Category Archives: wanderings in the world & web

Choose Happy

Posted in wanderings in the world & web by

Today I had my first sale in my newest Zazzle store! Woohoo! :)

The “Beautiful Adventures” store was created in an attempt to inspire people to love this beautiful planet and crazy existence as much as I do. But sometimes that can be a challenge. I know.

So the first design for this new store was the phrase “Choose Happy” over some bright, blooming flowers:

Sometimes we need this reminder. To choose happiness, even if you are surrounded by terrible things at the moment, because life if beautiful.

Well, at least, sometimes I need this reminder.

Anyway, I found it inspiring that the first sale was also the first design I created for the store. This sale of “Choose Happy” was on a tile that’s available either as a 6″x6″ or 4.25″x4.25″ ceramic tile. It can be used as decoration or as a trivet the way it is, but it’s also available with a wooden frame or placed into a jewelry box. So it’s pretty versatile. You can read more about it here.

I hope this brings a little “happy” to your day!  :)

{{{This was originally posted at roamingrosie.blog.com, but I’ve since transferred my blog here}}}

A Fork-Lift Fork and a Garden Trowel Spoon

Posted in wanderings in the world & web by

I think I gasped out loud when I saw these awesome construction-themed utensils. A fork-lift fork? A front loader spoon? A bulldozer pusher?

What kid wouldn‘t love eating with utensils that look like these???

I immediately considered buying these for my girls, even though they’re not all that interested in construction. They do love to build things, and they do love cars, so maybe they’d get excited about them…

And then I saw these:

Oh. My. Fairy goodness! Garden tool utensils? And they’re pink! And decorated with fairies!

Hello shopping cart: I just saw my future filled with less dinnertime arguments…

{{{This was originally posted at roamingrosie.blog.com, but I’ve since transferred my blog here}}}

Long Live Adventure Print

Posted in wanderings in the world & web by

Long Live Adventure Print

I just love this poster.

“Long Live Adventure.” Makes me want to shout “Amen!”

Never let adventure die. Never let it dwindle. Never give up the dream.

I also love it because the poster is available in almost any size. It’s preset to 16×20 inches, but can be made as big as 40×50 inches or as small as 6×4 inches. Which makes it versatile. You could get a large one for your living room (or dorm room) wall, or a small one to put in a little frame on your desk. Where ever you could use some positive inspiration.

And I don’t know about you, but right now a little positive inspiration goes a long way in reminding me that this is a beautiful, wonderful earth, full of adventure and life – one that we should never, ever stop exploring.

{{{This was originally posted at roamingrosie.blog.com, but I’ve since transferred my blog here}}}

My Happy Place

Posted in musings, wanderings in the world & web by

 

my happy place

Where is your happy place?  Mine is the beach.

The beach along the Gulf of Mexico of Florida’s west coast to be specific.

My toes digging into the soft, silkiness of the shore, the cool breeze drifting in off the water as the mesmerizing sound of the waves breaking relaxes every muscle while I settle into the velvet sand.

And watching my kids build and dig and laugh and splash and thoroughly enjoy themselves.

This is my happy place.

{{{This was originally posted at roamingrosie.blog.com, but I’ve since transferred my blog here}}}

Inspire Kids to Write Poetry with Shel Silverstein Free Workshop Kit

Posted in activities for kids, wanderings in the world & web, writing by

Celebrate Poetry Month with Shel Silverstein

This is a great resource that you can get from the Shel Silverstein website.  See all of the Poetry Month downloads, or go directly to the 2013 Poetry Month download.

This year’s download is full of Silverstein’s drawings and poetry, offering examples and illustrations, and prompting kids to write their own versions.  Types of poetry include rhyming, epigram, visual, concrete (shape), list, rebus, non-rhyming, and acrostic poetry.

Even though most of it is still outside the grasp of my toddler and preschooler, they do enjoy his poetry.  I’ve been known to read aloud from my old copies of A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and Where the Sidewalk Ends to my kids while they play.  Many of the poems I have nearly memorized.  :)

So why am I suggesting this?  It’s cool.  If nothing else, you can read the included poems to your kids and talk about the silly sketches.  And even if they’re still too young to write (like my girls) they can still use it for coloring pages.  And if they are old enough to write – what better way to inspire your little artist?

{{{This was originally posted at roamingrosie.blog.com, but I’ve since transferred my blog here}}}

Our Trip to “The Dali”

Posted in activities for kids, wanderings in the world & web by

We recently took a trip to “The Dali,” as the The Dali Museum is affectionately known.  I hadn’t been since I was a kid, and I was excited to return.  And to my delight, my girls had a great time, too.

Granted, the 16-month-old was just happy to be out and about and exploring new places, and the 3-year-old didn’t really grasp everything – but we toured the gallery, did crafts directed by a docent, completed the scavenger hunt, and had tapas in the cafe.

My oldest studied the Disappearing Bust of Voltaire, her eyes focused on the painting as she walked backwards and forward again and again, until finally announcing, “Yup, I see it.”

They both climbed on the sculpted windows as we ate our tapas, and they threw change into the fountain at the foot of the giant stone that appears to be supporting one corner of the building near the front entry.

All in all, a great day.  I’ve written about our outing, about Dali and his artwork, and some of the Dali-themed crafts we did at home on Squidoo:  Salvador Dali Crafts and Lessons for Kids.

Here is a collage of some of our pictures from the museum and the crafts we did:

Dali Crafts for Kids

{{{This was originally posted at roamingrosie.blog.com, but I’ve since transferred my blog here}}}