DIY Stress Ball

This project is so easy to make and so fun to play with.  I'm going to call it a toad ball, but that story is for later.  To make your toad ball you'll need:

• A balloon in a light color ( I used yellow, but you can use any light color.)
• A bottle with a small opening ( I used a running pack's bottle.)
• Chia seeds 
• A funnel that fits into your bottle's opening
• A 1 cup measuring cup

Scoop out about a cup of chia seeds with the measuring cup.  Place the funnel in the mouth of your bottle.  Slowly dump the chia seeds into the funnel so they pour into the bottle.  Let all of the seeds fall into the bottle, then remove the funnel.

Inflate the balloon slightly.  It shouldn't be too big, but it has to be big enough to hold the chia seeds.

You may need someone to help you with this step.  Firmly hold the neck of the balloon shut so that air does not escape.  Open the hole of the balloon and carefully fit it around the neck of the bottle.  Take your fingers off the balloon's neck.

Grasp the area where the neck of the balloon overlaps the bottle's opening.  Flip the bottle and allow all of the chia seeds to fall into the balloon.

Pinching the balloon shut, remove it from the bottle and slightly release pressure on the balloon to allow the air to escape.  Firmly tie a knot, and cut off the excess if you want a neater look.  You could also decorate it with permanent markers.

Here's what a toad ball is.  Squeeze the ball between your fingers, and it "grows" black and white toad bumps!

This toad ball will help relieve stress, calm the body, and improve focus.  Who could say no to all those things wrapped in fun?

Tell me what you did to your toad ball!

Baby Girl

A Day in the Life of a LEGO

Have you ever wondered what a LEGO does on a weekend?  Read on to find out!

Lucia McCarthy the LEGO girl starts her day at 5:45 a.m. by cleaning up and brushing her hair.  Lucia's cats, Luna and Lola, reluctantly wake up to join her.

Lucia's family always eats breakfast together, except for Luna and Lola.  Her dad, Michael, is a contractor; he leaves for work at 6:05 a.m.

Lucia's best friend, Ava, arrives at 7:30 a.m., while Mrs. McCarthy is washing the dishes.  Luna and Lola wander in to investigate.

Ava and Lucia play with Luna and Lola until Ava's mom picks her up at 10:30 a.m.  The kittens are grateful.

At 10:45 a.m., the house is quiet.  Lucia and her cats settle down for a smoothie and a nap.

What do your LEGO people do for fun?  Tell us!


Baby Girl

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Are you looking for a dessert that doesn't have any gluten, eggs, tree nuts, or peanuts?  If you are, then this is the recipe for you.  Please note that vegan chocolate chips can be substituted for normal ones.

To make chocolate dipped strawberries you will need:

• About 1 lb. rinsed strawberries
• Roughly 1 cup of Hershey's Semisweet Baking Chips
• A handful of Hershey's Premier White Baking Chips
• Wax paper
• Bowl or large mug
• Plastic snack bag
• spoon

Melt the semisweet chocolate in a microwave safe bowl or large mug ( This makes dipping the strawberries easier).  Taking one strawberry at a time by the leaves, dip it into the chocolate to thoroughly cover most of the strawberry ( See picture).  Use a spoon to help spread the chocolate.  Lay the coated strawberries on a sheet of wax paper to dry.  Once the strawberries are slightly hardened, melt the white chocolate and spoon it into the snack bag.  Seal the bag and cut a small hole in the bottom corner, making sure to leave it nice and tiny.  Squeeze the white chocolate onto the strawberries in swirls, shapes, or zigzags.  Put the strawberries in the fridge for a few hours, or until the chocolate completely stiffens up.  Enjoy your allergen friendly treat!

What allergen friendly treat can you make?  Share it with us!



Baby Girl

Fi - Dos and Don'ts

Fi - Do #1

Cuddle with your dog regularly.  He might even cuddle back.

Fi - Don't #1

Never leave your dog at the door, just waiting to come in.  He may need a nap.

Fi-Do #2

Always remember to include your dog in pictures.  Be sure to remember before, though.

Fi - Don't #2

When you're playing with your dog, watch him carefully.  He doesn't know being the next Houdini won't be easy.

Fi - Don't #3

Never put real makeup on your dog.  If he's a boy he'll feel even worse than itchy.  It's okay to do it with a picture on editing programs, your dog shouldn't mind.

How do you have fun with your pets? 

Baby Girl

How to Build a Lego Pirate Fort

Have you ever wanted to build a small pirate fort? Well, here are instructions for a nice, small, very, very simple pirate hideout.

You would probably expect a pirate fort to be next to the water. Use blue plates to make water. I added a gray piece to start the shore line. You will want to use gray sloped pieces for a rocky shoreline. You can use small sloped green pieces on the shore for added detail.

To add another layer to the shore line use any color bricks behind the first layer and lay the second layer on top on them.

If your shoreline doesn't cover the whole width of your base plate, you need to add detail to the sides of the model. Here is the right side.

Here is the left side.

You have now made an awkward semicircle. Place two, two brick high pillars of any color to support the base plate that will lay above them.

 Use a green base plate for the ground that the fort will sit on.

  If your base plate doesn't cover the entire space, then use a few smaller plates to fill it in.

  Next, take a 1x1 circle plate and place a 1x1x6 on top of it.

  Next attach a ladder to a basket using a 1x2 clip.

  Attach the pillar to the ground leaving room for the main fort.

   Add two large arch pieces leaving four studs between them.

   Add a six by six platform on top of the arches.

 Add chests, buckets, stools, and hang up the ladder.

  Add a small dock if you have room.

Now you can add the treasure. Add gold, jewels, guns, and anything else you think a pirate might have.

  And now you a small little pirate fort.

  What would you do to modify the fort and in what setting would it be?




Dude

Doll Christmas Party

With some clay, fabric, and a little patience, I hosted a party for my dolls.  They all had a great time, and now yours can too!  Here's how I did it:

I used some things I found around my room to make the treats at the refreshments table.  I used scraps of yellow yarn to make the lemonade, and clay to make the spoon, cookies, mistletoe, gingerbread house, and ice creams.  For the fork container, I used an empty container and dumped mini plastic forks in it.  I put Lego pieces and clay shapes into the cap and put a clay spoon in it to spoon the "candy" out.

This is my doll, Kimberly.  She is opening a present that Saige gave her.  It is actually an American Girl Mini Lea Doll.

This is Saige, the American Girl Doll of the Year, from 2013.  I made her dress and shawl from gold sequined fabric and blue ribbon.  No sewing required!

This is my doll Flower, sampling a chocolate chip cookie.  Yum!

My dolls had a blast at their party!  What will you have at your doll's party? 

Baby Girl

Hatchet Book Review

What would a teenage boy do if his plane crashed and left him stranded in the forest? To find out read "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen.

Thirteen-year-old Brain Rodeson is riding on a private plane to see his dad who lives up North. When the pilot dies from a heart attack and the plane crashes in the Canadian forest, Brain has to fend for himself. He needs to steer away from animals such as bears, wolves, skunks and porcupines while trying to find food, shelter and warmth.

If you like books where a kid get stranded in the wilderness then you should read "Hatchet". It is funny, full of action, and a good book in general. If you like any of the things listed then you will like this book.

 

I liked the book because of the way it was written. At the end of each chapter I wanted to read another. In my opinion those are the best kind of books.

Dude