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 […]
Les Petits Chefs
August 10, 2011 by
Zee week… it has been… how do you say? Difficult, no?? Need a break from zee cooking, but still vant a vonderful home-cooked meal?? Call zee petits chefs!! Zee expert petits sous chefs vill amaze you vis zer vonderful culinary skills. Zey are specially trained to vip up zee meal zee whole family vill love. Zey use […]
Printable Play Space
August 9, 2011 by
I made up some cute play spaces from a sheet of card stock paper, and our peg dolls have made themselves right at home. The girls are having a great time with these, and I love how something as simple as a sheet of paper can make their faces light up!! There were lots of […]
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 […]
Around the Web — Made from Milk Cartons
July 28, 2011 by
Don’t throw those empty milk cartons in the garbage — they are free craft supplies!! Here are a few inspiring ideas for how you can transform ordinary empty milk cartons into fun toys or crafts for the kids. Love this adorable mouse house for lots of pretend play fun found at belleandrollo.ie OrigamiMommy.org shows […]
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 […]
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 […]
Around the Web — Cardboard Play Spaces
July 21, 2011 by
Creating a special play space for your child doesn’t have to cost a lot of money — especially if you have some empty boxes on-hand! Here are some inspiring play spaces (houses, furniture, and more) all made from inexpensive cardboard!! Yay for cardboard!!! This cardboard cottage is oh-so-charming! Found via kimboscrafts.blogspot.com This cardboard barn […]
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 […]
Pretend Play on a Dime — Weather Station
July 15, 2011 by
Emily and I visited WFMZ’s News studio for a fun segment on getting the most out of your time with the kids this Summer, and Emily was a big help with showing all the fun crafts and activities! Afterwards meteorologist Mark Shanaberger invited Emily to help with the weather segment too!! (You can view the clip […]
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 […]
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 […]
Around the Web — Made from Egg Cartons
July 10, 2011 by
Don’t throw those empty egg cartons in the recycling bin — craft with them first! Here are some inspiring and creative ways to reuse egg cartons for some inexpensive (if not free) crafting fun!! Egg Carton Buttons from prettylittlethings.typepad.com Egg Carton Flower Wreath from kraftykat76.blogspot.com Egg Carton Sewing Kit from countryliving.com Egg […]
