The Raven...And the Skeleton... Haloween Decorations

Inspiration: The sparkly raven that I found in the bottom of a box of holiday decor...Some empty milk jugs...Family over for chili dinner Friday night...

End of Day: Snapped off some branches from dying trees in our backyard...Hot glue gunned on the raven and some random leaves and left the glue gun drippings everywhere to resemble spiderwebs....Found the skeleton idea via familyfun.com (Get the magazine and love the ideas from there). DH and I cut up the skeleton parts and then the kids painted the skeleton with "glow in the dark paint" and the 5 year old helped "thread" him and hang him. Unable to get a good picture, but he (the skeleton) looks fantastic. 2 year old Bear was absolutely thrilled with the results through-out dinner since I hung him right outside the bay window that overlooks our dinner table. He kept looking out and mock screaming!:)

Tip for the Day: I also used some of the glow in the dark paint to splotch up their halloween costumes... The stuff is basically clear in daylight but sure looks cool in the dark! I painted around the edges of Peanut's cape and back, trunk and feet of Bear's Elephant costume. Safety first! Then the kids painted some white gourds... I am placing them (the painted gourds) on the front stoop of the house around the pumpkins and also a paper mache "skull" I scored at Micheals for 50 cents which is now eerily glowing in the first floor bath room. We are all big fans of glow in the dark paint right now!)

Pantry and Spice Cabinet Remodel....

Inspiration: One large bag of animal cookies all over the floor and late night tv: https://www.buyswivelstore.com/?mid=1306025 (You get two for one here).. I bought at Target and only got one:(

In A Day: At almost 2 years old, I think that my youngest practically eats his weight in food daily! He has subsequently learned several skills which enable him to stuff his mouth frequently, the most annoying of which, is how to jimmy the child-proof lock on the pantry. It is not at all unusual to walk into the kitchen and find him cheeks stuffed and surrounded by the detritus of immature box opening skills. The other night, he pulled out a bulk bag of animal crackers and subsequently spilled the entire thing all over the dirty kitchen floor! I'm not sure who was sadder about that turn of events. Finally, I came to the conclusion that I had to move the temptations up higher and also give us some semblance of order. While I was at it I attacked the cabinet I use for extra spices and baking supplies. I found a bunch of organizing stuff shoved in the garage to include the recipe file I ended up using for my "sauce mixes", hollandaise, chili seasoning, etc. and soda boxas which I used for storing canned veggies and soups, and the old bottle drying rack which I used for sippie cup parts (could also be used for storing measuring spoons etc?).

Supplies:

Pantry Before:

After Pantry:

Before Cabinet:

After Cabinet:

Tip For the Day:  On the pantry's new out of reach snack shelf (second from top) I labled a tupperware container "snack mix" and into it dumped everything we had partial bags/ half empties of (whole wheat pretzel sticks, fishy crackers, bunny grahams and crasins). Have been letting the kids snack on that in between other snacks and they both love it. Will dump misc stuff in there rather than dealing with half open fishy cracker bags going stale or other waste.

If Your Kid Wants a Puppy...Peanut's New Bedroom

Inspiration: Circo Happy Flower Bed Skirt Found on Target Clearance Aisle for $4.99!

Every Night, since we have moved into our new house, Peanut and I have discussed how she would like to decorate her new room. Her dad and I take turns with nightly  "talking time" and besides reviewing the events of the day and making up songs and stories, we discuss one of mommy's favorite subjects...decor. Her old nursery was fully decorated with fairies etc, and at first she wanted the same deal but after thinking it through she had three ultimate requests; 1) a puppy, and if a reall puppy is not forthcoming she wants a painted puppy; 2) pink, and yellow are her favorite colors; 3) she likes the sky and big butterflies. I based the color  theme off of the bedskirt I found on clearance, the Ikea leaf, and the spendy Target Shabby Chic curtains I was completely unwilling to part with (hence the blue back ground). Both Peanut and DH helped me with the base painting and all in all it took us two days to complete. I used her old fairy quilt which had a lot of turquoise and purple in it ; I just turned it  upside down!

Tip For The Day: I printed small color photos off the internet of the bedskirt and leaf and trimmed a swatch off the curtains and taped in a notebook I have been keeping of all design ideas for various rooms. I took this and Peanut with me to pick out the colors. Low fume paint for kid's rooms is several dollars more per gallon but probably worth the cost: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/10/affordable_low.php

Walking on Water

Inspiration: My Aunt

In a Day: How cool is this? My Aunt was recently laid off and took a PT job at a local "Fall Festival" which boasts among other fun stuff, the chance to walk on water. We figured...Why Not? The kids had a blast... My husband is still upset he didn't spring the $8 to try it himself (2 for $15- http://www.flatacresfarm.com/). See below pic and add this to your bucket list!

We also had a blast buying reasonably priced multi-colored kettle corn and italian meatballs on sticks, picking out pumpkins and playing in the, included in admission, "corn cribs" and "snake" mazes designed for little ones....

Tip for The Day: (paraphrased from Parents Magazine Sept 2008): Keep Your Promises- It is all about trust. When I am a teen-ager, you may understand why this is so important!

Ghostly Visitors Make Some New Friends

Inspiration: Empty Grolsch Beer Bottles;  Closed Garage Doors and Beautiful Fall Colors

In any Given Week: We have lived in a large suburban cul-de-sac for over a year now, and in any given week, I think we see maybe two neighbors. I guess it is the culture we live in that has created a world where the most you do is drive into your garge and quickly close the door; waving at the neighbors only if they see you. God forbid, they have their garage door open at the same time as you do! My daughter on the other hand, is desperate to meet the neighbors, as am I. This is why we moved to a cul-de-sac. I want someone to keep and eye on our house and kids and vice versa. I want to be able to walk down the street on a sunny day and have a good conversation. I want to feel safe letting my kiddos ride their bicycles out front. So Peanut and I decided to make some friends for some new friends. We used recycled "Grolsch" beer bottles from our family reunion, kleenex ghosts, and fall leaves from our yard. Then we went around the neighborhood and gave the bottles out. We also made some special cards shaped like pumpkins out of orange construction paper and practiced our writing skills writing our families name. We met some new people, and re-aquainted ourselves with some old.

Tip For Today: Grolsch beer bottles have leak proof reusable stopper lids, and also make excellent containers for carrying home-made salad dressing or home made vinegars as hostess gifts!