10 Constructive Toys for Constructive (and Destructive) Kids

There are toys, and then there are toys! Toys! are really great toys for really great kids. Because keeping the clutter down to a minimum is important at The Simple Home, we tend to limit ourselves to toys!

For a toy to fall into the toys! category and thereby be TSHM-approved (That’s “The Simple Homemaker approved.” Yup, I’ve got my own approval rating system. Sweet, isn’t it?), it must:

offer endless hours of constructive play.
stimulate the imagination or other sometimes sleepy corners of the mind.
be useful for more than one activity. For example, while an electronic race track is totally cool and I love ‘em, all you can do is race, so it doesn’t fit the bill…even though I have one.
not need batteries…ever! No plugs either. Or solar!
offer quiet constructive play possibilities (as well as the loud destructive stuff) so they can play during read-alouds or other times when their quiet presence is required, but they do not need to be still.
be fun for them to play alone.
be fun for me (or siblings, Daddy, uncles, second cousins once removed) to join in, because sometimes little voices ask, “Mama, will you play with me?” and Mama always tries to say, “Of course!”
fit into a tub for easy storage in the garage.

Check out these terrific constructive toys!

My Top 10 Constructive Toys

Magneatos: Magneatos are neato and my children l-o-v-e them! They are giant plastic-encased metal balls and sticks with magnetic ends. That’s it! The rest is up to you…uh, your children, I mean, because they will naturally be the ones playing with them. Ahem. The manufacturer now makes curved Magneatos, which make this fantastic building toy even neato-er. I want some! I mean…the kids…you know.

Magnetix: This small version of Magneatos is also neato. It is, however, a serious choking hazard, as are many great toys for the older set. Nevertheless, it offers unlimited (well, I suppose eventually there would be a limit) options for design and construction.

Wedgits: Ooooo, I get all giddy just thinking about Wedgits! A set of Wedgits will provide you with numerous rhombus shapes as well as a few diamonds for constructing whatever you want. Wedgits cards are also available, which is a fun way to improve a child’s observation and duplication skills. There are many expansion kits, including Wedgits on Wheels, although the wheels are tricky for the younger set, so our Wedgits generally remain stationery…and are then bombed. Wedgits are seriously awesome.

Lincoln Logs: Well, of course! This is the constructive toy of all constructive toys! Build, play, bomb, rebuild. Lincoln Logs offer endless hours of fun! And somehow, it always gets us talking about Abraham Lincoln, so that officially classifies them as educational. Don’t settle for imitations; they don’t mesh well with the real thing.

Tinker Toys: Do you remember these sticks and wheels from when you were a child? The vintage Tinker Toys were smaller and more durable than the current versions, making the new and old sets incompatible. If you have your heart set on the Tinker Toys of your youth, search out some vintage Tinks from Ebay, garage sales, thrift stores, or Freecycle.org. If you’re looking for a new set, keep in mind that the smaller sets stocked on some store shelves are pretty puny, so opt for the bigger sets available online. While I find the modern version inferior to the oldies, my children still have fun with them. We used to make the most awesome space rovers and then, when my grandparents weren’t looking, we would launch them from…oh, never mind.

Legos: Oh boy! Be still my heart! I remember when a bucket of Legos meant a world of imagination. Now, Lego tends more toward (expensive) sets, telling your children how and what to build. If at all possible, find a new or garage sale version of a big ol’ bucket of mismatched Legos and let your child have at ‘em. Later you can move on to the sets, if you like, which, in all honesty, my whole family thinks are totally fun…but we don’t confine ourselves to the directions. Either way, Legos are awesome…during the day. At night, the errant Lego you step on en route to the facility is totally lacking in awesomeness. (Lego.com has a VIP program giving you points for purchasing from them, but I almost invariably find better deals elsewhere.)

Duplos: Legos on steroids. I love Duplos. They don’t hurt as much when you step on them, they are only a choking hazard for a very large and determined dog, and they offer hours of constructive play. My children like them, too, both the bucket o’ blocks and the farm sets.

Blocks: A big bucket of plain old blocks is a miracle waiting to happen. Add a little collection of cars or some people, and you’ve got a world. If your children are still at the throwing-things-at-each-other’s-heads-is-funny stage, opt for soft blocks. (You could also try making your own blocks; TSHM absolves herself of all responsibility if you cut off your fingers!)

Quadrilla: The point of this set of blocks, marbles, and ramps that your children assemble is to get the ball from point A at the top of the set-up to point B, probably the floor. Sound easy? Ha ha! It requires logical thought and sometimes a bit of trial and error (or the instruction booklet). I highly recommend a Quadrilla set to the non-choking-hazard crowd with one stipulation—ignore the manufacturer’s age recommendations. It is absolutely wonderful for the older set, perhaps seven and up, but not necessarily the fours and fives. The littles will love it once it’s set up or enjoy playing with a few pieces, but will easily knock it over and will likely be unable to build the more fascinating set-ups on their own. Some sets are designed for younglings.

Dirt: It’s free, it’s messy, it’s everything a normal, well-adjusted child is drawn to. Just add water and you’ve got dirt’s close cousin, mud, which is a perfect constructive toy—nice and sticky! With a few sticks and a hose, you’ve got an afternoon of fun they’ll remember forever! Dirt can be packaged as a Christmas gift, but I recommend dehydrating mud before wrapping. If you have a lack of dirt, clean less often, or buy some online.

What are your favorite constructive toys?

Coming soon: TSHM-approved Toys! for imaginative play.

TSHM-approved disclosure statement: Some of these links lead to Amazon. You are not obligated to purchase through my Amazon links—how on earth would I enforce that anyway? If you do make a purchase after following these links, I will receive a small commission. You may rest assured that I will not spend it on toys…okay, maybe some Wedgits.

Simple Ways to Decorate With Scripture

You’ve heard the expression “Out of sight, out of mind.” It only follows, then that whatever is in sight is on the mind.

For that reason, we try to keep what is important and what we want our children (and us) to remember in view. In our case, that is Scripture, although we have also used some of these approaches to help the children memorize poems, songs, math facts, and, most recently, their new little sister’s name.

Following are some of the ways we “write Scripture on the doorframes of our houses and on our gates.” From the elaborate to the simple, all keep what is important to us at the forefront of our minds.

Simple Ways to Use Scripture in the Home

The most obvious approach to decorating with Bible verses is using purchased items or gifts, ready to hang or display. Here are two of my favorites:

This plaque I purchased as a reminder to, well, be still, particularly when suffering from worry. It sits on the family desk right next to the computer. ‘Fess up—you know you need to be reminded to “Be still” when the computer acts up!

The set of prints below is from my grandparents and hangs in our bathroom—good reading material for family and guests. (Yup, we put the TP roll on over, not under. It’s the only way to go.)

Homemade gifts are always a joy and more affordable than store-bought. This was a Mother’s Day gift from my husband which probably totaled around $10. (Yes, two children are missing. Don’t tell them. They haven’t noticed yet.)

Other homemade Scripture displays include this “Our Father” by a child who had just learned cursive, and these two pictures we printed off the Internet and framed back when our walls were bare.

Graffiti, while illegal in some places, is not altogether undesirable in this instance. One of my daughters carved a powerful verse in the side of her nightstand, and another wrote meaningful verses and affirmations on the bunk bed slats above her bed.

Dry erase markers for the refrigerator and bathtub crayons for the children’s bathroom allow for verse changes (and similar messages) as life directs. (And, yes, we’re working on that I before E issue. That child’s skills lie in areas other than spelling.)

We have at least eight calendars on display. They are an affordable way to put Scripture on the walls and counters. Whether daily or monthly calendars, the verses are read on a regular basis and are visible in many different rooms in the house (which also helps this space cadet remember which day of the week it is).

Open almost any cupboard or peek at the walls by beds and desks, and you’ll find little reminders of our faith and focus. Here are three, an interior kitchen cupboard, the wall above my son’s bed, and our cookbook cupboard. It ain’t pretty, but it’s always a good reminder.

Labeling the children’s toy buckets with contents and a Scripture verse not only helps them stay more organized, but makes memorization effortless. I like organized. I like effortless.

Sometimes, less is more.

There are moments in life, such as during minor household catastrophes like shattering a glass cooktop, when a simple reminder of the providence of God is appropriate…even written in marker on duct tape. (Yes, that’s a shattered glass cooktop under all that tape. Now there’s a story of God’s providence for you!)

Last, because it deserves a really long drum roll…

If you are blessed to have someone in your life as insanely talented as my mother, perhaps you also have a handcrafted work of art* like this hanging in your home. This is the view from my bed. The verse with dove, hand painted and accented in gold leaf by my mother, has been a buoy during times when I have battled anxiety. It is the perfect last image before closing my eyes at night and a wonderful first reminder to start my day. Thanks, Mom! Love you!

For some great products to help keep Scripture in front of your family’s and guests’ eyes at mealtime, swing over to Scripture Plates.

For a variety of decor and gifts for your home that highlight Scripture, check out Dayspring.

How do you use Scripture in your home?

Linking to Doorposts, where you can find many other ideas for decorating with Scripture.

*original painting copyrighted and image may not be used without permission

Brining Turkey – The Secret to a Juicy Bird

My husband Steve makes an amazing turkey. Juicy, flavorful, beautiful, and with drippings that make the perfect gravy.

The secret is in the brine.

brine [noun]: water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt

Brining turkey can be as simple or complex as you wish it to be. When we first began brining turkey, we used a somewhat involved recipe from Alton Brown’s Good Eats. Over time, we realized that our results are just as wonderful with a far simpler version. Sorry, Mr. Brown–you’re smart, I’m simple, so I win. Somehow that made sense before I typed it.

Print Recipe

Brining Turkey

Ingredients and supplies for brining turkey

5-gallon bucket or other large container with a lid (available at Wal-Mart for $3)
turkey
1 gallon vegetable stock (optional)*
water to cover
ice
1 cup coarse kosher salt
1/2 cup brown sugar (optional)

At the very least, you need ice water, salt, a container, and a bird.

Directions for brining turkey

Combine the salt and sugar in the veggie stock and heat on the stove until everything is dissolved. Cool and chill.
Place the turkey in the turkey tub…the bucket.
Add the stock and then if necessary, add cold water until it covers the turkey. Place the lid on the turkey tub.
If you do not have a snow bank to keep the tub in, make room in the refrigerator. We never have that much room in the frig, so we add ice throughout the day and keep it in the coolest place possible.
Brine for a minimum of six hours. We like to brine for two days. Whatever amount of time you can devote to brining will help your turkey “retain water” and make it juicier.
Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse, and roast as usual.

* To make your own veggie stock for brining, bring a stockpot of water and veggies to a boil. Use either ends and leftovers you’ve frozen over time, or fresh veggies. I like carrots, celery, and onion, but use whatever you have on hand. Simmer for several hours (or as much time as you have). Strain. Lately, I’ve been making my stocks in my Instant Pot (affiliate link) in half the time. Give me a woo and a hoo!

A note on veggie stock:

If you have guests with food issues, such as allergies, sensitivities, Celiac, or Crohn’s, please don’t use store-bought veggie stock. Many of them have ingredients in them that will make the turkey unsafe for your guest. Just use ice water or go through the ridiculously simple process of making your own stock.

A note on making gravy from the drippings:

I recently read that you may not want to brine your bird, because, while it will make the turkey more flavorful and juicy, you will have to pay attention to how much salt you put in the gravy or it may be too salty. Ahem. DUH!

If you brine your turkey and make gravy from the pan drippings, do not add salt to your gravy without first tasting it. Rinsing the bird before roasting helps reduce the salt in the drippings.

A note on other birds:
I use a simple brine on my roasted chickens as well, containing only water and salt. My family can always tell when I skip that step.

Print Recipe

Enjoy your juicy turkey, and have a blessed Thanksgiving, remembering to Whom we owe our thanks.

What are your best turkey tips?

Excalibur Dehydrator Review – The Great Kitchen Multi-Tasker

I love a multi-tasker. Not the burning dinner while accidentally tying a small child’s shoes together and helping a teenager mess up an algebra problem kind of multi-tasker. I love the kind of multi-tasking kitchen tool that can manage numerous tasks with efficiency and style.

One of the great kitchen multi-tasking tools I have is the Excalibur Dehydrator. If this thing did laundry and I were single, I’d marry it. Let me tell you why the Excalibur oozes awesomeness.

The Maven of Multi-tasking

While some dehydrators simply dehydrate, the versatility of the Excalibur raises it to the next level.

Of course, it dehydrates. With the racks in place, the Excalibur can make jerky and other dried goods without all the sweeteners or preservatives in the items you find at the store. The large model can handle up to nine trays of croutons, chips for crisping, soaked nuts, fresh herbs, fruit rolls, grain sprouts, homemade pasta—you name it!

It is also a great tool for crafts. Preserve flowers, dry photographs, make potpourri, and more.

One perk over the competitors is that this monster can handle a large load all at once with little to no attention from you. The fan in the back and the square design of the product help circulate the warm air throughout the unit. This eliminates the need to switch racks repeatedly, or the problem of only partial racks drying. You may still need to do the occasional switch, but it is a minor task.

Wait, there’s more! Due to its removable racks, it can also serve as a warming place for whatever kitchen or craft projects you are undertaking. Two in particular that come to mind are culturing yogurt and holding sourdough at its necessary proofing temperature. With the racks removed, you can fit a huge bowl of sourdough or nine quart-sized mason jars full of soon-to-be yogurt inside. You could even set a pan of water inside and use the unit as a humidifier. I know–I’m in love, too.

Set It, Forget It, You Bet…It

All Excalibur models have temperature gauges that ensure consistent temperatures for the length of the drying period. Some Excalibur models are equipped with timers that can be set to operate up to 26 hours and will automatically shut the unit off after the allotted time. By setting the temperature gauge and timer, even the scatterbrained among us can avoid over-drying.

This simplifies the making of potentially touchy items such as yogurt or sourdough. No more worrying about whether or not the yogurt will maintain the necessary temperature for proper culturing. No more long waits for sourdough to proof in a cold kitchen. Simply set the timer and the temperature and walk away. (Don’t walk away for days if you’re fermenting sourdough. Think “the blob that ate Manhattan.”)

Making Yogurt in the Excalibur Dehydrator Review — Making Yogurt in Our Excalibur

My Positive Take on The Down Side

Appearance: The Excalibur is a big black plastic box, unless you purchase the white version, which is a big white plastic box. That’s it. No pretty dancing flowers, no stainless steel doo-dads, no fancy buttons, no radar to detect space aliens. In fact, it doesn’t look like it should be able to do the fantastic things it does. But looks can be deceiving. This big ol’ box can really cut the mustard…and dehydrate it as well.

Size: When I say it is a big ol’ box, I mean big! The size of the Excalibur may leave people in a small apartment wondering where to put it. This is when it’s time to kick up the creativity. People keep them in bathrooms, on bedroom dressers, and in their garages. We keep ours in the laundry room off the kitchen where it is always accessible for our yogurt making fests. The Excalibur is available in different sizes to accommodate your needs, but I like the monster size, officially known as the 3926T (26T for 26-hour timer).

Volume: Some people complain that the Excalibur is noisy. True, it does emit a steady hum when it’s running, but I personally do not find it to be a problem in the least. Of course, I have six children—who notices a steady hum?!

Durability: Periodically I have read reports of a fan burning out or another technical issue. I have also heard that Excalibur offers great customer service and will do what they can to honor warranties. We have no personal experience in this area. Despite running for batch after batch of yogurt, crispy nuts and seeds, and other goodies, our Excalibur has never had a problem…unlike nearly every other appliance that we own. If you are concerned, there is the option of purchasing a ten-year warranty with your dehydrator, which comes free with some on-site deals. Overall, there is a reason why Excalibur has earned its fantastic reputation.

Cost: The Excalibur is expensive. Period. Think nearly $300. Fortunately, there are options to paying full list price. Online stores such as Amazon often offer some models of the dehydrator at a discount. Excalibur itself often runs sales or deals, such as offering free gifts or an extended warranty with purchase. Different models sell for different prices to accommodate each customer’s needs, some barely breaking $100 in price. Finally, Excalibur often has reconditioned models available on their site at a highly discounted price and still be eligible for warranties.

Extra Products: Some people claim you need to purchase Paraflexx sheets and a dehydrating manual to properly use the Excalibur. Honestly, while you would need some sort of sheet for fruit rolls, we have yet to use the sheets that came free with our unit through an on-site deal. We have also found the enclosed dehydrating guide to be sufficient for our first year with our Excalibur.

If you are interested in moving toward a more natural diet, preserving your own foods, making your own yogurt, or, hey, even drying out your sneakers, the Excalibur is a valuable multi-tasking tool. Now, if only it could fold laundry….

Visit Excalibur to learn more.

Do you have an Excalibur (or other) Dehydrator? What is your favorite way to use it?

Disclosure: If you make a purchase of any sort through the Amazon and Excalibur links on my site, I receive a commission. You certainly do not need to purchase through my links, but my family and I totally appreciate it when you do! Totally! Thank you for reading my Excalibur Dehydrator review.

Homemade Cough Syrup Recipe

I am not a fan of over-the-counter cough syrups, and for good reason. Nevertheless, there are times (like today) when the cacophony of hacks and sniffles demands a little extra attention, and children need relief from coughing so they can get their healing sleep.

Besides the usual rest, immune-builders, and liquids, homemade cough syrup can provide some relief. Many of the old recipes contained whiskey. I can see how that would knock the little ones out for a few hours. This homemade cough syrup recipe which my great grandmother passed down to my mother is alcohol free.

Great Grandma’s Homemade Cough Syrup Recipe

Cough Syrup Ingredients

one cup honey, raw is best
one teaspoon ginger
juice of one lemon

Combine and simmer over very low heat for 15 minutes. Do not overheat, as the raw honey will lose some of its remarkable nutritional and healing benefits. This is also great for sore throats. (If you don’t want to risk overheating, put the honey in after combining and heating the lemon juice and ginger.)

Thanks, Great Grandma!

I also found several homemade cough syrup recipes from bloggers around the web. Here are my top four.

Top Four Homemade Cough Syrup Recipes

The following homemade cough remedies are organized in order of what is most readily available in my pantry. Your pantry staples are probably slightly different than mine, so take a peek at each before deciding on one.

Keeper of the Home: Building on a simple base of raw honey and onion, Stephanie also offers options to enhance the homemade cough remedy with ingredients you may or may not have readily at hand. The options make it suitable for most pantries.

Nourishing Joy: While not quite as simple as Great Grandma’s recipe, Kresha’s homemade cough syrup can easily and quickly be created from items I have readily on hand. If you are an avid do-it-yourselfer in the kitchen, you’ll recognize all the ingredients. Kresha also explains the health benefits of each component in her cough remedy. She also has a recipe for herbal cough crops.

Frugally Sustainable: Andrea’s homemade cough syrup uses fantastic ingredients, not all of which are in the average pantry. She recommends planning ahead, preparing the herbal syrup in advance, and storing it in the refrigerator until the first signs of a cold sneak into your home.

Modern Alternative Mama: I only have three of the six ingredients in Kate’s elderberry and honey cough syrup recipe. Nevertheless, by preparing ahead for the inevitability of the season, you could be stocked up and ready to concoct a batch of this powerhouse against colds. Kate successfully uses this homemade cough remedy for her own family.

To further get through the season healthfully, check out the superb five-week immune-building recipe link-up sponsored by Erin at The Humbled Homemaker, Nikki at Christian Mommy Blogger, Mindy at The Purposed Heart, Anne at Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy, Leigh Ann at Intentional by Grace, and Rachel at Day2Day Joys. The recipes we’ve tried are fantastic!

How do you fight colds at your house?

The Cooktop Saga – A Story of Providence

Sometimes simple living is a mindset, looking at things from a different perspective. Keeping our eyes alert to God’s providence takes the stress out of life…a huge step toward a simpler life. Here is a recent example from our home. Enjoy.

In mid-October, my music man husband was away performing at a church festival across the mountains in Las Vegas. Due to the heat and one child’s health, I was left home with my oldest daughter and the three smallest. The two middles went with Daddy to man (or girl) the CD table.

Those of us who stayed home were quite excited to surprise the others with the amount of work we accomplished while they were away, including cleaning, organizing, and baking two special treats. (We won’t contemplate here why we get such a large amount accomplished when Daddy’s away, but it does offer food for speculation.) When we got the call that they were headed through the mountain pass, we started getting a hot dinner ready for our weary crew.

CRASH!

That was the sound of me—not a small child, not a teenager, but me–complicating life by dropping a cast iron skillet on our glass cooktop. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a glass stovetop shatter, but it is a rather impressive sight. Depressing, surreal in that slow motion sort of way, but impressive.

When I called my man to share the news, he did what any husband would do who has had the kind of “one thing after another” year that we’ve experienced. He laughed.

When my music man arrived home and finished duct-taping the stovetop to keep the glass from further spreading, he shared a few discoveries…not mentioning the obvious–that his graceful bride can be a bull in a china cabinet, which we already knew.

First, he told me that the church where he performed had paid him $100 extra—no explanation, no comment, just $100 extra.

Second, he mentioned that CD buyers who said “Keep the change” had added an extra $20 to the till.

Third, he told me about a five-year-old unused $100 Lowes gift card he had just found in his “just a bunch of stuff” drawer.

Do the math. That’s $220 that we neither had nor needed the day before.

Last, my man checked out the cost of replacement stovetops at Lowes. I don’t need to tell you how much the cheapest stovetop cost, do I?

$220

In the same week I received a $24 rebate and sold an article for $18 and change. That gave us exactly enough money to get the model that was one step up from the cheapest, and would work better for our heavy usage.

When we arrived at Lowes last week, three weeks after our stovetop’s demise, the model we had in mind was marked down to $250. It was a mistake, but the store honored the price anyway.

That left us with just enough money to buy my patient husband a little gift—a new Christmas CD to replace the 15-year-old CD that his graceful wife and charming children play incessantly for three months out of every year and which my husband would have been quite willing to shatter himself if he didn’t love us as much as he does. An unexpected blessing.

“Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

~Matthew 6:8

A Special Offer, Real Food Baby Steps, and our Cookbook Winner

A Special Offer

Our cookbook giveaway has come to a close. My family and I thoroughly enjoyed testing the recipes and reviewing the books. (We’re still testing recipes!) We also had a great time reading all your comments. Thank you to all who participated.

If you did not win (sorry!) and would like a book, you are in luck. Kate at Modern Alternative Mama has offered The Simple Homemaker readers 25% off any or all of her books through November 15. Simply use the code SIMPLE25 at checkout to receive your discount. This makes each book very affordable. (Think Christmas!)

To buy the books, click here.

Real Food Baby Steps

If you are further interested in babystepping your way to better health through real foods, check out this list of baby steps from Erin at The Humbled Homemaker, guest-posting at Modern Alternative Mama. It is a list very much in line with The Simple Homemaker’s Simple Health Philosophy.

Click here to read the baby steps list.

Cookbook Winner

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for!

Wait, did I ever tell you about the time…oh, sorry.

Drum roll please…

Congratulations, Sarah P.! You won all four e-cookbooks with your Facebook share comment. I hope you and your family enjoy your adventure in eating!

(The winner was chosen through Random.org. You may verify it through this link. I am neither tech-savvy or motivated enough to try to rig the system, so all was fair.)

Remember, my dear readers, you have through November 15 to use the code SIMPLE25 to get 25% off any of the books at Modern Alternative Mama.

Click here to buy the books.

Disclosure: This is my affiliate link. I receive a small percentage of each sale. You do not need to use my affiliate link to purchase…but I sure think it’s swell when you do!