DIY Life

S'mores are traditionally melted over a blazing camp fire. I enjoyed these summer evening treats when I was younger, and want to pass on the ooey-gooey tradition to the sweet toothed kids in my life. We just can't get out in front of a campfire this year, but that isn't going to stop us from indulging in the graham cracker goodness.

When I first heard about microwave s'mores, I was horrified at the whole idea. I really thought that s'mores should be left where they belong: on the campgrounds.

After trying them, it's all I can do to not microwave one for myself right now.

Summer vacation keeps rolling along. How long until your kids go back to school? Are they spending too much time lounging on the couch? Here are a bunch of summer projects to trick your kids away from their air-conditioned sanctuary and out into the great outdoors of, er, your backyard.

Okay, okay. So the backyard is not the great outdoors. True. But the main thing is to get the kiddos out in the fresh air, learning about nature, and learning about the noble pursuit of maintaining a garden.

Getting their hands dirty
1. Ask them to help with the weeding. Pay them a small amount of pocket money for their time.

My three-year-old loves playhouses. Even if it's really just a cardboard box that he can fit into, it qualifies as the coolest toy in the northern hemisphere.

In fact, we have finally found the right plans to fit our yard, and we plan on building a playhouse for our fanciful child soon. We were actually steering clear of themed playhouses, so that Owen could let his imagination run wild; knowing him, it will be everything from a firehouse to the Hall of Justice.

If you have a little one who adores Disney's many jungle-themed rides and movies, though, this may be just the playhouse for you to try building.

Building a strong, safe campfire is a crucial part of your successful camping trip. Most of us know the basics of camp fire safety: never leave the fire unattended, never use fuel starters, and never build the fire close to your tent. Where I always struggle is building a strong and lasting fire.

Love the outdoors offers full instructions on building successful campfires. They discuss the three types of kindling, outlining the most effective order in which to add each. Pay particular attention to their tips on safely extinguishing a fire.

Bring on the s'mores!

We love solar powered stuff here at DIY Life. Hacking things together ourselves in the interest of reducing our environmental footprint really gets us going. This DIY solar lantern is just the thing to keep the spirit of Earth Day even after it's come and gone.

Noel from unplugged living gives us a full detailed tutorial on making the solar lantern. Covering each step thoroughly, and providing loads of helpful pictures, diagrams and part lists, this is one project that will be easily recreated on your own.

This project is split into a three part tutorial. In the first part, Noel explains the basic theory of operation, then goes on to explain how to calculate the value of the resistor. In the second section, you'll learn about the charging module and solar cell. The assembly instructions are clear and detailed. Finally, in the third part, you'll see close-up pictures of each piece and how they should look together.

Staying green isn't always easy, but it sure is important. Noel brings us inspiration by combining our desire to go green with the love for great DIY projects. Gear up for your next camping trip with a solar powered lantern.

As toys go, sidewalk chalk is pretty inexpensive. You can probably buy a pack of four pieces at your closest dollar store, in fact. So though this recipe for sidewalk chalk won't save you any money, it definitely has all the necessary ingredients for an early childhood craft -- it's quick, it's simple, and it's fun.

Whether you're caring for a large group of kids this summer or are just looking for an afternoon activity to entertain your own brood, this craft is a good choice. The recipe using plaster of Paris makes a chalk that's softer than the store-bought version, so kids' pictures are brighter and more vibrant. And since you're adding the paint yourself, you can create custom colors. Finally, like all sidewalk chalks, the artwork will wash away during the next rainstorm.

Ready to get started? Check out the easy how-to in the gallery below.

In many areas, my own included, now is the time to make summer camping reservations before spots fill up for the summer. Camping is inexpensive family fun and a relaxing way to take a break from this high-tech world.

Savvy travelers can choose a location and reserve a site, without leaving the comfort of their home office chair. State parks can also be reserved online. If tent camping is a big turnoff for you, many state parks offer camper and mini-cabins as well.

If you have more than one camping vacation planned this year, it'll make your life a lot easier if you streamline your camping gear. That way, when the weekend hits, you can eliminate hours of packing and just grab your things and go.

Be perpetually packed for summer fun by keeping your camping gear in plastic storage tubs. The Art of Manliness has a comprehensive list of things to include in your tub, including sleeping bag, tent, flashlight, first aid kit, batteries, small broom, wet wipes, bug repellent and matches.

Next, create a list of things that you want to bring along, but that you don't keep in your tub, including: sunscreen, lawn chairs, clothing, toiletries, and food. Plan a simple menu, pack the car, hit the grocery store, then head out into the great wide wilderness for a back-to-nature experience.

Every Wednesday is tip day at The Happiness Project. This weeks tip has a DIY spirit and will appeal to those of you who want to naturally boost your energy. She suggests 9 ways to do that in the next 10 minutes. My favorite tip is number 3, act with energy:

We think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, but often we FEEL because of the way we ACT. Trick yourself into feeling energetic by moving more quickly, pacing while you talk on the phone, and putting more energy into your voice. Also, research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up.

If you spend time outdoors, like I do, or you have pets or kids that go outdoors, you need to be aware of ticks. Ticks are small bloodsucking bugs that burrow into your skin (yes, it's disgusting) and many species transmit diseases. You can get Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Tularemia from a tick. Here in New Jersey, Lyme disease seems to be the most prevalent.

Some ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see -- ironically the small ticks are the ones that you should be most aware of. Ticks may get on you if you walk through areas where they live, such as tall grass, leaf litter or shrubs. They also seem to fall from trees.

Tick-borne diseases occur worldwide, including in your own backyard, as we know well. My husband recently got bit by a tick -- which is what prompted this post. To help protect yourself and your family before getting bit, you should

• Use a chemical repellent with DEET, permethrin or picaridin (Use this to the letter, so you don't get future health problems. Make sure kids use product with less than 10% DEET in it.)
  
• Wear light-colored protective clothing
• Tuck pant legs into socks
• Avoid tick-infested areas
• Check yourself, your children and your pets daily for ticks and carefully remove any ticks you find.

Reality though is that's easier said than done, who exactly wears their socks around their pants while trying to enjoy a day outside?

But first things first. Don't panic. Yes, it's true that Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, but your risk of developing Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick is very low.

That being said, you'll want to remove the tick as soon as possible because risk of infection increases between 24 to 72 hours after the tick attaches to the skin. You are less likely to get sick from a tick bite if you remove the tick within 24 hours.

Do the following to remove a tick:

Here's a unique idea for a simple bird feeder that I learned about when I owned my feed store. It's a great project for the kids and a wonderful opportunity to discuss animals and nature with them. It's a fun and moderately messy way to keep a few kids busy doing something worth while.

Check out the details after the jump.