Super Soft Playdough

This super soft playdough recipe is so easy to make. It requires no cooking and is made with a unique ingredient for squishable soft results.

Super Soft play doh made with hair gel


Rolf and Harp are both crazy for play doh. They go through several cans a week on average. I tried making a scented play dough when they were smaller, but we found that it molded really fast. That was enough to make me not want to make it again for YEARS.

play doh made from hair gel



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Last week they needed play dough and the idea of going to the store for playdough to keep my sanity, because like I said, they NEEDED it (ie the little one was whining for it. Anyone ever see that old movie the Creepshow? Recall the old man chanting for cake? Harp was kinda like that but she was making a fuss for PLAY-DOH) made me feel a little overwhelmed.

homemade play doh


Going to any store with a tired, demanding child sounds like the worst idea ever. So, I decided to just make it again and hope for better results.

I made this playdough with a bottle of cheap hair gel, because doesn't everyone have hair gel as a craft supply? The results are super soft and squishable.

play doh supplies

Ingredients

1/2 cup of clear hair gel; the cheap stuff from the dollar store will work just fine!
1/4 cup of water
1- 1.5 cups of flour 

Directions


Place 1/4 cup of water and 1/2 cup of clear hair gel in medium size bowl.

play doh supplies

Add 5 drops of neon food coloring to the liquid mixture.


homemade play doh

Stir until well combined.


Add 1 cup of flour to the liquid.


Begin stirring until the contents begin to clump.
At this point, you will decide if you need to add additional flour. If the mixture feels sticky, add an additional 1/4 cup of flour, and continue to stir.

diy play doh


When the flour has been incorporated, test for stickiness. 
Add additional flour if needed
When the playdough is not sticky, it is ready to play with!

super soft playdough

Store in an airtight container when not in use.

diy play doh

Find more crafts here:




7 Delicious Ways to Stay Hydrated

The days are getting warmer. Let's cool off with an infused water recipe that will hydrate you and offer a delicious fruity flavor to your summer days!

Infused Water Recipes


Infused water is the perfect way to beat the heat while adding a delicious touch of flavor to your summer drinks. These recipes are some of my favorites and I couldn't wait to share them with you. With recipes as easy and delicious as these, drinking more water is just a tasty sip away

Strawberry Basil Lime Water
Kiwi Blackberry Water
Chia Lime Water
Cucumber Watermelon Mint
Apple Cinnamon Detox Water
Cucumber Lemon Water
Strawberry Lemon Water

If you love infused water but haven't made it at home, you will want to take note of these tips.

  1. Always wash your fruits and veggies prior to adding them to water.
  2. Allow them to soak overnight for the best flavor.
  3. Don't be afraid to add herbs to your infused water!



Which of these is your favorite? Do you ever make infused water to keep your family hydrated? I would love to hear what fruits you like to include!


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12 Homemade Soda Recipes

Birthday Cake Sensory Bin

This easy birthday cake sensory bin is perfect for any little aspiring chef! Made with homemade playdough and complete with loads of sprinkles and fake candles, this bin keeps preschoolers happily baking up something good!

birthday cake play doh sensory bin

After many years of mothering, I have learned that it is a good idea to have an activity planned for the afternoon. I usually have something set up for Harp like a paper craft or something she can get creative with, but lately we have been LOVING sensory bins

birthday cake play doh sensory activity


Harper loves to bake, so the idea for this birthday cake sensory bin came around. I thought she would love the chance to play with sprinkles, and I was right. When she came home from preschool, she was ready to get her hands into this bin! I have a feeling your little one will want to do the same should you recreate this project.



This was easy to assemble and super economical. You likely have all of the supplies on hand!

sprinkles in hand


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birthday sensory bin


Supplies:
1/2 cup of shampoo (any kind will do, including something from the dollar store!)
 2 tablespoons of water
1 cup of flour
Silicone cupcake molds, small cake pans, small dishes for forming cakes. Your childs play food collection is a great place to find materials to use in this bin.
Washi Tape
A battery operated votive candle
Tissue Paper in orange, yellow or red
A baking dish or a bin with a lid



To make the birthday cake dough:
Add one cup of flour, 2 tablespoons of water and 1/2 cup of shampoo together in a medium bowl. 



Begin to stir, as the ingredients start to bind together, finishing mixing with your hands.
 If the dough feels sticky, you will add a little more flour, no more than 1/4 cup.



Test for stickiness. If the dough is still sticky, add a little more flour and continue to mix until it doesn't stick to your hands.



To make fake candles:
You will need a length of washi tape that can cover a craft stick on both sides.



Allow the tape to slightly overlap the craft stick and place small squares of tissue paper on the top of the stick. I layered orange and yellow tissue paper to resemble a flame.
Fold the tape up to cover the other side of the craft stick.



Trim the edges of the tape on the sides of the craft stick.
Trim your tissue paper to resemble a flame.



To assemble the birthday cake activity bin:
Pour a bottle of sprinkles in the bottom of the dish or storage container you plan to use.
Add the dough.
Add small dishes like play food dishes, silicone cupcake molds, small baking dishes.
Add the fake candles and a battery operated votive candle, if you have one.



Invite your child to explore the activity. They will form cakes, decorate with sprinkles and add candles to serve birthday cake!

birthday cake sensory play

12 Bug Books for Preschoolers

Spring is the perfect time to dive into the insect world with your preschooler. I found 12 fun book books that your kids are going to love! After reading these titles, your kids are sure to want to get out and explore nature, looking for new buggy friends!





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Bugs Galore
With retro illustrations and plenty of rhymes, this book lets little learners explore lots of bugs and worms in a comical fashion.

Bugs
This book is a cheerful way to warm preschoolers up to the bugs they will see this summer. Featuring colorful illustrations and easy to read text, bugs won't seem so scary after exploring the pages of this story.

The Bug Book
This book is fun and factual for preschoolers. Explore all kinds of bugs in vivid photographs to learn more about the insects one might see this summer.

Some Bugs
With rhymes and vibrant illustrations, this book embraces the behaviors of backyard bugs and encourages exploration for preschoolers.

The Grouchy Ladybug
Take an adventure with a grouchy little ladybug to meet a variety of critters and explore manners in a fun way.

Ten Little Ladybugs
While this is a simple counting book, it is fun for preschoolers to explore and practice their counting skills with. Little hands love to feel the texture of the ladybugs as they count.

Builder Bugs
In this construction themed bug book, watch the bugs take actions like digging and hammering to make something special, which they will reveal in this pop up book!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
In this book a very hungry caterpillar munches through a variety of goodies to transform into a beautiful butterfly. This book is much loved for its colorful illustrations and fun text.

Big Bug Book
This pop up book is packed with creepy, crawly fun! The book is nothing short of a celebration fit for the bugs return this spring!

Ten Magic Butterflies
With the help of ten magic butterflies preschoolers can learn to count and group things by groups of ten. This is a colorful introduction to math for early learners that comes very highly recommended.

The Very Busy Spider
Eric Carle books are a delight to explore with preschoolers. In this rhyming text a busy spider tries to spin her web while the animals on the farm come by to distract her from the task. This book is fun to read and touch!

The Ants Go Marching
This book takes preschoolers on an adventure in counting and singing with colorful ants! The repetition and counting up to 5 is perfect for an early approach to math that kids can't get enough of.

8 Awesome Ways to Eat Hot Dogs

Hot dogs and summer time are a match made in heaven. This year, your options aren't limited to grilled, boiled or baked! I have rounded up 8 Awesome Ways to Eat Hot Dogs that I know you are going to love!

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yummy hot dog recipes

I love a good hot dog! From a sloppy chili dog to a simple grilled dog with peppers and onions! I started checking out some of my favorite blogs to get hot dog inspiration and what I discovered is a total game changer in the dog department!

From pineapple topped dogs to a mouth watering pizza recipe; this collection of recipes is sure to please hot dog fanatics all summer long!

Firecracker Hot Dogs
Buffalo Wing Hot Dogs
Cheesy Hot Dog Tartlets
Fried Hot Dog Sliders
Mexican Style Dogs
Chili Cheese Dog Pizza
Hawaiian Hot Dogs 
Philly Cheese Steak Dogs



Which of these recipes sounds the yummiest to you?

You can find all of my recipes here