Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for 1 FREE Haribo Gummi Candy (4.5-5 oz., select varieties) (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.

Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017

The solar eclipse is happening on August 21, 2017. There's a path of totality where the moon will completely cover the sun's tenuous atmosphere which will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. NASA has provided a guide for this event and it can be found here. The rest of the country will see a partial eclipse.

Looking directly at the sun to see the eclipse can be harmful for your eyes. A safe way to look directly at the partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters or eclipse glasses or a solar viewer. Since this is a special event, get your eclipse glasses soon! The later you wait to buy them, the greater the likelihood of them selling out or being harder to get. According to the NASA website, four manufacturers have certified eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products: Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17. To learn more about safety during the Total Solar Eclipse, click here.

Here are some examples of Solar Glasses/Viewers that are available:

 
 









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Author Recommendation: Anna Kang

If you have toddler or preschool aged children, you might want to check out the author, Anna Kang. We have read three of her books, I Am (Not) Scared, That's (Not) Mine, and You Are (Not) Small several times over. The books are easy and fun to read, the illustrations are clever and engaging, and great for young readers. My kids love the stories and they are fun to do in different reading voices. To learn more about Anna Kang, click here.

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FREE Summer Activities in Boise

I have heard a lot of moms struggling to find activities for their kids to do in the summer. In Boise, there's so many good summer programs available that there is always something to do. Here's some of the FREE summer activities to do around Boise:

• MK Nature Center: The MK Nature Center is one of our family favorites. I think we go a few times a year. My kids love watching the fish tanks, the beauty of nature within the center, the butterfly garden and even looking at the signage. Click here for more information.
• The Boise Watershed: We went to the Boise Watershed as a part of the Boise Public Library's Summerfest program. There wasn't a ton of things for little kids, but the things that they did have could entertain for quite awhile. The Watershed had a very small stream of water where the kids could build dams out of rocks. My kids loved this and it was very hard to pull them away from it. I am sure if I had let them they would build dams out of rocks all afternoon. The Watershed also had a fish tank with baby trout and big pipes that the kids could explore. To find out more about the watershed, click here.
• Boise Public Library Summer Programs, SummerFest and more: We love going to the library. The librarians at our local library see us quite often. I often have holds to pick-up and we love going to the kid programs. My kids also like to play with the toys at the library and pick out books. Each of the libraries seem to have different toys and kid programs available ranging from STEM activities, preschool storytime, baby storytime, crafts, music programs, etc. We've also been enjoying SummerFest, the new library learning program. SummerFest provides lots of ways to get out there, learn and interact with things in the community. I have also heard a lot of moms raving about the Garden City Library which has a puppet show theater for kids to use. The Ada County libraries also offer a lot of cool summer programs and have cool toys for kids to use. To find out more information, click here.
• Boise Parks: There are a lot of great parks in Boise and some of them have splash pads, which are great for warm days. You can also make the summer epic by trying to slide down all the slides in Boise in one day! Check out Some the Wiser's post, here. The Boise Parks and Recreation program also has a Mobile Recreation Program, Free After School Program and Movies Under the Stars.
• Hiking Trails: There are many great hiking trails around in the foothills and mountains to enjoy. It's free to hike and you can enjoy the beauties of nature.
• Idaho Botanical Garden: From 7:30 am to 9:30 am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings (May to September), The Idaho Botanical Garden is FREE to stroll around. For more information, click here.
• Picnic in the Park: From June to August 1st, the Idaho Food Bank sponsors Picnic in the Park. Picnic in the Park provides free lunches for kids to help them from going hungry when school is not in session. To learn more, click here.
• Kids Bowl Free: Kids can bowl free all summer long at select bowling centers. To find out more, click here.
• Visit the Boise Capitol: Tour the Boise Capitol and learn more about the Idaho Capitol. Click here to learn more.
• Tasty Tales: Enjoy a FREE storytime at Guru Donuts on Tuesdays at 10 am and 10:30 am. Click here for more information.
• Pottery Barn Weekly Storytime: Pottery Barn does a weekly storytime on Tuesdays at 11 am. If you become a Pottery Barn Kids Book Club Member and go to five events, you will get a special surprise. Click here for more information.
• Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids: Every Saturday Lakeshore Learning offers a free craft for kids to do from 11 am to 3 pm. The craft is for ages 3 and up. To learn more, click here.
  

Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for 1 FREE Chef’s Cut Real Steak Jerky (2.5 oz., any variety) (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.

Boise Parks and Recreation After School Programs

Come join the fun at the Boise Parks and Recreation's After School Programs at Grace Jordan (6411 Fairfield Ave), Morley Nelson (7701 W Northview) and Whitney (1609 S. Owyhee St.) on weekdays from 1-5 pm. The After School program offers free supervised games, activities and healthy food. Activities range from gardening, ping pong, board games, reading, computers, organized games, playground, open gym, art, drama and more. Plus it's FREE!

What activity would your kid most enjoy?

Boise's Mobile Recreation Program

Are you looking for something fun to do with your kids this summer? The Boise Parks and
Recreation Department has a fun Mobile Recreation Van Program. The Mobile Recreation program is FREE and Boise Parks and Recreation staff members coordinate field games, art techniques, and serve a healthy snack all summer long (closed July 4th). The staff members have experience in planning fun activities for a wide range of ages and abilities. Each site varies on how many kids may come. Some of the sites may have a few kids and others up to a hundred! The mobile recreation program typically caters from preschool ages to high-school. The Manitou Park and Owyhee Park locations are popular with younger children. Some of the benefits of the program is providing healthy recreation, healthy snack and helping local refugee children to integrate into the Western culture.

Monday
12-2 pm: Redwood Park 3675 N. Shamrock St., Liberty Park 520 N. Liberty St.
3-5 pm: Borah Park 801 S. Aurora Dr., Owyhee Place Apartments 2544 S. Owyhee St.
6-7:30 pm: Latah Apartments 3905 W Alpine St., Whispering Pines Apartments 7865 W. Ustick Rd.

Tuesday
12-2 pm: Manitou Park 2001 S. Manitou Ave, Owyhee Park 3400 W. Elder St.
3-5 pm: Fairview Crossing Apartments 8519 W Fairview Ave, Magnolia Apartments 3549 W Magnolia St.
6-7:30 pm: Davis Park Apartments 970 N 29th St., Steward Ave. Apartments 3015 Steward Ave


Wednesday
12-2 pm: Veterans Park 930 N Veterans Memorial Pkwy, Redwood Park 3675 N Shamrock St.
3-5 pm: Owyhee Place Apartments 2544 S. Owyhee St, Arbor Crossing Apartments 5122 W Stoker Ln
6-7:30 pm:  Northwest Pointe Apartments 3475 N Five Mile Rd, Latah Apartments 3905 W Alpine St

Thursday
12-2 pm: Manitou Park 2001 S. Manitou Ave, Owyhee Park 3400 W. Elder St.
3-5 pm: Oak Park Village Apartments 2888 Cherry Ln, Magnolia Apartments 3549 W Magnolia St.
6-7:30 pm: Davis Park Apartments 970 N. 29th St., Central Pointe Apartments 1368 Hartman St.

Friday
12-2 pm: Veterans Park 930 N Veterans Memorial Pkwy, Liberty Park 520 N. Liberty St.
3-5 pm:  Arbor Crossing Apartments 5122 W Stoker Ln, Northwest Pointe Apartments 3475 N Five Mile Rd

Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for  1 FREE Ocean Spray Mocktails Juice (33.8 oz., any variety) (14 oz., any variety) (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.

SummerFest and Art

The Boise Public Library is doing a new program this summer called SummerFest. The SummerFest

program is designed for readers and hands-on-learning. It's open to ALL ages.  The SummerFest features seven Discovery Tracks:

• Discover Science: June 1 - 11
• Discover Art: June 12 - 18
• Discover Outside: June 19 - 25
• Discover Boise: June 16 - July 2
• Discover Reading: July 3 - 9
• Discover Coding: July 10 - 16
• Discover Your Library: July 17 - 23
• Celebration Week: July 24 - 31

Our family really enjoyed the Discover Science
and the Discover Art Tracks of the SummerFest program.  For the Discover Art Track, we made a giant Father's Day Card, drew "portraits of dad," made play dough, drew with sidewalk chalk on our driveway and painted using paintbrushes and forks. The Discover Art Phase was more stressful and messy than the Discover Science Track. While we were making play dough, my son got excited about using food coloring and it got all over his clothes, skin, on the table. I scrubbed his hands and then ended up putting him in the bathtub with lots of bubbles to help get the dye off. Surprisingly enough, the dye came off of his clothes when I rubbed Tide into it and immediately put it in the wash! My kids also got marker all over their hands and clothes and sidewalk chalk all over themselves from crawling over their drawings. Part of Art is making a mess, right?  For the dad portraits, I got a dad head outline from Totschooling - you can find it here.
 
What are some fun things that you did for Discover Art?

Father's Day Books for Kids

When a holiday is coming up, I love to read to my kids books that have a similar theme. There are a lot of great kid's books that emphasize fathers/fatherhood that will be great to read to kids this week in celebration of Father's Day. Here are some of our favorites:


 
We love reading Little Critter books. They're fun and easy for kids to relate to Little Critter and his family. To find out more information, click here.



My sister-in-law introduced our family to the author Bob Shea. We really enjoy reading his books. I like Oh, Daddy! it's clever and fun to read to kids. It also shows a different parenting method. The son refuses to get dressed so the father puts on his clothes funny and asks his son if that's the way to dress. The son then shows him the "right" way to do it. Its a different way to handle situations that could become difficult with toddlers. I also like that the book shows a great relationship between the father and son. To learn more, click here.


Sebastien Braun is one of our favorite authors. Our much "loved" (and battered) books are usually written by him. I love this sweet story about how the bear cub loves his dad. To learn more, click here.


Guess How Much I Love You is a classic story. I love how the father and son try and compete by telling each other how much they love each other. To find out more, click here.


What are your favorite stories to read to your kids about fathers?

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Free Doritos Locos Taco Today

Are you craving Taco Bell? From 2pm - 6pm today, Taco Bell is offering customers a FREE Doritos Locos Taco. For more information on this awesome promotion, click here.

Prana Warehouse Sale

If you live near Carlsbad, CA, be sure to check out prAna's Warehouse sale from June 8-June 9th (8 am - 6 pm) and June 10th (8 am - 5pm) at 3209 Lionshead Ave, Carlsbad, CA 92010. Items will be starting at $10 and up to 70% off. To learn more, click here.

Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for 1 FREE Pure Leaf Tea House Collection Tea (14 oz., any variety) (you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.

SummerFest and Making a Volcano

The Boise Public Library is doing a new program this summer called SummerFest. The SummerFest program is designed for readers and hands-on-learning. It's open to ALL ages.  The SummerFest features seven Discovery Tracks:

• Discover Science: June 1 - 11
• Discover Art: June 12 - 18
• Discover Outside: June 19 - 25
• Discover Boise: June 16 - July 2
• Discover Reading: July 3 - 9
• Discover Coding: July 10 - 16
• Discover Your Library: July 17 - 23
• Celebration Week: July 24 - 31

Our family has really enjoyed working on the Discover Science phase of SummerFest. We have gone to the MK Nature Center, the Boise WaterShed, read science books, watched a Boston Dynamics YouTube video and made a volcano. The volcano making process was very involved. We used the directions located here. I rinsed out a soda can to use as the base and made homemade clay to make land texture of a volcano. I found the following recipe on wikihow:

• 1 cup (225 milliliters) water
• 4 cups (560 grams) flour
• 2 – 4 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 ½ cups (420 grams) salt
• Food coloring (optional)
• Glitter (optional)

My kids helped me mix the clay and place it around the soda can and on the paper plate. We decided not to use food coloring or glitter in our clay mixture. After placing the clay around the can we let it dry overnight.

The next day, we painted the clay using Crayola Washable Kid's Paint (very preschooler and toddler friendly). The kids had a lot of fun painting the volcano. We allowed the painted volcano to dry overnight.

After the volcano was dry, we rolled up 2 napkins with a little baking soda and stuffed them into the can. My husband then poured
vinegar into the can. The kids loved watching the volcano "explode." We had to add additional vinegar and baking soda so they could see the volcano explode again and again.

What SummerFest Activities have you enjoyed?


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Try a Mountain House Adventure Meal for Free

Have you tried Mountain House? Mountain House products make hiking, camping, planning your 72 hr kit easier and now you can try it for free. For a limited time, if you buy an individual Mountain House pouch (between 3/1/17 and 10/31/2017), fill out the rebate form, circle the price on the original receipt and mail the completed form and receipt to: Mandlik & Rhodes PO Box 490 Dept 4001-R00749 Tecate CAA 91980, you can get a rebate back for your purchase and try the product for free. To find out more information, click here.

Picnic in the Park

During the Summer, many children lose their access to free and reduced lunches. To help children from going hungry, the Idaho Foodbank offers a program called Picnic in the Park that runs from June 5th to August 11th. Lunch is free for children ages 1-18. Adults can purchase a meal at a low cost. Picnic at the Park is offered Monday through Friday at a variety of parks around Boise. To find out more about this program, click here.

To find out how you can help the Idaho Foodbank with their programs and help to solve hunger, click here.

Kroger Friday Freebie

Today only you can download a coupon for 1 FREE Black Forest Organic Candy (4 oz., any variety)(you must have an online account and store card registered). The coupon is good at Kroger and Kroger Affiliates. Click here for more details.