Top {Teenager Approved} Picks of Things to Do on the Big Island of Hawaii

You planned your family vacation for the Big Island of Hawaii, now what? Traveling with teens can be tricky. Teenagers don't always want to hang out with their parents and sightseeing can feel like a bore, so how can you create a tropical vacation itinerary everyone will be happy with? I've visited the Big Island of Hawaii on two different occasions with kids aged 10-18 and I've come up with a list of top teen approved picks of things to do. Get ready to take some notes, I'm spilling all my secrets to the best {and least crowded} beaches to those excursions you are probably wondering about to see if they are really worth spending the big bucks on.

How to Really Get Your Kids to Talk

Thank you Mardi Gras Napkins for sponsoring this post. Visit your local retailer to get the conversation going in your home!


So your kid walks in the door after school and the first thing out of your mouth is "how was your day." It's instinctual.  My guess is the response you get is "fine." No long deep discussion and no clue as to what happened during those six plus hours that they were away from you. There are times when we all fall into the "I'm fine" trap for an answer, but there are days when we know our kids have a little bit more going on in their head than they are letting on. I've found some surefire ways to get kids to talk after school so that we can open up the lines of communication with them and get more than just a one word response when we ask them questions.

Slip on Collar Reversible Dog Bandanna Tutorial

I am just a little bit obsessed with my dogs. In case you didn't know, I have an adopted Golden Retriever named Sophie and a rescued Yorkie named Frankie. They have their own Instagram account {@sophieandfrankee}. You should follow it. Sophie, dare I say, is just a bit larger than her furry sister Frankie and she's got quite a bit more "fluff", so she doesn't need the same kind of wardrobe that Frankie has because she'd just be too darn hot in everything. But in an attempt to get them matching anything, I made them these slip on {or slip through} the dog collar reversible bandannas. They were super easy to sew and they have both been wearing them for more than a week and they are holding up nicely. You can tailor this easy sewing tutorial to fit any size dog. Come check it out! 

Summer Slaw with Dill Weed Dressing

Are you looking for something more than just a cabbage salad masquerading as a coleslaw to take with you to your next picnic? Try this summer slaw with a refreshing dill weed dressing. It's a real crowd pleaser. You can even make a large batch of the dill weed dressing so you are stocked all summer long. 

Canvas Cactus Bag Tutorial with Tassels

There are some cities in our area that charge for bags now. I hate to pay for bags! I'll walk out with my arms overflowing dropping things behind me as I go just to avoid the 5 cents per bag they charge me. It's why I'm making more cute tote bags and leaving them in my car so that I can avoid the extra charge. I whipped up this cute cactus tote bag because who doesn't love a snarky cactus? I'm hoping people don't really try to give me a hug when I use this bag. I'm pretty sure I'm kind of prickly like a cactus if a stranger were to come in for a squeeze. The thing that makes this bag are the cute little embroidery floss tassels. Aren't they adorable? I'm showing you how you can make your own canvas cactus bag with tassels. It's sure to save you at least 5 cents. That is, if you remember to bring it into the store with you!