So...I was looking on line and was in search for a project to do for my son.  Some kind of activity that sparked his interest which fluctuates often but includes bugs and insects.  I stumbled across an insect sensory bin that seemed rather simple and easy to do.  It turned out to be a huge hit and is one of his favorites.

The first step is sorting out the bugs.  There are 3 different types of bugs.  I wanted each bug type to be a different color so that is why I separated them.  You can dye them all one color or section them into three or more piles and have a mix of each insect with different color choices.

Next I dyed the bugs using thee Food Coloring and Alcohol and Zip lock bag.  I put  approximately 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol into the zip lock bag with a few drops of the food color of my choice. I then dumped in my insect pasta and shook them up.  ***This is a step that you can share with your toddler provided they do not know how to open a ziplock bag.  Jeremy enjoyed shaking the bag and dancing around.***  I then let the baggie sit for approximately 30 minutes turning it every 5 minutes or so to make sure that insects were coated as evenly as possible.

​After the insects were colored I laid them out in a thin layer on the foil lined pan to dry.  For me I forgot about the insects so they dried overnight and then I scooped them up.

In my storage bin I poured the black beans and then put in my insects and put the lid on and shook them up.  Insect sensory bin complete! 

The second book is about picnic day with the animal friends.  At night this becomes a great time for us to discuss friends and games to play with friends.  We talk about foods and we also talk about some of the things that he would like to do with his school friends when the pandemic is over.  I always love the part when the friends get back on the bus to go home; it’s always interesting based on the stories he creates to see who gets on the bus and in what order. 

The third book is for shark lovers!  It is not a felt book but a sticker book.  From National Geographic for Kids.  This book has become a favorite bedtime read; over and over and over and over...🥴. Jeremy has shown love for the ocean animal from an early age and this book while a bit advanced for his age was a great way to not only educate him but also myself about things shark.  He has been enamored with the shark sticks and loves to put them all over the house.  If your little one loves sharks this is a must! 🦈

WARNING:
This is a very vulnerable post for me.  I truly have debated whether or not to post it because I was worried about triggering some sensitive areas for others.  So if discussing weight and weight loss is a trigger please do not read further.  

I remember taking a walk with my son to the mail box and back to the house which is just 1/4 of a mile round trip and I almost did not make it back to the house due to a severe pain in my lower back.  As my son raced ahead of me I panicked as I realized that if a car or something  happened and I needed to get to him quickly I couldn’t.  Work up of my back pain revealed the beginning of back issues that directly tied into my weight.  In that moment I realized that I needed to make some tough decisions about my health quickly.  While I was working on being more active pain in my back and my knee began to limit my ability to be more active and therefore limit a key component of my journey to thriving.

As I began my process of evaluating my own feelings about the new state of my body and health I realized that I had to consider bariatric options.  Not for the goal of a number but to put my body in a different position to be more active and address some of the health implications that genetics has in store for me as I get older.  I realized that my goal was a return of function and ability to move with less pain. 

January is a time for starting new things.  It’s also a semblance of a fresh start a new beginning.  The key to a fresh start is a good foundation.  There are 3 things that I find help lay a good foundation for the year and I invite you to do with me to get your New Year off on the right foot!

Everyday is a fresh start but there is something hopeful in society at large about the start of a New Year.  It’s like shedding a layer of skin and having a newness in the world.  Laying a good foundation is important and I hope that these 3 things will help you as we start 2021!

Have you ever looked in the magazines at a celebrity and wanted to copy their style? With the onset of COVID I have been focusing heavily on lounge wear, comfort, and affordability. Flipping through my O Magazine from November, I became inspired to up my game significantly for the Christmas Holiday Season. So I let my fingers go to my favorite store for a high-end look on a modest budget—TARGET! As a plus size women I have been so happy with Target upping their game to bing affordable and quality clothing and it’s become a favorite.

I even looked for earrings as well and found these at Target that helped complete the look.  Very affordable and pretty.  To help me complete my inspiration look.

I really enjoyed pulling this look together especially since it’s been a while since I’ve dressed myself up.  I'll b so glad when COVID-19 is behind us.

STAY SAFE!  WEAR YOUR MASKS! WASH YOUR HANDS!

With the holidays in full swing I have begun the search and collection of toys that I think will be a hit for him for my little one.  There is one toy that I got two years ago that he is still enjoying after 2 years.  The Little Tikes Trampoline. 

I will say proudly that I think this is one of my best purchases as a mom!  He has used it repeatedly and enjoys it till this day.  I was a little hesitant when I purchased it because I of course was worried about safety but intuitively he started jumping and holding on to the bar.  As he has gotten older and gained more confidence in his balance and skills her has stopped relying on the bar.  Bouncing and jumping is one of his favorite things to do.  This has saved me and my parents couches from breaking with his exuberant and boundless energy.  Whenever he starts jumping on the couch I remind him that it’s okay to jump off of the furniture but not to jump on and direct him to his indoor trampoline.

If you have a little one who loves to jump whose weight is <55lbs and you are looking for an indoor trampoline this is thee best!

When I began taking my dating life seriously I read a book “The 5 Love Languages”. It was very eye opening to me this concept that there were ways that I can be manifesting my love to others but because I am not speaking their “language” the manifestations have no meaning.

As I have been watching my son grow I am learning that he himself has a love language.  Truly he expresses and needs all 5:

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

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I’ve been learning that Words of Affirmation are more than “I love you” it’s applauding him when he does something correct.  It is learning to acknowledge his correct behavior and positive attitude more than correcting and reminding him about things such as “don’t forget to flush the potty”

So often in the day to day functioning of raising him its so easy to point out mistakes and errors.  However, instead I'm choosing to focus more on the things that he accomplishes on his own.  Behavior and actions that show he is growing up and taking responsibility.  There are times that I slip into old patterns and I find myself feeling like I'm doing more correction and reminding but as I always state I'm a work in progress and so is he.  
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Spoiling my son is something that is so hard not to do.  Every time I see a toy that I think he would enjoy playing with I want to get it for him.  However, my money being funny and my change being strange coupled with memories of him enjoying playing with a toilet paper roll keep my wallet happy.  But I’ve learned to make a big fuss about the most mundane and necessary things.  Underwear, toothbrushes, toothpaste.  Things should be appreciated and respected.  Everything and every moment is a gift.  I find that by elevating the “mundane” my son appreciates all things in life.  I hope this trend stays.  I love that he is appreciative of items but I also know that as he begins to desire and express himself it will be more vital to ensure that even the smallest gestures are appreciated as the big gifts.

Kids learn by example.  They parrot what they hear quickly becoming little mynah birds; intelligently selecting the naughty words we may utter in an unguarded moment.  I have grown up watching my mother do for others; not only in her role as a nurse practitioner but also as a sister and daughter in her family.  I treat my parents based on how they treated their parents.  I treat others how my parents treated others.  I expect and hope that my son will learn by my example. 

Finding acts of service for my son has caused us to grow closer together.  I am always finding the balance between encouraging him and pushing him to do for himself and learning to overcome frustrations when things to quite go as smoothly and easily as he feels they should.  On the other hand I enjoy doing things for him such as getting him juice before he asks for it sometimes.  Taking his plate into the kitchen for him.  Little things that I know he sees.  Displaying this behavior to my own parents so that it is a normal occurrence that is an expectation rather than an exception.
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On this journey of discovery that he and I are on.  I am learning that there are certain times and instances when I have to tap into which particular language he needs.  For example, when he is trying to over-talk whomever I’m talking to of course it’s a sign that he needs attention but why and what language is not being met.  Sometimes if it’s something he’s proud of and he is looking for words of affirmation; then there are times when he is looking for quality time.  Time for me to stop and provide him with my undivided attention—watching him play for instance.  Other times just my mere presence soothes and helps fill his love tank up.
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As he changes his love language needs will change and I must adapt.  It’s challenging and fun to learn the ways to speak to and fill up his love tank.

Earlier this year I had to let go of a relationship that I had invested my heart and soul into.  It was one of the hardest things I have had to do.  My track record with men is not the best I have the tendency to give my all to someone and am left being in a committed relationship on my own.  At the age of 42, most of my close friends are either in a relationship, married, or divorced.  In my family I am the only cousin who is not married and the only one that has had a child out of wedlock (my mom has been noting that point is a bit of a trigger for me—Geechi see’s all).  While 2020 has not been the year that I anticipated it has in an odd turn of events been the year that I have needed.

2020 has oddly been about introspection and addressing areas of my life that have been consistently ignored.  During this time I have focused on my mantra of “CST—Create Space girl and Thrive”.  During the last 8 months there are 3 things that I am proud of doing:

As the seasons are changing so is my wardrobe.  While leggings are still in season for my virtual visits I am finding that comfort is high on my list as it appears that my virtual days will be continuing and I am even adding a third day!.  Working as a single mom with my son periodically being at home I have found of late that my bottom attire is actually being seen if I have to get up quickly from the chair in the middle of a visit which started me looking for some comfy yet cute.
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I found these cute sweatpants from Target that have me stylish and feeling like I’m still seeing patients in my PJ’s.  If you are looking for some stylish sweatpants that are comfy as PJ’s shop below!

During this pandemic and self-quarantine I craved and searched for ideas to help me keep Jeremy entertained and active.  I thought that I would share with you my top 4 favorite Mom Blogs.

I can’t say enough about this website.  Really and truly if there is a favorite among my list this is one.  I highly encourage you to sign up for her emails because not only does it get your access to a myriad of free printables; it also give you updates when she comes up with new content.  Which helped me when Jeremy got bored by some of the activities that we had done.
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The Magic Milk STEM Experiment that she featured on her bog is by far my favorite activity to do with Jeremy.  I used expired milk so I had to make sure he didn’t try to drink it before we started the experiment.  Jeremy loves colors and stirring so the Magic Milk STEM project was a perfect fit.
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his website was so helpful for me in developing ideas for sensory activities for Jeremy.  I loved doing her Spring Scavenger Hunt printable.  It even gave me the idea to do a fall scavenger hunt recently where we hunted for different colored leaves.
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Jeremy loves music (I think it comes form all the singing I did while he was in utero)!  Her Brain Breaks for Kids post gave us some great songs for us to sing together.

This website has a great printables that I found helpful.  My favorite one is this color Bingo!  So creative and fun to play.  She has a lot of great printables too that I have used.
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These blogs have been a lifesaver during the pandemic and while trying to home school my child in between working.  Hope you find them helpful.