A word from the wise...

"Be who you are,and say what you feel,because those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind" Dr. Suess

This quote though written for children is something that we as adults need to remember as well. I feel that too many of us spend so much time worrying what other people think of us when really for the most part it doesn't matter:)

 

 

Gingerbread Rice Crispies

So have you guys seen this??? Gingerbread marshmallows! I was super psyched to try them out as a replacement for regular marshmallows in my rice crispy treats. They are delicious.

1 box rice crispies (Crispy rice or whatever,we always get the cheapest)
1 bag gingerbread marshmallows
1/2 bag regular marshmallows
4 tbsp butter or margarine (I use country crock light)

Mix butter and marshmallows until melted. Remove from heat, mix in cereal. Put in large pan. I use a glass pan and spread it evenly. It is easiest to use wax paper over top after spreading to press down and compact and really get it even. Enjoy!

Dear Santa...

I have been very good this year and I want a Nintendo DS. Sissy has been bad. I don't think you should bring her anything. She is definitely on the naughty list. If she is perfect from now until Christmas you can bring her a baby doll. But...I wouldn't count on it.

The above is verbatim what my son said to the Santa at Daddy's work this year. I just hope that once his sister can comprehend the sabotage that has taken place the payback will be undeniable.

Apologizing Again:(

I'm the worst blogposter or should I say non-blogposter ever. I have been trying to get back into the swing of things since the birth of my third child, who is handsome as ever. I just realized that I have completely neglected this site (some of you are probably excited about this because you are not missing those annoying e-mail alerts!) Well today is my eldest son's fifth birthday believe it or not so...off I go. I will be posting some new creative holiday crafts and recipes later in the week. Hope everyone is having a happy day!

Check out some new Radicool Recipes!

I just posted two new easy and tasty recipes on the Radicool Recipes page!
CLUB CRACKER NO BAKE COOKIES are in fact my new fave
and STROGANOFF STEW is super easy and yummy!
Try them out and let me know what you think:)

"They say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol

I wanted to share this quote, I felt it so wise. Not that we don't already know that Andy Warhol was an amazing artists and icon for many but I hadn't heard this gem and thought it was great:)

Solid Perfume Recipe from my Amazing friend Heather:)

 My amazing and crafty friend Heather gave me this recipe. We made some the other day and they turned out really cool. I think this would make great little gifts or stocking stuffers too...so you may be seeing that in your future:)


DIY Solid Perfume

1 unscented tealight, broken into small pieces
8 Tbs. petroleum jelly
1 tsp. fragrance oil or about 3 drops of essential oil (perfume grade only- available at most co-ops and health food stores)

Heat petroleum jelly over low heat in double boiler. Stir in tea light until all has been incorporated and melted.
3. Remove from heat. Allow to sit 1-2 minutes then stir in fragrance.
4. Pour or spoon into small containers.

*Heather's Tip #1* I always save my empty tealights after I have burned them. I wash them with warm soapy water and then reuse them for crafts like this one! Pour your mixture back into the clean tealight, let cool, cover in saran wrap and package in sheer colored fabric to give away as gifts!

*Heather's Tip #2* Use a floral fragrance like lavendar, rose or lilac and wrap in pastel colored sheer fabric for Easter basket stuffers... or peppermint oil and green fabric for St. Patrick's Day...

This is a great project to let the little ones exercise their creativity. Johnny wants to make licorice-scented tins? Sure, why not? Little Susie wants to make pineapple jelly bean? If you can find the scents, they can smell like anything! (If you can stand it, that is. Lol.)

Shedding strategy

Obviously you brush the dog or cat but in the summer it's really difficult to keep hair off of your furniture (you know the couch the dog doesn't stay off of). There are these nifty new hair picker upper thingys on the market. They are small and light and much easier for a quick defuzzing than the vacuum cleaner is but they are ridiculously priced and supposedly not reusable. Well, if your dog is like mine you can use it once or twice before it gets full and you are supposed to buy a new one. I have only bought one and used it all summer with my very easy strategy for reuse. I cut a small whole in the top plastic and empty it like I would a vacuum canister. These things are like 4+ bones a piece! Who buys that load? Not me;)

Oh and maybe it's just me but I didn't realize until this week that wax paper could go in the oven. I mean with the name wax paper it would just seem like a bad idea, right? Well for a fat-free pie or cake lining cut a piece the shape/size of the bottom of the pan and there you go. Save the messy paper towel of crisco for some other sucka.

Here we are again...and dryer sheet butterflies!

writing for the first time in forev. I just don't know where my days go. I've started selling jewelry for an awesome company called Premier Designs. So, there's that, it has kept me a bit busier and if you would like to book a show with me please let me know:) Free bling is always good! Other than that just to update I'm 35 weeks and measuring 38 weeks. Basically means another big baby is coming, not trying to get y hopes up on an early delivery due to the fact that I was late with the other two. I'm tired and honestly very excited for school to start next week. I do hate to say that but it is the truth. I love y son but his energy is exhausting to me at this stage in my pregnancy and it is really difficult to keep up. I also feel like he needs more stimulation than I can provide at his point. We have exhausted our book selection, art projects and crafts. One day I will get them all on here to share with you...one day:)

Here is something that we did the other day.

Dryer Sheet Butterflies

What you will need:
    * used dryer sheets
    * spring type clothes peg
    * brown pipe cleaner
    * black pipe cleaner (antennas)
    * glue
    * magnet
    * water color paints
    * pencil and paint brush

Instructions:

Take one used dryer sheet and scrunch it up the long way in the middle, then clip it in the middle with the clothespin. Do the same with the other dryer sheet. Now you can stop here and just paint the clothes pin and add a magnet on the back of the clothespin or you can copy the butterfly in our picture.

If you want a butterfly like the one shown, here's what you do:

Take a brown pipe cleaner and wrap it around a pencil so it will be in a coil.

Next, take a black pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Now slip one half of the black pipe cleaner through the brown coiled pipe cleaner and slip the other half around the middle of the dryer sheets.

At the top of the brown pipe cleaner, twist the two black antennas together.

Now take a pencil and wrap the two tops of the black pipe cleaner antennas just a little.

Here comes the fun part! Take your water color paints and brush the butterfly wings with all different colors. Let dry and spray a little bit of perfume on if you want the butterfly to smell nice.

Glue the back of the butterfly to the clothespin and when dry, glue on a magnet. Now you have a beautiful butterfly note holder for the fridge

Helpful hints not from Heloise

Here are a few I actually did today, I think I use a few everyday and according to the little poll to your left thats something you guys want so here goes:

To prevent clogs poor a can of beer down your drain, I know you say alcohol abuse! However, I've never had a clog, nor do I have a garbage disposal so use the money you would pay a plumber on more beer;)

If you are allergic to gold which many of us are but still like to be blingin you can boil your rings every other month in this simple mixture. Works for white gold too. 
1 part apple cider vinegar
1 part hydrogen peroxide
1 part water
Boil for about 5 mins. Also gives them a nice shine without the work of polishing!

Simmer orange peel in water for potpourri instead of buying that expensive oil at the store. This could be considering reducing or reusing but its definitely considered saving money and smells fabulous.

Keep your oranges out of the fridge to make it easier to remove the peel. The white bitter stuff on the back of the peel (pectin) will stick to the orange and not the part your peeling if the orange is cold so a warm orange peels much better.

So. . .

Today I feel like the bottoms about to fall out. I'm only at 29 weeks! I'm a firm believer at this point that having children this close together is not a pleasant experience for the individual actually having the child, or at least for me in this case. Yesterday was really rough, more so than usual, I was given strict orders by the hubby to rest. The problem with my orders is that when I "rest" all day I feel like an unproductive doofus. I'm not sure why I can't let go and allow myself to just relax. I guess part of it is the whole nesting thing, which is ridonkulous considering we have 11 weeks to go and I'm always late. What's the rush?

At this point I'm just babbling and your like what? Why is she going on and on about this? A few days ago I was apologizing for being such a slacker with this blog, ha! I am going to rest today, we have a birthday party for a dear friend at a place with all sorts of blow up equipment, never been but it sounds tiring just to watch. I am thankful for my little stash of gifts hidden away. Pretty much something for any occasion, works well being that we have a boy and a girl and that I have a love for clearance items:) So I'm going to wrap a gift from the stash and I'm going to plan on a nap today. Wow! It's 8:30 am and I'm already talking about a nap. Good bye for now and if anyone has any advice on how to rest and not feel guilty about it please do share:)

A note to peeps who actually read this blog!

Sorry I've been such a slacker. I have all these ideas and fun things that we do that I would love to share but it just never makes it to the page. Like so many things in real life this blog gets placed on the back burner. Summer has been uber fun yet hectic. Trying to get my new Etsy site up and actually finish everything that I want to post and trying to get the new Premier Designs business started have really been challenging. On that note hopefully once they are up and running the work to maintain them will not be as difficult as the start up. I appreciate you reading and hope that you are able to use what little ideas and recipes I've been able to post. As always comments and ideas are welcome and I love love love to hear from you guys! Peas and Happiness to all of you while we draggle through this hot summer and try to better ourselves, enrich our children and hopefully rest a little:)

P.S. We have decided on a name for our little treasure that is soon to come (not soon enough if u ask me). Drum roll please. . . Xander Erik Jackson Sargent!

Crayon Creations

Everyone with children has a bunch of nubby broken crayons. . .Don't toss them, reuse/upcycle them!

Scribble Cookies
**all u need for this one is old crayons a muffin tin and a warm oven
1.Peel paper off old crayon stubs and break into pieces
2.Sort the colors into muffin tin or mix them(mixing is an interesting option but I typically chose to make 1 or 2 mixed and sort the rest)
3. Let melt then cool
4. Pop out, muffin tin washes easily with hot soapy water
Hint: Remove crayon cookies from tin while it is squishy but not liquid.
DO NOT EAT!

The recipe below is crayon related but does not use actual crayons. It has been tested and approved at my house and the kids love to play with them in the tub. The soap crayons easily wipe from the surface of the bath/shower walls.
Soap Crayons
1. Fill a measuring cup with one cup mild powder laundry soap
2. Add 30-40 drops of food coloring
3. Add water by the teaspoon full until soap is liquid. Stir well.
4. Pack soap into ice cube tray.
5. Set in a sunny, dry place for two days until hardened and pop out of trays.

Ready to Recycle

A few tips to help us help our environment. I just learned a few of these the other day and they have really simplified my recycling efforts.

Paper
No need to remove clips or staples. Machines will filter them later.
Any paper with food stains should not be recycled because it will contaminate a load. Ex: greasy sub wrappers, pizza boxes.

Glass & Metal
Rinse bottles, jars and cans. Labels will burn off in processing so you don't need to waste your time removing them.


Plastic
Remove bottle caps they are a different type of plastic and can contaminate a load.
For the times you are not using your reusable  bags when shopping you can bring plastic bags back to the store and use them for your groceries again. Most stores also have bins to accept plastic bags for recycling.

Always remember your trash may be someone else's treasure:) Try craigslist, freecycle.org or a local thrift store for large item pick up.

Beach Baby!!

They get hot and then they get flustered. Just a quick tip if you are bringing a cooler pack a washcloth in the cooler to rub on your babies face, neck and back every once in a while for a quick cool down. It refreshed my little gem and really brightened up her mood multiple times!

Successful springtime

Check these out! These are my successful gardening ventures for springtime. The lettuce, green onions and broccoli that Elijah started in the window really took off. We didn't use any pesticides or growth chemicals either. Initially I did have an issue with earwigs and these tiny little red mites but to solve that we sprayed lemon juice and cayenne pepper (yep the kind you buy at the store in the spice aisle) on the crops. Just make sure to wash before eating, not everybody likes that mixture of tastes, including the mites. The nasty earwigs were a bit more difficult. I filled a few empty toilet paper and paper towel tubes with canola oil. For some reason unbeknownst to me those nasty creatures are attracted to it but the get trapped and can't get out. As my little bear would say "I be so proud of me!"

Throw and Grow

So I ran into this recipe for seed balls. They are a spectacular and easy spring/summer project you can make by yourself or with the kids. It also makes the perfect gift so make a bunch and share with friends! These throw and grow seed balls will bloom wherever you toss the which also simplifies your gardening a bit:)

Throw and grow seed balls
Combine two parts mixed flower seeds with three parts compost.
Stir in five parts powdered clay (this can be purchased at most art supply or craft stores.)
Moisten with water
Form balls 1 inch in diameter and allow to dry for 24-48 hours.

Tip: I used an empty egg carton to sit mine out to dry. Once dried you can wrap in paper and tie with a ribbon to create a charming little gift. You can even add a clever little tag to it, all that you need to do is toss it water it and wait for it to grow. Super fun!

Campfire food

 

This is an easy recipe I would like to share for those who like a good campfire. We have a fire pit in the back yard that we made with a shovel, some bricks and of course love. If you asked my husband who was holding the shovel most of the time he would use a different word than love but he is not the one writing this;) Regardless, everyone knows how to make s'mores which are always a fave so today I will instruct on an easy and hearty main dish that can be made easily with a cutting surface and a knife in any outdoor space.

You will need:
Aluminum foil
potatoes
onions
ground beef, turkey or chicken

you can also add:
peppers, tomatoes and corn if desired

Chop potatoes into small pieces
Place all ingredients mixed together in foil
Wrap in foil multiple times to prevent burning
Depending on how hot the fire is and how large the package is this concoction can
sit in the fire for 20-40 minutes. I suggest making multiple packets for quicker cooking.
The packets should be tuned every 10 minutes.
**When you remove these packets from the fire be sure to let them sit about 5 minutes before eating,
contents will be extremely hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste. The kiddos also like ketchup:)

Radishes

See look I promised pictures. . .eventually promises come true:)

This is my first crop that I was able to harvest this week. I'm pretty proud. Next week will be lettuce!

Healthy Ingredient Food Substitutions

Instead of                                                     Try 

1 c. whole milk                                               1 c. skim milk
1 c. light cream                                               1 c. evaporated skim milk
1 c. sour cream                                               1 c. plain low fat yogurt
1 oz. baking chocolate                                     3 tbsp. cocoa
1 oz. bacon                                                     1 oz. lean ham
ice cream                                                        ice milk or frozen yogurt
potato chips                                                     pretzels
1/4 c. vegetable oil (in baking)                         1/4 c. applesauce
1 egg                                                              1/8 c. egg white or egg substitute

Some of these seem obvious but others we don't really think about, regardless I find a lot of these substitutions to really cut the fat with very little difference in flavor:)

Fun Flubber Recipe

Flubber
(Make sure your little ones are past the "I have to stick everything in my mouth" stage or surpervise them with this activity)

Mixture 1:
3/4 c. warm water
1 c. Elmer's glue
Food coloring

Mixture 2:
2 tsp. Borax
1/2 c. warm water

Mix each mixture in separate bowls. Combine Mixture 1 into 2 & work about three minutes.
Instant Fun!

**This recipe should be safe for children of all ages if they are past the stage where they want to taste or chew everything. This being said the recipe does contain Borax and some children with very sensitive skin may need to moisturize their hands before playing with this to avoid dryness.

It's a Boy!

We saw boy parts people! This means that the majority of you were right. Mommy new it all along:)

BBQ Pot Pie

I know it sounds delicious because it is:) and easy too!

1 frozen pie crust, allow to thaw as directed.
1 container Fully cooked pulled bbq pork or chicken (I prefer chicken for lower fat content)
1 1/2 c. of Orieda Frozen Potatoes O'Brien
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (I use 2% but again this would be your preference)
1 can corn (drained)

Preheat oven to 350. Bake crust for 5 mins, remove from oven.
Spoon 1/2 of bbq into crust and layer of 1/2 of cheese on top.
Layer potatoes and corn on top of cheese. Top with remaining bbq and then cheese.
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.
Let stand 5 mins before serving.

Healthy Eating/Cravings

This is not just for pregnant women. You know how we all crave an afternoon cookie or some cheesy noodles every once in a while. This is largely a result of unhealthy eating to begin with, as well as lack of serotonin.

**An enormous percentage of women crave sugar, carbohydrates, or alcohol. In most cases, these food cravings are not true eating disorders, but instead are signs of hormonal imbalance caused by a lack of healthy nutrition.


Food cravings mean that the body has its signals mixed up. When we are exhausted or blue, we have low blood sugar and/or low serotonin, and the body signals the brain that it needs a pick-me-up. This signal causes a sugar craving or carbohydrate craving.**

The good news is there are three things you can do to stop this vicious cycle:

Get 8 hours of sleep nightly

Take a multivitamin daily

Get 10 mins of excercise per day (above and beyond your typical stretching/walking etc., this needs to be a "breaking the sweat" activity)

Low-Cal Diet Cranberry Lime-aid

I'm addicted to these lo-cal cherry Lime-aid things they have at a certain drive-in fast food joint where the car hops do not ever wear roller skates like in the commercials:) Well, I figured out how to make a cranberry version at home using Cranergy which also gives you a quick energy boost without the caffeine...I know I'm a genius, you don't have to tell me;)

1 can Sprite Zero
6 oz. Ocean Spray Cranergy (I prefer the Pomegranate type)
Lime slices (as desired)
Ice

This makes for a large cool dink on a hot day. Perfect for the afternoon when you start getting tired. Very Refreshing!

P.S. This is for my prego friend Sarah who has gotten me hooked on limes this pregnancy!

If you have a green tab on your Sprite save it. Sprite is dontaing 10 cents per tab to Habitat for Humanity!
Send your tabs in to

Sprite Tabs for Habitat
PO box 51412, Knoxville, TN 37950

Super Sicky

Dealing with a sick child is difficult, especially when they are feverish and pathetic. That is precisely what I have been doing all week and I felt it would be a good opportunity to share some home remedies that can save a bit of money verses the typical products you may buy in stores to help comfort the super sicky in your life.

A lot of these items you will already have around the house:)

Witch Hazel is a good aide to comfort a feverish child, or adult for that matter. You can dilute a few teaspoons in cool water and soak a washcloth and then rub the child's back, chest and neck. As it evaporates it has an excellent cooling effect and when diluted it will not cause any negative effects such as rashiness or dryness on even the most sensitive skin.

Vapor Rub can be rubbed on the soles of a childs feet just before bed. This is great for helping with fever and congestion and many children do not like having it rubbed on their chest or back due to the strong scent.

Fruit Juice I know your probably saying "Um Yeah", but a lot of times children are weary to drink when ill, especially with a sore throat but will be more than happy to have a popsicle. Many of the popsicles on the store shelves have absolutely no positive nutritional value and are only serving to hydrate but not replenish. I spent a dollar on my reusable popsicle set, you know those ice tray type things, you can usually find them at the dollar store:)

Gardening with your Children

Its almost time to plant. You can save a lot of money, get some fresh air and help your children learn how to nurture something and the joy of growing your own food or flowers! We start indoors by sprouting our seeds in a window. We use soil inside old egg cartons. Not only are we reusing and saving money versus using the small pots but a 12 or 18 carton of eggs seems to fit perfects in most windowsills:) Children really enjoy seing the seeds sprout. We label the side of each cup with the first letter of whatever seed we have planted as an indentifier. Surprisingly enough, this helps with our alphabet/spelling skills too. The other day my 4 year old Elijah said "Mommy, the corn and pumpkins are growing really fast!" I asked how he knew which ones were corn and pumpkins and he looked at me like I was being silly, "The corn is the one that starts with C and the pumpkin starts with P". I did'nt know that he could roll his eyes so good ...he must've learned that one from me:)

Below is an awesome link with helpful gardening tips to get you and your little one started.

http://gardening.about.com/od/gardeningwithkids/Gardening_with_Kids_Sharing_the_Fun_of_Gardening_with_Your_Children.htm

COMING SOON PICTURES! I KNOW THIS SITE IS LACKING BUT PICS FOR POSTS WILL BE ADDED SOON! THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE:)

Vote for Miss Mila!

It only takes a moment:)

http://gapc-vote.com/?p=2123581

Rainy Day Craft Idea

Victorian Salt Clay (can be used to make beads/small objects)


2 c. salt
2/3 c. water + 1/2 c. cold water
1 c. cornstarch
Food coloring (optional)

1. Mix salt & 2/3 c. water in large saucepan.
2. Stirring constantly, heat over low heat 4 minutes. Do Not Boil
3. Remove from heat and stir in cornstarch and cold water. *You can add the food coloring at this point for a large batch of the same color, or you can chose to mix in color to smaller batches and then combine them for multicolored clay if desired.
4. If the mixture is not a thick paste (think bread dough consistency), place back over low heat for approx. 1 minute. Again, Do Not Boil.
5. Remove from pan; place on working surface dusted with cornstarch. Knead as you would dough until pliable & smooth.

This dough can take up to 3 days to completely dry at room temp. or you can do a Quick Dry: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Turn oven off & place model on pan in oven. Wait until oven has cooled. Remove and paint if desired.

Kick the Can Ice Cream

Can you believe there are only a few more days until we spring forward and it is bright and sunny today. I'm stoked! Here is an awesome recipe from my friend Heather for homemade ice cream. Its something easy and fun to do with the kids outside and everyone likes ice cream!

Ice Cream in a Bag



1 Tbs. sugar

1/2 c. half and half or milk

1/4 tsp. vanilla

6 Tbs. rock salt

ice cubes

1 pt. & 1 gal. ziptop bags or 1 sm. and 1 lg. metal coffee can


1. Fill lg. bag or can 1/2 full with ice cubes. Add rock salt.

2. Place milk, sugar, & vanilla in sm. bag or can. Seal well (if using a can, put duct tape around the lid to prevent leaking).

3. Place sm. bag or can into large and seal securely (again using duct tape if necessary).

4. Shake about 5 minutes or play Kick the Can with the kiddos!!


*Heather's Tip #1* Try replacing the milk with fruit juice and the vanilla with a fruit extract. I like using pineapple juice and coconut extract. Smells and tastes like summer, even in the throes of winter.

*Heather's Tip #2* Invent your own flavors! This is an endlessly customizable recipe and I would encourage you to come up with your own flavors. Or you can try one of my inventions:

Mocha Chip Freeze: Add up to 1 tsp. instant coffee or espresso powder and 1/4 c. mini chocolate chips. This one is great if you replace the vanilla with peppermint extract!

Salted Caramel Freeze: Add up to 2 tsp. of caramel ice cream topping to the original mixture and shake an extra minute to incorporate. Transfer to your serving dishes (or just straight in the bag if you want it all for yourself!) and top each serving with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt. You'd never know this trendy dessert was made in a coffee can!

Baby Food Do it Yourself!

Baby food is so expensive and so simple. You can save a ton of money making it yourself and your little one will not know the difference. Foods prepared at home will last in the freezer about 1 month and you can even freeze them in ice cube trays to make easy to reheat portions. The best part is it only takes 10-15 minutes to make and you know exactly what your child is consuming.

Thoroughly wash any fresh vegetables or fruits that you've purchased in the produce section to remove dirt and possible pesticides. You can also chose to use canned or frozen vegetables.

Steam or boil the fruit or vegetable. You will want the food to be mushy if your baby has just started on solids. If your baby has been eating for a couple of months you can cook the food until it is easily pierced with a fork to allow a thicker consistency.

Puree the food in a blender or food processor until the food reaches the right consistency for your child's stage of eating.

Strain the food to remove any stray peels. You can chose to skp this step by removing the peels before cooking. Typically it is more efficient to strain afterwards. Frozen or canned vegetables can also be used.

Spoon the pureed food into ice cube trays and cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. When the cubes are frozen, you can put them in ziplock bags or another food storage container. Make sure to label with the type of food and the date it was prepared.

When it's time to eat, remove as many cubes as you need and allow to thaw or thaw in the microwave.

For some other recipes and helpful hints check out the following links:

http://homecooking.about.com/od/specificfood/a/babyfooddos.htm

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

Mornings Made Easy

Mornings Made Easy
Unfortunately I am not a morning person, but I have to be up so I might as well make the most of it. In the past few years I’ve learned that mornings are the most important time to choose your battles wisely and let some of the little stuff go. For example, I like for my son to have juice that is actually juice not something posing as juice, but my son would prefer the fake stuff. To combat this I have made popsicles out of real juice. Its simple and easy and my son thinks he is getting a really special treat in the morning.

We have concocted a fairly easy system for getting up and ready with minimal complications. It revolves around two basic concepts as follows; Having a wake up routine and teamwork. Children love teamwork, they love to feel a part of something and it helps them to gain a sense of accomplishment and self worth. My son loves to help with his little sister. He thinks he is the biggest boy ever when he picks out his own clothes (another battle which I often choose not to take on), see Fostering Creativity with Fashion in the Awesome Activities page.

Try making a list of the morning tasks your child needs to complete to get ready for school. Be specific so that the expectations are clear to your child. If you want your child to wake up on their own using an alarm clock, be specific and include your expectations in your list.
Example:
Wake Up from Alarm Clock
Make Bed
Get Dressed
Eat Breakfast
Put Plates in Sink
Comb Hair
Brush Teeth
Get Backpack
Leave for School

You can make creating a chart for each child a fun process. Create it out of a large poster board or piece of scrap cardboard and let it be something that you set the guidelines for but they create. Have them clip out pictures from magazines or draw pictures that suit each task.

Welcome Mommies!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm new to he blogging world but not to motherhood. I feel like I can create a place, with your comments and suggestions, where we can go to get great ideas from one another and share the best parts of being a Mommy!

Happy Kids on Snowy Days

Its hard to keep children happy in the harsh throws of winter. We can go outside and play for a bit but the cold can be unbearble after even a few short minutes. Mommy has things to do inside, because as we all know a mother's work is never done. Sometimes it is just too easy to sit them in front of the television or turn on the game system. Falling into that trap day after day is unhealthy and leads to unhappy children who will end up going stir fry or I mean stir crazy! Below are a few simple, cheap and fun ideas which require very little supervsion for ages 4+. So provide the supplies and let them at it... you have work to do!

Pasta Crafts
Lay out a bowl of uncooked penne, macaroni, shells, rotini, some string, paper and glue and let your little artist create. They can make pictures, cards for friends, necklaces and bracelets, you name it.

Pipe Cleaner Animals
If you dont already have some pipe cleaners can be purchased in fairly large quantites for very cheap. There are a lot of really easy and cute creatures that can be made in an array of colors. Check out this link for egg carton pipe cleaner combos that both you and your kids will love! http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Eggcarton.shtml

Modeling Clay/Dough
We all know what this means, if given the appropriate space and multiple colors a child will play with "Claydough" for hours. You don't have to buy it either, it can be made with a few ingredients you may already have in your home. If you chose to make it yourself your child will also enjoy taking part in the project. See my post Making Easy Play Clay on the Awesome Activities page for multiple recipes.



Let them Help
This is by far my favorite of all ideas. There are a lot of chores around the house that can help to keep our children busy while also helping them learn basic skills that they will need down the line. Sometimes kids are considered in the way but with the right approach simple household chores can create tasks for your child that help them feel a part of your daily routine and like big helpers.

Sorting Laundry: This can be before or after wash. Allow them to sort whites, darks or colors before the wash goes in or allow them to sort the laudnry by which room it goes in or person it belongs to when folding.

Putting away dishes: I keep all the plastic storage containers in a low cabinet so that the chilren can match the lids with the appropriate container and put them away. Also silverware is great for kids to sort (obviously not including knives).



These are just a few simple ideas. Your household practices are welcome! Please post your ideas!