Outdoor Photo Scavenger Hunt

Inspire your kids with an awesome Outdoor Photo Scavenger Hunt this week and get them outside!

This is a super easy idea that will keep the kids both busy & creative on those long "Mom, I'm bored!" days ;)

Plus, Summer is the perfect time for kids to explore something new or master a skill such as photography -- those less-scheduled days allow them more time to pick up a camera and practice.

So grab a camera or smart phone along with our free printable Outdoor Photo Scavenger Hunt list and let's head outside to explore!

Unique Gifts for Father's Day that Dads will LOVE!

Browse these unique gift ideas for Dad & Grandpa -- fun items that are sure to put a smile on their face!

It's June, which means sunshine, swimming pools and a special day for Dad - which means!

When is Father's Day this year? 

Don't worry, you've still got time -- it's June 17th. 

And for the record, my Dad's birthday is the same week so I've been browsing for some fun and unique gifts for a few of the special men in my life. 

Now, my husband will tell you that the best gift any man could get would be an unlimited supply of bacon (and who am I to argue) but I was thinking of something a little better than bacon ;)

I know, there's probably not much that's better than bacon but here are some unique ideas that I think most Dad's will enjoy.

50+ Read Aloud Books Online

Find more than 50+ FREE read aloud books online and stories read aloud for kids at these amazing websites - perfect for reading on the go!

Kids love to hear stories - ask any child and I'll bet they tell you that one of their favorite parts of their day is read-aloud and storytime! 

Listening to a book read aloud helps kids of all ages to develop better concentration and listening skills, engages their imagination, increase their vocabulary and enhance their desire to be a reader as they grow.

New Kids Movies in Theaters for 2016

We are not much of a TV watching family but when it comes to new movies, we love going to the theater together!

I think the kids get more excited about the previews for upcoming movies than they do the actually film sometimes ;)

So if you're wondering what great kid & family movies are coming to a theater near you this year -- we've got the list along with some of the awesome trailers and online activities the kids will enjoy while they wait for the film to come out!

Best App for Organizing Your Kids' Activities & Team Sports

Thank you TeamSnap for sponsoring this post & offering a FREE Trial to all of our readers!!

I am all about finding ways to make life easier when it comes to organzing the kids' activities and sports schedules!

This is one area that we can all agree has changed BIG TIME since we were kids -- there are so many more opportunities for our kids to get involved with sports teams, scouting, drama, science clubs and the list goes on. 

Of course, we all want our kids to have these fun experiences as teamwork teaches them a lot of great life skills but that does mean that Mom and Dad need to find a way to manage the carpool, coaching commitments, snack sign-ups and game schedules (which can sometimes get overwhelming).

But not any more!  Wait until you see this amazing free app that allows you to organize your child's sports teams, scouting groups and even family vacations!

14 Online Christmas Games & Activities for Kids

We are always looking for fun online games & educational websites for the kids to visit especially those that have seasonal themes! 

It's nice to have some go-to sites when the kids ask "Can I have some computer time?" -- I really don't like them just searching Google or surfing around to sites I may not recognize.

And I especially LOVE to find websites that connect to books, life skills or world cultures -- it's a bonus when I can tie some learning to their tech time ;)

This season, we're sharing some old favorites along with a few *new* websites that the kids will really enjoy!!

10 Terrific Road Trip Movies for Kids

Awesome road trip movies for kids that are perfect for long car rides or family movie night!

Today we are combining two of our favorite summer activities -- movie time and road trip adventures -- in the last post of our Summer Movies for Kids series!

Just in case you missed that previous posts, here are the other movie lists we've shared:

The 25 Best Kids Books Made into Movies

9 Totally NOT Boring History Movies

12 Movies that Inspire Kids to Tinker

Summertime is a great time to travel -- head out on an adventure and explore the unknown!

Even if the unknown is only 30 minutes away and the adventure only lasts for a few hours, kids really benefit from visiting new places & having new experiences.

Since most families will venture out on a road trip at least once in their lives, I thought it would be fun to feature some of the more famous kid-friendly road trip movies.  Whether you watch these films before you set off on vacation or pop them in during your trip, I'm sure you'll identify with more than a few of the antics and escapades that accompany a memorable family road trip :)

12 Inspiring Science Movies for Kids

Movies about science & inventors is the focus of this week's Summer Movie Series for Kids!

There are a number of wonderful films that will inspire children to tinker and create new things -- kids always come up with the most amazing ideas when given the chance ;)

For example, my daughter wants a robot that will do all her chores (wouldn't we all love one of those!)

In addition to some very creative inventions, these movies also offer a peek into the process of trial & error. 

No one gets it right on the first try -- being an inventor is all about not giving up which is a great message and important life skill for kids to understand.

So pop some popcorn and turn down the lights -- reminding the kids that both of those things were created by some awesome tinkerers!

Then offer the kids the opportunity to do some inventing of their own with some of the hands-on tinkering activities we've also featured in the post -- here's to a creative summer!

The Smart Phone that Does It All: Sharp AQUOS Crystal

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence Central for Sprint. I received a sample device to facilitate this review.

Today I want you to take a walk with me -- it's the holidays; life is busy, and when life gets busy, I take a walk :)

For this walk, I brought along the new Sharp AQUOS Crystal smartphone as part of our latest Sprint Ambassador review.  My daughter was good enough to plug it in and charge it for me (please tell me I'm not the only one who forgets to plug in their phone).

First, I should tell you that a walk for me never seems to be "just a walk". 

It's when I go through my to-do list, try to relax and push aside the chaos, take photos of nature (something I love to do) and enjoy some music -- you know, the kind I like to listen too without the kids asking me to put on their favorite songs :)

I also like to bring along a family member -- ideally only one -- so that we have a few mintues to catch up about life too. 

And the best part about this phone -- it can accommodate everything I like (and need) to do while walking!

What I Did Right & Wrong When Teaching My Kids about Sharing on Social Media

How many times a day do we reach for our phone when we see something awesome?

Think about it – most of us never even grab  a camera any longer.  “Oh, I’ll just use my phone”, right?

Because we always want to capture those AWESOME moments --

That gorgeous Saturday afternoon visit to the pumpkin patch.....

Samsung Galaxy S5 Sport: The Best Phone for Active Moms & Dads

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Sprint. I received a sample device to facilitate this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

You know when the stars seem to align and a few things just fall into place at the right time.  Well, that’s just what happened when we received our newest Sprint item to review this month.

Do You Know What Your Kids are REALLY Doing Online?

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for BGCA. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

For our kids, using technology is like brushing their teeth -- they do it a few times a day; it's just part of their daily routine.

They love to play games, watch videos, stay in touch with friends & family and keep up with all the latest internet fads.

But what are they REALLY doing when they're online?

With a teen and tween at our house, this is a topic that's constantly discussed in our home.

I consider myself a pretty involved parent but I want to balance how much I monitor my kids' tech behavior with being able to teach them good online skills so they can 'police' themselves.  So I was really happy when I was asked to tour and read the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Cyber Safe Futures website!

Families will LOVE the Amazing Music & Gorgeous Photos: Review of the HTC One (M8) Harman/Kardon

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Sprint. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and to thank me for participating.

As a Sprint Ambassador, my family and I are trying out a few different devices this year and sharing all our 'yea!' and 'nay' moments.  Our goal is to provide you with some of the details on the newest tech gadgets for tweens, teens and parents.

Give Your Child the Gift of Reading this Holiday

I’m thrilled to be working with Bookboard this season as one of our holiday sponsors.  Kids will love receiving the gift of reading with a free subscription to their online library.

We have a wonderful gift idea for the kids this year – their very own online library! 

Yes, I’m totally serious. 

There’s a wonderful website called Bookboard that boasts more than 400 kids books in their digital library -- and you can try it for FREE!

Build a Personal Digital Library for Your Kids

I am being compensated by Bookboard for sharing my thoughts on their digital library.  As always, all opinions are my own -- I only share programs that we really love and can highly recommend!

Last month, we signed up for a free trial on Bookboard, a digital library for our iPad. 

And this month, I'm sharing all the details so you can get your own FREE trial subscription for this wonderful service!