I’m no stranger to a good mess (hello brownies with a 4-year-old and a 19-month-old), but I really wasn’t sure what to expect or even where to start. So, when we came across the new Netflix show Emily’s Wonder Lab, I was majorly inspired to start with what I know best: kitchen ingredients. Since then, we’ve been experimenting up a storm, and I’m writing this post to encourage you to try it too!

What exactly is Oobleck, anyway?

Oobleck is a non-newtonian fluid named after a Dr. Seuss book and made up of just two simple ingredients: cornstarch and water (2:1 ratio). What makes this mixture so fun is how the “potion” (as my daughter calls it) reacts to different forms of stress. Hit it with some force and it acts like a brick, relax a handful in your palm and it oozes out like a liquid. And because this mixture creates an unexpected reaction to different forces, it can provide hours of fun for kids of all ages.

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Colorful Oobleck

Oobleck is a non-newtonian fluid named after a Dr. Seuss book, and made up of just two simple ingredients: cornstarch and water (2:1 ratio). This fun science project is great to do with the kids!

Skill beginner

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Ingredients

• 0.5 cups cornstarch
• 0.25 cups water
• 7 drops food coloring

Instructions

• In a medium stainless-steel or glass bowl, measure cornstarch.
• In a beaker or liquid measuring cup, measure water and mix in the food coloring.
• Pour colored water into the cornstarch bowl and mix as best as you can. The reaction will start immediately, and can feel a bit like mixing cured concrete.
• Start to handle and play! Have fun!

A few tips for this activity:

I recommend beakers, stainless-steel bowls, and a smock or two. While the mess can easily feel out of control, it cleans right up with water and soap.

Mix the food coloring with the water, and don’t be afraid to go heavy on the coloring. The final color will dilute by half once the water hits the cornstarch.

The ratio is 2:1 cornstarch to water, but it’s easy to eyeball too. This can also be fun to observe the differences in reaction with different amounts of liquid and corn starch.

Some people encourage oobleck to be discarded in the trash to avoid clogging up the sink, but this isn’t necessary. Dilute the finished experiment with lots of warm water and you won’t have an issue.

The post The Next Science Project You Should Do with Your Kids appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Didn’t matter though, did it? There’s just something too fun about edible fashion. Why don’t we make these with better tasting candy and… for adults?

This year has been pretty hard on us parents and our kids — everyone really. I feel like my level of exhaustion has reached new heights, and it’s been hard to feel inspired to play in new and fun ways with my kids.

But I don’t want that to be the case, so I’ve been trying to think of fun ways to keep my young kids engaged. I wanted to create an activity for my toddlers to work on pattern making, counting, and just an overall fun sensory activity

So I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to recreate that childhood favorite. Plus, the finished jewelry makes a great car snack. It will keep the kids’ distracted without the threat of a whole container of cereal flying out everywhere!

I opted to use cereal in place of candy because it’s easier to work with, and it’s a slightly easier to keep the focus on the activity rather than the yum-factor (I know candy can be a battle in some households). When I was gathering material for this project, I walked around the grocery store to find any round foods that could work.

Honestly the exploration could be a fun activity in and of itself for keeping kids entertained while food shopping. After I conducted my research, it became very apparent that the best food for this, was as I figured, cereal.

There are so many colorful looped options that are sturdy enough to hold up to handling and wear, plus I was very pleased to find the Jumbo Snax by Kellogg’s. They are extra-large loops of cereal classics like “Froot Loops” and “pple Jax” and even a few new options. This size is perfect for classic kitchen twine and little fingers.

We had so much fun eating and stringing jewelry, we will definitely be doing this again soon!

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Kids Activity: Edible Jewelry

Enjoy a fun and easy activity with your young ones to work on counting and patterns!

Skill intermediate

Servings 1

Ingredients

• Kitchen Twine or waxed string
• Large looped cereal – we found the Kellogg’s brand Jumbo Snax and it worked great!
• A silicone placemat
• Small bowls

Instructions

• Set out a silicone mat for each participating child (and adult!). This will be their work space, and will keep any rogue cereal from rolling off the table.
• Place a small paper bowl with each different cereal variety at every station. We found 6 different cereals to play with, but if you just wanted say, Froot Loops, I recommend having the kids help sort the colors individually into each bowl.
• Place either extra-long pre-cut strings, or an individual spool at each station for the kids. Depending on age, offer direction by making a few examples of different patterns or number of pieces on each.
• Let them play! Offer words of encouragement and affirmation and have fun munching, counting, styling and playing. Tie them off in a big bow and enjoy!

The post Homemade Edible Jewelry Is the Winter Kids’ Activity You Need to Try appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Our golden retriever Rascal eats a 100% human-grade dog food diet. Jared and I always joke that we could eat Rascals food with enough sriracha. Let me preface but saying that I NEVER thought I would be the type of person that made their dog’s food homemade.

Common Food Allergies for Dogs

After Rascal turned a year old or so, he started developing really strange eating habits. He wasn’t finishing his food, had loud intense stomachaches and frequently threw up. We went through a number of blood tests. He had been diagnosed with things like pancreatitis, anxiety and one vet even thought he had parvo. We were stressed and at a loss at how to more forward. That is until we did an allergy test.

We uncovered that Rascal was allergic to a dozen different food items, one being beef, the main ingredient in his traditional dry dog food. We were introduced to an all-natural human-grade dog food company called ‘Just Food for Dogs’. The company sells premade food and teaches people how to make recipes at home. Once we started this all-natural diet the stomach aches subsided and he was the happiest we had ever seen him.

At first, the thought of homemade dog food was so daunting and just downright ‘boujee’. I can honestly say that making his food doesn’t cost much more than the prescription diet he was on beforehand. After watching the documentary ‘Pet Fooled’ we realized just how unregulated the dog food industry was and started to feel stronger about our homemade switch.

Is homemade dog food good for dogs?

While I am not a vet, and I certainly can’t speak for all animals (pun intended) I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made a world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.

Homemade dog food can help prevent ailments such as:

• Allergies

• Arthritis

• Constipation and diarrhea

• Diabetes

• Gastrointestinal problems

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

• Obesity

• Skin rashes and sores

• Upset or frequently sensitive stomach

• Yeast infections

An easy homemade dog food recipe can be the answer to any existing nutritional gaps like low levels of the essential amino acids that come from home cooked proteins or too-small portions of calcium, potassium and magnesium found in mineral-rich, dark leafy vegetables.

On traditional dog food, Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. Since the dog food switch, he has been energetic, focused and calmer. On a traditional diet we were vacuuming at least once a day but now 1-2 a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.

How much homemade dog food should I feed my dogs?

If you’re just getting started on your homemade pet food journey, general best practice is to feed your dog (or cat for that matter) 2-3% of its body weight. This will definitely vary from dog to dog, so I’d highly recommend speaking to your vet before going homemade. Generally speaking, for every 20 lbs your dog weighs, you give them roughly 1 cup of prepared food.

In terms of how frequently you should give your dog homemade dog food, it’s entirely dependent on the recipe and your dog’s weight, age, breed and overall health conditions—this is something you should talk to your vet about.

What natural foods can I feed my dog?

Home-cooked dog food diets can be one of the best ways to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Surprisingly, just about everything food that’s good for a human, will be good for a dog too—but always check in with your vet first to make sure if you’re testing a new doggy diet or if your furry friend is particularly sensitive to food change. Foods like:

• lean cooked chicken

• cooked ground turkey

• and whole grains (think brown rice or quinoa)

are some of the best human food substitutes to give your dog. Who knew the food pyramid applied to man’s best friend too?

The Need-to-Know Protein-Vegetable-Grains Ratio

There’s a general rule of thumb for how much raw vegetables your canine should consume versus the amount of meat they need. While puppies might require larger amounts of protein for their growing bodies, the key to an adult dog’s homemade dog food diet is balance and moderation—‚Öì protein + ‚Öì veggies + ‚Öì grains is the gold standard.

Foods That Dogs Should Never Eat

If you’re planning on pursuing a DIY homemade dog food option, avoid giving your trusted companion any of the below items—they can be toxic, poisonous, cause metabolization problems, or even lead to death.

• Chocolate (and other sugary foods or drinks)

• Avocados

• Onions & Garlic

• Milk (and other dairy products like cheese or yogurt)

• Meats with nitrates (for example like bacon and hot dogs)

Ingredients for Rascal’s homemade dog food:

This nutritious homemade dog food recipe is the best one on the planet (in my humble opinion). Just look at the lineup of healthy ingredients!

• Olive oil
• Ground Turkey
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Zucchini squash
• Broccoli
• Chicken Stock
• Macaroni noodles
• Omega 3 Oil
• Nutrient Blend

How to make homemade dog food?

Some small kitchen appliances and tools are needed to properly make dog food including:

• Food Processor: Before I start cooking a batch of homemade dog food, I blend up all the vegetables in my food processor. This Cuisinart food processor is my go-to. It’s a bit smaller than traditional food processors (we don’t have a lot of counter space) but works just as well as a larger model. Blending up the veggies nice and fine will speed up the cooking process.

• Dutch Oven: I make the entire batch in my large Le Creuset round Dutch oven. I love using a Dutch oven because I can ground the meat first, and then finish off the batch right in the same pot. The process is very similar to making chili… except for dogs. Ya know… Dog Chili.

• Measuring Cups: Rascal has his own set of measuring cups now because it makes measuring out food ingredients and the finished batch WAY easier.

• Meal Prep Containers: This is basically meal prepping for your dog, so you will need some great Tupperware. I love using these stainless steal Tupperware bins made just for pups.

Recipe Variations:

There’s tons of room to get creative in the kitchen and play around with Rascal’s recipe depending on your pooch’s taste buds or existing diet restrictions. Switching up your dog’s meal flavors help provide them with all of the nutrients they need as they enter each stage of their life—just make sure that the new food transition is gradual. Introducing new dog food slowly can help prevent causing the animal stress.

• Protein: Rascal digests ground turkey really well but you can try ground beef, pork, chicken, lamb and Rascal’s personal favorite: venison. If you don’t have a meat grinder you can ask your butcher to ground it for you or cut it up super fie before cooking.
• Fruits & Vegetables: Apples, cauliflower, potatoes, peas, spinach, butternut squash, and cranberries are some great dog-friendly fruits and veggies.
• Grains & Carbs: Rice, quinoa, barley, whole grain pasta, and potatoes can be great options. If you can believe it, Rascal is actually allergic to rice. I wish I were kidding.

• We add in a nutrient blend from a company called ‘Just Food For Dogs’ very similar to dog vitamins as well as Omega oil to make sure he is getting enough healthy fats. I highly recommend adding both of these into your dog food so you can rest assure that they are getting proper nutrients.

What kind of homemade snacks can you make a dog?

Easy homemade dog snacks can be the best way to add a burst of flavor to your furry family member’s day. While you should avoid feeding your dog cherries, raisins, citrus fruits, cinnamon, and coconut, providing nutritious treats like the below are A-OKAY:

• Peanut butter: Rascal has his own dedicated jar of peanut butter. He loves a traditional Kong but you can also mold and freeze peanut butter in any shape for a quick frozen treat. When the jar is almost finished I break out my peanut butter spoon.

• Greek Yogurt Ice Cream: In the summer we blend up unflavored Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and peanut butter. Place a spoonful or two into a silicone cupcake pan and freeze for a few hours. These make for a great dog ‘ice cream’.
• Dehydrated Sweet Potatoes: Rascal’s favorite easy treat. We love bringing these over to family and friends’ houses so Rascal always has a healthy treat on hand.

How to Store Homemade Dog Food

Because homemade dog food typically consists of human food, the majority of homemade dog food recipes are safe to store in a refrigerator for four(ish) to five days and in the freezer for 3-5 months in an airtight container.

How long can I store homemade dog food?

Similar to human food, when heating up a frozen homemade meal for your dog, just toss it in the microwave for around 15 to 60 seconds depending on the ingredients.

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Homemade Dog Food with Ground Turkey & Sweet Potatoes

Homemade dog food is filled with rich protein, vegetables and healthy grains. A homemade diet can make a tremendous difference in a dog’s health and life. Rascal’s homemade dog food recipe is filled with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini squash and macaroni noodles.

Course Pet Food

Cuisine Pet Food

Keyword Pets

Skill beginner

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 10

Calories 580kcal

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 lb ground turkey
• 3 medium sweet potatoes
• 3 carrots, peeled
• 2 zucchini
• 1 cups broccoli
• 3 cups chicken stock or water (no salt added)
• 20 oz macaroni noodles

Instructions

• In a large Dutch oven, heat oil on medium heat. Add ground turkey, begin to break it down and cook for 8-10 minutes or until mostly cooked through.
• With a food processor, finely chop sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini, broccoli. Add in vegetables and stock to turkey. Cook on a strong simmer for 7-8 minutes or until veggies are tender and cooked through.
• Fill a large stockpot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Add macaroni noodles and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and add to vegetable mixture. Divide mixture into meal prep bins and refrigerate or freeze

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 60.1g | Protein: 46.9g | Fat: 18.9g | Saturated Fat: 3.1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 440mg | Fiber: 5.3g | Sugar: 7.7g

Looking for More Dog Recipes & Inspiration?

Here are some other delicious doggy meal ideas and caregiving tips to be a good pet parent:

• The best homemade dog treats that are actually easy to make—kale cookies, peanut and wheat germ treats, sweet potato treats, and banana and oat break-off sticks, YUM!
• For fresh circulating air and clean, clutter-less spaces try these 6 Feng Shui Essentials for Happy Pets
• Get your grooming technique in gear with advice on Everything You Need to Know About Grooming Your Dog at Home
• Your day-to-day w-a-l-k’s will never be the same with these 5 Dog Walking Tips for Your Furry Best Friend

The post How to Make Homemade Dog Food for Your Pup appeared first on The Inspired Home.

So, I asked myself, how could I make play more sustainable in February? We’re lucky enough to live in Maine, where winter activities are definitely in high demand, and I want to nurture a genuine love of nature in my children. However, I recognize not everyone has access to scenic hikes and downhill skiing. Instead of writing a post about how amazing it is to live in Maine (which it is, but come on!), I wanted instead to write a post to encourage families, no matter where they live and what their budget, to get outside this winter with a few budget-friendly hacks.

Here are three super simple ways to make, even the most basic activity, a little more exciting this winter season.

1. Pack a picnic.

Winter isn’t exactly the season that screams “picnics” and I want to change that. Our fingers may be a bit chillier than they are in the summer, but packing smart lunches is absolutely the way to beat the cold. It fuels the kids to run around longer and keeps me from buying lunch while we’re out and about.

It’s essential to have the right tools to make packing lunch as easy as possible, and I can’t recommend the Zoku Neat Stack enough. The sizes are perfect for lunches and snacks, and they fit right into each other to nest and store, or to pack and play.

It’s so important in the snowy weather to have insulated lunch containers to keep food, like budget-friendly tomato soup, warm. It makes all the difference to have a hot lunch while out playing around in the cold.

I highly recommend the following lunch & snack combinations:

• A soup or a hot lunch like mac n cheese.
• A dippable snack like hummus, bean dip, or dressing.
• Crunchy cold fruit and veggie slices.
• Crackers like pita chips or Wheat Thins.

This winning combination keeps the kids interested with an array of flavors, temperatures, and textures while providing a lunch that keeps their energy up. A must for winter play.

2. Find free activities.

Next, think “free”. While there are plenty of activities to participate in during the cold months, most of them come with a pretty hefty price tag. Make a list of outdoor areas in your town. Don’t be afraid to Google search or ask around.

Here are a few activity ideas:

Skating. If you don’t have a neighborhood pond, maybe there’s a reduced rate at your local rink. Try Goodwill or thrift stores for expensive skates.

Snowball Fight: Try bringing food dye and making it technicolor.

Sledding. Sleds don’t have to cost a fortune (break down a big box!) and are a great way to get the kids moving and laughing. Any small hill can produce enough thrills to keep kids playing for hours.

Nature Hunt: Pick a theme and take a nature-spotting walk. Maybe take binoculars and a note pad for an extra special experience.

Build a Snow Family or Snow Fort: Moving snow around is no light task. Building anything out of snow is sure to get the kids’ energy out and can happen in any size yard.

Playgrounds: Most playgrounds stay open year-round, and as long as there’s no ice or dangerous conditions, go on and play! I recommend.

Science experiments: Pinterest is an excellent resource for age-appropriate science experiments. The cold weather can provide so many unique opportunities for curiosity and discovery – hello freezing water!

Thrift store inspiration: I mention it above, but go to your local thrift store to stock up on cold-weather essentials and picnic blankets to keep in your car or closet. Roam the aisles for inspiration on activities or DIY games and creations that will keep the kids excited to play out in the cold.

3. Thermoses.

Nothing ruins outdoor play like getting cold. While snow gear is, of course, an essential, packing a warm drink will hit the spot and extend the fun. Pack hot cocoa for the kids and coffee for the parents.

We have one in every style from Berghoff and not only are they super functional, but they’re also aesthetically pleasing, too. After lunch and lots of play, cap off the day of fun with a yummy drink that warms the body and soul.

As a mom to a toddler and an infant, I find it all too easy to get stuck inside all winter. While the library is always free, not many indoor activities are and that can be a huge budget-drain.

I experimented with what exactly it took to get outside more and it was actually quite simple and revolved around some food and creativity.

I hope this post provides just the right kind of inspiration for you to take back winter with lots of picnics and play!

The post Take Back Winter With These Family & Budget-Friendly Activities You Can Do Outside appeared first on The Inspired Home.

Over the course of the past ten years we have acquired our herd of cats (let’s just call it what it is). Two we adopted from a cat rescue down the street from our first apartment. The next two we adopted for my parents a few years later, but they ended up bonding with our cats so that brought us to four…and then last year we were at Costco and found a two-week-old kitten in the parking lot which tops us out at five.

So yes. You could say, I know cats. Part of my life’s mission is to get more people to like cats and adopt animals in general. Cats seem to be misunderstood and labeled as cold and unfriendly.

But they aren’t. All of my cats have ever been… dog-like? They come and greet you. They play fetch. They love to visit with people. When the Costco kitten was ultra little she did the DC hotel, bar and restaurant scene on a leash.

Now that I’ve made it completely obvious I’m a cat lady, I want to assure you however deep you get into the world of pets it doesn’t have to look like you have a zoo in your house. We are design minimalists. We like space. We like structure. So except for the fact the five cats are right by our sides at all times, you probably can’t tell we have cats in the house.

Here’s how we do it:

1. Focus on using functional, aesthetically pleasing items that aren’t specifically pet-marketed.

You are not required to buy everything from a pet store. We use neutral, natural materials that are often multi-purpose. For cat beds, we have a small sheep rug we bought in Denmark and a basket. It’s actually the same style basket we have throughout the house for blankets or other little groupings of items.

And the cats LOVE IT. For water dishes, we use elevated matte black dishes that match our matte black hardware. You could also just use beautiful ceramic bowls. You don’t have to buy a cat-shaped plastic dish.

2. Implement a cleaning routine.

People always comment on how odd it is to see all five cats together on the couch on Instagram withe everything looking so tidy around. It’s actually not that hard. While part of this is because of the decisions we’ve made for storing items, we have a cleaning routine that takes less about 10 minutes.

For litter boxes, we have top entry boxes that don’t look like litter boxes at all. I clean them twice a day, change their water, wipe down all surfaces and then vacuum. Never underestimate the power of a vacuum. That includes vacuuming the couch.

3. Make smart material choices.

We have hardwood floors instead of carpet which can trap dirt, fur, and dander. We have blankets in their basket that are easy to throw in the laundry. And again, we vacuum all the time. We also don’t have wood caning on furniture or sisal carpets because it’s too similar to the texture of a scratching post. Part of making good choices is about acknowledging what could be confusing for cat behavior (so why set yourself up to get mad?).

4. Buy a tall scratching post.

If you don’t have a tall scratching post you need to buy one immediately. Our cats only scratch their post, never furniture. Cats have a need to stretch their long muscles, so don’t opt for a two-foot post and don’t get mad if they’re ruining your couch if you haven’t provided appropriate places for them to scratch. Place the post in an area you spend a lot of time (ours is near where I sit in the living room). Cats also use scratching as a marking tool, so they’ll want to mark near where their ‘person’ is.

Part two is trimming their nails. I’m not saying start this on your five-year-old cat, but when you have a new kitten, start this process. We have ‘pedicure day’ every two weeks with tiny cat nail clippers and it makes us all a lot happier.

5. Store cat items in a single location.

Store nail trimmers, brushes, catnip spray, food, medication, etc in a box or bin in the closet or cabinet. Having a landing spot for everything makes it easy to know where out of place items live.

6. Practice acceptance.

Stop trying to make things work in your home that your pets keep messing up. Pets are kind of like roommates and there are things you have to accept going into that living situation relationship. For example, if you have a black cat it’s time to accept the fact that your white couch will always be covered in noticeable fur.

So you can make it part of your routine to vacuum or lint roll (we seriously buy lint rollers in bulk) or buy a slipcover. If your cat loves to sit on a specific spot on the coffee table, stop putting stuff there and getting mad if they knock it over.

One cat habit that was driving us crazy was the 4 AM wake up. The cats aren’t doing that because they’re jerks. It’s because cats fall into a category of animals that exhibit crepuscular behavior (active during dawn and dusk hours). It’s totally natural and I can’t be mad at nature. To solve the issue, we bought an automatic cat food dispenser timed for the 4 AM wake up. It makes them happy, we get to sleep in (and honestly often times the cats come back to bed after a snack).

7. Play with them!

Don’t ignore your cat. Cats need stimulation whether it’s a bird feeder at the window, or tie with a ball or laser pointer. If your cat is acting out, it’s because their needs haven’t been met. Take this time to teach them fun tricks (ours come when called and one of them can play fetch). The more you bond with them and exercise them, the happier they will be and the less they’ll conspire to murder your plants for attention.

Cats are fantastic companions! Hopefully, a few of these ideas will bring you both a happier home.

Looking for some other ways to keep your home clean with pets?

Check out these 7 products to help keep your house clean, even if you have pets.

Here are some Feng Shui essentials for happy pets!

This guide to maintaining seasonal allergies with pets is sure to inspire you.

The post How to Make Your House Cat-Friendly and Still Design-Forward appeared first on The Inspired Home.

One skill that will need to be taught for sure is how to make a meal! Kitchen safety and the ability to read and follow a recipe is something each one of them will need to know before they leave!

When my kids were super little, making anything in the kitchen was more about spending time together and making memories. But now that they’re a bit older, I can start to teach them some real kitchen skills that they can build on over time.

Last week I decided to bring my youngest into the kitchen to make some lasagna. She has showed interest in cooking for the longest time, so she was more than happy to join me!

Making lasagna involves a lot of basic cooking skills like turning on the stove and oven on, cutting vegetables, measuring and stirring. With supervision from me, I walked her through the process step-by-step while giving some tips along the way!

Teach Kids to Read the Recipe

The first thing I taught my kids when they entered the kitchen was to read the ENTIRE recipe. Even as an experienced home chef, I forget to read the entire recipe and end up mid-recipe without the proper tools or sometimes ingredients! As they read the recipe, have them get out everything they will need to make the dish.

Turning On the Oven

Another skill that’s important in the kitchen is turning on appliances big and small.

Before we ever turn on the oven, I make them check two things:

• Is the oven hot?
• Is there something in there?

This is very important. So many accidents happen in the kitchen because something that was in the oven got cooked when it wasn’t supposed to be in the oven! After all is clear, I have the kids check to see what temperature the recipe calls for (usually the preheat setting) and have them turn the oven on.

Measuring and Mixing

Another skill kids will need to learn is measuring and mixing ingredients! For the most part this will be guided and kids should have basic math skills!

Here are some tips:

• Show your child how to level off and pack down when using a measuring cup.
• Use nesting cups and spoons like these from OXO for simple explanations! Plus these are magnetic so its easier to remove and use.
• Show them how to pour over a bowl without making a mess.
• Use a comfortable mixing spoon like this beauty from Talisman Designs.
• Use a nice sturdy bowl so kids can easily stir the ingredients without worrying about the bowl tipping.

A Real Kitchen Knife Just for Kids

Listen, learn and watch are three things I’m always telling the kids when I’m teaching them new skills. They must listen to directions and apply it when they try it out. Usually I will give them a step-by-step.

This Le Petit Chef knife by Opinel is the perfect starter knife. It’s made specifically for little hands and also comes with a finger guard to keep little fingers out of the way! This knife also teaches kids the correct technique that is used by professionals. When they slide their finger into the guard rings their hand naturally takes shape of the claw grip position.

Stovetop Safety for Kids

Because we have gas stovetop, I still assist my kids. It will still be a couple of years before I trust them to do it without me. Gas can be very dangerous if left on too long. So with my help, I first show them and then allow them to do it. But before we begin I tell them to make sure nothing is around the stove, that they have no long sleeves, hair hanging down or anything else that might catch on fire.

Here are some other safety tips for the stovetop:

• Slowly push and turn the dial
• Wait to hear the gas
• Hear the click and watch the flame
• Slowly turn it to the lowest setting
• Keep cookware handles inward
• Teach them how to turn the stove off

Teaching your kids basic cooking skills can be so rewarding to you both! Plus one day all that hard work will pay off when they make you all your favorite dishes! Get in the kitchen today with your kids, make some memories, and enjoy a good meal!

The post Cooking With Kids: The Basic Kitchen Skills Your Junior Chef Needs to Get Started appeared first on The Inspired Home.

I definitely consider myself a free spirit in most areas of my life (creative people like me say this all the time haha) but once I became a wife and a mother, that idea really just took a back seat. Moms are driven by routines. Having kids gives you just enough chaos to make you feel ALIVE but not enough to drive you completely CRAZY. Three kids is manageable and because of that, so is our morning routine.

The day really starts with me. When I wake up, the house wakes up! I mean it can wake up without me but let me tell you, it’s not pretty. Kids forget projects, make questionable breakfast choices and don’t even get me started about outfits. Even though they have reminders in human form (aka mom and dad) and also in written form (agendas and calendars) They still forget!

So I try to wake up before the kids and get things going with some coffee, maybe a smoothie or just some water and lemon. I’ll do the same thing for about 3-4 days in a row and then switch it up because if I don’t, the days feels mundane!

Once get myself going, I wake the kids and usually start a load of laundry. That’s only because I pass the laundry room twice and I feel like I should make an attempt to go in there! Because the laundry room is upstairs I know I won’t go back up there if there is no laundry started!

The kids get a simple breakfast that they can usually make themselves. Frozen waffles are a favorite and so is peanut butter toast with sliced bananas and cinnamon. I use a nifty banana cutter to slice them a bit faster. With three kids, it really is a time saver!

Mom tip: Always have your kids come down in their pajamas. My kids use to get dressed and ready before coming down but they ruined so many outfits doing that! So now they get fully dressed AFTER breakfast.

While the kids go back upstairs, get dressed, brush their teeth, and do any last minute things, I’ll sometimes start their lunches for them. We usually look at the school lunch menu to decide if they are buying or taking. If they are taking we pack a lunch if not we just pack a snack!

They take a snack every single day so we like to use reusable bags like these from Stasher to store anything from fruit to crackers. We have a few sizes so we just pick and choose which one fits! Frozen fruit is perfect for lunch boxes because it stays cold and by the time lunch comes around it’s defrosted enough for them to eat!

Once the snacks and lunches are packed the kids are ready to put shoes on, pack backpacks and wait for the bus! The bus picks them up a couple of houses down from our home so it’s just a 1 minute walk! After I kiss my babies goodbye I head back into the house and start my work day!

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Over the years I’ve acquired a ton of crafting supplies so this cart was just what I needed to hold all of our Valentine’s Day themed supplies. With plenty of drawer space, cubbies and even a ribbon holder, it wasn’t hard finding a place for everything. I dug out everything cute, red, pink, and white and loaded up the cart with fun crafting supplies just for her! Usually these supplies are tucked away in a tote dedicated to all things Valentines so it was nice to get everything out as we prepared to craft!

I had my daughter set up a place in the kitchen to create some special cards for all of her classmates and dance friends. She’s a natural crafter so she had no problem jumping in and getting started.

Each drawer was filled with everything she needed to get started. Glue, an adorable tape dispenser, scissors and of course a ton of hearts were just the start. I love the fact that everything was organized and was easier for her to access independently! Also it took her a couple of days to finish, so it was nice to just putting everything back in the cart and roll it away!

When Valentine’s Day is over this cart can also be used to hold gift wrap, summer crafting supplies or even everyday supplies for the kids! It fits perfectly into a hall closet or can be tucked away into any corner of your home! Are you ready for a Valentine’s Day #crafternoon!

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I’ve also noticed with family game night, there is always an opportunity to teach. Sometimes being a good sport comes up or even how to handle conflict when someone thinks another person is cheating. But overall, we really just enjoy the conversation and the suspense of seeing who will be the winner!

Before family game night I like to put out a few snack for us to munch on. I keep everything in the kitchen on our landing area so that everyone has access to it. I’ve seen so many split drinks when the kids or us adults get excited, that I learned to just keep things separate! Ha! Pizza, and popcorn are our usually go to’s for this night! It’s easy and simple and keeps those bellies full!

Around the coffee table I usually pull up a few extra pillows and even ottomans like this one from Kvell that not only holds stuff like blankets but also acts as an extra seat! That way everyone has a spot and can sit comfortably!

We also like to mix things up by playing new games and classic games like Stack the Bones (aka Jenga) and Pick up Sticks. With smaller games like this we usually have two games going at the same time and then switch things off! It’s important to have games the kids will love so you can never go wrong with classics!

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Where to Set Up a Homework Station

This little area in our playroom is dedicated for all things school. But you can really set up a homework station anywhere in your home. Kitchen tables are very popular because they are usually near the kitchen and family room so it gives parents easy access to help! Your family office, a spare bedroom or even a space in the family room can all work for a homework station! Just remember if your child does best in quiet areas vs busy areas, just keep that in mind!

What to Put in a Homework Station

Our kids have a large bookcase with boxes and bins filled with school supplies, paper and anything they may need for a project. (We keep the paint and permanent markers downstairs because well, kids!) This is a great idea so you can store all of your supplies in one spot. If you don’t have much room then that’s when bins and boxes like these from Bigso come in handy. They come in a variety of sizes and even material so you can customize your storage area so it fits your family. This soft touch bin has handles and a flip top for easy access. No misplaced tops!

Bins like the one below are perfect for keeping extra spiral notebooks for older kids who are required to take notes.

With a large desk, the kids have more than enough room to spread out and get their work done. I also have pencil holders that keep their supplies tidy and they can be stored away when not in use. This keeps the table open for other purposes! Stock up your pencil holders with pens, fun pencils, highlighters or anything else they might need for study time. Little kids will need crayons and markers for some of their projects so I keep those tucked away and bring them out when needed.

Charging Station

Gone are the days of paper and pen practice. Most of my kids teachers recommend app and other websites for practice with reading, math and even social studies. We have multiple devices in our home and each one is up for grabs when it’s homework time. I LOVE the docking station for this very reason. It keeps all of our devices in one spot and charges everything at the same time. So the next day they are ready to use!

Under the hood are all the cables for each device, which I love because we don’t have a mess of cables and cords everywhere! I’ve also noticed that the All Dock station charges really fast! So I looked it up on the website and found that it actually charges 30% faster than a standard charger! WOW! It’s the little things that make this mom happy and fast charging devices is one of them!

Are ready to setup your own homework station? Tell us about it and visit some of our favorite products to help!

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