a happy wanderer

water beads...

2012-02-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

i've been wanting to try these out for so long now...

we finally got our hands on some water beads...

a score at the 99 cent store...

they're pretty awesome.

wanders...

2012-02-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

sweet hearts...

2012-02-09T00:34:00.000-08:00

start with some toilet paper rolls...

add a little paint...

and a little more...

let them dry...

slice each roll into four even rings...

pinch one end of each ring into a teardrop shape, then hot glue two of them together...

gather them all up...

add some string...

and hang them up...

for some sweet heart decorations :)

cloud dough...

2012-01-24T00:36:00.000-08:00

one part oil to eight parts flour...

makes cloud dough!

thank you to flights of whimsy for the recipe!

wanders...

2012-01-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

a puppet theater...

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

this was a tough one to give away...

so i'm sure there will be another one being made soon.

after getting inspiration from here...

i thought my three little nieces would get a kick out of having a puppet theater of their own...

so i used a thrifted sheet for the main part, a t-shirt for the curtain, and some on hand fabric for the border of the window. a curtain rod keeps it in place, and a dowel in the bottom of the window frame keeps the opening from sagging.

and here's what they got...

along with some sock puppets.

leo tried it all out, just to make sure all functioned properly :)

and then off to nj it all went!

upcycled notebook...

2011-12-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

the holiday crafting has begun...

not as feverishly as last year, considering we have a little bundle to think about...

but it's still going on...

starting with this...

i used an old t-shirt and some fabric scraps to cover up a composition notebook...

and added a little crayon holder on the back...

covered the insides with scraps, as well, to hide the fabric edges...

a portable drawing kit!

liz scott jelly roll winner...

2011-12-17T09:59:00.001-08:00

and the winner is...

melissa @ sew bittersweet designs!

congratulations, melissa!!!

thank you, everyone, for commenting...

and thank you, liz, for your generous giveaway!

liz scott... tutorial & giveaway!!! (closed)

2011-12-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

as you can see, i haven't been writing much lately.

over here, we've been working out the kinks of life...

in the meantime, i'm so excited to introduce someone...

meet liz scott!

awhile back, while searching for some cool fabrics, i came across her blog... and, to my surprise, and luck!, she lives just a few towns over from me! what a small world!

liz was kind enough to package up bags and bags of scraps of the super cool fabrics that she designs, and give them a new home, right here, in my own fabric stash. since then, i've used them in lots of my projects... like here... and here... and here... and i LOVE them!

now, aside from her fabrics, liz has some pretty awesome taste... check out her finds when she goes thrifting. i've GOT to tag along with her one of these days. now that i say that publicly, don't you HAVE to let me, liz??? pleeeaaase???!!!???

and lastly, in addition to all that creative talent liz has, she's such a sweet person... and a lovely mama, too. since that meeting liz's wonderful home... we've kept in touch. i'm so glad our paths have crossed!

and now, she has been kind enough to spread some of her creativity this way. with my first guest post... and my first giveaway! thank you, so much, liz!

Hi, my name is Liz Scott and I am doing a guest post here today on A Happy Wanderer. Isn't it awesome when online friends become real life pals? That is how it happened with Heather and I. I am a fabric designer and Heather found my website and blog one day and contacted me about purchasing a few bags of my fabric scraps. Turns out we both live in Los Angeles and she was able to pick up the scraps in person rather than have them shipped. I knew from the moment she pulled up in her blue Prius that we were going to be friends. We have stayed in contact ever since, sharing play dates and birthday parties. Heather's grace and presence in parenting is downright inspiring and it does my heart good to see such a lovely family grow from three to four.

So, while Heather is busy with her little ones, lets talk fabric, shall we? I am a graphic designer by trade and love to sew and craft morning, noon and night. Somewhere around 3 years ago, I decided to switch my focus from paper products to fabric. I started designing, uploading and printing fabric with a service called Spoonflower and selling it in my Etsy shop. I was encouraged by the positive response that I received and realized I could get my designs out there to a larger audience if I licensed them to a fabric manufacturer. I contacted several of the bigger companies and Moda licensed my first line Sugar Pop! That was pretty amazing! And my second line Domestic Bliss is shipping to stores this month. Look for it in your favorite online fabric shops including Fabric Worm and Fat Quarter Shop.

Here is a peek:

Would you like to win some? Awesome! Heather and I are doing a little giveaway. Leave a comment on this post (with your email address) and we will select one winner via random number generator to receive a Jelly Roll from the Domestic Bliss Line. We will close the comments on Friday the 16th at 5 pm PST and announce the winner on Saturday the 17th. Be sure to check back to see if you have won!

I also want to share with you a simple craft project that I have been doing a lot lately. These felt greeting cards are great to do with little ones and a snap to whip up. A few afternoons ago, I turned on the Christmas tree lights, brewed a cup of tea, and put on some jingle-y tunes and tried some holiday themed cards. Here is how you can make some too:

Felt Holiday Cards

You will need:

Felt in assorted colors. Wool felt is easier to work with, but I used a mix of both wool and synthetic here for the most color variety.
8.5 x 11 card stock in different colors
Scissors for paper
ruler
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue
Micron marker
PDF pattern printout (or design your own)

Nice to have but not totally necessary:

Cutting mat
X acto knife
Embroidery scissors for cutting felt

1.Cut card stock in half widthwise so you have two pieces measuring 8.5 x 5.5.

2. Fold each piece in half to make the card.

3. Print pattern pieces on a sheet of paper and cut them out.

4. Place pattern pieces right side down and trace pattern pieces onto felt using the Micron marker. Cut designs from the felt and turn over (this way you don't have to worry about any lingering marks from your marker) I like Micron markers because they have a superfine tip and offer better control when drawing on something as soft as felt. I use embroidery scissors to cut the designs from the felt because they have a small pointy tip and again, offer better control. Arrange your felt pieces on the card stock.

5. Dab glue on the back of the pieces of felt and apply to the card. No worries if you get a little messy with the glue, Aleene's dries clear. I love the stuff.

6. Allow your cards to dry overnight or at least for a few hours.

Enjoy! Try some of your own designs, too - gingerbread people, snowflakes, bells, ornaments, stars, etc.

I truly wish you and yours a season filled with love, magic, joy, peace, warmth and blessings.

thank you, so much liz, for your generosity! and for sharing such an adorable idea!

don't forget to leave a comment with your email address... and check back on saturday to see who the lucky winner is!

(comments closed)

something special...

2011-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

things have been pretty quiet over here...

while we've been getting to know our little nory, the holidays started to creep up on us...

but tomorrow...

i've got something exciting for you...

here's a little hint...

and one more...

see you tomorrow!!!

wanders...

2011-12-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

to my love...

2011-12-01T00:07:00.001-08:00

happy birthday, honey...

clearing out...

2011-11-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

seems like the fog of newborn life is clearing...

we're getting back into a (little) groove...

understanding one another...

gathering ourselves.

aside from the readjusting to a family of three to a family of four...

from learning how to manage doing the little things i became so accustomed to...

like nap... the dishes... the laundry... walking out the door at a reasonable hour... brushing my teeth...

i also learned a little something else.

i get in my head. a lot.

before being a mom, i was a teacher. before being a teacher, i was a teacher's assistant. before being a teacher's assistant, i volunteered working with children.

i have ALWAYS been around children. whether it be work, or play, or life.

i've studied children. i've listened to children. i've theorized about children. i've subscribed to blogs about the best ways to raise children. i've read books about children. many, many books.

and it's given me a lot of knowledge. as well as a lot of experience. and i'm grateful for that. all of that knowledge and experience has helped me be the mom that i am today. and it gives me the ability to question what i do... in a way that allows me to constantly seek improvement. and, hopefully, not get stuck in my ways.

here's the kicker...

sometimes, i just want to forget it all. just let it all go.

because it can keep me up at night.

it can keep my away from my children.

it can consume me in a way that's just not healthy. and pull me from being present. from being really, truly present.

instead of just being with leo, i'm thinking about which is the best way to be with him. instead of just sitting down and playing, i'm thinking about which way will allow him to grow the most in that situation. instead of just communicating with him during a meltdown, i'm thinking about which exact words i should be using so that we all come out of it having learned something positive.

and it's EXHAUSTING.

and i'm missing a lot of moments. and a lot of joy.

so, while i appreciate all of the things i've learned... all of the things i've read... all of the lessons i've taught...

it's time to relax. to let go. it's time to trust my gut sometimes, and just be. without thinking.

to allow the joy in that is so easily blocked when it can't get past all the constant thinking that's going on.

and know, that i'm doing the best i can.

we all are.

wanders...

2011-11-25T22:09:00.001-08:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

kickboxing...

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

we started with a pile of empty boxes...

found a good spot for them on the walkway...

built a pretty awesome tower...

then gave it a good swift kick...

when that didn't work, used our hands to knock it down...

which worked quite nicely...

admired the results...

then busily moved the boxes around...

here, there, and everywhere...

and just kept running back for more.

it eventually turned into just kicking the boxes as hard as we could all around the yard.

boy, did that feel good.

too good to take pictures, in fact.

give it a try :)

my little elephant...

2011-11-01T00:36:00.000-07:00

sharing over at...

knitted fruits...

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

i often wish i would knit more again...

it's so soothing...

and always feels so good to know that my hands are creating something... stitch by stitch...

these are some fruits i knitted years ago for my niece...

she's now almost 6, and they're still loved and played with by her...

as well as her two sweet little sisters.

wanders...

2011-10-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

a tighter hold...

2011-10-24T00:00:00.001-07:00

i sat on the end of his bed while he laid there. he asked to hold my hand. we held hands. after a little while, i loosened my grip, just to see if he had fallen asleep yet. he wiggled his fingers, and his hand started to get restless. "that's enough, honey," i said, "it's time to sleep." "but why do you keep opening up your hand?" he asked. so i tightened my hold again. and i felt his body relax. he was at ease.

our family is in a period of adjustment. from a family of three to a family of four. the little boy who had all of our attention, now is learning to share not just some of it, but a lot of that attention with his little sister.

we're trying to be flexible. give him time, attention... the things we think he needs to get used to the changes.

but there are moments of struggle. meltdowns. tears.

there is a constant battle within me...

he needs us to be flexible... should i be flexible right now?

he's getting used to all of this... i need to understand where he's coming from.

he needs routine... should i stick to our "normal" routine?

my answer is no... is it a reasonable no, or does it really matter?

and when i say a constant battle... i mean constant. a dialogue in my head that is continually searching for the "right" answer. the one that will hopefully allow him to be well adjusted... understanding... not resentful...

and then we had a rough night. so many "no's"... so many tears... so many inner dialogues...

and i finally just sat at the end of his bed, after what seemed like hours of him trying to fall asleep, and just sat with him. and the story above followed. and this time they were my tears that flowed. and i realized that he was begging for that tighter hold. as much as i assumed he needed us to be understanding and flexible, what he needs even more, are the boundaries that for three years, he's relied on.

with those boundaries, he can know what to expect. how far he can go. with those boundaries, he can understand that even within our growing family, not everything has changed.

in reading this article the other day by janet lansbury, she refers to an analogy made by janet gonzalez-mena...

Imagine driving over a bridge in the dark. If the bridge has no railings we will drive across it slowly and tentatively. But if we see railings on either side of us, we can drive over the bridge with easy confidence. This is how a young child feels in regard to limits in his environment.

when i let go of his hand, even just a little bit, his little fingers don't know where to go.

yes, he needs our understanding. yes, he needs our attention. and yes, he desperately needs boundaries.

the constant inner battle i'm sure will remain. but i can at least feel confident in my decisions, and in my heart, that by holding just a little tighter, he can be at ease.

wanders...

2011-10-21T00:33:00.000-07:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

bat match...

2011-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

monster puppets...

2011-10-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

a few years back, my sister asked for some puppets...

i gathered some old wool sweaters, felted them, and chopped them up...

this is what came out of them...

i think i need to make some for leo...

quiet time...

2011-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

things will be a little quiet over here for the next few weeks...

we're all getting to know our little eleanor...

and loving every minute of this time together.

wanders...

2011-10-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

ghosts...

2011-10-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

a little halloween decoration...

one of my favorites to make...

cheesecloth ghosts!

gather the following...

some cheesecloth
white glue
water
some plates (that can get glue on them)
empty bottles
some oil (we used canola, but you can use whatever you have on hand)

brush some oil onto the bottles. this will help later on, when you're trying to pop the ghosts off. otherwise, they stick and can be really hard to pry off...

pour some water into a bowl, and add some glue. i've never really done an exact measurement, but i'm thinking it's almost 1:1. you just want some watered down glue...

mix it up...

cut the cheesecloth into manageable pieces. they should be big enough to fully drape over the bottles, with some extra at the ends. unless you want some shorter ghosts :) you can leave the cheesecloth in layers, or peel apart the layers... it all depends on how many times you want to dip, and how thick you want your ghosts...

dip the cheesecloth into the glue mixture...

squeeze out the excess liquid...

open up the wet cheesecloth as best you can...

and drape it over your bottle.

keep repeating for more layers or more ghosts...

or just for the messy factor...

let the ghosts sit for a day or two to fully dry...

then pop them off the bottles. they will most likely stick a little bit, but just wiggle and twist the bottle around... they'll eventually come off.

and then, hang them!

wanders...

2011-10-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

fall leaves game...

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

we don't get much fall foliage around here...

but we do what we can.

and have fun while we're doing it...

with some felt trees and leaves...

and some wooden blocks...

one painted with colors matching the leaves, the other with some dots and numbers (the smiley face means you can pick any color)...

we counted...

named colors...

identified and matched numbers...

and filled our trees with colorful leaves.

wanders (a little late...)

2011-10-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

spider match...

2011-09-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

a little bit of learning...

a little bit of fine motor...

a little bit of halloween...

and, of course, a little bit of fun.

a monster...

2011-09-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

it all started with this...

and a request for some "silver tape".

to make this, a monster tail...

but then, monsters need big feet, right?

and the look is complete...

monsters do need a snack, too...

wanders...

2011-09-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

inspired by amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

little parachute...

2011-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

start by gathering the following...

fabric scrap
yarn or embroidery thread
masking tape
hole puncher
something sharp to poke a hole with
small cup

cut the fabric into a square... i did a 7" x 7" square...

place a piece of tape at each corner, and fold it under so there's tape on both sides of the fabric...

punch a hole in each corner on the tape...

cut four equal lengths of string, about 12" long...

tie one string through each hole...

poke four holes, spaced evenly, along the top of the cup...

thread string through each hole of the cup...

tie each string, so they're as even as possible...

and you have a completed parachute!

now, climb a good set of stairs...

add a firefighter...

and let him drop!

repeat...

and keep repeating...

broken crayons...

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

to some people, little bits of crayons might be reason to throw them out.

but for little hands, they're better than full size.

they encourage grasping a writing utensil with a tripod grasp as opposed to some of the earlier stages, like a fist grasp...

with smaller crayons, there's no room for a whole fist, so a more compact grasp is necessary...

see the difference?

here's with a full size crayon...

or...

and here's with a small crayon...

so, rather than getting rid of all those little bits, get a bunch of crayons...

and start breaking...

go a step further, and use those fine motor skills to peel off all the paper...

so satisfying for little hands...

just find a good spot, and get in the zone.

dirt party...

2011-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

the little man loves dirt...

so, the birthday party... all about dirt.

we played with mud dough using the recipe from here (plus brown food coloring)...

(idea courtesy of fairy dust teaching)

we made seed necklaces...

(idea courtesy of shivaya naturals via playful learning)

built with mud bricks...

(idea courtesy of family fun)

for a take-home bag, had a dirt dig for treasures and filled our bags with them...

and for dessert, we dug into some delicious mud pies...

(idea courtesy of martha stewart)

happy 3rd birthday, little guy :)

backpacks...

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

two custom orders...

they're on their way!

three...

2011-09-12T00:06:00.000-07:00

three years ago...

this precious little boy came into our lives.

wanders...

2011-09-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

prepositions: rosie's walk...

2011-09-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

a sweet little book...

about a fox and a hen...

we made an obstacle course to correspond with the hen's travels...

past the mill...

around the pond...

under the beehives...

over the haystack...

through the gate...

a fun way to learn prepositions!

wanders...

2011-09-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

colors: parking cars...

2011-09-01T01:12:00.000-07:00

rain and rainbows...

2011-08-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

make a sidewalk rainbow...

then wash it away with some rain...

colors: building a rainbow...

2011-08-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

wanders...

2011-08-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

a little one...

2011-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

a new little one is on its way.

i can't believe it's all going to be happening so soon.

we plan on having this little new gift at home, just like leo. it's the best way for our family.

i absolutely love the process of having our babies at home. i don't know any other way at this point, but what i do know is that it was absolutely wonderful.

and that doesn't mean that it's for everyone.

but what is for everyone is the knowledge... of knowing all the options.

with each day, as parents, we do the best we can. to raise our children the best we know how. we look to others for support. we read about what we may not know.

and that shouldn't start once the baby arrives. it should start well before.

as much as i would love to share the experience of home births with so many moms... it's not about preaching about what everyone else should do... or that everyone should have a home birth. but it is, in a sense, about preaching that as a mom, or mom-to-be, that doing that research... is so important.

that day... the day those little babies arrive into our worlds... it changes our lives forever. and i truly believe that the way we have decided to birth leo and this new little one has started their lives in a way that is true to our beliefs as parents. and as a family. not because we spent that time in our home rather than in a hospital, but because we researched... we planned... we made our decisions with confidence...

we made a choice after looking into all of our options.

it starts then. even before then. it's intentional living... intentional birthing... intentional parenting.

just like i don't want leo to do what others tell him just because he's been told... i don't want to do that either. i'd rather him question... and i should question, too. i'd rather his curiosities soar, as mine should, too. i'd rather he figure out what answers make the best sense for him... not because someone gave him the answer, but because he took the time to explore and experiment. as i should too.

with that said, in just a few more weeks, a new little bundle will be joining our family. in the best way we know how.

a chalk road...

2011-08-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

prepositions: pasta necklaces...

2011-08-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

on...

through...

in...

after the playdoh...

2011-08-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

wanders...

2011-08-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

colorful drawings...

2011-08-18T00:21:00.000-07:00

the other day, we pulled out the folding tray table to make a little kitchen of sorts...

after we wiped the oven off, we continued to do some drawings.

we'd pick a color, and leo would name as many things as he could that were that color, and ask me to draw them.

or just do his own drawing...

then, he'd spray it...

wipe it down...

dry it...

and start all over again...

and again...

one day ends and another begins...

2011-08-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

it's amazing how when surrounded by a bad day, it seems like it's the only thing around.

especially with parenting.

there are days that leo is just packed with emotions. sensitivity. tears.

and then there are multiple days filled with that.

and it feels like it will never end. it starts to rub off on me. which, i guess, in essence, is a good sign of being connected with him. but that doesn't make it any easier.

and now, here we are... in some easy-going days. when, just a couple of days ago, i was racking my brain, trying to figure out what was going on. if leo was stressed. if he was sick. if i was being too impatient.

here we are... as if those days never even happened.

but they did. and they will. again and again. and they should. and they will pass.

they are a part of our lives. they make us who we are. they make leo who he is. they make me who i am. they teach me how to love. how to be patient.

because those are the days that i learn the most. when every parenting strategy i have and believe in gets tested. when i feel my frustration bubble up... when i need to take a break. when i feel my patience shorten... react instead of being present...

and then, most importantly, after it all, take time to reflect.

when i look back and see that it was just one day. or two days. or even a week. i can zoom out... and see that in the grand scheme of things... it's just a small ripple in a very large ocean.

summer snow...

2011-08-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

the other day, we decided to play with some water and bubbles...

we filled up some buckets with water, and added some dish soap...

used some fly swatters and other random things to play...

we started with some cooking... scrambled some eggs, made some juice...

eventually, it turned into a blizzard...

leo kept wanting to make snow... wanted to step in it...

we'd get a bunch of suds on the fly swatter...

and then wave it up and down as fast as we could...

while taking turns running through...

over and over and over again...

and that's how you make snow in the summer... in l.a. :)

wanders...

2011-08-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

little hands at work...

2011-08-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

start with some play doh...

grab some beans...

smush them in...

pull them out...

smush them in again...

into every last hole...

grab some more little objects...

make some prints...

roll...

knead...

pile...

flatten...

squish...

push...

pull...

pretend...

and just enjoy.

tray table kitchen...

2011-08-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

there's a lot of truck play in this house.

a LOT.

it's nice to create new ways to play with the toys that we have out all the time, but seem to get passed over for those beloved trucks.

i've been contemplating getting a little kitchen for leo. we really don't have much room for it, though. so instead, we created our own.

with our handy-dandy folding tray table (which i honestly think i need about three more of considering how much we use it), some dry erase markers, and a sheet of paper, this is what we created...

a little stove with an oven!

we gathered some random objects and some play food, and got cooking...

pinecone muffins in the oven...

some french toast on the stove...

we eventually needed a refrigerator for the story stones blueberries...

i got a pretty good serving of french toast, with a pile of syrup, and some blueberries sprinkled around.

not too bad for a fold away kitchen ;)

color scavenger hunt...

2011-08-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

we've been making it a point to take some nice, slow walks around the neighborhood lately. when we have nothing planned, we just head outside, and take it all in.

while we walk, we've often been doing a little something, as well. a few days ago, we drew pictures of things that make us happy as we walked. this time, we had a little scavenger hunt for colors.

gather just a few things...

some colored stickers (we used stars we found at the thrift store)
some matching colored paper (i cut it down into small, manageable pieces)
a stapler

and put them together to make a little booklet...

then head outside, take a leisurely walk, and see what you can find...

each time we saw something that was red, yellow, or blue, leo would take off a sticker and place it on the matching page.

when we got home, we talked about the things we saw, counted how many stars we used, and just felt refreshed from a sweet walk together.

it's a great activity for color recognition, fine motor skills (peeling the stickers), and getting some fresh air :)

wanders...

2011-08-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

creations...

2011-08-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

i made another dress...

for my sweet little niece...

i used two t-shirts... attached the cut pieces and shirred the top. added a pocket with a freezer paper stencil, and some liz scott fabric scraps for the straps...

and here are my cute little nieces... just precious. lots of hugs to you both... and your little sister :)

ball maze...

2011-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

we've had two large cardboard tubes sitting around the house from some oilcloth i purchased a few months ago...

they've gone from room to room, inside and outside... serving as tunnels, ramps, amplifiers...

i started wondering what else we can do with them.

leo was a little concerned at first, since he wasn't quite sure he wanted to cut it up. but once reassured we still had one left that wouldn't be cut, he was intrigued.

we gathered some materials... (i think i went a little overboard with the saw... a utility knife worked just fine. better, even.)

cut the long tube into smaller sections...

and then cut those sections in half...

then hot glued them onto a large piece of cardboard.

we gathered random things we thought might roll... (i had a pretty good suspicion that one of the things in that bucket wouldn't roll, but leo just wanted to make sure...)

climbed up onto the stepstool, and tried it out!

in the end, the ping pong balls and the wooden balls worked out the best...

some larger things needed to be pushed along...

once leo added the tunnels, the ping pong balls were the only ones to make it through.

a great activity for shape identification, predictions (will it or won't it roll?), gross motor (we eventually tried to throw the ping pong balls onto the ramps from a distance), and just some general fun!

rainbow clothespins...

2011-08-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

i got these at the dollar store awhile back... thinking they could be used for some fun activity...

we pulled some out the other day, and played a color matching game...

simply grab a bunch of clothespins (you could even just paint some wooden ones various colors... a much eco-friendlier way to go than the plastic ones!)...

and search throughout the house for matching colors!

a great activity for color identification and fine motor skills!

wanders...

2011-07-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

silly little wig...

2011-07-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

something fun to dress up with...

and so simple to make...

grab an old t-shirt...

cut a large oval around the neck...

then cut strips all around...

and it's a wig!

pictures for our day...

2011-07-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

to help leo along his day...

and me, as well...

we created some pictures.

a little schedule of sorts... a flexible one, for sure... but one to give us both an idea of what our day will bring.

something that will give leo the comfort of knowing what he can expect. and give me the comfort of knowing when it's time to stop working... or tidying... and take some time with him. or vice versa.

we gathered some sticks...

which my husband cut into disks...

added a layer of mod podge (so they weren't so absorbent when i used the paint markers on them)...

and then added pictures.

for eating, running errands, playing, time together, reading, time outside...

and placed them on the windowsill in leo's play area, describing our day, for us both to see.

wanders...

2011-07-22T00:23:00.000-07:00

filling our hearts...

2011-07-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

i've been searching for ways to teach leo about doing things just for the goodness of doing them...

sharing just because it makes someone feel good...

helping because it's a nice thing to do...

listening because it is polite and kind...

not because you want something in return. just because it's good.

but how do you teach something that is so internal? how can i tell his little body, his little heart, how to feel?

so, today, we drew a nice, big heart on our chalkboard...

and we talked about how some things can just fill up our hearts. make us feel good inside. and make others feel good, too.

and throughout the day, we added to it.

we also talked about what can make our hearts feel empty... what can make us feel sad. and others sad, as well.

i know leo is young, and his actions are all so true. so honest. and i never want him to change that. but i do want him to start to understand that his actions and words can affect the way he feels. and the way others feel.

by the end of the day... our big heart was full.

just like any other day, we had ups and downs. some smiles, some tears.

but it was nice to see this full heart at the end of it all.

reminding us how many things can truly fill our hearts. and how good that can make us all feel.

a happy little walk...

2011-07-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

i've wanted to make more of an effort to have some days that we just meander...

spend time in the backyard...

sit in the grass...

read some books...

go for a nice walk.

so often, it seems like our days get filled. with outings. with work. with appointments.

we've finally gotten to a point where we have less to do. it's funny that i feel like the only way to have some lazier days is to actually plan for them.

today, we had nothing to do. so, when we finally got around to it, we went for a nice walk. i thought we'd just stroll, but leo wanted to go to the library, so that's where we headed.

i put a couple pieces of chalk in a pouch and brought it along. while we walked, leo and i started to talk about all the things that make us happy. we'd stop along the way, and draw some pictures of the things we'd talk about...

a fire truck... with a firefighter...

trees... and a green bush...

a few of his friends...

some grapes...

which we then sat down to eat :)

it was a nice, leisurely walk.

what's funny, is that the next couple of hours were not so nice. i was tired... and therefore, a little less patient than usual. and leo was grumpy... and filled with strong emotions...

during the walk back home, i was anxious to get back. i just wanted to take a nap. we both needed it. badly.

meanwhile, while my frustration was bubbling...

i'd stumble on those pictures.

and as much as i wanted to wallow in my grumps, it was hard when every few blocks, i'd see another picture...

of the simple things that make us happy.

creations...

2011-07-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

just a couple of gifts...

for a fan of airplanes, a freezer paper stenciled shirt...

for my newest niece, a shirt with some fabric scraps from liz scott...

and a couple of onesies.

have a happy tuesday!

a fishing game...

2011-07-18T00:14:00.000-07:00

what a beautiful day we had. the weather was nice... the children played...

we learned about shapes... as we went fishing!

here's what you'll need:

sticks
yarn
magnets
hot glue gun
sheet of thin plastic
large paper clips
hole puncher

when i've made fishing games for the classroom, i've always used paper.... we would just spread the fish on the ground instead of putting them in water. but, after seeing this post on mini-eco, the idea of using plastic made fishing in water possible! brilliant!

start by cutting some lengths of yarn... about 2' long. hot glue a little magnet at the end of each piece.

take the other end of the yarn, and hot glue it to the end of a stick...

and you've got a fishing rod!

then, make a fish template. use that to trace as many fish onto the plastic as you'd like. (if you're not planning on using the fish in water, just trace them onto paper.) cut them out.

i normally would just clip on the paper clips, right onto the front of the fish, but saw this other cute upgrade on mini-eco... punch a hole at the front of the fish, and slip the paper clip into the hole. it makes for a much cuter, fish-on-a-hook look!

be sure to use the large paper clips if using plastic fish... with the extra weight of the plastic (as opposed to paper), they need the bigger paper clips to work with the magnets.

now, you can get a little creative... depending on the age of the child, add a little something onto your fish. we went with various shapes to work on shape identification. in the classroom, i've done numbers, dots for counting, different colors, or even random questions that the children would have to ask each other ("what's your favorite color?" "how many eyes do you have?", etc.) i love the idea of doing questions, because it brings a social element to it!

once we were all set with our fishing rods and fish, we brought them outside, and drew some large shapes on the sidewalk.

we dumped the fish in a bucket of water...

and as the kiddos caught their fish...

they'd find the matching shape on the sidewalk and place their catch in it!

happy fishing...

wanders...

2011-07-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

inspired by wordless wednesdays (which i don't know the original source, but see them all over the place!)... amanda blake soule's {this moment}s...

i though i'd try something similar. i just can't seem to narrow things down to one picture, so, it's going to be our week's wanders. things that might not have been blogged about, but things that have made our week our week...

so, here we go...

reasons for routine...

2011-07-13T00:47:00.000-07:00

i often waver between the need for routine and the need for... not routine?

between structured days and unstructured days... for leo and for me....

and have realized that it just takes balance. a little bit of both.

but, lately, my need for routine has become more in favor. and here are some reasons why...

toddlers just can't tell time...
this has become my most important reason for routine. we, as adults, have the luxury of looking at the clock and knowing, "it's time for nap," "it's time for lunch," "we have an appointment in half an hour, so we need to clean up now to get there on time..." but our kiddos don't have that luxury. what they are doing RIGHT NOW is all that matters. each event in their day sort of runs their clocks. so, for them, a routine is their time table. if we do the same routine for naptime, there's no surprise when it's time to lay down. on the other hand, if leo's in the middle of playing, i look at the clock, and it's 12:30... time for nap... and i just announce "okay it's nap time"... i don't think anyone would handle that too well. so, by creating a routine for the different elements of our day, things go much more smoothly. once lunch hits the table, the rest of the steps just follow with ease.

it takes away the guilt...
i have issues with guilt. it's true. with everything. i almost always feel guilty about something. i know, i need to get over it. but it is what it is. how does that have anything to do with routines? well... if i create a routine for our day... some sort of schedule... then i know there's a time for each thing i should be doing. if i know that after breakfast everyday, leo and i spend some time together reading books, then i don't have that gnawing feeling of "do i read enough to him?!?!" if i know that each day, for an hour, i set aside for some housework, all the other hours of the day i'm not staring at the dishes, thinking "i should really get to those dishes..."

it gives me a sense of accomplishment...
for the same reasons as the guilt, if i know that each day, there is time set aside for housework... a new activity with leo... some reading... some crafting... whatever it might be... at the end of the day i can look back at what i've done and feel a sense of accomplishment. rather than feeling scattered, and seeing all the things that haven't been done, i know that there is a good deal that has.

it brings comfort...
not knowing what comes next can be stressful. for anyone. this sort of relates to the time reason above. if leo knows what to expect, what's coming next, it brings a sense of comfort. at night, when leo's asleep, just about every night, my husband and i sit on the couch, veg out for a little bit, and, most importantly, have a dessert. and i really look forward to that time. if it doesn't happen, sure, i get over it, but there's a little sense of disappointment... and even more anticipation for the next night. i can imagine that leo takes comfort, too, in knowing what is going to happen, and when it's going to happen.

don't get me wrong... it's impossible to create routine and structure for every element of life. and probably not healthy, even, to do so. i love the days that we just pick up and go somewhere. make new discoveries. and there are days that we just can't follow our routine... doctor's appointments, visitors... whatever it might be. and those are the instances that we all must be flexible... in our day, in our emotions, and in our time table.

but i have to say... once we settle back in... and get into our family groove... it feels nice. really nice.

a patchwork dress...

2011-07-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

well... a new computer has been purchased. the old one has officially died. with a good amount of pictures on it. *sigh*

so, there would have been more pictures for this post (of the process), but now there's not :(

to be honest, as i'm not the best at tutorials, i'm not even sure all those other pictures would have made much of a difference :)

but...

here's what i made...

a patchwork dress for my niece!

made from some fabric scraps from liz scott, and some old t-shirts.

i pretty much just laid the pieces out, pieced them together, and serged them to each other.

then shirred the top...

and added that last gray strip down the back to connect one end to the other (mostly because i needed to make the top a little wider around), and then added the straps (and some loops for them to cross in the back).

for the ruffle at the bottom, i actually just did one row of shirring... i thought that would be quicker than doing a basting stitch and pulling it and all that...

fingers crossed that it fits!

some hammering...

2011-07-08T00:29:00.000-07:00

well, the days continue to be a bit of a struggle over here.

but we carry on :)

and we do some hammering...

start with these supplies:

block of floral foam
enough fabric to cover the foam (try to use something with a little give, not too tightly woven)
glue gun
some nails
toy tools (or real ones... whatever you're most comfortable with ;) )

wrap the floral foam with the fabric, just like you would a present. use some hot glue in spots to keep it on. the fabric i used was just a little too tightly woven, which later led me to give some help with the nails getting started.

poke some nails through...

and get hammering!

or use your fingers...

some magnets from another project crept in at some point...

it's a great activity for...

fine motor skills (hammering, using fingers...)
tactile exposure (exploring the hardness of the nails, the squishy-ness of the foam...)
mathematics (counting the nails, talking about the various sizes...)

and, of course...

relieving frustration ;)

happy hammering!

everyday labyrinth...

2011-07-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

i had a tough day yesterday.

a really tough day.

and then i had a dream last night. i dreamed that someone told me what direction to go in in a huge forest. if i got to a big, green lake, i went the wrong way. i walked and walked, through trees and fields, and eventually, there it was. a big green lake. i went the wrong way. but when i looked out over that big overlook... there was an absolutely breathtaking lake. emerald green... waterfalls... moss... absolutely gorgeous.

it reminded me of a labyrinth i walked several years ago.

at the time, i was going through one of the hardest times of my life. i was trying to get pregnant. and it wasn't working. we had many obstacles. we had many sad days. many. sad. days. it felt like it would never end. to this day, just thinking of that time brings tears to my eyes.

we went away to a bed and breakfast for a weekend. outside, there was a labrynth. i've walked them before, but this time was different. never before had it taken on the meaning like it did that day.

you typically ask a question, or make an intention, before walking in. i asked "when will i get pregnant?" and i took my first step in. as i followed the path, i immediately started straight towards the center... the "destination"... where i would come to an answer. and just as it seemed i was getting there, the path made a sharp turn. completely away from that center. twists and turns followed. bringing me further and further away from that center.

and i started to understand something. something new. i was learning.

this path... there was only one way to go. it would eventually lead me to that center. no matter how many twists and turns i took, no matter how far away from the center i was, if i kept walking, i would get to the center... to my destination. if i just... kept... walking.

i would get close, then far again. walk straight towards the middle, just to learn that i would skirt the center without making it in. i would be brought all the way out to the outer edge again, before, finally, with tears streaming down my face, i slowly stepped in that center.

i made it.

it wasn't the path i would've chosen, had i been the one to make the path. i wouldn't have even thought of going so astray just to get to my center. but i got there. one step at a time. i didn't find the answer in that center, i found it along the way.

had my life taken me in any other direction, we wouldn't have the little boy that we have today.

we have bad days. we have good days. but they all follow along a path. we get close to our goals, and we get brought far, far away. but along the way, we see things we may have never otherwise seen.

i will look around. i will learn from my days. no matter how hard they are.

it's my everyday labyrinth.

hot water bottle...

2011-07-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

a few months ago, my sister had her third child...

an adorable, smushy, chunk-a-licious, little girl named serene.

i met her for the first time a couple of weeks ago. she's quite yummy.

prior to her arrival, i made my sister a hot water bottle cover. i can't, for the life of me, remember what the reasoning behind it was... but i think it was something to help with her pregnancy. aches and pains? i don't know. seems like my pregnancy brain just won't let me remember.

i do remember, though, when leo was just a few months old... he would have such tummy pain... and would be so sad about it. brian or i would hold him, with a hot water bottle in between us so it would press against his little belly... and he would be asleep in minutes.

so, even if i can't recall why the cover was made... it can be helpful now that baby serene is here :)

i started by tracing the shape of the hot water bottle onto a piece of paper. i then scrapped together some random pieces of old sweaters. most of them had been felted in the wash, so they were pretty sturdy. and used a nice, big chunk of cashmere i had for one side... so it's nice and soft.

i then used some more scraps to make a design on the front. i serged it all togeher, without doing any sewing. i used a sleeve cuff for the opening to give it some extra give when putting the water bottle inside.

and that was that! a cute little hot water bottle for the mama to be of three :)

story stones...

2011-06-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

a few weeks ago, i came across this wonderful idea on a great website, red bird crafts. they're story stones, to go along with a cute mouse story. click on over to see how she made them! i love the fact that she uses fabrics for the pictures... they're really adorable!

since i saw them, they've been sticking in my brain...

and i knew i had to make them!

it's been kind of an ongoing project. i've seen story blocks before, but i just love her idea of using stones instead. it involves such a nice process... both in and out of the home. it's not just about the end result, but all of the steps along the way. i'm realizing the more and more leo and i do projects like these together, the more valuable the creations become. and the actual process is even more precious.

we had a good excuse to head to the beach...

and collect a nice bunch of stones... talking about the sizes, the shapes, the colors...

we took them home, and gave them a good scrubbing (leo can always find a good reason to use a spray bottle)...

and were left with this lovely pile of stones.

i started by trying to recreate the fabric made pictures, like on red bird crafts, but then switched over to using paint markers. once i got drawing, it became a nice hour or so of quiet time, with nothing to think about... while my wonderful husband made dinner. with a bunch of good ideas from leo for pictures, this is what we finished with...

a great pile of story stones. i love them!

at a little over 2 1/2, leo is not quite at an age where he is creating stories on his own, so these stones are such a wonderful prompt for him. we'll sit, grab some stones, and take turns building stories together... it is just so wonderful to hear the ideas he puts into words.

he is so enthralled with these... and the possibilities are endless...

thank you, emily, at red bird crafts, for such a wonderful dose of inspiration!

story thoughts...

2011-06-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

the other night, i was reading where the wild things are with leo.

he laid there, so engrossed in the story.

making his comments here and there, asking questions, pointing things out.

and all of a sudden something dawned on me. it might be obvious, but i've never really thought about it before. or at least to the degree i did that night.

all he can do is see the pictures and hear the words.

he can't read the words. he can only take in what i say out loud and what his eyes grab from the pictures.

he's not seeing the same words, as i do, each time we read the book. he's listening. to what i say. how i say it. how it relates to the pictures he sees. to the images that lay on the pages.

and it made me actually tell the story. instead of just read the book.

it made me imagine what the words were conveying. it made me imagine what this experience was like for leo. how my words could actually change the pictures. how my pauses... my inflections... my dedication... could all bring to life what he was looking at.

it made me put the words aside. and engross myself, and leo, in a wonderful dose of imagination.

i think it very well might have changed the way i read books to him forever. and i'm so excited.

sidewalk fireworks...

2011-06-28T00:28:00.000-07:00

with the beautiful weather we've been having the past couple of days, i just couldn't pass up an opportunity to be outside...

after a nice nap for all, we gathered some supplies, and headed to the backyard for some fireworks...

sidewalk chalk paint fireworks!

i recently tried making some sidewalk chalk paint after seeing the recipes on a couple of sites... check them out on ohdeedoh and kiddio... and fell in love! with just the right mixture, it's such a neat activity to do outside... vibrant, messy, easy to clean up, and oh, so satisfying to paint with (i think more for me than leo).

with all the talk of fireworks coming up, we decided to mix some up again, and combine it with an activity i used to do in the classroom each year (in the classroom, we'd use regular paint, and do it on paper instead of on the sidewalk).

here's what you need...

corn starch
water
liquid food coloring
old socks
bowls
something to fill the socks with like rice, beans, gravel
a spoon

start by making the paint...

add equal parts of water to cornstarch... and then add a little extra water. all the recipes have called for equal parts when using it to paint with, but for this activity, it needs to be a little extra watery for the splash effect. we used two tablespoons of cornstarch and added roughly three tablespoons of water.

mix it up until all the cornstarch is dissolved...

add about two drops of food coloring to each bowl and mix it up...

your paint is ready!

then, grab the old socks, and fill them with a few scoops of filling. i often struggle with using food products in projects, so i decided to use some extra fish gravel we had, which could just be washed off and reused when we were finished.

(of course, ask the fish first if it's okay).

you can use your hands... a spoon... whatever you want...

once you've got a good ball of filling at the bottom, tie off the top of the socks.

then grab all your supplies and head to your nearest sidewalk...

climb up onto a sturdy chair or step stool (with supervision, of course)...

dip a sock into some paint...

hold it up nice and high, and let it go! when it hits the ground, it should make a nice SPLAT!, and create some great looking sidewalk fireworks! (leo gave his a little spin before the drop... which made some cool drips and smaller fireworks).

repeat, repeat, and repeat for more!

after awhile, we started using the spoon, as well. and then, just poured the rest of the paint on the sidewalk :)

this activity is full of great skills...

fine motor skills... filling the socks, mixing the paint

gross motor skills... climbing up and down the chair or step stool (you can even work on two-footed jumps off the stool)
color identification

sensory exposure... exploring the rice or gravel, the cornstarch/water mixture, even playing with the paint once it dries

when we were finished, we still had so much more to do. i love including leo in the cleaning process, especially when it doesn't even seem like cleaning.

we hosed down the side walk...

we dumped all the rocks into the bowls (and carefully picked out all the ones that were stuck!)...

rinsed them off...

and rinsed out the socks.

at the end of the day, we had a nice little patch of fireworks, and everything all cleaned up. except for our soggy pant legs :)

enjoy your fireworks!!!

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