Summer Idea {Kiwi Crate}

This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. 

Summer's coming and we can't wait over here.  I want both of my kids home with me at the same time. I want breakfast on our deck and movies during the day with G and walks to the park and grocery shopping trips all together (I know--call me a masochist) and afternoons at the pool and projects at Georgia's art table.

I'm always on the lookout for innovative products to fill summer days, that while incredible, can get a little long on occasion.  And while we can dream up things to make and do all day long it's nice to have a pre-put-together project at times that reinforces academic concepts as well.  Enter Kiwi Crate.

My sister got Georgia a six month subscription to Kiwi Crate for her birthday this year and we just got our first one this week.  It's rainbow themed with at least four different projects to do that teach kids about the color spectrum with some science thrown in.

If you haven't looked into this subscription service for kids you should! It's gorgeous and the projects are so varied and fun to do together.  They ask some fantastic high level questions of kids in regards to why the results of each project are what they are and the projects scaffold nicely from one to the next so kids get a well rounded picture of the months concept.

One of the projects this month asked Georgia to construct her own top for a spin art rainbow craft.

Another one asked her to put little colored tablets in plastic cups (all provided for you!) and watch how the colored water travelled from cup to cup via paper towel--it was called "Walking Water." 

We've still got a few more projects to go to complete this months box.  If you're looking for something engaging and educational to add to your summer line-up I'd definitely include Kiwi Crate.  Everything you need for a handful of projects comes beautifully packaged in a box, the instructions are easy to follow, they each take about 15 minutes to complete (perfect for little attention spans) and it's something fun and different that you can do with your kids.  Georgia is six and seems to be a great age for everything in this months box--but I know she would have loved these projects as early as three too--she just would've needed some more hands-on mommy help.  

Summer's almost here! We can't wait!

The mundane. {And a reading list}

"Many of us feel that if we slow down even the tiniest bit, we will no longer be productive." 

"We fear our lives will be meaningless if we aren't constantly striving for something bigger and better. " 

"Yet when we finally stop chasing those impossible standards and surrender our fears, we truly become productive in what matters." 

"We experience genuine fulfillment; an imperfect yet intentional life, driven by a clear, core purpose. 

Lara Casey….Make it Happen

I'm a collector of mundane moments.  They're my favorite kind of moment actually.  Always have been and Lara's book talks about how great they can be.  It's a good one to pick up if you're looking for something good to read.

Here's a few more if you're looking for something to flip through this summer at the pool, the beach, on your deck, in your bed, on the couch, in your yard, or in the kitchen while you're waiting for dinner to finish cooking (who does that?  nice thought though).

Just the title of this book makes me happy.  Sorry if you can't relate.  

Reading this now and can't. put.it. down.

I read two chapters of this and am waiting for my dad to finish it so I can borrow it from him.  Those two chapters were amazing.  

I didn't expect to love this as much as I did.  It's so fun, easy to read, and has incredible quotes about fashion, makeup, infertility, and how amazing being a mama is.  One of my favorites……and one that moms everywhere should adopt as they proudly proclaim first and foremost when someone asks them what they do, "I'm a mom."

"This is not a kingdom I'm embarrassed to rule over.  I rule powerfully here.  With grace and elegance and mercy.  And sometimes false lashes. This is a season in my life.  This is my chance to be somebody's mother, to make my home my castle, and I'm so honored to do it.  This sovereignty, this kingdom, this is a gift." 

This book is rather old but I don't hear many people talk about and I don't know why.  It's amazing. Creepy, suspenseful, and thought provoking…..and twins can be crazy!  It's so good.  

Summer is so close--which can be full of delightful mundane moments all mixed in with fantastic ones. We can't wait over here!  

Teacher Appreciation & Mother's Day. {And because I can't keep all the succulents.}

Easy DIY for you tonight starring one of my favorite addictions.  Succulents. I need to stop buying them.  But they're always calling me.  They remind me of California.  I love that place.  They are so cheap in those little pots.  So why not get a few more?  They are virtually un-killable.  So….bonus points all around.  They come in about a zillion varieties and I always stumble upon one I don't have yet.

But……sometimes I need to learn to let go.  So I decided I can still buy them as long as I'm giving some away.  And with teacher appreciation week happening now….and Mother's Day happening pretty much now this little DIY can cover both bases.  Think a cute gift for your child's teacher later this week and think hostess gift or place setting or a great set of these for Mother's Day on Sunday.

These melamine bowls are everywhere right now.  Buy a few and drill a drainage hole in them.  I piled a few stones in the bottom of the bowl before putting the succulent in.  

Then simply place the plant on top of the stones and supplement a bit more dirt to really pack it in tight. I add a few stones on top of the soil to keep everything in place and act like a bookend so-to-speak to keep the plant upright.  Give them a little bit of water, right down the center of the succulent and place them in a sunny spot.  They'll need a drink of water once a week until some of it runs out the drainage hole in the bottom and that's about it. 

Good luck actually giving them away.