Toronto Teacher Mom: July 2017

Lolë White Tour Sunset Yoga, Like Poetry in Motion

Sunday, July 30, 2017
13 Comments

Using Google Drawings to Create SVG Cut Files - Coffee Cup and Logo

Now that I've got my craft groove back, I knew I just had to try creating my own scalable vector graphics using Google Drawings which I could then upload to Cricut Design Studio. For this particular project, I wanted to make a gift card holder in the shape of a coffee cup for my goddaughter's birthday. One of her wish list items was a gift card to Starbucks so I thought I'd create a removable lid to which I could attach the gift card.

To create the coffee cup design, I used two basic shapes: a round same side corner rectangle (in two different sizes) and a trapezoid (in two different sizes). Once I had the right proportions, all I had to do was download as a scalable vector graphic (.svg) file. Then I uploaded it to the Design Studio. The black outline of each shape was interpreted as a shadow layer so I just deleted them from the project. To make the pocket coffee cup, I duplicated the image, resized and rotated the shapes to create the backing and flaps, and then welded them altogether.

Using Google Drawings to Create SVG Cut Files - coffee mug

I also decided to try designing a parody of the logo that included her name. I've seen so many of these fun designs on Pinterest that I wanted to challenge myself to create my own on Google Drawings. Unfortunately, word art features in G Suite, unlike in Microsoft Office, are very limited and there was no way to curve a word. This meant I had to create separate art for each letter and rotate them to varying degrees. Here is one I created with my profile pic in the centre, which I cropped using a circle. You can see how many different parts there are to it, each outlined in blue.

If I ever venture into cutting using vinyl, I could download the file as an SVG. For the small logo that I needed for the card, it makes more sense to download it as a PNG or JPG and upload it to the Design Studio as a print and cut image. (I have yet to calibrate my Cricut Explore Air 2 for cutting printed images so I took a shortcut and cut it by hand.) This way you only have to adhere a single circle and it still looks great. I'm so happy my goddaughter loved her card!

Saturday, July 29, 2017
4 Comments

Canada's Wonderland - One Summer, Twice the Fun

Amusement Park

Canada's Wonderland Premier Theme Park - Canada 150

It goes without saying that summer is my favourite season of the year. Many of my fondest childhood memories took place during the summer, among which included our yearly visit to Canada's Wonderland. We'd pile into our cousin's station wagon and make the one and a half hour trek to Canada's premier theme park, the home of the Mighty Canadian Minebuster, Wonder Mountain and the most delicious funnel cakes.

Canada's Wonderland Events - International Showplace

Now that I have kids of my own, the summer months have become ever more precious. We want to make the most of our time together and so we continue the tradition of spending a day at Canada's Wonderland at least once during the summer. With roller coasters and rides, plus a super fun water park, it's the perfect place to pack in twice the fun in a single day.

Canada's Wonderland Ultimate Thrills Circus - International Showplace

Last week, we made a point of checking out a couple of the summer events taking place this summer at Canada's Wonderland. First up was the Ultimate Thrills Circus at the International Showplace. We watched an impressive incline motorcycle highwire act that culminated with a 360 degree spin. My son marvelled over this part. We then enjoyed an aerial silks performance, as seen below.

We also watched a contortionist demonstrate her incredible flexibility and agility. I still can't believe she was able to pop a balloon using a bow and arrow with her feet while standing on her hands. On her first try!

We then enjoyed a couple of additional acts that included a swinging trapeze act that took place literally right above us. The show ended with a cyclone motorcycle act performed at a dizzying height:

Celebration Canada 150 is also happening this month and is included with park admission. This will meets you get to enjoy Freestyle Ski Aerials where skiers and kayakers fly off a massive ski jump overlooking Arthur's Baye. While this show runs until July 31, you can also catch Cirque Canadien at Wonderland Theatre to take in some acrobatics, mystique and athleticism while you journey through the season of Canada. But my favourite has to be the Flying Frontenacs Stunt & Dive Show. Check out some of the incredible dives, flips and water jet boot action:

Of course, we didn't forget to have some fun on our favourite rides, such as Thunder Run, Peanuts 500 bumper cars, the Ghoster Coaster and Silver Streak. We also checked out some of the new rides such as Muskoka Plunge, a towering 60-foot tall waterslide at Splash Works, and Soaring Timbers where riders sit on one of two massive gondolas that sweep through 360 degree rotations, the only ride of its kind in North America.

And did you know? Canada's Wonderland is a Pokemon Go hot spot. It sure makes waiting in line fly by!

If you plan on heading to Canada's Wonderland for some summer fun, take note that KidZfest is taking place from July 31 to August 6. This special weeklong celebration just for kids will feature live entertainment, dance parties, foam pits, and MARVEL© Superheroes. And don't forget to download the Canada's Wonderland app that not only includes helpful information on events and activities, it also has an interactive map that can show your current location, the location of rides, washrooms, food venues and other amenities, but it also includes a handy car finder. Just be sure to pin your location before you head into the park!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Friday, July 28, 2017
9 Comments

Bunch O Balloons And Minions Mischief

Family Fun

Zuru Bunch O Balloons Dispicable Me Minions and Water Soaker

When I was growing up, summertime fun was synonymous with water play. We never had a pool but could always rely on the sprinkler to cool off and have fun with kids on our street. On weekends, our family would take us to the beach for the day and we'd have a blast swimming in the lake, tossing a beach ball or diving for rocks. There weren't any smartphones or mobile devices to distract us from the wonderful childhood experiences we had yet to discover. A highlight would always be playing with water balloons and how much fun it would be to have throwing competitions to see how long we could keep a water balloon from breaking. Filling up the balloons with water and knotting each of them wasn't quite as fun. This year, the kids and I experienced a revolutionary solution to the water balloon woes of days past - Zuru Bunch O Balloons!

Zuru Bunch O Balloons Dispicable Me Minions

Buncho O Balloons are self-tying water balloons that are incredibly easy to fill and tie. I kid you not, they couldn't have made it any easier. For review, we were sent a couple of packs of Bunch O Balloons Minion 3-packs, each containing three bunches. All you need to do is remove air from your water hose, connect the hose to a Bunch O Balloons, rest them on a level surface or in water, fill them to 4 inches and pull up quickly. The water balloons have O Rings that will automatically tie the balloons for you. It's brilliant! You could literally fill about 30 balloons within a matter of seconds. The Dispicable Me balloons are a bright yellow and there are Minions hidden among them. I particularly love that Bunch O Balloons and O Rings are biodegradable and recyclable.

We also received a Bunch O Balloons Filler/Soaker that not only includes three packs of Bunch O Balloons in bright colours but also a soaker that blasts water up to 30 feet that you can also use to fill your Bunch O Balloons. This water blaster was a hit among my 9-year-old who loves using his skill of stealth to sneak up on his big sister. I need stock up on more Bunch O Balloons, which I've seen retail for about $10 for a 3-pack, while a filler/soaker retails for about $30. Visit bunchoballoons.com for a retailer near you.

Saturday, July 22, 2017
16 Comments

Introducing NELSON's Disney Learning Products, Designed to Inspire a Love of Learning

Learning Resources

$NELSON's Disney Learning Products$

In my fifteen years of teaching in the elementary panel, there always seems to be one pressing question that parents ask during parent-teacher interviews: Why does my child rarely have homework? And in my experience, the younger the child, the more eager parents are to learn the answer. While the debate surrounding the ideal amount of homework continues, the fact that parents show an interest in their child's learning outside of the classroom is a clear indicator that they want their children to thrive throughout their learning journey. Their question is usually followed by inquiries into ways they can support their child's learning and if I could recommend any helpful resources. For this reason, I am delighted to share the exciting news that NELSON, Canada's leading educational publisher, has recently expanded their home learning portfolio with the launch of NELSON's Disney Learning products.

One of my top tips for parents is to read regularly with their children. Not only is it a great way for parents to bond with their children, it improves their vocabulary and language skills, exercises their brain and develops their imagination. With NELSON's Disney Learning board book series, preschoolers will enjoy learning all about letters, numbers, shapes and colours with their beloved Disney characters.

Designed in consultation with Early Childhood Educators, these board books are a great way to support early learning even before your child enters Kindergarten. With each turn of the page, children get to practice and have fun together with their parents, all the while reinforcing literacy and numeracy concepts and applying them in everyday life. Each book includes built-in questions to develop key concepts and extend their learning. And did I mention that these books are filled with brightly coloured illustrations that include many classic Disney characters?

While most parents read to their children as part of a bedtime routine, any time is a great time to pick up a book and read. Leave these durable board books on the coffee table or breakfast counter where they are easily within reach and enjoyed after breakfast or during snack time.

$NELSON's Disney Learning Math Activity Cards$

Among NELSON's Disney Learning products that we received for review, I am most excited about the Math Activity Cards series. There are three sets, one each for Kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 2 students, and each includes a stack of laminated activity cards, along with a low-odor, non-toxic dry-erase marker.

$NELSON's Disney Learning Math Activity Cards$

Each activity card focuses on one of five mathematical concepts. The best part? They are aligned with Canadian curriculum: number sense, geometry, patterning, measurement and data management. The topic is indicated on the top right corner of each card and the learning goal is located on the back where parents can also find tips and ideas on how to work through the activities with their child and extend the learning.

$NELSON's Disney Learning Math Activity Cards$

I recently had an opportunity to test out some of NELSON's Disney Learning products while babysitting my four-year-old niece and her little brother. My three-year-old nephew showed more interest in the board books, but my niece, a recent Kindergarten grad, was eager to try out the dry-erase activity cards. We started off with the Kindergarten set and she was determined to complete all the activities in one sitting. I read each activity out loud and together we analyzed the pictures and discussed ways we could solve the problem. She absolutely loved being able to use a dry-erase marker and easily erase her answers, which is true for most students, in my experience. Younger students are especially fond of being able to fix their mistakes in an instant and are more confident to risk an answer knowing that the dry-erase marker is not permanent. Plus, the marker itself is slightly larger than primary pencils and glides easily, making it more suitable for smaller hands that are still perfecting penmanship.

Finally, for parents who prefer a pencil-and-paper approach to reviewing concepts, NELSON has also released a series of Disney Learning workbooks. These include the following four workbooks:

Ready to Read and Write for Pre-K to K: The general focus is on printing, letter sounds and word knowledge.
Reading, Writing, and Math for Kindergarten: Activities reinforce letter recognition and word knowledge while building on comprehension, number sense, patterns measurement, geometry and the use of data.
Reading, Writing and Math for Grade 1: The contents in this workbook include comprehension, writing, addition and subtraction. Content includes punctuation, non-fiction text, poetry, 3D shapes, graphing and more.
Reading, Writing and Math for Grade 2: Building on concepts covered on earlier books in the series, this workbook includes content that looks at consonant blends and digraphs, contractions, and story elements, and also introduces multiplication and division.

I particularly love the material is aligned to Canadian curriculum and that the activities that cover the concept of money show Canadian coins, without the discontinued penny!

Each workbook comes with two full sheets of reward stickers, a certificate of completion and parent support pages with ideas for extension.

Developed specifically for the Canadian market and to support the Canadian curriculum, NELSON's Disney Learning series offers an engaging way for parents to support early learning, and reading, writing and math for older children. There are currently available for at nelson.com/disneylearning and ranged in pricing from $9.99 for board books and $12.99 for activity cars to $14.99 for workbooks. They are already popping in select retail stores across Canada. In fact, I recently spotted them at Shoppers Drugmart. And oui, there are even select resources en français!

Disclosure: I am participating in NELSON's Disney Learning campaign and have received special perks. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Friday, July 21, 2017
14 Comments

Toddy Gear - Where Fun Meets Functional

Back to School

Toddy Gear - Fun and Functional Tech Accessories

It doesn't take much for me to get excited about the latest tech accessories. Yet, when they are not only functional but stylish and unique, I can't help but swoon. If you have yet to discover the perfect combo of fun and functional, check out all the coolest accessories by Toddy Gear. We're talking about power banks, charge and sync cables, microfiber smart cloths and wedge mobile device stands that reflect your personality and add some extra flair to what is so often boring and plain.

One of my favourite Toddy Gear accessories is their Smart Cloth. This eco-friendly microfiber cloth is made in the USA and is incredibly soft. You can use it to clean screens and it is also great for cleaning glasses, too. I've had so many compliments on my Sanibel Smart Cloth, seen above, but you can get them in so many different styles. For the art enthusiast, Toddy Gear recently added a famous artwork collection. My personal favourites are Mona Lisa, Starry Night, and La Tournée du Chat Noir. Their 5x7 cloths usually retail for $9.99.

Looking for a hands-free solution? The Toddy Gear Wedge is a beanbag-like stand that is perfect for the home, office, or even on an airplane. It cradles your smartphone so you can catch up on your favourite show or follow a recipe while you cook. The plush microfiber on the bottom can also clean your screen. There are some fun new designs in their Back-to-School collection such their Bubblegum Wedge, Jazzy Wedge, and Pug Life Wedge. These generally retail for $14.99.

Toddy Gear Sanibel Smart Charge Deluxe Power Bank

Finally, don't leave home without a power bank. Toddy Gear's Smart Charge Power Bank is travel-sized and is available in a wide range of creative and unique designs to suit your style. I tested out the deluxe charger with a 7000mAh battery that has dual USB ports so you can charge two devices at once. I use it with my iPhone 6S and get almost three full charges. It is slim and elegant in design and features three digital LED indicators to show how much power is remaining. A standard power bank is $24.99 and the deluxe is $29.99.

Luckily, I have a special promo code that will save you 20% off your Toddy Gear purchase. Simply use TEACHERMOM20 at checkout.

Win a Toddy Gear Smart Charge Deluxe Power Bank!

One lucky Toronto Teacher Mom reader will win a Toddy Gear Smart Charge Deluxe Power Bank in their choice of available designs. Be sure to complete the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the USA who have reached the age of majority. Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Friday, July 21, 2017
32 Comments

Learn About the Importance of Honey Bees to Canada's Ecosystem

#PlantforBees

It is now the beginning of summer. You've planted your pollinator-friendly garden and participated in National Planning Week. Now what? As a teacher and a lifelong learner, I believe it is important to educate ourselves and our children on the role of pollinators in Canada's ecosystem and the ways in which we can help them continue to thrive. Whether you want to learn about the factors affecting honey bee health, how honey bees help feed our communities or the difference between honey bees, wasps and hornets, you are already taking a crucial step by showing an interest in pollinators and their crucial role in Canadian agriculture.

Five Ways You and Your Family Can Learn More About Pollinators

Visit beesmatter.ca. This website is one of several initiatives to work together with beekeepers, scientists, environmentalists and everyday Canadians to improve honey bee health and shed light on the many factors affecting honey bee health. Here you will find information about honey bees in Canada and how you participate in the Buzzing Gardens program. Be sure to bookmark this site for ease of reference.
Plant a pollinator-friendly garden. If you haven't already, sign up for the Buzzing Gardens program by visiting beesmatter.ca and they will send out a free seed packet per household while supplies last. If you have already received your seeds, it's time to pull out your gardening gear and start planting. Get your kids involved, too!
Add a bee bath to your garden. Because bees get thirsty, too! All you need is a shallow plate, a few rocks, and some fresh water. I used a plant pot tray and added a bunch of small rocks. The rocks serve as a landing pad. Plus, it makes for a pretty garden feature as well.

It's National Planting Week! Have you planted your Buzzing Garden yet? Share your pics and tag with #PlantforBees. #beesmatter #buzzinggardens #beebath #croplifecanada #croplife #bees #garden #nationalplantingweek #ad #twitter #wildflowers

A post shared by Diana Mancuso (@torontomom) on Jun 7, 2017 at 7:27pm PDT

Share the Honey Bee Learning Centre. If you have school-age children, let their teachers know about the Teacher Toolkits and other learning resources they can use throughout the year within their classrooms. There are several lesson plans for grades 1 to 4 that have been designed with various Canadian curriculum in mind, complete with reproducible blackline masters.
Pay a visit to a local farmer and/or a botanical garden. What better way to learn about the importance of pollinators than to speak directly with a farmer. You can also stop by a botanical garden to speak to experts on gardening and local plant life and to inquire about additional learning opportunities. For example, the Toronto Botanical Garden hosted a series of workshops on City Critters where the kids and I learned all about the various roles of honey bees and sampled different types of honey. We were also fortunate to participate in another session where learned about butterflies, planted a butterfly garden and released dozens of beautiful Monarch butterflies into the wild.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Bees Matter blogger campaign and have received special perks. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017
13 Comments

Staples Teacher Appreciation Days Are Back!

Back to School

Tuesday, July 18, 2017
5 Comments

How I Got My Craft Groove Back

Arts and Crafts

Over the past couple of years, my passion for creating paper crafts has seen a drastic decline. There are many factors that have played a role in this; a lack of free time, general fatigue, a messy craft space in the cold, damp basement, and ~~an addiction to binge watching my favourite shows~~ an absence of inspiration. It wasn't until I jumped on board the Amazon Prime wagon that things changed. The new Cricut Explore Air 2 was on sale during Prime Day for nearly half the price. And Cricut machines are rarely sold at such a discount. It was like Fate's way of saying it was meant to be. I've been wanting a new Cricut for so many years because I wanted to try their design software to create my own designs and also streamline the cutting process. Plus, the Explore Air 2 has a dual carriage so I can write and cut, or score and cut in a single step. And you know what? I've worked really hard on maintaining a successful blog, I deserve to treat myself every once in a while. Am I right?

Cricut Animal Kingdom Dog Birthday Card - square

Once my new Cricut arrived, it was like I got my craft groove back. It didn't take long to get used the Cricut Design Space software and I've already figured out how to get all layers to cut on a single mat so I don't have to unload and reload it for each layer. My first craft was the Create a Critter squirrel birthday card (seen above) that I made for my nephew's third birthday. My second was a birthday card for my daughter who turned 12 yesterday. She loves dogs so I found a cut one on my Animal Kingdom cartridge and used some fancy s.e.i. design paper for the mat. I also embossed using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. Of course, I needed some inspiration for the layout so I turned to Freshly Made Sketches. I rarely make square cards, mainly because I don't have any square envelopes, but I absolutely love how it turned out. Then, last night, my daughter and I designed our own bookmark with a horse and personalized it with her friend's name who will be celebrating her birthday soon. It was so fun!

I am determined to keep up with my little hobby and, as such, am in the process of relocating my craft supplies to our office. I know having a quiet space with good lighting and a place to sit will make a huge difference. I can't wait to finish purging the rest of the office and linking up the dozens of Cricut cartridges to my online account. In the meantime, I hope to update my craft blog over at Diana's Designs with my newest crafts.

Monday, July 17, 2017
7 Comments

Discover the Beauty of Cavalia's Odysseo

Arts and Entertainment

Cavalia's Odysseo - Les Voyageurs - #OdysseoSAUGA

When it comes to pushing the limits of live entertainment, no one does it better than Cavalia's Odysseo. The show, which opened in Mississauga last month, features a magical blend of equestrian arts, stage arts and high-tech theatrical effects that will leave spectators in awe. Inspired by the beauty and harmony of the ancient relationship between horse and man, Odysseo features 65 horses and 50 artists from the world over.

Cavalia's Odysseo - Troupeau - #OdysseoSAUGA

Earlier this month, my bestie and I attended Social Media Week to take in the stunning performances. The show begins with a number of majestic horses wandering about the stage at liberty. It is a dream-like experience to be able to see so many beautiful horses roaming freely about, I could have watched them for hours. This scene is aptly named Troupeau, which is French for "herd."

Cavalia's Odysseo - Carosello - Dan Harper - #OdysseoSAUGA

Photo Credit: Dan Harper

We are then taken on a great journey into various worlds that make you feel like you are a part of the voyage, thanks to spectacular visual effects and a larger-than-life, curved screen that serves as the backdrop for the show. There are several breathtaking scenes that include Les Fées, Fête du Village, Liberté, and Les Voyageurs (see above) before we make a stop at Carosello. This is where a full size merry-go-round descends from above and slowly rotates as acrobats perform gravity-defying acts and feats of sheer strength.

Cavalia's Odysseo - Les Anges - #OdysseoSAUGA

The journey continues as we watch Nomades, L'Odysée and a stormy Tempête before Appel d'Afrique in which performers teach audience members the "Call of Africa": O walu guere moufan! I love this scene not only for the interactive component but also for the simple message behind the call: No more war! We take a Paseo (Spanish for walk) and move on to a stunning scene called Les Anges. The aerial silk performers really do look like angels from heaven.

Cavalia's Odysseo - La Grande Aventure - Andrew Miller - #OdysseoSAUGA

Photo Credit: Andrew Miller

I was really looking forward to the final scene La Grande Aventure. It is during this scene that a lake appears on stage. It is created using a system of pumps with two water tanks that are hidden behind the scenes and fill the pool with 40,000 gallons of water.

Photo Credit: Dan Harper

Watching the horses gallop through the lake is like nothing I've ever seen before. The water splashes about, beckoning audience members to join in the fun like a child plays in a puddle after a rainfall. The viewers in the front row, however, may experience some of the splashing first hand.

Photo Credit: Lynn Glazzer

Photo Credit: Jak Wonderly

While I have seen Cavalia's Odysseo twice before (you can read my 2015 Odysseo review and 2013 Odysseo review), I am still in utter awe of the beauty that is Odysseo. The show features 65 horses of 12 different breeds including the Appaloosa, Arabian, Canadian Horse, Holsteiner, Lusitano, Paint Horse, Percheron Hanoverian Cross, Quarter Horse, Selle Français, Thoroughbred, Spanish Purebred (P.R.E.) and Warlander, which come from from Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, the United States and Canada. Among the 50 incredibly talented artists are riders, acrobats, aerialists, dancers and musicians who come from around the world including the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Italy, Guinea, South Africa, Poland, Russia, Spain and Ukraine.

And, as if the show itself isn't incredible enough, the VIP experience will surely blow you away. Rendez-Vous VIP tickets grant you access to the private Rendez-Vous VIP Lounge and Patio 90 minutes before the show, during the intermission as well as after the show. You will also enjoy center-row seats, a full meal buffet before the show, various refreshments available at will, a dessert buffet, coffee and tea served during the intermission, an exclusive stable visit after the show and an Odysseo souvenir. Allow me to recommend the top sirloin steak and kale salad, which pairs quite nicely with a serving of cocktail shrimp. And for dessert, try the carrot cake! Also, keep your eyes peeled for celebrities while lounging in the VIP tent. This year, I spotted Clive Standen who plays Rollo on one of my all-time favourite shows Vikings.

Cavalia's Odysseo has extended its matinee and evening performances through July 30, 2017. It is located under the White Big Top next to Hershey Centre in Mississauga. Tickets are priced from $39.50 to $139.50 for adults and from $39.50 to $124.50 for children, depending on their age, plus applicable taxes and fees. VIP tickets range from $139.50 up to $239.50. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, you can save 15% on select tickets by visiting cavalia.com/live and using promo code SOCIAL. This promotion is valid until July 23.

Disclosure: I received complimentary VIP access as part of Social Media Week. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own. Photos courtesy of Cavalia unless otherwise noted.

Saturday, July 15, 2017
5 Comments

How to Make Coloured Slime With Elmer's White School Glue

Arts and Crafts

The summer is finally upon us and I can now rejoice in the luxury of two restful months off work. In theory, that is. Granted the kids are older and more independent than ever, it never ceases to amaze me how three simple words can still irritate me to no end: "Mom, I'm bored!" Luckily, my son has made friends with many of the neighbourhood boys and they are constantly playing together and running around outside. My daughter, however, isn't as fortunate. There is only one girl her age on our street with whom she enjoys playing but she travels a lot with her family, especially during the summer, leaving my daughter to own devices. Quite literally. She would spend the whole day watching YouTube videos or playing video games if we let her.

Instead, we encourage her love of arts and crafts, especially given her creative flair. Drawing and dancing are her forte, and she has a growing collection of paints and brushes, and yet, what does she keep begging me to make? Slime. She is forever obsessed with SLIME! In the past, we've tried a couple of different recipes, despite my better judgement, and the outcome would rarely be pretty. But then, as if the slime gods had been watching over us, we received a kid-friendly slime kit from Elmer's to test out and suddenly my fear of messy disasters was appeased.

Inside the kit, we found a 4 fl oz bottle of Elmer's White School Glue, a small jar of baking soda and a dropper bottle filled with blue food colouring. According to the Elmer's recipe for coloured slime, the fourth and final ingredient was contact lens solution, which I know many people already have lying around at home. I probably could have asked my friend for the mere tablespoon of lens solution required for the slime recipe but I knew this would the first of many slimey concoctions so I went out to the pharmacy and bought a small bottle.

After pouring the entire bottle of Elmer's White School Glue, we added half a tablespoon of baking soda and mixed them together. Then we added several drops of food colouring, followed by a tablespoon of contact lens solution. We mixed all the ingredients together until it all started to stick together and became harder to mix. We removed the slime from the bowl and began to knead until it didn't feel sticky. Overall, it was super easy to make and the instructions were very straightforward. I was amazed to see the transformation of the glue and baking soda when mixed with the lens solution. It was like magic!

If you would like to try making slime with your kids, check out Elmer's Recipe for Colored Slime. I also recommend you bookmark their Elmer's slime page for additional recipes, videos and handy tips and tricks. Keep in mind that, depending on the food colouring you use, you may notice that it may stain your hands. While we were able to wash it off afterwards, you may want to consider using gloves when kneading. Also, pull out some old newspapers to protect your tabletop while making and playing with your slime. And please be sure to read their disclaimer:

*Adult supervision is required; This project is not appropriate for children under the age of 3 years. Always wash your hands before and after making and playing with slime. Warning: If large quantities of contact lens solution are accidentally ingested (greater than a tablespoon), get medical attention immediately.

Disclosure: I am participating in the Elmer's Kid-Friendly Slime campaign and have received special perks. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.