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Valleyfair Family Fun in 2021 (And how to get the cheapest tickets!)

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Valleyfair 2021

Ahh – Valleyfair is back!

Valleyfair was closed in 2020 due to COVID but it’s BACK this year! 

We couldn’t wait to go and were so excited to go to Valleyfair on a weekend in June.

All my life I have had so many memories going to Valleyfair as a kid, teen and now a parent! Growing up in Duluth, it meant road trips to Valleyfair for and even overnight stays in the Twin Cities, and now it’s just an easy drive anytime we want! 

We knew it would be a hot day so we packed some water bottles (yes, you can bring in one sealed water bottle – one per guest!), and were super excited to pull into the parking lot!

When we arrived we posed for some pictures and then headed to the left for some of our favorites including the Tilter!

Valleyfair Tilt a Whirl

My kids went on the Scrambler while I sat and enjoyed an iced coffee from Caribou Coffee, just around the corner.

Valleyfair 2021

We then went on the Antique Cars – a CLASSIC at Valleyfair that’s been around as long as I can remember. 

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3 Ways Dryel Saves You Time & Money

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3 Ways Dryel Saves You Time & Money

I have partnered with Dryel as an ambassador and am excited to share how Dryel works and how it can help you save money! I have received free products and compensation as part of this partnership.

Did you know it can cost over $20 to dry clean a clothing item one time? 

Typically that’s for a gown or suit, but even the cost of dry cleaning blouses and pants can add up quickly. 

And then add in the time and gas it costs to go to the dry cleaners and back.

Dry cleaning can be pricey, but there is another option that I’ve found and shared here.

It’s Dryel, and it’s a fraction of the cost of dry cleaners!

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How Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash Saves Money & Improves Health

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Arm & Hammer Fruit Vegetable Wash

As a brand ambassador for Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash, I received products and compensation in exchange for my review. This post also contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.

Our family eats a ton of fruits and vegetables year-round. I usually buy conventional produce, but if it were more affordable, I’d buy all organic. I prefer produce that is pesticide and chemical free, but prices for organic can definitely add up!

There is another option that I’ve found though that can help keep your food clean without breaking the bank!

Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash is a spray that removes pesticides and wax from produce using baking soda and other natural ingredients. 

Arm & Hammer Fruit Wash

I use Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash on a variety of produce including apples, grapes, and berries. With all the fruit we’re eating in the summer it helps keep a lot of gunk out of our bodies! And it has a nice, light lemony scent.

Plus it helps save money because we don’t have to pay expensive prices for organic produce.

There are 3 easy steps to using this product:

  1. Spray produce with Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash
  2. Gently rub produce to remove soil and wax
  3. Rinse under water to wash away pesticides, wax and soil

If you can, it’s advised to let the product stand on the produce for 15 minutes before rinsing to get the most surface pesticides removed.

What produce do you consume the most in your household? What fruits and veggies can you use this spray on? 

You can find Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash in stores or on Amazon.com here!

Learn more about Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash here!

Cleaning my Garbage Disposal Easily with Arm & Hammer

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Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Pinterest

As a brand ambassador for Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Cleaner, I received products and compensation in exchange for my review. This post also contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.

We all have those areas of our home that easily get forgotten when cleaning…like doorknobs, remote controls, and for me, my garbage disposal! 

Since it doesn’t get used every day, I don’t often think about cleaning my garbage disposal. But when I do think of it, it’s definitely in need! It does NOT smell good! Honestly it should be cleaned regularly – at least twice a week, especially if you use it often. And thankfully it’s super easy to do with Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Cleaner.

Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal

Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Cleaner cleans and deodorizes your disposal with the power of baking soda, and leaves behind a fresh citrus scent!

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What to Do With Kids in Stillwater, Minnesota

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What to do with kids in Stillwater

Stillwater, Minnesota. It’s one of our favorite places to “get away” without really getting away.

For years, our family has visited Stillwater throughout the year for day trips, afternoon trips, evening adventures. 

It’s a beautiful, quaint city along the St. Croix river, right at the easternmost border of Minnesota. It’s only about 30 minutes from the Twin Cities so that makes it an easy, quick trip. 

One thing I really like about Stillwater is how it’s perfect for any kind of visit…romantic getaways, family fun, girlfriend outings.

And it reminds me of my hometown – Duluth, Minnesota – in so many ways. Walking along the river, the tour boats, the lift bridge…the many restaurants and hotels with river views…the gift shops galore…it both feels like home and like a vacation at the same time!

But after many years of day visits, my kids and I decided to visit for an overnight to get the full vacation experience! 

Kari’s Create & Paint Studio

Kari's Create & Paint

We started our Stillwater staycation at Kari’s Create & Paint Studio which is downtown. Here you can walk in or make an appointment to paint canvas or pottery. 

And no you don’t have to know how to do any of it!

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The Unofficial ALDI Cookbook Review & Giveaway (Ends 5/3)

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ALDI Unofficial Cookbook

Baked French Toast with berries.

Chicken Parmigiana.

And even Poop Emoji Cupcakes with frosting!

These are just a few of the recipes in The Unofficial ALDI Cookbook: Delicious Recipes Made with Fan Favorites from the Award-Winning Grocery Store.

I received a copy for review and I also have a copy to GIVE AWAY! Be sure to enter my giveaway at the end of this post…but first check out what’s inside!

The Unofficial ALDI Cookbook

Our family has been shopping at ALDI for years. We LOVE the prices and quality – it’s excellent for every frugal family and shopper! So since we get so many of our groceries there anyway, I was thrilled to try out this cookbook.

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Cleaning My Home Naturally with Arm & Hammer Essentials Disinfecting Wipes

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Arm & Hammer Wipes

As a brand ambassador for Arm & Hammer Essentials Disinfecting Wipes, I received products and compensation in exchange for my review. This post also contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.

Having a clean home has always been a priority to me, especially with kids and our family’s active lives. But in the past year, keeping surfaces virus and bacteria free has become so much more important than ever.

I’ve always used disinfectants but they were always so harsh, so I’ve used a combination of disinfectants to get the job done, with more natural cleaning products like vinegar for every day use.

But now I’ve discovered Arm & Hammer Essentials Disinfecting Wipes, which are awesome because they not only disinfect, but they are free of harsh chemicals!

Many other disinfecting products contain harsh chemicals, but Arm & Hammer Essentials Disinfecting Wipes use citrus based disinfection instead. They’re both effective and natural, all-in-one. 

And YES – they kill cold and flu viruses, including coronavirus! In fact, these wipes clean 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.

Arm & Hammer Wipes

These wipes can actually be used on all your surfaces including:

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Veggies Made Great Food Review & Giveaway (Ends 3/22)

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Veggies Made Great

March is National Nutrition Month, and it’s National Frozen Food Month, and I have a NUTRITIOUS, frozen food review and giveaway to share!

If you struggle to get your kids to eat more veggies, or if you are trying to get more veggies into your own diet, there’s a great option that I tried that is super yummy and good for you!

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Experiencing a Salt Cave at Just for Me “The Spa” in Stillwater

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Salt Cave Just for Me

Girls Weekend!

This past weekend was a girls weekend as my close friend visited from out of town, so we made it a full one! (As well as we safely could during COVID!)

We spent time outside in Stillwater on Saturday, which was a beautiful day. We walked along the St. Croix River and enjoyed the scenery. (Stillwater is such a beautiful city and so close to the Twin Cities.) We also enjoyed some shopping (masked and socially distanced from others – we took our masks off for pictures).

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Driving Through the Saint Paul Winter Carnival in 2021 (Our Review)

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Saint Paul Winter Carnival Drive Thru Review

Our family experienced the Saint Paul Winter Carnival Drive-Thru on opening day, January 28, 2021, and here’s what we loved and what you can expect!

I posted about this unique event a few weeks ago. The Saint Paul Winter Carnival of course isn’t new (far from it!), but the drive-thru experience is new this year, thanks of course to COVID.

But it’s a fun experience nonetheless!

St. Paul Winter Carnival Drive-Thru

This new drive-thru experience combines TWO of the Winter Carnival’s signature events – the Ice Carving Competition and the Snow Sculpture Contest. It will be each day of the Carnival – January 28th – February 7th, 2021, at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

We went on opening night and enjoyed a slow drive through the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, admiring snow and ice sculptures on both sides of the road, and members of the Royal Family and Vulcan Krewe!

These guys welcomed all the cars as they arrived and posed for pictures!

Saint Paul Vulcans

Each car got a goodie bag with items, like a light-up snow wand, granola bars, and information about the event. There’s also a Bingo activity sheet you can turn in at the end if you want to do it for a chance to win prizes.

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