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Simple Activity Station Ideas for Kids

April 14, 2022

I'm often asked, "Jess, how do you function with five kids and a circus of animals?" The answer? Girl Scout cookies and wine (I kid, I kid...mostly...more milk than wine). Cookies aside, since beginning a life of schooling/working at home, I've found that we are all happier when we have options - lots of options. So, I'm going to share a few of my simple activity station ideas for kids that will keep them (and you) happy!Simple Activities - Stay Organized!Before jumping into ALL OF THE ... VIEW POST

Glittery Glowing Monster Jars

October 29, 2020

Glitter. You either love it or hate it. I'm in the "love it as long as I don't have to clean it up" category. Let's be honest, if you decide to bust open the glitter, you're committing to one to two weeks of picking it out of everything. Like, every nook and cranny. You'll probably even find it in your underwear. It doesn't matter how hard you try to contain it. Once you release the sparkle, it's "game over." Whether you love or hate glitter, you're almost certain to appreciate this colorful, ... VIEW POST

a_charming_mess

Jan 18

•• time to lose yourself with me ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 16

•• My 10 year old gifted me this cup. What a little gem, eh? Tell me your favorite gift from this holiday season 👇••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 15

A glimpse into our week at Children’s Hospital with Molly. We are home with oxygen as she continues to recover from Flu A and Pneumonia. I spent little time sleeping and a lot of time cuddling, watching monitors, and thinking.

I thought about how grateful I am for my kids and their health (though they’ve been hit hard since November), for Derek and his calming presence, and for family that goes above and beyond to make us feel loved every day we were sick, sad, and tired (my parents deserve a vacation after taking care of the rest of our ill kids, animals, and a new puppy — Jeff & Tina were heroes with pizza — my sis kept a smile on my face — thank you).

I watched and listened to the doctors, nurses, and support staff. There is a certain determination in the way they hold themselves along with a weariness in their eyes that speaks to the gravity of their responsibility. Life-altering and life-saving decisions made day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

I heard the whir and throttle of the life-flight helicopter, felt the rumble of its engine through the walls as it took off and landed right above our heads on level 9. I felt anxiety for the children transported by air and a nauseating gut-punch knowing that there are children who will never leave — their families left hollow with the gaping, wretched void that is grief.

I thought about my selfishness at pushing aside my flu/Covid vaccinations this year — always meaning to get it done this week or the next…not realizing that weeks turned into months. Prioritizing convenience over health — decisions that come with consequences. While I can never know if it would have made a difference — I do know that if you have the chance to protect the vulnerable along with yourself, you should do it.

My thoughts circled around our ease of getting the care we needed and how difficult that is for so many — how healthcare should be accessible and affordable to all and that it’s not — how that’s not just a damn shame but a disgrace to the betterment of humanity.

Now, I sit here in a daze — tired. Tired of feeling the heaviness of the world and sitting comfortably without doing much to change it. I have work to do.

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a_charming_mess

Jan 8

•• 2025 vibes ••

Eat. Drink. Breathe. Kick ass. Repeat. .....and....goooooooooo!

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a_charming_mess

Jan 6

•• Would you put an espresso machine in your bathroom? ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 6

•• "Let me see, what are my other shortcomings. I get in the dumps at times, and don't open my mouth for days on end. You must not think I am sulky when I do that. Just let me alone, and I'll soon be right." -- Sherlock ••

Same. Saaaaame.

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a_charming_mess

Jan 4

•• So. How's your year going so far? ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 2

•• The four year old is snoring next to me, snuggled into my side. I'm busy dreaming up all the weird, moody, and beautiful things I want to share this year. It's going to be a ride. Hope you're ready. 🖤••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 31

•• Tell me your intentions for the new year. I'll share mine this week. ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 29

•• All around me are familiar faces
Worn-out places, worn-out faces ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 28

•• "to the ends of the Earth, would you follow me?" ••
@lordhuron at Red Rocks in May. I'll be there. Thanks @mrcharmingmess

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a_charming_mess

Dec 25

•• If they gave me a choice, if they left it to me, I know just what my present would be.... ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 24

•• Precious moments ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 23

•• Photo bomb courtesy of Max Dennison ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 23

•• Slowly coming out of the fog of bronchitis. Living and breathing slowly. Thanks for checking in on me and the fam. Derek and Jude had pnemonia, Molly enjoys pulling all-nighters, and I am hoping for a health-filled holiday. ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 18

•• Still sick. Enjoy. ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 15

•• Down with the sickness, chills, fever, aches -- wanting a pillow that is both hot and cold. ...As well has a human sized, gelatinous orb filled with warm gel that would encase my body. Basically, a womb.

This is not an advertisement for these things. I simply want them to exist and if they do...alert me, please.

This *could* be an advertisement for @harneytea Harney & Sons tea but they don't know me and I don't want to make it awkward. But heeeeeey love your teaaaaa!

That is all. I think. Hot/cold pillow. Gelatinous womb ball. Tea. Oh, yeah. I have to cross my legs and hold my crotch when I cough. Five kids. Yes, I exercise the pelvic floor but there's only so much a dame can do, ya know?

Bye. ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 15

•• Every gal needs @cyndilauper in their life ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 12

•• The reality of filming any content with my kiddos in the background. Always having conversations, asking me questions, giggling. This was too sweet to edit out, you know? 🖤 Sound up for the full experience.

And yes, the girls' room is vintage rocker chick themed. Weird? Nahhh. No more strange than hanging Disney princesses on the wall. These are real, badass women artists. May we carry on their creative prowress and energy 🙌✨️

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a_charming_mess

Dec 10

•• Morning, moody souls. How's it going? ••

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“Whoa! That’s so cool,” my kids gasped, breathless in their excitement as they saw the colors stream through my camera lens. What looked to be a faint line of pink quickly burst into a blend of dark pink, purple, blue, and green. Photography is magic. The human eye is fairly weak, really. We’re just not… [Continue Reading]
A handful of weeks ago, I thought about writing this post – and I want to add that it also had a great title at the time (I specifically remember thinking, “WOW, that’s a BOMB title!”). As it happens, I can’t recall it (*pulls out hair in frustration*) and this post remains title-less until it… [Continue Reading]
“Autumn’s Fire” fine art print available here Leaf peeping is at its height here in the mountains of Colorado and I feel like there is a renewed interest in learning to appreciate nature and its gifts. We were lucky to be able to drive up Guanella Pass — one of the most popular aspen-viewing drives… [Continue Reading]
My brain is currently in Halloween mode, obviously. As I was collecting my favorite finds for the week, I stumbled on several great pieces from Antique Farmhouse. Antique Farmhouse is a longtime favorite of mine — and they recently featured product photos of mine for their Sleepy Hollow promotion event. Weekly Seasonal Favorites The Sleepy… [Continue Reading]
Recently, I scrolled upon a GIF that said, “Forget about being cool. I want to be so kind that it freaks people out.” I thought, “SAME.” Then, I thought about all the time I spent trying to be cool, imagining myself as the cool kid, pretending that I was someone else that was cool, practicing… [Continue Reading]