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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Weather Wheel

It has been a LONG time since I have even thought about blogging.  After we moved, I joined the local MOMs Club, put Addison in two sports, and we got a Labrador puppy.  That being said, we are busy busy busy... just the way I like it :)  We have done plenty of fun activities, but none that I seem to remember to catch on camera!

This one I have had on my list for months... finally went to Michaels and got the stuff.  Addison absolutely loves the weather wheel, and comes down each morning to look outside and turn the arrow.  Success!


 
Materials:
- 16x16" piece of cardboard or larger
- large sheet of felt for background (I used black)
- sheets of foam in multiple colors (light & dark blue, yellow, white, gray)
** I used felt, realizing later foam would be MUCH easier
- 1 small sheet felt for arrow (Addison picked green)
- 1 large brad
- permanent marker (medium tip)
- scissors
- liquid glue or a glue gun
- ribbon
 
What To Do:
 
1. First using a circular pizza sheet, trace a circle on the cardboard and cut out.
 
2. Next, using the cardboard cut-out, trace a circle on your large felt sheet and cut out.
 
3. Glue felt circle on top of cardboard circle, mark the center.
(Sorry there are not picture steps... I hadn't realized yet that my memory card was not in my camera!)
 
4. Next, draw pictures for each weather scenario approximately 3x3" and one arrow 3-4" long.
(Sunny, Partly Sunny, Cloudy, Raining, Snowing, Foggy, Windy)

**It was hard to draw on felt, I seriously recommend doing the weather pictures on foam :)
 
5. Using measuring tape, find the center of your circle.  Mark it!

6. Using scissors, poke a hole through the center and loosely pin end of arrow with brad.
(Yes, Addison picked a football one to use... so I rolled with it)

7. Glue weather pictures evenly around circle.

 
 8. Cut hole and top and pull ribbon through.  Allow to hang a few inches then tie bow at top.
 
9. Hang from window or wall!
 
Enjoy!


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Apple Prints

We basically spent the past two months traveling.  Why we planned so many trips?? ...who knows!  We are now very happy to be settling down and preparing to enjoy all the upcoming holidays in our new house!  Although Ryan and I just returned from Pittsburgh, I was determined to capture something on camera this week.  Addy woke up yesterday and immediately wanted to paint and I just happen to have a bushel of apples from the market... therefore, we did apple prints


What You Need:
- 1 apple, cut in half down the center
- paper
- finger paint
 
What To Do:
This couldn't be any more simple... just dip the apple half in paint and stamp prints on the paper!
 
Super simple!
 
Now it's time to get creative!
 
Apple Prints Border!
Highlight your little one's hand prints or art work by stamping a border of apple prints!
 
...and while their little hands are already messy...
 
Hand Print Tree!


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Flowerpot Whale

My sister in law was preparing for VBS (Vacation Bible School), and found this awesome idea online at Oriental Trading.  Instead of buying the kit, the idea was to create it ourselves.  The next time my nephews were visiting we decided to give it a try.  This one takes a little extra preparation, but it is well worth the effort!  We had four kids participating, ages 2, 3, 4, and 6 years old, and every one had fun!  They were all super proud of their whales too!

Here is the sample my sister in law created for VBS...


Materials:
- blue foam paper (1 sheet makes four whales)
- blue or white pipe cleaners (two per child)
- light blue craft paint (to match the foam sheet)
- 1 small flower pot with hold in the bottom (per child)
- tacky glue
- googly eyes (2 per child)
- 1 small paint brush (per child)
- black permanent marker
- scissors


Preparation:
(For younger kids)

1. Flip the flowerpot upside down on the blue foam paper.
2. Trace a circle around the flower pot, leaving about 2" open to trace the whale tail.

3. Trace flower petal shapes, about 2" in length.  These will be the whale fins, you need 2 per child.

4. Cut out the whale tails and fins if you have little ones who can't use scissors yet.

5. Get paint ready, cover your table with newspaper, and set all materials for each child at their seat...
now you're ready to start!

The Craft:

1. Have each child paint the entire flowerpot blue.

2. While drying, allow the older kids to cut out the whale tail and fins.

3. Once the pots are dry, use the tacky glue to draw a circle around the circular part of the whale tail (on the blue foam paper).  Place the flower pot, upside down, on top of the glue and hold for a minute.

4. Using tacky glue, place a fin on each side of the whale.

5. Glue on two eyes.

6. Draw on a mouth.

7. Hold to pipe cleaners side by side, and bend in half. 
8. Stick the bent end in the hole on top.

9. Curl the ends of the pipe cleaners.
10. Let everything dry!

... and you're done! 
(I think our whales turned out pretty good... see below!)




Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Fourth of July Jello Treat!

I know there are various versions of Red, White and Blue Jello desserts swarming the Internet.  Since my little one loves marshmallows, here is our little twist on the famous treat.  Super easy, and great for keeping little hands busy... 


What You Need:

- 1 box red Jello
- 1 box blue Jello
- approximately 2 cups of mini marshmallows
- 4 tall dessert glasses (I used Iced Tea glasses)


What To Do:

1. Mix blue Jello according to package.


2. Pour evenly into serving glasses.


3. Refrigerate for about 2-3 hours, until firm.

4. Mix red Jello according to package.

5. Slowly pour the red Jello mixture evenly among the serving glasses.


6. Chill until firm, about 2-3 hours.

7. Top each glass with about 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows.


Serve ... or chill until you are ready to enjoy!

Happy Independence Day!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Is that Sunscreen Expired??

STOP!  Put that old bottle of sunscreen down, and back away from the trash can... you may want to read this first!

So here's the deal... I am a super irritated consumer of sunscreen.  I see warnings all over the news and internet about expired sunscreen and how it could harm your child.  We wouldn't want our innocent little babies to suffer a sunburn, now would we?

Here's the problem....
          there's no flippin' expiration date on the bottle! 
                  ... or the 12 other bottles crammed in my cabinet.


Before I had kids, I didn't even know sunscreen lotion expired.  Now that I have two little ones, I find myself tossing sunscreen left and right in fear of it being expired.  I search, and search... and search the bottle over and over trying to find this magic date to calm my fears.  As I'm trying to run out the door to the pool, I grab the "newest looking" bottle and throw the older ones in the back.  Here's to hoping this one is still good!

Today I started packing for vacation.  First order of business was to organize the pool bag. 
1. Floaties - check! 
2. Sunhats - check! 
3. Swim Diapers - check, check, check! 
4. Sunscreen... and here we go again...

As I am staring at easily $100+ in sun lotion, I decided to investigate this issue.  Yes, I first spent 10 minutes of my already busy day reading each bottle, top to bottom.  Then, I called each company separately to get some answers... and I was pleasantly surprised! 

Here's what I learned, and I hope it makes your summer season a little easier!

Banana Boat:
I have 7 bottles of Banana Boat sunscreen, and not one has an expiration date.  BUT, they all have a super special code on them.  After talking to a representative from the company, I learned this trick!
1. Find the 5 digit + 2 letter code.  If you have a tube, it will be stamped at the top (see picture below).  If you have a spray can, it will be on the very bottom.

2. On this bottle, the code reads "11036LC".  This tells when the lotion was manufactured.  The first two numbers are the year (11=2011).  The next three numbers are the day of the year (036 = 36th day of the year = February 5th). 
3. The Banana Boat representative told me that each bottle has a 3 year shelf life.  Add 3 years to the manufacturing date, and you will get you expiration date.  In this example, this bottle expired on February 5, 2014!

Coppertone:
A representative with Coppertone told me all bottles should have an actual expiration date stamped on the bottle.  On the tube, it would be located in a white rectangle on the back (see picture below).  Obviously my white rectangle is empty.  If you have a spray can, it should be printed on the bottom. 

Before offering anything, the Coppertone representative asked if I know when I purchased the lotion and stated they have a 3 year shelf life.  I want to point out that this does not matter.  Stores can keep lotions in stock for years, yes YEARS!  In April 2012 I purchased a 2 fl oz bottle of Coppertone Pure & Simple for my diaper bag, and today I found an expiration date stamped on top - 11/2012... SERIOUSLY??? 
             ... that's not 3 years.
Anyways, in my cabinet I have two bottles of Coppertone lotion with no expiration date.  Coppertone offered to supply with me a postage paid shipping label to return my lotion to them.  Once received, they will ship me back two brand new bottles!  Score - that's easily $20 in lotion, free!

If you have Coppertone bottles with missing expiration dates: 
1. Call 866-288-3330.
2. Give the bottle's UPC bar code, your name, and address.
3. Return your bottle using the postage paid shipping label Coppertone will provide.
4. Get a brand new bottle, FREE!! 

Considering these easily run you $10 a piece, it is definitely worth the call!

Thank you Aveeno....
For those who have never seen a sunscreen bottle properly labeled, here it is...

...  and of course, this one expires this month!

Have a safe, sunburn free summer!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Father's Day Handprint Card

Father's Day is extra special this year!  Not only are we now celebrating with two children, but it is also our 6 year anniversary!  God has blessed me with a happy, healthy family, and it is Him that I thank for my husband and children... not just on Father's Day, but every day!

The truth is I am not a huge fan of buying greeting cards.  Honestly, they just feel like a big waste of money... I mean come on, five bucks just for a card!  I'd rather write a thoughtful letter.  Now, although there are times I give in and just buy the stinkin' card.... for Father's Day this year I definitely wanted to make something more personal. 

Now that we have finally settled into our new house, I am able to wrap my head around getting some crafts going.  Father's Day was a perfect reason to pull out my supplies and make something creative.  I saw a ton of these handprint cards on Pinterest last week, and here it is...


What You Need:
- construction paper
- glue stick
- scissors
- markers
- little hands :)
What To Do:
- Trace your child's hand twice, or if you have two children, you will just trace one handprint for each of them (as you see above).
- Using scissors, cut out the handprints.
- Cut an approximately 1"x 8" strip (as seen in yellow above).
- Fold the strip accordian style.
- Write you message on each hand, and the accordian strip in the middle. 
- Fold to make the card.


- When the card is opened, your sweet message is displayed!

Happy Father's Day!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Happy Birthday Addy Bear!

Mother's Day is always an extra special day for me... because God blessed us with our beautiful daughter, Addison Marie, at 12:01am on... Mother's Day

This past weekend was Addy's birthday party and her one request was a "Swiper party".  Unfortunately, very few decorations come featuring Swiper (that sneaky, sneaky fox)... so we focused the party around Dora..
      .. not very original, I know.

Let me state up front.. this is not a craft.  I just wanted to share Addy's birthday party and some of the fun things we did.

Each year I make the birthday cake myself.  I really enjoy taking the time (hours and hours to be clear) to create a special cake for my babies.  Even though my days are swamped with things to do, I always make sure I set aside plenty of time to accomplish this task.  Now I'm definently not a professional, but I'm pretty happy with what I created.  Here is the final product...


Ryan took Addy out the morning of her party, allowing me plenty of time to set up and decorate.  When she came home and saw all party decorations up, the smile on her face was priceless!


We had one more surprise for her out in Mimi and Poppop's yard...

... her own powerwheels Jeep!
    (neutral colors of course, since she'll be sharing with her brother in a couple years)



Time for guests to arrive, the grilling to start and a few games to be played!
Addy was very excited to see her Nina!
The men at the grill!
Four generations.

Addison and her cousins, Ethan, Andrew and Wesley!

Pin the Tail on Swiper.

Poor... Poor Dora.
Addy was eyeing the Swiper cake topper the moment I set the cake down...
Happy Birthday Addy Bear!