Summer of Fun: Things to Do

I've become a pinterest addict and I want to actually try some of the ideas I've seen there. Below is a list in no particular order.

1. Sensory Activities
1. Waterbeads
2. Indoor Activities
1. Foam window clings
2. Bubble Bath Paint
3. Music and Movement Rings
3. Crafts
1. Paper Bag Puppets
2. Paint a t-shirt
3. noodle marble run
4. Egg Carton Train
5. collages
6. Lava Lamp Art Project
4. Outdoor Activities
1. kick croquet (make our own set with hulahoops)
2. Sponge Water Bombs
3. Hose Shower
4. Water Balloon Pinatas
5. Build a PVC Pipe Playhouse
6. Homemade PVC sprinkler
5. Bubble Activities
1. Snake Bubbles
2. Water Bottle Bubbles
3. Pipe Cleaner bubble wands
4. Paper Bubble Cone
5. Super Strong Bubble Recipe
6. String and Straw bubble wand
7. human bubbles
6. Sidewalk Chalk
1. Sidewalk Chalk Paint
2. Trace your body and color in

Summer of Fun: Places to Go

I am working on a list of awesome toddler ideas to keep Jillian and me occupied this summer, things to go see and do and adventures to have at home. Here is a list of places we can go together. As we make our trips, I'll try to blog about our adventures. The list below is in no particular order.

1. St. Louis Zoo (new sea lion exhibit opens June 30)
2. St. Louis Science Center (Discovery Room)
3. Magic House Trip (Sandcastle Beach exhibit May 17-July 1)
4. Botanical Gardens (children's garden and feeding the koi)
5. Tower Grove Park (playground and wading pool)
6. City Garden
7. City Museum (Toddler Town exhibit)
8. Grants Farm
9. Purina Farms
10. Circus Flora ("Little Top" Wednesdays - a special 1 hour show for kids at 10 am)
11. Transportation Museum (new creation station for kids)
12. Swimming at Ballwin North Pointe Family Aquatic Center
13. Swimming at Ellisville Edge Aquatic Center
14. Swimming at Manchester Aquatic Center
15. Swimming at Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center
16. Swimming at Des Peres Outdoor Aquatic Center
17. Free movies at Wehrenberg Theatres (Wednesdays and Thursdays June 6 thru Aug 16)
18. Laumeier Sculpture Park
19. Shaw Nature Reserve
20. Dog Museum at Quenny Park (Is this any good for kids?)
21. Farmer's Markets
22. Contemporary Art Museum (They host playdates for kids ages 2-5 on the first Tuesday of each month)
23. Suson Park Farm
24. Mark Twain Lake - Spalding Beach
25. Miscellaneous parks to add to Play St. Louis
26. Visit family in Columbia, MO
27. Visit family in Chicago
28. Visit family in Peoria, IL

Day 22: Where You Work

Cool decals on the office wall of one of my clients.

Want to play along?

 

Day 19: Something You Hate To Do

I LOVE my Chili chinchilla but I HATE to swap out the fleece mats in her cage. Each velcro tab has to be pulled thru the bars and stick the two sides together. My fingers hurt after this job - and it has to be done every other day.

Want to play along?

 

Day 16: Something New

We tried a new activity from pinterest today. It's flour and baby oil. It ends up having a consistency similar to beach sand. It feels pretty cool, but Jillian got a little too excited and threw it all over the kitchen. The recipe is 4 cups of flour to 1 cup of baby oil, but I ended up using a whole bag of flour and a whole bottle of baby oil.

Want to play along?

 

Day 13: Blue

The only "real" snow of the winter thus far, and it lasted less than 24 hours. Jillian discovered how much she LOVES the snow and the sled and ever since has been talking about the "snowy" non-stop.

Want to play along?

 

Day 12: Inside Your Closet

Lots of clothes that don't actually fit me....hopefully someday they will fit again.

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Day 9: Front Door

The front door. Enough said.

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Day 8: Sun

The theme of Jillian's 2nd birthday party is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." As a result, we've been reading this book a lot!

Want to play along?

 

Day 7: Button

Yellow buttons on Jillian's new stuffed Mario backpack. She has been carrying him around non-stop since she picked him out last night.

Want to play along?

 

Day 6: Dinner

Dinner of champions - leftover pizza!

Want to play along?

 

Day 5: 10 am

At 10 am today Jillian was eating her tortilla chip breakfast (she refused everything else and only ended up eating 2 chips before kicking the bowl onto the floor) and pouting because I took the iphone from her because she had already spent an hour watching youtube videos.

Want to play along?

 

Day 4: A Stranger

I don't know this woman (thus the theme, "a stranger") but this particular butterfly really liked her - kept landing on her and hovering just above her head at the Butterfly House today.

Want to play along?

 

Day 3: Hands

I love how this challenge gives me a chance to take some "in the moment" photos that I might not otherwise pull the camera out for. Here are my sweetie's hands, working the iphone. Today she discovered the youtube app and is browsing thru the list of related videos to find more mario videos to watch.  

Want to play along?

 

Day 2: Words

Another beautiful day in February, so we took a trip to the zoo. This is on the old water fountain between the train station and lakeside cafe. I love the vintageness of this piece and that it still exists and hasn't been torn out for something new.

Want to play along?

Day 1: Your View Today

How awesome is it to have a high of 61 on February 1 in St. Louis?! We went for a walk at lunchtime with daddy at the Phantom Forest Conservation Area in Des Peres. My heart just melts when I see daddy and daughter share little bonding moments like this.

Want to play along?

Weight Loss Chart

With the new year coming in just a couple days, I decided I needed something to help me stay accountable to the goal of losing weight. I designed the chart below to keep me motivated. I plan to print a copy each week and keep them in a binder to be able to go back and see where I was and where I am now. The document is designed with extra space on the left side so you can three-hole-punch it.

Along the right side is where you enter the date, your current weight, how much you've lost total and how much you have left to lose to meet your goal. This way you can quickly flip through the pages of your binder and see the numbers going up on the "lost" line and down on the "left to lose" line (hopefully!).

For each day there are water bottles, each representing 20 oz of water (the size of a typical water bottle) to mark off as you drink your water each day. There is also a notes section where you can note your exercise or food intake for each day.

 

Download Here!

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Fourth of July

The difference of a year...

Fourth of July 2010, Jillian 3 months old, watching
fireworks with Daddy

Fourth of July 2011, Jillian 15 months old, playing while
waiting for the fireworks to start

7 Quick Takes, Vol. 4

This week's "7 Quick Takes" all relate to a summer camp class that Jillian and I are taking at the local school district. The class is 1.5 hours long and for kids ages 12-22 months and their moms. I wish I had remembered my camera - I will next week!

1. Within the first few minutes of class, both the teacher and the teacher's assistant asked me if Jillian had any older siblings. Apparently they thought her socialness and curiosity would have come from watching an older sibling at home.
2. For the first 15 minutes of class the kids had free-play time. I left Jillian at a little table with buckets and shapes to sort and went over to the diaper bag to grab her sunscreen. I turned around (maybe 30 seconds after walking away from her) and she was sitting on top of the little table so that she could reach all the shapes and put all of them in her bucket.
3. Next up was outside time, she had no interest in the sand table or the sprinkler, but loved the water tray, bubbles and ball pit - all things she has at home.
4. Upon coming back inside, the next activity was crafts. There were 4 crafts to choose from, and I knew all were well beyond Jillian's experience with arts and crafts. We did 2 of the 4 crafts. The first was taking dot paint and dotting a paper plate cut into a fish shape. She didn't understand the dotting and wanted to suck on the dot bottle. I gave her a marker and let her finish her fish by coloring. I was trying to avoid the paint table but alas, Jillian saw it and wanted to play with the paint. The kids were to paint shells with paintbrushes. Jillian mostly just painted her mouth - she just really wanted to eat the paint.
5. Then it was time for circle time, but you know who was not at all interested in sitting on mommy's lap in the circle (I mean, why would she, the room is full of toys to play with). She ended up in the cozy coupe (which we also have a home) and I had to drag her out of it to bring her to the circle. After a couple of songs the teacher brought out a box of musical instruments and the kids each got to pick one. This got Jillian excited and she ran over to grab a shaker. However we only used them for one song and then the kids had to put them away. I pried it out of Jillian's hand and then she followed the teacher to the cabinet where she was putting away the box, pointing and saying "no no no no no no no no."
6. The last activity of the day was snack time. Jillian did pretty well with this one except that she dumped half her goldfish crackers onto the floor. 
7. We got home and she went right down for a nap (and so did I). The teacher says by the end of the 4 week class the kids get used to the routine, I guess we'll see what happens next Wednesday!
   

Walgreens, vol 1

The walgreens receipt doesn't have the regular price for the items on it like the CVS one does so I don't know what the regular prices were. 

Items Purchased:
- 3 boxes of Golden Grahams ($1.99 sale)
- 3 boxes of Cinnemon Toast Crunch ($1.99 sale)
- scunci hair elastics ($2, with $2 RR)
- 2 bottles of pantene ($3.50 each sale, $1 RR with purchase of 2)
- Bayer Asprin ($3.49 sale)
- Huggies Little Swimmers ($6.99 sale price)


As is typical of walgreens, the sale started yesterday and they are already out of the contact solution that was free with Register Rewards. I got the last package of the Huggies Little Swimmers and there were only 3 hair elastics packages left on the shelf.

minus
- save $2 on Little Swimmers (manufacturer coupon)
- save $2 on Little Swimmers (May walgreens coupon book)
- save $3 on 2 Pantene products (manufacturer coupon)
- save $2 on Bayer Asprin (walgreens ad coupon)
- save $1 on Bayer Asprin (manufacturer coupon)
- save $1 on 3 boxes of General Mills cereal (manufacturer coupon)
- save $1 on 3 boxes of General Mills cereal (manufacturer coupon)

Total value of purchases: $32.45

Total out of pocket: $20.45
Total RRs into pocket: $3.00

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at Walgreens:

Total value of purchases: $32.45
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $20.45
Total ECBs generated: $3.00

CVS , vol. 9

Items Purchased:
- 2 boxes of Advil Tablets, regular price $9.49, sale price $7.99, plus $5 ECB when you spend $10 or more on Advil products
- 1 box of tampax pearl tampons, $7.99
- 2 packages of stride chewing gum, regular price $1.49, sale price $.99, plus $0.99 ECB when you buy 1 (limit 1)
- CVS green bag tag, $0.99

minus
- (2) save $2 on advil coupons
- save $2 on tampax pearl
- save $1 on 2 stride chewing gum
- free  CVS green bag tag coupon from coupon machine
- $8.54 in ECB from previous shopping trips

Total value of purchases: $30.94
Total out of pocket: $11.19
Total ECBs into pocket: $8.99
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $267.74
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $73.87
Total ECBs generated: $55.55

Mamarazzi Monday - Easter Egg Hunting

One egg for each hand

playing with the eggs

oops

Grandpa helped her find another one

She was not a fan of the orange egg...not sure why but she kept passing it up!

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 8

 Items Purchased:

• Pantene Shampoo - $4.99 (sale price of 2/$6.97, get $1 ECB w/ purchase of 2)
• Pantene Conditioner - $4.99 (sale price of 2/$6.97, get $1 ECB w/ purchase of 2)
• minus $3 off purchase of 2 pantene products

• Herbal Essence Shampoo - $4.29 (sale price of 2/$5.97, get $2 ECB w/ purchase of 2)
• Herbal Essence Conditioner - $4.29 (sale price of 2/$5.97, get $2 ECB w/ purchase of 2) 
• minus (2) save $0.50 on any Herbal Essence product coupons

• 2 Old Spice Fiji Body Wash - $4.99 (sale price of $3.99)
• 2 Old Spice Swagger Body Wash - $4.99 (sale price of $3.99)
• minus (2) buy 1 get 1 free Old Spice Body Wash coupons

• 2 boxes of Cheerios - $4.46 (sale price of $2.47)
• 2 boxes of Golden Grahams - $4.99 (sale price of $2.47)
• 2 boxes of Lucky Charms - $4.39 (sale price of $2.47)
• minus (2) $0.55 off one box of Cheerios coupons  
• minus $1 off purchase of 2 General Mills cereals coupon
• minus $1 off purchase of 2 General Mills cereals coupon
• minus $2 off $10 CVS grocery purchase coupon from CVS coupon machine

• Colgate MaxClean SmartFoam Toothpaste - $2.99 (sale price of  $2.77, get $2.77 ECB w/ purchase)
• Colgate MaxWhite Toothpaste - $3.39 (sale price of $2.77, get $2.77 ECB w/ purchase)
• minus (2) save $0.75 on any colgate toothpaste coupon

• Minus $6.71 in ECBs

Total value of purchases: $72.58
Total out of pocket: $20.53
Total ECBs into pocket: $7.54
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $236.80
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $62.68
Total ECBs generated: $46.56

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 7

Items Purchased:

• 2 cvs green bag tags (every 4th scan you get $1 ECB) at $0.99/each (get $0.99 ECB each with purchase)
• PAAS Easter Egg Coloring Kit - $1.99 (get $1.99 ECB with purchase)
• 24 pack of bottled water - $3.99 regular price, on sale for $2.22

Total value of purchases: $7.96
Total out of pocket: $6.62
Total ECBs into pocket: $3.97
Total ECBs left over from last week: $2.74

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $164.22
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $42.15
Total ECBs generated: $39.02

Easter Bunny

I am so proud of my little sweetie...she sat on the Easter bunny's lap at the mall and we even got a cute picture! She was terrified of Santa back in December (we visited him twice and both times she cried). Now to be honest, she wasn't sure what to think of the Easter bunny and a second before the photo was taken I tickled her and then jumped aside so the photographer could snap a photo. But still, she sat for a short time before reaching out to me and giving me her "get me outta here" look.

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 6

Items Purchased:

• Froot Loops - $1.69
• Coke - $1.59 (coupon for up to $2 drink or candy value from twitter)
• Bubbles - $3.99 (they were out of the $1.99, get $1.99 ECB w/purchase bubbles so they substituted these higher value bubbles)
• Jelly Beans - $0.99
• Hand Soap $3.99 (coupon for free full sized Essence of Beauty Antibacterial Collection Product when you like CVS Beauty on facebook)
• Russell Stover Chocolate @ $.74 (Get $.74 ECBs WYB 1 – Limit 1)
• $1 ECB from the coupon machine for winter spending

Total value of purchases: $12.99
Total out of pocket: $0
Total ECBs into pocket: $2.73
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $156.26
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $35.53
Total ECBs generated: $35.09

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 5

ECB = Extra Care Bucks. They are printed with your receipt when you check out and are good toward your next purchase at CVS.

This week wasn't too terribly exciting in the way of deals and savings, but since I'm tracking my CVS purchases for the year, I have to post.

Total before discounts/coupons:
- Dole Fruit Cups (x4) - 3/$5
- Halls Cough Drops (30 ct bag) - $1.87
- Colgate Toothbrush - $2.99

Used the following coupons:
- $0.75 off 2 Dole fruit cups (traded at coupon exchange playdate - I think it was from a newspaper insert)
- $0.75 off 2 Dole fruit cups (newspaper insert)
- $0.75 off halls cough drops (newspaper insert)
- $0.75 off halls cough drops (newspaper insert)
- $1 off colgate manual toothbrush (newspaper insert)

Total value of purchases: $13.40
Total out of pocket: $9.93
Total ECBs into pocket: $4
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $143.27
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $35.53
Total ECBs generated: $32.36

Who wore it better?

Who wore this dress better at their baby shower? Me or Callie on Grey's Anatomy this week? I have never seen an outfit that I own on TV in a popular show - until I this week's Grey's episode. It felt kind of strange actually to see the same dress I wore at my shower on Callie!

7 Quick Takes, Vol. 3

1. Last night I found myself explaining to Tom what zydeco music was (he brought it up). The funny part is that I had no idea what it was until the new episode of the "Fresh Beat Band" that aired on Monday!
   
2. Jillian got her first pair of real shoes on Monday. They are so cute and seem so tiny - but then I pulled out the shoes she wore at her baptism and those were about half the size of this new pair.
   
3. Jillian started walking just over two weeks ago - it's hard to believe it's only been 2 weeks, since she walks all over the place now, it's so cute!
   
4. I have really been enjoying watching Jillian start to interact with other kids. She likes to sit by other kids, but doesn't play with them yet. Twice this week (at a playdate and at the mall playground) she played the role of the "bad guy." The boys were pretending that Jillian was out to get them and they had to stay away from her, but she kept crawling and walking up to them to try to be next to them.
   
5. I love to see what item Jillian chooses to take to bed with her. Last night it was the Good Night Moon book. At naptime today it was a block.
   
6. It's funny how I look at Jillian and think she's so big, but put her next to older kids and she is so tiny still.
   
7. I am excited to get Jillian a big girl bed this weekend. I'm tired of sleeping with her, and this will allow us to have a more structured bedtime routine because I won't have to stay in bed with her like I do now, because we won't have to worry about her rolling out of bed with a mattress on the floor.