Fluffy Stuff

IMG_0756

Most moms are going to think that I’m absolutely nutso for doing this sensory bin project in my house, but honestly it looks worse than it actually was.

It feels like it has been raining in Rochester forever and for a little girl who likes nothing more than to be outside; pouring rainy days are torturous. After yesterdays full day of shopping, Reagan was in desperate need of something fun and messy!

I pinned this Fluffy Stuff weeks ago and have been wanting to try it with Reagan. I added the ingredients to yesterday’s shopping list and today we fluffed it out!

Ingredients

20130611-141423.jpg2 boxes of corn starch

1 can of shaving cream

Materials

(I added different ‘tools’ to the mix as we played. Below is everything that we used. You definitely don’t have to use all or any of the ‘tools’ that we used.)

towel

large bin

wooden spoon with long handle

potato masher

ladle

plastic drinking cups

Measuring dish with handle

muffin tin

plastic Ritz cheese container with top

play mobile people

small plastic bowls

large plastic bowl

plastic cookie cutters

plastic rolling-pin

Directions

Place large towel on floor.  In a large bin or bucket pour two boxes of Corn Starch.

IMG_0697IMG_0707

Add in shaving cream and continuously stir.  We didn’t end up using the entire can.  I just kept adding until it reached a consistency that we were happy with.

IMG_0714IMG_0710

I kept introducing new ‘tools’ as Reagan became uninterested in the ones that she was using.  I didn’t take anything away, and she began to find new uses for each tool.

IMG_0732IMG_0742IMG_0746IMG_0751IMG_0769IMG_0767IMG_0791IMG_0786IMG_0793IMG_0801

The fluff is super soft and smells fabulous…like Barbasol!

After playing with the fluff for a while it turned into a consistency that was able to be somewhat molded.  With no cue from me, Reagan began singing Frosty the Snowman…love that she was reminded of SNOW!!

IMG_0778IMG_0771

Clean up was super easy…seriously…it was. We filled the sink with soap and water to clean all of the ‘tools’, I emptied the pink bin into the kitchen trash, folded in the sides of the towel, took it outside and shook it into the outside garbage.  The mess totally depends on how out of control you let the activity get.  I constantly reminded Reagan to stay on the towel and she did a pretty excellent job doing so.  Her pjs came off at the sink and went straight to the laundry basket.  As far as I know; corn starch and shaving cream are not harmful to clothing…AS FAR AS I KNOW!

IMG_0810IMG_0803IMG_0806IMG_0811

This was the longest activity thus far; lasting about an hour and five minutes from start to finish, including Reagan washing the ‘tools’ that she used.  Smaller batches can obviously be made by reducing the ingredient amount.  This could be an excellent table activity; using only half a box of corn starch.

 

 

Floral Print Jeans

IMG_0321
I’m totally in love with floral print pants for toddler’s. They seem to be a go to piece for Reagan these past few weeks as this Rochester weather figures itself out. Jeans weather is my ultimate favorite.  I love a comfy pair of jeans paired with a t-shirt, a light sweater and sandals. (The lovely bruise is a result of a deck spill at Ev’s house… this poor girls head sure does always hit the ground first…97 percentile or greater…boom!)

IMG_0327IMG_0334

Janie and Jack has several precious and super soft cotton t-shirts (similar)

Ralph Lauren’s Cotton Sweaters are fabulous and wash really well (similar)

Gap’s floral print jeans are my favorite (similar)

Old Navy Flip Flops are super cute and come in several different colors

OPI Nail Polish in Grand Canyon Sunset

Catch That Drip!

IMG_0045

Genius! Seriously…I can’t even count the number of shirts that this could have saved!  What a fantastic idea that I came across somewhere in the Pinterest World!

Materials

IMG_0479

Popsicle

Scissors or something to cut a slit

Muffin cup

Directions

Cut a small slit, the size of the popsicle stick, in the center of the muffin cup.

IMG_0482

Slide popsicle stick through slit.

IMG_0048

Ta Da! Drip catcher!  We have only tried this with paper muffin cups, but I’m sure the tin ones would work fabulously too!

IMG_0046IMG_0052

We made our Popsicles with watered down Naked, Green Machine Juice Smoothie!

20130606-131341.jpg

Slime Time!

IMG_0279I’ve been wanting to make slime with Reagan for a while now.  However, I either always forget to pick up Borax when I’m at the grocery or get so frustrated in the cleaning aisle because (a) I have no idea what I’m looking for and (b) there seems to never be anyone around to ask for help.  Reagan and I lucked out yesterday while at the grocery and got ourselves some Borax!  A sweet older woman who was stocking shelves showed us where it was and then told us how it was a popular cleaning product when she was Reagan’s age.  She remembered her mother using it to clean the cloth diapers that her and her siblings wore.  She was super sweet and thanked us for the memories.  The commercials (1 & 2) are fabulous.  With this gigantic box of Borax, I better start finding some uses for it around the house.  I mean, check out that Mule Team on the front of the box…this stuff must be AMAZING!!

So now that we had our Borax, we were ready to make some slime!

Materials

IMG_0140

4 oz bottle of glue

1/8 cup of water

1/2 tablespoon Borax

Bowl for mixing

Spoon/Spatula for stirring

Food Coloring – optional

Directions

Run tap to get hot water.  Remove top of glue bottle and hold glue bottle under tap and allow for hot water to fill empty space at the top of the glue bottle.  Obviously, you want the tap running slowly.

IMG_0265

Return cap to top of bottle and shake.

IMG_0270

In a small bowl combine the water, Borax and glue. Continuously stir until combine.

IMG_0273IMG_0285IMG_0288

Our slime turned out to be more of a silly putty texture than a slime texture.  I was totally picturing the final product being something ooey and gooey, kinda like the Ghost Buster Slime…which this turned out to be nothing like…bummer.  The putty texture was interesting and was one that Reagan had never felt before.  She really enjoyed the new texture and had fun cutting off pieces, rolling them into balls and serving them for us as a snack!

IMG_0291IMG_0297IMG_0302

After she was done playing, I stored the slime…putty in a plastic zip lock bag.  I’m not sure how well it will keep, but it doesn’t hurt to try.  With the size of the Borax box that we got, it was the only size they had, we can make putty for the entire neighborhood.

IMG_0307

Time Flies

20130530-120658.jpg

First day of summer camp?!? Seriously, how did this happen?? He’s just my little baby :(. Big H started June Bugs camp this morning at the preschool he will be attending in the fall. He doesn’t always do well around new people and was telling me the whole ride there that he wanted me to stay with him. Luckily two of his little buddies were in his class and their moms made sure to have them there a little early to make Big H more comfortable. He was immediately distracted by some toy boats and didn’t even want to give me a hug goodbye. Bittersweet for sure. Next thing I know we will be dropping him off at college :(. He had so much fun and didn’t want to leave when I came to pick him up. It’s going to be a fun summer!