Sunday Fun-Day

Look at what we are making today! Glow stick ghosts…

Our plan is to hang them outside of our store’s front door each night now until Halloween.

To create this ghostly creatures, all you need is:

White Balloons
Glow sticks
Cheesecloth
Black Marker
String

Activate your glow stick first.
We will be using glow bracelets.

• Place the glow stick in the balloon.

• Inflate and knot the balloon.
• Position the knot at the top of the balloon.

• Draw a face on the balloon.

• Drape the cheesecloth over the balloon,

• Cut a small hole and push the knot through.

• Secure with a string and hang so they can blow in the wind.

The test tonight is learning how long the glow sticks last.

 

Try this at your house and let us know how it goes.

Let Saturday Adventures Begin

Let Your Saturday Adventures Begin! Stop by Totally Kids fun furniture & toys today and take 50% OFF most kids furniture and ALL Toys. Just one mile west of the Mall of America.

 

Stephanie Lynn will show you how. to make some great signs to help begin your indoor adventure.

There are so many DIY inspirations for building a safe indoor firepit for the day. Full Home Living has 10 options for flameless smokeless fires.

Indoor Smores!!! Pop on over to Like Mother Like Daughter where Ellen and Aimee, the mother & daughter duo has the recipe for you.

Let your Saturday adventures begin.

SaveSave

You’re Framed

You fill in the blanks!

The possibilities are endless for what you can frame on your walls with this wallpaper aptly named “Frames”.

Go right ahead, put a photo, drawing, hang your blue ribbons,  paste on a little bling or use your creative skills and attempt to paint something in one of the frames. It’s simply up to you! You’ll love how interactive it is.

“Frames”  by Taylor & Wood for Graham & Brown  is only $50 per roll, so you’ll still have some cash left over for markers and paints.

What do you think? You’re Framed?

Where are We Today?

Somehow this week has raised the question of as women where are we today n 2018.

 

These are ads from the 1950’s.

Whew, her lucky day wouldn’t you say?

Shock and surprise.

From 1970…..

Gotta go, the televised update of the treatment of women in 2018 is about to begin.

Back to the Future

Social media, are you addicted, affected or connected? At one time the back fence was the pipeline and lifeline for neighbors. Where are we today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some old-timers remember when meaningful conversations took place around the dinner table. Family members found it an opportunity to catch up with each other and shared their day’s activities.

Now try to imagine this, there were homes that only had one telephone (landline) and it was not answered during dinnertime.

 

An article published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology speaks to how using your phone at dinner is not just plain out rude but also makes you unhappy. Technology at the table tends to cause people to feel more distracted and less socially engaged.

How often while dining out at a restaurant do we see a child acting out, and instead of engaging, a parent hands over a tablet or phone to distract the child with a game of baby leapfrog?

How does your family handle the once sacred family dinner, technology at the table or good old-fashioned human conversation?

 

 

Welcome Fall 2018

 

With the arrival of fall tomorrow and  Starbucks now serving their Pumpkin Spice Latte, are you ready for the season? This recipe for fun may put you and the kids in the mood. We have found a Pumpkin Latte Playdough for your little ones that just may become a new autumn classic at your house. Dinosaurs and Octopuses have the recipe for fun this week.

Here it is:

Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp cream of tartar
1/3 of the jar of pumpkin pie spice (the tiny jar)
maple extract
vanilla extract
food coloring

Combine the dry ingredients and the oil. Slowly add the water. Add a few dashes of each of the extracts and a few drops of red and yellow food coloring. Cook over medium heat, stirring until stiff. As it mixes you can see if you’ll need more food dye. Adding a little at a time until the desired color is achieved. Turn out onto wax paper. The pumpkin pie spice was too spicy by itself, for my liking. The extracts make it smell sweeter, just like a pumpkin pie. Sniff the dough. Does it smell too spicy? Add a little bit more extract and knead it all together. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it’s too dry, add a few drops of water.

Betsy, you must give this a try for Katherine.

Anyone looking for a copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Latte recipe? Give this one from the Kitchn a try!

Pumpkin Spice Latte
makes 1-2 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin or 1 teaspoon of Torani Pumpkin Spice Syrup (your choice)
2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute – you can halve this amount
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1-2 shots espresso (about 1/4 cup of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee if you don’t have an espresso machine.)

Directions:
In a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin, and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. If you don’t have a blender, don’t worry about it – just whisk the mixture really well with a wire whisk.

Pour into a large mug or two mugs. Add the espresso on top.

Optional: Top with whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top.

Words for Wednesday

Start Baking

Start baking!

Whether it’s for a bake sale or afternoon tea, wow your guests with these
easy slice and bake cookies. Create, bake in one of our ovens, and serve up! The set includes a dozen wooden cookies, a dozen wooden mix and
match decorating pieces, and toy wooden kitchen utensils.