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Asian Beauty

Smart Screen Time: Fun and Free Games That Teach Real-World Skills – Through My Pink Window

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


Hello Everyone,

As a working mom to a preteen, I’m constantly on the hunt for ways to make screen time both enjoyable and meaningful for my daughter. In today’s fast-paced digital world, balancing entertainment with education is no small feat. That’s why I was thrilled to discover the treasure trove of free, ad-free educational games available on the money games section on mortgage calculator. These games provide a seamless blend of fun and foundational learning, offering lessons in math, money management, and life skills in an engaging format.

From virtual board games to farming simulations, this collection has something for every interest, and the best part? It’s all cleverly designed to make learning an adventure. Two games in particular have become fast favorites in our household: Kingdoms Wars and Farm Town.

Kingdoms Wars: A Monopoly-Inspired Learning Adventure

One of my daughter’s absolute favorites, Kingdoms Wars, takes the classic board game Monopoly and adds a fresh, educational twist. The game starts with players managing $500 in savings, earning an additional $50 with every pass of the “go” tile. From there, it’s all about strategy:

  • Buy Properties: If a player lands on an available property, they can purchase it, adding to their growing portfolio.
  • Pay Rent: Land on someone else’s property, and rent payments begin—a subtle but effective way to teach the concept of financial liabilities.
  • Build Homes: Owning a set of three adjacent properties unlocks the ability to build homes, dramatically increasing the rental value.
  • Trade and Negotiate: Players can negotiate land purchases from others, learning about market value and opportunity costs.
  • Manage Debt: If cash savings dip into the negative, the game introduces the necessity of selling properties or houses to recover—offering an early introduction to financial resilience.

The objective? Outlast the three competing players by driving them into bankruptcy while maintaining financial stability. Watching my daughter develop her strategic thinking and decision-making skills as she plays is a joy. She’s not just having fun—she’s learning about money management and the importance of planning ahead, skills that will undoubtedly serve her well in the future.

Smart Screen Time: Fun and Free Games That Teach Real-World Skills

Another standout favorite in our household is Idle Hypermarket Empire, a grocery store simulation game where players manage a vertically oriented hypermarket. The game challenges my daughter to think critically about business operations and efficiency. She selects workers to stock shelves, hires managers to automate tasks, and trains staff to improve productivity. With nine floors ranging from fruits and vegetables to high-end departments like jewelry and cosmetics, the game teaches her about the complexities of running a business. Unlocking new floors, upgrading the cash counter, and boosting elevator capacity all contribute to a deeper understanding of growth strategies. The IPO feature, where players can sell their hypermarket to investors and start anew with higher earnings, adds a unique twist that introduces the concept of reinvesting for future gains.

A Final Thought

If you’re a parent looking to make screen time more meaningful, I highly recommend checking out Money Games by Mortgage Calculator.

The diverse selection of games on MortgageCalculator.org ensures there’s something for every interest. Whether your child is fascinated by farming, coding, or city building, you’ll find options that engage and educate. For my family, these games have turned screen time into a guilt-free activity, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. If you’re looking for ad-free, educational games that make learning a joy, I highly recommend exploring their Money Games section—you might even find yourself joining in on the fun!

With over 150 games covering everything from financial literacy to farming and even environmental awareness, there’s something for every child. And as someone who’s seen firsthand the impact these games can have, I can confidently say they’re a game-changer—for kids and parents alike.

So, the next time your little one asks for screen time, why not make it count? Explore the wide array of games, and let the learning adventures begin!


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Asian Beauty

My Night Time Skincare Routine

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


By: Bhumikacomment

My Night Time Skincare Routine

Hi guys,

I am sharing my current nighttime skincare routine today.

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil: It has Centella asiatica extracts, is super lightweight, non comedogenic, and melts makeup easily. Emulsifies well and leaves the skin soft and clean without any greasiness.

Youth To The People Kale + Green Tea Spinach Cleanser: This anti-oxidant rich cleanser also deep cleanses and removes your makeup, yet being gentle and non stripping. Foams well, vegan, love the pump dispenser, you can dispense the exact amount of product you need.

I do the 2nd cleanse with my Foreo LUNA, I have two and have been using them for over 5 years. Again thoroughly cleanses your pores, one charge of this lasts an entire year so it’s very handy plus it’s waterproof

Dr. Jart Cicapair Serum: Instantly repairs the barrier and soothes and calms the skin

Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum: This works fabulously on post-acne scars or any hyperpigmentation. It has viniferine, a Caudalie patented ingredient that is 62x more powerful than Vitamin C.

Dab to Fab Spark Change Moisturiser: A lightweight, airy Moisturiser that works for all skin types, soothes any kind of irritation or inflammation, and repairs, and strengthens the barrier.

Aminu Eye Serum: Truly one of its kind, I haven’t tried an eye serum/product like this. Enriched with ceramides, peptides, glucosides, caffeine complex, and a number of ingredients that work really well together for all sorts of eye issues from dark circles to puffiness to under-eye bags. Love the thin formulation, it is tested for safety and irritation.

D’You In My Defence Moisturiser: On days when I feel my skin needs a little extra hydration, I add this moisturiser as well. It has 1% pure ceramides that repair and strengthen the skin barrier. Also don’t forget your neck.

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm Gummy Bear– Enriched with shea and murumuru butter, it makes the lips pillowy soft, and plump. Plus super yumm🫰

I use a lot of hydrating and barrier-strengthening products in my skincare routine generally, actives I only keep for certain days or when needed.

Have you tried any of these products? These are my absolute favourites! Let me know your thoughts/your favourites.




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Women's Fashion

Logos in a Time of Unreason

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


“Maternal Caress” by Mary Cassatt 1896

One of the best organization tips I ever implemented in my homeschool is writing a nightly list of the next day’s readings and subjects. These are things she can do on her own. e.g. copywork, two assigned readings, a written narration, math or Greek review. Even so, our homeschool day still very much feels like a family event every day—questions, oral narrations, spontaneous discussions, cooking, arts and crafts, outings. It feels like I spend most of my day deep in the work of mothering and education. I’m usually spent by nighttime, which is precisely when I have to write out the next day’s tasks. (Doing it nightly, as opposed to weekly, is supposed to help you keep realistic expectations for what can be accomplished the next day.)

On one such night this week, I sat down to write out the next day’s tasks. And it just felt so… heavy? I think the feeling is common around this time of year. We’re about halfway done with the school year and the weather has been dreary. I just felt like we needed a lighter day. So I turned the page in the notebook and started a NEW list.

Poems

Dance

Reading (Julia’s choice)

Math Antics Youtube

Reading (Mom’s choice)

Botanic Garden

The following morning, I made oatmeal. My kids like it with cream, cinnamon, maple syrup, and banana. I like to add peanut butter to mine. I mention what we had for breakfast because it cooks slowly on the stove, which gives me some time to set up our morning readings. I had two New Testament readings for the week in my schedule. I asked them if they wanted to hear the story of Jesus Healing a Man Born Blind or the story of the Good Shepherd. They requested the former, John 9: 1-41.

Books for Sara and Julia

Our discussion was SO interesting and lasted most of breakfast, but we did get a few poems in—two, by Longfellow—including this one about what the world would be like without children. It’s impossible to not be moved by if you have a child or remember being one. What a marvelous poem to consider alongside Charlotte Mason’s education philosophy and her thoughts about the God-given personhood of children. Longfellow suffered some tragic losses in his life, ending up a widower and father to young children. Read his poem, below. 

Children

Come to me, O ye children!
For I hear you at your play,
And the questions that perplexed me
Have vanished quite away.

Ye open the eastern windows,
That look towards the sun,
Where thoughts are singing swallows
And the brooks of morning run.

In your hearts are the birds and the sunshine,
In your thoughts the brooklet’s flow,
But in mine is the wind of Autumn
And the first fall of the snow.

Ah! what would the world be to us
If the children were no more?
We should dread the desert behind us
Worse than the dark before.

What the leaves are to the forest,
With light and air for food,
Ere their sweet and tender juices
Have been hardened into wood,–

That to the world are children;
Through them it feels the glow
Of a brighter and sunnier climate
Than reaches the trunks below.

Come to me, O ye children!
And whisper in my ear
What the birds and the winds are singing
In your sunny atmosphere.

For what are all our contrivings,
And the wisdom of our books,
When compared with your caresses,
And the gladness of your looks?

Ye are better than all the ballads
That ever were sung or said;
For ye are living poems,
And all the rest are dead.

—

I found this poem by flipping through my Longfellow book, a treasured leather-bound edition that John gave me a few Christmases ago. It ended up being the perfect poem because it so happened that we’d studied, just the week prior, Mary Cassatt’s gorgeous painting, Maternal Caress (at the top of this post.) 

Anyway! So you can get a sense of our morning:

After breakfast, Julia chose two readings from her Abraham Lincoln and Anatomy books. Meanwhile, Sara picked her own stack of books for me to read to her I snuck in a little reading practice for her too. This took about 30 minutes.

After readings, both girls danced around the living room. Maybe about 15 minutes.

Then Julia picked some math videos from her favorite mathy Youtube account, Math Antics. She picked PEMDAS (an old favorite of hers) and a new one (for her) about ratios. Julia did some practice problems while Sara colored. About 20 minutes.

Next, the girls played together for a while. I used that time to get dressed and prep lunch. Today: scrambled egg, cheddar, and avocado sandwiches on toasted sourdough. 

As it got closer to noon, I knew it was time for my readings. I pulled Julia aside and read aloud a chapter from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and opened up one of our logic books. I wrote about our study of logic in my super-long post about math. Today we’d be starting a new section about fallacies. Sara sat with us for a while, although she runs in and out to play during my longer readings and sometimes tries to pull Julia away.

Julia said to Sara, “I can’t play with you right now, I have to go do logic.”

Sara, who is five, asked, “What is logic?” Both girls looked at me.

Imagine the Oppenheimer soundtrack playing in my mind for a few seconds!

I said, reflexively, “Well, it comes from the Greek word ‘logos’ which means word. It can also mean thought or reason. Logic is the art of reason.”

Then, a stroke of lightning in my mind: “Ah! But you’ve encountered Logos before…” A google search produced this on my phone and Julia read it for us in Ancient Greek. (My heart!)

Can I just quickly say I’m soooo amazed and proud she showed interest in Ancient Greek this year? It’s HARD. I provided the translation of this verse in English: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

 

We discussed Jesus being the LOGOS, the perfect Logos. We circled back to the Bible reading from the morning (John 9: 1-41) and talked about some impressive logos sparring at the end of that reading. (The connections?!?!?) Then I said that although God is the perfect Logos, that there was a lot of imperfect and straight up bad logos out in the world—that’s why we study fallacies.

Excuse me??? (This SEGUE?!?!?!?)

We finished our reading about fallacies, AD IGNORANTIAM, if you’re curious. Then, we broke for lunch, all done with the readings and lessons part of the day. All together, my readings were probably about 25 minutes. And maybe about 15 minutes of discussion was had about logic that day.

Over lunch, Julia spoke up suddenly, “Mom, you said something to me once about how you hadn’t planned to teach me logic this early except that we live in….what was it you said?”

“A time of unreason,” I replied.

After a short silence she said, “Was it always this way?”

“No,” I replied, trying not to reveal the sadness of having to admit that to a child.

Oppenheimer feels

Thankfully, Sara said something random that completely changed the subject and cheered up the rest of lunch (thank you Lord, for little sisters.)

I packed some snacks for our nature walk and everyone got ready for the outing.

We noticed so many early signs of spring in the garden: scents, birds, some Monarch butterflies, and a baby turtle sunning itself on one of the rocks in the pond.

I always bring some notebooks/paper, watercolor pens, colored pencils in my backpack, so the girls got some nature drawing done. I also brought an Emily Dickinson poetry book, which I pulled out when we sat on a bench. The girls munched on Girl Scout cookies (Adventurefuls!) and narrated some of the day’s readings to me. Just so lovely! We spent about two hours at the garden.

We drove home with the windows down, listening to a Taylor Swift song the girls love, “Fearless.” The girls were singing in the backseat…

And I don’t know how it gets better than this.”

The wind was blowing in our hair. I was struck by the fact that I was living what was probably one of the best days of my life with my daughters. It involved so many disparate parts, so many things I hadn’t planned. And yet it was better than anything I could have planned. Oh, to be able to hold the schedule lightly. 

I want to remember the day forever. So I had to write it down.

God is so great, He can reach down even into one’s ordinary life, a mundane midweek day, and turn it into something beautiful, mysterious, wonderful. I’d been feeling like our days were heavy. He made our day light.

Thank you, LOGOS.

 

 

 


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Women's Fashion

Cross Bracelets – Their Origin and Evolution Over Time

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


Cross bracelets have had, over time, quite a profound and multifaceted appeal to women. It extends far beyond mere ornamentation. The cross itself though associated often with Christian symbolism extends back into antiquity. Crosses in jewelry can be traced back to civilizations long before the advent of Christianity.  

The Egyptian Ankh – Image ©Deposit Photos

To truly understand the origins of cross bracelets, let’s take a journey through time, and explore both their history and diverse meanings across the centuries and different cultures.   

14K Yellow-Gold-Chain-Bracelet-with-Diamond-Cross © Gabriel & Co
14K Yellow-Gold-Chain-Bracelet-with-Diamond-Cross © Gabriel & Co

The Origins of the Cross in Jewelry 

Long before the cross became synonymous with Christianity, many ancient societies used cross like symbols. In Egypt, the ankh, with its distinctive looped top, represented both life and immortality. It is often depicted in the hands of deities and pharaohs.  

The Egyptian Ankh

Similarly, in Mesopotamia, the crux ansata, bears a striking resemblance to the ankh. To that culture it symbolized life and fertility associated with the goddess Ishtar. These early symbols, characterized by their intersecting lines, suggest a fundamental human inclination to find meaning in their lives and to the world around them. 

Perhaps they were inspired by observations of the natural world or ancient held cosmological beliefs. The presence of such symbols in ancient adornment indicates a long-standing tradition of using objects worn on the body for spiritual purposes – like amulets which were believed to offer protection. Or as indicators of status and rank.  

The adoption of the cross as the central symbol of Christianity marked a significant turning point in its history. Representing the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ, the cross became a potent reminder of sacrifice and salvation.  

In the early days of Christianity, when believers faced persecution, the cross was replaced with the Chi-Rho, a monogram using a combination of the first two Greek letters of “Christ”)  These early symbols served as expressions of devotion while also carrying hidden meanings that provided solace and a sense of community during perilous times. As Christianity gradually gained acceptance, its incorporation into jewellery, necklaces, and bracelets increased. 

The Evolution of Cross Bracelets 

St Brigid's Cross Bracelet
Image © National Museum of Ireland and New Bridge Silverware

In the early Christian and Byzantine periods, cross bracelets most likely took simple forms, consisting of bands made from materials like leather or base metals with small crosses attached or engraved upon them. The Byzantine era was known for its rich iconography and a host of intricate designs in Christian art.  

While surviving examples from these early periods might be scarce, the strong connection between Byzantine art and jewelry suggests that early cross bracelets would have featured symbolic motifs and meticulous craftsmanship.   

During the Medieval period, the Celtic cross reigned in Ireland and Scotland, with its intricate interlacing patterns and a central circle. The Celtic blended Christian symbolism with local cultural traditions. The widespread belief in the protective power of the cross during this era likely contributed to the personal wearing of cross bracelets as talismans for spiritual safeguarding. 

The Brigids cross which is made in many communities around Ireland every February honors and Irish woman who lived in the 5th century. Its unique design woven from rushes has an unusually prescient look to it which echoes the Art Deco era of the 1920s. 

Cross Bracelets in the Victorian and Art Nouveau Era 

 In the Victorian era, cross pendants became smaller and more intricate, often incorporating floral motifs, enamel details, and delicate gemstone accents. This trend likely extended to bracelets, with smaller, more refined cross designs becoming popular, often gifted as tokens of love and remembrance. 

art nouveau cross pendant
Art Nouveau cross pendant – Image © Schmuck Atelier Regina / Etsy

 The Art Nouveau movement which emerged in the 1890s, was in a sense a reaction to an increasingly industrialized world of trains, trams and steam engines. It was the antithesis of mechanical world which sought beauty in the natural world. This modern aesthetic deeply affected the jewelry designs of the early 20th century.  

Art Nouveau jewelry distinctively feminine in nature and often used as inspiration the curves of a woman’s figure as well as dragonflies, trees. vines and floral designs. There are many examples of cross bracelets from the Art Nouveau era to be found on Ebay and other auction sites. 

Art Deco Jewelry

 After WW1 art design then merged with industrial geometric shapes to produce what was quickly dubbed Arts décoratifs or Decorative Arts ( in the 1920s), and later in the 1960s,it became known simply as Art Deco.  While the Art Deco period is predominantly associated with its geometric and culturally inspired motifs, cross designs were still found on jewelry notably on charm bracelets.

Cross Bracelets: Why Their Popularity Endures  

Today, cross bracelets, like many iconic jewelry designs are trending. While they still hold spiritual significance to many, the cross symbol resonates to many for a variety of reasons. By its bold statement, its cultural heritage and as a symbol of hope and faith. Ultimately a woman might be drawn to a cross bracelet for a combination of these reasons, finding in it a symbol that expresses with her individual beliefs, values, and style. 

That’s all © Glamourdaze

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Hair Styling

Now is not the time to cut a fringe

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


Curtain bangs, micro fringes, wispy layers – I love all types of fringes (also known as bangs) but now is not the time to cut a fringe.






You might be asking, what’s wrong with now? Fringes are super cool at the moment – why shouldn’t I try it now?

That’s a good question, but that’s missing the point. The real question is not about the trend (fringes are always in if you ask me) – it’s about the seasonal timing.

You see, it’s the weather that’s the real enemy of a fringe. There’s a perfect set of circumstances for when and where a fringe can enhance your life. And conversely, a specific time when bangs will ruin your life.

The perfect time to cut a fringe

The perfect time to cut a fringe is autumn.

As soon as the weather starts to cool, that’s when you should book an appointment with your hairdresser and try all kinds of fringes and bangs.

It’s best to start longer, with some curtain bangs and layers and if you’re vibing with it – book your next appointment to try a fuller, shorter fringe.

The low humidity and cooler temperatures make wearing a fringe so much easier. You can have fun learning to style your hair and experiment with different hairstyles.

The lifecycle of your fringe continues and as you start to get bored of the look, or feel like something different, you can grow out the shorter layers through winter and early spring.

This brings you clearly out of your fringe season just when it’s the worst time to have a fringe.






The worst time to cut a fringe

If you haven’t already guessed – summer is the WORST time to cut a fringe.

Humidity, sweat and heat styling tools are not a great combination. Even if you’re in your bangs era, and have your perfect styling routine ready – you are a brave soldier to endure your fringe throughout the summer.

But if you don’t have short layers and are thinking of trying a new look, summer is the worst time to start.

I know, because I’ve endured the forehead breakouts and awkward clip hairstyles as I’ve tried to persist with a new fringe in summer. Sweaty hat hair is the enemy of cool bangs. Even with my trick for avoiding hat hair. Your fringe will stick to your forehead in ways you won’t like. Take my word for it, you don’t want to go there.

Please be patient and wait for autumn – that’s the ideal fringe weather.

If you’re over your current hairstyle and really want a new look, let me recommend some long layers instead. They’re ideal for enhancing your natural hair texture and adding detail into to straight hair. They’re also easy to style and pull back in hot weather.

I hope I have saved you from a summer hair disaster!

And I hope you’re ready for more blog posts from me – I’m teaming up with Carly from Very Excellent Habits for our Blogaissance (a blogging renaissance!) as we get nostalgic for the early internet days. If you have a blog, leave a comment with your latest post so we can all check it out too.

You can also share your blog with us over on Instagram, I’m @hairromance.

Tell me, have you suffered with a summer fringe too? Or do you have the secret to the perfect summer bangs?





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Skin Care

10 signs it’s time to see an Acne Expert

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


This is when it’s time to take the power back from the pimples.

It’s time to seek professional help for acne when all of the over-the-counter options aren’t working, your acne is consistent and painful, and you’re suffering from it’s effect on your self-confidence, social life and quality of life. When none of the options you have access to are not working for you, it’s time to seek professional help to get a handle on your situation and throw your skin and self-esteem a major life-line.

About Face Aesthetics was created in Philadelphia in 2011 primarily to help our acne patients, and we are more excited than ever about this constant quest due to the new advancements and offerings available for acne treatment.

  1. The Sephora, pharmacy, non-prescription options haven’t stopped the break-outs.

    If you’ve tried multiple over-the-counter products and your acne persists or worsens, it’s a sign that you may need more specialized care. 

  2. Your breakouts are painful and severe.

    Deep, cystic acne or nodules can be especially painful, and harder to eradicate. To clear current acne, prevent future breakouts and erase signs of breakouts, you’ll get the most efficient, safe, and specialized advice from an expert.

  3. Acne is leaving scars or dark marks.

    The best kind of acne scar is the one that never happens. Acne scarring can manifest in multiple ways all by itself, or due to the improper care of it. Acne scarring that presents as dark spots and pigmented areas are the preferable form of scarring because there are powerful treatment options to clear these, but textural scarring like ice-pick scars or dimpled-skin can be impossible to treat without requiring surgery. If you notice that your breakouts are leaving textural, divot-like scarring you should seek outside advice as soon as you can to prevent the accumulation of these hard-to-clear acne scars.

  4. Acne is majorly affecting your self-esteem and confidence.

    It used to be thought that there was a correlation between Accutane (a popular acne-eradicating prescription medication) and suicide. From a 20-foot view, it could be speculated that if a disproportionate amount of Accutane users were suicidal, the causation had to be Accutane. With more time, study and insight however, it is now understaood that the Accutane wasn’t causing these severe depressive thoughts, it was the acne itself (for which the Accutane was being used to treat). Some studies show that acne can have such an impact on a person’s self-esteem that as much as 56% of acne sufferers can develop depressive and suicidical ideation. We get it, and we are thrilled at every chance we get to help someone overcome their acne struggles. If your breakouts are causing massive. negative impact on your life, please reach out for help.

  5. Unusual breakouts patterns.

    If you notice that your acne is spreading to unusual areas like armpits, groin, or thighs, it could indicate a different type of acne or an underlying health-issue that requires professional diagnosis. 

  6. You’ve had acne for years.

    If you’ve had acne for an extended period without significant improvement, and you’re well past the typical “teenage acne” stage, it’s time to seek professional advice to determine the best treatment plan. 

  7. Your parents had acne. 

    Acne can be genetic, and if you know from the start that you are predisposed to this skin condition and can get a gauge of what your acne timeline and experience may be like, you owe it to yourself to take the reigns back from the breakouts and take advantage of the clear-skin options and advances that exist now, which were never even an option for your parents.

  8. You started taking a medication and now have breakouts:

    Certain medications can trigger or worsen acne, so it’s important to discuss this with a professional to find appropriate treatment options. Your provider can help you determine if there are different medicines to take that won’t cause the same side-effects or responses, and/or if there are recommended ways to treat the resulting breakouts. 

  9. Your pimples often get infected.

    If you notice that your pimples are usually swollen, oozing, painful, and an angry shade of red, it’s a good indication that you have a mini-infection brewing inside the pore which can take longer to resolve, cause discomfort, and make scarring more likely. If this is something that happens regularly, please talk to an expert to learn your best options to prevent these situations from occuring.

  10. Your pimples are annoyingly itchy.

    While occasional itching is normal, chronically itchy acne can be a sign of an underlying skin condition, and a skin-professional can help diagnose and treat it.

    If any of these items ring true for you, please reach out to About Face Aesthetics in Philadelphia for your acne treatments. We will be thrilled to help you.
    (Depending on your particular situation, we are happy to guide you to the right specialist.) You can schedule an appointment here, or you can fill out our online Treatment Builder here to get an idea of what might be recommended for you.



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