My DIY and Upcycling Day

Today was one of those days when creativity clouded my mind and the best outlet for me was upcycling! what triggered this mood were a box of Trader Joe's Cocoa Baton(which I highly recommend! it's so yummy!) and empty Pringles container. I needed a pouch for my colored pencils and something to organize my cookie cutters in my small cupboard. I was cleaning up the house and almost threw the empty snack containers in the trash when I had the aha moment.

I took my dusty artsy kit out to play where I always keep a jar of Mod Podge, and a pad of scrapbook paper because you'll never know when you need to decoupage! :)

I used one of the kids' plastic tray to hold my coloring pens, but not anymore...

Now I regret throwing the other Pringles containers because the height fits perfectly in my cupboard which means I'd be able to organize small, baking gadgets (e.g. piping tips, polvoron molders, muffin liners) while utilizing the vertical space. 

Other than upcycling, I was also able to do some DIY with my very own homemade apple chips! I love Bare Apple Chips but it just pains me to shell out $3.50 for each small bag every time I crave for it, which is almost always everyday. I read in the bag that it's baked, so I thought maybe I can make one myself instead because we still have green-apples-in-waiting in the fridge. 

I googled for recipes and I chose this for it's simplicity, I just like my apple chips plain and simple without cinnamon powder or glaze on it. I followed the recipe to the letter and voila, my very own Apple Chips. 

bare Fuji Red Apple Chips vs My homemade Green Apple Chips

Nothing beats freshly made and not a pinch of preservatives added.

The kids and husband loved it too!

Mommy's School

After a week in preschool we decided to pull out our little boy from the program because we were not happy with the coop setup. I can't list the reasons why we didn't like it in this post but to make it short, it may be cheaper but it's not worth it. It just didn't work for us.

And so my little boy is now an "out of school" toddler for the rest of the summer. I never planned to home school, I never thought I have the skill for it but as they say, "when life throws you lemons, you make lemonade". My lemonade is to step up to be his teacher, as in seriously make a lesson plan and goals. I made use of Google and Youtube for ideas, as well as applying what I've observed in his big brother's preschool. I started by explaining to him that Mommy's School is going to be a serious school where he has to follow a certain schedule and routine even when he is home.

I started on Monday after our San Diego trip and as most of you already know, whenever a family comes home from a vacation the house will be in a state of World War III mess. I don't have a nanny or a cleaner, and I needed to clean ASAP, add to that I had to cook, drive to summer camp and karate, bathe them and myself. It was the real Manic Monday, and in pictures let me tell you how I managed to do all of it because just like any regular school, a teacher can't be absent just because she has to clean her house.

Here are few ideas for activities that tots can do independently while learning.

Design and Drill activity while mommy eats breakfast.
He follows the pattern on the card, developing his motor skill, color recognition,
and understanding grid. This is a very good toy
 I bought this from a garage sale but here's the amazon link.

Cutting activity while I clean the living room.
Cutting develops their fine motor skill that's important when learning how to write.
Got this Cutting Activity book from The Dollar Tree.


After we pick up Big Brother from camp, it's Lunch time!
One reason we enrolled the little boy in preschool is for him to learn
how to eat independently. But since he doesn't go there anymore, he has
to learn it in Mommy's School. I leave them eating by themselves in
the room while I take my lunch at the dining area. After this, the little boy has to
clean up his own mess under the table so next time he will be more careful
not to drop too much food on the floor.


While little boy is still finishing his lunch, big brother busied himself
with writing practice. Dry-Erase writing board I got from The Dollar Tree.


When they are both done eating lunch, it's fun activity time!
We cooked some Gummy Fruit Snack and played Ice Smashing.
Got these ideas from WhatsUpMoms Youtube channel.


Cutting Activity and find the hidden pictures
 while I bathe each of them and while I take a quick shower too.
(I found a very good Bible Hidden Pictures book from The Dollar Tree
that is also available in amazon)


Snack time with TV while I clean the rest of the house.
Big brother has to rest and fuel up before his karate class.


When daddy comes home, each of the boys has to stand in front of daddy
to narrate what they did for the day. The goal for this activity is
to practice their speech, vocabulary and "public speaking".