• DIY,  Kids

    Indoor Monkey Bars

    We have a long hallway in between our bonus room and the rest of the house. One day, while walking down it, I realized it would be a perfect place for some monkey bars! We needed something for the kids to climb because they were quite literally climbing the walls. Supplies: 2×4 lumber (We used a total of four, two on each side. You will need the length of your monkey bars x2) 3/4-in x 10-ft galvanized steel pipes OR you could buy them pre-cut, if you can find a length that works for you, like THESE 3/4-in galvanized 2-hole pipe straps 3-in screws Paint for 2×4’s (optional) Tools: Tape measure…

  • DIY,  Kids

    Indoor Swing

    We are always looking for ways to make our house more fun. When I saw indoor swings online, I thought our bonus room would be the perfect place to try them out. Here’s a girl and her puppy hanging out in the bonus room before the swing: There are a lot of different options available, from chairs, to pod swings, to more hammock-like versions. We decided on these Harkla swings: The swings themselves are pretty cool but we found you could only twist so far before you recreate The Helicopter move from the playground. We found a swivel you can add in between the ceiling plate and the swing so…

  • DIY,  Kids

    Cardboard Castle

    Trunk-or-Treat happened to fall on the day of our birthday girl this year. She wanted a birthday party and the other three wanted to go to trunk-or-treat. As you often do with a family of six, we compromised and decided to host a trunk that was birthday-girl themed. She was already heavily into princess-mode for her costume so the trunk plans quickly became a birthday castle. We needed materials that were temporary, easy to move, and not too expensive since it was likely to be a one-use castle. We had just moved so we had a LOT of boxes. Cardboard castle, here we come! Supplies: Cardboard boxes Heavy duty scissors…

  • DIY,  Kids

    Play Area Under the Stairs

    When we moved into our house, we found that the previous owners had left us a tiny door in the attic. Someone had a fun project planned that never came to fruition. As soon as we discovered it, I knew we had to find a way to use it. I have always loved the idea of hidden play areas and secret worlds. I blame the The Chronicles of Narnia for my obsession. Supplies: Tiny door (You can buy these online, pre-framed) Drill Oscillating multi tool Reciprocating saw Vacuum (so much debris under the stairs) 2″ Wood screws Molding – or however you want to finish the outside of the door…