Disclosure: I received product samples. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

I can’t believe it’s already mid-June. It seems like I was just saying that last year and here it is again! The first month of summer break flew by. The kids are starting to get sick of each other around this time. It’s time to spice up summer days with some new experiences, don’t you think?

We’ve been eating out a lot this week since the air conditioner was out. I just couldn’t bear to cook in the kitchen for any length of time because it was so daggone hot in here! I’ve posted before about the joys of Restaurant.com but this week we had a huge need for dining-out savings since we darkened the doors of many air-conditioned restaurants.   I was asked to share this special offer with you; I know that it will help some of you beat the heat!

Sizzle up Your Summer with this $3 for $25 Deal from Restaurant.com!  

Craving barbecue, seafood, burgers, or lighter fare? Whatever your taste, Restaurant.com has your place! The trusted and valued source for connecting restaurants and diners nationwide is offering a one day only sizzlin’ hot $3 for $25 deal Friday, June 20, with promo code: SUMMER.  Grab your Restaurant.com $3 for $25 Gift Certificates today and be on your way to dining bliss!

Restaurant.com is social. Connect with them on:   Facebook   Twitter  Pinterest

*Valid ONLY on 6/20/14. Offer ends 6/20/14 at 11:59 p.m. CT

 As I looked through the list, I saw many local restaurants that haven’t had certificates available at Restaurant.com before.  I’m excited to try out those savings and some new restaurants! 

Now, for the next way to spice up the summer, what about trying a new subscription box?  I’m a big fan of getting fun mail and look forward to my monthly BeautyBox5.  This little package packs a big punch when it comes to great samples.  There’s always something I love in my assortment.  This month, I really liked the nail polish. The matte shade was beautiful but the formula went on thick.  Often with lighter shades, I have to do multiple coats for the polish to fill out the nail.  The NickaK polish took less than two minutes to apply to both hands and dried pretty quickly, too!  I love that BeautyBox5 sends me a new mascara sample every couple of months.  Mascara is my guilty pleasure, I love to try different brands.  It’s always nice to get products I haven’t used before, like this Coconut Water shampoo.  If you’d like to try BeautyBox5 but you don’t want to commit, consider getting the May Box which is currently available without a subscription!

There’s also a fun box for the kiddos to try!  Every child I know loves to get mail.  Don’t throw your mama flip-flops at me for admitting this, but sometimes I don’t want the craft boxes because I’m too lazy to do the activities.  (Ducking under the table now!)   If you’re breathing a sigh of relief that other moms feel that way, too, don’t worry.  There are people like us in the world.  Try out the Bluum box and your kid will enjoy opening the mail AND you’ll be happy about the cool gear he gets!  This box is geared toward preschoolers and below and makes a fantastic gift!  You can specify the recipient’s details such as gender and age which helps the folks at Bluum to make the box perfect for the child.  We received a Bluum box for my 5 year old son who just completed pre-K.  Here’s what was in it:

Bluum Box was a good option for our family because the items inside were all something my 5-year old would use.  This box was a virtual treasure chest of goodies for my little guy.  I love that this curated box is made just for kids his age.   He thought the Kidz Banz were super cool because they strap on (rather than have little sides that rub against his ears.)  He wore the hat around the garden while snacking on a Nutella sandwich he packed in the robot reusable case.  The Clifford game was easy enough for him to play with his sister; the cards went right inside the case which made for easy clean-up.  I must confess that the kids didn’t eat many of the ginger-carrot cookies.  They saw that they were veggie cookies and, well, they’re just not the kind of kids to eat veggie cookies.  But I am!  I thought they were super tasty.  I was kind of glad they didn’t eat the cookies because that left more for me.  Oops, another mom-of-the-year opportunity lost.

We’re determined to get some more reading time in with our son this summer.  The book Adventure Bible for Early Readers just arrived this week from BookLook so I’ve been going through it with my 5 year old.  The book took me by surprise because, since it was targeted toward emerging readers, I thought it would be a book of Bible stories.  But nope, this is an actual NIV Bible rewritten in kid-friendly language.  It’s not exactly easy reading for most 5 year olds, although it’s probably right in the sweet spot for 2nd graders.  The cover has one of those 3D motion-changing pictures on it which draws kids in like a magnet.  The best thing about this Bible is that it is full-color.  What a genius idea for a kid’s Bible; after all, who ever saw an early reader book that’s all black-and-white and boring?!   There are cute little captions and inset pictures throughout these pages that make it really engaging for kids.  There are opportunities for some back-and-forth interaction, as well as explanations that make it easier for children to understand the customs and traditions of the biblical period.  As a Christian parent, it’s my privilege to share these stories with my kids, reading it with them and talking about it with them.  And that’s probably the best part of my summer right there.

Are you spicing up the summer days? If you’re a blogger, check out this new group I just joined. The campaigns seem pretty easy to participate in. The application time is almost zero; just a click of the mouse. That’s always a bonus!

Also for mommy bloggers, here’s a potential opportunity. Click here and take the survey to see if you qualify. If they ask for the referral name, please tell them Savings in Seconds (Dianna Gardenhour) sent you.