I love all things old fashioned.  Furniture, fashion, books, decor, hair styles… you name it.  Something else I like that comes from years ago are the games.  Going out and about to find something does usually involves spending money in excess.  This is something which is at times hurtful to our college student budget.  Plus, toting around a curious, active three-year-old isn’t always a sanity-saver.

The main purpose of  games is, perhaps, one of the best parts about them: time spent together.  Time to just be with each other.  Time to converse.  Time to catch up on the simple, overlooked things of life.  Games can reconnect you with the people you play with.  They give you time to laugh, tell stories, reacquaint and/or get to know the people you’re with.

The times I shared over games as a child, are some I don’t think I’ll ever forget.  Its not that something big and memorable always took place.  It was just the quality time I got to spend with my family and friends, that I may have otherwise missed out on.  I cherish those memories and they make fun traditions to share with others.  I know some people that never really played games when growing up.  They always seem jealous or like they feel as if they missed out on something when I talk about it.

Ok, since I’ve apparently been on a list-kick, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite games to play in a couple different categories.  Some are old fashioned, some are not.

Click for Credits

Outdoor:

• hide-an-seek (Lilie and I are still working on this one)
• flashlight, freeze, tv tag
• red rover
• capture the flag
• Simon Says
• Hop Scotch
• Four Square (I was master of the fourth graders)
• Mother May I/Red Light, Green Light
• Wiffle Ball (every summer)
• Dodge Ball
• Kick Ball

• Mat Ball (thank you, fifth grade P.E. teachers)
• Marco Polo (always in the pool)

• Chutes and Ladders (with my dad)
• Monopoly
• Mouse Trap
• Mall Madness (yes, I was a total shop-aholic)
• Battle Ship
• Candy Land
• Jenga
• Pay Day
• Life
• Scategories
• Guess Who
• Clue (Ms. Scarlet, with the revolver, in the library)

Card Games:

• War (even with my teddy bears)
• Rummy
• Gin Rummy
• Egyptian Rat Slap (in home room)
• Slap Jack
• Speed (Thank you, Teeyl)
• BS
• Old Maid
• Uno

Click for Credits

Other:

• Jacks
• Marbles (kicked Billy’s tush just tonight, actually)
• Paper Rock Scissors
• Dots
• Hang Man
• I Spy (road trips)
• 20 Questions
• Tic Tac Toe (Papaw)
• Dominoes

I know some of these games may be out dated for some of you, age wise, or perhaps too old to enjoy with children.  A few are for me, as well.  But even as an adult, I have tried to talk some of my friends into playing several of these games.  I think hide-and-seek is even more fun in the dark when you get a group of adults involved.  Way more challenging and loads of fun.  They’re great for such a wide range of ages, as well.

Ok, ready for my other favorite part?  I just easily listed off over 35 games that require no electricity.  That also means no video games.  They’re personal, challenging, exciting, competitive and just plan old good fun.  I hope you’ll take a little stroll down memory lane and maybe go have some fun with the people you love, using this list.  Or maybe, come up with your own list.  What are your favorite games?  I’d love to have some more things to add to my “To Do” list.  Hope to hear from you soon!

I love to write, but possibly more than that, I love to read. I just wanted to write a quick post to share something special with all you women. Whether you’re just a daughter, just a mother or both, you must read this book. Its called Because I Love Her. Its a collection of stories by female writers such as Karen Joy Fowler, Joyce Maynard, Jacquelyn Mitchard, and Susan Wiggs.

Its a book of reflections full of love, inspiration, memories, laughs, tears and lessons. Its an easy one to pick up and read when ever you have a free minute. The short stories make it good to lay down and come back to when you have the time. I found myself completely lost to the world around me, when I pick this book up.

Let me leave you with a quote and I’ll let you be back on your way.

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

At the ripe young age of 25, I may not be an expert on marriage.  As both a child and parent of divorce, however, I do think I’ve managed to obtain a little wisdom along the way.

I’m ready to tell you what’s, apparently, the biggest secret to staying married.  Ok.  Now, are you ready for this?  The secret to marriage is this:  Its not all about love.  Love really isn’t enough.  I’d say love is really only about 50% of a marriage.

The rest, is merely a business contract.  Yeah, sure you love the guy.  He’s not like all the rest.  He’s so respectful and fun to be with.  You just can’t picture living the rest of your life with out him.  That’s enough to know you’re marriage will last, right?  I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong.

Other than the obvious personal reasons, such as knowing and loving yourself before you let someone else try to, you need to be ready to make a commitment.  This is the part where everyone seems to have a problem, these days.

A commitment doesn’t just last a couple months, a few years or when you’re just not in love any more.  A commitment like marriage lasts until you die.  No matter what (here, I want exempt abusive relationships).  Notice my wording.  I didn’t say “A commitment like marriage is meant to  last until you die.”

People go into marriage just thinking about the happy parts and about being in love with that one person for the rest of their lives.  Well, I have some more news for you.  Chances are, you’re not always going to love that person.  Some times, your spouse is going to be the last person you want to be around.  You’re going to have to work together, anyway, to make that marriage work.   Don’t think you can handle it?  Sounds like too much work?  Then don’t get married.  Because being in a lasting relationship is all about work.

I told you I’ve been married and divorced, don’t forget.  So, I admit no one is perfect.  But I will always keep these thoughts in my mind, as well as my partner’s, when thinking about a future marriage.

I also told you I was a child of divorce.  I hope this aids me in raising my own daughter through a divorce.  I want to share a few tips in raising your children if you are not with their other parent:

• Do not say anything negative about the other parent in front of your child. Ever.
• Avoid arguing with the other parent while the child is around.  Even if its on the phone.
• Do not use your child as a messenger between you and your ex.  Ever.
• Do not discuss legal problems about the divorce or child support/custody in front of your child.
• Never ask your child to choose between you, your ex or a step parent.  Ever.
• Never put blame on the other parent for anything.  Especially for the cause of the breakup.
• Spend time with your child.  Love them, hold them, play with them.  Let them know that you’re not going any where.  You’re always going to be there and you’re always going to love them.

You know that awesome time, in your cell phone contract, when you become eligible for an upgrade?  I love upgrade time.  I never can afford the newest and hottest thing on the market, so I always get second best.  The phones I get are usually outdated about a month after being purchased.

This time, though, I toughed it out.  I was eligible for two months before I upgraded.  I knew what I wanted and I waited.  Did I get an iPhone?  Ha!  iPhone, shm-iPhone.  I’m anti-iPhone.  I watched the sales and did my research.  I ended up buying a Samsung Captivate for a small portion of the full price and am, to date, still happy with that decision.  I even got Billy to come over to the dark side.

Now, I find that this device is actually more handy than I originally thought.  Its a great piece of entertainment for the little one.  Lilie loves playing games on it in the car and while grocery shopping.  Most of the games are educational and/or creative.  This makes Mommy happy.

I have done some research and want to share my results.  These are the top seven kid apps (in no particular order):

• Paint Joy – a drawing app that plays back the process of your child making their masterpiece.
• Children’s Bible Parables – Bible stories presented in a comic book-like form.
• Sing Sing Together – just a cute little sing-a-long app.  Headphones not included.
• Ant Smasher – little ants running across the screen, while your child (or you) race to smash them with your finger.
• Toddler Lock – a shapes game that prevents your child from wondering off to other activities, such as calling your boss.
• Kids Shape Puzzle – fun, simple little puzzles.
• Kids Connect the Dots – this is one of Lilie’s favorites.  It highlights and pronounces the numbers in order so she doesn’t get stuck.

I’d also like to add that these can all be downloaded for free.  Otherwise, they wouldn’t be on my phone.  Do you know of any good ones?  I’d love to hear from you if you know of any others.

This is my first layout.  Its a little booklet full of fun activity ideas for you and your child.  This was my first layout and I’m pretty excited for you to see it.  I encourage any and all criticism and suggestions.  Enjoy!

“The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.”
-Fred Astaire

I don’t know if any of you are friends with me on Facebook, but this is something I’ve been known to harp on before.  Apparently, somewhere through the generations, being polite started to slip.  People just don’t have the manners that they used to.  I truly believe the art of teaching manners is slipping away in our society.

Now, first of all, I definitely want to be the first to admit that my manners are surely not the best.  I know I’m not perfect, and I do not expect anyone else to be, either.  Also, its one thing for me to just be criticizing the manners of children, but this is about the parent/adult population in general.  How can we expect our youth to be a manner-savvy people if we do not do out part in leading the way and set the table for the them?

How can we, as the adults, help fix this?

First of all, we need to expect good manners.  This is not hard labor or some sort of complicated puzzle.  If you expect good manners out of your child on a daily basis, they will learn to just do it.  It needs to be made a part of their daily lives; just part of living.  Manners shouldn’t be something used only on special occasion or just when they’re out to dinner.  Manners should receive no special treatment.  Just a normal, expected part of our daily living.

Perhaps the biggest way to raise a well-mannered child, is to model those good manners yourself.  How can we expect our children to be respectful, if we, ourselves, don’t show good manners.  You don’t have to go out of your way or point out being polite in front of your child.  Just let your child hear it a lot, while interacting with them as well as with other adults.  Once again, show its just part of the norm.

When getting someone’s attention, I hear a lot of people just say “Hey, can you,”  or “Hey, would you.”  I’m guilty of it, as well–especially at home.  We need to address them by name.  When making a request, try to make a point of addressing your child by name: “Lilie, would you please pick up that toy?”  Enforcing this social nicety will also help children pick up on the fact that they are more likely to get what they want if they ask politely by adding “please” or “may I.”

Compliment them on their politeness. Let them know that even though they may not always get what they want, just for using manners, but that their politeness hasn’t gone unnoticed.  Show them your appreciation for manners, but don’t force them.  Remember, manners are supposed to be part of the norm.  Its ok to ask for a “please” before giving them what they want, but don’t make it a condition every time.

One of the most polite things you can teach your child (and one that other adults will definitely notice) is eye contact.  This is another “practice what you preach” type thing.  Children learn how to talk to others by the way you talk to them.  When talking with Lilie, I always try to physically get down on her level.  I ask her to look at me while I’m talking to her and I try to keep her eye contact.  Do this with your children at home to help teach them the same.  Also, try not to make the eye contact with your child too intense.  We want to teach this politeness as a connection rather than controlling.

And finally, invite well-mannered people over to your home.  Seeing other children, as well as adults, using manners reinforces the normalcy of it.  Let your child catch the politeness spirit.  Others, outside of your household, are expected to be polite, as well.

I hope this message really gets out there.  I’m sure I’m not the only one on this band wagon.  Let’s face it; people just don’t value good manners like they used to.  So lets at least do our part, in the campaign, and make an effort to infect the children around us with politeness.  Always use your manners, you never know who you may be rubbing off on.