My Life In Pictures May 1 - May 10, 2021

 May 1 - Ignore my husband's deck mess. Plants and plant food still in the beginning stages of our summer flowers. Jinxy loves being on the deck and wants to go out all the time but the moment he is out there he wants to go back in. Go figure. 

May 2 - The only photo of the day is me with a filter. Hmmm...

May 3 - NADA

May 4 - When I hear a song in the car that I have forgotten about or that I am hearing for the first time and like, I take a photo. Out of sight is out of mind as you get older.

May 5 - There were only photos of my preschool classes painting their Mother's Day frames which I cannot share. 

May 6 - Minxy Jinxy in all his big boy glory.

May 7 - She may not be a baby anymore, but she is my baby.

May 8 - Mother's Day Dinner at Outback

May 9 - Luna enjoying the beautiful day out on the deck

May 10 - Dentist appointment and I just had to grab a shot of this steeple.

Things to Do When You Turn 65

Turning 65 doesn’t have to feel like a chore. On the contrary, many people who retire at this age find it’s an opportune time to let loose, enjoy themselves, and start new plans for the twilight years of their life. Not only does turning 65 come with several financial and legal perks, but it can also be a great time to rediscover yourself and what you love. Below are a few things to do when you reach this special milestone.

Look into Medicare

Did you know that turning 65 makes you eligible for Medicare Parts A and B? In addition, you also have the option of enrolling in Medicare Part C (also known as Medicare Advantage), which covers vision and dental. This can be a real lifesaver for those who were previously receiving health insurance through their employer. 

However, it’s worth noting that Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of all your medical expenses, such as prescription medications. Therefore, it’s worth looking into supplement plans such as the Medicare D Prescription Drug Plan and/or Medigap, offered by private insurance companies and helps fill the financial gaps of a regular Medicare plan.

Attend to Legal Matters

When you turn 65, it’s also an important time to get your legal and financial affairs in order. If you’re an organized person, you may have already done this; but if you haven’t, make sure you set up and/or review your will, any powers of attorney, as well as for instructions for long-term medical care. The benefit of having this set up ahead of time is that you can rest assured that your needs will be taken care of in the way that you want. It also eases the burden on your loved ones in the event of long-term illness or death.

Investigate Assisted-Living Options

While you may not want to think about giving up your independence, it’s nonetheless important to investigate assisted-living options. You never know what could happen in terms of illness or disability, and it’s best to find someplace you like and will be comfortable in. Otherwise, you run the risk of having the choice made for you, and you could end up in a facility that doesn’t meet your needs or preferences. There are many excellent assisted living facilities, such as https://cateredliving.com/ocean-pines/, that provide private, comfortable accommodation and tailored levels of care.

Research Your Perks

Turning 65 also means that you’re eligible for a number of perks. For example, there are travel discounts available for people aged 65 and above. This could be great news if you’vehad your eye on an exotic or tropical holiday abroad! If you haven’t looked into it yet, check with your airlines and travel providers for what deals they offer for people 65 and over.

Another perk for people of this age group is a property tax break. If you own your own home, you may be entitled to deductions once you hit 65. These vary by state and municipality, so be sure to check into it as the discounts can certainly add up.

Photo source

 

Ways To Save Space In Your Home

If you're like most people, you have more stuff than you do space. While you've likely reduced what you own, sometimes you just can't get rid of everything. That's where making some other changes can come into play. Here are some ways that you can save room in your home. 

Loft Beds

Consider using loft beds Chicago if you don't have enough room in your children's room for a bed and a play space or desk. A loft bed is just like a bunk bed, except there is no bottom bed. Instead, it has an empty space that you can use however you would like. Whether you decide to put a desk in the space or your child's dresser, you're going to be thankful for the extra room. 

Magnet Shelves

If you have a small kitchen without much storage, consider using a magnet shelving system. They are one or two shelving units with a powerful magnet on the back of them. It can be attached to the side of anything metallic. Most commonly they are put on the side of a fridge or washer and dryer unit if you have one in your home. 

The magnets are incredibly strong, and the shelves don't move at all. You could use the extra shelving for laundry supplies, spices, or even drinking cups. Some of the shelving units even come with extra side hooks for rags or oven mitts. 

Sliding Storage

If you have small spaces in your home that don't fit anything, you should look into sliding storage racks. They are small racks, often as little as 5 inches wide, that can fit into those areas. Even though the racks aren't very wide, they can be as tall as you need them to be. A rack as tall as the height of a regular kitchen sink can easily have five shelves, which gives you a lot of space to store things. 

Photo source

Get Organized In 2022

There is no time like now to get organized for the upcoming year! It's never too late. Keep yourself on task with this planner.

College can be overwhelming and stressful! When you write everything down, it actually makes you feel better. Staying organized and spreading out what you need to do over multiple days and weeks makes assignments and goals seem less ominous.

That’s why the Class Tracker Ultimate Student Planner makes a great gift for the college student on your list! https://myclasstracker.com/collections/student-planners/products/college-edition-undated

This isn't your ordinary mass-produced daily planner. The 2021-2022 Class Tracker College Edition makes it a breeze for college students stay on top of assignments, key deadlines, daily tasks, and extracurricular activities. It has weekly pages designed specifically for a college student’s overly-scheduled life including pages to record class schedules, set goals, take notes, and keep track of self-care. It’s dated August 1-June 30. An undated version is also available. https://myclasstracker.com/collections/student-planners/products/college-edition-undated

Other features include: coiled bound with rounded corners and brightly colored covers with poly protection for stand-out sturdiness. Colors include black, light blue, pink with navy, and mint with pumpkin.

$24.99. Available at: https://myclasstracker.com/

Little Ellen's Happy Elloween Episode Today

New episodes of Little Ellen premiere Thursday, Oct. 14 on Cartoonito on HBO Max, including a fun, spooky episode to help get you and your preschoolers into the Halloween spirit.

In “Happy Elloween,” Little Ellen, Freckle and Becky decide that they’re old enough to go trick or treating without an adult for the first time. Then, they question their decision when this Halloween proves to be the spookiest one yet!

Here is a fun look at the new trailer: https://youtu.be/s0iw21eEWXI

About Little Ellen: Little Ellen is a 2D-animated preschool series that explores the world through the eyes of a hilarious and unpredictable seven-year-old Ellen DeGeneres. The series follows Little Ellen (voiced by Laurel Emory) and her best friends-Freckle (voiced by JeCobi Swain) and Becky (voiced by Johanna Colon) –on fun, everyday adventures  with her across the musical city of New Orleans, teaching lessons of resilience, optimism and courage along the way.

 

Pop Up Book Lovers - Check Out The Weather Pop Up Book by Maike Biederstaedt

The 411:

This pop up weather book from @prestel_publishing was so exciting for my class. I read it to them during circle time and they literally gasped with each page I opened and everyone wanted to touch the red truck. Is it not the coolest! The illustrations are stunning!

While my class wasn't interested in climate change they loved all the beatifically constructed 3D forms. It was a great way to discuss the weather. We discussed the ship on the ocean, the tornado, the dry desert, and frost. My class are 2.5-3 years old so it was on a very broad/elementary scale but they truly loved it! 

Like Dogs From Terror Films - A Review #likedogs

 

From director Randy Van Dyke, and starring Annabel Barrett (the upcoming “Clifford the Big Red Dog”) and Ignacyo Matynia (“Luke Cage”), witness the terror of Like Dogs this October.

Abducted, and treated like animals, 2 university students are unwilling participants in a behavioral experiment gone horribly wrong. It gets personal when the pair learn they’ve each been specifically targeted. Once people start dying it’s a race to escape and survive.

 

From Terror Films, Like Dogs is available on Digital.

The 411:

Well now! This was a movie! Treated like dogs in a laboratory by a demented over the top mad man, woman. Well you see that is where the plot holes are. I was definitely interested from the beginning. A woman is dragged into a van, she wakes in a cage, chained to a wall eating food out of a bowl. Wait, there is another guy also there. He is chained too. Plot twist...not gonna tell you but I was like Wait! WHAT?! No! That's insane. BUT then another plot twist and that is where I got lost. 

Low budget film but that was okay for me. The set or I should say the dog cages seemed like real dog cages and that worked well with the narrative, the lead actress was great. The thought of psychological test on unwilling subjects was interesting but the twists made it seem like the film makers were trying too hard. Wasn't torture to watch just wish they had stuck with one angle. 

TRAILER:

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary screener for my honest opinion. NO monetary compensation was offered. 

Sick Kids? Try Paw Patrol's SOS KIDS For Free

 

The sick weather is already hitting. I work in preschool and we have seen RSV, Covid, Coxsackie, and more viruses. When your child is sick and not eating or drinking enough making sure they don't dehydrate is important which is why I love sharing this with you!

"PAW Patrol® x SOS Kids is a healthy 10 calorie hydration drink with low sugar with added Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Magnesium, and Zinc! Everyone can try this PAWsome new character-laden line of low sugar, better-for-you kids’ hydration drink mixes - request your free samples here."




I received a box from SOS Hydration last week. Today I researched a bit more tried one to see what it taste like. There are so many electrolyte drinks out there and I was excited to see there are so many flavors, that it is low in calories, carbs and sugars and that it taste great. I am not loving that the first Ingredient is sugar but maybe that is perfect for the kid packs. When my kids were little and got stomach viruses I used to give them anything they would tolerate like water or Gatorade so they wouldn’t dehydrate. The SOS mix has a complete electrolyte balance and tastes amazing!

The taste was great and knowing that it provides speedy hydration with all the minerals necessary makes me want to share this with everyone!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product for my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was offered. 

ALL EPISODES OF R.L Stein “JUST BEYOND” NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+ @DisneyPlus #justbeyond

The thrilling eight-episode anthology series “Just Beyond” is now streaming on Disney+! From the world of R.L. Stine, the Disney+ original series tells astonishing and thought-provoking stories of a reality just beyond the one we know. Each episode of “Just Beyond” introduces viewers to a new cast of characters who must go on a surprising journey of self-discovery in a supernatural world of witches, aliens, ghosts and parallel universes. A new clip from the episode titled “Leave Them Kids Alone” featuring Mckenna Grace is now available.

 

Seth Grahame-Smith serves as writer and showrunner on “Just Beyond.” The series, based on the BOOM! Studios graphic novels by R.L. Stine, is executive produced by Grahame-Smith, David Katzenberg and Aaron Schmidt via KatzSmith Productions. David Walpert and Marc Webb also serve as executive producers alongside Ross Richie, Stephen Christy and Mark Ambrose of BOOM!. Stine is attached as co-executive producer. “Just Beyond” is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios.

 

All episodes of “Just Beyond” are now available to stream, exclusively on Disney+.

Dolly The Ultimate 6 DVD Collection

I starting watching this last week. I am a huge Dolly fan from way way back. Her albums were some of the first a bought with my own money after I got my first job. 

They include Dolly’s Variety Show that was on TV in the 80s, which I had even forgot existed, Live Concerts, Music Videos, Interviews and more. 

The 80s was filled with variety shows were you could see your favorite celebrities doing skits, talking, singing and acting. I loved them all. 

Here are some highlights:

Where else are you gonna see Dolly in a bubble bath or the Dolly Dating segment with a very young, Moonlighting Bruce Willis. Was he cute or what!?.

The Day Time Stopped

The Day Time Stopped

1 MINUTE – 26 COUNTRIES

By Flavia Ruotolo

In different time zones but at the same single moment on Earth this brightly colored book hops across the globe to deliver a simple but profound message about diversity. 

One afternoon in Italy, a little girl is about to take a bite of her delicious popsicle when time . . . stops. At that very moment, across the planet, people and animals are frozen in action--captured by this book's warm, quirky illustrations and clever, time-stamped captions. A penguin hatches in South Georgia; a little girl gets a haircut in Brazil; a family sits down to breakfast in California; a tiger falls asleep in Bangladesh; a boy's football ball gets stuck in a tree in Cape Verde. The sheer enormity of planet Earth can be impossible for young kids to grasp. Here, in this playful introduction to time zones, hemispheres, and life in different climates, kids will identify with all the ordinary things going on at the same time in our extraordinary world.

I read this to my class after covering E for earth and making an earth craft. 

It’s a big world and it’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that time zones are different around the world. My class loved the simple illustrations and I loved a visual way to explain how the earth is so big that it might be morning here and evening there depending on where you live on the earth 🌎 but as big as the planet is we are all still Earthlings. #childrensbooks #childrensbookillustration

 

My Two Headed Fairy Craft

Today was a crafty day! 

Over the past few years my life has changed. In some ways for the worst and in many ways for the better. I have been spending more time doing the things I want to do and have been meaning to do for a long time. 

This two headed fairy is created with Dollar Tree items except the paint and tags! I am in love with it. 

Check out my reel for more detail! 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUk2hpOD7u3/?utm_medium=copy_link

Fairy

PoultryGeist Horror With Training Wheels

What actually happens when the chicken doesn’t actually make it across the road? 

Poultry Geist

From a debut picture-book author and a #1 New York Times best-selling illustrator, a wry take on "Why did the chicken cross the road?” that gives a whole new meaning to “the Other Side.” Cock-a-doodle-BOO! 

It’s punny. It’s spooky. It’s a meta picture book that puts a fresh spin on an old joke and elevates chicken comedy to ghastly new levels. A little spring chicken crosses the road but quickly gets flattened under a semitruck. The barnyard beasts who’ve gone before break the news: now that Chicken’s fried—dispatched to the Other Side—Chicken has a job, an unwanted job, as a noisy troublemaking ghost. This fowl may be weak in the beak, but Chicken knows that scaring people isn’t nice. There is such a thing as a friendly ghost, after all—isn’t there? Loaded with laughs and shivers, this Halloween-ready treat features ghoulishly funny art by the illustrator of the #1 New York Times best-selling Bad Seed series. Let the haunting begin! 

No chickens were harmed in the making of this book.

Absolutely hysterical! Great for young readers just starting to get into the horror genre. #childrensbooks #childrensbookillustration #halloweenbooks

My New Obsession Is Delicious

When I’m not munching on fistfuls of @naturespathorganic Coconut Chia Granola I’m spooning it into my yogurt! #yogurt #lunchtime #granola #brunch #cereal

I went through this box so quick! 

It is delicious with milk, in my yogurt or just grabbed out of the box. 

High Five Discipline

High Five Discipline is a self help book that parents, caregivers, teachers and doctors would benefit from reading. Focus on the positive for the best results. It’s amazing and it works. How do I get a room for of toddlers to all clean up? Focus and celebrate the one cleaning up and you will find yourself calling out more helping names as they hear you telling another “thank you for cleaning up (insert name).” It’s like magic! 

Truly changed my preschool class.