Announcing: NEBN Photography Challenge!

I am excited to announce the North East Bloggers Network monthly photography challenge!  Each month on the last Monday of the month we will post the Photography Challenge hop.  There will be a different theme each month to challenge you and show of your photography skills!  You can link up with the hop with either your blog post containing your photography challenge photo OR you instagram photo for that months challenge!  Additionally, I am going to pick a random entry each month to be spotlighted in the next month's Photography Challenge post!

This month's theme is: "Family."   

This month's photography challenge hop will take place on Monday, April 29th and is open to all North East bloggers!

Because it's only a week away I decided to go with an easy theme for this month.  Each month in the Photography Challenge post I will announce the theme for the next month so you can be prepared.  I hope you guys are excited about this challenge!

Remember- there are TWO ways you can link up with this hop!  You can link up a blog post with your photo for the challenge or you can link up your photo from your instagram account! 

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Weekend Wander Hop

Welcome to the Weekend Wander Hop!  This is a chance for you to showcase your favorite blog post from this week and meet some of your fellow bloggers!

Hop Rules:

1. Link up your favorite post from the past week, not just your blog url!

2. Visit at least 3 other blogs and leave a nice comment!

This hop is open all weekend, so don't forget to come back on Sunday to see any new blogs that linked up since you did!

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25 Ways to Celebrate Spring!

Spring is in full bloom now and Kristen has some great ideas on how to celebrate! 

1. Plant some seeds with the kids! Teaching our children where our food comes from is a life lesson. 
2. Get to every playground in your area!  They are SO much more fun before it's oppressive out.  Enjoy them now, even if they are wet!  Get some boots on and get out there!
3. Two words: PUDDLE STOMPING.  Then send your pictures here: Muddy Puddles Project.  Instead of saying you can't play outside in the rain, dress them in their raincoats and boots, and let them out!!
4. How about a Road Race?  Many 5ks and road races include a family portion or a 'fun run.'  What a great way to get moving!
5. Volunteer.  Find an outdoor clean-up project or community garden and help to beautify your village.  
6. Check out a local CSA for summer veggies!
7. Find a place to walk, rail trail, nature reserve, etc.  Take the alphabet hike sheet with you! (see printable at the bottom of the post!)
8. Bubbles.  Not just the little ones.
9. Find a huge hill.  Roll down the whole thing.
10. Play.with.water.  Put it in pots, tupperware, spray bottles, water bottles, and send the kids outside.  Let them experiment and make mud.  Let them fill up their toys and dump them out.  Let them get their clothes wet.  Let them get their shoes wet.  They.will.dry.
11. Campfire.
12. Sidewalk chalk.  Nothing fancy.  Just let them color all over everything.  Trees, streets, toys, rocks, everything.  Relax.  It washes off.
13. If you're close enough, get to the beach.  Not to swim, to walk, build, collect, picnic.
14. Pick whatever is fresh, whenever it's fresh.
15. Lemonade ice pops.
16. Everyday it's above 40 degrees go for a walk.  Let your kids lead the way, choose the direction you leave from your house, find things to talk about, and decide when to turn around. 
17. Fill the kiddie pool with warm water.  Let them at it!
18. Go for a drive with all the windows down.
19. Sit outside, quiet, and listen for everything you can hear for 1 minute (or as long as your kids can wait).  Talk about everything you heard.
20. Get some SPRING related books from the library.  Read them outside the library on a blanket.
21. Go fishing! (or send your kids fishing with someone who knows how haha)
22. Flashlight tag.  
23. Make water snoopers.  Put on some boots.  Find a stream.  Snoop!  (1 number 10 can - with the two ends removed, plastic wrap held on one end with a rubber band, put the plastic end into the water, see what's underneath!)
24. Obstacle courses and relay races.
25. Swing.  As high as you can.  Jump off.  The kids will love to see you be a kid. <3

What are some of your ideas for celebrating spring?

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Today's guest post is written by Kristen of One Organic Mama. Kristen is a North East Blogger, teacher, mama and "fake crunchy."