Family Chic

Dancing in the bathroom - teeth brushed, pajamas on and song is still running!

Send your child to school with a green lunch. Make a sandwich wrap using spinach wraps, make shamrock pepper slices and add in a green apple and key lime yogurt for dessert.

You can make shamrock pepper slices simply by slicing a green pepper across the middle.

My daughters love this green river float. Coat the rim of the glass with green sugar crystals (found in the baking section of the supermarket), drop in a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream and pour in some green river soda so it reaches the rim and creates a foamy top. Add a green straw and you're done.

My kids prefer to eat their vegetables raw and cold. Make a shamrock cup by slicing a green pepper in half and scooping out the seeds. I fill mine with peas and serve with a spoon and use the top of the pepper as a lid. My kids love this - it's simple and refreshing and perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

Another hot one - wasabi peas - a great tasting green treat for kids who like it hot.

I needed a change and I needed it fast - this did the trick. I can take this down in a few weeks when the next impulse hits!

Any paper will do & you will need two different colored pens or markers for this.

Have your child start the game by making a scribble mark on the page.

Using a marker of a different color - you try to make something out of that scribble.

You make the next scribble and hand the pad back to your child - it's their turn to create something.

Using two different marker colors allows you and your child to look back and see the progression of each drawing. It can truly be amazing to see what others can make out of a random mark on the page.

To me, the roots of a plant and the way they twist through soil are pretty enough to show off. Instead of using an opaque container to hold your plant, transfer it to a glass jar or vase and let all of that organic beauty show.

I picked up this hyacinth at my grocery store, removed it from its plastic pot and dropped in into a lidded jar.

Not just a can of dirt anymore.

A packet of seeds can cost less than a dollar, recycle a can and buy a bag of soil and you're on your way for less than $8.00.

Throw down some paper on the floor and let your kids assemble their tiny gardens. Every child loves to get their hands into some dirt!

We love to plant sunflower seeds. The "kid stuff" variety only grows to about 32" - perfect for little ones. Take a look through the seed packets at your grocery store or garden center and let your kids pick whatever they like.

If you're using a can - make sure to hammer a few small drainage holes into the bottom. Place a dish underneath and stick in a sunny windowsill. Let your child care for their own plant - they will enjoy taking on the challenge.

Use left over yarn and wrapping paper or origami paper to make these simple cards.

Using a pencil, draw your figure - then outline with marker.

Cut out a simple a-line dress shape from origami or wrapping paper (or any decorative paper) and glue in place.

Glue on yarn and trim to desired length. My kids love this part - they get to give their girl a haircut!

Draw in face details and style your girl!

Use rubber stamps to add a message.

I purchase my blank cards at Michael's.

You can experiment with hairstyles - try ponytails and braids too.

Instead of a card - try making this Valentine globe and fill it with a message of love.

You will need a jar, excelsior (fine wood shavings), glue gun, paper, paint or markers, ribbon or fabric, tissue paper and a metallic doily.

Using a glue gun, attach excelsior to inside of jar lid.

Cut out a heart from card stock paper, decorate and attach to a toothpick with tape.

Stick heart into excelsior. You can add a dab of glue to the end of the toothpick, but the wood shavings are so stiff - the toothpick will remain in place on its own.

Measure height of jar and cut two pieces of background paper (one of tissue paper and one from a doily) to fit halfway around the the inside of the jar.

Place doily in front of tissue paper and slip inside of jar so it is facing inward.

The tissue paper and doily will cling to the side of the jar - no glue needed.

On a thin strip of card stock, write out your Valentine's message.

Place message inside of jar - the card stock is so thick - the strip of paper will stay in place inside of the jar.

Screw on lid and glue fabric or ribbon around lid to create a more attractive base.

These decorative globes catch and hold the light and make a mesmerizing Valentine - my kids are thrilled with these.

Using a bandanna, cover your child's eyes and hand them one letter at a time - using only their sense of touch, your child must try to determine which letter they are holding.

By blocking the sense of sight and focusing on the sense of touch, the brain is forced to experience these letters in a new way.

I use sponge letters (meant for stamping - I picked these up at Blick) but any 3 dimensional letters or numbers will do.

I can never look at a Campbell's tomato soup can without thinking of Andy Warhol.

Wheat grass dropped into Campbell's soup cans look great on a table as a centerpiece for a casual meal - but also could be used as fun and eco-friendly party favors.

To make these, I broke up a container of wheat grass into thirds, put some pea gravel in the bottoms of each can and dropped the grass in.

I've lined the inside of this can with a natural, unbleached paper towel and used it to hold rosemary bread sticks at a buffet.

Bring a little bit of Andy to your work space -a cheap, yet chic, pencil holder.

My inspiration - Campbell's Soup Can, 1964 Andy Warhol