Raising Memories: Making & Documenting Family Memories

Lace Crown Tutorial

2026-04-14T20:26:00.000-04:00

Isn't this little lace crown adorable? You can make this simple crown craft by following the tutorial in this post!

I took some photos throughout the process so that I could share them with you in this lace crown tutorial:

Materials Needed

Lace
Fabric Stiffener
Metallic Paint (unless your lace is metallic already)
Wax Paper
Tape
Container about the shape you want your crown to form in (I used a vase)
Hot Glue
Glue Gun
Optional: Glitter

How To Make A Lace Crown

Instructions that go along with each photo are below the photo collage:

Crown Craft

1. Start by wrapping wax paper around your container (tape in place)
(protects your container from the fabric stiffener and makes it easy to get your crown off later).

Decide how big around you want your crown
(I just held some lace up to my daughter's head to get an idea).
Cut the lace (so that ends will meet nicely)

2. Cover your lace in fabric stiffener
(you can dip it in the stiffener & then wipe the excess off with your fingers)

3. Wrap the lace around your container

4. Hot Glue the ends of the lace together.
Leave it there to dry.

5. If you don't already have gold or silver lace, you can paint it when you're finished (or even try adding glitter). I used gold lace that I found on my new sponsor's website, wholeport.com. I also got some white lace from the website & plan to use some silver paint on it.

Using Your Lace Crowns

These will make great photo props- I'm excited to use them! And I'm sure we'll use some for dress-up around here as well ;) They'd be great for Halloween too! Here's Katrina, modeling the first one that I made:

Note: I know that you can also use mod podge to make these (instead of fabric stiffener). I tried that first, and did end up with a stiff enough crown to use as a prop for photos, but it didn't last long- it was pretty flimsy. Then I bought the fabric stiffener to try & it definitely worked out better, so I would recommend this method over the mod podge one, from my experience! If you don't have stiffener and want to give the mod podge a try, here is a beautifully photographed tutorial.
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Other Great Princess Crafts:

Combine some of these to make a great kids' princess party!
How to Make a Wand

Fairy Princess Tea Party Birthday Party

Disclosure: Any products from Wholeport.com's website were provided to me free of charge. Any opinions shared about their website or products are my own!

Little Man Mustache Baby Shower

2026-04-14T18:35:00.000-04:00

When my sister-in-law got pregnant with her second little boy, we were so excited and threw her a "little man" baby shower! Specifically, we went with a diaper shower, since it is her second baby and her second boy baby shower.
We invited a few close family and friends and had a little party to celebrate this special baby boy's arrival in style!

Boy Baby Shower Plans

Keep reading for lots of little man baby shower ideas! These could also be used for a fun gender reveal or boy's birthday parties.

Mustache Diaper Shower Invitation

My other sister-in-law found some baby boy baby shower themes, baby shower ideas and inspiration on Pinterest and recreated a mustache baby shower invitation that she saw there. (I would have linked to it, but the pin didn't send you anywhere, so I don't know where it originated) Isn't this adorable?!

Baby Boy Baby Shower Games & Decor

My mother-in-law and I went with the mustache theme when preparing the games and decor for the party. Read on for details!

Mustache Cupcake Toppers

As is shown below, we went with cupcakes instead of cake so I printed some adorable little mustache themed cupcake toppers (free printable at babalisme) to turn a simple cupcake into a mustache cupcake. and Hershey Kiss Labels that made for cute party favors.

Mustache Party Cups

I also used the Cricut Paper Doll cartridge to cut out some mustaches from black vinyl to put on clear party cups.

Mustache Party Game

We also used the Cricut Paper Doll cartridge to create some cardstock mustaches for a pin-the-mustache-on-the-baby game. These were also used later for photo props!

Baby Boy Baby Shower Decorations & Food

My mother-in-law is the food mastermind. :) She gathered a ton of food- going with our blue & green theme. I didn't even show you half of it in the photos below!

Little Man Baby Shower Banner

We made a lot of our own party supplies. To make the "Little Man" banner, I used the same mustache (from Cricut's Paper Doll Cartridge) as well as the Alphabet and Essentials cartridges that came pre-loaded on the Cricut that I have. I seriously loved making this banner- it wasn't complicated, I didn't have to do any cutting, and it turned out really cute!

I also made the triangle bunting you can see in the photo that Rachelle took of me hanging it ;) I have posted a tutorial on how to easily make a paper triangle bunting from 12x12 scrapbook paper. My post about the other paper triangle bunting that I made has been popular, so I've since posted a tutorial on how to make a paper triangle bunting.

DIY Mustache Party Cups

That last photo is Rachelle's cute girl wearing one of the mustaches for our pin-the-mustache game... and below, on the left, is one of the babies who was in attendance- let me recommend that if you are like us and have a bunch of babies at your party, get a group shot with all of the babies in mustaches for a little mustache madness memory! :)

And that's my daughter beside him, demonstrating the cool mustache cups :)

The mustache cups were my favourite part of the party. I had seen these on Pinterest as well, and if you don't want to make your own or don't have the materials needed, you can order them (or just the stickers) from flutterfly on etsy! (there are a bunch of mustache items in that shop, so check it out!)

Baby Boy Shower Games

I also printed some cute, free baby shower games from chickabug,
so if you're throwing a shower, be sure to check those out!

A Valentines Day Countdown for Kids

2026-01-16T13:25:00.000-05:00

Check out this Valentines Day Countdown for kids! I've included instructions to make your own Valentines Countdown and a couple of lists of Kid Friendly Valentine's Day Activities and FREE Valentine printables for kids!

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For Valentine's Day this year, I wanted to do some fun things with my kids so we put together this Valentine Countdown for Kids! There is a little envelope for each day and inside is a little note, with a valentine activity for the kids or the family to do together that day, in preparation for Valentine's Day! I'm excited about the things on our list (which I will share in this post)!

Valentines Day Countdown Supplies:

Scrapbook Paper
String or Twine or Ribbon
Scissors or Paper Cutter
Clothes Pins
Small Envelopes
Stickers
Pens or Thin Markers

I found the stickers at a dollar store, the envelopes and clothes pins at Michaels, and we already had everything else we used.

Valentine's Day Countdown Instructions:

Here's how we put together our countdown. I love how it ended up looking like a little bunting, so that it doubles at Valentine's Day decor.

1. Decorate the Envelopes

We started by decorating the envelopes. You could number the envelopes or decorate with stickers, markers, drawings, etc. There's no limit to what you could do to make your envelopes pretty! I found these cute stickers that were just the right size for our envelopes, so we just added the stickers to the envelopes.

2. Make the Cards

For this step, I just measured the envelope and used my paper cutter to cut the scrapbook paper just a little smaller so that it would fit easily within the envelope. I wrote an activity on each paper and put them inside the envelopes.

3. Plan the Order of Activities

I carefully arranged which activity went into which day's envelope because I wanted to do certain activities earlier in the countdown, or on a particular day of the week.

4. Put It All Together

The girls had fun helping me to assemble the countdown. It turned into such a cute little piece of Valentine decor for our home! I'm excited to get started on the activities (some of which were suggested by the girls, and some will be surprises).

Here's a list of the kid-friendly Valentine activities we'll be using as well as a few extra ideas you might want to incorporate into your countdown!

Kid Friendly Valentine's Day Activities

Make a heart bunting and hang it up to decorate!
Make Valentine Cards to mail to far-away cousins
Write 2 or more things that you love about each family member on their own paper heart (don't look at them yet- these are for a future day!)
Make Valentine Cards for School Friends (we bought cards this year, so we'll get them all addressed & decorated & ready to go!) Here are a few different Valentine posts for ideas and inspiration!
Valentine Mad Libs (I'm going to print some pages & do them with the kids for fun)
Make a Family Back Massage Chain
Make a "Heart Attack" for someone's door
Make heart shaped cookies or Rice Krispie Squares
Deliver the Valentine Treats we made yesterday to someone we love
Make heart shaped pancakes
Valentine's Day Treasure Hunt (we'll make up some clues & send the girls around the house. At the end, their treasure will include the notes we write to each other on Day 3 of our countdown.. and maybe we'll throw in some surprise treats from Mom & Dad, too!)

More Valentine Activities and Free Valentine Printables for Kids

Valentine's Day Idea Roundup

And while we're sharing Valentine's Day ideas, I've teamed up with 30 bloggers to share some great ideas with you from kids' activities to recipes to home decor! Check these out! (links are below the images)

Valentine's Day Cherry Pie by Jo-Anna of A Pretty Life

Valentine's Triple Berry Breakfast Parfait by Joanna at Lazy Moms Blog

Valentine's Day Mini Bouquet with Printable Wrap by Lucy of Craftberry Bush

DIY Iron-On Mini Tote Bags for Galentine's Day by Joann of Woman in Real Life

DIY Clay Valentine Heart Wall Hanging by Jen of Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Valentine's Day Smoothie Bowl by Kristeena of Motherhood in Stilettos

Chunky Crochet Heart Banner by Christina of The DIY Mommy

'I'm Stuck On You Valentine' Free Printable by Chandra of HashtagBlessed Blog

DIY Love Tees by Colleen of Lemon Thistle

Red Velvet Cheesecake by Kim of Kim Power Style

Custom Floral Dishware DIY with Temporary Tattoos by Christine of Amidst the Chaos

Valentine's Day Keto Cheesecake by Thalita of The Learner Observer

How to Host a Mother/Daughter Galentine's by Kelsey of Kelsey Diane Blog

Free Printable Farmhouse Style Valentine's Day Cards by Shannon of AKA Design

GALentine’s Day Tea Party by Shauna of Satori Design for Living

Valentine Heart Necklace by Christine of The DIY Dreamer

Simple Valentine's Day Decor by Alicia of A Burst of Beautiful

Valentine's Sushi Recipe by Stefania of From the Playpen

Valentine’s Day Decor by Dannyelle of Life is a Party

Valentine Countdown for Kids by Heather of Raising Memories

Love Sign by Meagan of Row House Nest

Valentine's Day Kindness Countdown Calendar by Jen of Rambling Renovators

Rustic Valentine's Day Decor by Sarah of The Project Pile

Peach Raspberry Crisp by Brittany of My Daily Randomness

How to Make Pine Cone Roses by Jane & Sonja of Sustain My Craft Habit

Handmade Paper Gift Boxes by Jessica of The Vanderveen House

DIY Valentine's Day Pouch by Lidia of Design Inside the Box

Valentine Oreo Cookies by Kendra of Joy In Our Home

Valentine's Day Lunch Idea by Adriana of Chaos and Caffeine

Chocolate Cherries Baileys Cookies by Emily of daydreaming of elsewhere

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100 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

2025-12-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

My girls & I put together this list of 100 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids.

It can be tricky to come up with some stocking stuffer ideas for kids that are new and exciting. We like for our stocking stuffers to have good reason to stick around past the new year whenever possible, and to actually bring some fun and joy to the receiver.

This year I did some brainstorming with my kids and we came up with the ultimate list of 100 kid-approved stocking stuffer ideas... let's get to the list!

100 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

1. Lip balm (Some of our favourite brands are Burt’s Bees, Lip Smacker, and EOS)
2. Stamps/Ink Pads
3. Magnifying Glass
4. Reusable Straws
5. Baking supplies (cookie cutters, icing tips/bags
6. Beanie Boos or other small stuffed animals
7. Play-Doh
8. Pez candy
9. Tic Tacs
10. Life Savers
11. Kinder Surprise Eggs
12. Christmas coloured candies (M&Ms, Hershy kisses & hugs, mini eggs, etc.)
13. Chocolate Orange
14. Regular orange or clementine in the toe of the stocking
15. Tooth Brush/Paste
16. Underwear/socks
17. Razor/shaving cream/foam for older kids
18. Deodorant
19. Small craft kits
20. Digging Dinosaur eggs
21. Card game
22. Small/travel size board game
23. Small toy car (Hot Wheels)
24. Individual Little People toys
25. Hex Bugs (vibrating bugs toy)
26. Hand lotion/hand sanitizer
27. Slinky
28. Whoopi cushion
29. A candy they tend to ask for but rarely get
30. Hasbro surprise/collectible toys
31. Pens/pencils, markers, etc. , coloring book/notepad/book
32. Craft supplies
33. Mitts/gloves/hat/scarf
34. Pop socket or phone case
35. Gift card to a food/treat place
36. Gift card to a store (ie. Michaels if they like crafts)
37. Small book
38. Make Up (or play make up)
39. Nail polish/nail stickers/nail tools (just be careful ;)
40. Small hairbrush/travel mirror
41. Hair things (scrunchies, clips, bows, ponytail elastics)
42. Spray colour for snowmen
43. Glow sticks
44. Silly string
45. New Year/Christmas crackers
46. Personalized stationery
47. Iron on patches
48. Stick on/clip on/real earrings
49. Other jewelry
50. Reusable plastic snowmen parts
51. Snowball maker/launcher, snow brick maker (we've found these at dollar stores)
52. Hair chalk
53. Slime
54. Hot Chocolate Packet
55. Pick Up Sticks Game
56. Slippers
57. Post-it notes
58. Bookmark
59. Face mask packet
60. Paint & Paint Brushes
61. Bath color things (crayons/fizzies)
62. Bubble bath
63. Pencil Case
64. Watch
65. Fun band-aids
66. Chocolate Coins
67. Ear buds
68. Joke book/puzzle book/comic book
69. CD
70. DVD
71. Fun shoe laces (or the kind that make it so you don’t have to tie them yourself)
72. Cool water bottle
73. Doll clothes/accessories
74. Kit refills
75. Sidewalk Chalk
76. Harmonica/recorder/kazoo
77. Small Flashlight (my kids keep theirs near their beds)
78. Clip-On Book light
79. Key chain
80. Christmas ornament (tradition: new one each year)
81. Wallet
82. Cute mini packet of tissues
83. Washi tape
84. Magnets or push pins or paper clips that are fun designs/colours (try the dollar store!)
85. Small doll or toy
86. Stickers
87. Walkie Talkie (maybe one half in one child’s stocking, the other in their sibling’s)
88. Mini fairy lights for their bedroom
89. Small Lego kits or figures, or similar toys
90. Compass
91. Finger puppets
92. Glow-in-the-dark stars for their bedroom wall
93. Candy necklace/bracelet/watch
94. Sunglasses
95. Name Labels
96. Dental Floss or flosser sticks
97. Accessories/Refill for something they already have (ie. Film for an Instax Camera or Nerf darts)
98. Rubik’s Cube
99. Chopsticks
100. Yo-yo

Did we miss one of your favourite stocking stuffers on this list?
Please comment & share your ideas that we didn't think of!

Happy Holiday Shopping!

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If you're looking for more Holiday Gift Ideas,

try my Ultimate List of 100 Non-Toy Gift Ideas!

A Secret 12 Days of Christmas Gift Ideas

2020 Gift Guide for Parents & Families.

2020 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids & Stocking Stuffers

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Things to Do With Teens: Fun Family Activities with Teenagers

2025-06-11T21:00:00.004-04:00

As kids get older, finding fun things to do with teens can feel challenging. They become more independent and get busy with friends, school, and work responsibilities. You might find they're less enthusiastic about family time than they were when they were younger. But connection doesn't have to fade as your kids become teens. With a little creativity and intention, you can still enjoy fun family activities with teenagers that don't feel forced (or "cringe") and that just might become some favourite shared memories.

Before I get into the list of fun ideas for families with teens, here are a few tips for how to go about choosing and planning activities that will work best for your family:

How to Make Things to Do with Teens Feel Less Forced

Scroll down if you just want the list of ideas!

It’s easy to fall into the old habit of planning for our teens (like when they were young kids) instead of connecting with them. If you’ve ever felt like your efforts to plan exciting family time land with eye rolls or indifference, you’re not alone. The good news? There are ways to make things to do with teens feel more enjoyable for everyone. These simple mindset shifts can help with planning fun family activities with teenagers that they’ll want to be part of.

Let Them Take the Lead

What do your teens want to do? Discuss ideas as a family and give them ownership over the activity choice.

Meet Them Where They Are

Try doing something your teens already like to do. Play their video game with them, ask for a playlist of music they like- connect through THEIR interests.

Casual Over Formal

Something casual or spur-of-the-moment can be less pressure than an elaborately planned adventure. Go for a short walk & chat or a spontaneous ice cream run!

Consistency Over Perfection

Try setting up a weekly tradition. It doesn't have to be a big thing and you don't have to make amazing, magical events happen. Consistency builds trust and rhythm- and memories!

Remember, some attempts will flow and some won't. It's okay if your teens are moody or disinterested one day- try not to take it personally (remember, you feel that way sometimes too!) Keep trying without any guilt trips.

When you let go of the pressure to make family time feel perfect, you open the door to more natural, relaxed, and enjoyable moments with your teens. If you’re looking for things to do with teens that feel meaningful instead of forced, this list is for you. Here are 15 fun family activities with teenagers that encourage connection, laughter, and lasting memories.

12 Fun Family Activities with Teenagers

1. Family Movie Night- Their Way

Finding a movie that everyone in the family wants to watch sometimes feels impossible! Try letting your teens choose the movie (even if you're not that into their choice).

Let them have fun with choosing snacks (make a treat at home or go out to buy something special- you could even come up with a theme for the snacks if you're planning ahead).

This is great if you want fun things to do with teens at home, or you could turn it into a trip to the theatre.

2. Cook a New Recipe Together

Let your teens pick the dish and work together after school to make dinner or dessert together!

You could let them do the ingredient shopping, too. One of our daughters recently suggested it might be fun for us to give them a budget & a list and let them do the grocery shopping without us there. This could be a great learning experience for them (to shop deals and see what it's like without our guidance) and she even thought it would be fun!

Other ideas: let your teens direct the effort, or let them film it for fun.

3. Go For a Drive with a Great Playlist

Driving together invites great conversation. You could bring some of your favourite songs from your youth, and your teenagers could bring theirs. Listen together and see what you think of each other's favourites while you explore. Some of our best family vacations with our teenagers (as teens or younger kids) have been roadtrips!

4. Shared Journal

Create a shared journal (or Google Doc or Digital Photo Album) where you can share questions, jokes, memories, things you appreciate about each other, etc. There are so many directions you could go with this!

5. Volunteer Together

Choose a cause your teens care about or serve someone you know who is in need of help or a little extra love. You could volunteer at an animal shelter, environmental cleanup, food bank, etc. One time, our family organized a food drive for the homeless.

Volunteering is one of the most meaningful and productive activities for teenagers — it builds empathy, life skills, and a sense of purpose while allowing you to connect as a family.

6. Work Out or Try a Fitness Challenge Together

Go for regular walks, try yoga, or do a silly workout video challenge together.

Last year I joined a gym and my membership let me bring one family member with me each time I went. It was fun to have one-on-one time with each family member at the gym- walking and chatting on the treadmill with one daughter and learning tips for how to lift weights with the other daughter who took a "Power Fit" class in high school.

7. Recreate a Childhood Photo

I've always thought this would be fun to do! Find a funny photo from when your teens were little and recreate it with them now. It could be a hilarious activity if you've got teens who would get into it!

8. Visit a Local Museum or Cultural Event

Find an event or location to visit locally. Try to find something that ties into their interests (an art museum, a music festival, a history or science museum).

9. Make a Family Vision Board

Talk about your family and individual dreams, goals and plans. Figure out what matters most to each of you and to your family as a whole. You could make a Family Bucket List or "Launch List" (a list of things you want to do as a family before your kids "launch" out into the world on their own).

10. Take a Class or Workshop Together

Try a family paint night, take a pottery class, practice photography, try an art tutorial, etc.

Recently, one of our daughters started taking Sign Language lessons. Each week she teaches us what she’s learned, and we practice together at dinner using flash cards and the alphabet. Even though we don’t know as many signs as she does, we can still spell words to each other—it’s like having our own quiet little language.

11. Plan a Surprise Day

Let your teens plan a family day & surprise you with it! You could give them a budget to work with and let them go for it!

12. Binge a Show Togeher & Discuss It

Whether you choose to binge a show or want to meet each week to watch the next episode of Survivor, this is an easy way to create a shared experience.

The Real Value of Finding Things to Do with Teens

Spending meaningful time together doesn’t have to end when your kids hit the teen years. With a little flexibility and a willingness to meet them where they are, you can create fun and lasting memories through simple family activities with teenagers. Whether it’s trying new things to do with teens or revisiting favourite family traditions, these moments of connection can strengthen your bond in surprising and joyful ways.

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DIY Pennant Banner (Paper Triangle Bunting) Tutorial

2025-06-03T11:45:00.002-04:00

This simple tutorial will show you how to make a pennant banner out of paper- perfect for parties, seasonal decor, or just adding a touch of charm to any space. When I shared the paper triangle bunting I made for Talia's Teddy Bear Picnic Birthday Party it became a popular post. The tutorial I linked to is no longer available, so I've received a lot of comments from people requesting a tutorial.

Here it is!

Pennant Banner Supplies:

12x12 Scrapbook Paper
(Each piece will make 4 double sided triangles for your pennant banner-
each triangle will be 5" wide)
Paper Cutter (or scissors)
Ruler
Pencil
Tape
String
(Optional: Laminator & hole punch)

How to Make a Pennant Banner:

1. Measure 5" over from the edge of your paper & make a mark.
Then measure 5" over from that mark (mark it).
Do the same on the opposite side of the paper
(making sure that you start from the same end of the paper).

2. Using your pencil and a straight edge, join those marks diagonally (as shown in the picture)

3. You can also draw a line straight through the middle of the paper (shown in pink) to help you to make sure your lines are going on the same angle, so that your triangles will all be the same.

Cut on the blue lines. (You can cut on the pink line, too, but if you leave it alone, you won't have to do as much taping later)

4. You'll end up with diamonds & triangles. Match up your triangles and tape them together on the back side of the paper (where the tape won't show), so that you end up with a double sided triangle.

5. For the diamond shapes, just fold them in half to make double sided triangles and tape the pointed end together with a piece of rolled tape.

6. Slide the string between the paper to hang your bunting, and you're finished!

7. If you want a sturdier bunting that will last for many uses, you can laminate your triangles. Cut them out, then punch small holes in the top two corners of your triangle to thread the string through.

I hope this tutorial helps! :)
I've made a couple of banners this way & have been really happy with them!

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Some other great paper crafts:

Paper Fortune Cookies

Paper Butterfly Display Frame

Heart Garland

Origami Lanterns

Paper Lillies

He Lives - Free Printable Easter Banner

2025-04-03T13:23:00.000-04:00

Looking for a Free Printable Easter Banner? This beautiful ‘He Lives’ banner in soft pastel colors is the perfect way to celebrate Easter at home, church, or a festive gathering. Simply download, print, and hang for an easy DIY decoration!

If you're searching for more printable Easter decorations, I recently shared a free scripture verse printable that makes a lovely framed reminder of Easter’s meaning. Today, I’m excited to share this adorable free printable Easter banner designed by Bettijo from Paging Supermom. I love the colours she chose, and I can’t wait to pick up some mini clothespins from the dollar store to recreate the look!

Click Here to download a copy to print for yourself! :)

Free Printable Easter Banner

Here's What You'll Need for this DIY Easter banner:

- a piece of string
- some cardstock
- a printer
- scissors
- some mini clothespins

(you could use something else if you can't get your hands on mini clothes pins- even if all you do is tape them on! :)

I hope you enjoy this Easter banner printable!

You can find a whole Matching set of Table Decorations by Clicking Here!

Find more Easter Printables Here:

And see all free printables here.

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Recharging Mind, Body, and Spirit at Ste. Anne's Spa

2025-03-18T12:16:00.002-04:00

I invite you to visit Ste. Anne's Spa with me through the photographs and descriptions in this post. My hope is that it will be an opportunity for recharging mind, body, and spirit- virtually!

As mothers, we all have times when we just become overwhelmed with the responsibilities in our lives and we need to give ourselves some time to relax, to nurture ourselves, to take a break and to recharge. Sometimes I am able to accomplish this by going out on a girls' night with a friend and taking a few hours to sit and sip hot chocolate while talking about life as a mother and the different challenges we are each facing and things we are learning along the way. Sometimes I can get the break I need by just taking some time to read a book by myself or paint my nails or take a bubble bath!

Note: This post was originally published several years ago, but I wanted to share it again because it's still relevant and it was a wonderful experience worth revisiting! The spa has undergone some additions and improvements since our visit, but my overall thoughts remain the same!

A couple of weeks ago, my mom and I found a bigger way to escape together from the pressures of our daily lives, to a spa resort in Ontario, and it was amazing! We took a long drive to a beautiful destination called Ste. Anne's Spa in Haldimand Hills, Ontario. It was a dream experience!

My mom has had a lot on her plate, both physically, mentally and emotionally. Both of my Grandmothers fell and broke their wrists within the last few months. My mom's mom had to have surgery to repair her broken wrist as well as a shattered elbow and then spent weeks recovering in the hospital. It has been a sad time, it has been a busy time, and I have watched my mom and dad juggle their responsibilities as they take care of their mothers and struggle with the emotions they feel as they are concerned for their mothers. I don't think there could have been a better time for my mom and I to be able to get away- this was the perfect Mother's Day getaway!

This is going to be an image-heavy post because everything was so beautiful there and I wanted to share it all with you and to illustrate the story of our time at Ste. Anne's Spa, so please follow along as I describe our experience.

Just a short drive from the highway, we came to the beautiful sign shown in the above photo and a long, twisting private road that led to the spa.

After the first couple of twists in the road, I looked behind me and told my mom that I could not see any signs of the city in any direction. The only things that were man-made were the signs we saw along the road and we had to stop to grab a photo when we came across this one:

Visiting Ste. Anne's Spa

At the end of the road we found a parking lot and then followed a path to find ourselves here:

I felt like we were in an English country garden! The gardens were just gorgeous!

Ste. Anne's Spa Cottages

We checked in and had a little tour of the spa before driving to one of Ste. Anne's spa cottages (about a kilometre from the main buildings), called "The Birdsong". The Birdsong is a large cottage with four different sections that can be rented. The section we stayed in is called the "Eagle's Nest". The front porch had comfortable patio furniture (that we would use in the evening) in two arrangements (a great setup in case more than one group wanted to use them at the same time).

Inside of the Eagle's Nest was beautiful! There is a King and a Twin sized bed as well as a cozy sitting area with couches. There was a gas fireplace and cathedral ceiling! They even supplied us with some board games (but we were too busy with other things to get a chance to use them!).

The bathroom in the Eagle's Nest was spacious and beautiful! It was fully equipped with a large whirlpool tub, double sinks, and a walk-in shower.

In our bathroom (and in every bathroom throughout the spa) were dispensers filled with luxurious soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner and body wash from Ste. Anne's Skin Nourishment line (and they smelled wonderful!). These were all available to purchase from their gift shop, too.

Afternoon Tea on the Patio

After checking into our quaint little cottage, we headed back to the main buildings for afternoon tea! The weather was absolutely beautiful so we were able to eat out on the patio (shown below).

Here we are with our plates of delicious little treats! :) Yes, all that food was just for the two of us!

We enjoyed a little bit of everything they had to offer, from little sandwiches to sweets. We also tried some hot cocoa (not to be confused with hot chocolate ;) It was pretty bitter and definitely not what we were used to, but still really neat to try! :) The next time I had a choice from the tea menu, I went for apple cider (which came with a stick of cinnamon) and I loved it!

Right up there with the delicious treats was our view! Here's a little of what we could see from the patio: fields of grass and trees, flower gardens and the pool. We were on Cloud 9!

Meditation ~ A Wellness Class

After tea, we had a Meditation wellness class scheduled. We met our instructor in the waiting room (which was more like a super-comfortable living room) and she took us on a little walk outside, to the room where we'd be doing our meditation. We entered a fairly dark room and lay on comfortable mats with pillows under our knees and heads. Those of us who were chilly could use a blanket. We were given eye pillows and some calming essential oil to rub on the backs of our necks. When we were all comfortable, we were led through a guided meditation. It was sooo nice! Afterward, my mom told me that she felt like she was able to get into a state of deep relaxation.

My mom has been going through some difficult things right now and it has been a pretty stressful time in her life. She has been putting so much time into serving, helping, and loving others and I know it has caused her to feel exhausted at times. I was so happy that this was such a good experience for her!

Our next stop was the locker room to change into our swimsuits and spa robes. We spent most of the rest of our time at the spa in those robes! They were so cozy and soft! You are welcome to attend all meals in your spa robes too- it's relaxation at its best!

The Fieldstone Grotto

One of the things that I was most looking forward to was the Fieldstone Grotto (a hot tub, 65 degree plunge pool and a lap pool with a current you could swim against). These are outside and open year round! Here we are in the hot tub (I wore a rashguard in case we spent a lot of time in the sun, but it was very unnecessary in the hot tub! haha!).

I did try the plunge pool (it's supposed to be good for you to heat up in the hot tub and then take a quick dip in the cold plunge pool), but I was in there for less than a minute, so there's no photo! Here's my mom taking a little swim in the lap pool. I thought it was pretty cool- kind of like a treadmill for swimming!

Relaxing Outside & the Serenity Garden

The weather was gorgeous so when we were finished in the water, we dried off a little, threw on our spa robes and took a stroll out in the beautiful grounds. We were relaxing in our lounge chairs, enjoying this beautiful view:

... and letting our swimsuits dry when we spotted some hammocks across the field. This may have been my favourite moment from our whole weekend! We both knew we had to get into those hammocks, so off we went!

We giggled as we got ourselves situated in the hammocks and then we lay there looking at the trees above us, listening to the birds and a far off wind chime, feeling the breeze in our hair. It was pure bliss!

We had some more time before dinner so we decided to explore the grounds further and we came across a little garden with several paths through it. There were little statues and a small waterfall and brook.

The view was breathtaking! There is something about being out in nature like this that feels rejuvenating, like deep inside I was hungry for this (and didn't even realize it).

We could've gotten lost in this garden and spent a lot of time there, but soon it was time for dinner so we headed back to the dining room.

Spa Cuisine ~ A Delicious Dinner

Here's what the main dining room looks like:

We sat by a window and had a lovely view, so of course I took a photo to share. ;)

The photos below are (from L to R) our amuse bouche, our appetizers which were Beef Carpaccio and Butternut Squash & Apple Bisque. I loooved the bisque! I had Beef Tenderloin for my main course(the bordelaise sauce was a really nice touch!). For dessert, I had a lighter version of a Crème Brûlée with apples in it and my mom tried a flourless chocolate cake. She wasn't a fan of the flourless cake but our waitress was happy to exchange it for a different dessert which was great! I didn't get a picture of her other dessert because she dug in too quickly! ;)

Here's a picture of my mom with her main course (the Pan Seared Salmon). It was so pretty! Let me tell you it was also DELICIOUS!!!

What a wonderful experience it is to eat beautifully presented food cooked with fresh ingredients by an amazing chef! A couple of things that really stood out to us were that our waitresses always remembered to ask if we had any food allergies, and wanted to be aware of when our next spa treatment or wellness class was scheduled so they could be sure we had time to enjoy our meal. When we went to dinner, my mom sat down and realized she had left her glasses in the locker room. Our waitresses asked if they were reading glasses & quickly returned with a pair for my mom to use while reading her menu- now that's service! :)

Locker Room & Hot Tub

After dinner we sat in some amazing massage chairs and then headed down to the women's locker room where we tried out the steam room, sauna, and colour therapy hot tub. I'm a big fan of hot tubs, so I loved it. :)

The spa buildings are open until 11pm, so we didn't get back to our cottage until pretty late. We sat out on our porch for a little bit and chatted before heading inside to turn on our fire place and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere in our spa cottage.

Breakfast & Ste. Anne's Spa Services

On Day 2, we were up early and off to the dining room for breakfast. My mom enjoyed an omelet and I ordered a quinoa bowl with blueberry compote. Then it was time for our spa treatment. We were scheduled for an hour long couple's Swedish massage. What a treat it was when we found out we would be having our massage in one of the treatment gazebos outside! It was lovely to have a massage while feeling the breeze through the curtains of the gazebo and listening to the birds chirping!

When planning a visit, you can take a look at a list of Ste. Anne's spa services on their website.

Lunch that day was White Bean Chili & Winter Vegetables for me, for a starter, and a Fall Harvest Salad for my mom. For our main courses, she had Aubergine Lasagna and I had Atlantic Salmon Tacos! We finished it off with dessert (a Raspberry Mousse and a Lemon Cheesecake with Blueberry). Everything was delicious and made for a wonderful last meal at the spa- we were stuffed!

Walking Trails

After lunch, we wandered the walking trails and took in more of the beauty surrounding the spa. Here are a few photos I took that afternoon:

I very much hope this will not be the last time I see Ste. Anne's Spa. I would love to return!

Thank you to Ste. Anne's Spa for hosting us in 2016 for a spa getaway we will never forget!

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Free Printable Nesting Easter Envelopes & Cards

2025-03-17T15:08:00.000-04:00

As I continue to share a collection of beautiful Easter printables with you this month, I'm excited about these beautiful Nesting Doll-style Easter Envelopes. They're a creative way to give someone a little gift that focuses on the real meaning of Easter. These were created by Heidi Swapp. Each envelope has a scripture reference inside. When you put them together, you'll be able to keep opening them and revealing a new message on each that helps to tell the story and miracle of Easter.

There are 5 envelopes that get progressively smaller, tucked inside each other. Opening them this way will allow the reader time to look up the scripture references and think about each one as the story unfolds.

These are the little messages inside of the envelopes:

1. “foretold from the beginning” : this was always the plan. God knew it, Jesus knew it. Many waited, and had faith in this promise from a loving Heavenly Father.

2. “betrayed, crucified”: these are the images that we mourn. This is the unthinkable and unfathomable truth of how an innocent man was tortured. He could have stopped it. But he never would “Father, forgive them”.

3. “in Christ shall all be made alive” : the best part. He lives.

4. “He is Risen, Promise of Peace”: This promise is that which makes up for our weaknesses and our short comings. Not just our sin, but also our sadness.

5. “believe” our part… is to believe.

And inside, at the end of the envelopes… is the message that I wish we all knew, without any doubt: “He did it for you”

Materials Needed:

- Card Stock
- Printer
- Scissors
- adhesive
- ruler (for straight folds)
- bone folder (for folds)
- decorative tape (to close envelopes)

Just cut out the cards & envelopes & assemble! There is a gold version and a black version that you can print. You can use them as shown, or you could use them as little gift cards. I hope you enjoy them!

Click Here to download a copy to print for yourself! :)
Find more Easter Printables Here:

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Easter Scripture Scavenger Hunt & French Toast Bake

2025-03-16T18:37:00.000-04:00

My kids are pretty excited to bake together, but add a scavenger hunt to search for the ingredients list? Well, they're going to love this! :) Colette from My Computer is my Canvas created this adorable printable Easter scavenger hunt to go with her Easter French Toast Bake recipe (free printable recipe card coming up!).

This cute printable scavenger hunt will send your kids into the scriptures to uncover the list of ingredients for the recipe (which you will have a cute recipe card for, with complete instructions and list of ingredients- just don't tell your kids before they complete their hunt! ;).

I suggest starting this activity in the evening, with the expectation that you won't get to enjoy the final product until the next morning (make sure your kids know that, so they won't be disappointed when you send them to bed with the project in the fridge ;).

Here's What You'll Need for the Recipe:

- 5 Bagels

- 8 Eggs

- 2 TBSP Vanilla

- 1 tsp Cinnamon

- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg

- 2 Cups Milk

- 1/2 tsp Salt

- 1/2 Cup Sugar

- 1/3 Cup Maple Syrup

You'll have to cut your bagels into cubes, and that's the main work of the project! After that, you're beating eggs, pouring, tossing, and refrigerating.. that's it for the first night!

You'll leave it in the fridge overnight then just sprinkle crumble on top and bake- this would make a delicious Easter breakfast!! (Or Good Friday.. or Easter Monday... ;)

We are definitely trying this one and I can't wait to taste it! Included in your download are the Scripture Scavenger Hunt, some clues & baking tips, and 3 copies of the recipe (one with blanks to fill in when you've completed your hunt, and 2 full versions for your recipe box - a 4x6" and a 5x7").

Click Here to download a copy to print for yourself! :)

Find more Easter Printables Here:

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Turning Outdoor Activities Into Indoor Activities for Rainy Days

2025-03-05T14:27:00.005-05:00

When the rain starts falling, it can feel like the perfect excuse to stay indoors, and with a little creativity, you can turn outdoor activities into indoor activities for rainy days! Instead of letting the weather keep your kids cooped up, why not bring the fun inside? With a few simple adjustments, you can transform games, crafts, and even learning experiences into rainy day adventures. Whether it’s an art project, a scavenger hunt, or a dance party, there are endless ways to keep your little ones entertained without ever stepping outside.

We had a lot of fun thinking about how to transform some typically outdoor activities into indoor activities. We had fun testing each of them out! They're all tried-and-tested and can be done with materials you have around the house or can pick up at a dollar store.

Read on for lots of ideas for indoor fun for kids!

1. Silly Soccer Indoors

What you’ll need:

Lightweight ball (a foam ball works great)
Running shoes

Transform your living room into a soccer field with a fun twist! Have your kids play on their hands and knees, and put their shoes on their hands as "kicking" tools. Use the couch or mark a space with tape for goals, and get ready for some laughter as the ball zooms around—without worrying about damaging anything! It's a great way to burn off some energy and have fun indoors.

2. DIY Indoor Mini Golf

What you’ll need:

A small ball (a golf ball or any ball you have)
A cup (use it on its side as the hole)
A golf club (you can find a plastic one at a dollar store), or get creative with a baseball bat, a stick, or even your foot!
Household items to create fun obstacles (think rope, a broomstick, books, or even an open book turned upside down to make a ramp).

To make your own mini golf course, gather your supplies and let your kids help design the obstacles! You can play with one child putting the ball while the other moves the cup to help guide it into the "hole." Let the fun begin as you get creative with your own indoor mini golf course!

3. Bubble Fun

What you’ll need:

Bubbles
Bathtub
Swimsuits

Why limit bubble-blowing fun to the outdoors when you can have just as much fun inside? Fill the tub with bubbles and let the kids get into their swimsuits. This is an activity that’s easy for kids to do on their own if they’re old enough to bathe alone, giving you a moment to relax nearby. When they’re done, the mess simply goes down the drain—no cleanup required!

4. Indoor Kite Flying (with a Crafty Twist)

What you’ll need:

5 plastic bendable straws
Tissue paper
Stapler
String
Fan
Ribbon or other decoration for the kite tail

Start by connecting the straws to form a traditional kite shape, then staple the final straw across the center. Place the frame on tissue paper and cut around it, leaving a small border to fold over the straws. Attach a string to the middle and add a tail for balance. Once it’s ready, use a fan to keep your kite afloat and have fun seeing how long it stays up in the air!

5. Fun Sidewalk Chalk Art

What you’ll need:

Sidewalk chalk
Dark-colored construction paper

Rainy days don’t have to stop the sidewalk chalk fun! Just lay out some dark construction paper, and let your kids enjoy drawing with sidewalk chalk indoors. It’s an easy setup, and you can either join in on the fun or take the opportunity to work on something else while they create!

Indoor Fun for Kids

Bringing outdoor activities inside is a great way to turn a rainy day into an exciting adventure! These creative activities are sure to keep your kids entertained, and you might even find yourself laughing along with them. Enjoy these fun indoor ideas the next time the weather keeps you inside!

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Start a Fun Journal & Make Space for Joy in Life

2025-03-05T13:41:00.000-05:00

Finding time for fun in everyday life can be challenging, especially when responsibilities take priority. That’s why I’m starting a Fun Journal—a simple way to capture joyful moments and make space for more fun. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to create your own Fun Journal, why it works, and how it can help you focus on joy and gratitude.

What Is a Fun Journal?

A Fun Journal is a space to track the fun things you experience daily and brainstorm ideas for future fun. It’s similar to gratitude journals, but with a specific focus on joy and playfulness. The idea is to shift your mindset toward appreciating fun moments and making them a priority in your life.

Here’s how it works:

Each day, write down three fun things that happened.

In the back of the journal, keep a running list of fun ideas you want to try in the future.

This practice helps you not only reflect on joy but also intentionally make time for fun in your daily life. Over time, you’ll start to notice what truly brings joy in your life and cultivate a more joy-filled life.

Why a Fun Journal Works

Keeping a Fun Journal is more than just a writing exercise—it’s a mindset shift. Similar to joy journaling or a 5-minute gratitude journal, it helps you become more aware of the little things that bring you joy.

By consistently writing in your journal, you’ll:

✔️ Train your brain to notice fun moments

✔️ Feel more grateful for everyday joys

✔️ Collect inspiration for future fun activities

✔️ Create a record of happy moments to look back on

It’s easy to get caught up in to-do lists and productivity, but focusing on joy in life can bring a sense of balance and fulfillment.

What Brings Joy in Your Life? A Simple Journaling Practice

If you’re not sure what to write in your Fun Journal, start with a simple daily journal prompt:

“What are three fun things that happened today?”

This could be as small as enjoying a funny conversation, trying a new hobby, or dancing to your favorite song. If you’re struggling, flip to the back of your journal and write down things that bring you joy—this can serve as a fun list for future inspiration.

Some ideas to get you started:

Watching a sunset

Playing a game

Visiting a new coffee shop

Creating art or doodling

Listening to uplifting music

How to Make Space for Fun in Your Life

Beyond journaling, another important step is to clear space—physically and mentally—for fun. One thing I’ve been doing is tidying up my creative space to make room for activities that bring me joy.

Ask yourself: Is your environment helping or hindering your ability to have fun?

Decluttering and organizing your space can make it easier to dive into creative projects, hobbies, or playful activities.

Making room for fun isn’t just about physical space—it’s also about prioritizing joy in life. By setting aside time and energy for fun, you’re actively creating a more joy-filled life.

Watch the Fun Journal Video

Want more inspiration for starting your own Fun Journal? In my latest video, I talk about why I’m creating one, how it helps bring more joy into everyday life, and share a bit of my process so far with preparing for the Focus on Fun Series! Watch it below:

Start Your Fun Journal Today!

If you’re ready to add more fun to your life, grab a notebook and start your Fun Journal today! This simple practice, much like gratitude journals, can help you rediscover joy, creativity, and playfulness.

I’d love to hear from you! What’s one fun thing you did today? Leave a comment below or share your thoughts in the video comments. Let’s make fun a priority together!

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Polka Dot Rainbow Cake

2025-03-03T10:57:00.002-05:00

Here are some helpful tips and tricks for constructing a polka dot rainbow cake, decorated on the outside with the petal cake style.
In this post, I'll focus on tips & tricks for execution rather than sharing a full recipe. Since you can find recipes for both of these types of cakes online already, I've linked to some recipes at the end of this post.
For Talia's 8th birthday party, she wanted a polka dot birthday party. I knew that I wanted to make a cake surprise for her with a rainbow polka dot cake. I wasn't sure how I would decorate it on the outside until I came across what is called a petal cake which is the technique I used to frost the exterior- I love the effect!

Rainbow Polka Dot Cake

How to Make a Polka Dot Cake

I used store bought cream cheese frosting for between the layers and a crumb coat (because I was worried that I would run out of the homemade cream cheese frosting that I used for the rainbow part).

Frosting a Rainbow Petal Cake

If I were to make the cake again, I would probably use store bought icing bags & just cut off the ends so that they would all be equal (when I made this one I didn't have 6 of the same size icing tip or bag, so I had a mixture of sizes to work with and try to make them look even).

Because I wasn't sure if I'd have enough icing and it was my first time frosting a cake this way, I was a bit stingy with my icing "squirts" and that meant that I had some white icing showing through at the end. I would do that differently next time. (and with the recipe I used (linked below), I would've had plenty of icing to do that- although I'm not SURE if I would've had enough to do between the layers & the crumb coat)

Below, you can see how I decorated the top:

Creating Polka Dots Inside Cake

I was very happy with the polka dot interior of the cake! I made a lot of cake balls with one of these. I baked them for the recommended time (recommended by the information that came with the cake pop maker) which was fine, but I think I would do it for less time if I did it again, to avoid the brown edges of the cake pops (and polka dots).

I used a whole cake mix for my cake balls and used the whole thing. I froze my cake pops because I made them a day early. I didn't quite use all of them, but I did completely fill my cake pans with cake pops before adding the white cake batter. This was a good move because we always had polka dots- wherever we cut the cake. I have seen other cakes like this where the cake pops were more sparse (and therefore there weren't always polka dots, depending on where you cut the cake).

I have read about people using different cake recipes for the cake balls than the rest of the cake- trying to make the cake balls more dense so that they don't float.. something like that. I didn't bother doing that and I think it turned out just fine! So, I would say don't worry about using different types of cake!

I made 3 6" layers, so it was a small diameter but the cake was tall, so I could cut thin pieces and we had more than enough cake to go around! So a total of 3 white cake mixes: one cake mix for the cake balls, and two cake mixes for the cake layers (divided into 3).

I only had one cake pan to work with. It would've been ideal if I had three 6" cake pans because I could've baked them all at once. But it worked fine with just one.

I was excited to see how a cake with polka dots would look when I cut it and am very happy with the result!

There are some other tips included with the polka dot cake tutorial that I will link to below that I used and worked well for me, but there were some that I didn't bother to do and it worked out just fine for me. For example, I didn't add anything unique to my cake mixes- I just followed the box instructions (using only egg white so that the colours would turn out well, but not adding pudding mixes or anything).

But I did follow her instructions about covering the bottom of the pan just a bit with cake batter before placing the cake balls. And I tried to get batter in between each of the cake balls and cover them all. That was a bit tricky with how full my pans were with cake balls, but it worked fine.

Can You Freeze Cake With Icing?

ALSO, one more tip: Freezing a cake that's already decorated: The morning of Talia's party, there had been a TON of snow, and the plows didn't get out in time to make the drive safe for everyone to get here. Ken had been outside shoveling the driveway and had to push a couple of people out of our street! So, we had to postpone Talia's party (from a Saturday to a Friday) and I had just finished decorating the cake when we made that decision! (This cake was a fair bit of work, so I was not about to make another one a few days later! ;) So, I quickly started researching how to freeze frosted cake and decided to put the cake (cake plate and all!) in the freezer for several hours (5 or 6 maybe- but I think I read that 4 is enough) so that the icing would be very hard. Then I took it out and covered it with a couple of layers of plastic wrap. I left it in the freezer like that for almost a week and took it out the morning of the party (which would take place in the afternoon). I left it in the fridge for a couple of hours (still covered) then uncovered it and left it in the fridge until an hour or two before the party (I forget exactly) and it was in perfect shape! I was very happy with how well the freezing/thawing process went so I couldn't leave out this tip for how to freeze a decorated cake!

The elements of this cake were not my original ideas. I found both ideas (polka dot cakes and petal cakes) through Pinterest and decided to combine them - I found and followed this tutorial & frosting recipe to decorate the outside and this tutorial for the inside of the cake. I used this cake plate from Minted.com (was provided as part of an exchange for a previous sponsored post).

I hope this post will be helpful to anyone who wants to try a petal cake or a polka dot surprise cake sometime in the future! :) (Or if you need to freeze a fully decorated cake for any reason :)

If you're looking for rainbow cake ideas, you might like some of these posts:

Rainbow Cake

Easy DIY Rainbow Layer Cake

Rainbow Swirl Cake

And a couple of other rainbow food ideas:

Rainbow Cookies

Mini Rainbow Pancakes

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Rainbow Grilled Cheese

2025-03-03T10:53:00.000-05:00

A couple years ago, for St. Patrick's Day we made rainbow grilled cheese and I thought it was such a fun idea that could be used any time you want to make lunch more fun! I had a few people ask how to make it, so I put the instructions here.

Rainbow Grilled Cheese Recipe

All you need to create this colourful meal is bread, butter, white cheese, and food colouring.

Start by grating your cheese (we used havarti mixed with mozarella) and separate into four bowls. This article recommends some of the best cheeses for melting and getting a stringy effect- which is a big bonus for rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches!

Add a few drops of food colouring to each bowl and mix.
(It won't colour your cheese shreds perfectly but that's okay)

Butter the outsides of your bread and place your cheese on the inside of the bread, lined up in rainbow stripes.

Grill your rainbow sandwich on a frying pan (if you use a sandwich maker that pinches the middle of your sandwich, you won't get as nice of a view of your rainbow cheese when your sandwich is in half).

Speaking of breaking your sandwich in half, I don't have a photo of a nice stringy cheese effect because I broke our sandwiches with my spatula- if you break your sandwich with a knife or anything like it, you'll get what we got. If you want a stringy cheese rainbow, just tear your sandwich instead. ;)

Happy rainbow lunching! :)

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Focus on Fun: Rediscovering Yourself After Motherhood

2025-02-24T17:08:00.006-05:00

It's hard to focus on fun! Have you ever noticed how easy it is to put fun on the back burner? Life gets busy, responsibilities pile up, and before we know it, the things we do just for fun start to feel like a luxury instead of a priority. But what if making space for fun was actually one of the best things we could do for ourselves?

Rediscovering Yourself After Motherhood

For years, most of my fun came from experiencing life through my kids—watching them explore, play, and enjoy new experiences. But now that they’re older, I’ve realized I feel a little rusty at making my own fun and I need to start rediscovering myself after motherhood (not that motherhood is over, but when your kids are teens, they require your help in different ways than when they were young and you realize it wouldn't hurt to start preparing for empty nest time!).

I’ve also noticed how often I prioritize productivity over play. If something doesn’t feel “useful” or “important,” it’s easy to push it aside. But avoiding fun has almost become a habit—and that’s a habit I want to reverse!

I love this quote from Oprah: "What you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it."

If that’s true, then focusing on fun should help us create more fun, right? That’s exactly what I’m hoping to do with my new Focus on Fun series!

The Focus on Fun Series

In this series, I’ll be sharing simple, practical ways to bring more fun into everyday life. I’ll also document some of the fun things I’ve been doing each week—both to keep myself accountable and to (hopefully) inspire you with new ideas!

I’d love for you to join in, too!

Be A Fun Finder!

Watch the first episode here:

I’d love to hear from you in the comments:

📌 What’s one thing you love to do for fun?

💡 Looking for ideas? Check out what others are sharing—you might find new inspiration!

I’ll be featuring some of your fun ideas in future videos and posts, so be sure to join the conversation!

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow along as we explore ways to find and create more fun in life.

Let’s go find the fun this week! 🎉

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Artist Date Ideas & Inspiration Tailored to YOU!

2025-01-30T21:01:00.005-05:00

After reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, I've been working on making weekly Artist Dates a habit. Sometimes the challenge is how to come up with new or unique Artist Date ideas!

I'm probably not the only one facing this, so I've gathered a list of prompts to help you come up with some personalized Artist Date ideas that are right for you!

Try these prompts & see how many ideas you come up with:

Watch the video or scroll down for the written list of ideas:

Accomplishments

Make a list of accomplishments you've achieved already this year & a list of desired accomplishments. Using these lists, make a sticky note vision board to work from. (Making the board is one Artist Date idea. Your desired accomplishments can inspire future Artist Dates.)

An Extra Hour Each Day

List 5 things you would do if you had an extra hour in your day: Choose one for your next solo date.

10 Tiny Changes

Think of 10 tiny changes you'd like to make for yourself (these can range from small to significant). Write "I would like to ___" and finish the sentence 10 times. See if some of those could be done next time you plan some 'me time'.

5 Places

List 5 places you've always wanted to explore locally. Is there one on the list that you could make happen for a future Artist Date? What would you want to do while there?

Lazy Day

Write about your perfect lazy day (a relaxed, no-pressure sort of day). Take the time to imagine it out in detail. What would you do? How would it feel? Can you make some or all of it happen for a future date with yourself?

Revisit the Past

List 10 things you used to love doing but stopped. Why did you stop? Consider revisiting one.

Self-Care

Describe your idea of a self-care day from start to finish. Use those ideas for future self-care solo dates to recharge.

Treat Yourself

List 10 things someone could do for you to treat you… can you treat yourself with the same things? Incorporate some into future solo dates.

Hobbies

List 10 hobbies you've always wanted to try. Explore one!

Calm

List 5 activities that calm your mind

Childhood Favourites

List your top 5 favourite childhood activities. Is there any reason why you couldn't pick one of them up again, as an adult? Maybe just try it again once, for an Artist Date?

Outside

List 5 outdoor activities you've never tried but want to.

Seasons

Write about your favourite season (activities, places, experiences that make you happy). Does your list spark some ideas?

Unlimited Time or Money

List 5 things you'd do if time/money weren't an issue. Brainstorm ways to scale them down into something doable for your current solo dates.

100 Happy Things

List 100 things (activities/places/people) that make you happy

More Artist Date Ideas

To learn more about Artist Dates, visit this playlist on my YouTube channel.

For more Artist Date Ideas and Inspiration, watch my video with 10 Outdoor Artist Dates or the video with 10 Self Discovery Writing Prompts for your next Artist Date.

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Homemade Candy Cane Marshmallows

2024-12-13T16:53:00.001-05:00

I first published this post about how to make candy cane marshmallows years ago, but I wanted to share it this month because it's SUCH a delicious recipe! It makes some mess and takes some effort because making marshmallows is kind of an unusual thing for most of us, but you can totally do it and they are SO soft and delicious and your kids will never forget making these with you! :)

So, if you've got the time to devote to the making & the clean-up, this just might be the perfect thing to put on your Christmastime bucket list!

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This post was sponsored by Wayfair

Whether they've been working hard outside shoveling the driveway, building a snow fort, making snow angels or just hiking home from the school bus stop, my kids love to come inside and warm up with a nice cup of hot chocolate. We decided to make it more fun during their winter holidays last week and make our own marshmallows! I have always loved adding candy cane to hot chocolate (there's just something so good about that hint of mint mixed in!), so we tried coating our freshly made marshmallows in a mix of icing sugar and crushed candy cane and the result was fabulous!

I'm going to share the recipe with you because I made some alterations to the original marshmallow recipe I shared on the blog 4 years ago. That recipe was great but it made a TON of marshmallows. Today's recipe makes a smaller batch so it's just right if you're making them just for your own family.

Candy Cane Marshmallows

Ingredients

1 envelope Gelatin
2 Tbsp & 2 tsp Cold Water
2/3 cup Sugar
3 Tbsp & 1.5 tsp Corn Syrup
1 Tbsp & 1 tsp Water
pinch of Salt
1 tsp Vanilla
2-3 Candy Canes, crushed
1/4 cup (approximately) Icing Sugar

Instructions

Step 1: Put 2 Tbsp & 2 tsp. of water in the bowl of an electric mixer & sprinkle gelatin over it. Leave it there for 10 minutes.

Step 2: Combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1 Tbsp & 1 tsp. water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute (stir constantly).

Step 3: Pour boiling syrup into gelatin and mix at high speed. Add the salt and vanilla & beat for 4 minutes.

Step 4: Scrape mixture into a loaf pan lined with oiled plastic wrap (use cooking spray) and spread evenly. Let sit for a few hours.

Step 5: Remove from pan and dredge the marshmallow slab in icing sugar mixed with crushed candy canes (dredge just means get the sticky edges covered in the sugar, so that they won't be too sticky)

Step 6: Cut into squares with scissors or a chefs knife.

Step 7: Coat each piece of marshmallow in the confectioners sugar mixture.

Step 8: Make your hot chocolate as you like it (with your favourite mix or from scratch with your preferred recipe) and pour into your mugs (or tea cups... we had a little hot chocolate tea party when we made ours). While looking at mugs online for the fun of it, I found some adorable gold mugs on Wayfair.ca that I think would be so cute to have a set of! They all have gold designs, but each one is unique. The tea cups we used are from our good china set, so we were feeling fancy!

Step 9: Store leftovers in an airtight container (if you don't do this, they'll dry out quickly!)

We had fun with our little hot cocoa tea party and it was really fun to eat marshmallows we created by ourselves! I will warn you that making marshmallows can be messy business! We created a bit of a mess but it was totally worth it in the end and quite easy to tidy up with a bit of warm water. I'll also give you this tip: before the marshmallow mix is set, it can be manipulated without sticking if you wet a spoon, finger or spatula. If you don't wet it, the marshmallow will just stick to you or your utensil which can be challenging! This is especially useful when you're smoothing the mixture into your pan.

What's your favourite twist on hot chocolate?

Now, go have some fun, making your own marshmallows! If you do make some and share a photo on Instagram or Twitter, please tag me (@raisingmemories) so I can see!

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Overcoming Resistance: How to Stop Holding Yourself Back

2024-10-12T16:25:00.004-04:00

Have you ever felt stuck in life, like you're holding yourself back from achieving what you know you're capable of? I think we all experience resistance in one form or another, especially when it comes to pursuing creative endeavors. Whether you're struggling with starting a project or feeling stuck as your kids get older and life is shifting, resistance can be a major roadblock. I'll share a video on how to stop holding yourself back from creative success at the end of this post.

The War of Art Summary - Overcoming Resistance

In a recent video (scroll down to watch it), I dive into the concept of resistance as described in Steven Pressfield's book, The War of Art. I also share my personal experiences of battling resistance, especially when it comes to creating YouTube content. This post will explore four types of resistance—fear, procrastination, self-doubt, and misery—and how you can overcome these barriers to unlock your potential.

Don't Let Fear Hold You Back

Fear is one of the most common forms of resistance. It's easy to let it stop you from moving forward, especially when you're worried about what others might think. But fear often signals that you're on the verge of doing something meaningful. Instead of letting it hold you back, recognize it as a natural part of the creative process. In the video, I share how embracing fear has helped me push past my own creative blocks and move toward my goals.

Procrastination: The Endless "Tomorrow"

How many times have you said, "I'll start tomorrow"? Procrastination is another sneaky form of resistance that can keep you from making progress. The truth is, there's never a "perfect" time to begin. You just have to start, even if it's messy and imperfect. Watch the video for more on how I've struggled with procrastination and the steps I've taken to overcome it.

Self-Doubt: "Who Am I to Share This?"

If you've ever thought, "Who am I to share this?" you're not alone. Self-doubt can be crippling, making us feel like we don't have anything valuable to contribute. But the reality is, your experiences and journey are unique—and others can benefit from them. In the video, I explore how self-doubt has held me back and how I’ve managed to push through it.

Misery: The Weight of Unfulfilled Dreams

Not pursuing your creative passions can lead to a deep sense of misery. The longer you put off doing what you love, the heavier that sense of dissatisfaction becomes. In my video, I explain how starting, even when you're scared, can help alleviate this misery and get you moving toward a more fulfilling life.

If you’re feeling stuck in life, especially in your 40s or 50s as you're approaching the empty nest phase, and find yourself battling resistance, this video is for you. Check it out below!

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Popsicle Stick PomPom Spider Craft

2024-09-24T13:19:00.000-04:00

We made this cute popsicle stick spider craft a few years ago and they were so cute & can be used in so many different ways that I wanted to re-share this post with you as we approach October! I hope it'll add some fun as you prepare for Halloween!

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We are in Halloween craft mode over here! Earlier this week it was a spider treat and today it's a simple spider craft. These would be fun to hang with fishing wire, just about anywhere, to give a creepy (yet cute) vibe. :)

How to Make a Popsicle Stick Spider

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

Materials:

4 Popsicle Sticks

Black Paint & Brush

2 Googly Eyes

Pompom

White Glue

Step 1: Paint Popsicle Sticks

Here's a tip: Paint everywhere except where you're holding, to save your fingers. Let it dry, then come back and paint the unpainted spot.

Another Tip: Set your painted sticks on tinfoil to dry (not newspaper or you'll get paper stuck to them!)

Step 2: Glue Sticks Together

Space the sticks out as you like and glue them on top of each other.

Step 3: Add Pompom

Glue the Pompom on the middle of the sticks

Step 4: Add Eyes

Glue the googly eyes onto the Pompom and you're finished!

My kids are already coming up with more colourful, rainbow versions of these cute popsicle stick spiders! :) That's what happens when you keep the craft supplies out and available for your little creatives. ;)

For another cute pompom bug craft, you can check out my "Germ Bugs" post on HowDoesShe - it's a fun way to encourage your kids to clean! :)

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"We Love You" Jar

2024-09-24T13:17:00.000-04:00

This Fall-themed "We Love You" Jar fits right in with the autumn season, but it could of course be altered slightly to work for any time of the year.

A few years ago when our friend Charity had a birthday during October, we left her a little surprise on her doorstep. We gave her some Pumpkin Spice candies and wanted to do something a little more personal than just candies, so we came up with this personalized "We Love You" Jar:

If you'd like to recreate it, or make your own version, here's what we did:

DIY "We Love You Jar" Craft

You'll Need:

A mason jar
Construction paper
Markers
Wrapped Candies
Double sided tape (or rolled tape or glue)
Ribbon or string if you want to decorate

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Start by cutting your paper into strips. Then pass out the strips and markers so everyone can write little messages on the strips of paper. You can tell the person why you love them, what you love about them, or funny or happy memories you have with them.

2. Put double sided tape (or rolled tape or glue) on the bottom of your wrapped candies and attach one to the end of each strip of paper.

3. Roll each strip of paper around the attached candy and put a small piece of tape on the end, to keep it together.

4. Arrange your strips of paper inside of the jar, and decorate as you like, with ribbon or string. We found this cute jar with the chalkboard label at the dollar store and wrote our friend's name on it with a chalk pen. I really liked the way it turned out!

Of course you could adjust the colours and make it more rainbow-y or Christmas-y or fit it in with a party theme. I think we'll use this idea again!

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How to Make a Pumpkin Roll Video

2024-09-24T13:15:00.000-04:00

It's Fall and it's time for my How to Make a Pumpkin Roll Video! I recently had a friend ask for this recipe, and I thought it was about time I shared this recipe on the blog again. With Canadian Thanksgiving just a few days away, it's a great time for Pumpkin Roll!
Years ago, I posted at HowDoesShe about the Pumpkin Roll recipe that I use that seems to be a hit everywhere I've taken it.

Since then I've had several people say that even with all of the photos in the tutorial, they're hesitant to try it. A friend of mine mentioned that a video tutorial might be helpful, so I had Ken video tape the process for me and I squished it into a 5 minute video.

I'll add in the photo tutorial as well, as it has all of the instructions whereas the video mostly shows you how to do it (so scroll to the bottom of this post for the video!)

Here's the recipe:

Pumpkin Roll Recipe

Roll

1 cup sugar
1 tsp. soda
3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup pumpkin (canned- not pie filling, pure pumpkin)
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup walnuts (optional- I exclude them cuz I'm not a fan of walnuts)

Mix everything except nuts.
Grease & wax cookie sheet.
Pour into pan & sprinkle nuts.
Bake 15 min. at 375 degrees.
Roll into T-towel for about 10 minutes.
Unroll & spread in filling.

Filling

8 oz. cream cheese (250g)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsp. soft butter

Mix well.

Here are the photos & description:

Above is a photo of the grease & wax part (wax paper first, then grease).
I crease the wax paper around the edges so that it stays in place better, like this:

(which helps the shape of the cake-ish part of the roll)... also, grease it really really well (it's not cool when the cake won't come off of the wax paper).

Now pour your mixture onto the pan & smooth it out so that it fills the pan like so:

...and you're ready for baking. Keep an eye on it near the end of the baking time- you want it a bit brown- if it turns black... you've gone too far!

Once you've got it out of the oven, you're at the flip stage. I usually put the pan down first, then a tea towel, then an upside down pan. (I was using my other pan this time, so I used a pink lunch tray- but you get the idea). Grab hold of the whole thing (with oven mitts on!) and flip it over onto the cool tray.

Congratulations, you pulled off the flip! (are you still with me?) I threw the above picture in for you in case it helps illustrate the order of things (I've now removed the pan I cooked it in, and we're ready to remove the wax paper).

Carefully pull the wax paper away- you really don't want your cake to stick to the wax paper or start to come apart- this part is really important (that's why I wanted you to grease your wax paper really well).

...oh, and now you know what my other pan was busy doing (did you notice the tea towel switch?)
I was making 2 rolls when I photographed this (you only need one tea towel ;) ).

Next you're going to roll up the end of your tea towel (as shown above) and then continue rolling- with the cake and the tea towel. Do this carefully- the cake can crack at this stage if you're not gentle with it.

Leave your roll sitting like that for 10 minutes so that it'll cool before you spread your filling in. You can mix your filling during this time.

Unroll (careful that the cake doesn't stick to the tea towel & get pulled apart). Plop the filling on top.

Spread it around- almost to the edges, but you don't have to quite go all the way or it'll just goosh out when you roll it again.

Re-roll it & voila!

Wait 'til you taste it... I'm in love with the filling!

How to Make a Pumpkin Roll Video

If you want to make this, be sure to pin this post for reference when you do!

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If you liked this post, you might like my

"Cinnabon" Cinnamon Roll tutorial- click here to check it out!

Tutorial: How to Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint

2024-07-19T17:19:00.000-04:00

Here are some simple instructions for how to make sidewalk chalk paint at home with ingredients you already have!

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If you're looking for fun things to do with your kids this summer, sidewalk chalk paint is extremely easy to make by yourself! It doesn't require any strange ingredients and it's simple for kids to help with. It can also create hours of creative, outdoor fun for you and your kids! Ready for a quick and simple tutorial that shows you how to make your own sidewalk chalk? Keep reading!

How to Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint

You're only going to need 3 ingredients and you probably already have them at home:

DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint Ingredients:

1. Corn Starch
2. Water
3. Food Colouring

Supplies:

1. Measuring Cup
2. Mixing Container
3. Spoon
4. Bowl (or other container for each colour you want to make)
5. Paintbrushes

How to Make Sidewalk Chalk Paint:

Step 1: Add equal parts Corn Starch & Water (We did one cup of each)

Step 2: Mix the Corn Starch & Water with a Spoon

You'll know it's ready when it looks and feels a lot like milk when you stir! There shouldn't be any gritty or lumpy parts left.

Now you have your liquid sidewalk chalk but it's time to add some colour!

Step 3: Split this mixture up into separate containers (one for each colour you want to make)

Step 4: Add one drop of food colouring per container (you can always add an extra drop or two later if you need to, but we found one or two drops to be enough)

Step 5: Mix each colour until it is solid.

Step 6: Add paint brushes & get to work creating your homemade sidewalk chalk paint masterpiece! :)

We find that we need to re-stir the paint occasionally with our paintbrushes, but it works great!

I hope you're all having a lovely time with your kids this summer!

I've shared more summer ideas with you here, to give you some ideas of fun things to do with your kids & make great memories! Have a wonderful week & I hope you get the chance to try this fun recipe and activity with your kids!

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Cottage Rentals in Eastern Ontario - Loughborough Inn

2024-04-18T18:37:00.001-04:00

We weren't looking for cottage rentals in Eastern Ontario at the time. We were looking for a hotel in the heart of downtown Kingston while our family relocated for my husband's job. Instead we found ourselves living north of the city on the shore of Loughborough Lake, surrounded by the peace and beauty of nature in a cottage at Loughborough Inn for the month of August.

Our booking was quite last minute so there wasn't one, single cottage available for the full duration of our stay which meant that we had the opportunity to stay in a couple of different cottages. Of course, we got pretty familiar with all that Loughborough Inn has to offer its guests, so you can take our experience and the details I'll share into consideration in case you want to plan your own family getaway in Ontario!

Renting A Cottage in Ontario

Although we hadn't thought of renting a cottage in Ontario at this time (we were so focused on finding a hotel), I'm so glad the hotels were booked up because that caused us to look a little further (12 miles) away from town and we found ourselves a little haven that turned out to be just the right place for us to be during our moving transition!

Loughborough Inn offers both cottage rentals and cabin rentals. I'll share some photos and our experience staying in both!

Loughborough Lake Cottage Rentals

Each cottage is unique! There are Lakefront Cottages (right on the edge of the lake) and Lakeview Cottages (set back from the water). Both types of cottages are available in 1, 2, and 3 bedroom.

Our favourite cottage that we stayed in was a lakeview cottage named Sunset (pictured above). Below are some photos from the interior of the Sunset cottage.

This cottage has air conditioning, a living room with cable T.V. and lots of windows. The newly installed kitchen included all the dishes and cookware you need, a dishwasher, fridge, oven, stove, and microwave. This cottage had two bedrooms (each with a double and single bed) and a full bathroom with a door connecting to each bedroom.

The Sunset cottage is conveniently located right near the pool and is a very short walk from the lake. Below is a photo of one of the lakefront cottages, right on the water.

Ontario Cabins for Rent at Loughborough

You can also rent a cabin at Loughborough Inn. We stayed in one of the square log cabins which include a living room, beautiful kitchen, and 2 bedrooms (each with an en suite bathroom). Both bathrooms had jetted tubs and walk-in showers. There was also a screened in porch, satellite TV, wireless internet, and central air conditioning.

The above photos give you a glimpse of the cabin interior, but the video below will show you everything.

The cabins are surrounded by trees, away from the lake but a short walk from the playground and walking trails.

Loughborough Lake Marina & Other Amenities

Regardless of which type of cottage you book, all Loughborough Lake cottage rentals give you access to the Loughborough Lake Marina for fishing, boat rentals and water activities. There are also hiking trails, a pool, a field with soccer nets, and a playground. There is also a restaurant and you can set yourself up with a meal plan if you don't want to use your kitchen for cooking meals.

I look forward to sharing more about the resort itself and some of the activities and experiences we had while there, in further detail in future posts! If you're looking for Ontario resorts for families, I would definitely recommend the Loughborough Inn- not only are they a great place for Eastern Ontario cottage rentals, but you get access to so much on the grounds! The resort is open this year from May 15th to October 22nd and you can book now.

If you're interested in other things to do in the Kingston, Ontario area you can visit my local travel blog, Kingston Bucket List for lots of ideas!

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8 Day Easter Week Advent & Printables

2024-03-18T18:05:00.000-04:00

I love to find fun ways to teach my kids about the real meaning behind our holidays and today's Easter Week Advent printables do that! Mandy from Sugarbee Crafts has come up with this Easter Advent with daily activities for your family from the Sunday before Easter until Easter Sunday. She also created some free printables to go with it (which you can find below).

Here are the supplies you'll need:

- 8 plastic eggs
- Number stickers or a sharpie to label your eggs
- Twine, a branch, and a vase or other container (if you want to hang the eggs)
- paper, a printer, and the free download below :)

Activities range from journaling as a family to watching an online video to baking treats and delivering them to a neighbour. It is focused on learning more about Jesus and His teachings and the events that led up to Easter Sunday.

One of my favourite activities included is instructions for making "Resurrection Rolls". For these you'll need:

Ingredients:

- large marshmallows
- crescent roll dough
- butter
- cinnamon & sugar

The idea is to wrap the marshmallow up with the dough and after baking it, the roll will be empty inside (representing the empty tomb). All of the details are in the set of printables at the bottom of this post!

You'll find everything you need for your Easter Advent Week in the download below. Simply print out the advent, cut the strips apart, fold them up and put them in the coordinating numbered eggs.

There are also cute quote printables, journaling pages, and more!

Click Here to download a copy to print for yourself! :)

Find more Easter Printables Here:

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Come Follow Me Lesson Helps – Study Bookmarks

2024-01-09T15:17:00.004-05:00

If you’re looking for Come Follow Me lesson helps, check out these Book of Mormon Study Notes Bookmarks!

Book of Mormon - Come Follow Me 2024

Our church chooses a different book of scripture to focus on each year. Last year we studied the New Testament and this year, we’ll focus on the Book of Mormon.

Our classes for adults, teens, and children this year are all centered around the same topics from this book of scripture. This makes studying at home, as a family, more cohesive and meaningful because we’re thinking about the same sections in scripture in our personal study as our family and class discussions. We use the Come Follow Me manual as a guide for classes and home study.

Weekly Study Plan

This week's reading is 1 Nephi 1-5. While going over the lesson, I noticed it encouraged us to look for ways the word of God directly or indirectly blessed Lehi’s family, while reading those chapters.

Our family decided we’d do the assigned readings individually, reading at least one chapter per day so we’ll cover the 5 chapters over 5 weekdays. We try to have daily Come Follow Me discussions throughout the week, but when we gather for our final scripture study on the weekend, we’ll share our insights and thoughts on the overall focus outlined on the bookmark.

Book of Mormon Bookmarks as a Study Help

To help us in this week’s study, I created these Book of Mormon bookmarks for each of us.

The bookmarks include a reminder at the top of the designated scriptures and our study focus, serving as a visual cue during individual readings. There’s also space for us to jot down notes so we remember our observations when we discuss as a family.

Since I’m making a printable Book of Mormon book mark for us, I thought I’d share the downloadable file here in case you’d like to try them in your family, or for a Sunday School, Primary, Relief Society, or Seminary class that you teach.

Book of Mormon Study Guide in Action:

Incorporating these bookmarks into our routine will keep our attention on the themes suggested by the "Come Follow Me" manual and encourage deeper reflections and more meaningful conversations.

Download Your Book of Mormon Bookmarks:

If you'd like to incorporate these bookmarks into your family or class study, you can download them HERE.

I suggest printing on sturdy cardstock.

I hope these bookmarks prove to be valuable additions to your Book of Mormon study routine for Come Follow Me 2024. Download them, try them out, and share your thoughts.

When I make bookmarks for future weeks, I’ll share them on the blog for you (and I’ll try and get them out early so you can be prepared with them in advance)!

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Raising Memories: Making & Documenting Family Memories

Lace Crown Tutorial

Materials Needed

How To Make A Lace Crown

Crown Craft

Using Your Lace Crowns

Other Great Princess Crafts:

Little Man Mustache Baby Shower

Boy Baby Shower Plans

Mustache Diaper Shower Invitation

Baby Boy Baby Shower Games & Decor

Mustache Cupcake Toppers

Mustache Party Cups

Mustache Party Game

Baby Boy Baby Shower Decorations & Food

Little Man Baby Shower Banner

DIY Mustache Party Cups

Baby Boy Shower Games

A Valentines Day Countdown for Kids

Valentines Day Countdown Supplies:

Valentine's Day Countdown Instructions:

1. Decorate the Envelopes

2. Make the Cards

3. Plan the Order of Activities

4. Put It All Together

Kid Friendly Valentine's Day Activities

More Valentine Activities and Free Valentine Printables for Kids

Valentine's Day Idea Roundup

100 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

100 Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

Did we miss one of your favourite stocking stuffers on this list? Please comment & share your ideas that we didn't think of!

Things to Do With Teens: Fun Family Activities with Teenagers

How to Make Things to Do with Teens Feel Less Forced

** Scroll down if you just want the list of ideas! **

Let Them Take the Lead

Meet Them Where They Are

Casual Over Formal

Consistency Over Perfection

12 Fun Family Activities with Teenagers

1. Family Movie Night- Their Way

2. Cook a New Recipe Together

3. Go For a Drive with a Great Playlist

4. Shared Journal

5. Volunteer Together

6. Work Out or Try a Fitness Challenge Together

7. Recreate a Childhood Photo

8. Visit a Local Museum or Cultural Event

9. Make a Family Vision Board

10. Take a Class or Workshop Together

11. Plan a Surprise Day

12. Binge a Show Togeher & Discuss It

The Real Value of Finding Things to Do with Teens

DIY Pennant Banner (Paper Triangle Bunting) Tutorial

Pennant Banner Supplies:

How to Make a Pennant Banner:

He Lives - Free Printable Easter Banner

Free Printable Easter Banner

Recharging Mind, Body, and Spirit at Ste. Anne's Spa

Visiting Ste. Anne's Spa

Ste. Anne's Spa Cottages

Afternoon Tea on the Patio

Meditation ~ A Wellness Class

The Fieldstone Grotto

Relaxing Outside & the Serenity Garden

Spa Cuisine ~ A Delicious Dinner

Locker Room & Hot Tub

Breakfast & Ste. Anne's Spa Services

Walking Trails

Free Printable Nesting Easter Envelopes & Cards

Easter Scripture Scavenger Hunt & French Toast Bake

Turning Outdoor Activities Into Indoor Activities for Rainy Days

1. Silly Soccer Indoors

2. DIY Indoor Mini Golf

3. Bubble Fun

4. Indoor Kite Flying (with a Crafty Twist)

5. Fun Sidewalk Chalk Art

Indoor Fun for Kids

Start a Fun Journal & Make Space for Joy in Life

What Is a Fun Journal?

Here’s how it works:

Did we miss one of your favourite stocking stuffers on this list?
Please comment & share your ideas that we didn't think of!

Scroll down if you just want the list of ideas!