Fun Stuff — Page 5

30 Must-Read Bike Safety Tips for Families this Summer

Bike tips to keep you and your family safe and healthy this summer

The Tour de France is the single most important competition in the entire sport of cycling with billions of viewers each year, and more than 10 million spectators lining the roadway. Cycle Force Group is an importer of bicycles, parts, and accessories serving all facets of the cycling industry and produces TDF bicycling gear. Cycle Force Group is excited to share with you bike tips to keep you and your family safe and healthy this summer.

Road Safety

Pump check: Before going for a ride, check your tires! Pump the tires with your pedals to make sure that it will be a safe ride.
Get a headlight: For those that are bicycling at night do not forget to add a headlight. It not only is required by the law but will keep you safe.
Wave: Always wave at the driver! It is easier for drivers to see arms indicating your direction instead of seeing a bicycle coming.
Arm Signs: Learn the different arm signs that will let drivers know the direction you are turning.
Road Rules: Stop at all stop signs and obey traffic lights.
Direction flow: Ride in the direction of traffic so people can predict the movement and direction of a bicyclist. In some states such as Flordia, bicyclists can get a citation for not riding in the same direction as traffic.
Keep Your Distance: Stay away from parked cars, for doors can open suddenly.
Crossing An Interaction: When you arrive at an intersection, walk your bicycle across the crosswalk.
Leader Of The Pack: If riding with a group of people, always ride behind one another to share the road with motorists.
Avoid Noise: Avoid wearing listening to music while biking. Many bicycle accidents could have been prevented if riders were not distracted.

Choosing a Bicycle and Helmet For Your Child

Maturity Level: The most important component of buying a bicycle is the child’s age and the environment they are going to be biking.
Be Bold: Make sure that the bicycle is visible to drivers and other cyclists.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): Each certified helmet will have a sticker that indicates that the helmet is a quality helmet.
Check Your Helmet: Because they lose their ability to absorb shock, routinely check your helmet each season.
Tight Fitting Helmet: Do not wear a hat underneath.
Love Your Helmet: Do not throw your helmet around. A damaged helmet may be unable to protect you in the event of an accident.
Spacing: There should be a space of 1-2 inches between your body and the top bar of a road bike, and 3 to 4 inches between your body and the top of a bike.

Caring For Your Bicycle

Inflate Tires: The recommended pressure to inflate your tires is listed on the sidewall of the tire.
Regular Maintence: Oil the bike chain regularly and remove any dirt.
Adjust The height: Change the handlebars to appropriate height as children frequently have growth spurts.
Complete A Break Check: Look for frayed cables and worn-out brake pads.
Checking The Tread: Check your tread regularly. By letting the tread on your bicycle wear out you are setting yourself up for danger.

Health Benefits Of Bicycling

Activation Of Muscles: The muscular system is made stronger and is able to function more efficiently through cycling.
Balance: Cycling improves balance through the circulation of oxygen.
Calorie Burning: Bicycling not only is good for the environment, but it also burns calories.
Exercise Alternative: Bicycling is an alternative exercise for people who are unable to run.

Hydration and Nutrition

Hydration: For each hour riding drink 20-24 ounces of water. By taking the time to rejuvenate your body you are helping to prevent Charlie Horses & muscle cramps.
Weigh Yourself: If you have lost a significant amount of weight, such as a few pounds after a ride, it means that you are dehydrated.
Nutrition: Take time to plan your meals to ensure that you are getting your daily need of vitamins to prove ample energy for your ride.
Professional Advice: Seek advice from a nutritionist and your general practitioner to help with your training.

About Cycle Force Group

Cycle Force Group is an importer of bicycles, parts, and accessories serving all facets of the cycling industry including independent bicycle dealers, sporting goods retailers, e-commerce customers, premium and incentive companies and OEM customers worldwide. Cycle Force Group’s Premium and Incentive Division also offers custom designed products for promotional and incentive needs. Le Tour de France® is a Registered Trademark of, and used under license from Amaury Sport Organization.

About Tour de France

The Tour de France is an amazing event that has extraordinary deliverables as an annual global event. The Tour de France is the single most important competition in the entire sport of cycling with billions of viewers each year. With more than 10 million spectators lining the roadway the inherent brand media exposure for Le Tour de France far exceeds the media footprint of all other bicycle brands combined.

Learn More and Get Connected!

TourdeFranceCycles.com

Facebook.com/TourdeFranceCyc

Twitter.com/TourdeFranceCyc

Pinterest/TourdeFranceCyc

YouTube.com/TourdeFranceCyc

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 19, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 8 Comments

Who was the Wizard of Oz, Really? Find out in Oz the Great and Powerful

Oz the Great and Powerful… Ok, I’m not usually much of a fan of my favorite childhood classics being remade, or new movies based off of the original stories. As a child, you grow so attached to the characters, that it’s hard sometimes to watch any new imaginings of them, you know? But this new film – from the producer of “Alice in Wonderland”, and the director of the “Spiderman” trilogy, doesn’t remake anything – what it does is give us a background story of one of the more elusive characters in the original movie – the Wizard of Oz himself.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” opens in U.S. theaters on March 8, 2013

Here’s a little hint of what’s to come… “Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved character, the Wizard of Oz. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.” Want to see a sneak peek? Check it out:

How awesome is this?

I can remember watching cartoons on a black and white TV when I was a little girl. We grew up pretty darn poor, and it was awhile before my mom was able to upgrade us from our fuzzy little black and white box to a big full sized color TV. I remember one of the first movies that we watched on it was Wizard of Oz… I was SO mad when it started out in black and white! Heck, we just got a color TV, I didn’t want to watch movies that were black and white on purpose! But my mom told me to just hold on, be patient, and to keep watching, and that I’d be happy I did. And like mothers always are – she was right. When Dorothy arrived in Oz, and everything suddenly brightened into vivid color – I knew just how she felt, finally seeing things in color like that :)

So – I am just super excited to see this when it arrives in theaters!

I spent hours as a little girl reading my Wizard of Oz books, playing with the Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch dolls that mom had sewed for me, and dreaming about a wonderful world of Oz. And it’s now one of Abby’s favorite movies too! She watched it for the first time months ago with Grandma and I – she cried “Oh no!!! Come back!!!” when Toto runs away, when he’s scared of the storm. She was frightened of the witch and the flying monkeys, and simply delighted by the singing munchkins and the funny scarecrow. It was seriously wonderful to watch it with both of them, and relive that feeling of being a kid. I can’t wait to see how this new story, telling how the Wizard of Oz came to be, brings more depth to my old favorite. This is going right onto my serious MUST-WATCH list!

Do you remember the first time you watched Wizard of Oz? Share with me in the comments….

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 16, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

Why Skyhawks Camps Rock this Summer

Some of you may remember my trip to the Nike Campus a few months ago – I was invited to bring my nephew with me, who is a seriously amazing little sports super star. He just impresses me so much… Some people have two left feet, and are super clumsy. Well folks – I have three left feet I think. Lol. I can’t run, jump, catch, or throw. So when I see him beat team records and win all his games – It’s an amazingly proud moment for this auntie. Which is why when I found out aboutSkyhawks camps coming to our area, I knew right away I had to get him signed up and involved with this….

Affordable & Fun Skill-Based Youth Sport Camps

One of the things that I love most about these camps is their focus on safety. Kids are by nature little risk takers, and when they get into competitive sports, that drive can get the best of them, and guide them to bad decisions. But the Skyhawks team totally encourages safe, fair, and positive interaction – starting with the way that the coaches meet all of the parents in the parking lot during drop off time, through guiding the kids into the rec area – until the kids are released back into their parents care again. Seriously great.

Skyhawks Sports Academy offers week-long sports camps for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Since 1979, over 1.5 million children have attended a Skyhawks Sports Camp. For over 30 years, Skyhawks has been committed to providing a safe, fun, and skill-based experience for kids. Our camps and programs are offered locally throughout over 500 communities. The format includes traditional week-long summer day camps and year-round after-school programs that range from 45 minutes to 6 hours in duration, per day.

Find a Skyhawk camp near you by visiting – Skyhawks Camp Locations.

{Disclamer: I was provided with a complimentary item as a thank you for sharing this information with you guys. Only the best products, sites, and services make it onto this site – Yep, this camp is that good!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 11, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

“Share it Maybe” Sesame Street Parody Video #Humor

“I just met you, and this is crazy – But here’s my number. So call me, maybe?”… I’m guessing that you all know this song, right? I mean, how can you escape it? It seems to be on the radio every 1- to 15 minutes, it’s on every commercial, it’s referenced non-stop around the web… And like it or not, it’s so catchy that you’ll catch yourself singing along with it every time. {I even saw a blogger who made uh-may-zingly funny business cards that read – I just met you, and this is crazy – But here’s my handle. So tweet me, maybe?” And now this tune has spread all the way to Sesame Street! Check out Cookie Monster’s version of Call Me Maybe, by Carly Rae Jepsen….

But you’ve got cookies, so share them maybe?

Can’t see this “Share it Maybe” Sesame Street Parody of “Call Me Maybe?” video? Watch it on YouTube here. I found this today in my email – I’m a subscriber to the Muppet Central forums, and get fun little updates like this once a week or so. Love it – and to be honest – I totally prefer Cookie Monster’s parody version of the song to the original. I’m a big Cookie Monster fan… :)

What do you think?

Leave a comment on this thread on Facebook, and vote for your favorite version of the video – Cookie Monster, or Carly Rae Jepsen? {And if you have any other fave parody videos, leave me the links so I can get some laughs checking them out too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 11, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 4 Comments

Why Little Girls Love Baby Dolls…

“Remember when all we had to do was to keep our ponytails straight and catch fireflies?”… Ah, to be a little girl again. The days when a crying baby could be soothed with a pretend bottle and a snuggle in a toddler bed. When being a good mommy meant dragging your dolly through the mud as you played in the backyard. Those were the days, right? Little girls love to mimic the people around them, so having their own baby doll to diaper, feed, and hug lets them copy the things that they see mommy and daddy doing. And if you want the most adorably realistic baby doll you can find, you have to check out JC Toys, and their “real baby” dolls. I’m not sure who loves this little cutie pie more – Abby, or me…

“Sugar and spice and everything nice, ribbons and curls because she’s a girl.” – Unknown

Ok, a quick disclaimer here… I know that baby dolls can be for little boys too. I am a big believer that kids should play with whatever makes them happy. Abby loves her dinosaurs, helicopters, and dump truck. And her cousin likes to cook with her in the play kitchen, and help rock the baby dolls too. So while this post focuses on little girls and dollies, I do know little guys like [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 2, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 24 Comments

Summer Staycation: Space Pack Water Blaster

Summer Staycation Pick: Astronaut Space Pack – Super Soaking Water Blaster… Many of us are cutting back on spending this summer, which cutting back on vacation spending. But – no vacation doesn’t have to mean no fun! Create your own “Staycation” worthy outdoor space this summer – filled with the coolest new toys for kids and adults, pretty patio furnishings, and other fun additions to make your home the best place to spend time this summer!

Astronaut Spacepack Super Soaking Water Blaster

This little gadget totally takes water guns to the next level! It’s designed to look like an astronaut backpack, with the “laser gun” being the water blaster. Seriously fun. It has two different shooting styles: Traditional water stream, or a multi-direction spray that blasts water to both sides simultaneously. The pack that the kids wear on their back is filled with water, which is used to power water blasts to over 30′!! It’s meant for kids ages 5 and up – but all of the kids here love it, from Abby who is almost 2, to Uncle James, who’s in his late 20’s, lol. I have GOT to get another one of these to make it fair when they’re out in the yard water blast battling…

Become the master of the water blaster…

This blaster lives up to it’s name… It is seriously a BLAST for the kids to play with outside, and it’s one of those rare toys that is still as popular now after a few weeks of constant use as it was the day that we got it. But here’s what’s even BETTER – it’s got a ton of super adorable accessories you can get to go with it, to really boost that Astronaut theme. You can get the Astronaut Helmet with sounds, which is totally fun. Or get the full look, with the Astronaut Boots and full Astronaut Suit with Embroidered Cap. Make your gear do double duty by using it as a super sweet Halloween costume this fall too. The Astronaut Suits come in sizes from baby to adult. So, so fun.

Blast into Summer Fun!

If you want to grab a Space Pack Water Blaster to add to your own Summer Staycation stock, you can get one on Amazon for only $15.99 – Astronaut Space Pack. You can also check out Aeromax online, to see the other super fun summertime toys and gear to get your kids off of the XBox and into the outdoors to play.

What is YOUR favorite Summer Staycation tip? Great product, fun game, decorating tip? Leave me some comments!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 29, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 2 Comments

How Strategic Grocery Shopping Earns You FREE Ice Age Movie Tickets #JuneDairyMovies

So… Last week I told you about our super fun Tacos and Floats summer party that we had. I set up a big ol’ taco bar, filled with a ton of toppings {including super yummy dairy must-haves like shredded Tillamook cheese and Dairygold sour cream} – and we topped that off with super cool root beer floats for dessert. It was a great night with the family – and it was made even greater by the fact that shopping for those dinner ingredients gave me a free set of movie tickets to take my family to see Ice Age, Continental Drift next month! How cool is that, right?

June Dairy Month at Safeway = Free Family Movie Tickets!

Pretty much all of us are moms on a tight budget, right? The economy is not-so-hot, incomes are not-as-high, and prices on just about everything are ever increasing. That makes it tough on us moms to keep up. But – some meal planning and smart shopping can help any busy mom save some big bucks. And this month, the must-have deal to grab is the free movie ticket promotion at Safeway. Here’s how it works:

Head to your nearest Safeway, {or affiliate store like Vons, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Pavillions or Carrs} – and look for the June Dairy Month tags all over the store. #JuneDairyMovies.
Use your Safeway Club Card each time you shop during June, and it will automatically add up all of your participating dairy purchases.
Once you’ve purchased at least $40 worth of family dairy must-haves like cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and milk, the register will print out a Catalina coupon good for two free movie tickets! Sweet, I know.

The movie tickets can be printed and redeemed online, and will be valid until 8/31/12. It does mention on the ticket that you can use it for a different movie of your choice – but since Abby looooves the “funny guys” in the previous Ice Age movies, that’s what we’ll be heading out to see when it opens locally.

Our Family Night Celebration was a Hit!

Since movie nights at the theater are often a luxury around here, I knew that I did NOT want to miss out on the chance to get free tickets. So I went out shopping for our favorite taco night ingredients – and partnered with the new Just for U rewards program, I was able to save enough on all of the great goods that I bought that I could really stock up on cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and more. We go through a TON of dairy products here – {Abby loooves her string cheese!} – so these were all items I would have purchased anyway. Getting that great free movie ticket coupon at check out was a much-appreciated bonus.

How to get free Ice Age Movie Tickets at Safeway

You probably remember reading about my Safeway shopping trip, and our super fun Tacos and Floats party – if so, you’ll probably also remember seeing a pic of the Catalina coupon that printed out at check out. So – once you get yours too, here’s how it works – easy peasy. Just visit the online rewards site, click the store you shopped at, then fill in your info and add the code found on your Catalina coupon. Then you’re ready to print out your free tickets – and take your family on a great summer night out. Awesome, I know.

Tell me – are YOU planning to take advantage of this smart shopping strategy too?

{I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Safeway. #CBias #SocialFabric” (Feel free to add any additional wording you would like such as “all opinions are my own.}