Peanut Butter Play Dough

If you are looking for more fun recipes to make at home, this is another one that my children LOVED! Always fun to eat after you play!

Peanut Butter Play Dough

1 1/4 cup peanut butter

6 TBS honey

Nonfat dry milk powder

Mix honey and peanut butter. Add dry milk powder to make a consistency that you can work with. Store in airtight container when not using.

(Hint to Print. Click on graphic. Open Graphic in a new tab, print graphic.)

Other recipes you might like: pancake and waffle mix, white chocolate mix.

And how to organize those recipes! 

Homemade Play Dough

When my {now 21 year old son} was in preschool, his teacher asked for families to make play dough to send into the classroom!  So here I am, 16 years later sharing this great recipe during the COVID-19 outbreak.  I hope that this will help keep your little ones (and you!) occupied, if even for just a little time. Oh mamas, it IS hard to be home with the little ones all day!

Best part of this play dough - although I wouldn't recommend, it is edible because all of the ingredients are edible. So if little ones tend to want to put everything in their mouths, they can enjoy!

1 cup flour

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 cup water

1 TBS vegetable oil

1 pack unsweetened Kool Aid (for color, optional)

Add dry ingredients to sauce pan. Stir. Add water and oil.Stir over medium-low heat until mixtures becomes quite thick & resembles the consistency of play dough (about 15 minutes). Remove from heat and place dough on cookie sheet or wax paper to cool completely.Once cool, knead until smooth.Store in a covered container.

(Hint to Print. Click on graphic. Open Graphic in a new tab, print graphic.)
Other recipes you may enjoy: White chocolate mix, pancake and waffle mix, taco dip, chicken corn soup. And how to organize all those recipes!

Parent Hacks for Schoolwork

Not sure if my educator friends will appreciate this or not, however as a parent who has always been involved in helping my children I have discovered some great parent hacks for helping with schoolwork.

First things first. Always check with your child’s teacher and potential resources they may have. Sometimes a teacher will supply great resources such as a practice test, online quiz etc. Check their resources first. 

Parent hack #1: Google online to see if you can find materials. One time my student had to do a map. I found the exact map they were to replicate in a blank form. It was so easy to print it off and allow them to name the countries with the exact same map. 

Parent Hack #2. If you need to, order the textbook online. Many textbooks are available for cheap from used textbooks sites or simply used book sites. I had purchased a math book for algebra. I think four of my children have used it!  This was also a great way to prevent them from lugging their textbook home every day. We can argue the value of bringing your textbook home but for my children it seemed to be one added extra item to their already heavy backpack. Keep in mind ~ the older a textbook, the less expensive it will be. If you are not sure which textbook to purchase find the ISBN number! (Take a picture at Back to School night of the ISBN number!) An older edition textbook or edition from another state usually isn’t much different. Another suggestion is asking the school if you can sign out a textbook to keep at home for a year! 

Take note that sometimes textbooks are quickly outdated so you may not get as much use of this depending on the subject. Ask you school or stay informed of potential textbook changes 

Parent Hack #3. Purchase the teacher manual. Sometimes, as a parent, it simply helps to see the answers to know how to explain it to your child. Please note that I am not encouraging you to give your child the answers or do the work for them. That should be assumed.

Resources for printable worksheets:

This is one I found recently: https://www.worksheetworks.com

This one has limited free ones: https://www.superteacherworksheets.com

To make up math worksheets (especially on math facts): https://www.mathfactcafe.com/worksheet/buildit/

That map worksheet I referenced! https://geography.byu.edu/Pages/maps

Podcasts! What Are You Listening To??????

I have had the opproutnity to listen to some great podcasts lately! Here’s what I’m listing to! {In no particular order}

My standby! I haven't missed one yet! This is a great listen for parents and all ministry leaders! Powerful insight! Moms In Prayer


A faithful standby. I try to catch these when I can! Focus on the Family

Another faithful standby. I don't listen to this as much but browse when I'm able. Family Life Today

This just cracks me up. I did enjoy Jamie Ivey's book. The Happy Hour

This is a great one about differences of women and how two women can view the world so differently. I appreciate this one. The Martha and Mary Show

Someone shared this one with me. I love it! A great resource on technology! Brave Parenting

This one features three women who share they perspectives. I listen to this one when I can. Mom to Mom

This is a great resource if you have teen!  Biblical insight as well! Youth Culture Matters

Just found this after reading her book! Another practical one! Simply Joyful

Raise Them Up Praying God's Word Over Your Kids

I had the awesome opportunity to read Raise Them Up Praying God's Word Over Your Kids by Sally Burke and Cyndie Claypool De Neve.

First, a disclaimer. Sally Burke is president of Moms in Prayer International. I am involved in Moms in Prayer.

Second,  I LOVED this book! It offers great insight into praying for your kids. But not only that, it offers practical insight!  This book is for moms yet-to-be, moms of toddlers, moms of preschoolers, moms of elementary school children, moms of high school and middle school students, moms of college students and moms of children who are no longer in school. It also is for moms who home school!  This book will also resonate with anyone who works with children and wants to learn how to pray for them!

Sally and Cyndie review a practical method to use when praying and then launch into prayers for children. (Note: these can be used to pray for family members, co-workers, friends, etc.)

In Raise Them Up, you will read practical prayers for praying for Christian character, salvation, schoolwork, protection, praying through suffering, peace, for freedom from addiction, relationships, purity, boldness in faith, their future, for teachers, coaches, and mentors, and praying this generation will impact others for Christ. Cyndie and Sally also share how to teach your children to pray, the importance of praying with others, and praying God's Word.

This book offers fresh new content. This would make a great gift for yourself and a great gift to any mom!

I was given a free copy of Raise Them Up from the publisher for my honest review which I was happy to do. (And plan on purchasing some to give away to friends!)

Empowered ~ Stories for Girls About Heroes!

Empowered How God Shaped 11 Women’s Lives (And Can Shape Yours Too) is a great resource and excellent book for tween girls!!!! I throughly enjoyed reading this book about various heroes. 

In her book, Catherine Parks looks at eleven different women and the impact they have had. Catherine also relates these stories to girls today and how they can impact those around them. I would highly recommend this book for girls ages 9 and up. I love the discussion questions at the end of each chapter and thoughts to make the stories relevant. 

Kids today need heroes to look up to. In her book Catherine shares the lives of Corrie ten Boom, Eather Ahn Kim, Sophie School, Betsie ten Boom, Pandita Ramabai, Elisabeth Elliot, Phillis Wheatley, Joni Eareckson Tada, Fanny Crosby, Charlotte Forten Grimke and Annie Armstrong.  

This book is written in a way that tweens can easily read it and relate. I was given a free copy of Empowered my the publisher for my honest review. I am happy to recommend this book!