Live near Logan Utah? Join me for a Mother’s Day Book event and book signing!
Thursday, May 11, 2017
6:30 – 7:30 pm
The Book Table
29 S Main St. Logan, Utah
Author: onceadayamazing
Dandelion Curls
I’ve said it before, but some of these ideas seem too simple to even post. But aren’t those simple things usually your kid’s favorites? I totally loved making dandelion curls when I was little, and my kids love it still.
Many of us have dandelions this time of year. My sister once had a door-to-door lawn guy ask if they needed some help with their yard, which happened to have more than its fair share of dandelions. She told him with a straight face that she was growing them on purpose for her kids and they didn’t need weed control. Most of us can find more than we need, but if you happen to have great weed control, you may have to pick a neighbor’s dandelions when it’s dark.
Let your kids pick dandelions, then peel the stem into several strips, stopping at the flower. Put them in cold water and wait for a few minutes. The dandelion strips magically curl up like little ribbons!
Good, cheap, fun…and great weed removal!
Music Critic’s Club
Bossy or a pushover? It seems like kids fall into one camp or the other. One of the most important skills of childhood is learning to express thoughts and feelings openly and appropriately. Enter the Music Critic’s Club! Kids will just think they are having fun, but they are also learning a great skill: to have an opinion and to accept other’s opinions.
Put together a varied collection of songs on CD’s, old records, or playlists. Don’t forget some tunes from when you were young! Give kids paper and write down numbers 1-10. Play a bit of each song and let them rate it, expressing reasons for their rating. Pre-teach kids to accept each other’s opinions, even if their brother gives their favorite song a 1! This is good training for opinionated parents, too! Practice validating your kiddo’s response instead of trying to convince him that Milli Vanilli deserves a solid 10, controversy notwithstanding.
If you are being amazing on the go, turn to different radio stations and rate from whatever is playing.
Have fun with your little music critics!
Have fun with
Spy Cookie Capers
My husband is masterful at inventing creative dates. Before we were married, he once told me to be dressed all in black when he picked me up. We went to his apartment, made cookies, donned black knit caps, and went out on “capers” as he called them. In the cover of the dark night, we found our professor’s houses. We rang the doorbell, left cookies, and ran. It’s how I’d imagine Pollyanna doorbell ditching if she ever did such a thing. I thought the date was fun, and knew he was a keeper.
Try it with your family tonight! Sneaking around corners like a spy is part of the excitement, so don’t forget to dress in black and get into character! (Just don’t act too suspicious. You don’t want to create fond family memories of jail time!)
Reviews
My Latest Reviews for “When Mommy’s Home with Me”
I feel so honored to have two amazing women whom I admire so much write a review for my book. Thanks!
Kids will love the fun pictures and delightful verse while their moms get a well-deserved pat on the back. This book sends a clear message that mothers matter. Bravo!
–Jane Clayson Johnson, journalist and author of I Am a Mother
Alison has written a beautiful book that moms and their babies are going to enjoy together! All mothers strive to give their children wings to fly! Open up the pages to the possibilities!
–Marla Cilley (aka The Flylady), author of Sink Reflections and New York Times bestseller Body Clutter.
(Learn about Flylady’s organizational system here.)
Blog Book Tour: Bloggers Wanted!
Are any of you bloggers? I’m looking for a few more people to get a free copy of my book in exchange for a review on their site. My publisher, Cedar Fort, is hosting a book blog tour from April 10 – April 25. Bloggers with over 1000 subscribers will get free a hard copy mailed to them; anyone with less that that will be sent a PDF copy. If you are interested, click below to select a date! Thanks!
Playdough Pictionary
I love Playdough Pictionary! Use regular Pictionary cards or simply write 5 words on scrap paper. Divide family into teams. Pick a card, show to one person on the other side, then try to sculpt out your word for your team to guess before the other team. (If you write your own words, the word-maker may need to sit out). Have fun!
Book Launch Party!
Join me for my book launch party at Caldwell Public Library for “When Mommy’s Home with Me.”
May 11, 2017
10 – 11 am
1010 Dearborn St. Caldwell
Enjoy treats, a book reading, family activities, and a photo booth! Books will be available for purchase, and freebies will be given away!
Thanks to Caldwell Public Library for their support.
Slowly
SLOWLY
For Valerie
I will walk slowly for awhile,
Although I wish for quicker stride.
My spirit wants to dance and run;
My body holds that hope inside.
But as I linger down the path,
Perhaps it’s only I who sees
The subtle-colored flowers
And sunlight-filtered trees.
I will be gentle for awhile;
It seems my heart grows larger now.
And people never understood
Are loved as only pain shows how.
As mercy grows and judgement ends,
My heart is learning to receive.
I’m finding strength to look inside
And feel that gentleness for me.
I will be silent for awhile,
In case the angels find me home.
I heard that in Gethsemane
They didn’t leave the Lord alone.
For though my suffering pales to His,
I know our Father is the same.
So I will wait for them to come,
As I walk slowly with my pain.
Car Soap Bubbles
Need to be amazing on the go today? Grab a bottle of bubbles on your way out the door! Your air conditioner or heater makes the best bubble blower. Put the bubble solution in your cup holder, dip the wand, hold it near the vent, and watch the backseat fill up with fun!
As I started parenting different age groups, I felt bad about having to bring the little kids in the car so much as I chauffeured older kids to school and other activities, not to mention routine errands. It seemed like we didn’t get as much time at home as I was able to spend with the older ones. I decided to try and make car trips as much fun as possible. Bubbles saved me many times, especially on long car trips. Who can be grumpy when bubbles are flying? Please, only blow bubbles at stop lights, when you are in the passenger side, or when an older child is riding shotgun. I don’t want to hear that conversation when you rear end another car (“Sorry officer. I was just blowing bubbles…”).
Have fun being amazing on the go!
Here’s my favorite bubbles by far.
alisonbensonmoulton.com 