Recycling Crayons

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Kerri

You and I, we have a common problem.


Let's admit it...we both have crayon nubs littering our art bins that we keep pushing aside for the bigger, better versions of themselves.

Well, my kids and I decided to do something about it. We reinvented the wheel, or...uh...our crayons.

First, we sorted all our crayons to find all the nubs and removed their paper.

Next we sorted them into the colors of crayons we wanted. We kept some true to color, and made 4 crazy rainbow ones, putting some of each color in 4 piles. We put all these into muffin tins. (Non sprayed, non treated. We used silicon and metal, and while both worked fine, the ones in the metal tins came out a tinsy bit easier, and the silicon was harder to clean. Just note to self.)


Meanwhile, we had preheated the oven to 350, so when our crayon piles were ready we put them in the oven then turned the heat off to let the crayons melt. We kept our eyes on them, and when they turned a bit soupy (15 minutes or so) we took them out...

...And immediately placed them in the freezer. When they were completely cooled, we turned them upside down and out they fell! (Another note to self: do it over a towel to cushion their fall...otherwise they will crack) And TA DA! Our new amazing recycled crayons!

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Family History told by Kids

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Sunny

Have you told your children stories about when you were growing up? Do they know what you were like as a kid? How do they picture you as a young person?

Check out how some adults are re-telling their family stories. First they tell the stories to their own children, and then have them tell the stories back. That becomes the narration of a film . . . here's episode 2 (of 5 so far).

Now this is home video that's entertaining! Of course there are hours and hours of planning, filming, and editing involved, so they won't be getting any competition from me. The productions are getting bigger and bigger, and they're now even showing the latest episodes in local theaters! FAAACTT! (That's a quote from Episode 4.)

I cut and pasted this paragraph from an article about them in their semi-local newspaper.

The brothers confirmed that a sixth episode is complete and likely slotted for release in early September. The first episode of a new series that is "musical in nature" and "teaches a lesson in a comedic manner" will be released. As they did with episode five, they are planning a premier event at a theater. Learn more about "Kid History" by visiting their facebook page.

Wish some of our family stories could be told this way! We have some highly entertaining material . . . and 4 or so Real Dads and a growing number of kids that I can already imagine being hilarious on screen.

Last minute news--Episode 6 just released! And on a topic, as a mom, that hits home more than ever . . . See below.

And just in case you are now so inspired by this short film, here are the links to our lemonade stand and green smoothie posts!

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Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Janae

I was so excited the other day when I stumbled upon this recipe. I have longing for a substitute for microwave popcorn since I've never been able to find a brand that isnt' chuck full of chemicals and partially hydrogenated oils. I knew that plain corn kernels were plenty good for you, but I don't have a popcorn popper and the stove method just seemed too time consuming when microwave popcorn was so convenient.

This recipe gives you the best of both world and works great!

Brown Bag Popcorn

2 tablespoons popcorn kernels (This recipe makes 1 serving. You can easily double it or more as needed, but no more than 1/2 cup per brown bag)

Directions:

Put kernels in a brown paper bag. Tightly make about 3 folds to the top 2-3 inches of the bag. Microwave for about 1.5 to 2 minutes, or until kernels have stopped popping.

Optional: Mist popped kernels with cooking spray (or melted butter or olive oil (your best choice)). Sprinkles on your favorite herbs and spices such as chili powder, cinnamon sugar, oregano, or parmesan cheese (pizza-style).

Our kids personal favorites: Cinnamon sugar and regular salt and butter. They ate it just as quickly as they would any other bag of microwave popcorn!

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Most Comfortable Sandal EVER!!

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Heidi

For years I have felt like I needed a foot massage at the end of the day. My sandals weren't painful or anything, and were made by well-known companies. But by the end of the day I'd find myself pushing against the soles of my feet.

Then came the Evil Sandals. Well, actually they started out pretty nice, but turned evil on me when the soles flattened out and each step was like stepping on a block of wood. My feet really ached and I knew I had to do something drastic.

For months I had been eyeing the advertisement for Sanuk yoga mat sandals at the store -- a photo of people dancing on yoga mats -- and imagining how good it would feel to walk on a yoga mat wherever I go.

So I finally "splurged" and bought the "expensive" sandals. Well, at least I thought I was going to splurg. It turned out they weren't even expensive; the price was relative to the sandals I had purchased previously! It was the best investment my feet have ever made!

The Sanuk yoga mat sandal has magic in its soles. I no longer feel the need to succor my soles at night, and even better, when I wear them, my feet feel like they've already been massaged. And they seem to get even more comfortable the more I wear them, so much that now I look forward to slipping them on.

I am telling everyone about these sandals, because, living in Hawaii, I have tried MANY different kinds of sandals, and I can tell you, from my experience, this is the Most Comfortable Sandal EVER!

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Preserving Your Kids’ Artwork

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Cheri

I have been keeping some of my girls' art creations (mainly drawings) over the past 5 years because I love the memories, and I love being able to show them how far they've come in their talents. However, if I tried to keep every single thing they've created, I would be drowning in papers. Do you know what I mean?

Instead of keeping everything, I keep only specific things. If it is their first time acheiving something, I keep it. For example, when my oldest started writing her letters, I kept her first attempts and the first time she wrote her name and the first time she wrote all the names in our family. Today, my three year old wrote her name for the first time (that I've seen) so that will be kept too. Or like when Laney drew her first picture that actually told a story, I kept it. Or when Noelle drew a person for the first time. You get the idea.

I also keep the things they are most proud of. All kids love to draw and color. But a lot of the times, they are coloring as an activity and don't really have an attachment to the end product. Every once in a while, they produce something spectacular that they are beaming with pride over. I keep those.

School is starting soon...not like I have any idea what I'm talking about since I have never had a kid in school. But this year, my oldest will start kindergarten (how I feel about that is a different topic). And I am anticipating that with kindergarten comes a lot of arts and crafts brought home. I know we're soon going to be up to our eyeballs in papers, glue, coloring, construction paper, etc.

So I got organized. I grabbed a large 2-inch binder, a bunch of sheet protectors, and all the artwork I've been saving over the last 5 years. An important note is that whenever I put something aside to save, I try to write the child's name on it as well as the date (specific or general) so we can look back and know when it was created. When I put them in the binder, I did it chronologically, from the first things we saved up to the present. I put one sheet per plastic sleeve if there was something to see on both sides. Otherwise, I put two pages back to back. Now it is my daughter's personal scrapbook of all her creations. And she LOVES to look at it!

Noelle has a lot less that we've saved. Not for lack of trying to preserve her creations, but because she usually doesn't let me keep them. Instead, she folds them up into "phones" or "wallets" and puts treasures in them. Or she wants to cut them up. Every so often, I can get her to let me keep a paper or two, which I know will increase as she gets more into creating. In the meantime, I still have her binder up and ready to be added to.

This has been a great solution for us and I'm excited for all the things she'll be bringing home from school.

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The “Talk It Out” System

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Kerri

When my cousin, David, was on a little league team, he and another 5 year old were both running for a ball. They bumped into each other and fell down. They both missed the ball. The next thing the parents on the sidelines knew, the two boys were sitting crossed legged across from each other. Wondering what was happening and what was holding up the game, the mothers of the two boys crossed the field. "What are you doing?" my aunt asked David.

"Mom, we had a problem, and so now we are talking it out."

Often when my kids have a problem with each other, I try not to get too wrapped up in the referee role as a mom, and lovingly invite them to go up to their (shared) room and talk it through, and come out when they are happy to be brothers again. It helps me not get too emotionally wound up in all the battles that happen throughout the day, helps them to manage their own conflicts and emotions, and work together to be happy members of the family.

When my son's kindergarten guidebook also suggested the Talk it Out system in his classroom, I was glad that we were on to something, and wanted to pass along this tidbit of discipline advice.

When your kids are upset with each other, they

1. Cool down. Take some time to cool down and think.
2. Walk up to the person and say, "Let's talk".
3. Go to the "Talk It Out" area, a quiet private spot, and sit down face to face.
4. Say, "I feel ____ when _____, so please ______." Explain exactly what action made you feel that way, and then give two choices for resolving the problem.
5. Let the other person talk. Listen to what they are saying.
6. Stay with it until you both agree on a solution.

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Book Recommendation-
My Grandfather’s Blessings, by Rachel Remen

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Sunny

Today on my walk I was listening to Rachel Remen's book My Grandfather's Blessings. This is actually my second time through it because it is packed with nuggets of wisdom and thoughts that need reflection, more attention that I could give it with the first listening. (Also, it is not a long book, and next week I'm attending a book group that is reviewing it).

book cover of My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Remen

My Grandfather's Blessings is a work of non-fiction about what Rachel Remen has learned in her life about being blessed by life and blessing others. It talks about service, feeling whole, how we see and treat ourselves and others, and many other insights into life.

One nugget I was reflecting on this morning is her observation on oysters. Oysters, she reminds us, are very soft creatures that need a hard shell to live in just to survive. Regularly, they open in order to be able to breath in water. Consequently, a grain of sand occasionally enters the soft part of the oyster as well. This grain of sand is painful as it rubs against the tender insides of the animal, but it will forever be part of her now. The oyster deals with this by coating the grain of sand to smooth its sides, and eventually, after time and effort, turns what was painful into something beautiful.

oyster with pearl inside

I hope that I can remember, the next time I feel that grain of sand scraping at my tender insides, that even though I can't make it feel good immediately, I can choose to start to turn it into something beautiful.

p.s. Turns out I listened to an abridged version, but someone at the book group gave me their copy, so now I'm gradually filling in the parts I missed. It's a great book for picking up and reading a short chapter, even out of order or months apart.

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An Easy Do-It-Yourself Tip for Stripped Wood

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Janae

Have you ever found that a hinge or screw has come loose, only to find that the wood that it has been screwed into is now stripped and far too large for the screw? If so, here is my number one Do It Yourself tip revealed to me by my father just 6 months ago. Since that time, I have fixed the shutters on my home, several doors, cupboards, outlets, you name it. If the screw doesn't fit anymore, this may be the best advice you've been given.

Supplies needed:

toothpicks

screwdriver

a few quick minutes

To help give you a visual on how to do this, I'll walk you through our last project. The hinges on our linen closet door had become loose. When I went to tighten them, I found that the wood surrounding the screws was burrowed out, allowing for absolutely no grip with the screws.

Here's the quick, but effective, fix that even a child can do.

Step 1: Place the end of a toothpick into the hole as far as it will go. Break it off as flush with the wood as possible. Continue adding more toothpicks until you have filled the hole. No need to to stuff it, but fill it completely.

Step 2: Using the screwdriver, drive the screws back into place. The toothpicks will provide a surface they can grip to.

Did you inadvertantly lose the screws over time? Sometimes, the wood has been so stripped for so long that you may have lost a screw or two before you even knew there was a problem. I've found that the toothpicks allow for a lot more leniency when it comes to replacing screws. I just find screws that basically fit and fill with enough toothpicks to give me a good grip.

Step 3: Done! All we had left to do was rehang the door.

Now, I said earlier that this project was easy enough for a child to do. This particular project was brought on when my 7 year old decided to kick the linen closet door when he was upset. Since he had caused the problem, I had him fix it. He did the whole project, from start to finish (besides removing and hanging the door, of course) by himself with me just describing the steps to him as I did above. It was simple for even him.

Good luck and happy fixing!

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Caked on Gunk–Gone?

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Cheri

I just came across the coolest thing I've ever seen which is a) a pan saver, b) a money saver, c) a time saver, and d) an earth saver. Does it get better than that!?

My muffin tins and jelly roll pans are pretty...gunky. You know, sprayed on, baked on, burnt on stuff that isn't coming off in this milennium. Imagine my delight when I read this post on Sugar Bee Crafts, which led me to this post on the Autocrat, which led me to this post on re-nest.com.

If you don't want to click thru all those links, here's the idea. Take your gunky pan, either fill it with warm water or put it in the sink (or bathtub?!) with warm water and toss a dryer sheet (or two if they are used) in with it. Leave it for a few hours or over night and the gunk de-gunks! Wow!

My favorite idea, after that one of course, is to SAVE dryer sheets after they've been used instead of throwing them away. Of course, you probably all save your old dryer sheets. But the post says that you can use old dryer sheets too to de-gunk. Someone else commented that they keep the dryer sheets to clean off their dashboard in their car. Genious. I'm going to start saving my dryer sheets today.

And I'm going to try out this de-gunking method...after we move and I unpack my gunky pans...

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Grilled Peanut Chops

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Kerri

Ahhh...So light...So tasty...So easy...So good

Prep: 15 minutes
Grill: 11 minutes

Ingredients
It may look like a long list, but it's really fast

1/3 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/3 Cup Pineapple Juice
2 Tbs finely chopped green onion (1)
1 Tbs Soy Sauce
1 Tbs Honey
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp dry mustard
Few dashes hot pepper sauce
1/3 Cup finely shopped honey-roasted peanuts
2 Tbs fine dry bread crumbs
1 Tbs toasted sesame seeds
4 boneless pork sirloin chops
4 ounces angel hair pasta

1. Make Peanut Sauce: In a small saucepan heat peanut butter until melted; gradually whisk in pineapple juice, green onion, soy sauce, honey, ginger, mustard, and hot pepper sauce. Set aside 2 tbs of the peanut sauce. Keep remaining peanut sauce warm.

2. Make Crust: In a small bowl combine peanuts, bread crumbs, and sesame seeds; set aside.

3. Grill Chops: Place chops on grill rack over medium heat and cook for 6 minutes. Turn chops; brush with the reserved 2 tablespoons peanut sauce. Sprinkle chops with crust mixture. With the back of a metal spatula, press crust mixture onto chops. Cover; grill for 5-7 minutes more or until chops are slightly pink in the centers and juices run clear (160 F).

4. Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Toss noodles with remaining warm peanut sauce. Serve with chops.

And Kerri's two cents: We didn't have the green onion or sesame seeds, and even by omitting these the recipe was delicious. We also subsituted 1/3 tsp mustard for the dry mustard. And we made extra crust mixture and sprinkled it into our pasta, giving it more flavor. We really like this meal. Just one of many from Better homes and Gardens New Grilling Book.

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