Artsy Play Giveaway Hop {Green Kid Crafts}

Do you enjoy making crafts with your kids? Should I ask, "Do your kids enjoy when you make something with them?" As a busy working mom, I know it may not always be the most 'ideal' way to spend an hour or two, but to your kids - it is! I've noticed lately that as much as Baby E loves making, creating, drawing, nothing lights up her face as much as when I join in with her!

Now if only the crafts would just arrive at my door step, ready to assemble with all needed materials and directions! A bonus for the craft materials being eco-friendly and not wasteful. Oh wait, there IS such a thing - that's Green Kid Crafts!

We are excited to be part of the Artsy Play Hop, with each participating blogger giving away a wonderful, fun, artsy or crafty prize! Enter to win our prize and be sure to hop to all participating blogs in the linky below and enter their giveaways! The Grand Prize, a $50 Michael's Gift Card is at the bottom as well. 

One winner will receive the Kitchen Science Discovery Box from Green Kid Crafts pictured at the top! There are three projects in this one: Fizzy Bath Bombs, Homemade Soap and a Volcano. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up

Grand Prize Giveaway

Click on the image below to enter for your chance to win a $50 Michaels Gift Card!

Prize: $50 Michaels Giveaway Open to: Canadian and US Residents (must be age of majority in place of residence)

Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway. The participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Contains affiliate links to places we love to shop, your purchase helps offset some of the time and energy we invest into Eco-Babyz at no cost to you!

Kid Friendly Museums In and Around Boston

With the chilly temperatures and the whole winter ahead of us, I'm always looking for ideas on fun things to do with kids. They took the plunge the other day and dug forts in the snow with grandma, but that's not going to happen every day. For the record, it took half an hour to outfit them in snow-proof gear! Today I ventured out with them myself and it was definitely fun!

Whether you live in the Boston area or you're traveling here, there are many museums in this cultural hub that cater to families - whether it's a place specifically designed for children or an 'adult' museum with great kids programs. Here are some of our favorites, both popular and from a path less traveled. We hope you'll find this list helpful! 

*   *   *

Boston Children's Museum: The ultimate kids museum for an all-day adventure. To avoid crowds, weekday mornings are great - we like the more peaceful atmosphere and lots of breathing room. So much to do here for kids of all ages and interests. (Boston; adults $14, kids 1-15 $14, kids under 1 free; Fridays 5 to 9 pm - $1 admission)

Museum of Science: Fun for all kids but especially for the 5 and up age, lots of learning and hands on activities, as well as an Omni theater and the Charles Hayden Planetarium. Explore the human body, wildlife, math, science, marine biology, and so much more... (Boston; adults $23, kids 3-11 $20, Seniors $21, kids under 3 free)

Museum of Fine Arts: Although it is an art lover's paradise, it's not off limits to kids! Check out their special kids and family programs. You know your child best, the museum and exhibit artwork cannot be touched and there is no running allowed - so it may not be for everyone. (Boston; adults $25, kids 7-17 FREE after 3 pm, weekends, and Boston public school holidays, otherwise $10, Seniors $23, kids under 6 always free)

Harvard Museum of Natural History: Dinosaurs, meteorites, gemstones, and animals from around the globe may be just the thing for some older children who are curious about these subjects. There is also a variety of kids programs and events available. (Cambridge; adults $12, kids 3-18 $8, Seniors $10, kids under 3 free)

Peabody Essex Museum: PEM has a variety of kid-friendly initiatives and always comes up with new activities for kids. Drop-in art making on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-3 pm is included in admission. (Salem; adults $18, Seniors $15, kids and youth 16 and under free)

Amelia Park Children's Museum: A children's museum in western Massachusetts that's worth a visit. Building, art and crafts, indoor play space, pretend play at the doctor and bank, definitely lots to explore. (Westfield; adults $7, kids 1 and older $7, Seniors 60+ $3.50, kids under 1 free)

American Textile History Museum: Spinning, weaving, recycling, and designing - it's so much more than just a textile history museum. Past exhibitions include explorations of bridal dress history, space suits, kites, and 1930s fashions - always something new to explore. (Lowell; adults $8, kids 6-16 and older $6, Seniors 65+ $6, kids under 6 free, adult admission coupon available online, see free events)

Paul Revere House: It is fascinating for children to see how people used to live back in time. The restored Paul Revere dwelling is downtown Boston's oldest building dating back to about 1680 and offers a fascinating look into life in colonial New England. (Boston; adults $3.50, kids 5-17 $1, Seniors and college students $3)

The Children's Museum of New Hampshire: While not technically in Massachusetts, but a very accessible location for those living in the north part of the state. A ton of hands-on fun exploring flight, paleontology, building and problem solving, music and sound, and pretend play, among other things. (Dover, NH; adults and children over 1 $9, seniors 65+ $8, kids under 1 free)

Children's Museum at Holyoke: Another fun museum option where children can run around and touch anything they want! Imaginative play, climbing structures, water play, a TV studio, ambulance, fork lift, and grocery store are just a few of the things to entertain your littles. (Holyoke; adults and children over 1 $7, seniors 65+ $3.50, kids under 1 free)

Battleship Cove Naval Ship Museum: Boys and girls alike will love this amazing museum with memorabilia, exhibits, and a real naval ship to explore! It's great to visit both in the winter and the summer. (Fall River; adults $17, kids 6-12 $10.50, kids under 6 free)

*   *   *

A lot of these museums also offer birthday party packages, so if you're looking for an out-of-the-ordinary way to celebrate your child's birthday (hassle free for you), it's worth checking out.

We've visited most of these, but there a few are definitely on our list of places to check out this winter. While we love to be home, cooking, baking, playing indoors - we all need a change of pace sometimes. If you're local, find out if your public library provides free passes or discounts to these museums - we almost never pay full price!

Know a place in Massachusetts that we haven't mentioned and you love? Please share below!

Acorn Caterpillars {Fall Craft}

We live in a wooded suburban neighborhood with many oak trees. The roof of our car is proof! You'll notice a ton of dents from acorns plummeting to the ground. The acorns delight my daughter though, she has this attraction to every stick, stone, flower, and any natural element. Naturally, she gathers buckets of acorns, and come to think of it, I did the same thing when I was her age!

She's been begging me to make something with her out of all the acorns we have and I decided to jump on this seasonal opportunity, I love seeing her eyes light up. We sat there in the kitchen while Baby T was napping, glue gun getting hot, and pondered what to make out of these. As I started lining up acorns Baby E exclaimed "Caterpillar!" So there, it was entirely her idea, I just helped execute it and I'm looking forward to the autumn when I can trust her with a glue gun on her own. Well, apparently that's never because even I burned myself with hot glue while making these! 

If you have access to acorns and want to try making some yourself, it's such a fun craft! Here is what you'll need:

• 4 acorns + 1 with a 'hat' for each caterpillar
• Hot glue gun
• Leaves for placing caterpillars on
• Permanent marker

The one on the right is a little ant for Baby T

It's pretty self-explanatory, but here are some tips!

If you can't find acorns with 'hats' attached, just find some that are separated and glue them on.

Don't try making the caterpillar straight, make sure it is curved so that it doesn't roll over.

As you are making them, pre-assemble the acorns on a flat surface to make sure that when you glue them together, they sit flat and balanced.

Baby E's name is only 3 letters in Russian, so I let her write her own name, one letter on each acorn. Your child's name may be too long, but you could make a longer caterpillar, which may make it more fragile though.

When gluing the finished caterpillars onto leaves, let the hot glue cool slightly before placing on leaf or you'll just burn them. You could also try wood glue.

Don't leave any small children unattended with a hot glue gun, of course!

We gave these as little gifts to grandparents, one for grandpa George's grave as he recently passed away. They were all delighted at this little craft, I can imagine what a joy it is to get anything special from your grand children. These are more decorative than for play, they would break easily if you're rough on them. Baby T broke his little any in about three minutes of play. They are great for older children and to give away as gifts. You can also decorate with these, cute for window sills and mantles! 

Contains affiliate link to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you and helps offset some of the cost associated with pouring our time and energy into this site. Thank you!

Cheap and Fun Toddler Game

This hairstyle was her idea, she asked for it :)

The other day my 4.5 year old Baby E came up with a fun game that resulted in nearly an hour of fun for her and her brother Baby T. It's something I didn't think of, but I loved that it is cheap, easy, safe, and they had a blast!

All you need is a rubber band ball like this one or this one, both of these are real natural rubber - not a petroleum based rubber band. You can also use anything you have on hand for holding these, we used a baby tub from IKEA. You could also use a large bowl, a basket, cardboard box, laundry basket, or anything else you come up with.

There is really nothing to it! Baby E took the whole rubber ball apart and they were playing by throwing the rubber bands in the air - they flew everywhere. Then they would spend several minutes gathering them all together and then repeat the throwing again. and again. and again. 

It was wonderful because I could wash the dishes in peace and they had so much fun, I was laughing watching them! I love that it doesn't leave a complete mess, the rubber bands are really easy to gather together, and it doesn't require any involvement from me.

I highly recommend trying this with toddlers. They love the sensory experience of throwing and gathering the rubber bands, sitting in them, 'swimming' in them, sorting them by colors, counting them, etc.Simple, fun, and cheap!



Contains affiliate links to where we usually shop, your purchase supports Eco-Babyz at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Snowman Card Craft {for wee ones}

Yesterday we made fun little cards with Baby E and Baby T. The idea was mine, and of course they needed some help, but Baby E pretty much executed it on her own, I just put on the finishing touches at the end with the snowman's face.

It's nothing special and as it always is for us - it's about creating and spending time with them, not about the finished product!

Crafts with my little ones are hit or miss. Every time we decide to do something I walk away with this thought "They enjoy watching me crafting more than partaking themselves!"

If you want to try this, all you need is some cardboard, scissors, markers or paint, tape, and patience. Cut out a snowman shape, I just doodled one on a random piece of mail. 

Attach tape loops on the back and stick him onto cardboard rectangle. Then let the kids go wild drawing and painting all around this snowman. Then just remove the snowman and draw his face and details. 

As you may notice, we like our crafts just like our recipes - EASY! We even did it with a 1 year old who just wants to make messes and needs a lot of attention. He tried to get in the way and he had his first doodling sessions with [thankfully] washable (!) markers. 

I scheduled this post in and while you are reading it I am enjoying a 'work-free' weekend with my husband and kids. Have a wonderful Christmas and holidays, enjoy your family time and don't eat too much!

What easy crafts do you like to do with kids over the holidays?

Dear Crafty Mama...

I admire you. I truly do. Doing crafty projects together with your kids every day. Taking beautiful photos of your crafting experiences and creations. Posting it on your crafty blog for all of us to pin and wonder when are we ever going to become craftier. 

I have a few of those pins, sure maybe 2 of the 37 are crafts from my blog. But will I ever sit down and do all those crafts with my toddler? Uhm, highly unlikely. In fact, if I find the time to possibly, maybe make one craft on any given week with Baby E - it's going to be pretty lame. Not Pinterest worthy. But you know what matters? She is going to love it anyway! In fact, she would probably be thrilled to sit down with me and just draw smiley faces for an hour. 

So am I not a crafty person? No! I definitely am. If you put me in a crafty room, give me Pinterest, and a few hours, I am going to craft my heart out  - but there's one caveat, I'll do it without kids. 

There, I said it. I'm crafty when the kids are out of the equation. I'll draw. I'll sew. The last time I was sewing was when Baby E was still in the confines of my womb and I decided to make a nursing cover myself. Even then, I was too lazy to sew without a sewing machine, so I bought fabric tape! 

I like to be at peace when I'm crafting. Not cleaning up paint or glue or glitter or marker or thousands of tiny paper pieces. I'm a crafty girl. Not a very crafty mama. 

So the next time I see another pretty kids crafts pin, I'll admire it and move on. Because let's face, we're just not all the same when it comes to parenting or crafting.

This post is not addressed to any blogger or crafty mom, in fact I love reading crafty blogs. It's a fun post, just for kicks, mocking myself - because it dawned on me how not crafty I am with my kids :)

Photo: This winter when Baby T was just a few months old

Green Kid Crafts Review {Please VOTE for Eco-Babyz!}

Do you know any kids that don't like to do crafts? I actually don't. Baby E? She's a craftaholic. I love that she is so creative, but sometimes I just don't have time to set aside and get crafty with her. That's why I was really excited about being contacted by Green Kid Crafts! This monthly subscription service saves you time and 'forces' you to spend some time crafting with your kids by delivering Eco-friendly crafts to your door. It's a fabulous idea, and as I often say - "Why didn't I think of that?"

I come from a very artistic background. In fact, I am a professional Interior Designer and got my bachelor's right before marriage. I contemplated getting a photography degree, but chose Interior Design, my second love. I love to draw and have had art classes ever since I was six, all through childhood and my teenage years. Art has shaped me in so many ways. So needless to say, I do often feel guilty that I don't sit down for some arts and crafts with my toddler every day.

When the package arrived we quickly opened it because we were curious to see what's inside. There were three craft kits included, a bird house, a telescope, and an owl brown paper bag puppet. The first one is actually something my daughter has been begging for since April, so that's the one we decided to do first. I just love how pretty much everything we needed came in the kit. Here are the parts included for the bird house, along with simple directions. The brush was a little too small/thin, so we decided to use our own paint brush. There was also a need for some glue at the end to secure the bird house, other than that everything was in the kit.

We started by putting it together first, it was very intuitive, Baby E just needed a little help - but not so much that I had to hover over her. Here is the assembled bird house before we painted it.

Painting was her favorite part! I think she just loves it for the potential of the mess she could make with this. Ha! Perhaps it feels mischievous for her to be changing the color of something, glad it isn't our sofa or kitchen cabinets. Yes, that's just one of the reasons kids need crafts - so that they can get their creative energy out on something you will not be mad at them about!

This is the completed bird house. Rather I should say, this is how excited Baby E was to complete the bird house! I love seeing her happy face when we create something. I love that it takes so little to make her happy. Even when we just sit down and draw happy faces on plain paper with a pencil, she is just as enthusiastic. We can't wait to make the other crafts with her as well!

The monthly subscription only costs $19.50 per month (including shipping), really a steal for the crafts ready to be made with your little one. A subscription for 2 children is $29.50 a month and a yearly subscription is $214.50 for one child or $334.50 for two children.

PLEASE VOTE FOR OUR PHOTO PICTURED ABOVE FOR ECO-BABYZ TO WIN A CHANCE TO GIVE AWAY A GREEN KID CRAFTS SUBSCRIPTION TO OUR READERS! $0.50 WILL BE DONATED TO Healthy Child Healthy World FOR EVERY VOTE!

Visit Green Kid Crafts Website

Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

Follow on Pinterest and YouTube (awesome crafts ideas!)

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment for this review. I was provided a sample of the product for review purposes. The opinions are solely my own and your experience may differ.

GLOB Natural Art Supplies Review

Baby E lives and breathes art. Sure, her doodles don't look like much (though they do to me), but she loves the process of drawing and painting. Ah, to be 3 again, without a care in the world - getting lost in the moment of doodling! We can learn a lot from our children. 

We recently received some GLOB natural paints and an art pad. The paints come in powder form and you just add water to get the desired consistency. We used them more like watercolors, partly because we like watercolors and partly because we're frugal like that and want to stretch them out as much as we can! There are four vibrant colors: Lemon Verbena, Blueberry, Pomegranate, and Basil. My photos really don't do this justice! The colors are beautiful and very bright! Each bottle makes four ounces of paint and we use a palette to  dilute them, a little does go a long way. There are many other ways to use it besides panting too, such as a wood stain or to color your home made play dough. 

The little art pad is big enough for my toddler, yet small enough to take along even for her to draw on the go. It can easily fit in my diaper bag. It's thick, the 75 sheets will last us a while. The paper isn't really suitable for watercolors though, so it didn't work for us in that sense. We will be using it for her pencils and crayons mostly (or just not dilute the paint so much so that it's thicker). 

We think that GLOB products are priced well for what you get. Remember that these aren't mass produced, toxic art supplies, so you can't really compare the price to what you're used to. The Natural Paint Set costs $24 and the 5" x 7" unbleached art pad/sketchbook is $12. These are not from China, the paints are made in California and the art pad is from Canada. 

You know how art supplies usually have the words 'non-toxic' on the label? Well, did you know that in the U.S., synthetic pigments that have never been tested for toxicity (usually made from petrochemicals) can be labeled as 'non-toxic'? Yeah, we don't think that makes any sense either. The most common paint preservative is formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. The conventional paints our kids use are not only bad for them, but for fish and wildlife as well when we wash them down the drain. 

GLOB paints also come in packets of 6 colors for only $12, a great way to try them before buying a set of bottles. They also sell fabulous bamboo brushes, a complete paint kit, plantable collage kit, coloring illustrations, and keepsake bags. GLOB is a great, Eco-friendly, U.S. company to support and I highly recommend their products! 

Stay tuned for a GLOB giveaway of the same products we received during the Keeping Kids Creative event, starts Monday, September 17th!

Visit GLOB website

Connect with GLOB on Facebook and Twitter

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment for this review. I was provided a sample of the product for review purposes. The opinions are solely my own and your experience may differ.

10 Things to Do at the Beach in the Fall

Summer is over! But that doesn't mean there is nothing to do at the beach. Grab your cozy hoodies, pull on a pair of jeans, and have a blast at the beach out of the water! There are so many fun things you can do with your kids, here are just a few ideas:

1. Build Castles: The obvious. Our trips to the ocean were quite short, so we enjoyed the water and didn't do much building. But in the fall it's the perfect time to dig in. Don't just build castles, you can build cities, animals, and abstract things!
2. Fly a Kite: Magical for little ones and just plain fun for older kids, a windy fall day is great for flying a kite at the beach. You can even make your own if you've got time on your hands.
3. Have a Picnic: A crisp sunny day is perfect for a picnic at the beach, bring your picnic basket or fill a cooler with sandwiches, pie, and fruit. Even better if you end the day with the following...
4. Make S'mores: A fall evening calls for a warm fire and some s'mores. At least roasting marshmallows. The organic ones of course, no GMO corn syrup :) Please pass the fair trade dark chocolate and the organic graham crackers [wink]. Just make sure to check first if bonfires are allowed at the beaches in your area.
5. Gather Shells: Baby E is obsessed with gathering driftwood, shells, and rocks. I remember myself in my childhood years, I loved it as well. These are perfect to incorporate in making crafts. You can make beach themed wreaths to hang on your door next summer. Great activity for those rainy days you are stuck at home anyway.
6. Hunt for Crabs: Perhaps most fun for boys, but girls may join in too. Take your buckets and go scavenging for little crawlers (Baby E loves her Green Toys bucket). Homeschoolers: check off the natural science box.
7. Stargaze: Tempting to do this with your spouse and no kids, but they would love it too. Just for fun or for studying the night sky with chart and flashlights in hand. You could even camp out for the night, just make sure not to put the tent too close to the water at low tide!
8. Photo Session: The beach is the perfect background for family and child photos. Especially an empty one! The best time is just before sunset for the most amazing light and glowing skin. (So doing this now that we actually have a camera that's worth the trip)
9. Watch the sunrise/sunset: Depending on which coast you live on, the beach is the perfect spot for watching the sun rise or set. This is best with older kids who aren't cranky when woken up early or stay up late and depend on a schedule. 
10. Draw: Who doesn't love drawing in the sand? It's a great way for kids young and old to practice their letters and numbers as well. 

Have you ever spent a fall day at the beach?

Photo: Baby T sitting in the sand at the beach.

Disclaimer: Contains a couple affiliate links, thank you for supporting Eco-Babyz!

Natural Teething Remedies, Fun Games for Toddlers, and a Pinterest Contest

What have we been up to at Thanks Mama? Fun parenting articles, reviews, and even a Pinterest contest! My readers get the inside scoop of course. There are still 8 days left to enter the Summer Fun with ThanksMama.com Pinterest contest, with just a few clicks you can win $50 to spend at Thanks Mama on cloth diapers, wooden toys, baby carriers, baby bedding, non-toxic mattresses, bibs, and skin care to name a few. 

Don't forget we launch a new giveaway every other Friday, you can always find it here. 

Our New Articles at Thanks Mama:

Natural Teething Remedies:

"I wish I would have all the answers on how to relieve the pain for a teething baby. For now all I can offer is our experience and a few words of wisdom. Guess what?" Read more. 

Fun Games for Toddlers:

"Naturally, toddlers are infinitely curious about the world around them. It can be a challenge sometimes to keep them busy and interested in an activity. But once you find something they love, it is fun to watch them and a relief to get a few minutes to get things done around the house (or to read a book in peace until the first scream). Since all children are so different, you really have to go by trial and error when it comes to any activity." Read More.

EcoPosh Recycled Organic Training Pants Review:

"When we were planning a trip to Washington D.C. with our 3 year old I was a little nervous. She was already potty trained, but accidents would happen often when she was busy playing or when we were out. Sometimes it was my fault, I forget to remind her to go potty, toddlers need to be nudged now and then. Other times she would ignore my reminders even though we both knew she needed to go. How would I deal with this on a road trip with so many new and exciting things around her?" Read More. 

Kushies On the Go Snack Bag Review: 

"Snacks. Kids can't get enough. My toddler girl is such a little snacker, but I am trying to minimize them as much as I can so that she is hungry at meal time and actually finishes her meals! At home that is. But with summer comes a lot of travel, and the best way to survive in a car (at the beach, park, playground, etc.) with a toddler is to give them a snack." Read More. 

Water Painting!

Are you looking for ways to keep your toddlers busy and creative outdoors? Don't like big messes?  Try water painting! This is officially one of my toddler's favorite things to do on a hot day. All you need is some brushes in various sizes, colored paper, lots of water, and asphalt/porch. As you can see, she's really into it. It's best to keep kids in the shade away from direct sunlight and to give them a bottle of water to sip on. A few rocks can keep the paper from being carried away by the breeze (if you're fortunate enough to have a breeze in the first place).  

White paper is also fine, but of course colored construction paper is more fun. We actually let ours dry and she uses it over and over again. This fun activity is great for indoors too, but outdoors they can have fun 'painting' surfaces with water - they can paint the porch, the fence, your front steps, all with water - hours of fun and it dries fast and can be done all over again! Just imagine the time it will buy you without having to give them endless things to do. This is great when I'm trying to get some work done from home. 

If you would do it with them, you can paint the alphabet with water, teach numbers, basic drawing skills, and anything else you can come up with. 

What's your favorite mess-free toddler activity?

Elizabeth Mitchell Childrens Music Review {Sponsor Highlight}

Does this CD cover look familiar? If you have kids, it should! If you haven't heard the music of Elizabeth Mitchell yet, you're missing out! Thankfully our local library had the You Are My Little Bird album, the cover looked interesting so I borrowed it. We absolutely loved it at first listen! It is one of my toddler's favorite artists and guess what, mine too. It's that kind of children's music that an adult will not mind listening to. In our house we are pretty picky with music, we do not have any cartoon soundtracks or any mainstream pop music. We love classical, folk music, instrumental, and anything off-the-beaten-path. The unique music of Elizabeth Mitchell has really captured our hearts! It is perfect for travel, road trips, and the sunny days of summer.

We received the You Are My Little Bird album and Sunny Day in the mail. I'm listening to the latter for the first time as I type! It's bright, light, airy, inspiring, flowing, relaxing. It's also upbeat, perfect to turn up while cleaning the house, doing laundry, baking, dancing, or homeschooling! The voices of children are adorable. I have a feeling this will be played over and over at the request of Baby E. The sound is a mix of folk and country, but it is subtle and even if you're not into those genres, I encourage you to try it! You may be surprised to find that your kids and you will love it. 

My kids live and breathe music, and they're both under four. I think as parents we underestimate the immense power music has even at an early age, it can put our kids to sleep, wake them up, get their attention, teach them rhyme, beat, language, and so many things in between. As I've mentioned before, music education starts in the womb, they can hear it before they are born. It's a very underused and misused parenting tool. In my experience the kind of music children listen to shapes their character in profound ways. Elizabeth Mitchell music is the kind that will shape them in positive ways, for sure not all music does!

You Are My Little Bird and Sunny Day are available as MP3 downloads on Amazon or as CDs

Come back May 14th to 27th during the Summer Splash Event and enter to win an Elizabeth Mitchell CD as part of both $250 prize packages!  (PS: There will be over $1000 in prizes and 4 winners thanks to some new sponsors!)

Connect with Elizabeth Mitchell on Facebook and Vimeo

Visit her Website

Also check out Smithsonian Folkways for more great music and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter!

Tell us what you think of Elizabeth Mitchell children's music? Have you heard it before?

Disclaimer: I did not receive payment for this review. I was provided a sample of the product for review purposes. The opinions are solely my own and your experience may differ. May contain affiliate links, please buy through those if you like our recommendations.

IKEA Bekvam Step Stool {hack 2}

My toddler would rather play with anything but toys. Oh, yours too? Something about it! They just need pots, pans, plenty or cardboard boxes, my shoes and hats - anything but toys! So the other day Baby E asks me to make her a car. I look around at what I could possibly make one out of and I saw that IKEA step stool again, the same one that is a perfect compact toddler table. Combined with a Trader Joe's paper bag it made for a quick impromptu car that is still in my living room and it has been a week of play!

Nothing fancy, just a quick scribble with a sharpie, cut out some wheels, attach with masking tape, get some round thing for the steering wheel. The seat of the car is actually a small bamboo step stool that we bought when we started potty training, but she has been using it for play more since she is just too tiny to get on the toilet. You can just place an upside down bucket or a sturdy cardboard box with the same success. There is lots of legroom here, so instead of loading up the trunk, she has loaded all her treasures under the 'hood' of the car. 

Are your kids like that? Preferring random stuff to toys? Sometimes I think if I got rid of 90% of the toys in the house (which cause way too much stress and clutter), the kids would be better off - they really don't need them!

May contain affiliate links (please buy through these if you like our product recommendations).  

Naturally Fun Parties for Kids Book Review & Giveaway

I recently received a little surprise in the mail, the new Anni Daulter book titled Naturally Fun Parties for Kids: Creating Earth-Friendly Celebrations for All Seasons and Occasions. It was a gorgeous day, so I sat outside on my front step browsing the book while my toddler played and infant cooed in the stroller. My first thought - "That's a lot of crafty eye candy!" Seriously, if you're hooked on Pinterest you'll love this book. Here is a little peek, Baby T will show you around.

I am not a big party girl, never was. But the ideas in this book were very inspiring, a lot less in a screaming 'party!' kind of way, a lot more in a personal 'get together for the joy of it' way. Does that make sense? You will not see wasteful decorations and plastic galore here. No cartoon characters (love!). No glitter.  The book outlines 12 different party ideas, everything from a natural at-home spa party to a non-traditional Gratitude Birthday Party. Naturally Fun Parties for Kids does a lot of the work for you, all the planning is taken care of, you just have to do it. The food is all planned out, easy recipes with gorgeous photos. Any crafts and decorations are all right there. There are many ideas that you can mix, match, alter to your liking, and reinvent.

I'll be honest, if you are not into natural, crafty, and 'it's the process that brings joy' type person - this may not be the book for you. This is not a book for 'ready made' type parties. But if you are remotely crafty, love food, and you enjoy simplicity - you'll like it a lot. I am very 'less is more' when it comes to parties. Including the guest list. I do not like a house full of guests when you don't even have a moment to talk to anyone because you're busy throwing the party. What is the point? This book really caters to the small, intimate occasions where there are few guests and the focus is the time spent together - and the food of course! Food, something Anni knows well and is so good at. We regularly use her cookbooks - Organically Raised, Ice Pop Joy, and The Organic Family Cookbook!

One of you will win your very own copy of Naturally Fun Parties for Kids!

If you're lost with Rafflecopter or don't know how to use it, check out this 45 second Rafflecopter video, it's simple! 

If you like our posts and giveaways, please click to vote for us on Top Baby Blogs and Picket Fence when you have a chance!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I did not receive any payment for this review. I was provided a sample of the product for review purposes. The opinions are solely my own and your experience may differ. May contain affiliate links (please buy through these if you like our product recommendations).

IKEA Bekvam Step Stool {hack}

Ever wanted a really compact desk and chair for your little one to sit and doodle? Like something that fits on a two square feet footprint? How about something that costs under $15? That, my friends, is the IKEA BEKVAM step stool and it has so many uses!

So this is not a real IKEA hack, I admit, but I love finding new uses for stuff around the house. Recently I was baking in the kitchen and I needed all the surface areas like the dining table and the counter. Baby E wanted to draw - only in the kitchen of course. So I looked at the step stool and the light bulb went off. "What a perfect little bench and table!" I thought. So off she went doodling for the next twenty minutes. 

It may not be the safest little table and chair, you have to be careful climbing in and out as it may tip. Obviously it wasn't designed to be used that way. But overall it is quite sturdy and if you live in a tiny city apartment, this just may be the perfect little doodle spot for your toddler. Snag one before they grow out of it!

That was just the beginning, next time I'll share what else we did with this step stool with a little imagination!

Psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld: Let the Kids Play!

There is a trend in our society that is quite troubling. Children are forced into formal education at younger and younger ages. Well meaning adults often think it will make them smarter, help them succeed, give them a head start. [cue buzzer] Wrong! Psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld is stepping on 'overachieving moms' toes. He isn't the first either. 

"Life must be lived as play." -Plato

"Almost all creativity involves purposeful play." -Abraham Maslow

  

"Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play." -Henry Matisse

"Play is the highest form of research." -Albert Einstein

Turns out [gasp!] children who play more are smarter. Why? Because play helps children build problem solving networks. Even at six years old children are not ready to learn by working because the prefrontal cortex is still under construction. Preschoolers have to be secure in the love and attention of their families at this critical age. When that is absent, they will turn to peers for attachment. This will make sense to those who practice attachment parenting [wink!]. Gordon says "It takes six years of ideal conditions where a child gives his heart to his parents." Let's point out that students in Finland do not start formal education until the age of seven. Consequently the country boasts among the highest-ranking performers in international comparisons. 

On a personal note, I'm convinced that play is exactly what shaped my choice of occupation as an Interior Designer. I didn't start school until I was 7. I didn't even go to kindergarten (aside from those few weeks, mom). Was I behind my classmates? Not at all, in fact I was one of the 'smartest' in my class. I still remember vividly those first three years of school in Russia with little to no homework and a ton of time spent playing with my friends. Guess what was my favorite thing to do? Build homes for my dolls. Little did I know that fourteen years later I would be building scale models of people's homes at RBA. This isn't the only play scenario that shaped my interests as an adult. I could go on about drawing and painting, photography, and music. It's what I was born with and thankfully my parents didn't force learning on me and let me develop these passions. Not all children are so blessed. 

As I watch my children playing - I smile. I just need to join in, not look for a curriculum. 

What do you think? Do you still believe children benefit from early education? Or do you think that play is the best form of learning? What has been your childhood experience?

Photo: Baby E playing at the Boston Children's Museum 

Laura Klein Photography Review and Baby T Newborn Photos!

A couple of weeks before baby T was born I remembered how much I regretted not having professional newborn photos with our first baby. So I went on a last minute hunt for a Boston area newborn photographer, one in particular stood out - Laura Klein Photography. She was able to accommodate us at her studio in North Hampton, New Hampshire on such short notice. 

Laura is absolutely awesome and very talented! Despite the fact that baby T was not cooperating (he is always hungry) and we only had a one hour session, we got some great shots. She has a ton of props at her modern studio, you'll have a hard time picking something. We went with this cute white vintage scale and turquoise damask background pictured above and the lovely combination of fuzzy fabric with playful candy hat below. Baby T was only five days old in these photos. 

Laura is great with children. My three year old daughter can feel people very well, she was at ease with Laura after just a couple of minutes. Baby E knows a good person when she meets one! She was also very quick (without making us feel rushed), professional, and easy to communicate with. I feel those three things are very important when it comes to choosing a photographer. As for talent, well, it's kind of obvious she's got it, I'll let the photos do the talking:

Laura is also a wedding photographer with many delighted clients and she teaches digital photography classes. If you live in the Boston area I highly recommend Laura Klein Photography whether you need your newborn, wedding, or family photographed!

Disclaimer: I did not receive any payment for this review. I was provided services free of charge for review purposes. The opinions are solely my own and your experience may differ.