Christmas Series Day 22 - Photo Block Christmas Ornament

On the 22nd Day of Christmas

Santa brought to me

Angee with "Dresses & Messes"

Her gift for us is a post on a

"Photo Block Christmas Ornament"

Check out Angee's Blog Here

http://wp.me/ptg31-1N6

Lego's are finally here in Utah

Me and my hubby are huge Lego fans. Each year since we we're married we buy the new building that Lego put's out every year. It's in there city collection. This year's building was the cinema. we bought it Saturday afternoon and it was complete Sunday afternoon. We hope to have our city build and put together someday.

The new Lego store, located at: Fashion Place Mall 6191 S State Street, Murray, UT 84107 (near Crate & Barrel) opened Friday September 20th and will be celebrating there grand opening. Check out the info on it below.

Celebrate the Grand Opening of the LEGO Store at Fashion Place!

Join in a huge LEGO Grand Opening celebration and help a real LEGO® Master Builder construct an 8-foot tall model of the Hulk™ completely out of LEGO bricks! You'll receive a free Certificate of Achievement for participating!

Crate and Barrel Court • October 4-6
Friday, October 4: 11am-7pm
Saturday, October 5: 10am-6pm
Sunday, October 6: 12pm-6pm

Plus, be one of the first 300 people each day to make a qualifying purchase at the LEGO Store and you will receive one of these exclusive giveaways:
Friday, October 4: Free Collectible LEGO T-Shirt with a $50 Purchase!*
Saturday, October 5: Free Limited-Edition LEGO Store Set with a $75 Purchase!
Sunday, October 6: Free Exclusive LEGO Minifigure Set with a $50 Purchase!

Offers valid while supplies last only.
*T-shirts are available in child sizes only.

Capt' Krunch Berrie Treat's

I wanted to try to make Rice Krispy Treats with a twist. 

So I went up and down my local stores cereal aisle to see what I could find to trade out for rice krispies cereals. and lo and behold I came across a box of Capt Krunch Berrie Cereal (Only the Berries). Bingo!!!

So these are easy peasy to make.

You just need the cereal and a  couple bags of marshmellows or 2 jars of mallow.

If you go the marshmellow way, you will have to melt down the marshmellows down to the gooey stage yourself.

I thing to remember: when it comes time to mix up the cereal and marshmallow, If you use your hands you want to butter your hands up first, otherwise you will be sticking to EVERYTHING:)

Happy Treat Making!!

Link Parties

Strut Your Stuff
Transformed Tuesday
Take A Look Tuesday
Handmade Tuesday
Kitchen Fun & Crafty
Get Your Craft On
Show Me What Ya Got
Market Yourself Monday
Made By you Monday

How to get kids Excited about Chores during Spring Break!

Spring Break is just around the corner and so is Spring Cleaning. I am not always excited to get scrubbing the entire house and my kids are definitely not on the band wagon either. Here's an idea to help your kids get excited to help out during Spring Break/Cleaning. It's not just cleaning, but some other types of service activities as well.

Spring Break Scavenger Hunt

  click on the above image, save to your computer and print.

 I was AMAZED how excited they got while using this scavenger hunt and how they were begging me for opportunities to do work and such. Each child is different and there are many ways you can utilize this hunt. All you need to do is click link above..... print it off (2 per page) and put each of your kids name on one. Sit down and have a pow-wow with your kids on rules, prizes, goals and such and then decide where their papers are going to be.(fridge door, kitchen wall, etc.) Sometimes it's nice to hear what your kids think would be a great prize.....sometimes you can get off cheaper than you think. LOL I personally don't have scheduled chores for the week......the Spring Break Scavenger Hunt will be all they have! 

Goal Options:

1~ Have each child pick a Goal of what points they want to get during the week......it can be   

     followed up with a prize if they meet their goal or simply the satisfaction of completing a goal.

2~ The parent picks a Goal amount for each child with or without a reward at the end of the week.

3~ Pick a point Goal for the Entire family to accomplish with a family prize at the end of the week.

Who marks off each box?
  Well, that is up to you. The parent can be in charge of marking it or you can have your kids on the honor system. I personally checked to see if it was completed and then tell the kids they can mark it off or show my non-reading kids which box to mark. They liked marking it themselves.

Prizes Options

You could have a prize for a certain goal reached OR you could have a prize chart that has prizes at each amount level. For example candy when reached 100 pts, coloring book at 200 pts, trip to the park at 300 pts and so forth. I support all you non-prize parents, but me personally my kids have sooo much more motivation when they have something tangible to earn or a prize involved.

Here are some fun prize ideas:

Food Related:    Candy, Ice Cream bars, Special Baked treat, McDonald's, Pizza or etc.

From Store or $: Cash, Trip to $ Store, Coloring Books, Sidewalk Chalk, Bubbles, Toy or etc.

Others or Free: Trip to Park, Zoo, No Chores for the Day, Water Fight Party, Stay up 1 Hour    

                            Later one Night, Go to Movies or Rent Movie or etc.

Hope you find this post to be useful and successful! 

Shauna

Linky Parties

Locks of Love

If there was every a time and place to chop off your long luscious hair that 

your husband adores and worships. This is the best way to do it. 

Donate it to a child with cancer through www.locksoflove.org

I went to Great clips today with this plan in mind.

Here is my hair before it was cut

Here is me after

 I have so much hair that we had to put it in 2 ponytails.

What a great cause.

I also found out that if you are cutting your hair for locks of love, 

great clips won't charge you for the cut.  So call your salon and ask if they also do this, 

you never know they might support the cause too.

Here are the rules for donating.

• Hair that is colored or permed is acceptable.
• Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.
• Hair that has been bleached (usually this refers to highlighted hair) is not usable.  If unsure, ask your stylist. We are not able to accept bleached hair due to a chemical reaction that occurs during the manufacturing process. **If the hair was bleached years ago and has completely grown out it is fine to donate.
• Hair that is swept off of the floor is not usable because it is not bundled in a ponytail or braid.
• Hair that is shaved off and not in a ponytail or braid is not usable. If shaving your head, first divide hair into multiple ponytails to cut off.
• We cannot accept dreadlocks. Our manufacturer is not able to use them in our children’s hairpieces. We also cannot accept wigs, falls, hair extensions or synthetic hair.
• Layered hair is acceptable if the longest layer is 10 inches. 
• Layered hair may be divided into multiple ponytails.

• Curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the minimum 10 inches.
• 10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.

 Have a great day!

Bubblegum Bracelets

Bubblegum Bracelets Tutorial

Hey Hoots. Here is a easy and fun kids craft you can do with your owlets. It can be for a party, ANY holiday  or just for something to do. I plan on doing this at my kids next birthday party!!!I really like the candy corn one I did on the top right. The only drawback to this craft is your kids want to start eating the bracelet the minute it is finished and on their wrist. LOL  Highly successful though!

Supplies:

 * Large or Small Gumballs in a variety of color.....

                  8 Large for adult/ 6 Large for Child

                  9 Small for Adult/ 7 Small for Child

*Ribbon in any color....I used purple and brown 1/4" Ribbon

*Metal Skewer Sticks

*Large Eyed Needle....remember you need to get the ribbon     through the eye.
*Needle nose Pliers....Optional, but extremely helpful.

We first start with putting a hole in each gumball. You may need to soften the bubblegum a little ...so microwave for 15 seconds.

Puncture each gumball with the metal skewer stick. Then barely poke it through the other side so you know where the hole goes and then I pull it out and puncture it directly where it is marked. Sometimes if you go all the way through is make the opposite end crack a lot. Once you have ALL your gumball poked with holes it is time to start stringing them up.

Cut each ribbon 24" long.

Fold your Ribbon in half and tie a knot in the middle. Place a Needle on one end. (I usually fold my Ribbon in half to get it through the needles eye)

This is when I would hand it over to each kid. They would place whatever color/size gumball they wanted on the needle. Once they pushed it as far as they could down the needle I would have them hand it back.

The eye of the needle was always a little too big to go through the gumball...so I would always have to use needle nose pliers to finish getting it through.

Once you get the gumball through the Needle, tie a knot and then hand it back to your little owlet and let them put on another gumball. Dunk, Rinse, Repeat. Half of the gumballs on one side of the middle knot and the other gumballs on the other half.

Tie each bracelet on their wrist and see them smile and beg to have a gumball to eat NOW!!!



Fun Glowing Halloween Eyes!!!

Well, I was suppose to come up with a fun Halloween "Kid" Craft, but it turned out to be just a Halloween Craft......But my Owlets Love it. Any Hoo......I came up with

Glowing Halloween Eyes.

 I was walking in the dollar store looking for fun items to use in my craft and came across these fun eyeballs. Once I let the idea fester in my brain a day I concluded what I wanted to do.

You Need:

1~ Halloween Eyeballs  OR Ping Pong Balls( paint them yourself or your kids)

2~ Battery Operated Candles......you can get those at the dollar store too

3~ Hot Glue.....optional, but I am using the candle just for this project

4~ Dremmel or drill to put hole in eyeball UNLESS you use a Ping Pong Ball and they are softer and you can bust a X into them with scissors. These Eyeballs were rock hard plastic.

 I let my husband have fun with the Dremmel and punch the holes in the Eyeballs. Placement is important. You need to put your hole at a slight angle so it does not cover up all the veins to the eye. 

There is a project I will post tomorrow that you need to place the hole directly in the back, but that is not THIS project.

Kyle had to extend the hole a little bit to get it big enough to fit over the flame part of the candle.

The first Eyeball has a hole at an angle and the second Eyeball is directly in the back. You want the Eye looking at you!!!! These particular battery operated candles flicker and give it a cool effect. Plus the on/off switch and battery access are on the bottom. Once you are satisfied with the position...use your hot glue gun and do a few dots of glue underneath eyeball hole and let set.

Have fun with where you put your Glowing Eyeballs. On a shelf, in the corner of the dark room, peaking out of the closet door, Under your bed or on the window sill. What will YOU do with them?

Cami is taking a set to show n tell tomorrow since the letter is E.....Eyeball!!!

Hoot Hoot!!!!

Stay tuned for my next post using these fun Glowing Eyeballs in the kids Homemade Trick Or Treat bags!!!!

Hard Candy Suckers!!! Caution....There addictive to make!!!

So, I think we all have childhood memories of great hard candy suckers in some sort of cute shape. BUT that doesn't mean we know how to make these magical creations. About 4 months ago I went to a friends yard sale and stumbled on a box of Hard Candy Sucker supplies...... 15 molds, sticks and wrappers and for a steal of $5 for the entire box.........killer deal and I bought it. My bestie friend Barbara told me she knew how to make them and we made them one day (note: our kids went and sold them to neighborhood kids and made $28 Hoot Hoot) Let me tell you they were EASY EASY EASY to make and they look so cool and the kids absolutely love them. I am semi-addicted to making suckers. The only reason I am not totally addicted is because I have 10 million other things I am semi-addicted to.

Anyway......Here is how I make Hard Candy Suckers and a few of my tricks to the trade.

 I made Strawberry Cream suckers

for my son, Blake to give a sucker basket to his friend on her Birthday!!! (NOTE......I WILL BE POSTING A HARD SUCKER 101 POST LATER SINCE I DO NOT THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH POST ON BLOGS ABOUT SUCKER MAKING)

Must Haves: Pot, Pam Spray, White Hard Candy Molds (at least 3-4), Karo Syrup, Sugar, 
Water, Sucker Sticks, Sucker Wrappers w/ ties or Tape, Candy Thermometer, 
Spatula, Pink Food Coloring, Strawberry Candy Flavoring & Measuring Cups.

Extras, but HIGHLY Recommended: Clear Vanilla Flavoring, White Food Coloring, Candy Eyes (if your mold has eyes),  Nerds, Large Glass Pyrex Measuring Cup.

1~ First Thing to do is get your molds ready.......make sure you have hard candy molds and NOT just chocolate molds. It is a hard white or opaque mold. You will melt your mold if it is not the right kind OR you may have the metal molds that clip on to your sucker stick!!!

 Spray your molds with Pam and add sticks. Make sure you have ALL and even extra molds ready encase you have extra. You can never be too prepared because once it's ready to pour ....you pour. Depending on the depth of each mold....it varies how many suckers you'll get. I got 21 suckers from this particular batch, but when I do ALL owls I only get 17-18. My cute owl molds have eye spots perfect to put candy eyes I got from Walmart in the cake decorating section. Add nerds to your molds now as well. I only put nerds in half my suckers.

2~ In a pot or med size pan......add 2 Cups White Sugar, 2/3 Cup Karo Syrup and 3/4 Cups Water

 and stir with spatula until mixed and on Med/High Heat.

 3~ Once your mixture is boiling you do NOT stir anymore. Stirring upsets the crystallization crap
 or something like that.....just enjoy the fact you no longer have to stir. :)  
Add your Candy Thermometer and make sure it is not touching the bottom of the pan, but is covered by the mixture!

4~ OK, this may sound weird, but put your large (4 cup) Glass Pyrex Measuring Cup in the microwave
 for 3 minutes and leave it there until I say.

5~ Do nothing until the mixture reaches 260 degrees( you may have to turn the heat up a little to reach this). Then add coloring and DON'T mix...the bubbles will do that for you. I used a gel food coloring in neon pink. Just a few squirts plus 2 drops of white food coloring...WHY you ask.....well I don't like my suckers completely clear when I am making my owls...the eyes look funny from the back of the head. Hee Hee But I DO add more (5-6 drops) white food coloring if I want a more opaque color or white ghost or something like that. It is a must have to me!!!!

6~  OK....this is babysitting time. Your heat will rise lots faster once it hits 260 degrees. Watch the thermometer like a HAWK. Once it has hit 300 degrees remove it from the heat and set it on a cool burner and remove the candy thermometer. I let the bubbles slow down a little and then add my Strawberry candy flavoring and a few splashes of vanilla ( use the clear kind so it doesn't change the color of your sucker...it's in the cake decorating section at Walmart) Stir slowly and be careful of any vapors that rise up towards your face. I use the extra potent Candy Flavoring from Loranns and I just need the tiny 1 dram bottles. Walmart does carry some flavors at my local store.

 7~ Now get that Pyrex Measuring Cup out of the Microwave......use a hot pad and place it on the counter.
 (I have you heat it up so it is doesn't cool the sucker mixture) Pour the hot Sucker mixture into
 it and use the spatula to scrap the edges.

 8~ Stop wasting time enjoying the strawberry smell and START POURING. I tend to pour by and on top of the stick first. Make sure the stick is covered well. Once you have it filled quickly move over to another mold. you will have little drip trails the entire way......no problem. When they are hard you and your kids get to munch on them. 
My kids call them the crunchy grass or hay.

9~ Your mixture will eventually start to cool off and be too hard to pour. I always have to microwave the last remnants for about 15 seconds (you may have to do it an additional 10-15 seconds, but no more than tat...it will burn... Yuck!!) Then you can get an extra sucker or two out of your mixture.

 10~ Yeah!!! Let them cool about 10-15 minutes and then it is revelation time!!! Hoot Hoot!!! Some of your suckers may have gotten too much and poured out a little. No worries when you pop them out you can break off the extra!!!

 I just love the owls...I found the molds on Ebay!!!! Note you will need at least 3 Owl molds.

11~ OK lets bag them. You have to bag them the same day or put the in an airtight container. If the suckers are exposed to air too much they will become stick. TIP: I personally hate the prices for sucker bags......so I went to the craft section and bought the 3x4 inch bead bags and cut the ziplock top off. They work great and are sturdy plastic.

12~ Tie the bag. If you buy sucker wrappers....most likely they will come with twist ties. 

TIPS: Alternatives are clear tape or pipe cleaners. You can get about 5 ties per pipe cleaner.

 

So I said Blake took a Sucker Basket to his friends Birthday party. 

Isn't he cute....well here is a little simple how to:

Supplies: Small Basket, Floral Foam, Tissue Paper and Suckers (I used 10 suckers) I ran out of time, but a little sign of Happy Birthday on a stick would have been cute!!!!

 1~ Getting your foam to fit the basket. I put the basket on top of the floral foam and made slashes all the way around with a knife. See circle shape?

 2~ Cut all extra foam off leaving only the circle. (note: ignore my finger in the picture)

3~ Put it in the basket to see if it fits

 4~ If it fits then start wrapping it in the tissue paper.

5~ Put it in the basket tissue edge side down.

 6~ If your really picky....put your suckers in order by height so you can arrange it more uniform and start poking!

 Hoot Hoot!!! Your ready to give it away or enjoy yourself. It is fun and easy to do and best of all it is something HOMEMADE. This entire basket gift cost me $3.25 to make and it was one of the highlights of the night!!!!

Notes: I used this cute tin basket, but you could use all sorts or containers like glass vase (wide mouth),

 Quart Jars (Wide Mouth), small watering can, recycle yogurt containers with wrapping paper around it,

 takeout boxes and much more!!!



BRINGING HOMEMADE BACK