Category: Lifestyle

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Amazing Thrift Store Finds

The Diamond in the Rough

There are few things that I love more than rummaging through a great 2nd hand store. I keep to a well planned routine to ensure that I don’t miss a single bargain. First, I scour the toy section of the store. And finally, I leave no stone unturned when it comes to foraging through the clothes. I am sure to not miss any linens or housewares in between. It is almost as if I am racing, afraid that someone might beat me to that perfect well loved item dangling from it’s rack. I have to have these amazing thrift store finds!

In my 30 years of treasure hunting I have dug out countless Halloween costumes, ugly Christmas sweaters, snow suits, Jean’s for years of growing kids, board games for the lake. You name it, I found it!

Just for Fun to For Necessity

Two years ago, I lost my home of 23 years to a natural disaster flood. We lost everything and had to start over. First and foremost, it was devastating. And then, it was overwhelming. We slowly replaced things and began putting our home back together. My over 30 years of thrift shopping experience paid off. It allowed us to replace so many things for a fraction of the price.

A Few of My Favorite Thrift Store Finds

Many out there wouldn’t’ even consider purchasing someone else’s hand me downs. But I am about to show you what a wasteful mistake that is. There is beauty in recycled things. You just have to look with believing eyes. Imagine the life that is still left in the smallest of things. Here are a couple of my favorite things that I have found on my scavenger hunts. May they give you inspiration to the possibilities that await.

Dishes and Serving Pieces

Dishes. When putting together my post flood kitchen, I decided instead of buying a boxed set of dishes, I would search for mismatched pieces in the same color scheme at the thrift stores. I absolutely love how beautiful this turned out.  And it has made it so easy to add extra pieces like platters or serving bowls to my set. I never have to worry about my pattern going out of stock because they never matched in the first place.

Toys, Games, & Books

2. Toys. I have set up a great play place for my 6 grandbabies in our new home. The older kiddos still remember some of the toys from our other house, but I have tried to replace them with a mixture of new and used things. This is one of my favorite items to hunt. I want good quality, gently used, educational toys and games. I have replenished my Lego, Duplo, and mega block collections. (My grandchildren ‘s ages range from 20 months to 6 years.) I have stocked a library from cardboard books to chapter books. I have scored Melissa & Doug puzzles, Barbie’s, and potato heads. (Linking my posts on these educational toys and how they help with development.)  I once got a gallon size zip lock bag full of never used Crayola crayons for 44 cents!

Home Décor

3. Home decor. There are amazing deals on picture frames, candle holders, wall art, and knickknacks. The thrill of digging through shelf after shelf and finding that perfect piece is a great rush. I have even replaced Christmas lights and garlands from thrift stores.

Clothes

4. Clothes. For most of my children’s elementary school lives, I was a SAHM. Trying to outfit 3 little darlings that outgrew everything quickly was quite the challenge on one income. This is when I perfected the hunt of finding quality clothing. Always check for working zippers and missing buttons. Looked closely for worn out knees, rips, stains, or fading. As my children got older, I spent less time visiting these thrifty places. But when the flood changed our lives, I needed to replenish EVERYTHING. Shirts, pants, jackets, pajamas. This task took a year of seasons to accomplish. But combing through rack after rack for that perfect shade bluejean jacket or vintage hoodie is like finding a diamond in the rough. Priceless. 

Check out my post on Shop the Look here.  It shows how I made great outfits from my Pinterest inspiration board come to life all from the thrift store. Also find clothes inspiration  at my post on Dressing Room Diaries. 

Furniture

5. Furniture. If you don’t mind applying a little elbow grease, 2nd hand furniture is plentiful at these places. I have some great pieces that I have redone and spent minimal amounts of money doing it.   They have turned out prettier than the original.  Each one is of good quality materials and tie my rooms together perfectly.  Here is an easy DIY on  How to Clean Used Furniture .


I am always looking for great deals to add to my home and love the fact that thrift store finds are easy on the wallet. I am looking forward to the next time I go on a hunt. You can read about My Favorite 2nd Hand Stores in St. Louis here.


What are your favorite thrift store finds? Let me know in the comments below. – Susie Pea

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Geocaching with Kids

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a real life treasure hunt that is all around us, just waiting to be found. It is a scavenger hunt for all ages. Geocaching is a true game of Hide and Seek. There are people all over the world that geocache as a pastime. There are more than 3 million registered geocaches hidden in more than 190 countries. Geocaching newbies are amazed at how many caches are hidden right in their own town. And it’s so much fun, why not go Geocaching With Kids!

This fun GPS tracking game encourages us to get up off the couch and head outside for some sunshine and fresh air. It is like hiking with a purpose. A prize is waiting for you, if you can solve and follow the clues. The more caches you find, the more addicted you get.

As much fun as it is for phone toting adults, geocaching is also a mode to get kids going too. Introducing them to this exciting hobby is a great way to promote an active lifestyle. In addition, you will be teaching them lessons in GPS technology, map reading, and geography skills.


To begin Geocaching, download the Geocache app on your GPS phone. It’s free, but offers upgrades. Find caches in your area on the app. I suggest reading over the description of the cache first. You will find out if cache is small or larger and easier to find. You can also see how rough the terrain will be. There are tons of kid friendly caches out there as well. You can also find them on the geocache app. Checking these things out especially in the beginning for your tiny hunters, will help guarantee a fun time.

Terms

  • cache – the prize at the end of the hunt. It could be so minute that the cache is only a tiny log book. Or it can be a container full of trinkets to exchange and share.
  • log book – a scroll or piece of paper in the cache that you sign when you find to show that you were there.
  • muggle – a passerby that has no clue what you are doing/searching for. be careful not to let them see what you are up to. 😉
  • traditional cache – cache of container and log book.
  • multi cache – cache with usually 2 or more location, the last location holds the container.

My Tips for Geocaching with Kids

  • Wear closed toed shoes that you are ok with them getting dirty.
  • Long pants or tall socks. You normally search off the path and will come in contact with bushes and twigs.
  • Bug spray and sunscreen. Another tip, wash hands and change clothes when you are done. You may come in contact with poison ivy.
  • Water bottle and Snack. Being active makes us all hunger and thirsty.
  • No strollers. Easier for walking kiddos or carry them on your back.
  • When you get close to the coordinates, let kids have phone and find the cache.
  • Bring notepad and pen to write down clues, etc especially for multicaches and to log your information.
  • Educate kids on the “take one, leave one” ethic of caching.

Take One, Leave One.

Buggles

In most of the containers that you find, there will be trinkets or prizes inside that you can have. Cache etiquette requires that you place something in the cache if you remove something. This is an exciting part of geocaching for kids. I have seen coins, dice, pompons, stickers, tiny compasses, clothespins just to name a few. Before you head out, have kids DIY some bauble of their own to place in the cache. I have included some fun ideas to inspire you.



Look at these cute little Buggles from @makinglifeblissfull.com. The googly eyes make these tiny guys so darn cute.

They have included a DIY to carry your bug collection – in an altoid tin! This is an easy and inexpensive craft idea that wouldn’t be too heavy to tote around while hiking. Plus small enough to fit in the cache container.


Smilies

Here are some more fun ideas for geocache swag. These are small and I love how they put them in a film canister for easy carrying purposes.

If you are looking for something fun and exciting to do with your kids this summer, definitely check out geocaching. They will love it and you will too! If you liked this you might want to check out my post on A Fun Way to Celebrate a Special Birthday, Mud Kitchens or What to do on a Snow Day. There is also a fun one on Family Traditions that Bind Us. ~ Susie Pea

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Christmas Camp with Grandma

Every year on the first Saturday of December I host a Grandma Camp. It is a jam packed day from 8am to 8pm entertaining my little sweet peas. We play games, do crafts, and eat all day. It’s an amazing time filled with fun cousin bonding. We call it Christmas Camp.

I wanted to share this year’s Christmas Camp schedule with you along with food and crafts examples. Here are simple ideas on how you can host your own Christmas themed event. For more tips, read my post on How to Run A Successful Grandma Camp here.

Invitation to Set Up Theme

Grandma Camp Invitation

My invitation to Christmas Camp this year was a simple Christmas Card addressed to the campers. I always send invitations the week of my camp. This helps the little ones begin to get excited about the weekend event without having to wait too long for the day to arrive.

Christmas Camp Schedule

I make a schedule for all of my camps to help me plan and prepare for the day. Here is what my Christmas Camp Schedule looked like:

  • 8:00-8:30 Arrive at Camp. Decorate Take-Home Buckets
  • 8:30-9:00 Reindeer Pancakes
  • 9:00-9:30 Ornament Crafts & Bird Feeders
  • 9:30-10:15 Reindeer Games
  • 10:15-10:30 Candy Cane Hunt & Hand Bird Feeders
  • 10:30-11:00 Free time while Grandma prepares lunch
  • 11:00-11:45 Lunch and Clean up
  • 11:45-12:15 Photo Shoot
  • 12:15-1:00 Play dough fun with Christmas cookie cutters
  • 1:00-3:00 Chill Zone
  • 3:00-3:30 Snack time
  • 3:30-4:30 Free time
  • 4:30-5:15 Hang Christmas Lights on ‘Gingerbread House’
  • 5:15-6:00 Karaoke & Dance Party
  • 6:00-6:45 Dinner
  • 6:45-7:15 Christmas Lights Walk
  • 7:15-7:30 Jammies and Brush Teeth
  • 7:30-8:00 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • 8:00 Parent Pick-Up

Activity Breakdown

I had buckets ready for each child to decorate with Christmas stickers as soon as they arrived. This is where they kept all of their projects and treats when completed. It is a great way to keep things organized. Remember to send home with them at end of night.

Breakfast to Get the Fun Started

Reindeer Pancakes

Next we had reindeer pancakes for breakfast. It is always fun having some of your food geared around the theme.

Crafts & Service Projects

We do simple Bird Feeders and crafts during our day. I made sure to include craft ideas that were easy enough for the small ones. My ornament ideas and crafts worked on skills such as working with glue and using scissors. This is a great way to work on fine motor development. To ensure that I am not wasting time searching for supplies, I always prep my activities. I precut for the smaller kiddos to guarantee that I am ready for each activity. Here are some more Christmas ornament ideas for kids.

  • Bird Feeders
  • Service Project

It is ok to skip things that you have put on your schedule. You may need to allow for longer engagement on an activity that they are enjoying. I like to plan extra activities that I can easily fit in as well. Some of the kids finish sooner than others and may like something else to do. Being flexible, but organized is key for a fun day.

Themed Activities

We also had a candy can hunt, played board and cards games, colored, had a photo shoot, and watched a Christmas movie. Try this Winter Bingo Printable Game.

More Food Fun

Lunch and Dinner were not Christmas themed foods. It was more important to make meals that I knew my sweet peas would eat. I didn’t want to have hungry campers due to picky eaters.

Our snack later in the evening was a fun treat that did go with the theme. Here is the recipe for The Grinch Muddy Buddies snacks that we devoured during our movie.

Chill Zone

I planned “chill zone” time into our day. Some of my campers still require naps, and the older ones like to have some peace and quiet for a scheduled amount of time. This asured that I didn’t have any grinches ruining the day.

Christmas Lights

Sweet Pea’s “house”decorated with Christmas lights.

Earlier in the day, I took out all of my extra Christmas lights, gaudy garland, Christmas decorations and bows. I locate an empty cardboard refrigerator box to set up in the family room. The sweet peas went to town decorating their own “gingerbread house”.

After dinner, we bundled up and headed out for a walk around the neighborhood. The grandbabies loved seeing all of the beautiful Christmas lights.

End of a Magical Day

Christmas Camp

About 30 minutes before mommies and daddies arrived, we got on our jammies and brushed our teeth. We put pillows and blankets into our “house” and snuggled in for “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.

I sat back and relaxed with a warm cup of hot chocolate, reflecting on my fun day with my sweet grandbabies. I hope this gives you some great ideas on how you can host your own Christmas Grandma Camp. Send me some pictures and comments when you do! 🧡 ~Susie Pea

Here are some more fun ideas that I do with my sweet peas. Mud Kitchens, Geocaching with Kids, & Easy Animal Habitats to Make with Kids. And just added, Family Traditions that Bind Us.

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My Journey with Keto – Finding Myself

Susie Pea

Food has been an accurate representation of me it feels like for my whole life. I celebrate with food. I use food when I am stressed. When I am sad I eat. When I am happy, I eat some more. I love food. And I hate food. I have issues with food. Therefore I am out of control. I can’t do this to my family, my body, my self anymore! And so my JOURNEY begins.

Struggling

At 50 years old, I topped the scale at 220 pounds. I couldn’t believe it. I was unhappy with myself. So unhappy that I ate even more to try and make myself happy. I was struggling. I was depressed.

It was a hard year for me. I lost my home of 23 years to a devastating flood. My dad was dying. My children had married and moved out or went away to college. Jason and I were empty nesters. Everything that I loved, my dad, my home, my children were all slipping away. All reasons for me to allow my bingeing life style to take hold.

Bingeing

I didn’t know what a binge eater was. When my doctor diagnosed me, I thought she was crazy. I disagreed with her. A binge eater? I wasn’t hiding it – I thought. I ate when I wanted to, which was all the time, and didn’t care if anyone saw me. But, maybe I did eat a little more when no one was around. That was because no one was around, not because I was hiding it, right? (10 Signs of Emotional Eating.)

Even though I disagreed with my doctor about my eating disorder, I knew that I needed to lose weight. She told me at that same visit that I was obese, borderline morbid obese. I let her know that no one has ever said that to me before. I was shocked that she did. Denial. – She was right. I was bingeing. I was out of control and my health was paying for it. Read my post Bingeing – The Struggle is Real here.

Starving

Back on the yo-yo diet, I worked HARD to control my eating. I was literally starving myself. I even passed out at a public event and went to the hospital by ambulance. Dehydrated. What was I doing to myself? This could not be the answer.

I lost 20 pounds in 2 1/2 years. During that time, we lost my dad. And I lost what little unhealthy control I had. I began to binge. My weight began to come back.

Keto Journey!

In April 2018 something clicked. No more gaining. I could barely fit into my jeans. Unhappy again. This crazy new KETO way of eating looked too good to be true. There were tons of pictures of people dropping weight and fast. Something had to be done. I had to try.

I began following some Keto dieters on Instagram and tried to eat what they were eating. It was hard though, because everyone was saying that the Keto journey is different for everyone. Find your own macros. Intermittent fast. Do this. Don’t do that. I was scouring YouTube channels and social media for information. I searched for recipes on Pinterest. In the end I just kind of winged it. Even with all of my confusion – it was working! I was doing something right.

Month after month, the weight was coming off. As the pounds were dropping, I realized that being in control of what I was putting into my body made me happy. Being in control of my way of eating made me feel good inside. Therefore, I kept going. In just 8 months on Keto I lost 60 pounds (80 pounds total – WOW!!). My bingeing is under control. I no longer feel that I am starving or dieting. I have a new view of eating. It is a lifestyle that I choose for myself. A lifestyle that is easy and sustainable. I feel amazing. My energy level is way up. I am strong.

Somewhere Along the Way I Found Myself

Something else happened along the way. I found myself. I have learned that I am a better wife, mom, daughter, sister, grandma, and friend when I put my health and happiness higher up there on my list of important things. Taking care of myself allows me to take better care of others. I am truly the best me that I can be. I am enjoying growing ‘old’ on this journey. These are the good old days! ~Susie Pea

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Find my recipe on Banana Walnut Egg Loaf here. And Keto Cake & Cake Pops here.

Hey friends! With so much information out there flying around about the KETO way of eating, I wanted to help make it easier by offering you my Free Keto Menu Week 1. This will show you what I eat in a typical week for Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner and include snack ideas. Keto Menu Week 2. Keto Menu Week 3. Keto Diet Don’ts. Happy keto-ing!

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Inspiring Me with The Happy Planner

My Happy Planner

Calendars have always been my best friend. You know, the kind with 30 plus boxes that I would scribble doctor appointments, meetings, birthdates, and date nights in. Those boring, plain pages of my year have worked ok for my entire adult life. My 2019 is going to be different. I got a HAPPY PLANNER to log those usual important dates AND to help me manage this thing called life. This montage of months is inspiring me to add my dreams and goals too. (Check out my post on ‘Goal Jeans‘. My planner helps keeps me on track with my weight loss journey too!)

I am just learning about all of the themes, stickers and pretties that everyone adds to this diary of a planner. I’m excited to add my own touch to this montage and see what it becomes in 365 days!

My HAPPY PLANNER

Inspiring Me with Pinterest Ideas for Planning

To help me get started, I turned to Pinterest. I created my own Happy Planner Board and started pinning to my hearts content. @crazybusyhappylife has an excellent post 10 Tips For Using A Planner For Maximum Productivity. I found some interesting ideas from her post that I am planning on implementing into my new calendar. On my Pinterest board, I have added informational post after inspirational post of how to organize your planner. These are amazing guides to organizing your Happy Planner for sure!


@eslamoda.com has some darling ideas to add to your planner. Check these out here.

Inspiring Me with Social Media Ideas for Planning

I joined a Happy Planner group on Facebook as well. I like to get ideas on this more personal level. It allows me to ask questions and make friends. Search Groups on Facebook and type in Happy Planner. There are tons of Ideas on Instagram too. Search for Happy Planner or check some #hashtags about calendars or planners and you can find literally hundreds of people to follow showing you their planners and how they personalize them.

What To Put In Your Planner

Here is a list of ideas to keep in your planner. You can add to the calendar, but also make a page just for these types of things. And decorate it up to your hearts content!

  • List of Daily To Do’s
  • Deadlines & Do Dates
  • Menu Planning
  • Grocery Lists
  • Health Tracker – Exercise, water, weight, menstrual cycle, symptoms
  • Pregnancy – dates, sizes, weight, moods, cravings
  • Wedding – appointments, venues, events, contacts
  • Mood Tracker
  • Appointments
  • Special Dates – Birthdays, anniversaries
  • School Activities
  • Journal – Gratitude, mood, special thoughts, relationships
  • Goals – Weight loss, exercise, healthy lifestyle, accomplishments
  • Milestones – Walking, talking, lost teeth

Online & Instore Supplies

Online and Instore ideas are everywhere. There are several local stores that have Happy Planner items and their own brand of calendar cuties as well. Hobby Lobby and Michael’s are great places to shop for pens, markers, washi tape, stickers, and stamps. Remember to shop the sales ads, or use your store coupon to get 40% off your supplies. Amazon has an amazing selection as well. What a great way to have everything sent right to your front door.

UPDATE: I have added birthdays and anniversaries to my calendar. I found some cute stickers that match my color scheme too. It is very relaxing, almost like coloring. Now it is so cute that I am having a hard time adding everyday, miscellaneous appointments to my planner. I’m afraid that it will take the darlingness away!! ~ Susie Pea

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Great Gifts for Him – What He Really Wants!

What do you get for that special guy in your life that has everything? Chances are that if he doesn’t have it already, then he will get it for himself or doesn’t want it in the first place. So what’s a girl to do. Well I’m here to give you ideas of things that he really wants. Great gifts for him. The real-real!

I have made a list of some great gift ideas that he will actually enjoy. The things that he wishes you would get him but would never ask.

His Favorite Sports Event

MIZZOU-RAH!
Shop for official St. Louis Cardinals fan gear from Majestic, Nike and New Era at Shop.MLB.com
  1. Tickets to see his favorite sports team or event. He already makes you watch his team play on t.v. What could be more exciting to him than actually being there? If his favorite is too far away for you to travel, find a local team that he shows an interest in. Maybe seeing a minor league game or college team would be his idea of fun too!

A Great Steak

Your local butcher.

2. Pick up a couple of his favorite cut of steaks from the market. Add some savory seasonings to go with it. Ask the local butcher what cut of meat is good and the best way to season and cook your steak, he will be glad to help.  The butcher is a wealth of information about shopping meat. He can tell you the best deal for the week too. Go here for tips on how to get that perfect cut of meat.  Don’t forget to pick up your guy’s favorite drink to wash it all down.

A Getaway With the Guys

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.

3. A weekend away with the guys. Ahhh, the gift of freedom! But not real freedom, just a couple of days. He loves being with you, but hanging out with his boys for a weekend of manly fun is hard to beat. The Lake of the Ozarks is a great weekend get away! Hundreds of places to eat and drink are all over the lake. Great fun by boat or car. Most bars offer live music and entertainment. If he doesn’t have his own water toy, there are plenty of places that rent jet skis and boats. Plus you can shop with your girls all weekend while he is gone!

Pedicure or Shave

The REAL Mani-petti.

4. A pedicure or shave. He might not know that this is something he wants yet. Having his legs and feet massaged will be his new thing. If you don’t think that he will go to the salon, here is a DYI on how to give him an at home pedicure yourself.

Axe Throwing

Axe Throwing Bars are the new place to hang out.

5. An evening of Axe Throwing. This is the perfect date night idea that he wont think is stupid. Who needs darts when you can chuck axes. Of course you are using bigger tools and targets.  Go here to find a great place near you to try your hand at axe throwing.

With any one of these gifts, he will surely brag to his friends about how great you are. If you still can’t decide, I suggest giving him an Amazon Prime Membership. Give the gift of PRIME!

Here are some benefits of Amazon Prime:

  • FREE Two-Day Shipping on over 100 million items
  • Watch thousands of movies and TV shows with Prime Video
  • Stream millions of songs and thousands of playlists
  • Also get free Kindle e-books, unlimited photo storage, exclusive access to deals, Twitch, and much more

If you liked this, you might want to check out Party Ideas for Him.

What are some cool things you have gotten for your guy? Let me know in the comments below. – Susie Pea

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Mother’s Day Gifts She Will Love

A gift on Mother’s Day should always be something special and meaningful for your mom. She is the one that has loved you your whole life. Show her how important she is this year with one of these Mother’s Day Gifts She Will Love ideas.

Bookmarks

Boo, Jaybird, & Leelou hanging on for Life!

One of my favorite gifts were bookmarks made of my kids hanging on strings. These make me smile each time I open my book and see them. Here is a how-to on how to make these lovelies yourself.

Flower Pots

Curtie Boy helping me PLANT my seeds

My grandson made this DIY herb garden kit for me on my First Mother’s Day as a Grandma. The best part was that he helped me plant the seeds. What a wonderful way to spend Mother’s Day hanging out with my sweet pea! The kit came with 3 different sized terracotta planters. They painted a chalkboard label on each pot so I could write the name of the herb planted. It included hand stamped bag full of potting soil. And some oregano, parsley, chives seed packets. Simple personal touches add to this DIY inexpensive gift.

Watercolor Art

Watercolors of my HOMES

This sweet gift of watercolors are of my First Home of 23 years (that we lost in the 2015 area Floods), and my New Home. Brooke drew my homes exactly how they look and painted them herself. I love the saying that she added. You can go here for 10 Tips of Learning Watercolors to DIY these as a gift or for yourself.

Treasured Bracelet

My Dad’s Handwriting

My kids got me this delicate bracelet the year after my dad passed away. It is his handwriting taken from a card that he gave my mom. I love that they made something of his into a gift that I will always treasure. Find jewelry made with handwriting here.

Photo Wreath

Picture Wreath

This photo wreath has pictures of all my little sweet peas surrounding it. I love the candid black & white photos of my grandbabies intertwined together. You can make one as a gift with a grapevine wreath, floral wire, and small picture frames. Here is my post on how I made this Picture Frame Wreath. It is a beautiful keepsake that mom would love to have.

Framed Sheet Music

You’ll Be In My Heart

This framed sheet music is Phil Collins’ song You’ll Be In My Heart from the Disney TARZAN movie. It is my song with my Jaybird since he was a little boy. I love having a copy of our song hanging up in my home.

One of my favorite things that I got was an Amazon Prime Membership as a gift. The gift of PRIME! Perfect! Here are some benefits:

  • FREE Two-Day Shipping on over 100 million items
  • Watch thousands of movies and TV shows with Prime Video
  • Stream millions of songs and thousands of playlists
  • Also get free Kindle e-books, unlimited photo storage, exclusive access to deals, Twitch, and much more

I hope that you liked my ideas of Mother’s Day Gifts She Will Love. These are just a few of my favorite things that I have been blessed to get from my own Pod ~Susie Peas

What are some great things that you have gotten from your kids? Let me know in the comments below.

Check out my post on Great Gift Ideas For Him – What He Really Wants! here. And if you like DIY’s see my Easy DIY T-Shirt Blanket post.

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Are You Up for the Challenges?

Now that it is the beginning of a new year, social media has gone crazy with all of these fun new challenges to get you moving, creating, imagining.

Challenges to be a Better YOU

I’m sure that you have scrolled across two or three. There are weight loss challenges, 30 day wall squat challenges, 30 day writing challenges, 30 day minimalism challenges, monthly photo a day challenge, you name it! Some seem so silly. Actually silly enough to play along. Most are to help inspire us to be better in the one thing that we deep down feel like we need help on.

A lot of challenges put a 30 day time frame on them because, let’s face it, we don’t have more than that to give. Also, it is said that if you do something for 21 days straight it becomes a habit. And why not throw in a couple more days to make sure it sticks.

Challenges to get you Doing

Some challenges aren’t about the number of days, but about how many things you do. 12 books in 12 months challenge, or 2019 Reading challenge where you are guided to read 26 books – one every 2 weeks. Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? There is a 20 acts of kindness challenge, cut back on spending challenge, 7 ways to be more creative challenge, and even a challenge to be more Waste Less.

Challenges on YouTube

Then there are the YouTube challenges which I think you have to be younger than me to do. Maybe -before your common sense kicks in- kind of age. These usually come about from hanging out with a bunch of friends and you just get bored. You make up a crazy challenge and video it. Boom. There it is! Here are a few fun friend challenges. These are sure to get your Saturday night rockin’.

20 Things About Me Challenge

So here’s my Challenge: 20 Things About Me – 1) happily married 31 years. 2) Momma to 3 great humans that I am so thankful for. 3) Mimi to 6 darling grandbabies. 4 boys, 2 girls. All 6 and under!! 4) My 9-5 is Granny Nanny. 5) Born in Cali, raised in Missouri. 6) My last job was as a Parent Educator. 7) Some hats that I have worn include Soccer Coach, Girl Scout Leader, Teacher, and Personnel Director. 8) I’m a Cardinal’s fan.

9) I graduated High School from Busch Stadium. 10) I was a brace face. 11) My favorite stores are resale shops. 12) I have a shiatzu named McGrady. 13)I lost my home of 23 years in a flood. 14) Weekends at the lake are the best. 15) I’m a full time passenger on a Harley. 16) I’m a middle child. 17) I miss my dad. 18)I love my KETO woe. 19) I am learning how to cook. 20) I always talk to myself when I am alone – OUTLOUD! There you have it. Me in a nutshell. Kind of cool, right?!

We don’t grow when things are easy.  We grow when we face challenges. – InspirationalQuotesMagazine.com

Challenge Yourself

So take inventory of what is missing in your life, or what you feel the need to work on. If you want to clean the clutter, find a challenge on 30 days to become a minimalist. If you need to look good in that swimsuit, find a 30 days to Brazilian butt challenge. Wanting to read more and social network less? Challenge yourself to put the phone down at a certain time each evening and pick up a book. Finding a challenge, or even making one of your own can be the way to go to help you get there, or laugh. Whichever works for you. ~Susie Pea

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How to Host A Successful Grandma Camp

My Sweet Peas

NO PARENTS ALLOWED!

One of my favorite things to do with my sweet peas is to host a crazy, jam packed day full of food, crafts, games and most important – NO PARENTS ALLOWED! How to Host a Successful Grandma Camp is a great guide designed to help you be successful while you entertain your grandchildren for the day.

Don’t get me wrong. I love spending time with my daughters. I love even more that when we are all together, I dont have to be the one to change diapers or make the littles’ dinner plates. Mommies and daddies have to do all of that dirty work.

But there is something about the bonding that takes place when it’s just me and my grandchildren. My full attention is on them and theirs’ on me. For this reason, I decided to get together one day a year for an entire day planned just around us. (I actually have a summer camp and a Christmas camp now because of how much we all enjoy it!) No errands, no chores, no parents, and no broccoli! Well, if you like broccoli then by all means have it.

Sure, I spend many days with the sweet peas, but those days are usually for only an hour or two, or mom is tagging along bossing us around, or we have to stop by the store for eggs and milk. But this day is all about having one on one fun with no distractions. Actually, one on six but who is counting. 🙂

Now that I have several camps under my belt, I have come up with a system that helps Grandma Camp run smoothly. I thought it would be fun to share my tips on How to Host a Successful Grandma Camp and give you some ideas for your own fun day.

Themes to Help You Host Grandma Camp

  • Theme – Think of Grandma Camp as a big party that you are about to host. By picking a theme for your ‘party’, it will make it easier to tie in crafts, games, and a menu.

Here are some great ideas for your camp. The sky is the limit here. Think about your littles’ ages and what they are into right now. Then plan everything around it.

  • Under The Sea
  • Christmas Camp
  • Bugs & Butterflies
  • Secret Spy Camp
  • Pirates & Pearls
  • Circus
  • Stars & Stripes

The Invitations Set the Stage

  • Invitations – You can hand make your invitations or buy them at the party store, but do not skip this important step. Kids love getting something in the mail with their name on it and it helps to set the scene for what to expect at camp. Plan on the invitation arriving a few days before your camp. This ensures that the campers won’t hound their parents for weeks about when they get to go to grandma’s house. (But do schedule the date with their parents in advance so there are no double booked problems). Ideas for Invitations here.

A ‘Home’ for Their Stuff – Helping You Stay Organized When You Host Grandma Camp

  • A Place to Put It All – One of the the first things that we do when I host grandma camp is decorate bags or buckets to hold all of the treasures we make throughout the day. This one tip helps us have some control over the chaos of glitter and glue. You will be thankful that you took the time to do this.

Feeding the Little Campers

Nature Camp.
  • Menu – If your camp is all day like mine, you will need to plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. I wouldn’t worry about making all meals camp themed. It is more important to include foods that they like and will eat. A hungry camper is NOT a fun camper. I like to make at least one of the meals/snacks geared to the theme though. Here are some fun ideas for camp breakfasts, camp lunches, camp dinners, and kid friendly snacks. Let the kids help you cook. They are more likely to eat it if they helped make it.

Craft Ideas for Camp

  • Crafts – Crafts geared towards the theme are another easy activity to schedule into your day. This is a great way to work on fine motor skills with your sweet peas. When you host grandma camp, it is a perfect time for helping your littles learn to use glue, paint, color, and practice scissor skills. These are all things that strengthen their little hands and fingers. You can read about Toys that Encourage Fine Motor Development in Toddlers here. Plus it is good practice for being school ready.
  • Service Projects – I incorporate special projects into our day as well. it is fun learning about our community and caring for people and things. Because my grandchildren are still small, we usually do some type of bird feeders. As they get older, I would like to introduce more profound projects like adopt a soldier. Look for my post on Teach Them Young here. It is about the importance of teaching children about honoring our servicemen and women.

Fun and Games

  • Games – When coming up with games, especially for your camps hosted in the summer, there is one rule – the messier the better! For winter camps when you have to be inside, you may want to be a little cleaner. Either way, working their big muscles helps with gross motor development as well as burns off some stored up energy. You can check out Toys That Encourage Gross Motor Development in Toddlers here. You will want to include board games and cards into your day too. These are great for the older ones while the younger ones are napping. Here are some favorite card games that work on math skills and are easy to learn.

When You Host Grandma Camp, Plan Some Down Time

  • Chill Zone – This is the time that the younger campers go down for a nap and the older ones ‘chill’ with a movie or quiet games. Coloring and playdough are great chill zone activities as well. This is the homemade playdough recipe that I use.

Snap Some Pictures of Your Day

  • Pictures – Don’t forget to take pictures of your day. I snap tons while we play, but always set up a photo shoot type picture opportunity. This is one of the best ways for me to get a group picture of all of my grandchildren at once. You can take individual family pictures as well. Have pictures printed at a one hour printing place like Walgreens for pennies. I send Papa out to pick them up. You can put the prints into the frames that the kids made during craft time. We use them for
    Father’s Day gifts or Christmas gifts for mom and dad. Here is an awesome picture frame project to check out.

Business as Usual at Grandma’s House

  • Free Time – Be sure to allow for unscheduled free time. Hanging out at grandma’s house is fun even without a million activities scheduled. So allow them to do what they normally love to do when they visit. Believe me, its an exhausting day to host grandma camp. You will need free time to recharge as well! Here are some of my favorite relaxing activities that I like to do after the sweet peas head back to their pods.

Wrapping It Up!

  • Wrapping It Up – 30 minutes before pick up, have kiddos change into jammies, brush their teeth, and quiet down with a great kid friendly movie.

Whew! Your grandkids will be so excited for the next Grandma Camp. But for now, relax. You did it! If you liked this post, you might like Mud Kitchen Ideas to see how I set up a muddy mess for my sweet peas. Or check out my Ultimate Scavenger Hunt for Kids. – Susie Pea

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5 Fun Things to Do In St Louis

When traveling to St. Louis, most visitors will go to Busch Stadium to see the St.Louis Cardinals play. Or spend a day at the St.Louis Zoo. And visit the top of the St.Louis Arch. While these are by far worth it if you come to our great city, finding some less commercialized things to do can make a great vacation stay even better. Check out these 5 Fun Things To Do in St. Louis that will for sure be a worth your time.

Soulard Market

Soulard Farmers Market

The Market is located at 730 Carroll Street in St. Louis, Missouri, a half mile north of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. The market is open Wednesday thru Saturday, year round. They feature locally grown and shipped in goods, including: produce, meats, cheeses, spices, gourmet kettle corn, flowers, baked goods, and general merchandise. There are also several different places to eat that offer many food options, which allows customers the convenience to grab a quick bite to eat and a drink while shopping.

The St. Louis Science Center

The St. Louis Science Center is located at 5050 Oakland Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110. 314.289.4400 The SLSC combines experimentation, creativity and play to help people discover a passion for science and technology. To atoms and oceans, sand and stardust, dinosaurs and dark matter. This attraction is fun, interactive, and educational for all ages. The Science Center is open every day, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Anheuser Busch Brewery

From the history-rich architecture – including three National Historic Landmarks – to cutting-edge brewing technology, you will witness first-hand the heritage and timeless tradition Anheuser-Busch employs to brew beer.

Nestled in the historic Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis, this largest and oldest brewery site was selected based on its access to the Mississippi River, the large presence of German immigrants in the 1800’s, and the natural cave formations that were used to store beer prior to artificial refrigeration.

There are several different tour options that you can try ranging from free to $$. Regardless of the experience you choose, as you walk through the halls of the historic St. Louis brewery, you are transported in time. This stop for fun in St Louis is definitely worth it.

The Delmar Loop

Blueberry Hill at the Delmar Loop

The Delmar Loop
6801 Delmar Blvd, the Loop is the location of Saint Louis Sidewalk Hall of Fame., Saint Louis, MO 63130. Discover the neighborhood’s charm as you walk up and down the sidewalks visiting it’s variety of eclectic shops and dinning experiences. Try delicious tastings from local restaurants and specialty food shops. Sample Texas-style barbecue, Korean tacos, award-winning pizza pies and homemade pastries, just to name a few eateries for fun in St Louis. Quite the cultural experience.

Ball Park Village

Shop for official St. Louis Cardinals fan gear from Majestic, Nike and New Era at Shop.MLB.com


Experience famous sites and new favorites when visiting Ballpark Village in the heart of downtown St. Louis. They have over 9 places to eat and drink. No matter what your taste, they’ve got your ‘bases covered’. The outdoor area is family friendly with room to run for your kiddos along with a jumbotron and yard games. 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. Check out my post on Take Me Out to the Ballgame – with Kids here.

Our city is beautiful and has something for everyone. These are just a few of my favorites things that are fun in St Louis to do. The best part is that every attraction on my list is FREE!

Find my post on School’s Out! – Fun Summer Activities here. And check out Best Parks in St. Louis here. Look for my post on Ultimate Guide for a St.Louis Staycation.

Enjoy and Go Cards! ~ Susie Pea

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