10 Fun Preschool Activities for Boys

Here's a list of fun filled, preschool level activities for boys!

1. Create a stuffed animal zoo and make habitats in different rooms.

2. Make water and food coloring "magic potions."

3. Bury plastic dinosaurs in the sandbox and "excavate" them.

4. Put on a concert with pots and pans.

5. Make paper airplanes and have a contest for farthest flight.

6. Finger paint or color.

7. Make a tent our of sheets and PVC pipe.

8. Role play knights/dragon/dinosaur/firefighter.... the possibilities are endless.

9. Instead of reading the words in a story, have your little man make up a story based on the pictures.

10. Give him a shovel and just let him dig, dig, dig!


Enjoy!
Listress Colleen

Blog Series: Best Quotes I've Heard Lately

Here is part one of a new list series: best quotes I've heard lately! Enjoy!

1. “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”

                  ― Albert Einstein

 

2. If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room

                     - Unknown author

 

3. When was the last time you did something for the first time?

                   - Author unknown

 

4. Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.

                  - Morticia Addams

 

5. I saw that.

                - Karma

 

 

-Listress Colleen

2014 Resolutions

Usually I don't make a New Year's Resolution, but this year I have some motivation. Here we go:

1. Continue my running plan that I started LAST January!! Still going strong!

2. Eat LESS processed foods.Good-bye Lean Pocket lunches.

3. Read MORE. I have a tablet and a library card to check out ebooks. I have no excuses.

4. Write MORE. I've been slacking lately.

5. Plan a VACATION. I think we really need to plan at least one non-home trip a year to really get away from it all and stay sane.

There you go! What are YOUR resolutions??

-Listress Colleen

5 Cheap Home Upgrade Ideas

If you're looking for easy ways to update your home, then you've come to the right list. Enjoy!

Paint. This is probably the easiest upgrade you can give to a space. A new paint color revitalizes any space with minimal effort and money. If you don't want to paint an entire room, consider just an accent wall or a door.

New cabinet hardware. This cheap upgrade gives a facelift to the "jewelry" of any bathroom or kitchen.

Add moulding and trim work. A chair rail with picture frame moulding below adds sophistication and class to  room for an easy price. Combine this with some paint and you've really done it! Adding a frame around a mirror is also an easy upgrade.

Upscale, upscale, upscale. An easy way to upgrade your home is to work with pieces you already have. Sick of your nightstand? Turn it into a Lego table or a bathroom vanity. Convert your old dresser to a hallway bench or a kitchen island. Turn one of your old drawers into an end table. The possibilities are endless.

Shop at discount stores. Our favorite around here is Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and local thrift stores. Back in our hometown there is also a Building #19 and Ocean State Job Lot. In Tennessee we like Bargain Hunt Superstore. All of these stores carry closeout and heavily discounted items, most brand new and still in the original packaging (except the thrift stores). We've found a ton of home improvement bargains shopping at these retailers.hH

4 unique subscription boxes

Julep - for the beauty queen:
Julep offers a monthly subscription program called Maven. For $19.99 per month (shipping is free) you receive a box with a variety of products (nail polishes, cuticle oil, creams, scrubs, etc.) that suits your style as determined by a brief quiz. The results of the quiz will place you as an American Beauty (that's what I got), Classic With a Twist, Bombshell, It Girl, or Boho Glam. One thing I like about this program is that you have a choice with the products and you're not forced to make a purchase. There is a window of time each month in which you can skip the month without being charged, gift the box it to a friend, change to another Maven style to receive that box, or request for Julep to suggest other items for you. The best part about this is that Julep is currently running a promo where you can get your first month for just one cent! No taxes, no shipping, nothing else. My credit card was literally charged only $0.01, and I'm getting two gorgeous nail polishes and a bottle of cuticle oil.
If you're interested, click HERE. When you checkout, the $0.01 promo code is PENNY.

KLUTCHclub - for the health nut (or wannabe health nut!)
KLUTCHclub is a subscription box geared towards those interested in health and fitness. For $16-$18 a month (depending on which subscription you choose) you receive a box full of products valued at over $50! It's a great opportunity for those who are trying to live a healthier lifestyle because it allows you to sample products that can help get you on your way. For those who are already well immersed into healthy eating and fitness, KLUTCHclub will send you products that will most definitely pique your interest! There is even a subscription specific to men.

To try KLUTCHclub, click HERE.

BarkBox - for the dog lover:

BarkBox will send you and your pup a box in the mail with four or more full sized products and presents for your dog – anything from bones and treats to shampoos, leashes and innovative new gadgets! They tailor the box based on your dog's size: large, medium, or small breed.
Awesome plus: A portion of proceeds from each box goes to a program/charity to help dogs in need.

To sign up for BarkBox and get $5 off your first box, click HERE.

Citrus Lane - for mommies (or daddies!) and babies:

Citrus Lane will send you 4-5 full sized products each month from snacks and treats, to books and toys, to supplies! What you receive is based on your child's age. It's great for first time parents as it shows what's out there, and for seasoned parents it's a new twist and shows the latest items for baby.

To get $10 off when you try Citrus Lane, click HERE.

4 non-academic things your child should* know before entering school

This may be surprising, but children often don't know these important (and sometimes life-saving) pieces of information:

1) Your home and cellphone number and the phone number of at least one other trusted adult, (preferably someone that you put on their school emergency contact form). They should have these numbers memorized.

2) Your address.

3) Your last name and the first and last names of another trusted adult (again, preferably someone that you put on their school emergency contact form).

4) Any life-threatening allergies they may have.

*When I say, "should," I mean it would be ideal if your child knew these things. It is to be understood that children have varying abilities and some may be unable to know such information by the suggested age.

4 Easy Ways to Make Your Veggies More Enjoyable

Here are 4 easy ways to spruce up your veggies.

1) Roast them with olive oil, garlic, and balsamic vinegar. This works particularly well with cauliflower, brussell sprouts, and asparagus. Wash, cut, add ingredients, roast. Easy and delicious.

2) Make a dip with light sour cream. We all love to load our raw veggies with dip, but, dips can be mighty high in fat. Remedy this by taking a container of light sour cream and adding a packet of dry ranch dressing.

3) Make kale chips. Remove the ribs from kale. Cut or tear leaves into 2-inch pieces. Toss lightly with olive oil and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. The result is a delicious and nutritious crunchy treat.

4) Make them saucy! Bake some zucchini and add your favorite marinara sauce. Or try spaghetti squash...bake it, shred it, add sauce...it's almost like eating a bowl of pasta!

-Nicole