This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com. This post was near and dear to me since my mother has Rheumatoid Arthritis. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It was about 20 years ago that my mom was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I remember clearly how she hurt all the time and never really knew why. Today, like pictured above, she has taken control of her condition with infusions of medicine that allow her to go through life without as much pain and discomfort. When we discovered Lifescript, we immediately started browsing the site for as much information as we could. Lifescript provides an online community of knowledgeable professionals all with advice and support for patients diagnosed with this disease.
Lifescript gave insight into new ideas on how to manage pain and cope with the everyday hassles of having Rheumatoid Arthritis. Check out this
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Want to find more posts relating to rheumatoid arthritis? Then be sure you do not miss these articles:
- 8 Steps to Staying Active With Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Top Doctor’s Tips to Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet Tips for Rheumatoid Arthritis
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This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Happy Tuesday everyone! Since I am not quite awake, nor ready to take on a Tuesday, I pondered what to chat about today with you all…and since as I am writing this I am drinking another yummy husband made latte, I thought I’d divulge into a spiral of meaningless yet could be meaningful list of different coffee terms and what they mean exactly. So let’s chat, in coffee terms…
Did I mention, I LOVE LATTE’S. and coffee, and cappuccinos…yum to them all.
Coffee – Water brewed through coffee grounds. But you knew that already, I’m guessing.
Okay – something harder…
Caffe Americano - Tastes similar to coffee. Brewed espresso shots with coffee added. The story goes that the Europeans came up with the name because Americans didn’t like the taste of espresso, so water was added to dilute the strong flavor.
Caffe Latte - One part espresso, 4 parts steamed milk.
Cappuccino - A third espresso, a third steamed milk, a third frothed milk.
Caffe Macchiato - Espresso with a dollop of steamed milk on top.
All of these can easily be created with a saucepan and hand mixer. Just be sure not to burn the milk!
So know you know, and as Jeff always quotes, “knowing is half the battle”
Try remembering where that came from.
Let me just get this out of the way….Wahoooooo!!!!
I can explain.
Jeff, aka husband, and I, are shipping the troops, aka cutest most lovably handsome boys, off to our parents for 2 {yes TWO!} whole weeks.
Why?
Cause we neeeeed to. Call it for sanity. Or quiet. Or just to catch up on lovey dovey us time. Queue our NEED for fun and cheap date ideas! Going out every night just won’t cut it! And that can really add up quick!
We do this every summer, and it works for everyone. We get time alone. The whole ’heart grows fonder’ could not apply more in this scenario. The boys get time with their grandparents, both sets since they live only 10 miles apart. I will most definitely miss the stinkin’ heck out of them, but every family started with a 2, and that 2 needs some time to reconnect!
Sidetracking, Jeff and I are high school sweethearts – we have been together for 8 years. 8 years, on June 25th. Craziness, for sure.
Picture this: Kids gone. Home alone. No plan. No don’t get me wrong, the idea of relaxing on the hammock every day is in serious consideration, we want to do things that you can’t easily do without a sitter. Things just for us. That’s why we came up with this list of fun and cheap date ideas.
Fun and Cheap date Ideas
For dating and Married couples!
- Picnic Date
- Minigolf Date
- Golf course Date – There’s great deals when you only do half a course or less!
- Beach Date
- Tennis Date
- Go Fly a Kite Date
- Roller Blading/Skating at an indoor skate park Date
- Ice Skating Date
- Horseback Riding Date
- Bike Ride Date
- Local Outdoor music Fest Date
- Nature Walk Date
- Hike a Mountain Date
- Take Out Date – Order take out and picnic in your living room.
- Frisbee Golf Date
- Walk your local town Date
- Zoo Date – Especially if you live near a cheap or free one!
- Secret Dinner Date – Go into grocery store with a particular part of dinner delegated to each. Buy all ingredients, then you each cook it on your own and it’s like a surprise to you both!
- Casino Date
- Ice Cream Date
- Themed Movie Date
- Go out to a Matinee Date
- Arcade Date
- Go Karting Date
- Laser Tag Date
- Constellation Date – sit and stare at the beautiful night sky
- Hammock and Wine Date –{easily goes with 26}
- Book Store and Latte Date
- Bowling Date
- Quick Train/Trolley Ride to Nowhere Date
- Flea Market Date
- Farmers Market Date
- Camping Date
- Drive In Movie Date
- Wine Tour Date – Lots of times it only cost a couple dollars to taste at each vineyard – Drive carefully!
- Massage at Home Date
- Local Brewery Tasting Date
- Do-Gooder Date – Volunteer together!
- Library Date
- House Shop Date – We LOVE going to open houses for homes for sale.
- Test Drive the Car of your Dreams Date – More for the Mr. – but I can attest it’s exhilarating!
- Art Gallery Date – Sometimes you can get free wine!
- Fondue Date - Make fondue, eat, the rest is up to you
- Dessert Date – Eat at home. Get fancy schmancy dessert out.
- Indoor Rock Climbing Date (Tip – find deals on your local Groupon or Living Social!)
- Fitness Class Date – Perhaps some Yoga?
- Attend A Magic Show Date – {again with the Groupon and Living Social)
- Fruit Picking Date – Depends on the time of year as to what kind of fruit!
- Sleigh Ride Date
- Re-Decorate Date – I know this may not be a great date for some guys – but it can be fun to decide to revamp a room. Plan to sell your stuff on Craigslist ahead of time and go furniture shopping!
- Cooking classes Date
- Haunted House Date
- Hayride Date
- Corn Maze Date
- 20 Questions Date – Challenge yourselves to asking each other questions about stuff that happened through out your relationship. It invites back so many fond memories!
- Pottery Class Date
- Art and Wine Date – Paint a picture while sipping on wine!
- Sports Game Date – Sit in the upper decks and save lots of money!
- Museum Date – Some museums are donation only, others can be free!
- Planetarium Date
- Crazy News Stories Date – Sit outside at a cafe. People watch. Make up crazy stories as to what the people you find are doing. The nuttier the better.
- Botanical Garden Date
- Bizarre Location Photo-Op Date – Plan about 5-10 interesting stops around you. Go to each location and have someone take your picture. Make a mini album of your unique photo locations as a keepsake date.
- Exchange Your Outfit Date – Visit a local consignment. Shop separately for each other for 1 outfit. Exchange outfits, and change into them. Make it fun and choose outfits that are a bit odd. {helps to set a budget!}
- River Tubing Date
- Progressive Dinner Date – A new take on eating out. Set a budget. Pick 2-3 different places to stop. Order Drinks and apps, entree and dessert all at different places.
- Make and Share your Bucket List Date
- Treasure Map Date – Can be stay at home or out on the town. Choose 5 or so different places to visits. Create a “map” on with clues leading to each place. At each place do an activity or give a little gift. We did this for our 4 year anniversary – and it turned out super fun and didn’t cost much!
- Game Night Date
- Video Game Date
- Old / Scary Movie Marathon Date – i.e.: Alfred Hitchcock, Twilight Zone…
- Sunrise and Breakfast Date
- Sunset and Snacks Date
- Bonfire Date and Smores
- Tour Historical Sites Date
- Water Balloon Date
- Adult Slip and Slide Date – Suds up a giant tarp with soap and water. Run and slide on the tarp!
- Yard Game Date – Whatever yard game you have – if you don’t have any borrow one from a friend!
- Random Acts of Kindness Date – Come up with a list of RAOK and implement them on your date. See the ones I did for my 30th birthday HERE!
- Picture Scavenger Hunt Date – Double Date. Go to a local park and each couple visits different areas and takes crazy photos. Switch cameras and the other couples have to imitate the other couples photos! See who is first to imitate the pictures and find all of the places!
- Driving Range Date
- Billiards / Darts Date
- Fishing Date
- Car Wash Date – Wash your cars together in the blistering heat!
- Skinny Dipping Date
- Backyard Tent Date
- Kayak Date
- Rooftop Dinner Date – Look around you area for access to apartment rooftops even if yours doesn’t have one!
- Symphony Date – This is a hit or miss depending on the area you live in. some are cheap, some not.
- Build an Adult Fort/Watch a Movie
- Bake Cookies Dessert
- Learn Something New Date – Look in your local area rec. centers for classes to learn something new!
- Marshmallow Fight Date – Get a bag of large marshmallows head outside and have fun!
- Local Charity Event Date – Look online for events going on in your area that raise money for a charity
- Runners Date – Go for a run together!
- $5 Gift Date – Go to your local Walmart or Target. You each get $5 to spend on each other. Get creative!
- Sudsy Date – Take a bath together! Get some yummy smelling stuff from Lush and open a bottle of wine. Should lead to more…{wink, wink}
- Messy Twister Date Night – Put Twister game outside on the grass. Cover all spots with the paint that corresponds to the color dot. Wear old clothes.
- 20 Questions Date – think of and ask each other 20 questions. Make up crazy, silly questions!
- Go Dancing Date
- Take Dancing Lessons Date
See my other post about date nights HERE!
After some digging I found our old poster board filled with fun and cheap date ideas that Jeff and I made when we were poor college students, pre offspring. Some were specific to the area we lived in at the time. {Shout out to all the Syracuse, NY folks who may find themselves here!) I can still remember the night we made this list! Back in my scrapbooking days when I kept everything and we made pages for our scrapbook. This gave us a good starting point to coming up with more fun ideas to do. Now we just need to choose which to do! Do you have anything else to add to this list? If so we would love to hear your fun, cheap date ideas!
{Shirt – Old Navy, Skirt – Target, Beach Bag – Thrifted, Belt – Zara, Shoes – Steve Madden, Necklace – AE, Sunglasses – Armani Exchange}
Fair warning — this post is a my heart pouring with guilt. Things could get a bit sad. Enjoy!
Every night – as I watch my boys sleep I think – tomorrow I’m going to not do ANYTHING but spend time with them. Be a super hero, play playmobil’s, legos…whatever they want.
Why? Because every night I look at them and think, this age won’t last forever.
They won’t be as creative. With the mix of Buzz Lightyear wings and a lei, combined with an Iron Man mask–as a costume. Or setting up a line of cars to drive to imaginary gas station or get an imaginary car wash. Or building the tallest tower we can with Duplos.
That completely clean, creative, care free play.
Someday, it will change. I’m not saying this will be a bad change. The change I foresee is a good change. But, for now, I enjoy the simplicity of their play time.
So every night, I tell myself, tomorrow. Tomorrow I will wake up and devote the morning to free play. Not look at my phone when it buzzes with an email or lights up from a tweet. Not take care of that extra load of laundry just so I don’t have as much to do later. Not clean out the sink every time it gets a couple of dishes. Or pick up the random toys that may have been left out from yesterday.
Just one more thing. I do that like clockwork. I do that extra load of laundry, and I do pick up those dishes in the sink…and I do keep things tidy. It’s like a voice in the back of my head says “what if someone comes over unexpected?”
Just one more thing.
Not tomorrow. I am going to do this. For me, and for my boys. I need to refocus my attention on them, if only for 1 day. Since I know in depths of my brain, that I will not be able to do it for more. I do not have it in me. I know myself, and as I write this, I know it’s going to be a challenge.
I love my boys. They drive me crazy by the end of the day. Completely nuts, some days.
Just one more thing….not tomorrow.
I’m not normally a Sunday post kinda gal, but I figured I would share our lovely experience we had at the Jersey Shore yesterday, while I wait for the husband to finish his workout routine. Sweat away husband, while I eat salt water taffy.
We were invited by some friends to visit the Tuckerton Seaport, which is about a half hour north of Ocean City, NJ. It’s an inlet port that is home to a rebuilt lighthouse - turned museum and entertains with year-long events. Here is more info straight from their website:
Tuckerton Seaport and Baymen’s Museum
Located on Tuckerton Creek in Historic Tuckerton 120 West Main Street, Tuckerton, New Jersey.
You can contact them at 609-296-8868
They are open Daily 10am to 5pm.
All Year, Rain or Shine
Admission: Pre-season discount – $8 Adults, $6 Seniors, Children 6-12 $5, Children 0-5
Members are free!
Tuckerton Seaport hosted their 3rd annual Pirates and Privateers festival. Perfect for my boys. They loved every second of it.
The sea captains of the port gave the boys treasure maps where you actually got treasure by visiting each location and getting a mark on the map. There was pirate “fight” demonstrations.
Know what? Let me show you in about a thousand pictures {okay well not that many…} how much fun this hidden gem is.
Here is a glimpse of Tuckerton Seaport
Pirate gear for all your pirating needs. Light bulb —we planted in the boys’ head to be pirates for Halloween. We had some already from Disney, but stocked up on what we were missing with Tuckerton Seaport pirate gear.
Walk the plank mommy!
Beautiful views
Friendly goat petting zoo.
Could not resist the old cameras at the museum. I want one to display at my house!
Train station dress up at the museum. I bought a ticket —from my handsome pants boys
Yo ho ho….and… well you get it.
While this pirate may or may not have had actual rum in that bottle — they did sell alcoholic beverages for all the mommy and daddy pirates.
It’s a true Jersey shore family go-to spot. Right up the coast from the OC.
You can visit them to see more events coming up.
If you are interested in brining the kiddos to another pirate type event there is another coming up called Haunted Seaport. It runs October 24, 25 & 26, 2013 / 6pm to 9pm.
Go, not because I told you to, but because…
You love pirates. End of story.
You can check them out.
>>FB @ Tuckerton Seaport
>>Twitter @ TuckertonSeaprt
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in which I received a free trip to Tuckerton Port to provide my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hiya! If I am gonna meet you IRL this Friday in DC, yahoo!!! I am so looking forward to meeting new bloggers and learning cool stuff! Leave a comment with who you are so we can pretend like we’ve known each other forever at the conference! Meet here, it’s kinda like a pen pal you always wanted to meet amiright?
Attending Disney on the Road in a different city? We can still be friends!
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
A big fat Lotso Bear hug welcome to Latte and Legos to you all!
I complied a list of essentials that I will be brining to the Disney on the Road conference in DC Friday.
- Business cards!!! LOTS of new people and as much as it will be hard for me to keep track of everyone I meet, I know that in order to get people to remember me I need to show the goods (business cards). So to speak.
- Hole punch and Paper clip: Weird right? I plan to punch holes in everyone’s business cards, and put them all on a paper clip to keep them in one place. (I could have been nifty and picked up a cool little key ring thingy at Michaels…buuuuut, the clip works just as good.
- Laptop: May use it, may not. Good to have!
- Camera: ALWAYS have a camera on you. We all do, technically. If you carry a smart phone and have entered to 21 century. If not, I love you for being “vintagey”
- Confidence: This is my first {eeeek!!} bloggy conference since launching little slice of internet. I know I will be with some uber awesomely huge bloggy women….and I may feel intimidated….Just keep swimming, just keep swimming
- Gum: Obvious reasons.
- CHARGED cell phone AND external charger: With all the tweeting/facebooking/social media loving shenanigans, there could be a dead battery before I know it. And let’s just say, it’s happened to me before. Dead battery, mid seminar. Not cool. {tip: If you’re at a hotel and you do NOT have a charger on hand, ask the front desk staff if they have a back room here they charge their phone - chances are they do}
Those are my essentials. Do you guys have anything to add?
Other Disney related posts:
How we booked our Disney vacation
Congrats to Ronda, the winner of the Stonyfield Yokids yogurt giveaway!
Peplum Shirt – TJMaxx | Skirt – Anthroplogie | Shoes – Target | Faux Leather bracelet - c/o Send the Trend | Stretch Bracelet -ModCloth | Necklace – c/o Send the Trend
As ironic as this is, these photos…taken behind Target. It’s whatcha get when you NEED to get certain Target only items. Go in for Target brand contact solution, and if you know me at all by now, and I know you do, we are virtual BFF’s and all, then you know I can’t NOT browse the clothing section.
Darn you Target, you win again.
I walk out with the cutest creamsicle pants. And a neon yellow skirt. And cute ‘worn in’ ankle jeans. It’s a scientific fact that once I step foot in a Target, I am a sucker for the well placed womans clothing section right smack in the front of the store.
To which I say, darn you Target.
In other news, doesn’t this skirt just scream twirl in me?! I can’t not do a little spin when I put it on. Sometimes, with the little guys along for the ride. Best part about this skirt, the pockets. I’m in full belief that all skirts should have pockets. Just adds a little something special.
This is a sponsored post written on by me on behalf Warner Bros. All sponsored posts reflect the interests of Stephanie and are written to spread the word to you lovely readers on the newest events, products and businesses around!
The husband and I always take turns when picking movies to watch. I typically choose romantic comedies, and he, 9 times out of 10, chooses the latest super hero/action movies. I’m not gonna lie, I like watching his movies more than he likes watching mine.
This is especially true for theatre movies. We are choosy when it comes to watching movies in the theatre, having to have the boys watched and all. When we do go, we always choose movies we know will be a fantastic experience in addition to a blockbuster hit!
This year for Fathers Day, Wal-Mart has the perfect gift idea for Jeff. In addition to making him a yummy dinner, and delicious dessert on Fathers Day I plan to present him with tickets the Friday before, to the exclusive Wal-Mart only premier of Superman – Man of Steel!
The Man of Steel screening will be shown at specified theaters on June 13th at 7 PM – making it a perfect family event for Father’s Day or to kick off the summer!
This is a groundbreaking offer that is the first of its kind! How cool is that!?
Buy your Man of Steel tickets at Wal-Mart and you will get to see the movie before it debuts nationwide. Tickets can be purchased at any Wal-Mart in the Electronics Department. With the purchase of your ticket you also get an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, the author of Man of Steel, in addition to an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download or Blu-Ray copy of the film.
And guys, if you have kids older than 13, since it’s rated PG-13, then you could make it a family movie night! The perfect night of the week too! Since Wal-Mart is offering those who purchase the pre-screening tickets the opportunity to pre-order the movie on Blu-Ray, we will certainly be taking advantage of that. Then, if we feel it is something we would allow them to watch, we will have the movie to watch for our family movie nights!
Take a peek at the Man of Steel movie trailer and see for yourself!
Here’s how you can get ahold of these exclusive pre-screening tickets:
Purchase tickets to the exclusive pre-screening of Man of Steel [PG-13] on June 13th, 2013 at 7 PM at your local Wal-Mart! Tickets can be purchased in the Electronics Department and include an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, author of “Man of Steel”, as well as an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download or Blu-Ray copy of the film.
- Go to your local Wal-Mart
- Visit the electronics department
- Purchase your EXCLUSIVE Man of Steel pre-screening tickets (available in 2D or 3D)
- Take your family to the theater location noted on your ticket and watch the EXCLUSIVE 7 p.m. premiere of Man of Steel on June 13th!
Let’s all reconvene after we watch the pre-screening and chat about it!
Don’t be a stranger…
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Warner Bros.
{Dress – Anthropologie (thrifted), Watch – Francesca’s, Purse – Artifact, Sunnies – Armani Exchange, Shoes – Holister}
Hello hot summer weather! I am loving this heat. The whole walking around the house with just enough clothes to tastefully answer the door in. I could sweat gallons before submitting to turning on the AC. The husband LOVES to turn on the AC. Like at the slightest hint of heat. A little ridic if you ask me. When I am home during the day, I open those window and let the house breathe! Jeff, if you are reading, this is what I have for you babe. >>go here.
I had to do it. I do love you.
Have I mentioned I love the heat?
Somehow as luck would have it, I won tickets from Downingtown Dish to a local festival {Brandywine Strawberry Festival – for you local readers}, that we go to every year anyway. The prize package included free unlimited ride bracelets for the boys and free strawberry shortcakes for us all. Can we all say yummy! I <3 strawberries. I could eat an entire container, the 2 quart, all myself.
You should have seen the look on the boys faces when I told them they could ride whatever they wanted! And this year, they were both tall enough for all of the little kid rides. I can’t get over the milestones we are passing. First Porters teeth falling out, and now this in a span of a couple of weeks. Oh my. I want it to slow the heck down.
We had a very yummy dinner before diving into the fun of the rides. The package they put together with all our goodies included some strawberry pins, that the boys wore proudly around, and glow in the dark bracelets. Anything glow in the dark is a hit with these guys.
Cute little box with our Downingtown Dish prize package
I mean c’mon, I can not stand the cuteness when they mimic each other.
Love <3
Of course we ended our family fun night at the Brandywine Strawberry Fest with some good ol’ fashioned shortcakes. And the suckers were huge. I’m talking made for 3, kinda huge. No joke.
Stop over HERE and enter for your chance to win 4 FREE (6) packs of Stonyfield Yokids smoothies!
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