Book Review: Color Squared by Lee Meredith

Book Review: Color Squared by Lee Meredith. I was sent this book by "Blogging for Books" in exchange for my honest review.

Book Summary: Paint-by-number meets the traditional coloring book in this brand new format that showcases pixelated images of cool and quirky nostalgia objects. Doodlers, artists, and puzzlers alike will enjoy this new take on coloring. With a focus on old favorites, pictures of things like cassette tapes, a rotary phone, and roller skates have been pixelated and rendered as numbered grids. To fill them in, users have options to vary the colors, just vary the shading, or even use different shapes or lines. Color Squared can relieve stress or challenge the mind, depending on the approach the reader chooses--but either way, it will keep the head and hands busy, and make for a fun trip down memory lane.

My Review: This is such a unique and more modern way of coloring! I have kids who are video game nuts and they were so excited about the idea of the pixelated images. They weren't sure what a rotary phone was, but that gave me the opportunity to explain some of the old school items of yesteryear...during my generation! Very calming and cool book! 

Summer Vacation 2017...Day 5!

Summer Vacation 2017...Day 5!

I can't believe I am so behind on this blog...have to fit it in while I can. Hope to get more active again. Lets keep going until we finish this vacation. 

The 4th of July!

What better way to celebrate than with some delicious cookout food and Fireworks on the water! 

This year, my 3 year old was amazed....

My littlest...

....not so much.

Catch you a little later, 

Summer Vacation 2017...Day 4!

Summer Vacation 2017...Day 4!

On Day 4, we did one of my all-time fave things! We made a trip to Southport! I absolutely love it here as it is the most quaint little town...definitely a place I could see myself living one day! It is also the chosen location for movies by Nicholas Sparks so you can imagine my love for it! 

Southport is also the home of the first 4th of July celebration. I wanted to head there on the 4th, but hubby wanted to see the fireworks from the water in Swansboro so we came a day early. Not a problem since the 4th of July Festival lasts more than one day. 

Our first stop was the Old Brunswick Jail. 

We got to tour original jail cells. How would you like to wear the striped suit, sleep on this uncomfortable bed and go to the potty in front of everyone? Sign ups here!

I pray this is the only time I see him in a cell! 

We had the chance to view drawings and writings on the walls by former criminals....

And have our kids see what it is like to have a mugshot...

(yeah, wipe that smile off of your face, young man!)

Think I ought to leave any behind...?

Afterward, we walked the town, checked out the red/white/blue fun and festivities of the day! Crowds and crowds of people come to Southport for the Fourth of July Festival...a fun place to be!

We checked out the town's Maritime Museum. So far, had only been to the one in Beaufort, but this one didn't disappoint! I love how each Maritime Museum has something unique. Check out the one at this location...

There was a working periscope inside the building! The top went out of the roof and you could turn completely in a circle and view everything outside! So fun for the kids and adults too! 

My little one wanted to steer the ship...she was so glad they had one her height! 

After treasure hunting through the museum, we strolled along the Riverwalk...

Yep, this is the exact location where Julianne Hough walked in the movie "Safe Haven"

Ready for more movie locations? Some we have seen before and have just stopped back by. 

Old Baldy located on Bald Head Island.

Featured in the movie "Weekend at Bernie's," I would love to one day make my way over to it!

Old American Fish Company, the setting of Ivan's Fish Shack on "Safe Haven" where Katie served as a waitress.

 "Potters" and the dock next to it were featured in the series "Dawson's Creek"

And of course...Alex's house on "Safe Haven"

Remember the setting of Alex and Katie's date?

They even let you know that it is "Table #9" that they sat at.

Onto the Marsh Walk for a pic of my kiddos...

I love how this pic turned out. The background is gorgeous!!! The Marsh Walk has been featured in many movies and tv shows...just a beautiful place to be.

Onto more fun...

What is a vacation without some sort of Christmas House stop?

This house was really cool, each room filled with a different theme of items. They had color code rooms, themed rooms, etc... You better believe that this beach themed room was my fave!

Oops! We probably should have knocked!

The back portion of the house had a candy shop. We wanted to say that we tried something from Southport so we grabbed one of their signature items. We grabbed up the "Southport Hurricane" It is a piece of fudge with a jumbled mess of nuts and coconut. I am not a huge coconut fan, but this was delish! 

Stomach started growling for some real food and we didn't want a chain...local all the way! Our new go-to restaurant in Southport! The Locals Diner. Awesome food and service! I don't think I would ever dine anywhere else after this plate! Hush puppies were to die for!

What a day! Ready to head back to the in-laws...but not without one more find! Paci's anchor! This was in the beginning credits of "Dawson's Creek." I know! I am a tv/movie dork!! It is my passion! So many fun things to do and memories to make...so little time!

See you soon! 

Book Review: The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps and Gran by Mike Berenstain

Book Review: The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps and Gran by Mike Berenstain

Book Summary:

In The Berenstain Bears Bless Our Gramps and Gran, the newest title in The Berenstain Bears Living Lights series, Mama, Papa, and the cubs decide it’s high time they honor Grizzly Gramps and Gran.

It’s almost Grandparents Day and the Bear family has never celebrated this special day before. So working as a team, the cubs, with a little help from Mama and Papa, come up with a fun and creative way to show Gramps and Gran just how much they are loved and appreciated.

My Review: I was so excited to come across this book as I collect Berenstain Bears books! I had no idea that this one existed!!! What a wonderful topic to touch upon...Grandparent's Day! A great way to honor those who are responsible for your parents. For those who have never honored their grandparents on this special day, be sure to do so!! 

Summer Vacation 2017...Day 3!

 

Summer Vacation 2017...Day 3!

 

For Day 3, we decided to stay around the house, so we made a trip to Emerald Isle Beach. This was probably the most crowded I have ever seen this beach, but even still, it looked like an extremely light day at Myrtle. 

 

 

 

The kids each found their own way of testing the waters. For one of the littlest, it was tap the foot and run back...maybe later.

 

 

 

For one of the older littles, completely soak yourself from head to toe and then run back to dry off...

 

These two are just going to wait it out....

Back on dry land, sand castles are being built! 

Building together...

Lonesome building...

These 2 finally decided to go check out some waves....

Needless to say, the waves definitely checked them out!

There were some battle scars that came with these waves! What a rough day in the ocean!

I don't know....you may want to rethink it today girlie!

Til next time!

Summer Vacation 2017...Day 2!

 

  Summer Vacation 2017...Day 2!

We are onto Day 2 of our summer vacation and it is getting good! We haven't even gotten to our destination yet! After having a great breakfast in the hotel, at a table that actually seated the 10 of (believe it or not) we headed up Big Walker Mountain to the Lookout and Swinging Bridge! This is a privately owned attraction that is beyond cool!

It is a long way up there!

When you got up there, what a view! 

100 feet above this huge mountain that we were already on. Only birds have been this high! You could see 5 states from the top of the Lookout! (really, it's a fact!) Some of the kids were a little freaked when we got up there. As we were walking up the stairs, the wind was shaking the Lookout. Got a pic of them all and then quite a few made it back down the stairs (quickly being an understatement) 

Greg and I got a nice pic!

Quite a few steps back down and a sticker later...

 We were ready to try out the swinging bridge. It was all the way across the lot and had a few missing boards once you got to the other side, but very cool, nonetheless. There's some of my crew!

Back down the mountain and into Wytheville for a 2nd go at the Edith Bolling Wilson Museum. This time, we caught them open! This museum had some really cool stuff and as I said before, was free of charge! Donations accepted and definitely worth giving. We started out with a short documentary which explained her birth and then moved onto how she met President Woodrow Wilson, how their lives crossed paths and then eventually, led to Edith Bolling becoming the First Lady. Furniture, place settings, photos...this little museum had quite a bit packed into one area. 

Check out this very old White House Cookbook.

If you paid a $5 admission, you could walk through this door to the apartment above where Edith Bolling lived with her family from childhood on. 

We chose to forgo this time around, but maybe on a future visit. As a souvenir, I purchased each of the kids a packet of this wool. 

It signified how the President and his wife supported the war effort by bringing a flock of 18 sheep to graze on the White House lawn during World War I. At only $1 each, it will make a very nice conversation piece for them to look back on and tell their kids about one day. 

After hopping back in the car, we hit the road for the next place we wanted to find something cool to do. Winston-Salem was the chosen city. While doing some research, I found out that there is a Chocolate Factory in town that you can tour and shop.

You were able to see the entire process from bean to bar of how the chocolate comes about. At the end, samples of course!

We bought ourselves a chocolate bar to split and then spotted an ad in the window. Come to find out, this company has hit the big headlines!

Black Mountain Chocolate Company was voted the best Chocolate Chip Cookies in town and are ranked in the top best of the state of North Carolina by Cosmopolitan Magazine in partnership with Yelp. Well, now that we heard this, we had to have this amazing cookie!! 

And oh, was it ever!!! We tried out the signature cookie and a peanut butter one too! Ooey-Gooey goodness that made its may on our lips and into our tummies.

Walking out of the door, we stumbled across a festival going on in town. You ever heard of Rock-a-Billy? All of a sudden, people and cars, that looked like they had just stepped straight out of the past (and I mean, way back) were there next to us. 

Cool things around every corner...

This guy was particularly cool....

Reminded me of the Ghostbusters car. Siren on top worked and fire came out of those exhausts on the windows! He had pulled in quite a crowd!

Let me ask you? Have you ever been to this city? The art district is something else! Everywhere you go, there is some sort of art! 

Walls...

Roofs...

even stand alone doors in parking lots!

I just loved this city and can't wait to return for more! It is good for the eyes!!!

Until next time,