The Best Coding Programs For Kids + Win 1 Week of Generation Code NYC Summer Camp {RV $799!}

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Generation Code. All opinions are 100% mine.

Coding. It's the way of the future, friends. Whether you're a tech aficionado or a novice, knowing how to program and navigate code is becoming all-the-more necessary these days; especially for our children. With all of the advancements in the tech world, job requirements are rapidly changing. Teaching your kids to code NOW, will definitely help them gain an upper hand in school, and in years to come in the job marketplace.

Coding is something that my oldest son really enjoys. He was introduced to Scratch in school, and he ran with it! It's become a bit more than a hobby at this point; he absolutely loves to code! Every child should start with Scratch (an MIT based online coding program that is FREE for kids). This program allows children to navigate simple coding concepts in a fun relatable way through animation and design. As children get a little older, teaching more advanced concepts in web development using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, will be made easier when they've gleaned some of the fundamental basics with Scratch.

Generation Code is paving the way for kids that have an interest in computer coding and robotics, with their summer camps and year-round kids classes/programs. So, if you're in the NYC area (or in another select area of the country where they offer camps and classes ), you should definitely consider sending your kids for a week (or more!) this summer.

Read on for our exclusive 40% off discount code off 2017 NYC based Generation Code Summer Camp sessions, and enter to WIN 1 FREE WEEK of NYC Generation Code Summer Camp for YOUR CHILD!

Top Family Friendly Spots To Stay, Play, and Dine In Daytona Beach, Florida

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of DaytonaBeach.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

This photo was taken almost 12 years ago. It's pretty surreal that it's been that long, friends! This is my oldest son, romping on the beautiful beach in Daytona, during his very first family vacation. I will never forget this vacation. It was low key, laid back, and lovely. Just lovely.  We slept late, played in the sand, dipped our toes in the beautiful ocean, and splashed in the pool. All day long, for 4 days straight. There was no pressure to navigate jam packed theme parks and attractions. Though when we did choose to venture out from our ocean front resort, there was an abundance of family friendly attractions to explore all around us.  This trip will forever stand out in my mind as fun and relaxation, in it's purest form.

This year, we're heading back to Daytona Beach, to recreate some of that magic and fun that we experienced all of those years ago, on our very first family vacation. Sure, our family may have changed and expanded over the years; we are a family of 6 now. But my friends, Daytona is still Daytona, and we can't wait!

Does a low key, laid back family vacation sound heavenly to you right about now? Check out our carefully curated list of  family friendly spots to stay, play and explore in Daytona Beach, below.

10 Months Strong #SisterhoodUnite

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Similac . All opinions are 100% mine.

This little cutie is 10 months old! Seriously, where does the time go, friends? 

Her pleasant easy going demeanor, gives way to giant belly laughs and frequent squeals of joy as she experience's all of the new things around her, each day. She alo babbles at us in length, complete with animated hand gestures (just liker her mama!)  At thi point, I think it's safe to say that she has each one of us securely wrapped around her pretty little finger; she knows it too!

Read on for the full article.

Throw a BBQ on a Budget - How To Pull Off A Memorable Backyard Bash Without Breaking The Bank!

This post is sponsored by BJ's Wholesale Club. All opinions are 100% mine.

Summer has arrived! With the 4th of July just around the corner, it's time to start planning your barbecue menu and nail down on some fun entertainment options for your guests! Are you as excited as I am that summer is finally here? I can hardly contain my glee, folks! If you're ready to throw a BBQ on Budget,  I have some simple tips and tricks today on how to pull off a memorable backyard bash this summer, without breaking the bank!

It's officially summer, friends! I'm so ready for the slower pace of the season. Lazy days spent poolside with the kids, and some good old fashioned backyard fun sounds heavenly to me right about now. We got a jump start on summer last weekend, and hosted our first official backyard barbecue. We had a ton of fun with the kids, and we can't wait for a season packed with much of the same.  We broke out the backyard games, pulled out the big projection screen, and cleaned out the fire pit to prepare for the season ahead. I planned a simple, yet crowd pleasing menu, and we got down to the business of making some new memories. In all, it only cost about $40 in groceries to feed and entertain our crowd, which is a total steal in my opinion! We also had a little DIY fun making our own sidewalk chalk with a variety of juice drink mixes, found in-store.

I wasn't always so efficient at feeding a crowd on a budget, friends. My tricks to pulling off a memorable backyard bash on a budget have literally taken years to hone.

Check out my tips, tricks, and simple recipes for Crab Cake Po' Boys with Old Bay Mayo, Coconut Gelato with Caramelized Pineapple + our easy tutorial on how to make your own DIY Sidewalk Chalk with juice drink mix and other simple supplies, below.

DIY Non-Toxic Essential Oil Wax Tarts For Your Wax Warmer

There are so many ways to diffuse and use essential oils, everyday. These DIY Non-Toxic Essential Oil Wax Tarts are perfect for diffusing essential oils around your home. They are also a fairly frugal way of making your own wax tarts for your wax warmer. I made 50 wax tarts using a variety of my favorite essential oils and blends, for under $5. That's a steal! My favorite part? I know exactly what's in them.  I can't say the same for many of the overpriced wax tarts available today. 

These DIY Essential Oil Wax tarts come together quickly with just a few simple ingredients, and they store well in air tight containers or mason jars. They also make great homemade gifts. Simply tie a bow around a pretty mason jar filled with your DIY Essential Oil Wax Tarts, add a note card or a gift tag, and they are gift-ready!

Read on for the simple supply list and tutorial, on how to make your very own DIY Non-Toxic Essential Oil Wax Tarts.

Soda Pop Slime - DIY Taste-Safe Recipe - NO Borax,Glue, Liquid Starch, or Contact Lens Solution!

This Soda Pop Slime recipe is a super simple DIY activity for kids! This recipe is also safe and taste-safe and only requires two super simple ingredients. NO BORAX. NO GLUE. NO CONTACT LENS SOLUTION. NO LIQUID STARCH {or any other crazy chemical ingredients}. As an added bonus, it also smells amazing! My kids absolutely LOVED making this safe DIY Soda Pop Slime recipe.

Hi friends, has the DIY Slime making craze hit your house yet? Chances are if you have a tween in the house,  you know all about the DIY Slime making frenzy! My daughter asked me a few times if we could buy the ingredients to make  DIY Slime, and I just hadn't gotten around to it. Then, on the weekend I noticed that 3 of the stores that I went into actually had Slime Making Supply Centers set up, in-store. One retailer actually had printed free supply lists and instructions that you could grab alongside all of the suggested supplies. 

One of the ingredients that I kept seeing over and over again, was Borax. I just couldn't wrap my head around using it to make something that would undoubtedly wind up touching the common surfaces in our home though.  My first thought was about my younger children. What if they touched it, then touched their mouths or eyes? Then I caught an article on the Parents Magazine website that totally justified my concerns. Some kids have gotten chemical burns from using Borax to make DIY Slime. But it doesn't stop there! There have also been reports of children seeking emergency medical attention for respiratory distress, seizures and a long list of other medical issues after mixing/handling their DIY Slime.  CRAZY! After reading the article, I immediately decided against making the traditional DIY slime recipes. 

My kids still wanted to try their hand at DIY Slime making though, so I set out to make a recipe that was chemical-free, simple and taste-safe {just in case my toddler gets curious}. This super simple recipe only requires 2 ingredients, and it comes together fairly quickly too.

Grab my simple supply list and instructions below, to make your own taste-safe Soda Pop Slime!

Thank You My Beautiful Boy, Your Strength Gives Me Strength #SisterhoodUnite

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Similac . All opinions are 100% mine.

There's an unimaginable amount of strength to be found on the road less traveled. Those unplanned paths that we find ourselves on in life, are oftentimes right where we need to be.

Hi friends, how have you been? In honesty, I got up from my computer a few times while trying to write this. Because the emotion that this topic evokes was too much for me to process and put into words. I touched on some of the health challenges that my toddler was having at the end of last year, but after the final diagnosis came in January, I couldn't bring myself to share what was going on here. I really didn't know if I would ever find the right time or the right words. But here we are. So, where to begin? As a mom of four, I worry, of course. Don't we all? I think it comes with the territory. Will my kids be happy? Successful? Healthy? The list goes on and on. In all the worry, my worst fear hands-down since embarking on motherhood was and remains, that one of my children would encounter a problem, health or otherwise, that I wouldn't be able to fix. That fear became a reality, this past January.

My three year old was born healthy. He breastfed for a full year without issue. He hit every milestone, by the book. Everything was going well, until we began to notice that he wasn't producing any speech sounds. He could only make one singular "M” sound. We went back and forth with the pediatrician. We waited for a time to see if it was simply a delay, and still nothing changed. When it was apparent that there was no notable progress, I found a specialist. Over a time span of about six months, he underwent a barrage of tests. We paid visits to some of the best neurologists in our area, then in January, they handed down the final diagnosis. I will never forget that moment.  "Mrs. Wilson, we don't believe that your son will ever be able to speak.  He has a very severe case of Apraxia of Speech (a neurological motor planning disorder).”  I sat in shock as the doctor continued to speak. "I can't tell you that you'll ever hear him say, I love you mom, or even singular words. I'm so sorry." She then proceeded to hand me a packet of information and a list of resources in my area, to arrange therapy for him. I picked up my sweet baby boy in my arms and clutched him tightly as I weaved through the office, out of the building and through the parking lot to our car. Once he was safely buckled into his car seat, I sat in complete stillness and silence while my husband drove, for what seemed like a lifetime. My thoughts raced as I tried to process what this would mean for him. What would his future look like? Life is hard, as it is. How would he navigate through life without the ability to communicate and express himself freely? I felt completely paralyzed. How could I help him? How could I make it all better? As a mom, I just wanted to make it all better for him. Where would I find the strength to be his rock, when I felt like melting into a puddle?

Read on for the full article.