Dedicated to the Cause, Holiday, Sponsored Post

Our Old Spice #HoliSPRAY Toy Donation Exchange #SmellcometoManhood

As you may recall, earlier this month I shared the news that we were working with Old Spice on their HoliSPRAY Toy Donation Exchange to collect toys in our community for Second Chance Toys.

Old Spice Second Chance Toys #HoliSPRAY Toy Exchange #SmellcomeToManHood #OldSpice #sposnored

While we were getting ready for our toy exchange here in Green Bay, Old Spice Guy Isaiah Mustafa and Actor Nolan Gould were busy hosting their own Old Spice HoliSPRAY Toy Donation Exchange at Hollywood High School.

Last weekend, over the course of 2 days, we invited people from our community to bring a gently used, plastic toy to our home and thanks to Old Spice, we were able to send them off with some great Old Spice products.

Thanks to the generous people in our community and even my kids, we were able to collect over 50 gently used toys for Second Chance Toys to distribute.

After inspecting all of the toys, cleaning them up and putting new batteries in them, we packed them up and got them ready to donate.

I was really excited to learn that we would be able to give the toys to the Green Bay Head Start center and that we could drop them off ourselves! This made me very happy as the parent of a former Head Start student and former member of the Head Start policy council.

Of course, the folks at Head Start were extremely grateful for the new-to-them toys and I’m sure they will be enjoyed by a lot of kids for years to come!

*Photo courtesy of Green Bay Head Start.*

Even though we had a successful toy drive, we were left with quite a bit of Old Spice product, more than any one home needs, so we thought we would help give back to the community more and we made a large donation of body spray and deodorant to one of our local homeless shelters to help them stock back up on supplies.

I’m so happy that we were able to help our community in more than one way thanks to Old Spice.

Thank you to Old Spice for being so generous and letting us be a part of this program and thank you to Second Chance Toys for finding a way to give back and to give to children in need.

Travel, travel ideas

I Want To Go Back to New York!

Anne Younger Leave a comment

It has been just over 4 years since Libby and I went to New York City for our whirlwind weekend of fun with Crayola. We had such a great time and loved the city so much that I have been itching to go back ever since.

If I were to go back, which I do hope to do in the very near future, I would want to bring our entire family and show them all everything that NYC has to offer. Of course, traveling with 5 kids and 2 adults to the big city won’t be cheap and we would have to stick to a strict budget while we are there but I’m sure there are all kinds of things we can find to do that are free or budget friendly in addition to the things that we MUST see when we are there.

I want the kids to all see the beauty within Central Park, especially Bethesda Terrace and Fountain and Belvedere Castle. I know they would all ooohhh and ahhhh over the lights in Times Square. I want to walk through museums like the New York Historical Society with them and see all of the beautiful art and history within. I want to see a Broadway show like Aladdin, something the entire family would enjoy.

There is so much to do and see and Libby and I only got to see so much while we were there. I want to head to the city and explore. I feel like I need to visit Chinatown, ride the subway, hail a taxi and see and learn everything I can about NYC while I am there.
I want a picture of my entire family on top the Rock, in front of the Empire State Building and I want to be in it this time!

There is just so much to do and see that I think our family would have a great time and love everything about our trip.

Have you ever taken your family to New York? What are some of the things you did or did not do that you would love to do again?

New York, I hope we meet again….VERY soon!

Affordable Phones Plans with T-Mobile at Walmart

Anne Younger Leave a comment

The holidays are just around the corner and I’m sure there are plenty of other parents out there, just like me, that need to finish up their holiday shopping.

After seeing a lot of other parents post about what there kids wanted for Christmas this year, I noticed that quite a few wanted a new phone or in a lot of cases, their first phone.

I remember when we made that step with Zack and Libby and got them their first phones. Back then (almost 8 years ago) we decided to start them off with prepaid flip-phones because that was what was available and affordable.

These days, when parents are making the decision to get their children or even themselves a phone, there are so many different options available.

T-Mobile, the nation’s fastest 4G LTE Network, available at Walmart, offers the Nokia Lumia 530 phone for only $49.88.

The Nokia Lumia 530 is a 4″ touchscreen phone that is 4G capable with a 5MP camera and a 1.2 GHz Processor. This phone is the perfect starter phone for your child and with a plan that only cost $50 a month that includes UNLIMITED talk, text and data along with music streaming without using data, your kid will be set.

Talk about a budget friendly phone plan!

There is still time to head to Walmart to grab the Nokia Lumia 530 and a phone plan and get it wrapped and ready for the holidays without breaking the bank.

Really, who doesn’t love an afforable gift and phone plan?

Educational, There's an App for That

Splash Math Apps for Kids

Anne Younger Leave a comment

This post was created in partnership with Mom Buzz Media and StudyPad Inc. All opinions expressed are my own.

Since I won an iPad back in January, my kids have been glued to it. Seriously, they are on it more than I am. So, as you can imagine, the iPad is filled with kids apps, which I don’t have a problem with because I love that my kids are learning while ‘playing’ on it.

The kids are currently enjoying their new apps from Splash Math.

Splash Math – Preschool & Kindergarten

Since Ellie is home with me all day long and not eligible to attend a traditional preschool we’ve been doing a few things at home to help ensure she is on track when she does head to class next fall. She loves Splash Math Preschool & Kindergarten because it has lots of cool graphics, the characters are fun and they are super cute when you make them dance.

If you are looking for an app to get your younger, Pre-K age, child started on math this is a great tool. Lots of fun things to do to learn sequences, counting and simple addition and subtraction.

Splash Math – Grades 1 to 5

Alexander is our little mathlete, just like his daddy. He loves to do math whenever and wherever he can so apps that encourage him to sharpen his skills are just what we are looking for.

Splash Math for Grades 1-5 gives him the opportunity to work at different levels and aligns great with what he is learning in school.

I never thought I would have a kid that enjoys math but I’m glad I did. Splash Math has become one of his favorite apps and is definitely a great app to download for the kids.

Join the 8 million+ users!
Download Splash Math on iTunes!
Get SplashMath for Grades 1-5
Get SplashMath for Pre-K

Or check them out on Google Play!

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*$100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Write a short review of any Splash Math app on the iTunes App Store. If you have already reviewed Splash Math app, simply update your review.

Send an email to giveaway@splashmath.com with your iTunes nickname and the app you reviewed.

Splash Math – Preschool & Kindergarten

Splash Math – Grades 1 to 5

Join the 8 million+ users! Download Splash Math on iTunes! Get SplashMath for Grades 1-5 Get SplashMath for Pre-K

Or check them out on Google Play!

Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest

Join the 8 million+ users!
Download Splash Math on iTunes!
Get SplashMath for Grades 1-5
Get SplashMath for Pre-K