DIY Original Artwork Coffee Cups

This is an easy last minute gift idea featuring original art work.  A few weeks  ago I went to a Winterland / Holiday event for children and this was one of the arts and craft projects featured.  It was hands down the most popular craft table.  Kids from ages 1-2 years old and up to grammar school were decorating cups and having a blast.  Clearly the little ones, like my son and younger, needed some adult supervision and some help opening the markers, holding the cups, and reminding them not to draw on the table, floors, each other etc.  I'm not sure if he or I had more fun (I probably did), but this cup is my new, most favorite thing.

I proudly drink out of it all day at work because every time I see it, I smile.  And everyone who sees it thinks it is the most special gift... BECAUSE IT IS!  I have an original piece of art from my 2 year old that can be used daily and washed without fear of ruining his scribble artwork.  This is such a great alternative to picture cups and will also last for years to come.  Plus, it is a fun project to do with your kids and only takes a little more than 24 hours before it is cured and ready for use so it is a great last minute gift idea.  It is also a budget friendly gift.

Acrylic paint markers and cups can be purchased at your local arts and craft store (think Michaels, etc.).  I purchased all my supplies on Amazon.  For an even better deal look for coffee cups at your local dollar store.

For this project you will need acrylic pens, ceramic coffee cups, and rubbing alcohol. And obvi some newspaper to cover your work space. I also recommend priming your markers so they are ready to use before sitting down to color, especially if you have a 2 year old like mine who is all about monkey see, monkey do. Once he saw me priming the markers he stopped wanting to color the cups and wanted to “boop” the table so we had to take a break and return to coloring the cups later.  And yes he still remembered and wanted to make one mark on the cup followed by a boop on the table, over and over...  While I chose coffee cups for this gift you can use any oven safe ceramic medium (plate, bowl, vase etc.). 

DIY Original Artwork Coffee Cups 

Printable directions

Supplies:

• Acrylic paint pens / markers
• Rubbing alcohol 
• Ceramic mugs
• Newspaper

Directions:

1. Cover your workspace with newspaper
2. Wipe cups with rubbing alcohol
3. Prime markers so they are ready to draw with
4. Once cups are dry let your child go crazy and color the cups to their liking.  (Why not color a cup with them?!)
5. Let  cups sit undisturbed for 24 hours
6. Bake for 40 minutes in a 300 degree oven or follow the directions recommended with the acrylic paint pen manufacture
7. Let cool completely

Once cool wrap and gift or wash and use your original, one of a kind masterpiece.  

I also had fun making a cup and when my dad saw it he ranted and raved about it (he loves my original art) so I may consider giving him this cup I made.

Leave a comment with your finished project and Happy Holidays! 

Strike a Pose

In the words of Madonna, "strike a pose."  Unless you are a 2 year old who wants to move, move, move and go, go, go.  I had to take an action shot of little man today because I'm loving this affordable outfit.

Get it Carter!  And get it daddy who dressed him today.  Apparently my husband knows a thing or two about fashion.  

In the excitement of having a first child we didn't tend to look at price when shopping.  If my husband or I saw something cute, we HAD to have it for Carter.  And now a days boys clothes are adorable so we want everything.  However, with two kids, and all the costs involved (food, daycare, diapers), we now try to be a little bit more cognizant of the cost of our purchases, especially when it comes to clothing.  Now don't get me wrong, we still splurge every now and then.  The boys are 22 months apart and were born around the same season so we have been lucky to be able to recycle tons of Carter's old clothes.  It's been really fun to see Luke wear the clothes Carter once wore.  Yesterday I hung up all of Carter's former 3-6 month clothes and it gave me all the feels.  It was like taking a walk down memory lane.  I know one day Luke won't want hand me downs, but luckily that day is not today and camo is NEVER going out of style (at least not in my world).  Our go to stores for toddler clothes and great deals are Target, Old Navy, Costco, and Walmart.  Yes I said it, Walmart.  Don't believe me?  The pants he's rocking today...

Wrangler Relaxed Cargo Jogger (Toddler Boys)

Walmart.  And those kicks... 

Athletic Works Boys' Mesh Jogger

Walmart!

Both the Wrangler Camo Pants and Athletic Sneakers were purchased in store at Walmart for a combined total under $15.  They are fashionable and can be worn various ways.  Camo is on trend and the pants seem like they will be great quality.  Plus grey and white sneakers go with everything!  Blue clothes, black clothes?  It don't matter.  It works!  Grey sneakers are the best.  We will see how long the shoes last, but they feel comparable to Champion, which was my go to shoe brand when Payless was still a thing (RIP Payless, RIP!).  Carter is extremely active and growing like a weed so sneakers only last  him a few months.  Every time I blink I feel like his feet have grown again.  He's currently a toddler size 7 and he just turned 2.  I'm  hoping future NBA all star.  With the price of these shoes I don't feel bad tossing them if and when Carter grows out of them or more likely destroys them playing "ball".  They are far cheaper than the majority of the other sneakers he grew out of after a few wears.  And more money in my wallet and not down the drain makes me a happy mama.

How do you save money on kids clothes?  I would love to hear your secrets in the comments below.

Super Easy Tie Dye Sugar Cookies Recipe

It's a billion degrees up in here.   It is so hot here in New Jersey that we have a heat advisory, which means stay inside.  Keeping a super active almost 23 month old entertained all day is a challenge (this is why we have the wonderful thing that is daycare).  Normally we spend lots of time outside so Carter can run, run, have a snack, drink water, and run some more.  But keeping him entertained all day inside while breastfeeding his month old brother seems nearly impossible.  This is where projects come in.

Carter loves projects where he can help.  Seriously my son is the best little helper.  He loves to "help" sweep the floor, wash dishes, and load and empty the dishwasher, all with supervision.  He is also starting to get into cooking and baking, although his attention span is limited if a recipe requires too many steps.  That's why this recipe is perfect.  While you could make your own sugar cookies, I use premade dough, which I cook and cool before it is time to glaze.  I love the kid, but he doesn't need to learn how the oven works yet.  These cookies need to set so I highly recommend making them before nap time so they are ready to enjoy once your little one wakes up.  And lastly, make sure you have some wet paper towels on hand to clean those little fingers, because if your child is like mine, then half the fun is getting the glaze all over your hands.  I get it.  Glaze feels like slime and slime is life.  Just don't be like me and lick the glaze off your fingers in front of your mini me because monkey see, monkey do and Carter is at the age that if he sees you do something once he will do it again and again.  You have been warned.

Super Easy Tie Dye Sugar Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 16 ounce sugar cookie dough
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
• 1 tablespoon water
• Food coloring

Tools:
Toothpick

Directions:
1.  Bake sugar cookies according to package directions.  Allow to completely cool before making glaze
2.  Make glaze by combining powdered sugar, corn syrup, and water in a shallow dish.  Mix until glaze is smooth and thin, but not runny.  If needed add water 1 teaspoon at a time to reach desired consistency

3. Add drops of food coloring of different colors into glaze

4. Drag a toothpick through food coloring in various directions to get a marbled look

5. Dip tops of cookies into glaze and place back on cooking sheet and or wire rack to set, approximately 1 hour

6. Enjoy with a nice cold glass of milk



As always mom tested, Carter approved!

Newborn Weight Gain

Today was a big day for me.  I weighed little man Luke and he is up to 8 pounds.  That is more than the suggested ounce of weight gain a day.  This is huge considering Carter's weight gain issues!  But looking back I had a number of issues that, when combined, made the situation worse.   Carter had silent reflux that went undiagnosed for weeks (and yes, I suspected he had reflux and brought it up on multiple visits to the pediatrician). The puking while he slept didn't help with the weight gain, which he needed because he had lost more than 10% of his birth weight early on (probably because he puked every time he was flat on his back).  I was told that I was possibly not producing enough and I needed to supplement with formula.  I saw a lactation consultant so I know I was producing enough thanks to weighted feeds, but the more people told me I was wrong, I wasn't producing enough, or my baby was so skinny he needed formula, the more I began to doubt myself.  I began excessively pumping in addition to breastfeeding to ensure I had enough breast milk for Carter (bad advice again), which lead to oversupply and frequent bouts of mastitis and plugged ducts.  Breastfeeding became painful.  Everything took an emotional toll on me and then my supply began to suffer.  I could go on and on, but I'll digress because despite all the road blocks, I was still able to nurse Carter for 7 months.  And guess what, he was still long and lean (low weight percentile) despite transitioning to formula and then solids and formula.  So surprise, surprise... formula was not the answer.  Today if you were to look at him he looks long and lean, but is solid (90% percentile for weight).  And frankly he is my perfect boy.  While I wish I had known what I know now, and had the confidence in myself and my abilities as a mother, the whole situation taught me a lot.  This time around I won't let others make me think that my body can't produce enough to feed my son what he needs.  And I will trust my gut through and through.  I'm excited for this new adventure with Luke and hope to continue to have breastfeeding success.