Jolly Mom: Recipes | Crafts | Atlanta Mom Blogger | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews

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We are so excited that Summer is almost here! I am already working on our Must Do Summer Activities list, which will include everything that I want us as a family to do together this summer. You know what will definitely be on the list? Picnics. Lots and lots of picnics at the park! Who doesn't love a good summer picnic, right? They are so much fun and they are also fun to plan -- especially the food!



I hope that you'll join me along with a group of fabulous bloggers for a Cooking Connections Class with Chef George Duran and The Moherhood this Thursday, May 17th at 1:00 pm ET. Chef George Duran will appear on live feed video to demonstrate how to cook up great picnic dishes and discuss easy-to-prepare recipes that will keep your menu filled with new tastes and flavors, and keep your picnics far from reaching a state of "same old, same old" by summer's end. Talk sponsored by ReadySetEat.com and ConAgra Foods.



Giveaway! We are also giving away a summer picnic gift basket for class participation – don’t miss out! Here’s how to enter: Attend the live chat and answer the question, “Which picnic recipe from ReadySetEat are you most excited to try?” You can check out the recipes on ReadySetEat HERE.

Let us know that you're coming by registering HERE.


This post is part of a compensated campaign with The Motherhood. All opinions expressed in this article are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

I think as a parent one of my biggest challenges is trying to find fun, new things for Lucas to do - without having to take him somewhere and spend money. I know many kids would gladly adhere themselves to the TV or some sort of “i” device for hours, but that is not my idea of time well spent. Sometimes yes, but certainly not all the time. It's important that kids and adults alike get up and get moving. Thankfully, Lucas loves to play outside and like most 4 year old's -- he has a bundle of energy to burn. That's why I was beyond thrilled when I got the opportunity to review the JumpSport Elite trampoline! It is the perfect thing get the entire family moving and have lots of fun in the process!

I wasn't the only one that was excited -- let's just say that my hubby, Mike was ecstatic and pretty much acted like a kid in a candy store when I told him the news. There aren't words to describe Lucas' level of excitement. Lucas loves to jump -- on his bed, into the pool, on top of me (lol), and he literally goes crazy over bounce houses. Anytime we are anywhere near a bounce house he zones in on it like he has a built in bounce house tracking system. So naturally when we told him that we were getting a trampoline, he went crazy with excitement. We finally got it assembled a few days ago and he was blown away. His mouth hung open without making a sound for almost a full minute. It was awesome!



Since we assembled the trampoline, we haven't stopped jumping -- especially Lucas who wakes me up in the morning asking, "Mommy, can I go jump now?"



Even Mike and I love jumping -- it honestly makes you feel like you're a kid again! Plus, it's a real workout and calorie burner, which is also a nice caveat.



Now onto the actual trampoline -- we received the 12 foot JumpSport Elite Trampoline to review. For us, it is the perfect size. Not too big, but not too small. We found the perfect spot in the yard so it doesn’t take up a ton of space. Set up took several hours. I will let Mike explain to you about what it was like to put it together, but it seemed to be pretty pain free.

Hello everyone, this is Mike. I was equally excited to get the trampoline. I always wanted one as a kid and now we have one of the best you can buy so yeah -- I am definitely excited. I. of course, was tasked with putting the trampoline together. I must admit I was a little intimidated at first, having never put together something so big. And though it did take a few hours, it was really easy. The directions suggest that you use two people, but if you are even slightly handy, you can most definitely do it with one. The actual main body of the trampoline doesn’t even take any tools for assembly. It goes together fairly quickly and once assembled is still light enough to be moved by a couple of well-abled people (I assembled it in the driveway and then Piera and I moved it into position before I attached the net). Next was the assembly of the safety net, which takes a bit more time, but is no harder to do. With the net all in place and everything strapped and tightened up, the ladder was last. No sooner did I have that ladder attached (which is an accessory) and Lucas was climbing inside a bouncing away. If there is one piece of advice I can give when assembling, it’s to read the directions. I know that is something us guys have a hard time doing, but in order to properly attach both the springs and the net, you really do have to read the directions!



The JumpSport Elite Trampoline is one the best AND safest trampolines you can buy. JumpSport’s Elite line of Trampolines comes in 10’, 12’, and 14’ sizes. All JumpSport Elite Trampolines are made out of high quality steel tubing and all come with Staged Bounce Technology. Most trampoline injuries occur on the trampoline while jumping. Staged Bounce Technology engages half the springs a half a second after the first half making impact on your body much easier. The safety net is by far my favorite feature and honestly I wouldn’t allow Lucas to jump on a large size trampoline without one. The net is attached internally to poles that are attached to the body of the trampoline so there is no way of falling to the ground if you happen to land against the net (Mike tested this out, and I can report no injuries). This is really important because there are trampolines on the market with nets, but the nets do not work. The person jumping hits the net and the net gives and the person obviously hits the ground. This can result is serious injuries. The JumpSport's net even overlaps at the entrance, so you can’t fall out there either. And of course the frame, poles, and all the springs are covered with a thick padding so if you do hit those spots -- you don't get hurt. All told I don’t see how they could make it any safer. Two very ecstatic thumbs up from me!!



On top of all the fantastic safety features and the out-of-the-box coolness and fun factor, the JumpSport Trampolines can be used with a variety of cool accessories to make jumping even more fun. They sell a basketball & hoop attachment so your kids can learn to slam dunk at an early age. They sell a tent attachment to turn your trampoline into an outdoor camper, and they even have a misting system designed to lower temperatures at your trampoline by as much as 25 degrees.




There are literally a ton of accessories and game attachments, so it’s best if you just check out their site and see for yourself everything they have to offer. Click to see the trampoline accessories.




The JumpSport Elite Tramplines come in 10', 12', and 14' feet and pricing starts at $949. Make sure to keep up with all JumpSport related news and promos by following them on Facebook and of course, visiting their website JumpSport.com.

Lucas will be going on his fourth Peanut baseball season this Fall. This Spring he was on the Texas Rangers Peanut baseball team -- Go Rangers!



He loves to play all sports, but if you know kids and sports -- there are bound to be boo-boos. Cuts, scrapes, bruises, and sometimes even worst injuries like sprains and strains. Did you know that each year, more than 3.5 million children under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports-related injuries, with strains and sprains among the most common complaints? That's a lot of boo-boos!

Preparation is key though. I have been a co-team mom for all of Lucas' baseball seasons so I always carry around an emergency kit to use in case any of the kids get hurt. One product that should be in every sports mom's emergency kit is SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap. It’s self adhesive, water resistant, reusable, latex free and does not need clips or pins to secure it in place. It is excellent for first aid applications like securing bandages or splints and protecting and cushioning wounds. Plus, it comes in fun, bright colors that kids will love!









Buy It: SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap can be purchased at Walmart for $3.94

As you guys know, this is now my third time working with ConAgra Foods on their Child Hunger Ends Here initiative. I am so honored to be working with them on generating awareness about the issue of child hunger in our very own country and actually helping to feed kids who are in need.



ConAgra Foods has been at this for several decades - they are very passionate about making a difference. It is evident in the video below...please take a second to watch it (it will make you happy) and take another second to enter a code from one of the participating brands at ChildHungerEndsHere.com. Every code you enter = one meal for a hungry child in the U.S.


For more information, visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com. You can also follow the discussion atwww.facebook.com/ConAgraFoods, or tweet along by following www.twitter.com/ConAgraFoods and using the hashtag #ChildHunger.



This post is part of a compensated campaign. All opinions expressed in this article are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Some of you that have been long-time Jolly Mom readers may remember that a couple of years ago, I entered and won 3rd place in a national recipe contest put on by Avocados from Mexico. The recipe I entered was My Peachy Avocado Delight (pictured below) -- a sweet spin on a quesadilla that is super delicious!



The entire experience was so much fun -- from creating the recipe, to finding out that I was a finalist, to having a professional photographer sent out to my home to take pictures, to winning 3rd place! Now, I'm thrilled to announce that Avocados from Mexico is hosting another fun recipe contest so if you love avocados -- you should definitely enter! Contest details below:

The world´s first avocado was grown and cultivated in Mexico countless generations ago. For hundreds of years, the avocado has played an important role in Mexico´s culinary history.
Avocados from Mexico invites you to celebrate the taste of tradition with the “Aguacate Lindo y Querido Recipe Contest” and show how authentic Mexican avocados have graced your family´s table -- be it a healthy twist on a traditional Mexican favorite or your take on your grandmother´s favorite recipe. All you need to do is create an original Mexican-inspired recipe using rich and creamy Avocados from Mexico, snap some photos, name your dish, and enter your recipe using the form here.

Plus, this is a great opportunity to eat lots of yummy and healthy avocados! Check out all of the nutritional benefits below:

 • Avocados from Mexico supply nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, including potassium, vitamins B6, C and E, folate and fiber
 • Mexican avocados have the “good” fats - mono- and poly-unsaturated fats that make avocados a good alternative to foods that are rich in saturated fats like dairy and mayonnaise
 • One serving of avocado equals 1 ounce or about 3 slices of avocado
• Avocados have only 50 calories per ounce — the amount typically added to a sandwich, salad or other dish
 • Avocados have just 3 grams of carbohydrates per serving, a good fit for some low-carb diets
• Avocados have 1 gram of fiber per ounce




*This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Avocados From Mexico. However, all opinions expressed are my own.