7/21/2020 0 Comments mom & Daughter activity ideasShow your mom that you care about her by making time for you both to spend together! Here are some of my favorite mom & daughter activities. 1. Go for a walk Combine exercise and chatting time by going on a walk together. 2. Make a Craft Get creative and make a unique creation that you will both enjoy! Find great ideas on our Pinterest board. 3. Make Smoothies B has some delicious and healthy recipes over here. 4. Go Somewhere! Grab lunch, catch a movie, explore a new park, get manicures, or go shopping! 5. Encourage Enjoy our 10-day video devotion series, called Encourage, that's designed for moms and daughters to watch together! Each video is 2-3 minutes and includes a short lesson, BIble verse, and fun activities and questions. 6. Conversation Questions Finally, pull out a page of unique conversation questions to learn more about each other and yourself. I'm including a free printable sheet of conversation questions here for you to enjoy! Just click on the icon below, and it will open the questions in a new tab, where you may print them.
Have fun!
Love, A
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7/16/2020 0 Comments 7 ways to stay coolIf you have been following our blog for any amount of time, you probably know that we love lists. Nothing is more satisfying than completing a list. While today’s list isn’t exactly a list of productive things to get done, I am hoping that it will help you keep cool this summer. Try these ideas, then comment on this post to tell us what helped you.
1. Water balloons Grab the water balloons, get some water, find a sibling, and have at it! The more balloons the better. Four girls can whip through 300 water balloons in 20 minutes (I know from experience). 2. Add frozen fruit Frozen fruit helps everything. Make smoothies, mix fresh and frozen fruit to make a fruit salad, or even add a few pieces to your water instead of ice! It tastes good and feels good. 3. Make ice-cream in a bag It is a thing!!! Look on Pinterest (of course) for some delicious ice-cream in a bag recipes, and get ice-creaming. When it’s done, try adding some chocolate sauce, chocolate chips, caramel, gummy bears, or even scoop the ice-cream on top of a brownie. Making ice-cream in a bag will cool your fingers and your tongue. 4. Make a water obstacle course Break out the sprinklers, unroll the hose, and get creative. Make an obstacle course for your family that is sure to get them wet. Have fun! 5. Play water tag The rules are simple. It is basically like normal tag, but the “it” person has a water gun, and if you get shot, you become “it”. To get even more wet, give everyone else a water gun for “self defense”. 6. Avoid high activity If it’s a hot day, try to avoid high activity while outside (unless you are getting wet while doing it). Stay calm, read a book (we've got lots of suggestions over here), and chill. 7. Seek air conditioning Self-explanatory. I hope that you found these tips helpful. Have a cool and happy summer! -B Ahhhh.....vacation. The waves lapping on the shore, your thrilled scream rising in the air as the roller coaster rounds a bend, the coldness of an early-morning smoothie, the awed silence of an art gallery. Then, with a bang, reality dawns. You're sitting in the living room on your phone, and your family is not planning on taking a vacation anytime soon. What's a disappointed girl to do? Sit back, relax, and enjoy our list (because we heart lists!) of ideas for a memorable, exquisite virtual trip to your favorite locale.
1. Listen to Music Does the place you are "vacationing" to have any music specific to it? If so, crank up some destination-inspired tunes as you vacation. 2. Eat! Who doesn't love a good, themed meal/snack/dessert? Find out if your destination has any unique treats. If so, try your hand at making it for an authentic taste of...wherever it is that you're going. :) 3. Take a Tour Explore the notable sights of your destination by taking a tour from Google Arts & Culture! 4. Go for a Walk Speaking of Google, Google Maps is a great way to explore the territory of your locale! Many streets even have 360, walk-through tours you can take. 5. Read a Book Or five books, or ten! Look for travel guides, nonfiction books, and fiction books set within your destination for tons of fun reading! 6. Go Shopping Virtually, of course! Search for the most popular stores (look for both large chains and smaller boutiques) and see which of them sell products online. Select some of the best and browse through their merchandise for a fun experience! 7. Bring a Friend Grab a friend, get on a video call together, and go on virtual tours/take walks at the same time. B and I did this last week one a virtual trip to London! 8. Go All Out Decorate your bedroom, make crafts, and wear clothing that reminds you of your destination. Pinterest is a handy resource if you are seeking this kind of elaborate scenery! I hope you had fun looking at these ideas with me! Where will you be vacationing to? Bon Voyage! A 7/2/2020 0 Comments 4th of July Fun!I love the 4th of July! It’s so much fun. Most years, we get together with family, watch spectacular fireworks, and eat delicious food. Although we may not be able to get together with family, or watch fireworks, we can still have fun at home. Give these easy ideas a try, I think you’ll enjoy them!
1. Snappers There is something so fun about playing with snappers. Personally, I don’t like to snap them. I like to throw them as hard as I can at the ground (because they make an awesome popping sound). My mom and I found an open box of them from last year and we had so much fun throwing them. Make a game out of it by drawing a few circles on the ground and trying to throw the snappers into them. Make it challenging by making the circles small, or by taking a step back every time you land one in your target. Note: I recommend throwing snappers on a driveway. It makes it much easier to see them and pick them up. 2. Food Who doesn’t love yummy 4th of July food? Ask an adult to break out a grill and cook up some hamburgers. Mix together some cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cheese, cucumbers, and salad dressing to make a pasta salad. For dessert, try making something red, white and blue. Make red cupcakes with white frosting and blue sprinkles on top. Mix blueberries, strawberries or raspberries, and white chocolate together, or get creative with something totally new! 3. Games Along with your snapper game, turn your yard into a family game night. Set up bean bag toss, croquet, and yard darts. When it starts getting dark try playing flashlight tag, hide and go seek, and even flashlight capture the flag! Get creative. I hope you enjoy these ideas for 4th of July. From me and A, happy 4th! -B I recently learned how beneficial drawing is. Did you know that drawing/doodling can decrease stress and help you express yourself? Plus, if you doodle during a conversation, it can help you retain important information you discussed. Despite my lack of artistic talent, with benefits like these, I’m all for it! Today’s craft/activity is very simple. I’m going to give you some drawing inspiration and then a printable calendar with a spot for some doodles each day. I’m challenging you to fill in each day with at least one (if not many) doodles. We’re looking to have fun here, not to be perfect, so please refrain from judging yourself. :) If you need some inspiration of what to draw, take a look at the image below or Google/Pinterest search "simple doodles" for basic designs, or "simple drawings" for slightly more artistic ideas. And now that we have been suitably inspired, here is your printable calendar! Click the icon below to have the printable open in a new tab on your computer or device, where you may print or download it. Keep in mind that you can jump into the challenge at any time - you don't have to start on a Monday if you don't want to, as long as you get to each day. :)
Go forth and draw! You can do this.
Love, A 6/19/2020 0 Comments DIY Dotted canvas BagsToday I am going to show you how to make adorable canvas bags for you and your friends! Whether you want to haul books, carry a swimsuit, or tote craft supplies, these bags do the job. You can personalize them as much as you would like to make them truly unique for YOU. Supplies you need: * Paint (one to two colors of your choice * Paint pallet * Canvas bags * Wooden pencils with unused, built-in eraser (one for each paint color) * Cardboard * Double-sided tape * Clip art (of anything) 1. Find your clip art! It can be of anything, so long as it is one solid figure that is without holes. Look for clip art on any browser and print it off. Tape your clip art to your canvas bag using double-sided tape. Be sure to secure the edges really well. 2. Pick your paint! One to two colors is definitely best. You could even try picking one color, squirting it into several globs on your pallet, then adding black and white to different globs to create several shades of your color. 3. Start painting! Put a sheet of cardboard inside of your canvas bag to protect the back side. Dip the eraser of your pencil into your first paint color. Dot the eraser around the edge of your clip art and then slowly work your way away from the clip art. Change pencils every time you change colors. 4. Allow your paint to dry, then remove the clip art. Ta-da! You are done! Great job! Comment on this post to tell us what your are going to use your bag for.
-B 1. Have a picnic Break out the cookbook and pick a fun summer recipe to whip up (for a snack/breakfast, I highly recommend these smoothies by B)! Then, take your culinary creation to the backyard for a fun picnic. 2. Go for a walk/hike/run Stretch your legs! Grab your family and go for a walk, hike, or run. While you are at it, why not explore a new park near where you live? 3. Sidewalk chalk Sure, it seems like it’s for little kids, but why does it have to be? Sidewalk chalk is a fun way to express yourself and is a great way to leave encouraging notes for other people. 4. Go biking Explore town from a bike-seat vantage point! 5. Read outside Take your novel outside and read in the sun (or the shade). Cool snacks optional. Note: You can also check with your local library and see if they are offering a Summer Reading Program! The library where I live is putting on a very fun virtual program. 6. Miniature Gardening Miniature gardening is like making a dollhouse - except you put all of the furniture in a flowerbed instead of in a house! Just search “miniature gardening” and you’ll find dozens of cute ideas. 7. Scavenger Hunt I love scavenger hunts! There are dozens of printable lists online, filled with random objects for you to find in your neighborhood. 8. Have a dance party If you are going to dance to some awesome music, why not do it where there’s lots of room and soft grass to fall onto? 9. Feed the birds Make your own birdfeeder and then watch the birds come! It’s a triple-win: you (1) get to make something, (2) get to watch the birds visit your feeder, and (3) get to support local wildlife! 10. Create an obstacle course Pull out some household materials and make your own obstacle course for your family and friends! 11. Visit a little free library A Little Free Library is a box that’s full of books! These boxes are placed around cities, and people are encouraged to stop by and leave a book of their own, while taking a new book that they want to read. To see if there are any Little Free Libraries near you, go to https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/. 12. Stargaze Find some resources on astronomy and stargazing, and then look up on a clear night! This a fun hobby that can last you a while. 13. Get wet Even if you don't hit the pool, get wet by having a spray-fight with a friend, running through a sprinkler, or tossing water balloons. Googles optional! I hope you had fun reading through these outdoor activity ideas! What would you add to this list? Wishing you a happy summer, A You may also like:
Huh? What’s that? A mud smoothie doesn’t sound good to you? Just give this smoothie one try and I promise that you will love it! I was a little skeptical about this smoothie idea when my mom brought it up. She listed the ingredients that we should put in it and I thought “Gross! Yuck!” (you will understand why, after you read the ingredients) but I ended up asking for it over, and over, and over again! We have tweaked this recipe a few times, but the one I’m about to share with you is my favorite. If you want more smoothie ideas, keep reading because I will include more recipes at the end! "Mud" Smoothie Ingredients: * 1 half banana * 1 to 2 cups spinach (depending on your personal preference) * 1 quarter to half cup blueberries * 1 quarter to half cup frozen peach slices * 1 cup orange juice Note: In the pic of my smoothie, I used frozen mango because we were out of frozen peaches. Smoothies are versatile, right? :) Supplies: * Blender * Cup 1. Wash your ingredients! Put your blueberries, spinach, and frozen peach slices in separate strainers and wash them. The peach slices don’t really need washing, they just need rinsed off so that they aren’t so frozen. 2. Put your ingredients in your blender. I recommend putting the ingredients in your blender in the order I have listed them. Put the lid on tight and blend them for 30 seconds. 3. Pour your smoothie into a glass, and enjoy! If your smoothie looks the same as mine, you will understand why I call it a mud smoothie. I hope you like your mud smoothie. I think they are delicious! As promised, I will now share a few more smoothie recipes. Use the same method for these smoothies as used for the mud smoothie. Mango-go-go! Smoothie * 1 half banana * 1 half cup frozen mango * 1 to 2 cups spinach * 1 quarter cup frozen raspberries * 1 cup orange juice Tropical Smoothie * 1 half banana * 1 quarter cup blueberries * 1 to 2 cups spinach * 1 cup tropical juice (juice made of pineapple, mango, orange, apple, etc.) Power Smoothie * 1 half banana * 1 to 2 cups spinach * 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder * 1 cup juice (a juice made of several fruits is ideal) I hope you have fun with these smoothies! Comment on this post to tell us which one you tried!
-B PS. For more healthy snacks, make sure to check out our Pinterest board here. 5/23/2020 0 Comments Easy DIy Hair helpersDoes your hair need some help? Here are two unbelievable easy hair-helpers you can make to accent any style (or conceal a bad hair day)! I love both of these DIYs - both because they are ahh-dorable and because they are great for my hair. Let’s get started! All Tied Up Keep longer hair all tied up and out of your way! This elastic-cover is made from fabric and will elevate any style. What you will need: - 1 strip of fabric, 6 by 3/4 inches - Pinking shears (optional) 1. Cut out your strip of fabric, if you haven’t done so yet. To prevent fraying, it is recommended to cut the edges with pinking shears. If you don’t have them, that’s fine. 2. Use an elastic to make a ponytail like you normally would. Then, slip the fabric underneath the pony and tie it, ensuring that it fully covers your elastic. 3. And you are out the door! This style pairs perfectly with longer hair types for ponytails, pigtails, and half-up styles like the one shown. Bejeweled Beauty Bring a bit of bling to your hairdo! These hair clips are potentially the easiest DIY ever. What You Need: - Snap-in Hair Clips (any size or color) - Large adhesive gemstones/pearls 1. Begin by matching colors of hair clips to colors of pearls. For example, combine basic black clips with white pearls, purple clips with green or white, and yellow clips with orange, red, or dark blue. 2. Then, peel the pearls/gems off of the backing and press them onto the flat “head” section of the clip. If they don’t stay on well, use hot glue (with permission) or another strong glue to hold it in place. 3. Snap in a clip (or four) to tame flyaway hairs! It’s a friend to almost every thickness and style. ♥️ Wishing you happy hair days,
- A 5/21/2020 0 Comments Short Story 101One thing that you have to know about me and A: we both LOVE to write stories! Whether we are just jotting down a silly story, or penning an intriguing mystery, we love to write stories. We have had many fun times together brainstorming lines for short stories, future novels, etc. :) Some were good, some need a little work, but it was just fun to do. Follow these guidelines I have laid out for you and you will have a short story in no time! Supplies you need: * Pens, pencils, colored pencils, markers, etc. * Notebook 1. Label your notebook “Stories “ and open up the first page. Once there, write down the following categories: fiction, historical fiction, mystery, nature, romance, western, and any other categories you can come up with. Write each category on its own line and leave several lines in between each. 2. Decide on two or three categories that you like and write a few brief story ideas under each. Look at your story ideas. Which one do you like the best? Maybe use a process of elimination to determine your favorite. Turn to the next page in your notebook, then meet me at step 3. 3. Now that you have an idea, write down your characters. You should have the following characters: - A main character (protagonist) - A friend for the main character, - A villain or someone who causes problems (antagonist) - A few other characters to make things interesting. Under the name of each character, write down a bit about their personality. Are they witty? What do they like? What don’t they like? Are they friendly? Are they shy? Are they funny? Describe your main character the best by putting in a lot of detail. Your main character should be in most scenes, so it should be really clear who they are. 4. Now, write your story idea in more detail. You could even make an outline like this: Problem: Joe Rider has to deliver a bag of gold and people keep coming after it. Solution: Someone comes to his rescue or he fights his way out of it. That is just a quick outline I had made. I recommend filling yours in with a little more detail. :) 5. Start writing your story! Add lots of adjectives and adverbs to make it interesting. Try replacing common used words, such as “said” with something more fun, like mumbled, grunted, exclaimed, shouted, barked, ordered, or retorted. Don’t be afraid to describe! 6. Proofreading time! Go through your story and check your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the overall sound and flow of your story. Read your story aloud to make sure it sounds good (preferably, great!). You might even want to have a parent or friend read your short story to double-check it. Great job! You have written a short story. Well done! Want to read my short story? Check it out here.
Love, B |