Reusing Popsicle Sticks

If I had kept every stick for every popsicle I ate in Brazil I would be able to do all of the crafts on this round-up times twenty! That first-trimester when Eliza was growing in my belly was a doozy. I don't buy popsicles all that much here because we have our Zoku quick pop maker. Exhibit A. Exhibit B. Exhibit C. But you know, when we're out and about or, when we're in Sacramento visiting great-grandma Mimi and auntie Karen (auntie Karen buys the best popsicles), we never pass up on the opportunity to eat my favorite frozen treat.

If you have been saving popsicle sticks you're in luck. If you haven't you still have time. Summer is not over yet, not by a long shot, so get yourself an ice pop (saying this with a British accent) and then get your Martha Stewart on and start crafting. 

1. Bow and Arrow 2. Magnets 3. Gift Tag 4. Summer Boredom Buster 5. Clock 6. Making Math Fun 7. Washi Tape Wooden Bracelets

Sugar Free Valentine

Are you excited about Valentine's Day?
I am! I am!

On February 15th Christian and I will be celebrating 10 years since the day we met, at a Valentine's Dance called The Last Chance. It's fun celebrating our Valentine's Day on the 15th, it makes it a lot easier to go out to eat where we want to without having to fight the crowds. It's also really fun celebrating Valentine's Day with the kids, they get so into it.

I've been looking for some fun ways to say "I {heart} you" with the kids without involving empty calories so that I can stick with our New Year's resolution to do sugar just once a week.

I'm pretty excited about these goodies
// how to make play-doh with Kool-Aid
// my heart pops for you free printable
// photo garland
// paper doily envelope

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

Gingerbread House - Kiwi Crate

This year we're going to Hawaii for Christmas, I know so lucky right?! Consequently we're keeping low on the decorations around our house since we won't even be here on the 25th.

Kiwi Crate sent us their December box and it was perfect, just what we needed to get our home looking a little like Christmas. The kids and I spent Saturday pouring over our Kiwi Crate, making a cardboard gingerbread house and 3 ornaments. We'll have to take the ornaments to Hawaii to decorate the Palmer family Christmas tree when we're there.

If you haven't heard of Kiwi Crate do check them out. They deliver craft projects for kids to your doorstep. Pretty fun stuff, and a cool gift for Holidays for sure.

Letters on a Cookie Sheet | Kitchen School

That extra cookie sheet you never use, hold on to it. Also hold on to those magnetic letters you're tempted to give away.

Here is what you do

you line up all the letters to make sure they fit on the sheet. Then you remove them one at a time and with a sharpie you write the corresponding letter on the cookie sheet.

Then you have your pre-schooler match the magnetic letters to the ones on the cookie sheet. You tell her she has 10 seconds tops to do it otherwise she doesn't get dinner.

Kidding! You let her have a go at it. If she thinks it's hard (Maria thought it was hard) you can give her just the first row of letters, and then the second, and then the third, and then the last. She will feel super successful and will want to do it all over again!

Bonus, you hated those magnetic letters because you didn't really have a good place to keep them (yes, I hate having my fridge full of letters too), well now you can just keep them on the cookie sheet. Other bonus, we use the inside part of the cookie sheet (the blank side) to help Enzo master his spelling words of the week. He gets tired of writing, spelling with magnetic letters is way more fun.

I love using the stuff in my kitchen (old cookie sheets for example, food, food coloring) to help my kids learn. Periodically I'll post a kitchen school project. If you have any you'd like to submit and have featured here at Kitchen Corners send me an email. I'd love to see what kind of stuff you enjoy doing with your kids.
xoxo Da

Check out We Can Do All Things for more projects using a cookie sheet.

Food as Dyes

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and finally getting things ready for our baby. When Enzo was a baby the cool thing was the sling. When Maria was a baby it was the all natural rubber pacifier. Now the hot new thing is the Aden + Anis swaddling blankets. Supposedly they're like magic. My sister-in-law sent me one, which she tie-dyed and made it super cute. I want more. I also want to dye them but don't have any dyes to work with.

Have you ever used natural dyes like berries and tumeric? I recently saw a tutorial on Sweet Peach on how to use natural dyes on 100% cotton and I'm intrigued. Does it fade after a couple washes? If anyone has experience with using food as dyes can you give me some suggestions? Thanks much!
xoxo

images via Sweet Peach

5 Halloween Projects You Can do at Home with the Kids

I've been busy creating, photographing, and writing up Halloween DIY for Tend. It's been so fun working for Glam Media these past 3 months. I'm so grateful I got the opportunity to do what I love with people who were beyond great.

Here are 5 Halloween DIY projects I came up with for Tend and wanted to share with you.

Ghost Cake Pops

DIY Glitter Pumpkins

DIY Chalkboard Pumpkin

Halloween in a Box

Halloween Playdough Recipe

Yesterday the kids decided what they wanted to be for Halloween. Stay tuned for pictures! Halloween is definitely growing on me the older the kids get. They are so into it.

Have you started preparing for Halloween at your house?