Fall is here!!!  During September you start seeing all the Fall decorations go up for sale in the stores. I am a summer girl it usually takes me until the middle or end of September to get in the mood for Autumn.  The weather start’s getting cooler, it starts getting darker earlier and then I am ready to embrace all things pumpkin spice and put up my Fall decorations. 

 You can watch me share about 'DIY Fall Decor' on Studio 40 Live here: http://bit.ly/2fA0MFE

When you see all the cute decorations for sale at the stores it is easy to forget about your budget and want to buy everything.  There are a lot of ways to stretch your dollar and use many of the DIY projects on Pinterest to help you decorate without spending a lot of money.

These are some of my favorite ways to easily decorate for Fall on a budget.

Visit your store bulk section.
You can use popcorn kernels, green lentils, red beans and candy corn to add the colors of Fall to vases and other table centerpieces.  This is a very easy inexpensive way to decorate.    You could also use corn husks and other non-perishable Fall inspired food items you find to decorate.  You will spend less in the bulk foods section than buying the pre-packaged items.

Make your own Fall Banner.
What you need: Twine Rope, Burlap, and a sharpie.  Optional: Hot glue gun, Fall-inspired scrapbook paper, fabric paint, and faux fall leaves.

You probably have most of these items lying around somewhere especially if you have school-age children or do crafts.  If you don’t these items are very inexpensive and you can re-purpose.

Cut the burlap to your desired size square, you can shape them as triangles if you like, an easy way to have pretty font is to print out the letters you need on paper.  Place the paper under the burlap and use the sharpie marker to print your letters.  I used “Fall” on my banner but you could do a whatever you like “Give Thanks”, “Autumn”, “Welcome Fall”, etc.              

Using a Sharpie marker is an easy way to create your banner, but you could use fabric paint, stencils or a Cricut cutting machine if you have it.

Go outdoors.
Bring the outdoors in with pinecones, acorns and small branches and twigs.  You can take it up a notch by painting them.  This is a FREE way to decorate.  I’ve used smaller pinecones and acorns in vases, you can use larger pinecones hot glued to ribbon as a door hanging decoration and save those pinecones you can re-purpose them for Christmas decorations.

You could use branches in a vase to make a “Thankful Tree”, this is a fun activity to do all month long with the family and use as a beautiful centerpiece or mantle decoration. 

I traced and cut out leaves on Fall colored cardstock, punched a hole in the leaves, you then write what you are thankful for on each leaf and use twine rope, yarn, raffia, ribbon or whatever you have to hang them on the tree.

Visit the Dollar Store.
There are many vases, wreath starters, ribbon, and ready to go Fall decorations at the Dollar Store.  You can also spruce up a decoration that maybe isn’t exactly what you had in mind.  The Dollar Store is a great resource to stay on budget. 

Use what you have.
Look around your home and see what you already have that you can use, add some Fall foliage and turn it into a beautiful Autumn decoration.  Think outside the box and use things like a tin can from a canned food item you have used, clean and use hot glue sticks to glue twigs/branches to the outside of the can and it makes a great Fall candle decoration.  You can reuse glass items, mason jars, coffee drink jars, and so much more.  Remove the labels, clean, and decorate.

I spent $10 at the Dollar Store and $10 at my local craft store and I was able to create:
2 Fall inspired banners
A vase “Thankful Tree”
2 Twig/Branch candle holders using a recycled tin can.
2 tabletop candle decorations’
4 other vase decorations
2 mason jar Mod Podge leaf candlelight’s, and a wreath for my front door.  

If I spent $20 on already made decorations, I could have only purchased 2 decorations. With that same $20 I was able to make 14 Fall-inspired decorations. 

I still have a ton of burlap, Mod Podge, Twine Rope, and misc. items left over to repurpose and use with other craft projects.  I looked at my local Ross store and one small vase with pinecones and acorns was $9.99.  Wreath’s varied in price from $24.99-$50 and higher.  A similar twig themed candle holder was $9.99, I used a left-over tin can from my cupboard, twigs from outside and my hot glue gun to make an inexpensive DIY inspired one.

I hope you are inspired to try your hand at some DIY Fall Decorations.  It really is fun and gratifying to see something you “made” rather than something purchased.  It is also very therapeutic, to listen to your favorite music and craft.  It would be fun to have a girl’s night and craft together.  Get your kids involved, my boys loved helping me find the perfect twig, branch, and pinecone I was searching for. 


Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends. www.BlogAboutItAll.com






Here is the Studio 40 Live Segment.

Fall Decorating on a Budget
Fall is here!!!  During September you start seeing all the Fall decorations go up for sale in the stores. I am a summer girl it usually takes me until the middle or end of September to get in the mood for Autumn.  The weather start’s getting cooler, it starts getting darker earlier and then I am ready to embrace all things pumpkin spice and put up my Fall decorations. 

 You can watch me share about 'DIY Fall Decor' on Studio 40 Live here: http://bit.ly/2fA0MFE

When you see all the cute decorations for sale at the stores it is easy to forget about your budget and want to buy everything.  There are a lot of ways to stretch your dollar and use many of the DIY projects on Pinterest to help you decorate without spending a lot of money.

These are some of my favorite ways to easily decorate for Fall on a budget.

Visit your store bulk section.
You can use popcorn kernels, green lentils, red beans and candy corn to add the colors of Fall to vases and other table centerpieces.  This is a very easy inexpensive way to decorate.    You could also use corn husks and other non-perishable Fall inspired food items you find to decorate.  You will spend less in the bulk foods section than buying the pre-packaged items.

Make your own Fall Banner.
What you need: Twine Rope, Burlap, and a sharpie.  Optional: Hot glue gun, Fall-inspired scrapbook paper, fabric paint, and faux fall leaves.

You probably have most of these items lying around somewhere especially if you have school-age children or do crafts.  If you don’t these items are very inexpensive and you can re-purpose.

Cut the burlap to your desired size square, you can shape them as triangles if you like, an easy way to have pretty font is to print out the letters you need on paper.  Place the paper under the burlap and use the sharpie marker to print your letters.  I used “Fall” on my banner but you could do a whatever you like “Give Thanks”, “Autumn”, “Welcome Fall”, etc.              

Using a Sharpie marker is an easy way to create your banner, but you could use fabric paint, stencils or a Cricut cutting machine if you have it.

Go outdoors.
Bring the outdoors in with pinecones, acorns and small branches and twigs.  You can take it up a notch by painting them.  This is a FREE way to decorate.  I’ve used smaller pinecones and acorns in vases, you can use larger pinecones hot glued to ribbon as a door hanging decoration and save those pinecones you can re-purpose them for Christmas decorations.

You could use branches in a vase to make a “Thankful Tree”, this is a fun activity to do all month long with the family and use as a beautiful centerpiece or mantle decoration. 

I traced and cut out leaves on Fall colored cardstock, punched a hole in the leaves, you then write what you are thankful for on each leaf and use twine rope, yarn, raffia, ribbon or whatever you have to hang them on the tree.

Visit the Dollar Store.
There are many vases, wreath starters, ribbon, and ready to go Fall decorations at the Dollar Store.  You can also spruce up a decoration that maybe isn’t exactly what you had in mind.  The Dollar Store is a great resource to stay on budget. 

Use what you have.
Look around your home and see what you already have that you can use, add some Fall foliage and turn it into a beautiful Autumn decoration.  Think outside the box and use things like a tin can from a canned food item you have used, clean and use hot glue sticks to glue twigs/branches to the outside of the can and it makes a great Fall candle decoration.  You can reuse glass items, mason jars, coffee drink jars, and so much more.  Remove the labels, clean, and decorate.

I spent $10 at the Dollar Store and $10 at my local craft store and I was able to create:
2 Fall inspired banners
A vase “Thankful Tree”
2 Twig/Branch candle holders using a recycled tin can.
2 tabletop candle decorations’
4 other vase decorations
2 mason jar Mod Podge leaf candlelight’s, and a wreath for my front door.  

If I spent $20 on already made decorations, I could have only purchased 2 decorations. With that same $20 I was able to make 14 Fall-inspired decorations. 

I still have a ton of burlap, Mod Podge, Twine Rope, and misc. items left over to repurpose and use with other craft projects.  I looked at my local Ross store and one small vase with pinecones and acorns was $9.99.  Wreath’s varied in price from $24.99-$50 and higher.  A similar twig themed candle holder was $9.99, I used a left-over tin can from my cupboard, twigs from outside and my hot glue gun to make an inexpensive DIY inspired one.

I hope you are inspired to try your hand at some DIY Fall Decorations.  It really is fun and gratifying to see something you “made” rather than something purchased.  It is also very therapeutic, to listen to your favorite music and craft.  It would be fun to have a girl’s night and craft together.  Get your kids involved, my boys loved helping me find the perfect twig, branch, and pinecone I was searching for. 


Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends. www.BlogAboutItAll.com






Here is the Studio 40 Live Segment.

Read more »

Check out these awesome kids at Barrett Ranch Elementary in Antelope, they have raised over $1,000 for hurricane victims in Texas and Florida affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

My niece Allie and one of the boys on my son's soccer team are part of this group that spearheaded this fundraiser. They started a "quarter a day" campaign and it has exploded! They are so close to reaching their new $2,000 goal that I am asking for your help!  

You can donate by dropping off your quarters or more at Barrett Ranch Elementary located at 7720 Ocean Park Drive, Antelope, CA 95843.  You can call the school office at (916) 770-8839 or you can use PayPal, I am happy to deliver the money for you, I will post pictures and do a live video via social media if you want to use that option as I make the donation on your behalf.  

Thank you for your support, every donation makes a difference not only in the lives of the Hurricane victims but also in the lives of these students.  When you donate you encourage these 5th graders in their act of kindness, letting them know they CAN make a difference.

Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends. www.BlogAboutItAll.com


Local Elementary School Students help Hurricane Victims!

Check out these awesome kids at Barrett Ranch Elementary in Antelope, they have raised over $1,000 for hurricane victims in Texas and Florida affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

My niece Allie and one of the boys on my son's soccer team are part of this group that spearheaded this fundraiser. They started a "quarter a day" campaign and it has exploded! They are so close to reaching their new $2,000 goal that I am asking for your help!  

You can donate by dropping off your quarters or more at Barrett Ranch Elementary located at 7720 Ocean Park Drive, Antelope, CA 95843.  You can call the school office at (916) 770-8839 or you can use PayPal, I am happy to deliver the money for you, I will post pictures and do a live video via social media if you want to use that option as I make the donation on your behalf.  

Thank you for your support, every donation makes a difference not only in the lives of the Hurricane victims but also in the lives of these students.  When you donate you encourage these 5th graders in their act of kindness, letting them know they CAN make a difference.

Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends. www.BlogAboutItAll.com


Read more »
Sacramento Monster Jam® Triple Threat Series 
Tickets On-Sale Now
 The most family-friendly, action-packed motorsport in the world 
races into Golden 1 Center on January 19-21, 2018.

Hey Sacramento peeps, January is four months away which will be here before we know it.  Feld Entertainment, the worldwide leader in live family entertainment, announced today that tickets for Monster Jam® are on sale now for Sacramento and cities across the U.S. and Canada.  My boys love Monster Jam® and have already asked when is the next show, get your tickets today!

The new season will bring motorsport fans to the edge of their seats with adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement that is fun for the entire family. Monster Jam® returns to the Golden 1 Center for the second time with a brand new truck lineup!

Featuring the eight most intense athletes of Monster Jam, Sacramento fans will witness a fierce battle for the championship with each competitor using customized high-powered vehicles: Monster Jam Speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs, and the famous Monster Jam trucks. 
These world-class athletes vying to be the Sacramento champion are:
Grave Digger® is driven by Krysten Anderson
El Toro Loco® is driven by Armando Castro
Monster Mutt® Dalmatian is driven by Cynthia Gauthier
Alien Invasion is driven by Bernard Lyght
EarthShaker is driven by Tristan England
Pirate’s Curse driven by Camden Murphy
Zombie™ is driven by Tyler Groth
Megalodon is driven by Travis Groth

Unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable, Monster Jam takes center stage in the world’s most iconic venues like Golden 1 Center, sporting meticulously manicured dirt tracks created with the sole purpose of pushing these perfectly engineered, larger-than-life trucks to the limit.

Monster Jam is one of the only sports where male and female world-class drivers, some generational rivals, are equals competing for the same championship on the same track. Following racing, new in 2018 across all Monster Jam events, fans in every city will have the chance to vote for the truck winner in the donut, wheelie and freestyle competitions by real-time, in-arena fan voting on their smartphones.

Monster Jam Triple Threat Series will be returning to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento for three action-packed events on:
Friday, January 19, 2018, Event Time:  7:00 PM
Saturday, January 20, 2018, Event Time:  7:00 PM 
Pit Party open from 4:30 PM–6:00 PM
(Sat. 7PM ticket & Pit Pass required for entry; Pit Passes available to purchase for $10 each)
Sunday, January 21, 2018, Event Time:  1:00 PM 
Pit Party open from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
(Sun. 1PM ticket & Pit Pass required for entry; Pit Passes available to purchase for $10 each)

Tickets available at http://bit.ly/2xc59hd.

For more information on a Monster Jam near you, please log onto MonsterJam.com or follow us via our social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that uplift the human spirit and bring people together. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Sesame Street Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.

Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends. 

Monster Jam - January 2018 | Sacramento, Golden 1 Center

Sacramento Monster Jam® Triple Threat Series 
Tickets On-Sale Now
 The most family-friendly, action-packed motorsport in the world 
races into Golden 1 Center on January 19-21, 2018.

Hey Sacramento peeps, January is four months away which will be here before we know it.  Feld Entertainment, the worldwide leader in live family entertainment, announced today that tickets for Monster Jam® are on sale now for Sacramento and cities across the U.S. and Canada.  My boys love Monster Jam® and have already asked when is the next show, get your tickets today!

The new season will bring motorsport fans to the edge of their seats with adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement that is fun for the entire family. Monster Jam® returns to the Golden 1 Center for the second time with a brand new truck lineup!

Featuring the eight most intense athletes of Monster Jam, Sacramento fans will witness a fierce battle for the championship with each competitor using customized high-powered vehicles: Monster Jam Speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs, and the famous Monster Jam trucks. 
These world-class athletes vying to be the Sacramento champion are:
Grave Digger® is driven by Krysten Anderson
El Toro Loco® is driven by Armando Castro
Monster Mutt® Dalmatian is driven by Cynthia Gauthier
Alien Invasion is driven by Bernard Lyght
EarthShaker is driven by Tristan England
Pirate’s Curse driven by Camden Murphy
Zombie™ is driven by Tyler Groth
Megalodon is driven by Travis Groth

Unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable, Monster Jam takes center stage in the world’s most iconic venues like Golden 1 Center, sporting meticulously manicured dirt tracks created with the sole purpose of pushing these perfectly engineered, larger-than-life trucks to the limit.

Monster Jam is one of the only sports where male and female world-class drivers, some generational rivals, are equals competing for the same championship on the same track. Following racing, new in 2018 across all Monster Jam events, fans in every city will have the chance to vote for the truck winner in the donut, wheelie and freestyle competitions by real-time, in-arena fan voting on their smartphones.

Monster Jam Triple Threat Series will be returning to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento for three action-packed events on:
Friday, January 19, 2018, Event Time:  7:00 PM
Saturday, January 20, 2018, Event Time:  7:00 PM 
Pit Party open from 4:30 PM–6:00 PM
(Sat. 7PM ticket & Pit Pass required for entry; Pit Passes available to purchase for $10 each)
Sunday, January 21, 2018, Event Time:  1:00 PM 
Pit Party open from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
(Sun. 1PM ticket & Pit Pass required for entry; Pit Passes available to purchase for $10 each)

Tickets available at http://bit.ly/2xc59hd.

For more information on a Monster Jam near you, please log onto MonsterJam.com or follow us via our social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that uplift the human spirit and bring people together. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Sesame Street Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.

Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends. 

Read more »
Our family took our first camping trip with our four boys this past August, we had a great time.  I thought I would share some things I found helpful, my camping checklist and the two things I wish I would have taken. 

Growing up we went camping often, and I have so many great memories of our camping adventures.  I am not what you would call the outdoors type but camping and being outside in nature resonates with me.  I love being away from the city, unplugged from e-mail and social media and just taking in the beauty of nature.  I love the quiet nights listening to the sounds of the great outdoors.  I love enjoying the day’s and evenings exploring, swimming, eating around the campfire with no ‘to do list’ and without the chores we have at home calling me. 

My boy's ages 10, 8, 6 and 2 have camped in our backyard and have camped in grandma and grandpa's backyard but we had not taken them on a real camping experience.  When we told our boys they wouldn’t have any electronics for three whole days they were not too excited about that.  Especially we were in the middle of summer where they had probably had too much electronic time.  I loved watching them on our trip recognize they didn’t even need their electronics, they were chasing lizards, spotting deer, swimming, skipping rocks, hiking, climbing trees, playing, making s’mores and just hanging out.  Kids love being outdoors.  Seeing how much my kids enjoyed camping it gives me the desire to nurture their love of the great outdoors. 
My parents went with us and I am so glad they did, they were a great help with the boys and my mom came with a ton of snacks you know how grandmas are.  Our suburban was packed to the brim; it was nice to have my dad’s truck to help with bikes.  I enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night talking with my parents and it was nice playing Uno during the day and swimming in the lake.
One of my favorite memories of this trip is we were sitting around the campfire and one of my sons said: “Mom, I am going to tell my kids about my first camping trip and how much fun I had.” We lived in our swimsuits.  That is the one thing I over packed was clothes, other than pajamas they changed into at night, the only other thing they wore was their swimming trunks.
Here are the things I found most helpful.  We booked our campsite six months before we had planned to go which I am glad we did, many sites are booked well in advance, so definitely plan ahead. 

I kept a running list on my phone of what I thought we would need to take.  It was nice to have my list handy to keep adding whenever I thought of something else we should take.

I loved taking a three drawer storage container.  I kept our paper plates, utensils, paper towels in one drawer, I had a drawer for ‘kitchen’ needs, for example, a lighter, sponge, small dish soap, dish towel, spatulas, foil, skewers for s’mores, things like that.  The top drawer I kept miscellaneous items, like our first aid kit, flashlights, rope for a clothesline.  It was nice to have those items in drawers and not thrown in a bag that I would have to dig through every time I needed an item.
I took a bag of things for the kids to do, bubbles, coloring books and crayons, card games, some board books for my toddler and a few toys for him to play with. 

I am grateful I took a small first aid kit.  We used a few Band-Aids and I am so glad I took tweezers we used them daily for removing splinters.

The two things I wish I would have taken was a large thin carpet or mat I could put near our picnic table/kitchen area, there was so much dirt there was dust everywhere.  Having an inexpensive carpet or foam mat around would have helped.  The second thing I wish I would have taken is some traps for yellow jackets.  They were only a problem when we cooked and ate, we learned to eat quickly and put the food away.  Depending on where you camp this might not be a problem, but maybe you would need fly traps. We took candles to help with mosquitoes and insect repellant which really does make a difference.

We planned our menu ahead of time and decided to keep it simple.  We had bacon pre-cooked at home; we had diced potatoes pre-cooked so we just had to heat them up for breakfast.  I cracked and whisked all our eggs and put them into empty water bottles, this makes them easy to travel with and ready to scramble in the morning.  I pre-mixed pancake batter and put into empty water bottles as well.  

For three days this was our menu:
Thursday night dinner: Chicken Patties, Hot Dogs, beans, and chips.
Friday morning: Breakfast burritos for the adults and pancakes for the kids.
Friday lunch: Deli Sandwiches, macaroni salad, hummus, and pretzels.
Friday dinner: Cheeseburgers, macaroni salad, and chips.
Saturday breakfast: Breakfast burritos and pancakes.
Saturday lunch: Deli Sandwiches, macaroni salad, hummus, and pretzels.
Saturday late afternoon we drove home and had dinner on the road.

Snacks we took: Popcorn, cookies, muffins, candy, s’more fixings, apples, and bananas.

This was my checklist of items to take:

Camping Gear:
Tent, tarp, sleeping bags, pillows, lanterns, flashlights, cooking stove, propane, air pump, and air mattress.

Kitchen Needs:
2 Skillets, a pot, cutting board, knife, a sponge, dish towels, lighter fluid, charcoal, fire starter log, disposable tablecloths, foil, disposable aluminum containers, paper plates, plastic spoons, forks, non-stick cooking spray, spatulas, tongs, skewers, and trash bags.

Kid stuff:
Sand toys, football, glow sticks, bubbles, and swimming stuff (life jackets, floating rafts, sunscreen)

Misc. Items:
First Aid kit, tweezers, duct tape, blue tooth speaker, small dustpan and brush, rope, clothespins toilet paper, hand soap, insect repellent, quarters for the showers, and toiletries.

Food Items:
Salt and pepper, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, salsa, cheese, tortillas, pancake batter, syrup, hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, ketchup, mustard, deli sandwich fixings, bread, lunch meat, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, mustard, macaroni salad, hummus, pretzels. Things to make S’mores graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate. Fruit (apples and bananas), muffins, cookies, popcorn, Pringles, chips, Red Vines, water bottles, soda, Caprisuns and Sunny D Bottles.

If you have not taken your family camping I hope you will plan a trip soon.  Camping is a great way to have quality time together.  I think everyone should at least camp once, I think you’ll find though once you have camped you’ll want to camp again.  It is good for the soul; I cannot put it into words. 

There are many different ways to camp from very rustic with no campground showers, there are campgrounds that have showers, bathrooms, some even have swimming pools, and then there is “glamping”.  Find a camping method that will work for you and try it, give that experience to your kids.

I hope you find this post helpful in planning your next camping trip, I hope you can use my camping list in preparing and packing for your next trip.

Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends.
www.BlogAboutItAll.com













Our First Family Camping Trip
Our family took our first camping trip with our four boys this past August, we had a great time.  I thought I would share some things I found helpful, my camping checklist and the two things I wish I would have taken. 

Growing up we went camping often, and I have so many great memories of our camping adventures.  I am not what you would call the outdoors type but camping and being outside in nature resonates with me.  I love being away from the city, unplugged from e-mail and social media and just taking in the beauty of nature.  I love the quiet nights listening to the sounds of the great outdoors.  I love enjoying the day’s and evenings exploring, swimming, eating around the campfire with no ‘to do list’ and without the chores we have at home calling me. 

My boy's ages 10, 8, 6 and 2 have camped in our backyard and have camped in grandma and grandpa's backyard but we had not taken them on a real camping experience.  When we told our boys they wouldn’t have any electronics for three whole days they were not too excited about that.  Especially we were in the middle of summer where they had probably had too much electronic time.  I loved watching them on our trip recognize they didn’t even need their electronics, they were chasing lizards, spotting deer, swimming, skipping rocks, hiking, climbing trees, playing, making s’mores and just hanging out.  Kids love being outdoors.  Seeing how much my kids enjoyed camping it gives me the desire to nurture their love of the great outdoors. 
My parents went with us and I am so glad they did, they were a great help with the boys and my mom came with a ton of snacks you know how grandmas are.  Our suburban was packed to the brim; it was nice to have my dad’s truck to help with bikes.  I enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night talking with my parents and it was nice playing Uno during the day and swimming in the lake.
One of my favorite memories of this trip is we were sitting around the campfire and one of my sons said: “Mom, I am going to tell my kids about my first camping trip and how much fun I had.” We lived in our swimsuits.  That is the one thing I over packed was clothes, other than pajamas they changed into at night, the only other thing they wore was their swimming trunks.
Here are the things I found most helpful.  We booked our campsite six months before we had planned to go which I am glad we did, many sites are booked well in advance, so definitely plan ahead. 

I kept a running list on my phone of what I thought we would need to take.  It was nice to have my list handy to keep adding whenever I thought of something else we should take.

I loved taking a three drawer storage container.  I kept our paper plates, utensils, paper towels in one drawer, I had a drawer for ‘kitchen’ needs, for example, a lighter, sponge, small dish soap, dish towel, spatulas, foil, skewers for s’mores, things like that.  The top drawer I kept miscellaneous items, like our first aid kit, flashlights, rope for a clothesline.  It was nice to have those items in drawers and not thrown in a bag that I would have to dig through every time I needed an item.
I took a bag of things for the kids to do, bubbles, coloring books and crayons, card games, some board books for my toddler and a few toys for him to play with. 

I am grateful I took a small first aid kit.  We used a few Band-Aids and I am so glad I took tweezers we used them daily for removing splinters.

The two things I wish I would have taken was a large thin carpet or mat I could put near our picnic table/kitchen area, there was so much dirt there was dust everywhere.  Having an inexpensive carpet or foam mat around would have helped.  The second thing I wish I would have taken is some traps for yellow jackets.  They were only a problem when we cooked and ate, we learned to eat quickly and put the food away.  Depending on where you camp this might not be a problem, but maybe you would need fly traps. We took candles to help with mosquitoes and insect repellant which really does make a difference.

We planned our menu ahead of time and decided to keep it simple.  We had bacon pre-cooked at home; we had diced potatoes pre-cooked so we just had to heat them up for breakfast.  I cracked and whisked all our eggs and put them into empty water bottles, this makes them easy to travel with and ready to scramble in the morning.  I pre-mixed pancake batter and put into empty water bottles as well.  

For three days this was our menu:
Thursday night dinner: Chicken Patties, Hot Dogs, beans, and chips.
Friday morning: Breakfast burritos for the adults and pancakes for the kids.
Friday lunch: Deli Sandwiches, macaroni salad, hummus, and pretzels.
Friday dinner: Cheeseburgers, macaroni salad, and chips.
Saturday breakfast: Breakfast burritos and pancakes.
Saturday lunch: Deli Sandwiches, macaroni salad, hummus, and pretzels.
Saturday late afternoon we drove home and had dinner on the road.

Snacks we took: Popcorn, cookies, muffins, candy, s’more fixings, apples, and bananas.

This was my checklist of items to take:

Camping Gear:
Tent, tarp, sleeping bags, pillows, lanterns, flashlights, cooking stove, propane, air pump, and air mattress.

Kitchen Needs:
2 Skillets, a pot, cutting board, knife, a sponge, dish towels, lighter fluid, charcoal, fire starter log, disposable tablecloths, foil, disposable aluminum containers, paper plates, plastic spoons, forks, non-stick cooking spray, spatulas, tongs, skewers, and trash bags.

Kid stuff:
Sand toys, football, glow sticks, bubbles, and swimming stuff (life jackets, floating rafts, sunscreen)

Misc. Items:
First Aid kit, tweezers, duct tape, blue tooth speaker, small dustpan and brush, rope, clothespins toilet paper, hand soap, insect repellent, quarters for the showers, and toiletries.

Food Items:
Salt and pepper, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, salsa, cheese, tortillas, pancake batter, syrup, hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, ketchup, mustard, deli sandwich fixings, bread, lunch meat, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, mustard, macaroni salad, hummus, pretzels. Things to make S’mores graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate. Fruit (apples and bananas), muffins, cookies, popcorn, Pringles, chips, Red Vines, water bottles, soda, Caprisuns and Sunny D Bottles.

If you have not taken your family camping I hope you will plan a trip soon.  Camping is a great way to have quality time together.  I think everyone should at least camp once, I think you’ll find though once you have camped you’ll want to camp again.  It is good for the soul; I cannot put it into words. 

There are many different ways to camp from very rustic with no campground showers, there are campgrounds that have showers, bathrooms, some even have swimming pools, and then there is “glamping”.  Find a camping method that will work for you and try it, give that experience to your kids.

I hope you find this post helpful in planning your next camping trip, I hope you can use my camping list in preparing and packing for your next trip.

Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends.
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I was invited to take my family to the opening night of  Marvel Universe Live Age of Heroes at the Golden 1 Center here in Sacramento!  My four boys ages (10, 8, 6 and 2) loved it!!! What's not to love about seeing your favorite super heroes soar, smash and battle villains.  

Let me start with parking, I have attended quite a few events at the Golden 1 Center I highly recommend using Parking Panda to find and reserve parking ahead of time.  The App or website is easy to use and you can put your mind at ease knowing you have a parking spot reserved Downtown and won't have to search for one the night of the event.  You will also pay less if you reserve your parking space ahead of time!  We only paid $10.50 for a parking spot.

 The show starts with the classic comic book story line where heroes from the Marvel Universe are rescuing us all.  There are motorcycle tricks which were my boys favorite, they also loved how Spider Man enters in Spidey fashion, I loved the aerial acrobatics on fabric silk, amazing.

 After about an hour in we had an intermission.  As a mom I greatly appreciate the intermission time which is about 15 minutes, great for bathroom breaks, no one misses the show and it is nice to get up and stretch your legs.

 Throughout the scenes there are pyrotechnics, lights, and action with battles between heroes and villains.  There are plenty of scenes with a variety of super heroes soaring through the air coming to the rescue.  With so much excitement even our two year old sat through the entire performance. 

 I highly recommend seeing Marvel Universe Live Age of Heroes!  I think the show has something for everyone between stunts, lights, acrobatics and battles with villains, your children boys and girls will be captivated by all the action.

 Throughout the concession area there are a lot of souvenirs to purchase, all sorts of toys your kids will definitely want. Our favorite thing to purchase is the snow cone souvenir cups. 





Also available throughout the concession areas there are face painting stations, where your child can have a marvel super hero mask painted on for $15.  They also have photo opportunities in the same area.  Photo packages are $27 for one 6x8 photo and $32 which includes a magnetic frame, digital download and 2-6x8 photos.

If you have never been to the Golden 1 Center, I highly recommend a visit, it is a beautiful facility, state of the art. Something neat I spotted was phone charging stations, available for all types of devices.  Before we went into the show, we were taking pictures by the sculpture outside, one of the ushers came over and was quizzing us on some cool facts. Did you know that sculpture (pictured below) cost $8 million dollars.  A little tip in trying to figure out what it actually is, think of Winnie the Pooh.
The show continues at the Golden One Center through Sunday, September 17th.  Get your tickets at MarvelUniverseLIVE.com, Ticketmaster Retail Locations, the Box Office or call 1-800-745-3000.
SACRAMENTO SHOW SCHEDULE
WHEN:  Thursday, September 14 – Sunday, September 17
Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 PM
Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 16 at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM 
Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM


WHERE:  Golden 1 Center – 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814
Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows.  Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Facts & Tips 
  • Parking at Golden One Center was $10.50 with PRE-RESERVED PARKING.  If you just show up it is $20 at the nearest garage that is directly across the street and it is $16 at the lot I parked at if you do not pre-reserve.
  • Arrive early!  I like to arrive between 6 PM - 6:15 PM (Find parking, Go through Security, Use the Restroom, First Pick at the Vendors).
  • Park near a light, it is dark when you leave and this makes it easy to find your car.
  • In the middle of the show there will be a intermission time.  As soon as you hear the intercom announcement coming on, hurry to the restrooms, you will avoid the lines.
  • If  you are are purchasing a snow cone or souvenir from the concession vendors, I recommend, purchasing before the show starts or at the beginning of intermission.  The lines are long if you wait till after the performance, or if you hesitate during intermission.
  • They sell popcorn and cotton candy right at your seat before the performance and during intermission.
  • Snow cone souvenir cups are my boys favorite depending on the character cup you choose prices are $12, $14 & $15 (the $15 one comes with a spoon/straw).
  • The Popcorn box I purchased was $9.  They have another style that comes with a hat and also cotton candy.
  • There is food and drinks for sale pizza ($9), nachos, pretzels and churro's ($6), ice cream bars, candy for $5 and they have soda and water for $5 or a souvenir soda for $10. I also saw Chicken Tenders with fries for $12 and Porchetta Sandwiches for $14.
  • If you have little ones that want to dress in their super hero costumes, do it, there are many kids dressed up.  
  • My boys love that I bring glow in the dark necklaces/bracelets to wear. They do sell spinning and light up toys that are $20 and $25.
  • Plan on the show with intermission lasting 7 PM to 9 PM.
  • Baby bags, plastic bottles, and formula are permitted in Golden 1 Center as long as the bag is no larger than 16” x 16” x 8".
  • Child Admission: In most instances, children under twenty-four (24) months of age are admitted free of charge in Golden 1 Center for events provided that they sit on an adult’s lap. Please note that some events may have varying age requirements. Please see specific show guidelines for more information.
Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends. 
www.BlogAboutItAll.com




Marvel Universe Live Review | Sacramento, Golden 1 Center
I was invited to take my family to the opening night of  Marvel Universe Live Age of Heroes at the Golden 1 Center here in Sacramento!  My four boys ages (10, 8, 6 and 2) loved it!!! What's not to love about seeing your favorite super heroes soar, smash and battle villains.  

Let me start with parking, I have attended quite a few events at the Golden 1 Center I highly recommend using Parking Panda to find and reserve parking ahead of time.  The App or website is easy to use and you can put your mind at ease knowing you have a parking spot reserved Downtown and won't have to search for one the night of the event.  You will also pay less if you reserve your parking space ahead of time!  We only paid $10.50 for a parking spot.

 The show starts with the classic comic book story line where heroes from the Marvel Universe are rescuing us all.  There are motorcycle tricks which were my boys favorite, they also loved how Spider Man enters in Spidey fashion, I loved the aerial acrobatics on fabric silk, amazing.

 After about an hour in we had an intermission.  As a mom I greatly appreciate the intermission time which is about 15 minutes, great for bathroom breaks, no one misses the show and it is nice to get up and stretch your legs.

 Throughout the scenes there are pyrotechnics, lights, and action with battles between heroes and villains.  There are plenty of scenes with a variety of super heroes soaring through the air coming to the rescue.  With so much excitement even our two year old sat through the entire performance. 

 I highly recommend seeing Marvel Universe Live Age of Heroes!  I think the show has something for everyone between stunts, lights, acrobatics and battles with villains, your children boys and girls will be captivated by all the action.

 Throughout the concession area there are a lot of souvenirs to purchase, all sorts of toys your kids will definitely want. Our favorite thing to purchase is the snow cone souvenir cups. 





Also available throughout the concession areas there are face painting stations, where your child can have a marvel super hero mask painted on for $15.  They also have photo opportunities in the same area.  Photo packages are $27 for one 6x8 photo and $32 which includes a magnetic frame, digital download and 2-6x8 photos.

If you have never been to the Golden 1 Center, I highly recommend a visit, it is a beautiful facility, state of the art. Something neat I spotted was phone charging stations, available for all types of devices.  Before we went into the show, we were taking pictures by the sculpture outside, one of the ushers came over and was quizzing us on some cool facts. Did you know that sculpture (pictured below) cost $8 million dollars.  A little tip in trying to figure out what it actually is, think of Winnie the Pooh.
The show continues at the Golden One Center through Sunday, September 17th.  Get your tickets at MarvelUniverseLIVE.com, Ticketmaster Retail Locations, the Box Office or call 1-800-745-3000.
SACRAMENTO SHOW SCHEDULE
WHEN:  Thursday, September 14 – Sunday, September 17
Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 PM
Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 16 at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM 
Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM


WHERE:  Golden 1 Center – 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814
Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows.  Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Facts & Tips 
  • Parking at Golden One Center was $10.50 with PRE-RESERVED PARKING.  If you just show up it is $20 at the nearest garage that is directly across the street and it is $16 at the lot I parked at if you do not pre-reserve.
  • Arrive early!  I like to arrive between 6 PM - 6:15 PM (Find parking, Go through Security, Use the Restroom, First Pick at the Vendors).
  • Park near a light, it is dark when you leave and this makes it easy to find your car.
  • In the middle of the show there will be a intermission time.  As soon as you hear the intercom announcement coming on, hurry to the restrooms, you will avoid the lines.
  • If  you are are purchasing a snow cone or souvenir from the concession vendors, I recommend, purchasing before the show starts or at the beginning of intermission.  The lines are long if you wait till after the performance, or if you hesitate during intermission.
  • They sell popcorn and cotton candy right at your seat before the performance and during intermission.
  • Snow cone souvenir cups are my boys favorite depending on the character cup you choose prices are $12, $14 & $15 (the $15 one comes with a spoon/straw).
  • The Popcorn box I purchased was $9.  They have another style that comes with a hat and also cotton candy.
  • There is food and drinks for sale pizza ($9), nachos, pretzels and churro's ($6), ice cream bars, candy for $5 and they have soda and water for $5 or a souvenir soda for $10. I also saw Chicken Tenders with fries for $12 and Porchetta Sandwiches for $14.
  • If you have little ones that want to dress in their super hero costumes, do it, there are many kids dressed up.  
  • My boys love that I bring glow in the dark necklaces/bracelets to wear. They do sell spinning and light up toys that are $20 and $25.
  • Plan on the show with intermission lasting 7 PM to 9 PM.
  • Baby bags, plastic bottles, and formula are permitted in Golden 1 Center as long as the bag is no larger than 16” x 16” x 8".
  • Child Admission: In most instances, children under twenty-four (24) months of age are admitted free of charge in Golden 1 Center for events provided that they sit on an adult’s lap. Please note that some events may have varying age requirements. Please see specific show guidelines for more information.
Thank you for reading if you’ve enjoyed the content you’ve read above please share with your friends. 
www.BlogAboutItAll.com




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Marvel Universe Live will be at the Golden One Center in Sacramento in just ONE WEEK!  Our family is so excited to attend this event opening night and I also hosted a GIVEAWAY of 4-Tickets to Opening Night Congrats to the Winner blog reader J.T.! 

There is still time to get your tickets to catch all the Super hero action, thrills and drama! The iconic Marvel Super Heroes Spider-Man and The Avengers are joined by the Guardians of the Galaxy, including Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Rocket and Drax, in a legendary battle to defend the universe from evil.  The newest production from Feld Entertainment, the world’s leading producer of live touring family entertainment, will be playing the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento from September 14–17, 2017.  Tickets start at just $20!

Tour Launch Video:  http://bit.ly/2sXjegc

SACRAMENTO SHOW SCHEDULE

WHEN:  Thursday, September 14 – Sunday, September 17
Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 PM
Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 16 at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM 
Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

WHERE:  Golden 1 Center – 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814
TICKETS:  Tickets start at $20 each!
Discount Opening Night tickets available for only $15 each on select seating 
(not valid for premium/VIP levels)

Tickets now available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at:
1-800-745-3000 or visit the venue Box Office. 
*Ticket prices subject to change; tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and 
handling fees.

Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes will travel throughout North America on a multiyear tour, including stops in Denver, Las Vegas, Bay Area, Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and New York.  After North America, the show will embark on an international tour starting in 2019.  For a complete list of North American tour dates, locations and to purchase tickets, please visit MarvelUniverseLIVE.com.

Stay current on the latest developments through social media by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube — @MarvelOnTour.

Marvel Universe Live | One Week Away!
Marvel Universe Live will be at the Golden One Center in Sacramento in just ONE WEEK!  Our family is so excited to attend this event opening night and I also hosted a GIVEAWAY of 4-Tickets to Opening Night Congrats to the Winner blog reader J.T.! 

There is still time to get your tickets to catch all the Super hero action, thrills and drama! The iconic Marvel Super Heroes Spider-Man and The Avengers are joined by the Guardians of the Galaxy, including Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Rocket and Drax, in a legendary battle to defend the universe from evil.  The newest production from Feld Entertainment, the world’s leading producer of live touring family entertainment, will be playing the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento from September 14–17, 2017.  Tickets start at just $20!

Tour Launch Video:  http://bit.ly/2sXjegc

SACRAMENTO SHOW SCHEDULE

WHEN:  Thursday, September 14 – Sunday, September 17
Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 PM
Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 16 at 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM 
Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

WHERE:  Golden 1 Center – 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814
TICKETS:  Tickets start at $20 each!
Discount Opening Night tickets available for only $15 each on select seating 
(not valid for premium/VIP levels)

Tickets now available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at:
1-800-745-3000 or visit the venue Box Office. 
*Ticket prices subject to change; tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and 
handling fees.

Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes will travel throughout North America on a multiyear tour, including stops in Denver, Las Vegas, Bay Area, Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and New York.  After North America, the show will embark on an international tour starting in 2019.  For a complete list of North American tour dates, locations and to purchase tickets, please visit MarvelUniverseLIVE.com.

Stay current on the latest developments through social media by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube — @MarvelOnTour.

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