Fun, Easy, and Frugal Play Idea: Masking Tape Roads

 

My kids thought I was pretty great when I pulled out the masking tape and began creating roads that led to all their Little Peoples play sets.  We rummaged up all the cars we could find, made road lines on the tape, and created a little town.

 

 

I'm telling you, they played for HOURS!  Even better, their creative juices were flowing full force.  My basic infrastructure was not sophisticated enough, so they made more roads, added a CVS and Walgreens store out of paper, and drew up a "Welcome to" town sign (of course, after I put the camera away)!  Even some of the older kids thought it was fun enough to join in.

 

 

So go grab that old roll of masking tape that you threw out in the garage after your last move, or pick one up the next time you go to the store, and let the kids have at it! 

And for you moms who struggle to get dinner going while you've got a toddler strapped to your leg, this should do the trick! ; )

Quick Tip: Stomach Bug Pads

It was a light bulb moment for me!

A couple of months ago, many of our children had the stomach bug.  And as we know, many children with a stomach bug equals lots of throwing up.....and usually at the same time.

Despite our efforts of placing buckets RIGHT by their heads, they would miss!  Vomit would inevitably end up on the blankets they were laying on.  When we got tired of washing blankets, we switched to towels.  Much smaller, and easier to wash.  However, even washing vomit-y towels is messy and exhausting. 

So there I sat.  Thinking there must be an easier way to clean up after vomiting little ones.  Then...

It came to me.....UNDERPADS!

Why hadn't I thought of this sooner?  Forget the buckets, blankets, and towels.  Lay these under your little ones' heads (drape the couches, over their pillows, or on the floor) and let them throw up on these!  Then, fold up the mess and throw it away! 

Genius, right? 

They're cheap, and well worth the savings of time and energy.  You can buy them HERE in various sizes, or here.  You home birthing mamas probably have extras in your birth kits.  I did!  And from now on, I will keep a stash around for the next bug!

For the record....I've coined the name "Stomach Bug Pads".  Catchy, right?  I thought it sounded better than Throw Up Pads or Vomit Pads.  ; )

Quick Tip: Take the Itch Out of Mosquito Bites

Did you know that plain old, cheap vinegar will take the itch out of a mosquito bite?  It's our "go to" remedy, and has been for many years.

Simply dab a bit of vinegar on a cotton ball and rub gently on the bite.  For small children, sometimes it can sting, depending on how much they have scratched the bite.  To avoid the possible sting, you can dilute it in a bit of water. 

We give it to our kids straight!  It toughens them up! ; )



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Quick Tip: Help Little Ones Enjoy Salad

We eat a LOT of salad in our home.  It's pretty much a staple side for us.  I've got kids who LOVE salad and eat it with no problems, and I've got kids who are more reluctant about eating it...namely, the little ones.   I've observed over the years, that my children will eat salad better if it's in smaller pieces.  In fact, I eat salad better when it's in smaller pieces. 

Did you also know that they will consume more salad (and veggies) if it's in small pieces?  Visually, a small portion of a finely chopped salad will look the same as a pile of big lettuce.  But, in volume, the chopped salad will contain more, which means more nutrition, Moms!

I do one of two things:

1) Tear the lettuce into tiny pieces as I'm plating their food.

2) Or, I put portions of salad (and veggies) in my food processor and pulse a few times.  Don't over pulse or it will turn into mush.  You want a nice consistency of a delicious chopped salad. 

If we're having a salad that is conducive to one particular dressing, I will mix the dressing into the salad before serving.  This also aids in easier consumption.  :)

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Quick Tip: Yummy, Easy Snack for Kids

My kids love fresh fruit! But most require cutting, peeling, slicing, washing, or coring. But not these little Cuties! These Clementines are soooo easy to peel that my two year old can peel his own!

They're small, making them perfect for a snack or served alongside a sandwich.

They're sweet and yummy.

They're nutritious.

And they're super easy to peel, even for a two year old.

I'd say this pretty much makes them a perfect snack!


What is your idea of a perfect snack for little ones?

Quick Tip: Large Family Kitchen Supplies

As your family has grown, have your pots and pans shrunk?  Are you running out of dishes, or find that your baking sheets just don't hold enough?

Check out your local Restaurant Supply store!

With all things restaurant sized, you're sure to find the perfect stock pot, or inexpensive stacks of plates and cups.  If you don't have a Restaurant Supply store in your area, check out the restaurant section at Sams (if you're near one).  We've purchased inexpensive food storage containers, huge cookie sheets, large carafes, our huge bread making bowl, table cloths, and a few other fun things from Sams.  However, our local Restaurant Supply has a LOT more to offer....and it's just fun!  :)

Where have you found large family-friendly supplies?  Please share!


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Quick Tip: How to Clean Your Coffee Pot

You know the time...when the coffee maker starts to gurgle and it takes four times as long to brew half a pot as it should?

This is what happens to ours about every six months, mainly due to hard water.

Thankfully, it just needs a cleaning.  And it's easy!

Fill your coffee maker half way with vinegar.  Fill the rest of the way up with cold water.  Brew.  Once finished, do 1-2 rinses with cold water alone.  The rinses should brew MUCH faster. 

I usually then do a quick wipe down just to ensure there's no hint of vinegar left. 

Now you can enjoy better tasting coffee in a shorter time....without having to buy a new coffee maker!  :)

So how do you keep your maker flowing?  Vinegar?  Something else?  Do you purchase a new one?

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Quick Tip: Storing Bed Sheet Sets

This tip comes from Pinterest (via storageandglee.blogspot.com).

How clever is this? Simply store bed sheet sets right inside their pillow cases.

Love it!

Quick Tip: Pumpkin Spice Coffee

Spice up your coffee with a little fall flair!


Add a little Pumpkin Pie Spice to your coffee beans and grind as usual. 

You'll end up with a delicious hint of pumpkin pie in your coffee.  And the aroma while it's brewing?  Oh my!

I add about a half teaspoon of spice per 6 cups of coffee.  Play around with it until it's just right for you!  Add some Heavy Cream for a rich cup of heaven.  Enjoy! :)

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Quick Tip: Freezing Bell Pepper

To quickly add bell pepper to your soups, chilies, or casseroles, simply dice them up when you bring them home from the grocery store.....

Put them in a freezer bag in the desired amounts....

And store in the freezer!

I LOVE red, yellow, and orange bell peppers.  And I love to cook with them, adding beautiful color and nutrition to my recipes.  Here, I used red peppers because during the summer they are at their cheapest price.  I usually buy a six pack of multi-colored peppers for just under $7.00 at Sams, which comes to about $1.16 a piece.  But when on sale, I stocked up on Red Bell Peppers for $0.88 a piece. 

Frozen peppers are fine for adding to soups, chilies, and casseroles.  But if you're making Fajitas or just want to eat them as a snack...leave them fresh. 

What veggies do you love to store in the freezer to speed up your meal prep time?

Quick Tip: Lasting Lettuce

Keep your lettuce fresh and crisp longer by processing it as soon as you bring it home from the store.  This works best on Romaine and leafy lettuces.

Cut of the end off of the bunch.  Wash each leaf under cold water.  Pat dry.

Place leaves, neatly stacked, on a dry paper towel. Cover the with another paper towel on top.

Place the bunch into a gallon sized ziplock bag.  (Here, I used plastic wrap because I was out of gallon bags.)  Store in refrigerator.

Now, you've got lettuce ready to go for salads and sandwiches. Not only will it cut down on cooking prep time, your lettuce will stay fresh a lot longer this way.  Give it a try!

What are your favorite tips for keeping lettuce fresh longer?

Quick Tip: Tackle Toothbrush Germs

Did you know that the average toothbrush contains bacteria from blood, saliva, oral debris, and even the toilet?  Every time you flush the toilet, bacteria fly up from the bowl and can travel up to five feet away.

Tackle those germs by pouring a little bit of Peroxide on your toothbrush every few days....or after any illness.  Hydrogen Peroxide has natural oxidizing properties that will aid in sanitizing hard surfaces and objects, including toothbrushes.  It's what we do in our home.

*You can use vinegar as well, but I'd prefer not to taste vinegar first thing in the morning.  It would clash with my coffee.

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Quick Tip: Egg Substitute

Have you ever begun to bake something, only to realize you're OUT of eggs? 

Did you know there's an easy solution to replace the egg (or two) withOUT running to the store?

Thankfully, I learned this handy dandy "egg substitution" that has saved us in a pinch on more than one occasion.

Substitution:

1 egg = 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water

That's it!  Replace the missing egg with the cornstarch and water and bake as directed.  You'll never know the difference.  It's also perfect for families with egg allergies.  We once made a huge batch of pancakes for a friend with an egg allergy, where we had to substitute 3-4 eggs.  They were delicious!  We now refer to those special pancakes as "Dancakes".  :)

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Quick Tip: Snack Time

Snack time doesn't have to be a production.  A handful of raisins, a cheese stick, or a handful of nuts are nutritious, easy choices. 

It can also be as simple as diving a spoon into a jar a peanut butter.

Peanut butter on a spoon packs a substantial, nutritional punch.  Just 1 tablespoon of peanut butter has about 90 calories, 4g protein, and 1g fiber. The protein in peanut butter helps contribute toward your daily protein needs, and it provides energy while helping to keep the kids feeling full until meal time.

It's one of our kids' favorite snacks!  And mine too.  :)

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Quick Tip: Children's Puzzles

Keeping all those puzzle pieces to the correct puzzle is made easier by simply numbering the puzzle itself.......

And then numbering each individual puzzle piece to match.

What are your favorite tips for keeping puzzles organized?