Category Archives: Family

Slumber Partayyy!

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Slumber Partayyy!

Hello! Johnny and I take our title of “Fun Aunt and Uncle” to our sweet nieces and nephew very seriously. We delight in treat days, outings, and surprises to further solidify that we are the best lol and we have the best time doing it! As often as we can, we like to have our niece, Val Gal, over for slumber parties for an evening of playing music, crafts, movies, and snacks. Surprisingly, I had the day off this past Thursday and was so excited to be able to host our lil BFF. I was SO tired the next day, but that’s a small price to pay for such a wonderful time! Check it out:

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When my sister dropped Val off at chez nous, lil buddy immediately went into her overnight bag for a surprise for me and Johnny. She bought us chips with her own money and made an origami bunny with her dad for us too. It was so sweet I could have cried because it’s usually the other way around for who’s getting a little gift! Before dinner, Val wanted to play music with Johnny and he is always happy to accommodate. He got them matching ukuleles for her third birthday and she brings it every time she comes over so they can play together. My heart! ❤

After our music block, it was time for dinner and a show and we watched our all time favorite, Vivo. It is a slumber party staple and it gets me every time. I love singing along to all of the songs with bestie! We noshed on mac n cheese and ice cream sundaes, then we spent the rest of the movie time painting together. I decided to make a picture for Val in a rainbow motif and then I wrote her name on it. She wanted to do the same thing for me and I came in with the assist to help her finish it. I love my painting so much and it has a very special place on my art wall with all of the crafts she has made for Johnny and I.

We spent the rest of the evening holding the bunnies, running around the apartment like crazy people, and watching a bit of Elf before bed. The following morning, I got up extra early so I could work before she woke up. Val threw an adorable wrench in my plans because she got up extra early so she could have more time with me! We finished Elf and before I took her home, we broke out her new diary and wrote an entry and drew pictures together about our slumber partay. It was absolutely precious and I’m not sure which one of us had more fun!

Being an aunt brings me so much joy and Johnny feels the same about his uncle status. We love every minute with our lil besties and we both agreed that this was one of our best slumber parties yet!

Did you have a favorite aunt or uncle growing up? How do you like to spoil your family? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!!

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Happy Birthday, Dad!!!!!

Hello everyone! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my dad’s birthday!! Although my dad is not the fondest of another year around the sun, I am most fond of celebrating him every day. He deserves it! My dad is one of a kind. He is freaking hilarious, smart as a tack, brave, and you will never find a more caring husband/dad/granddad in the whole world. I think my mom and dad are the cutest couple and it’s extremely apparent where I got my good looks from!

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One thing that I love the most about my dad (Other than everything!) is his passion for nature. He has single-handedly turned our backyard into a safe haven for all kinds of wildlife and plants. With the start of spring, the wildlife windows he created have been popping and it’s so cool to watch wild bunnies run and play, the occasional groundhog scampering around, and see all of the flowers he has planted get ready to bloom. I am looking forward to planting more with him hopefully very soon!

Another cool thing about my dad is that he is always up for trying something new. New recipes, new places for vacation, new activities. In fact, just the other day him and my mom decided they might go to a line dancing class together. SO adorable! He really does have an adventurous spirit and even after forty plus years of marriage, he is still finding new ways for him and my mom to have fun together. It makes me admire their relationship even more. ❤

No matter how old I get, I will forever be a daddy’s girl and I have the best one. I love you, dad!!!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

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Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!

Hello everyone! Today is a fantastic, wonderful day because it is my amazing mom’s birthday!! My mom is my A1, ride or die bestie and every second of every minute spent with her is a joy. She is the most fun, hilarious, beautiful person I will ever know and I hit the jackpot being her daughter. Not only is my mom the best on the planet, but she is also the best grandma too of four kiddos and two bunnies. 🙂 Every day, I am thankful beyond words for my mom who is the brightest light to everyone she meets.

My mom is a pillar of strength and grace. She is a fighter, a badass, and a constant source of inspiration to me. I am lucky because I get to see my mom almost every day of the week and when we are not together, we are texting away about how much we miss each other! I know that we can both go to each other about anything and everything and it is so special to be able to have that kind of relationship. No matter how old I get, she is the first one I go to for advice, a kind word, or a shoulder to cry on. We are and forever will be two peas in a pod, best of friends, and an unshakable mother/daughter duo! ❤

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Mom, thank you for being you and all you do. I wouldn’t be me without you!!! I love you more than words will ever say!

Happy birthday to you!!!!!!!! ❤

Sweet Surprises: Painted Parrot Edition

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Sweet Surprises: Painted Parrot Edition

Howdy!! This past Wednesday, my darling niece, Val Gal, came over for a slumber party. It is something we both always look forward to because it is such fun!! I make us dinner, we have ice cream sundaes for dessert, enjoy a movie, and play, play, play. For our entertainment while we noshed on Mint Chocolate Chip sundaes, Val chose Mulan and I was stoked. That was one of my favorite Disney movies as a kid and we were also eating my favorite ice cream. And I was with my favorite person! As always, our partay was a raging success and a full on rager. I was also presented with quite possibly the sweetest gift ever. Check it out:

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Val is a huge fan of crafting. She loves to paint, color, and make masterpieces with Play Doh. For Christmas, I got her a set of animal figurines that she could paint because that is one of her favorite activities. I had honestly forgotten about it when Val told me she brought me something. She handed me a parrot from the set that she painted and said “This is for you, TT. You got it for me for Christmas, but I wanted you to have one too.” Believe me when I say, I completely melted. Out of the mouths of babes!!

My sweet niece is just the coolest kid and Johnny and I cherish the time we spend with her. Val is the best big sister to Raya and is so kind, talented, and absolutely freaking hilarious. That girl keeps me in stitches and I am constantly quoting the ridiculousness she says on the daily. The parrot that she made with love is a testament to what an amazing little girl she is. It was yet another reminder of her thoughtfulness and it really moved me. We are each other’s best friends and she makes my life infinitely better. ❤

My parrot has a prized spot on our knick knack shelf and I smile every time I look at it/think about it. Here’s to many more slumber parties and fabulous memories with my lil BFF!

What is a gift that you cherish? What is your favorite thing that someone made for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

How To Boost Your Kids’ Confidence

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How To Boost Your Kids’ Confidence

During the pandemic years, it was tough for little ones to learn social skills without being around other children their age. As we’ve moved past the COVID times and into the open world again, some of our kiddos might be shy and need a little confidence when starting school or engaging with other kids. This article will share some advice on how to boost your kids’ confidence:

Enroll Them In A Literacy Program:

Literacy programs can help kids improve their written and verbal communication and engage with other kids around them. Foundations like Scottish Rite have speech-language and literacy programs in California. The foundation provides fully-funded courses to help children overcome speech or language obstacles and become confident individuals who enjoy engaging with written and spoken language.

Teach Them Responsibility:

Giving kids a taste of manageable independence can help them become more resilient and able to complete tasks independently. Teaching your kids how to look after a garden can teach them a lot about responsibility, patience, and allow them to see their work rewarded as plants grow and flourish. You could also give them a small item of responsibility if they are younger, like selecting an activity for the weekend.

Set An Example:

Your children learn from you and how you interact with the world around you. Try to set a good example by being positive and engaging with other parents in a group setting. Let them see you try something new and enjoy the experience. Help them to persevere by ensuring they see you follow a task through to the end. Your kids will learn from your example if they see you happy and confident.

Help Them Get Comfortable With Failure:

Studies show that up to a third of the population could be considered perfectionists. Perfectionists often find it hard to handle failure and tend to over prepare for events so they can constantly meet high standards. It’s important to get kids comfortable trying new things without fearing failure. This will teach them to be well-rounded adults who can adapt and thrive in new environments. They will also learn essential life skills like resilience and problem-solving.

Get Them Engaged In Learning:

Getting kids engaged in learning is fundamental to giving them confidence in school. Try Learn Bright’s hands-on learning programs to give them a taste of real-life experiments that they can engage with and complete in groups or independently. Getting kids involved in hands-on learning is a great way to appeal to visual learners and help boost their confidence in a school environment.

Encourage Team Work:

You can encourage kids to work better together in groups at home. You can do everyday things like letting them plan a meal with you or playing collaborative board games together. Help them build their confidence by encouraging them to work with you and the family to get things done. When they have play dates, you can also get the kids involved in a team activity or encourage them to join an after-school club to engage with children of a similar age.

Praise Perseverance Over Results:

Praise your child for persevering through a hard task, not just for the results they get. Teaching them to keep going even when things get tough is important to raise resilient children. Remember, top marks aren’t always the goal. If your child struggles in math, going up from a C to a C+ can be a significant achievement. If they aren’t into sports, getting them to join a soccer club is something to be celebrated.

There are many ways to engage children through learning or playing and, in doing so, raise them into confident and well-rounded adults.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Steps Of Growth: Responsibility & Life’s Challenges

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Steps Of Growth: Responsibility & Life’s Challenges

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been confronted with the question: “How can we teach our lovely little ones about responsibility?” Now, raise your other hand if life’s unpredictable challenges make you feel like you’re herding cats. Yep, thought so. Both hands up in the air! Here’s a little secret: there’s no one-size-fits-all guide to this. But there are a few things that might help you teach your kiddos about responsibility and the art of embracing the challenges life sometimes throws at you:

Plant A Garden And Watch It Grow:

Gardening, apart from being therapeutic, can be an amazing teaching tool to allow your kids to understand that even the littlest flowers need love, care, and patience. Let your little one pick a plant or flower they’d like to grow. Let them water it, take care of it, and patiently watch it bloom. Through this, they learn that consistency, responsibility, and love can lead to beautiful results. And when pests come along or when the weather isn’t ideal, they will learn to understand that challenges are natural parts of life.

Add A Little Twist To Everyday Chores:

Ah, chores! The word itself probably makes your kids want to run for the hills. So how about creating a chore chart that’s actually fun? Add some glitter, stickers, and quirky tasks. Muddle the regular chores like tidying up toys or setting the table with something fun, like the floor is lava or last one to tidy up is a rotten egg. This way, while they’re diving into whimsical adventures, they’re also learning the art of daily responsibility.

Share Stories From Your Book Of Life:

We all love a little story. And children even more so – they adore stories, especially real ones that involve the people (or characters) they actually know. Share tales from your family’s past, about a time when you overcame challenges or how you learned from mistakes you once made. You might think these anecdotes are mundane, but for young ears, they’re exciting tales of adventure and learning.

Pass On A Job Of Personal Responsibility:

You might be tempted to protect your little ones from the big, vast world out there, but every once in a while, you need to trust them with just a smidge more responsibility. Maybe it’s letting them decide the menu for the family picnic, taking care of a new puppy companion, or even managing their pocket money without being told they’re wasting it on something they don’t need. These small steps of trust can work wonders in teaching them about the responsibilities of life. And don’t worry if they stumble a bit. Those mini missteps? They’re just stepping stones towards their remarkable journey of growth and understanding.

Lastly, remember to shower your kiddos with loads of love and encouragement even when it feels tough to do so because you’re frustrated by your circumstances. Let them know that every challenge they face is an opportunity to grow!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Maximizing Your Child’s Health And Well-Being

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Maximizing Your Child’s Health And Well-Being

It isn’t just essential to keep an eye on your child’s health in the winter; you must take good care of them and do your best to maintain and maximize their health throughout the year. Any season or thing can cause a child to feel unwell. Here are some tips to maximize your child’s health and well-being:

Seek immediate care if they are very unwell:

When a child is really unwell, it is essential to seek help so you can discover what the issue is and resolve their symptoms. Attaining pediatric urgent care will give you immediate support and find a solution to their health issue. A pediatric expert means that your child is in good hands and will feel healthy and well again as soon as possible.

Maintain routine healthcare appointments:

Maintaining routine healthcare appointments is an absolute must. A routine checkup can discover any underlying health issues. If there is an underlying problem, you can find a solution to improve their health. Plus, attending routine appointments will minimize their fear of healthcare practices, encouraging them to attend every time and stay in check with their health.

Help them enjoy school:

Children spend a lot of their time at school so it’s important to know they are enjoying this time. If they aren’t, it can impact your child’s happiness and well-being. When you acknowledge they are not having a good time, whether it be due to friend issues or learning difficulties, it’s a good idea to step in and help. If they are having issues with friends, you can speak to parents and children to find a resolution. If they are having trouble with their learning, you can seek tutors or provide home support to help them develop educational skills and confidence. In time, they will feel more comfortable with education and enjoy their time at school.

Get active:

Another way to optimize the health and well-being of your child is to help them be more active. Being active aids growth and cognitive skills. The more active they are, the more confident they can feel pursuing various activities. For example, taking them on hikes or asking them to help you with gardening will improve their nature skills and help them spend more time outside. More movement and activity will encourage their growth and keep them as happy and as healthy as possible.

Encourage healthy meals:

Educating your child about food and allowing them to get involved with cooking is really beneficial, especially if your child is a picky eater. Allowing them to help you cook will help them feel more responsible and in control of what they are eating, which could encourage them to try new foods. For instance, asking them to help you prepare the vegetables will help them understand where they come from, their nutritional value, and maybe influence them to eat more.

Speak to them about your problems:

If your child is fairly quiet and never speaks to you about their problems, they will never be able to seek support and help. If this is the case, it can be a good idea to speak to them about your own problems to show that it’s okay to open up and share bad experiences. If they are experiencing bullying, finding school difficult, or want to pursue a passion but do not know how speaking to you can help them find an answer.

All of the above are simple steps that you can take today to make sure your child is their happiest, healthiest self!

Featured Image By: Johannes Plenio

Fun Aunt & Uncle

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Fun Aunt & Uncle

Hello!! Johnny and I pride ourselves on being the Fun Aunt & Uncle to our two sweet nieces, Valerie and Raya. They are the absolute best and we cherish every minute with them! With all of the craziness going on in my life, it had been hard to see our nieces as often as we would like and that was my first order of business to change once things (Thankfully!) slowed down. This past Wednesday, we hosted our darling Val for a slumber party and it was a blast. Val claimed that Wednesday would be “the best day ever” and she was so right, as always!

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Val arrived fairly late into the evening on Wednesday and came prepared with all of her slumber party supplies; A sleeping bag, stuffed animals, jammies and slippers, and books to read before bed. It was like she consulted the “what to bring to a sleepover” manual and it was adorable. To kick start the party, we had her favorite meal of spaghetti and Parmesan cheese and both of our favorite dessert – ice cream sundaes! Extra sprinkles for Val, of course! While we ate, we had a viewing of Ugly Dolls, which I had never seen before and I LOVED it. It was such a fun, sweet movie with an awesome message and an all star cast. Huge shout out to Val for her selection!

Once dinner and a show was complete, it was time to play, play, play. We hung out with Melvin and Penelope, and I didn’t think anyone could be as obsessed with them as I am, but I met my match with Val! She enjoyed petting and brushing both Mel and Pen and our shy Penelope graced us by letting me pick her up so Val could hold her. They both did great! After bunny time was done, we kept the theme going by playing a rabbit themed board game: Uncle Wiggly. This was Johnny’s favorite game in his youth so it was really special to play it all together and introduce a new generation to it.

Since Val arrived late, it was time to wrap up the evening and start heading to bed after our bunny jamboree. Val and I snuggled up and watched Home while surrounded by all of our plushies. We were both fast asleep as soon as it was over! Before Val was picked up in the morning, she assisted me in caring for the bunnies and making chocolate chip pancakes. Unfortunately, she decided after one bite that she didn’t like them lol so we just had spaghetti for breakfast! She is so much like me because that is honestly my favorite thing to have in the morning too. 😀

After Val left from our slumber party, I was missing her like crazy! She is mine and Johnny’s number one best girl and we are all looking forward to many more “best days ever” with her! ❤

Did you have a favorite aunt and uncle when you were little? Do you prefer regular food or actual breakfast food in the morning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Easy Ways To Help Your Child’s Social Skills

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Easy Ways To Help Your Child’s Social Skills

It is highly beneficial for your children later in life if you help your child’s social skills as early as possible. Some experts agree that it is never too early to begin teaching your kids – some evidence suggests this can begin as early as in the womb, where babies can form attachments. To help your child’s social skills blossom, you can begin with some of these ideas:

Let them Mix with Other Kids:

An isolated child will find it hard to develop the necessary skills later for mingling with others. This can mean a harder time in school, college, and even carrying on into adulthood. Letting your kids mix with other children will help give them the confidence they need to speak to others, therefore avoiding social isolation. Daycare centers like Play and Learn School offer a wide range of activities to help your children in their vital early years of social skill development.

Engage with Your Kids:

A recent study in the UK found that 10% of children struggle with learning the social skills needed for the best possible education. But simply having your children engage with others helps build confidence, teaches them social responsibilities, and develops language skills. And this is easy to do. For example, have your children converse politely when someone enters your home. Also, teach them to say please and thank you. And above all, talk to your kids often.

Help Your Child’s Social Skills with Activities:

Bonding with your kids over a shared interest is one of the greatest joys of life. But it isn’t always the case that your kids will enjoy the same things as you and forcing them to take part in activities they don’t want to will cause great distress. It helps to expose your kids to a wide range of hobbies and activities, so they can find something they enjoy. Then, you can capitalize on this since they will be more willing to engage with other kids while doing something they like.

Teach by Example:

You play a massive role in the life of your children and kids learn most of what they do from their parents. For instance, your children will speak the way you do, treat people how they see you doing it, and even swear if you speak that way. So, your responsibility as a parent goes well beyond taking care of your children. You are the prime example of their social development. Leading by example can play a key role in helping them become more socially well-rounded.

Don’t Push Them Too Hard:

As a parent, you know there is a delicate balance between trying to get your children to do something they don’t really want to do. Forcing them into a situation can cause resistance. And over time, this builds into complete refusal. It’s the same for social activities. It is a good idea to expose kids to social activities and encounters. But some children are naturally shy, and forcing them to engage will make this worse. Let them engage when they feel more comfortable.

It can be tricky to help your child’s social skills develop properly. But you can help them along by having them mix with other kids, talking to them, and being patient for them to socialize more!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May Flowers

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May Flowers

Hello! This past week when I got to my parents’ house after work, I found my dad in the backyard preparing his raised planters for spring flowers. It was a gorgeous day outside and it was going to rain that night, making for the perfect conditions to plant. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bask in the sunshine and spend some quality time with my dad and even though I was dog tired, I offered my assistance which he happily accepted. We spent a glorious hour or so together creating beauty and I am so pleased with our handiwork. Check it out:

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Ever since I can remember, my dad has been an avid gardener and all spring, summer, and fall long you can catch him outside tending to the yard. During the warm months, we enjoy the bounty of his vegetable garden and the bouquets he makes weekly for my mom. Not only does he have two green thumbs, but he is also a very gifted flower arranger and his bouquets are stunning. Last year, his veggie garden went into overdrive with hauls so big we simply didn’t know what to do with everything. So, he decided flowers were the way to go this summer since all of our lives are crazy at this current juncture.

When I was younger, I loved to help in the garden and as I grew up, I tried to help as much as I could with planting and upkeep. It had been a while since I gardened and I forgot how much fun it was! Seriously, all of it was a blast from donning ridiculous gardening gloves, handling the delicate flowers, and cleaning up the dirt that got on us with the garden hose. And, of course, doing it all side by side with my dad. For the past few months, the time we have spent together is almost always driving to the Cleveland Clinic, so it was SO awesome to be able to do something with him for the joy of it.

Our garden day was the first time I had spent a considerable amount of time outside in so long. It only recently got nice out in Ohio and the previous weather had been absolute garbage. Being outside, soaking up the sun, and making something grow was just what I needed. Once we returned inside, I wanted to go back out again to plant more and I found myself thinking that I would like more house plants when I got to my apartment. I might just have a green thumb yet!

My dad has now started to plan his garden projects with my help in mind and I am more than up for the task. In fact, we will be planting flower seeds later this week. I can’t wait! 🙂

What is your favorite outdoor activity? What do you and your parents do to spend quality time together? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah