MarytheKaytheBlog

My Baby Daddy

Oh my, I am just cracking myself up!  Just yesterday my husband asked me what was "My baby daddy" that I wrote at the very end of yesterday's post.  Since I am such an expert in urban lingo, I had to explain to him that "my baby daddy" is actually HIM...as in "my baby's daddy."

In celebration of Father's Day Weekend, I would like to dedicate this post to honoring my baby daddy!!!

 Let's start at the very beginning...A very good place to start...  Welcome to the Day Dave became a Daddy!  From the very beginning that little baby girl stole her daddy's heart.

(And just in case you're wondering...why, yes, those are overalls.  And, no, he is not a farmer!)

I remember when I was pregnant with our first daughter, Dave suddenly got a very serious expression on his face.  I asked him what was the matter, and he replied solemnly, "I am going to have to kill some guy someday...and then I'll probably end up in prison."  Poor Dave--2 daughters to have to fight off potential suitors of his precious daughters.  Maybe I should be saying, "Poor potential suitors."  Because I'm not sure any young man will measure up to his little princesses!

Dave is such a wonderful daddy.  Our girls have learned that their dad is FUN and full of adventure.  They have learned he has lots of fun surprises up his sleeves.

 But, their daddy is so much more than just fun...  He is very deliberate about their spiritual and character educations.  It is only because of him that our girls know so many scripture verses.  I love listening to their bedtime game--One of them will say the first word of a familiar verse, and they each take a turn saying the next word of the verse, until the end.  They've gotten really good at this game, and can FLY through a verse--each saying one word at a time. 

Our family also owns every single Veggie Tale movie, and many other character-building movies and books--all because Dave spends time picking out the kind of positive entertainment he wants our girls to spend time watching and reading.
 

 

I really love how secure our daughters are growing up...secure in knowing their daddy adores them!

Happy Father's Day, Dave!  I am so proud to be married to you, and together raising these girls of ours!

 

I leave you with this little song, a song my girls love listening to over and over again, thinking about their daddy dancing with them...

 

Daddy's Girl

In honor of Father's Day this weekend, I thought I would share some fun pics of the first man I ever loved...the man who I always proudly said I was his Daddy's girl!

I'm the little peanut baby in the Easter bonnet.  That's my big brother in the sissy-boy jumper.  (Little sisters never give up, do they??)  That tall, distinguished man is my daddy.

From the moment I can remember, I loved calling myself, "Daddy's girl."  I was so proud to be his daughter.  I can remember getting to go on Rounds with him at the hospital, and even as a small girl, realizing how much his patients and nurses respected and loved him.  I liked the way everywhere we went, people stopped to talk to him.  I always felt secure with his great big hand wrapped around my small one.

Growing up, even in the difficult teen years, I always understood how wise my daddy was.  Plus, I saw him walk out a faith he taught and preached.  There was no double-standard for him--he was the same man at home as he was in public.  Even though our phone rang constantly (and before Caller ID there was no screening of calls for a doctor's family), and we never got to eat a meal in public without getting interrupted with a "quick question for the Doc," I was proud to have a dad so loved and sought after for advice.

Plus, he was just so FUN to be around.  He could get our entire family laughing so hard we would be doubled-over, with tears streaming down our faces.  I know that my brother, sister, and I all inherited our love of a practical joke from our dad.  We still laugh about the big toe he brought home from the hospital in a little ring box.  He brought it out at dinner time, telling my mom he'd brought home something interesting from work.  When he opened the box, and she saw the toe inside, with red gauze surrounding it, you should have heard her!  She started backing away from him, telling him he had finally lost it, and bringing that toe home surely was breaking some kind of law!!  Finally, my dad cracked his great big smile, and then we kids couldn't wait to get our hands on the real-looking plastic toe!

My dad is our family's storyteller.  I can't tell you the hours our family has sat around the dinner table, listening to the old stories of his youth.  The characters of his childhood are as real to me as members of my family.  Brother Mose and Sister Bobby, Robert Earl and Eric, Hunkaby and Billy Bob Willingham, and even little Judy, the sweet fluffy chick that became a mean old rooster.  Even typing out these names, I am reminded of dozens of stories about each of these characters...Stories brought back to life each time my dad gets that twinkle in his eye and says, "Did I tell you about the time..."

Even though I'm grown now, I still look to my dad for wisdom.  And, he's still ready to give it!  Just last week he told me he was acting as the Holy Spirit for me, and I really needed to heed his advice!! 
 

Almost as good as being Daddy's girl, I LOVE seeing my dad with his grandchildren.  I love that they are learning the old stories and meeting the old characters that I have grown to love so much.

I love that our kids are getting to learn from him, and watch him walk out his faith.

And get to experience his practical jokes...Oh how my dad loves these pictures of Rebecca, when for a whole year (much to her mother's frustration) between years 2 and 3, she posed for pictures with 1 eye closed--because her Pops kept encouraging her to!  Sometimes he still calls her, "Ole One Eye."  I love that each grandchild has his/her own special jokes with Pops, those special stories that just the two of them share! 

It sure makes me smile to see my own girls feeling every bit as loved and cherished by their Pops, as I do by my Daddy...

And, in remembrance of those homemade Father's Day cards so long ago...

Hapy Father's Day, Dabby!!!  I lub you!

Tune in tomorrow, when I will share some pics and sing the praises of my girls' Baby Daddy!!!

3 Things I Love About Summer

1.  Shaved Ice - Nothing says summer to me like a large shaved ice!  And nothing cools me off on a hot day more than a pink lemonade shaved ice...  May I complain for just one moment?  My little town does NOT have a shaved ice stand--Why, oh why is that???  Why must I suffer through summer without a daily, or at least weekly, shaved ice?  Some things in life I shall never understand...And my town's lack of a shaved ice stand is one of them.

Question:  Do any of you know of a home shaved ice machine or a home ice crusher that works well?  I saw some at Walmart the other day, and wondered how well they work.  Please do not answer, "Snoopy Sno Cone Machine!"  Because that thing is manufactured by the devil, and intended to bring strife into the household.  You manually grind and grind that poor ice until your ears cannot stand one moment more of the horrible, terrible scraping ice noise...and you find that you have exactly 1 teaspoon of shaved ice to show for your efforts.  I am looking for an ELECTRIC shaved ice machine/ice crusher - that will not crush my bank account.

 
2.  Lying on a Raft in a Pool- Preferably, in my own backyard, and without children taking turns surprising me by tumping me over.  (Shauna--"tump" is just for you...in the off-chance you're reading...)  One of the best things my parents did for us growing up was putting a pool in our backyard.  My sister and I have very fond summer memories of rushing home after Sunday church and lunch, throwing on a swimsuit, grabbing a paperback novel and a large cup of ice water (with a bendy straw), and lying in the pool on rafts...reading, sometimes giggling, and many times falling asleep.  Now, THAT is the life!  There is no napping like a pool raft nap.  I can't tell you how many times I would wake up to the sound and smell of a dog panting in my face--my raft would be against the side of the pool, and my sweet dog was just giving me a little "hello, how are ya" breath.

3.  Laid-Back Evenings Hanging out with Friends and Family - Grilling something easy, slicing up some watermelon, cranking some homemade ice cream...Really, the food doesn't matter (except for the dessert, of course!)--it's just the sitting around in camp chairs, chatting, sipping sweet tea, while the kids run around the perimeter, eating popsicles and smiling and giggling.  Really, could there be a more perfect summer evening?  Especially if there is a cool breeze, and no pesky mosquitoes ( a girl can dream, can't she?)

Has your pace slowed down yet this summer? 

What do you love about summer? 

I really would like to know!!
 

Summer Camp: (almost) Wordless Wednesday

Well, ya'll should know by now that it would be nearly impossible for me to publish a wordless post.  I just find myself using lots of words even to describe the simplest things.  But, be patient with me--I'm trying, I'm trying!

 

Today, I would love to show you a small slice of summer camp life.  These are pictures I snapped today as I drove into camp at 7:00pm.  At first, you might be wondering, "Where are all the campers?"  But, be patient.  You'll see what they're up to at 7:00pm tonight...

 

I hope to share more slices of summer camp life in the future.  Because, let me just tell you--these pictures show a very tame version of what life is like for our family in the summer.  Maybe I'll even post a video sometime of the cheering-dancing-fired-up-wild-and-crazy-summer-camp-life!!!

 

But, today, just enjoy this little drive into our camp...

 

 

The End.

 

Tell the Truth Tuesday

Lately, my friend Carissa has been writing "Tell the Truth Tuesday" posts.  I have loved reading about her Tuesday truths!  I sure hope she doesn't mind if I steal her idea this week.  And if she does--I will remind her that she stole the idea from someone else.  If my brain weren't so tired, and my head didn't hurt so badly right now, I might just remember who.  But, I don't.  (Ooh!  My first truth for the post!!)

Here is my truth for today:

My daughters, ages 10 and 5 1/2, have a terrible case of sibling rivalry, and I don't have a clue the best way to handle it.

 

Ouch.  That's a pretty big mothering truth I just put out there.  But, you know what?  I seem to give lots of "advice" here on the ole blog--craft ideas, recipe advice, favorite things...  I just need to be honest enough to say that I DO NOT have it all figured out.  Umm, not even close.

 

But, I bet many, many of you have dealt with sibling rivalry, and have even come out triumphant on the other side.  If that is the case--I would LOVE to hear your wisdom, your favorite tricks up your sleeves.

 

I could write waaaaay to much information here in trying to describe why I think they have the rivalry.  But, I figure sibling rivalry is pretty universal, as well as its causes.  So, instead, I'll just explain a few scenarios that have happened this week to help illustrate what it looks like in our family.

 

1.  Driving home, frequently one of the girls will have to go to the bathroom.  Getting close to home, she will call out, "I call guest bathroom!"  (closest bathroom to the garage).  Then, the other sister will call out, "No wait!  I HAVE to go to the bathroom--I CALL guest bathroom!"

 

2.  At mealtime, the girls want to sit by me.  We solved it at home by assigning seats.  Neither girl sits by me--they sit across the table from their dad and me.  Solved!  Whew!  However, working at summer camp, we do not always sit at the same table, and sometimes I need to sit by guests.  When one side of me is "open," both girls want to sit beside me.  It becomes very disruptive when I am trying to visit with guests.  I just need a quick, easy trick that would nip this problem...?

 

3.  Silly Bandz (the colorful shaped rubber bands)...are your kids crazy about them, too?  My girls are loving collecting them, but I see them not treating each other kindly in their trading with each other.  They each want to get the "better trade"--offering the most unwanted bracelet in exchange.  Also, there is some bickering about how some "trades" were just loans, and now she wants her bracelet back, which the other sister completely denies...

 

4.  When one sister gets a letter in the mail, the other one feels unjustly "persecuted" for not receiving a letter, too.  And vice versa.

 

I realize these situations I've mentioned are just ways that children act because they are children.  I'm not expecting perfection out of our girls at all.  However, I see the seed of sibling rivalry, the constant competition between them taking root--and I want to do my very best in raising them to love each other.

 

One of our ultimate goals for our daughters is for them to be best friends.  We realize at certain ages (like right now), the age gap might be too great for that to happen.  But, as they grow and mature, that is our greatest hope for their relationship.  That they would love each other like no other, depend on each other, and stick up for each other.

 

Our girls DO love each other, and many times we see them expressing that love by helping each other, happily playing together, and depending on each other.  That just thrills our hearts!

 

But, the sibling rivalry?  The constant competition between them?  That totally stumps me.

 

Help?

It's a Strawberry Jam Cook-Off!

I'm not sure if I could endure the heat and humidity of summer if it weren't for the beautiful and vibrant fruits that accompany that heat and humidity.  And, oh, aren't the juicy red strawberries some of your favorites?  There is nothing like biting into a sun-warmed strawberry, and the juice running down your chin.  A little messy--but totally worth the burst of sunshine-y flavor.

I'll tell you what almost compares to that luxurious moment:  In the middle of a desolate and cold winter, opening up a jar of that sunshine-y strawberry jam!!  Oh man, so many winter mornings, I basked over a warm piece of toast slathered in rosy strawberry jam.  I'm smiling, just remembering how good, and how wholesome it felt to eat the strawberry jam I had canned earlier that summer.

Have you ever made strawberry jam?  Or any jam/jelly, for that matter?

Growing up, making jelly seemed like something only really skilled people made.  Oh, our family sure appreciated homemade jellies (Mayhaw was our family favorite!), but that wasn't something we ever tried to do.

I have a wonderful mother-in-law who grew up on a farm, and knows all about canning.  My first year of marriage, she began teaching me some of these things.  I was so surprised to learn that making jelly really isn't difficult--it just takes following directions and having a couple of the right tools and supplies. 

Here are some of the basic tools and supplies you need for making jam/jelly:

(Obviously, you need to start with some strawberries, sugar, a pan, and a stove!)

 

 I like the pint size-wide mouth jars the best.  Usually, you buy a case of 12 jars at a time.

There are plenty of jam/jelly recipes inside this box!  The freezer jam I made was with Sure Jell's recipe.

 

 

One of my favorite canning tools!  Remember, I used mine to make my Redneck brother-in-law's salsa?  I bought my funnel at Walmart.

 

Psst!  Want to know a secret?  I don't own most of these items...I just "make do" with what I have.  However, if you make a lot of jam/jelly, I would go buy an inexpensive starter kit (like this one at Walmart.)

Okay, ready for the Strawberry Jam Cook-Off?

 

Traditional jam VS. Freezer jam

Last summer, I had a big batch of strawberries I wanted to make into some jam.  I knew about the traditional method, but I had also heard a lot about the freezer jam method.  When I found out my Redneck brother-in-law's grandmother's FAMOUS strawberry jam was the freezer method, I KNEW I had to try it!  (Grandmaw had a lot of FAMOUS recipes...)

So, what's a girl to do?  She makes BOTH, and COMPARES them!

For the traditional method, I used the Strawberry Jam recipe from Allrecipes.com.   I was careful to read many of the reviews, and I even followed the advice by using a little less sugar.

The result?  Oh my heavens--delicious, dark red jar of gold.  Okay, not really gold, but like it in that I wanted to hoard the jars. 

But, next, I tried Grandma's Freezer Strawberry Jam.  I was pleased to find out she always used the recipe inside the Sure Jell box.  I remember there being lots of little strawberry bits in her jelly, so I was careful not to completely mash all of the berries as the directions instruct.  Otherwise, I followed the directions carefully.

The result?  OH my HEAVENS!  I have died and gone to Strawberry Heaven!!!  I will say that the texture of freezer jam is much runnier than the traditional jam.  But the flavor?  Knock your socks off, sweet summer strawberry!  It floored me that I could put a regular glass jar of jelly in the freezer--but that's what I did, and it worked!  When you're ready to eat the jam, just put the jar into the fridge for a day or two to thaw.

 

The Strawberry Jam Cook-Off WINNER???

 

For me, hands down it was the Freezer Jam!!!  Okay, and I admit...I am hiding the last 2 frosty pink jars of jam at the very back of my freezer.  They're mine, all mine!!

 

My husband actually prefers the Traditional Jam, so that works out GREAT!  He and our daughters eat from those jars, and I get to keep all the freezer ones!

 

But, since I am the writer of this blog, the Absolute WINNER is FREEZER STRAWBERRY JAM!!!

 

Thank you, Grandmaw, for handing down such a delicious tradition and recipe.  We will never make this jam without thinking about you!

 

*Check back soon--we're planning to go BLUEBERRY PICKING sometime this week!!

 Linked up:

Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family 

Linky Dinks con Dinky Links

I'm sorry, I really am...  I entertain myself waaaay more than I ever entertain anyone else.  Just roll your eyes, and rest assured that the authorities have been notified, and my medication is being delivered as we speak.

Okay, enough with the monkey business, and on to the serious stuff.  Like what drinks I REALLY WISH I had right now...  Is it as hot and HUMID in your town as it is mine?  Today I stood outside for about 5 minutes before needing to shower again.  Since I am a caring kind of a gal, I would like to share my current favorite frozen drink selections with you.  You would really be my best friend if you would like, deliver any one of these to me tomorrow.

Coke Icee- hands down, my lifetime favorite drink.  I have been drinking these since I was a small girl.  Blame my mama if I love these too much!  I am picky about  my Coke Icees (did you expect anything less from my quirky OCD side?)  My favorite way to enjoy a Coke Icee is thick and nearly frozen--with a spoon! 

Okay, one more Coke Icee fanatical fact about me:  When I was little I dreamed of having an Icee machine in our home.  I REALLY wanted to hold my mouth under the spigot.  I am sad to see that on their FAQ page, they do not sell or rent home Icee machines.  I guess I'll just have to fulfill my spigot dream in a store sometime, when no one is looking...

Culver's Lemon Ice Fruit Cooler- Culver's doesn't have a specific link for this--but you'll see it online on the bottom right of the menu.  My favorite fruit to blend in is pomegranate.  The sweet tart is enough to make my mouth water RIGHT NOW.

Braum's Lime Sherbet Freeze- This concoction is like a little party in your mouth.  I'm pretty sure all it is is lime sherbet and Sprite--much like the punch you make for wedding and baby showers.  But, Braums mixes just the right amounts to make it perfect for a hot day's refreshment!

Want to feel healthy while drinking a frozen drink?  I do when drinking the Berry Trinity Smoothie from Cold Stone Creamery...UMMMM!

Okay, if I don't stop talking about frozen drinks right now, I might just die.

I haven't linked up a Stuff Christians Like post in a couple of weeks...  I laughed out loud within the first paragraph of this one!

UPDATE:  Oopsie Daisy--I deleted my last link...My computer messed up, and I never got to see the very end of the video I linked, and let's just say the end of it was not family-friendly.  And I am a family-friendly kind of a girl, so delete, delete!  So sorry if some of your gentle sensibilities were injured in the process!

So, instead--I am posting a video of a friend of mine who is trying to win a contest with Uppercase Living.  Please watch her video and help her WIN!  And, it really is a VERY SWEET video...which, will hopefully make up for the, er..."little bomb" that was dropped with the video I had linked up yesterday.  Oops!

 

 

Now, go buy yourself a Coke Icee, crack open a new box of bon bons, and enjoy your weekend!!  Make sure your windows are open, and your box fans are rattling on high.

Summer Movies of the 80s QUIZ!!!

Who HOO!  It's Friday, baby, and that means kicking back at work, pretending to work, and waiting for the whistle to blow.

 

(Okay, that would be totally dishonest, and I cannot condone dishonesty.  So, go back to work, would ya?)

 

But, for those of you on an official (air quotes) Coffee Break, you may stay.  And take my quiz!!!  Who loves a good movie quiz?  This quiz is a little walk through memory lane for me--in honor of Friday Flashback, you know. 

 

I will post a picture of a scene from a movie of my youth that either I saw in the theatre in the summertime, or I somehow associate with summer.  (How do you like my strict guidelines?)  If you are weak in the pop culture of the 80s, you will probably have to resort to peeking at the answers at the very end of this post. 

 

But, if you are like totally radical, dude, in the 80s pop culture--please let me know in the Comments how many you got correct!  Which ones stumped you?  Let's have a little fun, shall we?

 

Crack your knuckles, here we go:

 

1.  Consider this a warm-up, a freebie

2.  Surely another freebie...everybody wipe a tear...

 

3.  Ah, but do you remember their names?

  

4.  They can't all be easy, now can they?  I saw this with my grandmother in a theater in Florida...*smile*

5.  For bonus points, name the guy in the background--above Tom Cruise's flexed muscle

6.  Oh, but WHICH ONE, smarty pants???

 

7.  I don't want you getting too cocky, so try this one:

8.  All the girls of the eighties are now wiping a tear...for the guy on the right...but, can you name him???

9.  And...now all the guys of the 80s are flexing their muscles, getting out their headbands...  Matthew--this one's for you!!

10.  Who could forget this villain?

11.  It might be a random shot from the movie...but the tennis shoes are a dead giveaway...

12.  Oh look!  More of the same tennis shoes!!  What a coinky dink!

 

13.  Anyone who has ever worked for my husband in the summer is WELL-AWARE of this movie...

14.  In honor of my friend Carissa...

15.  No, I'm not going to give you the expected scenes from this movie...let's make it a little more difficult, shall we?

OH MY WORD!  That was so much FUN!!!  We'll definitely have to do more of these!

 

Now, for the answers...  I'm warning ya--here they come...

 

Seriously, I'm going to start typing them...

 

Right

 

Now:

1.  E.T.

2.  Old Yeller

3.  Fox and the Hound  (Tod and Copper)

4.  Yentl (Anyone get this?  Without googling?)

5.  Top Gun  (Goose)

6.  Rocky IV

7.  Summer School

8.  Pretty in Pink  (How could you forget Duckie???)

9.  Rambo: First Blood

10.  Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

11.  Footloose

12.  Stand by Me

13.  First Knight

14.  Say Anthing

15.  The Karate Kid -new one coming out soon!!!

 

Okay, share your results!!!

 

Happy Friday, ya'll!

 

Linked up with:

I'm Lovin' it Fridays at TidyMom

Favorite Things Friday at A Few of My Favorite Things

They (literally) Danced All Night, They (literally) Danced All Night...

 

Would ya take a look at what we got to experience the other day...and evening!!  I say "day and evening" because we got lucky enough for our 2 daughters to be in BOTH recitals--the younger students' afternoon performance, and the older students' evening performance.  Score. 

Oh, I kid (just a little bit) because we had a wonderful time watching the cutie pie dancers on stage!

Did you notice the pic above?  Our daughter is the cutie with the "I'm teased right now" shoulders slumped.  I have NO IDEA what actual "move" the dancers are supposed to be doing in that very moment, because they each are doing something different.

 

Oh!  But, after the show--getting a flower bouquet from Dad is a huge treat!!  Every little girl needs to get flowers from Daddy sometimes.

Our little Sara Beth was SUCH a trooper that day...We found out about 30 minutes after this picture was taken, that she had an ear infection.  Sweet baby was stuffing little balls of toilet paper into her ear before her performance.  Not to worry--she is well taken care of now!  Maybe a little spoiled, too... 

 

Oh, but don't go yet--don't forget the EVENING Performance!

Sweet Rebecca didn't get to dance...with her broken foot in a cast...but she did dress in her costume, sit with her class, and even go on stage afterward.  And take lots of pics in her pretty costume, of course!  I have to say--she also was a real trooper!  I was SO PROUD of her for making the most of a stinky situation. 

 
And you'd better believe there were Daddy flowers!!  Big, smiley, arm bouquet Daddy flowers!

Oh, how I love this family!  Wait--that's my family!  Silly me...

And a recital just isn't complete without some dear friends to share in the fun! 

  

Packing for Summer Camp...3 Tips

Summer for our family means summer camp.  And not just because we work at a summer camp.  Our daughters love GOING to summer camp. 

 

Well, okay, technically the 5-year-old isn't old enough to attend camp.  And I'm not actually sure that she will be able to detach from my hip when she is old enough...Unless they come up with a camp where kids get to bring their moms to camp with them, and sneak into her bunk in the middle of the night so many times that her mama doesn't even wake up anymore.

 

But, our 10-year-old LOVES camp, and looks forward to it all year long!

 

Being the good OCD mama that I am, about a week before summer camp, my fingers start to twitch at the thrilling thought of starting the packing process.  Oh!  The clothes to organize, the shower products to container-ize!!  My husband dreads that fated once-per-year pre-summer camp Walmart trip...because I find it very very difficult to resist anything that makes the packing process more streamlined and organized.

 

In case you find yourselves in the same pre-summer camp situation, I thought I'd share 3 of my own packing tips.  But, I do have to be honest.  The title of this post could read, "My 54 Favorite Packing Tips."  Because, really?  How can a girl choose her 3 FAVORITE packing tips?  That is like choosing a favorite child or a favorite ice cream flavor.

 

So, THAT is why I did not entitle this "My 3 FAVORITE Tips."  I just can't choose.  Please don't make me do it.  I am giving you 3 really great tips...but I reserve the right to decide tips in the future that I like better, or when I find a newer container at Walmart--whichever comes first.

 

Here they are: 3 Tips--in no certain order, because I love each of them equally.

Tip #1    Roll'em and Band 'em, baby!!!

When packing the 10 pairs of required shorts and t-shirts, I roll up each individual outfit, and rubber band it.  There are 2 sample outfits above.  I lay out the shorts, a matching t-shirt, a pair of underwear and a pair of socks, roll, roll, and band it.  Repeat 9 more times, the end.

 

I love this because it takes all the guess-work out for my daughter.  She can dig through the bottom of her trunk (destroying all order I have painstakingly established), grab a roll 'o clothes, and be out of the cabin door in 2 minutes flat.  Well, except for the part that she gets a teensy bit distracted every 4 seconds, and therefore never gets anywhere in 2 minutes.  But, you get the idea.

Tip #2    Shower Container Heaven

 

Oh, containers put me in that happy place.  This container even more...because it was purchased at the $1 Shop!!!  Now, you know I normally have a deep and faithful love for all things Walmart.  But, sometimes I have been known to cheat when it comes to $1 bargains. 

 

I like to think that by putting all of my daughter's shower items in a container, that she is able to keep things organized while at camp.  I have no idea if that really happens--since I am not there.  But, it does an OCD mama's heart good to think so.

 

This $1 shower container is not very durable--but for 2 weeks at summer camp, it is perfect!  (Okay, and I know it's not another tip...but I just cannot resist talking about that cute elastic holder hanging on the front of the container.  Isn't that the cutest thing ever?  Yep, Walmart!)

 

 

 
Tip #3    3-in-1 Shampoo ...means you can pack 2 extra lip glosses!

 

Okay, anytime you can combine items on your list into ONE item--ding ding ding Winner!!!  The thought of ewy gooey soap sitting in the bottom of the beautiful shower container for 2 weeks grosses me out.  So, I just skip the whole bar of soap idea and purchase this product (you know--Walmart).  I also like to think it makes my daughter's shower time easier.  Instead of having to handle 2 different slippery bottles and a slimy soap bar, she only has to handle 1 slippery pink bottle and a fluffy blue scrubbie to do the job.  Easy enough!
 

 

Well, there you have it--3 packing for summer camp tips! 

 

I'd love to hear YOUR ideas--what summer camp packing tips do you find helpful?

P.S.  I promise Walmart in no way reimburses me to sing her praises, although if you are reading Walmart, I am not above accepting any form of product payment...preferably from the organizer aisle, the cookware aisle, the home goods aisle...heck, any aisle will do!  (Except hunting and fishing, please)

Linked up with:

Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family

Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home

Hooking up with HoH Every Thursday at House of Hepworths

Show off Your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans