I LOVE this time of year, don’t you?? Here’s a look back at some of our all-time favorite crafts for Fall! 1. Toddler Art — Autumn Tree Painting 2. Easy Fall Tree Suncatcher 3. Quick Craft — Leaf Wreath 4. Falling Leaves Wrapping Paper 5. Autumn Window Display Lots more ideas for […]
Apple Crafts and Activities Galore!
September 13, 2011 by
I L O V E A P P L E S !!!!!!!!!!!! 1. Go Apple Picking!! 2. Make Apple Printed Book Covers 3. 3-D Apple Tree 4. Apple Printed Lunch Sack from Old Jeans 5. Don’t have apple trees near you? Make your own! 6. Check out our Around the Web post featuring […]
Back to School Round Up
September 9, 2011 by
Emily had a terrific first day of 2nd grade, and we are looking forward to a great school year ahead!! In the spirit of back-to-school, I dug deep into our archives and around the web to put together this fun round up: From the Archives: 5 Easy DIY School Supplies Celebrating Education Nation with The 10! […]
Indoor Apple Picking
September 8, 2011 by
We have had several days of rainy weather here, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying some apple picking! ((with a little help from some apple-shaped sticky notes and sticks from the yard)) It was GREAT fun!! The best part? Re-attaching the apples back to the branches to be picked again (and again)! Mmmmmmm… apple […]
Kickin’ it Croquet Style
August 20, 2011 by
Kids need to burn off some of that extra energy? Have some old pool noodles on-hand?? Then it’s time to make up your own kick croquet lawn game!! Cut pool noodles in half down the middle (we reused the ones from our awesome marble run), and each pool noodle is enough to make up two […]
Review and Giveaway — Mabel’s Labels
August 12, 2011 by
It’s time for another fun giveaway, this time from our friends at Mabel’s Labels — perfect for back-to-school!! I was provided a Mabel’s Labels Ultimate Back-to-School Combo set for the purposes of this review, and once again their labels and tags exceeded my expectations. What I love about the Mabel’s Labels Ultimate Back-to-School Combo pack: […]
5 Easy DIY School Supplies
August 11, 2011 by
Can you believe how quickly this Summer is flying by?? School will be back in session in just a few weeks! To help stretch your back-to-school shopping budget, here are some ideas of school supplies you can make yourself using materials you probably already have on-hand. 1. Apple Printed Book Cover — Have a few […]
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 […]
Reason #1,438 Why Mark is Awesome
August 2, 2011 by
We were blessed with our first RED tomato… and there was much rejoicing!!! This was quickly followed by many, many, many, MANY more tomatoes — hundreds of them! Know why my hubby’s awesome?? He totally made several jars of homemade sauce! Also?? He canned them, so we can save them to enjoy well into Winter!! […]
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 […]
10 Cheap Ways to Beat the Heat
July 20, 2011 by
Like much of the US, we are stuck in a “heat dome” which means it’s time to find creative ways to keep cool! Some tips to keep in mind — Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, stay in shaded areas, drink plenty of water, and be sure to offer kids lots […]
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 […]
Calorie-Free S’Mores for Pretend Play
July 17, 2011 by
Want all the fun of making s’mores, but without the sugar-high afterwards?? These pretend play s’mores are SO easy to make, and they are calorie-free so the kiddos can make (and pretend to eat) as many s’mores as they could possibly want!! First, make up your pretend campfire — arrange stones in a circle and […]
Water Balloon Yo-Yos
July 13, 2011 by
I made some water balloon yo-yos for the kids, an idea I spotted here — what a fun and active way to beat the heat!! To make your own, you will need a package of water balloons (I see these at the dollar store all the time during the Summer months), and some elastic string […]
