DIY Patriotic Wreath

July 4th is just around the corner, and it is a family favorite holiday in our house. What better way to celebrate than by making some fun DIY crafts to celebrate America’s birthday? I love making door wreaths (I have one for every season), and this patriotic wreath is one of my favorite wreaths I have made to date.

I made this wreath a couple of years ago and love it! It is simple, cheap, easy to make, and a beautiful wreath to help celebrate the 4th of July. I wanted to share this step-by-step guide with you so that you can make your own too!

What You’ll Need

• Metal wreath
• Red, white & blue bandanas
• Scissors

METAL WREATH

You’ll need a metal wreath (or any circular wreath you wish to use). I personally like to use metal ones. You can get a variety of sizes for cheap at Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and even The Dollar Tree. I used a 14-inch, green, floral, metal wreath.

RED, WHITE & BLUE BANDANAS

Depending on the size of the wreath you use and how big you want the pieces to be, it will depend on how many bandanas you will need. I used 4 1/2 bandanas of each color for my wreath. You can buy bandanas for about $1/each at craft stores like Hobby Lobby.

SCISSORS

Finally, you will need scissors or cutting utensils to cut the bandanas into pieces.

Let’s Get Started

STEP #1
Cut all the bandanas into strips. I cut mine in half into two pieces.

STEP #2
Tie the blue bandana pieces onto the wreath. I tied a total of 9 pieces (4 1/2 bandanas) of the blue bandana on my 18-inch wreath.

STEP #3
Tie the red and white bandanas on every other one (like the stripes on the flag) on the wreath, covering the rest of it. I tied a total of 9 pieces of red and 9 pieces of white bandanas onto my 14-inch wreath.

And ta-da, you now have your very own patriotic door wreath. Now you can have a festive wreath for your front door during the holiday or a yearly home decor item. Happy creating!

Tips for Transitioning Baby to Their Own Room

Transitioning your baby from your room to their own room can be an exciting and scary time. For first-time mothers, it is often full of uncertainty. Even if you have been through this transition before, it can still be a new experience each time because each child and situation is different.

Both of my kids started off in a pack n play in my room when coming home from the hospital. It made the most sense to have them close by for all the nightly feedings since I was breastfeeding. I was a typical new mom wanting to have my babies close and always checking on their breathing.

Even though I loved having my babies close by, after a while, I was ready to get my room and sleep back by transitioning them into their own rooms. Any transition can be a mix of emotions for you as the parent and your baby. Having been through this transition myself twice (so far), I have come up with some ways that can help you ease this transition too.

**Keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all for every parent, baby, or situation. What works for one person may not work for another. These are just some ideas based on my own personal experience of what I have found that can help ease the transition from your room to the baby’s own room.

Find the Right Time

If you aren’t sure how to tell if it is the right time for you and your baby to transition from your room to their own, ask yourself some simple questions. Will you and/or your baby sleep better in separate rooms? Is your baby sleeping through the night? Are there fewer nighttime feedings? Are you just ready to have your room and solo time back with your partner?

For me, I was ready to transition my kids at around 6 months each time. With my daughter, I transitioned her at 6 months because I wasn’t sleeping well anymore. Any little noise or movement she made would wake me up. I initially wanted to wait until she was sleeping through the night and not nursing as much, but I finally hit a point where I needed to transition her for my sanity and sleep.

With my son, I was ready to transition him at 6 months as well. He was a much better nighttime sleeper, and I wanted to be able to sleep better again, but due to a temporary living situation, I wasn’t able to transition him into his own room until he was about 9 months old.

Transition Slowly

There is no one-size-fits-all for transitioning your baby from your room to their own room. Every family, child, and situation is different. Some babies may be ready earlier and some later. The same goes for you as the parent. Wait until you are ready. You have to do what works best for you and your baby. I had two different transition stories with my babies. Take whatever time you need to transition and just take it one step at a time.

Make Their Room Familiar

Start with making their new room familiar and comfortable for your baby. When I began transitioning my daughter into her room, I started with having her do playtime in there. I let her play and do tummy time with her toys on the floor. I would also put her in her crib for some playtime to get her comfortable with being in her crib. By getting her used to being in her room and in her crib for playtime, she grew more familiar and comfortable with the environment.

Start with Naps

Once your baby is comfortable in their room, move on to having them sleep in their crib in their own room for naps. As I transitioned my daughter, I would put her in her room to nap during the day, but she still slept in my room at night until we got her into a good routine with naps and being comfortable sleeping in her room by herself.

Include Comfort Items

Does your baby have a favorite blanket, pacifier, or another comfort item they cling to? Include that item in the transition to help ease the process. My daughter always had to have her pacifier, so I made sure she had it every nap and bedtime during the transition. I also bought her a My Little Pony doll that glowed a soft light and played music to help distract her, and it became her favorite item she always had to have at bedtime.

Invest in a Good Baby Monitor

The most important thing I made sure to get before starting my baby’s transition was a good video monitor. As a new mom, I always checked on my babies while they slept to make sure they were still breathing. I wanted something to help ease my fears and not have to go into their room while they napped to check on them constantly. By having a video monitor, I was able to check on them without disrupting or waking them up by entering their room. It has been a game-changer for me and my comfort when moving babies into their own rooms.

Be Patient

For many parents, transitioning your baby into their own room goes hand in hand with a form of sleep training. In both of my cases, when I transitioned my babies into their own rooms, I also sleep trained them. That is a lot of change all at once for both you and your child. It can be stressful and hard. Be patient. It will take time.

Staying consistent is a huge help with transitioning. When your baby knows what to expect, it puts them more at ease. You don’t have to rush it. Take the time you need and give yourself grace. It may not be easy to transition your baby into their own room, but I promise it is worth it once you come out on the other side.

If you are in the middle of a room transition with your baby, you are not alone. All parents have been there or will be there one day too. I have been through two very different and difficult room transitions and sleep training with my two babies. Even when it’s tough and you feel like you can’t, you CAN do this!

9 Staycation Ideas

If you are like me, I’m sure you are anxious to go on vacation. Between the shutdown causing trip cancellations and no options to go anywhere else for months, I have been counting down until I can take a vacation again.

Now that things are starting to open up again, why not plan a little staycation? If you’re not comfortable traveling far yet or want to simply help out your local community, a staycation is a great option. Here are some of my favorite options for a local staycation.

1. Take a Day Trip

Taking a day trip is one of the best staycation ideas out there. Find a nearby city that is within driving distance and make a day of it. Come up with places you want to visit there and then spend the day there exploring. One of my favorite staycations was a day trip we took to Raleigh, NC, which was about a two-and-a-half-hour car drive from our home.

2. Book a Local Hotel

Want to get away but can’t afford a long stay or don’t want to be gone long? Book a local hotel, Bed & Breakfast, or Airbnb for a night. It will give you a taste of a little vacay. We got a hotel room about 20 minutes from our house when we went to a convention, and it was fun staying there even for one night. We have been talking about doing it again because we live near the beach and would love to get a hotel room on the beach just for one night for a staycation.

3. Spa Day

Is there a local spa near you? Make some reservations and go. Spend the day relaxing, sit in a sauna, enjoy a massage, etc. If you don’t have a spa nearby, try getting your hair done, treat yourself to a mani/pedi, or find a hot tub to soak in. Take a day and pamper yourself any way you can with what you have nearby.

4. Camp Out

Do you have a nature lover in your family or want to explore the outdoors some more? Find a nearby campground or camp outside in your own backyard. You can spend the day in nature exploring, hiking, etc.

5. Create Themed Rooms in Your House

I have seen so many creative ideas to turn your home into a new location. Pick a country or city you want to visit and decorate a room in your house to reflect that place. A friend of mine also suggested decorating each room in your house as a different country and having a Passport party where you go around “traveling” to each country, going from room to room. I am so excited to try this one out!

6. Find a Newly Opened Business

Is there a new business, shop, or attraction in your town? Try it out. Is there a new aquarium, trampoline park, museum, etc? Look around online and see what is new around you, and then check it out. There are always new places opening up; you just have to look around.

7. Try a New Restaurant

Along the lines of trying new places, try a new restaurant. It doesn’t have to be a brand new restaurant, but just somewhere new to you. We often stick to what we know and love (which is fine), but by doing that, you could miss out on finding a new favorite place. Pick a restaurant you haven’t been to before and give it a try.

8. Go for a Drive

Want to just get out of the house but don’t know where to go? Throw the planning out and go for a drive. One of our family’s favorite staycation ideas is to go for a drive. We love driving around and just exploring new places near us. It has been such a fun way for us to discover new places, restaurants, and get to know our new cities whenever we move.

9. Visit Local Attractions

Do you have a local aquarium, putt-putt place, arcade, theme park, etc.? Take a trip there for the day. These are many fun activities that you often take advantage of during vacation but don’t think to do during times at home. We personally love going to the beach and aquarium that are local to us. Take advantage of any local attractions you have for a fun staycation.

With a little creativity and exploration, you can create a fun staycation wherever you are. You don’t have to go far or spend a fortune to have a great vacation. What is your favorite type of staycation? Share in the comments below.

Summer Bucket List Activities

I have been making seasonal bucket lists since the fall and am now rounding it out with a summer one. Summer is my absolute favorite season. I love the longer daylight, warm weather, and sunshine. There are so many fun things to do outside during the summertime.

Are you looking for some summer activity ideas for your family? I have compiled this list of fun summer activities to add to your Summer Bucket List!

Go to the Beach

The best summer activity I can think of is visiting the beach. I love the beach anytime, but summer is always the best time to go. You can lie down and tan, play in the sand, and/or swim in the ocean. So many options and something for everyone to enjoy.

Build a Sandcastle

There is nothing like building a sandcastle while at the beach. The castle type options are endless. You could use sand toys to build one or design your own. I love walking along the beach to see all the different kinds of castles people build, and a castle-making contest is so much fun too.

Collect Seashells

One of my favorite beach activities is collecting seashells. I love finding seashells at every beach I go to and bringing some home for a little taste of each individual beach I visit. I also love making crafts using those seashells that I use as decor in my home.

Go to the Pool

Don’t live near the beach or want calmer water to play in? The pool is a great option. There is nothing like a cool dip in a pool on a hot summer day. I have so many great memories of summer days at the pool.

Make a Summer Craft

Arts and crafts are huge in my house and great for any season. You could paint, color, or make any DIY craft with a summer theme. Some of my favorite summer crafts have been a door wreath with flip-flops and an ocean-in-a-bottle craft I made with sand and shells. The craft options are endless.

Watch Fireworks

Another of my summer favorites is watching fireworks. July 4th is right in the middle of summer, and what better way to celebrate than by watching the fireworks? Baseball games and other special events also hold more fireworks shows during the summer months.

Go on a Vacation

Nothing says summer like a family vacation. As a kid, I always looked forward to vacation time during the summer. It’s the perfect time to get away, enjoy the warm weather while kids are out of school, and make fun memories to last a lifetime.

Go Camping

Taking advantage of the warm weather by getting outdoors is a must during summertime. While I’m not personally a huge fan of camping, my husband is. Summer is the perfect time to take up some camping either at a campsite or in your own backyard.

Go on a Hike

A great outdoor option during summer is hiking. There are so many great trails all around to explore. You don’t have to do anything too strenuous. Just getting outside and enjoying the warm weather is great during summertime. Just remember to be prepared with sunscreen and water for hikes, especially on hot days.

Make a Bonfire

Who doesn’t love a good bonfire on a summer evening? When the sun goes down and it gets a little cooler, cozying up by the fire is a great way to spend the evening. You can make s’mores and sing campfire songs.

Have a BBQ

Soak up the sun and enjoy some family and/or friend time by having a barbecue. Grill and hang out while the kids play in a sprinkler. Fun for everyone involved.

Eat Ice Cream

There is no better treat than ice cream on a hot day. I’m a huge ice cream fan any day, but especially during the hot summer months. I have a little ice cream maker and personally love making my own homemade ice cream. Store-bought works great too.

Make Popsicles

Just like ice cream, popsicles are a staple during summer days. A great way to get the whole family involved is to make your own at home. There are so many great recipes online for easy, simple, and even healthy popsicle options. Get your children involved and let them pick out their favorite flavors.

Go to a Swim Meet

Swimming and summer go hand in hand. I always loved watching swimming during the Olympics and then going to my own siblings' swim meets. It’s a fun environment, especially for outside meets during summertime.

Go to a Baseball Game

This activity was on my spring bucket list too, but it is a great one to continue during the summer. I am a huge baseball fan and practically lived at a baseball stadium during the spring and summer growing up. I just love it! They have so many cool giveaways, special events, and activities during the games too. You can’t go wrong spending a night at the ballpark.

Go on a Boat Ride

There is nothing like days by or on the water during the summer months. A great way to enjoy the water is by going on a boat ride. It could be on the ocean, a lake, a river, etc. Here in North Carolina, we love taking fiery rides over to the coastal islands near us during the summer. It’s great fun for the whole family.

I just love summer. Beach and baseball days are some of my favorites. What are your favorite summer activities? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Summer, you guys!