October Freebie: Leaf Counting, Colors & Adding Game

The concept of numbers can be very abstract for children ... at least, I had always read this but teaching a preschooler to count and number recognition has proved it for me!  So, I like to design and I like to teach, which means I love designing teaching printables for my little one.  It's fall and I love incorporating the seasons (even when teaching preschool math), therefore I made a Leaf Counting, Colors & Adding Game.

I printed and laminated the game sheet last night, and this morning we scavenged the backyard for pebbles to use with the game.  I designed two sheets - one for PreK/Kinder and one for 1st/2nd.  It's essentially three games on one sheet and you can customize the games to suit your learner's level of number know-how.  You can do the Adding Game (shown in picture), Color Game or Adding Game, and the first sheet is 1-10 while the second sheet is 11-20.  It's really fun and great practice for young learners!  Snag a copy of each sheet below, then print, laminate and have fun!

DIY Cold Remedies

Body aches from head to toe.  Can't get enough sleep.  Runny nose and raspy cough.  

I hate being sick!  

On days like this I'm so thankful for my momma!  I use her tips and tricks to nurse my colds (it doesn't hurt that she is coincidentally also a nurse), which means that honey, epsom salt, an herbal heat compress, and Theraflu are essentials for making me feel better.  Being a teenager of the 90's, staying home sick from school meant that I'd be watching tv and sipping on Theraflu.  Now I have a toddler to tend to which means I don't get to sleep as much or pamper my cold as much as I'd like!  So I grab a moment whenever I can.  For instance, while my daughter was at preschool, I pulled the humidifier into the bathroom and ran a hot bath with my homemade bath salts. 

Cold Remedy Bath Salt - in a plastic or glassbowl mix 1/4 cup Epsom salt, 2 tbsp pink sea salt and essiental oil mixture (I premix 1 tbsp sweet almond oil and 3 drops of peppermint essental oil).  I usually make up a bunch at once, package them in little glass bottles and give them as gifts.

To Theraflu Or Not To Theraflu? I looked at the ingredient list on a packet of Theraflu and here's what I found: 1) Acetaphetamine - the painkiller you find in Tylenol, 2) Dextromethorphan - a cough suppressant, 3) Chlopheniramine - antihistamine used to treat runny nose and sneezing, 4) Dyphenhydramine - treats runny nose, cough and sneezing but also causes drowsiness, 5) Pheniramine - antihistamine used to treat cold symptoms, 6) Guaifenesin - cough expectorant, and 7) Phenylephran - a decongestant.  If you feel uncomfortable taking any of these substances, a more natural alternative is ginger tea with lemon juice and honey.  But if you want something stronger, you really can't go wrong with the moonshiner's method: whiskey, lemon juice and honey.  The Kitchn blog has a good post and recipe, check it out.  

An Herbal Heat Pack Can Cure Anything  I get a migraine about every other week, especially between seasons when the weather jumps around.  I swear I wouldn't be able to survive migraines, colds or a nasty case of the flu without the herbal hot/cold pack my mom made for me!  She made it with rice and dried lavendar and chamomile buds.  I heat it in the microwave for a minute and forty seconds ... Perfection!  So comforting on an achy head, for sinus pressure and for cold chills.  Frugal Granola has a really good DIY tutorial, definitely check it out!

PS. While researching for this post, I found a flu map on Theraflu's website, which is great for tracking flu epidemics in your area! 

Mother's Day Gift Idea

My daughter is fifteen months old, which can keep the ideas for Mother's Day gifts pretty minimal.  However, we were able to think of a creative and useful gift that doesn't cost a ton of money.  She painted masterpieces for her grandmas ... I can't even begin to explain how tickled they were to receive them.  All you need is a 12x12 canvas, finger paint (the nontoxic, washable kind ... unfortunately it's non-edible so you got watch out for hands to the mouth and eyes) and whatever you need to keep the fun clean and tidy!

Update:
Okay, so it's been two years since I posted on this project.  As an update, this painting is hanging on the wall within my mom's collage of paintings.  Needless to say, it's her most prized piece!