No, not the ones in the cupboard you use for cereal! I’m talking about the trend of creating layered meals in a bowl. Have you ever thought, hmm, where do I even begin or how do I create a healthy meal bowl. Well we’ve got you covered. Join Chef @Andrew Brooks and I next week 21 Oct at 12 CT/1 ET for a fun cook along session. Session link in the calendar. Drop your questions for Chef in the comments.

It's wonderful to have some fresh faces joining us here at Connected Through Play. We're so glad you found your way to our corner of the community. @Al Anderson is bringing creativity and storytelling to the table—crafting children's stories with heart and sharing them with grandkids ranging from 5 to 21. @Even Kate is here to learn new play ideas and connect with other families who care deeply about supporting children's growth and happiness. @Takashi Watanabe is curious about how play fuels children's learning and development, and wants to discover meaningful ways to support that journey. @Alicia Powers, based in Las Vegas, is an aunt to 6-year-old twin girls and is working on learning to play more herself—a beautiful goal. @Andre and Jessica Anderson are excited to connect with other families through games and play, bringing their passion for intentional living to the community. @Maureen Kilbride from Aiken, SC, is here because it looked like fun—and we love that energy—as she spends time with her grand nieces and nephews. @Shaw Beaver is a proud grandparent dedicated to making learning joyful for young children, and brings a passion for literacy, creativity, and confidence-building through play. We're excited to have you all here. Dive in, share your ideas, and let's grow this community together.

One year. It's wild to say that out loud. When I started Connected Through Play, I had a simple belief: that play real, genuine, joyful play is how we actually connect. Not through perfect moments or polished highlight reels, but through showing up, trying things, laughing at the mess, and doing it all together. This past year, you've proven that belief right a thousand times over. You've shared your wins and your learning curves. You've cheered each other on. You've built something that actually *feels* like community not because we forced it, but because you chose to be here and to be real. We've learned that connection isn't complicated. It's a game night. It's a question asked without hesitation. It's someone saying "me too" when it matters. You've given that to each other, and we're grateful for it. To everyone who's been part of this, whether you've been here since day one or you just found us, thank you. This space exists because of you. Here's to another year of play, growth, and showing up together. Stick around. Bring a friend. Let's see what we build next.

It’s the first Saturday of the month and that means it’s time to share what YOU do. If you have a Skool community, share the link and tell us about the community. If you’re an author, tell us about your book(s) and share a link. If you’re in Direct Sales, have an online course, or hobby you’d like to share with the community, here’s your opportunity. 3 Simple Rules: 1. All shares must go in the comments of this post! Why? First it makes it easy to find someone and second it keeps our community uncluttered. 2. Reply to anyone who has something you find interesting, you may not be their ideal person but the goal is curiosity. 3. Have fun, don’t be spammy and if you have multiple options, create a separate comment. Now, let’s have some fun. Tagging some folks I know who have some cool stuff but don’t post often. @Betty Jo Winters, @Dale Cox, @Henry Hunter, @Karen Gibson, @Elizabeth Raum, @Cam Parkes, @Nat Carey, @John Futch, @Paula Artis, @Ramona Zihlke, @Beth Hanning, @Lani Carey, @Sakthivel M, @Cristal Vancarson, @Patrick Taylor, @Mayelice Castro

I’ve shared some of my coloring book pages and now, I’d love your feedback on a coloring book cover. I’ve mocked up two ideas and as a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, teacher, etc. I’m curious if one or the other calls to you. If you have time, and feel comfortable leaving why or why not, even better. I prefer I added one more option. Oops.