4 Ways to Invest In Your Child's Future That Don't Require You To Spend Money

Are you investing enough in your child's future? It's a question most parents start asking themselves not long after their little bundle of joy enters this world. 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

Investing in one's the future doesn't always have to mean contributing to a retirement plan or an IRA. As a parent, investing in your children is a lifelong process with the goal of a well rounded, productive and independent young human being.

We all know that raising kids is expensive starting with boxes and boxes of diapers, baby gear and Onsies to feeding that growing teen who is always hungry! Aside from investing in and meeting your child's physical needs, have you ever considered the many ways we can invest in our children that won't require you to pull out your wallet or use your credit card but are still just as important?

Investing In Your Child's Independence

Beginning with those young toddler years, investing in your child's independence is how we help our children become socially successful. The goal of this investment or the "long term gain" is to help our kids establish a skill set that promotes their ability to work independently, interact appropriately with others and be competent problem solvers.

How do you invest in your child's independence? 

It starts with the right tools, the most important being consistent parental discipline. 

I know we all shudder at the word "discipline" but when we look at discipline as a way to love your child it takes on a much more positive connotation.  Established and consistent discipline of setting boundaries and sticking to them helps foster your child's ability to learn self-discipline. Well established boundaries introduced to your child from the get-go are important so children know where the lines are so they can begin to practice staying inside them. 

Innocent childish behavior left unchecked could lead to future behavioral issues that are much more difficult to fix as you work to help your child break these bad habits. Consistency is key even on those tough days when you're exhausted and running on fumes!

Let me give you a real life example of what this looks like. My second oldest daughter became a "biter" when she got frustrated or angry. She was only two and a half /three years old and understandably difficult situations frustrated her so she lashed out by biting others. Obviously we couldn't let her keep doing this and had to put a stop to it immediately (for the safety of all of us!). Of course I could have just yelled at her or put her in time out every time she acted out but that would have left her "tool box" empty for the next difficult situation that arose. Instead, realizing her biting was a symptom of her frustrations I used her time out as a chance to sit with her (after she calmed down) and talk about how to act in difficult situations - filling up her "tool box" with "tools".

Tools For Your Child's Tool Box - Independence

Helping my daughter come up with words to use in frustrating situations, by herself she couldn't do, was one way I helped give her a new tool. I would tell her things like "when you feel angry or frustrated tell someone how you are feeling" like "I want a turn with this toy please" or "I don't like _____" and even "you are making me mad".

I didn't expect perfection however I did expect her to start trying out the new tool she had acquired. After many more time out sessions (the consistent discipline part) and discussion of how to behave and what to say (using her tools) I started to see a change. Self discipline was kicking in and her ability to control herself in a difficult situation improved. This was one small step towards independence. The investment was beginning to pay off!

This may seem like a small step but teaching your child how to be self controlled and communicate effectively will serve them well the rest of their lives. Investing in your child's independence is an accumulation of small baby steps that add up over time. It is a lot of hard work but the future rewards are well worth it!

Investing in Your Child's Creativity

Creativity isn't something we are born with rather creativity, according to Robert Sternberg, Professor of Human Development at Cornell Universtiy, "creativity is a decision in the same way investing is. It is a decision to buy low and sell high in the world of ideas" According to Sternberg's research he concludes that creativity is a conscious choice of how one decides to make use of six distinct but interrelated skills or resources better. Sternberg calls this the Investment Theory of Creativity.

As a parent understanding these six skills or resources and how to help foster creativity in your child is another great way to invest in your child. Helping your child develop an attitude toward life that fosters a willingness to blaze their own path is the start to helping them embrace creativity.

Tools for Your Child's Tool Box - Creativity

1.  ABILITIES / INTELLECTUAL SKILLS

The skill to see challenges in a new way, to determine which new ideas are worth pursuing and which are not and to be able to communicate the value of an idea in a convincing way, all help grow creativity in your child.

As a parent you can foster the growth of this skill through meaningful conversations with your child such as:

• Can you give me an example of that?
• I disagree/agree with ____ because...
• Are there any other ideas or thoughts you have about ____?
• What you are saying is...

2. KNOWLEDGE

What we know and how much we know can be helpful or a barrier to our creativity. Too much past knowledge about something can result in a closed and unchanging perspective however, the opposite is true for someone with little to no knowledge of a field.

Addressing this skill through parenting requires us to ask our children if they are willing to make a decision to move beyond what they already know with the goal of learning more as well as helping them draw upon and use their past knowledge. How do you do this? Encourage your child to keep learning (beyond their next text), read a variety of books and to spend time talking to people asking them questions about their life experiences. 

3. STYLES OF THINKING

Overall, our styles of thinking are the preferred ways we choose to use the skills we have available to us. Encouraging your child to think through things and look at challenges and think through them in a new way is one way to hone their ability to think creatively. Sternberg uses the term "a legislative style" since it requires:

• a preference for thinking through things
• a decision to think in new ways
• a decision to think globally as well as locally (look at the big picture)
• a decision to value creativity

As a parent challenge your child to think "outside the box" as new experiences or problems arise. Give them room to fail and try again so that they practice this skill.

4. PERSONALITY

Personality plays a big part in one's creative functioning. Personality attributes like the willingness to overcome obstacles, willingness to take sensible risks, willingness to tolerate ambiguity and the ability to get a job done satisfactorily all support creativity.

A child who thinks in a way that appears to be defying the crowd or going against traditional conventions might just be trying to exercise their creativity. Giving your child room to let their personality shine will help them grow their creativity. If your child is hesitant, you can help generate these opportunities by having your child participate in the next age group of a sport or activity, or for an older child encourage them to make purchases or returns from a store on their own. Sometimes a little extra challenge is all they need in order to exercise those personality attributes.

5. MOTIVATION

Have you ever done something you loved so much it didn't even feel like work to you? We all know that not everything we do will feel this way but finding something, even just one thing to be interested in can help keep you motivated. According to Sternberg, motivation is not something inherent in a person therefore we have to find a way to make a task or a job/chore interesting to us. 

Creative work is rarely done in an area where we don't love what we are doing!

Sometimes we have to get creative to be more creative. Finding a new angle on the task to make it appealing rather than boring is a great way a parent can help their child stay motivated.

Here is an example I used with my children. My oldest son hates to write. He will avoid it at all costs if possible. On the other hand he LOVES sports and will do anything he can to play it, watch it and talk about it. In an effort to motivate him to write I had to get creative to help him become more creative (and motivated) with writing. I did this by "hiring" him as our family's official sports reporter. His job is to write a weekly sports article telling his readers (his family) about the game (any game he chooses) and to give a "live" update of the game's highlights. Because he loves sports so much he doesn't seem to mind writing as much as he used to when the topic was something he wasn't at all interested in - in fact he tends to write more so that his readers get the whole story! Plus using his "sports reporter's voice" is fun for him and our entire family!

6. ENVIRONMENT

Kids (and parents) need an environment that is supportive and rewarding of creative ideas. We all love a pat on the back when we do something we think is of value. Positive feedback, and sometimes negative feedback, can help your child grow in their creativity.

Encouraging your child to try new things and rewarding them or applauding their efforts are ways you can provide your child with the right environment that fosters creativity. For all of my children, showcasing their artwork, essays or other creative projects in a special place in our house is important to them. It is a non-verbal way to give them feedback. I even have had some of their artwork professionally framed and hung on the walls of our house.

Investing in Your Child's Work Ethic

Monkey see, monkey do - your children learn what a good work ethic is by watching you work. How hard you work, no matter what the task, teaches your child to value a healthy work ethic. Taking ownership of their responsibilities like chores or schoolwork is how they start practicing their own work ethic. 

Doing the job right the first time and on time are all important factors of instilling a good work ethic in your child. 

Start when they are young so the investment in their work ethic today pays off in their future pursuits.

Tools for Your Child's Tool Box - Work Ethic

For elementary age children their job is school. Whether your child is homeschooled or attends a public/private school they are responsible for completing the assigned tasks or homework. Guide your children on how to manage their time so that the work doesn't completely overwhelm them but let them be responsible for meeting deadlines and handing in work on time.

Working side by side together on projects like planting a garden, fixing something that is broken or building something can provide an opportunity for your child to experience helping you work and seeing you work hard on a task.

My youngest son is a work horse when it comes to home repair/fix-it projects. When he was 5 years old our mailbox post needed to be repainted and he asked if he could do it. He had been watching me stain our deck in the hot sun and understood the mechanics of painting and he thought he was ready to tackle a project of his own. After giving him a small can of paint and a paint brush he started painting the mailbox post. 

It was a very hot day which made it hard to work outside in and I expected him to give up after five minutes in the scorching heat but, to my surprise he kept working. About an hour later this little guy, dripping in sweat and covered in splatters of paint, finished the project without complaint! 

After he was done I asked him why he kept going even though it was so hot out and took so long. He said "Mom, you did it so I knew I could do it." He watched me work hard on painting the deck so he knew what kind of work ethic it would take for him to paint his project. 

Teaching your child to value time and respect other's time is a valuable work ethic lesson too. My high school band director always said "To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late." 

As a teen I learned that in most situations, like band class, showing up a few minutes early allowed me to get ready physically and mentally to start class so that my time and my director's time wasn't wasted. 

Teach your teen to value time so that they are ready to go and respectful to other's time too.

Investing In Your Child's Future

One of my favorite children's books is Ms. Rumphius. It is a story about a little girl, Alice Rumphius, who is given a challenge that when she grows up she must find and do one thing to make the world more beautiful. Throughout her life as a student, world traveler and eventually an old woman, Ms. Rumphius remembers this challenge and eventually finds one way to make the world more beautiful. 

This seemingly simple challenge is a reminder that investing in our children's future at a young age can and will have a global impact. It is also a great challenge to encourage your child to focus on other people rather than themselves and to have a heart of generosity so they can give back to others.

College or a trade school is not the end of their future. Remembering that your investing in their lifelong future and teaching your children how to be a productive member of the community is important.

Tools for Your Child's Tool Box - Their Future

Observing your child to learn what their likes/dislikes, strengths/weaknesses, talents and skills are is a valuable way to help identify what their future interests could be. Shadowing a professional or volunteering and serving others is a great way for your child to learn about their God given passions. 

Investing time and encouraging them to get involved in the community not only helps them gain valuable experience but helps develop soft skills like communication, teamwork and problem solving.

You know your child best so helping them navigate the best tests to take for college admissions, selecting the right school and finding scholarships that fit their talents are all great ways you can invest in your child's future.

Investment Assessment

An investment in our children whether it is in their independence, their creativity, their work ethic or their future doesn't just change our children but it changes us as parents! 

I encourage you today to take an assessment of these "non financial" investments and see where you need to make a deposit in your child's life. The future payout is worth it!

Sternberg, Robert J.(2006) 'The Nature of Creativity', Creativity Research Journal, 18: 1, 87 — 98

The 2019 Limitless Learners Contest - Enter Today!

College may seem like a long way off when you are surrounded by little ones who need you all day long! Changing diapers, picking up toys, preparing endless meals and snacks might be your current focus but this is a short season and in the blink of an eye those little ones will be ready for college and ready to leave the nest. 

It is never too late to prepare for their future even though it might seem a long way off! College is expensive therefore any opportunity you have today to help offset some of the future costs is well worth it. Education.com understands this and is offering an amazing opportunity for your child to win a little cash to put towards their future college education. 

This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page.

The Limitless Learners Contest

This summer Education.com is proud to offer $9,000 in prizes as part of their Limitless Learners Contest! The contest encourages kids in/entering K-5th grade to think creatively about what education means to them and use their art, writing, and language skills to express their ideas. 

Six (6) lucky kids (a winner will be chosen from each grade level) will be chosen to receive $500 for college PLUS a free premium lifetime membership to Education.com for their parent or educator! Also, the winning child can choose to nominate their school or local library to win a $1,000 donation as well. 

I’d love to share this generous and amazing opportunity with you, your friends and the talented children in your community. Here are the details for this year's contest:

Contest Details

Who Qualifies - Applicants for the Limitless Learners Contest must:

• Be students in kindergarten to 5th grade as of the 2019–2020 school year.

• Have the written consent of a parent or legal guardian (see form here).

• Be legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

How to apply - Students will need to do the following by October 31, 2019 to apply:

• Obtain a completed consent form signed by the applicant's parent or legal guardian. (click here)

• Respond to the following prompt in the appropriate format (listed below): 

Describe a time when you were having so much fun, you didn't realize you were learning something new:

• Kindergarten students: Create a piece of art (e.g. draw or paint a picture) and write about what is happening, or ask an adult to write a sentence or two describing your picture.

• 1st grade students: Create a piece of art (e.g. draw or paint a picture) and write 1–3 sentences about it.

• 2nd grade students: Write a short story (5–8 sentences) and create at least one picture to illustrate it.

• 3rd grade: Write a short story, journal entry, or comic strip.

• 4th grade: Write a short story, journal entry, poem, or comic strip.

• 5th grade: Write a personal narrative, short story, poem, or comic strip.

Submit the above to our judges:

• Via email to contest@education.com.

• Via standard mail to:
  Education.com
  401 East Third Avenue
  San Mateo, CA 94401
  Attn: Limitless Learners

Judging Criteria - 

Submissions will be judged based on quality, creativity, storytelling, and originality.

Click to read the OFFICIAL RULES

Take Action Today - The contest deadline is October 31, 2019 so please download, print and send in your entry via the Limitless Learners Contest Form. 

**Make sure that you the parent (or guardian) sign the contest form on page 3 so that your child's submission is accepted. 

Please note that I am not a representative of Education.com and I did not receive any benefits (financial or products) from Education.com to publish this post. These are my own opinions. 

Mouth Watering Grill Seasoning Recipes You Can Make At Home

Summer is here and it is time to up your grilling game! After months of tasty crockpot recipes and soups consumed during the winter it is time to bust out the grill and enjoy cooking outside once again. Nothing beats the smoky flavor of fresh off the grill food whether it is chicken, beef or even pizza!

For years I used a gas grill and was fairly happy with the results....until I switched to a charcoal grill. 

Wow what a difference! 

There are pros and cons to both methods of grilling but in my opinion the charcoal grill is king. If you are the type of griller who likes to turn on the gas, push a button and wallah you are ready to start cooking, a charcoal grill is not for you.

Honestly, when I first started using a charcoal grill it really tested my patience! It takes time for the charcoal to really heat up to the desired temperature so you have to plan ahead a little to make sure the grill is ready to cook your food. 

I would pile up the charcoal briquettes in the bottom of my grill, squirt a little liquid lighter fluid on them, light a match and hope for the best. Nine times out of ten this resulted in a little smoke and nothing else especially no hot coals. I was frustrated to say the least.

...But then my sister-in-law introduced me to a game changing charcoal grill tool that make things much easier!! The charcoal grill chimney fire starter.



This tool is amazing and really gets the coals red hot and ashy quickly which is exactly what you want. If you have never used one of these before here is how you do it:

HOW TO USE A CHIMNEY FIRE STARTER TOOL

• wad up some newspaper and shove it in the bottom of the chimney fire starter
• pour in your charcoal briquettes
• place the chimney starter in your grill on top of the bed where the hot coals will go once they are hot (you do NOT want to start the chimney starter outside of the grill - this could start a fire!)
• douse the charcoal briquettes with lighter fluid and then use a lighter to get the fire going. 

In addition to lighting the lighter fluid on fire I also like to ignite the wadded up newspaper in the bottom. To do this I just stick the end of the lighter into the chimney starter and touch the flame from the lighter to the paper.

The briquettes will smoke and eventually start to turn a little gray and ashy and in the middle there will be a hot red center which is exactly what you want. Now all you have to do us grab the chimney handle (which isn't hot!) and carefully pour the hot coals into a heap in the bottom of the grill. 

You can spread them out a bit too if you don't want the heat centered in one spot. I find it is nice to have the briquettes in one spot which allows for a hot section of the grill and a less hot section. This is helpful when you are grilling different kinds of foods at the same time.

Most grills have an external thermometer so you can monitor the internal grill temp to know when it is time to begin grilling your food. The vent on your grill is helpful when you want to let in more oxygen to increase the temperature or close it a bit to reduce the amount of oxygen which in turn will decrease the internal grill temp. Play around with this to find the ideal venting for your grill.

Now that you have your grill smoking hot it is time to start grilling! Besides hot coals, you want to make sure your meat or vegatables are well seasoned with the right mix of seasonings. Mixing your own grilling seasonings is easy and fun! 

Beware, once you make your own seasoning mixes you will never return to the store bought pre-mixed packets! Here are some recipes and ideas to get you started:

Make Your Own Seasoning Mixes - 

Mouthwatering Homemade Recipes 

You Will Love

A well seasoned steak or chicken breast tastes amazing when cooked on a grill! One of my favorite things to do when grilling is to doctor up the seasonings. Even store bought seasonings can be enhanced to your liking. It is so much fun playing around with different flavors, spices and rubs knowing that the combinations are endless and the results are so tasty!

If you have never made your own seasoning mix I highly suggest you give it a try. My family's favorite seasoning mix is the fajita southwest mix that I use in everything from tacos and fajitas to pot pie and soup. Yep, it is that versatile!

To get you started making your own grill seasoning mixes here are nine fabulous mix recipes you can start with thanks to Gifts.com. Once you've whipped up a few different mixes make sure you store them in an airtight container so they stay fresh longer. This handy set of spice jars comes with airtight shaker lid perfect to store your homemade mixes.

Gifts.com also included seven useful hacks to improve any seasoning which is at the bottom of the handy info graphic so be sure to check it out or Pin for later.

DIY Grill Seasoning Mixes Make Great Gifts

Now that you have mastered the mixing of your own seasonings why not share your creations with others? Package up your latest mix, add a label to the container and give them as gifts to your friends and family. These seasoning mixes make great gifts anytime of the year. Gifts.com has created free printer jar labels and gift tags along with instructions on how to make your own. Click HERE for the link to the labels and gift tags.

5 Games to Play At A Bridal Shower That Your Guests Will Love

Coming up with great bridal shower games can be a real challenge but it doesn't have to be. With a little creativity and these great free printables not only can you throw the best bridal shower ever but you can do it within a reasonable budget too!  Planning ahead and getting creative is all you need to do to pull off a fun and memorable shower!

A wedding shower should be a fun event that the bride along with all the guests should enjoy. At most wedding showers the diversity in ages of those in attendance can really make it hard for the person planning the shower to come up with games and activities that all of the guests will enjoy and be able to participate in. The games your guests play together at a shower can be a lasting memory for them as well as the bride so choose wisely based on those who will be attending - you don't want great aunt Edna to break a hip while participating in a more active type of game!

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please read my disclaimer page. Thanks!


Need some help coming up with games and activities for guests to play at a bridal shower? Zola.com, the wedding company that will do anything for love (aka - experts), has provided me with several fun shower game ideas and 57 free printables for you to download and use at the next bridal shower you host.

There is no need to break the bank in order to throw a fabulous bridal shower - these fun and memorable games will help you stay in budget and provide lots of fun.

SUPER FUN GAMES TO PLAY AT A BRIDAL SHOWER 

BRIDAL TRIVIA

This is a great game for a family bridal shower. For the soon-to-be-new in-laws this game is a great way for them to really get to know some unique facts about their future daughter in law. Also, this game can be played by all of your guests no matter their age or physical abilities. For the free printable from Zola.com click HERE.

RING HUNT

Looking for a bridal shower game that will require guests to get up and move around a bit (hopefully promoting some mingling!) to look for hidden rings. Before the shower starts the host needs to hide plastic engagement rings all over the room. The person who finds the most wins a prize. Get the free printable for this game HERE. These plastic engagement rings are the perfect size to use for this game and you can use any extras as cupcake toppers!

BRIDAL SHOWER CHARADES

These wedding themed charades are sure to get your party guests laughing! This classic game is guaranteed to create some funny and memorable moments. Print your set on card stock, put them in a bowl and let guests take turns drawing them out and then acting out the word(s). Print your free bridal shower charades cards HERE.

WINE TASTING

Treat your guests to a wine tasting experience as a unique bridal shower activity. These beautiful wine tasting score cards can be printed on card stock and distributed to guests so they can tally their experience sampling a variety of wines. Also, mixing inexpensive wines with a little pricier ones will help you keep the cost reasonable. You might find that your guests prefer the Winking Owl Pinot Grigio (thank you Aldi!) more than a higher priced bottle. Use small plastic cups instead of large wine glasses to help keep the cost reasonable too.

You don't have to be an expert sommelier to have fun with this activity - just encourage your guests to share their opinions of each wine with those at their table and let the conversation roll! Find the free printable wine tasting cards HERE

FLOWER CROWN BAR

A Flower crown bar is another great activity to do when your guests range in age and physical abilities. Vases or pails of fresh cut flowers and some bobby pins is all you need in order to do this one. Check your local farmer's market for in season flowers to use or pick wild flowers to use that won't cost you a thing. Encourage guests to accessorize their hairstyles with the fresh cut flowers securing them with the bobby pins. Make sure to capture these moments as guests pose together for pictures. You could even vote for the most creative crown with the winner receiving a prize. To download the printable for this activity click HERE.

If these awesome bridal shower games and activities aren't enough check out these additional 49 free bridal shower printables to use the next time you host a bridal shower.

...More Bridal Shower Ideas

WEDDING ADVICE CARDS

Everyone loves to pass along sound advice to those just starting out on a new adventure especially if the advice giver has many years of marriage experience. Give your guests an opportunity to impart some words of wisdom to the bride and groom as they begin their marriage. These advice cards can be used at a bridal shower and at the wedding reception too! Collect the cards and put them in an album or use a small binder to keep them together for the bride and groom to read later. 

Download and print the free advice cards HERE.


RECIPE CARDS

Does your family have a special recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation? Keep the tradition going by giving the bride and groom a collection of treasured family recipes. Send guests a blank recipe card with their invitation (or use the recipe card as the invitation) and ask that they bring the completed recipe cards with them to the shower. 

During the shower collect the cards from guests and let the bride to be read a few out loud to guests so everyone gets a chance to hear some of the delicious recipes that were shared. After the shower collect the cards and put them in a recipe card box or recipe binder for the bride to take home with her.

More Budget Friendly Bridal Shower Ideas

If you are throwing a bridal shower but have a limited budget these free printables (above) will certainly help you keep the cost of the party reasonable. Check out more budget friendly bridal shower ideas in this post: 10 Ways To Throw a Bridal Shower That Won't Break The Bank.

click to read more....

Summer Road Trip Ideas - 30 Waterfalls You Won't Want To Miss

Summer can bring out the inner explorer in all of us to a varying degree. Whether you are a true roughing it kind of family or maybe a weekend hiking warrior we all love a little adventure in our lives. 

Finding nature's hidden treasures along a trail or spending time at a National Forest can provide your family with the perfect venue for exciting explorations.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my disclaimer page. Thanks!

This summer as you are planning your vacation explorations consider visiting a waterfall along the way. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Waterfalls are so relaxing and powerful all at the same time! Their beauty and strength pulls you in as you watch and listen to the roar of the water cascading over the edge.

Our beautiful country has many waterfalls to explore. 

CarRentals.com has provided a great map broken down into five geographical regions that highlight a some less popular yet amazing waterfalls you may want to consider adding to your summer vacation plans. 

30 Waterfalls To Chase On Your Summer Vacation

Here is a glimpse of the map CarRentals.com put together. For more detailed information including a description of the different types of waterfalls please check out their blog HERE.

The informative map also includes a few tips to consider if you are going to visit these spots so you are prepared and know what to expect before you get there.  

Our Vacation to Tahquamenon Falls (Michigan)

Last year our family spent a week exploring and vacationing in the Upper Peninsula, fondly referred to as the "UP"(pronounced "you-p") of Michigan. We visited many beautiful places like Picture Rocks, Mackinac Island and St. Ignace but our favorite was Tahquamenon Falls.

Tahquamenon Falls is actually two different waterfalls on the Tahquamenon river near Lake Superior in the UP. One unique feature of these falls is the color of the water. The water is brown in color (not muddy or cloudy) due to the tannins from cedar swamps which the river drains. 

Tip...

If you love taking nature pictures the best time to capture these beautiful falls is in Autumn when the contrast of the brown waterfall water is set against the backdrop of the surrounding trees as their leaves change colors.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park provides a paved path visitors can follow to see both falls. The viewing deck for the upper falls is a great place to pull out your camera and capture the beauty of this waterfall. There are also many quiet spots to rest and listen to the waterfall too. Pack a cooler and have a picnic at many of the picnic tables throughout the park. 

The upper falls span more than 200 feet and drop about 48 feet. In the spring the volume of water draining from the river over the falls can be as much as 50,000 gallons per second making the upper falls the third most voluminous vertical waterfall east of the Mississippi River after Niagara Falls and Cohoes Falls in New York State (per Wikipedia)

The lower falls are a great place for visitors to experience the waterfall right in the water! The lower falls are about 4 miles downstream and are really a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Visitors can rent rowboats and row to the island where the fun and exploration really begins! We rented one rowboat for our family of 6 (life jackets included!) and paddled our way across a small section of gently flowing river to the island.

Navigating our way across large slippery rocks, through the shallow water, along the river's edge was exciting! Even our youngest who was 5 years old at the time was able to do most of the climbing on his own. We spend hours exploring along the island and the river's edge. Water shoes are highly recommended if you want to climb the rocks!

The highlight of our exploration was at a section of the lower falls where the water cascades over a rock ledge. Those who are brave enough can make their way through the swiftly flowing river and carefully plunge themselves through the cascading waterfall into a large gap behind the falls. 

Standing behind the waterfall in the cave-like environment was exhilarating (and terrifying as a mom holding her 9 year old son's hand!). It was an experience like no other and definitely one of the highlights of our trip!

For more information specific to the Tahquamenon Falls State Park visit the Michigan State Park website.

Before you go...

While your family is traveling for vacation don't forget to look for funny signs to help you pass the time more quickly. Check out my post - 17+ Road Signs That Will Crack You Up! If you find any silly signs don't forget to take a picture and share them with me!  

Oh, and make sure you print a copy of my free Road Trip Scavenger Hunt game to take along with you! 

If you and the kids haven't already created a Summer Bucket List I highly recommend you do so - it isn't too late yet! Not sure what a bucket list is or how to begin? Don't worry! You can get a premade list or one you can customize all on your own HERE!

click HERE to read more

Happy trails my friends! Don't forget to Pin and Share this post so others can learn about these awesome waterfalls too!

10 Fabulous Gallery Wall Display Ideas For Your Home

Creating a gallery wall may sound intimidating at first but with a little pre-planning, imagination and creativity you can create a beautiful display with very little cost.

We all have that one wall in our house that has been sitting bare for far too long. Or maybe your wall isn't bare but the decor just doesn't see quite right. For me it is the wall at the top of our staircase. It has been sitting empty for five years. I'm embarrassed to admit that but there it is out in the open for all to see. Not anymore folks! It is time for me to dress this wall with something pretty and I've finally decided a gallery wall display is the perfect way to make this blank wall come to life.

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Of course before I did anything I went directly to Pinterest for inspiration! Wouldn't you do the same thing? This is my place of inspiration and I thought I'd share with you a list of 10 gallery wall display ideas to inspire you.

Also make sure to check out number 10 on the list below - it has a link for free botanical printables and ideas for a gallery wall using these beautiful printables!

10 Fabulous & Inspiring Gallery Wall Displays For Your Home

#1 Layered Frame Gallery Wall

A simple multi layered frame composition becomes a stunning gallery wall display. The best part - not only is it beautiful and customizable (paint the frames your favorite colors) but the frames are from a thrift store! Get the details at MakelyHome.com

Picture frames come in all different sizes and shapes from long skinny rectangles to large square shapes. Play around with different frames until you create the exact layered look for your gallery wall display.

#2 Clipboard Gallery Wall Display

Sometimes it isn't the frame that is holding you back from making a gallery wall display but choosing what to display is the problem. With this clipboard display you can easily change out the artwork whenever you want! Plus clipboards are super inexpensive compared to the cost of picture frames. Complete tutorial on how to create your own clipboard gallery wall can be found at White House Black Shutters blog.


#3 Ceramic Plate Gallery Wall Display

Scour thrift shops, garage sales and even Grandma's collection of old dishes to find some interesting shapes, colors and sizes to create this beautiful gallery display. If you like the plate "as is" there is no need to spray paint it or maybe you want to create a cohesive look in a color that complements your space then by all means grab a can of all in one spray paint-and-primer and go to work. Plates are easy to hang when you use wall plate hangers. To find instructions on how to create this beautiful display check out DIYNetwork.com

#4 Large Foam Core Board Mounted Galley Wall Prints

There are lots of great large scale prints available but sometimes the cost to frame them far exceeds one's budget. This great tutorial from It's Always Autumn shows how to mount your large prints onto foam core board to make a professional looking mounted print you can hang on any wall. With a few supplies - foam core board, exacto knife with a new blade, adhesive runner and a ruler and cutting mat you are all set to begin creating your own large scale gallery wall display. 

#5 Photo Ledge Gallery Wall 

Are you a handy DIY'er? This is a simple project almost anyone can make on their own and it doesn't cost much at all. Ledge shelves can be custom painted too! What is perfect about this type of gallery display is that you can change out the framed pictures or other items on the shelf without putting any holes in the wall since all you have to do is remove and replace items from the display ledge. You could even stagger the shelves to give it a different visual feel or keep them lined up like the picture above. 

To find the complete tutorial and instructions to make your own ledge shelves you can read more at A Girl and A Glue Gun. 

Don't worry if you aren't comfortable making your own you can find plenty of great ledge shelves online at great prices. Ledge shelves come in many different lengths too so almost any space can be used. 

#6 Farmhouse Style Sign Gallery Wall Display

This inspiring farmhouse style gallery wall display is from the Cotton Stem. What I just love most about her blog and style is the "just go with it" approach she takes to creating this display. Wood farmhouse signs are all the rage and I think this display captures the beauty and simplicity of the wood mixed with simple yet meaningful signs. The embroidery hoops add an extra dimension and are a super cheap way to add shape and layers to the gallery display. 

#7 Mirror Gallery Wall

via: CountryLiving.com

Who says gallery wall displays could only be done in very public places like a living room or up a staircase? How about in a bathroom? Doesn't this practical yet beautiful display of various shaped mirrors serve two purposes - to see your reflection as well as create a piece of artwork. Of course you can use a mirror gallery display anywhere you choose but the practical nature of this one just makes me smile. Mirrors can be found at thrift stores, cleaned and hung on walls to make a stunning display. 

#8 Living Wall Gallery Wall Display

via: Lonny.com

Succulents are the perfect plan to use in a living wall gallery wall display. They require very little pampering and look so amazing. You could even create your own planters with a few empty plastic containers and some paint. Clean out an empty bottle, paint it pole a hole in the back to hang on the wall, put some soil into the bottom and stick in the succulent. Succulents are an inexpensive plant that you can find almost anywhere. 

If you don't want to use live plants there are some great faux succulents as well as other plants you could use to make a living wall gallery display. Check out my tutorial on how to make a faux succulent planter HERE. 

#9 Colorful Basket Gallery Wall

This beautiful display of colorful African baskets from Kelly Elko makes a great gallery wall display. The baskets don't have to be African or even colorful to make your own basket gallery wall. Keep your eyes peeled for baskets at thrift stores. Even a mix of baskets and round woven placemats would work too. The best way to hang baskets on the wall is with Command toggle hooks since they won't damage the wall or the basket. 

#10 Vintage Botanical (FREE) Printable Gallery Wall Display

Often times we want to refresh our home decor but don’t want to spend a fortune on new accessories for the wall. Luckily, gallery walls are a fun way to show off art that’s new and old and the photos can easily be swapped for newer ones at little to no cost.

To help you add some summer decor to your home, FTD has free botanical prints. Embrace the vibrant colors of the garden in your home with these lovely vintage prints. Browse through to find which ones you like best and what color will match with your home.

Botanical prints are classic yet timeless and very popular right now. This collection of 8 free botanical prints from FTD.com could be displayed in large frames on the wall in a grid pattern or set on the surface of a floating shelf to add new dimension to a gallery wall display. The floating shelf allows an addition of a small object to be displayed along with the print creating a beautiful display. 

Floral decor is a great way to bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home. These colorful vintage prints can be printed to fit a 5x7, 8x10 or 11x14 frame which means they are super versatile to fit your space. The FTD blog includes a description of each print which includes:

8 Free Botanical Prints to Liven Up Your Space

Rose Botanical Print

Daffodil Botanical Print

Peony Botanical Print

Gardenia Botanical Print

Hydrangea Botanical Print

Chinese Pear Botanical Print

Greenery Botanical Print

Iris Botanical Print

To get your own set of all 8 of these botanical prints for free go to the FTD.com blog. 

Now that you and I have all of these fabulous inspiring gallery wall ideas it is time to get to work! I'd love to hear how your gallery wall display looks and what you used to make it.