Monthly Archives: January 2012

Bleach and Sharpie Valentines

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All our black sharpies dried up.  I have tried reviving them with rubbing alcohol, but they were beyond help. I LOVE sharpies, and use them all the time.  While I was at the craft store tonight, as I was looking at the rack of beautiful, colorful sharpie caps.  Am I the only one that gets lost in all the wonderful colors and styles?  I had a hard time coming home with only just a boring black Sharpie.  Oh well, another day that perfect Aqua Sharpie will hop into my cart!

So once I was armed with the fresh black sharpie, I needed a project.  We decided to revisit a project that we played with in my pre-blogging days, making Bleach and Sharpie Valentines.  All you will need is a sharpie, card stock, q-tips and a bleach solution that is 50% bleach and 50% water.  Please take the necessary precautions when working with chemicals and your precious little ones!

Bleach and Sharpie Valentines

The kids doodled all over their paper with the black sharpie.  We tried this with construction paper, but the results were better when using the card stock.  Carefully dip the q-tip in the bleach solution and draw over the sharpie lines.  The sharpie color will not be effected, but the paper will loose color where the bleach is drawn.

Bleach and Sharpie Valentines

This process can take a few moments before the bleach will work, so be patient.  The kids thought the disappearing paper color was pretty cool!

Bleach and Sharpie Valentines

Valentines will soon be on us.  I love that my kiddos are making sweet little cards and notes leaving them all over the house.  There is something that makes me smile when I see little animals and flowers made out of hearts!

 

Minute To Win It # 2

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Minute to Win It Family Night

We are enjoying playing Minute To Win It family games.  We recently invited another family and a few gaming friends to join us in our challenge.  Nothing like a few friends to giggle with as we compete in these silly challenges!  We Played Bite me and Junk in the Trunk.  Both games were a huge hit producing lots of giggles.

Bite Me ~ minute to win it game

The challenge was to pick up 5 paper bags cut at varying heights using only our mouths and place them on a table.  Flexibly and short legs were a huge advantage for this game;)  Nothing like late night games in pj’s with friends.

Bite Me Supplies:

  • 5 paper bags cut at varying heights ~ cut to the sizes of 10″, 8″, 6″, 4″, and 2″.
  • A one minute timer or stopwatch
  • Low Table

How to Play:

Place the bags, open and standing, on the floor leaving about 4′ between each bag.  Have a low table near by to place the bags on.  When the timer starts, start with the tallest bag, bending to pick it up with your mouth, then placing it on the table.  Make sure to only use your mouth, no hands!  Continue with the rest of the bags, working from tallest to shortest.  Once all the bags are on the table your task is complete.

Make sure that your knees or hands don’t touch the floor!  That is what makes this game so difficult.

Bree has amazing flexibility, so for her this game was a breeze.  As for the rest of us, well let just say I won’t be posting any photos of anyone over nine:)  We were all rolling with laughter, and with only one nose plant I would definitely call this game a hit!

Junk in the Trunk ~ minute to win it game

The challenge was to tie an empty Kleenex box around your waist and fill your “trunk” with 8 ping-pong balls.  Wiggle, wiggle and wiggle some more until the box is empty.  I still love listening to the kids chant…”you have a minute to win it in 3, 2, 1 go!”

Junk in the Trunk Supplies:

  • Kleenex box
  • Belt
  • Duct tape
  • 8 ping pong balls

Our “Junk in the Trunk” box was simply constructed.  We emptied out all the Kleenexes and removed the plastic window from the box.  Chuck cut slits on each side of the box large enough to slip a canvas belt through.  The corners were reinforced with duct tape.

How to Play:

The player puts on the belt and box contraption, making sure that the box is resting just above their backside. Place all 8 ping pong balls in the box. When the one-minute timer begins, jump, wiggle and shake trying to remove all eight of the balls out of the box. Complete the task before the timer runs out.

I loved watching everyone’s different “wiggle” style.  The quickest finish was 4 seconds!  Now that’s some serious wiggling!

I love that face, pure joy and concentration!  The kids are eager to have another Minute to Win It game night.  We would love to hear if you have any fun family night games that your family loves!

For more Minute to Win It Games, check out our:

Cup Stacking ~ Stack Attack

Floatacious

Don’t Blow the Joker

Puffin Mail for a Puffin Girl

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Shortly after I posted about Annika’s Puffin interest, I was contacted by Donna, the Puffin Lady.  She asked if she could put together a special package all about Puffins for Annika.  What little girl doesn’t love getting mail, especially packages:)

Not long after, we found this package nestled in among my front porch pots (which I LOVE by the way) from the Puffin Lady.  As soon as Annika found it she squealed with joy.

The first thing that she noticed was that the package was addressed to “Annika the Puffin Girl”.  We often call her Ani(Ah-nee) but according to Annika that does not really count as a nickname.  So Puffin Girl it is!  Love it!

This box was packed full of little goodies.  Donna went way over the top in finding special little Puffin items that a girl would love.

I love this picture.  It could not be more true to our little Puffin Girl.  She loves stuffed animals and immediately started snuggling this little guy.  It took no time for Annika to name this little cutie, Puffy.  Also notice the cute little Puffin scrunchy she is sporting.

What a sweet little Christmas ornament.  Each of the kids have a collection of their own ornaments that they love.  Annika was so excited that her Puffin box contained an ornament.  This sweet little Puffin will be cherished.

I love all the fun books that were included in the package.  We have read them a few times and now are going to pass them onto Annika’s Kindergarten class.

There were many more delightful little items as well, this box was packed right full!  Donna even included a pair of Puffin socks for me!  Annika loves showing her package to everyone that comes over.  Soon after the Package arrived, Annika received a letter from the Puffin Lady.  It contained a few pictures, one of which Donna is holding a Puffin.  After a few sweet questions, Annika has now made it her goal to one day see a real Puffin.  I love it!

The Puffin Lady has truly blessed our little Puffin Girl!  Thanks so much Donna!

Minute To Win It Family Night # 1

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Don’t Blow the Joker ~ Minute to Win it Game

Our family loves playing games.  We played Minute to Win it with friends New Years Eve and the kiddos loved it!  Minute To Win It, is a NBC show where contestants participate in 60 second challenges that use common household objects.  We love free, fun family entertainment and this totally fits that category.  Today we enjoyed playing Don’t Blow the Joker.

Don’t Blow the Joker Supplies:

The set up was super simple, which is part of the reason that I love these games so much!  All you need is:

  • A glass bottle ~ we used an empty Starbucks coffee drink bottle
  • A deck of cards ~ including one joker
  • A Minute timer or stopwatch

To Play:

Simply set the deck of cards face down on the bottle with the joker being on the bottom of the pile face up.  The kids LOVED timing each person.  Before each contestant began the kids would say “_________ you have a minute to win it in 3, 2, 1 go” (just like on the game show)  Then start the timer.  The contestant will then gently blow the deck of cards and trying to keep the joker on top.  This task must be completed in under a minute.

I love the concentration on Annika’s face as she is timing me.  Don’t mess up Mommy!  Ha!

Annika was super excited to be the first one to complete this challenge!  Go Annika!  We all struck out on our first try except Annika.  After the first round, the kiddos wanted to keep playing until they got the joker to stay.  I love their persistence.  Eventually we all were able to complete the task in minute.  This was so fun and the kids can’t wait for the next Minute to Win It family night.

For more Minute to Win It Games, check out our:

Floatacious

Bite Me and Junk in the Trunk

Cup Stacking ~ Stack Attack

Cleaning with Shaving Cream

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Our poor IKEA art trays were in need of a major cleaning.  They were covered with paint, glue, glitter, markers and most any other art medium you can think of.  I have the cleaning bug, which does not visit our house often so I am taking full advantage of it!  You are going to love this simple Cleaning with  Shaving Cream trick.

Cleaning With Shaving Cream

A while ago, my sister-in-law taught me this simple trick.  Shaving cream is a fun medium to play with.  It is a great sensory medium, plus it has the added bonus of cleaning power.  Love that!

Cleaning With Shaving Cream

The kiddos had fun smearing, building towers and drawing pictures.  I thought about making some cute marbled artwork, but we will save that for another day since the main goal today was to clean.

Cleaning With Shaving Cream

We used a can of shaving cream that has been in the back of our cupboard for a long time.  However, if I was purchasing a new can I would buy a sent free variety.  The smell can be quiet strong.  Annika asked me if it was OK that she smelled like Grandpa Bruce.  So funny!

Cleaning With Shaving Cream

The kids enjoyed playing numerous games of tic-tac-toe.  The loved “erasing” each game.

Cleaning With Shaving Cream

Once they tired of drawing, I gave the kiddos some scrub brushes to get the last of the grime off the trays.  It worked like a charm.  With a simple rinse, the trays are now perfectly clean and ready for the next creative project.

Hmmmm…I wounder how many cans of shaving cream it would take to clean our shower;)

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