NJ Balloon Festival

Up, Up, and Away!

This past weekend the QuickChek NJ Festival of Ballooning took launch! My  family and I got up early and drove up to the Solberg Airport, Readington, NJ. It was a ten dollar fee parking fee and then we made our way to the entrance of the festival. The general admission adult tickets are $30 each the day of but when bought early it can be as low as $17 each.

I would just like to note that you are not permitted to bring coolers. bottles, or food into the festival. I understand this, however, I wish I would have been able to bring my water into the festival. Once we entered the festival we made our way through the path lined with tents and their vendors setting up. We found a spot on the grass, laid out the blanket, and got our cameras and iPhones ready.



Before I knew it the outstretched green space in front of me had hot air balloons taking form. The incredible balloons took flight and flew right over head. When we were finished capturing the balloons, and playing under the colorful hot air balloon sky we walked through the festival indulging in every free sample that came our way (there was A LOT).  There were amusement park rides for the kids and later in the day there were concerts. If you go all day or just for part of it, like we did, you are sure to have a great time! Check out www.balloonfestival.com for more information and to try to attend next summer!

Random Act of Kindness #3

My 3rd Act of Kindness were these quirky bookmarks! One of my favorite parts of reading when I was a kid was the awesome bookmark that I carried with me to mark my page. I thought that if my kids had fun bookmarks they would be more inspired to read. All you need is some left over scrapbooking paper, scissors or a page trimmer, tape, a circle punch (if you have it) and pipe cleaners. First, you cut the papers into rectangles, I chose to have them all the same width, but thats just me. Then cut a long "U" shape in the middle. This is where the page would slide into the bookmark. As you can see a slipped a card into that slot to show the slit. Next you will need to pick out matching eyes and cut out 2 large circles, and 2 small circles for each bookmark. If you want to add pipe cleaners to the top of the bookmark, simple poke a hold in the top and pull the pipe cleaner through and fasten. 

After you make these super fun bookmarks you can drop them off at a local school, a day camp, give them to friends with kids, or bring them to your local library!

"The more you read the more things you know. The more that you learn the more places you'll go."

- Dr. Seuss 

Take a break at Breakwater Beach!

Monday, two of my brothers and I traveled a little ways south to Seaside, NJ for some much needed family fun. The weekend crowd was gone, the sun was shining, and we wanted to make a Splash! According to my little brother there was a good report card promotion ending on the last day of June, so we made it just in time! By showing your grades you would get in free with one paying adult. Its weird to think that Darren and I are the "adults" in this scenario when we are all siblings. Anyway, it only cost us $63 for all of us to have a fun filled day in the water park. 

We went in the kid area (above) and had a blast squirting everyone with water and dumping buckets of waters of those passing by... and they loved doing it to us! We went on tube rides that were singles and doubles, the lazy river called our name, more than once! We raced down a pumping slide on mats (I never won). We soaked up the sun and felt like we were away on vacation. I plan on going back again this summer and I hope you want to go too! I found a great deal on Groupon for Breakwater Beach, but unfortunately the time has run out on the offer. The Local section of Groupon has a deal for Jenkinson's right now, and may have a breakwater beach one again! Keep your eyes peeled, I know I will!

Random Act of Kindness #1

Back in April, for my 21st birthday I decided that I wanted to spend my day doing 21 Acts of Kindness. Since I planned them before hand they weren't that random but none-the-less they were acts of kindness and they were a lot of fun! A lot of people think that these acts of kindness are expensive and thats not the case! acts of Kindness can be as simple as dedicating your time to help someone out. I will periodically be posting the acts of Kindness that I performed on my birthday and the ones I plan to do soon! But for now, here is RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS #1:

Cards for Hospitalized Kids is an organization that lets you send uplifting general cards to kids that need a pick-me-up! Its an easy and great way to put a smile on someone's face that is going through a difficult time and needs to know that someone is thinking about them! All the cards that are received are evenly distributed to children's hospitals across the nation!

It's Your Turn! Here is 7 Easy Steps!

1. Get Your Supplies!

Get creative with crayons or go crazy with scrapbooking paper! We used some cards that are pre-printed on the outside but we jazzed up the inside! 

Cards for Hospitalized Kids asks that if you use glitter, stamp ink, or stickers to rub your finger across it to ensure it doesn't fall off. If it does, please don't send that card because it can be a health concern for some of the kids.

2. Time to Address the Card!

The cards will be distributed for you and are not going to a any particular child so please do not address the card. If you want to address it, make it generic. For example: "Hey there!" "Hey you!" or "To: a very specific person!"

3. Writing on/in the Card

The Hospitals request to please AVOID writing "Get Well", "Feel Better" or other illness related comments. 

PLEASE write UPLIFTING messages such as: "Stay Strong", "You are Awesome","You Rock", "Be Brave", "You Inspire Me", "I believe in YOU", "Never forget how amazing YOU are". 

Feel free to write your own positive message!

These uplifting messages focus  on the child as a whole, rather than their illness, which is important, according to Child Life Specialists.

4. Make sure you do not...

Give away any personal information, such as: phone number, address, email address ect. Hospitals will not allow us to distribute cards with this information.

Religious comments such as "God Bless" or "I'm praying for you". The Hospitals will NOT distribute cards with these type of comments. The hospitals treat patients of all religions, as well as patients that do not practice a religion and that is why it isn't allowed. 

6. Sign Your Name!

First names only please!  You can include your state! I wrote "Sarah, NJ"! You can also add your organization such as "Girl Scouts".

7. Most Important Part, Mail Out the Cards!

Cards for Hospitalized Kids

7290 W. Devon Ave.

Chicago, IL 60631

Lets Go To The Boardwalk!

Casino Pier, Seaside Boardwalk!

Sometimes you have to venture outside of your norm and have some fun! Living only minutes away from Jenkinson's Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach, it is quite rare that I would venture a longer distance to go the Seaside Boardwalk, but I'm sure glad I did!

       

The Musik Express has by far the most enthusiastic employees and you can't help but have a blast!

The Surf Shack reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in Grease! It is fun and unexpected!

         

 Like most boardwalks the rides can be expensive and crowded. I suggest going on Mondays & Wednesdays because those are Wristband Days! It is also during the week so it is A LOT less crowded!

Movies on the Beach!

School's Out for Summer! Want to do something with friends and family that is fun and FREE!? I do! Jenkinson's is holding movies on the beach every friday night! Come to Jenkinson's Pavilion Beach, starting THIS FRIDAY at nightfall (about 9pm) with a blanket and good company to watch a great movie! The movie schedule goes as follows:

June 27th - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (PG)

July 4th - Independence Day Fireworks (no movie)

July 11th - Frozen (PG)

July 18th - Despicable Me 2 (PG)

July 25th - Iron Man 3 (PG-13)

August 1st - Smurfs 2 (PG)

August 8th - Lego Movie (PG)

August 15th - Pitch Perfect (PG-13)

August 22nd - Planes (PG)

August 29th - Monsters University (G)

Strawberry Harvest Festival

Family Fun & Fresh Strawberries!

The Strawberry Harvest Festival at Alstede Farms was an amazing experience and you can experience it too! The festival will be happening for one last weekend, June 21st and 22nd.  Pick your own strawberries! Explore their beautiful farm and all that it has to offer! Indulge in their fresh strawberry desserts! I recommend the chocolate cake with fresh strawberries! I got to check strawberry picking off my summer bucket list!

Children will have fun feeding and seeing the animals. My cousin, Callie even got to ride a horse! We saw the ducks, peacock, chickens, pigs and other four legged friends!

Rowan had fun picking the fresh strawberries and playing on the big hay stack!

  

Take a Trip to Alstede Farms!

http://alstedefarms.com/family-fun-nj/strawberry-harvest-festival/

5 Things Every 90's Girl Played With!

Are you a 90's girl!?

The 90's was when we had play-dates and used our imagination to create magical lands to play in. The couches were often safe ground and the floor would be lava! We created forts in our living rooms to stay the night. The 90's were when we invited our friends over to play instead of both being logged online to play a video game together. The 90's were before iPads and Apps. If you are ready for a ride down memory lane, check out my list of 5 Things Every 90's Girl Played With!

1. American Girl

American Girl was released in 1986 by the Pleasant Company. They had growing popularity in the 90's which lead to Pleasant Company becoming a subsidiary of Mattel in 1998.

2. Betty Spaghetty

Betty Spaghetty was produced by the Ohio Art Company. Introduced into market in 1998.

3. Groovy Girls

Groovy Girls were made my American toy company Manhattan Toy. Introduced into market in 1998.

4. Madeline

Madeline toys were produced by Eden Toys LLC (now Learning Curve).  Madeline toys were most popular in the 1990's.

5. Polly Pocket

Polly Pocket was originally produced by Bluebird Toys of Swindon, England and their distribution was handled by Mattel in the early 90's. Bluebird Toys endured several hostile take-over attempts and were eventually purchased by Mattel in 1998.

Hope you enjoyed this blast from the past! Do you remember playing with these!?