Summer Time Epic Family Playdate

Just like that, Summer is at full throttle. The days are long and hot. The kind of days where you break a sweat without moving and collapse into bed each night and wake only when the morning light sneaks in through the window. The routines that come with school and ballet lessons are replaced with a single daily trip to the pool. To break things up we have enjoyed regular family playdates. Spending quality family time away from the everyday having a seriously good time. This means taking it a few notches up and having a side splitting, wide eyed day making memories. It helps our summer to be truly awesome and brings our family together. Top on my list for such an Epic Playdate is an exhilarating sailboat trip off the coast of Santa Cruz, California. My kids and I love the water but I have yet to share the joy of sailing with them. One that I have known since I was a child. We would start our adventure on land however. A bike ride to the farmers market to load up fresh baked goodness, berries and such. Off on our bikes, my Mr. in the lead. Stella stuffing her cheeks with strawberries in her seat behind me. My coffee spilling a bit at every turn.  My son grins at the dips and turns down the bike path to the harbor. Once on the boat and out of the slip we would pass a group of sea otters, maybe 30 or 40 floating and playing in the kelp. They watch us float by and its almost as if they wave or give us a "whats up" as we pass. Stella screams out "look at the babies!." We would enjoy lunch on the deck and the salty water would splash up sending the kiddos into fits of giggles. Maybe we even dare to hang our feet off. Thier still baby like toes curled up above the dark ocean water. They would learn to help raise the sail, what it means to "come about" and feel the power of the wind as it pushed us along the top of the water. Other families have taken the idea of "The Epic Playdate" and made it there own while spending meaningful time together as a family having fun! Such bloggers as Dooce who traveled with her family to Arches National Park to explore the breath taking natural landscape. You can see the video of that trip here. What would you do on an epic family playdate with your family this summer?

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

What Wittle Stella Wore

She insists she is big enough to go to Preschool with brother. To wear lipstick and not hold hands on walks. She is not interested in being my sweet bebe anymore. Yesterday she was over the moon as she and I tagged along on one of JQ's school field trips. She told me very confidently, looking over her shoulder, that she was going to school and took off with the other kids. Off she went without hesitation. Sitting beside the other little ones wagging her legs back and forth under the bench. Partaking in activities and following instruction.Both mis bebes seem so eager to "be big kids" which I can vaguely remember wanting to do the same at one time. All I keep thinking is please don't hurry to grow up. Milk this baby thing for as long as you can little ones!!

We are linking up to What Kids Wore today. A fun little kiddo fashion link up hosted my One Little Momma. Stella Wore an OshKosh blouse, Calvin Klein leggings and Hunter boots. I have just discovered Wittlebee.com for kids clothes. A bit late to the game as always, perdon! What a fabulous idea though! Like many of the other monthly mail services like diapers and woman's clothing, makeup and even men's clothing now. This company takes the headache out of shopping for our little ones at the store where someone is sure to have a meltdown or take off down an aisle or two. I love this as a gift for new Mom or as a gift from Grandparents or anyone that has a tough time putting together outfits for their kids.

Treating Seasonal Allergies Naturally

Much of my time, while not baby wrangling is spent in our garden. It is my happy place. In the Spring because I am planting and preparing and the plants really start to produce. Summer because everyday I head out to the garden there is something to be harvested or tended to. The kiddos are in the garden with me or at least never far off. Right now Stella is nibbling the broccoli and parsley and JQ pulling off snap peas. We love it! While I hesitate to call what I am doing amongst the veggies work, it is messy, dirty and right now I am experiencing seasonal allergies!  My nose and eyes are a mess to the point it is unbearable to be outdoors. Not being able to do something I adore and find quite therapeutic because of itchy watery eyes and sneezing would be a total drag. Taking an allergy pill that would make me sleeping, dull my senses or mask my symptoms is not an option either.  Staying true to my ideals I have found several natural forms of treating seasonal allergies that really work for me. Hearing from friends around the country it sounds like many are loving the spring weather not the allergies that come with it. I thought it helpful to share some of the natural allergy treatment methods I have found to be most effective.

 1. Adding honey to your daily diet is a completely natural and effective way to help with seasonal allergies. Loosely, the honey triggers your body into producing antibodies against the allergens. Local honey is best as it would be unique to the flowers and plants blooming in your area. Honey from nearby your home should be available at your local farmers market or natural food store. 2. Adding an all natural Allergy Supplement with ingredients such as nettle, echinacea, vitamin C and bee pollen all of which have been proven to help with seasonal allergies. These supplements can be taken individually as well to help with allergy symptoms. 3. Using a Neti Pot! Never heard of it? I hadn't either until a few years ago but WOW the relief! An ancient tradition of Indian Yogi's the Neti Pot has just recently gained popularity in the US. Using a mild saline solution the Neti Pot cleanses your sinuses thus flushing the allergens out. Used daily this is a very effective and natural way to treat seasonal allergies. 4. Drinking hot tea or even hot water is something I find helpful as well.  5. Lastly, when coming in doors after being outside I will wash my face and hands and even change my clothes. Even trying one of these methods would be beneficial and worth a try.  

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. The opinions expressed on this blog are my own based on personal experience and my own research. I have not been compensated for this post in anyway.

A Cup Of Tea For Mommy

The act of preparing a cup of tea in the afternoon has saved me from totally loosing it on innumerable occasions. Its true. Late in the day, that hour or two before dinner is ready when my sweet tots are tired from a day of play, I am tired from a day being Mommy, my patients waining, I'll make a cup of tea. Its a small thing that I can do for myself amongst the business of filling sippy cups and clean up messes of toys and finger paints. Turning the kettle on, pulling a favorite mug from the cupboard, picking a tea from the pantry. These small steps divided take no time at all but enough time to calm my nerves a bit and focus on the very small simple task i am doing. While letting the tea steep I'll soothe a boo boo on a little knee. We make the world around us beautiful with these small acts and being kind to ourselves. I recently ready a quote by Audrey Hepburn.

"As you grow older you will discover you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others." 

While I'm not I qualify as "older" becoming a Mom many of us dive in wholeheartedly to taking care of our children and discount our own needs as something to be addressed later. The act of preparing a cup of tea might seem like just another thing to put on the "to do" list and perhaps it will be the first time around. You will find that it really is a very small gesture to yourself. Once you breathe in the steamy aroma or perhaps even enjoy it with a friend during a playdate at home it will become a ritual in honor of you!

Linking here  for What I Am Loving Wednesday.

I was not compensated in any way for this post but would receive a commission on products purchased directly from the Tazo link on this page.

Epic Playdate Weekend!

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai. Click here for information on how to win a trip for four to Los Angeles to attend Hyundai's Epic Playdate Weekend!

Every Mom and Dad has heard of playdates but have you ever considered having a playdate just as a family? Hyundai has and they are celebrating in a big way! On April 27 from 9am-5pm  at the beach in Santa Barbara, California Hyundai is holding an Epic Playdate Weekend that you can win a trip to. Other families and Bloggers such as Dooce, Mighty Girl, Oh Happy Day, Oh Joy, Say Yes To Hoboken, Girls Gone Child (my fav!), BoingBoing, and How To Be A Dad are camping on the beach and hosting workshops for kids. Some of the fun planned so far includes an ice cream sundae bar, paint fight (which sounds completely awesome), a kids’ photography class and a hula-hooping workshop.
 A Mi Pancita reader can enter a sweepstakes to win a trip for four to this very cool weekend. Here are the details:Go to go to http://clvr.li/X4rpgE* for complete details and to enter. You must have a Pinterest account to enter and you must choose Clever Girls Collective when the form asks “How did you hear about us? This is an invite only event so it would be super special if a Mi Pancita reader won!
Even if you win the sweepstakes or don't want to wait until April I encourage you to plan your own playdate as a family and with other families. My family has mini sized or totally over the top playdates consistently and we always feel refreshed and reconnected afterward. There is no shortage of lakes, rivers and creeks in our area so in planning an Epic playdate for my family it would include all sorts of water activities. We would load up our tandem kayaks, plan for serious sunshine and fresh air. We would paddle (err Mr. and I would paddle, kids would enjoy the scenery) someone usually gets wet and we always have an adventure. We would play "I spy" the hawk, fish, pine cone (still fun with two toddlers) until our tummies started to grumble. Dads clad in toddler sized floaters would jump from rope swings into the clear water and we'd hold up score cards for the best belly flop. Later a bonfire with sparklers and toasted marshmallows and palomitas! We would search for Ursa Major amongst the star strewn sky. And finally a lantern lit walk back where the excitement of the day ignites our imagination with the slightest rustling of leaves. The playdate would include getting dirty, some sort of physical activity, lots of laughing as a family and would be most definitely epic.

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

April Celebrations With COOL WHIP

Thank you COOL WHIP for sponsoring this post. Join us on Facebook for inspiration and recipes for everyday treats. What you add makes it. #coolwhipmoms

Easters past and as we get deeper into the month of April the celebrations continue. Between my husbands family and my own there are six birthdays in April.  SIX! The time of year and number of reasons to celebrate screams garden party to me.  That's lemonade, potato salad, fruit and fresh summer sweets. Joaquin, being his own man at three years old would prefer to skip all the eating except for dessert. And for as picky as he is about his meals, dessert can be as simple as a scoop of COOL WHIP whipped topping with sprinkles. In fact he calls the white fluffy goodness "Happy Day" which pretty much sums it up doesn't it!? Stella on the other hand likes her dessert with a bit more detail, like toppings and such. With the two kiddos  in mind I have a go to dessert that they both  love. No surprise, it's Strawberry shortcake, or my version of it anyhow.  I do it two ways. For Easter I did the more traditional version:

•  All Butter Pound Cake =YUM
•  Fresh Strawberries
•  COOL WHIP

A slice of pound cake, a dollop of COOL WHIP and some fresh sliced strawberries on a pretty plate, VOILA! A classic and a good one at that!

For the everyday sort of week night dessert I'll change it up just a bit. I switch out the pound cake with crushed graham crackers adding them like a topping or leave it out completely using just COOL WHIP and fresh strawberries or any fruit. It all really depends on what I have on hand. That's what everyday sort of snacks are about right? Quick, easy and delicious. The kiddos are content for all of 10 minutes and so, so am I! Although it is all thunder and lightening, down pour and frigid outside today. The weather this weekend is supposed to be Southern California standard. That is 70 ish and sunny. This weekend is also birthday number two of six. I wonder what we will be having for dessert?

Here are a few pictures of lovely Miss Stella eating her "nummies" as she calls them. Notice she is just eating the COOL WHIP, a finger at a time even! Such a stinker! A happy stinker though.

Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.