Keepin' Them Busy

Keeping kids busy on the cheap is not always easy.  The pool is good, but sometimes enough is enough of that hot hot summer heat,  For summer fun we use these ideas and others to keep us busy indoors or out:

• Bath Time Fun time:

My kids use bathtime as fun time.  Long ago I thought it'd be fun to introduce popsicles into the tub time (a bit Gummo-ish, yes).  I get two packs of Bolis for a dollar at the 99 cents store and they only eat half at a time.                               

This idea was super fun at first, but now my kids are popsicle obsessed and do not take a bath without them.  I've tempered the sugar with juice pops...I like these ikea molds because they are cheap and you don't have to run the whole set under water to loosen it.  

I use smoothies or sometimes (when it's on sale) the V8 Juice Fusions with fruit and veggie juice.  I know its still sugary but helps me feel better. 

 Then I started to just use water for the same fun effect when they've reached their popsicle quota for the day.  This keeps my fun baths going strong.

I also add things to the bath:  

1. Popsicle sticks are fun because they float and can be stuck to the wall the make letters and shapes.
2. Glow sticks are fun for play in the dark bath fun, just toss them in (I haven't gotten into the whole breaking them open fad yet (still scaredy).
3. Food Coloring!  My kids call it Blue bath because that's my littlest's favorite color.  Itdoesn't stain and it's so fun for them and me. I used to buy those color tabs at the grocery store, but food coloring is just as good and I always have it on hand.
4. Bubbles...actual bubbles to blow.  They end up dumping it in, but it's always fun to start.  I've used a bubble machine as well, which is better, but batteries are always running out.  Am I right?

• Easy forts:

There are so many build your own fort types of products as well as tents (which we have but are a pain to set up and take down each and every time in a small house.  We have resorted to using clamps (you can buy a pack at the dollar tree for...surprise 1$!) or just get the super strong ones at the hardware store and use fewer.  With a light weight sheet you can make a perfect fort with easy pick up.

  The kids have so much fun building forts indoors and out and for some fun reason doing things in forts is always more fun (for them and me!)

• Don't be afraid to let them paint!

My kids paint all the time.  I know some moms shy away from the mess, but I keep it contained outdoors or at the table and then of course...bath time after!  We use aprons and old food containers and tempera paints (which mix colors well for color blending lessons.   I prefer regular tempera paint to the washable kind which is just a bit watered down in color brilliance.  Acrylic paint is no good because it hardens when it dries and it inevitably will dry on a brush some time and ruin the brush for you.  We use construction paper most times, but when I have a spare slab of wood I like to let them make masterpieces.  I had my girls work for a week on one painting (trying out the layering process art discussed in these awesome blogs: (http://www.lilblueboo.com/category/painting-with-children) layered painting/process painting (http://www.mericherry.com/2014/04/08/evolving-canvas-process-art-painting-for-kids/).  It really turned out amazing I think and is on display in our bedroom.  I like that I can control the colors by giving them set colors for each layer.  It teaches kids that more work and effort=more quality and special-ness.  My oldest loved that she was making a "masterpiece" for her daddy, not just one of her daily paintings.

We have also experimented with face/body painting...which could open up a can of worms, but still worth it for the fun factor.  We just used non toxic tempera paint, but watercolors would be fine too.

That is a dancer on my face and a unicorn on her belly...in case you couldn't tell.

• Puppet Shows

I love the concept of puppets and the creative outcomes they promote, so I buy them secondhand whenever I find them.  We have an odd collection so far (rabbit, armadillo, walrus, pelican, deer...).  I find that when I perform a puppet show first it helps them to mimic and get the concept so they don't just fight the whole time over who gets to hide behind the screen and who gets to watch.  Plus, making my kids laugh is the best!  

Speaking of screen...my best find!  I found an old fabric lined shutter outside of my friend's neighbor's house.  They were remodeling and just going to throw them out, so I snagged one (no shame in dumpster diving).  I ripped out the staples and used Velcro instead, so the puppets can peak through the curtain. And that's all I did!  It still needs some securing chains, so that it doesn't fall over so easily, but as long as the sides are squared out it's perfect!  Of course you could just use a sheet over a chair back too, but this is Oh so fun and free. 

Keeping kids busy on the cheap is really not too complicated.  Some of these ideas serve as a mom-breaks while the kids are busy playing, but mostly playing with your kids is all it takes.  

The sillier the better!

Introducing ... Crafty-Do!!!

I have shared my intention of making some extra money to help my girls and I to remain at home together--this is especially important to me as my eldest starts kindergarten (homeschool style) in about a month! (More on that later). 

I have always been crafty...not necessarily super artistic, although I've been exploring that over the past few years with some painting: 

...(I'll show you my "gallery" later). 

For the last two years, I was the Craft Coordinator for the North Phoenix Baptist Church MOPS group.  It was a job I really wanted and had so much fun with; however, starting school this year, I didn't want to tackle that responsibility and the new life of homeschooling.  I had been encouraged by many MOPS friends and others to teach craft classes, and now I am finally doing it.  

Introducing ...Crafty-Do!  

I will be teaching little ones to do crafts, such as the ones found in the Pinterest collage above, and  I am giddy!  It is a chance for me to teach (which I love), craft (which I double love), and hopefully add a little something to our household income.  I will be documenting our crafting adventures here, so stay tuned!

Also, I am available for crafting parties--for kids' birthdays and for adult fun too.  I'll be setting up a schedule of adult crafting parties (with adult beverages of course) in the near future as well.  We'll call it Crafts & Carafes, or maybe Pins and Gins or Crafts on the Rocks? Mojito Craftito? Margarita Craftita? Crafte' Soiree?  We shall see.  It's all exciting!

If you are in the Phoenix area Wednesdays from 3-4 pm come on over with your littles and Craft it Up with us!

Our first craft is this beauty on Wednesday, August 5, 2015:

BTW...Thank you to all you friends who have encouraged me in this endeavor.  You gave me the push I needed.  Oh what dear friends you are!

A Quickie on Coconut Oil

I know the benefits of coconut oil are all the rage and have been buzzing for some time now, but I wanted to share a few of my own personal favorite uses as a frugal-freak.

Let me set the scene here with a little story at story time.  I took my girls to a library story time about two months ago and kept meeting eyes with this one mother...you know how it goes.  During the bubble blowing time at the end, she came up to me and started chatting.  I told her her daughter was adorable, and we started talking about our work situations--mine being that I don't work and hers... well, she had me watch a video on her iphone.  It turns out she, like many other mothers desiring to stay home with their children, works as a representative for a multi-level marketing company.  Hers sells beauty products.  Once I figured out the scheme of the scene, I was able to tell her, "Sorry, I just use coconut oil". And just like that she was shut down.  It was amazing and true.  I don't like to be sold things; and I don't think I would be very good at selling any of these multi-level marketing products, because I myself would not spend the money on any one of them (not that they are not fine for those interested and willing to spend money).  I have friends selling Isagenix, Nerium, Jamberry, Rodan+Fields, DO-Terra essential oils,  Juice Plus, and a slimming body wrap thingy.  It is a way to make extra income, and while I considered it and wish I could bring myself to do it... Nope.  I will figure another way (more posts to come on this!).

That being said, let's get back to the point, and that is that I am coo-coo for coconut oil.  I buy the two pack at Costco.  It is not cheap, but it lasts--I have been working on one of these jars since Christmas.  At first, I just baked with it (I know it is good for cooking other things, but I don't like coconut fragranced meat, personally).  Then I expanded my coconut tree-lined horizons.  

First I tried it on my hair.  I have curly hair and I like to use products like:
Curls Rock  and Shine Spray 

However, I can rarely bring myself to buy these good smelling awesome products.  Thus!  Coconut oil! I wash my hair, towel dry, add less than a tablespoon of coconut oil, and scrunchy scrunchy, air dry, good to go!  It's amazing on my curls, and so cheap, considering how long the jug lasts.

Next, I tried it to take off my makeup.  I put it in a cute little mason jar and just cotton pad the make- up off in seconds.  Works amazingly well and gently too!  Then I started just putting it all over my face, which felt weird like I'd be clogging some pores, but no.  It's awesome, and my skin looks and feels great.  Especially since I'm at that thirty something marker when one realizes "Sh#@ when I pull my face I look younger!"  

Now I use it on my lips, nails, hair, as a sugar scrub, a lotion, a moisturizer, and the best curl cream money can buy.  I bake (especially pancakes and banana bread...more on that later), make granola, and will be trying it for my daughters' next diaper rash and for my next yeast infection as well (TMI!).  

I am a true believer! 

So there you have it.  Just a little promotion of something I value, that is an excellent value for you fugal freaks out there.  Have at it...go COCO-NUTS!