Known to her fans as the Kitchen Pantry Scientist, she’s a blogger-scientist-garage band singer who, in her own words, is “culturing more germs than ever” as a mom of three.
We love that her blog encourages parents to open up the pantry and stir up some practical science with their kids. Just watching her demo on how to make Window Sprouts will make you understand why your kitchen can be a lab for a fun and valuable lesson too.
As Liz writes: “Our world has become too sterile and disconnected from nature. Like plants, we need dirt, sunshine, fresh air and clean water to survive. Who cares about a few bugs? So try planting a few bean and pea sprouts in plastic bags to show your kids how sunshine and water can make a plant sprout! Find your inner farmer and let your children find theirs—organic food is cheap when you grow it yourself!”
And besides, who doesn’t love watching a Sprout grow?
I’ve been shopping for a little birthday princess with a wild imagination—the kind of kid who invites an entire kingdom of stuffed animals to her bedroom for tea and crumpets. A gift I knew both she and mom would love caught my eye at Peapods, a St. Paul shop known for its great selection of natural toys. I left with this colorful non-toxic 100% recycled plastic tea set that is even safe enough to serve real food on (”real food” meaning bunny grahams and goldfish crackers).
Okay, so it is more blue with pink flowers, but you get the picture. In place of those tossable brown bags we used to tote to school, a couple of little girls I know take this reusable lunchbox equipped with BPA-free containers from PBKids. I like how the boxes are insulated + can be monogrammed, but there are lots of cute versions out on the market + just about any divided containers you like will do. I’m all for less waste, less cost, + less smooshed food.
Get the most out of that stack of paper plates that someone brought to your last party. Rather than recycling them after one measly meal, this brilliant idea from a brilliant preschool teacher we know will burn off some pent-up steam + keep those plates in perpetual motion. The only piece to this craft project is some tape to strap on your “skates.”
The scene on stage: A snowy day on a city street. The theme: Nature’s magical effect on an urban setting. The entertainment: An ensemble of young actors in colorful street clothes, dancing, singing, and playing in the snow. The audience: Row after row of rapt little kids + their parental companions.
We were at the Stages Theatre Company production of the children’s literary classic The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, and it was delightful. The show suits all ages, is a nice 45 minutes short, and tickets are only $15 a piece.
A certain 3-year-old I know is obsessed with all things fancy + so are her friends. So for her birthday, we indulged the little princesses at the wonderful Waldorf-inspired toy shop Wonderment in Linden Hills, where the girls made their own watercolor crowns bedecked with glitter and faux jewels. Then the newly crowned royalty headed across the street for some very unladylike eating of ice cream cones at Sebastian Joe’s.
To celebrate her comfy kid-and-parent clothing line turning two, Swami Baby owner Katie Holley recently threw a great party at the Warehouse District’s gourmet market Local D’Lish. Check out the yogi cake (left) by St. Paul bakery Sweets Bakeshop (am definitely checking out their new shop this weekend). Besides the sweet treats, the adorable Swami swag screamed holiday baby gift. I snagged the one that says: “Same Diaper, Different Day. I Recycle.”
I kept my word from the last post. When I’m not on the town, I’m home tackling my to-dos — as in what to do about the ever growing recycling bin, etc. So consider this the debut of “homework” — future posts that hit on hammer-and-nail issues. This green dollhouse from Plan Toys, found at Kiddywampus in St. Louis Park, is a source of inspiration. Because even if I can’t afford real solar panels and my own wind turbine, I can pretend, right?
My pack needed a pick-me-up, so I purchased a couple of fun patterned notebooks made out of recycled paper and soy ink in the Target aisles (nice when a big chain makes an effort to save some trees). Their Greenroom Eco line is tresTarjay—high design, low price. Now about that homework…
Every year I find a new favorite at the MN State Fair—and this year it’s not deep fried. The Eco Experience—presented by the Fair and the MN Pollution Control Agency—blew my mind. You won’t believe the Eco House, which generates as much energy as it consumes by employing solar heating, a green roof, and LED lighting. Also love that the fair has generally made a big effort to ramp up recycling and composting. {In 2008, the fair diverted 325 tons of recyclable material from the landfill.} One thing I composted on my way out: a big buttery ear of corn.
