What to do On a Rainy Summer Day?

We love summer and warm weather and we like to spend a lot of time outside, but what do you do when its raining out and the kids are home on summer vacation?  We love snuggling up on the couch and watching Netflix.  The kids take turns choosing episodes of theirr favorite shows, complete with blankets and snacks.  For the same price as a couple of movie rentals, you can stream Netflix on any TV, computer, iPad or tablet in your home, in fact Netflix is available on hundreds of devices that you probably already own. You can watch as many shows and movies as you want and there is no worrying about returning anything by a certain day and time.

Our favorite feature is the just for kids section.  This section is perfect for ages 2-12 and is filled with my kid's favorite shows such as Transformers Prime, Johnny Test and H2O.

One of their most favorite is Pingu.

He is a cute little claymation penguin who is always doing silly things.  I love hearing the kids laughing at this show.  The best part about the kids only section is that every show and movie there is for children, and I don't have to worry about them clicking on something that is for adults.  Netflix is really the best value for your money and you can take your favorite shows with you everywhere you go.  Whenever we have a long wait, like at the doctor's office, I can just log on to my Netflix account on my phone and the kids can watch their shows.  Some nights I like to let them stay up a little later and watch a good movie, then I know they will sleep in the next morning and so will I.

Someone is really cold and wants to wear her footie pajamas for movie night

What are you watching on TV with your family? Netflix has family favorites from Disney, Disney Jr., Hasbro, Cartoon Network and Dreamworks that are available to stream anytime, anywhere.

And streaming is easier than you think! Download the free app on your iPad, click on the Netflix app on any gaming device, go to the website on your computer – and you’re in business. Check it out here!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX.

The Clear Way to Straighter Teeth

Growing up I thought I was lucky that my teeth were pretty straight.  Many of my friends got braces and had to deal with rubber bands, brushing after every snack or meal, and having their braces adjusted every so often.  I was not envious of them at all.  The truth is that my teeth were not as straight as I would have liked them to be, I had a lot of crowding and some of my lower teeth were rotated.  It wasn't until I was 31 that I finally made the decision to get braces.  I was excited at the thought of finally having straight teeth, but at the same time I did not want to deal with a mouth full of metal and feel self conscious all the time.  Its not as common to see adults with braces as it is to see kids or teens with them, and I really had to talk myself into just sucking it up for 18 months.  

I pretty much went with what the orthodontist suggested, as far as braces  go, but to this day I wish I had asked him about Invisalign.  My traditional braces cannot be removed when I eat or brush, I have to floss around them, and they don't look that great either.  Invisalign is a modern method of straightening teeth and uses no wires or brackets.  It uses a series of virtually invisible and removable aligners that move teeth over time. There are many benefits to using this method, such as no food restrictions.  Because you can take the aligners out to eat, you can still enjoy popcorn and other crunchy snacks.  You can also do a better job brushing and flossing your teeth.  There is very minimal interference with sports or other activities, and your teeth get straightened without people even knowing you have them on. 

The cost for Invisalign is about the same as traditional braces, but this system usually requires fewer office visits and shorter appointments.  The best part is that there are no "emergency" visits when a bracket breaks off or a wire starts poking. Those wires can really cut up your cheeks if they slide out of place, and if you have a child in sports there is always the fear of a mouth injury.

My orthodontic journey is almost over (end of summer I think) but my daughter's is going to start very soon and I'm really excited to hear about the new Invisalign Teen.  She will be able to smile with confidence instead of waiting until her braces come off.

As with any medical procedure, consider getting a second opinion if you are told you or your child is not a candidate for Invisalign. Not all dentists and orthodontists are certified Invisalign providers, the best way to find an Invisalign provider is to visit the Invisalign Doctor Locator

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however all opinions are my own

Free Blogger Event

Summer Fun Event

Organized by: Iowa Mom

Prizes Include: Skywalker Bounce-N-Learn Trampoline, Intex 10' x 30" Metal Frame Swimming Pool, Glenmeadow 6-Piece Folding Patio Dining Set with Umbrella, Flexible Flyer Swing Free Metal Swing Set & 20" Huffy Rock It Boys' Bike. *5 winners*

Event dates: 6/10 - 6/24

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My Bantams Have a New Home

As many of you know I have been raising chickens for some time, and we have pretty much stuck to standard breed chicks up until this year.  We decided to add some little bantams to our backyard flock this past spring but we wanted to keep them separate from our standards.  I knew we always had the option of building the second chicken coop, but between not being sure about size and style, as well as not having any free time as it is PLUS the hassle of buying all the materials, finding a pre-made coop was exactly the right choice for us.  Horizon Structures generously offered to send me one of their amazing coops and I was so excited when it arrived!

There were actually two more coops at the other end of this trailer and I thought they looked so cute pulling up to the house.  The driver was really helpful with unloading and helping us get it to the right spot in the back yard.  Since all of Horizon Structure's coops come fully assembled, it was only a matter of getting it to where we wanted it.

The coop is perfectly adorable and I love it! This is called the 5 x 6 chicken coop and is designed to house up to 15 birds.  The ground where we set it up was not level so we had to put something under one side, but I have already started planting hostas and ferns around it to make it even more cute.  Horizon Structures offers many options and add ons to their coops, everything from paint colors to dawn to dusk doors, you can even put it on wheels so that it can be moved easily.  I chose the colors on my coop as well as the color of the shingles on the roof.

Someone could not wait to get it ready and more the chickens in.  She even asked if she could sleep in there!

Here is a picture of the inside (with a handful of straw lol).  There are two windows that open and close on the right, underneath those there are nesting boxes that are also accessible from the outside of the coop.  To the left is their little roosting area and above that is an additional ventilation window that can open and close.  I will have to do a full video tour to show all the great features that this coop has.  I love that it is raised off of the ground, it makes it much easier to clean in there.  

Here they all are checking out their new home, aren't they cute?  My bantams are still pretty small, and won't be nearly as big as standard chickens, this makes them an easier target for predators.  This chicken coop is completely predator safe.  We added a small run on the outside, but will have to replace it with a bigger one once these guys grow up.  

I am so happy with our new coop and it looks so nice in our yard, I'm glad we did not attempt to build something ourselves.  You will have to stay tuned for a little video tour and some live footage of this cute little rooster crowing.

Disclosure:  I was sent this beautiful coop by the generous people of Horizon Structures, all opinions and photos are my own. 

NOVICA is the Place for Special Gifts {Giveaway}

Spring and summer are a busy time for us with birthdays, not to mention Mother's and Father's days, anniversaries and so on.  I have a hard time picking out meaningful gifts because the stores around here really don't carry anything that catches my eye.  Shopping at NOVICA has become my life saver.  NOVICA, who is in association with National Geographic, is giving artisans around the world a way to share their craft and it is providing us with amazing products.  The site is easy to navigate and you can search for products by categories such as jewelry, furniture, and clothing or by price range or person you are buying for.

I adore all the treasures that I find on there and really have a hard time choosing what to buy.  Anytime I buy something from NOVICA, it comes beautifully wrapped and usually has some sort of post card from whatever country the piece is from.

One of my readers will win a $40 gift code to use on NOVICA.com, on any item they choose, but good luck trying to figure out what item is your favorite!  All you have to do to enter the giveaway is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.

Due to the extreme amounts of entries that have not followed directions, I will be verifying each and every entry to make sure it is valid.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I received a gift code from NOVICA, all opinions are my own

Take Them Out to a Ball Game #FamilySunday

One of Americas favorite past times has always been baseball and nothing is better than spending a Sunday afternoon with your family watching a game.  We took a little trip into the city, Chicago of course, and spent a beautiful Sunday at US Cellular Field watching the White Sox Play.  This was our first time at US Cellular and it was such a positive experience.  We got there a little early so that the kids could watch batting practice and get some autographs.

If you thought taking your family to a game was out of your budget, you really have to check out the Sox Family Sundays.  Tickets start as low as $5 for the upper level and $15 for the lower.  Parking is a breeze and is only $10.  You can get autographs from current and former players as well as broadcasters.  After the game the kids can also run the bases.

We got treated to an extra special day where we got to talk to some of the White Sox staff about all the great happenings with the team.   Brooks Boyer, the White Sox senior vice president of sales and marketing welcomed us to the game and shared with us details about this awesome Family Sunday promotion.

“For many years, we have worked hard to create one of the very best family environments in all of baseball."  said Brooks Boyer, "As we continue to closely listen to fans regarding the cost of the ballpark experience, the Family Sunday promotion is our next move in creating affordable seating options in both the lower and upper levels of the park.  Welcoming fans of all ages on a day that is traditionally dedicated to family time, we hope Family Sundays become a popular way for fans to share a baseball experience together.”

The White Sox are passionate about giving back to their community and love to involve their fans.  They created their Volunteer Corps to better their communities and have already had a great response with over 5,400 fans joining them on their mission.  You can learn more about how to join by clicking HERE.

We got to hang out with Southpaw as well.  

The White Sox have an awesome kids club (free and paid options), membership includes coupons for tickets to games!

Look what I got to try on!

We had an amazing day, the staff was so friendly and the ball park was amazing.  This will be something that we will continue to do as a family for years to come.

I want to thank the White Sox staff, Brooks Boyer and everyone else we met for the great experience at US Cellular field.  

Disclosure:  I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own, we were invited to a complementary game at US Cellular, which we enjoyed very much.

Monday Morning Winner Announcement

Good Morning!  I have winners to announce today, Yay!  Ok first is the winner of the Origami Owl giveaway for the $40 Gift Certificate

#284 Linda Garland, congrats Linda

Next is the winner of the Real Kids Shades, right in time for sunny weather

#10 Janet Watson, Congrats Janet

The winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to reply, thanks to all who entered there will be more giveaways coming soon.

I Had a House Full of Boys for an #XtremeCustomzParty

Little boys love to play with cars and we were so excited to find out that we would be hosting an Xtreme Customz party for my son and his friends.  Xtreme Customz let you customize your ride any way you like.

There were lots of excited boys here for the party, they could hardly wait to get started putting together their Batman Ridez.

I was worried when I saw the pieces that it might be difficult to assemble the cars, but everything snaps in an out very easily and they had no trouble at all.

The quality of the cars and parts was great, which made me happy because boys tend to be rough with their toys.

They were so proud of their creations!  We had a blast and the boys were so excited to find out that they would be taking their cars home.

Thank you to MommyParties and Ridemakerz Extreme Customz for sending us this awesome party pack, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this post.

Photo Ready Giveaway Event

Welcome to the Photo Ready Giveaway Event

Organized by: Mom Powered Media

Please take a moment to say hello to our sponsor: Giveaway Booster

Have a giveaway? Great! Now, how do you get the word out about your giveaway? Of course you want to reach more than just your audience right?!  Giveaway Booster was created to help you reach a larger audience to promote your giveaways. Give your giveaway a BOOST through email, blogs, and all forms of social media!

Giveaway Booster offers several services:

Promote Your Giveaway - Submit your giveaway, sweepstakes or contests and they will promote them! You can even have your giveaway promoted on several sites! List Your Giveaway Event - Bloggers do you need more bloggers to help you promote an event you are planning? List your giveaway for other bloggers to sign up. Join Giveaway Events - Are you a blogger looking to join all these great events? Sign-up to offer your readers these great giveaways and grow your social media in the process. Fans Enter Giveaways - Do you love to enter giveaways? Enter to win!!

Now let's talk about the fabulous prize package which includes:

Canon EOS REBEL T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touchscreen and Full HD Movie Mode (Body) - Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II SLR Zoom Lens - Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens - Telephoto & Wide Angle Lens Set - 3 pc Filter Kit: UV/ Polarizing filter/Fluorescent correction & Case - 32 Gigabyte SDHC Secure Digital Memory Card - Secure Digital USB Card Reader - Universal Memory Card Wallet - Pack of LCD Screen Protectors - Additional LP-E8 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Replacement Battery Pack - Well Protective SLR Camera Gadget Bag w/Pockets & Strap - Full Size 59" Tripod W/Case - Focus DVD Guide to Digital SLR Cameras - Focus Digital Grey Card Set for color correction - Focus 5pc Deluxe Lens Care & Cleaning Kit - HDMI cable

Special thank you to our lovely co-hosts {make sure to stop by and say hello}: Thinking Outside The Sandbox, Tiny Tidbits of an NC Diva, What's Up Reviews and Giveaways, 3 Boys and a Dog, Panlasang Pinoy Filipino Recipes, Mom to Bed by 8, Baby Costcutters and Powered By Mom.

One lucky winner will receive the Canon EOS REBEL T4i Prize Package {detailed above}!

Giveaway ends May 14th at 11:59pm, open worldwide residents, ages 18+. Residents outside of the US will receive a $750 Amazon GC instead. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Diary of a Stay at Home Mom is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

Grilling up Something Healthy

Many of you know my husband and I have really changed the way we eat, our diet consist of mainly lean proteins and fruits and veggies.  I wanted to come up with a grill recipe that incorporated mainly fruits and vegetables but would be filling enough for a man's appetite.  We went to Mariano's in Hoffman Estates because they have huge selection of fresh produce, some even locally sourced, at amazing prices.  Buying locally sourced produce keeps money within your community and brings you the freshest produce you can get.

I love shopping here because everything looks and tastes like its been just picked from a garden.  They have a very large selection of organics which is important to us and their prices are really unbeatable.

The store is clean and modern and makes shopping for groceries fun and not a hassle.  Even my kids love bagging up the fruits and veggies.  There was also live music played on a piano which I thought was a really nice touch!  Mariano's also offers a rewards card to give their shoppers even more ways to save.

Since it was snowing/sleeting outside, I could not use our outdoor grill so I used my handy dandy stovetop grill.  I always use coconut oil when I cook, its a healthy alternative to other oils.

Portabella mushrooms are a nice alternative to meat, they're filling and delicious.  I grilled these with the zucchini while I prepared the rest of my ingredients.

I am currently obsessed with fresh pineapple (this is NOT canned) and have been eating a lot of it.  I have a pineapple cutter that cores and cuts my pineapple into these perfect slices, making it even easier for me to love this fruit.  If you want to see step by step instructions for this recipe, you can check out my Google+ album by clicking HERE.  Each picture has a caption and you can create this meal at home too.

Here is the complete meal, a large portabella mushroom cap filled with spinach, topped with tomato and cheese, served with grilled pineapple and zucchini.  It was delicious, healthy and totally guilt free.

You can also check out Mariano's Facebook page or follow them on Twitter to keep up with all of their in store specials, recipes and more.

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 Mariano’s #cbias #SocialFabric #MyMarianos