Food Fun Family

Light Up the Holidays with Energizer®

Lolli — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 20:50:10 +0000

This post is brought to you by Energizer®. All thoughts and ideas are my own.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been running around like a mad woman trying to wrap up holiday shopping before the weekend is over. It’s no easy task to shop for six direct family members as well as other family and friends.

Now that my kids are teens and adults, it’s even more challenging to find non-toy gifts that fit their personalities and interests. Little kids were so much easier to shop for (or should I say that little kids are a lot easier to please when it comes to finding presents that they’ll enjoy?).

I discovered an unconventional gift that the whole family will appreciate and get tons of use out of: Energizer® Vision HD flashlights. They are the perfect stocking stuffer for every family member! We’re already stocking up on batteries for the toys that certain grown-up boys HAVE to have each Christmas. Energizer is already making a much-needed appearance under our Christmas tree.

About The Energizer® Vision HD headlight: powerful beam of up to 180 lumens with 3 light modes, a new dimming feature, and pivoting functionality to direct light where you need it. It’s weather resistant and drop-tested (up to 1 meter) to stand up to harsh conditions. The innovative smart-dimming technology feature provides users with maximum run time to brighten all their hands-free activities.

About The Energizer® Vision HD performance metal light with Digital Focus: ultimate light control with digital focus feature MAXVIZ technology. The one-press digital focus easily transitions from a full spotlight to a full flood light and the aluminum alloy exterior makes it a durable choice. Impressive run time, powerful light output and a natural daylight color.

Here are just a few ways that our family could use the Energizer® Vision HD Headlight and Focus Flashlight:

Taking the dog out at night: Our family adopted a 7-year-old rescue pitbull this fall, and so a lot of our daily routine now revolves around our furry family member. Jax may be big and strong, but when it comes to going outside in the dark, he’s a big baby! I used to use my phone’s flashlight to light both of our paths out into the backyard. Now, I use the headlight to light our way.

Reading in the car: We’re heading on a winter road trip to visit family members, and we all love to read in the car. However, night traveling makes reading difficult. Both Energizer Vision HD flashlights are a perfect way to illuminate their reading materials without having to turn the car’s indoor lights on!

Hiking, running, or night time walks: We all love hiking and camping, and while we’re in Florida, we love taking evening walks on the beach. We also have a family full of runners. It’s always important to pack a light along so that we’re prepared when the sun goes down.

Hobbies and projects: A few of my family members (yes, I’m pointing right at you, AJ!) love to work on DIY projects constantly. The Energizer Vision HD headlight is the perfect way to spotlight your projects while keeping hands free to build and create.

Holiday storage: Once the holidays are over, we’ll be packing up the holiday decorations and packing them away in the attic until next December. Flashlights are critical in getting around the attic, and the headlight comes in extra handy (pun intended!) when you need your hands free to handle all those boxes!

How would you use the Energizer Vision HD lights this holiday season and throughout the year?

Buy the Energizer Vision HD Lights:

Energizer® Vision HD+ Focus LED Headlight and Energizer® Vision HD Performance Metal Lights
Energizer® headlights cost between $15 and $30 (before taxes).
Energizer® metal light series cost between $15 and $25 (before taxes).

Connect with Energizer:

Instagram: @energizer
Facebook: Facebook.com/Energizer
Twitter: @energizer

Give the Gift of STEM This Holiday

Lolli — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 11:00:31 +0000

This post is sponsored by Sylvan Learning, but all thoughts and ideas are my own.

Are your kids into STEM education? What are some of their favorite STEM activities? How would you like to give the gift of education to your child this holiday season? From December 1st through December 21st visit Sylvan’s Facebook page to enter to win your own STEM-themed educational holiday stocking!

The weather has turned cold for good, the kids are well-established in the not-so-new-anymore school year, the holiday cards are ordered, and it is officially time to get the holiday shopping done. As my kids have gotten older, finding the “perfect” gift to put under the tree has become more and more difficult.

I used to be the cool mom that knew what to get my kid and now I feel like a fish out of water, trying to figure out what that perfect gift might be. The last thing I want to do is waste money buying them gifts that will be forgotten in two days. And although I know that they could all use new socks and underwear, I don’t think they’d be too thrilled to open those gifts on Christmas morning. Luckily, I did a little brainstorming and I have some ideas for filling their stockings this year that I’m so excited about, and I know they will be, too.

My kids are all about hands-on activities. I love seeing my kids excited about learning (especially when they don’t even realize they’re learning because they’re having so much fun). Whenever I can incorporate learning and fun together, I’m on it. We’ve always been a STEM family (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), but even more so as they get older.

Getting a STEM education is something that is becoming more important in today’s educational system, especially as we consider how prepared our kids will be for the future job market. STEM classes and activities help them master critical skills for their future careers.

American kids are already behind their peers from other countries when it comes to STEM proficiency, and the earlier they get involved in and excited about STEM, the better.

Luckily, we’ve discovered STEM programs available through Sylvan Learning that encourage kids to “find their edge” and experience how STEM learning can be fun. I’ve always believed that the first step in creating confident, life-long learners is to help them feel confident and recognize that learning can be enjoyable as well as rewarding. The latest Sylvan EDGE STEM classes – focused on robotics, engineering, coding, and math – do just that. Best of all, they’re fun!

That’s why I’ve decided that the perfect holiday gifts for my kids this year includes fun, hands-on STEM-related toys or activities and an EDGE course certificate for a Sylvan EDGE program of their choice. The courses are six weeks long and I’m sure my kids will have a great experience!

Here are a few stocking-stuffer ideas that will go perfectly with a Sylvan Learning EDGE course:

Insta-Snow Powder: This stuff is so cool! You literally get to experiment with snow. There are tons of activity suggestions. I can’t wait to watch this stuff expand (it expands up to 100 times its original volume). I think we might need to save a little snow to wow their friends next summer!
Solar Robot – Grasshopper: My son loves robotics, and he was drawn to the solar robot grasshopper. He carefully read the instructions and was able to put it together by himself.
Water Vanish: This is one of my favorites. It’s simply science, but it’s also magic. My wanna-be magicians love tricks that can be explained with science but still look like magic.
Energy Stick: Exploring electricity and circuits is fascinating, and my kids had lots of fun seeing how they could complete a circuit. I love seeing my kids working together to test ideas out and make discoveries about how things work.

Instead of spending money on things my kids will just forget about, I’m excited to invest in their future with STEM activities like Sylvan EDGE and learning toys that will keep my kids active and growing.

5 Fun Ideas for Personalized Father’s Day Gifts

Lolli — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 04:36:32 +0000

I was lucky. I grew up with a fantastic dad who turned into an even greater Grandpa. And I married a man who became an awesome, engaged, fun dad to our five kids.

Dads today are more engaged with their kids than ever before….and they’re redefining what it means to be a dad. I love that! No longer is dad seen as the disengaged provider who wouldn’t dream of helping with the housework or the kids. And no longer are ties or black socks the preferred Father’s Day gift.

Dad’s roles are changing, and he deserves gifts that are personal, inspirational, fun, meaningful and imaginative…just like he is!

This year has been pretty monumental in our family. Watching your first daughter say “I do” and become someone’s wife is a big deal for any parent, but I think it might have an even bigger impact on a dad. Do dads ever stop seeing their daughters as their little girls? Their dressed-in-pink princesses?

This Father’s Day, I wanted to do something special that would serve as a memento of the wedding as well as a “thank you” to Dad. I wanted to create something unique that would serve as a reminder of all he has accomplished raising 5 beautiful, talented kids.

I wanted to make something that would make him smile every time he saw it in the house.

So I headed to Snapfish.com and created a couple of fun but meaningful Father’s Day presents to give to the father of my kids. (PS – the kids are NOT off the hook, even though he got some early presents this year!).

5 Fun Ideas for Personalized Father’s Day Gifts

Wall Hanging – I immediately thought about printing a family picture (new and improved, with another son in the shot!) but I wanted to try something a little different this time. Instead of printing a photo to have framed, or printing a canvas to hang, I had my favorite family picture from the wedding printed as a wood wall panel. The quality of the finished product is striking, and I can’t wait to find the perfect place to display it in our home.

Personalized Pillow – I had so much fun designing a pillow on Snapfish.com with memories from the wedding. It’s definitely a conversation piece! I loved that Snapfish had themes and templates that I could choose from to begin my design.

Photo Book – I made a photo book with my siblings to present to my dad for Father’s Day last year. We included pictures of all of us together through the years plus memories, funny or touching stories, and more. We had a blast making it for him, but the best part was watching him read it and look through the pictures.

Personalized phone or tablet case – I love creating phone and tablet cases that show off some personality…and where better to show off pictures of the family than ON your mobile phone or tablet?

Photo mug – one of the very first personalized gifts I made for my husband was a mug with a favorite picture of him with one of our daughters when she was little. That mug still makes me smile whenever I see it in the cupboard.

What are your favorite personalized gifts to give OR receive? What would the special men in your life love to get this Father’s Day?

Enter to WIN a $50 Snapfish product code!

Giveaway details:
Prizes: One of thirty-five $50 Snapfish product codes
Dates: Runs through Friday, June 10 at 9pm PT

Winners will be randomly selected and notified by Clever Girls and/or Snapfish by Friday, June 17

Terms & Conditions: The official Terms & Conditions are included in the widget; here is the high-level eligibility criteria: Age 18+ | US resident only | Only one winner per household

Enter on the widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

10 Customized Gift Ideas from York Photo

Lolli — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 16:30:31 +0000

Are you in the market for customized gift ideas? In a family as big as mine, we almost always have a birthday, anniversary, or holiday coming up, so it’s always a good time to brainstorm gift ideas. This post has been sponsored by York Photo, but all thoughts and ideas are my own.

What are the occasions for which you need to shop for gifts? In just my direct family, we have birthdays in January, March, May, June, August, October, and December. My anniversary is in April (coming up on 21 years!) and now my oldest daughter is about to add HER anniversary in April. When she gets married in a few weeks, I’ll be adding not only another anniversary to the month, but another birthday, too. Then there’s Mother’s Day and Fathers Day, Christmas and Easter. And don’t forget the birthdays and anniversaries in the families that both my husband and I grew up in.

My point here is to demonstrate that I am basically buying gifts all year long. That’s a lot of coming up with the “perfect” gift.

This past year, my siblings and I made very special gifts for our mom and dad. My dad had a “big” birthday this year, so we put together a photo book full of pictures, stories and memories about dad. It was such a huge success that we made one just for Mom for Christmas. Customized gifts are the best! They’re extra meaningful and appreciated for years and years.

10 great customized gifts for any occasion

I’ve made so many customized gifts over the years, from photo books to photo mugs to jewelry and more. I had so much fun looking through York Photos’s site to get ideas for my upcoming gifting needs. The possibilities are endless! Here are my top 10 customized gift ideas (most of which I’ve made before, and some that have made it on my list of things to do this year!)

I was able to design a new iPhone case on York Photo this past month. I love my new personalized iPhone case! It was so easy to customize with my own pictures, and I loved the sayings and graphics that York Photo had to choose from. The case is great quality and I’ve gotten compliments since I’ve had it on my phone! Here’s a little about the case:

flex-frame has a matte soft-touch coating for comfort in holding the phone
antimicrobial additive reduces harmful bacteria by up to 99%
protective camera flash trim reduces flash bounce
metal insert produces high quality image
UV resistant, durable and scratch resistant

One of the coolest things about my new case from York Photo is that the back panel is removable, which means that I could design even more customized metal inserts and swap them out for a new look whenever I want.

Enter to WIN a $30 York Photo gift card

What customized gift do YOU want to make? (Yes, it’s totally acceptable to make something for yourself like I did!). I’m excited to have the chance to give one lucky reader $30 to spend at York Photo. Note: this giveaway prize includes FREE SHIPPING!

Enter on the giveaway widget below and GOOD LUCK! This giveaway will end on 4/20/16 at 11:59pm ET and a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email after the giveaway is closed.

Entry -Form

Connect with York Photo

Website: https://www.yorkphoto.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/YorkPhoto1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorkPhoto/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/YorkPhoto/

No-Sew Boot Cuffs – An Easy Homemade Gift idea

Jody — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 16:29:19 +0000

I love the popular trend of cute boot cuffs peeking out of cool weather boots. You can go simple with a color that matches everything or get a little wild with colors and patterns that stand out. I went kind of middle of the road here with these – just a fun pop of color to brighten up your winter outfits.

Note: Amazon affiliate links to supplies used within this post.

These homemade boot cuffs are so inexpensive and easy to make that you will want to make more than one pair to keep on hand – and several to give for homemade gifts. You can pick up all kinds of fun patterns to make your socks from, I actually made these from a pair of my old socks I had on hand. There are also lots of textures that work well for these – fur lined socks, knitted, or fuzzy – there’s a style for every personality on your gift list. Not only do they look adorable but using the thicker knit socks keeps legs warm through the winter months. These work for adults or children just as well.

How to Make Your Own No-Sew Boot Cuffs

Supplies Needed:

Fuzzy socks
Buttons
Fabric glue (or needle and thread)
Scissors

Directions:

Cut off the toe of socks, leaving about 6 inches of length.
Run a bead of fabric glue along the cut edge of sock, allow to dry fully. This will keep your socks from unraveling on the rough edge.
Use fabric glue to attach several buttons in coordinating colors to the side of socks or run a needle and thread through a few times to secure well.
I used the heel of my socks for the knees, and I love the look of them.
Slip them on over pants and position them where you want them then slide boots on.

If you don’t want the heels of your socks to be part of the boot cuffs, just find longer socks and cut them above the heel.

Since no sewing is required, this is a fun homemade holiday gift that even the kids can make. Who on your gift list would love some boot cuffs?

Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Must-Have Gifts for Travelers

Jody — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 15:09:47 +0000

Whether your sister-in-law travels for work, your nanny is backpacking through Europe, or your parents are jet-setting all over the place, you are probably looking for some great gifts for the travelers on your holiday gift list. From practical to fun this list has you covered.

Note: Amazon affiliate links used.

Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Must-Have Gifts for Travelers

Travel Pillow – Hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly, and machine washable, this comfy and practical pillow is a must have on the frequent traveler’s wish list.

Power Bank – Sometimes when you are on the road it is hard to find a plug to charge up your cell phone (a necessity, we all know) so a portable phone power bank can be a lifesaver!

Luggage Scale – A luggage scale comes in really handy for those on the go, a quick way to make sure they are within the limits on their carryon or checked in luggage.

Travel Journal – This pretty travel journal is a great way to record memories, experiences, and thoughts, or even collect ticket stubs and other memorabilia from trips.

Luggage Tags – Pretty and bright tags will make bags much easier to spot on the luggage carousel at the airport.

Camera Lens Kit for Phones – Great for anyone, but especially those who like to travel light, a camera lens kit will get them shooting like a pro with just their cell phone.

Scratch Off Map – This is a really fun and memorable way to mark where they have been, whether they are a world traveler or just road tripping across the US.

Noise Cancelling Headphones – These headphones lessen outside noises while allowing you to listen to music, watch movies, listen to podcasts, and more while you jet set!

Universal Travel Wall Charger – Overseas travelers will really love this adaptor! Nothing is more frustrating than having a dead cell phone or a computer that you can’t use. This adaptor works in the US, Australia, and the UK.

Toiletry Travel Bag – They will definitely need a place to put their toothbrush, deodorant, makeup, shampoo, and other items. This one comes in 5 beautiful colors.

What travel-centric gifts are at the top of your wish list? What would you add?

Give The Gift of Premium Angus Steak This Holiday Season

Lolli — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 21:51:39 +0000

I love a good steak. There’s nothing quite like it. So when I was offered the opportunity to review a selection of premium Angus steak – some of the best beef in the country – I didn’t hesitate. Although I was sent a sampling of steaks from Chicago Steak Company, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have always considered myself to be a good cook, but I was painfully ignorant about steaks until just the last couple of years. I remember buying steak at the grocery store (whatever was on sale…because that’s how I rolled) and then wondering why my steaks didn’t taste anything like the steaks I ordered at my favorite restaurant.

Then I would go to a friend’s house for his famous BBQ and HE would be able to duplicate that amazing taste and tenderness that I loved. I thought it was about what this friend (or the restaurants) were putting on the steaks to make them taste so good. For some reason, I never made the connection that the quality of the cut of meat made more of the difference in how it tasted.

Luckily, I’ve learned the error of my thinking, and I’ve become much more picky about the meat that I’ll buy. A quality steak makes a fantastic meal. But a low-quality steak is almost always a disappointing waste of time and money. If I’m going to grill a steak, I might as well do it right. Right?

What’s In a Great Steak?

I have learned a ton about steaks simply by browsing through Chicago Steak Company’s website. There, you can find information on:

Grade – Chicago Steak Company only offers USDA Choice and USDA Prime steaks, which represents only 2% of all American beef. The USDA describes USDA Prime as “the ultimate in tenderness, juiciness and flavor.”
Aging – Aging meat is a process that breaks down a steak and makes it more tender and flavorful.
The Importance of Hand Selection – Variations in marbling, texture and color are just a few of the variables that can affect flavor and tenderness. Chicago Steak Company carefully selects beef from the top of the grade.

You can also watch videos about how to cook and season meat as well as what cuts of beef you should buy.

Premium Angus Steak from Chicago Steak Company – The Perfect Holiday Gift Idea

Want to “wow” a special family member, friend or co-worker? A package from Chicago Steak Company is sure to be noticed and appreciated! There are tons of options – from gifts under $100 to decadent desserts (that Greek yogurt mousse cake looks incredible!) to steak gift clubs (steaks all year!) and more.

I would highly recommend the package that I received – it’s not Chicago Steak Company’s most popular combination of Premium Angus steaks for nothing! The “Chicago’s Best Seller” includes:

2 (6oz) Complete Trim Filet Mignons
2 (10oz) Boneless Strips
2 (8oz) Sirloin Steaks
2 (8oz) Ribeyes

The steaks come individually frozen, and all I had to do to get them ready to cook was to move them from the freezer to the fridge the day before I wanted to cook them.

I seasoned my steaks with some Chicago Steak Seasoning and then melted a little butter in my cast iron skillet. I’ve learned that I prefer my steaks prepared simply so that I can savor the natural flavors.

The first thing that I noticed about the steaks was the tenderness and the texture. Each bite was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I tried the boneless strips, ribeyes, and sirloin (I’m saving the filets for a special occasion!) and my favorite cut was the boneless strips. In fact, we were fighting over those cuts!

Exclusive Chicago Steak Company Discounts for Food Fun Family Readers

If you would like to try some steaks from Chicago Steak Company for yourself to see the difference, I’ve got a discount code to share! Just ender code K10OFF for 10% off your order. Or use code K3FREE for Free Shipping + 12 (4oz) Gourmet Steak Burgers on orders of $99 or more and a $25 gift check to use on an order $150 and above.

Which premium combination from Chicago Steak Company would you choose?

Connect with Chicago Steak Company:

Facebook: Facebook.com/ChicagoSteakCompany
Twitter: @MyChicagoSteak
Pinterest: Pinterest.com/mychicagosteak
Google+: Plus.google.com/+Mychicagosteakco
Youtube: Youtube.com/user/MyChicagoSteak

7 Great Gift Ideas for the Adventurous Family

Lolli — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:02:01 +0000

We are all explorers. And this Christmas, my family is celebrating that fact with a different kind of holiday gift-giving. This list of 7 great gift ideas plus giveaway are sponsored by Sierra Trading Post, but all thoughts are my own.

We Are All Explorers

My oldest daughter, who is away at college, has started to comment (complain?) recently that she thinks her family has been abducted and replaced by outdoorsy adventure-seekers. She claims she doesn’t know who we are anymore. I just chuckle.

I suppose it’s true. After we drove across the country to drop her off at school 2 summers ago, we got a taste for travel and adventure and the outdoors and we haven’t looked back.

This year, we’ve made a conscious decision to focus on experience-based gifts versus toys and frivolous things. That’s where Sierra Trading Post comes in. If you’re planning outdoor activities, you need to be prepared. Sierra Trading Post makes it easier to explore by offering incredible savings on the best brands of outdoor apparel and gear from around the world. And right now, they’re offering a 15% off plus half off shipping promotion with code ASAVENOW5.

Note: Offer available 11/23 through 12/7. Clearance items are excluded from the 15% off, but you’ll still save with 50% off shipping!

7 Great Gift Ideas for the Adventurous Family

As we make plans for our winter adventures in Florida, our next family road trip or just explorations around our home town, I’ve been eyeing a few fun gift ideas that are perfect for the adventure-seeking family.

For the trail runner or hiker (like my husband), these Adidas Outdoor Terrex Swift R Trail Running Shoes (For Men) would be the perfect gift. A good pair of trail shoes will help him explore even more miles…in comfort!

For those times when you have to pack light, this Single Travel Hammock would be ideal. My husband likes to take the kids on bike rides down the C&O Canal in the fall. As beautiful as the bike ride is, they can’t carry much gear on their bikes, so light weight travel hammocks are a welcome comfort when they stop for the night along the trail.

For the anywhere explorer, a good backpack is a must, like this Kelty Redtail 27 Backpack. Whether you’re heading on the airplane or on the trail, a backpack is a critical part of your trip to keep snacks and other essentials close at hand.

For after a day of exploring, nothing beats a warm, cozy blanket like this Woolrich Meadow Creek Throw Blanket. I get a throw blanket every year for Christmas. It’s something I look forward to each year. You can never have too many cozy blankets!

For the adventurous girl, these waterproof, insulated Lowa Yukon Ice Gore-Tex® Hiking Boots for women will take you far. My girls go to a fun week-long camp each year and they need good hiking shoes. Nothing is worse on a long hike than wet, sore feet. My girls will be leading the group with these boots.

For the curious kids (little kids and big kids alike) these Steiner Predator Pro Binoculars are perfect for taking in the surroundings and taking explorations to the next level. Whether it’s watching for birds or other critters or enjoying the view up close, we love traveling with a good set of binoculars.

For the outdoor-loving cook, you can’t do without a classic Lodge Cast Iron Deep Camp Dutch Oven. I use cast iron for indoor cooking all the time, but I’ve been eyeing a 5 quart Dutch oven with a camp fire lid. Next time we go camping as a family, I won’t go without this staple for outdoor cooking.

Don’t forget – from now until December 7, you can save on all of these items and more with the 15% off + half off shipping promotion when you use code ASAVENOW5

About Sierra Trading Post:

Sierra Trading Post has great long-term partnerships with the best brand names in the business so they are able to offer super low prices on their very best closeouts, overstock items, and 2nds — then they pass the savings on to you!

Closeouts are always first quality; brands often make design tweaks or add new colors to their products. When they do, the previous product is offered at a great price.
Overstock items are always first quality, too. If an item is designated as a closeout item, it simply means that the manufacturer’s inventory is too large and they need to sell these extras.
2nds have minor cosmetic flaws or slight irregularities that don’t affect the fit, performance, or longevity of the item, but a small flaw means big savings for you! The labels for these products may be clipped or marked.

Enter to WIN a $300 Amazon Gift Card

Enter below to win a $300 Amazon gift card! Giveaway ends December 7. U.S. residents ages 18 and up only may enter.

How to enter: Tell us your favorite item from Sierra Trading Post and why you like it in the comments below.

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

String Art and More {Handmade for the Holidays} #KLUTZhandmade

Lolli — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 03:43:48 +0000

I am so pumped about this Handmade for the Holidays campaign. So are my kids (and I love that!!). Samples and prizing were provided by Klutz. All thoughts are my own.

Some days (most days, actually), I love my job. Some days, going to work means making adorable string art to give to one of my kids as a pick-me-up, just-because-I-love-you gift. That’s what I did today. I had been eyeing one of the Klutz kits that I received recently – the String Art kit – and I decided that some time away from the computer was just what I needed.

One of the things I love most about Klutz creative kits is that they come with a thorough, colorful book full of ideas and instructions for making your craft along with an attached box full of the supplies you’ll need to complete the craft projects.

I pulled out the String Art kit and had a blast creating an owl wall hanging (I’ve got a daughter who loves owls!).

When my kids came home and saw my finished project, they were so excited that they asked me to teach them how to make their own string art. I think we’re on to something brilliant! What could be better than making one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends?

As the kids and I were working on their projects, one of them said that their string artwork would be the perfect teacher gift. I loved that the kit was easy enough for the kids to understand, and that the finished projects were cute enough to hang proudly on the wall.

I can’t wait to open up more of our new Klutz kits – they are all so perfect for making handmade gifts that people will actually want to keep and use!

ABOUT THE PRODUCTS

Shrink & Link Jewelry

With more than 2 million Shrink Art Jewelry and Shrinky Dinks books in print, we at Klutz are pretty much shrink plastic experts. But when it’s as easy as tracing, cutting, and baking . . . you can become a shrink art expert too! Even if you’re totally new to this whole shrink art thing, our step-by-step instructions will have your friends admiring your “did-you-really-make-that?!” jewelry in no time.

This is the only book out there that lets you make reusable, transferable, dimensional pendants and attach them to a ring or a necklace. With Shrink and Link Jewelry, you can create brilliant shrink art charms from over 50 traceable designs – and then mix and match them for a limitless wardrobe of unique, colorful jewelry!

Make Glitter Clay Charms

Design your own bracelet with itty-bitty glittery charms! As a follow-up to our beloved bestseller Make Clay Charms, this book comes with 35 new charm designs, new clay colors, and two packets of accent glitter to make your charms sparkle and shine.

Starting with a few basic shapes and easy-to-mold clay, you can sculpt mini food, tiny aliens and robots, pocket-sized unicorns, and dozens of other cuties that you can customize with extra personality. Just pop your creations in the oven to set (with an adult’s help, of course), use our special glaze to give them polish and add as much glitter as you want, then attach them to the included bracelet. Each project has clear instructions and a true-to-life sizing guide to help you craft your own glitter charms.

Pop Collage

Nothing is cooler than a look that’s unmistakably you. Luckily, when it comes to sprucing up your stuff, Pop Collage has you covered (pun intended). We make collages simple with our crystal-clear instructions and everything you need to get started.

Learn to tear, cut, hole-punch, and layer the included Pop Pages in unexpected ways. It’s a no-mistake, anything-goes activity-chaos encouraged. Tackle the 10 projects included in the book like paper bowls, a bookmark, an owl, an accessory tray, a frame, and more. Then get inspired with ideas from the book so you can make anything pop!

String Art

String art used to be just for squares (and triangles and other geometric shapes), but our new string art system opens up a whole new world of possibilities. From cute critters to fashionable flowers to trendy typography, kids can make everything in the book after learning just three simple methods.

The final results may look intricate, but we include an only-from-Klutz pin-pushing tool so even a string-art newbie can create awesome art with this classic craft. And our pin-pusher solves string art’s prickliest problems by making sure that every pin goes in straight and at the same height. With instructions for 20 projects and enough materials for six, kids will be making amazing art in no time.

Finger Knitting

Cozy knit accessories are right at your fingertips-literally! Make scarves, hats, jewelry, cat ear headbands, boot toppers, and much more with easy instructions for 15 projects. Even if you’ve never knit a stitch before, you’ll be amazed by what you can make without needles. And with 200 yards of metallic-sparkle yarn right in the box, you can whip up 2 extra-large scarves or several smaller projects.

How do you finger knit? Simply weave the yarn back and forth between your fingers, and then pick up the loops. Really, it’s that easy! When you’re ready to take a break, use the handy stitch holder until it’s time to continue. Then braid, fold, wrap, or tie your finger-knit chains into cool creations, such as a flower-embellished scarf, a beaded necklace, or a boho-style fringe. Everything you need comes with the book (fingertips not included).

LEARN MORE

Visit KLUTZ.com | Follow KLUTZ on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. | #KLUTZhandmade

KLUTZ HANDMADE FOR THE HOLIDAYS GIVEAWAY

Klutz has so many fun and educational projects to choose from – there’s something that fits almost everyone on your holiday shopping list. And you can enter to win your own KLUTZ collection to create beautiful, unique, meaningful handmade gifts this holiday season!

One (1) winner receives a set of 5 KLUTZ activity kits, including:

Giveaway open to US addresses only. Prizing and samples provided by Klutz. This giveaway will end on November 13 at 11:59 ET, after which a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Good luck!

Entry -Form

What Every Family Road Trip Needs #LifeConnected

Lolli — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 23:25:21 +0000

This post is sponsored by Netgear, but all thoughts are my own.

We are a family of road trippers. We love our road trip adventures – from the unique sights that we see outside the car window to the extra family time that we get to spend together while we’re crammed into a small space for hours on end (sounds amazing, doesn’t it??).

Our family’s needs have changed over the last 19 years of traveling by car with kids, and frankly the world has changed right along with us. When we took our first cross country trip in 1997, we just had one baby girl. We had no cell phones. No idea that the internet could be anything but slow dial up on our desktop computer at home.

We’ve gone from a family of three to a minivan full of teens and tweens…and lots of devices. While I am still the type of mom that encourages the kids to pull out a book or chat with the person sitting next to them, I am also a firm believer in staying connected where ever you happen to be heading. For the kids, being connected means that they stay entertained during long hours on the road (that goes for our night time stops at campsites and hotels, too), less sibling fighting (I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard complaints about so-and-so touching or breathing or making noises) and far fewer cries of “I’m bored” heard coming from the back of the car. For me, being connected means that I can get a little work done while the husband drives (yay for being productive and having a TRUE mobile office!).

We’ve taken 2 cross country trips over the past 2 years, and I’ll just say that having the whole family hook up to my phone’s wifi was not a great alternative. It ate up my battery like crazy and I ate through my phone’s data allotment pretty fast. But as we prepare for our next family road trip in a little over a month, I know exactly what I’ll be packing: my Netgear mobile wifi device.

The AT&T Unite Express wifi hotspot by Netgear lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge, and you can connect up to 10 devices (ten!?) at a time to fast 4G LTE wifi. That’s even more than my family needs, which is incredible to me. What’s better is that you can pay as you go with flexible data plans and no contracts. In other words, I can add data when I am traveling (with the family or without) and only pay for the times when I need it wifi on-the-go.

I was able to test out the AT&T Unite Express wifi hotspot at Type-A Conference earlier this month, and I was in heaven. There are a few common problems that I run into when I’m traveling (and my hotspot helped me avoid all of them!)…I’m sure you’ve experienced a few of these travel woes yourself:

You have a layover at the airport and hate the idea of hooking up to the less-than-secure airport wifi.
You get to the hotel only to find out that the hotel wifi only works in some areas…and it keeps asking you to log back in (annoying!).
You are one of 300+ digital influencers trying to tweet your heart out and the conference center wifi just isn’t able to handle your awesomeness.
You keep having to check your phone’s data usage to make sure you’re not getting close to your limits.
Your phone has no signal and you have work to do.
You have a signal, but it’s too weak to upload pictures, and the pictures are the most important part.
You’re worried that you’re sharing an internet connection with hundreds of people, and your information may not be secure.

Have you ever had those worries when traveling? I know I’ve experienced each of those problems and more, and I didn’t have to worry about any of them while I was at Type-A. In fact, more than once I was able to let my blogging friends connect to my wifi to share the love.

I am convinced that every family road trip needs a wifi hotspot. And every blogger who travels or attends conferences needs a hotspot. And since I’m both, I definitely needed one.

A hotspot may just be the perfect holiday gift – for anyone who travels, blogs, or works on-the-go.

Connect with Wifi Family Powered by Netgear:

On twitter: @wififamily
On Facebook: facebook.com/WiFiFam
Online