With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, the kids and I wanted to make some special handmade hostess gifts for my mom, who will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. ((Thanks, Mom!)) These pumpkin spice hand soaps fit the bill perfectly! They would be lovely gifts for teachers, neighbors, or friends too! First, you […]
7 Creative Uses for Pool Noodles
November 13, 2012 by
Do you have pool noodles sitting around at home collecting dust from last Summer? Wish you could put them to use with something other than a pool for the Fall and Winter months? Need a few creative ideas for inspiration?? Here are seven of our favorite ways to use pool noodles: 1. Hammer Time — […]
Birthday Challenge: 35 Acts of Kindness. One Day.
September 18, 2012 by
Last week, I turned 35 years young. And like all birthdays, I used the time as an excuse to reflect on the year before and make plans for the year ahead. But this year was unlike any other birthday. I did 35 acts of kindness. In one day. With 90 minutes to spare! Throughout the […]
Planking in the Park
September 10, 2012 by
Are the kids bored? Are you looking for something fun to do? Need a little excitement?? Try planking! Planking, in case you didn’t already know, is the act of finding a ridiculous place to lay completely flat on your face while someone else takes a photo. It’s totally addicting! We planked on the tennis court. […]
5 Ways to Celebrate National Teddy Bear Day
September 7, 2012 by
Did you know that Sunday (9/9) is National Teddy Bear Day? Are your teddy bears in need of some extra love and affection? Need some inspiring ways to celebrate the day?? Here are 5 Playful Ways to Celebrate National Teddy Bear Day: 1. Plan (and then Host) a Teddy Bear Birthday Party — Clara thought […]
20 Must-Do Favorite Activities for Fall
September 4, 2012 by
Are you looking forward to Fall? Need some kid-friendly activities to help celebrate the season?? Here are 20 of our family’s favorite Fall activities that have become special traditions. 1. Go Apple Picking — This is one of my favorite family traditions for Fall! Afterwards, we bake apple pies and make homemade apple sauce with […]
DIY Pretend Spy Kit!
August 16, 2012 by
Wondering what to do with the kids? Wish you could go on an exciting adventure? Do you yearn to be a secret agent?? Then this activity is for you! The best part is that most of the components for this Pretend Spy Kit can be found at your local dollar store or you may already […]
10 Virtually Instant Ways to Improve Play
August 15, 2012 by
Are you stuck in a playtime rut? Looking for some ways to foster creativity and imagination through play? Are you short on time?? If so, here are ten of our favorite ways to improve play time with your kids instantly and without spending money! 1. Go outside! — Playing indoors is always fun, but taking […]
DIY Cardboard Construction Play Set
August 10, 2012 by
Do your kids love to play with large cardboard boxes? Do you wish you had more room to store them? Want to create a play set that allows them to build and rebuild imaginative play structures?? Then this project is for you! To make your own cardboard construction play set, you will need a large […]
Simple Activities for Little Engineers
August 7, 2012 by
Do your kids enjoy learning about how things work? Do they love to solve problems? Did they grow up reading classics such as HTML for Babies?? If so, you may be raising an engineer in-the-making! Here are some of our favorite play ideas and activities to foster the next generation of innovators. Newspaper Play Structures — […]
Sunday Snapshot: Dollar Store Boredom Buster
August 5, 2012 by
We found the cutest cardboard dollhouses at our local dollar store. I added some paper clips to make stands for the dolls, and the girls loved putting these together to make their own little town! The cardboard itself is not very sturdy (it’s about as thick as cereal box cardboard), but it has managed to […]
Make Your Own Sponge Blocks
August 2, 2012 by
Do you have quiet time at your house? Looking for a little activity to keep the kids entertained, but also quiet?? This little activity for the kids is so simple, but my girls enjoyed playing with these sponge blocks for a good part of the day! Added bonus — very quiet! While we were making […]
Pretend Play — Invisible Taxi
August 1, 2012 by
Wondering what to do with the kids?? Recently, my kids built an invisible taxi, and spent a very long time happily “driving” each other all around an intensely busy pretend city. I thought you may like to build an invisible taxi of your own to inspire plenty of imaginative playtime fun too! To make your […]
10 Fun-Filled Play Ideas for the Beach
July 26, 2012 by
Planning a trip to the beach this Summer? Looking for a few play ideas to have in mind for once the kids get bored of playing in the waves? ((Does that ever happen??)) Well, if it does, here are a few of our favorite play ideas for the beach… or sandbox! 1. Play Sand Bakery […]
Connect with Your Kids: Camping …or Camp-In??
July 21, 2012 by
Do your kids crave a camping adventure? Whether you’re planning a trip to the great outdoors, or pitching camp in your own backyard, Joyce from Childhood Beckons and I got together to share some simple camping activities to keep the kids entertained! Tasty Camping Treats Banana Boats — Whip up a tasty campfire treat! Make […]
Summer Fun with Kids — Making Mega Bubbles
July 18, 2012 by
Making mega bubbles is fun for the whole family! We did this little activity many times last Summer (inspired by a now-retired blog), and watching the girls’ reactions always makes me smile. Bubble solution is made with 6 cups distilled water, 2 cups Joy dishwashing detergent, and 3/4 cup light corn syrup. Stir the solution gently and […]
Sponge Bomb Yo-Yos
July 10, 2012 by
There was renewed interest in the sponge bombs when we made them into yo-yos! This time I held the sponge bombs together with ouchless hair elastics instead, and they worked very well indeed. A piece of elastic attached made them instant yo-yos!! (As with anything else, be sure to supervise the kiddos while playing.) When […]
Sunday Snapshot — Lego Building Fun
July 8, 2012 by
This Lego set was an awesome gift from Emily’s Uncle Glenn. It took Emily almost TWO FULL DAYS, but she built it! And she built it all by herself. This is the LEGO Creator Log Cabin 5766 — which is totally awesome. There are instructions for 3 different building projects, and Emily had […]
