Tub Time!

What do you get when you mix shaving cream, food coloring, paintbrushes, tiny hands, and a bath tub?  A rainbow shaving cream paint artist, of course!

I’ve been dying to try this new idea I found online and it was a hit!  It’s ridiculously easy, too!  Grab a silicon muffin pan, some shaving cream, food coloring, and a paintbrush or two, create some shaving cream paint, and let your toddler put some color on those white bathroom tile walls!  Just another way to encourage that creative streak in your little one.  Give it a try and enjoy!

One paintbrush wasn’t nearly enough for my little guy!

A rainbow of colors

Pictures? I’m trying to paint here!

Activity of the Week: Kinderjam for Charity

Looking for something to do with your little one(s) Wednesday morning, April 4? What better than singing and dancing. learning about colors and numbers, and socializing with others – all the while supporting charity?

Kinderjam instructor Ami Park is hosting a Kinderjam class on April 4 at 10am at the Trinity Complex (Chong Nonsi BTS) from which all proceeds go to Smiles on Wings, a non-profit mobile dental clinic that provides free services to hill tribe children in Northern Thailand.

What a great way to start your morning – and what a great way to begin to teach your children about the importance of giving to others.  Hope you’ll join in the fun!

For more information, Contact Ms. Ami at ms.ami@kinderjam.com

Pimped Out Buses and Reggaeton

Logan is a huge fan of buses.  He loves cars, but I mean he ADORES buses.  I’m not entirely sure what the appeal of a school bus is over, say a Porsche or a Aston Martin , but whatever it is, it’s powerful.  As I mentioned in a previous post, he loves to sit with Daddy every night and watch pimped car slide shows on youtube.  His favorite slides show showcases the pimped out Cadillac school bus shown below.

Hopefully Logan won't be too upset in a few years when he realizes his school bus doesn't quite look like this . . .

The number of times we have had to rewind or pause the slide show to catch that two-second snapshot of the school bus is in the hundreds.  So, in honor of Logan’s adoration of buses, Walter went online to find the most awesome, pimped out school bus images imaginable.  He then made a slide show of the buses and set it to Reggaeton.  For you and/or your child’s viewing pleasure, here is the result:  Crazy School Buses.  Enjoy!

Use Those Hands to Finger Paint!

This week Logan called a few of his friends to join him for an impromptu finger painting party post-swim.  The kids (ages 19 months to 6 years) loved it!  Finger painting is so easy to do and so much fun!  All you need is some thick white paper, finger paints (we use Crayola washable finger paints, which you can easily buy on Amazon or at Central Chitlom), and little hands.  Enjoy!

My little artist

Finger painting with friends

Finger painting quickly became body painting for the older ones

Artistry in motion

Let’s Get Ready for Easter!

For the last few days, I’ve been wandering the net looking for fun Easter craft and baking ideas.  Getting ready for and celebrating the holidays is so much fun with little ones around!  I thought I’d share some of my favorite finds thus far with you, if for no other reason than to get you into the Easter spirit.

One more thing – if you haven’t yet discovered Pinterest, you should!  It’s a site that lets you organize and share things and ideas that you find on the web.  The beauty in Pinterest is that you can browse pinboards created by other people for specific ideas on recipes or decorating (for example), which is an effortless and fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.  For more of my favorite Easter craft and baking ideas (those not featured below), click my Pinterest link (the red “P”) in the right hand column of my webpage.  Happy Browsing!

Melted Crayon Eggs

Sourced from:  Disney Family Fun

When the most humble of art supplies meets the shell of a just-boiled egg, the crayon wax softens, and the colors swirl together in a magical way. The results are fast, fun, and gorgeous.

Materials
  • white eggs
  • tongs
  • empty egg carton
  • crayons
Instructions
  1. Hard-boil white eggs. Remove them from the hot water with tongs or a slotted spoon, dry them, and rest them in an empty egg carton or on plastic bottle caps (an adult’s job).
  2.  Color them with the crayons’ tips or remove the paper coverings and use the crayons’ sides. For a speckled effect, grate a crayon and sprinkle the bits over the eggs. The waxy eggs are very slippery, so take care when turning them to color the underside.
  3. When you’re done coloring, leave them to dry for about an hour.

Naturally-Dyed Easter Eggs

Sourced From:  Better Homes and Gardens

Bluish-Gray
Mix 1 cup frozen blueberries with 1 cup water, bring to room temperature, and remove blueberries.

Blue
Cut 1/4 head of red cabbage into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Let cool to room temperature and remove cabbage with a slotted spoon.

Jade Green
Peel the skin from 6 red onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Green-Yellow
Peel the skin from 6 yellow apples. Simmer in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer 4 oz. chopped fennel tops in 1-1/2 cups of water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Orange
Take the skin of 6 yellow onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Red-Orange
Stir 2 Tbsp. paprika into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Yellow
Rich yellow: Simmer 4 oz. chopped carrot tops in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.
Mustard-yellow: Stir 2 Tbsp. turmeric into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.
Various shades: Steep 4 bags of chamomile or green tea in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes.
Pale yellow: Chop 4 oz. goldenrod and simmer in 2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.
Faint yellow: Simmer the peels of 6 oranges in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. vinegar.

Brown-Gold
Simmer 2 Tbsp. dill seed in 1 cup water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Brown
Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup strong coffee.

Pink
Faint pink: Chop 4 oz. amaranth flowers and simmer in 2 cups water; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer the skins from 6 avocados in 1-1/2 cup water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Mix 1 cup pickled beet juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.
Dark pink: Cut 1 medium beet into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar and let cool to room temperature; remove beets.

Lavender
Mix 1 cup grape juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

Chocolate-Dipped Easter Peeps

Sourced From:  Love From the Oven

For the how-to, click here.

Cereal Treat Easter Eggs

Sourced From:  In Katrina’s Kitchen

Ingredients:
·        ¼ c butter
·        10 oz bag of marshmallows
·        5 c cereal (I used Fruity Pebbles)
Directions:
1.   In a large pan melt butter using medium heat.
2.   Add marshmallows and stir until melted.
3.   Pour in the cereal and mix to incorporate.
4.   Spray plastic eggs with cooking spray. I found it was easiest to use eggs that split vertically. You could just use 1 or 2 eggs for this process as the cereal does not take long to take the shape of the egg.

5.   Spoon the cereal mixture into each half of the egg then close egg to form shape. Pop cereal out after about 10 seconds.