Tag: kids

family, kids, planning ahead, summer, traveling, vacation, vacations

What to pack in your toddler’s pool bag

by LumberInMyMiniVan1 Comment on What to pack in your toddler’s pool bag
What to pack in your toddler’s pool bag

Summer is quickly approaching, and for most of us, summer means pool and beach trips. Those of us with more than one child have a pretty good idea about what your tiny tot will need for a trip to the pool, but if you aren’t sure, I decided to share what’s in our pool bag.

We are a family of four, so our pool bag is this giant monogrammed Land’s End tote with a zipper top. It holds everything we need for some fun in the sun and I love it!

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For our toddler, we always pack the following items:

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  1. A snack (not pictured). We try to always bring a healthy snack for both kids no matter where we go. Dry cereal works well, as do small fruits (grapes) or veggies (carrot sticks), and things like granola bars or Belvita biscuits.
  2. A swimsuit, a cover up (a hooded towel will work well for a small child), and sunglasses
  3. A sunscreen for sensitive skin
  4. Swim diapers and wipes (if your toddler isn’t quite potty trained. Ours is not).
  5. Diaper ointment and lotion. Some kids’ skin is sensitive to chlorine, so it’s a good idea to have some lotion on hand to replenish their skin’s moisture
  6. Pool shoes and goggles
  7. Something to drink in a plastic, lidded cup
  8. Detangler and a hairbrush (not pictured)

I always feel the most organized and prepared for anything when I create a checklist beforehand, run down my list, and physically check it off. I decided to share that list with you as well. To download it, simply right click on the picture below, save it to your device, and then print it. For best results, do not print larger than 8X10 inches.

pool checklist

Enjoy your pool and beach trips this summer!

 

2019, family, farmhouse, farmhouse decor, farmhouse style, kids, kids rooms, living room

Living Room Toy Storage: How to have a beautifully organized living room when you have kids

by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment on Living Room Toy Storage: How to have a beautifully organized living room when you have kids

living room .jpg

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We all want living rooms that look incredible but that are still for, well…living. I want my living room to be a place where my family can be comfortable, but also a place that doesn’t look like a playground or a toy store. With a few easy tricks, you can have a stylish, functional living room with children.

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1. Use stylish storage furniture to hide toys

A cute chest or footlocker looks nice and provides a place to store small toys. This chest could also double as additional seating as well.

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2. Create a small “playroom nook” that melts into a corner of your living room

This tiny playroom nook is cute and takes up such a small amount of space in your living room. It’s literally a corner. You could do book ledges like this one, or your could use cube shelves and baskets. There are so many different ways to customize this to make it work for you.

toy closet

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3. Use an extra closet to store toys

What better way to hide toys than behind closed doors? If you don’t have a playroom, but you do have an extra closet, fill it to the brim with organizers and attractive storage for your kids’ playthings.

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4. Repurpose an old bookshelf to hold toys or art supplies

I have a few old shelves at my house that I could use for this. I could paint and modify them, then add some color-coordinated storage to corral those wayward toys. This would only take up a small amount of space, too.

 

I hope you have enjoyed this roundup! Our playroom is about to undergo a major revamp in the next few weeks and I can’t wait to share it  with you!

Stay tuned for more DIY, parenting, and housey-goodness!

2018, back to school, decorating kid spaces, desk, kid spaces, kids, kids rooms, parenting, Pin-spired projects

Cute and Functional Study Spaces

by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment on Cute and Functional Study Spaces
Cute and Functional Study Spaces

My daughter needed a quiet, well-lit and organized place to study and do homework. We bought her this desk off Craigslist some time ago, but we never really decorated or did anything to make it inviting.

It wasn’t bad, but it was missing some key elements. Check this post for elements of an effective study space.

We decided to purchase a lamp

And we repurposed an old towel bar, S-hooks, and decorative buckets to store writing utensils.

Just $16 made a huge impact on her study space.

Her desk is far less cluttered and much cleaner now.

What small change has made a big impact at your house?

2018, back to school, family, kids, photography

First day of school…and a super cute photo idea

by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment on First day of school…and a super cute photo idea
First day of school…and a super cute photo idea

BACK TO SCHOOL

So, today, we celebrated a “first” in our house. It’s a first that comes around once a year…or twice, if you consider the fact that my daughter doesn’t attend school in the district where I teach. Yep, you guessed it. Today was my oldest daughter’s first day of school.

If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably already seen our newly minted second grader with her “back to school” sign and toothless grin.

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Most of us already take a “first day” photo of our kids, and some of us even create a sign or use a prop…

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…and some of us even take a picture at the school, or in front of the school sign.

But what do you do when your school child’s almost three year old little sibling feels left out? Make them a sign, too, of course!

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Little Miss was tickled pink to be a part of the photo-festivities…and we got some super cute shots to use in her yearbook someday.  Her sign reads, “I’ll be here in three years!” Due to her late fall birthday, she’ll start school the fall AFTER she turns five, meaning she’ll turn six during her kindergarten year.

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We even sneaked back over to the school once the traffic died down a bit to take these cute pics in front of the school buses.

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It’s rare that I get a photo of the two of them where Aubrey is cooperating. Even though these two engage in a whole lot of sisterly spats, it’s clear from these pics that they really do love one another.

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And that makes my heart smile.

I hope you all have a wonderful school year, even those of you who (like me) haven’t started back to school yet.

Have a wonderful week, and join us tomorrow for some more “back to school” goodness.

2018, DIY, Free stuff, girls rooms, printables, typographical art

Free printable Friday: 5 free art prints for little girls’ rooms

by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment on Free printable Friday: 5 free art prints for little girls’ rooms

free art prints for little girls

As you know, I love to update the art work in my girls’ rooms, as well as in the rest of the house. Purchasing artwork is often expensive, but it’s surprisingly easy to create your own. Today, I am sharing some free art prints that I made using Canva (www.canva.com). Please feel free to download, print them off, and enjoy them!

  1. Esther- Perhaps this is the moment for which you were created.

What better role model exists for your young girl than Queen Esther in the Bible? Her story is all about taking risks, taking chances, trusting God, and having big things happen as a result.

Created.

2. Esther 4:14 with a floral design

the moment

3. Inspiring our girls is important. This art print is positive and encouraging, and sure to remind your girl to be everything she can be.  I love this one so much I printed it and put it on my desk at work.

she believed she could, so she did.

4.  When we are children of God, we sometimes need to be reminded “He’s got this” when things get rough. This sign is a perfect reminder for little girls and old girls, too.

I am a child of God

5.  “For you are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

I found a print very similar to this at Hobby Lobby, but I wasn’t going to pay $26 for it. I decided to make it myself for free! I love the vibrant colors and the floral wreath, and I hope you will, too.

For you are fearfully and wonderfully made

To download, simply right click on your desired print and save it to your device. For best results, I like to send mine to Staples to have them printed.

I hope you have enjoyed these printables! Oh, and PS: You don’t have to have a little girl to download and print them. You can enjoy them anywhere  in your home or office 🙂