Thursday, July 10, 2025

Ten Summer Snacks My Kids Actually Love (That Are Healthy and Quick!)

A white woman with brown hair, wearing a beige apron, prepares a colorful and healthy snack using fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds on a wooden board in a bright, modern kitchen. Her face is not shown, keeping the focus on her hands and the natural ingredients.

If your kids are anything like mine were, then they seem to get hungrier the moment school is out. Summer means more play, more energy spent—and somehow, more “I’m hungry!” whines echoing through the house.

As a mom juggling creativity, work, and the chaos of summer break, I’ve learned the hard way that snacks can make or break the day. And if you’re trying to balance nutrition, speed, and a sprinkle of fun? Well, you’re in the right place.

So today, I’m opening my kitchen and my heart to share with you the healthy summer snacks my kids actually love—and trust me, I’ve tested plenty that didn’t make the cut!

These are quick, simple, and made with real ingredients I can feel good about—plus, they’re all approved by my toughest food critics: my daughters.


Wednesday, July 09, 2025

5 Crafts to Keep Your Kids Creative Without Screens

A vibrant collage featuring five fun and educational summer crafts for kids: a nature mandala made of leaves and flowers, handmade magic wands with colorful ribbons, a recycled robot made from cardboard and buttons, a sticker storybook with a child’s hands drawing, and two round salt dough ornaments with a heart and leaf design.


 Dear Super Moms,

Summer is here—and with it, the endless chorus of “I’m bored!” If you’re like me, you’re constantly looking for creative ways to keep your children entertained, engaged, and off their screens—without spending a fortune.

Today, I’m sharing 5 simple, screen-free crafts that spark imagination, boost focus, and bring your family closer together. These are tried-and-tested activities from my own “supermom” toolkit—and most of them use materials you already have at home!


1. Nature Mandala Collage

A flat-lay image of a symmetrical nature mandala arranged on a white background using green leaves, yellow petals, brown seeds, small white flowers, and a pinecone at the center. The natural elements are laid out in a radial pattern, creating a peaceful and harmonious design.
Go outside, collect leaves, twigs, flowers, and pebbles, and create a mandala together on the floor or a large sheet. It’s relaxing, beautiful, and teaches symmetry and patience.


🟢 What you’ll need: paper or cardboard base, glue, collected nature items

🎯 Age: 3+

💡 Tip: Take a picture before you clean it up—it makes a lovely memory!




2. Magic Wands with Personality

Five handmade magic wands crafted from wooden sticks are displayed on a light wooden background. Each wand is decorated uniquely with colorful yarn, felt shapes, ribbons, or beads, including a yellow star-topped wand with pink ribbons, a purple bow wand, and wands with orange-blue yarn or stacked wooden beads.
Transform chopsticks or sticks into sparkly magic wands using ribbons, beads, yarn, and hot glue. Let your kids invent spells and stories—perfect for roleplay and storytelling!


🟢 What you’ll need: sticks, ribbons, glue, decorations

🎯 Age: 4+

💡 Tip: Ask your child to name their wand and describe its power. You’ll be amazed!





 3. Recycled Robot Workshop

A cute robot figure made from recycled cardboard materials is displayed on an orange background. The robot has a rectangular head and body, button eyes and controls, a corrugated cardboard mouth, and arms and legs made from paper tubes, showcasing a creative and eco-friendly kids’ craft.
Gather toilet paper rolls, buttons, bottle caps, and boxes to create funky robot creatures. A wonderful STEM activity that encourages kids to upcycle and imagine.


🟢 What you’ll need: recyclables, glue, markers

🎯 Age: 5+

💡 Bonus: Turn it into a “Robot Fashion Show” for extra giggles.





4. Sticker Story Book

A child’s hands are seen decorating a handmade storybook with colorful stickers and crayon drawings. The open notebook shows a red-roofed house, a tree, butterflies, and a bunny holding a carrot, along with flower and duck stickers. Three crayons rest on the wooden table nearby.

Fold A4 papers to make a mini book and let your child decorate each page with stickers and drawings. Ask them to invent a story and read it aloud at the end!


🟢 What you’ll need: paper, stickers, colored pencils

🎯 Age: 3–8

💡 Connection time: Do this activity together before bedtime for a cozy moment.




5. Salt Dough Memory Tiles

Two round salt dough ornaments are displayed on a wooden surface. One features a green heart shape pressed into the dough, and the other showcases a green fern leaf imprint. Both crafts have a soft, handmade appearance and are used for nature-inspired memory keepsakes.
Make salt dough together, shape it into hearts or circles, and press little hands or summer finds (shells, leaves) into them. Once baked, paint and seal!


🟢 What you’ll need: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water

🎯 Age: 4+

💡 Keepsake idea: Write the date and your child’s name on the back.





Why These Crafts Matter

In a world full of screens and noise, hands-on creativity is medicine. It helps kids focus, express themselves, and build emotional resilience—all while creating unforgettable memories with you.

Let this summer be one of simplicity, joy, and connection. 

📸 I’d love to see your little artists in action!

If you try any of these ideas, share a photo with me on Instagram or tag me with #MariaSupermomCrafts


With love and paint-stained hands,

Maria


You can also read:





Tuesday, July 01, 2025

DIY Cardboard Fish- A Fun Upcycled Craft with Texture and Color

 

Flat lay of cardboard fish craft materials on a light wooden surface, including a piece of corrugated cardboard with a pencil, colorful paper sheets, round paper cutouts, glue, scissors, a black marker, a googly eye, and a finished fish decorated with rainbow paper scales and a smiling face.


Dive into creativity with this eco-friendly cardboard fish craft! It’s a wonderful project for kids, parents, or anyone wanting a relaxing, tactile experience. Using recycled cardboard and a splash of color, this fish will look charming on a wall or even as part of a mobile.


✂️ Materials Needed:

A piece of cardboard (from any box)
Pencil and scissors
White glue or glue stick
Colorful craft paper scraps (or tissue paper, magazine cutouts, or old wrapping paper)
Markers or paint (optional for detailing)
Googly eye or black marker
String (if you want to hang it)
Optional: aluminum foil for shiny fins


🧭 Instructions:


1. Draw and Cut the Fish Shape

Sketch a simple fish on cardboard — big round body, triangle tail. Cut it out. 
Download and print the fish design. Just click on it!

2. Create Scales

Cut circles or teardrop shapes from colorful paper. Overlap and glue them to form scales across the body.

3. Add Fins and Tail

Glue extra cardboard or foil cutouts for the tail and fins to give them texture.

4. Add an Eye

Stick on a googly eye or draw one with a marker.

5. Detail and Finish

Use markers or paint to add dots, gills, or outlines. You can also punch a hole at the top and tie a string to hang your fish.


💡 Creative Tip:


Each fish can have a personality! Try making a whole school of fish in different colors and sizes—great for classroom decorations or home art corners.


🎯 Why It’s Therapeutic:


This project invites focus through cutting, layering, and arranging—excellent for calming the mind and boosting creativity.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

5 Ways Mandala Art Changed My Life


Hands sketching a detailed black ink mandala on a spiral-bound notebook, with a warm wooden table, candle, and cup of tea in the background.

 

For as long as I can remember, my life has revolved around one thing: being a mom. From the moment I opened my eyes in the morning until the late hours of the night, I was always on. Preparing meals, solving problems, calming tears, celebrating milestones, cleaning messes, and answering an endless stream of “Mama?”—this was the rhythm of my life. And I poured myself into it, fully and without hesitation.

But somewhere along the way, I forgot how to pause.

A tired mother sits at a kitchen table with her head resting in her hand, surrounded by a notebook, an empty mug, and scattered children’s toys, capturing the emotional fatigue of daily parenting.

I forgot how to breathe for myself

There was always something more urgent than my own needs. A forgotten school bag. A late-night fever. A mountain of laundry. I wasn’t unhappy. I was just exhausted. I kept pushing, pushing, pushing… until I couldn’t anymore. I hit a wall. A deep, quiet burnout crept in, and I found myself hollowed out from the inside.


Then something unexpected happened.

I went on a short getaway alone. Just for two days to catch my breath. No children. No to-do lists. Just silence. I didn’t have a plan. I brought a notebook, some pens, and the hope that maybe I’d reconnect with a part of myself I hadn’t heard from in years.

That’s when I discovered mandala art.

It started with a simple circle. I traced it carefully. Then another inside it. And another. No rules, no expectations; just rhythm. As I added shapes and patterns, I felt something I hadn’t in a long time: peace. That one moment of drawing quietly opened a door I didn’t know existed. A door to healing. To stillness. To myself.


1. It Taught Me to Be Present

A hand sketching an unfinished mandala on a spiral notebook, surrounded by a cup of tea and lit candles on a wooden table, with natural light streaming in, creating a peaceful and meditative atmosphere.
When you’re a mom, your mind is always running ahead—what’s for dinner, who needs help with homework, how to fix the next emotional meltdown. Mandala drawing gave me something I didn’t know I was desperate for: a pause. It’s hard to explain until you try it, but focusing on small, repeated patterns naturally draws you into the present.

Every shape I added felt like a deep breath.
Every stroke pulled me closer to now.

It was a gentle, healing kind of mindfulness. Unlike meditation, which sometimes felt impossible to quiet my racing mind, mandala drawing gave me something to do while I rested mentally. That small shift changed my relationship with stress.

If you’ve never tried mindful mandala drawing, I share free beginner tutorials and printable guides on MariaHajj.com to help others experience this same calm.


2. It Healed My Inner Chaos

An open sketchbook resting on a wooden table, with the left page filled with messy pencil scribbles and the right page displaying a clean, detailed mandala. A hand is drawing on the right side, symbolizing transformation from chaos to calm through art.
I didn’t realize how much emotional clutter I was carrying until I saw it spilling into my drawings. Some days, my mandalas came out tight, rigid, and tense—just like my body. Other days, they were fluid and flowing. I started to notice patterns between what I was feeling and what I was drawing. And then came the powerful realization: this art was helping me release what I couldn’t always put into words.

It became a safe space to process grief, guilt, overwhelm—without needing to explain anything to anyone. Just me, a pen, and a piece of paper. No judgment. No rules. Just relief.

Over time, the shapes I drew reflected more peace than pain.

3. It Gave Me a Voice Without Words

I’ve always been someone who feels deeply but doesn’t always know how to express it—especially the heavy stuff. Through mandalas, I found a way to say things my voice couldn’t. Each color I chose, each layer I built—it was all a message from my subconscious.


It made me feel seen, by myself.

And that was healing in a way I never expected.

This form of creative expression also reawakened parts of me I had long silenced. The artist. The dreamer. The storyteller. The woman who had ideas and needed space to bring them to life. Mandala art became more than a hobby. It became a reclamation.

4. It Reconnected Me to My Roots

As I deepened my practice, I naturally gravitated toward the mandala styles that echoed Middle Eastern patterns—like the ones I saw in my grandmother’s rugs or on the mosaics in old Lebanese homes. I began incorporating traditional motifs, Arabesque elements, and cultural symbolism into my work.

That connection to heritage brought a whole new layer of meaning.
I wasn’t just drawing. I was remembering.

It became a quiet tribute to my ancestors, to the stories woven into our art, our textiles, our architecture. And it made me proud. For the first time, I wasn’t trying to fit into Western art standards—I was honoring the beauty I came from.

5. It Became a Purpose Bigger Than Me

Once I saw how deeply mandalas had helped me heal, I couldn’t keep them to myself. I started sharing what I learned—online, in workshops, through books. I created mandalas for others to color. I taught people how to draw their own. I listened to their stories, and they listened to mine.

Suddenly, my art wasn’t just personal—it became communal.

Today, I help others discover their own inner peace and creativity through mandala drawing. Whether it’s a tired mom needing a moment of calm, a child struggling with focus, or someone healing from grief—there’s a mandala for every heart. And nothing brings me more joy than watching someone light up when they say, “This helped me.”


Final Thoughts

Mandala art didn’t just help me unwind—it helped me come back to myself.
It reminded me that I matter too. That creativity is not a luxury. That stillness is a form of strength.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, lost, or creatively stuck, I invite you to pick up a pen, draw a simple circle, and let your hand move. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be pretty. It just has to be yours.

You might be surprised by what you find within that circle.

Friday, May 01, 2015

Smarties Birthday Cake

Follow Me on Pinterest
Smarties
"A cute delicious pile of Smarties and Maltesers will make a perfect birthday cake for sweets addicts. More specially, if you hide a moist chocolate cake below covered with an exquisite chocolate french buttercream."

Serves 20
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Preparation time: 1 hour



Recipes included:

*Rice Krispie treats: Check our rice krispie treats video
*Sponge Cake: Check the recipe of our sponge cake and add to each 4 eggs 40 g of cocoa powder. Bake the batter in a greased bundt cake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

*French butter cream: Check our recipe of vanilla butter cream. Add to each 1 cup of prepared cream, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.



If you like my recipes and you wish to follow me you could JOIN my blog, SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Cooking ChannelLIKE my Facebook Page, and Follow me on Pinterest.




Saturday, April 25, 2015

Génoise or Sponge Cake Recipe

sponge cake
Génoise Cake or Sponge cake.
This recipe is wonderful for cake decorating, it's luscious and fairly
firm to allow you to shape any design you want.


Makes 1
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes

4 free-range eggs
1/2 cup white granulated suagr
1 cup all-purpose flour 
3/4 teaspoon Baking Powder



Sponge cake preparation
Using  large pot, bring water to a boil, top with a heatproof bowl but make
 sure the bottom doesn't touch the water.
When the the bowl is warm, add the eggs and vanilla.

Pour the white granulated sugar

Mix well using a whisk until the batter heats through ( lightly transparent and runny)

Transfer the mixture to an electrical mixer, and beat on medium speed until it cools.

Gradually pour the flour and baking powder while beating on low speed.
Once all the dry ingredients has been added,
increase the speed to high until well combined. Use a rubber spatula
to scrape the edges and give the Génoise batter a final blend.

Sponge cake Recipe
Spoon the Génoise batter into an 8 inches round cake, lined with parchment paper.
Bake on 170◦ C for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.
You can add food colorant to the batter and create as many colors as you like.
In this picture I am preparing for a Frozen birthday cake and I have prepared
a shade of blue.





Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Crème au beurre- French Buttercream



french butter cream
You can use this cream to frost or fill cakes, cupcakes, pies and more. It'f fluffy and light and it's definitely healthier than the regular butter cream since the load is distributed between egg whites and butter.


Makes 5 cups
Preparation Time: 1 hour
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

2 1/8 cups (510g/ 18 oz) butter
1/2 cup (125g/ 4 1/2 oz) Crisco ®, All-vegetable shortening
3 egg whites
1/4 cup (55g/ 2 oz) extra fine white sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Sugar syrup
1 1/2 cups (330g/ 11 2/3 oz) super fine white sugar
1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon (75 ml/ 2 1/2 fl oz)


Preparation
1- In a medium pan, pour the sugar and water. Do not mix to prevent crystallization. Bring to a boil until the sugar reaches 110 C.
Sugar syrup boiling

2- Meanwhile, start beating egg whites in the medium bowl of an electrical mixer on medium speed. When bubbles start forming, increase the speed to fast and keep beating until the eggs double in volume. then add the vanilla and sugar in a stream, do not dump in the middle or this will make you lose the air condensed inside of the whites.
Pour the sugar syrup little by little, beating on medium-high speed until the batter is stiff and glossy.
The glossy and stiff egg whites mixture
3- Allow the egg whites mixture to cool for 1 hour, then start adding the shortening and butter beating on medium speed until all is well combined and the cream is ready to be used.


Adding the shortening

Adding the butter
This cream is super delicious and light. I personally prefer the French butter cream for one simple reason: the egg whites give it more volume and fluffiness and there is definitely less quantity of butter.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Gluten free Olives Potato Bread

gluten free dairy free bread
“A moist heavy gluten free loaf, enriched with olives and thyme flavor, makes a great accompaniment for cheese and wine.” 
For more recipes subscribe to our Channel Cook N' Bake
Ingredients
Serves 6
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1h 20 minutes


1 medium (250g/8.8 oz.) potato, mashed
¾ cup (75g/2.6 oz.) gluten- free flour mix
1/2 cup (120 ml/ 4 fl. Oz.) soya milk
1 tablespoon (15g/ 0.5 oz.) all-vegetable shortening
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon dried oregano ( 1 extra teaspoon for the top)
1 cup black olives, pitted and halved
1 teaspoon Baking powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
Bakeware: 6*3*3 inches dark baking tin


Pit the olives, cut them in half and set aside.Preheat the oven to 220C (425F/ gas 7) and grease the baking tin with shortening.Boil, steam or bake the potato.
Peel and mash with 2 tablespoons of the cooking water.
In a large bowl, blend the mashed potato with shortening on high speed. Beat in the soya milk, egg yolk and salt.  Add the flour and baking powder gradually, beating thoroughly after each addition.
Combine oregano and olives with the rest of the batter. Transfer it to the greased pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Later, remove it from the oven; brush the top with olive oil and oregano.
Reduce the heat to 140
C (275F/1) and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Cool on a rack.

Notes: You can store the gluten free bread in a wrapped basket, at room temperature, for up to 3 days.

If you like my recipes and you wish to follow me you could JOIN my blog, SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Cooking ChannelLIKE my Facebook Page, and Follow me on Pinterest.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Vanilla Custard Cream


"Whether you call it custard cream, pastry cream or crème patissière, the same directions apply to all. The only difference is that a crème patissière used for cake filling should be a bit thicker which implies the use of 2 extra tablespoons of cornstarch. Enjoy the video and please leave your suggestions."



Ingredients:

2 1/8 cups  (500 ml/17 fl oz) cow milk
2 whole eggs
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup (200g/7 oz) sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

I hope you enjoy the video, and if you would like more recipes, don't forget to subscribe :)




Saturday, April 11, 2015

Banana Cupcakes



Banana Cupcakes with Raisins and Spices

Raisins and cinnamon cupcakes


"Get your recipe box ready, cause these cupcakes are gonna make their way into it! They are easy, quick and super delicious with their mixed flavors of bananas, spices and raisins. Try them and tell me what you think! "

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Makes 12

Ingredients

125g (4 oz) unsalted butter
½ cup (125g/ 4 oz) caster sugar
2 free- range eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
3 ripe medium bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ cup (125 ml/ 4 fl oz) milk
2 cups (250 g /8 oz) flour
¼ teaspoon grounded nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup raisins 


1. Preheat the oven to hot 200C(395F⁰). Line a regular cupcake tin with baking cupcake sheets.
2. Cream the butter and sugar in a small bowl with electrical beaters until light and fluffy. Gradually, blend in the eggs, beating well after each addition.
Combine the mashed banana and vanilla. Keep blending for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl occasionally
3.Pour the milk while beating on medium speed.
4. Gradually, spoon the flour, soda and baking powder. Keep mixing until the batter is well combined for about 1 minute.
5. Using a medium ice cream scooper, fill three-quarters of each cupcake hole. Sprinkle the top with raisins.
6. Bake for 15 minutes on 180
C (350⁰F). Reduce the heat to 150C (300⁰F)and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cupcake.
7. Leave the cupcakes for 10 minutes before transferring them onto a wire rack to cool completely. 

For more recipe videos subscribe to my cooking channel and let's have fun making delicious special recipes!


Robin Hood Birthday Cake

Robin Hood Birthday Cake

Robin Hood birthday theme
My daughter was a huge fan of the Disney's Robin Hood movie. So I made her this!

It was a big challenge to sculpt those characters, and kids, as you know, are one of the toughest judges in the world!!! And I had 30 of 'em that day and they were all gonna give a straight opinion about my cake talent. 
The inside was a checkerboard cake- that I will soon be teaching on my youtube channel- filled with chocolate ganache. 

Let me tell you, this was a Big success! Everyone loved the shape and taste. The details were good enough, in my opinion: the bag of arrows, the outfits, flowers, etc. 
I wish you could tell me what you think and give me additional suggestions that I can maybe use in my next cake.

I haven't thought about taking pictures of the making and this was a big loss for me and my readers. So I promise to make something similar in the future and post it on Cook N' Bake .



xoxoxo 


Ten Summer Snacks My Kids Actually Love (That Are Healthy and Quick!)

If your kids are anything like mine were, then they seem to get hungrier the moment school is out. Summer means more play, more energy spent...