Journaling #13: Pen Meets Paper (Mindful Journaling)

Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of and focusing on the present moment. You are not thinking about the past or the future. It’s all about the here and now.

Mindful journaling is writing in a way that helps you to become more aware of yourself in your environment at that moment in time when pen meets paper.

Mindfulness has many advantages from reducing stress and improving sleep to cultivating better relationships. Mindfulness has even been shown to help manage pain.

There are lots of different ways to approach mindful journaling, all with the goal of deepening your awareness of yourself in the present moment. Doodling and colouring in your journal have been suggested as alternatives to writing. Both require you to pay attention to what you are doing now.

Writing that focuses on the five senses is a relatively easy place to start if you are interested in mindful journaling. Apparently, this is possible with or without a snack.

Start your mindfulness journey by recording what you see, hear, smell, touch/feel and taste as you sit with pen in hand. In doing so, you are being in the moment, observing and noting your experience.  

You could use the 5-4-3-2-1 method for mindful journaling and record five things you see, four things you hear, etc. One source suggested that if you do this activity outside, you could taste the air. Interesting.

The goal of mindful journaling is to create awareness of the here and now. To be in the present. The benefits of mindfulness are a spinoff of this state of awareness. You don’t write about your stress or your sleep habits or your relationships. You write about what is happening right here, right now when pen meets paper.

• Cupola Corner sells a selection of handmade and handbound journals that would be perfect for mindful journaling.

#journaling

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Paper Palooza: Rice Paper

Rice paper used in crafting and art projects is not the same as rice paper that you eat. Don’t go painting on those spring roll wraps. You will be disappointed.
 
Rice paper used in cooking is basically rice flour and water. Rice paper that you use in arts and crafts is made from materials like mulberry, hemp or rice straw.
 
To make rice paper, the raw materials are soaked in water and then beaten to separate the fibres. The fibres are mixed with water and a formation aid. The formation aid slows down the water flow allowing the paper maker more time to complete the process. The pulp is spread onto a screen and pressed. The sheets are then dried. Texture, colour and design are the last step in the process.
 
Rice paper is used in origami and calligraphy. It’s also used for decoupage, mixed media art, scrapbooking, card making, and art journaling. It is used for printing and painting, as well. A unique and versatile paper.
 
You can cut, tear or water tear rice paper. You attach it using a rice paper glue. Apply the glue to the item to which you want to adhere the rice paper using a soft brush. Don’t put the glue directly onto the rice paper. You can also spread a layer of glue over top of the paper to seal it. If you decide to experiment with other types of glue, make sure that what you are using isn’t too watery or your rice paper will tear.
 
Rice papers come in lots of different colours and designs. Some rice papers are so gorgeous that you just want to look at them, but don’t. You will enjoy them much more by using them to add a unique element to your creative projects. Oh, and remember, they are not consumable.

Early Literacy #9: "Read it again!"

I’m guessing that you have probably heard it before… “Read it again!” Young children love to hear their favourite stories read to them over and over and over again. Even my grandson who doesn’t yet talk, easily communicates when he wants me to read The Itsy Bitsy Spider again and again and again. Well, you get the picture, right? 

Rereading books to children is a good thing. Rereading familiar stories is not only a source of comfort, but it also helps to build vocabulary and language skills. Research indicates that repetition is key to language acquisition. Comprehension and an understanding of narrative structures are strengthened through repetition. 

Making connections to a familiar story helps young children to develop a sense of mastery and to build confidence. Rereading a book is not just about liking the story, it is a powerful tool for early literacy. The next time your little asks, go ahead and “Read it again.” 

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project purchases books for young children. When you buy a product that generates funds for The Cupola Corner Literacy Project you are helping to promote early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading. #readingisFUNdamental  

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Reference: Wheeler, S. (2025, February 4). Read it Again: Why Rereading Books Is Good for Kids. Spinning Wheel Stories. https://spinningwheelstories.com/blogs/threads-of-wonder/read-it-again-why-rereading-books-is-good-for-kids#:~:text=Children%20thrive%20on%20routines%20and,and%20insights%20with%20each%20reading.

Did you know? Milkweed...

Common milkweed is a native plant in my area of Canada. I started growing it about three years ago when I created my butterfly garden. Monarch butterflies love it and lay their eggs on the leaves so that the newly hatched larvae can munch on the milkweed leaves. This is the only food source for monarch larvae, making common milkweed a critical link in the survival of this beautiful, but endangered species of butterfly.

For decades, common milkweed was once listed as a noxious weed, but due to lobbying on behalf of monarch butterflies, it has been removed from the list here in Ontario. Some provinces still have it listed on their noxious weed lists. 

Common milkweed can be dangerous to some livestock and poultry. Pets can be poisoned if they ingest it. Common milkweed is also toxic to people. 

Common milkweed can be very invasive. I have mine planted in a raised bed that confines the propagative roots. It’s also within a fenced in area that keeps the grandchildren out of harm’s way. 

Monarch butterflies are attracted to the heavily scented flowers of the common milkweed. The blooms are usually pink or purple, but can also be white. Common milkweed is perennial so once it’s established, you’ll always have a supply. 

With some safety considerations, common milkweed makes a great addition to your summer garden. We have monarchs flitting about most of the summer and they are amazing to watch. Such beautiful creatures! We’ve had some monarchs lay eggs but have yet to see a larva survive to the chrysalis stage. Fingers crossed for next summer!

Journaling #12: Rock-a-Bye Journal

Journaling has been shown to not only improve quality of sleep but to also help you fall asleep faster. Pass me a pen!

Using expressive/personal writing (sharing experiences, thoughts, feelings, ideas) for journaling can help people process emotions, thereby, helping to reduce the “mental chatter” that often interferes with sleep. Reflective writing (exploring the impact of experiences) can produce a calmer state of mind that is more conducive to sleep.

A basic sleep journal or log is an option that can help you and your doctor identify patterns and hopefully lead to better sleep habits. A sleep journal or log would include things like hours slept, time taken to fall asleep, exercise and eating patterns, among other things.

The real (night) light at the end of the tunnel is research demonstrating that something as simple as taking five minutes before bedtime to write a specific to-do list can facilitate falling asleep. The study showed that the more specific the list, the faster participants fell asleep. Wow!

One-quarter of adults aged 18 to 79 in Canada report problems with falling or staying asleep most of or all the time. If you are one of these people, you may want to consider some type of bedtime journaling.

So, grab a pencil, pen, marker, piece of chalk or maybe even a quill and start writing. I’ll be using my colourful Ink-Joy gel pens to make my to-do lists.

• Cupola Corner sells a selection of handmade and handbound journals that would be perfect for a sleep journal.

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#journaling

References:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5758411/

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-43-no-5-2023/associations-sleep-duration-sleep-quality-indicators-mental-health-among-youth-and-adults.html

Early Literacy #8: Phonological Awareness

Recognizing and manipulating sounds in spoken words is referred to as phonological awareness. It is a key skill in early literacy and playing with sounds is a great way to help children develop phonological awareness.
 
Simple rhyming games can be fun for young children and will help them to develop phonological awareness. Give a few examples and let your little chime in. Pretend words are acceptable! (cat…hat…bat…zat) Rhyming stories and songs are also great for identifying rhyme.
 
Syllable awareness is another way to promote phonological awareness. Tap, clap or stomp out the syllables in a word. Extend this activity by counting the syllables as you clap.
 
Identifying initial sounds in words will also help children to develop phonological awareness. Cat starts with /k/. Dog starts with /d/. You could also try an “I Spy” game and look for things that start with /k/, /d/, etc. “I spy with my little eye something that starts with /k/.”
 
Young children like to play games and playing with sounds can be lots of fun. Keep it light and keep in mind that every opportunity to develop phonological awareness is a chance to help your child or grandchild acquire an important early literacy skill.

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project promotes early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading because #readingisFUNdamental. 

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project purchases books for young children. When you buy a product that generates funds for The Cupola Corner Literacy Project you are helping to promote early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading. #readingisFUNdamental 

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Did you know? Chives...

Chives are a perennial herb that look like little onions. They are in fact part of the onion family. They are not, however, the same as green onions or scallions.
 
Chives have a mild onion flavour that serves as a delicious accent to lots of different foods, including salads, dips and soups. One of my favourite combinations is chives sprinkled on sour cream on top of a baked potato. Yum!
 
Chives are easy to grow and require little care. They are not invasive. One plant will probably give you enough for modest use.
 
Chives are great for a pollinator garden. The bees love the purple flowers.
 
Chives can be harvested throughout the growing season. They can be enjoyed throughout the year if you dry them. Chives dry well. I use a dehydrator, but you can also hang them in bunches in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space or dry them in the oven at a very low temperature.
 
I have fond memories of our next-door neighbour dropping by my garden to pick chives throughout the summer. She loved them and I loved sharing them with her.
 
If you like onions, but they don’t always like you, chives may just be the answer to your craving. Enjoy!

June: On Being Green....

June is my favourite month of the year. The colour green has a lot to do with that. I love seeing all of the beautiful shades of green as nature bursts forth with such verdant enthusiasm. Fresh colours not yet suppressed by the heat and dust of summer.

It turns out that spring leaves don't just look more green, they actually are. During new growth, chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis, is the predominant influence on leaf colour. Young leaves are also more translucent, allowing the light to shine through the leaves making them brilliantly green. As the leaves mature, other pigments influence the colour of the leaf and the summer colours settle in.

Even for leaves, it's not easy being green.

When I first heard Kermit the Frog singing "It's Not Easy Being Green", the lyrics got stuck in my head and they are still there fifty-five years later. As I grew up and grew into myself, "It's not easy being green." became one of my favourite quotes. 

It's not easy being green, or being different. It doesn't matter what age you are, we all feel different and overlooked at times throughout our lives. Unfortunately, some people feel different or are made to feel different because they don't fit into other people's expectations. 

Kermit's song reminds us that green is "important like a mountain" and "beautiful" and in the end, "it's what [he/Kermit] wants to be."

Everyone struggles at some point with their sense of self and with trying to determine who they are. For those facing gender identity or sexual orientation questions, the struggle is not only dealing with their own thoughts and feelings, but also coping with the ideas and expectations of others. Facing family, friends, the church, schools, the medical community, government and the judicial system is overwhelming when you are different.

June is Pride Month. Supporting LGBTQ friends and family is not just something we celebrate thirty days of the year. It's a year round commitment. Being different is not easy. Being a friend should be. 

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Journaling #11: A Reading Journal

Have you ever thought about keeping a list of the books that you have read? If you have, then a reading journal is for you. Choose a notebook, pick a pen and get started. 

Recording the basic information about the books that you have read is a good place to start. Include things like title, author and publication information. You could also add information about when you read the book and possibly where you were (e.g.: on vacation, on the subway, in the backyard, etc.). Beyond that it’s up to you what other information you want to include. 
 
Some people like to record what they have learned from a book or how it has changed them. Others keep track of quotes from the book that they like. Some will include a brief plot summary. A review of the books that you have read is another possibility for a reading journal. You could also include whether you bought the book or borrowed it.
 
Creative responses can be part of your reading journal. Perhaps you like to doodle or draw. Go for it! Maybe you like stickers or maybe you like to experiment with watercolours. Adding your own personal artistic touches will really help to personalize your reading journal.
 
If you are into personal analysis, a reading journal can be part of your personal reflections on life. It can also be a great motivator if you want to read more. Best of all, remember that #readingisFUNdamental and who doesn’t want more fun in life?

• Cupola Corner sells a selection of handmade and handbound journals that would be perfect for a reading journal.

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Early Literacy #7: Print Awareness

 Print awareness is one of the key skills in early literacy. It involves understanding that print carries meaning and that it is used in different ways.
 
Children need to be aware of words before they can read them. Understanding how a book works is part of print awareness.
 
Board books and cloth books are a great resource for helping an infant or toddler understand that books have a front cover and that the story starts at that end of the book. Pointing to words as you read helps to demonstrate that we read from left to right.
 
Talking about print is also important. Help little ones recognize that print exists in our environment in lots of different places (signs, labels, lists, advertising, etc.).
 
Helping your little become aware of print is a basic building block for literacy. Early literacy is important and it's never too early.

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project promotes early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading because #readingisFUNdamental. 

The Cupola Corner Literacy Project purchases books for young children. When you buy a product that generates funds for The Cupola Corner Literacy Project you are helping to promote early literacy and helping young children learn to love reading. #readingisFUNdamental 

🔍To return to the main page, please click on the banner at the top of this page or click on this link: Cupola Corner Blog 
 
Reference: https://www.clel.org/early-literacy/early-literacy-story-times/six-early-literacy-skills/