Activities with the Kids

If you're looking for something fun and different to do this week with your kids, and you live in the Phoenix area, here are a few ideas. For more ideas you can subscribe to the Active Mom's Magazine here.

Monday, May 2nd:

Mommy and Me Class at As You Wish Pottery

Ages 2-5 years old

9am to 10am

Cost: $20, includes pottery

Find locations here

Tuesday, May 3rd:

Free Trial Class at Great Play of Chandler

Classes here, call to reserve a class time

480-726-7529

Wednesday, May 4th:

Bikes, Bounce, and Boogie

at Tumbleweed Recreation Center in Chandler

9am to 11am

Ages 5 and under with an adult

Cost: $4 per child

More info here under Infant & Preschool Spring Activities

OR

The Lunch Bunch

USA Gymnastics in Gilbert

12 to 2pm

Cost: $5 per child for groups with 6 or more kids (potty trained)

Gather your friends and eat your lunch at a reserved table while the kids play

or go out to lunch while the kids play.

Call to reserve: 480-926-1480

Thursday, May 5th:

Bounce Jungle

 Open Bounce: 9am-11am, 12pm-2pm, or 3pm to 5pm

2301 E. Yeager Drive
Chandler, AZ 85286
(480) 883-8891

(photo from wechoosethislife.com)

Friday, May 6th:

Movie in the Park: Toy Story 3

Kiwanis Park at 7pm

6111 S. All America Way
Tempe, AZ 85283
(480) 350-5201

Lemon Sugar Scrub

This lemon sugar scrub is really easy to make, leaves your hands feeling really soft, and makes a great gift. It would make a great Mother's Day gift. The recipe below fills two 12 ounce mason jars, and I had some leftover to fill a wide mouth 8 ounce mason jar.

  

All you need is three simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. 5 cups of sugar, 1 3/4 cups of olive oil, and the juice of two large lemons (about 8 tablespoons). 

 

Pour all three ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

 Mix until it looks something like this. Then spoon into your mason jars or another container that has a tight fitting lid.

 I created labels for the sugar scrub using 2" and 1.5" craft punches, scrapbook paper, card stock, yarn, double stick tape, and a hole punch. I found the original recipe for this lemon sugar scrub on Tip Junkie by Stephanie Lynn and you can find lots of other cute gifts in a jar here.

DIY Living Wreath

I love this DIY Living Wreath, and I know my Mom would love it too! Wish we lived closer so we could make these together. You can find all the details of how to make one at Hostess with the Mostess here.

Free Mother's Day Printable

TomKat Studio has a free mother's day cupcake topper printable and matching gift tags. You can find them here.

DIY Doily Lamp

My sister came across this DIY Doily Lamp idea in her search for wedding ideas. I think this is such a cool way to recycle and reuse a doily. Found this great idea by More Design Please and you can get all the details here at DOS Family.

DIY Dressform

Wow, I love this project! I don't know if I will get around to making one, but maybe one day. I love the way she used an old lamp base and vintage book pages and newspaper to create it. You can find all the details to this project by Songbird here.

Easter Egg Hunt

We had an Easter Egg Hunt this morning for the kids at the park. We asked everyone to pack a lunch and join us for an Easter Egg Hunt. Alexis planned a craft for the kids, they colored and decorated bunny ears. She cut strips of paper to wrap around the kid's heads then stapled ears to it. The kids decorated the ears with stickers and pom poms. I made lemon cupcakes with buttercream frosting. I made chicks out of fondant to place on top of some and used a grass tip to decorate the others. Then placed jelly beans in the "grass" and a cupcake pick in each one. I found the printable decorations on Catch My Party by Autumn Leah Designs. It was a fun morning, thanks everyone for coming!

Superhero Bedroom

I love this Superhero bedroom created by Cheri Heaton for her 3 year old son. You can check out Cheri's blog, I am Momma, Hear Me Roar here. I stumbled across this super cute superhero bed on Ohdeedoh. I might need to remember this bed design for in the future for Hudson or Max.

Michael's Coupons

Click here for a 50% off one regular priced item coupon at Michael's, however it is for today only.
Click here for a 30% off your whole purchase valid on April 23rd only.

Unique Mother's Day Gifts

 

Necklace on Etsy by La Vieja Tun Tun 

$45.00 find it here 

Mug Rug on Etsy by Fortheloveofjoy

$10.00 find it here.

 

Cake Stand on Esty by E. Isabella Designs

$36.00 find it here.

Handmade Recipe Box on Etsy by ErinsArtwork

$22.00 find it here

Children's Place

Need a last minute Easter outfit for the kids, print this or take in the offer codes when you shop.Valid April 21-23.

Coloring Easter Eggs

Hudson and I colored some Easter eggs this afternoon. I bought organic brown eggs and wasn't sure how they would color with the dye. However, the colors came out very bright and beautiful! I also added 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the water and food coloring to brighten the colors. Hudson had fun coloring the eggs, but really what he was more excited about was eating them.

Living Easter Basket

 

I originally heard about this idea from my Mom. When I searched it online I found step by step directions here on Ecobuzzla.com. I think this is a really cute idea and something that a young child would get excited about. We planted grass seed with Hudson a few weeks ago and he was so excited when it finally sprouted! It only took ours about 2-3 days to start growing, however I think that seemed like an eternity to Hudson since he was checking to see if it has grown about every 10 minutes! 

 

Here's What You'll Need:

• Baskets – Or you can incorporate another craft into the living Easter Basket project and make your own baskets out of egg cartons, recycled construction paper or paper grocery bags.
• Basket liner – Use naturally waxed paper (conventional waxed paper is coated with petroleum based paraffin wax), a plastic bread bag or other plastic bag that you’d be tossing anyway or a reusable planting tray from your local nursery that will fit inside the basket (don’t forget to take the baskets to the nursery with you for size comparison if you decide to use a planting tray).
• Organic potting soil
• Organic seeds – Use any organic grass seed of your choice.  Wheatgrass grows quickly and is great for juicing.  You can also try oat or rye grass. Check your local Whole Foods or plant nursery for organic grass seeds.

Steps:

1.  Line the baskets with your liner of choice – waxed paper, egg carton material, reused plastic or reusable tray.

2.  Fill the lined basket with two inches of organic potting soil.

3.  Sprinkle grass seeds over the top of the soil.

4.  Sprinkle just enough soil over the seeds to cover them.

5.  Water daily.

Keep the baskets in a spot where they won’t be disturbed and be sure to keep the soil moist.  In a few days the seeds will sprout and you can move the basket to a sunny spot.  Continue to water and within two to three weeks (7-10 days for wheatgrass) you’ll have a beautiful bed of grass.

After your Easter celebration you can let the cats enjoy their own patch of “kitty grass” or you can gently move your homegrown grass to a spot outside and watch it continue to grow.  If you used wheatgrass you can juice it!  Or throw it in your compost pile (after it’s dried out).

Check back for more ways to celebrate Easter naturally.

Directions and picture from ecobuzzla.com

Cake in a Jar

I am loving the cake in a jar idea, and when I saw the rainbow cake in a jar at The Family Kitchen I knew I had to find a reason to make some! They also posted a Easter colored tie-dye cake in a jar that you can find here. I combined their ideas from both to create my own. You can find the recipe and directions at the above links.

 

 
 





Tatertots and Jello

Easter Cake Pops

I love all of these adorable Easter cake pops by Bakerella. Learn how to make the cute little sheep here.

Easter Toppers

I love these toppers by eighteen25 for an Easter treat. You can download the peeps topper here for free! And the bunny tails topper can be found here. These would make cute party favors for a kids Easter party.