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Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

100 Days of Play Challenge

Would you like to reconnect with your children?  Do you need an excuse to turn off the television?  Or how about simply having a good time?  Then join me and 100 bloggers from around the world for the 100 Days of Play challenge hosted by Sun Scholars and Life At The Zoo.  Each day a new activity will be posted on the blog hop as well as the 100 Days of Play Pinterest Board encouraging you to join your children in play.  Play, connect, and share, but most of all, have fun!      
100 Days of Play Blog Hop
Sharing simple ideas on how to connect with your children through play!
New ideas shared each day from 4/1 - 7/9.  

Help us spread the word!
Grab a Button to Share on your Blog!




100 Days of Play is brought to you by these wonderful bloggers
SunScholars . Frogs, Snails & Puppy Dog Tails . Playful Learners . Train Up a Child . Fantastic Fun & Learning . Scribble, Doodle & Draw . Learn. Create. Love. . Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas . Nothing if Not Intentional . My Little 3 & Me . Buggy & Buddy . Sun Hats & Wellie Boots . Twodaloo . True Aim . The Educators' Spin On It . Blog Me Mom . Life At The Zoo . Putti's World . Kitchen Counter Chronicles . Triple T Mum . Busy Kids Happy Mom . Crystal's Tiny Treasures . Rainy Day Mum . Momma's Fun World . My Little Bookcase . Craftulate . One Perfect Day . MumCentral . Artchoo! . Little Artists . Simple. Home. Blessings. . JDaniel4's Mom . NurtureStore . Me & Marie Learning . Child Central Station . Mamas Like Me . Making Boys Men . Powerful Mothering . Craft to Art . 3 Dinosaurs . Domestic Goddesque . Lessons Learnt Journal . Royal Baloo . Smiling Like Sunshine . Adventures at Home with Mum . B-Inspired Mama . PragmaticMom . Eazy Peazy Mealz . Gluesticks . TheBoy&Me . Learning is Messy . My Nearest & Dearest . Growing Book by Book . How to Run a Home Daycare . Here Come the Girls . Think Magnet . Dandelions Picked . 123 Homeschool 4 Me . Our Ordinary Life . Parenting with Professor Poppins . 2 Little Hooligans . Fun-a-Day! . The Non-Martha Mamma . Angelique Felix . My Very Educated Mother . Creative Playhouse . Go Explore Nature . Zing Zing Tree . Sense of Wonder . Childhood 101 . Crayon Freckles . KZ & Me . Serenity You . This Mumma's Life . Leapfrog & Ladybugs . Blue Bear Wood . Growing Together . KC EDventures . Mommy Lessons 101 . Nature & Play . Like Mama Like Daughter . Mums Make Lists . From Wine to Whine . Messy Kids . Babble Dabble Do . Sugar Aunts . Teaching @ Home . Preschool Powol Packets . Clothed in Love . Curiosity Creates . The Magnolia Barn . Strong Start . Toddler Approved
. Learn with Play at home

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

All You Need is Love...& It's Playtime


Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  Tonight, I have to finish my 5 year old son's Valentines because his attention span is all of 1 minute.  He wrote his name on 1, that's right, 1 Valentine out of 24.  But this week on It's Playtime, all you need is.....

This fun Love Painting was shared by Seattle Area Lifestyle Photographer.  It's creative, messy, and perfect for sharing on Valentine's Day.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."  


These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 
Now, on to this weeks play date! 
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :
* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!


* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

It's Playtime: Olympic Gold


This week's It's Playtime celebrates the Olympic spirit with games and activities for your whole family.
  
Inspire Imagination Through Creation shared how to get your toddlers outdoors for their own Olympic Games.  

Your kids will love these edible Olympic Rings from JDaniel4's Mom.  A healthy way to celebrate world sportsmanship.  What fruits would you use for the Olympic colors?  

Creative Family Fun shared how to hold a Family Olympics getting your family outdoors and away from the T.V.  

You and your children can join The Fairy and the Frog and create some Edible Olympic Torches.  

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."


These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 
Now, on to this weeks play date! 
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :
* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!


* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Real Strawberry Slushy


In case you haven't checked out this week's It's Playtime, I featured some ways to keep cool, including a yummy, healthy slushy from We-Made-That.  Being pregnant, I see food (or drinks) and I want them...right away!  Since it was a simple idea, with items I had in the fridge, I decided to make them.  Here's how mine turned out with a slight variation on the recipe.

 Start with fresh strawberries, or in my case, almost fresh.  When I make smoothies and slushies I like to use the strawberries that are on their way out.  You know the ones: soft spots, a bit mushy (not too much), the ones that nobody is going to eat because they look yucky, but really, they are just fine, especially for slushies!
 I have one of those super duper blenders so I threw in the strawberries with ice and blended until it was  the consistency I wanted.  Since it was a bit thick (more like a smoothie) I added about 1/4 cup of water, maybe a bit more, to thin it a tad.  
Instead of sugar, I added honey.  This I do by taste rather then measurement.  Do you like sweet or tart?  It's really up to you.  After adding the honey, I blended it some more to mix.  Just watch what you are doing, you don't want to over-blend or you'll just have a cold drink rather then an icy one.    
My son was very happy with his drink (he doesn't like his picture being taken; this is hard when you are blogging something you want people to try!).  I gave him the options of a spoon or a straw.  He chose spoon.  I used a thick boba straw to drink mine.  It was fresh, healthy, and the perfect cool drink for a hot day.   

What you will need:
  • Strawberries or any other fruit you might enjoy (lemons are delicious but you will need sugar instead of honey)
  • Ice
  • Honey
  • A bit of water
Tips & Tricks:
  • If you use frozen fruit, you can use less ice
  • Instead of water, add a bit of real fruit juice for a different flavor.  Try apple or OJ.  If you do this, cut back on the amount of honey you add to your drink.  
  • If you don't have a high powered blender, try pureeing the fruit first (with the honey and water or juice), set aside, and throw in the ice to crush.  Once it's broken up, add the fruit puree and blend well.  

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

It's Playtime: The Art and Play of Spring


With spring comes new life, new flowers, and loads of new ideas on It's Playtime!  Here's my features this week celebrating spring.

I generally don't think to use toilet paper when creating with the kiddos but these Toilet Paper Flowers from Let Kids Create are colorful and easy to make.  

At Home with Ali shared this lovely Fairy Princess Flower Crown.  Little fairies will love roaming the garden, dancing amongst the spring flowers wearing this creation.  

Creating spring trees is as easy as fingerpainting!  Babylandia shared how they used paint to celebrate Springtime Arriving.  

Enjoying the Journey used science to create these beautiful Flower Crystals.  

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."


These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 
Now, on to this weeks play date! 
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :
* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!


* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Leprechaun Tracks

*This post contains affiliate links

We thought we'd have some fun today and make some Leprechaun tracks...using Barbies!  To my dismay we were out of green paint so I decided to try and make some.  Here's my makeshift recipe:

Using 1/4 cup flour, gradually add water and mix until you reach the consistency you choose. Drop in desired amount of food and mix.


We put shoes on our girl Barbie so it wouldn't be just her toes.  Then the kids dipped their feet into the paint.


My daughter stamped the dolls feet onto the paper while my son made his do a crazy dance.

My daughter had her doll leap, walk, and hop.  


My son quickly moved onto painting with the doll's head.  

"Zombie Paint Monster!"

Then the kids added glitter...


and the Leprechaun tracks are complete!

Of course, painting with dolls can be done at any time during the year, the kids will have just as much fun.  It's always interesting for children to express themselves with different painting tools.  

What creative ways have you celebrated St. Patrick's Day?  Leave me a message below or on my Facebook page.  



Sunday, January 29, 2012

From the Heart Waffles


Breakfast is the favorite meal in our household, especially on weekends.  I make crepes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and waffles.  So this morning I asked my son what it was he wanted me to cook.  I suggested blueberry pancakes but he said, "no, blueberry waffles".  We haven't tried this before so it was worth a shot.

As I was making the waffles, I thought about how I could make them special.  My son, like most kids, loves when I make cut-outs of anything.  I remembered I had a great big heart cookie cutter in the cupboard, perfect for a big waffle.

Once the waffles were finished baking in the waffle maker, I carefully peeled them off, placed them on a flat surface, and pressed the cookie cutter down to create perfect heart-shaped waffles.  I set the trimmings aside because in my house, waffles are snacked upon all day long.

My son was thrilled with the fun shape, so much so he didn't want me to cut it into bite size pieces.  Unfortunately for him I had already covered them with syrup and didn't want him using his hands (which he did anyway).  He also wouldn't let me take a picture of him enjoying the yummy creation.


Here's what you'll need:
Waffle Maker
Bowl
Whisk
Wooden Spoon
Butter or Cooking Spray

For the Waffles:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup cooking oil
1 cup or so blueberries (frozen or fresh)

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Stir mixture first with a wooden spoon, then with a whisk until all ingredients are well combined.  Do not overmix!  Batter should be slightly lumpy.  Fold in blueberries until well combined.

Coat waffle iron with butter or cooking spray.  A heavy coat will be needed because the blueberries stick!  The size of your waffle maker will determine the amount of batter you pour onto the grids.  I use about 1 cup (my maker is on the larger size)

Cook your waffle according to manufactures directions.  Use a fork to remove waffle off the grid.  Place on a flat surface and cut waffle with desired cookie cutter, in this case, a heart.  Serve with butter, syrup, blueberries, whip cream, or any other topping of choice.

And of course, serve with LOVE.

Recipe variation based upon:
"Waffles." Recipe. Better Homes and Gardens: New Cook Book. Iowa: Meredith Corporation, 1989. 152-3.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

It's Playtime: Let's Celebrate Hanukkah

With Christmas fast approaching, sometimes we forget there are other holidays celebrated this time of year.  While my kids are singing Rudolph and Noel, my nieces are learning to play with dreidel and light a menorah.  This week It's Playtime is dedicated to them and the Festival of Lights.

Join Se7en as they Learn About Hanukkah with Dreidels, Menorahs, and Latkes.  Besides their own activities (and a great Letkes recipe), they include several links to other Hanukkah activities.

Inside Out shared a little of how they celebrated Festivals of Light at preschool.  

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."   


Now, on to this weeks play date! 
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play


How to Play :
* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

 
* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.


Next Week: It's Playtime will be on Christmas break.  We will return right after the New Year with more great ideas shared by YOU.   

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

It's Playtime: DIY Christmas Decore


Ahhhhh....Christmas.  That jolly time of year when people suddenly become friendlier and kids fear the wrath of Santa.  A time for love and good cheer.  Also, it seems, the biggest collection of DIY decorations and gifts to found on the internet.  Blogs are ablaze with wreaths, garlands, cookies, and ornaments.  So was last weeks It's Playtime link party.  Therefore, this week, I've rounded-up some of my favorite DIY Christmas decoration ideas for your enjoyment.  Move over Martha Stewart, here comes some holiday family fun from mom's (and teachers) around the web.  

Garland can be made from many different materials: popcorn, cranberries, oranges, and of course, pasta!  Over at The Artful Child, you can find the recipe for coloring pasta, then using some string, your kids can make beautiful Christmas garlands for hanging around the house and/or on your tree.  

Advent Calendars come in all shapes and sizes.  Some provide treats while others provide a daily winter/Christmas themed activity.  This great Advent Calendar from Serenity You is made from  toilet paper rolls and wrapping paper!  It's festive, creative, simple and a fun way to recycle!   

Need some ornaments for your tree?  What could be easier then your kids creating ornaments with beads and pipe cleaners?!  Check out this simple idea from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas.  

Expensive candle holders are a thing of the past.  These beautiful stained glass holders from Playful Learners will add some holiday cheer to you Christmas gatherings.  

Also check out How to... Make Dried Orange Slices and Craft Ideas from Red Ted Art's Blog.  I'm hoping to make an orange slice garland this weekend.  

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."


Now, on to this weeks play date! 
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :
* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!


* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

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