Colored Egg Alternative - Rice Krispies Treat Decorated Eggs!

As I wrote yesterday, last year with the rising price of eggs and difficulty finding eggs, I shared "egg alternative ideas" so if you were looking for other options when it comes to coloring eggs. While eggs are not as expensive this year and are easier to find, the ideas were fun, so I'm sharing them again this year. My idea for today is simple, inexpensive, fun - and importantly - tasty - Rice Krispies Treat Decorated Eggs!

just for fun - It Is, "Make Up Your Own Holiday Day"!

Yes,Yes, today really is, "Make Up You Own Holiday Day!" Nationaltoday.com says, "Whether you wish to celebrate something profound like Use Only Recycled Paper Day or you want to give in to your randomness by paying homage to Eat Purple Food Day, the possibilities are endless. This day is literally what it stands for — making up a personalized holiday which is close to your heart." So on this special day, I thought I'd share some fun facts about actual holidays and how to make up your own holiday - did you know . . .

Spring Book Review - Loch Ness Monster's Unbelievable Science

I'm happy to let you know today about another new book for children from Kids Can Press -Loch Ness Monster's Unbelievable Science by Anne Appert. If a child you love finds birds very interesting, this is a book they will enjoy for sure!

Just for Fun!!! The Air We Breathe!

I tend not to wonder or think about things like the air we breathe and the percentages of the "ingredients" such as nitrogen and oxygen, in it. But, when I read the following information about the air, I was amazed! Did you know . . .

Spring Book Review - Cat Shapes!

Yesterday I received a fun box of books from Kids Can Press and today I am very happy to let you know about one of these books - Cat Shapes by Aidan Cassie! Just the title is enough to put a smile on your face!

Colored Egg Alternative - Dyed Marshmallows

We all remember how last year eggs were so expensive, and often hard to find, so decorating eggs may not have been high on your list for activities last year for Easter. But, I had a few ideas I shared with you for egg "alternatives" - all of which were fun ways to still celebrate with the children you love! This year, happily, eggs are less expensive and easier to find, but you may still want to use some of these ideas for fun with the children you love, so I'll share them again over the coming days. The idea for today is . . . dyed marshmallow eggs!

Family Tree

Behind my house, in my back yard is a maple tree. It is no ordinary maple tree. It is enormous! It is behind our two-stall garage and it extends far above and far to both sides. It is enormous - well, not compared to a Redwood tree . . . which is truly enormous - but compared to normal Michigan Maple trees, this one is enormous.

Bunny Dirt Cups from Kraft

Easter is just a few weeks away, so I thought I'd share a fun recipe I found for Bunny Dirt Cups from Kraft which uses jello, cool-whip, and cookies - what isn't there to love!

National Each Person is a Person of Worth Day

I'm taking a break today from my Dr. Seuss quote for the day, because today is National Each Person is a Person of Worth Day and I love the idea of a day to focus on and emphasize the value of each of us! Nationaltoday (dot) com says, "the power of recognizing others’ worth and how this recognition impacts the other person is the key focus behind National Each Person is a Person of Worth Day, which is held each year on March 24. This celebration reminds us not only is self-worth a universal trait, but how we gauge others’ worth also stays the same around the world. This day aims to get people to recognize the worth of everyone around them, and in doing so, appreciate their own." So on this important day, let's look at how to build our own self-esteem from Psychology Today so we are able to have a strong sense of worth and are able to help the ones we love do the same -

Yes! illustrate my own Books ARE for You & the Children You Love

      

Spring Break will be upon us soon, so if you are looking for something fun you could give the children you love as a gift, consider getting some of the books from the illustrate my own series along with crayons, markers, and/or colored pencils. All of them are fun books which will uniquely engage the children you love in ways they have never engaged before with the accounts of Bible heroes. As they (and you) illustrate their books, they will think about what is happening, the things the Bible people said and did, and how God showed His love and grace to the Bible people . . . which will help the children you love better understand how God shows His love and grace to them as well! 

"Only You Can Control Your Future!"

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Only you can control your future!"  Well . . . we do have some "say" over our future, as we can decide if we are going to move forward on something or not, but there are certainly times and situations where we do not have "control" over our futures. I do believe we are able to turn to God when faced with questions and challenges about our future, but we also have to take responsibility for the things we are able to do in regards to our future. 

Please Stand Up & Speak Up

   

I have posted this a few times, but with all the things which are happening in our world, I'm sharing it again today. I write grandma's cookie jar to provide ideas for ways grandmas - and grandpas, moms, and dads might connect the children they love with God and build strong, loving relationships. I share recipes, book reviews, fun facts, and more - I typically stay away from politics. But not today. People I know and love live in fear. People I do not know live in fear - and some are dying at the hands of our government - in our country and now around the world. Our government is being drown in corruption and the trump-epstein files causes great concern. I can not stay silent. I do not believe Jesus would be silent, either. So, I am sharing images I found on instagram - they say what I am thinking.

"Because My Grandma LOVES Them!"

 

I live on an acre, out in the country, in Michigan, in the farmhouse my grandparents built back in the 1920's. In my front and side yard are five very large maple trees. In my back yard, behind the double-stall garage is the most enormous maple tree I've ever seen - it reaches far above the roof of the garage and spans beyond the sides of the garage - on both sides! It is absolutely enormous! We also have one very, very tall sycamore tree, three birch trees and several other trees - including about a dozen pine trees.

"Step With Care and Great Tact . . ."

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Step with care and great tact. And remember life's a great balancing act!" Life has it's "stages" and "moments" and we need to walk though them all with a mind for "balance" and for showing grace to others - including yourself. Yesterday I heard someone talking about how they never give themselves the benefit of the doubt or notice when they do something well, so when others do this for them, it really got them to thinking about how they should go easier on themselves. Far too often this is true for many of us, so today I want to take a minute to share affirmations I found on the verywellmind.com where they said, Positive self-affirmations are usually short, simple statements you come up with on your own based on your own needs and emotions. But self-affirmations have a more universal application, too. It’s okay to use more generalized, pre-written affirmations if you feel they apply well to you.

Here are some positive mental health affirmations to get you started: