The show must go on…

Back in late summer, when we received news the kids’ preschool was temporarily closed due to the pandemic and I became a part-time homeschool teacher / part-time working-mom, Eric and I thought of the things we’d miss beyond the everyday non-parental instruction to the kids:

1) Fall school photos. I did my best with taking those in my 2020-new, pandemic, safer-at-home, pop-up studio:

2) And, the end-of-year Holiday Show.

So, in late September and without Eric knowing, I looked up a few preschool-age songs on YouTube and the kids and I started rehearsing when he was at work. The list grew and changed a bit over the months into a 16-minute long show. On the morning of December 12th, we sent dad out to complete his holiday shopping while we setup the stage, dressed up in holiday attire, and set out trays of food – including the six varieties of cookies the kids had recently made on preschool days – and flowers for their performance. We surprised Eric upon his return home.

For those of you that need a little preschool-holiday-cheer in your lives, watch now as the kids (recently 3 & 5) present their 2020 pandemic, safer-at-home, holiday show…

There is some intermittent blurriness the first four minutes. As I was directing the kids, I wasn’t behind the camera. Thank you in advance for pushing through that part.

ALL of the reindeer, snowflake, tree props/decor were made by the kids (with teacher help) on corresponding “R,” “S,” and “T” preschool days.

Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings everyone!

Songs Featured:

• My Country Tis of Thee
• ABC Song
• Snowflakes Snowflakes
• Reindeer Hokey Pokey
• Rudolph’s Nose
• Jingle Bells
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas
• All I Want for Christmas Is You

When my eldest started preschool in 2018, she was nearly 3-years-old but made the age cut-off for the 2-year-old program. Her program then was two days per week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This, her second year, we had the option for a 2-day-per-week or a 3-day-per-week program. We moved her into the 3-day; Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Around the same time, her newest sibling (totaling 3 kids under the age of 4), started daycare full-time. Where the previous year, our eldest went to daycare full-time on the days with no preschool and also the afternoons of the two days she did go, this year, we scaled her back. She’s only at daycare full-time on the days with no preschool. This allows me the ability to work remotely from home two full days per week and three half days, for approximately 25 guaranteed hours of work time. And, be her chauffeur to / from school.

A couple of weeks into the school year, it was clear to me that she was rather confused what “day of the week” it was. Not necessarily if it was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so forth. But rather: Was tomorrow a school day? A daycare day? A work day? A weekend day?

So, I went in search of a week calendar view in Google Image search and came up short for what I was looking for. That lead me into Google Slides where I created a custom week-view that I knew would satisfy her needs. Once created, I added wire-drawings (add visual components of your liking to yours) to the days of the week with consistent events (school, daycare, bath nights). I then used my Swingline Guillotine Paper Cutter, AmazonBasics Thermal Laminator Machine, and 5 mil Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches to make the week-view somewhat child-resistant.

We hung it using magnets on the side of the fridge, down low where it was eye-level for her. And, I pulled a clothespin out of our laundry room for her use to denote the current, and sometimes upcoming, day. She’s so enthralled with this simple solution, if you happen to mention “tomorrow” in conversation at all, she will run over to it and slide the clothespin over a day. Note: you could also hole-punch the top two corners and use small, damage-free, Command Wire Hooks to accomplish the hanging.

You’ll note that I used capital letters, since she’s more familiar with those at age 3. I numbered the days, so we can start to educate about the number of days in the week and what day of the week it is based on the week starting on Sunday. I also show the day prior and the day after a full week, slightly grayed out, so we can teach the repetition.

If your child has different activities or events that repeat on the same days each week, you may find this useful for you too.

This embedded Google Slides file is best seen when viewed on a desktop browser.

Download Free Week-View Calendar Template

Saving Amy gives away her Week-View Calendar template 100% for FREE on her blog. No email-gating. Nothing. Check it out!
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Should you follow my template, I want to see your finished work! Tag me on social media using @savingamyblog or #savingamyblog. Thank you in advance for sharing!

Saving Amy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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My eldest daughter, who is nearly four, was starting to inquire about if today / tomorrow was a “school day.” I went on the hunt for a 7-day / week-view printable calendar in a format that a 3-year-old could digest, and just couldn’t find what I was looking for. I ended up creating my own, in a way that would be easy to show her with visuals, and a clothespin to mark the current day. ? . Need this for your child or classroom? I’m sharing the printable template for FREE on my blog. No email-gating. Just enjoy! Get it for your classroom or home: amysav.es/weekview -or- click my shortcuts link in my profile. ? . . . #freetemplate #weekviewcalendar #weekcalendarview #weekcalendar #preschooleractivity #preschooleractivities #marylandmoms #marylandblogger #marylandbloggers #mdblogger #mdbloggers #baltimoremom #baltimoremoms #howardcounty #howardcountymd #hocomoms #savingamyblog #freeprintable #freeprintables #freeprintablesforkids #freeprintablestoshare #freeprintablestotherescue #freeprintablesplanner

A post shared by ?????? ??? ??‍ (@savingamyblog) on Oct 18, 2019 at 7:36am PDT

If you missed it (mainly on my Instagram feed: savingamyblog), I’m newly off of my 10w maternity leave with kid 3. Here’s my first new piece of content for the blog since leave ended! Enjoy: https://t.co/qeOozwdlGK #freeprintable #preschool

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) October 18, 2019

Amazon Prime Day 2019 is a thing of the past. The 48 hours of deals kicked off at midnight PT, Monday, July 15th.

IMPORTANT: You’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member to participate in the day(s) of deals.

Here, I’m announcing the best deals for travelers, families, and more on Amazon Prime Day 2019.

Activate your 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime membership now:

Install Desktop & Smart Device Apps for Greater Savings

In my Online Shopping Savings Resources blog post, I compile a list of all online resources for saving money while shopping online. Here are some of my absolute faves to use while shopping on Amazon:

Amazon.com/Coupons – find all the active coupons available throughout Amazon.com on one easy to reference page.

CamelCamelCamel.com – Amazon price tracker and Amazon price history; get email alerts when particular items you’re eyeing drop below the price you need.

Honey – a web browser plugin that will automatically find and submit coupon codes at checkout for you

Ibotta (mobile)* – get rebates on your Amazon purchases + any current bonus(es).

Paribus (desktop)  – scans your email for late Amazon deliveries and/or lower prices elsewhere.

Wikibuy (desktop) – lets you know if you can items in your Amazon cart cheaper elsewhere.

*If you haven’t installed Ibotta yet, these links will get you your welcome bonus too. See my monthly earnings report that follows:

Live Deals on Social Pages:

• I’ll be sharing last-minute deals on my Saving Amy Facebook and Twitter pages. Make sure to follow me there!

My Buys:

• WaterWipes Sensitive Baby Wipes, 720 Count – normally $42.97, PLUS 20% OFF at checkout AND 40% OFF with Subscribe & Save, down to $13.75 (savings: 68%)
• Deal of the Day: Glad Tall Kitchen Drawstring Trash Bags – OdorShield 13 Gallon White Trash Bag, Gain Moonlight Breeze – 100 Count – normally $23.98, down to $12.59 (savings: 47%)
• 6 Piece Tegu Travel Pal Magnetic Wooden Block Set, Kitty – normally $19.99, down to $11.80 (savings: 41%)

Other Notable Deals:

Here are other deals that I didn’t hop on this year. Perhaps we already own them or they’re just really good deals for the right buyer.

Great buys for expectant or already parents:

• Most direct-sold Baby Einstein products – 20% off
• Most direct-sold Bright Starts products  – 20% off
• Most direct-sold Munchkin products – 20% off
• Most direct-sold Skip Hop products – 20% off
• Most direct-sold Summer Infant products – 20% off
• Most direct-sold Tommee Tippee products – 20% off
• ALEX Discover My Giant Busy Box Craft Kit – normally $22.73 (list price $44.50), down to $14.65 (savings: 67%)
• KidKraft Bookcase with Reading Nook Toy, Espresso – normally $91.64 (list price $114.99), down to $50.91 (savings: 56%)
• Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup, Green/Blue, 10 Ounce, 2 Count – normally $11.25 (list price $12.99), down to $9.03 (savings: 30%)
• Fisher-Price Think & Learn Rocktopus – normally $59.99, down to $24.99 (savings: 58%)
• Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Reusable Color with Water Activity Pad 3-Pack – normally $14.99, down to $8.37 (savings: 44%)
• Joovy Scooter X2 Double Stroller, Blueberry – normally $210.99 (list price $279.99), down to $154.99 (savings: 45%)
• BOB Revolution Flex 2.0 Jogging Stroller – normally $374.99, down to $299.99 (savings: 33%)
• BOB Revolution Flex Duallie 2.0 Jogging Stroller – normally $599.99, down to $479.99 (savings: 25%)
• Most Britax car seats – normally $149.99 – $299.99, down to $101.89 – $203.89 (savings: 32%)
• Most Osmo Kits – normally $19.99 – $99.99, down to $13.29 – $55.85 (savings: 34 – 50%)

In the category of smart home and small business devices:

• Amazon Echo Show 5 – normally $89.99, down to $49.99 (savings: 44%)
• Amazon Fire TV Stick bundle with Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – Heather Gray – normally $64.98 (list price $89.98), PLUS $52.99 OFF at checkout, down to $11.99 (savings: 86%)
• MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener Chamberlain MYQ-G0301 – normally $44.99 (list price $49.98), down to $29.99 (savings: 40%)
• Ring Wi-Fi Enabled Video Doorbell in Satin Nickel, Works with Alexa – normally $99.99, down to $69.99 (savings: 30%)
• Ring Video Doorbell 2 – normally $199, down to $139 (savings: 30%)

For your home:

• Lightning Deal: Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Carpet Washer FH50150 – normally $129 (list price $219.99), down to $95 (savings: 57%)
• Lightning Deal: Hoover Smartwash Automatic Carpet Cleaner, FH52000, Turquoise – normally $198 (list price $249.99), down to $158.40 (savings: 37%)
• ILIFE A4s Robot Vacuum Cleaner – normally $158.99 (Prime price $127.19) PLUS $20 coupon at checkout, down to $107.19 (savings: 33%)
• AmazonBasics AAA 1.5 Volt Performance Alkaline Batteries – Pack of 36 – normally $9.98 (list price $10.99), down to $7.37 (savings: 33%)
• Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill – normally $279.95 (list price $299.99), down to $149.99 (savings: 50%)
• Deal of the Day: Westinghouse WH2200iXLT Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator – normally $479, down to $335.30 (savings: 33%)
• Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away – normally $279.99 (list price $399.99), down to $168.99 (savings: 58%)
• Sun Joe SPX2598 2000 PSI 1.65 GPM 14.5-Amp Electric Pressure Washer – normally $144, down to $92.14 (savings: 36%)

For your crafting & photography needs:

• Lightning Deal: Cricut Maker Champagne Bundle – normally $449.99, down to $359.99 (savings: 20%)
• Deal of the Day: Cricut Explore Air 2 Fuchsia Bundle with Basic Tool Set and Two Vinyl Samplers – normally $289.99, down to $199.99 (savings: 31%)
• Cricut Tools, Mint Basic Set – normally $19.99, WITH 20% OFF coupon in cart, down to $15.99 (savings: 20%)
• Cricut StandardGrip Cutting 12×12 3 Pack – normally $19.99, down to $14.97 (savings: 25%)
• Lightning Deal: Cricut Bright Pad – Mint – normally $59.97 (list price $79.99), down to $47.99 (savings: 40%)
• HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer, X7N07A – normally $99.95, down to $59.95 (savings: 40%)

Get out into the great outdoors for less:

• Seven YETI Coolers – normally $199.99 – $349.99, down to $139.99 – $244.99 (savings: 30%)

Many great finds in back-to-school / office categories:

• Pre-K through Grade 12
• College
• EXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Tip, Assorted, 16 Count – normally $24.99, down to $10.94 (savings: 56%)
• Avery Hi-Liter, Smear Safe Ink, Assorted Colors, Bulk Pack of 12 Highlighters – normally $11.89, down to $6.49 (savings: 45%)

Great gift buys (for family, a friend, or even just for you):

• 23andMe DNA Test – Health + Ancestry Personal Genetic Service – normally $199, down to $99.99 (savings: 50%)
• AncestryDNA: Genetic Ethnicity + Traits Test – normally $119, down to $69 (savings: 42%)
• AncestryDNA: Genetic Ethnicity Test – normally $99, down to $49 (savings: 50%)

In the category of beauty:

• Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush, Black – normally $45.89 (list $59.99), down to $36.71 (savings: 39%)

For your home or office pantry:

• Frito-Lay Snacks, 40 Count – 35% off, PLUS 5% off with Subscribe & Save
• Pepperidge Farm, Goldfish, Crackers, Classic Mix, 29 oz, Variety Pack, Box, Snack Packs, Pack Of 30 – 35% off with first Subscribe & Save order

For your four-legged friend(s):

• Most Greenies products – up to 50% off

Additional Amazon Prime Day Shopping Guides & Resources:

• Clark.com: 6 things you need to know about Amazon Prime Day 2019
• Clark.com: Amazon Prime Day 2018: Top 5 ways to get the best deals!
• Cheapism: The Best Deals to Look for on Amazon Prime Day 2018
• CNET: Amazon Prime Day 2019: Leaked start date, plus some items already on sale
• Saving-Amy: Amazon Prime Day 2018 Shopping Guide
• Saving-Amy: Amazon Prime Day 2017 Shopping Guide

Key Amazon Landing Pages:

• Prime Day Spotlight Deals
• Prime Day Insider Deals
• 30-Day Prime Membership Free Trial

Other Online Retailer July Sales:

• Target (July 15 – July 16, online only)
• Walmart (July 15 – July 16, online only)

Saving Amy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Summertime is here in the United States of America – yeah! Time for backyard BBQs, baseball, juicy watermelon, catching lightning bugs, and donning our patriotic red, white and blue.

Just in time for Fourth of July preparations, is a super simple DIY cut-off blue denim jean shorts tutorial. Follow along.

Materials & Supplies Shopping List

• Fabric scissors
• Fabric pencil
• Sewing pins
• Dritz Unique Stitch Fabric Glue
• Blue Denim Jean Shorts or Jeans*
• American Flag fabric**

*I used The Children’s Place Baby And Toddler Girls Roll Cuff Denim Shorts, purchased on-sale for less than $7 pre-tax. If you want to make these for boys, start with denim shorts that go to the knee.

**I used Old Navy Printed Full-Length Leggings for Toddler Girls in Americana, purchased on-sale for $6 pre-tax.

Step 1: Distress Jean Shorts

Once you have gathered all of your supplies, your first step is going to be cutting off the bottom edge of the shorts so they are left raw and unfinished. This will help them to fray in the washer and dryer.

Then, using a fabric pencil, trace out any areas you want to cut out to expose the fabric from underneath. In my example, I cut out two larger areas and then use the edge of the scissors to distress a couple of other areas on the front of the shorts. One of the larger areas, I made more of a rectangle shape, the other a little more imperfect.

Next, I ran the shorts through the washer and dryer, in my next three loads. This helped all of the raw edges to fray, giving them that distressed look. I also ran the leggings through the washer and dryer once, as you should all children’s clothing before its worn.

Step 2: Cut Out Flag Fabric

You’ll want to cut your flag fabric to match not only the size of any larger holes, but also smaller areas too. This way, if they continue to fray, undergarments won’t be on display.

Flip the jean shorts inside out, so you can assess the distressed areas from within.

Cut the flag fabric along the seams to separate the red & white stripes from the blue & white star pattern.

Lay the material over the distressed areas, upside down (so it will be front-side showing through) to determine where to make your cuts. Note that the material, if stretchy fabric like the one I used, may roll a bit on the sides as you make your cuts. The red & white stripes should go on the left of the inside and the blue & white stars to the right (so when its turned right-side out it will be in the order of an American flag).

Step 3: Glue Down Flag Fabric

Use Unique Stitch fabric glue applied anywhere the two fabrics meet. Making sure to go around the circumference of any distressed areas. The red & white stripes should be applied horizontally. I added fabric pins for the first half of the 30-minute drying time to ensure the materials stay flat and attached together. I didn’t want the pins gluing into place, hence the removal at the 15-minute mark. Metal hair clips would also do the trick.

Once I removed the pins, I attempted to roll up the flag fabric to find any corners or edges that were not fully glued down and added additional glue to these areas. You want to take the glue to the edge of the flag fabric, to prevent any kind of roll the material will have once the project is complete.

After the drying time was up for the glue, I turned the shorts back to right-side out. And, then came in from the front, under the distressed areas, to add additional glue to seam these pieces together. Note, if you want additional fray to continue to take place, don’t go too close to the edge here from the front side.

Once another thirty minutes had passed, the project was complete!

As the Unique Stitch directions will inform you, do not wash again until a full 24-hours has passed from bonding the materials together.

Should you follow my tutorial, I want to see your finished work! Tag me on social media using @savingamyblog or #savingamyblog. Thank you in advance for sharing!

Saving Amy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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There are three weeks until The Fourth of July, but if you can’t wait til then to celebrate the Stars and Stripes, you can celebrate Flag Day today. On this day in 1777, the United States adopted the flag, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. ?? . Bless the US of A and all the men and women who fight for our freedom every second of everyday. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting my littles be free. We wear our Red, White, and Blue with pride. ?? . Swipe to see her shorts up close…I DIY’ed them and they couldn’t have been any easier. No sew! Find out how to make them at short (pun intended ?) URL: amysav.es/flagshorts or click the link in my profile for my shortcuts menu. . . . #flagday?? #flagday2019 #letfreedomring #starsandstripes #redwhiteandblue #kidsapparel #diyshorts #marylandmoms #marylandblogger #marylandbloggers #flashesofdelight #momentsofmusing #mybeautifulmess #simplemoments #the_sweet_life #tinyseasons #childhoodeveryday #childhoodunplugged #letthembelittle #mytinymoments #petitejoys #pixel_kids #simplychildren #fullheartmamas #joyfulmamas #thismamaloves #wherekidsplay

A post shared by ?????? ??? ??‍ (@savingamyblog) on Jun 14, 2019 at 7:49pm PDT

NEW! On the Blog: A super easy, super sweet DIY guide to make American flag, cut-off, denim shorts ahead of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday! https://t.co/yt4FenUX9q #savingamyblog #diy #kidsapparel #4thofjuly

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) June 15, 2019

For twenty years now, Port Discovery Children’s Museum, located adjacent to Power Plant Live! in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, has welcomed over five million visitors through its doors. It’s a staple for both Central Maryland families with small children and those visiting from out of town. Whether its bad weather outside forcing families inside, a school field-trip, or an out-of-the-house excursion to learn and explore and burn off some energy during summer break, its a must-visit attraction.

This Friday, June 14th, at noon, Port Discovery will re-open to the general public following $10.5 million and five-months of renovations, featuring new, updated exhibits, including the four-story SkyClimber and the Port. SkyClimber replaces the former Kid Works, and provides those five and up (adults included) the sense of climbing from under the sea to the top of the world. Socks, but not shoes, are required on the SkyClimber. The Port offers up ample STEM, culture, and art activities through port-inner working activities. The new Chessie’s Grotto, a toddler play area, sits beneath the S.S. Friend Ship. You’ll find other additions and updates throughout the museum, including a Tangram Wall, Sensory Wall, and Weaving Wall.

Several, iconic museum attractions remain, including: the Royal Farms-sponsored Convenience Store and Fill’er Up Station (convenience store children’s role play), The Oasis (children’s library), Tot Trails (baby-toddler activity room with newly added, private nursing area), Tiny’s Diner (diner children’s role play), and Wonders of Water (interactive water play room), just to name a few.

Exploring the Museum, along with my three-and-a-half year old, some of our absolute favorite exhibits included:

NEW! The Port Exhibit (second and third floors)

On the third-floor of the Museum, the Port offers up fun with small cargo-ish blocks, which kids can place on belts or run through a “scanner” to identify its imaginary contents, such as paper pulp or liquid natural gas. Every fifteen minutes, the S.S. Friend Ship’s horn blows to alert the Museum visitors that the cargo is about to be transported back to the floor below it through four trap doors, two on each side of the ship. There are also plastic bins that make for easy hauling of the blocks around this level. The Port also features interactive ship buttons and levers on both the second- and third-floors in the engine room, captain’s wheel, and security station. On the third floor, you’ll also find some cargo box contents to explore with your five senses.

Wonders of Water (third floor) – complete with rain jackets and water shoes to temporarily borrow. Note the toddler booster chairs, so they can reach the water table too!

Kick it Up! (first floor)

Studio Workshop (first floor) – where screen-printing is an option during Summer 2019. You can bring your own cloth to print on, though they also can provide a small square for you too.

NEW! Tangram Wall (first floor)

Here We Grow (third floor)

Adventure Expeditions (second floor) – ok, ok, I really liked this one – it kind of creeped the little lady out a bit. It was dark, had sound-effects, and some mazes upon entry and exit.

In addition, the first- and second-floor restrooms have been renovated. They include toddler toilet seats, a reachable sink and hand-dryer for littles, in addition to changing tables for babes.

Free-of-charge, first-come, first-served lockers are available on the first floor to store your belongings while you roam the Museum. Set a code at the time you occupy and lock one of the units.

Strollers are welcome throughout the Museum, in addition to stroller parking being available near the first-floor elevator and adjacent stairway.

Outside food and beverages are also welcome in the Museum, but need to be consumed in the renovated lunchroom area, called The Pier.

We had so much fun today exploring all that there is to Port Discovery, that we already can’t wait to go back (once the crowds die down some)! I loved how spacious and accommodating the renovations were. Most importantly, I had trouble prying my daughter away from many of the exhibits, let alone the entire Museum at the end of our visit. All-in-all, job well done Port Discovery!

Port Discovery’s Grand Re-opening kicks off at noon on Friday, June 14th. You can find more information here:

• You’re Invited: Grand Opening of BIG New Exhibits at Port Discovery Children’s Museum
• Exhibits & Experiences
• Admission & Hours

Port Discovery is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Port Discovery is located at:
35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202

Habor Park Garage is within the same block, if you choose to forgo public transportation:
55 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Note that day-use garage parking starts at level four and up.

All photos contained in this post were taken by me. Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Disclaimer: I received complimentary admission to Port Discovery in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Note: Affiliate off-site links are used in order to help support this blog site.

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Maryland friends and travelers, I’m excited to present you with a preview of the completed renovations at @portdiscovery in Baltimore. Grand re-opening to the general public is this Friday at noon. ??? Get your inside look, with LOTS of photos, short URL: amysav.es/portdiscovery or click the link in my profile to reach my links shortcuts menu. Which exhibit(s) are you and your littles most excited for?! . . . #portdiscovery #childrensmuseum #501c3nonprofit #baltimoreschild #baltimorechild #baltimorekids #baltimoremaryland #baltimoremd #baltimorewithkids #travelmaryland #mdkids #marylandkids #mdinfocus #wheninmaryland #onlyinmaryland #visitmaryland #visitbaltimore #wherekidsplay #momswithcameras #runwildmychild #childhoodunplugged #simplychildren

A post shared by ?????? ??? ??‍ (@savingamyblog) on Jun 12, 2019 at 5:54am PDT

The renovations are complete! @portdiscovery grand re-opens to the public this Friday at noon. Get an inside look at what you can expect, in a full preview (with LOTS of photos) on the blog! https://t.co/jcE6PhsX90 #portdiscovery #childrensmuseum #wherekidsplay #visitbaltimore

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) June 12, 2019

Original post May 1, 2017. This post has been updated to provide you with the most relevant and useful information in May 2019.

So, you want to build your own web site or personal blog? Here’s my “quick” take on how you can get started with this, using WordPress to get you set up and running quickly.

Shortcut Menu:

• Cultivate & Nuture Your Idea
• Domain Registration
• Logo & Branding
• Web Hosting
• Content Management System (CMS)
• Design
• Driving Traffic
• Further Education
• WordPress Plugins

Cultivate & Nurture Your Idea

After starting and stopping the wheels spinning on several web site ideas over the years, it has become apparent to me that in order to have a successful personal blog, you need to narrow your focus. Just like with a craft fair booth, the more you perfect a single item, and mass produce it, the more you become an expert in that field and make a better product, so on and so forth. So, really think this through before you get started. Perhaps jot down a list of topics or specific content pieces that are ready to go in your mind right now. This list may later parlay into your site navigation and/or categories, tags.

Domain Registration

Once you have your focus narrowed, brainstorm some names. But, don’t go and create your brand just yet. Instead, make sure the domain (and quite possibly you’ll want to check the major social networks: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest to see if the short version of the name is available there too as a handle) is available before you proceed.

TIP: Need help brainstorming company names? Check out SquadHelp, where you can let designers bid on your business with a creative name and even a logo.

Ever since the government deregulated Network Solutions as the sole U.S. hosting company around 2000, several U.S. domain registrants appeared as competition with much lower pricing. Around that time I made the move to Dotster.com, which I’ve been at ever since. I’m just so familiar with the administration area now and it still meets my needs that I haven’t had a reason to leave. You can often find coupons for brand new domain registrations on Dotster.com too.

TIP: Through my day job, where I build and manage WordPress sites, I can also recommend GoDaddy too, for ease-of-use and pricing.

For your primary domain, get a .com. It’s just much easier for folks to remember. If you later decide to get a short URL and run your long URLs through a shortener like bit.ly, you can sign up for whatever top level domain extension that suits your needs for that.

Try a couple of variations for your domain name, until you find the one that you’ll be happiest with.

If you are set on a domain name and it’s not available, use a simple “whois” search in your favorite browser to learn when the current domain name registration is likely to expire. You may be waiting for some time. Pick an alternative even while you wait.

Once you have your domain name, don’t forget to promptly secure all social network profiles of importance to you. Even if you don’t use them immediately, they will come in helpful when it’s time to market your site.

Logo & Branding

This can be a tricky one, unless you have a bit of artistic or graphic design running through you. You’ll have to settle on colors, typefaces, shape, etc. If you are not keen to doing this task yourself, enlist a company who specializes in logo design. I’m most familiar with Sagetopia, based in Northern Virginia, if you can’t think of one top of mind. If you don’t have the resources to bring a professional design company into the mix, you may want to consider WithOomph.com which will generate a logo-on-the-fly based on keywords you type in inexpensively. Remember, you get what you pay for.

You’ll want to make sure your logo looks good both horizontally, vertically, and in a square version for use on social media. You may even want to consider limiting colors and tagline, to be able to embroider on golf shirts down the line.

Whatever you do, make sure you treat your logo with utmost respect to protect your brand image.  Here’s a collage of brand guides which you may want to emulate.

You may also want to convert the square version of your logo into a “favicon” (Favorite Icon) so that you have a small branded graphic that appears in the URL line in the browser.  There are several online resources for generating favicons (with this being just one hyperlinked example).

Web Hosting

This can also get a little confusing to navigate for the first time, unless you know about how much storage space and bandwidth you’ll need. For the average person getting started, the most basic account will be just fine. I happen to also host through my domain name provider, Dotster.com, to keep everything all in one administrator area. I’ve found that setting up the database for WordPress, as well as other basic settings, are easy to navigate within Dotster, so I’ve just stayed there. Just make sure whichever hosting company you land with that they support WordPress, as well as MySQL databases within your account, as you’ll need one for the content retention for WordPress.  There are videos on YouTube for how to setup your corresponding MySQL database for WordPress too.

Make sure whomever you select for hosting offers:

• SSL (secure sockets layer) certification to make your site secure, serving all content at https:// – will help with site security and vulnerability
• Daily/nightly backups – will allow for faster fixes and restore if your site is brought down for any reason (or you have an oops on a manual content change)
• A website security partner, such as SiteLock or Sucuri – scans for plugin and theme vulnerabilities, known malware

TIP: Through my day job, where I build and manage WordPress sites, I can also recommend WP Engine too, for ease-of-use. They offer one-click backups, nightly backups, production / development / staging environments, caching, CDN (content delivery network), SSL certification, 301 redirection, and more. If you would like a reliable CDN, but do not plan to host with WP Engine, consider Cloudflare.

Content Management System (CMS)

WordPress.org (similar to WordPress.com) is a site where you can download for free the open source code that you can use an FTP program (like Filezilla) to transfer up to your web hosting server. You can then walk through the online steps to install it.  You will have much greater flexibility (and customization options) with WordPress.org, so go that route if you are technically savvy enough to do so.

Design

Once you have WordPress files installed to your web hosting server, I highly recommend sifting through the options at ThemeForest, and filtering based on most recent or most popular, or search terms for the type of design you are seeking. I also pay close attention to number of sales, ratings, and reviews here to understand the simplicity of the install and customization before I purchase any theme. Don’t tread lightly. Look specifically for a template that is within your budget and you know you’ll have content to fill (think about both text and high-resolution images). Rule out any and all templates that do not have “responsive” layouts. Responsive templates work seamlessly on desktop, mobile, and tablets. Most of the designs I’ve purchased are around $60 and come with version control as new releases come out over time. You also want to pay attention to the most recent update date and if an “Elite Author” badge is displaying on profile. Review all compatibility information too, to see which version of WordPress the site was last tested on and also if the theme works with WP Bakery (which you can learn more about in my recommended plugins list below).

Through the WordPress administrator (Admin) back-end area, you’ll be able to install (and upload) your new theme, straight from .zip format. Follow the instructions and message board specific to that theme to apply the customizations that you need.

While implementing your theme, make it easy for your site visitors to find your social media pages. You can incorporate icons in your header, footer, sidebar to take visitors straight to your social media pages or even embed content from the various networks right into your site. If your design does not come with matching social media icons, one of my favorite free sources is SoftIcons.com. You’ll be able to find options here that compliment your site’s design.

And, finally, I rely on Unsplash, Pexels, and Reshot for royalty-fee free images for my blog, when I don’t already have my own photo available at my fingertips. This is super helpful when you’re starting out and don’t have much of a budget to afford purchasing photos off the web. Whatever you do, don’t use photographs off of a Google image search — they simply do not belong to you!

Driving Traffic

I have been subscribed to Social Media Examiner for years, and though it’s rare I have time to sift through all the great content, it does become my first stop when looking for ideas to generate site traffic.

With this blog, I have Google Analytics setup to monitor my most popular content (and therefore write additional content that resonates most with my audience, which helps to drive repeat visitors). I also use a custom URL attached to my bit.ly account where I can get analytics from my Instagram traffic, since you cannot post hyperlinked URLs in posts there.

I also have Google Search Console enabled and have uploaded an XML Sitemap (not a sitemap that your general traffic sees, but instead a sitemap specifically for Google to crawl and index your site in its search database). There are WordPress plugins which will create an XML Sitemap for you, noted in the plugins list below.

I focus my attention on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for my social traffic drivers. I have been taking some photography workshops most recently to get better with my photography and build a better following on those channels. These have been through local community colleges and ed2go.com.

Add your site to Google feedburner. Once you have your feedburner URL (i.e., http://feeds.feedburner.com/SavingAmy), you may want to link to that along with your social media icons on your site.

Additionally, I’m part of a network of local bloggers, HoCoBlogs.com, for Howard County, Maryland bloggers, which also drives local traffic to my site as well.

Before I started heavily promoting my site to friends and family, I made sure to have a good couple months of content under my belt, which helped to validate the site for first-time visitors. Don’t start promoting your site when you have just one article, unless you are at the beginning of telling a story via your blog. And, whatever you do…don’t promote any pages on your site with a “Coming Soon!” message. It simply does nothing for your visitors.

Further Education

If you feel like you could use a little extra knowledge in regards to WordPress or design applications (for your logo), check out Lynda.com. Lynda offers a 10-day free trial, if you want to test drive, and thereafter monthly subscription fees starting at $20/month. (Insider Tip: many local libraries offer Lynda.com membership for free – mine does! Check into the programs and offerings your local library offers).

Also, check out YouTube for tutorial videos and to learn more about search engine optimization.

WordPress Plugins

Note: I have used all of the following plugins either currently or previously myself.

But first, some tips:

• ALWAYS keep all plugins up-to-date – will help with site security and vulnerability
• ALWAYS back-up your site before updating plugins (both the code and the database) – will allow for faster fixes and restore if a plugin update brings your site down
• ALWAYS deactivate and delete plugins (and themes) that are not in use – will help with site security and vulnerability
• The more plugins you have installed, the slower your site will load – only install what you need

My Favorite FREE / FREEMIUM Plugins

Analytics

• Google Analytics for WordPress by MonsterInsights, by MonsterInsights – connects to your Google Analytics account; handy wizard walks you through setup

Ecommerce

• WooCommerce, by Automattic – eCommerce toolkit that helps you sell anything, beautifully
• WooCommerce Authorize.Net AIM Gateway, by SkyVerge – accept credit cards and checks via Authorize.Net AIM in your WooCommerce store

Event Management

• The Events Calendar, by Modern Tribe, Inc. – custom post type with event data field collection and display

Forms

• While Gravity Forms (paid) is my preferred plugin to manage forms, if you find you’re on a strict budget, check out Wufoo. Wufoo has a free basic service to allow you to create easy forms (on their site) that can be embedded in your site with a plugin such as: Wufoo Shortcode Plugin, by Chris Coyier.

Image Gallery

• Envira Gallery Lite, by Envira Gallery Team – responsive image gallery
• Tiled Galleries Carousel Without Jetpack, by Raja CRN – transform your standard WordPress image galleries into an immersive full-screen experience without plugin: Jetpack; you can get tiled galleries with full-screen carousel without connecting to wordpress.com account

Search and Replace

• Search & Replace, by Inpsyde GmbH – allows for bulk database modifications (only have installed and active when in use, otherwise remove it!)

Search Engine Optimization / Usability

• Broken Link Checker, by Janis Elsts – checks your site for broken links and missing images and notifies you on the dashboard and/or by email when they are found; broken links lead to a lower trust score from the search engines and lead to a bad user experience
• Custom 404 Error Page, by Kaspars Dambis – when your theme doesn’t include a 404 / non-existent error page
• Redirection, by John Godley – manage your 301 redirects and monitor 404 errors
• Remove Yoast SEO Comments, by Mitch – removes the Yoast SEO advertisement HTML comments from your front-end source code
• Yoast SEO, by Team Yoast – SEO customization for all content, XML sitemap creator, social settings, driving free traffic from the search engines

Security

• ThreatPress Security, by ThreatPress – active protection, advanced scanning, and monitoring; scans for WordPress core changes, plugin and theme vulnerabilities, known malware, blacklisting, etc.

Social

• Better Click to Tweet, by Ben Meredith – easy embedding of ClickToTweet.com blocks in your site content
• Custom Twitter Feeds, by Smash Balloon – embed a Twitter feed on site

Spam Control

• Akismet Anti-Spam, by Automattic – protects your WordPress site from spam (post comments)
• Anit-Captcha, by Filidor Wiese – transparent captcha solution that does not require end-user interaction (i.e. typing in letters seen in an image)
• Anti-spam, by webvitaly – no spam in comments without using captcha
• Google Invisible reCaptcha by ThreatPress, by ThreatPress – integrates Invisible reCAPTCHA into your WordPress site

Speed

• a3 Lazy Load, by a3rev Software – speed up your site to enhance your user’s visual experience
• Autoptimize, by Frank Goossens (futtta) – increases site load speed by optimizing CSS, JavaScript, images, Google fonts, etc.
• Better WordPress Minify, by Khang Minh – minify your CSS and JavaScript files for faster page loading for visitors
• WP Super Cache, by Automattic – caching plugin

Tables

• TablePress, by Tobias Bäthge – embed beautiful and feature-rich tables into your posts and pages, without having to write code

Theme & Plugin Updates

• Envato Market, by Derek Herman – notifies you by email when releases come out for your ThemeForest theme to keep your site code up-to-date
• Mail On Update, by Sven Kubiak – notifies you to email address(es) you select when a plugin has a new version available for update
• ManageWP – Worker, by GoDaddy – site management for updates, backups, one-click login, migrations, security, etc.

Extras

• Better Font Awesome, by Mickey Kay – use shortcodes to display Font Awesome icons
• Classic Editor, by WordPress Contributors – enables the WordPress classic editor and the old-style Edit Post screen with TinyMCE, Meta Boxes, etc.
• Code Embed, by David Artiss – easy and efficient way to embed code (JavaScript and HTML) in your posts and pages
• Duplicate Post, by Enrico Battocchi – clone posts and pages to improve your time efficiency while working on repetitive tasks in the Admin back-end
• Duplicate Widgets, by aleksandargubecka – clone / duplicate a widget, with all settings included, in just one click
• Easy UTM Builder, by Atlas Gondal – build URLs with UTM parameters for all of your site or custom post types
• Hustle, by WPMU DEV – collect email addresses to quickly grow your mailing list with big, bold pop-ups, slide-ins, widgets, or in post opt-in forms
• Insert Headers and Footers, by WPBeginner – insert code or text in the header or footer of your WordPress site
• Page Links To, by Mark Jaquith – useful tool if you want to include content say on the homepage or category page of your site, that actually links to the content’s permanent location elsewhere on the web; looks like just an ordinary piece of content on your site, but will drive the user elsewhere
• WordPress Importer, by wordpressdotorg – import posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, tags and more from a WordPress export file
• WP AutoTerms, by WP AutoTerms – create privacy policy, GDPR privacy policy, terms and conditions, disclaimers, cookie consent banner for legal compliance
• Yet Another Related Posts Plugin, by Adknowledge – make your site even stickier, traffic on the site longer, by programmatically introducing similar posts within your post page

My Favorite PAID Plugins

Event Management

• The Events Calendar PRO, by Modern Tribe, Inc. – a premium add-on to the open source The Events Calendar plugin (required), enables recurring events, custom attributes, venue pages, widgets, and a host of other premium features
  • Event Tickets Plus Extension: Enhance Woo Order Templates, by Modern Tribe, Inc. – runs in conjunction with The Events Calendar PRO and WooCommerce for event ticketing management (including payment)

Forms

• Gravity Forms, by rocketgenius – easily create web forms and manage form entries within the WordPress Admin back-end
  • Gravity Forms Authorize.Net Add-On, by rocketgenius – integrates Gravity Forms with Authorize.Net, enabling you to use your forms for ecommerce
  • Gravity Forms Prevent Duplicates, by MaxiCharts – renders the form submission button useless after its first click
  • Gravity Forms Multi-Column, by Jordan Crown – adds basic multi-column support to Gravity Forms
  • Gravity Forms Signature Add-On, by Rocketgenius – creates a Gravity Forms field that allows users to sign online using a mouse or stylus
  • Gravity Forms Zapier Add-on, by rocketgenius – integrates Gravity Forms with Zapier, allowing form submissions to be automatically sent to your configured Zaps (i.e., Google Sheets)
  • Gravity PDF, by Gravity PDF – automatically generate highly-customizable PDF documents using Gravity Forms
  • GravityView, by GravityView – display Gravity Form entries on the front-end of your site
• SendGrid, by SendGrid – cloud-based email infrastructure; provides reliable delivery, scalability, and real-time analytics along with flexible APIs for custom integration
• WPBakery Page Builder, by Michael M – WPBakery.com – drag-and-drop posts / page builder for WordPress; build any layout you can imagine – no programming knowledge required; extremely “responsive” friendly

Image Gallery

• Envira Gallery, by Envira Gallery Team – premium responsive image gallery

Social

• Elfsight Yottie, by Elfsight – custom YouTube channel display

Extras

• Advanced Post Types Order, by Nsp Code – order post types objects using a drag-and-drop sortable JavaScript capability

Social Follow and Share

A post I originally published in May of 2017 gets a major overhaul. Even if you’ve skimmed this one before, it’ll be worth a second look. I promise. https://t.co/HWsFlus4KK #WordPress_expert #WordPress_websites #wordpress

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) May 26, 2019

 

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Hope everyone in the U.S. had a great Memorial Day Weekend! ??? We got a bunch crossed off our To-Do list and even managed to relax some. A blog post I did two years ago, about how you can get started with YOUR OWN site / blog, had started to become out-of-date. I always do my very best to keep all links working and content fresh and updated on the blog – yes, I do pay attention to old posts! (I actually have an ongoing list of ones I need to update). I added a wealth of information to this post over the weekend. If you’re interested for all the 100% completely free information, visit short URL: amysav.es/blogstart -or- click the link in my profile to reach my shortcuts page. ? For those of you who are already up and running with your own site, is there anything else I should add? Anything new that you learned from my updated info? . . . #websitelaunch #bloglaunch #wordpressorg #wordpressblog #wordpresstheme #wordpressdesign #wordpressplugin #wordpressplugins #diyblogger #momblog #mommyblog #bloggingmom #momblogger #savingamyblog #marylandblogger #marylandbloggers #hocoblogs #marylandmoms #marylandmom

A post shared by ?????? ??? ??‍ (@savingamyblog) on May 28, 2019 at 5:05am PDT

Additional Resources

• ProBlogger: Which is the Best Blog Hosting Solution?
• The Money Habit: How to Start a Blog

When hints of the gb Pockit stroller would be debuting Spring 2016, just months after my first was born, I admit I was intrigued by the world’s smallest folding stroller with our active lifestyle. But, definitely not by the $229 anticipated retail price tag. This stroller claimed to fold up so small (11.8″ x 7″ x 13.8″), that it could fit into a backpack. And in full-form, fit children from 6-months-old up to 55-lbs. It also weighs in at just 9.5 lbs.

Fast forward to fall 2018, when I was able to acquire a gb Pockit stroller brand new for just $109.90 through a deal at Target.com. The stroller had come down in price to $129.59, and with a 20% off one baby item coupon, using code BABYEXTRA20, rounded out my total to the $109.90 with local 6% sales tax. $103.67 after-coupon, pre-tax.

Pro Tip: Use a service like Honey or CamelCamelCamel.com to find when this product drops to its lowest price point again, at Amazon.com.

Major Use #1: Traveling Solo with Two Little Ones

Not only did the deal lure me in, but I was just 2.5 weeks away from flying solo with my almost 3-year-old and my almost 1-year-old infant-in-lap. I could easily baby-wear him through both airports, but I knew my little lady would not be up for the long walks in store at the Atlanta destination airport. I was able to carry him on the front of me with my Ergobaby 360 (see: Comprehensive Baby Registry Guide), carry a small Eddie Bauer packable backpack on my back to serve as a diaper bag and snack bag during travel, and the gb Pockit stroller in a ChicoBag reuseable grocery bag between the gate and our seats. This scenario fit perfectly for this trip. As on the receiving end I was meeting my parents who already had car seats installed for my nephews that accommodated my two kids. And, I checked our luggage at the ticket counter to lighten my load.

gb, you nailed it – I LOVED solo traveling with my two kids with this stroller!

Major Use #2: A Problem is Discovered

Then, in early March, I decided to take my now 3-year-old up to The Philadelphia Flower Show (the world’s oldest and largest indoor flower show) for this year’s rad theme of Flower Power. Being 17 weeks pregnant with kid #3 at this point, I opted not to do the drive up from Baltimore, because the difference between Amtrak regional train fare vs. car wear-and-tear mileage, gasoline, tolls, parking, and the hassle was nominal. Plus, what 3-year-old wouldn’t want to take the “choo-choo” train? (see: Walkersville Southern Railroad)

Well, once again, I pared down as much as possible. The gb Pockit again in a ChicoBag. My packable backpack on my back. A Mommy Hook on a handlebar of the stroller. And, a BlackRapid Camera Strap to cross-body carry my DSLR camera once at the show.

I ended up covering at least 3 miles that day (at least that’s what my health smart phone app says) between trains and the convention show floor (which is rather large). During these 3 miles, I discovered an issue with the stroller. Here I was in a tunic and leggings, with no pockets in either, and finding no convenient place to keep my smart phone handy and accessible. In an effort to keep materials and weight down, there were no additional bells-and-whistles to this stroller. Sure, there’s a small storage basket (accommodates up to 11-lbs of gear) underneath the stroller, but it was quickly filled up with our end-of-winter jackets that we wore between trains that chilly morning, the show map, etc. and really not easy to reach when you have limited maneuverability while pregnant. With the storage basket full, and my phone sitting on top of the heap, I was rather nervous that my phone would fall out from the bin and I wouldn’t even notice. So, I ended up keeping it in one hand the entire time I pushed my daughter around. Totally not convenient.

Brainstorming & Implementing a Solution

This scenario got me to thinking how convenient it would be to add a simple lightweight fabric pocket to the back of the stroller that wouldn’t keep the stroller from folding up as intended and would solve this need I had. Perhaps you’re experiencing this too? Which is likely why you stumbled upon my post on the topic… A stroller organizer wouldn’t really work on the gb Pockit because of the reverse handlebar design, not to mention it would be too bulky to fold the stroller down as intended.

So I visited my local Joann Fabrics store, in part to pickup some final items for our recent IKEA LACK Hack project, and purchased 0.25 yards of Apparel Lining Stretch Fabric in black (item #13527742) to match the color of our stroller. Next, a sewing machine was used to create a simple square-cornered pocket.

The total height of the finished pocket would be 8.5″. One-and-a-half inches of the pocket back would be exposed from the 7″ beneath it. This would allow for easy access to a smart phone, wallet, or keys placed in the pocket. It would also give the top of the pocket a space to be hand-sewn onto the stroller, as well. The width of the pocket, 6″. These dimensions of this particular fabric added about 0.5-oz. weight to the stroller. Nominal, if you ask me.

The pocket’s seams were created on a standard sewing machine with your run-of-the-mill black sewing machine thread. Buttonhole twist thread, also in black, was used to hand-stitch the entire pocket onto the back of the stroller where it would hang down.

Gallery

Major Use #3: Great for Road-Trips with Slim Cargo Space

Recently, we took a Spring Break / Easter / 5-year Anniversary trip to one of our favorite East Coast cities: Asheville, NC. And, we decided with just the four of us, we could take the 2011 Subaru Forester vs. our 2012 RAM 3500 diesel-guzzler to save a dime. The gb Pockit came in handy once again! Between our four luggage bags, DSLR camera gear, Easter stuff, a Pack ‘n Play for the little man to sleep in (see: Comprehensive Baby Registry Guide), we were able to fit both our Summer Infant 3Dlite convenience stroller and the gb Pockit compact stroller no problem.

And boy did that new rear stroller pocket come in handy!

Problem solved.

Social Follow and Share

 

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I have loved my #gbpockit stroller since the day it arrived from Target.com. And I love it even more now that I hacked it to have a handy storage pocket on the back. (Swipe through the three pics to see it up close)! Find out how to add a pocket to your pockit at: amysav.es/pockitpocket or click the link in my profile to reach my blog post shortcuts menu. . . . #gbpockitstroller #targetfinds #umbrellastroller #compactstroller #babystroller #babystrollers #momapproved #marylandmoms #marylandblogger #bloggersofinsta #bloggingmom #blogmom #momblog #momblogger #mommyblog #mommyblogger #adventuresinparenting #momhacks #momfave #our_everyday_moments #babydue2019 #wherekidsplay #savingamyblog

A post shared by ?????? ??? ??‍ (@savingamyblog) on Jun 21, 2019 at 7:00am PDT

New on the blog for those of you who like to DIY, sew, or have littles in the household: How to add a small pocket to the back of your gb Pockit compact stroller. https://t.co/7OudOku8z4 #gbpockit #compactstroller #pockitstroller #foldingstroller

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) May 24, 2019

Saving Amy does not make any guarantee that your product warranty will still be valid after making alterations to the product. Please check with your specific product warranty for further details.

Saving Amy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

In 2015, I learned of the Maryland Race for the Family 5K walk/run, held at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, and hosted by Shady Grove Fertility. I was 16w pregnant with our first born at the time of the Race, so we thought we would go and walk it in support of the “1 in 8” couples who suffer from an infertility diagnosis. Since 2015, we’ve been back in 2016, 2017, 2018, and are planning to attend the 2019 event. It’ll be our fifth year. The Race is a fundraiser for fertility grants that the Cade Foundation (Owings Mills, MD) awards locally and nationally each year.

It was through this event, that I learned of both the Savannah Grant and also Savannah’s Playground (an area devoted to children at the Race). Curious the backstory about Savannah, I started doing some online research. And, that’s when I discovered the unimaginable tragedy that had befallen Savannah’s family a few years prior. After undergoing successful fertility treatment, carrying Savannah to term, and raising her to age 10 months of age, an awful accident happened. She managed to pull her baby monitor, and subsequently got tangled up in its cord, into her safe place, her crib. By the time her nanny returned from folding laundry and discovered her, it was simply…too late.

Additional Resources

• NBC24: Parents share deadly warning about baby monitors
• WJLA: Baby strangled in video monitor cord; CPSC warns about placing monitors close to cribs
• FirstGiving: Savannah’s Memorial Fund
• Saving Amy: 29 Ways to Cut Costs on Fertility Treatment in Maryland
• Saving Amy: Comprehensive Baby Registry Guide (Sleep & Monitors)
• Saving Amy: My Priorities for Baby’s First Year
• Saving Amy: My Favorite Smart Home / Small Business Devices
• Shady Grove Fertility: Pregnancy Loss & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Less than 1% of infants will pass away in the United States – which is 1% too many for the families coping with the loss. –Shady Grove Fertility

Our Resolution

Heartbroken for this family, even years after this March 2010 incident, we decided we would turn this tragic story into a positive in our household. We decided to run our baby monitor cords through the wall, away from the crib, much like you would do a wall-mounted TV. For us, this was not a time to spread hate, finger-point, or blame. This was to educate us because the parents of little Savannah decided to spread awareness so it wouldn’t happen to other little ones, like ours. Their story touched us, enhanced our education. And, I hope this post does the same for you too even 9+ years later.

Cable Management Products to Consider

All of these options have install videos available on their respective Amazon.com product pages:

• $41.19: Legrand Wiremold Cord and Cable Power Kit, Recessed In-Wall Cable Management System (incl. hole saw drill attachment & 5′ in-wall power cord) – this is the one seen in our install below
• $44.17 (list price: $59.99): Datacomm Electronics Cable Organizer Kit (you will need a drywall / jab saw, sold separately)
• $49.99: Echogear in Wall Power Kit Includes Low Voltage Cable Management (incl. hole saw drill attachment & 5′ in-wall power cord)

Prices are subject to change at any time, and were accurate as of the time of this post. Use a service like Honey or CamelCamelCamel.com to find when Amazon items are at their lowest price point.

Our Install

Below you’ll find photos of our specific install.

If/when you decide to do this in your own home, consider a location that not only will suit the angle of your baby monitor(s), but could also serve as a future wall-mounted TV location too.

Follow all directions provided with your specific kit.

I hope that by creating this simple post, that I’m able to help spread further awareness of the dangers of installing a baby monitor with loose cords too close to your little one’s crib. Let me know in the comments below.

Social Follow and Share

I’ve been sitting on the idea for this post for some time. It was too important to continue to sit on it any longer. Please tag your expectant friends and family, or those with infants in the household. https://t.co/Ko6yUWF7ov #newblogpost #ontheblog

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) May 22, 2019

 

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I never did a baby nursery theme or made much fuss about the room. Instead, I selected a paint color for our previous-home office walls that could double for a baby’s room if we were able to have children. I knew we weren’t/aren’t permanent in our current home. That’s why you never see cutesy pictures of our nursery. It’s not. It’s Plain Jane. ??‍ But there is one part of our baby’s room I do want to show you, nearly four years after our first pregnancy. ? And that’s how we implemented an additional safety measure to keep baby monitor cables/cords away from the crib. I have the full backstory on the blog at short URL: amysav.es/hiddencables or click the link in my profile to reach my shortcuts page. Please do me a favor and help save the life of a child, in your own home or someone else’s, by tagging and sharing this with your expectant mama friends, family, neighbors, coworkers. ?? Thank you! . . . #babysafety #babyhazards #babydanger #infantsafety #babymonitor #babynursery #babynurserydecor #babynurseryroom #babynurseryideas #babynurseryinspo #babyroom #babysroom #babysroomdecor #keepkidssafe #babyregistry #smarthome #smarthometechnology #sgfstrong #cadefoundation #mdraceforthefamily #raceforthefamily #marylandraceforthefamily #shadygrovefertility #marylandmoms #marylandblogger

A post shared by ?????? ??? ??‍ (@savingamyblog) on May 23, 2019 at 4:24am PDT

Saving Amy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

With the end of our daughter’s first-ever school year nearly upon us, we decided to gift her teachers a little something for End of the School Year. We had sent her to school on the first day with a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card and a royal-icing shortbread apple-shaped cookie from our favorite local baker Touche Touchet Bakery in Columbia, Maryland and then gifted Amazon.com gift cards for Christmas time.

Now we needed yet another idea. An idea of something that was consumable (as we understand first-hand being on the receiving-end of non-consumable items), budget-friendly, and age-appropriate for a three-year-old to give to her teachers (sorry, no alcholic beverages as many of our teacher-friends suggested!) A friend suggested movie tickets (the teachers themselves or their family members could use), which sparked an idea. As a frequent Dollar Tree browser-shopper I remember small popcorn containers being available there. And, movie tickets to our local theater at Costco. And, now the creative juices were flowing.

Shopping List

So, this lead me to pickup the following items to make a mini “gift basket” presentation of the movie tickets:

• Costco Wholesale: 2 Cinemark movie ticket gift cards for $16.99 (each pair) – check your Costco for gift cards to movie theaters common in your local area
• Dollar Tree: 3-for-$1 popcorn containers, $1 bows, 2-for-$1 Hallmark “thank you” greeting cards
• Dollar Tree / Five Below / Grocery: $0.99 candy, like peanut M&M’s and Skittles
• Grocery: 1 box containing 4 mini bags (100 calorie Jolly Time) of microwave popcorn ($2.79)
• Michaels: spool of red, crimped curling ribbon ($2.39) – used a very small portion, the rest will be stored for Christmas holiday gift wrapping
• Already on hand: individually-wrapped Twizzlers candy (Walmart is a good source), cellophane, tissue paper* (Michaels would be a good source), scissors, clear gift packaging tape, 2 small rubber bands

*Another alternative to the tissue paper is purchasing yellow Easter basket paper stuffing at Five Below when it’s just $1.

Total cost, not including items already on hand or the spool of red curling ribbon, before tax: $22.20 each gift.

Assembly

For the inside of the blank $0.50 Hallmark “thank you” greeting cards, we used example messages found on Tosaylib.

Social Follow and Share

Brilliant, unique, easy, speedy, budget-friendly idea to give your children’s teachers for an End of the School Year gift. Here’s the How To: https://t.co/KdIt27DRSn #endofschoolyear #teachergift #moviegift #budgetgift pic.twitter.com/8UBf9m2OgJ

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) May 13, 2019

Saving Amy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

At What Point Do You Become IKEA Hack Pros?

We’ve now knocked out hacks for the 1) DUKTIG children’s play kitchen, 2) created one-of-a-kind transforming home office desks (utilizing several different IKEA products), 3) added casters to the GULLIVER crib, 4) made a dog kennel cover from the INGO pine table and 5) converted the larger of two LACK nesting tables into a LEGO® play table. And, if “professional” means selling something – why yes, we have sold one of these already! So, perhaps that does make us pros!

This last one in the list, we just wrapped up at the beginning of this year with every intention to continue forward in hacking the smaller of the two LACK nesting tables. The vision this time: an ice cream vendor cart. But wait! It turned into more!

Let’s start with our supplies list:

Shopping List

IKEA

We started with the IKEA LACK set-of-2 nesting tables (in gray), a combined price of $29.99, but only used the smaller of the two tables for this project. (The larger one was used for our earlier LEGO® play table project). The rest of our shopping list included:

• One 16.5″ x 11.75″ x 4″ IKEA TROFAST storage boxes (come in white, yellow, or green – we selected yellow; $3 ea.)
• One set-of-2 (2 total) IKEA BAGGANÄS stainless steel handles (also come in black or brass color; $10.99 per set)
• Two yards of IKEA SOFIA fabric in classic white/gray stripes (also comes in white/black and white/yellow; $7.99/yard)

The IKEA items, before sales tax, $39.97 (this is assuming one-third the cost of the LACK tables, since we only used the smaller one).

Lowe’s Home Improvement

• Four 1-5/8″ Roller Casters (Item #66942 Model #4265599; $5.58 ea.)
• Four 7/8″ x 48″ Round Wood Poplar Dowel Rods (Item #19385 Model #430911; $3.78 ea.) – look down these to ensure they are the straightest available ones before purchasing
• One 1″ x 2″ x 8′ Select Pine Board (Item #1206 Model #83706; $4.96)
• One 1/2″ x 3/4″ x 8′ Pine Stop (Item #3487 Model #EC254; $6.96)
• Four packages (2 ct. ea.) Hillman #12 x 3-in Silver Zinc-Plated Flat Wood Screws (Item #57251 Model #490033; $1.28 ea.)
• One package (10 ct.) Hillman #8 x 1-in Zinc-Plated Hanger Bolt (Item #124015 Model #491409; $1.28)
• One package (6 ct.) 1/2″ Hillman Steel Cup Hook (Item #58433 Model #490944; $1.28)
• One Krylon Colormaxx General Purpose Spray Paint in matte deep gray (Item #1026759 Model #K05550007; $3.98) – or if you get the black/white LACK tables, get black to match
• Elmer’s Wood Glue (Item #41148 Model #E700; $1.98)
• One box (75 ct.) Particle Board 3/4″ (number 6) Phillips Yellow Dichromate screws (approximately $9.49) – on Amazon

The Lowe’s items, before sales tax, $72.49.

Joann Fabric and Craft Stores

• One yard Glitterbug Solid Crushed Panne fabric in red ($6.99/yard)
• Half yard Glitterbug Solid Crushed Panne fabric in black ($6.99/yard)
• Two yards Muslin fabric in white ($2.99/yard) – used to line the IKEA fabric
• One spool of Offray Grosgrain Ribbon 3/8″ x 21′, silver ($2.99)
• Two Ss 27in Daffodil Chair Tie ($8.99 ea.)
• Five packs VELCRO Brand 0.75”x24” Fabric Fusion Heat-Activated Adhesive (three beige; Item #8585440; two black; Item #8432684; $7.99 ea.)
• One package Dritz 1/4″ 2-Part Eyelet Kit in matte gold ($5.99)
• One package Dritz Fray Check Sealant ($5.99)

The Joann items, before discounts and coupons, sales tax, $89.37. Items are often on sale or you can apply 40% off to a single non-sale item per transaction. Exclusions apply. Download the Joann mobile app.

Michaels Stores

• Four ArtMinds Wooden 1.75″ Doll Heads ($4.49 ea.) – the finials at Lowe’s were either too big or too small; these “doll heads,” with pre-drilled pilot holes, worked just perfect

The Michaels items, before discounts and coupons, sales tax, $17.96. Items are often on sale or you can apply 40% off to a single non-sale item per transaction. Exclusions apply. Download the Michaels mobile app.

Optional Accessories

• Target Dollar Spot Pretend Play Ice Cream Shoppe Set by Horizon Group (1 apron, 1 hat; Item: #93221; $5 ea.)
• Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter ($49.99)
• Melissa & Doug assorted puppets ($15.47+)
• IKEA assorted puppets ($4.99+)
• IKEA DUKTIG toy cash register ($17.99)
• IKEA DUKTIG assorted play food (14-piece vegetables set: $9.99; 9-piece fruit basket set: $9.99)
• IKEA SOCKERÄRT white pitcher ($9.99)
• IKEA SMYCKA artificial flower, ranunculus, white ($2.99 ea.)
• Children’s Apron ($13.99)
• Girls Sun Hat ($14.99+)
• Black Desk Clip-On Light(s) (Varies) – if you want to illuminate the puppets, you may want to consider a clip-on light or two that can hang over the puppets, attached to the canopy frame

Total Project Cost

All essential materials, before tax (and any store discounts applied at checkout), totaled: $219.79.

Tools on Hand

You will also need to have on hand, or borrow (from a friend, neighbor, or local tool library):

• Standard tape measure
• Leveler
• Pencil
• Drop cloth for spray painting
• P220 Sandpaper (Such as 3M SandBlaster)
• IRWIN Marples 7/8-in Woodboring Forstner Drill Bit (Lowe’s: Item #775985 Model #1966899; $11.48)
• Cordless Drill with a 1/8″ drill bit (always go approximately one diameter size down for your drill bit than what your current project screws are)
• Miter saw
• Hammer
• Block of 4″x4″ wood – used during eyelet install in canopy, for counter pressure when hammering
• Xacto Basic Knife Set” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Xacto Basic Knife Set

Multi-Purpose Children’s Role Play Table

Our daughter had already previously been gifted the Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter, so when we ended up with a smaller IKEA LACK table left over from the larger IKEA LACK table hack earlier in the year, we dreamed up an ice cream vendor cart. But, as we got going, the goals evolved and the end result was to make this into:

1. Any-kind of children’s role play vendor cart (on wheels)
2. And, a puppet theater

Step-by-Step Process

Woodworking & Power Tools

First, we attached the roller casters to each of the four legs of the assembled LACK table using pilot holes and 3/4″ (number 6) particle board screws.

Second, we needed to determine the finished height of the dowel rods. We knew we didn’t want the entire height of this (with casters attached) to be any taller than the already-hacked DUKTIG children’s play kitchen it would sit near. But we also wanted our eldest to get some use out of this new hack before she outgrew it and it moved on to the younger siblings. That lead us to a front dowel rod height of 23″ and a back dowel rod height of 25″ to give the canopy a slight 2″ tilt downward, as if casting away the rain.

We cut the dowel rods at 23.5″ and 25.5″ respectively, to allow for 1/2″ of each to be glued within the table surface.

Next, we unscrewed the legs from the table, and set them temporarily to the side, to drill pilot holes from the underside of the table directly through where the leg screw holes were and up through the surface of the table. This would allow us to line up the woodboring drill bit in the exact right spot on all four corners for the dowel rods to support the canopy.

We went 1/2″ deep with the woodboring drill bit on each of the top four corners. Coincidentally our woodboring bit had a depth of 1/2″, so that made gauging the depth very easy.

Once the 7/8″-wide holes were created 1/2″ deep with the woodboring drill bit, on each of the four surface corners, we did a test run of the dowel rods to ensure they fit to the right height. After the test run, we applied wood glue to the underside of each dowel rod and placed it into the drilled hole.

We used both a leveler and also a permanent frame structure (made of 1/2″ x 3/4″ x 8′ pine stop) at the top to ensure the dowels were set as straight as could be. This frame would also later double for our puppet theater curtain rods.

Each piece of the permanent frame structure was horizontally leveled, instead of installing at a tilt (as the dowel rods were). This would make the sewing portion of the project go a little easier later on. In order to ensure that the frame would be hidden under the finished canopy, we installed the left and right side pieces first, taking them to the height of the front dowel rods. This meant that the back of the side-frame pieces would be at a top-height 2″ deficit from the back dowel rod tops (and we didn’t want them any lower than this). Once those were installed, we installed the front frame piece abutted to the two side pieces and just underneath them. You will see a photo of the framing in the next section, last photo. We later added a rear piece to the frame to allow for back, black curtain panels to hang and hide the puppeteer. This piece we sat abut and on top of the two side frame pieces. We also decided on square-edged boards, instead of additional dowel rods, for the framing to make it much easier to place the and 3/4″ (number 6) particle board screws.

With the dowel rods securely in place, we then added gray-spray-painted 1/2″ x 3/4″ pieces, cut to size, to the surface on the front, left, and right sides of the cart to keep items from sliding off the tabletop when the cart was being pushed around. Each piece was placed exactly between the dowel rods and secured with 3/4″ (number 6) particle board screws. It’s our later goal to attach a bar to one or both the left and right sides for pushing, pulling, and hanging hand towels, which means the table may be lifted up with a slight tilt when in motion.

Sewing

After completion of the canopy frame and surface rails, next up it was time to measure out all finished fabric pieces. This included:

• Cart/Theater: A 3-sided skirt
• Cart/Theater: The canopy with scalloped edges on 3-sides
• Theater: Two side, red curtain panels (one for left, one for right)
• Theater: Two front, red curtain panels
• Theater: Two back, black curtain panels

The skirt and all of the curtain panels were rectangular in nature. All six of the curtain panels simply needed a closed, simple hemmed edge, and a straight stitch was used on the sewing machine to lock the polyester crushed panne edge in place. The skirt got lined with muslin during the sewing process, at the same time that ribbon was placed at the exact location of the four dowel rods, to tie the skirt on.

When creating the curtains, we multiplied 1.5 x the exact width measurement, to give the curtains a ripple effect. The two side curtain exact width measurement was 12.5″ so we created a finished curtain at 18″ wide. The front two panels, 10.25″ each exact width, so 15″ width was the finished product. All of these at 25″ height, which included extra material to wrap the frame at the top. The back curtains were near identical measurements to the front two curtains, except an extra 2″ to compensate for the height of the frame piece, for a total height of 27″. All of these finished included a 1/2″ inch turned-up-one-time simple hem on the edges.

The skirt ended up measuring 53.5″ wide by 14″ tall.

And, finally the canopy, we measured to the exact corners of the frame to give the canopy a nice drop at the sharpest edge. Coincidentally, with the 1/2″ wide frame attached to the top of the table, it brought the entire top of the cart nearly identically in-line with the table top (because the dowel rods are slightly recessed into the table). The rectangular portion of the canopy measured at 18.75″ (including 3″ rear overhang) x 23.5″, with 1/2″ seam allowance, the fabric was cut to 19.75″ x 24.5″.

The canopy was a little more complicated. Not only would it be the only piece of finished fabric that would need to compensate for the tilt, it would have three scalloped-edge sides and a finished, short backside too. It would also be muslin-lined, similar to the skirt. In order to not have to line up button holes exactly with the dowel rods and focus on making a cohesive finished canopy, it was thought that eyelets could make for the needed pass-throughs for the finial screws.

We decided on a scalloped edge that would drop 3.5″ to allow for elder young children to get as much use as possible out of the cart before outgrowing its use at eye-level. A perfectly round kitchen item was used to make a pattern for the scalloped edges. We decided not to make the scallops as tight as the stripes intentionally. But of course, you could decide this differently in your specific hack too. The shallower measurement of the scalloping fell around 2.25″.

Canopy Assembly

After the canopy sewing process was complete, it was time to attach it to the frame of the cart. First up, we had to find the center point of each dowel rod, which is circular, to drill a pilot hole for the hanger bolts (double-ended screws with no head). We used this quick reference guide from Instructables for locating the center point.

Once each dowel rod had a dead-center pilot hole in place, we held the canopy, stretched tightly over the four dowel rods (definitely need 2+ adults for this). Feeling through the fabric with our finger, we located each pilot hole and noted it with a pencil mark on the top side of the fabric. This is where each eyelet would be placed to form a sturdy pass-through for the finial hanger bolts. First, we marked the front two spots, installed the eyelets (and hanger bolts, see next section), then the back two later. This allowed us to check our work as we went. We used an eyelet kit purchased at Joann.

With each of the four corners of the canopy now having an eyelet in place, we screwed one end of each hanger bolt into each dowel rod using a battery-powered drill and then placed the fabric on top. We manually screwed the finials (i.e., doll heads) into place, which already had pilot holes on the undersides.

Temporary, When-in-Use-As-a-Theater, Curtains Assembly

As previously mentioned, the six curtain panels simply needed a closed, simple hemmed edge, and a straight stitch was used on the sewing machine to lock the polyester crushed panne edge in place. Once this was complete, we needed a way to temporarily attach them to the frame hidden underneath the canopy, but only when the cart was to be converted to a puppet theater. Iron-on Velcro was a solution that came to mind.

The first strip of Velcro was ironed onto the panne around 4″ to 4.25″ from the top. This would allow for the top of the curtain to wrap the frame snugly. And the opposing piece was ironed onto the fabric at the top-most edge. Iron-on instructions with the Velcro were followed precisely, including a press cloth between the iron on it’s highest setting and the polyester material, for 90 seconds.

These curtains are stored with Velcro closed, in a gallon-sized freezer bag, out of reach of the children. Velcro sticks to every fabric and the kids don’t quite get this yet.

In order to keep the curtains pulled back on the front of the stage, we finished this look off with chair ties, knotted and attached to a small cup hook on the back of the front two dowel rods (about halfway up each rod).

Drawer Assembly

There was no real reason this part was done last instead of the very first step of all, other than the fact it was an after-thought for this project. Just another place to stash stuff when the cart or theater is in use.

For a complete walk-through of drawer assembly, see IKEA Hack: LACK table conversion into a LEGO® play table.

This is also where the #12 x 3-in Silver Zinc-Plated Flat Wood Screws came into play. Once pilot holes were drilled into the boards that would support the drawer pulls, it was attached straight into the underside of the table. Not only did the screw need to pass through the 2″ of the pine board and also 1″ into the bottom of the table.

Note that this was a tight fit and the finishing rings on the drawer pulls were left off intentionally to buy just enough space for both the drawer pulls and the drawer itself to fit with free forward-and-backward movement.

Also, the other thing we did different this time, over the LEGO table hack was installing a small 4″ wide stopper (using the 1″ x 2″ select pine board) to keep the kids from continuously pushing the drawer into the skirt on the front side of the table.

The Finished Vendor Cart Hack

Mind you, we may install small handles to the left and/or right sides of the cart, to make it easier to pull around, but we haven’t quite yet found the right part that would be easy to attach through the skirt, from the outside. They would double as hand towel holders for the vendor cart. And, if/when that happens, I’ll make sure to update with a picture or two here. Otherwise, this project is complete!

And now, it was time to play…

Social Follow and Share

 

View this post on Instagram

 

“Ice cream! ? Ice cream! ? Does anyone want ice cream?” ? I’m not sure who the real star of this photo is…our sweet little 3-year-old role playing ice cream vendor -or- the $10 IKEA LACK nesting table that we hacked into both a vendor cart and a puppet theater. ? Ok, ok, it’s my daughter. Brand new IKEA hack on the blog. Get all the photos, supplies list, and step-by-step instructions. Let me know what you think with a double-tap. Short URL: amysav.es/ikealack or click the link in my profile. . . . #ikeausa #ikeahack #ikeahacks #ikeahackers #ikeahacking #ikeahackaddict #ikeadiy #ikealover #diycouple #diyblogger #diymagazine #doityourself #ikealack #lackikea #ikealackhack #ikealacktable #ikeakids #lowesproject #childrensroleplay #puppettheater #vendorcart #vegetablestand #icecreamcart #motherhoodiscolorful #marylandmoms #marylandblogger #mdblogger #savingamyblog

A post shared by ?????? ??? ??‍ (@savingamyblog) on May 13, 2019 at 6:07am PDT

Hot off the presses on the blog! Our 6th DIY IKEA Hack. Converted a $10 LACK table into a 2-in-1 children’s role play vendor cart & puppet theater. https://t.co/FZBWoduFwo #ikeahack #ikeahacking #ikealack #savingamyblog #ontheblog #diy pic.twitter.com/xuxQ15DwYM

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) May 12, 2019

Saving Amy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

The Saving Amy blog web site is in no way related to and/or endorsed by IKEA®, IKEA.com OR The IKEA Group. All IKEA product links are provided for reader convenience and do not imply IKEA’s approval of this blog web site nor the modification of its products. IKEA and Saving Amy are not liable for any product failure, injury, or damage resulting from modifications to IKEA product assembly and use.

Well, that’s quite the blog post title…isn’t it? But, it’s true.

Our Fifth IKEA Hack

We’ve now knocked out hacks for the 1) DUKTIG children’s play kitchen, 2) created one-of-a-kind transforming home office desks (utilizing several different IKEA products), 3) added casters to the GULLIVER crib, and 4) made a dog kennel cover from the INGO pine table. It was high time that we returned to our IKEA hacking ways. And, for our fifth go, it was a project for the kids (or “kid in all of us” I should say).

This hack was likely our second easiest, behind the crib on casters, you just need to have the right tools and supplies. So, let’s review what you’ll need to kick off the project.

Shopping List

IKEA

We started with the IKEA LACK set-of-2 nesting tables (in gray), a combined price of $29.99, but only used the larger of the two tables for this project. The smaller IKEA LACK table was recently converted into a 2-in-1 children’s role play vendor cart and puppet theater. The rest of our shopping list included:

• Two IKEA VESSLA storage crates with casters (come in white, pink, or blue – we selected white; $6.49 ea.)
• Two IKEA VESSLA lids (we selected white; $2 ea.)
• Two 16.5″ x 11.75″ x 4″ IKEA TROFAST storage boxes (come in white, yellow, or green – we selected green; $3 ea.)
• Two IKEA UTTER children’s stools (come in white, pink, or green – we selected white; $4.99 ea.)
• Two sets-of-2 (4 total) IKEA BAGGANÄS stainless steel handles (also come in black or brass color; $10.99 per set)

The IKEA items, before sales tax, $74.94 (this is assuming two-thirds the cost of the LACK tables, since we only used the larger one).

Lowe’s Home Improvement

• One .5″ thick x 2′ x 4′ Blondewood from Lowe’s Home Improvement (Item #907224 Model #907224; $16.98) – product not available at Lowes.com
• Two 0.375″ x 1.125″ x 7′ Crystal White Prefinished Polystyrene 9888 Stop Trim (Item #19822 Model #98880700032; $3.97 ea.) – if you believe the table may take heavy abuse, I recommend considering wood for your edge trim instead
• One 1″ x 2″ x 8′ Select Pine Board (Item #1206 Model #83706; $4.96)
• Two .75″ Whistle Knobs in chrome (Item #300524 Model #PN2814V-PC-C; $3.77 ea.)
• Four packages (2 ct. ea.) Hillman #12 x 3-in Silver Zinc-Plated Flat Wood Screws (Item #57251 Model #490033; $1.28 ea.)
• Four National Hardware 1-4/57-in Steel Zinc-Plated Corner Braces (Item #809446 Model #N227-389; $1.98 ea.)
• One package (10 ct.) Hillman #8 x 1-in Zinc-Plated Hanger Bolt (Item #124015 Model #491409; $1.28)
• Two 10-oz. Liquid Nails Projects Construction Adhesive (Item #160329 Model #LN-704; $1.78 ea.)
• One 10.1-oz. Dynaflex 230 Latex Caulk Sealant in gray (Item #553863 Model #11286; $4.78) – or if you get the black/white LACK tables, get clear to match
• One Krylon Colormaxx General Purpose Spray Paint in matte deep gray (Item #1026759 Model #K05550007; $3.98) – or if you get the black/white LACK tables, get black to match

The Lowe’s items, before sales tax, $64.06. You get two complimentary cuts on-site at Lowe’s too, so we took advantage so we didn’t have to get the table saw out at home.

LEGO

• Three 15″ x 15″ DUPLO Green Baseplates ($11.99 ea., on sale at the time of this post)
• Three 15″ x 15″ LEGO Classic Gray Baseplates ($9.99 ea., on sale at the time of this post)

The LEGO items, not including the set of Mega Bloks, DUPLO we already had as birthday gifts, nor sales tax, $65.94.

Total Project Cost

All materials, before tax, totaled: $204.94.

Tools on Hand

You will also need to have on hand, or borrow (from a friend, neighbor, or local tool library):

• Standard tape measure
• Pencil
• Drop cloth for spray painting
• P220 Sandpaper (Such as 3M SandBlaster)
• 7/8″ Bi-metal Arbored Hole Saw (Lowe’s: Item #348125 Model #1772429; $10.48)
• Cordless Drill with a 1/8″ drill bit (always go approximately one diameter size down for your drill bit than what your current project screws are)
• One-Handed Mini Bar Clamp 4 Pack, 6″ (Such as the IRWIN Quick-Grip 1964758)
• Caulk Gun (Such as the Newborn Pro Super Ratchet Rod Caulk Gun with Gator Trigger Comfort Grip)
• Miter Saw (Such as the DEWALT DW715 15-Amp 12-Inch Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw)
• Air Compressor & Brad Nailer (Such as the BOSTITCH BTFP3KIT 3-Tool Portable Air Compressor Combo Kit)
• 18 Gauge, 1-1/4-Inch Brad Nails (Such as the DEWALT DBN18125 Heavy Duty Brad Nails)

Three-in-One, Multi-Purpose Table

The end goal with this project was to have the table grow with the kids. So, in the end, the LACK table would serve three purposes:

1. It could still be used in its near original state as a regular table
2. It could be used with DUPLO® blocks and Fisher-Price® Mega Bloks®
3. It could be used with LEGO® Classic blocks too

Step-by-Step Process

This table, start to finish, took about a month of spare time of two full-time working adults with two kids three and under. Living in Central Maryland, our sun sets around 5pm in the wintertime – we worked on it December – January. So, please note that occasionally we made progress in the evenings, in between the weekends, and hence the photos being of different light quality. I hope you are still able to see quite nicely the details of what we did. Thank you for your understanding!

The absolute first thing we did, was lay the blondewood board onto the LACK table surface to make sure they matched up exactly. As I had informed the Lowe’s associate who did our two free cuts in-store, it was ok to be “generous” with the wood in the cutting process and not under cut. They can’t quite guarantee exact-exact cuts. Generous would still give us the ability to add the edge trim all the way around the board with no gapping. If the board was under cut, the trim would have to be spaced out from the board a little bit to compensate for fitting around the LACK table underneath. Good news – it was a perfect fit! We let our three-year-old have at it with a pencil on the board for a bit, because eventually the whole thing would be covered over with LEGO baseplates and paint.

Before moving forward with assembling the table top, however, we wanted to address the under table storage. The more wood cuts we could make early, the more we could group items to paint simultaneously. We ended up cutting the 1″ x 2″ x 8′ Select Pine Board into four equal 15″ length boards, slightly recessed from the 15.75″ deep table. Before spray painting, we next marked the boards with where we needed to drill pilot holes for screws to attach to the underside of the table. We also drilled pilot holes to match the later placement of the IKEA BAGGANÄS stainless steel handles drawer pulls, which we would be using as our plastic drawer gliders.

We also used the 7/8″ hole saw to make a hole on opposing sides of the blondewood that a) fell outside the area where the LEGO baseplates would be glued and b) not terribly close to the edge of the blondewood. It was a balancing act. These holes would later “hold” the tabletop in place on the Lowe’s-purchased whistle knobs that would be attached to the IKEA LACK table surface.

To encourage a smoother cut with the hole saw, we drilled part-way through one side of the board before flipping it over to drill the remaining way through from the other side.

Next, it was time to spray paint both the four 1″ x 2″ boards and the precut blondewood table surface. We focused the paint on the blondewood in areas where the LEGO baseplates would not be glued. A light sanding before the first coat and in between coats allowed for a finished smooth surface.

After coating the spray painted surface twice, and allowing ample time to dry, we attached the drawer pulls to the four 1″ x 2″ boards and then the boards to the underside of the LACK table.

You’ll see in the photos that we set one of the 1″ x 2″ boards along with the plastic IKEA TROFAST drawer in place to double-check there was ample clearance for the drawers to glide okay.

Then, lining up the 1″ x 2″ center positioned, we drilled pilot holes into the underside of the table surface to accept the screws we would next drill through. These holes were not located in the same space the screws drilled in to hold the drawer pulls in place. Offset them slightly.

From the inside of one paired 1″ x 2″ to another, it was approximately 18″. The drawer is slightly under 16.5″, which worked well with the drawer pulls serving as glides. Be sure not to install these 1″ x 2″ boards so close together the drawer won’t glide.

After the four 1″ x 2″ boards were attached with two screws each, we felt as if they needed an additional strength support against the kids wear-and-tear. We had some corner braces already on hand, that we used one per board.

Once the blondewood board was dry from its two coats of spray paint, light sanding in between, we brought it inside to see where the DUPLO baseplates would line up. It was important that we put a few DUPLO pieces in between these three separate baseplates to see if they needed to abut one another or be spaced. It turns out they did need a minor gap between them! No big deal. Except for the fact we hadn’t spray painted the entire board, just the edges. So back to the garage it went for spray paint application in the middle, where the three baseplates would meet.

After the paint was dry for a second time, we lightly sanded the LEGO baseplates and the board with P220 sandpaper and then applied Liquid Nails construction adhesive to the backside of the baseplates. Making sure to keep the DUPLO pieces in place on the top side, for proper spacing, we flipped the baseplates onto the blondewood board. We had already marked the board with light pencil guides for where the corners of the baseplates would match up.

We then found anything and everything heavy (i.e., lots and lots of books) and placed it on top to put pressure during drying time. When I got down at eye level, I was noticing a minor gap between the baseplates and the board, so we stacked on yet more heavy items – including the dog food bin! We let that sit for a couple of hours to ensure proper adhesion.

After the DUPLO side was done, we repeated this process with the LEGO Classic baseplates on the opposing side of the board.

We decided to use Crystal White Prefinished Polystyrene Stop Trim to edge the blondewood board with trim. After measuring each of the four sides, we used a miter saw to cut the ends of the trim at 45° to join in the middle of the corners. This takes some trial and error to get used to – so remember to measure twice and cut once! It’s always easier to undercut and continue to shave off than to correct an overcut.

Once the four pieces were cut to size, we used the gray spray paint, used on the blondewood board and the 1″ x 2″ boards under the table, to match the trim.

After ample drying time, we attached the trim to the blondewood board using the same Liquid Nails adhesive, temporary clamps on the corners during the drying process, as well as a brad nailer and compressor to secure the trim in place. For each trim piece, we would match it up to the blondewood board vertically and mark the inside of the trim corner with pencil so that we would know exactly where to attach it once the adhesive had been applied. This ensured equal overage of the trim to keep LEGO pieces from easily falling overboard near the edge of the table. It doubled as a second way to make sure when we would flip the table surface over that it would sit on the LACK table top and not slide off.

Finally, it was time for the next to last step – the last step being testing the table out with some play time! We needed to attach the whistle knobs to the two spots on the LACK table top that corresponded to the 7/8″ holes cut out of the blondewood board. This would keep the table top in place each time it was flipped over.

To do this, we used hanger bolts. One end would attach to the inside of the whistle knob, one end would be screwed into the table. We attached the whistle knobs to the hanger bolts first. Then we used our hands to screw the whistle knobs and corresponding hanger bolts into pilot holes in the LACK table top.

So, yeah, this one item is semi-permanent on the table top surface. But, they shouldn’t get in the way of using the table without the LEGO board on top, for coloring, dining, etc. We used a bit of caulk sealant on the underside of the whistle knobs to help keep them in place without making them permanent-permanent.

Following are some photos of the hack completed. You’ll see both sides of the table topper, the drawers, and how the storage and stools fit snugly underneath.

And now, it was time to play…

Update 10/15/19: Now that the kids have been playing with this for almost a full year, we discovered that this long-table, versus a more traditional, square, LEGO table, has an added advantage. Because it’s long, the kids can play from opposite sides / ends, without getting in each other’s way and fighting. Thought that little tip might be worth sharing to those of you determining which table to start with for your own hack.

Perhaps the best part of this IKEA LACK hacked table is that nothing on the surface is attached permanently – so we can continue to make other table toppers for it too. We’ve already got our next one in the works – stay tuned! (Will link here when it’s ready)!

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In my fifth IKEA hack, the DH and I transform the larger of a set-of-2 nesting tables from the LACK line into a slimline, self-contained, transforming DUPLO / LEGO kids play table. Everything you need to know so you can make it too: https://t.co/5uYolWuC6G #legotable #ikeahack

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) March 3, 2019

 

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IKEA Hack number 5 is in the books – or shall I say, on the blog! ??? In this latest hack, my husband, Eric, and I convert a larger LACK coffee table (it’s sold as a nested set) into a 3-in-1 transforming, self-contained, slimline DUPLO / LEGO table! ALL the storage slides underneath – perfect for small spaces. It’s narrow, so could easily be placed up along a wall (maybe even with a country or city scape on the wall behind it). And it can still be used in its original state. Check out all the deets on the blog at short URL: amysav.es/ikealego -or- click the link in my profile to reach it with no copy-and-paste. Stay tuned…not only do we have an idea in the works for the smaller nested LACK table, and additional topper for this larger table, but my third day of kid-related news is coming to you tomorrow right here! Have friends or family that need one of these tables? ?? Tag ‘em! . . . #ikeausa #ikeahack #ikeahacks #ikeahackers #ikeahacking #ikeahackaddict #ikeadiy #ikealover #diycouple #diyblogger #diymagazine #doityourself #ikealack #lackikea #ikealackhack #ikealacktable #legotable #duplotable #playtable #ikeakids #motherhoodiscolorful #marylandmoms #marylandblogger #mdblogger #savingamyblog

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Saving Amy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

The Saving Amy blog web site is in no way related to and/or endorsed by IKEA®, IKEA.com OR The IKEA Group. All IKEA product links are provided for reader convenience and do not imply IKEA’s approval of this blog web site nor the modification of its products. IKEA and Saving Amy are not liable for any product failure, injury, or damage resulting from modifications to IKEA product assembly and use.

Finding quality, affordable daycare for your child can be a daunting task, I’m not going to lie. There was a period of life where I felt like it was a second, full-time job. The good news is, once the quest is over, the contract is signed, you’ve made it through the trial period with no issues, it was just a temporary and necessary part of life.

Provider Type

One of the first things you’ll need to determine is right for you is the type of provider that you choose. And, for the sake of this post, I’m going to focus on group daycare, because that tends to be the least expensive option, versus a private in-home nanny. Which pretty much leaves you at the two most common choices: a drop-off daycare center or a drop-off family / home daycare (in the provider’s residence).

*Prices are approximations from a search that took place in the late Spring / early Summer of 2015 and are likely higher now. These apply to Central Maryland.

Research

Next up is finding centers in operation, with no (preferably) or limited violations, and having availability. In the case were you’re seeking daycare for an infant, note the extremely high ratios of adults to children and/or the limited “under 2” spots at family daycares. The thought here is if there was an emergency, no daycare facility should face a situation where they cannot arm carry all immobile children out of the center together. So, that means there’s a shortage of spots. And, in some cases where a family daycare has just accepted two near-newborns, those children (should they stay in the program the whole time) wouldn’t age out of “under 2” for two years, meaning the center is wait-listed two years out for children that haven’t even been conceived yet. Add on top of that the best-of-breed providers with the highest recommendations are the absolute hardest to score a spot at.

Start your child's daycare search as early as possible for the most potential options in finding the perfect marriage of quality and affordability. #affordablechildcare #qualitychildcare #daycare
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In addition to joining the local mom groups on Facebook and asking for recommendations (none of which ultimately panned out), and asking on our neighborhood’s private, virtual community on Nextdoor (which did work out), I went to the Maryland State Department of Education – Division of Early Childhood Development (MSDE) web site. On this web site’s home page, is a search form. I would set nothing other than “Homes” in the Facility Type drop down and then my specific Zip Code in the corresponding field. This returned about 20 or so results close to home.**

Federal government employees also have access to the WorkLife4You portal, offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, designed to assist you in seeking the child daycare that you need.

And you may want to search for groups on Facebook, such as the Maryland Licensed Home Daycare Search.

Project Management & Note Tracking

I copied and pasted the form search results from MSDE into a Google Sheet. I then did this for neighboring towns (that were en route to my husband and my respective places of employment). Ultimately, I had about 75 rows on the spreadsheet, between the recommended providers and the ones from the MSDE web site.

**Close to home is key when selecting a daycare. Imagine a parent is traveling, leaving the other to do both drop-off and pick-up on particular days. Or, you need to get your child to his/her doctor quickly, you’ll want them close by.

This embedded Google Drive file is best seen when viewed on a desktop browser.

Copy and paste the contents of this template into a new Google Sheet file of your own, and edit. Erase the sample data and add columns for items that apply to your specific search.

Once the sheet is ready for processing, and assuming both mom and dad are in the picture, list one another’s names every other row. That will assign who is to call that provider with the following call script. We often found calling providers just after lunchtime, early afternoon or after 6pm was best to reach them when children were napping and/or picked up for the day. We would each call about five per day, working our way down the list from closest to home to slightly further out.

Call Script

[___] – signify where you need to fill-in-the-blank with your own information.

Live Call

Hello, could I speak to

?

Great. My name is

and my [husband/wife] and I are currently seeking [full-time] [infant care] for [mid-February / early-March 2016] in [City, State]. Our child will be [12 weeks] old at that time. Would you happen to have an opening in that time frame?

Voicemail

Hello, my name is

and my [husband/wife] and I are currently seeking [full-time] [infant care] for [mid-February / early-March 2016] in [City, State]. Our child will be [12 weeks] old at that time. We are curious if you would happen to have an opening in that time frame? If you could call us back at [Google Voice number] at your earliest convenience to let us know, we would appreciate it. Thank you.

Results

On average, it would take approximately 10 phone calls to find a provider that was both: a) willing to offer a meet-n-greet tour of their facility and b) had an opening for our aged child in our time frame. Once tours were scheduled, we popped those onto our shared Google Calendar and made note of it in the spreadsheet.

Suggested Questions to Ask

So, you’re heading in to a daycare provider site tour. Be armed with and ready to ask the right questions, that will ultimately help you to choose the best provider to meet your families needs.

The following list is both a compilation of many of the questions we asked during our daycare provider site tour, as well as things we learned we probably should have asked, from after the fact. Pick and choose questions to ask that are meaningful to you. And, add in your own specific questions.

• Do you foresee any reason you wouldn’t have the daycare open 3, 4, 5 years from now? (So important if you want future children to attend the same location)!
• What days of the week are you open? What hours are you open?
• What is the drop off / pick up process like? Are there any parking restrictions?
• Do you allow parents drop-in visits?
• What holidays and vacations do you take?
• Does the local school weather policy dictate your openings? Or are you open regardless?
• Do you have coverage when you’re sick? Have appointments?
• Are any other adults present during daycare hours? Can I meet them?
• Do you regularly offer babysitting services in addition to daycare?
• How many full-time children are present at your daycare currently?
• Do you provide before/after care to school children?
• Do you provide any transportation services?
• What is a typical day like? Activities? Naps? Meals?
• Do you have webcam or photos shared privately anywhere?
• What is your policy on television?
• Do you teach dual languages?
• Are you a certified pre-k?
• How do you handle kids who bite, hit, etc.?
• What is your discipline method?
• What kinds of things will I need to provide?
• What is the cost?
• What methods of payment do you accept? How often do you require payment?
• Is there a fee for late pick ups?
• Can I see a sample copy of your contract?
• Do you have 2-3 references which I can speak with?

Immediately following a tour, we would put our scores and notes into the spreadsheet, while they were still fresh in mind.

Reference Checks

So you believe you’ve found your top one or two choices for daycare. Now it’s time to call references. Ask each provider to give you two to three to call.

In the meantime, my husband and I researched the best questions to ask child daycare references and compiled them all into a spreadsheet and then voted them down to just the most crucial and applicable to our specific needs.

When I called each reference, I started out by introducing myself and saying that I had about two dozen questions and if it was a good time to speak. I needed about 10-15 minutes of their time.

General

• How old was your child when you enrolled him/her in the home daycare?
• How long has your child been enrolled in the home daycare?
• If you are no longer using the provider, why?

Personality

• Do you wholeheartedly trust the childcare provider?
• Does your child enjoy his/her time spent at the home daycare? Does he/she have fun?
• How would your children describe him/her?
• What does your child like best about the home daycare?

Communication

• How much notice do you receive when the provider has a scheduled vacation or holiday?
• Does the provider keep you well informed about your child’s development?
• How does the childcare provider deal with problems or concerns? In a professional manner?

Emergency

• Have you/your child experienced an emergency situation at the daycare? How was it handled?
• Do you feel that the provider stays calm (or would stay calm) in an emergency?

Discipline

• How does the provider discipline your child?
• Do you feel welcome to stop in at any time?

Food

• If healthy meals/snacks are provided, does your child like the various foods given to him/her?

Financial

• Have you had any problems with the way the provider charges or collects fees?

Conclusion

• Do you feel that your child has benefited from his/her experiences with the provider? How?
• What do you like best/least about the childcare provider?
• If you were to rate him/her overall performance as a caregiver, would you consider it excellent, average or poor? Why?
• Would you hire him/her again? Recommend him/her?
• Do you have any final comments?

Download:

• Questions (with Space for Notes) to Ask Child Daycare Provider References [Free Google Doc Template]

Additional Questions to Consider

These didn’t make our list of questions to ask, but may be additional ones you’d like to consider for your specific needs.

• What are his/her strengths, and what about him/her do you most respect?
• In what areas could he/she improve? (Let the former employer complete him/her list first. If they can’t think of anything, you may offer up an instance that the caregiver raised in the interview, such as: “She mentioned that she sometimes loses him/her patience. Have you experienced that before? If so, can you describe an incident where that happened?”)
• How are his/her communication skills? (Both with the parents and the children.)
• Does he/she have initiative?
• Is he/she organized?
• Is it easy to talk to the childcare provider?
• Does the provider partner with you and your efforts to raise a healthy and happy child?
• How well does the childcare provider handle stressful situations? How well does the childcare provider relate to the children? How does the childcare provider treat your child? Is the provider accommodating and flexible to your child’s individual needs? Does the provider make you and your child feel comfortable in his/her home? How?
• Is your child happy when you pick him/her up?
• If a preschool curriculum is provided, how well does your child learn? How much?
• What is your perception of the provider s personality? Kind? Honest? Professional?
• What are your favorite aspects of the home daycare? If you could change anything about the home daycare what would it be? Do you feel that your child gets individual attention from the provider?

Once everything checks out and you feel comfortable and confident with your decision, it’s time to secure spaces for your kid(s) and sign the contract!

I hope you will find this guide was helpful in one or more ways in saving you time and/or money in the process. There’s always room for improvement – share your thoughts in the Comments below!

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I literally started drafting this post last July, and then life with two little-littles got in the way! Hope this helps you or someone you know who’s expecting or looking for new childcare in Maryland. https://t.co/ZRJJCJ3CID #marylandchildcare #marylanddaycare #hirechildcare

— Saving Amy (@savingamyblog) February 20, 2019

 

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Additional Resources:

• Maryland Family Network (non-profit)
• Nanny Network – a full-service nanny placement agency serving the Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas since 1995.