Jackson Pollock inspired paintings for children

July 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I love art. I love the history and the reasoning behind it.  I have a degree in Art History and if life had happened differently my youthful dreams of working in a gallery may have become a reality.  However, that is in the past and in my present reality I can try to encourage my children to have an understanding and perhaps a passion for it.

Today we created our own Jackson Pollock pieces.

The boys loved having no real direction other than create.

I told them to use the colors that they enjoyed and work in their painting.

Color combing happened quickly

And a true artist does not care about his “look” while working.

After awhile their work was finished and they are  now ready to act ambivalent towards their peers. True artists in the making.

Another one crossed off the Summer bucket list.

Supplies:

Craft paint

Paintbrushes

Canvas (found at Michaels)

Mod Podge – spray – after the paint drys to prevent chipping

Filed Under: DIY, Kid Crafts, summer Tagged With: , , , , ,

Water parks scare me

June 28, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We are in the middle of summer.  In the middle of two solid months of unscheduled and unbridled childhood bliss.  This summer has been marvelous for my children and it hasn’t be too horrible for me.

As mentioned previously we created a Summer bucket list to help keep the boredom at bay and it has helped marvelously.  The temperatures have climbed well into the 100s and it has provided us many “to-dos” when we were struggling.  A big accomplishment was our trip to the local “water park” which is code for a huge community pool with all the bells and whistles.  I consider this trip a major milestone for me because as a rule I avoid water parks.

I have never liked water parks.  As a child my parents would drag me to Wet n’ Wild and I would spend the entire afternoon walking on my tip toes trying to avoid the spit, vomit, and garbage that littered the ground.  The lines were always long and my bathing suit always felt uncomfortable from the 4 hours of waiting and 2 seconds of swimming.  The wave pool  frightened me; masses of people in all shapes and sizes floating on inter-tubes in water that was uncomfortably warm.  So when my kids and I joined some friends for some local water fun, I was a little precautious.

This trip did not hold the Wet n’ Wild horrors of my youth.  It was clean, organized, and the lifeguards look like they walked off a teenage version of Baywatch.  I was suddenly very aware of my white legs and cursed myself for not following through on the bathing suit from the 1900s. This want was even more magnified when I spotted the mom with the amazing body.  I believe the phrase “those can’t be real” was uttered right before I had to scoop my jaw off the floor when I saw Uber-mom nursing.  Super hot nursing moms should not be allowed at community pools.  There should be a sign.

In my inappropriate people watching I did manage to get a quick snapshot of proof that we did indeed go to the “water park.”

There is our evidence. One happy child in front of a pool full of strangers…..and no candid photo of mine would be complete with out the random butt in the background.

Another item is crossed off the Summer Bucket list.

Filed Under: boys, cheap, Humor, summer Tagged With: , ,

Clothespins – Fulfilling my life one day at a time

June 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

There are a few household items that have always held an element of fascination to me.   Items that I know can be used in more ways than just the ordinary and if I can just figure out a their new purpose or dress it up differently my life would be infinitely more fulfilling…

Clothespins- Fulfilling my life one day at a time

how to make glitter clothespins

I have some strange obsession with clothespins.  I have always seen them as holding so much potential in such a little package.  In the past I have purchased package upon package and then store them until I could conjure up an idea to use them for other than laundry or food storage.

Finally, I gave into a simple idea I have had for years but never accomplished.  Glitter clothespins.   I don’t need glitter clothespins and I don’t have an amazing Pinterest project waiting on the sidelines for the finishing touches of sparkling clothespins so when making these I knew they had no true purpose.

I don’t care.  I had pretty glitter and I wanted to use it….. Apparently I am four.

If you want to get in touch with your childish side these are incredibly easy to make.

HOW TO:

Simply coat each side with matte Mod Podge and then dip into fine/dust glitter.  I used JoAnns generic brand because Martha’s is overpriced.  After they have dried I sealed the clothes pins with a light layer of the Mod Podge in the spray can.  

Now I have four clothespins eagerly awaiting a purpose.  I am sure these would make great little add-ons to homemade gifts.

Now, the winner of the Post giveaway is:Leah M.  (check your email)!

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Kid Crafts, summer Tagged With: , , , ,

Summer Bucket list: Water Balloons (with a twist) and Water day

June 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We have begun our Summer bucket list!  We have accomplished two of the “to-dos”!

We had water day at our place for my son’s school friends.   We HAD to celebrate the end of school!

The aftermath

It may not look wet but the grass is a swamp land.

We had the slip n’slide

Pool (which the boys ran and jumped in)

Squirt guns

Basketball

Bubbles

and..

I poured a little bit of Joanns generic fine glitter into the water balloon and filled it up.

As you can see I didn’t use glitter in every balloon.

  When they break the glitter sticks to the person, floor, chair, and basically anything in range.

Simple fun!

(I probably will not be doing the glitter again because filling water balloons is boring and tedious!)

Filed Under: Crafts, Kid Crafts, summer Tagged With: , , ,

Summer Bucket List

May 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I have never enjoyed Bucket lists.  I have typically found them to be fairly morbid or exceptionally vain. However, gradually over the time my opinion has changed and now I see them more as a challenge and organizational tool to help me keep on track.

This year my family and I, joining The Happy Family Movement, have created our very first Summer Bucket list and there is nothing morbid about it!

I present

The Becoming Homegrown Summer Bucket List

Bucket list for summer

I ran across their blog during one of my blog stalking evenings and I knew that we needed to participate.  I am one of those odd balls that typically does not enjoy summer time and I decided this year that needed to change. (I actually blame my mother for my summertime angst….She made me read all day every day during the summer and then gave me tests after every chapter)  My boys are now old enough to follow instructions and do not need me to hold their hands through everything.  We can all participate together!   So here we go…

On the recommendation of The Happy Family Blog, we made several of the “to-dos” fairly easy and not out of reach.  This can be seen with the Ice Cream Sundaes, bike riding, and water balloons.  I also included things that will take a little more time and planning, i.e. making a solar oven and creating a Jackson Pollock shower curtain for a fort.   As we accomplish the goals we will be adding new ones to conquer.

I am excited about the possibilities here….now let’s see how many of these are achieved!

Bucket List

Water day with friends

Glitter water balloons (more for me in a water balloon fight)

Jackson Pollock Shower curtain

Ice Cream Sundaes – with all the goodies

Go to the local water park

Birthday party!

Learn to sew – the basics – For mom

Bike riding

Play board games

Make a solar oven together

Plant seeds in painted cans

Filed Under: Bucket List, summer Tagged With: , ,

Box Fort

May 18, 2012 by 1 Comment

In my quest for activities for the boys combined with blog stalking I had an epiphany.

Instead of  just having the boys use sheets and pillows for forts why not boxes?

The grocery store produce department has tons of boxes and they will give them to you for free.

So I asked and I got over 30 boxes.

A good start

Fort with boxes

Do you remember that vinyl shower curtain from the dollar store?

Time to color

And now to let them construct…

Fort with shower curtain and boxes

A giant fort with boxes and the shower curtain for the roof.

After they are done with the boxes we store them in a spare room and when they are destroyed they can be recycled.

This afternoon of imagination cost us a dollar.

Perfect!

Filed Under: How to, Kid Crafts, summer Tagged With: , , , ,

Box of activities

May 15, 2012 by 2 Comments

I am not a crafty person by nature.  I cannot walk into a dollar store and see a treasure trove of supplies that can produce endless hours of fun for my children or potential home decor options.  That is why there are bloggers that ARE crafty and teach me how to think outside the box

I recently found All for the Boys on Pinterest and I was thrown into a world of ideas and it was through her site that I was inspired!  Our summer last year was painfully long and boring so I decided that this year was going to be different; crafty if you will. (I also don’t have a ton of cash laying around to enroll my kids in a million different summer programs  so this a helpful alternative)

I have started out small.  A simple box of supplies for a few ideas.

Contents:

Clothes pins (1.88 for 100 at Wal-mart)

Paintbrushes (had on hand)

Masking Tape (1.00 at the dollar store)

Shower curtain rings (1.00 at the dollar store)

Glue stick (came in a pack of the 3 – 1.00 at the dollar store)

Balloons (1.00 at the dollar store)

Vinyl Shower curtain (1.00 at the dollar store)

Playing cards (came in a pack of 2 at the dollar store; 1.00)

Puzzle (1.00 at the dollar store- I bought 2)

Plastic container  (.96 cents at Wal-mart)

So for approximately 12 dollars I have the beginnings of a box activities for the boys.  If you have scanned the list you may ask what is the point of the shower curtain and rings.  Over at All for the Boys she hosts Fort Friday. I figured, since the the curtain and rings cost a whopping 2 dollars I will allow the boys to color on the curtain and we will figure out a way to hang it for a fort.  I am also having my husband pick up produce boxes at the grocery store for the boys to build a fort.  I am going to post the results on Friday!

I don’t expect this box to stay this small.  It will (hopefully) grow over time. As I have been writing this post my four year old has already raided it….

This box thing just may work.

Filed Under: boys, Crafts, Ideas, Kid Crafts, summer Tagged With: , , ,

Sunscreen; A hot topic

May 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Tanning is a controversial topic.  I am not sure if it really needs to be but everyone seems to have a very passionate opinion about it.   The media glorifies it and then suddenly back pedals when a celebrity has over tanned or over misted.  Either way I am fairly neutral about the topic unless you are as brown as the New Jersey tanning mom or orange as the Jersey Shore crew.

Sunburn during the summerAlthough I am neutral on the entire concept of tanning, I am concerned with burning or not being prepared for prolonged sun exposure.  Burning your skin in efforts to be tan or just not being prepared is worrisome to me.  Skin cancer is a very real thing and it is something that I have to watch for on a daily basis.  I have already had two malignant melanoma moles removed before the age of 25.

I am not anti-sun nor am I anti-tan. I like being tan.  I am one of the lucky individuals that rarely burn and almost always tans. It is a blessing and curse.  I have to keep an eye on my skin and as I get older I have become more aware of keeping it healthy and safe. (I also don’t want to wrinkle prematurely but that doesn’t sound as wholesome as being healthy and safe)  I am very aware of my children’s skin and I have noticed that they have inherited my superhuman tanning ability. So when the opportunity to become a Coppertone Water Mom arose, I signed up.  The summer is upon us and swimming, gardening, outside crafts, water days, and other outside activities are high on the priority list.  I want my kiddos to be prepared and ‘covered’ and I want the same for you.

If you are interested I have been given many coupons for $1 off any Coppertone Product. Let’s face it, sunscreen ain’t cheap and this will make it a bit more affordable.  The first 10 people to email me will receive a coupon and a sample bottle that is great for your purse.  Email me at:   morgan@becominghomegrown  Be sure to include your name and address.

Stay safe and let’s all try not to look like the Tanorexic mom from New Jersey.

 

**As a member of the Coppertone Water Moms group, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit.  No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.**

 

Filed Under: Reviews, summer Tagged With: , , , , , ,

When is summer over?!

June 28, 2011 by 4 Comments

I hate the summer.

Its hot

Its always sunny

I live in the land of heat

There is no grass that grows here naturally

Its mutant grass

Summer stinks when you are on a budget

No beach

No Mickey Mouse

No heading out of town to escape the norm

Lazy, crazy, hazy dayz of summer is not my idea of a good time

You can’t really cook anything in the house because it will get too warm inside

We are trapped inside so our skin does melt off in 120 degree heat

I have green envy….

Not envy for money

Envy for trees

Envy for water

Maybe it isn’t green Envy. It’s East Coast envy.

We could do crafts

Alot of crafts

But too many crafts is bad for your health

I shouldn’t be complaining

It could be worse

I could be living a life without Air Conditioning.

And without the internet.

That would be a true nightmare.

I will deal. 

It’s June 28

Only 94 days until October

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