Life with Dylan

Category: Nature

  • Cub Scout Time Again!

    After taking a break from Cub Scouts this summer, it’s time to get out the uniform and prepare for another fun year of scouting. This year, Dylan is a Bear Cub and he couldn’t be more excited.

    To kick off the new year, the pack took part in a beach cleanup at Big Corona to show our community that Cub Scouts believe strongly in Leaving No Trace Behind. The beach cleanup was a huge success and of course all the boys enjoyed roasting hot dogs and s’mores afterward.

    You can read all about the impact these boys made in the article I wrote over at OC Moms for The Orange County Register.

    Go Cub Scouts!!

  • Good-bye Summer, Until We Meet Again …

    I can’t believe summer is over and my little boy will be starting 3rd grade in just two days. Where did the time go?
    It seems like the older I get, the faster the years go by … and the more I wish I could freeze time. My cuddly little boy is growing up so fast.

    As I look at school pictures from the past 3 years, my mind is flooded with memories and my heart is filled with love. Through pictures like these, I can freeze time … at least in my mind.

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  • Do You Live an Earth-friendly Lifestyle?

    Recycling is the most common thing people do to help the environment. Many think that this is all they need to do and nothing else really matters. Well, have you ever thought about how you recycle your aluminum cans and plastic bottles? Most people grab a plastic bag and start filling it up. When the bag is full they head over to the recycling center and collect the money.
    Well, that plastic bag is usually just thrown away. Plastic bags do not go away. Plastic bags end up polluting the ocean, harming marine life, and filling up our landfills. Think outside the box when you recycle your cans and bottles. All those reusable shopping bags you have … I know I have at least 15 in my trunk and about 10 in my home. These reusable bags make a great way to collect your recyclables until you make a trip to the recycling center. Especially if you live in an apartment.

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  • How Does Your Garden Grow?

    I have always loved gardens and the peace I feel when my hands touch the soil. I don’t think of it as getting dirty because it’s not dirt … it’s soil. A place where my plants will call home and flourish. Living in an apartment certainly has limitations when it comes to a garden, but after my recent visit to The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens the creative juices are flowing again.

    Located in historic Old Town Orange, The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens is nestled away from the busy streets and shops. When you walk through the archway of this vintage 1920’s house that has been converted into a retail store, you are instantly transported to a land of nymphs and fairies. I could have spent an hour just wondering through the front yard. Inside the house, you will wander through various rooms filled with unique treasures made by local artisans.

    Can I just take this entire collection home?

    Dylan and I had the opportunity to attend a class with OC Family and learn how to make our very own fairy garden in Dragonfly Hollow. Yes, I said fairy garden. What, you don’t believe in fairies? How else do you think those little rocks get moved in your garden?

    Dylan said he didn’t want to get his hands dirty … haha

    Carefully placing the rocks

    He refused to have fairy dust put in his garden because it was purple.

    Ever try getting 7 kids to look at the camera?

    Dylan’s garden, complete with a pirate!

    The kids had so much fun and I can’t wait to go back so I can make a garden or two of my own in Dragonfly Hollow. Just look at all of the items you can choose from.

    These are my favorites…

    Dragonfly Hollow Fairy Garden classes ($10) are offered the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 am and Children’s Fairy Garden classes ($20) are offered on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 9:00 am. Call 714-289-4689 to reserve your spot in the garden.

    If you are in Orange County, you should definitely visit The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens … I promise you won’t leave empty handed or disappointed.


    The ladies of Dragonfly Hollow were so nice and they even offered all of my readers a 20% discount just for mentioning Life with Dylan.

    You can find The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens on Facebook and Twitter

  • More Fun Activities at The ENC

    I recently had the pleasure of spending some time at The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) with Dylan and learned about some of the exciting events coming up this year.

    You can read about some of the upcoming ENC activities in the article I wrote for the OC Moms over at the Orange County Register.

  • Wordless Wednesday – Content with Nature

  • ENC Summer Nature Camp

    Dylan recently finished a 2 week summer camp at the Environmental Nature Center (ENC) and he had a blast! This was his second year attending the ENC’s Summer Nature Camp and I know he will do it again next year. The ENC offers four different 2-week sessions and if Dylan had his way he would be attending all of them. Lori Whalen is the Director of Education and she is the best!

    Photo courtesy of ENC

    The camp is from 9 am – 1 pm and the ENC also offers an after camp program that goes until 3 pm. Crafts, nature, and all things environmental … basically, all things Dylan!

    This year he went to Session 2: Under the Sea and learned all about marine mammals, sharks, fish, and everything that lives in and around the sea.

    Photo courtesy of ENC
    Dylan even got to go on a  field trip to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.
    Photo courtesy of ENC

    Photo courtesy of ENC

    Photo courtesy of ENC

    One of his favorite activities was making his very own ocean in a jar

    And of course buying rocks from the ENC store.

    My favorite thing he did was carve is own Orca with a chisel after learning about the Legend of the Orca.

    If you live in the Newport Beach area, I highly recommend going to the ENC. The Summer Nature Camps are amazing and they offer all kinds of family events throughout the year. ENC also offers School Programs, Scouting Programs, Birthday Parties, and Monthly Events.

    Be sure to check out the ENC website for a listing of this months activities … There really is something for everyone!

    ENC is located at 1601 16th Street, Newport Beach, CA 92663

  • He’s at it Again!

    Rocks, Minerals, and Geodes – oh my! The boy is at it again. After getting a few rocks and crystals at Cub Scout Day Camp, Dylan became fascinated with a new found hobby. Then during his first week at the Environmental Nature Center Summer Camp he received 2 more rocks. It wasn’t long before he had to buy a little book and his very own geode to crack open.

    What a fun way to spend the afternoon with him. We had the hammer, the newspaper, the geode, and of course the camera ready to go. It took us about 10 minutes to crack this little rock, but what we found inside was beautiful.

    The crystals shimmered in the sun and what appear to be little snowballs to the naked eye are actually small crystals when you look under a magnifying glass.

    Knowing how much Dylan loves to do research on the internet, we found a great site where he could look up other types of rocks and crystals to add to his collection.

    Do you have a child interested in rocks and crystals? If so, check out The Kids Corner at Rock Crystals site.

  • Cub Scout Day Camp

    Dylan just finished his first Cub Scout Day Camp. Five days of all things Cub Scouts! Archery, flag football, ultimate frisbee, creating with clay, building a bird house with wood and nails, making his very own earthworm farm (which now resides in our house), making his own fishing pole from bamboo and fishing in the pond, and I’m sure much more than he told me considering the long list of achievements that was sent home.

    The days were long (8:30 am – 3:30 pm) and the weather was hot, but he had a blast and I’m sure he will want to do it again next year!

  • Wordless Wednesday – Anyone Home In There?