Hello there! Welcome to Susie Pea's. My name is Kim and I am a wife, mom, granny nanny, and blogger. I am excited to share all things me. We will talk about child development, fun with my sweet peas (grandbabies), my KETO way of eating, Keto recipes and menus, DIY's, and so much more. It's Just me. All day. Everyday.
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Little “I” loves playing with his Bean Box. Making messes is part of the fun.
A Bean Box is a great way to work on fine motor development and wrist turning skills. This helps children when learning to feed themselves and prepares them for eventually writing. Yes, we all need to be working on this now. Hand and wrist strength is an important milestone.
Inexpensive plastic tubs with lids are great for stacking and storing your Bean Boxes.
How to Make A Bean Box
I made this Fireman box with a plastic bin with lid for easy storing. I added beans. Other ideas for fillers could be lima beans, corn, shredded paper, kinetic sand. I included plastic firemen, red and yellow pompoms for the “fire”, firetruck🚒 and safety cones, and a scoop for pouring. And that’s it!
Little “I” loves getting crazy with scooping and pouring. He is still learning the rules of keep the beans in the box, but the amount of joy he has playing with it and the fact that he is working his fine motor skills makes it a great activity for him.
Every birthday is special but here is a fun way to make this birthday even better. Document with silly pictures showing their age in numbers!
I like to take each of my grandchildren out for a Birthday Date. This one-on-one time is so special to me and to them.
I make the agenda for the date a surprise. This ups the level of excitement for the birthday kid. (And also helps to eliminate meltdowns if something falls thru or we run out of time.)
During our date, any time I see their age in signs etc. around what we are doing, I snap a quick photo of them with the number.
Soon after our birthday event, I make a collage of these pictures to commemorate not only our Birthday Date, but as a keepsake for them of when they were that particular age. It is fun to look back and see what we did. I love hearing them talk about our date in their own words.
It’s an easy and fun way to remember our day. And it helps when sharing our day with mom and dad too. ~Susie Peas
What do you do for your kid’s birthdays to make them special? I would love to hear your ideas. I am always looking for great ideas to do with my grandkids and to share on my Facebook Group, Granny Nanny’s. let me know in the comments below.
Here are a few more fun things that I like to do with my grandchildren:
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Today is a special day in St. Louis. It’s the Home Opener for the St. Louis Cardinals. If you know anything about our city, you know that we LOVE our Cardinals!
Busch Stadium home of the St. Louis Cardinals
I can almost guarantee that more than half of the population in St. Louis and surrounding communities is wearing Cardinal gear. That is how we roll. We are a fun and passionate city. We love to celebrate and party. We are the true melting pot of communities that become united given a “holiday” and reason to celebrate. Our heritage is German, Irish, Italian, French just to name a few. The majority of us celebrate October Fest, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Grau, Cinco De Mayo, and of course home openers!
Home Opener
Anheuser Clydesdale Horses
All eyes will be on us today as we put on the best show on Earth. Opening ceremonies are huge and we know how to do it right! The excitement of the Anheuser Busch Clydesdale coming out of those outfield gates, trotting onto the track for their ceremonial lap around the field. It is an amazing site and brings cheers and pride to all of us St. Louis natives. We love our past Cardinal players and can’t wait to see them in the parade of people circling the track. And Fred Bird is THE best mascot, am I right? What High School did he go to?
Fans will also get to see all 16 living members of the Cardinals Hall of Fame. The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by 2019 hall nominees and former teammates Jason Isringhausen and Matt Morris in recognition of the 15th anniversary of the Cards’ ’04 National League Championship team.
Ballpark Village
St. Louis Ballpark Village
The party starts at St. Louis Ballpark Village. The atmosphere here is amazing. Even if you don’t have tickets or you don’t make it into the game when you come downtown, this place will be rocking and you won’t want to leave. Ballpark Village is conveniently located adjacent to Busch Stadium and within walking distance to the new Arch riverfront, museums, and more, giving guests the spirit of St. Louis within just a few city blocks.
There are over 11 places to partake and eat in St. Louis Ballpark Village. Budweiser Brew House, Drunken Fish, PBR St. Louis, & Shark Bar are just a few of the many places where sports meet entertainment here. Ballpark Village is a great place to visit even if it isn’t a game day. For more ideas on what to do in St. Louis, read my post on Things to Do in St. Louis.
Food Fun
The menu at the Stadium is great already, but so many new things were added this year. Be sure to try the new line up:
The Family Pavilion is located on Level 1 between Gates 5 and 6, on the northeast corner of Busch Stadium. It’s open before and during the game, just show your ticket to get in. There’s a fee for some of the game and activities, but if you’re dealing with bored kids, it’s worth the detraction! There’s a batting cage, speed pitch, t-ball cage, soft play area and Xbox game area.
Hall of Fame and Museum
Few franchises have the acclaim and heritage of the St. Louis Cardinals, and that history lives here, in the Cardinals Museum. Featuring stadiums, players and championship moments, the Cardinals Museum boasts one of the largest team-specific collections of artifacts and memorabilia in the world. The museum’s seven galleries take you on a chronological journey through the rich history of the Cardinals, allowing you to learn about the birth of the franchise, relive special memories and interact with great exhibits.
Our Town. Our Team. Our Traditions.
The Best Baseball Fans are St. Louis Cardinal Fans. We are loyal and passionate. We love hard! We fill the stands with a sea of red. We may be strangers on the streets but we are a family in the stadium. Come and join the Family! ~ Susie Peas
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These simple burlap wreaths are popping up all over front doors and Pinterest pages everywhere. They are so easy and inexpensive to make, I thought I would show you how I did mine.
pipe cleaners, floral wire – optional to secure burlap and trinkets to wire hoop
Directions for Making a Burlap Wreath:
1. Use one end of the burlap ribbon to make a knot around the wire wreath. You can also secure the burlap with a piece of string or pipe cleaner.
2. Push the burlap into one of the sections of the frame. You can then secure it onto the frame with a pipe cleaner or knot. Make a loop or bubble with the burlap as shown.
3. Continue making loops but make sure that the next “bubble” in the wreath is next to the one you just did. This helps hold the previous loop in place. Keep the loops even in size as you push the burlap through the frame.
4. Continue making loops until the wreath is as full as you want. You can make all your “bubbles” the same size or vary the size for a more asymmetrical finished burlap wreath.
5. Cut off the burlap if you have extra.
6. Make another knot to complete the wreath or tuck the end into the bubbles.
7. Use pipe cleaners to keep the burlap in place on the back of the wreath.
Add something special to your Burlap Wreath
8. Add trinkets, flowers, ribbons, and embellishments. I attach mine with clothes pins because I change my wreath up several times during the year. It makes changing things out easier, and I think the clothespins help give it that farmhouse feel that I am looking for. You can use hot glue to make it more permanent, or floral wire/pipe cleaners.
9. Step back and look at your wreath and see if you need to fluff some of the bubbles or reshape them.
10. Add a twine loop held together with a simple know to the top of the wire wreath. I cut my twine 6 inches and folded in half giving me a 2 inch hanger plus the knot.
I used plain burlap, but there are tons other ideas of burlap and material that you can use with this DIY Wreath idea. Burlap comes in different colors, and designs. You can use burlap with chevrons, dots, or lace overlays. There are so many fun and creative ways to make your wreath unique and beautiful. ~Susie Peas
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With today’s busy schedules it is hard sometimes to get a few days of ‘down time’ with the entire family. Add travel and an entire week, it probably isn’t going to happen. Especially when your kids get a little older and have their own part time jobs and school. An easy answer to get to spend some time relaxing and enjoying each other without having to miss work for a week, is to go on a family staycation for the weekend instead. Staycations are a great way to get away and spend some rejuvenation time without spending a ton or even leaving town.
It’s perfect when you think about it. No long drive or dealing with an airport. You know your bed is going to be comfortable. No need to board your pet, or arrange for the neighborhood kids to take care of your lawn.
Be a tourist in your own town
So what do you do? You have already done the touristy stuff each time an out of town relative comes to visit. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it again and act like a tourist yourself. After all, you probably enjoy what your city has to offer or you wouldn’t live here right?! I know I love my city. It’s the BEST place to visit. See my post on 5 Fun Things to Do in St.Louis.
Chances are you haven’t seen/done everything there is to do in your city anyway. What do people visit your city for? What are some popular things to do in your town? You can do a Google search or get some brochures for activities in your area and go do some of them. Try some festivals that are planned in the area. Or go see a local band at a fun nightspot that you haven’t been to yet.
Our Staycation
When our kids were in high school, we wanted to get some time away together and just relax. We wanted to enjoy each other without having friends, jobs, or cell phones getting in the way.
A family ‘staycation’ was the perfect idea. We told the kids to schedule off work one weekend and plan on spending the whole two days as a family.
To make it exciting, hubs and I decided to schedule the staycation activities and keep the events a secret from the kids. They were too old for this really, but they indulged me. I love them for that!
Living in Saint Louis, there are a ton of fun, crazy things to do. We knew that they would enjoy whatever we had planned.
Day One Staycation
Soulard Farmer’s Market
We started out our family staycation with a trip down to Soulard Farmer’s Market. This is one of Jason’s favorite places to shop. It might be because they have the best Bloody Mary’s. Who doesn’t love breakfast in a cup?
The girls with their $2.00 matching sister rings from Soulard
Soulard Market is a great place to find fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, fresh flowers and meat. There are also vendors that sell clothing, perfumes, and jewelry.
We told the kids to pick out a souvenir t-shirt at the St. Louis Cardinals booth. What a deal for $5.00 – $15.00 per shirt. They had no idea that we had tickets for the Cardinal ball game planned for day 2 of our staycation.
Venice Café in Soulard
Venice café in Soulard
After shopping at Soulard, we walked around town and found a great little restaurant called Venice Café. It was fun finding a restaurant that we had not visited before. We enjoyed lunch on the outdoor patio, laughing and talking. Something that isn’t always easy to do when everyone has their own jobs and agendas.
St. Louis Zoo
St. Louis Zoo
Next we headed to the Saint Louis Zoo. Being from Saint Louis, we have been to the zoo hundreds of times. But this time we were going as tourists, which made it seem more exciting.
Fairmount Park Horse Races
Fairmount Park Horse Racing
Our evening adventure was the horse races at Fairmount Park. The horse races are another fun and inexpensive way to spend some time. We enjoyed betting on the horses. Jay had a “system” of picking his horses. He ended up winning a little pocket change.
Day Two Staycation
Day 2 of our family staycation began with breakfast out. We could have easily stayed home but because we were on vacation, it was more fun to pick a breakfast favorite spot and eat together.
St. Louis Cardinals Baseball
That’s when we surprised the kids with Cardinal tickets. Again being from Saint Louis we have been to many Cardinal games, but going as tourists was a lot of the fun.
We got the cheapest seats at the stadium, which were literally on the top row in right field. But they included a free hotdog and soda. What a deal!
For fun, we scouted out empty seats lower and lower each inning and moved to them. By the 5th inning, we had made it to the cushioned seats right down by the field.
The game turned out to be a success. We had great seats, free hot dogs, free soda, and paid next to nothing to go to a Cardinal game.
Sun Decker’s on the Landing
What is a trip to St. Louis without stopping for a stroll on the cobblestones of Laclede’s Landing. We had a late dinner at Sun Decker’s. I also schooled Jay in some Galaga. (showing my age?)
Movie & Popcorn
We ended our day 2 family staycation with a movie and popcorn at home. It was an amazing mini vacation together. The kids still talk about how much fun it was the year we stayed home and enjoyed St. Louis.
A Staycation is a fun way to get some well deserved family time in, relax, and enjoy each other with out having to leave town. I am so glad that we did this and am looking forward to our next one as empty nesters! ~Susie Peas
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I pushed that button and launched Susie Peas exactly one month ago today. It has been quite the ride I must say. In this short time of 30 days, I have learned so much about not only blogging, but about myself.
It’s not as easy as it looks. There is so much that goes into each and every post. You start out thinking I like to write, so all I have to do is put it down on paper, find my audience, and there you have it! Well, in my case I started by saying I like to talk, so all I have to do is write it down, then so on.
In all actuality, the ‘writing the blog’ part is the easiest. You have to roll up your sleeves and get to the hard stuff.
How It All Began
I decided to write a blog 2 months before I went live with Susie Peas. Once I get an idea into my head, it’s hard to stop me from doing it. This can be a good trait as well as a bad trait to have. I discovered that since I am a go getter, I often bite off more than I can chew. Blogging was a lot to take a bite of!
I came up with the pen name, Susie Peas, (find out all about Susie, our imaginary friend, here.) as soon as I realized that I wanted to start a blog. It was the perfect title. Next, I set up a time line of when I wanted to go live. I listed goals that I felt needed to be complete before the launch date, and got down to business.
Learn From The Best
Scouring Pinterest, my favorite hobby by the way, I read everything I could find on how to start a blog. It truly is so overwhelming that I decided to do only some of the suggested ideas and just get out there. I could add more of whatever the experts called for after I was live and blogging.
I do think this just do it step helped me keep my sanity during this whole process. Sure, there are STILL things that I can do to make my blog better. But getting it out there and off of my desk seemed to clear my mind! It allowed for me to break down everything that seasoned bloggers were suggesting into parts to work on. It made the task seem not so consuming.
All of them somewhat give you the checklist and how to’s of blogging, buying domain/hosting, setting up your blog, social media accounts, and email/subscriber lists.
Things branch off from there. Believe me it is CRAZY!
Blogging – You Published a Post
Your blog is up and running with all of it’s pretty colors and fancy fonts. You think of a great idea that you want to share with your readers. One that you know will save their world. Write it up, add some cute pictures, link it internally and externally. Push the publish button. And sit back…NOT!
Now you need to PROMOTE.
Promote With Social Media
Choose one or two of your favorite social media outlets and learn to master them. It is too much to try and use all of the avenues that are out there, just pick the ones that you are already familiar with. You can always add more later. Use the ones you pick to promote your blog posts and promote it HARD!
Pinterest Business Account
I love, love, love Pinterest. So it was a no brainier for me to use Pinterest and start a Business Account. Just sign up with your blogging business name, and contact information. Set up your profile. Claim your other accounts i.e. Facebook, Etsy, Instagram and connect them to your Pinterest account and you are in business!
Susie Peas Pinterest Business Page
I have nurtured my account daily. It feels like I am putting more time into it than the blog itself. I pin my stuff, other peoples stuff, relevant stuff, and not so relevant stuff. I have watched my business account on Pinterest grow from 1K to 128K in one month.
Tailwind (the pinning scheduler) is said to help cut down the hours on Pinterest. I spend so much time pinning myself, I haven’t had time to utilize Tailwind the way that it is intended. Fellow bloggers claim to spend 2-4 hours a week on Pinterest once they implement the Tailwind strategy. I plan on digging more into this now that I have a month under my belt.
Creating pins is another area that you should work on if you are going to promote through Pinterest. Canva is who I use to create my pins. It is easy and they have great templates to help you make quality pins.
Make a Facebook Page
While I am proud of the Pinterest growth, most of my blog page views do not come from Pinterest. Most of my hits are click overs from Facebook.
Previously, my Facebook was basically used to hold my pictures with an occasional check in post. But after reading the blogs how-to’s, I knew that I needed to invest a little time in a Facebook Page.
My Page doesn’t have an enormous amount of followers, but is growing daily. I like being able to share things that are going on and get feedback. A Facebook Page allows you to see what your friends, family, and readers like and what they don’t really care too much about. Remember, most of my blog views come from my Facebook Page. It is a great way to promote Susie Peas.
Join Facebook Groups & Make Your Own Groups
Another suggestion from the experienced bloggerflies was to join some Facebook groups as well as start some of your own. I have joined several groups, plus created one. These have been vital in helping me draw traffic to my blog. I plan on investing more time into groups now that things have settled down for me with my blog.
My group that helps with all of my blogging questions is Start A Money Making Blog. You can ask them anything from suggestions for logos, to How long did it take you to get a following? Fellow bloggers that are right where you are starting out, along with experienced bloggers give their input. Definitely look for groups of bloggers that are starting out just like you.
Granny Nanny’s is the group that I initiated on Facebook. It is for Grandma’s, GIGI’s, MIMI’s and MOMO’s, all helping raise the next generation. We share pictures of our grandchildren, parenting hacks, kid friendly events going on around town, best playgrounds, and so much more. We would love for you to join if you are looking for a place to belong!
Build an Email Subscriber List
And then there is creating and growing your blogging email list. Every blogger out there tells you how important it is to do this from the beginning. I use Mailchimp, which is so easy. But I still am learning all of the things it can do for me. I am excited to see how this increases my page views as I create new emails and landing pages.
It’s free for up to 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month. Free works for me right now. 🙂
There are a lot of tutorials and videos on MailChimp. I am not computer savvy so I knew this would come in handy.
Includes automation, reporting, and sign-up forms under the free plan.
And If You Want to Make Money…
Back to Pinterest I flew to try and figure out how to monetize Susie Peas. Here are just a few ideas that I found:
Affiliate Programs
Opts-ins
E-books
Printable
Courses
Sponsored Posts
Ads
Selling a Product
And it goes on and on. Since I am in my first month, even though I have been approved for several affiliates, I am only doing Amazon right now. As I learn how to make it work, I will add more affiliate links and try other ideas from that list.
What I Learned After My First Month of Blogging
One month today for Susie Peas!
So in this one month of being a blogger, I learned that there is a lot more work than just sharing your ideas if you want to be successful. Promoting is key. Find and try different ways to put yourself out there and see how they work for you. I learned about my self how much I enjoy my new network of friends. I also realized that for me, blogging is therapeutic. — My best advice is to NEVER stop learning. Good Luck! ~Susie Peas
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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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