Keeping Memories from a Family Vacation Alive -- Canvas Print Review & Giveaway

Disclosure: Canvas Factory sent me this canvas in exchange for an honest review and are offering one customer their own print!

Where are you going this summer? Our family took a vacation to Cape Cod. Now we often go to Cape Cod because my parents live there. This year we got to stay at the house my grandparents built for a week by ourselves. We made the mistake of inviting one of Steve's friends with us, but that is another story. I still took lots of photos and wanted to get a good family shot since the last one we have (which I love) is from a few years ago and Hazel has grown and changed quite a bit in those years. I looked at all the different family pictures we got and found one we mostly liked. It was taken when we were at the National Seashore Visitor Center.

Crafty Weekends Link Party

I am away for the Thirty-One Conference this week, so we are going straight to our party! It was a small party (after all it is summer), so there are only a few!! Thank you to everyone who shared with us at our last party.  Just a reminder that we do not feature any of the food/recipe posts and ask you not to share them here. There were some great ideas shared. Below are a few of the features from our last party, but be sure to go back and check out the many great crafts shared! Please remember Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop is a place to share all your diverse and cultural posts there.  I can't wait to see what your latest creations are!!

Fun Facts about Macaroni and Cheese & Crafty Weekends Link Party

Did you know today is National Macaroni and Cheese Day? To celebrate I thought I would share some fun facts about the All-American comfort food and have two link parties! One for our normal Crafty Weekends and one for your favorite mac and cheese recipes!

Crafty Weekends--a craft link party

We are still celebrating Independence Day (the fireworks were rained out until tonight), so I am going straight to sharing the features from last week. It was a small party, so there are only a few!! Thank you to everyone who shared with us at our last party.  Just a reminder that we do not feature any of the food/recipe posts and ask you not to share them here. There were some great ideas shared. Below are a few of the features from our last party, but be sure to go back and check out the many great crafts shared! Please remember Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop is a place to share all your diverse and cultural posts there.  I can't wait to see what your latest creations are!!

Features

1) From The Real Thing with the Coake Family: Cute 4th of July Decorations

2) From The Scrap Shoppe: DIY Flag Planter

3) From 3 Boys & a Dog: Coconut & Key Lime Homemade Soap

4) From The Style Safari: Oversize Bow Dress

Thank you to everyone who shared the last week!! I hope you will share again!! If you are featured here, please feel free to grab a featured button to display proudly on your blog. I would love the help spreading the word about Crafty Weekends!!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Chapter Books for Different Ages

Disclosure: We were sent a copy of each of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own.

Summer has hit and now the kids are off school. Looking for something for them to read? This post is for you. It has suggestions from age 6 to 14! And there is something for everyone! Our first book is the third book in a series written for 6 to 9 year olds. It is Big Foot and Little Foot: The Squatchicorns by Ellen Potter and art by Felicita Sala.

Review of Queen of the Sea

Disclosure: We were sent this book for free in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are our own.

    Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis is a delightful tale about a young orphaned girl, named Margaret, that has lived at a convent all her life. She had a quiet, happy life until the King died, and the true identity of the new ruler is questionable. A mysterious prisoner arrives at the convent, and as they befriend each other, Margaret begins to unravel the mystery of who she really is.

Easy DIY Napkin Rings -- a Crafty Weekends Craft & Link Party

We are having a fun Independence Day week and are planning a barbecue. I found these fun patriotic napkins  at  Target for $3. I thought it would be fun to make some simple napkin rings for them. These are really easy and cheap. And completely disposable. I used a toilet paper roll and a piece of scrapbook paper. I cut the toilet paper roll into fourths (one-inch each). Then I cut one-inch strips of the scrapbook paper and glued them on. 

Ocean & Beach Books Perfect for Summer!

Disclosure: We were sent these books in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions are our own.

With the start of summer I am in the beach mood even if the temperatures here haven't been beach weather yet. At Crafty Weekends I shared a beach theme craft this week (have you shared your creations there yet?), and today I'm sharing some books about oceans, fish, sea glass and boats. Yup basically beach and boating themed!! So much fun. These books include picture books as well as nonfiction books. Let's start with the nonfiction books. We will start with a new one from National Geographic Kids. It is Captain Aquatica's Awesome Ocean by Jess Cramp with Grace Hill Smith and Joe Levit. 

DIY Beach Tic Tac Toe -- a Crafty Weekends Craft & Link Party

Summer began last week. I am guessing people are getting ready to go to the beach and on vacations. Today I am sharing a simple craft that can be planned with purchased sea treasures or with found ones. The idea for this craft came from a tic-tac-toe game that I saw at our local Hallmark store. I didn't want to spend the money but loved the idea. The one at the store used sand dollars and starfish.

Weird But True! USA -- Fun trivia to awe your friends and family on the 4th of July

Disclosure: We were sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. 

Which had more viewers the walk on the moon in 1969 or the 2018 Super Bowl?  What state has the most people who walk or bike to work? What state's trees helped the colonists during the Revolutionary War? What is the only state name that is one syllable? What building (in the USA) contains rocks from the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza, Abraham Lincoln's tomb, the Alamo, and the Colosseum in Rome? Which state produces the majority of the toothpicks used in the USA? Can you answer these questions? You can if you read the book we are sharing tonight. It is National Geographic Kids Weird but True! USA. 

Review of Poetry Books

Disclosure: We were sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am going to share three different poetry books with you. They are each very different from one another and each is a wonderful addition to any poetry unit or collection. Two of the books have themes that will also lend toward other subjects as well. We will start with The Day the Universe Exploded My Head by Allan Wolf and illustrated by Anna Raff. 

Biographies & Non-Fiction Stories

Disclosure: We were sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. 

Today Hazel and I are writing a joint post. She is going to review half the books. All of the books we have put together are biographies and non-fiction stories. Two are novels of stories about war. Let's start with the two picture books. The first book is Doctor Esperanto and the Language of Hope by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Zosia Dzierzawska. 

DIY Flower Wreath & Crafty Weekends Link Party

A few weeks ago I was in one of the craft stores and checked out the flower summer wreaths. I couldn't believe how expensive they were so I looked at supplies. I found this twig wreath and two flower stems on sale. Since our front door gets so much sun that hot glue melts, I used wire to secure the flowers. I cut the stems of the flowers and stuck the stems into the spaces in the wreath. Once I got the flowers arranged how I liked them, I wrapped the wire tightly around the stems and hid them with the flowers and leaves. I added a ribbon to hang it and now have the perfect wreath for my red door.

20 Recipes Kids Should Know Review

Disclosure: We were sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Hazel has always loved cooking and wants to really learn how to cook on her own. I have gotten her a few cookbooks over the years. Tonight I am sharing a new one, 20 Recipes Kids Should Know by Esme Washburn and photographs by Calista Washburn. This is one of my favorites of all of them. 

Calligraphy & Lettering: A Maker's Guide -- a Crafty Weekends Review & Link Party

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Tonight I am sharing a book that is coming out in a couple of weeks (June 25, 2019). It is part of the Victoria & Albert Museum's A Maker's Guide Series. Tonight we are sharing Calligraphy & Lettering: A Maker's Guide. 

Science Books & Resources

Disclosure: We were sent these books and kits in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have been sitting on these books for awhile and the pile keeps growing, so I am getting these reviews done. Are you looking for some fun science (mostly space) resources for STEM activities and lessons this summer? I have a group to share with you. The first book is a middle grade novel. It is the first in a series of novels from National Geographic Kids. It is Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit. 

Crafty Weekends

I took a break from Crafty Weekends due to the holiday, so now we have two weeks of crafts to add to the party!!  So it is time to see what you have been creating!  Thank you to everyone who shared with us at our last party.  Just a reminder that we do not feature any of the food/recipe posts and ask you not to share them here. There were some great ideas shared. Below are a few of the features from our last party, but be sure to go back and check out the many great crafts shared! Please remember Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop is a place to share all your diverse and cultural posts there.  I can't wait to see what your latest creations are!!

Memory Making Mom Review

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What are your childhood memories? Do they ever sneak in when you think about your own parenting? Or perhaps even your own identity? I remember back in my teacher days taking a class where we were asked to write about our own identities. I was single at the time and only had five or so years of teaching under my belt. I wrote about some of my childhood memories. It was really interesting when we shared our stories. It was a class on diversity training. Unfortunately I lost the paper (and digital) copy of my paper. As a young teacher my childhood memories really helped define me. They are important and will affect our kids throughout their lives. This is the basis of the book I am sharing with you today. It is Memory Making Mom by Jessica Smartt. 

Jesus Calling for Teens: 50 Devotions for Busy Days Review

Disclosure: We were sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My life has been a bit busy lately. Has yours? I find May always is a bit busy. There is the rush after Easter and our April school vacation week because the end is near. The days and weekends seem full of birthday parties, confirmations, first communions, graduations, award ceremonies, the list goes on and on. Today I am sharing a book perfect for busy teens. It is Jesus Calling for Teens: 50 Devotions for Busy Days by Sarah Young. 

Crafty Weekends Link Party

This has been a crazy and stressful week, so I am not sharing any crafts or craft products with you. So it is time to see what you have been creating!  Thank you to everyone who shared with us at our last party.  Just a reminder that we do not feature any of the food/recipe posts and ask you not to share them here. There were some great ideas shared. Below are a few of the features from our last party, but be sure to go back and check out the many great crafts shared! Please remember Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop is a place to share all your diverse and cultural posts there.  I can't wait to see what your latest creations are!!