inspirational Sunday

Inspirational Sunday

inspirational Sunday

Technology Tickets

If I would allow it my kiddos would watch TV, play video games or play on the computer all day long. Since, I have started to limit my time with a timer, I decided to do something for the kiddos.

I didn't want a timer as they could easily play with it or loose it and I wanted to teach them responsibility. Using a concept popular with classrooms, I created tickets. Instead of having to earn them and cashing them in for items in a treasure chest or whatever, they are given a certain amount per week.  Each ticket is worth 30 minutes and I gave them 8 of them. It is their job to figure out what and when they want to use their tickets. We (parents) still have the veto power to say no, you may not use your ticket. Once the tickets are gone for the week that's it no more.

If chores aren't done or I have to constantly ask for something, tickets are taken away. It's a win win for me. Peanut has been pretty good about turning off the television when the time is up, he is afraid of loosing his tickets.

I love how they turned out, simple and to the point. Using an old can, actually the one that I created for the Back to School Countdown Can.   The idea is when they want to use one of their tickets, they have to turn them in and I place them in the cabinet on a hook (out of sight, just in case). On the front is the chalkboard paint and they can write the number of tickets they still have left on the front.  On Sunday, they are given all of their tickets back to start the week. We have been doing this for about two weeks now and it has been working fabulously!

Here is the finished product:

These have been a real blessing for my household. Who would have thought a tiny piece of paper would help to eliminate so much confusion and aggravation. How do you monitor the amount of time your kids watch tv, play on the computer or video games.

Tire Rocker and See Saw

I love creating and making toys for my kids, especially when I can use things around my house to make awesome and fun toys!

Using an old tire, I wanted to create a seesaw/rocker for Pumpkin. She loves her brother's toys, even though she has a ton of her own. I often hear him fussing because she is playing with his toys. My thought was if she had something that was made just for her, she might just play with it. 

Here is my semi-finished product: I haven't decided what I want to do with the top, I think I might cover with fabric, but I want to see how it holds up first! (Pardon the mess, we are moving again and things are everywhere!)

semi-finished product! 

I just love how it turned out. First, I had the tire cut in half! Wow, what a feet that was, took forever to find a tool that finally cut through the metal in the tire.  Ended up using a circular saw! 

After it was finally cut in half, I mean this took forever, three different tools and about 20 minutes of sweat! It was fithly! I used the utility tub from the washer and some dish soap. Scrub scrub scrub and oh yes some more scrubbing!

my tire, before it's bath!

Once I felt it was clean enough, I took it outside and sprayed it with spray paint! I purchased a can of spray paint on sale and Michaels and used a 40% off coupon, so I got it for $2.17! Talk about excited. I choose Krylon indoor/outdoor paint in Banner Red. 

At first, I laid it on it's side to paint thinking it would be easier to see but I wanted to make sure the paint was even so I did a light layer and then flipped it over. The awesome thing about spray paint is it dries pretty quickly and this can said it dried in 10 minutes. After a few minutes, about 15 (wanted to give it a few more just in case) I went out and painted it again. Two coats was perfect!

At this point, I was hoping to use a piece of wood, nuts, and bolts that I had laying around but of course it didn't work out that I had enough of one size. Off to the hardware store, we went!

The good part, I got all of the pieces for $11.00, a little more than I wanted to spend but still within in my $15.00 budget for this project. Could you do it cheaper, heck yes, just use what you have around the house.

screws and nuts, along with my scrap wood

two pieces of two feet of rope

I found a piece of wood, I wanted three feet, so I had an employee cut it. My advice, go to the scrap bin first,  usually they will not charge you the full price if it is a reminant from another piece and you can usually find great pieces. Mine was 3 feet of 1 x 8 for $.55, yes that's right, 55 cents! Score!

I got two pieces of rope, two feet each for $.38 a foot. I had the guy cut it and burn the edges for me so that it wouldn't fray. You could buy the cheaper stuff but I wanted to make sure Pumpkin wouldn't get splinters when she was rocking.

Next the nuts and bolts and L brackets.

I plan on painting the bolts red to match and help blend in but I have to figure out the top first. 

Once you have all of your hardware, you can figure out how you want the wood to sit on the tire, I choose to have it with three bolts on each end.  I figure this would help to keep it stable and not wiggle.

Using a drill, I drilled a hole through the tire and place the bolt through, securing it with a bolt. Repeat five more times, then using the L brackets I attached them to the wood, again securing them with a bolt to help make it secure.

screws from above with my markings for the leg spaces. 

At this point, I could have been done but I wanted to make it a little more fancy, so I decided to sketch out  an edge to give pumpkin a place to put her thighs and not hurt her legs.

After cutting and sanding out the leg spaces, I reattached the wood to the tire to check if Pumpkin could sit comfortably! Then check the spaces for her hands to grab the rope.

Finally, I cut four holes in the top for the rope handle. I slid the rope from the top down, making a loop and secured underneath with a zip tie, I wanted to be able to adjust the length if necessary as she grows.

I love how this rocker turned out! Peanut and Pumpkin just love to ride on it together. The neat part about it is, if Pumpkin wants to use it as a rocker and ride by herself, she can sit in the middle and use one of the handles to hold on!

Now to figure out what I am going to do with the top, fabric or paint? What do you think?

Update: You can read the updated tire rocker here.

Inspirational Sunday

Teach at home Thursday Mind Jar

You might have seen these floating around Pinterest and google lately. I used one a few years ago in my classroom and found it to be unsuccessful. I decided to try it again with my little ones, and for about a week or so now it has been working well. Instead of time out, have the child sit and hold the mind jar after shaking it. They sort of remind me of a snow globe. Watching the glitter helps to calm the child down. I have heard great things about these for children with Autism as well.

To make one you will need:

a jar, I used an old peanut butter jar
glue (some people have made it with glitter glue.)
hair gel (optional, heard this helps to thicken up the glue and water)
glitter
food coloring (optional to make the mixture colored)
hot water (about 1 cup)
Mix them all together in the jar.

Make sure to glue the lid shut just in case.

Happy Mind Jar building!

While you are creating your mind jar, grab an old glass jar and equal parts water and glue and you have home made, budget friendly Modge Podge!

October Goal

October's Goal, is another feel good kind of goal! If you remember my June goal was to spend time doing three activities with the kiddos. This month's focus is to build a stronger relationship with Mr. Barefoot. Although, it isn't going to be as focused or structured as June's goal, I wanted to remember what it was like when we were first dating. We spent a lot of time just the two of us and with kids and life sometimes, it doesn't happen.

My thinking/plan for this is to spend time with each other doing simple things like giving each other back rubs/foot massages, taking walks, watching a move together, maybe even a dance class together. I have a ton of great simple and budget date ideas from the site, the Dating Divas, if you haven't checked them out, I highly recommend you do so. Not only do they have cute date ideas, but printables to go along with them.

What are some of the ways you date your spouse?

September Goal Recap!

I cannot believe it is September's end already. Wow that sounded really sad and bad. It has just flown by so quickly! For a recap of September's 30 year goal was to try and save my change! I did great, and never realized how easy it was to save coins and how quickly it adds up! Just by saving my loose change from everyday purchases! I saved $33.00! I know what you are thinking, $33.00 isn't that big a deal but added all up that's $396 in savings for doing nothing. All I did was empty my change purse. Imagine if everyone in your house did it. You could easily use this money to pay off a credit card, take a weekend getaway, buy a fancy piece of furniture. I am very proud of myself and I think this is one goal that is going to be easy to continue!

Yes, I think I might be slightly addicted to Crystal Light Containers!

September Recap in pictures:

We had a busy busy month, we started back to school and had a visit from the back to school fairy!

we built a police car and fire truck at Lowe's build and grow clinics, and fell asleep watching movies,

We played super heros with our pillow cases and rode bikes in road races!

September was a great month, now to see what October holds!

Inspirational Sunday

                                                          source: imgfave.com