Less Than Perfect Valentines

We have hearts hanging on nearly every wall and window of our house. What started out as a simple craft one morning turned into my girl asking every day to “paint more hawts”. And it is so easy that every day, we paint more hearts. She paints them as quick as I can cut them out. And once they dry, we decorate

Hearts01 Less Than Perfect ValentinesAren’t they so cheery and colorful? Like little conversation heart candies, but better.

Hearts02 Less Than Perfect Valentines

And they are so easy and fun to make.  I am sharing all of the details of these Valentines hearts today on Less Than Perfect Parents, a great site focused on being the best parent you can be, without obsessing about being perfect. A good read for a perfectionist like me.icon smile Less Than Perfect Valentines

leave a comment

courtney - I love this idea, simple and easy. These are the projects I need, if they are too complex I would rather purchase it! :) By the way I love the grocery list in Spanish.

Getting Older is a Privilege

GettingOld Getting Older is a Privilege

Today seemed like a fitting day to start a little series I have been thinking about for quite a while.

I am not sure yet what I will call it.  Does it even have to have a name?  Thoughts on Thursdays?  But I am not sure that it will always be on a Thursday…

I have been collecting quotes and inspirational tidbits since I could write, literally. I started with journals filled with them. Moved on to writing them in the margins of published books of quotes. Now I keep them in Evernote and Pinterest. And every so often I like to look back through them. Remember why I liked them. Because different quotes speak to me at different stages of my life, through different phases. Ups, downs, and in-betweens. And looking back over them brings back such strong memories.

Like this one.

Because a year ago today my thoughts on getting older were changed forever.

leave a comment

courtney - Thanks…you reminded me just in time….

Malm - Good thought—-does bring tears to my eyes, tho’

Goody Foods

GoodyFoods1 Goody Foods

What a fun surprise to come home yesterday afternoon to a Goody Foods snack box on my front porch!  A few of you may know that I don’t eat snacks.  I eat 3 (rather large) meals a day, and between those meals, I just don’t eat.  So it is a little hard for me now with a preschooler who wants to have snacks all. day. long.  I really try to avoid the processed, packaged snacks from the grocery store.  So I try to serve as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible, and also make healthy snacks when I can.

A few weeks ago when I heard about the healthy snack boxes from Goody Foods, I was intrigued.  Not only is everything completely healthy, homemade, and preservative-free, you sign up for a subscription and a fresh box shows up at your house every Sunday.  It doesn’t get any easier than that to give your family healthy snacks.

GoodyFoods2 Goody Foods

This week’s box included Cranberry Scones, Maple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and Cherry Chocolate Energy Bites.

I am impressed.  And for a non-snack eater to be impressed with snacks, that says something.  Everything is delicious.  (Well, I didn’t actually try the Energy Bites because I don’t eat chocolate, but I haven’t heard any complaints yet!)  I love that everything is made with all natural, seasonal, healthy ingredients.  I love that each week is a different selection of snacks to expose your child to many different tastes and textures.  And I love that in true San Francisco fashion, everything in the cute little box is compostable.  (And how cute is that box!?!)

GoodyFoods3 Goody Foods

For all of you in San Francisco, save yourself the 20 minutes waiting in line to park at Trader Joe’s to buy snacks, and give Goody Foods a try.  You won’t be disappointed!  (As of now, Goody Foods Snack Boxes can only be delivered within the city of San Francisco, but hopefully they will expand soon.)

Goody Foods sent me a box to try. All opinions are my own.
leave a comment

Brooke - I need this! I hope they start delivering to the East Bay soon!

lauren - we love your blueberry muffins and make them all the time. can you maybe share some more healthy snack recipes? (i don’t live in sf so i can’t order a box)

Indoor Snowmen

A few months ago Avery started asking to go to the snow.  I have no idea where she got that crazy idea, since both of her parents are happy in weather that is above 70 degrees.  But she wouldn’t stop talking about it.  Seeing all of the Frosty the Snowman books and movies around the holidays didn’t help anything.  She was set on seeing snow.  Since there is about a zero percent chance of us getting snow in San Francisco, we had to get creative.
IndoorSnowmen11 Indoor SnowmenWith a few boxes of cornstarch, some shaving cream, and some materials from our treasure box, we made snowmen from the comfort (and warmth) of our living room.  Hours of fun playing with the fluffy white powder and no freezing fingers and toes. Perfect, in my opinion.
I am over at Modern Parents Messy Kids today sharing all the details of how to make these indoor snowmen.

IndoorSnowmen2 Indoor Snowmen

She is still talking about the snow, however, so I might not be off the hook that easy…
leave a comment

Trash to Treasures

Treasures2 Trash to Treasures

I hate throwing things away. No, I am not a hoarder, actually the opposite. But I see potential in little things that most people would throw in the trash or recycling bin. Bits of packaging, old greeting cards, boxes, catalogues.  Perfect art project materials – and all free. So a few years ago I started our very own “treasure box”. In it went all of these fun bits and pieces that I knew could be used again. I was amazed at how quickly I had amassed quite a collection of unique, fun, creative materials to use.

Sometimes, I go into our treasure box looking for materials for a specific project. Sometimes, we pull out a dozen or so things and see what we can create. And when I just need a few minutes (or hours) of quiet time, I pull put the treasure box and let my girl go through and examine and admire each of the treasures in the box. She loves discovering everything, and I love that she is entertained.

Treasures1 Trash to Treasures

The most popular items in our treasure box, clockwise from top left: clothing tags, fabric scraps, egg cartons, paint chips.

A few tips to start your own treasure box:

  • Start with a relatively large box.  (We use an old moving box)  You’ll be surprised how quickly it starts filling up.
  • Keep your box accesible.  If it is hard to get to you will be less likely to add things to it.
  • When in doubt, add it to your box.  You can always throw it out later if you don’t end up using it for any art projects.
  • Don’t be afraid of the mess.  This is a big one for my OCD personality.  I was first trying to organize my treasure box.  Scraps of paper all in an envelope, boxes nested together nicely, etc.  It was too hard to keep up.  So now, I just throw things in and try not to think about it.  :)
  • You will be amazed at how many treasures are waiting for you in your trash / recycling bin!

Some ideas of what to put in your treasure box:

  • toilet paper rolls
  • paper towel rolls
  • mesh bags
  • packaging materials
  • egg crates
  • milk jugs
  • 2 liter soda bottles
  • magazines
  • junk mail
  • water bottles
  • old socks
  • clothing labels
  • business cards
  • newspaper
  • paint chips
  • old calendars
  • paint stirrers
  • fabric / ribbon / twine / yarn scraps
  • buttons
  • plastic baby wipes containers
  • shampoo bottles (cleaned out)
  • cereal / cracker / pasta boxes
  • oatmeal boxes
  • plastic produce boxes
  • starbucks coffee sleeves
  • wrapping paper tubes
  • ribbons and bows from gift wrap
  • used ziplock baggies (washed out)
  • aluminum foil
  • packing materials
  • greeting cards / postcards
  • shoe boxes
  • stickers
  • old art projects / paintings
  • little plastic toys
  • anything else that catches your eye… think creatively!

Would you be interested in seeing some of the projects that we make using treasures from our treasure box?

leave a comment

Indoor Snowmen - [...] to get creative. With a few boxes of cornstarch, some shaving cream, and some materials from our treasure box, we made snowmen from the comfort (and warmth) of our living room.  Hours of fun playing with the [...]