Favorite Posts in my Reader This Week

Here lately I have been very busy.  I have also been very tired.  I haven’t had any “me” time.  When I have had any time free, I’ve spent it cleaning and doing other chores.  Today, I actually sat down and read blogs in my reader.  I wanted to share some of my faves today.  I hope you’ll excuse the lack of pictures and that the url’s aren’t linked to the pages.  Perhaps I’ll get to it this weekend…again…just perhaps. 

Favorite Blogland Projects in my Reader this week

• ABC and 123 had a GREAT theme this week of parent made books. The blog introduced me to the This Little Project blog and their project for little books. The tutorial is great! I can’t wait to make these little books for all my themes! Love, love, love this project! (Also loved the This Little Project Blog enough to put it into my already overflowing blog reader list).Through the ABC and 123 blog I found a second blog that I just adore called The Home Teacher. It is a FANTASTIC site. Here is the link to The Home Teacher: http://thehometeacher.blogspot.com/search/label/mommymadebook, The Little Project Blog is here http://thislittleproject.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-make-book-from-one-piece-of.html, and ABC and 123 is here: http://abcand123learning.blogspot.com/2009/08/kid-and-parent-made-books.html. I also really liked the idea of card books from A Mommy’s Adventure that the ABC and 123 blog mentioned. This blog was already in my reader. Click here to go there: http://amommysadventures.blogspot.com/2009/03/unplugged-project-books.html. I also liked the idea of using plastic bags to make a book. If something has too many steps, like using contact paper on several pages…I usually just skip it! This I can do! After this post, I definitely want to make some more books. I had made some a while back, but my little one didn’t seem to like them as much and they never made it off the bookshelf. I may try again and I’ll post the results of if she grows to like them…
• I really like the idea of a Schultüte that is talked about on the Once upon a Holiday blog at http://www.alphamom.com/holiday/2009/08/make_a_schultute_for_your_firs.php
• Wee Folk Art has a very cute pattern for a mouse bookmark. I think I’ll make some of these for Christmas. The link is http://weefolkart.com/?q=node/380.
• From the Three Plus Two Blog I found out that one can watch Nova Episodes online. See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/
• Thrify Décor Chick reminds me that I’ve been wanting to make something with chalkboard paint. Isn’t this the cutest? See http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-chalkboard-obsession.html
• Chasing Cheerios post reminded me that I’ve been wanting to do painting with bubbles. See http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/2009/07/painting-with-bubbles.html
• I LOVE the on the go dollhouse that Chasing Cheerios talks about. She got the idea from here: http://www.cookiemag.com/magazine/blogs/nesting/2008/02/diy-dollhouse.html

• ABC and 123 blog had some fantastic ocean themed posts. A post from the IzzieMacandMe blog reminded me that I’ve been wanting to make a fishing game with the rod being made out of a wooden spoon, yarn, and a magnet. Here’s the link: http://izziemacandme.blogspot.com/search/label/Beach%20Theme. My favorite part is making the little one identify the fish letter and if they get it wrong, throwing it back. This activity is a goal of mine for this week. I love arts and crofts ocean theme puzzles and will definitely make this type of puzzle in the future. Here’s the link: http://artsandcrofts.blogspot.com/search/label/Ocean. My little girl saw the fish pattern blocks at http://explorations-in-learning.blogspot.com/2009/04/fish-pattern-blocks.html and insisted doing it immediately! This is another blog that I read on a regular basis. I also really liked the ocean in a bag activity at http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/make-ocean-in-bag.html and it is on my to-do list.
• 1+1+1=1 posted about another blog at http://iheartfrutopia.blogspot.com/2009/08/craftivities-speaking-of-feelings.html that has a chart of feelings. As a therapist, as you can imagine I LOVE this activity and will be making it immediately.
• A Mommy’s Adventure found a great idea on another blog where you use hot gluegun pictures for rubbings. We will probably do this one today!
• ABC123 has a big post about boat themes. Some of my favorite contributions include http://www.filefolderfun.com/KindergartenScience.html, which has file folder games. This site http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.php?BenchmarkID=4&DocID=164 has fun sink/float activities. I was excited to find out about Preschool Post, which has free Christian preschool curriculum at http://www.preschoolpost.com/JuneBoats.html.
• I think Chasing Cheerio’s Family Reunion is a great idea and will use it at the next get together. Read about it here: http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/2009/08/family-reunion-activity.html
• Explorations has a great Watermelon seed counting game at http://explorations-in-learning.blogspot.com/2009/07/watermelon-seed-counting-game.html. Her bug racing game also looks so cute and fun! A little homemade bug that rolls down a ramp because it has a marble underneath. Any kid would love this! See http://explorations-in-learning.blogspot.com/2009/07/bug-racers.html. I also liked her numeral writing post a lot. I hadn’t heard about writing numerals in green and purple and love that idea. It makes a lot of sense.
• GreenMama’s 28 days of You and Me is such a fantastic idea. She came up with the idea as a way to connect with her daughter before giving birth to another child. My favorites that I read this week included yoga, her goodwill day, making …See http://www.greenmamma.org/blog/2009/08/05/days-of-you-and-me-day-29-yoga/
• I enjoyed Let’s Explore personal gift ideas post. See http://www.google.com/reader/view/?hl=en&tab=wy#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Flets-explore.typepad.com%2Fweblog%2Fatom.xml
• I found out Teaching My Little Bookworm is doing Bible Story Sunday’s. We’ll definitely have to join in on this. See her post about Joseph and his Colorful Coat at http://lettersnumbersandbooksohmy.blogspot.com/2009/08/bible-story-sunday-joseph-and-his.html
• My Montessori Journey shared some of her Montessori shelves. I really like the screwdriver board and want to figure out how to make it. It also reminds me that I’ve had a pegboard on my wishlist forever and need to remember to get one. Zhana would love it. I love how she has month bins (see http://mymontessorijourney.typepad.com/my_montessori_journey/2009/08/gettin-goin.html) this would really make my organization easier.
• Nature’s Way Learning talks about their caterpillar to butterfly kit. Zhana would love this!! See http://mymontessorijourney.typepad.com/my_montessori_journey/2009/08/gettin-goin.html.
• I adore No Time for Flashcards Nature Jar Idea at http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/05/put-lid-on-it.html. Basically go on a nature walk and put the objects in a jar on top of a layer of sand. I also really like her bottle top stamp idea using foam cutouts on a jar lid.
• I like the One Little, Two Little Montessori activity of hanging clothes. This would be quick, easy, and fun. See http://onelittletwolittle.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/hanging-clothes/
• I found a horse toy pattern I plan to make. I am not a good sewer but I realized Zhana loves horses and stuffed animals, but doesn’t have a stuffed horse. See the pattern here http://simmy.typepad.com/echoesofadream/2007/05/thank_you_so_mu.html. I got the reference to this pattern from the Our Little Nature Nest Blog.
• I love all the toys this mother made at Our Little Nature Nest. I want to have her talents! I hadn’t thought about bringing rocks into the playroom and I know Zhana would love them. However, I fear what would happen if she had a tantrum and threw them. Her castle blocks are fantastic!!! She also gives a link to adorable dollhouse size pies made from felt. Cutest little pies ever, ever, ever! See http://whimsy-girl.blogspot.com/2008/09/wee-pie-tutorial.html. Here’s the link to Our Little Nature Nest: http://naturenest.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/little-felt-horse-or-unicorn-pattern/
• Ramblings of a Crazy Woman has some adorable crafts as always. My favorite that I read this week is her flip flop flyswatter at http://jennwa.blogspot.com/2009/08/flip-flop-fly-swatter.html,
• I love Teaching Handwork blog. I just wish there were preschool handwork items. She breaks down what handwork each grade will be learning at http://teachinghandwork.blogspot.com/2009/07/handwork-curriculum-this-year.html
• I really want the book Good Manners discussed at The Magic Onions at http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/2009/08/favourite-book.html. I also want to make the fairy crown she blogged about but alas Zhana is too young to braid. Her nest barrettes are the cutest ever! I hope she offers them in her Etsy store. http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/2009/08/needle-felting-nest-barrettes.html. I’m very excited about her new Nature Table Friday and can’t wait to check out all the links at http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/2009/07/fridays-nature-table_31.html. The acorn and bark men are a really neat idea that we’ll make soon. See http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-make-acorn-man.html.
• The Parenting Passageway has a post Waldorf Kindergarten. I’ll be teaching Zhana the song listed here. She shared a great site-www.mainlesson.com. The Parenting Passageway is at http://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/08/06/start-now/.
• Through the Precious Mind Blog I found out about a web site devoted to the Work Box System at http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dwstdgn_447mphsmf8&revision=_latest. The basic structure of the program is that your child has 12 boxes on a rack. Each box holds an item or task to be completed. Your child works through each box and puts the box away as they finish the task or item. This visually allows your child to see how much work they have left to do for the day. There are several workbox ideas on this site. As time permits I’ll definitely be looking at this site more closely.
• Tatortots and Jello gives instructions on how to make a Cooke Sheet Calendar. http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2009/08/tutorial-how-to-make-cookie-sheet.html. Alas, I do not think I have the patience.
• The Home Teacher gives a tutorial on turning a crib sheet into a parachute. See http://thehometeacher.blogspot.com/2009/08/activity-taken-from-toddlertoddler.html
• This Little Project has such a unique idea-recycling the holed bags that fruit come in to a lacing project. See http://thislittleproject.blogspot.com/2009/08/from-invention-box-recycled-stitching.html; I love her idea of making birdhouses into a village at http://thislittleproject.blogspot.com/2009/07/store-for-village.html.