Toddler Tuesday: Roll it!

I bought this foam roller a ways back to help with some exercises to strengthen my hip flexers. You see, I used to be a runner. And every spring I try to become one again....but my 30-something old knees tell me otherwise. My doc told me this might be a helpful tool to get myself back on the road.

But after a few seasons of attempting to get back into it (and also realizing that running just really doesn't bring me joy....it's hard and makes me tired), I knew there had to be another use for this exercise tool that I spent my hard earned money on! Oh what could it be used for?? Plant stand. Log rolling practice. A not awesome pillow.

Fast forward a few months.....I was at a conference for work (an early education teacher extravaganza) and was learning all kinds of amazing kid stuff. Lo and behold, my exercise roller questions were solved in a class about large motor play. The presenter talked about different ways to give our toddlers a variety of large motor experiences (both in the classroom and inside the home).

Wrestling, tossing soft things around and having a few things that are ok to climb on are all essential to both large motor and emotional development! Letting little folks use their bodies to move while indoors can be challenging to keep them safe (and to keep your house intact)! But go ahead and find a little space somewhere in your home where your toddler can safely use their muscles to challenge their gross motor skillz.

Sorry...got off on a mini teacher tangent about the importance of gross motor play. Are you still on the edge of your seat waiting for me to tell you how the roller fits into this story??

Ok here we go.....the presenter used it in her program to literally ROLL over her students. (Like a rolling pin over a ball of playdough...) The kids loved the gentle pressure of the teacher rolling them from their 'head to their toes'. Either over their tummies or on their backs....in the middle of their rough and tumble play, the teachers would bring in another sensory experience with a calming moment of ROLLING! Big hit with the kids and a great use of my once retired foam roller!

Stylin' Saturday: Hair Do

I was watching some silly daytime Talk Show a few days ago and they had a segment on doing your hair up simply and quickly. I thought one of the styles was kind of cute so I gave it a try...if you like it, give it a try for yourself!!

Ok, first step is to part your hair down the middle and ponytail the 2 parts at the base of your hairline.

Braid each side and finish with a little hair tie (I went clear so it wouldn't be seen in the final product).

You will then need a few bobby pins to be used in just a bit...

Next, take the braids and pull them apart a little to make them a little poofier (is that a word) and messy.

Ok next we will label the braids...left side we will call 'A' and right side we will call 'B'. Take side 'A' and place across to the other side and around 'B'.

Take the end of 'A' all the way around and tuck under itself in the middle. Secure with one bobby pin.

Next, take 'B' and do the same thing. Wrap around braid 'A' and tuck the end in under itself in the middle...secure with a bobbi pin.

Take 2 more pins and stick one in each braid at the top of the wrapping point to keep them from slipping out of place.

Take a look in the mirror and tuck in any strays...if you feel like you need a few more pins to feel secure, go for it! Whatever gives you joy!

Toddler Tuesday: Bowling

One of my toddlers really likes all things bowling....he tells me that he likes bowling and his mama said they watch bowling videos on YouTube. I wanted to give him a fun bowling experience in the classroom, so I got some supplies together and got to work!

Needed: cardboard, box cutter, hot glue gun, craft paint

First, I cut out a bowling pin template and traced out 6 (in a pyramid of pins) onto one piece of cardboard.

I then cut out the pins along all sides but the base...I wanted them to be connected on the bottom.

Ok, delightful . Then I thought to myself how great toddlers are at taking things apart. I needed some reinforcements on the backs of these pins and on the bottom of the cardboard or this little project would not last 2 seconds in real life toddler play!

I hot glued the second square of cardboard on the bottom of my original piece...this was a little tricky since hot glue dried pretty quick. There was a little cardboard bending involved and then a final bead of hot glue all around the edges.

I cut out a strip of cardboard for each pin and then bent the bottom to make an 'L' shape. I stuck it behind the pin and traced the base of the 'L' to cut that piece out on the original base. It then made a nice little nest for my 'L' to be glued into.

Once I had them all glued in, I added a bit of duct tape for good measure. I didn't glue the 'L' to the pin itself, just let it rest against it.

Finally some paint....pins and a hardwood-like lane!

I brought it to school and my little bowling buddy was so excited. He tried it out that afternoon and had a blast. The pins obviously don't stay down when hit, but rather pop back up once the ball rolls over them. He seemed to think it was pretty cool....I think so too!!

Stylin' Saturday: More Floral Fun

I've got another flower you can make for your luscious locks! A little different style than the last one...and this one you get to start some things on fire!!

Start by choosing your fabric (make sure it is synthetic so it will burn nicely...cotton and silk will not work here). I used both solid fabric and tulle. Cut 4 or 5 circles of the tulle about 2.5 inches in diameter, 2 circles of the solid (a little smaller than the tulle), and 4 circles of the solid about 1.5 inches in diameter.

If you see the photo above, I cut 3 even slits in the purple fabric (kind of a triangle of slits if you will) to help make some petals when we burn the fabric!

Fire up your candle, and get burning! Run the edge of the tulle through the flame and it will start to burn. Keep it moving all the way around and you will have a nice sealed edge at the end. This takes a little practice at first, so maybe cut a few extra pieces to practice until you have got the hang of it!

Do the same with the solid fabric. With the slits you cut, you will have to hold each petal separately. Careful not to burn your little fingers! You will notice that as you burn the petals, they fold up a little and start to look like a pretty flower....again, this takes a little practice at first, so it may be a good idea to cut an extra piece and do a trial run!

Ok, hope you had fun burning stuff! Now it's time to gather all your prepared pieces and stack them together. Tulle on the bottom, then the larger solid pieces and finally the smallest solids.

Sew through the middle of the stack a few times to secure your creation together. Then pick out a pretty button and string it through to secure to the center.

Do not tie off your thread just yet...string it through the back and let the remaining thread just hang out for a second. Cut a small circle of felt to make the backing and use the rest of the thread to secure it to the back! Then go ahead and knot it off when that is complete!

Get out your hair clip and glue and secure it to the felt...you will need to press it down a few times for the first 10 minutes (if you are using the glue pictured in the photo below) until it sets. Just keep checking periodically so you know it's holding steady!

Beautiful! You are all done...wait 24 hours and you are ready to head out on the town with your newly crafted flower!

Toddler Tuesday: Making Maracas

Fun activity alert!!!!! Want to make some music with stuff you have at home? Great, here we go:

1 paper plate....the sturdy kind:

Fold it in half:

Staple a few staples on each side just to keep it together. Leave space in the middle for your kiddo to stick stuff inside:

Pick some items to put inside.....big beads, Cheerios, sticks....whatever you want:

Have your toddler stick them inside...good fine motor & hand/eye coordination practice:

Then you can staple it up the rest of the way and give them some supplies to decorate...go nuts- stickers, crayons, streamers....whatever floats your boat! Turn on some tunes and get dancin'!!!

(Thanks to my maraca model, Mr. N, for showing me his maraca creation!)

Stylin' Saturday: Silky Skin

I have tried a lot of different products and gimmicks in an attempt to achieve healthy, radiant skin...inspired by all the supermodels in the cleanser commercials who wash the soap off their sudsy face with one big splash of slow motion water. Seriously, have you ever tried to wash your face like that? What a mess all over my walls and bathroom floor! Also, my skin never seems to look like theirs...never.

I have skin with, how should I say, issues. I have battled hard with acne since I was a young teen and only now (in my mid thirties) have I had a bit of clearing and relief in this area. Not sure exactly what has made the difference....a combo of finding the right medicated cream, a gentle cleanser, good lotion and age (or as I like to think of it...maturity).

With another harsh Minnesota winter looming, it's also important to rid your skin of those dry cells that build up and make your skin look less than lovely. I thought I would share my dry skin cell busting plan with you:

A handful of granulated sugar from the kitchen...

Add your facial cleanser of choice.....

Gently scrub all over your face in a circular motion and rinse....

I do this maybe once or twice a week in the morning and it makes my skin feel fresh and soft...I lotion up right after and am ready for my makeup!

Give it a try and see if it works for you! Just a note, make sure to rinse off your arms/elbows too...any soap that runs down your arms is laced with sugar and that can make for some stickiness if gone unwashed. The first time I used this scrub, I did not realize this. Later that morning, I could not for the life of me figure out why my sweater kept sticking to my elbow...he he he!!