Sprouts Garden Program for Kids ages 4-11

 This is the flyer I saw up at the Faribault Hy-Vee Grocery Store. See the pictures below & click on them to enlarge them to better read them.

I LOVE that our area grocery stores are taking it upon themselves to provide educational programming for children. My daughter has done a Kids in the Kitchen class in May (they are not holding it during the summer) at the Owatonna  Hy-Vee.

This summer-long series ends with a Fall Harvest Party. How fun is that! Each class they get to learn a lesson about growing food and prepare a recipe that compliments the lesson they were taught.

 I will have to compare the dates for the remainder of these with our calendar, but I think it would be something my daughter would enjoy while my son & I grocery shop. And it might help fill in some time for something to do and offer my daughter the opportunity to be social in a learning environment, which she does enjoy that type of structure quite a bit.

It might be worth it for you to check with your area grocery stores to see if they have any kids educational programming especially if you have a Hy-Vee in your area.

FREE iCaughtTheToothFairy Picture

Do you remember this post I did about when my daughter lost her first tooth? This is the picture that I had made (& purchased) to commemorate this milestone. But now this company if offering you a chance to make your own for FREE!!!! (Normally this is $9.99)

iCaughtTheToothFairy.com

We'd like to introduce www.iCaughtTheToothFairy.com along with a free code for you to use through the end of the year. Simply enter this code at checkout: FAIRYFUN

You might even remember the giveaway I did for iCaughtSanta.com or look below to see the picture I had created when I had reviewed iCaughtSanta.com

Besides the Tooth Fairy and Santa, they also offer custom "iCaught" photos for the Easter Bunny and Cupid.

No Supplies Needed for these Activities!

Kids Bored? Tired of Shelling Out Cash for Things They Use Up or Tire Of in 10 Minutes?

You can take them on a Nature Hunt, or for more ideas read my list of OVER 30 IDEAS of

Games to Play That Need Zero Supplies

on Northern Cheapskate.

Thrifty Thursday: AAA Members Get Free Maps & Guidebooks

I have been a long-standing member of AAA for almost 2 decades. Actually, my parents first bought me a membership when I got my license so that I "had it in case I needed it" (and there have been times that I have).

It has been great if keys were locked in a car, or you were stuck in some snow outside un-plowed roads by college or you needed to be towed or some of the many other reasons you need to call AAA to come help you out.

But did you know you can get free travel guides and maps from AAA (TripTeks too!)

We are heading to PA for a family vacation this summer and by using my AAA membership to obtain tourbooks and maps I have saved myself from having to buy any.

Also, in the tourbooks it will note if you can get a AAA discount at hotels, attractions and even restaurants.

I faithfully inquire about a AAA discount at hotels, but sometimes I forget about the other places unless I notice it in the tour book.

Wordless Wednesday: Can You Guess What This Is?

My daughter & I started this from seed from something we bought in a grocery store? Do you know what it is?

Try It Tuesday: Shark Paper Bag Puppet

 This afternoon it was a little chilly (for my taste) to head to the community pool, so I told the kids we would make some crafts and asked them what they wanted to make. Since we had just been to the zoo yesterday, sharks were fresh on my son's mind. My daughter was already busy painting pictures of flowers that she said she was fine with whatever my son & I came up with. So, sharks it is. She did suggest we make a puppet instead of just a picture to hang up with. So, this is what I came up with.

I cut out fins, tongue & teeth for my son and left then out for my daughter to trace and cut out on her own.  For the teeth I used a round coffee filter, the tongue is red construction paper, and blue craft foam for the fins.

 They too turns gluing their parts on.

This was a quick and simple craft project and it took barely anytime to dry before by daughter could show me how it talks.

Make It Monday: Frozen Fruit & Berry Pops (Clean Eating)

These are super simple to make and healthy too. By adding in some protein powder (Thanks to my friend Diane for the idea) you can amp up the nutritional value or even try using Greek yogurt instead of traditional yogurt. The number of these you make depends upon the size of your molds. I have a small one & large one that I use, plus we have extra that the kids drink as a smoothie. This makes an excellent smoothie recipe too.

Frozen Fruit and Berry Pops


1 C milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 C organic vanilla yogurt
1 1/2 C strawberries
1/2 banana (optional)

Put it all in a blender and blend until completely mixed. Pour into popsicle molds. Freeze for several hours or until firm.

This was an easy recipe to get the kids involved in making. Often kids are excited to eat or try items that they helped make or grow.

Try it with your kids and let me know how they like helping out in the kitchen and if they too approve of this recipe. 


My kids love it!

GIVEAWAY and Review: Noxicare Natural Pain Relief Cream

I had the opportunity to review Noxicare Natural Pain Relief Cream.  As an athlete who works out most days of the week, I will frequently endure muscle pain after I increase the weights I am using and sometimes if an injury occurs (lets not wish for that though.)

I have used it a couple times after I experienced delayed-onset muscle soreness from taking a Strength Class, which typically happens 24-48 hours after. I found it to be helpful in relieving some of the pain I was feeling in my muscles. It probably helped that I was massaging in the the cream, which I am sure helped to release lactic acid that was built up in my muscles.

Besides the fact that it helped relieve some of the muscle pain that I was feeling, what I like best about this product is that it is natural and is paraben free. It uses ingredients such as turmeric, basil, willow bark, ginger rosemary, boswellia, and alpha lipioc acids as anti-inflammatory agents, antioxidants, fever reducer, pain relief agents and MANY MORE BENEFITS!!!

You might think with all of those ingredients that it is quite smelly, but it is ODORLESS. I also appreciated that it was not greasy at all.

Noxicare Natural Pain Relief Cream isn't just for sports related muscle soreness or injuries, it is also specially formulated for arthritis, musculoskeletal  injuries and pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathy and tension headaches. It is also available in a capsule form besides a cream form.

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE A PRIZE PACK LIKE I DID THAT INCLUDES A T-SHIRT AND BOTTLE OF CREAM!

The bottle of cream has a RV of $19.95!

You can find out more information about Noxicare in the following places:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Michael's Crafts: Passport to Imagination

Don't tell me your kids are complaining of boredom already? Well, if my list of 100 Things to Do This Summer isn't enough, and you wish there were more Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics, or you don't want to be inside for Free Bowling and they want something besides Summer Reading Programs, then check out Michael's Crafts Passport to Imagination.

Kids can "travel" to 17 different countries making some crafts that are representative of that country. Click on a flag to see what crafts the kids can make. Then you can either click on the craft to get the pdf directions on how to make it or write down the day/time that they will be making this craft in-store. For a list of ALL the in-store events for kids, check out their calendar. They started this week with Australia and Mexico (so those you will need to do at home), but you can check them out this weekend to make the Poland crafts. The calendar also includes some Adult craft classes.

I thought it might be fun to make one or more of the crafts from Spain with my daughter since our family from Spain is arriving tomorrow. I think the fan craft and the bull craft are both cute and can be done by both my kids (more assistance provide to my son, of course.)

And for the younger ones, there is also some "Coloring Adventures" with some animal pictures to color as well.

Thrifty Thursday: Pot Up Your Own Flower Pots

If you like to have flowers in pots in a lot of spaces around your home, considering buying a 4-pack or 6-pack and potting up your own pots.

I paid $1.58 for a 6-pack of flowers at Lowe's and re-used pots I already owned and potted them up. So, instead of paying $10+ (I did buy a couple of hanging baskets for my porch, but I waited until I saw a sale price in single digits), you can save yourself a good chunk of cash by just taking a a little time to pot them up yourself.

If you want to save even more money, check to see if they have plants clearanced out. Often plants are still healthy but just need to be de-headed or just need some watering.

Review: Lipton Tea & Honey (FREE Sample)

 I had the opportunity to sample and review the new Lipton Tea & Honey instant drink mix. I was even given several extra samples to distribute to other. So, if you see me in the next couple of days, I will hopefully have a sample & coupon to give you. You can get your own FREE SAMPLE from their Facebook Page. You probably need to like them first to get the form to pop-up.

 I sampled the Mango Pineapple flavor, but it is also available in Black Currant Raspberry, Lemon, Peach Apricot, Blackberry Pomegranate, & Strawberry Acai.

Each individual serving packet is mixed with 8 ounces of water and contains on 5 calories. I made it as directed and thought it was quite flavorful. I think next time I will add another couple ounces (I can always use to drink more water anyways!) to make the flavor & sweetness not quite as intense.

I did like the mango pineapple flavor. I thought it had a stronger mango flavor than pineapple, which is neither good nor bad in my book because I love both of those fruits.

This is the size of an individual serving packet, which is one size they are sold (a box of individual servings packets) as well as in packets that make a pitcher. Friends who received the sample also got a coupon, which hopefully you will get if you request the FREE SAMPLE.

I was given a free product or sample because I am a Klout Influencer. I am under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company and I get no additional benefits for talking about this product.

Wordless Wednesday: Steamboat Minnehaha on Lake Minnetonka

Make It Monday: Amaretto Bronwnies

These are as clean as I could make them and still have them be Amaretto, so there is a couple tablespoons of Amaretto in this recipe (not clean), but the rest is cleaned up.

Amaretto Brownies

1 C raw cane sugar
1/2 C coconut oil
1/2 tsp pure almond extract
2 eggs
2 T amaretto
1/2 C organic cocoa powder
1 1/4 C organic whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 C unsweetened almond milk

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 13"x9" cake pan. (These will be more cake-like, use a jelly roll pan if you want them thinner with more crunch.)
Beat sugar and coconut oil until blended. Add extract, eggs and amaretto and beat on low until combined.
Combine cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and soda in a separate bowl.
Add flour mixture and milk, alternating as you beat together.
Pour batter into pan.
Bake for 30 minutes (20 min if you use a jelly roll pan.)
Cool & serve.
Dust with powdered sugar for apperance, if desired. Or you can sprinkle shaved almonds on the top before baking for appearance & texture.

GIVEAWAY: Kitchen-Aid Mixer (Multi-Blog) & FREE e-cookbook

 Looking "mix" up some great recipes from summer BBQ's and picnics? Or maybe you want to try some of the recipes I have posted here on Save Green Being Green?

I love my KitchenAid Mixer. It might have been my favorite wedding present that we received. I think everyone should own one, they are just fantastic kitchen appliances.

We're proud to offer a great giveaway to help you cook up a great time! We've teamed up with 2 Kids and a Coupon and a great group of bloggers to bring you the "Mix It Up!" giveaway.

One lucky winner will win the Kitchenaid Mixer shown above (ARV $350 at Bloomingdales) provided by American Family, See below for how to enter, and join here to get a free e-cookbook of gourmet brownie recipes courtesy of American Family.

Review: Aura Cacia Essential Oils & CONTEST

I love essential oils. There are so many scents and scent combinations that the possibilities are endless. I had the chance to review two aromatherapy sprays and one essential oil from Aura Cacia.

The aromatherapy sprays are perfect for anyone who would like the convenience of essential oils already combined for them in a convenient spray bottles. And what is even better about the sprays is that you can reuse them and they encourage that by telling you just how many drops of the blend (in this case "Pep Talk" and "First Response") to add to the container with water. The blends come in the same small brown glasses bottles that all their single essential oils (like the Bergamot I received) do.

The "Pep Talk" blend spray is to help motivate and inspire positive thinking. The first time I tried this one was when I sprayed it on my mat before heading out to yoga class and I thought it complemented my instructors ending phrase to us to think positive thought and speak positive words nicely. I also sprayed this in the area where my daughter practices her piano (on the keyboard). Whether it was the spray or the fact that she was practicing without interruption from her brother (or maybe a combination of both) but she was very calm and practiced nicely and didn't whine about requests to practice certain songs. I will have to test it out again.

The "First Response" blend spray is to protect and purify your environment. When I read purify and saw that it has tea tree oil in it, which has antibacterial properties, I knew there were a couple places I wanted to try it:  the bathroom and my daughter's shoes (why must she insist on going barefoot in her shoes so often?). In both instances the spray seemed to help with any odor, at least initially.

The Bergamot essential oil I plan to use in a plug-in diffuser (that I already own) that has pads to put drops of essential oil on. Or I may use it in making some new bath salts. (Hmmmm! That might be a good Try-It Tuesday blog post to write up.)

The key to Aura Cacia’s leadership is sourcing pure, authentic essential oils—dealing face-to-face with the people growing the plants and extracting the essential oil whenever they can.

They also test every oil we receive to make sure it meets our high standards. Their industry-leading testing program and allows them to guarantee that they are providing you with the highest quality essential oils available. They offer oils that are certified organic as well.


Aura Cacia makes aromatherapy accessible with innovative ready-to-use products that let even beginners realize the full benefits of their 100 percent pure essential oils in a variety of ways that can easily be a part of any lifestyle.

You can buy Aura Cacia on their website, natural foods stores, and even online at Amazon . Don't forget to print off these coupons if you are buying them at a brick and mortar location. You can also touch base with them on Facebook.

Would you like to win some of your own Aura Cacia Essential Oils? Or how about a year's worth of yoga classes, a subscription to Yoga Journal and other yoga accessories?

ENTER HERE TO WIN!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Thrifty Thursday: Use Your Tent for Play with Your Kids

 You don't need to keep your tent packed away until your next camping trip. Put it up in your backyard for your kids to day camp in, or maybe camp out in your backyard for a night.

We often take out our tent a few times a year so the kids can play in it. When we go camping, we tend to stay in structures, like a cabin at a state park or a yurt or this year we are planning to rent an RV to camp in one weekend. The tent from from before-children, so this is pretty much the only action this tent gets, although my daughter & I did camp out in it one night last summer and of course a huge storm came through.

She does want to camp out in it in the backyard one night this summer too. I think I will wait until we need rain and then do it. :)

Kids just love to be inside of things: forts, tents, tunnels. Use what you have and let your kids enjoy themselves. It doesn't cost you anything if you already own it and it's just sitting there.

Wordless Wednesday: Boulevard Brewing Company

Try-It Tuesday: Magic Ink Paintings

Making Magic Ink Paint is Easy!

It's a 1:1 ratio of baking soda and water. I used 1T of each.

This is how it appears on the paper when it is still wet. Allow to dry completely before amazing your child with some magic.

Since it shows wet initially, my toddler thought it was fun to paint just this way.

Once it dries it will be virtually clear on the paper. Although you can kinda see where there is stuff but it's not easily recognizable.

And now the MAGIC HAPPENS!

 My daughter started painting away (1T water with a couple drops of food coloring) as soon as I gave it to her. She was very excited. We made up several colored bowls of paint.

And since she could kinda see where the stuff was, she knew where to paint. We were experimenting with different colors to see if one color seems to work the best. Darker colors appear to work better than lighter colors.