mint in the middle's Profile

try to understand though, not everything works for every child... not every teaching methodology works for every student...
i have followed this blog for several months now (and backlogged to the early days) and understand that her kids haven't been 'thrown into' this situation (i.e. allowing them to use the bathroom on their own)... their kids have been modeled for and guided since they were much younger... it's a way of life for them...

ooh! thanks 'windy_student' for the ikea option! i hadn't noticed them before.

lucy started using glasses at a young age (around 15 mths) and since her hands are extra tiny, she has used ikea's toy cups! http://www.mintinthemiddle.com/2012/09/lucy-recommends.html
like 'asprygal', i've also bought thrift store shot glasses and/or candle holders (not sure what they are) and tiny tumblers (they may be ikea's http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60216101/)

when my mom bought the adult size picardie glasses, the sales women actually threw one on the ground to prove that they don't break!

the photo of lucy smiling must be credited to her setä of heart visuals! http://heartvisuals.com/

it's kind of funny... the trolley in the photo is an alvar aalto artek tea trolley... worth a couple thousand dollars... not a couple hundred! hope that's not what you had your eye on...

Deep clean by yourself. Purge while you're at it. Then have a yard sale or Craigslist those things you aren't crazy for anymore. And voila! You've added $ to your $100 budget!

Then yes, I would paint a wall (you can buy mis-mixed paints for cheap at the hardware store)... Maybe check out the roadside for any good finds (head to a great neighborhood the evening before garbage day or the morning of)... Buy some great fabric to stretch over a huge frame (very dramatic chage to a room)... You can always pick greenery, flowers and branches from the outdoors (free!)... Many ways to stretch those dollars!

same- i've had this idea as well, but for a coffee shop/bakery (like anna lisa- which by the way was also my grandma's name!)- but i could see it being a tone of work if the originals are being sold- it means people have to move the furniture after hours in order to not disturb the customers who are actually dinning- but in this case, they order the furniture so the originals can stay-put. quite a simple concept really- and it works!

i never had a separate playroom growing up because of lack of space. it meant that at the end of every day, we cleaned up and put our toys away where they belonged (shelves, drawers, bins)... however, my friends that did have separate playrooms never had to clean up at the end of the day. they were allowed to leave their toys and mess behind. it was always a mystery to me why we couldn't play in their rooms!! it wasn't until recently that i realized many people have designated rooms for play and that play doesn't happen in a bedroom!! i never felt distracted or the need to get up out of bed to play- there was always tomorrow!

for a thinner foam, try this:
http://www.thepennyparlor.com/2010/09/coffee-filter-wreath.html

foam tubing from the plumbing department & duct tape

:) one my favourite baby shower gifts we received!! i saw it at "the one of a kind show" around christmas time, and was so surprised my friend had tracked it down and got it for our baby-to-be! :) lucy loves it- it's warm, soft and the perfect weight. stunning colours.

lol @ haley :)