Chalkboard table

The girls were gifted a WHITE table five years ago.   Over the years, they have eaten on it, played games and toys on it (including play-doh) and they have drawn it...with markers and crayons and...sharpies.  I contact papered it a few times and you can read more here.  When the paper ran out, I decided to rip off the paper and spray paint it with black chalkboard paint.  Picked up some for $4 and went to town. I also painted a picture frame and tin can (see pic).  Ecos makes eco-friendly chalkboard paint for $30.  It's 100% non toxic, VOC free and allergy safe.

smart summers

Continue summer learning for the kiddies with Summer Bridge Activity Books.  I bought two of these puppies on Amazon for $24.  They have activities for every weekday of the summer centered around math, science, fitness, social studies, reading, and language.  Well worth it and the girls love doing them!
Stickers, certificate and color flashcards are also included.

food buckets

I first ate some sand pudding last week (vanilla pudding, crumbled cookies in a bucket with a shovel as a spoon).  So when I began organizing the girl's summer splash party, I just had to use a plastic beach bucket for food.  I bought four at Walmart for a buck each. I threw apple sauce cups and spoons in one, graham crackers in another and cheeze-its in the third. The fourth one was used for minute to win-it games.  Next time I'm buying a small one for salsa and using a large one for chips. Ahhhh-dorable. View eco-friendly sand buckets by Zoe B here.  Been busy but I am back blogging!

bins baby

Forget shoe bins for shoes, how about for organizing your kiddie's toys. Especially those little tiny teenie toys that love to nestle sharply between my fourth toe and pinky toe.  In the morning.  Always.  Or late late late at night. I use clear shoe box size bins to organize:  markers, crayons, chalk, paint sets, littlest pet shop, legos, polly pockets, blocks, match box cars, Mc Donald's happy meal toys, hair ties, and whateva fits.  Use your large toy boxes for stuff animals and big toys otherwise you will find itty bitty toys hiding at the bottom. Label your bins with a sharpie or use some recycled kiddie art and create a label; this will ease toy clean up.  They come with lids and stack tidy on shelves.  View eco-friendly bins here and dollar store location finder here.

No toy garage

We just moved two months ago and I had the distinct pleasure of packing 10 BOXES of TOYS.  Gimme a break. I mean really.  So as I began to slowwwwwly unpack them, I realized AGAIN that all of these were unnecessary.  Especially as I witnessed them playing without them for days.  So I grabbed a black garbage bag (absolutely necessary to hide the toys headed for donation from those little I-don’t-miss-a-thing eyes). I decided that at least half of the toys from each box MUST leave the house.  In addition, I also created the No Toy Left Behind Act – no more bins of extra toys in the garage.  If there is no room in their bedroom for them, then there’s no space in the casa.  View places to donate toyshere.

easier nights

You, being the super mommie, already know about doing the following the night before school:  laying out clothes, packing lunches, signing permission slips, and checking and packing homework into backpacks.  You got those right?  But what about these efficiency kiddie tips to make your p.m.'s run just a wee bit smoother:  1. Have your kiddies match socks AND put them away.  2. Have them pack their own lunch – make an assembly line of food and get it done before nighty night time.  They might be more likely to eat what they packed.  3. Get them to work.  I have my girls ages 4 and 6 sweep the floors after dinner, wipe counters and unload the dishwashed utensils. It’s NEVER too early to start chores.  Even Elastigirl couldn’t do it all.  4. Place permission slips and homework on refrigerator or a bulletin board – otherwise...out of sight out of mind.  View eco-friendlybulletin boards here.

Freeze it baby

/freezertips

The freezer is your friend.  Repeat this again.  Before your left-overs go sour, FREEZE them puppies.  Use a plastic freezer bag or Tupperware.  Don’t forget to write it’s contents on the container and the date.  Nothing like defrosting some marinara sauce only to find it’s…surprise…chili.  I made a very healthy     easy meal of boxed macaroni and cheese, kosher beef hot dogs (from the freezer) and peas for the girls the other day.  Efficiencies – Save money by freezing your scraps. Save time by boiling your hot dogs with the pasta.  View eco-friendly freeze containers here.