Archive for February, 2012
Looking for something other than a cup of coffee for you afternoon pick-me-up? You may want to try a Vanilla Green Tea “Latte” made from home!
Mix 1/2-1 tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract into 8 oz of Hot Green Tea.
Add 1-2 oz. Hot Milk.
Enjoy!
The other day I’m making dinner and the P’s are watching a cartoon while they wait. I’m going about my business in the kitchen when I hear “Doggy Did What Doggies Doo!” come from the TV. I look over to see this comercial from The Doggie Doo Game:
I literally said out loud “oh you have got to be kidding me!” So I looked it up.
The game is this; you feed the dog, you walk the dog, the dog poops! When the dog poops you clean it up and the first person with three pieces of poo on his shovel, wins.
Oh, and the rules state “You can only pick up the dog’s mess when it has fallen on the table. When it is hanging outside the end of the dog, just tap him on the back until it drops” I see. So just so the kids know, never pull poop out of a dogs butt!
I have a three year old son who would find this just hilarious. The problem? I spend my days trying to convince him that poop, pee, and farting noises are NOT funny.
I would really like to know how business is going for them. Tell me, would you buy this game for your kids?
My littles is 17 months old and becoming more and more independent. She is walking, climbing, talking, and playing. I love watching her grow.
I love TOMS. They’re cute, comfortable, go with everything, and for every pair you purchase they give a pair to a chld in need. Doesn’t get much better than that, right? WRONG! They make wedges too! You can’t go wrong with a wedge, no matter what the outfit!
These? I am completely in LOVE with! They are definitely going to be part of my Summer uniform wardrobe!
A few other colors I might need to own for the Spring/Summer:
The Red Canvas (I’m thinking I need these for the 4th of July)
The Aqua Canvas (my absolute favorite color in the whole world)
The Yellow Nautical Stripe (would be so adorable with a spring dress)
Over on Catholicmom.com she shares a childrens Lenten activity to do with the Jelly Bean Prayer. I loved this idea of earning Jelly Beans for specific good deeds or acts of kindness. However, for Peyton and Preston (5 and 3) it seemed like a lot for them to take on. And, anyone that knows Preston knows that Jelly Beans would not last in that jar all 40 days…at some point he would sneak in and take them.
We came up with our own way to earn Jelly Beans for good deeds throughout Lent that doesn’t involve the constant temptation.
To work on improving our selves with kindness and caring we have set out 3 jars. One is full of Lima beans and the other two were empty at the start of the Lenten season. From Ash Wednesday until Easter the P’s will be told to move 1 Lima bean to their jar every time I see them doing something for others. It can be anything from helping out with chores, sharing a special toy, or being kind to one another. On Easter, the beans that they have earned will be Jelly Beans.
I don’t collect coins, or stamps, or tiny figurines….I collect wine corks. I love wine corks, the real ones not the synthetic kind. I think they look cool and I love how they are small but each one is defferent, decorated with the winery’s name or label. I have been collecting them for years and one of the great things about them is their uses. You don’t just have to dump them in a bowl, you can actually make usefull stuff out of them and it looks really pretty!
My first project was a “Cork” board that I made a couple of years ago. It hangs in my kitchen and yes, I actually use it as a bulletin board.
All you need are:
-
A pretty frame (it needs the glass in it or you could glue an empty frame to some particle board.) This one was actually a bulletin board that I found at Homegoods.
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Various wine corks
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Hot glue
I made a pattern the corks going two by two horizontally and then vertically.
Once you have your pattern all figured out (fill the entire board before using any glue), start gluing. Glue corks on, in their pattern, one at a time until board is full.
I’ve saved up more corks and I can’t wait to start some new projects! On the list: a trivet and a wreath!
All decked out for Mardi Gras in her homemade mask and beads!
Our King Cake~which I’m very proud of since it’s the first one I’ve ever made 
If you are ever in need of colored sugar and don’t have the store bought kind…make your own!
place 1/3 cup sugar in a plastic bag or container.
Add 1 to 2 drops of food coloring.
Shake!
I started with one drop and then added a second to get a darker color.
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is all about indulgince. So you know those sweets you’re going to give up for Lent? This is your day to get it all in before the fasting season (which starts tomorrow, Ash Wednesday). Typically you think of wild parties in New Orleans but around here, the kids are getting in on some of the fun.
Mardi Gras Masks
I found these plastic masks at the Dollar Tree but you can also find plain ones at craft stores like Michaels. We used some glitter glue, feathers, and beads to jazz them up a little.
Mardi Gras Beads
Forget the store bought kind, we’re making our own! Using the pasta that we dyed purple, green and gold yesterday and some simple twine, the kids get to string their own beads. Visit my tutorial for instructions on how to Dye your own pasta.
King Cake
This is the first year I’m going to make a King Cake. They look like so much fun and the kids loved that we made our own colored sugars to put on top!
Photo and Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home
Today we dyed pasta to string on neclaces…we are making Mardi Gras beads! It is easy to do but you need a full 24 hours for the pasta to be ready for use.
What you need:
- Pasta
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Food Coloring
- Glass Jars
Directions:
- Pour pasta into the glass jars leaving enough room for the pasta to move around.
- Add in food coloring (I let the kids do this part so they added quite a bit)
- Pour in a tablespoon or two of rubbing alcohol-enough to cover the bottom of the jar
- cover tightly with lids
- shake jars until pasta is completely covered
- Leave the jars closed for several hours (we left ours for about 8 hours) making sure to shake them every so often to keep the pasta evenly coated.
- Pour the pasta out onto paper towels and let dry over night
I am so excited that we tried this and that it was so easy! I see endless crafting possibilities in our future
***WORD OF CAUTION: The smell of the Alcohol when the pasta was spread out onto the towels is VERY strong. I had all of the kitchen windows open and ended up taking them outside for about an hour and then switch the alcohol soaked paper towels for dry ones when I brought them back in.
