Yesterday I shared my recipe for the insanely addictive Matzah Crack, and now that we're even closer to the Pesach finish line I'm sharing a idea for the seder. A seder is a festive holiday meal held the first night (or two) of Passover. (Yes, that was last week if you're counting.) The term seder means "order" and there is a special order to the meal. Some version of the story of the Exodus from Egypt is told, which can last anywhere from five ... [ Read More ]
Snow Day Fun: Fire and Ice
This is the winter break that never ends! Like much of the country, we are enjoying experiencing the effects of the polar vortex. What's a maker mom to do in this cold? Make stuff, of course! Yesterday, I baked cookies and my sweet, sweet potato pie (recipe coming soon) and we tossed a cup of hot water into the air like everyone else muddling through a day with a windchill of around 40 below. But we went beyond all that. Inspired by Candace's ... [ Read More ]
Guide to Women in STEM on YouTube: STEM Girl Friday
What a great idea- creating a list of women in STEM on YouTube vlogging about STEM topics. We can like and subscribe and follow each other on Twitter and all that stuff. Fabulous! I wish I'd thought of it. This STEM Girl features comes courtesy of Tech-Girls. As I'm queuing this post up there are 30 channels listed on topics from botany to neuroscience. Check out the full list of STEM Girls who vlog at Tech Girls. Given that one of my most ... [ Read More ]
Make a Water Blob for Backyard Summer Fun
The Water Blob is one of the first projects I shared on this blog and now that it finally feels like summer in Chicago, it's time to share again. It's easy to make a water blob. The concept is simple- you are essentially making a bag or water, or a water pillow. We first used a painter's tarp, but wasn't very durable and our blob leaked a lot. I figured a large, heavy weight contractor's trash bag would do the trick and bonus: it's factory ... [ Read More ]
Hack My Sandwich with a Waffle Maker
Last week a colleague pointed me to a recent TED talk by Jay Silver, co-inventor of the Makey Makey and Drawdio, (affiliate links) electronics gadgets that help you hack your world. In his talk, Jay mentions that as adults, we sometimes know too much about how a thing is supposed to be used, to think creatively about other ways it might be used. Enter my waffle maker. I'm about to hack my sandwich. As happens every couple of months, the waffle ... [ Read More ]
Easy, No-mess Colored Eggs
So you like to dye Easter eggs, but hate all the mess. Or maybe Easter isn't your holiday but making colored eggs is fun and you want an excuse to play around. I'm giving you permission now because this easy (almost) no-mess way to color eggs is fun and can be done with materials you likely already have on hand. Make easy, no mess Easter Eggs Here's what you need to get started: eggs and a container to hold them shaving cream (whipped ... [ Read More ]
Makey Makey + Minecraft = Cure for Boredom
A bored, whining child is never fun to deal with. And when said child lives in a house filled with toys, books, games and craft supplies, he can be especially annoying. But instead of turning on the nearest screen and calming him with a digital pacifier, steel yourself, cover your ears and give him a bit of time. Like the calm before the storm, boredom is often the precursor to creative exploration. You just need to be patient. As The Maker ... [ Read More ]