Lard: Your Great-Grandmother’s Secret To Better Skin, Naturally

Image source: Epic Provisions

Before the birth of the industrial cosmetic industry, people found other ways to improve their skin. Perhaps they realized that after continually handling meat in the kitchen, the skin on their hands was softer and smoother. Or perhaps they were just feeling adventurous with the leftover biscuit grease.

Either way, people for centuries – especially women — have been using lard as a facial cream. Lard is pork fat that has been rendered down to a liquid. Not only does it act as an exceptional barrier for locking in moisture, but it is also high in the vitamins that help keep skin healthy.

While the idea of rubbing pork fat on your cheeks might seem off-putting, think about this: Nearly all commercial skincare products are already made with some sort of animal fat. And massaging lard into your skin isn’t the same as rubbing bacon on your face. In fact, lard is incredibly gentle on skin, since it is so close to human skin in its chemical makeup.

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So before you call that 1-800 number to purchase a $50 bottle of Anti-Aging, Acne-Erasing Wonder Cream, give lard a chance. This humble pork product has been proven to:

• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• Tone and firm for a more youthful look.
• Even out color and reduce redness associated with rosacea.
• Reduce dryness associated with conditions like eczema (or winter weather).
• Even out texture for a smoother, softer feel.
• Improve acne and reduce pores.

If you are truly looking for a healthy and sustainable fix for your skincare woes, lard has the power to do everything that bank-breaking bottle of Lancôme does, and for the same price you could buy about 20 gallons of it!

Here’s Why it Works

When it comes to cellular makeup, pig lard is incredibly close to human skin. It has a similar pH and is made up of saturated and monounsaturated fats. One fact that skincare experts know: Oil dissolves oil. Since lard is so similar to our own skin oils, it’s a match made in heaven. As a cleanser, lard is a gentle and natural way to rid your face of that nasty sebum buildup and the daily dirt in your pores.

Pigs are extremely efficient at processing sunlight and storing it as Vitamin D in their fat. Fortunately for us, we get to enjoy our four-footed friends’ hard work when we rub that fat on our faces. Vitamin D helps to minimize dark spots and lines, reduce acne, and promote collagen production. This D-rich lard comes from pastured hogs that have been exposed to sunlight, so be sure to keep this in mind if you purchase your lard. Lard is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E and Vitamin A.

There’s only one ingredient in lard: lard. Think about that next time your read your lotion label. If you can’t pronounce the words on the label, then you probably shouldn’t be putting it on or in your body.

Though convenient, most store-bought lard is hydrogenated and may contain preservatives. If you are going for a completely natural lard fix and you can’t render your own lard, then the best place to go is to your local butcher or farmer’s market. And for about $1 you can enjoy healthy, radiant skin for months. I haven’t seen a deal that good on any late-night infomercials.

How to Use it

Night is the time for our bodies to rest and restore. After your nightly washing routine, towel dry your face and dab a tiny bit of lard onto your cheeks and forehead. Massage it in well all over your face and neck. In the morning, wipe it away with a warm cloth.

Though some notice an instant improvement in their skin’s look and feel, for many this isn’t a simple overnight fix. My advice to you: Be patient! Going to bed smelling just a bit like a sausage may be discouraging (unless you really love sausage), but the end result will be well worth it. Those who have taken on the lard challenge have noticed a reduction in the signs of aging, improvement in skin elasticity, more even skin texture and color, fewer occurrences of acne, and softer skin.

If you’re tired of spending an arm and a leg on expensive chemical night creams or if you’ve simply tried everything without positive results, then I encourage you to give this age-old all-natural porcine remedy a try.

Have you ever used lard as a lotion or skin-softener? Share your tips in the section below:

If You Like All-Natural Home Remedies, You Need To Read Everything That Hydrogen Peroxide Can Do. Find Out More Here.

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here

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26 DIY Cardboard Furniture Ideas That Are Surprisingly Practical

Have you ever found yourself wishing for a particular piece of furniture to do a certain job? What stopped you from buying that piece?

Well, most of the time it is the price that stops us from buying furniture because let’s face it, it isn’t cheap.

However, I have recently run across an idea that I think is definitely worth sharing. Are you familiar with the idea of cardboard furniture? If not, then I’m guessing you are probably thinking what I was thinking the first time someone mentioned it to me. My initial response was, “Huh?”

But after checking into it, cardboard furniture is very inexpensive to make, it allows you to use recycled materials, and it is also actually very durable.

So I wanted to bring a selection of cardboard furniture ideas to you to see what you thought and if any were of interest to you.

Here is what I found:

Cardboard Furniture Ideas

1. Cardboard Lap Desk

Do you own a laptop? Do you do a lot of work with it? If so, then you may find it helpful to have an actual lap desk.

Well, you no longer have to buy an expensive option. Instead, you can create your very own from cardboard.

Check out this cardboard furniture

2. Cardboard Desk and Shelf

This is actually a really lovely set-up. They made a desk of cardboard which would be great to complete school work on.

Then they added cardboard shelves over the desk which would be great to hold books or other trinkets as well.

Check out this cardboard furniture

3. Cardboard Wardrobe

When I was a little girl, I had a pretty vanity where I could look in the mirror and fix my hair. It was a handy place to sit and get all dolled up.

Well, this reminds me a lot of that piece of furniture. It has a mirror, place to sit, and drawers to store what you need.

Check out this cardboard furniture

4. Chair and Foot Stool

This is a really neat cardboard furniture idea. You can have a little chair that is solid and higher off of the ground.

Or you can take the middle section of the chair out and have a footstool to rest your feet on. Pretty neat, huh?

Check out this cardboard furniture

5. Child’s Playhouse

Do you have a little one that would really like to have their very own playhouse? Are you worried you can’t afford one?

Well, think again. Thanks to this cardboard playhouse idea, you can probably make your own for a very affordable price.

Check out this cardboard furniture

6. Cardboard Lamp

Have you ever considered building a lamp instead of buying one? If so, then you should consider recreating this really awesome lamp.

But the best part about it is it is made from cardboard. Not only is it unique in appearance, but it is also inexpensive and a form of upcycling.

Check out this cardboard furniture

7. The Cardboard High Chair

Do you know how much money parents spend purchasing baby supplies? Could you imagine the money that would be saved if parents knew about this idea?

Well, if you are a parent on a budget or one that would like to help decrease waste, then consider this cardboard high chair.

Check out this cardboard furniture

8. The Elephant Table

This is a fun little table that would be wonderful to decorate a nursery or small child’s room with. It would also be very budget-friendly too.

So if you are looking to redecorate your child’s room or are expecting a new addition, consider building a piece of furniture like this.

Check out this cardboard furniture

9. The Fancy Cardboard Table

You see tables like this a lot in people’s entryways. It is a gorgeous piece that will catch the eye of anyone walking through your front door.

But it might be surprising that this furniture is actually created from cardboard. Think of how gorgeous your home could be decorated for such a very small amount of money.

Check out this cardboard furniture

10. The Cardboard Armoire

Armoires are such handy pieces of furniture. They are gorgeous accent pieces to the room while also being very functional too.

So why not build yourself one from cardboard? It looks as though it could hold a decent amount of clothing.

Check out this cardboard furniture

11. Closet Organizer

Have you ever tried to put a closet organizer into your closet to make it function a little better and be able to store more?

Well, I have not that long ago, and it can be very expensive. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on that project anymore though thanks to this cardboard furniture idea.

Check out this cardboard furniture

12. The Larger Accent Table

This accent table is another piece of furniture that is very commonly viewed in people’s homes. They put them in between their kitchen and living room to add style and show off pictures or other items that mean a lot to them.

But this style table is normally very expensive. That is no longer the case since it can be built out of cardboard and look just as charming, in my opinion.

Check out this cardboard furniture

13. The Disney Cardboard Dresser

Have you ever seen the movie Beauty and the Beast, the cartoon version? If so, then this piece of furniture probably looks very familiar to you.

Basically, they made a dresser that looks as though it has come to life (like the dresser in the movie.) It is fun, made of cardboard, and would be a great addition to most homes.

Check out this cardboard furniture

14. The Cardboard Couch

I really wish more people knew about this form of furniture and that they could create it on their own with a little research and patience.

I say this because I see (almost daily) people in need of furniture and posting it on social media. They don’t have a lot of money, but if only they knew that there was furniture that could be made and be durable just like this couch.

Check out this cardboard furniture

15. Cardboard Ottoman

This cardboard ottoman is one that has a lot of great charm to it. It seems to be the right height to rest your tired feet on.

But they didn’t just form a basic box. They added some charm with upside down triangles on the stool. It is actually quite charming.

Check out this cardboard furniture

16. The Cardboard Desk

This isn’t just a basic desk. It is one that is better known for being chic. Who says cardboard furniture has to be boring or even look as though it was made from cardboard?

So if you are working on a budget but still want a pretty desk, then consider this design for one.

Check out this cardboard furniture

17. Cardboard Fireplace

Did you think that because you moved into a place that had no fireplace, that you couldn’t still have a fireplace to decorate for the holidays?

Well, think again. Thanks to this cardboard design, you can create an inexpensive faux fireplace that will really add to the charm around your home.

Check out this cardboard furniture

18. Child’s Storage/Entertainment Center

This is a really gorgeous piece of cardboard furniture. It has room to store toys, books, or even clothing inside this furniture.

But it also has room to hold a television if you wish. Or it could just be a nice piece of furniture to add some charm to your nursery.

Check out this cardboard furniture

19. Unique Cardboard Drawers

This is a truly unique piece of furniture. If you have a more modern style or taste, then you might really like this design.

Basically, the furniture is a dresser. But the design makes it appear that the drawers are coming down at a slant for a modern touch.

Check out this cardboard furniture

20. Easy Cardboard Shelves

Are you looking at all of these pieces of furniture and thinking, “Gee, they are beautiful, but I can’t do that!”

Well, you aren’t alone in that notion. So here is a set of shelves that I feel certain that most anyone could recreate with a little research, patience, and will-power.

Check out this cardboard furniture

21. The Paper Chair

This chair is so cool. It has big winged out arms that make the chair look big and roomy. It also looks a little oversized as well, like a chair and a half.

But the amazing thing is this chair, too, is made from cardboard. If you want a modern and comfy chair, then consider trying to recreate this idea.

Check out this cardboard furniture

22. 5-Piece Cardboard Lounge Chair

This lounge chair seems to be pretty easy to put together as it only has 5 pieces to its construction. It also looks very comfortable because it is a lounge chair.

So if you’d like to create your own lounge chair for your living room but don’t want to spend a lot of money, then you might want to consider this style of chair.

Check out this cardboard furniture

23. Cardboard Ball Chair

When I was in college, we called this kind of chair an ‘egg chair.’ I had one, and it was one of the comfiest chairs I had ever owned.

So when I saw that it could be recreated out of cardboard, naturally, my interest was piqued. If you like ball chairs, then you’ll want to check this one out.

Check out this cardboard furniture

24. The Cardboard Table

This little table could be used as an end table, in an office, or in an entryway. Wherever you decided to use it, it would certainly draw an eye to it.

Though the blog post is in a different language, I love that I could still see how to construct it via pictures.

Check out this cardboard furniture

25. Cardboard Chest and Drawers

If you are in need of a place to store your clothing, then why not consider this DIY option? It is really cute and can be made to fit your style.

So there is also a helpful tutorial that should make the creation of this furniture a little easier as well. This would be a unique and budget-friendly solution for more storage.

Check out this cardboard furniture

26. Cardboard Window Valance

Do you like beautiful window valances? Do you prefer the ones that are stationary versus the traditional cloth style?

Well, if so, then you’ll love this idea where they create window valances from cardboard and then cover them with different material to make them more visually appealing.

Check out this cardboard furniture

So you now have over 25 different options for cardboard furniture ideas. This should hopefully inspire you to create a gorgeous home on a small budget while also using recycled materials.

But would you? Do you like the look of cardboard furniture? Is it practical in your experience and/or opinion?

We love hearing your thoughts, so share them with us! Leave them in the comment section below.

This article first appeared on morningchores.com Original Article

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Surprising Kitchen Cures For The Common Cold

When most people catch the common cold, they drive to the local pharmacy and stock up on drugs packed with chemicals.

But an ever-increasing number of Americans are trying all-natural remedies, and as we’ll discover on today’s edition of Off The Grid Radio, a lot of those remedies are already in your kitchen!

Our guest is Laurie Neverman, a seasoned homesteader and author, and the creator of the popular blog Common Sense Home. Laurie has tested numerous home remedies and tells us what actually works.

Laurie also tells us:

• How elderberries can keep you healthy all season.
• Which powerful kitchen ingredients every homesteader should store for winter.
• What she does when she gets a cough, sore throat or congestion.
• How cinnamon and apple cider vinegar can help you get better when you’re sick.

If you’re battling the cold, or you simply want to be prepared for the next illness, then this week’s show is for you!

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here

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Prepping For An Evacuation: How To Be Ready When The Gov’t Says ‘Get Out’

Mother Nature has incredible power available at her fingertips — much more than we humans do. With water alone, she is able to destroy some of mankind’s greatest accomplishments. Water leveled the city of Miyako, Japan, in 2011, as a tsunami brought a wave surge 128 feet high. Water also destroyed much of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005.

Currently, Northern California is closely watching the destructive power of water, as the spillway for our nation’s highest dam, the Lake Oroville Dam, is crumbling.

What has caused the damage to that dam’s spillway? Just water. Erosion has created a 200-feet-long by 30-feet-wide rupture in the spillway, opening the way for more erosion. The emergency spillway is being eroded away rapidly, as well, as waters rise above the lake’s capacity.

Fortunately for residents downstream, the dam itself is holding. But should either spillway fail, which is a very real possibility, a 30-feet-tall wall of water could go rushing downstream. While that isn’t as bad as a 700-feet-tall wall of water, it has caused mass evacuations of the towns in the path of potential flooding. Nearly 200,000 people have been ordered from their homes, with no promise of when they’ll be able to return.

Were They Ready?

When events like this happen, I always find myself asking how many of those people were truly prepared. How many had an evacuation plan in place? How many had a place to go while they waited out the disaster? How many even had a bug-out-bag packed, so that they would have the basic necessities of survival?

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While flood warnings were given to the major cities downstream, the towns closest to the dam itself only received an hour’s notice to evacuate. That’s barely enough time to gather up your family and jump in the car, let alone leaving in anything that resembles an organized manner. It literally meant grabbing what you can and running out the door, so that you can sit in traffic, as the highways aren’t built to accommodate an evacuation. Some invariably had to abandon their cars and proceed on foot once they ran out of gas.

The vast majority of those people ended up packed in shelters, set up by charities or the government. This left them with no privacy, little comfort and no way of protecting their property. Had they had plans in place for an emergency, they would have been able to go to a much better place, where they could be more comfortable as they awaited their fate.

What’s Different About an Evacuation?

Normally, when we talk about bugging out, we’re talking about escaping from the aftereffects of a calamity. More than anything, we’re talking about escaping a breakdown in society. But an evacuation isn’t that. An evacuation is intended to protect you and your family from a natural or man-made disaster. In such a situation, it’s easier to survive in an urban environment than it is to head for the hills. Staying within the area also allows you to get back to your home quickly and survey any damage when officials allow it.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that bugging out in an evacuation has to include going to a government-run shelter. In fact, I would avoid that at all costs. You’re much better off trying to make it on your own than you would be packed into a refugee shelter that’s set up in some gymnasium.

Planning Your Evacuation

Planning for an evacuation is much like planning for any other bug-out. But there is one major difference. That is, the fact that you don’t need to plan on heading into the wild. That affects the things you carry with you and the destination that you seek.

You should start your planning with a destination. Where can you go to find a safe place from a pending disaster? For the people in Oroville and the other nearby towns, there are several options. The best is to head uphill from where the lake is. That can mean heading directly up the nearest mountain, but I really mean to head for some other town that is at a higher elevation. That would put them out of the path of the water.

Most people will stop at the first safe haven they can find, which means nearby towns fill up fast. Stopping there could very well put you in one of the shelters that we’re trying to avoid. Instead, pass through that first town and go farther down the road. The farther you go, the less you’ll see of other evacuees. That will put you in a better situation when you do decide to stop.

We can clearly see what happens to the roads in such an evacuation. As many have predicted, the roads leading away from the danger area have turned into parking lots, filled with slow-moving traffic. Abandoned cars litter the roads, left behind by those who ran out of fuel.

So it’s best to have escape routes planned out that don’t involve the major highways. Find the back roads that will take you where you need to go. While those might not be the fastest way to go somewhere in normal times, you’d probably be flying down those roads compared to the people sitting on the highways.

Work out an escape plan that includes many routes, with interconnections, so that you can jump from one route to another, as the situation may dictate. There’s no way of knowing how many others know of those routes and might try using, too, so you want to have as many options open as possible.

The other part of avoiding a traffic jam is making sure that your vehicle is ready for the trip. That means keeping your car or truck in good shape, mechanically, so that it’s ready to roll. But it also means having a supply of gas on hand so that you have something to go with. Most of us don’t keep our gas tanks filled. But in a time of evacuation, you’ve got to have a full gas tank, or you risk being one of those people who are forced to leave a car on the side of the road.

Grab and Go

The bug-out-bag is a great starting point, but as I said earlier, I wouldn’t want to leave with just that if my house might be destroyed by a 30-foot wall of water. I’d want to take anything and everything I could, realizing that I might never see the things that I didn’t take with me.

But what to take? In such a moment, you’re not going to be thinking clearly. So that’s not the time to put together a list of everything you want to pack. Besides, you’re going to have mere minutes to grab what you can, not hours to neatly fill your suitcases.

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With that in mind, it makes sense to prepare yourself a checklist, so that if you do have to go quickly, you’ll be sure to grab the most important things. Those will have to fall into two categories: things to help you survive the aftermath, and things to help you rebuild your life. Both are equally important, although we don’t think of it that way in most bug-out scenarios.

Your bug-out bag probably has the majority of the things you need to survive. But I’d like to add a few items to that, if you don’t already have them packed:

• Extra clothing, especially rugged clothing.
• Coats, hats, gloves, boots (especially during wintertime).
• A tent and sleeping bag (if you have them) or blankets.
• Whatever cash you have on hand.
• Extra food and water.

For rebuilding your life, there are a number of other things you’ll need:

• More clothes, for job interviews and for working.
• Any valuables you have in your home.
• Your computer (especially if it has valuable information on it).
• Tools for your profession (which might include the above-mentioned computer).
• Copies of all your important documents (birth certificates, marriage license, property deeds, car titles, diplomas and degrees, licenses, kids school records, health records). These can be scanned images on a thumb drive or CD.
• Photos and other important memories.

Of course, you’re going to be limited in the space you have available, so you’ll have to be selective about what you take. But by taking the time to plan it out before-hand, you will make it much easier to evacuate with everything you really need, when and if the time comes.

Plastic bags are a great way to pack soft items, such as clothing. You can literally grab armfuls of clothing and stuff them in the bags. Being soft and flexible, they can then be stuffed in the trunk of your car or corners of the back seat, without a problem. You’ll find that you can pack more, by using plastic bags, than you can by using suitcases, boxes and plastic bins.

What advice would you add on evacuating a disaster? Share your tips in the section below:

When The Grid Goes Down, Will You Be Ready? Read More Here.

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here

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24 Winter Indoor Activities to Keep You From Going Crazy

My sister, bless her heart, lives in Michigan.

I live in Texas.

One of our favorite conversations is about the weather. It's January and she has seen negative fifteen and had warnings that tell them not to go outside more than ten minutes if they have any skin exposed; whereas I am able to enjoy mid-50s most of the time.

So, this article is for her. With three little ones under the age of six, having a game plan for the stay indoors days is a good idea.

Winter Indoor Activities for Kids

1. Homemade Handprint Twister

I love that this game is two-in-one deal. For the first part of it, your kid gets to make their twister game, for the second part, they get to play their created game.

Part of the reason the author over at Pint Sized Treasures created this game was so their children could work on learning their colors as well. Love it!

2. Candy Cane Goo/ Oobleck

Sadly, this doesn't have candy canes in it, but the good news is that it does have stuff you already have around the house.

What's really cool is that the blogger over at Science Sparks made it educational as well. For the little ones, it is a sensory item. For the older kids, it is still fun to play with and they gave the science details to go along with why you made it. Very neat!

3. Sumo Boys

Why are some of the most fun things something that totally slips our minds as adults? In this idea, Allison at All for the Boys comes up with a game of sumo wrestling simply by using pillows and the boys' father's T-shirts!

Now that I think about it, this one might not be first on my mind because it gets a bit noisy… but look at what fun they are having. Might be worth it!

4. Snow Ice Cream

If you have never had snow ice cream, I recommend you find somewhere with a decent amount of snow and make some.

My mother and I made some when I was little and I loved it. Back when my girls were younger and we lived in Delaware we had a major snow storm that shut us down for days and I did the same for them, falling in love with snow ice cream all over again (and learned what whipping cream was all at the same time… it was magical!).

This recipe comes from Ali over at Gimme Some Oven.

5. Indoor Camping

Charlene over at My Frugal Adventures goes into details about how they made summer fun inside during the winter.

I get this because I, personally, am not a fan of winter after a while. As an adult, I typically deal with the winter blues by about mid-February. Even in Texas!

As a child, though, on days when we had snow days at school, I would set up our living room (the one with the big window) with a tent and our bathroom would be the beach- complete with a pool and a tanning area.

I did this while my mother was at work, think of what we can do as parents to participate in this fun activity that helps us all to remember that winter is only temporary!

6. Use Your Resources

So many people think that television for kids is bad. I am not about to suggest putting your kid in front of a movie screen and walking away for eight hours a day but sometimes using the internet can be to your resource.

When my oldest was little, I would allow her an hour a day. Sesame Street was her favorite. During that time I got a lot done.

In Tiffany over at Spark & Pook‘s post, she tells you of some YouTube videos that not only get your kids attention, but it gets them up and moving as well. That works to the parents' advantage!

7. String Obstacle Course

I did this with my girls a few years back and they loved it. Mine was done in a hallway and it was much higher up. The string was taped to the wall.

Jamie over at Hands On As We Grow did hers a little bit differently. For one, she used chairs and did it lower down. Also, she helped her children learn their number bonds as well. Don't know what number bonds are? Head over to the blog and find out!

8. Laundry Basket Skee Ball

I'm excited about this one.

Anytime we go to the arcade, this is the game I go to first. How fun to be able to re-create it at home! Thank you to Sara over at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.

9. Bozo's Grand Prize Game

If you want to do something similar, but don't have the stuff to make skee ball, opt for Bozo the Clown's Grand Prize Game. I was young when that show was on (not in school yet) but I loved to watch those kids get up there and try. You don't have to use a ping-pong ball or the buckets- be creative. Also, I hope you have as much fun as those kids who were on the game show!

10. Indoor Snow Games

What a fun idea: to take fake snow and have fun with it much in the way you would if you were outside. No cold, no melting, just fun.

Jillian over at Confidence Meets Parenting even gives you ideas for how to make the snowballs.

11. Paper Bag Snowman Puppet

How cute are these snowmen? Using tape as a scarf, googly eyes and buttons. The best part is if you are reading this because you are already stuck inside and you don't have these things on hand- just adlib, use markers! Don't have white paper bags? Make gingerbread men puppets. Get creative- bring the kids in from the beginning, you never know what they might come up with.

But to see exactly what Rachel did to make these, head over to her blog at I Heart Crafty Things.

12. Color a Box

The article written by Kylie over at The How-to Mom talks about different ways to keep toddlers busy and help them not destroy the house.

When I saw this picture though, I knew I had to bring up the idea of cardboard boxes because guess what? If you give my twelve year old some cardboard, she will be busy for hours. Just two months ago she built a house for our Elf on the Shelf, Zoey, to hang out in while she was visiting us.

Cardboard is an important creative tool at any young age!

13. Word Building Charades

This is one of the cutest ones I have seen yet. The author over at Understood has word building charades. It goes like this: You stand tall for big letters, straight for regular letters, and for letters that go below the line, you crouch down.

She gives the example of Bag. Head over to the site to see it for yourself.

14. Cut Out Snowflakes

We've already had snow fights but what about the snowflakes themselves? This craft from It's Always Autumn has templates and a video tutorial if you or your little one is stuck and don't know what to do next.

I always enjoyed making snowflakes though I am not as good at it as my older one. She decorates my classroom with them during winter time!

15. Bake Some Bread

Baking bread is such a fun process and has sensory aspects to it as well. Getting your kids in the kitchen is fun for both them and you. Sit them up on the counter (but stay nearby) and let them help add ingredients, mix, and knead the bread. Even cleaning up is fun to them when they are little!

Even better- baking means warming up your home and giving it good smells.

The author, Cynthia over at Rolling Prairie Readers, gives suggestions on helping little ones feel like they are giving back to society.

16. Make Play Dough

I have made this before, and I can tell you that it works. My kids had so much fun creating new things. They usually let their creations harden. But if you're not ready for that you can store it, and the playdough lasts for quite a while.

Enough to keep them entertained a couple of times throughout a few weeks. Even better is that most of the stuff you should have on hand at home!

To see the recipe for yourself, head over to kidsactivities.

17. Plant an Indoor Garden

The Loyal Gardener gives you a list of things you can grow indoors during the winter, and there are probably more great ideas if you really want to get creative.

I knew a person who put a hydroponic garden in a windowsill and had strawberries year round.

Kids love to help with the garden and here's your chance to keep them busy and possibly get them interested in new fruits and vegetables!

18. A Minute to Win It Games

I'm not big on games, especially board games but sometimes a minute to win it games win out. My favorite one is the one shown above, where you take a straw and blow in it, seeing who gets their ping pong ball over the line faster.

For more ideas, head over to Kid Friendly Things to Do.

19. Snow Globe

My oldest, who is twelve, loves snow globes. This craft would be right up her alley. She's an artist through and through.

The best part of this craft is it takes little effort on the adult's part. Simply let them color their paper snow globe and then add the other ingredients.

The full tutorial can be found over at Fireflies + Mud Pies.

20. Marble Maze

This is another double layer activity that looks like so much fun. Help them with the first part of coming up with the maze and then let them use the marble to get it in one area and out the proper area.

I like this one because it is good for older kids as well.

For full details, check out Little Bins for Little Hands.

21. Karaoke

I originally was just going to suggest having a karaoke contest but then came across this little gem over at I Heart Arts n Crafts. For little ones this would be a lot of fun and make them feel even more glamorous as they sing along to their favorite songs.

22. Moon Sand

My girls received bags of moon sand a few years ago and had a ton of fun with it. Heck, even I got involved, squishing the sand between my fingers. When I learned how easy it was to make though, I just had to recreate it for myself.

It was pretty well true to what we had bought. So fun and yes, you can still see me squishing the sand through my fingers!

The full tutorial can be found over at Lesson Learnt Journal.

23. Spinning Nerf Target

Here's a fun one that even adults will want to play. I mean, they already do, don't they? The only difference is instead of shooting the target with a nerf gun, they shoot with a bullet style gun.

Obviously, the way this is created is a bit different (and much lighter), but the concept is the same.

So this is a game, created by our friend over at Frugal Fun for Boys, that will grow with them!

24. Fizzy Drinks

After they've had all the fun they can muster, they will probably be ready for a treat. This fizzy lemonade made over at Learn with Play at Home is a fun idea to keep their minds active and quench their thirst all at the same time. Just be sure to follow the recipe!

Concluding Sanity Saving Winter Indoor Activities

I know it won't be long before we are all aching for the cool, but warmer, days of spring. Until then, I hope these ideas keep you and your little ones active enough to break the winter blues cycle!

This article first appeared on morningchores.com Original Article

The post 24 Winter Indoor Activities to Keep You From Going Crazy appeared first on Homesteading Alliance.