Submitted by Lori, alfabette zoope
5 years ago
Featured Artisan: Anna of Lilia Designs/Go with the Flo
Go With The Flo cloth menstrual pads and products are designed for women who
care for themselves and the earth. Our mission is to eliminate the dread of
"that time of the month" by providing simply divine organic pads! We, a small
group of moms on Maui, have been making Go With The Flo pads since January of
2008, and I have kept Robin's original 2005 design unchanged.
care for themselves and the earth. Our mission is to eliminate the dread of
"that time of the month" by providing simply divine organic pads! We, a small
group of moms on Maui, have been making Go With The Flo pads since January of
2008, and I have kept Robin's original 2005 design unchanged.
What is your favorite style of dying?
As far as end results go, my favorite is the swirly dye technique using shaving
cream, but considering the work involved with the various styles I do, my
favorite is LWI (low water immersion)on scrunched up fabric in a baggie. It's
much faster than other methods and turns out with many unexpected variations
that are usually stunning!
How did you get your start as a wahm?
I started my WAHM business in 2003 with a cloth diaper line I developed out of
necessity. When I dove into the world of cloth diapering with my firstborn,
everything leaked on me just as badly as the disposables. Granted, I did not
have access to some of the awesome WAHM diapers out there. So, I made my own! In the beginning, it was just a hobby
business, trying to recoup my supply costs for the diapers my daughter wore, but
as word of mouth spread on the island, I decided to set up a website and sell
online, too. In January 2008, I took over cloth pad production for Robin's Go
With The Flo. Shortly thereafter, I purchased the business from her and added Go
With The Flo pads to my own business, Lilia Designs.
How long have you been sewing?
I used to make Barbie clothes out of my mom's
scraps and old clothing when I was pretty young. LOL! But seriously sewing? My
good friend taught me how to serge in 2002, and I taught myself to also sew well
that year.
What was your first sewing project ever?
That would be curtains. Doesn't every seamstress start with curtains? I don't
know why, actually. Curtains can be quite challenging! My first curtain project
turned out pretty well, however, I have to admit my first diaper and my first
baby dress are laughable. I saved the dress to remind myself of my beginnings,
but that first diaper had to go. Since then, I have drastically improved, and
one of my pads is featured in a wonderful cloth pad article in the current issue
of Mothering magazine!
What are your inspirations for colorways?
My inspiration comes from the brilliant scenery around my island. 'Emerald Isle'
captures the richness of the rainforest...'Tropical Reef', the myriad of bright
fish against subtle coral...'Sunset' is the closest I have ever come to
capturing the brilliance of the Maui sunsets.
What is your favorite fabric to work with?
There are so my fabrics that I love! It is much easier for me to say which ones
I dislike. Among my top picks for fabric are organic bamboo velour, fleeces and organic knits.
Do you have a funny customer story?
My best customer story is actually from a tester! When I was first learning to
dye, I sent out these organic bamboo velour fitteds dyed in lovely bright colors
to test a new pattern. I had dyed the soakers in coordinating bright colors. I
was apalled to receive a picture of a sweet baby sporting a bright blue bum! The
dye had not been fixed well, and it bled onto her skin when it got damp! I was
horrified. Thankfully, my tester was laughing about the whole situation and was
not worried about it. Don't worry, since then I have not had this problem. lol!
Now ... on to the giveaway!
Tell us you became a fan or are following us on Twitter by posting to this blog post, and get a chance to win a 9" Standard Mini pad in your choice of available colors! This giveaway is open to USA, Canada including shipping. If a winner is chosen from another country, we'll work out the shipping difference. :)
http://www.facebook.com/LiliaDesigns
http://twitter.com/liliadesigns
Tutorial Tuesday ~ Rain painting
Rain, rain, DON'T go away! Take advantage of the rainy month of April with this fun art activity!
Rain painting
Let those April showers do your painting for you! Drop small amounts of paint onto a large sheet of fingerpaint paper or freezer paper. Place the paper outside in a gentle rain and watch as the raindrops ht the paint, splattering it. Watch the water droplets pooling then dispersing, taking the colors with them. Bring your paper inside to dry. Don't leave it out too long or all of the paint will be washed away!
from Earth*School "April Showers Bring May Flowers"
copyright 2004-2010, Earth*School
submitted by Earth*School
Humorous Friday
"Out of the mouth of babes" come the most profound and most hilarious and sometimes embarrassing things. One mother made sure she was covered from day one...
Maybe there should be a T-shirt with this stated on it!On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher
a note from his mother. The note read, 'The opinions expressed by this child
are not necessarily those of his parents.'
What is Family Cloth?
Family Cloth is the replacing of traditional toilet paper with cloth alternatives.
What?!?
Yep, instead of using up a roll of toilet paper a day (like is possible in our household of eight), you can wipe with cloth.
Why on Earth would I use cloth?
* It's reusable.
* It's comfy and doesn't leave annoying lint.
* It stands up to serious wiping!
* You can use it wet or dry.
* It saves trees.
* It's purty!
(wipes set by Holden's Landing)
Here's how it works in my family. It's not a topic most people are willing to discuss, but here goes.
I'm honestly the only one in my family that is willing to use cloth full time. My husband is not willing, and for what he uses toilet paper for, I'm fine with that! My kids will use cloth if I remind them, or if we're out of paper. And I'm a little worried they will forget and flush it. Been there, done that.
Here are the not-so-gory details:
We keep our cloth diaper pail in the bathroom. I use cloth wipes on my baby, so it wasn't a huge stretch for me to switch to family cloth. I keep a basket of cheap terry baby washcloths (most of which I found on clearance at Target!) on the bathroom counter. I use mine dry, and then just throw it in the pail. Some people will use a special container, an old ice cream bucket with a lid, a hanging wetbag, etc. There are many options.
(Yes, this is my actual diaper pail!)
One concern is the smell. To be honest, it's not terribly noticeable. If you wash them every other day or so, there's not much time for an odor to form. If you keep them in a lidded container, or a zippered wetbag, there should be no smell at all, if washed often enough.
(wetbag by Sweet Slings, LLC)
How do you to wash them? If you don't use cloth diapers but are interested in family cloth, you can just toss them into the washer from whatever container you are using, wash them with a load of towels on hot, and you are done! If you do use cloth diapers, it's easy to just dump them in with the diapers and wash together. You can be very discreet, by keeping them in a pretty basket on the back of the toilet, or under the sink. For a wet wipe option, you can keep a squirt bottle of plain water next to the toilet, as well, and you are ready to go.
(Here's my set-up -- easy peasy)
If you are concerned about the environment, there's really not much more impact in using cloth that in just washing your regular laundry. Say you use 10 wipes a day for a week, that's still less than a load of laundry, and you would likely throw them in with other laundry every other day or so, anyway. As for money savings, we go through a good 6-7 rolls of tp a week (at $1 a roll, that adds up) and now we are down to 4 or so. I hope to keep chipping away at my family's reserve to use cloth more, because that's $2-3 dollars a week we are saving so far, which equals over a hundred dollars a year! If we switched over entirely, we could save literally $350 a year just in toilet paper that will be flushed into our sewers, anyway.
There are so many cloth alternatives, too! Flannel, Terry, and Organic bamboo velour are popular choices, but you can use any absorbent cloth. 100% cotton is good, and washes very nicely. Flannel is great and is cheap, and once it's been cut and washed a few times, it doesn't unravel too much. You could easily serge or sew two peices together for extra strength. My wipes are a mixture of terry baby cloths, flannel and OBV. Very comfy and soft, and pretty in my little basket!
For a quick and easy baby cloth wipes solution recipe (that also works great for the rest of us) you can use:
1 1/2 cups of water
mix in a squirt of baby shampoo
a drop or two of your favorite essential oil (I use tea tree oil)
pour over a pile of folded wipes in a wipes container. I use an old plastic one I got with some disposable wipes, and it's the perfect size for a stack of the terry or flannel cloths folded in half.
We have noticed a big drop in toilet paper usage since I've been using cloth. I have used fewer disposable baby wipes, as well, and I feel very good about that. Even if I'm the only one in my family that makes the choice to use cloth, every little bit helps!
contributed by Shannon of Gillyweeds
What?!?
Yep, instead of using up a roll of toilet paper a day (like is possible in our household of eight), you can wipe with cloth.
Why on Earth would I use cloth?
* It's reusable.
* It's comfy and doesn't leave annoying lint.
* It stands up to serious wiping!
* You can use it wet or dry.
* It saves trees.
* It's purty!
(wipes set by Holden's Landing)
Here's how it works in my family. It's not a topic most people are willing to discuss, but here goes.
I'm honestly the only one in my family that is willing to use cloth full time. My husband is not willing, and for what he uses toilet paper for, I'm fine with that! My kids will use cloth if I remind them, or if we're out of paper. And I'm a little worried they will forget and flush it. Been there, done that.
Here are the not-so-gory details:
We keep our cloth diaper pail in the bathroom. I use cloth wipes on my baby, so it wasn't a huge stretch for me to switch to family cloth. I keep a basket of cheap terry baby washcloths (most of which I found on clearance at Target!) on the bathroom counter. I use mine dry, and then just throw it in the pail. Some people will use a special container, an old ice cream bucket with a lid, a hanging wetbag, etc. There are many options.
(Yes, this is my actual diaper pail!)
One concern is the smell. To be honest, it's not terribly noticeable. If you wash them every other day or so, there's not much time for an odor to form. If you keep them in a lidded container, or a zippered wetbag, there should be no smell at all, if washed often enough.
(wetbag by Sweet Slings, LLC)
How do you to wash them? If you don't use cloth diapers but are interested in family cloth, you can just toss them into the washer from whatever container you are using, wash them with a load of towels on hot, and you are done! If you do use cloth diapers, it's easy to just dump them in with the diapers and wash together. You can be very discreet, by keeping them in a pretty basket on the back of the toilet, or under the sink. For a wet wipe option, you can keep a squirt bottle of plain water next to the toilet, as well, and you are ready to go.
(Here's my set-up -- easy peasy)
If you are concerned about the environment, there's really not much more impact in using cloth that in just washing your regular laundry. Say you use 10 wipes a day for a week, that's still less than a load of laundry, and you would likely throw them in with other laundry every other day or so, anyway. As for money savings, we go through a good 6-7 rolls of tp a week (at $1 a roll, that adds up) and now we are down to 4 or so. I hope to keep chipping away at my family's reserve to use cloth more, because that's $2-3 dollars a week we are saving so far, which equals over a hundred dollars a year! If we switched over entirely, we could save literally $350 a year just in toilet paper that will be flushed into our sewers, anyway.
There are so many cloth alternatives, too! Flannel, Terry, and Organic bamboo velour are popular choices, but you can use any absorbent cloth. 100% cotton is good, and washes very nicely. Flannel is great and is cheap, and once it's been cut and washed a few times, it doesn't unravel too much. You could easily serge or sew two peices together for extra strength. My wipes are a mixture of terry baby cloths, flannel and OBV. Very comfy and soft, and pretty in my little basket!
For a quick and easy baby cloth wipes solution recipe (that also works great for the rest of us) you can use:
1 1/2 cups of water
mix in a squirt of baby shampoo
a drop or two of your favorite essential oil (I use tea tree oil)
pour over a pile of folded wipes in a wipes container. I use an old plastic one I got with some disposable wipes, and it's the perfect size for a stack of the terry or flannel cloths folded in half.
We have noticed a big drop in toilet paper usage since I've been using cloth. I have used fewer disposable baby wipes, as well, and I feel very good about that. Even if I'm the only one in my family that makes the choice to use cloth, every little bit helps!
contributed by Shannon of Gillyweeds
The winner of Relic Soap Company's giveaway is...
Congratulations to Katherine! You won Relic Soap Company's soap and soap dish combo! Karen will contact you shortly. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Tutorial Tuesday ~ An Easy Crowd Pleaser: Mock Lasagna
Mock Lasagna
2 C uncooked elbow macaroni or rotini
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce, condensed tomato soup, or pasta sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder (I always throw in extra garlic)
1/2 C milk
1 egg
1/4-1/2 lb shredded/grated mozzarella or cheddar cheese
Prepare pasta according to package directions, and drain. Brown ground beef and onion, drain fat, add tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp salt, and seasonings. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Beat egg, milk and remaining salt together, blend into macaroni, and spread in greased casserole dish. Cover with meat mixture and top with cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before cutting. Serves 6.
submitted by Lori, alfabette zoope
Featured Artisan: Joyful Earth
Joyful Earth is known for her wonderful selection of beautifully artistic, yet perfectly useful unpaper products. Let's meet Robin, the artisan behind Joyful Earth!
My goal with Joyful Earth is to create sustainable, functional, fun and unique items for your home. From kitchen cloths, to baby and child items, to reusable snack bags, to tea accessories and more. I hope to help my customers find joy in the everyday items used in their homes, while ensuring ecological responsibility in my creations.
How has your business evolved since you first started selling? (What got you started as a WAHM?/How long have you been in business)
I first started selling in 2005 under the name Tush Cloth Diapers. I loved being a diaper sewing WAHM but after my youngest child potty learned, I started to lose interest in diaper making and selling. In the summer of 2009, I took a break from Tush to delve into other reusable products for the home. Joyful Earth was met with immediate enthusiasm from my customer base and I've been growing and evolving the Joyful Earth line of products since then. In fall of 2009, Tush closed permanently as I decided to focus my energy on growing Joyful Earth.
What is your favorite product to make?
My favorite products to make are the Tea on the Go sets. Inspired by an idea Lisa, of Healing Pixie gave me - I created this product to allow the loose tea lover to have their favorite teas on hand wherever they went. I love shopping for fabrics, mixing fabrics and creating unique pieces for my customers.
You make a lot of green products - what has been your journey into being green?
I've always been green. I remember way back in high school sitting in a room filled with bags and bags of paper to be sorted and recycled. A group of friends and I had started a "green club" in our school (this was back in 1990 before being green was fashionable) and we took on the massive task of recycling the waste paper in our high school. The paper had to be sorted into colour and white paper, and we'd spend hours chatting and sorting. I'm not sure we ever got through all of the sorting, but the memories are still with me today.
When I had babies, it was natural that I decided to cloth diaper them. We had a disastrous time cloth diapering our eldest because I had not yet discovered the online cloth diapering community. When we had our second, I discovered Hyena Cart and soon after began sewing diapers for my daughter and eventually for sale. The rest is history so to speak.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day involves a lot of balance! We wake up at about 6am and I brew that essential pot of coffee. As the kids play or watch tv, I check in on my email, facebook and browse the online forums I belong to. Then we eat breakfast and I madly rush to get the eldest two out the door. On a good day, the youngest naps while the middle child is in preschool. I use this time to package orders and do a bit of sewing. Close to lunch we head out to the school to pick up the middle child and then back home for lunch and a bit of housework. My partner comes home at 1:00 and I get busy sewing for the rest of the afternoon. Generally, my husband will do most of the supper prep as I finish up photos and listings. I also have an out of the home job that I go to 2 days per week. Saturday and Sunday are a mix of activities, working out and sewing. It sounds like I am very busy, but really its a nice relaxed routine that we all enjoy!
What inspires you?
I wish I could say that I am inspired by nature or something more artistic, but it's just every day life that inspires me. The idea for Joyful Earth came while I was shopping for groceries and yet again forgot to bring my reusable grocery bags. I felt that if I had something beautiful and functional, I'd be more inclined to remember to bring them.
What is your most favorite thing you've ever made?
Its really hard to narrow this down to just ONE thing. I've created some amazing dye work for diapers and unpaper products and some of tea wallets I've made have been really difficult to part with. If I were to narrow this down to one piece, it would likely have to be the Heather Ross Mendocino mermaids shower curtain hanging in my bathroom! So rarely do I find time to create things for our home, I am especially proud of this piece.
Thank you, Robin, for sharing your world with us!
Stock up on Joyful Earth's unpaper products for your home at
http://joyfulearth.etsy.com
http://joyfulearth.ca
and be sure to join the Joyful Earth fanpage for a change to win a custom mini tea on the go set - you pick fabrics! http://facebook.com/joyfulearth
My goal with Joyful Earth is to create sustainable, functional, fun and unique items for your home. From kitchen cloths, to baby and child items, to reusable snack bags, to tea accessories and more. I hope to help my customers find joy in the everyday items used in their homes, while ensuring ecological responsibility in my creations.
How has your business evolved since you first started selling? (What got you started as a WAHM?/How long have you been in business)
I first started selling in 2005 under the name Tush Cloth Diapers. I loved being a diaper sewing WAHM but after my youngest child potty learned, I started to lose interest in diaper making and selling. In the summer of 2009, I took a break from Tush to delve into other reusable products for the home. Joyful Earth was met with immediate enthusiasm from my customer base and I've been growing and evolving the Joyful Earth line of products since then. In fall of 2009, Tush closed permanently as I decided to focus my energy on growing Joyful Earth.
My favorite products to make are the Tea on the Go sets. Inspired by an idea Lisa, of Healing Pixie gave me - I created this product to allow the loose tea lover to have their favorite teas on hand wherever they went. I love shopping for fabrics, mixing fabrics and creating unique pieces for my customers.
You make a lot of green products - what has been your journey into being green?
I've always been green. I remember way back in high school sitting in a room filled with bags and bags of paper to be sorted and recycled. A group of friends and I had started a "green club" in our school (this was back in 1990 before being green was fashionable) and we took on the massive task of recycling the waste paper in our high school. The paper had to be sorted into colour and white paper, and we'd spend hours chatting and sorting. I'm not sure we ever got through all of the sorting, but the memories are still with me today.
When I had babies, it was natural that I decided to cloth diaper them. We had a disastrous time cloth diapering our eldest because I had not yet discovered the online cloth diapering community. When we had our second, I discovered Hyena Cart and soon after began sewing diapers for my daughter and eventually for sale. The rest is history so to speak.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day involves a lot of balance! We wake up at about 6am and I brew that essential pot of coffee. As the kids play or watch tv, I check in on my email, facebook and browse the online forums I belong to. Then we eat breakfast and I madly rush to get the eldest two out the door. On a good day, the youngest naps while the middle child is in preschool. I use this time to package orders and do a bit of sewing. Close to lunch we head out to the school to pick up the middle child and then back home for lunch and a bit of housework. My partner comes home at 1:00 and I get busy sewing for the rest of the afternoon. Generally, my husband will do most of the supper prep as I finish up photos and listings. I also have an out of the home job that I go to 2 days per week. Saturday and Sunday are a mix of activities, working out and sewing. It sounds like I am very busy, but really its a nice relaxed routine that we all enjoy!
What inspires you?
I wish I could say that I am inspired by nature or something more artistic, but it's just every day life that inspires me. The idea for Joyful Earth came while I was shopping for groceries and yet again forgot to bring my reusable grocery bags. I felt that if I had something beautiful and functional, I'd be more inclined to remember to bring them.
What is your most favorite thing you've ever made?
Its really hard to narrow this down to just ONE thing. I've created some amazing dye work for diapers and unpaper products and some of tea wallets I've made have been really difficult to part with. If I were to narrow this down to one piece, it would likely have to be the Heather Ross Mendocino mermaids shower curtain hanging in my bathroom! So rarely do I find time to create things for our home, I am especially proud of this piece.
Thank you, Robin, for sharing your world with us!
Stock up on Joyful Earth's unpaper products for your home at
http://joyfulearth.etsy.com
http://joyfulearth.ca
and be sure to join the Joyful Earth fanpage for a change to win a custom mini tea on the go set - you pick fabrics! http://facebook.com/joyfulearth
Featured Artisan - Relic Soap Co
Lots of people in the WAHM world have heard of Relic Soap Company - and today we get to meet the woman behind the name.
Karen.
In her own words ..
Relic Soap Company is a family-owned business that specializes in creating one of a kind artisan soap that nourishes the body and dazzles the senses. Our unique blend of oils is the product of years of listening to our customers and providing them with a soap that they come back for time and time again. Our soaps are infused with cultural, culinary, and aroma-based inspiration. Soap is a necessity, but we aim to indulge you with delicious aromas and sumptuous ingredients.
What makes our soap unique?
While other companies are aiming to cut costs and skimp on ingredients, Relic Soap Company is not satisfied with mediocre soap. We strive for extraordinary. We love olive oil for all of its amazing qualities and use it as a dominant ingredient in each of our soaps. We use only top-shelf natural plant-based oils, essential oils, fragrances, botanical extracts, and minerals. We make all of our soaps in small quality-controlled batches using traditional methods.
Everything is made by hand.
By us.
We opened the floor to a few WAHMs, and passed their questions along to Karen.
Where did you learn to make soap, and what got you started?
I started making soap back in 2002, when I was pregnant with my second child. I was a born entrepreneur who wanted to stay home to raise my children while they're young. I found soapmaking because I wanted something I could make with my hands. I think I'm perhaps a little bit of a mad scientist too. My journey began with books and lots of failed experiments. I am very thankful for the help of many soapmakers that I met online that helped me along my way.
What's your favorite soap from your line and why?
This is a VERY hard question! I get asked it at nearly every market and show I ever do and somehow I flounder through it each and every time. If I could only pick one, it would be my Froth sea salt soap. I'm smitten with vetiver essential oil.
What was the inspiration for your business name?
I wish I could take credit for our name. My husband, Ryan, came up with the name after weeks upon weeks of trying to come up with something that felt right. Relic makes us think of something both ancient and timeless at the same time - much like soap.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone starting on the soap-making journey, what would it be?
Do your own research. Don't rest on the shoulders of others. If you want to truly make good soap, you need to know how the process happens. Until you know that, you can't truly problem solve when the need arises. And it will arise!
What does your workspace/supply/curing-space look like?
A dungeon? Okay, maybe not quite. It's a corner of our basement that allows me to ventilate to the outside. I use my husband's only drafting table, stainless steel work tops, stainless steel racks for curing, and many cubbies for all the tools I use from time to time. We just moved in 18 months ago so we're still working on getting plumbing to my workshop and better lighting. I have fantastic storage racks and built in shelving that came with the home. It's nice to be able to slip down to the shop when the baby naps.
How do you come up with fresh ideas for your products and the copy that describes them?
I am inspired by nature and the culinary world. I am most moved by olfactory memories transport me to some event in my past. Have you ever smelled a cherry pie cooling and had it bring you back sitting at your grandma's kitchen table? That's what I'm talking about. I live for those moments. I have to admit that the copy makes me want to tear my hair out. I find it so hard to describe what you'll experience with each of my scents, especially the very complex fragrances. I get some help from my friends and their impressions. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to have it just pop in my head!
Want a chance to win Karen's giveaway?
Karen is giving away 2 sea salt bars and a sustainable cedar soap dish.
Here's how to go about it:
Additional entries:
* Blog or FB or Twitter about this giveaway and post the link of this board.
post about it here. This will get you 5 additional entries. There is currently a promotion
going on which you might want to take advantage of.
The winner will be announced on Monday, March 22nd 2010 and the soap shipped shortly thereafter.
Tutorial Tuesday - on Monday
Bit of a shake up today.
We're going to have to pretend it's Tuesday, and then tomorrow pretend it's Monday.
Here's to quick t-shirt folding!
We're going to have to pretend it's Tuesday, and then tomorrow pretend it's Monday.
Here's to quick t-shirt folding!
Caring for your silver jewellery
Silver tarnishes over time - courtesy of sulfides in the air. The greater the humidity and the air pollution the faster that silver will tarnish.
When that happens, a quick buff with some soft cotton cloth will work wonders. Or, if you don't have the patience or the elbow grease, use a polishing cloth.
Don't be tempted to use a dip without reading the fine print. For the most part they will harm whatever else is on your jewellery (pearls, semi-precious stones), and if you don't rinse the piece properly residue will remain. And it's hard to get it off. And whatever you do .. don't use a toothbrush!
Things that will help prevent tarnishing:
* Don't wear your jewellery when doing housework - or to the spa.
* Store your jewellery with small anti-tarnish strips in small bags (or a box)
Body Talk
My preschooler learnt all about body parts last week. Today she brought home her first assignment. She can't pronounce the word, but is very proud. We are required to make a person out of items already at home - so since she is on first name basis with the refrigerator we thought we'd raid it and see if we could make a food person. Beatrice proudly presents ... Ludwig (her dad). I tried to explain to her that *ahem* Ludwig might be a girl - but she told me I was being silly.
Clearly you can do use all sorts of things to create your own food person; hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, carrots, nuts, raisins.
We stuck to things Beatrice enjoys eating - and even as I post this, Ludwig is no more.
Happy Women's Day!
Today is International Women's Day - so happy, happy to all of you fabulous women reading the team blog! Today is also the day the winner of the awesome International Women's Day giveaway will be announced ... are you ready???
We had 254 entries - wow!! Random.org chose lucky #40 as our winner - so congratulations to sezzlebumflowertopgirl! We will be in touch shortly!
We had 254 entries - wow!! Random.org chose lucky #40 as our winner - so congratulations to sezzlebumflowertopgirl! We will be in touch shortly!
Funny Friday: Toilet Paper
A mother was taking a shower when her young son came into the bathroom and wrapped himself in toilet paper.
Although he made a mess, he looked adorable, so she ran for her camera and took a few shots. They came out so well that she had copies made and included one with each of their Christmas cards.
Days later, a relative called about the picture; laughing hysterically, and suggesting that she take a closer look.
Puzzled, the mother stared at the photo and was shocked to discover that in addition to her son, she had captured her reflection in the mirror ... wearing nothing but a camera!
Ready or Reluctant Readers?
Dr. Seuss would have turned 106 on March 2nd. If you have a young child, this comes as no surprise as most schools celebrate March 2 as Seuss Day. Read Across America has also dubbed the day as National Read Across America Day, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association. What a great opportunity to scoop up those children who haven't yet embraced reading for entertainment by whisking them away on a trip inside the whimsical world of Whos and Sneetches.
"The years from birth through age 5 are a critical time for children's development and learning. At home and in early childhood educational settings, young children learn important skills that can provide them with the cornerstones needed for development of later academic skills. Research confirms that patterns of learning in preschool are closely linked to later achievement: children who develop more skills in the preschool years perform better in primary grades." - National Institute For Literacy
We all know that literacy starts at home. If we are going to prepare our little ones for success, we need to surround them with reading from day one. Take every opportunity you can to sit down with your child and read, even if it's just to look at the pictures. Be a good example: children who see their parents reading for pleasure are more likely to read too.
Are you having trouble choosing just the right books for your child? Look no further than your local library. The librarians in the children's section are trained to help you select age-appropriate books. Are you working on specific concepts, such as the alphabet or shapes? Your library is going to have a vast selection of the books suitable for your child's stage of development. Can't make it to the library? Check out this link for great lists and resources on selecting great books. http://www.rif.org/parents/goodbooks/default.mspx
We also have an informal book club most evenings before bedtime. I pop a bowl of popcorn and sit down with my two oldest (7 year old girl and 9 year old boy) and read a book that I feel would be interesting to both of them. Right now we're reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. The book is 544 pages long, which sounds exhausting. Instead, it's been a whirlwind of adventure and mystery with many beautiful pencil illustrations throughout the book, making it engaging for the kids to read and watch the story unfold. We read for anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes, with each child taking a page or two every chapter or two and reading it aloud to all of us. My kids are engaged, reminding me quickly when I've forgotten my place from the night before. This is not only a great literacy exercise, but a great relationship builder with your older children.
Some great sources for inspiration:
Scholastic has a great resource for book lists here: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/search/?isParent=Y&N=2078&Nty=1&isBrowse=Y&_N=2078&No=15
Amazon has a list of the top selling picture books of 2009. Check it out for some inspiration.
Happy Reading!
Happy Reading!
Jelly Bean Love
Although Easter has neither come nor gone yet, I am already dreading the moment when jellybeans have to be peeled from parquet, carpet, and tile. Also, I have to admit, the squelch they make as they are being trampled underfoot is ... well ... not my favourite sound.So this year I'm preparing myself psychologically for the sight of leftover jellbeans running amok in my house - and being proactive.
"But whatever can you do with jellybeans?" I hear you ask.
Apparently quite a lot.
*nods*
You can ...
Have your little ones sort them by colour (guaranteed to keep them occupied for a while). Older ones (if so inclined) can then take that information and make a bar graph.
Put them in a pretty glass container, ask guests to guess the number of beans as they walk through your door, and then force .. um ... reward them with the jar as they leave.
Have a jelly bean hunt!
I picked President Reagan because he, reputedly, always had a bowl of jelly beans on his desk when he was in office - but there is some gorgeous jelly bean art out there.
The objective is to get as many beans transferred within a set period of time.
Assign a point value to the different colours and then hide the beans. Rarer colours should have more value, and all beans should be placed next to an item of like colour. Cheapo I spy .. but a pretty effective one at parties.
(my house is currently too messy to support photo-taking of that kind)
Guess-and-Gobble
Place a jelly bean on top of a napkin and cover it with a cup. Have the child guess the colour, and reward said child with the bean. Plenty of variations on this, so let your imagination run wild.
Place a jelly bean on top of a napkin and cover it with a cup. Have the child guess the colour, and reward said child with the bean. Plenty of variations on this, so let your imagination run wild.
Make Jelly Bean Fudge
I'll pass on experimenting, but here's the recipe (from Ms. Billings)
- 2 cups white chocolate chips
- 1 (16 ounce) container vanilla frosting
- 2 cups jelly beans
Line a 9-inch square pan with foil and grease lightly.
Melt the chips according to the package directions or in a heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Add the frosting and stir until the mixture is smooth.
Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
Add the jelly beans and stir well to incorporate evenly.
Spread the fudge mixture into the prepared pan and cool to room temperature.
Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Remove the foil /fudge from the pan and place on a cutting surface.
Carefully remove the foil and cut the fudge into small pieces.
Make (or simply admire) jelly bean art.
I picked President Reagan because he, reputedly, always had a bowl of jelly beans on his desk when he was in office - but there is some gorgeous jelly bean art out there.
Play Bean Run!
This will work for older kids (and inebriated adults) - and here's how it goes.
This will work for older kids (and inebriated adults) - and here's how it goes.
Two teams.
Bowls full of jelly beans at one end of the room (or garden) and empty bowls at the other end.
Everyone gets handed a plastic spoon.
The objective is to get as many beans transferred within a set period of time.Inebriated adults seem to favour playing with their hands behind their back and the spoon in their mouth ... but we won't go there.
And finally ...
Celebrate National Jelly Bean Day - by putting all of your leftover jellybeans into small bags and handing them out to all the people who didn't know it was NJD!
Mark your calendars: April 22nd!