7th Annual Sand & Sea Festival: Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, 2013

Sand & Sea Festival
Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts
Saturday and Sunday - June 29-30, 2013


I LOVE and ADORE Salisbury Beach! I take my kids there almost daily during the summer months.  The area has undergone some significant improvements and continues to do so.  I'm really very supportive of any initiative to bring family events to the beach!  

One of my favorite summer kickoff events is The Sand & Sea Festival held every year the last weekend in June. It provides family fun for all ages with crafters and food vendors, live entertainment, kids’ activities, the ever-popular Beach Pizza Eating contest, Pet Parade and much more!

One of the highlights is Saturday night with a free outdoor concert by Entrain (SUCH A GREAT BAND!) followed by spectacular fireworks.

Here is a snapshot of the event they will be having! Be sure to check out their website for a FULL SCHEDULE of events!

3D Chalk Artist Anthony Cappetto!

Anthony will spend 3 days creating an amazing work that invites audience participation! His finished artwork will be on display throughout the weekend. Come and take pictures of your friends and children interacting with his amazing work!

 

Find out more about Anthony at artforafterhours.com

Roaming Railroad - VERY COOL FOR KIDS!

Kids (and their parents) will love this new ride at the Sand & Sea Festival!
The Roaming Railroad is a trackless train that will ride around the beach center.
Toot! Toot!

Petting Zoo and Pet Parade

Sunday will feature the popular animal events. Kids love holding and learning about different farm animals and the parade let's them show off their own animals. We do like to remind kids and parents to consider the pet's comfort when dressing them up for the parade, especially if the weather is hot. Find out more about the Pet Parade

Climbing Wall and Extreme Air Jumper

 

The portable Climbing Wall and Extreme Air Jumperwill take your children the new heights! Bring your camera or use your smartphone to upload the photos you take for family and friends to see!

 

 



Don't miss their FACEBOOK PAGE for up to date NEWS and INFORMATION about this fabulous event! See you there!

 

Books We Love - Into The Field Guide!

Into the Field Guide - A Walk on the Beach
by Laurie Goldman

I love my field guides and I am so happy to include this one in my collection - but more importantly my car - this one will be traveling with me this summer!

The Into the Field Guide, A Walk on the Beach by Laurie Goldman is the PERFECT SUMMER FIELD GUIDE!

Loaded with color photos and fun facts - this guide is SO FAMILY FRIENDLY! This guide has over 100 pages and is the perfect take-a-long for any walk on the shore with your family.

From Flotsam to Jetsam (floating and discarded objects respectively - see page 16) including driftwood and sea glass, to all things living - from the tiniest crustaceans to super sized "FIELD FACTS", here is a big one: "The largest lobster ever caught weighed more then 44 lbs and was likely more than 100 years old." (Page 43)

This guide has a little of everything - rather than bring a bird guide, a foliage guide, an insect guide, and  a seashore guide - bring this single guide (that will easily fit in a backpack, diaper bag, etc) IT HAS IT ALL!

My 'blog bestie' LOVES shells - yes, this guide has those too - whelks, moon snails, periwinkles, conchs, slippers, cockles, jingles and more! 



Image from Downtown Bookworks Publishing

I got my first Golden Guide from my grandmother - I couldn't have been more than 5 years old. In the past 40+ years I have collected quite a few - pictured are just a few of them - looks like they'll be on the bookshelf this season, I'm bringing my new guide with me - Into the Field Guide - A Walk on the Beach.

From the Publisher....."There's so much to see during a walk on the beach! The clear descriptions, neat facts and beach combing tips that fill A Walk on the Beach will enable readers to experience the seashore - from shimmering shells to magnificent shorebirds - in a whole new way!" - Downtown Bookworks

Want to get your own guide? This guide come alone or in a 'treasure box' which includes the book, a mesh bag for collecting and a magnifying glass. Check out Downtown Bookworks for more info.

Looking for just the book - click here - This amazing publication is also available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Indibound

Visit our Facebook Page for a chance to WIN this field guide....www.facebook.com/momslifesavers

*Mom's Lifesavers was provided with a free copy of Into the Field Guide - A Walk on the Beach to review. All views and opinions are 100% our own.  

www.momslifesavers.com

Strawberries - 'Tis the Season!

Mom's Lifesavers LOVES Strawberries

This is a great time of the year - strawberries are in season, kids are out of school (more help with the picking) and pinterest is loaded with strawberry everything! Even nails!




Here are some great locations to help you find places to go pick your own!

In Massachusetts: 
Massachusetts Grown and Fresher

In New Hampshire:
NH.Com - Pick Your Own

In Maine:
ME Living

In Connecticut:
CT.gov

Friends of Mom's Lifesavers have even been growing their own - check out the blog post here.

Personal Lifesaver Story - a TRUE FRIEND Rescue!

Bonnie Rocks - and this is WHY!

I want to express a very big THANK YOU and extend a GINORMOUS HUG to my co-author of this blog, BONNIE!

Bonnie and I have had one hell of a year so far - and it's just mid-June, Yikes!....so many things have happened that it's almost having us scratching our heads questioning why we must have to endure SO MANY THINGS coming at us at once!

All I know is that it's easy to help Bonnie, she is so receptive to ideas and thoughts...she values me and it makes me feel so good! ....and I realized she has been with me through my own fires of late.  She has been one of the very first phone calls I make to share catastrophe or good news, or just a listening ear to vent to.  I guess you could say, I'm so fortunate to have a friend that can endure my story as it unfolds right before my eyes.  She is on SPEED DIAL on my cell!

Even when I go silent, as I often do when I make decisions or process things, she is ALWAYS the consistent friend that will email, text and call me, until she hears SOMETHING back....she doesn't ignore me....she stays strong when I need her.  She steps up - she shows up in my life! And she tells me everything will be alright - even when our loving husbands support us along the say, Bonnie's kindness is the cherry on top for me! It's confirmation that it truly WILL be.

I guess I'm writing a public thank you to her, because she needs to know how thankful I am to her for EVERYTHING she does for me.  Her easy smile, her easy compliments and her easy advice fits me like a glove.  We just work. 

When I asked Bonnie to join me on Mom's Lifesavers, I had no IDEA that for the past month SHE WOULD BE THE BLOG.  She would nurture it like her own and I can't even begin to express my gratitude.  Each day she would tell me she had a new post and not to worry a bit about the blog....and I must say, the blog is at its all time success and it has all to do with me asking her to partner with me in my brand.  She is as much a mama to the blog as I am....she is a perfect partner in this blog!

I know she is going to cringe when she reads this...she is SO NOT into this type of public admiration.  But she is going to hear it anyway! HAHAHA!

Why wait until it's too late to show those you adore exactly how you feel! Don't wait - just do it!

So, Bonnie - You are my personal LIFESAVER!  I can't begin to tell you how much I love and adore you, my sweet, beautiful friend.  Thank you for being there for the blog when I couldn't be.

Thank you for being YOU! xxoo





 

A Mom's Lifesaver - The Fun Pass 2013

The Fun Pass 2013 by 
Breathe New Hampshire

Save over $1,500 in discounts at your favorite New England children's attractions.

Spend Time with the Family.
Have Fun.

Save Money.

TIP - Buy it!

This fun pass booklet includes discounts, 1/2 price tickets and free passes to over 100 different attractions in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont!

Does your family head to Storyland over the summer? The pass offers buy one admission get one free!

What about skiing? Most mountains are included in this booklet and offer fantastic discounts/free tickets.

For a COMPLETE LIST of participating locations check out www.breathenh.org or like them of Facebook www.facebook.com/thefunpass.

Many of the attractions that we love along the seacoast are included like - Charmingfare Farm, Seacoast Science Center , the Lost River Gorge and so much more!

Summer Survival - Ground Cover!

Picnics, beach trips, parades, camping, outings - this ground cover is a must have at a great price!

These are available at your local FiveBelow - I have one in each car and one in our camper - for under $5 these are a steal.

What makes these coverings so great is that they are water resistant and soft to the touch- put them down on wet grass and your bottom will stay dry. Use them at the beach and they stay dry AND the sand shakes right off of them.

We have even used them as a rain cover when were caught in a passing shower and as a simple tablecloth to cover a not so clean picnic table at the park.

They wash up great in a regular cycle wash and air drying them keeps them in great shape for many years of use.

TIP - My son's class goes on a lot of field trips out in nature - I brought one of these along and the teachers loved them - I ended up getting several for the class to use - a big hit!

Books We Love - How Chipmunk Got His Stripes

Native American Folk Story About Teasing and Bragging
How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph and James Bruchac

I am honored to be invited to my my niece's first grade classroom as a mystery reader this week.

I was asked to bring a read a loud book that I could share with the class and this is what I chose.

This tale is wildly colorful with characters like Bear who is a boastful character thinks he can do anything - even keep the sun from rising. Where as, little Brown Squirrel thinks differently and chooses to taunt bear - well, as the story points out, it is not good for anyone to tease a bear. Find out how Brown Squirrel get his name 'Chipmunk' in this Native American folk story - hint, he should have listened to his grandmother!

I purchased the book and also a plush Chipmunk to give to my niece's classroom - I hope they enjoy the story as much as I do!

You can find a copy on Amazon - I have not been able to find it at the library or in one of our local stores - but it doesn't hurt to ask for it!

Summer Survival - Poison Ivy!

Poison Ivy Relief!

First off, we here at Mom's Lifesavers are not doctors - nor do we play them on TV - but we have tested, and tried all sorts of products to find relief for our family and this is what we have found to work.

The best thing to do is avoid poison ivy - always easier said than done! Sometimes you can't even figure out where you got it from, so how could you avoid it?

One great product is Tecnu, made by Tec Labs, this skin cleanser will move the oils from poison ivy and poison oak that cause the rash and itching - and even better - stops it from spreading!

Got the itch? Need relief - Calagel is great - not only for poison ivy but for sunburns and bug bites! It goes on as a thick clear gel and won't run, it actually clings to your skin - and it doesn't dry pink!

www.TecLabsInc.com offers some great info to help you navigate poison ivy - including how to identify it out in nature with this guide.

Looking for that relief all over? Try Marie's Original, 100% Natural, Handmade in the USA, poison ivy /oak soap. I got mine through Amazon here.

This natural cleanser offers herbal relief for itching as well as reduces swelling. This old school style remedy makes a great gardener's gift - perfect for Dad for after he's done with the yard work.

Mini Duck Tape - Ducklings!

Duct Tape For Crafts 
.75" x 15 feet

Perfect for Tween Crafting!

I was at A.C. Moore with my daughter (who let out a squeal of joy) when she saw these - mini rolls of decorative duct tape, by DUCKTAPE and they're made in the USA!

They are called 'ducklings' and are smaller rolls than the traditional Duck size roll of duct tape. Measuring at only .75" by 15 feet.

They come in all sots of fab colors and patterns and were under $2 each - perfect for wrapping headbands, making bracelets, embellishing notebooks and so much more.

I found some more styles on Amazon too, you can find them here.

Haven't had the duct tape bug enter your house yet - here is the official A.C. Moore website with some fun duct tape how to.

I am partial to the Duck Tape pinwheel pencil topper!

Have fun with it!

DIY - Patriotic Wreath

Simple Clothespin Wreath for Little $

This craft was inspired by www.AllYou.com - I receive their magazine and 'clipped' this pages as a craft I could see myself doing with the kids. Note - just because I clip it doesn't mean I make it - I can't tell you how many inspiration and magazine scraps are floating around my office! The link to the magazines craft is here.

Well while picking up some odds and ends I found inexpensive wooden clothes pins for $.99 a pack and decided to give it a shot.  I had various colors of spray paint at home - so I did not use the recommended acrylic paint or brushes - just an empty cardboard box that I laid the clothes pins into and sprayed to my hearts content!

We used the stickers you can get at office supply stores - or if you look hard enough in your kids sticker collection you are likely to find some you can use too. My son insisted that he stars be all silver - no messing with red or other colors - haha.

Here are our supplies:

• We used an embroidery hoop - 10" that we picked up at a craft store for $1.40 - I only used one piece of it, so I could use the other to make a second one if I wanted/needed to
• Clothes pins - more than you think - plan for some breaking on you - paint extra!
• Spray paint - I was lucky enough to find some cans in the shed that still worked.
• Stickers - we got ours at Staples for $2.
• June 21, 2013 issue of All You

Adding the clothes pins - go slow - we broke a few getting started. We started with the red and worked our way around 5 clips at a time in each color. In the end we used 15 blue ones 30 red and 30 white.

  Putting on the finishing touches - adding the stars.

We used a thin piece of wire to hang the finished wreath.

This craft went together quickly with little effort - and the kids enjoyed helping me - from getting to use the spray paint - very cool - to counting out the clips, putting it together and adding the stickers - simple, easy and family friendly.

TIP - I used navy, bright white and cherry red paint - want to give it an older more country look - use a brick red instead of the cherry and a cream color instead of the bright white.

You Can Make It! Parachute Cord Flip Flops

Flip Flops Embellished with Paracord! 
 
Here's what you need:

• Sharp scissors
• Lighter
• Paracord
• Flip Flops

We even made our first video to show you how!

You can check the video out here or we also have step by step photos below.

Let us know how yours turn out! Leave a comment - we would love to hear from you.

First measure the amount of paracord you need - you can do this by wrapping the paracord around the perimeter of the flip flop and then measure that amount out 6 times - this will give you the approximate amount you need, cut off any extra.

Next find the center point of the paracord you measured out - this will be the part you lay underneath the foot strap of the flip flop. See basic square knot above. Here is another illustration - note, with the flip flop, the foot strap acts as the 2 center cords:

Continue this square knot pattern over the entire flip flop strap.

When you get to the end, cut the paracord and use a lighter to seal/melt/set the last knot. 

TIP - Use a long handle lighter to avoid burning yourself or the flip flop.

Ice Cream - Down River

Local Treat - Down River Ice Cream... and a trail.
Rowley, Massachusetts

Looking for a new ice cream place to sample? Why not head to Down River Ice Cream located on Rt1 South in Rowley, MA.

Our family - dog included - enjoyed a wonderful scoop there this week and were very happy with the experience.

First off we fell in love with the names - many have local meaning, Mill River and Hog Island - but the best was Greenhead!

 For those of you who may have experienced these green biting flies that only seem to exist around here for a stint in the summer this ice cream flavor will give you a good laugh.

Down River even offers an ice cream made with your four legged friend in mind called Rosie's Treat and is vanilla ice cream and 2 dog biscuits.

Mine was the Mill River - huge pieces of Heath bar throughout - it was so yummy.

 Here is the hidden gem though - hiding behind the ice cream stand is a simple mulched path with this sign:

Of course we had to go check it out!

Up the path a ways and there it was ... the staircase to no where - very cool.
This started all sorts of great what ifs and do you think conversations with my crew.

So the next time you are passing through why no stop, grab a bite and sit and relax for a bite - hopefully the greenheads won't be out!

Gadgets We Love - Sandwich Sealer!

The Sandwich Sealer
Make crust-less, sealed sandwiches - the kids love these! TIP - These make great 'pocket' sandwiches for the beach & picnics!

OK - I actually like the crust and hope that one day my kids will too but for now this little gadget makes a great filled sandwich - and don't tell them but there is a little crust still left on and they eat it!

Step 1 - Super simple - add your fillings to the bread.
Step 2 - Make a sandwich. Put the sealer on the top of the sandwich.
Step 3 - Push the outer white part down - this cuts the crust.
Step 4 - Next seal it with the red inner frame
Step 5 - Remove the sealer and you have a sealed pocket sandwich!

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

A Perfectly Sealed Sandwich!

TIP - The sandwich sealer I have I got at a home goods store - I have even seen them at the Dollar Tree and on Amazon - make sure your has a  No BPA symbol!

Books We Love! The Bumpy Lumpy Horseshoe Crab

Horseshoe Crabs are Awesome!

Yes, I am partial to horseshoe crabs - I love the beach and have had the luxury of growing up near the ocean and on the river - where we have ... you guessed it, horseshoe crabs!

I found this book at our local bookstore and had to share it with you. This book, written and illustrated by Janice S. C. Petrie is also available on Amazon and is a great picture book that has a wonderful tale of a horseshoe crab that is 'litter' free - he soon realizes that a smooth clean shell may not be all its cracked up to be.


This wonderfully rhyming tale is well loved by our family - not only is this a fun picture book but it also includes some great facts about these wonderful living fossils.
 
This Spring we found plenty of horseshoe crab molts in the wrack line - they came in all sizes- you can read about them here. 

Get outside and see what you can find!

Horseshoe Crabs in Our Local River