Grateful Senses

"Researchers have found that focusing on what we're thankful for can increase our sense of well-being and happiness.  And, the benefits may go beyond our emotional health.  For example, people who make a habit of writing down what they're grateful for report fewer physical complaints than others."

The article that I read that gave me this great idea suggests that you keep a gratitude journal- hand written, on computer, or smart phone.  Whatever works for you!  Another suggestion was to use your 5 senses to guide you.  To find an example of something you are grateful for using each sense.  

          - Sight: Watching my 4 year old son practice writing his name

          - Smell: A clean bathroom (smells like bleach)

          - Touch: soft sheets on my bed (nap time?)

          - Taste: water and water and water!  Water is good!

          - Hear: The hum of the A/C, staying nice and cool on a hot summer day

What are you grateful for?  

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Sports Camp

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FLORIOGRAPHY: Tussie-Mussies

The first place I ever heard of FLORIOGRAPHY was in the book Garden Witchery:Magick from the Ground Up by Ellen Dugan. I have talked about her book before.  I LOVE this book and I LOVE Ellen Dugan! I think she is a wonderful writer.

  And yes, this book is about magick and such, but it is also about gardening.  If you follow the pagan path or another, you can still get a lot from this book.
  The past few weeks I have put up a few different flowers. Along with their FLORIOGRAPHY, I also added some general knowledge, history and such.  This week I wanted to share different Tussie Mussies you can use.  Ideas to get you started.
  Ellen Dugan listed some great Tussie-Mussies and I thought I would share a couple of my favorites.  To see more please check out her book Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up! (Pages 65-66, just to help out)

I DESIRE YOU: An orange rose, fern foliage, nigella (love-in-a-mist), bergamot blooms, and a tiger lily.  Tie with red ribbons for desire and orange for energy and stamina.... Floral meanings are: vitality and energy from the orange rose; passion from the ferns; "kiss me" from the nigella; "you are irresistible" from the bergamot; ... erotic love from the tiger lily.


GET WELL SOON: A yellow rose, golden yarrow, lemon balm leaves, daisies, and a spray of bachelor's buttons.  Coordinate the color of the ribbons with the flowers or with your own chosen color for healing magick.  Floral meanings are as follows: yellow rose for joy and happiness; yarrow blossoms for healing magick; lemon balm for freshness and health; daisies for cheerfulness; and bachelor's buttons for healing energies.


(The two Tussie-Mussie ideas are from Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up by Ellen Dugan.  I do not take credit for their creations, I am only sharing.  The picture I found on google images .  I was not compensated for this post.)  

Beaver Village Condos in Winter Park Discount

Is it hot enough this summer?  Want to get away to the mountains where it is cooler?  Here is a great coupon for Beaver Village Condominiums in Winter Park, CO!

 "Cool Summer Lodging Deal - $99 for a one bedroom condo or $129 for a two bedroom condo per night at Beaver Village Condos in Winter Park!  Must be a 2 night stay to get this deal"


Click here to get that great savings!

Monkey Bizness Party Coupon

"Whether it's a birthday or any special occasion, Monkey Bizness is the perfect place to celebrate. Parties are always private, no sharing the playrooms with other guests, no worries about whether we'll be crowded; you get the whole playroom to yourself and a private party room to celebrate in after your playtime. Monkey Bizness takes the hassle out of party planning for parents. We provide personalized invitations, balloons (optional for additional fee), party favors (see party information), plates, cups, forks, napkins and an optional pizza and soda package. Combine that with private play and party rooms, a safe and secure facility, a staff dedicated to your parties’ success, and parents can truly relax while their kids "monkey around"!  And, best of all, we do all the  cleaning!!  All that’s left to do is show up and have fun!"

Thinking of doing something for your little monkey?  I would HIGHLY recommend Monkey Bizness!  Great place for kids.  And just to help you out, check out this great coupon! Save $20 when you book a Monkey Around Party

(Are you a blogger that wants to get in on all the great things USFamilyGuide.com has to offer?  Go here and get your blog approved!)

"C" is for Colorado Kids Book

My kids LOVE books!  A great book written by kids about the wonderful place we call home.  My kids  LOVE "C" is For Colorado.  Being able to go and see the places they read about is half the fun, right?

Check it out for yourself!

Looking for inexpensive, creative, and fun projects for kids this summer? Use the new book, C IS FOR COLORADO, to inspire, writing, photography, and learning about our great state! Kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver wrote C IS FOR COLORADO and share an entertaining A-Z of Colorado's important state landmarks, places, people, resources, nature, culture. . . and much more.

C IS FOR COLORADO makes summer learning fun! Check out this new book and get creative with your kids:

1. Learn facts, geography, history, and sociology of "Colorful Colorado."
2. Teach little ones their ABCs.

3. Teach how to write couplet poems.
4. Inspire writing, photography, and creation of homemade ABC books for older kids.
5. Play games of "I Spy…" or use it as a summer road trip "scavenger hunt" list.
6. Get the book's free activity guide posted on Graphic Arts Books' Facebook page.

(Want to get in on the cool things that USFamilyGuide.com has to offer?  Are you a blogger? Go here and get your blog approved !)

Water World Coupon

I LOVE WATER WORLD!!! My son is finally old enough to truly enjoy the Best Water Park!

Want a place to go and hang out when the temperature is hot?  I will meet you in the Lazy River!!

Water World offers $6 OFF ONE FULL PRICE ADMISSION. Here is the link to the coupon:

                    http://www.coloradokids.com/coupon.php?id=10010405&referralcode=true

Winter Park Play Free Promotion

Any way to get out of this heat would be awesome, don't ya think?

Check out Winter Park and the great opportunity!

Is your family ready to escape the heat, breathe fresh Rocky Mountain air and save money on a summer getaway? Then your plans should include Winter Park, Colorado! With Winter Park Play Free, when you book 2 nights of lodging with participating merchants, you’ll get $50 on a Winter Park Key Card to spend on activities, shopping and dining… your choice of play throughout Winter Park & The Fraser Valley. Click here http://www.usfamilyguide.com/THISSITElinktrack.php?bid=10738&type=additionallink&listingid=97 to learn more about Winter Park Play Free.  Winter Park is 67 miles from Denver, has 200+ sizzling summer events, 600 miles of trails and Colorado's longest alpine slide.

Skyhawks Sports Academy

Finding a place for my 4 year old son to play sports can be challenging.  But Skyhawks Sports Academy looks promising!

  They have a great selection of sports for children 3-12 years of age and locations are spread all over the state (and the US). Lessons range from 45 minutes to 6 hours a day.  The coaches help teach about safety, team work and of course how to play the game!

In my opinion, starting kids in sports at an early age is important!  They need to run and exercise and be around other kids that enjoy doing the same things they do.  Also, it teaches them how to work as a team and sharing.  Those are things that most kids lack these days.

My son just got a baseball glove for his 4th birthday.  He is supper excited!  So I do believe I will put him in baseball!  

So what are you waiting for!?  Go to Skyhawks.com and get your little one signed up!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Birthdays

Both My Babies had birthdays in the past few weeks

For more Wordless Wednesday go to 5 Minutes For Mom!