JenOni

Family

Book: A Wrinkle In Time and My Thoughts

Book: A Wrinkle in Time

When I saw the trailer for “A Wrinkle in Time”, I realized this was not on my book list growing up.    I was a big fan of Judy Blume books.  For this film, just knowing that Ava Duvarney was the director was enough for me to see it.     In preparation for the movie, I decided to read the book.  Although I was ninety-four pages from the end,  the movie was worth the wait.

  1.  A” Calvin” is a breath of fresh air and will always find the beauty in you
  2.  Being different is what makes us all unique
  3.  Brown girls truly are magical
  4.   Fear should not guide our lives
  5.   Do not let “IT” rule your life
  6.   Rise above “IT”
  7.  We are perfect in our own right
  8.  Make sure searching for more is not at the expense of losing what is in front of you
  9.  Believe in yourself even under trying circumstances
  10.  We can pull strength from unlikely places

 

Black Panther – My Thoughts on the Excellence of this Film

Black Panther

A few weeks ago the kids and I went to Movie Tavern to see Black Panther.   Although, I did not grow up reading comic books my younger brother did and I knew he could unravel any questions.   Also did some of my own research and learned that the comic book was created in 1966.   My brother was the one who told about the Stan Lee pop-up in the Marvel movies.    I think I was more excited than my kids to see the film.   My kids have no clue this was real for me because growing up I did not see a Black superhero on the big screen.   The only Ryan Coogler film I did not see is Fruitvale Station but this was a must-see.     Black Panther was worth every drop of the hype it was given.   From the start of the movie,  I was glued to the screen.

There were so many things I thought were beyond a dope.   A few things that left an impression on me:

  1.   Shuri,  sister of T’Challa is the all about  STEM!  How could I not love her character?   When I was contemplating choosing a STEM major I was lost in terms of women who came before me in the technological field.   This film brought to light how brilliant brown girls are with a splash of sassy!  I know Brown girls walked away seeing themselves.
  2.  The Dora Milaje, female bodyguards of T’Challa were exquisitely beautiful and dedicated to protecting Wakanda by any means necessary.   The physicality of their role is my next fitness goal.   It showed women of color in such an amazing light that made black girl magic a reality.
  3.  Wakanda, while fictional allowed us to escape to a nation that was rich in African pride.   The cinematography, special effects, and costume design were a flawless example of talent on the big screen.
  4. I believe it is a film that will leave a lasting impression on children of all ages.  My inner child thoroughly enjoyed every second of the film.
  5. Kudos to Ryan Coogler for bringing this film to the big screen in an exquisite fashion.

 

History in the making…..

Cooking and Baking by Me: Classic Dinner Rolls

 

Classic Dinner Rolls

2 to 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 envelope Fleischmann’s® RapidRise Yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter OR margarine Directions

COMBINE 3/4 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Heat milk, water, and butter until very warm (120º to 130ºF). Add to flour mixture. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add 1/4 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cover; let rest 10 minutes. *

DIVIDE dough into 12 equal pieces; shape into balls. Place in greased 8-inch round pan. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.**
BAKE in preheated 375ºF oven for 20 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; brush with additional melted butter, if desired.  Serve warm.

*For rest period, it is not necessary for the dough to double in size

**For a higher roll, I suggest allowing the rolls to rise longer than 30 minutes(maybe 45-1hr) with a pan of boiled water underneath the pan. Do allow to over-rise.

Recipe: Classic Dinner Rolls

Slime is a Great Science Experiment and STEM at Home

*this post contains an affiliate link, which means I receive commission if you click and purchase*

 National STEM Day, November 8th

Slime Making is STEM at Home

My soon to be 5th grader mastered the science of making slime.  I wanted her to take on the project without any supervision from me.    She is very resourceful and found different instructions on Elmer’s glue website.   We found all of her supplies: glue, baking soda and contact solution at Target.     I will include the link to Elmer’s glue below.

 

 

 

Elmer’s Glue Slime How To   (this is a nonsponsored post)*

 

Who said learning has to stop during the SUMMER?   In addition to the slime making, I have included an offline activity that involves science and math.  Thanks to Education.com.  This is a very interactive activity that utilizes math and science to learn about the solar system.    If you are interested in more activities, you can visit their site  here

Tour the Planets

Help your child learn the planets and practice math skills in this multi-player game! This learning mash-up is a great way to get your child interested in science and math while competing with his friends. Players will navigate the game through addition, subtraction and multiplication while exploring the solar system. Whoever colors in the most planets wins!

What You Need:

  • White paper
  • Markers
  • Deck of cards with the face cards (jacks, queens, and kings) removed
  • Pencil

What You Do:

Create The Scoresheet:

– Each player makes their own coloring sheet on a vertical piece of white paper. In the center of the page, draw the outline of a sun with a black marker.

– Draw 9 concentric rings around the sun, one ring per planet or the moon in our solar system. Make a black outline drawing of each planet or moon on it’s orbital line. They can be drawn as creatively as you like!

– Next to each drawing, write the corresponding initial. The initials in order around the sun should be:  M, V, E, M, J, S, U, N, P.

– Have your child shuffle the deck and place it face down.

Play The Game:

  1. Ask your child to shuffle the deck and place it face down. For this game aces = 1.
  2. Each player takes 2 cards at a time. They can choose to use any math system including addition, subtraction, or multiplication to combine the two cards they choose, trying to end up with any number between 1 and 9.
  3. If the answer is between 1 and 9, the player gets to color in the corresponding planet in order of their distance from the sun. For example, if a player’s number is 5, they would color in Jupiter, because it’s the 5th planet from the sun.
  4. Players can only color in the planets if their math is correct, they can name the planet, and the planet has not been colored in yet by another player.
  5. When all the planets have been named, each player should count the number of planets they have colored and whoever has colored the most planets is the winner!

Example:

 

*this ad contains an affiliate link, which means I receive commission if you click and purchase*

Book Review- Veronica and the Volcano- National STEM Day

*received the book free of charge for review purposes only.  All opinions shared are my own*

 

STEM,  is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  As a STEM major, it is exciting to see more girls with an interest in STEM and pursuing opportunities beyond high school.

 

Book Review – Veronica and the Volcano

In observance of  National STEM day, I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Veronica and the Volcano.  The book is excellent for middle school-aged children and is filled with scientific topics that relate to volcanos.  I think girls will love Veronica’s spunk and inquisitive nature.  Veronica is the main character in this book and interestingly enough she lives on a volcano.  She wants to give her mother a birthday gift of pearls after she learns the story of her inherited pearls.  In order to get the same pearls, she sets her sights on visiting, the largest volcano, Mount Mystery.
The adventure begins with Veronica, her friend Maddy and their dads.  Every chapter is filled with suspense and the perseverance of two girls on a mission.  The trip takes the girls on numerous twists and turns before reaching Mount Mystery.  Both girls learn about their pasts through their dads.   Veronica learns how and why her parents decided to live on a volcano.  Maddy discovers the true history of her family lines and the many generations before her.   We learn Veronica’s dad relies on technological apps to provide information on volcanic behavior while Maddy’s disputes all of it.   Maddy’s dad, the Captain, is the self-appointed leader of the group and is a stickler for preserving family history and the search for the diamonds that disappeared generations ago.
The story is an imaginative adventure through some precarious events on the unpredictability of volcanos, unexpected wildlife, toxic gases, unexpected guests on the same hike, and rowdy bandits.   They are able to survive the journey, discover diamonds and pearls but return to extreme unrest in their sleepy town.   The town bands together to banish the unwanted guest and his cohorts.   Veronica learns her trip to the town jewelry store leaves her with the key to preserving the future.
The book takes the reader on a whirlwind of events with beautiful illustrations to captivate the reader from chapter to chapter.  It shows the dynamics of relationships that evolve into working together for the greater good.  All while learning about volcanoes as the story unfolds. The book contains definitions of all the terms used in the chapters for STEM enthusiasts to learn more.
For the girls who love science, enter to win a copy of the book:

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3974772/Veronica-and-the-Volcano-Giveaway-8

Halloween Costume – DIY Starbucks Cup

Costume – DIY – Starbucks Cup

My tween’s costume was by request.  She prefers DIY costume and this means being very creative with bringing the concept to reality.  We searched Pinterest for inspiration.  There are different variations of design and I found the hardest part was deciding on what material to use for the actual cup design.  I realized early on trying to find cylindrical white cardboard is very difficult.   After brainstorming, we decided to use a plastic trash can.  Although, the trash can is oval in shape it made our DIY more unique.   The first step was cutting the bottom from the trash can.   We made the whipped cream by using two pieces of felt(used a smaller logo to cut the circles) hot glued together.  (thanks to Southern Curls and Pearls) and these were hot glued to the outside of the rim.  The logo (downloaded from Southern Curls and Pearls) was enlarged and hot glued on the front.   For the back, we googled “back of Starbucks Cup” and I used a sharpie to handwrite the text.  The adhesive letters were purchased from Target last year.  I hot glued them to prevent the letters from falling off.  The final step was threading the elastic material through each side so she could wear for parade and trick or treating.  The elastic band was cut in two and slits were made on each side of the can.    The total cost for purchased materials was about $35.00.

Materials:

White Trash Can-Target
Elastic 2yds – Joann Fabrics
Utility Knife-Target
Felt (ivory) – 1 yd- Joann Fabrics
Hot Glue Gun-Joann Fabrics
Letters with adhesive-Target
Sharpie

 

Misty Copeland – American Ballet Theatre – “Whipped Cream”

Our day in New York to see Misty Copeland in “Whipped Cream”.  It was exciting for my tween as she never rode on Amtrak until that day.   We arrived in NYC with plenty of time to grab lunch at PJ Clarke’s.

3 Sliders

Buttermilk Fried Chicken w/ Sweet Potato Fries and ColeSlaw

I have followed Misty Copeland for the past 5 years and finally, we purchased tickets.   The theatre is absolutely beautiful and when the production started you can see the visual creativity of the people who put these productions together.   It is an artistic explosion of talent and skill brought to life on the stage.   This was my tween first time in NYC and she was excited to see another city.   I think the biggest difference was how busy it was and the amount of traffic.

 

We received these in the mail a few months before we attended the performance.  We are framing to preserve the memories.

“Whipped Cream”  is a whimsical story that kids of all ages will enjoy.   I can’t wait to see another performance with Misty.

Solar Eclipse on August 21st is the Science Event of the Year

*this post contains affiliate links and I will receive a commission if you click and purchase*

Solar EclipseTotal Solar Eclipse

A total solar eclipse happens every 38 years.   The last one for me was in 1979 as I was headed to 5th grade.   It’s summer but how cool to learn about such a major astronomy event.    Kids are so lucky today in terms of access to the web for learning about different areas of science.    Science is so fun and interactive now with all the technology to capture historical events.

What is a solar eclipse?   A solar eclipse is when a new moon moves between the earth and the sun.   It prevents some or all of the sun’s rays from reaching the earth-hence the darkened skies.    The path will run from  Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina the skies will darken.  The moon will cover the entire sun for up to two minutes and forty seconds.

 

Check out this wonderful video from National Geographic for a full explanation:

 

In order to view safely, you must use CERTIFIED eclipse glasses or make your own.  A DIY link is here:w

What you will see from your zip code

 

 

 

 

KiwiCo Back To School Printable Routines

Home Decor Wish Lists for Decorating My Apartment Space

 

 

home decor

Home Decor

Home decor shopping is so much fun.  I have been in my living space for three years and am far from all of my decorating needs.   One goal is to try to add a  new item every few months.    Some of my favorite places include Wayfair, Target, and Ikea.   Each retailer offers unique items that I can add to create a unique style to every corner of your living space.   Apartment living usually gives you white walls so I decided to add inspirational wall decals.

Dining and Living Room Spaces

In addition to adding accessories such as decorative pillows and throws, I also have a new interest in plants.  Plants add a nice touch to your living space and health benefits.  I read you should have 10-12 plants in your living space.     It is my therapeutic hobby that requires understanding each type of plant, watering schedule and using the best pots with drainage.

Another decorating idea is using all of my digital photos from my phone.   It is so easy to print locally at drugstores or mass merchandisers (Target & Walmart) and it is inexpensive and quick.   I love to use different types of frames for the photos and one idea for a focal wall is to use all black frames for an assortment of photos with kids.

Bedroom Space

Lastly, creating a sanctuary for the bedroom is necessary.  A good night’s sleep starts with the right mattress and good pillows!

Home Decor Wish Lists

My decorating lists will be a continuous work in progress.   I created wish lists from two of my favorite retailers(nonsponsored post).

 

 

 

 

*this post contains an affiliate link, which means I receive a commission if you click and purchase*

Summer Projects for DIY Suncatchers and Origami Fidget Spinners

DIYProjects
*this post includes affiliate links, which means I receive commission if you click on the link and make a purchase*

Summer DIY Projects from KiwiCo

Summer means a break from school and a lot of down time.  Kiwi Crate is a great way to keep the imagination sharp while learning STEM concepts.   The best projects are the ones offered when kids are in the house with the “I’m bored” conversation.  Check out these really cool DIY Projects from Kiwi Crate. What can your kids make with old, broken, and discarded crayons?  The first project finds a way to recycle and repurpose the old crayons to make suncatchers.   The second project is designing your own fidget spinner.

 

 Project  – DIY Recycled Crayon Suncatchers

 DIY Projects: Recycled Crayon Suncatchers

 

In our schools, fidget spinners were very popular during the weeks of standardized testing.     The use or origami to design a fidget spinner sounds like a winning combination.   Kiwi Crate introduces engineering concepts with fun and interactive activities.

Do you remember using paper to make origami during summer camp?  In our schools, fidget spinners were very popular during the weeks of standardized testing.     The use of origami to design a fidget spinner sounds like a winning combination.   Kiwi Crate introduces engineering concepts with fun and interactive activities.

 Project – DIY Origami Fidget Spinner

DIY Projects: Origami Fidget Spinner