Super Shoes!

  I found a super cute project idea on Pinterest and HAD to do it right away.

Super Hero Shoes! It's really easy. I decided to try out the project on a pair for The Peanut. Then, if all goes well, I will make a pair for myself. I'm thinking they need to be worn at GenCon.

Here's where I got the idea and a better How-to!

Step 1:  Gather your supplies
Comics of your choice
Modge Podge
Shoes
Paint brushes and sponges
Newspaper

Step 2
Cut out pictures you like.  I used panels for coverage, then layered words and characters on top.

Step 3
Modge Podge your pictures onto the shoes.

The Peanut helping.

Step 4

Distract your little one from "helping" by giving her the camera.

Step 5
Cover everything a couple layers of Modge Podge and let dry.

Step 6
Step back and look at your awesome new shoes!

Photo: Painting with Kool Aid

 Kool Aid water colors! It smells like candy in here.

Christmas fun

  I made up a batch of cinnamon-applesauce dough for The Peanut. It's really easy. Just take one part cinnamon, one part applesauce and squish it together. You get a yummy smelling play-dough. The dough has a habit of turning your hands brown, but that's nothing a bit of soap and water won't cure.
  I recommend playing with the dough out in the open so everything smell all cinnamon-appley!

You can also use the dough to make ornaments. Just roll it out flat, cut into happy shapes, and let air dry. (or bake in the oven for 10-30 minutes at around 200 Fahrenheit)
  See, you don't need to buy expensive things to keep the kiddies happy!

Peanut and I waiting for the National Christmas Tree lighting to start! 

Lotion candles and crazy weather.

   It is the end of November and warm enough to play outside in short sleeves and bare legs! Peanut was spirited and full of extra energy this morning, so I took her to the park. For the entire time, I let her be the "boss." No saying no or hold on, or I'm going to watch you play. An hour and a half of climbing up and down the stairs, going down the slide, holding giant handfuls of wood chips, and being the bad dragon to be defeated.
  Not only did I get a good workout, Peanut had really enjoyed having some undivided attention.

  Then we went home to make lotion candles!!

 The supplies. 

1 part Beeswax

1 part Shea butter

1 part Avocado or Grapeseed oil

1 or 2 vitamin E capsules per candle/bar

Fragrance 

soy candle wicks

small tin containers

small craft sticks

The stuff (not pictured, the craft sticks)

These are really easy to make. Just melt the wax and Shea butter together in a double boiler. Shea butter can get a little grainy, so I recommend melting the beeswax first, then stirring in the butter. 

Add the oil, pop a hole in the vitamin E capsule and squeeze that in, then add fragrance if you   like. 

After that you can pour the melted lotion into a mold or make lotion candles.  Peanut and I decided on candles. 

 I don't have a double boiler. So I adapt.

To use the lotion candles,  light the candle and let a little melt and use that as a massage oil. Or scrape a little bit off the top with a small stick and use the lotion. This stuff is all natural and a little goes a long way. It's great for around your cuticles and extra dry skin.

What it means to be a Singing Princess Astronaut

  This morning The Peanut and I were playing. She said, "Mommy, I'm a princess that is asleep. You have to kiss me to make me wake up. I'm Cinderella." I told her Cinderella was the one that had the evil step mom that locked her in the tower so she couldn't go to the ball. Snow White or Sleeping Beauty get put under sleeping spells.
  Peanut says, "OK. I'm Snow White. Kiss me awake." So I do. Then Peanut announces she's Cinderella. I'm the evil step mommy. I'm to lock her in the tower. I said, "And then your Fairy God Mother will come and help you get free?"
  Peanut says, "No. I don't need her to rescue me. I'm strong. I can do it myself!"


I love my kid.

Cloud Dough

  Two posts in one day! I just had to share this. It's so much fun.

Cloud Dough! I got the idea from Pinterest. Or maybe it was StumbleUpon. I don't know.  Anyhoo.

  The recipe I found was probably posted by a preschool teacher because her portions were huge. I scaled my down a bit.

Original Recipe

8 cups flour

2 cups baby oil

This amount would be great for a sensory table/center. 

My Scaled Down Recipe

2 cups flour
8ish tablespoons baby oil

Just mix in enough baby oil so the flour sticks together when you form a ball.

See, the dough is still crumbly but holds its shape when molded.

Not only does it smell good, it feels silky. 

An egg! 

A note: I would not recommend this to kids under the age of three. Unless they are good about not putting things in their mouth. Baby oil isn't exactly non-toxic. Teachers, this really is a great sensory experience. I would put out things you can use to make molds. Cookie cutters, plastic Easter eggs, cups, whatever. 

Butterflies in the sky!

The Peanut and I made a pretty butterfly mobile. She's very proud of how pretty it is. We made coffee filter butterflies. Then Peanut found a cool stick and said we should hang our butterflies on it.  So I did. Then I hung the new mobile on her ceiling. Voilá, instant spring! 

On Geekery and It Getting Better

  Watching a talk show about bullying got me thinking about my childhood and my hope's for The Peanut's childhood. (The fact that I just admitted to watching a daytime talk show is a completely different story)

Sometimes

I love my Peanut, that I get to stay home and take care of her, that I get to see her do all her amazing/wonderful/silly things.  

But sometimes I wish I could be alone for an entire day. Sometimes I just want her to let me do  what I need to do without having her right on top of me. Sometimes I want to go to the bathroom without "company." Sometimes I want to read a book without pictures and not have to stop to get a glass of juice. Sometimes I want to have a day that doesn't depend on the mood of another being. 

Then the guilt washes over. Sigh. 

Play time.

On this day.

Peanut and I watch some Sprout together this morning and a commercial for cake pop pan came on no less than 17 times. Peanut decided we NEEDED one. Instead, we are making our own cake pops. The Red Velvet cake is baking right now. Tonight we will start making up the pops. Pictures coming soon.