Glow Stick Bath

Here is a fun idea that I saw on Pinterest. (I didn't pin it so I can link it back to the original site).

The other night we just needed something different. Thankfully I remembered this idea and had glow sticks! I found that at Michaels for $1

The kids loved it! It reset the night and everyone was happier after

Who knew that you can't get a good picture of glow sticks under water in the dark? 😊

A Year Of Memories

This has been waiting to be posted since January.  I LOVE this idea so it's worth sharing and starting now if you want.  The year isn't even half way over yet!


Last year around Christmas I read in a magazine about ways to ring in the new year with your family. One fun idea was to get a jar and have each person in your family write down fun things throughout the year and then on New Years Eve or Day you can sit together as a family and read all of the fun memories of the last year. I thought that this was a great way to ring in the New Year! I set up a jar and we have been doing it! Halfway through the year and the jar is filling up :)
Of course it's only me and john writing the memories (ok I'm sure mostly me) but I'm still excited to read them.
Even if you don't have an extra jar you could use a paper bag, envelope or bowl.

Fast forward to New Years Eve...We opened the jar and read all of the memories we had written down. I loved this!  This is by far my new favorite family tradition!  

I'm Back!!

I took a little 8 month break but I'm back!

Let the blogging begin

Salt Painting

Salt Painting is a fun activity!  It dries puffy and sparkly from the salt.  Samantha kept asking if the sparkles were treasure :)  Best part...you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen!  

Mix equal parts

Water

Flour 

Salt

Food coloring or tempura paint...if you don't have any thats fine it will still work

Cardboard or paper plates....This definitely works better on something thicker than regular paper (regular paper won't work)

Squeeze Bottles...I found them at Michaels 2/$2

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.  Make sure there are no clumps otherwise the bottles will get clogged and the top with shoot off (trust me...it happened twice).  Add a few drops of paint and mix again. Now pour it into your bottles...a funnel would work great to help you pour it in but you can use a spoon or make shift funnel.  Now let your kids have fun!

It's great for the kids that like sensory play.
Plus the salt gives you a nice exfoliation ;) 

Here's our outcome.
By the end everyone had there hands in it

This is a great sensory and gross  motor activity.  My 3 year old  and 1 1/2 year old were both able to do this.  The clean up is also really easy...Just wiped everything after they were done (looks messy than it is).  

Have Fun!

* I used 2 cups and have some left over.  You can save the left overs for the next day or share them with a friend.  

Cake Mix+ Fat Free Greek Yogurt

You've seen this all over Pinterest...

So I tried it for you....and it's pretty good :)

I was skeptical at first but hey if Dr Oz and Hungry Girl recommend it...How can you go wrong?

Plus the bonus...You can eat the batter and not worry about the eggs :)
The batter was just as good as I remember it as a kid!!

So now you can have your cake with a little less guilt (or more ice cream)

You can find the recipe here


Have a great Saturday!

Flubber Recipe

I use to love making Flubber when I taught preschool.  It is so easy to make and the kids loved it!
I made some today with my two kids and it was the same...Easy to make and they really enjoyed it :)

To make Flubber you need:
Warm water
Glue
Food Coloring (optional)
Borax

The Borax was actually easy to find...Target had it for $3.  I looked it up on amazon but the cheapest i found it was for $7.   You can always go in with some friends and share the cost :)


Mixture A
3/4 C. Warm Water
1 C. Elmers Glue
Food Coloring

Mixture B
2 teaspoon Borax
1/2 C Warm Water


Stir Mixture A into a small or medium bowl.  Mix Mixture B into a large bowl.  Make sure that both bowls are mixed well.

Pour mixture A into Mixture B reach your hand in and pull out the flubber :)

Here's what it looks like when it's finished

There will be extra water in the bowl but that's ok :)

I had my kids play with it on placemats.  You can use cookie cutters, play scissors, rolling pins.  Its just fun to play with and feel.  Great sensory activity :)

Red, White and Blue Dessert

I found these Red White and Blue Cheesecake Yogurt Cupcakes on the blog Skinny Taste.  They looked good and seemed easy so I tried them.  I was right!!
You can find the recipe here
I love this blog because she makes healthy, family-friendly recipes

I know that the vanilla wafers don't cover the bottom but it didn't make a difference.

They might not look exactly like they do on Skinny Taste but they are delicious!!

Enjoy!!