This post is sponsored by Zapzapmath App. Third grade math is hitting us hard here! Over the past few weeks my daughter's class has been working on multiplication and now division. They are still mastering their multiplication facts and she's not as fast as she needs to be. I know that all of this will come with practice and patience; but it's a struggle! I've been downloading app after app to help her master her facts. The team at Zapzapmath app contacted me recently and asked if we'd like to give their math app a test drive! The app is free to download and works on iPhone or Droid; but also on your computer and Chromebook. The premium subscription is $9.95 for a year and will unlock the entire grades worth of activities and games. Bai tried both the standard app and the premium app on my iPhone this afternoon and I can tell that the premium version is more beneficial since it covers a wider range of math skills. The standard version for 3rd grade math allows your child ... [ Read More ]
Step By Step Guide to Painting Rocks
I'm sure by now you've heard about Kindness Rocks and seen some of the fun painted rocks that people are finding around your community. It's a movement that started about a year ago and has spread across the country. People paint rocks, hide them in your local community, and bring a smile to someone's day when they find one hiding. While I'm sure you've seen some amazing and talented artists pictures of painted rocks; painted rocks can be fun for anyone regardless of skill level. If you're wanting to give painted rocks a try here are a few things you'll want to know before you get started. Supplies Needed: Smooth rocks and stones! Any size or shape! I find my rocks at Lowes but you can find them anywhere. Acrylic paint, paint pens, markers, pens, etc. Water based paints work best; just avoid tempera or poster paint. Paint brushes. I like a good nylon bristle brush personally, but you can use whatever you have! Palette or paper plate to mix paints on. Hair ... [ Read More ]
How to Make a Snapchat Geofilter for Your Next Party
My youngest turned eight a few weeks ago and insisted on having a YouTube themed birthday party. It's hard to make a party "YouTube" themed without incorporating a few other social media outlets as well. My daughter and her friends are addicted to Snapchat filters and share silly pictures of themselves all weekend. It's absolutely hilarious to see some of their silly snaps back and forth. What does a YouTube birthday party look like??? Great question and one that I had to create on my own with her suggestions. We had a selfie station, took a "Try not to laugh" challenge, and opened mystery boxes. Plus there were lots of emojis and YouTube was playing in the background all day. Confessions and Rules: Yes, my eight year old has an iPhone. Yes, she is on Snapchat. Yes, we monitor her account and she's only allowed to share snaps with her friends and family. No, she's not allowed to post to her story or friend anyone she doesn't know. ...and both of my kids have YouTube ... [ Read More ]
Raising Dirty Kids
This post is sponsored by Stonyfield Yogurt and Toms of Maine. My kids love to be dirty, and I'm OK with that. I have to remind them to brush their teeth. I have to remind them to take showers. I have to remind them to put on clean clothes in the morning. I'm not sure that my teenage son knows how to use deodorant properly. I have to remind them to eat a healthy breakfast. I've come to realize that this is just my life, I'm the one destined to remind my children to give a shit about the way the look when they leave the house. I'm actually really glad I don't have kids that take hours to get ready before they leave the house. I'm not a high maintenance girl, but it can take me 30-45 minutes to get ready to go anywhere. Even if we're just going to Walmart, I feel the need to look "put together." This has relaxed a lot over the past few years and I'll actually leave the house without makeup and with my hair in a ponytail, but only if I know I won't see anyone that I know. If ... [ Read More ]
Have you enrolled in Florida Prepaid yet?
Earlier this month I shared with you some of the different plans that Florida Prepaid offers families to help save for their children's college. The enrollment period for the 2015-16 year is officially open and they have an extra special incentive for anyone wanting to open a new plan. For anyone who opens a new Florida Prepaid college plan using promotional code BLOG1516, Florida Prepaid will send you a free gift just for signing up. Plus for anyone signing up between now and November 15th, you'll be entered to win one of 10 prepaid scholarships for a 2 year Florida College Plan! What a great gift that would be to win, the first 2 years of your child's education would be paid for! There are also bonus entry options for answering some survey questions and tweeting about Florida Prepaid. Enter the College Scholarship Giveaway by clicking this link: ENTER GIVEAWAY NOW! To watch this video on YouTube: Starting is Believing I sure hope that my daughter changes her career ... [ Read More ]
How to Use Snap Pliers to Make an Adjustable Waist on Kids Clothing
My kids have tiny waists and are tall, they get this from both my husband and I. My mom was always tacking the waist of my clothes (pre-adjustable waist clothing) as a child. Thank goodness that most clothing these days come with the adjustable waistband. I picked up 2 athletic shorts/skorts for my daughter this weekend at the Old Navy clearance sale and got home to find out they were too big in the waist!! Shocking...I know! Neither pair had drawstrings or adjustable waist so I was going to pull out the needle and thread and tack them to fit. Then I remembered my brand new snap pliers and thought this might look nicer and be easier to undo when she grows a bit. On the first pair, I only added one snap to adjust the waist. On the second pair, I added two snaps and I think it's a cleaner finish when it's completed. In less than 5 minutes, we have two pairs of shorts that fit my skinny waisted six year old. What you'll need: Snap press or snap pliers Snaps Small ... [ Read More ]
Minecraft 101 for Moms
Affiliate links present in this post. This summer my six year started playing Minecraft. My oldest has been playing it for a while, but he's never needed "help" with it like she does. He's pretty intuitive and if he has questions he goes to YouTube to find his answers. We have a collection of Minecraft books that he has to help him (most are pretty advanced resources), but again, that's not something she's ready for yet. At six, she just wants to know how to play! My son did attempt to teach me how to play once, but I was left being buried in lava and attacked by zombies (he sabotaged me). I decided to do a little homework, we'll see who sabotages who now! I was gifted an e-course on Udemy, Minecraft For Dummies video and eBook bundle, and it was incredibly simple to follow. The first few courses walk you through some of the basics of playing Minecraft on your computer, but most of the tutorials apply for the app and game system versions also. Minecraft For Dummies ... [ Read More ]
20 Creative Discipline & Punishment Ideas for School Age Children
Today was one of those days as a parent that I had to improvise and come up with a new plan. Late last week I had to take away some of my oldest's privileges due to some missing grades. I took away the typical things; television, video games, electronics, etc. The only problem with these punishments is that I'm also punished because now I have to find a way to entertain him because he's bored. I know I'm not alone, we've all been there with our kids at different stages in their lives. My goal today was to find that balance so that I could get some of my weekend chores done and he would not be bored. In a moment of venting I posed the following question to some of my Facebook friends, "I need a list of creative punishments that don't punish the parent! Taking away TV, computer, etc just isn't cutting it! I'm the only one that suffers." By the time I had asked this, both kids were being punished. Don't you love it how the one child in trouble finds a way to antagonize the ... [ Read More ]
If I had Abraham Lincoln’s hat, I would keep…
A little gem found in the Kindergarten backpack this morning. "If I had Abraham Lincoln's hat, I would keep a speshol pis of papr n ots and a mskettow that suks my blud all day and all nit but it is a pasuns eelkhrk museetoow." -Bailey, Age 6 Translated to say that my daughter would keep a special piece of paper in it and a mosquito that sucks her blood all day and night, but it is a poisonous electric mosquito. Yep, that's what my six year old daughter would keep in her hat. I should save this for the therapist one day, right?? ... [ Read More ]
Coding with Kids – Hour of Code
My kids go to possibly the coolest school EVER! They attend a charter school (we're in Florida) and have the ability to learn Greek language, music, art, and even computer science. While they do still teach the basics and follow common core, they have a lot of freedom in the classrooms. My daughter is in Kindergarten and has been learning Greek since she was 3 yrs old (they also have a pre-K program). On Friday, I got our daily email from her teacher and she shared a very cool website that they worked on; Code.org. There is an ongoing movement to show the importance of teaching code to students of any age. With so much technology in our lives, our children have the ability to do so much if they are taught the skills early. Today is the final day of "The Hour of Code" week, which encourages you to spend an hour with your kids teaching them the basics of coding. Breathe....you don't have to know ANYTHING about coding to help!! You may even learn a little ... [ Read More ]