Not In My House! Does Kinectic Sand Make The Cut?

***We received the following products in hopes we would share our organic experiences here on the blog. Regardless all content is genuine and all photos are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015.

Momma Told Me: Not in my house!

I didn't get to play with any of the 'fun' toys, growing up.

Okay, I should rephrase, I didn't get to play with any of the messy toys, growing up. Most of my younger years were spent living in a condominium, where we had a 15' x 5' slab of concrete for a porch and yard. Since 1. We did not own our home and were renters, and 2. Momma wasn't the most intuitive when it came to children and preparing for their unavoidable catastrophes, I spent the majority of my play time outdoors. If I wanted to color with crayons- outside to the porch. If I wanted to play with Silly Putty- outside to the porch. If I wanted to eat an orange- outside to the porch. There was a strict 'Not in my house' policy and even that factor was not enough to convince Momma to allow the purchase of one of my most coveted childhood toy obsessions; Nickelodeon's Gak.

Flash forward to the present day and 12 year old Sabrina has spent the past 6 months asking for Kinectic Sand. I know, any parent or guardian hears the word 'sand' in association with a toy and thinks 'Not in my house!'  And that's precisely what's kept Sabrina's mother from caving in to the daily whining and requests every single time they passed this product on the shelf. What sane homemaker wants to give their child a few bags of sand and let them loose? Have no fear- Wacky-Tivities Kinectic Sand is a different kind of sand, bound by flexible polymers that help it move, stretch, stack, and 'breathe' in ways never thought possible. Not only does this mean the sand, in all it's granular glory, does not fall apart or blow away, but it is also Gluten Free (because I know ingesting sand is a secondary concern, right?)

Kinectic Sand comes in a variety of bright colors, and even the Jewel (glitter infused) ranges, which recently hit shelves. If you've been in any major retailer recently it's pretty much guaranteed you've seen this product. Personally, I was skeptical as to jut how much fun a bag of sand in a small tray could really be, but we were both captivated by this toy from the start. While the initial starter kit, which includes 4 molds and a play tray, as well as 1lb of sand, will set you back about $16 right now, you will want to invest in at least one other color/refill of sand to really fill the play tray. We found the molds were 'nice' but the real fun was watching the and move between fingers, along the bottom of the tray, and come alive as it expanded when forced into mountains and rivers.

Kinectic Sand is an entirely dry substance and very light to work with, but extremely 'magnetic' to itself. That is to say it will not be caught blowing away or sprinkling into carpeting, as it is fairly attracted to itself. And, surprisingly, it feels dry to the touch and is not tacky or sticky to any other surface but itself. I was pleasantly surprised in the replay value of Kinectic Sand, as Sabrina pulled out animal figures and even building blogs to play in the sand and create an entire kingdom of animals. The fact that the sand allowed for an ever changing environment really seemed to capture her attention and hold it.

With Summer just around the corner, whether you're a 'Not in my house!' mom or not, Kinectic Sand makes for a perfect backyard play thing. Kinectic Sand also seals up in any plastic bag and makes for a great sensory toy when being smashed and observed- perfect for younger users (age 3+). Best of all, 'cleaning up' this Summertime product is as easy as rolling the sand into a ball and smashing it into any straggling bunches of sand. My only request is that the brand starts marketing a resealable pouch or container to store the sand in, once it is opened, as it really would add a nice touch of cohesiveness to the product. What was one of your favorite sensory toys, as a child?

What Daughter Says: Kinectic Sand solves the need to explore and create without the fear of a mess.

What Would You Do With Unlimited Data? See How I Use #MyDataMyWay

This content has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile as a participant in their ambassador program. All opinions are mine alone. #MyDataMyWay #CollectiveBias 

Momma Told Me: Welcome to the future.

We talk a lot about the millennial generation and it's unique, neigh, fortunate position amidst the modern consumer tech boom. Those in my age bracket are young enough to have grown up around most modern technology devices, as they were first developing, yet old enough to still appreciate just how far modern tech has come in the past 10-15 years alone. When I hear someone complain that their 4G service is 'down' or not working it's hard not to roll my eyes. My first thought is, 'How did you live 5 years ago when their was no 'Gs' at all?' followed by, 'Maybe it's time to get a better network!' If you're one of the data-less out there, roaming the Earth, hunting down municipal WiFi signals because you think the technology of 4G data is beyond your budget and time, I'm here to remind you Walmart Family Mobile has you covered.

First of all anyone can enjoy the lightening fast speeds of 4g LTE service, and unlimited data, without having to take out a second mortgage or sign away the next 5 years of their life. With absolutely no contract, and first lines starting at just $29.88/month for Unlimited Talk, Text, And Data with up to 1 GIG of 4g LTE speed, Walmart Family Mobile plans are perfect for just about any one. Whether you're an individual looking to invest in your first Smartphone or a family of 4 talking about safety and your tween's first cell phone, there's a device and plan to suit your needs. Starting an Unlimited smartphone plan with Walmart Family Mobile is as easy as walking into your local Walmart- and be sure to check out these amazing rollbacks on great devices too:

• ZTE Zinger - $29.88
• Nokia Lumia 530 - $49.88 (was $69.88)
• Nokia 635 - $79.84 (was $129.88)
• Galaxy Avant - $149.00 (was $199.99)
• ZTE ZMAX - $179.00 (was $199.88)
• Alcatel Fierce 2 - $119.00 (was $129.99)
• Alcatel Evolve 2 - $39.83 (was $59.88)

You already know I am tethered to my tech day and night. While it's might not be the best thing for me, my lifestyle demands and allows me to be connected to the internet almost 24/7. Don't worry- I am sure to unplug every night 2 hours before bed, and don't touch the internet until AFTER my morning meal and shower- but the rest of the day is fair game. It doesn't hurt that I invest in the Unlimited Talk, Text, Data, and Web Family Mobile plan with 3 Gigs of 4GLTE data for just $39.88 on my line! Let's check out some of the ways I use #MyDataMyWay thanks to the freedom of the Walmart Family Mobile plans and network.

1. Streaming Music- I'm not the sort of gal who can stay motivated to keep active, especially when it comes to getting to the gym every other day. It's more so the drive to the dreary building with the bland colored walls and the silent TVs that kill it for me. Luckily, my Samsung Galaxy S4 is equipped with unlimited data and the Walmart Family Mobile network- I can stream my favorite digital radio station live from the elliptical WHILE hearting #CatsOfInstagram photos on Instagram.

2. Social Media and Networking- Thanks to social media pretty much anyone can feel like they're 'kinda a big deal.' My Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest feeds are constantly pinging mobile alerts to my mobile device and I'm happy to respond to them in real time for virtual interaction that is much more rewarding than simply logging into my computer at the end of the day. Social Media is a major part of what I call the 'NOW' generation and having unlimited data helps me stay relevant (if that's your thing,) or, at least, keeps me entertained while creeping in the shadows of the interwebs.

3. Tethering and Mobile HotSpots- While it may seem like free internet is everywhere these days, nothing makes it clearer that this is NOT the case, than traveling. I'm still surprised the sheer number of national airports and travel hubs that have limited or paid WiFi service. When I'm on the road I spend a lot of time waiting to get to wherever I'm going. The ability to tap into my mobile data and run WiFi devices, outside of my smartphone, off that connection is worth it's weight in gold.A few years ago people paid big bucks for this privilege, now, with the right device and Walmart Family Mobile, I can run my laptop from the most obscure travel hubs.

4. Mobile Gaming- Of course it's not ALL work- there's plenty of play, too. Many of my favorite apps, such as Words With Friends and Crossy Road enable me to compete in the rankings against my real life friends and family. My Unlimted Talk, Text, and Data plan even keeps the kids occupied on road trips, when they quietly play their favorite mobile application games for hours, much to my ears, and my sanity's delight.

5. Home Security Streaming- Whether you have a newborn you're leaving with a Nanny, a tween learning to walk herself home from the bus stop, or a new housekeeper you'd like to keep tabs on- wireless home security cameras are more popular than ever. While every camera is different, our iZon View home security camera gives us a full color, real time, stream complete with sound. I can pop into the live stream via the included application from anywhere with a data or WiFi signal OR receive noise and motion alerts with snippets of recorded 'events,' moments after they happen. Having the clarity and dependability of Walmart Family Mobile's wireless network and plans truly does help provide us with that extra piece of mind! Learn more and check the coverage quality in your area on the MyFamilyMobile hub.

What would you use unlimited web and data, with 1 Gig of 4G LTE speed for?

What Daughter Says: Don't go another day without reliable, unlimited, mobile data service, learn more about Walmart Family Mobile plans today!

Embracing The Tween To Teen Transition With The #NaturalGoodness of Tom's of Maine

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NaturalGoodness #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: Naturally sweet is the best kind of sweet.

When I was growing up the term 'tween' didn't exist. While most of my generation was reading Harry Potter novels and scrubbing their face with ProActiv, I was awkwardly thrown into high school 2 years early. Momma's only advice for the teenage years to come was, "You'll be lucky to get out alive," something she said in jest, but always with a hint of dark sarcasm. Needless to day, I spent the majority of my teenage years face down in books, my Friday nights filled with study groups and pre-SAT training courses. The fact that my body was constantly emitting strange new odors an my facial topography was changing more rapid than the melting glaciers never seemed to bother me.

Flash forward to today, and my beautiful niece, Sabrina. A part of my heart aches, looking back at her first few appearances her on the blog in contrast to the woman she becomes more and more each day. Like I was, she is very much a nerd- playing Minecraft on the Xbox360 into the wee hours of the morning and donning lens-free glasses simply to achieve 'the look.' Unlike me, however, she is very social and into the current trends of fashion, music, and celebrities. With her nose buried in her smartphone on YouTube during most off-school hours, we spend a great deal of time worrying how she will foster her own unique image.

 

This year has brought many new changes in Sabrina's life, including her first school locker, first year in Junior High, and an immediate obsession with all things girly- from dresses to handbags. Our little fashionista is beginning to take notice of the multiple changes her body will undergo as she transitions from tween to teen this year. And, while her mother fights the battle of adjusting loose straps, and wearing a bra properly, those less attentive notice the strange cloud of tween to teen aromas she is beginning to develop. Yes, her body is literally waging war, and it was at long last time to have 'the talk' of a different kind; keeping fresh and clean, naturally.

When one walks down the personal hygiene aisles it's easy to get distracted by talking displays, colorful packages, and 'free bonus' gimmicks. Tweens and teens are easily swayed by packaging with bright colors and celebrity endorsements, but we know that their developing skin is perhaps the most sensitive. Sabrina's mother doesn't allow harsh fragrances or artificial ingredients on her daughter's skin, but recently expressed her frustration at the thought of doing nothing at all. I was happy to point out the #NaturalGoodness of Tom's of Maine personal hygiene products, sold at her local Walmart. In particular, the long-lasting, aluminum free, Apricot Deodorant that harnesses all natural ingredients, such as zinc, for all day freshness, up to 24 hours.

I recommend Tom's of Main personal hygiene products for tweens to teens (and the whole family, really) because of the brand's dedicated mission to providing quality personal and skincare products with all natural ingredients. Not only is their range of skincare and oral hygiene products Earth friendly, but people friendly as well. Each and every ingredient in their collection of products is clearly listed, with a complete breakdown of purpose and source, online. That means I can rest assured that the natural Carageenan extract in their Flouride Free Antiplaque and Whitening Toothpaste is there for the express purpose of thickening. You'll never see a needless or frivolous ingredient on any of the Tom's of Maine products!

But how do you get your tween to teen to embrace a natural freshness over the glitz and glamor of artificial colors and fake fragrances? I put together a Tween to Teen gift basket perfect for any young woman learning how to tackle their bumps, bodies, and smells like a dignified lady. Of course my favorite Tom's of Maine natural oral hygiene and deodorant products made the cut.  It didn't hurt that the Antiplaque and Whitening Peppermint Toothpaste had a pink colored label either. Knowing this was Sabrina's favorite color I found and adorable toothbrush holder and matching washcloth, while shopping at Walmart, to add to my basket. I also included some natural facial cleanser wipes, hand sanitizer, and a purple paddle brush for after P.E. freshening. For at home motivation, I was sure to add a mini speaker and a flame-free wax warmer to keep up the funk-fight in her bedroom at home.

As any parent, or loving Aunt, knows, the best way to reach a tween to teen is with a gift, and this gift basket was a big hit. Personal hygiene is closely associated with beauty in our home, and Sabrina was immediately excited to explore the new products and learn how they could help keep her smelling, and looking, her best. I'll admit I was a little hesitant to see if she would accept the Apricot deodorant, with it's neutral unisex fragrance, but she immediately exclaimed how soft it was to apply and how she liked the 'natural' scent. That's a big win in our house, where we have had to wrestle our tween down at times just to apply deodorant!

By creating a simple gift basket of personal hygiene items themed to fit our tween we were able to get her excited about her changing body and personal care without the gimmicks and extras of artificial products. Thanks to Tom's of Maine we can feel confident we are continuing to foster good Earth practices and natural living habits in our slightly dramatic, but always loveable, tween to teen. For your younger family members, pick up Tom's of Maine's Silly Strawberry flouride-free toothpaste. Learn more about Tom's of Maine natural products and explore the selection available at your local Walmart with this $1/Any Tom's of Maine product printable coupon, available for a limited time. Now, share with us, what was your biggest struggle, as a tween to teen, and how did you get motivated to overcome it?

What Daughter Says: Teach your tween to teen to be naturally sweet with the Tom's of Maine range of natural hygiene products.

Spaghetti And Meatballs Cupcakes

Momma Told Me: If you don't stop playing with your food you're going to end up wearing it!

In our family photo album is a snapshot of a strawberry blonde, 2 year old me, in a booster chair that has somehow managed to work it's way out during every first 'dinner with the boyfriend,' throughout my life. There I sit, in nothing but my Pull-Ups alone, smeared head to toe in tomato sauce. The story goes; Momma turned around for but one second and I decided to flip my Barney bowl on top of my head, resulting in a wig made of spaghetti. It's not a moment on film I'm particularly proud of, but it does foster my fond memories of childhood and spaghetti. Honestly, whether you are a fan or not, you can't deny the fun in a dish like Spaghetti and Meatballs.

As you all know, I bake something new each week for my Thursday night bowling league. In the beginning it was an on and off kind of thing- I'd only bring in leftovers from recipes for the blog if I had them on hand. Now I search out specific treats to attempt, and even take requests from my fellow league-mates. Since April Fools just happens to be one of my favorite 'holidays,' I decided, this month, I would make some sweet imitations. What that means for you, my darling readers, is the proceeding 4 weeks of fun and zany 'faux' food concepts being rolled out here on the blog; starting with my Spaghetti + Meatballs cupcakes.

As if spaghetti wasn't a fun enough dish already, these sweet treats are entirely, well, sweet, and have absolutely no 'trick' other than they're playful look. Not only were these a blast to make with some readily available baking items, but I now have the intense desire to stage an entire Lady And The Tramp themed party. Of course these would also be great for any fans of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, or general Italian food lover's birthday; but we prefer the final option- making them just because.

While I'd love to take credit for being a foodie mastermind, these playful cupcakes are pretty simple to replicate. First, choose whether you want to go the traditional 'white noodle' route, or the more tongue in cheek yellow noodle route and make your cupcakes accordingly. A cream cheese frosting will work great for white or off white noodles, while a few drops of yellow food coloring will give them a more dramatic pop. Place your frosting in a piping bag with a narrow tip and simply zig-zag, swirl, and twist ribbons of icing across the top of your cupcake. For your spaghetti sauce, strawberry jam or preserves will do just fine. (I found preserves have a more rich red color, but tend to require thinning with a little fruit juice.) Plop some 'sauce' atop your noodles and dip a Ferrero Rocher chocolate hazelnut ball in some remaining 'sauce' and set it atop. Shave a white chocolate bar through a cheese grater for Parmesan cheese; it's as simple as that!

Making sweets that look like savory food items is sort of a thing in our household- just ask my father who has received cakes shaped like a sandwich, pizza, hamburger, and more. What favorite dish or meal would you get a kick out of seeing turned into a sweet treat?

What Daughter Says: Maybe you can't get away with playing with your food anymore, but you can enjoy the playful presentation of these cupcakes!

Best Buy's HP TouchSmart #AMDFX APU Processor Was Designed With Gamers Like Me In Mind

This #AMDFX reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Momma Told Me: Soon you'll be a video game character!

When I was a little girl, my parents were just starting their life together and, we lived in a small 2 bedroom condo. As far back as I can remember Pop was always fascinated by modern electronics, especially those consumers could own and bring into their home. We were early adopters and though we didn't have room for an office, Momma knew how important it was for my Pop to have a recreation space all his own. In our dining room (which was really just the other open half of our living room) sat a giant oak scroll-top desk with a massive computer monitor inside it. The desk, which still sits in my father's home today, not long after had a smaller version placed directly beside it at my demand.

Much to Momma's dismay, once I was old enough to move from Pop's lap to my own computer desk, I quickly adopted the gaming interests of my father. We played Monkey Island, DOOM, HEX, Myst, and pretty much anything we could dual screen or server share on. You might even say these extended interactions on my Pop's 'team' even made me favor PC gaming over the emerging console trend, as I grew up.

As you know I went to college to work towards a degree in Game Arts and Design fueled by the memories of late night co-op missions and many anti social hours spent on the SIMS in high school. Unfortunately, the past 10 years haven't left me much time to follow my passion of gaming. It turns out going to school, and working 3 jobs to pay off said school (loans,) is quite time consuming and exhausting. The last thing I had time for was clock out of my management job and into another managing role as a raid leader. Thankfully, I've grown, and I've found my own financial stability- which has enabled me to resume my favorite PC MMORPG game, World Of Warcraft. And boy have I ever resumed it- in about a year I have logged over 40 days of cumulative time logged into my server and toon (character!)

Serious gamers need serious gaming PCs. They demand a device that can handle extended, continual, use and extreme multitasking, as well as one that's versatile enough to keep up with the latest graphics cards, peripheral devices and communication accessories. I own multiple computers- a very expensive and advanced desktop for photo editing and image manipulation/web design, a gaming device strictly for the extended hours spent logged into WOW (World of Warcraft) servers- with very specific specification and device modifications for optimal communication and in game use, and a 'thrasher' laptop meant to keep me connected and (for the most part) working during travel and on the go. Unfortunately, my gaming laptop recently bit the big one and I've been logging some serious hours on a device that is not intended for intense graphics and network processing, let alone the online communication needed for live chat.

When I log on to my gaming platform (which right now is 24/7 as a background process on a thrasher computer) I also run a game add-on client and TeamSpeak (online chat) application, as well as several browser tabs of game guides and references. The add on client is essentially patching my game to modify it's interface appearance and operation WHILE I am using the game, so the PC is essentially processing the functions of 2 games simultaneously- and this isn't your Momma's 8 bit Atari, folks! I often experience crashing and lags regularly, which can really annoy the people I'm playing with. It's clearly time for me to replace my old gaming PC with a new dedicated device.

In our household we like to invest in compatible products, that means printers, tablets, laptops, and desktops that all made by the same parent brand, which so happens to be HP. We recently upgraded our old HP printer to an Envy- and have been blown away with how easy it communicates with and interfaces with our other household HP devices. Naturally, the HP #AMDFX special edition SPU ENVY TouchSmart 15.6" laptop is at the of my list for potential gaming PC replacements.

Featuring AMD's most powerful mobile processor the new FX APU powered notebook delivers the processing power of 10 computer cores for lightening fast, responsive multitasking and productivity.
The AMD FX Special Edition APU 15.5" HP ENVY TouchSmart laptop is exclusively available through Best Buy, where I know I can get a hands on try before you buy experience guided by knowledgeable staff, free of commission. We are already planning our visit to the Best Buy showroom where we'll get to put the audio and video processing (necessary for elite gaming) to the test. Of course if you can't quite make it into the store to check out this amazing gaming and multitasking PC in person, you can also take advantage of free shipping on order $35, year-round at Best Buy.com.

Of course you don't have to partake in PC gaming to find the value in this Best Buy exclusive laptop- The AMD FX APU processor is a must have for anyone who does extensive graphics or video editing, or heavily entertainment streaming! Who in your home would get the most use out of having an HP laptop with AMD's most powerful mobile processor inside? Would they be gaming? Streaming? Creating?

What Daughter Says: The only thing silly about gaming is time wasted trying to actually play a game. Upgrade your PC today to stay connected and make the most of your time logged in.

 

An Ode To Sprinkles: Try Our Gooey Sprinkle Bars Recipe!

Momma Told Me: Everything I make can't look like a unicorn exploded!

People may refer to me as a 'living rainbow' for my ever revolving choices in hair-color, fashion, food, and more, but my obsession with all things fun and colorful began at a very early age. No, I'm not referring to the challenge of picking out a thrift store ensemble during one of Momma's famous runs to Goodwill, I'm referring to my love of Sprinkles. Let me tell you, as a child I would have put sprinkles on my pizza if it was kosher. And now that I'm thinking of it, Momma did have a great dessert pizza recipe that involved such gratuitous use of colored sugar specks- but that is a recipe for another time.

You see Momma wasn't much of a kid person- she would have much rather spent her time grilling me for multiplication tables of local historical facts than try to decipher the sordid tales of the Barbie Wives of Southern California with me.Yes, my childhood was fairly strict, but Momma was all about creativity. When it was time to pick up a paint brush, pair of scissors, or wooden spoon, there were no rules. And Momma knew, for me, any recipe could be made magical with sprinkles (which we dubbed fairy poop for quite a while.) You see, Sprinkles are cheap, and not just for ice cream sundaes, my friends.

Most traditional Sprinkles are soft and will gently melt away if given the chance; leaving but a little blur of color as a reminder of their presence. For me, sprinkles were just as much about the rainbow of colors as the texture- Sprinkles come in all shapes and sizes, but the classic, ice cream shopper style sprinkles, those are the best. I'd stand there, barely able to peer over the kitchen counter, and watch the river of colors slide from one end of the sprinkle shaker to the other. Even the sound was playful, and there was nothing more fun than watching them pour onto my favorite dessert.

Spring is the perfect time for Sprinkles. While many will be celebrating the Easter holiday this weekend, you don't have to be any age or faith to appreciate a sweet, gooey, colorful, recipe like these Gooey Sprinkle Bars. this recipe has it all, chocolate, a candy rainbow, and a chance to play with your food as you spread the dough into the bottom of the pan. You most likely have all of the ingredients on hand right now- we all have a sprinkle stockpile, right? Give this favorite recipe a chance, and relieve a little bit of childhood wonder today. Now, tell me the truth, when was the last time you used sprinkles in a recipe or as a topping, and what was it?

What Daughter Says: Cooking with colors, whether a delicious vegetable ratatouille, or birthday cupcakes, will always be a thrill of mine.

Gooey Sprinkle Bars

***Click here for printable Sprinkle Bars recipe.

How To Stay Cool This Summer With A NewAir AF-520B Misting Fan And More- Giveaway 5/5

I was provided a NewAir AF-520B 18 Inch Misting Fan for the following feature. Regardless all opinions remain my own. All images below are copyright Momma Told Me 2015.

Momma Told Me: The best way to beat the heat is to stay indoors.

Growing up, in Southern California, I spent the majority of my Summer days indoors, confined to the comforts of air conditioning. Momma refused to go outside until shortly before dusk, when the day's heat finally began winding down. At that point we'd often grab out flip flops and migrate down to the community pool where Momma could sit under the patio misters, in the shade, and watch me work out my excess energy in the pool. On afternoons, when I'd get especially restless, a trip to the local strip mall, and it's ice cold a/c was in order, complete with a matinee showing in a nice, dark, cool, theater.

Today, as I listen to my friends, back East, complain about how the snow is finally beginning to melt, and they cannot wait to escape Winter, I am left reflecting on the other half of the country. In Southern states, like Florida, Texas, and the Pacific Coast's California, our temperatures are already climbing towards 100 and the dry heat can quickly become unbearable. But what is the use in being in a warm weather state if you can't enjoy the warm weather and beautiful sun, outdoors?

Whether you're already basking in the sun/hiding in the shadows, or still longing for that first vision of Summer, make no mistake; warm weather is on it's way. Don't get caught hiding indoors when the temperatures start to climb, prepare your outdoor spaces for sunny weather early so you can enjoy the warm weather months when they come. Try these simple tips for outdoor cooling and reclaim your backyard as a personal oasis today;

1. Add Some Shade: In most cases, getting out of the direct sun will cool contact temperatures as much as 15-20 degrees instantly. Consider adding an awning, patio set with tilting umbrella, gazebo, or yard tent to help create shaded areas in your backyard. Also growing quickly in popularity are yard sails. Resembling an actual boat sail, and made of a similar fade resistant canvas fabric, yard sails can be installed with easily mounted stainless steel frames for instant shade structures that quickly go up and come down during the cooler Winter months.

2. Plant A Tree: While this can be a more gradual, but long term, backyard cooling solution, trees also add shade. Many adolescent trees can be purchased at the local nursery and provide sweeping shady spots as well as the subliminally cooling effects of rustling leaves and the 'sound of wind.' If your climate allows, palm trees can make excellent backyard trees for privacy, ambiance, and atmosphere. Dwarf palms will grow no taller than 6'-7' and are often short an stubby, while other varieties of palms can remain pot bound for years until final transition. Adding plants to your backyard should not be done exclusively for shade but also to increase oxygen presence and water retention which will help keep even concrete focused patio spaces cooler over time.

3. Outdoor Misting Fan: If you've ever been to a theme park and found yourself eagerly awaiting the strip of line covered in tarped misters then you know the value of fine water distribution in a hot, dry, environment. Introduce artificial wind to your backyard space with a durable and high powered outdoor fan. The NewAir AF-520B Outdoor Misting Fan is ultra quiet and provides three speeds of cooling both a dry and wet operation. With a tilting head and adjustable height the AF-520B 18" Misting Fan is an affordable and quick cooling solution for any outdoor space with a single unit covering up to 500 square feet in ultra fine,cooling mist. Operation is simple with the included hose hook-up, and extra long power cord.

An outdoor misting fan is also a wonderful, portable solution. The AF-520B can easily be moved from it's grill-side spot on the patio to a misting position poolside. It's lightweight frame is durable enough to withstand outdoor use and water contact, while it's sturdy base stands up to environmental factors like gusting wind. While we primarily use ours on the patio, the fine mist produced by the 3 water nozzles is equally appropriate for the kids to cool off in while playing in the yard, or even lounging in the hammock on a warm Summer day.

4. Go Artificial: If your space doesn't allow for the introduction of new plants and trees, sometimes the best thing to do is go artificial. Opting for 'fake' plants and decor will help cut down your time in the sun providing seasonal maintenance, while still providing the optimal atmosphere for a much needed retreat and oasis.

5. Add A Pool Or Pond: My last tip, and perhaps the most obvious, might also seem like the most most impractical. However, if you are not ready to commit to an in-ground or above-ground pool structure, or landscape pond; consider adding a small table or bird fountain to bring the presence of water to your outdoor space. Believe it or not, the sounds and sights of water, especially moving water, can be just as cooling and relaxing as soaking in the water, itself.

Is it starting to warm up in your part of the world? How do you and your family stay cool outside when the Sun decided to come out to play?

What Daughter Says: Don't let the sun keep you from enjoying your backyard- that's what it's there for! Begin working on creative cooling solutions for your yard, today.

One Momma Told Me reader will win a NewAir AF-520B Misting Fan to help stay cool this Summer.

What I'm Gaming: #CrossyRoad Endless Road Hopper Mobile Game

Momma Told Me: The chicken doesn't always have to have a reason to cross the road.

Hop. Hop. Hop.

As you know, my family was a 'gaming' family long before the term even really existed as it does today. Back when only the hippest homes had the latest Atari system, and when marriage counseling often meant Pop playing Zelda into the wee hours of the evening while Momma discussed novels with her book group. My parents were early adopters of home electronics, especially computing ones and I was raised with floppy disk drives and the sound of internet (AOL) dial tones. My form of 'mobile gaming' was an 8-bit Handheld Gameboy so conveniently portable and high tech for it's time its footprint rivaled the modern Phablet.

And, oh was I ever so proud of that Nintendo device- quite the expensive 'toy' back then. It's true, I put down my MegaBloks and Littlest Pet Shop figures in exchange for hours staring at that grey and green screen. At least until the batteries died! But there was one game, quite similar to Atari's Freeway, but previously only available on PC I especially became addicted to upon it's mobile gaming release; Frogger.
I'll admit- these days, I don't have quite the same amount of time to dedicate to gaming as I did in college. You may recall I actually began majoring in Game Art And Design when I graduated high school at 16. I was not only obsessed with playing video games, but I loved drawing and concept design. Needless to say, I hardly knew what I wanted to do with my life at 16, and that dream was short lived once school bills and the real world set in. These days I spend my free gaming time mainly on MMORPG's such as World Of Warcraft.

However, I can't always bring my laptop with me to game in a waiting room, on the treadmill (okay, I split my treadmill time with Instagram and gaming) or on a road trip. It's still hard for me to accept that my modern mobile phone is such more of an advanced mobile gaming device than any I ever had as a dedicated gaming system, growing up. Even better, mobile games are most often free so I can download and try as many as I want with no guilt or buyer's remorse. Over the past few years I've found a few gems I find myself going back to over and over- they remain on my phone's game screen through the seasons- one of them is #CrossyRoad.

Available for FREE through the Google Play store, Amazon Apps store, or Apple App Store, Crossy Road is a classic endless road hopper style game with over 40 unique characters to collect and explore through uniquely built terrains and environments. While one, very skilled, person could theoretically run endlessly and never hit the end of the game, the overall object is to earn coins and unlock characters. I thought this would get old really quick but each character has their own unique soundboard, environmental tweaks, and slightly different world map challenges. My favorite, so far, is by far the Cockatoo with it's hilarious screeches that border on obnoxious (in a good way.)

While Crossy Road does offer a way to 'purchase' coins for real cash, I've seen no real need since you still unlock characters at random for 100C a piece, and are even then still subject to get repeat characters. Earning coins goes pretty fast, so you won't feel the pressure to buy anything, and you will surely love collecting the different themes and worlds to make game-play trickier. Anyone can play this tap and swipe based game, and all can feel accomplished in doing so. Best of all, you can pick it up or put it down at any time with no commitment or time suck. Play it for a few minutes here and there!

Crossy Road takes me back to my days playing Frogger with much more colorful world and character rendering and without the frustration of escalating difficulty or game play. It's a must download, n my opinion, and something the whole family can enjoy.

What Daughter Says: If you don't have time to ponder games with plots or goals download Crossy Road today.