DIY: Trunk Protector Mat

Today we are making a Trunk Protector Mat!  We're finally getting snow in Toronto and the stroller gets pretty messy with the snow and salt.     

I'm a Mama who doesn't like to clean.  I like to cover things when possible to make my life easier.  When Joshie was a baby, I made this stroller liner just so I wouldn't have to clean out the stroller so much.  We recently got a new car and said goodbye to our tiny two door car.  When we were using my old car, I didn't mind tossing my stroller in the trunk.  However, with a new car, it's nice to keep it clean - at least for a little bit.  

Here's what you need:
Clear packing tape
Large cardboard

Table cloth - waterproof on one side and fuzzy on the other.

How to:

(I didn't take pictures of the "how to" because it's pretty easy to put this together.)

1.  Measure your trunk and cut your cardboard to size

2.  Wrap the cardboard with your table cloth (water proof side should be facing up)

3.  Tape tape tape everything so that the table cloth is firmly attached to the cardboard

4.  Pop it in your trunk and don't worry about the mess!

Game: Find the Heart

Here's a really simple idea that my toddler loves.  We call it the "Hearts Treasure Hunt".  This started last year when Joshie was 2.  We were watching a Max & Ruby episode called "Grandma's Treasure Hunt".   He loved it and wanted to do a treasure hunt too.  We used to hide my painted eggs from our trip to Poland, but when I found some foam hearts in my craft box, we began using those instead.

Here's what you need:

Lots of imagination
A messy play space
Foam Hearts in different colours and sizes

This game is so easy to play.  Just hide the hearts in your house and have your kids look for them.  You can change it up each time... you can focus on finding the small hearts, or the pink hearts.  You can make it easy or hard depending on your child.  We like to play "hot" or "cold" too.   Joshie likes to hide the hearts so I can find them.  He's usually too excited to wait for me to find them so he tells me where he's hidden them.  It's great how something so simple can be a lot of fun too!  Happy hunting! 

 

Back in Chatelaine Magazine....

My internet shop Josh & Teo Handmade for Babies and Mamas is back in the February 2012 Chatelaine magazine!

Back in November, I had posted that I was so excited to get my first feature in Chatelaine magazine.   My Sophie the Giraffe Toy Leash was featured in the Family Travel 2011 Edition,  with the caption: "never lose Sophie again with this clever tether". 

This time we are back due to a publishing error and so we have been upgraded to page 20.  The reprint was actually larger than the original feature!

Here it is again but wait... there's a typo this time!  The toy leashes are $10 not $11. 

 Like I said, it's nice to be featured.

Jello, Riverdale Farm, ROM, Kindergarten, New Bedroom... in no particular order...

It's been a hectic week so I'm glad I have a chance to sit down and type a little while everyone is sleeping (including hubby).  My mom would probably ask me why I wasn't sleeping but it's my time for a break before the madness starts.

So last week was a busy one...

We went with my sister to the ROM (yes again!!) but I warned her that we probably wouldn't cover a lot of ground cuz the kids are slow.  We went to the European section first this time and stood on Europa.  Then we strolled again through the Dino collection and spent a lot of time in the kids play area.

The family and I visited one of our local schools to check out J/K.  Eek!!!  My baby is going to school in September.  We are going to visit one more before we make a final decision.

 This could be his school next year!!








We went crazy making jello jigglers - or as Joshie likes to call them "jiggler jugglers".   We used their favourite Sesame Street characters.

We went to our first "Little Farmers" class at Riverdale Farm and met "Rooster" the horse.  I was very proud of Joshie for braving the very very cold temperatures.  Can't wait to meet the chickens! 

The biggest change OF ALL TIME for us was getting the kids into the same bedroom and getting our own space back.   Back in August, I wrote about the end of the baby phase for Baby Teo.   This is definitely the end of the baby phase now that he is in a big boy bed with bed rails.  

As for crafting... haven't had a chance to do anything off of my to-do list.  I've had a lot of orders come through and something exciting coming up later this month for my little shop.   

Next up... need to get ready for all the birthdays coming up and especially for Chinese New Year!  I'm exhausted!

Recipe: Juice Pops a.k.a. Fever or Sick Pops

Tis the season to get sick and when you have two little ones, getting sick is the norm.  So today's recipe/tute is for all the little sick kiddies who have a throat infection, sore throat, or a fever.   Joshie calls these "sick pops!"

These are so easy to make and require very little time or effort!  I love these because these are sized for little hands and little mouths.   Toddlers just can't eat the store bought popsicles fast enough (they do try very hard though!!).   If you want to make yogurt pops, go here.

Here's what you need:

 Pour the Kool-Aid into the little cups.  Try not to spill it!

Fold a piece of tin foil in half and make a tiny cut crosswise.  Wrap the foil around the cup.

Insert a popsicle stick into the cut you made.  The tin foil helps to keep the stick straight.

Freeze for about 3-4 hours.  Remove and give to sick kid.  
Tip:  Make different flavours in case sick kids get picky

Enjoy your status as "the best Mom EVER!"

DIY: Toddler Apron

 

I made this for one of Josh's friend "H".   When Josh was about 2 years old, Popo made him the cutest choo choo train apron.  Every time we would cook or bake, he would rush to put it on.  He was obsessed with choo choo trains so he was pretty happy to have this apron.

This past summer we went to a cooking class and he was so proud to wear his choo choo train apron.  He really liked the class - not sure if it was the food or the fact that he got to use a knife!  Here are some of the yummy things he made.

Josh was the only kid in class with his own toddler sized apron.   His little friend H didn't have one.   When we were invited to go to little H's birthday party, I made her a personalized apron.  I sewed the apron using his choo choo apron as a guide.  The neck strap has D-ring connectors to make it adjustable and I used bias tape for the ties.  I decided to use bias tape to wrap up the whole apron because it gives it a clean look.  

The applique was done with felt.  I sewed it on with a simple straight stitch (instead of zig zag) since felt doesn't fray.

I hope she likes it!

Recipe: Mayan Hot Chocolate

Skill Level:  Easy
Ingredients:  1 cup milk, chocolate chips, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper

Directions:  Place a handful of chocolate chips in a mug.  Heat it in the microwave for about 45 seconds or until the chocolate is soft.  Pour milk into the mug.  Heat in the microwave for about 1 1/2 min (or until it begins to boil).  Remove and whisk in a pinch of cayenne pepper and approx 2 pinches of cinnamon.  Enjoy!!

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Today's post was inspired by our trip last week to see the Maya Exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum.   This trip was a little different than our usual.  This time we went as part of a ROM/Mompreneur event.   We had a great time - the kids were spoiled with hot chocolate, fresh fruit, and cookies.  Best of all, they got to meet a Maya High Priest.  The kids were lukewarm about the Maya High Priest - might have been the blue paint or headdress.  

After our morning snack, we went into the museum to see the Maya Exhibit.  Very cool but not as much for the kiddies as for the adults.  After a quick lunch, we made our way over to see the dinosaurs and do a little more "digging" for dinosaur bones. 

If you haven't been to the Royal Ontario Museum lately, I would suggest you stop by.  It's awesome! 

New Year's Resolutions - Does anyone still do these?

So I'm not big on New Year's resolutions because if these things were so important, we'd do them all year round, right?  Since having kids, we have to plan plan plan.  So, now I'm thinking that I'd like to make some new year's resolutions:

1.  Refinish this chair.  Right now it's sitting in my basement, just waiting patiently to be reupholstered.  I know exactly where I am going to put it (in our piano room) but it just needs to get done!

2.  Work out once a week.  My doctor would be appalled that my goal is one day a week...  But really, it's an achievable goal. 

3.  Enroll in a class.  I am enrolled in classes but the classes are for the kids, not me.  So my goal is to enroll myself in a special interest class, or maybe an exercise class. 

4.  Go on dates with hubby.  The kids have taken over!  But they will be a little bit older next year and hopefully won't mind if we skip out for a night here and there.  

5.  Start doing a "sisters" or "friends" night out.  Why?  Because maybe by then, the kids will be in the same bedroom and can put themselves to sleep.  Hahaha... in my dreams, right? 

That's it for now...  

What are your New Year's resolutions?