Gratitude Jars - DIY Project For Kids Of ALL Ages!

Let's Build A Gratitude Jar...TOGETHER!

Learn how to make a simple gratitude jar that you can use to record & collect your happy moments.

 Adding to it each week is an easy way to practice self-care, as it forces you to slow down and reflect on the positive things (big & small) in your everyday life. This also makes a thoughtful DIY gift for friends, family, or anyone who's going through a rough patch (anyone living through 2020 can relate).

What is a Gratitude Jar?

Essentially, a jar (usually a glass mason jar but any vessel works) that helps you practice gratitude by reflecting on the positive things in your life.

There are two main types of gratitude jars:

An Empty Jar That You Fill (with handwritten scraps of paper

 containing things you're grateful for)

A Full Jar That You Pull From (with printed slips of paper that have inspirational quotes on them)

The first is one you typically make yourself (or are gifted by others).

The second is one you buy pre-made that you can draw from and read whenever you want.

 

I'm sharing the first type today. As much as I love quotes,

I think it's more personal & meaningful to fill the jar with your

own thoughts of gratitude and happiness. And physically writing

out those thoughts solidifies them in your mind.

Why Start a Gratitude Jar?

The MAIN REASON?

 It's good for your mental health & GREAT self care to practice gratitude!

And right now, mental health is a BIG issue.

 

We live in a time where we're constantly stimulated

by our phones, laptops & tablets. We become addicted

 to the quick dopamine hits we get when folks "like" or comment

on our social media or forum posts.

But what happens when an algorithm changes and suddenly

 no one is seeing your posts? Or, your feed is filled with pictures

 and videos of everyone else's highly edited & curated "perfect" life?

 

You start to feel less than. You begin to fall into the comparison trap.

Wonder why your life isn't like theirs.

Here's what to do if you fall into the comparison trap:

mute that person's account or unfollow them

if you find yourself mindlessly scrolling in places that make you feel bad, delete the social apps from your phone or clear the cache on your computer so you're logged out of all sites

UNPLUG and take a break from the digital world

And in the meantime, ground yourself in your actual, real-world life.

Interact with your loved ones - as much as safely possible during

these times, spend time outdoors, do something that fills you up,

 & create a home environment that brings you joy.

 

Practicing gratitude helps immensely, too!

 

It forces us to slow down and reflect on the things we're thankful for.

And when we think about said positive things, it makes us feel good.

It also gives a much-needed perspective when we're comparing our

imagined "deficit" to another person's "surplus".

Ideas & Writing Prompts For a Gratitude Jar

 

 

Some folks have a hard time writing when they're sitting in front

of a blank piece of paper. Here are some ideas to get the words flowing:

core needs that are being met (shelter, food, safety, health, transportation, etc.)

people that are making a positive impact on your life & why

activities you're doing right now that make you happy: TV shows, books, movies, games, extracurricular things, etc. (it's fun to record these and look back on them a year later)

new experiences you've had

funny or cute moments from the furry friends in your life

things you've learned recently

things you've purchased, donated, or gifted

any creative outlet you have

good things that happen to others in your life (let it be aspirational for you)

places you've traveled to (even if they're just in your local area)

how you're feeling physically (it could always be worse - LOL)

seasonal things (weather, holidays, etc.)

things you've moved on from or left go in your life

new habits you've started

things you're looking forward to

old memories that affect you deeply & stay with you to this day

quotes or ideas that inspire you & why

Learn how to make a simple gratitude jar that you can use to record & collect your happy moments. Adding to it each day is an easy way to practice self-care, as it forces you to slow down and reflect on the positive things (big & small) in your everyday life. This also makes a thoughtful DIY gift for friends, family, or anyone who's going through a rough patch.

MATERIALS:

1 glass jar with lid - like a mason jar, hermetically sealed jar, etc.

1 pack of index cards or cardstock cut down into your preferred size (you'll need 52 pieces of paper for a weekly jar)

a few good pens in your favorite color

Decorations (optional): a kraft sticker or chalkboard sticker or chalkboard paint for decorating the jar with a "gratitude jar", "happy jar" or "good things jar" label

 

 

STEPS:

Buy the jar, cards, and pens and set them next to each other in a place where you can easily see the jar & remember to add to it weekly (or daily if you prefer).

Create a written and/or digital reminder to yourself to add to the jar all year long. This makes it easy to add to your routine!

DECORATING OPTION: If you're gifting this to someone else (or want to decorate it for yourself), wrap some hemp cord (plain or colored) around the top of the jar, then apply a sticker or several layers of chalkboard paint to one side of the jar. Write "gratitude jar", "happy jar", or "good things jar" using your favorite pen, markers, or chalk. You could even get a nice tag to tie onto the cord and write brief instructions for how to use the jar, and pair it with a few good-quality pens. 

Everyone Needs A Little Fun On The Run....After The Past Few Months We've Had

Are the kids tired of being stuck at home and feeling a little bored? 

Are you planning a trip with your kids soon just to finally break free from quarentine??

Whether you are staying in, travelling in the car, airplane, train, cruise or attending an event catered to adults -the Fun On The Run Craft Kit by Lil Tux N' Tiara's Event Sitters, & Ent. is the perfect gift; full of well planned,  mess free activities and crafts to keep your lil' ones busy! 

It is also a great option for rainy days or to bring along wherever you may need to occupy your kids in a fun and creative way.

Fun On The Run includes over a dozen items - everything your lil' one needs to show off their creative talents. 

Designed for children 4 years and up, it may contain small parts so we encourage adults to use caution and supervision.

Shapes, colors, crafts & themes may vary.

Fun On Run Craft Kits offers something for kids of all ages.....

Craft Kit Ages 4-7      

Craft Kit Ages 8-12    

STEM     Ages 8-12    

If you would like your Fun On The Run Craft Kit to be personalized or fit a special occasion just let them know at no additional charge!!!

Fun On The Run Craft Kits are

available for purchase beginning Friday June 19th, 2020

Visit: www.liltuxntiaraseventsitter.com

Rediscover Family Traditions

For as long as I can remember, there have been family traditions in my household.

Traditions around bedtime, mealtime, first day of school, holidays, dance recitals, birthday and celebrations alike. Some I have forgotten, but many I hold near and dear to my heart till this day.

I think a part of the reason why some of these traditions were so memorable and important were because my parents were new to the United States and had to create a new normal for our family.

To me, shopping for the first day of school from 1^st grade to 8^th grade, was similar to the Forest Gump ‘life is like a box of chocolates quote’. I never knew what I was going to get.

 My father would always go to the Flea Market at Aqueduct Raceway in Queens NY, and purchase two, sometimes four pair of shoes / sneakers that either no one would know or ever look at. He reminded that the shoes were good quality and what good use I would get out of them. After awhile it just became a joke in the house, because he meant well. But the shoes were always god awful ugly!

I remember always celebrating Birthdays at Red Lobster. ALWAYS!

Why Red Lobster you ask? Because they always gave away an entire chocolate cake for FREE as well as sang a cheesy birthday song. (It was even cheesier back then).

My father worked and travelled a lot, so most of what I remember of our traditions included just my mother and me.

In hindsight, I applaud my mother. She made great efforts to create traditions for our family- Christmas and New Year’s included. Some that would warm the heart, and some that would be slightly questionable in a court of law.  LOL!

On Christmas Eve, we would drink hot chocolate and sing Christmas Carols – sometimes in a round out of this very thin, yet well preserved green book she kept from her school days in Jamaica W.I. She would also allow me to open at least one of my gifts…sometimes we had a tree – sometimes we did not; nonetheless, we had fun memories that I will cherish forever.

Christmas was never boring in our home, money or no money, friends or no friends, parties or no parties. I looked forward to every minute of it. Because we were together.

For years we would ring in the New Year hopping from theatre to theatre in the former SUNRISE Multiplex in Valley Stream, NY.

(I am pretty confident that the statute of limitations on movie hopping has expired by now, so I can proceed with my story). 

We didn’t have loads of money to spend on a night on the town; but what we did have was two tickets, popcorn, and fast moving, feet when it became necessary to run from theatre to theatre when each movie ended and the ticket / cleaning crew came around.

 I miss those days.  They brought me such joy and comfort. I am sure that I am not alone...can you relate? 

When I became a growing adult, with a growing family, I felt it was only right to rediscover the fun and joy of family traditions. Now I make an effort to drag my children to see the Christmas Tree. 

Yup, the same Christmas Tree that they drop off at Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park, every single year. I drag them to the Saks windows on 5^th Ave. 

Yup, the same windows displaying things I can’t afford, with a little fake snow thrown around. 

I still watch “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “March of The Wooden Soldiers with Laurel & Hardy” (off-course), and “The Honeymooners” marathon. 

Each year I purchase a REAL tree, as opposed to an artificial one, so that my home smells like and looks like LIFE. 

These intentional choices are vital; they send a message to my kids of who we are and what we can be.

So many of us as adults don’t value traditions anymore. We forget that those same experiences, shaped the people that we have become, both good and bad. When we turn our backs on those things, we are choosing to dismiss a major part of who we are and where we have come from. 

If you are fortunate enough to share your life with a partner, spouse, or children you are also denying them the opportunity of getting to know a piece of your past and journey.  

Traditions help us to connect our past to our present. They help to reinforce our values, faith, ethics, selflessness, and appreciation for our role models and the experiences they have imparted on us.

Whether anyone understands my need and desire to cultivate these traditions, they are necessary. They are necessary for me. They are necessary for my identity and sense of belonging to my family, culture, and community.

 Especially as I get older, and losing loved ones, is a reality.

The truth is that as we age, our beliefs and traditions become diluted and the things that shaped us -suddenly become foreign to us. It’s our responsibility especially if there are children in our lives, to remind ourselves and them that they are a part of a bigger story. It will hopefully, give them understanding and inspire confidence.

I want to encourage everyone to think about and take advantage of every opportunity to celebrate the values and beliefs that they hold dear.

 It doesn’t matter your religious beliefs, political affiliations, or financial status.

Don’t look at it as just another daunting task, but rather a blessing that you get to create and nurture something that will one day outlive you.

Traditions, moments spent with loved ones, stories, activities, memories, routines, create generational ties that should never be taken for granted.