Ten Ways to Make Today Magical

Happy Monday!

I hope everything is fabulous in your little corner of the world.  I have a little girl on my lap as I type this so I’m going to try to be quick.

Here’s a few ways to make some memories with your favorite little (or big) people this week!

1.  Find a really old cookbook and make a meal fit for an old fashioned family.  Some of the intriguing recipes we’ve found include Porridge, Lone Ranger Sandwiches, Creamed Chicken in Potato Nests and Jumbo Prunes with Cream.  Some sound more tempting than others!

2.  Have a Project Runway challenge.  Let the kids pick out several yards of clearance fabric in glamorous, funky and fun patterns. Help them make their own scarves, doll clothes, dress up clothes, throw pillows or whatever they dream up. Iron on fusible tape instead of sewing seams, if you like (you do this part for younger kids, obviously), or teach them how to use a sewing machine. If you’re short on money you can let them use old clothes or sheets. 

3.  Set up a carnival in the back yard (or even in the basement or living room).  Make up your own games using whatever you have on hand — hula hoops, a kiddie pool, stuffed animals, cardboard boxes, you name it.  Invite some friends or neighbors to come join you if you like.

4.  Make painted soap clouds.  Microwave a half a bar of Ivory soap and then use liquid watercolors or watered down food coloring to make it beautiful colors.

5.  Have a silly word day.  Pick an ordinary word to be the silly word of the day, and anybody who accidentally says that word during the day has to do something silly.  For instance, if the silly word of the day is “car” and you forget and say it, you might cluck like a chicken or yodel. 

6.  Put birthday candles in dinner or dessert and let your little one blow them out again and again.

7.  Find a new-to-you park to explore together.

8.  Have the kids dress up and pose for old fashioned pictures.  You can use free editing software and apps to give them a proper old-time look!

9.  Or print out these fun printable disguises from Design House Digital and use them as props for a wacky photo shoot.  🙂  Add fun hats, ties and other clothes to add to the look!

10. Have a balloon day.

And with that, I’m off to throw on some more presentable clothes for a volunteer appreciation picnic and toss any number of small and medium sized children into the car.

Have a magical week!

 

 

 

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Talk Like a Pirate!

Arrr!  How could I nearly let International Talk Like a Pirate Day slip by without posting about it!  Tsk!

Never fear.  I’ve assembled a few pirate goodies for you to take part with your wee pirates with what’s left of the day.

You can check out the Magical Childhood archives to help your kids choose their pirate names.

You can find sunken treasure at National Geographic education.

You can make Jack Sparrow’s tricorne hat cookies.  Any cookie stuffed with peanut butter cups is a winner in my book!

You can find pirate crafts and activities at DLTK-kids.

You can make quick and easy (adorable!) newspaper swords, bandana pirate skirts and more at alphamom.

You can find activities for junior pirates (even a pirate curriculum!) at talk like a pirate day (the main site is not always child-friendly).

Lastly, you can have fun with the kids translating text (poetry, news items, homework!) into pirate speak at the english to pirate translator.

And for fun for the grown-ups, be sure to change your Facebook language to pirate for the day!

Here’s how:

1. Click the Gear icon at the top of the Facebook page and select Account Settings.
2. The account settings page opens and the language setting is the last one in the list.
3. Click the Edit link next to it. The Choose Primary drop-down list appears.
4. Click the drop-down list and click on Pirate English.

And with that, me hearties, I’m off to t’ play with me sprogs!

Have a swashbucklin’ day!

 

10 Ways to Make Your Home Magical

Happy Monday!

I’ve been having fun brainstorming about home improvements around our house and looking at lots of blogs and Pinterest boards for inspiration lately.  I thought it would be fun to change up this week’s magical theme and focus on fun ways to make a little magic in our houses. 

Some of these are easy to implement and some are definitely the daydream type!  I tried to focus on doable projects instead of $15,000 pirate beds to purchase, though.  😉

Click on any image to go to its source (or the closest I could find to an original with an image search). 

Here’s my list of 10 ways to make your home magical for children…

1.  Have hideaways and nooks.

2.  Incorporate ways kids can be active and meet their sensory needs.

3.  Add color.

4.  Add whimsy.

5.  Incorporate your family interests and personalities in your decorating.

6.   Bring in nature and the outside.

7.  Let the kids help create their spaces.

8. Make it a party all the time (at least in little ways).

9. Add lots of opportunity for creativity and fun.

10. Fill it with love.

You can check out my inspiration boards for indoor play spaces, outdoor play spaces, home ideas and more on Pinterest to see more of my favorite ideas, too. 

Keep in mind that you don’t need lots of money to make your home magical!  I kind of like the fact that our house came to us so old and beat up because I got a free pass to do whatever I liked to it over the years as we fixed it up.  I have painted words up the stairs, stenciled gold swirls around the bathroom mirror, hidden colorful dragonflies near baseboards, painted doors with chalkboard paint and have given my kids the insides of cupboards and closets to paint five year-old masterpieces on.  If you rent, you can bring in temporary magic with well placed fairy lights, appliance box forts, whimsical peel-off wall decals and so on.

And really, the most magical home accessory of all is the sound of laughter inside it.  🙂

And with that, chickadees, I’m off to tackle a to-do list the size of a small city phone book and love on some kiddos.  Have a magical week!