This Little Piggy goes to the Beach

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

I am a big sucker for farm animals, but pigs are probably my favorite. So when I saw this cute pig beach pail I just had to get it for my grandchildren to play with. I didn't catch that the pig had a pour spout through his nose, that makes this so much more cute. I really like that this set can be used for water or tub play as well with all of the pour spouts build into the pieces. 

The chunky handles on the rake and shovel are really nice for small hands but also fit well into an adults hands so both parents and children can play together. I should mention that the pig pail is a bit flexible too which makes it safe with no jagged edges.  I love the going to the beach and this would be so fun to play with in the sand and easy to find your pail with it being a pig. 

Another use for this would be in the snow although I am not a big advocate for playing in the snow other then for building a snowman, but the choice is there for those who would enjoy it. This would make an awesom basket filler or just a gift all on its own. Check out this eight piece set at Amazon. 

 

MEMORIAL DAY OUTDOOR GAMES FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Bring the fun to your backyard this Memorial Day weekend with yard games for all ages. While you’re grilling up hotdogs and hamburgers, friends and family will be striking up friendly competition – and an appetite.
Here are a few of our favorite backyard games.

I have seen my family play this at our 4th of July parties but have never really played myself.

Wild Gate Sports Stars and Stripes Cornhole Tailgate Toss
You can’t beat a classic! Not only is cornhole a universally appealing game, it’s also easy to teach new or young players – less time teaching, more time playing. Plus, this set features a stars and stripes design that is perfect for your Memorial Day cookout and other events all summer long. Pull it out again later in the summer for the Fourth of July!



Croquet was one of my biggest summer activities with my father, every now and then we even got my mother out to play with us. This is a game I would teach all of my friends how to play when they come over. It is time to buy a set and teach my own children how much fun this game is.

Baden Champions Series Croquet Sets
A croquet set is a summertime staple for backyards large and small. Designed for 2-6 players, we especially like how this set features hardwood mallets with soft rubber grips for comfort. It even comes with a complete croquet rulebook, perfect for new players or rusty ones.


This is another game I would like to add to our outside games. Again I have seen my family play this at parties but have never played myself.

AGame 2017 Classic Ladderball Game 
If you’re looking for a new backyard challenge, this ladderball game fits the bill. Friends and family will appreciate the easy learning curve to this game, but the extra skill involved to getting the golf tosses around the ladders.

Keep kids occupied and active this summer with this selection of our favorite backyard games from DICK’S Sporting Goods. Until 7/29, buy one game and get the second for 50% off. No code needed.

Poleish Sports Bottle Bash Game 
This unique game will put your kids’ skills to the test. Filled with competitive fun and excitement that the whole family can enjoy, Bottle Bash combines the games of disc golf and horseshoes with a few new twists.


MashBall Game Set
This game set offers competitive fun in the backyard, the park, or the beach. Create two teams of two and take turns throwing the ball into the holes. The first team to get to all 10 holes win.


This is another of our favorite beach and backyard games.

OrgoSport OGODISK-XS Game Set
From pool parties to backyard fun, this game set combines all of your child’s favorite games into one. Safe and fun to use, it’s perfect for playing disc golf, catch, baseball, or badminton. Kids can play in teams or individually.

You can find out more about Dicks Sporting Goods on:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
YouTube
Google+

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe may have received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review or promote a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com

Unleash the Clean Squad this Summer!

You may be asking who or what the Clean Squad is. Well let me tell you. They are comprised of two of my favorite cleaning items to have on hand all year round. Viva Paper towels, and Clorox Cleanup Spray. With both of these items and helpers from the family team we make the perfect Clean Squad.  From countertops to floors these items have you covered. The Clean Squad keeps things clean and healthy all summer long.

Right now at Walmart with Ibotta you can get a great deal on Viva Paper towels and Clorox Cleanup Spray. Just find them in your local store. Right now our local Walmart is having a reset done so a lot of the shelves are still empty of their prices.

Visit your local Walmart and pick up your own Clean Squad of Viva paper towels and Clorox cleaning spray!

Launching July 5th, save $1 off any Viva Paper Towels 6 pack or larger. Starting 6/21 save $.50 off any Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Spray varieties. 

Once I found everything I needed Viva Vantage Paper towels and Clorox Clean-Up Fresh Scent. I was ready to check out, get home, and start summer off right.

• Viva Big Rolls: 40% more Viva per roll* Must include this prominent disclaimer: *Towel area compared to Viva® Regular Roll; Current practice is use of “33% More”

• Clorox: 99.9% germ killing strength; It’s specially designed to clean and disinfect a variety of stains on a variety of surfaces. And with Smart Tube Technology®, you can spray every last drop. Bad news for germs, good news for family relations.

Together Viva Paper towels and Clorox Clean up make the Clean Squad.

I am sure this table looks clean to you, but wait and see what the Clean Squad does.  With a few sprays of Clorox Cleanup and a little wiping with Vivia Paper towels you can see how much grime it picked up with the picture below.

So when having guests over or just eating your meals outside clean your area before and after use. Clorox Clean up kills 99.9 bacteria & viruses! That is amazing. As a mom with a low immune system this is important. Clorox Clean up is not just for kitchen and bathrooms, it can be used on most surfaces for a clean that will keep your family safe. No one wants to get sick during the summer.  Let The Clean Squad take care of you.

Order fresh groceries online with Walmart and enjoy the same in-store savings with free pickup. Walmart will even load your car! Click here to see if it's available in your area! We do not have this service available in our area yet.

You can also use Walmart's Bundle Page where you can save even more.**

**Please note: If you are shopping the bundle via Walmart, Ibotta offers cannot be used in conjunction with the bundle savings.

You can find out more about Clorox on:
Website
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube

You can find out more about Viva Paper Towels on:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

#UnleashTheCleanSquad

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a sponsored post with Clorox and Viva Paper Towels. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or
or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

15 Summer Activities for Kids

What are your kids doing this Summer? For many of us Summer time with the kids is a time to enjoy the outdoors, the sunshine and if you're lucky the ocean.

As much as kids love Summer holidays, keeping them busy can be a real chore! If you've not got the luxury of a Summer camp then it's up to you as parent to find things for the youngsters to keep busy with.

Failing that, your kids might spend all their time in front of a computer, tablet, phone or other screen and research has shown that spending too much time in front of a screen can have a detrimental effect on the health and well being of children.

Yes my girls watch Netflix and YouTube but I am blessed because they would rather be outside playing then cooped up inside. They like to swim, bike, hike, build forts etc. 

Studies have shown that taking part in nature-based activities helps people who are suffering from mental ill-health and can contribute to a reduction in levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. In fact, a daily walk in nature has showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression.

With what our family has been through in the last year this makes so much sense. So this mom is stepping up her game, introducing more nature-based activities, while not just turning fun into learning but also providing my children with new outlooks into the world. I may not totally enjoy nature, but I want to make sure that the opportunity for my child to make a decision in what they want to do with their lives is as broad as it can be.

One in four people are estimated to experience bouts of mental ill health and it's on the rise. Prescription medication of antidepressants are also at a record high level and the demand for more invasive treatments are also on the rise. Health and social care commissioners are examining and commissioning different options for cost effective services for mental health and one of these options is a daily walk of 90 minutes or more. We need to learn from the past when kids got excited to spend their time climbing trees and building dens rather than spending hours inside.

Joe at Nature Rated understands this all too well and has put together an info-graphic on 15 Summer activities to help your kids appreciate nature.

This is what it looks like:

From baking a blackberry pie to constructing a pond or insect hotel, there's plenty for the youngsters to get up to. Head on over to his site for step by step instructions to get your kids out and about enjoying nature.

MarksvilleandMe has already taken a look and has big plans for summer time activities for my girls and my grand daughter. Here is to better mental health with the help of nature. 

Arctic Storm Cool Gel Pillow

This is an item that makes my nights much more restful. I love to have a cool pillow but find after a few minutes my pillow is warm so I have to turn it over and I have to keep doing this all night long.

I have always wished they would come up with something that would keep my pillow cool and here it is.

I love this pillow for many reasons other then my own use. It can be used for a person who is running a fever, it can be used on children who need to keep something cool say on their head, leg, arm. Most kids don't like freezing cold items but this is cool enough that it isn't bothersome but still gets the job done.

You don't have to put this in the fridge or freezer it stays cool on its own. You might find after a full night of use it will be warm but if you get up to go to the bathroom by the time you get back it will have already cooled down so you can get right back to sleep.

The only problem I had is that this is really made for a standard pillow so it kind of just floated around my king size pillow so I am hoping they will make larger sizes for larger pillows so that it fits better.

You can find this gel pillow on Amazon.



Arctic Storm Cool Gel Pillow; Stay Cool While You Sleep with This Mat That Will Cover Your Entire Pillow. Large 11" X 22" Design. Great for Headache Relief. This Is the Best Cooling Pillow Mat on Amazon!

#ArcticStormCooGelPillow

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and Arctic. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com. 

Fun with water balloons

Summer is here and if you have children like I do then Summer isn't over until you have a balloon fight. Everyone knows water balloons are for well water, but you can use them for so many other things, like making hair accessories, games where you throw a dart at the balloons, and of course different kinds of balloon arrangements where you need a smaller balloon, and what better way to achieve that then by using water balloons.

So get out there with or without your children and have a ball.




You can purchase these water balloons on Amazon.


Packages of 500 large high quality latex water balloons. They come in 6 colours, blue, green, yellow, red, orange, pink and purple. They can be pre-filled the night before and hold their size and don't pop. Easy to fill. They can be as big as 6" when filled or they work well smaller too. 0.23g per balloon. 

#WaterBalloons

Disclosure:  MarksvilleandMe received one or more of the products mentioned above as part of a promotion with Tomoson and Uplifting Balloons. Regardless, MarksvilleandMe only recommends products or services we use personally and believe will be good for our readers. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation.  If you would like MarksvilleandMe to review a product or service please contact us at marksvilleandme@gmail.com.