From Shelving to Headboards: Reusing Old Pallets

crate pallet

Here are just a few of the amazing ways you can reuse old pallets in your home.

My husband recently put together a play yard for the kids outside. We wanted to create a fence around the playground but didn’t want to purchase and use new wood. Instead, we wanted to find reclaimed or used wood that would work for a sturdy yet fashionable fence. This is when we ran into the idea of making our fence out of old pallets. Using old pallets will make your craft or project almost free and you will be helping Mother Nature by reusing an item that would have been discarded. Many ... Continue Reading

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Summer Activities That Don’t Cost a Cent

camping

A list of fun and free activities that your whole family will enjoy this summer, whatever the weather.

With 2012 proving to be a financially challenging year for many people, summer can leave moms with a feeling of dread. Many families wonder: How are we going to keep the kids entertained without breaking the bank? If your kids are anything like mine, they are bored as soon as summer vacation begins. Within seconds of waking they demand to be taken to an astronomically expensive theme park, where they insist on buckets of poor quality food and toys that suck your bank account dry. After ... Continue Reading

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Rainy Day Crafts: Fun With Paper Plates

paper plate crafts

Rainy days can be fun with crafting from common items in your pantry like paper plates.

Stuck inside because of summer heat?  With the temperatures soaring outside play can become limited to early morning and just before dinner around here.  So what to do with all that extra time in between to keep the kids entertained?  There are so many fun and creative things that can be done with simple items from the pantry.  Plus, it’s hard to beat inexpensive entertainment.  For example, paper plates are a great source of hours of fun - and they are definitely plentiful. Here are ... Continue Reading

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5 Out of the Box Graduation Gift Ideas

Graduates

Get creative and think outside the box when it comes to your graduation gift giving this year.

It’s that time of year when High School and College Seniors are saying goodbye to school and hello to the real world. They’ve finished their studies, threw their graduation caps in the air and are ready for the next chapter in their lives. It’s an exciting time and one that deserves to be celebrated. I don’t know about you, but there have been several times I’ve received a graduation invitation and it leaves me thinking one thing. “What in the world do I get him for a gift?” I ... Continue Reading

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Eco-Friendly Crafts for Moms and Kids

eco crafts

Eco-friendly crafts take on at least one green aspect with the goal of reducing our impact as much as possible. Here are some key considerations.

Spring is one of the best times to get out into nature with your kids again and get crafting. Eco-friendly crafts take on at least one green aspect with the goal of reducing our impact as much as possible. Key Considerations and Ideas For Eco-Friendly Crafts Reused. Reusing an object that might otherwise go to waste is a great lesson for kids. Whether or not an item has multiple uses helps when thinking about buying something in the first place. Use old containers to show off freshly cut ... Continue Reading

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Embrace the Rain: Weather Related Crafts Usher in Spring

Little girl hiding behind umbrella

Three fun weather-related crafts and activities for kids of all ages.

Spring has sprung. As the cold, winter days make way for April showers and flowers, take a moment to talk about the changing weather with your children. Weather is a good excuse to introduce some science basics in a down-to-earth way that even the youngest children can understand. Encourage your children to think about the weather in new ways: ask them to predict the weather, to guess the outside temperature, or explain the shapes of different type of clouds. Let your children explore the ... Continue Reading

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Science in the Kitchen: Four Fun Experiments with Eggs

easter eggs

Four fun experiments: make an eggshell disappear, hold a spinning egg contest, float and sink eggs, and dye eggs red naturally.

Set aside some of those Easter eggs (or grab a fresh carton) for fun science experiments in the kitchen. You’ll make an eggshell disappear, hold a spinning egg contest, float and sink eggs, and dye them bright red using yellow onion peels. Make an Eggshell Disappear Check out the chalazae. You’ll need: An egg White vinegar Instructions: An egg is surrounded by a thin, hard shell, made of calcium carbonate. Inside, the egg yolk is suspended in the egg white by one or two ... Continue Reading

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Dye Easter Eggs the Natural Way

kids Easter eggs

Use everyday items to create rich dyes for your Easter eggs.

When I set out to find eco Easter egg dye options, I was surprised by the many kitchen items you could use.  It is easy to forego the chemical-laden food colorings and teach your kids the joys and uses of nature used in easy egg coloring recipes. Dye Recipe Instructions for Eggs: Select a dyeing agent (outlined below) and place it in the pot. Add 1 quart water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes. Strain dye into a ... Continue Reading

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Curl Up With a Book – Creating a Nook For Your Child

little_island_studios_book_nook

How to pull together a book nook; a reading space for your child.

In a recent article we discussed the necessary ingredients for pulling together fun, creative spaces and playrooms for your child. We are going to go through each one in a new designing series, designing for kids. This first article shows how to pull together a book nook; a reading space for your child. Reading nooks are spaces or areas that inspire your child to read - inviting creativity and thought. Reading nooks can be anywhere in your house. They do not have to be in your child's room, ... Continue Reading

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Blog of the Week: Sophie’s World

sophies-blog

The SocialMoms Blog of the Week is Sophie’s World – where crafts and games are just a website away.

Congratulations to Sophie's World: the SocialMoms Blog of the Week! Sophie's World is the digital home of Sophie Maletsky, renowned California Bay Area childrens entertainer and event planner. In Sophie’s World, every care provider can entertain and be entertained by their children through simple and usable crafts, games, learning tools, and activities suitable for all ages, situations, and surroundings. I recently chatted with Sophie about her site and blog: SM: What was your ... Continue Reading

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