Drool vs. USB Drive

My USB drive was in a small container that snapped closed on the sides. I gave it to my toddler as a "rattle" of some sort to entertain her while she sat on my lap watching TV. Consumed by my social media, I didn't notice that she opened the container and had been treating my USB drives like lollipops! I'm grateful that she didn't shove them down her throat but have to unfortunately learn the hard way of who won the battle: drool vs. USB drive. I texted my techie husband right away and told him what happened. Here's what he prescribed: immerse the drives in a bowl full of rice for 24 - 48 hrs depending on level of exposure to liquid and wait.

In the end, the drives survived. The rice worked quickly to absorb all of the moisture.

RECYCLE: Cards for All Occasions

Save cards that you get for any occasion and reuse them. If the back of the front cover isn't written on, convert it to a postcard or unique card for whatever occasion. If the front cover is written on and you don't mind covering the message, then cut out a piece of print or construction paper and glue it over the words. Afterwards use it as described above. Here are some examples:

Card 1

Card 2

Both Card 1 and 2 have texture on the back. For that reason, I am going to cut and paste paper to the back.

Be creative and make whatever design you like. You can also use stamps, markers or crayons to give your postcard a personal touch.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

...Now let's kill some weeds!

Earth day is a nice idea about learning about nature, wildlife and weather. I think of it as something peaceful and a reminder that we should care and respect Mother Nature since we depend on it to live. Right now, however, I'm interested in talking about killing a part of nature...weeds!

Did you know...

That you can eat dandelions and a series of other weeds?

You can walk around your house or field nearby and make a salad from edible weeds? Talk about doomsday preppers! In all seriousness, I do think its cool and interesting.

Dandelion Salad

You can also kill weeds with:

1. Vodka. I first saw this tip in a "This Old House" magazine. Don't judge me!
2. Vinegar
3. Cornmeal
4. Boiling Water
5. Table Salt
6. Your Hands by pulling weeds

You can use weeds for simple medicinal purposes like treating sunburn, chapped lips, acne, etc

Good luck on your nature adventures and HAPPY EARTH DAY!

SPACE SAVER SUNDAYS: The Toy Box

This post is about making your own toy box. Upholster ikea bookshelf with solid wood front. Instead of mounting it to the wall, lay it flat so that it looks like a trunk and upholster the "door."

You can also upholster the doors on your old bookcase. It has to be a solid door like the ikea bookshelf. Lay it flat to convert it into a bench/toy chest! It's pretty fast and cheap. You will need medium density foam, batting, fabric of your choice and an upholstering stapler. All of this can be found at Joann fabric. Only one trip is needed and takes about 45 minutes to do the entire project.

Here's what I came up with:

It holds a lot of boardgames, puzzles, Wii remotes and accessories and whatever else you can think of.

Good luck!

Baking with Love!!!

I love baking and even more so with my daughter so when I found these faux antique skeleton key measuring spoons, I just had to buy them! It says, 1/4 teaspoon of Bliss, 1/2 teaspoon of Hugs, 1 teaspoon of Trust, and 1 tablespoon of Love.

I'm from New England so when bananas get too ripe, everyone in the house knows its time to make banana bread. My daughter loves hers with chocolate chips but you can omit that ingredient for plain banana-nut bread. Below is the recipe on how to make your own.

Choco-Walnut Banana Bread

Dry ingredients:
1 2/3 c. All purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Wet ingredients:
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c. applesauce as a butter replacement. Makes loaf moist!
1 c. white sugar
2 mashed ripe bananas

Gather all the ingredients and proper measurements. Mix everything together. Set the oven to 350 F and bake on middle rack for 50 minutes. #bakingwithlove

Make your Kid an Author

I found this clever packet on helping your child write and illustrate their own book. It was so cute and creative that I had to get it. What's even better is that it can be stretched out into a week long activity.

Here's how:

Monday
     My husband works in unison with my daughter every night to construct a bedtime story. He begins and she ad-libs character names and antagonists in the story.

To begin, take time thinking up some fun or any of your kid's favorite story ideas. Brainstorm by writing down the ideas and then picking one that interests him/her the most.

Tuesday
     Edit the story, rewrite it neatly for your child so they can copy your "adult writing" and have your child come up with a title.

Wednesday
     Begin illustrating. Stickers are provided to help with the stories but you don't have to use them. Start by having your child decorate the cover.

Thursday
     Then have him/her illustrate the story in the pages throughout the book. This may take a while but it really depends on the individual.

Friday
     Lastly, decorate the back cover.

And repeat! The kit comes with 3 blank books.

It's National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry month! Celebrate by teaching your small child (5+) how to write poetry. Start with something simple like a couplet and "graduate" to a triplet. Give them a subject and have them think about what defines that subject.

For example, my kindergartener choose the topic of bubbles. Before we began writing I asked her what do bubbles do? How do you make them? Do they float or sink? Are they hard or soft? You get the idea.

Couplet: a 2-line poem that rhymes.

Triplet: a 3-line poem that rhymes.

SPACE SAVER SUNDAYS: Duvets

My home doesn't have a lot of closet space. I used to buy bulky comforter sets that came with tons of pillows but soon realized that when I wasn't using them, I had no place to store them. A few friends of mine were using duvets, the down comforters that you put into sack-like sheets (duvet covers), for a while. 

Stock Photo

One day I asked myself, why hadn't I been using those too? I only need one duvet per bed and the duvet cover sets are thin like sheets. I bought several different styles and could store them with ease. These can be found anywhere from Wal*Mart to IKEA to MACYs or any other department store. If you do a general search online for duvets and duvet cover sets, you'll find what you're looking for.

Dr. Smock

When my oldest started daycare some years ago, they requested that I buy and bring in a smock so her clothes wouldn't get covered in paint. I bought a long sleeve Crayola smock and then thought, "I could use this for mealtime!"

I used it for my first kid and I also use it for my toddler now. After meantime, all I have to do is clean the tray, her face and little hands. A rubber bib, cloth bib or plastic bib with a pocket to catch falling food couldn't save me from the impending doom of a massive clean-up. My new "big gun" was this smock! It's great and I definitely recommend it for easy cleaning after feeding your child.

COMING SOON

Be on the look out for my new SUNDAY posts called Space Saver Sundays with quick tips on how to store all those small toys or maximize your space in general!

Starting in MAY, I will also have monthly children's book reviews!!!

Daily Activities

Its nice to have set activities for your child and it's also okay to let them free play and have their imaginations roam. For the parent who can sometimes be a manic planner like me who tries to schedule activities but runs out of steam, the below activities are for us. They're cheap and are pretty effortless when instructing a child 5+.

These aren't just dollar store finds as much as I have fun rummaging through one. You can also find dollar deals at crafts stores like Michaels and A.C. Moore. I found enough to provide my kindergartener with a daily creative activity that has some structure.

Color a Mug

The "Color a Mug" comes with 3 designs. You can have your child color a different one each day to stretch the activity or all at once. It's up to you. You can also place the design sheets over construction or stock printing paper and cut the same shape out. That way, you can have your child create his/her own scene or even attach personal pictures on it. This could be a great gift to pass on to the grandparents.

As the packaging cover also says, you can "switch the designs daily" or "create a personalized mug by inserting your own design on paper" or even on cloth.

Windchime

This is a fun Springtime/Summer project. I found this for $1 at A.C. Moore. The $1 racks are usually freestanding in the middle of the walkways. Have you child color with markers, let dry and then hang somewhere outside! It's as simple as that.

Nature Journal

     Start a nature journal with your kid(s). You can start by buying a composition notebook and then go to your local library and check out books with artistic and other creative ideas. You can:

1. Use hand and fingerprints to paint animals from back yard: squirrel, chipmunk, robin, ants, groundhog, etc
2. Collect leaves
3. Draw pics of bugs observed
4. Learn about different classification of trees: Deciduous vs. conifer
5. Post nature related stickers wherever
6. Go as far as your back yard or
7. Scavenger hunt for new leaves & trees in neighborhood (fresh air & a lil exercise)
8. Can do it anywhere like while your out running errands & want to keep your child focused
9. Anything else you can think of

I actually learned a lot about the local greenery and animals along the way.

Live Like the Jetsons

We all know that simple tasks like cooking and cleaning can be very time consuming and sometimes feel daunting. We don't want to be consumed by monotonous chores. Rosie the robotic maid still hasn't been invented but here are some electronics that can help accomplish the same goals.

So join me and let's live like the Jetsons!

Fagor 3-in-1 Electric Crockpot

The stewed chicken is so tender that it begins to fall apart as soon as it's scooped up. I remove the heated pot out of the crockpot and pour the dish into a serving tray. I quickly rinse the pot and cook long grain rice as a side to accompany the main meal. It takes me less than 20 minutes to make the entire main meal and side dish. Maybe 30 total if you include prep.

That is what's so great about the Fagor crockpot. Different kinds of meats can be cooked in record time and the inner Teflon pot is so easy to clean that you can reuse the same pot to make consecutive meals and sides.

Here’s a link for some quick non-crockpot meals!

iRobot Roomba

I have a small toddler and it's hard to supervise her while walking around the house to vacuum. The vacuum is also hard to carry up and down the stairs. I decided to buy a Roomba so it can vacuum other rooms of the house while I'm busy doing mommy activities.

Both the above electronics allow me to multitask and I'm loving it. These simple things make life a little easier. I feel like I really do have a maid!

Low-Cost Alternative to Baby Video Monitors

Shopping for baby monitors for my second child I was surprised at how expensive they were! It would cost upwards of $200 to $300 for a Wi-Fi video monitor with a smartphone app so my husband could see the baby while he was traveling on business.
Luckily, randomly walking down an isle to buy ink, my husband found the D-Link Day/Night Network Camera. We have one in the baby's room and it has everything we need:

1. Sound with Volume control
2. Zoom
3. Night Vision
4. Iphone and Android App for remote viewing
5. Cost Effective: They only cost around $75 !!!

The cameras haven't failed yet and they're connected to my home Wi-Fi so all it needs is a wall outlet.

Home Entertainment On-The-Go!

My husband’s a techie, and I usually roll my eyes at the latest gadget he tells me about. But this one, I actually saw the use for immediately and it has made it so easy to bring our family entertainment with us wherever we go!

It’s called the WD TV Live Plus and it connects to any TV with an HDMI Cable.  We keep it in the family room and we can view all the movies we have digital copies of and home movies that we would otherwise have to huddle around the computer to watch. It can also connect to the Internet over your home Wi-Fi and has apps for you to watch Netflix movies, Hulu Plus shows,  YouTube videos, and many more.

When we go on vacation, we simply take it with us and plug it up to the TV in the hotel. If you have an entertainment system in your car, SUV, or minivan, it may be able to hook up to that system too. We play our movie collection on road trips and keep the kids entertained during those long drives.  (you know how long they can seem!)

We no longer have to take a giant binder full of DVD’s with us in hopes that the hotel will have a DVD player!

Here’s what you need to buy:

1.     One WD TV Live Plus

2.     One HDMI Cable

3.     One small portable hard drive to put your digital movies on

Here’s what you need to do:

1.     Get your Discs turned into Digital Files and put them on your hard drive.

a.     Follow this quick tutorial to convert your personal DVD’s or Blu-Ray Discs to digital files.

2.     Plug the WD TV Live Plus to the TV

3.     Plug the hard drive into your WD TV Live Plus

4.     ENJOY!

Optional: Connect the WD TV Live Plus to Wi-Fi to watch Netflix, YouTube, etc.…

We never have to worry about scratched DVD’s or bulky binder’s when we’re travelling. 

Spa Daycare :)

WEEKEND ACTIVITY: At-Home Spa Day with the Kiddies

In a casual conversation, a mom told me that she puts Johnson & Johnson bedtime bath wash with lavender in a small bin for each of her preschool aged girls and has a Spa day every Sunday. She washes their hands and feet and paints their nails. I think this is such a great idea for those times when you just can't think of anything else to do. It's also a great ritual to begin. Weekends with small children can be daunting!

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Grab 2 small dollar store bins to put water & lavender soap in. 1 for hands and 1 for feet.

Step 2: Buy cheap dollar store nail polish & accessories.

Step 3: Use a small hand towel to dry hands and feet.

Step 4: Wash, dry and paint away!

Victorian Ghost Chairs: Family Friendly

FASHION MEETS FUNCTION

Kid-friendly Victorian style acrylic ghost chairs are great for the dining room and are reasonably inexpensive compared to other dining chairs on the market. They don't take up any visual space, are easy to clean and are comfortable too! No more need to worry about spills or worn out cushions. You might have to clean up little fingerprints more often but its worth it!

I found them for $90 each on a site through Amazon but recommend shopping around to find the best deal... if there is one!

Convert your Little Girls Dresses

For those with daughters:

If you find that your little one has outgrown her dresses, convert them to shirts and pair them with leggings or tights.

This can even be applied to Tweens! I honestly did the same when I was younger. I felt I was too tall for some of the shorter dresses & used them as long shirts. Who doesn't love a long shirt?

Kid Friendly Water Bottle UPDATE

UPDATE:

I was in the Dollar Tree dollar store and stumbled upon a similar product to the Watertote! It's labled as a "Foldable Water Bottle." It's cheaper. It's $1 plus tax and is supposed to be dishwasher safe as well. So if you cant find it online or in Hallmark, check your local dollar store!!!

This could also be great for smoothies. Give kids their daily fruit without the fuss.

~ ~ ~

Oh my goodness! I was in Hallmark and stumbled upon a great product for parents!!!! It's called a "Watertote" and it's basically a bag with a sipping spout attached. There are a few style that are all sports-themed but that doesn't matter to me.

I use it to put applesauce in instead of buying those squeezable fruits for about $2 per pouch. The Watertote is reusable, dishwasher safe and only $5.99!

This is so convenient because my 19 month old thinks everything is portable and always seems to ask for applesauce when we're in the car. This product now allows me to provide that for her and save money!

Onesie Dress TUTORIAL

This 8-step process from cutting to sewing should take 30-45 minutes.

STEP 1: Gather your materials.
            (Onesie, fabric, scissors, sewing pins, dress pattern, iron and basic sewing machine)

STEP 2: Place skirt PATTERN from "DRESS E" (the blue dress in the picture above) over the fabric. Pin and cut to the appropriate size.

Note: the pattern will give more detailed instructions. You can choose another pattern if you want.


STEP 3: Fold over one end of fabric, the longer side, about 1 cm & iron it. Sew across it in a straight line. This is your hem. Make sure to close the stitch so it doesn't unravel.
Note: simple instructions about this are found in sewing machine manual.

STEP 4: Fold fabric in half, lengthwise, pin it and sew the shorter side together. This will be the back of the skirt. Make sure to close the stitch so it doesn't unravel.


STEP 5: Cut snaps off onesie. I cut freely but you can use a ruler if you want to be more meticulous.

STEP 6: After turning the fabric inside-out, stick the onesie inside with the collar opening towards the hem.

STEP 7: Pin the bottom of the onesie to the non-hemmed side of the fabric. Make sure the tag & back stitch of fabric skirt are aligned.

STEP 8: Turn inside-out and now you have your ONESIE DRESS!