For the last two years I really wanted to order Pottery Barn Baskets and Liners because I thought they were so cute, but SO expensive…even on sale! So, I attempted to make my own by going to my friend and neighbor’s house who could teach me how to sew elastic on the end of fabric to attach to a basket. But, she helped me pull together a GREAT idea instead….all thanks to a MISTAKE my husband made!!!
I saw these super cute, SUPER cheapbaskets on a stand at the PRODUCE market nearby:
And I chose this one for JUST $6!!!!:
I sent my husband to the store to buy pastel blue and pink FABRIC and he came back withBANDANAS because he thought they were “cooler” and only cost $1.79 a piece!!!
So, I brought them to my friends and said “What can I do with a basket + a bandana?”
And this is what she came up with:
1) Place the bandana in the basket with the corner’s lining up AROUND the basket handle.
2) Place something in the basket to weigh the center down.
3) Tie knots around both handles using the corners of the bandana, adjusting as needed after both sides are tied.
4) Tuck the extra material through the basket handle and hot glue it to the underside of the knot.
I was following “Mekmommy” on Instagram and saw this fun, illustrated picture:
The Mommy Teacher that I am had to know the play-by-play and story behind this authentic, on-the-spot mini lesson. Krista (this particular mommy teacher) is a mommy of three and the blogger behind “The Mommy Calling.”
So, here is the story shared by Krista that I hope inspires you the way that it inspired me:
“It all started b/c Maddox ran inside freaking out because our yard was full of spider webs. Of course, living in the country cobwebs will always be there, so I had to figure out a way to help him understand. It actually turned into a lesson about counting, adding, habitats, the food chain, a ton of things!
I tore some paper off of the butcher roll and drew a spider. As I drew it, we talked about how it has 2 parts to its body, the head and the body, setting up for a later conversation about the difference between insects and arachnids. Then we counted out the 8 legs as I drew them and talked about how there are 4 on each side and how 4+4=8.
I used a different color crayon to draw the “silk”. I drew some in the spider’s belly, and drew a line coming from the spider and as I drew a random “web” pattern I explained that as the spider moves with the silk behind him it makes the web. After I drew the web I talked about the uses of the web. I broke it down by first drawing the spider in the web telling Maddox that the spider lives in his web. Then I drew an egg sac and explained that this is where the spider lays its eggs and they hatch. I drew a bug flying on the outside of the web and a dotted line leading to the web explaining that as the bug is flying it gets caught in the web because it is so sticky. I explained that the sticky web is how the spiders catch their food to eat. I drew an arrow from the spider to the bug and explained how the spider will then eat the bug. I then asked him if he remembered what the web was for and we broke it down into living, laying eggs, and eating.
Maddox then got his own crayon to copy what I drew and he explained it back to me while I reinforced that there were 2 body parts and counting and adding of the legs (making sure he drew 4 on each side rather than just drawing out 8 random legs so he could visually see the 4+4=8). We didn’t go into the details of the web again, but again we discussed the live, lay eggs, eat. All-in-all it was about 15 minutes and he was so proud that he spent the next 15 minutes talking about it over and over and hung his picture up and called his daddy to tell him about it. In 30 minutes he learned so much about so many things. And it wasn’t anything that was hard to explain or too over his head. It was such a great reminder of how many important things they can learn without a classroom and without making it a boring ‘lesson.'”
We love our cookie exchanges, recipe exchanges, etc. And now, an exchange that is even more meaningful, the author of the blog Second Story Window came up with the perfect exchange that will benefit everyone involved.
Basically, every mommy buys supplies in bulk for one activity they choose or come up with. Then, each mommy places the materials and instructions in gallon-sized ziploc bags…. providing enough for the amount of mommies involved. Each mommy who provided an activity gets to take an activity from each mommy home too. Essentially, a mom can show up with ONE activity and leave with several for her little one. Click here for the blog that gives specific tips to organize the event!
I LOVE this idea and it put me in the mood to go shopping at Hobby Lobby for some materials. So, I thought I would supply a $25 Hobby Lobby Gift Card to one mommy (or daddy, grandma, teacher, whoever!) who is inspired today.
Enter below (giveaway starts today -march 5 and ends friday march 9) – winners will be announced saturday the 10th!
And don’t be confused by the first several comments….Rafflecopter didn’t update when I changed the “Leave a Comment” entry from my last giveaway; so sorry if that confused anyone! Don’t worry about changing your comment….just wanted to let you know it was my oversight! :
A friend of mine from Santa Cruz, Bolivia sent me a name plate for Sean Patrick that I have hanging on the headrest in front of his car seat. Displaying words that are meaningful to children is key because children “study” the print after you have talked through it with them. These images become input in their working memory and will benefit your little one’s ability to recall important information. Don’t just assume that they know what the print is or says (even if there is a picture). Talk about every feature.
For this name plate we talk about the color, shape, letters, the ball, and that those are the letters in his name. We sing our little song, and I ask him about it as we are riding along. I know this may seem so “behind the times” because most people have a tv in their head rest these days, but if that is the case hang skill sets on the back of the driver or passenger seat because either way it is a great visual for concentration.
I really recommend making one WITH your little one, but if you want to buy a decorative one my friend is in the business of making them and she calls them “Name Plaques” so contact her if you want to buy an affordable, customized display of your little one’s name.
Cootie was one of my favorite games as a kid and is now one of James’ favorite too! By rolling the die, you get to add different body parts to your cootie bug! Whoever builds his/her bug first, wins! Though Cootie is the original, there are a series of Cootie Games for your little one to play, including Don’t Break the Ice, Ants in the Pants, and Don’t Spill the Beans! These games go for as low as $3.99! Collect them all!!!
Pre-School Learning Skills
Counting (Cootie)
Body parts (Cootie)
Fine motor skills (All games)
Hand-Eye coordination (Ants in the Pants)
Balance (Don’t Spill the Beans, Don’t Break the Ice)
Spacial/Structural Awareness (Don’t Break the Ice)
Taking turns (All games)
Imaginary play (ditch the rules and let them play!)
