Posted by cassie on Thursday, 11 September, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
I came across this post that seems like will be a great deal of fun to try with Anthony. I have the supplies on my list of things to pick-up as I’m out and about so we can have a good time. He really enjoys his arts and crafts - we just traced and painted fish yesterday. Note to self: get some washable watercolors too.
Doesn’t that look like fun?!
Posted by cassie on Thursday, 14 August, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
Ok so I had to do birthday favor bags for Anthony’s 2nd birthday. But only because my girlfriend reminded me. Duh! Thanks Jody!!
I took advantage of the sales they’ve had recently and spent about $5 per “bag”. Yes, that is a steep price but since I only had to make 4 of them (one being Anthony’s) I was ok with doing it. So now you are dying to know what is in them aren’t you??
Well…..first I didn’t use a bag. Why be wasteful, right? Instead I bought pencil cases at Target a couple of weeks ago - blue for the boys and pink for the girls. I then wrote their name on the top of the box so they feel super special. My mom had the brilliant idea of using a sharpie instead of painting it on, which was my first thought. Thanks mom! Thank god for other people and their brains 
So now the filler:
If Anthony is any judge than the other kids will love it! And for the icing on the cake, they’ll get to take a balloon home too.
Posted by cassie on Thursday, 7 August, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
Then use the back-to-school time to stock up on great deals on crayons, markers, paints, etc! I’ve been combing the isles and have picked up some great deals on the Crayola twistable crayons (AWESOME!!!), washable markers, finger paints, etc. These are all going in the art box in the closet to be pulled out when his current batch doesn’t hold any luster anymore. We’ll just continue to rotate them around and they’ll always be exciting then
Also great for leaving at the in-laws, packing in their take-a-long box, etc.
Posted by cassie on Wednesday, 4 June, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
Several weeks ago we decided to try finger painting. Now this is a big to-do in my house since Anthony is very anti-anything touching him. He hates dirt, tells me he has dirt on his hands if he uses his fingers to eat with, etc. So how did it go? NOT so well!
He was terribly excited. Loved putting on the smock and getting the colors all set up. Yes, before you ask it’s washable finger paint - I’m not completely nuts. We put out our newspaper on the kitchen table and set up our paper. And then! OOOO No!!! He had to touch it. Yea…..
Fast forward to last week. He keeps seeing the paints sitting on my desk and goes bonkers over it. Apparently forgetting he didn’t want it touching him last time… So we try it again. We get out everything, get it all set up and then! inspiration struck! I remembered that I had different size paint brushes from when I painted the decorations for his room. Phew! I got out of another tantrum on that. He had a blast with the paints and used several different brushes. He even let me help him, which we all know is a feat for a 21 mo old. They, apparently, can do everything by themselves, or at least they think so!
So, if you have a kid like mine or want to minimize messy fingers - grab some paint brushes and let them have a hey day! It’s a good activity to while away the summer hours (or at least an hour) and you have artwork you can then use to send to grandparents, other loved ones, use for wrapping paper, display, etc. This may become a weekly activity in my house. Now I just need to find a large roll of paper…..
Posted by cassie on Tuesday, 15 April, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
I was in Lowe’s with Anthony several weeks ago and scored a small, plastic (so neither of us can break it. lol) hummingbird feeder for a whopping $1. I’ve always loved hummingbirds and want to pass on that love to my kids so I’m trying to find a great AND easy recipe to make their food. I know it’s basically sugar water but that is about it.
I did a quick search and found a very helpful website that shares a simple to make recipe (featured below). They also include hummingbird FAQs and info on making a garden to attract them. OOO don’t get me started on that one folks!
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
1 part sugar/4 parts water
Boil the water first, then measure and add sugar, at the rate of 1/4 cup of sugar to 1 cup of water.
Let cool and store excess in refrigerator until ready to use.
Do not add food coloring, honey (which ferments), or artificial sweetener, which has no nutritional value.
You will need to clean your feeder every few days, with hot water and a mild (10%) bleach, or a water and vinegar solution, to inhibit mold. Rinse very thoroughly before refilling with water syrup.
Some things I learned while doing my research:
After learning they are territorial little creatures I’m now inspired to drag my little one into making another feeder for them. Of course, I’ll wait to see if we can attract any of them first, but what fun! Here is a link (branches off to several more) on how to make your own feeder.
Posted by cassie on Sunday, 13 April, 2008 @ 11:23 am
I recognize that not everyone has a lot of extra money to spend on holidays, whether it’s lack of funds or not wanting to join in on rampant commercialism of every known holiday or just somewhere in the middle. SO! Below is a list of inexpensive/cheap/free gift ideas for all the moms out there (these could be used for other holidays too of course).
My brain is fried…What other ideas do you have?
Posted by cassie on Sunday, 30 March, 2008 @ 7:23 pm
My SIL sent this to me today and although it is an email that may eventually reach your mailbox too I wanted to share it with you. It’s a nice reminder to enjoy everyday life! In fact, it would make a wonderful plaque or poem to give to that special someone with pictures of the two of you featured. Maybe use pictures of the kids with mom for Mother’s Day or dad for Father’s Day…
Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, “I love you, and I wish you enough.”
The daughter replied, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom.”
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?”
“Yes, I have,” I replied. “Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?”.
“I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,” she said.
“When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’ May I ask what that means?”
She began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.” She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. “When we said, ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.” Then turning toward me, she shared the following as if she were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
She then began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.
Posted by cassie on Sunday, 30 March, 2008 @ 7:52 am
In an effort to amuse both of us since I am getting fatter (yea yea pregnant isn’t fat but tell that to pregnant women everywhere) and the weather is getting warmer I’ve been searching for arts and crafts to do with toddlers. My goal is to use stuff we have in the house already and it isn’t too messy or time consuming. So far I’ve done the playdoh and plan on trying the crayon trick when we have enough broken ones. BUT! BUT! This is a cool one - fun with scissors (duh the child-safe ones people) and paper. What’s not to love 
After pondering it some more, I realized this may be somewhat advanced for Anthony’s age group but it is amusing to create the different critters online, print and assemble so check it out for yourself.
Posted by cassie on Monday, 24 March, 2008 @ 9:07 am
If your kids love sand castles and don’t want to leave the beach - create one for keeps!
You will need:
3 cups of sand (play sand or beach)
1-½ cups of cornstarch
1-½ cups of water
Newspaper
Old cooking pot
Large spoon
Sandcastle molds (optional)
Mix the cornstarch and sand together in the pot, and then add water. An adult will need to cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly. When it gets thick, take it off the stove and allow it to cool to touch. Turn onto newspaper and create any desired shape. Decorate with shells, stones, beads, etc. (optional). Allow to dry and keep forever!
Get really creative and try this with the colored play sand available at any of your local mega marts and home supply stores. Great for class projects, girl (or boy) scout troops, sleep-overs, etc. Make a whole village - one per kid! Another good idea - make a Christmas-time village FL style. After all, our Santa wears sunglasses and bermuda shorts doesn’t he?
Posted by cassie on Friday, 14 March, 2008 @ 11:26 am
Below is a quick way to buy yourself a couple of minutes to finish doing whatever…
Bubble Recipe
Don’t have a bubble wand handy? Use a slotted spoon from the kitchen.