THE BRIGHT SIDE at dazychic. Lately I've been thinking that rain clouds and kids might be a perfect match. Maybe I'm just being practical. As a Seattleite, convincing my young children that rain is a good thing would certainly pay dividends in the future. But it might also have to do with all the cute clouds hanging around these days. Read on for lots of soggy inspiration. large prints Dance in the Rain at pennywishes (via pinterest). Rain Drops Poster … [Read more...]
Two Tiny Spots for Tiny Tots
Here's a little Monday bonus post - because I was up to my elbows in enchiladas this weekend and (as good as they are) I just can't look at them anymore! Oh, to have a little corner in the world as lovely as this. Above is a crib/dresser/changing table hybrid called "Nina's House" from Dave Keune (spotted by me at Black Eiffel). It is an amazing (and probably incredibly expensive) model of how to transform a tight spot into a beautiful modern nest. Click through for one of my all time … [Read more...]
Honoring Kids’ Artwork: Part 1 – Get Rid of It
So now that we've armed our little ones with the proper art supplies, what do we do with their new creations? Get rid of 'em! Sounds heartless, I know, but remember for toddlers art is about the experience and not the product. And even if your child's not a toddler, there's really no need to keep everything. Don't think you can change your pack rat ways? See Minimalism for Moms for some inspiration. Plus, you don't have to throw it out - just give it to someone else who will honor it. … [Read more...]
Free Illustrations for Your Kids’ Space
Have you heard? MPMK is having its first giveaway today. And since we're on the topic of giveaways, I wanted to take the time to highlight a site that is generous enough to have one every day. I first read about Katie Moon's commitment to provide one new children's illustration a day (free for 24 hours) for the entire year over at ohdeedoh. When I visited oohmoon, I was delighted to find the pieces were being provided as week-long series. That means that all you have to do is stop by once … [Read more...]
Jumbo Fabric Wall Decals
There's something about fabric wall decals that I find infinitely more appealing than their vinyl counterparts. Maybe it's that they're more forgiving on textured walls, removable, and reusable... or maybe fabric just seems a bit cozier than vinyl? Whatever it is, the jumbo versions are the best of a good thing. The creator of these vibrant decals from Pop and Lolli (first spotted by me at Design Mom) declares, "I believe in impact" and boy does she put her money where her … [Read more...]
How to Foster a Love of Writing in Your Kids
I can't seem to get away from all things literary this week (see here and here), so I'm just gonna go with it. When I was in 5th grade, I was selected to participate in a program called "Young Authors" in which I had about a week to write and illustrate a book. Once I was done, I got to skip an entire day of school to attend special writing workshops at a local community college. The experience left me extremely enthusiastic about reading and writing - a feeling I would love to instill in my … [Read more...]
Kid Craft: Book Page Flags
photos via lilla a Here's a little mid-week bonus post - the perfect art project to go along with today's reading theme. These book page flags make me think of literary voyages to imaginary lands. What a simple and lovely project over at lilla a. … [Read more...]
Tutorial: Magnetic Wall Giraffe
Welcome to Modern Parents Messy Kids, I'm glad you've made your way here. Where is here? Modern Parents Messy Kids (or MPMK for short) is the fruition of a seed that was planted in April, 2010. While 7 months pregnant with S, I wrote my very first tutorial (below) and came oh-so-close to becoming a contributor for the mega blog Apartment Therapy. If you're savvy enough to find my new little corner of the blogosphere, I don't need to tell you how exciting this was for me. I didn't … [Read more...]