Poor boy part 3...

May 30, 2014

Part 1, 2
I am tempted to start a series on this blog called "poor boy" because this little guy really has no chance with a big sister like Scarlett.  She just wants someone to play with all day, every day, and Dominic is the only one there.  So when I walked into the bathroom the other day and found this:

 photo photo_zps2b98eaaf.jpg

I was not surprised.  Dominic just pointed to color after color and Scarlett just kept painting the same nail over and over.  When I told her it was time to stop, she just looked at me and said, "I am just giving him everything he wants". Sweet, but I'm pretty sure I already let her go on longer than dad ever would.

Then this weekend, Scarlett found my old Christmas barbies and begged for me to open one for her and one for Dominic.  I refused to open one for Dominic until he literally ripped a hole into the side of one of the boxes, so I opened it anyway.  He spent about 5 minutes following his sister around the house, barbie in one hand and matching barbie brush in the other.  It was cute, but thankfully it only lasted a total of 10 minutes before he was totally bored with tiny brushes and even tinier shoes, and when Chris saw me taking pictures, he just shook his head and said "oh heck no".

 photo 023_zps4ad0a83e.jpg photo 025_zps0b57d922.jpg photo 026_zpsc05436dc.jpg photo 029_zpsa7c7c5a1.jpg photo 032_zps7a0fcee7.jpg

Blueberry muffins...

May 28, 2014

 photo muffins_zps8f3d2de1.jpg

What do you do when you have to use 2 lbs of Costco blueberries before they go terribly moldy or your kids get a hold of them and eat them in one sitting?  Make them into breakfast...yes, that is exactly what we do in our house. And these muffins were really really great.  Sweet, fluffy and super moist. 

What you need:

For Muffins: 
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 egg
1/3 cup almond milk
3/4 - 1 cup blueberries

For topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup butter, cut into slices
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 and prepare muffin cups with liners.
Mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a bowl.  Add coconut oil, egg and almond milk and stir until completely mixed.  Fold in blueberries to taste.

Fill muffin cups with the batter to the top.

Mix all ingredients for the topping, breaking up the butter with your hands until it is fully mixed with other ingredients.  Sprinkle a generous amount of topping on each muffin.

Bake for 10-15 minutes. 

Now go...enjoy them while they are hot!

 photo 051_zpsaeb4383e.jpg

Paper plate art frame...

May 27, 2014

 photo 023_zpsa969d05f.jpg

I fell in love with this craft because it truly turned into a multifaceted time waster.  What started as a simple "let's paint" project, turned into an hour long processes of "let's make a frame for my art".  I love when Scarlett uses her imagination and creativity without any prompting from me.  This entire project was Scarlett's idea from start to finish.  I was a pretty proud crafty mama hen. 

What you need:
Glue
Paper plate
Paper (construction or otherwise)
Paint, crayons, etc.
Scissors
String/ribbon (optional)

 photo 022_zps2f5addb5.jpg

Have your little draw/paint/glue/create a work of art on a blank piece paper.

 photo craft2_zps736a1fb6.jpg

While they are creating their masterpiece, cut out the middle of a paper plate.  Once they are done with their first creation, pass them the outer rim of the paper plate (this will be our frame) and let decorate their frame. 

 photo platecraft_zpsa2a34793.jpg

When they are finished with the frame, use it as a template to cut your child's piece of art into a circle that we will glue onto the final frame.

 photo 016_zps5697d561.jpg

Using glue, place a couple of dots along the back side of the frame, center your art facing out and enjoy!

 photo 017_zpsa0c30bfd.jpg

Let it dry, punch a hole at the top, add a piece of ribbon or string and hang for the household to enjoy.

 photo 019_zpscdde2fc6.jpg

And, if this craft didn't waste enough of your morning...you can make a mask out of the center, wrap a blanket around your shoulders and instant superhero.

 photo 025_zpsb73fd4fe.jpg photo 029_zps4890e86b.jpg

Really, what I am trying to say, is have fun, experiment with imagination and household items.  We love to find ways to use what we have and make them into something new. Enjoy!

I have also posted this craft on a new blog Hello Haven.  This project will now host my future exploration in craft and food fun.  I have joined two great friends and fellow moms in this endeavor and we hope to use this new site as a way to inspire those around us to see the beauty in every day.  Hope you will join us over there too!

You spin me right round...

May 23, 2014

Thank goodness Scarlett has Chris to take her on anything things that spins, drops, flies, swings, or rotates in any direction other than straight.

I lasted a whole 7 seconds on the teacups at Disneyland before literally curling into a ball to save myself from loosing my lunch.  And 7 seconds was 7 seconds too much.


So, when we walked up to a local carnival on mothers day, tickets in hand, I knew I would not be using any of them. The favorites of the day, the giant super slide and the tilt-a-whirl.  Seriously, the Tilt-A-Whirl?  I mean...is that even safe?  Apparently it was, because the two of them rode it over and over and over, while I stood on the side lines feeling sick just watching.

 photo 7FE11A8A-7657-4B5D-B72B-39636AC61AD1_zps5adlxvz8.jpg photo E6B74301-C107-40B2-B574-97BA356306B6_zpsewvfo1qx.jpg photo 93449E16-71DC-447B-A402-68BBE203ED56_zpsbfpuigrx.jpg photo AEF24AB7-1BAD-4A30-A8D3-305A08F14037_zpsfhbj21qh.jpg photo 3DD10D15-5D8D-42D6-863B-BF871C10D15C_zpsg2hvfxgx.jpg photo 2981AC0C-BE49-41B5-80CC-67CA560E4193_zpslpcrzlqa.jpg photo B1B5E546-F216-4197-88A3-21463823BA04_zpsvsiqalpq.jpg photo 7A4F4001-FEE4-4E75-A762-B10112432443_zps6mxokbwg.jpg photo 5A101F88-2641-4360-9BE5-E0EC1F2BD77E_zpsmev09uyj.jpg



Nature search...

May 22, 2014

 photo 057_zpsa3609487.jpg

For some crazy reason I decided to propose the idea of a nature color hunt to Scarlett on the hottest day of last week.  By 9 o'clock in the morning, the sun was too hot to even enjoy 5 minutes searching for color.  So we did our best, and threw the color filled egg cartoon aside for a cloudier day.

Regardless, we really love this idea.  We had a good time dashing from one shaded patch of cement to another, searching for any color we could find in the shadows.

What you need:
empty egg carton
crayons/markers

Color each egg spot with a different color, walk around your neighborhood or house and fill your carton with rocks, petals and leaves.  Enjoy the outdoors with your littles.

 photo 054_zpsd9d087b5.jpg photo 052_zps91acb75d.jpg


At the car wash...

May 21, 2014

I love finding random ways to keep these kids happy.  I thought this was a good idea until I realized that this "toy" is completely battery operated.  Oops.  Thankfully it still works.

 photo 009_zps4feaeea2.jpg photo 008_zps993595c1.jpg photo 006_zps88245c89.jpg photo 004_zps2e960ffd.jpg photo 007_zpsca30eae7.jpg photo 003_zps2c8bd2a0.jpg photo 002_zpsab0258bb.jpg