ToysInTheDryer focuses on finding ways to spend quality time with your children. However, sometimes you need a break from them, and/or they need a break from you. It can be difficult to keep your children entertained (and quiet) while you get that much needed 15 minutes to yourself. It might also be hard for you to let go and relax for short periods of time. Playing games online solve both of those problems! Pogo.com offers 100+ FREE online games suitable for multiple ages and interests. They have everything from simple, relatively low thinking games such as Mahjong and Poppit, to Scrabble and card games that require some level of concentration, all the way up to Chess and casino games that require skill. Pogo.com even offers multi-player games! I prefer the low thinking games and some of the classic board games. Nutty (age almost 6) loves that she can play the low thinking games (Bejeweled and Poppit) just like her mom! We use online games from Pogo.com as rewards for Nutty and … [Read more...]
Mocktails–Fun Summer Drinks!
Summers are filled with picnics and BBQs, pool parties and lazy days at the beach, weekends at the cabin and camping trips. We love any excuse to get together with friends and family. Often, the coolers are packed with delicious food and lots of ice cold beverages. If you happen to be pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, are the sober cab for your fun get togethers, or want special drinks for the kids to enjoy, the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS) has some refreshing ‘summer sippers’ that we think you’ll enjoy. With help from supporters, they have compiled a whole recipe book full of great non-alcohol drinks worth checking out, whether you are a mommy-to-be or not! 049 These mocktails/summer sippers are super yummy and are not only good for pregnant ladies, they make perfect drinks for kids, and some are a great substitute for calorie filled alcoholic beverages if you are on a weight loss challenge like Jamie is this summer! Nightlock We wish … [Read more...]
Mommy Blogger, What I Really Do…
Inspired by all the "What People Think I Do" photos floating around the internet, I decided to make my own about being a Mommy Blogger. You will need to click on the photo to make it bigger! … [Read more...]
Hammered Flower Art
Hammered flower art can be both fun and beautiful. I've seen some gorgeous prints in person and online so I decided to try it out with my girls. Here's what you'll need if you want to try it with your kids: variety of flowers and/or leaves paper (plain paper will work but not as well as construction, watercolor, or other more absorbent paper) hammer hard surface to work on such as a cutting board or piece of wood (you are going to be hammering on it) paper towels scissors tape (optional) 1) Find flowers and leaves. Walk around your yard or neighborhood and look for brightly colored flowers and leaves. They need to be fresh but not overly moist. Try a variety of things because some will work better than others. Of note, pale yellow and white flowers do not work! 2) Put your paper on your hard surface. Then put the flower on the paper. Spread the flower out and cut off the mushy/moist part that sticks up in the center. Some flowers you might have to … [Read more...]
Fun With Self-Portraits
Most of us moms do not like getting our pictures taken. Even if we don't mind being in front of the camera, we're usually the ones behind it. Very few of us have photos with our kids. I realized one day when Nutty was 18 months old that I wanted her to remember me should anything happen. I wanted her to have photos of us together, not just photos of mommy. Thus began my self-portrait taking with my girls. My first self-portrait with Nutty. I propped the camera on the dresser. I got tired of always having to ask people to take pictures of me and my girls. Most of the time when we were doing things there wasn't anyone else around to take the photos anyway. I learned to use the self-timer on my camera and to prop it on things to be able to take self pictures. Camera propped on a ladder. After a while, my girls began to think taking self portraits with mommy was fun and our little photo adventures became something fun to do when we were bored. Hand held … [Read more...]
The Importance of One-On-One Time With Your Child
On Monday, Lindsi did a post titled 9 Ideas for One-On-One Time With Your Child. Today, I'm going to emphasize why it's so important to do ideas like these, and spend one-on-one time with each of your children. As you may know, I recently reviewed the book, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms." In my review post I said that the chapter "Make Special Mommy and Me Time" really struck a cord with me. You see, I spend a lot of one-on-one time with Tottie. She is my youngest, isn't in school yet, and hasn't made many friends who's houses she can go to on her own. I feel very connected to Tottie because of the amount of time I spend with her. On the contrary, I spend little to no alone time with Nutty, my oldest. She just finished Kindergarten, has many friends, and always has to deal with her little sister being around when she is home. I feel like I do not have a strong bond with Nutty. To be honest, I don't think Nutty and I ever had one-on-one time after Tottie was born … [Read more...]
