The Mom I Want to Be

The concept of Daylight Savings Time centers on better use of daylight. The added benefit is that changing the clock twice a year helps us to converse electricity.

In the spring, we move the clock ahead one hour to give ourselves an extra hour of light at night—meaning we don’t need to turn on lights until later. Did you know that Daylight Savings Time happens on different days in different parts of the world? Find out what day the clocks change in Nuuk and Murmansk or other places across the globe.

Commemorate “springing forward” by reciting this classic rhyme with your child:

Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the clock.
The clock struck one,
The mouse ran down!
Hickory, dickory, dock

* Pop Rocks: Valentine, you ROCK!
* You Rule! – Attach to a ruler or Fruit By The Foot
* Gum: We “chews” you to be our Valentine!
* Gummy Bears/Teddy Grahams, etc: “Bag of bear hugs”, “You’re unbearably cute!”, “Join the cub!”, “I can’t bear being without you!”
* Squeeze-it kids drink: Valentine, Will you be my SQUEEZE?
* Put a can of FANTA soda in a cellophane bag with some taffy and chocolate: “Make my FANTA-sy come true … Be my Valentine!”
* Swedish fish: “It’s O-FISH-al! I’m in love! Will you be mine” or “You’re O-FISH-ally the best kid around … Happy Valentine’s Day” or “FISHing a Happy Valentine’s to the best CATCH around!”
* Soda: “You are SODA special! Happy Valentine’s Day!”
* Wrap a can of Pringles to look like a stick of dynamite: “I think you are DYNAMITE! TNT!”
* Tie a tag to a bottle of root beer: “Go ahead, kick up those heels! Have a ROOTIN’-TOOTIN BOOT-SCOOTIN Valentine’s Day!”
* Tied to a purse: “Happy Valentine’s Day to someone with a cute PURSE-onality! Luv ya!”
* A bottle filled with candy: “My love for you has been BOTTLED up for too long … so here it is! I love you!”
* Tied to a can of Crush soda: “I’ve got a CRUSH on you!”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. A child prodigy, Mozart began performing piano pieces at age three and composing them at five. In honor of this great talent, play a CD of one of your favorite Mozart pieces and waltz with your child to the music. Supply flowing silky scarves and demonstrate how to move them expressively to the music. Now clear away the furniture and let your child dance to his or her heart’s content!

 

Listen to some of Mozart’s music.

Large and small paper plates … paint … paint brushes … construction paper … scissors … glue sticks … hole punch … yarn or ribbon.

Paint a face on the small paper plate and paint three buttons on a large paper plate. Punch a hole at the top of the large paper plate. Punch a hole at the bottom of the small paper plate. Cut a hat out of construction paper and glue on the small paper plate. Cut mittens and boots out of construction paper and glue on the large paper plate. Punch hole at top of hat. Attach two paper plates together using yarn or ribbon. Attach yarn or ribbon on the hat.

Get a grip on clutter and keep track of your life with a Command Center.  Here are some ideas for a wall mounted one, for use in a small space

Every home has a place that’s a magnet for piles (unopened mail, shopping lists, permission slips). Clear your family’s clutter spot by creating a “Central Command Center.” Locate it in a high-traffic area, such as a mudroom, back hallway or stairwell. Use it diligently, and see the top of your kitchen counter or dining room table once again!

STEP ONE: In Boxes
In boxes sort paper clutter well. Assign a wall mounted in box per family member and install it at a convenient height. Label individual manila folders (Mail to Sort, Soccer Schedules) so vital information within the boxes can be easily accessible. Attach binder clips to the in box edges to hold coupons, birthday invitations and reminders. Hang a clipboard for holding grocery and to do lists.

Alternatively, consider a wall mounted organizer that works like a school binder. Each sleeve is color-coded, so you can assign a color per person. (momready.com)

STEP TWO: Office, School & Craft Supplies
To keep writing and project supplies within reach, install a rail system equipped with hanging pencil holders or small tubs (pencil holders are available at lisabecky.com, tubs at ikea.com). Fill the holders with glue sticks, tape, pencils and markers. For small items, such as paperclips or erasers, use magnetized containers and a metal strip (try seejanwork’s Soho containers or IKEA’s Grundtal containers). Below the rail system, install a rod and a roll of craft paper so your children can help themselves.

STEP THREE: Track Comings & Goings
A command center is also the place to keep abreast of your family’s commitments. Make room for a large monthly calendar. Code it by assigning a different colored marker to each person. Below the calendar, mount mini dry erase boards (one per family member) for listing chores or leaving messages.

Step Four : Location, Location, Location
Put your command center in a place that’s both central and easily accessible. If it’s tucked too far away, it won’t use be used. Be creative. If you have a stairwell adjacent to the kitchen, consider mounting your in boxes and calendars there. Use the back wall of the garage if you don’t have space inside your home. Whatever location you choose, don’t overcrowd it. The point is to free up surfaces and use the vertical space in your home to its fullest advantage. There are many wall mounted organizational products available, so customize your command center according to your needs.

OPTIONS FOR WALL MOUNTED ORGANIZERS
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• Staples sells mesh in boxes in all shapes and sizes. (http://www.staples.com)
• The mesh wall bureau from City Living is more compact than a rail system. (http://www.citylivingstores.com)
• Living Comforts – wooden in boxes have two sections, clear dividers and a key holder. (http://www.livingcomforts.com)
• Ergo’s ultra-modern wall mounted system includes a mail sorter and a hanging file folder. (http://www.ergoindemand.com)
• Pottery Barn’s stylish daily system offers white boards, calendars, corkboards and file holders that can be mixed and matched. (http://www.potterybarn.com)
• The pocket-strip wall organizer by See Jane Work holds everything from calculators to clipboards. (http://www.seejanework.com)
• The Container Store’s silver mesh mail sorter works like an in box. (http://www.containerstore.com)
• Don’t limit yourself to office organization products: Organize.com’s wall mounted kitchen products can be used for office supplies, as can IKEA’s Forjoha cabinets and Bygel cutlery caddy. (http://www.ikea.com)

 

½ cup liquid starch

2 cups rock salt

½ cup glue with food color

 

Mix and create 3D structures on cardboard.

¾ cup flour

½ cup corn flour

½ cup salt

Powder Paint

3/8 cup warm water

 

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Add water gradually until mix. Can be kneaded into a stiff dough. To reduce stickiness dust with dry flour. Pierce each bead with a tooth pick or large blunt needle and allow to dry for a few days. Holes may need to be re-punched before stringing. Paint if desired. Coating beads with clear gloss enamel brings out the color.