Our Gutzy Gear Party - Going Gutzy

Have you heard of Gutzy Gear?  Gutzies are fun, removable patches that you can place on Gutzy straps - they can be used to customize backpacks, sports duffels, messenger bags, scooters, seat belts and so much more!

We played a game called The Missing Piece.  Everyone received 1/2 of a Gutzy on paper.  We had to go around and find our match.  I had as much fun as the kids!

 

 Everyone with their Gutzy starter kits!

 Then everyone got to pick Gutzy patches.  E helped distribute.

Check out some of the available styles.

 My friend "Going Gutzy" on her diaper bag.

 D was so excited to get the popcorn patch.

 And how cool does she look - pretty Gutzy!

Our friend Mare Bear sporting her Gutzy on her seat belt.
Her Mom loves the extra padding the Gutzy strap provides!

D, B and C sporting their Gutzy on their wheels.

So, what are you waiting for.  Go Gutzy!

 

Disclosure:  We were chosen to host this party through MomSelect.  Thanks so much to MommyParties and Gutzy Gear for allowing us this opportunity and providing us with the amazing Gutzy Gear kit (included Gutzy starter kits and patches along with fun games and activities).  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Our Hearts For Hearts Girls Party

Have you heard of Hearts For Hearts Girls dolls?  Hearts For Hearts girls is a charitable doll line and fashion collection from Playmates Toys that seeks to empower girls to become agents of change in their communities, their countries and around the world.  Right now they have eight dolls (Rahel from Ethiopia, Consuelo from Mexico, Dell from The United States, Tipi from Laos, Lilian from Belarus, Nahji from India, Zelia from Brazil, and Lauryce from The United States) inspired by real girls in real places all over the world!

Our party kit was amazing.  We received Lauryce and Nahji, along with bracelets and passports for everyone!  A and B decided to keep Nahji and we raffled off Lauryce during the party.

 

 B with Nahji and T so happy to win Lauryce!

 

 

Our friend has the Consuelo doll so she brought her with to the party.  It was so fun to have three of the different dolls with us.

 

The girls making their passports!

 

Here are a few of them - I didn't even get to get photos of them all!

Did you know that 884 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water.  Shocking, I know!  World Vision, a Hearts For Hearts Girls partner (and an organization we support monthly!), helps bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to communities with their Clean Water Fund.  We decorated water banks and started collecting spare change to partner with this mission.

Making our Clean Water Banks

 

Of course we had snacks.  Mainly fruit and crackers (eaten in numerous countries) and an Ethiopian inspired Party Punch!

Another highlight of our party worth mentioning has to do with the fact that we very recently cut down our palm tree in our backyard.  The branches and pieces are still in our yard as we haven't completely cleaned it all up yet.  The kids used this as an opportunity to flex their creative juices.  They decided to use the palm branches to build a Papua New Guinea Home.  I thought this was a great idea and it was really fun to watch them do it!

Getting the supplies...

 Working together

Another view

Most of the girls outside their Papua New Guinea inspired house!

I cannot say enough good things about Hearts For Hearts Girls dolls.  I really like their dolls (they are cute and fun), every time you buy a doll a portion of the purchase price is donated to children's causes in those countries (absolutely love this), and they seek to empower girls to be change agents both locally and globally - pure awesomeness!  If you want to find out more about Hearts For Hearts you can find them here on facebook. 

Disclosure:  Our Hearts For Hearts Girls Party was sponsored by MommyParties and Hearts For Hearts Girls dolls.  We received a party kit containing two dolls (one to keep and one to raffle away), bracelets for guests and their friends, coupons, passports, and tons of fun ideas.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  Special thanks to MommyParties and Hearts For Hearts Girls in allowing us this wonderful opportunity!

Lock up Safety for Back to School

Master Lock is launching "The Master Combo Challenge" - where students and parents can play an interactive game through the company's Facebook page to discover tips on how to stay safe at school and keep their possessions secure.

Check out this set-your own combination Laptop Computer lock!

I didn't even know these existed.

While we homeschool I still think it is important to have good tips and keep yourself safe.  I think my best advice to both students and parents on staying safe is just to be aware.  Awareness can make the difference between and unsafe situation and a safe situation.  Test your safety and security knowledge here by taking the Master Combo Challenge!

Disclosure:  I am entering a contest for a Master Lock back-to-school prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.

Our Awesome Lego Read & Build Party

I tried to show everyone who came with this collage.

We had 6 families attend: 13 kiddos and 6 adults

We had our Lego party the other day and we had so much fun!  I thought I would share it with you all.

We had some confetti popcorn (each color is a different flavor), jello molds (hearts, ducks, and starburst patterns), chips, oranges, juice and water)

 The goodie bags and special hand outs!

Having fun with our sets.

Each bag had either a Busy Farm Read & Build Set or a Grow Caterpillar Read & Build Set.  We had a lot of fun reading the stories and making the animals!  These sets combine the fun of reading to your little ones and Legos.  They are specifically geared for children ages 1 1/2 - 4 years.  I really like that my older kids can participate and read the stories to my younger ones.

 My homemade Lego banner

 Just some of the fun we had :)

And we were blessed to have our own Master Builder!

 And that's a wrap!

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to House Party and Lego for allowing us this opportunity and providing us with some of the Read & Build sets.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Shutterfly Long Live Summer Photo Contest

In case you missed it I wanted to let you know that Shutterfly has a Long Live Summer Photo contest going on.  We are on the tail end of it but there is still time to enter!

You probably have a ton of photos from your summer so this is a great opportunity to feature them.  Right now we are in the last week with the theme of Parties and Celebrations - my favorite!!

You will have the chance to win a trip for four to The Bahamas and a professional photo shoot so you’ll remember your vacation forever.  All you need to do is upload your favorite photo and caption based on this weeks theme - Parties and Celebrations.  Get a gift from Shutterfly just for entering!

PRIZES

•       Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!

•       Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.

•       Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot

 

     Shutterfly Sweepstakes - Official Rules

10 Months

Miss E is 10 months today.  She got her 1st tooth 2 days ago!  Finally - it seems like we have been waiting forever for her to get a tooth and now she has one.  In the last month she has had her 1st french fry and we have discovered that she likes animal crackers.  We just got back into town from an amazing Cousin Angry Bird Party (I will post more on this later) and I took these photos before the sun went down.  Enjoy!

 I love this baby!

 Smiling

 A little shy...

Resource Natural Spring Water Review & Giveaway

 *** Giveaway Now Closed ***

Congratulations to Nicole Larsen!

Have you heard of Resource Natural Spring Water?  I hadn't until a few weeks ago but I jumped on the chance to review it.  Not only is Resource made from 100% natural spring water, the bottles are also made of recycled plastic.  I found Resource to be refreshing and great at quenching my thirst!

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, 

resource natural spring water.

So, Resource is 100% natural spring water with natural electrolytes for taste, sustainably sourced and packaged in a bottle made of 50% recycled plastic.  Resource water is good for you and mindful of the Earth. With natural electrolytes for taste, its recycled bottle helps you keep nature in mind too.  It is more than just hydration, it’s Total Electrolytenment.  Be sure to check out Resource for more information via their facebook page here.

 Here I am enjoying my Resource spring water

E really wanted it too :)

Now, onto the giveaway!  One of you will win a $25 Spa Week gift card, how cool is that?

Mandatory Entry:  Follow me on google friend and let me know, that's it!  Please be sure and leave your email so I can contact you if you win! 

Extra Entries, leave a separate comment for each extra entry.  As you can see, there are lots of extra entry opportunities so don't be shy!

1.  Follow my google+ page (2 extra entries)

2.  Follow my facebook page (2 extra entries)
3.  Follow me on twitter (2 extra entries)
4.  Follow Resource on facebook (2 extra entries)

5.  Follow me on Pinterest (2 extra entries)

Giveaway will end on August 15th at Midnight.  Winner will be selected using a random number generator and will have 48 hours to respond.  If there is no response, I will randomly select another winner.  Giveaway is open to US Residents only, ages 18 years old and above.

Disclosure:  I was provided with the product above to facilitate my review.  I also have the opportunity to win my own gift card.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.