504 Main by Holly Lefevre

EASY Summer Fun: How to Build A Cardboard Bridge

2013-05-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

I am exhausted and taking care of some personal business...
and trying to help out with end of the school year activities for my kids.
My kids only have 6 days of school left so I am REALLY thinking about SUMMER!
(I need to get on it. A.S.A.P.!)
Here is one of the activities we did last year
and it has continued to be a popular choice for my kids year round.
(This is a repost)

Image credit: bortn66 / 123RF Stock Photo

Eight years ago today we moved into this house.

My son and I knew no one and were bored...very bored.

I used our moving boxes to make houses, dump trucks, and rocket ships.

The rocket ship actually survived for 3 years!

I had forgotten all about this...

Until my memory was jogged when I was at the Maker Faire with Delta Faucet. We came across the Berkeley Institute of Design's Crowd-Powered Bridge Design and Research Project. I was reminded of the rockets ship and thought this would make a fun summer activity for my kids and their friends.

The exhibit at the Maker Faire

Fast forward to today...we had some friends over to celebrate my son's birthday

and I had tons of cardboard...

and thought, let's give this a shot!

We had 2 groups of kids:

older kids ranging from 9-11 years old and

younger kids ranging from 5 to 8 year old.

At first they seemed hesitant, but ready to give it a go.

I showed them the photo I took at the Maker Faire

and the older kids went with it-

taping, ripping, and building with cardboard for a couple of hours.

The younger kids needed a bit of help, but also got in on the action...

first they drew some picture to decorate it -

that was more important to the little ones.

Here is how to do it and what you need

to make your own bridge/ramp/contraption!

SUPPLIES
Cardboard: boxes, shoe boxes, poster board, craft paper - whatever you have around! I picked up a few rolls of kraft/shipping paper at the dollar store just in case.

Tape: No need to get high quality tape...I bought the $1 tape and clear packing tape from the dollar store too. I figured the cheaper tape was fine, since I do not plan on keeping these forever. (just FYI - it has a strong scent so use in a ventilated area)

Scissors (optional)

MAKE IT!

Gather the kids.
Suggested they collaborate first and draw a picture so each kid could visualize the end goal. I think this helps the kids combine forces more easily.
Explain to them they are to work together to create a bridge or tower or whatever you want using only the cardboard and tape. At the Maker Faire the goal was to get a small toy car to roll over the bridge and for it to be high enough for a toy cardboard boat to go under the bridge. Our goal was that Jules could ride her trike under it.
Give them each a roll of tape.
Then turn them loose....it took a bit for them to start clicking...but then they did and worked together to build this bridge (or ramp).

Well, my visions of a grand bridge did not quite materialize.

The kids bridge looked like a ramp.

They proceeded to launch the empty rolls of tape and Hot Wheels cars and Zoobles off of it. The Trike did fit under it...but most importantly, they had fun in the sun for hours and worked together to get a finished project.

The little kids also created a smaller version of a "bridge"

(or something!) and enjoyed it too.

Moral of the story...

everyday recyclables and things laying around the house and provide hours of fun and teach the kiddos a little something this summer!

The kids actually asked when they can do this again...

now, that is a winner idea in my book!

Do you have any simple, cheap, and easy idea for summer?

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Tickled Pink No. 146

2013-05-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Tickled Pink!

OK...seriously. I am not sure how this happened....

but my kids ONLY have 10 days left of school!

When do your kids get out of school? Are you ready?

__________________________________________

Last week was random around 504 Main!

I played with DIY Hair Chalk (I am in LOVE!)
AND

Created vegetarian polenta eggplant stacks
AND

Participated in a Simple Service Project with my son to help end childhood hunger in the summer. Did you know only 1 out of 6 children who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year continue to receive meals during the summer months. Low-income families with children face even more challenges during the summer when they stretch their food budget to provide additional meals for their children." quoted from Odwalla Hunger in the Summer

I urge you to rally, create a food drive, and help!

___________________________________________

Now for the really good stuff...
this week our SPOTLIGHT SELECTOR IS
Megin from VMG206

Here is a bit about Megin!

I am a papercrafter, DIY'er and blogger using multi-media (paper, music sheets, book pages, digital, thrift store finds, furniture and paint) to create beautiful things. A Seattle girl relocated to the Midwest who loves espresso, Burt's bees, cupcakes and bichon frisés.

Be sure to check out some of Megin's great projects like her beautiful Downtown Abbey papercraft, or her tutorial on making a blog header, or her burlap ruffle wreath.
Just be sure to stop by say "Hi" to Megin!

Next week, Ruth from Farmgirl in My Heart
will be the Spotlight Selector.
Go on over and say hi!
If you are interested in being a Spotlight Selector leave a comment or drop me an email!

Just a note...you may see some bloggers getting featured more often. I am letting my Spotlight Selectors pick who they want...but we are trying to spread the love around!

I appreciate you coming by to linkup today!
(click on READ MORE to see the features and link up!)

NOW...THE FEATURES!
Thanks Megin for this weeks features!
Grab a button here!

Privacy Screen, Interior Salvage

20+ Homemade Teacher Gifts, Cheerios and Lattes

Hand Painted Wallpaper, Old Things New

Blog Tips and Tricks, It's Always Ruetten

Paris in Black and White, The Thrifty Rebel

Keep Shoes Clean, Angela Says

Vintage Yellow Chair, Twelve O Eight

Thanks Megin for all of your hard work and time to select this weeks features!

Now go visit Megin and say thanks too! She is the sweetest!

____________________________________________________
NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!

A craft...a recipe...a tip...a party...a short story...a poem...a fashion find...a favorite product...your favorite post...whatever makes your blog fabulous!
That is what Tickled Pink is all about!
{and it does NOT have to be PINK}

Grab a button HERE!
or here!

PRACTICE PINK KINDNESS

Will everyone do me a FAVOR????

Please visit the person linked before you...

Pretty Please!

1. Link up...whatever makes your blog fabulous. Family Friendly please. Guess what? Your post does not have to be PINK!! I reserve the right to remove posts that are offensive or do not adhere to the rules, without any discussion, at my discretion.
2. PLEASE LINK TO A POST URL, ****NOT YOUR MAIN URL****
3. Pretty please...add the Tickled Pink button or TEXT link back to the post* {people need to know what the heck they are doing!}.
4. Please visit a couple other links!

Link Up what ever made you or your blog FAB this week!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Odwalla and The Hunger in the Summer Project #Odwalla4Kids

2013-05-13T23:07:00.000-07:00

Too many kids (and families) are hungry in America.

When school is out for the summer, many children

lose access to their free or reduced lunches and will be hungry.

There is something we all can do about it.

I am thrilled to write this sponsored post as part of

Collective Bias®, Odwalla, and Champions for Kids.

Please read it and see what you can do to help.

"When school lets out for the summer, millions of children lose access to the school breakfasts, lunches and after school snacks they receive during the regular school year. Only 1 out of 6 children who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year continue to receive meals during the summer months. Low-income families with children face even more challenges during the summer when they stretch their food budget to provide additional meals for their children."

quoted from Odwalla Hunger in the Summer

I have always realized that hunger is a real problem in America. As I had my own kids and they started school, I saw children in their classes struggling with these issues. It is heartbreaking and hard to not want to help in any way you can.

Last year my husband lost his job and has not worked since.

Luckily we are still able to provide food and shelter and safety for our children,

but it did make me stop and really think about how close so many people

are to being in a situation where they are struggling to provide for their families.

While my own children have not had to face this issue head on,

I know their are many children that go to the same school

who have and who continue to have real needs.

(This is an important issue, please READ MORE to see how you can help)

I was recently told that 1/4 of the students at the middle school have assistance for breakfast and/or lunch. That is a large percentage of kids in a pretty small community. I had no idea the number was this high...and my guess is when people come to the Monterey Peninsula and see the oceanfront homes, dine at award winning restaurants, attend exclusive events, and play at the private clubs and golf courses, that they have no idea of the drastic socioeconomic differences here.

This area has a diverse, "interesting," and complicated job market. It is a bit of a transient area with a huge divide between those with professional, steady incomes and those who are just getting by. The children of these families all live on a this peninsula, side by side, and attend the same schools, making the differences even that much more apparent.

In recent years I have not done as much volunteering for the community as I should have, but this year I am being inspired by my son. Our middle and high schools require community service for graduation, and so I figured this is the perfect time to get the whole family (and a few friends) involved in giving back to the community.

The Odwalla Summer Hunger Project struck a chord with me.

Here are some simple facts and ways you can help children and families in need.

The following information is taken from the

Odwalla Champions for Kids Summer Hunger Project

Ways YOU Can Help!
GATHER your friends, family, and co-workers to fight hunger in the summer by hosting a food drive in your community. Nutritious snacks like Odwalla Kids Bars and Juice Boxes would be great to give! Consider giving out prizes to the person who donates the most food at your office or community organization!

LEARN about the needs of children in your community by asking a food pantry volunteer, school nurse, or social worker to talk with your group about their experiences.

GIVE the food items that you collect to a food bank in your community
so that children and families will have enough to eat this summer.

SHARE your story with us at www.championsforkids.org/share so that we can celebrate your participation! How many people were involved, and how many items did you collect? Please let us know that you are ONE of Millions who helped reach our goal to mobilize 20 Million people by 2020 to become Champions for Kids!

With the end of the school year fast approaching,

there is a great need for further assistance to keep children from going hungry.

My kids and I decided to give back to our community.

First, we headed to Walmart to purchase Odwalla Bars for Kids.

These nutritious snacks bars are a great way to get food into the hands of the children. You can read all about my shopping trip and how we purchased our donation in google+

Secondly, we organized a food drive.

The food drive is still in progress, but we made a flyer and passed it out to a few neighbors and friends. We have collected some snack bags, soup, and tomato sauce and pasta so far.

We will continue the food rive and encourage others to join in too!

Finally, we chose to donate our food to The Hope Center in Monterey,

an organization founding by five moms who volunteer their time

hoping to help end hunger on the Monterey Peninsula.

Mission Statement of the Hope Center:
The Hope Center has been founded to provide groceries for our neighbors in need.
Our mission is to distribute groceries on the first and third Thursday of every month.
Groceries that consist of staple food items, toiletries, baby food and supplies, and pet food and supplies if necessary.
We believe that keeping families together, with their children and pets, and fed, even in the toughest of economic times, is the best way we can keep our community strong, happy, and safe.
We also provide information about other services in our community that can help families who are facing economic challenges.
It is our goal to empower our children to see that in helping your neighbors you can make the world a better place.

At first I had a lot of idea about how to create fun packaging or make everything "cute" - then my son, being the logical guy he is,

asked if it did not make more sense if our efforts, money, and time would be better spent purchasing more supplies and Odwalla bars,

as well as continuing the food drive for the Hope Center.

He is pretty smart sometimes, isn't he?

(LOVE that kid!)

So that is what we will be doing...

concentrating our efforts on getting more food

and other necessities into the hand of people who need them!

Be sure to follow Odwalla on Facebook and Twitter

Have you ever participated in a Simple Service project?

Now is the time!

Please consider doing an

Odwalla Hunger in the Summer Project

in your community!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®, Odwalla, and Champions for Kids #cbias #SocialFabric