Rubber Band Vases

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Saw these on line and fell in love.

So easy and cheap!

Get your hands on some glass votives, wine glasses, vases. Place rubber bands around it and spray with white or frosted glass spray paint.

I was really excited about his project. However, my lines did not come out as neat as I would have liked.

I haven't given up. I've got two cans full of spray paint and will try again. Maybe waiting longer for the vase to dry before removing bands will do the trick. Hoping others have better luck with this project! Please share your techniques below.

Also, check out some other ways to fancy up some plain old vases at Design Megillah

How gorgeous are these?

Parshat Chayei Sarah Project, Activities, and Crafts

In this week's parasha, Avraham sends Eliezer to Charan to find a suitable wife for Avraham's son Yitzchak. Eliezer is sent on his way with a caravan of camels and gifts for the future bride. While in Charan, Eliezer asks  G-d to send him a woman who would not only fetch water for him when he asks for it, but fetch water for his camels as well. Rivkah does this for Eliezer and is chosen to marry Yitzchak. Yitzchak falls in love with her and they marry.

Since the well is a significant part of the parasha, we did a little science lesson on wells.
Considering I knew nothing about natural wells, I did some research and found out that well water comes from aquifers.
"An aquifer fills with water from rain or melted snow that drains into the ground. In some areas, the water passes through the soil on top of the aquifer; in others, it enters through joints and cracks in rocks. The water moves downward until it meets less permeable rock. 

Aquifers act as reservoirs for groundwater. Water from aquifers sometimes flows out in springs. Wells drilled into aquifers provide water for drinking, agriculture, and industrial uses. Aquifers can dry up when people drain them faster than nature can refill them. Because aquifers fill with water that drains from the surface of the Earth, they can be contaminated by any chemical or toxic substance found on the surface". (National Geographic)

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So now I have a basic understanding of it, but how will my preschooler? Well have no fear
The Incredible Edible Aquifer is here:

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 Here is the recipe I got from this site to make my own edible aquifer:

Edible Treat                                  Corresponding Layer of Earth

Bottom of cup (not edible).........................Bedrock

Ice, Sprite, & blue dye...............................Lower Aquifer

Ice Cream..................................................Confining Layer

Ice..............................................................Upper Aquifer

Chocolate Cookie Crumbs.......................Soil

Green Sprinkles........................................Plant Life

Straws.........................................................Well Casing

Your Mouth................................................Well Pump

I explained the lower aquifer as being rocks that water can go through. My daughter was able to see this happen as I poured the soda over the ice. I told her the next layer (ice cream) was like clay and the upper aquifer was more rock that water can go through. The cookies are the  dirt, the green sprinkles are plants and your mouth is the pump pulling up the well water.

For those who are a little more handy, you may want to try making this functional well I found via Parsha Projects which was originally posted on Inna's Creations:

Photo taken with permission from Inna's Creations
Check out her site for a full set of directions

We continued our parasha study with role playing.

 We used a toy camel, a treasure chest full of jewelry and a homemade well made from popsicle sticks and a toilet paper roll.

We made some jewelry using fruit loops and a pipe cleaner (inspired by Meaningful Mama) 

Chika Chika Boom Boom Activities

Chicka Chicka boom Boom is probably the most read book in our home right now. 

The rhythm is catchy and the story line humorous. 

I was inspired by I Heart Crafty Things to create this fun interactive activity to go along with the book.

 I first used parchment paper to trace an outline of the coconut tree.

Then I traced the parchment paper outline onto green construction paper and cut the tree top out. 

 To complete the tree, I stuck the tree top and trunk onto a cookie sheet using double sided tape.

Get your magnetic letters ready and have your child follow the letters in the book as they climb up the tree.

(I couldn't find lower case letters to match the book, so I just used the upper case letters I had on hand).

We also made the edible coconut tree as seen on I Heart Crafty Things

For fans of Chicka Chicka 123, the above craft can be easily adjusted

Just replace the coconuts with apples, get some cute magnetic numbers and you're all set!

Planting the Seeds of Gratefulness in Children

Teaching our preschooler to be grateful is become an increasing challenge for us. The other day we took her out for doughnuts followed by a stop at the supermarket. While leaving the supermarket, she began to cry "But, I didn't get anything!!" My husband and  I could not believe our ears. "How could she be so ungrateful!? Just a few minutes ago she had been enjoying her pink doughnut ( a very rare treat)!"

We do understand that she is 3 years old and that developmentally preschoolers can be very egocentric and mostly relate to the here and now. However, we are committed to planting the seeds of gratefulness into our children and watch their appreciation blossom steadily over time. 

Grateful children understand the efforts of others to do things for them and are more empathetic to others. "A 2003 study at the University of California at Davis showed that grateful people report higher levels of happiness and optimism -- along with lower levels of depression and stress" (Parent.com).

Here are some tips to help instill thankfulness in ourselves and our children:

• Express your gratefulness frequently. Have your children hear you say things like "Wow what a beautiful day!, I'm so happy to spend the day with you!, We are so lucky to have such a great family!" Daily prayers are an ideal place to verbalize thankfulness
• Give your children responsibility. We appreciate things more when we have to work for them. With appropriate "jobs" given to children they will realize the effort that goes into the things we do for them and hopefully appreciate them more.
• Become active members of a goodwill project. Unfortunately, with the devastation brought on by Hurricane Sandy there are countless opportunities to give back. We have been given the opportunity to bring water to the elderly in high risers with no power, cooked food to people who had to evacuate, and warm winter clothes to children living in homes with no heat. I mention these only to show how simple it can be to give back. Having your kids active in these deeds will help them empathize for others and be sensitive to the needs of others. All things truly grateful people can do.

I would love to hear what others are doing to increase a sense of appreciation in their homes:

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