Julia's activities for the holidays: Halloween

Hi! Do you just LOVE Halloween? I know a lot of kids like to dress up in costumes, have fun with their friends and family and most importantly. . .receiving all of the CANDY! But have you ever wanted to do more? Bellow are ten fun and spooky Halloween ideas that will make you SHRIEK with joy!

1. MAKE COSTUMES FOR YOUR DOLLS OR STUFFED ANIMALS You love dressing up in a costume, so your little friend must enjoy it too! You don't need a lot of stuff. You can use paper, blankets and anything around the house your parent is okay with. For a goddess, you can wrap a tissue around your Barbie doll and secure it with a hair tie or rubber band. For a super hero, you can make a mask out of paper and a cape using a small blanket (you can also use a tissue, cloth or maybe some fabric scraps from your mom after she sews).

2. MAKE A SILLY HALLOWEEN SONG THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY Making a song can be fun and can let you show how creative you are! Write the song about anything Halloween-- mummies, zombies, candy,etc. In it you can show why you love Halloween or it could just be about scary stuff.

3. MAKE A HALLOWEEN BOARD GAME You can make the game out of paper or cardboard (if you use cardboard you might want to glue paper on top). Draw little squares in a line on the base of your board game. They can be in a wavy, straight, whatever you want kind of line. Make sure that your squares are big enough so you can write in them. Make a start and a finish square. In the other squares you can write Halloween phrases that will either make you move ahead, move back or make you lose a turn. For example, "lost in graveyard--lose one turn" and "befriended a witch who gave you a ride on her broom-- move 3 spaces. It's your decision if you want to use cards that tell you how many spaces to move or to use dice. Have fun!

4. DRAW YOUR OWN MONSTER You've heard of zombies, witches and werewolves but have you ever heard of a zummy? It's a zombie and a mummy! With this activity you can either make your own new monster or combine two to make a super monster!

5. MONSTER CARDS Did you love activity number 4? Well then you'll love this one! In this activity you need an opponent (if you have a lot of players, you can make teams!) Each player or team needs a sheet of paper. Cut up your paper so you each have the same amount of pieces. If you have teams you need to make enough pieces for everyone. On your paper, draw a monster and on the bottom write it's power (mind reading, fire maker, etc.) On the count of three two people will reveal their cards. The winner (ex. water beats fire) gets to take the loser's card, which they can use later on in the game. The game will end when either no more cards or left or when time (you can pick how long) runs out.

6. MAKE YOUR STUFFED ANIMALS GO TRICK-OR-TREATING It's fun and simple. Dress your stuffed animals in their Halloween costumes and get them "candy bags." The candy bags can be made from a small container or maybe just a plastic bag. You can use little beads as the candy. You can set up little stations or "houses" for your little friends. You can have other stuffed animals give them candy. Remember to have fun with your little friends!

7. MAKE HALLOWEEN RAINBOW LOOM BRACELETS I know a lot of people love the rainbow loom so I made an activity for those people. All you have to do is grab some orange and black rubber bands to make your Halloween rainbow loom bracelets. You could make starburst, ladder, fishtail, and raindrop bracelets. I'm sure that you can make other bracelets, too! Have fun!

8. MAKE HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS FOR YOUR LOCKER  You decorate the house for Halloween, so why not decorate your locker? There's a bunch of stuff you can make for your locker--like a paper jack-o-lantern, Halloween bubble letters, little ghosts and many more.

9. MAKE A SCARY HALLOWEEN DANCE This activity will be fun for those of you that like dancing. Make sure that your dance moves are fun and scary! If you want to, you can perform your dance while someone else (or you could try to) sings your song.

10. HAVE A "SPOOK-TACKLER" HALLOWEEN PARTY With all of these fun activities, you can definitely have a "SPOOK-TACKLER" party! You can also come up with some of your own ideas and do those at your party too.

REMEMBER TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN! HALLOWEEN IS A GREAT TIME TO GET TOGETHER WITH SOME FRIENDS. I HOPE YOU'LL SHRIEK WITH JOY! :)

Have any more fun Halloween ideas? Leave a comment on this post to give others more things to do to celebrate!

     

Prepare for School: Labeling Your Supplies

     You finally finished all of that back-to-school shopping. You've got pencils, notebooks, folders, binders, pencils, pens, and more. Finally, finally you have gotten back home, and you are ready to plop on the couch...your bed...even the floor. You think you're done. But, not so fast: you still have to do some things. One such thing being labeling your school supplies.

If you don't change classes, then this process will be easier for you.
     First, grab all of your supplies and a pen. You do not want to use a pencil. If you use a pencil, your hard work could easily be erased or looked over. A dark pen will stick and stand out.
     After you have gathered your things, it's time to label! Start out with the simple things: notebooks, folders, binders, etc. Write your name, grade, room number, and teacher on the supplies. It's good to write on the inside of things (inside covers, not pages), just in case your teacher is specific about what she/he wants written on your supplies. Just be careful when you write: let it dry before closing it up to avoid a big smear of ink.
     Don't think you are done just yet: you still have the more complicated things left. These include pencils, pencil cases, tape, etc. These, of course, are optional, but can be helpful in the long run. For pencil cases, it might be best to paste a piece of paper on it and write on that. Tape, too: homemade paper labels are useful. In fact, these labels are a great way to label any difficult surface.

However, if you do change classes, you'll have to be more careful when labeling your supplies.
     First things first: look at your school supply list. On this list, is it specific about what supplies are needed for each class? For example, does it say, "1 3-subject notebook for math, 3 composition notebooks for language arts, etc."? If not, you will not be able to label things as specifically as preferred.
     Organize your supplies based on what is needed for each subject. Put math in one section, science in another, social studies in yet another, an  so on and so on. This will make it easier when labeling your things, and will also make clear any mistake  in back-to-school shopping.
     Once this is done, you may start labeling. Write your name, class, grade, and other necessary information on the inside covers of things. Writing things on the inside is best because each teacher might have a set way they like information written on supplies. Be sure that you write in pen, as pencil can easily be erased, and let it sit for a little to prevent smearing. Then, now that you have done this, you can move on to general supplies.
     These include pencil cases, pencils, pencil sharpener, etc. You can choose what you want to label. Do you want to label everything? Or do you want to leave some unlabeled? The decision is up to you.

     Remember to put your supplies away in your backpack when you're done...you don't want all of this work--buying supplies and labeling them--to be wasted by carelessness!

Julia's Tips for...Cleaning Your Room

     If you read yesterday's post (Prepare for School: The Importance of a Clean Room), you know that having (and keeping) a clean and organized room is important. But, cleaning your room is easier said then done. All it takes is one step into your cluttered room for all of your motivation to fly away. So, how do you manage to get started? How do you keep on going? How do you get started? Searching for answers to these questions? Then read below for all if those little tips that will keep you on track.

Tip #1: Create a Plan. Of course, this will only work for some people, as not everyone works well with a plan, but I know this definitely works for me! This plan can be as detailed, simple, or complicated as you want. Is it a to-do list? An hour-by-hour agenda of the process? A simple list of what you want to get done? Whatever you chose to do, forming a plan might be one of the most logical and easiest ways to stay focused and productive.

Tip #2: Set Goals for Yourself. Goals, small or big, are a great way to push yourself forward. They also can easily take the place of a plan, and are, most likely, something you are used to doing by now. In school, you are constantly making and working to achieve set goals. Teachers do this for a reason. By making goals, you are sure of your purpose, what you are going to do, when you want it done by...all of the little details you might forget other wise!

Tip #3: Set Rewards for Completing a Step. Who doesn't like rewards? By creating rewards for yourself, you are motivated to get work done. For example, a reward could be texting your friend for 10 minutes or eating a special snack. Just be sure that your reward won't distract you!

Tip #4: Listen to Music. By listening to music, you can keep yourself entertained, and cleaning your room will seem less boring. An  the great thing is, there are so many ways you can listen to music: on the radio, your phone, iPod, Kindle Fire, iPad, CD player, etc. I am sure there is some way that you can play your music. Just be careful: play it too loud and you may disturb your family members.

Tip #5: Hold a Competition. If all else fails, a little friendly competition won't hurt, and will definitely push you forward. Grab a friend, sibling, or even your mom or dad and start the cleaning! First clean room wins.

     I wish you luck in cleaning and organizing your room. Remember, it does not have to be done in a day. This might take time. All that matters is that you get a good product at the end.

Prepare for School: The Importance of a Clean Room

     Let's face it: no one really likes to clean their room. Yes, there are those who actually find pleasure in doing this, but for most of us out there, cleaning our room can be very difficult. Even if we say, "I want to clean my room," when it comes time to do so, we suddenly find ourselves not wanting to. But we all know that a clean room is important...especially during the school year. The longer you stall, the harder it will be when you clean it, so you might as well do it now. (This, in a way, is also a reminder to myself. In fact, I will make you a deal: I will clean mine, and you, yours. Okay? Good.)


Why should I clean my room?

Answer #1: You should clean your room because a neat room is important for the school year. For a lot of teens, tweens, and kids, homework is done in the bedroom. And, who wants to do homework in a messy bedroom? A neater room is easier to concentrate in. Additionally, a clean space is more welcoming (you will actually want to go in it), and less distracting (pretty difficult to focus on homework with clutter all around, isn't it?), making homework time easier.

Answer #2: A clean room is more welcoming (as mentioned briefly in Answer #1). With a cluttered room, you will not want to spend much time in it. If it is insanely messy, it will be difficult to move around. Your room should be a place where you can relax and rest at the end of the day, but with an unorganized room, it will be harder to settle down. The mess is distracting and stressful, and might even keep you more awake. Plus, if you are like me, a messy room will be a constant reminder of all the work you will have to do to clean it, adding more stress to whatever pile you have already created. Hanging out in your room will not be fun, as you might not be able to sit in it, move around easily, or do things you want to do.

Answer #3: Having a tidy room is key to being organized. Having an untidy room however, is a one-way path to a struggle in finding things. You might currently find yourself thinking, "Where is it?", and this might be happening a lot. If this is happening (or you think you are close to being in this state), you know you need to clean your room soon. Not being able to find things is really annoying and frustrating...and definitely something you don't want happening to you. On the other hand, if you have a clean room, you will easily be able to find things, important when you need to quickly grab something.

     So, where do you go now? Well, I hope this answer comes to you instantly. If it doesn't, I will tell you directly:

·~·~·~·~·~·CLEAN YOUR ROOM!·~·~·~·~·~·

     Remember, cleaning your room will take time, as a lot of thought and planning will be put into it (unless you just throw things in drawers and your closet...don't do that), and that's okay! No one is expecting you to finish cleaning your room in an hour (unless it really isn't that messy), and there is no set level of how organized or clean it should be. Some people like it so that every little thing has its on place, and others are a little more laid-back. But whatever your style, be sure to keep your goal and self in mind. :)

[Just a Little Note: To make up for not posting on Monday like usual, I will be publishing a special Wednesday treat for tomorrow. I hope you will enjoy it, and thanks for reading our blog! :D :D :D]

Summer To-Do List Check-In

     I know that you were probably expecting a post from Emily today, as she usually writes on Fridays, but for this Friday, you get me (Julia) instead! Hope you don't mind that. I'm not that bad, right? Anyway, I am here to remind you of something very important. Remember that summer to-do list I suggested? Well, how many of those things are actually done? 
     If your answer was "many of them", "most of them", or "all of them", then congratulations! You are very well accomplished this summer! But, if you are like me, and answered "some of them", "few", or even (gasp!) "none", than you might want to continue reading. Sorry. Oh, and if you did not make a summer to-do list, don't worry! Click here to view that post.
     Okay, so you don't have a lot of boxes checked off. Don't worry, for there still is some time left of summer vacation left (for some people) to get at least some of these things done. How are you ever going to do these things? There are a few solutions to your troubles, so don't worry. Read through each one and find the one that best fits you and your situation.

1. Make a plan. Making a plan is probably one of the simplest options, but might sound easier than it is. Before finalizing your plan, think about the following. Do you have any plans with family and friends over this time? Do you have other priorities? How long will each activity take? Oh, and don't forget to work some testing time into there too!
2. Discard some of your "to-dos". So maybe you don't have enough time to do all of your planned things. I know that I don't have enough time to do all of the activities on my list! Pick certain activities based on both the amount of time you have left and on what you like the most. The rest of your activities can be saved for next summer's fun!
3. Save some activities for school weekends. You do need something to do over the weekend, and if you can't complete these activities over the summer, why not do it during the school year? It might be a slow process (one or two per weekend), but eventually you'll be able to say that you completed your summer to-do list...even if it is a little late!

     After looking through these myself, I suggest combining the first option with the second or third option. If you know you can't complete these over the summer, why not extend your plan over the rest of the summer and the school year? So, I wish you luck with your last-minute summer plans, and maybe future school plans. Just don't let it distract you from enjoying your last days of summer vacation...or doing homework!

[Sorry about the hastily-made post. At least it's something! :)]

How to Play Gin

     Gin is a fun card game that involves memorizing, strategy, thought, luck, trickery, and a good poker face! As long as you have a deck of cards, someone to play with, and a surface to play on, you can start a game of gin!

Object of the Game: To be the first player to get three sets (two sets of three and one set of four).

Number of Players: 2 players

Set-Up: Shuffle and deal ten cards to each player. Be sure to take the jokers and any other extra cards out of the deck. Put the remaining cards in the center, and put the top card face-up beside the other cards, forming the discard pile.

How to Play (basics): The player who has not dealt goes first. During one's turn, they must pick up one card and put one card down in return. The card they pick up can either be from the discard pile or the "regular pile": the pile of cards that are face-down. Once they do, they must put one card down on the discard pile, so they still have only ten cards. Each player will continue to do this on their turn. The cards each player picks up will help them in their attempt to form sets. A set, as stated before, has to be made up of four or three cards and can either be the same number in multiple suits or 3/4 numbers of the same suit in order. For example, a set could be an ace of hearts, spades, and clubs or the 2, 3, 4, and 5 of diamonds. In this game, aces are 1, jacks are 11, queens are 12, and kings are 13. When a player picks up a card, giving them "gin" (three sets), they will place the card they must set down face-down, and say "Gin".

Additional Things to do in Play: Remember when I said that gin involves memorizing and trickery? I am now going to tell you why gin involves these things.

When cards are placed down in the center, it is helpful to remember which cards are put down. Why, you ask? Well, let's say that, for instance, you are trying to form a set of spades. You have a 9 and an 8 of spades. All you need is a 10 or 7 of spades and you will complete the set...AND get gin. You probably are excited, happy, sure of your win...right? No! This is because you were not watching what cards were being discarded earlier in the game, when you did not need the 10 and 7 of subject, not noticing that those two valuable cards were put down! There's no way of getting them back now, unless, of course, you must re-shuffle the deck due to a lack of cards, but by then your opponent could win! Had you watched the cards you would've known, but now, oh: it's too late, and--do you see where I'm going with this?
Paying attention to the cards played by your opponent also proves to be helpful when trying to prevent your opponent from winning (getting gin). If you watch your opponent carefully throughout the game--noticing the cards they put down, what they pick up, how well they hide their fortune--you might be able to determine what card your opponent needs to get gin, and if you, by luck, happen to pick up that card, you are going to want to hold on to it! But, if you didn't watch the games carefully, then you would've put down the card, as it had no use to you. Then your opponent, smiling, would snatch that card, and put a card face-down on the pile. "Gin," they grin, and at that moment you would be thinking, If only I watched the cards. If only...if only...then I wouldn't have put down the winning card!

But, how will you avoid your opponent from doing these things to you? It's simple: you'll TRICK them. Tricking your opponent is easy and helpful...UNLESS your opponent isn't watching the cards. Then "tricking" them is just a waste of time. Now you can see how trying to trick your opponent can be risky. But before you decide whether or not you want to trick the other player, first you should know how to trick them, so you can consider your options. Let's go back to the example I used before: you already completed two sets, one of four and one of three. You have a 9 and 8 of spades. All you need is a 10 or 7 of spades and ta-da! you win the game! And this time, both cards are out there somewhere in the pile, waiting for you. It's your turn. You pick up a card from the regular card pile. It is a...6. Of hearts. You don't need this! But you can TRICK the other player. Put down your extra card and KEEP the 6. Later you can put down that six. By picking up a card, you create suspicions inside your opponent's head, and you get them thinking, and sort of off track. Just be careful...they might be tricking you too!

DIY Photo Holder

   Today I'm going to teach you how to make your own photo holder! It is extremely easy and will only take about a minute. You need:

• Some Snapple bottle caps (3 per picture holder)
• Some small pictures (1 per picture holder)
• Duct tape/ Washi tape

1.Put one cap on top of another so the space between the caps is hollow.

  

2. Put tape over half of the caps so they stay together.

3. Put the two caps in another cap tape side down.

4. Customize! Make it your own! This photo is a photo card I made of Miles in Made You Up. I love that book! Here's a link to my recently updated book review: Made You Up book review

   I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

                                   

                 -Emily

Top 10 Things to do in the Car

     Over summer vacation, you'll probably do a good amount of traveling. Whether the car ride is only half an hour or 5 hours, you probably don't want to be bored out if your mind waiting. So, I have created this "Top Ten List" to help guide to the world of car ride fun! Even if you have some ideas, it wouldn't hurt to have a few more! Look below for my top ten picks!

1. Read a book! Everyone loves reading, right? Okay, this might not be true for everyone, but Emily and I sure live to! Books take you to new places. They teach you so many things! Romance, comedy, mystery...there's something for everyone! Check out our book reviews page for a few good suggestions!

2. Talk! Why not? Your parents have tons to say, and I'm sure you do too! Talking is fun for most people, and will make time fly! It also is a great chance to bond with your parents! Have siblings? Even better! You can have a chit-chatter party!

3. Listen to music. Your parents might by mind. In fact, some (maybe including yours) parents listen to the radio themselves! If not, don't worry: a lot of people have some sort of device that they can play music on. Just pick some songs and listen! Just, be careful not to crazily sing along...out loud.

4. Look out the window. Okay, okay, I know: might not be your favorite. But, it can be worthwhile. Especially if you happen to be driving through rows of trees or rolling hills; historic houses or tall city buildings. I'm sure there's something out there! All you have to do is turn your head!

5. Play gin! While this card game may not be ideal for a car ride, it surely is fun--and addicting! It is possible to play in the car though, and is a great thing to do with a friend! (Don't know how to play? Do not worry! Next Monday you can learn how to play through a blog post! So, stay tuned!)

6. Think. Who says you have to actually do an activity? Thinking can be quite fun. And the great thing is, there's so much to think about! Think about what's going on in your life: family, friends, what you're going to do on vaction; what has happened in your life: happy things, troubling things, what happened on your vaction; and, of course, there always is the simple fun of thinking random thoughts!

7. Crochet/Knit. Yes, you may not know how to do either of these things, but there must be a hobby of yours that can be done in the car! Whether it is crocheting, knitting, drawing, etc. it doesn't matter. As long as it is fun for you and meets the previous requirement, it's a possibility!

8. Play a car game. Don't have a deck of cards? That's okay, because there are plenty of games that are made for car rides! Games include I Spy, 20 Questions, an assorted selection of hand games, and so much more. You can even create your own car game to pass the time!

9. Take a nap! Who says this isn't nice? Maybe you had to get up at some unpleasant hour early in the morning. Or you didn't sleep well from vacation excitement. Whatever it may be, naps are an easy and simple option. They especially come in handy during LONG car rides. So sit back, close your eyes, maybe even snuggle up under a packed blanket and begin your snooze!

10. Go on a device. You may be wondering why I chose to put this last on the list. My reason for doing so is because I believe that kids these days already spend enough time on their kindles, phones, iPods, iPads, etc. Anyway, you might not be able to bring such things with you in the car, so it might be best not to think about! With so many options listed above, hopefully you won't have to turn on your electronic!

By Julia

Summer Book Club with Friends!

     Reading. A lot of schools, including my own, require you to do so over your summer vacation. Some people, possibly including yourself, don't find the fun or need in this. But, it is important, and it can be fun. Even if you don't enjoy reading, having a book club can make it enjoyable. And the best part is, you only need at least one friend and enough copies of a book for each person.

Get your friend(s) on board with the idea. Before you can start your book club, you need to find a good group to have the book club with. But don't rush into gathering your group. Try thinking a little. A few factors might make some friends unsuitable for your book club. Ask yourself the following when looking over a friend:

1. Would they have time to get together (or at least chat electronically) for the book club?
2. Do they have a reading level similar to yours?
3. Would you enjoy having them in your book club? (After all, you're trying to have fun!)
4. (If others have already been invited) Is there enough room for them in the book club?

Pick a book. This might sound simple, but there is actually a lot of thinking involved! Is it on a good reading level for you? Will everyone in the book club be able to finish it on time (before summer vacation ends)? Is it interesting to all or most of the book club members?  Are you able to find enough copies of the book for each person? (This last question should also be considered when finding members.) If you need help finding books, you can look at our book reviews page!

Get started! From here on, a lot of the details are up to you! How do you want to do your book club? Will you have physical meetings or electronical ones? How many discussions will you have? How will you split up the book? Will there be assigned roles, or will everyone talk freely about their thoughts on the book?

Why should I have a "Summer Book Club"?

• It would make summer reading even better!
• It gives you a chance to hang out and interact with friends while doing necessary things.
• By having your own book club over the summer, you would be prepared for a book club you might have to do in school.

By Julia

Let's Go Bowling!

   Bowling is a great activity for the summer. It's indoors, which means air conditioning; it's something you can do with friends and family; and it's fun! Go bowling with your family and friends!
   Imagine a hot day (it can get really hot in the summer). You can't stay outside for five minutes without sweating. Your parents want to get out of the house to do something, but it's just TOO hot! But, with bowling, you can bring the fun indoors!
   Also, bowling isn't fun with just one! This is an opportunity to have some fun with others! A little friendly competition can't hurt! ;) Afterwards, you can always get a yummy treat. May I suggest ice cream?
   Bowling is a great activity to do this summer. I have done it a few times myself. Go bowling!

By Julia

Little-known Holidays: for the Week (January 6th-10th 2014)

                      Are you sad that school is coming? Did you celebrate Trivia and Bird Day and had fun? Do you want to have some fun after school? Well, you can! I have more fun little-known holidays to cheer you up! But wait, there's more (by the way, why does every commercial say that?)! All of the holidays I am going to mention always are on these dates! You can put these on your calendar!
                      Monday, January 6, 2014 (and every other January 6) This is the day to cuddle! That's right, January 6th is Cuddle Up Day! Cuddle with your mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grandpa, grandma-- even your stuffed animals! On Cuddle Up Day, make sure you get under a warm blanket and cuddle!
                      Tuesday, January 7, 2014 (and every other January 7) Get ready! It's the day before Bubble Bath Day! Get anything you might need: bubble bath, peaceful music, bath toys, etc. Plan out your special bath and start counting the hours!
                      Wednesday, January 8, 2014 (and every other January 8) It's bubble bath time! It's time to hop into the tub! After a long day, make sure you don't forget to celebrate this holiday! This is a holiday you don't want to miss! Make sure to have fun with the bubbles, they're there for a reason! I also only used exclamation marks for a reason!
                      Thursday, January 9, 2014 (and every other January 9) It's Balloon Ascension Day! On January 9th a long time ago, Jean Pierre Blanchard made the first balloon flight in the Americas in a yellow hot air balloon. To celebrate, you can find out more about Blanchard and you can draw pictures of his balloon!
                       Friday, January 10, 2014 (and every other January 10) Guess what this day's little-known holiday is: Houseplant Appreciation Day! It might sound boring, but it can be fun! You can help your mom or dad water the houseplants and learn about them! Or you could draw your house plants! Just look at them. Aren't they beautiful? Maybe, you could ask your parents if you could take care of a houseplant! Then, you can take care of it and watch it grow!
                   That's it for the week. But check back again on Friday for little-known holidays that you can celebrate over the coming weekend! Remember to celebrate all these fun little holidays and share them with family and friends!

Thank-you to these websites that helped me find the holidays mentioned in this post.
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/january.htm
http://www.brownielocks.com/january.htm

Little-known Holidays: for the Weekend (January 4th and 5th 2014)

                Do you want to celebrate a holiday but have nothing to celebrate? Do you want to have some fun? Do you have nothing to do but still want to do something? Well, I have a solution to that! This weekend, you can have fun with family, friends or just yourself with these little-known but fun holidays!
                On January 4th (which by the way is Saturday) it is Trivia Day! You can get together with family and friends to have a fun trivia night! Ask each other all sorts of trivia, and if you want to, you could play Trivial Pursuit! Ask each other silly, funny, hard or what-ever-you-want questions!
                On January 5th (which is Sunday) it is Bird Day! To all of you bird-lovers out there, this is your holiday! On this day, make sure you watch the birds! Now, you could go outside in the cold, or you could watch from your window (I suggest watching from your window). That's if you can find any birds. If not, that's okay! You could draw birds, dress up like birds, research birds-- basically anything that is related to birds (it is called Bird Day, not Watch Birds Day).
                 Now, do you know what you are going to do this weekend now? I hope you do! After reading this post, I hope you are excited to celebrate these holidays, and maybe some other little-known holidays, too! Have fun!



Thanks to these websites, I was able to find little-known holidays.


http://www.brownielocks.com/january.htm
http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/january.htm

Emily's fantastic rainbow loom ideas

Hi! Here's another idea!!!!!! Again make a glow in the dark rainbow loom chain. Then, make it into the first letter of your first name. Next, tape it onto a piece of paper and hang it in your room. At night watch your letter glow!!! For more fantastic rainbow loom ideas come back to this blog soon!!! -Emily

Emily's fantastic rainbow loom ideas

Hey guys!!!!!! Do you love the rainbow loom? Here's a great idea. Make a long chain with glow in the dark rainbow loom bands. Then hang it in your room. When night comes your chain will glow in the dark!!!! Love this idea? Check out this blog again for more ideas. This is Emily, over and out.

Pumpkin Charm

Start a ladder bracelet but only make the broader a hexagon. Then do the rest.( in Orange.) Then make the 8 connecter in green. Pull on the connecter and Ta-da!!!!!! Thanks!!!  -E

How to make the "bubble bracelet" on the rainbow loom

  I know that the rainbow loom is very popular right now. I love making bracelets with my kit. Sometimes I try to make my own bracelets. Below are instructions to one of the rainbow loom bracelets I made without instructions.

  First, put a straight line of rubber bands down the middle using your first color ( make sure that the red little arrow on the bottom is pointing away from you.)

Next, using your second color ( in mine that color is yellow ), make a diamond shape using just one rubber band on top of the first color. Do this until you can not make anymore diamond shapes.

Now, turn your loom around so the little arrow is know pointing at you. Before you loop your bracelet, you have to do something else first. Have you ever made a starburst bracelet? You know the little thing that you put on the loom before you start looping? You have to do that for this one, too.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, I'll tell you what to do. *Take a rubber band (either your first color or your second color ) and twist it so it makes an 8 shape and put each loop part of the eight on the point where the first and second color meet.

Now, loop the first color. Make sure you don't loop the second color!

After you're done looping, bring you hook under all of the rubber bands at the end. *Hook it with your first color and bring it under while holding it to make a loop.

 If you have made the ladder bracelet or the starburst bracelet you know that I'm beginning an *extension cord. When your extension cord is finished, clip it and-- ta-da! I hope you enjoy your new rainbow loom bracelet. I call this bracelet the "bubble bracelet."

                                                          Bye,
                                                             Julia

* If you do not know how to do the starred steps, look at videos (that can be found online) on how to make the starburst bracelet. Some steps used in here are also needed in the starburst bracelet.

Rainbow loom ladder braclet

hello! this is my new rainbow ladder bracelet! you can always flip it to make it look like the triple single! hope you love it!!!!!!!  -E

Sleepover Supplies

Do you have a sleepover soon? Don't know what to bring? That's okay. Here is a list of supplies you would need:

• a sleeping bag (who wouldn't bring one?)
• a pillow
•  stuffed animals (if you can' t sleep without them.)
• a tiny bag with a toothbrush, a container of floss, and a small tube of toothpaste
•  clothes (pajamas, an outfit for the morning, and underwear.)
• a comb (handy if you wake up with balls of knots!)
• games (cards,board games, anything to make the night fun!) 

I hope you have fun at your sleepover! Remember, don't stay up too late!

Paper Doll Chain

Do you not know what to do? Well, in this story I'm going to teach you how to make a paper doll chain. To follow the instructions, you need the items below.

-1 pair of scissors            - a pencil 
-a sheet of paper(any size)

1. Fold the paper in half.
2. Fold the paper in half again( you can fold the paper a third time if you want your doll to be slim.)
3. Draw a design on the paper( male or female;only draw the outline of the body. NEED TO MAKE THE DOLL'S HANDS GO OFF THE PAGE, so the dolls can hold hands.)
4. Now cut out the figure.
5. Unfold the figure. Now hang your chain!

                                                                   By Julia

I am having my second sleepover right this second. I am having a blast so again if you  want to have one do it. You will have so much fun!