This no sew tutu was quick, easy, and practically free! It is perfect for Dolly, and Emily did most of the work on this project. To make your own, you will need some plastic netting (I used two empty bags from lemons), scissors, and ribbon. Cut the bag down one of the long sides and […]
300th Post!
July 8, 2009 by
I can’t believe this is already our 300th post! This morning Emily and I made an appearance on The 10! Show to talk about ways to encourage pretend play with your kids using items you already have at home. As usual, the crew spoiled the bejesus out of Emily. Can you tell she had about […]
Three Little Pigs Playset
July 7, 2009 by
One of Emily’s favorite stories is The Three Little Pigs. When we were done making this playset, she could hardly wait for the glue to dry before she ran off to play with the set! She had lots of fun re-enacting the tale over and over, and then started to perform her own versions of […]
Mega Monster Bubbles!
July 6, 2009 by
Wow! I think I had just as much fun as Emily with this homemade bubble solution and bubble wand. It is quite addictive! These bubbles are HUGE and they last a long time. To make your own mega bubble solution, you will need: 6 cups distilled water, 2 cups Joy dishwashing detergent, and 3/4 cup […]
Summer Gratitude
July 5, 2009 by
If your family is thinking about cutting back on expenses, Summer may be the easiest time to do so. With Summer re-runs on television, it may be the perfect time to consider pulling the plug on the cable and spending more time outdoors. Instead of going out to eat at a restaurant, pack up a […]
Animal Hospital
July 2, 2009 by
Oh, our poor stuffed animals have been feeling quite unwell this afternoon, and several required hours at the hospital. Fortunately, Dr. Emily is an excellent doctor and she made them all feel better! Once I gathered up some supplies from around the house, Emily became immersed in her own imaginary world. We used one of […]
Extreme Makeover Child Stylist Edition
July 1, 2009 by
Emily loves to play hair stylist. Break out the rollers, hair brushes, hair clips, combs, and ribbon. Oh, and magazines (the trashier, the better). Sometimes I wear a ridiculously long blond wig from Halloween for this. NO SCISSORS!!! By the way, does anyone know where I could find one of those vintage 1950’s hairdryers (you […]
Easy Waterproof Windsock
June 29, 2009 by
This windsock craft could not be any easier, or more inexpensive. It is made of recyclables and is waterproof. We’re planning to make a few more to decorate our garden! To make your own waterproof windsock, you will need: scissors, string, plastic bags, and an empty soda bottle. Cut a ring from the soda bottle […]
Shopping with Intention
June 28, 2009 by
Now that Emily has recovered from this incident, I took her to Dollar Tree this afternoon for a special shopping trip to fill some Jared Boxes for our local hospital. If you are not familiar with Jared Boxes, you can read more about them here. Basically, the idea is to fill a shoebox-sized plastic container […]
Happy Birthday, Clara!
June 27, 2009 by
Clara has turned one year old! We invited some family members over for a daisy-themed birthday luncheon this afternoon. It was a great success, and it didn’t break the bank! The key to planning a party on a budget lies in the little details. These tiny touches do not have to cost much, and might […]
Splatter Painted Fireworks
June 26, 2009 by
Oh my, this was SO MUCH FUN! To make your own splatter painted fireworks, you will need sidewalk chalk paint (click here for directions to make your own, it’s very easy and inexpensive!), paint brushes, and a black asphalt driveway (or similar surface). Emily and I painted some firework designs and then I let her […]
Fart Fest 2009
June 25, 2009 by
Yes, you read that right. Yesterday, I rushed Emily to the Emergency Room because she was showing symptoms of what we thought was Appendicitis. Her stomach had been slightly upset all afternoon. Turns out, it was just a locked-in fart on the lower right side of her abdomen. She was doubled over in pain, holding […]
Favorite Summer Recipe — Banana Boats
June 23, 2009 by
While we were on vacation, one of our favorite ways to end the campfires was with Banana Boats. This technique is also known as “How to make a perfectly healthy banana into a delicious junk food treat”. To make your own Banana Boats, you will need: bananas, marshmallows, chocolate, aluminum foil, and a campfire. Begin […]
Look What Came in the Mail!
June 22, 2009 by
A few days ago, I signed Emily up for a letter/artwork exchange with a 3 1/2 year old girl named Lu from 4 Crazy Kings. Mama King has a fabulous blog over there, and it is definitely worth checking out. Emily was so excited to receive her letter, and quickly went to work on a […]
Happy Father’s Day!
June 21, 2009 by
I was a little late in posting about this Father’s Day craft because Mark sometimes reads this blog (or at least pretends to) and I did not want to spoil the surprise! Emily used this stamp set by Melissa and Doug, some construction paper, a little glue, and some shiny star stickers to make this […]
Bottle Cap Tic-Tac-Toe
June 18, 2009 by
Emily has been playing lots of Tic-Tac-Toe with Mark lately, and they have been using up quite a bit of our scrap paper to play. This bottle cap version uses just one half of an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper and 10 bottle caps (5 of each kind). Be careful to make sure […]
Tutorial — Crayon Wallet
June 17, 2009 by
The girls are really enjoying their crayon wallets, and here they are drawing with them when we went to visit Mark to have lunch at his office the other day. We’ve been taking them with us on car trips, or any time we are waiting at a restaurant or doctor’s office. Here’s how to make […]
Chalkboard Fridge Magnets
June 16, 2009 by
These magnets are so easy to make and very practical for organization purposes. We are loving them and plan to make a lot more! To make your own chalkboard fridge magnets, you will need some metal frozen juice concentrate lids, a little chalkboard paint, and some magnets. Paint one side of the juice can lid […]
