Sand to me is akin to glitter. Basically, it’s the devil’s dust. I truly despise its ability to sustain itself even when it’s far from its natural habitat. Is there a parent alive that doesn’t cringe having to scrape wet sand from inside her vehicle after a beach vacation? What about having to vacuum teeny-tiny, sugar-like sand particles from carpets, tile, and hardwood? Then, there’s the chore of picking out minuscule grains from in between couch cushions and bed sheets? Still, you can’t deny sand’s versatility when it comes to creating kid-friendly projects. Children love crafting with sand. I know … Continue reading →

We live about five blocks down from a city park which hosts organized summer recreational activities for underprivileged youth. Staffed with teens hired by the Parks and Rec Department, the program attracts dozens of kids who are anxious to have fun in the sun. Last week, my 7-year-old and I biked to the park to exercise on the playground equipment and were pleasantly surprised when a program staff member invited us to take part in one of the group’s activities: Bubble Blast. Since the program is run on limited funds, many of the group’s activities and projects are extremely affordable. … Continue reading →

School’s out for the summer; time to savor the season beloved by kids and parents alike. Summer’s lazy days are highlighted by picnics, beach bonfires, backyard barbeques, stargazing and firefly catching. There’s no shortage of outdoor activities to choose from in order to max out your summer fun. However, there are ways you can enhance the popular season. The following projects are simple ways you can infuse a little whimsy into your sunny summer days: PICNIC POT This craft is easy enough for kids to make on their own. All you need is a medium to large size terracotta pot … Continue reading →

Graduating from middle school, high school or college is a huge deal for many families. Consequently, commencement ceremonies are often followed by massive parties celebrating a graduate’s accomplishments. Fortunately, all the pomp and circumstance doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little creativity you can create these nifty graduation party decorations and dishes for pennies on the dollar: Decorative Diplomas Materials: Sheets of white paper Ribbon (in your school’s colors) Directions: Write the word “diploma” on one end of the paper. Roll sheets of paper into tubes lengthwise, so the longest dimension of the paper is the length of … Continue reading →

If you tuned into NBC’s “Weekend Today” this morning, you may have noticed what a big deal meteorologist Bill Karins made amount the gorgeous weather the entire nation is basking in right now. It’s the perfect time to get out and enjoy the Mother Nature at her best. Don’t stress about minor details; rather, use this window of opportunity to have fun with your family by taking a walk in the park, hosting a backyard barbeque, or creating a garden party for the girls. If you live near the ocean, a lake or public pond, then set-up shop in a … Continue reading →

Forget about draining your wallet paying for professional spa services, with a little creativity you can enjoy a day of pampering without leaving home. Now, doesn’t that sound fun? Still, not convinced? These simple homemade spa ideas don’t take much time or money to create, yet they will leave you feeling like a million bucks: HOMEMADE BATH SALTS Materials: 2 cups Epsom salt 1 cup sea salt Large bowl 1/4 teaspoon glycerin Food coloring Essential oil Directions: Combine two cups of Epsom salt with one cup of sea salt in a large glass bowl. Next, add 1/4 teaspoon glycerin and … Continue reading →

Old Man Winter is alive and well in Wisconsin. After sleeping in for a few weeks, the season has reared its bitterly cold head and dumped nearly a half–foot of snow in less than 24 hours. Fortunately, there are ways to heat things up while keeping the kids entertained. While you may be tempted to let your little ones warm up by the glow of the TV, you’ll find that you can a lot more fun if you get out of the house and experience the following winter boredom busters: Park It: Head out to a local park to take … Continue reading →

Here we go again! I would say that the heat is on, but it never really turned off. We’re still baking in oppressive heat and humidity, as Mother Nature makes darn sure we know that summer is here. Fortunately, I was born and raised in Hawaii, so dealing with tropical conditions is nothing new. If there is one thing people from the Aloha State know how to do, it’s how to have fun in the sun. If you are looking for fun ways to cool off, don’t rely solely on swimming pools, water parks and air conditioning. Rather, grab the … Continue reading →

This week’s heat wave has left many families deep-fried and looking for ways to cool off. Our city was under an excessive heat warning for five straight days. Unfortunately, when you have young kids, sitting around in air conditioning the entire time isn’t an option. When the mercury starts to rise, it’s time to flex that creative muscle to come up with ways to beat the heat and still have fun in the process. Some ideas include: Blind Man’s Catch: This game is basically like Water Balloon Toss, but with the added challenge of being blindfolded. Split a group of … Continue reading →

Stop the presses! Snow has fallen in New York City. Okay, 19 inches is a lot in one day, but when you’ve suffered through a few Wisconsin winters, a foot or two of snow is not “breaking news.” Granted, NYC’s population is 10 times the size as our rural roost, but still, you don’t see this much media coverage when Chicago gets hit hard with the white stuff. Regardless, right now cable TV is saturated with news of the latest Snowmageddon that has paralyzed much of the East Coast. Schools are closed and parents are scrambling to find ways to … Continue reading →