HOT Amazon Deals
Amazon has a few items on big-time sale that you might want to order right now. These are all items that I actually bought and needed/wanted, so thought you might as well. Please note Amazon prices can change at any time and as an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Non Contact Forehead Thermometer Digital Infrared Thermometer for Adults, Body Thermometers for Fever with Instant Accurate Reading for Babies and Kids: This thermometer is backordered for a couple weeks, but buy it immediately to lock in this crazy cheap price. Regularly $69.99, it is only $35 with the code XSHH3W46 at check out. Hundreds of people have already ordered, so get yours right away.
Magnolia Table volume 2 is still on sale for $13.87 (60% off). This has been the #1 most popular thing purchased on Amazon this year by my readers. 5-star cookbook with recipes your whole family will love. Buy one for you and a few to have on hand for gifts – birthdays, Christmas, housewarming, etc.
Padded headphones: My children will be virtual learning for at least part of the school year, which means we need headphones. These headphones have excellent reviews and are crazy affordable. Take $4 off the two pack, making it just $22.99 or $11.49 each or get $5 off a single set making it just $9.99. The two-pack headphones also have a mic in the cord, which many cheaper sets don’t have. Also, you can only use each coupon once per Amazon account and the coupon is only available for select colors.
Lightbox: This lightbox has an $8 off coupon, making it $15.99, which is a steal. Perfect for drawing, tracing patterns, etc.
Jumpsuits are my favorite everyday wear. It’s like wearing pajamas all day. This sleeveless jumpsuit is available in four colors (navy, green, black and polka dot) and is on sale for $19 (regularly $29.99). If you want a jumpsuit with sleeves, I have this one in two colors and I love it!
KIND Healthy Grains Bars, Dark Chocolate Chunk, Gluten Free, 1.2 oz, 30 Count: Get this package (6 boxes of bars!) for $10-$12, depending on if you have subscribe and save or not. This is an excellent stock-up price on these yummy granola bars.
This Week Only: 25% Mel Science Kits (ages 5-14)
If you are looking for a totally unique and fun kit club for your kids, you must check out the Mel Science Kits – MEL Kids and MEL Chemistry.
I have been a fan of subscription kits for my kids for years and years. I am very picky about the ones I review and the ones we subscribe to. Simply put, they must be an excellent value and my kids must love them.
When I stumbled on MEL Science kits, I couldn’t believe I had never come across them. I signed up for their affiliate program (because that usually means coupons for you!) and reached out to the manager. Affiliate links are used in this post. This month we did the MEL Kids and MEL Chemistry kits and WE ARE OBSESSED. Simply put, they are wow! wow! wow! awesome.
Through the end of July you can get 25% off any subscription with the code JULY25. I am confident you and your kids are going to be so impressed and really love these kits. I want to tell you all about both subscriptions, but the quick overview is this – MEL Kids is STEM for kids ages 5-10 and MEL Chemistry is for kids ages 10+. Also MEL Science kits ship worldwide, so if you are not in the US, you can order them too!
MEL Chemistry
Finding subscriptions that appeal to Elias (my 6th grader) is tricky. Most kit clubs are too easy or don’t hold his interest enough to be worth the expense. That was NOT the case with the MEL Chemistry set. We were both blown away by it. I cannot recommend it enough. Each month your child receives up to three experiments. When you sign up, you also get a free VR headset and starter kit that you will be able to use month after month.
With Elias’s first kit we did two experiments and both were pretty amazing. One involved exploding “lava” and the other included setting elements on fire (in a very safe manner). It was educational, interesting and fun. Elias really loved it. I would go so far as to say I have not seen him enjoy a kit like this in a very long time.
We also really liked that there was the option to sync up with an app to take the lesson even further. MEL Chemistry also does Zoom demonstrations of all the experiments, which is so cool and something I don’t see other kit clubs offer. They clearly really care about education.
MEL Chemistry kits are $34.90 a month, but with the 25% off coupon (JULY25), your first kit is only $26.20. This also includes the starter kit and VR headset which is a $50 value. So you are getting and $84.90 chemistry set for just $26.20. Shipping is free!
MEL Kids
The MEL Kids subscription is a creative kit club that sparks learning around science topics like sound, pressure, aerodynamics and more. The kit uses a fun comic book to make the learning engaging and clever. Ezra (age 5) and Elias (age 12) both loved the kit we received and built and played for more than an hour together.
Here’s what is included
It was really fun seeing Elias and Ezra enjoy Ezra’s kit together. I think Elias might have even been more impressed with what they built than Ezra – ha!
MEL Kids kits are $24.90, but with the 25% off, it will only be $18.70 for your first month. Shipping is free!
Save 25% Off Your First Kit
With our days at home likely extending for the months to come, I highly recommend these kits for boys and girls ages 5-14. They are truly excellent. You won’t be disappointed and with the 25% off coupon (JULY25) it is the perfect time to subscribe. They also have a 100% money-back guarantee.
Check out MEL Kids for ages 5-10 here and MEL Chemistry here.
TODAY ONLY: Up to 80% off Anthropologie Sale
Anthropologie is having a huge sale – take 50% off all clearance prices, which is making for some insane deals of items up to 80% off. The sale ends today, July 26. Shipping is free on orders over $50. Here were a few favorites that I found. Items are selling out FAST (literally I filled my cart and 1/2 the items were gone when I went to check out). Shop now for best selection!
Cammie Embroidered Peplum Top: Regularly $88, sale $15
Essential Slim Trousers: These pants are so, so cute and they have great reviews. Regularly $118, sale $14.95
Essential slim trousers: There are more of those cute pants here. Regularly $118 for $14.95
Macie hoop earrings: Regularly $48, sale $14.98
Sidonie V-Neck Top: This shirt is gorgeous and priced like it is from Target. I ordered it! Regularly $68, sale $19.98
Karoline Tiered Maxi Dress: Regularly $198, sale $24.98
Tropical Melamine Dinner Plate: Regularly $10, sale $3.49
Imelda Perforated Moto Jacket: Available in standard and plus sizes and soooo cute. I cannot get over this price. Regularly $148, sale $24.98
Also, while you are shopping on the Anthropologie site, be sure to check out their gorgeous masks. I especially love these Roopa quilted ones. They are so well-made. My mom, aunt, sister and I all have them!
Kid-Friendly Family Lake Near Milwaukee
If you are looking for a family-friendly lake with a beach to enjoy for the day with kids, visit Einer Fischer Park’s Browns Lake. This kid-friendly, family lake near Milwaukee is perfect for kids and families.
Located outside Milwaukee in the town of Burlington, Einer Fischer Park is a perfect little swimming spot to enjoy with kids. The beach has daily lifeguard coverage from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 10 am – 6 pm.
What to Expect at Browns Lake
Our family loved the sandy beach and cool, clear water of Browns Lake. We took six kids, ages 2-12 and everyone had a blast enjoying the water and the shore. Seriously. We visited it twice in our one-week vacation because my kids loved it so much. It was clean, easy, and the kids had the best time.
The swimming portion of the clear lake is divided into two parts. One area is shallow and perfect for little swimmers, while the other is deeper. We brought an inner tube and a beach ball, which added to the fun. The lake also had many little fish swimming in it, which the kids had fun trying to catch with buckets (they never did!).
The buckets were also perfect for hours of play in the sand, building sand castles and moats. Definitely bring sand toys with you for the kids. They will find an abundance of creative ways to use them.
The park also has a shaded picnic area with plenty of picnic tables to enjoy lunch at. Be sure to bring some bleach wipes or a plastic tablecloth to cover the table with to prevent the spread of germs. They also have restroom facilities (though we didn’t use them), and they are currently building new ones.
Social Distancing at Kid-Friendly Browns Lake
While we found visitors to be respectful of social distancing (for the most part), I would recommend a few things to help ensure this:
- Claim a spot: Find an area to spread beach towels, etc. for your family that is at least 6 feet from others already at the beach
- Go early in the morning or later in the day: We visited the beach twice while I was in Wisconsin – once from 9:30 am-1:30pm and once from 7-8:45 pm. The beach was not crowded in the morning or evening hours, but did get fuller after lunch.
- Ask others to respect social distancing: If others are not abiding by social distancing guidelines, ask if they might provide a bit more space to help give room for everyone. We found people to honor this.
Where is Brown Lake Located?
Browns Lake is a kid-friendly, family lake near Milwaukee. The Browns Lake beach at Einer Fischer Park is located near Milwaukee at 30326 Durand Ave, Burlington, WI 53105, USA. The park has ample parking and a $2 per person entrance fee, so bring cash.
For more travel posts, visit these posts.
A Statement from Jessica
How do you write the most vulnerable, hardest post you’ve written in 14 years of being online?
My husband, my best friend has bravely shared his deepest truth this past year. He is gay. While this doesn’t change how much we love him, it does change our relationship. We are moving forward with ending our marriage, while remaining deeply committed to our family and each other.
We have worked for more than a year on trying to make our marriage work, even in light of Matthew’s truth, but it wasn’t healthy or fair to us or our children. We feel confident that this is the next right step for each of us and our family.
Our three incredible children have taken the news remarkably well. We are all adjusting to a new normal, with our home now extended under two rooftops. I am so grateful for the way we love each other and the deep belief that God is with us. We are both grieving the loss of what we had and taking hope in what is to come.
It is really important to me that you know that nothing you have seen on my social media or blog has been a lie. I have always loved Matthew, and he me. I will always champion him and his writing. You will continue to see him on my social media.
With that, we ask that you remain respectful toward each of us. Friends will be monitoring my social media in the days to come and will delete/block commenters bringing shame/criticism to of our family, our theology or Matthew specifically. Matthew is my best friend and the father of my children. I will not allow for the trauma to be inflicted on any of us. Moreover, be mindful that our children will someday read this post.
Please don’t email me right now. This announcement is hard enough and I cannot manage hundreds of messages. You may comment here if you wish, or simply like this post to show your compassion and support for our family during this time. You may read Matthew’s statement here.