family | Family Fun | food | fun | kids activities | parenting | summer | Travel

Steel City Pops – the BEST Popsicles in Atlanta (Plus a fun kids activity!)

By on June 27, 2018
Steel City Pops - the BEST Popsicles in Atlanta (Plus a fun kids activity!) | sunshineandholly.com | summer fun | kids activities

UPDATE: I’m so sad to say that our Decatur Steel City Pops location has closed as of November 2019. We sure will miss these yummy pops! If you’re looking for other fun kid-friendly things to do in Decatur, click here! 

This post was sponsored by Steel City Pops, but all opinions are my own! 

Imagine this:

A sweet and tangy buttermilk popsicle dipped in decadent dark chocolate, sprinkled with crunchy chocolate cookie crumbs, and drizzled with smooth and creamy caramel sauce…

Steel City Pops - the BEST Popsicles in Atlanta (Plus a fun kids activity!) | sunshineandholly.com | summer fun | kids activities

How about a coffee flavored popsicle with a chocolate brownie hidden inside, dipped in creamy milk chocolate, drizzled with dense dark chocolate, and dusted with espresso…

Steel City Pops - the BEST Popsicles in Atlanta (Plus a fun kids activity!) | sunshineandholly.com | summer fun | kids activities

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family | Family Fun | fun | happiness | home | kids activities | parenting | summer

5 Summer Break Survival Tips

By on June 8, 2018
5 Summer Break Survival Tips | sunshineandholly.com

Bad-mom confession: for the past few years I have dreaded the summer. As soon as the end-of-the-school-year activities start, and the “countdown ’til summer” begins, I would start thinking about all those long summer days alone with my kids with no “mom-breaks” or me-time. I’d feel a pit in my stomach. My anxiety would skyrocket. I would frantically start pinning summer crafts and activities on Pinterest.

“What am I going to do with these kids all summer long?!?!?!”

5 Summer Break Survival Tips | sunshineandholly.com

The old saying that goes, “the days are long, but the years are short” is especially true for stay-at-home moms during the summer. Those summer days are looooooong! It’s hard to keep the kids entertained. I know all the experts say, “Let them be bored! It’s good for them!” But those experts aren’t with my kids for hours and hours at a time. I spend all summer breaking up fights, refereeing arguments, cleaning up millions of messes, and fixing snacks after snacks after snacks after snacks. Sure, naptime can be a reprieve for some moms. But my kids have never been big on naptime. And trying to get them to stay in their rooms for “quiet time” is more work for me than it’s worth.

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family | food | fun | recipe | spring | summer

Layered Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

By on June 5, 2018
Layered Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting | sunshineandholly.com | fresh | easy

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. 

“Strawberry ponies
strawberry lambs,
dancing in meadows
of strawberry jam!”
-Jamberry by Bruce Degen

What’s better than sweet spring strawberries?

Layered Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting | sunshineandholly.com Layered Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting | sunshineandholly.com Layered Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting | sunshineandholly.com

How about an even sweeter layered strawberry cake with strawberry cream cheese frosting?!

Layered Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting | sunshineandholly.com

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family | Family Fun | fun | kids activities | motherhood | parenting | summer | vacation

Packing for the Pool: 10 Pool Essentials and Tips for Taking Kids to the Pool

By on May 25, 2018
Packing for the Pool: 10 Pool Essentials and Tips for Taking Kids to the Pool | sunshineandholly.com | summer fun | toddlers | pool tips

This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website. (Click on the pictures to shop the links.)

We love spending time at our neighborhood pool during the summer. There’s nothing like sunshine and water to wear your kiddos out! (And to be totally honest, sometimes I even need a nap after spending some time at the pool!)

We’ve been members of our neighborhood pool for 3 years now and I’ve finally got a good system down for getting out the door and to the pool quickly and efficiently. The first summer, my kids were still little, and getting ready for the pool seemed like more work than it was worth! But now that they’re 3 and 5, we’re finally at a point where we can grab our bag, towels, a few snacks, and head to the pool for some fun in the sun!

Here’s a list of the things that I always keep on hand during the summer to make getting ready to go to the pool easy-breezy.

Pool Essentials for Preschoolers

1. A Big-A** Bag

I hate having multiple bags to bring to the pool. It ends up being way too much to carry. I have one huge bag that I throw everything in when we’re headed to the pool. My bag is a Lands’ End extra large canvas tote bag, but there are some great options on Amazon!

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family | Family Fun | kids activities | motherhood | parenting | spring | summer | Travel

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden

By on May 1, 2018

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Clorox, and Flonase. All opinions are mine alone. #AllergyFreeAdventures #CollectiveBias

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

One of my favorite places to visit here in Atlanta is the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We just bought an annual membership, and I’m thrilled we can visit as many times as we want throughout the year! But the best time has to be in the spring when all of the flowers are blooming. My kids and I love wandering around and checking out all of the beautiful, fragrant flowers. We always stop by the children’s garden to check out what’s growing and then end our trip spending some time in the active play area.

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Are you planning a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden? Check out my tips below!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Check the Calendar

The Botanical Garden is typically closed on Mondays, so make sure to be aware of that before you plan your trip. Check the calendar before you go to see what events or kid’s programs are going on the day of your visit.

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Plan Your Itinerary

The Atlanta Botanical Garden website has some awesome downloadable itineraries you can print out and bring with you. Check out the itinerary titled “visit with kids” to get some ideas of what to do during your time at the garden.

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Pack a Lunch

There are 2 locations at the Botanical Garden to grab a quick bite to eat, as well as a full-service sit-down restaurant called Longleaf.  But when you’re bringing kids to the garden, I think it’s best to just bring a lunch. That way, you’ll have it with you and ready when your kids decide they’re hungry. Just find a shaded spot to sit and have a picnic!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

We were so bummed that the Earth Goddess was undergoing renovations to replace her soil and plants. Scroll down further to see a photo of what she usually looks like!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Bring a Swimsuit for the Kids

The Botanical Garden has a great splash pad during the warmer months. Make sure to throw a swimsuit and towel in your bag, as well as some sunscreen so your kiddos can splash and play!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Be Prepared for Pollen

If you live here in Georgia, you’ll know to expect a good month or so of extreme pollen each spring. Everything will be covered in yellow – our cars, the mailbox, the doorknobs – it’s all sporting a fresh coat of bright yellow pollen! We hate having our outdoor plans cut short by sneezing, runny noses, and itchy eyes. Luckily, I’ve been purchasing Flonase and Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes from Kroger for years and use them both to keep allergies at bay!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Once-daily Flonase nasal spray products are proven to offer 24-hour relief from both nose and eye-related allergy symptoms. So it’s the perfect product to use before a trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Flonase products are both non-addictive and non-drowsy, so you’ll still have plenty of energy to chase your kids around!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Consider bringing along some Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, too. They’re perfect for cleaning up surfaces after your visit and will wipe away 99.9% of the most common allergens*. I love to keep some in my car to wipe down the stroller, my phone, my bag, my sunglasses, and anything else that might be covered in pollen after our day of family fun.  Click here to learn more about allergy solutions for spring and to take advantage of some great savings. Don’t let seasonal allergies ruin your outdoor family adventures!

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

So pack your bag, grab your camera, and take your kiddos to the Atlanta Botanical Garden this spring for a day of family fun in the sun!

 

Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | family fun | travel | spring activities

*Use Clorox® Disinfecting products as directed for removal of non-living allergens like pet dander, dust mite matter and pest matter on hard nonporous surfaces in your home. Keep out of reach of children.

#ad Tips for Taking Kids to the Atlanta Botanical Garden | sunshineandholly.com | #allergyfreeadventures | family fun | travel | spring activities

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