Last week, the kids did a photo art project that they not only loved, but the finished product turned out so cute.

I shared a few of the steps on Instagram Stories, but so many of you messaged that you wanted me to share it again, I thought I’d put it in a more permanent place here.

I love this project because it’s great for any age–toddlers to adults. That’s the fun thing about art.

To start, you’ll need:

–watercolor paints and paintbrushes
–random collection of art goodies for collage such as sequins, glitter, rhinestones, beads, torn up pieces of colored tissue paper, small silk flowers, etc.
– a black and white photo printed on card stock paper
– glue

You can use a photo you already have, but it will work best if subject is dominant in photo with clear or blurry background–or you can take a new photo. For Lainey’s collage, I found a picture I had taken a few weeks ago of her against the sky. For Nella and Dash, I took a new photo of them outside against a white paper backdrop I taped on my garage door.

Turn the photo black and white, but make sure to add a lot of brightness and contrast to get that crisp “pop”.

Print the photo on regular 8.5 x 11 card stock paper. Using watercolors, paint areas of the photo where you want to add color. Add a sunset behind the subject, make rainbow hair, get crazy.

Set up a smorgasbord of collage supplies and glue other media to the photo. Let dry and display the finished college somewhere special.

It’s the perfect technology replacement project for summer break and also a great ones for friends to do together.

One more thing on this Monday: I’m offering one last photography course for the summer due to repeated demand for support with the entire process of getting photos from camera (or phone) to album. Do you feel overwhelmed with all your photos and don’t know how to organize them or turn them into something you can enjoy? Do you dream of having albums with beautiful cohesive layouts but don’t know where to start? Do you need some inspiration this summer for themes to capture and a process for organizing those photos and getting them off your device that will stick? Check out Framed! From Camera to Album.

We’ll have one live kick-off call next week (recorded so you can watch it if you can’t make it), I’ll support you with weekly guidance emails throughout the summer; and then when we all return from our summer adventures, you’ll receive lessons on what to do with those photos and how to put them together in a summer album that isn’t just willy-nilly. Hope you can join us (the community is so much fun!).

Good morning from the front porch swing of the sweet little home where we are staying in St. Augustine, our nation’s oldest city. The sun is rising, the birds are singing, and I am currently looking out at a row of friendly houses, their yards framed with ivy-covered picket fences and their rich history of stories ripe for our imaginations as we walk the neighborhood numerous times a day, taking in every little detail in the architecture of these charming streets.

“I bet there are ghosts in that one,” Lainey suggests for every other house.

“That one looks like something you’d love,” Brett points out as we pass one with a particularly lovely front porch. “Old and decrepit,” he adds laughing.

It’s been a little while since our family has taken a vacation together, and while it is my most favorite thing in the world to adventure together away from home with this crew, it is also a great opportunity to observe the make-up of our family under the microscope without the distractions of daily routines that smooth out our edges.

I am fascinated by the power of the mind–or maybe it’s just mine–that so quickly wants to write narratives and even more quickly finds evidence for those narratives. Vacation is the perfect time for my brain to write narratives, and here are some examples of how simple observations can turn into dangerous stories if I let them (I don’t).

Observation: I said yes to all the glorious local treats on Day 1 of vacation, and my pants are consequently a little tight.
Story brain immediately tries to write: You are out of control, nothing fits; this is the downward spiral of your body.
Evidence Collecting Process if I buy the story: Brain is on high alert and notices everything–the way things fit, the way I feel, that glance in the mirror, etc.–as evidence for its story. “Ughhh, I shouldn’t have eaten that” is repeated multiple times a day to keep the story going. Everything is usable evidence, and I’ll be reminded multiple times a day that the story my brain is trying to tell me is true. Major damper on happy vacation vibes.

Observation: Dash looks so old! He’s changed so much since last year.
Story brain immediately tries to write: Time is going by too quickly, we’re all getting old, the kids will be moving out of the house tomorrow, and the window to this phase of motherhood you’ve loved is closing so fast.
Evidence Collecting Process if I buy into the story: Stare at kids all day, imagining this time gone. Every look they give, every phrase they say, every move they make is evidence for “see-they are changing too fast.” Happy moments suddenly become sad because they are fading. Scarcity mind grips tightly to everything, scared of losing it. Major damper on happy vacation vibes.

Observation: Brett is sleeping in on vacation while the kids and I are already ready, have eaten breakfast and are anxious to start our first adventure.
Story brain immediately tries to write: He’s always like this. You do everything. He does nothing. You’re too different. You have passion for life, he doesn’t.
Evidence Collecting Process if I buy into the story: Every thing he says and every move he makes suggests that yes, I do everything and am more passionate about life. We carry on throughout the day while I simultaneously (and exhaustingly!) gather evidence for my case. Silence treatment involved. Conclusion: we are doomed. Major damper on happy vacation vibes.

Do you see how this works? If you tell yourself that no one likes you before you walk into a room of people, you will see nothing but proof of your story. Every mannerism, every whisper, every comment will be noticed as hostile and suggestive that yes, you are definitely despised. If you enter that exact same situation with the mindset that you are loved and accepted, you will give everyone the benefit of the doubt–of course that comment was not meant to hurt you because that person is not out to get you, and you are loved!

I find the antidote for not buying these dangerous narratives isn’t just shutting them down. It’s replacing them with powerful narratives that make me feel grateful and happy–ones that keep my brain busy collecting evidence with the same ferocity it attempts with the negative stories.

When I look at my family on vacation–flaws and all–and tell myself, “We are so lucky to make these memories together–this is so much fun!,” everything that follows becomes evidence, solidifying my story. The coffee I enjoy on the front porch. The way we hold hands on our walk. The way Lainey tips her head back when she laughs at Dash. The satisfaction in the observation that we all can fit on one bed to watch a movie at night. The delight on Dash’s face on our carriage ride throughout the city. The feeling of Nella curled up, sleeping next to me ten minutes into Despicable Me 3. Gratitude for Brett’s relaxation and the fact that he feels comfortable enough in this cozy little house to sleep in.

One of my favorite things about vacation is choosing my narrative and having a long stretch of time and space together to collect evidence. There’s a walk to breakfast now begging for delightful details to be noticed…more from St. Augustine soon!

We are super excited for Lainey as she will be attending a sleep away camp with her best friend up north this summer. From everyone I’ve talked to who grew up going to summer camp, all I ever hear is how it’s the best experience ever. I was a counselor at a YMCA camp on a lake in Michigan for four summers in a row when I was in college, and I’ll never forget the magic. Our campers waited all year for that one week of camp they described as their favorite week of their lives. I can’t wait to hear about the stories she experiences, but for now I’m geeking out that I get to do the summer camp mom thing. We are carefully packing her giant duffel, guided by the camp’s packing list (it’s extensive); and I’m having so much fun putting together epic camp packages for her to open while she’s there. If you’ve been following long, you know I’ve had a love affair with all things summer camp from the first time I saw Parent Trap…

I thought I’d share a big round-up of our camp favorites and what we’re packing to add some fun to Lainey’s summer camp experience.

1. Camping Spot It – I’ve written about Spot It! before–It’s one of our favorite games, all my kids can play, and it’s so easy to throw in a purse for travel. We play it on planes, in restaurants, etc. And there’s a camping version! Perfect for a rainy day in the cabin with bunk mates.

2. Letters from Camp Mad Libs – We’ve had many a laughing fit reading Mad Libs out loud. It’s a great ice breaker for new friends, and this version is all camp themed.

3. Travel Connect 4 – Small enough to throw in the big camp duffel and nice to have for down time.

4. S’mores Stationery and Stamps – There’s no e-mail or digital communication, so letters it is. I’m only asking for one, mainly so I can tuck it away as a keepsake. We’re also addressing a few more envelopes with friends’ addresses. Letters from camp is a summer rite of passage.

5. Caterpillar Summer –  This is one of Lainey’s summer read picks, and while I’m sure camp will keep her busy outside, it’s nice to have a book to read before bed.

6. Clip-on Book Light – For reading in bed.

7. Yellow Tie-front Camp Tee – a nice combo of that retro camp vibe with a modern tie-front twist.

8. Striped Camp Shorts

9. Mad Love Sandals – These are girls’ sandals, but I’ve bought them for all three of my kids in summers past. They’re a great Birkenstock knock-off, easy to slip on an off for quick trips to the bathroom and great for the lake.

10. Rainbow Hair Extentions – To add a little fun to a cabin full of girls.

11. Plain White Pillowcases – Combine with #17 fabric markers, and you have a fun afternoon activity and a great keepsake to bring home from camp.

12. Water Shoes – Great for the shower or the lake. We bought Lainey’s for camp, but she recently wore them to a beach outing where the broken shells on the shore were pretty brutal–they were perfect for keeping her feet from getting cut up.

13. Battery-operated Twinkle Lights – For decorating the cabin/bunk.

14. Glow Sticks – Cabin glow party

15. Kodak Instant Camera Kit – There’s no iPads or phones allowed at camp (which I love!), so any pictures will have to be taken with cameras. I’m stashing her bag with her instant camera and camera paper.

16. Essential Oil Roller Balls – Making Thieves oil rollers to keep her healthy.

17. Fabric Markers – for decorating pillow cases, t-shirts, etc.

18. Camp Journal

19. Insect Repellent

20. Sport Sunscreen – Begging her to stay covered. I love the Think sport sunscreen for her age–it’s free of biological harmful chemicals and has the highest level of water resistance.

21. Clothing labels – Everything she brings has to be labeled with her name. These stick to clothes and hold up in the wash.

You can find more camp essentials on our Everything Summer Camp Amazon list. 

Let’s get together, yeah, yeah, yeah!