Tag Archives: family

Oct10

Libraries Rock!

Posted on by
Standard
Libraries Rock!

Hello! I have had the absolute pleasure of taking my sweet niece, Val Gal, to a couple of story times at one of the many local libraries in our area. It is seriously the cutest thing on planet Earth and I love having some extra TT time! During story hour, the kids listen to stories (Obviously lol), sing songs, learn dances, and do a craft themed around their topic for the day. The teacher also peppers in tips for the parents or family to help improve language skills. I have never been to a library story hour before taking Val and I was SO impressed by the librarians running the program.

When I first started my job as an Independent Provider for people with special needs, I was working strictly in the evenings. Prior to this, I used to think that libraries were just for using the computers and getting books. However, they are so much more than that, which I learned from taking my clients to the numerous programs held at the libraries.

Every month, I would scour the Events pages for the libraries in the greater Akron area for programs my clients would enjoy. And, every time, I was blown away with what was being offered. We would attend vinyl record clubs, movie nights, crafts, an escape room, and even a murder mystery night! The best part? Everything was always free!

Libraries in my area offer everything from computer courses and sign language classes to cooking clubs and concerts. And, I’m sure that the libraries in your neck of the woods probably have a lot of similar experiences for your community. These places are, truly, a gift and I wanted to shine a light on it. Not only can you expand your knowledge but you can make friends in the process too. This is very evident every time Val meets a new pal at her story times. 🙂

If you are looking for activities to do with your children or with a group of friends as the weather gets colder, then head to your local library. You never know what amazing things you will find!

Have you ever attended any library programs before? What were they? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct3

Revamp Your Yard For Spooky Season

Posted on by
Standard
Revamp Your Yard For Spooky Season

Spooky season is in full swing and what better way to pay homage to the best time of the year than in your own yard?! Sure, your house might be full of Halloween decor like mine but the outside is just as important to set all of the vibes come trick-or-treat night. At least, I sure think so, especially because I so wish that I had a yard to decorate! Let’s look at some fun projects to revamp your yard just in time for Halloween:

Decor Galore:

How cool would it be to have a front yard filled with twinkling orange lights, fake bats hanging from the trees, and zombies poking up from the ground? While you don’t have to go crazy with giant inflatables or twenty foot skeletons, a little decor goes a long way. Fake cobwebs, home made jack-o-lanterns, and makeshift ghosts in the trees works just as well!

Better yet, so many of the DIY aspects of Halloween decorating can be done as a family. You could make a bunch of creepy spiders by tracing your hands on cardboard or silly ghosts by sticking your feet in some paint. And, of course, there’s nothing better than a pumpkin carving night while watching all of your favorite scary flicks.

Autumnal Landscaping:

Mum is the word and you can purchase tons of glorious flowers to add some colorful cheer during the day. This is also another great activity to do as a family, perhaps by making a trip to your local pumpkin patch for some potted flowers? What’s more, you could paint jack-o-lantern faces on them for all of the fun of pumpkin carving without the pulpy mess!

Don’t forget to make the most of all of the fallen leaves adorning your yard too. They could easily be turned into garlands to hang around your door or porch railing. Add some fake cobwebs and you can’t go wrong. If you aren’t keen on raking or crafting with leaves, learn more about how a local landscaping service can assist. Then have a leaf jumping competition with the freshly raked piles and warm up with some hot chocolate afterwards.

If you’re crunched for time or have no green thumb to be found (And, no, Frankenstein green paint on your hands doesn’t count!), then you could hire a reliable landscaping company that delivers great results. You can even consult with them to turn your yard into the ultimate autumn oasis.

Trick-Or-Treat Tips:

Arguably one of the most fun parts of Halloween is seeing all of the adorable costumes come trick-or-treat night. Rather than answering a ringing doorbell all evening, how about setting up shop outside? My husband and I plan on doing this in my parent’s neighborhood! We will have a crackling fire and the Monster Mash playing on repeat, obviously.

You don’t have to stop there, though! You could host a neighborhood costume contest or set up a scavenger hunt in your freshly decorated yard. Expertly placed pine cones, mini pumpkins, and fake spiders could all be things to find. The prize? Extra candy! If you don’t have a fire pit, be sure to place lots of twinkling or floodlights around your property so everyone can find their way!

One of my favorite things about spooky season is all of the great outdoor decorations. Turn your yard into one that would make me stop and stare and have the best time!

Oct2

A Day At The Zoo OOTD

Posted on by
Standard
A Day At The Zoo OOTD

Hello!! Last weekend, I was surprised with a text from my sister asking if I’d like to join her and my nieces at the Akron Zoo. Spending time with Kristen, Val Gal, and Raya is the absolute best so I jumped at the opportunity. It was also free admission for Community Day and you can’t beat that! We had a wonderful afternoon exploring the zoo and I had a blast spoiling my best girls with lots of treats. Of course, I couldn’t step out without showing out so I put together this little OOTD:

image_50417409(2)image_50404353(1)image_50435585(1)image_50453505(2)image_50426369(2)image_50443265(3)

Who? What? Wear?

My sister and nieces always look darling so ol’ TT had to match their energy! I purchased the Sincerely Jules vest during my last TJMaxx haul and had been dying to break it out. I think that it is such a fun and unique piece and is perfect for some fall outings. When I am building outfits, I tend to select one focal point item and continue on from there. Once you have a staple picked out, it is much easier to style a look around it, which was definitely the case with my vest.

For this OOTD, I chose to keep the color palette minimal with surprise pops of color, which I thought added a cool retro touch to the vest. Originally, I had my New Moon, Who Dis? T-shirt dress on under the vest but I was afraid that it might be too cold for bare arms. To rectify this, I simply added my Shrinking Violet sweater on underneath the dress and I am glad that I did – it was a beautiful but very brisk day!

As a side note, remember that when you are layering items, you have to be careful with the fit of the clothes. For example, the T-shirt dress was loose while the sweater was tighter fitting and that made it an ideal layering combination. Two form fitting pieces or two looser ones just doesn’t have the same effect so go for opposites in fit and you will be a layering master.

ANYWHO, with the base of my outfit settled, it was time to accessorize. My vest has a menswear fit and the dress didn’t offer a distinct shape so the obvious choice was to add a belt. Surprisingly, I only have one belt in my clothing collection and it worked just fine. The quirky apple clasp is so cheeky and cute while, most importantly, accentuating my waistline.

Tights were also a must and I went with my favorite Urban Outfitters fishnets. These gemstone tights are simply the best and I get compliments on them whenever I wear them. I also liked that they showed a bit of skin since the rest of my body was covered up. To continue with the embellished theme, I chose my Chase + Chloe loafers. The jewels on the tights flowed seamlessly into the studs and spikes on the shoes while also enhancing a more color blocked look.

I haven’t received so many compliments on an outfit in a while and your girl was feeling her damn self. As a whole, this OOTD is bold and screams “look at me”. But that’s not all there is to it. The closer you look, the more you see all of the unique touches that are essential to my personal style. From the corset style laces at the bottom of the dress to being able to see my tattoos through the fishnets, there was visual interest everywhere. Remember, you always want to make the eyes of whomever is looking at you dance and this OOTD achieved that to the T.

My Day At The Zoo was just what I needed to lift my spirits and how could it not? It’s a wonder what good company and good fashion can do for the soul! ❤

How would you describe your personal style? Whose style do you admire? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep28

4 Considerations When Looking After Elderly Parents

Posted on by
Standard
4 Considerations When Looking After Elderly Parents

It can be a difficult task to take care of your retired parents, but with careful planning and execution, it doesn’t have to be. There are four essential things that you need to consider when looking after them: their health, finances, living situation, and their social life. In this blog post, we will go over each of these considerations in detail and provide you with advice on how to manage them best:

Their health:

As your parents age, their health will inevitably decline. It’s important to be proactive about their health and get regular checkups with their doctor. You should also create a list of their medications as well as hospitals and doctors that their insurance covers and keep it in a safe place. In case of an emergency, you or another family member can quickly reference this list and ensure that your parents are getting the care they need. Of course, their needs may change over time, and there may come a time when they are seriously or terminally ill. Should this happen, resources online like Your guide to in-home palliative care can help you be proactive when it comes to managing your parents’ health and needs, whilst still making sure you are caring for yourself.

Their finances:

One of the most challenging conversations with elderly parents is about their financial situation. It can be hard to broach the topic, especially if they are reluctant to discuss it. However, it is vital to be aware of their financial situation for two reasons: 1) you need to know if they can support themselves and 2) you need to be on the lookout for signs of financial elder abuse.

If your parents are struggling financially, they have several options. For example, they may be eligible for government benefits or charity assistance. If they own their home, they may also be able to downsize or take out a reverse mortgage. Unfortunately, as far as financial elder abuse goes, this sadly is an all too real problem and can take form in many ways, so be sure to keep an eye on professionals dealing with your parent’s finances.

Their living situation:

Another important consideration is your parents’ living situation. If they can live independently, that’s great! But if they need some assistance, you’ll need to consider that. If they live in a retirement community, staff who can help with transportation or meals may be there. If they live in their own home, you’ll need to decide if it’s feasible for them to continue doing so. If not, you may need to help them find a new place to live.

Whatever their living situation, you’ll also need to consider how accessible it is. Can they get around safely? Do they have everything they need? Is it safe for them to be there? Speaking of safety, do you recognize the signs and know how to prove nursing home negligence? These are all critical things to consider when looking after your retired parents.

Their social life:

Finally, you’ll need to think about your parents’ social life. As people age, they often become more isolated and lose touch with their friends. Having a good support network and staying connected to the outside world will be especially beneficial to their mental health. There are a few ways you can do this:

  • Encourage them to join social clubs or groups
  • Make sure they see their friends regularly
  • Take them out for outings and activities

These are four essential considerations when looking after your retired parents or loved ones. If you can address these areas, you’ll be doing a great job of taking care of them!

Featured Image By: Andrea Piacquadio

Aug26

Yummy Asian Cabbage Salad

Posted on by
Standard
Yummy Asian Cabbage Salad

Hello! Johnny and I have several favorite go to meals that I make pretty much every time I do grocery shopping. This is all well and good but it can get kind of boring cooking the same things with no variation. So, I have made it a point to try making new side dishes to enhance the meal even more. It’s amazing how much the dinner transforms with just one different thing, like when I made a pot of cilantro lime rice with a taco dinner.

To keep going with this, I decided to try a new salad recipe when I cooked a veggie lo mein meal for my entire family. I found the recipe for Asian Cabbage Salad with a peanut ginger dressing on Well Plated By Erin. I had scoped out many Asian salads on Pinterest but I went with Well Plated’s because it used the fewest ingredients and looked so easy to make. Check it out:

image_50737665(1)image_50747905(1)

I love going on Pinterest but it can sometimes be disheartening because there are a plethora of recipes that I would like to try but use SO. Many. Ingredients. I just can’t justify buying twenty plus things for a dish that I might not even like. I already had about three fourths of the ingredients that I needed for this salad so it was the obvious choice to go with and I am glad I did!

This Asian Cabbage Salad was to die for and, much to my surprise, Johnny even liked it. That is really saying something because I truly thought that he was going to tell me that there were too many vegetables in it lol. The salad had so much crunch, flavor, and texture and it was delicious as a side or mixed into the veggie lo mein. It also kept for several days leftover and that was another huge plus because of how much the simple recipe made.

I definitely plan on making Well Plated By Erin’s recipe again but there is one thing that I will be tweaking. While I liked the peanut ginger dressing well enough, it didn’t pack much of a punch against all of the colorful veggies. I would have liked for the dressing to have a bit more bite and I’m not sure if that can be solved by making more of it or adding something new. I’m thinking of substituting a tablespoon of the honey for brown sugar and adding one more tablespoon of soy sauce to see if that will make a difference.

Overall, I am really pleased with this new recipe and it was a hit at dinner… It was also a hit every time I had it leftover too and you can’t beat that!

Where do you like to find new recipes? Have you cooked anything new recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Aug25

Frozen At Playhouse Square Review

Posted on by
Standard
Frozen At Playhouse Square Review

Hello! This past weekend, I went to Playhouse Square with my dad, brother, and Val Gal to see a matinee showing of Frozen at the KeyBank State Theatre. I have never seen the movie the whole way through but it’s my niece’s favorite and Playhouse Square always puts on amazing shows so I was excited! There were things about Frozen that blew me away and other parts that were… not so much.

Regardless, it was SO special to accompany Val to her first ever live theater performance, which she loved. In fact, she asked if we could go again tomorrow! She was also dressed up in her Elsa costume and it was adorable seeing all of the little Anna and Elsas walking around. 🙂 Now, let’s get to this review starting with the good:

image_50456065(1)image_50392833(2)

Although a majority of the acting and singing in Frozen was great, the best thing about the show was, easily, all of the wonderful special effects. The lighting, set design, and flying pieces was true theater magic. This production used techniques that I had never seen before and, honestly, didn’t even think were possible. I had no idea how they were going to create the eternal winter landscape that Elsa created but it really did look like the entire stage was encompassed in snow and ice.

A huge credit should be given to the production team because this show would not have been nearly as good without everything that was accomplished by them. The set was so elaborate and visually beautiful and the lighting and soundscape enhanced everything tenfold. Now that I think of it, the only things that “wowed” me were all production related.

While some of the actors kind of missed the mark for me, there were a few performances that really stood out. F. Michael Haynie who played Olaf was spectacular and a formidable puppeteer too. I didn’t know how they were going to create the talking snowman and a to scale version puppet was cleverly used. It worked perfectly and Haynie played the part so well.

Evan Strand played Sven, Kristoff’s reindeer, and this was also another head scratcher for me. It’s not like they could have used a real reindeer for the show and most animal portrayals by actors can be kind of lame. However, the costume that was used for Sven was one of the best that I have ever seen and I almost thought that it was an actual reindeer at first! His physicality was spot on and I was very impressed – I think he outshined Kristoff completely.

Caroline Bowman as Elsa was pretty good, although I felt like she was a bit boring. Her time on stage was kind of lackluster and what shined during “Let It Go” wasn’t her but the incredible production behind it. Lauren Nicole Chapman as Anna also left A LOT to be desired. She was SO. Freaking. Annoying. Her voice was also very shrill. Granted, I haven’t seen bits and pieces of the movie in a while but I definitely don’t remember Anna being like that – maybe I’m wrong!

Because there aren’t too many original songs in the movie Frozen, a majority of the numbers had to be created for the stage. I liked a fair amount of them and enjoyed “Let It Go”, “In Summer”, “Fixer Upper”, and “Monster” the most. I will say that there were times when it was difficult to hear/understand the actors so that took away from some numbers that I could have potentially enjoyed.

Some of the songs really dragged the show on for longer than I thought was necessary, though. For example “Hygge” sung by Oaken and company was kind of a hot mess. I get that productions more geared towards children have to throw some things in for the adults BUT it felt inappropriate for the kids in the audience. It was, hands down, the cringiest part of the performance.

There were times when Frozen was hit or miss and that’s fine because the biggest success of the show was how much fun Val had. I am thrilled to have been able to share in my love of live theater with her and can’t wait to do something like this again!

What is your favorite musical? Have you seen any good shows lately? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug19

All In Your Own Backyard

Posted on by
Standard
All In Your Own Backyard

Hello!! When I first started working as an Independent Provider for people with special needs, I was mainly on the evening shift for purely social outings with my clients. For free and fun entertainment, we would often hit up the local libraries in the greater Akron area. Activities ranged from vinyl record clubs to art projects and murder mysteries and it was always a blast.

Now, I work in the mornings and afternoons and provide care under the umbrella of daily living skills. It has been a while since I scoured the library and community websites for outings and I, honestly, kind of forgot how amazing all of our local programs are until this summer. My family has certainly been making the most of them!

This past summer, people in my family have attended numerous events including a watercolor painting class and a Comicon style vendor fair. We have also loved taking my sweet niece to story time almost every week at the library. It is the most adorable little hour filled with books, songs, and crafts. My heart just melted when I took Val last week. ❤

Over last weekend, I experienced one of the best community events I have been to in a while with my dad and Val – the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival. It was held at the Goodyear Heights Metro Park and featured awesome performances by various dance groups. We got to watch a jazz and ballet troop as well as the dancers from ArtSparks, which is a dance group made up of people with special needs. It was SO cool!

The main event of the night was a performance by Pilobolus, a world famous troop. However, we didn’t get to watch them because it was getting close to Valerie’s bedtime. All of the dancers we did see were spectacular but the best part of the night was when the kids in the audience got to take the stage. Val had a blast learning different ballet and jazz moves. She also unintentionally stole the show when she was showing off her newfound skills during another performance lol it was so funny. 😀

After Val learned some dance steps, she said that she would like to take dance classes and that’s what is so wonderful about all of these community programs. Not only do you get to meet new people but you also get to try your hand at new things for free or close to it. Similarly, my mom and I now paint in our free time after the ten dollar watercolor class we took.

Children, teenagers, and adults alike can all benefit from local programs – you just need to know where to look. Library websites, newspapers, and community pages can all point you in the right direction. If you are searching for new activities with minimal funding, then this is the way to go. Explore your community and have fun!

What community events do you like to attend? Have you learned a new skill or hobby recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug17

Bubble Pop Craft

Posted on by
Standard
Bubble Pop Craft

Hello! This past weekend was a whirlwind because my sister just had another beautiful baby girl! I am so excited to be a TT of three and my Val Gal is over the moon to be a big sister. While the little miss was making her grand debut, my dad and I watched Val over the weekend. We had an absolute blast playing outside, going to see a dance program, and making a super fun bubble craft!

When I was little, I could stay outside picking dandelions and blowing bubbles for hours and Val shares the same sentiments. On Sunday morning, it was very dreary so we couldn’t play outside. But, in the recesses of my brain, I remembered a craft that I had seen on Pinterest by Broogly that was sure to keep her occupied. Check it out:

image_50739713(1)image_50407169(1)image_50440961(2)image_50416897(4)

What You’ll Need:

  • Bubble soap
  • Food coloring
  • Paper

What To Do:

  • Mix food coloring and bubble soap together
  • Blow bubbles over your piece of paper to create your pop art. The longer the bubble sits on the paper, the deeper the color will be.

This bubble pop craft was so easy to put together and Val and I spent over an hour and a half making six masterpieces for her baby sis, uncles, and grandma. While this is definitely a better craft for doing outside, we were able to make it work with minimal mess by placing beach towels over the kitchen floor to blow bubbles on. The mess actually came after the project was complete when I accidentally knocked into Val and blue bubble soap spilled all over the floor. WHOOPS lol.

Not only was this craft entertaining but it was educational too. I got to teach Val all about mixing colors to make new ones and she assisted in helping me make purple and orange bubble soap. I loved how her orange turned out! She would tell you that the purple was the best and, as always, it’s her favorite color. ❤

The next time we make this craft (because there will for sure be a next time), hopefully the weather will be nice enough to do it outdoors. I plan on getting bigger sheets of paper and think that it will turn out really cool if we use one of the automatic bubble blowers. Do give this craft a try if you have little ones – they will love it!

Where do you find fun crafts for your kids? What crafts have you made together this summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug15

Homemade Salsa Recipe

Posted on by
Standard
Homemade Salsa Recipe

Hello! My dad’s magnificent garden has been providing an endless supply of tomatoes, zucchinis, cucumbers, and herbs. I tried to ease the burden of putting a dent in his harvest by making some spaghetti sauce. It turned out a bit lackluster but at least I used eight tomatoes with it lol! This past week, my dad and I made salsa together and came up with our own recipe. It turned out great! Check it out:

image_50739969image_50413057(3)

Our Recipe:

  • 22 small to medium tomatoes
  • 1/2 of a red onion, finely chopped
  • 3/4 of a green pepper, finely chopped
  • 6 cloves pressed garlic
  • 2 cubanelle peppers, finely chopped
  • Very small pieces of serrano pepper – *Warning* they are very hot
  • Juice from 1 lime
  • Several sprigs of cilantro
  • Salt and cayenne pepper to taste

I had an absolute blast making this salsa with my dad! I couldn’t tell you the last time we collaborated in the kitchen and it was so much fun to make salsa magic together. The day before we made our concoction, my dad scoured different recipes but we decided to just wing it and see what happens. We delegated different tasks to each other, taste tested along the way, and ended up being really happy with what we came up with.

Salsa is a cool thing to make because you can adjust it as you go to your liking. Whether you want more heat, extra onions, or super garlicky is your prerogative. My dad and I agreed on something more mild after tasting the extreme heat of the serrano peppers from his garden. This was an excellent call because not only was my mouth on fire but my hands burned until the evening just from chopping them. Not to mention the suffering I experienced when I had to take my contacts out. Ouch!!

Minus the serrano incident, I couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon with my dad. We definitely plan on making our salsa again and I hope that all of you enjoy the recipe too!

Do you like to follow recipes or wing it? What do you have growing in your garden? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug13

Ways To Help Out A Loved One In Need

Posted on by
Standard
Ways To Help Out A Loved One In Need

Hello!! This past week has been an awful, stressful time for yours truly. And, let’s be honest, these past couple of years have been an awful, stressful time for everyone. COVID, losing your job, and inflation are enough to make anyone go crazy! In times like these, we all could use a helping hand and these are some of the things that I have been implementing in my own family over the past week and change:

Cook A Meal:

When a crisis arises, one of the last things that people think about is having a home cooked meal. There’s nothing wrong with takeout or fast food but nothing hits quite as much as a meal made with love! Someone struggling could really use a good meal so why not bring one over? You could provide all of the fixings for a spaghetti dinner, tacos, or any of their favorite dishes. A meal that has plenty of leftovers is also one that will be much appreciated.

Clean Up:

Another thing that falls by the wayside during difficult times is housework. We all know that a cluttered and unclean environment can make things even more stressful and it is so easy for all of the household chores to start piling up. You don’t have to give a Merry Maids level clean but doing the dishes, taking out the trash, or the dreaded cleaning of the bathrooms will give the person you’re helping one less thing to think about.

Pet Care:

Pets definitely know when something is up because it effects them too. Something as simple as taking the dog for a long walk, playing with the cats, or cleaning cages can be a huge help. You can also keep an eye on their supply of food and replenish it as needed so they will never go without.

Spend Some Time:

Someone going through a lot will surely benefit from just having you as company. You could lend your ear, be a shoulder to cry on, or simply be around and not talk at all. Things like watching a funny show, doing a puzzle, or playing a game can provide some much needed relief when their focus is shifted to something else for a bit.

From big gestures to small, all of it will be so very appreciated. Please keep my family in your thoughts. ❤

How do you provide a helping hand? What helps you to feel better? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah