The post Let Her Burn first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Let Her Burn appeared first on A Family Inspired.

This year for his birthday, my seven year old requested a LEGO birthday theme, with a specific request for a LEGO cake. While store-bought cakes are convenient, I wanted to take a stab at a simple homemade LEGO birthday cake. I’m so glad I did! My homemade LEGO cake was easy, affordable, and made my son feel extra special!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to create a delicious, LEGO brick birthday cake that will surely make your child smile.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make a LEGO Brick Birthday Cake:

Ingredients:

• 1 Box of cake mix (plus the ingredients listed on the box)
• 1 Tub of vanilla frosting
• Food coloring of your choice (red, blue, yellow, or green are popular LEGO brick colors!)

Some Helpful Supplies:

• Loaf pan
• Cupcake tin
• Spatula
• Toothpicks

Step 1: Bake the Cake

To start your LEGO birthday cake, prepare one loaf cake and a few cupcakes by following the instructions on the box of cake mix. Typically, one box of cake mix should be enough to portion your batter between the loaf pan and 4-6 cupcakes. Once the cakes are done baking, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely. 

Step 2: Prepare the Frosting

While the cakes are cooling, take the vanilla frosting and mix in your preferred food coloring. Stir until you achieve the perfect LEGO-inspired shade. Red, blue, yellow, and green are popular colors for a LEGO birthday cake, but feel free to use any color that suits your theme! My son’s favorite color is currently orange, so that was my choice!

Step 3: Level the Cakes

Once your cakes are completely cooled, use a serrated knife to slice off the rounded tops of the loaf cake and two of the cupcakes. This will create flat, even surfaces to make assembling your LEGO birthday cake much easier.

Step 4: Assemble the LEGO Brick Cake

Now it’s time to assemble your LEGO birthday cake. Place the loaf cake cut-side down on a serving platter. Take the two cupcakes and place them on top of the loaf cake to replicate the bumps on a LEGO brick. These cupcakes will act as the raised parts of the LEGO piece.

To secure the cupcakes in place, insert toothpicks through the cupcakes and into the loaf cake. This will keep everything in place while you frost the cake.

Step 5: Frost Your LEGO Birthday Brick Cake

The final step is frosting your LEGO birthday cake! Use the colored frosting to cover the entire loaf cake and cupcakes. Be sure to coat everything evenly for a smooth, polished look.

And that’s it! With just a few basic ingredients that you can create an easy, affordable homemade LEGO birthday cake for your next LEGO-themed celebration!

Additional Suggestions for your LEGO Birthday Cake:

• Make multiple LEGO brick birthday cakes in a variety of LEGO brick shapes: 
  • Examples:
    • A square 8×8 pan with four cupcakes for the bumps
    • A cupcake with a mini cupcake to make those LEGO buttons
    • Two loaf pans connected lengthwise with four cupcakes to make a long rectangular LEGO brick cake
• Use multiple colors: If you’re feeling extra creative, you can make multi-colored LEGO birthday cakes by making multiple cakes and using different color frosting for each LEGO cake.
• Add LEGO figurines: For a fun touch, place small LEGO figurines or accessories on top of your cake as extra decorations.

Overall, I was very happy with how easy it was to make a LEGO cake for my son’s birthday and am looking for an excuse to try it again with a variety of different LEGO brick sizes and colors. With just a few ingredients, you can create an easy, affordable LEGO brick birthday cake. Whether you choose a single LEGO brick cake or a variety of cakes, just like the real LEGO, the possibilities are endless. Enjoy!

The post Easy, Affordable Homemade Lego Brick Birthday Cake first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Easy, Affordable Homemade Lego Brick Birthday Cake appeared first on A Family Inspired.

First, I want to quickly acknowledge what a difficult time this is for so many. Physically, emotionally, and financially. If you are currently suffering in any of these ways, please know that none of us are alone in this difficult time, and we are keeping you in our hearts and praying for better days. If you are currently facing financial strain, the first and last items on my list are free and heartfelt gifts you can give this Mother’s Day.

On an average day, being a mother is one of the most exhausting jobs. Add in a working from home without childcare (or selflessly showing up as an essential worker), homeschooling, cooking every meal, etc. mothers have never been stretched more thin. Here are some ways to treat the mother in your life to a little dose of love on this unique Mother’s Day.

The Gift of Not Mothering

Look, no one loves those babies more than she does but what many mothers really want, especially after being quarantined for two months with their kids, is the gift of a little alone time.

I know you can’t take the kids to the playground or to your parents house right now but if you can carve out a bit of time for mom to lock herself away somewhere in the house while you play in the yard or in another room so she can read, bathe, exercise, watch, sleep, or have a single uninterrupted thought, etc. she will be truly grateful.

If you can’t take the children outside, you can hook her up with earplugs to help block out some of that mom guilt she’ll inevitably feel while she attempts to focus on herself (seriously).

Now, on to the goodies.

Start Her Day Right

Moms need all the coffee these days. Keep her caffeinated in style with a cute mug. If you want to save her from microwaving her coffee ten times, try an insulated option like this Yeti mug.

Consider pairing her mug with a coffee or tea subscription like Atlas Coffee Club that will let her enjoy coffee from around the world.

Loungewear

Chances are Mom has been donning more sweats than jeans these days. Just because she is keeping comfy doesn’t mean she can’t feel cute. Gift her with some new loungewear to keep her feeling her best while homebound.

On a Budget

Splurge-Worthy

Bring the Spa Home

With nail salons and spas closed, we don’t feel as primped as we used to. Here are some ideas to bring the spa or nail salon home.

Face

When you hear face mask these days, you’re more likely to think of your last grocery store run than a day at the spa. Help mom restore her glow and reminisce on the good ol’ days with the kind of face mask that makes her feel pampered (not cautious).

Include a silicone applicator to make the experience feel a little closer to the real thing.

Nails

One of my go-to Mother’s Day treats is a mani/pedi at a nail salon. With that option off the table, here are some goodies to help mom elevate her at-home manicure.

Body

An aromatic scrub followed by a rich body butter pairs a taste of the islands with a spa-like experience from the the comfort of her own bathroom (if the kids can be kept away for 20 minutes that is…)

Feet

Foot peels are all the rage these days. Let mom soak away all those dry patches. (Caution, the peeling process takes a few days and while the end goal is nice and soft, the path there is a bit unsightly.)

DIY

And finally, if you really want to bring the spa home, gift her an aromatherapy eye pillow and a massage (no strings attached…)

Take Care of Dinner

The quarantine has us cooking approximately 2.3 million meals per week. I would take a risk and guess that less cooking and fewer dirty dishes are something Mom won’t miss.

Little sounds better to me than having a fully prepared, nutritious meal delivered straight to my door. Unlike Blue Apron, Freshly meals are fully prepared. Don’t get me wrong, I love Blue Apron but I don’t always love the hour it takes me to cook it. We have our first Freshly delivery scheduled for none other than Mother’s Day and I am pretty excited not to cook.

I will exercise caution by saying this may best be presented as a gift for the family lest your special lady feel as though you have gifted her the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner. If Freshly sounds like a nice break from the endless quarantine dishes, use this code for $20 off your first two orders.

Schedule a Front Steps Photoshoot

Photographers are getting creative with their business models and many have started taking pictures of families on their doorsteps (where a safe social distance can be maintained) to professionally document this unique time in life.

If you have ever had family photos taken, reach out to your photographer to see if you can hire them for this project. If you don’t know where to start, Google photographers in your area and take a look at their social media accounts or website to see if you like their style, then go ahead and reach out!

*While scheduling the photoshoot can be a nice surprise, make sure mom knows about your special plans before the shoot date so that she can change out of her new loungewear (if she wants to).

If You’re Looking to Splurge

It might sound extreme to say that Apple’s AirPods have changed my life but it is no exaggeration. They allow me to take phone calls, listen to podcasts and stream television while leaving one ear free to hear what kind of trouble my kids are getting into while I make dinner.

I have the regular AirPods (seen above) but my mom has the Apple AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation and swears by them.

The Nespresso DeLonghi Lattissima Plus is one of my most cherished possessions. We make 4+ drinks every day and this beauty is still brewing perfect cappuccinos seven years later. If the mom in your life is looking for an upgrade to her coffee routine, look no further.

My husband gifted me the Garmin Vívomove HR over a year ago. I love that it has the hands of a traditional watch but also monitors my steps and heart rate while alerting me to incoming calls and texts.

If Mom is into journaling, up her game with this Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer which uses bluetooth to print 2″x 3″ peel and stick photos directly from her phone.

The Most Important Gift for the Quarantined Mom: Acknowledgement

No matter your personal situation, each of us is facing our own unique circumstance and struggles during this unprecedented time.

If money is tight, one of the most important (and free) things you can give is your acknowledgment of her and everything she does not only during the heightened challenges of the pandemic but in every day life.

A great way to do this is to write your own heartfelt card, your own words of acknowledgement and love will be better than any Hallmark card.

Whether she is an essential worker, working from home, working to care for the family, etc., mothering is a huge undertaking.

Oh yeah, if she is an essential worker, please give her a shout out of gratitude from me. And if finances ever allow, buy her everything on her wishlist!

Truly, I want to thank every essential workers from the bottom of my heart for their courage and selflessness. Including my own sister, a mother and nurse, caring for COVID patients in NYC.

Finally, Happy Mother’s Day to every mother in the world! Biological, grand, step, adoptive, foster, surrogate, bereaved, hopeful, and all the shades between. I wish happiness and peace to you on this day.

And thank you to my two boys for bringing so much to my life, mothering isn’t always easy but it is always worth it.

The post Mother’s Day Gifts for the Quarantined Mom first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Mother’s Day Gifts for the Quarantined Mom appeared first on A Family Inspired.

Here are the most meaningful lessons with which I am exiting my early thirties.

The importance of positivity, inspiration & gratitude

I have found that when I am trying to accomplish something having the right mindset is crucial. Exposing myself to positivity, faith, and inspiration is a key component to putting me in the right headspace. As I shared in another blog post about how I get myself out of a mom funk, I have spent the year listening to motivational books and speakers.

My latest read was Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass. I listened to the audio version and loved her perspective and clear actions steps to take charge of life.

Don’t Wait. Just Start. Don’t Stop

One of the biggest things I have taken away from the motivational and inspirational content I have consumed is that the only way to get ahead is to get started. If I wait and overthink everything then nothing will get done. Many people fail because they give up too soon. “Don’t wait. Just start. Don’t stop” is the mantra I have used this year to remind me to stay the course.

I am the only person who can create the life I want

No one else can create a happy life for me. I am responsible for designing a life that feels good to me. If I want to feel good in my jeans, I need to do the squats. If I want my kids to grow up feeling that their mother was joyful and grateful, I have to be joyful and grateful. If I want to create a life that inspires me, I have to take the action steps to get me there.

I have to push through the guilt that comes with investing in myself

Mom guilt. We hear about it all the time and that is because it is so prevalent and so heavy. As a stay-at-home mom, mine comes in the form of not contributing financially (like I used to) to provide my children with vacations and extracurricular activities as well as guilt about spending any amount of money or time away from them.

Some of us (myself included) are lucky enough to be reminded by the people that love us that we shouldn’t feel like this.

But this year has taught me the importance of making investments in myself so that I can show up for my kids as the joyful mother I want to be (see above).

To have faith in my children and their growth

I stressed all summer about sending my son to full-day preschool. It kept me up throughout the night wondering how he would handle that much time away from home. The first month was hard, which validated my fears. But after giving it a little time, I am in awe of how wonderful school has been for him. His vocabulary and socializations skills have blossomed more in the past few months than ever in his life.

This year I have learned the importance of presenting my children with opportunities and letting them rise to the occasion.

When things get loud, get quiet

When my children are screaming and shouting, I am often tempted to end it all by shouting myself. But that just increases the chaos. However if I kneel down, and calmly ask my boys what is going on, it’s amazing how quickly they lower their voices to explain their concerns.

Like everyone, they just want to be heard.

Comparison really is the thief of joy

Nothing good comes when I start to compare myself, my children, my home, my blog, or anything else. When I feel comparison creeping in, I remind myself to stop and find gratitude for the abundance of good in my life.

It is also helpful to remember that none of us have a window into someone’s full picture. I’m not privy to someone else’s struggles, their fear, or their hard work. Nor are they privy to mine. We are all doing the best we can.

I do not know what other people are actually thinking. And if I did, it wouldn’t matter.

I still really struggle with this but it’s something I am actively working on. I can’t count the number of times that my fear of other people’s opinions has paralyzed me.

This year, I have continued striving to put my own opinion of myself ahead of my perception of what other people are thinking. Furthermore, I have to remind myself that if someone actually is thinking all those thoughts I’m afraid of, that’s not my problem.

It’s Just Laundry

Laundry: It piles up, it sits in baskets, on beds, and clutters my head and mind. It makes me feel like I just can’t keep up with life. But when it comes down to it, it’s not a reflection of me or my ability to parent. In fact, leaving those (clean) shirts unfolded allows me to have more time to spend with my sons. We fold it when we can, but I have come to terms with the fact that I don’t want to spend significant chunks of my day matching tiny socks.

The final thing I have learned in my early thirties is that implementing each of these lessons will always be a work in progress. But they have become cornerstones of how I want to live my life and I will always be able to reference them for guidance.

The post Important Lessons from My Early Thirties first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Important Lessons from My Early Thirties appeared first on A Family Inspired.

If you’re looking for a quick costume that will go with your child’s firefighter costume, I have the easiest, last-minute DIY fire costume you can throw together.

For the past few years we have done a family theme costume. Last year, we were a family construction zone but this year the boys are both old enough to have their own opinions. One wants to be a triceratops, and the other, a firefighter.

While I was trying to figure out what costume goes with a firefighter, my sister suggested I be the fire. Perfect! I loved the idea but I never got around to figuring out the costume and I suddenly found myself hours away from a trunk-or-treat with nothing to wear.

I thought about what we had in the house and whipped up this easy, last-minute DIY fire costume in less than 30 minutes.

DIY Fire Costume

Supplies:

• Large sheet of blank/scrap paper
• Pen/pencil
• Scissors
• Colored paper
  • Red, Orange & Yellow
• Tape or glue stick
• Ribbon or string

Step 1

You will need to sketch the outline of a fire on a sheet of scrap paper. I used Google Images for some inspiration. The best part is that fires are ever changing so you can throw perfection out the window and have fun with it!

Start with the outermost line. This will be the largest part of your fire. – Circle 1

Once you have that the main outline drawn, draw a smaller version of your flame inside – Circle 2.

Repeat one more time to draw a third, smallest, flame outline – Circle 3.

You should have three flame outlines on your sheet.

Step 2

Cut out the flame outline of Circle 1 only.

Use the cutout as a stencil on top of the red paper. Trace the flame, then cut the shape from the red paper.

Step 3:

Repeat the steps above for the remaining flame outlines (2 & 3).

Circle 2 – Orange paper

Circle 3 – Yellow paper.

You should now have three flame cutouts

Step 4

Stack the three flames together in the following order

• Bottom: Red
• Middle: Orange
• Top: Yellow

Once you like the way the flames look, secure them together with a glue stick or tape. I used double sided tape because I had it on hand. A glue stick may have been better because it would have been easier to secure all the wisps of flame down.

Step 5

Snip a hole on each side of the flames horizontally from each other. Tie your string or ribbon to each hole to create a “necklace” as pictured below.

I used twine because it reminded me of wood but it was scratchy and I think a ribbon or softer string would have been more comfortable.

Step 6

Now that you have completed the fire necklace, you can dress yourself to complement the color of fire.

Luckily I happen to own one orange sweater. I basically wear it every Halloween and it was the perfect shirt to throw on last minute. I think red, yellow, brown or black or white would work just fine as well.

Orange or brown pants would have been fun to add but I don’t own either so jeans it was. I like to think the rips make them look like they got singed by the flames

And there you have it. This is how I pulled together a last-minute DIY fire costume to pair perfectly with my little fireman

Side note: I have long since given up on trying to get my kids to wear things that I like. My son’s fire costume is a combination of Old Navy firefighter pajamas and the hat from Paw Patrol’s Marshall costume. Pick your battles.

Happy Halloween! Enjoy your trick-or-treating!

As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made from some the links in this post (at no additional cost to you).  – (disclosure)

The post Last-Minute DIY Fire Costume first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Last-Minute DIY Fire Costume appeared first on A Family Inspired.

Needless to say, trucks have become a major part of our lives so naturally, trucks were the inspiration behind last year’s family construction zone Halloween costume.

Here is how you can create the same family construction costume.

Family Construction Costume Members:

• Truck/Digger
• Construction Crew
• Traffic Cone

The Truck (or Digger)

• Components
  • Truck/Digger Costume
  • Hard hat
  • Jeans

I like to think of the truck as the star of the costume. There are a variety of digger or truck costumes to choose from. You can purchase one or go the DIY route like the examples below

Store Bought:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from the links in this post – (additional disclosure)

DIY Digger Costumes:

If you want to get creative and make the digger yourself, here is a little inspiration to get you started:

DIY Digger/Backhoe/Tractor Costume and DIY Easy Paw Patrol Rubble Digger Costume

The Crew

We kept this pretty easy for ourselves by dressing in jeans and simply wearing a reflective vest and yellow hat. Of course, you can play around and accessorize as much as you like!

• Components
  • Construction vest
  • Hard hat
  • Jeans
  • (Optional) tool belt

---

(Optional) Store-Bought Construction Outfit

If any of your little ones want to be part of the construction crew there are ready-made kits complete with all the fun accessories.

The Traffic Cone

I had trouble finding a child-sized traffic cone costume so I decided to make my own.

• Components
  • DIY Traffic Cone Hat (directions below)
  • Orange clothes like this or this

DIY Traffic Cone Costume Directions

• Supplies:
  • Plastic orange cheerphone
  • White tape (or paint)
  • Foam board
  • Orange paint
  • Hot glue
  • Ribbon or string
  • Scissors

• Trace the outline the cone’s larger end on the foam board and cut out the middle of the board

• Paint the base orange and allow to dry

• Assemble the pieces:
• Insert the cone through the foam board and seal together with hot glue
• Tape (or paint) white strip around cone (about 1/3 of the way down)
• Puncture holes in foam board at the base of the cone and knot ribbon through each hole to create straps

How did we do??

If you prefer an adult traffic cone costume, there are more to choose from like these options below:

As you can see, there are several options when it comes to pulling together a family construction costume.

Our Halloween costumes are usually a mix of DIY and store-bought items.

Have fun with it!

The post Family Construction Costume first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Family Construction Costume appeared first on A Family Inspired.

Everything we heard was right. Dutch Wonderland is totally worth the trip, especially if you live in the North East!

From taking a walk through time at the Prehistoric Path to steering our own cars on the Turnpike, we had so much fun.

There are so many reasons Dutch Wonderland is the perfect amusement park for young families.

[If you already know how great Dutch Wonderland is, click here to be directed straight to discounted Dutch Wonderland tickets.

Preview Night

Have you heard of Dutch Wonderland’s preview option? Dutch Wonderland allows ticket holders to visit the park for the last three hours of the evening before their full-day visit.

First-time visitors, like ourselves, can use the bonus hours to get a lay of the land and plan how they want to spend the following day. Veteran guests can simply score more time at their favorite attractions.

Because of our late arrival to Lancaster, we were only able to take advantage of the last 45 minutes of our preview night. I imagined the rides would begin turning us away a few minutes before closing. But to our surprise, the operators happily allowed us to board until the very last minute of the park’s opening. The same was true the following evening.

Convenient (and Sparkling) Rider Height System

Outside the castle entrance stands a helpful chart to measure your child. The chart creatively designates your child’s height by gemstone and is adorned with sparkling faux stones. Colton was emerald and Tighe was aquamarine.

The height charts are clearly positioned in front of each ride. I loved how large the charts were. Their size made it easy for us to check the height requirement from a distance before asking our boys if they were interested in riding.

Rides For The Whole Family

One of my favorite things about Dutch Wonderland is how many rides we were able to go on as a family. Our family loves carnivals because of all the kiddy rides. But we learned this summer that while Colton is happy to ride by himself, Tighe is not.

Dutch Wonderland has a bunch of rides for kids and parents. Without a doubt, this made our visit more enjoyable!

Our favorite family rides were:

• Balloon Chase
• Wonderland Special
• Off-Road Rally
• Monorail
• Turnpike
• Gondola Cruise

Variety of Amusements

My husband and I kept saying that Dutch Wonderland is so great because it has something for everyone.

Featuring over 35 rides, Duke’s Lagoon water play area, live performances, the Prehistoric Path, carnival-like games, character breakfasts, Royal Friends meet and greets, and 20 places to grab a bite, there is no doubt that every member of the family will find something to enjoy.

Family-Friendly Accommodations

As it is, life with little kids can be stressful. Add hot sun, missed naps, over-excited children, and things can get even more overwhelming. But thankfully, Dutch Wonderland is well-versed in the challenges that may arise from spending a day at the amusement park with young kids.

These are some of the not-so-little accommodations Dutch Wonderland offers to make the day more enjoyable:

• Child-height toilet and sink in restroom
• Mother’s Nursing Station equipped with rocking chairs, privacy curtains, sink and changing table
• Convenient vertical water re-filling station
• Awnings and fans over ride lines
• Stroller-friendly grounds and stroller parking near each ride
• Ample shady areas and benches
• Largely smoke-free grounds

Rides That Showcase The Park

A few of the rides we enjoyed served as mini-“tours” of the park. These had tracks that navigated around other attractions which provided views of the park that we had not yet discovered.

Some of the rides that showcase the Dutch Wonderland grounds and attractions are:

• Wonderland Special (Train)
• Monorail
• Gondola Cruise
• Turnpike
• Sky Ride

Food Around Every Corner

With so much to do, guests are bound to work up an appetite. As such, Dutch Wonderland offers several dining options from snack stands, like Dippin’ Dots, to full-service spots like Merlin’s Restaurant.

In addition to classic amusement park food, we were able to order fresh paninis from Bean Sprouts at the Mill Stream Eatery, which serves healthy meal options for kids and adults.

Guests are welcome to bring one water bottle per person but outside food is not permitted in the castle walls. I am used to packing snacks for the boys to hand out quickly. So admittedly, it would have been nice to be able to bring some of our own food into the park.

However, it was not a big deal and we were very happy with all of the food we purchased. That being said, if guests prefer to pack their own lunch and snacks, a large, shaded picnic area is conveniently provided just outside the castle doors.

The Perfect Size for Families

At 43 acres, Dutch Wonderland is the perfect size amusement park for young families. We found this to be the case because it is not too small to get bored nor too large to be overwhelming. Guests can cover a lot of ground in one day but can just as easily entertain themselves for multiple days.

Even in the height of the summer season we only had to wait on two lines. Additionally, the park was not over stimulating or noisy.

Family Favorites

Dutch Wonderland has so much to offer and our family had a few favorites:

• Prehistoric Path
  • Aside from the fact that Colton is obsessed with dinosaurs, the Prehistoric Path is very impressive. The dinos are life-like and the attraction feels as though you are truly in the Jurassic Period.
• Off-Road Rally
  • The boys love trucks so it is no surprise that we rode this monster-truck attraction multiple times.
• Duke’s Dozers
  • Little boys get to ride pint-size bull dozers, need I say more?
• Turnpike
  • The ride allows guests to “drive” a car around the park (anyone notice a theme, here? #boymom)

Until Next Time…

With 43 acres of family amusements, Dutch Wonderland has so much to offer that we are already thinking about our next visit.

Here are a few of the things we look forward to experiencing in the future:

• Sky Ride
  • Offers a scenic route of the park from above!
• Duke’s Lagoon water play area
  • Duke’s Lagoon includes a toddler area and multi-level play platform as well as kid-sized slides.
• Old Mill Stream Campground
  • The Old Mill Stream Campground offers modern camping amenities steps from the Dutch Wonderland castle doors.
• Merlin’s Mayhem
  • Introduced in 2018, it is Dutch Wonderland’s first suspended roller coaster. The new coaster takes guests through an enchanted journey in search of Merlin’s new dragon friend, Mayhem, who has flown into the park.

See For Yourself

After exploring Dutch Wonderland, it is no surprise that it has repeatedly been voted “One of the Top 5 Best Kids’ Parks in the World” by Amusement Today magazine.

If you are looking for a little family getaway or a great amusement park for young kids, Dutch Wonderland is absolutely worth a visit.

Dutch Wonderland Discount

You can save $5 off each ticket by using this link for discounted Dutch Wonderland tickets or using the promo code summerblog19.( The promo code is valid until the end of their summer season on 10/13/19).

[We were not compensated for this post and do not receive any commission when you purchase tickets using the coupon code or discount link. We did receive complimentary tickets in exchange for sharing our experience. We paid for our expenses inside the park. All opinions are our own.]

The post Dutch Wonderland – The Perfect Amusement Park for Young Families first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Dutch Wonderland – The Perfect Amusement Park for Young Families appeared first on A Family Inspired.

We know that promises are intended to hold weight. Whether we make one to someone else or someone makes one to us, we expect it to be fulfilled.

When we keep our promises we let the recipients know that they can rely on us. They can trust that we will live up to what we say. They know that we care about them.

We may not always be in the mood to live up to the promises we make when the time comes, but if we care about the relationship, we do what it takes to fulfill the promise.

Yet, when we make a promise to ourselves we often don’t put the same pressure on ourselves to live up to it.

Why don’t we care about letting ourselves down?

I recently read an motivational book called Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. The book discusses this concept in great detail and it challenged me to think question how serious I am about the promises I make to myself.

I thought about how many times I have told myself “I will go for a run, tomorrow.” “I will skip dessert, tomorrow.” “I will fold the laundry, later.”

Three months ago, Rachel Hollis shared a post on Instagram that elaborated on this concept with a challenge.

The challenge was to make a promise to yourself for 30 days and NOT break it no matter what. It could be as small as using one-less sugar packet in your coffee or waking up five minutes earlier than usual to set an intention for the day. 

The point of the challenge wasn’t the size of task. The point was to commit to keeping a promise to yourself.

To prove that you are capable of being as reliable to yourself as you are to others.

A good way to do this is to start with something small that you feel confident you can push yourself to do (or not do) each day. I chose 25 squats because I knew it would take less than two minutes.

I understood the importance of starting with an “easy” promise when we were faced with seven doctors appointments, three ER visits, and one trip to urgent care in a two week stretch.

Despite the rocky days, I convinced myself to find a minute to do my squats each day. At the end of the month I was encouraged by my ability to commit to myself. It was an empowering feeling and I decided to make a bigger promise the following month.

I have been making fitness-related promises. The first month I just wanted to prove I could do it. The second month, I wanted to prove I could commit to something a bit more challenging. As I finish my third month, I actually look forward to my exercise. I have started to view it less as a promise and more of a habit.

I feel like this 30-day challenge is changing my life. Not because my specific promise is life-altering, but because knowing that I can keep my word to myself, is.

Have you struggled with keeping a promise to yourself ? Consider starting a personal challenge.

If 30 days seems too much, try a week. If even that seems too much. Just try one day.

If you can make it through one day, you can draw on that accomplishment as proof that you can do it the next day.

Please let me know if you start your own challenge!

The post The Power of Keeping a Promise to Yourself first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post The Power of Keeping a Promise to Yourself appeared first on A Family Inspired.

Mission Belt

We saw these belts on Shark Tank a few years ago and now most of the men in our family own at least one. Joel has a few in different colors. Mission belts are great because of their unique ratcheting design. The creative design allows individuals to easily and discreetly loosen or tighten the belt in small increments

Magnetic Wristband for Holding Bits & Tools

I bought one of these magnetic wristbands for Joel a few Christmases ago. He has told me they come in so handy, especially when he is doing something on a wall or ceiling. It helps keep important nails, screws, and bits easily accessible.

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

We love a good family dance party. Our bluetooth speaker lets us keep the party going no matter where we are. Jam out in the kitchen, backyard, bathroom, anywhere your guy’s heart (or kid’s) desires. The speaker is weather-proof and can play continuously for up to 24 hours on a single charge! We especially love how it keeps sticky toddler hands off of our phones while we listen to music.

Klean Kanteen Insulated Tumbler

We have been huge fans of Klean Kanteen since my first little blog in 2009 about my endeavor to live a “greener” lifestyle. We still use our Klean Kanteen’s from 10 years ago and continue to add more to our collection as their product line expands.

These insulated tumblers are our FAVORITE. We use them every day all year round. They keep our drinks super cold for hours. Whether the man in your life enjoys beer, smoothies, lemonade or plain old ice water, these tumblers will keep his beverage super cold for hours. We also purchased the lids for use with metal straws in addition to the basic sipping lid that comes with the tumbler.

Slim Wallet

When I hit up the men in my life about their favorite possessions under $50, they ALL said a slim wallet was one of them. Apparently it’s a game changer. So obviously, it made my list of last-minute Father’s Day gift ideas. This slim wallet comes in 25 colors and is RFID blocking.

Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

I received a pair of wireless earbuds for Mother’s Day and to put it dramatically, they have changed my life. When you cut the cord between your phone and headphones you will never want to go back. These bluetooth earbuds have 4+ stars and 3,000+ reviews on Amazon. They are sweat proof and can even survive being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes.

If you want to create a little bundle gift, you can pair these headphones with a few months of an Audible or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.

Polarized Sunglasses

Whether or not your guy already has a pair of sunglasses, these polarized aviators are an affordable backup to his favorite pair but will serve him just as well as his one and only. These glasses come in a variety of colors and feature the quintessential aviator style to let him relive the Top Gun fantasies of his childhood.

Portable Car Jump Start

Say bye-bye to jumper cables and awkwardly approaching strangers to help restart a dead battery in random parking lots. My husband received a portable car jump start for Christmas and loves how compact it is. Charge it up and stow it away in a small corner of your car. It will be ready to give him the boost he needs whether it is his car battery or cell phone that needs charging.

Portable Phone Charger

Let’s be honest, our cell phones have become our lifelines. And when they run out of battery we basically feel like we’re missing a part of our bodies. While the portable car jumper I mentioned about can charge your cell phone in a pinch, no one wants to lug that around with them to the office.

Having a small portable battery backup that can easily be tossed in a bag not only allows your guy to keep surfing the web but also helps him stay reachable in an emergency (or, you know, if you just want to find out if he’ll be home for dinner).

Backpack

I have clear memories of my father’s brown leather briefcase but styles are changing and depending on your guys’ line of work, it’s becoming more common for men to carry their laptop and docs in simple backpacks instead of the traditional briefcase. It also frees up their hands and can double as a carry on, overnight, or diaper bag.

This backpack has 4+ stars on Amazon with more than 4,000 reviews. Remember that portable cell charger I just suggested? This backpack also has an external USB port with built-in charging cable to give easy access directly to your battery backup like the one above.

Gym/Overnight Duffle

Joel received a Nike duffle bag as a groomsmen gift and loves it. He says it’s the perfect fit for his gym gear or an overnight stay when we go out of town.

It believe this is a newer model as it has a separate compartment to keep dirty shoes or clothes away from the clean stuff. It comes in a few different colors as well.

So there you have it. I hope my last-minute Father’s Day gift ideas under $50 will help spark a little inspiration for the men in your life.

And remember, if you are running out of time (or money), everything on my list is under $50 and ships for free with Amazon Prime so you still have a few days to order!

Whether you are celebrating a biological father, stepfather, adoptive father, father-in-law, grandfather, dear uncle, etc. Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful men in this world!

The post Last-Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas – Under $50 first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Last-Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas – Under $50 appeared first on A Family Inspired.

I have always wanted to become a mother and when I was finally gifted the opportunity, I poured myself into it. Three years later, I am realizing that the woman I was before motherhood got buried a little too deep beneath my surface.

I am on a personal mission to dig her out, dust her off, and find out what she looks like these days.

One thing I have already learned about the “me” deep inside is that I am looking to build a life driven by inspiration. I want to push myself to grow and live each of my days with intention.

This is where A Family Inspired comes in. I have built this site to be a home for my inspiration. Motherhood and writing are two of the things that bring me the greatest joy and are the catalyst for this blog. My About Me page elaborates on what fuels me and what I hope to share here.

I know that growth requires challenging oneself and doing things that feel scary. This feels scary so it seems like a good place to start.

If you find joy here I hope you will stick around.

The post Welcome to A Family Inspired first appeared on A Family Inspired.

The post Welcome to A Family Inspired appeared first on A Family Inspired.