sprout

Spring: tissue paper flowers

I love spring. Here in LA, it's usually not too hot yet, the skies are often clear with a slight breeze and the light is clear and bright.

Here's a craft that's way too old for my little one but is fun for older kids and grown-ups. Toddlers can get in on the action too though by choosing paper colors.

You'll need a bunch of tissue paper in different colors, lots of pipe cleaners and scissors. Each flower requires 5 to 6 pieces of tissue paper depending on your preference and one pipe cleaner. Unless you want to make these giant flowers, cut each piece of tissue paper down to about 10 x 14". Lay 5 or 6 sheets of paper on top of each other in a stack and fold them accordion style (make sure to keep it all even). Tie in the middle with a pipe cleaner. Cut the ends of the paper so that they are rounded or pointed. Pull each layer of paper up to "fluff" and fill in the flower. Enjoy!

99 cent store

The other day, my mini and I didn't have anything to do so we went over to the 99 cent store. It was a kid-friendly bonanza. For $4 we got a red plastic fireman's helmet, a yellow plastic construction hat, 2 bunches of colored tissue paper and some clear contact paper. My little one was enthralled with all the junk they keep in those low bins. We probably killed 30 minutes of that late afternoon, post-nap dead zone in there. Afterwards we came home, tore apart some tissue paper and stuck it between contact paper. Now I have a few lovely pastel colored welcome to spring suncatchers (add a construction paper border and voila, Easter cards for the grandparents) and my mini has two new costumes to add to her growing pile of dress up clothes. Thank you 99 cent store - you rock!

Free 411

I don't like watching or listening to ads in order to get to content (can I tell you how much I love our DVR?), but I think I hate paying Verizon $1.25 to get a number more. So I've now welcomed 800-FREE-411 into my life. Yeah you have to listen to an ad first, but with traffic and the radio, frankly, I don't really notice. And did I mention, it's free?

Caterpillars & Butterflies

The Kidspace Museum  in Pasadena has just started their annual Caterpillar Adoption Days. For $4, you get a Painted Lady caterpillar and full color instructions on how to take care of it. Though Baby Girl is just a toddler, she's been showing her caterpillar to everyone who comes over as well as the picture of what it'll look like once it becomes a butterfly. I don't think she really gets the whole caterpillar/chrysalis/butterfly thing, but if she gets nothing else out of this experience, she's learned how to say caterpillar.

If building a butterfly house sounds like more fun than you have time for, you can order a butterfly pavilion from Amazon (comes with free caterpillars).