Posted on Jun 09, 2013.
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Not only are Mama May I toys great learning tools for individual boys and girls, they are also terrific for group activities. Up until age three, most children will choose toys and play with them in an individual way even within a group setting. For this reason, a typical Montessori or Waldorf inspired playspace offers a bounty of learning tools to engage young minds. By age 3, children eagerly seek camaraderie and shared experiences with peers. These five learning toys are sure to delight a group of young friends in open-ended play.
Coloring with Rainbow Rings
Do your little ones have trouble grasping crayons?
Try a rainbow ringlet for a delightful burst of color. A typical coloring page will come to life as the rainbow offers shading details and transitional colors. This vibrant coloring tool is sure to solve the problem of who gets which color crayon.
Silk Activities
Use the silkies to play parachutes or umbrellas. In the umbrella version, each player has a single silkie. For the parachute, tie many together to use one as a group.
Create a story surrounding a rainstorm to use the umbrella and give guiding cues to the group. “I hear thunder, I think it’s going to rain!” Start shaking the umbrella. “Here come the raindrops.” “It’s raining! Run under the umbrella.”
In the parachute version, everyone holds an edge and follows the leader. “Up, up, up!” “Down, down down!” “Under, everyone run under!” Wait for the parachute to fall on the group.
Hide N Seek Neighborhood + Colored Cups and Balls
Any rainbow series game from Mama May I can inspire a playful group. These learning tools beg a little explorer to solve their many intricate puzzles. Discover how to stack, fill, and arrange the group, then turn them over and start again. In a group setting, little ones can learn from one another.
Observation and partnership begins with a common goal.
Classic Ball and Cup Dexterity Game
This traditional game doesn’t need instructions. Simply set a young pair of hands to work on the task of getting the ball into the cup and watch the fun unfold. In a group setting, add excitement to the game by setting goals. Who can complete the task first? How many times can you fill the cup in a set amount of time? Switch hands!
Make-a-match Memory Game
Lay out all tiles upside down. The first player takes a turn flipping over two tiles. If they match, the player keeps the pair, if not both tiles are overturned in the original spaces. The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins.
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Posted on May 29, 2013.
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Our world is full of the unexpected. A great way to help
children learn about the unexpected is to teach them conditional awareness.
Certain games introduce this skill like Mama May I? and Red Light, Green Light,
by teaching children to move or perform a certain action after receiving a set
of instructions. I was inspired to learn more about conditional awareness after
seeing a suggestion to let children climb up a slide on the Golden Gleam Blog http://www.thegoldengleam.com/2012/10/benefits-of-climbing-slides-outdoor.html.
Not all the time, but sometimes it is important for children to go back up the
slide to help discover that there are rules for different situations. For
instance, if you are the only one on the playground you could say, “It is ok to
climb up the slide right now because there are no other children around.” The
next day if there is a toddler in the park you might say, “It is not OK to
climb up the slide today because we could hurt the other child.” This triggers
an on/off switch that helps children distinguish your expectations for behavior
depending on the surroundings.
Teaching conditional awareness is helpful for other aspects
of life, too. It might explain why an older sibling is allowed to stay up for a
later bedtime or why someone receives a special gift for a birthday. We can
also demonstrate indoor and outdoor voices or work on manners. Basically we
want to show that more than one outcome is not only possible, but also likely
for any situation. In the end, we will set our children up for better
understanding and social skills down the road. Let’s face it, there is only one
thing in life that should be unconditional; Love.
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Posted on May 06, 2013.
1 comment
At Mama May I, we are always on the lookout for creative, engaged parents because we can learn so much from the way they interact with their children. They are more than just teachers, they are listeners, observers and friends to their little ones. Over the years we have realized that it does not take a lot of stuff to be a great parent. All it takes is the ability to demonstrate love by responding to our little one’s needs.
We think these parents are worth a follow:
5. The Magic Onions
4. Play at Home Mom
3. Inner Child Fun
2. In Lieu of Preschool
1. Modern Parents Messy Kids
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Posted on Apr 24, 2013.
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Preparing Little Ones for the Labor and Birth of a New Sibling
I am pregnant with a little one who will make his or her debut sometime in July. Our baby will have two big sisters who cannot wait to cuddle, hold, and love our little bundle. Two big sisters who need to be well prepared for the upcoming events of labor and birth (we are having a homebirth) as well as what life will be like once our new baby is here. Here are some of the things we have done to help make the adjustment easier for them before baby’s arrival – because, let’s face it, it’s a family thing.
1. Read books. Lots and lots of books. Books about pregnancy. Books about labor and birth. Books about homebirth. Books about hospital birth. Books about what it means to be a big sister. Books about midwives and doulas. My children love to read. And I love the illustrations of some of these amazing treasures to help us all visualize what’s going to happen to mommy over this marvelous time.
We have several more, but these are the ones they reach for time and time again.
Mama, Tell Me About When Max was Born by, Toni Olson
We’re Having a Homebirth!! by Kelly Mochel
When You Were Inside Mommy by, Joanna Cole
I’m a Big Sister (Brother) by, Joanna Cole
Hello Baby by, Jenni Overend and Julie Vivas
Hello Baby! by, Lizzy Rockwell
What’s Inside Your Tummy, Momm? by, Abby Cocovini
Runa’s Birth by, Uwe Spillmann and Inga Kamieth
My Mom’s Having a Baby! by, Dori Hillestad Butler and Carol Thompson
2. Talking, singing, interacting with the baby as if he/she is already here (because she is!) Our little bundle can hear us talking, reading, singing, and sharing with each other, in-utero. My youngest (almost 2) is the first one to cuddle up and say good morning to the baby, hug, and kiss her. She always has to lift up my shirt to see my belly button in order to make the conversation legitimate (no matter where we are). I think she views my belly button as a portal or microphone into the baby’s world. Whatever the case, she loves whispering sweet nothings into my belly, patting, rubbing, and singing to our baby inside. Sometimes I get out a Tiny Tickler (we sell these in the shop) and she gets to “tickle” the baby. It’s a great way to bond with an unborn baby and if feels good to have soft, gentle touches on my tummy. I can’t help but smile when I see the beginnings of a sibling relationship forming. Melts my heart.
Tiny Tickler $15 Mama May i
www.MamaMayiShop.com
3. We have been perusing Vimeo.com under the search terms “homebirth” because I want them both to be prepared for the type of labor and delivery that they will most likely be a part of. (I try to scan them first just to make sure I can explain what’s going to happen if there are noises or sights that might create questions). Both of my children WANT to be here when I deliver our baby and I want them to understand the types of things they will see, hear, and smell. It is amazing how interested they are in watching other little beings coming into the world – they can sense the magnitude of this incredible journey and event…they sit in awe and reverence as each story unfolds. I, myself, love watching these videos because they are affirmations to me of how incredibly strong and beautiful women are. I am excited and honored to have the opportunity to share this feminine journey with my little ones. It feels so natural and so real and inspiring.
FYI. They will have their own “person” when I am laboring so if it ever gets too intense, they are welcome to go play or head out for a walk.
4. Along with this idea, I talk to them about labor and what that means and looks like. I tell them it’s a lot of hard work for a mommy. That her tummy squeezes the baby, giving giant hugs, to help bring the baby down. Sometimes mommy’s need to use they birth songs to help them bring the baby down and it sounds like this “oooooooooo…….ohhhh…..” deep, grumbly, throating noises. I ask them to help me make that sound (they love to imitate me). I sometimes show them some positions that mommy might want to be in; on all fours, leaning against a bed, some pillows, walking, swaying our hips. Sometimes we practice our “hula” hip moves to bring the baby down.
5. I have always been honest with my children and have always used proper terminology when it comes to our private parts. They know that our baby will come out of mommy’s vagina. I’ve demonstrated this with a baby doll or two. We also talk about it when we watch birth videos. I don’t want them to be scared to see a whole little person coming out of me, down there. They know that baby’s can’t live in their “tummys” “uteruses” or “wombs” quite yet….but if they want to have children when they become grownups they will have a comfy cozy home just for their baby, too.
There is a woman who crafts these amazing, handmade birthing / breastfeeding dolls that beautifully depict this idea. If they weren’t quite so expensive I would definitely have one. But they are beautiful and one of these days I just might splurge…
www.mamaamordolls.com
Hoping to have inspired some good conversation with you and your little one about pregnancy, labor, and birth!
What are some other ways to prepare even the smallest members of your family for the upcoming arrival of a sibling?
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Posted on Mar 29, 2013.
1 comment
For quite some time I have been fed up with our clothes-keeping situation. Too often were things getting shuffled, piled, misplaced, displaced, and unkept. I have been trying to figure out what would work best for everyone - from Mama, who usually puts clothes away, to my independent little ones who are deciding to dress themselves nowadays (maybe a post on that another day!)
This is what our closet looked like, more often than not. I knew where things were, because I put them "away" -- but after one attempt or two of "finding an outfit" by my children or my husband, and this is what the piles looked like....and it was stressing me out.
I needed a solution. Fast.
I decided on relatively shallow drawers, so there would be plenty for sorting.
I chose the Stuva from IKEA and added more shallow drawers than deep drawers.
-----------------------------------------
Now I have the drawers and they are finally built (that's a frustration in an of itself!)
They are in the girls' closet and ready to be organized!!
Soooo...
I decided to play around with the idea of a Paper Doll.
Buga traced my templates on scrapbook paper and cut out shirts, pants, leggings, socks, underwear, pajamas, cardigans, skirts, and dresses.
We designed two fashion "collections" - one for Buga and one for Boo.
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Then we printed out label tags to put next to the proper article of clothing.
I want Buga to associate the written word with the article of clothing found inside.
Here she is "reading" the labels to figure out which word goes on which drawer.
Here is the After :-)
Buga stuck all the paper clothes onto the drawers and labeled them.
All together and organized. The best part came the next day.
When I was done folding laundry, I piled the clothes according to drawer.
I gave Buga each pile, one at a time, to bring up to her room.
She was able to find the correct place and put the clean clothes neatly into the drawer!
Boo was happy to assist in her clothing organization, also.
And Buga took great pride in "lifiting her up" when she couldn't reach. Teamwork at its finest.
Yay for independence! And Yay for finally getting some help with laundry!
-------------------------------------------
I've created a printable for you to enjoy with your little organizer.
If you aren't interested in using it in this way, I've included a Paper Doll template
so you can let your little fashion-designer create a clothing line suitable to their little paper friend.
Clothing Labels
Paper Doll Template
Happy Exploring!
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Posted on Mar 26, 2013.
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I found another rainbow! Boo wanted to paint yesterday and I couldn't find a palette! I was going to put them all on a plate but then they (much too soon) turn brown - an experiment in color mixing is bound to happen - but I didn't want it to happen so fast.
I had these tiny condiment cups from a project and thought it would be fun to make a palette on a plate. I used glue dots to stick them down - easy peasy. I put a water cup in the middle.
The best part is I had lids so the leftover (if any) paint wouldn't go bad. I rinsed the palette when we where through to reuse next time we are in Picasso mode. ♥
My Little Artists At Work!
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Posted on Mar 14, 2013.
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Excited to have participated in the Etsy Pop Up Shop at West Elm this Spring. The catch - we had to use props from the store to create a display. I felt like I was on Project Runway and needed to figure out how to get it all together in two hours or less! I think it turned out super cute, though -- and it didn't FEEL as busy as it LOOKS!
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Posted on Mar 04, 2013.
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Guess where Mama May i will be this weekend?? West Elm is having an Etsy Pop-up Shop in Philadelphia on Saturday, and I am honored to say that our shop is one of the ones chosen to participate! Looking forward to being in Center City this Saturday ♥
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Posted on Mar 03, 2013.
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Posted on Feb 22, 2013.
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Friday Featured Product : Welcome Bees
Did you know that the Welcome Bees were created after a Spring Walk with my little one. She was captivated by the Magical Dance, Movement, and Mission of the bumblebees. I thought it would be a great opportunity to explore these little critters in our Play and Learn time together....and My Mom was actually the one who designed and created the prototype for the differently colored rings as a way for them all to find their fluttery way home. ♥
Don't forget to share how you would use these little cuties with your little entomologist! We would love to know!
These Bees are ready for Spring and we bet your little one can't wait to play.
Share a way that You would use the Welcome Bees in an activity with your little entomologist.
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Posted on Nov 06, 2012.
1 comment
If you live in the United Sates, you have anticipated this day for months now. You have been berated by the political commercials on the television. Moved by the many Facebook friends who have strong political views. Laughed at the political satires on Saturday Night TV. But today....Today is the day we get to exercise our RIGHT TO VOTE.
Take this opportunity to share with your little ones about what it means to be a part of a democracy. Vote on "what's for dinner tonight. Or "what we should do for family fun day this weekend." Show them that you are interested in the issues and engaged in the outcome. If you can bring them along with you to the polling station, do it. Mine could feel the excitement and were happy to receive a sticker. They wanted to be a part of it just as much as I do...and isn't that the point. We ALL get to be a PART OF It. We have the RIGHT to vote.
So Use it.
We did. I brought the girls to our polling station. We talked about "democracy" and what it means to "vote". Mama's voting for someone who I think will be the most fair in "making rules for the people in our country"
. I read the ballot to her and pushed the buttons. She hit the big green button to cast our VOTE ! She thinks our guy is going to win the "race" --- in her mind a challenge of stamina and foot to pavement action. I guess she's really not too far off :-) Thankful to be sharing this experience with my girls. Thankful to have a say. Thankful to have my voice heard --- and my childrens' voices heard in a democracy. You have the RIGHT. Use it.
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Posted on Aug 28, 2012.
6 comments
I love receiving photos of little ones getting lost in the corners of their imaginations with my creation.
Here's Ella stacking her gnomes up, up, up. I love it! Thanks for sharing!
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Posted on Aug 23, 2012.
1 comment
This has been our Summer Sensory Bin. The Beach. We have been busy reading and exploring the sand and ocean this year so I thought it would be fun to bring the beach home with us. Buga likes writing her letters in the sand with the driftwood and I love the calming sound of her sifting the sand.
Looking for some more Sensory Bin fun?
Check out our Sensory Bin collection for find treasures perfect for tactile adventure.
Explore With Me
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Posted on Aug 20, 2012.
6 comments
The storefront site has been a ....while.... in the making. A LONG while. I am so incredibly excited to be on the cusp of launching. A place for inspiration. A place for learning. A place for sharing. A place for buying. A place where my journey as a mother collides with my journey as a business woman. Where my life, and blog....unite with my career. I have dreamed about this happening, but now that it is so close ...so tangible... I cannot believe we have come this far. I am inspired and awed by the journey we have taken the passed few years and am ecstatic to see where it continues to lead us. Thank you to all my support, both at home, and afar who have made this journey possible. I couldn't ...and wouldn't be here without you.
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Posted on Aug 17, 2012.
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I'm a pretty crafty mama. And I do projects with my little ones a lot. As you know, if you read my blog. So when I heard of Kiwi Crate I was enthusiastic, but skeptical. A craft, to my door, once a month. But, hey...the thought of having a "present" delivered monthly was exciting. And I knew Buga would glow with excitement when a package arrived at our door with her name on it...every month. Like a magazine subscription, I thought it would be something to look forward to I am so happy I gave it a whirl. Just as I imagined, the package arrives to open, excited hands...and we both enjoy peeking inside to discover what the theme is. Yes, theme. I think this is really what holds it all together for me. Sure, I can create these little projects myself...and I do. But it takes a lot of time. And I don't always have the time available to get it together. With Kiwi Crate I don't have to. I get a free pass 1-2 times a month (if I stretch the projects out.) on a rainy, do nothing day...on a mama's-to-busy-to-think kind of day...it's nice to know I have a go-to box filled with learning and creative fun. Who doesn't enjoy opening a mysterious package? Sometimes I hoard them...like the past two months. We have been so busy with Summer that we haven't really had any project time - or home time for that matter. I put them in the learning closet and pulled one out this week when we needed a little something to get us through the day. It was perfect. A surprise project, even for Mama. Something we worked on together. A safari of animal fun while Boo took a nap. A little one-on-one crafting time. And memories to share.
And Kiwi Crates Past....
Wind and Motion (sometime this Spring)
Pirate Themed (February I think)
Robot Themed - August
(We just got this box yesterday.
We did a project while Boo was sleeping then, and
another one again today during her nap time, too.)
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Posted on Aug 15, 2012.
3 comments
Buga is still completely enamored over her Art Studio...and there have been more art projects made since its inception than ever before -- which makes me enamored with it too. Take up precious row-home space for a children's art table, you ask? Absolutely! It's already gotten more traffic than my china cabinet ever did. It's functional space. Real estate in my home is a commodity...but, I do not regret this investment one iota. Paint. Stickers. Tape. Pens. Pencils. Crayons. Conte. Collage. Brushes. Oil pastels. Scissors. Glue. Stamps. Ink. Do a dot. Beads. Pipe cleaners. Pom poms. Gemstones. You name it. So much use. I would have LOVED something like this when I was a child....or a high school student. Who am I kidding? It still makes me giddy inside to see all those writing utensils and craft supplies at our fingertips.
1. Wooden scratching supplies, sticks, stamps, ink pad
2. Tissue squares, construction paper cutouts, paper fragments
3. Oil pastels, do-a-dot, homemade crayons, recycled crayons
4. Random paper cutouts, leftover paint swatches for collaging, wooden squares
5. Foam pieces, parts, clothespins, collage goodies
6. Stickers galore
1. Washi tape roll. I love wash tape for packaging, collaging, sticking, adhering....There are schmencils, colored pencils, smelly markers, color slicks, oil pastels, glitter glue, paints, twisty crayons, regular crayons, thin markers, thick markers, black-paper markers, glue sticks, scissors, pencils, pens, brushes
2. Beads, pipe cleaners, hole punched shapes, straw bits, popsicle sticks
3. Beeswax crayons, beads, pipe cleaner flower vase
4. Toddler Tools - large crayons, crayon chunks, and veggies to work on our "still life" drawings
Artist, hard at work. Buga and Boo have both spent SO MUCH TIME crafting, creating, playing, and imagining in this little art space. I absolutely ADORE watching their creations unfold. The unusual space above the art table is shaped like a triangle, so it was difficult to think of an easy, convenient way to turn it into an art gallery. I opted for the little wax-backed teacher clips (for now). I really want to put up picture frames to make her artwork look super special....but for now, it's been nice to easily change these pictures as she makes them (especially because the size paper she uses changes every drawing....and if I need to rearrange the wax clips to accommodate a size change it's super easy - without damaging our walls).
These are my favorites right now :)
The penguin up top. A monster. A Family portrait. A Horse. A Rainbow. A glimpse of her pond on black paper with gold fish. A picture of her as a flower girl. A Palm tree. A Tree.
We have made restaurant menus, party decorations, welcome signs, alphabet collages, gifts, pictures, mail, market marketing....it has been the catalyst for a lot of pretend play.
If you are considering creating an artsy space in your home for your little ones to play with, I say go for it. You will be delighted by the creations they make and inspired by their creative vision.
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Posted on Aug 13, 2012.
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These are the moments that melt my heart. Pretending. Exploring. Imagining. Together.
Both my girls exploring the creativity of their own minds. So many toys and learning tools in my house - but a favorite by far, is a box. In this case it's a desk turned over and a chair.
Can you guess what they are pretending?
Riding a roller coaster.
Buga has her hands up high...and Boo looks like she's holding on for dear life.
Heart melts <3
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Posted on Aug 08, 2012.
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Children's books have always delighted and excited me. I have many fond memories of curling up with a book while my Mom read to us. I hope this is something my children will fondly cherish as they get older. I have a collection of children's books that is consuming my house. We have cubbies here, shelves there, bookcases throughout....I try to "pair it down" every once in a while, but it never lasts long. I always find a new one that I adore add to our collection. We have a seasonal book shelf in Buga's room - picture shelves where the books are placed cover out so she can choose whichever one appeals to her most - a front facing library. I love seeing the illustrations and I love incorporating the seasonal theme into our everyday lives. Below are some of our favorites this Summer....and I will later post some art projects to go along with a couple of them.
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Posted on Aug 02, 2012.
1 comment
We have been making Play Dough seasonally, which seems to work out well. We choose a different color and scent depending on what we are exploring for the season. This Summer we chose to make Yellow Play Dough with Gold Glitter and Coconut Extract (it smells like suntan lotion and the beach!) I rotate out the cookie cutters and stamps to make them seasonally appropriate as well. I also try to put out some letters to write a "word" that would fit with our theme.
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Posted on Jul 27, 2012.
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This little Folder Game was made for our Summer Beach / Ocean Theme and is used to reinforce simple colors. I found the Fish on a border at the Dollar store. I hole-punched them with a large circular punch, laminated the, and added Velcro. I cut out the "Coral" free hand, glued them into the folder, laminated it, and stuck a Velcro dot on each one. Buga had to match the Fish with their same color coral homes - - I learned it was a little too easy for her, so we started to discuss complimentary colors (color opposites) and we tried to match the fish with their opposite color.
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Posted on Jul 25, 2012.
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The Color Square
Do you know the colors of the Rainbow? The perfect combination of cotton, fiber, wood, and paint create this whimsically delightful Color "Square". Can you point out the different colors? Name them? Find their opposites? Describe them? With this nifty, modern play mat you will inspire your little artist to better understand their colors and compliments in no time. The classic pinwheel design is a fun something tactile to hold onto while exploring the world of color. Matching the clothespins is a great way to teach beginning color concepts...and attaching those clothespins to the mat is a wonderful way to help develop fine motor skills: the tricky pincer muscle grip! A bit of modern art for your diaper bag, learning closet, or art center -- the Color Square is sure to make art pop in your home! or rather...Pop Art!
The Color Square measures approximately 7" x 7" square. It is made of a rainbow of cotton fabrics. A thick interfacing is used inside for stability. And the square is finished with a white backing and white ribbon edge. The clothespins are top-painted in 8 different colors using a soy based pigment. Each set comes in an organza drawstring pouch for easy put-away and visibility.....these colors don't want to hide, they want to come out to play!
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Posted on Jun 12, 2012.
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An Oldie but a Goody!
This was one of my first products...when I had time to sew and put things together! Now, I am so excited to be offering it again for your little one's stacking, sorting, and tossing enjoyment!
Box of Bags
These 10 texture bags are a great way to encourage curiosity and stimulate your child’s developing senses. Each sensory bag is a different rainbow color and fabric to promote visual and tactile learning. On the opposing side there is a high contrast, black and white, patterned fabric to further captivate and hold your little one’s attention. Each bag has a different filling adding another dimension to your child’s exploration. Tiny conversation pieces, they provide many linguistic opportunities for you to explore together: color, texture, pattern, weight, spatial characteristics and more…
These bags are sure to pique your little one’s interest; nurture hand-eye coordination; and provide endless possibilities to unstructured play. Sort them, match them, fill and spill them – toss them, hide them, touch and feel them – your imagination is the limit to the exploratory and play possibilities of this little Box of Bags.
Filled bags measure approximately 4” x 4” square and are filled with various materials: poly fill, lima beans, lentils, barley, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and leftover fabric and fiber remnants (these are just some examples, your set may vary a bit from what's listed here). They are topstitched for that simply "finished" look. For now, they come inside a limited edition, carry-all tin with a handle for easy clean-up and portability.
Box of Bags
$55
Posted on Jun 05, 2012.
0 comments
We did several projects to include on our Beach Mural this summer. One of them was a simple color-me shell page. We both colored some of the shells to put up at the bottom of the ocean floor. Buga doesn't always enjoy coloring - it's not that she can't do it, because she can - I think she just prefers to move onto something else. She's not the kinda gal that wants to be kept between the lines. She likes to push the boundaries of every stroke, every line. Some days we carefully and quietly color (like today)...but these days are few and far between!
Before
During
After
Then we sorted the Shells by Size from smallest --> biggest
Posted on Mar 14, 2012.
0 comments
Oh Where Oh Where Has My Little Blog Gone...?
My life is uber-super-duper-crazy busy right now with the shop and my two little ones. I am not trying to make up excuses for my absence...I truly want to make it here to you, blog, write a tidbit or two more frequently. I love having this to look back on. I love seeing my little people grow. I know Boo has very few developmental milestones charted on here. I am hoping to have some free time soon. Some time to keep you updated....Some time to keep me updated.
Right now I feel like I am not doing anything 100% (which, if you know me, is unacceptable). It is certainly not from lack of trying - it is just that there are not enough hours in the day to play all the roles I have to play. I am working on changing that.
I am asking for help. I am reaching out. I am trying to plan. AND to act. Little bits at a time, this is the year to get things organized. I am working on it - list by list.
So I am checking in with you. Hoping to find you well. Hoping we can meet up again soon for some coffee or tea --- or perhaps I will bring a croissant to show my gratitude for your continued friendship after such a disappearance.
With thoughts exploding in my head, in my twilight sleep before bed, on my walks around the block, to school, and at the park....just no time to jot them down, or even let them spin around in the quiet of my mind. But soon, I am determined to find some more time to cozy up to a good post, with you. Tune in Soon.
- Jessica
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Posted on Jan 12, 2012.
0 comments
Mama May i
$18
Oh, 2012, how you've already begun to fly by. It's already the middle of January and I have not yet posted something new. I apologize. Winter time is a blah time for me. And Boo has been --- well, not so much of a sleeper, to say the least - so the little bit of "down" time has been supplanted by "up with the little one" time. I am trying to hang in there and be patient and Dr. Sears my baby back to sleep. So little triumphs like the one I am about to share really tickle my heart.New Products. Yay!
Somehow in the midst of the sleeplessness and fumbling through my day-to-day like a zombie, I was able to create some new things, take pictures of said items, edit those photos, write descriptions, and post them in the shop for all to see. The listing itself never seems as time consuming, unless you realized the whole back-end of getting those little beauties up for viewer delight (I'm squealing a little, even if you aren't.) Sooo happy to have something new in the New Year. Here's to a productive one!
Sensory Bin and Tool Kit
Mama May i
$39
Posted on Jan 10, 2012.
0 comments
As you can see, this was a while ago, but sweet nonetheless...
I have a "Quiet Drawer" in my bedroom for when I am nursing and napping Boo. I let Buga sit quietly on the floor and play with a number of toys. Today she built a "sand" castle with some blocks. This fit right in with our Summer Beach Theme.
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Posted on Dec 28, 2011.
0 comments
I didn't realize how much little ones liked mobile until Boo arrived. I quickly learned that even a fussy, high needs baby, could be soothed by a little smackeral of something floating or moving overhead. At home we have this wonderful Butterfly Mobile that quickly became a favorite.
At my Mom's house, I had to improvise and found a simple way to create some eye candy that our little one absolutely loves looking at.
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Posted on Dec 21, 2011.
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Christmas Sorting!
Buga used her wooden tongs to sort some Christmasy objected in a simple divided tray.
We had bows, ornaments, shaped erasers, and bells.
I put all the objects in the middle and she had to separate them into categories.
Next time I will build in some other ways to sort -
like bows, and then different colored bows so she could sort by type or by color.
It was a good little something-to-keep-her-busy
while I packaged up some things to be sent out.
Here they are all sorted.
Posted on Dec 18, 2011.
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Oh Christmas Tree!!
Oh Christmas Tree!!
How Felt-y Are Your Branches!
I recently had the idea for Buga's room - a Christmas Tree!
I used to decorate my room growing up for all the holidays, Christmas in particular
and I thought it would be fun for Buga to have her own little place
to decorate for the upcoming holiday.
She has a flannel board on one of her closet doors - the perfect tree-hanging spot!
So I went to the craft store and bought a yard of green felt.
We cut out a Christmas Tree Shape.
With Felt scraps I had around the studio, I cut out some Christmas Ball Ornament Shapes. While I packaged things up she used her glitter glue, felt shapes, and buttons to decorate them. We usually do a tropical-colored themed Christmas - hence the bright, non-traditional colors!
When they dried she got to decorate her tree. The felt ornaments stuck to the felt tree on the flannel board. Magic! She loved that they did this. She kept arranging and rearranging her masterpiece until she got it looking just the way she wanted to
(not the way I would have done it, but I tried to keep quiet while she created.)
And here we decorated it together later...a little more the way I would have done it!
I am a little Type A - can't you tell?
Needless to say I think it was a hit because every visitor that we've had so far has been shown the grand tour - Oh Christmas Tree. She keeps un-decorating and re-decorating the tree....
so that's a success in my book!
It was totally inexpensive.
A project that involved her every step of the way.
And one she keeps playing and pretending with.
We will do this again next year....maybe adding some garland or candy canes...or ginger-people!
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Posted on Dec 16, 2011.
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Highlights High Five magazine came in the mail this week. Buga ALWAYS heads straight for the "Make This" and "Cook This" section. This month they did painting projects with tape - so that when you peel the tape away the negative space shows through. She immediately wanted to do it. And I wanted to make it Holiday Festive so we could hang them on the door. I decided to try candy canes and use red paint. I cut out the candy cane shapes from white Tyvek envelopes - - I was busy packaging up orders and happened to spot a stack of them - - I thought they would glisten differently because of the shininess ofthe envelope...and the contrast of the matte red paint - and I didn't have painter's tape handy, so I wanted to make sure that the tape I used would peel away easily from the paper. Needless to say, you could use any kind of paper you want, but it may work better with some kind of non-permanent tape - like painter's tape...and if you had different widths, that would be even cooler. But this is what I had available, so here's what we used:
Tyvek envelopes - I think about 6
Red Paint
Paint Brush
Tape
Splat Mat (we used last night's pizza box)
I cut out candy canes from the envelopes in two different sizes. Buga helped me cut the tape (though I did most of the tape cutting).
Buga was in charge of tape placement.
So she went about putting the tape wherever she wanted on the candy cane cutouts.
When we were finished we used red paint to paint all over the visible white space.
Next time I do this I am going to add some peppermint extract
to the red paint so it will smell like Christmas, too.
Won't that be fun??
When the paint dried (not too long which was good for Buga's impatience),
we peeled the tape away to reveal the white underneath.
I love how they turned out - imperfect - but you know they are candy canes.
The lines are a little crooked and fun.
Ohh, they look great on our front door!
And we get to see them every time we walk into the house.
Merry Christmas!
Posted on Dec 07, 2011.
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Lil Boo's Bakery - Here is one of Buga's Christmas present this year. Though she hasn't "tested it yet", I know she is going to just *love* it, so I am posting them in the shop for other little entrepreneur cookie-enthusiasts. I love how all the pieces came together in this boxed tin....perfect.
Lil Boo's Bakery-in-a-box
$65
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Posted on Dec 05, 2011.
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I have used these Flutter Fly Streamers with Buga before - but she has really started to get into them and is now able to use them in a myriad of different dances. I love how amazing her rhythm is. We try to have music time every morning while I cook breakfast. I pull out instruments, or Silkies, or our Flutter Fly Streamers for her to use as props while she moves to the music. This morning we had the FFS out and she loved them. She came up with ways to move them that I didn't even think of. She loves everything musical. Magical.
These Flutter Fly Streamers can be found in my shop:
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Posted on Dec 03, 2011.
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In need of some Stocking Stuffers for the Holidays?
to make your little one's stocking special this Christmas!
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Posted on Nov 30, 2011.
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I am already trying to remember when this was. it was a while ago....
that's why I need to blog about it right away! Next time maybe I won't be so delayed in posting.
In any case, Boo started reaching and grabbing (this summer)!
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Posted on Nov 28, 2011.
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I am taking this opportunity to post a blip in time.
My "little one" - who's not so little anymore - has physically grown so much this past year.
Buga has mastered the jungle gym. Her gross motor skills have matured incredibly in such a short period of time and so has her courage. I love how she jumps right in and wants to explore whatever she can get her hands or body on.
Posted on Nov 21, 2011.
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When Boo was about 3.5 months old I put her in a high chair for the first time. She loved being able to sit upright while exploring her toys from a new perspective. We took all the toys off and just put water onto the high chair tray, too...and she loved splishing and splashing in the little bit of water. She ran her fingers through it and over it. Tried to taste it. Grab it. Push it over and off. I love the simplicity of good play. Sometimes you really don't need much. Just imagination and a mind for exploring and discovering - little ones are hardwired with everything required.
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Posted on Nov 19, 2011.
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Buga is only 3 (well, 3 and a half)...but she has always shown an interest in numbers. She can count pretty well, and can identify all one-digit numbers. Lately she has been reading the clock...but saying each digit instead of the bigger numbers. So she will tell me: "It's 1. 1. 6." Instead of one sixteen. I decided we had better work on the names of the bigger numbers - - she can count much higher and says them, but can't yet identify them. I decided to write numbers on little pumpkins for the autumn season and make a "number line" using the pumpkins. She really liked playing this game....hopefully it will help her begin to identify names of numbers that have more than one digit. I will be doing this again in the winter time with something like snowflakes, gingerbread men, or candy canes, I think.
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Posted on Nov 16, 2011.
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I am excited to announce our participation in
Nice Girl Notes Cute Stuff Sale!! This Saturday, November 19th we will be selling so super Cute Stuff for super Cute Prices! It runs like an online auction - something shows up for a discount - if you are the first to claim it you get it for the discounted price. It sounds like a lot of fun and I am really excited to be a part of it. I've included over a DOZEN different items so get some "Mama May i Shop for Christmas" done while sitting on your sofa sipping hot cocoa. There is a lineup of great shops participating in this event, so have your Gift List out and ready. This Saturday evening from 8 - 11!
The details can be found on Roo's blog
Here
What Mama May i item tops your Christmas List this year??
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Posted on Nov 14, 2011.
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peanut butter sandwich, pepperoni, almond slivers, cheese stick, carrot sticks, green grapes
I have always loved the ideas of bentos. For adults. For kids. For toddlers. There is just something about cute little colorful foods combined together in a thoughtful way that makes my heart happy. Even though Buga doesn't eat lunch at school or have to bring a lunch to school I found myself investigating bento lunches before the school year began. I decided to buy an arsenal of fun Bento supplies so I could start crafting our lunches this way. I don't do iteveryday but I find it's good practice so that when she does start school I hope to be a little more efficient at packing them. She loves opening her little boxes to see what's inside - like a small nutritious gift for the day - she gets surprised and gets to explore what's inside every lunch. Yum! What do you find yourself packing a lot of for your little ones lunches?
Fruit, granola, yogurt, baby carrots
strawberries, blueberry yogurt, carrot sticks, peanut butter sandwich heart, fruit leather strips
peanut butter sandwich circle, carrot sticks, cucumber slices, dressing in the little bunny container, almond, green grapes, apples cut like flowers with a bunny fork-pick
Pink-a-licious. strawberries, raspberries, pink lady apples, sausage and egg wrap with a pink toothpick, on a pink plate
carrot sticks, cucumber slices, hummus in the green lion container, green grapes with a bunny fork-pick, green apple, tuna fish, strawberries, teddy grahams
cheese stick, baby carrots, green gapes, honey crisp apples, tuna fish sandwich, teddy grahams
