Category: Kids

Cheesy Mac & Cheese

16 oz macaroni pasta (any shape shape you like)
1/2 C butter
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 C flour
3 1/2 C milk, warmed
1/4 C white wine (or sub w/chicken broth)
1/2 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed
1/2 lb cheddar, cubed
1/2 C panko bread crumbs
1 Tbl parsley
2 Tbl butter, melted

Heat 350′ oven. Grease 9×13 glass dish ( 8×8 or round casserole, if making half the recipe).
Cook pasta for about 2-3 minutes less than called for, drain, set aside.
In a saucepan, melt 1/2 C butter, salt pepper, once melted add flour, stir until smooth. Let cook for 1 minute. Add milk, wine, bring to a boil, whisking. Add cheeses and stir until melted. Pour over cooked pasta and add to greased dish. Combine the panko, parsley and melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle macaroni with panko topping, bake uncovered 30 minutes. via

Kid’s Cleaning Kit

Start with a bright little bucket or something with a handle.  It will keep everything together and kids always love carrying things around.  You could use anything you already have around the house, an old easter basket, something from your kitchen… get creative!

To your bucket, add some cleaning cloths.  I used a bunch of old baby washcloths that had seen better days. Why choose a boring old white rag when you can have colorful stripes?  If you don’t have old washcloths, you could cut up cotton t-shirts, or use old dishcloths or towels.  I sewed little ribbon tabs at the corner to designate them as the cleaning washcloths, and give her the ability to hang them to dry if she wants.
Add a spray bottle filled with plain water.  You can use an empty bottle of surface spray, so that it makes them think that they have an actual cleaning product.  You don’t have to worry about where it gets sprayed since it is plain water.  And squeezing the spay nozzle helps build coordination and develop the muscles in their little hands.
Throw in a toothbrush, for the deep cleaning.  I used a toothbrush that had come in one of those complimentary airline toiletries kit, but any old toothbrush would work fine.
For the complete cute article click HERE.

Giant Magnet Board

It’s simply an oil drip pan, bought from Walmart for $12. Cheap!

The oil pan had a grease coating on it which came off with SimpleGreen. I didn’t want to put (or try to put a hole in it for hanging) a hole in it so I use the 3M picture hanging velcro.

great idea via

Ice Cream Balloons

Step 1- Choose paper or already made bamboo cones (sold at http://www.jbprince.com)

Step 2- Find the perfect balloons, water balloons have the right shape (sold at http://www.Amazon.com) and fill with helium.

Step 3- Choose a nice string or thin ribbon, multi colored yarn string (sold at Michaels) is my favorite.

Step 4- Tie yarn around balloon tie.

Step 5- Make small hole at the bottom of cone.

Step 6- Pull yarn through cone and make knot just under cone point.

Your Ice Cream Balloons are ready to fly!! My daughter and I had fun adding flowers on top as the cherry and we also adorned the cone with fancy bows but it’s really up to you, so get creative!!

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