It's National Ice Cream Day! Celebrate with Us.

I received information and coupons in exchange for posting about National Ice Cream Day. All opinions and experiences are my own. 

With all the heat of summer bearing down on us here in Oregon, it was time to break for a cold treat. Luckily, it also happens to be National Ice Cream Day. Will you be celebrating along with us today?

Grab your spoon or your favorite Popsicle or frozen treat and let's celebrate! There are many choices to keep you cooled off today.

Okay, during summer we don't really need a reason to enjoy a cold, sweet treat, do we? No. there is always a reason for enjoying one of the many Unilever brands of cold treats.

What is your ice cream personality? Here are a few suggestions depending on what you enjoy.

• Salty and Sweet: Klondike Caramel Pretzel, MAGNUM Double Peanut Butter, and MAGNUM Almond and are just a few which master the timeless combination.
• Mint and Chocolate: Some of the new varieties in 2015 include Good Humor Girl Scouts Thin Mints Bar, Breyers Gelato Indulgences Mint Chocolate, and Klondike Mint Fudge Cookie Kandy Bar. 
• Fruity Desserts: Fruttare frozen fruit bars are made with real, delicious fruit, and this year, the brand is moving towards sustainably sourcing every piece of fruit. Flavors include Strawberry, Coconut & Milk, Banana & Milk, Mango, and more.  (Bonus: they start at only 60 calories a bar!) 
•  Candy: Popsicle Tootsie Pop – one of the brand’s newest varieties – surely won’t disappoint; for non-Tootsie Pop lovers, try Popsicle Airheads or Popsicle Sour Patch Kids.
• Anything Vanilla: Breyers offers several varieties: Natural Vanilla (America’s favorite Vanilla!), French Vanilla, Extra Creamy Vanilla, Homemade Vanilla, ½ the Fat, Sugar Free, etc.
• The Classics: Take a trip down memory lane and enjoy same of the classics – Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Bar, Good Humor Chocolate Éclair, Giant Vanilla Sandwich, Cherry Popsicle, and more.

Today my kids enjoyed their favorite flavors of Popsicles and later tonight, I will be curling up with a little bowl of Breyers Mint Chocolate.

What cold treat will you enjoy today?

Preparing for a Crafting Summer

As the weather turns warmer my kids have been begging to go outside more. As a child, some of my fondest memories were of playing in the backyard. One particular house we lived in was full of fruiting bushes, trees and other edible plants.

It has always been my wish to recreate that for my children.

So we have started project "Backyard". I am hoping that the project will last the full Summer long and continue to be a work in progress for my children. Not only do I want to work on our list of edible backyard treats, but I am also adding a tea bush and want my kids to help me with a few projects and crafts for our garden and the yard in general.

I am really excited to help my kids create their own stepping stones for our garden. Paint and create some bird houses, as well as work on planting our yard and garden.

Do you have any favorite Summer crafts? What projects do you suggest we tackle this Summer?

Summer With Our Wheels

There is something magical about Summer bike rides. That feeling of the wind in your hair, gliding across the pavement. Well, until you hit a pothole. Ker-thunk!

As I mentioned, this past week has been more family focussed. Simple meals and simply more time spent with the kids and husband. Tonight, having recently picked up a new and larger bike for my son, we went out to get everyone on their own set of wheels. This was my daughter's first time having a bike. She had a great boost of confidence with those training wheels but I don't think she will need them for long.

Everyone was mobile.

And yes, I do mean everyone!

Okay, we didn't go far. In fact we just went up and down the street, but it was fun just the same. My oldest on his big boy mountain bike, my daughter with her training wheels, and the baby was quite happy in his Cozy Coupe. He is a big fan of the steering wheel right now.

It is the simple things I want to embrace this Summer.

My fondest Summer memories from childhood do not involve elaborate trips or exotic locations. Usually they involved me and a green and yellow bicycle with a banana seat. I think that first bicycle meant the most to me. It was a hand-me-down, but something I was so intensely proud to use. I could ride that bike for hours up and down the neighborhood.

Luckily my kids are all for that. This Summer we have a plan to make the most out of every day. Sprinklers are meant to be run through, hot afternoons were made for frozen juice pops and Summer evenings are all about getting out on a bike.

What does your family like to do on a warm Summer evening?

Beat the Heat and Bowl Free with AMF Summer Unplugged!

*Disclaimer - I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions and experiences stated in this post are my own.

Summer is heating up. Well, here in Oregon, last week was a doozie! The temperature kept pushing in the 90's and it was just too hot to take a newborn and two kids outside to play. Unfortunately that leaves my two eldest, and myself, a little stir crazy. This leaves us searching for cooler indoor activities to enjoy together.

My kids love bowling. What is there not to enjoy? Specialty shoes, glitter balls and things to knock over. Add to this a big plate of french fries, music and fun with friends and it is always a hit. As a Mom, I love that they stay engaged, excited and cool in the air-conditioned building.

To make it even more enticing, local AMF bowling centers are again offering Summer Unplugged and Summer Pass programs to get the ball rolling. So why not enjoy an AMF Summer?

So what is the program exactly?

The Summer Unplugged  & Summer Pass Programs run from May 13, 2013 through September 2, 2013 from opening to 8pm daily. Sign up online and then show your membership card at your AMF center or give them your name to play.

Summer Unplugged -  Spare your kids the Summer boredom with two free games daily for youth ages 15 and under. This promotion is good for up to 6 children.. Need to sign up more than 6 kids? Just create another account. Easy peasy. You will still need to rent shoes, but it is still wallet friendly.

Summer Pass - Parents, don't fret, there is Summer Pass program just for you! For $34.95 you can sign up for two free games a day, and bring up to 3 guests aged 16 and up. Shoe rentals, again,  not included.

On a roll and want to play more? This Summer you can "Stay and Play" by paying $1.49 for an additional game. Check out all the details and find an AMF Bowling Center near you.

There are over 250 AMF Bowling Center Locations and a few places around my home state of Oregon, both Salem and Portland are on the list! Search near your home by zip code or city.

Excited to get your bowling on? I know my family is ready to roll.

Coming Down from a Vacation Fun High

Where do I begin?

This past weekend I was fortunate again to make the trip to PKU family camp with my kids. It is a yearly camp experience for the families of those living with metabolic disorders. I have mentioned here on the blog before that both my children have this rare condition. It is so amazing to be surrounded by families who understand. No one has to explain and we are all there to have fun.

Located in the high dessert of Oregon, the camp is an amazing oasis in the midst of tumble weeds and jack rabbits. This year we stayed Creekside which is a fabulous mining themed water park.

To my kids, it was a magical place...

With games, laughter and a shared understanding for being different.

There were so many firsts last weekend. My daughter explored bouldering, my son fell in love with the ropes course and they both had an amazingly great time on the water slides.

I loved spending time with my family without the hassle of making two separate menus at every meal. There was one whole line at every meal for low protein foods fitting with the PKU diet. The choices made my kids light up.

Now I am just trying to settle back into our usual routine. I am facing a Mt. Everest of laundry to tackle and the kids need to get back onto their usual nap schedule. Dare I say it, I need a vacation from being on vacation. Recipes posts, giveaways and reviews will all be resuming for next week and I have needed a few days to get comfortable.

This past weekend was also a great reminder that life is full of surprises. When we first heard the diagnosis for my son, over 4 years ago, the future seemed uncertain. Now I am happy to say it is awfully bright, hot and even a bit wet.. but I wouldn't have it any other way.

What big trip did you make this Summer? What kind of an impression did it leave on you?

New Applegate Hot Dogs - Get Your Grill On! (#Applegate)

As long as the weather is still warm we will be enjoying out grill. Food just tastes better having been over a flame. Veggies are tender, fruit sugars have caramelized, and meat is cooked to perfection!

But here is my confession: last week I ate my first hot dog in years.

Hot dogs? A guilty pleasure from my childhood that I put away once I started to learn what they were made of. Cheap, mystery-meat-sticks full of antibiotics and nitrites just didn't make my mouth water anymore. Yes, the ingredient list scared me off of the classic hot dog.

Last year we switched to nitrite-free lunch meats and I haven't looked back. My favorite brand, and one of the few to fit my requirements, was Applegate. I love their pre-packaged organic smoked turkey breast meat. It is perfect for making a big stacked sandwich!

So when I heard that Applegate had a new hot dog, I was excited! A big juicy hot dog was definitely in my future. Nitrite, hormone and antibiotic free, they create their dogs from healthy animals while using integrity in their farming practices. Made with real beef, water, salt and spices, it is what I think a hot dog should be. All fun and none of the extra stuff!

So with hot dogs on our grill, it was almost time for dinner. What do you like to serve up with your dogs? I love to enjoy my time on the back porch while my husband grills, so I keep our sides super simple, fresh and clean.

Here are my tips to get the most out of your grilling experience:

1. Go Simple - Grilling is half the fun, so don't get too complicated. Grab some fresh fruit and vegetable for kebabs or to go straight on the grill to serve along with your hot dogs.
2. Bring your grilling items to room temperature before grilling. Meat and veggies just a need a few minutes before going on the fire but will cook more evenly if not straight from the fridge.
3. Grab a Mister - Mist meat or veggies with a little olive oil before grilling. A mister will save you money and excess calories.
4. Marinade or Shake it up - for added flavor grab a marinade, rub or shake to add extra pizzazz to your grilled goodies. Herbs and spices can liven up your palette without all the extra sodium or fat from butter.
5. Choose your Condiments Wisely - Check the labels on your favorite ketchup and mustard. We always search for the condiments that don't include high fructose corn syrup and have the fewest ingredients.
6. Grab a Meat Thermometer  - This is a must-have for all 'Grillers'. Black on the outside doesn't always mean the inside is cooked. Check to make sure your grilled meats have reached a safe temperature with a simple grilling thermometer. There are many brands on the market. I use one that can stay in the meat while cooking.

I just started a Summer Grilling board on Pinterest. Come check it out and let me know if you have a great grilling recipe or tip to add to it. Search under #applegate and #whatsinyourhotdog for more great grilling boards by other SocialMoms' bloggers.

I am excited to announce Applegate hot dogs are widely available in the Portland, OR and Seattle, WA area. You can use their product locator to find some for your next backyard bash.

Be sure to follow Applegate on Facebook for product announcements and promotions.

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Applegate blogging program, to earn My SocialMoms Rewards Points. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here.

A Simple Celebration to #GrabSummerFun #CBias

Happy 4th of July!

Summer is a great time to have friends over, have fun and play outside. The only problem is as a host I usually spend the whole day (if not more) planning the party, making food, gathering decorations and being cooped up inside. Summer is too short to slave away in the kitchen, so I found a great way to throw a party without all the work.

When planning my party I went from throwing my daughter a birthday party, which we postponed due to my Mom coming for a visit later this month, to gearing up to celebrate the best birthday party of all... Independence Day! This is one of my favorite holidays because I love the red, white and blue, Summer fruit and of course, fireworks.

When I was preparing for my shopping trip I went over to Walmart.com and visited the Nestle Solutions Center. Not only could I look at what my store carried, but find recipes, ideas and coupons. I am always excited to find a bargain.

Our local Walmart carried a variety of inexpensive party decorations as well as the food I needed for our Summer fun. Nothing makes me happier than one-stop-shopping. My children were excited to help me pick out all the decorations and look through the holiday section at the store.

We grabbed boxes of Drumsticks for a cool treat to follow the pizza. I got both the Classic Vanilla with chopped peanuts and the newer Cookie Dipped Drumsticks I highly recommend buying multiple boxes. We had a hard time waiting for the party and I ended up having to make another trip into Walmart for more.

I grabbed Tombstone pizza, the supreme version for the adults because it has such great flavor and cheese pizza for the kids. Check out my entire shopping trip in my Google+ album.

Since the theme for this party was simple and fun, I was happy to have the food taken care of. For this party I was able to put more effort into the decorations and presentation.

Nothing pleases a crowd quite like simple food, pizza, veggies, fresh fruit, drinks and Nestle ice cream.

My veggie platter again was created using my star cookie cutters. I think the fun shapes are not only festive, but a great way to get kids excited about kohlrabi and cucumbers.

I re-purposed the kids' red wagon for a drink chiller. I also put bowls of freshly picked cherries in there.

I jazzed up a simple pitcher of water with a red, white and blue theme. I added frozen blueberries and raspberries, then used a small star cookie cutter to create star shapes in my cucumber slices. The water was slightly sweet and very refreshing.

I made flower arrangements from the roses, gerber daisies and lavender already growing in our yard.

I really enjoyed throwing a pizza party because I was able to sit with everyone and enjoy the company.

Then to top it all off we enjoyed a cold ice cream treat. I was pleased with how well the snow cone holders worked for the cones. Next year I want to locate (or paint) a big batch red.

I haven't had Drumsticks much since I was a child, but I think they have earned a more permanent place in my freezer now.

So this is how we #GrabSummerFun - what about your family? Do you have any plans to throw a Summer party?

Connect with Drumstick on Facebook and Tombstone Pizza on Facebook to stay informed about future promotions, coupons and new products.

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Nestle #CBias #SocialFabric All opinions are my own