When I’m knee-deep in home renovations and DIY projects,
I know Lennon is watching how I handle stressful situations, the way I pause and reassess if I hit a stumbling block, the energy I put into my work and the way I prioritize down time with her.
And while I’m often immersed in work traditionally viewed as masculine, I want her to know this…
What determines her path in life
is not what others believe she can do,
but what she knows she can do.
Gender-specific roles no longer define our capabilities or determine our journey and outcome. It will be Lennon’s effort, her willingness to work through obstacles, her belief that she is smart and able and worthy that will determine her success.
As a single mom, it’s important for me to ensure she is immersed in a culture that values the contributions of women. Even at her young age, females that model strength, resiliency and critical thinking are important for her personal development. That’s one of the reasons we are both die-hard fans of the daytime Emmy nominated series Miss Persona! The main character is curious, industrious and analyzes problems from every angle before trying to solve them. Lennon also loves Miss Persona’s sidekick Brandon Bear.
What’s not to love?
Cuddly, cute, the perfect size for snuggling and a wonderful little friend to Miss Persona. I want Lennon to know that it’s okay to lean on trusted friends and family as we try and navigate the trials of life.
Inspired by Miss Persona’s whimsical approach to life, I created a reward chart that teaches valuable lessons in responsibility, helps sharpen her problem-solving skills, and prompts her to find resourceful ways to handle complex problems. Win/win situation in my books!
A reward system is a great way to reinforce positive behaviour and keep your child motivated to keep pursuing the changes we want to implement. It helps children grasp accountability in small, digestible ways that are also fun, and in typical mom fashion, teach them something without them even knowing. I’m pretty good at recognizing and praising good behaviour, but a reward chart is a good reminder nonetheless.
Here’s how we did it:
I selected a theme that Lennon identifies with and gets excited about. As I mentioned, we are big fans of Miss Persona so we modelled this project using designs and colours that reflect the look and feel of the show.
Lennon and I sketched out the plan on brown craft paper to make sure the flow worked for both of us. In true Miss Persona fashion, we got dressed up to play the part of “inventive cartographers.” Brandon Bear was with us too of course. He’s the unofficial member of our little family and has been tagging along with us on all our adventures.
We decided on 3 prize stops. She pressed for more (I would have done the same), but this felt like a good number to help motivate and encourage her along her journey. Each phase gets progressively harder, but not so hard that she’ll want to throw in the towel. The premise is to increase responsibility, but still stay within parameters that are attainable.
Keep the rewards simple but thoughtful. You want your child to know you put some thought and effort into selecting just the right things. They do not have to be expensive, but they should be considerate. Things like hand drawn certificates for activities you can do together, supplies for future craft projects or a book they’ve been wanting are always popular around my house. Choose rewards specific to your child- ones that will keep them motivated to continue putting in the effort.
The most important thing of course is to have fun along the way and be tolerant. Incorporating chores into daily routines or asserting behavioural changes can be a lot of work for young children who are trying to navigate these adjustments with poise and patience. We need to remember to acknowledge their effort.
Inspired by Miss Persona's whimsical approach to life, I created a reward chart that teaches valuable lessons in responsibility, helps sharpen problem-solvin...
Lennon’s Treasure Reward Map Download; Click the map above to open image in new window.
You can download this free reward chart and personalize it by writing your child’s name at the top in fancy letters. Lennon likes glitter, so her name is adorned in pink and blue sparkles. Be sure to let me know how this is working for you and your family and tag me in your stories so I don’t miss it.
Join us in your best dress up to watch the new season premiere of Miss Persona (December 7th) at 6:30pm EST on Treehouse with new episodes premiering every weekday!
Are you in quick crunch for some last minute seasonal decor?
Here is something better than a Pumpkin Spice Latte to quench your seasonal cravings, no carving necessary. Cinderella Style Fabric Pumpkins are a super easy and fun DIY! “Pump-n-Spice” up any space with these adorably cozy cushions. Luckily you can make these Cinderella style pumpkins on a Cinderella style budget!
• SUPPLIES •
These cushy pumpkins can be made from any spare fabric that you may have laying around the house. Whether it be from a previous project or simply an old sweater… lovingly repurposing clothing is a great way to give it a whole new life! — Quite magical indeed Cinderelly. Now go gather the supplies!
FABRIC
SCISSORS
COTTON BATTING
NEEDLE & THREAD
GLUE GUN
POT LID (or something circular to trace)
• STEPS •
Trace & Cut A Circle From Your Fabric:
You can do this using a pot lid, like the true innovateure herself. The bigger you cut the circle, the larger your pumpkin will be. Have fun creating multiple sizes and shapes for some variation in your decor.
Sew A “Slip Stitch” Around The Circumference Of The Circle:
Keep about a 1/4” away from the edge— that way you don’t risk ripping the gathered thread through the fabric. Pro Tip: You can keep your thread attached to the spool to ensure that you never run out of thread until finished.
Stuff Your Pumpkin:
Now that you’ve got your slip stitch in place, it’s time to stuff that pumpkin with cotton batting. If you find yourself short, there are plenty of alternatives that you can use! News paper, rice or repurpose an old stuffed animal. Note:If you are aiming for the cinderella style, less stuffing is best to achieve their flatter silhouette.
Cinch Your Citrouille (Pumpkin):
With your pumpkin now stuffed, cinch the two loose threads together by pulling them tightly and creating a gathered hole. Note:DO NOT tie off or rip off your threads yet! You’ll need them for the next step.
Create The Cinderella Style:
Hold your pumpkin in one hand with the hole facing upward. With the attached needle and thread in the other hand, sew through the centre of the pumpkin then wrap the thread around to create segments. Continue to puncture through the centre to create that Cinderella style. When you have achieved your desired shape, tie off that thread or sew a knot in the fabric to finish.
Stylish Stems:
To top off your perfect pumpkin, it’s time to get creative with the stem! I opted for some leftover cork fabric that I had, which I then cut into strips, rolled then glue to the top using the hot glue gun. Note: You can use anything to create the stems— Pipe cleaners, twine, twigs, rubber bands! Get crafty & get creating this Autumn.
Trace a circle then cut.
“Slip Stitch” around the circumference fo your circle, stuff your pumpkin then pull both threads together to cinch.
Get that stuff’n in.
Cinch it like Cinderella’s corset
Sew through the centre of the pumpkin and wrap it back around to create segments. Repeat until you’ve achieved your desired shape.
Decorate your pumpkin as you see fit! Get Creative with the stem.
Now that you’ve got the Bippity Boppity Boo of it all, you can make enough pumpkins to fill an entire patch! (Granted, such a project would be much easier if you did happen to have a joyous army of furry critters to assist you…) Never the less, It’s time to head to the Fall Ball!
• Styling Your Creations •
Now that you’re knee deep in your custom made pumpkin patch, what do you do with them all?
Styling your pumpkins and working them into your home decor is half of the fun! This DIY craft is truly versatile, especially if you play it smart with your fabric choices. Sticking with neutrals will allow you to place your pumpkins in any space and give an overall “oomph” to your autumnal ambiance. If you chose to work with bolder & brighter patterns, you are sure to have some spirited standout pieces that will really transform a space!
String together your pumpkins with twine or yarn to create a garland. These garlands are perfect for hanging in windows, doorways and make an excellent focal point for your fireplace (then use the spares to really bulk up the mantle.)
Toss all your pumpkins into a complimentary dish and stick them on your dining room table for an exciting centrepiece. Sprawl differing sizes and styles along the table for a graphic effect.
No matter which way you style these adorable little pumpkins they are sure the please <3
Easy solutions for busy mom’s to cut down on single-Use Plastics
There has been a lot of discussion lately about our overuse of single-use plastics and the harmful effects they are having on our environment. The recent coverage in the news has made me take a closer look at my own single plastic consumption in the home and thinking about practical ways that I can cut down, or cut back on the amount of plastic we throw out. For so long we thought we were recycling all the plastic that goes into the blue bags but as it turns out Canada only recycles about %10 of our plastics and what we are unable to recycle we’ve been shipping off to poorer Asian Countries. Those countries are now taking a stand against the rich world’s plastic waste signalling a change in the global recycling system. There is a growing movement against non- recyclable plastic.
