Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse Party: March 14th Guide for Every US Time Zone

The March 14th total lunar eclipse—aka the “Blood Moon”—is a celestial event worth celebrating. Whether you’re a stargazer, a Twilight fan, or just love a themed party, this guide blends astronomy, moody ambiance, and playful pop-culture nods. Find timing for all US time zones, eclipse-viewing tips, and creative ideas to elevate your night.

The Ultimate Hunger Games-Themed Drinks Menu: 12 Cocktails & Mocktails Inspired by the Capitol & the Districts

Aloha, Tributes! 🌺

If you’ve been around here long enough, you know that I’ve been a Hunger Games fan from the very beginning—midnight book releases, fan theories, full-blown Capitol-worthy excitement for every adaptation. And now, with Sunrise on the Reaping arriving on March 18, 2025, it’s time to step back into the world of Panem in the best way possible—through food and drinks!

Whether you’re throwing a watch party, celebrating the book launch, or just geeking out like me, this Hunger Games-inspired drinks menu will bring all the drama, luxury, and resilience of Panem right to your glass.

12 Ideas for Celebrating "May The 4th Be With You" Party

Aloha, crafters! I'm always on the lookout for creative and doable party ideas that can transform any celebration into a memorable adventure. With "May The 4th Be With You" just around the corner, I've been inspired to put together a list of ideas that not only pay homage to the beloved Star Wars saga but also incorporate that personal, DIY touch I love so much. Whether you're a seasoned Jedi or a young Padawan, these ideas are designed to bring the magic of the galaxy right into your home, making your Star Wars celebration unforgettable.

DIY Decorations for Dinosaur Party: Unleash the Prehistoric Fun!

Aloha!

Today we're diving deep into the Mesozoic era to bring some dino-mite fun to your next party. If you've got a little paleontologist at home or just a kiddo who's fascinated by these ancient creatures, these DIY decorations are sure to make your dinosaur-themed party a roaring success!

1. Dinosaur Footprints: Using some non-toxic, washable paint, create dino footprints leading up to your front door or throughout your party space. It's a fun way to set the mood right from the start!

Mommies Just Like You - Mother's Day Poem

Aloha!

We're in the final stretch before Mother's Day weekend, and I wanted to share this poem that I wrote a few years ago (8!!)  Having lived all over the world, we've been away from "family" for almost our entire 15 years of marriage. Without fail, we always seem to adopt some grandmas and aunties wherever we're planted. I really wanted to be able to thank them for all their help and love, but they're not technically my mom. So I came up with this poem as a way to thank them. It's written from the perspective of my kids

I've also made it as a printable if you would like to share it with your adopted mom tribe/village as well. The lovely watercolor flowers are by Fox and Hazel.

This poem may not be re-typed in its entirety without my permission. It may also not be altered or used for commercial purposes. Please email attemptingaaloha @ gmail . com for permission.  Photo may be shared as long as it links back to this page.  Mahalo for spreading the aloha!


HERE IS THE LINK TO THE PRINTABLE


Aloha and happy Mother's Day,

Charlee

DIY Baby Monthly Onesies and Free Printables

This post contains affiliate links

Aloha,

I'll keep today's post short and sweet! I made these monthly Onesies (R)  as a baby shower gift for a friend of mine and then did some more for my own little guy and thought I'd share the printable here with you.

The printables are for months 1-12, and I just used iron-on transfer paper. Here is a link to the brand I used. The printables are facing the normal direction, but remember that they need to be printed in reverse. Look through  your printer options to do that. My printer has "iron-on paper" as one of the paper settings, and it automatically flips it. Test it out on a regular sheet of paper to make sure it's printing right, so you don't waste your transfer paper. :)

The hardest part about this project is finding enough Onesies in the right sizes without breaking the bank. They usually come in packs of 4-6, and I had a hard time finding the sizes I needed. Ugh! I think I ended up paying about $22, and I had a couple left over. Different brands have different sizes, too, so I think I had a pack of 3-6 month that I used for months 4-6 and then a 3-9 month that I used for 7-9.

Aren't they cute?!

I like giving practical packaging instead of the standard gift bags. I bought this little bin at Dollar Tree and lined it with tissue paper. Then I folded each of the sides in on each Onesie and rolled them up, so the month was showing. I actually put the bigger months on the bottom and months 1-6 on the top.

Such a fun gift!  Now let's just hope the baby isn't a chunker. ;)   I have my little guy's all printed out but am waiting to iron them on one month at a time since he's big! That 2 month pic (right on his 2 month bday) he's actually in a 3-6 month size! Ha!!

HERE is the link for the girl version.

HERE is the link for the boy version.

I'd love to hear or see pics if you decide to make these. Please comment or share a pic if you do.

Aloha,

Charlie

DIY Upholstered Toddler Bed / Couch Plans

 Aloha!

Well, I'm finally building again! I'm still medicated, but the nausea is MUCH much better than it was, and I'm able to be up and about for most of the day. It's wonderful!

Before I started getting sick, I had talked to my friend, Melanie, about building a toddler bed for her youngest son. Since he's her last baby, she wanted something that could be used for something else after he outgrows the toddler stage. We decided this toddler bed plan from Ana White was the perfect solution since she can make some cushions or pillows to go along the back after he outgrows the bed, and it can be used as a couch! Excellent!

I used the plans for the headboard exactly, but we shortened the legs just a tiny. I ended up not doing the base plans but instead doing it more like the toddler canopy bed I did a few months ago. So you may have to ignore my base picture and just stick with Ana's. :)  Hers is excellent as well (of course)!

Meet Melanie. A newcomer in the world of power tools. We built in her lovely garage, and I covet her finished floors. But I brought along my handy little miter saw. I'm in love with this little thing. Seriously. Less than $100, and it can do ALMOST everything I need it to. It cut through a 2x6 like buttah. ;)

Melanie received a crash course in miter saw and nail gun safety and use. She was nervous but excited at first, and now I think I've created a building monster. I wouldn't be surprised if she buys her own saw before the weekend. Even before we were half way through the project, she was already picking my brain about other projects she could do an wants to get started on.

Two moms, 8 kids under the age of  9, and we were able to hammer out the building portion of our project in one afternoon. Yes, folks. Just one.

Here's the base all put together:

And here's the headboard:

Upholstering took another day since we were really tight on fabric. We used a black pleather, and it was only 54" wide. Those extra 6" would have been EXTRA nice. Same with the batting. It was shorter than 60", so it took some negotiation. The pleather had to be cut very precise, and it took extra effort to stretch it just right and staple right on the edge. I highly recommend making sure you have at least 60" width or you buy more than the specified 2 yards.

You can see how we were just barely able to curve it around the top of the base section. It would have been nice to have it down another 1/2" or so. Oh, well. it still looks fab!

We added nailhead trim for a couple reasons. 1) It's cute and adds some nice contrast. 2) It covers our staples along the side without having to buy separate upholstery tack strip and dealing with that annoying task.

And here it is with the crib mattress:

Building with a friend is much more fun than building by myself. Not to mention much easier to have someone to keep things steady while putting everything together.

And another big thanks to Ana for her brilliant inspiration and plans. She's my hero. I may or may not have a girl crush on her. ;)

Now if I can swindle talk someone into being my accomplice while I do my next project...


Aloha,

Charlie