Living Archives > Page 15 of 27 > From Under a Palm Tree

Shape Recognition Activity

April 30, 2018 by Meagan 10 Comments

When I first started teaching my son how to recognize different shapes, I would draw them on a piece of paper, point, and tell him what each shape was. Before too long he would get bored and move on to a toy with wheels or sound and leave me in the dust. It didn’t take me long to realize I was going about my teaching style all wrong. He needed something to touch and feel in his hands to be more interested in learning his shapes. So I turned my original boring shape activity into a reusable, hands-on, and very easy-to-make Shape Recognition Activity with colorful felt shapes that can be stuck on and peeled off over and over. [Read more…]

What Makes Stainless Steel & Silicone Eco-Friendly

April 25, 2018 by Christina 9 Comments

Last week I wrote a post about all kinds of eco-friendly products that are great replacements for single-use/disposable plastics – check it out here.

As I was writing that post and seeing all these great products, I couldn’t help but wonder – what makes these products eco-friendly?

My thought process has always been that if you can use it more than once, it’s automatically better for the environment. After all, you’re not throwing something away after you use it one time – i.e. a straw or plastic cup. If you can get more than one use out of it, it’s already a step in the right direction.

While this is a step in the right direction, it’s not the whole truth.

[Read more…]

DIY Colored Beans for Sensory Play

April 23, 2018 by Meagan 4 Comments

I first learned about sensory development when my son turned about 14 months old. This was right around the time when he started walking and getting into everything he wasn’t supposed to. His curiosity to touch, feel, and taste everything in sight prompted me to do a little research on this particular stage of his development. This is when I noticed the phrase “sensory play” became a common idea among mom bloggers, educators, and psychology blogs. It’s a phrase I think I’ve always heard but never really bothered to understand.

[Read more…]

10 Uses for White Vinegar

April 20, 2018 by Lisa 7 Comments

As a parent, keeping my children safe is always a priority. We think about external factors but what about the toxins in our own homes? Most of the time we have control over the products we use so why are we using cleaners full of toxins? Our homes should be a safe haven from toxins!

Over the past couple of years, I’ve given up using almost all synthetic and toxic household cleaners and detergents in favor of more eco-friendly and natural products. One of the products I use a lot of these days is vinegar. It’s all natural and extremely versatile.

[Read more…]

7 Eco-Friendly Products to Replace Plastic Disposables

April 18, 2018 by Christina 9 Comments

This weekend is Earth Day! I’m always excited about Earth Day because it brings out everyone’s inner Lorax! I wish that every day was Earth Day (my friends used to call me the Lorax in high school). The fact is that keeping our earth healthy by living a green lifestyle, no matter how small or large scale, is important.

Last year, we went to an Earth Day Festival in Tampa and we got to see how local communities are really trying to improve their environmental impact. It’s inspiring because it shows how individuals working together towards a common goal can make a difference. Even if it’s just doing something simply at home, we’re all working towards the goal of minimizing our environmental footprint.

[Read more…]

Toddler Bath Caddy

April 16, 2018 by Meagan 5 Comments

My 2-and-half-year-old son has gone through stages of loving bath time and hating bath time and now loving it again. When he was an infant, bath time was new to him and he was still discovering the whole water and bubble situation. Now, he knows bathtime signifies the end of play time which ultimately leads to bedtime. So sometimes getting him to the bath is tough. Sometimes it takes bribing and trickery. Other times it takes throwing him over my shoulder and hauling him upstairs. Either way, I was tired of the begging and pleading so I got a little inventive in my trickery and got him to remember how much fun bath time can be. [Read more…]

Shopping Addictions and Target Wish list

April 11, 2018 by Christina 9 Comments

Find More at Target

Last week I wrote a post all about learning to let go – let go of all my stuff since I’m trying to downsize for my upcoming van life adventure. I wrote about how this is a serious struggle for me, not only because I tend to assign a sentimental value to a lot of things – but also because I love to shop. I didn’t emphasize that as much last week because I am working on it. But have to admit, I’m definitely a bit of a shopaholic.

[Read more…]

Paper Plate Handprint Mother’s Day Card

April 9, 2018 by Meagan 6 Comments

I’m back at it again with hand and footprint cards this Mother’s Day. The last few cards I’ve made were with J’s footprint because I couldn’t quite get him to be still enough to use his handprint. He was always squirming around or fighting to get out of my arms and play with the paint. Somehow the feet were just quicker and easier to capture. [Read more…]

Learning to Let Go

April 4, 2018 by Christina 7 Comments

Last week, I cut my hair for the first time since August 2015. My stylist cut 12 inches off and I do not miss that hair for a second. I don’t cut my hair very often and it grows pretty fast so I’m not very attached to it. Which is odd for me because I am usually attached to everything.

My big problem with letting things go is that I tend to assign a sentimental value to a lot of things. Or I feel like I’m going to need it and can find a way to use it. On top of not letting stuff go easily, I also really love shopping.

[Read more…]

Tips for Child Proofing Your Home

April 2, 2018 by Meagan 6 Comments

As a fairly new parent, I worry incessantly about my 2-year-old getting hurt, sick, bullied, abducted, or drowning. Sometimes I forget about how dangerous my own house can be. Chemicals, hot stoves, pools, ponds, electrical outlets, and heavy furniture are just a few of the looming dangers lurking in plain sight. As my son gets older and becomes more curious, I fear less about bumps and bruises, and more about ingesting chemicals or wandering to the pond behind our home. This is why I baby proof everything! [Read more…]

When Your Kid’s Dreams are Hard to Encourage

March 30, 2018 by Lisa 5 Comments

Last Christmas when I was shopping for gifts, I saw this adorable little trinket that said “follow your dreams” on it. It’s the kind of cute little thing I’m always buying for one of my girls. I picked it up, examined it, thought for a moment, and put it back down. I wasn’t in the mood to promote my kids following their dreams if they didn’t involve them living within a fairly close proximity to me or the rest of their family.

[Read more…]

How to Recycle Mascara Wands – Wands for Wildlife

March 21, 2018 by Christina 22 Comments

Last year I saw a viral video on Facebook all about a nonprofit organization that uses mascara wands to clean baby animals #wandsforwildlife. It’s called Appalachian Wildlife Refuge and they rescue and rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife in North Carolina.

This organization, in particular, caught my eye because of their unique approach to not only helping animals but also recycling, literally two of my favorite things.

[Read more…]

10 Reasons to Choose Cloth Diapers

March 19, 2018 by Meagan 13 Comments

Babies and diapers go hand in hand, right? Dirty diapers are an inevitable part of raising children, right? Those slim, plastic lined disposable diapers are your only option, right?

WRONG!

I’ve been wanting to do a post for a while on cloth diapering but after working on My Breastfeeding Journey for nearly 6 months I needed a breather. I knew, much like that post, there was much to be told. So, I’ve decided to break it down into a series of posts that I will put out over a period of time—for my sanity and yours!

Since the invention of disposable diapers in the 40’s, parents have adopted a dependency on them. Their convenience and portability have made daycare, traveling, and life with children more obtainable and just plain easier. In some families, disposable diapers have allowed fathers to be more actively involved in the early stages of parenthood—dirty diaper duty isn’t all on moms now! And as early disposable diapers models evolved, usage skyrocketed. [Read more…]

Shape Recognition Activity

What Makes Stainless Steel & Silicone Eco-Friendly

DIY Colored Beans for Sensory Play

10 Uses for White Vinegar

7 Eco-Friendly Products to Replace Plastic Disposables

Toddler Bath Caddy

Shopping Addictions and Target Wish list

Paper Plate Handprint Mother’s Day Card

Learning to Let Go

Tips for Child Proofing Your Home

When Your Kid’s Dreams are Hard to Encourage

How to Recycle Mascara Wands – Wands for Wildlife

10 Reasons to Choose Cloth Diapers

`Older Posts`

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Division Facts Worksheet Bundle

Multiplication Facts Worksheet Bundle

Stocking Stuffers for Tween Boys

Best Stocking Stuffers for Girls

DIY Styrofoam Ball Spider

DIY Mossy Witch Hat

DIY Simmer Pot Gift