education

Summer Fun and Learning with Green Kid Crafts!

Abby H.

Yesterday I posted about all the fun toys from Dollar Tree, today we are turning to some fun educational toys.

My kids love doing science experiments, playing, and learning. We’ve got Green Kid Crafts boxes in the past and they are a huge hit.

Green Kid Crafts has recently restocked some of their best-selling kits. I’ll be picking up a few and stashing them in the hall closet to keep us entertained during the “I’M BORED!!!!” moments that will be coming up over the summer.

A broad range of box themes, all STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) focused.  Explore Ecosystems like Rainforests, Oceans, and Desert Science. Learn about Endangered Animals, Volcanoes, and Rocket Science. And teach your kids to be environmentalists with Alternative Energy, Save the Oceans, and Climate Change! 

One of the things I like about Green Kid Crafts is that you can opt into a subscription where the boxes come each month, or you can purchase specific kits. Here are a few of the kits that I know my kids would LOVE.


Backyard Science Box

Backyard Science Kit

 

 

Color Science Box

 

 

 

Mad Science Box

 

 

 

Nocturnal Animals Activities Box

 

 

 

Down on the Farm Box

 

 

 

Reptiles Box

 

 

 

 

Rainbow Science Box

 

 

 

Endangered Animals Box

 

 

 

And if you have littler kids, there are options for them too! Ultimate STEAM 5-Pack Junior Ages 2-5

With a mission to raise the next generation of environmental leaders, Green Kid Crafts leads by example.

  • Through a partnership with One Tree Planted, Green Kid Crafts plants one tree for every order placed.
  • As a member of 1% for the Planet, we donate up to 1% of sales to environmental nonprofits.
  • Together with the Carbon Fund, we offset 100% of carbon dioxide emissions produced by our business.
  • Eco-friendly practices are used as much possible to produce Green Kid Crafts boxes.

At Home Educational Opportunities for Kids!

Abby H.

Most of us are burned the heck out from distance learning, hybrid learning, or jumping feet first into homeschooling. This last year has put us through the wringer.

I’ve been doing some research on apps, online programs, and ways for my kids to learn without them feeling like the weight of school is pressing down on them. I’m tired of Zoom Meetings, regardless of what they are for (the least useful for me at least was the telehealth appointment for physical therapy for one of the kids).

Here are some of the cool stuff I’ve found:

I’m sure most of you have heard of ABC Mouse. Right now when you sign up and receive a 30 Day FREE Trial of ABCmouse.
When I discovered this deal, I signed up for it. Bitty Bird needs a little help with phonics and reading, and I figured with a deal like this, we should give ABC Mouse a shot.

Membership includes: 8,500+ Learning Activities, Access on All Devices, Comprehensive Online Learning, and Advanced Progress Tracking.

Add up to 3 children for the price of one.

If your kiddo is older than 2nd grade, ABCMouse isn’t for you, but there is still a great program for your big kiddos!

Adventure Academy is a great way for older kids to learn, and you can try the first 30 days free.

Membership includes: 8,500+ Learning Activities, Access on All Devices, Comprehensive Online Learning and Advanced Progress Tracking

Add up to 3 children for the price of one.

 

And did you know that Hooked on Phonics is still around? Your first month is $1!

Here ‘s What You’ll Get Monthly:

  • Unlimited access to the Learn to Read app
  • Get a FREE Disney Bookbag with your welcome package. Your FREE gift will be automatically added to your cart. Offer valid for new members only.
  • Workbooks that direct you through each step of the program
  • 2 or 3 books specifically written to reinforce the lessons learned
  • Discussion questions about each book designed to strengthen reading comprehension.
  • Celebration stickers to reward reading milestones
  • Tips & ideas on how to extend the learning at home and on the go
And one of my favorite freebies is the amazing varieties of free Kindle e-books available on Amazon when you have a subscription to Amazon Prime!

Virtual Moms Meet Wow Summit is Next Month!

Abby H.

In less than a month I’m attending the Moms Meet Virtual WOW Summit!

I’m so excited to be attending the Moms Meet Virtual WOW Summit! This three-day online event is focused on raising happy and healthy families, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home! Join Moms Meet and me for Virtual WOW Summit from March 9–11.

From attending educational workshops and hearing from compelling speakers to networking with like-minded moms, you’ll walk away equipped with the knowledge you need to raise a happy and healthy family. The best part—it’s totally free to attend if you are a member of Moms Meet (and joining Moms Meet is free)! There’s even a unique Track just for bloggers and influencers. Learn more here.

I’ve been to two Wow Summits in the past- It’s an amazing experience, definitely an event worth your time!

Moms Meet Wow Summit 2021: It’s Virtual!

Abby H.

If you have followed me for a whole, you know I love Moms Meet. It’s an amazing way to try out products for moms, kids, and families. Every year, they hold a Wow Summit somewhere in the US. This year it’s virtual AND FREE, so really… no reason not to attend, right??

The Wow Summit is three fun-filled and educational days focused on raising happy and healthy families.

Empowering moms to raise happy and healthy families

Experience everything our WOW Summit has to offer, right from the comfort of your own home. From attending educational workshops and hearing from compelling speakers, to networking with like-minded moms, you’ll walk away equipped with the knowledge you need to raise a happy and healthy family. You’ll also have access to our Virtual Exhibit Hall filled with the newest natural, organic, non-GMO, eco, educational, homeopathic, and allergy-free products on the market, plus so much more.

The best part—it’s totally free to attend if you are a member of Moms Meet! There’s even a unique Track just for bloggers and influencers.

There are two tracks, and there will be workshops and classes for every parent/caregiver!

Community Track

Join hundreds of moms, dads, grandparents, and caretakers committed to leading healthy lifestyles.

  • Discover better-for-you products and chat live with brands in the Virtual Exhibit Hall.
  • Hear from inspirational speakers and attend educational workshops.
  • Network with other moms and attend a Virtual Happy Hour.
  • Enter to win amazing prizes worth hundreds of dollars.
  • Receive a Digital Swag Bag filled with amazing discounts and coupons.

Blogger/Influencer Track

Whether you’re a new or experienced blogger or influencer you’ll walk away feeling inspired and full of ideas to take your platforms to the next level.

  • Attend workshops tailored towards bloggers, influencers, and content creators.
  • Network during exclusive events and meet other mom bloggers and influencers.
  • Meet one-on-one with brands offering sponsored campaign opportunities.
  • Plus, gain access to all the Community Track sessions and Virtual Exhibit Hall, enter to win prizes, and so much more.

I’ve been introduced to so many brands, products, and bloggers/influencers since I became a member of Moms Meet. I encourage you to check out the Wow Summit.

WOW Summit 2020- Orlando, FL 11/6/2020-11/7/2020

Abby H.1 Comment

unnamed.pngOk, so I’m not going, but I LOVE me some WOW Summit, and Moms Meet, so I have to share the details, in case some of you are in the area and want to go.

Registration is open
for the mom event of the year!

 

November 6–7, 2020 | Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, FL

SUPER EARLY BIRD PRICING
General Admission: $19
Blogger/Influencer Pass: $79

If you are a mom, or a blogger, or both- WOW Summit is for you!

From their website:

Day one is just for mom bloggers and influencers. Day two is open to all moms (and also dads, grandparents, and other caretakers).

This powerful two-day annual event is filled with inspiration and education. Join hundreds of moms, mom bloggers, and influencers committed to leading a healthy lifestyle. You’ll discover better-for-you products in the Exhibit Hall, attend educational workshops, and hear from compelling speakers. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win prizes and take home Goody Bags filled with amazing products worth over $300!

And lemme tell you- This event is run for women, by women. There are snacks, coffee, tea, drinks, note-taking materials, quiet spaces to nurse your littles or take a sensory break. It is a great time to recharge, learn, and meet some great women who all want the same things you do: To make their lives better. I’ve been to two WOW Summits, one WOW Influencer Summit, and I’ve been a part of the Moms Meet tribe since almost day one. I have met new friends, networked with AWESOME brands that I have come to love and recommend (Looking at you, Mabel’s Labels!)

So if you are within a 3-hour drive of Orlando, I cannot recommend WOW SUMMIT 2020 enough to you! I’m not sure when the sale ends for the early bird pricing, so, you best bust a move and Get Your Ticket!!

Mark your Calendars- Saturday is FREE MUSEUM DAY!!

Abby H.1 Comment

Screen Shot 2018-09-20 at 10.18.52 AM.pngHooray, It’s back! This is one of the kids favorite “holidays”, free museum day! If you’re looking for some adventure on Saturday, September 22, check out the event website here, and pick a museum!

Luckily for us here in San Diego, there are TONS of museums for us to chose from. One thing that I like about the site is that it shows you which museums are free every day. So if it’s something that appeals to you and your family, you can chose to go another day and not have to fight the crowds.

This event is taking place all over the US, so regardless of your location there should be a few participating museums near you!

 

Talk Back: Which museums are you interested in visiting? 

 

Smart Games & Tryazon: Enjoying STEM with Friends!

Abby H.
Screen Shot 2018-09-16 at 8.40.55 AM.png
Getting the gang back together!

On Friday afternoon, the kids and I, along with some friends and their moms got together at a local park to explore some fun STEM based games from Smart Games.

I invited my home schooling friends, along with other moms that are like me: always looking for educational and fun games and opportunities for kids.  What I love about the games from Smart Games is that they are fun- the kids didn’t realize that the games were educational. The kids took turns playing Penguins on Ice, which was the overall kid favorite. The moms liked Quadrillion the most, and we all took turns playing it with the kids and each other.

While the games are one player, the kids all worked together, which was great to see. There are no batteries needed, none of the games make sounds or have flashing lights, so it’s all about imagination and working it out. The Younger kids gravitated towards Trucky 3, which is a great visual puzzle game with larger block and little trucks.

The other crowd pleaser was Color Code, which quickly was also popular with the moms.

Color Code was also the game that we gave away- I love that Tryazon and Smart Games sent us 4 games to try out and keep, and I love sharing with friends- So I try and give away at least 1 item at each party I have.

It was a perfect, educational afternoon! There was a lot of giggling, play time, and learning.

Screen Shot 2018-09-16 at 9.14.49 AM
Working hard on making a pattern.

If you want to learn more about Smart Games, their website is full of great information.

And if you want to learn more about Tryazon, their website has tons of information about all of the cool campaigns and parties they have coming up!

I received the games free in order to facilitate a group party with friends and their kids. All opinions are my own. I was not financially compensated, however, we do get to keep the games!

 

Learn a new skill from Craftsy for free!!

Abby H.

Screen Shot 2016-02-26 at 7.05.01 AM

I love Craftsy! I love making stuff and being creative, but sometimes it’s hard to learn a new skill or hone one you already have on a budget. Craftsy to the rescue! They have awesome free classes where you can learn to do all kinds of cool stuff from cooking and baking to knitting!

The free mini classes can be viewed on any device, so you can learn anywhere! Right now there are 47 mini classes that are free. Mini-courses  feature student-led discussions and are shorter in length than regular courses. They are a perfect way to learn new skills and experience the Craftsy platform first-hand.

Here are just a few of the ones I’ve saved to watch and explore:

For the complete list, click here.

Which Mini-Classes are you going to take?

New Year’s Resolution #8: Learn Something New

Abby H.3 Comments

file000267804564

#8 is a resolution that I thought would be closer to the top of the list: Learn something new!

There are lots of ways that you can learn and grow without breaking the bank!

      1. Borrow books from the library- most libraries have their card catalogs online, so you can check and see if your local library branch has the book(s) you are looking for before you step foot in the library.  AND- some libraries have the ability to hold the books for you until you can get down there (usually 24 hours).
      2. Can’t find the books in print near you? Check out Google Books.  There are tons of free books that you can read online.If you head over to Amazon you’ll find thousands of Free E-books on Amazon in all reader formats.
      3. Check out community learning opportunities. Grossmont Adult Education has tons of great classes, including some great Mommy and Me style pre-school classes for kids!
      4. Check YouTube for tutorials or seminars that are of interest to you.
      5. Harvard (yeah, *THAT HARVARD*) has free, no credit open courses here. Other Colleges including MIT, Yale and Stanford offer free online no credit classes for the public to take/sit in on.
      6. Check your local museums for free days for locals.  San Diego Locals- here is a list of free museum days in Balboa Park.
      7. Craftsy has a ton of free classes and patterns! Check out this post with just a few of my favorite classes!
      8. There are tons of free opportunities for kids to learn here. Most public libraries have story time or other free activities and workshops for kids. Check out Red Tricycle’s website for all kinds of free and cheap learning opportunities for your littles!
      9. Love documentaries? Love to read? If you haven’t tried Amazon Prime yet, there is an awesome promotion right now- sign up and get your first 30 days free. Prime gives you access to more than JUST free shipping. You can stream movies, documentaries, enjoy the free Kindle lending library, and more! Start Your Prime Video 30-Day Free Trial Now!

Learn a new Skill for Free from Craftsy!!

Abby H.1 Comment

Online Sewing ClassLooking for a good way to spend your weekend? Check out the new free mini classes from Crafsty.

Here are a few of the free mini-classes that are on my to-do list:

And here is another class I’m the MOST excited about taking…  the Perfect Pizza at Home will provide me with some tips and tricks to make our next pizza extra delish!

Want to check out the classes and see what the big deal is? Here’s the full list of Craftsy free mini classes to choose from!