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Around the Web — Homemade Frozen Treats
August 6, 2011 by
Frozen homemade treats are fun to make, plus a super-tasty way to cool off during the last few weeks of Summer! You can save lots of money by making your own ice pops, most recipes only call for a few ingredients (making them easy for kids to actively participate in the making process), and they […]
Favorite Cook Books for Kids
August 3, 2011 by
Does your kid love to cook and help out in the kitchen?? Emily sure does, and she’s been known to create her own recipes, carry cookbooks around the house with her, and check out several kid cookbooks from the library! Here are her top 5 favorite “must own” cookbooks designed for kids. 5. Magic Kitchen […]
My Secret Surprise Art Project
July 31, 2011 by
A few days ago, I took the girls on a fun trip to do some nature drawing, and Emily drew this lovely seasonal tree drawing (along with big plans to repeat the same tree drawing in Fall, Winter, and Spring). What she didn’t know was that for the last couple of nights, I have been […]
Budget-Friendly Staycation Ideas
July 30, 2011 by
Has your family ever tried a staycation? They can be a great budget-friendly alternative to pricey vacations, and usually require a lot less planning. YAY for spontaneous adventures and quality family time!! Here are a few ways to make a family staycation even more special. Note: For those in the Southern Hemisphere, some ideas for […]
Nature Drawing – Seasonal Trees
July 26, 2011 by
When I was in second grade, I had a lovely teacher (Thank you, Mrs. Barnhart!!) who would take a few minutes every season to let us go outside and draw the same tree throughout the year. This proved to be a simple, but very effective lesson in art, weather, and science. At the end of […]
Colorful Spray Painted Fabric
July 25, 2011 by
Looking to a fun way to impress guests at your next dinner party? Need a colorful way to dress up meal time, and a fun project to keep the kiddos entertained? Then this project is for you!! Start with the cheapest (most boring) cloth napkins you can find, pre-wash and dry (no fabric softener)…. Fill […]
Summer Safety Tips and Giveaway ($100 Home Depot Gift Card)
July 24, 2011 by
It’s time for another FUN giveaway — this time from our newest sponsor, State Farm Insurance! Did you know that State Farm includes lots of great safety tips on their learning center website?? Seriously, there are LOADS of articles there! They have helpful tips on everything from how to properly install child safety gates to […]
How to Make Sponge Bombs
July 23, 2011 by
Here is a quick and easy tutorial to show how to make sponge bombs! Sponge Bombs are a great alternative to water balloons. There are no messy balloon bits to clean up, and the sponge bombs can be used again and again. These sponge bombs are great for active playtime fun all Summer long! How […]
Pajama Breakfast Picnic
July 19, 2011 by
When the girls woke up this morning, I surprised them with a pajama breakfast picnic — it was a great way to enjoy some time together outdoors early in the morning before the day went on to get really hot outside! We didn’t even bother to brush our hair, get cleaned up, or even change […]
Potion Lab!
July 11, 2011 by
Early this morning, before it got too hot outside to play, the girls and I put on some play clothes and set up a little “potion lab” in the backyard for some messy pretend play FUN!! They seriously loved this!!! We reused the same clear plastic bottles from our driveway painting and filled them with […]
Our Summer Bucket List
July 8, 2011 by
I thought it would be fun to share our Summer Bucket List today — which seems to grow longer by the minute, as I keep adding things to the list! Many of these activities are either very low cost or free (yay!!), and the kiddos are really looking forward to crossing things off of the […]
SURPRISE! Let’s Go on a Day Trip!
July 5, 2011 by
Last night, while the girls were sleeping in their beds, Mark and I stayed up late packing up the car for a total SURPRISE day trip to nearby Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. (Mark had taken the day off from work, and the weather forecast looked beautiful!!) It. Was. Awesome!!! We enjoyed the sandy beach, waves, […]
Garden Things That Make Me Smile
June 30, 2011 by
We’ve been working hard on our garden plot this Summer, and it has been well-worth it! Here are some things from the garden that make me smile!! My little helper doing her share of weeding — and offering to do it on her own! Roma tomatoes waiting for just the right moment to ripen — […]
Around the Web — Displaying Kids’ Art
June 21, 2011 by
It’s no secret that I am a BIG proponent of displaying kids’ artwork in the home. Not only does it send the message that you value their work, but it is also super-cheap & stylish decor! Added bonus — GREAT conversation pieces, AND seeing kids art on display always makes people smile!! Our home has LOTS of […]
Hot Air Balloon Ride
June 16, 2011 by
The girls enjoyed a wonderfully scenic hot air balloon ride this afternoon!! They flew SO high that when they looked down, all the people looked JUST like ants!! There were fierce winds to navigate….Oh, the thrill! The excitement!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Somehow Mark’s ride wasn’t quite as eventful…. 😉 …. but it was […]
Photo Shoots on the Cheap
June 15, 2011 by
Please give a warm welcome to our newest sponsor, Kodak! From now until June 19th, visit a local Kodak Kiosk near you for a special BOGO deal on their 8″ x 10″ photo books — get two photo books for the price of one. These make great personalized gifts for dads or grandfathers this Father’s […]
DIY: Tele-Transporter
June 14, 2011 by
Airplanes are a hassle, trains are too slow, and cars can get stuck in traffic. What you really want is a tele-transporter to instantly transport you wherever you need to go!! The girls and I went to a local park to build a prototype for our own tele-transporter, and used it to instantly transport us […]
