Colour Me Happy: Pasta Dying

I love making crafts--and when possible I prefer to make my own supplies as well, rather than buy pre-made stuff, because that's half the fun! I've started looking after a two-year old in addition to the boy-o, and I wanted to come up with some fun craft ideas that she would enjoy doing while the boy-o was napping. One of the things that was always a huge hit at the daycare was making rainbow coloured jewelry. I've used all kinds of materials in the past including FruitLoops (edible accessories!), beads and pasta. I didn't have FruitLoops or beads on hand, but I had tons of pasta and some food colouring, so I dyed my own "beads" for necklace making. It's super easy and the colours turn out nice and bright! I made Yellow, Green, Blue, and Red.

What You Need:

- a bunch of pasta noodles

- a ziplock bag for each colour you want

- as many colours of food colouring as you want

- rubbing alcohol

- wax paper

- paper towel

Instructions:

1. Place desired amount of pasta in each of the ziplock bags.

2. Splash a little rubbing alcohol into each bag.

3. Add a few squirts of food colouring to each bag, one colour per bag.

4. Roll the bags around and around to make sure the pasta gets well coated with the food colouring mixture. You can let the pasta sit in the bags for a few minutes to make sure it soaks in well.

5. Dump the ziplock bags out one at a time onto a thick pile of paper towel to absorb any extra food colouring mixture.

6. Transfer pasta from paper towel to wax paper to dry. (It really doesn't take very long!)

And when your pasta is all dried you'll have beautifully coloured "beads" all ready for necklace making or any other threading activity you want to use them for!

Mamas in Business For Themselves

You know who's awesome? Mamas. You know who's super lucky? Me! I have the very distinct pleasure of having TWO groups of mama friends to share the journey with. One of them in an online group that's been together since our babies were little beans in our bellys, and the other is a group of local moms I met when Peter was just a couple months old. Our family has been incredibly blessed to have these ladies and little wee ones in our lives, and today I want to show you just how amazing some of these ladies are!! Not only are they busy with all the demands of being a mama (some to multiple kids!) but they've taken on the task of starting up their own businesses to become Work From Home Moms as well.

Today's blog post is going to look at some of the businesses and products that my online group of mama friends have to offer. They range from things like homemade clothes such as Tutu's and Bows, to sewn stuffed creations, and even re-useable cloth diapers!

Clothes and Accessories

1. Jammy Pops Creations: 

Tutus galore! This work from home mama has two little ones on the go and just recently started up her own children's clothing business where she specializes in tutu's and dresses for your little princess! I've also seen pictures of her wee prince in one of the tutu's as well, and he looked fab! Located in the UK, Jammy Pops Creations welcomes custom orders and would be more than happy to work with you to create exactly what you've dreamed of! 

2. Pretty Little Things by SweetPea:

This fab mama creates headbands and hair accessories that range in size from bitty baby to classy lady! She has two wee ones at home and still manages to find time to get creative. Her darling daughter does most of the modeling and it's hard to say whether the head pieces or the model are more adorable--but the two combined is an AWWWW! overload. Based in the USA, Pretty Little Things by SweetPea welcomes custom orders and designs. Let this mama create something amazing for the little diva in your life!

3. TUTU Pretty and Accessories:

Tutus and hair bows are the specialty over at TUTU Pretty and Accessories! This hard-working mama has four kiddos and her darling baby girl is the model for most of her outfits. These amazing outfit combinations are the perfect way to create exactly what your little princess desires. The Tutus are available in sizes ranging from infant to five years old and would make an excellent "Cake Smash" outfit, or for any fancy occasion. Based in the USA, TUTU Pretty and Accessories welcomes custom orders and would love to chat with you about your special order needs!

Cloth Diapers

1. Fluffy Duff:

Cloth diapers have come a long way from the kind your grandma used! If you're looking to start into the world of cloth diapering, or if you're already old hat with terms like AIO2 and Pocket Inserts and are looking for some new and exciting ways to make and use cloth diapers, then you need to check out Fluffy Duff! These diapers are made by a cloth diapering mama to two little girls who wanted to improve on the options that were already out there, while also offering super fun prints. Located in the USA, Fluffy Duff welcomes custom orders, but only accepts so many at a time to keep wait times down--so get yours in today!

Handmade Keepsakes

1. Handmade by Her:

If you're looking for some unique home decor with a family orientation to them then look no further! Whether it's the perfect Mother's Day gift or a special pick-me up for an amazing mama in your life, Handmade by Her has got what you need! Mama to two little kiddos, and based in the UK Handmade By Her welcomes your custom orders and requests for wooden plaques, artificial bridal bouquets and much more!




2. Get Stuffed: Handmade Creations and Keepsakes:

This busy mama of four (!) specializes in stuffed creations including sewn animals and fabric crowns for your little prince or princess. Owls are how it all began, but there are new additions to the Get Stuffed family arriving, including Pegasus and Mini Dinosaurs. Custom orders are welcome, and this Austrian based mama would love to hear from you about your special requests for the little ones in your life!

Share the love and support your fellow mamas!

World Book Day!

I've posted before about the importance of reading to your little ones to help foster a love for reading from an early age, help develop language skills, and stimulate the senses with bright pictures or "Touch and Feel" books. But with today being World Book Day it seemed like an opportune time to visit this important topic again. We read to the boy-o every night before bed, and sometimes during the day too when he's willing to sit still long enough for a little cuddle. Some of his old favourites are still strongly preferred, but we've introduced some new favourites into the mix as well.

Currently the boy-o's favourites include: The Belly Button Book, The Barnyard Dance, and B is for Bear. We have a lot of Dr. Seuss books that we read pretty frequently as well. There are so many excellent children's books out there it can be hard to choose which ones to buy--which is why I'd suggest that if you don't already, register your child for a public library card and go speak to your local librarian! They're excellent at providing age appropriate books that will be of the most interest your little one. 

Some of my favourites that we don't currently have which are aimed for more of a pre-school audience are:

1. Oink-A-Doodle-Moo: My sister was actually the person who introduced this book to me and I think it's so fantastic it's now become my go-to book gift! It's basically barnyard telephone gone horribly wrong! It's very short with only a few words on each page and full page pictures. It provides lots of opportunity to be silly and explore how the game of telephone can go wrong..

2. The Llama, Llama Series: There are several books in this series and they're all fantastic! They help teach concepts like patience and feelings in a fun way. The Llama Llama books are very creative and are written in a simple rhythmic style that helps to keep the attention of littler littles. The illustrations are also wonderful and you'll certainly enjoy accompanying Llama Llama on his adventures.

3. The Lady With the Alligator Purse: This book was always a big favourite at the daycare I used to work at. There's an accompanying song you can sing the book along to, but even just reading out the rhymes is great fun. It's a silly book with excellent illustrations that stretch the imagination to the world of the impossible. 

Canadian Authors:

Guy Gavriel Kay:

And finally, being Canadian I have two Canadian authors whose work I really love that I'd like to share with you as well. The first is an adult author, and I own ALL of his books and eagerly await the announcements that a new one is coming out. Guy Gavriel Kay writes Fantasy books and the worlds that he creates are truly astounding. I've listened to him do a book reading before where he explained that his books are loosely based on historical cities and civilizations and that makes me love them even more! My favourite books by him include The Finovar Tapestries, Ysabel, and Tigana. 

Melanie Watts:

The second Canadian author that I'd like to share with you is Melanie Watts. She writes children's books and is quite well known for her Scaredy Squirrel series, but she also writes a fantastic series about a cat named Chester! We have two of the Chester books so far, and although these are definitely meant for pre-school+  I look forward to being able to read them to the boy-o one day because they are quite funny and very creative. Chester the Cat likes to try and take over the story and "re-write" it as it goes along with his red marker. I highly recommend this series to everyone! 

But most importantly, whatever kind of book it is you enjoy reading today on World Book Day pick it up and do some reading--and read to your little ones. The love for reading starts early and as parents we should do all that we can to help that love grow!

Your Turn: What's your favourite book and who introduced you to it?

Creative Ways to Reuse and Recycle!

I was browsing around the inter-web yesterday looking for some DIY inspiration, and stumbled across these awesome suggestions for repurposing some of your household items into new and useful things once they've out lived their original purpose. Some of the things I found were incredibly ridiculous, but these two are things I could actually see myself doing!

Heading out on a road trip and looking for a compact and convenient way to keep the older kids busy in the car? Check out this simple Colouring Set in a DVD Case created by Stacey Vaughan. She gives some detailed instructions on how to make the pocket side (you need to remove the click-in wheel where the DVD goes) and on the other side cut some paper to the appropriate size and slide it in under the tabs to hold it in place. When you're all finished drawing you simply close the case the keep your pencils and papers safely stored inside!

The second idea I came across over at A Little Learning For Two is also pretty fantastic. By the time the boy-o is done with his crib the rails will be in pretty terrible shape after all his gnawing on them, so by the time it makes it through a second (and maybe third...) baby it won't be in pretty shape. This clever little way to reuse it though ensures that you'll get the most life out of it that you can! When you're all done using it as a bed, you can remove the front rail and mattress, and install a fitted sheet of plywood covered in "Chalkboard Paint". You can then attach other art items as desired on the remaining crib walls and slide some chairs up to it to make the perfect kid sized desk!

I love both of these ideas and will be sure to let you know of any other awesome DIY's I find that could make life with kids just a little bit easier!

Quinoa Recipes: Cheesy Quinoa Cakes

Quinoa is quickly becoming an incredibly popular food and alternative to eating rice. A lot of people who want to try out quinoa at home are put off though because they don't know what to do with it. We're big fans of quinoa in this house so I figured I'd share some of our top recipe suggestions for how to incorporate quinioa into your diet at home. Today's recipe is Cheesy Quinoa Cakes.

Cheesy Quinoa Cakes

Ingredients:

- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 2/3 cup grated fontina cheese (or any cheese you happen to have on hand!)
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 ½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- salt to taste

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients, except for the oil, into a mixing bowl and stir together until well combined. Season with salt and allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes.
2. Pour oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium heat. 
3. Form ¼ cup patties with the quinoa mixture and place in the heated sauté pan. (this will have to be done in batches) 
4. Cook quinoa cakes for about 5 minutes on each side. Repeat with the remaining patties until all of the cakes have been cooked.

The best part about these quinoa cakes is you can top them with WHATEVER you want!! Seriously. I've tried them with zucchini relish, left over curry, tamarind sauce, a little greek salad dressing and plain! They've been delicious every time. You can also make them into mini cakes for a super kid friendly side dish. I've tested these out on a room full of 3 year olds, and they were a big hit!

55 Dr Seuss Inspired Activities

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to a collection of Dr. Seuss inspired activities that you can do with children of varying ages. She knows that we're big Dr. Seuss fans in this house (the boy-o's room is Seussed out!), and that I *love* doing crafty things, so it's like that compilation was just made for us! I haven't had a chance to look through all of the activities yet, but from what I've seen so far this needs to be shared far and wide.

My Favourites:

1. The Foot Book: Fizzy Footprint- This activity is based off the Dr Seuss book "The Foot Book" and although it wouldn't be appropriate for very small children, toddlers and pre-schoolers are sure to enjoy this one! Simply take some baking soda and food coloured vinegar to create a fizzy surface that you can place plastic toys in to see how their footprints show up.

2. The Lorax: Handprint Truffula Trees- This activity is based off the Dr. Seuss book "The Lorax" and puts a new spin on hand painting. Using your fingers only you make the Truffula Tree trunks and use a stamp to paint the fluffy top. They even provide a resource on how to draw your own Lorax to add to your picture!

3. The Cat in the Hat: Stacking Buttons and Corks- This activity isn't directly related to the Cat in the Hat books, but it's very reminiscent of his balancing acts and stacking one thing ontop of another! All you need are some large bright buttons, some old corks, velcro dots and shoe box lid! A little bit of patience would help as well as the longer you let the adhesive set on the velcro before playing with it the better. Again this activity wouldn't work too well for the littlest littles, but toddlers and pre-school kids are likely to really enjoy all the different sensory aspects of this play.

4. Bartholomew and The Ooblek: Ooblek Recipe-  This particular activity is based on the Dr. Seuss book "Bartholomew and the Ooblek" and it's a definite favourite of mine! You get to make your own green Ooblek to play with (I've posted a recipe for it before and called it Magic Mud!) This activity is great for young infants who able to sit up right up to pre-schoolers and beyond! My 10 month old son loves playing with it because of the textures, and older kids will be interested in learning the science behind how it works. 

To check out all 55 Dr. Seuss inspired activities you can check out the original page over at No Time For Flashcards. Dr. Seuss' birthday is coming up soon--March 2nd, so start planning your Seuss themed celebration now!

What's your favourite Dr. Seuss book?

In our household Dr. Seuss' "A B C Book" and "The Shape of Me and Other Stuff" 

both reign supreme right now.

Cake Experiments

So the boy-o's first birthday is rapidly approaching, and I've been busy collecting little bits of stuff here and there for his Pirate Themed party. One of the main focal points for a kids birthday is certainly the cake and as a crafty person I knew right away that I wanted to make his cake myself rather than hire someone to make it. I've never worked with fondant before, but I was considering making him a fondant cake. I decided I would try making a few "practice cakes" in order to get a handle on how to use this fondant stuff well before the boy-o's birthday.

My first attempt at a fondant cake was for Valentine's Day. Like all last minute urgent decisions I didn't decide to make this cake until two days before Valentine's Day, which meant I was a little limited on the supplies that were still available. There was no red fondant or any red dye left, so I picked up white and pink, and some blue and purple dye. The cake was just a simple Rainbow box mix with butter cream icing. (There was much moaning about the lack of chocolate...)

I didn't have a proper fondant rolling pin, or a cake mat, but I managed to work it out with a large wooden rolling pin and my kitchen counter. I found it pretty easy to work with, and I didn't have any troubles making sure there were no creases in the sides or edges when I smoothed the white fondant over the cake. So far so good!

When it came time to make the decorations: the bow, twisted ribbon, and the hearts, I found the fondant resembled play dough an *immense* amount in terms of texture and work-ability. I dyed some of the extra white fondant blue to make the bow and found it pretty easy to work the colour through evenly. The pink was pre-dyed.

I added the final detailing on the bow with an edible marker, which was also pretty easy to use, although I did have to press harder with it than I imagined I would. All in all for a first attempt at using fondant I think it was a big success! There are definitely some things I learned along the way, and there are some mistake I made as I went that I would fix for next time--largely because I had no idea what I wanted to actually make ahead of time.

I'm feeling confident after this first attempt that I'll be able to make the boy-o an awesome birthday cake! I've got one more practice attempt before then at the end of March for Hubby's birthday. He's requested a volcano cake! Go big or go home I guess!

Rainbow Jello Orange Slices

I love quirky and silly munchie foods that can be served at parties. A little while ago a friend of mine wanted to have a Hawaiian themed birthday party, and I accepted the challenge of finding some fun, colourful foods to have. One of my favourites is the Jello Orange Slice! You can make these using oranges or grapefruits, depending on which one you'd rather eat since you're going to scrape all the fleshy part out leaving the shell only for the jello mould. For the best effect buy several colours/flavours of Jello!

Ingredients:

- Jello Poweder (as many different colours as you want)

- 8-10 oranges or grapefruits

- a muffin tin

- lots of fridge space!

Directions:

1. Mix up each colour of Jello powder according to the package directions minus 1/3 of the required water in separate bowls.

2. Cut your oranges/grapefruits in half and scoop out all the fleshy fruit part and eat or store in ziplock bags in fridge for smoothies etc.

3. Take the cleaned out halves and place them rounded side down on the muffin tin holes.

4. Fill each half with one colour of Jello each, and place in fridge to chill completely.

5. Once the Jello has set, place the flat side of each half down on a cutting board, and using a sharp serrated knife cut each half into thirds. Don't be too forceful with them, remember it's Jello! Once you've cut your oranges/grapefruits into slices serve and enjoy!!

Your Turn:

What's your favourite "Wow" factor party food?