DIY ID Bracelets

When you go to an event, the store or anywhere with your kids, you risk them getting lost. It only takes a second for them to run off or dawdle behind. I remember one time Noah and I were at the grocery store. It was shortly after we got our kitties. We were in the pet aisles. I had finished getting what I needed and kept shopping. About five or so minutes later, I noticed that Noah was not with me. I thought maybe he was with my mom but hen wasn't. He was 9 so I wasn't took terribly worried. I went running around looking for him. He was looking at the cat toys. Noah is now old enough to give out my number or state if he's lost. Younger kids don't have the skills to do this. There's all kinds of safety things out there from tattoos to bracelets. I would have no qualms taking masking tape and marker and sticking it on his shirt.

We go to a lot of festivals and fairs. We seem to have a lot of the plastic band bracelets. We have them with all kinds of logos. Noah got one that says Shark Con 2017 because I liked them on Facebook. I have seen ID bracelets with information engraved in the plastic. I wonder if the information is visible or not. 

Either way here's a mom hack. Take a plastic bracelet and turn it inside out. Write your info and allergies on the inside with Sharpie. Put it on your kid's arm and draw a small arrow on the outside. If someone finds your child, they know who to contact. I have seen many children wandering around at the store. Save your money on spending $10 and make your own with the free ones you picked up at the fair. Kids love to wear them anyways. 

Here's a bonus mom hack using the same silicone bracelet, use it as a drink label for water bottles. You can assign colors or even write names and keep them tucked away for the next time. 

Chocolate covered strawberries

When you are going to romance someone the best way is through their stomach. It doesn't matter if they are male or female or who they are. Everyone loves to eat. If you think about a luxurious dessert, you may think of chocolate covered strawberries. Sure you can buy them from the bakery or at a specialty store but prepare to pay out the nose for them. The chocolate covered strawberries could cost you a couple bucks each. I remember making them randomly in my apartment before I was a mom. It just sounded good. I didn't have the money to buy some at the local chocolate shop. So I made my own. I have made them with all kinds of chocolate. Everything from chocolate chips to candy bars. 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Big strawberries
Chocolate of your choice 
1 teaspoon of shortening 

Melt the chocolate and shortening in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals until smooth. 
Dip the strawberries and put it on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. 

Here's some ideas to make them more fancy:

You can add crumbled candy bar and sprinkle on

Sprinkles or chocolate chips

You can drizzle candy melts or another type of chocolate on them after they dry. 
Just have fun with it. 

Put in the refrigerator to harden and enjoy!

Free ways to be kind

I have always been big into being kind. Being kind is so easy. It’s much harder in my opinion than being mean. When you are mean, you have to work harder and think of ways to hurt people. There’s a common misconception that being kind means having to reach in your pocket and give money. While giving money is a great thing to do, not everyone can afford to give all the time.  I wanted to share some free ways you can be kind to someone else. Maybe if more people realize that you don’t have to give money, they might be open to being more kind. 

Open the door for someone else at the store. Let others go in front of you. Hold the door for as many people as you can. I remember one time, I was at the mall and there was a woman using a walker and I waited for her to come in and I held the door for her. She thought that was the kindness thing. 

Let someone go in front of you in the checkout. If you aren’t in a hurry, let them go before you.  It doesn’t take very long to wait. I always have a knack for finding the line that will have problems anyways. 

Smile at someone. My best friends mom is in a nursing home. The other day we went to go take her something. There was a woman in a wheelchair and I smiled at her. She smiled back. It was the coolest exchange. 

Say something kind to a stranger. Give them a compliment. If you like their hair or their outfit, tell them. You can definitely find something about them you like. Just even as them how they are doing?

If your baking, send some treats to a friend. I did my normal holiday baking and I sent treats to two of my friends who in turn shared them with others. Bring cookies to a neighbor. 

Spend time with people. I know that one sounds so easy and almost redundant. Honestly though people just want your time. They want to make memories with you. You don’t have to do anything special. Just give them your undivided attention. Put your phone away and focus on them. 

Offer to help a neighbor or friend. If you know how to do something a neighbor can’t do, do it for them. Offer to take them to the store if they don’t drive.  Loan them something.  Neighbors are friends that live next door. 

Mow someone’s lawn or shovel their driveway. All my neighbors have snow blowers and thankfully my neighbor will clear off my driveway and sidewalks for us. 

I would love to know ways that you can be kind without spending any money.