Now that Spring is in the air, my kids are looking for activities to do outside. I was looking on Pinterest and found an idea that was for adults and decided to change it a little and make it into something for the kiddos!
Get a wooden picnic table. Old or unfinished works just as well as a new one. Just be sure that it is safe and sturdy. Buy two plastic window boxes. The ones that hold flowers. Remove one to two planks in the middle of the table and replace them with the window boxes! This becomes an instant art studio for the outside. Keep finger paints, paint brushes, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and whatever you can think of! You can also make this into a sand and water activity table and switch it back and forth. You can cover your table with a tarp and some bungee straps to keep it from being ruined by the weather!
This idea came from something I saw on Pinterest. It was a table where they removed the planks in the middle replaced it with a rain gutter and filled it with ice and served drinks in it for an outdoor party. My project could also be utilized in this way, but I think it would get more use doing it for the kids!
What not a better way to get them outside and using their imaginations!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Gardening with kids! 
Now that spring is here it is time to start thinking about gardening. A garden can seem like an overwhelming task, I know from experience! But over the last couple of years I have figured out a way to make it a little easier.
My parents had a huge garden in our back yard when I was growing up. They would grow asparagus, peppers, tomatoes, corn, and cantaloupes just to name a few. My Dad would be tilling the garden in the early spring to loosen to dirt. He would go to my aunts farm to get manure to fertilize the garden. It was a lot of work. Now, I do not have that kind of will to do a garden! I love the idea of fresh veggies but don't have that kind of time to put into a large garden. So, I have come up with an inexpensive and fun way to garden with kids.
When kids are hands on with the process they tend to try the veggies and fruits that they grow. It is a great way to get them to try new things and it teaches them responsibility.
To keep it inexpensive and from having to dig up your yard, buy a plastic kiddie pool. They run about $10 and you can find them at lots of stores. Drill holes in the bottom of the pool. This will allow for adequate drainage. Buy a nice rich quality soil and fill the pool. Find some cinder blocks or a wooden pallet for the pool to sit on. Place your pool in a sunny area and remember once it is filled it will be hard to move. One thing I would splurge on is the plants. If you are going to grow them from a seed, use starter pots inside to let the plant get a good start.
Since this garden is meant for the kids take them to help pick out the plants. Plant practical things that you and your family will use. I like tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, peppers. By picking 4 kinds of plants it will allow you to section the pool off into 4 and you won't have overcrowding. My family loves Cantaloupe and Watermelon, but this garden won't support these fruits. These are 2 fruits that will take over a garden. If you choose to plant these pick a small area and mound up the soil. My parents had a trick they used for these fruits. They would mound up the dirt and place a tire on the top. Then they would plant the fruit inside of the tire. It keeps them from taking over a large area!
Have your kids water the garden every morning, evening, or both. The hot summer sun can be harsh and will dry out the soil easily. Be sure to cover your garden with a sheet at the first sign of a frost.
Now simply watch as your garden produces some yummy fruits and veggies. Your kids will be excited to see what all their hard work has done!
My parents had a huge garden in our back yard when I was growing up. They would grow asparagus, peppers, tomatoes, corn, and cantaloupes just to name a few. My Dad would be tilling the garden in the early spring to loosen to dirt. He would go to my aunts farm to get manure to fertilize the garden. It was a lot of work. Now, I do not have that kind of will to do a garden! I love the idea of fresh veggies but don't have that kind of time to put into a large garden. So, I have come up with an inexpensive and fun way to garden with kids.
When kids are hands on with the process they tend to try the veggies and fruits that they grow. It is a great way to get them to try new things and it teaches them responsibility.
To keep it inexpensive and from having to dig up your yard, buy a plastic kiddie pool. They run about $10 and you can find them at lots of stores. Drill holes in the bottom of the pool. This will allow for adequate drainage. Buy a nice rich quality soil and fill the pool. Find some cinder blocks or a wooden pallet for the pool to sit on. Place your pool in a sunny area and remember once it is filled it will be hard to move. One thing I would splurge on is the plants. If you are going to grow them from a seed, use starter pots inside to let the plant get a good start.
Since this garden is meant for the kids take them to help pick out the plants. Plant practical things that you and your family will use. I like tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, peppers. By picking 4 kinds of plants it will allow you to section the pool off into 4 and you won't have overcrowding. My family loves Cantaloupe and Watermelon, but this garden won't support these fruits. These are 2 fruits that will take over a garden. If you choose to plant these pick a small area and mound up the soil. My parents had a trick they used for these fruits. They would mound up the dirt and place a tire on the top. Then they would plant the fruit inside of the tire. It keeps them from taking over a large area!
Have your kids water the garden every morning, evening, or both. The hot summer sun can be harsh and will dry out the soil easily. Be sure to cover your garden with a sheet at the first sign of a frost.
Now simply watch as your garden produces some yummy fruits and veggies. Your kids will be excited to see what all their hard work has done!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Spring Cleanig Week!
Spring has sprung and the overwhelming urge to clean is striking houses everywhere! But, it is such an overwhelming task. I always feel motivated to clean for a couple of hours and when all of my stuff is being pulled out I feel the overwhelming urge to sit down and quit cleaning! So, each day I am going to give out tips for spring cleaning.
I was watching Rachael Ray this morning and there was a man named Peter Walsh as a guest. They said he was a professional organizer. Really, there are people who like to clean? I mean I like a clean house but I am guilty of that overstuffed closet that no one is allowed to open cause everything will come falling out! My house by all counts looks picked up when I have company, but if Peter Walsh was to inspect my house, I would be screwed. There would be no pulling the wool over his eyes!
I listened intently on what he had to say. I learned from 1 tip that he said that I could spring clean and unclutter my house in 10 minutes a day for 1 week. "Impossible" I said! But no, it is possible and it is so simple. So, here it goes...
Take 2 trash bags and set a timer for 10 minutes. Walk around your house and fill 1 bag with items you do not use anymore and fill 1 bag with items that are trash. He said if 2 people do this by the end of the week you will have 14 bags of trash and 14 bags to donate to Good Will.
That sound so easy! So, this is going to be my project this week. But since I am in control of most of the cleaning, and my husband doesn't throw anything away, I will be doing it myself so I will have 7 bags of trash and 7 bags to donate. This will still be a huge dent in my spring cleaning and I should not feel overwhelmed by this huge task!
Happy Cleaning!
*New Cleaning Tip for Tuesday. If you are cleaning your lamp shades use a dryer sheet.It collects the dust easier than using a regular cloth and it will leave the room smelling fresh!
*New Cleaning Tip for Wednesday. Rug Scrubbing! If you don't want to hire someone to come in and scrub your rugs, Try renting a rug scrubbing machine. You can rent them from many grocery and hardware stores. It will leave a nice clean scent in your home and will make your home feel like it is sparking clean!
* Cleaning Tip for Thursday. Go Green cleaning your windows! Mix 1 cup distilled white vinegar with 3 cups of warm water. Use crumpled up black and white newspaper and dip it into your mix. Ring the newspaper until it stops dripping. Wash your windows and dry with a dry crumpled up newspaper.
If your windows seems to be greasy or there is tough grime build up, use 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol or lemon juice (no pulp) and that will cut through the tough messes!
I was watching Rachael Ray this morning and there was a man named Peter Walsh as a guest. They said he was a professional organizer. Really, there are people who like to clean? I mean I like a clean house but I am guilty of that overstuffed closet that no one is allowed to open cause everything will come falling out! My house by all counts looks picked up when I have company, but if Peter Walsh was to inspect my house, I would be screwed. There would be no pulling the wool over his eyes!
I listened intently on what he had to say. I learned from 1 tip that he said that I could spring clean and unclutter my house in 10 minutes a day for 1 week. "Impossible" I said! But no, it is possible and it is so simple. So, here it goes...
Take 2 trash bags and set a timer for 10 minutes. Walk around your house and fill 1 bag with items you do not use anymore and fill 1 bag with items that are trash. He said if 2 people do this by the end of the week you will have 14 bags of trash and 14 bags to donate to Good Will.
That sound so easy! So, this is going to be my project this week. But since I am in control of most of the cleaning, and my husband doesn't throw anything away, I will be doing it myself so I will have 7 bags of trash and 7 bags to donate. This will still be a huge dent in my spring cleaning and I should not feel overwhelmed by this huge task!
Happy Cleaning!
*New Cleaning Tip for Tuesday. If you are cleaning your lamp shades use a dryer sheet.It collects the dust easier than using a regular cloth and it will leave the room smelling fresh!
*New Cleaning Tip for Wednesday. Rug Scrubbing! If you don't want to hire someone to come in and scrub your rugs, Try renting a rug scrubbing machine. You can rent them from many grocery and hardware stores. It will leave a nice clean scent in your home and will make your home feel like it is sparking clean!
* Cleaning Tip for Thursday. Go Green cleaning your windows! Mix 1 cup distilled white vinegar with 3 cups of warm water. Use crumpled up black and white newspaper and dip it into your mix. Ring the newspaper until it stops dripping. Wash your windows and dry with a dry crumpled up newspaper.
If your windows seems to be greasy or there is tough grime build up, use 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol or lemon juice (no pulp) and that will cut through the tough messes!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Recycle your old to bring in the new!
Thanks to a great website that I have been using for years, www.freecycle.org I have been able to recycle some of my old items out to bring in some new. I try to give my house a good spring cleaning and I find so many odds and ends items and toys that my kids don't want or need anymore. This website allows me to post the things I have available and it is only for the locals to see. If someone sees something they want they will email you and make arrangement for a pick up.
I have felt really good knowing that pretty much all of my older kids baby things went to someone who really needed them. A young single girl in college came and picked up most of my gently used girl things. My sons stuff was split up to a few different people.
I have also found many items for myself. I have gotten a set of bunk beds, side tables for a kids bedroom, and some baking pans. Some of the thing I have gotten I have transformed with a little elbow grease and some paint.
With the economy that we are in right now everyone is in the position to be frugal. So, the next time you are cleaning out something in you basement, attic, or just looking to clean out some cupboards remember to check out Freecycle. You never know who might be in need of that something you have. The old saying goes "Someones trash is someone treasure!"
I have felt really good knowing that pretty much all of my older kids baby things went to someone who really needed them. A young single girl in college came and picked up most of my gently used girl things. My sons stuff was split up to a few different people.
I have also found many items for myself. I have gotten a set of bunk beds, side tables for a kids bedroom, and some baking pans. Some of the thing I have gotten I have transformed with a little elbow grease and some paint.
With the economy that we are in right now everyone is in the position to be frugal. So, the next time you are cleaning out something in you basement, attic, or just looking to clean out some cupboards remember to check out Freecycle. You never know who might be in need of that something you have. The old saying goes "Someones trash is someone treasure!"
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Happy St. Patrick's Day
This is such a fun time to celebrate with your kids and your family. Even though this is now the traditional holiday with Presents and gift giving it is one of my favorites. My kids have so much fun getting their green on and I look forward to cooking my St. Patrick's Day feast. I enjoy the company and watching my kids come up with their creative ways of catching a leprechaun! We go into town annually for the St. Patty's Day parade in Southie. The kids have a blast, and even amongst all the chaos I have a ton of fun too!
I hope you all have a fantastic St. Patrick's Day. Have fun and be safe!
Melanie~
I hope you all have a fantastic St. Patrick's Day. Have fun and be safe!
Melanie~
Monday, March 12, 2012
Pink Slime
Pink Slime is something that I just recently heard about on television. I wanted to take a look to see what it actually is and how the USDA and meat processors use it and think it is safe.
I was reading up on this and this is what I have found. Pink Slime is actually a filler and processed in the following way.
According to the Washington Post, the process involves taking USDA-approved beef trimmings, separating the fat and meat with centrifuges, then squeezing the lean beef through a tube the size of a pencil, during which time it is exposed to ammonia gas. The combination of the gas with water in the meat results in a reaction that increases the pH, lowering acidity and killing any pathogens such as E. coli.
This filler is processed at a company and then shipped out to the places that process our meat. It is then added to our ground beef.
The Pink Slime process is actually using Ammonia to kill off E. Coli? Ammonia, a chemical that is commonly found under our kitchen sink to be used a cleaning agent? Isn't Ammonia labeled with a big giant skull and cross bones? Isn't there a warning that states not for consumption and if you get it in your eyes or swallow it to call poison control right away? So, why is this chemical or poison in our food?
I thought E. Coli could be eliminated if the food is cooked and/or stored properly? Am I wrong, or is there more to it?
I read a statistic that 70% of our grocery stores supply us with the USDA approved product. I was unaware of this. Unless you are buying ground beef that is USDA Organic, you are running a high risk of feeding your family the Pink Slime. I also read that many of our schools are using ground beef product with Pink Slime. So, even if you as a family decide to use organic to eliminate that risk, your children may still be getting it at school.
They say that it is safe, but it is not a necessity to be listed on a label of ingredients. Are you serious? Shouldn't that be our decision to make? Shouldn't we be able to decide?
I grew up in farm country in Western Pennsylvania. My family was fortunate enough to have a cow and pig every year. We knew what was going into that animal for feed and medicine. It had land to roam on and lots of grass to graze in. We never had to worry about what was in our meat. Unfortunately we all do not have that opportunity.
My thoughts are that if this process of the Pink Slime is going to continue, the stores need to label these so we know what we are buying. Then, if we choose to buy it we know what we are ingesting. I think that the restaurants that have not already taken this meat out of their menu, need to immediately. Lastly, our schools need to get this Pink Slime out ASAP! We should have a say in what they consume at school and I know I am guilty of not really looking past the school lunch menu and into what they are really eating.
**Just a tip to keep pink slime out of your house. I have started buying a boneless pot roast and having the butcher at my grocery store ground it up for me. The taste is fabulous, it can be much cheaper, and I find that if I get a large roast I can freeze it and it still tastes fresh when comes out of the freezer!
I was reading up on this and this is what I have found. Pink Slime is actually a filler and processed in the following way.
According to the Washington Post, the process involves taking USDA-approved beef trimmings, separating the fat and meat with centrifuges, then squeezing the lean beef through a tube the size of a pencil, during which time it is exposed to ammonia gas. The combination of the gas with water in the meat results in a reaction that increases the pH, lowering acidity and killing any pathogens such as E. coli.
This filler is processed at a company and then shipped out to the places that process our meat. It is then added to our ground beef.
The Pink Slime process is actually using Ammonia to kill off E. Coli? Ammonia, a chemical that is commonly found under our kitchen sink to be used a cleaning agent? Isn't Ammonia labeled with a big giant skull and cross bones? Isn't there a warning that states not for consumption and if you get it in your eyes or swallow it to call poison control right away? So, why is this chemical or poison in our food?
I thought E. Coli could be eliminated if the food is cooked and/or stored properly? Am I wrong, or is there more to it?
I read a statistic that 70% of our grocery stores supply us with the USDA approved product. I was unaware of this. Unless you are buying ground beef that is USDA Organic, you are running a high risk of feeding your family the Pink Slime. I also read that many of our schools are using ground beef product with Pink Slime. So, even if you as a family decide to use organic to eliminate that risk, your children may still be getting it at school.
They say that it is safe, but it is not a necessity to be listed on a label of ingredients. Are you serious? Shouldn't that be our decision to make? Shouldn't we be able to decide?
I grew up in farm country in Western Pennsylvania. My family was fortunate enough to have a cow and pig every year. We knew what was going into that animal for feed and medicine. It had land to roam on and lots of grass to graze in. We never had to worry about what was in our meat. Unfortunately we all do not have that opportunity.
My thoughts are that if this process of the Pink Slime is going to continue, the stores need to label these so we know what we are buying. Then, if we choose to buy it we know what we are ingesting. I think that the restaurants that have not already taken this meat out of their menu, need to immediately. Lastly, our schools need to get this Pink Slime out ASAP! We should have a say in what they consume at school and I know I am guilty of not really looking past the school lunch menu and into what they are really eating.
**Just a tip to keep pink slime out of your house. I have started buying a boneless pot roast and having the butcher at my grocery store ground it up for me. The taste is fabulous, it can be much cheaper, and I find that if I get a large roast I can freeze it and it still tastes fresh when comes out of the freezer!
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