Free Music from Subway

So I was cleaning and found some Subway Kids Meal bags with Phineas and Ferb on them. I looked inside and found the coupons in them. Now, usually these coupons are for a discount off a DVD or blue ray, which I don't buy and normally throw out. I took the time to read these cards, and I saw the ones in these bags were for free downloads up to .99 cents.

I went in and redeemed one to check, and when you do it sends you info for a VISA debit card expiring July 2013. I went into Amazon and figured out how to add this (just like adding a credit card). Once I did that, I had to change my one-click information to this new debit card.

After doing that, I could go and and buy a .99 cent song of Phineas and Ferb for free! I like free!

I went back through the kitchen and found five more Subway bags of Phineas and Ferb, and 4 had the coupons inside yet.

So, I bought 3 more songs, and figured out how to do Google Play online so I could buy the Where's My Perry? game (also .99 cents) for my phone.

I got $5 of free stuff, which helped make those Subway kids meals a little cheaper. And, I bought all songs about summer. So in the car driving to our summer activities I can play some kid-friendly tunes.

4 and 4

The real countdown had begun! We have 4 full days and 4 half days left of school!

And in that time for school we have: 1 day-long field trip (son wanted to hang out with friends, so I'm not chaperoning), 1 media festival that 2 kids have projects in, teacher thank you cards to make and hand out, yearbooks to hand out, work on programs, goodies and refreshments for 6th grade Awards Day, final instrument lessons for 2 of the kids, helping at the school's Fun Day carnival and the next day at Field Day, and attending the 6th grade Awards Day. That's almost something for every day of school that remains.

Outside of school,we have the last regular meeting of Cub Scouts (tonight) and birthday party to throw for oldest (we're going rock climbing). And just for fun on the schedule we have our annual Fun Days carnival for the community (same name but different from the school event), a birthday party daughter's attending (already have present), a professional baseball game and then getting ready for summer fun!

Summer Reading Program

I'm really excited for our Summer Reading Program this year! For the kick-off, the entire county system is going to a Reading Phillies game! The Fightin Phils are a minor league team near our home. Compared to a major league game, the Phils are great because:

• They're close by
• Parking is free
• The stadium is small so you can see all the action from anywhere
• It has a very family friendly atmosphere

While my husband and I have been to games before, this was the first year the kids have gone. My oldest got a free ticket for volunteering at school, and he went up with friends. For the event they were also given tickets for free food, so he ended up just spending $2.

Then last month we went as a family for the music department at school for my son and daughter. The tickets weren't cheap - $24 each for a family of 5 - but it included the pool deck and all you could eat buffet. Two of the kids took suits and spent almost the entire time in the pool. All of us ate plenty, and I thought the food was good. Even my picky eater loved the barbecue chicken.

I would have thought that was enough baseball for the year, but then the Summer Reading Program was announced. The library got the general admission tickets free, and is selling them for $2. Regular tickets with no food are normally $11.

So yesterday I bought 5 tickets so we can go to the game! It's on a Sunday, but it will be a great family event to help kick off the summer.

Summer of Smoothies

There are three basic guidelines for everything we do in summer: Easy, Simple and Fun. So today I realized why can't those same rules apply to our summer breakfasts?

Having three kids means you have three opinions on what's good, and that includes breakfasts. Two like eggs, one doesn't. Two like bacon, one doesn't. Two like Pop Tarts, one doesn't. Two like french toast, one doesn't. And on, and on, and on.

There are very few things they all agree on, except maybe chocolate chip cookies, but no, we're not having chocolate chip cookies for breakfast.

But, they all like some kind of fruit even if not the same ones. And they all like smoothies even if not the same flavor. So I decided this summer will be the Summer of Smoothies! What could be better to start a hot summer day than a healthy, cool and refreshing smoothie?

I'm going to move our bread maker off the buffet and set up a smoothie station, with a blender, bowl of fruit, cups, straws and measuring cups. I'll post photos when it's ready. I'll also create a Smoothie Recipe Book with easy measurements for the kids using just the fruits any of them like.

Of course, some ingredients will be stored in the refrigerator. I'll have to clear space for that and keep them all together, maybe in the fruit drawer.

Here are some smoothie sites I found doing a quick search. Now I just have to narrow down the list and make a basic recipe for each kind of fruit the kids like plus a few with mixed fruit.

All Recipes search: http://allrecipes.com/recipes/drinks/smoothies/
Fitness Magazine: http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/drinks/healthy-choices/healthy-and-refreshing-smoothie-recipes/
Food Network: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/50-smoothies/index.html
Chiquita Bananas: http://www.chiquitabananas.com/Banana-Recipes/banana-smoothie-recipes.aspx
Martha Stewart Food: http://www.marthastewart.com/359609/smoothie-recipes

I know I'll add a powdered fiber like Benefiber to my smoothies. I also want to do some research to see if there are any easy vitamin powders to add for the kids to make the smoothies even healthier.

I can't wait for the Summer of Smoothies to begin!