12 Great Camps = One Fun Summer!

KinderCare Summer Camp makes the most fun time of year even better! They have 12 unique and fun camps for pre-school/pre-k and school-age kids running from May through August.

And let’s be honest, it gives our kids some social and educational interaction while giving us parents a bit of our own summer break!

Did you know that

With so many fun subjects to choose from, a summer spent at KinderCare is going to be an enriching, fun, and memorable one for your child!

Their programs include:

• Wilderness 101

Do your campers have the skills to survive on a deserted island or in the wilderness? They will after this creativity-building week!

• Dig Ancient Egypt

Traveling back to ancient times is easier than you think in this mummy, hieroglyphic and pyramid filled unit.

• Wild, Wild West

Saddle up for some old-west adventures as we learn about this amazing time in history, when fortunes were made and lost, and legends were created.

• Scienterrific

Scienterrific shows kids how physics, chemistry, life science, earth science, ecology, and engineering surround them in their everyday lives through cool and easy-to-understand lessons.

• Spectacular Sports

Learning a new sport can be challenging, but it’s also loads of fun – especially when looked at both creatively and scientifically.

• Animal Antics

Children will become experts on a host of animals, learning their habits and defenses, what they eat and how they move!

• Gross and Gooey Science

Nothing fascinates kids quite like things that are gross – the gooier the better in this yuck-filled unit!

• Kids’ Kitchen

During this unit, children will learn about the foods they eat and how to prepare some of them, leaving this week with skills they’ll use for their lifetime!

• Sports Smarts

From stretching and having a healthy diet, to learning about some of the most popular sports played around the world, this high-energy camp will make getting fit a whole lot of fun!

• Art Expo

Learning about famous artists, and studying some basic techniques before trying their hand at different types of art, this unit is sure to bring out the children’s inner artists!

• Splish Splash!

Water play and activities encourage children to explore the properties, uses and conservation of water.

• Feats of Science™

Whether you have a pre-schooler or a school-age child, we’ve cool science lessons that are out of this world!

My daughter (5) will be attending the “Feats of Science” program, which I am sure will give her a great foundation for entering kindergarten this fall. We’re both looking forward to her learning about outer space and creating her own shuttle!

What’s also great, is that KinderCare has also sent along this kitchen summer activity for you to try!It’s super simple, and really fun to make!

Kids’ Kitchen Sample Activity:
Vegetable Wraps

Ingredients (makes 4 servings):
2/3 cup cream cheese, softened
1 bag of sprouts from Growing Sprouts
1 ½ cups fresh carrots
1 red bell pepper
1 cup cucumber
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup canned or frozen corn (thawed, ifnecessary)
1 cup frozen edamame, thawed
4 flour tortillas

Directions
•    Clean and sanitize a counter or table in your kitchen.
•    Wash the carrots, pepper, and cucumber.
•    Grate the carrots into a bowl.
•    Thinly slice the pepper and cucumber and place them in separate bowls.
•    Place the corn, edamame, and shredded cheese in separate bowls.
•    Place a serving spoon in each bowl.
•    Place the cream cheese, bag of sprouts, bowls of vegetables, bowl of cheddar cheese, tortillas, measuring cups, and measuring spoons .
•    Spread cream cheese on your tortilla.
•    Place vegetables and cheese in a row down the center of your tortilla.
•    Top their vegetables with shredded cheese and sprouts.
•    Roll up your tortillas as tightly as possible to keep the vegetables inside.
•    Use a knife to cut the wraps in half.

Interested in having your kiddo (or kiddos) attend a session? When your local public schools are on summer break, they are in session! For more information, contact your local KinderCare center director.

As most of my readers already know, I’m a huge domestic violence prevention advocate. What warms my heart the most, is when a company that I love so much does something to support this cause.

Mary Kay Inspiring Stories is an exciting new program created to give women nationwide the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be flown to Hollywood and produce documentaries that inspire, educate and create a national conversation about the issue of domestic violence alongside celebrities who share a commitment to the cause. Mary Kay, a company dedicated to enriching women’s lives, is taking action with this compelling initiative to empower women to bring their collective voices together to fight back against the number one cause of injury to women.

Women, ages 18 to 34, are invited and encouraged to apply online from June 1 through June 30 at: http://www.MaryKayInspiringStories.com for a chance to get involved.

In August, the selected participants for the Mary Kay Inspiring Stories project will converge in Hollywood, CA.  The women will work together for seven days to create, produce and direct three unique documentaries that share inspiring stories of women affected by domestic violence. Through the stories of survivors, these three documentaries will educate the public on ways to end domestic violence, a problem that 1 in 4 women in the United States will experience in their lifetime.

“Mary Kay has always been about enriching women’s lives, and being a champion for causes that affect women,” said Yvette Franco, Vice-President, Mary Kay Inc. “Over the years, we’ve been proud to raise awareness and take action on important issues like domestic violence and we’re proud to continue in that tradition through Mary Kay Inspiring Stories.”

Each documentary will feature a female celebrity narrator who will add her voice to raise awareness and education about domestic violence. The celebrity narrators and the female participants will work together to bring their collective voice to raise awareness about domestic violence. The announcement of the celebrities involved will be announced before August.

Yvette Franco, Vice-President for Mary Kay added, “Mary Kay Inspiring Stories is a powerful project because it unites a community of diverse women all looking to bring their voice to support the often-unheard women impacted by domestic violence, to millions nationwide.”

The films will premiere in late September, on the cusp of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Following the premiere and throughout the month of October, millions across America will have the chance to view, vote and support the documentaries online at http://www.MaryKayInspiringStories.com. The film crew that captures America’s vote will have a $20,000 grant given out to a shelter in their name.

To further efforts to combat domestic violence, consumers can join Mary Kay in its worldwide efforts to change the lives of women and children through the purchase of Limited-Edition Beauty that Counts® Mary Kay® Creme Lipstick.  In the U.S., from Sept. 16 through Dec. 15, 2011, $1 will be donated from the sale of each shade – Give Dreams, Give Hope and Give Joy – to support causes aiming to help end domestic violence.

ABOUT MARY KAY

Mary Kay is one of the world’s largest direct selling companies with more than $2.5 billion in annual wholesale sales worldwide. Mary Kay was founded in 1963 by Mary Kay Ash with the goal of helping women achieve personal growth and financial success. Mary Kay remains committed to enriching women’s lives, and today more than 2 million people of all backgrounds are enjoying the advantages of being Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants. Mary Kay’s high-quality skin care and color cosmetic products are sold in more than 35 countries around the world. To learn more about Mary Kay, visit www.marykay.com.

ABOUT DREAMING TREE FILMS

Dreaming Tree Films is a production company that specializes in producing creative programs that provide individuals with a hands-on experience and allows them to interact with and explore the creative process of filmmaking. Program participants are given the tools and resources they need to harness their own creativity and confidently produce films that send a positive message. Mary Kay teamed up with Dreaming Tree Films to help oversee the program’s execution.

When Lands’ End (in partnership with the Curvy Girl’s Guide) contacted me to celebrate National Swimsuit Confidence week of May 23-27, and wanted me to review a swimsuit I thought “sure, no problem”. I’d post my review and include the actual photo from their site of the model paid to wear it.

Why?

Because she looks darn good in it.

But oh no… Lands’ End wanted me to show YOU what I looked like in the suit.

Um…okay?

I mean, why not? I’ve been hitting the gym quite a bit, down 4.8 pounds (I might have mentioned this in an earlier blog) so I know I can do this.

So 50+ photos taken later I give you: me in a Lands’ End swimsuit…

I absolutely LOVE the retro flare to this suit, and the cute little skirt in the front.

But the best part of all? I feel put together. I’m not going to fall out. I’m not going to have a wardrobe malfunction. I’m telling you whoever designed this thing, really had women in mind.

This is the first time I’ve ever gotten to say/write the following statement:

My boobs are NOT going ANYWHERE in this swimsuit!

And trust me, that says a lot.

To participate:

Join Lands’ End each day May 23 – 27, 2011 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CDST and participate in a series of National Swimsuit Confidence Week events on Twitter.   The week long movement was created to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes as well as educate and inspire them to embrace their swimsuit beauty and have fun this summer.  Each day Lands’ End will give away 10 Lands’ End Swimsuits, 10 Lands’ End Beach Towels and announce exclusive swimsuit promotions!

Date: Each Day – May 23 – 27, 2011

Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CDST

Location: #landsend

Follow: @LandsEndPR

Get the Twibbon – Go to http://twb.ly/j2GmLn and display the “I have swimsuit confidence!” Twibbon on your Twitter profile photo.  Send a tweet to @LandsEndPR proclaiming “I have swimsuit confidence!” #landsend for a chance to be entered to win a $500 Lands’ End gift card.  Send now through May 27 – winner announced at 5:00 p.m. CDST May 27, 2011.

Date        Topic                            Participants

5/23                Swimsuit Coverage                    @LandsEndPR, @5minutesformom

5/24        Swimsuit Trends for Real Women            @LandsEndPR, @MomSpark
5/25        Swim Slenderizers                    @LandsEndPR, @CurvyGirlGuide

5/26        Bring Your Confidence to the Beach        @LandsEndPR, @bookieboo

5/27        Ultimate Swimsuit     Confidence Celebration    @LandsEndPR, @MomTalkRadio

So make sure you join the movement, and celebrate your swimsuit confidence.

If I can do it- SO CAN YOU!

*Dear FTC: I was provided a swimsuit by Lands’ End to review. You’re out of your mind if you think I’d lie to my readers about how great it is. No money exchanged hands. Got it? Good.

Mary Kay Ash was an inspirational businesswoman who sought to empower other women through both her words and her successful cosmetics brand.

Mary Kay is offering the opportunity for any woman to celebrate Mary Kay Ash’s May 12th birthday by entering to win their own beauty birthday presents – products from Mary Kay.

Each day this week through Mary Kay Ash’s birthday on Thursday, Mary Kay is hosting different product set giveaways to make women look and feel their best every day, as well as for special celebrations.

Mary Kay will be giving away the following (each day’s sweepstakes must be entered into separately):

·        Tuesday – TimeWise Microdermabrasion Set

·        Wednesday – Mary Kay Eye Bundle including: Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, Firming Eye Cream and Black Ultimate Mascara

·        Thursday – Comprehensive set made up of all of Mary Kay’s best-selling products, plus TimeWise Night Solution and Day Solution; eye colors: Honey Spice, Black Pearl and Midnight Star; cheek color: Citrus Bloom; lip gloss: Beach Bronze and eye and cheek applicators

To enter, visit the official Mary Kay Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/MaryKay and click on the “What’s New” tab.

I’m already a huge fan of Mary Kay products, so I hope you go enter one of their giveaways!

One thing I love to do is celebrate an announcement with style, and Shutterfly really helps me create the most memorable announcements for a great price.

One announcement that I’m looking forward to (and dreading the most) is my daughter’s preschool graduation. It’s her last year there, after completing two previous years. It’s like another family to us, and it’s been a part of our lives for a little less than half of our daughter’s life! ::cue Niagara falls::

Doesn’t she (not the monkey) look too little to be graduating from preschool?

But we know the school she’ll be attending for her grade-school years, and it makes the transition a little easier.

But, with all of our family living out of state, we’ll be sending preschool  graduation announcements to those who aren’t able to celebrate with us. And this is where Shutterfly comes into play.

Shutterfly has so many amazing ways to announce celebrations in your life, whether it be  save the date cards for a wedding, family reunion or really big birthday; or for birth announcements with photo books for the new mom to help her remember those first moments. Either way, they’re your one-stop-shop for stationary announcements and keepsakes.

I personally LOVE their photo books. I used to really be into scrapbooking, until I found out how much time it took to do (and really kept me from my family). Shutterfly solved that problem for me. All I have to do is upload my photos, and they take care of the rest. It’s super easy, and user friendly.

Which is why I am giving away a coupon code for a free 8×8 photo book to one of my readers!

You have two (or more if you so chose) entries available, just make sure to put them in separate comments:

• Tell me what/whom you plan on celebrating in your photo book.
• Tweet the following: “I’ve entered to win a Shutterfly photo book from @DomesticDebacle! Want in? Enter here: http://tinyurl.com/3uuel3d #CleverSpring” You can tweet this once a day for extra entries. Just make sure you come back here and leave separate comments each time with the link to the specific tweet.

This contest ends on Monday, April 26th at 10:00am. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Are you a blogger, too? Click here to register for a chance at 50 free announcements!

This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.