Rhonda Gales, Author at Mother 2 Mother Blog

15 Ways to Say I Love You on Valentine’s Day

January 3, 2019 by Rhonda Gales 13 Comments

Don’t wait until the last minute to start thinking about Valentine’s Day ideas. As a result, we have created a list of ideas that will help you create a fun and romantic day. So, implement one or two of our ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day below:

Movie Night – Binge watch your favorite romantic movies with the girls.

Cook a Romantic Dinner – Whip up your husband or significant other’s favorite dishes.

Host a Valentines Day Party – Throw a party with family and friends and shower them with love.

Bake Cupcakes with the Kids – Bake cupcakes and decorate them hearts with the kids.

Host a Classroom Party – Make treats for you kid’s classroom.

Make Hearts for Nursing Home Residents – Additionally, make hearts with a sweet message for your local nursing home residents.

Make Heart Shaped Bath Bombs – Make heart shaped bath bombs for your girlfriends and female family members.

Write a Love Letter – Write a love letter to your husband or significant other.

Fix Heart Shaped Pancakes – Next, fix breakfast for the family and show your love with heart shaped pancakes.

Leave Sweet Notes – Leave notes for your husband and children telling them why you love and appreciate them.

Package Hershey’s Kisses – Give your sweeties a gift of chocolate kisses. Your chocolate lovers will thank you.

Make Crafts – Furthermore, you can spend a day making Valentine’s crafts with the kids.

Play Your Favorite Love Songs – Make up a play list of your favorite love songs and play them with the girls or by yourself with a glass of wine.

Create a Jar of Romance Wishes – Last, write notes to your husband that will heat up the relationship. Let him pick one from the jar for a week or two or until he runs out of notes. The notes can include a massage, bubble bath or shower for two, candle light dinner for 2 etc.

So, which is your favorite Valentine’s Day ideas? I love the nursing home hearts and heart shaped pancakes. Make these projects on those cold, winter days and make someone’s day.

Filed Under: Family Time, Parenting Tips Tagged With: romantic movies, Valentine's Day Crafts, Valentine's Day ideas

Simple Ways To Makeover Your Bedroom

January 2, 2019 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Your bedroom is your sanctuary. And, its décor should both put you at ease and express your personality. It should be decorated in a way that makes you feel joy. Because it is often used as a room to escape to, the best bedrooms combine comfort and style. If it’s been awhile since you revamped your bedroom, it’s a project you should consider taking on. Your bedroom is the last room you see before you go to sleep. And, the first room you see when you wake up. So, it’s important that you love the way it looks and feels.

There are simple ways to makeover your bedroom without spending too much time or energy. Some of the easiest and smallest changes in your bedroom make a huge difference. Here are a few bedroom makeover tips to help with the redecorating:

Start with the Bed

It’s not a bedroom makeover without revamping your bed. It may be time for a new bed frame. Especially, one that feels more luxurious and stylish. Check out your local options before you turn to shopping online for furniture. When it comes to your bed, it’s best to see and feel it. For example, check out South Jersey furniture to see what budget friendly-options are in the local area. If you live in a city like Los Angeles, drop by a showroom or check out the community classified.

One of our most important bedroom makeover tips is to buy new bedding to upgrade the look of your bed. A quality duvet cover is one of the most important components of a bed. And, it could have a pretty pattern, but should match the tone and colors of both your bed frame and your bedroom walls.

Switch Out Your Curtains

A simple step that makes a huge difference in the bedroom is switching your curtains. When you’re shopping for new curtains, you should think about colors that match your theme. Furthermore, consider blackout curtains if you’re someone who likes to nap during the day.
You can create the look of a more spacious bedroom by raising the curtains up higher. When the curtain rod is mounted just an inch or two below the ceiling line, and the drapes hang to the floor, your bedroom will look more spacious. Keep this trick in mind when you’re installing your new curtains.

Statement Mirror

A statement mirror is something that’s easy to buy and put up on a wall. And, it’ll make a huge difference in your bedroom. Statement mirrors are typically large, with elaborate frames or unique shapes. For example, a mirror that looks like a farm window, a mirror that has a crystal frame or a mirror shaped like an arc are examples of mirrors that act as art in your bedroom.

Luxurious Rug

Another one of our bedroom makeover tips that will make a huge difference in a room is a beautiful rug. Make sure it’s soft, feels luxurious, and is relatively plain. No need for intricate patterns, as you don’t want a rug to be an eyesore. Instead, choose a soft color that matches your bedroom’s theme colors.

Try a Stress-Reducing Wallpaper

When you’re revamping your bedroom, you’ll want to choose a couple of theme colours that you will use for the walls. Studies have proven that certain colours reduce stress and enhance your mood. The best soothing colours for a bedroom include pale blues, mint green, neutral taupes, pale greys and pale purples. You can find inexpensive wall paper or wall decals on Amazon. These colors can help put a fresh new look in your bedroom.

Use Thrift Store Finds

Another one of our bedroom makeover tips is finding vintage items. Have you ever looked at your local thrift store’s home decor section? It’s definitely worth a look. You can upcycle and repurpose unique thrift store finds and end up with stylish bedroom décor. Look for beautiful vintage frames. However, ignore any ugly art inside of them. You can replace the art with something of your choosing and hang it on your bedroom wall.

Many thrift stores also have vintage globes for sale, retro fans, and other unique décor items that would look cute on a bookshelf or dresser. It’s important that your bedroom has some unique items so that it doesn’t look like a cookie-cutter bedroom.

Filed Under: Life-Thoughts, Shopping Tips Tagged With: bedroom decor ideas, bedroom makeover tips, shopping tips

Hiking Tahquitz Canyon in Palm Springs, CA

December 25, 2018 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Hiking Tahquitz Canyon was one of my favorite activities when I was vacationing in Palm Springs. Palm Springs is one of my favorite travel destinations. For thousands of years, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians called the Tahquitz Canyon home. As a result, I decided to check out the canyon in the San Jacinto Mountains.

There is a $12.50 fee for adults and a $6.00 for children for the hike. The money goes toward maintenance of the canyon. The hike is approximately 2 miles and considered strenuous. Bring a bottle of water, wear long sleeve shirts, long pants and wear either hiking boots or sneakers. Furthermore, there are few areas with shade along the trail. It is also rocky and steep. You should be in pretty good shape if you want to accomplish this hike.

There’s a visitor’s center at the entrance of the canyon. You can watch a 15 minute video on the Cahuilla tribe’s heritage and look at various artifacts before hitting the trail. I decided to go with a Park Ranger since I’m not a hiker. However, you can hike on your own.

Mortars were used to grind corn, beans, and acorns for mush. You can find mortars throughout the canyon.

We passed this stream as we were going up the trail. It is feed by a 60 foot waterfall at the top of the trail. For thousands of years, it provided the Cahuilla Indians with drinking water and pools to bathe and cool off.

Tahquitz Canyon is full of plant life and mesquite trees. Cahuilla Indians were experts in using mesquite for cooking when meat was available. Because meat was scarce, they ate mostly berries, mush and edible plants. This plant hides an entrance to a cave.

We finally reached the waterfall after an hour. It wasn’t running at full capacity, but it was beautiful nevertheless. It’s 60 feet and flows into a pond below. The pond flows into a stream. We relaxed at this spot for about 30 minutes while the Ranger explained the history of the waterfall and the habits of the Cahuilla Indians.

The group listening to the Park Ranger history lessons.

This is a photo of me by the pond feed by the waterfall. It was about the only cool spot on the hike.

This rock is where Tahquitz’s spirit supposedly lives. Tahquitz, a Cahuilla Indian, misused his power and was banished into the canyon. As a result, the canyon is named after Tahquitz, which means fireball or meteor. Legend has it, that Tahquitz appears as a green meteor-like ball of fire.

Finally, the history of the Cahuilla Indians is interesting. What they ate, their clothing and rituals make the hike interesting. The guided hikes last about 2-1/2 hours. Make reservations for the hike. The first hike of the day is the best time to spot bighorn sheep and a small bluish-black bird called the Phainopepla. I didn’t see any bighorn sheep, but I did see the Phainopepla.

Filed Under: Vacation Destinations Tagged With: Palm Springs, Tahquitz Canyon, travel destinations, travel tips

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #206

December 22, 2018 by Rhonda Gales 6 Comments

Welcome to Week 206 of Sunday’s Best. This is the last week of our Sleigh Bells Ring theme, and the last linkup for the year. So, we’re looking for all things relating to Christmas. Red, Green, White tablescapes, party ideas, decorating ideas, activities for kids, recipes, crafts, and more. So, blow the dust off those old posts that you might have that will help us get ready for Christmas.

Additionally, we also welcome other recipes, crafts, DIY, home makeover, gardening tips, SEO & blogging information, sewing projects, patio and deck makeovers, front porch makeover ideas, organization tips, ideas for backyard hot dog roasts, and more.

Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like. Be sure to tell your friends, they will want to join the party too. We will be taking a break December 29 and resuming January 5, 2019 with our Winter Wonderland theme. We would like to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year!

So, each week your hosts will select their favorite post. The posts will be featured the following week. Also, an image from your post will be used on our linkup the following week along with a link back to your blog. As a result, be sure to check back to see if you’re a Sunday’s Best Featured Blogger. All Featured Bloggers will have their posts pinned to Rhonda’s Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board and Kim M. pins the weekly featured bloggers to her Sunday’s Best Pinterest Board too!

The post with the most clicks will be the Reader’s Choice post(s). We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best Linkup featured bloggers.

All posts linking to Sunday’s Best Linkup will be promoted on Twitter. The Post With the Most Clicks will be selected. Additionally, a post for our Monthly Themes will be selected and featured each week as well.

Contact rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts if you are interested in co-hosting.

Your Sunday’s Best Linkup Hosts Are:

Rhonda at Mother 2 Mother Brittany at A Mama Tale Kim at Life in a House of Testosterone

Here are the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like Rhonda’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin, or subscribe/join her blog on the right sidebar before you leave.

Kim from Life In A House: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+;, Pinterest;, Bloglovin;, or Instagram; before you leave.

Brittany from A Mama’s Tale: Please like Brittany’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave. Snag a Button!

Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. Please let your readers and followers know by placing the Featured Blogger banner on your site.

Your readers may want to join the party too! For those who have a Link Party list/directory, please add us. We appreciate your help in promoting the linkup with Re-tweets and shares. Now, let’s party!

Rhonda selected How to Make a Wagon from a Crate from Rain on a Tin Roof

Kim Selected Christmas Through the House from Apple Street Cottage

Brittany selected Baking Tips from Tea Cottage Mysteries

The Post with the Most Clicks

12 Fun and Easy Handmade Ornaments from Abotts at Home

Favorite Theme Post(s) – Sleigh Bells Ring

Peppermint White Russian Cocktail Recipe from Home Cooking Memories

and

Rice Krispie Christmas Tree Treats Recipe from Janine Huldie

and

Farmhouse Styled Christmas Stocking from Faeries and Fauna

and

Christmas Characters from White House Crafts

and

How to Wrap Baked Goods from Celebrating Every Day Life

Last, congratulations to our featured bloggers! All of the posts were great, and we deeply appreciate each of you participating on Sunday’s Best Linkup. We have so many great posts that it gets difficult to choose a featured blogger. Finally, your hosts would like to invite all of you back to link up your post(s) again. We could select your post next week! Finally, while you’re here take a minute to visit these great blogs. It’s a great way to meet and connect with new bloggers. Be sure to PIN or share any posts that you like, we all appreciate a little love and be sure to connect with others on social media.

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Sunday's Best Linkup Tagged With: blog hop, linky party, social media

15 Things to Do in Palm Springs, California

December 22, 2018 by Rhonda Gales 1 Comment

Today, I’m sharing travel destinations and Things to Do in Palm Springs, CA. First, San Diego and Palm Springs are two of my favorite travel destinations. I simply can’t get enough of either. As a result, I’m encouraging you to visit both.

However, today I’m going to give tips on Palm Springs. There’s so much to see and do. Walking or biking provides the best experience for seeing everything around Palm Springs. Lets get started:

Tahquitz Canyon – It’s approximately two-miles and loops along the Tahquitz River to a 60-foot Tahquitz Falls. It is located in Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, California, and inhibited by the Cahuilla tribe of Native Americans. It is lead by a park ranger who has great knowledge of the canyon. Additionally, it has a beautiful water fall, which makes the hike worth it. In addition, it is filled with wild flowers, cactus, rock ledges providing great views, history of the Indians, and more. The mortar below was used to grind corn by the Cahuilla Indians.

Walk of Stars – Located in downtown Palm Springs, CA. The walk has stars from many of the older legends like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, and James Earl Jones. The walk is unique, it honor celebrities and writers who have resided in the area. So, if you love TMC and older movies, the Palm Springs Walk of Stars is worth the trip.

See’s Candy – One of my favorite places to visit in Palm Springs. The samples are worth the trip alone. But, pick up a box to bring home. You’ll be sorry if you don’t.

Statutes – Next, set a few hours aside and go on a search for the bronzed statutes that line the Palm Springs streets. Some of the statutes include Lucille Ball, Sonny Bono, Gene Autry, Marilyn Monroe and more.

Bike Tours – If you love bike riding, consider renting a bike for the day. You can ride through the celebrity neighborhoods or downtown Palm Springs on the bike loop. If you need a break, park your bike and grab a bite to eat. Check with your hotel to see if they offer free bicycles. If not, there are rental companies that will rent them for a reasonable rate.

Palm Canyon Drive – Palm Canyon Drive is the place to be for great food, people watching and great photo opportunities. There are few chain stores in Palm Springs. So, dining is a unique experience. Furthermore, there are plenty of boutiques, restaurants, and places to get ice cream or beverages if you’re out taking in the sights. We where able to find a parking space with no problems.

Wind Turbines – I took this picture of the wind turbines heading into Palm Springs from San Diego. The Coachella Valley is peppered with thousands of wind turbines. They are used to generate electricity for the city.

Ariel Tram – May I suggest, the tram to Mt. San Jacinto State Park. You can hike a few trails, have a snowball fight or grab a bite to eat at the Pines Café. Before you head up, grab a warm coat or jacket. It’s 8,500 foot elevation to the top of Mt. San Jacinto State Park, and takes about 10 minutes. It’s an amazing experience! The tram rotates 360 degrees while heading up and down the mountain.

LG’s Steakhouse – If you’re into fine dining, LG’s Steak House is a must. It’s considered one of the best steakhouses in California. Personally, I agree. As a result, whatever you select will be delicious. However, I would recommend the Caesar Salad and the T-Bone or Filet Mignon. Not into red meat, try the seafood platter. LG’s Steakhouse is perfect for date night or an office party.

McCormick’s Palm Springs Exotic Cars – So, if you’re into exotic and muscle cars you must check out McCormick’s. They auction cars from the 50’s, 60’s, convertibles, Rolls Royce, Porche and more. Great photo opportunity, and a fun way to spend the day.

Celebrity Homes – Also, I enjoyed searching for celebrity homes in Palm Springs. So, grab a map of the homes and head out. I loved that the homes were not huge mansions that celebrities live in today. The homes are actually relatable, and much simpler in style. This is a picture of Jay Leno’s Palm Springs home. I also have photos of the homes of Natalie Cole, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis Jr. and more.

Take photographs of the Mountains – Do you love the mountains? I do! I believe these are the San Jacinto or Santa Rosa Mountains. You can find photography opportunity of the mountains just about anywhere in Palm Springs. As a result, I captured this photo from the balcony of my room at the Riviera Hotel.

Cabazon Outlets – Furthermore, if you love to shop or want to pick up a special gift before you head home check out the outlets. The Cabazon Outlets has luxury shops like Le Creuset, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and more. For $25, you can purchase a Shop & Play bag which includes: our VIP Savings Card, a shopping tote, lip balm, Under Armour gift, voucher for an Auntie Anne’s pretzel, water bottle with lanyard, and a rechargeable power bank.

Big Horse Carriage Company – Also, take a carriage ride through the historic district, celebrity neighbors or an evening ride in a horse drawn carriage. It’s perfect for the family or adding a little romance to your date night.

Lunch at the Riviera Hotel – The Riviera Hotel used to be old Hollywood. However, it has been updated to a more modern décor. I’ve stayed at the Riviera several times and I love it, and their lunch menu. Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop frequented the Riviera. Additionally, Elvis Presley performed and escaped to the Riviera when he need to be out of the limelight. Also, Sonny and Cher were performers there as well.

So, make a note of what you want to see in Palm Springs and get to it. It’s one of my favorite places to visit, and I hope to return in the near future. Finally, you may also like Visit Parrot Mountain in Sevierville, TN.

Filed Under: Travel, Vacation Destinations Tagged With: family travel destinations, things to do in California, travel destinations, travel tips

5 Reasons to Design a Family Cookbook

December 20, 2018 by Rhonda Gales 4 Comments

First, I lost one of my favorites aunts, my mother’s sister, a few years ago. As a result, I wanted to do a tribute in her honor. So, I put together a cook book filled with recipes from family, friends, and co-workers. I’m so happy with how it turned out. As a result, I wanted to share a few tips on designing family cookbooks.

This particular cover called to me, so I choose it for the book. It reminded me of the little church that my family built years ago. I had the front and back cover laminated to preserve it from any spills, so the photo is a little shiny. Sorry about that.

Next, I added a section of my favorite family quotes to the family cookbook. In addition, there are four sections which included Appetizers, Beverages & Dips, Main Dishes and Sides, and Desserts. I gathered approximately 200 recipes from family, friends, and co-workers to include. It also includes a few of my aunt’s recipes, so the book is even more special to me.

In 2019, Mother 2 Mother will be sharing a few recipes from this book. I grew up on many of them, and I really enjoy making them now. They bring back so many memories.

The company that I worked with, G & R Publishing, was great. They added a section filled with craft ideas for kids. I will also be sharing some of the crafts from the family cookbook in future posts as well. G & R provided a template, which made inputting the recipe a breeze. They also did the formatting of the book.

Next, my family’s church is pictured on the back of the book. It was built around 1848 by my great, great, great, grandfather, who was a freed slave. It also includes one of my favorite bible versus. Additionally, this church was used as a school and for community meetings. I am proud to say, that it still stands. My grandparents and other ancestors are buried in the cemetery on the grounds of the church.

If you ever want to do a tribute to a family member or friend, consider putting together a family cookbook. Here’s 5 reasons to design one:

Celebrate life with good food, family, and friends.
Family cookbooks are a great gift idea, perfect for a giveaway, fundraiser or goodie bag.
Family recipes bring a bite of nostalgia to the kitchen.
It’s a great way to preserve family recipes.
Store family love in your heart with good food from your ancestors.

Last, I put my foot into it as the saying goes when I’m cooking. But, I also put my heart into my dishes. This is a perfect way to remember those who are no longer with us, they will always be in our hearts. Finally, it’s also a great way to bring family to the table, and get a good conversation going about your childhood. I hope you found our tips on designing family cookbooks helpful.

Filed Under: Family Time Tagged With: creating memories, family cookbooks, family recipes

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #205

December 15, 2018 by Rhonda Gales 9 Comments

Welcome to Week 205 of Sunday’s Best. We are continuing our Sleigh Bells Ring theme. So we’re looking for all things relating to Christmas. Red, Green, White tablescapes, party ideas, decorating ideas, activities for kids, recipes, crafts, and more. So, blow the dust off those old posts that you might have that will help us get ready for Christmas.

Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like. Be sure to tell your friends, they will want to join the party too. We will be taking a break the week of December 29 and resuming January 5, 2019 with our Winter Wonderland theme.

The post with the most clicks will be the Reader’s Choice post(s). We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best Linkup featured bloggers.

Contact rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts if you are interested in co-hosting.

Your Sunday’s Best Linkup Hosts Are:

Rhonda at Mother 2 Mother Brittany at A Mama Tale Kim at Life in a House of Testosterone

Here are the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like Rhonda’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin, or subscribe/join her blog on the right sidebar before you leave.

Kim from Life In A House: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+;, Pinterest;, Bloglovin;, or Instagram; before you leave.

Brittany from A Mama’s Tale: Please like Brittany’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave. Snag a Button!

Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. Please let your readers and followers know by placing the Featured Blogger banner on your site.

Rhonda selected Candy DIY Gift Tags from DIY Adulation

Kim Selected Christmas Entry and Tour from Penny’s Treasures

Brittany selected Christmas Crafts for Kids from Worth Writing For

Kid's crafts

The Post with the Most Clicks

Death by Peanut Butter and Chocolate from Marilyn’s Treats

Christmas Desserts

Favorite Theme Post(s) – Sleigh Bells Ring

Santa’s Suit Rice Krispie Treatsfrom DIY Party Mom

Christmas Food Ideas

and

Chocolate Candy Recipesfrom Granny’s Grid

and

Fall Winter Reversal Sign from A Hippy and a Redneck

and

Christmas Card Lights from Paper Seedlings

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Sunday's Best Linkup Tagged With: blog hop, linky party, social media

18 Christmas Books for Children of Color

December 13, 2018 by Rhonda Gales 1 Comment

So, today I am sharing parenting tips on a list of Christmas books for children of color. I’m a big advocate of reading. It is an activity that was instilled in me as a child and I passed my love for reading on to my daughter. I’m now making it third generation, I’m passing my passion for reading to my granddaughter and grandson.

Reading is so important to all of our children’s education. It has been proven that children learn when they can relate. So, seeing images that look like them or someone they know is one of the ways that help children learn.

Christmas books for children of color:

Story Bird Dance and The Snowbird Ballet – First, this book is a perfect gift or Christmas book for the little ballerina. The recital for Story Bird Dance Academy is approaching. However, Jada is afraid to dance in front of the big kids. And, Nia doesn’t like her costume. How will they do in the recital. Appropriate for ages 6 – 8.

The Secret of Santa’s Songbird – A northern Cardinal named Chipper is slow at growing his feathers. He knows he different, but hopes to be like other birds. Chipper delivers a Christmas gift that nobody sees coming. Not even Santa. Appropriate for ages 6 – 8.

Adventures in Tutus – The Missing Christmas Gifts – Follow Cloclo and Riri on an adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa. They are wearing their tutus, and hope to meet Santa’s elves and reindeer. Appropriate for ages 5 – 8.

Sophie Washington Secret Santa –

A secret “Santa” has been mailing presents to sixth grader Sophie Washington. She has no clue who it could be since a gift exchange is not happening in school. Sophie and her friends think either Nathan Jones or Toby Johnson, two boys in Sophie’s class, may be the secret Santa. Sophie begins to unravel clues to discover her secret Santa. Appropriate for ages 8 – 12.

Pinata in a Pine Tree – Partridges are being replaced with Piñatas in this story of the 12 Days of Christmas. Appropriate for ages 4 – 7.

A World of Cookies for Santa – A World of Cookies for Santa takes children around the globe to discover cookie treats left for Santa around the globe on Christmas Eve. The book also has cookie recipes the children can make. Appropriate for children 5 – 8.

The Legend of the Poinsettia – This books explains how the flower of Christmas, the poinsettia, came to be. The poinsettia was a selfless gift from a little girl to Christ. Appropriate for ages 4 – 8 years.

Together for Kwanzaa – Kayla loves Kwanzaa. It is her favorite time of year. Her brother Khari is supposed to come home for the festivities, but a heavy snowstorm is coming. Will Khari miss Kwanzaa. Great book to introduce children to Kwanzaa. Appropriate for ages 3 – 7 .

The All I’ll Ever Want Christmas Doll – Nella’s family is poor, but she’s hoping Santa will bring her and her sisters a beautiful Baby Betty doll. Will Santa grant her wish? Appropriate for ages 4 – 8 years.

I Got the Christmas Spirit – It’s the holiday season! A mother and daughter are enjoying the lights and sounds of the season. She’s also enjoying chestnuts roasting, carolers, and sleigh bells ringing. She finally goes to see Santa, and gives him her Christmas wish. What is her wish? Appropriate for ages 3 – 6 years.

The Night Before Christmas – Teenager, Noland Nixon retells The Night Before Christmas illustrations of an African-American family. Appropriate for ages 6 – 8.

The Day Santa Got Sick – What happens to the toys if Santa gets sick and can’t drive the sleigh? That is exactly what happens one Christmas Eve. But, a little girl elf and Mrs. Claus save the day. Find out how. Appropriate for ages 5 – 8.

Messy Bessey’s Holiday’s – Bessey and her mother love to bake cookies for Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah. After they bake the delicious treats, they clean up the kitchen, and than deliver the cookies to their neighbors.

How to Build an Elf Trap – If you want to catch an elf, you will need more than candy canes and ribbons! Get help building your Elf Trap with precise calculations and the right engineering. Appropriate for ages 4 – 7 years.

My Christmas Story Tree – An adorable board book takes toddlers through the decorating of a family Christmas tree. Beautifully illustrated with glitter and glitz. Appropriate for ages Preschool – 2.

12 Days of Big Hair – Another great books that teaches African American girls to love their natural hair. Everyone knows the 12 Days of Christmas. However, The 12 Days of Christmas with replaced with a natural hair twist. So, Effie’s Big Hair teaches her that her big hair is beautiful. Appropriate for ages 5 – 8.

The Nutcracker in Harlem – Next, a little girls finds her voice as a musician in this rendition of the Nutcracker. The setting is Harlem. Appropriate for ages 4 – 8 years.

A Piece of Black Cake for Santa – So, Femi and her friends want to leave Santa Caribbean treats this year. One of the treats is Black Cake. They also share some of their favorite winter activities at the Christmas fair. Appropriate for ages 5 – 8.

Finally, these Christmas books for children of color will make great Christmas gifts. So, add a few to your child’s reading list. Also, you may like 24 Winter Books for Kids.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: children's books, educational activities, holiday books, holiday gift ideas

11 Ways to Recycle Christmas Cards

December 10, 2018 by Rhonda Gales 1 Comment

Today I’m sharing parenting tips on ways to recycle Christmas cards. Year after year we receive beautiful Christmas cards, but we have no idea what to do with them after the holidays. They’re too beautiful to throw away, so we just place them in a box and store them from year to year. Christmas is around the corner. Again, Christmas cards will be arriving in the mail or handed out at the office. Many have beautiful scenery or a picture of Santa.

Here’s a list of way to reuse them:

Name Tags – First, use designs on the card for gift name tags. Cut out a square from the design on the Christmas card. Next, Embellish it with To and From lines.

Embellish Gifts Bags – Second, cut out design and embellish gifts wrapped in Kraft or plain colored wrapping paper.

Frame Them – Furthermore, you can frame the cards and make a vignette or wall display. Pick up a few frames at your local Dollar Store.

Scrapbook Pages – Use cutouts from the cards to create designs to Christmas scrapbook pages.

Lid Covers for Jars – Additionally, you can use a large circle punch to create a design for the top of jars. You can fill the jars with cookies, candy, hot chocolate and more. Be creative.

Drink Coasters – Buy ceramic tiles and cover them with designs from

Design a Wreath – Recycle Christmas cards by making craft items. Christmas Cards make great wreaths.

Embellish a Fireplace Mantel – So, your mantel is bare. Display cards along your fire place mantel or shelves. Add lights or greenery to the mantel to create a festive mood.

Decorate a Door Frame – Furthermore, when I was growing up, sending Christmas cards to family and friends was a tradition. One of my favorite childhood memories was seeing the Christmas cards received during the holiday season around the door frames in the house.

Create Jigsaw Puzzles – Also, recycle Christmas cards by creating jigsaw puzzles. I purchased this jigsaw puzzle maker for my scrapbook pages and I love it.

Christmas Ornaments – Use a circle punch to create designs from the cards. Next, use a hole punch to make a hole at the top of the circle. Thread a piece of ribbon through the hole and tie on a tree or tree branches.

Last, we hope you like a few of our recycle ideas and will put them into affect. Finally, you may also like 7 Christmas Morning Tips You Need.

Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, Holidays Tagged With: holiday crafts, holiday decor, Holiday ideas

Sunday’s Best Linkup – #204

December 9, 2018 by Rhonda Gales 10 Comments

Welcome to Week 204 of Sunday’s Best. We are continuing our Sleigh Bells Ring theme. So we’re looking for all things relating to Christmas. Red, Green, White tablescapes, party ideas, decorating ideas, activities for kids, recipes, crafts, and more. So, blow the dust off those old posts that you might have that will help us get ready for Christmas.

Anything goes, as long as it’s family friendly and you may linkup as many posts as you would like. Be sure to tell your friends, they will want to join the party too.

The post with the most clicks will be the Reader’s Choice post(s). We will be adding the winner to our Sunday’s Best Linkup featured bloggers.

Contact rhonda@mother2motherblog.com or email one of our other hosts if you are interested in co-hosting.

Your Sunday’s Best Linkup Hosts Are:

Rhonda at Mother 2 Mother Brittany at A Mama Tale Kim at Life in a House of Testosterone

Here are the rules, please connect with us on social media before you leave or subscribe to/follow our blogs:

Mother 2 Mother: Please like Rhonda’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+, Pinterest, BlogLovin, or subscribe/join her blog on the right sidebar before you leave. Kim from Life In A House: Please like Kim’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter;, Google+;, Pinterest;, Bloglovin;, or Instagram; before you leave. Brittany from A Mama’s Tale: Please like Brittany’s Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter, or Pinterest before you leave. Snag a Button! Last, please help us grow by placing our button on your sidebar. Please let your readers and followers know by placing the Featured Blogger banner on your site.