Living Locally: Harlem Globetrotters Summer Skills Clinic

If you are looking for a fun summer activity for your kids, this one is sure to be a blast! The Harlem Globetrotters are offering Summer Skills Clinics in Oregon at 24 Hour Fitness Locations June 12-22nd and across the county for kids ages 6-12! If you like the Globetrotters, the two-hour clinics will be so much for for your children! The clinics are taught by actual Globetrotter players and are jam packed with games, tricks, and moves.

All kids that attend the Harlem Globetrotters Summer Basketball Clinics will:

• Spend two fun-filled hours with their friends being coached by two Globetrotter Stars.
• Learn more than just Xs and Os as the Globetrotters emphasize how to be a good teammate on and off the court.
• Leave with an official certificate, personalized Globetrotter nickname and ticket voucher to the Globetrotters 2015 North American Tour, valued at $40.
• Have an autograph and photograph session at the end of the clinic.

Spaces are strictly limited so I would register today! ALSO, I've got a great deal that is exclusive through the US Family Guide where you can automatically save $10 OFF the Harlem Globetrotters Summer Skills Clinics with the promo USFAMILY.

To look at a list of all times and locations, as well as purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.

~Melissa

I was given a free pass to a Harlem Globetrotters Summer Skills Clinic in exchange for promotion from the US Family Guide. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Create.Simplify.Inspire. #68

Today I began something that I've been putting off for a long time - cleaning the carpets. I put it off until they are downright embarrassing and then it takes me SO long to get them cleaned. It looks like I'll be cleaning again all morning tomorrow.

 I've gotten an urge to finally do some things around the house that have been on my to do list for a long time now. Things like cleaning the carpet, staining the fence and decks, and hopefully putting tile in our bathrooms. I think maybe it's because a know several people moving and even though I sometimes get the urge to move into a house that is bigger and better I don't; one reason being that I love our location. It's perfectly situated between all of the schools. Secondly, I love our mortgage. It's affordable, and I'd hate to have to work even more just to have more space. 

Anyways, that's just what's been on my mind this evening - do you have any home projects that you will be tackling this summer?

This link up to to share anything and everything that inspires you, or that you've created. 

           ~Melissa

 

Create.Simplify.Inspire. #68

  

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Helicopter Rides

Last weekend the kids may have attended the most exciting birthday ever.

It was at our local airport.

It was a small party, but the entertainment was huge - helicopter rides.

They were all so excited and brave! Emma went up first with a few other girls, and I watched as they lifted into the sky and flew off out of site for 5 minutes or so (it seemed longer to this momma who was filled with anticipation for their return!)

Then Noah and Anika went up with the older girls - I had to leave to go to work, but I saw them flying in the sky as I drove down the highway.

I reminded them just how spoiled they were as I myself have never even been on a helicopter ride.

This is a memory they will not soon forget.

~ Melissa

Bacon Mango Salad

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FlavorforLess http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”

This week our weather is kicking it in to high gear again. We were in the 50's this last week, and this week it may even hit 90 degrees. It's crazy - I'm not quite ready yet for summer weather! It seems as if every year I vow to be in better shape before the season begins, and every year I am not quite where I'd like to be, but I continue to make little changes to keep me moving in the right direction.

I've mentioned before that when the weather warms up we eat a lot more salads. They are easy and so versatile that I could pretty much eat one for lunch any day and not complain. 

In fact, I made this Bacon Mango Salad the other day and it's always one of my favorites. How could you go wrong with bacon? There is also mixed greens, mango, pecans, and feta cheese. I top it off with a poppy seed dressing and it's always wonderful!

 A lot of the time I'll drink iced tea with my lunch, but every once in a while I'll get a craving for a glass of soda. I rarely drink pop anymore, but when I do it's almost always one of the TEN Calorie sodas that can be found at Safeway. They're guilt free and taste really good!

In fact, right now through the 19th at Safeway you can get a TEN Calorie product free on the Just For U website, while supplies last.

Here are the measurements to make a large dinner salad or two smaller side salads:

Bacon Mango Salad

2.5 -3 cups of mixed baby greens

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup diced mango

1/3 cup feta cheese

1/2 cup crumbled bacon

Dressing of your choice

What are some of your favorite salads to make?

 ~Melissa

A Starbucks Date // Tasting Teavana Oprah Chai

“I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Starbucks. I received a promotional item and a gift card to facilitate my review. 

It has been a crazy week around here. Between the softball practices, T-ball practices, work, field trips, doctors' appointments, and prepping for our Grade School's Family Fun Fair - I knew I needed a few minutes to just take a break. I invited my friend Jessica out to Starbucks so we could both catch up for a little bit, in between me dropping Noah off at preschool and picking Emma up from Kindergarten. It was well worth it. 

We both tried the new Teavana Oprah Chai Tea; I opted for it hot while she tried it iced. We were both pleasantly surprised at the flavor of it. It had a great blend of spices and wasn't overly sweet - something that I sometimes find in Chai Teas (even thought I love them!) Starbucks is also having a Mother's Day deal tomorrow where you can buy one Teavana Oprah Chai and get a second one for free. What's even better is that Starbucks in donated .25 cents from every beverage sold to benefit educational opportunities for youth through the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. You can visit SteepYourSoul.com to learn more information.

It's amazing how a couple brief minutes away from the everyday chaos can clear your mind and rejuvenate you. I was able to refocus and write down what I needed to accomplish for the rest of the week - and I made it! 

All of my work got done, plus the Family Fun Fair went really well! I was pretty nervous as I had never really been in charge of something so large before, but it went off without any glitches and I had so much help from other parent volunteers all chipping in together to make a memorable night for all of the kids. 

I'll actually be working this Mother's Day, but I may just stop by Starbucks for another one of these beverages on my way to work and share with a co-worker... or maybe I'll just be selfish since it is "Mom's" Day and drink two myself! ;) 

                                                                    ~Melissa