Crafty Kids: Home Depot Kids Workshop

Kids and Crafts go hand in hand. It gives them ways to explore things beyond reality. It lets their imagination go far and beyond what we think they could, and ofcourse it is a lot of fun for both parents and kids. To top that off, it is a time to bond with your kid and have a good family time.

With that in mind, I do let my daughters do a lot of craft at home and of course they do plenty in schools too. However one of my fav places to go to is Home Depot Kids Workshops. They have special themed kids workshops, first Saturday of the month, and we always look forward to it. I sign up as soon as we are done with one. All you do is sign-up and show up at home depot at 9:00 am. They will take care of the rest. At the end you get to take home the craft you built, a certificate and a badge(a little token to show-off)

 I have had great experiences there as they try to accommodate all the kids that show up. The workshops are theme based, and they will have something for all the kids to work on even if they run out of the original themed craft materials. One shutout to Home Depot for doing it, and making all the kids excited to learn and explore.

PS: We made out Fathers Day Trophy here :)

Fun Summer Reading

Summer is a time when kids are off School for a longer duration, and finding the right thing to do is always a challenge to all parents. I tired to do some research and see what is available out there for reading as I already want kids to read and be read and how much it helps them to learn and grow. I signed all 4 kids at home, that includes a pre-schooler, 1st grader and 6th grader to READ FOR THE WIN. For kids who like to read, its fun to read and win something for reading, but I liked the way this program caters to pre-schoolers too. All you have to do is fun actives with your Pre-schooler like reading, dancing, walking, drawing and earn points for doing so. It just tells us how small things make the biggest difference in life.

My kids are already having fun reading, have you signed up yet for your kids @READ FOR THE WIN.

Buying Guide to a New Mommy

Being is new mom is exciting, but at the same time it can be overwhelming and exhausting if things just don't go as planned. You are meeting your baby for the first time, and nothing goes as planned. However getting ready early always helps and is of course better than not being prepared at all. I did put down the list of baby items , but there are some essentials for moms too,  and I have listed them below. In any case ENJOY all you can, as everyday pass by and they grow up too fast.

Nishka @5days

1. breastpump - Get your free one from the insurance company
2. Wirefree Nursing Bra - feel free to do your own research on what kind you like, but definitely all cotton and wirefree is the way to go.
3. Lanisoh nipple cream - This is a must for all nursing moms.
4. Cranberry Juice - Stock up on these, and this will help with probable UTI.
5. Hydration bottle - Fill with water all day/night
6. Pain management medicine - you will get some when you leave the doctors office after baby birth, but have some in handy for all other pains that may come along
7. Loose fit cotton pyjamas

Nice to haves

1. Nursing pads - These come as washable and none washable ones, pick per you convenience. It also depends on how much 
2. Rocking Chair - This is really handy for mommy to use it when nursing, taking a relaxing nap or can also be used by daddy to rock baby to sleep :)
   
   

   

   Navya @2days
   
   
   

3 days of chilled summer - DIY popsicles

All kids LOVE popsicles anytime of year, but my mantra is 1 popsicle a day the entire Summer. 

Happy kids = Happy Mom. 

Now, let me come back to a thought, and how scared every mom is thinking about what goes in the food her kid eats, The same applies to store bought popscicles. I do not like what goes in it, colors, natural favor(not sure what it is), preservatives and on goes the list. Here is an easy way to get around that.

Get some mold from any store. Mine is from a baby shower favor, and I am making tremendous use of it. Blend the ingredients, the pictures below will have the ingredients. and you will not believe how flavorful they are with so little in them. Try with any fruits you have at home, and they work equally well.

Do comment below if you have tried it, and love any specific flavor that you have come up with.

Ingredients: Mango pulp extracted at home

Ingredients: Cook Khuwa and milk with brown sugar,
Add rasins and shredded coconut

Ingredients: Banana, Pineapple

ENJOY!!!!!

DYI bracelets for kids

I am always in the lookout for something fun for my daughters, and here is something that can be enjoyed while they make, and gift it to a special friend. For kids, they have lots of best friends meaning best one at school, at home, in the community, and the list goes on. These make cute gifts that can be given on birthdays, graduation, play date, or any occasion to your kids friends.

All you need is:

- Elastic thread, I bought mine at walmart, but all craft and dollar stores have them too.

- Lots of beads, could be wooden, plastic or anything. Mine is from Melissa-Doug-Wooden-Stringing-Bead-Kit

Busy working on the bracelet

A little gift for a special fren

DIY kit for Mothers Day or माता तीर्थ औशी

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." - Osho

Mothers day for everyone around the world  and Mothers day for Nepalese (आमाको मुख हेर्ने दिन  or माता तीर्थ औशी) was something I was looking forward to for a while. They both fell on the same weekend, and my mom's arrival from Nepal was also scheduled for the same time, which means I wanted it to be a special celebration.

Mothers are so special that anything you give is still less than what all moms have given us. Even with that at the back of my head for weeks and days, something came to my mind.  I had a bunch of things that I wanted to give her, so I planned to create a DIY basket with all the stuffs I wanted to put in. When you cannot decide on one thing to gift, that's the best way to go.

My hunt for a handmade bamboo basket did not go well, so I settled with a big green plastic bowl. I bought some fruits as that is what we get for moms in traditional Nepali way, and then some body lotion, body spray, energy bars, 2 coffee mugs(one for ama and one for bua) with customized texts, a photo frame and a jewelry set.

A big basket and some cello sheet with a fancy ribbon is all I needed next. I
just felt happier to put together all the stuff I wanted to give and make it a meaningful one. Try making your own for any occasion and see how happy your loved ones are.

Excited to go see Ama after the prep

Enjoying Tea in customized text cups

Meaningful mothers day for me

 I had a wonderful and blessed day, and hope you too did. Ending it with this quote
“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” 

The first buying guide to a New Baby

Every baby is special, and every parent wants to get ready to meet their baby in all special ways they can. Getting ready with all the essentials for a new born, as well as for the mom is something that new parents plan for a long time. Making the list, doing a lot of research and buying them is an exciting process. However, it can sometimes be overwhelming when the list gets longer with multiple options, we all know how many options a single item has now a day...thanks to the online shopping experience. 

I have put together the list of must haves as well as nice to haves to make your shopping exciting. Feel free to modify and use it for your baby's arrival shopping, by adding your own touch in your own special way. You can also create your baby registry using this shopping guide.

Happy Shopping!!

Must-haves 

1. carseat + stroller = Travel System, there are a million option, and will let you do the homework.
2. breastpump - Buy one or get your free one from the insurance company.
3. nipple cream
4. Bottle small and large
5. Bottle cleaning brush
6. Bottle Dryer
7. Bottle steamer and Sterilizer
8. Crib
9. mattress
10. Fitted Sheet and extras(quilt and dust ruffles are nice to have)
11. bath tub
12. humidifier
13. swing 
14. rocker
15. Boppy Pillow
16. water proof changing pad
17. daiper 
18. wipes
19. daiper bag, any large size handbag with multi organizer works 
20. daiper pail
21. Baby clothes detergent
22. Baby Lotion or Baby Cream
23. Baby Bath  or Baby Wash
24. Baby Oil or any oil that you use and trust it is good for sensitive skin
25. Hand sanitizer
26. Vaseline petroleum jelly
27. Thermometer
28. infant tylnol/children tylnol
29. Nail cutter
30. Clothes 

• onesies 
• trousers
• wash cloth
• mittens
• bathing towel
• bibs 
• hat
• socks
• Blankets - couple of them 

Nice to have 
Snotsucker
Baby monitor
Activity gym
Smart Socks
Musical Mobile
Nursing pads
Milk warmer
Pacifier
Daiper rash cream, vaseline petroleum jelly works equally well