Keeping up with the kids with Ostinol

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation was provided.

Summer break is here!

That means two whole months of fun for he kids - and two whole months of me trying to keep up with them and their boundless energy! Seriously, why do kids have SO MUCH energy? If only I could bottle up their energy and take it as a supplement. Well, I can't do that but I have found something that helps my aching mama joints keep up with the kids. It's Ostinol Insta Joint. 

As the years have gone by and I've gotten "less young" (we don't need to say old!) I've been noticing more aches and pains in my joints. Motherhood has definitely played a big part in those aches and pains too. Nursing, carrying toddlers, running and playing with kids, constantly bending down to pick up toys and other random things they've left on the floor, sleeping in weird positions thanks to little bed hogs... there's always something to wreak havoc on my joints. 

For the longest time I've just put up with the aches and pains. They're just a part of getting older and being a mama, right? Plus self care isn't always at the top of the to do list. I'm sure that many mamas know what I mean. Self care should be a top priority but it's so easy to let it slip by the wayside when we've got little people to care for. I may not have time to rest as much as I'd like, go out for (much needed) massages, or sleep a full eight hours, but I CAN take a daily supplement that helps minimize my joint pain. Every morning when I drink my healthy green smoothie (or let's be realistic - my latte!) I take Ostinol Insta Joint. 

Taking Ostinol Insta Joint is a simple step I can take to help improve my joint health and I've definitely been noticing the difference. This week I took the kids to a water park on a scorching hot day and they were keen to play in the wave pool. I was looking forward to the cool water but not my knees hurting as I jumped repeatedly through waves. But you know what, even after a few hours of jumping waves my knees didn't hurt at all!

Ostinol Insta Joint is all natural, safe and effective. Thanks to its key ingredient Cyplexinol (a 100% natural protein complex sourced from USDA Certified organic bovine bone) Ostinol Insta Joint helps the body's ability to grow new cartilage tissue to nourish and lubricate. Cyplexinol belongs to a class of proteins backed by over 50 years of scientific and medical research. In fact, it's the same class of proteins traditionally used by orthopedic surgeons to regrow bone and cartilage tissue post-operatively! Ostinol products are made in the USA and have over ten years of clinical success as a natural supplement to support joint and bone health. Ostinol Insta Joint is gluten free, grain free and made from non-GMO ingredients.

If, like me, you want to take better care of your joint health so you can keep up with the kids this Summer and beyond, head over to www.ostinol.com. You can save 30% on each bottle of Ostinol Insta Joint (maximum 5 bottles) with my code MM30. This offer is valid through 9/1/21.

I'm looking forward to a Summer of bike rides, water parks, hiking and all sorts of other fun adventures without joint pain!

Disclaimer: While people with severe joint conditions have reported great response with these products, Ostinol is a natural supplement and cannot encourage discussion that would imply treating, preventing or curing any disease.

A Summer of Exploration with Galileo

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Galileo Camps.

Summer Break has come to an end for another year and that means it's time to...

...start planning ahead for next Summer Break! 

What? Already? Yes!

This Summer Break was pretty hectic for us but we made sure to squeeze in a couple of weeks of Summer camp among all of the moving madness and our trip back to Australia. Despite how busy we were, it was important to me that the kids have a little normalcy and something special just for them during all the change. Plus, it got them out of the apartment while I was busy packing. Ha! Everybody wins!

Anyway, one of our very favorite Summer camps is Galileo. Ava has been going for the past three years and has always had a fabulous time. This year Lola joined her big sister for her first ever Summer camp experience. They both had a blast and learned new skills at the same time. 

Galileo camps are structured in a way that maximizes both the fun and the learning opportunities for kids of all ages, from incoming kindergarteners through to eighth grade. The younger kids (Pre-K to 5th grade) take part in Camp Galileo, a traditional Summer camp with science, art and outdoor activities focused on a fun weekly theme. The older kids (5th to 8th grade) take part in Galileo Summer Quest, a specialized camp focusing on a single major based on varying interests including drones, YouTube production, robotics and, Ava's choice this year, cooking. Both camps foster creativity and team work while teaching the kids important skills and boosting their confidence. The camps look so fun I wish I could sign up for myself! Summer camp for adults... wouldn't that be great?

Let's take a look at Ava's week at camp first...

This year, Ava's major for Galileo Summer Quest was Chefology: Decadent Desserts. As you can imagine, she spent her week learning how to make deliciously sweet treats. Seriously, this was the best camp ever as she brought something home to share pretty much every day! She learned how to make sugar cookies with royal icing, sweet crepes, ice cream sundaes (made with home made ice cream and sauces) and delicious fruit pies. She also learned important skills such as how to read and write recipes, how to accurately measure ingredients and how to use various pieces of kitchen equipment. It did wonders for building her confidence in the kitchen. The kids worked in teams as well as on their own throughout the week and came together on the last day to make a delicious presentation for family members. We were treated to sugar cookies, crepes and pies, and I've got to say, they all tasted delicious.   

Lola's week at camp was based on the theme Expedition Everest. This theme was carried across all parts of her day at camp including her art and science classes. In art class Lola worked on creating a Nepalese style puppet from paper mache, fabric and various craft materials. She kept her puppet's identity a secret all week, so it was a nice surprise to meet "Mr Whiskers" her purple cat puppet on the last day of camp. Mr Whisker's arms move about and Lola was pretty excited to show me that he can even dab! A very important skill for any puppet! Along with her creative work during art class, Lola put her imagination to work in science class creating a mountain rescue robot prototype. With popsicle sticks, foam, plastic tubing, lots of hot glue and a syringe she created a walking rescue robot designed to scale the heights of Mount Everest to rescue trapped hikers.

Along with their set curriculum, both Ava and Lola took part in plenty of fun outdoor activities including fun games and plenty of free play time. There were daily spirit days (dress in your team color, Galileo spirit day etc) with the highlight being Water Day in which the kids took part in all sorts of fun activities that left them dripping from head to toe!

As I've already mentioned, the girls had a fantastic time at Galileo again this Summer. Ava's confidence in her cooking skills grew immensely and Lola became much more independent after her first week of Summer camp. Lola had been a little nervous about not knowing anyone in her group at first, but even after the first day I could see that her independence and confidence had grown, which is just what she needed with the move to a new school coming up.

At the end of their week at camp the girls both received certificates from their team leaders and a pin to attach to their name tag lanyard. Lola was pretty excited to come home with the Galileo rubber chicken pin (for first year campers) and Ava added another badge to her collection.

Galileo camps really are a special place for kids. The curriculum is fantastic, from both the parents' and kids' perspective, and the staff really are the best. The staff work hard to make all the kids feel welcome and to create a fun atmosphere while keeping everyone safe at the same time. They do such a great job, and I was happy to recognize plenty of faces among the camp leaders from previous years.

To learn more about Galileo camps and to find a camp near you head on over to https://galileo-camps.com/

Ready for Summer with Galileo Camps

Summer may seem pretty far away right now, especially for those of you in the colder parts of the country, but it's sneaking up on us and will be here before we know it. And that means the end of the school year and the start of long Summer break will be here before we know it. Time to start making plans for the Summer!

Growing up in Australia, Summer camp was only something I knew about from American movies and TV shows. I had no experience with it myself, but I always thought it looked absolutely magical!

Now that we're living in America, I love that my kids get to take part in things that I only ever saw on TV at their age. Trick or treating at Halloween, playing in the snow over Christmas, handing out Valentines to their classmates, and yes, Summer camp!

Last year Ava attended Camp Galileo for the first time and she had an absolute blast. At pick up on that very first day she was asking me to sign her up again for this year. Now that's a sure sign of a great camp!

Galileo offer a range of innovative camps for children from pre-K through to 8th grade. Their STEM focused camps teach kids to explore, create and make mistakes without fear, and I can tell you that Ava had so much fun with all of these aspects last year. She loved the medieval inspired projects that she worked on during her week at camp, and was so proud of the working catapult that she designed and made on her own, as well as her stain glass griffon (that still hangs in our living room window today). She brought home the skills she learned in making these projects and set about teaching both Lola and Mathilde - and even produced a stain glass DIY video to share on YouTube!

Ava not only learned new skills from her week at Camp Galileo, but also gained confidence. Confidence in herself and her own abilities. Confidence to try new ideas even if they might fail. Confidence to make new friends. That confidence that she came home with was so inspiring and I can't wait for it grow again this Summer.

That's the thing about Galileo. The camp curriculum sparks kids' imaginations and gets them excited to learn in creative ways. They focus on team work and build a camaraderie among the campers and staff through fun games, outdoor activities and spirit days. The staff are carefully selected and they're all great with kids, making the camp experience as fun as it should be.

Galileo offer two camp options for children of different ages. For kids Pre-K through 5th grade there's Camp Galileo, which Ava took part in last year. Kids work on art and science projects as well as outdoor activities. Through teamwork they create works of art such as spinning solar system mobiles and glowing neon signs, as well as engineering inventions like slingshot cars and rideable scooters. This year's camp will be organized around the following exciting themes:

• The Incredible Human Body – The Art and Science of Being Human
• Space Explorers – Cosmic Art and Astronaut Science
• Road Trip Adventure – Art and Engineering on Route 66
• Galileo Makers: Materials Challenge – Extraordinary Art and Inventions with Ordinary Supplies

For older kids, entering 5th grade through 8th grade, there's Galileo Summer Quest. Each week kids choose from 11 immersive majors for which they are mentored by expert instructors with professional tools and materials. Campers can produce YouTube videos, engineer robotic pets, create delicious confections and so much more. This year's Galileo Summer Quest majors include:

• 3-D Modeling & Printing
• Catapult Builders
• Chefology: Breakfast Club
• Chefology: Supreme Sweets
• Go-Kart Builders
• Mobile Game Design 
• Mod Design with Minecraft
• Mystery Room: The Great Escape
• Robot Pet
• Virtual Reality 
• YouTube Producers 

Ava is super excited to take part in, well... pretty much all of these! The Minecraft and Escape Room camps are definitely at the top of her list.

Now is the time to sign your kids up for Summer camp with Galileo! 

Click here to learn more, find a camp near you and sign up. Little Hiccups readers can save $30 on one week of Camp Galileo or Galileo Summer Quest with the code INNOVATE18. Simply enter the code at the checkout. Discount is redeemable for one week of Camp Galileo or Galileo Summer Quest per family only. One-time use. Combinable with our Refer-a-Friend and Multi-Session discounts. Not combinable with any other marketing discounts.

Are you ready for Summer? It will be here before we know it!

Ready for Summer with Galileo Camps

Summer is almost here! Can you believe it? Ava and Lola have just five weeks of school left before the Summer break and they couldn't be more excited. We have some pretty fun plans lined up for this Summer. We have friends and family from Australia coming to visit, a little bit of travel, and, the most exciting thing for the girls, Summer camp! 

Summer camp is still a relatively new thing to this Australian expat. To me, sending the kids off to Summer camp feels like we're taking part in an American institution; another thing, like Halloween and handing out Valentines at school, that growing up I only experienced through American television shows. Another box to check off in our list of embracing American culture.

Avid4 Adventure Summer Camps

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Avid4 Adventure Summer Camps

It may not feel like it in much of the country right now, but Summer is right around the corner. That means it's time to get booking those Summer camps for the kids.

Last year Ava took part in a Summer camp for the first time. She loved it and is keen to try out more this year, as is Lola. They both love being outside, so this year I'm looking into adventure camps. We always spend a lot of time outside exploring over the Summer, but with a toddler in tow we're a little limited as to how adventurous we can get. For example, Ava and Lola would love to go kayaking or maybe even rock climbing, and as much as Mathilde would love to join in with these activities, it's just really not possible right now. This is where an outdoorsy Summer camp comes in handy. My big kids can do all the adventurous activities they've been longing to do without a toddler trying to join in!

One camp that I'm super excited about is Avid4 Adventure camps. With a focus on outdoor activities, and a camp right here in Oakland, it looks perfect for my girls.

Avid4 Adventure camps teach pre-K - 7th graders of all levels to climb, paddle, bike, hike and thrive in the outdoors. With help from a time-tested curriculum and insanely experienced instructors, Avid4 Adventure camps give campers solid skills and character-shaping confidence, launching them into a lifetime of empowering adventure. Doesn't that sound like a fun camp?

Avid4 Adventure day camp locations in California include Mill Valley, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Oakland, Santa Cruz, Campbell, Moraga and Walnut Creek.

Day camps will also be held in Colorado in Boulder, Golden, Highlands Ranch, Denver, Lafayette, Castle Rock and Colorado Springs (NEW in 2017!). Overnight camps in Bailey and Evergreen, Colorado.

To learn more and sign up visit www.avid4.com or call 800-977-9873

Ready for Summer Exploring

     

On Friday I was reading the girls' weekly school newsletter and right there in the first paragraph was a sentence that really jumped out and caught my attention: "There are only six weeks of the school year left". Six weeks! Eek! I can't believe that the long Summer vacation is almost upon us again.

With the realization that Summer is almost here I really got thinking about our plans for the break. Ava will be attending a Summer camp for two weeks for the first time ever (I'm just as excited about it as she is!) but apart from that we have absolutely no plans. The thought of all three kids home, all Summer with no plans kind of freaked me out a little, so I started thinking about activities that we can do to keep ourselves busy. We're sure to be doing lots of crafting at home, but with limited space in our apartment, and the lovely Summer weather, I like to take the girls out as much as possible over Summer.

We're really lucky here in the Bay Area that we have access to both stunning urban and natural environments. We'll most likely spend plenty of time hanging out in San Francisco visiting museums, galleries, cafes, playgrounds and amazing outdoor spaces along the waterfront. But you can guarantee that most of our time will be spent getting in touch with nature here in the East Bay where we have a wealth of parks filled with all sorts of natural wonders to explore. We sure do love to explore!

Seattle 2014: Pike Place Markets

This time last year we were on vacation in Seattle and Portland. A whole year has passed and I still haven't really written about our trip. I think that's got to be some sort of record on my behalf there!

Ok, so I did actually share a highlight post after our trip and one about the Gum Wall while we were in Seattle, but I have so many more photos I want to share with you guys so I think it's time to get back to it.   A year is long enough, I think!

One place that we visited regularly in Seattle was Pike Place Markets. Our hotel was located close by so the markets were a convenient place to stop by for breakfast, lunch and coffee. Ok, maybe the coffee part wasn't always so convenient given the long queues at the original Starbucks! We couldn't visit Seattle and not go to the original Starbucks even if it did mean standing in a queue for half an hour for our morning latte. Of course, the original Starbucks isn't the only place to get coffee at the markets if you need that caffeine hit without a wait.

52 Weeks: Week 28

Week 28: Back to Summer

After three weeks spent with friends and family back home in Australia we're back... home. Back in the place that has become home and is now home. The Bay Area.

And of course, travelling half way across the world also means that we're back in Summer. Our Summers here in the Bay Area aren't particular hot (in fact, Fall is actually our warmest season) but after Winter in South Australia it practically feels like we're in the tropics!

We've all been suffering from jet lag, especially early in the week, but I've been making a conscious effort to get out and about and be active, despite my brain's desire to stay in bed. The girls love being out and about, and there's nowhere they enjoy being more than a playground. Earlier this week we hit up one of our favourite playgrounds here in Berkeley at Live Oak Park.

Here's a look at our fun afternoon in the playground...

Lemonade & Cookies

 Yesterday the girls ticked another American childhood Summer must-do of their list.

They held a lemonade (and cookie) stand with friends!

Oh what a cute stand it was!

Tidal Pools & Sand Castles

There's nothing quite like spending a Summer morning on a Californian beach. White sand, blue sky, scorching sun, beautiful people... 

Oh, wait a minute... that would Summer on a Southern Californian beach. Here in Northern California (or at least around the Bay Area) Summer at the beach means fog, jackets and beanies! Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I'm not a Summer fan at all. I much prefer going to the beach when it's cooler and atmospheric.

On our little trip to Big Sur and Monterey the girls were super keen to hit the beach. They didn't care what the weather was like, they just wanted to run on the sand, wade in the water, explore tidal pools and build sand castles. 

After breakfast we headed down to the beach; a short walk away from our room. For our stay at Asilomar I had booked a family package which came with a bag of beach toys for each of the girls, among other things. The girls were pretty excited about their new beach toys and couldn't wait to play with them.

Summer Bonfire Party

Last night we went to a Summer Bonfire Party hosted by my friend Hanna. Hanna always puts on the best parties. You may remember the fantastic Easter Party that she held back in March. You can see it here.

Last night's Bonfire Party was no exception and we all had a great time.

We toasted marshmallows over the fire, we made s'mores, we had a BBQ, we cooked sausages over the fire, the kids had fun playing together and the adults had a great time catching up with friends. A perfect Summer evening.

Pretty party lights

Fun at Strawberry Canyon Pool

Summer is definitely here in the Bay Area now and I've got the sunburn to prove it!

Yesterday was such a lovely warm day. The girls and I made the most of the warm weather by catching up with friends at Strawberry Canyon Pool high up in the hills above the university.

Fun in the pool on a sunny day

New shoes

I love receiving parcels in the mail and the parcel that arrived this week was doubly nice as it was full of shoes! If only I received more parcels like that :)

Summer may be gone and the weather is getting (ever so slightly) cooler but I decided that Ava and I needed to try out Saltwater Sandals. I'd been coveting a pair of Saltwater Sandals for quite a while now (for both Ava and myself) but had never gotten around to buying them. At $65.00 a pair for the children's sizes they just seemed a little too pricey for fast growing feet. Like most things however, Saltwater Sandals are a fraction of the price in the US - that fraction being a little less than 1/2.

As much as I'd like to support local stores I just can't bring myself to pay the extra money when I know how cheap an item is overseas. Even factoring in the international airmail charge the shoes were still only around half the price they are here. So an order was placed with meandmyfeet.com and within two weeks a box full of shiny new shoes arrived.

Ava and I in our new Saltwater Sandals

Now that Ava and I have our Saltwater Sandals I know first hand what all the hype is about. First of all they are so comfortable. Ava usually complains that her shoes rub or hurt her feet and always wants to wear socks - definitely not going to let that happen with sandals young lady! She has been wearing her Saltwater Sandals all day for the last two days and I haven't heard a single peep out of her about her feet. I too have been wearing mine non-stop and my feet feel great. New shoes and no blisters? That never happens!

We haven't tried them out at the beach yet but from what I hear Saltwater Sandals are supposed to be super repellent to the leather-shoe-trashing properties of salt water - hence the name, I guess. I've inadvertently trashed more than one pair of leather sandals at the beach in my time so it's good to know that my new sandals are not going to suffer the same fate.

My favourite thing about Saltwater Sandals though is the fantastic range of colours they come in and their cute retro styling. Aesthetics triumph over all!  I couldn't decide which colour to buy for myself so decided to go for two pairs - one red and the other black. At USD$35 for the adults sizes I figured, why not? Ava of course didn't have to think twice about the colour she wanted - pink, of course!

Come next summer we'll be stocking up in all the colours of the rainbow!

Mummy & me shoes

Matching shoes - we just need extra tiny ones for Lola :)

Ava's sandal's in the colour Fuchsia