KARATE PARTY EXTRAVAGANZA!

I was a little fearful at first. What'll be the party theme? Who and how many kids do we invite? Waiting for the RSVP's. Will lunch be served? What will keep the kids interested? The timing of everything...AAHHH!!

Creating a party from scratch and making it successful seemed quite the impossible task. But, when your kid looks at you and says, "I'm so excited about my birthday party!" How could I disappoint. 

So I rolled up my sleeves and started planning.

My job was to make sure that everything was DONE before hand. I was relieved once the party started, cause it practically ran itself. I did want to mention, that my family and friends jumped right in and saved the day. I was never alone and we all made sure the kids were happy and under control. 

Instead of including a slew of step by step instructions, here are just a few fun highlights: 

• Custom Made Banner
• Custom Made Invitations with Wax Initial Seal
• Rice Crispy Treat Egg Rolls with Swedish Fish
• Yin Yang Cupcakes from Whole Foods Market
• Create your own Martial Arts Headbands
• Chinese Fortune Cookies
• Chorks (fork and chopsticks combined)
• Origami (crafts for both parents and kids)
• To Go Gift Boxes
• Custom Made Belt Display

Two things that I would like to expand on: 

Custom Made Banner

A few days before the party, I had his "before school care" sign the banner. A day before the party, his teacher and his classmates signed it. It doesn't stop there! The banner greeted the invitees at the front desk before they entered the Karate school on party day.

Before bedtime, the banner was hung on his ceiling. I envisioned he fell asleep reminiscing fondly on all that happened.

Custom Made Belt Display

Well, if karate is his destiny...I hope he'll know that his belt display is not only a relic of his achievements but hopefully a reminder that I got his back. I will help him get there. Wherever his dreams may take him.

He IS one good kid.

And,

I am SO proud of him.

Note: Check with the owner of the Karate school and see if it is o.k. to mix different cultures. Most of the popular party supplies are of Chinese New Year. So if your son or daughter is practicing a Korean Martial Arts Form...well its just better to ask. Have fun planning!

Max's New Reading Area

It all started with (2) used local produce crates...then I cut down a plank of wood. Dressed it up with foam and fabric...Voilà! An area that Max is excited to read in for at least 20 minutes every day. Teacher's orders!

AA COUNTY FAIR 2012

These days are what my dreams are made of.

Maryland Renn Fest 2012

We love this place!

Vertical Pallet Garden Project

I have been wanting to do this for quite some time now. I have seen so many ideas executed in so many different ways in regards to pallet refacing. I just had to make it work. Max helped and now he loves watering and watching the plants grow. It was a great Mother/Son project!

Building our Memories

Since my new computer, I have been playing around with all these new updated programs that make memory-making even more special. iPhoto has user-friendly themed templates that help build your creativity and pull out your inner story teller. I laid this collage on the table one day and my son commented on the crazy bird that perched too close to us (scared him silly!) Then, my son proceeded to reminisce about his arm wrestling match with the monkey statue. Perfect.

Hint: Instead of clicking the button BUY CARD, highlight album, hit print, then save as a pdf.

Have fun!

Cinnamon Blueberry
Pancake Cake
According to my son, this is the Best Breakfast Ever Known

Our Thank You Note to the Grandparents for a great visit!

What do you call 3 ducks in a box?

Answer: A box of Quackers!

Here is a pre-liminary sketch for a brochure that I worked on for the Mid Atlantic Whole Foods Market. This brochure contains easy to make healthy meal ideas just for kids. Kid-tested and their little taste buds approved! This was a project that I was hoping (some day) would come my way. The team that I worked with was eager and chalked full of ideas. My son was very excited to be on the task force too!

Watering Gadget for Helpful Kids

My son loves to help and sometimes that old watering can is a bit cumbersome for little hands. So I grabbed one of my husband's Gatorade bottles, punched a bunch of holes in the lid (with a tack) and there you go! An easy to use watering gadget that the little man can use. This method will also guarantee that your freshly planted seeds won't be flooded out of their comfy beds. Man, do I love the concept of Re-new and Re-use!

Set Sail on a Slothful, Saturday

Build a Spaghetti Squash

Pirate Ship!

Wow what a lazy day! But a very NEEDED lazy day. To prepare for the crazy week, I like to cook/bake and prep for the 'ol lunch box scramble. We had a spaghetti squash in the fridge and it was time for a new taste test with my "Little Man."

Supplies

• 1 spaghetti squash

• Aluminum foil

• Deep pan

• Oven mitts

• Cutting board

• Fork

• Tupperware containers

• Straws

• Coloring pages

• Crayons

• Permanent markers

• Tape

• Safety scissors

• Tub, sink, backyard pool

Preparing the squash

Wrap the spaghetti squash in aluminum foil. Place in a deep pan (incase the squash springs a leak your oven'll be saved!) Cook at 350ºF until it gives when you press on it. It took this squash about 1 1/2 hours.

When the squash is ready. Pull it out of the oven and peel off the aluminum foil. Be careful it'll be hot! Place the squash on a cutting board using some oven mitts or a kitchen towel and cut it down the middle lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and discard. Then, take your fork and scrape the insides out. This will pick up the fibers of the squash and SURPRISE it really looks like strands of spaghetti. Place the strands in tupperware and set aside while it cools and later place in the fridge. Or snack while you create. Fyi, you won't need to doctor it up. It tastes great in its natural state.

Crafting the ship

Have your son/daughter choose any coloring page. Block out a section of the coloring page in the shape of a flag and have them color it in as they wish. Have them trim out the flag. 

While he/she is working on the that, finish hollowing out the squash completely. When completed, fashion the squash like a pirate ship with those magic markers! My son added one of his favorite wrestling toys to act as the pirate. Take the straw and fold the flag around and tape into place. Place in the hand of the pirate. Place pirate into hollowed half of squash. "Float away little critter..." Now remember you have two halves. So two boats make for some swash buckling fun on the high seas!

This is wonderful "together time" that ends with a great snack in their bellies and a lesson...that PLAYING WITH YOUR FOOD can be Healthy too!

;)

Getting my little one to eat vegetables.

"Yes, It is a Game and Yes, it is a Competition!" My little one is so competitive and even with me! So when I saw that his vegetables were still hanging around on his dinner plate...I had to go for it. "Hey Little Buddy, did you know my snap pea has 6 little peas in them?"

"How many does your snap pea have?"

He then tore that snap pea open like a stark, raving mad bunny rabbit and he counted 8 little peas. He continued to say in astonishment "and they taste good too Mommy". SCORE!

He is now a fan of snap peas.

May the applause resume. Thank you.

Orange/Clove Potpourri Decoration

My son and I were looking for a fun simple little craft to do this afternoon. What could we possibly do with no crafts lying around? So I had me a little daydream of the olden days (when I was a kid) and we just used what we had! I did remember making a "Do it yourself Orange/Clove Potpourri." During the cold months, we always have oranges handy to create a fantastic mulled apple cider. There ya go! The puzzle pieces were fitting into place.  

Supplies:

Orange

Whole Cloves

Peel/Stick Bow

Paper Clip

Scissors

Mini Dish

Method:

Take your orange and pierce the skin with cloves. Place the cloves however you like. You can create a huge smiley face or spell out your son's or daughter's name. Then, take your paper clip and shape it into a u. Wiggle the u-shaped clip into the staple that holds the bow together (on it's underside). Now take both the bow and u-shaped clip and pierce the orange straight through (as so the bow rests firmly on top of the orange.) Take your scissors and then cut the top round parts of the bow off, trim and fluff. Use the discarded parts of your bow and cut them down into sparkle bits (as shown in the picture), scatter a few cloves about and there you go. 

What are you doing? 
Get outside and play! 

NEVER underestimate the power of a GREAT time kicking the fall leaves around. And in keeping with our household tradition, we prepared a steaming crock pot full of spiced hot chocolate to end our play right. Aaahhh...

It's a real memory maker.

The Smallest Jack-O-Lantern

My large beautiful pumpkin bit the dust before I could carve it. So I grabbed this little guy off of our living room table centerpiece and did the unthinkable! The trick is to use a melon baller to get out the insides. Seriously, I could have probably finished 10 of these in a half an hour.

We are going to a "BOO BOWL" tonight at the local bowling alley. The kids get to dress up in their costumes and bowl for a couple of hours. I was thinking of bringing these little jack-o-lanterns to decorate our score tracking display. Could you imagine the kids faces when I pull pumpkins out of my purse? Haha, I love pulling the ridiculous out of my magically, mysterious, Mary Poppins-like, mother bag. They eat it that stuff up!

Spooky Spiders

This Sunday, we decided it was time to tackle the house decorations. This is what we did and what a piece of cake too!

SUPPLIES:

• Bag of Black Pipe Cleaners

• Bag of Cobwebs

Gather 4 sticks of black pipe cleaners. Place them one of top of the other. Then take another pipe cleaner and wrap it around the legs but this time in the middle of the bunch. Forming a total of 8 legs (4 on each side). Continue wrapping more wire around the center of the legs to create a fuller looking mid-section. Then bend the legs as desired to create the perfectly spooky spidery effect.

For the webbing, keep in mind a little bit goes a long way. Stretch and pull over your chandelier (keep away from the bulbs which can be a fire hazard). Pull down some webbing and attach your spiders. It's a snap!

Pretty ghoul, right?...aaahh I mean, pretty cool, right?

Good Times.

p.s. Incase you were wondering...Yes, the lightbulb is out. Just keepin' it authentic!

Honorable Mention

Alright so I am a little behind in the Bloggin' thing. Last May is when this beautiful artwork was rendered by my "Little Picasso." We knew of a local art show that was accepting junior entries and we just had to go for it! The theme: Children helping children. But that wasn't good enough! He wanted to show how he helps his Bubbie (a.k.a. Grandma). The one on the right is the one that we submitted. "Max helping Bubbie run errands in her car." The other, hangs in my studio and is his very own self-portrait. I am so proud!

This year my son wanted Speed Racer to be his BIG Birthday theme. It was held at his daycare so that the task of parents being notified, waiting for RSVP's and gift giving was eliminated from the equation. (My kiddo has more toys than we have room for, so it just made good sense).

His daycare was gracious enough to give us the "big room" as so I could decorate undisturbed while his class was in session down the hall. The kids were all buzzing with curiosity as I hung racing flags from the ceiling and marked the floor with masking tape creating a miniature track. I also hauled my son's toddler race car bed in to use as a pit stop (minus the mattress). I know, I'm crazy but it was so worth it! I also wanted to create & donate a prop as a thank you for giving me the space "free of charge." So a bean bag toss came to mind. Yay, a chance to use my power tools! Max even helped paint. Gotta brag here, the kids got talent.

Anyway, the birthday party took place just before lunchtime. They came into the room with their eyes as wide as saucers and they had open play for about an hour. We finished the party off with chocolate tire donuts and a Speed Racer storybook. Great smiles came out of that day, great memories and big hugs. Can't believe that he is 5. *sigh*. What a cutie.

By the way, he was all sorts of excited when we spiked his hair up to look like he had been racing. Haha, way too funny!

My son had a friend at daycare who was turning 5! Of course, all of the boys at this age are HUGE into Transformers. I too, once, was a huge fan. This little boy has a name that I am sure was not on a monogrammed bicycle license plate or a snazzy little WB mug or toothbrush. So, why not a personalized stamp? It turned out really neat. I found a little starter kit at Michael's and I think I am addicted! My son already expects his to have "The Batman" on it. How precious is that.

My son and I had a drawing fiesta at Halloween time. Max just shouted out characters he wanted me to create on the spot. Jr. Frankenstein was our over-all favorite.