I always dreamed of Jensen picking flowers for me. We’d have a house filled with dandelion and wildflower jars.
Although I do have a house like that now, it’s not from Jensen. Mila brings as much love as she does flowers into our house. Our life is happy, but we will always be missing a piece.
For a long time, I’ve wondered how I could get the dream of flowers from Jensen. Then I got a random tattoo.
After that tattoo, I talked to the tattoo artist about Jensen and how I’d love a bouquet of forget-me-not flowers on me. I wanted to always carry them, just like how he always walks with me.
In a couple hours, I have my flowers picked by my Jensen. Every time I see blue forget-me-nots, I think of him. Now when I look at my arm, I think of him and the countless amounts of flowers he’ll have for me.
It felt a little radical to get a tattoo on my forearm that can always be seen, but I love it.
He and these flowers are a part of our story.
Most of my tattoos are in remembrance of Jensen. I love knowing that even though he’s not physically with us, I can always see him in my body. No matter if it’s on my foot, wrist, or arm, I can always catch a glimpse of him.
By the way, Mila likes this tattoo way more than the one on my ankle. She loves counting them and telling me how blue is for her brother.
What’s your favorite tattoo that you have? Or if you don’t have one, what would you get if you did?
Two of our favorite parts of spring are the flowers and fresh fruit! Since we love playing with our food, we were inspired to paint our favorite spring things.
Mila has painted with different foods before. It’s always fun watching her experiment with how the paint works with random objects. Even more fun, is how it all turns out at the end.
For this project, we ate a fruit salad for breakfast and then used the tops for her artwork. It was a way to reduce waste and be creative all in one.
Try saving some of your fruit scraps and try this flower painting out.
All you need to do is prep your fruits, get a painting space, and pour paint. Your child will figure out the rest as they paint.
For Mila, I asked her if she wanted to paint flowers and we looked at the ones in our yard.
Since we practiced the parts of flowers, she kept telling me which part of the flower she was painting. It’s amazing how much little ones remember! She also kept telling me the apples made bigger flowers and the strawberries made smaller ones.
I absolutely love watching the world Thats in her head come alive on a canvas. She’s always telling a story when she paints too.
We make sure to ‘sign’ and date the back of every painting she does. One day I’ll need to get a huge storage box for all of her paintings. For now, they’re decorated all throughout my house.
With these paintings, you can have your child paint whatever they’d like. Mila just loves flowers and it’s perfect for springtime.
I think she did an amazing job!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever painted with and what do you think Mila and I should try next?
If you’re into playing with your food, but just prefer eating it, check out these recipes from other mamas. I’m sure you’ll love them!
Mila and I love watching birds in our backyard. After making DIY bird feeders, we thought it’d be fun to expand their spot on the tree. We created what I like to call a little birdhouse motel.
If you didn’t know, birds hold a special place in my heart. They remind me of Jensen and whenever I see a red or blue bird, I feel as if it’s him saying, “hello mom!” There are also birds on his urn. For some reason, his urn called out to me. It felt like it was a freeing image and after that, birds just felt right to celebrate him with. With that being said, we really welcome them in our backyard.
I’ve been looking at different birdhouses to purchase, but have been so busy I’ve forgotten to order one. Thanks mom brain! When I last went to the dollar store, I found two little kits, so I had to buy them. Then I figured we could reuse something at home too.
Not everything has to look perfect or expensive, it still turns out cute when made with love.
As I said before, if I could do this again, I probably would have ordered a different birdhouse kit. Yet, this one worked out perfectly because it wasn’t so big that Mila lost interest.
For the kits, I followed the instructions on the back of the package.
Honestly, I threw away the wood glue and went straight to my hot glue gun. It went a lot quicker! If you’re up for the challenge and have the patience, you could try the wood glue.
After the hot glue was dried, Mila and I each painted one of the mini birdhouses.
She wanted to pick out the colors and of course chose purple and pink. They’re truly her go to colors! It makes me laugh that most of the crafts and artwork in our house are bright and girly. Let’s hope the birds like it too!
While Mila continued to paint her birdhouse (which she did all by herself!), I cut out a big chunk of the juice carton and then washed it out. I also cut two holes across the top to pull string through to hang. It would have really helped if I had done this before I painted, but… I forgot!
Afterwards, I ended up painted it black (against Mila’s wishes) with a purple little heart on it. When it was dried, I pulled the string through and tied a knot.
When the kits were done, I also tied the string and hung them all together.
Mila went to find some grass, small sticks, and a little bit of bird seed to welcome in our new friends. It was so cute seeing which objects she thought the birds would like. If I were them, I’d feel right at home!
I can’t wait until we can get more birdhouses and maybe do another DIY.
These two were simple enough for us to do it in an evening. As she gets older, we can definitely do more complicated things. For now, she’s in love with our birdhouse motel. I am so proud of how well she painted and worked on her little project.
Now we get to wait to see who decides to move in and benefit from the motel. Hopefully different types of birds will visit and maybe even a bluebird or two. Fingers crossed!
What’s your favorite type of bird? Let me know in the comments.
If you love birdhouses and want some other inspiration to do a DIY one, check out what these moms have done.
Welcome to another issue of “Weird Things My Toddler Does.” From the previous 14 parts, we can definitely see that my toddler (like most) is pretty weird. I guess that’s what makes them so much fun.
Mila has taken her weirdness to the streets this time.
With all her shoes and outfits, she has decided to make a twist on what goes together. No, it’s not making weird clothing choices, it has to deal with her shoes. More specifically, crocs.
At this point of being three, Mila has thrown out everything she’s known about wearing shoes. Instead of mimicking the adults around her by wearing matching shoes, she has decided that the perfect outfit centers around one glitter croc and a blue one.
Seriously. Everywhere we go she has to wear this combination.
At the zoo recently, the other parents took notice. They asked if she dressed herself and one even asked if we had lost the other ones. Politely, I just said, “that’s what she wants to wear.”
Although it’s so weird, it was easy to point her out when she went down the slide. Or when I was scanning when she was playing up on playground equipment and I could only see feet, there were the mismatching crocs. I guess her weirdness helps in that way.
Plus, it’s not really conducive to fight about something that goes on her feet. If it makes her happy then that’s what we do.
I think the funniest part of all is she is adamant that these are the feet the mismatching has to go on. She refuses to change it up. The blue has to be the left foot and the glitter on the right.
Three is about making choices and becoming independent… it’s just weird Mila decided to show it off like this.
Cheers to crocs and they still look cute mismatched.
What weird things are you toddlers doing lately? Do you fight with your kids about what they wear or just roll with it?
We love process art! With spring here, as well as the bugs, we had to find a creative way to make a unique piece of art. This time, with a flyswatter and a hyper toddler!
Mila has a love hate with bugs. On one hand, she’s afraid of most of them. Then, on the other, she likes butterflies and the ‘pretty’ bugs. She despises flies and gnats, but was pretty impressed last year when she was introduced to the flyswatter. It’s like she’s on fly patrol whenever she sees one.
To get her creative and being active (which she loves), I thought this activity would be fun for her!
Not only is it fun for Mila to paint and have fun with it, the texture the flyswatter made was amazing to me. It turned out to be a great project.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Canvas or paper
Flyswatter
‘Bugs’ (aka paint)
I love activities that have an easy set up. It works for Mila’s patience level and if I just need a quick activity, it’s so nice. This one was just like that.
The only real planning we did was picking out paint colors. Mila, of course, went for her normal colors: pink, blue, and purple. We had everything else already on hand, but you can find all of these materials almost anywhere.
Then, I just poured little dots of paint all over the canvas. I told Mila to pretend they were bugs and to smack them!
She had so much fun hitting all the different bugs. If I do this activity again, I’ll have her hit the certain colors to practice color matching. It would be fun seeing if she or any toddler would try their best not to hit any other colors too.
The patter the lines on the flyswatter made were perfect. When she asked for more bugs, the layered look was so cute. Somehow, the paints didn’t all muddle together and you could see all the different colors. I was worried they’d just become a huge purple blob!
Mila had a ton of fun hitting the canvas and we ended up doing the same activity on a big wood board too.
I hope to finish her painting off with writing a quote on it in the near future. I love to combine her artwork with encouraging words! It just makes for a fun team project that I know we’ll enjoy for years to come.
Let me know in the comments if you like bugs or if you’re on Mila’s side of the flyswatter.
Check out how some other moms incorporated bugs and insects in their learning.
One great thing to do is go to the zoo. Ohio has some great ones! Our latest adventure was to the Akron Zoo.
Since the Akron Zoo is the closest to us, we seem to frequent it more. Although it’s smaller than the Cleveland and Columbus zoos we’ve been to in the last few months, it’s just as beautiful and educational.
Before you visit, here are five of the reasons why we LOVE the Akron Zoo.
The Size
Although the zoo may be smaller, it’s perfect for toddlers. There’s isn’t as many animals or as much walking as Columbus, Cleveland, or Cincinnati, but it still makes an impact.
We can walk and see all the animals in a few hours without rushing. Plus, we can play in certain areas without feeling like we need to hurry up to get through. It makes it nice for kids to actually play and explore.
The zoo is expanding though!
On May 29, 2021, they’ll be opening their Wild Asia expansion. Mila and I will be back to see. We love tigers! There were also signs about expanding Africa too!
Even though it is smaller, you’ll still be getting a workout. There’s a huge hill to walk up!
The Otter Exhibit
Any parent who goes to this zoo knows they’ll be spending a ton of time with the otters.
There’s a huge slide that goes right through the exhibit and water. Kids can see the otter swim right by them!
The slide goes surprisingly fast and it’s a big hit with the kids. Mila spent a ton of time going up the steps and sliding right down. It’s cute to see the kids make themselves stop midway so they can get a better look at the otter.
It also has two huge viewing spots to see the otter. So while parents are waiting for their kids, they can get a good view too.
The otter was adorable! This was my favorite exhibit as a kid!
The Komodo Dragon
One of mine and Mila’s favorite zoo animals is the Komodo Dragon. The exhibit at the Akron Zoo is beautiful and we can always get a close look at this guy.
We love seeing him walk and perk up. It’s not an animal you get to see everyday!
I’m pretty sure Mila think this guys either an actual dragon or a dinosaur. Honestly, I can’t say I disagree.
One of my favorite parts of the zoo is seeing animals you’d never be able to get close to in the wild. I think this is why Mila and I are both fascinated with this guy.
By the Komodo Dragon is other reptiles, amphibians, and sea creatures. Plus the Komodo Kingdom Cafe!
The Carousel
I know, I know. There’s carousels at every zoo, but it’s our favorite every time.
Mila genuinely gets so happy when she sees them. She picks out an animal in the line, then switches last minute!
This carousel has beautiful painting on all the saddles and above. It also has a variety of different sized animals you can ride, which I thought was really nice.
It’s also a great break before walking up the hill!
I think the carousel at every zoo will make our top five. It’s only $2 to ride at the Akron Zoo and if you’re a parent who has to accompany your child, you get on free. The best $2 spent!
The Greenery and Gardens
If you didn’t know, I love plants and greenery. The Akron Zoo has beautiful plants everywhere you look!
I love when zoos really step up their plant game. It makes it feel more relatable for the animals and gets you in a wild mindset.
The Zoo Gardens also gives you the opportunity to walk and really take in the flowers. Immersing yourself in nature is so healing and relaxing. Mila loves it too!
These aren’t the only things we love at the zoo, but are the ones that stuck out the most during the latest trip. We cannot wait to go back this summer to check out the new exhibit!
I love that this zoo is growing since it’s so close to us.
Here are some other pictures I have to share from our experience.
We love the Akron Zoo!
Anytime I can see Mila’s amazement by what’s around her makes me so happy. She loves the animals, the playgrounds, and the environment when we get to go.
What’s your favorite part of the zoo closest to you?
Summer is quickly approaching and so are weekend brunches. Change up your mimosa game with this Strawberry Lemonade Mimosa. It’ll cool you down, without the overbearing champagne taste.
I love this combination and figured I’d try to make a mimosa with it. It’s a light drink and the Italian ice elevates it even more.
This drink would be perfect for a mimosa bar or anything brunch!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Champagne
Strawberry Lemonade
Strawberry Italian Ice
Pink Sugar
Fresh Strawberry
First, coat the rim of your flute by cutting a strawberry and putting it around the rim. Then, pour some sugar on a plate. To coat, just roll the rim around the sugar.
Next, put your Italian ice in the bottom of the cup.
Then, fill your flute to your discretion with champagne. It’s really up to you how much champagne you’d like. I’m not one to limit your drinking (haha). Then fill the rest up with the strawberry lemonade. Again, it’s up to you how much you want to drink.
While I was making this drink, Mila was obsessed with the pink salt and the bubbles. So, I threw together this little mix for her too. It’d be great for other littles too.
The Kid Version:
Strawberry Lemonade
Strawberry Italian Ice
Pink Salt
Fresh Strawberry
Carbonated water
This little spin on a classic mimosa is great for strawberry lemonade lovers and is just perfect for summer months too. The champagne taste isn’t too strong and it tastes really great. Being creative with drinks can be so much fun!
I absolutely loved making Mila one too. She felt like a ‘big kid’ and it was so easy to make her special drink.
Next time, I’d love to try a grapefruit mimosa. I’ll share when i do.
Happy National Dinosaur Day! To celebrate, Mila wanted to share her one of her favorite books and dinosaur activity: Dino Dance!
Mila has just now taken an interest in dinosaurs. Books about them have really helped broaden her imagination about them. We also have a few great dinosaur toys that she loves playing with. When we went to the zoo, there was a dinosaur there so she was able to understand they were huge. She’s been asking about them since.
Dino Dance! hands down is her favorite way to look at dinosaurs and think about movement. She loves to dance, so when she saw that dinosaurs danced too, it helped her connect.
Plus, it helped create a fun little activity too.
Normally, we read books over and over again (oh the toddler stage). Instead of just sitting and reading some, we find ways to act them out. Dino Dance! gives us the dance moves to do, while learning too!
We took our learning outside and Mila showed me her dino moves.
Her favorite was the ‘cha cha cha’ move and the t rex stomp! It was also so fun to watch her come up with her own interpretations of the dance moves. We ended up dancing and singing along with the book for a little while. While dancing their moves, I had her say the dinosaurs names too.
Mila asked me to show her how I would do certain dance moves too! It was great to mimic each other and see how we both were creative.
In one little book, there was a ton of learning! From dinosaur names to being creative, Dino Dance! is a great way to introduce your child to dinosaurs.
It also sparked other conversations about dinosaurs. We have other books that have more realistic descriptions and images of dinosaurs. To make a connection, I remind her of the dinosaurs dance moves in the one book and show her in the other. I can’t wait to take her to see the dinosaurs in the Columbus Zoo soon!
Another dinosaur song Mila loves right now is from Blippi. Whenever she has screen time, she asks to watch his channel. So, The Dinosaur Song has been a great way for her to learn about dinosaurs while dancing and watching her favorite show too.
If you’re looking for other fun activities from creative moms and their kids, check them out here:
One of the best and most classic desserts are chocolate chip cookies. They’re gooey and make you feel all warm inside. Up until now, I didn’t think they could get any better, until we added one ingredient: strawberries.
This new to us recipe is one I HAD to share with everyone, especially before National Chocolate Chip Day. Not only did we enjoy the finished results, Mila had a blast making these too.
Anyways, here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious cookies:
2 1/4 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 stick of unsalted butter
1/2 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1/2 cup of chopped strawberries
1 cup of chocolate chips
Before making the cookie dough, preheat the oven to 370 F. Then line two large baking sheets with wax or parchment paper.
In a medium size bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Next, in a large mixing bowl, use your mixer to cream the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. I let my butter warm up a little bit to help it cream. Honestly, I just popped it in the microwave for 20 seconds.
Then, add eggs in one at a time. Mix in between eggs.
After it’s mixed, slowly add the flour mixture in. Just mix it until combined and don’t over mix.
Once you get a good dough consistency, fold in strawberries and chocolate chips. I used a spatula for this.
Now it’s time to place them on the cooking sheet. You can use an ice cream or cookie scoop to help with this part. I just used my hands and made little balls. It was way easier for me this way than using a spoon or anything.
Then, place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the cookie sheet after and place back in the oven for 4-6 more minutes. Your cookies should have holden brown on their edges.
Once it’s done, remove from the oven and let them cool down… or not.
We enjoyed these cookies a little too much. I have a feeling it’ll be a recipe we make over and over again.
Let me know in the comments if you end up trying this recipe… you most definitely should!
Check out these other chocolate chip creations too:
Mila is a kinesthetic learner. So, when she learned about the Moon, we had to do a Moon Rock Toss.
This simple activity is fun for active toddlers who are curious about learning. Plus, it’s easy to set up for busy parents that keeps your child’s attention for a long time.
Lately, Mila has been into the moon and loves looking at the stars. For the longest time, she thought she could jump up to the moon and eat it. Thanks Sesame Street! We’ve done a few activities from Fluff Pieces Space Unit and I’d love to order some of the puzzles and items she used too.
Now she knows that the Moon isn’t a cookie! But it was cute when she did.
Anyways, here’s what you’ll need for this activity.
A basket
Aluminum foil
Construction paper
A ‘backboard’
Since we have a chalkboard door, we used that as a blackboard. You can use whatever you’d like. I can imagine a huge poster board or pieces of paper helping too.
I decorated our backboard to be like stars on the moon
Then all the other set up I needed to do was crumble up aluminum foil and paper. That’s it!
Mila’s been loving Blippi so his space song really hit home. She listened to that as I set up. It really set the activities mood.
We walked about the moon and how there are moon rocks there. I told her these were our moon rocks. Since there’s no gravity on the Moon, the rocks are lighter than Earth rocks. Obviously this isn’t how it works, but it’s okay.
I told her to try and make it in the basket and she had a blast. She kept refilling the moon rock bowl to start over the activity.
Since Mila is really into space, I plan on continuing teaching her more about it during summer. I have a feeling she’ll love stargazing and would love to talk about the constellations with her.
For now, she’s obsessed with her moon rocks and making them in the basket. Maybe she’ll be a basketball player too!
Let us know how you liked this activity in the comments below or let me know what your favorite planet.
Check out how these other moms introduced space to their kids.
Grey Skies & Rainbow Highs 