Everybody Loves SeaLife Aquarium Kansas City

This giveaway is over, but head here to find out about Crown Center's Homeschool Week, then below I have my original review post about SeaLife Aquarium.

Okay, so this post right here was written after we went on our very first SeaLife Aquarium visit. Then we went a year later during the week when school was in and the place was not busy at all, so we've experienced both ends of the busy spectrum here and the place is awesome no matter how you slice it. We really are very lucky to have this in Kansas City!

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Everybody Loves Legoland Discovery Center Kansas City

This giveaway has expired but go here to check out the SeaLife Aquarium giveaway!

We love Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City! We've only been once but we could go like EVERY DAY! I could ride the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride all day long and then hit the theatre. If you have not been to the theatre yet, I won't spoil the surprise that awaits you when you're in there, and the movies change, so see them all!

You are not going to believe the awesomeness of this, but I am giving away a family 4-pack of tickets valued at $76 to Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City! Here's the layout; there is so much to do and you are in for an entire day of fun! What a perfect thing to do as the weather is getting colder! If there are more than 4 people in your family, of course you can purchase extra tickets for them; this is FOUR free tickets, though ... how cool is that?!

2013 Holiday Gift Guide: barkTHINS by @ripplebrands

I have a new obsession around here and it JUST came in the mail for me today. I got this box of fun stuff from Klout as a perk, and the box was full of all this great fair trade stuff. Here's my new favorite thing:

Introducing barkTHINS by Ripple Brands. You know I dove right into the bag when it came and could not stop. The kids are also fans. I went to their site and found out they also have other varieties, like dark chocolate with almonds, pretzels, peppermint, mint and pumpkin seeds, as well as milk chocolate peanut.

Yes, smarty-pants people, they ARE on my Weight Watchers plan. Everything is, in fact, just in moderation, which MIGHT be a tad bit of an issue with these.

I think you need to try these out!

Here's how to find them on Twitter. And on Facebook.

I was given a free product or sample because I'm a Klout influencer. I am under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

When She Transformed Into a Butterfly ...

It's like in the movie The Matrix, people. Once you KNOW cool stuff and REALIZE cool stuff, you can't UNKNOW it. You just have to keep moving forward and hope the rest realize cool stuff, too. If they do not, that is not your problem. Be yourself.

My Speech at my Poppy's Funeral

Hello, I’m Kerrie, [my grandpa and grandma's] first-born and oldest grandchild, and I don’t think they quite knew what to do with me after having 4 sons!

  

I was always making my Poppy, as I called him, play customer to my waitress and babysit my dollies and restart the hi-fi over and over so I could twirl around the family room in my pretty dress.

  

Poppy is so special to me and always will be, for so many reasons. I remember 1,000 things about him, but don’t worry; I’ll only share a few with you now!

  

He was never grumpy, and I don’t remember him saying one unkind thing to me ever.

  

He built me the most beautiful dollhouse, which I still have.

Through his hard work as a carpenter and builder of homes, he funded all the trips to Independence Center Grandma and I would take, the Cabbage Patch Kid I never dreamed I would get for Christmas, a trip to Bible camp in Colorado.

  

I remember going to see him at job sites and being amazed at what he could do. I wanted to live in every house he built.

I remember how much in love with Grandma he always was and how she was his everything. I wanted that for myself and got it finally, actually by taking some of his kindly and carefully given advice.

  

And of course, his family and God always came first. He was a loving father who was always looking out for, and having fun with, his sons and their families.

  

And when it came time to welcome new family members, he always invited them in with open arms. I know my husband will miss Poppy — and their fishing trips — VERY much.

  

He treated my kids and my cousins’ kids so well, joking with them, coloring with them, having fun. He was always smiling.

  

He was a jokester, that’s for sure.

  

He was a Christian who walked the walk.

  

He modeled the biblical principle of Turn the Other Cheek and was patient and kind.

  

I always wanted him to be proud of me and he makes me want to strive to be a better person still.

  

I think of him now as fishing in a nice, big boat with his brothers, his sister and his parents on the most beautiful lake imaginable.

  

I see him smiling at all of us and telling us that everything is going to be okay.

We will miss you so much, Poppy, but what gets us through this tough time is knowing we will see your smiling face again someday.

  

I love you, Poppy.