Here's what you need to make your very own Pumpkin Pie Playdough, just in time for the fall season! 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 4 tsp cream of tartar 3 tsp cinnamon 6 tsp pumpkin pie spice 2 cups water 2 T vegetable oil red and yellow coloring (optional) Simply combine the ingredients in a large pot and heat on the stove top until it begins to form a firm playdough consistency. … [Read more...]
Discipline Sticks
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Naughty Sticks, Discipline Sticks, Consequence Sticks- whatever you want to call them! This is an idea that I came up with along with the help of my husband. He and I have often come to heads when discussing a consequence for a negative behavior with our kids. We sat down together a couple of months ago and talked through the problems at hand: When our kids see us disagree on a consequence they have learned that they have the upper hand because they saw that we don't agree. Because we didn't agree on discipline they often shopped for answers (they would go to one parent and get an answer and then go to the other to see if their answer was better). Time outs just didn't make a change in their behavior. The kids actually would "take the time out" just so they could continue on with the negative behavior. Cue the "naughty sticks!" My husband and I sat down for about an hour after the kids were in bed and discussed a handful of consequences they we both agreed upon. They … [Read more...]
Apple Cupcakes- Pinned it, Did it
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I've seen some pretty cute apple cupcakes floating around on Pinterest lately and my son has a fall birthday so I thought what would be better? Lucky me he even requested his birthday party be at the local apple orchard! Whoot woot! These were really easy to accomplish and I love the way they turned out! Here's what you do: Start off with some freshly made cupcakes. My kids are split even down the middle for taste so I have to make "just chocolate" ones and "just vanilla" ones. Let your cupcakes completely cool and prepare your frosting. I attempted to follow someone elses pin by adding a sliced doughnut on top to add the "apple" shape but in all honesty it was incredibly messy, didn't turn out that well, and they didn't stick...so being the perfectionist that I am I started over with just regular cupcakes and frosting!Once you have your adorable cupcake ready to frost (oh one more thing...to add to the over all appeal try and use red paper liners!) slab on a bunch of red frosting (I … [Read more...]
Mike Wazowski- Krispie Treats
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With the release of Monsters University this past summer the buzz in our house is still swirling around with sounds of MU, Sulley and Mike Wazowski. I personally like Mike the best....his one eye thing makes me giggle. I am not taking credit for the idea of these treats as I saw them on the back of a Rice Krispie Cereal box this past summer but I wanted to be sure to try them out and share them with those of you who didn't get to see them, so this is sort of a Pinned it, Did it and Tasty Treat post wrapped into one. Make your Rice Krispie treats as directed on the bag of Mallows or the box. 1 bag of large Marshmallows 3 T butter 6 cups Rice Krispie Cereal Melt the butter and mallows together and add a few drops of lime green coloring. If you add it to the cereal instead it will not cover all of it and you will be left with a less than ideal look. Now the fun part, pick up a piece of softened butter in your hands and rub it all around like you are putting on hand lotion. … [Read more...]
Strawberry Apple Rhubarb Crisp
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4-5 large stalks of fresh-cut rhubarb (cut into 1/2 inch pieces) 3 cups of fresh-cut strawberries, hulled and quartered 6-8 medium-sized tart apples sliced (I prefer Harlson Apples) 1 1/4 cups sugar 1 T cornstarch 1/4 cup orange juice 1 cup flour (you can use bleached or unbleached) 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2-2 cups quick cook oatmeal (be sure not to use instant) 1 1/2 sticks of melted butter 1/4 cup sugar Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the strawberries, apple and rhubarb in a bowl along with the cornstarch, orange juice and 3/4 cup sugar. Place in baking dish after all mixed. For the topping, mix the 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, oatmeal and melted butter until the mixture crumbles. Spread over the top of the fruit and bake for 1 hour. Serve with fresh whipped cream or ice cream! … [Read more...]
Halloween Fingerprint Art
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Our Fingerprint Art post was so popular we thought we'd share a few more just in time for Halloween. First up are our two sneaky witches. All you need is a green thumbprint topped with a green fingerprint. Wait for those to dry and add your details! Don't forget that witches like brooms and always have pointy noses, he he he! Mr Bones- He's easy to make! Choose any color you wish (I liked the bright orange) and make his torso with your thumb. Add the skeleton shaped face with a horizontal fingerprint followed by a vertical fingerprint. Wait for Mr. Bones to dry and add details to him to finish him off. Frank the Frankenstein Using a blue ink dip your thumb in and make your body. Use your thumb again in green for the head. Use your pinky finger for the arms and legs of Frank. Add a few details: a stitch on the forehead and some bolts for his head too! Monsters- Monsters are fun because you can make them any way you want. I chose to make a blue and red one. Add funny features to … [Read more...]
