Maybe it's just because I have a boy, but my child LOVES playing in dirt and sand and, and, and....
So, as winter approaches we wondered what to do with his sandbox! We have plenty of room in our basement, but we didn't want to use sand (too hard to clean up inside), didn't want to use rice as we had before (because the basement is a bit damp at times, so rice could get really gross!). So after having an empty sandbox sitting in the basement for 2 months, my husband came up with the idea of getting a few bags of that rubber mulch (like wood chips but rubber)! It's splendid!! We went thru it to find any bad pieces or long strings, but 2 bags filled our sandbox and our L.O. is having an absolute blast.
Mommy might even get a few books read this winter! Hooray!
Perfect Homemade Play Dough
Why buy expensive (and STINKY) "Play Doh" when you can easily and quickly make your own. I have tried a number of recipes over the last year and this one is, hands-down, the best. It has the texture of the store bought stuff, but without the smell. And best of all, it's all made from eatable ingredients, so if your LO is at all like mine, when he/she puts it in his/her mouth, it won't be dangerous. It won't taste good, that's for sure (Aaron says it's "gucky") but it won't hurt them!
The whole process takes about 10 minutes (depends somewhat on how many colors you want to mix).
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups flour (white)
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
1 tbsp cream of tarter
2 tbsp. veggie oil
food dye - your choice of colors
TO MAKE:
~Pour all ingredients into a pan and turn on stove to medium to medium-high heat.
~Stir constantly over medium heat until a dough ball forms by pulling away from the sides of the pan.
~Remove from pan and let cool a few minutes.
~Knead dough for a few minutes until smooth.
~Add drops of food coloring and knead to blend (this can get messy so make sure you do it on a non-porous surface in case the dye goes flying). Start with a few drops and add until you get your desired color.
~Store in sealed plastic container. Should last for at least 3 months.
~This recipe usually comes out to 4 fist-sized balls.
Switch Witch for (unwanted) Halloween Candy
A friend just turned me on to the idea of a SWITCH WITCH at Halloween (I was complaining about not wanting my LO to get all that candy).
The SWITCH WITCH (I think she's related to the Toothfaerie), if you haven't heard of her, comes after Halloween and visits kids rooms and takes their trick or treat candy (they leave it for her, outside their bedroom door, naturally). And in the place of the candy, she leaves a treat - a book or a toy or something fun.
Obviously, this isn't for kids who already know the Halloween-Candy-Connection, but for one like mine who hasn't experienced the candy, it sounds great!
And THEN I'll give the candy back, through Operation Gratitude, to go into care packages for US Military Abroad.
Problem. Solved.
Aah....back to working on the costume.
http://www.operationgratitude.com/
