I Have a Chotchkie Drawer and I Know How to Use It

by Theta Mom on January 24, 2010

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Last week the weather was cold and rainy. Simply the perfect conditions for me as my kids were driving me crazy. It never ceases to amaze me; the times when my children seem to annoy me the most are the times in which I am unable to get outside with them. It’s like forced torture with additional cabin fever.

You know the moment when you have completely reached your threshold and there is no escape? Well, that was me on this particular day.

I was done.

Truly, it was one of those days where I had enough.

So, that’s when I ran upstairs and went straight for my chotchkie drawer. Every Theta Mom needs a chotchkie drawer. You know, the one filled with useless crap that you purchase at the dollar store? It’s the drawer containing all of that cheap, junkie toy-garbage that your kids drool over because it’s wrapped and it’s new.

{If you don’t yet have a chotchkie drawer, I strongly suggest you make one. Immediately. It could save a life.}

So, as I reached into my bag of tricks, I found this beauty I picked up in one of the dollar bins at Target called Grow Capsules:

Target1

You fill a cup up with warm water and throw one of those suckers in.

Target2

Then, you watch your children scream and shout with delight as the capsules begin to “come alive.” Seriously, my kids were mesmerized. And there were so many beautiful moments of silence when they excitedly waited for the creatures to “come to life.”

This process takes about 4-5 minutes for each capsule…and it comes with 12 of those capsules…catch my drift? We are talking almost an hour of solid entertainment.

Target3

Yes kids, truly magical.

So there you have it. It only takes a buck at Target to entertain my kids on a cold and rainy afternoon with a little help from my chotchkie drawer…

Which saved a piece of my sanity.

{ 106 comments… read them below or add one }

1 A.G
Twitter:
January 28, 2010 at 11:32 am

I keep my kids happymeal toys for this reason, I have a rubbermaid container full of them. :) Another idea.

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2 Jamie (va_grown)
Twitter:
May 12, 2010 at 12:55 pm

That’s a good idea!

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3 Theta Mom
Twitter:
January 28, 2010 at 12:05 pm

Sounds good A.G!

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4 Bethany
Twitter:
January 31, 2010 at 10:51 am

I bought three packages of those at Target just the other day for my students- we had space ones, safari animals and cars/trucks. The kids LOOOOOVED it but my classroom got a little loud ;)

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5 JDaniel4's MOm February 11, 2010 at 4:26 am

JDaniel would love these. Stopping from SITS!

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6 Kristin February 13, 2010 at 8:23 am

Here’s my problem: I get lots of chotchkies (Target dollar bins AND the dollar store)…I just can’t wait to open everything up and play with it!! LOL. I have a bigger problem with restraint than my kids, maybe!

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