The Beloved Book Series Frog & Toad Comes To Life On Apple TV+

 This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Apple TV+

 Apple TV+ unveiled the launch date of "Frog and Toad” and we are excited! "Frog and Toad” is based on the beloved Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning four-book series and will make its debut Friday, April 28, 2023, on Apple TV+.

 Do you remember reading the Frog & Toad books? I think many of us have read the books about the adventures of a frog and a toad. Now these children's favorite stories are coming to life in a new TV series that will be on Apple TV+. So mark the date Friday, April 28, 2023, on your calendar and get ready for an amazing family night. I think kids and parents will both love watching this TV show about a frog and a toad.

“Frog and Toad” will make its debut Friday, April 28, 2023 on Apple TV+

“Frog and Toad” is based on the beloved Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning four-book series by Arnold Lobel published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. Emmy Award winner Rob Hoegee ("Stillwater," "Niko & the Sword of Light") serves as showrunner for the series and Emmy Award-winning studio Titmouse (“Big Mouth,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” “The Legend of Vox Machina”) produces the animation. Hoegee executive produces alongside Adrianne Lobel, Adam Lobel, and Titmouse’s Chris Prynoski (“The Legend of Vox Machina”), Shannon Prynoski (“Fairfax”), Antonio Canobbio (“Arlo the Alligator Boy”), and Ben Kalina (“Big Mouth”). Rated TV-Y.

About Frog & Toad

Frog is a frog. Toad is a toad. They have a lot in common… but they are also very different. Frog and Toad are best friends who know that the true secret to friendship is not only enjoying the things you have in common but embracing the things that make you different. Since our differences are what makes us special, Frog and Toad celebrate what makes them unique! 

Meet The Cast of Frog & Toad

The talented voice cast includes Academy Award winner Nat Faxon (Our Flag Means Death, The Connors) and Emmy Award nominee Kevin Michael Richardson (The Simpsons, Family Guy) as Frog and Toad, as well as appearances by:

+ Ron Funches (Trolls)

+ Fortune Feimster (Good Fortune, Kenan)

+ Cole Escola (At Home with Amy Sedaris)

+ Aparna Nancherla (The Great North)

+ John Hodgman (Up Here)

+ Yvette Nicole Brown (Disenchanted, Act Your Age)

+ Stephen Tobolowsky (The Goldbergs)

+ Emmy Award nominee Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants)

+ Selene Luna (Coco)

+ Emmy Award nominee Margaret Cho (Fire Island)

+ and Betsy Sodaro (Duncanville)

“Frog and Toad” will make its debut Friday, April 28, 2023 on Apple TV+

Watch the Trailer of Frog & Toad 

Discover more about Frog & Toad at Apple TV+ 

#RWM #FrogandToad

How to Stay Social When Homeschooling

 One of the main reasons many people shy away from homeschooling their children is that they worry about raising kids that aren’t exposed to the social aspects of traditional schooling. Homeschooling is on the rise and what many parents don’t understand is that there are many different ways that you can socialize children who are homeschooled. Here are a few tips on how to stay social when your children are involved in a homeschooling program.

Socialization Starts at Home

 One major aspect of your child’s socialization is often missed by those who feel like homeschooled children are under-socialized, and this is family socialization. When you are part of a family, you are constantly exposed to others, and often these are the people who teach you how to act appropriately in other social situations. For this reason, at-home socialization with family members might just be the most important socialization that your kids can receive.

Beyond this, there are many ways for your children to meet new people. Let’s take a look at a few great ways to make sure that your children are socialized.

Plan Regular Playdays

 Every week or two, plan a day where you meet up with other homeschool children around the same age as yours. During these playdays, your children can enjoy the same kind of socialization other kids would get at school. Playdays can include one-on-one time with a single friend or lots of fun with a larger group. If you have more than one child that you are homeschooling, try to plan time with each of your children’s friends in this manner.

 If your child is friends with a lot of children that go to public or private schools, you might also want to have evening and weekend play dates so that those friends aren’t left out.

Get Involved in Sports

 Playing sports is a great outlet for energy as well as meeting new people and making friends. Team sports are the perfect opportunity to get involved with a lot of children of the same age. Many schools allow homeschoolers to compete in sports activities. The YMCA also offers many sports programs.

If your kid doesn’t seem interested in team sports, you could also sign up for things like dance or swimming or gymnastics. There will likely be other students in the classes without a team aspect. These types of recreational activities are good for both physical and mental health in children.

Participate in Summer Camps

 Summer camps are a lot of fun for all children. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get your child involved in summer camps. In the spring, start looking at different options and help your child pick a camp that best suits their wants and needs. If you believe that your child is mature enough and can handle it, overnight camps can be a great opportunity for young children to experience time away from family to learn new skills and make new friends. Day camps are also an option for kids that aren’t quite ready to be away from home for so long.

Summer camps can be based around outdoors, sports, arts, and much more. This is why we suggest that you sit down with your child to choose a camp that suits their interests.

Join Homeschool Specific Clubs

 It is always a good idea to get your child involved with children who are also homeschooled. For this reason, it is a great idea to find clubs that are specifically designed for homeschoolers. You will likely find a lot of different options in your area. For example, there are often health clubs, religious groups, scouts’ clubs, and more that your child could easily get involved in.

Start Volunteering

 It seems like there are always so many organizations in need of volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to get some social interaction with people of all backgrounds, which will help your child learn to interact with all different kinds of people. While volunteering, you can also teach your children about helping the community in which you live. You can try to get involved in many different types of volunteering as well. Maybe one year you spend time volunteering for an animal shelter, but the next year you help at a food bank or clean up trash at a local park or lake. Even better, some volunteering activities can help your child get a little exercise.

Volunteering can also look good on college and job applications in the future—especially if you can find opportunities that allow your child to showcase leadership qualities and experience.

Go to Local Music and Art Classes

 Lots of children really enjoy art and music. While you are probably including both art and music in your homeschool lessons, you can use art and music as a good excuse to get your child out of the house to meet new people. If you can’t find any local music or art classes in your area, contact someone who offers music lessons or teaches children how to play instruments. If you can find someone who teaches multiple kids at once, your child will not only be able to find positive interaction with another adult, but they can also work with other kids.

It might take a little more work to introduce your kids to other children as homeschoolers, but it isn’t impossible. You can also make friends in your neighborhood or at church. Find what works best for your family and get out there and socialize!

My Journey As A Caregiver

  This post is a sponsored post but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

My Journey as a Caregiver began six years ago and it has been tough at times.

  Six years ago my husband's parents moved to be closer to the grandchildren but I think it was more than that. My mother-in-law had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years before and my father-in-law did a great job of hiding how bad it was. I guess he did not want any of us kids to worry or he just was so busy caring for his wife that he did not realize that he needed help. I think his decision to move to Albuquerque was a tough one but I also think it was a cry out for help. My father-in-law had done a great job of making us think that everything was all right with mom but once they arrived we saw things differently. We had last seen mom a year ago at Christmas and her disease had progressed more than we knew and it was taking a toll on my husband's dad.

It is amazing how others can see things that you can not

  The one thing that my husband and I noticed right away as we help them settle into their new place was neither of them was taking care of their personal grooming. Mom no longer wanted to bathe and we think she was afraid of the water, scary what Alzheimer's can do. We also think that dad had not brushed her teeth in quite some time. My husband said that his dad never did any of the child caretaking tasks so his dad did not know how to be a caregiver. I think taking care of his wife was an overwhelming responsibility for him. Dad's personal care also was not happening as he no longer had a wife to remind him and he looked tired. My husband and I noticed right away that both mom and dad were having incontinence issues that needed to be addressed. It was then that I had to put my embarrassment aside as we went out for dinner with mom and dad. It was about loving them and not caring about what others thought. My husband had the first tough job of telling his dad about them needing to wear disposable incontinence products. I had the job of buying the disposable products and I had no clue. I quickly learned about the embarrassment that came with buying disposable incontinence products. I realized that I had to not be embarrassed, as I knew dad needed this help.

How do you help someone with bladder leakage?

It was not easy for dad to realize that he had incontinence problems. He did make sure that mom wore the disposable ladies briefs as she no longer could control her bladder. So I purchased some Depend men's guards and left them at his apartment. Once dad realized that the disposable guards were not visible, he started wearing them. Mom's disease progressed even more and I became a part-time caregiver to mom. I babysat her so my husband could take dad to an Alzheimer's support group for a much-needed break. I took mom for long walks to the grocery store, a place that made her so happy as she loved meeting new people. Mom did not know who I was but was happy to see me. Mom's care became more than dad could handle so he placed her in a nursing home. It was tough seeing her fade from the Alzheimer’s and not remember simple things like how old her grandchildren were. My son who was 5 at the time had to tell grandma his age every time we visited her. Mom died nine months from the time they moved to Albuquerque from an infection in her mouth.

Dads health took a turn for the worse four years later 

   Dad went on with life without the one he loved. He took up dancing and was a hit with the ladies at the senior center. I think every week he had a new girlfriend. Dad still had problems taking care of his personal care and needed reminders to bathe and wear leakage control products. Four years after mom died, dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and his health started to decline. He was falling out of bed on a weekly basis and then took a fall when he was outside that landed him in the hospital. We then realized that dad needed full-time care. He also needed incontinence briefs as he was wetting the bed. His mind was declining and he needed help with daily tasks. He needed a walker to get around. Shopping online was a task that he could no longer handle. It was hard when my husband had to take away his dad's car keys. That meant I had to drive my father-in-law to doctor appointments and trips to the store. I made sure that I had plenty of time when I took him places as I had to be patient with his slow walking. Since dad lived 45 minutes away, I could not visit him as often as needed and his care was more than I could handle. So my husband helped his dad with the tough decision of moving into an assistant living facility.

     Sam’s Club Caregiver program makes my life easier

  Dad still needs our help with many things from doctor appointments to stock up on incontinence supplies. Sure the place that he lives at will provide the disposable products but the prices are not affordable. Dad also needs to know that we care so we visit often to visit to take him out for dinner and help with the never-ending computer problems. Since my husband has a full-time job, I handle the doctor visits and shopping. Sam's Club Caregiver program makes it easy to get all the products dad needs. I love that I can buy in bulk quantity so dad does not run out of his disposable briefs. I make sure to stock-up and I am glad that Sam's Club sells products for caregivers in quantities that we need at prices that are affordable. I can always find products like Depend, Poise, Ensure and Glucerna at my local Sam's Club. The products are all located in the same area of the store so I can find what I am looking for without having to wander around the store. If I do need help, the pharmacist at Sam's Club is always ready to answer any questions that I have. I am glad that Sam's Club is right down the street from dad's new place so I grab what I need before I visit him although dad likes it when I take him shopping as he loves the ice cream cone when we are done shopping.

This is a sponsored post by Sam’s Club but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Extend The Learning Outside The Classroom With VTech and LeapFrog

Summer is over & it’s time to start thinking about school!

       I received some toys from VTech and LeapFrog to check out for my new granddaughter.

  My boys are all back in school. The youngest two are now in 5th and 6th grade and the older two are in college. So now it is time to shift the focus from all day fun to learning along with fun. I believe that kids learn best when there is some fun involved. My children have always been good students as I developed the love for learning at an early age. When my kids were young they enjoyed using interactive learning toys when they were not in school. These toys along with mom interaction helped my children learn things like ABCs, Math, reading, and so much more. Then when they started school the interactive toys helped them increase the things that their teacher taught them. The fun toys that played music and had bright lights along with buttons to press were also great for long car trips. My boys had fun and learned at the same time.

Check out these tips for helping your child succeed in school 

  Now that my boys are older, they prefer learning games on the computer instead of the handheld interactive learning toys. My daughter just had a baby so as a first-time grandma, I am now looking at some fun learning toys that VTech and LeapFrog have that introduce important skills. My grandbaby is still too young for these type of toys as all those flashing lights and sounds are too stimulating for her growing brain. I believe that these types of toys are great ages 2 and up. I also believe that electronic toys should not replace interaction between a parent and a child. Parents should still read and sing to their children. I am one that uses the trip to the store with my child as quality time and I will use this opportunity for learning by having my kids help me look for items in the store. It cringes me when I see young kids in a shopping cart watching a movie on a device and a parent talking on the phone. I once even saw a young child watching a movie on a phone while walking behind their parents in a store. We parents need to slow down and spend time with our kids even if it means talking to them while at the grocery store.

Interactive toys can enhance learning

  Notice that I said these toys can enhance one on one learning that kids get from parents or teachers and should not be a substitute for learning. These type of toys can help the parent teach their child as the sounds and bright lights stimulate senses and encourage fine learning. They can also help build important skills. My boys would play with these toys and I would have fun with them. I just loved singing the ABCs with my boys. I love the learning toys that have a digital writing pen as it saves paper as they are learning to write.

Check out my favorites for my new grandbaby!

VTECH® Touch & Discover Sensory Turtle™ 
           Ages 3+ months

   I like this cute turtle as it can be enjoyed without the electronic part, making it a perfect toy for younger kids. My grandbaby can get some great fine motor skills and sensory play as she touches the different textures on the turtle. I love that this cute colorful turtle is also soft so little ones will not be hurt when they drop it. The turtle also has a mirror as babies love looking at themselves. When my granddaughter gets older, her mom can turn the turtle on so the baby can press the buttons to learn her colors. This cute plush will be great for long car ride entertainment.

 When the Touch & Discover Sensory Turtle™ comes out of his shell, he's sure to entertain your little one! This cuddly plush turtle features a variety of textures, colors, and patterns to stimulate your baby's senses and encourage fine motor skills. Play peek-a-boo with the cute and cuddly turtle by tucking in his head and legs to change him into a soft, wobbly ball for 2-in-1 play. The chunky button on the top of the shell is easy for little ones to press and lights up in a variety of colors as it responds with sounds, music, and cute phrases. The shell includes a baby-safe mirror, rattle, and ring. There's plenty to see, touch and explore with this textured tortoise!

LEAPFROG® Go-with-Me ABC Backpack™     Age 3+ years

 When my daughter starts teaching the baby her ABCs, this Backpack will help my granddaughter recognize the letters and help her to write the letters. I like that everything stores inside the case so nothing gets lost. I can see little ones having fun carrying the interactive toy on their back and pretending to go to school. The toy will help my daughter to help the baby associate the letters with sounds and words as they place the letters into the spaces. I remember the fun that my boys use to have pressing buttons on their ABC toy and the repeating the letter and the word that the toy would say. This would be a perfect toy to take along for doctor appointments to help pass the time while waiting for the doctor in the boring examination room. I never understood why all the fun toys were in the waiting room and there was never anything to play with once we got back to the exam room, except for a couple books that we read through quickly. This mom could only do so much singing or I Spy while waiting forever for the doctor.

Embark on a learning adventure with Mr. Pencil and the Go-with-Me ABC Backpack™. This one of a kind toy lets toddlers interact with the alphabet in awesome ways. Using the write and erase board, kids can practice letter writing and draw with Mr. Pencil. The screen shows how to write each letter step-by-step and then shows how to turn each letter into animals. Inserting the 26 letter pieces into the letter spaces teaches the letter name, letter sound, an animal that begins with that letter and more. Little learners can play seven different activities and when they’re done, the plastic backpack holds all the pieces inside. Clip the backpack closed and wear like a real backpack for learning on the go. Draw, learn and get going!

LEAPFROG® Storytime Buddy™
      Age 2+ years

 This cute puppy will be great for long car trips and helping my grandbaby fall asleep. I always read a story to my boys at bedtime but there were some nights that they had trouble falling asleep after the story and they wanted to stay up all night. So I would turn on some music or play a book on a tape to help them fall asleep. This cute puppy is soft so it can stay in bed with them and maybe when the baby wakes up she will play with the toy for a bit so mom can get that much-needed sleep. This toy can encourage a love for reading in young kids while helping them learn numbers, shapes, and other items. It is never to early to start reading to babies, my daughter who is also a teacher even brought a children's book to the hospital when the baby was born. I am not sure if she got a chance to read to the baby as the baby was having trouble learning to eat. My grandbaby is going to be smart as I know that my daughter will read to her plenty as my daughter read to her younger brothers. I remember the first time I brought one of the youngest boys, who was 18 months at the time, to the library and how he got so excited about seeing all the books.

Encourage a love of reading with the plush Storytime Buddy™! Choose from five books about Buddy and his friends Bella, Cooper, Mona, and Pepper and Buddy will read each one. Beginner readers can read along while learning about emotions, shapes, numbers, colors, and opposites. Kids can also interact with Buddy by answering reading comprehension questions and singing along to happy learning songs. When it's time for bed, they can snuggle up and drift off to sleep as Buddy quietly reads bedtime stories or plays Brahms' Lullaby while his tag becomes a color-changing nightlight.

Which LeapFrog or VTech toy is your favorite?

Helping Your Child Succeed In School

           Are my children smart because of genetics?

       I received samples from Hugaroo and Superfood Crumble to facilitate this post.

  I have five kids and all them are above average students. Two of the three older children were high school valedictorians and the two youngest are in the gifted program. I also have a child attending the Merchant Marine Academy, this child got a 96% on his first physics test!  I was smart as a child so some may say my children are smart because of genetics. I think genetics may have a small part to play in kids succeeding in school but I really think it all has to do with how a parent helps them. This not only means starting early with teaching kids through play and reading to them but it also means things you can do throughout each school year. Here are some things that I do to help my child succeed in school.

1. Start the day with a healthy breakfast

 Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. If your child is hungry they cannot think or learn as they are focusing on their hunger. Think about when you may have been on a diet and all you could think of was food. Give your child a breakfast of healthy food like whole grains and protein. I wanted to be a nutritionist when I was younger, but a bike accident in college took that dream away. So I am the mom who serves healthy meals. My boys usually have fruit, milk and a peanut butter sandwich or oatmeal for breakfast. They may also have a yogurt parfait or chocolate protein pancakes. My boys love SuperFood Crumble on their yogurt. This gluten-free granola like crumble is loaded omegas and fuels their body with plenty of healthy energy. I love eating the chocolate dairy free crumble straight from the bag!

2. Get plenty of sleep

 Sleep is so important to learning. I know when I don't get enough sleep because of my allergies, my mind just can't concentrate. My boys get 10 hours a sleep a night but younger kids may need more and older kids less. My teen who is in the academy used to tell his girlfriend he could not stay up talking on the phone because he knew he needed his sleep.

3. Start homework right away

 We have a rule about homework in this house. When you get home from school, have a snack and then start your homework. My boys are still in learning mode so I know it helps them to concentrate better on homework. They also know once they get the homework done, they can then play. I think when homework is done later, like before bed, kids are too tired to think. My youngest has a hard time concentrating so he uses a cute soft weighted lap pad to help him focus on his homework. The Huggaroo Plush Puppy Weighted Lap Pad is weighted so it lowers anxiety and induces a sense of calm. This furry dog is so snuggly so it also makes a great friend for bedtime.



4. Read at bedtime

 My boys still love bedtime stories so we always make time before bed to read a couple of chapters from a book. I do the reading and I know this is great for their learning. Sometimes when this mom is too tired, we may read a book with pictures. My boys love reading and still read on their own after school for homework. Reading is great for kids and they are never too young for books. I started reading to my children when they were babies.


5. Give your kids quality time

  I know that me choosing to be a stay at home mom has something to do with my boys being so smart. Kids need/want time with their parents. That quality time could be as simple as just talking to them at dinner or going for a walk. I know staying at home is not a choice for everyone so if you are a working parent, cut back on outside activities and use that time with your child instead. My boys also have plenty of free play time as I believe it is great for their creativity. They don't do organized sports until middle school. They do participate in Cub Scouts with their dad as again it is great quality time.

6. Exercise

  Exercise is great for the brain and so is fresh air. So after homework is done, my boys go out to play. If I have not had a chance to run that day, they hop on their bikes and I get some running in. Going to the park is also another great way to get some exercise. When winter comes, my boys love running around the house and having Nerf gun fights.

7. Visit the library

  My boys love reading and are awesome readers. They both read above 2-grade levels. I know that visiting the library at least once a month has helped them learn. Books are always a good choice for learning. My boys check out chapter books, comic books, and books that teach them how to make things. The point is they are reading.

8. Limit video games and TV

 Have you ever watched your kid as they are watching TV? Mine look like zombies. TV is great for relaxing but too much is not good for anyone. I limit my boys to one hour of TV as they need to be using their time for play and school work. You won't find a video game system in my house as I feel they can be addicting for kids and I don't want to have those arguments about turning it off. On occasion, my boys do play on the computer but that is after homework, chores, and free play time. Then they each get 30 minutes on the computer. I feel that free play and reading are better options for learning.


9. Do math while shopping

 I am always teaching my children and look for opportunities for learning. When we are at the store, I have my boys figure out the lowest price of products. When things are on sale, I make them figure out the cost of the product after the sale. My boys love weighing the produce and I will have them figure out the cost. Cooking is also great for learning fractions and science. Let them make messes, outside of course, or in the bathroom. My boys love combining baking soda and vinegar when I clean the bathroom drains. They also love making slime and playdough. My youngest learns math when he helps me make his homemade toothpaste. Learning can be through fun.

10. Use big words

   I remember my mom always saying words that I did not understand or she would talk in bits of Spanish or German. I would always want to know what the words meant so my mom would explain them to me. So I am thankful for the internet so I can use big words around my boys and then turn to the internet to explain the word to them. These big words increase my boy's vocabulary and knowledge. When my boys need help with their homework, I never give them the answer. I make them look up the words or help them solve math programs. My son tried to use a calculator for a math problem the other day and I would not let him. I instead showed him how to set up the math problem so he was able to figure out the answer.

Do you have any tips to share with me about helping children learn?

I would love to hear them as I am always looking for new ways to teach my boys.

Learning To Be A Merchant Marine Mom

EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH AN OCEAN VIEW

           Disclosure: This post was created in partnership with Wind Passion. Regardless, my opinions are honest. 

  It is official, my son has been accepted into the Merchant Marine Academy! My middle child, number three of five kids, has been away for 6 weeks and life is not quite the same without him. The house has been quiet and our grocery bill has been cut in half. The younger boys miss their older brother and are growing up a bit too fast. I am learning to let them become more independent. Without the teen at home, the boys are learning to stay home by themselves so mom and dad can workout at the gym. The younger boys are also making some money as they are doing yard work for the neighbors that my son used to do. Letting go of my child has been tougher this time around. My older two children left the house many years ago and my second one who is in the Navy has been overseas three times so why this time is different I am not sure. Maybe because the last time the younger two were babies and I did not have time to dwell upon it. This time around I have more time to pray for my child and a simple Unique handmade nautical bracelet has helped me. This stylish bracelet reminds me to not only pray for my son but it also makes me feel proud to be a Merchant Marine mom.

Its a sailors life for me!

  I became a military mom when my 2nd child went off to Navy boot camp. It was a new learning experience for me as I did not grow up with any military people in my family. I thought I was prepared for my middle child as he headed off to the Merchant Marine Academy. My son was the Valedictorian of his class and the CO of his NJROTC. My son ran a 4:30 mile in track. So this boy was prepared for what was in store for him. This mom, on the other hand, was not. It was tough to see my son endure plebe week with way too much exercise, way too little sleep, and way too much of being ordered around by the upperclassmen. He survived those two weeks and then started the classwork. I learned that the academy is equivalent to an ivy league school but more vigorous as he had 15 weeks of a class crammed into 12 weeks so he could be on a ship for a year. That meant the coursework of his academics were being done in three years instead of four like a typical college.

My passion is in the wind!

“May the sea welcome you as a mother would embrace the return of her children after a long absence.”
― Anthony T. Hincks

  I was told to be prepared for his grades to be less than A's as the coursework was tough. I was told to be prepared for a child who may struggle with this new vigorous schedule. So I continued to pray for my son, especially when he asked for prayer the night before his first physics test. I was a proud mom when he told me he got a 96% on that test. My son has shown me that he is not only smart but tough. I was a proud mom when he said that he is handling the schedule quite well and is learning to manage his time.

Get your own Wind Passion bracelet now for a special price 
Use this link and Save 25%  https://www.windpassion.net/ref/11/

“Ocean separates lands, not souls..”
― Munia Khan

  This mom is learning to relax and let go of child number three as he is becoming a man. I am learning that him eating chips and not getting enough fresh fruit are small things compared to what he is conquering at the academy. He is proving to his mom that he can handle being an adult quite well. The other day a tree branch hit his forehead at cross country practice. He received several stitches but handled all the needed medical paperwork all by himself. My son will do well when he is stationed on a ship far away in the water for several months but will I be able to handle no phone calls or Facebook time? Will I be able to handle not seeing him in all the Merchant Marine Academy photos? I will cherish our time now and spoil him with boxes of healthy snacks through the mail. I will hug him tight when I see him during parents weekend this month. Most importantly I will keep praying for him every time I look at my wrist as see this nautical bracelet. The younger boys even wear one of these corded bracelets so they too can remember that soon they will see their bigger brother soon.

Many might not know that nautical rope bracelets have a long history which spans centuries. Started as a way for sailors to spend time on long journeys, braiding these accessories turned into a chance to show their skill. And the best way to do that was of course to wear it. These cord bracelets were also given as gifts to friends and relatives after returning from the sea.

Do you have a special military sailor in your life? 

Get your own Wind Passion bracelet now for a special price 
Use this link and Save 25% https://www.windpassion.net/ref/11/


These unique nautical bracelets make great gifts.

“I broke my heart in two
One half I slipped into your pocket
The other half I brought with me
Across the sea”

― Sabine Shah

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Insider Tips

Attending the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta? Check out these tips!

   I have attended the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta many times. It is one of the perks of living in New Mexico. My family has lived here for 20 years and we still love seeing all the hot air balloons float in the sky. We also love the wonderful weather here. The hot air balloons can be in the sky year-round but only once a year over 500 balloons grace the sky for nine days. Once you attend the Balloon Fiesta, you will want to live here. There are plenty of homes for sale in Albuquerque. This yearly event still gets my family excited and we try to attend at least one event during this time. Since this event has over one million people attending, it can be crowded and traffic can be bad but trust me this event is worth it all to be able to see the hot air balloons close up and in the sky. I am going to share some tips with you that will help you enjoy this event. The event website also has a lot of great information. http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Places to stay
Hotels tend to fill up quickly for this event so I recommend making reservations way in advance. Other places to stay are campgrounds, bed & breakfast, and RV parks to name a few. If you have an RV, I highly recommend staying in the RV park near the Balloon Fiesta Park as then you can walk or bike to the event and avoid traffic. Just like hotels the RV park fills up quickly. For more information visit this link. http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide/rv-information

Best days to attend
 There are better days/times to attend the Balloon Fiesta if you want to see more hot air balloons and special shape balloons. To get the full experience of this wonderful event, I recommend attending at least one morning event and one evening event. The morning events have all the balloons ascending into the sky while the evening events have balloon glows. A balloon glow is a very unique experience in which the hot air balloons stay on the ground but are filled with light from the glow of the propane. The best days to attend are the weekends and Thursday and Friday. While there are events on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, these days will have fewer balloons going up. If you don’t like crowds but want to see balloons these are the better days to attend. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday only have morning events.

Getting to the Balloon Fiesta Park
There are many ways to get to the Balloon Fiesta event. If you don’t want to deal with traffic, the Park and Ride option is a good one and can save you money. but it can be pricey for families with kids older than 6 years. There are many locations around Albuquerque to park and board a bus that will take you to the event. You may not have to deal with traffic but you will deal with long lines after the event to board the bus back to your car. If you decide to drive there are many ways to get to the event, depend on your location. You can even bike to the event and avoid the 15.00 parking fee. This link has a lot of info about biking to the balloon fiesta. Click Here

Best time to leave for the event
Leaving early for the Balloon Fiesta is always best. You will not avoid traffic but it will mean less time in the traffic. I recommend getting to the Balloon Fiesta park early and spend the time eating or exploring the many booths rather than spending that time in traffic. For me, that may mean getting up super early in the morning but I would rather spend my time walking around the event visiting booths/ eating than in traffic. For the morning events, I leave my house at 4-4:30 Am and 3- 3:30 pm for the evening events. By leaving this early, I usually get a better parking spot and only have to spend 30 minutes in bumper to bumper traffic vs 1- 1 ½ hours.  Getting there early also allows you more time to see the pilots set up their balloons.

What to bring
 So what does one need to bring to the Balloon Fiesta? Bring a device to take pictures as you will want to take lots of them. Other items that I like to bring are a backpack, money, snacks, water, sunglasses, sunscreen, pocket pack of tissues, hand sanitizer or hand wipes, and coffee. The hand wipes are great for after using the porta potty and tissues are great for that nose that tends to drip in the cold weather. Leave the camping chairs at home as this is an event that is more fun walking around to see all the balloons. A stroller or a wagon is a must for those with young kids as this place is crowded. If you are able to carry the kids in a backpack carrier, that is even better so you don’t have to try and push a stroller through crowds. When my kids were young, I did use a stroller as I did not want them to get lost in the crowds and I loved that I could carry all my things in the basket.

How to dress
Dress in layers as the morning will be chilly but once that sun comes out it will be so much warmer. I like to wear pants, a t-shirt, sweatshirt, and a fleece jacket along with a hat and gloves. I often find that by 8 am, I have taken off the coat and sweatshirt as it gets warm here once the sun comes out. Also, wear comfortable shoes as you will be doing lots of walking. This is an event in which you can get up close to the balloons and you will want to walk around to see all of the balloons.



Saving money
Yes, there are always ways to save money at the Balloon Fiesta. The best way to save money is by bringing your own food and drink. While you can't bring in any glass containers or large coolers, you can bring in food and drinks. I like to make my coffee and a breakfast burrito at home and then eat them while watching the balloons. You can also get food cheaper outside of the park at the many restaurants in Albuquerque. There is just something about breakfast burritos and coffee that make the balloon fiesta special. There are many places inside the Balloon Fiesta that sell breakfast burritos and you will be craving one so if you want to save money bring one with you. Bring a bottle of water too as there are no water fountains in the park. You will get thirsty as this is the desert, so save money and bring your water so you don’t have to buy a drink in the park. Also, bring some snacks as all that walking will make you hungry.

Best places to get a bite
If you want to try some of the delicious food that the event has to offer, expect long lines to buy food. The event has plenty of variety of food from breakfast burritos, pizza, burgers, to doughnuts and ice cream. You can even get fried alligator as my oldest son enjoyed. The breakfast burritos and Pinon coffee are must-have items. While the Pinon coffee is only sold at a couple of booths, there are many booths that sell the breakfast burritos and I don’t have a favorite. If you want less of a wait for food then walk north towards the end of the food booths as lines tend to be shorter there.

What to see beyond balloons
The Balloon Fiesta is more than hot air balloons. The event has lots of booths to pick up information, samples, and play games. My boys love the Cannon booth as they get their picture taken in a hot air balloon. They also love the Bimbo booth as they get to spin a wheel to win a snack item. There is also plenty of booths that sell food and other merchandise like balloon fiesta souvenirs, hats, t-shirts, and even alpaca blankets. If you walk north to the end of the vendor row, you will find a arts and craft tent, a kids discovery tent, and a chainsaw wood carving event. The kid’s discovery tent is also a great place for grownups to learn and have fun. In this tent, you can learn all about how a hot air balloon is made. You can also learn about how the pilots fly the balloons and you can try a hot air balloon simulator. This tent also teaches kids about rockets and spaceships thanks to volunteers from NASA.

If you want more information the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta then visit their official website or some of the other posts that I have written over the years. Feel free to ask me questions in the comment section and I will try my best to answer your question.

http://www.balloonfiesta.com

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2016/09/biking-to-albuquerque-balloon-fiesta.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2016/10/the-albuquerque-balloon-fiesta-is-must.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2016/08/albuquerque-balloon-fiesta-is-happening.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2016/10/the-near-space-challenge-at-albuquerque.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2015/09/balloon-fiesta-starts-this-saturday.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2015/10/balloon-glow-at-albuquerque-balloon.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2015/10/having-fun-at-albuquerque-international.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2015/10/another-day-at-albuquerque-balloon.html

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2013/10/albuquerque-balloon-fiesta.html