Salt Dough Ornament Craft

Salt Dough Ornament Crafts will make family night loads of fun. Christmas is a very fun holiday for dusting off your rolling pin and the cookie cutters. This season, my family and I made salt dough ornaments for our school classroom, family, and friends. If you are like me, then you will enjoy giving away these beautiful handmade gifts. I feel that handmade gifts are made with love and help inspire others to love a little more. 

We had lots of fun making this craft on a Saturday afternoon. I have to say that I baked the ornaments ahead of time to make it more enjoyable. I suggest you do the same to enjoy the painting part. By the way, save this recipe for Valentine's day because you can use it to make heart shaped gifts for the ones you love. Enjoy the holidays and share your love with these cute handmade ornaments.

Ingredients:

4 cups of flour

1 cup of Salt

1 ½ cups of warm water

Additional things you will need

Rolling pin

1 cup of flour for coating rolling pin

Cookie cutters 

Cookie sheets 

Paint, glitter, beads, decorations 

Glue, clear polyurethane to preserve (optional)

Parchment paper 

Unsharpened pencil to make a hole for hanging 

Timer

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees 

Combine the flour, salt, and water; mix well and knead for 10 minutes until the dough is workable. Flour your rolling pin and surface where you will be rolling the dough. 

Place parchment paper on cookie sheets before placing the salt dough ornaments. 

Roll the dough on a flat floured surface about 1/8 inch thick. 

Using the cookie cutters, cut the dough into desired shapes. 

Make sure to use a pencil to make holes for hanging. 

Bake at 300 degrees F or 150 degrees C for approximately 30 minutes. Make sure you check 5 minutes before the timer goes off to make sure they don’t burn. (You are looking for the dough to get hard. Some recipes call for 45 minutes to an hour. I only used 30 minutes and it was still okay. If the dough rises and puffs up, then just push down with a flat hand and oven mitt to make the cookie flat again. 

Allow for the ornaments to cool off before painting. (I waited until the next day to paint and decorate.) Use colorful paints and glitter to make it a fun event. Allow for the paint to dry and then preserve with clear polyurethane. 

*It's optional to use the clear polyurethane.

I have received many handmade ornaments over the years that I still hang every year on our Christmas tree. Some of these ornaments go back as far as 20 years ago from gift exchanges that I attended. When I hang them on the tree, they bring back fond memories of fun moments I shared with my friends and family. I hope this inspires you to make special memories with your family and friends. Keep the love and compassion alive. Happy Holidays to all of you from family and I. 

Merry Christmas!!!

Handball and Dodgeball Birthday Party!

Handball and Dodgeball birthday party and one tournament for my December baby. Sports theme birthday party for boys is always a fun adventure to put on. Read the story of how it all came together through the eyes of Field Trip Dad.

It happened.  Our children are growing up fast.  Alma and I are running out of themes for birthday parties.  It is becoming difficult to plan a unique and creative event.  Over the last year or so, our kids have spiked and bounced their way through 3 rubber handballs, better known as a dodge ball.  Our boys play handball daily with their friends at school and it seems that the sport that my wife and I grew up with has re-emerged and morphed into an exciting game with plenty of new spins and a variety of added rules.  When we asked our son what kind of party he wanted, he quickly said, "Let's have a handball party."

In my search for information to create the over the top Bosek Family birthday party as we strive to do for our kids, I found it difficult to find anything on the sport.  There were no party wares, there were no rules, there were no other parties I could tailor to make my own.  So off we set on this field trip adventure to create the first known (or at least to our knowledge) "HANDBALL TOURNAMENT BIRTHDAY PARTY!"

 To get started, Alma and I had to do some research.  How old did I get to not know what a toilet bowl, a slicey, a pop and a bullet were!  These are the playground names of various ball strikes to win the game.  We took the kids over to a park near us with an outdoor racquetball court so we could play and learn the new terms.  There were many rules that the boys wanted to impose during the game, so Alma and I had to help set them.  Once we set the rules, the game ran smooth with no arguing and everyone knew when it was their turn to play and when they were out.  I quickly went home and wrote down the rules of play in terms the kids could understand.  I have added a link to this in a downloadable document that you can use for your next handball tournament.

HANDBALL RULES

1. NO TOILET BOWLS, SLICEYS, ETC. ON SERVE. THE BALL MUST BE HIT TO THE WALL WITH A SINGLE BOUNCE BY EACH PLAYER AND FOR EVERY TURN. NO RAINBOWS ALLOWED.

2. NEW INCOMING PLAYER SERVES.

3. 2^NDBOUNCE, OUT OF BOUNDS, BULLETS, POPPIES, MISSING THE BALL, STOPPING THE BALL, HITTING THE BALL TWICE IN ONE TURN OR NOT RETURNING THE BALL TO THE WALL WITH ONLY A SINGLE BOUNCE ARE AN AUTOMATIC OUT.

4. A PLAYER MUST CALL INTERFERENCE BEFORE 2^ND BOUNCE WHICH CAUSES AN AUTOMATIC REPLAY. LAST PLAYER TO HIT THE BALL SERVES.

5. CROSS COUNTRIES AND BABIES ARE GOOD PLAYS EXCEPT ON SERVE.

6. UNTIED SHOES ARE AN OUT AT SERVE, REPLAY IF IT HAPPENS DURING PLAY.

7. ALL ARGUMENTS AND CUTTING LINE ARE A DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE TOURNAMENT.

8. FIRST PLAYER TO REACH 10 WINS, WINS THE TROPHY.

9. REFEREE HAS FINAL WORD ON EVERYTHING.

We decided to give the winners of the tournament a trophy.  Since we didn't know how long the game would take, we bought three hand balls just in case the games went quick.  We booked a spot at our local park where we knew there was a handball / racquetball court and set up our party nearby to ensure all of the parents could watch the game.  I was the referee and decided to get the games underway.  We had 13 kids, all of varying ages. At the last minute, I shifted the plan of having all 13 kids play together in one tournament with first person to 10 wins being the winner of the trophy.  There were 1st graders and 6th graders playing and I thought it would not be fair to the little ones having to compete with an 11 year old.  With three trophies, I lined everyone up in height order from shortest to tallest and then split them into 3 groups so that there were only 4 or 5 kids in each group.  Then, each group moved to a separate line around the court and I asked the youngest group to play first.  We all read the rules together and I answered all of their questions before starting.  Each group played through all of the players in their group and as a person won, I would give them a check mark next to their name for each win.  Once each group played through all of their group members, I stopped play and invited the 2nd group to start play.  We rotated through all of the players in group 2 and I then asked group 3 to play, rotating through the players in each group and rotating group to group to prevent anyone from getting bored. 

The kids had a blast, there were cheers from the big kids for their favorite 1st grade player and cheers all around for great plays and individual rallies!  There was no arguing as they all knew the referee had the final ruling.  Soon, we had our first winner in one of the groups and I presented them with their trophy.  After all of the winners were determined, I learned that age had nothing to do with ability as many of the younger players were just as talented as some of the older kids.  It came down to the players ability, experience and passion of the game.  To download a copy of the trophy instructions, click on the attached link..

Overall, the Handball themed birthday party was a huge success.  We ordered fried chicken from our local Albertsons grocery store deli, served fruit, potato and pasta salad and some amazing handball themed cupcakes.  We had budgeted for $400 for this party and came in significantly under budget, around $280.  Are you looking for help with your next birthday party?  Try this unique and fun idea or email us for additional help.  To download a copy of the Handball Rules and Score Keeper click on the link below.

Download Handball Rules and Scoring Sheet

New Year's at Knott's Berry Farm family tradition.

Welcome in the New Year at Knott's Berry Farm with your family. The park will be filled with live entertainment and fireworks to bring in the New Year. Simply park your car and walk to the entrance to have a full day of festivities. There is no need to drive too far to have the best holiday fun ever. Up to late, drive to long? No worries, you can stay at the Knotts Berry Farm Hotel just a short walk in the park and enjoy a late night of dancing, riding roller coasters and fireworks. It is really the best way to enjoy bringing in the New Year.

My family and I make it out to the New Year's celebration every year as part of our family tradition. Family traditions are very important part of building lasting memories and creating bonds with your kids and the rest of the family. It is also a great time to show your kids that you have a fun side and understand that play time is important too. I recommend that you come and play at Knott's Berry Farm with your family and friends this holiday season and ring in the New Year with the Field Trip Mom family.

This year, the good people of Knott's Berry Farm are sponsoring a chance to win (2) tickets through our blog. I am so excited to open this great opportunity to all my loyal readers. Enter for a chance to win (2) tickets to Knott's Berry Farm and come ring in the New Year with us.


Disclaimer: Sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are all my own.





a Rafflecopter giveaway





Knott's Berry Farm is located at 8039 Beach Blvd Buena Park, CA 90620. For more information on tickets, attractions and more go to Knott's Website

Heirloom and Hardware custom furniture boutique.

I want to introduce you to custom furniture through Heirloom and Hardware.  They are a great store where you can find furniture that inspires you. The inspiration comes from the owners husband-and-wife team Joseph and Jessica D’Ambra, and sibling Jennifer, who create each piece with passion for home furniture.

 

Heirloom and Hardware has been selling  custom furniture since 2011.  They have a new store at 2930 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 in the LAB shopping center. We were recently invited to their grand opening.  Dorian Gomez filled in for me and was my eyes and ears on this special night.  He called me and revealed his thoughts on the store with me.

Dorian: ”Their love for turning something vintage into something classic is evident the minute you walk in the door of their store.

Me:  What feeling did you get from the place?

Dorian: The shop owners really love their craft of making furniture.  They travel to Europe to find one of a kind piece to transform into custom designs.  The love is very much evident in the details of each furniture piece.

Me: What did you love besides the furniture?

Dorian:  They offer candles, accessories and many other timeless pieces for the home.

Me: I saw jewelry and other cute accessories on Instagram photos. What can you tell us about it?

Dorian: They carry one of a kind scarfs, necklaces and journals.  Everything is made to inspire you to be original.

Me: What else can you tell me about your experience?

Dorian: Attending the H&H grand opening has helped me visualize the coexistence between vintage and contemporary. The owners Joseph and Jessica D’Ambra bring together a harmonious blend of custom furniture with a vintage history.  I found a few favorite items such as  the European Medicine cabinet, handmade shelving system made out of rolling carts and their unique artwork brought back from their travels. 

The store is opened Monday through Saturday from 11am until 7pm and Sunday is 11am until 5pm.
I recommend that you stop by and get inspired by the custom made furniture.
2930 Bristol St. Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post. Thank you  Dorian Gomez for being a contributor on this story. All thoughts and opinions are all our own.

Copper Fit Compression Knee Sleeve

Copper Fit Infused Compression Garments is a uni-sex compression sleeve used to help with easier joint movement and pain relief.  Several months back, the kind staff from Copper Fit and Idea Village sent Field Trip Dad the gift of pain management and relief in which I gladly was willing to try.  Field Trip Mom.com was sent a compression knee sleeve in exchange for this blog post.  All opinions and comments are my own and we did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.

Copper Fit compression sleeves infuses copper ions during the manufacturing process which will not easily wash or wear out of the garment even through several washings.  Copper is a natural mineral, environmentally friendly and a required nutrient in our present ecosystem.  For thousands of years, ancient Aztecs, Romans and Egyptians have used copper for many benefits according to Gregor Grass, Christopher Rensing and Marc Solioz in their book Metallic Copper as an Antimicrobial Surface. Applied Environmental Microbiology, March 2011.  Copper provides protection against staining, bacteria, odors and the deterioration of the product.   Copper is non-irritating and a vital nutrient to humans.

Copper Fit uses compression support which has been used by doctors and physical therapists providing muscle and circulatory support.  Compression type products may provide benefits and relief to sore, stiff or painful muscles, improved circulation and assist in muscle strain and fatigue. Results vary person to person.  Seek a professional doctor and/or physical therapist for additional thoughts and opinions before deciding for your unique situation.

As a child, I was outside playing, biking, skating and playing sports with my friends from sun up to sun down during the summers.  Between the ages of 7 and 14, I experienced painful growing pains in my legs and once every couple of months my knees would swell the size of cantaloupe melons, filling with fluid (also called water on the knee.)  This was an extremely painful time for me as a child, I couldn't bend my knees without agonizing pain.  The swelling would come on overnight during my sleep and it would awaken me dramatically in the middle of the night keeping me up for the rest of the early morning hours.  My parents took me to the family doctor on several occasions and the diagnosis was the same every time; he played too hard.  Go home and have him rest.  Typically the swelling would subside a few days later and I would be back to normal until the next occurrence. My parents took me to an orthopedic surgeon after several occurrences in which he wanted to perform exploratory surgery since there were no MRI's during those days and my parents refused to put me through that pain.  Now 40, I have always had knee pain, stiffness and soreness during and after running.  Recently, I was experiencing pain in my knees climbing stairs and decided to go back to an Orthopedic surgeon who took an MRI for me and diagnosed me with a tear in my meniscus which over time semi repaired itself with scar tissue.  The doctor deemed this to not be life threatening nor felt surgery was an option and told me that some day I could potentially re-injure my knee which would then place me in the operating room. He suggested low impact sports as a solution.

I received the Copper Fit compression sleeve for my knee and started using it for exercise on an elliptical machine and while walking up to 5 miles.  My 3 month experience was incredible.  The sleeve provided flexible support to my knee and enough compression to feel as if I was wearing a heavy duty knee brace.  The fabric was moisture wicking so I didn't chaff from sweat during my exercise program.  The Copper Fit compression sleeve is ideal for performance athletes, physical workers and persons who are gracefully aging.  Made from 82% Polyester, 14% Spandex and 4% Copper and other materials, the compression sleeves come in 3 sizes.  They offer products for knees, elbows, ankles, as well as T-Shirts, Shorts and Socks.  The antimicrobial fabric is easy to wash in cold water and dry on low.  I wear my compression sleeve for many activities from exercise to working in the garage to playing handball and biking with the kids.  Whatever your job or activity, 15 or 70, I recommend trying the Copper Fit Compression Garments for easier movement and pain relief.

To learn more, seek additional information from your health care professional or physical therapist. You can find all of the Copper Fit product line at Copper Fit.

Written by contributor and co-owner of Fieldtripmom.com: Tim Bosek

Penguins of Madagascar + one giveaway to Aquarium of the Pacific

Penguins of Madagascar the Movie is coming today Wednesday November 26th, 2014.  My family is excited to see this holiday comedy. Keep reading to find how you can win Aquarium of the Pacific Ticket and make this a fun educational experience. Take a peek at the funny trailer:

To get you field tripping and keep you in the penguin spirit enter for a chance to win (4) tickets to the Aquarium of the pacific in Long Beach, CA.

Contributor Beth Vance reviews Penguins of Madagascar:

This is an entertaining movie for all ages.  The opening sequence parodies the penguin documentaries, watching the endless line of penguins marching across the frozen tundra.  Three penguins (Skipper, Kowalski and Rico) break the routine and step out of line to rescue a penguin egg, which then hatches  into a baby penguin they name Private.  Flash forward a few years, and the four penguins are masters of espionage, with lots of slapstick (high one instead of high five) humor to go along.  There was nonstop action and lots of humor – visual and verbal – to make this movie very entertaining for parents as well as children.  

Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private are brought into the services of the North Wind, an elite undercover inter-species task force that is dedicated to helping animals who can't help themselves. The Penguins must work with the North Wind led Agent  Classified to prevent Dr. Octavius Brine (voiced brilliantly by John Malkovich)  from taking over the world (Wikipedia.org).

In the mad doctor’s  former life (where he was known as Dave), he was the star of the aquarium, until the cute and cuddly adorable penguins showed up and stole his limelight.   Now he intends to enact his revenge by capturing all the penguins from zoos, marine parks and aquariums throughout the world, which he does, while the North Wind interspecies agency chases after him to stop his evil plans.    So many one liners that made me laugh!  The celebrity namedropping was hilarious! 

http://madagascar.dreamworks.com/

To enter for a chance to win (4) tickets just leave a comment on the blog. Tell me your about your favorite sea animal. Winner will be chosen December 1st, 2014 through random drawing. You must be 18 years or older and must live in Southern California. 
Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are all my own. A special thank you to Beth Vance for reviewing the movie.

Penguin Facts by Penguin World:

1. Penguins are birds

Penguins are birds highly adapted to the aquatic life.
Penguins are avid swimmers and they have changed their wings by flippers as part of the adaptation process.

2. Penguis feed in the Ocean.

Penguins feed on squid, fish, krill and some other forms of sealife.

3. The Emperor Penguin is the largest penguin

The Emperor Penguins are about 1.15 meters tall and about 37 Kg weigh. The Little Blue Penguins are the smallest penguins and they are about 40 cm tall and 1.2 Kg. weigh

4. Penguin Distribution.

Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, however they are not exclusively found in the cold climates. There are penguins living as north as the Galapagos islands, close to the equator.

Official websites
Find out more information about the movie:
Visit the Official Website <http://madagascar.dreamworks.com/>

Follow @DWAnimation <https://twitter.com/dwanimation>  on Twitter

Like 'Penguins of Madagascar' on Facebook
< https://www.facebook.com/penguinsofmadagascar>

Follow on Tumblr <http://dreamworkspenguins.tumblr.com/> , Google+
< https://plus.google.com/113693472101302371888/posts>
Starring: Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Christopher Knights, Benedict
Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, Annet Mahendru, Peter Stormare and John Malkovich

Directed By: Eric Darnell, Simon J. Smith

Produced By: Executive Producers: Tom McGrath, Mireille Soria, Eric Darnell;
Producers: Lara Breay, Mark Swift

Disney on Ice - "Let's Celebrate!" Promo code included

Disney on Ice is coming this December 10, 2014 through January 4, 2015. The show will bring over 50 Disney characters from 16 favorite stories to make it a grand celebration. Contemporary music and favorite songs will make you want to get up from your seat to sing and dance. This family event is a holiday must do for people of all ages. It makes the holiday's a little brighter and festive. My family attends this once a year event to remind us that there is magic on the ice. Keep reading to find the promo code that will help you save money on a family pack.  Disclosure:  Sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts are all my own. By the way there is a chance to win (2) tickets to this great event. Just keep reading.

L O S  A N G E L E S 

 STAPLES Center – 1111 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles 90015

    Wednesday, December 10 – Sunday, December 14

Wednesday, December 10                 7:30 PM

Thursday, December 11                     7:30 PM

Friday, December 12                         11:30 AM & 7:30 PM

Saturday, December 13                     11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, December 14                       11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM 

TICKETS:     Ticket prices range from $22 – $30; $45/$50 (VIP) and $75/$80 (Front Row)*

Opening Night tickets are only $15 each for select seating (not valid for VIP or premium seating)*Tickets available for purchase online at AXS.com, charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or in-person at the venue Box Office. *prices vary between weekday/weekend shows; tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and handling fees.

A N A H E I M

            Honda Center – 2695 E. Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806

Tuesday, December 16 – Sunday, December 2

Tuesday, December 16                    7:30 PM 

Wednesday, December 17               7:30 PM

Thursday, December 18                  10:30 AM & 7:30 PM

Friday, December 19                       1:30 PM & 7:30 PM

Saturday, December 20                   11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, December 21                     11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

TICKETS:    Ticket prices range from $22 – $310; $45/$50 (VIP) and $75/$80 (Front Row)*

Opening Night tickets are only $15 each for select seating (not valid for VIP or premium seating)*Tickets available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or   in-person at the venue Box Office.*prices vary between weekday/weekend shows; tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and handling fees.  

O N T A R I O

         Citizens Business Bank Arena – 4000 Ontario Center Parkway, Ontario, CA 91764

                           Thursday, December 25 – Sunday, December 28

Thursday, December 25              6:00 PM

 Friday, December 26                 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

 Saturday, December 27              11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

 Sunday, December 28                1:00 PM & 5:00 PM 

TICKETS:    Ticket prices range from $22 – $30; $45/$50 (VIP) and $75/$80 (Front Row)*

Opening Night tickets are only $15 each for select seating (not valid for VIP or premium seating)*Tickets available for purchase online at AXS.com, charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or in-person at the venue Box Office. *prices vary between weekday/weekend shows; tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and handling fees. 

L O N G  B E A C H

Long Beach Arena – 300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

                                Wednesday, December 31, 2014 – Sunday, January 4, 2015

Wednesday, December 31           4:30 PM

Thursday, January 1                     6:00 PM

Friday, January 2                         11:30 AM & 6:00 PM

Saturday, January 3                     11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, January 4                       11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

TICKETS:   Ticket prices range from $22 – $30; $45/$50 (VIP) and $75/$80 (Front Row)*Opening Night tickets are only $15 each for select seating (not valid for VIP or premium seating)*Tickets available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or in-person at the venue Box Office.  *prices vary between weekday/weekend shows; tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and handling fees.

Get a family four pack of tickets for $80.00 using:
PROMO CODE: MOM14 EXPIRES 1/4/15

Enter for a chance to win (2) tickets to Disney on Ice. Just leave a comment and tell me who is your favorite Disney character. A winner will be picked at random by November 30th, 2014. This giveaway is open to Southern California Residents 18 years or older.   

UC Irvine Health - Free Flu Shot

UC Irvine Health Medical Group is hosting an open house this Saturday, November 15, 2014 from 9am to noon located: 1451 Irvine Blvd, Tustin, Ca 92780.  This is a great opportunity to meet primary care physicians, tour the new Tustin facility, get free healthy screenings and get a free flu shot. They will be hosting a drawing to win an iPad mini.
Want to learn more about this new facility:
http://www.ucirvinehealth.org/news/2014/11/expert-primary-care-in-a-neighborhood-near-you/

*Free Flu shots are for kids over age 5 and it is while supplies last.
*Get Free health screenings.
*Meet the care physicians and get to know them in person.

I want to encourage you to come and meet the people in your community. Hope to see you there tomorrow.

Best regards,

Alma

Knott's Berry Farm is hosting Christmas celebrations!

Christmas is coming! Can you believe that it’s that time of the year? The famous Beagle Santa is now on the loose at Southern California’s most loved theme park. “Knott’s Berry Farm!” Season pass holders and general admission can experience holiday events, live entertainment and festive food along with the fun theme park rides.   To help the community with shopping they offer a wonderland filled with local crafts and handmade gifts.  Let me share with you a list of activities you can expect on your next visit between November 22 through January 4, 2015. Disclosure: Sponsored post. Special Contributor for this story GigaSavvy.



Courtesy of Knott's Berry Farm



• Catch a performance by the world famous beagle, Snoopy as he performs a brand new ice spectacular, Merry Christmas, Snoopy! His performance can be seen at the Charles M. Schulz Theatre.
• Experience a live performance of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or O. Henry’s A Gift of the Magi in an intimate setting of the historic Bird Cage Theatre.
• When the sun sets on the Farm, Calico Stage lights up with the celebration of the season in Snoopy’s Merriest Tree Lighting. Join us for a musical, whimsical tree lighting featuring a cast of Toy Soldiers, Snowmen, Elves and America’s most famous beagle, Snoopy!
• Over in Camp Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus and Lucy invite you to dance, sing and join in on the holiday fun in the Camp Snoopy Theatre.
• Introduced in 2013, the Ghost Town and Calico Railroad celebrate Christmas on Engine 41. Climb aboard a vintage railcar and meet an ever-changing group of Ghost Town residents eager to share their Christmas plans and songs with you.
• Ghost Town also celebrates of the sounds of the season with its very own Dickensian vocal quartet, Calico Carolers and interactive country Christmas blue grass quartet, the Ghost Town Miners.

Courtesy of Knott's Berry Farm

Remember to bring your Christmas shopping list and shop local. See you at Knott’s this holiday season. Happy Holidays.

To find out more about Knott's Berry Farm, please visit their website:

https://www.knotts.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KnottsBerryFarm

Deal alert: NEW PASSHOLDERSPurchase a 2015 Season Pass today and use it for one 2014 visit!

Hurry, this offer expires November 6.

Disclaimer: Sponsored post. A special thanks to our contributor GigaSavvy. 

Virtual field trips, WebCam and videos help to make learning fun.

It's been raining and we can't go outside. Well, we don't really like to drive in the rain because of the traffic and well, the rain.  What to do for a field trip? Hmmm...Virtual Field Trips, Live Webcam Feeds and Online Tours can help.  We usually grab candy, popcorn and a spot on our couch to watch and explore. However, we have found an aquarium, several museums, a volcano and a zoo who share their facility online for the purpose of educational fun.  We are sharing a list of online tours, virtual field trips and webcams that can bring you fun and joy this winter season.  Stay warm and cozy while going on a field trip....from your couch. 

Animal Plant Shark Webcam 
http://www.apl.tv/sharks.htm

Aquarium of the Pacific - Penguin Habitat below water:
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 590-3100
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/exhibits/penguin_habitat/penguin_cam_below

Italy - Museo Galileo - Visit Leonardo Da Vinci paintings and writings. 
http://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/exhibitions/the-colossus-of-leonardo-da-vinci

Louvre - Visit the museum's exhibition rooms and galleries, contemplate the façades of the Louvre without leaving your house. 
http://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne
75001 Paris, France

Monterey Bay Aquarium - live webcam
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams/kelp-forest-cam/

National Museum of Natural History 
Smithsonian Institution 
10th Street & Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20560-0135
Phone: (202) 633-2950 
https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour

Natural History Museum in London, UK - How to videos.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/video.html


NASA Government
https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

9 webcams operating inside the Kennedy Space https://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/video.html

Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts

137 Warren Ave, Plymouth, MA 02360
(508) 746-1622

http://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids/thanksgiving-virtual-field-trip

San Diego Zoo - (11) webcams to see Tigers, Apes, Koala, Panda, Polar Bear, Condor and Elephant Cam. 
2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 231-1515
https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams

Volcano de Mexico - Webcam of the volcano de Colima. You will see many great images. 
http://www.webcamsdemexico.com/webcam-volcan-de-colima

Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post. All thoughts and ideas are all my. Post was updated 02/10/2017

The Book of Life Movie inspired me.

This week a new fun and exciting movie is coming to theatre's near you, "The Book of Life."  Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. We had the opportunity to review it.

The Story:
Rated PG and Starring: Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana, Diego Luna, Ron Perlman, Ice Cube, Danny Trejo, and more. Directed by: Jorge Gutierrez and Produced by: Guillermo Del Toro.

A fairy tale about a boy named Manolo, who faces his fears and is forced to travel between three worlds.   The worlds he is forced to travel through are: here and now, the land of remembering and the land of the forgotten.  His goal was to be with his true love “Maria”.    In the end, Manolo realized that his biggest challenge in life was to be true to himself.  The twists and turns the movie takes open your heart to looking inside of oneself and finding forgiveness and love.  The movie has incredible vibrant colors and art that fill the movie screen with happiness and joy.  This love story celebrates life and the afterlife in a bright upbeat setting while promoting forgiveness. 

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

My Opinion: The most incredible and inspiring movie for all ages is now showing, "The Book of Life."  This fictional story brings to life a Mexican tradition, "The Day of the Dead."  The subject of death is handled very carefully and with the sense that the spirit is always with us. The movie is filled with folk art that is bright and lively. The characters are wooden looking and fun to watch. The movie sound track is a blend of American and Mexican music like nothing I have ever heard before. The movie teaches, inspires and reminds us to forgive and love more. It is a must see with the entire family.  

You can find more information on the movie by visiting Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and the official website.

https://www.facebook.com/bookoflifemovie

http://bookoflifemovie.tumblr.com/

http://www.bookoflifemovie.com/

Music:  The soundtrack to the movie is a mixture of American and Mexican music.  The music and art made this movie into an amazing piece work of art.  Our favorite song from this movie was “The Apology Song”, because it was inspiring.  Let me share with you a few of the songs that appear on the Track listing:

TRACK LISTING:

1.            Live Life – Jesse & Joy

2.            The Apology Song – La Santa Cecilia

3.            No Matter Where You Are – Us the Duo

4.            I Love You Too Much – Diego Luna and Gustavo Santaolalla

5.            I Will Wait – Joe Matthews, Diego Luna and Gustavo Santaolalla

6.            Mas – Kinky 

7.            Cielito Lindo – Plácido Domingo

8.            Creep – Diego Luna and Gustavo Santaolalla

9.            Can't Help Falling In Love With You – Diego Luna and Gustavo Santaolalla

10.          Ecstasy Of Gold – Gustavo Santaolalla

11.          Do Ya Think I'm Sexy – Gabriel Iglesias and Gustavo Santaolalla

12.          Just A Friend – Cheech Marin and Biz Markie

13.          El Aparato /Land of the Remembering – Gustavo Santaolalla  Café Tacvba

14.          Visiting Mother – Gustavo Santaolalla

15.          The Apology Song – Diego Luna and Gustavo Santaolalla

16.          No Matter Where You Are – Diego Luna, Zoë Saldana and Plácido Domingo

17.          Te Amo y Mas – Diego Luna and Gustavo Santaolalla

18.          Si Puedes Perdonar – Diego Luna and Gustavo Santaolalla