It's Friday!!!l

Okay, the first thing I have to admit is that I am so tired tonight, I brain-farted into thinking it was Monday night... yep... and made Wayne suffer through Chick-fil-A because I told him it was kids night...

I also have to admit that I've been neglecting my Friday peeps lately... with the volunteering and everything else that is Fridays, it's been tough to find the time to blog... but I've been blogging enough to have a couple of cool giveaways going on:
$10 to your choice of Amazon, B&N, Chapters or Book Depository (WW)
$25 to Publix & 4 coupons for free Yoplait Greek 100 Yogurt (US)

Erik and I used our community pool for the first time this season with some friends today... I think he liked it:



In other news, my laptop is 2 months out of warranty ... and it's kaput... I think... I got the dreaded blue screen of death and nothing seems to rectify it... taking it in for one last go over but I think "it's dead, Jim".  Robyn's died too... but hers is under warranty... so it's gone back to Dell for a fix...

We are officially 2 weeks away from heading home to Canada for our annual trek to visit family... ready to be there... not ready to pack..

And now on to fill ins:

1. One of my best and worst traits is that I adore my family to the exclusion of keeping my house clean
2. If I could escape for a day, I’d hide away with my iPad full of new books and a never ending supply of tea!
3. The best part of my day is the quiet time after everyone else is asleep... all 12 seconds of it...
4. When I was young I thought I would never be a stay-at-home mom, but I love it.

Thirsty for Comments - a comment chain worth checking out!

Welcome to Thirsty for Comments  Get comfy, grab your favorite hot or cold beverage, link up a great post from this week (or even earlier) and visit some other great blogs to comment!
Grab our badge for your sidebar or post:
Acting Balanced
What is Thirsty for Comments?
This is a blog hop dedicated to giving good comment - please, when you are visiting, actually READ the post that is linked and make a thoughtful comment!
This is NOT a hop for "I'm here from the hop, follow me back" comments!
Link up your own SPECIFIC POST that you'd like comments on - remember - no giveaways!
*****************************************
The rules are simple -
1. Link up a SPECIFIC POST (NOT just your blog URL) that you'd like to have more comments on - NO  GIVEAWAYS or OTHER BLOG HOPS - they will be deleted
2. Visit AT LEAST THREE other blogs and READ the posts and then comment thoughtfully on the post.
Extras (nice but not required):
  • Add the Thirsty for Comments button to your post
  • Blog about Thirsty for Comments
  • Add Thirsty for Comments to your Meme List!
  • Leave a comment here on how we can improve Thirsty for Comments :)

Traveling with kids - a few ideas for inexpensive activities away from home!

This is a sponsored post

It's easy to get caught up in the thrill of high priced attractions when you are traveling with kids - and those costs add up quickly when you have a large family, so I thought I'd share a few ideas for great and inexpensive things to do:

1. Take a playground tour - google parks and playgrounds in the city or area that you are heading to and have your kids develop a rating system - you can use categories like - number/quality of apparatus, shade, age appropriateness, wait times for swings or other popular apparatus, design and more!
  • the bonus of the ratings cards is that you can sneak in some math/writing and problem solving skills into an otherwise carefree day!

2. Visit the library!  Even if you can't check out books in the town you are visiting, there are sure to be activities and events that are free or nearly free and it's a great free place on rainy days... plus, most libraries offer free wi-fi too, so you can stay current with Acting Balanced while you are away.

3. Create a scavenger hunt to explore a historical district, park or garden... this takes a bit of research ahead of time, but since the internet is your friend, you can even pull up google street views and add pictures of interesting homes or businesses, find out about local flora and fauna that you might find, find out some quirky facts about where you're headed!

4. Along the same lines, you can head out on a treasure quest - create clues that your kids can solve that get them moving and end up at the 'treasure' like an ice cream shoppe, bakery or even the book store!

5. Take a bicycle tour!  Whether you have fabulous devinci silverstone bicycle and Le Yéti gear that you travel with or you are renting bikes in your destination, biking can be a fabulous way to see a location and get some great exercise!  Many cities have designated bike paths and bike lanes that will help you maneuver around and biking lets you set your own pace and go beyond what you'd be able to see from a car or bus!

devinci silverstone

Bonus: Speaking of buses, if your destination has public transit options you can use the scavenger hunt or treasure quest ideas, or even just create a mystery tour by purchasing a transit day pass and making the journey part of the destination!

How do you have fun without spending a bundle when you travel with kids?  What great gems are there in your neck of the woods for those of us who might travel on a budget?

Wordless Wednesday - More from the SC Aquarium







Please link up your ww posts here:


May There Always Be Books Giveaway Hop! Win $10 to Amazon, B&N, Chapters or Book Depository


This hop is hosted by Literary Addicts and is from May 20 at 12:00am – May 31 @11:59pm EST.

Acting Balanced is giving away your choice of one: $10 Amazon, $10 B&N, $10 Chapters or $10 (US) in books from the Book Depository



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow the Hop


Monday Quiz About Me - a great way to start your week! #MQAM

Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me - hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic - sorry it's late getting up and last week was missing, but it's been crazy busy here at Never-Stay-At-Home mom headquarters... and my computer died tonight so I am on Robyn's...  Wayne is still on hiatus...

Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered! Grab the badge for your post if you like:



Acting Balanced

Here are the Questions:


1. May is National Asparagus Month - do you like it?  Haves a favorite recipe?
2. May is also National Salad month... what's your favorite salad?
3. Laundry Question: Fabric Softener yea or nay?  How do you keep your clothes soft and static free?
4. Do you speak more than one language?  What language would you love to learn?

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!



1. May is National Asparagus Month - do you like it?  Have a favorite recipe?

Luv me some Asparagus... sauted in a little olive oil and garlic... yum!  I also make a yummy fritatta and soup!

2. May is also National Salad month... what's your favorite salad?

I haven't really met a salad I didn't like, but I am totally partial to Greek Salads with big chunks of Feta Cheese...

3. Laundry Question: Fabric Softener yea or nay?  How do you keep your clothes soft and static free?

I started using Bounce Dryer Bars a few years ago and LOVE them!  So easy and effective!

4. Do you speak more than one language?  What language would you love to learn?



I speak enough french to get me into trouble but not enough to get out of it... I'd love to learn German and Chinese.

My 5th question this week is ... 

Have you found your summer beach read yet?



Now, please link up and tell your friends to join us!


SIMC: Swinging and Climbing with Erik









Wrote a great blog post? Share it with Thirsty for Comments!

Welcome to Thirsty for Comments  Get comfy, grab your favorite hot or cold beverage, link up a great post from this week (or even earlier) and visit some other great blogs to comment!
Grab our badge for your sidebar or post:
Acting Balanced
What is Thirsty for Comments?
This is a blog hop dedicated to giving good comment - please, when you are visiting, actually READ the post that is linked and make a thoughtful comment!
This is NOT a hop for "I'm here from the hop, follow me back" comments!
Link up your own SPECIFIC POST that you'd like comments on - remember - no giveaways!
*****************************************
The rules are simple -
1. Link up a SPECIFIC POST (NOT just your blog URL) that you'd like to have more comments on - NO  GIVEAWAYS or OTHER BLOG HOPS - they will be deleted
2. Visit AT LEAST THREE other blogs and READ the posts and then comment thoughtfully on the post.
Extras (nice but not required):
  • Add the Thirsty for Comments button to your post
  • Blog about Thirsty for Comments
  • Add Thirsty for Comments to your Meme List!
  • Leave a comment here on how we can improve Thirsty for Comments :)

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Swinging into Spring



Please link up your WW post here:



Sponsored Giveaway: Publix & Yoplait Greek 100 Yogurt are a great way to save this month!



It's almost swimsuit season, and Publix® invites you to dive in with a little help from Yoplait Greek 100 Yogurt.

New Yoplait Greek 100 is a tasty way to approach swimsuit season. It's everything you adore about Greek yogurt, with just 100 calories. Come into Publix® May 11th - 31st to save on irresistible flavors like Black Cherry, Lemon, Mixed Berry, Peach, Tropical and more — 10 for just $10! Sample all the delicious flavors of Yoplait Greek 100 at Publix®.

Robyn made herself a yummy smoothie this morning with Yoplait Greek 100 Yogurt - 

1 cup frozen blueberries
1 container Yoplait Greek 100 Peach Yogurt
1 cup crushed ice
1/4 cup milk


Which flavor are you most excited about?  You can enter to win 4 free One Cup Yoplait Greek 100 yogurts and a $25 Publix GC!  Just fill out the rafflecopter form below!



a Rafflecopter giveaway