Pet Ghost

Looking for a quick & easy spin on a Halloween treat?  These Pet Ghosts are a bit silly, but sweet.  You can find Wilton Candy Melts at most craft stores, and the Keebler Mini Graham Cracker Crusts at most Walmart stores.  The Peeps ghosts might take a little longer to find.  

Feel free to use the graphic to print your own label or sticker - or design your own.  Happy Halloween!

Edible Playdough

With summer now in it’s second half - have you done anything fun yet with the kids?  This playdough is the smoothest, most pliable I’ve ever tried - and you can even EAT IT.  But... be forewarned.  Put off tasting it until you’ve had your spurt of creativity.  You won’t be able to leave it alone after the first nibble.

My husband used to tell the kids to "sit on your pockets"
when they were out of control.  Seems like now kids do this a lot more,
and especially when they watch TV.  I wonder if I would use
this same phrase if I were raising my kids today?

My three oldest grandchildren are experiencing some level of boredom this summer.  I remember summer looming before me back in the day my children were in school and would soon be home The Entire Day.  (And I would be the one in charge of providing them with a stimulating environment in addition to mac ’n cheese, swimming lessons, and letting them watch TV ALL DAY LONG... you know I’m kidding, right?)

Each summer I had to (re)learn the process of embracing summer.  My husband was an educator, and I told myself that having him home for three months every summer would prepare me for his retirement.  Having both a husband AND children home for three months of the year taught me that this glorious season has three parts.  

Part One:  Mourning.  I will admit I had a few weeks of mourning the loss of my free time.  I couldn’t count on having a few hours to myself at a predictable time every day - in other words, no me time.  The kids and I would often find ourselves in a face-off several times a day.  Have you ever mentally calculated how many more days till school starts?

Part Two:  The Schedule.  After my period of (selfish) yearning for free time, I launched into efficiency.  This gave me a sense of being in control (who was I kidding?)  This worked pretty well for a while until the family figured it out.  Mom just thought she was in charge.  But it was good while it lasted.  

Part Three:  The Flow.  This is when the kids and I let our guard down and learned to enjoy each other.  I decided to put aside my agenda, and play WITH them - not just give them an activity to keep them busy.  A psychologist would describe “flow” as a time when you are doing something challenging, but not so hard that you are stressed.  

The ideal is when kids find “flow” on their own, but sometimes all it takes is getting them started and letting them run with it.  This little recipe is great because you can let them play with it until it loses it’s appeal - then clue them in that it’s EDIBLE!

(And... fyi - this is delicious rolled in balls, then dipped in chocolate.  Kind of reminiscent of a peanut butter cup)

For this "summer survival" recipe - go to:

www.changeabletable.com

Grass Head Kids - make new friends during disappointing Spring weather

While visiting my daughter's family after welcoming a new baby last month - I enjoyed watching these cute heads of (grassy) hair sprouting in her window sill.  It didn’t take long until they needed a haircut.  Made from an old nylon stocking - the loose end forms a “wick” that soaks up moisture to start growing a lush head of hair.

It’s supposed to be spring break around here for many of the schools - and with an abundance of rain, it’s hard to get outside when the weather is so contrary.  My daughter found this idea on familyfun.go.com - and it helped her cooped-up boys stay happy (at least for a few minutes).  

Every morning for the first several days they were excited to wake up and see if their “kid” had begun to sprout hair yet.  It didn’t take long - about 4 days - until they could see the sprouts beginning.  

photo courtesy of familyfun.go.com

After the grassy hair got good and long, it was even more fun to get out the kid-safe scissors and play barber (but watch out, or they'll get ideas - if you know what I mean).  Be careful - cutting too close to the “scalp” will require brain surgery to repair them.

Use plastic yogurt containers, plastic cups, and the like to decorate and prop your heads on. 

And remember - April showers bring ____ ______?  Keep on sloshing.

For full instructions & links - go to:

www.changeabletable.com

Potato Stamping

March is a month of ups and downs for children.  One minute the sun is shining and all is right in the world.  The next - it’s raining on their parade and there’s “nothing to do”.  This is an easy-to-do craft that you are likely to have all the supplies already at home.  Potato.  Knife,  Paint.  Paper.  (Bored Kids).  Done!

This idea has been around forever, and what makes it genius is the fact that you can adapt it to any time of year.  Most of us have potatoes that are shriveling in a bag in the basement or garage.  With a sharp kitchen knife you can create just about any design.  

Make sure you use water-based paint.  Poster paints can be permanent, so read the label carefully before you turn the kids loose with it.  We used water-based acrylic paint that was .59 cents a bottle.  Cheap fun!

I was six hours from home with my daughter last week after the birth of their new little baby girl - my eighth grandchild.  

She is so sweet - I’ve included just a peek at her above.  This little baby has three older brothers - all under the age of five.  One day while I was there it was raining, the oldest was home from school, and their mother had just let them know they had had enough TV for the day.  

(Notice the pants are on backwards... this kid dresses himself, thank you very much!)  

Boredom.  Tears.  Need I say more?  Maybe you’ve been there and done that...

To save the day, we decided to try our hand at a St. Patrick’s Day craft.  I had seen this over and over again on the web, but I’ve never attempted it.  After slicing one potato in half - each of the oldest two boys had their own shamrock stamp (the 2-year old was napping, whew!)  We set out a large sheet of poster paper and let them go to town.  A potato half is just the right size for a little child’s hand to grasp without it being tedious. 

Their “Leprechaun Paper” is now hanging on the patio doors.  Later that day we hid Leprechaun Coins (little plastic golden coins that I found at a craft store - 25 for $1.00 - best dollar I ever spent!) and took turns finding them.  

This is not what I would classify as a recipe, but nonetheless - I've listed lots of photos, suggestions, and tips to make it easier at:

www.changeabletable.com

Heart Warmers

This is certainly not a new idea.  Maybe you are experiencing the “Massive Winter Storm” that is affecting most of the country today.  Although it takes a lot more than hot cocoa to keep you warm on a day like today - just the thought of it warms me from the top of my head clear down to my toes.

Don’t you love to receive a gift that is complete?  Where you don’t have to measure, portion, or THINK?  This one is just that - open, pour, and stir.  

And the fact that it looks like something cold, yet warms your heart makes it even more appealing.  

If you need a gift idea that is quick to assemble, fairly inexpensive, and fits with the season of love - you can’t go wrong with these little tubes of warmth.

Although any miniature marshmallows will do - you will need to be on the ball to purchase these heart shaped ones before they’re gone.  I’ve only found them in a few stores.  The fact that they are supposed to be “strawberry” shouldn’t make you worry that they don’t taste good in a flavored cocoa.  I even enjoyed mine in mint truffle flavored cocoa.  

Any red candy will do - but I would avoid cinnamon hearts (unless you enjoy cinnamon in your cocoa).  It’s hard to find regular gumdrops right now that aren’t “spiced” - but if you look, you’ll find assorted packages.

I made mine in two sizes, as shown.  You can get crazy with ribbon, but it might detract from the “ice cream cone” design.

For instructions (with my own discoveries to make it easier) - along with step-by-step photos - go to:

www.changeabletable.com

Punkin' Snack Bag

There’s a plethora of gift bags & boxes out there in a Halloween theme - and these are certainly not ‘trendy’...  Any snack composed of small morsels works well packaged up in this bright ball resembling a pumpkin fresh from the patch.  This also works well as an apple - just change the tissue paper to red.

This sweet little unassuming container will hold just about anything - muddy buddies, trail mix, popcorn, roasted nuts, cracker jack - just choose a favorite.  

No new craft trend involved either - just pipe cleaners and tissue paper right from your elementary school days.  As I was making these I could almost feel my grade school teachers looking over my shoulder and smiling.

If you can cut, twist, and tie a knot - you can quickly make one to give away to a coworker, a grandchild, your Primary or Young Women’s class, or someone you visit teach.

This isn’t just for the month of October either - see how easily you can make a bowl of ‘apples’ using the same idea. 

For instructions on this kid-friendly craft - go to:

www.changeabletable.com