Category: Kids & Parenting

Other fun things, ideas, thoughts, and suggestions

How to create great kids summer memories

How to create great kids summer memories

Posted on by Stella

Finally, summer is here! This winter seemed to be endless! But, it did end, and now it’s July! Schools are closed and kids can finally catch a breath from all those obligations! Unfortunately, I still have to work, but seeing my happy kids and how free they feel, is all I need to be happy, too! Since there are only that many summers you have to live as a kid, I wanted to share some tips on how to help create great kids summer memories! These tips help me with my own family, or so I want to believe! After all, my kids aren’t grown up yet to know for sure what they will remember! But, hey, I was a very happy summer kid, so those experiences help me now, too!

create kids summer memories friends sea1
We are fortunate to have some lovely beaches nearby to chill and just let the time pass and the sun shine on us

Let them be with their friends for awesome kids summer memories

We all know how important our friends are, and even more so for when you are a kid! So it’s important to find ways for your kids to stay in touch with their friends, make new ones and meet and play! Meeting at parks, pools, and playgrounds is a great way to let them run free and have fun! I like to invite their friends to our home, too! Here they can play all together with our party game Wii, our DIY ping pong table, throw some hoops and just talk and laugh! One of my favorite sights, although it might seem odd, is their shoes outside our door!! The more shoes, the more good company, the more fun!!!

create kids summer memories friends
The more shoes of the friends of my kids outside my doorstep, the more great kids summer memories!

Let kids decide about what to do next

This is summer, so the “program” should not actually be a program. It should be flexible, fun, and spontaneous! Making up their own routine and do what they feel like doing, gives them a chance to get to feel that they are in charge of their own life and entertainment. Let them stay out late, watching the stars, and look after some that are falling to make a wish! They will definitely have wonderful summer memories when they get older, telling the stories of “Remember when we just began a water-balloon fight in the back yard and kept going until it was dark but we could find each other because of the light from the moon and stars???”

how to create great kids summer memories
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Being bored in summer is an absolute must

I don’t know about you, but one of my fondest memories is having to stay in my room at midday, reading comic books, and being quiet while the grown-ups took their siesta! The room was always hot, shades down so not too much of the sun was getting in, birds singing and the cicadas chirping! It was so amazing peaceful, maybe even boring, but it would build up so much anticipation of getting to meet all my friends in the afternoon! Also, being bored sometimes is one of the best ways to find new activities and fun things to do.

You don’t need to have fancy vacations to for your kids to make great summer memories

Ok, going on vacation definitely has its advantages! But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun at home and create great summer memories! The backyard, the balcony, even inside, can become a true stage of memory creation! Let the kids explore everything, cartograph their neighborhood, walk around with their friends if they are older! We got them a telescope one year to search the skies, and they loved it! Even searching in your attic and finding exciting things and learning about their history is a great way to have unforgettable moments!

Let kids explore more and have a little more freedom

I know this one is hard to do! I really know! My kids don’t want to go to a summer camp, but if they wanted to, I would try to convince myself to let them go! It’s important for kids to know they can achieve so many things on their own! Since my kids don’t go to summer camps, I try to leave them with my parents in my village for at least a couple of weeks. I don’t want to overwhelm my parents, so I go there on weekends, too! They are completely transformed – in a good way! – after these weeks at my parents! They always have a blast, they make new friends, go to the beach and learn that they can do without mom and dad, even if it is for only such a short time! We keep working all of this time. And to be honest, although these weeks feel weird without our kids, it’s a wonderful opportunity for me and my husband to reconnect after a long, tiresome winter!

Create kids summer memories friends by letting them explore
Create kids summer memories friends by letting them explore

Make keepsakes for your kids summer memories and let them make a mess

Summer is a wonderful time to take lots of photos and save things and memorabilia that will remind them of some fun they had! Also, gather beach treasures! At home, let your kids think of ideas on how to turn those into keepsakes, like making a scrapbook using them or frame them! We framed beach pebbles in the shape of a heart, made a dolphin out of sea-glass, and a matching frame with art out of seashells! If you want, check out our stories about them:

Summer is the ideal time for kids to play outside and make a mess! Let them play with water and earth, paint rocks and gather sticks and flowers! Inspire them and encourage them to try new techniques to make art and crafts! This way they will also be creating summer keepsakes by the way, and of course, happy memories! If you want some tips on how to choose the perfect craft project for your kids, check out our article:

Here are some more art and craft ideas for your kids to make this summer:

Teach them how to create their own happiness

As you can see, there is so much fun to be had with such simple things! Let your kids take the lead from now to then, and you will see that they will find the way to create happiness out of thin air, it seems! Just give them the freedom to do so, safely of course. And maybe – just maybe- this will help them create their happiness when they are all grown – up, too! Let’s hope so!!!

If you like this post, share it with friends who might want to know about how to create great kids summer memories, too!!

Meeting Don Rosa at TheComicCon Thessaloniki

Meeting Don Rosa at TheComicCon Thessaloniki

Posted on by Stella
Don Rosa banner

I don’t think I have mentioned this, but I am a huge Scrooge McDuck Universe fan! I love the Duck family since I was little, and I always prefered their stories instead of the Mickey Mouse ones. Unfortunately, most of my comic book collection got lost when my family moved from Germany to Greece. But, I soon discovered a greek comic book series which was a collectible one and it’s called ΚΟΜΙΞ (KOMIX). The unusual thing about this series was that they always had articles and editorials. They would analyze the stories and introduce the creators of the stories! It was so fun and interesting to read indepth information about all that!

Don Rosa Scrooge statue
Me and this wonderful statue of Don Rosa’s Scrooge McDuck

What I love about Don Rosa’s Duck Stories

I soon realized that I loved the duck stories of a particular artist the most! The illustration had so much detail, the stories where so funny and every info seemed to be well-researched and accurate!! Well, as accurate it could be in a universe full of ducks!. The artist’s name was Don Rosa (learn more about him)! He truly is the best after Carl Barks, in my opinion. He transformed and continued Carl Bark’s stories, explained their backrounds and improved the story telling. I would read all Don Rosa’s stories first and I even bought special editions with his stories in them! One of the best known stories by Don Rosa is “The Complete Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck” and it’s epic! I love it for letting us see how Scrooge McDuck became the character he was and get to know his family history!

Finding out Don Rosa comes to my hometown!

Lucky Luke -ehm – welcoming everybody to The Comic Con

So after all this, I found out that he would come to my hometown, Thessaloniki Greece, for a Comic Con! As soon as I saw this I reserved two-day tickets, to make sure that I would be able to get some of my comic books signed! Unfurtunatly, we were only allowed two signings per person, but, since I went with my husband, we could bring four books!

Meeting Don Rosa

After a couple of months, the time finally came! We went to Thessaloniki and took off to the place the Comic Con would take place! Since we made it there only in the afternoon, I was so dissapointed to find out that we could not see him! There were so many people there already, the line was closed! We made the best out of it and visited the rest of the Comic Con, which was absolutely fantastic! Not only comic books, but everything fantasy and even board games where available to see and explore!

Don Rosa The Comic Con
Me and Don Rosa!

We returned the next day, half an hour before the Comic Con opened it’s doors! I wanted to make sure we would not miss our last chance to see Don Rosa! And we didn’t!!! We were one of the first in line and soon we were able to see him up close. Don Rosa was very kind and he would talk to each fan for a couple of minutes! We shot some nice pics and he signed our four comic books, plus some of his prints that we bought on the spot! I was so excited and happy, a dream came true! I have to point out, that I have never stood in line for an autograph before, it never felt like something I wanted to do, but with this artist it was completely different! And I was soooo happy!!!

Don Rosa
Don Rosa signing some of his books in my collection!

Comic Con Thessaloniki – was it worth visiting it?

After meeting Don Rosa, we continued visiting the rest of the awesome The Comic Con! There where so many wonderful, talented artists there, some well-known and established and a lot of new, upcoming and very creative new ones! It was lovely meeting them and their work! Also, the convention was full of super nice statues and props, cosplay artists, fantasy and comic book accessories, and much more wonderful stuff! There also were happenings, seminars, and speeches taking place, about comic books and art. Finally, for us, we loved the board game sections where we could even try and play some of the games that are on our wish list!

We didn’t take our two kids as we didn’t know how much waiting would be involved, but if I knew how easy the second time would be, I definetly would have brought them for the experience. Well, they will come along to the next Thessaloniki Comic Con, even if there will be no Don Rosa…! There will be definitely many many nice things for them to see and be inspired!

Mike and “Batman”… because there can only be one Batman, and that’s Christian Bale!

If you liked my post, you might like these posts, too:

This post contains affiliate links of products I recommend, which means I may receive a commission if you click an ad link and purchase something, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Keep Calm Tips for a New Mom

Keep Calm Tips for a New Mom

Posted on by Stella
new mom newborn baby

The first days with a newborn can be as beautiful as they can be stressful for a new mom. Against all beliefs, carrying for an infant does not come that easy to most women. Motherhood might be about instincts, but there is a lot of learning-as-you-go involved, too. Here are five tips, for those first days at home, just to help a new mother to keep her perspective. Please note that I am in no way an expert, trained, or qualified professional, I am just a mom with a blog, writing my own tips for a new mom.

This post contains affiliate links of products I recommend, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. Thank you!

1. Don’t believe everything you hear

First of all: Don’t expect everything to be as you have read or heard about in those all so beautiful – what a perfect day – stories. Not a single baby is like the next one – not one! And so isn’t the mother. Other mothers get quickly the hang of carrying for their baby; others simply need some time to figure everything out.   

2. Don’t be shy about asking for help

Take a deep breath and ask for help as soon as you feel that you need it! Most things a newborn does, in the beginning, are normal. Call your pediatrician if you have any – and I mean any – questions about your baby. They will (or they ought to) understand. You can ask another recent mom, which you relate to, for some quick advice. Also, keep in mind that it is not necessary to do it all on the first day at home with your newborn baby. For example, you can bath your baby the next day. So, concentrate on your baby, get to know it, don’t deal with other things or phone calls, and let somebody else do chores and run for errands.

3. Know what normal is

Your baby might lose some weight at the beginning, but there is no reason to worry about it. A 5% weight loss is considered normal for a formula-fed newborn, while a 7%-10% loss is considered normal for the breastfed baby. Most babies should be back at birth weight by days 10-14 of life (source). If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician.

It is normal for your baby to sneeze and to have hiccups often! There is no need to worry about it. But if you still are… consult your pediatrician!

My baby boy never crawled like most babies. He moved sitting up, using his one foot to push himself forward. At first, I was worried! But then I talked to our pediatrician who said that a small percentage of babies move this way, and that the important things were our baby’s willingness to move and the fact that he found a way to do exactly that!

Do you like my post? Feel free to pin it and share with others:

keep calm tips for new moms
Keep calm tips for new moms

4. There is no “baby sleep program”

As for “babies sleep programs”… well, there are none! Every baby has its own rhythm, some babies sleep for hours (lucky parents!) and others wake up often. Though, you should consult your pediatrician right away if your baby has the tendency to sleep too long in a row.

My two were very different in their sleeping habits. The first did never sleep more than two hours in a row, while the second one slept 3 to 4 hours after a couple of months. Both were breastfed babies. So you can see… everyone has his own rhythm!

And, just my two cents about the “crying it out” method: I was never a fan. It just felt wrong to me. So I choose not to do follow that method, personally. I cuddled them, carried them, stayed, laid beside them, or breastfed them, whatever I had to do to help them sleep. It was a time where I was always tired, I have to admit that. But at least, I felt I was doing what felt right for me and my babies.

5. No baby is like the next

Although there are some important milestones for all babies, these are not an exact science. Most of the norms are about the standard average, which really means that there are babies that achieve one thing sooner than other babies, and the next thing later. You shouldn’t worry too much about exact timelines or times a baby must do this or that, but keep a more general eye on your baby’s development. But you should always talk to your expert, to determine how long you can wait for your baby to achieve a milestone or if you need to take action early!

Conclusion: Keep calm, and be informed

So all in all, the motto is to be prepared, keep calm, learn from reliable sources, and know that there is no shame whatsoever in asking for help.

Remember that no one is born a mother (or a father, for that matter!), we all have to learn from scratch how to be the best we can, and that is OK!!

And in the end, after the first overwhelming feelings have passed… it will definitely be the most beautiful experience of your life!

You might be interested in my other blog posts, about babies or toddlers like:

5 Rainy Day Ideas for Toddlers

5 Rainy Day Ideas for Toddlers

Posted on by Stella

Oh, those rainy days… when there is nothing to do outside with your little one. Or is there? Why not put your rain boots and raincoats on and get outside, letting your toddler enjoy the feel of soft raindrops falling on their faces or sticking their tongue out and get a taste of it? It is sure that it will be fun for both of you! And you can always jump in the water puddle again and again (and again)! But what if it’s REALLY raining and cold and windy? Well, read on to get a few rainy day ideas for toddlers and ideas on how to have a great time inside!

Image source: Pixabay

And if these are not enough, check out some of our other blog posts with great ideas:

Reading wonderful books is also a great way to spend some time with your toddler! You can see some of our favorite books in this post here.

It is always a good idea to educate your toddler while playing – or is it playing while educating? Well, anyway, there are many things to do both while having fun!

Do you like my post? Feel free to pin it and share it!!!

rainy day ideas for toddlers
Rainy day ideas for toddlers

1. Rainy day ideas: Finger paint fun

So, learn about colors by making your own, edible (since it can’t be for sure avoided of being eaten) finger paint with some greek yogurt and food coloring and letting your toddler paint on a large sheet of paper. You can also use non-toxic, safe finger paints. Of course that will always end up in a little – or big – mess, but the fun and happy face of your kid will reward you for sure!

2. Play music for the soul

Another great idea for a rainy day toddler games is to get out instruments, or anything that could be used as such for that matter, like pots, pans, cans, boxes, and so on, and just begin to make your own interpretation of known and loved songs. Or come up with new ones of your own! There is nothing more fun for a toddler then making noise and exploring sound and music!

rainy day toddler games ideas
Image source: Pixabay

3. Water pouring for fine motor skills

Of course, for some more quiet – yet again potential messy – activity, is to give your toddler a few plastic cups and containers of different sizes, arrange them on a table and provide him with a small amount of water. Show him a few times how to pour water from one container into another and then let the kid take over! Little children just love to do play with water! And this improves their fine motor skills, too!

4. Bowling for fun rainy day toddler games

This post contains affiliate links of products I recommend, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. Thank you!

You could also try a simple bowling game! Get a bowling toy or some empty plastic bottles and arrange them on the floor so they build a triangle. Next, show your toddler how to take the ball and throw, push or kick it towards the bottles, so they fall down making noise! Let your toddler try and watch him how thrilled he will get when he hits the bottles! This will help your toddler improve his gross motor skills while having lots of fun!

5. Wooden puzzles – a classic for a reason

Last but not least, the good old wooden or plastic puzzles with large pieces. This is a quiet, yet very enjoyable game, which helps your child learn new words, recognize shapes and items and improve fine motor skills. There are a vast variety of puzzles out there from which you can choose according to the age of you toddler and of the things you want him to learn. You can find themes about shapes, animals, farms, toys, transportations, house items and so on with just two or more pieces. Your kid will have a lot of fun and a sense of achievement once it gets a piece of the puzzle in the right place. Just give it the time to try, make errors, then try again and help out by giving hints.

So, there is a lot fun stuff to do and great rainy day ideas to have a wonderful time with your toddler!

But, after all, it’s all about being with your toddler and having some quality time together. Having your full attention – this alone is enough to make your child having fun and being happy.

Our 5 Favorite (not that common) Family Board Games

Our 5 Favorite (not that common) Family Board Games

Posted on by Stella
family board games
Favorite family board games

Christmas is just around the corner and we all are looking for some great gifts, especially for the little ones. There are some wonderful, timeless family board games, that always bring joy to children, like Monopoly, UNO, Guess who?, Scrabble, Puzzles, Dominoe and so on.

I didn’t really know that there were such wonderful family board games out there, other than the common ones I mentioned. But after trying a couple of new hobbies (photography mainly – you can read about it here), we tried a new family hobby: Not that common, modern board games! Check out our top 5, that we and my kids really enjoyed or still enjoy playing.

This post contains affiliate links of products I recommend, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. Thank you!

Family Board games: Colorama (ages 3+)

The Colorama board game is a fun, colorful game that also helps children learn about colors and shapes. We have played the game over and over again and even now, that my kids are 7 and 9 they bring it out once in a while. It is an easy, fast game that all kids enjoy.

Labyrinth (7+)

The Labyrinth board game was one of my favorite board games when I was little! So naturally, I wanted to pass it on to my kids! First, I played the Labyrinth Junior (4+) with them, but they quickly got the idea. We soon moved on to the classic Labyrinth (7+). This one is more challenging but great fun and it really makes kids think!

I recently found out that there are some special editions of the game like Frozen II Junior or even a Harry Potter Labyrinth!

Leo goes to the barber (6+)

Leo goes to the Barber board game is another wonderful fun game for the kids. The goal is to get Leo in time to his barber appointment. It’s a game where the kids have to work together, which is a concept I love. They also must remember the funny obstacles or really talkative friends they find on their way.

IceCool (6+)

IceCool board game is a dexterity board game. That means that besides thinking about a strategy, you also have to use your hands to push the penguins. Everyone gets one penguin and one of them is the supervisor who tries to catch the others. The rest of the players try to get the fishes… it’s a really fast and fun game that the kids enjoy every time!

Dixit (8+)

The Dixit card game is one of the most imaginative games I have ever played. You each get cards with some beautiful, abstract, dreamy pictures.Then the player who is the storyteller has to describe it, but not too exact! The rest of the players have to add a card from their hand that get’s as close as possible to the description. Lastly, they must vote on which card they think is the storytellers. The game really gets your brain working in so many different ways! And if you ever get tired of the pictures in the main game, there are a lot of expansions with new, wonderful art out there!

Maybe you can get some useful ideas for your Christmas shopping! And if you have a board game your family enjoys playing, I’d really love to hear about it (I have to do some Christmas shopping, too!!!). And if you need some ideas about great children’s books for Christmas that we love, you can check out our post with our top 5 list.

5 Favorite Kids Books for Christmas

5 Favorite Kids Books for Christmas

Posted on by Stella

Since I became a mom, I wanted to give my children the chance to love books as much as I did. So, I tried and am still trying as best that I can, to find and read quality kids books with both of them. Reading books together don’t just add to their knowledge or just expand their mind; the most important thing about it is, in my opinion, the bonding with my kids. 

You synchronize for a small period of time your minds and having them on your lap or just putting your arms around them while reading is such a great way to enjoy these times together. I firmly believe that they will cherish these moments and I truly hope that every time they read a book they get excited about, they get the feeling of me loving and holding them, regardless of how many years have passed, or how far we are away from each other.

Kids Books you can use in a DIY Advent Calendar

So, in that spirit, I try to make a very simple, but full of joy Christmas Book Advent Calendar for my kids. They are old enough now to show their joy and anticipation each year by asking me a million times before December: Mom, will you make a Book Calendar again? Little do they know that I enjoy this more than them!!! That means, that over the years, I have gathered a collection of Christmas books or simply beloved ones. Each year I add a few new ones, but old and loved ones are always a hit.

So here are my and our family’s favorite kids books – for ages from approx. 5 to 10 – to add to a Christmas Advent Calendar or simply read them this time of the year!

This post contains affiliate links of products I recommend, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. Thank you!

Our Favorite Kids Books

1. No Matter What (Debi Gliori)

If I had to choose my undeniable favorite, it would be this one. “No Matter What” talks about the unconditional and endless love of a mother. The kid can break a thing or behave badly, turn into a beast or a big bug; a mom’s love will never end and never die. A beautiful story and a book to love and keep forever.

2. Mickey’s Christmas Carol (Disney)

This one is a classic and the edition a collectible! It is the well-known, didactic Christmas story “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, but every character is from the Micky Mouse universe. This makes the book more appealing to small children and less scary – especially when the part of the third ghost begins.

3. The Nutcracker (E.T.A. Hoffman)

A book about another world-famous Christmas story, the Nutcracker. You can find this wonderful story in tens of editions with different illustrations. I bought our greek edition just before we went to see a Ballet Performance of the Nutcracker. I love the story, the setting, the dreaminess of it. Ever since this book is part of our Advent Calendar!

4. Just right for Christmas (Birdie Black)

This one is a beautifully illustrated Christmas book that shows how something that someone doesn’t need anymore or has left over, can be turned into a present if it’s treated with love and care. I love it since it shows that presents prepared with love, bring joy to each and everyone, rich or poor, giver or receiver.

5. Someday (Alisson Mc Ghee)

A new book for this year’s calendar about mom’s love for her kids. If you are as sentimental as I am, you will love it. And cry over it. Big time. From the very beginning. But you will do your best to read it to your kids, especially to your daughter, without your voice breaking too much. Wonderful simple, this book is another one to keep and treasure for all years to come.

Tell us your Kids Books Suggestions!!!

Have you read any of these books? Did you like them as much as I did? Or do you maybe have some kids book suggestions for me that I should add to our collection?

If you don’t read books to your kids often, Christmas time and Christmas stories are ideal to finally start! Another wonderful tradition is to make your own Christmas Tree Ornaments, like the ones we made of glittery white clay or glitter foam sheets and photos! And of course, never forget making cookies! Every kid loves making, decorating and eating Christmas cookies, such as our Cookie Sleigh treat!

Greek Christmas Carols

Greek Christmas Carols

Posted on by Stella

I try to keep up with my own little family traditions, like baking Christmas cookies, preparing treats or make our own Christmas ornaments. But there is also a very important Christmas tradition that almost every family in Greece keeps. On the morning before Christmas Eve, the singing of  Greek Christmas Carols is taking place, bringing the joyful news to every home.

How the Greek Christmas Carols Tradition Unfolds

There are slightly different details on how this tradition happens from place to place. So, you can find differences in the actual time the Carols are being told, who sings them and what the melody or words of Carols someone uses. One thing in common is that most children sing them forming small groups and knocking on every door in the morning. Adults sing mostly in the evening.

The group will stand outside each home and ask the homeowner: “Shall we sing them?” (Na ta poume?). Only if the door opens, will the group start singing the Carols. Then, the homeowners will listen to the Carols and give a sweet treat, winter fruits or nuts. Also, sometimes they will give a small amount of money to the children singing. Sometimes, a small drink is offered to the adults. The Carols always end in well-wishes for the house and the family that lives there, most of the time with a particular, traditional wording. It is a real Ritual if you think about it, with very specific steps.

To end this very quick analysis, here are a few Greek Carols if you’d like to hear some!

These are the most known Greek Christmas Carols:

 

But these following Carols are the dearest to my heart since they are the Carols of my village and my grandparents. They brought with them when they had to leave their homes somewhere in the 1920′ due to the war. The region was called Anatoliki Romylia (East Romylia) and now belongs to Bulgaria. Groups of adults still sing them in my village and others.

 

And here is a beautiful, modern version of the above Carols, worth listening to.

With that, I wish everybody a peaceful and joyful Christmas time!!!

New hobby ideas for a new me: Photography and Decoupage

Posted on by Stella
new hobby ideas photography
Amazing color for a sunset view of my balcony

After a long time, I finally found a little time and energy to start a couple of hobbies. In fact, I had two new hobby ideas. One is photography and the other is learning about decoupage! I hope I will be able to fit in some time for walking or other physical activity as well!

new hobby ideas photography
Another beautiful sunset

1. New hobby ideas: Photography

Photography is really an amazing hobby! It is much more complicated than one would think, especially if you want to get off auto mode. But I am at the beginning and who knows, maybe I’ll end up discovering my talent!

new hobby ideas photography
A few fun, colorful toy cars

The most difficult thing is to switch to the manual mode where you have to decide about the depth of field, iso settings, and shutter speed, among other things. Getting your head around all these settings, when to use what and how your camera works are really not easy, especially if all you can do is reading about it online, without some kind of seminar. But, as most sites do point out, the most important thing to do is to shoot many, many, MANY pictures so you can learn. Another fact I was surprised by, is the amount of photo editing most people are doing in order to get the best results! I mean, it sometimes takes more time to edit than it took to actually get the shoot done! But the results are amazing!!!

This post contains affiliate links of products I recommend, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something. Thank you!

new hobby ideas photography
The sky and it’s amazing clouds at sunset

2. New hobby: Decoupage

As for decoupage, I just had my first lesson a few days again and it was really fun! Although I am not the biggest fan of the vintage look, I really loved how an ordinary item could be transformed in a couple of hours and while having a good time, too! The first item we did was a plain plate and although it isn’t perfect, I believe it’s a great first attempt! I am looking forward to learning more about this technique! To add to the fun, my little daughter came with me and she is such a great companion! She even helped to glue a butterfly image to the plate. I will share a photo as soon as I’ll be able to make one. The process is really easy to understand, and I think with a little practice and some imagination, the options are limitless! The next lesson will be about decorating a bottle! Can’t wait!

So, hopefully, I will be able to do a lot more photography and decoupage project to write about and share from now on. It is difficult to manage everything, day job, family and home!!!

My first award!

My first award!

Posted on by Stella

IBA_fire-bokeh-background_200x150

What better way for me to close a somewhat stressful day, than to accept my first blogging award, ever!

Thank you Sanjana from http://feedingthesonis.wordpress.com/ for nominating my blog, you can’t imagine how much it means to me!

And of course, thank you from http://foodstoriesblog.com/illuminating-blogger-award/ for creating such a great award! It is worth the effort, cause it makes people like me happy!

So, now the difficult part. I am supposed to write some random thing about me! Well, let’s see… So, after about 10 minutes of thinking what to write about me, I decided to write that I love going to a certain playground on the beach on a sunny early spring Sunday with my kids!!! It is the best thing to do on such a day!!!

The next thing to do is to name 5 blogs that I, and I quote “enjoy reading their illuminating, informative posts”. So here they are!

1.  http://mysmallpotatoes.com/

2. http://sweetrevelations.wordpress.com/

3. http://nothymetowaste.org/

4. http://5kidswdisabilities.com/

5. http://kidsheartrealfood.com/

Thank you, everyone!!!

First post… ever!

Posted on by Stella

children
Children laughing (image source)

So this is me, posting for the first time.

I just want to say hello to the traveler that sees my posts.

This is going to be a positive, most of the times, blog.

It is about children and what makes them feel good.

Because whatever makes children feel good, can’t be bad for the grown up’s either, can it?

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Children having fun (image source)

Enjoy your stay and drop by whenever you feel like it!

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Imagine something beautiful (image source)