wow. i’m going to be a super cliche but summer has f-l-o-w-n. granted, i’ve spent most of it in between the office, the competitive swimming pool, and trying to keep up with all of those things we parents have to do (i.e. feeding the children, bathing the children, making sure they’re reading and not summer sliding, etc.)

but, one thing that we have been doing is spending our time doing something good for the world that gives back. you’ve maybe seen my posts about how #1 has been making washi tape bookmarks this summer. well, these little bookmarks have been more than just a summertime craft…they’ve helped us launch a whole new mission for re-nest studio: kindness jr., where we’re trying to do a little bit to help the world with some handmade goods. this summer, it was handmade bookmarks to help feed college students.

while each bookmark that we’ve sold has of course helped our local college students have healthy lunches, i can’t tell you how much this project has meant to me, as a mom. this world is so tech driven (i mean, my own kids have to have very strict limits on ipad and computer time, or else they turn into non-responding zombies), that having so many evenings this summer that my son + i sat and created something together meant the world to me. it was just he and i, lots of washi tape, and cardstock….talking about what patterns we thought would look best together, counting (and re-counting!) the bookmarks we had completed, trying to guess how many we might sell….all of it worked towards helping others + helping me have a bright spot in an otherwise packed, stressful, and sometimes overwhelming day.

tell me: what have you done this summer to give you the moments that have changed your day?