Wire and Honey: Where cutenss and social change meet

Wire and Honey has become one of my favorite online/instagram store.  The shirts are cute with unique messages.  Started by a mom (Rah) who couldn't find "offbeat style" clothes for her adorable son. One of my favorite shirts is:

What an important message!! In this time that we are living in, with so much misinformation available, we need this message.  In fact, Wire and Honey came underattck because of these shirts.  In May, Wire and Honey's facebook account came under attack by hateful misinformed people.  Anti vaccinators started posting untrue and abhorrent messages.  Instead of attacking back, Rah donated a Super Hero Pack to UNICEF in their names!  That act is taking the high road to a whole new level and really solidifed my love for Wine and Honey.  

Our first S.T.E.A.M class

Searching for fun and educational events is my full time job as a SAH (stay at home) mom.  Scouring Facebook, parenting magazines and local blogs helps me find many exciting activities.  On the top of my list was S.T.E.A.M classes.  S.T.E.A.M which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathmetics.  I loved the idea and knew my son would be as excited.  The Schoolhouse Children's Musuem and Learning Center has developed a summer long S.T.E.A.M curriculum.  We joined in with our first class just a few days ago.  It was S.T.E.A.M. Creepy Crawlies Class. First the kis created cricket hats, had story time, watched a video about crickets and learned some interesting facts about crickets. 

Adorable Cricket hat

Did you know crickets dont have "ears" but "hear" through their knees.  Then the kids practiced "cricket jumps" and made crickets sounds.  

Lerning interesting Cricket facts

The last part of class included examing a real life cricket using a magnifying glass.

Close up of a Cricket

So excited for our the next S.T.E.A.M. class!!!

   

Running as life

Running first became a priortiy in my life when I needed stress relief.  Stress was a daily occurence while in college, studying premed classes.  Running allowed me to be in silence, to think through problems or even not to think at all.

Compeitive running came much later.  After having a baby I wanted my body back.  I set a goal - to run a half marathon.  A HALF MARATHON! My mind could not wrap around the magnitude of my endeavor.  I ran 5ks, maybe a 10k here and there, but never anything close to 13 miles.  I researched and talked with anyone that had any knowledge of long distance running.  I joined running groups online and runing teams in person.  I streamlined my diet and became all about running.  Slowly I began to lose weight.  Losing weight was amazing but what happened after was even better.  I found my tribe aka my running family.  Having met so many people along the way with the goal of incorporating running into our daily routine.

My top 4 tips to anyone just starting out would be:

1) Research, research, research - make sure you read about the different running methods, long distance running plans, etc.

2) Join a running team.  I have met my closest friends through the running community.  The encourgagment from my running family has made this running journey the best undertaking in my life.

3) Pick a race that excites you.  My first half marathon was in Disney.  Why? Because I love everything Disney! Disney races enterain in almost every mile.  From characters (Mary Poppins dancing with penguins) to DJs thoughout the course. RunDisney always has a charity attached to every race which makes me feel great supporting them.

4) Make sure to get fitted for your running shoes. Go to a local run store and have an expert check your gait and suggest the perfect shoe for you.  Then buy it there.  Help support our running community!



One of my favorite local races has to be the Fort Lauderdale Public A1A Half Marathon.  The best part, besides being local, the beautiful beach scenery. 

My awesome Publix A1A Half Marathon medal

Mini Maker Faire is the best fair in town

The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium's impressive flyer caught my eye and I needed to know more.  The flyer detailed the Palm Beach's first Mini Maker Faire hosted by South Florida Science Center in partnership with HackLab North Boynton held on May 14, 2016.

Let me confess something first.  I had no idea what a Maker Faire was or what it entailed.  Was I blown away!  The original Maker Faire launched in 2006 to inspire hands on demonstration of artists and scientists under one roof.  Everyone from crafters to hobbyists to engineers come to exhibit new ideas and show case their hard work.


The event was beyond anything my son or I could have imagined.  A short list of what was included:


3D printing

3D printing

Drone demonstrations

Trying to run the drone

Do it yourself maze setups

Very intricate maze

Soldering classes

First time soldering!

Lego robotic machines (my son's favorite)! Local junior and high school students competed in robotics competition to build working lego machines that accomplished multi tasks like for example a garbage scooper.

Cleaning up the "beach"

Or a "live" lego snake with sensors that could "bite."

Star Wars characters

Even Darth Vader participated in the science exhibit

Nitrogen combustion

We spent the whole time 10-4pm exploring all the faire had to offer.  As a Homeschool parent, I search far and wide to expose my son to every learning event possible.  The Palm Beach Mini Maker Faire was one of the best events.  We can't wait to go back to the South Florida Science Center to take advantage of the rest of what the museum has to offer.  

Homeschool Coop: Octopus counting game

This month's Homeschool coop theme was "Oceans"! Our kids learned about mollusks, the ocean zones, coral reefs, crustaceans.  Class today we worked gluing, counting, and pincer movements in this specific project.

Octopus Counting game

Homeschool Subject: Space the final frontier

As the months went by and my son's friends started school I realized my time was running out.  No more sleeping in. No more schedule free days.  No more sitting at the park at 9 am without the craziness.  My days were numbered.  Truthfully I knew nothing about homeschooling and what exactly it entailed. So what do I do when I am unsure - I wing it.  Fake it to you make it!

Space was the theme for the month of February.  Our kids learned about the planets, details about the Sun, specifics about Asteroid belts and Nebulas, and so much more.  I think we have a few future Astronauts in our midst.

One fun project was the messy demonstration of a Sun.

This project needed white construction paper (cut in a circle), black construction paper, red/yellow/orange paint, saran wrap, and q tips.

First cut the white construction paper into a circle which will then be the Sun.  Then place a quarter size amount of yellow, orange and red paint on separate areas of the white circle.  Cover the Sun with saran wrap and let your child squish until all the paint is mixed.  Make sure there is no white paper left.

Kids loved squishing the paint

To help with easier cleaning, place newspaper or old paper grocery bags under the Sun before "squishing" the paint. 

It can get messy easily

After the paint has dispersed remove the saran wrap.  Glue the Sun on the black construction paper.  Dip the q tips into the red, orange or yellow paint. To make the Sun rays, move the q tips across the Sun and onto the black construction paper.

Final product

Wonderful and fun craft to conclude our Sun class.