Friday, March 13, 2015

Friday Favorites - Play Dough, Pippin Pops, Puppies and Park Edition

Happy Friday, Friends!!!
I can NOT believe that today is my last day of Spring Break! (kind of.... I know there's still the weekend.... but you know what I mean) :)

As always, if you're linking up with me, Erika and/or Narci - grab our graphic, link back to one (or all!) of us and then share your FAVORITES from the week.

Yesterday the boys and I did one of our FAVORITE activities - making Play Dough!

It really is way easier than you might think and I like it so much more than the store bought kind.  It doesn't "crumble" and lasts (in a ziplock bag) for EVER!

If you want to make some you'll need...
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup salt
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil


Combine the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a medium size sauce pan.


Once those are combined, pour in 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.


Stir it around and turn your stove onto medium heat.

Once it smooths out a bit, add in your food coloring.  I use gel colors that I've picked up at Hobby Lobby.

My boys always love to stir and watch the color mix in.  (and yes... I was right there and his hand was on the counter, not the stove)

It will start to get sticky, continue to stir.

Once it forms into a big clump and most of it isn't "wet" anymore, take it out of the pan and set it on your counter or on a piece of wax paper.


I let it sit and cool for a couple of minutes and then it's time to knead it.  I like to let the kids slam it down on the counter a bunch of times and knead it while it cools off completely.  
(Bedhead isn't a requirement for making this... but it definitely helps! hahaha)



Each of the kids picked out a color and we made three different batches for each of them.  I'd say that each one (start to finish, including washing out my pot) took less than 10 minutes.  I made DOZENS of them a few  years ago as party favors for the boys Superhero birthday - once you make it a couple of times it's super easy).





We like to make snakes, spell out letters and numbers, roll out snowballs, make handprints, all the "standards" when it comes to playdough.


Luke made a Ninja Turtle mask (and then rapped the theme song - I was super impressed!)

And when we made snowmen it prompted a Frozen sing-a-long...




This is her saying "no no no" after I asked her whether it was okay to eat play dough (please note the blue around her mouth). hahaha

This held G's attention for about 30 minutes (which is a lifetime in almost-two-year-old world) and the boys played for over an hour.  Griffin moved on to helping Dave wash the dishes and I couldn't help but snap a picture of her sweet little shoes.  Luke is about to be SEVEN and every year around their birthdays I get super sappy and nostalgic and I always want to remember those sweet little feet in her bunny shoes :)

Mason's snowman completely creeped me out - but leave it to Mason to make a snowman with a "grandpa face on his belly".


Next up, how cute are these felt balls by Pippin Pops?!?!?!


 I came across her shop on Instagram and LOVED how fun and whimsical and unique they were.  She sent me some to use in Griffin's big girl room and I can't wait!  The red doesn't mix in with the color scheme in G's room, so I'm waiting to order some pink to mix in and string on a garland and then I'm going to use the red for Fourth of July.


She makes them all by hand and I love getting to support a mompreneur :)

I can't wait to show you how I use these in Griffin's room - but until then - you can order your own set from her shop HERE and be sure to follow her on Instagram for lots of fun color combinations and pictures of how people are using them to decorate.


I'm pretty sure that this week has been Jack Bauer's FAVORITE week of his entire life. hahaha
He's been played with NON-STOP!!! :)

He's been on lots of walks and yesterday at lunch he managed to eat two chicken nuggets off of the floor - so his life was made :)



Last up is a new FAVORITE spot we visited yesterday, Hope Park in Frisco.  I read about Hope Park a while ago and filed it away as a place I wanted to take the kids when the weather was great and when Dave could come (because three kids at a giant park by myself kind of freaked me out. hahaha).

Hope Park is AWESOME and is extra special because it "was built to suit the needs of all children, at any age, with a focused consideration for children with special needs."

Luke is my climber as of late, and he climbed his big boy heart out :)


Griffin has NO fear and she was loving all the slides.


This series of pics cracks me up :)  I happened to catch GG booking it across the playground when Luke intercepted her :) hahaha


Yes, there are lots of pics of G because Dave and I "divided and conquered" and he was with the boys when I took all of these :)  Plus - the boys move way too fast for me to actually get a picture of them.



The next pictures crack me up because my kids have NO qualms about hanging out with kids they don't know.



SASS does the park :)







This picture is my new FAVORITE!  We're sweaty, disheveled and kind of a hot mess - but it doesn't have to be perfect to be perfect.  I have TREASURED my family this week and it hasn't looked perfect once :)

I am determined not to be sad today.... Spring Break is pretty much over and I've committed to enjoying every last minute.  My to-do-list is almost as long as it was at the beginning of break and I am 99% okay with that :)  Family time is my FAVORITE and this week has been full of that.

Enjoy your weekend, friends!!!
   
   

35 comments :

  1. Those felt balls make a great toy, too. One example is scooping them up as 'soup' from a big pot to little bowls.

    I teared up at the end of this post--you're always so good to help me remember perspective. My 3 oldest are not little anymore and sometimes I forget how fast those moments pass (I still have 3 little ones as well). You will be SO thankful for this blog one day as you look back on these sweet memories!

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    1. Ooooh! What a great idea for the "soup"!
      I already love looking back and even though I hate that they're getting bigger I love that I have a running history to look back on. thanks, Dana! :)

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  2. Heads up. Don't be surprised if that last pic is blown up onto a canvas and hanging on my wall next time you come over.

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    1. If I could comment with emojis it would be the laughing/crying guy :) As long as you don't have that video from Tuesday playing on a loop somewhere I'm cool with it.

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  3. Two things: first, I need to be better at taking pictures. I'm pretty sure I can go on vacation with my kids for a week and take less pictures than you do in one day. Shame on me. :) And second, I love the pics of you and your three kiddos. They just melt my heart! XO

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    1. GIRL! I have joked FOREVER that I take more pics at the park than you do in Paris :) I don't think you'll ever regret having lots of pics of their sweet little faces!

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  4. Yay! So glad that you are having a wonderful spring break together!! Enjoy your last day, friend! ❤️

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    1. So far there are no plans for getting out of pjs - which totally constitutes a great day in my book :) Enjoy having yours home today!!!

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  5. I love that last pic of you with your kiddos too...so sweet! I can't wait to see what you do with the Pippin Pops...I stumbled across her on etsy and thought they were darling. I need some inspiration to know what to do with them and I know you'll be my girl for that : )
    Enjoy the rest of your Spring Break days!

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    1. EEEK! Pressure's on! hahaha I have a couple ideas - once we get her furniture switched out and all of that I'm hoping to feel super inspired :)

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  6. What a perfect spring break !!!!

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  7. What a great Spring Break week. So much cuteness, as always. My favorite is the picture of Luke hugging Griffin through the Ticket window. Precious! Enjoy your last day of break!

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    1. I love that one too! He's such a sweet big brother :)

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  8. We went to that park last year during Spring Break. It is fabulous!! But almost a little tricky o keep up ith three kids!!

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    1. It's HUGE which is awesome, but also freaked me out a bit. We need to go together one weekend!

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  9. Those park pictures are PRICELESS. Enjoy the last little bit of your spring break!!

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  10. We made play-doh last week and you're right- so easy and so fun!!! Glad you've enjoy you're break! And, how sad is it that you have to clarify that Masons hand was not on the stove! The judgement of others is ashame.

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    1. Sad is a great word to describe it - but I figured I'd better go ahead and cover my bases after being called "despicable", "the most disgusting person ever" and "appalling" for not keeping Mason and his NON-CONTAGIOUS rash at home all week. People are quick to judge and slow to apologize and it's been a tough pill for me to swallow.

      On a lighter note :) , love me some play dough. hahaha Enjoy your time with your girls this weekend!!! :)

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    2. Hang in there! Only you know what is best for your kids!!!

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  11. I've made the play-doh and it really is so easy and fun! i love the tippy toe pics of your little--too presh! Happy Friday!

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  12. What brand is your daughter's shoes? That last picture of you and your kids is so cute! In a few years when your kids are older you should re-enact it. That'd be cute! :)

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    1. Thank you! Her shoes are by Mini Melissa and you can find them at Nordstrom or Amazon. I think I linked to them in Wednesdays post if you're looking for a link :) And YES! I love the re-enactment idea!!!

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  13. Hey there Andrea! I thought I'd comment and let you know I love following your blog :) You pictures of the kids are darling!! And being a mom of two boys...I am loving on your little Griffin! Her hair, bows, clothes...ahhhh!! Too stinkin' cute!! Thanks for always sharing great fashion tips, recipes, family moments, and being a light of joy for so many of us readers!! Have a wonderful weekend enjoying the final days of spring break!

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    1. Thanks so much, Angela!!! I'm glad that you get to live vicariously through Griffin :) hahahaha I have waaaaaay too much fun with all things girly! I so appreciate your sweet words of encouragement.... they mean a lot!

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  14. My mom would add a packet of kool-aid to the play dough mix (the type without sugar already added). It would turn colors and smell delicious. She would make a bunch of small bags for class gifts for holidays (cherry/Valentines, lime/St. Pat's, orange/Halloween)

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  15. Love your "hot mess" pic....so glad you put things on hold and enjoyed this time off with your sweet family.

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  16. The last 2 pictures of you with your babies is a framer for sure! Such a fun week! :)

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  17. Soooo cute of GG singing "Let it Go!" I can totally relate to shhhhhing the boys in the background. Story of my life!

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  18. Homemade playdough!!! You've inspired me!!!! What a fun spring break!!!

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  19. Your Spring break looked amazing! Lucky kids!! Thank you for hosting the link up and have a great weekend! Please come share and link up with me at http://www.wrightsimply.com/search/label/Linky
    xx Ashleigh @SimplyWright

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  20. My little one will be one in a month, and I seriously do not know where the past year has gone! I'm trying to soak it up as much as possible! And little GG definitely gives me baby fever for a girl! ;) so glad you had a fun spring break with your family!

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  21. Love these posts -- you are an inspiration!!!

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  22. Homemade play dough is the BEST!!! We love it!!

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