Tag Archives: family

Aug8

Tips On Creating A Healthy Family Dynamic

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Tips On Creating A Healthy Family Dynamic

Families are the basic unit of society and, as such, it is vital that they function in a healthy way. Unfortunately, this is not always easy to do. There are many things that can go wrong and create tension within a family. This blog post will discuss some tips on how to create a healthy family dynamic. Follow these tips, and you will be well on your way to having a happy and harmonious family:

Communicate effectively:

The first tip is to ensure that there is effective communication within the family. This means being able to talk openly and honestly with one another about what is going on in your lives. It also means being able to resolve disagreements in a peaceful and respectful manner. If communication is not happening effectively, it can lead to misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and resentment.

Make time to connect:

Another important tip is to create a sense of togetherness within the family. This can be done by engaging in activities together, such as playing games, going on outings, or simply spending time talking and laughing with one another. Doing things together will help to create strong bonds between family members and will make everyone feel more connected to one another.

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Show respect:

It is also important to show respect for one another within the family. This means listening to each other, valuing each other’s opinions, and treating everyone with kindness and consideration. If everyone in the family feels respected, it will go a long way in creating a positive and healthy dynamic.

And show love:

Love can be expressed in many different ways, such as through words of affirmation, physical touch, or spending time together. Love is what will hold a family together through thick and thin – so make sure that there is plenty of it!

Encourage a healthy lifestyle:

Create a healthy lifestyle for your family by cooking healthy meals and exercising together. Not only will this improve your physical health, but it will also help to create a positive environment in the home. When everyone is striving towards a common goal, it can do wonders for instilling a sense of teamwork in the family.

Set a routine:

Create a healthy routine and stick to it. This means having set times for meals, bedtime, homework, and other activities. Having a routine will help to create a sense of stability within the family. It can also be helpful in managing stress levels and preventing conflict.

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Plan ahead:

Preparation for the future is essential for any family. This means setting aside money for savings and investing in things like life insurance. It can also mean creating a will and putting together an emergency plan. By preparing for the future, you can help to protect your family and ensure that they are taken care of financially if something were to happen to you. Click here to find out more on how to prepare for the future.

A happy and harmonious family is the foundation of a strong society, so it is important that we do everything we can to create one. With love, communication, respect, and preparation, you can make it happen!

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Aug6

5 Things To Do Before Bringing A Dog Home

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5 Things To Do Before Bringing A Dog Home

A dog is man’s best friend. You’ve probably heard that statement too often, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Dogs are the perfect pets or housemates to have. Pick the right one for you and your family, and you’ll have the most loyal and lovable creature! Numerous studies highlight the several benefits of owning a dog. But if you’re thinking about owning a pet dog for the first time, there are some things you should do first. Here are a few:

Have a good supply of healthy food and treats:

While you may visit several places to get dog food and treats, you don’t need to wait to get a dog before attempting to find the right one. Dog nutrition is complex, and you must ensure that you get the right dog food and treats to help your new family member grow and stay healthy. Be sure to find a reliable and holistic pet store with different dog food types, treats, and other supplies your dog will need. And this leads to the next point:

Stock up on essential dog supplies:

In addition to food, your dog will need several other essentials to make them comfortable, healthy, and safe. These supplies include food and water bowls, a crate, a bed and sleeping area, a dog collar and leash, dog toys, stain and odor removal cleaners, and so much more.

Prepare everyone in your home for their new responsibility:

A dog is a fun addition to the family, but these little guys also have some responsibility. And if you live with others in your home, it’s only right that you prepare them for this. Share the various responsibilities of dog care amongst your family before you bring the dog home. For example, decide who will take care of its daily meals, take the dog out for walks, handle the dog’s training, etc.

Prepare a safe spot for the dog to play and sleep in:

If you’re expecting to bring home a pup, then it needs a safe space to play and sleep in. This space should be confined enough to restrict it from wandering away when not supervised. A safe and confined space also gives a pup enough time to learn its house manners and a spot to chill out comfortably.

Be sure that you’re ready for the responsibility:

If you live alone and cannot rely on anyone else to help you take care of your dog, then you need to be sure that you’re more than ready for the extra load of responsibility. If you have a very busy lifestyle, for example, you must first make enough time in your schedule to devote to your dog, from taking it out for walks to trips to the vet. Also, you might want to make sure that dogs do not trigger any allergic reactions from you.

Once you have implemented these tips, you and your family are ready to welcome your new and special addition. Life truly is great when you have a healthy and loving dog!

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Aug4

Fourth Watercolor Project

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Fourth Watercolor Project

Hello! I have a vast repertoire of hobbies and enjoy reading, ice skating, writing, swimming, and, of course, shopping in my free time. Watercolor painting is a recent hobby that I’ve added to this list and I have been loving it and trying my hand at different projects as often as I can. This past weekend, I made this little painting for my nieces while Johnny took a nap lol check it out:

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My sister and brother-in-law have their daughter, Valerie, and will have another little girl very soon. We are SO excited and I wanted to make something adorable for their bed or playroom. They most certainly are cute as a button so inspiration for my most recent project was really easy to come by!

Val’s favorite colors are purple and pink so I obviously had to incorporate that and I think she will be super happy about the palette I chose. She’s also not old enough to know good art, either, so that’s another win lol. Good art or not, it was fun to make and I like how it turned out so that’s all that matters. 😀

Every time I paint something, I come up with ideas for another project that I would like to do. Without the watercolor class that I took, I would have never thought that it would be an activity that I would enjoy. However, here we are now on my fourth project and I am eager to continue creating more and more. I have some sketches ready to paint when I can and I also plan on making a rainbow painting for my nieces. I can’t wait to show all of you!

Have you started a new hobby recently? What do you like to do in your free time? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Tune in tomorrow for bloopers from my Country Concert OOTD!

Jul31

“Weird Al” Yankovic Concert

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“Weird Al” Yankovic Concert

Hello!! This past Wednesday, my dad, brother, Johnny, and I went to see “Weird Al” Yankovic in concert at the Goodyear Theater in Akron. My brother and I haven’t seen “Weird Al” since 2012 during his Mandatory Fun tour and we had an absolute blast! Although we all stayed up way too late on a school night, we would do it again in a heartbeat for two and a half hours of nonstop laughs. Let’s get to it:

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As you can see by the pictures, we didn’t have the best seats for The Unfortunate Return Of The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. We were in the very last row of the balcony! However, this was actually fine by us because it was like having our own little private section and no one was breathing all over us lol. Despite the crappy pictures, we could still see everything perfectly… Except for when the stage lights were blinding us!

The show began with a set by comedian, Emo Phillips, and it was a riot. Him and “Weird Al” have been touring together for years now and he is also one of Johnny’s favorites so it was cool to see him live. He was SO damn funny and one of his jokes was one of the best parts of the night. Emo mentioned there were probably some liberals here and people cheered. Then, he said there were probably some conservatives here and some guy yelled “YEAH”. To which Emo replied with “Oh, okay. Don’t worry – I won’t talk about politics, religion, or science”. I think this guy was looking for some type of confirmation but he got completely MERKED and that’s always nice to see! 😀

After a rousing set by Emo, it was time for Yankovic to take the stage. The very long name of his tour meant that he was going to be performing some of his lesser known hits, which were primarily non-parody songs. He also told us stories about how each song came to be before playing them so it was neat to hear him just talking to us.

The opening number of the set was “CNR” and songs like “Lame Claim To Fame”, “Close But No Cigar”, “I’ll Sue Ya”, “Dog Eat Dog”, “First World Problems”, and “Skipper Dan” were all included. A moving coffee shop rendition of “Dare To Be Stupid” was also performed. We saw him play that during the Mandatory Fun tour and it was even funnier the second time around. That was definitely one of our favorite songs of the show!

To wrap things up before a lengthy encore, “Weird Al” told us about how his biopic “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” will be released in November. He said he didn’t know how to feel about it, though, because there’s already a song that tells his life story… ALBUQUERQUE!!!!! So, obviously, everyone lost their shit and he added all kinds of silly bits to it that included starting the song over from the beginning. It was the absolute best.

An amazing time was had by all at the concert and we must do our due diligence to protect “Weird Al” Yankovic at all costs. The man is a national treasure!! ❤

What is your favorite “Weird Al” song? Who else is excited for his biopic? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul28

A Stroll In The Garden OOTD Bonus Pics

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A Stroll In The Garden OOTD Bonus Pics

Hello everyone and welcome to some bonus pics from my Stroll In The Garden OOTD! This is neither here nor there but, as I type this, there is something stuck in my eye and it’s super uncomfortable/annoying. Happy Monday, am I right? ANYWHO, this little OOTD was shot by my dad and he did a bang up job! And, something very special happened afterwards so let’s get to it:

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My niece, Valerie, was over when we were taking these pictures and was outside with my mom while my dad was snapping pics. Val is my lil BFF and she is always joined at my hip whenever we are together so it was pretty amazing that these pictures could even happen! Now, normally, Val refuses to get her picture taken so we were all shocked when the unthinkable happened… She said she wanted to take pictures too!

After a few more minutes of OOTD pics, I was able to take Val’s pictures and it warmed my cold, bitter heart like no other. We all knew it was because she wanted to be doing what I was doing and it was just so freaking cute. Her and I ran around the backyard finding good patches of grass because, oddly enough, she didn’t want pictures by flowers. She showed off her cool dance moves and took her TT’s directions well when she felt like it. 😀

I couldn’t wait to share the pics that I took with my sister and brother-in-law and they were equally as surprised from Val’s apparent change of heart for getting her picture taken. Val makes me proud all of the time but this moment is definitely in my top five. Maybe we have a future blogger in the family?!

Do you like having your picture taken? Or do you prefer to be the one taking the pictures? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul18

Fun Summer Activities For All

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Fun Summer Activities For All

With the summer vacation still in full swing, you may be busy thinking of ways to keep the children entertained through the summer. There are countless ways that you can do this and it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune – many places will offer deals regularly to save you money. Take a look below for some amazing ideas for summer:

Theme Parks:

First on our list is theme parks! Most people enjoy the adrenaline rush they get when they attend theme parks. You could make it your mission to visit all of the theme parks around your surrounding areas by going to one per summer. Make a list and tick them off as you go. If you are venturing out with all the family, then make sure everyone is aware of what they can and can’t go on. You don’t want any last minute tantrums when the children aren’t tall enough for a ride.

Aquariums:

Something that is both amazing and relaxing at the same time is aquariums. They are full of marine life that you can spend hours watching. Watching these beautiful fish and mammals swimming around can bring you a feeling of utter peace and tranquility. Being closer to nature has this effect when you take it all in. Taking the children along to an aquarium means that they can attend the talks and feeds throughout the day. This is a great educational experience for children and they can learn all about marine life and how to play their part to keep it safe.

Museums:

If you want to do something that involves being quiet for a couple of hours, then how about a museum? Children love exploring museums and you are bound to have a couple nearby that you can take them to. This doesn’t just have to be art museums, you could also take a road trip to the natural history museum or the science museum. Both of these have exhibits that will keep the children entertained and in awe for hours on end. A lot of museums offer free entry during the summer break, which is a great way to save money.

Bowling:

Bowling can be fun and competitive for the whole family. Many places are giving families great value deals over the summer. One such example is Bowl. Dine. Unwind. Family Fun at your local arcade. The great thing about bowling alleys is that you can now wear your own shoes. Provided these are not high heels or open toed. A lot of people were very self-conscious or grossed out about the bowling shoes so many refused to go. This development means that they have opened themselves up to everyone now.

Summer break is the perfect time to make and capture memories that you and your family will remember for years to come. Have fun with the above ideas!

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Jul16

Baby Shower Gift Ideas

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Baby Shower Gift Ideas

Hello!! My sister and brother-in-law will soon be welcoming another sweet little girl into their family and I am so excited!! Their oldest daughter, Valerie, is my BFF and I know that she will be the best big sister. Because they already have SO many clothes, toys, and essentials from when Val was born, Johnny and I were stumped on what to gift them for their newest addition. So, I decided to come up with a list of ideas if any of you are in a similar situation or the expecting family doesn’t have a registry. Let’s get to it:

Gift Cards:

This is the route that Johnny and I took for my sister and brother-in-law and we bought several gift cards for gas stations, Target, and a Visa gift card. Some people say gift cards as a present are thoughtless and I say: FALSE. Gift cards are great because the parents can buy the things that they know they need and won’t have to deal with the hassle of returning unwanted items. Visa gift cards are awesome because the giftee won’t be limited to what store to purchase at. Gas and grocery cards are also sure to be welcome since everything is so freaking expensive now!

Essentials:

I originally asked my sister if we could buy her a supply of wipes, formula, and diapers but she told me she was well stocked already. However, this is another gift that would be sure to please – just make sure you ask what their preferred brands are! A stock pile of baby necessities will help your giftee save money as well as *hopefully* eliminate some late night runs to the store when the last diaper is gone.

Various Clothes Sizes:

Expecting parents are sure to get a ton of clothes in newborn sizes but not be able to use them all with a constantly growing infant. You can help this situation by purchasing clothes in a multitude of sizes from six to nine months and up. Once again, this will save an errand for going to the store and exchanging sizes or finding a new item all together.

If you are looking for something more one of a kind than clothing at a chain store, you can go the online boutique route. How adorable are these personalized baby boy gifts?!

Just Ask:

If the person you are purchasing for doesn’t have a gift registry, just ask them! This is what I did with my sister and all she told me was that she needed a new changing pad. I wasn’t satisfied with just this, though, and purchased gift cards as well. Being able to get someone exactly what they need is a wonderful thing so there is no harm in asking about it.

Nursery Gifts:

If you are looking for something more personal to gift, then you can always go the homemade route to help decorate the nursery. You could paint some sweet baby animals, crochet a stuffed toy, or even knit a little sweater or hat. Not only will it be appreciated now but it will be an amazing keepsake for later! If you are not crafty, you can enlist the help of local artists for the task.

Welcoming a new baby is such an exciting thing for all parties involved and you can shake the stress of the perfect gift with the ideas above!

Do you have a new addition coming to your family soon? What do you like to gift for baby showers? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

Preparing Your Home For Guests

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Preparing Your Home For Guests

Summer is the perfect time to welcome guests into your home. People are on vacation from school or work and there is nothing better than sharing in warm weather activities with close friends or family. While you don’t need to do a whole HGTV level overhaul of your house to prepare for guests, there are a few things that you can do to make them more comfortable:

Dietary Restrictions/Preferences:

Before your guests arrive, it is important to ask if they have any dietary needs to accommodate. Are they gluten free? Do they prefer tea or coffee in the morning? Not only does this show that you care but you can also stock your fridge ahead of time to skip a mad dash to the grocery store. Planning accordingly also means that you can plan meals ahead of time as well as find local restaurants that have options for dietary needs.

Prep The Guest Room:

Your guest room does not need to be set to the standards of a five star hotel but a little effort can go a long way. If you want to go all out, Pinterest has great suggestions for decorating a guest room. If not, that’s okay too! Extra blankets, towels, and toiletries will always be appreciated. How many times have you traveled to realize you forgot your toothbrush or shower gel?

Make Necessary Repairs:

Before you receive your guests, it is crucial to repair any home appliance that needs it. Extra people in your home means more dishes, laundry, and meal prep so it’s good to get these appliances checked out if they are not functioning as they should. The last thing you want is to be waiting around for a repair person all day while you could be having summer fun!

Have Activities In Mind:

Of course, all of your days with your guest don’t need to be jam packed. But, it will be fun to show them around the area especially if they have never been before. Local attractions, restaurants, and boutiques are all part of what makes your neck of the woods special so show it off! For chill days at home, a BBQ and backyard or indoor games work just as well.

Summertime is even better when it’s enjoyed with good company. Follow the tips above and I’m sure your guests will want to come by next summer too!

Jul8

Keeping Your Kids In Check This Summer

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Keeping Your Kids In Check This Summer

Summer vacation is every parent’s dream and nightmare. On the one hand, you enjoy not needing to worry about school for a couple of months. You can have a bit of a lie in every morning and avoid the extra stress of getting everyone up and ready for the mad rush.

On the other hand, you’re faced with keeping your children occupied for multiple weeks in a row. It can start off pretty easy – and there are plenty of fun activities you can do with them, but it quickly gets very challenging. The biggest challenge is ensuring your kids stay well-behaved. When they get bored they can get a bit rowdy, which is exactly what you do not need when it’s very hot and sweaty outside.

Luckily, there is one very easy way to keep your kids in check during summer vacation: create a behavioral chart:

What is a behavioral chart?

Basically, it is a chart where you make a note of your child’s good or bad behavior. When they do something bad, you put a mark on the chart to show that. If they do something good – like help out around the house or mow the lawn, they get a positive mark instead.

It’s a very simple idea and you can make your own chart extremely quickly. Just create a table on your computer with your kids’ names on it. Then, head online and make stickers that correspond to good or bad behavior. This could be a smiley face sticker for good and a frown face for bad. Once everything is printed out and delivered, you’re ready to rock and roll.

How does this encourage well-behaved kids?

You might think that making a chart and tracking your kid’s behavior is a bit weird. However, the whole idea is that you make a game out of it. Think of it this way, you’re setting a challenge for your children that lasts the entire summer. They have to avoid getting bad behavior marks, aiming to get as many good marks as possible.

I know what you’re thinking; how do you make your kids care about this? Ah, well this is where the incentive comes in! Create a challenge that ends with a reward of sorts. It can be a toy, money, a trip to an adventure park – whatever you think your kids will enjoy the most. The challenge can be a target for your children to meet or avoid. By the end of summer, they should have as few bad marks on their chart as possible so set them a limit that they cannot go past. If they pass this limit, they fail the challenge and don’t get the prize. You could even add in a bonus prize for whoever has the most happy stickers on their chart.

Your children will be on their best behavior because they know they will be rewarded by the end of summer vacation. You can enjoy a more peaceful summer with kids that are very eager to help around the house and they can enjoy a nice prize at the end before going back to school. It’s a massive win-win!

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Jul7

Watercolor Painting Class

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Watercolor Painting Class

Hello!! This past Saturday I took a really fun watercolor painting class at the Quirk Cultural Center with my mom and sister. The class was led by the wonderful Ana-Joel of Falcon Grove Studio and she taught us how to paint different herbs inspired by an English country garden. To begin, Ana showed us the different techniques to paint rosemary, sage, mint, and basil and then we got to create our own masterpieces:

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My mom, sister, and I would definitely not fall under the category of artistically skilled and have never painted with watercolor before. However, we all jumped at the opportunity to take this class because it was local and seemed like something we could enjoy together. I am so glad that we did and left the class with work that we were proud of and an eagerness to take more classes with Ana again.

Ana is an amazing local artist who founded Falcon Grove Studio during the pandemic to help promote a feeling of safety and wellness at home through art. She is so gifted, kind, and genuine and we all felt lucky to have her as our teacher. Her words inspired each of the students in the class and I loved how she told us that art is special because it’s the way your own body moves to create something. As someone who isn’t good at art, it was so encouraging to hear that you are still making something meaningful.

As I said, I had never painted watercolor before and I had a blast. It was such a unique experience and I was blown away by this whole world that I knew existed but never tried for myself. Ana taught us how to mix colors and use the water to enhance our art and it was so cool to see colors transform from something as simple as adding a touch of yellow or red and a “juicy brush” loaded with water.

For my project, I chose to paint basil and sage and I couldn’t be more pleased with how they turned out. Are they museum level works of art? No way lol. BUT, I thought that it was a pretty damn good first try. Not only did I feel proud of what I painted but I also felt excited to try painting more and I think that definitely qualifies as a GREAT SUCCESS (Borat voice).

Ana offers a variety of different courses in person and online and I simply cannot wait to work with her again. I also have ideas swirling in my head for some commissioned pieces by her! Please check out her social media and Etsy page at the following and support this fabulous local artist:

What is your favorite medium of art? Have you ever taken any art classes before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah