My sister actually convinced me to buy white capris this summer. (Insert look of sheer horror) I NEVER wear white on the bottom (and I rarely wear all white on the top)! I'm a magnet for stains and with my tom-boyish activities, white and I don't really match. None the less, she convinced me to buy them and I actually wore them. (Insert look of complete shock) Want to know a secret? I'm STILL wearing them despite it being past Labor Day! Yes, I bought white capris this summer, I wore them, I'm still wearing them (past Labor Day), and I LOVE them! (Who is this person typing and what have you done with Jamie?) My secret to helping me keep my white capris white despite high outdoor activities and the risk of getting them dirty this fall? Tide VIVID White + Bright. Though you might not recognize the name, this is not a new product. Tide plus bleach alternative is now Tide VIVID White + Bright! An easier, more catchy name, with a fun new look. With Tide VIVID White + … [Read more...]
Leaf Animals–Pinned it, Did it!
It's Friday which mean's another Pinned it, Did it! post! This pin totally caught my eye and I decided that Tottie could easily do it! She is only 4 so she needed some direction as to where to put the leaves but she had a ton of fun watching her moose come together on paper! You'll need to gather some leaves of various shapes and sizes. We simply looked at the photo from the pin and tried to find leaves that matched. It was good lesson in leaves and matching for Tottie. Then just glue the leaves like they are in the picture! The website that the pin came from has many other leaf animals on it so I highly suggest you go check it out and try some other ones with your kids! Not bad for a 4 year old huh? … [Read more...]
Chores and Allowance
Kids. Chores. Allowance. At some level we all know that these three things should go together in some way. But the how and why of it all sometimes gets lost in the sleep deprivation and “don’t do that’s” of parenthood. Let’s start with chores. The general school of thought is that kids should do chores. What those experts don’t tell us is how much work it is to make it happen! Yes, kids should do chores – for many reasons. But enforcing a chore system in your house can sometimes seem like more trouble than it’s worth. So let’s start with the benefits of chores: The positives for mom are pretty awesome - When the kids do chores, mom has a little bit less work to do – eventually. If our kids can ever get a handle on doing things like cleaning and laundry, then theoretically, our lives will get easier. The other benefit is a greater level of respect for all that Mom does and how hard she works to keep things running. The positives for kids are character rewards – … [Read more...]
Apple Painting
If you've been apple picking this fall, you probably have more apples than you know what to do with (unless you are a really good baker and can make super good apple pie or your own apple sauce). Let's turn those apples into some super fun crafts like apple painting! My daughter and her friend had a ton of fun painting with apples and there are a few different ways you can do it. Any way you decide, you'll need: Apples Paper Paints Toothpicks Paper towels A small towel Small cookie cutters (optional) Gummy worms (optional) Leaves (optional) Step 1) Cut your apples in half. If you cut the apples vertically, they will come out looking like an apple. If you cut the apples horizontally, They will come out looking round but with a star in the middle. Take the seeds out and set them aside for later. Optional step: Use cookie cutters to press shapes into the apples. (See the green apple above) You won't be able to cut out the shapes, but they will … [Read more...]
Banana Bread Crunch Muffins
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Right? Yup, they are yummy! Here's an easy recipe that will surly be a winner in your home. Combine: 3 ripe bananas, mashed 1 egg 1/2 vegetable oil 1 cup sugar 2 cups flour 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional) Bake in a greased muffin tin (or one lined with paper liners). Fill about 1/2 way. In a separate bowl: 1/2 stick butter, melted 1 cup oats (oatmeal) 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup brown sugar Sprinkle oat mixture on top of each muffin and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. ENJOY! … [Read more...]
Minnesota Blogger Conference #2 Recap
This past Saturday, I attended the third annual Minnesota Blogger Conference. Lindsi and I went for the first time last year and it was fabulous, so I did not miss the chance to attend this year! Like last year, I was so busy socializing, tweeting (until my phone died) and paying attention to the speakers that I completely forgot to take photos! Unlike last year though, a LOT of people knew who I was (or at least had heard of Toys In The Dryer). It may have helped that we were on the Minnesota Blogger Conference website's front page for a Q&A about last year's conference. The funny thing though, is that I was most memorable for the logo t-shirts we wore to the conference last year. Everyone asked why I wasn't wearing my shirt. They also asked why my partner (Lindsi) wasn't with me. Unfortunately, for personal reasons, she was unable to attend. Photo is from our Plates In The Dryer event but it is a great shot of our shirts. Again, I gained a wealth of information at … [Read more...]
