Wild and Sweet

Life and style as a boy mom and artist

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  • After School Blues

    Welcome to Fall and Back to School Season!! I’m not giving up on Summertime so easily. I plan to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather as long as it lasts.

    We have gotten back to our routine which means the hours between 3pm and bedtime are monumental. They are all I get with my kids most days but for some reason they are hard to fill each day after school, and unless we have a set schedule my kiddos just ask for screens constantly!

    This combo of snacks + chores + strategic use of screens has saved my sanity after school, and I hope it helps you too!!

    3pm Home from Carpool

    3-3:30 Snack

    3:30-4:30 Chores / time in room to clean or rest / Imaginative play / Outside play

    4:30-5:30 Screen Time while I make dinner

    5:30-7:30 Dinner / Family Time / Showers

    7:30 Bedtime / Reading in rooms

    My kids love to snack. We keep it simple and healthy by doing shared charcuterie style snacks after school. They love a little tray or plate with cheese, fruits, crackers, nuts, and whatever else we have on hand.

    These trays below would be perfect for this!

    Our family LOVES to play board games together. Lately my sons and I have been taking turns playing chess. A game can last from 30 minutes to four days with just a couple moves per day! This is largely due to their short attention spans and very impulsive gameplay. My youngest will “unleash” his queen just 3 moves in. We often take simple games and up the stakes by making it a larger competition, like a Connect Four Ultimate Battle, where the winner (best out of 5 games) has to play against the reigning challenger.

    Mom Hack:

    If it’s a nice day outside, and you want to encourage some outdoor play, simply open your front or back door. The kids will slowly stop what they are doing and gravitate to the open door to go outside, as if it’s their own idea!! I learned this tip from another mom and it really works.

    I’ll be back soon with new posts on what my kids are reading and enjoying lately plus our all time favorite board game!!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to you.

  • Pool Season Favorites

    Where I live in the Southern USA, pool season is fairly long, lasting from May to September! We don’t have a pool at home… but are in the water plenty… visiting relative’s pools, a community pool, a nearby lake, water parks, and we even try to make it to the beach once a year.

    I have two active boys, which means entertainment in the water is key. The youngest just began swimming so he can finally keep up with his brother. I’ll list their favorite pool toys below:

    These diving toys come with a great variety of shapes and sizes plus a durable storage bag!

    This chest of gems looks like a real pirate treasure. The chest and its latch itself are great quality and the gems really shine in the sun.

    We love frisbee, so when I was looking for a ball to throw in the pool I grabbed this one. It comes in a pack of two and its a lot of fun!

    My pool bag is a large tote I got years ago from Wal-Mart. Here is a similar option with outside pockets. I find that the structured bags don’t hold as much and are uncomfortable to carry on your shoulder.

    Inside my pool bag:

    -rolled up towel for each person

    -sunscreen variety (see below) and bug spray

    -goggles for each kid

    -my sunglasses in their case

    -wallet, keys, phone in outer pocket

    -pool toys pictured above

    -baseball hat for each person (I wear mine continually)

    -library book or Kindle (if their dad is with us and I can relax!)

    -I also carry my cooler bag with snacks and drinks

    -if we’re at the beach I’ll add some sand digging toys and trucks
    (plus beach chairs and my Shore Shade canopy in my wagon)

    If they want to bring a float, they have to carry it. I try to limit everything to one tote bag and then the cooler bag. We don’t bring a change of clothes, since my boys don’t mind riding home in their swimsuits to change if we are close by.

    I’ve tried lots of sunscreens over the years and here are my favorites.

    Ulta MD (not pictured) (dermatologist recommended) for faces and it does not burn eyes . I wear this on my face year round.

    -This stick for kids’ faces since it’s easy to apply and also does not burn their eyes

    – I love this one from Wal-Mart since its so easy to spread and works very well

    -If you prefer a spray for the body, this one is great and I love the beachy smell.

    Typically I’ll do their faces, ears, and neck with the stick or Ulta MD and then spray their arms and legs. We always have the kids in a neon green swimshirt for added sun protection and visibility, see photos above.

    Lastly, these are the water shoes for kids we love! They are easy to get on and off plus they protect their toes while walking around and don’t flop off their feet like sandals can.

    We did a couple years of week long swim lessons, but honestly, just like potty training, they don’t swim until they are ready. Goggles really helped with my youngest, who refused to get his face wet for the longest time. Before they swam, I had them in swim vests like this one instead of puddle jumpers. I just liked the vests better and was more comfortable with those. Plus their arms are free to actually do the swimming motion.

    Mindset: swimming with kids or being around the water is not a relaxing time for parents. It just isn’t. It is tiring to be on alert for safety all the time. Use the after water screen time later on for your relax time!!

    Don’t forget to hydrate 🙂

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to you.

  • Summer Reading

    I went overboard at the local library and walked away with several books to read. The first I’ve finished, “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, is both an enjoyable and an important book.

    The author is writing from the other side of a major life upheaval, and has had to re-evaluate her approach to life. Her identity was lost outside of herself, as a woman, a mother, this is easily the standard way of life. She lived with a ghost of how she should be, how things should be, a perfect version of herself out there somewhere she just has yet to achieve. Glennon encourages readers through her own stories to find the truest, most beautiful lives for themselves.

    The book is in a connected short story format which makes it super easy to pickup and put down during busy times. Some of the stories are very short, since the author excels at being concise. She also loves a good metaphor. It is the sort of book you gift to friends, or loan it out and ask for it back because you want to read it again.

    The topics? WOW. Losing a loved one, parenting, marriage, identity, politics, feeling unworthy, career in the time of social media, overcoming, living authentically, societal expectations, family, boundaries, substance abuse, and more. You will certainly find relatable ground with Glennon.

    Below I’ve typed some of my favorite quotes from this book:

    “As I climbed out of the tub and shook my hair dry, I told myself: Maybe in a different life. Isn’t that interesting? As if I had more than one.”

    “I wanted to be a good girl, so I tried to control myself. I chose a personality, a body, a faith, and a sexuality so tiny I had to hold my breath to fit inside. Then I promptly became very sick.”

    “We need to save ourselves because we need to save the world.”

    “We create and re-create our family again and again – from the inside of each one of us – out. We will continue to do that forever, so each of us will always have room to grow and grow and still belong. That is what family is to me: where we are both held and free.”

    Grab the book and let me know what you think!!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to you.

  • All Ages Home Art Station

    How to build a home art station for all ages to enjoy!

    Why is it an important element of your home? Art making lowers stress, build community with others, and helps kill boredom. I love the conversations we have when everyone is around the table. This happens at dinner, during a puzzle, and can also occur during art time! No matter how old your kids are, or your own level of talent, I predict an art station will be a hit.

    FIrst: The Prep. You can tailor your personal level of messiness and amount of supplies to include, but first you’ll need a storage solution. You can use a large bin with a lid, an existing cabinet, or one of these carts.

    Most homes won’t have a dedicated office or art studio space. Don’t let this hold you back! I routinely setup our kitchen table for art/craft time and clean it up after. An easy to clean tablecloth that fits your table well is essential. You want a decent quality one, because the plastic $1 birthday ones are likely to tear! Grab a vinyl tablecloth like this one that you can wipe off and fold away for next time. This will be a tablecloth dedicated only to messy activities. We have used ours for science experiments, play doh, and even decorating Christmas cookies.

    Ok now you’ve handled the prep. Let’s get to the fun part, stocking your art station with colorful art supplies!! I’ll make a detailed list below, and note that I always recommend having blank paper as well as coloring sheets. The coloring book pages can inspire and get you rolling if you don’t know what to draw or make. I taught art for 10 years and I’ve seen lots of instances of a student being stuck with no idea until they began a coloring page and BOOM the creativity began to flow. I love this one, and it’s not just for kids!

    List of Art Supplies for your Art Station:

    -Colorful Sharpies or Acrylic Paint Markers

    -Blank paper for Drawing and Watercolor Paper

    -Pack of Paintbrushes

    -Assorted Pencils, Pens, Erasers, and Colored Pencils

    –Acrylic Paint

    -Aprons or paint clothes, sometimes I would turn my kids’ shirts inside out!

    –Watercolor Paint

    -Ruler and Stencils (stencils also help to inspire and guide a project along!)

    –Paint Palette for the Acrylic Paint (Let the paint dry on the palette. Alternatively, you can use styrofoam plates and toss em in the trash, but it isn’t eco-friendly. Never rinse a lot of acrylic paint down your pipes!)

    That’s a great basic list! More advanced items can include oil pastels, a palette knife, watercolor markers, my favorite watercolor paintbrush, and ink. There is always something new to explore with art making.

    Need a project idea? I won’t re-invent the wheel here, there are so many wonderful art projects online. I suggest heading over to Pinterest or YouTube.

    Last but not least: Your mindset.
    You may or may not have any natural art talent or years of practice behind you. Please don’t expect to make masterpieces each time, or right away. The goal here should be stress relief and enjoyment. It may lead to beautiful artwork and it may not, but remember that each piece informs the next, and there is no such thing as wasted time or supplies!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to you.

  • Summer Mom Bag

    Let’s face it: Moms are expected to have it all, do it all, and be prepared at all times so everyone else in the family can coast by, right?? Especially in Summer!!

    Most of the (school) year, I like to use small bags. I absolutely love the packing challenge of my Coach Nolita 19 or wristlet… only the essentials can fit. I can also throw it in a bigger tote when we go to activities like karate and I need to bring more items such as a tablet or book.

    Even though my boys are 6 and 8 and well past the need of a diaper bag, in the Summer we are out and about most days and I find I need to carry more when they’re around (of course!). Even if we don’t head to the movies (and sneak in a few snacks) I do carry one granola bar for each of them and sometimes I’ll throw in a juice box or mini water bottle. I find that this can avoid meltdowns and help us stay where we are longer (and avoid buying pricey snacks when on location).

    I absolutely have more needs in the Summer as well. I like to have my sunglasses, tiny umbrella, and SPF handy. Sometimes I’ll even squeeze in my hat!! My typical crossbody purse just isn’t big enough for this season.

    All of this to say, in the Summer my main purse is a small backpack. Perfect for long walks, playdates, the park, museums, the movies, day trips, and basically all of our adventures. This one from Amazon is great because it’s water resistant and the beige goes with all my Summer outfits.

    If you prefer a leather backpack, I like the brand Fossil. Their products are super durable, have just enough pockets, and can be affordable when they run a sale. Amazon has a couple of leather options as well, like this one below.

    What to bring in your Summer Mom Bag?

    • SPF
    • lip balm with SPF
    • wallet (I love my RFID blocking one)
    • cell phone (here is my affordable case)
    • hair tie, pen, keys
    • one snack per kid
    • one small water bottle or Capri Sun per kid. If there will be a sink or water fountain, sometimes I’ll stack two small empty cups in my bag!
    • hat for surprise sun exposure
    • tiny umbrella
    • tylenol and bandaids, other first aid items
    • I like bringing a small compact mirror
    • small emergency activity, like a mini play-doh
    • hairbrush or comb

    The backpack option also lets me throw in random things acquired on our adventures. I began carrying one last Summer and it’s been a great thing for our family!! We don’t do tablets out of the home unless its a vacation, but check the bag dimensions if that’s a need for your fam.

    What are you guys doing this summer??

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to you.

  • Hello World!

    Welcome to my little corner of creativity. I’ll be sharing:

    • recipes that work for my family

    • must have items for life as a mom

    • my artist adventures and favorite supplies

    • favorite fashion items and trends

    I have a lot of hobbies and interests so I’m excited to see where this blog journey will lead. Thanks for being here!!