Family

Free Printable Valentine’s Day Card – Looking Sharp

When it comes to Valentine’s Day cards, all I really want is something that’s easy to do. This year I created my own printable with a cute pair of sunglasses. It’s a great candy-free Valentine’s Day option. You can make it even more special and “punny” if you add a sharpened pencil to the card!

This easy and FREE printable Valentine's Day card is a great candy free alternative. Add decorative pencils to make it extra special!

The Year of Candy-Free Valentines

This year I wanted my kids to give out candy free Valentine’s Day cards. I was a teacher for a long time, so I know that the last thing any educator wants is a bunch of seven-year-olds all hopped up on sugar. I’ve seen some super cute Valentines on Pinterest with a play on words, so my goal was to create something like that.

These Valentines are about 3″ x 3.5″ in length and come with 4 printed t a page. They work best if you print them out in color on card stock paper, but I’ve also made them using standard copy paper. Here’s how to make your own “Looking Sharp” free printable Valentines Cards:

Looking Sharp Printable Valentine

Get the printable Valentine here. Print it onto heavyweight or card stock paper. On the back of each card, write the name of who your Valentine is to and from.

Tip: If you’re making Valentines with your small child (any age from pre-K to first grade), it’s MUCH easier on the teacher if the cards aren’t addressed to a specific child. If your child can’t read, then he has to have his teacher read every single name to him. From experience, it takes forever to pass them out this way.

Tutorial for the Looking Sharp printable Valentine's Day cards

Cut out each card and, using a standard single hole punch, make a hole at the corner of each sunglasses. The hole punch that I use in all my crafting has notches in the side so you can line up the hole punch with the right place on the paper.

Otherwise, guessing where the holes will be can make your cards look like this:

Bend the card into a rainbow shape and push the pencil through the two holes. The pencil makes the card it keep its rounded shape. At first I planned to make the cards with dollar store pencils but they kept breaking as I was sharpening them, so I ordered some cute Valentine’s Day pencils from Amazon instead. I think they will go pretty well with this card’s color pattern too!

printable Valentines with a pencil and no candy!

And there you have a pretty easy Valentine that you can make yourself!

Easy and Fun Printable Valentine's Day card candy free

Trusting My Teen Driver to the Open Road

Last week I was thrown into the scary world of “parent of teen driver” before I was mentally prepared for it. Logan has always been pretty independent, and he is super responsible. Even more so than me sometimes, ha! I never dreamed the day would come when I was worried for his safety while he was out on his own.

He went out early in the morning to meet a friend at Starbucks. No big deal, right? Starbucks is low-key, and who gets into mayhem before 10 am anyway? It was winter break and I had 3 kids ripping my house apart, so we headed to the park. I didn’t have a care in the world. Until the drive home.

As we were coming back into town from the park, we watched as a firetruck went from just driving along like everyone else, to lights flashing, siren blaring, and headed in the direction of where we live.

My first thought was, Oh my gosh my kid is on the road right now.

My heart rate increasing, I took a peek at my PulsePoint app to reassure myself that the emergency couldn’t possibly be in the same place as Logan (don’t worry, John was driving 😉 That was no help, because there were multiple incidents occurring around town.

All I could think about was the countless times I had gotten myself in a pickle when I had lied to my parents about where I was and who I was with. To be fair, Logan makes waayyyy better choices than I did at his age. Unfortunately, I’ve had far too much experience in getting away with something I wasn’t supposed to do. I have a hard time feeling like I can fully trust my own teen.

It’s not just my teen driver I worry about. The road is full of knuckleheads texting and driving or maybe even driving while under the influence. I have a teen driver who pays close attention to the road, but who knows what the people in the cars around him are doing.

I sent him a text and he didn’t respond. We got home and he wasn’t there. This wasn’t necessarily a concern because he was supposed to go back to his dad’s house anyway.

And still I was worried…

It felt so helpless but I knew I had to just trust him. Logan knows to wear a seat belt, follow the traffic laws and be a courteous driver. If anything happens to him while he’s driving, I don’t know what I’d be feeling. But I do know that harping on him because I’m feeling paranoid is not the answer. I took deep breaths and tried not to worry for him, and waited until I heard back.

In the end, everything was fine. But you knew that, right? And I guess in my heart I knew he was ok too. He hadn’t responded to my text because he was driving (good job, son!). When he got to his dad’s house he checked in to let me know he was there. Whew. All the crises I had made up in my head were averted.

Moving forward, I can’t rely on my “I have a good kid who makes good choices” plan like before because I will lose my sanity. My new strategy includes a parent/teen driving contract that holds us both accountable for being safe, responsible drivers. AAA, Geico, and other insurance agencies have free printable teen/parent driving contracts that are pretty good. I decided to go with this one from Varsity Driving Academy. Even though I know we could both easily choose to break our part of the contract, I still think it’s a good idea. A teen driver contract sets clear expectations for the new driver. It also holds the parent accountable for modeling the same good driving habits.

I’m sure I’ll have plenty more opportunities to worry about my kids in the years to come. Every time they grow, I have to learn to adapt to their independence. I’ll accept the challenge gladly. Because being Mom to these 4 cuties is the best gift I could have asked for.

Last week I was thrown into the scary world of “parent of teen driver” before I was mentally prepared for it. Now I have a strategy!

100+ New Year’s Resolutions for 2020

Committing to New Year’s Resolutions can be stressful. For me, just the thought of being able to take on any new habit for the next 365 days makes my head spin. This year I started by thinking about some cool stuff that I would be proud to say at the end of 2020, “Yeah. I did that!” Instead of having a high-pressure “resolutions” mindset, I came up with a list of new things to try in 2020.

One of my goals for 2020 is to get better at thinking long. I sure do love to celebrate, so this year I’m going to take on a challenge or two that I can give a real big hooray about in 12 months once they’re completed.

A friend of mine completed a 52-hike challenge in 2019, going on one hike a week. A cool aspect of this challenge is that you can “bank” hikes if you do more than one in a week. That way if there’s a busy week at work or a week of bad weather you don’t have to give up the challenge over a missed week.

This got me thinking that, if I could use the same tactic and credit myself a few extras for a later date, what personal challenges could I complete in 2020? So I started coming up with ideas and compiled a list of 100+ New Year’s Resolutions, that are more like new things to try in 2020. Obviously I’m not going to do them all. I have a few that I’m particularly leaning towards, but I thought I’d share the whole list to maybe inspire you as well.

100+ New Year’s Resolutions for 2020

Health and Wellness New Year’s Resolutions

Take a yoga class every week in 2020

Cut sugar from your diet

Go for a 20-minute walk every day

Grow your own herbs

Take the 52-hike challenge

Go organic

Drink enough water each day

Make a weekly meal plan

Spend time outside every day

Go to the gym once a week

Make a sleep goal

Get weekly massages

Take a daily vitamin

Go gluten-free

Run in a race a month

Eat an apple a day

Train for and complete a Mud Run

Personal Growth New Year’s Resolution Ideas

Write in a journal every day for a year

Don’t complain

Use kind words

Repeat daily positive affirmations

Read for 20 minutes a day

Hug and kiss your kids every day (this is harder as they get older!)

Make a personal connection with a different Facebook or Instagram friend each week.

Take the 365-Day Happiness Challenge

Meditate every day for a year

Write down your weekly goals

Stop comparing

Read the morning paper

Begin each day with a to-do list

Finish each day by writing something kind, positive, or cheerful about each of your kids

Send a kind text to someone every day

Donate monthly to an organization that you feel strongly about

Don’t gossip

Write in a gratitude journal every day for a year

Stop trying to be perfect

Be more environmentally conscious

Write a letter to someone every week

Create a box of memories for the year. Kind of like a time capsule!

Write thank-you notes for all gifts

Resolutions to Improve your Finances in 2020

Take the 52-week money saving challenge

Do a 12-month budget challenge

Eat out no more than once a week

Start a side hustle

Join a couponing Facebook group and start clipping!

Save your coins all year and cash them in in December (hello, Christmas money!)

Check out The Budget Mom’s 12 months of savings. There is a different thing you do each month to save money. Each month is a different challenge!

Save for a trip and pay for it in cash

Bring your lunch to work every day

Use the envelope system

Things to Learn in 2020

Learn a new language

Learn a new word every day

Learn to quilt

Read a book a week in 2020

Take a class

Learn to sew

Learn to code

Learn to play an instrument

Learn to do hand lettering

Digital things to try in 2020

Take a Photo every day

Start a Facebook group

Use an app like 1SE to document 1 second of every day in video

Make a video or vlog every day

Write a blog post every day for a year – like a digital diary!

Turn off technology (phone, computer, TV) for an hour a day

New Things to Try in 2020 Around the House

Organize your home in 52 weeks

Cook with a new food each week

Keep your room clean

Alternatively, if you have kids, be ok with the mess

Schedule weekly “me time”

Hold a weekly family meeting

Try a new Pinterest project each week

Take a decluttering challenge

Cook as a family one night a week

Keep a plant alive for a year (you laugh, but this is impossible for some of us! *cough* *me*)

Fun Things to Try in 2020

Volunteer an hour a week

Take your dog for a walk in a new place every week

Date your spouse every week in 2020. Check out Friday We’re in Love and Intentional by Grace for inspiration

Watch one award-winning movie a week

Go to a concert a month

Choose a word to live by this year

Each month, have a “Mommy and Me” date with each of your kids

Write weekly notes of encouragement and appreciation to friends and family

Complete 365 random acts of kindness

Take yourself on a date once a week

Make every birthday present you give

Visit a different museum each month

Write a bucket list of weekend adventures, then go do them!

Visit one new place in town each week

Use a different scent in your diffuser each month

Do something creative every day

Read with your kids every night

Host a monthly dinner party or gathering

Set aside one night a week for family fun

Jump in every puddle you see, all year

Make a playlist of songs for each month

Faith-Based Resolutions for 2020

Pray for 15 minutes a day

Tithe monthly

Read your Bible every day in 2020 (I was *so close* to finishing this! I missed just a few days)

Volunteer in your church

Learn a new Bible verse every day in 2020

Go to church every week

Learn a new worship song every week – bonus if you can play it on an instrument!

Read the whole Bible in one year

Attend a Bible study or home group

Take the 2020 Christian Challenge and get daily scripture, reflection questions, and monthly prayer prompts

Frozen 2 Printable Coloring Pages and Activities

The long-awaited Frozen sequel is finally almost here! To get in the Arendelle mood, how about some Frozen 2 Printable coloring pages and activities? I don’t know about you, but I have been looking forward to this movie ever since the release of Frozen Fever in 2015. Boy, did that short get my hopes up for more Anna and Elsa!

From the Studio:

Why was Elsa born with magical powers? The answer is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll set out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In “Frozen 2,” she must hope they are enough.

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, I promise not to spoil it for you. We’re heading out to catch the screening in San Diego this week, but I haven’t told the girls yet. They will be over the moon excited! If you follow us on Instagram you are sure to catch some of the behind-the-scenes movie day fun in our stories. Meanwhile, let’s see some cool pics of the royal sisters and their friends! This post has all the Frozen 2 printable coloring pages I could get my hands on, plus some bonus activities.

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Today is the big day! It’s the Frozen 2 theater release day! Yippee!!! • We were so grateful to experience a #hosted screening of Frozen 2 last week. The girls still don’t really understand how movies work, because they’ve only seen a few in-theater. First, they were super frustrated that they couldn’t go right home and watch the movie on TV. They couldn’t WAIT to see it again! Also, when we first saw the movie, the soundtrack still hadn’t been released to the public so they had to wait a few days to hear all their favorite Frozen 2 songs again. All is well now though, because the soundtrack is available everywhere and we have Into the Unknown playing on repeat. ? • My favorite song was Show Yourself, but Kristoff’s adorable Lost in the Woods is a close second. • Do Disney movies make you cry? I swear I always say I’m not going to cry during a Disney movie but they always get me. This one hit me twice, ?? but the second time was in a good way.?? No spoilers though! When you see the movie you’ll know what I mean ? • I posted a bunch of Frozen 2 printables and activities on the blog. You should check them out! The link is in my bio. And tell me if you saw the movie: what was your favorite song?
A post shared by Nikki | Simply Sweet Days (@simply_sweet_days) on Nov 22, 2019 at 2:15pm PST

Frozen II Printable Activity pages

How cute is this little Frozen 2 printable maze? Take care as you help Kristoff and Sven find Anna in the Enchanted Forest! Click here to download the pdf file.

Bookmarks

Your kids (and even you!) will love saving their place with these fun printable Frozen 2 bookmarks!

Frozen 2 Memory Card Game

This one takes a little more prep to put together but it’s totally worth it! It would be a fun game to have out at your next Frozen 2 birthday party or playdate. The file is too big to load as a picture so click here to download the memory card game.

Frozen 2 Spot the Difference Game

This printable is for the eagle-eye observer. My kids get a kick out of trying to be the first one to notice the differences. Click here for the pdf version of the game.

Frozen 2 Printable Coloring Pages

This bundle of Frozen 2 coloring pages contains some beautiful and easy-to-color artwork, perfect for kids and adults! Lieutenant Mattias joins the cast in Frozen 2 as an Arendelle military leader who, along with his troop, have been trapped in the Enchanted Forest for 30 years. If that doesn’t pique your curiosity about the movie, I don’t know what will! The movie opens in theaters on November 22 but you should get your tickets NOW because they’ve been on sale for a while already. No pressure 🙂

Click here for the Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Sven printable

Click here for the Anna and Elsa printable

Click here for the Kristoff and Sven printable

Click here for the Olaf Printable

Click here for the Bruni printable

Click here fir the Nokk printable

Click here for the Lieutenant Mattias printable

These Frozen II pages are totally free. You better believe we’re going to be printing out a bunch of copies to keep the cousins entertained during the holidays! Be sure and save the files to your computer so you can print them out again and again.

Check out these other free Disney printables and activities!

This post has all the Frozen 2 printable coloring pages I could get my hands on, plus some bonus activities.

What Mommies Do

The sweet smell of a baby’s hair, the softness of their little cheeks, and big belly laughs are my favorite memories of my little ones. As the days turn to years and those little ones grow up, my love for them remains the same.

Our littlest still has some maturing to do. His preschool teacher is helping him to write his name and solve problems by himself. But at night he still wears a pull-up to bed, and sometimes needs help to dress himself. We’re taking things day by day, one load of bedding at a time.

It was while I was washing his sheets one day that I realized how literally everything I do for my children springs from a heart overflowing with love for them. Because that’s what Mommies do for their kids. I am 100% not nearly as thoughtful and considerate towards other adults. You’d never see me sacrifice as much for one of my neighbors. But because I love these tiny humans with every bone in my body, I give all I have without complaint.

What do Mommies do for their precious children? Well here’s what I’ve done recently:

What Mommies Do

-Re-stuff a teddy bear after all his fluff came out in the washer, and then sew its tattered fur back together.

-Scour the house to find a 5-inch plastic Wonder Woman action figure that by no standards qualifies as a bedtime toy, but that nonetheless must be taken to bed each night.

-I consistently stay up late in the evening to wash dishes or fold laundry just so I can spend more time with my kids while they’re awake.

-Sneak into their room at night, and swap a tooth for money in true Indiana Jones-style.

-Stand in shin-deep water at the beach to teach them how to ride a boogie board even though I’d rather be flaked out on a towel reading People magazine.

-I have to wear sunglasses on the first day of school every year to hide the inevitable tears (mine, not theirs ). Oh, how they grow up so fast. Every new grade at school is a reminder that the years are racing by.

-Peek in on them while they’re sleeping. I mean, could I really get away with that if they weren’t my own babies?

-Read, read, and read again the same scribbled-on, taped-up book about a hungry caterpillar.

-Show kindness to people who don’t deserve it. Because darn if our kids don’t imitate our behaviors, especially our worst ones. The best way to raise a kind human is to be one.

Yes that is my oldest and he’s SO much taller than me!

But here’s the thing, friend. While I can’t stress enough the importance of making wonderful memories with your children, there are some things that Mommies just shouldn’t do. One of the biggest destroyers of our joy in this season of motherhood is when we get swallowed up in raising our children… And we lose sight of what used to make us feel alive.

I love my four babies tremendously, but I’ve found that they will still love me just as much if I

-Go to a friend’s house for a spa night. A cute little foot spa and peel-off face mask are all the pampering I need.

-Take up a hobby that they can’t be a part of, like playing the guitar or learning hand lettering.

-Keep a tight budget but not so tight that I have to wear the same 2 hole-y bras over and over every day.

-Let them play in the Kids Club while I work out at the gym.

Because let’s face it. The years are short. But when these little birds fly, will I even know what to do with myself? I can’t let who I am become swallowed up in my kids. My identity has to stay me, the girl who loves hiking and rock climbing and snowboarding… plus the mom that loves her kids.

On Instagram, I shed light on the need for moms keep sight of who they are. I know I can’t be the person I was before kids, but I can still bring that same fire and energy and passion to things that light me up inside. Use the hashtag #MomPlusJoy as you share your photos on Instagram.

Live well, friend.

Nikki

Raising Adventurous Children

Peeking in on my babies while they sleep, I wonder at what adventures they’re having in their dreams. Some parents want to give their kids everything that money can buy, and that’s great. For me, I want to give my kids a joyful childhood filled with the experiences that dance in their memories while they sleep. We’re raising adventurous children one exciting day at a time.

7 Things You Do When Raising Adventurous Children

Take Note of the Little Things

The ladybug without any spots. The leaf that’s shaped like an ice cream cone. The hole in the ground that may or may not contain a playful gopher. Kids see them, these little details all around us. Open your eyes to nature’s nuances, and share the excitement of wildlife with your kids.

Encourage Imagination

That’s not just a discarded piece of brown paper sack. It could be an invisible treasure map! Give their little imaginations space and freedom to think beyond what they see and create unexplored worlds.

Make Time

The hard truth is that in order to live out great memories, we as parents have to make time for them in our complicated, important lives. Vacations are the ideal place to experience free-spirited fun, but you don’t have to have a lot of time to foster new experiences. You just need enough time to stop and think about what adventures could be had right where you are.

Set an Example

Get out there and try new things yourself. On our walls we have photos of Mommy and Daddy riding river rapids, and posing at the top of a mountain.We are no strangers to adventure, and our kids know that. It’s easy for children to be courageous if they know their parents are right there with them.

Praise, Praise, Praise!

Every little step of adventure is something to celebrate. When I’m on a hike with my kids, I know they’re going to love our end destination. But the trek there loses its novelty pretty quickly. The kids can only get excited about forests and moss for so long. So I shift their focus to things that keep them moving and having fun while they’re doing it.

“See that fallen log over there? Can you walk across it and keep your balance? Hooray! You did it!”

Take Lots of Pictures and Tell Lots of Stories

We relive our adventures in the pictures we take along the way. In fact, my most solid childhood memories are the ones that have stood the test of time in photographs. Kids love when you retell the stories of their experiences because they get to have the leading role in the familiar tales of their past. Telling them stories of the things they have done and they places they’ve been to is also a great way to soothe them at bed time.

My hope for you and your family is that you seize whatever day you have in front of you. Find the joy in the little things and be the first to try something new.

Want your kids to have a joyful childhood filled with memorable experiences? Here's how to raise adventurous children, one exciting day at a time.

Face your Credit Score with Confidence and Come Out a Winner

Thank you CreditRepair.com for sponsoring this post. CreditRepair.com’s team understands that a credit score is not just a number; it’s a lifestyle.

Let’s talk credit scores. Without getting into details, of course. Because isn’t your personal credit score such a private thing? People only share their credit score if they have something to brag about, which leaves the rest of us feeling a little bit uneasy about our credit. It’s probably everyone’s wish to have a better credit score, but I bet most people don’t have what it takes to make that happen. Just like dieting or any other life change, building better credit requires an accountability partner. A healthy relationship with your credit is the key to meeting your financial dreams.

A few years ago, one of our kids needed to go to the hospital at a time when I had just started a new job and our medical insurance hadn’t kicked in yet. Talk about bad timing! When you’re dealing with medical bills or other unexpected expenses, it feels like you can never get your good credit back again. Thankfully, CreditRepair.com gives you the accountability and support you need to get on track to a better future. When you get your free consultation from one of their credit professionals, you’re taking the first step to becoming educated and empowered to reaching the credit scores you deserve.

Better Credit can Help Us Meet our Financial Goals

How could better credit improve your future? Staying out of debt is a big goal of mine. I hate to think about how much money gets eaten up in interest payments. Better credit could save literally thousands of dollars in high interest rates. In fact, past CreditRepair.com clients have seen an average score increase of as much as 40 points in just four months (* Not all clients saw such a result as all legal cases are different. You should not expect to see the same result and it is not guaranteed.) With good credit and little to no debt, our family could enjoy many more opportunities. Like trips to amusement parks, weekend getaways, and maybe one day a home of our own!

The Right Tools for Better Credit

When you have CreditRepair.com on your side, you don’t have to worry about what’s going on with your credit. CreditRepair.com is one of the top providers of credit report repair services in the United States. A dedicated member advisor can offer you peace of mind, and with the mobile apps you can tap in to your credit journey 24/7. CreditRepair.com members also receive a personal online dashboard with a credit score tracker, credit monitoring, and access to credit bureaus and creditors.

Do you really know what’s on your credit report? I printed mine out not long ago. It was over 10 pages long! Processing all that information is overwhelming if you’re not used to reading credit reports. The best way to feel confident in your credit score is to seek the help of a CreditRepair.com professional.

Your free 10-minute credit analysis can provide you with a game plan to put your goals into action. Imagine how good it will feel to be able to say, “I have good credit”. Now that’s winning.

It’s Possible to Enjoy a Budget-Friendly (and Healthier!) Family Trip to Chuck E. Cheese

This post is sponsored by Caulipower but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

It’s been a while since we’ve been to Chuck E. Cheese. Have you visited lately? My friends, it has changed SO much in the last few years! We took the crew there on a family outing, and found out that it’s possible to stick to a budget AND find healthy dining options at Chuck E. Cheese.

During a rainy spell last week, we were desperate to burn off some of the little guys’ energy. We spent one afternoon at an indoor trampoline park, which was great and definitely wore the little people out. However, this particular trampoline place had far more games requiring tokens than it had trampolines. The kids were just itching to play games, so we made a deal: If it was still raining the next day, we’d hang out for an hour or so at Chuck E. Cheese.

Sure enough, it rained the following day too. Cue the ecstatic little people.

How to Save on Good Food and Games

The key is to take advantage of the All You Can Play games. You can load your play card with a minute or a dollar amount, and the kids can enjoy games nonstop without having to bother Mom & Dad for quarters! This is also a great way to keep kiddos occupied while they wait for their pizza.

We’ve been pretty awful at making healthy eating choices this summer. I blame the seasonal need for snacks 24/7 during the summer that somehow wasn’t a thing during the school year. So I jump at any meal option that’s healthy, especially if I don’t have to cook it myself. Chuck E. Cheese now offers a Super Cauli Crust pizza powered by CAULIPOWER®. It’s a better-for-you pizza because it’s gluten free, made with vitamin-packed cauliflower. The Super Cauli Power pizza is nutritious, it tastes great, and best of all it gives kids (and parents) with dietary restrictions a way to share in the yummy experience at Chuck E. Cheese!

Use this exclusive promo code to save ½ off the Super Cauli Crust pizza powered by CAULIPOWER with $10 or more All You Can Play games purchase though 8/4/2019! The CAULIPOWER pizza from Chuck E. Cheese is the same trending gluten-free dish at the grocery store. Now that it’s available at Chuck E. Cheese, you can also order it for nationwide delivery through DoorDash, UberEats and GrubHub.

Of course, pizza is nice but the games are the kids’ favorite part of Chuck E. Cheese. And don’t judge me but I’m pretty sure to be found at the Skee Ball lanes trying to sink a ball in the corner pocket. By the end of our playing time we had enough tickets to get each of the kids 2 small toys. Not too bad for a family trip to Chuck E. Cheese!

Make sure you go before August 4, and grab this promo code to save ½ off on the Super Cauli Power pizza when you purchase at least $10 All You Can Play games!

Best Early Access Deals for Amazon Prime Day 2019

My favorite shopping season isn’t Black Friday, it’s Amazon Prime Day. What is Prime Day, you ask? It’s a massive annual event on Amazon with savings and deals just for Amazon Prime members. Every year I tell myself I’m going to rock those Amazon Prime Day deals, but I usually end up aimlessly clicking around and missing out on all the good stuff. Not anymore, my friends. I’ve done a good amount of research on Amazon Prime Day 2019, which is actually 2 days this year – July 15 & 16. I’m ready to rock this party, and you can too. Savvy shoppers, read on for info on the best early access deals for Amazon Prime Day 2019.

amazon prime day 2019 — Image via Amazon

While we don’t know yet what specific items will be on sale for Prime Day, we can kind of get an idea of what deals to expect based last year’s deals. There are always great sales on books, electronics, Amazon devices, and toys. Keep an eye out for great Christmas gift ideas!

Amazon Prime Day Deals on Home and Electronics

There are guaranteed to be amazing deals on electronics, especially Amazon products and devices. If you’ve been considering adding an Echo Dot or Alexa Show to your home, this is the time to do it. Last year, the Fire TV Stick was the #1 best seller worldwide. We have one of these and we just love it! If your family has Prime, I highly recommend watching this item for Prime Day 2019. We also expect to see some competitively low prices on 4K TVs. And don’t forget to watch home appliances. Pressure cookers were the most popular Prime Day deal last year in the U.S.

So what deals can we expect this year? The masterminds behind Amazon Prime Day 2019 haven’t told us everything, but they have given us some details.

New Product Launches for Amazon Prime Day 2019

We are looking forward to some fresh new product releases this Rime Day!

How about these organic, apple cider vinegar gummies that support weight loss? Um, yes, please!

I plan to snag this car mount that has Alexa built in. You don’t even know how many times my kids have been in the car calling out for Alexa to play their favorite KidzBop song. Now Alexa will actually answer! It works with both my iPhone and John’s Android phone.

I’m also drooling over this gorgeous 4-piece cookware set, an adjustable Coleman canopy tent, and this adorable tropical baby playmat! And these are just a few of the literal millions of deals that Amazon guarantees on this 2-day discount celebration.

Ok, for those who are still holding out on getting your own Prime membership – there’s still a way for you to score some great deals. Take advantage of the 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime! Use it to shop your favorite products on Prime Day 2019! You could cancel it before the free trial is up and still get free shipping on all your Prime Day shopping. College students get an amazing bonus opportunity with this free 6-MONTH free trial of Amazon Prime Student.

Amazon Prime Day 2019’s Sneak Peek Starts July 8

Amazon is giving us sneak peek only in the app, starting July 8! From the app sneak peek page you can get notified when new deals go live. This is a great place to watch for your perfect deal.

Extra Savings Starts Now

There are a couple deals already available that can offer a head start on Prime Day shopping:

Get a $10 Amazon credit when you sign in to the Amazon App for the first time, and get an additional $10 credit after your first in-app purchase.

Get $10 to spend on Amazon when you spend $10 at Whole Foods.

These sitewide shopping deals are all available NOW!

One final tip for the budget-conscious:

To avoid over-spending, make a list of things you want to buy during the Amazon Prime Day celebration. Stick to those items as you browse the Prime Day deals!

Toy Story 4 Activities and Coloring Pages

You guys, the Pixar movie from our childhoods has a new sequel and it is all you dreamed it would be. I mean, how could it not be great when one of the starring characters is a spork! Hurry up and print out these Toy Story 4 activities and coloring pages so you can savor every joyful moment of the movie once you get home.

Toy Story 4 Coloring Pages

Parents and kids will all enjoy filling in these toy story 4 coloring pages with bright, happy colors. Click a link to download coloring pages of your classic friends like Woody, Buzz, Rex, Bo Peep, and the Aliens. We also have new friends from Toy Story 4: Ducky and Bunny, Duke Caboom, and Gabby Gabby.

Toy Story 4 Recipes

Let’s see whose snack mix recipe is better: Duke Caboom’s Carn-Pop Caboom or Bo Peep’s Billy, Goat & Gruff Grub! You can print out these recipes in color or black and white. Or just pin this page for future reference! Don’t you think these would be so fun to have at a do-it-yourself station for a Toy Story themed party?

Toy Story 4 Printable Activity Pages

Get crafty and make your own Forky using this tutorial. If you don’t have a rainbow sticker you could always draw one on. 😉

Test your knowledge of all the Toy Story movies with a “Who Said That? trivia game. Can you match all the quotes to the characters? Don’t worry, the answers are at the bottom, printed really small and upside-down.

Help Bo Peep get through the maze and reunite with her sheep in this colorful Toy Story printable activity.

Bring this road trip bingo activity page on your next car trip. Little travelers don’t even have to be able to read to win at this game! Be sure and use this link to grab all 4 bingo pages.

Draw like a Disney Imagineer as you connect all 131 points in this Bunny and Ducky connect-the-dots printable.

Make your own set of 20 memory cards. Print out all 5 of these bright pages on cardstock or plain copy paper. Cut out all the squares and glue a “Toy Story 4” square to the back of each character square. Lay the cards character-side down and see if you can match all 10 pairs!

Toy Story 4 hits the big screen on June 21, 2019 in theaters everywhere. Are you going to see it this summer?

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