This is all to say, my family has moved out of baby-hood and we’re ready for some serious family fun, albeit for young kids.  BRING IT.

Activities & Adventure

• Ride the bus/trolley downtown.
• Join Summer Reading at the library.
• Camp in the backyard.
• Camp/hike in the Smokies.

• Dinner picnic at the park.
• Watch airplanes at the airport.
• Slip-n-slide + homemade snow cones.
• Carburation Day + Indy 500 race.

• Farmer’s Market & donuts downtown.
• Eat dinner on a restaurant patio.
• Go swimming.
• Visit Grammy and Poppi in Wyoming.
• Visit friends in Maine.  Eat lots of oysters.
• Go trail running.
• Build a play fort in the back yard.  With a zip line.
• Visit the Children’s Garden at The Arboretum

At Home

• Build a blanket fort for movie night.
• Decorate the stairway wall.  So tall, bare, and imposing.
• Grow a garden.
• Plant sunflowers.
• Put twinkly lights in the trees.
• Paint a canvas rug for the front entry way.
• Repaint the patio furniture.
• Make Woodland People pictures.
• Make sunshine in a jar.
• Catch fireflies.
• Paint a free throw line for the cul-de-sac basketball goal.
• Build a bat house.
• Dance.

Food

• Get a homemade ice cream maker.  Use it.
• Have a paella dinner party.
• Mojitos on the deck.
• Pick berries (and make cobbler, of course).

• Make fried green tomatoes.
• Chicken salad.
• Make-and-freeze crockpot meals so we can have dinner waiting when we’re tired and sweaty!

Books

• For Kids: Harry Potter, The Boxcar Children, Treasure Island
• For Me: Doc by Mary Doria Russell, Let’s Pretend That Didn’t Happen by Jenny Lawson, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, Bossypants by Tine Fey

It’s a good thing my kids finish school on May 18.  We’ve got a lot of fun to get started.

What’s on your bucket list this summer?

More Today’s Mama Summer Fun Ideas:

Erin’s Summer Fun Bucket List

Shannon’s Summer Fun Bucket List

Amy’s Summer Fun Bucket List

Carina’s Summer Fun Bucket List

The post Erica’s Summer Bucket List appeared first on TodaysMama.

If you have children then you know that going to Disneyland is innate to them. It seems from the moment they are born they posses an unexplainable and almost subconscious desire to go. Let’s go. When are we going? We must go. It is their little Mecca.

Now if, I mean when, you decide to go you don’t just wing it and throw everyone in the car. At least I certainly don’t, my OCD won’t allow it. Heaven knows I spent way too much time searching, comparing, calling on hotels, transportation, park passes, etc. It all ended when I decided to allow people who have made the journey, experts if you will, guide me through the experience. After one call to Get Away Today that included multiple mock trip dates, numerous travel scenarios and most importantly answers to my 600 questions, I said a prayer and booked our trip.

The only thing I decided to book myself was the airfare and that’s mainly because I wanted to fly Southwest. It was going to be my handsome little 3 year olds first flight and I had to ensure it included HAPPY flight attendants and HAPPY memories. And it did.

Once we arrived to the happiest place on earth we had the time of our lives! Seriously, who knew it would be so much fun?! Well apparently, the kids knew and they were right. It was as good as their dreams and better than mine. We never waited in a line more than 5 minutes, the weather was cool but sunny, the food options were way better than the mall, and every member of the cast (lingo I learned) was so kind and helpful. The only sadness on our whole journey was when we discovered the Matterhorn was closed due to construction, and my son’s true holy land Radiator Springs was not open yet.

Oh well, I guess we will just have to come back!

Other posts you might enjoy:

Disney’s new Aulani Resort in Hawaii

What to do at Aulani

Ever Wondered About a Disney Cruise?

The post Bucket List – Disneyland with Family appeared first on TodaysMama.

“What is ‘The Jeopardy Online Test?’ ” You shout out.  You are Correct!

Is this the best news of 2012 or what?  Forget Daniel Craig or George Clooney — Alex Trebek  is the leading man of all time (in game show host land). JEOPARDY! even outranks Oprah!

Just because the average age of the JEOPARDY! viewership is around 65, doesn’t mean you can’t test your wits against a super-fast test bank of questions!  Did you know over 10 million Americans watch this show every night?  That’s more than the entire state of Arizona!

So, skip your favorite twitter party next week and sign up for a time slot. And when you win big on the show, just remember who told you about the test [wink, wink]

p.s. No, my 21-yr old bucket list item is not to be a contestant, just a member of the studio audience. Maybe 2012 is the year?

More Entertaining News

The Duggar Family Controversy

Jimmy Fallon, The Bachelor, Piano Dog and Streaking

Check Out Her Apps: Erin’s List

The post What is The Jeopardy Online Test? appeared first on TodaysMama.

In looking back at 2011, our family theme feels like “Work Hard, Play Hard”.  We interrupted our routines for some dream vacations. I’ve seen each child become more of themselves. My sensible sidekick, Matt, has reminded me to breathe and to smile.  We managed to pack a LOT into 365 days.  I’ll start big and go from there:

Playing Hard…

Best getaway(s) of 2011

• The 18-month countdown ended in March with a trip to Disney World and a Disney cruise with Grams, the cousins and Mickey.  We planned, dreamed, studied and packed, spent 10 days playing and have been talking about it ever since, really.
• Bi-annual trip to the North Carolina coast with Grandpa and cousins
• A bucket-list trip to the US Open Tennis tournament in New York with my sweetie. I will stay up past midnight to watch tennis (Australian Open anyone?)

My Favorite Finds

Beauty Find: No. 7 Serum

My desert-dwelling skin soaks it in and it makes me feel scientific to say the word, “serum”.

Kid Finds:  Lego people

Food Find:

Pina Coladas – because my #2 was WAY outnumbered by girl cousins and needed a special treat with mama in the Bahamas. We bring out the plastic coconut cups at least once a week to celebrate and reminisce.

Pop-Culture Finds: Watching Jimmy Fallon is worth losing sleep

Tech & Gadgets Finds: Goodbye to 14 years of Blackberries & Palm Pilots…hello iPhone!

Favorite things that embarrass me and horrify my family: Cake eating contests. Take no prisoners…I will always win!

Favorites from 2011:

Song: The Harry Potter anthem or Star Wars theme, plunked out on the piano by my girl, a  student of four months.  Really, this is the soundtrack of our life.  Pretty Darn Amazing to this mama.

Album: Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

My husband is my source for all things cool in music. He’d found this Canadian band, Arcade Fire, in early 2010 and shared their new album with me. Lo and behold, it won Album of the Year (poor Justin Bieber fans) and we already had tickets to the concert.  Every year should have a concert where you feel your bones shaking.

TV Show: The Amazing Race

Movie: Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2 – The finale was a perfect finish to a series I’ve enjoyed for many years.  We started reading #1 as a family this summer. Best “re-reads” ever.

Book: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Phone App: Camera Plus,  PhotoSync and Grover’s The Monster at the End of This Book

YouTube Video: This is My Story by Ben Breedlove

Eye Candy: Food Gawker

This year in social networking…

Favorite Facebook status update:

Most regrettable Facebook status update:

Favorite tweet:

Favorite Pinterest Boards:  Melissa knows how to throw a party! and My Polka Dots board= happiness!

Blogging in 2011/Working Hard

What great blogs did you discover this year? SouleMama ,  JoytheBaker and  BriarPress

What did your favorite blogger teach you this year? Live Your Dreams—the collective message I took from the awesome speakers at evo’11

Favorite post of 2011: The beginning of my attempts at food blogging -  Berry Trifle

Favorite photo of 2011

What would you have done differently in 2011?  Worry less. I stressed over flat heads, wet pants and unfinished work..oh well.

What did your kids teach you this year? Hugs are always good. Moms need time outs too. Giggling can be contagious.  Be somebody every day.

What did your mom teach you this year?  How to make and dip mint fudge truffles. The journey is as much fun as the destination.   She had each grandchild “earn” their boat ticket by reading and reporting on 20 books in 2010. What a great influence she is!

What did you do this year that you’re really proud of?

• Knit my first (baby) sweater
• Helped a little bit with evo’11
• Stopped getting upset about bathroom accidents (mostly)

Kicked to the curb this year: Weeding, menu planning and personal exercise

Particularly grateful for:  Routines – 2011= same house, same number of kids, same jobs & minimal drama

Big moment of 2011: See trips of a lifetime above

Word that sums up 2011 for you: Fast

Looking forward to most in 2012: Pushing exercise up the list (by sleeping more and earlier)

My #1 goal for 2012: Slow down and enjoy

The post Amy’s 2011 Recap appeared first on TodaysMama.

bucket list buddies

I haven’t finished my list, but let Jake take a look at it anyway.  As I handed the computer over, I said, “You can’t make fun of or discourage any of my items.”

It only took two seconds for him to break into hysterical laughter.  Number 1 on my RANDOMLY ORDERED list is “Visit Nova Scotia and take an Anne of Green Gables tour.”  So…I’m pretty sure I’ll be in need of a different travel partner for that one.

He liked “order a small wedding cake for my anniversary and eat it.”  If your wedding was anything like ours, you got the one delicious bite of cake during the “share the cake photo op” and then were swept away before a fatty slice could be had.  I want more cake, dang it!

Then Jake was quiet while he continued reading.  Until, that is, he reached #28: Own a teacup pig.

Jake: You want a pig?

Me: Yes, a cute little one!  You can train them like dogs.

Jake: I just thought of another item for my bucket list.  Learn to make homemade bacon.

Me:  Stop!

Jake: Liiiittle bitty bacon strips.

He’s so funny.  So very funny.  Does anyone know where I can buy a little bitty piggy?

Here are 15 more items from my Bucket List.

1. See Machu Pichu
2. Learn to play the bass guitar
3. Own a 1950’s or ’60’s Ford truck
4. Hike and white water raft in the Grand Canyon with my family
5. Stop biting my nails (another year, another failed New Year’s Resolution)
6. Complete a trail running race
7. Complete an adventure race with my brother
8. Start my own blog
9. Live overseas for a year
10. Go to Puerto Rico and meet my family
11. Take a ceramics class
12. Plant a pumpkin patch
13. Go on an overnight sailboat trip (side note: learn to tie knots)
14. Take a Russian literature class
15. Ride in a motorcycle sidecar

The post Don’t Knock My Bucket List appeared first on TodaysMama.

What better way to remind us all to keep an eye on our health, than to ponder all of the great things we want to do with our life?

In honor of the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway, I thought I would share my “bucket list”.

Take my family to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.  I lived in Albuquerque until I was 12. It was completely normal to have balloons float frightening close to your house every October. I have to experience this with my kids. I’m going to spend the first morning mass ascension just taking photos of their faces as they watch hundreds of balloons inflate and rise into the sky.

Photo by Raymond Watt. 

Spend a week at Las Olas surf camp…with Rachael. Not sure if she was looking for company, but TOO BAD, HERRSCHER.

Attend the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival.

Take my family on a week-long rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.

Take my family to Walt Disney World for New Year’s Eve. My husband asked me to marry him in Disney World as the fireworks exploded on New Year’s Eve 2000. Going back with the two small people we made would be so cool.

 Image via Pinterest.  

Spend a week in an over-the-water hut in Bora Bora with my husband.

Adopt a Goldendoodle.

Dine at Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco. Possibly catch a glimpse of Tyler Florence…

Learn to make gnocchi. Really well.

Brew my own beer. Exceptionally well.

Learn to quilt.

Ride in the MS150 with my Mom. (She rides in it almost every year. I am lazy. I’m going to work on that.)

Take my folks on an epic vacation. The kind of vacation that says, “Hey, thanks for raising me, hugging me, putting me through college and doing all of the things that I never noticed until I became a parent myself.”

Host an outdoor movie night in my backyard. Every summer.

See one of my photographs hanging in an art show.

Now, go check out all of the details on how to share your own bucket list for a chance to win, a family vacation to Universal Orlando^® Resort, A Las Olas Surf Safari, Family Winter Vacation Getaway at Park City Mountain Resort.

The post My Bucket List appeared first on TodaysMama.

It was tough to choose so I used random.org and let the fates smile down on our winners!

Sommer – Family Vacation to Universal Orlando Resort  (post #44)

Kalli  – Winter Vacation Getaway at Park City Mountain Resort (post #13)

Kat – Las Olas Surf Vacation (post #55)

Tania – $500 to knock something off her bucket list (comment #1037)

Big congratulations to our winners and BIG THANKS to Just Ask for sponsoring this contest and reminding us to keep track of our health!

We’ve all got one. A list of things we want to do / see / accomplish / taste / feel / try in our lifetime.

A bucket list.

Our friends at Just Ask want you to stay around for a good long while so you can cross epic activities and life-changing achievements off that list of yours. That’s why they’ve developed a test that could save your life—the BRACAnalysis test—by informing you about your chances of getting breast or ovarian cancer.

Think of all of the things on your bucket list? Got ‘em? Now jot them down for a shot at winning a trip of a lifetime.

How to Enter

Simply share 15 items on your Bucket List on your blog and leave the link to your post via our Mr. Linky tool below to enter to win one of the Grand Prize Getaways (more on those fabulous trips below). Here’s an example from Rachael. Post must include the following text and links to qualify:

This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway. Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health. Want to enter? Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details. 

Our Grand Prize Getaways include:

A family vacation to Universal Orlando^® Resort! (+ prize rules)

A Las Olas Surf Safari! 

Family Winter Vacation Getaway at Park City Mountain Resort

More Prizes!

We’ve even got a $500 gift card for our extra entries to go towards crossing something off your bucket list. To qualify…

1. Go “like” Just Ask on Facebook. (Come back to this post leave a comment letting us know you did.)

2. Share this tweet: Did you know you can get screened for Breast/Ovarian Cancer http://on.fb.me/JustAskHBOC  #justask (Come back to this post and link to your tweet in the comments.)

3. Go “like” Today’s Mama on Facebook. (Come back to this post leave a comment letting us know you did.)

Each item counts as a separate entry. 

Contest closes on Saturday, November 12th at Midnight MST. Winners will be announced Monday, November 14th. Good Luck!

Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2011 Universal Studios. All rights reserved. Official Contest Rules can be found here.

The post Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway appeared first on TodaysMama.

One of the Grand Prize trips in our Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway is a Las Olas Surf Safari for you to enjoy a little “me” time.

One winner will head south of the border to a laid back sea-side village outside of Puerto Vallarta to spend a week immersed in the fun, the culture and new-found friendship with your fellow surfers.

You’ll relax in a private room in a luxurious shared villa nestled on a tropical hillside tumbling down the ocean’s edge.

The villa includes a great room, kitchen, and shaded balcony complete with patio furniture for enjoying your relaxing ocean view. Glass doors let in plenty of natural light or swing them open for ocean breezes. You’ll dine and explore the charming local village and enjoy sandy beaches and gentle surf break.

We love the mission of Las Olas: We make girls out of women.

Oh, sure, traveling with the kids is fun. A romantic getaway with your man sounds dreamy. But a solo trip to paradise to soak in the sun, make new friends and learn to surf in a supportive, pressure-free environment? Sign us up.

Did we mention the yoga sessions and massages?

Sigh.

Head over to our contest page for complete contest information so you can enter for your shot at a trip to Las Olas for the Surf Safari of a lifetime. 

*Please note: this trip package does not include air transportation.

The post Win a Trip to Las Olas appeared first on TodaysMama.

Experience all the action, thrills and excitement of Universal Orlando^® Resort. This one-of-a-kind destination is a stunning mix of Hollywood’s greatest movies and TV shows, innovative rides and attractions, and pop culture’s most famous icons. Explore the world’s two most amazing theme parks, a dazzling array of nighttime entertainment, and so much more. Best of all, you can stay in the heart of all the excitement at one of Universal’s three on-site hotels.

For complete details on how to submit your Bucket List and enter to win this amazing family getaway, visit our contest page.

Specific rules and eligibility requirements must be met to receive this prize from Universal Orlando Resort.

PRIZE: There will be one (1) Prize (“Prize”) awarded. Prize winner (“Winner”) will receive a four (4) day, three (3) night trip for Winner and up to three (3) guests (“Guest(s)”) to Universal Orlando® Resort in Orlando, Florida.  Trip will include round trip coach class air transportation for Winner and up to three (3) Guests from a major commercial airport near Winner’s home (as determined by Prize Provider in their sole discretion) to Orlando, FL provided by Southwest Airlines*; three (3) nights standard hotel accommodation (one room, quadruple occupancy, room and tax only) at Lowe’s Royal Pacific Resort (or another on-site hotel as determined by Prize Provider in their sole discretion); non-exclusive ground transportation to and from airport and hotel in Orlando, FL*; and 3-Day/2-Park Tickets for both Universal Orlando Theme Parks for Winner and up to three (3) Guests. The Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of Trip is three thousand three hundred and forty-three dollars and ninty-four cents ($3,343.94). If Winner elects to partake in any or all portions of his/her Prize with fewer than thee (3) guests or no Guest, the Prize will be awarded to Winner and each participating Guest and any remainder of the Prize will be forfeited and shall not be subject to further or alternative compensation. All elements of the Prize must be redeemed at the same time, and no changes will be permitted after confirmation of any redemption. If Winner is between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21), he/she must be accompanied by an adult of at least twenty-one (21) years of age in order to check into the on-site hotel. Specific travel dates and arrangements are subject to air travel, holiday, blackout dates, and other prize and travel restrictions. Trip must be completed within one (1) year from the end-date of the Promotion or Prize will be forfeited.  Reservations are subject to availability. Trip must be booked at least sixty (60) days prior to intended departure date. Travel dates are subject to Prize Provider and Sponsor approval.  ARV of Prize may vary depending upon the points of departure, ground transportation, and/or airline fare fluctuations; any difference between stated ARV and final ARV of Prize will not be awarded. Prize consists only of the elements expressly set forth above; no other elements or expenses (including, without limitation, insurance, meals, unspecified ground transportation, phone calls, gratuities, incidentals, souvenirs, gasoline, etc.) are included in the Prize and all such expenses are the sole responsibility of Winner.  Winner is responsible for any air travel taxes and/or expenses, including applicable departure taxes or fees, inspection charges, and security charges. Once issued, tickets are nontransferable and may not be reissued once travel has commenced. Open tickets may not be issued and stopovers are not permitted. Travel arrangements must be made through Prize Provider. All Prize elements must be redeemed at the same time.

*Airfare and ground transportation portions of each Grand Prize Consumer package are void if Grand Prize winner resides in Florida. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2011 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

Head over to our contest page for complete contest information so you can enter for your shot at a family vacation at Universal Orlando Resort. 

The post Win a Trip to Universal Orlando Resort appeared first on TodaysMama.

Named the #1 Family Vacation Resort in North America by the editors of SKI Magazine, Park City Mountain Resort is the perfect place to get your winter wonderland fix.

This trip package includes three days on the mountain—lift tickets, lessons, and equipment rentals for a family of four. You’ll spend two nights in a fabulous one-bedroom Condo and get a $100 gift card to dine at the Resort.

Want to swoon over your weekend in Park City? Check out Snowmamas for all the details for family winter vacation planning.

Head over to our contest page for complete contest information so you can enter for your shot at a Family Winter Vacation Getaway at Park City Mountain Resort.

*Please note, blackout dates do apply and this trip package does not include air transportation.

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