I hope everyone got the chance to see today’s cover reveal for my new book, Let’s Get This Party Started: DIY Celebrations for You and Your Kids to Create Together, coming in October from Abrams Books.

I’m so excited to finally share this project with all of you…creating celebrations together is something my family is really passionate about and this book highlights tons of easy, DIY ways you and your family can make magic together. Let’s Get This Party Started is officially available for pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, Books-A-Million, Indigo, and Abrams!

Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

-Soleil

I am so excited–the cover of my new book is finally here. I wanted to share it with you guys first! I am so proud of this book and to be working with Abrams Books. Can’t wait for you guys to share your thoughts. Now Let’s Get This Party Started!

-Soleil

“Come outside with me,” she calls.

No, that’s not right. She doesn’t call, that’s not her way.

She says softly with her almond eyes that match my husband’s, warmly with her pink tipped fingers lacing mine, and confidently in this newfound tween way that’s absolutely breath-taking.

I peek at her from the yellow couch that still makes me smile eleven years after we bought it.

It’s tinged in all things family. A coffee spill on the cushion, an ink smear on its flipped side, fingerprints and dog hair and pillows that lost their shape long ago. This is my favorite storytelling spot. It’s where I pen my words and drink my family.

“What are you thinking?” I ask, mirroring her tone, but resisting her pull. Outside is not necessarily my way.

My gentle girl with her painted nails and glossy lips loves exploring outside, digging her fingers into dirt, visiting with worms, building with grass and dandelions and sticks. We differ here.

When she was little, I stretched into that kind of mothering. I let go of clean clothes – and hands – and we played in her way. But now that she has two siblings to get dirty with, I tend to keep my distance from the dirt and watch – or photograph – from afar.

“Let’s go find something pretty,” she invites.

And this time, I don’t resist. I throw on my flip flops and squish through the grass and muddy my fingers and explore in her messy way. Because I already found my something pretty. She’s right by my side, and I want us to stay that way.

So we start on her terms collecting rocks, and end on mine painting them.

How to Create Painted Rocks

Painted rocks are a fun and creative activity to do with kids of all ages. Collect rocks with your little one. Flat ones are best for designs, but any will do. Using non-water based paint, paint the rocks with letters, words or designs. If you’d like to display your rocks outside, consider putting a finishing layer of patio paint or spraying the rocks with a Krylon® UV-Resistant Matte Finish.

My creative painted rock ideas were to make:

• Garden stones to label your garden’s fare
• Animals, patterns, or initials as small gifts or
• Special words to display in a garden or home

But my children stretched this project in a different — prettier?– route:

• Nature based tic tac toe
• Story rocks — They turn their painted rocks over one at a time and tag-team story tell using the pictures as prompts. Stretching, indeed.

A mandala is a sacred space, often a circle, which reveals some inner truth about you or the world around you. I thought this would be an awesome project for my girls and I , after all it’s hot here in Scottsdale, and we’re already looking for a little peace.

I stumbled upon some sweet neon Sharpies on display at Target! Perfect score for fun, summer projects, and with this easy trick, the process of making your own Mandala is easy, and offers some relaxing fun.

Easy Make Mandalas

Family Rating- 4-100 ( Picky preteen approved)

Learning: Shapes/ You could do a little math- sigh.. we didn’t!

Time: 1-2 hours or less, your choice!

What you will need:

• Neon sharpies
• Glue stick
• Sketch pencil ( the more dark and smudgy, the better!
• Plate to trace
• Lightweight copy paper
• Black or dark card stock or colored paper
• Scissors
• Wooden spoon- to rub design
• Hole punch,
• String or yarn to hang if desired

Instructions: 

1. Use a dinner plate to trace your circle onto white paper.
2. Carefully cut your circle out.
3. Fold the circle in half once and then in half again. You should now have a “ pie” with 8 folded sections or pieces.
4. Draw a design on one section (the first) of your pie. For smaller kids, keep the designs larger and simpler. Start from the inside of the crease maybe with a circle, and then draw your design out to the edges of the pie. Larger designs are faster to color. The more intricate for the design, the more coloring patience required.
5. Fold the design over onto the next piece of the pie so the drawn section is on top of the empty pie piece and ready to be rubbed onto the empty pie piece next to it. Use the wooden spoon to rub the design off, until it appears on the next portion. Re-trace if needed and keep rubbing off your original design until it is transferred to each section of your mandala.
6. Go over your transfer lines with a dark pencil and color. Don’t forget your color choices are a big part of your mandala, and expressing yourself and your emotion. Talk about what emotions colors represent or the thought behind your color choices.
7. Mount on black card stock or colored paper. We used glue stick. Hole punch and hang for effect and for fun !

The Mandala project was fun, the coloring process was relaxing- it made for a great group activity . For extra flair and fun these would be a great accent to hang from your children’s bedroom ceiling, in front of a window for extra color  or above a child’s bed!

Happy coloring- go find your sacred space and savor the simple things this summer!

We love this craft that turn vintage, recycled T-shirts into awesome tote bags! If your little ones have shirts they’ve outgrown but still love, this sewing craft will give them a whole new way to enjoy an old favorite.

What you will need:

Old T-shirts

Scissors

Sewing machine

Instructions:

Step 1: Turn your T-shirt inside out. Using your sewing machine, sew together the bottom edges. (if you don’t have one, you can tie the bottom together with shoelace or twine, or use iron-on adhesive strips to seal the bottom of your bag)

Step 2: Using scissors, cut out the neckband and sleeves–these will form your bag’s straps.

Step 3: Turn the T-shirt right-side in…you’re ready to hit the town!

My 4-year-old daughter is in a serious fairy phase right now. She hasn’t completely abandoned the Disney princesses, but her focus has strongly shifted to all things fairy.

I think it began during our recent trip to Disney World. She was enamored of Tinkerbell and her sister Periwinkle. Insisted on waiting in line two days in a row to see them.

When I first saw the animated images of the fairies of Pixie Hollow, I have to admit my reaction was not a positive one. I thought they looked like little hussies, and was concerned about what my child would be exposed to.

But, as we have immersed ourselves in the movies, books and even music of Tinkerbell, my feelings have shifted. The messages are positive ones. They focus on friendship. Supporting and helping one another. Discovering and developing your talents. Appreciating the talents of others and their value.

What’s not to like? And, as I lost any remaining cool points long ago, I will freely admit I really enjoy the Tinkerbell music CD we have. We regularly have dance parties in the kitchen to it while cooking dinner.

Here are the lyrics to one of the songs, “Let Your Heart Sing…”

Let the truth in your heart save you every day,

And you’ll never lose your way.

If you follow, follow the voice in your heart.

Always know that’s how to find who you are.

So hold on, never let go of your dreams.

You’ll see the magic,

Believing is where it begins.

Life is a beautiful thing.

Let your heart sing.

Not that long ago, my daughter told me fairies were not real. And I was a little sad. After all, shouldn’t a child her age believe in the magic? When I commented on this lovely post by fellow Moonfrye contributor Katie Hurley about her daughter building a fairy house, she responded, “the magic comes and goes in waves; she’ll find hers.”

The other day as we were in the butterfly house at our local zoo, my daughter believed. They have fairy houses spread throughout the exhibit, and the staff always advises visitors to be on the lookout for the fairies.

At one point my 4-year-old stopped, knelt down and whispered, “I think I hear the fairies! Over there!” She pointed to a bush.

“You do?!” I replied, kneeling down next to her. “Can you see them?”

“No, I can’t,” she said, straining to see into the foliage.

“Well, remember, they are not supposed to let humans see them. They are probably hiding right now and hoping we will move on.”

“Yeah. You’re right. But it would be really cool to see one.”

The magic is back.