Keeping Them Busy!

I ran across a list of things to have on hand for busy toddlers taken from the family education site and thought I would share. I am always looking for things to do with my boys. It always nice to have a variety of supplies on hand ad at the ready, especially on rainy days when you are stuck indoors! Also varying their activities helps with all aspects of their development!

Top 10 Materials to Have on Hand for Toddler Activities

1. Crayons: Remove the labels from crayons when possible. For the younger child, fatter crayons work best. (Crayola makes a great triangular crayon!)
2. Construction paper: Construction paper is very versatile. Be sure to keep a wide variety of colors on hand.
3. Poster board: Use poster board when you need a stronger, more durable paper.
4. White craft glue: You can also use rubber cement or school paste for most projects. Choose what works best for you and your child.
5. Old magazines: Old magazines are a wonderful source for collage and activity pictures. Nature and home-living magazines are the best for this.
6. Scissors: In addition to adult scissors for you, purchase a pair of safety scissors for your child. If you wish, you can also find beginners’ guiding scissors and fancy-edged scissors at school supply stores.
7. Felt-tip markers: Markers are useful for adding small details to projects. Washable markers are available.
8. Food coloring: This is handy for coloring homemade dough and various other craft materials. Please note: It does stain.
9. Recycled household materials: You can reuse materials such as egg cartons, yarn scraps, toilet paper tubes, and boxes for many activities.
10. Tempera paint: Tempera paint is an easy paint for your child to work with. It has a nice smooth texture and comes in many colors.

Spaghetti is Messy!

So I made spaghetti the other night and the boys loved it, but I didn’t exactly love the mess! They are both busy trying to master the use of their forks. Sometimes they do really well and other times the fork winds up on the floor and their hands are what works best. I had spaghetti noodles everywhere and although it was fun eating for them, mommy wasn’t having fun cleaning it up. So I think next time I will try a heartier noodle…like macaroni or rigatoni or something. The noodles taste the same but I think it will be easier for them to get their fork into.

Gardening 101

Ok, since having the boys things in the yard have become a bit of a jungle. I have a vegetable garden that usually grows vegetables but I was running behind this year and never got around to it! So I have been growing a nice crop of weeds. I went searching on the internet for an organic solution for weed control since I didn’t want to use chemicals in a place where we grow food to eat! And I ran across a thing that said you can use newspaper! Newspaper wetted down about 1/4 inch thick then put some weed barrier/black tarp over them and your garden will be weed free next year! I tried just black tarp and suddenly my black tarp is rising LOL. The weeds are doing just fine under it ROFL! I plan on doing this in my flower bed as I am tired of trying to yank the weeds the size of trees out. Leave any other tips if you wish!

Im in need of…

Ok for all you coupon clipping moms out there…I am in need of a really good coupon organizer that isn’t too huge or bulky but is well designed. I have a current organizer but I hate how the thing works. When you open it you have to turn the thing upside down and unwrap the flap at the same time and I seem to lose coupons on the floor of the grocery store! I’d love to hear some input as to what the best organizer is…so please leave a comment and let me know!

Shop till ya drop! Doublebugs First Giveaway!

This Contest is Now Closed!!  Thanks you for participating and making this a Fabulous first Giveaway!

Did you just get the urge to splurge? I know sometimes as a busy Mom, there are days when I just need a little “retail therapy.” Shopping is a way to escape to that sublime world of any kind of stuff that just wants to be bought 😀

As my first giveaway ever on this blog I thought I would celebrate by sending a lucky winner shopping. I will be giving away a $25 Kohls giftcard. This card can be used in the stores and online, just in case you don’t have one nearby!

Heres the scoop!

This contest is open to U.S. residents only.

Leave me a comment with your name and contact email and a little blurb about why you might like to win this card or something fun if you wish!

For additional entries you can post about my contest on your blog and provide me a link to the post’s URL or you can grab my badge code and put it on your site! Just Let me know!

It’s just that simple!

The contest will run from June 5th to June 13th, and the winner will be notified via email, and then I can get the winners address..yadda yadda!

So here’s to you and your shopping dreams! Good Luck!!!!!

Favorite Crock Pot Recipe!

I absolutely love my crock pot!  Since I am busy most days caring for my two lil guys, my meal preparation time is almost always limited.   So I started making use of my crock pot and have done some experimenting over time.  One of my favorite recipes, I call “Pork Chops in a Pot” seems to be a going favorite around here, so I thought I would share the recipe!  Also, if you have a favorite crock pot recipe, I invite you to share!  I am always looking for something new to try.

6 Boneless pork cutlets or chops (I trim off the fat)

One large Vidalia Onion (sliced in 1/2 inch rings)

2 TBS of the quick cooking “Minute” brand tapioca

4 TBS of apple juice

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 can of garlic and herb cream of mushroom soup

1 TBS of beef boullion granules

1/2 cup of water

2 TBS of worstershire sauce

1 8 oz can of mushrooms

I usually salt and pepper the chops and brown them in a lil bit of olive oil before tossing them in the crockpot..you don’t have to do the browning but I think it makes for more tender chops.  I place the onion rings on the bottom of the crock pot and place the pork chops on top.  I mix all the other ingredients in a large bowl and then poor them over the chops.  I usually set the crock pot on high and let it go for about 7-8 hours. I will make a mashed potato or some egg noodles and serve over top and WAHLAH…there ya have it!  Of course I have a vegetable and/or salad and rolls or something too!

Mommy It’s Schtuuuck! It’s Stuck

My youngest son Bubs by 10 whole minutes, has a new word in his vocabulary! He is always saying “it’s stuck”! It is so funny to hear him and I get a chuckle out of it almost every day. Anyway, I caught him on video so I thought I would share. Watch them zoom around the house on their cars and ignore the “fork” in the road…literally! HA HA! My work is never done! ENJOY!

Mumss the Word! Anonymous…cool new site!

Ever want to just say something and were afraid to, for fear of being misunderstood, judged, or made fun of? Here is a new site where you can just speak your mind and not worry about divulging who you are, a place where you can feel comfortable doing so…like running around in your underwear on a Sunday afternoon! No one has to know! 😀

No judgements, no advice, no husbands,
children or even your own mother finding you.
Simply your own place to let it all hang out!

Anonymous Thoughts
Anonymous Dreams
Anonymous Stories

Your secrets are safe with us
Share your story
http://www.anonymousmom.com

What am I reading today?

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

This is the current book that I am reading.  It talks about how partners or we as people express and receive love.  Chapman describes these five languages as 1) Quality Time  2) Words of affirmation  3)  Gifts  4)  Acts of Service  and 5) Physical Touch.

As a couple it is important that you discover what each other’s love language is…that’s what keeps the fire burning for you and your spouse!  For example for some people words of encouragement are high on their list and a wife that gives her husband continuous praise is speaking his love language fluently.  He will respond with love and feel like he is loved (his love tank is full).  For you it may be “Acts of Service” that keeps your love tank full.

But, say for instance, you are doing and doing all this stuff and your partner doesnt respond to it..perhaps it is the wrong love language!  You have to try what works!

For me I felt like I was in between two of the languages.  Acts of Service is a big one!  and Words of Encouragement.

I recommend you pick up the book…it is well worth the read!  Thank you Brian for giving me this book!

The Five Love Languages

by: Gary Chapman

Erase it! Quick tip.

I mowed the lawn last week and of course I wore my once white tennis shoes. I had totally forgotten to wear my grunge shoes for the lawn mowing so now I have green soled shoes! Bubs had a Dr.’s appt. and so I thought his shoes needed a little spiffing and yes I am a bit anal about sending a clean kid to the Dr.! So I got my Mr. Clean Magic Eraser from the box and thought I would at least try it on his shoes. These things are amazing if you haven’t given them a try! It took all the dirt off his sneakers and all the grass stains off of mine! Wooohooo!

Also my husband accidentally hit a car in our driveway and it was a rental…and it left some of our paint on the other car and the eraser took that off too!

I use it all over the house too! It has taken smudges and dirt off the fridge handles..you name it. I wonder what the stuff is made of. For some reason when the boys play in our tub the tub gets color marks from the toys and the eraser gets those off. I must take stock in these things LOL!

Anyway I thought I would share with you..leave a comment if you have any other uses for these things!

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