Tag Archives: playing

Feb19

Sunny Days Ahead

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Sunny Days Ahead

Hello! Is it just me or has this winter left a lot to be desired? January felt like it was five months long and February was particularly rough due to the passing of our beloved neighbor. I feel so mentally and physically drained. However, I did perk up this morning when I checked the weather because guess what?! It is going to be almost sixty degrees in Akron, Ohio and that sounds like just what the doctor ordered. It’s amazing what a bit of warmth and sunshine can do to boost your mood and it had me thinking of all of the things I can’t wait to do in the spring. Like the following:

Spring Hiking Spree:

My brother and I are avid hikers and it is our go to activity as soon as the weather warms up. During the winter, we hit the gym for our workouts but in the spring you can always catch us on the trails! The metro parks in our neck of the woods offers a fall and spring hiking spree and we can’t wait to participate in both of them. This will be our second year of completing the spring spree and the third year for the fall. It’s hard not to feel good when you’re immersed in nature, taking a leisurely stroll, and enjoying great company. Bring it on!

Planting Flowers:

My dad has two green thumbs and I love to help him plant flowers in the garden as soon as the appropriate weather strikes. Whether we are scattering seeds in the wildflower patch, making arrangements in raised planters, or simply cleaning up the debris from the winter – it is fun because we’re together! It’s exciting to start a project and watch it grow and come to life. The best of all is when I show up at my mom and dad’s and see the beautiful bouquets he creates from our handiwork as a greeting on the kitchen table. ❤

Warm Weather Clothing:

As much as I adore breaking out my coats, heavy sweaters, and winter accessories for OOTDs, I am SO over it lol. What started out as a mild winter went into a stretch of frigid days and lots of snow in mid January. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of summer but I have been begging for it since then! It is going to be so glorious to step outside in shorts and a T-shirt for work or flouncy sundresses for a weekend date with my main squeeze. Seventy degrees and sunny is my ideal temperature but if it were a hundred degrees tomorrow you would not find me complaining. I don’t do well in really hot weather but trust and believe I would be basking in it like a lizard lol.

Playing Outside:

Johnny and I have three sweet nieces who live nearby and there is nothing better than playing outside all together. I revel in unleashing my inner child with my favorite old hobbies of blowing bubbles, picking flowers, drawing with chalk, and running around the yard like crazy people. Whether we are hitting up the park or staying close to home, the piece de resistance is a frozen treat or something cold to drink afterwards. The cool down is wonderful until it’s back outdoors for more warm weather activities! I am particularly excited to go bunny watching with them in my parents’ yard because there are always a bunch come springtime. ❤

Reading Outside:

As you all know, reading is one of my most treasured hobbies and it is such a simple pleasure to be able to read outside. When it’s nice out, I love to sit on our little patio at the apartment with a glass of lemonade and a good book. Feeling the sunshine on my face as I get lost in a story just makes the whole world disappear and it’s so damn nice to check out for a little while. As much as I love curling up on the couch with whatever book I’m working on, I plan on taking the majority of my reading outdoors whenever the weather is ready!

After a crummy few months, I just know that there are Sunny Days Ahead and I have been chomping at the bit since yesterday!

What is your favorite springtime activity? What are you looking forward to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan17

Vampire Survivor

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Vampire Survivor

Oh hey! The day after Christmas I couldn’t get to my computer fast enough to shop the Bath & Body Works Semi Annual Sale. I made out like a bandit and got seventeen products for sixty dollars! Johnny also did some shopping as PlayStation was having a sale. He fared incredibly well and got five or so games for around thirty dollars. While he bought a few recognizable game titles like Assassin’s Creed, the piece de resistance was something more obscure. A two dollar game called Vampire Survivor. Since Johnny’s purchase, we have been playing it nonstop and have gotten our money’s worth and then some. It’s great! Also be sure to check my TikTok for videos from Vampire Survivor too. 😀

Have you ever started playing a game and felt immediately overwhelmed by it? The game play, the rules, the items, the everything? Well, that is SO not the case for Vampire Survivor because literally all you do is walk. That’s right, you walk, choose items as you level up, and slay the demons in your path. That’s it and that’s all. And you know what? It’s awesome! Vampire Survivor is a game that anyone can play by simply picking up a controller. Classic gamers will love the highly visible nod to Castlevania (There’s a Castlevania expansion too!) and new players will enjoy its ease of play while still feeling like you are kicking major butt. No one can tell me nothin when I am playing Vampire Survivor!

Each level of Vampire Survivor has an end in sight. Survive thirty minutes and you win. Now, it might start out as easy but don’t let that fool you. You will need to be smart about which weapons you choose to defeat the masses and when they start crowding, they don’t stop until you are completely surrounded. The wrong weapons choice could be your downfall. Or it could be your saving grace when you level all of them up. Believe me, it looks amazing when you do! There is also legit nothing better than making it the full thirty minutes when you are backed into a corner and thousands of demons encircle you. 😀

If you are looking for an ultra fun game, then I truly cannot recommend Vampire Survivor enough. When Johnny and I first started playing, we were nowhere close to lasting through thirty minutes of a level. This wasn’t frustrating, though, and if anything it made us want to keep playing more to unlock better weapons and characters. Now, we can get through levels like it’s *almost* nothing and look forward to playing every day when we get home from work. Best two dollar purchase ever!

Johnny and I will be hibernating for the rest of the winter with Vampire Survivor and I can’t think of anything I’d rather do more!

What is your favorite video game? Have you played Vampire Survivor before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr7

Chewy Boxes: A Bunny’s Favorite Toy

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Chewy Boxes: A Bunny’s Favorite Toy

Hello!! My bunnies, Melvin and Penelope, are my precious angels. Things have been very glum in Lil Red’s world for a long time and Mel and Pen have brought so much joy into my life. Johnny and I truly couldn’t have picked a better time to welcome these two little balls of fluff into our home and I miss them constantly when I’m out! We are very proud bunny parents and as a pet mom, it is my job to spoil them rotten and Mel and P definitely aren’t complaining about it. 😀

Two bunnies means lots of everything! We have to restock our supplies on Chewy fairly often for bedding, pellet food, hay, and their cage cleaner. And, with every order, I can’t resist buying them lots of toys. However, it’s the Chewy boxes that are always the biggest hit:

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Melvin is my tiny wanderer and has a very playful disposition. Pen, on the other hand, is much more chill but has come out of her shell a lot since adopting them in November. They both enjoy playing with the toys in their hutch well enough, but their true play time comes when we give them free rein of their bunny proofed area. Johnny and I have them out several times a day for hours on end and it is such fun to see them zipping around and getting into adorable mischief. And, of course, having lots of box time!

When Johnny and I were preparing for the arrival of our pets, the Chewy boxes were arriving non-freaking-stop. We had grand dreams of building a cardboard castle for them, which I still hope will come into fruition in the future. However, the bunnies have been doing a pretty good job of making their own hideout all by themselves. For the past month or so, Mel and P have been working diligently at creating a tunnel in one of the Chewy boxes to dash in and out of. The work has been slow going because I limit their time playing with the cardboard so it doesn’t hurt their bellies. And, this past week, they finally achieved success!

I take the bunnies out every morning when I’m working and it was hysterical to watch their little faces poke out of the tunnel they were making. I would look down and there would be a sweet bunny face looking back at me from the cubby hole; It was the cutest! Mel and P worked so hard to create another access point into their box and I am honestly so proud of them lol. It is also the perfect spot to play bunny peek-a-boo at, which is one of their favorite games. Like I said, SO f’ing cute!

Toys from Chewy are great, but the boxes are second to none when it comes to Mel and P’s entertainment. Lucky for them, I just placed a big order on Chewy so another box will be at their disposal soon. I can’t wait to see what they do with it!

What is your pet’s favorite toy? Where do you get your pet supplies from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr4

How Sports Parents Can Empower Their Kids

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How Sports Parents Can Empower Their Kids

Whether you had a childhood love of sports that your kids are picking up or you simply want to see them succeed and grow in all that they do, it’s easy for parents to get emotionally involved in their kids’ teams and competitions. Parents have an important role in helping their child do the best they can, too. You just need to know the right ways to empower them:

Get Involved:

If you want your child to feel your support, then actually get involved in supporting the team. There’s usually a whole troop of parents helping with the organization and administration of school sports teams, from arranging trips to helping design uniforms. Volunteer your time, show up early to practice, and attend every game. If you’re net savvy, you can even offer to run a social media page for the team or, otherwise, share their posts and contribute feedback. Let your child feel the support for the whole team, not just the pressure on themselves.

Supporting the whole team is what being a sports parent is all about and can create a more positive experience for every player. Be the parent who brings snacks and a cooler full of sports drinks. Be the parent who is happy to carpool to practice. Be the support during a difficult loss and the one who gets the party started after a big win. Designing banners with a company like Milestone Banners (or a similar one in your local area) could be an awesome way to kick start a banquet or championship party. You could even raffle it off at the end of the season as a keepsake for a lucky team member or MVP.

Talk About It:

Knowing how your child actually feels about the sport and their own performance is just as important. It’s not uncommon for parents to fall into the trap of encouraging a child to succeed in a sport that they might not necessarily be into. Ask your child how they feel about practice, the team, and the responsibilities that come with a sport. Give them somewhere safe to vent their frustrations and share their concerns. Look at Active for Life for ideas on topics to broach if they’re having trouble opening up. Even if they love the game, they could use someone to talk to if they have suffered a loss or a roadblock during practice.

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 Lace up!

Invest If They’re Invested:

Mental attitude and physical training aren’t all that can influence a game. If your child is serious about their sport, it helps if you are, too. Not just by supporting them, but by investing in the gear that can help them succeed. If they’re a goalkeeper, browse Renegade GK for more information on how the right gloves can improve their game. If they’re a member of a youth baseball league, make sure you’re looking for the best regulation bats on the market. The right equipment doesn’t just make changes to how they play the game. It’s an effective way of showing your support and belief in your child.

Don’t Push Too Hard:

Know when to step back and take a breath. When a member of the team makes a mistake or when a referee misses a call, it can be easy to feel your cool being tested. But by pushing too hard, you might only end up embarrassing your child and even prompting them to lose their love of the game. Support them, but don’t try and be their advocate every second during practice and matches. Talk to the coach if you have some thoughts, but don’t push and put too much pressure on them.

Being a sports parent is all about knowing your boundaries and knowing what you can do within them. Support, advise, and help, but be aware that you’re not the coach, the referee, or the player. Try to always keep things positive and constructive, and watch your athlete succeed.

Featured Image By: Pexels