Virtual Summer Art Camp

This year has been a roller coaster for sure. Since my preschool as closed down for the year due to Covid-19. I have been hosting virtual art classes on Zoom for my preschool students. This as been a learning curve but I feel like I am improving each week. I have enjoyed seeing the kids getting excited about each new art class. I have also gotten to meet their older siblings. 

We have done a mixture of art projects focusing on different art principles. With each art class, the kids listen to a read-aloud book, learn about an artist, and then I give instructions on how to do the art project. In the end I always leave time for the kids to share about their week and to talk with their friends. 

With the preschool year coming to an end I have decided to teach a virtual summer art camp on zoom. Each week will be a different theme. All ages are welcome to join and if you're interested in a class tailored to your child's interest I can make that happen too. The classes will be $5. One on one classes will be $10 each.

If you're interested please check out my Facebook page Art with Ms. Kathy. Events and details will be posted within the group. 

Blitz Mighty Bubble Wand

The start of spring break has been a blast. Our town holds a golden easter egg hunt this year and it was a big hit with Breck and I. We spent half the day going from park to park hunting down Easter eggs and looking for the special Golden Easter eggs. These Golden Easter eggs have special prizes in them.

When we were defeated and walking back to our car and rain was about to fall down on us Breck spotted two Golden Easter Eggs in the trees. He was beyond excited. We won one Blitz Mighty Bubble wand and two day passes to the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC.

So on Thursday we ripped open the Blitz Mighty Bubble wand and tried it out. On the package, it says Worlds Best Bubbles. Well, they were right and we were not disappointed. This bubble wand makes huge bubbles. I didn't have to assist Breck at all with this bubble wand other than pouring the bubble solution into the pan. I would recommend this to any of my friends and family. We will be getting a lot of use out of this bubble wand this summer season. I would recommend buying an additional pack of Mighty Bubbles because the bottle that comes with the wand goes quick. I used about half the bottle when I first filled up the bubble pan. You can buy this Mighty Bubble wand at Amazon and pick up addition Mighty Bubble solution at Amazon as well. Down below is an Amazon Affiliate link that helps us to continue to review more outdoor toys and craft kits for you all this year. Thank you so much for helping to support our blog and youtube channel.

Volcano Eruption Kit

This weeks craft kit review was chosen by Breck and he wanted to try a Volcano Eruption Kit. Click and watch our youtube video review of this Volcano Eruption kit to find out if it is an epic fail or huge success?

A few things I knew and learned while reviewing this kit.

1. I hate Volcano Eruption Kits! They are messy and require a lot of parent involvement. So you have to be in the right mood when you do these kits with your kids. But Breck loves Volcano kits. And I love my child so I do things I HATE!

2. I know Breck hates getting his hands messy so why did I think he would love to stick his hand down in a bag of plaster sand mix. WHY? Guess who ended up making and getting their hands all dirty in the bag.....yep that would be MOM!

3. They lie lie lie about how long you need to wait for things to dry. Yep, they said 20 minutes and we waited over an hour and even used a hair dryer and still was wet when we gave up and decided to erupt our volcano anyway! Take that kit; Rule Breakers is our middle name.

But alas I can't deny that we had fun together and my son spent over an hour off his iPad or video game consoles. So that is a win in my book. 

Susan's Slouchy Hat

        

Susan’s Slouchy Hat

 Size:​ Large Slouchy Woman’s

 Material:​ 41 peg loom brand Nicole from AC Moore

 Yarn:​ Premier yarns Serenity Chunky       
          109 yds Bulky 5 hold double         
          Color Stone Lot 0000

Abbreviations:​ K1P1 : knit one purl one

Cast on used was ​Crochet Cast On

For the start I followed GoodKnitKisses ​brimmed hat tutorial​ on Youtube to achieve the brimmed part of the hat.

After the brim was complete this is the pattern I followed.

Row 1: ​e wrap​ all the way around

Next I started the ribbing of the hat and did a K1P1 pattern all the way around til the ribbed section measured two inches.

Then the pattern I followed was

Row 1-2: e wrap all the pegs

Row 3-8: ​purl ​all the pegs

I repeated this pattern til the hat measured about 7 to 8 inches from the end of the rib section to the top of the hat. If you want more of a slouchy hat you can go til the hat measures 9 inches. Make sure to end your repeat with a few knit rows before doing the drawstring cast off.

Once I got the length I desired I did the drawstring cast off method. Then I slowly pulled the yarn tight to close up the hat. Then I threaded my darning needle and brought the yarn to the inside of the hat and weaved in my ends.

Your hat is complete and now you can wear it outside and show it off!

Writing my Wrongs

I won't lie when I say I wasn't one hundred percent sure on weather I wanted to read this book or not. But man I sure am glad I took a chance and picked this book up. From page one to the very end I was hooked. Shaka Senghor has a way of making you feel like you were actually there seeing the story come to life. 

I will admit I grew up a middle class white female in a loving home. Shaka's life is so far off how my experiences that I felt like I was reading a horror book. But the reality is that Shaka's story is the reality for many kids and adults these days. 

Reading this story taught me to be thankful for my surroundings and my loved ones. Also to be aware that people need help in our community. Sometimes one person can make a huge difference in someone's life. And that no matter how terrible your life may be always hold onto hope that one day things can turn around. 

I am so thankful that I received this book for free from bloggingforbooks.com for my honest review. It is a refreshing tell of street life, prison life, and then change. I love the fact we get to learn the whole story from start to finish and not just the prison side of his life. If you are looking for a story that grabs you and keeps you going to the end then I recommend this book. 

For More Information about Shaka Senghor visit shakasenghor.com. 

Inspiration and So Much More

"We see other people's faces more than we see our own. I think it is a beautiful gift for us to draw or paint someone and vice versa. When someone draws us we see an aspect of ourselves as seen through other people's eyes." Nini Teves Lapuz , USA . 

This quote really stuck with me after reading Portrait Revolution by Julia L. Kay. I have taken on an art challenge this year to draw daily. This challenge has improved my art, but also has shown me how easy it is to get into a single rhythm. 

What I enjoyed most about Portrait Revolution is the amount of reference and tips I gained from reading and absorbing the book. I gained inspiration and ideas of different paths to take with my art. I would say this book is a great reference book to explore different mediums of art. Also I enjoyed the section of the book where the artists got to speak about themselves and their art and share tips to the reader. 

If your looking for a more how to book then I would say this isn't the book for you. But if you are looking to branch out of your comfort zone and try new paths then I would for sure say grab this book and dig in. 

I am so happy to have received this book from blogging for books for free for my honest review. I will cherish this book and use it this year to push myself and my art skills daily. 

Open when. . .

I have never been a huge fan of inspirational books. I always found them over the top cheesy most of the time. But Open when. . . Letters to lift your spirits by Karen Salmansohn turned out to be a nice mix of cheese and laughter.

It was also a plus how creative the layout of the book is where it is a pop out book like your opening a real letter. It is laid out like your friend sent you decorative letters each day to open. And the artwork will leave you mind blown. I give this book five stars. My daughter who is eight even said it was a super cool book. Bonus points is that I actually shared a page or two with a friend that has been going though a tough couple of months and she said it gave her a well deserved laugh. This is a book I will definitely keep and look though when I need some smiles and laughter in my day. 

Here is some additional details written about the book:

ABOUT OPEN WHEN

Happiness expert Karen Salmansohn presents a unique interactive book that invites readers to literally open letters of encouragement, wit, and wisdom whenever they need a boost.

Inspired by the trend of “open when” letters sweeping the nation, Instant Happy author Karen Salmansohn has created a bound collection of 12 notes for readers to flip open whenever they need a pep talk. With categories like “Open when you need a laugh,” “Open when you’re feeling stressed out,” and “Open when you need courage,” these little happiness-boosters are based on Salmansohn’s viral posters that combine witty sayings with colorful graphics.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KAREN SALMANSOHN is a happiness and wellness expert who is the author of numerous best-selling self-improvement books including Instant Happy, Think Happy, Open When, and How to Be Happy, Dammit, with over one million copies sold. She has been featured on the Today show, The View, CNN, and Fox News; served as a columnist for Oprah.com, Psychology Today, CNN, MSN, Yahoo, AOL, Match, and Huffington Post; and been featured in the New York Times, Business Week, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Time, Marie Claire, Fast Company, InStyle, Self, ELLE, and the New Yorker.

I am thankful that I received a free copy of Open when... Letters to lift your spirits from Blogging with Books for my honest review.