30 Minute Cajun Penne Recipe (By The Lake County Mom)

Favorite Lake Country Beaches

Waukesha County has 6 swimming locations throughout the park system. 

Beach Hours (Open June 1 to Mid-Aug, 2013): 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.  Daily

Fees: County Park entrance fees are $3.00 on weekdays and $5.00 on weekends/holidays. Beach use is included in the park entrance fee. Annual park entrance stickers are available for $27.00 for county residents, $38.00 for non-county residents and $14.00 for senior citizens.

http://www.waukeshacounty.gov/defaultwc.aspx?id=39522

No food or drink permitted on sand beach. No beer, liquor, or wine permitted in beach area. Floatation devices and diving equipment prohibited. No animals allowed. Proper swimming attire required - long pants not acceptable. An adult MUST accompany children 5 years old or younger in the water. No running dives. Lifeguards are on duty daily.

Mukwonago Park- Mukwonago

A significant feature of Mukwonago Park is the 16-acre spring fed lake creating a delightful setting for picnickers and all park users. Adjacent to the lake is a swimming pond with a broad sand beach. 

Minooka Park - Waukesha 

Minooka's swimming area consists of a 4-acre pond. Sorry, there are no swimming lessons offered at Minooka.

Naga-Waukee Park - Delafield 

Naga-Waukee's beach is on the waters of Lake Nagawicka. A two-week swimming lesson session is held from

July 8 - 19, 2013.

Menomonee Park - Menomonee Falls 

Menomonee Park features the 16-acre Menomonee Quarry Lake. A two-week swimming lesson session is held from July 8 - 19, 2013.

Muskego Park - Muskego 

Muskego's one-acre pond and swimming beach is a great place to get a tan or swim. A two-week swimming lesson session runs July 22 - August 2, 2013.

Fox Brook Park - Brookfield 

Fox Brook's swimming beach boasts a large sand beach area along the 25-acre lake. Pedal boat rentals are available for $8.00 per hour. A two-week swimming lesson session runs from July 22 - August 2, 2013.

More Info: http://www.waukeshacounty.gov/defaultwc.aspx?id=39568

Unique Public Beaches

Pewaukee Public Beach (Free)

Dip into Pewaukee Lake – the heart of Pewaukee- for a wide variety of water sports, such as sailing, fishing, swimming and water skiing. When it’s time for a break from all of your water sports activities, come and relax on our white sandy beach, the only free public beach in Waukesha County. Even if your definition of water- related activity is sipping cold drinks dockside or gazing at the lake while dining in one of Pewaukee’s fine or casual restaurants, you can’t help but have a good time on the lake. 

Ottawa Lake (Beach)

Ottawa Lake is a 17 acre lake located in Waukesha County. It has a maximum depth of 16 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing, a public beach and public lands or parks. Fish include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye. The lake's water clarity is very clear.

Oconomowoc Beaches
City Beach is located on the southern shore of Lac Labelle and is accessible from W. Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Oconomowoc with limited on-site parking available. Bender Beach is located north on Highway 67 on the eastern shore of Lac Labelle. Street parking is available. The beaches are staffed with lifeguards the following hours, weather permitting. Beaches are open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

• City Beach Swimming Hours 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• Bender Beach Swimming Hours 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Beach admissions can be purchased at each location. Credit cards are not accepted. 

• Daily Bands $ 2.00 each Resident / $ 4.00 Non-resident 
• Season Bands $15.00 each Resident / $40.00 Non-resident

*Children under six are free with a paid adult. Adult must be within arms-reach of child at all times. 

More info on Rentals:

http://www.oconomowoc-wi.gov/index.aspx?NID=329

Check Water Quality of Beaches: 

http://www.wibeaches.us/apex/f?p=BEACH:HOME:663151552875245

Boredom Busters {Summer Edition}

Get WET! Whether it’s in the pool, a kiddie pool, a bucket of water (laundry basket), a squirt gun, water balloons, your local lake-they are all fun, just be creative with what you have. Water makes everything way more fun!

Read! Read a book everyday, make a reward chart for reading for every 15 minutes read, join your local library’s summer reading program (it’s free!) Pick out a book to read as a family, and discuss it together.

Plant! Purchase a packets of seeds, let your child pick, get a small pot, and some dirt. Let your child take care of it, teach them about responsibility! Let them water it, and make sure it gets the sun it’s needs, then watch your child’s excitement as it grows. If you are really feeling creative, let your child paint the pot with a fun decoration!

Sell Lemonade! This should be a summer tradition, I even love it as an adult. Buy some cheap lemonade and cups, and fill a cooler with ice....set up a little table, and make a nice big sign. Get some neighbors involved. Teach your child about customer service, and money handling. Plus they can sit out their for hours waiting for a few customers, while you can sit back, relax and read a book! Be creative, add flavors, and fruit to the lemonade, or freeze some fun flavors into ice cubes to add!

Paint! Whether it’s on paper, a box, some rocks or any other object you can find. Who doesn’t like painting? There are all sorts of paints that are easy to mage and easy to clean up! Designate your child to wear a “painting” shirt so you don’t have to worry about getting messy or wear an apron or smock!

Hunt! A Scavenger Hunt that is. Be creative-make a list, it can be outside in nature, in your house, at the store, in your neighborhood, anywhere! Stop at the dollar store to pick up some prizes!

Pretend! Let your child play waitress, hair stylist, barista, doctor, nurse, whatever it may be! YOU, the parent(s) be the customer, the client, the patient...they will LOVE you for it! Add props or use their imagination.

Cook! Everyone kid, young and older loves to cook! Use a kid friendly recipe such as one of these: http://www.parenting.com/gallery/healthy-kid-friendly-finger-foods?pnid=114597

Picnic! Pack a picnic-for the whole family. Pack a little lunch boxes, or a picnic basket.  Bring a blanket. Add some dessert for a fun surprise. Head to your local park. Enjoy the memory, and take some pictures. 

Make a jar! Write down these and more boredom buster ideas, put them in a jar, and pull one out and do it!

Colorful Cookies or Edible Playdough!

(Courtesy of of iHeart Nap Time)

4th of July Weekend-Let the Fun Continue

Wow, what a great 4th! Looking to continue the fun this weekend? 

Tonight 7/5 check out Freeman Friday Night Live from 6:30-9pm http://www.waukeshafreemanfridaynightlive.com

Summerfest Grounds Northwestern Mutual Kid's Theatre and Playzone 12-8. 

http://summerfest.com/on-the-grounds/family-activities-daytime-fun

Tomorrow 7/6 

Oconomowoc Farmer's Market 7:30-12 

http://www.oconomowoc.org/calendar/summer-farmers-market/

Delafield Farmer's Market 8-1 

http://www.delafieldfarmersmarket.com

Waukesha Farmer's Market 8-12

http://www.waukeshafarmersmarket.com

Hartland Public Library sponsoring a Despicable ME Event at the Hartland Community Room from 1-2:15p

http://www.hartlandlibrary.org/Bifoldflyer2013.pdf

 Downtown Oconomowoc Parade from 4-6pm, and their fireworks are at Fowler lake! 

http://www.oconomowoc-wi.gov

Lots of fun to be had! Enjoy!

We are OPEN!

We are open for business! I am so glad you are here. 

Coming Soon Summer 2013

I am a 30-something mama to a beautiful eight year old daughter. She sparks the creativity in me in every way. My choices in life are driven by her, what is best for her, what is fun for her, and what makes our life happy. We live in the heart of the lake country area in Wisconsin. It is such an amazing place to live and raise your children. The beauty of the lakes, trails, rivers, parks astonish me daily. The community is full of hometown pride. Each little town and city that make up all of lake country is proud to be a part of it.  In the past few years, I have been on the constant hunt for fun things to do, places to go, crafts to make, recipes to try, pictures to take. Doing all those things and then sharing who, what, where when, why with friends and family. So I thought why not take my love for the lake country area, for families, for the community, for crafting, for trying new recipes, for writing reviews, for sharing my stories, and put it all in one place. Welcome to The Lake Country Mama. I am excited to show you how to live life creatively in every aspect in your daily life.