Brigette Danielle

Hey y'all!
So if you haven't been watching the news, scrolling through social media or you have been dodging everyone's calls or texts.. you should know by now that majority of the world is either self quarantined, on lock down or simply just not caring about this crazy Covid-19. Better known as the Corona Virus. What way to start off 2020.
While all this is happening in the world around us, we have to continue to see the silver lining.
I know it is easier said than done.
On a lighter note,

Today is Thailand's birthday, sure to be one she will never forget. Being able to celebrate another year of life is plenty of silver lining during this crazy time. While we won't be able to do some of the things we planned for her birthday, we are more than making the most of it.
So as our tradition continues, here is how Thai has changed or not changed since her last birthday!

1. What is your favorite Subject- Math 2. What is your favorite color- Red, green and baby blue 3. What is your favorite activity- Writing songs 4. What is your favorite book- Comics/graphic novels 5. What is your favorite food-Cajun pasta 6. What is your favorite movie- ummmm... Lego movie 2 7.What is you favorite sport-volleyball 8.What is your favorite animal-dogs, lions, cheetahs, white tigers, wolfs, foxes, cats, 9. What is your least favorite subject- Language Arts 10. What is your favorite TV show- Ninjago 11. What do you want to be when you grow up- song writer and rich 12.What do you think 12 will be like- the same.. probably get more stuff to play on.. but mostly the same.

BSE

Want to see how Thailand has changed since last year? Here is her interview from 2019 >> https://www.bybrigettedanielle.com/2019/03/this-is-11-thailands-birthday.html

Thailand, you know you are the strongest, toughest and most loving kid I know. The way you don't let other peoples opinions get you down, the way you keep fighting to learn and push through your dyslexia and memory processing. You are a true inspiration to the entire family. We all love you more than you will ever know. Each day I look at you, I am inspired to do more, be better and love harder. Happy birthday Thailand, we LOVE you!

Do you have any special traditions that you do on your child's birthday? Let me know in the comments!

Daddy Daughter Dance

BFFS

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Hey y'all! Spring time is here and you know what that means.. time for a wardrobe revamp! It's March and that's when "life" starts to come back into the world lol. With new life comes new weather and new weather means new clothes...(pause for dramatics).
At any moment, the bluebonnets will be blooming, thunder storms will be brewing and the subtle hues of pink, and florals will be crowding every shelf of every store you walk into. While spring time does require you to toss/pack away those winter coats and gloves, it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to replace them. That's where thrift store shopping comes in!

If you didn't know, I love thrift store shopping. The challenge of finding something new at a fraction of the cost is one of my favorite things to do. There are thrift stores in every major and minor city and even though it can be hit or miss at some, a lot have great deals and finds. So, before you start searching for your next thrift store find, take these thrift shopping tips into consideration so you can score BIG at your local thrift store.

1. Location- Okay, this one is pretty obvious. Location is EVERYTHING when it comes to finding a thrift store near you. Thrift stores seem to be in just about every city around Dallas, so finding one that I like isn't really hard. If you are pretty particular in what you are looking for, then head to the towns that have a higher average income.
2. Sales- Yes! Thrift stores have sales, most of them have different ones every day. Once you find your thrift store location, check their online calendar/socials or give them a call for their daily tag sales. My local thrift shop goes by tag colors, but I have been to some that go by department.
3. Timing- Once you find the location and the sale dates, knowing when the thrift store opens is key. You want to get there first thing in the morning so you can see all the new items that were put out the night before and of course, beat all other thrifters to the punch. One of my local thrift stores has a $.25 day. The catch is they are only open for a few hours so you have to be one of the first ones in line to get the good stuff.
4.Know before you go- Know what you are looking for BEFORE you go. Jot down sizes, colors interests and anything else that may be of importance. My last shopping trip (see video below) was all about my son. I knew what size and what styles I was looking for before I went. Knowing before you go into the thrift store will keep you on track with what you need, wandering off into a different department takes time away from what you are looking for as well as the risk of missing out on a good find.

5. Label check- Labels are so important when thrift shopping. Check to see if what you are buying is worth the price they are selling. For example, a George shirt from Walmart usually costs around $7-$9. Buying one for over 6 really isn't worth it. Finding a shirt from Nike, Jos. A Bank that sells for $8 is definitely worth it. Another thing to check is if something is dry clean only. If you don't normally do dry clean, then you may want to pass on it (unless it is an amazing find), don't worry so much about taking one item to the cleaners while the rest can be hand washed.
6. Clear your schedule- It takes time to go thrift shopping so plan accordingly. If you are searching a big store, you want to allow yourself plenty of time to not only search each one, but try on and check out as well.
While thrift shopping for a new wardrobe can seem intimidating, don't be afraid to take this challenge head on. You will be surprised what you can find and how little it will cost. check out this YouTube video I posted recently where I head off to the thrift store to find my son some new clothes.

Do you like to go thrift shopping? Are these thrift shopping tips helpful? Let me know in the comments below.

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Hey y'all!

Happy January :)! Can you believe a new ~~year~~ decade has finally arrived? It still feels surreal. One minute we are feeling old because we realized it's been a decade since we graduated high school.. then the next minute you realize your kids are in middle school and you are starting to think about college!

Last year, I shared some simple and fun mother daughter bonding ideas. You can check them out HERE!Y'all seemed to love it as it gained a lot of page views and shares. Thank you so much for that! I love spending time with my girls and I loved that I was able to share some of those ideas with you.

This time, I wanted to share something similar but for moms of boys! My son and I probably have the most affectionate relationship out of all my kids. He loves to shower me with hugs and cuddles which I love! But he is about to turn 9 and while I love his hugs and cuddles, he is about to grow out of that phase. So, in order to keep that special bond that we have, I started thinking long and hard about some awesome mother son date night ideas that we could start implementing this year!

Mother Son Date Night Ideas:

1. Dinner- The most obvious mother son date night idea is to actually go on a "date". Taking your son on a dinner date really gives y'all some wiggle room when it comes to where/how much/ how fancy. Plus, it will give him the chance to freshen up those chivalrous skills like opening doors, pulling out chairs etc. A mother son date night dinner is a great starting point.

2. Museum- A lot of museums are free and open all year round. The paintings, sculptures and special exhibits are tools to start new conversations. A mother son date to the museum will give you both the chance to talk and learn more about each other through prompting questions.

3. Hiking- My son loves to be outside (as long as it's not too hot lol). Going on a hike is a great mother son date because you can bot explore the world around you. It will also give you both the opportunity to encourage one another to face a new fear or challenge.

4. Trampoline Parks- Trampoline parks are basically the safest way to bounce on a trampoline lol. Places like Sky Zone, Jump Street and Urban Air have deals, events and multiple locations. Having a mother son date night at a trampoline park is a great idea because you can both burn off some energy, spend time playing together show off those hidden talents. I had no idea my son could flip until he showed me at Sky Zone. I was so proud of him!

5. Bike Riding- Bike riding is another mother son date idea that gives you some wiggle room. If you own your own, it costs nothing. If you don't have one, many cities offer public ones to rent for a small hourly price. You can ride around the lake, downtown, the woods, your neighborhood... anywhere! The possibilities are endless.

6. Have a Movie Night- Have dad or another relative take the girls (if you have them) out for their own bonding moment and stay in with your son. Gather a few movies, popcorn, snacks, and drinks to create your own movie theater experience indoors! Some people feel like movies are opportunities to ignore each other, I think they are moments you get to experience with your child.

7. Catch a Game- My son loves football, especially the Cowboys and Raven (his name is Baltimore). I have always wanted to have a mother son date night at game. Tickets are super expensive ( at least for the Cowboys) so this will probably take some planning and budgeting if you don't have to extra funds to drop on a dime.

8. Mini Golf- Playing mini golf is another fun mother son date night idea. This is also another fairly cheap option but it can be so much fun!

9. Build a Fort- Who doesn't love building a fort?! This isn't really a date but it is a great mother son bonding opportunity. Get lost in an imaginative world when you build a fort, plus it doesn't cost anything and you don't even have to get dressed up!

10. Laser Tag- Head over to your local arcade and game center for a fun game of laser tag! This mother son date night idea is great for you and your son, no matter the age.

11.Go Bowling- Bowling is another fun mother son date night idea that is great for your son no matter what age they are.

12. A Visit to the Library- Spend some time reading and browsing for new books that you can read together and discuss or to start a new bed time routine.

13. Have a Picnic- Grab all your favorite foods and enjoy a nice picnic in your local park! Want to spend time together before? Pick out a menu and shop for all the goodies you both want to have on your picnic!

14. Play Video Games- If your son is like mine then this would probably be the best date ever lol. Plug up the console and start gaming! You could play against each other, others, create challenges and of course see who will be number one! Another thing you could do to make your gaming date special is to buy him a first place trophy/medal and make it a monthly competition to see who gets it.

15. Cook a Special Meal- If your child is older or if you feel comfortable letting him in the kitchen with you, plan and make a special dinner just for you two( or more). Cooking brings people together and this date night idea is sure to teach him a new skill and create memories that will last a lifetime.