Moon Fun

from: picture from pinterest

Have some fun with your kids tonight.  Search for props inside your house and creatively dream up some scenarios.  You don't need to take a table outside, but the scissors are a pretty great idea.  Strategically place your kids, with various props, to make fun pictures with the moon.

Have them hold the moon

Have them cut the moon with scissors

Prop them on a box so they can rest lay on the moon with their arms and head

Hit the moon with a bat, as they are hitting a baseball

Hold the moon in a basket

Sweep the moon out of the sky with a broom

The possibilities are endless!  Please share your ideas or experiences below.

Burger King: $1 Fruit Smoothies

This Labor Day weekend, don't forget your $1 smoothies from Burger King.

(Friday - Monday) 

Absorbing Science

from:  allforkids.tv

(This is only Step 6 of a series of absorbing tests.  If you want pictures and instructions for all 6, click here.)

Step 6

Ok let’s go wild and fill 2 cups with water, add blue dye to one cup and yellow dye to the other.  Put an empty cup in between them.  Roll 2 paper towels. Place the end of one towel into the blue dye and one end of the other towel in the yellow dye.  Bend both the towels and put the loose ends into the empty cup and watch the magic happen.  As the coloured water is absorbed in the towel it makes its way up and then into the empty cup.  The blue and yellow food dyes combine making green water.  How amazing is that! Like our experiments science is absorbing and I give it 10 out of 10!

Yummy Little Piglets

from: recipe & pictures from cafechocolada.blogspot.com

If you like easy, like me, I would just get premade pizza dough and make these piglets as little biscuits.  However, if you prefer the actual recipe, it is below...

(Makes about 20 piglets)
Dough:
400 g (13 1/2 oz) all purpose flour
1 package instant dry yeast
1 egg
2 dcl (7 oz) plain yogurt
1 dcl (3 1/2 oz) warm milk
a pinch of salt

Puffed or flaky dough:150 g (5 1/2 oz)flour
100 g (3 1/2 oz)magarine (unsalted)
pinch of salt

Filling:As much as you like: cheese(she used Gouda), tomato (pizza) sauce, oregano;
or something else you would like for filling

Wash:Egg white to use as «adhesive»
Egg yolk and some milk to brush @ the end

First, make first dough by mixing all ingrediens, and let it rise in a warm place. In the meantime, make puff dough with second batch of ingredients, and then mix it into the risen dough (yes, mix'em together), and work it well on a floured surface. Roll the dough and with a round cookie cutter or something else cut out circles about 3 inches in diametar or desired size. Leave some dough for ears and noses :)

Make filling with cheese, tomato sauce (pizza sauce), and oregano. You can be creative and use different kinds of ingredients to make a filling of your own. You can also add ham, or salami, or vegetables.

Place half of circles onto baking sheet (aligned with parchment paper), brush edges with egg white wash. Put some filling in the middle, cover with other half of circles, and press the edges to assure nothing will come out while baking.

Remainder of the dough use to make smaller circles for nose, and for ears by cutting them into quarters. Use egg whites wash as «adhesive» for ears and nose. For nose make somewhat smaller circles. For eyes and nostrils use a toothpick to make little lines and then inside, put cumin, pepper or something similar.

Now that you have little piglets, let them rise again for a little while, and then brush them with a little bit of egg yolk wash mixed with a little bit of milk. Bake for about 20-25 min. @ about 385-405 F.

My note: you can use something else for the eyes if you are concerened about kids biting into peppercorns. Oblakica didn'tuse peppercorns, but other herbs. My kids just took the peppercorns out.

Hungry, Hungry Frogs

from:  picture and article from familyfun.go.com

Materials

 

• Paper plates
• Painting supplies
• Red pipe cleaners
• hot glue gun or glue dots
• Lightweight, strong magnets
• Black marker
• Tape
• Black tissue paper
• Paper clips
• Tacky glue
• Hungry, Hungry Frog Template (Click Here)

Instructions

1. For each frog puppet, paint two paper plates green and let them dry. Using our template (above) as a guide, cut the top of the frog and its eyes and feet from the green plates. Cut the bottom piece from a third plate.
2. For a tongue, twist two pipe cleaners together, folding over one end and curling the other into two spirals, as shown. Staple them to the frog bottom. Attach a lightweight, strong magnet (ours are about 1/2 inch wide) to the end of the tongue with glue dots or hot glue.
3. Staple the eyes to the frog top, draw eyeballs with black marker, and fold the eyes up. Cover the underside of the staples with tape. Leaving the back open for a hand, staple together the frog top and bottom. Add the back feet.
4. To make flies, roll 1- by 3-inch strips of black tissue paper around bent paper clips and secure the paper with tacky glue.
5. To play, scatter the flies on a table. At "Go," players use their frog's magnetic tongue to catch as many flies as they can - pulling them off the tongue with their free hand - and collect them in a pile. When all the fl ies are caught, see who has the most. (Be sure to supervise small children around small magnets.)

Children's Place - Deals TODAY ONLY

Today only, you can get 20% off your entire order and with free shipping!  Get busy shopping...

20% off COUPON CODE:  SAVE20

And don't forget there is FREE SHIPPING today, as well.

How to Teach Kids the Books of the Bible

from:  "Bible Books" song by Bigsby and from YouTube

Here is a fun way to help teach your kids the books of the Bible; through a song!

Kelly Kit Activities: 3-Month Deal

from:  picture and article from plumdistrict.com

$14 for 3-Month Subscription to "Kelly Kit Art Activities"

(Delivered to Your Doorstep - a $30 Value)

Click here to order.  (Only available for 6 more days!)

When it comes to spending quality time with our kids, we love the bring art into the picture. Art play is so wonderfully therapeutic, creative, and fun! Plus, we learn a thing or two about ourselves and our kids through the art we create.

Today's offer from Kelly Kits will keep you and your little ones engaged with creative activities that teach simple techniques in the five art disciplines: painting, sculpting, drawing, print-making, and collage. These kits are designed for parents and kids; you, Mom, can demonstrate the creative processes to your kids, and then they can follow your lead!

With your 3-month subscription, you'll have access to fun and instructional support videos as well as monthly contests and drawings to win cool art stuff. And to make it even easier on you, these all-inclusive art kits will be delivered straight to your doorstep! Grab today's offer for great bonding activities that'll foster your child's creative learning and yours. These kits are great for road trips and family vacations to make sure there's never a dull moment!

Cleaning Muffin Tins

from: theautocrathaley.blogspot.com

How to clean a muffin pan - with dryer sheets! Soak overnight with a dryer sheet in the water, then baked-on junk will slough off.

I tried to find this on the original blog, since I found it on pinterest but was unsuccessful.  The bold print above is all I have on this...  (And, I am fully aware that this is not a recipe, but I thought moms looking for cooking tips would find this helpful under that label.)

Homemade Fruit Snacks

from:  picture and recipe from www.mommysaver.com

100% Juice Fruit Snacks Recipe

1/3 c. 100% frozen fruit juice concentrate
2-3 .25 oz envelopes unflavored gelatin (use 2 for softer fruit snacks, and 3 for firmer ones)
molds

Pour the juice into a small saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the juice and let it sit for a few minutes. Put the pan over medium heat and stir until all the gelatin is completely dissolved. Pour the mixture into a measuring cup with a spout so you can easily fill your molds. Fill the molds and allow to set at least 20 minutes. You can speed up the process a bit by putting them in the refrigerator.

Jell-o Fruit Snacks Recipe

1 3 oz package gelatin, any flavor

2 .25 oz envelopes unflavored gelatin

1/3 c. water

Sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a small saucepan.  Heat over medium heat and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved.  Pour into molds and allow to set at least 20 minutes.

Homemade Gak

from: www.familyfuntips.com

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup  White Glue
• 1 gallon  Zip-Top Plastic Bag
• 1/2 tsp  Borax
• 1/3 cup  Warm Water
• Food Dye

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Pour 1 cup of white glue into a zip-top plastic bag (add your food coloring at this step if you are going to add it.

2. Mix 1/2 tsp. of borax with 1/3 cup warm water.

3. Slowly add to the white glue in the bag and gently knead until well mixed.

4. Drain any extra liquid.

Target's Markdown Strategy

from: www.mommysaver.com

MONDAY:  Kids’ Clothing, Stationery (office supplies, gift wrap), Electronics.

TUESDAY:  Women’s Clothing and Domestics.

WEDNESDAY:  Men’s Clothing, Toys, Health and Beauty.

THURSDAY:  Lingerie, Shoes, Housewares.

FRIDAY:  Cosmetics

ALSO! If the price ends in 8, it will be marked down again. If it ends in a 4, it's the lowest it will be.

Jenga - The New Academic Tool

from: article from www.teachforever.com, picture from pinterest

Let's use this idea to make a fun review for standardized test and end-of-year exams.  Cover the top and bottom of each block with vocabulary, short problems, clues for a larger puzzle, etc.  You can even make them into "flash" blocks, with a term or picture on one side and a concise definition on the opposite side.

Students play the game as they normally would, with one notable difference: when they remove a block, they have to do something with whatever is on it.  For example:

• In an algebra class, each block could contain linear and quadratic equations.  Students could write down each equation and work with them after the game ends--each student would have a random and (mostly) different set of problems to work with.  They could alternately quickly name some key piece of information about the given function, like the slope and y-intercept of the linear functions, before placing the blocks on top of the stack.
• In a social studies class, each block could contain vocabulary words that students would have to write down.  After the game, students would define and illustrate the key terms, then share them within their groups to build a complete study guide.
• In a chemistry class, each block could contain individual elements or reactions that students have to explain and/or solve.
• In an English/language arts class, blocks could contain the elements of a story that students could later put together into an original story.  Each piece could instead have authors and works studied during the year, and the kids would have to identify key information, write reflections, etc.

Mickey Mouse Oreos

from: www.mrsfoxssweets.blogspot.com

I'm guessing all you need is...

• regular oreos
• bite size oreos
• red melting chocolate
• white sprinkles
• dark chocolate (to melt and connect ears to head)

(Check out the blog above for specifics.)

Is My Kid Learning Anything?

I don't know how many times our little one crawled up into my lap and begged me to read one of our many animal books.  We would read through the touch and feel books, the flap books, soft books, hard books, and all about animals. 

You see, our little girl is obsessed with books.  I have a little nook for her of books she is allowed to touch.  You may think this sounds mean, and Grammie often gets on me for not letting her have free reigns with books that were gifts.  But if you have seen her book nook, you might think again!  We have twenty plus individual cardboard pages, all torn.  What is a mom to do?

So, the special books are only accessable with mommy and daddy.  And, of course, her favorites have to do with animals, specifically kitties.  At one time, it was any animal.  Those were the days when she was being introduced to books.  The favorite was the animal touch and feel book.  We read this book, reread it, and reread it 10 more time each sitting.  Each reading including seeing the chick, touching the gorilla, mooing like a cow, and waving my arm like an elephant trunk.  All the while, the only animal sounds I heard over the six month period were animals she saw in person, "woof woof" and "meow". 

About a month ago, dad had come home from work and was playing with our daughter.  He started to ask her each of these animal sounds, and... she said each one and made the motions as well!  I'd given in to the fact that I did not really know how to teach her, when, all the while, she was really taking it all in.  She was just waiting until she was ready to say these things back to me; progress.

This past month has been amazing in regards to all the words and sounds she is saying and learning.  We are not out of the water yet, as she meowed at a piglet tonight and often does so to little dogs as well.  I am satisfied though; she is learning so much and it is reassuring to see kids respond after months of teaching.

Don't give up; it takes time.  I remember when our daughter started walking it took about a month to see her responding to our discipline.  She learned what, "No" and "Don't touch" meant, while also learning what not to touch.  It just takes a little time as they are soaking so much in all at once.  Know that your child is taking everything in, it is only a matter of time until you see results.

Mc Donald's & Burger King: Apple Slices Recall

I don't often see recalls and I wasn't going to post this one, but in light of the recent bumbo recall, this was one of the more relatable recalls important to moms.  Also, listeria can cause miscarriage; so if you are expecting, you'll want to be careful as well.

An article on this recent recall can be found at healthpop.com.  Click here for the direct link.

Bumbo Recall

Baby Talk - Free Magazine

If you are expecting or a new mom, this magazine is for you!  Baby Talk is free and was so much fun to receive during my first pregnancy, though I think you can receive it during any pregnancy.  Sign up as soon as possible because you only get it until your child is a certain age.  I cannot recall when my suscription stopped coming.  I want to say around a year, but I'm also not finding an answer online. 

Does anyone else know how long (or until your baby is what age) you can get Baby Talk for free?  (Please let us know in the comment field below.)

Just click here if you want to subscribe to your free copy of this magazine.

Glow Stick Bath Time

I know it is past July 4th, but this is still fun!  Our one and a half year old, LOVED bath time in a dark with glow sticks.  I froze them after she used them so we could play again. 

If you are going to the beach, a park at night or even in your backyard, these are perfect "before bedtime" surprise for your kids.  Make fun arrangements or spell words with these sticking/laying in the sand or dirt.

This is an affordable and fun activity that can be found at the dollar store.

How to Paint Straight

from:  www.thatsmyletter.blogspot.com

 For moms that like to get crafty and make personalized crafts for their kids.  Here's how to paint letters straight.  I definitely want to try this as I have always like the look but never knew an easy way to do so!

Here's how:

1. Print out letters (font shown here is American Typewriter) and line up on piece.

Using a ballpoint pen trace outline of letters:

The pressure of the pen creates a slight indent in the wood.

2. Paint inside the indent:

Lion Sandwich

from:  www.healthychild.org

Ingredients:

• 1 sandwich of choice
• 2 pieces of string cheese
• 1 black jelly bean or black olive
• 1 raisin
• 2 green peas (fresh or frozen)
• About 20 cheese crackers

Free Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

from: www.momondealz.com



Craving some doughnuts?!  Donate school supplies to a Krispy Kreme near you to get a doughnut or a dozen doughnuts between August 6 - September 9.  Call ahead to your local store to check on theirspecifics.  Click here to view details more in depth.

Does Your Baby Have Dry Skin or Eczema?

If you  have found your little one has eczema or dry skin; Aveeno is a wonderful way to treat this problem.  First off, our little girl does not have terribly sensitive skin.  We use regular detergent and dryer sheets that do not affect her one bit.  Still, we noticed the signs of dry skin and ezcema.  The more we played in water, the more her ezcema flared up.  I, her mother, also struggle with ezcema, so I am not just making light of extra dry skin.

Her pediatrician gave us a few samples of pretty exspensive shampoos and body washes, which I found, made her hair pretty greasy.  I gave in and splurged on Aveeno's original body wash and shampoo.  (I can't recall if our bottle is the same color as the picture above; just stick with original.)  Her hair stays soft, it treats the problem and it smells so good that both Dad and I also want to use her shampoo/body wash! 

We use it sparingly at bath time and it has lasted months.  Had I not left the bottle open and let more than half the body wash leak out over our summer vacation at the beach, I think we'd still have more than half a bottle around half a year of use (I'm referring to the large bottle).  All to say, it is a wise purchase budget wise (I think it is aroud $7 for the year for both shampoo and body wash) and I no longer see any signs of dry skin or ezcema.

Also note that Aveeno lotion is wonderful.  I have found I can only use certain washes and very few lotions on my own face.  After receiving Aveeno lotion as a gift for our daughter, I tried a little myself and have found it to be great for a facial lotion as well.

Head Down to Your Toes

from:  song from dltk-bible.com, pictures from google images

From My Head Down to My Toes (Song)

(To tune of "If Your Happy and You Know It")
 

From my head down to my toes, God made me.
From my head down to my toes, God made me.
From my head down to my toes, and my eyes and ears and nose,
from my head down to my toes, God made me.

Questions:
*  Who made you?
*  Does God love your toes as much as your nose? 
*  Where are your noes and your toes? 
*  Why did God make you?

Craft:  (Make it out of whatever you have at home)
*  Spoon Face

*  Toilet Paper Roll Person
*  Noodle Face

Non-Cooked Homemade Playdough

from: instructables.com (photo from PlaydoughRecipe.org)

(Cooked playdough has a better texture, but this recipe is a little easier.)

Basic ingredient ratios:
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)

Optional:
*  food coloring (liquid, powder, or unsweetened drink mix)
*  scented oils

Click here if you want to go to the originating site for further instructions or photos of ingredients, should you have questions.

Alphabet Game

from: idea & photo from familyfun.go.com, brainstorming by yours personally

THE GAME: 

If you have a digital camera and a child learning his or her alphabet, look around your house or drive around your town to find the alphabet. 

THE CRAFT: 

• Take it a step further and create a fun visual of your child's name, the alphabet, your last name, or whatever you desire. 
• You could even print your visual out black and white for your child to color. 
• Make your visual into a puzzle.
• Turn your visual into alphabet flash cards.
• And, have fun!

Frozen Fruit Icecubes

from: http://www.familyfun.go.com/

Make a glass pitcher of lemonade or iced tea, with your choice of frozen fruit cubes.  Perfect party or to spruce up punch at a baby shower.

More Pamper Points

from: retailmenot.com

Coupon Code:  GIFTSTOGROW4MOM

50 Points

Coupon Code:  JOINNOW4REWARDS

50 Points

Coupon Code:  2BEGINEARNING50

50 Points

Coupon Code:  welcome2village

Coupon Code:  GTGWELCOME10PTS

10 Points 

 

(I tried these codes and some were already in my history. They are not all new, but worth a try!)

Summer Kids Snacks

from: www.familyfun.go.com

Cucumber Snack

 Sailboat Deviled Eggs

(w/ Bell Pepper Flags)

Garlic Overload

A little article I wrote for a friends blog a while back. 

For a few days I started to smell a slight odor I hadn’t noticed before.  I’d give it a slight thought and flippantly go back to work, thinking one of my co-workers had forgotten their deodorant or had too much garlic the night before.   In our open and clean workspace of cubicles, all smells had to draft from an individual.  The cleaners left the open area spic and span after their late night rendezvous.

The lingering smell persistently stayed past a week but, oddly, I noticed it once I’d gotten to work, cleaned and showered.  I smelled my long tresses of red hair and sniffed under my arms when no one was looking; no signs of body odor.  More perplexed than ever, the smell continued to follow me.  Days turned into weeks and my co-workers enjoyed the light banter that this expecting mama was going crazy.

One morning in our office that annoying odor floated back into my senses.  I’d had it; not again.  I sniffed my hair, my clothes, under my arms; finally looking at my co-workers and saying, “Do you smell garlic?”

They good naturedly chuckled and made pregnant puns, yet again.  My supervisor leaned over and said, “All I smell is heavy perfume.”  And a light went off!

I sprayed “Pink” from Gap on my wrist and neck every morning.  Many of my sweaters carried the light lingering of citrus, as I’d wear my cardigans more than once before throwing them in the wash.  That made complete sense.  It was the only smell that followed me even on days I didn’t spray.

As soon as I stopped wearing pink and washed my clothes, lovely waftings of garlic stopped comin’ a callin’.  Thank goodness!  I wish I could say I have recovered and my favorite womanly scent is now wearable.  Sorry ladies; I still smell garlic whenever I’m graced with “Pink”. And, even now that I am not pregnant, I still loath the smell of garlic.  Ughhh, garlic!  Fresh garlic; not in my house.  Garlic powder, in light doses, is about all I can handle.

Beechnut Cereal Coupon

Hey moms with little ones!  Here is a coupon from Facebook.  It is $0.75 off Beechnut Cereal.  Click here to print off the coupon.

Edible Glitter

From:  www.food.com (picture from pinterest)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coarse salt (non iodized) or 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 -10 drops food coloring, adjust for desired color

Directions:

1. Measure salt or sugar into a clear jar with a tight fitting lid. Add food coloring one drop at a time and screw the cap on tightly. SHAKE to combine. Repeat until desired color is reached.
2. Sprinkle, dip or shake onto whatever you like. I like to put this in a clear salt shaker for easy shaking or pour some into a saucer and dip the wet rim of an empty glass in it to make the glass pretty!
3. Tip: This will keep for a very long time. This stays drier and stores wonderfully as is but even better if you spread colored salt/sugar in a thin layer to air dry for about an hour or microwave in 30 second intervals, stir and repeat for about 1-2 minutes or until moisture is evaporated. You can also add a few grains of rice to absorb any moisture.

Free Shutterfly Baby Book

Go to the following website and join for free newsletters on your child's development, while also receiving a free Shutterfly baby book.  Just click here.

I recently made one for our little gal and I love it!  If I needed another, I'd go to babycenter.com right now.

Travel Map

We kept track of all the states we visited as kids.  Our parents would list the states we drove through on summer vacations and we colored in the states, so we could keep track of all the places we visited.  Loved doing this as a kid. 

Click here if you want to print this map out for your kids to track all their vacation spots this summer.  This site also has coloring pages for places around the world, if you want to use them as an educational activity for your child.