Just Add Stickers

One perfect hot summer day last week we were looking for something to do.   We go to the park often in the summer and I was tired of always going to the same parks.   There are three parks within walking distance three more if we go by bike and even more that I could drive to but we don’t go to very often.   So my activity that day was to go park hopping.   I packed some snacks and a lunch and off we went.   A little research goes a long way.   By going on the city website to find out where the parks were exactly I found out that there are free activities for kids in some of the parks in the area.   There are camp counsellors at one park who are paid by the city to organize activities for kids.   There is also a mobile library that sets up a tent in different parks for two hours at a time and the librarians read stories to the kids for as long as their attention span holds out or until the park calls them back to play.    ...

One rainy day I was in the mall with my son, looking for something to do when I found this cute hand puppet kit on sale at a toy store.   We went home and made the puppets but then they needed a home.   I found an old diaper box and cut up a large gift bag and then used the tissue paper and cord from the handle for decoration.   This was very easy to make and was a good surprise when he woke up from his nap. Cost : Use recycled material for this project what you have around the house will do. Time : 30 minutes Material : ·          Empty box ·          1 gift bag & tissue paper ·          Glue gun ·          Scissors Directions : 1.       Cut one side off of the box and cut out a window in the opposite side. 2.       U...

This is a fun project to make with your little helpers. Let them get all messy while painting these aprons that will keep them clean when they help you in the kitchen. Make sure to cover your work space or paint the aprons outside. Time : 30 minutes Cost : $12.00 Materials : ·          Aprons (you can find blank aprons at the Dollarstore) ·          Fabric paint or markers Directions : 1.        Wash and dry the aprons before starting the craft. 2.        Lay the aprons a table (make sure all surfaces are covered this can be very messy!) 3.        Decorate the aprons.   I wrote the words first: Alex’s Apron Hands Off.   Then I let him decorate. 4.        Trace your child’s hand if you are using fabric markers or make a hand print if you are using...

  We made this as a birthday present for my sister-in-law.   I stopped on the way to print the picture to put in the frame and some extra ones from her son’s 3 rd birthday.   This is an easy present and I added the extra pictures in the card.   We don’t give big presents in the family so this is the perfect way to do something special and involve the kids. Time: About 20 minutes Cost: Under $5.00 Material: ·          Cereal box ·          Craft foam ·          Stickers ·          Ribbon ·          Glue gun Directions: 1.        Cut the cereal box and the foam to the size that you want, leaving about 2 inches around the picture.   Leave the side of the box attached to use as a stand. 2.  ...

                                                        What I had planned to do this weekend My activity suggestion for this week is to leave the kids at home (under supervision of course, while you’re at it you can leave your spouse there too) and have some alone time.   Real alone time.   Not alone while doing the groceries time, that’s nice but every once in a while we all need some good quality time by ourselves.   I was lucky enough to get two days to myself.   My sister was going out of town and she offered me her apartment.   This was exciting for a number of reasons 1- she lives in the city and I live in the suburbs (there is a Starbucks within walking distance of her plac...

  Countdown to anything from a homecoming to family vacation with this creative calendar.   It's easy to customize the calendar size by using different sized paper anything from construction paper to poster board and make it special for each child by using stickers of characters that they are interested in. Cost : About $5.00 (depending on size and stickers you use) Time : 15 – 30 minutes   (depending on how big you make it) Materials : ·          2 pieces of sturdy paper depending on the size you need ·          Stickers (any character your kids are interested in) ·          Craft glue ·          Ruler ·          Markers or colored pencils for decorating Directions : 1.        Place the two pieces of paper...

  Get back to the yoga mat and bring your kids with you! Yoga pants! I love yoga pants, they're comfy and stain resistant but for a stay at home mom of a 2 ½ year old I was having a hard time using yoga pants for actual yoga.   Yoga wasn’t on my to-do list for a long time after I had my son.   When I did decide that it was time to get back to the mat I couldn’t find a way to work it into my schedule Before my son was born I practiced yoga almost every morning before work.   I had energy and a sense of accomplishment before I even left the house.   I found myself missing those benefits of yoga as well as the work out aspect of a yoga routine.   Since I love practicing yoga in the morning I tried to wake up before my 2 ½ year old.   That lasted all of one week.   More often than not I chose the temptation of going back to sleep over the benefits of yoga.   Then it hit me one day that the way to get my yoga back was to incorp...