Come try something new. Not become an expert. Not produce something perfect. Just try. Our Craft & Hobby speakers are bringing six very different invitations to Unplug & Play. @Auli Takala will help families pick up a crochet hook. @Cam Parkes is opening the door to role-playing and shared adventures. @Cristal Vancarson is turning family photography into an experience families can enjoy together. @Joanne Langston brings art and storytelling together. @John Futch is inviting families to explore music through guitar. @Mayelice Castro will help kids and caring adults begin learning French together. You may already see something your family would love. Start there. Then look again at the experience that makes you think, “That isn’t really us.” Try that one too. Shared interests do not always begin with a long-held passion. Sometimes they begin with a crochet hook, a camera, a guitar, a few French words, or one family member saying, “Why not?” Unplug & Play begins August 16.

Seven days. Four themes. More sessions than most families can realistically squeeze into one week. I know how busy I am and I can only imagine how busy you are, especially with back to school happening for many. That’s why I decided to create the bundle option. For those of you who want more time, or would like access to all sessions after the summit ends, this is for you. The bundle includes permanent access to all recorded sessions, including the live session recordings, plus the bonus materials shared by our presenters. Watch the sessions you miss. Return to the ones that leave you thinking. Save activities until your family is ready to try them. There is no rush to finish everything before the replay window closes. The presale price is $15.99 from August 9 through August 15. Then the price increases to $25.99 when the summit begins on August 16. I’ll share the link Sunday. So, what questions do you have about the bundle? Is this something of interest?

More reasons to meet us in the kitchen Yesterday, I introduced you to Andrew Brooks and Dale Cox. Today, our Culinary introductions continue with two women bringing very different experiences to the table. Krista Melanson is joining us for Cooking, Connection and Communication. Her session is pre-recorded, which means you can fit it around dinner, work, naps, or whatever else your family throws at you that day. Krista is the community owner of The Relationship Chef and The Cooking School and lives what she teaches when it comes to food and relationships. Varsha Mistry will lead Indian Cooking on Wednesday, August 19, from 9:30–10:30 AM CDT. This is an opportunity to explore food, culture, flavor, and family learning together. Varsha is joining us from the UK and I've had an opportunity to try her recipes at home and they are wonderful and easy to prepare. Varsha is also the community owner of The Indian Cooking Club. If you've ever wanted to try Indian cooking but were intimidated, this may solve that challenge for you. And this is exactly why I love the Culinary theme. Food gives us a place to begin, but the experience can lead almost anywhere: a new skill, a cultural discovery, a family story, or the realization that your child will eagerly try something they helped prepare. Which would create more excitement in your home: trying a new cuisine or giving the kids more ownership in the kitchen? Drop a comment and tell us why you think that would work best for you.

You all know who makes this community hum, right? It's the ones who show up consistently, ask thoughtful questions, and spark conversations that keep us all thinking and growing. I want to give a great big thank you to @Paulette Ng for bringing creative energy and genuine connection to every thread. @Jen Staniforth who brings two decades of expertise and warmth that lifts everyone around her. @Sandy Chong shows up with curiosity and courage as a fellow baker. @Chanie Twersky creates space for real, meaningful dialogue and play. @Anna Murrietta brings wisdom from years of big-picture thinking and her grandparenting experience. @Brenda Chilstrom generously shares her expertise with such care. @Auli Takala bridges worlds and brings perspective from across the globe. And @Lyndal P shows up consistently to add thoughtfulness to our conversations. If you've been reading along, I invite you to jump in with a comment and join the magic.

We wrap up Story World week with an adventure through the world. During the week, we discovered new worlds and set off on adventures without ever having to leave home. The goal of story world week was a focus on the imagination. As we prepare to move into Build Lab next week and the upcoming Unplug and Play summit, take some time before the week ahead and have this last adventure. Share what you discovered and if you are looking for twists and age variations, you'll find those here: #Adventure Through the World Your world is ready for visitors, but exploring it won't be as simple as following a map. Set out on an adventure where the world itself creates surprises, obstacles, and choices along the way. Gather Your Gear: - A world from this week, or invent a new one - Paper - Pencil, crayons, or markers - 6–10 small slips of paper - A bowl, bag, or container - One small object per player to represent a traveler - Optional: maps, tiny worlds, or travel guides you've already created - Optional: one six-sided die Steps: 1. Choose your destination. Decide where your travelers are trying to go and why. Maybe you're delivering something important, searching for a missing creature, trying to get home, or simply determined to see a legendary place. 2. Create the surprise pile. Everyone contributes ideas on separate slips of paper. Mix helpful discoveries with obstacles and strange events. 3. Examples: - A stranger offers you a shortcut. - The road ahead disappears. - You find something valuable. - Your transportation stops working. - A celebration blocks your route. - Someone needs your help. - Begin the journey. Place your travelers at the starting point and describe how the adventure begins. - Draw a surprise. At each new location or turning point, pull a slip from the container. - Decide what to do. The travelers must respond to whatever happens. There doesn't have to be one correct choice. Talk it through, vote, take turns deciding, or let one person make the call. - Let choices matter. Decide what happens because of your choice. Did it help? Create another problem? Send you somewhere unexpected? Change your goal? - Reach the end...somewhere. The adventure ends when you reach your destination, decide on a different destination, or discover that the journey has taken you somewhere more interesting.