20 International Travel Necessities
When going on an international trip, what must-have things should you not leave home without? The internet is full of helpful packing lists for travel, but often lacks the explanation as to WHY those items are necessities or how to differentiate between necessities and niceties. In addition to your clothes, what should you not leave home without? Whether you have made your first international travel plans or are helping a friend pack, here are a 20 necessities and 20 niceties for international travel to get your started. Bon voyage! International Travel Necessities Travel tissues (not all bathrooms have tissues, have one in your daypack and one extra in your luggage) Change/small bills (to pay to use some restrooms or buy water in order to be able use a restroom, to pay at places that do not accept cards) Credit/Bank card without international fees (notify your bank of your travels, too, so you can release your cards for international use) 1 reusable grocery bag (many stores charge for bags) Day pack or bag with crossbody strap (for the days when you aren’t carrying your luggage everywhere) Hand sanitizer (so many germs in public spaces!) Universal power adapter (can be used in…
10 Read Aloud Books for the Younger Years
What is your favorite picture book from your childhood? Reading aloud is so important in the younger years. It teaches a love of reading, models fluency, introduces vocabulary, builds curiosity, and opens the door for great discussions. These picture read aloud books I like for the writing and the illustrations, especially the colored pencil art in Albert and the watercolors and postcards in Toot and Puddle. Several stories are about overcoming fears, making friends, travel adventures, and family. Some have sensitive topics that will take careful discussion, but what better place to have these conversations than in your own living room. I took a walk down memory lane and pulled these off my bookshelf. Some I read to my own kids and some were from my classroom. Below are 10 of my favorites for read aloud books for the younger years (or actually for any age!). Just pulling these favorite books off my shelf has brought me joy and a flood of memories from my classroom and my own children in their younger years. I am looking forward to reading these to my grandchildren! A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black and Kevin Hawkes…
Product Review: Qwirkle
What game can you play as a multigenerational family? There are so many games on the market that it is hard to know which ones to add to your family collection. One fun game we were introduced to a few years ago was Qwirkle. My aunt was surprised we did not own it, so she purchased it for our family vacation. It was a hit, and we have since purchased it for others. What makes Qwirkle a hit? It is easy to learn how to play, even with nonreaders or those who do not enjoy complicated games. As many as 4 people can play but you could do teams for larger families or younger kids. The game consists of 108 square tiles with 6 different colors and shapes on them. To play the game you create rows of like colors or like shapes. Points are scored for the number of tiles you play with additional bonus points being given for a “qwirkle” which is when you complete a row of 6 with no duplicates. This game is part chance and part skill! The game can take from 30-45 minutes depending on how contemplative the players are. I am not a…
Home for the Holidays
What strategies do you put in place when your college kids come home for the holidays? With spring break just around the corner, here are 4 tips for not just surviving but thriving in the holidays when your kids come home. Whether they are in college or beyond, things are bound to be different when your adult kids come home to visit. Open communication of expectation is key to enjoying time when your kids come home for the holidays, whether it is spring break, winter break, or summer. While it is nice to have help when everyone is home, a short visit probably is not the time to load them up on chores unless it has been stated ahead of time that it is basement cleaning time. Tips to Help Your Family Thrive Schedule some mutually agreed upon family time before the calendar fills up Discuss expectations and respect each other’s space Choose an activity or two to do together (see list below) Get to know each other as adults To balance out the time at home, consider choosing an activity or two to enjoy together. You could even share this post with them and have them pick the…
Love Is
What is love? Love is a phone chat with a best friend who lives far away. Love is smores on Sunday nights when you really want smore weekend time together with family. Love is a peaceful home that is a refuge from the storms of life. Love is a walk on the beach or a 4 mile therapy session with a friend. Love is coffee! Love is a card in the mail or a good morning text. Love is a Family Fiesta, with crafts, of course. Love is a birthday scavenger hunt. Love is shakshuka and naan bread. Love is cold brew coffee. Love is saying yes. Love is saying no. Love is a good book in a quiet nook. Love is forgiving and forgetting. Love is always remembering. Love is a charcuterie board or a sushi picnic. Love is an empty sink and dishes in the cupboard. Love is a coffee shop work date. Love is vegan pesto, Peruvian roasted chicken, a chocolate mug cake in a unicorn cup, and a Danish dough whisk. Love is laughter. Love is libraries. Love is family. Love is friends, both far and near. Love is framily. Love is new friends and new…
Style Your Storage Spaces
How decorated is your closet or laundry room? Styling your living space is a natural step when moving into a new home, but what about styling your closet or laundry room? These storage spaces deserve a little bit of character that reflects your style, too, and makes you smile when you open the door. In my workshop Clean the Chaos, I talk about styling your spaces, even the closets and laundry room. You can check out Pinterest for closet organization systems, but often just decluttering and organizing your space is all you need to reset the calm. Adding a small bit of styling is icing on the cake. Do you smile when you open the closet door? Most people do not think about styling their laundry room, but I put up a pretty wallpaper border in the tiny laundry closet at one house I had. It was a simple and inexpensive way to brighten the space and make me smile when I opened the doors to do a chore I did not like, especially when the kids were little and the laundry piles were large. Consider using wall space in your closet or bedroom for small hooks, racks, or shelves.…
7 Easy Steps to Cornell Notes
What makes a note taking system effective? The Cornell System is a highly effective note taking strategy. It saves time and helps students better comprehend the lecture or material. Originally developed by Cornell education professor Walter Pauk as a note taking method for schools, many people easily adapt this method to take notes while researching material, during client interactions, or even during business meetings. Below are 7 easy steps to Cornell Notes. Research also shows that handwritten Cornell Notes are the best for recall. Students who learn early on to take Cornell Notes are better prepared to take useful notes during class than those who merely copy the powerpoint. Using a consistent note taking system helps students use their notes for reference and study as the format is clear and effective. While there are many note taking techniques, the Cornell System outshines them all. Here is how you can try it out for yourself. Here are 7 easy steps to Cornell Notes Divide your paper into 2 columns with a row across the bottom. Some people like to write a giant capital I on the page, slightly offset to the left to divide the paper. Write the course/meeting name at…
5 Note Taking Tips
Why is note taking a lost art? Teaching kids to take good notes and use them seems to be a lost lesson plan these days. So many of my tutoring clients think note taking is copying a slide or worse yet, taking a photo of a slide. While there is not anything wrong with doing either of these things, it is not really note taking. Here are 5 Note Taking Tips to help you teach a child or yourself to take good notes from a lecture or a textbook. Use a consistent system, such as Cornell Notes Write down main terms and key questions from text or lecture Leave space to add to notes later Watch for things that are repeated or emphasized Use notes to review and study, adding additional notes as needed Good note taking requires practice. Learning and using a system will help you take better notes. If the teacher requires a particular system be sure to use that, but if not, try Cornell Notes. In the next blog post, I will introduce you to Cornell Notes if you need a system to try. I have successfully taught students as young as 4th grade to take notes…
Book Review: When Words Matter Most
When do words matter most? Just as I was finishing working through the book Truthfilled: The Practice of Preaching to Yourself Through Every Season by Ruth Chou Simons, a friend gave me a copy of the book When Words Matter Most: Speaking Truth with Grace to Those You Love by Cheryl Marshall and Caroline Newheiser. These two books go hand in hand. Colossians 3:16 says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” We must first let the Word of Truth dwell in us. We must preach truth to ourselves. This is where Truthfilled is helpful. It’s not a self help book but a beautifully illustrated and practical reminder that in the trials of life, the truth of God is unchanging and life changing. This book is a 7 session study that you can do on your own or with a group. The art alone is worth a view! When Words Matter Most takes this concept to the next level. Once we have internalized this truth, we can then share it with others, strengthening and encouraging them…
Table Talk 3 Especially for the Younger Years
When was the last time you had an engaging conversation with a preschooler? It is never too early to begin asking good questions, especially at the kitchen table. I love asking kids questions. My favorite question is “Are you more like a pencil or a school bus?” While that is a great conversation starter, it does not really work with the younger years. They are more inclined to answer “should kids have a bedtime?” or “what does grandma do when she is not at our house?” What you need is a list of conversation starters for preschoolers. I created Table Talk 3 especially for the younger years. Use the 30 printable Table Talk questions at home, in carpool, at school, and just about anywhere. You can ask questions on the list, in any order, or you can print and cut out the cards. You can use one a day or spread a few of them around a table to use as conversation starters at your next party. You’ll be more likely to actually remember to ask good questions if you print them out and put them on the table! When was the last time you had an engaging conversation with…