Edible Crawlies for Kids

Earth Day is all about nature, the planet, and all those that inhabit it. Well who says that learning can't be fun... and tasty too! Try some of these adorable snacks with your kids while explaining the importance of respecting nature and all that live around us.

Note: some treats are not pictures, be sure to FC for all the ideas!

To make some of these treats, you may need some of the following ingredients:

graham crackers, crushed
chocolate sprinkles
snack sized resealable plastic bags
celery stalks
peanut butter
raisins
black or chocolate licorice twists
fudge sandwich cookies
chocolate frosting
red cinnamon candies
crunchy chow mein noodles
muenster cheese (or other soft block cheese)
bananas
peanut butter
grapes
chow mein noodles

Visit FamilyCorner.com to try all the Edible Crawlies for Kids and to get a printer friendly version!

How to Create a Paper Bag Floor

I remember the first time I saw this article. When the author submitted it to me I couldn't wait to get it posted on FC. What a cool idea, creating new flooring with paper bags! Home decorating is expensive, even when you do it yourself the materials can cost a fortune. Ask me! I just went through it a year ago!

However, this gorgeous floor is not only frugal, it looks great, you are recycling brown paper bags, and will feel a major sense of accomplishment when finished.

To get started, the tools you will need are:

• Paper bags or a roll of brown Kraft paper from the postal supply aisle (enough to cover your entire floor, with some overlapping)
  
• Gallon of water based polyurethane (I recommend Minwax Polycrylic, or Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane)
  
• Scissors
  
• Old work clothes

Visit FamilyCorner.com for the instructions on How to Create a Paper Bag Floor

Air Drying Clothes Without A Clothesline

Going green doesn't mean spending more money. Earth Day is right around the corner, and we want to help you find ways to not only save money, but also save energy, thus doing your part in saving the environment. 

Clothes dryers can be pretty hard on fabrics. Shrinking, setting in stains, and where do you think all that lint comes from? Yep, it's the fabric being slowly stripped from your clothes.

If you would like to try an alternative to the dryer, but you either don't have a clothesline, you live in an apartment or your homeowners association won't allow clotheslines, here are a few ways to dry without using one.

To read these energy saving and money saving ideas for drying your clothes, visit Air Drying Clothes Without a Clothesline on FamilyCorner.com

Earth Day Eggs

Still have a surplus off eggs from Easter? Whether they are already colored or not, you can make these fun eggs for Earth Day. if your eggs are already dyed, simply run them under luke warm tap water and gently rub off as much dye as you can. This works wonders if you used food coloring, but I cannot vouch for how it works with other dyes. Let us know if you tried it by commenting below!

You will need

hard boiled eggs
blue, green and yellow food coloring
vegetable oil
white vinegar
water
coffee mugs or other containers
3 spoons
paper towels
newspaper or a plastic disposable tablecloth

To get the directions for this fun activity, go to FamilyCorner.com: Earth Day Eggs

See more Earth Day crafts, recipes and ideas at FamilyCorner.com

18 Ways to Reuse Egg Cartons

Recycle and reuse! Earth Day is a little over a week away and I'm sure you have some empty egg cartons leftover from Easter egg dying! Here are several ideas on how to use up those empty cartons instead of putting them into the landfill.

1. Money Container - Use old egg cartons to store your change for garage and yard sales. Egg cartons are good for this because you can separate all the change and it is easy to get to.
   


2. Golf Ball Storage - What a great place to store extra golf balls. Easy to sort by brand and condition and they are stackable so they can be stored neatly.
   


3. Travel Helper - Use them to hold small items like earrings, necklaces, sewing notions, etc; weave needle thru the inside top cover so as not to lose it in your suitcase. Hold it together with a large rubber band.
   


4. Waste Paper Basket - Make wastebaskets from egg cartons. Cut off tops. Then poke holes on the flap that is used to close the carton. Then take ribbon and tie each carton to the next. Takes 8 cartons to make a circle. The plastic bags from Wal-Mart or the grocery store fit into these nicely. Makes a great waste paper basket.
   


5. Craft Helping Hand - When working with small round items, use an egg carton to hold the item while you paint one side, or just as a holder while they dry. It keeps those little round things from rolling away.
   


6. Fire Starters - Fill the cardboard egg cartons with dryer lint, and then pore melted wax over the lint. You can tear apart the sections and use for fire starters when you are camping, or in your fireplace. Use left over candle pieces for the melted wax. 
   

See the rest of these great ideas and get a printable list on FamilyCorner.com

Check out our Earth Day section for crafts, recipes and great ideas

Easter Alert: Stop! Don't Buy That Bunny!

It's a common scene each Easter. Parents take their kids to look at the bunnies in the pet shop and end up buying one on a whim. Then the problems start. The poor animal ends up being caged all day long and fed a poor diet of harmful foods, he or she won't play with the children like a dog will, being naturally timid, and the novelty wears off. Rabbits are especially afraid of being picked up and have unintentionally hurt themselves and small children.

When the bunny reaches sexual maturity, he or she will become aggressive, leave droppings all over the place, and may do embarrassing things to shoes or stuffed toys. Male rabbits even spray their owners with urine. Many people end up dumping the poor animal in a park, where predators and illness lurk, or at an animal shelter where he/she will most likely be euthanized due to the overflow of other unwanted pets.

If you are ever in the mood to have a pet rabbit, tick where your answer is yes to these questions and see if a bunny will be a welcome family member or just another irksome chore.

 __ Are you and your family willing to spend a few hours per day quietly on the floor, gaining your rabbit's confidence?

__ Can you convince your children that the bunny is a fragile living creature with feelings and emotions just like they have?

__ Will you set aside time to find out what your new pet requires for food, shelter, and medical care?

__ Can you provide your rabbit with a quiet and cool, but not damp, place to escape from too much attention?

__ Are you willing to find a rabbit savvy veterinarian for your new furry friend?

__ Will you be willing to provide cardboard boxes and other chewable toys for your bunny's entertainment?

__ Are you willing to "bunny proof" your home by covering up electrical wires and phone cords, putting up chew proof baby gates in doorways, and otherwise preventing your fur-clad companion from gnawing on things like furniture?

__ Are you, or your spouse and children, allergic to hay or pet fur?

__ Will you be willing to spend the money when your rabbit requires neutering/spaying surgery as well as any shots and other vet costs?

If you ticked yes to all these questions, you are a prime candidate for a house rabbit. You'll find that your new companion is an affectionate, clean, humorous, and delightful pet. When you give your bunny loving respect for his/her particular needs, you'll have a loyal heartwarming furry friend for 10 years or longer.

Far from being an unresponsive lump of fur just sitting in a hutch, your house rabbit can develop a remarkable personality which will amaze and enchant both you and your family. Your kids may also learn to be gentle with, and caring about, other animals and perhaps even each other.

Article by Bruce Atchison

Can be found online here

See our entire Easter section here!

Passover Treats to Make

Passover begins on Thursday, April 9th. Try some of these tasty treats to celebrate this year!

Coconut Meringue Macaroons
by Tami Rose

Printable version of this recipe

Passover is a Jewish celebration during which only foods that are kosher are allowed. No foods containing yeast or grains are eaten. This is to commemorate the Israelites who fled quickly into the desert with no time for their breads to rise and were forced to bake the dough into hard crackers in the desert sun.The macaroon is an accepted dessert or snack for Passover. These macaroons are slightly crisp on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. Great for an after-dinner dessert or even a midnight snack.

What You Need

2 Egg Whites
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 2/3 Sweetened Flaked Coconut
2/3 C. Sugar
2" Ice Cream Scoop

What You Do

Beat together egg whites, vanilla, & salt until it forms soft peaks. Slowly add sugar to the mix, and then beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold coconut into the meringue.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Generously grease a baking sheet. Using a 2" ice cream scoop, drop the coconut meringue mixture onto the baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until very lightly browned.

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Sweet Treats to Celebrate Passover