Daily writing prompt
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An Artist. Then I went on to pursue writing and drama. I did not know any painters.
I have had moments to live out that dream and anytime I engage it, it goes well.
Month: March 2026
America 250 Bookmark Design Challenge for Kids
By Chiara Luz
If you’re looking for a simple, meaningful activity to get your kids involved in the America 250 celebration, this is one you won’t want to miss. The National Endowment for the Arts has launched a nationwide Bookmark Design Challenge just for kids—and it’s the kind of low-pressure, creative opportunity that’s perfect for busy families.
The contest is open to all students in grades K–8, including homeschoolers, and invites kids to design an original, hand-drawn bookmark showing what America means to them. Whether your child wants to highlight history, family heritage, cultural traditions, or even their hopes for the future, the theme is intentionally flexible so they can make it personal.
Here’s what parents need to know: entries must be completely original and created by hand (no digital or AI-generated artwork allowed), and kids must use the official bookmark template provided by the NEA. Each child can submit one design, and a parent or guardian must upload the final entry along with a simple acknowledgment form—teachers can’t submit on their behalf. Designs should also avoid things like logos, political messages, or personal information to be eligible.
The deadline is March 31, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET, so this is a great quick-turn project to squeeze in before spring gets too busy. Winners will be selected in three age groups (K–2, 3–5, and 6–8), and their bookmarks will actually be printed and shared at national events, including the Great American State Fair. Even more exciting, winners will be invited to Washington, D.C. with a parent for a special celebration.
What I love most about this challenge is how doable it is. There’s no long essay, no complicated rules—just a piece of paper, some crayons or markers, and your child’s perspective. It’s a small project that gives kids a chance to feel part of a once-in-a-generation moment, and honestly, those are the kinds of opportunities that stick.
So if you need a creative activity this week, this is your sign—print the template, set out the art supplies, and see what your kids come up with.
Nicole.
Daily writing prompt
What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?
My middle name is Nicole. It doesn’t mean much to me, or at least it didn’t until I went to Egypt. I met a woman there named Nicole and we looked alike. The first thing she said when she saw me was, “wow, my sister how are you?” She told me her name, and I said I was Nicole too. She became our tour guide and took us off the beaten path. I saw where they hide the women. The women were busy working and having a ball. It was a good time. To this day, I have never met a Nicole I did not like. Nicole’s are very cool people.
Top Book Picks for Level One Readers
These book recommendations are for level one readers, and they are curated to help your child prepare for the next year and stay on grade level. I used many of these with my own children. Some of these are no longer at the library and you may have to look on Amazon, but it is worth it.
Autumn Leaves, by Gail Saunders-Smith
The Berenstein Bears in the House of Mirrors, by Stan and Jan Berenstein
Look What I Can Do, by Jose Aruego
My Book, by Ron Maris
My Class, by Lynn Salem
What Do Insects Do? by Susan Canizares
Reading Matters
As a writer, I believe deeply in literacy. The love of reading begins at a young age, and the ability to travel to different worlds, cities, and even moments in history is what fuels the imagination. I make book pillows for teachers each year, and the thing they’re most excited about is receiving new and interesting books for their classrooms.
A lot of kids simply lack the confidence to read and push past their mistakes. But that’s part of the process. It’s the same reason I push myself to learn other languages — for the challenge. It’s how we grow and get better. If you can read, you can learn just about anything.
More books posting soon.
Exciting Changes Ahead: Join Our Journey
By Chiara Luz
The site is undergoing a facelift soon and I thank you for being here. I want to add more voices here and revamp the interior a bit and get to some of the fun parts. I will need your help! Get your pens, computer, imagination and creativity ready and stay tuned. The subscription here says, “information is access,” we want that to hold up while we also add in some stories.
Moreover, I want you to find what you want and only what you want. Alot more will be local, because I am back in the studio (which is a separate site) and so many things are happening. Anyone who doesn’t believe that with a little elbow grease life can be ok, hopefully we can show you different. And in a time of stress and strength, a little love and peace is always a nice balance. We are the keepers of our community so why not make it great. I hope you will scroll along the side and click through and find something relevant for you. People respond differently when I tell them in person, but sadly, I can’t be everywhere at once and so you will have to read–I hope you do.
Stay tuned. Thanks for reading.
#America250 #MD250
Shhhhh…
I would never answer this question. It would guarantee that I would be asked it.
This will have to remain a mystery.
International Pancake Day At #IHOP: From Ancient Griddles to Your Local Restaurant
I love pancakes, how about you? International Pancake Day always sneaks up on us, but it shouldn’t. Few foods have traveled through history with as much charm, adaptability, and pure joy as the humble pancake. Today, we get to celebrate that journey with a short stack that’s doing what pancakes have always done best: bringing people together.
Today at your local IHOP, you can grab a free short stack until 8:00 pm if you dine-in. I think you’re supposed to purchase a coffee. This is also a day of fundraising for a good cause. IHOP runs a “Feeding the Hungry” initiative as part of its community giving efforts, partnering with Feeding America to help fight food insecurity across the United States. The campaign is best known during National Pancake Day, when guests receive a free short stack of pancakes and are invited to make a voluntary donation to support hunger relief. Every dollar raised helps provide meals to individuals and families in need through Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks.
Beyond the one-day event, IHOP also extends its impact through everyday purchases like coffee. In partnership with its suppliers Royal Cup Coffee and Tea and Westrock Coffee Company, a portion of coffee sales contributes to a minimum donation goal benefiting Feeding America. Together, these efforts make it easy for guests to enjoy a meal — or even just a cup of coffee — while helping provide meals to communities facing hunger.
The good thing is, I love coffee and IHOP is pretty good. I am glad to also know that this is money well spent. Additionally, if you aren’t saving part of the “pancoin” club at IHOP, why not? You can get pancakes, merch, kid’s meals and you don’t need thousands of pancoins to get a return. Now that I know this about IHOP and I have participated in the program, I love it. I am glad it’s in my neighborhood. I hope it continues to thrive because the giveback is legitimate. Take your kids to IHOP before 8pm, get your pancoins and buy a cup of coffee –all while knowing you are feeding others as well.
The History of National Pancake Day and Its Roots in Shrove Tuesday
Long before IHOP turned pancakes into a national celebration, the tradition of dedicating a day to batter, flipping, and indulgence began in medieval Europe. Shrove Tuesday—known in many places simply as Pancake Day—falls on the day before Ash Wednesday and marks the final opportunity to enjoy rich foods before the fasting season of Lent. Households needed to use up eggs, milk, sugar, and butter, and the simplest, most satisfying solution was the pancake. The word shrove comes from “shrive,” meaning to confess, a reminder that the day once carried a spiritual seriousness even as it evolved into a joyful, food‑centered ritual.
Over centuries, the day grew into a cultural event. In Britain, where the tradition is especially beloved, Pancake Day became synonymous with friendly chaos: schoolchildren running pancake races, families debating toppings, and supermarkets selling out of lemons and flour. Tens of millions of eggs are cracked each year, and Guinness World Records have been set for everything from the highest pancake toss to the fastest flipping race. Today, both traditions coexist: Shrove Tuesday with its centuries‑old roots in reflection and resourcefulness, and National Pancake Day with its focus on joy, generosity, and gathering people around a warm plate.
Together, they tell a story of how something as humble as a pancake can carry history, culture, and community forward, one flip at a time.
