It's a Boy's Life

Paper Clip Weapons

2011-08-27T08:52:00.000-04:00

One of my boys is quite obsessed with paper clips. He uses them to make all sorts of contraptions, intermingling them with erasers and whatever extra bits he can find. I hope these amazing paper clip sculptures by Brett featured on Boing Boing will give him some new inspiration.

Tyler Florence Fresh Start

2011-08-27T08:20:00.000-04:00

Wondering what to serve for dinner? We recently discovered Tyler Florence's new cookbook, Start Fresh: Your Child's Jump Start to Lifelong Healthy Eating. While the title suggests it is for little kids, there are two sections of family meals that my boys have LOVED! Our favorites so far are the strawberry muffins, turkey meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato frosting, and the turkey meatball stroganoff. Check Tyler out on the Today Show for videos and recipes here.

Straw Airplanes

2011-08-27T07:59:00.000-04:00

Looking for a fun activity this weekend? How about straw-paper airplanes? All you need is a straw, some heavy paper (cardstock or index cards will do the trick), scissors, and tape for an afternoon of fun! Thank you All For the Boys!

Bohm Stirling Engines

2011-08-24T10:13:00.000-04:00

My little mechanical engineers were fascinated by the Bohm website and their Stirling engines. These engines run using a vacuum created by hot air. The design was patented in 1816 by Robert Stirling, but the basic concept has been around since the Egyptians. Wow. You can read more about it on the Bohm website and check out their amazing engines and contraptions. Build your own, buy it constructed or just revel in the amazing coolness of it all!

Neat-oh!

2011-08-24T09:34:00.000-04:00

We just found Neat-Oh! Our lives are about to change...I have visions of organization and clean rooms...well, at least the boys might LIKE to put things away using these really cool storage solutions. From LEGO®s to Hot Wheels, they have you covered.

Lego Camper Van

2011-08-19T08:19:00.000-04:00

Can I say, WE WANT ONE! I mean, we ALL (boys and me) want one of these new sets!! It has every detail of the original vans, including a pop-up top, sink, and even those cute plaid curtains. Check out the YouTube Video and other details at The Brothers Brick!

The Title Says it All...

2011-08-19T07:48:00.000-04:00

"Dear Boys, Quit Peeing on the Floor," the latest post from one of my new favorite blogs, The MOB Society, brought a smile to my face. I just love my boys! BTW-MOB stands for "Mothers of Boys".

Snack Stations

2011-08-18T15:22:00.000-04:00

I promise, just one more post on lunches. I've had a bit of an obsession lately. I think after watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, I have guilted myself into limiting the boys' time in the cafeteria line this year...Real Simple posted these great ideas about keeping snacks at the ready for hungry boys: there are refrigerator and pantry options to inspire you. Thanks, $5 Dinners!

Follow Up-Lunch Containers

2011-08-18T15:09:00.000-04:00

So, after my post about lunch containers, I ventured to Walmart just to check out what was available for lunches there. I had been thinking about getting the EasyLunchboxes Bento Lunch Box Containers for the boys when I found THESE! Ziplock brand with three compartments. They fit perfectly in the boys' lunchboxes, seal each compartment tightly and they were less than $3. For TWO. Oh Yeah!

Jellyfish Pets

2011-08-16T14:52:00.001-04:00

I've heard of goldfish, geckos, and even hermit crabs as pets, but never jellyfish. We have seen them on display at many aquariums around the country, and I am in awe of their simple beauty. Now you can have them as pets. The designer is currently raising funds to have these aquaria commercially built, and for $350 you can reserve your own, complete with food and jellyfish. Not cheap, for sure. But, who else do you know with a pet Jellyfish? Thanks, Gizmag.

Glow in the Dark Wall Decals

2011-08-16T14:22:00.001-04:00

These moveable wall decals will inspire your budding town planner. Place them where and how you like, then at night they look like this...

Thanks, LMNOP!

Lunch Containers

2011-08-15T18:58:00.001-04:00

We just can't get away from school today! The boys and I conferenced about their lunch options and we settled on a few cool ways for them to tote it back and forth to school. Take a look...

This is a reusable sandwich container made from a milk jug from Family Fun-love this!! $5 Dinners is doing lunch ideas this week and featured it. Take a look there for some more great ideas.

Another idea we had was to take breakfast for lunch, and we found these great EZ-Freeze Cereal on the Go containers at Amazon.

While we were at Amazon, we spied these great 3-compartment Bento Lunch Box Containers from Easy Lunchboxes. They hold everything you need, are dishwasher safe, and fit in most lunchboxes. These are on the "to-order" list!

Bag Tags

2011-08-15T18:42:00.000-04:00

School starts here next week, and we are busy making last minute preparations for a great year! I loved these personalized bag tags from Little Birdie Secrets. You can make your own for backpacks, lunchboxes or diaper bags. Put your little guy's name on one side, contact information on the other.

Birch Fabrics

2011-08-13T12:18:00.000-04:00

What adorable fabrics from Birch Fabrics! They feature great modern designs with lots of boy-inspired themes and are 100% organic. What cute bedding these would make! Purchase at fabricworm.com. Thanks, Craft.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

2011-08-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

My boys just like saying "taquito" over and over (and over) again. They also like eating them. As of last night, Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos from ourbestbites.com is one of their new favorites. It is soooo easy and a great use for leftover chicken. YUM!

Words of Wisdom

2011-08-10T14:22:00.000-04:00

I love these words. So true. Thanks m. writes.

Star Wars Blueprints

2011-08-10T14:02:00.000-04:00

So what would a stormtrooper read if he had a few spare moments? Star Wars: The Blueprints! This soon to be released, limited edition details the original drawings and concepts for all of the interesting characters, vehicles and setting of these iconic films. At $450, you need to be a true fan to purchase them. For those of us not quite willing to invest, take a look at the Blueprints Book website to sample or check out a few other options from Amazon: Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection and Star Wars Blueprints: Rebel Edition.

Tents Are Cool

2011-08-09T11:12:00.002-04:00

My boys have done a lot of camping this summer. It is such a great activity for them. They don't care whether it's in a national park or in the backyard. The adventure is in the camp itself. The preparation. The gear. The dark. The fire. It's all good. Here are a few new ideas for outdoor shelters from The Art of Manliness for the outdoorsmen in your life....

Custom Zipper Pulls

2011-08-09T11:05:00.001-04:00

An ever popular boy accessory in our house are zipper pulls. They range from the latest cool paper clip rescued from the trash can to the fancy fire truck one that I got suckered into paying $10 for. These customized zipper pulls featured on I Am Momma are the perfect compromise-the boys can pick their own theme and make them themselves. Activity for the day. Score!!

Summer Reading Favorites

2011-08-08T10:10:00.000-04:00

We are finishing up some great summer reading! My big boy's latest favorite books by Rick Riordan are the first two books of the Kane Chronicles: Red Pyramid and The Throne of Fire and the newest Percy Jackson book Lost Hero with the next in the Camp Half-Blood series, The Son of Neptune, due in October.

More than a year...

2011-08-08T09:57:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it's been over a year since I last posted here. Life can really take you places you didn't expect to go! Here is what we've been up to...Got pregnant (yeah!), got really sick while pregnant (boo!), got really big while pregnant (boo!), had a baby (yeah!) GIRL!!! So, it's no longer just a boy's life around here, but the focus of the blog will stay the same.

Father's Day Clip Art

2010-06-18T15:34:00.000-04:00

Here is some last minute clip art for your Father's Day packages from the Martha Stewart Crafts Department. These would make really cute labels or cards for your boys to personalize.

Eleni's Cookies

2010-06-18T15:27:00.000-04:00

I have heard of Eleni's New York before, but never knew you could buy their cookies on the internet. I love these as party favors-pirates, dinosaurs, animals, and undersea are a few of the themes. Buy them in a gift box, wrap them in cellophane bags with a cute bow and you can be the next Amy Atlas!

Free Saltwater Fishing in Florida

2010-06-18T15:11:00.000-04:00

In honor of Father's Day, no license is required this weekend to fish in Florida's saltwater. Grab your bait, your rod and your dad and head on out. Just make sure you follow the saltwater fishing regulations. For more information, go to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website.

Cigar Box Guitar

2010-06-16T11:42:00.000-04:00

Looking for a fun and educational summer project for your boy? How about a cigar box guitar? Plans for a simple guitar are available at Cigar Box Nation along with instructions on how to tune and play.