Catalyst Project Event

Join us on December 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the high school Khoo Teck Puat Library Center of Innovation to witness some of our student presentations and celebrate their personal learning journeys.

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Middle School Band, Strings, Choir Holiday Concert

Please join us for our annual holiday concert on Wednesday, December 14 at 5:00 p.m. in the auditorium.

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Advisory on Monkeys from NEA

From time to time monkeys explore our campus, and sometimes our homes. Read the practical advice from NEA on keeping monkeys at bay and staying safe when monkeys approach you.

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DIY Sugar Cookie Lip Scrub Recipe (Great Gift Idea!)

While we all know that the sugar in traditional sugar cookies is detrimental to our health, you can still get all of the flavor of homemade cookies with this fun lip scrub recipe. It tastes and smells just like a sugar cookie. Even better though, it will exfoliate and nourish your lips, without putting a dent in your healthy lifestyle.

I never used to pay much attention to lip scrubs. During the winter when dry lips would hit I’d reach for some homemade lip balm, like this peppermint one. However, lip scrubs really help to exfoliate the build up of dead skin that gives lips that crusty, gummy feel. Not only are you getting rid of the gunk on your lips, but the oils and honey in this help to nourish the delicate skin on this facial area. I still like to follow it up with some homemade lip balm for extra moisture during the winter months.

How to Make Sugar Cookie Lip Scrub

The first ingredient in this lip scrub recipe is virgin coconut oil. Coconut oil has lots of uses for skin and hair, and it’s also a healthy addition to your diet. In this lip scrub it provides moisture, antioxidants, and helps thicken the product. If you’re looking for more ways to incorporate this superfood into your life, then try making some tooth remineralizing chews.

Sweet almond oil is the liquid carrier oil here, as it helps to smooth everything out. You can substitute another liquid carrier oil of your choice, however the sweet, nutty smell of sweet almond really adds to the sugar cookie vibe. The fatty acids, and vitamins A and E make sweet almond oil the perfect choice to nourish lips.

Like the carrier oils, raw honey helps to add moisture to the lips. It also has healing properties to restore and rejuvenate damaged lips. It’s so powerful that naturally antibacterial raw honey is even used to speed healing of wounds and burns. Raw honey is also slightly emulsifying, so it helps to bind the ingredients in this lip scrub recipe together. You can read more about the healing uses of raw honey here.

A Note About Vanilla…

Vanilla extract gives this lip scrub recipe a true sugar cookie smell and taste. I like making my own homemade vanilla extract (get the recipe here), but for this it’s best to use a glycerin based vanilla extract. If you only have access to alcohol based vanilla extract, you can still use it since there is enough moisture in the other ingredients to make up for it.

Glycerin acts as a humectant to add moisture to the lips, while alcohol is more drying. It is a common ingredient in even many natural toothpastes, but I purposefully avoid it in my homemade toothpaste. While glycerin is thought to coat the enamel and promote tooth decay, it’s actually very soothing to skin and lips so it’s great for skincare.

Sugar Cookie Lip Scrub Recipe Ingredients

• 1 T. organic cane sugar
• ½ tsp unrefined coconut oil
• ¼ tsp sweet almond oil
• ½ tsp vanilla extract (preferably made with glycerin)
• 1/8 tsp raw honey

Lip Scrub Instructions

1. In a small glass bowl combine all of the ingredients. Mash and stir them together with a spoon or rubber spatula until well combined and a little creamy.
2. Store your lip balm recipe in a ½ ounce glass jar.

How to Use a Lip Scrub

• Use your finger to scoop a small amount of lip scrub out and gently rub it on your lips to exfoliate, then rinse off with a wash cloth soaked in warm water.
• Make sure you’re leaning over a sink when you use this, since it’s fairly messy to use.

What is your favorite lip product? Do you struggle with dry lips in the winter?

Continue Reading...DIY Sugar Cookie Lip Scrub Recipe (Great Gift Idea!)

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Mommy Hacks – Tips for Improved Efficiency

I’ve had a running list in my phone of tips I found that saved me time or money (or made my life much easier). My hope was to work them into posts so I could share them, but the list was getting longer and I was having trouble fitting a bunch of random helpful tips into posts about detoxing your pits or mthfr mutations.

So they get their own post instead!

Mommy Hacks

These are some random “Mommy Hacks” that save me time, or money or are just plain convenient. Have any tips that save you time or money? I’d love if you’d share them in the comments below…

1. Keep an All-In-One Cleaner In Your Purse

I don’t love using hand sanitizers or antibacterial soaps, but my kids have a way of finding germy messes to touch on a regular basis. I’m definitely not scared of a little dirt, but gym floors and public bathrooms are another ball game.

My kids also have a knack for spilling brightly colored substances on their clothing. From paint to beet juice, few shirts make it to the laundry without at least one stain.

I found one solution to both of these problems. I keep these baby wipes in my purse at all times, even when I don’t have a baby in diapers. They double as hand wipes, stain removers, and I use them to wipe down surfaces at restaurants and in airports.

UPDATE: I used to link to a spray cleaner in this post, and that is why it is in the picture above. When that product was discontinued, I started using baby wipes instead and love them!

2. Keep Lettuce in Glass Mason Jars

I wish I’d know this years ago…. it would have saved so. much. lettuce. A friend share this recently and I’ve been doing it since.

The process is simple. Just wash, dry (or use a salad spinner) and pack into glass quart size mason jars. Greens stay crisp and fresh in jars for 1-2 weeks instead of 3-4 days this way.

To save time, I’ve also pre-packed salads into these jars. Put the meat or protein on the bottom of the jar with any sauce or dressing, then add any other chopped veggies or toppings, then put the lettuce or spinach in last. I pre-make these for the week, especially if I’m on the go.

When ready to eat, just shake the jar to mix in the dressing and pour out on to a plate.

3. A shirt that improves other shirts…

I am by no means a fashionista… I’m more of a yoga pants chic kind of girl, so I don’t typically write about clothing…

A recent purchase inspired me to break this (self imposed) no fashion blogging rule, however. It is called a lace extender and it has allowed me to wear shirts I haven’t worn since a decade ago (and now I feel old…).

It is a camisole that can be worn under shirts to make them longer and dress them up a little. I’m long waisted and no longer like the midriff or hip bone baring styles I wore in college, but I still love some of the shirts I have (that are now *actual* vintage).

These lace extenders have seriously expanded my wardrobe and they even dress up shirts, cardigans or sweaters.

4. Dry Shampoo

In a perfect world, I wake up early each morning, workout, shower and do my health routine before my children wake up so I am calmly making breakfast when they come downstairs.

In reality, this only happens about half of the time and the other half, I’m on deadline or they wake up early so I don’t have time to wash my hair before they wake up. On these days, dry shampoo is my best friend.

I make my own (cheaper + natural) and customize it to my hair color. Here’s the recipe and how to customize it.

5. Reuse Old Socks

Our home could be re-named the land of mismatched socks. I don’t know how, but somehow my children manage to lose, ruin or hide socks, but only one of them…

My ever-growing mismatched sock bin was frustrating me, until my daughter figured out how to make kid-sized heat packs out of old socks, and until we figured out we could mop the floor with them…

Here is the tutorial for the homemade heating pads (and kid-sized hand warmers). For floor mopping, I just give each child a spray bottle of diluted Sal Suds cleaner, let them all put on several layers of mismatched socks and “skate” on the floor. They spray a spot and then glide over it to clean it. As socks get dirts, they just peel them off to get to a clean layer.

Result? A fun activity for the kids and a clean floor for me!

6. Get a Diva Cup

So we all know tampons and pads are unhealthy… didn’t know? Here’s why.

If I had to name one thing that has saved me time, money and hassle, it would be my Diva Cup. Yes, it is strange to adjust to. Yes, my hubby still thinks it is weird, but it is the closest thing to not having a period when you’re on your period. Here’s why I love it:

• My period has decreased in length by 1-2 days per month since I started using it (other women report this as well and also report having their cramps vanish)
• I only have to change it every 12-24 hours and in between, it is like not having a period. I can swim, run, exercise, sleep etc without worrying about changing it
• It has saved me up to $10 a month on buying natural feminine care products

Here is the model I have (get this one if you haven’t had kids) and I LOVE it (strange to say about a menstrual product). Seriously- try it… I dare you! TIP: if it is uncomfortable or leaks, try turning it inside out…

7. Foaming Hand Soap

To make our hand soap last longer, I make my own by using natural organic soap and a foaming soap dispenser.

Here’s the tutorial.

8. Whiten Teeth with Charcoal

I’ve whitened my teeth (like really whitened them) completely naturally with natural coconut charcoal (not the stuff from the grill!) and it has improved my oral health in the process.

It sounds strange and looks even stranger, but it works. Here’s the how-to. I find this works best in combination with my simple whitening toothpaste.

What tips and “mommy hacks” do you have to help save time and money? Share your best ones below!

Continue Reading...Mommy Hacks – Tips for Improved Efficiency

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Jack Nicklaus says Golf Ball Is Reason Golf Courses Are Closing

Jack Nicklaus (AGAIN) on Tuesday at the HSBC Golf Business Forum in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida said the reason golf courses are closing is because golf balls go too far.

Wait. What?

Here is what Nicklaus actually said, "Fact is, more golf courses have closed in the U.S. in each of the last 10 years than have opened.  This is thanks in great part to changes in the golf ball and the distance it travels."

HIS SOLUTION: create golf balls designed for each and every golf course.

Jack might not be aware of this (you would think he would be though), but Jack you actually make one of the longer balls in golf. The Nicklaus Black.  And not that is NOT the reaosn courses are closing.

These statements always baffle me. Don't get me wrong Jack is the greatest, but the fact our industry continues to look to these 3-5 famous "golfers" for the answer to the games problems when what they say makes almost no sense in terms of actually solving the problem, just makes well...no sense. They are not the answer to golf courses closing or the game shrinking.

Here is the funny thing about evolution: it never stops. Not even for Jack or Tiger. This game and every other game ever invented and our species will continue to evolve. If not...well, that is when it dies. Moving back to a more primitive version of ourselves or this game is what is called de-evolution and it is NOT the answer. The sooner they relaize this (they won't) the sooner our game moves in a more healthy direction.

And there is your reason for why golf is dying. It is quite simple.  It has failed to evolve and if it continues it will end up extinct just like the dinosaur it is becoming.

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Mortgage rates advance for Wednesday

If you're purchasing or refinancing, it may be a great time to lock in a rate.

from Bankrate.com » Mortgages http://ift.tt/2gIKreg

48 Santa Crafts for Kids! Oh-So-Simple!

Ho Ho Ho! Santa Claus is coming to town and Christmas crafts will be decking the halls!

Of course, Santa is a highlight here in our house! This year, I think my kids will be in for a rude awakening. My oldest thinks anything and everything he asks for, Santa will bring him. (In his defense, his list has always been 1 or 2 small things and has always happened…)

I love Santa traditions, and making it extra special for the kids doesn’t take a whole lot. Just the anticipation of Santa coming brings the biggest smiles on their faces. And that’s the most heart warming of all.

To build on that anticipation, make these Santa crafts with your kids this holiday season. Pair these with cute Christmas tree crafts and activities, and you’ll be set!

Santa’s hat is a classic, but a focus on his beard can be swirly fun too! Check out these simple Santa crafts for kids to make!

Find 25 Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids Here

Classic Santa Hat Crafts for Kids to Make

Let’s start with Santa hat crafts for the kids to make. Santa’s hat is as recognizable as Santa himself.

The fluffy ball at the top makes it unmistakable.

Have Swirly Fun with Santa Beard Crafts

Aside from Santa’s hat, what’s the next most recognizable part of Santa? His white, curly beard!

Lotsa Santa Crafts for Kids to Make!

Of course, Santa is so much more than just his red hat and white beard, Santa crafts for kids can just be of Santa himself.

With his jolly belly, belt, and red suit. They all make up Santa as his remarkable self.

You may also find some Homemade Ornaments for the Kids here.

48 Santa Crafts for Kids! Oh-So-Simple! on handsonaswegrow.com

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Mortgage broker — everything you need to know

Looking for a mortgage? Before you visit your bank, consider the many benefits using a mortgage broker can offer.

from Bankrate.com » Mortgages http://ift.tt/2gFLUnZ

First Look: PING Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Anser

It’s a Wonderful Putter

By Dave Wolfe

It’s almost time for my annual I like being married watching of It’s A Wonderful Life. You know the story. Bad things happen, a guy wishes he was never born, realizes his life was wonderful, and “ding”, an angel gets his wings. Probably should have said spoiler alert before that sentence.

Anyway, today’s putter, PING’s 50th Anniversary Anser, got me thinking about what golf would be like without the contributions of Karsten Solheim. More specifically, what would the putter market be like without the PING Anser?

Anser-Free Golf

The Anser is the winningest (and most copied) putter model in golf, with more than 500 tour titles to its credit, including 19 men’s major championships. Its first win came in 1966 at the Florida Citrus Open. The Anser’s first major victory was at the 1969 Masters.

The Anser is the foundational putter design for the past fifty years, and it is the “most copied” equipment design perhaps in all of golf. Just imagine if it never happened.

The Anser is so ingrained in the golf psyche that I can’t even envision an Anser-free golf universe. Would Scotty Cameron still be a club maker? How many Anser-using tour pros over the years would have had the same number of wins with another putter? Perhaps another design would have taken the Anser’s spot in the pros’ bags, but that putter wouldn’t likely have lived up to the Anser’s performance pedigree.

Thankfully, we don’t need to imagine Anser-less golf. The PING Anser has dominated putting for fifty years, and this new limited edition version deftly captures both the history of the Anser and PING’s commitment to engineer better golf clubs.

Specs: PING 50th Anniversary Anser

• Material: Sand-cast manganese bronze with tungsten plugs
• Head Weight: 350g
• Grip: PING PP58 by Golf Pride
• Shaft: True Temper High-step
• Versions: 2 (K for Karsten and A for Allan)
• Number Produced: 775 from each mold
• Left-hand available: Yes
• MSRP: $900

Fun Fact: The Anser Name

The name was inspired by his desire to find an “answer” to the popular putter of the time. His wife, Louise, suggested he call it “Answer” but Karsten was concerned it was too long to fit on the toe. She told him to leave out the “w” and the rest is history.

Some of you already knew this story, but others are likely learning this for the first time. I know when I first started playing and writing about golf, I had no clue why Anser was lacking a “W”. So now you know the story as well. It’s not the world’s most famous typo; it was just a matter of toe bumper space.

This Anser

“Most people don’t realize the amount of hand work that went into the original Anser putters 50 years ago. The radiuses on both of the hand-machined tools were finished with a file and sandpaper by Karsten. I built most of the original Ansers in the garage, starting with machining and grinding the raw castings and continuing through final assembly. My brother Allan machined the second mold, which is slightly different and often referred to as the ‘slope-side’ mold. We wanted to bring that handcrafted approach back as part of the Anser’s 50-year celebration and its remarkable contribution to golf.” - John Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO

The more I explored this putter, the more I was reminded that the Anser really does represent a piece of golf history. When you open up the included the signed certificate of authenticity, you find photos of Karsten and writings about the Anser’s history.

This putter’s construction throws back to the way things were done when the Anser first came to life. The head is cast, but then it takes a ton of hand milling and sanding to get it to its final shape. It’s not all historic, though. This Anser also contains a couple of tungsten plugs, adding a touch of PING’s modern weight engineering to the old school design.

If you are not sure about how much handwork went into this Anser, just look at the texture of the putter. Casting leaves the metal with a rough finish like this:

That means that someone’s hands likely worked every part of the head that has a smooth appearance. In this putter’s case, those hands belonged to John Solheim, the same person who did the machining on the original Anser. Sweat and craft of the original Anser artisan permeates this Anser just like it did fifty years ago.

Did you roll balls?

I love that some of you are reading this and wondering how a $900 limited edition putter performed on the course. Who in their right mind rolls balls with this putter?

I totally rolled balls with this putter.

I’m not going to say that I had the stones to throw it in the bag for a round, but after using it on the practice green for a while, I’d be totally happy bagging this Anser.

I believe that PING wants this putter to be gamed. Why else would they go to the trouble of adding the tungsten plugs? The 350g head weight should allow most golfers to produce a familiar, comfortable swing with the Anser.

The sound slot and the manganese bronze combine to produce a big click at impact. That click says Scottsdale Anser to me as much as the putter’s visuals. No other putter has the same distinctive sound and feel.

The Ideal Gift

From the box to the blade, PING did this offering right. There is so much WOW. The box, even when closed, sets an impressive stage for what is inside. Upon opening the box, you are greeted with not only the putter, but also the signed certificate of authenticity, and a one of a kind leather headcover. I know I already said impressive, but that is really the best word to describe the overall feeling.

If you have a putter lover on your list, this Anser is the gift for this year. Yes, it’s more expensive than a production putter, but this putter is so much more than a club you putt with. The putter lover will gush over this Anser.

The PING 50th Anniversary Anser brings the history of Karsten Solheim and his sons with it. The design set the stage for so many putters that came in the decades after its inception. It speaks to the brilliance of the initial design, and also to PING’s work to make that design better in the years that followed.

Golf is better with the Anser a part of it, and this Anser is a wonderful putter.

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Colloidal Silver: Safe and Effective? (When Not to Use)

Silver has a long history as an antimicrobial in folk medicine, with the claims that people who ate from silver dishes and cutleries were less likely to get sick. Before the advent of antibiotics, silver was widely used in medicine (1).

The History of Silver Use

While silver is still often used in medicine, many holistic health experts tout the benefits of colloidal silver as a highly beneficial cure-all. Have you ever wondered what all the hype is and is it safe and effective?

Conventional medicine recognizes the antimicrobial benefits of silver. (2) For example, many medical device companies coat their devices with silver to prevent bacterial biofilms. Hospitals used to give silver nitrate eyedrops to newborns to prevent gonorrhea infections to the eye. Many studies show the effectiveness of silver solutions, silver gauze, or silver complexed with other antimicrobials in the hospitals to treat burn wounds.

Like many folk remedies, there is not strong scientific evidence supporting some of these claims, which explains why some uses of colloidal silver are controversial.

With the rise of antibiotic resistance, silver is making a comeback as a powerful broad-spectrum antimicrobial. Colloidal silver is generally considered safe to use, but it is important to be informed about what studies say with respect to its safety and effectiveness, and whether excessive use may harm us or the environment.

What is Colloidal Silver?

In short, it is the suspension of sub-microscopic silver nanoparticles in water. These silver nanoparticles can be anywhere from 10 – 100 nm in diameter (around 1/10,000 to 1/1,000 of a human hair) (3).

Silver nanoparticles are typically made in two different ways:

• Physically– by grinding silver into very small particles before suspending in water as colloids
• Chemically– Silver salt is reduced into very small particles using a chemical reducer.

Many well-studied nanoparticles are generated with a method called “green synthesis,” which is by using a biologically-generated substance to reduce the silver salt into silver nanoparticles (4, 5).

How Does Colloidal Silver Work?

Scientist have observed that it kills germs, but they still don’t completely understand how. It is generally understood that silver nanoparticles bind to bacteria cell wall. The surface chemistry as well as the shape of the nanoparticles determine how toxic it is to the bacteria. A fraction of silver nanoparticles may react to substances in the body or the environment and become silver salt, which is an effective antimicrobial.

Although most colloidal silver is made from silver salts, they are essentially different things. Silver salts are generally a lot more toxic to bacteria and humans than colloidal silver. Silver salt solutions (e.g. silver chloride, silver oxide, silver nitrate) often react with oxygen in the air when exposed to light, resulting in precipitates. Whereas colloidal silver usually have a yellow-gold color and is stable without precipitates.

Silver salts in water have positive charge that allows it to bind up proteins, cause DNA damage, and disrupt the respiratory processes in bacteria. Silver nanoparticles may be neutral or negatively charged, depending on how it is synthesized.

In addition, silver ions are more likely to cause silver toxicity or argyria in humans than the colloidal version. However, because a fraction of colloidal silver may become silver salt, overconsumption of colloidal silver can still cause silver toxicity at very high doses.

Is Colloidal Silver Effective?

Silver is a metal and a non-essential element in the body. It is much safer to a human body than other heavy metals like lead and mercury.

This means the dose makes the poison: we can accumulate much more silver in our bodies before it becomes toxic. It is possible to accumulate too much silver in a condition called argyria or argylosis, where silver deposits in tissues and irreversibly turn the person blue. But even when the person has turned blue, the silver does not usually cause health problems in other ways.

Studies suggest that colloidal silver is effective at:

• Killing and preventing bacterial growth, including bacteria that are antibiotic-resistant (6, 7)
• Killing some strains of pathogenic yeasts, including Candida and Cryptococcus (
• Preventing viruses from entering human cells (9)
• Reducing inflammation in contact dermatitis (rashes from exposure to irritating chemicals) in pigs and mice (10, 11)
• Disrupting bacterial biofilm (a slimy shield that allows bacteria to hide from antibiotics) in sheep bacterial sinusitis ()
• Being toxic to cancer cells (13)
• Effectively fighting against Vibrio cholera and a dangerous strain of E. coli, both of which could cause deadly diarrhea if left untreated (14)

To date, all studies that test the effects of colloidal silver with bacteria found that it is effective, but its effectiveness is less consistent with yeasts and viruses. A comprehensive study by naturopathic doctors in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that that it is only effective against some strains of yeasts but not others.

In addition, the same study found that colloidal silver is not effective against viruses (15). Another study tested 3 different market brands and found no effectiveness whatsoever (16).

It seems, therefore, that colloidal silver is a powerful antimicrobial, but its effectiveness can vary depending on the particular infection and quality of the product itself.

Colloidal Silver Safety

In order to understand the safety and effectiveness of colloidal silver, it is important to have experimental data in the context of a whole animal or a whole human. Most studies are done in “in vitro,” i.e. in test tubes or in Petri dishes outside the body. With the exception of wounds, diarrhea, and dermatitis, we have only observed the effectiveness of colloidal silver against germs on Petri dishes or on human cells that are grown on Petri dishes, which are not enough to show that they are effective.

A human body is a lot more complex than a Petri dish, so simply because something kills germs on a Petri Dish doesn’t mean we should eat it to prevent or treat an infection. We still need to understand how silver affects the rest of the body, and whether it can even travel to where we need it most if we take it internally. Therefore, we need many more studies to understand how it works in our bodies (in vivo).

When we ingest colloidal silver, our small intestines can absorb around 10 – 18% of silver nanoparticles into the bloodstream, while remaining silver nanoparticles pass through our gut (17). In our bloodstream, the nanoparticles then bind to a protein in our blood called albumin as it gets carried around the body. Typically silver proteins are a lot less effective against germs than silver alone, which raises the question of whether colloidal silver is effective outside of the gut when taken internally.

An Alternative To Antibiotics?

Colloidal silver might seem like a promising option over antibiotics, but it still has some of the side effects of antibiotics. For this reason, I’ve always exercised caution and not over-used it, as evidence shows it may be harmful if used regularly or over a long period of time.

Gut Damage and Bacterial Resistance

Recently, two studies independently examined the gut microbiota of mice and rats fed with colloidal silver, and both found that it did indeed disrupt the gut flora (18, 19). Another study that examined the digestive tissue after ingestion of colloidal silver also found that it does damage the gut cells (20).

While bacterial resistance to silver salt has been long known (21), one study showed that bacteria can become resistant to colloidal silver after many generations of exposure (22).

Environmental Concerns

With its broad-spectrum antimicrobial, silver nanoparticles and silver salts present some environmental concerns. Currently, silver nanoparticles are present in the environment at the concentrations that are about one in a thousandth times the dose that would be toxic to fish and other marine animals (23).

Presently, silver nanoparticles are present in sewage sludge that are used in landfill rather than dumped into the sea, so this also present a risk of it getting reabsorbed back into our food supply. While we understand that colloidal silver affects our gut bacteria, we still don’t completely know how it affects the health of bacteria, yeasts, and other microorganisms in the environment. We do know that the health of our soil is closely linked to the health of our gut, so we want to be careful about disrupting it.

Uses for Colloidal Silver

Studies have shown that silver is effective in treating and preventing infections when applied externally to wounds and when used as a sinus rinse. In addition, it may be effective in treatments of acute diarrhea. Therefore, colloidal silver can be safe and effective when used externally, or when targeting pathogens in the gut.

Because colloidal silver does have some side effects, research suggests using it carefully rather than liberally. In addition, because it can interfere with or enhance the effects or side effects of some medications, always consult your physician before using it in conjunction with any medications.

Colloidal silver is marketed as a dietary supplement and is relatively unregulated. The manufacturer is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of these products. It is concerning that a random test of colloidal silvers on the market often found ones that are ineffective or even contaminated with bacteria (24).

If you choose to use colloidal silver, be sure to purchase them from a reputable brand. This is the brand I keep on hand for external use and as a sinus rinse.

What’s your experience with colloidal silver? Please share in the comments below.

 

Continue Reading...Colloidal Silver: Safe and Effective? (When Not to Use)

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At the Art Museum

Check out the fabulous time we had at the Art Museum creating a super-secret something out of clay, playing in the discovery centre and viewing some of the works of art that are currently on display.

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Sticker Christmas Tree Craft for Kids

This is a fun sticker Christmas tree craft for kids that my kids have done in the past leading up to Christmas. And once again this year, we did it again!

It’s simple but also great for fine motor skills! Really anything with stickers is! So let the kids have them!

I have a thing where I think they’re just going to waste stickers all the time, so I never let them use them… Then I realize how many stickers I really do have and they’ll never get used up! Such a vicious cycle.

Want more Christmas tree crafts for the kids? I have plenty of ideas!

I cut out a Christmas tree out of green cardstock paper and glued it onto a red piece of cardstock (affiliate links) . I did this three times since all three kids were around (and bored) during Thanksgiving break.

By the way… what can kids do on Thanksgiving? Have a plan.

I also had some brown scraps of paper I glued on as a trunk.

If you don’t have brown paper though, you can just draw on a trunk. Or use any color paper you like really, it doesn’t have to be perfect!

Draw a quick zig zag garland on the tree.

Tip: Make the garland lines closer together (so that there’s more of them) for older kids. And draw them further apart (so that there’s fewer of them) for younger kids.

This time when we did the sticker Christmas tree craft, I didn’t have Christmas stickers for the kids. But that’s okay and it doesn’t really matter!

I did have a packet of these little circle stickers in a variety of designs (affiliate link). I gave each of the kids a full sheet of these circle stickers.

When the kids sat down to put the stickers on the garland, they asked how to do it.

It was completely up to them how they put the stickers on. I said they could follow the lines of the garland with the stickers however they wanted.

And I suggested to make a pattern if they wanted it to be more difficult.

None of them opted to make a pattern. That’s okay, that’s not what it was about. I like this activity more for the fine motor skills of the sticker use.

George did go in order on his sticker sheet though, one row at a time. Which made a cool design.

George whipped through his Christmas tree fast. We had family stopping by soon, so he wanted to get done! Henry was distracted and never did finish his.

But Louis…

Louis kept at his, until every line was covered. One by one he put those stickers on. Keeping busy for a long time!

I was quite impressed. I thought for sure when the other boys were done, he would stop. But he wanted to finish his Christmas tree!

Last time we did the Sticker Christmas Tree Craft for Kids

Last time, we used some Christmas stickers to decorate Christmas trees!

I cut two Christmas trees our of green scrapbook paper and glued it onto a red piece of scrapbook paper. I just used a marker quick to make the tree trunk, but could have used scrap paper instead.

Then the boys just decorated the trees, however they liked!

I drew lines for garland on Henry’s tree to give him a little bit of a challenge.

He followed along the lines with the stickers the whole way from the top to the bottom.

I left George’s blank for him to decide where to put the stickers.

They both had a great time decorating their Christmas tree craft! We then hung them up for the holiday season.

More super simple Christmas crafts like this one can be found in the 25 easy Christmas crafts for kids. Which one will you do today?

Be sure to make an ornament for the tree this year too!

Sticker Christmas Tree Craft for Kids on handsonaswegrow.com

from Hands On As We Grow http://ift.tt/1qzOBYf