• Family Activities,  Kid Activities,  Reviews,  Travel

    7 Staycation Ideas Around Atlanta

    *We visited most of these places during the height of the pandemic when mask-wearing was the norm. Mask-wearing is not currently required at any of the places listed below. Looking for family-friendly staycation ideas near Atlanta that everyone will enjoy? Check out these unique activities we discovered, including historical gold mines, charming doll hospitals, amazing space centers, and picturesque train rides. Spin Art Atlanta  Discover the magic of Spin Art Nation Sugar Hill, an immersive and interactive art experience that captivated Jackson and Ansley with its unique and exhilarating approach to creativity. This one-of-a-kind destination in Sugar Hill, Georgia, offers visitors the opportunity to create colorful, mess-free masterpieces using a…

  • Recipes,  Weekly Menus

    Weekly Menu

    This week’s menu is a mix of celebratory meals, healthy meatless options, and classic comfort foods. We kicked off the week with Austin’s Birthday Celebration on Sunday. We had a family gathering and ordered his favorite foods. On Monday, we went meatless and indulged in a delicious Ramen Bowl filled with edamame, sweet potatoes, green onions, and eggs. This dish is packed with flavor and nutrients, making it a perfect addition to our weeknight dinner rotation. Tuesday brought us Garlic Butter Chicken with potatoes and green beans. This classic dish is a family favorite, with the garlic butter adding a rich and savory flavor to the chicken. On Wednesday, we…

  • Family Activities,  Reviews,  Travel

    A Winter Birthday Celebration at SoundWaves Waterpark

    *disclamier: This trip was taken in 2021 during the height of the pandmemic when mask wearing was still the norm. Mask are not required at Soundwaves or Opryland at this time. As we prepared to celebrate Ansley’s birthday in January, we searched for a unique and exciting destination to make her special day unforgettable. That’s when we discovered SoundWaves Waterpark in Nashville, Tennessee. This upscale waterpark offers an impressive range of attractions, catering to all ages and preferences. From thrilling rides to relaxing lazy rivers, SoundWaves became the perfect choice for a birthday getaway. A Birthday to Remember: Our adventure at SoundWaves began with a few of us trying out…

  • Recipes,  Weekly Menus

    Weekly Menu

    This week’s menu is filled with a variety of flavors and dishes that are sure to satisfy any craving. From hearty meats to light and fresh seafood, there’s something for everyone. We started off the week with a classic Sunday dish – Corned Beef and Sauerkraut paired with crispy fries. This comforting dish is perfect for cooler weather and hits the spot every time. On Monday, we had Loaded Baked Potatoes with broccoli, cheese, bacon, and sour cream. It was the perfect way to start the week and get us ready for the delicious meals to come. On Tuesday, we switched things up with a light and refreshing Pesto Salmon…

  • Events,  Kid Activities

    Mermaid Sleepover Tea Party

    In planning this party, it was super important to me that the girls be able to see themselves represented in the imagery used.  When I found this cute Mermaid illustration  bundle from Mujka design, I knew that it would be the perfect representation of Ansley and her  guest. 

  • Camp Covid,  Camps,  Kid Activities

    Fall Break

    This week is Fall Break for 2 of my 3 kids. Because of the differences in their school schedules, we can’t travel this year. We’ve decided to take a few in-town field trips and spend our days working on some fun fall activities. This week we are going to skip the educational component that is usually included in camp weeks. While I love the opportunity to teach the kids new things, because school has been in session for several weeks, they could use the break and are really are not in the mood to learn. Highlights for this week include Creating Floating Cheese Cloth Ghost Going Apple Picking Taking a…

  • Camp Covid,  Camps

    Space Camp

    My little scientists love anything out of this world, so we are excited to host our own Space Camp! This week will take a close look at the moon, stars, and galaxy. We will read books about space, do space-related art and science projects and visit the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama. Highlights for this week include Creating Space Stained Sun Catcher Launching Bottle Rockets Watching Space Jam 2 Making Astronaut Ice Cream. As always, you are welcome to join us. The supply list and schedule are listed below. July 26-July 30 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Art/Craft Chalk Galaxy Pastels Space Stained Sun Catchers Make DIY Galaxy…

  • Camp Covid,  Camps

    Entrepreneur Camp

    With the exception of 2020, every summer, the kids start a summer business. This week we will work on developing an idea, building a stand, marketing, and selling their product during Entrepreneur Camp. In the past, Jackson has run “Pop of Jacks,” a popsicle stand that usually brings in roughly $75-$100 every day he goes out. From an early age, he learned how to use his charm and a few signature popsicle recipes to rake in sales, donations and create repeat customers. Due to probable concerns over the safety of homemade products, we will use those skills to launch a new business run by Jackson & Ansley. David and I…

  • camp toying around,  Kid Activities,  Reviews

    A Black Mom’s Review Of Babyland General Hospital

    Growing up playing with Cabbage Patch Dolls, I am sure I was more excited than Ansley to visit Babyland General Hospital, a showroom of original cabbage patch dolls, a birthplace for new dolls, and a store. While the visit started great, my excitement waned when I discovered one very disappointing fact: on the day of our visit, there was not a single doll of color in the Babyland Exclusive Cabbage Patch Doll Collection. We took the hour and fifteen-minute trek to Cleveland, GA, to visit Babyland during Camp Toying Around. Babyland is located in a picturesque southern white mansion sitting against the backdrop of the North Georgia Mountains. The grounds…