Traditions

Since our oldest son was a toddler we have had friends come over IN THEIR PAJAMAS to read Christmas stories. Our oldest son is now 15 and this has become one of our most loved holiday traditions.

There are no fancy clothes or fancy food and kids are definitely invited. At first the guests (especially the adults) might be shy about wearing their pajamas—but we insist. We sit around reading Christmas stories, drinking hot chocolate, sometimes we do a craft(decorating gingerbread houses and making gift tags are a favorite), and we eat a few simple snacks. It is such a special way to spend a cozy and relaxing evening with friends. We enjoy listening to our friends favorite Christmas books and as some of the children have gotten older they enjoy reading the stories also. I can’t say enough about how special the evening is for us. It is a moment in this busy time of year to slow down and remember what the Season is about!

When we moved to Germany I met my dear friend Wendy who was also having these parties. Her sister Tara has written some wonderful invitations. I “borrow” these poems and then make a theme around the invite. This is one of my favorite, The Polar Express.

We would like for you to join us for

a Christmas tale

We’ll gather for a story about a

little sleigh bell

We’ll be in our pajamas so that’s

how you should dress

All aboard headed north on the

Polar Express

Your time and date

Please bring your favorite Christmas

story to read!

Invitations can be made by layering holiday papers and adding a jingle bell at the top

The best thing is we can always elaborate on the theme and change it up. Next time I use this I want to make jingle bell wreaths. Family Fun has cute jingle bell bracelets to make. The possibilities are endless. Party favors would be cute sent home in a bag clipped with this jingle bell clip.

So warm up some hot chocolate and invite some friends over and relax and enjoy some special family time. A sweet little 4 year old said it was the best party she had ever been to. Now that is a pretty good endorsement when you have been to a “princess” party before!

Breakfast with Santa

 

For six years now we have hosted “Breakfast with Santa” for our son’s basketball team. 

I try to make it look special from candles on the table to hanging stars from the chandelier.

I hot glued three candy canes together to make an easel to hold each of the boys names for place-cards.  We drink hot coca out of Santa mugs and I let these rowdy boys use the fine china for such a special occasion!

We eat pancakes, bacon and sausage ——and a few snowman doughnuts. Mini powder sugar doughnuts with a candy corn nose and candy eyes (from the cake decorating store).

Usually we make a craft but this year I couldn’t resist playing “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” with these fifth grade boys.  Santa graciously agreed!

Santa takes a photo with each boy

Hands out a small gift to each boy

In the past Santa has read “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  This year Santa was so fabulous he said the entire poem from memory.  He also reminded the boys how lucky they were, to be good, listen to their moms (thank you Santa) and remember those who don’t have as much. 

I’m thankful these boys still go along and just lose themselves in the magic of the morning!

Hooded Towel Tutorial

I made this hooded towel for Christmas for my little girl. It is a really simple and quick project made from 1 bath towel and 1/2 of a hand towel.

Cut your hand towel in half

Fold over the finished edge of the hand towel. I folded down just past the ribbing. You want to have about 10 1/2 inches in finished length. Stitch down the edge.

I stitched a little ric -rac to the front.

Fold hand towel in half right sides together, find the middle of the side and mark with a pin.

Bring the folded edge into the middle. You may have to remove the pin while you adjust the towel.

Stitch across the bottom edge making sure you catch all layers of the pleat. When finished stitching, zig zag or overcast your seam to prevent raveling. When you are finished the right side will look like this.

Fold the bath towel in half, right sides together.

Measure over 3-4 inches from the fold and 3-4 inches down from the top and stitch.

Open bath towel flat and open and flatten the tuck. You can baste across the tuck if you want.

The front of the bath towel will look like this when finished

With right sides together, line up center of bath towel and center of hood.

Pin hood to bath towel. You will stitch from the side edge of the hood across to the other side. Be sure to back stitch when starting and stopping to reinforce the seam. I stitched close to the edge along the inside of the towel’s finished edge. (I have not stitched in the following photo)

The finished towel looks like this

Now that it is finished I am wishing I had added another row of ric- rac or that I could find the darling pink towel with rainbow ribbing I originally purchased for this project!

I am still here

I decided I really should have been blogging about my last month. I don’t know if you would be shocked, amazed or horrified. There was the worm costume made the night before the school book parade for Halloween,

hippie costumes for 5 (sneak peek of one little hippie),

packing and moving more stuff than 5 families could ever need, coughs, colds, painting miles of trim, painting walls, two birthday parties, homemade pumpkin cheesecake with chocolate ganache instead of the pecan praline, 4 dozen homemade rolls, 11 pounds of sweet potatoes, and the list goes on and on!

Things are still a mess around here, but a girl has got to craft! First up a hooded towel for my little girl.

On my list:

Spa Wraps, felt food, Advent Calendar, gift tags, homemade Irish Creme……..

We will see what actually gets done………………………………….so many crafts so little time!

Thanks so much for all of the kind comments.  Your support means so much to me!

Halloween Party Games

Here are some of my favorite party games for Halloween.

Blow the Ghost

Make a ghost by covering a cotton ball with a tissue and tied with a piece of thread around it’s neck. Tape a one inch piece of straw to the top of the ghost’s head. Make two of these so you have two teams playing against each other in a relay. Thread a very long string through the straw. Attach each end of the string to a chair. Pull the chairs apart until the string is tight. Divide class into two teams. Each team member will get on their knees and with a 3 inch piece of straw blow the ghost to the other side. Next team member will blow the ghost back until all members have had a turn.

Witch’s Stew

You will need at least one cut out shape for each member on each team and two plastic cauldrons. I used our school die-cut machine and made spiders, black cats, owls and frogs. Divide the class into two teams. Each member needs a 3 inch piece of straw. Give each team a pile of shapes (ingredients for the stew). One at a time a team member, using a 3 inch piece of straw, will suck up a shape, keeping it on the straw, walk quickly to the other side of the room and drop the shape in a black cauldron. Once the shape is in the cauldron the next team member can go. First team to have all members take a turn wins.

Sweeping witches

Each team needs a witch’s hat, a broom, and a large sheet of newspaper crumpled in a ball. Space three or so chairs apart in a line for each team. Each member will have to sweep the crumpled ball of newspaper in and out through the chairs while wearing their witch’s hat. They go down and back and then give the hat and broom to next person until all members have gone.

The best party filler when you have played all of the games, eaten the food, finished the craft and YIKES you STILL have 10 minutes left. Play human tic tac toe. Set out nine chairs. Divide the class (easiest if you do boys against girls). They play tic tac toe by each taking a turn sitting in a chair until they have three girls or boys in a row. If they are older don’t allow them to tell each other where to sit.

Anticipation

This Saturday is the Halloween party that I look forward to all year long.  I love Halloween, the costumes, the decorations, the tricks and treats! However,  my friend Missy loves it more.  In fact this holiday is somewhat her speciality!  Each year she hosts an amazing party.  Each detail is painstakingly planned and beautifully executed.  It is truly a fabulous evening.  I thought I would show you some  of her handmade party decorations.  I hope you will find them as inspiring as I do. 

She decorates a table especially for the kids.  I can only imagine that the kids must  feel like they have stepped into paradise.

A wonderfully decorated cone brimming with goodies dangled from each chair

A darling paper mache  cat favor box sat at each place

The adults sat down to dinner at this spooky but beautiful table wrapped in gauze

Our favors were held in this unbelievable mummy topped box

We dined underneath her chandelier that she had filled with black twigs, ghosts and then wrapped in gauze

She sends an invitation that sets the tone of the party and gets everyone excited. This paper clay tombstone was found standing at our door inviting us to the party.

 I love to sit at dinner in this stunning environment with good friends and enjoy their company and the fun of the season. Each year I look forward to the unique favors and decorations she has made.   Missy is so talented and creative and so generously bestows her gifts on her friends.  So if you can’t tell, I can’t wait for Saturday night!

Halloween Treats

I made these pencil pops for my daughter’s bake sale at her preschool.  I think they would make really cute (and easy) favors for classroom parties at school also!

I know, a little cheating since no baking is involved! I used Almond Bark in chocolate and vanilla purchased from the grocery store. I found the plastic molds, pencil pops, bags and candy melting discs in orange at my local cake and candy supply. 

 

Melt the chocolate (I know this is NOT chocolate) in the microwave.  Do not overheat.   I melt it for a minute at first and then 30 intervals until smooth and melted.  I work in small batches melting only what I think I need to fill the molds.  The chocolate can easily be re-heated.  Place the plastic pencil pops in the molds.  Spoon melted chocolate into jack-o-lantern mold and ghost mold and refrigerate for about 15 minutes.  The suckers will easily pop out of the molds when thoroughly cooled.  One pound of orange candy disks makes 11 pumpkins.  One package of vanilla almond bark will make about 24 Ghosts.

Melt about 3-4 squares of chocolate almond bark.  Place slightly cooled melted chocolate into a freezer zip-loc bag and cut a tiny hole in one of the bottom corners of the bag.  Gently squeeze chocolate out of the bag to embellish the jack-o-lanterns and ghosts.

I wrapped each sucker individually in a candy bag and then tied with ribbon.  I stuck all of the Pencil Pop suckers into a block of green Styrofoam covered with black paper shreds and placed in a plastic cauldron.

BOO!

Here it is, a Booing Poem Download. After many years I have decided this is the simplest way to Boo my friends. There is no need for them to make photocopies. Your friends just fill the cone with goodies and pass it from friend to friend. Now, there is one big problem——-those friends who refuse to pass the cone along because they want to keep it (you know who you are– hehe). I usually make about 5 cones to get everyone started and hope somebody passes one along.

I made a large cone out of black posterboard. I printed the poem on cardstock. I cut it out and glued a ruffle of orange crepe paper to the back. I backed the whole thing with a piece of poster board to make it more rigid. I hot glued the poem to the front of the cone. I embellished the top of the cone with a paper fringe I purchased at Hobby Lobby. I painted polka dots over the cone and added a touch of glitter here and there. I wrapped wire around a large dowel to make a curly handle and then attached it to the top of the cone. These are all just ideas for inspiration. You can make these cones however you want and with whatever supplies you have. You can also include a ghost cut-out if you want them to have something to hang in their window. It might be cute to hang a bunch of ghosts from the bottom of the cone so everyone can take one.

If you would like the Booing Poem with black letters  you can download this version.

Please let me know if you are not able to download the poem. Here it is if you would like to copy and paste.

Since this is the time for goblins and bats

Halloween spirits and ghosts and cats

Happenings are weird and witches make brew

The following are the things I wish for you.

May the only spirit you chance to meet

Be thee spirit of love and friends that are sweet.

May the only goblin that comes your way

Be the neighborhood phantom, the breeze takes away.

So by tomorrow, pick a friend down the street

And give to them a Halloween treat.

Fill this cone with goodies galore,

Then hang it on their front door.

You only have one day to do this, so hurry

Leave treats on their door and run in a flurry

As this cone moves along from friend to friend,

All good wishes go on and never end

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 

I have also made a sign instead of a cone.

I layered black cardstock, then a piece of brown paper sent through the crimper with some crepe paper fringe taped to the back, then the poem copied on cardstock. Punch two holes at the top and run a cord through the holes for hanging. I embellished the sign with a little glitter and a wooden pumpkin.

Boo Sign Download

Boo Sign Download with black letters

Guess Who?

A special guest appearance from KISS and the Flintstones

Halloween 2004

Halloween 2005

This year we are going to our favorite Halloween party as …………………..oh you will have to wait. It is a big secret!

Time for a break!

Actually I have already had a long unintentional blogging break –sorry! I am wanting you to know that I am still here—-thinking about you and wishing I was sharing ideas with you. We are in the process of moving and in the middle of our school fundraiser, so in order to keep it all together (if that is possible), I will take just a little more of a break from blogging. This is killing me because I have so many Halloween ideas to share —— games, parties, pictures of our family costumes, invitation inspiration and most important of all BOOING. Please DO NOT buy those pre-made boo kits at those large retail stores!! Just hang tight and I will share some fun ideas for booing! You know we are all about the ding and dash!

Puppy Love

You can scamper on over to Anna Maria Horner and get yourself some Puppy Love. She has a free download for this darling puppy applique.

To make this tote I cut 2 pieces 12″ X 14″ , 2 lining pieces 12″ X 14″ , 1 piece sew-in interfacing 12″X14″ , 1 piece for strap 8″ X 4″ (I used lining fabric for this), 1 piece for strap 24″ X 4″. First I printed out the puppy applique. Using Anna’s instructions I cut out the puppy using black faux suede. Place the front piece of fabric over the piece of interfacing, position the puppy on the right side of fabric. I sewed around the entire puppy with a machine blanket stitch. I attached a bow for the puppy’s collar. To make your straps fold fabric in half, press, then open flat. Fold each edge into the center, press, then fold in half. Stitch close to the edge down each side of strap. The bag goes together using Colorfool’s Tote Tutorial. I used a 1/2″ seam allowance on my tote. Notice I used two different sized straps. The shorter strap fits around the larger strap. The shorter strap keeps the bag closed while you carry the tote with the longer strap. When attaching the straps, place the shorter strap two inches in from each side edge on the back side of the tote (I made raw edge (end) of straps flush with raw edge of tote –on the tutorial they look like they stick out about an inch). Each end of the longer strap is placed three inches over from each side edge of the front of the tote.

This tote is for Elle, the most puppy loving little girl we know!

Shrimp Boil

A shrimp boil is one of my favorite parties —–no dirty dishes. This is also a completely portable party. My favorite spot is on the beach. When we have a large crowd, we borrow an extra turkey fryer or two. The following recipe uses 1 large 34 quart turkey fryer with a strainer basket that goes almost to the top of the pot. One pot serves about 10-12 people.

First cover your entire table with freezer paper, shiny side up. Let the cooking begin!

Printable Shopping List and Instructions

Fill turkey fryer about 2/3 full of water. Bring to a boil and add 2 pkgs of Zatarain’s spice mix, 1/4 – 1/2 bottle Zatarain’s Shrimp and Crab oil, 1 cup of salt and garlic. Boil for 15 minutes

Add potatoes, boil for 7-8 minutes

Corn goes in next for 5 minutes (if corn is frozen you might need to turn up the heat for a minute to get your water boiling again)

Add kielbasa, cook for 8 minutes

Add onions, and squeeze lemon juice into pot and then toss the lemons into the water, boil 3- 4 minutes (oops picture is wrong – add the garlic at the beginning!)

Add shrimp and cook 5 minutes or just until shrimp turns pink.

Turn off the heat, immediately pull basket from the water and let drain.

Pour contents of basket onto your freezer paper covered table

Serve with sliced baguette sprinkled down the table and bottles of squeeze butter, cocktail sauce and spicy mustard. Remember NO knives, forks, spoons or plates allowed! This is all finger food and condiments are squeezed directly onto the table! When finished just roll up the paper and give everyone a finger wipe!

Put on some Zydeco (zi-dee-coe) music and have a great time!

Back to School

I can’t believe summer vacation is over. My kids headed back to school today(well two out of three ain’t bad). I sent them each with a little hand lotion or hand soap  (on sale now at Bath & Body) for their new teachers and a note that said, “If I can give you a ‘hand’ this year, please don’t hesitate to call me,” and then included my home and cell number.

I just think this is a great way to start the year and open the lines of communication. This is our first year to have a man teacher. I was going to fill a work glove with candy for him, but I decided that since he has a sink in his room he would still probably appreciate some hand soap.

What could be s’more fun?

Today is National S’more Day so it is time to get those fire pits and camp fires burning. My boys and their friend were thrilled to celebrate a day early so I could take a photo.

Well lets just say we really didn’t need a fire. Our marshmallows and chocolate were having no problem melting in the hot Kansas weather. I know, it is just WRONG to build a fire when it is still 90 degrees at 9:00 P.M.

If you want to keep cool inside try these s’more candies. They were really quick and simple. The recipe can be found here. Next time I would just use chocolate chips.  I halved the recipe and it made 18.

Look at these awesome s’more cupcakes from Sew Darn Cute.

Feeling like you should eat more fruit?

TRACEY’S CARAMEL APPLE S’MORE

1 marshmallow

2 chewy caramels

2 green apple slices, about 1/2-inch thick

Skewer the marshmallow followed by the two caramels on the same roasting stick. Roast until golden. Slide concoction onto one of the apple slices, top with remaining slice.

— “S’mores, Gourmet Treats for Every Occasion” by Lisa Adams

Still want s’more fun? Try Hershey’s S’mores for more recipes, activities, crafts, and fun facts.

Happy S’More Day!

Thank you from Hope’s Heart

I received the following letter from Hope’s Heart —

Dear Cindy and all ‘sewers’,

What an incredible blessing the ‘silkies’ were to all the orphans! They responded in so many delightful ways. One little guy placed his like a hat on his head; one sensitive toddler covered his teddy bear with the ‘silkie’ and ‘tucked in’ the bear for a nap: one baby looked intently at the ‘silkie’ while touching it’s softness; one little one made a ‘bed’ out of it for her bear; and many just carried their silkies around enjoying the brightness and softness of them. For many, this may have been the first gift they have ever received!

Thank you so very much for blessing hundreds of babies and children. Your efforts and the love and prayers that went into making them will be cherished by the children. All the children received one, and we left the extras at the orphanages for new children or to replace any that might get lost or torn.

Enclosed are some photos I know you will enjoy. I will email any others I receive from team members. You can see a couple photos as well on the Hope’s Heart web site. Follow the link from the homepage about the trip.

Gratefully,

Judy
Hope’s heart Orphan Foundation

Thank you all again for making this possible. You helped to bring comfort and joy to so many orphans!

The Parade

It was a busy morning at our house before the Parade. It started off with breakfast for 23. What I had hoped to be a peaceful start to our thrilling day was instead chaotic and in reality had us all eating in shifts while intense work on our cannons was being done. Did you hear that? Cannons. Yes, we made air cannons that shot the candy out into the crowd. We had a few problems getting the generator to power all of the cannons, so things were a little tense for awhile. After a trip to Home Depot we had things under control.

The cannons were made from PVC pipe. Once they were made we (okay I had VERY LITTLE to do with the cannons —-but a huge shout out to Blake, Mark and George!) inserted them each into a carpet tube. The guys built a wooden stand to set the cannon on and then we (again I am using ‘we’ very loosely) nailed huge cardboard wheels to each side. We painted them and we had a Revolutionary War cannon—that worked!

We have had so much fun with the cannons. There was tons of “testing” going on around here. For the parade the cannons only needed about 15lbs. of pressure but my boys (I will include my husband in “boys”) quickly figured out that at about 100 lbs of pressure a potato could be launched OVER our neighbor’s house! If you would like to build your own cannon I wil be posting complete instructions later.

We used cardboard carpet tubes to construct the fort. The walls are supported by a brace that was screwed to the tubes. All cutting was done with a chop saw as these tubes are hefty! Flags were painted on cardboard than attached to the fort. The boys all wore baseball pants. Hot glued strips of white felt made the criss-crossed belts. Cardboard was cut into a buckle shape, painted and then hot glued to the boys’ dress shoes. One of the biggest feats of the whole float was getting 9 boys to all wear polyester baseball pants and dress shoes. A few of the boys wore three pointed hats while others sported a bandanna.

Mary’s group had a really great float also. It was colorful and fun. Their beach theme had them all lounging about sitting in front of a backdrop of fabulously painted surfboards.

They did a great job and I am trying to be very gracious when I say, “Isn’t it lovely that we TIED for first place.” Hmmmmm………

Happy Fourth of July

Setting our breakfast tables

Firecracker Party Favors

Before our Fourth of July parade we have a breakfast. I have been working on these paper firecracker party favors

from the July Country Living Magazine.

Mine will be filled with fireworks. They are (so far —notice I haven’t gotten that far) really simple to make.

You can download images from their site, here. I used vintage clip-art from this book.

In the news

There is an amazing story about a group of wonderful caring women who sewed and sewed tiny little comfort blankets for orphans in China. Working together this giving and talented group of women created 380 blankets. Because of their generosity 380 children will be comforted and be shown that they are loved. Each of these women in doing a small part has contributed to do something big—- to make a powerful difference in many many lives.   Never can we underestimate the power and potential  we have when we all work together.

Saturday my local newspaper ran an article on the Linus Blankets. The above is something I wish the newspaper article would have said. I also begged for them to take a picture of my nephew whom is stepping out in faith and his comfort zone to deliver the blankets. I begged for them to take a group photo of my nephew, with his grandmother who sewed, my sister-in-law who sewed and my gorgeous nieces who were adopted from China and who would have loved a silky while at their orphanage! I also begged for them to lay all the blankets out to make one large “quilt” so everyone could see the details and loveliness of each blanket.

I first saw the article online, which displayed a color photo. When I finally saw a print copy I realized to my disappointment the photo in the newspaper was black and white. It makes it very difficult to see what is stacked around me. My community will regretfully not see the beautiful colors and unique details of the blankets. So in the end I didn’t even care that they spelled my name wrong.

While the newspaper article was not what I had expected, YOUR GENEROSITY WAS MORE THAN I COULD HAVE EVER HOPED FOR OR EXPECTED! I am extremely sorry that in the chaos of the afternoon with 15 people in my living room I did not get the blankets spread out to take a photo for you! Please believe me that each one was special. You chose cute soft and silky fabrics. Some blankets had ribbons , ruffles or satin binding. Each one displayed beautifully the love it was made with.

Last Thursday after meeting with the newspaper reporter my nephew took the blankets and distributed them to the people traveling in his group. You will be happy to know each and every single blanket was fit into a suitcase and will be traveling to China next week!

My sister-in-law took some pictures.  Here is my nephew, Arthur.

Maybe you can see your blanket in this stack.

If the following two pictures are any indication——-the orphans will truly love these blankets!

Here is Grace gently caressing one.

Faith has found one with green “minky.”

Thank you again for making this all possible!

Let the games begin

Fourth of July is next week and our hands are busy at our house. We decided to join our neighborhood parade three years ago. Along with some friends we hastily threw together a decorated cart the day before the parade started.

We had a blast so last year we took a little more time. We turned two carpet tubes into red white and blue palm trees and sunk them each into a bucket of concrete. We strung a badminton net between the trees. The kids clad in their patriotic beach wear hit candy out to the crowd (okay a few spectators) with the badminton raquets. We were thrilled when we took first prize.

What it takes these days for us to participate in the parade,now with a title to uphold.

• One slightly scary ride home with more than 20 carpet tubes hanging (no I really mean hanging—-like so far out that we were in serious jeopardy of hitting on coming cars) out from the back of our truck.
• One hot Saturday, cutting and securing carpet tubes. I mean to tell you these things are the greatest!
• A PAINFULLY long trip to Lowe’s AND Home Depot to purchase and insane amount of PVC pipe, valves and levers.
• A late evening gluing PVC after the tiring trip to the store because no boy in my house could contain the excitement of what was to come. There is a new book out called Dangerous things for boys ———-we could have written it!
• Constant chatter about how this will all work.
• Lots of friends to help with the planning, building, painting, making and perfecting the float.

I figure we still have a day worth of painting and then we will be ready. There is another family (our main competition) that gets into this and has as much fun as we do. Mary, the other mom, has asked what we were doing but I tried to be very vague as I have been here incase she might hear about our plans. There are very few things I am competitive about. One of my kids loves sports and I leave it at that——-if we win great if we lose great. It really doesn’t matter. I am not a “soccer mom” but maybe a little bit (okay alot) “parade mom.” The parade, it matters and Mary she is going down!!

So as I hear giggles from the basement, the air compressor cycling on and off, blasts of air and hysterical laughter I pray that when my kids are old they will forget that they always had to hunt for clean socks and they will instead remember the parade.