Peace, Love, Lemonade
Parents, Andrea and Dan with their girls Libby and Hannah agree that The Salvation Army LemonAiD program is a great way for “Kids to help kids.” They raised over $1,400 last year with their virtual stand called “Peace, Love, and Lemonade.” This year they plan to meet or exceed that goal by hosting both a virtual and a physical stand where both Libby and Hannah can sell delicious lemonade.
Getting our kids involved in giving back to the community is something that most parents I talk to are really passionate about. We want our children to understand more of the world around them and how even the smallest actions can make a big difference. I personally love the LemonAiD program with The Salvation Army Central Ohio where children host a lemonade stand (in person or virtual) and give back to their community. 100% of the funds raised are used to provide food and programs that lift children out of homelessness and poverty. It is a great way to make that first introduction into community service.
Parents, Andrea and Dan with their girls Libby and Hannah agree that The Salvation Army LemonAiD program is a great way for “Kids to help kids.” They raised over $1,400 last year with their virtual stand called “Peace, Love, and Lemonade.” This year they plan to meet or exceed that goal by hosting both a virtual and a physical stand where both Libby and Hannah can sell delicious lemonade.
When asked how they were able to raise so much money, last year, in the middle of the pandemic, Andrea replied, “We shared it with our friends and family using both social media and texting.”
Looking for inspiration to promote your LemonAid stand? Andrea, Dan, Libby, and Hannah have you covered.
What started as a fun thing to do with their kids and families to give back to the community has since turned into an annual tradition that they just love! What a great family tradition to be able to teach your children about giving back to the community while having so much fun!
Did you know?
● 1 in 4 children in Central Ohio live in poverty
● 1 in 5 children in our community go to bed hungry.
● 1 in 5 children are alone and unsupervised during the hours after school
● Only 15% of Ohio's K-12 children participate in after-school programs
● 1 in 30 children in Ohio experience homelessness.
Looking to host your own lemonade stand? It’s easy to sign up, FREE, and offers you an opportunity to get involved in giving back to the community!
HOW TO GET STARTED. IT'S EASY!
STEP 1 — Register
● Register online at salvtionarmylemonaid.org
STEP 2 — Choose the Day, Time, Location, and name for your stand
● The LemonAiD Campaign runs thru July 31, 2021. Pick a date and time that work for your schedule!
STEP 3— Secure your supplies.
● A LemonAiD Kit will be sent to you once you have registered. The kit will include a sign for your stand, buttons, and a brochure with helpful tips.
● Parents provide the stand/table, cash box, the lemonade, and cups. Set your own prices or simply ask for a donation.
● Decorations (very important!). Kids typically enjoy making additional signs and decorating their stand.
STEP 4 — Promote. Promotion is key.
● Let your family, friends, and neighbors know about your stand with flyers, emails, social media, and signs. Remember to post photos to facebook.com/Salvation.Army.Columbus
STEP 5 — Start selling at your custom LemonAiD Stand!
The Salvation Army will perform weekly drawings for a $25 Graeter’s Gift Certificate!
At the end of the promotion (July 31st) will receive, in the mail, a small thank you from The Salvation Army and our sponsors/partners. Be sure to sign up today!
Pollinator Palooza at Franklin Park Conservatory - FREE Event in Columbus
Franklin Park Conservatory is an absolute family favorite. We love it there. I could spend all day exploring and taking it all in and thankfully my kids love it just as much, especially the Children’s Garden. In just a few weeks you can celebrate the birds, bees, butterflies, and all of the creates that make our gardens grow during Pollinator Palooza!! It’s already on our schedule and we CANNOT WAIT! The best part? It’s FREE! You don’t need reservations or tickets to take part in Pollinator Palooza.
Franklin Park Conservatory is an absolute family favorite. We love it there. I could spend all day exploring and taking it all in and thankfully my kids love it just as much, especially the Children’s Garden. In just a few weeks you can celebrate the birds, bees, butterflies, and all of the creates that make our gardens grow during Pollinator Palooza!! It’s already on our schedule and we CANNOT WAIT! The best part? It’s FREE! You don’t need reservations or tickets to take part in Pollinator Palooza.
Let’s go over some of the most important details
Saturday, June 19th, 2021
11am - 3pm
FREE
It’s a great event for all ages!
Pollinator Palooza is the best way to have fun while learning about pollinators and raising awareness for all of the amazing creatures that help our gardens grow! This event includes crafts, music, garden tours, and MORE.
Before you check out the schedule of events below - grab your phone and add this event to your calendar.
Schedule of Events
Exploring Pollinators in the Garden | 11:30am, 1pm & 2pm
Take a walk in the garden and observe bees in action. Led by Denise Ellsworth, the Program Director of Honey Bee and Native Pollinator Education, OSU Extension.
The Bugman | 11am–3pm
The Bugman, Mark Berman, shares his knowledge and excitement about bugs.
George Barrie Band | 11:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-2:30pm
George Barrie Band will accompany the event with live music. George Barrie’s upbeat blend of groovy rock n’ roll is inspired by bluesy songwriters across genres and generations. George built a career as a musician, songwriter, and producer in Columbus, Ohio.
Stinger from the Columbus Blue Jackets | 12-12:30pm
Stinger from the Columbus Blue Jackets will stop by!
Food Demonstration | 11am–2pm
Taste delicious foods made with ingredients that are only possible thanks to pollinators. Led by the Conservatory’s Sustainability Educator, Heather Bell.
Food Trucks | 11am-3pm
NAICCO
Sweet T’s Southern Style
Too Good Eats
Participating Organizations
The Bee Collective
Central Ohio Beekeepers Association
Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks
Columbus GreenSpot
East Central Ohio Beekeepers Association
Franklin County Master Gardeners Volunteers
Greater Columbus Growing Coalition
Kiwanis Club of Columbus
LEAD for Pollinators
Natives in Harmony, LLC
Ohio Herb Center
Ohio History Connection
Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative
Are you as excited for Pollinator Palooza as we are!?
All I Want for April is Acceptance.
In March of 2014, I sat in a small sterile office at the local children’s hospital with my husband and youngest son. He was 2 1/2 years old at the time, and we were waiting for the conclusions of an autism screening that involved several helping professionals and lasted 4 hours.
Thank you to my dear friend Terra for writing this piece so we can all learn from her. You can follow her podcast Normal with Autism, on Instagram for more amazing content.
All I want for April is acceptance.
In March of 2014, I sat in a small sterile office at the local children’s hospital with my husband and youngest son. He was 2 1/2 years old at the time, and we were waiting for the conclusions of an autism screening that involved several helping professionals and lasted 4 hours.
We wanted to hear the good news that all the therapies and work we completed over the last 12 months paid off in helping him catch up developmentally.
In March of 2013, my son Finn was diagnosed with epileptic encephalopathy. A hazardous form of epilepsy that impacts his learning and development in very negative ways. I stopped working as a mental health therapist and devoted myself to being his full-time caregiver. I spent many hours and days with Finn in therapies and doctor visits, working on everything from speech to matching skills. It was all to help his development move forward as his seizures had significantly impacted his growth.
We sat waiting for the developmental doctor to give us the results; I held my breath, hoping for good news. Her following statement, Finn has severe autism and needs help right away, was not a surprise, but it was not what I wanted to hear. His actual written report included the statement “Finn is at great risk for mental retardation…” should he not receive interventions. I remember leaving the office confused and grief-struck. I was confused because I could not fully grasp what it meant for my child to have an autism diagnosis. Grief-stricken because of the looks on the physicians’ faces, I knew it wasn’t good.
Today, in 2021, I can tell you I thought his autism diagnosis was a tragedy in 2014. I am a mental health professional, and I did not know a lot about autism. I knew enough to understand it wasn’t something you wanted your 2-year-old to be diagnosed with. I also knew enough to know that the words the doctors used at the time to describe his high support needs scared me into many sleepless nights figuring out how to get him into full-time behavior therapy as quickly as I could. I also felt less alone when people bought puzzle piece cookies or wore blue on April 2nd, world autism awareness day. My friends would tag me in posts saying they were lighting it up blue for Finn. In the end, I do not fault them at all. And I realize now those efforts were about me and not about what my son needed.
Today, I know better. Now, I know that my son being autistic is not a disaster. Autism is not the catastrophe that I pictured. What is distressing is that seven years later, I still fight every day for my son to be accepted as the entire, complete, worthy human being that he is. Even more problematic is the knowledge that as he gets older and bigger on his way to becoming an adult disabled male, some in my local community will fear him simply because he is autistic. Acceptance will grow rarer as the years pass.
Why, after all these years, puzzle pieces, and lighting it up blue, is it still difficult for autistic people to be accepted? The difference is the passive awareness that many folks still engage in and the active acceptance that is harder to do but worth the work. An author for an Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) post states, “Awareness is all about creating a sense of urgency and fear. Awareness efforts present us as a problem to be solved…Acceptance comes from a place of understanding…Understanding takes work. People first need to acknowledge us as individuals- three-dimensional, growing, developed characters. We are not all the same, and we are not but a collection of deficits.”
My son is not broken, and he is not a collection of deficits or things he can not do. What would life be like for your child if the only focus from the adults in their lives were on what milestones they did not reach? If you ever want to find out, I invite you to join me in the next Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting with my local school district.
You might be asking me now, “Terra, what can I do instead of light it up blue for April?” Here are some questions to ask yourself and ways to practice acceptance of autistic people every day.
First, ask, “Do I rely on autistic people or their caregivers to educate me about autism?” If the answer is yes, you have some work to do. Start with a book by an actually autistic individual. “The Reason I Jump” is a great one. While writing this, I googled “autistic authors,” and I need to get to my local bookstore soon. The list I found is extensive.
Second, if you are a leader in a community space (i.e., church), ask yourself, “How would my organization respond if a family and their autistic loved one walked into this space tomorrow to hang out with other members in their community?” For example, if you are a church, would the autistic loved one be welcomed into the worship space just as they to hear the message from the pastor. If the answer is no, you have some work to do. Many families with autistic loved ones experience conditional acceptance based on ignorance and lack of willingness to make space for that family to show up fully as themselves. Ask how you and your other community leaders how can we support that family in a way that treats them like everyone else.
Finally, ask yourself do autistic folks and organizations that actually support autistic people show up in your social media feed. If the answer is no, you have some work to do. Some of my favorite folks to follow are https://www.instagram.com/the.autisticats/
And a great organization to check out is autisminblack.org
Acceptance is a verb. Do the work. Take the action. My son and all the kids and adults like him thank you in advance.
More about Terra: I am a wife, mom, podcaster, writer, therapist, daughter and friend. I work hard to keep all those plates spinning and humor is my coping skill.
My two boys, Q and Finn are my favorite human beings on the planet. Finn was diagnosed with epilepsy and autism before he turned three years old. He is a non-speaking kid that has a lot to say. Q is growing up way to fast and likes to bring it up every day by saying how much taller he is than me. My husband and I have been together since we were 19. Our family motto is “Making it up as we go along”.
How To Create a Paper Mache Globe
One of my absolute favorite memories as a child was making a paper mache globe in art class. I loved being able to get messy while creating something really cool. I’ve always wanted to recreate this activity with my kids and now that we’re at home a lot more it seemed like the perfect time to do just that.
One of my absolute favorite memories as a child was making a paper mache globe in art class. I loved being able to get messy while creating something really cool. I’ve always wanted to recreate this activity with my kids and now that we’re at home a lot more it seemed like the perfect time to do just that.
As a child, I remember this project taking multiple weeks to complete and requiring multiple steps to get us to the end goal. As a mom, with four kids a project that could take weeks to complete seemed like a lot so I kept putting it off. I was never ready to commit and I didn’t want to start just to give up on it because life got in the way.
With extra time at home, I decided that now was the best time to try and make our own paper mache masterpiece because we had the time to dedicate to it. Honestly, I’m glad we decided to give it a go because it didn’t take weeks to complete - more like a week. It took a looooooong time to dry but that’s expected. Once it dried, the rest of the project flew by.
To get started
This project is a messy one, be sure to prep your work area. We used newspapers we were going to recycle to cover our table. You can use whatever you have but it’s important to protect your workspace.
Gather your materials
Find a space to store your project while it dries. This project will take up to a few days to dry so it’s important to have a place to store it while it dries that won’t get in the way of everyday activities.
Supplies Needed
Punch Balloons - Any balloon will do but I found the punch balloons to be the best for this project because it has the rubber band at the end that will help you hold it as you apply paper mache and paint.
Paper Mache Paste - This stuff is gold! It makes creating the paper mache so easy.
Bowl (just big enough to allow the balloon to rest nicely on it)
Ready to Recycle Newspapers
Scissors
Creating Your Globe
Prep your workspace and layout all of your supplies
Create the paper mache paste following the instructions on the box
Cut newspapers into long strips
Blow up your balloon to the size of a small soccer ball
Let’s Get Messy
Lay the newspaper strips on the balloon one at a time while applying the paper mache paste with a paintbrush. Apply generously
Rotate the balloon to add newspapers and paste to all sides
Do not leave any part of the balloon visible, cover everything!
Let sit for 1-2 days to dry
Once it’s Dry
Have fun painting the entire globe BLUE (Don’t make my mistake and paint it all green, I had to completely redo it) after all most of the world is made up of water :)
Once the paint is dry take a sharpie and draw the different continents
Paint the continents green.
That’s it! Your globe is ready to be displayed. A few notes - if you made sure to cover every single inch of your balloon you can then pop the balloon so it doesn’t shrink but don’t do this unless every single inch is covered with newspaper and paper mache. Also, it’s going to be bumpy - that’s okay - the earth is not flat so use this as a really good conversation starter with your kids.
Talking Points
I used this time to talk to my kids about the earth, ways we can protect it, and answer all of their questions.
How old is the earth?
What uses the most energy in our home?
How can we protect the earth?
What can we do as a family to help protect the earth?
Where does our power come from?
Where does our water come from?
7+ Local Kid Stores to Shop Year-Round
I have found some of the best gifts by shopping for my kids at local Columbus shops. Unique finds that I would never find in a big box store and my kids LOVE them. I’m sharing some of my favorite Columbus Kid Stores today on the blog. Shopping small is more important than ever! Make that shopping list and then visit these stores to get something great for everyone!
Shopping small has always been very important to me. Every single purchase with a small business makes such a difference in the lives of countless people including the business owner, their staff, families, other local businesses they do business with, and so much more. It’s no surprise that 2020 has been hard on small businesses everywhere and now as the holiday season approaches it’s even more important than ever that we support our local business community.
I have found some of the best gifts by shopping for my kids at local Columbus shops. Unique finds that I would never find in a big box store and my kids LOVE them. I’m sharing some of my favorite Columbus Kid Stores today on the blog - but please comment and tell me if there is one I missed that you think I should explore. :-)
Cub Shrub
Cub Shrub is full of fun modern items that spark inspiration and imagination. It’s always the first place for gifts and adorable clothing. This year I bought the holiday tattoos, a handful of books, and this Dr. Fauci ornament. As time gets a little closer I’m sure I’ll be adding some other fun goodies from Cub Shrub under my tree.
The Mini Label
Created by a fellow 614 Mom, The Mini Label has the most adorable baby clothes. They are super soft and the colors are perfection. My youngest will have a few sets under the tree this year.
Coco Beans
Is someone in your life expecting or do you have a sweet little babe yourself? Coco Beans provides better sleep for little ones using the natural magic of silk. They are currently running a campaign to help get their business started. Share the holiday magic by helping a small business thrive while getting your little one a 100% silk crib sheet (estimated ship date Feb 2021)
Learning Express
We love exploring Learning Express. They have all of the super fun toys my kids love so much and a few that we’ve never seen before. It’s a perfect mix of educational toys and those super popular must-have gifts.
Naturally Curious Kids
Kids learn so much through play and Naturally Curious Kids has some of the best toys that help encourage learning through play and I’m a big fan. Some of the items we’ll have under our tree this year include so many of the art supplies, this mix & bake mixer, and dimpl toys for the youngest member of our family.
Wonderville Studios
Local author Jason Tharp has amazing books, T-shirts, and other cool things to help inspire kindness and positivity for your young readers. Shirts that say Kind is Cool and even some fun mugs for that coworker you got in the holiday gift exchange.
Packrat Comics
Packrat Comics in Hilliard is one of a kind. I’m talking truly special. They have comic books, toys, and graphic novels plus so much more. If you have a superhero fan on your list this is a must.
Shopping small is more important than ever! Make that shopping list and then visit these stores to get something great for everyone!
Gift Guide For The Kid Who Has Everything
I often get asked about gift ideas for kids and I’m happy to put together this list full of fun ideas. While I love to get things specifically off their list these are great, go-to gifts, for stocking stuffers, birthday parties, kids you don’t know all that well, and even for your own kids when you just aren’t sure what to get. I hope you enjoy reading through - and of course please comment below with anything you’d add to the list.
I often get asked about gift ideas for kids and I’m happy to put together this list full of fun ideas. While I love to get things specifically off their list these are great, go-to gifts, for stocking stuffers, birthday parties, kids you don’t know all that well, and even for your own kids when you just aren’t sure what to get. I hope you enjoy reading through - and of course please comment below with anything you’d add to the list.
Mindful Books
We’re big fans of fun books that have a powerful message. I often share these books here because I just love them so much. You can find books on Kindness, Self Love, Bravery, and Confidence right now as well as extra fun books here.
Slime
Slime for the kids and some cleaning supplies for the parents. I have found a few brands that I like that I feel don’t cause a huge mess (but don’t quote me. Everyone’s experience is different) so I’ve linked them for you. To be honest - I used to hate slime but as long as we keep it at one location I really love it because my kids love it so much.
My Bookworm Box
This is a great gift option for the young readers in your life. This box sends young readers new books each month based on their age. Once you get the package in the mail you read what you want and enjoy and then you can either send the books back or decide to purchase them. It was created by a local Columbus mama and really incredible.
MRLY
This kids clothing line is another local business that I LOVE. The clothes are adorable and can be worn every single day. High quality, comfortable, and fun! They can also customize any of it. I had this purple dress made for my sweet girl and she wears it as much as I let her. She thinks it’s so special.
Art Supplies
You can never go wrong with art supplies. Puzzle books, coloring books, crayons, markers, just a stroll through the art supply aisle and you’ll find plenty to add to your cart. Art kits are such a win. It provides everything they need to create their next masterpiece.
Lite-Brite
This was a favorite of mine as a kid and I love that it’s back in stores.
Walkie-Talkies
This is something that isn’t thought of often but is such a fun toy for kids. We bought a green/blue set off of Amazon and they have lasted for years. They have turned into the gift we take to birthday parties when we’re not sure what else to get. I highly recommend them.
Memberships To Fun Places
I’m a big believer in experiences over things so be sure to check out my list of Favorite Memberships in Columbus if you want to go this route.
Everything Your VSCO Girl Needs | The Ultimate VSCO Girl Gift Guide
Putting this gift guide together has been SO MUCH FUN! I think by the end of it I realized I am a VSCO girl which means I’m basically a cool mom? I’m not sure but I’m going with it. :) VSCO girls love - oversized t-shirts, wears vans and Birkenstocks, love Carmex and scrunchies and of course is always sporting her Hydro Flask. You can shop for your VSCO girl easily here.
This post contains affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you choose to purchase the item(s) through my link. I only link to products I have tried and/or fully believe will be of use to my readers. This doesn’t increase the price for you at all.
Putting this gift guide together has been SO MUCH FUN! I think by the end of it I realized I am a VSCO girl which means I’m basically a cool mom? I’m not sure but I’m going with it. :)
What is a VSCO girl? I asked myself that question not too long ago and between research and living with one - I can say I firmly understand them. VSCO girls are essentially trendy preteen and teen girls who love the newest trends and are also passionate about the environment. From my understanding, it started as an insult but quickly became a badge of honor for many.
VSCO girls love - oversized t-shirts, wears vans and Birkenstocks, love Carmex and scrunchies and of course is always sporting her Hydro Flask. You can shop for your VSCO girl easily here.
Hydro Flask
I’ll be honest - spending $40 on a water bottle for my daughter is not something I ever thought I would do. The Hydro Flask has TempShield Technology that helps keep your drink hot or cold for hours. The Hydro Flask has a loyal fan base with VSCO girls because of the brand’s commitment to helping the environment and the fun trendy colors.
Stickers! Stickers! Stickers!
Adding fun stickers to your Hydroflask is a must. VSCO girls love the environment, turtles, makeup, fun colors, just to name a few things. There are so many inexpensive sticker packs on Amazon.
Polaroid Camera
Polaroid Cameras are SO MUCH FUN! I think it’s fun that this is included in the VSCO Girl trend. Who doesn’t love to take silly photos that print instantly?
Kanken Bag
Sleek design and a lot of colors to choose from! They have a fun purple one that I think I want - you know my love for all things purple.
Scrunchies
I know I’m not the only grown-up excited about the return of the scrunchies. :-) There are so many options online and in the stores. I’ve been told that velvet scrunchies are the best right now.
Pura Vida - Save The Turtles Bracelet
You’ll notice on this gift guide that loving the environment and protecting the turtles is a huge goal for VSCO girls. This bracelet is a fun way to let them sport their love for saving the turtles every single day.
Vans
Vans come in all different styles and colors and they are a VSCO girl favorite. My daughter has asked for the white checkered ones and the rainbow checkered ones.
Birkenstocks
If I love most of the things on this list - does that make me a VSCO girl? Birkenstocks are so cute and I appreciate that VSCO girls have good taste. There are many different styles but the rose gold ones are my personal favorite.
Facial Spray
I haven’t tried this product but I get why it makes the list. VSCO girls love products that are good for the world so it makes sense that they also want products that are good for their skin.
Reusable Metal Straws
Save the turtles. Save the turtles. SAVE THE TURTLES. It’s so important and one way we can do that is to get rid of plastic straws. This fun kit is a great way for your VSCO girl to have fun while loving the environment.
Wave Ring
This Wave Ring by Pura Vida (same company that makes the bracelet) is a cute accessory and inexpensive. It also stays on-brand for the VSCO girl by supporting a company that gives back to causes that are important.
Airpods
Who wouldn’t want a pair of Airpods?
Shell Necklace
This reminds me of summer vacations on the beach - getting the shell necklace, bracelet, and anklet set.
Bath Bombs
Again - who wouldn’t want an amazing bath bomb to kick off a relaxing day? These VSCO girls have great taste.
Lip Care
Fun lip gloss is a great stocking stuffer for your VSCO girl. Carmex is also a VSCO girl fav.
Save The Turtle Sweatshirt
The Awesome Company is a local company dedicated to employing adults with Autism and they can make anything you want! I asked them to make this Save The Turtles sweatshirt for my VSCO girl and she is obsessed with it. She’s been wearing it all week.
If you get any of these items for the VSCO girl on your list you can feel confident that she will be so happy. You can also check out my Amazon page with all of the links in one easy spot for you. :)
We Taught Our Kids How to Build Their Own Computers and They Loved It!
Our kids have always loved getting to help my husband take apart his computer and put it back together. They love helping him clean it, replace parts, and ask a million questions in the process. Late last year when they started begging for their own computers my husband was excited to take this as an opportunity to teach them how to build their own computers.
Our kids have always loved getting to help my husband take apart his computer and put it back together. They love helping him clean it, replace parts, and ask a million questions in the process. Late last year when they started begging for their own computers my husband was excited to take this as an opportunity to teach them how to build their own computers. This was not my area of expertise so my involvement was minimal but I did watch and learn a lot from what they did together.
The Benefits
Our children had to earn each and every part of the new computer. We didn’t just buy everything one day and let them set it up on the same day. They spent months doing extra chores, saving money, and learning the value of a dollar.
They had the opportunity to learn about each part, why it was important, and how it helped the computer function.
They have a better understanding and appreciation for their device. They take care of it with pride because they know firsthand how much money and time went into building it.
The Process
When we first decided to start this project we knew it would be a few months’ worths of work to get them all of the parts they needed so we came up with different tasks and what we were willing to put towards their computer fund if they completed each task. Because they were eager to build them they would request parts as birthday presents or save birthday money for a computer part. We started them off with the case that would be the home to all of the computer parts and then we went from there…
Building
Once they earned the parts, they were eager to start building. They did install most parts as they got them but towards the end they let the parts build up so they could finish installing them all at once. The processor and the hard drive were the last few parts they installed before putting Windows on the computer so they could get to important business….Minecraft.
The Parts
I am linking them here for convenience but I also suggest looking around between websites and physical stores to get the best prices. We used Newegg, Amazon, and Micro Center as our main sources for parts.
Windows
Computer Chair - this is the one my son has on his wishlist but for now, he’s using one from my husband’s office since they aren’t using them anymore ;)
The Final Price
I asked my husband how much we ended up spending and he said “more than we anticipated” haha! Not surprised. But for real it was around $1000 per computer over the course of six months or so, so it didn’t feel like a huge hit all at once.
My husband wrote up a little bit more about the process because like I said, I wasn’t heavily involved in this part :)
The Process According to Riley -
The first step I’ll skip over is researching and acquiring the parts. The prices can vary enough to warrant research between amazon and other competitors. Purchasing them at Micro Center always means paying more but you get the satisfaction of getting the item immediately. We did a mix of Amazon purchases and Micro Center purchases.
Next, you will want to get the motherboard installed. It is the base for every other component you’ll install. Hence the name. This item takes up a good portion of the space in the case as well, as everything else plugs into it in some capacity.
From there the process can vary but we started with the power supply, one of the physically larger pieces to install. It is essentially a black box with a ton of wires coming out of it to supply power to the remaining components.
We installed the processor next. The most expensive and for this build the most important piece. I handle this myself to ensure it went on correctly without messing with the thermal paste that keeps it cool.
Moving on it was a lot of relatively quick install pieces, the hard drive, wifi adapter, RAM.
The final step was to correctly hook up all the cabling to ensure that all units have power and everything is connected in all the right spots. This is not an overly hard task but does take focus. The cabling for most of these components is essentially a jumble of wires and some super tiny labels to find and connect to.
That’s basically it. Once it is up and running you need to install windows or other comparable operating systems and then you’re good to go.
Interested in learning more about this process? Tell me in the comments and we will do a part 2.
Children's Books to Educate and Inspire Before The 2020 Election
My husband and I take our kids to the polls with us, we have conversations with them about who we are voting for and why, and this year we are breaking open the following books to help us keep the conversations going...
If there is any year to start talking to our kids about the importance of voting and elections it’s 2020. My kids have a lot of questions this year and I think it’s in part to the news headlines they’ve seen, the conversations they’ve heard, and all of the things they’ve heard that I wish I could protect them from.
I personally believe that having these conversations while they’re young will help them learn to understand and make informed decisions later in life. My goal is to have these conversations with them now so they will ask questions as we go to form their own opinions and belief systems.
My husband and I take our kids to the polls with us, we have conversations with them about who we are voting for and why, and this year we are breaking open the following books to help us keep the conversations going...
Let’s jump right into the books…
VOTE!
Author Eileen Christelow explains voting, political parties, campaigns, debates, and more in an easy kid-friendly format. It had great reviews on Amazon so we decided to give it a try.
Grace for President
I remember being in first grade and hearing that there had never been a woman president and my teacher telling me that I would probably see that change in my lifetime. It was exciting to think about and I can completely understand why Grace was just as eager to run her own race to become President. It’s a fictional story that is a fun intro to the American electoral system while teaching about hard work and determination.
Hardcover Bold & Brave_ Ten Heroes Who Won Women The Right to Vote
Understanding the history of voting is an important part of learning why democracy and voting are so important. Reading the stories of the ten suffragists who fought for women’s rights to vote was fun and informative.
The Electoral College: A Kid’s Guide
Understanding the Electoral College is extremely important in understanding how voting works. This guide is great for kids as it walks through fair and balanced viewpoints while keeping kids engaged and informed.
The Kids’ Complete Guide to Elections
Similar to the Kids’ Guide to the Electoral College this book walks through popular questions kids have about elections, political parties, and election day. Like - what do donkeys and elephants have to do with our President and other elected officials?
Politics for Beginners
I liked this book because it spoke about the importance of understanding politics because it’s everywhere. Some questions it answers include - what is a dictator? How can one person change the world? What is parliament? Plus so many other questions. It’s part of a bigger series like Business for Beginners so if your child loves this, it may be a great way to open up other interests.
The Interactive Constitution
This book is SO MUCH fun! There are so many interactive features like color changing wheels, special vocabulary decoder, and more as they learn about the different types of government, checks, and balances, Bill of Rights, and all of the things important to understanding our Constitution.
Democracy for Dinosaurs
If you’ve looked through my other book lists you’ll notice a theme - there is almost always ONE that involves dinosaurs and that’s because my little ones love a good dinosaur story. To be honest, I haven’t read this book yet because isn’t released until September 8, 2020. However, from the snippets I’ve read, it looks like it will be a great book for the little ones.
Political Parties
A Few More We Love
Don’t Vote for The Duck
This book was sent to me by a PR company and my husband and I had a blast reading through it. The mean duck is running for President of Washington Elementary and it’s up to the rest of the kids to show up with kindness to stop him. It definitely hits on some important moments that we are currently facing that adults would recognize while being a fun engaging books for kids.
Start Now! You Can Make a Difference
You can make the world a better place by being you and this book talks about exactly that. I’m adding it to this list because I think in so many ways what we believe in and how we vote are so closely related and every single vote makes a difference.
11 Fun & Affordable Amazon Finds for The Creative Kid
This month we’re focusing on different activities for the creative kid - the kid that loves to have their hands moving, creating masterpieces, and staying busy. This list is packed again with affordable and fun activities you can enjoy this summer with your kids.
A few weeks ago I shared a list of Affordable Amazon Finds and the response was great! From what I heard you guys loved having a list of fun things for your kids to enjoy this summer while making it easier on the budget so I thought I’d make it a monthly feature.
This month we’re focusing on different activities for the creative kid - the kid that loves to have their hands moving, creating masterpieces, and staying busy. This list is packed again with affordable and fun activities you can enjoy this summer with your kids.
