#How to Draw a Snowman with Snowflakes for Kids Easy Step by Step

[drawforkids489]

How to Draw a Snowman with Snowflakes for Kids Easy Step by Step #howtodrawforkids #howtodrawfortoddlers

[luminois]

･:*✧ 𝗢𝗧𝟴; 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀

𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

𝟭𝟭𝟭𝟭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹.

･:*✧ 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻; 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽

you gasp quietly as the next house comes into view, rows of lights decorating the patio and roof while shining reindeers light up the garden. your nose almost touches the car’s window as you get closer, and your breath makes it fog up. chan looks over his arm resting on the steering wheel and smiles softly as he sees you draw a heart on the glass, blind to the show of lights happening outside. inside the car is warm, the hot chocolates you’d picked up at a drive-in are still fuming between the seats. chan’s hand comes down to your thigh, and it’s cold but oh so pleasant. you cover it with both your own and look up at him with burning cheeks. it’s an expensive neighborhood, the one with the most spectacular decorations in the entire city but, when he says one day your house will put them all to shame, you believe him.

･:*✧ 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗼; 𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

he makes it look easy, the way he moves on ice is quick and graceful and it leaves you - and everyone else on the rink - speechless. minho is too good at this, like at everything else, and you’re still stuck in the same spot against the railing, gripping for dear life so your knees don’t meet the hard floor. the speakers are blasting christmas carols, the people skating chat and laugh among themselves as kids play with each other. you see a little boy fall on his bum and get up right away, already chasing his friends again, and it gives you enough courage to let go and try a couple steps. your eyes go wide as you lose balance right away, but before you can scream and hit the ice strong arms wrap themselves around your waist. minho makes a quick work of taking your hands and spin you around so that you’re facing him, mockery already on his lips. he doesn’t leave you for the rest of the night, guiding you until you’re comfortable enough to skate while holding just one of his hands.

･:*✧ 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗶𝗻; 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴

one for his sister, one for your dad, a small one for each of the boys. you bring the perfume bottle up to your nose and take in the strong, heady scent. your eyes almost roll back at how delicious it smells. almost, because instead they meet changbin’s, who’s looking at you from the other side of the store, in the makeup section. buying each other’s christmas gift right in front of each other might be unorthodox, but it sure was fun. he smirks at you and suddenly you picture the scent on his clothes, your nose buried in his neck. you notice the red lipstick he’s holding, the brand so expensive you raise your eyebrows at it, clearly excited. changbin’s eyes gloss over with fantasies of his own. you grab a closed bottle of the cologne while he chooses two more shades of red.

･:*✧ 𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗷𝗶𝗻; 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗻𝗼𝘄

hyunjin giggles in delight as soon as your boots step out of your building’s entrance, laughter inevitably bubbling out of your lips as well. the snow falls softly, coming to rest on hyunjin’s hat and scarf and catching onto your hair. you bring out your tongue to catch the snowflakes and a shutter goes off, making you turn in surprise. hyunjin takes another picture, smiling at your red cheeks, before letting the camera fall on his chest and crouching down to touch the snow. he starts making a snowman while let yourself fall on your back, an angel in the making. it’s freezing despite your thick coat but then hyunjin is lying next to you, holding your hand so it will look like your angels are touching, and your chest feels so warm.

･:*✧ 𝗷𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗴; 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲

like everything else in your apartment, the christmas tree was bound to be an unconventional looking one. it was the beauty of living with jisung. you didn’t have any proper decorations so you’d had to get creative. you fell back on your sofa, holding your stomach as your eyes got teary with laughter, as jisung placed a loofa on a tree branch, closely followed by a colander dangerously hanging from one of the top branches. he started complaining about you making fun of his decorations but, as you tried to find your breath, your eyes met and he was laughing with you, falling on the floor from the force of it.

･:*✧ 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘅: 𝗯𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗲𝘀

you and felix often baked together, even on anonymous days when there was nothing to celebrate. what made this particular time special, besides the clearly festive shapes of the cookie cutters you were using, was the atmosphere. felix was always gentle in all of his gestures but as christmas day approached he seemed almost tender. the snow piling outside, the carols, the sweater - and, of course, the cookies - made him shine even more than usual. to you, he was the embodiment of everything christmas represented, from generosity to happiness itself. you get lost in his smile as he checks on the second batch already sitting in the oven, before remembering you should already be decorating the first one.

･:*✧ 𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗶𝗻; 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁

you hold on tighter to seungmin’s arm, overjoyed at the multitude of stands and kiosks surrounding you from both sides, tempting you to buy all the chocolate and hand-made mittens you see displayed. the market is beautifully decorated, with lights hanging above you and christmas carols filling the air along people’s chattering, and you can’t seem to feel the cold that had the tip of your nose burning mere minutes ago. your eyes linger a second longer on a specific kiosk selling poinsettias, the vivid red capturing your attention. it would look beautiful in your home and a sign says the profit is donated to charity. you open your mouth to ask seungmin but he’s already leading you closer the kiosk, his knowing smile already answering your questioning gaze. he pays for the flowers and you keep walking.

･:*✧ 𝗷𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻; 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻

it’s all movies you’ve already seen, of course. home alone, the grinch, even a nightmare before christmas, who some people could argue was more of a halloween movie than a christmas one. you and jeongin didn’t care and still added it to the ever growing list, that you weren’t going to finish anyways. the blanket fort set up in front of the tv, full of pillows and snacks and even decorated with fairy lights already looked comfortable enough to fall asleep in even before you wore your ugly christmas sweaters and got settled in. the christmas tree in your living room painted multicolored shades on the screen, while jeongin’s arm hugging your waist close to his side only painted your cheeks shades of red.

[serenlyss]

Snowflakes

Rating: G Relationships: ritshou Summary: It's snowing outside, the perfect weather for sitting inside with a hot drink and watching it fall. Unless you're Shou. Crossposted to AO3: Snowflakes

Like snowflakes to winter’s call We too, ceded our souls; To the inviting yearn to fall. And everything around us Became something beautiful.

 - Clairel Esteves, from “Snowflakes”

---

The month of January brings with it many things, one of which being the myriad of winter storms that blow in and fill Ritsu’s front lawn with feet-deep piles of snow. Normally, he would be content to watch the snow fall from the warmth and comfort of his home, but Shou is insistent on bundling up and experiencing the weather for himself, and, well, Ritsu can’t find a reason to say no to him.

Shou flops down immediately in the nearest patch of untouched snow as soon as they’re outside, laughing loudly and sending snowflakes flying with his impact. Even buried in the snow, though, his bright red hair and dark blue jacket are a stark contrast to the pure white snow all around them.

Ritsu follows at a less energetic pace, lingering on the porch and flinching against the cold wind on his face. His nose begins to run almost immediately, an unpleasant sensation, but he has fond memories of playing out in the snow with his family as a kid. He finds it hard to linger on the negatives when he can starkly remember throwing snowballs at his brother and building snowmen in the front lawn during the years where the snow reached up to their knees and the biting cold didn’t seem to bother them at all. Leaning over, he dips his gloved hands into the snow and gathers up a handful of it, smooshing it together until it sticks together instead of falling between his fingers.

“What’re you waiting for, Ritsu?” Shou calls to him, already pulling himself up from the snowbank he’s collapsed. He’s already covered in snow up to his hair, flakes of it sticking in his eyebrows and piling up on the shoulders of his coat. “Stop hiding on the porch already.”

Ritsu rolls his eyes, stepping off the porch and immediately sinking ankle-deep into the snow on his lawn. “You were the one who wanted to play in the snow,” he points out, turning the snowball over and over in his hands to shape it. Maybe, he thinks, if he keeps adding more snow, it’ll become big enough to form the base of a snowman. He starts to make his way over to Shou, who’s run out into the middle of the yard already and left Ritsu behind to stand at its edge.

“Yeah, ‘cause it’s fun!” Shou insists with a grin, reaching up to shake the snow from his hair with one mitten-clad hand.

Ritsu’s eye is drawn to it, and he finds himself looking into Shou’s face, just a bit below his eye level. Shou’s always stood out, his wild hair and loud personality hard to ignore, but against the white backdrop of the snow-covered street, he’s impossible to miss. After a moment, Ritsu notices that there are snowflakes clinging to Shou’s eyelashes, and the sight of it strikes him as oddly pretty. He’s never seen Shou like this; it’s the first winter they’ve experienced as friends, and, well, he supposes he’s still getting used to seeing Shou’s more carefree, fun, relaxed side. It’s something he doesn’t really see often.

“Ritsu?” Shou asks, waving a hand in front of his face and quirking a brow at him questioningly. There’s a smirk on his face, and he looks simultaneously amused and confused, a teasing remark in his eyes that he won’t know how to word until he’s figured out what to say. “You alright? You’re spacing out.”

Ritsu blinks, and realizes that he’s been staring at Shou for likely longer than is traditionally appropriate. There are words on the tip of his tongue that he can’t quite grasp, something he feels and wants to say, but can’t articulate in a way that’s meaningful. His chest feels tighter than usual, and for a moment, he doesn’t know how to react. He feels his own heart beating and his grip on his snowball is stiff in immoveable.

He takes a fast breath through his nose, holds it for a second, and then promptly smashes his snowball into Shou’s face. He grinds the palm of his gloves hand against Shou’s forehead and feels his mouth quirk into an involuntary grin before he can stop it as his friend yelps in surprise and sputters indignantly. “I was just admiring how much better you look with snow in your eyes,” he replies, stepping back a few steps and lifting a hand to his chin as though to appraise Shou’s new appearance.

He doesn’t realize his mistake until he sees Shou scrub the snow from his eyes and len over to gather up some ammunition of his own, and before he has to chance to retreat, a snowball snacks him squarely in the center of his chest. “If it’s a fight you want, you’d better be ready for it!” Shou challenges.

The moment is lost, forgotten amidst the start of the snowball fight and their own raucous laughter, lost behind snowbanks used as protective forts and taunts called across the yard to draw the other out for an easy shot. Lost, but not for good, Ritsu knows, as he nails Shou in the arm with his second shot of the day. But, Ritsu thinks as he stares at his best from from across their veritable battlefield, there will be time for that later.

[lonelypond]

Santa Cutie And The Christmas Cookie Queen

Love Live, nicomaki, 3.2K, 2/3

Nico vs. Pizza

Chief of Elfish Resources Nozomi Tojo stepped through the door and saw three papers scattered across the pristine white surface of Eli’s desk, she knew some disaster had occurred. Eli was sitting behind the desk, hands wide for balance, blue eyes with a dizzy look at the back of them, like someone had slipped and caused her to fall into a wall.

“How could she?” Eli asked, anger starting to clarify in her voice, “How could she?”

Nozomi was one fact away from knowing how to reply, although she had a guess as to the party involved.

“How could…” Nozomi stepped into the room, her question leaving a blank for Eli to fill.

“Maki.” Eli shoved her chair back, standing. Another page drifted off the pile as the desk reacted to the after tremors. “Maki. Doesn’t she realize…”

Eli turned away, overwhelmed by too many emotions. Nozomi scooted closer to the desk, reading upside down. Insurance information for someone named Honoka Kosaka. Accident?

“Is Maki all right? Does her father know?” Nozomi’s concern was more than professional. Everyone at North Pole Nishikino had come to love the often grumpy but always kindly sole heir to the Santa suit and sleigh.

“Maki is fine. And not taking this seriously. How do I tell her father?” Eli glanced at Nozomi.

“Do you want me to?” Nozomi sat on the corner of Eli’s desk, primly arranging the skirt of her purple dress over her knees, .

“It’s not your job.” Eli groaned. “It’s not really my job either.”

Nozomi neatened the papers, “My job is to take care of the employees. You are an employee. If it would be taking care of you, in the only way you’ll let me…”

Eli pretended to ignore what Nozomi was leaving very openly unsaid, “I’ll do it myself.” Eli’s smile barely qualified but Nozomi, as usual, took what she could get, “Thanks, Nozomi.”

Nozomi bounced up, “Just take care of yourself, Eli-chi. Medical forms cause too much paperwork.”

“Hey,” Eli sounded indignant and Nozomi was glad Eli couldn’t see the giggle she was holding back, “Last year was a fluke.”

“Just make sure you get some rest,” Nozomi twirled in the doorway, “And put up some mistletoe. I made sure it was regulation.”

Eli shook her head at the flirtatious dark haired woman and sat down, staring out the window at the sunlit afternoon, wondering what other kinds of trouble Maki was getting herself into. ANd wondering if the young heir had read the detailed email Eli had spent last week on, about polishing her ability to serve as the public face of the company.

Maki woke to her phone going off. She hated setting the alarm so on weekends she never bothered. But Rin’s chirpy text tone was enough to drag her out of a dream that involved Nico in candy cane stripes from head to toe and a Christmas tree and...Maki grabbed her phone.

R: Eli’s so MAD at you, Maki (╯=▃=)╯︵┻━┻

Groggy, Maki stared at Rin’s message. She hadn’t done anything. Surely Eli couldn’t expect a response to that ridiculously long email about public presentation and the North Pole Nishikino industrial image. Maki usually had a week before Eli started to get twitchy about that sort of thing, especially when Maki was working off site.

M: What happened?

R: Motorcycle crash? Remember? Or did you forget your helmet again?

M: It wasn’t an accident. Someone ran over my bike. I wasn’t even on it ┐(´ー｀)┌

R: Eli’s still REALLY mad. Nozomi looked worried.

M: It’ll be fine. I’ll send her an email. Papa wasn’t upset.

R:  Eli (╯=▃=)╯︵┻━┻

Maki decided it was time to take a walk.

Nico enjoyed market day, when she actually had the time to spend the morning downtown. So many people bustling happily, especially this time of year, that it was always easy to spread or catch a smile or a laugh. She was especially looking forward to stopping at her favorite bakery and seeing what treats they were making for the holidays. Take some food porn worthy pictures and she’d have a handy blog post, especially if she deconstructed the recipes and made her own versions.

Nico loved dressing for the season. Today, she had snowflake covered light blue leggings and a comfy red oversized sweater with a cartoony Christmas tree, white faux furry boots and a white puffy jacket. She’d only had a little fun with the lipstick, base red with some smudged white snowflakes. No snow yet, that’d be a story for tomorrow, according to the latest forecast, so today Nico was just going to enjoy the sun, the holiday bustle and the...Nico paused as she entered Central Market, the live music, holiday songs? Occasionally, someone would be playing the piano, but this was a much higher level of effort than Nico had ever heard her before, with the jazzy Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas songs making for an auditory treat.

Nico headed for the piano, recognizing as she got closer the red hair bouncing as Maki’s long, slender fingers danced over the keys. There was only a second pause between songs, not much of a crowd had gathered. Nico frowned, they really should be more appreciative of this caliber a performer. Maki closed her eyes and then seemed to dive into the music. Nico knew this one. And she knew how to draw a crowd.

Market day. One of the pleasanter things about Tudor for Maki was their downtown market, open 3 days a week, with farmers and small business owners focusing mostly on local foods and crafts. There was also, right in the heart of the market, a piano, surrounded by some tables. Free for anyone to use. Maki had taken to spending an hour or so every weekend making sure her fingers stayed nimble. And since Thanksgiving, she didn’t have to fight the urge to play Christmas carols anymore. People welcomed them. Today, she hadn’t gathered a crowd, everyone was hurrying from stand to stand buying presents or supplies. A few people caught her eye and smiled, one little girl had watched for almost half an hour as Maki delivered her Santa related repertoire. Now, she was playing her way through the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, when she heard a voice break in and felt hands settle on her shoulders:

Snowflakes in the air Carols everywhere Olden times and ancient rhymes Of love and dreams to share Sleigh bells in the air Beauty everywhere Yuletide by the fireside And joyful memories there Christmas time is here families drawing near Oh, that we could always see Such spirit through the year

Then the pianist jerked a little as news personality Nico Yazawa whispered into her ear, beaming, “Good choice, Maki, with so many kids around. My siblings love Charlie Brown, we watch it every year.”

Today, Nico had opted once again for a seasonal theme in clothing as well as  lipstick...Maki leaned back a little, pressing briefly into her surprise accompanist, as her fingers forgot how to play anything but random notes. Turning her head, she caught Nico’s smile at point blank range and her heart jumped. Nico seemed to have scattered snowflakes over her base red lips today. How did she manage that?

Nico glanced down, “No sheet music. Nico is impressed. Do you know “Frosty the Snowman”? The crowd will love it.”

Maki gulped, nervous, as Nico held her glance, red eyes encouraging. Maki nodded and played the first few notes. Nico started to sing along and let go of Maki’s shoulders, walking up to random people and getting them to join in. Soon there was a crowd and as Nico sang the last line, applause.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! Nico is just here to bring a little holiday cheer!” Nico curtsied and winked at Maki, whose mouth gaped open as Nico worked the crowd, yet somehow never lost eye contact with her. “What’ll we have next? Did you see Nico sing “Jingle Bells” on the noon show, yesterday, no, well it went like this.”

Nico slid into the bench, forcing Maki to move down. “Start us off, Maki.” Nico smiled “‘Jingle Bells’.” And Maki started to play.

More applause, Nico kneeling down to sign an autograph for a child, this was Maki’s chance to flee. She sprang up, ducked into the crowd and was heading for the door when she heard Nico say, “Let’s thank my accompanist, Maki Nish...hey, Maki, where you going?”

Some laughter, people must have thought it was a joke. Maki picked up her pace. She made it to the street before Nico caught up.

Nico maneuvered through people too easily, maybe her size gave her an advantage when dodging between them. “Hey, Red and Rushing…”

“It’s MAKI.” Maki whirled at Nico’s touch, “And I didn’t ask you to sing.”

Nico brushed off the correction, digging white gloves out of her parka, “But Nico thought you should have more of an audience. Sing alongs always make people smile. And we looked cute together.”

Nico looked cute. Maki was wearing her bomber, a t-shirt, grey sweats and steel toed work boots. Maki looked like laundry day. She shook her head, shoved her hands in her pockets, “Look, you’re a performer, I get that...”

“Nico is a journalist. So you don’t.” Nico corrected, confused, once again at Maki’s attitude. She’s been playing a piano beautifully in a public location and Nico had gotten people to notice.

Maki knew breaking off to head back to the Yorktowne would seem rude, but standing here on a street corner with those red eyes watching her and trying to figure out where the glitch was was not something Maki could tolerate for much longer.

“Fine. Sorry. You like having an audience,” Nico nodded, as if Maki had finally gotten something right, “But I don’t.”

Nico blinked, “You were playing a piano in public.”

Maki kicked the heel on one boot against the other’s instep, reluctantly admitting the problem. “It’s the only piano I could find.”

Nico looked sad for a flash of a second, then bounced back, “You are taking Nico to lunch to explain.”

“What?” Maki was 100% sure there was only one answer allowed. And Maki hadn’t said it.

Nico cancelled Maki’s escape attempt by latching on to her arm, “Where’s your favorite weekend lunch spot? Nico is curious about what Maki does in Tudor.”

“The pizza margherita at Vincenzo’s is amazing,” Maki finally managed to offer as she continued to fight the panicked urge to pull away from Nico’s clinginess.

“Oh good, it’s right down the block.” Nico started down the street, pulling Maki along.

The waitress had recognized Maki and asked if she wanted the usual. Maki said "Yes".

Nico delayered and settled into the booth across from Maki, “There’s enough to share, right?”

Maki nodded. Guess she wouldn’t be taking home half a pizza for breakfast then. But company was good. Nico kept watching her, as if some gesture, some motion would defuzz the focus for her.

“So is where you live a lot different from here?" Nico wondered, after giving Maki too much time to start the conversation.

Maki glanced around the restaurant, inhaling the warmth and oregano and fennelly sauce smells, “There’s only one diner, plus whatever the chefs at the company cafeteria put together. But they do a pretty robust international menu. And any time you want, you can get comfort food.” Maki almost licked her lips as she remembered the Spaghetti Bolognese they’d just put in rotation as the Tuesday dish. “We grow a lot of our own herbs and vegetables. Mama decided it would be healthier and implemented it when she married Papa. ” Nico laughed. Maki’s eyes narrowed, “What?”

“That’s cozy. Comfort food plus industrial innovation as a groom gift. You sound like you enjoy variety? Do you cook?” Nico fidgeted with the wine list on the table.

“Nope.” Maki didn’t mean to state it quite so proudly.

“Planning to marry a chef?” Nico teased, entertained by the light blush on Maki’s cheeks.

“A baker, maybe…” Maki got distracted by the sight of the pizza coming their way and actually answered the question.

Nico leaned into her hands, watching Maki pay no attention to her and “just met my hot date” levels of attention to the newly arrived pizza. It was unexpected. Nico was impossible to ignore. Piano playing must burn off calories. So Nico refrained from grandstanding, enjoying the opportunity to really look at the woman across from her, an intriguing mix of girly curves and sportif style. Nico had to admit she liked the way the two styles clashed, especially with such honest eyes. Nico could read so much in them, it was refreshing in a business where most flattery was a formality. But 10 seconds of Maki swooning over choosing slices was really enough. “That one looks good; Nico will take it.”

Maki glanced up, fingers on a crust, eyes wide and Nico knew the hungry redhead had forgotten Nico was there. Flattering. Nico sighed. But then there was that shy, sweet smile Nico liked better than sweets, “I’m so sorry, Nico…” and her name sliding so melodiously out of those lips as the initial slice was apologetically handed over. Nico might have been swooning herself by now, but Maki was on a date with someone named Margherita and not Nico. Given a little warning, of course, Nico could have made Maki forget anything else but this was an information gathering interview triggered by a random encounter, not a Date™. So Nico chewed quietly and thought seriously about what question to start with.

“So do you prefer jazz?” Nico asked when Maki reached for her second slice.

Maki paused, her lavender eyes thoughtful, then she shrugged, “Classical or jazz, both are challenging to play. And listen to.”

“Hmmm…” Of course, pizza girl would skip over the part where she asked Nico questions. So Nico provided the answer, “Nico likes K and J-pop.”

Maki almost put down her pizza, not bothering to hide her distaste at the Nico’s revelation of Nico’s taste in music. “Aren’t those the silly songs where the band members wear as little clothing as possible?”

“Hey,” Nico almost flung her crust as she pointed it at Maki, “Those are very danceable, if you dance anything newer than the grandparent wallflower waltz. They make people smile, give them energy.” Nico dropped the crust and brushed crumbs off her hands, “And what’s wrong with sexy costumes, some of the groups have the best fashion insight. Nico picks up tips. Just now, menswear is hot, the latest Mamamoo video, Moonbyul rocking suits onstage, sexy, but,” Nico let herself get a little snarky as she quoted Maki, “not as ‘little clothing as possible.’ Sexy with style. Nico likes that. Nico looks good in that.” Nico refrained from saying she looks good in anything. Here was Maki and the night they’d met, Nico had been rocking ‘knocked sideways into weather’ chic.” So Maki already knew that.

Maki shook her head, continuing to chew, “You are going to take fashion tips from girls in suits...you seem too…”

Nico grabbed another piece, resisting the urge to flex her frequently worked out, can lift twice what people would expect bicep,“Nico is adaptable. I’m thinking tux for New Year’s Eve.”

“Tuxedo?” Maki tilted her head, one eye squinting, obviously trying to picture Nico in the outfit.

“Tuxedo jacket.” Nico specified, stretching her leg out, “And fishnets.” She winked when Maki’s eyes finished the tour of her leggings. Maki grunted and glanced away, fumbling to pick up her napkin. Nico was starting to have fun.

“So why play at market if you don’t want an audience?” Leave Maki with the New Year’s Eve outfit visuals to imagine and move on. Nico congratulated herself on a solid strategy.

“You can’t just pack your piano when you travel.” Maki crumpled her napkin, tossing it on her plate. “I found that one the first month, mostly people don’t notice.”

Nico tapped Maki’s hand, “Nico doesn’t believe that. These have talent. Obvious talent.”

Maki started, quickly pulling her hands all the way back to her lap, then tried to figure out how to take a sip of her slightly too distant iced tea without exposing them. Nico almost giggled as Maki decided to lean slowly toward the straw, stretching her neck out.

“This is really good pizza.” Nico smiled.

Maki glanced up from her straw maneuvering, “I’m glad you liked it.”

“Maybe next time, I’ll take you to one of my favorite lunch places.” Nico edged the iced tea closer to Maki, who latched onto the straw with her mouth, taking a long sip. Then she sat back, twisting glistening lips together as she thought for a minute, eyes brightening at her decision, “Maybe.”

Nico bounced up, “Nico will take that as a date. How much do I owe you for the pizza?”

“You’re leaving?” Maki and Nico seemed equally surprised by the redhead’s disappointment.

Nico twirled, graceful even in the small space, “Nico’s the weekend anchor. So I have a show to get ready for.”

“Oh.” The gleam in Maki’s eyes dimmed, “don’t worry about the pizza. I’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks, Maki.” Nico swept in so fast Maki couldn’t dodge and kissed her cheek, “Play the piano again for me sometime, okay?”

Maki nodded, hand ghosting over her cheek. Nico thought the pianist wasn’t even aware the gesture had happened. Nico could definitely work with this.

Maki had been shopping for snacks to restock her mini fridge, then run out of errands to run. So she’d gone to see the latest blockbuster. Boring. Neither of these activities were nearly lively enough to follow up her accidental lunch ‘date’ with Nico Yazawa, so, once again, Maki found herself back in her hotel room, sprawled out on her couch, alternating between staring at stripey walls and the not so stripey ceiling. She hadn’t posted anything on TWIG today so she took a ceiling shot with the caption “needs more cookies.”

Immediate response.

StormCookie: Isn’t that your ceiling? Cookies will fall. Gravity ヽ(´Д`;)ﾉ

SantaChan: ｰ( ￣▽)_皿~~ On me ヽ(o♡o)/

StormCookie: SantaSpoiled, cookies don’t grow on ceilings. Or trees. You have to (σ`・∀・)σ BAKE them.

SantaChan: No (-_☆)V

StormCookie: You’re in a good mood. Need the second step yet?

SantaChan: Sure.

StormCookie: Are you sitting down? (-｡-;

SantaChan: Sort of…

StormCookie: Well, SantaSortof, the second step is...LOOK UP FROM YOUR PHONE

Maki was shocked that StormCookie would suggest that in the middle of their conversation. Was StormCookie bored? Or busy? Or…

SantaChan: But you’re here （´υ｀）

StormCookie: ⊂(ﾟДﾟ;⊂⌒`つ Actually, I have to run soon. So, step 2 is look up from your phone. Bonus: step 3 for advanced students, talk to the cute girl. I did it, so can you ಠ‿↼

“Talk to the cute girl.” That sounded like Rin. Maki chuckled before she heard the next part play in her head “I did it?” Was StormCookie dating someone? Or trying to? And what would that mean for...suddenly, Maki felt sick to her stomach again, cold sweat on her forehead.

StormCookie had sent another DM.

StormCookie: I have faith in you, apprentice (￣ー￣)ｂ Step away from the phone and the cute girls will flock.

And then Maki will forget to offer them slices of pizza and insult their music choices. Maki sighed, hugged her phone to her chest, reaching again for the blanket while calculating the hours she had to wait until the Channel 10 Weekend News.

A/N:

A little shorter than I'd planned (so you might get 4 chapters), but I wanted to post today.

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or...Thanks for reading. It means a lot.

Take care!

[cleanwaterchronicles]

14 Winter-Themed Science Experiments & Activities for Students

Project Learning Tree is an award-winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educators, parents, and community leaders working with youth from preschool through grade 12. They have come up with a list of 14 fun science experiments to do with your kids while at home this winter.

“Saying “goodbye” to warm, sunny days is never easy, especially if you live in a cold climate.  While you may feel stuck inside, you and your students can beat cabin fever this winter by embracing the opportunity to explore the natural wonders of the season.

These engaging experiments, activities, and projects will inspire you and your students to brave the snow, ice and cold temperatures. The activities below provide a range of experiences for all levels of students from kindergarten through middle school. Cold-themed investigations explore chemical changes, states of matter, measurement, data collection, animal adaptations, physical properties, and landforms to inspire your students to explore nature’s wonderful white wonders. Many of these activities can be done whether you live in a cold or warm climate!

1. How Much Water is in Snow?

It’s hard to imagine that giant piles of snow contain just a few inches of water. Scientists say thirteen inches of snow is equivalent to one inch of water. Encourage your students to practice using their skills of making predictions, estimates, and measurements by collecting snow for an easy experiment.

For younger children, try a simple investigation with collecting measurements. Adapt this activity to make it more challenging for older children. They will enjoy making predictions about the amount of water in snow and estimating how much snow can be produced with differing amounts of rain.

2. Watch Snowmen Expand While Learning About Chemical Reactions

Using Alka-Seltzer tablets to investigate acid-base reactions is a nice change from the normal baking soda and vinegar reactions. Draw a snowman’s face on a ziptop bag and fill it with snow (or shaved ice if you live in a climate that doesn’t have snow). Add an Alka-Seltzer tablet to the snow and observe the snowman expand over a period of about an hour.

Students can compare reaction times by making several snowmen and placing them in locations with different temperatures (such as the refrigerator, freezer, room temperature and near a source of heat). Older students can find the relationships between temperature and reaction time, and make a line graph to plot their results.

3. Staying Warm in Icy Weather

Surviving a few months of winter is difficult enough for some non-migratory animals. It is hard to imagine how arctic animals make their homes in such frigid climates. Investigate arctic animal adaptations with the hands-on activity for younger children. Start your discussion of arctic adaptations with this video from PBS LearningMedia (Adaptations of Arctic Animals). Then, jump into this activity on polar bear adaptations where young students play dress up with different types of materials that correlate to the polar bears’ adaptations that help them survive in cold climates.

4. Instant Snow

You don’t need to put on your snowsuit to make snowmen with this snow! For a quick and satisfying sensory experience, make “snow” with just two ingredients – baking soda and water. Younger students will enjoy using small plastic animals to make tracks through the snow, or set up an imaginary winter scene. They can also practice spelling words by drawing in the snow with their fingers.

5. Explore the Melting Point of Ice

Navigating icy roads is much safer after salt has been applied. Students can investigate which products are most effective at melting ice through experimentation. Place an ice cube in four separate glasses and sprinkle 1/4 tsp salt, sugar, and sand to three of the ice cubes (do not add anything to the fourth one as it is the control). Observe the melting times of the ice cubes and discuss why some ice cubes melted faster than others. Older students will appreciate this video explanation of “How Salt Melts Ice.”

You can add to this experiment by testing different substances, using different amounts of the substances, and observing the ice cubes melting in warmer or colder temperatures to see how these factors affect the melting times.

6. Sticky Ice

Students will be amazed by this simple experiment that allows you to pick ice cubes up with a string. When the amazement wears off, explain the amazingly simple science behind the trick. This activity would fit well with learning about states of matter, melting points, physical changes, and chemical changes. You could also compare the effectiveness of different types of salt (table salt, kosher salt, rock salt) and ice melt.

7. Make Frost

Take your exploration of states of matter one step further by making frost on a jar. Condensation appearing on the outside of glasses is a mystery all children want to solve. Use this activity with a lesson on chemical reactions, condensation, and states of matter. Students could also make predictions and test other ingredients, such as sugar, baking soda, or different types of salt.

8. Watercolors and Ice Blocks

Combine art with chemistry with beautiful creations by adding watercolors to blocks of ice. Add salt to different areas to make divets and patterns in the ice blocks, and add your own colors with liquid watercolors or food coloring. The crevices created by adding salt and watercolors make a beautiful pattern in the ice blocks. This is a fun way to incorporate art and science as an introduction to melting points!

9. Simulate an Avalanche

Students will have a blast learning about avalanches and landslides with Discovery Education’s hands-on simulation. Students place a book on a wood plank, lifting the plank until the book begins to slide. They should record the angle or height of the plank when the book begins to slide. Students make predictions and test different variables by changing the slope and types of lubrication. Then they add different kinds of materials such as talcum powder, sand, and marbles between the book and the plank and record the height of the board when the book begins to slip. Afterward, discuss why the book slipped at different heights and how this experiment relates to avalanches and landslides.

This activity would fit nicely into a unit on forces, friction, and lubricants. BBC Earth Unplugged has an excellent video, “What Causes Avalanches,” explaining the conditions necessary for avalanches.  Extend the learning with a video about avalanches from PBS LearningMedia’s short video, “How Do Avalanches Form.”

10. Catch Snowflakes

If you live in an area that snows, try catching snowflakes and examine their image with a magnifying glass. Students can observe the number of sides snowflakes have and classify their shape.  With some hairspray and a glass slide, you can preserve the image of the snowflake and observe it long after the snow has melted.

11. Snowflake Physics

Each snowflake is unique. Explore the molecular structure and formation of snowflakes, then head over to PBS LearningMedia for ideas on how to integrate the physics of snowflakes into your science and math classes. Students can also learn to classify snowflakes based on their shape, while learning about the famous photographer Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley who perfected the art of capturing the beauty of snowflakes before they vanished.

12. Frozen Bubbles

If you live in an area with temperatures below freezing, students will enjoy watching frost patterns form on bubbles. Before heading outside, ask students to make a prediction about what will happen when you blow bubbles in freezing temperatures. You can use regular bubble solution or make a stronger version with corn syrup. If you are able to catch any frozen bubbles before they break, ask students to examine and sketch the crystal pattern that forms on the outside of the bubble.

13. Winter Scavenger Hunt

Kids love exploring the outdoors in every season. They will forget all about their cold toes with the fun scavenger hunts:

This simple “Outdoor Winter Scavenger Hunt” has pictures for young children, and encourages them to look up, down, and around to find objects all around them.

For a sensory experience, check out this “Winter Scavenger Hunt” where young students can search for things to listen to, smell, and feel.

Turn your “Winter Scavenger Hunt” into a photo opportunity with this activity

Inspire nature detectives with this “Winter Scavenger Hunt” with this tree-themed scavenger hunt

14. Winter-Themed Unit

Exploring winter science themes doesn’t need to be restricted to just one experiment or activity! Pull together various subjects with a winter-themed unit or project-based learning opportunities. Check out these websites to get started:

Exploratorium pulled together “Cool Experiments for a Hot Day”

Science Sparks has “Ice Experiments”

Beyond Polar Bears and Penguins will inspire you with their large collection of activities

STEAM Powered Family has a curated list of “Winter STEM Activities”

Which winter-themed activity or experiment are you going to try with your students?”

Source: https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/winter-experiments-activities

[happyhandmadejewelries]

Beebeecraft Christmas Jewelry Snowman Earrings with Seed Bead Snowflake Pattern

Summary: This is a Christmas jewelry idea on how to make snowman earrings with seed bead snowflake pattern. The cute pearl snowman earrings is extremely popular during Christmas.

This is an easy jewelry craft for Christmas. You just need to prepare pearl beads, seed beads, nylon thread and earring hooks, then you can start this cute pearl snowman earrings with seed bead snowflake pattern. Let's start our craft journey here.

Supplies in the snowman earrings DIY:

White Glass Pearl Beads 12mm Gold Pearl Beads Red Nylon Thread 2mm White Seed Beads 0.3mm Tiger Wire Silver Earring Hooks Iron Headpins Jewelry making tools Long Nose Plier Flat Nose Plier Round Nose Plier Glue Gun Scissors Mark Pen

Instructions in making the snowman drop earrings with snowflake pattern:

Step 1: Stitch a snowflake pattern

1st, snip off a short tiger wire, slide 5 seed beads on it and then thread both ends through another seed bead to form a circle; 2nd, string 5 seed beads on one side, and cross one end backward through the 2nd bead on wire; 3rd, slide a seed bead through the other end, then thread through along the way to the last bead of the primary circle; 4th, repeat the above steps to make the rest of the snowflake pattern.

Step 2: Attach snowman dangle

1st, insert a 12mm gold bead and a white pearl bead with a headpin; 2nd, hook the dangle to the snowflake and trim off the excess; 3rd, snip off a short red nylon thread, and wrap it to the snowman to make a scarf.

Step 3: Finish the snowman drop earrings

Draw a cute face and attach earring hook.

Show you the final piece of my snowman drop earrings with snowflake pattern! Lovely and nice, isn'it?

This pair of cute pearl snowman earrings is a 3-step DIY project best for you and your kids to make together.Besides,the seed bead snowflake pattern add a winter element for the christmas snowman earrings. I love my snowman christmas earrings! How about you? This is how to make snowman earrings with snowflake instruction and I hope it could be helpful for you in your DIY projects.