Busy Toddler Activities

Back again for another week of One Year and Beyond Link-up. Today's topic is Busy Toddler Activities. I'm a working Mom so I don't have to come up with nearly as many busy activities to take up time before lunch, after lunch, before nap time, after nap time till Daddy gets home....you get it, there's lots of time to fill in a day.

This activity is super easy and the kids LOVED it. This is really good for a small playdate everyone was totally involved and had a blast. What is it? Tracing themselves! Life size, of course! I bought the roll of paper at Home Goods for maybe $6?

 

 

Another fun kid activity we like to do is bake. It takes up a hour or so, and Baby Fox totally gets into it, every single time. Could be that he likes to lick the beaters when we're done and scrap the bowl, haha. Sugar cookies are the best, cause you have to roll out the dough and they get to make fun shapes.

 This last one we did this week. Baby Fox is really into numbers and asked if we could get some flash cards. Cue me thinking, hey we can make those!

All you really need is a piece of paper, some stickers and some writing utensil. 

First you have to cut your paper, I used a 12 x12 paper and cut it into 16 squares. Baby Fox loved helping to do the cutting.

Here's what you get in the end. In hind site maybe I should have cut them a little bigger? But this worked too.  

 

We used these stamps, and some random stickers we found in his craft box (we started with this kit and then as he uses stuff we replace it with other things)

  After I took this picture, I decided that I wanted to write the number in the upper right hand corner and then let him try and write the number.  

As you can see after I wrote the number I drew little arrows to help him know how to make the number. As you can see he did #1 himself already.

Yep I think we might have a lefty on our hands

 

On the back we put stickers and stamps with how many was on the other side. That way we could use both sides of the flash cards, one side was for counting, the other side of number recognition.  We did this project over the course of two days. You could also do this for the alphabet, maybe work on a few letters a week and work your way up to the whole alphabet. Put the letter on one side and then do a picture of something on the other.

Some other things I've heard about that sounds fun are sensory boxes, homemade playdough, and this slime recipe seem super fun too!
What are some busy toddler activities you do? I'd love to hear about them!    What are you favorite toddler busy bags or activities?  Check out the other mama's blogs for their ideas.  And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this topic. 

  In the difficulty of motherhood, it's so important to find other mamas to relate to.  Toddlers can be a handful and leave you wondering what to do next.  This series is here to help you navigate through toddlerhood while being able to relate to other mamas going through the same thing.  We may not always know what we are doing but we give it our best shot anyway.  Come back each week to check out our new topic and read along with the other hosts of our One Year and Beyond series!  

The Not Quite Military Wife// Like a Morning Cup of Coffee//  Meet the Sullivan's

 From Here to Eternity//  Pig and Dac//   Everyday Love

A Cowboy's Life// Life of Faith//  Foxy's Domestic Side//  My Delicious Adventure

Oct 2:     Toddler Diaper Bag Essentials 

Oct 9:     Learning to love your post-pregnancy body

Oct 16:   Busy Toddler Activities

Oct 23:   Keeping in Shape While Caring for a Toddler

Oct 30:   Sick Day Tips

Nov 6:    How to Not Lose Your Patience with your Toddler

Nov 13:  Favorite Toddler Outings

An InLinkz Link-up

Fall Challenge Week 1

Here we go again! Another round with Alison for the Fall Challenge. I've previously done the Spring and Summer Challenge and have loved both of them! Looking forward to seeing some old friends and meeting new ones!

 As always we get the first outfit on Sunday evening, so I only have two outfits for you today.

Day 1

I was unsure of the which color booties to wear, so here is the black ones:

Shirt - Ann Taylor Loft (old), Boyfriend Jeans - Old Navy, Black Booties - Nordstroms, Necklace - Jane.com

 and the gray ones:


Which do you like better?

Grey Booties - Target

 

I was supposed to have a tassle necklace, but I had bought one last year and when I put it on Mr. said...that looks like that thing you pull back your drapes with. Looks like you took it from your Mom's house and put it around your neck, suffice to say it went back and I probably won't buy one again, lol! I still really like them, but Mr. doesn't so...you know he's the one looking at me.

Day 2

Next up, it's still relatively warm where I live, so the big plaid scarf I bought was totally out of the question, as was the riding boots and the long sleeve tee.

Shirt - Target, Pants - Ann Taylor Loft (only $35 right now!), Jacket - Nordstroms (old), Shoes - DSW, Scarf - Nordstroms (old)

The lip gloss I'm wearing is actually a trade from Vanessa from X-tremely V, we decided that we got the wrong colors, so we swapped. I gave her my really light pink shade and she sent me this gorgeous dark wine color. My mom tried to steal it it's so pretty. So thanks Vanessa for swapping!

Don't forget about my Lash Party I'm having, okay really it's for all Younique products, but I've only tried the 3D Fiber Lashes. If you ever thought fake lashes were too complicated and want longer lashes, you HAVE to get this, seriously! Best stuff ever, and I am not exaggerating!
I have no lashes and this stuff really makes a huge difference.

I'm linking up with some fellow Fall Challengers, so take a peek at what they put together. It's so awesome to see people's different takes on the same outfit.

Deena | Christy | Jordan | Carrie C. | Shaunacey | Danielle | Beth | Joy | Sarah | 

Leslie | Katie | Jennifer | Carrie M. | Lisa | Sheila | Lana | Lauren | Anna | Alison

 also Linking up with Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, The Pleated Poppy, Tucker Up 

Mini Fox's 1st Birthday Lady Bug Party

I just realized that I never showed you pictures of Mini Fox's birthday party! So here they are. I wish I had gotten more pictures of us with people at the party, actually any pictures of people at the party, LOL. Why does that always happen? Next year, it will NOT happen! I say that now, but it probably won't happen, who are we kidding.

So let's get started. I can't remember a time that I didn't love lady bugs. My mom always gave me lady bug things...case in point, my desk at work..

She gave these to me when I was college, and they have just sort of followed me from job to job. Actually the ladybug on my monitor, came on a stick in a flower arrangement my mom sent to me, and I took it off the stick. I used to have a ladybug keychain, but the leather strap finally broke and I had to throw it away, Baby Fox had eaten the legs off anyway...literally, when he was maybe 18 months I had given him my keys to occupy him while shopping and he had something in his mouth and I asked him what it was and he said a bug..yep, he ripped those legs off and was chewing on them, ew.


Anyway, back to the party. I knew when we had a girl that I wanted to do a Ladybug themed party. Then I saw this tutorial, and knew it was meant to be :)




Here's my finished project, I actually made enough to give everyone a set of these...

Then I made these cute little flower things too. I originally made these to put on a headband with some feathers, and I did, but Mini Fox suddenly went through a no headband phase and that dream went out the window.

The best picture I could get when I made the headband with the Marabou Puffs. It really was cute, but she just wasn't going to keep it on her head. I ended up giving it to a friend.

I knew that we were going to have some boys coming too, and they can't take home a hair thing, so I made some goodie bags for everyone to take and then some barrettes for those that wanted them too.
The goodie bags, just make a little tag up, printed it out and used those candy bags from Micheal's, looks really nice and people don't even realize I made them.

On my ladybug internet search, I randomly came across this wreath...I was NOT going to pay $45 for it, so I figured out how to do it myself. I sort of followed this tutorial (I just love her southern accent), but when I followed her tutorial my wreath was just not full enough, and the red deco mesh (can buy at Hobby Lobby for $9.99, but I used a 40% of coupon, so it was $6) was a little see through, so I could still see my wire wreath underneath. After I got done doing it exactly like the tutorial, I just cut off longer strips and randomly tucked them in to make the wreath more full. Yes I cheated like that. I cut out felt circles, painted a styrofoam ball black and added some black pipe cleaners, glue gunned everything together and done. FYI: The head: I didn't have enough black paint, so really only the part you see is black...haha, again I cheated.

I just love the way it came out, better than I thought it would! Considering I spent maybe $10 on it, much better than the $45 they were going to charge me to buy it on Etsy.

Onto the set up:

The lighting was terrible, so it was hard to get a picture, and people were about to show up, so I quickly snapped these...I always do this!

Anyway, the ladybug wings were bought at Dollar Tree, for..you guessed it a dollar. The flowers and ladybugs on the windows I used my Cricut. I love that thing! If you look out the window to the right, see those lanterns? I bought those off of Oriental Trading Company, that place is a gold mine!

 

I used the circuit to cut out the ladybugs and flowers for the banner.

Up close to the food table:

I wanted to do something lightish and picnic'y and Chicken Salad Croissants seemed to fit the bill, plus everyone LOVES them.

I actually bought from a Party Resale group on Facebook, these frames, I'm not sure how she used them, but I quickly whipped up these pictures to put in them. I thought they turned out great. If you want the inserts, just email me and I'll send it over to you, blank of course, so that you can put whatever you want in there. I made them up, then printed them off at Costco.

I used this Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe.

This Caesar Pasta Salad, while I couldn't eat it, everyone said it was really good. I just wish I had some more salad dressing...I made a double batch and could have really used 2.5 bottles of dressing.

This Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

This Chicken Salad Recipe.

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 A little something for the kids, although most of the kid ate everything but these, so next time I probably won't get these, or maybe get one box, instead of two.

There were 3 of these boxes in the stuff that I bought off of the resale group, I put a vase inside, and then did our own flower arrangements. When I say I, I really mean my sister put them together.

And I also got the monthly banner from her too. Of course using my own pictures. I have no idea where she put this at her party because it was LONG, I actually had to shorten the length between the pictures...I didn't have a wall long enough for it...but I think it turned out GREAT here.

A really good friend made the cake for us! Can you believe it? It turned out BETTER than I could have imagined. She doesn't do this for a living, just for fun. When she said she wanted to make a cake, I said great! Do what you want. And this is what she came up with. Perfect right? We're so lucky to have such talented friends.

 I wish her shirt was pulled down, but what can ya do? It's still cute. Notice the ladybug clips in her hair, so cute! Totally finishes the cute outfit.

We took the top layer off for her smash cake...Oh and I made the tulle skirt for her high chair and attached it using the Command Hooks.  Not sure how her hair came out, but it ended up in one ponytail with a ladybug.

So serious

Love how all three of us are blowing out the candle.

We did a practice run with a cupcake on her actual birthday a few days prior, we thought she would dig right in...she just stared at it...so Mr. helped her out a little.

She continued to stare so we shoved her hands in it...I just wanted one of those messy pictures where cake is everywhere...

Not so sure about this cake stuff...

Yep, don't like it, don't like it!

Get it off!

 

NOW!!!!!

Such a classic 1st birthday picture, love it!

 A picture with my Mom

One of the only pictures I have with someone that came to the party...doh!

I love this picture because Baby Fox has his vampire teeth in...

and I love this picture, because Mr. is trying to get Mini Fox to eat the cake...open wide!

I think the party was a huge success and at the end I ended up selling everything to someone else, so it was off my hands and I had some change in my pocket, can't beat that! You should see if you have a party resale facebook group in your area, you can get some great stuff on there, and sell your stuff when you're done. Win-win.

Linking up with Tip Me Tuesday, Too Cute Tuesday, Link Party Palooza, Take a Look Tuesday and Handmade Tuesdays