Eco Projects for Kids Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Chrysa.  Congrats!

I recently participated in an online briefing with Dave Lettero and Heidi Eggert from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), and several prominent bloggers to discuss how we can all reduce our carbon footprint.  Traditionally, fossil fuel is how we obtain most of the energy in our country but BEF is working to change that by helping companies become better environmental stewards.  The highlight of the briefing was learning how to create a solar oven and a solar cell.  Both of these activities can be completed by children (with adult assistance and supervision).  The solar oven project is geared towards younger children, while the solar cell project is geared towards older children.  I have included both activities below in case you’d like to try them out with your children:

Activity: Solar Oven
OVERVIEW: This is a two-part activity. In Part I students work with the Sun Oven to cook food and purify water using solar energy. In Part II students make their own solar ovens using common household materials.
GOAL: Students learn the basic principles of solar-thermal and passive-solar heating.
TIME FOR PART I: 30 minutes to 1 hour
TIME FOR PART II: 2-3 1-hour class periods
SETTInG FOR PART I: Outside on a sunny day.
SETTInG FOR PART II: Classroom for oven construction and outside on a sunny day for testing ovens and cooking.
MATERIALS FOR PART I: The Sun Oven and Sun Oven manual are in your science kit. You’ll also need a pot to hold water, water, and food to warm up in the oven (e.g., 1-2 student lunches).
MATERIALS FOR PART II: Pizza boxes, tin foil, clear plastic wrap, tape, black construction paper, a stick (for propping the oven open), thermometer, and food to cook in the oven (e.g., bread with cheese).

Solar Oven Instructions
PART I: Use the Sun Oven and the Sun Oven manual to cook food and pasteurize water in the oven. The oven has a built-in temperature gauge so the process can be monitored.
PART II: Construct homemade solar ovens. Depending on class size, students can work in groups of three to five.
1. Use a box knife or sharp scissors to cut a flap in the lid of the pizza box. Cut along three sides, leaving about an inch between the sides of the flap and the edges of the lid. Fold the flap out so that it stands up when the box lid is closed. Cover the inner side of the flap with aluminum foil so that the rays from the sun will be reflected off.
2. Use clear plastic wrap to create an airtight window for sunlight to enter into the box. Do this by opening the box and taping a double layer of plastic wrap over the opening you made when you cut the flap in the lid. Leave about an inch of plastic overlap around the sides and tape each side down securely, sealing out air.
3. Line the bottom of the box with aluminum foil to reflect heat and then cover that with black construction paper (black absorbs heat).
4. Now your oven is ready to try out! Take it outside to a sunny spot and adjust the flap until the most sunlight possible is reflecting off the aluminum foil and onto the plastic-covered window. Use a stick or a dowel to prop the flap at the right angle.
Pizza-box solar ovens will reach about 200 °C on a sunny day, so they take longer to heat things up than a conventional oven does. Try melting mozzarella cheese over toast with basil and tomatoes, warming leftovers for lunch, or experimenting with any other food you can think of ideas for.

To build a more advanced homemade oven, visit the Solar Cooking Archives online (http://solarcooking.org/).

Activity: Create a Solar Cell

OVERVIEW: In this two-part demonstration, a sheet of copper flashing is transformed into a semiconductor to demonstrate the photovoltaic principle.

GOAL: Students learn that semiconductors can be used to generate current and are introduced to the photovoltaic principle.

TIME FoR PART I: 1 hour to cooker copper flashing and 20 minutes for the flashing to cool
TIME FoR PART II: 30 minutes for class demonstration and discussion
The steps can take place during two class periods, or Part I could be done before class.
SETTInG FoR PART I: Kitchen or science lab with a burner to cook copper flashing.
SETTInG FoR PART I: Outside on a sunny day to perform demonstration.
MATERIALS FoR PART I: 2 pieces of 4 x 4 copper flashing (in science kit), scissors, sandpaper or wire brush, mental tongs, and a stove or single burner.
MATERIALS FoR PART II: Plastic container (3-liter bottle with the top cut off), multimeter (in science kit), alligator clips, and saltwater.

Create a Solar Cell
Background:
The cuprous oxide created during the cooking process turns an ordinary piece of copper into a type of material called a semiconductor. A semiconductor is in between a conductor and an insulator. In a conductor electricity can flow freely. In an insulator electrons are bound tightly to their atoms and do not flow freely. In a semiconductor there is a gap (called a bandgap) between the electrons that are bound tightly to the atom and the electrons that are farther from the atom which can move freely and conduct electricity. Electrons cannot stay inside the bandgap. An electron cannot gain just a little bit of energy and move away from the atom’s nucleus into the bandgap. An electron must gain enough energy to move farther away from the nucleus, outside of the bandgap. Similarly, an electron outside the bandgap cannot lose a little bit of energy and fall just a little bit closer to the nucleus. It must lose enough energy to fall past the bandgap into the area where electrons are allowed.
When sunlight hits the electrons in the cuprous oxide, some of the electrons gain enough energy from the sunlight to jump past the bandgap and become free to conduct electricity. The free electrons move into the saltwater, then into the clean copper plate, into the wire, through the meter, and back to the cuprous oxide plate.
To Create a Solar Cell:
1. Prepare the Copper: Wash your hands so they don’t have any grease or oil on them. Use metal sheers or strong scissors to cut a piece of the copper sheeting roughly 6 x 6 inches, about the size of the small burner on a stove. Then wash the copper sheet with soap or cleanser to get any oil or grease off of it. Use sandpaper or wire brush to thoroughly clean the copper sheeting so that any sulfide or other light corrosion is removed.
2.  Turn Copper into Cuprous oxide: Place the cleaned and dried copper sheet on the burner and turn the burner to its highest setting. As the copper starts to heat up, oxidation patterns will begin to form. Oranges, purples, and reds will begin to cover the copper sheeting. As the copper gets hotter, the colors are replaced
with a black coating of cupric oxide. This is not the oxide we want, but it will flake off later, showing the
reds, oranges, pinks, and purples of the cuprous oxide layer underneath. The last bits of color disappear as the burner starts to glow red. When the burner is glowing red-hot, the sheet of copper will be coated with a black cupric oxide coat. Let it cook for a half hour until the black coating is thick. This is important because a thick coating will flake off nicely, while a thin coat will stay stuck to the copper. Use tongs to remove the copper sheet form the heat and place it in a sink to cool. As the copper sheeting cools, it will shrink. The black cupric oxide now covering the surface also shrinks, but at a different rate than the copper beneath. Black flakes of cupric oxide will pop off the copper with enough force to make them fly into the air. When the copper has cooled to room temperature (about 20 minutes), most of the black oxide will be gone. Rub the sheet lightly with your hands and run it under water to remove most of the remaining black oxide. You do not need to remove all of the black spots, as doing so might damage the delicate red cuprous oxide layer, which is needed to make
the solar cell function. Carefully bend the two pieces of copper (one that you cooked in Step 2 and one that has not been cooked) and fit them in the plastic container so that they do not touch each other. The cooked copper should have the reddest side facing out towards the sun. Set your multimeter to provide readings in mil-
livolts. When the sun shines on your solar cell, you will begin to generate power. In the photo to the right the solar cell is generating 81.6 millivolts. Notice that if you block the sunlight striking the container the voltage quickly decreases
3. Assemble the Solar Cell: Fill the container with hot tap water so that a top portion of both pieces of copper will remain dry. Mix about two tablespoons of salt into the container, and stir the water until all the salt is dissolved.
4. Monitor the Solar Cell: Connect the cuprous oxide to the positive (red) lead of the multimeter, and connect the clean copper sheet to the negative (black) lead of the meter.
5. Now move your container out of the sun light. Notice that the solar cell still generates an electrical charge even in darker conditions.

If you’d like more information on how to shrink your carbon footprint, check out BEF’s site, Shrink Your Foot.  This interactive site has tips/tools on how to reduce your carbon footprint.

Win It! One of you will win a Solar Car Kit.  Simply head on over to Shrink Your Foot.  Come back here and leave me a comment with something you learned.  Comments will close on June 14, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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Father’s Day 2009: Professional Dad

Duck Bill Money Clip: With it’s revolutionary Quad Bend Bite, the Duck Bill Money Clip engineered in the U. S. A. to keep your cash, plastic, and “stuff” securely gathered. Choose freehand engraving for that truly unique and personalized touch. Available in polished and matte finishes. Retails for $36-$46.	EyeBuyDirect.com the world’s leading online optical retailer offering full prescription eyeglasses for as little as $7.95. Their vision is “to empower vision for anyone, anywhere”. Forbes magazine recently dubbed EyeBuyDirect as “an efficient and easy-to-use prescription eyeglasses site, that provides fashionable, quality eyeglass frames and prescription lenses starting at only $7.95; significantly lower than the leading eyeglass chains.”
Personalized keepsake box by SnapFish This personalized keepsake jewelry box makes giving a thoughtful and elegant gift easy. Made of richly-stained wood, the personalized jewelry box measures 5½” square by 2¼” deep. Your photo appears on a glossy, ceramic tile measuring 4½” square.	Golf & Wine Legends: The perfect collection for wine and golf lovers. Three premium wines from legendary golfers and wine enthusiasts Arnold Palmer, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo paired with a sleeve of three golf balls. Wine.com’s mission is to become the trusted resource for the wine enthusiast, whether shopping for yourself or sending a gift. They strive to offer you a great selection, low prices, convenient delivery and information that helps you enjoy wine with confidence.
Autism Speaks the world’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, is offering a variety of products in various price points whose proceeds help raise money for autism research. No matter what his style, Autism Speaks has a gift for every type of dad out there.	Knock Knock Stuff, an innovative, independent and irreverent Venice, CA-based novelty + gift design company, has a whole slew of funny, slightly inappropriate paper goods that will make the dads & grads in your life chuckle. All priced below $25, these graphically compelling and well-designed ditties won’t break the bank.

Father’s Day 2009: Outdoors Dad

The Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox was created by Chris Hartsfield as a fun and lighthearted way to celebrate fatherhood while acknowledging the vital role they play. While the Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox was meant to elicit laughs, it also equips new dads with tools they can actually use (even if it’s not on the baby!). Retails for $34.99.

Camping Survival Kit: Camping is an affordable vacation option for family bonding. For as little as $10 a night, a family can camp out at one of several National Parks. To help that dad in your life get started, he’ll need a portable cooler to keep snacks cold in the summer heat, a water bottle to quench his thirst, a compass to keep his family on the right track, and a lantern flashlight to help light the way. Approx Retail Value $50.

Father’s Day 2009: Sporty Dad

KLEINERT’S: With everything from convenient one-use disposables to undershirts to polo shirts to denim weekend wear and t-shirts, the Kleinert’s® products wear well, look great and can be worn everywhere. Kleinert’s® dress shirts, casual wear and active wear are treated with Fabrapel®/Dry Defense- a treatment exclusive to Kleinert’s® that is a hypoallergenic patented finish which makes fabric water repellant, stain repellant and inhibits bacterial growth while eliminating heat and odors. Far superior to other products on the market, Kleinert’s® fashion combines style and functionality into one thoughtful present. This Father’s Day, dress dad in a style he’ll really appreciate and keep him looking as cool as he feels!

Father’s Day 2009: Tech Dad

JVC Everio GZ-MG630 - Ultra-compact HDD/microSD hybrid Everio featuring 60GB HDD for up to 75 hours of recording, with KONICA MINOLTA LENS, 40x dynamic zoom, Laser Touch Operation, and convenient “One Touch” buttons for easy sharing and carrying. All 2009 Everios make sharing and watching videos easier than ever. New for this year is the One Touch Export function that allows Everio videos to be imported into iTunes and loaded into an iPod or iPhone. All 2009 Everios also offer One Touch DVD burning and the One Touch Upload function that JVC introduced to users in 2008 as a new and convenient way to upload videos to YouTube.	Insignia GPS Personal Navigation from BestBuy : Travel on road trips with ease with the new 3.5” Insignia™ GPS Personal Navigation Device. If you take a wrong turn, this system automatically recalculates a new route to get you to your destination. It also lets you hit the road with two-way Internet connectivity to deliver the latest real-time traffic reports. Sending addresses directly to your device from Google Maps is a cinch with the Insignia GPS navigation system.
Vat 19 Fogless Shower Mirror: If you’re in the market for something fun, stylish, and functional this Father’s Day, check out the Z850 Fogless Shower Mirror at Vat 19. This is a must-have for any man who enjoys a close, comfortable shave. The steam and humidity of the shower make it the most ideal place to shave. And with the Zadro fog free shaving mirror, shaving in the shower will forever be quick and easy.	Flip Ultra: With the brand new version just recently launched, dads will find it easier to shoot and share videos of their family. The Flip Ultra camcorder offers 120 minutes of record time so he’ll never miss a moment. It’s easy to use, portable, and affordable at only $149.99.
Living in HD: LiHD is a community for digital video, photography and HDTV enthusiasts seeking and sharing peer-to-peer knowledge to improve their digital life. LiHD is powered by people who have answers with those who have questions, and unlike sales people who tend to be biased, the LiHD community members are all about sharing and helping each other learn and grow. Panasonic’s SD memory cards start at 1 GB which means he’ll have plenty of storage space for files, pictures, and more.	Nintendo has just launched two new games, New Play Control! Pikmin and New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis. New Play Control! Pikmin: Life under a microscope fantasy world, Pikmin delivers a unique experience like few before it with a blend of real-time strategy, adventure, and puzzle elements. You control Captain Olimar, a lovable little astronaut, who crash-landed on a planet inhabited by even more lovable little plant creatures known as Pikmin. Olimar can command these creatures RTS-style, assign them tasks, make them attack foes, and gather resources. The ultimate task is to rebuild Olimar’s space ship before a 30-day time window elapses. Command lovable little creatures RTS-style Rebuild Olimar’s space ship before a 30-day time window elapses.

New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis: Step out on to the court and get ready for tennis like you’ve never experienced it before as Mario and friends serve up sporty fun with a Mario-style twist. In New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis, the Nintendo GameCube hit is back with exciting Wii controls and a dazzling widescreen presentation. Pick up your Wii Remote and get ready to practice your swing with Mario and the gang as they take you on an unforgettable tour of the wackier side of tennis.

Absent

Yes..I’ve been a little absent.  It’s not because I’ve wanted to. It’s because this tiny, jelly-bean sized baby is taking everything I have.  Morning sickness has become all day sickness.  Rather than bore you with the details, just know that I’m working as hard as I can to keep in touch with all of you.  I read each and every one of your comments and emails.  I cried when I read  your comments after announcing my pregnancy.  I seem to cry at everything these days.  I sit here, so thankful for women…for moms…for community….

As I sit here, in my pajamas, trying to force myself to get up to eat something….anything, I’m reminded of how human I really am.  I used to be told I was an excellent multi-tasker.  “How do you do it all?”, people would ask me when I told them I worked as a nurse and took care of a home and a toddler and blogged and everything else in between.  Well, I’m slowing down, out of necessity, not out of desire.  I anxiously wait for the arrival of the second trimester when the fatigue and nausea and sickness become a distant memory and I can be as productive as I once was.

All that to say, if you email me, and I’m a little slow to respond, know that I’m still here…know that I take each of your emails and comments to heart.  And I will respond…it may just take a little longer than I would like.

Oh…and over the weekend, there will be a TON of winners to announce so make sure to check your emails!  I think that’s my favorite part of hosting a contest…choosing winners!  The “yeahs!” and “woo hoos!” and genuine excitement I get from you when you’ve been told you won something you weren’t expecting just makes my day!

Eleven Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Reiza.  Congrats!

A quality-made pair of shoes is important for little feet.  I try to budget so that we are able to spend some money on good shoes for my son. I recently had an opportunity to check out Eleven’s brand new selection of shoes for spring and summer.  I chose the Josef shoes for my son and when I opened them, I was beyond impressed.  They are stylish, flexible, and super comfy (at least they look that way!).  Here is a little more information about Eleven from the site:

We believe in providing children the perfect shoes for every occasion, sophisticated and functional. Eleven’s impeccably made shoes all feature soft leather uppers, and flexible, durable rubber soles for superior traction. The cushioned insole makes each step a comfortable one, and all shoes feature easy on and off Velcro or zipper closures.

This is a company that has truly designed shoes for children (as opposed to a company that manufactures children’s shoes).  Their shoes stand out above the rest when it comes to fit, fashion, and function.  First, they’re super soft and made of premium leather that allows little feet to breathe.  The insole is cushioned and soles are flexible which means they don’t have to be “broken in.”  They’re easy for kids to get on off since they’re designed with a velcro strap.  The shoes are sturdy and I appreciate the traction and grip they provide since my son has discovered that running is much more fun than walking.  The shoes are also extremely stylish and are offered in a variety of fun, kid-friendly colors.  I love the way the company describes their sense of style….”Timeless vintage styles with swank modern accents….Classic and intelligent city-chic design…Effortlessly playful, elegant shoes.”

Eleven is a collection designed for children ages 3 through 8 and offers shoes in sizes 9-3. They’re normally price around $50 but today through June 5, you can purchase styles for $20 to $35 (wow!). Do you have a toddler?  Check out the company’s sister site, See Kai Run (which I’ll be reviewing shortly).

Win It! One of you will win a pair of shoes from Eleven (your choice!).  Simply head on over to the site and take a look at their entire collection.  Come back and leave me a comment with your favorite (other than the ones I reviewed, please).  Comments will close on June 12, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

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Add the “Spring In For Summer Fun” banner to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure to visit the main party post for more details on extra entries)

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Enter Tanya and Amanda’s giveaways

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Mamapedia

Given my recent bout with amnesia, I figure that a little advice from moms who’ve “been there, done that” is in order. With the internet being an endless source of information, I sometimes find it difficult to get the answers I’m looking for.  Rather than clinical advice, sometimes a mom just needs to be reassured by another, more experienced mother.

Thanks to Mom Central, I was recently introduced to a fabulously resourceful site called Mamapedia (isn’t the name clever?).  Here is a little more information:

Mamapedia enables you to search answers for your most pressing questions, to get empathetic and insightful answers from moms around the country. A virtual encyclopedia of Mothers’ wisdom, Mamapedia allows you to quickly navigate through thousands of diverse categories to find the thoughtful, sympathetic-and most importantly-helpful answers to all of your questions. Mamapedia brings millions of women together online, both nation-wide and in our own communities, so we can help each other tackle those difficult parenting questions or even just give recommendations on our favorite pediatricians, playgroups, and kid-friendly restaurants.

The best part about the site is that it’s free.  I really like the section that allows you to obtain local information. I did a search for daycare and preschools in my area and found the results highly useful.  I also searched for Zofran and pregnancy (which my doctor thankfully just prescribed for the all day sickness) and really appreciated hearing moms talk about how effective it was without any side effects.

Overall, the site is easy to navigate and provides moms with a wealth of information.  I appreciate the added community that the site provides and highly recommend checking it out!

Profuse thanks to Mom Central for directing me to this valuable resource!

Making Life Better

Cooking dinner is one of the household tasks I dread the most. I’ve had my share of cooking mishaps so I’m always looking for quick, easy solutions to healthy meals.  In the past, I’ve shared with you a website called Making Life Better.  One of their goals is to help families with meal preparation.  The site has recently created recipe demo videos, featuring Jennifer Bushman, the Kitchen Coach.  The videos, which are viewable on YouTube, offer recipe demonstrations and cooking tips.

Here are some of the ideas you may find useful for healthy meals that are affordable and easy to prepare:

Upside-Down Chicken Pot Pie.  With a few simple ingredients, such as frozen veggies, refrigerated biscuits and Knorr Sides, you’ll have a quick and effortless chicken pot pie.

Pizza Meat Loaf: Prepare a perfectly-seasoned Pizza Meat Loaf in no time with go-to ingredients like Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix and Ragú Pasta Sauce.

Avocado Tuna Melts:   Try using Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise, which has the great taste, but half the calories and fat of Hellmann’s Real mayonnaise.  Or, when you’re on-the-run, spread out the sandwich fixins’ so the family can make their own grab ‘n’ go dinner.

Baked Potato Bar (love this idea!):  For a quick and fun twist on dinner, create a baked potato bar stocked with savory toppings. Feature spud toppers, such as shredded cheddar cheese and steamed broccoli, for delicious, added flavor. Add Shedd’s Spread Country Crock Calcium plus Vitamin D for added nutritional benefits for growing kids. Don’t waste those leftovers!  Use them for wraps the next day.

Bananas Foster Sundae:  For a sweet meal ending, prepare a delicious dessert like a Bananas Foster Sundae, made with Breyers All Natural Vanilla ice cream (YUM!).

For recipe ideas and meal tips, check out Making Life Better!

Profuse thanks to Mom Central for the tips and ideas presented above.

Arctic Splash Water Table by Step 2

We’ve had some really warm days here in Southern California and I can only imagine how hot it will be come July and August!  My son loves playing outside in the sprinklers and with the hose with my husband.  When I think about outdoor toys, one company stands out in my mind…Step 2.  Here is a little more information about the company:

The Step2 Company, LLC is a family company with toy brands including Step2, Infantino, and Thinkativity that foster learning and development through creative play in children from birth to school-age years. The company designs and produces new toys that receive recognition every year for their durability, creative play value, and fun designs.

We received the Arctic Splash Water Table which I thought was a perfect feature for our summer party.  The table is easy to put together (it took maybe 5 minutes) and comes with an ice slide, tunnel, dumping bucket, and three squirt toys.  My son, who is almost two, enjoys playing with this toy.  First off, he loves playing with water and so he’d probably be content just splashing around in it!  Parents, you should know what your child WILL get wet when he/she plays with this.  It’s inevitable.  My son isn’t particularly interested in the slide, tunnel or bucket at this point.  He’ll play with them for a bit but since they aren’t secured on, he usually tosses them in the grass so he can play with the squirt toys in the water.  He loves the squirt toys.  In fact, when we’re done, he brings them inside to play with them and even brings them in the bathtub with him.  They are a bit difficult to squeeze so younger kids may need to be shown how to do it.

If you’re looking for a fun way to keep kids cool and entertained this summer, check out Step 2′s Arctic Splash Water Table.  It retails for $39.99 but I saw it at Walmart for $24.97 (which is a huge discount!).  Plus, Step 2 recently introduced a new line of outdoor toys you must check out including the Sand & Water Transportation Station, Nature Station Playhouse, and Water Rush Quarry.

For more fabulous fun summer products, visit Mommy Mandy & Mommy Goggles!

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