Photo: Painting with Kool Aid

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

In Which I Use a Glue Gun and Only Burn Myself Four Times

  It's been quiet at Singing Princess Astronaut. This SPA has been busy moving. The husband got a new job, moving us about 15ish minutes away. The new place is pretty effing awesome. 450 square feet bigger, recently beautifully remodeled. I'm quite excited and am loving it. The packing and unpacking was a PITA, but oh well.

  Anyhoo. Glue gun. Fuck you, glue gun. I finally did the Valentine's Day project I've said I was going to do for the last 4 years.  With much adult supervision, Peanut made Valentine's Day picture frames. With exception the 3 very minor burns and one slightly more painful burn (conveniently located on the tip of my index finger, making typing so much fun!)  it was an easy project.

  All we did was hot glue some conversation hearts (you know, the awesome heart shaped candies that taste just like heart burn medicine?) to a picture frame, coat with a bit of Modge Podge, add some glitter and Ta Da! Pretty Valentine's gifts for the family!

Not pictured, my burnt finger

Stuff!  

Ta Da! 

Glitter makes it awesomer!

                   

It's OK to be a Girl.

 My Peanut has spent her day in touch with her girly side.  Last night she did her first project with her new sewing machine. Today she has watched Strawberry Shortcake, played with her Tinkerbell sticker book, and colored pretty pictures. All while wearing a cute skirt and top.  I made a comment to my husband that Peanut was being girly. He said, "There's nothing wrong with that"
  He's quite right. There isn't a thing wrong with being a girl. There's no reason to not like pink and lace and playing with dolls.  I socialize in many circles where being a girly girl is looked down upon. Like a girl or lady couldn't possibly be for equal gender rights if she likes to get her nails done and buy tons of shoes.
  I can't think of a single thing wrong with a woman CEO that likes to shop for adorable outfits or the gamer girl that collects Hello Kitty and only plays pixie healers cuz it's just cute!
  Personally, pink isn't for me. I rarely like sappy romantic movies, can't stand "Sex in the City" and have mild panic attacks if I spend too much time in the American Girl store. But I looooove shoes. I enjoy getting dressed up and looking cute on occasion.
  So I say, Ladies, go out and look adorable. Let your daughter play with a Barbie and pink Legos. Just don't forget to make sure your little girl knows she can do what ever she wants!

Here's The Peanut with the pillow she made! She insisted her new battle ax be part of the photo. 

The Smells of the Season

  Nothing reminds me of Christmas and specifically my childhood Christmases more than the smell of nutmeg.  It reminds me of sprinkling nutmeg on my eggnog, surreptitiously adding a splash of brandy while a cousin watched out for the adults. Then hanging out in the basement with all my cousins while we played with all our new stuff wearing all our new clothes tags still attached.
  What about you? Do you have a specific smell that reminds you a special time?

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.

It's all about love.

  Sometimes motherhood is not showering for days, never going to the bathroom alone, and watching the same episode of Kipper 42 times in a row.
  Other times it is wearing a Gary the Snail headband to the grocery and not caring that people are staring.

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. 

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.