DIY Archives > Page 12 of 17 > 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…]

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.

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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…]

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…]

Quick and Easy DIY Laundry Pods

April 6, 2018 by Lisa 9 Comments

If you only have the time or desire to try 1 DIY project right now, be sure to try these Quick and Easy DIY Laundry Pods. Not only are these laundry pods super simple, they’re also inexpensive to make and they save so much money on laundry costs.

Another big benefit to these Quick and Easy DIY Laundry Pods is that their ingredients are much safer for your family and the environment than the standard laundry detergents we’re all so used to using. With so many perks to these DIY laundry pods, why not give them a try. I know I love them so much, I can’t imagine ever going back to using regular detergent.

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How to Cut Back on Paper Towels

March 2, 2018 by Lisa 7 Comments

Using too many paper towels around the house is my biggest vice when it comes to lowering my carbon footprint. Every time I swear I’m going to do better, I end up slipping back into my old bad habit. Then I give up for a while and concentrate on other eco-friendly practices that, for me, seem easier to adopt.

I don’t really know why the paper towel habit has been so hard to kick. Years ago I practiced eco-friendly habits like using cloth napkins and canvas grocery bags before it became popular. Then owning and running a business along with raising three kids consumed all my physical and mental energy and those practices got put aside. While I’ve gotten back to my old eco-friendly practices, this paper towel thing has been, I like said, a hard habit to break.

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Creative Kids Art Station

February 19, 2018 by Meagan 7 Comments

As a kid, some of my fondest memories are from when my mom and I would do art projects together. She would gather her crafting supplies and we’d sit at the dining room table for hours painting, coloring, gluing, and making everything sparkle. Mostly I remember making holiday decorations and crafts—painting Christmas ornaments (which we still do) were our specialty. And now that my son is getting to an age where he likes to color and paint, we can finally start using the Creative Kids Art Station I designed for him. [Read more…]

Soothing Lavender Peppermint Foot Soak

February 16, 2018 by Lisa 5 Comments

I’m always looking for ways to soften and soothe my tired feet. Still, I often have a hard time sitting still to let my feet soak—even if I happen to be watching T.V. I want to be able to jump up at any time and run and get a drink or find my phone—or whatever. So, if I’m going to confine myself to one spot for 30 minutes, there has to be a worthwhile payoff. This Lavender Peppermint Foot Soak is an excellent way to take care of my feet and relax at the same time.

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Mini Construction Site Sandbox

February 12, 2018 by Meagan 5 Comments

I’m always trying to come up with fun activities for my 2-year son to do while I’m at work. This Mini Construction Site Sandbox is a perfect tabletop activity that can help develop his sensory and motor skills.

If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I bring little J to work with me every day. He’s been coming with me since he was 6 weeks old! As he’s gotten older, I’ve had to come up with new and exciting things to stimulate his little mind. Right now he’s into PlayDoh, coloring, painting, cars, and soccer. [Read more…]

How To Make Decluttering Easier

February 2, 2018 by Lisa 7 Comments

Decluttering possessions is something I tend to do on an ongoing basis, and I do a lot of it right after the holidays. It’s the perfect time to declutter, of course, because with so many new items to put away, old ones have to go. This is so true when you have small children and they receive a barrage of new toys for Christmas!

This January I’ve done a lot of decluttering. Even though I’ve always done my usual decluttering, this year was different. For the past several years, my extra time has been taken up by health issues surrounding my [Read more…]

Nerdy Rustic Barn Wedding

January 31, 2018 by Christina 5 Comments

On December 9th, 2017 I got married! If you’ve been following along with our blog, you know it’s been a long time coming. I’d been planning for over a year, and now I want to share it all with you! So if you’re interested in some nerdy barn wedding ideas or just love wedding stuff like I do, you are in for a treat!

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Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts

January 26, 2018 by Lisa 4 Comments

Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts make tasty treats for Valentine’s Day or for any special occasion. They also make nice hostess gifts or party favors. They’re so simple to make that you can actually make them anytime at all—because they’re so delicious.

Any nut or combination of nuts will work for this simple recipe. I chose walnuts, pecans, and cashews but all nuts are tasty and healthy. Nuts are full of healthy fats, protein, fiber, and a wide range of nutrients like vitamin e, magnesium, and selenium. These Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts make healthy and filling snacks. They also smell so delicious—the last time I made them everyone who came into the house kept asking, “What smells so good? Is that Cinnamon?” These Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts were definitely a huge hit!

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DIY Rose Water

January 18, 2018 by Lisa 4 Comments

Recently, after making some face mists, I learned how versatile and beneficial rose water can be. Rose water is a super simple DIY beauty tonic that anyone can make in a hurry. In less than an hour, you can have a multipurpose beauty potion that is both functional and fun.

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Shape Recognition Activity

DIY Colored Beans for Sensory Play

Toddler Bath Caddy

Paper Plate Handprint Mother’s Day Card

Quick and Easy DIY Laundry Pods

How to Cut Back on Paper Towels

Creative Kids Art Station

Soothing Lavender Peppermint Foot Soak

Mini Construction Site Sandbox

How To Make Decluttering Easier

Nerdy Rustic Barn Wedding

Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts

DIY Rose Water

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