TUTORIAL: Home Remedy for Getting Pee Out of Mattress

Having three co-sleeping Babes who at times remove their training pants after getting into our new bed, has left some stains.  We thought that the waterproof cover we purchased from IKEA would have prevented messes.  However, I guess when you dry the cover on high, it partially loses its efficiency and lets some get through.  It was really upsetting to know that, yet another mattress would be ruined, especially after our great attempts to prevent them from happening this time.

So the Papa and I scoured the internet for a cheap but totally effective solution...and we found it!  It is so simple and you probably already have all the ingredients in your home.  Plus it literally is a time saver, considering you don't have to go out and rent a carpet cleaner, like we had been doing.

Ingredients for the Best Solution Ever:

1 cup of hydrogen peroxide
3-4 tablespoons of baking soda
little drop of dish detergent
spray bottle

Simply combine all ingredients in the bottle (I used a homemade makeshift funnel to insert the baking soda) shake and spray directly onto the stains.  The solution is only effective for 20 minutes so work fast.  Let sit and watch the magic happen.  It literally disappears before your eyes.  After the solution dries there may exist some baking soda residue that can be easily brushed or vacuumed off.

Voila!  A Mama's mattress saver

xoxo

The Mama

(we found the instructions for this solution on the Inspired Housewife's blog)

Homeschool Tutorial - Constellation Unit

This is a great unit for so many reasons: sensory, spelling, drawing, application, reading, tracing.

You will require:

Enough Paper (Card stock best) for twelve constellations (we did the Zodiac signs because they correspond with various months - which will be explained a little later)
Circle to trace (we used the lid of an Earth Balance buttery spread container)
Enough pencils for each child
Pictures of the constellations
Scissors
Hole Punch
Ruler

For extra activities:

Extra Paper for Tracing
Flashlight
Dark Background
Twine with Clothespins

Making the constellations:  Trace circles onto each paper.  Depending on the age of the child either have them look at the picture provided and map out the constellation or do it yourself.  Use a ruler to connect the stars.  Have the child practice reading the name of the constellation and writing it.  Write the corresponding month on the card under the name of the constellation.  It may also be fun for each child to recognize the month of their birth and corresponding sign.

Again depending on the age of the child, have them cut the circle out.  Great for hand eye coordination.  Have them punch out the stars with the hole punch, or mama / papa could do it.  Once completed there are several activities you could do:

Activities:

1.  Lace the holes.
2.  Place the constellation over a paper and have the child colour in the empty holes to make the constellation on a piece of paper.
3.  Write and explain the meaning of each constellation.  You could write this on the back of the constellation of work on a book together.
4.  Darken a room and put a flashlight (as pictures above) in front of the constellation card and watch the stars dance.

Hanging the Constellations:

This is a great opportunity to practice order of things, reading and months.  Work through the months of the year and hang them according to calendar year asking your child to read each month as you go.

Hope you enjoyed this Homeschooling Tutorial!  More to come.

xoxox  The Mama