Monday, May I (A Diversion) - Diva's Birthday Wish List

I am not making goals this week.  I decided every now and then we need to spice up the routine.  So today, in honor of a couple of important dates - August 24th and September 4th to be more precise - I decided to share with you the first of a couple of "wish lists"....

My daughter will be turning eight years old on September 4th.  That is insanity if you ask me.  How did eight years jet by so quickly?  Well, I'm not sure.  But all your new moms need to be warned - your lives will ramp up in the passage of time a million times faster once you have a child.

Last week she let me know she was - bored.

I hate that word.  We have enough to do around here that those words should never be uttered from her lips.  Alas, she is nearing eight and she has the drama monster inhabiting itself inside her (thanks growing up) so things are bound to fall out of her mouth that drive me insane.

Immediately, I said - "Well if you're bored maybe you should make a birthday wish list."

She lit up like birthday candles on a cake.

Ladies and gentlemen I would like to present to you the:

2015 Birthday Ideas for an Eight Year Old Girl.

We are in full, yes FULL, Barbie mode in this house...

I can't complain because I was a Barbie Girl too.  This year she's loving the sets (as you can tell).  I'm in shock over how much Barbie stuff costs these days.  I guess it was a little pricey back in my day too but man....

Barbie Saddle & Ride

Barbie Camper

Barbie Endless Curls

Barbie Sister Tiki Hut

Barbie Spin & Ride Pups

She has a lot of other interests too.

She is also going to extend pool season this year by taking some advanced swim classes and trying out a swim program at our local YMCA.  I'm thrilled for her to do this because she loves the water and she will get a great work out from it. (Speedo Bathing Suit)

Last school year she found out she liked skating (even though she hasn't quite mastered it yet).  Since her dad works crazy shifts they decided to make a regular standing skate rink date.  He's a good skater so he hopes to help her get stronger at it.  When they came home from their skating adventure a couple weekends ago he announced they would need their own skates.  (Skates)

Over the summer my mom gave up Directv (I'm ready to myself) and switched to Hulu and Amazon.  Now when my daughter spends time there she's watching vintage television.  I've heard all about Wonder Woman and when I saw this WW Lego alarm clock I immediately thought of my girl.  She is a Lego junkie.  Fusing together two of her favorite things = perfection.  Plus, she's been on me to get her an alarm clock.

Over the summer I pulled out a "how to draw" book I had stashed away for her.  For days she was immersed in that book and she did quite well with the simple directions.  I think she would enjoy a book on drawing people.  Plus, she could illustrate the stories she writes! (How to Draw People)

And finally---

She has a fake debit card.  When we started her savings account she got this card that is really good for nothing but deposits (yay).  She also started earning an allowance (of money to put in her account).  Oh and then I had to get her a new library card.

Home girl needs a wallet.

We have searched far and wide for a wallet and I think that cute one from Amazon is just the ticket!

Do you have a little diva in your life?  What all is she into right now?

Summer Count Down!

21 DAYS OF SCHOOL LEFT!

YAY!  I always get excited when the end of the school year rolls around.  This year I'm extra excited. It has been a year if you get what I am saying!!!

Of course I hate the fact I have to go three months without a paycheck but hey ya win some you lose some.

As the end of school approaches I start making a list of things we need to be prepared for those days away from the classroom.  I want to keep my kids stimulated and not oozing their brains out their ears in front of media.

This year my list is looking something like this (thanks Amazon for making the link system so easy, I did some research and found some great buys for you and I):







1.  Play Dough    My kids love it and I do too because it keeps them entertained so well.  This year I'll buy some but we'll also make some too.  It is way more cool when you make your own.  Also, its great to play with on the deck!






2.  Paints & Canvas    Both the bambinos love to paint.  I'm going to get finger paints (2 year old) and acrylic paints (7 year old).  I found out how much they enjoy this a few months ago when we were outside and they were looking "bored".  I pulled out some paint I purchased in the winter and they went crazy happy while making their masterpieces! I found this kit which is priced so wonderfully!!!!  You and your child(ren) will enjoy this set for easy set up and to prevent that paint from going all around your home!






3.  Beados Kit    I saw this on another blog and thought my daughter would love this.  It reminds me of a lot of VBS crafts from when I was her age!  She'll love making the little animals.  I also like the price.  



4.  Play place for the back yard   We had one (the nice wood kind) prior to our house falling.  It is still standing, over there, in pieces.  However, the safety of it is questionable.  I don't like to be inside on summer days and my kids are not allowed to be either.  Give them a slide and swing and sand box and we'll be good.  This is the retro metal style.  Do you have one of those?  Feedback?




5.  Curriculum  She said what?  Yes.  I think some of my regular readers have caught on that I've lost a lot of faith with public school.  Lately, I've been having this internal battle between pulling her out of public school and homeschooling or alternate schooling or letting her go one more year and seeing what happens.  (Yes, that's a post in itself!)  My kid loves learning and I want to embrace that fully.  This summer we'll be having school at home so she can fill up that love to learn and hopefully be more stimulated educationally than she was for 180 days before the break.  FYI:  Teacher friends this is nothing against you guys.  You are amazing!  It is the people who are making the "rules" in the capitol. 




6.  Plenty of SPF    We'll be at the pool on the regular.  We'll be adventuring around outside.  It i just necessary to make sure the sunscreen is purchased by the droves so that we are extra protected.  Don' forget your sunscreen this summer!  I have found some great pricing with Amazon Prime!!!  SPF can be very expensive, shop smart!






7.  Bicycles  I have this anti inside campaign going on.  My daughter has outgrown her bike.  I need a bike.  Plus a bike trailer for the little dude would be fabulous!  That's why it has made my summer list.







8.  Books  One of the best things I can, you can do, our kids can do for our brains is to open a book or twelve and read.  It is a great way to unwind before a nap and to just calm down after a busy morning.  You can do it inside, outside, at home, by the pool, by the lake, on the sea.  Fire up your Kindle or get yourself a library card and read your way to a healthier noggin.



What is on your summer prep list?  Please share below!  We can all gain from everyone's advice and lists!!!

Birthday Post 1B

The Diva is turning six years old two weeks after Little Man hits the big one.  We are having one party for the both of them because its economical and makes total sense to us to celebrate our cuties together.  She will get a special treat on her actual birthday so don't go calling me a bad mom!

In the post:  {Birthday Post 1A} I highlighted good gift ideas for a baby boy's (Little Man) first birthday.  They were fun and functional.  A six year old's list is a bit different and here's my guide to my little cupcake's good gift ideas.

 

1.  Clothing Is Cool (sorta)

 

What I have noticed with my daughter is now clothing and accessories are things she is actually interested in.  Does this mean she will excitedly open that box of two shirts?  No.  She will probably be so pepped up for toys she'll open the box of shirts and immediately move to what is shaped like a Barbie box.  However, she loves to pick out her own clothing now and she adores accessories! They are needed items so you cannot go wrong with clothing.

 

Every stitch of clothing in the above collage is from Gymboree's Fall Line.  I absolutely adore {Gymboree} for several reasons.

A) The clothes are durable.  They wash well, they stain treat well, they extend through a good period of time before you see any breakdown.  As a matter of fact I have yet to see Gymboree clothes start to come apart.

B)  They aren't mature.  This is so key, especially when purchasing clothing for a little girl.  So many companies make little girl clothes that are miniature items of what you find in a Juniors Department.  Little girls should not be dressing like high school girls or dare I venture out to say tramps.  The clothes should be cute and age appropriate and well Gymboree is making that possible.

C) They are just cute.  You can build a total outfit that can easily be built into another adorable outfit and its not out of this world expensive.

 

 

2.  The Goldmine:  Toys

 

This year I have noticed that my daughter really has some favorite toys and play/pretend items that she adores.  I did a scan of the web and collected these great ideas.

 

1.  Crayola 200pc Masterworks Art Case - because all little girls are artists right?  My little lady loves to paint, draw, and color!  Not only is this a good gift idea but it also serves a good purpose for school work when a little creative touch is necessary.

 

2.  Birthday Barbie - I think this goes perfectly for a six year old's birthday.  Do you remember getting a Birthday Barbie growing up?  Cool memories!

 

3.  Learning Resources Pretend & Play School Set - My little girl wants to be a teacher when she grows up.  She loves to play school with her stuffed animals and little brother!  This set is adorable and compact enough to take on the go.

 

4.  A Scooter - she has a bike that isn't at our house, she's not into skating yet, so she's all about getting a scooter.  I don't know much about them but it looks fun for a little kid.

 

5.  Doodle Journal - Another thing our little girl really likes is drawing and writing.  Anything that helps to feed that creativity and desire to learn more we are all for.  This doodle journal is so cute!

 

6.  Pictionary Disney - We are to the board game age and honestly its a great resource on a dreary day!  This has two of her favorite things - Disney & Drawing!

 

Not shown are PSP games.  Yes, PSP the thing that Playstation doesn't really make anymore.  We inherited a PSP and were oblivious to the thing because we aren't really into gaming.  It turns out (after a trip to our local GameStop) there are some great games (used) for a little girl for this contraption.  Since they really don't make anything new for the PSP most games ran $5-$15.  Not complaining one bit about that.

 

 

 

Other great age appropriate (and mom approved) gifts my little girl wants this year include:

 

1.  Sylvania portable radio/CD player.  At this age kids start really liking music (thus the Bieber fever of many kids).  This is a relatively inexpensive and grow-with-them item.

 

2.  Dream Dazzlers Keyboard.  My little girl keeps saying she wants to take piano lessons (along with violin) we have neither of those instruments but keyboards to play with are relatively inexpensive.  This one is from the Toys R Us website.

 

3.  Luna Star All Natural Queen Make Up Kit.  If your little girl is like mine she's all about being girly and loves playing in mama's make up!  This kit offers play make up and nail polish and its just posh fun.

 

4.  Headbanz.  This is a game even mama and daddy won't mind playing on an evening in or rainy day.

 

 

3.  Books

 

The schools may say the key is science and math these days but you cannot get anywhere without books.  I am so lucky my little one loves books and reading.  Here are some titles and sets that are just great for her style.

 

 

I hope this compilation helps you as you purchase the perfect gift for the little cutie pie lady in your life.