Hello there!

Hi, this is Emily. I am a new editor on Tween Craft. I am a tween and know some cool ideas! I'm Suzanne's daughter. I thought for my first post I would do something interesting...sort of. It is getting chilly in the evenings now, so i thought that it would be cool (Get it, cool? Lame joke sorry.) to have some hot chocolate. So stick a peppermint candy stick into some really hot chocolate. Let it melt, and enjoy!!!
Em

Today is a Beautiful Day...

This video is food for thought about how 1 person can make a difference. (Thanks for sharing Dad and Eric!) Please check out the video, then read the throw down (trust me)

Step 1: Click Here to Watch: The Story of a Sign

Step 2: Tweencraft Throwdown... Did you think I could resist? No way! This isn't crafting, cooking or journaling, but it's life. For 1 week, lets pay attention and try to make a difference at least once.

• hold the door for someone else
• invite someone sitting alone to sit with you at lunch
• find a family member and give them a kiss
• go out of your way to check in on a friend you've been out of touch with
• if a friend or family member has been blue, ask what's wrong and really listen
• smile at the grocery store clerk and ask how they are
  

You have an amazing power to do good. Acting with compassion may mean taking a deep breath and finding your courage - your friends may not think it's cool - and what if someone rejects you when you try? In either case try to remember the compassion that made you want to try, your heart is in the right place. A great take away from my favorite comic book heroes is "I use my powers for good" - Comment on how this goes, okay? The good, the bad and the ugly.
image source: http://en.dcdatabaseproject.com/Diana_of_Paradise_Island_(Earth-One)

Easy Peasy Cookies

Here's a cookie "how-to" that would probably make your Home Ec teacher cringe, but if you've got busy parents, and a busy you - these might be just the thing when you need a quick fix for comfort food! Buy freezer dough sugar cookies that are cut in squares. Place on the cookie sheet (in staggered rows of 3's and 2's) and press M&Ms in. (Peanut or plain M&Ms will work fine, we used a small package of each) Then bake as directed on the cookie package. See what I mean? M&M cookies in minutes, warm from your own kitchen.

Back To School Crafts

//familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/backtoschool_craft_sf/

I was invited to be an author of Tweencraft and have been trying to think of something cool to share. I am a fan of Family Fun Magazine and came across Home Made School Supplies tonight. Click on the hyper link to see some fun ideas! I noticed that some of them have video instructions. You can copy theirs or make them your own.

LetTer wRitIng

You've probably heard people say "all we get in the mail are bills" well on my birthday, that changed. My great uncle, it turns out, is a scrapbooker! I recieved a handwritten letter with a "scrapped" letter. I can just imagine him putting it together. It made me smile and I felt like "wow" I'm important enough to him that he spent some of his time hunting for just the right words for his greeting/letter.

heRre's An iDeA wE cAn ShAre
Make a cut-out word letter and mail it old-school style. Ask for old magazines from your family and look for words that you want to use in your letter. It'll be fun to make and it will give whoever gets the letter the warm fuzzies. (if you don't know what to write with your words, try a quote (try: blessings or friendship) You can add stickers, tie it closed with a ribbon. Note: Post a comment on how your letter writing goes - and how they are liked by the recipient.

P.S. If you have a hard time finding all the words you need, just handwrite the word you need!