Summer Sensory Fun Box

Monday--Creating a Summer Sensory Fun Box

Tuesday--Having Fun with Ball Art

Wednesday--Tactile Learning through Contact Paper

Thursday--Making Discovery Bottles

Friday--How to Make Colored Rice
Saturday--Fun with Shaving Cream

What a fun week we have ahead of us!  Today through Saturday, I'll be letting my former preschool/elementary teacher side out and sharing with you some of my favorite sensory activities for babies and toddlers.  Encouraging little ones to explore through sensory play is something that I am passionate about, and I hope these suggestions will inspire some fun learning time for you with your sweet munchkins at home!

With summertime just around the corner, I'd like to help you get ready for lots of good, messy fun!  Are you ready?  Let's create a Summer Sensory Fun Box!  The goal of this box is for you to have just about everything you'll need for exploratory play nicely contained in one place.

What goes into our Summer Sensory Fun Box?   Here's a list of things I included in mine:

♥ Shaving Cream
♥ Food Coloring (or Color Splash!--this stuff makes my teacher heart go pitter-pat, but I'm holding off until Kayleigh is a little older and will be able to use it herself)
♥ Empty plastic large-mouth bottles (I used Gatorade)
♥ Pom Poms
♥ Bouncy Balls
♥ Glitter/Sequins
♥ Dish Soap
♥ Colored Tissue Paper
♥ Colored Rice (don't worry, I'll show you how!)
♥ Washable Paints
♥ Sidewalk Chalk
♥ Jell-O (to make this playdough)
♥ Sweetened Condensed Milk (to make this edible finger paint)
♥ Ziplock bags
♥ Clear Contact Paper

There are so many activities you can do with these supplies.   Let the fun begin!

The plastic container serves two functions--as a way to store your items, and as a nice cheap sensory bin. Preschools and lower elementary classrooms always have sensory bins, but theirs cost anywhere from $20-$500! So, let's skip that and just run to Target instead, shall we? :) I used a small bin for my sweet girl, but if you have two or more kids, you might want to try an under-the-bed box for a large, flat play area with lots of elbow room.

The beauty of this Summer Sensory Fun Box is that most of these items are things that you already have at home.  If you're missing a few items, it won't take more than a run to the dollar store or Target to pick up a few things that will provide hours of fun.

There are so many fun activities that you can create for your child using just these items.  The possibilities really are endless!  If you're looking for some inspiration, remember to come back every day this week to see what I've got in store. (Check out my Playroom to see what activity I'll be featuring each day this week. Pin them as we go, or return to the Playroom at any time to see the activities again)

I had so much fun reliving my teacher days and choosing my favorite sensory activities to put into this box.  I have so many sweet memories of my little students experiencing the thrill of playing with colored shaving cream for the first time, creating fun ball art, splashing in a sensory bin full of sudsy water, or shaking bottles filled with various noise-making and visually stimulating objects.

Sensory learning is such an important part of a child's growth and development.  By getting down on the floor with your kids and giving them new things to touch, see,  hear, smell, and taste, you are helping your children learn--and experience--the world around them.

It was so much fun to share my love for sensory play with Kayleigh over the past few weeks while I prepared this series.  She loved, loved, loved getting to experience new sights, sounds, and textures while playing with these activities.  And don't worry if your little one is as young as mine--I'll be showing you how to adapt these activities for your children, whether they are babies, toddlers, preschoolers, or older siblings who want to lend a hand and have some fun, too.

The fun begins tomorrow, so go find a plastic bin, fill it with as many of the above sensory items as you can, and come back in the morning to learn how to make some really cool art with your kids.  We're going to have a blast!

My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software Giveaway!

I am so excited to share this giveaway with you!

A few weeks ago, the digital scrapbooking software My Memories contacted me about hosting a giveaway on Happy Homemaker Me.  I was excited, because even though I love taking pictures and like to think that I'm a great scrapbooker, the reality is that I have not finished a scrapbook since 2003.  I have more paper, stickers, scissors, decorative pens, punches, and die-cuts than I could ever use, but whenever I sit down to make a page, I feel like I need to run out and buy something new.

Friends, scrapbooking can get crazy expensive these days.

Which is why I'm excited about the concept of digital scrapbooking!  With My Memories software, there are so many different ways to preserve your memories.

You can use one of the pre-made layouts that comes with the software--just choose your pictures, drag them to the spots you want them, and then add text:

Or you can download one of the scrapbook kits and create the layout yourself (this scrapbook kit was free!  Click here to see the rest of the free scrapbook kits you can download)

Or you can just go old school and use bits and pieces from different kits to make a page:

Oh, and have you been noticing some of my snazzy new images I've been putting in my posts lately?

I made them using My Memories, too!  

I've been having a lot of fun using the software to make all sorts of great things.   And I can't wait to use My Memories to make a scrapbook for Kayleigh's first year.  There are so many fun things I can do with this program!

Want to know the most exciting part?  On top of sending me this software for free, My Memories is also offering it to one of my readers!  Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win this software and have hours of productive fun yourself!  Too impatient and want to begin creating beautiful albums today?  Copy/paste this promo code {STMMMS374} when you place an order to buy this $40 software, and you'll get $10 off!

Let me know if you give My Memories a try--I'd love to see what you make!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

Last year for our anniversary, I made Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake.  This year, Handsome Man and I celebrated a night early at home with this beauty.

(if you're noticing a chocolate/berry trend, there definitely is one!)

Recipe for Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

♥1 pound fresh strawberries
♥ 2 tbsp white sugar
♥ 2  1/2 cups flour
♥ 1/2 cup cocoa powder
♥ 1 tsp baking soda
♥ 1 tsp baking powder
♥ 1/2 tsp salt
♥ 2 cups white sugar
♥ 1 cup butter, softened
♥ 1/3 cup vegetable oil
♥ 2 eggs
♥ 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
♥ 1  1/2 cups milk
♥ 3/4 cup brewed coffee
♥ 1 qt heavy whipping cream
♥ 1/4 cup powdered sugar
♥ 2 tbsp white sugar

Preheat the oven to 350* and lightly grease two 9 inch round baking pans.  Hull and slice your strawberries, put them in a bowl and sprinkle 2 tbsp white sugar on them.  Stir them gently and place in the refrigerator.

In a small bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, set aside.  Using your mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar together.  Slowly add vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.  Mix in dry ingredients until just combined (overmixing will produce a very dense cake).  Turn off the mixer and stir in milk and coffee until the batter is well blended.  Gently pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the cake.  Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, and then remove the pans and allow to cool completely on cooling racks.

Beat whipping cream until foamy in a large bowl.  Gradually add 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form.  Once the cakes are completely cooled, spread half of the whipped cream over the top of one.  Use a slotted spoon to scoop the strawberries out of the bowl so that they don't drip pink juice on your beautifully white whipped cream, and layer half of the strawberries onto the cake.  Carefully set the second cake on top, and spread the rest of the whipped cream on it.  Add the rest of the strawberries, and voila!  A beautiful, unique dessert.

Perfect for celebrating an anniversary!

Happy 4th anniversary to the beautiful heart that has loved me, the strong arms that have held me, the man who daily lives out my happily ever after.

I love you, Jesse!

Homemade Jello Playdough

In preparation for my Summer Sensory Fun series (beginning on Monday!  So excited!!!), I've been letting my preschool teacher self back out and have been having a blast remembering some of the fun activities I used to do with my students.  I can't wait to share some of them with you!  I actually ended up with more activities than I had planned for the week, so I thought I'd slip this one in ahead of time.  Any preschool teacher can tell you that there are more playdough recipes out there than you can shake a toddler at.  It takes a lot of playing around (and a lot of cream of tartar!) to experiment with recipes to find one that you really like.

Here's one of my favorites.

The great thing about making your own playdough is that you know exactly what's in it.  That way, if your little one feels inclined to sample it (still not to be encouraged) you don't have to worry as much as you would about purchased playdough.

Which is good, because my curly girl is still in the stage where she thinks everything is meant to be eaten (and yes, she was my model for this, but I wouldn't really recommend handing this to 8 month olds.  This is more of a toddler/preschool+ activity).  Nonetheless, Kayleigh absolutely loved being part of this!

Here is how you can make your own Jello playdough:

You will need:
♥ 1 cup flour
♥ 2 tbsp salt
♥ 2 tbsp cream of tartar
♥ 2 tbsp vegetable oil
♥ 1 cup warm water
♥ 1  3oz pack of Jello

Put all of your dry ingredients in a bowl.

Add the warm water and oil and stir until it's well mixed.  It's ok if it's a little lumpy--it will cook out to a smooth consistency.

Spoon into a saucepan and stir...and stir...

...until the mixture balls up like this.

Dump the ball onto a sheet of wax paper and leave it alone until it cools.

Otherwise, your hands will look like this:

Be patient and let it cool, and then you'll have this wonderfully soft, amazing smelling playdough for your little ones.

They will love it!!!  It's just the perfect texture for little hands.  Not dry and stiff like some playdoughs turn out, but perfectly smooth and malleable without being sticky and gooey.

Plus, it smells good enough to eat.

(But it should only take one try and then they won't do that again!)

I love slipping back into my teacher fun with Kayleigh.  

It's so much fun to share these things with her!

Let me know if you give this a try :)

Introducing Quinoa to A Family Favorite

I added a new twist to one of our family favorites recently, and since it was such a big hit at our house, I had to share it with you!

 Up until now, I've always just served my Crock Pot Garlic Rosemary Chicken with rolls and a salad.  It's scrumptious and homey and filling that way, but it's always nice to shake things up, right?  Especially with a healthier alternative!

Enter quinoa.

Have you heard of it?  It's all the rage in the health world right now (read up on it here!) and is high in great things like magnesium and fiber.  I didn't even know this until I read about it on the website I shared above, but apparently, since it's so high in magnesium, it's a great thing for people who suffer from migraines.  I was so excited to read that!  This is definitely going to be a bigger part of my diet.  Also, since it's high in protein--complete protein--it's a great alternative for vegetarians who are searching for a good source of protein to replace meat.

Don't let the daunting spelling (it's pronounced "keen-wah," by the way) prevent you from trying this stuff out.  I love it!

And it's such a simple substitute for many of the things we eat.  Want to know how I incorporated it in my meal last night?

I rinsed it just as directed, and then, instead of simmering it in just plain water, I siphoned out some of the broth from the garlic rosemary chicken that was cooking away in the crock pot.  I cooked the quinoa in 1 part broth and 2 parts water.  I love the way that it flavors the quinoa.  Think about all of the flavors you could add to it--the possibilities are endless!

It's probably a little dorky how excited I am about this stuff.  That's ok :)

We've been including quinoa in many of our meals for the past month.  It's so filling that it helps us maintain healthier portions, and it keeps us full for a long time.  It's definitely a new favorite around here!

Have you tried quinoa before?  What meals have you made with it?  I'm all for more inspiration :)  Share with us!

Cupcake Gift Set

Looking for a sweet and simple gift for a friend?

Putting together a cupcake gift set is as fun as it is easy!

I raided my local Target for some cute polka-dot cupcake liners and sprinkles.  I also picked up a set of napkins with my friend's initial, and a sweet matching bowl and plate (mainly to make the set look pretty, but they also double as a bowl for the dry goods and a plate on which to serve the cupcakes--clever, I know!)

A cute little recipe board book is the perfect backdrop for the gift set and will provide your friend with some sweet inspiration.

Arrange your little pretties inside the bowl.  Use some double stick tape to keep things from shifting around once it's wrapped up.

Place your arrangement on top of two sheets of cellophane, tie it up with a pretty ribbon, and present it to your friend!  A sweet little gift like this will make anyone's day.

Pinterest Party Link Up #4

Welcome to Happy Homemaker Me's Pinterest Party!

Have you tried a new pin lately?  Recipes, DIYs, fashion/beauty tips, home decor or organization ideas, it all goes here!  I'm excited to see what you have been up to :)

Is this your first time joining us?  You can read more information about our Pinterest Parties here.

This month, I decided to try my hand at making homemade nursing pads.  As a breastfeeding mom for more than 8 months, I've been realizing lately exactly how many disposable nursing pads I've gone through since Kayleigh was born--even before she was born!  Not only have they been piling up somewhere in a landfill, they've also been emptying out my wallet.  I hate how expensive disposable nursing pads are, but I've also been turned off of buying reusable ones because of their ticket price, as well.

Then, I landed on this pin which has been circulating through my mommy-friends' boards lately.  Look how easy that is!  I have enjoyed following Lindsay's blog for years and learning from her homemaker's heart.  If you haven't read Passionate Homemaking before, please go visit!  She inspires me to want to make more things for my family from home, instead of buying them at a store.  She also has three beautiful little kidlets, and a wonderfully Christ-centered marriage with her husband, Aaron.

Her tutorial for homemade nursing pads is so simple!  I whipped up two pairs within 10 minutes, and I'm so excited about them!  They've washed and worn beautifully, so I'm ready to make more.

Obviously, these aren't to be worn under my white clothes, with such bright colors!  But the pink fleece is what I had on hand, and the cupcake flannel is from the smallest receiving blanket the world has ever seen.  Lol, at 16x26 inches, there wasn't much that it covered, so even though it came with a matching outfit, we never used it for Kayleigh.  Maybe I can use what's left to make a little lovey for her :)  Now that I know how easy these are to make--and how well they hold up--I'm excited to make some more!  

Now it's your turn!  What have you worked on this month?  Share your pictures, victories, fails, inspirations, or simply things that you want to try!

I can't wait to see!  (Click "Read More" if you are viewing this from the homepage)