snickerdoodles

LEGO party d.i.y. cheap & mellow style...

  Ry recently turned 7 and was over the moon excited to have a birthday party.  He wanted a Lego themed party which seems to be so popular lately but it was his day so I was onboard.

As it was fairly last minute right after spring break it had to be done fairly simple and I did't have a huge budget.  We used some generic invites I got from Indigo on 80% off clearance by Pistachio...a seriously eco friendly printing company.  They were my fave green and cheery and simple enough for a kids party and $2 for 10!  Invites out on Wednesday party for Sunday...yikes.

Before the kiddos came I set the table...I LOVE setting tables.  I had a little cloth I bought from a friend that sorta worked and just simple paper plates I added Lego faces too.  Paper cups and old fashioned paper straws as they are a cuteness weakness of mine.  Could have done so much more but really once eleven seven year old sit down the table is destined to be trashed.   

In the middle I set up a little game to keep them busy while waiting for cake.  They liked it.  Little pieces of paper and felts were left for them to use to write their names and guess and they took turns sharing.

The main event ws the cake which I definitely am not capable of making like this.  I hired an local gal Amy Gervais who is so talented to tackle that.  I love making deserts but I didn't want to be stressing off a Pinterest fail on Ry's day.  Amy rocked it.  If you are in the Okanagan I recommend her for cakes and cupcakes for special events...it was lovely and yummy.  

Once the kids arrived we headed downstairs for a major Lego play...I layed out quilts and sat them in a circle and dumped all the baskets of Lego in the middle and they went at it.  They liked it so much many chose not to do the craft I planned and kept building.  They were all together though and it was fun...they munched Ry's fave snack foods while they worked.

I used up all the leftover science fair poster board pieces my other boys to cut out Lego man parts so the kids could assemble their own and decorate it with sharpies and dot stickers.  Ry made the sample man shown and it was easy but complicated enough to satisfy 7 year old crafty kids...they made some cute creations.

After a good play we took them upstairs again for cake, ice cream and and presents.

Sparklers made the cake very exciting for them, it was sweet.  

And look at all those smiley, giggly kiddos...so adorable.  Ry was a very happy fellow and loving all the festivities.

The gifts party at kiddo parties is always mayhem, as much as you try to keep it humble and calm...they can't control themselves.  You just gotta go with it and make sure no one gets trampled.

But the buddy hugs and huddles make it all so worth it.  Ry is in the middle of this group love session.  I think he was pretty darn grateful for his friends, the fun and his gifts.

As the party ended we headed outside for a little spring play in the sun and I gave them their goody bags as they were picked up.

They were used as decorations on the buffet for the party and did double duty.  Just coloured paper bags decorated with dot stickers to look like Lego bricks, and tied with bakers twine I had.  Inside I placed a Lego minifigure, a lollypop, some Lego candies, a little fingerlight, and a trading card.  

 

I did a few other little decorations as well.    Everything was simple and inexpensive and done within a couple fun hours.

Lego head balloons...

On Ry's actual birthday I suprised him at school with a bunch of seven hellium ballons.  Being the frugal sneak I am, and yellow lover I intentionally picked simple yellow ones with the idea I would add Lego faces and use them as party decorations a few days later.  I just used a Sharpie to draw face ideas I got off Lego minifigures...cleaned up the bottom of the balloon and stick with tape and covered it with a cheery ribbon bow.  Then I took small balls of plasticine and stuck them to the bottom of big mason jars to hold the balloon stick securly and filled the jar with lego blocks.

Total cost $14 as I found the balloons already blown up at Dollerama and had the other stuff already.

Lego block banner decoration...

This is a terrible photo as I took it quick late last night.   I did this so last minute but it was a fun way to welcome the kids at the front door before they saw the other decorations.  Three pieces of bristol board cut into rectangles.  The I used a mason jar lid to trace the circles and a hole punch to string them on a long piece of ribbon I had.  The colours were bright and cheery despite this wretched photo.

Had I had an hour to spare the Martha Stewart in me would have liked to write LEGO inside each traced circle but I let that go as no seven year old would notice anyways and really the shindig was for them.

So that's it.  One little boys Lego party done quickly, inexpensively and stress free.  It wasn't easy to resisit the hundreds of amazing ideas calling my name on Pinterst and not become a kid birthday Momzilla but I did it...and I had the happiest little love bug give me the best thank-yous that night as my reward.

Lego is amazing...all my boys love it still and have loved it forever.  So grateful for this timeless toy.  It's such a staple in this house full of boys I have a Lego Love board on Pinterst we go to often for ideas...if your clan loves Lego too take a look and enjoy.

oxo

 

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Lego love...

Christmas Eve 2013...

   Tomorrow is Christmas.  Oh how this holiday is fabulous at tip toeing in... and all of a sudden all our mile long to do lists and ambitious Pinterst boards get a serious reality edit.  Be fine with that, embrace simple, messy, and easy in honor of being present and loving in lieu of being perfect and perfectly unlovable.

Life has been full this year so simple and last minute has been what has worked best for our clan.   Last week we had a little hockey get together that was a bit of a whim but ended up being a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Everyone brought an appy and we called that dinner.  I made a small army of gingerbread men a big batch of almond icing and put out candy and the kids were adorable making cookie creations.  I do love having people over during the holidays for easy get togethers like this and hope to do a few more wee gatherigs before the kids go back.  I have great memories of holiday parties when I was young and I want to give my boys the same gift of celebrating with others.

Little Izzy, Ry's hockey and art friend made quite the masterpiece.  

I make a small keepsake present for everyone in the family each year, and often it is an ornament.  This season I didn't really have the time or inspiration for anything grand so I opted for a very lazy but still cute option.

We call our house Birch Hill for the trees that were here when we found the lot.  I bought these birch bark letters at Target and got the first letter for everyone in the family...except the pets.  On them I simple took a fine Sharpie and wrote the year, each persons age, their likes and a whatever else came to mind about them in 2013.

Not my best Christmas memento project ever but it just worked for where I was at and being able to carry on the tradition in a very managable way still gave me a sense of accomplishment as the resident Mom/memory maker around here.

Now...just because Christmas is tomorrow and we are all pretty limited on what we can actually pull off between now and then don't get discouraged.  I hope to use the lazy days apres Christmas to try some of the ideas and recipes I have been swooning over on my Christmas Love Pinterest board.   Take a look, there are 557 wonderful seasonal ideas to keep you and your kiddos busy till school starts back up.

One thing I am definitely prepping tomorrow for Christmas morning is this monkey bread...

Drool worthy present opening nourishment!  FInd it along with lots of other variations on my Christmas love board.

Happy wrapping, baking, cooking, creating and celebrating friends,

oxo

 

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a lovely version of the Little Drummer Boy by Pentatonix ...

d.i.y. pinata...

  Once again Pinterst has lured me into starting a project that looks cute and easy that I really have no time for but could not resist.  You would think I would have learned my lesson by now!   I found several cute homemade pinata ideas and thought they looked rather easy and fun.  

I decided to sort of wing it.  I bought a giant balloon at the dollar store for $1.25 and had the a frantic time trying to pump it with my balloon pump as it had a huge blow up hole.   Squeak squeak went the little balloon pump and I was mutterring away as I pumped and tried to keep the seal tight so my efforts weren't in vain.   My fourteen year old who I hoped would step up and take over turned around and simply said:  "Mom WHAAAT are you doing and WHY?"  When I told him he just shook his head and went back to his tablet. I forgot to mention this was 11:30 in at night.   Yes, I have crafty issues.

So today I cut up the newspaper strips, made a quick no cook paste and took Ry on the deck to tackle the messy part of paper mache-ing the gigantic balloon.   Paper mache is messy but fun and keeping drippy, slimy strips slapped on by a six year old on a round object is trickier than one might think.  He worked away giggling till the paste started to dry on his arms and in his hair and on his face then he got annoyed and wanted it off and jumped ship.  We were only eighty percent done the first coat.  He spent the next twenty minutes scrubbing the paste off.

I took this picture when he came back all chipper asking if we could stuff the candies in now.  When I explained there were at least two more coats then the tissue decorations he was not impressed and gave me this look of defiance.

Sooo, I will keep on pasting throughout the day and see how it goes.   I will share my results as I go but if you must start making a pinata today I would follow Martha Stewarts instructions not mine as mine might be a major fail.  Find Martha's instructions and lots more pinata ideas on my Mexican-inspired Pinterest board called Fiesta love.

So far for ours we have bought...

1 giant balloon  $1.25

1 spool of cool parachute cord to hang it $1.25

three reams of coloured tissue paper $3.00

1 bottle of Elmers glue $1.00

$5000 worth of sweets to fill the pinata.

Normally when you see pinatas at the grocery store (although I haven't seen any lately) they are about $25, so I figure we are still sort of ahead of the game.

 Although I might consume double that in wine in order to finish this endeavour by Saturday.  Also I could easily spend $60 on a house keeper right about now to cover off the stuff I am not doing while I continue to make more of a mess!  

Back at it....time to make second batch of paste and slap on another layer of strips on that #%&F*@g big balloon on the deck.   Wish me luck, if it turns out lovely it will all be worth it.  If not I will stuff all the goodies in a box, duct tape it and tie it up for the kiddos to wack and I am sure they won't give a damn.  The things we do for our kids in the name of cute parties.

oxo

 

a Mexican fiesta party...

  A happy little six year old has been patiently waiting since April for his birthday party.   He wanted water play to be involved so we waited till the new grass was in and summer was here to stay.   This weekend we will be hosting his Mexican Fiesta birthday party.

 

Being frugally creative is a must around here.  We did some simple invites and changed the wording to make them Mexican-ish.  Like for Where:  we did Casa MacLeod.   I adore the art of Eric Carle and the Hungry Catapillar. We had a party kit I found at Winners once so we are using that as a colour palatte launch.  

He is on the invites....Mexican colours and kiddos friendly and fun.   The kit was under $10 and came with invites, thank-you cards, a banner, treat bags, little crowns and a pin the tail on the donkey game.  I have used the game and banner and crowns for an earlier party but they are still good to go for another round.   

We are having a few of his friends and their families for games and food.   I started a special Pinterest board to collect ideas for what to make called Fiesta love...  Take a look for lots of fun d.i.y. crafts and decorations, recipes and game ideas.

As things get made and decorated I will share here.  I do have three kiddos home for the summer, restorations in progress and a stinking hot house so don't expect anything extraordinary.  Keeping things simple and inexpensive but hopefully festive, yummy and fun for the guests.

oxo

 

 

handy dandy green stuff to make...

  Happy Eco-Friday friends,

   I haven't had all that much of my own creative energy lately so today I am sharing some of the ideas for stuff I will be making for this summer that are Pinterest inspired.

 Instructions for all of these projects can be found on my Eco- Savvy love board....

Ry has a birthday coming up (well actually it's long past but the party has yet to happen...we are waiting for the perfect summer day) and I have fabric scraps that would make a very fun bunting...this definitely is something I want in my party decorations basket to use forever and ever.

Love this idea for back yard gatherings ...no disposable water bottles allowed here of course,  BUT it would be great for beer and other beverages too.

This is not my actual garden but we do have pea gravel paths lined with river rocks. The abundant spring rain and sudden summer weather has quickly transformed them into weed paradise and i can't keep up hand pulling them.   So, I have several vinegar based natural weed killer recipes I have pinned to try out this year.  Vinegar is cheap and works so I am going for it.

Now a couple projects for inside....I have lots of little vases and bottles  and a big bottle of lemongrass essential oil on order so I will be making some of these diffusers to make the house smell fresh and light during the hot days of summer.   It's so easy and inexpensive and real essential oils won't make you queasy like chemical laden store bought fragrances.

I adore the look of succulent plants and my chicks and hens are having babies at an astounding rate in my front garden.  I have several glass cylinders sitting empty that are just begging to be made into terrariums.   I think this will be a perfect project for me to do with the boys on summer holidays.   We can use up stuff on hand and have a lovely centerpiece of three terrariums to admire.

 What a perfect excuse to explore the woods and creek for some moss and pretty rocks to use as well.

There are so many fun little projects you can find on Pinterest...try to find things that don't involve buying stuff...use your imagination and find supplies to re-use and use up from your own cupboards and hidden stashes.   

 

 

 

 

d.i.y. Valentines kiddo rosette pins...

  Hope you had a sweet Valentine's day whatever you did.  We had a quiet night at home.

  I just finished mine with a very long bath with a Sunny Side bubble bath bar from Lush.   I found it tucked away with my sweaters.    My friend Carmen always spoils me with such  luxuries and it was a pleasant surprise to find one I forgot.

It's so pretty and leaves you silky smooth and smelling great.  I was a little leary about the sparkly gold ring left when you drain the tub but it was easy to clean off.

This year I let the boys decorate a bit and it was very interesting...

Yes...PSY from Gangnam Style was the focal point.   Ryan also made hearts and we hung lots of the little creations they made over the years.  Liam's hockey team's theme song is Gangnam so we just went with it.   It makes me laugh.

My decorating project with Ryan was the light over the table...

Not very ambitious but it sort of worked for this year and Ryan thought it was brilliant.

As for projects inspired by Pinterest, last week I did this little craft with the kindies...

Yes it's sort of ridiculous but they were ever so proud wearing their Valentine party pins today and it was easy for them to make.  Two layers large cupcake liners, one small liner and a punched paper center.  The ribbon is leftovers I had from Christmas and I finished the back with a pin for them with hot glue.  Everything else they did with their buddy class helpers.  They reminded me of the ribbons we got in horse shows when I was younger.  I mentioned that to the boys and they didn't know/forgot I rode.  I need to get those boys on horses soon...or at least dig up some of my stuff to show them.

Oh dear...it's so embarrassing when your Mom makes you stand with pretty girls for photographs!

Okay, brace yourself for cuteness...

Sweet little children...these are their sweet faces as requested by moi.  Now the fun begins...

When you ask for silly faces five year olds really know how to work it!  

Love them....almost makes me wish I had followed through with concurrent education at Queens...until it's time to do writing and there are twenty little needy minds trying to write sentences although they don't know how to spell.  Twenty adorable little mouths making letter sounds and attempting words at the same time.  Twenty little hands waving to get our attention and help.   It was amazing and hilarious and utterly exhausting to contemplate doing for a six hours , I don't think I'd have it in me everyday with three of my own at home.   But I am happy to go and help Ms. Mann with this crew any day.

night friends,

oxo

 

my littlest heart baker...

   Happy Valentine's Day friends...since having kiddos I must say it ranks up there as one of my favourite holidays.  Ry's been sick all week with a fever and such and I have been using every trick up my sleeve to will him better.  Luckily his fever broke yesterday and by the end of the day I had my little rascal back except for a cough.   He's been decorating the house like crazy and been so excited for this day.  Last night we finished up some cookies for his class...

Once cleaned up I let him have free reign on decorating his class set of cookies.  He was rather proud and was a very conscientious baker...no inappropriate licking at all!   I always tell folks when it might be risque to eat the things my kids make!  Not a single cough graced these cookies.   lol

We also finished up the last of his cards.  They turned out cute despite a few glitches.  Of course my word processing software was acting up....I ended up condensing the message and hand writing all 30 and Ry had written the names on earlier.   My fault for leaving things to the last minute but we figured it out....who doesn't love writing the same thing over and over at one in the morning?  

I appropriated a candy-free idea I saw on Pinterest using goldfish crackers.  I wanted to use up supplies on hand as I'm frugal that way so I used CD sleeves I had bought and rarely use as the fish bowl, a paint pen to doodle the outline of the bowl and some Martha Stewart labels for the message.   Later tonight I'll share the step by step as there are a few little things I learned along the way that will save you time and money.   It was easy for Ryan to write his messages on the back with a felt before they were filled.

For now I must bolt....I so want a shower after my late night and I'm due at school soon in the lovely pink  outfit Ryan picked for me to wear!

much love,

 

k

lovely reworked, recycled & reclaimed Valentine ideas...

   Step away from the pre-cut fun foam folks and expensive craft isles at your local store, there is  hot new trend in crafting that involves using three R's...

reworked, recycled & reclaimed.  

Projects made with these items have instant character, a bit of history helps add depth to any creation.

If you follow me on Pinterest you have seen that I've been diligently working on my Valentine's Day love.... board.  802 pins later and I'm still slighly obsessed with finding ideas or images I have yet to explore.  My hubbie has never been one to make a big deal of the day but I ADORE celebrating with kiddos and Ryan's kindergarten year deserves a big effort.  Kindie Valentine's Day preparations and parties are the sweetest.  Last week we started with a small printmaking activity called Hearts on Heartstrings.  

Next week I hope to go in for more art days as well.  Today for Eco-Friday I wanted to share some easy ideas that reflect the three R's that we've either tried or will try this year.

Love these fun arrows...use up bits of scrap felt or even fleece from worn out clothing or felt an old or damaged sweater.  Collecting sticks is a grand excuse to take a snowy forest walk too.

Pluck four juice bottles or any nice bottles out of your recycling bin and you have the makings of a pretty centerpiece.   If you don't have burlap to stencil on you could use any fabric or paper scraps that appeal to you.  At your local Italian grocers or coffee bar you can find little fruit nectars in the sweetest little bottles...the labels wash off easily and they are ideal for projects like this.  

Old keyboards are plentiful at your local Sally Anne or thrift shop.  Pluck off some keys and make your own message to give a loved one.  I also have a frame where the who frame is covered with old keys and it's always a conversation piece. I bet you even have a frame kicking around you can use.  Pop out the old image or cover with printed paper and you are ready to go.

We've made many version of these bottle caps over the years.  You can get the sealer at any craft supply place, collect some caps, add images or little decorations and seal.  They make cute pins to give our or glue tacks on the back for a bulletin board.

 

We have a big bag of fleece pieces left from the boys feltie making phase so I am going to make some of these little heart hand warmers for sure.  Filled with rice they can keep hands warm in mittens for up to an hour.  

Another thing I want to make is little snowglobes.  My vision is quite a bit different than this version but the general instructions will be the same.

All of these projects and mounds more are pictured and explained on my Valentine's Day love... pin board.  I promise there will be many a thing you can create with things you already have tucked away somewhere in your home.   Missing something?   Ask a friend, give a little Facebook shout out...someone is bound to have just what you need they would be happy to pass on.  

Use your imagination, challenge your kiddos to do the same.  Mother Earth will thank you and you will have treasures to admire year after year.  

happy weekend friends,

oxo

 

 

 

 

d.i.y. eco-friendly heart stampers...

  Valentine's Day is just a couple weeks away.  

I have been slightly obsessed with pinning lovely little ideas on my Valentine's Day love..... board on Pinterest.   There are over 700 pins to inspire you.  

This past Thursday I had the opportunity to do art with Ry's kindie class.   A Pinterest idea inspired me but I  changed it a bit.  I made it a lesson on printmaking and I called it:  Hearts on Heartstrings.

I love re-using things for kiddo art and for this project you  need some toilet paper tubes.  

Squish a roll into a heart shape using your fingers as a guide for the curves.  I then took a small strip of tape and put it over the top so it held it's form.  I had to make a class set of these babies.

We buy omega 3 eggs that come in plastic packaging that's totally frustrating but they do make swell paint trays, both the indented sections and the flat sections.  For printmaking you want a flat surface for the paints.

As you can see we also used cotton swabs.  As the tubes and the swabs both had two sides to print from I gave the kiddos two colours of paint.

They started by printing their heartstrings by dipping the cotton swabs in paint and dotting them across the page.  Some of them dotted less stringy and more randomly but it wasn't important.

Afterwards I gave them the heart tube stampers and they added hearts galore...the more the merrier.

As the cardboard absorbed the paint they made better and better prints.  Ry and his buddies didn't use much pink...mostly red as you can see but they still turned out pretty.   You could print large sheets of kraft paper this way to make really adorable wrapping paper to be used year round for birthdays, weddings and even Christmas.

Of course during the lesson I was flying around giving 22 kiddos paint and tips and trying to keep them from painting themselves and their table mates so I didn't manage to get a single shot of their art making sweetness but trust me it was cute stuff.

happy weekend friends,

oxo

 

 

 

oh Buddy & some Pinspiration...

  If you haven't seen the movie Elf you need to...it's a holiday must here.  Ryan even named his Elf on a Shelf Buddy.  

Now that the kids are off and Christmas is just days away we are getting into Buddy mode.  Well, maybe a slighty lazy version of Buddy.

 

My Holiday Magic board on Pinterest is huge and you'll find instructions for all these ideas and more there.  Many of the recipes I've tried so drop me a line if you are wondering about something.

  Anyways here are some of the things on our 'Buddy List'...

A snowshoe to the creek to get more cedar, and make a neighbour a wreath.

Skate at the outdoor rink and roast marshmallows by the fire.

Go play dominos with a neighbour's Mom who is in her 90's and his Alzheimers but still loves her Mexican Trains.

Craft...

I have a wack of burned out light bulbs we saved and of course lots of Martha Stewart (the best) glitter in my studio and the boys still need to make a few little gifts so we'll be making some of these ornaments.  Love that they are re-purposing old stuff and saving it from the trash.

I still need to make Ry a couple gifts for his stocking and this is definitely going to be one of them...he loves gingerbread and i have some nice new felt from Bear Dance Crafts.   Also going to make him the gingerbread playdoh recipe from my Pinterest Kiddo Craft board.

Christmas movies by the fire are even sweeter with Caramel Corn, I love this recipe too.

Snowdrops have always been one of my Christmas faves so I'm going to make a batch of these.  Noah's got his sugar cookies, Liam and hubbie are waiting for their Cream Cheese bowties and Ry' s got his gingerbread so that might be it for the cookie tray this year.  I also made the Nutella Fudge from my Pin Board and it was quick and easy.   A lovely friend made me a tin of delish Snickerdoodle cookies and we made quick work of them already.

Speaking of Snickerdoodles, how about a Snickerdoodle muffin for Christmas morning?

And now it's time to make Tres Leches Cake...we are having some friends in for dinner and there is a huge pot of chili, fresh tortilla chips, crusty bread and salad with homemade ranch dressing ready to go...just need to make desert and bribe the clan to help me clean!   I like the making and playing part better than the cleanup part, that's for sure.

happy weekend friends,

oxo