#ad Helping Hungry Kids, Random Act of Kindness Style

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias

I love doing Random Acts of Kindness with the boys! I know, I know... you already knew that ;)

I thought the #HungerHeroes campaign, working to fight hunger and feed hungry kids, going on at Sam's Club this month sounded like something we could do simply and really enjoy. Summer has involved a lot of running around and doing things as a family, so a chance for us to focus on others was needed around here! We made it a fun, knock-and-run random act of kindness :)

Hunger Heroes is about action, turning families into superheroes that understand the awesome power of giving. My boys are already superheroes in my mind in lots of ways, but I want them to feel that potential from the inside- and thinking of others above themselves is what will give them that :)

Adorable, Simple Drawstring Backpacks

Recently I shared this tutorial over at The Ribbon Retreat and thought I'd share it with you here today! These cute, simple drawstring backpacks for kids have really been a go-to for gifts for me.

I once sewed one literally right before we walked out of the door for our niece's birthday party. Also whipped them up by the midnight oil one night when my friend had a baby and I was watching her boy's while they were at the hospital. I LOVE this awesome fabric and ribbon I got to make these ones with too! :)

For the ones I made for this tutorial, I chose:

Hot Pink and White small chevron by Riley Blake

Rainbow Hexi Print by Riley Blake (I LOVED this fabric when I first saw it- cutest thing ever!)

Lime and Pink polka dot ribbon, 7/8"

Blue Cars and Blue Dots from Scenic Route by Riley Blake

Orange and white striped ribbon, 7/8"

Washi Tape Meets Incomplete Playing Cards

Truth: not a lot stays in tact very well around our house. Toys with multiple pieces get separated and pieces lost. If two parts are required, only one can be found. Socks... let's not even start that one... 

To try and solve the case of the missing whatever-it-may-be, I go often to "the everything box" tucked under our island counter. You all have a junk drawer somewhere too, right? Fess up... :) Well, ours is a box that we just kinda never unpacked and stashed and keep adding to...

Simple FroYo Card Teacher Gift

Hooray hooray for the last week of school!

I can hardly wait to have my Cooper back for the whole day!

To not have to make double trips to and from the school each day, 

to worry a little less about bedtime, 

to just have it be summer!

We've been thinking for awhile about what to give Cooper's teacher and aides as an end of year gift. I happened upon some threads on facebook where teachers were chiming in on what they most love to get. The resounding winner: gift cards! So, even thought they aren't really seen as a very creative gift, I decided gift cards it was!

DownEast Idaho Falls Blogger Fun

Would you have ever guessed that right here in eastern Idaho there are that many bloggers?!?

Look at that fun group!

The Most Positive Day in the World

A few weeks ago, I read in Family Fun magazine that March 1 was World Compliment Day.

I was intrigued! Who doesn't love a sincere compliment?

Looking into it, I discovered this initiative is less obscure than I might've thought!

Mason Jar Wine Glasses Tutorial

Who else out there loves Duck Dynasty?? We are definitely fans around here! (Maybe not so much a fan of the major over-abundance of Duck Dynasty gear you see in the stores, though... but that's another thought train all together!)

From the very first time I ever saw the Robertson clan drinking out of mason jar wine glasses during one of their characteristic family dinners, I knew I wanted to make some myself.  I love how these fun glasses turned out and they are super easy to make. 

Happy Mail: Recent Valentine Swap

 

I love sending happy mail!

And, you already know that we love Valentines season around here, so I was happy when

I got to join in on a Blogger Swap for Valentines Daythrough The Adventures of Brad and Kendra. 

Spring Has Brought Me

I recently snagged this fun CD "Popcorn Bopping" at Seagull Book and we have been loving it! If you haven't pressed play up there yet, you really should :) I couldn't help but do another "shameless plug" here on the blog to share! If you want more of a listen to each song, you can click HERE. If you remember, we are a dance party kind of family, so this was a fun addition! It makes for a fun diversion during the day for the boys and I and no doubt would be sweet on a road trip!

In other fun type news...

While Captain America, Iron Man and the random treasured kids meal toy have become new favorites for my action figure loving little man, "Black Guy," seen here, is still number one. I sure love and appreciate that Ryder plays pretend- he talks his guys to each other, flies them around the house, searches with them for monsters in the closet and begs me constantly to play along! To which I often do and the guys are introduced to each other for the thousandth time, several times in a row :)

Is there any more fun treat for kids than cupcakes with sprinkles?!

(Popsicles might be starting to win the battle around here lately, actually...)

And there is any way to keep yourself from smiling when you see

the job they do at decorating their cupcakes themselves? :)

Or when they eat to this point and then ask

"Mom, could you just put some more frosting on this please?" :)  

Wild About...

So, really my kids don't watch TV all day

(It'd be nice some days, I confess!) ;),

but, yes, I have another TV show to rave about!

Ever since Cooper discovered Wild Kratts on PBS, he has been hooked!

And it really is a cool animal show- even I like watching it with him! 

So, the Kratt brothers  have creature powers in each episode and teach kids lesser known things about animals. The other day Cooper wanted to dress up like a bat and have bat power like they do. I talked him out of the top to bottom costume (for the sake of not spending an entire day on the process!) but did rig both of them a sweet mask...

... which they wore while chasing each other around the house for the next twenty minutes. :)

There are a few episodes and several snippets kids can watch online HERE. A cool resource for parents that explains the show and how you can use it in homeschooling and such, and offers free printables, is HERE.

Cooper's fav episode so far has (not surprisingly) been the peregrine falcon one.

Falcons, wolves, sharks, racoons, whales, bats... wild, dude! ;)