My backyard is boring and I don't have a green thumb! I blame most of that on my lack of watering skills, I simply forget to water things. In preparation for an end of year pool party next week, I decided to create some potted plants to help decorate the pool area. Since we're in Florida, I had to add some tiki torches because the skeeters are really bad right now. Supplies: Pot or container of choice. (Big Lots $20/each) Potting soil. (Lowe's $1.18/bag) Plants and flowers of choice. (Mixed annuals $1-2/each) Tiki Torch (Lowe's $3.50) To put it all together I added the potting soil to the bottom of the pot and filled about 2/3 of the way to the top. Then I arranged the plants in the pot and filled in with the remaining potting soil. Finally, I added the tiki torch to the pot. Water thoroughly and add to the desired location outside. For these pots I used Spike Dracaena (the grassy looking tall plant in the middle), Coleus (the green leafy non-flowering ... [ Read More ]
99 Family-Friendly Things to do in Tampa This Summer
Summer is almost here and the kids will be out of school soon. Parents all know the struggle to keep them entertained without losing your mind. Whether you're visiting the Tampa area on vacation or you live in the Tampa area, this list of things to do includes stuff for the whole family. There are a few items on the list that are a short drive outside of Tampa. Honeymoon Island Beach - this is our favorite local beach located in Dunedin, FL. It's less crowded and easier to get to then going to St. Pete and Clearwater. You can play on the causeway for free, or enter the state park and enjoy the natural beaches of North Pinellas County. Soak up the rays on the beach, take a nature hike, play on the playground, or take your pet for a walk on the dog beach. Great for all ages. Parking is $8/car (up to 8 people). Caladesi Island Ferry & Beach - Rated one of Dr Beaches top beaches in 2008, this beach can only be reach by boat. Take the ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park ... [ Read More ]
Florida 529 Savings Plan Scholarship Program
The Florida 529 Savings Plan Scholarship Program will award 10 winners a $529 Scholarship deposited into a Florida 529 Savings Plan account. Winning this scholarship would make any parent happy! This post is sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Board, through my role as a Believer Blogger. Over the past year I've partnered with Florida Prepaid College Foundation’s to increase awareness about the importance of saving for college and the flexible options available through our Florida 529 Savings Plan. Our family signed up to Florida Prepaid a few years ago to help us save money for our children's college years. We hope that this will allow our children to focus a little more on college and worry less about finding the money to pay for it. Between May 1 and May 29th, families can enter to win a $529 scholarship to be added to their Florida 529 savings plan account. Florida Prepaid will be awarding 10 families with this amazing scholarship! To enter to win ... [ Read More ]
Valspar Championship 2016 – Innisbrook Resort – Palm Harbor, Florida
The Valspar Championship returns to Palm Harbor, March 7-13th, 2016 at Innisbrook Resort and Spa. It's almost spring again in Florida and I'm ready for golf to return with the Valspar Championship PGA Tournament. Innisbrook has groomed their golf courses over the last 11 months and the greens are ready for the players to return for another challenging round of golf. Defending champion Jordan Spieth is scheduled to return this year after his amazing 2015 year. 2015 started with a win at the Valspar Championship and ended with a win at the 2015 Masters Tournament. Other golfers scheduled to play at this year's Valspar Championship include Brandt Snedeker, Luke Donald, and Patrick Reed. The tournament kicks off Thursday, March 10th with the opening round play. One day tickets start at only $39+ per person and kids 15 and under are free with a paying adult. If you attend the opening day of the tournament, you'll be able to enjoy the Valspar Live concert with Rascal Flatts for ... [ Read More ]
Only one more day…what are you waiting for?
Open enrollment for Florida Prepaid plans ends Feb 29th to start saving for your child's future. Use promotional code BLOG1516, Florida Prepaid will send you a free gift just for signing up. This post is sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Board, through my role as a Believer Blogger. What are you waiting for? Did you get busy and forget to enroll? Are you scared about the future? What if your child decides not to go to college? What if you move out of the Florida? What if my child goes to college in a different state? We procrastinated for YEARS before we finally took the time to enroll our kids in the Florida Prepaid program and I could kick myself for not taking the time to get started sooner. Nothing was holding us back, we just got too busy and failed to sign up. However, I know that there are some myths out there that may be preventing you from signing up. What if my child decides NOT to go to college? What happens to the money? A child has 10 years from the ... [ Read More ]
Sweet Florida Strawberry Salad
A fresh salad with strawberries, avocado, and feta cheese is such a sweet treat that you'll feel like you're eating dessert instead of a salad; especially when served with organic girl lemon agave salad love dressing. It's February in Florida and I'm a sucker for strawberries. This is the time of the year that you can get strawberries at any market for a great price and my kids love to take them to school for snacks. Strawberries are great for smoothies, covered in chocolate, or just to nibble on when your sweet tooth calls. I don't think there is a wrong way to eat a strawberry! This colorful salad is a sweet treat that your entire family will love to eat as a side dish or as the main dish. A nice butter avocado adds an extra punch of protein to the fresh sweet pea shoots that are protein rich also (at 5 grams per serving). The red ripe strawberries paired with the organic girl lemon agave dressing bring the sweetness to the salad. I love the richness that the feta cheese ... [ Read More ]
Have you enrolled in Florida Prepaid yet?
Earlier this month I shared with you some of the different plans that Florida Prepaid offers families to help save for their children's college. The enrollment period for the 2015-16 year is officially open and they have an extra special incentive for anyone wanting to open a new plan. For anyone who opens a new Florida Prepaid college plan using promotional code BLOG1516, Florida Prepaid will send you a free gift just for signing up. Plus for anyone signing up between now and November 15th, you'll be entered to win one of 10 prepaid scholarships for a 2 year Florida College Plan! What a great gift that would be to win, the first 2 years of your child's education would be paid for! There are also bonus entry options for answering some survey questions and tweeting about Florida Prepaid. Enter the College Scholarship Giveaway by clicking this link: ENTER GIVEAWAY NOW! To watch this video on YouTube: Starting is Believing I sure hope that my daughter changes her career ... [ Read More ]
Starting is Believing
Open enrollment in the Florida Prepaid College plans begins October 15th, 2015 and offers some new options for families who want to get started saving money for their children's futures. This post is sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Board, through my role as a Believer Blogger. As parents we have big dreams and expectations for our children when they get older. We want them to be happy, confident, accomplished, and have more opportunities than what we had ourselves. My parents provided for us everything we could have asked for. The one thing that they didn't provide for us was any type of college savings. They were very clear as we were growing up that if we wanted something bad enough, we would work hard for it and achieve our goals on our own. They didn't want to force higher education on us like their parents did to them. I can respect that and I know that they helped mold me into the adult that I am today. I don't remember ever asking them for help paying for ... [ Read More ]
Take a Staycation in Downtown Tampa
If you live in the Tampa Bay area, have you ever truly explored the downtown area? We live in Palm Harbor and only come downtown for sporting events and shows. When Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa invited us to spend a few nights with them I was really excited to check out parts of town that we usually just drive past on the way to an event. It was really nice not having to worry about transportation and travel expenses to go on vacastaycation. We spent 3 days and 2 nights downtown and we could have easily spent an entire week to see everything. The Embassy Suites is located adjacent to Amalie Arena and the Tampa Convention Center, overlooking the Bay. It would be a great place to stay the night if you didn't want to drive home after a concert or hockey game. On our first night we were lucky enough to be downtown during the final game of the Stanley Cup Finals and walked across the street to the Bolts watch party inside Amalie Arena. We would never have driven 45 minutes to ... [ Read More ]
8 Fun Things to Do at MommyCon Orlando
MommyCon is coming to Orlando on Saturday, May 23rd and I've been looking forward to this day for the entire year. You can view the entire agenda and schedule of events on the MommyCon Orlando website. If you've never been to a MommyCon before, be sure you wear comfy shoes because there is a lot to do and even more to see. Use coupon code ECOCHIC15 and save $5 off your General Admission Ticket! (Affiliate link) 1. Attend a few seminars. I'm planning on listening to the Cloth Diapering 101 seminar with Cotton Babies, Comedy Hour with the Honest Toddler's Bunmi Laditan, and Dear 25 Year Old Me with Jill Krause from Baby Rabies. Be sure to check the schedule and mark the seminars you want to attend, the day moves very quickly and you might not get to see everything if you're not organized. 2. Shop the marketplace! There are lots and lots and lots of vendors at MommyCon. If you're looking for cloth diapers you'll be happy to know that AppleCheeks, Thirsties, Smart Bottoms, ... [ Read More ]
