5 Days of... Preschooling with Pinterest: Day 5

***Note to self:  Do not schedule your post, then forget to check that it actually showed up on your blog - for two whole days.  That will be the time that you apparently hit "save", rather than "publish".

Here we are, at Day 5 already!  Today I have decided to share with you some Preschool ideas that I really like, but didn't feel fit in a category together - aside from this "miscellaneous" category, that is.  I hope you all have enjoyed this series, and that you have also checked out some of the other great themes being explored on the other participating blogs!  If not, just click the "5 Days of Blogging with the Homeschool Crew" button in the side column, and have fun!

• First up are the science/discovery bottles at Laguna Parent Participation Preschool.  They are made of reused Gatorade bottles, and are filled with all kinds of interesting things to explore!
• Along the same line, have you seen the jelly fish in a bottle?!?  It's at Bhoomplay's Blog, and it looks amazing!  It's hard to believe it's just a bit of plastic grocery sack in there! 
• Oops, here's one more bottle activity!  Pink Pistachio shows how to make sensory bottles.  I just love the Aquapod bottles she used, and already have some of those sparkly pom-poms.
• If your little ones love sidewalk chalk as much as my kids, you may want to check out how to make your own at Minieco.co.uk.
• I think this physical activity cube looks useful - see the details at Little Family Fun.  [Clicking through the link on the pin gets you an error message from Pinterest - but you can still go through the pin, and I promise that it does NOT go to spam or something inappropriate, as of 05/18/2012!]
• Have you introduced your little one to paper dolls?  Polly White's Picasa album has several sets of vintage paper dolls, including a Goldilocks set.
• Need more ideas?  Check out Quirky Mama.  Activities there are sorted by age from baby up to middle school!

That's all I have to share with you right now, but be sure to check out my preschool ideas board on Pinterest.  There are more ideas there, and I will continue to add to it!

5 Days of... Preschooling with Pinterest: Day 4

Let's talk about the busy-ness of it all.  If you have a preschooler, then you know there are times when you want to keep them a little... independently busy, shall I say?  Maybe you need to help an older child with their school work, finish making dinner, or just have a few minutes of quiet.  What's that?  You don't want to necessarily plop them down in front of the tv?  Well, fortunately for you, I have some "busy" activities on my Preschool Pinterest board!

• The Princess and the Tot does up what looks like a different tray for her little guy for each day of the week.  If you have a little one like mine, who wants to be on the couch as much as the "big" people are, then a tray would be great because it gives them a surface to work on, and helps contain any small items that might be part of the activity.
• Have you heard of busy bags?  Second Story Window has loads of ideas to help you fill bags for your little one.  They also host an exchange!  Busy bags are great because they are portable, meaning that you can take them with you if you know you will have to wait somewhere that will challenge your preschooler's ability to behave - like a doctor's office or a government office.  The Princess and the Tot also has some ideas, as well as an alternative idea to the typical zip-lock bag as container.  Money Saving Mom has some ideas on her blog, as well.
• Does your little one like to do worksheets?  You can find lots of preschool printable packs at 2 Teaching Mommies.  You can find more at Over The Big Moon.  
• Maybe you just want some coloring pages?  I love the animal pictures from Louise Elliott Design.  Each animal features regional folk art patterns!  There are some cute religious coloring pages at Karla Dornacher's site.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for Day 5 - anything goes!

5 Days of ... Preschooling with Pinterest - Day 2

Most little kids love to paint.  Unfortunately, paints can be pricy, especially if they're specialty ones, and the ingredients oh-so-mysterious.  Remember how funny tempera paint smells?  Today I am talking about paints - the kind you make yourself.  I have several ideas on my Pinterest board of preschool stuff, just begging for you to try them!

• Bath tub paints.  When I decided to try this idea, I actually combined a post (which I've lost) about tub crayons and the post from Meet the Dubiens about tub paint.  I got a set of small, plastic containers that have screw-on lids, and decided to use Wilton frosting colors rather than food coloring.  And, WOW, did the colors come out vibrant!  Also, I used some old tear-free shampoo we had sitting around, rather than bubble bath.  It was translucent pink to begin with, but you couldn't tell when I was done!  I did notice that my paints separated a little between uses, but all I did was stir them up when we were ready to use them again, and all was fine.  Don't be concerned about how bright the colors are - it washes off (and out!) with no trace.  Maybe because the dye is mixed into the soap first?  The one thing I don't like about the recipe is that there tends to be some corn starch left in the tub once it has drained.  It just needs a bit of rinsing again afterward, if it bothers you.  Little Miss loves her bathtub paints, and I'm due to make some more as our little bowls are almost empty!

 

• If you are looking for regular finger paints, check out the recipe from Easie Peasie.  There is also this one from The Imagination Tree, which looks a bit thicker and maybe better for toddlers.
• A great one to try this summer would be sidewalk paint from Hammer & Thread.  I think it's so cute how she painted the recipe on the concrete, then took a picture of it!
• Make a dimensional paint with the recipe from Delaware County Moms.
• Also paint-related:  Don't like letting your little one have lots of paint?  Try cutting small pieces of sponge, then soaking them in paint, the way they did on Baballa [it's in Spanish, though, so I can't tell you any more than that!].  Or, you can re-use a frappe cup to minimize spills.

One thing I love, love, love about all of these recipes is that with the exception of the bubble bath, all the ingredients are food!  If your little guy decides to taste-test a gob of finger paint, no worries!!!  Plus, all of these things are items that most people have on hand!  So, what are you waiting for?  Go make some paint!

Oh, and come back tomorrow for a discussion about dough!

Remembering Morgan

Today is the first anniversary of the day we let go of our 4th child, Morgan Daniel.  He only made it to 16 weeks gestation, but his tiny little life had a huge impact on our family.  Losing Morgan was what it took to bring my husband back to God.  It also brought us closer together.  I feel totally blessed in this, because I know that losing a child can have the exact opposite effect on a couple.  I hate that I have a child I have never held, and whose face I can barely remember.  However, I know our family is better for it.  If God had asked me to give Morgan up in order to bring about these changes, I don't know if I could have made that decision.  As it was, I fully accepted that his death was my own fault, for reasons that seemed completely logical to me.  It was only until a few days ago that Mr. Man realized the depth of the guilt and responsibility I felt and was able to help me let go of it.  

The thing I struggle with now is a way to remember him.  I'd like to do something special on this day every year, as a way to honor his place in our family.  Unfortunately, we now live several hours away from his grave.  Releasing balloons seems kind of silly to me, and we don't have the financial means to do most of the other things I've thought of.  I don't want our kids to forget Morgan, but Little Miss is to young to even understand, and #5 was obviously just born.  How do I teach them about Morgan so that they'll understand?

The ways of God are mysterious to man.  We can't pretend to understand anything He doesn't spell out for us.  But I do know that Morgan's loss was not in vain.  God had a plan for him from the start, and though part of it grieves me, I praise God for the good in it.

Made-By-Me Monday: Special Edition!

Ok, so God gets all the credit on this one!

On Wednesday night, I gave birth to our fifth child - #4 this side of heaven. He weighed in at 8 pounds and 9 ounces, and was 21 inches long. I thank God for a fairly easy pregnancy, a safe delivery, and a healthy baby! I have yet to come up with a bloggy nickname for him - I'll keep you posted.

Sewing For Kids - A List of FREE Tutorials

Last week I shared some tutorials and patterns for things to sew for babies. I've still got sewing on the brain, so I thought I'd do up a list for kids, from toddlers to tweens. Some are practical things, some are things you can help your child make for themselves or a friend. Some are just plain fun!

• I think Super Girl and I need some of the headbands at Brown Paper Packages. I know I have all the stuff for them, and they would make an easy afternoon project for us! She also has a cute Memory game you can make, as well as LOTS of tutorials for little girls dresses.
  
• At Infinite Freedom, you can find a free pattern for an American Girl doll dress, as well as a doll quilt designed for a girl to make herself.
• Ellie Inspired has shared an apron, a couple of dresses, a beret and sailor collar, and a necktie for little boys. I think her Sweet Apple Frock is adorable!
• Find instructions for a capelet, pettiskirts for girls and dolls, another headband, an American Girl doll skirt, and a child's chef's hat at You Can Make This.
• If you look down the left-hand side of Fishsticks Designs, you will see tutorials for a tank top, several bags of different shapes and sizes, a fabric garland, and a pillow case, as well as hints on sewing with knits (something I need to look into!).
• Made By Rae has a fleece hat tutorial, and she also just posted a cute wristlet pattern.
• Make a dress for your little gal out of a men's dress shirt with the instructions at Made. She also has tutorials for several skirts, pants, shorts, and shirts. I think her 90 minute shirt just kept me from buying a pattern!
• Does someone in your house believe in the Tooth Fairy? How about this adorable Tooth Fairy pillow? Mmmcrafts also has a cute monkey doll pattern that is free.
• You can find all kinds of little bags and pouches at Noodlehead, including a boys wallet and a gun sleeve (Wonder Boy would LOVE the gun sleeve!). There is also a bike bucket and cloth sandwich bags to be made!
• Do your kids love to make forts out of the dining table? Then you need the tutorial at Obsessively Stitching! After that, browse through her whole list of other tutorials, including fleece stuffed animals, dresses, a toddler robe out of dish towels!, storage cubes, several other tents of varying shapes and sizes, and a shopping cart seat belt - I need one of these!
• Maybe you know a little girl that just "needs" a petty skirt? There is a tutorial at Make It and Love It! Then check out the rest of her tutorials - under "Making & Altering Clothing", there are several projects for kids such as skirts, t-shirt dresses, flag shirts for the 4th of July, making jeans into shorts, and embellishing t-shirts for both boys and girls. Be sure to also check out her "Re-Purposing" category, to see ideas of how to re-use clothing that might be stained or torn, but still has a lot of life in the fabric. And, even though the category is called "Baby/Toddler", there are quite a few things for kids older than that, like I Spy bags, belts, art smocks, and doll diapers.
• One thing I've been wanting to make for Little Miss is some felt play food. There are instructions for a few different items at One Inch World - farfalle noodles, lettuce, tomato slices, lollipops, and ravioli - just look down the right side of the page. There are also a few other things of interest - little felt doll chairs, candy corn hair clips, and fillable soft eggs (I would love to have had some at Easter!).
• Pink Penguin has several tutorials down the right side of her blog: a wristlet, a lunch bag, placemats, a pencil case, and fabric bins. She likes to quilt and use patchwork - if that's not your thing, I don't see why you couldn't just use solid pieces of cloth of equivalent sizes.
• I like the t-shirt ruffle scarf and ruffle necklace waffle shirt at Ruffles And Stuff. There's even something to make for boys on such a girly site - a hat and scarf from a sweater.

I hope you've enjoyed this list, and found something you just have to make! I know my sewing wish list just got longer! If you have a favorite tutorial that you don't see on this list, feel free to leave it in a comment!

Sewing For Baby - A List of FREE Tutorials

Seeing as I have baby-on-the-brain, with this seemingly all-elbows kid rolling around inside me, I thought I'd make a list of some of the free sewing tutorials and patterns I've bookmarked. Maybe I will manage to actually make a few things in the near future!

• First up, there are tutorials for receiving blankets and burpers at You Can Make This!
• At Just Because I am Me, you can find instructions for a carseat canopy and chenille burp cloths.
• This cute Grow Up Together dress can be found at Bumblebee Grace.
• Need a quick and easy bib? Check out this one at While They Sleep.
• Cicada Daydream has a bib tutorial that is more appropriate for toddlers.
• How about a cute growth chart for a baby shower gift? Kristen @ Unraveled has one!
• Check out the instructions for an easy peasy swaddle sheet (and another burp cloth) at My Longest Year.
• Don't forget the changing pad! There is also a bath mitt pattern at Sew Take a Hike.
• I found a really cute hat at Whip Up. I think it would be even cuter if you tied the corners in knots!
• I can't forget this pattern for baby shoes! You can see my own attempt at them here. I will definitely be making some for this little guy!
• Heather Bailey also has a pattern for cute baby shoes.
• Made By Rae has several free baby tutorials down the left side: newborn pants, tights, a dress, a sun suit, and a bib.
• If there is a preemie in your life, or you like to donate items to the hospital, you might be interested in the preemie swaddler pattern from Ellie Inspired.
• Make It and Love It has WAAAAAY too many tutorials to list! From clothing to toys to recovering your high chair or car seat, you can find so much there to keep you busy!
• Here's a good post about sewing cloth diapers, along with some links to free patterns from Sew, Mama, Sew!
• Want to make cute diapers with patterned fabric - that don't leak? Try the quick and easy instructions at Uber Domestic.
  
• If you have some laminated cotton or iron-on vinyl in your stash, you might be interested in this toddler bib at Oilcloth Addict.
• One of my internet friends recently linked to this baby gown from Running With Scissors. I love gowns on newborns!
• Jan Andrea has all kinds of links to baby carrier patterns and tutorials, as well as other things that are useful when you have a baby (nursing bras, shirts, and pillows, diaper bags, and even a baby-wearing poncho!).
• Lastly, Fishsticks Designs has a tutorial for newborn bloomers. I think these could be made up for a boy or a girl, as they are not frilly, but are basically shorts.

Have I inspired you to make something for a little one? Let me know! Do you have a favorite baby sewing tutorial that you don't see here? Share it in a comment!


I know this was a lot of links - I like to link to the original blog as well as the post I'm directing you to. That way, if there is an error or a post gets moved, you will hopefully still be able to find it through the home page. Also, I like to give credit where bloggy credit is due!

An Announcement...

We've been keeping a secret from most people. We found out just after Thanksgiving that we are expecting baby #5! After our loss in September, we just were not ready to shout it in the streets or anything. However, I have been to the doctor, and had an ultrasound, and everything looks good!

It's a BOY, due around August 2nd!

Simply... Go-Gurt Review and Giveaway

THE REVIEW:
As a member of MyBlogSpark, I was recently given the opportunity to try new Simply... Go-Gurt from Yoplait. It comes in a convenient tube, like their regular Go-Gurt, however, it does not contain any high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or flavors. It comes in strawberry or mixed berry. Wonder Boy and Super Girl devoured them without a second thought, just like I knew they would.

I have to be honest and say that I had already bought Simply... Go-Gurt while at my parents' house. The kids love to have yogurt tubes as a frozen treat, especially when the weather is warm. I just pop the whole box in the freezer. I like that the kids like them, because they are at least getting a little calcium from them. However, I don't like the sugar and all the artificial stuff that's also in them. In the future, I would pay a little extra for the Simply... Go-Gurt tubes, rather than the ones I buy at Aldi. Hopefully I'd be able to find coupons to make up the difference! I also hope they come out with a couple more flavors (hint, hint!).

THE GIVEAWAY:
The first 30 readers who click on the Simply... Go-Gurt widget to the right will be able to print a coupon for their own FREE box! If you're not one of the first 30, you can still print a coupon for $1.10 off. Also...

How would you like to win a "Simplify Your Life" prize pack from MyBlogSpark and Yoplait? It contains a coupon for a free box of Simply... Go-Gurt, a cute mini Etch-a-Sketch, a pretty weekly planner portfolio filled with different note pads, and a seat-back organizer for your vehicle. I have one prize pack to give to a reader of this blog!

In order to enter this giveaway, you need to be a follower through Google Friend or subscribe through a blog reader. Make sure you post a comment letting me know! This is required before earning extra entries.

You may have up to 4 extra entries for doing any of these things (one entry per item):
* Post your child's (or your) favorite healthy snack.
* Post about this giveaway on your blog.
* Tweet about this giveaway.
* Comment about this giveaway on Facebook.

Please make sure to post a separate comment for each entry. The winner will be chosen at random, and the entry period ends at 6 pm CST on Friday, May 7th, 2010. Winner to be announced Saturday, May 8th. Open to US addresses only.

Disclaimer: I received my own "Simplify Your Life" prize pack from Yoplait and MyBlogSpark in return for trying new Simply... Go-Gurt. The giveaway prize pack is also being furnished by Yoplait and MyBlogSpark. Nutritional information is from Yoplait. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Whew!

Here For The Party!

Have you heard of the Ultimate Blog Party? I've checked it out in the past, but quickly got sidetracked, overwhelmed, what-have-you. Since I am trying to grow my readership and be more productive on my blog, I thought I would really give it a go this year! Woo hoo - a party without the mess!

For those of you checking in via the UBP, welcome! I am Jen. I am a 32 year old wife and mother of 3. There may or may not be more children in the future. I have been homeschooling my children for almost 4 years now. I am interested in all things to do with the home, the more natural the better. I am learning to sew, I like to garden and can, baking and cooking are fun, and I really don't mind cleaning, especially if I can use natural products. My baby usually wears home-made cloth diapers, and I am nursing for the first time. I try to be a good steward of what I have been blessed with by re-using things, and I love buying second-hand. I enjoy the thrill of couponing and walking out of the store having spent very little while getting a lot!

Most importantly, I believe God. I don't just believe IN Him. I believe the promises He's given us in His word, and I am striving to trust in Him more every day. Some days are easy. I love being home with my family. Others are harder. My husband has been unemployed since February 1st. However, I know that in all situations, my Savior loves me, has the best plan for me, and will provide all I need and more. I think patience is the hardest part of the equation!

So, thanks for stopping by, and please let me know you were here! I hope you'll come back soon!

Shopping at Home

Hand-me-downs. Most people have been blessed with hand-me-downs at some point in their life. With a husband who is unemployed, I am trying to be extremely frugal and resourceful. Here are a few examples:

Super Girl needed some new tennis shoes. She had outgrown her old ones over the winter, but she was wearing her snow boots 90% of the time, so it didn't matter. Once it warmed up, and the kids began playing outside again, she needed shoes. I thought we were going to have to wait a week to get them, and then I realized I just might have what she needed in my own closet! I had a pair of cute Converse sneakers which, try as I might, just didn't fit my wide feet well (sob!). I had SG try them on, and voila! She is now the proud owner of some very cute, green and pink, like-new (sniff, sniff!) Converse - which should last through the summer, as long as she doesn't out-grow them! Did I mention they were cute? Out-of-pocket cost: $0.

Wonder Boy has also suffered some recent growth spurts. He is suddenly lacking in the "long-enough pants" department. A funny fact about my children is that though WB is about 16 months older, he is a good 3" shorter than his sister. I have been able to pass a couple of unisex jeans UP to him that are too short on his sister. Since they've been inside all winter, the jeans are not really worn. Out-of-pocket cost: $0.

Lastly, Little Miss has not been spared in this growing epidemic (pardon my pun!). I have patterns which I picked up last summer during a sale at the fabric store. I have some t-shirts which are ill-fitting or stained. I am making her some new clothing out of this "found" material. Currently in the works: pants. Next up: a one-piece outfit. Out-of-pocket cost: $0.

So, let me challenge you to think outside the box when you have a need at home. If you can sew, you can possibly make what you need out of old items of clothing or linens you already have. Scrounge in your own and your childrens' closets for items that can be passed on to another member of the family. Check out Wardrobe Refashion for fun ways to make the old "new".

Wet Bag Giveaway

Clothdiaperblog.com is giving away two wet bags from Planet Wise. Go here for details and to enter.

Free sample of organic honey

If you signed up for the free subscription to KIWI magazine (see my last post), you can request a free sample of organic raw honey or organic amber honey from Wholesome Sweeteners. Simply email them at info@organicsugars.biz, and be sure to put "KIWI" in the subject line.

(Thanks, MoneySavingMom!)

Free Subscription to KIWI magazine

Get a free one year subscription to KIWI magazine here. I've bought this magazine before, and it's full of articles about natural and organic living with children. There are also suggested activities to do with your children. The issue I bought had yummy homemade ice cream recipes in it. Sign up for the free subscription, and they will email you a link to printable Earth's Best organic baby foods, and they will also mail some to you.

(Thanks, MoneySavingMom!)

Free Huggies Pure & Natural diapers

Huggies has a new diaper line out - Pure & Natural. They are made with organic cotton. You can get two separate free samples here and here. There are 3 diapers in each sample, in addition to a free plastic zip lock storage bag (good for stashing in a diaper bag) and a $3/1 coupon. You can select from 3 sizes: Newborn, 1, or 2. If you want to do more natural disposable diapers for your baby, but can't afford the more expensive ones, this may be a good alternative for you.

There is also a $3/1 coupon for these diapers that you can print out here.


(Thanks, MoneySavingMom and Hip2Save!)

Free BabyGanics Sample!

You can get a free 2 oz spray bottle of BabyGanics The Grime Fighter all-purpose cleaner by clicking here. This would be perfect to tuck into a diaper bag or baby gift!

(Thanks, Hip2Save!)