Goin' Campin' in your own backyard!

One of my most favorite summer activities to do with my family is GOIN' CAMPIN'! Last weekend, at this exact time, our family was up in the cool pines of Flagstaff Arizona. We LOVE to camp!! We love spending time together going to walks, quad rides, hikes, eating s'mores, and playing tons of games! Camping is one of those things that never gets old. We could go EVERY weekend and still want to go again. This picture was taken on one of our rides. We found an old historic house that was built sometime in the early 1900's, I think. AMAZING!! I asked my husband if we could buy it and have it as a summer cabin!

I thought it would be fun to post some camping ideas for families that can't really get out of town. This goes to show that you can have a GREAT time with your family in your own backyard.

I LOVE this idea from Giggles Galore to have your own Camp S'MORE!

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And if you don't want to go to the trouble of actually roasting marshmallows, this is a great recipe for a s'more mix.  TSJPhotography calls this Happy Camper Crunch!

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I adore these teepee tents from Kara's Party Ideas. PERFECT for sleeping under the stars!

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Gina Lee thought of everything for her camping party... I especially love the bug juice!

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I Can Teach My Child threw a camping party that included:

dirt cups

minature bow and arrows

kids in a blanket

candy campfires

and party favors!

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Dukes and Duchesses turned her backyard into Camp Dukes

I love these homemade camp shirts

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Some cute ideas for camp activities over at Loralee Lewis

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Get out your campin' chairs! A backyard big screen movie from HWTM will be a BIG hit!

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CUTE campfire cones from Quirky Momma

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Martha Stewart shares lots of fun ideas for camping in your own backyard!

TONS of great backyard camping activities over at Child Care Lounge

A cute is this tissue paper camp fire craft from Education.Com

Let's Go Camping!  

Let's TALK CHALK!

I am lovin' SUMMER!! We just got back from a weekend of camping with the kids and had sooo much fun! So this week I'm excited to share how to go camping with your kids this summer without ever leaving your house! Camping activities, snack ideas and crafts... you won't want to miss it!

TODAY: homemade chalk

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 A great tutorial on how to make your own homemade sidewalk chalk using toilet paper rolls from Oh My Homemade!  ______________________ How fun would it be to throw a CHALK party this summer with your kids! This awesome "sidewalk chalk festival" comes from June Bug Parties

A bucket full of sidewalk chalk means HOURS of fun!

Invite the whole neighborhood over some FUN with CHALK!_______________________

One Hundred Dollars a Month shares her recipe for homemade sidewalk paint

super easy!

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Infarrantly Creative made her own chalk SPRAY

I LOVE this idea because then the mess doesn't even touch their hands! ;)

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Domestic Charm shares her secret of using muffin tins to hold your liquid sidewalk chalk!

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Who knew that ice tray molds could be used for making sidewalk CHALK! Cynchronicity made chalk using ice cube trays and even Easter eggs!

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Learn how to make your own 4th of July chalk at Project:Alicia

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How FUN is this idea to use squeeze bottles to make sidewalk chalk paintings from Inner Child Fun



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Fiskars shares a great idea to use templates to make all sorts of fun shapes!

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An easy way to make your own sidewalk chalk PAINT from Random Thoughts of a Supermom over at Positively Splendid

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Have you tried this 3D sidewalk chalk from Crayola?

or how 'bout this glow in the dark sidewalk chalk?

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Mad Maggie Designs recommends to make your own glow in the dark chalk by just adding some glow in the dark paint to your homemade chalk mixture!
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Sidewalk CHALK, PAINT, SQUEEZE OR SPRAY!!
Which one are you going to try with your kids this summer?

Recipes for GOO, Gak, Slime and MORE!

I LOVE the idea of spending the entire day INDOORS with my kids during the summer! We have found some awesome recipes for GOO, Gak, Slime, Play dough, Flubber, Silly Putty and much more gross stuff that your kids will LOVE!

Glow in the Dark GOO from The Idea Room

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Easy recipe for homemade silly putty from Making Memories

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Mom to 2 Posh Lil' Divas created her very own Dr. Seuss Oobleck!

 

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Homemade Play dough from How Does She?

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Easy SLIME recipe from Our Best Bites

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It's Gravy, Baby added a little bit of GLITTER to her GOO!

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GOO in a bag (keep those hands clean!) from Family Fun

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Easy chocolate play dough recipe from Nurture Store

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Glow in the Dark SLIME from Domestic Charm

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Preschool Powol Packets share a great and SLIMY oobleck recipe

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Chez Beeper Bebe made this awesome Monster Slime... this would be perfect for a neighborhood summer party!

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A less messy fruity play dough recipe from It's Just Laine

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So, what's the recipe for a SUPER SIMPLE SLIME?

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What's your recipe for FUN??