Kindness Banner

 Today is the first day of Random Acts of Kindness Week. Although, I don't believe that one week to point out kindness to my children is enough, I do believe that it is a great reminder and a fun way to spend extra attention talking about ways to be kind and how kindness acts really do spread. (as do not so kind acts.)

 To celebrate with Em's class we will make a kindness banner and kind cards. The last time we made a banner like this we called it a "wish banner" and drew and painted wishes we had. The kids and I were learning about prayer flags and this was a great activity to go along.
I thought this would be a great way to also celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week.  I will have the kids draw pictures and write words that they feel will inspire and spread kindness.

Materials:

pillowcase (each one makes 8 flags)

scissors

hot glue

twine

permanent markers

watercolor paints

 To start this project I first put the banner together. I didn't plan on having them use the hot glue and I thought it would be nice for them to have the finished banner ready to hang after they were done with their artwork. I cut our pillowcase into 8 rectangle flags. You want to leave the top seems on the flag, but break the two that will have a side seam from the bottom of the pillowcase.

 Next, I opened each flag and laid a long piece of twine across them all. Once I had my flags spaced just right I used hot glue to attach the twine to each one and closed the flags.

 Be sure sure to close the flag while the glue is still hot. Press firmly to seal.

  Once our banner was all put together we used permanent markers to add drawings and words.

 Watercolors right on top of the drawings created a really beautiful effect.

 Isn't that beautiful!? I think this will be a great start to Random Acts of Kindness Week and a great opportunity to talk about what this week means. I found some more great ideas for this week over on Rak Week. Be sure to check it out.

Here some kindness ideas my children came up with:

1. Bring hot cocoa to the neighbors playing in the snow.
2. Feed the pond ducks.
3. Bring blankets to the animal shelter.
4. Buy dinner for a homeless person.
5. Bring a treat to their teachers.
6. Make a card for the mailman.
7. Make a new friend at school.
8. Take in the neighbors trash cans.
9. Make soup for our friends who just had a baby.
10. Make a bird feeder for "our" birds.

I think we are onto a great start!

I shared this idea over at Kiwi Crate. Check out all my full tutorials there.

The Snowman Game!

 A few years ago I declared that our usual Christmas Eve family gathering become game day! Because my family is so awesome, there was no hesitation (although I bet my pregnant sister-in-law dressed as a snowman above never expected her photo to appear here for all to see, good thing I'm her favorite!)

One of the games we played that year and continue to play every year is the snowman game. The family all splits into groups of three or four people and each group is given a supply package containing 2 rolls of tp, construction paper and tape. One member of each group will get dressed as a snowman by the other team members. We set a ten minute timer and when the time was up all the snowmen lined up to be judged by Grandpa.
I can't tell you how fun and silly this game is. So many laughs and great memories have been made. I highly recommend making your holiday gatherings a declared game day!

Mightee Kids is Pretty Darn Cool!

 I wanted to share with you again Mightee Kids. I was introduced to them a few months back and have been so impressed with this wonderful concept that I want to share it again and again. I am a huge supporter of Sevenly and I love that my kids now have their own charity t-shirts, too. Yes, these t-shirts are pretty cool and the quality is amazing, but it goes beyond that.....

 Each t-shirt has a cause and comes along with these handy dandy tools to help teach children in a way that children can understand. It is teaching my children compassion in a entirely new way. It is not only making children aware, but giving them the confidence to make a change and that is what I love about this concept. I don't want to scare my children with the worries of the world at such a young age, but if I can give them the tools to feel like they are helping to change the world--I can definitly get on board with that!
 Last month our t-shirt helped Kids on Bikes, an organization that helps kids in low income neighborhoods earn their own bikes. Emma loved hearing about this charity. After wearing her t-shirt to school last week, she told me she was sharing with her friends what the shirt was all about. I love hearing that!

This cutie has on a shirt from a couple months ago. This cause was to support Canines for Kids. Helping children with physical and emotional disabilities get assistance dogs. Pretty awesome!

April, is Autism awareness month and this t-shirt supports the Autism Society. I can't think of a more perfect way to start showing our support and teaching our children that we can make a change. Check out Mightee Kids, I think they are pretty darn cool, indeed!
Check them out and help spread the word...
Mightee Kids
Mightee Kids on Facebook
Mightee Kids on Twitter

Kid's Lunch Surprise!

 Got an abundant amount of leftover holiday cards, like me? Make your child's day by getting silly with some markers! Emma loves when I leave little notes and drawings in her lunch. I am sure it is a fun and comforting surprise to find while at school.

 I only wish I could see her face and hear her giggles when she finds this one today!

And into the very cute Mimi the Sardine (I heart them) lunch bag.

Mightee Kids--Review!

 We received a very special box on our doorstep the other morning. It was from Mightee Kids a new company whose mission is "helping kids help other kids around the world." Sounds pretty wonderful to me!

 Emma was thrilled to receive a package. We opened it up and inside along with her new and very cool Mightee shirt was a little informative postcard explaining the cause. It had a animated picture card on the back. I read it to Emma, it was simple and easy for her to understand the cause and how she was helping. It also ended on a positive note, which I really liked. Emma felt like she made a difference and that is exactly how I want my children to feel in these early years of "changing the world."
This month the Mightee Kids cause is Say Cheese, supporting Smile Train which helps children around the world with cleft lip or palate get the surgery they need, but can not afford.

Each month Mightee Kids will have a new shirt with a new cause to support and teach your children about. For $25 a month you will get your very own tee and informative tools to help educate your kids. $5 of this cost goes directly to the cause! I think this is a great way to start teaching my children about helping others around the world that are less fortunate and do not have all that we do, but doing so in a positive way.

Check out Mightee Kids and make a difference with your kids today!

 www.mighteekids.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mighteekids

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mighteekids

Pinterest: www.http://pinterest.com/mighteekids

  

New Year's Eve--Crafts for Kids!

 Boy has my New Year's Eve festivities changed over the past five years. I don't spend weeks searching for the fabulous new outfit that I will wear to go to the amazing party we got invited to. We usually stay in these days with our beautiful kiddos and good friends. We cook, eat, laugh, play games and honestly this usually all happens before we ring in the New Year at 9pm. Yes, our New Year's Eve has changed and it is just perfect now.

 This year we made some fun party poppers for the kids to crack open after dinner. Each filled with a few goodies to surprise them. For more details check out my Party Popper tutorial at The Studio.

 A tiara is a must for every occasion, at least that's what Emma thinks. See how she made a New Year's Eve Tiara over at The Studio.

 Noise is a must on New Year's Eve. Check out our Salt Shaker Noise Maker to give the kids a fun craft to make and a fun shaker for the countdown.

Check out what we used to make our Recycled Party Hats for our New Year's Eve celebration! Pretty cool when my children turn trash to treasure!

Happy New Year's to all! Wishing you a safe and fun celebration surrounded by love.
xo
green owl mama

"Thin Mint" Christmas Cookies

 I have made these cookies for as long as I can remember. It is one of my favorite childhood memories. Being with my family, making a special cookie and licking each drop of chocolate off my little fingers. Now it has become an even more special tradition for me as I enjoy this with my children.

 With a couple secret ingredients you will be amazed at how closely this taste like the infamous mint cookie that everyone loves so very much!

 To find out this simple and fun recipe along with the secret ingredients that make it so great, join me over at The Studio, where I share this recipe for the very first time.

Light a Candle for the Families of Newtown

Beeswax Candle Tutorial

My heart is broken. The horror of yesterdays events have me feeling lost, empty and in pain for all of those families. I will continue to pray for these people that have endured such a horrific tragedy and I will take action in any way I can to change things in this world of turmoil that we live in.
I have chosen to not talk with my children about this devastating tragedy. I can not comprehend what has happened, surely my five and two year old can not in any way understand this. I will shield and protect their innocent minds. I will allow them to think we still live in a place where they can feel safe at school and to believe that for the most part people are good.
This morning we won't talk about yesterdays unimaginable events, but we will sit together, enjoy each other, love each other and light candles for families that are not able to do such things on this day.

Kindness Wreath

Teaching my children kindness is something I strive for each day. It seems to get a little harder with siblings. I think I say the word "kindness" about a hundred times a day reminding them how to treat each other. Our kindness wreath was a way to not only remember to be kind, but to also take notice to other family members being kind.

It started with a simple wreath and each ribbon tied on resembled an act of kindness within our home. Now that is a beautiful wreath. For more details join me over at The Studio, by Kiwi Crate for my full instructions on the kindness wreath and what we did once it was full.

Advent Jar of Love, Compassion and Memories

 Tomorrow is December 1st! Really? I wish I could push pause for a little while and hold my babies at age 2 and 5 for a little longer, but I can't--so I will enjoy each moment to the absolute full extent that I can. I hope. I will!

For our Advent this year I wanted to do something with a little less sugar and a lot more compassion, meaning, love and memory making joy.
I cut 25 rounds out and wrote 25 holiday inspired activities on each.

The kids decorated clothespins to hold each round and we added them to a large jar.

Each day Emma and Grayson will pull out a clothespin and we will find out what festive activity we will be doing that day. You can add anything really. Things that you hope to do, but never get to. This is a way to force yourself. Here is what is in our jar...

1. Donate a coat.
2. Bake Christmas Cookies.
3. Make up your own Christmas carol.
4. Skype with family while wearing Santa hats.
5. Donate toys to a toy drive.
6. Make a Santa beard in the bath.
7. Donate a blanket to the animal shelter.
8. Go on a winter nature walk.
9. Find snow!
10. Visit reindeer.
11. Make a special dinner.
12. Drink hot cocoa.
13. Make a homemade gift.
14. Make a homemade card.
15. Watch The Elf.
16. Put on a Christmas play.
17. Make a snowflake.
18. Make an ornament.
19. Make a wish.
20. Snowball fight!
21. Bring cookies to a neighbor.
22. String popcorn.
23. Drive around and look at Christmas lights.
24. Write a letter to Santa.
25. Buy a poinsettia.

Wishing you the most special and memorable Advent ever!  
xo
green owl mama

Lunch for Daddy - Teaching Healthy Choices

I teach my children to make healthy food choices everyday in the best way I know how....by making healthy choices for myself. It is simple and has worked liked a charm so far.

"Be the person you want your children to be."
Not sure who said that, but it is very true!

Inspired by a simple recipe I saw on a this great vegan blog yesterday, Oh She Glows; Emma and I made some lunches to go for Daddy. Easy, healthy, and sturdy salads are great to put in jars and take to work or the park. All you need is a fork.

Emma was super excited to prepare some lunches for her Daddy. She added all the ingredients to some large mason jars.

Next, she gave it a shake! This was a really fun way to get her involved in the kitchen. being around all these healthy fresh food options, learning to prepare healthy lunches and snacking all the way through.

When we were finished making our salads Emma made a sweet little tag to tie around the jars. Now that is a lunch that is good for your body and soul.

Pledge to Hide and Seek!

Today I pledge to play hide and seek. When life gets too serious, when I have a million things to get done, when my kids are cranky, bored, restless and just need me - I pledge to stop what I am doing and play hide and seek.
It is amazing what it does for a cranky child...and mama too! It brings laughs, fun, love, ends sibling bickering (for a moment at least,) and reminds me that dishes and emails can wait because at this very moment I am connected with my children; making memories and being just happy. 

Pledge with me!

xoxo
green owl mama

Photo Box Craft- Keeping kids connected

Check out a great way to keep kids connected to family when living far away. I am over at Family Sponge today making these fun photo boxes.

I captured this very real moment as Emma looked at a picture of herself with her Aunt Jess. Reminded me, that even though children are so little, they still have very big emotions and feelings. Today was a great day to talk about all of those feelings with her.