Back to School Lunch Tip: Label Your Child’s Lunchbox and More!

Posted on August 17, 2023 by danielleridgway

Back to school is here!

It feels like summer just flew by. We have been so busy soaking up all the summer fun, going to dance camps, and getting ready for KINDERGARTEN! I am still in disbelief that she is in elementary school now — seems like yesterday that I was bringing her home from the hospital.

Anyways, kindergarten is such a big step in a child’s life. There’s way more responsibility on a little and they have to gain independence too. As a parent, it’s so hard to just let them go into this stage without being able to help as much as we have until this point. One way I’ve tried to be proactive and help Mila succeed during her kindergarten year was with specific tools and practice.

I love sharing what works with our family to help others, so here’s my tips. If you have any other different tips to help parents/guardians and their kids for lunchtime at school, comment them below.

Custom Labels from Name Bubbles

The BIGGEST tool I’m using to help Mila is our Custom School Supply Labels from Name Bubbles.

We have used Name Bubbles’ labels before and they work amazing. Their labels are perfect for lunchtime items because they are dishwasher safe, microwave safe, freezer safe. laundry safe. and waterproof.

Mila and I put her labels on her water bottle, bento box, lunchbox, and freezer pack. It might just be Mila, but I feel like I’m constantly washing her lunchtime items by hand-washing them and throwing the lunchbox bag in the washing machine. I don’t have to worry about Name Bubbles’ labels coming off of these items since they are so durable.

Another fun reason we love Name Bubbles Custom School Supply Labels is because Mila got to pick out her favorite design, font, and colors. That’s pretty cool for a kindergartener. For parents and guardians, it’s easy to help them design their custom labels too. It just is a little detail that makes their day so much more special at school.

Plus you can use GreySkies10 to save on your Name Bubbles order!

I love all the designs they have, so I had to share some of the ones they have on their website:

Here’s some ways using Custom School Supply Labels from Name Bubbles can help your child at lunchtime during back to school season:

Prevents mix-ups. It can be easy for kids to mix up their lunchboxes with their friends’, especially if they look similar. Labeling your child’s lunchbox will help to avoid this problem.
Helps with allergies. If your child has any food allergies, labeling their lunchbox will help to ensure that they do not eat anything that could make them sick. I personally have a peanut allergy, so this is so important to me. Just by labeling lunchboxes, children can avoid having a tragic allergic reaction.
Encourages independence. When kids know that their lunchbox is labeled, they are more likely to take responsibility for packing it themselves. Mila is very keen on helping get food for her lunch. It’s such a special time for us to pack it together, especially since she takes ownership of the food and her lunchbox. This can help to build their independence and self-confidence. This also helps at school too. A child can easily find their lunchbox by looking for their custom label.
Makes it easier for teachers and staff to help. We know mix ups do happen though. If your child needs help finding their lunchbox, a teacher or staff member will be able to easily identify it if it is labeled.

2. Make their lunch fun!

If I know anything about kindergarteners, it’s that they like to have FUN!

Usually the simple and little things are the most fun for kids. This is especially true for their lunches too. I have a few ways I try to do this for Mila. It does take some extra time, but for me, it pays off. She always lets me know the little surprises make her smile at school. At the end of last year, she even started having fun requests too.

Fun shapes. I use different sandwich cutters for her sandwiches to surprise her. Her favorite is butterflies, but I like to switch it up week to week and especially on the holidays. I also try to cut different fruits in fun shapes for her too.
Napkins. This seems so basic, but adding random colored or themed napkins make a difference. Mila always knows there’s a special holiday going on when I change up her napkins.
Make it a surprise. As much as Mila loves to help me out with her lunches, sometimes i switch what I make up. She loves when this happens.
Switch up containers. Mila has a few different bento boxes, water bottles, reusable bags, etc that gets changed out every other day. Just make sure to label everything with your Custom School Supply Labels from Name Bubbles!

3. Always include a special note.

This one really seems simple, but it makes all the difference.

I add a note in her lunchbox everyday. Even though she can’t read it, she’ll ask her teachers to read it for her. BUT if they don’t have time, I try to draw a picture or ‘love hearts’ in her note so she knows that I’m sending love her way.

These notes are just a little reminder that your child is being thought of by you. I know Mila looks forward to what she’s going to get every day.

4. Practice unwrapping, opening, and getting food and lunchboxes with your child.

They will feel so confident that they can do it themselves and it’s helpful for the teachers and staff on duty to help other kids who cannot do these things themselves.

No matter what, your child is going to do great this year when they go back to school. I hope some of these lunchtime tips will help ease your and your child’s mind a little before getting to school. Again, if you have any other suggestions, please comment below.

I will be sending out love to everyone in this back to school season. It’s been a hard one for me, but I’m so thankful for all the support and love that friends and family have shown Mila and me.

Please make sure to use GreySkies10 when you check out Name Bubbles and their Custom School Supply Labels. They are so helpful in Mila’s lunchtime experience.

Sibling grief is hard.

Posted on August 10, 2023 by danielleridgway

Last night was one of the hardest parenting nights I’ve had.

Mila starts school very soon and we’ve changed up her bedtime routine. We’ve started not watching movies to sleep, but just listening to soothing sounds after reading all the books. Not having screens on have been a big help to her sleep. It’s also opened up more conversations between the both of us.

Even though she’s only five, she’s taking everything in and has big thoughts. I try to be open, honest, and just listen to her about whatever is on her mind. Last night, was hard though.

It started off with her just talking about Jensen’s picture on the wall. She said it was a little crooked and it needed fixed. Then it turned into her saying she really missed her… and then into sobs. She kept on saying his name and that she missed him and that she didn’t understand why God made people die. She said she wishes she could just go to heaven to be with him since he can’t be here with us. Her face was soaked with tears and there was nothing I could do to stop the pain, because it doesn’t stop.

I felt totally powerless as a parent. I know she needs to feel what she’s feeling, but it’s heartbreaking.

Hearing her say his name over and over throughout the sobs — it makes me tear up now.

In that moment, I told her he’s always around us. We can always remember and honor him. Whenever we’re sad and want to see him we can look at his pictures or go through his books. I tried telling her the things I do and the thoughts I think whenever I feel sad about his death too. And, I told her I was sorry. Sorry that she had to live without her brother and sorry she had this grief, but I was happy she was here and alive and that she is such a bright light. She listened to it all, but still kept repeating herself.

It just fucking hurts.

I ended up snuggling her. There’s literally nothing else we can do. Sometimes we just have to sit with our grief and sadness. I knew in that moment, she just needed her mom to be there through that rough wave of grief.

Eventually, I grabbed Jensen bear for her so she could snuggle up to him and fall asleep.

So as I’m always transparent on here… something strange did happen last night.

I don’t actively look for ‘signs’ like I did early in my grief. Whenever I see orange and blue out and about, I think it’s a little hello. There’s other things that just happen that make me think it’s him saying hello.

Remember that I said Mila has a lullaby that plays all night long? Like it doesn’t shut off until we physically do it in the morning. Well, last night when she said I wish I could just snap my fingers and he’d be here — the lullaby just stopped. Like it completely shut off as soon as she said it. Which is strange since it never is off at night.

Mila was instantly like, “what the heck just happened?” Then she turned the lullaby back on.

We had another cycle of Mila’s questioning and sobbing and looking at pictures. Once again, she said, I just wish I could snap my fingers and he’d be right here. And again, the lullaby goes off.

Maybe it’s just a crazy coincidence, but I told her it was Jensen letting her know he was here. It seemed to have calmed her down and made her smile. She loved the idea that he was playing a little game with her to distract her from the sadness.

We made it through a rough night of sibling grief. I know there will be more nights and moments like this in the future. Together we’ll be able to make it through whatever.

Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas

Posted on April 25, 2023 by danielleridgway

Teacher Appreciation Week is a week-long celebration of teachers in the United States. It is held in the first full week of May, and is a time to thank teachers for their hard work and dedication to their students.

The week was first celebrated in 1984 by the National PTA, and is now celebrated in schools and communities across the country. There are many ways to show your appreciation for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, such as:

Writing a thank-you note
Sending a gift card or flowers
Making a donation to a teacher’s favorite charity
Volunteering in the classroom
Simply saying “thank you”

Teachers are an important part of our society, and they deserve our appreciation every day. Teacher Appreciation Week is a special time to show our gratitude for all that they do.

I am so thankful for Mila’s preschool teachers. They have taught her so much content and how to be a good human. She truly loves and cares for them, as do I! It’s so important to use to give back to them to show them how much we care.

In the past, we’ve made some fun gifts that you can DIY:

Obviously we love to give plants as a gift since we love them so much, but food and personal care items are also a hit too!

I think we’ll be doing something with mint this year since I have an abundance of it! Plus who doesn’t need mint?

Here are some other ways you can show your appreciation for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week:

Bring in breakfast or lunch for your teacher.
Have your child make them a card or draw a picture.
Write a letter to your local newspaper or school board expressing your appreciation for teachers.
Attend a school board meeting and speak in support of teachers.

Teachers are essential to our society, and they deserve our support. No matter what you do, show them how much we appreciate them during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Please let me know in the comments your favorite way to show teacher appreciation or links to a gift you’ve done before.

11 Earth Day Ideas To Do With Your Child

Posted on April 21, 2023 by danielleridgway

Happy Earth Day friends!

Although we believe Earth Day should be every day, here’s a few ways you can show your love for our earth with your child. There’s a mix of no cost, no prep ideas with more prep and some cost ideas. But they’re all ways to show some love to Mother Earth.

Plant a tree.
Make a bird feeder. Birds are important pollinators, and they can also help to control pests. Making bird feeders can be really easy too! We’ve DIY’d a few bird feeders the last few years. Every time it’s so fun to make with Mila. Check them out here: Rainbow Heart Bird Feeder, Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeder, Birdhouse Motel.
Go on a nature walk. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, my little absolutely loves getting outside and exploring. Going on a nature walk and having her find different things while walking is always a hit! You can have littles do a Nature Scavenger Hunt or look for something specific depending on their interests. Either way, getting outside is always a great idea.
Help to clean up a local park or beach. This is a great way to teach kids about the importance of keeping our environment clean. I swear Mila constantly asks if we can pick up the trash on the side of the road every time we’re in the car. Maybe one day, but we just focus on our walking paths for now.
Learn about recycling. There are so many fun ways to teach kids about recycling. This water activity let Mila see the impact of what our trash does to our oceans.
Make a bug hotel. Get a cardboard box, paint it, fill it with leaves/twigs/flowers/rocks, and set outside. Bugs will love the space and you can learn about them while they’re exploring their new hotel.
Make a compost bin. Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of food waste that goes to landfills. We have not started one at our house yet, but it is a huge goal of mine to finally do it. One day soon and I’ll make sure I share with you guys too.
Start a garden. Growing your own food is a great way to teach kids about where their food comes from and how to eat healthy. We absolutely love making a garden every year. Some years we start off with seeds and others we get starts. Either way, it’s a great way to celebrate Earth Day!
Make seed bombs.
Paint a pot. We have a lot of plants in our house, but seemingly never enough pots. A fun way to either get a plant for your home or replant a new one is for your little to paint a pot. When Mila does this, she knows she’s in charge of watering and checking in on that plant. It helps teach her responsibility and broaden her love for our Earth.
Don’t use paper or plastic plates. This is a huge one! We normally don’t use paper plates or any cutlery that you can throw away. It helps reduce waste and we get to buy really cute plates too.

I’d like to end this post by saying, it’s okay if you don’t do any of these things. Being a parent/guardian is hard work and you’re doing your absolute best!

Here are some other Earth Day projects if you’re feeling inspired:

And then, she was five.

Posted on April 13, 2023 by danielleridgway

April 14, 2018 is another day that changed my life forever. Mila was born.

Photo by Katie Finnicum from Simplicity of Grace

The second hardest experience of my life was pregnancy after loss. Every day I was pregnant with Mila, I thought she was going to die. I didn’t sleep and constantly worried.I was never hungry and whenever I forced myself to eat, nothing tasted good. I was constantly in pain and had terrible anxiety and depression… but it was all worth it.

I remember almost everything about being pregnant with Mila. I willed myself too because my memory is so choppy around Jensen. We had a lot of appointments and ultrasounds. They couldn’t take my blood pressure until after I either saw her heart beating on the screen or heard it. As soon I as I did, I could just enjoy the moment and focus on how magical she made me feel. I even remember every time we had an ultrasound she was pointing her feet like a little ballerina… I guess you can say she didn’t just become a dancer, she always was one.

The moment she was born, it was silent. I knew that silence and was terrified. Then a few second later, she started crying and has really never stopped crying, talking, or singing since then.

I wish I could say my anxiety and depression stopped after she was born… it didn’t. I pictured her dying in my head constantly. If I walked through a doorway, I saw her head getting hit. When she was in the bassinet, I saw her getting caught in it and not being able to get out. I pictured her falling or people dropping her when they held her. I felt insane. On top of that I was dealing with what’s his name. I was not in a healthy state personally, but I did my best to be the mom she deserved.

If anyone asks me, I’ll say that first year was the hardest and at year five of parenting my rainbow baby, I still stand by that. Being a mom is hard, but that first year of highs and lows connected us more than I could have ever imagined.

Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m writing all of this. I never truly deep dived in what happened in that first year on here. But I think it’s important to know, especially when I get to talking about her.

It’s been five yers since her grand entrance and I can honestly say her and Jensen are my greatest gifts. I would not be here today if it wasn’t for Mila. That’s a lot for a five year old to hold, but she doesn’t know. Maybe one day she will, but it’s not her job. To me, she lights up the world. I might have brought her to life, but she gave me back mine. I will never be able to thank her enough. That’s probably why I’m so extra with her, lol.

At five, here are things I want to remember about her or what I’d want her to look back and know.

That she dances any time she hears music, no matter where she may be and I love watching her.
One time at tumble practice this year, Mila’s tumble coach came out to let me know that during her water break, she somehow snuck in fingernail polish and started painting her nails… during practice!
Speaking of the above, she is an incredible packer. If she has pockets or a bag, I have to check them in case she brings something she’s not allowed, but she seems to always sneak it anyways.
She is so smart and can spell all the colors.
Her heart is the size of all the oceans combined. She is so empathetic and cares about every person, animal, and plant.
Once, she cried when we sold a plant because she was going to miss it so much.
She is creative. Not only in dance, but she makes up songs, is a really awesome drawer (but doesn’t like coloring), and can tell such good stories. Plus, she is crafty and loves painting and helping me make things.
She hates her hair brushed, but loves her long Rapunzel hair.
She still loves the beach and going on vacations.
Our hand squeezes.
She hates waking up in the morning, but is excited for kindergarten (I am not).
She is a people person who loves her friends and family.
Her choice words. She sometimes uses ‘colorful’ words and when I try to correct her she’ll tell me, “mom, they’re only words.’
She loves to have spa days and will steal Josh’s cucumbers for our eyes.
She’s going to miss being four, but is happy to make a new growth mark on the doorway trim.

I could probably go on and on, but those are the main ones popping in my head tonight.

As I’m winding down, looking through all our pictures, and realizing I’m saying way too much — I guess what just keeps going through my mind is how proud I am of my five year old.

I’m proud of the little woman she’s becoming. I’m proud of how headstrong she is. I’m proud of her smarts. I’m proud of her outgoingness. I’m proud of her love. I’m proud of every single thing about her and I know that’ll continue for as long as I live.

Happy FIFTH birthday, Mila. You deserve the world and the entire universe.
I am so glad Jensen picked you for me and I’ll always love you more.

Mom Tip: Label All Your Kid’s Items

Posted on February 27, 2023 by danielleridgway

If your child is anything like mine, labeling their school, daycare, and after school activity items is a must. Not only are there so many benefits from doing this, I can show you the cutest labels from Name Bubbles.

Mila is the queen of losing her things; I think most four year olds could hold this title. We are constantly searching for shoes, coats, and water bottles. Miraculously, no items have been lost in public. but I have a little secret of how we’re preventing this further.

Honestly, I’m still working on helping Mila organize her things at home. She likes to get everything out and then stuff them in bags, THEN put them into her closet. It happens.

It’s a work in progress and I know it’ll get better eventually.

Since she is in preschool, dance, and other sports, we are constantly on the run. One way to keep track of her things is to label them. We have been using Name Bubbles.

They have a ton of different designs to choose from and you can be as detailed on them as you want. I love their clothing labels that irons on them; especially with dance costume and extra clothes at preschool. Believe me, this child love to trade her clothes and wear her friend’s clothes, so this just helps sort them out a little more.

Their custom daycare and school label packs are a must. I put them on Mila’s shoes, water bottle, backpack, lunch box, and her bentgo box. The water bottle ones really come in handy, especially when all the kids have their bottles by each other. It helps the teachers and her remember exactly which bottle she took to school or practice that day. Also, I love that the daycare labels have fun and cute designs for littles and the school labels have more ‘grown up’ designs for older kids.

It also helps in the opposite way too. Sometimes Mila will accidentally pick up someone else’s coat or water bottle and I know it’s not right. Since she knows her heart label is on all her school and practice items, she can look and instantly see it’s not hers. It prevents fights between me and her, which lets the day run more smoothly.

Even though I’ve seen a big difference of Mila not losing things while we’re in public, I wanted to give you all a list of positives about using Name Bubbles labels too.

Teaches children about ownership and responsibility.
Helps child remember which items are theirs.
If an item gets lost, you can recover it easier.
Prevents fighting between kids.
Helps resolve sanitary issues.
Plus, they’re cute!

I can’t wait to pick some new labels out with Mila before she goes to kindergarten. Of course we’ll have to get new labels from Name Bubbles for her new adventure. This is just a start to our labeling addiction.

Do you label your child’s items when they go to school? Let me know in the comments… and some home organization tips for kids too (lol).

I did receive these labels from Name Bubbles as a gift, but would totally recommend them to all! Since I am a Name Bubbles Affiliate, if you do purchase labels from my links, I will get a small percentage of the sales.

7 Fall Trends for Preschool Girls

Posted on September 10, 2022 by danielleridgway

Fall is almost here and with that comes the cute and comfy styles too!

Since I have a little fashionista, I’m always planning her outfits and on the look out for fun fall trends. We like to have fun with style and let Mila’s personality and voice show through her clothes. With her help, we want to bring you these 7 fall trends your preschooler will love.

Denim Pieces

Does denim ever truly go out of style? I think not.

Finding fun denim pieces, besides jeans is a fun way to spice up your little’s wardrobe. Mila loves her denim jackets, rompers, dresses, and shirts. I also love denim with pops of fall colors like mustard and rust!

Here’s some fun denim pieces that Mila and I love:

Retro Vibes

Is it me or is retro in? We love the fun 70’s colors and looks that have been so popular lately. They’re fun to pair throughout the year, but with the fall trends — they’re perfect. No matter if it’s a top with retro wording or bell bottom jeans, the past’s trends are in now too!

One shop that I LOVE for retro pieces is Bailey’s Blossoms! They have adorable pieces and sales all the time!

Pops of Color

When I think of fall, I think of navy, rust, and orange. They’re colors that go with so many things and are just perfect. BUT I have also been loving the pinks and soft hues added in the mix of these as well. Fashion should be fun and kids love pops of colors!

I know Mila’s wardrobe has a lot of neutrals, but I love to see her in a ton of different colors. Here’s a few outfits we’ve loved because of their fall inspired colors:

Statement Pieces

I love outfits that make you say, “woah.” A statement piece is something that does just that. No matter if it’s a fun pair of pants, the cutest sweater you’ve ever seen, or a jumpsuit that’s so beautiful, these are perfect to have in your little’s wardrobe. I think these are fun pieces that I get to gift Mila every so often, but they’re always her favorites.

One shop that I’ve been OBSESSED with lately is Elemental Threads Co. They have fun statement pieces that I’m always looking at on my phone… oops.

Here are some other pieces we love too:

https://zuli.ly/sl/n/t/rfmxhttps://zuli.ly/sl/n/t/rfmx

Matching Sets

Matching sets are always so cute and quick to pick out.

If your child is in a ton of different activities besides preschool, matching sets are a great way for them to be comfy all day and take them straight to where they need to be after school. Mila loves wearing her matching sets from Little Poppy Bow Co. They come with matching bows too.

When we go to dance, we can slip a leotard on under these or just have her dance in this too.

Pair with a cute pair of tennis shoes with some accessories and your little will be set.

Here’s some styles we love:

Jackets

When coming out of summer, kids get colder a little more easily. To combat this, we love pairing outfits with jackets. Our two favorite go to’s are: demin and leather! But I’m totally wanting to buy her a little varisty jacket. They’re so adorable!

Here’s some that we’re loving:

Accessories

Any little girls LOVES accessories.

Mila has to have at least one bracelet on every time we leave the house… seriously. We also like to switch it up and use a scrunchie as a useable bracelet too. She also adds sunglasses, necklaces, and bows (of course).

For these, I let her choose any accessories she’d like. This is where she can really have fun. Here are some shops we love:

Little Poppy Bow Co. – We get their monthly bow subscription box. They also have clips, headbands, necklaces and bracelets too.
Sloane and Daisy – These are Mila and my’s FAVORITE bracelets. They have fun holiday inspired ones for kids and moms! We also love their buttons for jean jackets and rings too.
Dash+Roo – Although Dash+Roo has a lot of fun home decor, they have the cutest DIY sunglasses option that would be perfect for all year long!

What was your favorite trend for preschool girls? Let me know in the comments.

*If you buy from any linked product, I will get a small commission since I am an Amazon and Zulily affiliate.

DIY Fall Bucket List

Posted on September 1, 2022 by danielleridgway

Happy September everyone!

We’re starting off the month with a fun little DIY that littles can help with too.

Ever since Mila was little, I’ve loved making bucket lists. It’s fun to brainstorm all the fun things you’d like to do for a certain time of year or theme. Since we’re in the “ber” months, I figured we should just start fresh with a fall bucket list. Mila helped come up with different things to add on the list and colored in some of the pumpkins too!

All I did was letter “fall bucket list” and free draw some pumpkins. It didn’t take too long and it was fun to watch Mila create too.

Since she enjoyed coloring in the pumpkins, I thought it’d be fun to color in each pumpkin when we do the activity! This was we can watch our pumpkin patch come to life while we make all the fall memories.

To make this DIY bucket list, we used:

Here’s all the activities we listed for our Fall Bucket List:

Go to a pumpkin patch
Go on a hayride
Jump into a leaf pile
Drink apple cider
Decorate the house
Make caramel apples
Drink PSL
Make a pot of chili
Go apple picking
Go on a fall hike
Bake a pie and eat it
Go through a corn maze
Watch the new Hocus Pocus
Go to a football game
Attend a fall festival
Have a spooky movie night
Make smores
Help with and eat Thanksgiving dinner
Make a gratitude project
Buy fall candles
Carve/paint pumpkins
Go trick or treating
Make memories
Make fall cookies

What fall activities would you add to this list or on your own? Let me know in the comments.

Strawberry Handprint Pot

Posted on May 20, 2022 by danielleridgway

If you love strawberries and want a cute pot to grow them in, you’ll have to make this Strawberry Handprint Pot!

These pots are a great way to watch plants grow, but also perfect for kids to get involved too.

I’ve said it a ton before, but Mila and I are obsessed with plants. We probably have 200 houseplants. Then in the summer, we have fruits, veggies, and herbs. My front porch looks like a jungle.

Last year, strawberries were our favorite to grow. Mila would literally eat them from the plant. It was so fun to check every morning.

To make strawberry picking more fun this year, we made this Strawberry Handprint Pot.

Here’s what you’ll need to make yours:

Green Paint
Red Paint
Black Paint
Pot
Brush
Strawberry Plant
Potting Soil

This handprint art is actually pretty easy to do.

Just paint (or have your kiddo paint) the majority of their hand with red paint. Then the top part with green.

Press firmly on the pot. We were able to get two handprints per paint!

Once it’s dried, add the seeds on to the strawberries. I just made little hearts in black. I thought it looked cute!

When those are dry, plant your strawberry plant and you’re good to grow.

Like all our crafts, I think this turned out so cute. I know this pot will have strawberries in it for years to come!

Looking for more strawberry fun? Check out some of these recipes and crafts we’ve done in the past!

Let me know in the comments which one is your favorite! Or a recipe/craft we should try next.

DIY Bug Catcher

Posted on May 19, 2022 by danielleridgway

If you’re looking for a fun way to get your kids outside and interested in bugs, make this DIY Bug Catcher.

The best part, I reused everything to make this!

Mila is slowly getting interested in bugs. She can tell you all about the butterflies life cycle and can identify different bugs too! Mostly, she’s excited about catching lightening bugs this year.

Even though I know she can, I don’t think she’ll want to use her hands. Cue another light bulb parenting moment…

We decided to make a DIY Bug Catcher so we can see lightening bugs and whatever else she catches. Like I said before, we got to reuse items to make it too!

Here’s all that it took to make this:

Parmesan Cheese Bottle
Stickers
Pipe Cleaner
Googly Eyes
Hot Glue
Tulle

First, take the label off and clean the Parmesan cheese container. I don’t think the bugs would mind the cheesy smell, but it needed washed out.

After, I hot glued tulle on the smaller hole side. This way the bugs can get fresh air!

I then put stickers that said, “Mila’s Bug Catcher” on it. When I was done with that, I let her put whatever stickers on there.

While she was decorating her bug catcher, I made the bug face top. I just used the colored googly eyes Mila told me to use and a pipe cleaner for the antennas. All I did was use a little hot glue and it worked perfectly.

Once you’re finished, twist the lid on and your DIY Bug Catcher is complete!

I’ll make sure to update with our bug catching adventures. Which bugs did you like catching as a kid? Let me know in the comments.

Grey Skies & Rainbow Highs

the stories and adventures of our little family: full of love and loss.

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