1. The holiday season brings joy and wonder, and for many families, that includes the mischievous antics of the Elf on the Shelf. To elevate your Elf on the Shelf game, here are some ingenious tips and tricks that will make the experience even more enchanting.

• Paper Clip Wizardry: When it comes to orchestrating those gravity-defying poses, a simple paper clip can be your secret weapon. Use it strategically to help your elf maintain that perfect mid-air or climbing position. This tiny tool adds a touch of magic to your elf's escapades, leaving your little ones in awe.
• Household Items Turned Props: Get creative with everyday household items to craft imaginative scenes for your elf. Miniature adventures can unfold using items like sugar cubes as building blocks, toothpicks as magic wands, or cotton balls as snowy landscapes. The possibilities are endless, and repurposing household items adds a personal touch to your elf's whimsical world.
• Dollar Tree Delights: For budget-friendly and delightful accessories, look no further than your local Dollar Tree. This treasure trove often has a variety of miniatures, trinkets, and decorations perfect for creating enchanting scenes with your elf. From tiny furniture to festive decorations, Dollar Tree is a goldmine for adding that extra flair to your elf's escapades without breaking the bank.
• Elf Management with Timers: With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to forget to move your elf. Set a daily timer on your phone to remind you when it's time for the elf to embark on its nightly adventures. This simple trick ensures consistency and keeps the excitement alive for your little ones as they eagerly wake up to discover the latest antics of their magical friend.

1. Boo Buns:
Boo Buns are a charming and simple way to add a touch of Halloween magic to your child's hairstyle. Here's how to create this ghostly look:
Materials:

• Hair elastics
• Tulle or white ribbon
• Googly eyes
• Hairbrush

Instructions:

1. Start by brushing your child's hair to remove any tangles.

1. Create two messy buns on each side of the head. Secure them with hair elastics.
2. Take some tulle or white ribbon and wrap it around each bun to create the ghostly effect.
3. Finally, attach googly eyes to each bun to make them look like friendly Halloween ghosts.
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2. Spider Bun:

The Spider Bun is a spooktacular hairstyle that's perfect for adding a creepy-crawly touch to your child's look. Here's how to weave this web:

Materials:

• Black sock or black material
• Pipe cleaners (black or any spooky color)
• Googly eyes
• Hair elastics
• Hairbrush

Instructions:

1. Brush your child's hair to make it smooth and tangle-free.
2. Create a bun by rolling the black sock or material and secure it with a hair elastic.
3. Attach pipe cleaners to the bun to create spider legs. You can bend them to give them a spooky appearance.
4. Glue or attach googly eyes to the bun to make it look like a spider.
5. Make sure to place the spider bun high on the head for the best effect.
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3. Spider Ring Hair:

For a more subtle yet still eerie Halloween hairstyle, try the Spider Ring Hair. This style incorporates plastic spider rings and bubble braids for a creepy-cute look without the need for bobby pins:

Materials:

• Plastic spider rings
• Hair elastics
• Hairbrush

Instructions:

1. Brush your child's hair to detangle and make it smooth.
2. Create bubble braids by securing sections of hair with hair elastics at intervals down the length of the hair.
3. Slide plastic spider rings onto the bubble braids, letting them dangle and crawl through the hair.
4. You can space the spider rings evenly or scatter them randomly for a playful look.

These Halloween hairstyles are sure to make your little ones the stars of the trick-or-treat neighborhood parade. Whether they choose to be friendly ghosts or creepy spiders, these hair ideas will add an extra dose of fun to their Halloween costumes. Don't forget to capture these spooky styles with some photos to cherish the memories for years to come!

Summer Fun Continues: Transforming Leftover Pool Noodles into Kid-Friendly Crafts

As summer draws to a close and the pool toys find their way into storage, don't let those leftover pool noodles go to waste! These colorful and versatile foam tubes can be transformed into exciting crafts that are sure to keep the fun going all year round. In this post, we'll explore four fantastic crafts you can create using your leftover pool noodles: a pool noodle stick horse, Pom Pom shooters, back-to-school photo props, and a pool noodle race track.

1. Pool Noodle Stick Horse: Giddy Up for Playtime!

Transform your pool noodles into adorable stick horses that are perfect for imaginative play. Here's how:

• Start by folding a piece of felt in half and in half again. Cut along the line and then continue to cut strips without fully cutting the felt. This will create the mane. 
• Cut a six inch slit down the pool noodle. This is where you will insert the mane.  
• Decorate the horse's face with googly eyes, and ears made of foam. 
• Fold the head of the horse back and use ribbon to hold it in place. 
• Your little ones will have a blast galloping around the house on their new pool noodle stick horses.

2. Pom Pom Shooters: Launch Colorful Fun!

Pool noodles can also become the launching pad for hours of Pom Pom-shooting entertainment. Here's what you need to do:

• Cut a pool noodle into smaller sections, about 12-18 inches in length.
• Tie a balloon and cut the tip off. 
• Stretch the balloon over the pool noodle piece. 
• Seal the balloon by gluing or taping it down. 
• Load small Pom Poms into the open end of the noodle.
• Hold the closed end and give the balloon a gentle pull to send the Pom Poms soaring through the air.

3. Back-to-School Photo Props: Capture Memories with Whimsy

Make going back to school a memorable experience with customized photo props made from pool noodles:

• Create oversized pencils by wrapping a pool noodle in yellow duct tape and attaching a pink eraser-shaped foam piece to one end. 
• Kids can hold these creative props while striking poses for those first-day-of-school photos.

4. Pool Noodle Race Track: Zoom into Excitement!

Turn your leftover pool noodles into an exciting race track for small toy cars:

• Cut a pool noodle in half lengthwise.
• Line up the two halves side by side to create a straight track or curve them to form a fun raceway.
• Use additional pool noodles as barriers along the track to keep the cars on course.
• Let your kids race their toy cars down the track and enjoy hours of competitive play.

Who knew that a simple pool noodle could lead to such an array of entertaining crafts? From stick horses to photo props, Pom Pom shooters to race tracks, these projects offer endless possibilities for creativity and play. So, the next time you find yourself with leftover pool noodles from the summer, don't hesitate to dive into these imaginative crafts and keep the fun flowing all year long.

DIY Lemonade Stand 

Supplies needed: 

1. Start by spray painting all of your wooden pieces. I used aqua blue but you can use any color you want. 
2. Next, connect wooden crates two by two using your hammer and nails. 
3. Hammer on your wooden rods to the back of the wooden crates. 
4. Attach wooden piece to rods to create your top banner. 

5. Have fun decorating it however you want.

6. Make some lemonade and you are ready to go! 

3 Activities that will make your Easter EGG-STRA special 

Plastic Egg Painting 

Lunch With a Leprechaun 

From Grocery to Gourmet