DIY & Organize

Ikea Bag Toddler Pool for the Beach!

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We recently visited the beach in Florida and this Ikea bag toddler pool hack provided a safe place for our Ruby to play away from the surf.

The ocean can be a daunting for a two year old and grown-ups. It is fun to play in the surf but you never know when an unexpected large wave will sweep through. We needed to have our hands on her at all times and that proved to be tiring for her and us. Having a little pool provided a safe place for a her to splash and play independently under watchful eyes.

All you need is the famous blue Ikea Frakta Tote Bag . We love this large bag for so many reasons. Not only can it make a small wading pool but we used it to carry beach toys and so much more. When we got back to the house we just rinsed the sand away.

Click play to see how we made it. As you can see, she loved tossing sand into the pool!

Some of the items that made our trip work well are below. Click the image and affiliate links for details.

This cute little hat has a draw string at the crown that adjusts the size. As you can see in the video it works well even when it is worn backwards!

If you don’t live near an Ikea you can order the bags from Amazon here.

We started Ruby in a vest but at just 30 pounds it was loose and the zipper rubbed the skin on her chin and chest raw. We opted for floaties something like these and kept her within arms reach at all times.

Enjoy your summer and have fun at the beach!

A Log Walk – An Outdoor Play Area

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My husband, Doug, is a creative builder. He found a log and made this cool log walk for our granddaughter. I grabbed my camera so I could share the process with you. It really isn’t that hard if you have the equipment or someone to do the cutting for you. This outdoor play area cost us nothing except the energy to gather the supplies. Our city produces the mulch from trees trimmings and gives it away for free.

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Tips for Photographing Your Baby

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DIY Pegboard Organization

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Pegboard organization on desk from Creative Connections for Kids

Summer time is organization time at our house since I tend to create a ~~pile~~ mountain of stuff as I rush around through the school year. I wanted a pegboard to organize and hang in my office to help catch the supplies that I am always looking for. Pegboard storage can also be used in a child’s room, a classroom, a closet; the options are limitless. It just depends what needs to be stored and organized.

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DIY Seashell Frame – Use those shells!

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We love going to the ocean and since we live far from one it is a truly special experience. If you love going to the beach too and arrive home with sack for of shells and beach treasures, this craft is for you! Rather then let them sit on a shelf or in a jar, make a custom seashell frame. These shells are from Cozemel, Mexico:

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Cooking and Saving with eMeals

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eMeals contacted me about using their product and provided weekly meal plans. The opinions in this post are honest and my own. This post continues affiliate links.

I was completely pleased when eMeals contacted me about trying their product. I have been struggling with cooking more healthfully over recent months, and we’ve been trying to eating out less. This opportunity provided incentive to plan ahead and be more disciplined. We are now empty-nesters, we work full time, and have many evenings meetings. The tempatation to eat out is always there to run and grab a bite between meetings.

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DIY~ Repurpose Containers for Storage

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Do you find yourself looking for ways to organize and store odds and ends without spending extra cash on containers? Repurposed containers work beautifully. I don’t feel guilty for throwing them out, using them saves money, and they can be spiffed up with a bit of paper and mod podge.

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We’re moving! Tips to help your kids!

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Moving is stressful and these moving tips for kids will hopefully help with a smooth transition. Summer time is often moving time. School is out and we want to get our kids settled before it begins. We moved our family when our girls were 4 and 6 years old. We worked hard to make them feel prepared and at home in our new house. The following are few tips that we used when we moved. Plus, fellow bloggers friends have shared their moving tips too!

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