Hi everyone,
Because this blog was created a long time ago, I can't make changes to the background and the like. I know, sad... So, I'm transferring this blog to a new and improved one!
The new Bermuda Scrapper blog can be found here.
http://thebermudascrapper.blogspot.com
Thanks for understanding!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
30 Days to a Clean House... err... Stop the Press! NEW YEAR'S ORGANIZING REVOLUTION
The New Year is upon us, and with it come grandiose dreams of bettering our selves by setting resolutions.
I set goals every year, myself - some I keep, while others sadly fall by the way side sometime in mid-February. Yet others, I find myself setting part way through the year when I realize that there is something I need to commit to.
One of the things I had been planning, resolution or not, was to take the month of January and try and get some deep cleaning done and clearing out of clutter that plagues our home. In fact, I had gone through the task of writing up a chore-list of sorts, with a different job to do each day. In fact, I had even been contemplating posting that list here for my 'oh-so-many' readers and those who might just happen-chance upon it while searching for their own 30-days to a Clean House list.
Well, it's not necessary right now. Okay, change that... I may still use it, by rearranging the planning, as website, "I'm An Organizing Junkie," is hosting a month-long "New Year's Organizing Revolution," complete with blog hops, posting parties and, best yet, PRIZES!
According to the Organizing Junkie website:
"Each Monday, starting December 31st, we will announce the room or area and give you ALL WEEK to work on that space - even if it's just a drawer in that area or the WHOLE room (it's totally up to you). Then, YOU take pictures - nice ones with your cell phone or camera. You post them on your blog or on your Pinterest board and we are going to have a HUGE Link Party and everyone will VOTE on whose they like the best. So YOU can win!!"
Want to participate? For full details, visit the "I'm an Organizing Junkie" blog!
I set goals every year, myself - some I keep, while others sadly fall by the way side sometime in mid-February. Yet others, I find myself setting part way through the year when I realize that there is something I need to commit to.
One of the things I had been planning, resolution or not, was to take the month of January and try and get some deep cleaning done and clearing out of clutter that plagues our home. In fact, I had gone through the task of writing up a chore-list of sorts, with a different job to do each day. In fact, I had even been contemplating posting that list here for my 'oh-so-many' readers and those who might just happen-chance upon it while searching for their own 30-days to a Clean House list.
Well, it's not necessary right now. Okay, change that... I may still use it, by rearranging the planning, as website, "I'm An Organizing Junkie," is hosting a month-long "New Year's Organizing Revolution," complete with blog hops, posting parties and, best yet, PRIZES!
According to the Organizing Junkie website:
"Each Monday, starting December 31st, we will announce the room or area and give you ALL WEEK to work on that space - even if it's just a drawer in that area or the WHOLE room (it's totally up to you). Then, YOU take pictures - nice ones with your cell phone or camera. You post them on your blog or on your Pinterest board and we are going to have a HUGE Link Party and everyone will VOTE on whose they like the best. So YOU can win!!"
Want to participate? For full details, visit the "I'm an Organizing Junkie" blog!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Check it out!
Crystal Wilkerson is offering sneak peeks of her 2013 planner!
You could even win a copy! Visit her webpage here... Crystal Wilkerson
Crystal Wilkerson is offering sneak peeks of her 2013 planner!
You could even win a copy! Visit her webpage here... Crystal Wilkerson
Monday, August 13, 2012
There's a great giveaway at Homeschool Giveaways right now, which also includes a FREE 2-month membership to Studyladder.com, a cool website that can be used for homeschooling or even supplementing your child's regular school education.
You also have the chance of winning one of two full-year memberships to Studyladder.com, valued at $88 each!
Check it out here!
You also have the chance of winning one of two full-year memberships to Studyladder.com, valued at $88 each!
Check it out here!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Planning Summer Outings
Coming up with things to do with your kids during the summer holidays can be a real challenge, especially as the summer progresses and everyone is 'tired' and 'bored'.
We've looked a few ideas of things we'd like to do. Many of these are specific to Bermuda, but hopefully you'll get some ideas for your local town!
1) Bermuda Museum Aquarium & Zoo
All on one property, the BAMZ is everything - an aquarium, a zoo, and a small natural history museum, all built into one. We've long held a family membership, which, for a fee of about $75, we get free entry for an entire year (it really makes up for it, with regular entry costing of $10 for adults and $5 for kids), as well as a discount in the gift shop and exclusive access to certain activities for the kids. If you do have a local aquarium or zoo, you just might want to look into family memberships and make it a regular stop throughout the summer!
2) Visit a local farm.
I've still to do some emailing to make confirmations, but we're looking at seeing if we can make a visit to a local farm. Wadson's Farm is a local organic farm, with fields and animals, and not far from our house. Hopefully, we'll get to visit there some time this summer!
3) Local courthouse or parliament building.
Both of my boys studied Bermuda in various forms in Social Studies this past year, so a tour of the Bermuda Parliament building is, hopefully, on the cards. The Sergeant-at-Arms gives tours twice daily during weekdays, except when Parliament is in session. To schedule a tour or for information, call 1441-292-7408.
4) Historic Towns and Villages
Make it a day and visit a nearby historic town or village. It will transport you and your family to a different time, and possibly a different place!
In Bermuda, one of the best places is the Town of St. George's, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The St. George's Foundation offer regular walking tours for free to tourists, so you can just check the schedule and join in. There is also a World Heritage Centre, the Deliverance replica ship, the Bermuda Perfumery and the Unfinished Church, in addition to some of the oldest buildings on the entire island.
5) Museums
We don't have a lot of museums in Bermuda, but there are still a number of small, though very good ones, including the National Museum of Bermuda (formerly the Bermuda Maritime Museum), Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, and Fort St. Catherine. Check your local museums and galleries for their summer schedules, as some may offer special events or programmes for children throughout the school holidays.
6) National Parks and Beaches
Bermuda, being an island, has TONNES of beaches to visit, many of which also have other activities, like hiking trails and playgrounds, to enjoy. We also have places like the Bermuda Botanical Gardens and Cooper's Island Nature Reserve where families can enjoy, as well as a number of forts to explore. Remember, though, if you do visit, like for a picnic, that you take everything you brought with you, including rubbish. As they say, "Take only pictures, leave only footprints" !
To help you out with other ideas, the website, How Does She?, posted a great blog post today with 100 different free or cheap ideas of things you can do with your kids during the summer months, including a printable with the list! Be sure to check it out!
We've looked a few ideas of things we'd like to do. Many of these are specific to Bermuda, but hopefully you'll get some ideas for your local town!
1) Bermuda Museum Aquarium & Zoo
All on one property, the BAMZ is everything - an aquarium, a zoo, and a small natural history museum, all built into one. We've long held a family membership, which, for a fee of about $75, we get free entry for an entire year (it really makes up for it, with regular entry costing of $10 for adults and $5 for kids), as well as a discount in the gift shop and exclusive access to certain activities for the kids. If you do have a local aquarium or zoo, you just might want to look into family memberships and make it a regular stop throughout the summer!
2) Visit a local farm.
I've still to do some emailing to make confirmations, but we're looking at seeing if we can make a visit to a local farm. Wadson's Farm is a local organic farm, with fields and animals, and not far from our house. Hopefully, we'll get to visit there some time this summer!
3) Local courthouse or parliament building.
Both of my boys studied Bermuda in various forms in Social Studies this past year, so a tour of the Bermuda Parliament building is, hopefully, on the cards. The Sergeant-at-Arms gives tours twice daily during weekdays, except when Parliament is in session. To schedule a tour or for information, call 1441-292-7408.
4) Historic Towns and Villages
Make it a day and visit a nearby historic town or village. It will transport you and your family to a different time, and possibly a different place!
In Bermuda, one of the best places is the Town of St. George's, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The St. George's Foundation offer regular walking tours for free to tourists, so you can just check the schedule and join in. There is also a World Heritage Centre, the Deliverance replica ship, the Bermuda Perfumery and the Unfinished Church, in addition to some of the oldest buildings on the entire island.
5) Museums
We don't have a lot of museums in Bermuda, but there are still a number of small, though very good ones, including the National Museum of Bermuda (formerly the Bermuda Maritime Museum), Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, and Fort St. Catherine. Check your local museums and galleries for their summer schedules, as some may offer special events or programmes for children throughout the school holidays.
6) National Parks and Beaches
Bermuda, being an island, has TONNES of beaches to visit, many of which also have other activities, like hiking trails and playgrounds, to enjoy. We also have places like the Bermuda Botanical Gardens and Cooper's Island Nature Reserve where families can enjoy, as well as a number of forts to explore. Remember, though, if you do visit, like for a picnic, that you take everything you brought with you, including rubbish. As they say, "Take only pictures, leave only footprints" !
To help you out with other ideas, the website, How Does She?, posted a great blog post today with 100 different free or cheap ideas of things you can do with your kids during the summer months, including a printable with the list! Be sure to check it out!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Boredom Busters
Hey everyone!
As you know, there is no way to plan every second of every day during the summer holidays. There will be down-time, especially when mom has to work (I cannot afford to not write all summer!). And so, we've created a Boredom Busters jar!
What is it?
Well, it's a little jar (actually a Nutella-knock-off from Shoprite), all decorated with fun papers and filled with lots and lots of great little ideas.
The plan - whenever my kids tell me they're bored, they'll have to dig into the Boredom Busters jar and pull out an activity that they can do by themselves, right away.
What is important is that if you have one, you set rules about using it, otherwise your kids could end up pulling the thing apart looking for what they like, rather than trying new things or doing 'chores' they might pull.
One way to set it up is that when they say they're bored, they HAVE to do the first thing they pull. Another way would be to let them pull, say three, and then they have to choose one of those three.
What should the little slips say?
Really, that is entirely up to you, but be sure to take into account your children - their ages, abilities, likes - when you create your list. Something that might be in my jar may not work for your kids. Likewise, things I've found on other lists I've found across the internet won't work for us. For example, we don't have a backyard, so lots of those kinds of things are really out for us.
To create my slips, I typed my list of suggestions in Word (well, actually, I use Open Office, which is FREE and does most of what MS Office does), then I changed it to double-spacing and printed. The double spacing made it much easier to cut the little slips up. For smaller children (or a bigger jar) you may want to make them much bigger than the tiny slips I used. You could even use coloured index cards.
Decorating the jar?
I cleaned out my jar and then ran it through the dishwasher. Once it was completely dry, I simply took strips of paper and wrapped them around using double-sided tape.
If you're not sure what size strips, take a measuring tape and wrap it around the jar to determine the length, and then measure the width. My jar had indentations 'built-in' which framed the original label, so I used that spacing for the width of the strips. I also cut a circle to fit into the lid and used some scrapbooking stickers to finish of the label.
The list?
There would be no point to this blog post if I didn't share this list with you! Of course, my list reflects the ages, likes and abilities of my two sons (aged 10 and 6-1/2). I've also included things that I wouldn't mind seeing them do, like memorize a Bible verse or a poem, and even chores around the house.
You will notice in the list that somethings are duplicated (like "Do a Chore of Mom's Choice"). I've left these duplications in, so that if you decide to just copy and paste, they're already there for you.
Play a board game
Build a fort
Draw a map of the
neighbourhood
Copy a famous
painting
Bake cookies
Perform a random act
of kindness
Make leaf rubbings
Make a book
Write a letter for a
family member
Make a puzzle
Blow bubbles
Make a movie
Make a time capsule
Read a chapter book
together
Paper airplane
contest
Picnic on the front
porch
Make home-made
play-doh
Trace your hand then
turn it into something else
Have an indoor
treasure hunt
Skype a friend
Take a nap
Make your bed
Laundry hunt
Dirty dishes hunt
Make a door knob
hanger
Make a collage
Make a puppet
Write a story
Draw a picture
Make a comic book or
comic strip
Make a joke book
Put on some music
and dance
Find shapes in the
clouds
Plan a treasure hunt
with clues
Write down 10 things
you love about each member of your family
Write in your
journal
Organize your room
Create a play
Make popsicles
Memorize a Bible
verse
Memorize a poem
Draw a picture of a
desert island with all the things you want on it
Create your own
board game
Make a list of
things you can do without a grown-up
Mix liquid hand soap,
cornstarch and food colouring and paint the bathtub
Do a chore of mom's
choice
Do a chore of mom's
choice
Do a chore of mom's
choice
Do a chore of mom's
choice
Interview a family
member
Collect the trash
Find 5 toys to
donate
Read for 15 minutes
Play hopscotch
Look at a photo
album
Play with sidewalk
chalk
Watch a movie
Organize your toys
Go for a walk
Color
Play hide & seek
Plan a family
activity
Plan dinner
Have a photo shoot
Thanks again for looking!
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