Homemade Playdough

A Mom's Best Friend

I can't count the number of times, play dough has saved the day at our house. Usually the conversation goes something like this: Unruly children--"Mommy, we're bored". Exhausted mom--"Go outside...go play....go away." Unruly children--"Mommy there is nothing to do." Overworked/underpaid mom--"How about play dough?" Unruly children--"Yay, Play dough!".

Yep, that conversation takes place in our house most days. For some reason, when all other toys and games become, "old, boring or broken", play dough is always there to swoop in and save the day. Play dough withstands the test of time, the test of boredom and the test of unruly children. This mama gives play dough two enthusiastic thumbs up. And the only thing better than store bought "Playdoh", is........you guessed it, homemade play dough! First of all, you can make it in large or small quantities. Plus you can chose your own colors! Not to mention, it lasts a lot longer. It's just better. Trust me.

So, let's make some play dough. Round up those unruly youngins and put them to work helping you.

You will need:

1 C flour

1C water

1/2 C salt

1T cream of tarter

1T oil

food coloring

Mix together all ingredients

Put the mixture on the stove top and cook at medium low, stirring continuously.

It will be very runny at first, but slowly it will come together. Just keep stirring until it all starts to stick together in a ball.

Now, you will want to dump the play dough out onto a floured surface.

Now simply kneed the dough out until it is no longer sticky.

And there you have it...Play dough!!

Let's see that one more time...

Make sure you store your play dough in an airtight container or baggie. And it will live a long and happy life.

And now, sit back relax and let your unruly children go to town.



No Sew Tutu

Ribbon and Tulle

Little girls love tutus. And really, what's not to love? They are frilly and twirly and just plain princessy.

Making a tutu is easy, inexpensive and best of all, you can chose any color of tulle or ribbon your little girl likes. I use a no sew method, because my sewing machine and I are, "on a break".

You are going to need tulle, ribbon, scissors and a measuring tape. Yep, that's it. I told you it's simple. You can buy tulle by the yard in a craft store or even at Walmart. It is also sold by the spool in some places. If you can find tulle by the spool, buy it. It will make your life so much easier. But know this....once you go spool, you never go back.

I used two spools of pink tulle and some black polkadot ribbon for this tutu.

 

You will want to measure your little girls waist and cut the ribbon about 12 inches longer than her measurement. This will leave room for ties on the tutu. Find the waist measurement in the center of the ribbon and tie off both sides, leaving 6 inches on each end.

Next you will need to start cutting you tulle. For a 9 inch tutu, you will cut the tulle into 18 inch strips. Cut alot of strips before you get started.....I mean alot.

Okay, now that you are finally done cutting it is time to start tieing the tulle onto the ribbon. Here is how you do it.

Now, just keep going....

See? I told you this is an easy project. You really should trust me. Now, when you have your ribbon covered from knot to knot. You are done!

Tie your remaining ribbon into a pretty bow and you are ready to twirl and dance and....oh, I mean your little girl is ready to twirl and dance and be princessy.

Tutus are the perfect gift for little girls. This one was made for an adorable two year old!

Happy Birthday Juliet!

Kid Friendly Hiking On Skyline Drive

 Father's Day Fun

This year for Father's Day, we decided to go hiking. Hiking with kids can be a challenge, but with some simple planning and snacks...lots of snacks, it can be a great learning experience and an inexpensive family building activity. Most importantly, you want to know where you are going, and be sure that the hike you are doing is kid friendly. Of course, this will depend on the ages and fitness levels of your children. We have a six year old, a four year old and a six month old. We have found that our kids can do about 1 mile before needing a break, and usually a total of 4 miles total. If you are hiking with a baby, you are going to need a hiking backpack. We were lucky enough to find one at Page One for a dollar. You will want to be sure that everyone dresses according to the weather/terrain. Also, double check that everyone has good hiking shoes. Blisters are not fun...flip flops are a definite no go.  You will need to bring a backpack for supplies as well.

I suggest the following supplies for a a short-medium hike:

• water
• energizing snacks (granola bars, trail mix, fruit)
• sunscreen/bug spray( you can pack this or apply before the hike)
• diaper/wipes (just in case)
• small first aid kit
• camera

Some ideas to make hiking fun for kids:

• bring a small plastic baggie for "treasures" (interesting rocks/leaves/moss)
• bring a bird book or plant/flower book to identify things you find in nature
• play a game to see who can find the most living creatures (deer, birds, bugs ect.)
• after the hike, let your kids journal about what they did/saw using pictures and words

Most importantly, let your kids be kids. They are going to get dirty, muddy and wet. Fight the urge to control the situation. Exploration is such an important part of childhood. Trust me, a little dirt won't hurt. :)

Alright, lets hit the trail!

You can get a Shenandoah National Park Annual pass for $30.00. Trust me, it is worth every penny. At the park entrance they will give you a map. The first hike we decided to do was Little Stoney Man. This is a short 1 mile hike, perfect for beginners or small children and it is very rewarding with a beautiful view!

The next hike we did was Dark Hollow Falls. I highly...HIGHLY recommend this hike! Our kids love it, and it is breathtakingly beautiful! It is about 3 miles round trip. One warning: It is all downhill getting there, which means....you guessed it, all uphill coming back. So be prepared for a work out, but nothing you and the kids can't handle!

After our hike to Dark Hollow Falls and alot of water and snacks, we finished the day exploring at Big Meadows. It was a wonderful way to spend Father's day and build family memories. And as an added bonus, Amelia said her first word: "Daadddaa!".  

Happy Father's Day

And Happy Hiking!