Keeping Art In Your Heart

As the mother of five grown children, you can imagine all of the artwork and art projects that have come through our lives. Knowing now how precious it all is, I wish I had kept every piece. I didn't realize at the time I would end up treasuring with all my heart the art that I did keep.

 Every Mom know how overwhelming all of the papers and craft projects and things their children create can be. It can take over not just the front of your refrigerator, but your whole house. It is easy to toss things out when you look at the sheer volume of what is brought home from school, camp, or classes. But the odd or funny looking thing that your child created, after many years, becomes beautiful.

We moved quite a few times in 35 years, so some of the artwork naturally just got discarded. But I remember once finding out that our garage had a leak in the roof that we didn't know about until I opened
many ruined and mildewed boxes. In those boxes were many saved treasures that had to sadly be thrown in the trash. But really the point here is to celebrate the art your children and grandchildren create. Keep it, display it, love it, because one day it will be more valuable than you can imagine.                                          

The photo above is of a piece of art made by one of my daughters when she was six. ( I think she would like to remain anonymous)  It's a crown made out of manilla envelopes.
I think it's gorgeous.

By Patricia

Update your Children's Wardrobe with CookiesKids.com

Each season that passes my son needs new clothing. Its still the one thing I am baffled by that each season he no longer fits into what he wore last year. Its also so fun to have a great excuse to go shopping! I have noticed summer clothing has been bright and even neon for this year. It reminds me of my childhood, the early 90s fashions. The fun and funky colors make for some stylish clothing. On the opposite side of that fashion is the always in summer style basics like leather sandals, jean shorts and polo shirts.

With my husband and I deciding what to buy our son can be a clash of styles. For me I like cute kid stuff, my husband the cool name brand stuff. So we meet in the middle with cool kid themed items. Since kids always need new clothing I like to shop price for stylish clothing.

I find online shopping for my son to be the easiest place to get him clothing. I can shop when he is napping or busy with an activity. Plus I can find the best sales and promo codes online. Who does not like to shop in their comfy chair at home with an iced coffee in hand right?!

I went through my sons closets to see he no longer fits in any of his last year shorts. Here in CA shorts are a must have. I love plaid shorts for kids. They are so cute and perfect to mix match with a variety of plain polos or tshirts. I was looking for something he could wear to the park but also cute enough to get his pictures taken in if matched with the right shirt.

I have shopped online before at CookiesKids.com for the winter and purchased some really great sweatsuits and jeans for him, I knew I would find great summer clothing there too. I found the cutest Spiderman red plaid set. My son thinks super heroes are cool and funny enough calls them all Batman, even if it is Spiderman. I knew he would love the Spiderman polo shirt and plaid short set as much as I did. It met my kid like fashion and my husbands cool kid style. I was surprised at all the cute and low priced Spiderman, Batman, Superman and even a few Transformer items I found. Every time I shop at Cookie's Kids I find clothing that I like for my son but also my niece and nephews. I enjoy shopping there since I can find items for ages from newborn to kids 16. I know we will be shopping there for many years to come.

He loves his Spiderman outfit, his shoes are just a bit too big

My son loves sports and this summer he has been so active with wanting to throw the football, kick the soccer ball and swing his baseball bat. With 100+ degree weather I knew he would need light weight shorts and tank tops. I found really cute and only $3.99 or $4.99 tops and Short Sets at Cookie's Kids. When we got it in the mail I knew as soon as he put it on and starting running around that it was just what he needed. He was not as sweaty and was able to move quickly. Not that I needed that fast boy to go any faster lol. Hes quick and this Mom needs to be quicker!

So cute in his Short set from #CookiesKids

With our new pool we needed some cool swim shorts too. I liked these ones since they have orange in them. Orange is my son's favorite color and for the price I had to have them.

Cookie's Kids is always having some sort of sale with discounts or freebies that making shopping there even more fun. Their email newsletter will send the deals to you a few times a month. I have found great items that way. This shopping trip I got a freebie that made me think of my little brother (who is all grown up and a young man now) a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stationary set.

I had a blast using Polyvore to put together outfits to see which one would look best. I found a few really cute items that I pair up into an outfit. My favorite was this one, its an orange, brown and blue plaid set. I love the Tigger hat and the shoes. You can see the other #CookiesKids outfits I made on my Pinterest Kid Fashion Board.

About Cookie's Kids:

If you have not yet heard about Cookie's Kids here is a little info about them. This year they are celebrating 40 years in business! In 1972, a young man named Cookie and his brother Marvin went into business together. They rented a 1600 square foot store in Jamaica, Queens, fixed it up, bought inventory and Summer and Fall, and opened a day after Thanksgiving with a full stock of holiday toys. The toys were a success and they put the extra money toward buying children's clothing for the next season. When that did well, they bought more clothing. The business was on it's way.

As the brothers Cookie, Marvin and Sonny, who had come in as a third partner in the business, began to open new stores in new locations, inventory expanded. Besides the latest fashions, our customers wanted shoes, toys, backpacks and accessories and we were prepared to deliver.

By the late 1990's there were six superstores throughout the NYC area, and though they previously had different names, by that time they were all named Cookie's Kids. Also in the late '90s came an important addition to Cookie's Kids' inventory: school uniforms. It was the steady success in uniform sales that paved the way for founding CookiesKids.com in 2007, which originally sold uniforms and soon after the entire Cookie's Kids Inventory.

What summer clothing items do your kids need? Sandals? Shorts? Tees? 

Cookie's Kids has all of that plus even school uniforms for the fall.

Want to see more of the great items from CookiesKids.com you can read my Google+ story about my shopping trip. #CookiesKids

*I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and CookiesKids.com #CBias #SocialFabric All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

T-fal Healthy Summer Challenge Tip #2

 

 

~by Patricia

My second tip for the T-fal Healthy Summer Challenge is to shop for your fruits and veggies at your local Farmer's Market. The summer is the absolute best time to shop there for great variety of selection and lowest prices.

 

Seeing all those lovely lettuces and mouthwatering berries will inspire you to make healthier meals, and keep cooking simple. 

 

Make dinner a big, delicious chicken Caesar salad, or yummy veggie kabobs on the grill. Enjoy!

 

 

What fruit or veggie have you always wanted to try?

 

 

 *I wrote this blog post while participating in the T-FFal Healthy Summer Challenge blogging program for a chance to win a T-fal ActiFry or additional cookware.

Beautiful Sunshine...but so Hot!

It has been beautiful weather. The sun shining makes me smile. Time for swimming, ice cream, water balloon fights, BBQ and lazy evenings laying under the trees. BUT its so hot! It was close to 104 today. I have lived in Nor CA for about 15 years, but I still have not gotten adjusted to the summers here. I need to live closer to the ocean!

How hot was it for you today? Whats your favorite way to cool down?

Simply Sassy Media Launch Giveaway $100 Lowes Gift Card

We are happy to be a part of the launch for Simply Sassy Media. Being a part of  new blogger friendly companies is what makes the great giveaways and contest available on Frugal Family Tree. We are happy to share with you a great giveaway hosted by Simply Sassy Media.

Giveaway post for July 10th at midnight EST (late Monday night).

Prizes: $100 Lowes Gift Card (for a US winner), $100 IKEA Gift Card (for a Canadian winner) 

Eligibility: US & Canada 

Giveaway ends July 24 at 11:59 pm EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Join Us at CA State Fair for Seattle's Best Coffee Red Cup Showdown

My husband and I have been going to the state fair every year since we met. Our first date was at the California State Fair. It holds a special place in our hearts and we go each year with a smile on our face knowing another year to celebrate being together. This year will be our 14th state fair! We are so happy to be taking our son for his 3rd state fair trip this summer. He loves all the animals and I love the great food. One of the best things to get at the state fair is an iced coffee drink. It can be so refreshing on the hot days of the fair.

This year I know where I will be headed first! The Seattle's Best Coffee booth for the Red Cup Showdown. The event is on July 14th 2012 and starts at 11am. The Red Cup Showdown is hosted by the awesome "Sandwich King" Jeff Mauro. The contest is a coffee recipe contest using Seattle's Best Coffee to win a chance to go to New York to compete with other state fair winners for the chance to win $10,000 and your drink served in the cafes of Seattle's Best Coffee. You can read more info on Facebook about the contest.

We will be there to watch the judging of the contest. Its a live competition where the participants will brew the coffee and create the drink in front of the judges. (the submission for your own drink has been closed)

I look forward to seeing (and hopefully meeting) Jeff Mauro at the California State Fair Seattle's Best Coffee Red Cup Showdown. I love coffee and the fair, its a perfect combo! There are some discounts on fair tickets on the CA State Fair website, including discounts for Costco members to buy tickets ahead of time. Also check with your local Big O Tires store to see if they still have fair coupons left, they have BOGO admission ticket coupons if you go to the store and ask. Always great to save a little money getting in so you can spend more on the food and iced coffee. #RedCupShowDown

  Seattle's Best Coffee CA State Fair Red Cup Showdown

• Date:
• Sat 7/14

• Time:
• 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

• Location:
• • Miller Lite Grandstand

Seattle’s Best Coffee will bring  its Red Cup Showdown to the California State Fair on July 14 in the Club House at the Miller Lite Grandstands.

We will see you there!! Dont forget to bring your camera, sunscreen, food money and the ones you love!

*I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Seattle’s Best Coffee #CBias #SocialFabric #RedCupShowdown All opinions are my own and your experience may vary.

Summer Veggie Kabobs

 I love grilling and I love veggies. It was the perfect combo over the weekend. I made mushroom, squash, zucchini and orange bell pepper ones. They are sooooo good! Grilled mushrooms are a favorite in our house. Brush with a bit of olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper then set on the grill.

What are your favorite veggies to grill?

Zyrtec Allergy Face Beauty Survival Kit

Allergies have been a big issue for me since moving to the Sacramento valley over 15 years ago. Prior to that I was not really bothered by them. As an adult its even harder to deal with the puffy eyes, runny nose and sneezing. Not at all attractive! There are days I have looked a mess with mascara rubbed on my eyes and concealer worn off from blowing my nose over and over. I have another brand of allergy meds I take for everyday seasonal allergies that works great on the pollen, dust and mold. But it did not help with my cat allergies.

Cats are cute yes but I cannot touch them or be in a home that has cats for very long without my eyes puffing, skin itching, hives and a few times my throat swelling. No fun and a bit scary! Sometimes I am visiting someone and unaware they have cats until I get there. I have been able to take a Zyrtec and wait an hour or so outside and then be able to go back in to visit. Its great that it can help control my "cat attacks" as I call them. I am not sure if it works for anyone else this way but its great for me. Plus it controls my seasonal allergies too. With all the pollens, grasses and molds that aggravate my allergies have many options with allergies meds is great.

To help with my allergy face I was sent a few great beauty products. I really like the Neutrogena Brightening Eye Protector. It conceals dark circles under the eyes, perfect for those nights I am up late with my toddler. Plus it has SPF 25 in it. The Visine Soothing Wipes were great for the end of the day to take off eye makeup and have a soothing cool feeling while doing so. These would come in handy for times I am without medication for allergies to soothe itchy eyes.

• How to feel better: Take a Zyrtec as the first step to help you feel better -  it works at hour one on the first day you take it.  Once you feel better you can take the proper steps to look better too!
• How to be pretty not puffy: Layer on a copper bronzer and pink blush combination to really give skin oomph to help reduce redness and brighten up a puffy face.
• How to get rid of the red nose: Layer on a moisturizing lotion at night and a lighter weight oil in the morning, followed by a yellow-based concealer to reduce redness.
• How to brighten the eyes: Use a gold shimmer eye shadow or a white cream eyeliner pencil underneath your eyebrow arches to make a big difference without a ton of makeup.
• How to use your accessories: If you're running late and don't have time to cover up all your allergy symptoms, lipstick and a pair of sunglasses are your best accessories. 

  
Beauty must-haves of beauty expert Rebekah George:

* I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was provided for free the products pictured in this post for my review by the Company/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

Road Trip OnStar FMV Giveaway

Ever wonder how our parents did not get lost on road trips? Without cell phones and navigation it seems perhaps some of those long drives or off the path stops were not adventures but an attempt to find our way to our destination lol. My sister and I drove one summer from Sacramento to Seattle in her purple Kia and had a blast. Thankfully it was simple to get there but we did have trouble late one night finding a gas station. This was before google maps and cell phones being easy to use so we did wonder a bit off strange roads looking for one. But no more of that! This summer Sam and her family will be making the reverse trip, this time from Seattle to Sacramento. With a navigation system they will have no problem finding a gas station, a hotel and their way to my house. They already have a navigation system so we have decide to offer our readers the chance to win one for their vehicle.

The OnStar For My Vehicle Mirror FMV has built in connectivity and GPS technologies, OnStar FMV gives you all the safety and security of OnStar including a direct link to Live Advisors and the ability to detect and send help to your exact location in the event of an accident.

Key features:

·         Automatic Crash Response. An accelerometer built into OnStar the mirror detects the sudden shock of an impact from the front, side, or rear of the vehicle and automatically calls an OnStar advisor. If the driver doesn’t respond, or responds to say there has been a crash, an OnStar advisor will direct emergency responders to the exact GPS location of the vehicle.
·         Link to Emergency Services. By pressing OnStar’s red emergency button, drivers are immediately connected to a specially trained emergency advisor for assistance in situations occurring inside or outside of their vehicle.
·         Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance. If the vehicle is reported stolen to local law enforcement, OnStar subscribers can call 1-888-4-OnStar (1-888-466-7827) from any phone. OnStar advisors, available 24/7, can attempt to locate the vehicle through the mirror’s internal GPS and provide the location to law enforcement.
·         Turn-by-Turn Navigation. With OnStar’s most popular service, drivers can press OnStar’s blue button and ask OnStar advisors for directions to a specific location or ask the advisor to find a point of interest such as a gas station or nearby restaurant.

GIVEAWAY

One reader will win a OnStar FMV Mirror and the sponsor will also be provided the winner 3 months of Directions and Connections service as well as a Best Buy gift card to have the FMV professionally installed.


To Enter This Giveaway: (mandatory entry before extra entries)


Where would you like to take a driving Road Trip to?

 

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

 

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.

-Like on OnStar on Facebook +1

-Follow OnStar on Twitter +1

-Follow/Add to your circle  Frugal Family Tree on Google+ ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1

-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a OnStar FMV from @OnStar at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 7/30

 

 

 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts July 9, 2012 and ends on July 30, 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

Creating Memories and Saving Money Equestrian Clearance

As a kid we lived in Southern CA I was lucky enough to have a wonderful year that my sister and I took horse back riding lessons. I was one of those kids that if I had my own pony I would be over the moon happy. Where I would put this pony and how I would take care of it were the last things on my mind.

I loved showing up for lessons. Not only did we get to learn how to ride them we also were taught how to care for them. We were able to brush them, clean their hoofs, put on and take off all the gear and learned how to behave around them. Its an experience I will never forget. It was amazing.

So even if you dont own a horse you or your children can experience horse back riding through lessons. The main thing you need to have for horse back riding is a good pair of riding boots. Like with any sport your shoes make a big difference in the experience. I remember mine, they were so cool to me long after we stopped taking lessons. Horseback riding can be a pricey hobby to have saving money is crucial. Places like Equestrian Clearance online store can offer the lower price that is needed to enjoy horseback riding and ownership. Equestrian Clearance Riding Boots are reasonably priced for Kids, Women and Men.

Another part of the Equestrian Horse Riding experience is the gear. Its like with having a dog and getting them blankets or outfits.GFS Rugs are a horse blanket that will keep the horse dry after exercising and great for travel. When I was taking lessons when we were done we would help take off all the gear, brush the horse down and then put the blanket on the horse. It was great to be a part of such a wonderful activity.

They even carry Dog Blankets. My black lab would look dashing in the blue on they carry. They also have dog bowls, dog beds, leads collars and more at low prices.

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own and may vary from your experience.