Forest School Wild Play Is Just What Your Kids Need To Unplug

Are your kids glued to a screen? And fed up with the same old walks you’ve been dragging them on for the last year? Make getting outside more fun for everyone - the Forest School way. 

After the huge success of their two previous Forest School books, Jane Worroll and Peter Houghton are back with Forest School Wild Play, jam-packed with new activities for kids - this time focusing on interacting with the four elements of Air, Fire, Earth and Water. 

You guys know this  past year has really brought home the importance of getting outside when you can and reconnecting with nature, particularly for those of us who interact with kids. Whether you’re a parent, guardian, teacher or Forest School leader, this book is the ideal guide to help children discover, explore and have fun while learning new skills in nature. 

With activities ranging from making kites and whistles for Air, to building a Dakota fire pit and a bug-repellant torch for Fire, to making a mudslide and a bogolan mud cloth painting for Earth, building watertight dens and playing splash! for Water, there is something to excite every child. It also includes a story linked to each element to tell the children, to deepen their connection to the natural world. 

Let’s go! Mix up your time spent outdoors and try something new with these fun activities, improving your mental and physical health, all while gaining a deeper understanding of the amazing web of life that we are all a part of.

Check out their You Tube Videos like the one about dying clothes with Ivy Leaves 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Jane Worroll and Peter Houghton are qualified Level 3 Forest School leaders, running their own London-based Forest School (The Forest School Way) as well as The Crafting Shed, a multi-medium STEAM and creative art club. 

JANE WORROLL is a former Countryside Ranger, gardener and tree surgeon, with a degree in ecology and an MSc in environmental conservation. 

PETER HOUGHTON is an artist, experienced in green woodwork and a master woodcarver. Peter previously worked for many years in a children's charity as an art workshop facilitator and key worker supporting vulnerable inner-city children and young people.

Places to Find Scrap Metal for Your New Side Hustle

Are you trying to find a great side hustle and aren't sure where to start? You might want to consider looking into a scrap metal business. Metal prices remain pretty consistent, and you should find many places where you can buy these items. Here are just a few excellent options that make work the best for your needs. Consider each of these choices carefully to ensure that you end up satisfied.

Places to Find Metal 

If you're interested in a scrap metal side hustle to make a surprising amount of money, you may want to consider the following business options. Often, many facilities have an incredible amount of metal just lying around and not being used. However, if you're smart about where you visit, you can find an excellent range of options that will keep you scraping for a long time, including:

• Local Auto Shops – Often, you may find that many auto shops (notably smaller local options) have a lot of scrap metal left over from various repairs and upgrades. They are usually willing to sell these metals to others, though you may find that they have other dealers to sell their metal. Try to give them better prices to thrive and make better deals for your scrap metal side hustle. 
• Retail Stores – Larger retail stores (especially outlets) often have an excess amount of various items that they just can't sell. Some of these items may include different types of scrap metal items, such as shelves. Talk to your local retail shops about these items and set up a deal. You can buy and move these items for them, as long as they set them aside for you and don't throw them away. 
• Plumbing Teams – What do plumbers do with old metal pipes that they remove from homes? Usually, they either recycle them or throw them away. Some might even sell them for cash. If you find a team willing to sell to you, it is a good idea to buy these pipes and repurpose them for sale. Doing so can give you a surprising amount of money at a more than reasonable price. 
• Computer Repair Firms – A surprising number of computers have a reasonable amount of gold throughout their design. If you collect old computer repairs from repair stores or even thrift shops (where old and unusable parts are often available), you can sell them to scrap metal companies collecting gold. In this way, you can make a surprisingly good amount of money. 
• Antique Shops – Go to a high-quality antique shop to look for jewelry and other metal items. Often, you can buy these products for a surprisingly good deal and make a decent amount of money simultaneously. However, you might need to haggle a little at such shops because some may overprice jewelry items, believing that they are worth more money than they are in reality. 

Other options to consider include shooting ranges (which may have brass gun shells), hospitals and other medical clinics (which may have scrap wheelchairs and other devices), and farms (likely to have an excess of metal items throughout their property). Finding a good and steady supply of scrap metal will give you the best chance of meeting the needs of your many customers with ease.

Making Good Money on Scrap 

If you're interested in this side hustle, there are many places where you can sell the metal. Shops like Monte de Piedad and many others will carefully inspect the items you bring and give you a fair amount of money for the metal's value.

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Yardhouse Was Amazing

Yesterday I headed over to the Yardhouse for a birthday brunch with an important friend in my life. Susan is the reason I got started in blogging, the reason I started the Twilight series and my first horn’s Godmother. She is also one of the funniest people I know, smart, motivated, rational and balanced. Not sure if she would say these things about herself but she is all that and more. She also makes time for her friends which in this day and age is a true gift. I adore her!!!

When she suggested we meet over at a place called Yardhouse I was just happy to get out for a few hours to meet up with a friend. 

This restaurant was probably one of my favorites to date. The food was incredible. 

I will be back for sure!

My Life In Pictures - Aug 1 - Aug 14

August 1 - This is my big boy Jinxy. He is not a lap cat but will stay close by. Just don't touch him. He will accept a quick pet but will eventually get up and leave. Weirdo

August 2

My daughter and I headed to one of the farms in the area. It was nice to just hang out and see the animals. She is such a good girl to want to hang out with her old mom. I think we have fun together or at least that is how it feels to me. She loved seeing all the animals and spotting a few cats lounging in the sun. She is so beautiful in her hat!

August 3

Today was letter L and I chose Lemon. My class got to smell, touch and taste it. It was a great day. They love doing things like this.

August 4

My class found a bee on the play house. We took a ton of photos of his little bee butt.

August 5

This ugly thing came in with my daughter. She had no problem getting it out but I have a real problem with cicadas. They are nasty looking. 

August 6

My kids and I headed to the pool today. It was hot out and I am happy we get to do this. It costs hella money but worth it.

August 7

My daughter and I headed out to check out some couches. We went to 4 different furniture stores and found nothing. We have a certain space so the dimensions are very specific and with cats we have to think about that too. PLUS OMG the prices. Shopping with a mask was annoying but welcome to life. 

August 8

My girl loves garlic bread and loves using fresh basil. Apparently, she loves taking photos of said meal too!

August 9 NADA

August 10

I made my class a sensory bin and homemade playdoh. It was so much fun for me and for them.

August 11 NADA

August 12

My daughter helped me make these adorable birthday handprints in honor of my birthday tomorrow. They came out so cute!

August 13 

My daughter made this beautiful card for me. I love it! She created all of it even binding it together with needle and thread. The sweetest. 

August 14

Lunch with my friend Susan. We had Mimosas. They were delicious! The perfect date. Lunch and Book Shopping.

How An Independent Assessor Helps You

Over the years, you've probably made a few insurance claims on various items. But have you yet to work with an independent assessment professional? These experts can provide you with many unique benefits.

Assess Your Claim's Reality

When you make a claim, an independent insurance expert can inspect the situation and decide if it has any value. This situation typically requires a professional who fully understands the nature of your case type and who has experience working on cases of this type – they'll help to ensure your success.

They'll sit down with you, talk about the circumstances around your case, examine the various bits of evidence, and do what they can to make sure that your case feels strong. After they do these steps, they will also take time to help you understand the nature of your case and your chances of winning.

Figure Out What Your Coverage Can Do

Your assessor will work with you to help you understand the different elements that make up your coverage, examining the various traits that help to make it successful for your needs. For instance, they may talk with you about the limitations of your policy and how you can minimize them.

Just as importantly, your assessor will work with your insurance company to attempt to minimize these concerns. Doing so will help give you the best chance of success and minimize the potential financial loss that you may otherwise experience trying to balance your coverage in this way.

Tweak Your Policy

If you've been burned policy limitations in the past and you want to make sure that you don't experience them again, it might be a good idea to reach out to your insurance assessor to learn more. This professional can help to make your policy make more sense to you.

In this way, it may be possible to improve your chances of success when making claims of various types. Just as importantly, you can understand more about your policy and prepare for the potential complications that may occur if your claim ends up getting denied, and you need an appeal.

Help With Denials and Appeals

In some cases, it may be possible that your claim will be denied. Don't worry – this situation is not at all rare or unlikely. Typically, it occurs for fairly minor reasons and is easy to turn around. However, there is also a real chance that you might end up having to go through a lengthy appeals process.

This situation requires the help of a high-quality professional who fully understands the nature of your case. An independent adjuster can work with you to discuss your claims with lawyers and to make it easier to prove your case. In this way, you can enhance your chances of winning a lengthy suit.

Get Help Today

As you can see, a great independent insurance adjuster can do a lot to help you thrive with your insurance. If you're willing to work directly with this type of adjuster, you should find it relatively easy to get the high-quality help needed.

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The 3 Things You Should Understand Before Bringing Home Your New Puppy

Are you getting ready to adopt a new furry friend? Before you welcome your new puppy into the family, it’s important to make sure your home is secure and prepped, and that you’re personally ready to tackle the responsibility. Adopting a puppy can be complex, but you can get ready with these three essential steps.

1. Learn More About the Breed You’re Adopting

Before you bring your new pooch home, make sure to thoroughly research the exact breed you’re planning on adopting. Puppies’ needs and behavior can vary widely breed to breed, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into. For example, if you’re planning on getting champion breed German shepherd puppies, you may need to purchase special types of nutrient-rich dog food and prepare to take your dog out for lots of daily exercise.

2. Puppy-Proof Your Home

Puppies are well known for being bundles of energy that can easily run through an entire house, so it’s critical to puppy-proof your home before bringing your new dog in. This could mean removing dangerous objects from floors, setting up safety guards throughout the house or making sure you don’t leave vulnerable or pricey objects out.

3. Consider Your New Puppy’s Effect on Your Budget

Finally, be sure you carefully consider how much your new dog will cost so you can work the expenses into your budget. Dog expenses involve more than the initial adoption fees! For instance, you should plan to cover:

• Veterinarian visits
• Regular grooming visits
• Dog toys
• Dog food and treats
• Dog beds

As you prepare your house and your family for the arrival of your new puppy, it’s important to understand the details of what this adoption entails. Make sure to thoroughly research your new dog’s breed and its specific needs, spend time puppy-proofing your house and work dog-related expenses into your budget for an easy transition into life with your furry friend.

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Birthday Cake Homemade Playdoh and Sensory Bin

This Friday I will turn 55 years old. Since most birthdays in the past 25 years have gone under acknowledged I have decided that I will celebrate with my daytime kids. My class of 10-12 2-3 year old toddlers make me happy and I want them to celebrate with me. 

Yesterday we made a birthday cake handprint and today we are doing homemade birthday cake Playdoh and sensory bin all from Dollar Tree.

The Playdoh Recipe - everything from DT except the Cream of Tarter which they didn’t have)

3 cups of water

1/4 cup of salt

1 Tablespoon of Cream of Tarter

1/4 cup of oil

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

2 cups of boiling water

1 whole container of sprinkles 

Mix all dry ingredients 

Add boiling water, oil, extract and mix until combined. 

Don’t add the sprinkles until cooled.

Note: I started with 2 cups of flour as per the recipe but ended up needing a whole other cup to get to the right consistency. Stick with it. It took a while.

The Sensory Bin was all DT supplies

2 packs of beaded necklaces

1 bag of Basket filler 

1 bag of styrofoam beads 

1 bag of tinsel (basket filler) 

1 pack of birthday candle

Eye Without A Face Is A Must See! Available on Digital, DVD and On Demand 8/10

The 411:

I friggin loved this movie,  Henry played by Dakota Shapiro is the perfect antagonist. He played him perfectly. Awkward, shy, tortured and suffering.  I also Loved the way he was filmed. Close up on his eyes, the window to the soul as he watched over his “friends”, the women he watches from his room. Suffering from agoraphobia Henry spends his day sitting at the computer, drinking his milk and watching various women he feels his knows everything about. It is creepy AF as this voyager taps into their webcams and spies on unsuspecting women as they live their daily lives. When Henry sees what looks like a murder he confides in his YouTube roommate a dude named Eric who I couldn’t help but think he was the reason for Henry’s troubles. Or was it when Henry stopped taking his medication forcing him to spiral into fits of manic and depressed, raged by nightmares and visions that have him second guessing what is dream and what is real. 

Honestly I see a lot of crap movies. This was not crap. 

Signs You Need to Go to Rehab for Substance Abuse

They say that denial is the first sign of a serious problem. In the context of substance abuse, this may very well hold as well, because denial prevents you from seeking the right kind of help for your condition. 

If you’ve got well-meaning family and friends asking you more frequently and urgently about how you’re doing, consider that perhaps they’re seeing something about you that you’re not. Perhaps they’re noticing a certain tendency for substance abuse that you may not be all too aware of. 

If you have a habit that you’re keeping a secret, but you insist that everything is under control, and that you don’t have a problem, then maybe you do. Here are some telltale signs you might need to check yourself into rehab Alabama-based (https://impactrecoverycenter.net/) for substance abuse. 

Getting Strong Cravings

More specifically, you’re getting stronger cravings every time, and it’s already affecting your mood and disposition. It’s one thing to get irritable when you don’t get what you want, but it’s quite another when you begin feeling anxious, angry, or even paranoid because you can’t drink your alcohol or pop your pill right then and there. 

If you find yourself feeling the need to do these things in secret, then consider that you’re reacting this way because deep down, you do know that you shouldn’t be doing it. And if other people see you, then they will only reinforce what you already know but refuse to acknowledge: you have a substance abuse problem.

The thing with addiction cravings is that they eventually get to a point when they become insatiable. The more you take, the less it becomes effective on you, and so you increase the quantity of intake. This only digs a deeper problem, until you’re trapped deep within, with seemingly no way out.

Increased Dependence

Do you consider yourself to be a “functional alcoholic,” or someone who is still able to carry out their tasks and obligations despite preferring your coffee spiked with alcohol first thing in the morning? Or maybe you say you perform better at work when you drown your anxieties in prescription pills? 

Know that these are nothing more than justifications for your addiction. A “functional alcoholic” is an alcoholic, simply put. Needing to take pills constantly so you can continue feeling good while at work makes you addicted to those pills. 

Take away all the trappings of elaborate excuses, and you’ll see that at the core of it all, it’s substance abuse, plain and square. If you are willing to acknowledge this immediately, then you can avoid getting into bigger problems because of your dependence on these substances.

Visual Signs

Eventually, it will get to a point when you won’t even need other people to point out to you that you have a substance abuse problem; your own environment will tell you so. Take a look at your house. Do you have empty alcohol bottles lying around from corner to corner? Is there more in the trash?

What about your fridge? Do you have more alcohol than water and food inside it? Maybe there’s more in the pantry and in the cupboards? Take a look at your empty pill bottles. Do you see a number of them with various prescriptions because you’ve been going to different doctors to get legitimate prescriptions so you can keep your supply going? How many do you have in your medicine cabinet? How many do you have on your bedside table?

If it’s beginning to look like objects of the substance being abused are beginning to overrun your life, it’s most probably because it actually is. Sometimes, these visuals can be so jarring, that it triggers a moment of sobriety and realization. 

If you do get to this point, accept that you do have a problem, and then proceed to immediately seek help from professionals in reputable rehab facilities. Even though you may be undergoing substance abuse right now, you’re still in a position to turn things around fast. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

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Shopping For A Couch Sucks

 

Yesterday my daughter and I headed out to find a couch for a very specific area in our living room. We went to four places and were pretty disappointed. Things were either too bi lg or way to expensive. 

Where did you get your couch? 

How to Redesign Your Bathroom

 

Your bathroom is a safe space. It is a space where we are at our most vulnerable and at our most intimate. It isn’t just a functional area, either. The more glamorous, the more spa-like our bathroom is, the more we will get out of it. A spa destination right in the home. Where else would you want to spend a long day after work than right at home, where you can feel pampered and luxurious all at once, without leaving the comfort of your home? 

 

Beautiful kitchens can transform your home, but beautiful bathrooms can transform your life. It is where you can recover and rejuvenate, so to help you get the most out of your bathroom remodel, follow this design guide: 

 

Create a Digital Mock-Up of Your Bathroom 

 

You will want to create a digital mock-up of your bathroom. There are so many easy, free tools that will allow you to do this. All you need is to measure the size of the room and add it to the digital floorplan. You can then add items based on their size for you to visualize your different design ideas as you go. 

 

Collect and Save Design Ideas 

 

Collect and save your ideas from everywhere. Online, you can save them to a Pinterest folder; offline, you can cut them out or take a photo of them and save them online yourself. 

 

Narrow it Down by What’s Possible 

 

Technically any bathroom is possible, but very few of us will have the opportunity to redesign the floorplan of our bathrooms. Making our bathrooms larger, or changing the shape, is a huge cost and a big renovation that many will not invest in. The good news is that it isn’t necessary. You can get even more creative with your space when you have limits, so combine your design ideas with that digital mock-up of your bathroom and play around with what is possible. This way,you can get a beautiful design with what you have. 

 

Choose High-Quality Tiles and Material 

 

When choosing the materials, always choose the most durable, beautiful option. You will always want to make sure that you see the materials in person, as touch is a very important factor in bathrooms, where your bare skin will touch a lot of the different surfaces in your bathroom. For example, to get the best Tiles Guiseley offers, you will want to go to the showroom to touch and learn more about the tiles and how they function from the experts themselves. 

 

Choosing Features and Fixtures 

 

You can technically create a shower of your own design. A shower is just a tiled room with the shower fixtures and features. With this amount of possibility in mind, consider your needs. If you want a bath, then you will need to buy the bathtub and work around that. If you are only interested in a shower, then you can design a stunning, custom option where your only considerations are what shower head and taps you want. 

 

Try to keep fixtures and the materials of items like your toilet or bathtub similar so that the design flows beautifully. 

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My Life In Pictures - April 1 - April 14

 April 1 - This is the face of someone who is just over it. You know how it goes. Work, life, bills, something is always just too much. This particular day I was over it! Not sure what I was over but apparently something or someone was pissing me off.  Glad I don't remember what it was and have since moved on. There will always be something that pisses you off.

April 2 - My daughter and I were way too early for work so we pulled over to watch the sun come up and drank our coffee and she ate her hash browns from D and D. It was a beautiful morning and sometimes it is important to take some time and just sit!

April 3 - My daughter decided to get rid of all Stormy's outfits. It is too hard to see them just laying there. We want them to go to someone who loves their Guinea. They were purchased by my son's very special 2nd grade teacher. She is awesome. 

April 4 - Easter baskets have gotten easier to fill over the past few years. I just buy their favorites weeks before Easter. This Easter I had an extra child. Goddess' friend stays over every other weekend so they can volunteer at the animal shelter together. How could I have baskets for my kids and NOT have one for her? She was very surprised.

April 5 - I do try to take selfies as I get older. It is harder because well, I'm older and who wants to look at their own face as it ages? Well, I do it because my kids will want these photos after I am gone. I wish I had more of my mother. It's not a great photo but it is all I have for the 5th.

April 6 - The only pic we took on the 6th was a shot of the radio. My daughter always grabs my camera and takes a photo if she hears a new song she liked or if she hears something she had forgotten about. 

April 7 - Just an old barn. Isn't it beautiful? The weather was beautiful so my daughter and I went walking. One of my favorite things to do.

April 8 - Nothing except class pictures and I do not have permission to share. Wish I did. The kids are so cute.

April 9 - I do love this cheap Dollar Tree spinner.

April 10 - My daughter and I took another CPR class. Would I be able to save someone's life? I hope so. 

April 11 - Sometimes you have to smudge the house! 

April 12 - Out for a walk and played with the colors. I love the crisp detail in this photo.

April 13 - Feeling fine! Wish these masks could come off

April 14 - Happy 16th Birthday Baby Girl! You are my favorite person to hang with in the whole world! I love you to the moon and back!