Warrior Poet: 2014 Black Friday Sale!

If you've been around my blog long enough, you may remember Warrior Poet, a clothing brand for boys that is hard not to fall in love with. Their clothing is not only stylish & durable, but each item has it's own positive message. 

Damien in his "Boarrring" t-shirt. 

Which makes me excited about their Black Friday sale! 

From now until the end of the day Cyber Monday (Dec. 1st), the entire Warrior Poet Armory will be on sale for buy one, get one free! Just use the code: BlkFriday at checkout!  

Musical Monday: Growing Sound

**Disclaimer: I have received products to try from Growing Sound & am simply sharing my personal opinion which may vary from yours. I was not compensated for this review.

October may be Bullying Prevention Month, but really it's something that should have the spotlight all year long. More & more these days, children are being bullied by their peers for the simplest of things. It really makes you wonder how children can be so cruel.

Growing Sound creates award winning music CD's & other resource materials based on the latest research in social-emotional development. They strive to teach kids life skills to prepare children for school & life in general, through fun & interactive songs. Better yet, Growing Sound also works with teachers by conducting training to help implement the positive music into the classroom. After all, it's the impressionable children who pick up on bullying practices, whether it be from their peers or the adults in their lives. 

I received a CD Sampler which boasts fifteen different songs, one from each Growing Sound album. These albums cover a variety of topics, such as confidence, self-control, belonging, mindfulness & creativity, To say that my kids enjoyed this, is a vast understatement. They love any excuse to dance around & sing, but it was amazing to see just how inspired they became. Like after they listened to "A Pink Polka Dotted Tiger" a million times from the album, Imagination Creativity (songs of creativity).

I also received two download cards for the full CD's of "Take Care" & "Everyone Is Someone" by David Kisor, which are specifically dedicated to bully prevention. David Kisor is an accomplished singer, songwriter, composer, performer & teacher. Not to mention the Creative Director for Growing Sound. And all of the songs on both CD's are performed by him & several friends.

"Take Care"

These songs of friendship & social awareness are present in a variety of musical styles & help children develop acceptance, friendship & teamwork. All positive things that can reduce the likelihood of bullying in later stages of childhood. 

"Everyone Is Someone"

These songs of social & emotional responsibility are presented in a contemporary, pop/rock musical style  & are actually more helpful to parents & teachers. They help the development of acceptance, friendship, teamwork, empathy & responsibility both at home & in the classroom. Again, all positive things that can reduce the likelihood of bullying in later stages of childhood. 

I have to say that aside from the silly dancing & singing, the songs on these downloaded CD's are amazing. Especially when my son would tell a story about his classmates, but reference one of the songs & tell me what they should've done instead. (proud mama moment right there!)

Growing Sound (a 501 non-profit) products are also available on iTunes, CD Baby & through assorted retailers. 

To schedule or find out more about a Growing Sound Training/Workshop, email growingsound@childreninc.org. 

Keep up with the latest from Growing Sound on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube & Pinterest.

Think It Thursday: Fun Fall Activities for Kids

Fall is such a wonderful time of year! (And I'm not just saying that because it's my favorite season.) But what most people fail to realize, is there are a ton of fun activities to do this time of year. especially if you're a kid!

 •Oh sure, the weather is cold & yucky so you're stuck indoors, but with the help of Pinterest, you can find a ton of crafts for your kiddos to make. (And if you're like me, some for mom too.) But there are quite a few days during fall where the weather is perfect for outdoor adventures. Especially for those with asthma. 

•Sure most pumpkin patches close down to visitors after Halloween, but most apple orchards are still open. And there's just something awesome about finding that perfect juicy apple (or perfect pumpkin).

•if you do happen to come across a pumpkin patch that is still open after Halloween, find out if they're still offering trips through the corn maze or hay rides. 

•Some days are perfect weather for a fall hike, which is one of my favorite activities. Especially if you live in a region where the leaves change colors. The views can be breathtaking! 

•Speaking of the colorful leaves, collecting them for a bevy of crafts is always fun. (I even still do it!) And let's not forget how much fun it is to play in them too. 

•don't forget that it's football season too! Whether you go to a game, watch one on TV, or just play in the backyard, it's a great way to stay active. Tailgating is always my favorite part though! 

•Sometimes fall evenings are the perfect weather for a bonfire. But you can't have a bonfire without S'mores! My kids love to call their neighborhood friends over & have a mini S'mores party of sorts. 

•But when it's just too cold & there's nothing to do, the kitchen is the place to be. Fall is the time for comfort foods & to get a head start on all of those holiday cookies. So why not give the kids their own cooking lessons too? You'll be glad you did later. 

What do your kids like to do in the fall?

Fun Friday: Spooky Paper Trees

Whenever a holiday rolls around, I always end up making some sort of decoration, which means that the kids usually do too. And I have to say, that not only did their Spooky Paper Trees turn out awesome, but they really had fun making them too.

All you need is a small paper bag, 1/2C. of rice or popcorn kernels, a small rubber band, scissors & a lot of creativity. 

We decided to cut the tops of the bags in strips (we used the bottom folded part as our guideline), before filling the bottom with popcorn kernels & sealing it off with a rubber band. 

Next was the fun part! The kids had to twist & fold the strips into "branches". I should probably tell you that it's a bit harder than it sounds since we didn't use any pipe cleaners to help us out (although you certainly could if you wanted to). And as a spooky finishing touch, I cut out a little black crow (at least that's what it's supposed to be), to sit on a branch.
 

Potty Training with Pull-Ups Big Kid Academy

Thank you to Pull-Ups for sponsoring today's post & helping me Potty Train with the Big Kid Academy. 

Potty training your toddler. Every parent goes through it. Sometimes it's a piece of cake, others...not so much. But luckily for all of us, Pull-Ups Big Kid Academy is there with us every step of the way! 

Hayden, my adorable & feisty little toddler, is officially on her way to being a big girl. We've ditched the diapers, loaded up on Pull-Ups (Doc McStuffins of course) & made a big deal about it every step of the way. You see, every child is different & for her, it's like she's rehearsing for her Emmy win.

5 Key Steps for Potty Training Girls

 

Watch for cues - So how did I know that Hayden was finally ready to buckle down & hop on the potty train? Well, it was simple, she told me. No, she didn't exactly say that she was ready (at least not like that), but letting me know immediately after she soiled her diaper (or occasionally before), was a sure sign. 

   Go the extra mile -Here's a couple tricks that I have up my sleeve. Since everything must be a huge production for my little one, a standard pack of Pull-Ups just wouldn't do. We went big (go big or go home, right?) & purchased one of the Doc McStuffins Pull-Ups Starter Kit (a.k.a. - the treasure chest!). Not only can she use the chest for whatever her little heart desires, but it also comes with Big Kid flushable wipes, a progress chart, reward stickers, a free Disney digital book & a coupon booklet. 

Be persistent & develop a routine - Of course persistence & a routine are the building blocks of potty training. I have to keep track of when she drinks, so that we can go sit on the potty about 10 minutes later (& for at least 5 minutes). Every morning when she wakes up & every night before she goes to bed are important too. Not to mention much easier to get her in the swing of when she sees me doing the same thing. 

Use any resources available - Of course I'm no potty training expert. But I did sign up for Pull-Ups Big Kid Academy! (Hey, that's got to count for something, right?) There you'll find everything you need when it comes to potty training your toddler. Fun activities like learning the Potty Dance, tips & advice (from parenting experts, medical professionals & regular parents...like you!), a list of products & coupons. 

Reward accordingly - But the best part, will be Hayden's ultimate reward! Of course peeing in the potty earns a sticker on her chart. But pooping in the potty gets her a "pooping in the potty princess party with pink cupcakes"! (Shout out to our family doctor for his amazing idea!) 

What are some of your tips & tricks when it comes to potty training?

Think It Thursday: Kindergarten Open House

Tonight was an epic night. It was Kindergarten Open House. I swear it feels like I've waited for this moment for forever. OK, at least all summer. 

Damien will have his first official full day of school on the 25th, but tonight's Open House marked the beginning of the transition process with state testing & orientation to follow. 

Damien, checking out his new book, a gift from his teacher.

Of course Damien was super shy & refused any pictures. Until he saw his friend Alex (so glad they're in the same class), then the only pictures I could get were goofy ones. He also found the stash of dinosaurs in his classroom. Getting him & his friend, Max, away from them...well, they were two of the last kids in the room. 

All in all, I think it's going to be a great year! I can't wait to  see how much Damien learns & how he'll grow as a little man. 

Robinson's Fruit Shoot Presents: The Have a Ball Stunt Hunt

An extra special thanks to Fruit Shoot for sponsoring today's discussion. 

Summer vacation is quickly coming to an end. Usually at this time of year we cram every fun outdoor activity we can think of into our schedule. But lately the weather has been uncharacteristically chilly here & there. But that just means we've had to get a bit creative to fill our days with fun. 

Inspired by our love of playing checkers when we visit the library, we decided to play jacks. Only with Robinson's Fruit Shoot bottles. And instead of seeing how many you could pick up, the kids got to take a sip instead. Can you tell how much fun they had?!

My kids absolutely love Fruit Shoot! Not only do they come in four delicious flavors, but they're made with real fruit juice, contain no high fructose corn syrup & even have a spill proof cap. Which means that I don't mind treating them every once in a while time we go to the store. (My kids can spot these a mile away with their vibrant colors!)

But the fun of Fruit Shoot doesn't stop there! Until September 1st, 2014, you can enter the "Have a Ball Stunt Hunt" by submitting a video (10-30 seconds in length) of your kids (at least 3 years old & up) showing off their active imaginative play with Fruit Shoot & a ball of any kind. Don't forget to share your entry with your friends & have them vote, because winners will have their entry professionally edited with amazing special effects & posted on the contest homepage. 

 So what are you waiting for?! Grab some Fruit Shoot, your kids & a ball, get creative & submit your entry. As a thank you, you'll receive an email with a coupon for a FREE bottle of Fruit Shoot. You'll even find out how to receive a FREE Waboba Ball, also known as "the ball that bounces on water". (Spoiler alert...all you have to do is purchase 6 bottles of Fruit Shoot!) 

Fun Friday: Ivory Clouds

Is it just my kids that like to go outside & wallow around in the dirt & mud like pigs? My son has even been known to gather up a bucket of dirt, just to dump it over his head. But for all that they love to get dirty, they're definitely not fans of getting clean. Even with all of the character soaps available (those lose their awesomeness after one wash). But I finally found something that makes my kids want to take a bath. 

Not only is this a fun experiment to do with your kids, it will actually make them want to take a bath! 

•Place an unwrapped bar of Ivory soap on a microwave safe plate. 
•Microwave for 1-3 min. (depending on the wattage of your microwave).

That's it! 

Your kids will be amazed at how a bar of soap turned into a fluffy cloud. And you will be amazed at how quickly they ask if they can take a bath with it!  

Fun Friday: Edible Kool-Aid Playdough

So the other day, I was digging through some recipes when I came across one for Edible Kool-Aid Playdough. I'm not sure where it came from, since it was scrawled down on a piece of scrap paper, but I decided I was going to make it since the temperature has cooled a bit & the kids have been coming inside earlier at night.

I have to say that when I was making this, it smelled amazing! So much so that I snuck a bite.Yea, it's edible. But it doesn't taste good. Which I guess is a good thing since you don't want to teach your kids that eating playdough is okay. After all, not everyone plays with edible playdough. Side note - My 8 yr. old told me that it tasted just like the playdough she ate when she was younger. That wasn't edible. *Sigh*


•1C. flour (plus extra for kneading)
•1/2C. salt
•1 pkg. Kool-Aid
•3Tbsp. vegetable oil
•1C. boiling water

- In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt & Kool-Aid.
- Next add the oil & boiling water, stirring to combine thoroughly.
- On a floured work surface & adding more flour as needed, knead the dough until it becomes the perfect playdough consistency. 

*Store in an airtight container.
 

 

Fun Friday: Sidewalk Paint in a Bottle

I know I've shared sidewalk paint with you before, but this is a whole different way to use it. You just put it in a plastic squeeze bottle. Yep, that's it. 

 

You can see how much fun the kids were having (& me too)! Having the sidewalk paint in a squeeze bottle made it super easy to draw pictures. And the kids had a blast making "tie-dye"! 

Fun Friday: Milk Carton Easter Bunny

This is another one of those post-Easter posts...sorry about that.

This was such a fun craft to do with the kids! Even if I couldn't find my googly eyes at the time. 

•empty milk jug

•scissors

•pink construction paper

•white printer paper (or other white paper)

•glue

•tape

•permanent marker

•googly eyes, if desired

•2 white pipe cleaners

- To prepare the milk jug, simply rinse it out & cut the top off while still leaving the handle intact. Allow to dry. 

- Use one sheet of pink construction paper & one sheet of white printer paper to cut the ears (be sure the pink is slightly smaller than the white). Use glue to hold them together & then tape to secure them to the jug.

- Use a permanent marker or googly eyes (if you can find them in your multiple totes of craft supplies) for the eyes & permanent marker for the mouth.

- Use two white pipe cleaners for the whiskers by twisting them together to form an "X", curl the ends & secure them by cutting a small slit at the mouth & taping them on the inside.

Already my kids are thinking of different animals & even monsters to make from milk jugs. (Which is fine with me since they're drinking more milk.) Although I'm not too sure how I'm going to pull off making a horse...

Fun Friday: Paper Mache Fun

I had fully intended on making paper mache eggs with the kids for Easter. But when i couldn't find any water balloons, we decided to just have some paper mache fun instead.

And then when I took a picture, Mickey Mouse appeared!

 We used regular balloons that were barely blown up, squares of colored tissue paper & a homemade paper mache paste that was easy for the kids to brush on. And easy for mama to clean up!


•1 part flour
•5 parts flour

- Combine mixture in a saucepan & thoroughly whisk.
- Bring to a boil & simmer for 3-4 min.
- Cool to room temperature before using.

Fun Friday: Super Bubble Solution

My kids are relieved to finally be able to play outside now that nicer weather is here. And one of their favorite things to do outside is blow bubbles. Usually my oldest will stand on the back porch, blow as many as she can in what seems like 10 seconds, then run around with her younger brother & sister to pop them.

For years I made the simple bubble solution myself (it is just dish soap & water after all). But this year I decided to put a twist on it & make a Super Bubble solution! These bubbles tend to last a tad bit longer before they pop, which makes them twice as fun! 

•2C. warm water
•4Tbsp. dish soap
•2Tbsp. light corn syrup
•2tsp. white sugar

- Blend all ingredients in an airtight container that can double for storage.

*Due to the corn syrup & sugar, the solution is a bit sticky. 

Fun Friday: Chalkboard Wall

I have been contemplating on what to do in my sons room for...forever. And while I'm finally 99.9% sure of what we're going to do, one thing I've always been certain of is a chalkboard wall. 

View this photo on Instagram!

There was one area of wall that was completely sectioned off by the bedroom door, closet door, baseboard & a chair rail; making it the perfect spot. But where would we keep the chalk? I wanted it to stay as close to the chalkboard as possible. So how about on the chalkboard?! With some candle tins, screws & the hubs assistance, that's exactly what we did. 

Fun Friday: Construction Paper Shamrock

I love to decorate for the holidays, but sadly, I don't have many when it comes to St. Patrick's Day. Unless you count the 50 million window clings (which I don't). But I do have plenty of construction paper, staples & kids who like crafts. And for the record, yes, I consider three kids plenty for me. 

I used green & yellow construction paper for my shamrocks.

•Cut the paper into strips lengthwise (we used a ruler as a guide, not the measurements, the ruler itself).

•Cut the yellow strips in half & the green strips about 3/4 of the way down. 

•Layer 4 strips, 2 long & 2 short, with the short ones on the outside. Staple one end in place. 

•Flip the yellow ends up to join together, followed by the green ends. Staple the ends together so that the paper strips now form a heart. 

•Join 3 or 4 of the "hearts" & staple or glue them together.

•Take 1 long green strip (full length), fold it in half & attach it for a stem. 

•Manipulate the paper into more of a shamrock shape.

Fun Friday: Handprint Hanging Canvas

I have been meaning to make this for a while now. Just a simple round canvas, painted white, with the kids handprints. I decided to layer them in black (Paige), gray (Damien) & white (Hayden), but of course Hayden got a little excited & instantly smeared her hand. Paige thought that we would have to redo the whole thing, but I decided to put their names, ages & the year on it in black Sharpie marker instead (even though I messed up on my bottom 2 a bit). Because let's face it, of course the 2 yr. old would smear her handprint!

I just added some wide ribbon to the back & hot glued it into place. (I also wrote the exact date on the back.) Now it's hanging on my wall in the upstairs hallway.  

Happy Birthday Paige!

My first born, a.k.a. my mini-me, is 8 today!

Happy Birthday, Paige! Even though you're sick, I hope you had a great birthday.

I love you! 

Mom

Think It Thursday: Staying Warm...& Sane!

With this crazy winter weather, some of the schools have had to use some snow days. Most notably was right after winter break. So what do you do to stay warm, but keep your sanity too? 

 Finger Paint Twister: Let the kids finger paint on paper plates with one color per plate. When they're dry, place them on the floor for a makeshift game of twister. To play, we use 2 dice, taping over the 5 & 6. One die is for which arm or leg & the other which color. 

Build a Fort City: Use whatever furniture you can, along with boxes, laundry baskets & every blanket you can find. Just remember the rule of thumb for this is "Go big or go...bigger!".

Obstacle Course: My downstairs has what has been dubbed as "The Race Track", which the kids seem to do a million laps a day through. So every now & then, I make good use of it. Limbo through the doorway, hands & knees crawl (complete with rags) through the kitchen (see what I did there), backwards down the hallway but don't bump into the bubble wrap walls... You get the point, fun with a clean kitchen floor!

Fun Friday: Flubber

With the kids starting to go stir crazy from being on Christmas break, I was "forced" to make a Kindergarten & Preschool favorite. Flubber.

 

•1 1/2C warm water

•2C. glue

•food coloring

•1 13/C. warm water

•3tsp. Borax

- In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2C. warm water, glue & food coloring.

- In another bowl, combine 1 1/3C. warm water & Borax.

- Pour ingredients from 2nd bowl, into 1st bowl & stir to combine. 

- Squeeze excess water from your Flubber.

- Store in an airtight container. 

Have fun! 

Fun Fridday: DIY Finger Paint

Now that November is here in NE Ohio, I have to get creative to keep the kids from going crazy indoors. If for no other reason that when they go crazy, I go crazy. That's just too much crazy! 

 

 

This finger paint has more of a jelly-like consistency, but still serves it's purpose. Plus it's easy to make & completely edible should little ones choose to try it out. I'm just not certain how good it actually tastes, but my youngest didn't say "Eww!" when she tried it. Of course she didn't try it again after that, LOL!

 

•1/2C cornstarch

•2C. cold water

•1/2tsp. salt

•3Tbsp. sugar

•food coloring

 

- In med. sized pot, cook together cornstarch & cold water over med-high heat, stirring constantly (5-10 min). When mixture thickens, remove from heat. 

- Add salt & sugar, stir till combined & allow to cool.

- Once cooled, divide into separate containers & add food coloring until you reach desired color. 

- Store covered.

 

* Go easy on the food coloring, a little goes a long way

 ** Because of the food coloring, do be careful with clothing & other surfaces since there may be some slight staining.