Nearly a year later, and my family is still FROZEN obsessed. It's pretty ridiculous, actually. I'll take it, though. With a family of boys, after all, this may be the the closest to a "princess movie" I'll ever get. My boys adore Olaf. So I decided to put together a "Do You Want to Build a Snowman Busy Box" to set aside for rainy days. … [Read more...]
Homemade Soda (No Machine Required)
Making homemade soda pop is probably one of the most exciting things I could do with my kids on the 4th of July (second only to the fireworks themselves). My littles love to cook with me and, of course, they love anything sweet so this one may just have to become a family tradition. I love that we won't need to invest in a fancy Soda Stream machine to follow Alli's recipe either! The Fourth of July is just around the corner. And as we prepare our party menus, why not add your own homemade … [Read more...]
Build a “Play Dough Tool Kit”
Top Image Credit (cropped, text and other photos added below): © Nicola | 04.09.11 | CC by 2.0 My son LOVES play dough. I mean, really. It's almost an obsession. And you know what? I don't blame him. I remember loving play dough as a kid, myself. There's just something magical about it. It's a blank slate of 3D creativity. Besides, I can't think of a better obsession for a pre-schooler. We all know that children (and adults, for that matter) learn best when their senses are engaged. Think … [Read more...]
Make it: Mother’s Day Trinket Dish
I don't know about you, but my baubles always end up all over the place. Probably because I am constantly trying to keep up with a toddler and an 8 month-old. But even on my dresser, where most of my jewelry accumulates, I have no place to collect it all the stray pieces. Enter: the Trinket Dish. I saw something similar at Anthropologie and thought it would make the perfect Mother's Day gift (I know I'd want one). Plus, it's so easy to make. First I scoured our local dollar store for … [Read more...]
Giveaway! BISSELL Symphony (TM) All-In-One Vacuum and Steam Mop
Who wants to win a Bissell Symphony All-in-One Vacuum and Steam Mop - raise your hand. I have wanted a combo steam mop and vacuum for longer than I can remember. Actually, scratch that, for pretty much exactly as long as I've had children. Let's face it, between food messes, art messes, and stomping in mud and dirt from outside, kids are rough on floors. Which is why I was so excited when our latests sponsor, Bissell, offered up a couple of these steam mop vacuums to me and our … [Read more...]
DIY Valentine’s Day Decor: Easy Instagram Art
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's one of my favorite holidays for arts and crafts. Don't ask me why. Maybe it's the welcome diversion from everything Christmas. Maybe it's the idea that we're making gifts for the ones we love most. Regardless, I get giddy this time of year and love to come up with new things to make, especially decorations. Lately, I've been trying to make decorations that will last - things that I can keep and look back on, as the years fly by … [Read more...]
Hot Cocoa Bar with Spiced Eggnog Whipped Cream
Baby, it’s cold outside. And that means it’s the perfect weather for a hot cocoa bar. And eggnog… So why not combine the two? Enter: a festive hot cocoa bar with spiced eggnog whipped cream. I’m a personal fan of whipped cream on cocoa, instead of marshmallows. And when you are going the whipped cream route, it HAS to be homemade. To make the eggnog whipped cream, you will need: … [Read more...]
Play Theme Cheat Sheet #6: Fall Fun!
It's fall! My absolute favorite season. So, of course, I had to make it into a Play Theme Cheat Sheet. And really - cool weather, gorgeous leaves, pumpkins galore - what's not to love? I have always wanted to take my little family apple picking in the fall. (I've never actually been. Sad, right?) But since apple farms are few and far between where I live, I decided to bring apple picking to us–with a little educational value built in. We've been working on our numbers at home, so I thought … [Read more...]
Simple DIY Decor: Holiday Wreath
We've got another project from our new eBook, Hands-On Holidays: Simple Ideas to Make Memories October through December, today. This one is a favorite of mine because it's a great project to do with younger kids or to let older kids tackle alone. It's a money-saver too as it can easily transition from one season to the next with just a few tweaks. Enjoy! Welcome fall! Recently, I've been dying for a new wreath to don my door. And fall was the perfect occasion to make one. I actually … [Read more...]