tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69443779821869539702024-03-21T18:44:11.895-04:00The Beautiful Thrifty LifeLive the life you want with the budget you have...KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.comBlogger359125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-90268894522139895062015-01-31T13:53:00.001-05:002015-01-31T13:53:43.846-05:00DIY Shabby Chic Jewelry Display<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0Ke_jz-yPdW74uxs5VeeAIQw3RkRLkfeMY__ojV9C1yA5-fael0JXCpRjyfq2PFM6NGUZaP4ocY6TaGeBOV43U97ZwpNBbv4i2vJpzo8W77FKF9m8CfsXFsxt4GQH8xxsKFC2yWBxRM/s1600/jewelry+display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0Ke_jz-yPdW74uxs5VeeAIQw3RkRLkfeMY__ojV9C1yA5-fael0JXCpRjyfq2PFM6NGUZaP4ocY6TaGeBOV43U97ZwpNBbv4i2vJpzo8W77FKF9m8CfsXFsxt4GQH8xxsKFC2yWBxRM/s1600/jewelry+display.jpg" height="400" width="296" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You don’t mind a post every year or so, right? Well, I finally decided to do a project I’ve been “sitting on” for quite some time now- a DIY Jewelry Display. I had seen varying themes on this idea on Pinterest, and since I just love all things girly, I decided to go with lace. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I picked up an old frame and some lace from the Goodwill Outlet (I think the lace used to be curtains) and started by stapling the lace to the back of the frame with a staple gun. I was a little bit concerned that the weight of the lace might cause the lace to sag in between the staples, so when I was done I put a layer of hot glue around the edges as well, just for some extra support.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now I have a great place to keep my earrings organized- that should save me about 10 minutes every Sunday morning trying to find a match! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just love it when a project is pretty and functional at the same time... ;-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, what have you been working on lately?</div>
KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-4379498615259664292013-12-01T21:33:00.000-05:002013-12-01T21:40:40.850-05:00DIY Felt Town Car Play Set<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjPk9S2O6i-Vl-c6jRcfwirQF_aCMoaCLNf2F5szE-KUAd_uW94_Wv7Vxo382H7nb-UGgxAdQJznPHu6geQBvBkxlOpJPF1p4tYiQStyzAgs-28BeYzQkwm_l2w1J37k7enLgPwOifvw/s1600/IMG_6781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjPk9S2O6i-Vl-c6jRcfwirQF_aCMoaCLNf2F5szE-KUAd_uW94_Wv7Vxo382H7nb-UGgxAdQJznPHu6geQBvBkxlOpJPF1p4tYiQStyzAgs-28BeYzQkwm_l2w1J37k7enLgPwOifvw/s400/IMG_6781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I’m back for a special pre-Christmas post! Last year I wanted to make something special for a little guy in my life. This guy was 3 years old and loved to play with his cars more than anything. I decided to look online to see what I could find in the way of roll-up felt play sets for cars. I found several cute ideas, but this little guy is super creative and imaginative, so I knew I wanted something that would help him expand his creativity.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gPGUwbb_tPCvGjdIYK1bOEFKmGUY_CmiOn8t2SqZXQY-Kqky2Aj57zEndZsPnhuoTVFENEmwb2_0lcr56kLMV7ib6FWHoBe7MmxYMUQAe82xKytKm6mXcYqe5_8_SHwEioUf9cnmIR4/s1600/IMG_6779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gPGUwbb_tPCvGjdIYK1bOEFKmGUY_CmiOn8t2SqZXQY-Kqky2Aj57zEndZsPnhuoTVFENEmwb2_0lcr56kLMV7ib6FWHoBe7MmxYMUQAe82xKytKm6mXcYqe5_8_SHwEioUf9cnmIR4/s400/IMG_6779.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
For this mat, I simply got a large piece of green felt and edged it with some binding (is that what it’s called? I don’t know).<br />
<br />
Incidentally, I do not sew. I did make a little bit of an exception for this project, however, just because I wanted it to have a more polished, finished look.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I did my mat and then I started having some fun with my scissors and began cutting out all the pieces to go with it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKkQp1soasJjTw71GCu_qwHQpfeKDo-HsIzm22TCk5dZ2qn98zJ-wbO1_GfT68j5ion2fXZthmkJC1t0cDGYBWcRCAWmrnq79yCdz4lgyxH5HZ_-ISDy6spwKVXXUs7xQSIjQ0t2nOr0/s1600/IMG_6782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKkQp1soasJjTw71GCu_qwHQpfeKDo-HsIzm22TCk5dZ2qn98zJ-wbO1_GfT68j5ion2fXZthmkJC1t0cDGYBWcRCAWmrnq79yCdz4lgyxH5HZ_-ISDy6spwKVXXUs7xQSIjQ0t2nOr0/s400/IMG_6782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I did not attach any of these to the mat, and I left the roofs and signs separate from the buildings (except for one). That way the little guy could mix and match and make his town however he wanted it to be. These are the pieces I made:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>- 7 buildings- just used felt, black Sharpie, and fabric paint for these</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>- 7 roofs- detailed with black Sharpie</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>- 10 signs- black Sharpie on white felt</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>- several road pieces, including some intersections, long straight pieces, short straight pieces, curved pieces, 3 parking lots, and a bridge- the lines were all created using white puff fabric paint (and a ruler).</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>- several bushes & trees</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>- a garden- made from brown felt with green “veggies” sewn on with a simple ‘x’ in the center of each.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>- a pond and some river pieces made from blue felt</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIPBifpGXHFgAziqz94tSTWeLbgbXarRyDqZ_Xny0YJYglWSmfuF5YdlGpnO7js6yC7c3WH1PUUgsTisueu9Y8Eb8Fiw-oXQGwtfF2stXNiEbjIkjKgmMTxmoc3_5T0Fa_4IGg1espY0/s1600/IMG_6780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIPBifpGXHFgAziqz94tSTWeLbgbXarRyDqZ_Xny0YJYglWSmfuF5YdlGpnO7js6yC7c3WH1PUUgsTisueu9Y8Eb8Fiw-oXQGwtfF2stXNiEbjIkjKgmMTxmoc3_5T0Fa_4IGg1espY0/s400/IMG_6780.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then I made a little carrying sleeve for all the parts, including a “parking garage” for the little guy’s cars. The top folds down over the openings so nothing falls out.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHLpxfTOV1F7y1PYv53mPzLPvGVbbIiTsWdpOJCJMvlmwaz9YEuDnL55tWvZpJi_9PN1comrTV_F5_Kg6vZQiHv-KyQ6kvNqlEHD9iry8PluH34SJLemOLtZ8D0zmFulOS3b_EnBzkNs/s1600/IMG_6783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHLpxfTOV1F7y1PYv53mPzLPvGVbbIiTsWdpOJCJMvlmwaz9YEuDnL55tWvZpJi_9PN1comrTV_F5_Kg6vZQiHv-KyQ6kvNqlEHD9iry8PluH34SJLemOLtZ8D0zmFulOS3b_EnBzkNs/s400/IMG_6783.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I made the set so that it was its own carrying case- you just lay the “accessories sleeve” across the open mat...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTP96hOsITGshclvYsnrV-cU226qHIj825rRG9OWLRx3sZYULm7tDiZMbKCDT0UkuHxhr9GcC_5BfhmQFBedGQ7o7I549INcgLvTTjq5m0AvoOBiaxdgxVr_iDXpE3bnzQRxKf9og-fE/s1600/IMG_6784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTP96hOsITGshclvYsnrV-cU226qHIj825rRG9OWLRx3sZYULm7tDiZMbKCDT0UkuHxhr9GcC_5BfhmQFBedGQ7o7I549INcgLvTTjq5m0AvoOBiaxdgxVr_iDXpE3bnzQRxKf9og-fE/s400/IMG_6784.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
...fold the mat into thirds over top of it...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalb9pByEwo026LdUw2LKqA2hsFvgGUZ-Ga6x37Yu4Xs0tQgw9212ylw8aStZMwMNQiqRda_kL59qN-8U0QCvFOWKRdFKfV7lb7ZNrGnFE-3oIe2Wvn2kP7uc4qT_T8hIUx9DAM74-2ts/s1600/IMG_6785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalb9pByEwo026LdUw2LKqA2hsFvgGUZ-Ga6x37Yu4Xs0tQgw9212ylw8aStZMwMNQiqRda_kL59qN-8U0QCvFOWKRdFKfV7lb7ZNrGnFE-3oIe2Wvn2kP7uc4qT_T8hIUx9DAM74-2ts/s400/IMG_6785.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
....fold each end into the center so they meet...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXVx8Ax7JYyjsxTB56fe4bErKnvnZYD75dY3vDZ5zqYOpRU26YUjWZqRg50173Rl_CQwI-Uazhrteg-4xmZ97Mt1hVkxTAiwSO-e_5uDUeqtS_QGXTxlm9f1NyilwRjNVnnlp82mVhQo/s1600/IMG_6786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXVx8Ax7JYyjsxTB56fe4bErKnvnZYD75dY3vDZ5zqYOpRU26YUjWZqRg50173Rl_CQwI-Uazhrteg-4xmZ97Mt1hVkxTAiwSO-e_5uDUeqtS_QGXTxlm9f1NyilwRjNVnnlp82mVhQo/s400/IMG_6786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
...then fold it in half again (so the crease is on the place where the two ends meet in the middle...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmVnpG61TtEZ22KK_y8wb63uXzcvBxxjjIgBYnaS7mbp4rNb_kd3ISDNJ1169N-dkHD6bKnRl6N0wlThxdk4UGCP-ms2ux4lqBWSGsEwFSvGcImUNz25X4n1ARiirXMA7b1WqnktIrPo/s1600/IMG_6787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmVnpG61TtEZ22KK_y8wb63uXzcvBxxjjIgBYnaS7mbp4rNb_kd3ISDNJ1169N-dkHD6bKnRl6N0wlThxdk4UGCP-ms2ux4lqBWSGsEwFSvGcImUNz25X4n1ARiirXMA7b1WqnktIrPo/s400/IMG_6787.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...and fasten with the attached tab (also handle) and wooden button. Now it’s its own little case that’s about the size of a laptop computer. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIzeDOxfzUW58ub84JlbwDj0qEqbCoGwVbVhgn1NER4oh3BkHBAzPFu4i9nOMiu2uv2q8NJ9eyieLm18yqJ8QHh_4FyriCnRRR3yHxyvHQPKRV9qFFURE15RejNBe3isHjT-4Olk2cn0/s1600/IMG_6781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIzeDOxfzUW58ub84JlbwDj0qEqbCoGwVbVhgn1NER4oh3BkHBAzPFu4i9nOMiu2uv2q8NJ9eyieLm18yqJ8QHh_4FyriCnRRR3yHxyvHQPKRV9qFFURE15RejNBe3isHjT-4Olk2cn0/s400/IMG_6781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I was setting this up to take the photos I had so much fun building my little town. I decided that the library should be a tall, happy-looking building, the hospital a nice gray two-story, the museum was a tiny brown building with a red door...I put the garden behind the barn and the lake behind that, with a little stone cottage by the creek. The felt makes it so everything sticks and the cars can drive smoothly on the roads. Honestly, I probably had more fun than I should have. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ahem.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, this is a project that certainly takes some time and effort, but it is fun to make and even more fun to play with! You can also include some extra felt scraps in with your gift to allow the recipient to create his own unique touches for his town.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Things are busy around here with 4 kiddos, but I’ll try to get back and post every now and then! Have a beautiful and thrifty Christmas, friends!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Click <a href="http://thebeautifulthriftylife.blogspot.com/search/label/Handmade%20Gifts">here</a> for more great DIY Christmas gift ideas!</div>
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-74785899893024471652013-05-30T12:20:00.000-04:002013-05-30T12:20:19.369-04:00Home-based Preschool: Ocean Explorers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It’s the end of the year and we’ve run out of letters in the alphabet, so we decided that for our home-based preschool we’d just pick whatever themes we wanted to do and just have some fun! My friend Roseanne and I decided on doing an ocean theme- that means lots of fish, sand, and water play!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We started with our usual welcome song, opening prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance. Then to introduce our theme we did a little fishing game, which I forgot to take photos of- I had created a puzzle with a picture of a fish and the word, “FISH” on it. I attached a paper clip to each piece and used a dowel rod with a string and magnet to let the kids “fish” for the puzzle pieces. We put our puzzle together to spell out the word.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Next, we did the Five Little Fishes finger play:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Five little fishes, swimming in a school. (Hold up 5 fingers, swim with hands)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first one said, "This water's cool". (Hold up 1 finger, then shiver)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The second one said, "There's a shark over there!" (Hold up two fingers,then point)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The third one said, "We'd better beware!" (Hold up three fingers, look scared)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The fourth one said, "Where can we hide?" (Hold up four fingers, hold out hands)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The fifth one said, "There's a cave! Go inside!" (Hold up five fingers, then point.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then in went the fish, and the shark went away,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And the five little fishes swam out to play.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then we moved on to our fishing snack! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW7Z5x9Jn0-IsVScLOabkkleFsIQlcnRoo1vt1xhgQwV8efgbwX0nbJDqgz6R3EhTp3moB1uAc4Rbpgw3kEbMJvISUZYbILc4PtdK21PjYfpyL55J33sM_rhDwrikj-NPLNRsCPK5e1E/s1600/IMG_7448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW7Z5x9Jn0-IsVScLOabkkleFsIQlcnRoo1vt1xhgQwV8efgbwX0nbJDqgz6R3EhTp3moB1uAc4Rbpgw3kEbMJvISUZYbILc4PtdK21PjYfpyL55J33sM_rhDwrikj-NPLNRsCPK5e1E/s400/IMG_7448.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We used pretzel rods dipped in peanut butter to “catch” goldfish crackers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCe2IsCZSkWiKxBC37Et1Syh0P02TJ9HGzoFmXvl0lIpYSkit1PO8vNn4wm_es2l4aUzxA-ymOVH4c-7OE_2QesV7BwpHrM2Hi_9W2ke8_HUa85qE8K5mka9H9QRKOhRz-2BAGQGoofI/s1600/IMG_7446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCe2IsCZSkWiKxBC37Et1Syh0P02TJ9HGzoFmXvl0lIpYSkit1PO8vNn4wm_es2l4aUzxA-ymOVH4c-7OE_2QesV7BwpHrM2Hi_9W2ke8_HUa85qE8K5mka9H9QRKOhRz-2BAGQGoofI/s400/IMG_7446.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Little Boo got one! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4po7xl_cjaz27zfvW9DfHZfmEr85yCG87Yqlo8Bs72C6NYSdh2h85AbVqQZOq4erJbkbKG5AmgH9TZYuS_6llYRlnzc-Hi_wsI5Gyrc1vH2tNBViKiHgN9epJVUzd0w97IR4qSiniFjs/s1600/IMG_7447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4po7xl_cjaz27zfvW9DfHZfmEr85yCG87Yqlo8Bs72C6NYSdh2h85AbVqQZOq4erJbkbKG5AmgH9TZYuS_6llYRlnzc-Hi_wsI5Gyrc1vH2tNBViKiHgN9epJVUzd0w97IR4qSiniFjs/s400/IMG_7447.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tasty!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH-j9XAovQTCSnLbbaGxB__thTI7Pa2b19-JFcOJbl-00HbIFtmrgVnaI4Ef3YEkmuRGH8-m4ACVLTC3atC0KROP4iwyStf5v3_M76lySSAWPPi15xEWXJsnToqyCrbcdFoOs8W05M1g/s1600/IMG_7479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQH-j9XAovQTCSnLbbaGxB__thTI7Pa2b19-JFcOJbl-00HbIFtmrgVnaI4Ef3YEkmuRGH8-m4ACVLTC3atC0KROP4iwyStf5v3_M76lySSAWPPi15xEWXJsnToqyCrbcdFoOs8W05M1g/s400/IMG_7479.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After snack, we worked on our craft- jellyfish! Just a styrofoam bowl with streamers and googly eyes. Isn’t he cute?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then we let the kids have some free play time while Roseanne and I arranged some Montessori-inspired learning centers. Once they were ready, we gathered them together and told them they were going to be Ocean Explorers. We took them on a tour of all the centers and then let them play. Here they are:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QAVcsbU56bPsWCF7ar9TeMS3y0B_Su09bBVFq8J7plNegPPwnRbAsdFXd94YjGZKtP8EtxXP7BPAxzxbobYn0aCAqnsMgVC7kgN0E8FqiAd_JaPiALcKpb321YuL8l9gAtbosSlzkYg/s1600/IMG_7449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QAVcsbU56bPsWCF7ar9TeMS3y0B_Su09bBVFq8J7plNegPPwnRbAsdFXd94YjGZKtP8EtxXP7BPAxzxbobYn0aCAqnsMgVC7kgN0E8FqiAd_JaPiALcKpb321YuL8l9gAtbosSlzkYg/s400/IMG_7449.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At this area, W is using a small strainer to scoop ocean items out of a tub of water (I think he has a sunken treasure box there). Once they scooped them out, they put them into a bowl. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77wEfUdzKyeeR_xyu8TgPECUz4QBVdRfpyrgXaO6Pgmb75Q2ugNp5nCpRxFxRZAx18IymmjZQjfPQLGUCghz96fvreHnQb40mu8SbvKh2Qa68-DFRCOsMqf5ELvmtWn8ATZSGTYEaWgc/s1600/IMG_7469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77wEfUdzKyeeR_xyu8TgPECUz4QBVdRfpyrgXaO6Pgmb75Q2ugNp5nCpRxFxRZAx18IymmjZQjfPQLGUCghz96fvreHnQb40mu8SbvKh2Qa68-DFRCOsMqf5ELvmtWn8ATZSGTYEaWgc/s400/IMG_7469.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We also had a mini sponge (we cut one into smaller pieces) for them to use to clean up their drips when they were finished. They really liked that part.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIn6KoIuUzH7dKzVcHPtg3pV5blT_ALVV9PkQ7TkZeGXl0D0LspKMGWf7_lLIJiskt0pedXqzXG7w9p6_FURyjYZjgknjr6XhVNXnKJ3nme6VjYX9zQl5VYVHUEaQqtNPZ0VjDv6-1Uo/s1600/IMG_7450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIn6KoIuUzH7dKzVcHPtg3pV5blT_ALVV9PkQ7TkZeGXl0D0LspKMGWf7_lLIJiskt0pedXqzXG7w9p6_FURyjYZjgknjr6XhVNXnKJ3nme6VjYX9zQl5VYVHUEaQqtNPZ0VjDv6-1Uo/s400/IMG_7450.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here’s A having some fun digging in the sand, which is really “cloud dough”- flour mixed with baby oil. This stuff is REALLY fun, but really messy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUuAZ7N_G_hGFgGG33ZlcZ1PPQIxCL4I4VW6lFM2spEOrpS9AxZkFRNG1vA559WkTM7eoBwJ2qbSSYFZp-G0WSruFAPRBsPaluPK5nu937-Flkf78DDCzrSq1Vek6Arin8k-OMz8sjwQ/s1600/IMG_7466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUuAZ7N_G_hGFgGG33ZlcZ1PPQIxCL4I4VW6lFM2spEOrpS9AxZkFRNG1vA559WkTM7eoBwJ2qbSSYFZp-G0WSruFAPRBsPaluPK5nu937-Flkf78DDCzrSq1Vek6Arin8k-OMz8sjwQ/s400/IMG_7466.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Boo and her friend T had it all over their laps when they were through! We had sea shells hidden in there, plus a mini shovel and mini bucket/sand castle mold and a few other goodies.</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsufFFCRYtig0j63abBPHv05RUpDGEsxsTeFmZzLTi2DUUGo9I2n2m8CFOxb7mYnSKPsOnsDM7eSyoMSIp90GSnjK_rVuLR5J0C-YtpiH8cX8ta1Lp_P9G9RYAqNmgpovx3Pv3gZNvig/s1600/IMG_7452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsufFFCRYtig0j63abBPHv05RUpDGEsxsTeFmZzLTi2DUUGo9I2n2m8CFOxb7mYnSKPsOnsDM7eSyoMSIp90GSnjK_rVuLR5J0C-YtpiH8cX8ta1Lp_P9G9RYAqNmgpovx3Pv3gZNvig/s400/IMG_7452.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Boo enjoyed this activity- we have a small dish with blue play doh in it. The kids had to press the play doh down into the container, then stick the golf tees in the play doh. Then they had to balance the marbles on top of the tees. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAXEkNaKbrrCVHE04yNf1mUuvFBMpEl4I8wxkjqsc-gUWiI-9ECNg4jP1elWV1XgCHIWLgCZ1BicJeqQatz9peIYVrfcDvdv2kNKeo-xHFIjaKJFP-0tXWZ00rR5iY0mSgXhJtGr-H-s/s1600/IMG_7454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAXEkNaKbrrCVHE04yNf1mUuvFBMpEl4I8wxkjqsc-gUWiI-9ECNg4jP1elWV1XgCHIWLgCZ1BicJeqQatz9peIYVrfcDvdv2kNKeo-xHFIjaKJFP-0tXWZ00rR5iY0mSgXhJtGr-H-s/s400/IMG_7454.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
They did a great job!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyI1xa8W2AB8qb-l7vZcij1DyqgWwcRpqqAHGRP6vBhwraWQiZqteMQQWKIyfL4aWvUaIk5fEApVtdUd-KWZ_8u_nAxnBnbj2JdfmdCf7QPSzjbq-ITko1_cBRnM0p16Rxcn6AMXSTuU/s1600/IMG_7453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyI1xa8W2AB8qb-l7vZcij1DyqgWwcRpqqAHGRP6vBhwraWQiZqteMQQWKIyfL4aWvUaIk5fEApVtdUd-KWZ_8u_nAxnBnbj2JdfmdCf7QPSzjbq-ITko1_cBRnM0p16Rxcn6AMXSTuU/s400/IMG_7453.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is C doing some “sea urchin” tonging- he’s using a strawberry huller to move the spiky rubber balls from the dish into the places in the paint palette. Tricky stuff, but the kids did great!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDFloA4b1vLqJV8k8wyPrdRzDkHOrChyphenhyphenkIkbrGZH9Fpv9gMzqWq_6vo4LaP8e87y8S3sY3dUsaZHiYL1S8PU0qM5ORV6PcBLnOxmlniBZ84x1SRKUNd2eUI1dyBPh2Xcutxnsw-uECj4/s1600/IMG_7455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDFloA4b1vLqJV8k8wyPrdRzDkHOrChyphenhyphenkIkbrGZH9Fpv9gMzqWq_6vo4LaP8e87y8S3sY3dUsaZHiYL1S8PU0qM5ORV6PcBLnOxmlniBZ84x1SRKUNd2eUI1dyBPh2Xcutxnsw-uECj4/s400/IMG_7455.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Next was our magic wand activity- we had Mr. Octopus and his eight legs, with eight bubbles around him. The kids had to use small disks (each is made of transparent colored plastic with a metal rim around it) and place the disks on the bubbles.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2QP2QuLb9IwrRg84g9pdx-kaZBgUyDkcBVtIoZJbYrTh2-KwMkWC93PnENQ058QcDgg0j8yPihct0TNX_9_aB5Q1PhQcu101UmqfXlUxiWSUZq1xMXmNUpZ3K6-SN96vzh-wI_L0TFk/s1600/IMG_7456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2QP2QuLb9IwrRg84g9pdx-kaZBgUyDkcBVtIoZJbYrTh2-KwMkWC93PnENQ058QcDgg0j8yPihct0TNX_9_aB5Q1PhQcu101UmqfXlUxiWSUZq1xMXmNUpZ3K6-SN96vzh-wI_L0TFk/s400/IMG_7456.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then they used the “magic wand”- a magnet- to pick up all the “bubbles." </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfIINIr51PglE5UW40HlAc7R9B6OF3qvqetZ0_Z-3bzo080VB_jpDM-kEe5SVRpX7DqH_wqFCN9tJMS_kqVfcT59I-MEOIFuRhW1UqbjcCH6A3yrC0-xlk0JEcSruZv56NkLUkrZvbco/s1600/IMG_7457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfIINIr51PglE5UW40HlAc7R9B6OF3qvqetZ0_Z-3bzo080VB_jpDM-kEe5SVRpX7DqH_wqFCN9tJMS_kqVfcT59I-MEOIFuRhW1UqbjcCH6A3yrC0-xlk0JEcSruZv56NkLUkrZvbco/s400/IMG_7457.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuHfkcwmhZFdFHlopw4dzUvdfNB58E8RYG_d_J_cFsts8jXbGvEuUeWl5MW7oOcAKIS38SDGC6IQYgpPRiaeaxqDX8U0kH65u_z02EbJnqfvNsxDngTvuVhxwxU9e8ywHJlJ21efLwJo/s1600/IMG_7458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuHfkcwmhZFdFHlopw4dzUvdfNB58E8RYG_d_J_cFsts8jXbGvEuUeWl5MW7oOcAKIS38SDGC6IQYgpPRiaeaxqDX8U0kH65u_z02EbJnqfvNsxDngTvuVhxwxU9e8ywHJlJ21efLwJo/s400/IMG_7458.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Next was our fishing hole. We had a blue blanket which was our ocean, then several fish (just shapes cut from foam) with paper clips attached. Here T is using the fishing rod to catch some.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZyJ0LDzgZDGBg8W96PdbaqflORGX8hI1rhbjP2kvoaZQKP1R3vTKdGibo6oIUFhXvDnCFeD6vRL7cLHn_9MmdbxvsVjTH4iWouCIUEelq55RIcn2afV29t14BcMn1EpdDlmnDqbOvM4/s1600/IMG_7459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZyJ0LDzgZDGBg8W96PdbaqflORGX8hI1rhbjP2kvoaZQKP1R3vTKdGibo6oIUFhXvDnCFeD6vRL7cLHn_9MmdbxvsVjTH4iWouCIUEelq55RIcn2afV29t14BcMn1EpdDlmnDqbOvM4/s400/IMG_7459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK1Z4AksnO01pH0yP-VTyfHPxBCLwYOvvQpr9lJc_HVhjfPiOAqPHvsvdDYJPHFU2TiXL11DmMKt9ErdbWSEQjtcbWXG8MiH5174-Xx4jTOyXl1nM2mTfIFmyJmlzp4YaNkjx8h7g06Q/s1600/IMG_7462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcK1Z4AksnO01pH0yP-VTyfHPxBCLwYOvvQpr9lJc_HVhjfPiOAqPHvsvdDYJPHFU2TiXL11DmMKt9ErdbWSEQjtcbWXG8MiH5174-Xx4jTOyXl1nM2mTfIFmyJmlzp4YaNkjx8h7g06Q/s400/IMG_7462.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had a small basket for them to put all their collected fish in. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7a1AtSlDCDz1cJd8nP3K8nZIBKUgSyLHrL2o-8KQOyeZk8gJrBwYL2Ht1sMur2cjzYWmqxSfO1M8tBn2oq571qJUUbG3PLHH8fwq-xsBcpaAfLmsVrgGS5BkqR618pFtj4hb5K_ZN7M/s1600/IMG_7463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7a1AtSlDCDz1cJd8nP3K8nZIBKUgSyLHrL2o-8KQOyeZk8gJrBwYL2Ht1sMur2cjzYWmqxSfO1M8tBn2oq571qJUUbG3PLHH8fwq-xsBcpaAfLmsVrgGS5BkqR618pFtj4hb5K_ZN7M/s400/IMG_7463.JPG" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is W working on rolling up a beach towel at another center. Good work, W!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXlWCGhFQUnjcRGdGfrpCI9Z3-nmr1-VuskoeOsJVuPkw0w5nGzW5fj6QZOGsiZuL2XaRUSJ1ErbZZhQE-GFovivJepIEzZl7EZYqKA891ftZnoO32oDO_y_lzQzIfUBiPZNPRreIYL0/s1600/IMG_7467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXlWCGhFQUnjcRGdGfrpCI9Z3-nmr1-VuskoeOsJVuPkw0w5nGzW5fj6QZOGsiZuL2XaRUSJ1ErbZZhQE-GFovivJepIEzZl7EZYqKA891ftZnoO32oDO_y_lzQzIfUBiPZNPRreIYL0/s400/IMG_7467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Out last center was some blue play doh with some ocean-themed cutters and molds, plus the letters to spell out “fish.” I did this one myself, in case you couldn’t tell. ;-)</div>
<br />
For our next activity we decided to be scientists and do an experiment. I had a bucket of objects and each child took a turn to pull one out and make our hypothesis about whether it would float or sink.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugOjEbzVg1Ku3QqzbpEXTQ1UQ6MiEQvLPxNwTxw5kvMb0_JJAdk5ghtCYitR-vM-ypaATOAokY01lA7WmmVubwXPYvWzpS5LNoxrOWTG1VEOzgeG0OlRsMsREd97TPP20AkONXP6dJSs/s1600/IMG_7471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugOjEbzVg1Ku3QqzbpEXTQ1UQ6MiEQvLPxNwTxw5kvMb0_JJAdk5ghtCYitR-vM-ypaATOAokY01lA7WmmVubwXPYvWzpS5LNoxrOWTG1VEOzgeG0OlRsMsREd97TPP20AkONXP6dJSs/s400/IMG_7471.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We talked about why certain things would float and others would sink depending on their shape and what they were made of. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YB3mFxepIAxrm0ippxqwiG6NtKhWX979YVGilB8kRxGfmOi5_zDVkfKdbKCbsUAeicU9z1RhIxMtKjKayQPjB6pXwo0e29EcwMyMIeyJ7ICtEdzh46hNbKbhXmtb1dUhtGb7ZF9Aa1Q/s1600/IMG_7472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YB3mFxepIAxrm0ippxqwiG6NtKhWX979YVGilB8kRxGfmOi5_zDVkfKdbKCbsUAeicU9z1RhIxMtKjKayQPjB6pXwo0e29EcwMyMIeyJ7ICtEdzh46hNbKbhXmtb1dUhtGb7ZF9Aa1Q/s400/IMG_7472.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had two towels, each with a sign to identify if the objects floated or sunk. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGGkSg6DSoGcGniFA4dawG_VZJkvmVDbn7jSqJAnGm09J67nw2rhtnwx_ZJOZ7E0PBL7kar1L6AruSo1nH1iGjxWOme5TYqXStDS64lOxvoFYoyJn5iayCNS_SuRWGWKag_KHIV1Id28/s1600/IMG_7474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGGkSg6DSoGcGniFA4dawG_VZJkvmVDbn7jSqJAnGm09J67nw2rhtnwx_ZJOZ7E0PBL7kar1L6AruSo1nH1iGjxWOme5TYqXStDS64lOxvoFYoyJn5iayCNS_SuRWGWKag_KHIV1Id28/s400/IMG_7474.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then we all splashed in the water just for fun.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIuzqnGoHygLAnFCqTkqbIc_K35z7CpSE1zDW24F9hftucO520ZS9svGjFg3mTsw48jFy4px7iQrXmyzflIbyfdmEpjYYo0xODYIx-oHZXM_Og7sx7tBNXic8LfJ_VvbSMG7RE7zSIdQ/s1600/IMG_7475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIuzqnGoHygLAnFCqTkqbIc_K35z7CpSE1zDW24F9hftucO520ZS9svGjFg3mTsw48jFy4px7iQrXmyzflIbyfdmEpjYYo0xODYIx-oHZXM_Og7sx7tBNXic8LfJ_VvbSMG7RE7zSIdQ/s400/IMG_7475.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
While I cleaned up our experiment and started preparing lunch, Roseanne read some great ocean-themed books to the kids. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1tmTR_lWErb68KWTJaeKS9Uk5XkK_WML-7RS70mb9HtJrLdyGTQmaGxBXOAERrBC5n43vpsKeq8eNxXGlR6sHMPva2kwavTlHWt0W9kZ1tAwy0p-JXynJqi0DxBr4RGKRbPtuQr47PU/s1600/IMG_7476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz1tmTR_lWErb68KWTJaeKS9Uk5XkK_WML-7RS70mb9HtJrLdyGTQmaGxBXOAERrBC5n43vpsKeq8eNxXGlR6sHMPva2kwavTlHWt0W9kZ1tAwy0p-JXynJqi0DxBr4RGKRbPtuQr47PU/s400/IMG_7476.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
For lunch we had octopus hot dogs and apple boats with cheese sails.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuzDpLxMwiQk-0QFZsHMTNVOY9xqL3zRfs7XvUG8Ef3K8Qm3-L6fiQJLSxOAfEDdYTdv0YT3DNyIuppKFqr9IKjwZxJ8ZTzt_TgptPRht81h9nkRK6GJBP9c9waY2JbUYMoLUef2JUkE/s1600/IMG_7478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuzDpLxMwiQk-0QFZsHMTNVOY9xqL3zRfs7XvUG8Ef3K8Qm3-L6fiQJLSxOAfEDdYTdv0YT3DNyIuppKFqr9IKjwZxJ8ZTzt_TgptPRht81h9nkRK6GJBP9c9waY2JbUYMoLUef2JUkE/s320/IMG_7478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And some blue jello ocean with swedish fish swimming in it and a vanilla pudding beach with graham cracker sand. (If you’re going to do the jello with the fish, I recommend doing it the morning of your event. I did mine the night before and my fish ended up being a little bloated and squishy. Ick.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And that was our ocean-themed preschool! So much fun!</div>
<br />
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-85001055882395516582013-03-21T23:25:00.000-04:002013-05-30T12:20:35.945-04:00Home-based Preschool: X is for X Marks the Spot and X Ray! Seems like these are the only posts I have time to do these days. Well, other than that Shabby Apple giveaway. Did you know that if you enter, like a dozen of those giveaways you have a pretty good chance of winning one? LOL! But that’s for another post...ahem. Anyway.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>X Marks the Spot</b></div>
<br />
So this week I had the good fortune of having my turn for our home-based preschool land on the letter X! (We do one letter a week.) Because it was the day after St. Patrick’s day, I thought it would be fun to do a treasure hunting, x-marks-the-spot theme.<br />
<br />
The kids got a hint of our letter for the week as soon as they came into the living room, where I had used black electrical tape to make x’s on the floor for each child to sit on during our circle time. This set-up actually worked out really well- they weren’t all over each other like they usually are on the blanket and they weren’t playing with them like they were when I used foam squares.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0EW0A1e6VX9W2_yuIg8dB2E7jkdL7pJgncs1_yNUyfkqtpCee6feDnrSc1mUpzvVExWfauICtJoCn9NwJuk8q9kwZxgSJrtEnhwm-53SRmfczucRs4BeENF2guEPDl33xavAYF8s1XQ/s1600/IMG_7136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0EW0A1e6VX9W2_yuIg8dB2E7jkdL7pJgncs1_yNUyfkqtpCee6feDnrSc1mUpzvVExWfauICtJoCn9NwJuk8q9kwZxgSJrtEnhwm-53SRmfczucRs4BeENF2guEPDl33xavAYF8s1XQ/s320/IMG_7136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Then we sang the alphabet song, but when we got to x we clapped instead of singing it. Then I told the kids that today we were going to have Leprechaun Training School. Leprechauns use a letter x to mark the spot where they keep their treasure, so we have to know how to find the letter x. I had the kids do an x hunt on the white board:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifhjQ7jAAasNBb_eGyDSygzou1VbPAHlpxJSx5ZliXDdv0EVBoyLCzEhbf5p-hBTQJiQg_SfvG9QwJkgLS5UUJJL4eGcMVuZSJ1UIKl3krFxhJkJrwwwvorvrV7JaaxJnainZeLutzlg/s1600/IMG_7125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifhjQ7jAAasNBb_eGyDSygzou1VbPAHlpxJSx5ZliXDdv0EVBoyLCzEhbf5p-hBTQJiQg_SfvG9QwJkgLS5UUJJL4eGcMVuZSJ1UIKl3krFxhJkJrwwwvorvrV7JaaxJnainZeLutzlg/s320/IMG_7125.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<br />
Each child had a few turns to come up and x out a letter that wasn’t an x, and then each child got to circle an x.<br />
<br />
Next was snack time! We had Lucky Charms which we sorted, and we also looked for the x’s in them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyWQvZ2wTGljGGL-tjmb6MpQW-Ysmzyqi4cEzJ_AqEPAaXK8Uwh8oEduOY15GKgjyuDjF7-BrzWVw1aRl_hD593LkXjKpwz40cNX0mjTCKWrtrFaK7dzRdqb0Zli8PcvoRkqkPpiOqUQ/s1600/IMG_7126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyWQvZ2wTGljGGL-tjmb6MpQW-Ysmzyqi4cEzJ_AqEPAaXK8Uwh8oEduOY15GKgjyuDjF7-BrzWVw1aRl_hD593LkXjKpwz40cNX0mjTCKWrtrFaK7dzRdqb0Zli8PcvoRkqkPpiOqUQ/s320/IMG_7126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And we ate plenty of them as well, of course. :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEM9Xrz9j6b4yyvlS_Cuf8z3wAPvb7c2KNYDP7ORn7iQovu8E2dZvkLCZ0cWXzYVmoOmh1NoLSFLnAMZMdO1dgBF_Q1t1VaZCqcBFk4RDCg-VRSppzHmm_jHdvtoowRNO_V59LDS1sB5g/s1600/IMG_7127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEM9Xrz9j6b4yyvlS_Cuf8z3wAPvb7c2KNYDP7ORn7iQovu8E2dZvkLCZ0cWXzYVmoOmh1NoLSFLnAMZMdO1dgBF_Q1t1VaZCqcBFk4RDCg-VRSppzHmm_jHdvtoowRNO_V59LDS1sB5g/s320/IMG_7127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After our snack we played for a little bit, then came back for our craft. Leprechauns need a lucky shamrock, so we made some with paper, glue and felt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0VWuMWBzhoT6aL7HZceNXscRwAJkIVD_vH4Xrd9SeQLl1u7a_9C3pD1nitKcWi8cOLMrxIwXFqwslFzHdBu0Me6ewhKbshBA7w8tfgOg3yRmGTb0X4GUqH4VOmY2SiN7IsVKFteBhus/s1600/IMG_7123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0VWuMWBzhoT6aL7HZceNXscRwAJkIVD_vH4Xrd9SeQLl1u7a_9C3pD1nitKcWi8cOLMrxIwXFqwslFzHdBu0Me6ewhKbshBA7w8tfgOg3yRmGTb0X4GUqH4VOmY2SiN7IsVKFteBhus/s320/IMG_7123.JPG" width="260" /></a></div>
<br />
I made these papers that read, “X Marks The Spot!” and cut some hearts out of felt, which became the leaves for our lucky shamrock.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaQn5LXhRoumyTKHlHhsinrSzYBejQW0pIKtnCXs25unfo73Dc3Q02hUihMBY-OZ4KKr6N08QhYXYMPOT1mwbFKK6pgyQksrZKSatB9ZJa3rnZ1rolMmPf6FiWPlXKoGHqqUK0p_kusE/s1600/IMG_7124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaQn5LXhRoumyTKHlHhsinrSzYBejQW0pIKtnCXs25unfo73Dc3Q02hUihMBY-OZ4KKr6N08QhYXYMPOT1mwbFKK6pgyQksrZKSatB9ZJa3rnZ1rolMmPf6FiWPlXKoGHqqUK0p_kusE/s320/IMG_7124.JPG" width="283" /></a></div>
<br />
I gave each child a small cup with about a tablespoon of white glue in it and a paintbrush. They “painted” their heart leaves with the glue and then put them in the right place, then added the stem. They did a great job!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9CCZxqVqp1dPSVjEBPDR1eBbNXzIfgj3NkYpMN8c0ALOhevzoTuf9Acsg4lI7srdshvUJf1yAOKrTGs9gAyi716MnAY53Z-VBmSiVY0ZSAa4e2yeWd36_h9B1uMvC_w5JLcR1c5Rv8A/s1600/IMG_7128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9CCZxqVqp1dPSVjEBPDR1eBbNXzIfgj3NkYpMN8c0ALOhevzoTuf9Acsg4lI7srdshvUJf1yAOKrTGs9gAyi716MnAY53Z-VBmSiVY0ZSAa4e2yeWd36_h9B1uMvC_w5JLcR1c5Rv8A/s320/IMG_7128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After some more play time we came back to our x’s on the floor and read some stories and did a “5 Little Shamrocks” rhyme using the felt board and counting on our fingers.<br />
<br />
After that, it was time for a treasure hunt!! I told the kids that a tricky leprechaun had left us a fun treasure hunt and told me where the clues were, and that I was going to give them hints but they had to do it themselves (after all, they were in training to become leprechauns).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NG233_uS-dTwMAhiyMq6vRa6dC6yoN3P2o9OWMq4bn4luNdut0MUjKp4yskItoBfLqkmP0kdoGIRfTTLnDnj9Uh0v9Pg4w_k23ClarnQTG02oCkbfEJMy0TdTHrM5qo8f0KVYRbUwq0/s1600/IMG_7131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NG233_uS-dTwMAhiyMq6vRa6dC6yoN3P2o9OWMq4bn4luNdut0MUjKp4yskItoBfLqkmP0kdoGIRfTTLnDnj9Uh0v9Pg4w_k23ClarnQTG02oCkbfEJMy0TdTHrM5qo8f0KVYRbUwq0/s320/IMG_7131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here’s how it worked: I created a treasure map that showed the route to the treasure. (Dora style!) We started in the kitchen. I told the kids that in order for us to get to the treasure, we had to find the clue that would tell us how to get to the next room (the purple slips of paper with a question mark on one side and instruction on the other). In the kitchen I had a paper that had pictures of different parts of the kitchen: the table, the fridge, a cabinet, etc. (the photo above shows the one I did for the playroom). When we entered the room, I got out the paper and a marker. I gave the marker to one child and said, “The leprechaun told me he did NOT hide the clue near the table.” The children would take turns drawing an x through each place the clue wasn’t, and we would look for the clue in the last spot left.<br />
<br />
The clues said things like, “Crab Walk”, “Hop!”, and “Crawl”. We would do whatever it said to get to the next room, which was kind of funny. :-) We finally found the treasure in the cabinet in the bathroom- gold covered Rolos!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggS6_U7MKOmuMoNd4UMh39yN9HSlAGRDd3rTJNcyCZACO3sS27Ib7cukSLAnGzMDLp2R5mB9GTW3EttPsztfp2TwTvfDq8U3HuqKzbEUY1GUIzzTCWQfgQbxUTcHTEX7T5r8WzHPRyDlk/s1600/IMG_7129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggS6_U7MKOmuMoNd4UMh39yN9HSlAGRDd3rTJNcyCZACO3sS27Ib7cukSLAnGzMDLp2R5mB9GTW3EttPsztfp2TwTvfDq8U3HuqKzbEUY1GUIzzTCWQfgQbxUTcHTEX7T5r8WzHPRyDlk/s320/IMG_7129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Ha ha, they were excited.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTnrljq7l74cmgckzmOmrjtonuo1n9Zvfww99o_zkl1xQ2VLzd_jBbG5-dvCT9b8OtfERsPdQLEV8-stSbXApObP5ZcubB5Krm01bUawh44Fvz_8tknwXBkdhlLk5A_JixxOg83M0ywY/s1600/IMG_7130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTnrljq7l74cmgckzmOmrjtonuo1n9Zvfww99o_zkl1xQ2VLzd_jBbG5-dvCT9b8OtfERsPdQLEV8-stSbXApObP5ZcubB5Krm01bUawh44Fvz_8tknwXBkdhlLk5A_JixxOg83M0ywY/s320/IMG_7130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The kids had some more free play time while I got our lunch ready. We only had 4 kids that day, so I made a single green cheese quesadilla (used some of those green tortillas that Mission makes) and made an X in it to cut it into 4 pieces. I also gave the kids apple slices, and I told them that if they had passed their leprechaun training, then when I sprinkled some special leprechaun dust (lime jello powder) on their apple slice while they were holding it, it would magically turn green!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfC_m_Lmiw79ySwypg5B_IuuQ08ilQLN2p_sNLWv6LQfIxiTXwOQ51OpPbu55j7Ha9dxWatGkmw9G8y1cQC9yFdN4DxS8DcCvwPFhqPkweJ066U8ehG7tIoUvKGLPQNhVQqMmzr5w_fY/s1600/IMG_7134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfC_m_Lmiw79ySwypg5B_IuuQ08ilQLN2p_sNLWv6LQfIxiTXwOQ51OpPbu55j7Ha9dxWatGkmw9G8y1cQC9yFdN4DxS8DcCvwPFhqPkweJ066U8ehG7tIoUvKGLPQNhVQqMmzr5w_fY/s320/IMG_7134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Little Boo was so excited that she passed!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Mgi-Ed1I133BlKKTlONFDdxkb1C5mRsuLe_YwZPDr8lIelhs0FZzVV2i1glMkpUHTf0JafRDBFLfxfHUUHecdJPchgAeNxp0mVmX-hXoBDj87k9rYEwXsMFlUzGc14NylJ_eq36daf0/s1600/IMG_7132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Mgi-Ed1I133BlKKTlONFDdxkb1C5mRsuLe_YwZPDr8lIelhs0FZzVV2i1glMkpUHTf0JafRDBFLfxfHUUHecdJPchgAeNxp0mVmX-hXoBDj87k9rYEwXsMFlUzGc14NylJ_eq36daf0/s320/IMG_7132.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
I also served veggie straws and pretzel sticks so the kids could use them to make an x. This Hello Kitty cutie did a great job with her x’s!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQo2Ef-kXnRzs9LbknTfrNwxp3BxWdnqVwIKRxCnvZuvSeU3WYs2LRgJXPGJ_zoM2qjtlW__ZZ_aacMtkx7ahnSa88ICPWGnkEmvCL_83JTnHhZACkK0zpbrPN0C3YxiqdvGSH5sm7uc/s1600/IMG_7135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQo2Ef-kXnRzs9LbknTfrNwxp3BxWdnqVwIKRxCnvZuvSeU3WYs2LRgJXPGJ_zoM2qjtlW__ZZ_aacMtkx7ahnSa88ICPWGnkEmvCL_83JTnHhZACkK0zpbrPN0C3YxiqdvGSH5sm7uc/s320/IMG_7135.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<br />
And how about this adorable little leprechaun?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWJjSGqgDvKkmCJyWrz_ZqeOb4OQRVP8KFSXME4VkP1HM8ZOLYqIwL6Z3HMVT7ZaPQGgzXmEQWkxLY80zRTWVkbyUfHPODS66zs-CDBQvcjQ6rwa_WXopIr3C-bvBvneKwXop5EV2gP0/s1600/IMG_7137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWJjSGqgDvKkmCJyWrz_ZqeOb4OQRVP8KFSXME4VkP1HM8ZOLYqIwL6Z3HMVT7ZaPQGgzXmEQWkxLY80zRTWVkbyUfHPODS66zs-CDBQvcjQ6rwa_WXopIr3C-bvBvneKwXop5EV2gP0/s320/IMG_7137.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
Too cute!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>X is for X Ray</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On Wednesday we did X is for X Ray! We started with circle time and I showed the kids <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/21181060719853061/">this cute video about the letter x</a>. I let each child take a turn using a straw to point to the x’s on the screen. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then I introduced the X is for x ray theme by showing the kids some x rays we had from when my husband had been in a car accident many years ago. We talked about how we all have bones in our bodies and we felt some of our bones. Then we ATE some bones for snack!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHFwTglfoeevE5WziatF9UyiqY-pcKlGUmTSWNbBLeTnGeGZsrSEcG3E0dGNDzeT009KnCF4NcjmgQewrs8Dtcyumjk36f-C_2PlZyjh0WNMPeluNw5g3y__74-blCIXxrtGPlosY-Zo/s1600/IMG_7138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHFwTglfoeevE5WziatF9UyiqY-pcKlGUmTSWNbBLeTnGeGZsrSEcG3E0dGNDzeT009KnCF4NcjmgQewrs8Dtcyumjk36f-C_2PlZyjh0WNMPeluNw5g3y__74-blCIXxrtGPlosY-Zo/s320/IMG_7138.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
Aren’t you loving Little Boo’s hair? LOL!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YkJdHCLHmV7hN1ucQLPDZR-BjXMxPqswFVAIv1z4bEO7-LBArX-ecRDF0syyw7-HBbwB43GbJUivzxhtKjU4K6WukTN2JjmvTTEgpAHbJZyumNOUYNxOmOghW5SHpPfMP9SG3eJ330Q/s1600/IMG_7139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YkJdHCLHmV7hN1ucQLPDZR-BjXMxPqswFVAIv1z4bEO7-LBArX-ecRDF0syyw7-HBbwB43GbJUivzxhtKjU4K6WukTN2JjmvTTEgpAHbJZyumNOUYNxOmOghW5SHpPfMP9SG3eJ330Q/s320/IMG_7139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I made these bones using pretzel sticks and mini marshmallows. Just stick the marshmallows in each end and then dip them in white chocolate. Yum!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZN4FuHZgVw9Vdzi2JUBANPsclFCJUnFlNnPY_3J4qGeeYGieT_fVAxDHKjA1EuRhCuTaM2Mo-2gvBf9edBJ_WNIQSCFrmUrmeMII9nxTqVWw4xlok449lZ8nr-HFtxZ0XQ3rGhXwG-s/s1600/IMG_7140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZN4FuHZgVw9Vdzi2JUBANPsclFCJUnFlNnPY_3J4qGeeYGieT_fVAxDHKjA1EuRhCuTaM2Mo-2gvBf9edBJ_WNIQSCFrmUrmeMII9nxTqVWw4xlok449lZ8nr-HFtxZ0XQ3rGhXwG-s/s320/IMG_7140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After snack, we did our x ray craft. I traced the kids hands using a white crayon on black paper. Then I gave them each a cup of glue and let them dip each end of Q-tips in it and stick them to their paper like bones.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrxq7vBy1d3dIb_wTNqmM7JxkyHnldEC60HzCMSS_HQuLsNgHSEmCREgzjboaz9-FmTkbLIDamYBu4ZoDcDjL5i-iS0Uharx36QTVDCCLsjmBIEdf62ccDmT98t-nutA4obgy600xyos/s1600/IMG_7141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrxq7vBy1d3dIb_wTNqmM7JxkyHnldEC60HzCMSS_HQuLsNgHSEmCREgzjboaz9-FmTkbLIDamYBu4ZoDcDjL5i-iS0Uharx36QTVDCCLsjmBIEdf62ccDmT98t-nutA4obgy600xyos/s320/IMG_7141.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<br />
After our craft, we had some play time, then we sat back down to read some books that helped us learn about some of our bones. We sang “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” and then we watched and danced along to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=Jpvuqj5nv6U">the Skeleton Dance</a>.<br />
<br />
After our dancing, we had some X Ray Tech Training by playing “Guess the X Ray.” I had gone online and found several x ray images which I showed to the kids and had them guess which body part it showed. I also threw in a couple fun ones like this one to make them laugh:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpA7Cmpm3mjxrolJXLm1JO97m3SCMP2DaIFKNRGKq8DpAgS4dhsnzYp3BtZ_-no_0Srf_7aplBHkG6p4Lmti2UVE2AWHzDFJa3IlXnFLFoVwuft0qoM1xr0xMwkAAL16OE2nCOLHpYxw/s1600/x-ray-penjuin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpA7Cmpm3mjxrolJXLm1JO97m3SCMP2DaIFKNRGKq8DpAgS4dhsnzYp3BtZ_-no_0Srf_7aplBHkG6p4Lmti2UVE2AWHzDFJa3IlXnFLFoVwuft0qoM1xr0xMwkAAL16OE2nCOLHpYxw/s320/x-ray-penjuin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once they had completed their X Ray Tech Training I put them to the test and we played Doctor. I had one child pretend to be the patient (who complained of some kind of pain), and the other was the doctor. They did a brief checkup (listen to the heart, check the reflexes, etc.), and then the patient was told they needed an x-ray. They then entered our x ray machine (they went under the easel) and the doctor pushed some pretend buttons and made button noises (beep, boop, beep beep).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJv3XUYz9VJbrGFro3b6l1thfKZLkto82bgCaaz7uUVjE5-cwq8U6dvKP1zaIMZ42eGn8ON7v0_caoqMoGfpPV9uCWEG8TCe6GyBhVluEPf_QQ_DVNtqnZrtBx0wgDg_EVEDMDCm2Y6I/s1600/IMG_7143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJv3XUYz9VJbrGFro3b6l1thfKZLkto82bgCaaz7uUVjE5-cwq8U6dvKP1zaIMZ42eGn8ON7v0_caoqMoGfpPV9uCWEG8TCe6GyBhVluEPf_QQ_DVNtqnZrtBx0wgDg_EVEDMDCm2Y6I/s320/IMG_7143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And out popped an x ray that looked something like this! You can barely see it, but I made it look like one of the bones had a break in it with a tiny letter x where the break was. The doctor had to look carefully at the x rays to find where the x was and circle it. Each child got their own x ray.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8YQTBcdrZGEhnRVcSHRGfMHWB-60udui_w2DfT39PrgUWCOXPSKXTALh3k1XbQKlKry5SzEUAPPpJDZRBA_4pO6vQNLHHVClA0WSqIVsZcEug3xtxlqbfgeqtRfXIMn4-ErUsagzGj0/s1600/IMG_7145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8YQTBcdrZGEhnRVcSHRGfMHWB-60udui_w2DfT39PrgUWCOXPSKXTALh3k1XbQKlKry5SzEUAPPpJDZRBA_4pO6vQNLHHVClA0WSqIVsZcEug3xtxlqbfgeqtRfXIMn4-ErUsagzGj0/s320/IMG_7145.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now THAT is one cutie patootie doctor.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6wJVTURWnfpXDdd1Kw3xD64hDQNJEJHNdx4jdlXJ1UIs9QNEffILYsLRtriip62hMFjQhMexuwZNHNHZnDhR0xFZ5WaGDIzRkwek-mPGDC9V6eVbbPTeSqIqhOSoTUDzuOl1o7_08Fk/s1600/IMG_7144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6wJVTURWnfpXDdd1Kw3xD64hDQNJEJHNdx4jdlXJ1UIs9QNEffILYsLRtriip62hMFjQhMexuwZNHNHZnDhR0xFZ5WaGDIzRkwek-mPGDC9V6eVbbPTeSqIqhOSoTUDzuOl1o7_08Fk/s320/IMG_7144.jpg" width="189" /></a></div>
<br />
After all our doctoring, we talked about how important it is to keep our muscles and bones healthy so we don’t break them, and then we did some eXercising! I found <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LndXdPdKaQ">this fun exercise video for kids</a>. They loved it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuReEmpCMXsqouwbGqcnt7fTgw09V1vQv3cwvwnT6RBK9331jBsolz4LIBGgoj3cIF0a-OeoOnR63IKkqP_GKVhiln30kmOoDl73nNi7toCerzl3Jlsl63ptR4QUYCaqmUHf9Ms2x3H3c/s1600/IMG_7142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuReEmpCMXsqouwbGqcnt7fTgw09V1vQv3cwvwnT6RBK9331jBsolz4LIBGgoj3cIF0a-OeoOnR63IKkqP_GKVhiln30kmOoDl73nNi7toCerzl3Jlsl63ptR4QUYCaqmUHf9Ms2x3H3c/s320/IMG_7142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I think everyone was being elephants...<br />
<br />
After that I sent everyone to go play outside while I prepared an eXcellent lunch:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn3WweY_Zm7MMfGor1QRYPn0VCGzvG_DJZFArzXjGu9phmWZdh60OQoOiqaBXXJe4KRsvJihDbX1XgSFx-oLW5SKpe4Rt5r07pY0nM_81LrwWHrV0IyFaQ0m2muP-fXQgon5og2pHNbg/s1600/IMG_7146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn3WweY_Zm7MMfGor1QRYPn0VCGzvG_DJZFArzXjGu9phmWZdh60OQoOiqaBXXJe4KRsvJihDbX1XgSFx-oLW5SKpe4Rt5r07pY0nM_81LrwWHrV0IyFaQ0m2muP-fXQgon5og2pHNbg/s320/IMG_7146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And that was our eXtraordinary week!KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-35300795745492305872013-03-15T17:39:00.004-04:002013-03-15T17:39:41.270-04:00Shabby Apple GiveawayJust poppin’ in to share this faaaabulous giveaway- $75 for Shabby Apple! Sweet, right? I love their stuff.<br />
<br />
Just head over to <a href="http://blytheponytailparades.typepad.com/my-blog/2013/03/-giveaway-from-shabby-apple-.html#comment-6a0154324516d9970c017ee95e193d970d">Blythe Ponytail Parades</a> for your chance to enter. :-)<br />
<a href="http://blytheponytailparades.typepad.com/my-blog/2013/03/-giveaway-from-shabby-apple-.html#comment-6a0154324516d9970c017ee95e193d970d"><br /></a>
<a href="http://blytheponytailparades.typepad.com/my-blog/2013/03/-giveaway-from-shabby-apple-.html#comment-6a0154324516d9970c017ee95e193d970d"><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-03-15 at 10.14.35 AM" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a0154324516d9970c017d41e5d9e5970c image-full" src="http://blytheponytailparades.typepad.com/.a/6a0154324516d9970c017d41e5d9e5970c-800wi" title="Screen Shot 2013-03-15 at 10.14.35 AM" /></a>KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-26478136495976703742013-02-06T15:19:00.001-05:002013-02-06T17:21:19.289-05:00Home-Based Preschool: R is For Rainbow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I’m back to tell about another fun day at our <a href="http://thebeautifulthriftylife.blogspot.com/2012/11/home-based-preschool-g-is-for-ghost.html">home-based preschool!</a> It was my turn again this week and I ended up with the letter R. On Monday we did “R is for Rolling”, which seems random, but it worked out great. We rolled ourselves, we rolled balls, we tried rolling different objects down a ramp, we counted wheels on vehicles, we decided what vehicles roll and what don’t, we ate rolling snacks, we rolled our play-doh- it was a blast!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For today’s lesson I went with <b>RAINBOWS!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2YNgUVLDGYcSd0at6H3NqEMLN5SoV9d8vStMtO1QfDeAd_QkHVMz9-uZ2ekFWBfK_6MNUoyDMhTbxkfeysRrBvLc9BsTtdbXFZykNZnUfMnwr3-PLZAAXHqY0t6C-bdsvbKfjglaI4g/s1600/IMG_6958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2YNgUVLDGYcSd0at6H3NqEMLN5SoV9d8vStMtO1QfDeAd_QkHVMz9-uZ2ekFWBfK_6MNUoyDMhTbxkfeysRrBvLc9BsTtdbXFZykNZnUfMnwr3-PLZAAXHqY0t6C-bdsvbKfjglaI4g/s400/IMG_6958.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Can you tell Little Boo is having fun? Behind her is the rainbow we “built” all together at the start of our lesson. I gave each child a piece of the rainbow and we stacked them on top of each other to create our rainbow. I had them sing the colors of the rainbow song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I was originally going to use felt for the rainbow, but I didn’t have all the colors I needed. Construction paper and tape work just as well!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After we introduced our rainbow theme we had snack time- rainbow goldfish crackers. While everyone was at the table we did our craft- rainbow Froot Loop necklaces. Little Boo is wearing hers in the photo above. I just twisted the ends of two pipe cleaners together to make a longer one, then I had the kids string Froot Loops on them. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After our craft we did some work stations.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcmjcr0QCCtBxAJHco6kcWRQIqkIJMb9S-8teDhP9GPwbg0Wh_4fRvMLCBdYY_pDDcHDhc39o6kKYKe-n5lQRrxjTw_cYXyiEq8yQVm506wXHGg361txO_AGt6ZhNylT8cPD2Un9dzTc/s1600/IMG_6946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcmjcr0QCCtBxAJHco6kcWRQIqkIJMb9S-8teDhP9GPwbg0Wh_4fRvMLCBdYY_pDDcHDhc39o6kKYKe-n5lQRrxjTw_cYXyiEq8yQVm506wXHGg361txO_AGt6ZhNylT8cPD2Un9dzTc/s400/IMG_6946.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are two of the girls trying out our “Rainbow in My Room”- a little gadget that makes a rainbow on your wall. My older daughter got it for Christmas from her grandma. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hruPTPrlj7TaJ6eKDPL74PqD0FwkH7HUKqzz7tt9T5ucaLf1xZDjSTAm2wSOwIM3vyX2kSOnOa5PPvgQmFdM9US3bkunYjEAYQYy1qp-4kpjl7-pi-i_aIB6CMxRpLGeFM2Tb7PXhlw/s1600/IMG_6945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hruPTPrlj7TaJ6eKDPL74PqD0FwkH7HUKqzz7tt9T5ucaLf1xZDjSTAm2wSOwIM3vyX2kSOnOa5PPvgQmFdM9US3bkunYjEAYQYy1qp-4kpjl7-pi-i_aIB6CMxRpLGeFM2Tb7PXhlw/s400/IMG_6945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had an awesome friend help me out today by bringing some Montessori-type items so we could make work stations. She has studied some of the Montessori teaching methods and she taught me quite a bit. Here are two of the boys working on a tray with multicolored transparent chips. I had drawn a rainbow and written letters on it, and I instructed them to use the chips to cover the R’s. At this point I think they were just having fun with it, because the chips had a metal ring around the outside and you could use this great magnetic wand to pick them all up. They liked that part. But several of the kids (including these guys) did very well finding the R’s on the page.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3oSLPvOt-pFnGq_8WZlg7Rx46dhHEXDIlrQIqn7sUCt0okpzYGueuAWVi88cScmDFUb4J7IJoSokoFN60WpFvKsiMIgzYgXu4ZgvTL49F0Z3rosAdeB8H4kDoy1-iUyFo_lQ17bjj34/s1600/IMG_6944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3oSLPvOt-pFnGq_8WZlg7Rx46dhHEXDIlrQIqn7sUCt0okpzYGueuAWVi88cScmDFUb4J7IJoSokoFN60WpFvKsiMIgzYgXu4ZgvTL49F0Z3rosAdeB8H4kDoy1-iUyFo_lQ17bjj34/s400/IMG_6944.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here’s another little friend working with marbles on a suction-cup dinosaur. She is practicing her fine motor skills by picking up each marble and placing it into a suction cup. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoRk6CpVou0M5PSOsrB0Txtlj-B4z9BxgQBV-isQkS6nC6mseWp1BD-nnVzT3oa2MFVtzgIA2uYMWGAFgrlH155UgOx-j143JUTxdimn3mr61XdBZTahsDNCQAfT8IjZSucnik8zvJ5E/s1600/IMG_6947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoRk6CpVou0M5PSOsrB0Txtlj-B4z9BxgQBV-isQkS6nC6mseWp1BD-nnVzT3oa2MFVtzgIA2uYMWGAFgrlH155UgOx-j143JUTxdimn3mr61XdBZTahsDNCQAfT8IjZSucnik8zvJ5E/s400/IMG_6947.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Boo was having some fun drawing in the salt tray. Just put some salt in a cake pan and let them practice writing their letters in it, or drawing shapes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTfdTl5Lp_OrMk9QkJ1XYcD2D5GLUINVbBCjS-iKdTwq1fitFcvznsKZwpr0TWAkLavk5MUhWnHHN9FWqzLjVzVsti0ai_a5mzn6UbFQFHd5Gjf2HCjB_ctfH1sATW4MAhIpRL3GBu9o/s1600/IMG_6950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTfdTl5Lp_OrMk9QkJ1XYcD2D5GLUINVbBCjS-iKdTwq1fitFcvznsKZwpr0TWAkLavk5MUhWnHHN9FWqzLjVzVsti0ai_a5mzn6UbFQFHd5Gjf2HCjB_ctfH1sATW4MAhIpRL3GBu9o/s400/IMG_6950.JPG" width="285" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
You can’t really see them, but this little friend is using tongs to move little rubbery pom pom balls from a bowl into a plastic paint palette. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyIbjUgR_LZUcubTaunNnP6ulRK5g1n9TOzphjJhIbIH6yo4I-iqmqNfG7jd10kUY5_8_8zRwMcNcuKcLXQDla92sdZi_7Mw9WCk_mrct1LeecNz9IlogOauOHXdA-Cw4n9c2BcUAXbc/s1600/IMG_6948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyIbjUgR_LZUcubTaunNnP6ulRK5g1n9TOzphjJhIbIH6yo4I-iqmqNfG7jd10kUY5_8_8zRwMcNcuKcLXQDla92sdZi_7Mw9WCk_mrct1LeecNz9IlogOauOHXdA-Cw4n9c2BcUAXbc/s400/IMG_6948.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Ta-da! She’s very proud.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We also had a work station for pouring rocks (another great R word), rolling (R!) a bamboo mat, and a large letter R which we had drawn lines on to make it look like a road so the kids could drive toy cars on it.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjT1SKRmsOjGfYV5B6zsYg2lNWClJfx90CoYS5L_ghehyjvN5AL1XEcJF3YwQv6IJd0qUztcswMa7FNFuXexa79oEEQ7mhK32dmiJqRfogm9AU7Oii2iqlCejvQlltRv-eVtXegiTTGQ/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjT1SKRmsOjGfYV5B6zsYg2lNWClJfx90CoYS5L_ghehyjvN5AL1XEcJF3YwQv6IJd0qUztcswMa7FNFuXexa79oEEQ7mhK32dmiJqRfogm9AU7Oii2iqlCejvQlltRv-eVtXegiTTGQ/s400/IMG_6949.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here’s my friend Rosanne reading the kids a story in Spanish about Rhinoceroses. It’s a giant book, and the kids really liked it. We also read “I Am a Rainbow”, “Planting a Rainbow”, and “Dizzy Duck and Silly Goose Hunt for a Rainbow”. I also had “The Rainbow Fish” and “Elmer’s Rainbow” but we didn’t quite get to them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZ49XiRq7PAxylEewMxsbnDthUac7JrvzOm13eVfAAvr-D2iLrRe3n8KSA4wvzAToxweCh1xa9SgjihIbOIHabrexqZEhqBu7XLtWRZ-JDI3qgEwAjZ99UajZIK8n8nMd2BwJrkP_80c/s1600/IMG_6952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZ49XiRq7PAxylEewMxsbnDthUac7JrvzOm13eVfAAvr-D2iLrRe3n8KSA4wvzAToxweCh1xa9SgjihIbOIHabrexqZEhqBu7XLtWRZ-JDI3qgEwAjZ99UajZIK8n8nMd2BwJrkP_80c/s400/IMG_6952.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We had a rainbow dance party where we played some songs about rainbows and I gave each child a rainbow streamer to hold and use in their dancing. I just made a ring out of a pipe cleaner and tied some fuzzy rainbow yarn onto it. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkTNWbZF8lpFH-sV8L2Qn9iZz7gqQJXR3QX3vhb_LbHWEJzAaTEQ1r3aAurcX53jWPfD0twrzLrx8qOkMO2xfQQzogIanYQcNNH6ofJeuEZZHLH0PixjNTEUAeyG7NKwq2rlx6DbgIRg/s1600/IMG_6954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkTNWbZF8lpFH-sV8L2Qn9iZz7gqQJXR3QX3vhb_LbHWEJzAaTEQ1r3aAurcX53jWPfD0twrzLrx8qOkMO2xfQQzogIanYQcNNH6ofJeuEZZHLH0PixjNTEUAeyG7NKwq2rlx6DbgIRg/s400/IMG_6954.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So fun!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWJFwKpGgOlJvqAgjw76Ky-xN2u3WwmGsl2LcD9oc9zPAbtU0HyioFtC1cgLagd9VTj80Cs3iR0hqjHqBfQKy7UXT3xpIkRm46ugz-lEgk0C1HkL4RXSEJGxcOuIa2kjUWKxFAW8ghKk/s1600/IMG_6951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWJFwKpGgOlJvqAgjw76Ky-xN2u3WwmGsl2LcD9oc9zPAbtU0HyioFtC1cgLagd9VTj80Cs3iR0hqjHqBfQKy7UXT3xpIkRm46ugz-lEgk0C1HkL4RXSEJGxcOuIa2kjUWKxFAW8ghKk/s400/IMG_6951.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After our dance party the kids expended some more energy playing outside while I got our rainbow lunch ready.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH5kkvxkWcuHfqEOP4fU8H8zGcj01FOKR7R_KcBXmSYdkaErMLTtPQLfsRL2GwpZtnnTV4HVnlYZhPeVvYU-7Q0VlW5D8F6NgtFflwYEvJD5H78pPseFwBFQFQCZlODY0FMo2cie9cc8/s1600/IMG_6955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPH5kkvxkWcuHfqEOP4fU8H8zGcj01FOKR7R_KcBXmSYdkaErMLTtPQLfsRL2GwpZtnnTV4HVnlYZhPeVvYU-7Q0VlW5D8F6NgtFflwYEvJD5H78pPseFwBFQFQCZlODY0FMo2cie9cc8/s400/IMG_6955.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And here was our rainbow lunch: hot dogs, cheese, pineapple chunks, honeydew melon, blueberry yogurt, and of course marshmallow clouds.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2HbxVOw-incLFcWfiKYN13g4QxRZdK6fJKIY9hGfqgCub2HTwi5lC2Bjo-Agkc3a9Cwa-JUnRx0fq3zcS7Yp-aq50HIgvKCbj3R7tQwuEppr6aZM5mY30iIU24cSHmZ2ATBcTUM7w_I/s1600/IMG_6956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2HbxVOw-incLFcWfiKYN13g4QxRZdK6fJKIY9hGfqgCub2HTwi5lC2Bjo-Agkc3a9Cwa-JUnRx0fq3zcS7Yp-aq50HIgvKCbj3R7tQwuEppr6aZM5mY30iIU24cSHmZ2ATBcTUM7w_I/s400/IMG_6956.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Everyone is eating their rainbows. YUM!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_20cxty1xDnJWJu_A2a-gs6-C9614iBZeiWTX5odFFT9uxbu82TCzFhoky-boY-ycfepueQT5P7iTC5_0QktCO8N40VmK2d-6bwBDbr0QF3BNzEOZ9xQIGaDxfwCbFsWMpg_Salt9dQ/s1600/IMG_6957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_20cxty1xDnJWJu_A2a-gs6-C9614iBZeiWTX5odFFT9uxbu82TCzFhoky-boY-ycfepueQT5P7iTC5_0QktCO8N40VmK2d-6bwBDbr0QF3BNzEOZ9xQIGaDxfwCbFsWMpg_Salt9dQ/s400/IMG_6957.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think Little Boo liked her rainbow preschool day!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Do you have any more fun rainbow-themed preschool ideas?</i></b></div>
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-52824236377191365492012-12-04T23:15:00.001-05:002012-12-04T23:15:18.856-05:00This Year’s Christmas Card from Shutterfly!<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AauGzlizat2brw&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=118"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AauGzlizat2eA/0AauGzlizat2eOpA/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1354680785000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>5x7 Folded Card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-10168132523064593722012-11-10T21:17:00.000-05:002012-11-10T21:17:16.571-05:00Warm, Yummy Deliciousness for 60 Tiny Calories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwjZEtasFHS7qH2h4njX76IirSNEk_YlrLxhMYGK9BXWZwM49KWW-jYuS6CEfW1wVUaT1_c7fpwFMd9ka71oco2umukTB-IvFOQs8ownv5qpl2qSBqXdrNEZWOSyJA2rgz3aoISF_wZE/s1600/IMG_6623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwjZEtasFHS7qH2h4njX76IirSNEk_YlrLxhMYGK9BXWZwM49KWW-jYuS6CEfW1wVUaT1_c7fpwFMd9ka71oco2umukTB-IvFOQs8ownv5qpl2qSBqXdrNEZWOSyJA2rgz3aoISF_wZE/s320/IMG_6623.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One of my favorite things about cold weather is hot chocolate- YUM! Nothing like cuddling on the couch with a nice warm cup of cocoa. Unfortunately, that hot chocolate isn’t very supportive of my efforts to lose the baby weight...at around 150 calories a cup, it doesn’t always fit into my nutritional budget.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I have found a delicious alternative that is too good not to share- it’s the low-cal version of <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/hot-vanilla-688488/">this Hot Vanilla recipe</a>. The original recipe called for regular milk and sugar. By simply substituting almond milk and no-calorie sweetener, I was able to make this for just 60 calories (that includes the whipped cream)! SWEET!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRui3GAhCOgO94fOPD2VzXo8s6kVSX7B-RSJMtjHBuciGaZWob04K2PABU3u_XOCqZYkvmShKTVw1n4oQ7jiv1OrnuB_9tZc_Fa3CZxeomiz04Jri6XnN4PYR5EMgz_fPbhX4H9zOAwI/s1600/IMG_6624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRui3GAhCOgO94fOPD2VzXo8s6kVSX7B-RSJMtjHBuciGaZWob04K2PABU3u_XOCqZYkvmShKTVw1n4oQ7jiv1OrnuB_9tZc_Fa3CZxeomiz04Jri6XnN4PYR5EMgz_fPbhX4H9zOAwI/s320/IMG_6624.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here’s the recipe:<br />
<br />
<b>60 Calorie Hot Vanilla</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>1 cup almond milk</b><br />
<b>1 tablespoon no calorie sweetener</b><br />
<b>1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</b><br />
<b>dash of cinnamon to taste</b><br />
<b>2 tablespoons light whipped cream</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Heat almond milk, then stir in vanilla, sweetener, and cinnamon. Add whipped cream on top and enjoy!</b><br />
<br />
As my 6-year-old would say, easy peasy lemon squeezy!<br />
<br />
Do you have any favorite low-calorie alternatives to your favorite treats? Leave a comment and share! I need all the help I can get! ;-)KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-4706443142971755962012-11-08T11:22:00.000-05:002012-11-09T20:39:56.415-05:00Artsy Collages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qVlZjvH3mBIITjkieHJbwCL0bLnkwMdbF7yWV9Py6W1iUNSjOq0WcdvIPFyTOVE1SmceXnLzR__-z8dROaOktJaidP1SYP1WjcS2bzosKu4qTGxt_ke9kRweuxIEtUTDwfFjEiXZVPU/s1600/IMG_6622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qVlZjvH3mBIITjkieHJbwCL0bLnkwMdbF7yWV9Py6W1iUNSjOq0WcdvIPFyTOVE1SmceXnLzR__-z8dROaOktJaidP1SYP1WjcS2bzosKu4qTGxt_ke9kRweuxIEtUTDwfFjEiXZVPU/s400/IMG_6622.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lately I’ve felt more like being artistic than crafty. I don’t know if it’s a desire to express myself or if I just want to play around- maybe both- but I’ve had some fun experimenting with collage and mixed media.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I started with the large envelope my Shutterfly order came in. Weird, yeah, but it was destined for the trash and it was a nice thick poster board material that looked like it could handle an onslaught of mod podge. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeCXjv5AKHPiQTDKa1OYLQKarhzOzbLQkUzz8h9Y_tEWVdR0C2KLwFVB-Ox3_X-fnn6-aj6V6EpkrdRowklAOoygSZcLdtD9HQ_4KOLevkdGGMkjw1lG61YSx6f8RWLXnrVT8lfshTz0/s1600/IMG_6615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeCXjv5AKHPiQTDKa1OYLQKarhzOzbLQkUzz8h9Y_tEWVdR0C2KLwFVB-Ox3_X-fnn6-aj6V6EpkrdRowklAOoygSZcLdtD9HQ_4KOLevkdGGMkjw1lG61YSx6f8RWLXnrVT8lfshTz0/s400/IMG_6615.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Once I had my base, I started looking through old magazines. My goal for this piece was to do something fall-ish, maybe Thanksgiving-y. So I found lots of reds, greens, golds, and browns and started throwing them on there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3ATroFqjgCIFE50Q6DCYFJtzkifsrIIDsCuTVOQhCTIw38MOcSqNPj-Ni-2Y87ZAXtoPuFOrNyLzLLaRIcrL4tYMn5JAirL9U8Tm-FOaoPjhae9x8uHJTZj4v8wz3wDzpH_BFg76Nls/s1600/IMG_6617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3ATroFqjgCIFE50Q6DCYFJtzkifsrIIDsCuTVOQhCTIw38MOcSqNPj-Ni-2Y87ZAXtoPuFOrNyLzLLaRIcrL4tYMn5JAirL9U8Tm-FOaoPjhae9x8uHJTZj4v8wz3wDzpH_BFg76Nls/s400/IMG_6617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I was using home decorating magazines, so the images I got were full of texture- blankets, pillows, flooring, rugs, and flowers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKxh2G5qDyXz2O7pbwXJ6HOi9To9d53OzGPJyNAQwqNK0oOrEPwlJI6QIbx0LyI8gMcEZ6F3pxVMpxTCnqMCQh3nitn_rUhodVGQTRCS7XpiysfyrOd0Xjv8tReYmicItwVRmeaLBIjI/s1600/IMG_6618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKxh2G5qDyXz2O7pbwXJ6HOi9To9d53OzGPJyNAQwqNK0oOrEPwlJI6QIbx0LyI8gMcEZ6F3pxVMpxTCnqMCQh3nitn_rUhodVGQTRCS7XpiysfyrOd0Xjv8tReYmicItwVRmeaLBIjI/s400/IMG_6618.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I mod podged them together, then once it dried I used a little cream colored acrylic paint and dry-brushed some character onto it. Then I used my Quickutz and punched “give thanks” out of old sheet music. Once it dried I outlined the letters with a fine tip Sharpie.<br />
<br />
Next was this little gem.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLnrZFOIixvnKmiFHExLnYrL0wt9gIiC8-XgUjHMbPM5IK2jE0BkOFsQLV67Q2JOFKDxQlqX84gY2PzSX7OVzJhMQScpV-YLGbSLGr_gK9-H9ybO7ep00gdlvsBt0rqe0bO6mb96vtG4/s1600/IMG_6619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLnrZFOIixvnKmiFHExLnYrL0wt9gIiC8-XgUjHMbPM5IK2jE0BkOFsQLV67Q2JOFKDxQlqX84gY2PzSX7OVzJhMQScpV-YLGbSLGr_gK9-H9ybO7ep00gdlvsBt0rqe0bO6mb96vtG4/s400/IMG_6619.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This one was basically the same process (same Shutterfly envelope, same home decorating magazines) only I went with a girly shabby chic feel, inspired by one of the textures I hadn’t ended up using for my “give thanks” collage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PFlrfle6i8boeelMVouVc-d-bZxRjjoPypbe7tCBPnO9l3jmAXwPR8hpzRCxCWvGaxJ8djUehhVNbwEoo31DRjmCffKunyxAweq23KpllVCd6OPkg9JZGzAJiRtMFblIIKj3HAR3QLY/s1600/IMG_6620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PFlrfle6i8boeelMVouVc-d-bZxRjjoPypbe7tCBPnO9l3jmAXwPR8hpzRCxCWvGaxJ8djUehhVNbwEoo31DRjmCffKunyxAweq23KpllVCd6OPkg9JZGzAJiRtMFblIIKj3HAR3QLY/s400/IMG_6620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I went over everything with the same cream acrylic paint and then used some brown ink on the edges once it dried. Then I added a few touches of lace, some twine, a velvet flower and a button.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5AJwNK4P1yHNRxvK2wgYDp6LNrKVt-mY7OTucHFO_NqV30vwCVgEOVEuO2y1vlcDCe-4q43OdLG-syEyW-PxhT9b35Rasr7Jdepkh0_cilKqxMkoHLAsPyv0M-LhY8DTrtPhmQNgbQw/s1600/IMG_6621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5AJwNK4P1yHNRxvK2wgYDp6LNrKVt-mY7OTucHFO_NqV30vwCVgEOVEuO2y1vlcDCe-4q43OdLG-syEyW-PxhT9b35Rasr7Jdepkh0_cilKqxMkoHLAsPyv0M-LhY8DTrtPhmQNgbQw/s400/IMG_6621.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
One of my favorite things about this one is that one of the images I used was a window looking out on a flowering tree, and you can just barely still see it in the background. It gives a soft, dreamy feel to it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qVlZjvH3mBIITjkieHJbwCL0bLnkwMdbF7yWV9Py6W1iUNSjOq0WcdvIPFyTOVE1SmceXnLzR__-z8dROaOktJaidP1SYP1WjcS2bzosKu4qTGxt_ke9kRweuxIEtUTDwfFjEiXZVPU/s1600/IMG_6622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qVlZjvH3mBIITjkieHJbwCL0bLnkwMdbF7yWV9Py6W1iUNSjOq0WcdvIPFyTOVE1SmceXnLzR__-z8dROaOktJaidP1SYP1WjcS2bzosKu4qTGxt_ke9kRweuxIEtUTDwfFjEiXZVPU/s400/IMG_6622.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So that was my artsiness from yesterday. How about you- feeling artsy lately?KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-32048148794476763972012-11-06T19:28:00.002-05:002012-11-06T19:28:47.865-05:00Did You?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJQ_n_2siu55t7p8ntrwhYr6xVRNLtMJbJr_jDQe_kQ8viZtAEQHv9u1MzBwQfDrT3T-tPwn8B7XCoii36qOOVJ9Z7dMWDWhhNyo5C_XfPxIKraBW_K15d_asY40XnkRMKmXfBV_Q8Bw/s1600/IMG_6614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJQ_n_2siu55t7p8ntrwhYr6xVRNLtMJbJr_jDQe_kQ8viZtAEQHv9u1MzBwQfDrT3T-tPwn8B7XCoii36qOOVJ9Z7dMWDWhhNyo5C_XfPxIKraBW_K15d_asY40XnkRMKmXfBV_Q8Bw/s400/IMG_6614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-11230463532314708302012-11-02T15:06:00.001-04:002012-11-02T15:06:32.888-04:00Home-based Preschool: G is for GHOST!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Several friends and I happen to have 3-year-olds at home, so we decided as a group to do a home-based preschool with them. We do <b>2 days a week, 9:30-12:30</b>, and we alternate teaching in our homes. It’s great because there are 6 kids and 5 moms (one has twins) so I only have to teach once every 6 weeks. Honestly, I find the lesson preparation and teaching really fun, but it’s also a LOT of work, so I’m glad I don’t have to do it every week!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We’ve decided to focus on one letter each week. Our main goal is for the kids to have fun, but we also want them to learn something and to get used to being in a structured, school-type setting. We start the day with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a review of the calendar, singing the Days of the Week song, and a review of our letters.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today for our letter review I used these fun cards I purchased a long time ago in Colonial Williamsburg. I had the kids try to make the letters with their bodies like the children on the cards. We laughed quite a bit trying to contort ourselves into the right shapes!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUTBOcPX0s4kVx9Gi1tUo35xpDPEzAarUg3bq5y7xMVTSLuOVjz2T-UMGYehyphenhyphenV8IdiMaJ443fch-SkjBWttr6-E4OaTllbYEC2I2K5aFgWjfUMwS6GKrYWuIOLpUZA4plyaWTWdA5Ge4/s1600/IMG_6590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUTBOcPX0s4kVx9Gi1tUo35xpDPEzAarUg3bq5y7xMVTSLuOVjz2T-UMGYehyphenhyphenV8IdiMaJ443fch-SkjBWttr6-E4OaTllbYEC2I2K5aFgWjfUMwS6GKrYWuIOLpUZA4plyaWTWdA5Ge4/s320/IMG_6590.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then, because I had chosen “G is for Ghosts” as this week’s theme (Halloween and everything) we sang a song about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV8QWe0HAtQ">5 Little Ghosts</a> and I used the flannel board to take the ghosts away one at a time as we sang.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix_rCsDK_S0dQSQcXxVmXbg9ub5VwmS2-Sglps2wmJoNEgohYUFSzjbORYMG3lA7K5V1SDSHH57yBha5R40fGl25wt2lmadwf9tfTzE-650qPOwN41aUO_gEiwwD9pvPtkjpR1SxqOfw/s1600/IMG_6589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjix_rCsDK_S0dQSQcXxVmXbg9ub5VwmS2-Sglps2wmJoNEgohYUFSzjbORYMG3lA7K5V1SDSHH57yBha5R40fGl25wt2lmadwf9tfTzE-650qPOwN41aUO_gEiwwD9pvPtkjpR1SxqOfw/s320/IMG_6589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Next we moved to a “web” I had created on the floor using masking tape for our Ghost Gathering Game. I put paper ghosts at various places on the web and the children had to take turns “walking the web” and collecting the ghosts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysMuxZpuejS1HP4fEB3jxuH6iKSffrVk8ZOGmNjgFy1i0NRIR66zVXEqcnMK-J3SVKCuzjLqamcptkD9YQ3qylmeSh-J3kqqknh0Xq_swD_EsV24yfF74AhTMZGlN_ZaQHv7pEOLMgro/s1600/IMG_6584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysMuxZpuejS1HP4fEB3jxuH6iKSffrVk8ZOGmNjgFy1i0NRIR66zVXEqcnMK-J3SVKCuzjLqamcptkD9YQ3qylmeSh-J3kqqknh0Xq_swD_EsV24yfF74AhTMZGlN_ZaQHv7pEOLMgro/s320/IMG_6584.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
They had to be careful not to step off the lines!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZo5MdVm8cjkxEQ7DBWDezK41-0bMyBIlp7bgMVv1NFVZvR5yucNF1wYcsxFelC_dcqd98TFjo-FX9MOx2asdLYmxfk2A1XZINekeeUJBodnwkx1-A0ZQsWulbw_GwIlcSc6FGOZ9iBE/s1600/IMG_6585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZo5MdVm8cjkxEQ7DBWDezK41-0bMyBIlp7bgMVv1NFVZvR5yucNF1wYcsxFelC_dcqd98TFjo-FX9MOx2asdLYmxfk2A1XZINekeeUJBodnwkx1-A0ZQsWulbw_GwIlcSc6FGOZ9iBE/s320/IMG_6585.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Once they had collected the ghosts, they ended at the scarecrow who had a box. They put the ghosts into the box and....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUh-Ltt0_ndPsxQajlHfKNNOlEPL0nimcZb3Awb2CjDmrtqAu7SJyaCMk_u5Qiul_7Eq8Dtx3asqsa-Ufr8HQxWnmOuxv3pr8JIkXaSobRgwMqOUaUYBEeV4upHTe-JJMfxCVunUX0Sw/s1600/IMG_6587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUh-Ltt0_ndPsxQajlHfKNNOlEPL0nimcZb3Awb2CjDmrtqAu7SJyaCMk_u5Qiul_7Eq8Dtx3asqsa-Ufr8HQxWnmOuxv3pr8JIkXaSobRgwMqOUaUYBEeV4upHTe-JJMfxCVunUX0Sw/s320/IMG_6587.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
...then they took out the bell and rang it! Then we all clapped for them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gNuDa1TSo6bb1EWgAGxgPO8RXPqOqpAQfMmp3N3o-RU9MnkPabILQfCuo3wtc6rDpV0_Cjq8t4BXYHF-iOPknTGSjXvmUnMBl-VTihzbLWf7QxxDY3t3-Ay-9w-lNxAxM6hQKylkMgM/s1600/IMG_6586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gNuDa1TSo6bb1EWgAGxgPO8RXPqOqpAQfMmp3N3o-RU9MnkPabILQfCuo3wtc6rDpV0_Cjq8t4BXYHF-iOPknTGSjXvmUnMBl-VTihzbLWf7QxxDY3t3-Ay-9w-lNxAxM6hQKylkMgM/s320/IMG_6586.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After our ghost gathering we headed to the kitchen for our ghostly snack- mozzarella cheese sticks and pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate with mini chocolate chip eyes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyfdMJcCQHKgamCpv1X1q65FZ59g7OQouHq7SPV6Lm3eDJp2K_BAOvp0ywVFR6dhXaCYi-1q_YO57vjsd8I4RSCCtqdEG4KkZXSpUVQIcuQSbBqOEt3BtlgU58-8e9SVuWsSxoGgU8NE/s1600/IMG_6588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyfdMJcCQHKgamCpv1X1q65FZ59g7OQouHq7SPV6Lm3eDJp2K_BAOvp0ywVFR6dhXaCYi-1q_YO57vjsd8I4RSCCtqdEG4KkZXSpUVQIcuQSbBqOEt3BtlgU58-8e9SVuWsSxoGgU8NE/s320/IMG_6588.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
When the kids finished their snacks I had them start on their craft- a ghost wind sock. I had already cut out all the pieces; they just had to glue it together. It was a windy day today, so when they took them out to their cars when it was time to go home, there were lots of happy squeals when they saw their ghosts wiggling in the wind!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOXvvnPp_0GdP97MKeb5iisnXxIuAdvWyiyQvFrYMaeEfZAQCAqLCW3UBVqc-WJzWfBkt3Es1_r6OBLYFIe0F-_7BZ4jaTjI6FB6gP-1p0pgb4NawKnkUW3QPyjY1l9wu6qj9Oz5Nn1s/s1600/IMG_6593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOXvvnPp_0GdP97MKeb5iisnXxIuAdvWyiyQvFrYMaeEfZAQCAqLCW3UBVqc-WJzWfBkt3Es1_r6OBLYFIe0F-_7BZ4jaTjI6FB6gP-1p0pgb4NawKnkUW3QPyjY1l9wu6qj9Oz5Nn1s/s320/IMG_6593.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
After that we had some free play time so I could feed the baby, then we gathered together again on our blanket to read a book called, “Georgie the Ghost” about a ghost whose house became unfit for haunting for awhile. Poor Georgie!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nQwHJDZfJ439_7aR635rL7XeAB1Xfdz6uO1nkTQG5j3EgfTv1vUwRdoalBioEpOwrzu6IHBmgeFTQqOo5yjoNEcV0NN0AgcCjwRQnKr8GUy-y6ZgBHcpKbmFOutunQOa0RrEh5eeh5w/s1600/IMG_6594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nQwHJDZfJ439_7aR635rL7XeAB1Xfdz6uO1nkTQG5j3EgfTv1vUwRdoalBioEpOwrzu6IHBmgeFTQqOo5yjoNEcV0NN0AgcCjwRQnKr8GUy-y6ZgBHcpKbmFOutunQOa0RrEh5eeh5w/s320/IMG_6594.JPG" width="253" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Then we went into the kitchen for a lively game of Ghost Bowling (those are rolls of toilet paper with eyes attached to them). Each child got a turn to stand behind the line and roll the ball to see how many ghosts they could knock down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lahm6lf1_iWMwfivuWLIj0RtGU4uupsma5bLduy1YGTLHu6IVhyphenhyphen3VKPMyk15DlqwzoWaoVYIjnb0nWos3rWVFXPbP6lCi7CWB9mqhyfn_tGTvuvKaNAd8FOwV_PooF-yvnx8v77c6CI/s1600/IMG_6591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lahm6lf1_iWMwfivuWLIj0RtGU4uupsma5bLduy1YGTLHu6IVhyphenhyphen3VKPMyk15DlqwzoWaoVYIjnb0nWos3rWVFXPbP6lCi7CWB9mqhyfn_tGTvuvKaNAd8FOwV_PooF-yvnx8v77c6CI/s320/IMG_6591.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
Once our ghost bowling was done we went back to the blanket for another story- this one called “The Ghosts’ Dinner”. In the story, a ghost hosts a dinner party and the food makes the ghosts change color! The kids thought that was very silly.<br />
<br />
When the story was done, I let the kids go outside for some free play while I prepared our lunch: PB&J ghosts (cut out using a tulip-shaped cookie cutter upside down!) with raisin eyes, ghostly bananas on a stick with mini chocolate chip eyes, and Go-Gurt (to keep with our “G” theme).<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1k5ti2YMsrNALcYsrjIFRfAnT11F56XmWiL1UC5k1OiUfaP1LYwsNoqerYktT4u-xhIuoT0LQ27xbHROLBGV8xbW0rRQUdVYVv5aE8Jj8eM1NeG_my326JZzRDX1MGBvACO0Mb5Cuqc/s1600/IMG_6592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1k5ti2YMsrNALcYsrjIFRfAnT11F56XmWiL1UC5k1OiUfaP1LYwsNoqerYktT4u-xhIuoT0LQ27xbHROLBGV8xbW0rRQUdVYVv5aE8Jj8eM1NeG_my326JZzRDX1MGBvACO0Mb5Cuqc/s320/IMG_6592.JPG" width="229" /></a></div>
<br />
After lunch I had a G is for Ghost coloring sheet for the kids who wanted to do it then (I gave them the option of doing it here or taking it home) and I encouraged them to think about what they’d serve their ghost for dinner and color the ghost that color. Little Boo decided her ghost had eaten strawberries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhMGG2BFw1wXfE-yDcXMnuno-7fzLjDilA-mUq6PPGIFLps8hogQGkX1eWoAyxI_BpSuPxzkyRA1OcE7nnnXYAHB-YtfEeMZsfhYuRqgQ7EP3gs1P7x-P3kUx2DzLP2hV8G46Ouz-80A/s1600/IMG_6595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhMGG2BFw1wXfE-yDcXMnuno-7fzLjDilA-mUq6PPGIFLps8hogQGkX1eWoAyxI_BpSuPxzkyRA1OcE7nnnXYAHB-YtfEeMZsfhYuRqgQ7EP3gs1P7x-P3kUx2DzLP2hV8G46Ouz-80A/s320/IMG_6595.JPG" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I think all the kids had a good time and I always have so much fun planning it! Doing a home-based preschool with friends is a really great way to help your kids develop social skills and prepare them for school. It’s also great for the moms to get a break a couple times a week, but to also get the opportunity to teach. It doesn’t need to cost money- with a little creativity (Pinterest, people!) you can keep it thrifty but fun.</div>
<br />
<b><i>My next letter is M- I’m thinking mail and music...any thoughts? :-)</i></b><br />
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-72747139388177926702012-10-31T00:14:00.001-04:002012-10-31T00:14:07.573-04:00Halloween Hair Clips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcDso7ZGXsjQTgsIjC9_6tbhzdseNRubLbKBgPwV25QNUWzXTeLx50sxwb95KYsXSnIqOVHhjQedVzCvqNjyTSO_GetXDErVnT24DSP7USm6vuTKiusA7QBCAu0Nlcz_EHtAzrqJ-y18/s1600/IMG_6542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcDso7ZGXsjQTgsIjC9_6tbhzdseNRubLbKBgPwV25QNUWzXTeLx50sxwb95KYsXSnIqOVHhjQedVzCvqNjyTSO_GetXDErVnT24DSP7USm6vuTKiusA7QBCAu0Nlcz_EHtAzrqJ-y18/s400/IMG_6542.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
On Sunday and Monday we were pretty much hanging out at home thanks to Hurricane Sandy, so I decided that some craftiness was in order. What better to do on a stormy day?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkJZbdjt2qd-UMCjROtO0wdWdW3mIke0bZaJJBgKAVeUEeRrGQZ3mHsCPU66uQARtdoy7iQibuQhbfxU5YyW87Emn6cCd1FGkhC2tEO8TX2Fk2W1IKBLrQ6YF-ncJ1035lMLbsu9y1Po/s1600/IMG_6543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkJZbdjt2qd-UMCjROtO0wdWdW3mIke0bZaJJBgKAVeUEeRrGQZ3mHsCPU66uQARtdoy7iQibuQhbfxU5YyW87Emn6cCd1FGkhC2tEO8TX2Fk2W1IKBLrQ6YF-ncJ1035lMLbsu9y1Po/s320/IMG_6543.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I pulled out some goodies I’d purchased last fall for this very purpose and had a little fun. Trick or treat!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqE1Yp3JDPdtTnZWRJQXcvKP35L1WAMyJWqOrfhIlrzIdTkmvjOnbhs4572z768KgCnk_tcNxvQ-hsOSrUOZmAG9xtJ2Onw71FB79bAL-c_78fKV3sc4vpz1p9-hlLPAOF_9azuRP7zo/s1600/IMG_6544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqE1Yp3JDPdtTnZWRJQXcvKP35L1WAMyJWqOrfhIlrzIdTkmvjOnbhs4572z768KgCnk_tcNxvQ-hsOSrUOZmAG9xtJ2Onw71FB79bAL-c_78fKV3sc4vpz1p9-hlLPAOF_9azuRP7zo/s320/IMG_6544.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
BOO!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPDhvmO9teH3dgbbgH8BcZw2AAA8-qJJaufo8-aTJnnxPVk-JokndWEcepxA5Drlb8Ix5n2opIPVxe9joorumve8RC1_NnBKKc8eKNTN2Zaa9BXXf-CkqAVqSNtuKuEfEEqJqnmWyctE/s1600/IMG_6545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPDhvmO9teH3dgbbgH8BcZw2AAA8-qJJaufo8-aTJnnxPVk-JokndWEcepxA5Drlb8Ix5n2opIPVxe9joorumve8RC1_NnBKKc8eKNTN2Zaa9BXXf-CkqAVqSNtuKuEfEEqJqnmWyctE/s320/IMG_6545.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
No hocus pocus here- just some good old-fashioned crafty fun!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Happy Halloween, everyone!</b></div>
KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-22423369865476235662012-10-24T13:54:00.000-04:002012-10-26T22:12:04.078-04:00Just a little pretty for your day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxqga1TzEhkrZZdZp803O_53J7OMz-MmiFmnbHkk9ibxaxBp2_Djelk_7l6vBQuCIGIagr3vchV9YeG2DmQ0BLuiLHBMoWmAyag82jcik__gld6_tYohdW_NNIcxxScceUpVAY0B-PyE/s1600/IMG_6517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxqga1TzEhkrZZdZp803O_53J7OMz-MmiFmnbHkk9ibxaxBp2_Djelk_7l6vBQuCIGIagr3vchV9YeG2DmQ0BLuiLHBMoWmAyag82jcik__gld6_tYohdW_NNIcxxScceUpVAY0B-PyE/s400/IMG_6517.JPG" width="262" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been ACHING to do some paper crafting ever since I got my <strike>craft room</strike> <i>studio</i> all organized. I primed my creativity by watching some paper crafting videos online (a great FREE way to learn new techniques and get inspired with new ideas, by the way) and then I came up with this little tag. It’s a little much, I know, but I was just having some fun.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just wanted to make something pretty. So I did.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i>How about you? Made anything pretty lately?</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Linking up to...</i></div>
<br />
<center>
<a href="http://www.paperissues.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Paper Issues Blog Design" border="0" src="http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u35/MrsChez/blinkie2.gif" /></a></center>
<center>
<br /><center>
<a href="http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/so-just-what-is-pink-saturday.html"><img border="0" src="http://i36.tinypic.com/3038rqh.jpg" /></a></center>
</center>
l
KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-63643137869387590462012-10-04T12:53:00.001-04:002012-10-04T12:53:27.586-04:00Because apparently is humanly possible to have your ears talked off.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or it sure feels that way to me when my 3-year-old and I are spending the day together at home. I love the girl, but most of our conversations go like this:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">C: Mom, what’s this?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Me: Medicine for Tyson’s ear.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">C: Why his ear need medicine?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Me: Because it has owies.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">C: Why it got owies?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Me: Because it’s infected.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">C: What infected?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Me: It means his ear has bad germs in it that make it hurt.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">C: His ear have germs?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Me: Yup.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">C: Why his ear have germs?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Me: I don’t know, it just happens.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">C: It just happens?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Me: Yes, just happens.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">C: Why it just happens?</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18px;">
Me: *facepalm*</div>
<div style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
Don’t get me wrong. I love the girl. I just can’t handle the fifty million questions that flow from her every minute she’s anywhere near me. Today in the midst of the “whys” and the “how comes” I decided to go to my list of ideas I’ve pinned to keep her occupied during the day. One of those was button practice using felt. I recently redid my craft room (still a work in progress, but photos will be coming soon) so I could actually find everything I needed to do this little project:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VNhcpkvUzczL6rbNjQDjSkVULsXmn2N4tmml565qcWkrJjS6f0p4Dl7moVXYERjADugTSf5mY3X89TPuugUuiMKJnYMq5sItQIW5Ymdk0ZYnBMWRYrgmimtKjEbE3NPZOPr64RggdTg/s1600/IMG_6465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VNhcpkvUzczL6rbNjQDjSkVULsXmn2N4tmml565qcWkrJjS6f0p4Dl7moVXYERjADugTSf5mY3X89TPuugUuiMKJnYMq5sItQIW5Ymdk0ZYnBMWRYrgmimtKjEbE3NPZOPr64RggdTg/s400/IMG_6465.JPG" width="353" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just a big piece of felt, some little pieces of different colored felt cut into shapes with a slit for the buttons, needle & thread, and some buttons to match the colors of the shapes. Only took about 15 minutes to put together. </span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here’s Little Boo, quite proud of herself for unbuttoning and rebuttoning all the shapes!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDjY6mtJkVuXlR1258xu1m-4RCFb-t18Y1YzpssIsYLMx_nAOR32qo11LxqYjLkbQA43AmoN4wAj35RcmemecjTtlCBUx-zrDp2Uwqb8FKvxn2z0cggPrERxtO4a9lX3vVE2GqDnevdQ/s1600/IMG_6466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDjY6mtJkVuXlR1258xu1m-4RCFb-t18Y1YzpssIsYLMx_nAOR32qo11LxqYjLkbQA43AmoN4wAj35RcmemecjTtlCBUx-zrDp2Uwqb8FKvxn2z0cggPrERxtO4a9lX3vVE2GqDnevdQ/s320/IMG_6466.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And here’s me, getting a chance to actually do a blog post because she’s happily working away on those buttons. Ahh, peace.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b>Have you ever done some emergency crafting to occupy little hands for awhile?</b></i></div>
<br />
<br /></span></div>
KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-37942112409407356742012-09-17T07:59:00.001-04:002012-09-17T07:59:05.330-04:00Gettin’ Skinny the Beautiful Thrifty Life Way!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFkeUuqQS5-uERv-OzlHYiNKhnlBbEEh1Tta26pKUeMCgYwbGGtMblTseJbKYeHzyLfrn-2Y9_-3RojMq3myGJg-jpru4xOODqHpvV3mEPrNqdq2og0hCuEg-FzZOdBtEZj6ldDz8LhQ/s1600/tross_baby_logo25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFkeUuqQS5-uERv-OzlHYiNKhnlBbEEh1Tta26pKUeMCgYwbGGtMblTseJbKYeHzyLfrn-2Y9_-3RojMq3myGJg-jpru4xOODqHpvV3mEPrNqdq2og0hCuEg-FzZOdBtEZj6ldDz8LhQ/s400/tross_baby_logo25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>*I am not getting paid or compensated in any way for this post. I probably should be, but really I’m just gushing because I looooove it!*</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
So, beautiful baby girl is here and Mommy is thrilled- but fat!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Okay, I’m not that fat, but I could definitely stand to lose a few pounds. And, as per my usual, I decided to forgo the expensive programs like NutriSlim and Weight Watchers and skip the pricey gym membership as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So how am I losing my weight?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am using a fantastic FREE program called <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/" target="_blank">My Fitness Pal</a>. If you want to lose weight, get in shape, or even just learn more about your relationship with food, you have to try this! Here’s how it works:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- Go to <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/">www.myfitnesspal.com</a> - you can use the website with your computer or you can download their free app for your mobile device.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- Enter in your info: age, height, weight, average daily activity level. Then tell it what your goal weight is and how much you want to lose each week.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- My Fitness Pal will then calculate your daily calorie goal: your calorie limit for each day for you to lose the amount of weight you desire. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- Start tracking! MFP has a huge food database- all different brands, along with various raw fruits and veggies. Just type in what you ate and it will find it for you and tell you how many calories you’ve consumed. You add it to your daily “food diary” and MFP will tell you how many calories you still have left. You can even put in the ingredients for your favorite recipes and MFP will calculate the calories and save them so you can easily access it whenever you need to.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- Get moving! MFP also allows you to set fitness goals. Anytime you work out, you add the exercise and minutes and you can earn yourself more calories! Want an extra dessert? Better put on your gym shoes first!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- Get friends and family to sign up- MFP is like facebook, where you can add your friends and family and see whenever they work out, complete their daily food diary, or log a weight loss. Even on days when I don’t feel like working out, I’ll see that someone else did and it motivates me to get my butt in gear!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Using this program has made losing weight like a game for me. I look forward to adding in my food and seeing how many calories I have left. I enjoy trying to find ways to trim calories, and finding healthier alternatives to my usual favorite foods. I love working out and rushing back to my computer to enter in my minutes and watch my calorie allowance for the day suddenly go up (yummy dessert, here I come)!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are the ways this program has really helped me:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1. <b>I have learned to make better food choices.</b> I know that 250-calorie cupcake tastes good, but I also know that 60-calorie peach won’t leave me hungry again in 30 minutes like the cupcake will.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. <b>I have learned the difference between wanting something to eat and being *actually* hungry. </b>Now when I think I’m hungry, I drink a glass of water first. Most of the time the water does the trick and I’m fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
3.<b> I’m drinking more water! </b>MFP also allows you to track your water intake, which is an important element in losing weight. Stay hydrated!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
4.<b> I’m learning portion control-</b> in order to correctly track my calories I have to accurately measure my portions, and I’m realizing I was eating WAY more than I should.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
5. <b>I’m learning that it takes awhile for my brain to register that I’ve eaten.</b> Often after I’ve eaten my correct portion size I will still feel hungry. But I’ve found that if I wait 30 minutes or so, I will actually feel satisfied. This realization is definitely helping me to stay on track and not overeat.<br />
<br />
6. <b>I can eat whatever I want! </b>I know that if I save up my calories I can still enjoy that dessert and be completely guilt-free while doing it.<br />
<br />
7. <b>No guesswork. </b>It’s simple math: calories in vs. calories out. I know that as long as my calories in are less than my calories out, I’m losing weight. Simple.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The best part? I actually look forward to getting on the scale- I’m excited to see how much weight I’ve lost! And by the way, it’s not just me- I got my whole family on board and they have lost about 16 lbs between the 5 of them over just the last 2-3 weeks. I have lost 3 lbs over the last 4 weeks doing it, and I can honestly say it’s been really fun. :-)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>Do you need to lose weight? Do you want to learn more about your relationship with food and try to make healthier choices? Check it out! </i></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-6608720921824536902012-08-14T07:00:00.000-04:002012-08-17T10:02:30.015-04:00A Pinteresting Pinvestigation<br />
Pinterest has become a fun hobby for me- not just browsing and pinning, but actually trying out new recipes and activities and tips that I pin. A few months ago I shared some of my Pinterest successes with you and this week I thought I’d add a few more- both the successful and not-so-successful. :-)<br />
<br />
Let’s start with the good:<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5431" height="600" src="http://chocolateandcarrots.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Flourless-Fudge-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies-48811.jpg" title="Flourless Fudge Chocolate Chip Cookies-4881" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Like these <a href="http://chocolateandcarrots.com/2011/07/flourless-fudge-chocolate-chip-cookies" target="_blank">flourless fudge cookies</a> from Chocolate & Carrots...YUM! Warning: these do stick- make absolutely sure you have the parchment paper for these. I did, and they were still pretty sticky! But oh so delicious and worth it!<br />
<br />
And another winner:<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="768" src="http://whitsamusebouche.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_8571.jpg" title="IMG_8571" width="512" /><br />
<br />
Ho. ly. cow. This <a href="http://whitsamusebouche.com/restaurant-style/" target="_blank">recipe for restaurant-style steak</a> from Amuse Bouche is UNbelievable. I thought I had died and gone to steak heaven when I took my first bite after making this. Seriously- if you like steak then this recipe is a MUST! Warning: I have made this a few times now and I always have to open the windows and turn on the fans because it will SMOKE YOU OUT! But again, SO worth it.<br />
<br />
Need some more dessert? I gotcha covered:<br />
<br />
<img alt="Lemony Cream Butter Cake from blackjack bakehouse" class="PinImageImg" src="http://media-cache0.pinterest.com/upload/98727416801567616_HywUjhQW_f.jpg" style="height: 640px; width: 480px;" /><br />
<br />
This <a href="http://bakehouse.squarespace.com/home/2011/7/27/lemony-cream-butter-cake.html" target="_blank">Lemony Cream Butter Cake</a> from the Blackjack Bakehouse is as lemony and creamy and buttery as it looks! I made this for a luncheon at church and was practically mobbed by people asking me about it. One lady overheard the fray and wanted a piece but there were none left- someone actually insisted that she lick the serving utensil so she could get a taste!! So funny!<br />
<br />
Need something healthier? That’s okay, I got you covered there too:<br />
<br />
<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llvjw8q1Mf1qi2e0n.jpg" /><br />
<br />
These <a href="http://therealityofskinny.tumblr.com/foodrecipes" target="_blank">pina colada pops</a> are made with fruit and coconut milk and they are YUMmy! My kids love them too, which is a total plus in my book!<br />
<br />
One more hallelujah recipe for you (this one not so healthy):<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAvUU48PCPQ2J0EHDkB3InP7dE_8wctQgF1LXtGD4ZTPGXHtJ99fAoRr2zd0SkxQVGUcgNpbTHEePnHIGwHWA9pLKHCaN3lv_Hu57qK8pdEYNw-XfmLEUxRP8LS1WbCPVKzr1IvGQUR8/s640/DSC05357.JPG" width="640" /><br />
<br />
It’s <a href="http://bakedfromabox.blogspot.ca/2012/07/cake-batter-fudge-10-minute-recipe.html" target="_blank">cake batter fudge</a>, people. Cake. batter. fudge. Do I really need to say anything else? I bought another funfetti cake mix today because my children have practically been on their knees pleading with me to make more of this stuff. (They really had to twist my arm, you know.) And it’s waaaay easy to make, too- just mix and chill. This could be dangerous.<br />
<br />
Okay, enough with the sweets- let’s get back to dinner.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3992" height="400" src="http://www.wittyinthecity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/IMG_23931.png" title="IMG_2393" width="600" /><br />
<br />
This <a href="http://www.wittyinthecity.com/2011/08/man-pleasing-chicken/" target="_blank">Man-Pleasing Chicken</a> from Witty in the City pleased my man AND me! I used dried rosemary because I didn’t have fresh, and I thought it was quite tasty. I’m actually making it again this week- it’s a quick and easy recipe, which is important when you have a newborn at home!<br />
<br />
And last but not least, who’s up for breakfast?<br />
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588557679271930130" src="http://www.fatgirltrappedinaskinnybody.com/wp-content/uploads/images/bacon2Begg2Bcups2B1.JPG" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 290px;" /><br />
<br />
These <a href="http://www.fatgirltrappedinaskinnybody.com/2011/04/bacon-egg-cups/" target="_blank">Bacon Egg Cups</a> from Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body are tasty and perfect for a crowd. My only complaint was that they took a little while to put together (that bacon is slippery and doesn’t like to behave nicely in muffin cups!) and they were a tad on the greasy side because the bacon grease had nowhere to go. I made these when I had house guests and both they and my kids really liked them.<br />
<br />
<i><b>So, have you been cooking any of your pins? Found any new favorite recipes? Leave a comment and share! Next week I’ll be back with some pin FAILS! Those are always fun...</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Linking up to</i></div>
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://decortoadore.blogspot.com/2012/08/fridays-favorite-pin-number-4.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20DecorToAdore%20(Decor%20to%20Adore)" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-TZwVUfl-pLZHGBMadL286RwYCSUILRWPeXXvxhWWgVPr8nzdJv3Njxj3sbhHh_3W43bsqv_zaaUKPNRgkiaeD_ykYQxxViu9ymnmBrBqaVLCflGTCt8yoQx7ZHu9WrO0fzO6WtsiJE/s1600/camera1-001%5B5%5D.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-88287734268699607002012-07-30T12:44:00.000-04:002012-07-30T12:44:12.411-04:00Look Who's Finally Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family, Teeny. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSGDhlMRSlxE2i2Z-rf9Hsi3L1XNyOhVdFh2REp9OVPYvNXJb3hgVxDoi35ugvnQspxKgFM3GdhuwAvBPUnhWl6L0B2VhLZVeUWBRvls3XQ6NhffxhTyjO8XmxyZuj_XXrI4DTgJlNC4/s1600/IMG_6202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSGDhlMRSlxE2i2Z-rf9Hsi3L1XNyOhVdFh2REp9OVPYvNXJb3hgVxDoi35ugvnQspxKgFM3GdhuwAvBPUnhWl6L0B2VhLZVeUWBRvls3XQ6NhffxhTyjO8XmxyZuj_XXrI4DTgJlNC4/s400/IMG_6202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
She arrived only 1 day behind schedule, on July 20th. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVsR-E7o6dIaOYlGHcx7-SvBMxfncJdMbKR7YkyDrlT5o56gj_iHfIsscggj3h6ZwDOe5PMV5217aUd82TDzLCucGmiQzlT1aEM34BPT40ml-rfhO4y3oPgrW_yigcv2_B_QEqaacKGQ/s1600/IMG_6221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTVsR-E7o6dIaOYlGHcx7-SvBMxfncJdMbKR7YkyDrlT5o56gj_iHfIsscggj3h6ZwDOe5PMV5217aUd82TDzLCucGmiQzlT1aEM34BPT40ml-rfhO4y3oPgrW_yigcv2_B_QEqaacKGQ/s400/IMG_6221.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
She's a very zen little squirt, and her big brother and sisters are so excited she's here.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVbt86s-NT-RjugJdZL0ag7silKVQVxqwmrIAy9NFhgN7KSBa5c09xULLdJoH65DODXBrMN7kHeYILol0_sA_IJcMDz5qJM52tFUjX9hwpj3qJvw42yuf6q9acssXXp6ZLk2SrAFsBoQ/s1600/IMG_6222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVbt86s-NT-RjugJdZL0ag7silKVQVxqwmrIAy9NFhgN7KSBa5c09xULLdJoH65DODXBrMN7kHeYILol0_sA_IJcMDz5qJM52tFUjX9hwpj3qJvw42yuf6q9acssXXp6ZLk2SrAFsBoQ/s400/IMG_6222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We are, too. :-)</div>KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-75301741755260515572012-07-19T09:23:00.000-04:002012-11-09T20:40:21.374-05:00Quick Afternoon Project: BAGS Dispenser Can<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOygp8KqnOFyvxFXmt_PBA6qtXYgZXFdDxIVp-PLXuMqYjCRA6dsmP8eXr5ERxzGAwI60eIKOtQHdlfbXiqMuxiRIJQH34KuRJjGETOvz8nKRv9XHbI0hL0z6cGAhKD5ZBQ8k1ZIn8Ic/s1600/IMG_6161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOygp8KqnOFyvxFXmt_PBA6qtXYgZXFdDxIVp-PLXuMqYjCRA6dsmP8eXr5ERxzGAwI60eIKOtQHdlfbXiqMuxiRIJQH34KuRJjGETOvz8nKRv9XHbI0hL0z6cGAhKD5ZBQ8k1ZIn8Ic/s400/IMG_6161.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<br />
Guess what? Today's my due date! Still no baby. *sigh* Anyway, thought I'd at least commemorate the day with a post for y'all.<br />
<br />
Earlier this week my son had a friend over to play, my littlest was down for a nap, and I knew Starlet would be bored and I wanted to find something to do with her to keep her out of the boys' hair. I have discovered recently that she's a big fan of paper crafting, and I've had this project on my to-do list for awhile, so I thought we could have some fun with it together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmTOVoOl7OeWYs9WLop-iWPZU8KrcgMsFTe-Y9NAydESGbyGmfj08dGpPtuMq1FEKqXz1JgsYbYNqhWAwfS9pU_Yhd0pGqih5ZStFqggYyPggFatz8WoJ2X0mFkfTcQCYCIOPerfacjM/s1600/IMG_6162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmTOVoOl7OeWYs9WLop-iWPZU8KrcgMsFTe-Y9NAydESGbyGmfj08dGpPtuMq1FEKqXz1JgsYbYNqhWAwfS9pU_Yhd0pGqih5ZStFqggYyPggFatz8WoJ2X0mFkfTcQCYCIOPerfacjM/s400/IMG_6162.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This handy-dandy bag dispenser was created from an empty #10 can which we Mod-Podged with scrapbooking paper. Starlet helped me choose the colors, apply the Mod-Podge, and she was in charge of using the Quickutz to punch the die-cut flowers and letters. I assembled the flowers and we figured out the placement together.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUp0p_LYg4erUBCWipZ5xsuUcOw2NFmoAOj3-w4kpP0t4KYhGgNTHqyy892GNlf2KCdP5C_C6BBgOikrC2-35NnMoIlh1BnIxvbjWSMD9YHJ3g1Uwbvh0zWVODqcPa2Wpy-353aPZmaUc/s1600/IMG_6163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUp0p_LYg4erUBCWipZ5xsuUcOw2NFmoAOj3-w4kpP0t4KYhGgNTHqyy892GNlf2KCdP5C_C6BBgOikrC2-35NnMoIlh1BnIxvbjWSMD9YHJ3g1Uwbvh0zWVODqcPa2Wpy-353aPZmaUc/s400/IMG_6163.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
As you can probably tell from some of the flowers, I also let Starlet cut them out with scissors. They aren't perfect, but they're beautiful because we did it together. :-) And now we have a pretty, colorful bag dispenser! Perfect for all those dirty diapers that are sure to be coming our way soon...I hope...<br />
<br />
For more great project ideas for your old cans, check out <a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2011/09/50-crafts-and-projects-using-recycled.html" target="_blank">this post by Under the Table and Dreaming</a>.<br />
<br />
Hope you're having a fun summer. Have you done anything crafty with your kids recently?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Linking up to...<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="shabby creek cottage" border="0" src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb119/tightwadtips/SCCTTBadge.png" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/2012/07/im-crafty-party-20/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SoYouThinkYoureCrafty%20(So%20You%20Think%20You're%20Crafty)" target="_blank">So You Think You're Crafty: I'm Crafty Party</a></div>
KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-39256720339942142702012-07-17T15:27:00.000-04:002012-07-17T15:27:00.449-04:00Restaurant-Good Fajitas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v0KhvtmqqzpOypW1ehPl19qp6kiLfK5PR6QtJWmvlSCAXk55azj2fFZM26XvO7PVDjWDSjj-C9HSi8DOaeHYQsax17udvgUagc3Bd-YsJwPyfQr4vb5WCg4Lzm_WIowXmBSNLb8l0U4/s1600/IMG_6119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v0KhvtmqqzpOypW1ehPl19qp6kiLfK5PR6QtJWmvlSCAXk55azj2fFZM26XvO7PVDjWDSjj-C9HSi8DOaeHYQsax17udvgUagc3Bd-YsJwPyfQr4vb5WCg4Lzm_WIowXmBSNLb8l0U4/s400/IMG_6119.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been thinking of posting this on here for awhile, but whenever I make this recipe I get so excited I forget about all else- including taking photos of the process! But this time I made sure to document it all so I could share it with you, dear readers.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I LOOOOVE fajitas, especially the kind you get at Mexican restaurants where they serve it to you on a cast iron skillet with fresh tortillas. YUM. Unfortunately, every time I got a "fajita" spice mix or frozen "fajitas" meal from the store, they never even remotely resembled the restaurant fajitas I love. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After some searching I came across a <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fajita-marinade-i/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=fajita&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe%20Search%20Results" target="_blank">fajita marinade recipe from Allrecipes.com</a> that hit the nail on the head! </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Restaurant-Good Fajitas</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>1/4 cup lime juice</b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>1/3 cup water</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2 tablespoons olive oil</b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>4 cloves garlic, crushed</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2 teaspoons soy sauce</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>1 teaspoon salt</b></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I use red pepper flakes instead)</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnSkcmHErVLcFKCi-sqDoVxPLY3wsJhIXwe4EIK5Nrn1BYXpAAlXmNtW_M7hCleKlZfRlZR63CRbotOb1zoG3Jjn5WLP2Dd2K6mJTAlW9_nVZ97vyRzhloeXC3OlLE9iOoBDZw8K5pGQ/s1600/IMG_6111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnSkcmHErVLcFKCi-sqDoVxPLY3wsJhIXwe4EIK5Nrn1BYXpAAlXmNtW_M7hCleKlZfRlZR63CRbotOb1zoG3Jjn5WLP2Dd2K6mJTAlW9_nVZ97vyRzhloeXC3OlLE9iOoBDZw8K5pGQ/s400/IMG_6111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Step 1.</b> Mix together ingredients for marinade; cut your chicken (I usually use 2 large breasts) into thin strips and marinate for 30 minutes-2 hours. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yu-TYrV06QOWcRj1Y1JJ0TT8uVjglDkssCcizybzv4zFtDjYTBOOPSRkMhFZKpYB9Jj703Ucy1RLC6cvZkxo54efI1lrqEHkwltUN9Bo6yo1Qe1sWrRXheYuTyhStSWSSD1n2SeN3IY/s1600/IMG_6113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yu-TYrV06QOWcRj1Y1JJ0TT8uVjglDkssCcizybzv4zFtDjYTBOOPSRkMhFZKpYB9Jj703Ucy1RLC6cvZkxo54efI1lrqEHkwltUN9Bo6yo1Qe1sWrRXheYuTyhStSWSSD1n2SeN3IY/s400/IMG_6113.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Step 2.</b> Scoop chicken out of marinade and cook in large skillet on HIGH heat until outsides turn white. Don't cook for too long or chicken will become tough. Remove chicken and set aside, keeping it warm.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAoZR04yx97uaBZ3oFocyqrNWKre6ZaaN8rR9HC148iAtPHgIA0vJp3hOMlOLXvZIR0R7ZYwHTQEVSeJx5TnyOWAFseaIoUlNUdfllX7cRmWDI-Mql7vP6RLBd0jtc6vxuM2Fp5lEosc/s1600/IMG_6112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAoZR04yx97uaBZ3oFocyqrNWKre6ZaaN8rR9HC148iAtPHgIA0vJp3hOMlOLXvZIR0R7ZYwHTQEVSeJx5TnyOWAFseaIoUlNUdfllX7cRmWDI-Mql7vP6RLBd0jtc6vxuM2Fp5lEosc/s400/IMG_6112.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Step 3.</b> You'll need onions and multicolored peppers- I just keep it simple and use 2 packages of frozen. Less chopping that way! But fresh works too.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVqT18xh4Poaka2qPNzyCWp3Vqj6jtmg8dc55RSW3YnjAm2mocwXIvg6XZPQVAluAXkBUjrk36ytMicHfrsN3Jz0KNlr7G5FFB2buDSsZjE7jj80Bui4JxBOLky62ue3p8Yg3TITBEBw/s1600/IMG_6114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVqT18xh4Poaka2qPNzyCWp3Vqj6jtmg8dc55RSW3YnjAm2mocwXIvg6XZPQVAluAXkBUjrk36ytMicHfrsN3Jz0KNlr7G5FFB2buDSsZjE7jj80Bui4JxBOLky62ue3p8Yg3TITBEBw/s400/IMG_6114.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Step 4.</b> Using the same pan you cooked the chicken in, cook your onions and peppers (this gives them some of that fajita flavor too). Personally, I think that to make this dish more authentic you kind of have to cook them to oblivion- in the photo above, there's lots of liquid still...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7BGS89gt8OZFoEJ6NMVEMGZaxxIlTzZaH82uwkM3mNT9GC3hURScrtL0iKYKK0jR2-yqdgVoroekn8CffZlZG8IWkJlFQLvP7BQMhdF_XU_ePs9nv4dixOybjcqo4clCq0B5RkinDB4/s1600/IMG_6115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7BGS89gt8OZFoEJ6NMVEMGZaxxIlTzZaH82uwkM3mNT9GC3hURScrtL0iKYKK0jR2-yqdgVoroekn8CffZlZG8IWkJlFQLvP7BQMhdF_XU_ePs9nv4dixOybjcqo4clCq0B5RkinDB4/s400/IMG_6115.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...but in this photo you'll see how the liquid has evaporated and the onions have kind of caramelized- this gives the dish that amazing tangy sweetness. You have to wait until you actually have to kind of scrape the onions & peppers off the pan. Ohhhh so good.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGhkm_1jXA9WMWQnw_wm-3MuZ0CLJtj7PzvS_o43sIkPB_aiOPlybUcYAt7CP5dFipS_R83CDVUvs_bx2i4mp2KQ0B552i9ZnuUX_AaZySAjBQ3atIu5kyWFhzMwuJNqoNwx3wzU8lMo/s1600/IMG_6117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGhkm_1jXA9WMWQnw_wm-3MuZ0CLJtj7PzvS_o43sIkPB_aiOPlybUcYAt7CP5dFipS_R83CDVUvs_bx2i4mp2KQ0B552i9ZnuUX_AaZySAjBQ3atIu5kyWFhzMwuJNqoNwx3wzU8lMo/s400/IMG_6117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Step 5. </b>Add your chicken back into the mix- stir well and you'll see the chicken kind of get this golden coating from the veggies. YUM.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBLMW4kB1Gamjtjfa_UHZbWXXSds7pGMy8fuXHuicBk-K6dwTRalBOWEL_lyaC96HuHX77nrVR48T5L6Blo3LqCGUg9cPceC8psplv3wX_ejwmzOdN3uygO6gPiTXOR887b891oJVSAU/s1600/IMG_6118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBLMW4kB1Gamjtjfa_UHZbWXXSds7pGMy8fuXHuicBk-K6dwTRalBOWEL_lyaC96HuHX77nrVR48T5L6Blo3LqCGUg9cPceC8psplv3wX_ejwmzOdN3uygO6gPiTXOR887b891oJVSAU/s400/IMG_6118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Step 6.</b> What do you want with your yummy fajita mix? I personally love to eat mine over a bed of Chipotle rice- yeah, the same kind you get at Chipotle restaurant! You can find the recipe <a href="http://restaurant.food.com/recipe/chipotle-copycat-lime-rice-recipe-147335" target="_blank">here</a> or do like I do- just use basmati rice, use a little less than twice as much water as rice except replace some of the water (a few tablespoons) with lime juice and then add extra salt. Once the rice is done cooking, mix in a few tablespoons of fresh chopped cilantro. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another great option is to serve this on freshly-made warm tortillas. Yes, you can make these at home! I pinned it and I did it! Find the recipe<a href="http://theurbanspork.com/2010/05/flour-tortillas/" target="_blank"> here</a>.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v0KhvtmqqzpOypW1ehPl19qp6kiLfK5PR6QtJWmvlSCAXk55azj2fFZM26XvO7PVDjWDSjj-C9HSi8DOaeHYQsax17udvgUagc3Bd-YsJwPyfQr4vb5WCg4Lzm_WIowXmBSNLb8l0U4/s1600/IMG_6119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4v0KhvtmqqzpOypW1ehPl19qp6kiLfK5PR6QtJWmvlSCAXk55azj2fFZM26XvO7PVDjWDSjj-C9HSi8DOaeHYQsax17udvgUagc3Bd-YsJwPyfQr4vb5WCg4Lzm_WIowXmBSNLb8l0U4/s400/IMG_6119.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Step 7.</b> Devour. And think about opening your own Mexican restaurant with your mad fajita-cooking skills.</div>
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-58367053905480225532012-07-10T15:07:00.001-04:002012-07-12T09:31:07.433-04:00The Last Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe You'll Ever Need<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3bd_dkWpMoWV5WxqnOOB79_v4rmvC9O10qf9eJ4fr9hX4q7qlKNt1Fi7Jc3V5Yr8qjhxbbvZSQFqRbRTP0rlCIqA__wDd9PEBNywHuYGrn-0FYbEGpOJ1BcOkIn7i6nXpy1EYIN5JQ/s1600/IMG_6160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3bd_dkWpMoWV5WxqnOOB79_v4rmvC9O10qf9eJ4fr9hX4q7qlKNt1Fi7Jc3V5Yr8qjhxbbvZSQFqRbRTP0rlCIqA__wDd9PEBNywHuYGrn-0FYbEGpOJ1BcOkIn7i6nXpy1EYIN5JQ/s400/IMG_6160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today I have a real treat for you! There have been a lot of "microwave mug cake" recipes floating around on the internet, and I have tried quite a few. Often, they get tricky because of the amount of egg required- the results either turn out too dense or too spongy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lightbulb moment!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My <a href="http://thesillymom.blogspot.com/2011/02/rainy-day-jar-series-super-easy.html" target="_blank">very favorite chocolate cake recipe</a> is vegan- it has no egg in it at all (it utilizes the leavening magic of baking soda and vinegar instead). I thought, Why not scale down that recipe and turn it into a microwave mug cake recipe?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, I scaled it down, messed with it a bit, and discovered the perfect recipe for a moist, light, fluffy cake recipe that just hits the chocolate spot. Here ya go:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The Last Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe You'll Ever Need</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>4 1/2 T flour</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>3 T sugar</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2 tsp unsweetened cocoa</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>scant* 1/4 tsp baking soda</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2 1/2 pinches salt</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>3 tsp vegetable oil</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>scant 1/4 tsp vanilla</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>scant 1/2 tsp vinegar</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>3 T cold water</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>*"scant" means just a little bit less- because this recipe has been adapted from a much larger quantity, some of the measurements were weird fractions, so just doing a tad less than a full 1/4 tsp, for example, will give you just the right amount.</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
1. Mix the dry ingredients (1st 5) in your mug with a fork or mini whisk.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbTr69z-rcYl6wRqDYPGvG-Fh93HWiYmsbJTiCkNCUIstVucVh51OpAlr8CpxyVAEPixVlcppIQhnZNb4S7LWCGkwf77yF36ognFvu8Cc6UhLqLjmTlXRN7spbeW-yDzLDALW3T4tmJ8/s1600/IMG_6156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbTr69z-rcYl6wRqDYPGvG-Fh93HWiYmsbJTiCkNCUIstVucVh51OpAlr8CpxyVAEPixVlcppIQhnZNb4S7LWCGkwf77yF36ognFvu8Cc6UhLqLjmTlXRN7spbeW-yDzLDALW3T4tmJ8/s400/IMG_6156.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. Make a well (hole) in the center of your dry mixture and add wet ingredients.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3. Stir well with your fork or mini whisk. You may want to use a spoon to make sure you get all the dry ingredients out of the bottom corners. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcx2EupHmYSekPvZ2KvdhcNJfkCsH0NMV_-vF_i88MgU6fX3u3oTOeCPtoTWvxLOL1u1a7RB96pXMQJvJgpzhVOw0rD0TGDSxgCTSgVcdrkE7R-1ZI6LcE7P-nCXasnD36SPbdU658Ug/s1600/IMG_6157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcx2EupHmYSekPvZ2KvdhcNJfkCsH0NMV_-vF_i88MgU6fX3u3oTOeCPtoTWvxLOL1u1a7RB96pXMQJvJgpzhVOw0rD0TGDSxgCTSgVcdrkE7R-1ZI6LcE7P-nCXasnD36SPbdU658Ug/s400/IMG_6157.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
4. Lick the spoon/fork/whisk. No raw eggs. You're totally allowed.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbspuqKaAjTKJyWI44yKtkovfbzya3LHMcG0Q4DoJ9E5AzG3FlYiEm6cknHKu1BVmpqlf2uR6jrI-s8CVfeO859hlz0dCHzdNrHJ7QdHeErKwXbXmmigEmT5MuT-IyqIq6UO8v43zP49Q/s1600/IMG_6158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbspuqKaAjTKJyWI44yKtkovfbzya3LHMcG0Q4DoJ9E5AzG3FlYiEm6cknHKu1BVmpqlf2uR6jrI-s8CVfeO859hlz0dCHzdNrHJ7QdHeErKwXbXmmigEmT5MuT-IyqIq6UO8v43zP49Q/s400/IMG_6158.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
5. Microwave for 1 minute, 20 seconds. I have a 1000-watt microwave- if your microwave is more or less powerful you may need to adjust this time. Start low and work your way up.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nJNuEdnK4mlEcE62_hfbkDNzxkw6mWxqZYEeuTETyfI5LtZNcpmWABNUMQTdUzZRRpq_-beJxipu2vpKFXGM6yStdb2rTyvWGXWrhJruvLcqSvDYwF7MIE0_WP9jQ-MAz91h4hhYEME/s1600/IMG_6159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nJNuEdnK4mlEcE62_hfbkDNzxkw6mWxqZYEeuTETyfI5LtZNcpmWABNUMQTdUzZRRpq_-beJxipu2vpKFXGM6yStdb2rTyvWGXWrhJruvLcqSvDYwF7MIE0_WP9jQ-MAz91h4hhYEME/s400/IMG_6159.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
6. Let cool for as long as you can stand it (about 10 minutes is good- I usually dig in early and blow on each bite.)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3bd_dkWpMoWV5WxqnOOB79_v4rmvC9O10qf9eJ4fr9hX4q7qlKNt1Fi7Jc3V5Yr8qjhxbbvZSQFqRbRTP0rlCIqA__wDd9PEBNywHuYGrn-0FYbEGpOJ1BcOkIn7i6nXpy1EYIN5JQ/s1600/IMG_6160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGD3bd_dkWpMoWV5WxqnOOB79_v4rmvC9O10qf9eJ4fr9hX4q7qlKNt1Fi7Jc3V5Yr8qjhxbbvZSQFqRbRTP0rlCIqA__wDd9PEBNywHuYGrn-0FYbEGpOJ1BcOkIn7i6nXpy1EYIN5JQ/s400/IMG_6160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
7. Devour the chocolatey deliciousness. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Aww yeah. Next time you're craving some moist chocolatey goodness, I've got you covered. You're welcome.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b>I would love it if you tried this out yourself and left a comment to tell me how you liked it. :-)</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Linking up to:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://milkandcuddles.com/2012/07/mommy-clubbin-link-up/" target="_blank">Milk & Cuddles</a></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://thekingscourt4.blogspot.com/search/label/What%27s%20Cooking%20Wednesday" target="_blank"><br /><br /><img src="http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd329/crissyren/menumeme1.gif" /></a></center><center><br /></center><center><br /></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="shabby creek cottage" border="0" src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb119/tightwadtips/SCCTTBadge.png" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/2012/07/im-crafty-linky-party-19/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SoYouThinkYoureCrafty%20(So%20You%20Think%20You're%20Crafty)" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUJ470oH3CcVz6ReeteuoKZhxqAEZpFuGtOEwE4IvDCJtUXn7ISW_tQkQq2o7_nrDRyei0xgocpR1tIQtX1UGkqe6sVmQ8G2a-LZMiwEpNmncntI_ZgTRKp8ArBO7OAmldMybODBaHi0/s1600/linky-party-1.png" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-38479266754302779042012-07-05T20:48:00.000-04:002012-07-05T20:48:54.659-04:00Getting Ready for Baby!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPbC0gadzkeW8RxhrdF3Ip_22HVEH1OqHQVxnWJGMCjMMl7bsqFVc2snzI-iL6veJ6zOLDfHvtce_v6rRP-G6V2b5LAxGEVhOanpR-b-9MGfaCk_bj97zNCJM6p35foT_xOg4e0ic6qc/s1600/kaseylogo17bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPbC0gadzkeW8RxhrdF3Ip_22HVEH1OqHQVxnWJGMCjMMl7bsqFVc2snzI-iL6veJ6zOLDfHvtce_v6rRP-G6V2b5LAxGEVhOanpR-b-9MGfaCk_bj97zNCJM6p35foT_xOg4e0ic6qc/s320/kaseylogo17bw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Isn't this photo my photographer friend Jenn took amazing? I just love all my little munchkins' hands on my belly! We had an incredible maternity photo shoot- check out her website or<a href="http://jennwolfephoto.blogspot.com/2012/06/audrey-hepburn-style-maternity.html?spref=fb" target="_blank"> her blog</a> to see more of her gorgeous photos.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We're two weeks away from my due date, and I am up to my ears in burp cloths and baby blankets! The bouncy seat, swing, and car seat have all been extracted from the attic, their covers laundered and replaced, and now I'm working on the layette. It's a lot of work!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
One thing I realized this morning as Little Boo (2 1/2 now) bounded into our room was that I could go into labor and have to leave for the hospital in the middle of the night. If I did, it might be a bit disconcerting for her to come into Mom & Dad's room and find us missing! Even more disconcerting if she went to look for us downstairs and found a strange person (well, it would be someone she knew but still strange) sleeping on the couch in the living room...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I came up with this idea:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELTepzLb_PwGsP4AEBbhBSSSjyVzla-wP-tMudo8b6vfVk1uiZSUjp24ickgkf320OSbD6HACvGVIj-R_j7e3O1o68e7-8YzTbFk-uTNacRbMbi34-iIAnuAAO8UWzNZ71zAd8czs8C8/s1600/IMG_6146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELTepzLb_PwGsP4AEBbhBSSSjyVzla-wP-tMudo8b6vfVk1uiZSUjp24ickgkf320OSbD6HACvGVIj-R_j7e3O1o68e7-8YzTbFk-uTNacRbMbi34-iIAnuAAO8UWzNZ71zAd8czs8C8/s320/IMG_6146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I made this little sign and showed it to her, explaining that if she wakes up and comes to our bedroom door and she sees this sign, it will mean that Mommy and Daddy went to the hospital so Mommy could have the baby. It would also mean that Uncle Erik, or Miss Shari (or some other friend or family member) will probably be downstairs. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
She got very excited about this sign and when she said our family prayer tonight she prayed that Daddy would take me to the hospital and that Uncle Erik would be here. :-) Maybe I gave her the wrong message...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HegVlk4Lj-ymcywxOAwUUMBxzOO4z5IwTiLYPDwhPjvVFYFvloa9gQ_yyd7pDgBJ_K7MKOKm0G0yrdIShiNdN91LORRb0WAOcuLEEWuBVzOJMGpTWoYRJ5cKpq96Va98KrQz6LjRK-0/s1600/kasey_logo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HegVlk4Lj-ymcywxOAwUUMBxzOO4z5IwTiLYPDwhPjvVFYFvloa9gQ_yyd7pDgBJ_K7MKOKm0G0yrdIShiNdN91LORRb0WAOcuLEEWuBVzOJMGpTWoYRJ5cKpq96Va98KrQz6LjRK-0/s320/kasey_logo3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Another gorgeous shot from our photo shoot. LOVE!</i></div>
<br />
Oh, well! At least she has some idea of what's going on. I'll keep reminding her of how the sign will work until the time comes. In the meantime, I'll be hanging in there, staying in the AC and nesting my little heart out...<br />
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-45632754623395390992012-07-02T22:30:00.004-04:002012-07-02T22:30:58.812-04:00As Promised: Summer Goals, Discipline, and Allowances!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aYZjxHiUEITxtEfoLCd_JUEXkHSAUW3Eepobx6OSgOo1DBZNMYyGnvghjf6DtBYBphTffMhxdF5hdTXzeSXQuiGPslaqZudo5yTPUm0E1fvEOXt9SC-zTFL6djB5h4nzFnWpJbS5QNo/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aYZjxHiUEITxtEfoLCd_JUEXkHSAUW3Eepobx6OSgOo1DBZNMYyGnvghjf6DtBYBphTffMhxdF5hdTXzeSXQuiGPslaqZudo5yTPUm0E1fvEOXt9SC-zTFL6djB5h4nzFnWpJbS5QNo/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>image from johnstonefitness.com</i></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
Let's start with goals: I'm a big fan of Shawni Pothier over at her blog, <a href="http://www.71toes.com/" target="_blank">71 Toes</a>. She has posted about doing Summer Goals with her kids, and I thought it was a great idea, so I copied her!<br />
<br />
I sat down with my kids and helped them to set 4 reasonable goals for themselves in the following categories: <b>Physical, Mental/Educational, Spiritual, and Personal</b>. Here are my kids' goals for the summer:<br />
<br />
<b>Monkey's Summer Goals</b><br />
<br />
1. Physical: Hit 10 balls in a row (prepping for baseball next year!)<br />
2. Mental/Educational: Read 5 chapter books (I'm pretty sure he'll read a lot more than this, but he wasn't convinced so I let him go with 5)<br />
3. Spiritual: Remember to say personal prayers every day.<br />
4. Personal: Save up $20 to buy Lego set.<br />
<br />
<b>Starlet's Summer Goals</b><br />
<br />
1. Physical: Learn to hula hoop.<br />
2. Mental/Educational: Learn 15 1st grade sight words (she just finished kindergarten)<br />
3. Spiritual: Memorize 6 scriptures.<br />
4. Personal: Save up $7 to buy a stuffed kitty.<br />
<br />
I will admit, so far I'm not doing a great job reminding and encouraging the kids with their goals- we may need to implement a chart for this. What I'd really like to do is sit down with each of them and help them to make their own charts to track their progress. <b>Part of the point of setting these goals is teaching them <i>how</i> to set goals and how to make a plan to achieve them. </b>Working on it!<br />
<br />
As for discipline, I recently read a great book entitled, "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire" by 5th-grade teacher Rafe Esquith. In the book, he talks about how he has helped his students understand the 6 Levels of Moral Development. Here's a short video where he explains these levels:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/77uRQeu_pUQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
I really loved the concept, and I decided it was something I wanted my own kids to understand- never too early to start, right? So I sat down with them and drew a picture of a mountain. I made each level of moral development a tick mark on the mountain, starting with Level 1 at the bottom and going up to Level 6 at the top- from which point you can see the great view from atop the mountain. I had the kids watch the video and we talked about each level as I drew them on the mountain. Even at ages 8 and 6, they understood- my 8-year-old more than my 6-year-old, but it was a good start.<br />
<br />
<b>My ultimate goal is to do entirely away with discipline systems and rewards so we can achieve Level 6 thinking: being good because you know it's the right thing to do, but I know that will take time.</b> For now, my son is doing well with gentle reminders and we still have to use the "color change" system (from last summer) with my daughter. We were having too many tantrum issues, and so I sat her down and explained that I could see that she still needed a system to help her remember how to behave. It's a good thing because not only does it help nip the bad behavior in the bud, but when she gets a color change it also reminds her that she's aiming for a higher level, and she doesn't want to be using the color change system.<br />
<br />
Little Boo is still on basic 1-2-3 time outs. She's only 2 and it works. Someday she'll get the levels. :-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOoIXox6FYKIuNoLlnMdID7_K43p62h8b-6XvbN7CR2FjCIWozi-_C2SGAmXF2BcBUMwS31475aU5eQsDQrOKFWZFAQtG0PXy3-wCKYIL3lZ5LQS9iW4Mo27-PNEGaihfFEe7diVMSLw/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOoIXox6FYKIuNoLlnMdID7_K43p62h8b-6XvbN7CR2FjCIWozi-_C2SGAmXF2BcBUMwS31475aU5eQsDQrOKFWZFAQtG0PXy3-wCKYIL3lZ5LQS9iW4Mo27-PNEGaihfFEe7diVMSLw/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>image from www.brandmill.com</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As for allowances, it's very simple: <b>the kids earn $0.25/day for completing all their chores. </b>We don't use a chart, I just make sure they get everything done every day. <b>They can earn an additional $0.25 for extra chores, with a limit of 1 extra chore per day using the chore sticks</b> (otherwise I'd go broke and run out of things for them to do). We do chores Monday through Saturday, so that's a "base pay" of $1.50/week, and up to $3 a week. Little Boo earns $1 a week for helping her brother and sister (she alternates being their helper and mine throughout the week) and doing the things I ask.<br />
<br />
I've heard that kids should get $1/week per year of age, but I'm sorry- what is a 6-year-old going to do with 6 bucks a week? That just seems like a lot to me, especially when my kids are tickled pink when they get to buy 1 thing from the Dollar Store. <b>I like that they have enough money to save up for the things they want and to learn budgeting, but I'm not emptying my wallet into their little hands each week.</b><br />
<br />
So that's our plan for the summer! So far it's working for us.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>:-)<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<i><b>How about you? Goals? Discipline? Allowances? Thoughts?</b></i>KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-39184770084605533062012-06-22T17:23:00.000-04:002012-06-22T17:23:57.789-04:00Summer ScheduleLast summer I posted about our <a href="http://thebeautifulthriftylife.blogspot.com/2011/06/schedules-chore-charts-and-other.html">complex chore charts and schedules and discipline</a>, etc. This year we're doing something similar, just simplified!<br />
<br />
I thought I'd take a moment to share our summer schedule with you to give you an idea of how I get through the day at home with 3 little munchkins and being 8 months pregnant.<br />
<br />
<b>8am- I wake up and get ready, kids are usually up already and they just watch TV</b>. I will not apologize for sleeping in. It is summer and I am about to pop. I need all the rest I can get before I'm not getting any at all!<br />
<br />
<b>8:30am- Breakfast for everyone</b><br />
<br />
<b>9am- TV off, time for morning "clothespin" chores plus 2 chore sticks</b>. Our clothespin chores are on door hangers like these (see below), and are simple things like putting away breakfast dishes, getting dressed, and brushing teeth.<br />
<br />
<a class="PinImage ImgLink" href="http://waveavenue.com/profiles/blogs/finds-interesting-decor-ideas" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f2f0f0; color: #cb2027; display: block; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><br /></a><a class="PinImage ImgLink" href="http://waveavenue.com/profiles/blogs/finds-interesting-decor-ideas" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f2f0f0; color: #cb2027; display: block; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="cute chore card for kids" class="PinImageImg" src="http://media-cache-ec7.pinterest.com/upload/229754018460217765_Zz7fcUTR_f.jpg" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.22s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-out; background-color: #f2f0f0; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; height: 741px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 75px; opacity: 1; width: 553px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Image from Pinterest. Sorry, no link!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The chore sticks come from a chore sticks jar like this one:<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_uGBYeHVd5u1HNvdW1xkZ8NzPR7gN9n0zfCfE7_lN8HMrADiCvQyVPeZ0RG9XHBGlqM1wip0-VuUVLOvfOsWANeBe_6jkwp4YkQVprkjKvhGk5thGx7WQxnVDa_8_djyxcWbuYfTkYM/s1600/144889312982191550_4TjLOEGD_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_uGBYeHVd5u1HNvdW1xkZ8NzPR7gN9n0zfCfE7_lN8HMrADiCvQyVPeZ0RG9XHBGlqM1wip0-VuUVLOvfOsWANeBe_6jkwp4YkQVprkjKvhGk5thGx7WQxnVDa_8_djyxcWbuYfTkYM/s320/144889312982191550_4TjLOEGD_f.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>from the <a href="http://www.shabbybeachnest.com/101-idea-im-bored-jar/">Shabby Beach Nest</a></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
(okay, so mine are craft sticks I wrote on with a black sharpie and stuck into an old sippy cup- simple is the name of the game here, people!) and each one has a simple chore that I know my kids can do, like vacuuming, wiping down a bathroom counter, switching the laundry, etc. I rotate these out so some of them go back in when they're done, like sweeping the kitchen, because that's an ongoing need, and some of them might get taken out for a few days, like taking out trash. Since this is our first week of summer, I've been very involved with helping with these chores and teaching the kids to do them correctly. The goal is that after a few weeks they'll be pros and won't need my help anymore (translation: post-baby = independence!).<br />
<br />
<b>9:30am- Outside to water the garden, pick blackberries, and play if it's not too hot.</b> Doing this stuff early helps me to make sure it gets done, and I like the kids to at least get a little bit of outside time, even if temps get up in the 90's later in the day.<br />
<br />
<b>10 or 10:30am- Outing or project. </b>Before school ended, the kids and I spent a few minutes each day going through Pinterest and brainstorming different fun things we wanted to do this summer. We made a list of about 75 things we thought would be fun, and each week we just pick a few. Every Monday is grocery shopping day, so that's our outing for the day, then usually we hit the dollar movies at the movie theater later in the week, then we have usually one more outing- museum, library, park, etc. The other days we stay home and do craft projects or another activity, like the sprinkler, treasure hunt, etc.<br />
<br />
<b>12:00pm- I start getting lunch ready, kids do a quick clean-up if we've done an activity at home.</b><br />
<br />
<b>12:30pm- Lunch</b><br />
<br />
<b>12:50pm- After-lunch cleanup, 1 chore stick. </b><br />
<br />
<b>1:00pm- Story time!</b> Each child chooses 1 book they want me to read, and I read 1 chapter from a chapter book.<br />
<br />
<b>1:30 or 2pm- Quiet Time-</b> Little Boo takes her nap, I eat my lunch and read, go online, or watch House Hunters International and fold laundry. The older two are allowed to do whatever they want, as long as it's quiet, but computer time for them is limited to 20 minutes each. I think next week I'll start incorporating some "homework assignments" into this time. Maybe have them do a worksheet or write a journal entry. I've been hearing a little too much whining during Quiet Time. :-)<br />
<br />
<b>3:30pm- Game Time & Snack Time-</b> Little Boo is usually still napping, so I gather the older two and we choose a board game or card game to play until she wakes up. When she gets up (4-4:30) she comes downstairs and sits at the table with us and has her snack, and we usually find a way to include her in the game too.<br />
<br />
<b>5pm- Kids' TV time, I start on dinner. </b>I'm usually pretty wiped out by this time, so I need the break and the kids stay out of my hair while I'm getting dinner put together.<br />
<br />
<b>6 or 6:30pm- Dinner!</b> We never know when my husband is going to be home, so we've always had a late dinner scheduled in hopes he'll get to eat with us.<br />
<br />
<b>7pm- Kids get ready for bed. </b>My husband is hopefully home by then so he takes care of the bedtime preparations while I do the dinner dishes.<br />
<br />
<b>8pm- Bedtime! </b>This often gets pushed back to about 8:30, especially now that it's summer, just because we goof off and play around before bed. And Little Boo likes to play get-up-and-go-potty-20-times so she often doesn't actually get to sleep until 9:30 or so, and consequently her sister (and often her brother who likes to stay up and read) don't get to bed till later either.<br />
<br />
And that is my 12-hour summer day. So far this schedule has been working great for us, and I like that it's not too structured, but just structured enough that everyone knows what's happening, things get done that need to get done, and I feel like I'm spending plenty of quality time with my kids, despite my lack of energy.<br />
<br />
Check back in the next few days and I'll share about our Summer Goals, allowances, and discipline system (no charts needed)!<br />
<br />
<i><b>How are you planning your summer? Do you keep a schedule or do you just wing it? What works for you?</b></i>KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-77155271759615636342012-06-14T17:37:00.002-04:002012-06-14T17:43:19.176-04:00I'm here! Just pregnant!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-mJ0t9hc3kj5mG9GJZvECQwYEG3nt-CR9JsY5VnVHGc3VcF-z-hWb9aSc12vBl8aOaDDB8l7cmnCXTo9t-x4sV9iWsbaQdJnTqbF-8r0_LrfW9oxdOL28W9H2EmMudF9M8qGqM4FjzU/s1600/IMG_6102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-mJ0t9hc3kj5mG9GJZvECQwYEG3nt-CR9JsY5VnVHGc3VcF-z-hWb9aSc12vBl8aOaDDB8l7cmnCXTo9t-x4sV9iWsbaQdJnTqbF-8r0_LrfW9oxdOL28W9H2EmMudF9M8qGqM4FjzU/s320/IMG_6102.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Nope, haven't dropped off the face of the earth! But I am 5 weeks from delivery and recovering from a nasty sinus infection so...things have been interesting. But I did want to share this little project with you!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tomorrow is the last day of school for us here, so I was working on some end-of-year gifts for teachers. My son's teacher has had a particularly difficult year with her class (she had 27 kids and about 9 of them were troublemakers- my son not included!) so I thought this would be an appropriate sentiment for her.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5gvt9e31Gu2CidSu1k3z91hHpno-wYgZCc5B50ej-LCeCC0_XDa15wKQ8RQqvr-Q_EcC6HmBJDDJWTHi-KxKjOceudmbcXqLKPvqepkyKtMcBvmcV9cTCSlb5ud9IDyVlNqd2v4QPgQ/s1600/IMG_6103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5gvt9e31Gu2CidSu1k3z91hHpno-wYgZCc5B50ej-LCeCC0_XDa15wKQ8RQqvr-Q_EcC6HmBJDDJWTHi-KxKjOceudmbcXqLKPvqepkyKtMcBvmcV9cTCSlb5ud9IDyVlNqd2v4QPgQ/s320/IMG_6103.JPG" width="217" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I pretty much just copied the "Keep Calm" posters I'd seen out there and found a similar font, then worked with it on my computer until I liked how it looked. I just used free clipart for the book image, and then I printed it out on plain paper to see how it looked and make sure it would fit correctly on my dictionary page.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then I took my dictionary page- the one with the definition for "teacher" on it- from an old dictionary and I centered it over the printout on the plain sheet of paper. (I held the dictionary sheet up to the light so I could see the wording on the plain sheet behind it and get it lined up correctly.) Next, I used scotch tape to secure it- I used just a thin edge of the tape on the edge of the dictionary page, leaving most of the tape attached to the plain printer paper. That way it would feed through the printer without getting jammed and, if the tape was difficult to remove from the dictionary page I could just trim off that little edge with my paper trimmer. <b>A word of caution: make sure you know which way text will print on your paper before feeding it into your printer- you don't want to end up wrecking your chosen dictionary page with upside-down text!! </b>I will sometimes draw a little arrow for myself on my test sheet to remind me which way I put it in. :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once my words were printed on my dictionary page, I mounted it with glue dots onto a piece of patterned scrapbook paper (like a mat) and put it into my thrift store frame. The whole project cost less than a dollar and turned out quite nicely!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i>Did you do any crafty/thrifty projects for your kids' teachers this year? Leave a comment and share! (I always need new ideas for next year!)</i></b></div>
<br />KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6944377982186953970.post-23341775972605455812012-04-16T06:33:00.000-04:002012-04-16T06:33:00.675-04:00Backyard Toys and the Book Exchange<div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfP8Lx9kwLvK_0n40uq6_zom0wLcZZuo7OYmKZHBDXQUAqxC5g4AaduUyd9ilPdgitgbxlD_erHaOGUNgbwcr-mYE9BQE5VpoBpY8gKPY-jqsTo_Eh-kv1RTdyXrUI97SMJW3pi08OkM/s1600/IMG_5967.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfP8Lx9kwLvK_0n40uq6_zom0wLcZZuo7OYmKZHBDXQUAqxC5g4AaduUyd9ilPdgitgbxlD_erHaOGUNgbwcr-mYE9BQE5VpoBpY8gKPY-jqsTo_Eh-kv1RTdyXrUI97SMJW3pi08OkM/s320/IMG_5967.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731718323351606658" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Spring has sprung and that means it's time to get outside! If your kids are at all like my kids, their outdoor toys get cracked, faded, and brittle from being out in the sun or broken from being chewed up by the lawnmower or the dog. This year was no different! In preparation for the first lawn-mowing of the year last week I went around the yard collecting the various plastic pieces of what once were toys and tossing them in the trash. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Sadly, the kids weren't left with much.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>So we made our annual trip to the Goodwill Outlet for outdoor toys! My kids love this trip because they can toss all the junky toys they want into the cart and rarely hear a protest from me. I love this trip because my kids get to have fun and because all their new goodies will keep them busy outside for hours! <b>I love using Goodwill as our source for outdoor toys because then when they get cracked, broken and eaten by the lawnmower I don't mind tossing them in the trash and no one sheds a tear. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>This year we picked up a plastic baseball bat, watering can, dump truck, several small cars and various figurines (most from McDonald's at one point, I think), some baskets and cups (great for collecting flowers and having a tea party), a squirt gun and some other random odds and ends. Most of the small toys will live in the sand & water table. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As soon as we got home the kids raced outside with their loot and had a grand time!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>And I got to spend some time with my loot as well:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O1DwQcOZmj_GkTahRB6aECeTg_d74-_tVX8eYktNY_w6_jJOCSEAtIVVbhVInlvPyQ3Eh9giCjuxp86HgGBM119xjWkfOEnO3slbDeTcP_fP_muHcE0PtUYxlbyT9Q6lKJ85yiL4GCo/s1600/IMG_5969.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O1DwQcOZmj_GkTahRB6aECeTg_d74-_tVX8eYktNY_w6_jJOCSEAtIVVbhVInlvPyQ3Eh9giCjuxp86HgGBM119xjWkfOEnO3slbDeTcP_fP_muHcE0PtUYxlbyT9Q6lKJ85yiL4GCo/s320/IMG_5969.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731718192543032626" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The stack on the left are books I bought for me- 3 books by one of my favorite authors, Adriana Trigiani, plus two books I've read before but I don't own but think I should because they're just great books (The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands and All Your Worth). </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The stack on the right are the books I plan to take to The Book Exchange, a used bookstore that allows trade-ins of paperbacks. They'll give you 1/4 of the cover price in store credit which you can then use to buy any of the books in the store, all listed at 1/2 their cover price. Since the Goodwill Outlet only charges $0.25 per paperback, it's always a good deal for me. That stack there should net me about $22 in store credit and I only spent $2. Even if they only accept 2 of the books (they don't accept everything) I'll still have come out on top. Sweet, right?</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Total spent at the Goodwill Outlet this trip: $8.36 (about $4 for toys, $4 for books)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><i><b>What's your outdoor toy situation like? Do you prefer to buy used?</b></i></div>KaseyQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18394640941485859111noreply@blogger.com1