Rocks in the Dryer

Brown Eyes

What are your weekend plans?  Me?  I plan to be making out with my dog all weekend long.  Who could resist that face, those eyes!  Have a good one!

Kids Birthday Party Favors

Can we talk about party favors real quick?  I make cookies for just about every party I host.  It's standard issue.  I wish everyone would, just do something homemade that is.  Standard kid party favors really annoy me on so many levels.  I wish I could start a trend.....

I could pitch it in the following ways:

• Green:  No manufacturing and shipping of plastic crap.
• Inexpensive:  Making anything saves so much time and money.
• Kids Activity:  Get the kids involved, make them work for thier party.
• Fun:  Darn it, I like making stuff. 

I have done some crazy time-consuming party favors in the past (I'll save that for a later post) in the end the cookies always win.  The whole process goes like this:

 

3 days ahead make the dough  (20 minutes)

2 days ahead, roll/cut and bake (45 minutes with multi-tasking opportunities)

1 day ahead, frost  (20 minutes)

day of, package (10 minutes)

 

A few years ago I purchased a set of number cookie cutters, they have and will continue to take me far with birthday favors.  Easy Breezy! (we make simple sugar cookies)

Frosting?  Easy.  Royal Icing in a squirt bottle.  We are big fans of the dots and squiggles, no matter the cookie shape.  This is something even my kids can do and the result is always divine.

Keep a supply of cello bags on hand.  Bought in-expensively in large quantites, a stock will carry you through many more projects and purposes than you might think possible, for years!

Slap a label on it and you are DONE!  I always get asked where I get my favors.  This happened at yesterday's party and when I told the mom I made them she replied: "Well, I'm never coming here again".   LOL.  Don't be intimidated people, I promise it's easy.  A little pre-thought, a little planning and many less trips to the store or (Oriental Trading.com) - that's my kinda party favor.     

 

 

9 Year Old Boy Birthday Bash

"Keep it simple, stupid": my mantra for yesterday's birthday party.  Lord knows I am highly capable of over doing the kids birthday party thing, this time, I just wasn't in the mood. 

My older son has a pretty unfortunate birth date:  December 30th.  Clearly not such a great time for hosting kids b-day parties, the list of hurdles is long.  For nine years we have struggled to come up with a plan and date that works.  He doesn't care if the party is actually on or near his birthday for that matter, he just wants the darn party. 

This year's mild winter has me think, why not go for it:  Outdoor party in February in New England that is not sledding or skating theme?  Unheard of.  We rolled the dice and won.  Outdoor Laser Tag was the activity of choice and it was a hit!

13 boys, a long stretch of our town bike path, laser guns and 50 degree weather.  Couldn't have been better.

 

 

 

 

 

Little boys running free and wild in the woods might be my most favorite thing on Earth.  Lucky for me, my breed of boys agrees.  Boy number two wonders how many days 'til his birthday. Our neighborhood moms started to wonder if we shouldn't just book laser tag as a monthly event - though don't we truly know if we over do it, the magic would soon be lost.

 

 

Favorite Rocks?

I deal with a lot of rocks in my line of work:  The mothering of boys.  No doubt my favorite kind of rock of all time is the heart shaped variety.  My husband has a keen knack for finding heart shaped rocks and we have built a nice collection.  In celebration of today, thought I would share a lovely photo of a heart-shaped rock!  Happy Valentine's Day!

 

photo credit: the majik of magenta

 

Sleeping Arrangements

Our boys share a room.  It's the standard Beaver Cleaver twin bed set up.  I often wonder why we bother hogging space with the two beds.  More often than not the boys are found like this:

 

 

They sleep in a full tangle, a brotherly loving embrace.  It melts my heart.  Just as I was beginning to wonder if I should consider tossing out the extra bed to reclaim some much needed square footage, our four-legged friend, ever the opportuntist, has noticed the boys sleeping patterns as well.  I believe his claim has been staked.

 

There is room for everyone it seems.

 

 

Group Giving

I am a member of a group and each year at Christmas I want to give each member a gift, but darn it Christmas always gets in the way.  The last couple of years I resigned to giving Valentine's gifts.  In retro-spec I shouldn't look at it as resignation, maybe another act of accidental genius.  Don't we get enough for Christmas anyway?

Gift giving to a group can be tricky.  Same goes for party-favors, wedding favors etc.  How do you give to many people and have it be worthy and appreciated?  I think presentation makes a huge difference, lucky me, gift wrapping is an extreme pleasure.  What is the actual gift?  To find something on theme and worth of the time and effort - well that is the trick indeed.

My gift this year (I have 23 recipients) are "Quotation Cookies" (porcelain fortune cookies) made by my friend and severely talented potter, Elizabeth Cohen.  I love their simple elegance, and I can't think of a human who wouldn't appreciate and enjoy having one around. I wrote and printed quotations/fortunes that made sense for my individual recipients:

 

 

I then let myself loose on the packaging (well, not too loose there was a budget in mind  - as close to $0 as possible), I often think the wrap is as equally important as the gift - all things considered.  Style doesn't necessary cost money... In the end I spent a total of $14 to wrap all 23 gifts, not bad!

Chinese take out food containers seem the obvious choice.  I found white ones for .40 cents each. (they are made by foldpack, I picked them up at a local paper warehouse). 

 

I owned brown kraft shred from a previous project so I let that lead the color pallate.  Found lovely sheet of lotus flower wrapping paper (needed 1 sheet /$2.50 for 25 belly bands) at the paper-source and the pink rafia was also dirt cheap at the other paper warehouse (two spools for $1.09 each).

 

 

 

Belly bands might be the easiest trick in the book - I love them on boxes and invitations alike.  All you need is a ruler and cutting instrument (I prefer xacto knife and cutting mat).  Just measure and cut!

 

 

The only thing else used was a little scotch tape to secure the belly bands.  I'll be adding a kraft gift tag, also left over from another project, to write a personal note to each recipient.

They are almost ready to go....

 

 

 

I hope the recipients feel the love.....

Hello Vanity!

illustration by: yokofurusho.com

 

Oh the lessons of an ordinary day.  Without warning I got a view of myself, or a view of something deep in myself that I didn't know was there.  At least I didn't know the breadth.  I think it's safe to call it vanity.  Drat.  I thought myself beyond such girlish ailments.

My facebook friends, at least those blessed with certain timing, know that I was the recipient of a dreadful haircut last week.  The attention this received was funny, light and hopefully entertaining to all involved.  I am a big fan of self-deprecation and can hopefully laugh hardest at myself.  It was just one of those little circuses that can give social media a "time wasting" reputation.  Haircut - who cares.

There was a lot of stress draped on my bad hair event.  Did I dare go back to the original offender to fix the disaster?  In all of it's horror it was a rather expensive cut by any standard.  I couldn't bring myself to trust him to go at it again.  That would mean paying another person for yet another expensive procedure in one week!  Was I so vain that I couldn't just wait and let it grow?  Yes, undeniably Yes.  I was freaked out I tell you.

The experts tell us that stress can manifest in powerful ways.  To this, with a dose of hindsight, I concur.  Bad haircut was on Tuesday, followed much dilemma and stress about how to remedy the situation deep into the night.  Wednesday morning I suffered a massive muscle spasm in my lower back that left me, once again, flat on the floor for more days than I have to waste.

Friday came with the blessing of a new haircut waiting for me at 11:00 am.  I limped in with my aching back and walked out with a new do and a bounce in my step.  Poor little me, me and my vanity.  I was so stressed out about my HAIR that I suffered a stress related injury?  I can look at it from the angle that I am so lucky that the worst thing going on in my life, the most stressful event, is a bad haircut.  How lucky am I!  OR - holy mackerel, I in need of a vanity check-up.  

Whatever the case, I am thrilled that I can now stand upright and hold my head high as I venture back out in the public eye.  Though, "Wow", I think to myself, you think you know someone.......

Media Explosion

Today has been a day full of media for our humble little family.  3 out 5 of us have can be found in a media hit today.  We are all basking in our short lived glory...

My 9 year old's hockey team was recognized for a tournament win in our local paper.  Yes the team looks like a large black blob, but we know the truth and are oh so proud.

Pup dog won almost top billing on Desire to Inspire today (Monday's Pets on Furniture Feature).  No credit to his own of course, other than looking cutie, I took the photo and submitted it on his behalf.  Not trying to steal the spotlight.....you can see the whole post here and find out how to submit a photo of your own four-legged lover.

 

And finally me.  I found out today a photo and quote from an interview actually were featured about yours truly in Publishers Weekly earlier this month.  The article is about Barefoot Books' upcoming 20th Anniversary and me, their trusty sidekick always putting my best barefoot forward.  

 

 

Well isn't it a simply lovely Monday.  What else will this week bring!

 

 

Inside Frozen Fenway

My 7 year old has friends in high places.  Lucky for me, I got to be his chaperon.  His hockey coach just so happens to be a senior executive for the Boston Red Sox by day.  When Fenway Park was frozen this year, guess who's team was invited to play...lucky little nuggets.

Yes, I thought it so cool that my son got the rare opportunity to play and take part of this unique event, but I found myself a bit consumed by my own incredible opportunity to be in a nearly empty Fenway Park.  When does that happen?

Mildly speaking, I took lots of photos:

Do you know the story of the lone red seat in the right field bleachers? It signifies the longest home-run ever hit at Fenway. Read bout it here.

Our team's spectators (at left in photo) were given the privilege of sitting in a private box overhanging the ice.  Boiling hot chocolate and other goodies were overflowing for our consuming pleasure.  The rest of the schmoes had to sit waaaaaaaay far away under an overhang in a roped off corral out of the suns reach (see them far right in photo). Nah nah na boo boo.

After our team finished playing we received a private escort up to top of the Green Monster where we had the privilege of watching the next game - as if we hadn't gotten our fair share already....

All in a day's work.

Look Before you Leap on the Lion

Are you a Mac or a PC?  If you are a Mac I have a public service announcement to make.  Beware of Lion. 

                                                                                  - female lion tamer image source

This is not a tech blog and the person who writes this blog is dangerous at best with the little amount of tech savvy possessed.

I had a big idea that backfired in ways I can not begin to comprehend.  As a new years "let's get off to a fresh start" resoltuion I set off upgrading all of my apple equipment to the newest operating system, Lion.  This year I was going to stay on top, do it right, have all my devices working nicely with one another, be current.  It took a long time and a many step but I did it.  I was so proud and pleased ...... and then.

With all updates in place and all old things gone and disabled, I sat down to start some good, solid, new year work.  To my utter dismay, I was welcomed with an unforeseen side effect.  None of my software is supported by Lion.  None.

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of all things Apple, HUGE I tell you, but none of my software is supported by my new operating system? WTF!

The ramifications took a while to sink in.  I no longer have a single program that works.  That really, super, major sucks.  In my own unique fashion I started the research (yes, a day late and many dollars short) to find many a friend in my shoes airing their frustrations on forums all over the web.  Poor suckers are we.  There is no real going back.  What's done is done and my new, new resolution has me learning new programs and learning to work in new ways.  I am appreciative to the folks at Adobe for offering a free trail download of InDesign - at least I could get my Valentine project done.....what next, it expires in a few days? I am not so sure. But maybe some day I hope to learn to look before I leap...

 

Make the BEST Valentines EVER!

I can't believe we actually did it!  This might just be my most favorite project to date.  What was more was was that my children actually participated and were moderately engaged (using the term 3-D was very helpful).

We had a snowy weekend and I thought the white back-drop would add a nice touch.  Taking the photos was easier than anticipated and was complete using fewer clicks of the shutter than ever imagined.

I cropped them a bit, changed to black and white (easier for us than dealing with a themed wardrobe), added a little text and sent them off to my neighbor CVS to print.  I sit here today in shock, they are done, 18 cents per print + cost of tootsie roll pop.  Fabulous and cheap? That never happens!

A neighborhood friend was over playing in the snow, so we made one for him too.  He had on a red hat so I didn't go full bore on the black and white -  but just faded the color a bit....

People, you can do this.  If you are not able to add text in a graphics program, just slap a label on the front or get your kids to write on the back.  They are just too darn cute.  I want to say again, as I have been getting undue credit, this was not my idea....just something I saw here and here and as any good blog crawler would do - I am hijacking it and passing it on.  Go forth and be crafty.

 

 

Oy, the Valentines........

"Parent the children you have", is that how it goes?  

Long ago, I let go of the fantasies of doing crafts with my kids.  My kids are not interested.  Go figure they got me for a mom.  Each year, each holiday, each normal person's time of fabulous craftiness, I have a reality to deal with and a decision to make.  

I get so excited about making valentines with my kids, and then my actual kids show up.  It turns into a punishable offense when they will not engage in their seasonal crafting requirement.  Even though I've learned to dumb "boy" it down in an attempt to meet their willingness and ability.  It still usually fails.

Not this year?  Maybe, just maybe.  This project we might be able to do!

via www.designmom.com

Found the idea on Designmom, who found it on KeepinitReal.  This home-made valentine might just meet our collective needs and abilities.  I can take the photo, they should be able to pose for it.  I can cut the slits for the lolly pops and bribe them with more lolly pops if they participate by signing their names on the back. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" - or "A fool never learns"?  Let's just see how this goes!

The Jell-o Fish

I had a Christmas party, but how could you know that.  I haven't attended to this blog since November.  Life has been going on and I have been developing lots of new and exciting entertainment....

Back to the party.  I had a Christmas party, yes I did.   I didn't take many photos and for that I am regretful.  The mid-century menu was divine and matching decor, in my opinion, beat the band.

I did, however, take a photo of the fish. 

- hipstimatic dated it, however so appropriately '81.  It's 2011 all the way

 

Last year I threw a mid-century menu party and made a jell-o mould, sticking to the theme and all.  No one touched it - and who could blame them, jell-o and cool-whip are kind of are gross.  The jell-o recipes of the 50's are disgusting, yet so ...... festive! I have plowed through many back issues of "The Joys of JELL-O" trying to find just the right one to bring to my modern table and then, out of nowhere, a flash of genius!  Vodka!

Don't put cubed ham or peas, tuna, olives and apricots in the jell-o - put VODKA in it!

The Vodka fish was an enormous hit.  Not only was it fun, festive and tasty, it was entertainment, a conversation piece!   The fish was hacked to death right there on his mirrored display for all to see.  People I never dreamt so daring, were slurping up Vodka Fish and with great pride and celebration.  Who knew.

This fish has breathed new life into entertaining as I know it. He made his way to my neighbor's 7 fish dinner Christmas Eve, that was a virgin fish, family party and all.  I have been invited to participate in a recipe swap.  I wonder if Vodka Fish is an appropriate submission?  Big Daddy and I have a couple of party invites on the horizon where we are asked to bring an appetizer.... hmmmmmm, what to bring? Vodka Fish!

 

Here's the recipe:

Obtain a large fish jell-o mould (mine came from an estate sale) 

Choose seasonally appropriate jell-o flavor and color 

Follow package directions substituting (to taste or tolerance) some/all of the cold water with vodka

Enjoy!

 

 

crave more jell-o inspiration - see here: 

Must be dog week...

Ok, fine, last post about my four-legged friend.  He got a new bed and it rocks and we love it and it's so sassy!  From Bowwow Beds on Etsy.  Check it out!  Just the cover, stuff with bed pillows - simply divine.  Nite-nite pup dog.

Guiding Eyes Campus Tour: Emotional Verison

I introduced you to our new dog Vince, but waited to tell you the rest of the story.  Vince was bred as and trained to be a seeing eye dog by Guiding Eyes for the Blind.  I've plowed through their website over the years and thought I was well prepared for the day I would visit the campus and meet our new dog.  I had known this day was coming for many years, I assure you, prepared I was not.

"Through These Eyes, We Can See"

I am the first to admit I can be emotional.  I am an excellent crier and when a stimulus tugs at my soul there is nothing stopping me from being consumed by emotion.  We arrived at Guiding Eyes about 30 minutes early and I was a blubbering mess as the boys and I finished our self-guided tour of the campus.

I knew seeing eye dogs were exceptional creatures, I just had no idea what went into creating them.  The army of dedicated people involved in raising and training them, the amount of love, dedication and gratitude of this community and it's work was overwhelming.

This was a great big lesson in "What I didn't know I didn't know".  I had introduced myself and my boys to a world that I knew was going to change our lives, but in no way was going to offer us the impact it has for so many.  We were standing to gain a pet to love and care for.  My boys were standing to gain responsibility and the boy/dog relationship I craved for them.  I couldn't begin to wrap my head around what it must be for others who come to receive their service dog.  I had an immediate need to do more than just adopt Vince, but to enroll myself in the ongoing work of the school and the community, I was aching to be a part of it.

We have yet to sign up for any more active duty, the day to day of caring for our new companion is enough for now.  What I know is possible is exciting, and as each day we become more competent and comfortable "dog people" I know we will have more to give and more to do.

You can "Like" Guiding Eyes for the Blind on Facebook :  https://www.facebook.com/#!/guidingeyes

I could spend hours trolling through their photos.  Of my favorites are those from "Sit Stay Competitions", or this one with an army of angel dogs awaiting their next mission.

This one made me laugh - remind me to make these "Get Busy Cupcakes" ("get busy" is the Guiding eyes elimination command) for Vince's next birthday.

Those cupcakes tell the story of my current life, but needless to say,  I wouldn't trade it for anything!