Free Kids' Building Workshops

I love finding free activities for kids, especially since I have three kids and it can get costly!

I have recently discovered that Home Depot and Lowe's offer free kids' workshops!

Home Depot offers free workshops on the first Saturday of every month (Here for more information.).

Lowe's also offers free workshops about twice a month (Here for more information.).

I have been to the Home Depot workshops three times, and only once to Lowe's. They have a few differences which I will share.

Home Depot supplies aprons and refreshments, which varies but usually includes Capri-sun, water, popcorn, and granola bars. Their projects are a bit simpler than Lowe's but still takes time and effort, and my kids love the end-results.

Below are pictures of some of the projects we have brought home from Home Depot.

The first project is a take-home mini-garden. First we built the plant holders using a hammer and nails (younger kids will need parental assistance). Then the kids painted them. Finally, each child could pick two different potted plants (There were three different kinds to choose from: Marigold, Polka dots, and Snap dragon.).

The second project was a lawnmower pencil holder. First we built it using a hammer, nails, and glue. Then the kids painted them. 

The third project was a bit more complicated: a car sponsored by Despicable Me 2. First we built the car using hammer, nails, and glue. Then the kids painted them and put stickers on once the paint had dried. 

Lowe's supplies aprons but did not offer any refreshments the one time we participated in their workshop. However, their projects are more appealing (in my opinion) than the ones that Home Depot offers. 

Here is a picture of the project from Lowe's:

It is a treasure chest sponsored by Monsters University. First, we built it using a hammer and nails. Then the kids put the stickers on. They were excited to put things inside the treasure chest. Although they didn't offer any refreshments or even paint, we spent more time building this treasure chest than on any project we did at Home Depot.

Overall, I like the projects that they offer at Lowe's. However, Lowe's requires an online reservation, and the spots fill up very quickly. In addition, they don't say what the dates are to sign up. You just have to keep checking their website. As a result, we haven't been able to attend their workshops on occasion because their workshops are already full!

Home Depot's projects are simpler, but the kids still really enjoy them. They have a more relaxed atmosphere - offering refreshments, balloons, and you don't have to sign up before-hand.

Both Home Depot and Lowe's are great learning opportunities for kids to build projects. My family and I really enjoy these free workshops!

New York Style Raisin Bagels

One of the things I've missed since moving away from the east coast are New York style bagels.

I have adapted this recipe for a healthier option, and it still tastes scrumptious!
My kids don't even notice the changes I've made and even request it!

I have only made these bagels using a bread machine. The original recipe includes instructions on how to make this bagel by hand if you don't have a bread machine.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup of Water

1 1/4 cup of Whole Wheat flour (I like Trader Joe's 100% White Whole Wheat Flour.)

2 1/2 cup of Bread flour

2 Tbsp of Sugar

1.5 tsp of Salt

1.5 tsp of Active Dry Yeast

1/4 cup of Raisins

1 tsp (or more) of Chia seeds

1 tsp (or more) of Flax seeds

Place the ingredients into the Bread Machine container as instructed in the manual.
(With some bread machines, the wet ingredients are placed first, and then the dry ingredients, except the active dry yeast. Make a small "well" in the middle of the ingredients, and place the active dry yeast into the well.) Set option to "Dough".

Once the dough in the bread machine is ready, begin boiling water (about 4 quarts) in a large pot. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (Oven temperatures may vary.)

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil the baking sheet.

Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface.

Divide dough into 8 balls (or more for smaller bagels). Press thumb down into center of each ball and push through to make a hole. Gently pull with fingers to make the hole bigger.

Add 2-3 bagels at a time to the pot of boiling water. Boil about 1 minute on each side. Using a slotted spoon, remove bagels from the pot of boiling water and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly oiled.

Brush the tops of each bagel with melted butter (optional).

Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes until lightly golden brown.

Cool on a wire rack and enjoy!

Xzema salve

A great all-around moisturizer is the Shea Body Lotion.

            

However, for those who are dealing with eczema and have trouble spots (areas of extreme dry skin, redness, and/or itchiness), this is a soothing and moisturizing salve.

The secret to this recipe is mango butter. This butter is highly emollient, softening and soothing to the skin. Mango butter has protective effects against UV radiation and also helps treat skin rash, eczema, insect bites, and poison ivy. Mango butter can help protect and heal skin from the damage caused by sunburn and frostbite.

Supplies needed:

• Pyrex measuring container
• Glass jars to store the salve
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Hand stick blender
• Stainless steel mixing cup  (Some hand stick blenders come with plastic mixing cups. However, it is better to use one that is stainless steel since you’ll be working with hot liquids.)

It is a good idea to keep these supplies dedicated solely to making creams and kept separate from food.

HOMEMADE XZEMA SALVE
(adapted from this recipe)

• 4 Tbsp Shea Butter (* Update: or Cocoa Butter)
• 1 tsp Mango Butter
• 1 Tbsp Avocado, Grape seed, or Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Jojoba Oil
• ½ tsp Vitamin E oil (optional. If using it on sensitive skin and/or on children, you can opt out of using vitamin E altogether.)
• * Update: 1/2 Tbsp Beeswax

1.     Place the shea butter, mango butter, avocado oil, and jojoba oil into a Pyrex measuring  container.

2.     Put the Pyrex container into a pot of simmering water and let the ingredients melt together. When they are completely melted and mixed, take them off the heat.

3.     Carefully pour the hot liquid mixture into a stainless steel mixing cup. Add the Vitamin E (optional).

4.     Allow to cool to room temperature. If you want to quicken the cool-down process, place the mixing cup into a bowl of ice water.

5.     Blend with a stick blender until well blended.

6.     Put into a glass jar. Since these ingredients are fresh and no preservatives are used, it is best to store in the fridge and use within six months.

7.     Simply apply 2-3 times a day. Works best in conjunction with Waxelene.

* Update: I have switched from shea butter to cocoa butter. I have found that the original recipe has a skin pigment lightening effect. Using cocoa butter instead of shea butter seems to have resolved the problem. I have also added beeswax to the salve and have found it to help the skin to retain moisture better and for longer.

Additional notes:

Shea butter, mango butter, and avocado oil are available at Brambleberry.com and amazon.com.

I have found jojoba oil and grape seed oil from Trader Joe’s at a decent price. Amazon.com also sells jojoba oil.

The Big Boss Hand Stick Blender works great, which is also available at amazon.com.

Target has some great glass jars to store your creams, and they come in different sizes too. Amazon.com also sells these glass jars in larger quantities.

Store your remaining ingredients in a cool, dry place. If you live in a hot area, you may want to refrigerate them. Each of the oils, butters, and beeswax differ in the shelf-life, so be sure to check on them.

Homemade Sunscreen

After reading about sunscreens and the potential negative effects of many of the ingredients used in store-bought sunscreens, I purchased an all-natural sunscreen.

It was costly, about $20. And it was gone in 2 weeks!

So, I decided to make some of my own sunscreen.

And I'm never going back to store-bought sunscreen!

Supplies needed:

• Pyrex measuring container
• Empty sunscreen tube or glass jar to store the sunscreen
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Hand stick blender
• Stainless steel mixing cup  (Some hand stick blenders come with plastic mixing cups. However, it is better to use one that is stainless steel since you’ll be working with hot liquids.)
• Mask
• Funnel (optional)

It is a good idea to keep these supplies dedicated solely to making creams and kept separate from food.

NATURAL HOMEMADE SUNSCREEN

(adapted from this recipe)

• ½ cup Almond oil (or Grape seed oil for sensitive skin)
• ¼ cup Coconut oil (or Grape seed oil for sensitive skin)
• ¼ cup grated Beeswax or Beeswax pellets
• 2 Tbsp Shea Butter (natural SPF 4-5)
• 1 tsp Mango Butter
• 2 Tbsp Zinc oxide * (Be careful not to inhale the powder as it can be TOXIC if inhaled! Use a mask. This amount gives an SPF of about 20. Add more zinc oxide if you want to increase the SPF.)
• 1 tsp Vitamin E oil (optional)
• Essential oils (optional)

1.     Place the oils, shea butter, mango butter, and beeswax in a Pyrex measuring container.

2.     Put the Pyrex container into a pot of simmering water and let the ingredients melt together. When they are completely melted and mixed, take them off the heat.

3.     Carefully pour the liquid mixture into a stainless steel mixing cup.

4.     Carefully add zinc oxide. Be careful not to inhale the powder as it can be TOXIC when inhaled. Use a mask.

5.     Optional: Add vitamin E oil and essential oils.

6.     Stir a few times with a spoon to incorporate the zinc oxide, vitamin E oil, and essential oils.

7.     Allow to cool to room temperature. If you want to quicken the cool-down process, place the mixing cup into a bowl of ice water.

8.     Carefully blend with a stick blender until well blended.

9.     Pour into an empty sunscreen container tube (a funnel may be needed to do this) or a glass jar. Since these ingredients are fresh and no preservatives are used, it is best to store in the fridge and use within six months.

10. If using an empty sunscreen container (tube), just remove from fridge 15 minutes prior to use. This sunscreen is not as waterproof as store-bought sunscreen, so reapply more often than you would with store-bought sunscreen.

Additional notes:

Shea butter, mango butter, almond oil, avocado oil, and beeswax are available at Brambleberry.com and amazon.com.

* Zinc oxide is available on amazon.com. This particular product is non-nano, so it won’t pass through the skin.

The Big Boss Hand Stick Blender works great, which is also available at amazon.com.

Target has some great glass jars to store your creams, and they come in different sizes too. Amazon.com also sells these glass jars in larger quantities.

Waxelene

What is Waxelene?

It is an all-natural alternative to petroleum jelly, which is found in products such as Vaseline, Aquaphor, and a great number of other products.

There are concerns with petroleum jelly, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are considered potentially carcinogenic and have links to breast cancer.

This recipe has the same consistency as Vaseline. I was thrilled with the results when I first made this!

Supplies needed:

• Pyrex measuring container
• Glass jars to store the waxelene
• Measuring cups and spoons

It is a good idea to keep these supplies dedicated solely to making creams and separate from food.

HOMEMADE WAXELENE

• 1/8 cup of grated Beeswax or Beeswax pellets
• ½ cup of Avocado oil (or olive oil)

1.      Put the oil and beeswax into a Pyrex measuring container. Put that into a pot of simmering water and let them melt together. When they are completely melted and mixed, take them off the heat.

2.     Carefully pour into a glass jar and cool to room temperature.

3.     Since these ingredients are fresh and no preservatives are used, it is best to store in the fridge and use within six months.

Additional notes:

Beeswax and avocado oil are available at Brambleberry.com and amazon.com.

Target has some great glass jars to store your creams, and they come in different sizes too. Amazon.com also sells these glass jars in larger quantities.

Shea Body Lotion

At first, the thought of making homemade creams intimidated me. Once I found the motivation to do this however, I have found that it is actually much easier than it seems. The hardest part is gathering the supplies and ingredients.

Supplies needed:

• Pyrex measuring container
• Glass jars to store the lotion
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Hand stick blender
• Stainless steel mixing cup  (Some hand stick blenders come with plastic mixing cups. However, it is better to use one that is stainless steel since you’ll be working with hot liquids.)

It is a good idea to keep these supplies dedicated solely to making creams and kept separate from food.

Here is a recipe that I have found to be very moisturizing and great for dry skin.

SHEA BODY LOTION

• 1 cup Shea butter
• ½ cup of Almond oil* (or Grape seed oil for an almond allergy and/or sensitive skin)
• 1  cup Distilled water or Rose water
• ¼ cup grated Beeswax or Beeswax pellets
• 20 drops of Essential oils (optional) 

1.     Place the shea butter, beeswax, and almond oil (or grapeseed oil) into a Pyrex measuring container.

2.     Put the Pyrex container into a pot of simmering water and let the ingredients melt together. When they are completely melted and mixed, take them off the heat.

3.     Carefully pour the liquid mixture of oil and melted beeswax into a stainless steel mixing cup and allow to cool to room temperature. If you want to quicken the cool-down process, place the mixing cup into a bowl of ice water.

4.     Slowly add the distilled water and essential oils and blend with a stick blender until well blended.

5.     Put into a glass jar. Since these ingredients are fresh and no preservatives are used, it is best to store in the fridge and use within six months. Since this lotion is refrigerated, it is very cooling to the skin when applied.

* One great aspect of making your own creams is that you can change the ingredients to tailor to your skin’s needs.

Almond oil is commonly used. However, for those with nut allergies and/or sensitive skin, grape seed oil is a great alternative. Both almond oil and grape seed oil are light and do not leave a greasy residue.

Jojoba oil helps alleviate inflammation and is quickly absorbed without leaving a greasy residue. It is best used in combination with another oil rather than as the main oil.

If you want the lotion to be thicker, try using coconut oil or avocado oil. Any combination of these oils can be used according to your skin’s needs.

For those with nut allergies, I have read that many people with nut allergies tolerate shea butter (Shea butter comes from an African nut tree.). However, if you do have a reaction to shea butter and/or want to err on the side of caution, cocoa butter is another option. I use both cocoa butter and shea butter, but I find shea butter to be more moisturizing than cocoa butter.

If you are interested in using cocoa butter, here is a recipe that I like:

Whipped Body Butter

Additional notes:

This particular recipe yields one 16 oz. (pint) glass jar + one 8 oz. (half pint) glass jar. Target has some great glass jars to store your creams, and they come in different sizes too. Amazon.com also sells these glass jars in larger quantities.

Shea butter, almond oil, and beeswax are available at Brambleberry.com and amazon.com.

I have found jojoba oil and grape seed oil from Trader Joe’s at a decent price. Amazon.com also sells jojoba oil. Distilled water is usually found in supermarkets.

The Big Boss Hand Stick Blender works great, which is also available at amazon.com.

Store your remaining ingredients in a cool, dry place. If you live in a hot area, you may want to refrigerate them. Each of the oils, butters, and beeswax differ in the shelf-life, so be sure to check on them.