Elmer (Book and craft)

Elmer is an elephant.  Elephant starts with the letter E.  That fits into our theme for the week.

Elmer is a great book for kids.  Everyone is different and that's the story of Elmer.  He is not happy with how he looks.  No one looks like him.  Why does he look like the way he does.  

This is a great book to discuss with your child how everyone is different and really it's ok.  Being unique is what makes the world so interesting.  Being different is an open invitation to possibly learn something new.

Our craft for this book was a milk jug, glue and tissue paper.  I cut the tissue papers, and milk jug.  Then you glue the tissue papers to the milk jug in whatever pattern you like.

Mummy (craft)

  When it comes down to it decorating is fun.  Arts and crafts are fun; so why not combine the two when you can.  What makes your decorations good are making them yourself.  This cuts down the cost and opens up the door to so many possibilities.  What's even better is its free if you can manipulate what you already own to create crafts or decorate.

  We worked on a couple mummies.  The kids were able to make them by alone with little help from me.

  For both of these crafts you will need toliet paper.  Everyone should have this supply on hand and you can still use some of it off one project if need be.  (Just in case it's an issue that your using it.)

We decorated our door first.  I started this last year with a snowman and it just kind of makes you smile when  you see a decorated door.  It is an inside door so it lasts for as long as you want since it's avoiding the outside elements (that's something to think about in your future door decorating)

  Just randomly criss cross your toliet paper across the door.  I used tape to secure it every once and awhile.  Of course add some eyes to it peeking out for more personality.

  The next mummy we made we all had our own empty toliet paper roll and toliet tissue.  Take shreds of the paper and glue them to the tube.  Shreds make it more realistic and don't worry about covering the whole area.

  Add some eyes and lips if your my kids.  Each mummy should represent itself don't you think?  I guess mine is a boy as it doesn't have eyelashes like my daughters.

  They make cute little easy to make projects and as cheap as they are you can make a dozen to decrate your house.  These would make a great Halloween project for kids.

Fall Bucketlist

I don't need to make a bucketlist I have children.  The children are always submitting their requests to me.  Each season and even regardless of the season.  Sometimes they try to use the season as an excuse to request something or go somewhere.  

I like to take it easy when the season changes.  I don't need to run out the gate to a pool on the first day of summer.  Nor do I need to build a snowman when winter hits.  There will be plenty of time to do it so there's no point of stressing with a list.

  What I would like to do this fall in no specific order.

1.  Go to ColonialWilliamsburg. I have been several times but never during Halloween time but they have some amazing wreaths to look at.

2.  A corn maze would be fun for everyone

3.  Last year I went apple picking and that was a fun experience for my little ones.  I would love to check out the trees again and of course the donuts and cider are just a bonus.

4.  Carve a pumpkin.  This year we picked up a dremel so let's see what happens with that.

5.  Visit some more state parks and check out those leaves!

There I have made a list.  One I may or may not follow but it's there for bragging rights.  Fall is all about leaves, apples and pumpkins.  I promise I will partake in viewing or consumption of all the appropriate fall season necessities.

Does drinking pumpkin lattes count?  If so strike that off a bucketlist because I have nailed it.

Meal Plan 10/17-10/21

  Even if you are not following my weekly meal plans do you have your own plan?  How do you decide?  I know some people have a specific day they have a certain meal (taco Tuesday)  Some people plan their meals based on the sales circulars.  Do you continue to make the same meals?  How often do you challenge yourself to a new recipe?

  I look on the Internet for most of my meals.  Sometimes I go to a specialty page and scan for a recipe other times I just make a generic search for porkchops recipes.  I do however shop before I pick my menu.

  My small list of regular necessities are dairy items, cereal, fruit, meat/fish, pasta, beans and veggies.  After that I let loose in the store and grab whatever to create.  I usually shop for the month.

10/17 pasta
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/52130/cheesy-pasta-alfredo-with-salmon/

Sauce
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/214183/quick-alfredo-sauce/

10/18 Meatless
http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com/zucchini-burgers/

10/19  Chicken
http://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/2014/04/fiesta-ranch-chicken-pasta-bake.html?m=1

10/20 Ground meat (this for me is usually turkey)
http://www.food.com/recipe/yes-virginia-there-is-a-great-meatloaf-54257?nl

10/21 Leftovers

  What are your plans for the week?  I'm hungry just thinking about it.

Weekly Recap 10/9

  Well I'm grateful the week ended better then it began.  A week ago hurricane Matthew was head up the coast, and then he wasn't.  We received a ton of rain and lost power.  Thankfully we had a birthday to celebrate which gave us more of an excuse to use candles.

  I was able to finish one book, complete my new book club book and start on a new one!

   

The weekly menu was a success with 1 new recipe.

Spinach Ricotta Rotolo

School for little man was hit and miss this week due to errands and appointments on multiple days.  So I will pick that back up next week.

2 crafts in one week compliments of the Dollar Store.

Completed the week with a movie!

I am grateful for having found time for myself as well as trying new things.  I look forward to what is in store for me next week because you know even when you plan, something unexpected always happens.

A Boo Craft

  Time on my hands and a desire to craft and make decorations for Halloween had me whip up a ghost.

  First up is another dollar store craft.  It started with a small plastic gourd.

  Paint the gourd white

 and apply your face.

I used a sharpie but any marker should work as long as you wait for the paint to dry.

  I thought he needed some flair so I tore up some toilet paper and glued it around the bottom of him.  I tried a coffee filter first which didn't look that bad uncut it gave the appearance of a ballet dancer.  Tissue paper or hek if you paint your ghost grey, newspapers would look neat.

  I have thought of many possibilities for him.  He could have holes drilled in him and make a neat banner, float them off your overhead lights over your table or you could even hang him outside cautiously.

  This is a neat and fast way to make a unique ghost.  Another dollar store craft to save some money and decorate for Halloween.

Boo.

Wipe Your Feet Here (DIY doormat)

Today I was feeling extra motivated and completed a few crafts and this DIY mat.  I love looking at DIY projects but they are not all created equal. I promise you this one is pretty easy and cheap!

I picked up everything from dollartree. This doormat cost me $4.  I do not sew hek maybe I can't sew so this mat is glued together.  So technically if you did sew it would be even less.

Gather your supplies.

     

Choose your mat.  I picked one without ridges so the leaf would adhere to it easier.

        

  In my store there were only two patterns to choose from.  Leaf it is which is fine for the whole fall season.

                    

  Next like I said I do not sew so I needed some strong adhesive.  I already knew how I was going to use the mat so consider that when you decided what you need.  I used glue dots and a sticky all purpose sticky glue.  The glue is sold in a 3 pack along with the glue dots in the craft section.

  I applied glue dots sporadically along the perimeter of the leaf.

  I then used the glue along the whole outline of the leaf.

I thought of placement prior to the glue application.  Did in want it off center, diagonal or in the center.  Since I was not adding anything else to it including words I just placed it in the middle.

  This is a very thin door mat.  It could be used outside or inside but this is not weather resistant.  I'm not sure it would even be vacuum resistant.   It would be great in the kitchen as long as you don't need the extra support.  Place it in front of a fireplace or bookshelf. I have actually put mine in front of my child's door.

  I am very pleased with the appearance.  That I didn't have to sew it and it looks nice.  At this point I am wondering how many rugs do I need.  These will be easy to put in storage on the off seasons so why not a few more.