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How to Organize a Playroom

Written by Marybeth Heckler on October 5, 2020. Posted in Homeowner.

All of the time that kids have spent at home lately, thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak, has probably left you with a disorganized and chaotic house.

This is especially true of your child’s playroom. With the holidays coming up, you might want to get this area under control before you add even more items to their play area.

Here are tips to get the chaos of your child’s room under control and organize their playroom:

Sweep through the room for trash — Before you try to do any organizing, you need to get rid of some of the items your child doesn’t need anymore. First, throw out any items that are broken. This includes toys that are falling apart, puzzles or games that are missing pieces, and anything else that is trash. Make sure you do this alone. Your kids may get a little sentimental and want to hold on to broken items and you don’t need that. Now is the time to absolutely get rid of whatever is broken.

Clear out items to donate — Now that you’ve gotten rid of the broken toys, go through with your child and help them pick out toys that they don’t play with anymore. Point out to them that it is especially nice to help those who are less fortunate by donating toys, games, and puzzles. Encourage them to practice charity and, at the same time, clean out the room as much as possible.

Get a system of bins — Playrooms don’t tend to be very big and you want to maximize as much floor space as possible so your child can actually play. To do this, get a bin system that is vertical and goes higher rather than taking up a lot of horizontal space in the room. Get multiple smaller bins instead of one large “toy box.” With the toy box, your child will throw everything out as he or she looks for that one toy they want to play with. With smaller bins, they have less things to go through to find what they want. Also, use clear plastic bins so you can see inside easily.

Sort by type — After you set up the bins, organize and label them by categories. If your child loves race cars, then you might want to create a bin to just hold these. If they are into board games, then separate those into an individual bin. Whatever system works best for you is ok, but it is essential to have some kind of system.

Only get down one bin at a time — Your child might have a couple of toys that they always gravitate towards. But if you want to get them to play with a variety of toys, you might want to consider only getting out one bin a day. This way, your child has fewer options and doesn’t feel overwhelmed. And, if the bins are stacked up, they won’t be able to get into the other toys that you haven’t put out for them. Plus, cleaning up one bin is a lot easier than five or six bins.

Getting your child’s room clean and organized isn’t just an important activity for keeping your home orderly. It’s also an important practice to help teach your child so that they can learn responsibility and how to keep themselves organized as they get older.

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Celebrating Halloween During a Pandemic

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 21, 2020. Posted in Holidays.

For some of us, our fondest childhood memories of autumn have always been the memories of trick-or-treating and celebrating Halloween. And as parents, we want to share those experiences with our children so that they can form great memories as well.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine have pretty much destroyed some of those opportunities this year. But parents shouldn’t just throw in the towel and cancel Halloween just yet. Instead, you should plan for some pandemic-friendly activities for your little ones this fall.

Try some of these great Halloween activities with your family:

Go Trick-or-Treating (From a Distance) — First, Halloween and trick-or-treating may not be safe in all areas, particularly where COVID has flared up heavily. However, you may be able to have a “socially distanced” trick-or-treat experience by wearing surgical masks with your Halloween costume and going to neighbors who are leaving the treats out on the lawn in separate packs for the kids to pick up. Also, be sure to include lots of hand sanitizer to use in between homes.

Have a Zoom Costume Contest — If you are stuck at home and have lots of friends and family that you miss, one way to get in touch on Halloween is with Zoom. You can have an online party with all of your friends and their children and have the kids model their Halloween costumes for the adults. You can also get others to be impartial judges and pick the best or scariest costumes. During your modeling, be sure to throw on a Halloween soundtrack like “Monster Mash” or “Thriller.”

Have a Scary Movie Double Feature — There are lots of streaming options out there that have plenty of scary movies you can watch no matter what age you are. For the little kids, you might want to choose a tame film like Hocus Pocus or The Addams Family. But for the older kids (or the adults when the little ones go to sleep) you can try classic horror films like Night of the Living Dead or Friday the 13^th.

Carve a Jack-O-Lantern — This is an activity that is always a Halloween winner but is also possible to do during quarantine. There are hundreds of different jack-o-lantern patterns available online or for purchase. Just be sure to get a good carving tool kit that can make it easier. And, for the little ones, consider getting glow-in-the-dark paint and other craft materials that you can glue onto the pumpkins without having to carve them.

This Halloween, you don’t have to let the pandemic ruin your plans to make lasting memories with your family. Instead, just do some careful planning and enjoy some of these safe activities with your friends and kids.

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Fall Break Staycation Ideas for Families

Written by Marybeth Heckler on August 30, 2020. Posted in Motherhood.

Think back to some of your most cherished childhood memories. I’m going to bet that a lot of them are centered around summer vacations with trips to visit family, hitting the beach, or enjoying amusement parks. And chances are you’ve been trying to recreate those kinds of memories with your own family. But now that the summer is over, it may seem like those opportunities are fading with the heat.

If you want to do something fun with your family this fall but don’t have the time to go on a long trip, consider these staycation ideas in your area:

Fall Festivals & Pumpkin Patches — During the fall, there are plenty of local fall festivals and pumpkin patches that can provide you with plenty of opportunities for family fun. Many of these don’t just have the opportunity to buy or carve pumpkins. They also feature cornfield mazes, games, arts and crafts, and great snacks like funnel cake and hot apple cider.

Haunted Houses — For those with older kids, you might want to check out the local area for a haunted house. Many of these attractions are enlarging over the years from a simple house to outdoor trails through mazes or the woods complete with scary characters ready to give you the chills.

County Fairs — Another great activity during this time of year is annual county fairs that pop up in locations across the country. These fairs, complete with kiddie rides and more exciting activities for the adventurous, are really popular. And you might even want to try one of the scary fried concoctions that appear every year like fried Oreos or even fried bubble gum. (Yes, that’s really a thing.)

Camping Trip — Once the summer heat dips, then fall is a great chance to get outside and do some camping. Whether it’s in a cabin in a state park or just a tent in the backyard, all of these activities let you get back to nature. This is also the perfect time of year for this so that you can enjoy the fall foliage and watch the leaves change colors.

Get Outdoors — Even if camping isn’t your thing, this is also a good time to enjoy outdoor activities. Try hiking a trail or taking a kayak for a short trip around a lake.

All of these activities are great opportunities to build memories and bond as a family. The fall also presents you with staycations that you don’t get to try during the rest of the year.

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Exploring Denver’s Trails While Leaving No Trace

Written by Marybeth Heckler on July 30, 2020. Posted in Denver.

Many of us intentionally moved to the Denver, Colorado, area because of the natural beauty that is so readily available. But, if we aren’t careful, this beauty may not be here much longer.

With so many people heading outdoors after being cooped up because of COVID-19, the increased traffic is starting to take its toll on Denver’s hiking trails and natural parks. We don’t blame people for wanting to get out and enjoy the beauty of nature. But there are some things that people need to remember to protect those trails.

Keep these in mind when enjoying Denver’s natural parks and hiking trails:

Stay on the Path — The trails have been created to provide you with a safe path to follow through the landscape. If you decide to walk off the trail, you will be destroying plants and animal habitats. The easy way to leave no trace is to stay on the trail. If you come across mud or a large puddle in the path, walk through it. Even stepping around can cause the path to widen over time and destroy a small portion of the natural habitat.

Don’t Bother the Animals — One of the best parts of exploring these trails is the chance to see wildlife. Now, we know most people aren’t crazy enough to try to bother a wild bear, mountain lion, or rattlesnake. But we are talking about the “cute” animals that are out there. This is not a petting zoo. If you see baby animals, know that they haven’t been abandoned by their mothers. The full-grown ones are nearby, and if you bother the babies, they may either defend them or they will abandon them. Just look and take pictures.

And, Don’t Mess with the Plants — Yes, there is some gorgeous foliage in these areas. But leave them alone so that others can enjoy them. You may come across some beautiful mountain flowers. Hold back on your instinct to pick them. Let them grow naturally and, if you have to have a physical memento, take a picture.

Pack It In, Pack It Out — If you bring something on the trail with you, make sure you take it back out when you are done. This means everything from food wrappers and bottles to food scraps. Yes, fruit rinds and banana peels are biodegradable. But you should take these with you as well. Also, if you see any trash along the trail, be considerate and pick it up.

There’s an old saying amongst hikers: “Take nothing but memories. Leave nothing but footprints.” If you want to help keep our natural hiking trails lasting for years to come in the Denver area, it is imperative that you follow these rules to maintain the beauty of the area.

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Hosting Your Own Outdoor Movie Night

Written by Marybeth Heckler on July 23, 2020. Posted in Motherhood.

Summer has always been when the best blockbuster movie hits would come to a theater near you. Escape the heat and watch superheroes or villains on screen, what else could be better, right? Especially when you’re looking for activities to do with your family.

This summer, everything is just a bit different. Seeing movies in a theater is no exception. But what’s the next best thing? Seeing a movie in your own backyard!

This is a great way to enjoy the weather and get out of the house. It’s a fun activity for the family to enjoy and if you’re careful about social distancing, you could invite a friend or two over.

So, what is needed to have a backyard movie night? Here are a few things to consider:

Equipment – You will need special equipment to accomplish a fun night out watching movies. First, you’ll want a projector. These come in a variety of quality and prices with the cheapest being around $100.

Next, you’ll need a screen to show the movie on. You can find different types just for this purpose online. Some are inflatable while others have poles to put together similar to a tent. These range in price as well with the cheapest being about $100. Depending on your backyard arrangement, you might get away with a sheet draped over a wall or the fencing or use the wall/fencing itself.

You’ll want to be able to hear the movie and that means you need speakers. You can find a variety of loud outdoor speakers online. Some are even waterproof. Prices range from over $100 to much more than that.

Comfort Items – Since this is your home and you want to enjoy it comfortably, you want to think about what you have on hand to help minimize cost. You can use towels or beach/lawn blankets for sitting on the lawn. If getting up and down from the ground is not your style, you could consider an outdoor lounger or use an existing camping chair.

It’s not the movies without popcorn and something fun to drink. So you may want to stock up on popcorn and popcorn boxes as well as your favorite soda or fruit drink. Having a cooler outside with ice will keep you from having to keep going inside to refill empty cups.

Summer Movie Fun at Home Is Possible

Having a fun time with your family is possible this summer. You’ll always remember watching movies with your kids making memories together.

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Fourth of July Family Traditions

Written by Marybeth Heckler on June 18, 2020. Posted in Holidays.

We are huge fans of family traditions and one of our favorite holidays to celebrate traditions is on the way—the Fourth of July. We also love hearing about other families and their customs. But it’s also really easy to let your Independence Day celebrations begin with a cookout and end with fireworks.

If you’re interested in finding new ways to celebrate our country’s 244^th birthday, here are great ideas you can use to start your own Fourth of July family tradition:

Outdoor Games—Sure, we all know about how everyone loves to grill outside and eat hot dogs, hamburgers, and other July 4^th But while you are manning the grill, the rest of the family can enjoy some time outside by playing outdoor games. Badminton, horseshoes, and cornhole are all great games that young and old can enjoy together.

Non-Explosive Fireworks—If you live in a state that bans fireworks, or if you have little kids and are worried about their safety, then you can make “non-explosive” options. One way is to let the kids make “sparklers” by tying red, white, and blue ribbons to a stick and then running around swirling these behind them. You can also fill a balloon with patriotic colored confetti and then pop these to let the confetti fall over everyone. Finally, if you just want to light up the night sky, you can always go on a firefly hunt. Once you catch them, place them in a jar with holes in the lid and let them be a natural night light.

Watch a Patriotic Movie—How about a family tradition that is both fun and educational? If you’ve never seen 1776, then you are in for a treat. This film from 1972 stars William Daniels (better known as Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World) as John Adams. It’s a highly accurate depiction of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with one big difference—it’s a musical. This is the perfect option for younger kids as it’s a G-Rated film. If you’ve got older kids, however, you might want to check out Disney Plus which is set to debut the original cast of Hamilton just in time for the 4^th.

Make Red, White, and Blue Tie-Dyes—Buy some cheap white t-shirts and turn them into patriotic tie-dye shirts. You just need the white shirts and some simple materials to create a cool effect that you can wear for years to come.

This Fourth of July you can create memories that will last a lifetime for you and your family. These are some great ways to build traditions with your family that can be carried out for years (and even generations) to come.

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Ideas for Celebrating National Get Outdoors Day While Social Distancing

Written by Marybeth Heckler on June 11, 2020. Posted in Motherhood.

In Colorado, we are used to being kept indoors by inclement weather. But the temperatures are rising and the days are getting sunnier and many of us are still stuck inside thanks to COVID-19.

The lockdown has already canceled or postponed many activities, events, and festivals. But one that you can still celebrate is National Get Outdoors Day. At a time when many of us are eager to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather, it is still important to modify this celebration with some simple changes thanks to social distancing guidelines.

What is National Get Outdoors Day?

June is already designated as National Great Outdoors Month, encouraging people to explore the wildlife refuges and parks in the U.S. to appreciate the natural beauty around us. Since 2008, Colorado has gone a step further with Get Outdoors Colorado Day.

This event is held on the second Saturday of June and is a free, family-friendly event meant to promote access to safe outdoor spaces and nature exploration. Generally, activities have included biking, boating, climbing, fishing, hiking, and swimming. Although the COVID-19 lockdown is definitely going to put a damper on the event, it is not going to completely end it.

Outdoor Social Distancing Guidelines

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are 3 major guidelines that would affect Get Outdoors Colorado Day. First, the CDC encourages you, when in public, to stay at least 6 feet from other people. They also stress not gathering in groups and staying away from mass gatherings and crowded places. Ultimately, this means that you don’t want to be in close contact with anyone outside of your family or household.

How to Get Outdoors While Staying Safe

Just because you have to practice social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the great outdoors. First, you can enjoy the outdoors just by going into your backyard and doing a little gardening. But if you do want to venture outside into parks and wildlife preserves, there are still several activities you can take part in while social distancing.

Boating and kayaking can easily be enjoyed while maintaining a safe distance from other people. Fishing has long been a more solitary activity as too many people in one area can scare off the fish. Or, if you want, just go for a hike in the woods and make sure that you steer clear of other hikers by at least six feet. As long as you aren’t clumped up in one area, you will still be following the CDC guidelines.

Just because you have to practice social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Get Outdoors Day. This annual event is the perfect opportunity to shake off that cabin fever and get some fresh air while still staying safe.

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Curbside Celebrations for Those in Denver

Written by Marybeth Heckler on June 4, 2020. Posted in Denver, Homeowner, Motherhood.

While everyone is in lockdown thanks to the current pandemic, it is important to remember that major life events are still going on. And it goes without saying that you should still spend the time to celebrate these events.

Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or some other milestone, COVID-19 shouldn’t completely take away your ability to celebrate. It just means that you need to change HOW you celebrate the event.

Here are a few ideas for curbside (or online) celebrations for those of you in Denver:

Let them eat cake — There are lots of different bakeries in Denver that are having to adjust the way they do business. Some of these bakeries are offering curbside pick-up for their cakes while others are doing home deliveries. Regardless of which method you use, these bakeries have unique creations that will pick up any celebration. Some of our favorites include:

Mermaids Bakery – This local bakery has a lot of creative creations, but our absolute favorite is their cake made to look like the hottest commodity during the pandemic—a roll of toilet paper. This may sound bizarre, but the artistry is incredible and makes for a unique cake. Of course, they also have traditional birthday cakes as well.

El Antojo Denver – Another unique cake shop offering curbside pickup is Cakes El Antojo. This one has also made some great lockdown themed birthday cakes including one that is made to look like a case of Clorox wipes.

Schedule a parade (or have an online party) — Another popular activity that you can do to help celebrate birthdays and special events is a curbside party. Simply have people load into their cars with signs and balloons showing their love for the person being celebrated and then drive by their home at a designated time. These “drive-by” parties may not be for everyone, so another alternative is an online party. You can have party boxes and favors delivered to your guests and invite everyone to check in on Zoom for an online gathering to get you out of the lockdown doldrums.

Have a drink — Just because you’re on lockdown doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with adult libations. For such events, you can get alcoholic beverages delivered to your home or schedule them for curbside pickup and take them back to celebrate. Many breweries in the area are not offering to-go options for their specialty beers. Or, you can get a growler of local beer from Craft Alley and have it delivered to your home so you can celebrate with a cold one.

Just because we are on lockdown doesn’t mean that we have to give up on all of the activities that we enjoy. Birthdays and anniversaries only come around once a year, so it’s important to get creative and keep celebrating.

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Backyard Summer Camp for Kids

Written by Marybeth Heckler on May 21, 2020. Posted in Motherhood.

Summer is coming and for those of us who have been tucked away in quarantine, it may seem like we’ve already been on one continuous break with the kids. But, now that distance learning is taking a break, there may be fewer activities for you to keep the kids active. But you don’t want to let them become couch potatoes and video game zombies.

Here are ways to recreate the summer camp experience in your own backyard.

These activities are guaranteed to help you keep the kids from being bored and help you maintain your sanity this summer.

Sprinkler Fun — Let’s start with a tried-and-true favorite from everyone’s childhood: playing in the water sprinkler. This is the perfect way to get cool on a hot summer day.

A DIY idea for this is to make your own sprinkler. Get a 2-liter soda bottle (empty) and poke holes in the plastic with a knife or scissors. Then, attach the garden hose to the bottle and affix it with duct tape. Once you crank up the water, it will come shooting out of the holes and your kids can have fun jumping through the stream.

Soda Bottle Rocket — While you’ve got those empty soda bottles, try this little science project. First, tape pencils to the sides of the bottle so that the bottle can be placed opening down without covering the neck of the bottle.

Then, fill the bottle with vinegar, add baking soda, and then quickly cover the bottle opening with a cork. Flip the rocket upside down so it rests on the pencils and wait for the chemical reaction to shoot the rocket into the air.

Make a Shaving Cream Painting — This one may sound bizarre but hold on a minute. It’s actually a great way to get artistic expression and fun sensory play combined.

Get several cans of shaving cream from your local dollar store. Then, use food coloring to dye the shaving cream into different colors. Set up a tarp in the backyard and let your kids use the colored shaving cream to create pictures from rainbows to sky scenes to whatever their imagination can conjure up.

It’s messy fun, and the tarp can be easily hosed down and reused later if the kids want to try this again.

Tightrope Walking — If you want to help your kids train for a career in the circus (or at least work with their motor skills), do a tightrope play area. If you have two sturdy trees, run two soft ropes between them. It doesn’t have to be high—just a couple of inches.

Then place the second rope high enough for your child to use as a handhold as they walk across the lower rope. If you don’t have a pair of trees, you can also use fence posts or poles in a pinch.

This year, we may still be dealing with a quarantine lockdown in our homes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t let your child explore their backyard and turn it into a home summer camp with these activities.

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Stress Relief Techniques for Moms

Written by Marybeth Heckler on March 15, 2020. Posted in Motherhood.

Anybody who says that being a full-time mom isn’t stressful is just kidding themselves. Motherhood, be it the stay-at-home or working variety, is one of the roughest and toughest occupations out there.

The demands of being a mom are also aggravated by the unbelievable stress and anxiety that comes with the responsibility. After all, no one wants to be a bad mom and you want to make sure that everything you do is helping to make your child a better person.

But just when you think you want to snap if you have to listen to “Baby Shark” one more time, take a deep breath and realize there are a few ways to relieve the stress and anxiety:

Stay Organized — This stress relief technique is pro-active. You’re less likely to get stressed out if you stay organized and on top of things. By keeping a schedule, you don’t have to worry about rushing from one location to another. You know exactly what is expected of you and you can plan accordingly. This also means that you need to set limits on yourself and your children. You know there are only 24 hours in a day so you shouldn’t try to over-schedule your time.
Meditate — This is a tried and true technique, and it really works. Spend about 10 to 15 minutes each day in quiet meditation. Just let yourself sit in a comfortable position and relax. This can be when you put the baby down for a nap or when the kids are already in bed and you have a few moments before you pass out for the night in exhaustion. Just let the problems of the world flow out of you and relax.
Exercise — No, we aren’t crazy when we say this. Exercise releases endorphins in your body that can help you maintain a relaxed and happy demeanor. We aren’t saying you need to do a full cardio workout for an hour every single day. (Although there’s nothing wrong with that if you can work it in.) Just take 15 minutes during a lunch break at work to walk around the block. This will be hard at first, but with time it will help you feel better and more relaxed.
Bubble Bath — Sometimes the old favorites are there for a reason. Once a week or so, take a half-hour and set it aside for yourself. Turn on some soft music, light a few aromatherapy candles, and relax in a warm bath. Throw in some bubbles or bath salts to help you relax even more. If it helps, throw in a rubber duck. Just spend that time with the door shut and locked and be at peace.

It’s hard for moms to set aside time for themselves in their busy schedule. But if you plan and organize your schedule and learn how to set limits then you will find that you can build more time into your daily life to relax and not feel overwhelmed.

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Tag: parenting

Try some of these great Halloween activities with your family:

If you want to do something fun with your family this fall but don’t have the time to go on a long trip, consider these staycation ideas in your area:

Keep these in mind when enjoying Denver’s natural parks and hiking trails:

So, what is needed to have a backyard movie night? Here are a few things to consider:

Summer Movie Fun at Home Is Possible

If you’re interested in finding new ways to celebrate our country’s 244th birthday, here are great ideas you can use to start your own Fourth of July family tradition:

What is National Get Outdoors Day?

Outdoor Social Distancing Guidelines

How to Get Outdoors While Staying Safe

Here are a few ideas for curbside (or online) celebrations for those of you in Denver:

Here are ways to recreate the summer camp experience in your own backyard.

But just when you think you want to snap if you have to listen to “Baby Shark” one more time, take a deep breath and realize there are a few ways to relieve the stress and anxiety:

If you’re interested in finding new ways to celebrate our country’s 244^th birthday, here are great ideas you can use to start your own Fourth of July family tradition: