S&A Magazine Issue 3 – Volume 2

July 2021 Issue

Issue 3 – Volume 2

Table of Contents
  • Holiday of the Month
  • Sketchbook Page
  • Quote of the Month
  • Craft
  • Drawing Prompt
  • Sustainable Fashion
  • Main Article
  • Recipe

Holiday of the Month

Fourth of July

Introduction

The Fourth of July is a popular holiday which is typically celebrated in the United States of America with food and fireworks. To learn more about how others celebrate this holiday, we decided to ask a few people some questions about Fourth of July and what it means to them. 

Interview Questions

What does the fourth of July mean to you?

“For me it’s just a fun time to get together with family and celebrate with food and just togetherness.” 

What do you usually do to celebrate the fourth of July?

“Oftentimes we’ll see fireworks or we’ll do sparklers but a lot of times there’s food like corn on the cob, watermelon, and barbeque. Sometimes we’ll have a picnic with friends or run through sprinklers.” 

What’s your favorite memory of the fourth of July?

“Growing up we used to live across from a big town park and in that park the town’s fireworks were hosted, so I would sit on the hill behind our house and watch all the people driving into the park, just arriving, and of course just watching the fireworks, but we’d have a lot of family over and have a potluck.”

What are you doing for the fourth of July this year?

“This year we are going to watch someone else’s display of fireworks with some friends.” 

What do you look forward to on the Fourth of July?

“Fireworks. They’re the best part of the holiday to me. The loud booms and lights and colors are what I look forward to.”

What comes to mind when you think of the Fourth of July

“For me I think of fireworks and just people coming together and maybe a little bit of the history with the declaration of independence and all that.”

Do you know the history of the Fourth of July?

“Personally, I don’t really know the history of the 4th of July very well. I probably should know it a little better since I learned about it in school a while ago. I do know the basics though; that it’s America’s independence day and when it was no longer part of Great Britain.” 

History

Whether you remember the history of the holiday or not, it’s easy to be swept up by the fireworks, barbecues, and decorations. We often forget the reason to celebrate a holiday while we are celebrating it. The Fourth of July represents the day the Declaration of Independence was written and approved by representatives of the 13 colonies in America. While America was not technically free from Great Britain on this day, the spirit and claim of the Declaration of Independence was set in stone. Now, Americans celebrate the day with a strong sense of patriotism and togetherness. 

Sketchbook Page

Watercolor Doodles

For the sketchbook page I decided to make doodles with pen and then paint with watercolor over them. I enjoyed using watercolor in this sketchbook page and I like how all of the colors are vibrant and bright.

Quote of the Month

July Quote

The quote of the month is “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” This quote stood out to me because I think that “being smart” comes in many different forms. To me, creativity is a powerful tool that allows me to make art and have fun.

Craft

Make a Plant Pot

This quick and easy plant pot craft not only is a good way to reuse materials but also can add a nature element to your space. Feel free to be creative and use whatever materials you think will work!

What You’ll Need

  • String
  • Pom-Poms
  • Old Can
  • Sequins
  • Hot Glue Gun

Step 1: Drill or poke a hole into the bottom of your can. (For drainage)

Step 2: Glue Pom-Poms and String To the Side of Your Container

Step 3: Add any extra decoration and details to your can

Step 4: Add your plant to the can. That’s it!

Drawing Prompt

Make an Absract Art Piece

This month’s drawing prompt is to draw an abstract art piece. For my drawing, I used a sketch of a face as the prominent layer. Beneath that, I drew other details like hair and freckles. I added a floral element to the drawing by drawing lavenders around the hair. I used muted colors on everything but the sketch, which made it stand out more. The nice thing about abstract art is that anything you create can have meaning. Have fun with your drawing and if you would like, send us a picture of it to sandazine@gmail.com!

Sustainable Fashion

An Outfit Styled With Boden

Boden is a clothing company dedicated to responsible sourcing, fair trade, and ethical practices. The dress shown below is made from 100% cotton.

Based In – London, UK
Ethics – Fair trade apparel, sustainable cotton, eco-friendly practices, ethical supply chain, and gives back
Sizes – XS–XL; up to US 22

Women’s Jersey Dress in Navy Dot

Main Article

How to make the most out of your summer break

Summer break is something we all look forward to but when summer finally rolls around, many of us find ourselves with nothing to do. It’s easy to lose track of time during summer break because you may often feel tired or unmotivated. While relaxing is an important part of summer break, it’s important not to get swept up in a routine that can be unhealthy. By making plans, socializing, and trying new things, you can feel more complete and productive. 

Making plans is a great way to make sure that you are spending your summer wisely. You might even find yourself enjoying the process of planning out your next vacation or even just a schedule for your day. It’s also important to make realistic plans. You can do this by considering time, location, resources, and cost. There are so many possibilities like going on a road trip, camping, or swimming.   

As the saying goes, the more the merrier. Be sure to surround yourself with friends and family who care about you. Together, you can watch movies, go places, and just hang out. Not only are you making your summer better, you’re also making your friend’s summer better too.

It’s never too late to try something new and luckily you’ve got a lot of time to do so. You don’t know what could be your new passion until you try it. If you haven’t read it already, here’s the link to a quiz in Issue 9 that suggests a new hobby for you to try.

No matter how you choose to spend your summer, do what’s best for you and have fun. Remember that you are still on a break, so try not to overwhelm yourself with productive activities. We hope you have a great summer! 

Recipe

Red Hot Tofu

This red hot tofu is a pretty versatile dish. It’s really up to you how much spice you add in, how saucy you want it, and what you want to eat it with. It’s got a really nice vibrant taste that’s sure to have you wanting more. You can try this recipe out and send us a picture to sandazine@gmail.com!

Ingredients
  • 16oz Extra Firm Tofu
  • Dash of Olive Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 3 Cloves of Garlic
  • 2 Chipotle Peppers
  • 3 tsp Adobo Sauce
  • 1/2 cup (or more) Marina Sauce
Directions
  1. Cut up your tofu into cubes and press it. You can do this by placing paper towels on a baking sheet and on top of the tofu. Then, place another baking sheet on top and add on some weight. You could use books, pots, or heavy bags of rice/beans.

Thanks for reading S&A Magazine!

Questions or Comments? Email them to sandazine@gmail.com or fill out the contact form on our website! We’d love to hear your feedback!