Classic Entertainment

We had a great three-day weekend at our house, but the weather was a little grim on Saturday and Sunday.  Bored children (and adults).  We made the best of it by having some good, old-fashioned fun!  We built forts and played hide-and-seek!  What kinds of things do you do with your kids to keep the family entertained?  Here are some ideas that came from my childhood.  Classic, fun, and mostly free!

• Build a fort.  Drape blankets or sheets over chairs and couches to make a fun hideout for the kids.  We have a couch on each of two opposite walls.  We also have a large chair and ottoman.  We stick the ottoman in the center of the couches and drape blankets across, tucking them into the cushions and creating a tunnel on each side of the ottoman.  For an easy fort, throw a huge blanket or sheet over your cleared dining table, setting something sturdy on top to hold in place.
• Play hide-and-seek!  A no brainer, this classic is always fun for all ages.  My husband and I take turns with our three-year old daughter.  First, one of us helps her hide and the other finds her (little brother helps in the seek.)  Then one of us hides and the other helps her find us.  You can find lots of great places to hide a little kid!
• Create a club house.  Do you have a large box from a recent appliance purchase or other box large enough to fit a kid?  Turn it into a club house!  Use a razor to cut doors and windows.  Decorate it with curtains, markers, stickers, etc. 
• Make friendship bracelets.  This is great for kids that are a little older.  I loved making these when I was a kid.  You can find instructions on the web for some basic knot bracelets.  Embroidery thread can be found at most craft stores.  We used to make them and trade them.  Do a mom and daughter bracelet!  These can be for boys, too.  Just use boy colors and call them wristbands!
• Play store.  Get out some canned and boxed goods.  Put them out on a table, or shelf, within your little one's reach.  Grab the toy shopping cart and go shopping!  My daughter likes to use my expired coupons and we use her child's laptop as a cash register.  The mouse is the scan gun.  Take turns shopping and checking out.
• Play restaurant.  Let your little one seat you and take your order.  Then they can use play-dough to create you a culinary masterpiece!

There are lots of things you can do with your little ones.  The most fun are usually the things you can remember from your childhood.  Small children love to do just about anything a grown-up does.  So, think about the normal activities you do as a grown-up and turn them into a game with your kids!  Get creative and have fun!

Aunt Lisa's Mojito

*This post is intended for readers 21 years of age and older.*

My favorite summer-time, grown-up beverage is definitely the Mojito!  The Mojito is a cool, sweet, minty refreshment that I've enjoyed since first drink during a visit to my husband's Aunt Lisa's.  There are lots of recipes on the Internet for the Mojito, and I've tried a few, but this is definitely my favorite.  With warmer weather just around the corner, I thought it would be a good time to share.  This would be a great addition to your Memorial Day Celebrations!

For one 2QT pitcher of Aunt Lisa's Mojito, you will need:

A 2QT pitcher
Fresh Mint Leaves (at least 50)
Ice
White/Light Rum
Simple Syrup (dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1/2 cup boiling water, and chill prior to mixing)
Limes and/or Lime Juice
Seltzer or Lime Seltzer





Put a handful of mint leaves (around 40sih) in the bottom of your pitcher and muddle.  If you don't have a muddler, the end of a thick wooden spoon will work.  If you muddle to much, you will have a lot of floaters in your glass.  I provided a picture of before muddle, and after.  You are basically just mashing them a bit to extract the mint from the leaves.

 

  

Add ice to the the mint leaves, in your pitcher, to about 3/4 full.  Pour 1 cup of rum over ice.  Add 1/2 cup of lime juice (either fresh squeezed or bottled - I used bottled just because its easier) to your chilled simple syrup and add to ice mixture.  Top off the pitcher with Seltzer (I used Lime Seltzer -yum).  Stir with a long wooden spoon.  Pour over ice into tall glasses.  Garnish with mint and lime.  Now kick back and enjoy!

Remember to always drink responsibly!!

And The Winner Is....(Blog Design Makeover)

Thanks so much to all of you that participated in the Blog Design Makeover giveaway! 
The winner is Night Owls Perch!  Be sure to let us know when your page is done so we can check out the makeover!  Congratulations!  Please check your email inbox for confirmation!

Winner selected via True Random Number Generator, powered by Random.org.  (Value 2-67, Result 40).

Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop!

I'm co-hosting!  Don't forget to comment so I can follow you back!

It's Sensational Week 7 of Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop hosted by Shelly from My Saving Game and Jeannette from The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug! We are finding some fabulous blogs through this hop and having a great time getting to know so many of you! So thank you for linking up again this week to those of you who are hop veterans and welcome to those who are new! Let's continue to make new bloggy friends and increase our traffic! We do have a few simple rules for you - nothing too tough though. So here we go:

1. Please follow your hostesses My Saving Game and The Advetures of J-Man and MillerBug. Leave us a comment and we will follow you back! (If you already follow us on GFC, we'd LOVE it if you would follow us on Facebook or Twitter.)

2. Please follow our guest co-host who, this week, is Jessica from Jessica, The Mom.

3. You don't have to post our button but we sure would like it if you did. Not only does it help our hop grow so we can all get new followers, but each week we will choose a guest co-host and to be considered you must have our button somewhere on your site! If you post our button and want to be considered for guest co-host, please email me at mailto:jmanandmillerbug@gmail.com.com to express your interest.

<a border="0" href="http://myadventureinmommyhood.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_oO_3wDOzJ0g/TZVJTQltXuI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/hf3U5o2UMZs/Friendship%20Blog%20Button.jpg"/></a>

4. You can link up blogs, facebook, twitter accounts, whatever - just be sure to specify what each link is.

5. Hop around and find blogs that you enjoy. Be sure to tell them you are following them from Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop so they can follow you back!

6. Have fun!

Winner - 31 Tote Giveaway - Ending 5/9/11

The winner of the 31 Tote is Stefani!  Please contact me at jessicathemom1511@gmail.com to claim your prize.  Include your full name, mailing address and phone number.  The tote will be shipped by the sponsor.

Congratulations, Stefani!

Winner chosen via True Random Number Generator, powered by Random.org.  (Value 1-70, Result 44).

$5 Amazon.com Gift Card FB Winner 5/9/11

The winner of the quickie FB gift card giveaway is Heather C.
Heather, please email Jessicathemom1511@gmail.com to claim your prize.

Winner chosen via Random.org, True Random Number Generator.  (Value 1-6, Result 4)

**Swag Code Alert**

Swag Code worth 8SB in the blogs until 2:30CST!  Easy!

Don't Swag?  Start now! 

100 Photos for $10 Plus Free Shipping!

Snapfish is offering 100 photos for $10, plus free shipping! 

Use coupon MOMDAY100 at checkout, now through May 11, 2011.*


*Complete details at snapfish.com

Kid Speak of the Week, Round 2

She's on a roll this week!

As I return to the dinner table from taking out the puppy:

(Daddy) These kids sure like their cheese!
(Me)  They're gonna be constipated.
(Kaiya) And we won't be able to poop, either!

Ah ha ha!  We got a pretty good laugh about that!

BOGO 50% off plus free shipping at Maurices!

Head on over to Maurices.com and take advantage of Buy One, Get One 50% off all casual tops & bottoms, including plus sizes!  Order 4 items or more online and take advantage of Free Shipping!

If you've never checked out Maurices online, you'll be pleased to find a much large selection of SIZES!  Get your size shipped right to your door for free!   

Find them on facebook, too!

New Blog Design!! Review & Giveaway! ENDED 5/15

Welcome to the new and improved Jessica, The Mom!  I am beyond happy with the makeover results!  I was just spending too much time figuring out the codes and what not, to get my blog looking the way I wanted it to.  Plus, the template was kind of generic and not exactly what I had in mind.  So, I decided to let someone else do the work for me!  Pip Designs did an awesome job!

I found Tara at Pip Designs while visiting another blog.  I thought the design of that blog was super cute and was pleased to find a link to its creator.  I browsed around Pip Designs and found that her prices are extremely reasonable! (I would have expected to pay much more for a professional designer.)  I checked out her portfolio and I liked what I saw.  So, I decided to get started! 

She has an order form right on her site that let's you submit your requests and make your payment.  Communication during the process was excellent!  She contacted me almost immediately to answer some questions and confirm my order.  I think I was most impressed with how quickly she did everything!  My design was complete and installed in two days!  And I was able to view a draft in less than 24 hours!  Being able to view the "test site" while she was working was great.  This allowed me to request minor changes, here and there, throughout the process.  I was able to give a lot of input and make it my own.

Overall, I am definitely a very satisfied customer of Pip Designs!  She also offers other services, such as Etsy Customizations, Twitter Backgrounds, Invitations and Cards, Facebook Landing Pages, Business Cards, Logos and Ads.  If you are thinking about hiring out for any of these types of services, I highly recommend you check her out.

So, who else needs a blog makeover?

One lucky winner gets a makeover from Tara at Pip Designs!

Giveaway details:
1 Blog design package 3 worth $55:

clip art and scrap kit not included
Custom background
Custom header
Custom font for sidebar titles, post date, and post titles
Choice of template
Signature
Button with grab code
Favicon
sidebar title backgrounds
simple post divider
drop down navigation bar with 8-10 main tabs unlimited sub-main tabs
post divider image
post title image
social networking buttons on the sidebar max. of 5

How to enter:

**Remember, you must post a comment here for each entry and you must include your email address in each comment!  Comments without an email address will be deleted!

Required (3 entries):

• Follow Pip Designs via GFC.
• Like Pip Designs on facebook and leave her a comment thanking her for the giveaway.  Be sure to tell her Jessica, The Mom sent you!
• Follow Jessica, The Mom (this blog!) via GFC.

Extra entries:

• Like Jessica, The Mom on facebook.  Be sure to "like" from your personal profile for it to count. Include your fb name in comment.
• Share this post on facebook. (can be done once a day)
• Tweet about this post. (can be done once a day)
• Leave a comment here telling me what you think of the new design.  (Don't forget your email address!)
• Comment on a design that you like in Pip Design's portfolio. 
• Grab my button and place it on your site.  (Or you can add my link to your blog roll.)

Have fun and good luck!


This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 years and older.  Contest ends May 15, 2011, 11:59 CST.  Winner must agree to Pip Design's Design Terms.  Winner will be notified via blog post and email after chosen via True Number Generator at Random.org.  Winner must respond to notice within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.  Jessica, The Mom and Pip Designs are not responsible if your notice goes into your spam box.  Prize provided by Pip Designs.

Kid Speak(s) of the Week

Oh, my 3 year old daughter never ceases to amaze me with what comes out of her mouth!

To me at the dinner table: 
Mommy, what is that?
(Me) It's Teriyaki Sauce.
So does it tear easy, or what?

Last night during a television commercial:
Mommy, why is that girl running on top of cars?  Is she stupid or something?
(Me just laughing)

This morning after breakfast:
Mommy, I'm just gonna go out quick and try to catch that birdie.
(Me) You won't be able to catch a birdie, honey.
Yes I can.  Let me just try.

Has you child amused you lately with his/her spoken words?

Free cup of Yoplait Original yogurt!

According to Yoplait.com, 60% of women aren't getting the calcium they need.  So, they are giving away 1 Million free cups of Yoplait Original yogurt to help close the calcium gap!  Wow, that's a lot of yogurt!  Get your free cup here!