Counting with Felt Balls

Here’s yet another fun kids activity with a free printable!

This one is to help those little ones start counting and understanding numbers.  

I used to work as a kindergarten aide and I learned exactly what each kinder should really know coming into kindergarten, and while numbers are definitely a huge focus, it makes all the difference for those kids who come in with a knowledge and understanding of number basics.

This activity is a great introduction to what each number looks like and to help understand what the amount of those numbers looks like. I only made 1-10 of these printables because 11-20 is introduced later in the year, and because this is a great jumping off point into numbers.

DOWNLOAD the full page sheets here. Cut them apart into fourths, or leave as whole sheets.

blush halloween printable set

It seems like blush is sneaking it’s way into every holiday now...including Halloween!  While I’m not fully ready to incorporate it into my main color scheme of decorations, it is a little fun to work it in a bit.  

One way I did it was by creating these cute printables to replace prints that usually hang in my home. So whether you’re all about blush in your Halloween, or just like cute non-scary decorations...this printable set is for you!

DOWNLOAD the set HERE

 

Color Mixing Printable

Recently I shared an idea on my Instagram for your little baby/toddler using Hello Maypole felt balls. My baby boy started doing it when he was 11-months, but still enjoys it now at 15-months.  

One last thing I’ll say about it, use the FELT BALLS, not pom-poms.  They are much sturdier for little fingers and are much better to start working on their fine-motor skills.

So here’s another fun idea for those felt balls- teaching color mixing!

I made a few different versions for all ages.  3 different color sets, and 3 versions of those color sets that has one completed for younger, one with words for readers, and one blank for older kids. 

To complete all the color sets, I used Hello Maypole’s Pigment and Party Animal color ways.

You could use these in a preschool setting, color concepts, or just for fun!

Here’s the link for the worksheets, download & print what you want!  

we all got crowns wallpaper & background

I thought I’d share my design from this post in a few different colors for you to save and use as a phone background. Click on the design & then save to your photos to set as wallpaper or background. Enjoy! (for personal use only.) 

Diaper Bag Necessities

Here’s a more in-depth look into what our diaper backpack looked like for about the first 6 months of Baby Blake’s life.  It’s altered now because obviously he eats and is entertained differently than he was as a baby. I remember my first baby we had those over-the-shoulder side bags that always fell off when you had to bend over to grab something...or the baby. And it was basically just a large, ugly abyss of all the baby crap your were SURE you’d need in case the apocalypse came while you were at the grocery store.

Thank goodness cute, compact backpacks came into style with a million compartments that make it easy to wear or grab. HALLELUJAH. The one I have I bought somewhere online...probably off amazon? But you can find it literally anywhere.  It’s help up amazingly well and I still really like it. The same bag for a whole year...that’s a record.

Alright let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Let’s get specific and say this bag is geared towards 0-6 month babies and I promise I’ll do an updated version for an older baby.

First and foremost, you’re still a human and need your own crap. I have a small pouch that carries things like, throat drops, lipgloss, cough drops, tampons, Tylenol, neosporin, hand sanitizer, and even a tiny fan (because, Arizona).  I also have a very small, basic first aid kit because I have a 7 year old, too & it’s come in handy especially at the park and in case that dang apocalypse comes. Gum and wallet wrap up my own personal items that I put into the bag.

Baby stuff starts with a good diaper & wipes case.  I love mine because it has a wipes dispenser, room for 4 diapers AND a changing pad and even a zippered pocket in the back I put a diaper baggie in, all in a wipable pouch with a leather handle. It’s perfect.

Things you may need, that we very quickly did not...bottle with a formula pouch inside, an extra binkie, a swaddle, a light muslin blanket and very necessary for us, a nursing cover.

For “toiletries” there’s travel size Honest lotion, Babyganics sunscreen, bug spray and hand sanitizer foam.  Yes, I use all these and they fit neatly in one of the pouches so I don’t have to worry about packing them anytime we go outside.

Finish it out with a onesie, because crap happens...and a burp cloth & small crinkle toy if your baby is into it.

Last tip is that I throw in samples of things like diaper cream and hand sanitizing wipes to keep the bulkiness down.

That’s it. Decide where everything fits and put it there everything single time. Not just for your sanity, but for when the baby is spitting up and you can yell at your husband, BURP CLOTH! INSIDE LEFT POCKET!!! It works.

Could you survive with about half this? Probably.  But not if the apocalypse comes at the grocery store...

Disneyland & C.A. Tips

We have been meaning to take a trip to Disneyland for...basically the last 3 years. We were planning on going, and then I got pregnant. (yay!) But then I was SUPER sick...and then I was huge...and then we had a newborn. Whew!

Then my husband found a great deal on 3-day tickets we couldn’t pass up, especially now that no one was pregnant or a newborn! So 2 days before we left, we told him because yes, we waited that long to tell our 7-year old in order to 1. Surprise him and 2. So we didn’t have to talk about it for 3 months.

He was absolutely ecstatic after he got over the initial shock.

So let’s get in some basics of what you need to know before you go.

try to avoid weekends

We went Thursday, Friday and Saturday and there was a HUGE difference in crowds/wait time even between Friday & Saturday. Saturday was by far the worst most crowded day...obviously. But the weekdays made it way less busy.

get the MaxPass

My sisters-in-law recently went to Disneyland and she told me that the MaxPass was awesome. So we got it for both Thursday (Disneyland) and Friday (CA Adventure) and it was worth every penny! It does cost $15 per ticket to get it, but since there were only 3 of us and we wanted to make the most of our time, we loved it. You can do fast passes right on your phone, rather than having to go to the actual ride to get your fast pass. This as also handy to be able to stand in line for one ride & while our fast pass time started on another ride, get another fast pass for a different ride! And it also comes with photo pass, which lets you scan a code when one of those photographers takes your picture or when you ride a ride that takes a picture...BOOM. Right on your phone. We loved it and tried to take full advantage of it.

bring your own food

Everyday we either packed breakfast and lunch or left to get it. Meals get pricey and we would rather spend money on our max passes & a few treats. Pack whatever meals you want, lots of snacks and plenty of water. We opted to water bottles instead of our bulky, heavy hydroflasks.

go when it rains!

Obviously you don’t plan your trip around weather, but if it happens to rain one of the days you’re planning on going...JUST GO! It rained the morning of our first day and it was a ghost town! We basically walked onto rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz, Star Tours, Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones. Just pack ponchos or waterproof jackets, extra socks and an umbrella. Side note: ponchos are good to have for wet rides either way!

do some “research”

I started following some Disney-focused accounts on Instagram that post helpful info/tips/food about both DL & CA, so it was helpful to know before we went what I wanted to do or see or eat. 2 of my personal favorites were Disney on the Dime & DisneyHungry.

Friday Favorites

I wanted to share not one...but TWO favorites for this Friday! Crazy, I know! But they go hand in hand & work better together.  

After have a "oh-my-gosh-I'm-almost-30-are-those-wrinkles-I-see-in-that-picture?!" meltdown...I decided to get a little more serious that an undereye cream & daily moisturizer. After researching what exactly I needed and then finding the best ones for the best price, I settled on these and have not been disappointed! 

After about a week of using them I was spending time with family and someone commented on how smooth my skin was. Now don't ask me why someone in my family was caressing my cheek but they were. Needless to say I think it's working! I have the most sensitive skin and this hasn't had any bad reactions and has only made it better. So I thought I'd share my finds with you guys in case you're in the same "please don't let me need botox" mentality. So first step after I wash and tone my skin I apply this vitamin C serum.

 A little bit goes a long way. And then immediately after I apply this retinol cream.

And of course I still put on my under eye cream because those suckers ain't going away anytime soon!

Happy Moisturizing, friends!!