Our new LEGO table or workstation was really easy to put together. The main item is the large IKEA Linmonn table that gives enough space to work on for 2 children. We have LEGO 10 x 10 baseplates but I don't have any plans to glue them down. IKEA Adde chairs are better fit than their old IKEA Mammut chairs. (On the table: Organizing LEGO … [Read more...]
Redesigning our playroom
I have been working on a lengthy project in our basement, which is our children's playroom. It's been quite a while since we set up for early learning, then preschool and kindergarten, while my son already outgrew a lot of stuff, including games, toys and furniture. This summer, I decided to take on a complete overhaul and update the … [Read more...]
Book Review: Books about Italy, Rome and Italian for children
I wanted to dedicate this week's Book Review post to all the books that I got for my children to prepare for our trip to Rome, before I get started on the travel posts. I would like to point out that we borrowed some of the books from the library prior to our trip and I purchased the books in the photo to take them along for our trip. Rome with … [Read more...]
Woodworking Project for kids: Squirrel Feeder
We built this "Squirrel Cafe" last summer. My son attends woodworking classes at the park he's going for after school program. They built a race car and raced it at the downhill derby. He's really into these types of projects. My husband found this simple woodworking project template for kids and they all put it together in a few short hours on a … [Read more...]
Book Review: Chicken books for children
Since Fluffy and Yellow and later Chick Vader joined our family , we read a lot about Chicks and Chickens. I would like to share the books we read on Chicks and Chickens and few fun picture books with Chickens. We got all of these books from the library. Chickens by Peter Brady is a simple, fact-based book about chickens with great … [Read more...]
Summer Learning / Reading Programs for Kids in Chicago
Some elementary students are already in summer break, and CPS students are ending the school year today. In order to keep my children reading and engaged during summer, I signed them up to Summer Learning Challenge with the Chicago Public Library. The program which was only "Reading program" last year has been expanded this year. Here are few … [Read more...]
Customized photo books as a gift
Since the beginning of the digital photo era, we spend more time taking pictures, capturing memories, but less time reminiscing those memories. Especially, in a family like ours where we take about 15-20 photos on a regular day and about 600-700 when we go on vacation, selecting photos, uploading and sharing them with remote family members is a big … [Read more...]
DIY shirts, Father’s Day gift for Simpsons fans
This is the gift we, I and the kids, gave to my husband last year as Father's day gift. I think he's tired of the Homer Simpson themed shirts, I buy for him. So this time, I decided to make a matching set of t-shirts for him and the kids. I purchased iron-on fabric transfer sheets and plain shirts to design the t-shirts. I found the images … [Read more...]
{Children’s Book Week} Our Favorite Children’s Books
It is Children's Book Week from May 13-19. I thought I would list our favorite children's books in this week's post. I asked my daughter and son to list theirs. I will start with my son's favorites. (Turning 8 y.o. in 2 weeks) He is very much into books with Star Wars, Lego Hero Factory and other Lego characters. He told me these are his … [Read more...]
Painting Wooden Jewelry Armoire
This My Look Wooden Jewelry Armoire was one of the birthday presents that I've saved for later. My daughter took it out the morning after we came back from Cancun to paint it. She kept herself busy for quite sometime. It's a pretty decent jewelry box for kids' bead necklaces and bracelets and stuff. I have some concerns about my daughters … [Read more...]
What we are reading this week
I've read and liked Micheal Pollan's "Omnivore's Dilemma". I've been telling my children some examples from he book already. Then my sister-in-law mentioned "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual" and I immediately checked it out from the library. We are this reading together with the kids. The premise of the book is summarized in 3 sentences, as stated in … [Read more...]
Chicago Park District Day Camp registrations ahead
I like my children to spend the limited summertime, in Chicago, outdoors as much as possible. I work full-time so I love Chicago Park District's play and day camps for my children. My son goes to camp at one of the Chicago Park Districts parks every summer, since he turned 4. My daughter started the camps last year when she turned 4 as well. We … [Read more...]
National Robotics Week at the MSI Chicago
National Robotics Week started on Saturday, April 6 with many showcases and activities running throughout the day at the Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago. Roboweek will continue until Sunday, April 14. We could not miss it because my son is crazy about robots and my daughter is influenced by her big brother. we recently got our … [Read more...]
Repurposing old mattress as a trampoline
We used to own a little toddlers/preschoolers trampoline when my son was about 2.5 years-old. It was relatively safe with less bouncy center and two padded handles on each side. After my daughter started to get up and cruise, she played with it a lot as well. Then they outgrew that trampoline. However, living in Chicago we still needed an indoor … [Read more...]
How to detangle dolls’ hair
This post can be a great subject for "First World Problems" meme. My daughters doll's hair is tangled. What do I do? Well, there is a solution for that, believe it or not. Materials you need: Woolite (You can also use fabric softener as well. I don't use softener and woolite works.) What is called a wig brush … [Read more...]
Elmo themed fruit tray
I prepared this fruit tray for my niece's 2nd birthday party. She loves blueberries and strawberries. Strawberries cut in half Raspberries Blueberries 1 Tangerine … [Read more...]
Winter Activity: Snowflake / Snow Crystal Observation
Just in time for the winter activities, provided by Chicago Public Library, it started to snow on Christmas Day in Chicago. Chicago Public Library has a very well-thought holiday and vacation programs. Like the "Reading Program" during the summer, they had the Winter Learning Program" for the winter break. We have a really nice Children's … [Read more...]
Our New Year’s Eve Menu
We celebrated the New Year's Eve at home with friends and family this year. We kept the menu low key and as healthy as possible. The items were all gluten-free. Roasted Chicken with Chestnuts and rice Zucchini boats with sauteed vegetables Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers Shrimp with Mushrooms in stoneware Cauliflower Salad prepared by our … [Read more...]
Birthday Menu
My daughter chose "flowers" as the theme of her 5th birthday party. We celebrated at home with her friends. My mom and I prepared the dishes. This was her "fruit cake". I used watermelon, honey dew melon, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple (hearts & flowers) and tangerines with the help of few toothpicks. Kids loved it. This is the whole … [Read more...]
Organizing LEGO instruction booklets
I've written how I tried to contain the LEGO parts mess by storing them in plastic zipped storage bags by color in this post. Since LEGO’s are both of my kids' favorite toys and the toy that they spend time playing the most, we are continually accumulating new models. After I organized the parts and pieces, the instruction booklets started to … [Read more...]