Saturday, August 15, 2015

Picnic Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag Tote Reivew

I'm always looking for the perfect picnic tote. Something that holds a family of 4 breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I've finally found what I've been looking for! I got the Picnic Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag Tote to review. It's $39.95, but on sale for $29.95.

I have an old picnic basket downstairs. It doesn't keep our food cold. My new tote does the job.

I fit two 9x12 pans in there, and had plenty of room to spare. It measures 16x15x10 inches.

The top lifts up, so you can get out water, wine, or whatever you have in there to drink out.




There is a front pocket. I can see me using this pocket for directions, maps, brochures, recipe cards, invitations, or wet wipes.


There's also a side pocket. It too is good for small things, but big enough to hold a cup, or a jar of sauce.

It comes with an additional strap. That can come in handy to help carry the tote when we're walking long distances, or if it's heavy. So far I haven't had to use this strap. I know there will be times I'll use it. When we go camping I need this strap.


There's one more tiny pocket. I think I'll use that for car keys. 


I took our Picnic Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag Tote to the park to have a breakfast for Mica's family birthday party. I fit two 9x12 coffee cakes, a knife, 2 spatulas, and 1 serving spoon, and other random party things in the tote. It kept our food cold.


We had a great time! 
This tote would also be great to take to places like the grocery store. Any frozen treat will stay cold in this insulated bag.
Where would you take this Picnic Insulated Lunch Cooler Bag Tote?

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.


Friday, August 14, 2015

Random Tid Bits

  1. I sometimes wish I had a built in 2nd opinion. I was sitting there drawing in my office. It's something I can do. I've been playing with different techniques. I teach an Art Media Techniques class. Anyhow I had 2 drawings going, and could not decide between the two of them. My husband is not shy at all at telling me what sucks and what works. Instead of moving further with it, I waited. I could have gotten so much more done if I just decided between the 2. I'm not going to show you now, but the drawing is going to turn into a painting much like my others. It will be a sea turtle with a sand castle coming out of it's shell.

  2. I took 1/2 a day off on Monday. I don't teach a class on Monday, and I was already for Tuesday and Wednesday. I wanted to spend it with Mica, well the boys really since it was Mica's birthday and their school started Wednesday. I ended up taking the boys and my parents out to lunch at Chick-fil-a. We only have 2 in Omaha. My parents had never been there.

    It was a surprise that I picked them up early. Isaak was pissed. He wanted to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's to finish building a box creation of some sort. He had a melt down. I've never fed into his melt downs, but he still has them. I try to ignore it, then I say, "Enough Isaak!", and lastly I drag him out of the house. Never do I say, "Awww come here." You'd think they'd stop. At least he has them a whole lot less then he used to.

  3. I like Chick-fil-a's food better than a lot of other fast food places. Plus they have good branding/ads. That brings up my question for you - Do you go to places, or watch TV shows where you don't agree with the owner's beliefs, or dislike an actor in the show? I don't agree with Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-a's beliefs, but I go there anyhow. It's a free country. They can believe whatever they want to just like I can. I also still like the Cosby Show even though Cosby's looking like he was a creep! The show was/is still good. There are other actors in it besides him. The voice that talked for Elmo on Sesame Street sexually abused kids. They didn't take Sesame Street off the air. They didn't even take Elmo's World DVD's off the shelves. I like the old Dukes of Hazard. Because of a flag it's off the air. It's been on the air for years. I get it, but I still like the show in all its cheesiness. What's your thoughts on all that? I can see both sides. 

  4. After Chick-fil-a I dropped my parent's off and wanted to go play mini golf. The boys wanted to go home to play Mica's new video game. They really don't play their DS a whole lot, so that's what we did. Hey it saved money, and I got a nap in.

  5. Travis showed up around 5:15 all pissed. I guess he was trying to call me. Since I got this new iphone #2 it hasn't rang. I even tried to match my settings up to his. No ringing. So far I'm not a SMART phone lover. I'll have to go back to Verizon to see what's up. Travis went to pick up the boys forgetting I took 1/2 a day off.  Then he was annoyed that I got to have fun with the boys, and he didn't. :(

Thursday, August 13, 2015

School Started With Hot Flashes

Mica woke up with crazy hair yesterday! I asked him if he wanted to go to school like that for the first day? He said, "No!" We joke about how a peacock feather is growing out of his head.

 
Travis fixed Mica's hair.

Isaak was super excited to get new shoes. The boy mostly gets hand me downs from Mica. Now they have about the same size of feet. Isaak's feet grow faster than Mica's. I was just going to buy a pair of neural tennis shoes for Isaak, but he tried on the blue basket ball shoes, and was in love. He was bouncing around the mirror testing them out with a big smile on his face. In the end I bought 2 pair. Luckily they were both on sale, I had a $12 off card from Kohl's, they gave me 30% off since their register broke in the middle of a transaction, and I got $20 of Kohl's cash. Woo Hoo!

 
I came home from work and said, "How was your first day boys?" 

Mica said, "Well it was great. There's just a few little things...like my teacher gets headaches if the lights are on all the way, so they are lower lit. That will take some getting used to. My teacher has hot flashes, so she keeps it pretty cool in the room. I need to bring a sweater, or sweatshirt to school Mom." The hot flashes comment made me laugh. 

It reminds me of when I was teaching, and I was pregnant with Mica. Hormones were making me sweat like crazy. I hardly ever sweat any other given time. That first few weeks of being pregnant I just didn't know what to do. No matter what deodorant I used sweat was just pouring from me. Thank goodness that stopped!

As for the lights - that is a great reason why places need real sun lighting, or lights that mimic the sun. I know they make such a thing, but those kinds of lights are expensive. Do fluorescent lights bother you?

Isaak had a good day to. His only problem was getting though his lunch. He kept saying that lunch was cut short. I don't believe it. I think he talked too much! He's been extra chatty at breakfast at our house as well. 

I started teaching the new collage students yesterday. They seem nice. It's always super quiet the first few weeks. 


Meet the Teacher

It feels so early for school to start. Travis couldn't wait to send the kids off. The kids like school, and they seem happy with routine. Routine is easier for us to.

Both kids got good teachers - so I hear. Isaak said, "I don't care who I get. You know what? I do care. I want to keep this pattern up of getting the opposite teacher than Mica had." He likes patterns. Mica wanted the teacher he got because she kept saying she wanted him in her classroom, she works them hard, and plays them hard.

Back to school night was on Mica's birthday (Monday).

We stopped by Isaak's classroom first. Isaak's teacher was busy talking to one family when we came in. Two more families came in after us, and she started talking to them. We were just standing there thinking, Ok we're right here waiting to talk to you. We did have a few questions. Like, Why were there no notebooks, or folders on the school supply list for that grade? Finally we did what some may deem as rude, and butted in when it seemed as though conversation wouldn't die down between the teacher, and a family. It's odd because they butted in on us. It was like we were in a room, and no one could see us. Not a great first impression.

She answered our questions, and we were on our way. She buys the notebooks, and folders because she's picky about what they use color wise. Not the warm and fuzzy feeling I was hoping to get. I have heard that she's an excellent teacher. I shouldn't judge. She runs a tight ship, and that is what Isaak needs. Isaak's a good student. He wants to do his best. He also pretends to not know how to read.

Isaak gave me the hand when I tried to take a picture of him. Maybe my feeling of being ignored didn't just come from his teacher.


Every photo that night had a hand up! Punk!

 
Mica's teacher stood out in the hallway. She shook the child's hand as they walked in, and asked them their name regardless if she knew them, or not. She asked us 3 times if we had any questions, or concerns? We talked briefly about how Mica needs more help with math, and does pretty good with reading. She went on to talk about how he'll get a list of books to read from the extra teacher that challenges them. Right away I got a good vibe off her. Mica asked her if he could bring in treats for his birthday some day this week? She said, "Whenever you want." He said, "Not the first day because that day should be all about getting the system down." She said, "That's fine. Bring them in Thursday, or Friday then." Mica's very systematic, and wants things to be done in a way that doesn't interrupt a process. He's just like his Father with that. 


Both kids have great friends in the other class. They seem ok with that. They know that school is for learning. 

When does school start where you live?

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

WW: Missouri State Capitol {Linky}

We visited the Nebraska State Capitol, and the boys loved it. I decided to visit the Missouri State Capitol as well. I'm not even into government. I just like their buildings.


Mica trying to look like he's part of the battle. 

 

The artwork is pretty!


Us

 I want a ceiling like that!




Doors that you know you can't go in, and doors you peek in even though they are shut.


A green ceiling and hallways that just seem to go on and on.





We asked a lady how to get to the top of the capitol. She said that we couldn't go up there. She let us be a part of their tour though. We stayed until we knew our parking meter was just about up.

This is where they vote on things - Democrats on one side and Republicans on the other. They all have a laptop to vote. I want more parties. A party that people do not laugh at because they are different.


The ceiling in that room.


The outside again.





Have you been to your state capitol?


 

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