Safe Lice Prevention

Does just thinking of lice make you start scratching your head?  It sure does me!                                                                                             

Luckily, our family has never had lice, but I completely agree with Ben Franklin that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... and in the case of lice maybe two pounds.  After several boys in my son's baseball team all had lice, from sharing helmets, I began doggedly searching for natural repellents.  A friend of mine told me she read that lice, like many other bugs, do not like the fragrance of rosemary.  She said that as a preventive measure, she keeps a few fresh twigs inside her daughter's pillowcases.  I have a HUGE rosemary plant, in Texas they are so easy to grow, and require little care, the worst thing you can do is over water them!!  Inspired by my friend's idea, I began placing the fresh twigs inside my children's shampoo and conditioner.  After about an hour, the smell is infused throughout the entire bottle.  I just leave it in the bottle.  My kid's hair smells great; it's a clean, fresh scent.  I can't promise that this is 100% reliable, but we have never had any lice to prove otherwise! However, I still scratch my head just thinking about it!

I did some googlin', and found a few companies that sell rosemary shampoo and sprays as a natural lice deterrent.  Just a FYI.  http://www.fairytaleshaircare.com/

Ivory Soap Science Experiment

This is a science experiment that really "cleans up"!

My daughter's best friend did this experiment at school, and after she told us about it, we just had to try it out!  We took a bar of Ivory soap and place it in the microwave on high for 2 minutes.  While it's in there, I asked the kids what they thought would happen.  My son had a friend over, he said he thought it would melt.  My daughter said she thought it would burn. 
After 2 minutes, I took it out and it has become a cloud!  A wonderful, Ivory soap smelling cloud!  It looks like whipped cream, but the texture is more like meringue.  It immediately "falls" and stiffens, which is so fun to watch!   Then we placed the foam in water, and just like the bar, it floats!  Guess how my four year wants to take a bath tonight!
The scientific explanation is that the soap, which floats in it's bar form, is different from other soaps because it's whipped!  Whipping the soap causes lots of tiny air bubbles, and has captured water inside the bubbles.  Like popcorn, when it is heated, it expands!  Thanks to Steve Spangler Science for explaining it to me.  For more information;  http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/soap-souffle

Easter Themed Surprise Lunch

This adorable lunch I packed to surprise my ten year old daughter won't earn me Mom of the Year.  That's because I borrowed the idea from my friend, Holley, and I think she borrowed it from someone else.  But this is certainly an award winning idea!  I can't wait to hear about the surprise from my daughter tomorrow when she gets home from school!   

I packed a cute little Easter basket in her lunch box, then filled little plastic eggs with some of her favorite, bite size lunch items.  It includes a cut up beef stick, baby carrots, peanuts, cheese cubes, sunflower seeds, goldfish crackers, fruit snacks and a sliced up granola bar. 

If you can't find a small basket, lining the bottom of a sandwich bag or lunch box with Easter grass would be cute, too! 

Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt

Why does a rabbit hide eggs on Easter?  Because it's so much fun! 

One of our favorite Easter traditions is our annual Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt!  The kids invite their family and friends to meet us at a neighborhood park just after dark.  Everyone brings an Easter basket and a flashlight!  On the word GO, the kids "scramble" to find eggs.  I'm amazed every year at just how many eggs are found, they immediately locate the ones on the ground and those hidden in the trees and bushes around the 5 acre park!  Each year our hunt has grown, and now we have over 25 kids attending, ages ranging from 1 to about 14, and almost  1200 eggs! 

The first year we used reflective tape on the eggs, but found that it really wasn't necessary, as the colorful eggs shine in the beam of the flashlights!  It's really so much fun to watch the as they run all over the park!  Afterwards, the kids scrutinize and scoff their finds, and we enjoy the cool night air.  Games of tag are initiated, running and climbing on the playground equipment, and exploring the outdoor world at night! 

Book & a Movie Reading Club

Are you looking for a fun way to get your kids excited about reading? 

My kids and their friends started a Book and a Movie reading club a few years ago.  The premise is that they all read an agreed upon book, then they plan a get together to watch the movie.  When the movie is over they split up into teams, either by drawing numbers, girls vs. boys, etc., and break off to nearby restaurant, ice cream shop or park, and compile list of the differences in the book and the movie, with a time limit of about 20 minutes.  Sometimes there are just a few, and sometimes pages worth!  Afterwards, the adults review the list, making sure that there are no repeats or contradictions, and then the winning team is awarded a fun prize, usually a Half Price Books gift cards, etc. but to stress the fact that even the "losers" are winners, we also provide consolation gifts, such as a book light or book mark.

We have had some variations.  Their first meeting was for the book, the Watcher in the Woods.  It's an older movie and we rented the dvd and they met at a friend's house to watch and play!  My daughter has also had "all girl" games, such as for Judy Moody and Beevus & Ramona.  We have also played as a family, for movies like Matilda, Because of Winn Dixie and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  As soon as we hear a movie is coming out based on a book, they start planning the party!   

crock pot cooking in the car

We are on the road almost every weekend, but  regardless where we are, one of my top mom jobs is feeding my family!  Sometimes it takes a little creativity.  Here is one of my favorite Road Trip Tips.  Crock Pot cooking in the car! 

I love my Hamilton Beach Stay R Go Crock Pot.  The lid "locks" in place, making transportation mess free!  I fill up my crock pot and plug it into an electrical adapter in our car, and by the time we reach our destination, lunch or dinner is ready.  For shorter trip, or longer cooking meals, I will sometimes start the crockpot before we leave, then just transfer it into the car!  We save money and time, and I know the food is healthier than fast food.  And while I love to pack a picnic, it's a nice alternative to sandwiches, too! 

Although there is no end to the number of things you can put in your crock pot, some of our favorite meals to eat at the end of the road are pulled pork sandwiches (pictured), baked potatoes, chili (to make Frito Pie), barbecue chicken, and stuffed peppers!  I love the crock pot bags, which make rest area clean up a breeze!  Remember to check the wattage on your crockpot and your adapter, to be sure that they are compatible.  Bon Appetit'!

Summer Bucket List

Each year, my kids and I create a Summer Bucket List.  Similar to a traditional "bucket list", except instead of filling it with things we want to do before we "kick the bucket", we fill it full with ideas for summer. We have so much fun thinking up fun things we want to do, and places we want to go!  Then, when summer arrives, we enjoy taking them out as we complete them, and hopefully emptying our bucket before the school bell rings!

We love the fun and whimsical look of a beach bucket, but you can simply just write out a list.  Post it somewhere everyone can see it, and cross off each item once it's been done.  I let my kids fill it with whatever comes to mind, without any limits, explaining that the goal is to do as much as we can before summer ends.  However, if we don't get around to buying a horse, which was one of my daughter's ideas, that's okay.  It's a good lesson in  setting realistic goals.  I just keep it to myself that I was pricing local stall rentals only this afternoon.  You never know what the summer may bring!