Thrift Store Shopping Tips for Families
Posted by Martha
I have a confession to make – I am a thrift store addict. I don’t want help to overcome this addiction. Actually, I’m recruiting others to this cause.
Some of my friends don’t understand my fascination with stopping at every thrift store I see. And I can’t comprehend their reluctance to buy stuff cheap. Quite simply, I can’t resist the thrill of the hunt, and the joy of discovering a bargain. For example, I’ve found Ralph Lauren sheets for $3, my sofa and loveseat for $100 and antiques for far less than eBay bids. I rarely have to buy clothes for my kids at retail prices, and I’ve built a great library of children’s books.
In addition to saving a ton of money, I support the idea of [...]
10 Family-Friendly Earth Day Activities
Posted by Auntie Em
Looking for ideas for celebrating this year’s Earth Day with your family? Here’s a list of 10 eco-friendly family activities compiled by the Kiddie Academy education team:
- Involve your children in finding ways to repurpose things you already own before you purchase new items.
- Ask your children to help you gather gently used items and donate them to charity organizations.
- Turn packaging items like cartons or plastic sleeves into new art projects – instead of sending them to a landfill.
- Sew an old pillowcase into a new tote bag; use it to replace plastic bags when you shop.
- Take a nature walk together and discuss what you see along the way – like streams or flowers.
- Walk – don’t drive – to the neighborhood playground.
- Shop at your local thrift stores with [...]
Rainy Day Craft Tutorial: Broken Umbrella to Indoor Parachute
Posted by MarthaLooking for a fun rainy day activity? Here’s an easy way to re-purpose a broken umbrella into a mini-parachute game.
This fun, eco-friendly kids craft project also allows you to sneak in a little education. What better way to illustrate the laws of gravity? Follow these simple instructions, and you’ll have a 5 foot mini-parachute that folds up for easy storage.
Supply List:
Broken umbrella – the larger the better.
Scissors
Optional:
Low temp glue gun or hand sewing needle and thread
Small piece of feltI just happened to have a broken Ikea umbrella that was perfect for this craft. However, if you don’t have a broken umbrella, you can easily pick up a used umbrella at a thrift store. [...]
Pinterest in a box? Genius!
Posted by G.I. Jane
I won’t speak for every parent out there, but I think many moms (especially of young children) have a love-hate relationship with Pinterest. I have hundreds of thousands of ideas for everything from a complete ensemble for a getaway to Fiji to how to tile a bathroom to recipes for a five course meal and extravagant table settings for that meal.
However, I spend the majority of my spare time with Pinterest searching, evaluating and repinning. Wherein lies the rub. I don’t have time to do any of my pins! I’m too exhausted after a full day of work, taking care of my two year old (and husband for that matter), cooking, cleaning, tending to the miscellaneous items and searching all 400 of my pins to actually accomplish anything.
I came across this [...]
Trick-or-Treat
Posted by ErinI am not a “crafty” person. I say that in the most generous interpretation possible…I mean, I’m just completely clueless when it comes to decoupage and papier mache and all that good stuff. I have lots of ideas for things (I could make a whole list of failed or not attempted craft ideas-tiled coffee table, mosaic pictures frames, handmade skirts) but I have neither the time nor skills to pull them off. Except for one thing: Halloween costumes. I come from a long line of Halloween devotees. My father has always dressed up in increasingly sophisticated costumes and he’s set the bar pretty high. So when my kids came along, I picked up the family tradition and starting making costumes. I released my inner Martha Stewart. I think what saved me is that I could use any material, and no one expected the costumes to last longer than one night. [...]
Ghost on a Stick
Posted by Martha
School rules sometimes squish the kids’ fun (but they’re important just the same.) Our school is nut-free and candy-free at Halloween. But that doesn’t stop the super moms from sending in fun stuff for friends. Here’s a creative, non-candy idea for Halloween that’s easy for busy moms. Especially good alternative for sending treats to school.
Pencil Ghosts: Place a cotton ball on the end of a pencil, cover it with a white tissue and cinch the middle with a bit of pipe cleaner or yarn. It’s fun to spin, and makes sending a pencil a bit more special. All supplies are readily available at the one dollar store, and the kids [...]
