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Halloween Traditions & What to do with All that Candy

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Happy Halloween everyone!  We've been talking about it for so long I'm sort of wondering what to do with myself tomorrow.  For one more look at all of MPMK's Handmade Halloween posts, see here.   I've also been wondering what to do with all the candy once Halloween's over.  Last year C was young enough that I just had to hide it and he forgot about it.  This year I know it's not going to work that way.  Luckily, I've been reading up on some of my favorite blogger's Halloween … [Read more...]

Giveaway: Enough Makedo for a Small Play Group!

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Congrats to Lyndsey, the winner of the Shen the Panda/Zylie the bear giveaway. If you didn't win, don't fret, there's still plenty of time to get a bear of your own for your child by Christmas. By the way, are you guys loving all these giveaways as much as I am? Yes? Good, 'cause another great one starts today.   The guys over at Makedo contacted me recently to see if I'd be interested in trying out their product first hand and doing a little giveaway.  Having already shared about the … [Read more...]

Elsewhere: A New Art Technique to Try

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I'm guest posting at Whip Up today with one of my favorite new art techniques: block printing with yarn.  This one is truly appropriate for all ages.  Our first go at it was a fascinating experience for C (he couldn't believe he was actually allowed to paint on a few of his blocks) and a successful attempt at DIY modern art for me.  Head over to Whip Up for the full tutorial.   P.S. Looking to simplify in 2013? Bonus: Use the code JANUARY for 10% off the PDF file through the end of … [Read more...]

Finding Quality Kid Music (That You Can Stand Listening to 483 Times a Day)

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If there's one tool in my parenting arsenal I couldn't live without it's kid music. There's nothing like springing a dance party on your children "flash mob" style to chase away afternoon crankiness. I wouldn't even think of getting into my car with tots in tow for longer than 30 minutes without some Raffi and I'm always prepared to launch into several rounds of "Wheels on the Bus" or "Old McDonald" if need be.   As life-saving as kid music and songs are - they can also be overly peppy, … [Read more...]

Handmade Halloween: Ghost Jell-O Treats

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If you've been paying close attention, then you probably already know where I derived the inspiration for these ghostly goodies. Remember these cloud parfaits? As soon as I saw them I knew I wanted to put my own spin on them and try to make Halloween ghosts.   The problem was the photo, like too many Pinterest finds, was a dead end (looks like it was originally pinned from a password protected site).  The description on the pin said something along the lines of "Jell-O + whipped cream" … [Read more...]

We Tried It! – Cookie Cutter Pumpkins

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I'm back with another installment of the "We Tried It!" series.  I got the idea for cookie cutter pumpkin carving here and it was a huge hit with the kiddos.  I love how this method lets you easily create a high end look in whatever theme your kids are currently interested in.  We went with a pretty random motif of animals, an airplane, and a guitar.  Next year maybe we'll experiment with letters.      To begin, carve out the pumpkin guts and select a few of your favorite cookie … [Read more...]

I Grew Up with My Family Making Fun of Me… and I Loved It (Usually)

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Full disclosure: this isn't really a post - it's a commercial. But it's Sunday and I don't normally post today anyway so I figured why not. (Oops, this was supposed to go up tomorrow.  Oh well, we'll just switch things up a bit.  Come back tomorrow for the Look Book!)The thing about this particular commercial is the family in it was my family growing up (minus all the snazzy high-tech stuff). We bonded by giving each other a hard time. We laughed and teased and pretty much from the time I … [Read more...]

Some Parenting Tricks & Halloween Treats

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Happy Friday and congrats to Laura, the winner of the Elissa Hudson giveaway!  If you didn't win but would still like a print of your own, Elissa is generously offering 15% off.  Just visit her shop and enter the code TAKE15 when checking out.   I'm so glad I decided to poll you guysthis week.  Not only have your responses been overwhelmingly supportive, they've confirmed that we're all on the same page here and I can't wait to start weaving a little more substance into all the activities … [Read more...]

Giveaway: Shen the Panda or Zylie the Bear (aka your child’s new best friend)

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Thanks so much to everyone who took a moment to weigh in on yesterday's poll (which will stay open for a week).  It was immensely helpful!  Several of you expressed interest in gift ideas for kids - especially things you might not find at your local Toys-R-Us. Everyone, meet Shen the panda.  Not just your run-of-the-mill teddy bear, this guy is a brand new mixed breed: part stuffed animal and part dress-up doll.  Created by a mom whose kids were becoming frustrated in their attempts to find … [Read more...]

Help Determine MPMK’s Future

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This photo probably seems a bit random to you. To me it perfectly encapsulates why I'm using today's post as a poll about the future direction of MPMK. It was taken a few weekends ago at the pumpkin patch and when I saw it I couldn't believe how old my kids looked! Where are my babies? And who are these burgeoning little people who have taken their place?Just as my children grow, so too must MPMK. I realized that time is flying by and it won't be long before mornings spent at home doing art … [Read more...]

Make Like a Montessori Mama: Part 2 – Plant Activities

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Kylie from how we montessori is back today with part two of the "Make Like a Montessori Mama" series.  Her first post was a big hit and I have no doubt you'll love today's ideas just as much... Here's Kylie:   Five great Montessori inspired activities about PLANTS!    Five Montessori inspired activities that allow the child to explore plants using materials you can find around the home.    1.  Taking care of a plant   It would be wonderful if every child … [Read more...]