Here are some activities (tried and tested stuff I'm doing with my own kids this school break) that incorporate something to do, a switch-up, and an educational factor.
BINGO. There are tons of FREE bingo cards on the internet for printing out. Or make your own using Excel.
SWITCH UP: Use Cheerios or raisins as Bingo markers.
MAKE IT EDUCATIONAL: Use the names of favorite books instead of numbers.
GIFT CARD SHOPPING SPREE : Get out all those gift cards the kids have accumulated from birthdays and holidays and take them shopping.
SWITCH UP: Have them chose one thing for themselves and one small item to donate to a family shelter.
MAKE IT EDUCATIONAL: Kids have to calucate what they can afford on their gift card budget.
GROCERY SHOPPING: A necessary evil—we all have to grocery shop sometime.
SWITCH UP: Have the kids pick out the fruit, veggies, bread, and such.
MAKE IT EDUCATIONAL: Have the kids read and check off the grocery list...literacy skills at work!
ARTS AND CRAFTS: Always fun (and don't we all have an art closet?!)
SWITCH UP: Make Homemade Play Dough made with stuff you probably already have in your kitchen.
MAKE IT EDUCATIONAL: Arts and crafts are skills in development—decision making, sensory development, fine motor skills.
The evolution (and de-evolution) of a Mom's bag is one of fashion and functionality.
This used to be my everyday bag. It was eve
rything I believed in. Made by a Canadian mompreneur (supporting my fellow WAHM and buying locally).
My black Agent Reclaim black bag was made with leather from a re-purposed leather jacket (supporting re-purposing materials).
And I bought it off etsy (not a big box store).
I loved that bag.
Then, I had another baby.
I needed a diaper bag. Washable was my big need.
And I won this sling backpack thru a website giveaway—and it was functional. And made in Canada. (still true to who I am)
But as Sharon wrote in 5 purse essentials when you have kids—there are things I needed in addition to diapers for my diaper bag. And this bag just lacked space for MY stuff.
A go-to Skip Hop Dash diaper bag...though not that nice new one down there with the bottle holder and pocket on the side {I wish!}. No, I bought an old version off of craigslist, staying true to my philosophy of re-purposing and meeting my "now I have to buy boxes of diapers so where can I save money?" new budget
This bag is easy. Organized. It also shows my life...is no longer just about me.
But I fear dear readers that my bag de-evolution has finally hit rock bottom. I am, somewhat, ashamed.
Yesterday I bought...
A FANNY PACK.
Yes, yes I did.
Did you hear what I just heard? I swear I just heard YMC bloggers -> I Spy Style Mummy, Party Mummy, Shop Mummy and Wall Candy do a group shudder. I know, my style isn't so much about fashion as it is about function.
There is it...the complete de-evolution of my bag. Don't judge me by what I carry (ok, judge I little, I understand).
So apparently, Zac Efron dropped a condom at the orange carpet premier of The Lorax last week (which I found out this week via twitter—thanks @SharonDV and @KelliDaisy!).
Well I was there. Yummy exclusive I guess.
No one "at" the carpet saw anything because that condom drop was in front of the media in a tented part of the orange carpet.
Maybe Zac wanted to hit something more than popcorn at the movies?
Watch as he and Matt Lauer discuss the, um, incident and talk about adding safe sex to the many, many messages of The Lorax:
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