News Taffy

Hello all! I was wondering this past weekend what I'd share with you all today, and wasn't coming up with much. We decorated a bit for fall, went on a ridiculous amount of wagon rides through our neighborhood and read many, many books. I was helping London wash her hands at the sink, when it hit me, I'll do a post on a few of the practical little ideas around our house that makes things easier for the kiddos!

First, I'll share our cup on the faucet, which is why the post idea came to me while washing her hands. We took a plain plastic cup that came from Chuck E Cheese. I used a knife and very carefully cut out the bottom part of the cup. Once it was cut out, I slipped the end of the cup, with the now open side, onto the faucet and pointed down a bit. Tada! The water runs down the cup and extends it several more inches so that London on a stool can easily reach the water without me having to hold her up and get her soap.

Next, I wanted to share an idea I came across online to use the front of our crib. We have one of the cribs that just requires the front off easily for it to be transformed into a toddler bed. Currently, in the season we are in, the front may or may not be on the bed, depending on how many times London has gotten out of bed recently. Because of this, we can't keep it too far in case it needs to go back on. So, it is propped up, out of the way in her room, and her shoes slip inside of it as a holder. For a toddler that can put on her shoes by herself (for the most part), it's perfect to let her see the different choices, and keep them easy to reach.

I also wanted to share London's art display. Not that I don't love my fridge covered in this week's lovelies, but I really like this idea because it also keeps her artwork a little more safe from a little sister. I simply put one piece of ribbon up on her wall and thumb tacked it on each side. I happened to have clothes pins on hand, but clippies or hairbows would work too. I just put each current piece up and rotate them through and they're off the floor, off my fridge, and out of Story's mouth.

Another idea I learned from another mom. I used a cleaning caddy - I don't really know what they're called. It has a handle and storage areas on each side, and mine came with cleaning products my roommates bought our freshman year of college. I washed it out, and then filled it with car friendly things. Both of my parents live in Paragould, so it seems like we're never in the car, or we're there an hour. With this, I have snack containers for each girl with cheerios and dried cranberries, cups of water, kleenex, a small book, a magna doodle, color wonder paper, and a couple of the color wonder markers shoved into the holes on the top. It's nice because it also doubles as a car trash can, and can be easily picked up and taken inside to clean out and refill. It also makes going from my car to my husband's easier. Other ideas for it, depending on your childrens' ages could be sunglasses, cars, games, or clean craft things like noodles and yarn to make necklaces.

The last idea I wanted to share I have no picture for. It was something we had up for awhile, but now that London is older and can climb more safely on a stool, it's no longer needed. I taped ribbon onto her light switch and ran it up and to the right and around a small screw in hook. Then the rest of the long ribbon hung down. She could easily pull the ribbon to turn on her light when needed. I never fixed it to turn off because I didn't exactly want her to be able to, but it was so nice to not have to drop everything to go turn her light on just so she could find her cup or something, especially when I had a new baby.

I hope you enjoyed these little tips and if you have any of your own, please share! I'm always excited to hear of practical things to do with the kids with things I already have on hand.

Until next week,
Heather