lake Conservation Center

These are all pictures from the Karmady Yoga and Fitness Women's Wellness Weekend at Long Lake Conservation Center in Palisade, MN.

You can see some of the activities I did below, but all of them include  Archery, Power Yoga, Cross Country Skiing, Kick Boxing, a Sunset Hike, a couple of talks & meals, and a comedian on Saturday night.

Wordless Wednesday: Darn Near Full Moon Family Event

Since this is a Wordless Wednesday post, I am not going to go in to a long post. I just want to say that my family and I had a fun time at this Darn Near Full Moon Family Event, which was a FREE event put on my Owatonna Park & Recreation. We pretty much did everything they were offering that included:

• Ice Skating
• Storytime Trail to read "The Mitten"
• Berenstain Bears Movie (indoors) with hot cocoa and cookies
• Bonfire with hot dogs (outside)

Wordless Wednesday: Sledding and Snowboarding

These pictures were all taken a month ago, it was out first time to get out sledding and snowboarding at our local park. We invited several friends to join us and we had a blast.

#ad Review: Glerups 100% Pure & Natural Wool Slippers

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but these Glerups are so delightful....

Wait? That's not how it goes? Well, I think it should. I am sitting her typing up my review on these Glerups 100% Pure and Natural Wool Slippers while my kids are home because of an early release from school for Blizzard conditions and the first thing I do when I walk in the door is take off my snow boots and put on my Glerups Slipper Boots. Trading one pair of boots for another has been my story the past couple weeks when I received my pair. 

I picked out this pair of slipper boots because my ankles have a tendency to get cold and then I become chilled to the bone and find it really hard to work up unless I get my feet warm again. I think my thermostat is in my feet and I dislike having cold feet because that means the rest of me will be cold. I have not have cold feet once since receiving these slippers. I have not once put on any of my other pairs of slippers because I LOVE these Glerups boots so much!

The slipper is made of 100% pure wool on all sides, including the bottom. Underneath he bottom of the slipper, the sole is made up of a calfskin. The bottoms of my feet so protected from the cold. We have an old house with lots of hardwood floors and my craft room in the basement has a cement floor and I have not felt the cold through the bottoms at all.

Boot-style slippers are not the only style they carry. You can also get Glerups slippers in a shoe-style, ballerina-flat syle, and slip-on style, as well as styles for kids and babies. They even make insoles (in 2 colors) that you can put in all kinds of shoes and boots. After using these slippers for a couple weeks now, I am thinking I need to help make my boots even warmer. I have a high quality winter boot that normally keep me warm when I am active outside, but I found that when I was ice fishing with my husband and was just sitting there with my boots on the ice that my feet started to get cold. I think these Glerups insoles could be perfect addition to my winter boots and I am sure it will be the same high quality wool that have been keeping my feel warm inside. They even make insoles and slippers in a size that would fit my husband's size 14 boot.

My Glerups boot slippers are fitted nicely to my foot make me feel like I am wearing hardly anything on my feet. With my other slippers there is so much loose space that I notice I am wearing them as I walk around. The stay fit to my foot and do not slide off or slip around. They are awesome!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. I in my Glerups USA slippers and Pa in his cap have just settled down for a long winters nap.

I was sent the above slippers for the purpose of review on this blog. All thoughts, opinions and photographs belong to this blog. No monetary compensation was received.

Wordless Wednesday: Sledding at Straight River Park

Try It Tuesday: Scrappy Snowman

This was a super fun project to do with the kids. Everything here was a leftover. Last year we did a snowman project where we used these foam snowman from the Dollar Tree and these were leftover and in my craft storage.

I just got out my canister of scraps and leftovers that I have been taking out with all our recent art projects so the kids can customize how they want. And some markers as well!

The hat on one of the snowman is actually made from a juice pouch that my daughter cut out and glued on. Sometimes your recycling bin can be a great source of art supplies!

Some other Snowman Ideas you might like checking out on Save Green Being Green include:

• Snow Theme Playdate
• Preschool Theme: Snow
• Lego Snowman
• Juice Lid Snowman Activity
• Baby Food Jar Snow Globe
• Bubble Wrap Print Snowman
• Marshmallow Snowman Craft
• Melted Snowman Cookies
• Snowman Dress Sewing Project

Wordless Wednesday: Ice Skating at Medford Ice Park

I feel very fortunate that our little city decided to put the ice park in again this year. There are 2 rinks, one for skating and one for ice hockey and we have a staffed warming house (during staffed hours). It is a nice addition to our community and I think it helps develop pride in our community and support community involvement, especially among families. I hope we can get there many more times this season to skate!