• Oh So Heavenly

    Stopping the clock with Oh So Heavenly

    So I’m almost 40 years old. No, this is not an exaggeration. My birthday, this year, has me knee deep in feelings and I don’t know how to make it stop! I must admit, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time, looking in the mirror and wondering when the mommy bags under my eyes decided to make permanent residency on my face. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never had a legit skin care regime simply because I didn’t think I needed to have one. But this year – oh this year – everything’s changing! And fortunately, Oh So Heavenly has decided to help me “stop the clock” with their delicious range of skin care and facial treatments. And since it’s my birthday, we’ve got a hamper to give away to one of you too! Eeeek!

    Turn back the clock on ageing
    You guys, the Oh So Heavenly Stop The Clock range is divine! Besides for the pretty packaging (Mother’s Day gift, anyone?) and amazing scent, it is also clinically proven to reduce wrinkle depth by up to 15% and improves skin firmness by up to 16%. The range is specially formulated for dry and/or mature skin. The Anti-Wrinkle Complex actually helps to replenish moisture and reduce the signs of wrinkles. With extracts of Argan Oil, Shea Butter, Flower Extract Complex and Avocado, these babies help to increase elasticity in your skin, while keeping it hydrated and fabulous looking.

     

    I’ve been using it for the past month and immediately feel a difference on my skin. I love that the Stop The Clock Facial Wash doesn’t leave my skin dry. The Stop The Clock Eye Cream reduces the appearance of mommy-luggage (under the eyes) and the lifting and tightening active ingredients works within 5 minutes to give your eyes a more radiant appearance!

    I am totally enjoying the Stop The Clock Day and Night Creams. The night cream boosts cell regeneration and replenishes skin overnight. The day cream has SPF 15 against UVA and UVB sun rays and provides long lasting hydration.

    Stopping the clock with Oh So Heavenly

    Find your perfect balance!
    I also tried out the Oh So Heavenly Healthy Balance range. This rich product smells like something I’d like to eat please (it’s the coconut, blame the coconut) and contains milk proteins, omegas and vitamins. The range – filled with good stuff, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Prebiotics and Coconut Extract – has been specially formulated for normal and combination skin.

    My faves in the range include the Healthy Balance 3-in-1 Spa Facial which can be used as a balancing mask, exfoliating scrub and deep cleansing face wash. I’m also a huge fan of the 3-in-1 Facial Wipes. So legit! The range also contains a night cream, day cream, facial beauty bar and a face wash

    Something for everyone!
    I love that the Oh So Heavenly skin care range caters for everyone. The Oh So Heavenly Set The Tone range is specifically formulated for even skin tones. It improves skin complexion, reducing pigmentation and dark marks. The Oh So Heavenly Bye-Bye Shine range has an Oil Control Complex that reduces shine, to mattify skin. With ingredients such as Green Tea, Grapeseed and Aloe Vera, the range helps to prevent excess oil build up that can cause problem skin.

    It is quite easy to determine your own skin type; you just need to understand what the different skin types are:
    • Normal – soft, smooth and even skin tone with not much oil.
    • Combination – skin has an oily T-zone (the skin on the forehead, nose and chin). This may be accompanied by larger pores in this area as well. The skin on the cheeks is then drier and may even be patchy or flakey if it is exceptionally dry.
    • Oily – skin produces oil in all areas (you can pick this up by blotting the skin with a tissue in the morning). It can be caused by hereditary factors, diet, hormone levels, pregnancy or stress to name a few things.
    • Mature / Dry – skin has a low oil level and may thus feel tight and/or be flakey.
    • Sensitive – skin is irritated easily and may become inflamed or itchy.

    WIN an Oh So Heavenly skin care hamper for YOUR skin!
    Come and celebrate my birthday with me! Win an Oh So Heavenly skin care hamper, designed just for your skin. Here’s how to enter:
    1. Find the specially marked posts on either Facebook or Instagram, and tag a friend.
    2. Complete the form below
    3. Grab a bonus entry by tweeting something along these lines: You guys, @luchaewilliams over at #myspreadsheetbrain is giving away a legit Oh So Heavenly skincare hamper! #giveaway

    4. Winner announced on March 30th!

    [contact-form to=”luchaeg@gmail.com” subject=”Oh So Heavenly Giveaway”][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Which social media did you respond on? (Facebook, Instagram or both?) ” type=”text” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Want to grab a bonus entry? Share the following (or something along these lines) on Twitter: You guys, @luchaewilliams over at #myspreadsheetbrain is giving away a legit Oh So Heavenly skincare hamper! #giveaway” type=”checkbox”][/contact-form]

  • Daily devotions to make you stronger {Giveaway!}

    Once you’ve hit your 30’s, each birthday feels as if it’s the start to a new season, in my opinion. I mean, I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore, if you know what I mean. And yet I feel as if I’m only now on the path to thinking more clearly and making better decisions. I attribute a lot of that to my morning devotions. You guys, starting and ending your day right is super duper important! I have a few really cute, handbag sized devotionals that give me practical pointers and deep spiritual insights that perfectly compliment my morning routine and help me to get my mind in the right place. And guess what, friends, Christian Art Media has sent me a couple of daily devotions to make you stronger! Want to win some? Well, keep reading…

    Daily devotions to make you strongerMorning by Morning – Charles Spurgeon
    This gorgeous luxleather covered devotional is filled with 366 succinct devotions, aimed at inspiring and enriching your life. Spurgeon is a legend in his own right, well known for his depth and wisdom. If you’re looking for a one-minute devotional, this one is a definite must-have! It also makes for a really beautiful gift, with its gilt-edged pages and ribbon marker.

    Mornings with God: Prayers and Devotions for Women
    This pocket sized, brightly covered devotional is an inspiring collection of prayers and devotional thoughts, perfect for the woman on the go. Filled with practical and powerful prayers, it will help to draw you closer to the heart of God, giving you the tools you need to take on the day! If you’re looking to up your prayer game – this is a nice place to start.

    A 12-Month Guide to Better Prayer for Women
    And while we’re talking about upping our prayer life, this mini manual can also help you to do just that! It features a chapter for each month of the year, encouraging the reader to study one chapter every month, in conjunction with the Bible. By putting into practice the truths that you uncover through your daily study and application, you should find yourself fresher, stronger and more in touch with what God is saying, by the end of the year.

    One-Minute Devotions for Young Women – Mallery Larsen
    Looking to spoil a young lady in your life? This pretty, pink, faith-filled devotional is filled with practical advice and heartfelt encouragement from the word of God. Navigating through your twenties can be pretty intimidating and overwhelming. A devotional is a really clever way to help youngsters get their hearts and minds focused on the right thing, as they go about making those big twentysomething decisions! It’s also a great gift idea, with a stunning luxleather cover, gilted edges and a ribbon marker.

    These gorgeous devotionals are available in store at CUM Books or you can purchase them online.

    WIN!
    Want to get your hands on one of these? Well, it’s my birthday, celebrate with me!
    To enter simply:
    1. Make sure you’re subscribed to this blog (top right hand corner)
    2. Drop me a comment below mentioning which of these you’d love to own
    3. Grab a bonus entry by tweeting the following:
    I’ve entered the @CArtMedia @CUMBooks devotional giveaway on #myspreadsheetbrain with @luchaewilliams and I’m so excited! #giveaway

    Winners announced on my Facebook Page on March 30th.

  • Easy peasy mommy makeup with Essence {Giveaway!}

    Moms, I get it. Putting on a full face of makeup is probably on your list of things to do one day when you’re kids are old enough to move out of the house. Until then, lip gloss and eye pencil should be enough to get rid of the zombie-esque look, right? I mean, who has the time to apply copious amounts of product using 103 makeup brushes that pretty much all look the same?! Mommy makeup should be an uncomplicated thing! Well, what if I told you that it’s not that difficult, yo. And it doesn’t have to take you 20 minutes to look like a superstar. To prove this to you, my friends over at Essence has agreed to help me help you uhh… help yourself. AND they are giving away a fabulous make up hamper to one lucky mama!

    How I do my mommy makeup with Essence
    When you fall out of bed in the morning, reaching for coffee and a toothbrush at the same time, putting on foundation is probably the last thing on your mind. I love that the Essence All I need concealer palette and Essence Stay All Day foundation is uncomplicated and so easy to use. Seriously though, on most days I even use my fingers to apply! If you’re looking at the concealer palette with a confused heart, please know that yes, the green part really does look green on your skin. But that’s the cleverness of it, yo! The green shade hides redness. Beige covers imperfections, pink hides tired skin and the yellow conceals under eye shadow. So clever. I apply dabs of the concealer to my skin first, before applying the Stay All Day foundation (which lasts for 16 hours, you guys!)

    Easy peasy mommy makeup with EssenceI then get into the seriously pretty Essence All About That Nudes eye shadow palette. This palette has an array of shimmering, long lasting nudes in various tones. I love that Essence gives us super moms (amateur makeup artists) instructions on how to use their product. I apply the lightest shade to my brow and the top of my eyelid. The medium colors go on the upper eyelid, blended in to form a nice gradient. The darker colors would be used on my eyelid crease on the outer eye. Hows that for impressive! And I’m not evens a YouTube beauty blogger!

    I use the Essence Blush Play sculpting palette in shade 10 Play It Peach, to make my otherwise zombie looking palour a bit more pleasing to the eye. Again, the Essence team has made my life easier by actually engraving instructions on the pressed powders. How cool! The highlight section is used to create a soft glow. The define section is used to accentuate the cheeks and the sculpt section is added to the cheek bones as a hint of color.

    My favorite Essence products are the long lasting eye pencil and their range of amazing mascaras. Seriously guys, the Essence mascara is my friend. This time around I gave the Essence Lash Princess false lash effect mascara a go and I am super duper impressed! I also used their Essence Make Me Brow eyebrow gel mascara to make my eyebrows match, somewhat. (They secretly hate each other, I’m convinced).

    To finish the look I use two Essence lippies. I don’t have to, but I love the look and longevity of these two together. The Essence Ultra Last instant lip color goes on really smoothly and the color is intense. The Essence Matt Matt Matt lip gloss is a long lasting matte effect gloss that comes in the most gorgeous colors! I’m a fan!

    And that’s that. What do you moms think? Is this something you could try at home? Well, guess what, Essence would like to help you with that! We are giving away a fabulous Essence makeup hamper to the value of R500, as part of my March birthday giveaway month. That’s right! It’s my birthday and I want you to celebrate with me! Whoop whoop!

    To enter, simply check out the corresponding post on either Instagram or Facebook, and tag a friend to let them in on the sweeeeet deal! Once done, complete the entry below so that I can know where to contact you, if you win! Aaaack! Winners of all my March birthday giveaways will be announced on my Facebook page on March 30th.

    [contact-form to=”luchaeg@gmail.com” subject=”Essence competition”][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Which social media did you respond on? (Facebook, Instagram or both?)” type=”text” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Want to grab a bonus entry? Share the following on Twitter: Aack! I’ve entered the fab @essence_za competition with @luchaewilliams and #myspreadsheetbrain! #giveaway ” type=”checkbox”][/contact-form]

  • LG Sapience Top Loader

    All about my LG Sapience Top Loader with Smart Inverter

    LG Sapience Top LoaderIf you have small children or a large family, you’re probably intimately acquainted with your washing machine. My washing machine is my best friend. It helps that it’s a LG Sapience Top Loader with Smart Inverter though. I mean, I don’t mean to humble brag, but my best friend is pretty amazing!

    For starters, it has a bunch of really cool features that makes it so much MORE than just another washing machine. The Smart Inverter Technology eliminates wasted operation by efficiently controlling energy use. It also offers Smart Motion which offers 3 kinds of motions: ‘Agitating’ for powerful washing, ‘Rotating’ for tangle free washing and ‘Swing’ for a more delicate wash.

    LG Sapience Top LoaderThe Turbo Drum™ enables the most powerful wash and removes even the toughest stains and the Punch+3 washing power creates powerful streams of water to help mix laundry up and down repeatedly for even washing result.

    The Auto Pre Wash came in so handy, allowing me to soak my super dirty clothing, before automatically kicking in to ‘agitating’ power wash. This can actually be put on a cycle (soak – wash – soak – wash) for stubborn stains. And all you need to do is press a button! I must admit, I appreciated that the Smart Inverter Motor minimizes noise and vibration… especially when I’m doing washing at 11pm, after putting the kids to bed!

    LG Sapience Top LoaderWater smart
    In light of our current water crisis, be water smart when doing your washing! Here are some tips on how you can do that:
    1. Make sure your machine is fully loaded, instead of washing small batches of laundry. If you only have a few items (hand wash?) adjust your settings to the smallest capacity.
    2. Consider skipping the extra rinse option. Make sure you’re using the right amount of washing powder.
    3. Wash more than one load of washing in the same water, by stopping the wash cycle before the rinse cycle starts.
    4. Collect grey water in a bucket (or in your bath) and use it for the toilet, to water the garden etc.

    If you’d like to know more about my 15kg LG Sapience Top Loader with Smart Inverter, visit the website.

    Disclaimer: The LG Sapience Top Loader was sent to me but all content and images are my own. 

  • Opalescence

    On the move with Opalescence Go

    OpalescenceI was so excited when Opalescence Go sent me one of their teeth whitening kits. I mean, I love coffee. But I’m not a fan of the yellow-tinge on my teeth, after a few cups of java. Coffee, and other highly acidic foods and drinks, are the main culprits behind the discoloration of teeth. If you love sweets, fizzy drinks, red and white wine and citrus, this may not be good news for you. But, fear not! I come with glad tidings of great joy! Opalescence Go promises to restore your smile back to it’s former glory, one pre-filled whitening tray at a time!

    Opalescence Go is a simple, quick way to start a whitening treatment. This ‘wake up and go’ kit requires no impressions or custom trays. I mean, besides for checking with your dentist if your gums are healthy enough to withstand a teeth whitening treatment, you literally can get those pearly whites, well, pearly white again, in the comfort of your own home.

    The Opalescence Go kit contains ready to go disposable trays that you can use right out of the package. The disposable trays are loaded with the Opalesence tooth whitening gel which contains potassium nitrate and fluoride. These ingredients help to reduce cavities, minimize sensitivity and increases the enamel hardness of your teeth.

    How you use it
    So once you’ve found the Opalescence Go product that best suites your needs and budget, you simply apply the tray to your teeth (it adapts and is flexible) and gently bite down to help bond the gel overlay to your teeth. Once you’re happy with the fit, remove the tray, and you’re left with a snug cover on your teeth. I found it comfortable and I could actually still have a conversation while wearing it.

    The kit I received required me to wear the tray for 60 minutes, for about 5 – 10 days, before I would see results. Opalescence actually has a bunch of different kits to suite your lifestyle and needs. They also come in a variety of flavors – peach, melon and mint. The kits are available in 10% and 15% hydrogen peroxide concentrations. I did notice a definite change in my teeth’s appearance. In fact, my teeth felt cleaner after the first application… I mean, if it’s possible for your teeth to feel clean. I  used the Opalescence whitening toothpaste afterwards to maintain and prolong my newly found bright, healthy smile.

    Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Opalescence South Africa. 

  • Bubiroo

    Bath time with Bubiroo

    BubirooBath time around our parts are quite a mission. I mean, for starters, there are now two squirmy little bodies to clean and the two-year age gap means nothing because the littlest one is just as active as the bigger one is. They just don’t sit still! We still have fun, none the less. Kari loves introducing Jo to our “lotions and potions” regime. She got really into it, the other day, when I added Bubiroo to our regular pamper session.

    You guys, Bubiroo has really impressed me! I mean, besides for the fact that owner, Dorae, is an actual qualified Naturopath and Homeopath (so she knows what she’s doing, yo). The Bubiroo product is 100% natural, handmade with love, and free of all the junk you would find in commercial baby products. That’s right, it’s preservative free and does not contain chemicals, artificial fragrances or coloring, mineral oils, parabens, petroleum sulfates or nut oil. And guys, I know you usually expect to spend a lot on all natural products but these are really well priced!

    The baby wash and shampoo contains marula, mandarin and may chang and smells really clean. (I know, I’m so descriptive). What I mean is that most baby washes has a sweet scent, but I liked that the Bubiroo wash is almost fragrance free. It also doesn’t foam like normal washes because it does not contain sodium laureth sulfate. 100% goodness! I haven’t tried it out on Kari’s mop of curls, but it did the job on Jo’s hair. His hair did not feel coarse or sticky afterwards (as I expected it to).

    BubirooThe baby wax is the best thing in the world! It contains a whole bunch of amazingness such as coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, calendula oil, ylang ylang, marula seed oil (and the beat goes on). The consistency is a bit hard to the touch (because of the coconut oil), so you would need to warm it up by rubbing some between your hands, before applying. It’s such a great product for baby massages and rubs. I am a huge fan! Kari enjoys digging into it and rubbing the wax between her little hands. It’s actually a double score for me, because I don’t have to worry about copious amounts of lotion being slathered all over my bedding!

    BubirooThe baby bum balm is probably one of my favorite Bubiroo products. Jonah has fortunately been nappy rash free so I’ve never felt the need to cover his little bottom with thick, overly medicated bum creams. I mean, I want his skin to breath, while still being protected. This is the perfect product for that. And again, because it contains coconut oil you need to warm it up first before application, but once applied it goes on like a thin layer of ointment and smells great!

    Talking about ointment, Kari refers to the Bubiroo products as her “ointment” because she loves the smell and she says it makes her “better”. And how right she is! If you’d like to get your hands on some Bubiroo products check out the Facebook page for more information or drop them an email. Moms, if your kids have overly sensitive skin, chat with Dorae. She’ll put together a product tailor made just for you and your kid!

  • HICH

    HICH South Africa – a fashionable way to teach your kids about animal cruelty

    HICH

    When it comes to kids fashion, I’m pretty sure my children dress better than I do. Can you feel me, moms? We sure do love dressing our kids up! And with the large selection of boutiques and kiddies brands popping up, we’re okay with spending that hard earned cash on the latest trends too. What if I told you that you are able to spend money on a funky item of clothing for your kid AND help to raise awareness about animal cruelty, at the same time? Well, this is exactly what HICH South Africa had in mind when the brand launched in December 2017.

    The local mother-daughter trio (headed by mom, Nicky) are passionate about the well-being of animals. HICH was actually born when founding member, Melissa, was planning her son’s 1st birthday party. In lieu of traditional gifts, guests were asked to bring a bag of dog food to donate to the local animal shelter for a #bekindtoanimals themed celebration at an animal farm. HICH South Africa was birthed shortly afterwards and officially launched into the online market on 15 December 2017.

    I love the heart behind this business! I mean, I’d much rather have my kid wear something that can influence society for the greater good, than have her wear a tshirt that says something totally mindless and narcissistic. The HICH tshirt designs are fun and quirky – thanks to team member, Lisa – and the fit is great!

    From the website:
    The reason behind HICH is quite simple. George Thorndike Angell once said, “I am sometimes asked, ‘Why do you spend so much of your time and money talking about kindness to animals when there is so much cruelty to men?’ I answer, ‘I am working at the roots”. This is exactly what HICH is all about! The brand aims to support local and national animal shelters as well as wildlife organisations. Individual support has also been given as HICH aims to help all animals in need, big or small.

    HICH South AfricaI’ve taken this opportunity to once again teach my kid more about animal cruelty and how to be a kinder human being. If you’re looking to do the same, check out the ultra cool designs on the HICH South Africa online store.

  • school

    First day back at school had me going Crazi Erazi {Win a set!}

    You guys, I sometimes wonder if my children do things just to taunt me. Like, for instance, when it’s the end of their first day back at school and I ask how it went. Their answer to everything is: “Okay”. (Insert manic eye twitch here) Okay? Just okay? Details!! I want details! Graphs! Illustrations! Just “okay” doesn’t cut it. Anyone feel me? When it comes to my kids schooling, I get very, very involved. Kyle is 16 and in Grade 11 this year and I still mark every pen and pencil, I cover every book myself (I know, don’t side eye me) and I make sure that the bag is packed. Did I mention that Kyle is 16 and in Grade 11? Fortunately, this year Crazi Erazi has been some sort of a distraction, because I can’t get enough of these mini sized pencil erasers. These bite sized erasers are the new collectible craze and to celebrate your child’s first day back at school (and all the madness that goes with it) we’re giving away three sets of Crazi Erazis on the blog! Yay!

    So Crazi Erazi is a new mini collectable series, featuring some of South Africa’s best loved stationery products. That’s right, there’s a mini Pritt, a mini 2 quire hardcover book and even a mini Mondi ream of paper. Aack! Too much for my heart to handle! How cute is this?

    Crazi EraziThe full Crazi Erazi collection consists of 13 erasers (and yes, they really do work). The erasers can be purchased at a variety of participating retailers and stationers for only R6.99 each. There’s a really cute plastic collector box (which your kid can use as a pencil case) which retails at R39.99.

    I like that each eraser is packaged in a foil bag… gives it that extra hint of excitement, before your kid rips it open. This is also a really cool campaign to encourage children to meet up with friends to swop and compare collections. Did I mention that these mini’s are super duper cute?! Because they so are! The campaign runs until end of January and you can pick your erasers up at one of the following participating stores: Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Game, Makro, CNA, West Pack Lifestyle, Office National, Inovocom and select independent stationers.

    What do you think about the Crazi Erazi collection?

    Win a Crazi Erazi set for your little one! 
    Crazi Erazi is giving away THREE eraser sets to THREE fabulous My Spreadsheet Brain readers! Whoop whoop! To enter simply follow these prompts below. Winners announced next week. Make sure to check out my Facebook page to see if you’re one of them!
    a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • cybersmart

    Get cybersmart and win R1 million in Bitcoin or cash

    cybersmart

    How cyber safe are you? This is a question I had to ask myself a few months ago, when someone tried to hack into my website, causing it to crash and be totally unresponsive for almost 2 weeks!

    I mean, you wear a safety belt when you travel by car, you lock your security gate when you enter your home, and you have insurance to protect your valuables, but how are you protecting yourself against cyber attacks… Because they’re REAL! Ask the gentleman who proposed to me online, after finding a fake profile hosting my name and pics on a marriage site. It’s time to get cyber smart, friends!

    If you’re a business owner, there should be an urgency to making sure that your computer systems, software and data are covered. King Price’s cybersure (cyber insurance for businesses) does all of this, and then some! I mean, cybersure includes cover for cyber liability, cybercrime, data breach expenses and even damage to computer systems and data, and associated loss of income.

    With the massive spike in cybercrime, it’s time to think ahead friends. In just a few clicks, your business could lose everything. Cybersure can offer assistance in the event of fraud, hacking, phishing and scamming. And hey, if a cybercriminal tries to threaten you and hold your business’ info ransom, cybersure will cover the cost for a professional team to check if the threat is valid and will also help you pay the ransom demand if it needs to be done.
    cybersmartWant to win R1 million in Bitcoin or cash?
    Cybersure is giving away R1 million in Bitcoin or cash! No jokes. Have a go at the super fun (and super addictive) cybersure game to enter this sweet giveaway! The final round will be a LIVE knockout game, and you want to be there! Just head on over to cybersure.co.za and start playing!

    Get cyber protection for your business! Contact your broker or call 0860 21 00 00. Check out the King Price Insurance website for more.

    Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by King Price Insurance. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash .

  • Spurt

    Spurt, helping us bust the toddler boredom this summer

    SpurtI love summer, you guys! And I love that I can get my littlest ones involved in the summer fun too! Kari, in particular, is only now understanding the full glory of the summer sun, summer foods and activities and days by the pool. Man, I’m in my element! I was so super chuffed when Spurt sent us some of their swimming apparel to try out. I mean, how perfect is this, right?! Spurt is the leading suppliers of swimming apparel in South Africa. The brand is loved for its innovative patterns and colours and comfortable fit, with an extensive range of accessories and swimming aids for beginners and athletes.

    I know that you’re looking for fun things to do with your toddler this summer. I mean, who isn’t?  With dwindling attention spans and the need to be kept entertained 24/7, keeping my little one busy is a challenge, yo. I found a few really cool ideas on the interweb:

    Homemade slip and slide
    Grab some plastic sheets, liquid dishwasher or bubble bath and water, to create your own slip and slide! Have your kids take turns slipping down the make shift slide, and give them points for the most imaginative slide poses.

    Fun in the pool
    Baloons filled with water, and water guns, take your pool fun to the next level. We’ve always enjoyed playing little games in the pool and we’ve found that our kids especially enjoy when we do a pool “treasure hunt”. Simply throw a few soft, plastic toys, into the pool and have them search for it.

    Ball games
    Come on friends, you know you were exceptionally skilled at playing ball games, when you were a little tike. I especially remember games like dodge ball or four square (like a four-man tennis match). Your kids won’t know these, because they don’t make em on XBox. I know, right, how old are we?!

    Eat and play… and eat
    How about having ice cream decorating competitions? Or smoothie making contests? Pizza making or waffle/pan cake decorating also guarantees hours of fun (and full bellies). Take pics, and get family members, who live far away, to be the judges.

    Concert night
    Create a fun, concert experience, in the comfort of your own back yard. Build a make shift stage, using scarfs and back drops, and have your kids (and their friends) put on a show for the adults. Don’t forget your video camera. This is what memories are made of!

    If all else fails, throw them in the pool! Make sure they are well hydrated, slathered in sun screen, and that they have their Spurt head gear, goggles, and nose guards on. Just in case. Need some help with that? Check out the Spurt website, for more on their swimming aids and accessories.

    Want to win with Spurt? Sure you do! To enter, simply comment below, letting me know how old your little one is and what you’re getting up to this summer. Winner announced on my Facebook page next Friday, January 5th.

    Update: The winner is Janine Augustus!