Thank you for being my strength my whole life. Thank you for being my comfort when I was unsure. Thank you for every time you shared your words of wisdom. I know now it was because you lived through it. You always knew what to say or what to do. You were sure of yourself so I was sure of you. Thank you for raising me to believe I was beautiful. Thank you for raising my brother to be a great man. Thank you for taking care of our family. Thank you for loving my mom. Thank you for being her best friend. Thank you for singing to me. Thank you for teaching me to dance. I miss your voice. I miss you!
KSKW
2 Years Since You Left Me
I remember you leaving like it was yesterday. You were the one in the end that was calm. I was a mess. You were the one that was ready. I was not. You told me it would be okay. And so it was.
I still miss you every day, even after 2 years. You were one of my favorite people ever. It is hard for me to think about you – It hurts too much and I cry. I don’t like to talk about you – It hurts too much and I cry. I don’t like to listen to the music we played at your funeral. – It hurts too much and I cry. I don’t like to cry….. I’m not strong enough to accept you’re really gone. ~KIMBERLY
Grief is individual to each of us
There are different stages of grief but you don’t have to experience these stages in a linear fashion or at any certain time, or in any particular way. The way you experience your grief at a loss is completely individual to you, you should never feel pressured to feel or act in a certain way, or to grief on a particular timeline. Whatever you are feeling is completely valid. Everybody goes through things differently and this is ok: we don’t have to deal with a loss like other people are, we deal with it in our own way and it’s important to keep this in mind and not compare ourselves to others.
Geocaching is a fun way to get out there and enjoy the world around you. It is a hide and seek like you have never experienced. A hunt full of clues tied to navigation coordinates locating a true treasure. There are millions of people that have jumped on this great hobby bandwagon and exploring all over the world.
Geocaching is so popular that there are websites and social media boards with information, fun facts, how-to’s, and groups to join. Caches are hidden everywhere you are. There are millions of geocaches worldwide.
Geocaches are found in parks, urban areas, forests, deserts, on top of mountains, underwater — pretty much anywhere you can imagine. There are probably a few near you right now. Go to the official Geocaching website and find a traditional geocache that has an easy find ranking to ensure your success, and you will be hooked!
Geocaching started in early 2000. When the website launched, only 75 geocaches had been hidden. Today, there are over 3 million geocaches and millions of active geocachers playing the game. Geocaches come in all different shapes, sizes, and difficulties and are hidden in both rural and urban settings.
Geocachers’ Creed
When placing or seeking geocaches, I will:
Not endanger myself or others.
Observe all laws & rules of the area.
Respect property rights and seek permission where appropriate.
Avoid causing disruptions or public alarm.
Minimize my and others’ impact on the environment.
Be considerate of others.
Protect the integrity of the game.
Geocaching Etiquette
Sign the logbook inside the cache. Don’t forget to log your find online to get your smiley. Geocache owners love reading about your experience.
Did not find (DNF) logs. They alert others that the cache may be more difficult to find than anticipated or may even be missing. DNF logs also inform the cache owner they may need to check on their container.
If you take a trinket from the geocache, leave something of equal or greater value, making sure it’s family friendly. Don’t place food or scented items as these attract animals.
Be mindful of non-geocaching onlookers (muggles). Curious people have been known to take or damage geocaches.
Make sure you don’t accidentally venture on to someone’s private property. Caches won’t require you to trespass.
Leave the geocache area better than how you found it. Try not to disrupt local wildlife and pack any trash you see.
If you find a problematic cache, please contact the owner directly or email help center.
Geocache Types
Traditional Geocache – (in green)
This is the original type of geocache and the most straightforward. These geocaches will be a container at the given coordinates. The size may vary, but at minimum, all of these geocaches will have a logbook. Larger containers may contain items for trade and trackables
Multi-Cache (shown in orange)
These geocaches involve two or more locations, with the final location being a physical container with a logbook inside. There are many variations, but typically once you’re at the first stage, you will receive a clue to the whereabouts of the second stage. The second stage will have a clue for the third, and so on.
Earth Cache
An Earth Cache is a special geological location people can visit to learn about a unique feature of the Earth. Earth Cache pages include a set of educational notes along with coordinates. Visitors to Earth Caches can see how our planet has been shaped by geological processes, how we manage its resources and how scientists gather evidence. Typically, to log an Earth Cache, you will have to provide answers to questions by observing the geological location. For more information about Earth Caches visit http://www.earthcache.org/.
Letterbox Hybrid
Letterboxing is another form of treasure hunting that uses clues instead of coordinates. In some cases, the letterbox owner has made their container both a letterbox and a geocache and posted its coordinates on Geocaching.com. These types of geocaches will contain a stamp that is meant to remain in the box and is used by letterboxes to record their visit. To read more about letterboxing, visit Letterboxing North America.
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Mystery or Puzzle Caches
Mystery Caches come in many different styles – but today we want to hone in on a classic: the Puzzle Cache. The posted coordinates for a Puzzle Cache are usually bogus coordinates. Geocachers must solve a puzzle on the cache page to learn the actual location of the geocache The “catch-all” of geocache types, this type may involve complicated puzzles that you will first need to solve to determine the correct coordinates. Mystery/Puzzle Caches often become the staging ground for new and unique geocaches that do not fit in another category.
Micro (XS) containers are less than 100 milliliters. Think film canister or smaller.
Small (S) are 100 milliliters to 1 liter. About the size of an apple.
Regular (M) containers are 1 to 20 liters. They’re about the size of a shoebox.
Large (L) containers are more than 20 liters. They’re larger than a shoebox. Buckets, bins, or even railroad freight cars can be large containers.
Now that you know what Geocaching is, What next?
Geocaching Bee Tree Park, St. Louis County, Missouri
Let’s get started on your first treasure hunt. Download the Geocache app on your mobile device. Sign up to get started.
On the home page of the website, a geocaching map will show up with geocaches near you. Whether you are planning to go to a park close to you or if you are traveling further away, just pull up the website on your phone and the same map will show up with coordinates of caches around your current location.
To increase your chances of finding your first cache, be sure to look for a regular or large size Traditional Cache with an easy difficulty and terrain rating on the map.
Push on the pin that you want to find and the app will give you a blurb about the cache to get you started. For example it might say the geocache is a physical container that is hidden outside. Just enough information to get you going.
Click on the next button and it will take you to the information for that cache. It will show these things:
name of cache
type of cache
difficulty, terrain, and size
owner or who placed cache and when
short description
activity – when was found last
attributes – i.e. how long to find, dog friendly, etc.
photos
trackables information
waypoints
If you think that this is one that you want to find, click the navigation button. A map will show up with the distance away from cache. It will also have a pin showing the location of the cache and a pin of your current location, with a line connecting the two.
Walk towards the cache with phone in hand. The line gets shorter the loser you get. When you get within 30 feet of the geocache your phone will make a chime sound to let you know that your are close. This is the best part of the hunt. Look high and low. Follow any clues from log posts of other cachers for help.
Once you find a geocache, open it up and sign the logbook. You may discover some trade or swag items (small toys, keychains, trinkets) inside the geocache. The general rule of thumb is if you take something, leave something of equal or greater value. Then, place the container back exactly how you found it and share your experience online with the rest of the geocaching community.
Ten tips when looking for a cache
Use your eyes Your GPS or smartphone will only get you within about 30 feet of the cache location. When you’re close, use your eyes, hands, and geo-senses to locate the cache.
Look for something that seems out of place Caches come in all sizes, shapes, colors. Look under rocks, in tree hollows, under park benches and yes, look in that one spot you’re 100% positive is not the hiding place. Chances are, that’s exactly where the cache is.
You never know when the urge to geocache will hit, so keep your geocaching bag ready. Here is a list of common items you might find in a well-stocked geocaching bag:
Water and snacks – See my post on Snackle Boxes here.
Flashlight
Sunscreen
Bug repellent
Rain poncho
Tools of the trade
First aid kit
Hide Your Own Geocache
If you want to hide your own geocache, there are guidelines that you will need to follow. Here is basic information. You can get more ideas and tips on the geocache website.
Watch the video Geocache hiding guidelines on the website for tips on how to get started.
Take a quiz on things from the video before you hide your first cache.
Obey local laws.
Get permission.
Choose location and container wisely.
Add a logbook, instructions for finders of your container, and then hide your cache in the location of your choosing.
Write and submit your cache page for review. It will be reviewed before it is published.
Find at least 20 geocaches before you hide your first one. The more variety of geocaches you find, the better you will understand how to create an enjoyable experience for other geocachers.
Check over cache owner responsibility on the website.
Trackables
Trackables are another fun activity to do within the game of geocaching. They are physical game pieces that move from geocache to geocache. Types of trackables include: geocoins, tags, t-shirts, and more!
Can I Keep them?
In most cases, trackables want to travel. Use the tracking code on the trackable to look up its goal. Log trackable in order to move them along.
Use the tracking code to access the trackable details page and then choose the appropriate log type.
Trackable tips:
Try to move trackables within two weeks of taking them.
if a trackable isn’t listed in a geocache, wait 24 hours or contact the last geocacher who logged the trackable.
If you think a trackable is missing from a geocache, contact the trackable owner or write a note on the trackable details page.
This guide should get you through your first geocache successfully. Good luck and have fun! ~Susie Pea
Check out my Geocaching with Kids post if you are taking little ones. There are some great tips to ensure a fun afternoon for you and them. Or see my post on The Ultimate Scavenger Hunt for Kids, a variation on the Easter Egg Hunt. For more outdoor fun with kids, check out my post on Mud Kitchens.
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I had so much fun doing the Shop the Look post that I thought I would try a different idea that allowed for another day of shopping. Here you have it. Dressing Room Diaries is a new series idea where I will find the cutest items from my favorite retailers, and review them for you. The REAL Real Life Model – ME!
Fit Note: I’m 5’4.5″, 142 pounds-ish (depending on the week’s taco count). My usual size is S/8. (WOW!! This information is truly a NSV to actually say outload. Less than one year ago I was a size XL/18 -snug, 198 pounds. Read all about my Keto weight loss journey here.)
Keep in mind that the lighting is bad, and my hair is a mess. (Note to self, bring a hairbrush next time.) But it’s real life, real girl, real clothes…and hopefully helpful for you to see them this way, instead of perfectly styled on a model. So let’s get started!
The GAP Outlet
This sweatshirt is a size S. It is super soft and feels great on. There is a slit in each side of the bottom band of this sweatshirt. The back is slightly longer than the front. It comes in a variety of colors.
I have on Gap Girlfriend Stretch Skinny Jeans size 8/29R. These are actually my own jeans that I wore in. I got them at a 2nd hand store, but are available at your Gap store. They are comfortable and go with everything.
Floral Flutter Top. This light cotton top is available in several different patterns. I am wearing size S. The cut allows for arm comfort as well as room around the midsection. The material is lightweight and cool – perfect for a summer top.
These Mid-rise 10″ denim Bermuda shorts are size 30. I would go with a size 28 or 29 if I bought. They were comfortable and the length worked for me. Nice look and feel.
I grabbed this quilted bomber jacket in a size M. I would get a size S for a more tailored look. It is soft, not stiff like normal blue jean jackets. Cute addition to your wardrobe for the price.
You Can’t Have Just One
I absolutely LOVE these t-shirt dresses. Perfect with sandals, or tennies. I have on a size S. I added a blue jean shirt for a waist wrap. Soft and comfortable like your favorite old school T!
Icon denim jacket in size S. I love the way it paired with the t-shirt dress. Shiny silver buttons and just the right hit at the waist. This jacket would be a good investment to your closet.
This cotton dress is their Stripe Tie-waist Shirtdress in size S. Lightweight cotton material for comfort and style. The entire dress is lined so no need for a slip or kami. A little too boxy for me, but would look amazing with the right shape. You can dress up or dress down this wonderful addition to your closet with shoes/jacket.
Cute New Arrivals
This summer t-shirt is their Easy V neck Flutter Tank size S. Love the v neck and cap sleeve. Soft and lightweight. This t-shirt is comfortable around the arms and comes in many colors.
Utility Joggers in Chambray are cute with elastic waist size S. Dressier than most joggers but still comfortable. I like the elastic at waist and ankles. Draw string is a darling addition and is real – meaning it can tighten and double as a belt if needed.
Long sleeve gray t-shirt size S. Love it! Super soft and comes in many colors. Sleeves are longer which I personal like. White t-shirt size S is their Easy V neck Flutter Tank. Comfortable and light weight material.
These Girlfriend Khaki pants in stretch twill are both the same style, different colors. Pocket placement works well and rise is good for my body type. The material is soft and comfortable to wear. You can dress up or down these pants. Many colors and prints available.
My Favorite!
Easy Long sleeve scoop neck t-shirt is soft and comfortable in a size S. I like the longer sleeves and the length of this t-shirt. It worked well with the overall shorts.
These short overalls are my absolute favorite! I have been searching everywhere for the perfect shade of denim. A printed shirt around the waist was a cute touch I think! Add a baseball cap and my converse and THAT IS ME!
This is a size S in their Boyfriend Utility shirt. It has the right hang for a white dressier shirt. Soft to the touch and lightweight.
High rise paper-bag waist shorts. size S work with this utility shirt. Both are a handsome summer look that is slightly dressier for a classic style.
White V neck t-shirt size S, Cardigan sweater in light gray size S. Fringe scarf and Flip Flops along with sunglasses finish out this one.
There you have it. My new mini series Dressing Room Diaries. I hope that you got some good information from it and found some things that you like.
What did I take home? The overalls of course! These represent my days gone by. I am thrilled that they are making a comeback. I mean who wore these besides me as a swimsuit coverup? I’m bringing the ’80’s back. Who is with me? ~Susie Pea
These are my own opinions and comments. No compensation for my post, just one of my favorite stores to shop for comfortable and stylish clothes.
If you liked this check out my post on Shop the Look. Subscribe so you won’t miss future posts of Dressing Room Diaries.
Heading out the door with your little guys has never been so easy. Prep a Snackle Box for each of the kiddos and you’re set. Perfect for the zoo, doctor appointments, or just running errands around town.
Give each kid their own Snackle Box (I found mine at Walmart in the fishing/sporting goods section) filled with some healthy snack options for them to munch on in between meals. So easy to meal prep and store in the fridge. Grab one and toss it into the diaper bag/back pack on your way out the door.
These small life savers would also be perfect when you travel. Have one for each kid packed in the cooler (or not if you don’t have foods that need to be chilled). They could also easily fit in your carryon when flying. (Check out this carryon back pack, big enough to hold your laptop or to use as a diaper bag so you can have your hands free to handle the little one.) A great way to ensure a calm flight for you and the other passengers!
Snack Ideas for Snackle Box
beef sticks
goldfish
cheese cubes
raisins
grapes
berries
cheese sticks
apples
pepperonis
ham cubes
cookies (those are cookies in the pictures – not dog bones) 😉
fruit snacks
trail mix
nuts
baby carrots
veggies
teddy grahams
yogurt chips
puffs
cheerios/cereal
pretzel sticks
ritz bits
dried fruit
candy (ugh) 😉
and so much more!
As you can see, the sky is the limit with these little Snackle Boxes. Cater to whatever your little one loves. The key is that they are portable and work as a perfect “tray” when they are cramped in their car seat and screaming. For the love of God – give them their Snackle Box and ride in peace! ~Susie Pea
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Worried when you are heading out the door and you know that you may not make it back home in time for your next meal? I got you covered! This little treat box filled with Keto friendly snacks will make sure that you stay on track with your Keto way of eating.
Keto Snackle Box
Looks yummy, doesn’t it! Perfect for trips to the park, doctor visits, running errands all day.
All you need is a plastic tackle box (I found mine in the fishing/sporting goods section at Walmart) and some snacks cut to fit into your little compartments. Mine is small – about 6x4x1, so it fits perfectly inside my small crossover bag. This is ideal to keep my hands free while I run around town.
This size fits right inside my small crossover.
Snackle Box Ideas
Here are some Keto friendly low carb snack ideas to put into your Snackle Box. Some of the items you may have to cut into smaller pieces when prepping your box.
baby bels
olives
almonds
pepperoni slices
cheese cubes
pistachios
beef sticks
smokies
berries
bacon chips
turkey cubes
salami roll ups
pickle slices
cucumbers
pepper slices
hard boiled eggs
I love this little Snackle Box so much, that I have extras for my grandbabies for when we head out the door to the zoo, or a play date. Theirs are a little bigger but fit great in the diaper bag/backpacks. Check out their Snackle Boxes here.
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Fashion for women over 50. These are real looks for real women. Every day, easy and comfortable clothing that you can mix and match. I found them for next to nothing at my local 2nd hand store. You can check out my favorite area thrift stores here. Come on along for a peek at how I Shop the Look!
I made an inspiration board of outfit ideas on Pinterest that are my style and vibe. Then I headed straight for the thrift store. I found some great pieces that were near perfect matches to my inspiration outfits for next to nothing.
I screenshot the outfits on my phone so that I would remember what I was looking for. Otherwise I would go crazy and forget what I was doing. There are so many bargains that it overwhelms me at times.
At my favorite store, they even pipe in some old 80’s and 90’s music. I am so relaxed and into the hunt there that I find myself singing outload when I dig through the racks. It’s ok though because other people are singing an aisle over. 🙂 It’s therapeutic!!
I think I got pretty close at matching my inspiration outfits. Each one was less than $10.00 excluding the shoes and accessories.
For your convenience, I have also included my Shop the Look outfits for you to purchase online and have it sent straight to your home. I have done the dirty work for you – And I LOVED IT! It’s so much easier spending everyone else’s money for some reason. 😉
Mix & Match the Look
This was a fun post to write. Mainly because it allowed me to do all of the things that I love – Pin, Shop, Try on clothes, and Blog!
What do you think about my Shop the Look outfits? Does it work? Let me know what you think in the comments below. And look for summer Shop the Look ideas coming soon. ~Susie Pea
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Traditions are rituals families engage in over and over. They lend a certain spirit that nurtures the family connection, giving us a sense of belonging and helping us celebrate generations of kinship. More importantly, traditions create positive memories for children.
Holiday Traditions
Some examples of traditions might be opening a special family present Christmas Eve filled with pajamas, a Christmas movie, and some treats. Or you might bake gingerbread cookies with grandma every year. Maybe you leave cookies out for Santa and carrots out for his reindeer.
Another custom might be for the Easter bunny to hide clues all around your house leading you to your basket. And of course the new toothbrush that is included in the tub full of candy treats is something that has happened every year since you were a kid.
Treasured Milestone Birthday Tradition
A birthday tradition that my parents did with me and my siblings was when we turned 8 years old. We got to go on our first ‘date’.
I will never forget putting on my maxi dress (remember them?) and my mom fixing my hair in a bun. I felt so beautiful. My dad took me out to dinner and held the doors for me and pulled out my seat for me. This is truly my best birthday memory.
When my brother turned 8, he got to take my mom out on a date. My dad gave him money for dinner to put in his wallet. so he could pay. He talked to my brother about opening the door for my mom and pulling out her chair when she sat down. His first lesson on dating a woman! 🙂
Sweet memories…
Family Vacation Tradition
Make a Wish
Our family vacation ritual is to get matching anklets or bracelets from whatever beach we are on or from the souvenir shop at more camp grounds than I can name.
We make a wish when we tie these tiny treasures on. The wish comes true when the bracelet wears thin and falls off. A silly little something that bonds us together and a simple reminder of the fun we shared that summer.
Inside Jokes
And you all know the story of our dear sweet imaginary friend, Susie Ponchez. (You can learn more about her here.) She is the extra child that Jason has teased my 3 kids about their whole lives. She is the one that gets to have all the fun with me and Jason when Brooke, Becki, & JJ are away.
Jason has always told them that Susie was with us at Six Flags. Or that Susie got ice cream with us when the kids were staying at their friends house. On the first day of school, he would ask them if Susie was in their class this year. A sweet memory that involved no more that words, but would always bring a smile and an eyeroll.
Susie Ponchez
Even now that they are grown, when Jason and I go to the lake, he calls the kids and tells them that we made it safely, and that Susie Ponchez is with us out on the boat! Susie has been a great family inside joke for so long. She is so important to us that I use her for my pen name ~ Susie Pea.
My Favorite Tradition
The most special thing to me that I have with each one of my children is our song. When each of them were born, whatever song reminded me of them became our song. Just mine and theirs. Something to keep between us that is ours alone.
Whenever our song would come on the radio, I would hold their hand and sing as loud as I could. And I would usually cry. I am a cryer (I am one of those – cry if I’m happy, sad, and especially if I’m mad – which means I’m probably getting ready to spew some hate your way so watch out!) More than that, because the words mean so much to me and I hoped they meant as much to them.
My Song For Brooke
My song with Brooke is Forever Young by Rod Stewart. I’m probably showing my age with this one, but it is definitely a lesson in life. These lyrics say everything that I want her to know about what I wish for her for her whole life.
Forever Young
May the good Lord be with you, down every road you roam And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you’re far from home And may you grow to be proud dignified and true And do unto others as you’d have done to you Be courageous and be brave and in my heart you’ll always stay
Forever young Forever young
May good fortune be with you, may your guiding light be strong Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond And may you never love in vain and in my heart you will always remain
Forever young Forever young
Forever young Forever young Forever young
And when you finally fly away, I’ll be hoping that I served you well For all the wisdom of a lifetime no one can ever tell But whatever road you choose, I’m right behind you, win or lose
Forever young Forever young
Forever young Forever young
My Song For Becki
I Hope You’ll Dance
For Becki, I chose a song that I felt symbolized always look through the innocence eyes of a child. Find wonder and beauty in everything you do in life. And never miss out on the things that you want to do. Go for them!
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger May you never take one single breath for granted God forbid love ever leave you empty handed I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens Promise me that you’ll give fate the fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance Never settle for the path of least resistance Living might mean taking chances but they’re worth taking Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth making Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter When you come close to selling out reconsider Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always) I hope you dance (Rolling us along) I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder) I hope you dance (Where those years have gone)
I hope you still feel small when you stand by the ocean Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens Promise me that you’ll give faith the fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance I hope you dance I hope you dance (Time is a wheel in constant motion always) I hope you dance (Rolling us along) I hope you dance (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder) I hope you dance (Where those years have gone) (Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder) I hope you dance (Where those years have gone)
My Song For Jay
Jay’s song is from Tarzan, You’ll Be in My Heart. From the first time that I saw my little Jaybird, I knew that I wanted to be there to protect him – always. He after all, was my baby. My last little one. This song is my special way of letting him know that I will always be there no matter what. Just look over your shoulder…
You’ll Be in My Heart
Come stop your crying It will be all right Just take my hand Hold it tight
I will protect you from all around you I will be here Don’t you cry
For one so small, you seem so strong My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm This bond between us Can’t be broken I will be here Don’t you cry
‘Cause you’ll be in my heart Yes, you’ll be in my heart From this day on Now and forever more
You’ll be in my heart No matter what they say You’ll be here in my heart, always
Why can’t they understand the way we feel They just don’t trust what they can’t explain I know we’re different but, deep inside us We’re not that different at all
And you’ll be in my heart Yes, you’ll be in my heart From this day on Now and forever more
Don’t listen to them ‘Cause what do they know We need each other, to have, to hold They’ll see in time I know
When destiny calls you You must be strong I may not be with you But you’ve got to hold on They’ll see in time I know We’ll show them together
‘Cause you’ll be in my heart Yes, you’ll be in my heart From this day on, Now and forever more
Oh, you’ll be in my heart No matter what they say You’ll be in my heart, always Always
All of these fun and sentimental things that we have done bind us together. They allow us memories that are intertwined and no one can take apart. They are our strength when we need it. Our smiles when we think of it. And a place in our minds and hearts that feel like home. Our place we Belong…
Ideas for Your Own Family Traditions
Start a tradition as soon as your little ones are born. Or begin it when there is a milestone in their life. You can make simple family traditions that you do each year or holiday. It’s never too late to start doing something fun and special for your tiny group of people. Here are some ideas that touch on a little of everything.
Birthday Traditions
Balloons all over bedroom birthday morning
Sprinkle donuts with candles on top for birthday breakfast
Family date for Valentine’s Day
Lucky Charms for breakfast on St. Patty’s
Hunt for your Easter basket
Hold hands when you say Grace
New Sunday best matching family outfits for church
Cuddle time before bed
Prayers together every night and tell God what we are thankful for
Camping in the back yard on first weekend of summer
Slushy Thursdays (Me & Jase are rocking this one right now!)
I hope that these ideas help you to start some traditions with your own family. Or that they inspire you to think of some of your own. Let me know of some traditions that you do as a family in the comments below. ~Susie Pea.
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When you dream about what you want to do with your life and that dream comes true, it’s an amazing thing. Here are some of those business dreams that not only came to life, but that have irrupted to phenomenal heights. Read along and get some inspiration from these thriving entrepreneurs.
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will always be successful.
SMB Studios
The Butler’s SMB Studios
We are Steven and Megan Butler and are the “S” and “M” behind SMB studios! We are full time photographers and film makers when we aren’t playing the roles of mommy and daddy to our 4 boys. We are high school sweethearts and we have been married since 2008.
Before we even had photography in our sights, we always knew that we wanted to be business owners together. We love working as a team and being creative. We truly bring out the best in each other when we are working together. When we started to become passionate about photography it all finally clicked into place and we wouldn’t want it any other way!
We have been capturing life’s most beautiful memories for people since 2012 and have loved every minute of it. We feel honored to get to be a part of telling our client’s stories; whether it be engagements, weddings, families, or special events…every single one is special and unique!
Hello. My name is Sacha Quernheim. I am a personal chef in St. louis and own Red Zucchini Personal Chef Service, which is an umbrella for, yes, regular home clients- but also omelet breakfasts for luxury apartment complexes, full service catering, and meal delivery.
I have operated Red Zucchini since 2012. For 17 years I worked at law firms but over the years had been teaching kids cooking classes, starting with my daughter’s Girl Scout troop.
When I was let go from my law firm job in 2013, I went online to find something. Initially I was tring to get into incubator kitchens, but I didn’t know if I wanted to do just cooking classes.
As I searched I found The American Personal & Private Chef Association online, which is a culinary association out of LA where members can learn about the business insurance and industry specific software to run the business. I am still a member of APPCA to this day because I can’t run my business without them.
In December 2013, I was approached by an insurance company to do an omelet breakfast for their holiday party. It went so well that I started contacting any business or apartment complex I could find that might want this for their office or residents.
It took awhile for it to click. I tried to get in touch with one of the most well known complexes in the city for a year and couldn’t get anyone to get back with me. I persisted and fortunately got it. “You have to be persistent if you want clients.” We work with 16 luxury apartment complexes in St. Louis and when new complexes open up they usually call us!
We now focus on our long time personal chef clients and meal deliver. It has turned into an amazing service for all of the residents that live in the complexes and other clients in the area that just need good, healthy food. We deliver chef prepared, whole foods meals on a weekly basis right to their door. Think Freshly or Blue Apron on steroids!
Tips for those just starting out and trying to figure out how to get clients:
Market yourself: Do it every week even if you don’t need more clients. This is essential. I still do this today. I do it myself instead of one of my employees because it is the most important part of our business and has to be done no matter what.
Be Patient! It will happen. You just need to keep doing what you are doing and it will happen eventually, but it does take time. Any new business will usually not make a profit for at least the first 2 years.
Be Persistent: I always email prospects then follow up with a phone call. If I get voicemail I put a note on my calendar for a week to follow up again. Some people will make the phone call or send the email and never follow up. They will lose business. People appreciate you following up because they are busy. I never pester people, but I do call and/or email once a week until they answer. If they tell me they are not interested that’s fine; I just need an answer.
Chelsea and I have always enjoyed shopping from the time she was a little girl. That was our passion. Finding original and cute outfits mainly for her.
When I first found out she was having a baby boy I scoured the web and stores for cute clothes for Baylor. I loved helping her build his wardrobe and loved that she sought out my opinions. It was an area that was special for the two of us.
When she got pregnant the second time I knew I wanted to host a gender reveal party for her. I was lucky enough to be the only one to find out what she was having. I will never forget making that call and finding out it was a girl as I was driving to our lake house. Instead of driving to our house I went straight to the outlet mall and so the mission started to find the cutest clothes for the new baby girl(Camryn).
It was while on that trip that I learned I wasn’t just satisfied with the typical clothes found in most stores. I began an extensive search online for unique baby clothes and stumbled upon a wholesale site. I ordered several unique outfits and surprised Chelsea with them.
During her pregnancy I spent more and more time finding unique finds at very reasonable prices. Friends of hers started having me get clothes for their kiddos. I found a darling little white dress and shared it online on Facebook and next thing I knew I had 50+ orders for that little dress.
Over the summer of 2018 I threw out the idea to Chelsea about us starting our own little online children’s boutique. She loved the idea and we spent some time finding the first items we would offer. We wanted a name that would be for both genders. Baylor at that time was obsessed with pirates so then we came up with a feminine word to go along with pirates.
Chelsea is the one who picks out most of the items and what she feels moms would want for their kids. Since I am retired and have more time I do the posting, ordering, bookkeeping, etc.
We have now branched out to women’s clothing too. We have a group on Facebook Pirates & Pearls where we post items for sale each day. There aree over 1000 member in our group and are selling many items each month.
I love to get pictures of the kiddos wearing the cute clothes they have bought from us. Finding good prices for unique clothes is our mission and we love the that we have been able to do this.
Lorri- the mom and Gaga to Baylor & Camryn Chelsea- the daughter and mommy to Baylor and Camryn
Lorri & Chelsea Co-owners Pirates & Pearls. And our lovely model – Camryn.
KhyRynImages
When I first started KhyRynImages I was just a do it yourself, OCD, stay at home mom. I’ve always been inspired by those little girls. Any birthday, holiday, or girly related project, was always done with them in mind. When I decided to pursue photography for myself, in 2016, my oldest had just turned 2. I actually ordered my very first DSLR camera and it arrived ON her birthday party.
(YIKES! I had zero knowledge on focusing or lighting, but I was determined to master it.) Since then, I have upgraded my camera more times than I care to admit. I’ve learned the photography triangle, taken multiple online courses, and have invested in real editing software.
… and now, this beauty is about to turn FIVE!
Little Rynie is finally a BIG SISTER!
And this one, is tugging on my heart strings as our family is perfectly complete.
But, I will give credit where credit is due. I would not have been able to do this without my husband. He has been my biggest supporter. He’s been my personal therapist, tech support, spell check, and every little detail in between.
Photo credit: Got2bmephotography
Long story short, I am just like you & everyone else. I am human. I love my family more than life itself. Black and white photos are my favorite images. Children, especially newborns, are the best things in this world. Love stories are incredibly beautiful to me, & yes, I cry at weddings. Food is great, but better with avocado & bacon. Coffee and wine are my sanity, Dr.Pepper is good too.
I am Stephanie, a busy mom of 3 – ages 5, 4, and 1 month and I love fashion.
I have always had a passion for clothing so I started my own boutique in June of 2017. After becoming pregnant with my third child, I decided to switch roles to an Amazon Associate. This allowed me to still do what I loved with fashion and be an at home mom with my 3 kiddos.
What is an amazon associate? It is basically a personal shopper that finds the deals on affordable clothing, accessories, shoes and beauty products. Can it be anything on Amazon? Yes, however right now I choose to focus on women’s clothing, accessories, shoes and beauty products. It is what has kept me doing what I love. It also allows me to be the mom I want to my kids. I have been a stay at home mom for 5 years now and I was starting to lose my own “identity.” Starting my boutique gave that back to me, but being a mom always came first. It is a hard business in general and to run it alone was even more of a challenge! Becoming an Amazon Associate gives me the best of both worlds!
Join the fun at Urban Style. Come and see the unique styles that I have found for you at great prices.
Steeples
Steeples
STEEPLES was formed out of a belief that music should be both fun and meaningful. The goal is to create music that gives listeners an escape and a live show that provide an unforgettable experience.
The group was forged late one night as the four were attempting to create a “new sound.” Their first song was written and recorded that night and a fire was born that’s driven them to keep honing in on their unique and energetic music.
A true story of 4 guys with a dream to come together and make something special.
Learn more about this impressive band on the Steeples Facebook page or Instagram. And you can find them at www.steeplesmusic.com for information about their upcoming tour dates and band news.
Mixtape #4 just released!!
Brookie Cakes
Brookie Cakes
Hi! My name is Brooke. I have been baking and decorating cakes and other yummy treats since 2005. I have previously worked as one of the Cake Girls of St. Louis, making edible works of art with my sister in law, Kelly. These days I am moving on alone in the cake business. I am married to my high school sweetheart and I am a stay at home mom of 4!
Brookie Cakes Custom Cakes & Sweets
I custom make beautiful, delicious, and affordable desserts for your wedding event, graduation, anniversary, birthday and more!
Check out Brookie Cakes to take a look at some of the sweets I’ve created. If you’d like to place an order, set up a free wedding consultation and taste test, or if you have any questions, feel free to email me at brookiecakes@ymail.com .
Rules of Success
No one is an overnight success story. Put in the work!
Just start. You will learn so many lessons just by doing
Take action on your ideas
Don’t wait for the perfect moment, create it
Remember where you started
Truly believe in yourself
Learn from adversity
Visualize to achieve
#believe
Dreams can happen
Use your creativity
Help Small Businesses Thrive – Do Your Part!
Susie Peas
Susie Pea
I would love for you to check out my story too. Find out more about me and how I started with Susie Peas here. It’s scary putting yourself out there, but you will thank yourself in the end. This blog has been one of my favorite things that I have ever done for myself.
If you are thinking about jumping out there and becoming your own boss doing what you love, I hope these entrepreneurs have given you encouragement on taking your leap.
And I know that they would love for you to stop by and say Hi <3. Be sure to visit me, Susie Pea’s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram too! It always makes me happy to share and visit with you. ~Susie Pea
“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”
Gross motor development is the ability required in order to control the large muscles of the body for walking, running, sitting, crawling , and other activities. It is gaining strength and learning to move arms, legs, and torso.
For toddlers, walking is the biggest milestone. But really the whole period is about learning balance, control and coordination.
There are tons of fun and simple ways to promote gross motor development in your toddler. One of the best ways is through play with toys.
Kids at this age (between 1-3) are curious about everything, which makes it easy to get their attention and engage in exploration, climbing, and learning about how their bodies move in space. Throw in some toys and make it even more fun!
Milestones For Toddlers
Between the ages of 12–18 months, your toddler should:
Start walking independently
Attempt to run, or runs with stiff posture
Squat down to pick something up
Crawl up stairs and creep back down
Step on stationary ball when trying to kick the ball
Seat self on small chair
Pull a toy behind themselves while walking
Throw underhand when sitting
Between the ages of 18 months – 2 years, your toddler should:
Walk up and down the stairs while holding your hand
Run fairly well
Jump with feet together, clearing the floor
Jump down and forwards
Squat to play
Stand on tiptoe with support
Start to use ride-on toys
Throw a ball into a box
Kick a ball forwards
Between the ages of 2 – 2 ½ years, your toddler should:
Stand on tiptoes if shown first
Jump from bottom step
Begin to ride a tricycle, moving forward with feet on the floor
Stand on balance beam with 2 feet and attempt to step forward
Catch a large ball with arms straight out
Between the ages of 2 ½ – 3 years, your toddler should:
Stand on 1 foot momentarily
Walk up the stairs alone with alternating feet
Downstairs with 2 feet on same step
Walk on tiptoe
Start riding a tricycle using the pedals
Catch a ball with arms bent
Kick a ball forwards
Help Them Reach Their Milestones
To help your child get the most from her playtime, give her the time, space and resources she needs to be inspired. Here are some of my favorite toys that promote gross motor development.
Core strengthening is essential for the progression of other developmental skills because the core is the center of control for everything else the body does. There are lots of easy ways to strengthen the core through simple play at home
Practicing crawling or walking over pillows is awesome for strength, balance, body awareness, and coordination.
Tunnels
Tunnels offer a child a fun and interactive way to play, plus another great way to work on their core. They can crawl and move through them. Or they can hide in them. Play can get more exciting when you add some throw pillows, rolled blankets and other soft obstacles underneath the tunnel. Little kids love activities such as puzzles or ball/car ramps positioned at one end of the tunnel when they crawl out.
Athletic Gear
Balls, bats, hockey sticks, & pucks are all great toys to bring into their play that encourage use of their arms and legs, and coordination. Now that they are toddlers, they are becoming more aware of what their body can do.
Play back and forth with them, even rolling a ball not only works gross motor skills, but teaches them to take turns – their first lesson in playing games.
When you teach them to throw, show them both overhand and underhand. Start with a stuffed animal, or a softball, and play catch. Make it large enough that they can catch it with minimal effort to boost their egos, and have some fun with this.
Cardboard Blocks
Large cardboard blocks are a great way to get your child stretching and moving. They love to stack these jumbo blocks as high as they can reach. And the giggles when they knock them down! Extremely popular at grandma’s house right now, and anything that is both made of cardboard and can survive my grandson is pretty impressive in my book. You can make your own out of empty shoeboxes. Here is a DIY from @sunnydayfamily.com.
Ride On Toys
When you’re just a toddler, the entire world is an adventure waiting to be explored. Climbing on a toy on wheels promotes adventure in a safe and secure environment you can control. It enables your little one to work on coordination to push forward with their legs and hang on with their arms. It also develops strength in their legs as they move the toy around the room. Even just pushing the toy around the room without riding on it works their big muscles.
Washing Cars
Carwash
Line up the riding toys, fill up a tub of bubbles, add sunscreen and you have yourself a carwash. This is a great way to get outdoors for fresh air and burning some energy while they work those muscles. Sit back with a glass of sweet tea and watch them play.
More Gross Motor Toys
Balloon play
ball
balance beam
ribbon dancers
hoola hoop
Gross Motor Play without Toys
There are tons of other ways to work on gross motors without using toys. Bringing these types of activities into their daily play also encourages gross motor development, as well as turn taking, and listening skills.
tag (or just chasing them)
dancing
Simon says
red light green light (stop and go)
acting like animals (jump like a frog)
go on a nature walk
explore the zoo
yoga (tree, frog, mountain, boat, resting)
Animal Play
Helping to Clean Up
Walking and squatting/bending to pick up objects helps little ones learn how to regain their balance when they’re on the move! Simply cleaning up the toys around the room in this way is great for balance and strengthening.
Keep Introducing
Keep in mind that your child’s capabilities will change drastically throughout the year, so their response to activities will be different depending on their age. Things that they couldn’t do at 1 1/2 they will be able to do at 2.
Focus on play, not success. Play is a process, not a result. If they don’t play with the toy the way it was intended, it’s ok as long as it is not a safety issue. When things don’t go the way she wants them to, it gives her the chance to find her own solutions. By using their bodies, children begin to gain an awareness of which body parts are working, left-right orientation and their place in space. Plus play helps to work those skills that we need to encourage them to develop. And more than anything – let them have fun!! ~ Susie Pea
“We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”
When you live in the Midwest you can pretty much guarantee that your school year has a snow day or two built into it. On average, our part of the woods misses 2-5 days of school for inclement weather each school year.
With your kids stuck at home, what is there to do to keep them from bouncing off the walls? Or the dreaded “I am bored!” Here are a few ideas to help keep you from losing your mind!
Do You Want to Build a Snowman?
Building a snow man is probably the top snow activity across the planet. A scarf, a carrot, and some good packing snow are really all you need for this activity. Roll out 3 balls. Stack them one on top of another. Add your props and your done. Time for some selfies with your new little Olaf.
Man and his best friend.
The easy way to build a snowman.
Now let’s step it up a notch. How about a snow family? Or snow animals? Or maybe build an igloo if you are really ambitious. @hamiltonsrv.com has a post on How to Build an Actual Igloo that can give you some great pointers on your snow day structures.
Your kids will have a great time painting the snow this winter on their snow day. with snow paint. @craftymorning.com has a recipe for snow paint that is super easy. All you need is a few drops of liquid food coloring and cold water. Mix in a squeeze bottle for easy writing. How great it is to have a huge blank canvas to design their works of art. Bonus – the mess stays outside!
You can also use kool-aid packets if you don’t have food coloring. The more you add the stronger the color will be. Use spray bottles for a different effect.
*Be careful, food coloring stains.
Sledding
There is something about coasting down a hillside with wind in your face and snow dusting your eyelashes that brings back your childhood. And introducing children to the sledding experience is truly magical. There are several store bought sledding apparatuses that will ensure a fast, fun thrill ride. But in a pinch, a sled made with duct tape and cardboard will work just fine. Here are a few sled building ideas to check out.
Snowball Fight
If the neighbors are off school too, get them all together and break up into teams for a big snowball fight. What an awesome way to run around and work those gross motor skills, plus burn off some energy.
If your fun is inside, here is a tutorial on how to make snowballs for an indoor fight from @themormonhome.com. If you’re not that crafty, order premade indoor snowballs from Amazon here.
More Outside Fun
Make frozen bubbles.
Make snow angels.
Go ice skating.
Put out bird seed for birds.
Shovel the driveway.
Moving It Inside
From snowball fights to snowball stacking, these 7 indoor snowball games & activities will get the kids moving and playing indoors (without getting cold) from @amomwithalessonplan.com.
Kids will jump at any reason to dig their hands into playdough. This is an easy way to add some fine motor development into their snow day. @aspectacledowl.com has a great playdough snowman kit idea that I love.
More Indoor Fun
Have a scavenger hunt.
Color or make a craft.
Have a dance party.
Put on a play.
Bake cookies.
Play board games
Make a fort
Have a pajama day
Movie marathon
Make hot chocolate
Warming Up With Some Hot Chocolate
There is nothing better than warming your sweet peas up with a mug of hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows melting on top. This could be my favorite memory of snow days when I was a child. @mymommystyle.com has an easy homemade hot chocolate recipe you should try.
I hope that you get to enjoy their snow day as much as they do. It’s one of the biggest reason to act like a kid again. Be sure to take tons of pictures! ~Susie Pea
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