Indulging Our Senses with Homemade Soap

I finally took the plunge and learned how to make handmade soap. I’ve wanted  to do this for so long, but it seemed too complicated and overwhelming. NOT!!! This was the easiest project ever and A.J. enjoyed it, too!

Trisha at Two Big, Two Little inspired me to “just do it already!” Once I saw there were kits for this with instructions, I knew that I could do this sooner than later.

I ordered my kit from Lorann Oils. The evening it came, I made a test bar before involving A.J. I used a pipe cleaner with alphabet beads to spell his name. It turned out pretty well for my first attempt.

The instructions are simple and they come with the kit. Here is a simple version:

1. Cut glycerine bar into 1/2 inch chunks (You don’t have to cut the whole block, just enough to make the amount of soap that you want.)

2. Place chunks in a microwaveable bowl and heat for 30 seconds.

3. Make sure it melts, you may have to heat and stir for another 10 seconds.

4. Add color (if desired) and essential oil fragrance.

5. Pour into a mold and let set for about 40 minutes and you’re done. (You can add trinkets ect. to the soap by pouring half into the mold, adding your trinket, then pouring more liquid into the mold.)

A.J. helped by choosing what he wanted to add to the soap. I gave him a choice of coins and foam sea creatures. He chose the money. He also placed the cut pieces into the container, added the coloring, and stirred the mixture. Melt and pour soap making requires adult supervision. The soap is really hot when you first remove it from the microwave.

The kit comes with lavender and cucumber melon fragrances. We’ve only used the melon so far and it smells divine.

Have you made homemade soap before? I’d love to see your photos!!

Pray, Persist, & Prosper!

-Asia

Advertisement

Creative Counting Games and more…

It’s hard to believe that February has come to an end! There are several items still on my todo list that I simply will have to move to March. But don’t worry, I’ll still get them done and will share them in due time.

For now, here are the three counting games that we did over the last couple of weeks.

1. Using bottle caps A.J. matched the numbers 20-30. Because I have different shapes and colors, I could also change the activity to have him match the colors and/or shapes.

2. Again, using bottle caps I placed three numbers in a muffin tin and A.J. had to put the correct numbers of hearts in each bin.

3. A.J. counted hearts on pipe cleaners and used foam numbers to put under the correct number of hearts.

Parenthood is a funny thing. There are moments of bliss, periods of sheer chaos and everything in between. On my birthday, A.J. had a tantrum that lasted about an hour or so. It was other wordly. Then yesterday, as I was tucking him in for his nap he asked me to pray with him. Prayer plus nap equals bliss! So in spite of the turbulence we experience as parents moments like this make it all worth it!

This month, A.J. had an opportunity to meet Sonny Emory. Thanks to Dr. Clint Carter and Steve Michaels who told me about the event! I wouldn’t have this picture if it weren’t for Steve. I was in the back of the auditorium nursing Amira when A.J. met Mr. Emory.

Other heart centered ideas…

Next month I will do a better job sharing about the books we are reading and the songs/finger plays that we are singing. I’d better wrap-up this post. We’re going to see Mighty Bugs at the Center for Puppetry Arts later this morning. So, until next time my Loves!

OHHHH…one more thing… My parents came to visit. Here are some lovely pics from their visit.

How did you celebrate the month of LOVE?

Pray, Persist & Prosper

-Asia

3 Fun Letter Activities

A.J. is continuing to learn his alphabet by identifying lower case and upper case letters. I printed the capital letter heart printout as well as the lower case letter heart printout from Pre-Kinders.com. There are many ways you can use these printables. I chose to laminate both sheets so I can use them later for Amira. I cut out the lowercase letters and glued them to foam hearts so they would be easier for A.J. to handle.

Last month I created a letter board with various shapes and colors. I re-used this board with the lower case hearts to add a different spin on the activity.The last activity I want to share was exciting to make. I think I had more fun than A.J. on this one! There’s a product called Instant Snow that when mixed with two ounces of water makes faux snow. I turned the snow pink in honor of  Valentine’s Day.

What creative ways are you using to help your little one learn letters?

Pray, Persist & Prosper!

-Asia

Prayers for our Children

February is the month of love and when the rest of society celebrates Black History. I added learning opposites for February and will also celebrate my B-day this month, so you will read posts about the February happenings surrounding Valentines Day, Black History, opposites and my birthday this month.

I began the month by decorating A.J.’s door with hearts. I saw this idea on Pinterest and added my unique twist. Instead of writing phrases like, “You’re awesome!” or “You’re cool!” I decided to write prayers for our children. Each day I walk into A.J.s room I remove a heart from the door and pray the prayer written on the heart over him.

Although the prayers are from Bible scriptures, I translated them into more simple language. I wrote the verse at the bottom of each heart so that I could remember where the prayer originated.

I plan to keep all of prayers and place them in an album so that we can refer to them time and time again. I do think I should take the hearts down and laminate them. A.J. likes to choose which heart we will read in the morning and he is a bit rough on the construction paper when pulling the heart off of the door. Laminating them will make them more durable.

What prayers have you prayed over your children lately?

Pray, Persist & Prosper!

-Asia