Go Graham Go: Parenting | Recipes | DIY | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews | NC Mom Blog

Some teachers bid their students a fond farewell by wishing them a “Happy Summer” or suggesting that they “Stay cool!” My third-grade teacher ended the school year with these more ominous parting words: “If you don’t work hard over the summer, you’ll get cobwebs in your brain!”

Ack!  I worried that whole summer about what might be forming between my ears, as I spent my mornings riding bikes and afternoons swimming in the pool.  Though somewhere mid-way through my fourth-grade year, I finally realized that forgetting a math fact was not actually a sign of a spider dwelling deep inside my brain, my teacher’s words have stuck with me over the last (gasp!) three decades and I do make an effort as a parent to keep my kids’ brains engaged throughout the school vacation months.



Since I am a firm believer that play is the work of children, I’ve tried to re-frame my teacher’s dire words.  For us, “working hard” translates into playing hard and figuring out fun ways to learn at the same time.   Here are some of our summer favorites:

Would You Like a Glass of Lemonade?
This year, my kids asked me if they could hold a lemonade stand during our neighborhood’s annual 20+ family yard sale.  It turned out to be a huge opportunity for them to learn and practice all sorts of skills—from making correctly-spelled signs to measuring ingredients and counting exact change.  While they were at it, they benefited from a crash course in finance, learning about revenue vs. profit, and on-the-job training in customer service (saying “please” and “thank-you” really does attract extra business!)  Not to mention the added space to their closets, because we sold their outgrown clothes.  The money earned is then used for a back to school shopping trip for their new trendy clothes.

Are We There Yet?
Most vehicles these days come stand-equipped with DVD players, MP3’s, and both cup and snack holders to help keep kids entertained and satisfied on long car trips.  These gadgets are great and I wouldn’t want to live without them, but for our family, drive time has also become game time.  My 4-year old’s top choice is always to play the Alphabet Game, scouring billboards and traffic signs for all the letters of the alphabet, in order.  It’s a race to the letter Z…or a group effort, if we want to let our competitive guards down.  My older daughter loves to do math in her head, so we play a lot of trip-related word problems (e.g. If we have 30 miles left to travel and we’re driving 60 mph, how long until we arrive?)  Our young one even joins in the action with quick math-related drills (What’s 2 + 2?  How many fingers and toes do you have altogether?) 

Pen Pals
Once the road trip to Grandma’s has come and gone, the girls practice skills by crafting thank-you notes.  Spelling counts, as does creativity.  I get out old magazines and glue and have the girls cut pictures, words, and letters to create a story to send to their grandmother about the things they enjoyed most during their visit.  Scissor skills, story-telling, writing, imagination—it’s all there!

Add it Up
Earlier today, my daughter was counting her “Kinz cash” in Webkinz world (an online site where kids have virtual pets, in virtual rooms, doing virtual jobs for virtual money) and wondering if she had enough money to purchase two items of furniture for her pet’s room.  “They are 150 Kinz cash each” she explained.  “I have 500 Kinz cash.  Do I have enough?”  I handed her a pencil, supervised her addition (reminding her to start with the ones column), and let her figure it out herself.  When she happily realized she had adequate funds, she turned to me and actually said, “See, Mama, you really can learn things in Webkinz world!”  

Indeed, the possibilities for learning through play are endless.  Playing hard each day really does keep the cobwebs away and I know my kids are going to head back to school this Fall with clear heads and energized minds! 

This article was brought to you by My Baby Clothes Boutique.  Signe Whitson, the author, is the mom of two young girls as well as a licensed social worker and co-author of The Angry Smile: The Psychology of Passive Aggressive Behavior in Families, Schools and Workplaces. Check out her blog for more great stories and advice on passive aggressive behaviors.

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Benefiber Orange $1 (8/31/10) SS 7/11/10
Benefiber Orange Product $1 (8/31/10) SS 5/23/10
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Ragu 3/$5
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Skippy 3/$5
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Helmann's 2/$6
Lipton Green Tea 2/$6

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Poppycock 2/$5
Redenbacher's 2/$5
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BOGO Sobe

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Downy Liquid $3.99
Cascade $3.99
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10 pack Penway #2 Pencils (9¢)

6 pack Papermate Color Highlighters (19¢)

Penway 1 subject notebook 60-70 sheets or 100 pack Corner office Index Cards 3x5 (29¢)

60/70 sheet Note Book, 100ct Index cards .29

School box .59

Cap erasers // pink erasers / paper clips .29

Pocket folder with prongs 6/$1

Fiskars Scissors .79

Sharpie Marker 2/$1

Scotch Mailer .59

Legal Pad (yellow) 3/$1

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Skin care is so important to me because I have a family full of sensitive skin!  With baby number 2 on his way in a few short weeks, I want to make sure I also provide him with the same sensitive skin care I was able to give and still give Graham. 

We had the opportunity to try out Grandma Minnie's baby care products from VMV Hypoallergenics.  I am so impressed with the size of the full sized products.  Because they are a bit on the pricey side (about $30-$35 a piece), it is nice to see a substantial amount of product!  They come in 9.47 fluid ounce pump bottles that also come with a mini spatula to mix or spoon the ingredients out with.  All of the products are free from all 65 known allergens which makes me feel better.





The Coo & Clean Baby Wash features monolaurin for a gentle antibacterial protection as well as green tea for the antioxidants.  It is easy to pump out a small amount and works great on hair or the body.  The MommyCoddling All-Over Lotion is great to pair with the wash and features an organic virgin coconut oil (awesome for moisturizing naturally).  But, my favorite by far is the Oil's Well Nurturing Do-it-Oil!  Not only is it great for moisturizing extremely dry skin, but it can act as a an "ouchless" cleaning for wounds!  Of course, I haven't used it for this yet, but it says that it is great on cradle cap!  The oil can butter if left out for a while, so make sure to check it and use the spatula if it has buttered.

There are many more products from VMV Hypoallergenics as well as Grandma Minnie's available on the website.  These are the three that I tried and I think that they would make excellent shower gifts!  If you could only choose one I would definitely go with the Oil's Well Nurturing Do-it-Oil!

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I had to share this because we ARE an Ashley Furniture Homestore family.  Not that we have bought a tremendous amount of furniture, but what we have purchased (minus thrift sales and cribs) has been Ashley Furniture.  Why?  Because the price is right for our family and there is a huge selection.  That's why I really wanted to share with you all what they are doing for City of Hope.


City of Hope is a research and treatment facility for cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases.  Ashley Furniture has already donated $4 million dollars to this charity and is hoping to raise even more funds with your help.  For every like that the new Ashley Furniture Homestore Facebook Fan Page receives in the first two months, $0.25 will be donated to the charity up to $10K.

For me, it was an easy way to help out since I am already a literal fan of Ashley Furniture.  Make sure to check them out on Twitter as well.


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Nothing beats ice cream in the summer time, especially when you are 8 months pregnant!  With the indigestion I have with pregnancy, I basically live off of ice cream and milk!  That's why it is also nice to find an option that is only 130 calories and 6 grams of fat!  Yum and less guilt!



We had the opportunity to try out the new Breyers Smooth and Dreamy Ice Cream Bars and Sandwiches and I am here to tell you that they still taste like you are eating something bad for you (which is a good thing)!  I tried the Triple Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bars as well as the Vanilla Fudge Brownie Sandwiches.  I think that my husband ate one and Graham received NONE!  I'm not to proud to tell you that I could easily down about 2 a day!



I have also been intrigued by some of the recipes at the Breyers Smooth and Dreamy website.  How cute are these Mint Chip Spiders?!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Breyers and received products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.  And yes, I really did eat ALL of the ice cream except for one!


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I have loved every single Burt's Bees product I have ever tried.  I actually used only Burt's Bees products when I was pregnant with Graham because they were so natural.  I wanted to make sure everything I put on my skin was safe for a growing baby.  After he was born I continued to use their products on his sensitive skin.



I recently found a new obsession from Burt's Bees!  The Coconut Foot Creme is amazing!  Not only has it been great for my less than attractive dry feet this summer (my husband thanks you Burt's Bees), but it has also been great for my ever growing baby belly!  If you have ever been pregnant, you may remember how itchy your belly can become from the stretching (or maybe that is just be because I carry Gargantua sized babies).  I picked this up the other day and read the ingredients as well as the fact that it has Vitamin E and thought, "Why not use this for my belly"?  It has been working wonders!  The stretch marks that I had have even faded a little.  Now, will this prevent stretch marks...probably not (definitely not according to my OB).  Stretch marks are just genetic unfortunately.  But, it has relieved the dry, stretchy feeling and makes me feel better.

You can purchase Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme for your feet or belly for about $9!  Yes, sounds pricey at first, but remember a little dab will do you and it is 98.6 % natural!

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This product was provided free of charge by Burt's Bees. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

In my opinion, the hit movie of the year for kids is Toy Story 3!  Graham absolutely loved the movie (and loves all of the previous ones as well).  I'm pretty sure that at the end of the movie there wasn't a dry eye in the theater.  Graham is already asking to see the movie again.



We started seeing the Toy Story 3 toys in the stores several weeks back and Graham was excited once again.  He was most interested in the Action Links sets.  We were sent two of the Action Links sets to review.  Graham has been having fun setting them up and watching the chain reactions.  The Buzz Saves the Train stunt set paired with the Jessie to the Rescue stunt set makes a great pair for train lovers!  Both of these retail for about $14.99 a piece which makes them a great gift idea under $20! (And perfect for those on a budget).






Some great stocking stuffer ideas (I know we are far away from Christmas, but you know that these are going to be a popular gift idea) are the Action Figures.  There are 6 inch figures that retail for about $7.99 or 2 inch figures in a two pack that retail for about $6.99.


I never thought that I would be the mom that would let licensed character material into my home, but when there is a movie as cute as this one and a child who loves it so much, I find myself more and more attracted to the idea (on a minimal basis that is)!

This product was provided free of charge by Mattel. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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Rock it Chalkboard Wall Poster (RV $80) {8/11}
A Light in the Night Book and Glowing Creature {8/10}
ShooShoos Giveaway {8/9}
(5) Avon's Bali Bliss Beaded Earrings {8/5}
Seattle's Best Coffee Toddy and Coffee {8/4}
(2) Don't Blink Scrapbooking Class {8/3}
$100 Sports Authority Gift Card {8/2}
The OrganWise Guys Summer Fun Kit {7/30}





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Having trouble coming up with a gift idea for that special child in your life? Looking for something different and unique? Look no further!Craft-A-Grams are craft packages for kids ages 5 and up. Each package comes in an "eco-friendly craft sack" and includes 3 different crafts for kids. Each craft package is different, and geared toward a specific age group. For instance, a child age 5 may have a craft to paint, where the craft for a child age 9 may require some sewing or construction. You pick the craft set you'd like to send and it is delivered right to the their door!

We were sent the Dino Dude Package to review. The Dino Dude package is geared toward boys age 5-7. I initially thought I'd use this solely for my 6 year old son, but quickly realized my other 2 children would want to be involved as well.

My kids were excited the minute they saw the packaging... A backpack! They had no idea what was in the backpack, but the backpack alone was enough to get them excited! I actually love the backpack too. It's wonderful that the gift was sent in something that can be reused.
When we opened the backpack and saw what was inside, my kids were really thrilled! I couldn't get the crafts out of the packaging fast enough for them. Inside our bag we got 3 crafts; A T-Rex sticky mosaic kit, a dinosaur pencil holder kit, and a mould and paint dinosaur kit.My 6 year old grabbed for the sticky mosaic kit immediately. It was the perfect craft for a boy his age, and I was glad he chose it before my other 2 kids (who are 4 and 2 years old). Initially he was frustrated with how small the mosaic squares were, but it took him all of 2 minutes to get it figured out and really start to enjoy the craft. The picture began to come together with each color square he placed and he got more and more excited. On more than one occasion he said, "Mom, this is SO cool!", and also asked if there were more sticky pictures he could do.While I mixed the plaster for the mould kit and waited for them to set up, I got my 2 and 4 year old started on painting the dinosaur pencil holder kit. They cooperated beautifully, and in no time the pencil holder was complete.After the other crafts were completed I got them started on choosing and painting the plaster dinosaurs. I loved that there were enough for each of them to do 2 dinosaurs, however, the dinosaurs were pretty small and the details were difficult to see. Even my 6 year old wasn't able to paint them as detailed as he would have liked because they were just so small. However, they still loved painting them and they turned out adorable!
Overall I found these crafts perfectly suited for my kids, especially my 6 year old. They loved all of these crafts and were ready for more! I know they would love to receive these as a birthday gift, Christmas gift, or just a fun, special activity to do anytime. And with packages starting at $24.99 with free shipping to anywhere in the Continental US, it makes it an affordable gift idea as well!

Head over and check out all of the craft packages available at Craft-A-Gram. Find that perfect gift for the special child in your life! And if you'll be planning a party soon, be sure and check out the Party Packages available too!

This product was provided free of charge by Craft-A-Gram. These are Alesha's honest opinions on the product. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

Alesha was born and raised in Arizona, where she currently resides. She was married in 2003 to her wonderful husband, and God has blessed them with 3 beautiful children with one on the way. She is blessed to be able to stay at home with them, and has recently begun homeschooling.

Alesha has devoted her life to the Lord, and lives daily for Him. She is very involved with her church, including volunteering as a Jr. Youth Group leader and as a Bible School craft teacher. She also sings in the choir and writes the news for the church newsletter. You can find her at The Jacobsen Family or on twitter @JacobsenFamily.

This product was provided free of charge by Craft-A-Gram. These are Alesha's honest opinions on the product. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

Because I work for a public school system, this promotion is near and dear to my heart.  We have lost so much over the past two years in terms of teachers, support staff, programs, and more and there is just no room for extras.  Most teachers are relying upon grants for extras in their classrooms or just buying the things they need themselves on already limited incomes.  We've been told that the worst is yet to come!




I love it when a large company decides to step up to the challenge and help out schools and students in need.  Charter is starting up their laptop-a-day giveaway program where they are giving away 50 laptops to 2 different schools.  If you nominate a school by August 12th, tell your family and friends to vote for the school between August 16th - September 20th.  The two winners will be announced on September 27th.

You can also register to win a laptop for yourself by either ordering Charter service (receive $300 cash back) or by registering for the sweepstakes with no purchase necessary.  Make sure to "Like" Charter on Facebook to share this with your friends and spread the word about helping deserving schools!



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Graham has been having a blast with the V.Reader!  Today he received The Little Engine That Could which absolutely made his day (one of his favorite books).  This games are great for the younger crowd in my opinion.  They are much easier for Graham and it is nice because he is familiar with the story.








I am participating in a blog campaign with VTech and The Motherhood.  I am excited about this campaign because I such a huge advocate for helping kids learn and love to read!  

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One of the reasons I created this site was to share my unique finds for babies and gift ideas!  I love to be able to decorate with and offer gifts that are out of the norm!  It is so much fun to see people intrigued by personalized and well thought out gift ideas.

I wanted to be able to add some personal touches to our new little guy's room.  With Graham we went for a beautiful map art print that featured jungle animals and a gorgeous map!  We purchased an inexpensive frame from Michael's and had the perfect center piece for his room.  Davis's room had a huge wall that was completely blank above his dresser/changing center.  I knew that I was going to have to be more creative with his room because of all of the blank canvas!  When I stumbled upon BabyBox.com I was completely impressed with the variety of items they offer that are unique and out of the ordinary.  I found an adorable rocket with planets and stars wall sticker that was perfect!



The Rock It Chalkboard Wall Poster is unlike anything I have ever seen!  Not only is it perfect for our theme, but it is huge, customizable, easily removed and reapplied to the wall, and is a chalkboard!  After Davis is born I am going to have visitors leave their names on his wall with a message to him for a special touch.  My husband and I had a wonderful time placing the rocket as well as the stars and planets all over the wall.  It was a "blast" to see our creation "take off"!

I know that this will be enjoyed by both Davis and Graham as the years pass.  We can easily move it down so that they can access it when Davis is older.  I also have several planets and stars left over that I can use throughout his room.  The Rock It Chalkboard Wall Poster retails for $80. Each kit includes one chalkboard rocket with fire (4'5" tall), 20 stars ranging from 3-6", 32 planets ranging from 2-7" and 9 comets ranging from 5-10". Chalk is included.



This product was provided free of charge by BabyBox.com. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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Last week I asked readers to please submit their best tips for encouraging kids to read.  The response was overwhelming and there were some really great tips!  Check out The Ultimate Tip List for Encouraging Kids to Read that was created by all of the tips participating bloggers received.  There are some great ideas!



Here were my top 5 reader tips:

4. Jen said...
July 19, 2010 5:29 PM

My daughter loves to "read" - she'll be 3 in October so she doesn't quite know the words yet but we've started sight words. She gets excited when she knows something so I go out of my way to praise her when she does figure something out. She also loves to "read" to her 8 month old brother. So when we read together it's helping her and him at the same time. We have tons of books, go to story hour at the library and book store (many bookstores like Barnes and Nobles and Borders have free story hours with a story, activity and snack!), and always encourage new books as gifts/treats.

13. Stephanie said...
July 19, 2010 9:44 PM

We have kids different ages so with family reading nights each child is the "leader" and picks the book (or chapter) to read that night as a group before individual reading time for the older kids and one more book read to the youngest. We also take them to the library every weekend to check out new titles to keep the excitement level high. Furthermore, we particiapte in 3 local libraries reading times and related projects each week. In our current Internet driven world it is very important to teach our children about reading books and just how rewarding and educational that process can be.
tvollowitz at aol dot com

30. Mel4Him said...
July 20, 2010 5:40 AM

I think one of the best tips to get your child to read this summer is to surround them with the books they love. The library or book store are great places to begin. Also keep your eye out for any type of kids reading events, contests, etc. and get involved. Or create something of your own like a Summer Book Party. Invite over some of your child's friends and some of there favorite books, along with games that incorporate reading, food, a few other party surprises and there you go.

81. mommalovesmee said...
July 20, 2010 2:15 PM

Quiz and reward:- We have Quiz night, where we read books to our son and ask him questions and reward him for the answers he give(we give him dollars which can only be spent for buying new books for donation).

Getting into the characters of the story:- We usually plan this for weekends. I help my son to make colorful hats for all of us and we all pick a character of the story and read our lines(enact). Give award(made of paper)to our son for encouraging and showing him that he is doing great.

Counting while reading:- Every night before bedtime we read books. We always count pages while reading books. Kids get excited to do this because they like showing off to everyone the number of pages they read.

Reading time with friends and cousins:-
Here, we invite our son's friends and cousins of his age for reading time. Everybody gets a chance to read their favorite book and at the end we give all of them an ice cream treat. Kids really enjoy this.

205. Melissa said...
July 22, 2010 10:19 AM

I think number one it is important to let them pick what they want to read. Even if it is magazines and comic books it still engages them in reading. I also think that setting aside time everyday where they can be alone, comfortable, in a quiet place where they can read is important. Nothing to distract them. Lastly don't push too hard. Set time limits that your child can meet and then if the want to keep reading let them. Kids who can't sit still may need to break up reading times. Such as read for 15 minutes take a break then come back for another 15. Talk to them about what they are reading. They will retain it better and become more engaged in it.

VTech reviewed my top 5 picks and selected one to be added to the list from the other bloggers participating to be in the running to win the grand prize:  VTech V.Reader and three animated storybook cartridges (worth over $110!).  And the reader whose name will go in the running is:

My niece inspired this particular creation (as well as an awesome cook book called Pink Ponies Cookbook).  She told her mother this year she wanted to have a rainbow birthday party.  I know that Rainbow Brite is also starting to be a popular birthday theme.  Here is how you can make your own Rainbow Lollipops or Suckers.  It is easy and fun!







What you will need:

• Original Jolly Ranchers
• 12 Lollipop sticks
• Aluminum foil
• 2 Cookie Sheets
• Cooking Spray

Instructions: 
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.  Separate your Jolly Ranchers by flavor into plastic ziplock bags. Add another ziplock bag to the outside of each.  Use a rolling pin or mallet to bust the Jolly Rancher candies into small pieces.  Line the cookie sheets with aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.  Add various colors in a circle touching (equaling about 3 Jolly Ranchers).  Space the circles about 3-4 inches apart (makes about 12 lollipops).  Melt in the oven for about 5 minutes.  Pull the lollipops out and press the lollipop sticks into the candy immediately.  Let them cool for about 30 minutes then remove gently from the foil.  You can cover them in plastic wrap and pass them out as favors!


The cookbook was provided free of charge by Gibbs Smith Publisher.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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There is nothing more frightening to Graham right now than Thunderstorms!  Lately, all of the thunderstorms seem to be coming either at bed time or nap time.  We are always very honest with him about what the thunder is and try to explain it in an easy way.  This helps, but sometimes he just wants a light for comfort.



The makers of Elf on the Shelf have come out with a new book and toy combination that is geared just for helping ease night time fears.  A Light in the Night is an adorable board book that features a sweet story about how the Light in the Night creature can be there when a child is scared.  Along with the book comes the matching plush doll that has a glowing belly!  You can also print off a Certificate of Bravery for your child.  It is adorable!



We were sent the green Light in the Night creature as well as the book.  It is adorable to check on Graham in the middle of the night and see that glowing green light under his face.  My husband always holds his breath as he presses the light to turn it off (Graham hasn't woken up yet)!  Graham calls his Light in the Night toy his "animal".  It looks like a cross between a frog and a monkey and has a very friendly appearance.  The light on the doll offers enough light for Graham to read his books at night, but not make the entire room glow.  Just press A Light in the Night's belly and the soft glow is emitted.  Press his tummy again to turn the light off. I wish I had some shots of Graham sleeping with A Light in the Night, but we were afraid the flash would scare him out of sleep!

The A Light in the Night set retails for about $34.95 and comes in either green, blue or pink!  What a great idea for a birthday or for a special reward after a thunderstorm.  Check out the games, printables, and other fun features at the A Light in the Night website.

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As school gets closer, many parents are thinking about buying school supplies. Pencils, markers, and notebooks are a given, but what about the book bag? This year, instead of spending money on a new book bag, make one instead. With a little sewing, you can turn an ordinary tank top into a fabulous tote bag that your child will love.  Not to mention the benefits of recycling those old toddler clothes.


Begin with a basic tank top. You can choose one that your child loves but has outgrown, or shop around for one that has a great pattern and print. Choosing a used tank top is a good way to both save money and reuse something that might otherwise go into the trash. Choose a tank top that has wide straps rather than thin, spaghetti strap tops. These shoulder straps will become the handles that your child carries it with.

Turn the tank top inside out and lay it flat across a table. Pin the bottom of the tank top shut, at least 1/4 inch above the bottom hem. This is where you are going to sew across the make the bottom of the bag. Sew a double hem to make sure the bottom is secured by sewing across where you pinned twice. You may want to add a second row of stitching slightly below to make sure it is secure.








To make the bag more tote like, you will need to create gussets at the corners. Keeping the tank top laying flat, sew at a right angle across the outer corners. This gives the bag more of a flat bottom when in use, making it easier to carry books and other items in.

Turn the tank top right side out and viola! It is now a fun tote bag that your child can use to carry things to and from school. You can decorate a plain bag by sewing on patches, buttons, ribbons, lace, and anything else that you can think of.

This project is so simple, you may find yourself creating bags from all of your outgrown tank tops. You can create one for each outfit!  You could even use it as a simple diaper bag.