Playdough isn't Just for Kids

Sometimes it’s fun to feel like a carefree kid; wind in your hair, dirt on your clothes and a smile on your face. But how many of us have a time machine? A good way to feel like a kid again is by playing with playdough. Many childhood memories were created with our hands, either in paint, dirt or toys. Revisit those memories with this homemade playdough recipe. It’s easy and inexpensive.

1 part Hair Conditioner or Shaving Cream

2 parts Cornstarch

Food Coloring if desired

Cookie cutters for fun shapes

Just mix all of these ingredients together in a bowl, and then knead them with your hands. It’s that simple. For softer dough, add more hair conditioner or cream. For chalkier dough, add more cornstarch. Warning, it can be messy and wearing black isn’t recommended, but it sure is fun to feel like a kid again.  

Revitalize that Relationship!

Ask your spouse these three questions about their childhood, and answer them yourself:

·       What was your favorite childhood toy?

·       What is a fun memory you have with your family as a child?

·       How can we create fun memories for our children?

Make sure not to worry about the mess or washing your hands. Just enjoy the date with your spouse and learn more about them.

Homemade Body Paint – Parent Date Night

Image Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sometimes, as a parent, we hear about great safe activities for our children. One idea is a homemade nontoxic paint, but we want to make sure it works. What a great idea for a date with your spouse! The recipe is simple:

2 tsp. Cornstarch

1 tsp. lotion

1 tsp. water

Food Coloring

* This recipe is good for 1 body paint color.

This paint is safe to go on skin and washes off! With this in mind, you can make a game out of your new creation of body paint. Before getting your hands dirty, make a list of objects you should paint on each other, letters, shapes, scenery or your favorite cartoon characters. Toss all of these ideas into a bowl, and take turns picking out an object to paint on the other person. You can wear an old or cheap white shirt, although there is no guarantee the paint will wash out. Have fun together being creative and laughing.

Revitalize that Relationship!

If you are a parent, discuss with your spouse about each of your children, sharing fun memories of them and how you can help them in their future activities. If you do not yet have children, discuss how you want to help your children to become their best selves. 

Can you Escape?

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A fun date is the Escape Room L.A.! “What is that?” you may be asking yourself, well let me explain. Escape Rooms are starting to pop up all over the country. Each is different but they all have the same premise. You have a team of up to 10-12 people per escape room. You can bring a big group of friends or family, or be paired up with other couples. You have one hour to be in a room together, filled with puzzles and clues, to solve the mystery. You get more information when you sign up and actually talk with the people who work there. It is a fun and unique date while being a little out of your comfort zone. It is 100% safe and reviewers are raving about them. They book fast so make sure to plan in advanced. This one is specifically located in downtown L.A., but you can find one closer to you because they are all over southern California

To book a time or learn more, check out their website: Escape Room L.A.

Would You Rather...

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When we think of dates, we usually think about big ideas that tend to cost money. Dates like those are nice, and help to build great memories with your spouse. But what about those weeks where you are seemingly too busy for a date? Play a little game called "Would You Rather." Take a half hour, sit down together and try and answer the following questions. These questions are for fun, a great way to laugh and spending time with each other in a hopefully novel way.

WOULD YOU RATHER…

-Be half your height, or double your weight?

-Fight a horse sized duck, or 100 duck sized horses?

-Live in the world of Harry Potter or Narnia?

-Have a zombie apocalypse or WWIII?

-Be super-fast or super strong?

-Have no internet, or no phone?

-Change the past, or see into the future?

-Be invisible, or fly?

-Lose sense of touch or taste?

-Be able to talk to all animals or be able to speak all languages?

Revitalize that Relationship!

Life can be hectic and your relationship may be the last thing on your To Do List. However, marriage can be an uphill battle. Research shows that once kids enter the picture, marital satisfaction goes down and continues that pattern until the children leave (at which time marital satisfaction goes back up). You can’t afford to slip away from each other. Even taking an hour a week to just be together can strengthen your marriage, and help fight the odds.

Grom Gelato

Photo courtesy of Grom

If you've ever talked to anyone who's been to Italy one thing they're sure to say is, "The gelato there is way better than anything I've ever had here." Now, I don't know about you, but this always makes me feel like I'm missing out on something big and for someone who loves ice cream in all it's many forms, that's unacceptable. Sadly, traveling to Italy just to try their gelato is also out of the question, so imagine my great surprise and excitement when I stumbled upon Grom, a gelato place started in Italy itself. With farm fresh ingredients that they grow on a farm that they own, you can taste the goodness in every bite! With relatively few locations outside of Italy (as of right now...) there is no way that you can pass up this opportunity! This gelato is amazing and it has two great locations in Los Angeles, one in Hollywood and one in Malibu. These two locations make it the perfect stop while you're on the way to something else (of course, it always works as a destination in and of itself too...), you can stop in, grab a scoop or two and still hit up some of the iconic Los Angeles sites. 

Corral Canyon Hike

Beautiful Corral Canyon Hike starts right out of the parking lot of Malibu Seafood and takes you up to sweeping vistas of Malibu seashores as you make your way back on this short 2.4 mile loop. This hike starts out in a little bit of a gully and leads you up a hill (make sure to choose the left as you come to the fork, otherwise you miss the views of the ocean as you come back!). As you crest the hill and start on your way back you are treated to beautiful, unimpeded views of blue ocean and clear skies. This hike is truly not to be missed, it is a gem!

The best part is, after the hike you can have lunch at one of the best seafood places that Malibu has to offer, Malibu Seafood! You can turn it into an whole day affair by relaxing at the beach afterwords and soaking in some rays. This hike is great for those who love hiking as well those who don't. It's short enough that you don't feel too exhausted by the end, but you feel worked out and you have an incredible view to enjoy on the way down. If this blogger could recommend just one hike in the area, this would be it. It truly represents the area and all it has to offer. Good luck and have fun!

Runyon Canyon

Runyon Canyon is another one of those hikes with an incredible vista that also happens to be in the middle of the city. Seriously though, you pull up to a bunch of apartment complexes and there, tuck back in the back is this hike that leads you up an into a small canyon with great vantage points over Los Angeles. Located in Hollywood area you get the true flavor of Los Angeles here with a mix mash of people and pets, all who are ready and willing to give you a smile and a word of encouragement. This hike is a loop and the hiker can either choose to go up the stairs and down the hill, or vice versa (which happens to be what this hiker did and does not recommend). While the stairs don't rest on the edge of any precipice, they are rather steep and can be tricky when coming down). The hike definitely gets your blood pumping, but it's a comfortable level of exertion and it's also relatively short. (And to reward yourself at the end go ahead and stop by Milk Jar Cookies for an amazing treat!)

Feel like you don't know what you would talk about on a hike? Well, this blogger thinks that the sweeping cityscapes and friendly people will give you more than enough to chat about, but if all else fails you could always discuss what kind of dog you would want if you were to ever get a dog. This popular hike is dog friendly and more hikers than not have their furry companions with them. With new subjects to talk about constantly passing by, you're sure to never run out of something to say.