Portable Fun: Miniature Games and Activities for On-the-Move

Have you ever been in a waiting room, on a train, at the airport or a bar and Oops! You left your charger at home or Uh oh! There isn’t a power outlet anywhere to be found? You were happily playing your favorite game, posting on a social media site or scheming through the internet and just like that, all your entertainment is gone. Well, it doesn’t have to be.

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When out and about whether alone or with other people many of us carry our cell phones, handheld gaming systems, Kindles, iPads or some other form of electronic entertainment – but often times these devices disconnect us from the world around us and the people right in front of us.

There are ways besides staring into space when alone or engaging in conversation with people to find entertainment –

Tiny 3D printed Chessboard: It’s about the size of a credit card and the centimeter size pieces snap off with tiny prongs on the ends that can be inserted into the board to keep them securely in place incase of a rattling train ride – plus no worry of losing them once they are off.

3D printed credit card sized chess

Miniature Playing Cards: A regular size of playing cards is already a handheld size but if you’re already carrying luggage, have a small bag or only pockets that are stuffed with your phone and wallet – a mini deck goes a long way. They have everything a regular size just smaller and more lightweight.

Handheld Sumi-e Ink Wash Kit – Small enough to fit inside a small bag, luggage or purse, this kit allows you to make art on the go. It comes with everything you need and fits right inside the box. Plus, this form of art is impermanent – meaning you can keep creating and recreating on the same canvas by yourself or with other people – it’s convenient and fun!

Tiny Notebook with Attached Writing Tool: You can pretty much fit this tiny notebook anywhere and keep your writing tool from getting lost in the shuffle at the same time. Serving multiple purposes – if you acquire one with no lines – you can use it for writing poetry, thoughts, drawing or playing games with friends like hangman or tic-tac-toe.

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With these portable non-digital devices you will have fun and entertainment no matter where you are even if your electronic device is on the fritz!

See the article here: sixdifferentways.com

Easter Sunday Tradition Checklist

Happy Easter! Planning for the day? Take a gander at the Easter Sunday checklist to be sure you are totally prepared for the holiday!
Start a new tradition – If your family is religious, you can start a new tradition for a blessing entering us into the new season – my family has hard boiled eggs cut into quarters or pieces blessed by a priest and before brunch we stand around the dinner table and from oldest to youngest we eat a piece of the blessed eggs then say a prayer to bless our meal and give thanks

Have your easter baskets prepared – Make your Easter baskets the night before, label them to be sure you remembered all the cousins, nephews and nieces

Flowers for the adults – Give the adults in the family fresh cut flowers or potted flowers instead of Easter baskets

Dishes prepared – It’s a tradition for many to eat a feast of meat on Easter sunday being that good friday has a no meat rule, bring the dish or dessert you prepared for the meal – something in the spirit of the Easter holiday

Dress in your Easter Sunday best – Even if you celebrate Easter in the morning or afternoon, it’s a great opportunity to dress up in formal casual attire for a dignified meal

Easter Activity – If there are kids in the family or even for fun-loving crafty adults, dye eggs, create a easter egg hunt, scavenger hunt or make cut-out bunny masks – you can even venture to the mall or a location to take photos with the Easter bunny – if you really want to get into the spirit you can have a member of the family dress up like the easter bunny it brings joy especially for the little ones!

1 Day Until Easter: Quick and Easy Last Minute Easter Recipes

Two days before Easter and you want to make something simple, fast and scrumptious for the holiday. Below are a few quick recipes to make this Easter extra special and extra delicious.

1. Bunny Cruisers

4 Days Until Easter: Italian Easter Cookies

4 days until Easter Countdown: Bring a new treat to the table this year with Italian Easter Cookies that come with hand rolled dough in a basket shape with an egg in the center – they are delicious and very adorable! Although my family is Ukrainian, my aunt comes from an italian family and it was always a treat to have these at the table come Easter time.

Italian Easter Bread

What You’ll Need: 

  • 6¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 packages rapid rise yeast (4½ teaspoons)
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 cups lukewarm water
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 egg with water
  • 12 eggs, hard-boiled and colored
  • rainbow sprinkles

How to Make: 

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and in a large mixing bowl, add flour, salt, and sugar, Using a mixer attach the paddle or by hand on medium speed. In a medium bowl, add the water and the envelopes of yeast, let sit for a few minutes. Add the yeast/water mixture to the flour and continue mixing on medium speed. When thoroughly combined change attachment to the dough hook, then add the olive oil.

Continue mixing for about 10 minutes, occasionally scraping down sides. Cover and let rise in a warm area until dough has doubled in size (about 1 hour). On a floured surface, punch down dough and divide into 36 uniform pieces. Roll each piece into a 1″ rope about 12″ long.

Italian Easter Bread

Use 3 ropes for each bread braid and form into a ring. Place rings on a Silpat or a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.When all are complete, cover and let rise one more time, for an hour. Wash each bread ring with the egg and water wash, add colored egg to the center of the ring.

Italian Easter Bread

Add sprinkles. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.

Continued here: sixdifferentways.com

5 Days Until Easter: Thread Easter Baskets

5 Days until Easter countdown! There are many ways to change up the style this year from your typical Easter baskets to something a little more interesting – try your hand at thread easter baskets

Related imageWhat You’ll Need: 

  • Crochet thread
  • Fabric stiffener such as Stiffy
  • Bowl
  • Plastic wrap
  • Tape
  • Disposable bowl or cupcake tray
  • Balloon
  • 1/4 Yard coordinating fabric
  • Scissors
  • Sewing Machine

Line your disposable bowl with plastic wrap. Tape down the edges of that plastic wrap to the bowl.  Cover the table you are working on too.

Inflate a balloon in the shape you want the basket to be – egg shape, round, whichever you choose.  This is the size of your basket so be sure to inflate to the size you want.

Drop your string into the bowl and fully cover it in stiffy.  Be sure the string is saturated, but not in a pool of Stiffy.

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Wrap the end of the string around the top of the balloon to get started.  This will hold that first piece of slippery string in place until you can get enough in place that it will hold itself.

Continue wrapping your egg until you’ve got complete coverage.  You’ll want to add more Stiffy along the way when you get to string that isn’t saturated.

Set your basket in a bowl or cupcake tray to dry for 24 hours.  Half way through the drying process, turn your egg on its side so the bottom can dry.

After the egg has had plenty of drying time, break out a pin and pop the balloon inside.

If you can, pull the top out, but if not, grab it once you cut a hole.

6 Days Until Easter: Cute Ideas to Enhance Your Easter Dining Experience

6 days until Easter – Aside from all the delicious food you’ll be having – there are a few ways you can make your easter table look even more festive this year, adding a little charm and delight to the Easter holiday spirit.

Lamb Shaped Butter – simple and smooth edible decoration

7 Days Until Easter: Glitter Eggs

1 week until Easter! Countdown begins today with some classic easter dishes and fun activities for the whole family!

Glitter Easter Eggs

Think Fast! Simple Beauty Solutions For People On-the-Move

Maybe you run into your ex on the street or maybe you are out and get a important call that requires you to be there right away, perhaps you are on your way to an event or an interview and you woke up late – there may come a time when you are in a rush, below are a few quick, easy and helpful solutions you can use when you need to think fast!

Want to brighten those cheeks up and don’t have any blush handy? Gently pinch your cheeks (not to hard or else you could bruise!) then using moderate to light pressure quickly tap where you pinched and the surrounding area – the pinch stimulates the blood vessels in your cheeks and the tapping disperses them creating instant rosey cheeks!

Bad breath and no time to brush your teeth or pop in a piece of minty fresh gum? If you carry perfume or cologne with you, spritz a little on the top of your hand and with a flat tongue lick the area on your hand where you sprayed – the alcohol in the perfume neutralizes bacteria (associated with bad breath which often times cakes up on the tongue) and instantly freshens your breath – yes, it may be bitter and it isn’t the most pleasant taste but it gets the job done

Another solution with no time to brush your teeth – Use a tissue, napkin, paper towel or a cloth (anything you have on you or can find quickly) and rub your teeth with it, it removes any build up on the teeth, taking off that furry “tooth sweater” you can feel with your tongue when you rub it across the surface of your teeth

Oops! Auntie Flow just visited and you don’t have a pad or tampon? No worries! Find the nearest restroom, use a roll of toilet paper and wrap it multiple times around your panties like a makeshift pantyliner – it’s a temporary solution until you can get to a pharmacy or convenience store

No time to wash your hair? If your hair looks greasy or needs a little lift to the roots, use baby powder or talcum powder and apply it the palm of your hands and run your fingers along the roots of your hair and scalp using a scrunching motion with the tips of your fingers – the powder soaks up the oils without overly drying out the hair. Stay along the roots and avoid putting it on the ends of your hair as this could potentially make your hair look frizzy and dry – talcum powder is typically white so if you are a brunette be sure to comb or shake out your hair so there isn’t any visible white residue left behind

Another solution if you can’t wash your hair – if your hair is frizzy, smells unpleasant or needs a little shine to it – you can use a hand cream or lotion and squeeze a little into your hand, rub your palms together and apply it to the ends of your hair – another temporary solution as lotions are conditioning for the skin similar to the way many hair products such as oil and shower conditioner condition the hair for hydration and moisture

Eyebrow hairs look a little wild or out of place? Take a toothbrush to comb the hairs in place and then apply chapstick or vasoline (petroleum jelly) to them as most are sticky and will temporarily keep the hairs from sticking out and in place

Quick Makeup Tips to Help You Look Younger & Youthful

Our faces change over time – sometimes it’s because of age, sometimes it’s because of stress, sometimes it’s because of our diet and lifestyle – no matter the reason there are a few easy tips and tricks you can put into practice when applying makeup to give you a more youthful look and healthy glow.

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Moisturizer is essential! Before applying makeup be sure to hydrate your face thoroughly with moisturizer, adding extra and massaging into any dry spots on the skin – almond oil is a great natural moisturizer

Stick to cream foundations, blushes and concealers – and use a setting spray instead of powder foundation or blush – creams smooth out finer lines and do not cake up especially in wrinkles or crevices

Don’t throw the powder away just yet though! Apply a coat of loose powder on your eyelashes using a eyelash wand and then apply two coats of mascara on your eyelashes – the powder both protects and thickens your eyelashes

Eyelash curler – you can use a regular eyelash curler or one that is battery powered and heats up, use while your mascara is still wet on your eyelashes and hold for 30 seconds – when your eyelashes have a little curl to them they make your eyes look more open, alert and brighter

Apply white eyeshadow or eyeliner to your lower lid above the lower eyelashes and apply a little more heavily towards the inner part of the eye in the “V”where your eyeball curves  – be careful to apply it slowly and gently as you don’t want it getting directly into your eye, the white line gives the illusion of extending your eye to actually have them appear larger and brighter

Gently dab a cream concealer using a neutral color (one that is a shade lighter than your foundation) under your eyes – covering dark circles, bags and those racoon eyes! – gently dab using a sponge or your ring finger (the ring finger works best) apply in a quick dabbing motion – do not smear or rub – the dabbing allows for full coverage and helps blend.

Exfoliate your lips before applying lipstick – you can make your own using petroleum jelly  or aquaphor and sugar, apply to your lips and use a circular motion for 30 seconds to 1 minute to remove any dead skin on the surface of your lips.

Lip liner is a great way to make your lips look plumper and draws attention away from any lines or wrinkles near the mouth. When applying lip liner you want to go the exact same shade or a slight shade lighter than the lipstick you will be using and blend it into your lip stick, when applying lip liner, apply to the upper lip first and have your mouth slightly open (kinda like a fish) when applying it to your lower lip – stretch your face to keep skin taut with mouth slightly open to be sure to get a perfect line

Make your cheek bones pop by applying a sheer cream blush by pukering your mouth like you making a kissy face – the lines on both sides is where you apply the blush (stick to a darker bronze color) right above the lines on the cheek bones – apply a blush with light reflecting particles in it for a glowy, bright effect – then on the balls of your cheeks (you can easily find them by simply smiling, add a tiny touch of a pink blush – if you want to avoid blush on the balls of yours cheeks you can create a natural blush by lightly pinching your cheeks and then using a gentle tapping motion disperse the area where you pinched – your cheeks will be rosey, a girlish glow!

More: sixdifferentways.com

Alternative Ways to Make Money for Stay at Homebodies

There are several ways to make extra cash you can do in addition to your main job, many of which you can do in the comfort of your own home and you can fit them around your schedule and lifestyle –

Pet Sitting – If you live in a house, preferably with a yard, there are websites such as Rover.com where you can host dogs (similar to a kennel) when dog owners need a place for their furry friends to stay for the day or overnight – you set the rate and get paid for caring for their animal.

Thrift Stores Finds – You can find a lot of treasures at thrift stores for way less than their original cost – clothing, shoes,  jewelry and accessory seems to sell the fastest on websites like etsy.com and if you have a good eye for fashion – take nice photos of your finds (make them look desirable!) and create an online store on a third party platform or build a website to sell your thrifty treasures. You can also use websites such as letgo.com and offerup.com where people in your area will see what your selling and will come directly to your house to give you cash in hand and pick it up- no travel on your part necessary.

Vending – Find out what street fairs, year round flea markets, farmers markets or vending opportunities are happening in your area – if you have a hobby you enjoy such as baking you can sell your goods for a few hours on the weekends to make some extra loot.

Blogging / Product Reviews – If you have a particular topic or hobby that interests you, look for websites online in that arena – find their contact information and offer to write product reviews and blog articles for them – there is a chance you can get some freebies (which you can later sell if you want!) and you can get paid to write about things you enjoy – if they are hesitant to pay you can lower your rate per article – remember its extra money – don’t undervalue yourself but also remember its something you can do in the comfort of your home if you choose and when you choose.