How to Convert Your Attic in a Reading Room

 

Attic conversions are popular with homeowners if it isn’t being used for storage, and they can make wonderful additions to a home. You can do almost anything with an attic, turn it into a nursery, spare bedroom, playroom or study. Whatever you choose to turn it into, an attic conversion is a great way to add value to your property if it’s done right. Although there are plenty of options when it comes to creating a new room in your home, if you’re an avid reader, or someone who is just looking for a place to enjoy some quiet time, why not turn your attic into a reading room? Here’s how you can do it.

Attic Inspection

Before you start any work on your conversion, you will need to have your attic inspected. These checks will determine whether your attic is structurally sound for this kind of home improvement project. In addition to this, you will need to have your attic cleaned and properly insulated before you turn it into your reading room. You can find out more about getting an attic inspection and other attic services online.

Hire a Contractor

Once you have had the all-clear from your attic inspection and have had it properly cleaned and insulated, you can then move on to the next stage. You’re likely going to need the services of a professional contractor to create the right space for your reading room. If you don’t already have a window in your attic, you might want to consider having some installed, as natural light will be much better to read in. You will also need to have walls constructed and plastering services, as well as having quality flooring installed. Engineered rustic white flooring could be a great option as it is high quality and great looking.

Choose Your Color Scheme

This part of the project is where it starts getting a bit more fun. Once you have all the necessary structure of your reading room completed, you can use this blank canvas to create your perfect hideaway. If the attic space is small, you might want to consider lighter colors to make the room feel bigger. Alternatively, if you want to make it feel like an old Victorian style reading room, dark wood, and rich reds would help to achieve this. Whatever your style, let your interior design instincts run wild!

Clever Storage

Thanks to the slanting roof, attics aren’t the best rooms for tall shelves or storage units. You will have to get creative with your bookshelves in your converted reading room to make utilize the space. Consider using old trunks or low shelves to store your favorite books in, or convert the stairs into draws. You could also invest in furniture that has storage built in to help save space.

Comfortable Furniture

Finally, you will need to have a cozy couch or armchair to snuggle down with your favorite book. Again, think about how much space you have to work within your attic before you start purchasing furniture for it. Even a beanbag chair could work well and will fit in any room of the house with ease. You should also buy good lamps for reading on days with grey skies or at night.

Turn your attic into a reader’s paradise by following these useful tips!

Unicorn Fine Motor Rescue

Bring a bit of whimsy to your fine motor exercises with this easy to set up, but super challenging unicorn fine motor rescue activity. It is perfect for preschoolers, but don't be surprised if your older kids want to accept this challenge because it is a lot of fun!

We have been rescuing a lot of things from these little rubber bands lately. Pine Cones, Dinosaurs and more!

It is a lot of fun for Harper, and I am always an advocate for little kids to have access to fine motor activities. 

This one is much like the others we have done, but just a bit more magical. What little girl wouldn't love to rescue a unicorn from danger?

To set this activity up you will need:

A toy unicorn

Rainbow Loom Bands

Directions:

Trap the unicorn with bands by stretching them around the legs, tail, head, horn and body.

Offer the unicorn to your child and encourage your child to remove the bands, one by one.

Be sure to observe this activity, especially with younger kids, as these bands can be a choking risk.

Discard all bands when finished to keep kids and pets safe.

If you have older kids who want to work on this activity, add a lot more bands! For younger kids, adding 10 bands is more than enough of a challenge, but with older kids, you can really wind the bands around the unicorn, and go overboard! It will keep them entertained for a while.

Check out these other fine motor activities for more fun ideas.

Reader favorites include:

Feather Beading

Cat in the Hat Pattern Making Bin

Summer Skin Care Favorites

Does your skin care routine need a little change of pace? I have rounded up a bunch of my new favorite skin care products and I can't wait to tell you about them. Fall is the perfect time to switch things up and try new things to give your skin a healthy glow after months of sun and sweat!

Samples have been provided for consideration.

Desert Essence makes a great line of body oils that will moisturize your skin while leaving it so soft! These smell amazing too! I wasn't big on body oil until I tried the Jojoba and Sunflower variety from this line. I have never had such soft skin! Order online from Desert Essence for about $15 a bottle. You can find several amazing formulas to choose from.

After months of sun and sweat, we could all use a good body scrub to reveal fresh skin and get the dead stuff off. Desert Essence also makes some nothing short of luxurious sugar, salt or combo scrubs you will want to check out. Prices start at about $8. These pair perfectly with the body oil line mentioned above.

You might not have had your Florida vacation this summer, so why not bring the beach to your bathroom? Miami Beach Bum offers an assortment of products to bring new life to your skin care routine. From body cream that is the bomb to insect repellant that really keeps bugs at bay. They have something for everyone. Order online. They offer skin care, beach essentials and more.

Artisan soap is such a treat for tired skin. I am loving how gentle this eucalyptus tea soap from Soapcreek is. It smells great, cleans like a dream and is really pretty too. I am such a sucker for hand crafted soaps! Order online for about $8 a bar. You will love the selection they offer! Every bar has visual and scent appeal.

Ofra makes a line of skin care products that is perfect for your skin care routine. From foaming cleansers and

masks to peel off masks that are packed with vitamin c for healthy skin. Check out their impressive line  which also includes makeup.  The Vitamin A & C Peel off mask is a must have, and can be purchased for under $40.

Block Island Organics makes a great, safe and simple facial cleanser that purifies without toxic chemicals. They make a great assortment of skin care so check out their line and find a few that will work wonders on your skin. Prices for the purifying cleanser start at about $22. You will love how gentle it is on skin.

Wow Vitamin C Foaming Face Wash is a great way to keep your skin healthy, clean and bright. This foaming face wash features a built in brush for deep cleaning. I really like how my skin feels smoother, softer and looks brighter after use. Find several foaming face washes and other skin care items online. The face washes start at $15 for an affordable skin care solution.

If you have ever wanted to try microderm, now is the time to do it at home with PMD Beauty. The classic kit retails at about $159 and is available in 6 colors for an at home skin care product that reveals radiant skin. This is a great addition to any woman's skin care routine. Shop their selection of products for pro results in a home setting online at PMD Beauty.

PMD Beauty also has the solution for your lips from the comfort of your home. Achieve lumper lips with no needles required thanks to the PMD Kiss system. This little device combats the signs of aging in the lips and produces a plumper, youthful appearance to the mouth. Order online starting at $99.

Inanna Earth makes some really nice herb infused oils that feel nice to wear and smell good too! Starting at about $15 you can get Rose Herb Infused Oil which helps reduce acne, fight stress and minimize scars, all of which are great for the skin. Explore the line and order this handmade oil online.

Pure MD Skin Science makes the perfect product for women like me, Red Surrender helps fight redness in the face. I also use it on my chest, which tends to get red too. Get Red Surrender for about $98 . You will love the results. They have other awesome products for the healthiest skin in town to check out too.

Finally, every good skin care routine needs vitamins! I recommend Future Kind vitamins to keep my skin as healthy as can be. I love the Vegan Sleep formula as the first start to healthy skin. Check out their line and find a few high quality options to start your skin off on the right blend of nutrients. Prices vary, but you can get the Essential for Vegans Vitamins for about $30 online.

If you have a favorite skin care find, do tell in a comment. I am taking my skin so much more seriously now that I am in my 40's!

How Gamification has Changed Education for the Better

 

Taking elements from games can be a fantastic way to encourage learning. Kids love playing games, and we often see intense motivation when they do so. Daniel Bennet, an expert in gamification, talks about the benefits of including gamification in education and how it can help learning occur.

Gamification isn't just for kids. As an adult, you can play Canadian online casino real money games, fun modes, or various online games to encourage learning.

What is Gamification?

Gamification is the process of applying elements that you would typically find in a game. These elements can include things like competing with others, keeping scores, or following specific rules. You can solve problems by using certain aspects that you would usually find in a game.

Because the two concepts are similar, people often confuse learning through playing games and gamification.

Gamification in Learning

It's a well-known fact that kids and adults alike learn better when there’s play involved. This is where gamification comes in. Gamification can drive students' engagement in their learning experience, with elements that they are familiar with from the games they play. Studies show that students are more motivated to learn when learning is gamified.

By incorporating elements of video or online games, you can improve learning motivation and allow the skills to be concreted, by using things such as levels, points systems, and bonuses.

Gaming Motivation

While most kids play games, they don't all do it for the same reasons. There are three types of gamers, with some playing for in-game rewards, others play to finish the game, and a third type enjoys the virtual team experience. When gamifying education, you want to cater to all types of players.

Using Technology

Technology is something that keeps changing and improving. It's already been implemented and used successfully in many classrooms. Tablets, touch tables, and interactive displays can help you to use gamification in education.

An example of how gamification helps in learning techniques is when an educator gives a lesson through an interactive display and then follows it up with a quiz to get a score. Providing a follow-up quiz like this allows learner interaction with the teaching and obtaining a score; the learner can be more motivated to learn.

How Can Gamification Benefit Learning?

There are plenty of examples of gamification successfully implemented in educational institutions. This points to various benefits of gamification in education. Some institutions use badges in a tier-based system, allowing them to gain rewards as they engage in learning. Some institutions have also stopped using grades and implemented what they call 'experience points.'  

Benefits of gamification in education:

Makes the learning experience interactive and fun

Can create a learning addiction

Allows insight to real-world applications

Provides feedback on learning in real-time

Enhancing the learning experience

Engaging with content more

Motivated through competition

Efficient and fun learning

Cooperation between learners and learning

Gamification allows a creative learning process to take place. With instant feedback and rewards. The most significant benefit, however, is that it increases engagement in the learning content.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that the benefits of gamification in education are endless. Using this method and combining it with existing technology, you can get the most out of the learners you are teaching.

By allowing learners to get immediate feedback, rewards, and having fun and using their imagination and engaging in the content, they can become addicted to learning. Instead of learning only for tests and examinations, learning now becomes solidified, and they’ll remember the skills and content for the rest of their lives.

Back to School Guide

This year, back to school looks different from years past for many families. Regardless of if your kids will be back in the classroom, or if the classroom is now at home, there are a few things that are bound to be useful to you, that you just don't know you need yet! I have rounded up a few of my favorite items to help get your family ready to head back to school.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not make it a healthy one with Pocono. Find great options that are organic, easy to make and so healthy! We loved the Cream of Buckwheat the most! Order single boxes from Amazon, or if you want to stock up they have 3 and 6 packs too.

Move over fruit snacks, Chum Fruit Bites are going to be your new favorite snack. Made with 100% fruit, and nothing artificial, these are perfect for packing in a lunch or offering as a snack break during virtual classes. Order online for about $13 a 12 pack. The Chum Fruit Bites packaging entices little kids to want a healthy treat!

Give little ones a chance to incorporate play into their lessons with TileBlox. This is a perfect addition to your homeschool classroom for STEM, or it makes a nice back to school gift for creative little builders. Get these from Magformers starting at $15. They have a great assortment of sets to choose from!

Protein Cookies are perfect for guilt free snacking. Add them to a lunch box, or let the kids grab a bag when they need a pick me up during their studies. This is one cookie you can feel good about offering as they are packed with protein! Order them, and some yummy protein puffs when they need a salty snack. Order from Shrewd Foods for about $15 a 6 pack.

Send the kids back to school in style with Lone Cone. They make some adorable backpacks that are perfectly sized for an elementary age student. You are going to love the funky prints or classic styled backpacks without so much flair. Order online for about $25. 

Give kids a hands on science lesson with this impressive and affordable kit from Thames and Kosmos. The Colorful Crystals Lab is perfect for bringing science to your homeschool, or this makes a fun way to wish kids a fun year of learning as a back to school gift. Order online for about $30.

School lunches are nothing without a tasty drink. Pack a Juicy Juice box in your kids lunch to fuel them with goodness for the rest of their day. They are also perfect for homeschool field trips. Buy from most major retailers for about $4 a pack.

Crayola is making great masks for kids and adults. We love these because they come in 5 packs and include a bag for washing. Wear a different mask everyday and keep things sanitized with these. To learn more about where and how to get these awesome mask packs visit Crayola online.

Water fountains are out, so send a big and beautiful bottle to school to keep your student hydrated. We love the 32 oz Stein Bottle by Healthy Human. They offer smaller sizes too, in so many pretty prints. Check out the selection to pick the perfect reusable water bottle for your little learners.

Fight Covid on the go with these New Essential Personal Care kits. They include gloves, alcohol pads, masks, hand soap sheets and sanitizer to keep you clean on the go. 

You are probably going to be doing more laundry than ever now that school is in session. TruEarth has eco laundry strips to help you manage that task with less waste. These are effective and easy to use, no measuring required! Order online starting at about $8.

Lone Cone makes perfectly sized lunch boxes to match those stylish backpacks mentioned above! I love that they have an interior mesh pocket for storing hand wipes, napkins and utensils. Order online from Amazon after checking out the Lone Cone website to browse the selection. Prices start at $15.

If you are homeschooling, or virtual schooling a great resource to add to your library is the Farmer's Almanac Kids edition. This little book is jam packed with facts and fun for kids. For under $9 on amazon you can grab a copy of this book to keep your kids turning the pages and learning about astronomy, birth month flowers, weather, farming and more.

I hope these suggestions help to start your school year off on the right foot! If you have a favorite back to school find for the year, I hope you tell me about it in a comment!

You can make your own pencil pouch with this tutorial.