The following are things I’ve felt have really enhanced my chosen role. Granted I am a bit of a type A, and doing many of these things could be deemed unnecessary , and doing all of them like I do is probably ridiculous. But pick one that really does cut a corner for you, and then maybe you’ll also think to try one that’ s new. I worry that some may be too obvious. I only know that no one told me, so there’s gotta be someone out there who doesn’t know. Of course there were no scientific trials, and I was only deciding their safety by my standards. Try at your own risk!
News
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August 19, 2010
HOMEMADE SUPER HEROES
School’s out, and hopefully kids are playing a lot outside. This makes them the royalty of the neighborhood, and is an easy clean up. Even on a rainy day it is fun for the indoors.
They should wear the smallest amount of clothing, preferably in a color that goes with your character. Use kids washable paints found at any toy store. It may be a chore to keepthem still, especially when they are close to being done. My chins and chests always get smudged due to the constant looking down at their bodies, lol.
Off to their mission they go! When they are tired of being a different color they jump into the pool, shower or bath. All clean! -
July 23, 2010
BIRTHDAY BOTTLES
I have the added struggle of throwing the parties. X3. Since my boys are so close in age they like a lot of the same things and same people. This means I have to come up with similar themes (not the same!!), and similar “goody bag” gifts. The fact that this tradition even exists is shocking to me. When I was little the only kid who got a present was the one with the Birthday. Plus, usually they are bags of junk. Filled with tiny, annoying, plastic toys and candy to rot the teeth.
My oldest had his party at a sports place. Kids could do the batting cage, free throw, soccer and hockey goals, baseball pitch, and there was a constant dodgeball game going on. Fun. I like themes.
I got a black metal water bottle for every boy. Out came my fabric paints and metallic sharpees. I did each boy’s initial on the front. On the back, much smaller, I put their full name and MO’s birth date. A great keepsake, and better for our planet. I knew they would be the bottle of choice for their lunchbox. I was right. It was a party, so I filled them each with skittles (nut free!).
Still, my Mom side stepped in and attached a toothbrush and travel size toothpaste. At least I’d make the Mother’s happy too.
Some ribbon and they doubled as place settings. They were a HUGE success.
Source: LaurenHolly.com
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June 26, 2010
The Birthday T
This one gets a good five years. First, adults love it for the photo-op, then your kid looks forward to it like a badge of honor. After they are five, the cool factor of wearing it in public evaporates. Supplies are easy. A plain white T- I buy the Hanes 3-pack. Fabric paints. I get mine at Michael’s, but any craft store will carry them in tons of colors. You can even pick ones that match the color theme of your party.
Decorate the neck and arms. Depending on what kind of artist you are, you can really go to town. You just can’t forget the most important details:
a. Proclaim it is their Birthday, today. b. The # of years old they are should appear frequently. c. One side at a time, turn over when it’s dry (overnight is perfect).
Trust me, they can’t wait until it’s ready and they can put it on. Go ahead and wash and dry. No problem. -
June 25, 2010
Playdo
Not a typical recipe to post, but a fun one. Obviously it is great for any parent of young kids to have, but also for babysitters, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. I love it because I make it with my boys, and it’s an activity in of itself. Plus, we can make really cool colors, and as much as we want. We can even make it smell fun!
3 cups boiling water
3 cups flour
1 ½ cups salt
1 ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
3 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
Food colorings
Flavor oils
Just mix all the first group of ingredients in a bowl. You may need a little more of one thing, a little less of another. Just keep kneading it until it is no longer sticky (more flour), and a nice smooth consistency. Then we separate into balls and drop food colorings into each to make whatever colors we want. I love to make black and brown because I can never find those in playdo. Purple, orange, dark green, even leave some white. Get creative!
After we have all our colors, we make them smell. I like a few drops of peppermint. My boys like the citrus oils, or vanilla. Your grocery will have a selection in spices and baking.
Store the playdo in Ziplocs in your fridge and it lasts for weeks! Plus, who cares if the little ones eat some?! LOL -
June 24, 2010
Birthday Celebration Tips
One of the things as a Mother that gets old quickly are the Birthday Parties. First you have to deal with going with your child. Endless chit chats tinged with competition. Then when they get old enough to attend alone, the number of parties seems to multiply. Having three boys, every weekend is pretty booked. Somebody get me a chauffer cap! I’ll be adding lots of things in this celebration category in the future since I’ll obviously am going to have to keep thinking about it.
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February 24, 2010
Wrapping Paper
This past Christmas, I had a hard time finding the paper I wanted to use. Lots of it was too gaudy for my taste, or too cheesy. If there was a pattern I liked, it was in colors I didn’t. When I did buy some (so expensive!), I found the roll only wrapped a couple of gifts. What a ripoff!
With three young children in school, the birthday party invites come non-stop. They always want to buy different paper. Spongebob or superman, princess paper for the girls. I end up with tons of scrap rolls. A card for each gift too, and I’ve already used up a lot of my budget for the present itself!
My solution? Plain paper. I got one big roll of the stuff that you can wrap parcels in for shipping- the color of brown paper bags. I also got a big roll of the lighter colored paper, like the stuff you can wrap dishes in when you are moving. These two can be dressed up for anything, and they last forever!
For my packages, I use colored ribbon and something from outside. Fresh flowers, fall leaves, a small pinecone or acorns- even a piece of pine. The name tag goes ‘write’ on with felt tip markers. Yarn, rick-rack, a stamper that can make your own pattern, even colored polka-dots- there are lots of ways you can pretty your gifts up.
My kids have a blast with theirs. The card becomes a picture that they draw right onto the package. Sometimes the use stickers, or glitter pens. Paints, markers, crayons, it all works. Relatives absolutely love their homemade wrapping, and regret having to tear it to open. Their friends think their designs are cool, and the parents remark on the idea all the time. These days I’m seeing lots of these at the birthday parties!
Save money, save time, and make the most unique gifts around. -
February 4, 2010
Jars O'Love
Valentine’s day is coming up. Mostly it is one of those holidays I hate. Isn’t purely commercial? If you are not romantically involved, the day makes you feel like crap. If you are, you feel pressured. So, I say we fight back. Don’t buy the cards, the chocolates, the flowers. Isn’t it all supposed to be about love, about your heart, anyway? Does your valentine have to be only a boyfriend or girlfriend? Can it be a friend? A neighbor? A teacher? The day should celebrate anyone that you care for. Let them know you appreciate them.
I got a jar o’ love, and I LOVED IT!
First, get a glass jar. Decorate the outside any way you want, or leave it plain. My boys painted them with puffy paints, and stickers. Fill it layer by layer with the ingredients of your someone’s favorite cookie recipe. Obviously, only the dry ingredients like flour, sugar, etc. Pre measure and pre sift them. The end result should look like those layered sand sculptures. Once you screw on the lid, you can leave that plain or decorate it as well. A good idea is to put a scrap of material on top secured with a rubber band. Make a card, and on one side print the entire recipe.
For your boyfriend? Show up with some milk, and start baking. Your Mom? You know she has the other ingredients in her fridge….most people do, and appreciate the rest of the recipe ready to go. Your friend? It’s easy, and a blast to chat while cooking and eating. Someone just moved into the neighborhood? Send one over as a welcome. They make good gifts for teachers, too.
Everybody loves cookies. -
December 28, 2009
Change it up
They make better thermoses than when I was a kid. They really work. Hot stuff and cold stuff all ended up close to the same temperature. Those short fat ones fit well in boxes or bags. Heat up leftovers like REAL MAC N CHEESE or Spaghetti. If it is MAMMY’S SLOPPY JOES, send a roll. Sometimes it’s still steaming at break. Frozen yoghurt is good too, sent with fruit on the side. Change it up. It doesn’t take any more time than making a sandwich.
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December 1, 2009
How to Guarantee a Chewy Cookie or Fudgy Brownie
I don’t really like fancy desserts. It is a rare occasion that I like chocolate with fruit. If it could be baked by a twelve year old or tastes good on a cone- that’s my kind of thing. If it can be, the softer or moister the better. I like a chewy cookie and a fudgy brownie.
When it’s ¾ done start sticking it with a toothpick, it makes smaller holes than a fork. Pull it out when it comes out covered with spongy crumbs and no batter. After I take them out of the oven I immediately seal them. I have one genius pan that has its own Tupperware top. Otherwise it’s foil, saran, etc.
Let them cool that way, then decorate if you need to. Keep it sealed as eaten. Makes me excited. -
November 15, 2009
A Tip for Turkey Day
This holiday is not celebrated all over the world, or if it is, it may not be on the same day. This idea is really for anytime a group that is important to one another sit down to break bread. We all have that experience in common.
I love Thanksgiving. Depending on schedules we either celebrate with family at a relative’s house, or we host the meal. Regardless, either table usually includes friends who had a change of plans and couldn’t join their own family. Some years the table was filled with “orphans”- that’s what we called ourselves for the day- because we couldn’t get home to family for one reason or another. A table game was born. Really it was just a way to get to know each other, for those being introduced for the first time. Now it has become part of the feast and tradition, and is even meaningful and fun when you all know each other completely. Grandparents and children laugh or listen just the same, and it makes the memories you talk about the whole year.
I write down a bunch of questions or tasks, fold each one, and put them in a little basket. The more of them, the better. Throughout the meal, we pass the basket around, and take turns picking out a piece of paper. The rule is you have to answer or do the task you draw, unless it is inappropriate- eg. A child doesn’t understand, etc.-then you can draw again. If there are a lot of kids, we’ve even made a ‘kids only’ basket. Round and round it goes, and it always is the highlight of the meal- even if your turkey turned out perfectly! Personalize your papers to your guests, of course, but here are some suggestions:- For what are you most Thankful? I always put multiples of this one in.
- What was your most embarrassing moment? Tell the story.
- Tell a joke.
- Where & When did you meet your true love? Tell us about it.
- Devise a secret handshake with the person to your left. Show us when you’re ready.
- Who would you like us to think about today? Tell us about them.
- Stand up, and while we all sing, do your best chicken dance. Get ready to laugh!
- Look at the person on your right. Tell us 3 of your favorite things about them that you either already know or have just observed.
- If you had $1,000,000 and only 24 hours in which you had to spend it, what would you buy? This one usually leads to a whole table discussion…..
- You wake up one morning and you are at your favorite place- real or imagined. Where are you? What are you doing? What do you see?
- Who do you miss most today?
- What would be your dream job? Why?
- If you could change one thing, what would it be? Another discussion starter.
- Tell us about something that made you smile recently.
- What is your favorite book?
You get the idea. Have fun with it. Even the shyest join in. I save my questions year to year and just add new ones. I’ve even gotten a call in July with a suggestion of one to add. This game is a hit, and special. -
November 2, 2009
The Temper Tantrum over Dressing Themselves
Every parent I know deals with the temper tantrum over dressing. When kids are just becoming aware that they can make decisions, it begins. The ”I want to wear the purple fairy sparkly princess dress for the 17th day in a row”, or the ”I am a Power Ranger and I like to wear my red suit and helmet to the grocery store!”. I let them relish their independence and wear their choice. And I make them a medal for ‘greatest job getting dressed ‘award. On a big white sticky label I write: “Look, I dressed myself today! “, and make a mini-ceremony of sticking it on their chest. Wherever we go all day people notice them and read their ‘badge’. Most people praise them and tell them how nice they look. The kids love the attention, and everybody thinks I am such a fun Mom! I really think they get through this phase faster because they prove to themselves that they can, and move on. The battle stops. -
October 11, 2009
Halloween: Scary HOLLYween Tree
It was crafty time at my house this past weekend. First we decorated the house for Halloween. As we were unpacking the bins, the boys started ridiculing some of the decorations as “For a baby!” Oops, they were growing up. They used to be mesmerized by the smiling pumpkin with the light inside. The constant sound of the ‘jiggle to the music marshmallow fluffy ghost’ jangled only my nerves. Nope, this year was “ONLY scary stuff!” We didn’t have that many decorations in that category, and that got me thinking. I love crafts. I’m not a professional crafty, nobody would pay me for my creations, but it’s fun. My boys love it too, but their abilities had stunted some of my bigger ideas. I learned that from previous disasters that included massive stains on drapery and floor buffing. Now we were gonna move up to a higher level of difficulty in the craft skills department. Cool. I went through my house, in my backyard, and to a nearby super discount store for the supplies. They invited a friend, and we got to work. My husband knew he’d have hours of uninterrupted football!
NEEDS:- Skinny branch with a few off-shoots and no leaves
- Plastic pot (preferably already black, or make it so)
- Newspaper: That grassy/raffia stuff they sell by the bag. The curly kind in a muted grey or brown works best. I bought a piece of the mossy looking stuff in the planting section too.
- Can of black spray paint. Glossy or Matte.
- Hole- punch or needle or anything to make a hole in paper
- Foam in a block or ball-it has to fit in your pot
- String or thread. I used black thread, and pre-cut a bunch to about 6” long.
- Few sheets of black, white, and silver/grey construction paper
- Glue- stick or little squeeze bottle
- Embellishments: this is whatever you want. I got stickers of only scary stuff: Bats, skulls, haunted houses, witches and ghosts. Then I got more ideas as I saw stuff: Stick -on googly eyes, stick-on tiny jewels, even those corners you put on pictures in a photo album. I found these little hanging charms that fit the theme in an aisle where they had supplies to make your own jewelry for fun: dark-colored jewels, fancy lock and keys, etc. You could really find all kinds of stuff.
GO-TO TOOLS:
Markers, crayons, scissors (I even had some of those scissors that cut different edges-they were great), chalk.SET UP:
First I ‘manicured’ my branches. I broke off what I didn’t like and the bottoms to make them the right size for my pots. Then I laid down some newspaper in my garage and spray painted them (get everywhere!). While they dried, I put out all my embellishments, each in their own little bowl, on the kitchen table. I cut some of the construction paper in squares, circles, ovals, and rectangles in various sizes and put them in one basket, glue, scissors and a hole-punch in another, and one more for my ‘dead’ grass. By then my branches were dry, and ready to be ‘planted’. I did this part for my boys and their friend. I even did it for his brother who was sick. It made a wonderful care –package for a get- well future activity. I sent it home with embellishments in little baggies and a big brother who was excited to show him how.Put something with weight in the bottom of your pot to prevent future tipping. Next your foam, then stuff around the edges with newspaper. Make sure it’s SUPERTIGHT, the foam can’t move at all. Stick your black ‘tree’ into the center of your foam. Ta da! Now you get to decorate it with your ornaments!
Each boy had a tree at his seat. I made some popcorn, and put that on the table. It was a party! When I called them in, they went bug-eyed. I gave them the speech about how politeness was a part of this ‘adult’ craft- they have to pass things around. If we thought about it we could make some great ornaments and hang them on our scary tree. We finally had to call it finished 5 hours later for dinner. It was unbelievable how we all got into it. If you didn’t have that much time- you could just make your ornaments in spurts over a week…..you don’t need that many, it looks great desolate.DECORATING:
After we covered up the foam and newspaper with our ‘dead grass’ around the base of our tree, we ready to make it even scarier. Some of the charms we hung by themselves. We stuck stickers on paper, punched a whole, and tied a string. We cut out coffins and ghosts and bats. Witches hats. Stickers got stuck right on the trunk. We drew a tiny scary ‘painting’,’ framed it’ with our photo corners, made signs with two stickers and a toothpick. We even drew on a rock to make a tombstone. Whatever you can think of that’s scary. Each of the boys was so proud of their tree. At the end we made a sign with their name and date, and hung that on the tree. Now we had a forest of scary decorations! I just have to figure out how on earth I store them for next year!Click here for more pictures.
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September 15, 2009
Keeping Kids Entertained
For me, a hard age to get through with my kids was around the nine month mark. Even though we were really communicating, and they always love to laugh at something again and again and again and again…..their overriding theme seems to be FRUSTRATION. They want to be able to move and control their bodies on THEIR terms. Most of the time they themselves aren’t capable yet, or it might be that they are not allowed to due to place, timing, danger, etc. The result is wailing, yelling, etc. This stage inevitably occurred when we were going on a trip, or needed to spend more time than usual in the car, or Holiday shopping, etc. Oh, and any help that I am SO FORTUNATE to have is ill or on vacation. This incredible trick saved the day on so many occasions, and it made me laugh every time.
I was on the floor with my guy on his back next to me making my “Yearly Collage” (future tip/craft!), and had my supplies surrounding me (no dangerous ones). Interspersed with these supplies were various toys my son liked to manipulate and suck on. Our position allowed for two very important things: he could kick, flail, and ‘scoot’ as much as he needed, and when he became incensed over some minor detail of the object he was dealing with ( I CANNOT FIT TWELVE OF THESE PLASTIC RINGS IN MY MOUTH AT ONE TIME!!!!!!!), I could quickly pass him a new one and quell his screaming. I could get a solid 30 min. of stuff done. Then I realized he had been stress free, and in fact gurgling happily for an unusually long stretch. I looked over and saw his mood mellower was scotch tape! He had managed to pull a very long piece and was enjoying that the stickiness meant that it didn’t get lost in his mouth while he tasted it ( I CAN FIT IT IN AND PULL IT OUT AND DO THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN….!!!) Or if he chose to, he could catch it AND throw it at the same time! It never dropped, it was always in site.
After that I always kept a dispenser in my bag, the lightest problem solver ever! There always seemed to be a situation that would awake the Frustration King or Queen. In the car and they’re ticked at the car seat that is restraining them. On a plane and they want to go up and down the aisle. Waiting in a line, or a reception office, screaming at their boredom. In the grocery store and not being allowed to pull everything off the shelves. Just rip ‘em off a long piece of tape. You and those around you get a break, and they’re fascinated. They have joy for their loyal friend. Fine motor manipulation skills are honed. Maybe tape even helps generate future surgeons! -
May 21, 2009
Birthdays and Anniversaries
There are actually two tips here: Have plenty of cards, and organize those cards according to birthday and anniversary date.
I am not tech savvy, something that over time will become obvious to you. Hence I don’t send e-cards. I know they’re easy, but I like things I can hold in my hand. What happens to keepsake boxes if every endearment is over the internet? I like to send a card in the mail for a birthday or an anniversary, and I keep a shoebox filled with a variety of cards for those occasions. Sometimes I buy a bunch all at once, or pick ‘em up as I see them. I always make sure I have a selection: boy and girl kids, a one year is key, funny, sappy, and a bunch of blanks. Blank cards always save the day when you want to write a note, or you don’t have the perfect card for someone.
Beginning this project is the most time consuming part. You need to have a list of everybody’s birthday or anniversary. I do mine by month, and I add the year of birth or marriage. If you have relatives that keep having babies like I do, it helps. Then make labels (I admit my husband had to do this part for me, but there is always a son, daughter, friend, neighbor or relative that thinks this task is so simple and they’ll help set you up if you need them to) for each person on the list on your computer. As there are changes, just add them to these documents and save.
At some point during the year I take an afternoon and do all of my cards. Seal them, address them, return address them (both from my print out labels), postage them. I put them in an envelope holder, the stand-up kind, in the order that they’re coming up. A sticky gets put on for what day they should go in the mail. It sits by our side door, and whoever notices first that there is one to go out does the honor and puts it in the mailbox. Small boys love this chore and never let you forget! I do about 30 a year. It takes me about two hours. That’s got to be quicker than the hassle of one at a time.
All year long, people seem really touched that they got a card in the mail. If you do a smaller # of months at a time or more, it still seems like relatively little effort for something that makes someone feel so special.
