More Crafts, Ideas & "How To's"
Babysitting Kit Ideas
1 Container to fit all the items in 1 Binder.
Decorate or have the kids help you decorate however you desire.
Emergency Binder
- Your emergency binder should have the following information:
- Fill bucket with:
- Crayons, makers colored pencils
- Washable glue or glue sticks
- Small scissors for children
- Coloring books
- Story books
- 2 cup flour
Pom poms, feathers, craft sticks, stamps, old magazines to cut out,Pipe cleaners, goodly eyes, old clean white socks, pinto beans,find stories, games, puzzles, and other activities that children might enjoy. Make some stories into plays with puppets or into flannel board stories.
Additional Ideas.
String Cereal Necklaces
- dry cereal with holes
- 1. String cereal on piece of floss.
- 2. Tie ends together and wear a portable “jewelry” snack!
Hair & Beauty Kit
- Gather barrettes
- bobby pins
- brush
- comb
- nail polish (ask parents first!)
- elastics
A great way to have a crazy hair contest.
Sock Snowman.
- 1 white tube sock
- Googly eyes
- Pinto beans
- String
- Fabric scrap for scarf
- elastics
Fill sock with beans 2/3rds full. Tie top with string. Tie about half way again to make three even round circles. Fold top 1/3rd of sock down so it makes a hat. Add a scarf around the neck with scraps of fabric. Decorate to your hearts content.
BabySitting Emergency List
- Parents Full Names:
- Kids Names:
- Kids Birthdays:
- CODE WORD:
- Is anyone expected to drop by? Who?
- Allergies
- Parents Cell Phone Numbers
- Home Phones Number
- Address of House
- Person to call in case I can’t get a hold of you
- Hospital Insurance
- Bed Time Routine
Note: Don't forget to find out specific things to know about any of the children
Helpful Articles
The Truth About Family Time
So often we define our family time around engaging in some type of out of home activity. Whether it is playing in the park or walking the mall, we often limit ourselves to pre-arranged fun. We want some outside force to be the ever-present uniting entertainment factory. This allows us not to put our whole selves into whatever it is we are doing. Doing the same things time and time again can grow a little old and monotonous. After you have bought the newest jeans or played on the slide, yet again, what happens when you and your family get back home? Do you retreat to your room while the kids play some game or do some other isolated activity? If so, you are not alone. With the evolution of the cell phone, gaming technology, and the internet, we often experience disconnects within our family unit. If you feel this way, then you know that it is time to get back to basics. That is when it’s time to break the monotony and re-learn each other, for old time sakes.
We often take each other for granted and our expectations are generally relegated by our daily responsibilities. This is not good for a family. Each one in the family should feel appreciated and have some self importance. As a parent, you will need to find ways that your family can reconnect to learn to appreciate each other. So often our children are more in tuned with their classmates and schools than with their own family members. If you find this to be true in your family, you may want to take time out to re-establish your “home community”. Childhood does not last long. It is a time that can be rushed and full of “activity”. While outside fun is great, you do not want your family time to be more about the activity than about your family. Talk to each, eat together, share your dreams, and enjoy the talents that each of you has within. Family time can be many things, but, the most important thing that it should be, is a time to love each other; which doesn’t require money, gas, or batteries.
The Bright Side to Single Parenting
Raising a child is a tough job, but with it comes a lifetime of memories and, hopefully, happiness. When it is traditionally two parents in the household, it’s a lot of work. Well, with only one parent, it can be even harder, but not impossible. People often look at being a single parent as a complete deficiency, but that is not always the truth of the matter. In fact, many women, and men are choosing to parent alone. For many children, there is only one parental figure in their lives and they are completely happy about it. Let's take a closer look at the many advantages of being a single parent:
- 1. You are the recipient of tons of love from your child. You may be the most important and most influential person in your child's life. Because not only do you not have to "share" them with anyone, they may make you the center of their universe, showering you with every hug and kiss that they can bestow upon you.
- 2. Your values take precedence. There is no compromising, negotiating, and trying to integrate someone else's belief system as you try to raise your children. You are the only one who leads in the household.
- 3. You are the king or queen bee in your home. You make the rules and you are the one who has to enforce the rules. There is no guessing or trying to play one parent against another. But along with that comes the reality that sometimes, you may not be on your child's "favorite" list.
- 4. You do all the work, and you get to reap all of the rewards. As a single parent, you will labor with your children through many years of schooling, as well as personal triumphs and failures. But, when all is said and done, when your child looks back over their life...they will know that their accomplishments have been greatly due to your dedication, care, and support as their parent.
Being a single parent, of course, is not all roses, but, it can be a wonderful experience. Your child will benefit from your confidence and love, knowing that you are being the best parent that you can be.
Raising Twins to Be Individuals
Twins are a natural phenomenon that constantly marvels us. When they are identical twins, they look alike and we usually want them to be complete carbon copies of each other. We are amused when they talk alike, do things simultaneously, and, of course, dress alike all of the time. It’s a lot of pressure when you are a twin to be…a twin.
As a parent, you are faced with the dilemma of how to groom and prepare your children for the trials of life. This holds true for the parent of twins as well. Being the parent of twins you will need to help your children to gain a personal, individual confidence that will last throughout their life. When each twin has their own life and dressing the same is no longer “cute”, they will need to be their own person.
One way to help to prepare your twins for the harsh realities that they may face as they grow is to, as a parent, treat them like individuals. Don’t partake in calling them, “the twins” or simply referring to each as “twin”. Instead, use their names. Beckon them one at a time whenever possible. This will be instrumental in them realizing that they are not “the same person” or two halves of a whole person.
- Try not to dress them alike ALL of the time. Give them opportunities to explore their own tastes and style. Some of them may actually resent being forced to always look alike. Coincidentally, despite their individual preferences, sometimes when the twins have the same clothing items, they will inadvertently both wear the same outfit. It’s bound to happen.
- Set expectations for each one, individually. Give them their own chores and set your academic expectations based on each one’s personal ability.
- Acknowledge and reward them individually. Nobody wants to share the spotlight all of the time.
- Spend time with each one. Take one out to dinner or lunch where you can learn more about their personal desires, dreams, and challenges.
- Above all else, you need to remember that you have two children. Not two halves of a child. Twins are special. But, what’s more special is a parent’s ability to make their child feel like the star that they are. Stars can twinkle and light the sky as individuals. So, too, can your children; each one, being who they are, while you, the parent encourages and celebrates their individuality. Tell them often that it is ok for you to be you. That goes for the parents as well. Your twins will appreciate this special time together much more than you could ever imagine.
Hurry Clean The House, They’re on The Way Over
You're around the corner from my house and you're coming for a visit?!?!? Unexpected guests are rarely ever...expected. If you have kids, you may be wondering if your house is up to par for a visit. You may need to clean up, very, very quickly. Don't fret. It can be done. Follow these little tips to give your house a clean appearance in a snap:
- 1. Don't overdo it. Now is not the time to categorize and organize. Keep your primary task in perspective. You are on a mission to clean.
- 2. Pick up and remove or place in a receptacle anything that does not belong in the room that you will entertain in. Just know that you will need to organize it later.
- 3. Grab a rag and dust. You may not have time to soak and clean things that are very dusty. Wipe and clean, use spray polish if you have time.
- 4. Make sure the bathroom is tidy. Keep all purpose cleaning wipes available for an occasion just like this. Then, you won't need to wet up everything just to clean.
- 5. Vacuum! You will be amazed at what you can vacuum up. Instead of sweeping, vacuum up those crumbs. Before you know it, your floor will look great.
- 6. Freshen the room. Even if you already use a plug-in freshener, you may need to spritz a little spray by the front door and wherever your guest will be allowed to roam.
Hopefully, in between looking panicked and running around in frenzy, you can accomplish all that you need to do to make your home presentable. But, remember to smile when they arrive and do your best to act surprised when they say how lovely your home looks!
Sniffable Sneakers
Do your kids sneakers smell bad?
If the sneakers are machine washable, running them solo through a regular cycle should have them fresh as can be. Allow them to air-dry rather than putting them in the dryer.
For prevention, have your child or spouse wash their feet with antibacterial soap, drying them completely before putting on socks and sneakers. Check out a foot antiperspirant as well.
Activities, Recipes & More
52 Fun Things To Do This Summer
Things To Do This Summer
- Go to the drive in movies
- Set up a slip and slide
- Get a small childrens pool and dump several bags of ice in it. Add small toys that kids could pick up with their toes. Have children sit on the ground with their feet in the pool and have them
- Paint with water or jello pudding
- Make a bubble solution (a little dish soap in a pan of water) and use kitchen utincils as wands
- Make toy animals out of recyclable things (example- make a car out of a pop can or water bottle.)
- Make homemade popsicles with juice, fruit and yogurt
- Jump on the trampoline with water on underneath.
- Have a sleep out on the trampoline with friends
- Go to the community pool
- Color on butcher paper. Trace out bodies and color them
- Make homemade pizza and cookies
- Have water balloon contests.
- Start and small sewing project like a purse.
- Have an indoor camp out. Get out the sleeping bags and make sores in the microwave.
- Make homemade play dough
- Play hide and seek with a stuffed animal as the object that is hidden
- Build a fort.
- Fly a kite
- Draw out a hopscotch on your driveway.
- Play freeze tag
- Go on a family bike ride
- Tell scary stories with a flashlight let your child come up with the ending
- Start a family journal
- Sing in the car
- Go fishing
- Play touch or flag football- use your socks as the flags.
- Invite friends over for a BBQ
- Play Frisbee
- a Picnic
- Start a neighborhood bike parade or a pajama parade. Make sure to play loudly on instruments that you make out of your pots and pans.
- Create a treasure hunt
- Have each child pick a dinner theme, plan the menu and help you shop for it and make it.
- Have an etiquette night and practice manners on that good china you never use
- Go to the fair and look at all of the 4-H projects.
- Play in large boxes that you find.
- Make a lemonade stand.
- Do a family scrap booking day together.
- to the library and join their summer reading program. Most of them give out prizes for free to the kids.
- Plant something in your garden. Have kids help with the watering.
- Have a family championship on your Nintendo wii, play station, x-box (whatever you have) Let mom start with extra points!
- Play name that tune.
- Play a fun family board game.
- Visit a historical site in your area.
- Have a watermelon seed spiting contest.
- Find an object in your house that begins with each letter of the alphabet.
- Reward your children for doing reading in the summer. (My sister does not agree with me on this one but I am a firm believer in bribery.)
- Have a neighborhood ice cream party and tell everyone to bring a their favorite flavor.
- Play at the park and bring along spray bottles of water for tag.
- Lay on the grass at night, count stars and find the big and little dipper.
- Make a family flag a hang it outside your home.
- Have one day of the week called the Family Fun Day. We pick one day a week and plan a bigger thing to do on that day like the zoo, movies or water park. I usually do Fridays. What I do is have the kids earn money during the week whether it is reading or extra chores like cleaning out closets. Then, when we go on family fun day, they get to spend the money they earned at the place we go. My kids catch on real quick once they see how much money their other sibling got to spend. My closets are always clean in the summer!
Sailboats
- 1 ½ pound ground beef
- 8 hard rolls
- ¼ c. butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ c. chopped onion
- ¼ c. chopped green pepper
- 1 TBS. butter
- ½ c. cream of tomato soup
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 1 tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
Cut slice from top of rolls and hollow out center of each. Save tops for croutons and use center portion for crumbs. Mix ¼ c. softened butter with garlic salt. Brush garlic butter on inside of rolls. Sauté onion and green pepper in 1 TBS. butter. Soften the bread crumbs with the tomato soup and beaten egg. Add onion, green pepper to the bread crumb mixture. Add salt and pepper to the ground beef. Combine the beef with the bread crumb mixture and mix well. Fill hollow bread rolls with the meat mixture. Place on a shallow pan and bake in oven for 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Just before serving, add a sail made from cheese and anchored with tooth picks. Serves 8 Serve with mashed potatoes, green beans and blue Jello.
Best Ever Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake
- 1 pkg chocolate cake mix
- 1 pkg (4-serving size) chocolate instant pudding
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 pkg (8 squares) semi-sweet baking chocolate, divided
- 1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip, thawed
- 2 Tbsp slice Almonds
Preheat oven to 350 degress. Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water with mixer on low speed just until moistened, scraping side of bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 2 min.
or until well blended. Stir in 2 squares of chocolate, chopped. Spoon into pans.
Bake 30-35 min. or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min on wire rack. Loosen cakes from sides of pans with spatula or knife. Invert cakes onto rack & gently remove pans. Cool completely.
Place remaining 6 squares chocolate and Cool Whip in medium microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 1/2 to 2 min. Stir until well blended and shiny. Cool 5 min. Frost the cake. Garnish with almonds. (There is a photo with the almonds all around the top edge of the cake). It really was a delicious cake!
Cookie Makeover
Give your Cookies a Makeover
Add in a package of vanilla instant pudding to your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Your cookies will bake high and melt in your mouth.
Cooking Hints for Cakes
Baking Tips:
- To cut a fresh cake, use a wet knife.
Do not discard rinds of grapefruit, organs or lemons. Grate the rinds first, put in a tightly covered glass container, and store in the refrigerator. Makes excellent flavoring for cakes and frostings.
When icing a cake, the icing will not run off if a little flour is dusted on the surface of the cake.
Shortly before taking the cup cakes from the oven, place a marshmallow on each of the frosting.
Cake will come out of the pan easily if the pan is placed on a damp cloth for a few minutes after removing from the oven.
SnickerDoodles
Mix together:
- 3 ¾ C flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ cream o tartar
Mix together:
- 1 C butter or margarine
- 2 C sugar
- 2 eggs
- ¼ C milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Add flour mixture to sugar mixture and MIX
- MIX and set aside
- 3 tbls sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- GREASE cookie sheet
ROLL dough into a ball. Then put the ball into the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Place on the cookie sheet. Use a fork to press down the dough so it looks like a peanut butter cookie.
BAKE at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.
Pizza Dough
- 1 pkg. yeast (1 TBS. dissolved)
- 1 c. water (warm)
- 3 TBS. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 cup flour
- 3 TBS. shortening
- 1 egg
- 2 cup flour
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Let sit. In separate mixing bowl, add sugar, salt, flour. Mix well and then add yeast. Stir. Next, add shortening egg and flour. Mix to form stiff dough (about 1 minute). Remove and hand kneed until smooth. Pat or roll to shape pizza. Bake at 400-410 degrees for 12-15 minutes. I like to place pizza on foil so it is easy to remove.
Salsa Recipe
- 2-15 OZ Stewed tomatoes
- 4-5 green onions cut thin
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 2-3 roma tomatos diced
- 1 small can green chilies
- Squeeze ½ a lemon
- 1 TBLS sugar
- Garlic salt to taste - 5-6 shakes
- Cumin 4-5 shakes
- Franks hot pepper sauce 4-5 dashes
- Tabasco sauce 2-3 shakes
Take half of the ingredients and all of the spices and lemon and blend it in the blender until all the chunks are gone. Dump in a bowl.
Then blend the second can of tomatoes by itself and dump in a bowl.
Take all of the rest of the fresh ingredients and stir in the bowl.
Toffee Brownie Trifle
- 1 package brownie mix (13 X 9 inch pan size)
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant cheesecake or vanilla pudding mix
- 1 package (3.3 ounces) instant white chocolate pudding mix
- 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 2-3 heath candy bars (1.4 ounces each) chopped
Prepare and bake brownies according to package directions for cake like brownies, using a greased 13 X 9 inch baking pan. Cool completely on a wire rack.
In a mixing bowl, beat the milk and pudding mixes on low speed for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Cut the brownies into 1-inch cubes; place half the brownies in a 3 qt. glass trifle bowl or serving dish. Cover with half of the pudding mixture. Repeat layer. Sprinkle with chopped candy bars. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield 12 servings.
3 Fun Family Activities
Who says that you can only win things outside of your home?? In-home contests can be just as fun as those in school or church. Parents are generally responsible for entertaining their children. In other words, parents have to work to keep them happy and occupied. Family contests are a great way of doing all of those things. While it teaches children about healthy competition, it also helps them to learn the principles of sportsmanship and teamwork.
Try these ideas for fun family contests that everyone can participate in:
- 1. Biggest bubble Everyone loves blowing and chasing bubbles. This is a simple contest that anyone at any age can enjoy doing. You compete to see who can blow the biggest bubble without popping it. You can make it so that there are levels or teams. Eventually, you will have to crown someone the Bubble Champ and give them a cool prize. Gift cards a great option for this, then they can get what they want.
- 2. Pretzel art contest What can you make with these twisty tasty sticks? Task everyone with making a specific thing like a car or a house, and then let the fun begin! You can even make a crown of pretzels for the winner.
- 3. Mad Hatter Using construction paper or really anything that you think will work, compete to see who can create the craziest hat. This is always a great recipe for a zany time as a family. Judge the contestants on a "hat walk" where they have to model their creations. The perfect prize for this is a real cap featuring one of their favorites, either a team or character.
No matter which contest you and your family decide to do, you should plan to have a laughing, good time. Make sure to capture everything on video if possible...you will appreciate it more in years to come!
Family Talent Show
We all have talent. Some of us just have a harder time discovering what those talents are and how to best display them. Many times, when it comes to our children, we wait until they are in some type of production, such as a dance recital or school play to really enjoy these talents. But, what do you do about all of those talents that don’t have a chance to be showcased? You put on a family talent extravaganza!
A family talent show is a fantastic way to enjoy each your family’s talents while learning more about each other’s interests. Do your kids know that you can twirl a baton or that your husband can spin a ball on one finger? The family talent show is a great time to make these and other “lesser” abilities known. Your child may have learned another way of doing something, such as walking with a basket on his head, like women do in Africa or making some “special thing” from another culture that would be traditionally be made for a large family affair. You and your family will uncover some really phenomenal personal things, while enjoying family fun time.
Whether you decide to put on a play, sing a song, or perfectly shuffle a deck of cards, each one of you will have the opportunity to share a little bit about yourself and your interests. You can even go all out and make certificates or some sort of recognition award for each participant. Keep the show very positive, making everyone feel proud that they participated and showed each other positive support.
So, call it whatever you want…the Johnson Jamboree or the Smith Showcase…but keep the message the same. Family’s always love and value each other. The development of self worth and a positive self esteem start at home. Recognizing and appreciating all of the talents in your family will strengthen your familial bond. Now, that is something that we all can do!