Kids Play Kitchen from Re-Purposed Entertainment Center

Here is a kick ass, cheap little project for your duplicating pleasure.


Wondering how to do it?


Here's how it all went down.
We grabbed the entertainment center at our local Habitat for Humanity Re-Store for $10. Rich cut about 6 inches from the top so the kids would be able to reach the top shelf. He then primered it and painted it white.


The next step was the "countertop". We used a metal bowl we had for the sink and had picked up a kitchen faucet, knob and towel hooks at the Re-Store for less than $5.


Rich glued and caulked those babies in and are very sturdy. The knob still turns so they can pretend to turn on water, too.


I then painted 2 simple black circles to mimic a stove top and super glued a cute framed picture to the side.


Rich cut and routed the edges of a scrap piece of wood to make a fridge door, and attached that with invisible hinges.


We picked up a sheet of metal, sprayed it with chalkboard spray paint, and screwed that onto the fridge door. We used sheet metal because I wanted it to also be magnetic.


The drawer pull chalk/alphabet letter holder works perfect to keep those little parts organized.
The handles from the original entertainment center were taken off and holes filled in. We then used some handles we had and put them on top of the two lower doors so it would give a look of a dishwasher and oven.



The middle section is perfect for storing the plates, cups and utensils, with the bottom shelf displaying the appliances.



Most of the accessories I thrifted, to give it a more homey feel.


Overall, the project took a weekend to complete and came together, play food and appliances not included, for under $25!

However, if you choose to undergo this project, be aware that this is how it looks like most of the time:


You have been warned. :)

A Simple Valentine

I've been spotting the toilet paper roll heart paintings all over Pinterest and figured it would be perfect for my last minute valentines we needed to get mailed.


The kids had a great time making a dozen cards for family (and Tayden's best friend) and it was a really easy craft for them (1.5 and 3 years old).



I put myself in charge of addressing the envelopes because I just found these stamps that I used to play with as a child! The full alphabet! They make me real happy.



So if you've been too busy to get anything done before today, fret not! Grab a roll, paint and a blank card. Have fun!

Favorites Friday, Art, Food & Parties

Here's a random slew of ideas I've found inspiration from the past few weeks on the interweb.


{1: eskimo kiss. so sweet. via, 2: caterpillar and mushrooms, 3: a good day print, 4: apples and salty medjool caramel, 5: love you more download, 6: color ratio chart. pure brilliance, 7: mail a tube of chappy for the cost of a stamp}

Favorites Friday, Put a Plastic Animal On It

Ok, granted, "put a plastic animal on it" doesn't have the same ring as "bird" does, but I'm telling you here and now, they are the next it item. And they are my favorite new things.

They're popping up everywhere from DIY's to those for sale.

Here's a terrific smorgasbord of both.


{1: photo holder, 2: place card holder, 3: craft jar organizers, 4: wrapping paper decoration,
5: jewelry holder, 6: fridge magnets, 7: candle holder}

Be sure to check back every day next week for terrific new busy bag ideas
that you will not want to miss!

Flubber!

This year, for some of the older kids in our lives, we made them flubber for Christmas. You, know, the 1961 classic Absent Minded Professor and his tremendous invention? I mean, he made a car fly, people! I love that movie.

Now, I don't promise you flying cars, but I do promise at least a solid hour of play and discovery out of this recipe. And, if you read to the bottom, you'll find my discovery that is perfect for boys...

I originally stumbled upon the scientific concoction through Pinterest (if you haven't joined, you really need to get on board) to Frugal Fun Challenge's website.

I made a few alterations to that recipe, mainly halving the recipe, which made more than plenty for our needs. Here's the recipe for you!


1. Get 2 bowls.

2. In one bowl, mix up 3/4 cup warm water, 1 cup Elmer's glue, and food coloring (we used neon blue) real good.

3. In your second bowl, stir 1 1/2 teaspoons of Borax (found in the laundry aisle of your grocery store) and 1/2 cup warm water until Borax is dissolved.

4. Pour the Borax mix into the glue mix and knead with your hands until fully incorporated.

Watch as science flies around your kitchen! It is seriously so much fun, and weird, and easy! What more could you want?!

Like I said, we gave ours as gifts, so after enough playing, I put it into jars and made labels. What I discovered when putting them into jars is that it makes your very own fart maker! Kid you not. So, if you're looking for perfect entertainment for your tween boy, make this and stick it in a jar. Hilarious.

I digress, it makes a good gift, or party favors for a science party. Something to break away from play-doh.

Have fun!

Homemade Limoncello

During Thanksgiving, my in-laws brought up a giant box of their home grown lemons. I knew immediately those perfectly virgin rinds would make a perfectly flavored limoncello.


I took que from CHOW and Martha Stewart and made this wonderful liqueur as gifts for friends on Christmas.

With an ingredient list of only 4 items, how could you find an excuse not to make it? Keep in mind you'll need a week to let the lemons and vodka do their thing, so plan ahead if giving it as a gift.


Why do you need limoncello in your freezer? Because it's good. How do you serve it? Traditionally, served up neat, in a chilled cordial glass. But I like it mixed with a chilled cava. Or with orange juice and seltzer.


The process for making it is really quite easy.

1. Peel about a dozen lemons, trying to only take the yellow part of the rind. Too much white rind can make it turn bitter.

2. Stick those rinds into a big jar. Pour in a bottle of Everclear 151. The higher proof the better.

3. Give a little shakey-shake (with the lid on of course) and store in a dark, cool place, like your cupboard. Shake and burp (open the lid) once a day for a week.

4. Mix 3 cups sugar and 3 cups water in a saucepan for about 5 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved and it's thickened up a bit. Let cool.

5. Strain your jar of lemon vodka through a cheesecloth lined fine mesh sieve. It will take a little time to let it all strain through. Be patient. You want a nice clear liquid in the end.

6. Take your lemon liquid and your simple syrup and mix together. Pour into decorative jars (or one big one for yourself) and dress it up with these labels I made for you.

7. Store in the freezer and give when you need an elegant, original gift, or pull out when you're having friends over for brunch.

A Last Minute Ornament That Will Last a Lifetime

{today's post is from Melissa at daily-ish mel. a place to enjoy such weekly posts as wordless wednesday or crafty friday. 

she's my crafting partner in crime and I'm so happy to have her share a hand embroidered felt ornament with us today. 

be sure to stop by her blog and say hi!}

The idea for this ornament came from the festively fun book Fa la la la Felt. I love working with felt for many reasons, mainly because it doesn't ravel when cut and makes for a perfect canvas for embroidery projects.


The beading was very time consuming but really added the delicate detail I was looking for.


From earth-friendly felt, eco-felt to bamboo felt, crafting with felt can be green. Start yours today for a lifetime of Christmas enjoyment!

Making a Difference Around the Globe

{please join me in welcoming Courtney from See Jane Advocate to the blog today.
she's here to share her heart, passion, and terrific ideas on how to make a difference in other people's lives this holiday season.
be sure to show her some love by leaving a comment below as well as visiting her website. thanks, Christen}
I'm so honored to be guest blogging here today! My name is Courtney, and I am extremely passionate about advocacy and helping people in need around the world. I know I'm not the only busy mom who wants to make a difference, so I created a blog called See Jane Advocate where moms (or busy people in general) can find quick, affordable and practical ways to make a difference.

Since the idea of finding ways to make a global difference in your daily life is one of my biggest life principals, it makes sense to me to incorporate those values into our Christmas celebrations. So I wanted to share 4 easy ideas on how to do that.

1. Stocking stuffers of cash to be spent on an online relief gift catalog

This has become one of my favorite parts of Christmas. Two years ago we started replacing stocking stuffers for our families with envelopes of $15 cash to be spent together on the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog or World Relief's Catalog of Hope. So on Christmas day, in that lull between gifts and lunch, we all get online and everyone spends their $15 (PS. You can do SO much for $15! Did you know you can feed a hungry baby for a WEEK for $9???). It's a win-win for us because it gives us an activity to do and it's crazy awesome to see the difference that our Christmas celebration makes for people in developing countries.


2. Make or Give an Operation Christmas Child Online Shoebox

If you aren't familiar with Operation Christmas Child, I would strongly encourage you to check it out. You can now make and send a shoebox gift online for $35 or pay for a box and send it to someone else to let them fill it and send it. This would be a great way for a family to do something awesome together on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Elementary aged kids would probably get especially excited to put this box together on the website (they can even upload a photo of themselves and write a note for the receiving child!). I also love this as a gift for families who don't live near you.


3. Buy just ONE gift that makes a difference

I know it's late for gifts, but just ONE gift that makes a difference can change someone's life in a developing country. Here are couple of my favorites that are pretty mainstream so you don't have to worry about shipping in time for Christmas:

FEED Bags. Fabulous bags (I use mine as a diaper bag!) that provide food, vitamins and other essentials for children in developing countries. You can find them at Whole Foods, Nordstrom, Gap and tons of other retailers.

TOMS (both the shoes and their new eyewear). Since they are super hip these days, they're pretty easy to find! Here's where you can find a retailer for their eyewear or a retailer for their footwear. They also offer gift cards!

West Elm has a whole line of products called Handmade in Haiti that are made by Haitian artisans attempting to rebuild their life after the earthquake. The products are RAD and support a great cause. Here's where you can find the nearest store.


4. Send a Christmas card to your sponsor child (and if you don't have one, get one!)

This idea started last year when Abreham, our sponsor child in Ethiopia, sent us a Christmas card with a drawing of an Ethiopian Christmas tree and it looked nothing like ours. Joelle (my oldest) was intrigued, so we sent him a card with a drawing of OUR Christmas tree...and it has now become a tradition. It's been a great way to get my kiddo involved in something meaningful that is also fun for her (even if she wouldn't show her face for the photos)! If you don't yet have a sponsor child, it's really one of the best things that we've done and I would encourage you to find a child to sponsor. We go through Food for the Hungry because we got to see their amazing work first hand in Ethiopia a few years ago, but you could also go through Compassion International or several other great organizations.


Ok, so these things might not change the WHOLE world. I do realize that. But they will deeply effect the life of at least one person in need and at least one person close to you (you, your child, your family, your friends). The point is: Do what you can. Even if it's a little thing, it can make a big difference to someone else.

I hope these things inspire you to find meaningful traditions that will work for YOUR family. Please let me know if you have any questions!

And if you have any ideas to add to this list please share them with us in the comments!!! I hope you all have a very merry and blessed Christmas! Thanks for having me here!

Imaginative Play, Kitchens

Our big gift to the kids this year is a play kitchen and all the accessories and play food. These mini little kitchens are everywhere right now, and for good reason. They are so fun. Spark creativity. And develop imaginative play.

We decided to make our own from an old tv stand, so we could do it on the cheap, and have exactly what we wanted in it.

Here's the stand we picked up for $5! Aka, the "before".


I also went to thrift stores and the dollar store to pick up a lot of the accessories like towel racks, dishware, faucet, etc.

The most important part of the kitchen is the food. We got a variety, but if you too are looking for a good resource, start here.

I also rounded up some inspiration, whether you'd like to buy or make one yourself. I'll also be sure to post our "after" pictures...if it gets done in time for Christmas. Wish us luck!


{row 1: 1, 2, 3}
{row 2: 1, 2, 3}
{row 3: 1, 2, 3}

Gathering of Grandparent Gifts

Today on our advent calendar, we are to shop for presents for the grandparents. A sentimental craft is surely the way to any grandparents heart because who loves your kids more? And giving them something they can show off is even better.

While I haven't decided exactly what we'll end up getting today, I figured I better take the initiative lest we come home and wrap hot wheels that Tayden inevitably would choose.


{1: silhouette pictures, 2: modge podge photos on canvas, 3: kids art notepad,
4: wood block ornaments, 5: hot chocolate on a stick, 7: tangerine gumdrops}

Favorites Friday, Stack it Up

If you're looking for some open-ended toys for your tot, check out these stacking toys that will really stack up!

Oh... bad joke.

But really, these are great and will last through the generations.


{1: balancing blocks, 2: vintage romper room round abouts, 3: magical beans,
4: tobbles, 5: vintage bill ding blocks, 6: stackrobots, 7: witty worm}

Cyber Monday

{make boozy olives, bay rum after shave and mountain spice liquid shaving soap, bottle opener and resealer,
hand printed rock glasses, vintage Emerson clock radio converted to mp3 player}


{kenyan black tea, 100% goes towards education of kenyan orphans, heart on your sleeve long gloves,
iPod/iPhone stand, ruffle front skirt, vintage 70's drinking glasses}


{hand knit wool owl, dancing ballerina, fabric button hair clips, set of 3 babushka russian matryoshka cloth dolls, hand painted wood cubes}


{vintage push out puzzles, recycled car crayons, hand knit crankypants, wood tic tac toe, vintage wooden trail pull toy}