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the413mom

Western Massachusetts

Valerie Smart is a wife and mom living in Western Massachusetts. She is loving this blog life.

Interests: Unplugged Parenting, Outdoor Life, Western Massachusetts, Travel, Crafting, Fitness, Deals, Books

Recent Activity

Outdoor Ice Skating at Piper Pond (West Springfield)

This ice is nice this season at Piper Pond in West Springfield. Ice skating at the pond is available daily until 10 p.m. (when the lights are turned out). Park in the lot for Memorial Pool at 51 Smyrna Street and follow the footpath down to the pond. There are... Continue reading

Posted Feb 14, 2021 at The 413 Mom

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February Vacation Week Family Fun Possibilities

A few options for unplugged family fun this February vacation week. As always socially distancing protocols apply at all programs. We will update this post as new opportunities arise. Happy Vacation Week! February 13 ONLY: Lantern Walk, begins at 6 p.m., one mile around West Springfield High School athletic fields... Continue reading

Posted Feb 13, 2021 at The 413 Mom

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DIY Snow Paint! #craftingwithkids #childhoodunplugged

We haven't had much snow this winter to Faith's utter dismay...so today it was time to create our own with some simple snow paint. This craft is super easy, high in sensory delight, low in mess, and cleans up very quickly. Here's how you can make your own snow too.... Continue reading

Posted Jan 18, 2021 at The 413 Mom

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Watercolor paper snowflakes #craftingwithkids #wintercheer

If your home is feeling a little bare after putting away the holiday decorations, add a little cheer with these colorful, coffee filter snowflakes. This is a simple craft that is easy for the kids, creates minimal mess, and can be made entirely with materials you have on hand at... Continue reading

Posted Jan 14, 2021 at The 413 Mom

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Road Trip Worthy: Wadsworth Atheneum (Hartford, CT)

I get it that art museums and family fun don't go hand in hand for all families. But even my 8-year-old (who insists she couldn't even find any work of art at all that she liked in the whole place) said she'd like to go back. And my teenager was... Continue reading

Posted Jan 6, 2021 at The 413 Mom

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Simple DIY New Year's Eve Party for Kids

Without the usual community New Years celebrations for kids this year, it can be hard to make the day special for the little ones. Here are some super simple ideas to make NYE memorable for the kiddos using only materials you can find around the house to create their very... Continue reading

Posted Dec 28, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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10 Simple, Socially-Distanced activities to count down to Christmas

This is going to be a lonnnnggg week for the kiddos trying to patiently wait for Christmas to arrive on Friday without any of our usual social distractions. This is going to be a lonnngggg week for us caregivers trying to patiently observe our anxious children trying to patiently wait... Continue reading

Posted Dec 20, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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ENTER TO WIN: Grinchmas Activity Box from The Springfield Museums #craftingwithkids

Merry Grinchmas! Have you been able to enjoy the holiday activities at The Springfield Museums? If not, you can experience a little bit of the fun right in your own home with the Grinchmas Activity Kit. Project boxes are available for purchase at the museums or you can enter to... Continue reading

Posted Dec 12, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Gotta Visit: The Spencer Woods Wildlife Preserve (Suffield, CT) #gotakeahike

If there's one way to make your offspring adore you even more than they already do, convince them to join you on a hiking trail on a raw December morning in a thick fog. I mean, hiking in a cold, dense fog -- it there anything better? Not during a... Continue reading

Posted Dec 12, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Gotta Try: Boiron Digestive Distress Homeopathic Remedies #ad #naturalcare

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links. Tis the season to indulge. Especially this holiday season, I feel like one way we can safely celebrate our holiday... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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New Year, New You DEAL ALERT: Persona Vitamins 30% OFF! #ad #PersonaPack

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links. 2020 has been hard. Emotionally, physically, mentally. Living under a global pandemic day after day has put our self care... Continue reading

Posted Dec 5, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Gotta Try: RTI Read The Ingredients Loaves #glutenfree #lowsugar

It can be hard to find a grab-and-go breakfast option that you can feel good about. Unless you know about Read The Ingredients or RTI -- a family-owned company that specializes in healthful on-the-go meal bars. Read The Ingredients are low-sugar protein loaves and snack bites that are nutritionally-rich and... Continue reading

Posted Nov 17, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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HOLIDAY 2020: Socially Distanced Opportunities for Holiday Fun

As hard as it is to think of all of the holiday traditions that will be missing this season, there are still a few socially distanced opportunities to celebrate the season away from home. We've started a page here of safe opportunities for merry making away from home during this... Continue reading

Posted Nov 17, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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DIY Puking Pumpkin #sneakyscience

Here's a fun science project to do on Sunday before you toss your jack o' lanterns to the squirrels: DIY Puking Pumpkin! Step 1: Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the jack o' lantern. Step 2: In a glass mix a healthy pour of vinegar, some glitter and... Continue reading

Posted Oct 30, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Gotta Try: Celebrate the holidays with DIY Diamond Art Club #craftingwithkids #diamondartclub

While Halloween is going to look and feel different this year there are still lots of ways to make it memorable. I'm grateful to have teamed up with Diamond Art Club to try out their Halloween themed DIY Diamond Art Kit. What is Diamond Art? Think Gemstones By Number. A... Continue reading

Posted Oct 30, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Gotta Try: Norm's Farms Elderberry Gummies #immunitysupport #ad

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links. All natural, organic immune support and digestive health gummies -- uh, yes, please! Grateful to have teamed up with MomsMEET... Continue reading

Posted Oct 23, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Gotta Visit: Woodland Trail at Mittineague Park (West Springfield) #hikingwithkids

It was 78 degrees in October today. We had a half day of school. The only question was which trail to hit. We ended up at the Woodland Trail at Mittineague Park in West Springfield. Despite visiting the playground and stream here countless times we had never actually hiked the... Continue reading

Posted Oct 23, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Pumpkin bucket makeover #upcycle #glamitup

We had a whole collection of faded plastic pumpkin buckets from trick or treating of years past. I hated to throw them away but they were ugly. So this past weekend we quickly glammed them up with a sparkly makeover. What you need: black spray paint (we used the super... Continue reading

Posted Oct 21, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Homemade playdough: the ultimate comfort craft #craftingwithkids

We all need a little extra comfort and stress release right now. In this house we've been pulling out alllll the stops for hands on crafts the past few weeks as breaks from remote learning. And there is no more comforting DIY than homemade playdough. From measuring and mixing the... Continue reading

Posted Oct 16, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Simple Craft: Waxed Leaves #craftingwithkids

One of my favorite memories from third grade was when our teacher heated up a small pot of paraffin wax and the students went outside to collect beautiful leaves and we were each able to dip our leaves in the wax to preserve them. I've held on to this memory... Continue reading

Posted Oct 8, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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ENTER TO WIN: Country Life Gut Connection KIDS #GutHealth #ItsAllConnected

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links. Our kiddos need more support than ever right now with all of the demands being thrown at them as a... Continue reading

Posted Oct 5, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Road Trip Worthy: Cedar Hill Cemetery (Hartford, CT)

In the early to mid 1800s there was a trend of creating park-like cemeteries which included beautiful landscaping, inspiring monuments and wide open roads for walking and pondering. We are lucky to live within driving distance of several of these incredible spaces, but my all time favorite is in Hartford,... Continue reading

Posted Oct 4, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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10 Minute Recipe: Easy Teriyaki Beef Stir Fry #FortuneCares

There's no end to my love for quick and easy stir fry meals so I was overjoyed when Fortune Noodles asked me to participate in their #FortuneCares recipe initiative where $5 from each recipe shared is donated to a charity supporting Americans in need of food. Happy to share my... Continue reading

Posted Oct 4, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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Halloween Confetti Popper (perfect #brainbreak tool) #craftingwithkids

Halloween Confetti Poppers are where it's at this autumn season when we are focused on remote learning. I love these little crafts because you can make them from materials from around the house, the kids get to practice their motor skills while creating them, and they make perfect little distractions... Continue reading

Posted Sep 29, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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ENTER TO WIN: Wishbeads Kids Collection Bracelet

It's back to school at our house today and we're celebrating with a special giveaway -- use the comments field below to share how you helped your children prepare for this very unusual school year. One lucky winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries to win one... Continue reading

Posted Sep 14, 2020 at The 413 Mom

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