kids Archives - Farmhouse Chic Blog

You are ONE in a Minion ♥

February 11, 2015 by Fotini Filed Under: free Valentine's printable, kids, kids crafts, minion, Valentine's printable, Valentines day Leave a Comment

It’s official… we are all currently in love with minions! You too? If so, you’re in luck today because I created a free minion Valentine’s printable for your little one to customize and take to school! I know, I’m cutting it pretty close on time, but hey, better late than never, right?

We created this adorable minion Valentine card box the other night, my son named him Stewart! I absolutely loved watching my sons creativity come out for this little project!! And his reaction to seeing the end result was absolutely priceless!!

click on image to download

Have a very Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sharing on these lovely blogs!

{ Comfy Car Pillow Tutorial }

September 9, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: car pillow, comfort, comfortable in the car, fabric, Jo Ann Fabrics, kids, sewing, Star Wars Leave a Comment

We bought our van last Winter so we would all be more comfortable and have more space…

Well, my little guy often complains about not being comfortable in the car, so I asked him how I could fix that! He told me he needed a pillow. So, we headed to Jo Ann’s where I let him pick out his own fabric, and of course he chose Star Wars 😉

Follow along with me as I create a pillowcase in a few simple steps!

I bought one yard of fabric for this project, and it was already just about the perfect width to fit my pillow. All I had to do was pin and sew the sides a tad. But, before sewing one of the sides, I pinned a piece of black elastic that I would sew right along with. This would attach to the back of the seat of the car easily. Be sure to have your fabric inside out, so you create seamless lines! Sew both sides and the bottom, making sure to keep one end completely open. On the open end, fold back the fabric about two inches and sew. This creates the traditional pillow case design.

He is now one happy camper, mission accomplished!

Sharing this project on these fantastic blogs!

{ Cherished Memory Boxes }

September 2, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: children, diy, kids, kids craft, kids project, memories, memory boxes, saving memories 8 Comments

More often than not, I’m saving little doodles, projects, jotting memories and more of my little ones! I would use two drawers in my kitchen to keep the stuff, but it was getting out of control! Does this sound familiar? If so listen up!

I ran into these adorable kraft style photo boxes on sale at Michaels for $1.50 each! I should’ve grabbed a bunch, unfortunately I only grabbed two for this project! Once I was home I personalized the boxes with each childs name with stickers I already had (from Target dollar spot!) You could decorate the boxes with their favorite colors using wrapping or scrapbook paper or even have the little ones draw a picture on the boxes!

Include all those special memories you don’t want to forget in that little box! I have things like school projects, school pictures, ticket and movie stubs, first haircuts, party invites, etc! I’m looking forward to adding more and more as they grow! I’m sure I’ll end up with a few of these, but it will be so fun to look back when they’re older!

Sharing this project on these fantastic blogs!

{ MC: Helpful Tips for Traveling With Small Children }

May 18, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: family vacations, kids, MC, mommy advice, parent advice, The Mom Connection, traveling, traveling with kids 3 Comments

I am part of an AWESOME mommy panel with Cassie from Two In Diapers Julie from Naptime Review.

Each Saturday, we will bring you fresh new ideas and advice about motherhood.

If you enjoyed what you read, we encourage you to tweet about it!

Now on to this week’s topic!

What are your helpful tips for traveling with small children?

Here is what Mom Connection shared:

Welcome! I’m Julie over at Naptime Review. I am a mom of two wild, crazy and beautiful girls. My oldest just turned 4 and my baby is 16 months old. This is my advice for traveling with small children:

We all know the stress that traveling with kids can bring. Many of times before we boarded an airplane, I prayed for nice and understanding people on our flight.

Every time I have traveled I have enlisted the help of friends and family for some tips and secrets. Here are a few things that have helped keep our sanity over the last 4 years when it comes to traveling with little ones.

Plan Travel Around Nap Time: When we drove to Florida, we pulled an all-nighter. It was great. Averie slept the whole drive. Now, when we arrived Mommy and Daddy were tired and Averie was well rested but we made great time with only a few stops.
Purchase New and Exciting Stuff: I hit the dollar bins every time we travel. I buy new snacks and some new toys to entertain. When traveling by air, I always make sure to have a drink box or sucker for the kids to help with air pressure.
Pack Car seat and Boppy Pillow: The car seat was a must-have when we flew to Florida last Thanksgiving. We knew our rambunctious toddler needed to be strapped in at all costs. We were also comfortable with the fact she knew what was expected behavior in her car seat. Now, the bobby pillow comes in handy for babies. It was great for traveling when Averie was 6 months old. It supported her in the seat next to me and provided myself with comfort when holding her on my lap for 4 hours.
Ask Your Doctor: I had a pediatrician recommend Benadryl for Alice’s first flight. She did great on the trial run at home but was wide awake on the plane. Go figure!! However, I have heard urban legends of kids doing well with a little Benadryl cocktail.
Technology Makes A Great Babysitter: Pack portable DVD player, Ipads, and Leap Pads. I always download a few new games when we travel.

Good luck when traveling this summer! Hopefully, these tips will elevate some of the stress that travel can bring. When all else fails, just remember it is only a phase and one day travel will be easier!

Hi! I’m Cassie from Two In Diapers, and I’m a mommy to three sweet babies, ages 5, 3, and 2. This is my advice for traveling with small children:

We just returned from Florida, which was a vacation that included two four-hour flights with all three kids! I am happy to report that both flights went as smoothly as possible!

One major thing that makes our travels with children a bit less painful is our general attitude. When we travel, my husband and I try to keep the mood to a lighthearted and excited one, instead of the way we usually really feel – tired and stressed. 🙂 Since our littles feed so much off of the tone we set in our family, this helps a ton right from the start. We try to point out every little exciting thing about the trip. Kids are so easily excited, so why not make the trip as fun as possible?

For this last flight, I raided the dollar section at Target. I found all kinds of travel-safe toys for super cheap! Tiny dry-erase boards, flash cards, books, etc. I individually wrapped each item and marked it with the child’s name and the order in which they were to be opened, which I arranged strategically (for example, least exciting toy first because at that point they’re just excited to open a present). I made sure NOT to tell the kiddos that they had a bag full of presents so that they wouldn’t always be looking for the next one, and believe it or not, we didn’t even get halfway through the presents on the trip there! This worked out perfectly because we had a few for the trip back also.

We definitely also packed lots of snacks… snacks are a great distraction for kiddos! Especially the ones that you can play with – animal crackers, scrabble Cheez-Its, etc.

My final piece of advice is… don’t plan on reading a book or closing your eyes for even a few minutes. Set realistic expectations for the trip and plan on playing with the kids. Make it fun for everyone!

My name is Alexa from No Holding Back. I am the mom of Nayner Bug (male, 5), Jelly Bean, (female, 3) and Tiny (female, 1). This is my advice for traveling with small children:

We have some experience in this since we drive from South Carolina to Upstate NY once, if not twice a year to visit my husband’s family. 16 hours in the car! This summer will be the first time we do it with three children, and I’m not looking forward to it at all! But this is how we survive:

– In vehicle entertainment systems are a must! DVD players, good music, anything to keep their minds off of the road

– Pack lots of snacks! When all else fails, I give them a treat!

– Plan to stop at rest areas that have room to run. Pack a ball or something that they will enjoy playing with and let them run around for a little while.

– If you stop for fast food, make sure to stop at a place with a playground!

– Make a “travel kit” with books, coloring books and crayons, and some of their favorite toys. This works for car or airplane.

– Perhaps invest in a new toy or something that, if all else fails, you can whip out and give to them! (Not bribery, just positive reinforcement for behaving!)

If you have never traveled with small children before, the key to survival is the realization that you may have to make frequent stops and you are going to have to be patient. It is easier for us to travel on a plane with them than in a car, because there are so many distractions on a plane. But, we have found ways to keep them entertained on long car trips.

And you never know what may provide entertainment. On our first drive to NY when my oldest child was about 18 months old, he had a big time with a roll of paper towels. He must have played with it for over an hour, maybe two. First unraveling it, then ripping it to shreds. We had a mess to clean up, but he was entertained and happy!

My name is Fotini! I blog over at Glamorous, Affordable Life. I am the mom of (Isabella 2 years and Christian 6 years). This is my advice for traveling with small children:

We love to take family vacations at least every year so it’s important that the kids adjust, so it’s enjoyable for all of us! First things first, I make sure there are plenty of activities to keep them busy while we drive or even fly.

Coloring books, dry erase boards, chalkboards, road trip bingo and other fun games here, magnetic puzzle boards and books.

Prepare snacks ahead of time. It will save you money while on the road plus you won’t have to stop quite as often and they’ll be satisfied! I pack a small cooler full of sandwiches, their favorite snacks, juice, frozen yogurt sticks and water.

If your vehicle doesn’t have a built in dvd player, invest in one! Our van doesn’t have them, so last summer we bought a dual headrest dvd player so they both get their own screen to watch their favorite movies. I try to surprise both of them the day we leave with a new movie. That keeps them quiet for the first couple of hours!

I try my best to make the environment familiar for both of the kids, but especially Isabella since traveling is still new to her. I bring things from home that she’s close to, like her favorite blanket, babies and a couple toys. I’ve found every time we’ve traveled and I’ve stuck as close to our at-home routine as possible, everything goes really smooth, including bedtime! That makes it so nice for Daddy and I. 🙂

Your Turn:

What advice do you have on traveling with small children? Leave us a comment; we love to read your tips and advice!

Need advice? Check out these previous Mom Connection topics:

Setting Goals with Your Children

Teaching Your Kids to Share

Getting your Preschooler Dressed

Balancing Blogging and Motherhood

{ MC: Speaking to Your Kids About Stranger Danger }

March 9, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: keeping kids safe, kids, MC, mommy advice, mommy panel, stranger danger, The Mom Connection Leave a Comment

I am part of an AWESOME mommy panel with Cassie from Two In Diapers and Julie from Naptime Review.

Each Saturday, we will bring you fresh new ideas and advice about motherhood.

If you enjoyed what you read, we encourage you to tweet about it!

Coming on March 16th, we will discuss:

Fun St. Patrick’s Day Activities To Do With Your Preschooler

Now on to this week’s topic!

How To Speak To Your Kids About Stranger Danger.

Here is what Mom Connection shared:

Welcome! I’m Julie over at Naptime Review. I am a mom of two wild, crazy and beautiful girls. My oldest just turned 4 and my baby is 16 months old. This is how I speak to my kids about stranger danger:

I am kind of paranoid when it comes to stranger danger. My girls will probably never ride their bikes without me or walk up to the nearest gas station for candy. The news makes me sad and scared for their future. The only way to calm my anxiety is to pray. I often pray for God to protect and watch over my children.

I have been talking to Averie about strangers for a while now. We started when she was 2 ½ years old. I even showed her a YouTube video of a little girl kicking and screaming when a man was trying to abduct her. I was worried, that it would frighten her, but I wanted to show her how serious “bad” strangers can be.

We also talk periodically about our private parts and why they are private. Mostly our conversations are after prayers and during snuggle time. I plan on talking with Alice in the next year or so. I think open communication is important and to make sure what you are telling your children is age appropriate. I don’t want to scare Averie but I want to lay the foundation for when she is older and our talks are more in-depth. I will always remind my children and talk to them about the dangers of strangers.

Here is a great book called Some Parts are Not for Sharing, I purchased it awhile back to talk to Averie about “private parts.” If I could find it, we will be reading it again. It is informative and great for preschoolers. I think preschool age is the perfect age to start the awareness of strangers.

A strong faith, open communication and stranger danger awareness is necessary for living in this world today.

Hi! I’m Cassie from Two In Diapers, and I’m a mommy to three sweet babies, ages 4, 3, and 20 months. This is how I speak to my kids about stranger danger:

This is a sensitive topic for me, with the Jessica Ridgeway story just barely behind us. I try to teach my littles that, while most people in this world are nice, there some people who do bad things and we need to be extra careful. I tend to go more on the cautious side… they know that they are not allowed to go anywhere with anyone they know besides mommy and daddy, unless we tell them ahead of time that it’s ok. They know they are not allowed to open the front door for anyone, and they run to me if someone knocks. They know not to talk to strangers unless they are with mommy or daddy {I constantly find myself giving Emily a nod of approval when we’re out and someone says hi specifically to her}. They also know to scream “you’re not my mommy/daddy!” at the top of their lungs if someone tries to touch them. I feel that the very best we can do is give them some strategies and things to watch out for, because – let’s face it – there is a lot of evil in this world and I don’t think you can ever be too cautious, especially with your kiddos! However, I do feel that it is also very important not to make them afraid of their own shadow… so we try to find the balance. So far, my littles really love and enjoy people, so hopefully we’ve at least come close to it. But like probably all mommas, I pray regularly for their safety and then spend the day enjoying watching them live their lives.

My name is Alexa from No Holding Back. I am the mom of Nayner Bug (male, 5), Jelly Bean, (female, 3) and Tiny (female, 1). This is how I speak to my kids about stranger danger:

My husband and I joked when I was pregnant with my first child that we would give all of our children whistles and if anyone they did not know ever came up to talk to them, they would know to start blowing that whistle like crazy. Our theory was, we’d rather offend a nice person than have them taken by a bad person.

All joking aside, this is a very serious topic. It’s a dangerous world we live in. Having worked for a Law Enforcement agency and seen some of the crimes that were committed against children makes me even more paranoid.

Like anything else of importance, you should start when they are young and do it in a manner that they understand the seriousness without scaring them. We have periodic discussions about making sure they know they are NEVER to get in a car or go anywhere with someone they do not know, even if they are promised video games or candy AND we also have the discussion about making sure they know it is not ok for someone to touch them in a private area, and if that ever happens, to tell mommy and daddy.

I think that role play might be an effective tool in this scenario to teach them and make sure they are paying attention.

This is such an important topic. I am really looking forward to reading all of the tips!

My name is Fotini! I blog over at Glamorous Affordable Life. I am the mom of (Isabella 2 years old and Christian 6 years). This is how I speak to my kids about stranger danger:

This is such an important and scary topic to discuss with your children. Isabella is too young to understand the importance of this still, and she runs from strangers right now, so that helps 😉 On a serious note, I started speaking to Christian about this around two and a half, three years old. The condo we lived in at the time had a storm door and we often kept the front door open throughout the day. Of course I always kept the storm door locked, but once Christian got the hang of it he knew just how to unlock it pretty quickly. Once he figured out how to do this, I explained the importance of never answering the door without Mommy or Daddy, even if it was someone who he knew like Nana or a friend.

Still to this day, at age (almost) seven, he does this. And now with Isabella mimicking his every move, I love that he still obeys this rule! I almost never watch the news with the kids around because it’s nothing but negativity, so I wait to watch it in the evenings once they’re in bed. If there’s been an incident involving a child, I think of how I would react in a situation like that and I how I can bring it up to Christian without scaring him. I want him to know that there are bad people out there that could really hurt him if they had the chance, and that’s pretty much how I say it!

I’ve explained to him no matter where he is at the time, if someone walks up to him and tries to take him to start kicking and screaming as loud as possible. One of the characteristics about Christian that scares me at times is, he is so trusting of people. I absolutely emphasize not talking to anyone he doesn’t know even if it’s out in front of our house. Still to this day, there’s so many things I want Christian to know and understand but I know the timing needs to be right. I’m always praying for the right words to say to my children! Do you feel like there’s an appropriate age or time to bring this topic up with your children?

My name is Kristen from The Mrs. & The Momma. I’m the momma of three girls (ages 7, 5, & 3) and a little boy (18 months). This is how I speak to my kids about stranger danger:

Stranger danger isn’t really a term we use with our kids, as it conveys to them that there is danger with all strangers, which is both false and an unnecessary scare tactic. It’s a bit more complicated to teach and consistency is important to not send mixed messages. I think in an effort as parents to encourage our children’s good manners, we automatically say to our children, “Can you tell them Hi?” when a stranger says hello at the grocery store, for example. This is contradictory to what they’ve learned about not talking to strangers, right? I really try to watch myself when in public to stay consistent with those types of rules, but to also take it a step further when our kids are old enough to understand more.

Reading “Berenstein Bears Learn About Strangers” with my children helps them understand that most people are probably not bad, and aren’t necessarily the way they look (bad people can be pretty and good people can look bad)….basically teaching that we can’t be too careful. We also teach them about “safe strangers” who they could as for help such as a teacher, a police officer, or if they’re ever separated from us, to always find another mommy to ask for help. The topic of stranger danger is an ongoing conversation in our household, as I hope to equip my children now (in the early years) with tools to make good choices about safe situations and to trust their instincts.

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Your Turn:

How do you speak to your kids about stranger danger?

Leave us a comment; we love to read your tips and advice!

Need advice? Check out these previous Mom Connection topics:

Setting Goals with Your Children

Teaching Your Kids to Share

Getting your Preschooler Dressed

Balancing Blogging and Motherhood

How Do You Prepare Your Children For Kindergarten?

{ MC: Preparing Your Preschooler for Kindergarten }

March 2, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: kids, Kindergarten, mommy advice, mommy panel, preschooler, school, The Mom Connection Leave a Comment

I am part of an AWESOME mommy panel with Cassie from Two In Diapers and Julie from Naptime Review.

Each Saturday, we will bring you fresh new ideas and advice about motherhood.

If you enjoyed what you read, we encourage you to tweet about it!

Coming on March 9th, we will discuss:

How do you speak to your kids about stranger danger?

Now on to this week’s topic!

How do you prepare your preschooler for kindergarten?

Here is what Mom Connection shared:

Welcome! I’m Julie over at Naptime Review. I am a mom of two wild, crazy and beautiful girls. My oldest just turned 4 and my baby is 16 months old. This is how I prepare my preschooler for kindergarten:

When Averie was 18 months old, she was a student in my in home preschool. Luckily, she knew the teacher so she couldn’t get kicked out. Oh she was a pain! We had more time outs than circle time. Now, she is attending preschool at a local church. She is learning so much! I am confident in all the early childhood education years under Averie’s belt. I know she will be prepared for Kindergarten.

As a former kindergarten and 1^st grade teacher myself, I feel I am always working with my children. I try to incorporate learning into everyday conversations and experiences. We count and sort our food, we look for shapes while we drive, and we work on writing our name. We are always doing something. I guess that is the former teacher in me!

However, I realize that some parents struggle with knowing how to prepare their children for school. That is why I am really impressed with ABCmouse.com. Every night, before bed, Averie and I sit down at the computer and work on her skills. ABCmouse.com is preschool education for ages 2-5. The curriculum covers music, art, math, science, songs and reading. Each child has an individualized learning path. All we have to do is sit down and they do the teaching. They have over 1,000 lessons so we never get bored. Not only do I enjoy that one-on-one time with Averie, but I love to see her get the skills needed for Kindergarten.

So my advice for preparing your child for Kindergarten is enrolling in early childhood programs, using everyday conversations to help your child learn, and finding a fun and educational curriculum.

Hi! I’m Cassie from Two In Diapers, and I’m a mommy to three sweet babies, ages 4, 3, and 20 months. This is how I prepare my preschoolers for kindergarten:

Well, for one {obvious} thing – preschool. 🙂 My older two {ages 5 and 3} are both currently in preschool, and we are completely thrilled with their school. My daughter is already reading, and my son is learning tons of age-appropriate things in his class and just having a blast. They are both learning how to interact with their teachers and fellow students, and are learning all of the basics (and much more!) academically that they will be required to know in kindergarten. {I would like to acknowledge that there are plenty of children who never attended preschool and did fine in kindie, but I also think that kindergarten requirements have changed a bit in this age when most every child attends preschool, and many for multiple years}.

Emotionally, we try very hard to grow healthy, stable, confident, and aware children. Our kids have always been around lots of other kids {even our first – we did activities with other kids four days per week minimum!} and we demand love and respect towards their siblings and others as consistently as possible. I feel that everything we teach them from the moment they’re born – love, respect, manners, etc. – prepares them for kindergarten and beyond.

I also feel strongly that a good home base filled with lots of love will give them a stable place to go when they have those days where they struggle, thus giving them the confidence to push on and grow.

My name is Alexa from No Holding Back. I am the mom of Nayner Bug (male, 5), Jelly Bean, (female, 3) and Tiny (female, 1). This is how I prepare my preschooler for kindergarten:

I am going to be totally honest and say I didn’t prepare my son for Kindergarten. But his preschool sure did. He had the BEST preschool teachers! Their main focus was on teaching the child social behaviors: how to stand in line, how to follow directions, how to be quiet and respectful. Those are really the issues that will make or break a child in Kindergarten. As they said and I have found from watching him, children will arrive at Kindergarten with a variety of knowledge, from knowing all their ABCs to not recognizing any of them. They will all learn those things and be ready for 1st grade. But if your child cannot sit still and listen to directions, school is going to be very difficult. So, if you are getting ready to prepare a child for school, don’t stress over whether or not they can read or write (although I will say, it is VERY helpful if they are already comfortable using a pencil and writing some letters – that is certainly one area I lament not working more with him on) but do make sure they know how to wait their turn, follow directions, and interact with other children. (FYI, girls seem, generally speaking, to be WAY better at this than boys!)

My name is Fotini! I blog over at Glamorous, Affordable Life. I am the mom of (Isabella 21 months and Christian 6 years). This is how I prepare my preschooler for kindergarten:

Just the thought of sending Christian off to school scared me to death! I loved his pre-school, it was a small Christian based program, so sending him to public school was a big jump, for both of us! Not every day, but at least a couple times a week, we would review what they were learning in class. This way he would be familiar with working on schoolwork at home. I would aim projects we did to whatever it was he was learning in class, be it shapes, colors, etc. He wasn’t a messy kid to begin with, but I also emphasized organization. I think preparing them with organization at a young age is such a benefit in so many levels as they grow older. Just like any young child, he was constantly asking many questions daily which I did my best to answer in a way he would understand. I also think this is important in child development because it allows them to feel comfortable asking questions whether in school or another situation. As a parent, if you react aggressively towards the numerous questions kids can ask (no matter how annoying it can be!) I think it prevents them from wanting to ask more, especially if they’re truly confused about something, most importantly at school.

As pre-school came to an end, and it was time for kindergarten, Christian was getting really excited to being in a new school and meeting his new teacher. He had a really sweet teacher who kept in close contact with me via email if she had any concerns and vice versa. This really made me feel comfortable sending him off to school, even if it was only for a half-a-day. After the first few weeks of school, Christian began coming home upset and crying. As I began to ask more questions, he told me he was being picked on by not one, but two other kids in his class. This just absolutely broke my heart. Christian is such a loving, innocent boy who cares for everyone and he was so hurt that these kids were picking on him. After talking some with the teacher, she allowed me to volunteer with the class and help out for class projects when an extra helping hand was needed. After meeting the kids that were picking on Christian, it was clear to me that they probably didn’t get the love they deserved at home, so I just made sure to be as kind to them as possible. Every time I picked Christian up from school I would make sure to say “hi” to those kids, and after a little bit of time, they stopped picking on Christian. This was a hard time for both of us, and if you’re going through bullying with your children, I just recommend you do anything and everything you can to make it stop. Whether it is volunteering in your child’s class, introducing yourself to the bully and/or their parents, keep close contact with the teacher and make the office aware of the problem as well. For this to have happened in kindergarten I was shocked, but remember, unfortunately some of these children are raised in less than ideal situations. Be encouraging and supportive!

My name is Kristen from The Mrs. & The Momma. I’m the momma of three girls (ages 7, 5, & 3) and a little boy (18 months). This is how I prepare my preschoolers for kindergarten:

Where we live, if a kid isn’t at least on the verge of reading (if not already reading) by the time they start kinder…. they’re considered behind the curve. I don’t know if this is the case nation-wide, but for parents here, I think it puts a lot of pressure on us. I feel social and reading skills are the primary preparations for school. Two of my children are in school (1st and kinder) and we chose to put both of them in a preschool at the age of 3-4. Because of their differing personalities, we chose different types of preschool, but the main goal was to learn proper ways to be in a classroom setting and to learn how to play with various children (even those they may not like). I know preschool isn’t feasible for some families, so another great avenue is a co-op between moms (here’s a great curriculum). This serves the same purpose, and also may be more comforting to know the home and parents with which your child is spending time and from whom they are learning.

With all my girls (my son is still too young), we teach them reading readiness as soon as they are interested. My mother is a former educator, so I was able to draw from her wisdom and experience in teaching at home in those early years. There is a great list of things every child should know before kindergarten here. If you’re unsure if your child is on the right track, this is a great checklist for parents! Another great resource is this list of simple, everyday activities to prepare your child for kinder.

Education is of utmost importance to our family, as I’m sure it is yours…. however, preparing your child for that day they no longer are under your constant supervision….well, that involves a lot more than what I can write in a few paragraphs. But basically, it starts with loving parents.

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Your Turn:

How do you prepare your preschoolers for kindergarten?

Leave us a comment; we love to read your tips and advice!

Need advice? Check out these previous Mom Connection topics:

Setting Goals with Your Children

Teaching Your Kids to Share

Getting your Preschooler Dressed

Balancing Blogging and Motherhood

{ Fab Pins of the Week }

March 1, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: cookies, Easter, Easter crafts, fashion, kids, Martha Stewart, milk paint, Pinterest, Spring Leave a Comment

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1. How stinkin’ adorable is this Easter Bunny Canvas!! I just LOVE it! This would be such a fun projects to have the kids help with and use their imagination 😉
2. Have you taken part in the latest craze of milk paint yet? I haven’t, but plan to soon! I love the effect it has on furniture. It gives it a nice vintage, worn look and it’s eco-friendly! Visit Martha Stewards website here for a DIY recipe!
3. Loving the relaxed look of this outfit! The mix of neutral tones with the denim and basic tee is the perfect combination for a casual Spring look!!
4. Are these not THE cutest little cookies or what?! Super simple, yet darling! What a fun Spring afternoon with the kiddos! Click here for the recipe!

Are you following me on Pinterest yet? Click HERE!

{ Fab Pins of the Week }

February 22, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: design, fab pins of the week, fashion, kids, kids playroom, peep toe booties, Pinterest, style, vintage 2 Comments

Woohoo, it’s Friday lovelies! I’ve got a little surprise up my sleeve tonight for my hubby’s birthday! Looking forward to spending the evening with him! Anyways, let’s get to my favorite pins this week!

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1. Love love love leopard, and these peek-toe booties are right up my alley!! Adds style to any outfit and pairs perfectly with these rolled up, worn jeans. You’re going to want to head over to

s e e r s u c k e r + s a d d l e s, her style is to die for!!

2. I think the idea of making a tent for the kids playroom is so much fun! Once the basement is finished, we are going to make one to put in the corner where they can read, create and imagine!

3. Sleek and sophisticated! This room boasts classic stripes with style! Fresh colors and clean lines perfectly in place. I’m not one to decorate with black much, but this is eye-catching!

4. Never thought about using dollies as a place mat, but I’m loving the idea! Simple and perfect for any vintage get together!

Are you following me on Pinterest yet? What are you waiting for, click HERE!

{ MC: Favorite Activities When It’s Too Cold Outside }

January 19, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: children, kids, MC, mommy panel, The Mom Connection, winter activities Leave a Comment

I am part of an AWESOME mommy panel with Cassie from Two In Diapers and Julie from Naptime Review.

Each Saturday, we will bring you fresh new ideas and advice about motherhood.

If you enjoyed what you read, we encourage you to tweet about it!

Coming on January 26th, we will discuss:

How do you handle picky eaters?

Now on to this week’s topic!

What is your favorite indoor activity when it’s too cold to play outside?

Here is what Mom Connection shared:

Welcome! I’m Julie over at Naptime Review. I am a mom of two wild, crazy and beautiful girls. My oldest just turned 4 and my baby is 16 months old. These are some of our favorite activities when it’s too cold to play outside:

Years ago, before Alice arrived into this world, we transformed our basement into an in-home preschool. I was responsible for teaching 6 kids including Averie. It was a lot of fun! I loved working with that age.

Now, my preschool is on hold so we now use that space as a special play area. I would like going down to the preschool to be a special treat. So when it is too cold to go outside and enjoy the day we enjoy playing downstairs in the preschool. It has everything you can imagine, such as library, computer, art table and easel, dress ups, music, pretend kitchen, and much more. As Alice is getting older she really enjoys our trips to the preschool.

Hi! I’m Cassie from Two In Diapers, and I’m a mommy to three sweet babies, ages 4, 3, and 20 months. These are some of our favorite indoor activities when it’s too cold to play outside:

There was definitely a time when I would have drawn a blank on this one. However, like many aspects involving motherhood, I’ve grown in patience and creativity…

I’m learning to see life like children do, and find fun activities in the most ordinary things. There are occasional days in which the kiddos take off to play in each others’ rooms or just play quietly by themselves, but not usually. On the cold days when we’re stuck inside, we do anything from art projects to games, to puzzles, to reading books. We might play in a kitchen sink full of soapy water, plastic dishes, scrub brushes and other random objects. We definitely build forts around the house, and window crayons are always a favorite. We play dress up and have story time, we get out the play dough, cookie cutters, and plastic silverware to create “meals”. We gather every small, disposable object we can find in this house and “decorate” {with glue} poster-board. We glue leftover birthday streamers to mason jars {Anyone else ever notice the jars come in 20 packs? What else would I do with them??} and paint popsicle sticks for no reason at all. We punch shapes out of colored paper with mommy’s shaped punchers and glue them all over a white piece of paper to create masterpieces. You get the idea.

With three little ones who would absolutely LIVE outside if I let them, the key is creativity and viewing the world as a child.

My name is Alexa from No Holding Back. I am the mom of Nayner Bug (male, 5), Jelly Bean, (female, 3) and Tiny (female, 1). These are our favorite activities when it’s too cold to play outside:

I actually laughed when I read this week’s topic because when I read it I was standing outside pushing my girls on the swings in 78 degree weather! We rarely get days that are too cold to play outside, however, in the summer time we do get many a day that it is too hot to play outside. So it’s good to have some tricks up your sleeve.

My kids really enjoy playing games. Whether it be our own crazy made up version of “memory” (which really just consists of matching anything that makes sense – like Ariel and Flounder rather than Ariel and Ariel!) or doing large floor puzzles, the kids like games. Our favorite game is called “Hullabaloo.” It’s from the makers of Cranium, and there are floor pieces you stand on and then follow directions from the “brain” as it tells you what to move to. It’s something I enjoy playing with them as well!

Arts and crafts are hit or miss. Unless it’s a really unusual project, I can’t hold their attention span for more than 10 minutes, and it usually takes a lot more than that to set up and clean up.

Finally, they have a new favorite game since Christmas. My five and three year old entertained themselves for over an hour the other day collecting up their books and toys and wrapping them in Christmas paper and having a gift exchange. It was too much fun for everyone! So I will be stocking up on wrapping paper and tape the next time I see it on mega sale! Awesomesauce!

My name is Fotini! I blog over at Glamorous, Affordable Life. I am the mom of (Isabella 20 months and Christian 6 years). These are our favorite activities when it’s too cold to play outside:

Well, we’ve really had a cold winter here in Ohio. We had 4 snowstorms within a few-day time period. There’s nothing worse than having cabin fever with two bored kiddos running around the house! I always have some easy-to-make crafts on hand when there’s “nothing” to do. Both of my kids love drawing, so we draw often – pictures for friends, family, my son’s teacher, etc. Isabella simply scribbles, but it keeps her occupied for quite a while!

We also love to read! Christian is really mastering the skill of reading, so he’s able to read books to Isabella and me. Isabella is mesmerized by him when he reads to her. It’s precious! Isabella even takes her turn “reading” to us and jabbering! I think that reading is so important for a child’s development and I’m thrilled my kids enjoy it as much as they do!

Another go-to activity we do during the winter months is puzzles! Christian went through a phase where all he wanted to do was puzzles, so we have a bunch! Isabella is still too young to understand it, but she sits with us and hands us the pieces. It’s good coordination development for her at the same time! Love spending this time with them!!

My name is Kristen from The Mrs. & The Momma. I’m the momma of three girls (ages 7, 5, & 3) and a little boy (18 months). This is one of our favorite activities when it’s too cold to play outside:

Homemade playdough! This is a cheap, easy, and fun way to kill numerous hours when the little ones and me are cooped up inside. For my 19 month old, I don’t care if he eats some since it’s basically just flour and salt. I give them cookie cutters, plastic knives, and a place mat…. and they’re good to go for a solid thirty minutes if not more.

Here’s the recipe for Perfect Playdough:

2 c. flour

1/2 c. salt

1-2 pkg. unsweetened Kool-Aid (or food coloring)

2 Tbsp. cream of tartar

2 Tbsp. veg. oil

2 c. water

In a large pot, combine all the dry ingredients. Mix well and add oil, water (and food coloring if you did not choose to use Kool-Aid). Stir over medium heat until mixture is almost too hard to stir (it will still look a little wet). Dump out onto counter top (be careful- it’s HOT!) and allow to cool for a few minutes. Knead until smooth and pliable. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!!!!

Your Turn:

What is your favorite indoor activity when it’s too cold to play outside?

Leave us a comment; we love to read your tips and advice!

Need advice? Check out these previous Mom Connection topics:

Setting Goals with Your Children

Teaching Your Kids to Share

Getting your Preschooler Dressed

Balancing Blogging and Motherhood

{ MC: Balancing Your Time & Attention }

January 12, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: balancing your time, blog love, kids, mommy panel, The Mom Connection 2 Comments

I am part of an AWESOME mommy panel with Cassie from Two In Diapers and Julie from Naptime Review.

Each Saturday, we will bring you fresh new ideas and advice about motherhood.

If you enjoyed what you read, we encourage you to tweet about it!

Coming on January 19th, we will discuss:

What is your favorite indoor activity when it’s too cold to play outside?

Now on to this week’s topic!

Balancing your time and attention with more than one child!

Here is what Mom Connection shared:

Welcome! I’m Julie over at Naptime Review. I am a mom of two wild, crazy and beautiful girls. My oldest just turned 4 and my baby is 16 months old. This is how I balance my time and attention between my children:

When my first child came into my world she became my world. I put my career on hold and wanted nothing more than to be with her. She got all my time and attention. When Alice came, I was very worried about how her arrival would affect the oldest. I also worried about being able to give Alice everything I gave Averie. I tried very hard to make Averie feel special knowing that babies can be very demanding. I think I focused my attention more on Averie. I am trying to shift that attention and make it more equally balanced now that Alice is getting older.

When the oldest is at preschool or at a friends house, I give the baby FULL attention. Meaning, I have weekly play dates at Little Gym. Even if Averie’s schedule changes, I still keep our Little Gym time. I drop Averie off at Grandma’s and enjoy my time with Alice. When Averie isn’t around, I try to get on the floor and read stories and play with Alice. In fact, Averie had a play date last weekend, and instead of cleaning the house, I just played with Alice. It was fun! I knew my house could wait until tomorrow but when would be the next time for the baby to get some QT with Mommy!

With Averie, I try to schedule our quality time. I really have noticed that when Averie and I do something special without the baby, she really shines and enjoys that one-on-one time. Therefore, once a month I try to take Averie somewhere special and fun. We go on “Mommy dates.” So far we have enjoyed, Tea with Cinderella at the Magic House, lunch outings, tea parties with other friends, and just running errands alone. Those are the moments, I think are very special and memorable for both mommy and Averie.

So when the baby gets older, I plan on dating both my kids regularly. In fact, I am enlisting the help of my husband for this mission. We will each date and swap with children monthly. I think it is very important for Daddy’s, especially with girls to get that quality one-on-one time. I am sure my children will enjoy Home Depot and the Golf Galaxy right?

So my answer to balancing time and attention is to schedule one-on-one dates with your children!

Hi! I’m Cassie from Two In Diapers, and I’m a mommy to three sweet babies, ages 4, 3, and 18 months.

This is how I balance my time and attention between my children:

Wow… this topic is very close and personal with my life! With my three babies spaced 19 months apart each in age and a hope for one or two more in the future, this is something that I have to be conscious of daily.

My answer is… there is no way to do it perfectly. There’s just not, no matter how hard you try. But I believe it’s possible to do it well, and that is my daily goal. I strive to give special time and attention to each child in a way that fits their own unique needs. Whether this means a daily post-nap snuggle with three-year-old Bentley, 10 minutes to read Emily a book while the boys play, grabbing just one child for a trip to the grocery store, or taking advantage of a neighborhood babysitter occasionally to pick Emily up from school and enjoy her bear hug with both arms and really listen to her chatter on the way home.

So I suppose my answer is… it’s different with each family and each child each day, but I think sneaking in those moments of undivided attention randomly throughout the day when they are needed is the key to making each child feel loved, special and unique. I heard/read somewhere that the sign of a good mom is when each of her children is absolutely sure that he or she is her favorite. I’m really not sure who I heard this from, but I think it’s adorable and definitely one of my goals – to make each child feel uniquely special to and loved by me.

My name is Alexa from No Holding Back. I am the mom of Nayner Bug (male, 5), Jelly Bean, (female, 3) and Tiny (female, 1). This is how I balance my time and attention between my children:

When I found out I was pregnant with my second child, I was scared because of this very topic. I was afraid I would never be able to love a child as much as I loved the first one and that I’d never have any quality time with my children. Well I was definitely wrong on the first account – who knew one person could hold so much love in their heart??? But the second one requires constant awareness. Originally the word that came to mind was “effort” but I don’t want to use that word with relation to spending time with my kids. So awareness is a better word choice.

It is so easy to get caught up in everything going on around us, especially now with three kids. School schedules, appointments, dance lessons, playdates, and all of the other things taking up time in our lives with small children. Honestly, I am still working on the balancing act. Not only do I have three children to balance, I have my duties as CEO of the household, and my writing. And my spiritual life and my social life, which are also both very important to me. I do have some dedicated one on one time. I take the 3 year old with me to run errands on the weekends so that we have some girl time. Every night before bed I say prayers with each child individually and I read for about 20 minutes with the two older children. Usually separately so it is their own time with me. We have dinner as a family each night and the 5 year old tells us all about his adventures and his day. I’m sad to say at this point, that’s about where it stops. I am terrible at balancing in general! I am focusing on doing projects with the kids, but we usually do them as a group. But even though I’m not able to spend a large amount of individual one on one time with them, I do make sure to pay them each individual attention. We get into tickle fights, play hide and seek, dance, or I just snuggle with them and tell them I love them a million times a day.

My name is Fotini! I blog over at Glamorous Affordable Life. I am the mom of (Isabella 20 months and Christian 6 years). This is how I balance my time and attention between my children:

For the most part, I would really like to think I share my time and attention evenly between my children, husband and home. But, it’s something I tend to get too comfortable with. It’s been a big adjustment for Christian having a little sister. He was the “baby” for five years before Isabella came along, so that is something we’re all still getting used to. He is an amazing big brother in so many ways but at times I can see he’s getting jealous of how I talk to her or how much time I still spend holding her and loving on her. It’s really important for me to give him the same attention I give her! He was my first baby and is growing into such a smart, loving little boy! I make it a part to spend one-on-one time with Christian while Isabella naps during the day (for 1-2 hours) and once Isabella is in bed each evening. We play games, watch movies and cuddle. Throughout the day, I try my best to get us involved in activities we can all enjoy so he can “enjoy” Isabella and love her more than resent her.

One Saturday, at least once a month, I have my husband watch Isabella so Christian and I can go out and do something of his choice. Sometimes it’s just going to Barnes and Noble to look at books and play, or go to the movies or out to lunch at his favorite restaurant! No matter what he chooses that day, it gives us the chance to live in the moment and have fun with each other!

Spending extra time with Isabella comes when Christian spends the night with family members. She’s really girly, so we play with my makeup, fingernail polish and she likes to dress up in my clothes! The kids playroom is upstairs, so we spend as much time up there as possible and she just runs the halls having a good time! By the end of the night, though, she’s asking for her brother!

How do you spend one-on-one time with each of your kids?

My name is Kristen from The Mrs. & The Momma. I’m the momma of three girls (ages 7, 5, & 3) and a little boy (18 months). This is how I balance my time and attention between my children:

Ensuring that each of our four children gets the love, time, and attention they need and deserve has become almost a science in our household. On a logistic level, having my two older ones are in school allows for a better balance at home during the day, especially during nap time. One they’re home from school is when it gets tricky. One thing I try to do is get down on their level when they speak to me so that I am both eye to eye with them and they understand that I am listening to only them.

My husband and I make it a habit to discuss each one of our children’s needs on a weekly basis….and we then adjust our time depending on who might need more of our attention that week by doing various activities such as a daddy/daughter dates, quiet one-on-one reading, or simply treating them to something I normally don’t allow, such as putting on Momma’s make-up. 🙂

Making sure our children are feeling loved enough and heard enough is our biggest and most important job….and something I struggle with on a daily basis. I mean, not only do my older two notice if they’re not getting their fair share of my time, but they crave it. Attention is love to them. And children who don’t feel loved at these young ages are susceptible to all sort of issues later on in life that I sure wouldn’t want to be responsible for causing. As parents, it is our job to make sure each one of our children do not ever feel slighted in the least. Dividing time between multiple children takes effort and organization…but it’s critical to our children’s thriving and absolutely worth it!

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