I don't know about your kids but mine love play-dough! The problem is, it can get expensive because they keep accidentally letting it dry out. Simple solution: make your own for much cheaper. Personally, I like the homemade stuff a little better anyway. Here's what you'll need: 1 cup flour 1/2 cup salt 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 cup water 4 Tablespoons oil food coloring Step 1) Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in the pot. Step 2) Add the water, oil, and food coloring. Food coloring is to desired color. (At this point in time my camera ran out of batteries and I was not about to leave my 5 and 3 year old alone by a hot stove to find new batteries. Excuse the lack of photo(s) for the next part.) Step 3) Cook on medium heat until the mixture is able to remain a ball in the middle of the pot. The mixture will be liquidy and clumpy at first (and you'll wonder how in the world it is going to turn into play-dough) but it will get firmer as it … [Read more...]
Healthy alternative to pop/soda
Do your kids love pop/soda? Do you worry about the amount of sugar and calories they are consuming because of pop/soda? Try this healthy, fun alternative! You'll need: Seltzer water (not tonic water or club soda--seltzer water) Any kind of fresh fruit or 100% fruit juice Small strainer (optional) Small blender (if using harder fruits such as strawberries or apples) The easy way of making pop/soda alternative: Mix 100% fruit juice and seltzer water to taste. That's easy isn't it? The fun way of making pop/soda alternative: 1) Squeeze citrus fruits into the seltzer water. If you're like me, squeeze them over a small strainer to avoid pulp in you "pop/soda" (I HATE pulp!). 2) Smash semi-hard fruits through the strainer so that the juice goes through. Above, I used a kiwi. (Yum! kiwi/lime was good!) 3) Puree harder fruits such as strawberries or apples in a blender than smash them through the small strainer to the juice goes through. (Sorry, no … [Read more...]
How To Make an "I Spy" Bottle
Do you want an activity that will entertain your kids for a while and keep them quiet? Make an "I Spy" bottle! It's super simple to make, and is good for kids of all ages (my husband loves it as much as my 2 and 5 year old!) Use the "I Spy" bottle for long car rides, laying low when your kids are sick, or keeping your little monsters busy when you need to clean. Here's what you'll need: A bunch of objects that are small enough to fit into a water bottle. An empty, completely dry water bottle without the label. Paper and pen Funnel (or a piece of paper to roll into a funnel) White rice Glue String, yarn, or ribbon Clear contact paper or laminating paper (optional) Now how to make it: Step 1) Have your kids help you hunt all over the house, garage, and outside for things to put in your bottle. Make sure to write on your paper everything you collect. Coins, nails/screws, Barbie or Polly Pocket accessories, Legos, hair stuff, rocks, office … [Read more...]
Make Your Own Treasure Hunt
When I was younger my mom used to surprise my sister and me with treasure maps. We would get so excited when she would pull them out and we would have to gallivant all over the yard to find the hidden treasure. As we got older, my sister and I made maps for each other, our mom, and our friends. It was just as much fun to make the maps as it was to follow them! Obviously this activity with your kids requires some planning ahead on your part. You'll need to make the map and hide the treasure without your kids knowing. As far as the map goes, you can get as simple or as complicated as you want. It somewhat depends on the age of your kids. In the above map I made my girls walk, skip, run, or hop during different sections. You could simply count the steps or combine counting with skipping and hopping...it's totally up to you! Make it colored or just draw in pen. It makes no difference. As an added touch to your map, crinkle up the paper then burn the edges and some holes … [Read more...]
Activities to do with your baby in the fall
Hello Readers! My name is Ann and I blog over at BusyLittleBaby.com. Your [Twin Cities] Guide to Keeping Busy with your Baby. Not from the Twin Cities? No problem! I often write about things you can do at your home or in any city with your baby. Today I want to share 5 activities to do with your baby in the fall. Some activities are simple, some to get you OUT of the house and some to keep you entertained at home! [1] Go to Apple Picking or to a Pumpkin Patch Why not start a fun family fall tradition by going to a local apple orchard or a pumpkin patch. Babies thrive when they can experience a variety of sensations. Let them grab at the apples and play on top of the big pumpkins. A lot of orchards also have family friendly activities like hay rides and petting zoos. And bonus: there will be ample opportunities for great photos! [2] Photo Shoot in the Leaves Turn a boring weekend chore like raking the leaves into another fun photo opportunity for your baby. Rake … [Read more...]
Friends You Love Bestie Photo Contest
What's so special about this picture of me and Lindsi? Well, it's one of only four photos we have together! In the almost seven years we've known each other, we've only gotten FOUR photos together (one of which is our header photo). We have multiple photos of each other, our kids together, and each other with our kids, but only four photos together. Why? We have no clue. It's just the way life has gone so far but we're working on making a change. There's also something more behind the photo above. It reminds us that we are not just moms, we are women. It was taken after our second (well, my second and Lindsi's second/third) were born. It was the first time we had gone out on the town without the hubbies and kids since we were pregnant with our firsts. We went to dinner, had drinks, got tipsy, were hit on my a couple younger guys (talk about a confidence boost!), and took a cab to a shop downtown that we normally wouldn't walk into sober (not gonna say … [Read more...]
