Walking/Wheeling Wednesday: Switch It Up

We left off with stepping up our goals and moving forward with continuing to just get outside and explore. So today, switch it up. Instead of walking, if that's your normal Wednesday activity, get on a bike. If you usually get on a bike, try another mode of transportation. 

My daughter recommended using video games that have walking or stepping. We were playing on our Wii with WiiFit Plus the other day, so she thought it was a good idea to suggest video gaming walking/wheeling. I agree! Plus when the weather isn't friendly, we've got to find other ways to do what we gotta do.

Remember, this is only if you want to and function as a suggestion to switch things up. 

Teaching Tuesday: Food Banks

I wanted to changes things a little bit from what they were last time. Tuesday is one of those days. I liked the survival skills and I still think those are great activities, but maybe I need to start adding something that helps us think about the world outside of our home, even though it is Safer At Home!

When I grew up, I remember watching Saturday Morning Cartoons. During the commercial breaks there would be little PSAs (Public Service Announcements). Many of those were part of "The More You Know" done by CBS. Did you know they're still doing those today? Teaching Tuesday will be using those quick PSAs to help inform you of some world issues. These entries will now include one of two of the topic's PSAs and then links and other information for how to teach yourself about the issues.

I decided to start with the theme of "Community." This week's topic is Food Banks.

Education and Involvement:

• What is a Food Bank?
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program
• How to Find Food Assistance Programs
• The Balance Everyday - Where To Find
• Myths and Facts About Food Pantries
• FoodBankRockies - How to Start a Food Bank

Continue down the rabbit hole of information searching and look for ways that you can get involved or if there are services that can help you. It's hard to realize that sometimes we all need help. I've had to use services before to get through hard times, but when I've gotten back on my feet I try to return to kindnesses done for me. Don't feel ashamed. Know where you are at in life and what you need. Help yourself and others by making sure they have enough to food and drink. 

The best way to find your local Food Banks, Food Pantries, or Food Assistance Organizations is to google your local area and find one. This isn't going to go away and many people are finding ways to help and survive during this Pandemic. So remember what options are available to you to use or to help.

Mindfulness Monday: Scavenger Hunt

Look for these things and then take pictures of them and share them. Even if you don't share them on social media, you can have them on your photo roll to reference when you need that calming moment.

Get your copy here.

The World Matters

When I started this blog, we were mostly in lockdown, due to CO-VID19, in various places throughout the world. People were struggling and I thought it would be great to share some activities that can help keep people positive and distracted from the difficulties of staying at home. This was meant to promote safety for our country by encouraging people to stay at home and do exciting things.

With the turn of events in recent weeks, I have morally questioned the original goal of this blog. I am providing a distraction from the bigger issues that are around us. Whether you participate or not, this has weighed heavily on me and I feel it causes myself and my worldview to be questioned.

I am shutting down this blog. I want it to be temporary, but with the status of our country and the world I have little hope for a resurrection. 

This was an escape from the pain and anger of what has been happening, but it is no longer something I see as having relevance or value when our nation is at war, fighting for the lives of black people and demanding that our country make the necessary changes for equality and respect for the lives of people of color. 

Thank you for your dedication during these few weeks. I hope to continue this someday when it is needed.

Sunday Funday: Water Pistol Practice

Get out those water shooters and have at it! 

There are quite a few ways to do target practice. 

Dixie Cups

Set up dixie cups in a pyramid and then try to knock them down. You could probably do this with Solo Cups, too, if you have more powerful water guns. You could compete with another person. Each of you could have a pyramid stack and you try to knock the other person's down.

Cans or Bottles

Put up some empty aluminum cans or empty plastic bottles up and try to knock them down!

Hanging Plates

Design some paper plate targets and then string them up and practice shooting them. Color on the styrofoam ones and the colors will run off to see if you hit it. The paper ones will be wet, so you could set up your own rules for that. You could also color the liquid, if you dare, and then you know which one you've hit.

You could also play 500 with the plates, by writing the numbers on them and see how far up you can go!

Running Targets

If you have SD6 people around, you can have them put on paper plate targets and run around. Almost like laser tag, but people could take turns with the water pistols.

You can always purchase target practice toys, too. There are several out there, similar to what you would play at a carnival. Craftier people than I have also posted how-tos on making your own carnival style target. 

Essentially, the sky is the limit for how you want to play. I'm not a fan of drawing on my windows, but if you have that washable paint or chalk that people use on their car windows for celebrations, you could draw targets on windows. Have your friend or sibling or someone make a face behind the target and tah-dah! Passive aggressive emotional relief. 

Don't forget, though, you want to set distance parameters. You can start with a set distance and then make it closer or farther away. How accurate is your water shooter?

Celebrate Saturday: At Home Happy Hour

Remember that drink you made about yourself yesterday? Well now is the time to enjoy it and maybe with some friends (safely distanced away via Zoom or at an extreme distance). I know I might soapbox this a little bit, but I am in a community that has completely stopped caring about any kind of protection and is only doing the bare minimum of what the state is asking people to do. So when I make these activities, I am making them to help with social distancing - not promoting any kind of physical contact or even being in any kind of proximity to someone not in your household. You do you, though.

Happy Hour is for specifically sharing some time with a drink (or ANY kind) in your hand. Grab your beer, wine, water, soda, etc. Empty glass? Why not! I've done that on a virtual Happy Hour before. So make it what you want!

Foodie Friday: Cocktail Concoctions

Try to regain some happiness after so many troubling events by making a cocktail that represents who you are! Also, I had watched Patton Oswalt's stand-up special on Netflix "I Love Everything" recently where he talked about how the barman for his wedding offered to make a custom drink that represented him and his wife. It was pretty cute and I recommend the special. Maybe watch it while you make your drink!

I have a few sites to look at that might help you make the perfect cocktail. I do just want to remind you that cocktails do NOT have to contain alcohol. It's what makes it perfect for you! (Kiddie Cocktail anyone?)

First, I have a BuzzFeed survey that might help you figure out a base to start from. Just watch out for the ads, they can make you think you're done or load on you quick.

Then I have two sites that recommend drinks based on your personalities: The Florist and SpoonUniversity.com

I offer these purely to help you get a foothold on what you want to make. If you already have a drink that you love and it fits you and you think it screams ME, then use that or build off of it.

This is also fun to do with kids, just remove the alcohol. Ask them to start with some sort of base (a juice or soda) and then start asking them what they like. Have you or kids you have or know ever done they "every soda from the fountain" drink? Yep! Think of all the fun they could have. I like those soda fountains that now let you pick your base drink and add flavors. Those are so fun, it's dangerous.

So slip on your Mixologist hat and try to create a drink that you like and that would be your signature drink (alcoholic or not). Don't forget to share your photos/recipes!

What did I make? I have two for each side of my personality:

My relaxed drink: Barefoot Sweet Red with Diet 7-Up/Sprite and a slide of orange. (Like a Sangria,but for me, I need to relax and just dump things into a giant Spider-Man cup! I use the small bottles of wine.)

My have-a-good-time drink: Pineapple Juice, Sugar-Free Cranberry Juice, and Coconut Bacardi Rum. It's a tropical rum punch!  I'm sweet. My bitterness is hidden beneath the sweet. My silly and careless demeanor will hit you slowly as I come out of my introvert shell. Then it'll punch you right in the face as your suffering of being exposed to me comes full circle.