“I Spy a Camper Van” Card Game

One of my favorite memories growing up is sitting in the car with my dad playing a game of our own invention, “Find the Volkswagen Bugs”, and it was the best. This would have been around 1977, the Disney Herbie movies were in full swing, causing my Volkswagen Bug obsession to reach its peak. There was nothing more thrilling then seeing one driving by. I would stare intently, and secretly hope that it’s headlights would wink at me, or it’s doors to flap open saying hello. Our game was simple and satisfying. When you saw a Volkswagen Bug, you pointed and screamed. Done. Now, my son and I are both into camper vans. When we are on the road, we shout out when we see one. Here in Southern California, that makes for a very noisy car. My son prefers the Sprinters, but his mama has a sweet spot for the old Volkswagen buses.

We will be taking a road trip this summer, so it got me thinking about my old Volkswagen Bug game. I put this card game together based on spotting your favorite car. The rules are simple, look out the window and find camper vans. When you find a van, you take a card. There are some special cards that give the game some fun twists and turns too. Then, whoever gets all the cards wins. My son and I played this game at home too, and I must say, it was pretty fun.

Download the printable HERE to print cut out the cards.

There are detailed instructions on how to play on the third page of the printable.

printables

Eat, Drink, Play Leaflet

It has been a long time since I have visited this space. I took a big break from my online life, as I felt, in all honestly, it wasn’t serving me very well. I felt many hours of my life were being withered away as a voyeur, watching, comparing, admiring the lives of my friends, but primarily distant acquaintances, and if I am honest, mostly strangers. With my own struggles, depressions, anxieties to tend to, I was feeling my computer played the role of distractor and agitator, helping to dredge up feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that live and hide in the corners and creases of my mind. Plus, and more importantly, my son is now 7, and wow, where did the time go? It is with a sense of urgency that I felt the need to be more present in his life, and sneaking peaks on my iPhone every 5 minutes wasn’t cutting it for him, or for me. Watching him grow has been the biggest source of joy (with a dash of melancholy) in my life.

I am a maker. The act of making things fills my soul. I make things to help me feel better. I make things because it is fun. When I design something, or cook something or craft something, I feel the shift. The dark parts get lighter, things are brighter, and I feel good. So I started making things rather than watching, and I will be sharing a bit more again.

Let me know what you think. What rituals feed your mind and soul? Do you make things, run, nap, meditate, play? I would love to hear what other moms/dads/friends do to get through the rough and bumpy spots. Also, how do you manage your iPhone and keep present in your life? Maybe you are like me struggling with it each day.

LEAFLETS

When we go out to eat or take a road trip, like most people, we play games, start conversations, draw, make paper airplanes to fill the wiggly spaces. The times when we are waiting for dinner to arrive and blood sugar has gotten a bit too low, I struggle to find distractions and fun to keep my son even and pleasant at the table. I jotted down some ideas that have worked for us, and made this little leaflet.

This printable can be a part of your arsenal; bring two or three to the restaurant to keep the kids busy and somewhat(!) well mannered at the table. I have also added a favorite recipe for banana ice cream pops. It’s pretty healthy and simple enough for kids can make themselves.

I will be posting more versions, so that you can change it up. Plus, I will be making leaflets for road trips, days at the park or beach for summer.

Download the printable HERE. It is a two page pdf, meant for you to print 2-sided. However you can print it out on 2 pages to keep things simple.

recipes

Creamy Cashew Coconut Homemade Instant Oatmeal

There is a subtle feeling that creeps into my bones the minute the calendar switches from July to August. When I was on the east coast, you could feel a slight change in the air temperature that was ever so subtle. Here in Southern California, August is hot and balmy, and inviting in the most summery of ways. The ocean water has warmed up and beach days are long and leisurely. It is all summer, all of the time. Yet, it is the time that thoughts of fall and school, and normal life as usual begin to bloom.

The rhythm of school days are creeping into my psyche, as I slowly let my mind wander to fall, and it’s cooler temps and busier days. This is a long-winded way of me explaining why I am posting a hot oatmeal recipe the first week of August! Here me out, initially, I was searching for breakfast ideas for our last camping trip. I stumbled on this post by Simply Sisson, and loved the idea for a comforting, yet simple morning meal. With that said, it is an obvious time saver for hurried school mornings. This is also a breakfast that young children can help manage. They can collect the jar from the cupboard, and stir it up after you have added the hot water. It is also easy to construct, as it is just a handful of ingredients thrown into a mason jar. They can watch as the oatmeal cooks all on it’s own, and feel that they helped make their own breakfast. They can also add their favorite toppings to make it their own.

Here is my variation on the original recipe where I use dried coconut milk, ground cashews, and finely shredded coconut to make it creamy with a slightly nutty flavor. If you like your oatmeal a bit sweeter, try adding a touch of coconut or brown sugar to the jar. Also, if you want to give it an exotic twist try a dash of tumeric powder that loves to be paired with the coconut flavors. It is a bit unexpected and delicious.

Creamy Coconut Cashew Instant Oatmeal

This recipe makes one jar of oatmeal.

Ingredients

1/2 cup of Quick Cook Oats

3 tablespoons finely shredded coconut

3 tablespoons ground raw cashews

1/2 teaspoon chia seeds

2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

1 teaspoon coconut milk powder

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

8 ounce mason jar

Instructions

Prepare the cashews by adding about a 1/2 cup of raw cashews to a Vitamix or small food processor. Grind the nuts until they have the consistency of a powder.

Next, add all of the ingredients to the mason jar. Cover and store in a cool dry place.

When you are ready to eat, add 1 cup boiling water to the jar and stir. Cover and let stand for 3 minutes and it’s ready!

NOTES

The dried coconut milk, and finely ground cashews and coconut really add a nice creaminess to this oatmeal without the need to add any dairy.

This recipe is a delightful base to add different toppings to make it your own. This would be lovely with some added chopped dates and a small handful of chopped walnuts, but it is all up to you.

diy

Shoelace Felt Animals

I made these fun felt animals for making tying your shoes more fun. They are easy to put together, and kids can get creative with colors and adding decorations like sequins and beads.

I have posted the full tutorial HERE at Hello, Wonderful where you can find instructions and the template that makes putting these together a snap!

diy

My Color is Rainbow Magic Trick

I received my beautiful copy of My Color is Rainbow this week, and I am excited to share it with you.

I am thrilled to be a contributor on the author, Agnes Hsu’s creative and inspiring website, Hello, Wonderful. It is a treasure trove of creative ideas that sets out to fill your days with color and creativity. Because of this, I knew that a book penned by Agnes would be colorful and enriching addition to our home library. Her words along with Yulia Gwilym’s bright illustrations, work so well together to make an inspiring tale of a little white arc and his journey to find his “true colors”.

Inspire by her daughter’s Rainbow Rock Project, Agnes set out to write a book that promotes kindness, acceptance and love. I cannot recommend this book enough. The storyline is simple, yet a powerful one. It also led us to having a conversation with my son about loving yourself and being kind. Plus, it is just a sweet story.

Inspired by the words and colors from this book, I came up with a fun craft based on this magic trick project that I did for Hello, Wonderful over the holidays. It is a fun magic trick that kids can show off to their friends.

TAKE A PEEK AT THE VIDEO TO SEE THE TRICK IN ACTION.

You will need: Download Templates HERE, Scissors or Exacto Knife, Tape, Transparency Paper

First, Cut out all of the template pages following the instructions on the template.

Take the outer envelope and fold it. Then, tape the insert so it creates a flap on the inside of the envelope once folded.

Cut out the the outline of the rainbow and tape it to the back of the transparency paper. Then trace the rainbow outline. Tape this transparency layer to the colored rainbow layer.
How it works: Slide the card into the envelope so that the insert separates the black and white transparency layer from the colored rainbow layer.

My Color is Rainbow is a fun, imaginative story whose simple message resonated with our family. Find it now on Amazon and Plaeful.co.

diy

Magic Trick Christmas Card

This is not your average Christmas card. It is a fun magic trick that your kids will love to put together and impress their friends and family. The holidays are such a magical time, and this card takes that sentiment literally! Santa has lost all of his colors, and he needs to find them before Christmas. When you pull the card out of it’s colorful frame, magically, all of his colors appear.

Check out the full diy at Hello Wonderful!

diy

Pumpkin Straw Toppers

These pumpkin straw toppers are a simple, fun way to dress up your beverage this fall. You can also make a bunch of them and string them for a festive Halloween inspired garland. I love fall, and have been really getting in the mood with holiday crafts! Find the detailed DIY on how to make this at Hello Wonderful. Happy Fall.

diy

Wine Cork Halloween Monster Puppets

It is hot and steamy here in Southern California, but that is not stopping me from getting into the fall mood. Halloween is such a fun holiday for kids, and a great opportunity for hours of imaginative play. These little monster puppets have been starring in a number of my sons Halloween themed productions. It is a great way to get our mind off this heat, and transport us to the chilly atmosphere that we love so much about fall.

These animal wine cork puppets were the inspiration for this craft. These spooky cousins are just as simple, and fun to make.

What you need:

Wine Corks

Wood Skewers

Construction Paper (Green, Black, Brown, Grey)

Glue Gun

Knife

Paint and Paintbrushes

Tiny Fall Color Pom Poms

1″ hole punch

Paint the wine corks: black for Dracula, grey for Frankenstein, brown for the Werewolf, green for the witch. Set to dry.

Add a slit to the bottom of the wine cork. This is where you will insert the construction paper for the monsters head.

Once dry, it is time to create the characters. For the Werewolf, Witch and Dracula, cut a 1″ hole for the heads. For Frankenstein, you will cut a 1″ inch rectangle.Using a black pen and marker add the faces and hair.

Have fun with construction paper and pom poms to dress the puppets. Add a cape made out of red construction paper for Dracula, and a black and green cape for the witch. Using a glue gun add the pom poms onto the brown wine cork for the Werewolf.

Using your fingers, open the insert you created at the top and slide in the monster head.

Finally, insert a wood skewer into the bottom of the wine cork. The pointy side of the skewer will make it slide in easier.

Have fun making other puppets and Halloween characters. Check out this post where I made fluffy animal puppets out of wine corks as well.

diy

Halloween Paper Spider Mobile

Here in Southern California, it is a bit tricky to get in the fall mood, so we really depend on fall-like decorations to get the mood for the new season. Here is a fun mobile made with paper “not-so-spooky” spiders to help get you in the mood.

The DIY for this project is up at Hello, Wonderful now. Swing on over to get the step-by-step.

diy

Mid-Century Cardboard Modern Playhouse

This modern playhouse is so easy and fun to put together. With leftover packing boxes and tape you can put together this fun little playhouse.

What you need:

Cardboard boxes

Painters tape

Paint & Paint Brush

Masking Tape

Felt

Wood cubes

You can make this house any size. Make one side of the house shorter than the other, so that there is a slope to the roof giving it a modern design. Using masking tape, attached all of the walls together.

About painting:

When I was creating the house I painted it after I had put it together. I used painters tape to cover the silver tape so that they could show adding to the decorative look. If I was doing this again, I would paint the walls inside and out before I taped it together.

I created a sofa by glueing to small cubes together and “upholstering” it with the felt. I used stiff, thick felt for the back of the sofa. For the table, I glued a piece of felt into a tube and topped it with felt. I made a mirror with tin foil and a window with clear plastic leftover from a gift box.

Happy homemaking!

diy

Dry Erase Portable Drawing Box

I found a small lunch box at a thrift store and new there must be something I could do with it. With a little spray paint and dry erase paper, you can turn it into this fun drawing box that I will be bringing on long car rides and into restaurants.

printables

Alphabet Card Printable

Here is a little alphabet card for when you just want to say hi!

Download the printable for this card here.

diy

Fairy Mailbox

Here is a fun easy craft for a small mailbox for your local fairy population. Your son or daughter may want to send the fairies a little note from time to time, and who knows they may get a little message in return! This is a sweet sentiment to have in your fairy garden or in a corner of their bedroom.

Fairy Mailbox

Ingredients

Wine Cork

Roll from inside plastic wrap

Painters tape

Glue Gun

Paint

Paint brushes

Optional:

Mini tree stump

Washi tape

Markers

Instructions

First, trim a 3-4 inch piece off of the plastic wrap roll. Using small pieces of painters tape, seal one side of the roll to create the mailbox. Paint both the wine cork and roll, and set to dry.

When dry, decorate the mailbox elements.

Using a glue gun, hot glue the top and bottom together.

Notes

diy

Recycled Cardboard Elephant Toy

This elephant pull toy is a lot of fun to make, and a great way to make use of old packing boxes. The kids can decorate each one and make them their own. These toys are quite sturdy and small children will have fun rolling these little elephants around for imaginative play. Get the step-by-step is up now at Hello, Wonderful!

diy

Alphabet Stones Game

Inspired by all the alphabet stones created by, so many talented crafters, I decided to make some of my own. It started with a very tranquil day at the tide pools where my son and I scoured the shore for the perfectly imperfect stones. The process of painting and marking the stones was therapeutic and fun. My son watched and tried to guess which letter would emerge next. He was part of the process, so now he is invested in this little stone game the we keep in a basket in his playroom.

I called this a game, but it is not really in the traditional sense of the word. We play it randomly when we are lounging on the floor of his room, a minute here and there when the mood strikes. We take a card and spell the word and our prize is a gem stone kept in a small cloth bag. Such a simple ritual, but quite fun.

1
2
3
…
24
Older Posts

“I Spy a Camper Van” Card Game

Eat, Drink, Play Leaflet

Creamy Cashew Coconut Homemade Instant Oatmeal