You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'kids' category.
This will have to be my shortest post ever. I was late making this weeks Tuesday’s with Dorie selection, Granola Grabbers (out of granola!) and now I’m rushing out the door for a one night retreat with my grad cohort.
Quickly. These were a hit with my kids. They grabbed them off while cooling and gave them a thumbs up– even from my daughter who normally tells me she doesn’t like cookies with nuts in them. I liked the almost peanut brittle flavor they have. I wish they had a bit less sugar so I could feed them to my kids kind of like a granola bar– but I might mess around with the recipe in the next couple weeks. These would be awesome for the lunchbox!
I especially like these cookies because my end product looked a lot like Dorie’s picture!
Check out more (longer) postings on the recipe at Tuesdays with Dorie. I’m off to recharge before my semester starts next week!
School is creeping up on us. My children are chock full of excitement this year, with little worries bubbling over here and there. Each day I glance at our calendar I see the very clearly written: First Day of School. As a teaching grad student, this means my summer is ending soon too, and I must mentally prepare myself to reenter this other world away from my children and their concerns.
So today we escaped to the beach.
Absolutely lovely. We packed up around lunchtime, eating a small bit before we left and packing more (and more) for the beach. We grabbed pails, books for me, some sunscreen. It’s a little trek for us, but a nice drive, and we stopped on the way to pick up some local plums and apples (the Gravensteins are in!) to add to our basket. I wasn’t sure if it would be as sunny there as it was at our house (and had packed layers in case), but it was perfect. A little breeze. Sunshine. Happy kids.
Mrs. Miniver- Perfect Beach Read
While they played in the waves, being chased and chasing them, digging holes (there really is no substitue for digging and filling a hole at the beach), I kept one eye on them, and one eye on my reading.
One of the books I brought to peruse was Nature in a Nutshell for Kids by Jean Potter, which I saw recommended at Soulemama (I think). I’ve persused A LOT of nature and science books for children, and done a good amount of projects with preschool groups, but I’m always looking for new ideas. Usually I find a few scattered projects in a book, but this one is overflowing with great small scale experiments and exploration, and has wonderful explanations that can easily be explained to children. While this book would definietly be appropriate for preschool age children (3+), it would also work for up to 8 years, at least. One of my favorite aspects of this book is that it divides the projects based on season, which is exactly how I like to introduce science concepts to children.
For example: it is summer, so I go to the pictorial coded summer section. I want to do a project with my children about the ocean, or beach to follow up on our outing today and some of our talk on the way home about how much water is in the world, and how many oceans there are. In 5 minutes I am able to locate at least 5 different quick projects. A couple of my favorites (that we will probably try tomorrow) are: Dense Dip: Why is it easier to float in the ocean than in a swimming pool? and Wind Waves: How are waves made?.
Which brings me to two other wonderuful things about this book! The projects are based out of questions that children ask (that I usually can’t answer– like today’s question from my daughter: “Where did water come from?”), and the projects are done using mostly things you can find on a nature walk or nature exursion, or around your house. For the two projects I mentioned I will need: a large cake pan, water, drinking straw, 2 bowls, food coloring, salt, spoon, and two eggs. I should also only need about 20 minutes to complete both explorations/explantions with my children.
Which is a lot shorter than it will take me to explain where water came from, so consider this my diversion tactic until I can get a handle on that one.
I suppose I should know better by now, but sometimes I don’t slow down enough to listen to myself. Clothing and patterns just aren’t made for me, and especially not clothing patterns for women in a Japanese craft book!
When I visited my dear friend Anna in Seattle (Anna, are you checking up on me here yet?) we reconnected over sewing and blogs. She has been making some of those lovely bibs from Angry Chicken’s book, Bend the Rules Sewing, as well as working on a quilt (a sewing feat I have steered clear of so far). Talking of how I happened into this world of blogging I told her the story of my friend with the Japanese craft books and then the links that followed via email. Sweet friend that she is, upon learning my love of those books (if you’re not familiar with them, check out these blog postings for more pics and info: mollychicken, weewonderfuls, or angrychicken) drove me (our kids in tow) across town to the Kinokuniya Book Store, where Japanese craft books galore were to be had. And have I did. As it was my birthday week when I was visiting I bought myself a couple that day. And then, yes, the truth must be told… I returned with my husband the following day on our way out of town for another stop and a couple more books. I know I overloaded, but I have promised myself no more until I sew from each of the ones I brought home.
Cover of the book
Feeling that sewing pressure, and anxious to crack open a book I decided to try an adult pattern from Dress made of My Favorite Cloth by Machiko Kayaki. I have sewn in the past a few outfits for my daughter (boy clothes books are not as inspiring, but i”m working on it) but I had never sewn from one for myself. I especially liked the look of this dress (okay, the sleeves were really what got me) and decided to give it a try.
the dress!
First I measured myself, and then try to align that with their measurement table to determine my size. That the sizing runs on the petit side cannot be stressed enough. But I estimated, adjusted, and began cutting. Most important for me is usually length. At 6′ 1″ most patterns don’t fit me, but I added about 3-4 inches of length to each piece thinking it would be enough. It was not.
As I didn’t have any of “my favorite cloth” I was using some nubby fabric I had bought a while back (probably with some project in mind at the time, long forgotten) and was attempting to try out my serger a bit more with this project. What I ended up with looks okay, but does not fit. The bust area is darted well above where it needs to, and the whole piece is much, much too short– the line that is supposed to fall below my bust, cuts it almost in half. In my serging I also lost some of the gathering, and it has rather a flat look. On the bright side it went together rather quickly. On the downside— I have already begun cutting it apart (it is lying in pieces as I type)– trying to salvage it but knowing that it may not be possible.
I do, however, still love the sleeves.
You will probably note a flurry of sewing in the next couple weeks. My semester starts the last week of August and I can feel my sewing time dwindling and so many unfinished projects still staring me down. I decided that I would dedicate this afternoon to finishing the lunch mats for my children. The decision to focus on the lunch mats was strenghened when I came across a picture of some lunch mats in one of my newest Japanese craft books:All Your Kids Need
I like the one on the top right
These are a slightly different set up than mine, and give me something to try another time. I see lots and lots of embroidery work here, as well as all over the blogs I’ve been reading, and perhaps I will give it a whirl one day. My favorite from the book is the one with the embroidered spoon and chopsticks to show where they go.
With that inspriation I began my work this afternoon. It was quick and easy sewing and I have finished them all! Five for each of my children, so that we may make it through the weeks with clean mats and napkins for their lunches. Hopefully I won’t fall behind on laundry this year!
Hers
His
It was in fact such an easy project that I decided to let my daughter sew one for herself. She received a sewing machine for her 7th birthday last January, but we have just carved out the time for sewing lessons starting this week. We had a basic lesson a couple days ago, and today we dived right into her first project. I helped her as I’m a bit nervous still to let her go at, but she did stupendously and will be on her own soon enough. Today I handled the iron, but I do need to give her a chance to try that soon.
My proud girl!
As I was sewing the rest of them I began playing around a bit- trying pinking shears on some for finishing, my serger on others (I’m still using the serger in it’s most basic way as I haven’t had time to explore it more yet). I tried out a snap and a tie on my son’s, but after having him try to undo and then redo them, I’ve decided that no clasp or closure will work better. Sometimes, simplest is the best.
Pinking Shears
serger action
Sticky buns! Who doesn’t love ‘em? Even I, very selective in the sweet breakfast foods I love (I’m not a donut in the morning kind of gal), love them! So…. having successfully baked the basic bread recipe from Artisan Baking (who by the way have their own site) I thought I should give their sticky buns made with challah bread a whirl.
They actually write their recipe to be made with either the brioche or the challah, but when I was mixing up the dough I only had enough eggs to make the challah, so challah it was. It really did mix up in minutes, then I left it on my counter while I wandered off to check email and read for a bit. Unfortunately, I had mixed this up rather late in the evening, and I found my self dozing off before the 2 hour rest time was up. Fortunately, even though I stuck it in the fridge after about an hour, maybe 90 minutes, it finished rising and doing its thing in my fridge! My kind of dough. I need a little forgiveness and flexibility in my live now and again.
Major drawback to this recipe–time. After your dough is ready (it can be used directly after the 2 hour rest period, or the next day, or the next… until 5 days later [and then, if you really can't get to it, you can freeze it]) it still takes approximately 2 hours before the sticky buns are ready to eat. That put a cramp in my plan to make these for breakfast for the kids, because, of course, when they wake up they want to eat within a half hour- tops– and I was not waking up 2 hours before them just to serve them hot sticky buns. I love them, but I also love my sleep. So a couple days later I relinquished my dream of sticky buns and tea with my children in the morning, and revised it into, sticky buns and tea after lunch.
Please don't count my pecans!
Why the two hours? After you make up the sugar coating for the bottom of the pan and sprinkle precisely 30 pecan halves (who is going to count that out? I did two handfuls of pecan pieces with no adverse affects–more forgiveness and flexibility), roll your dough out (to what size rectangle, by the way, was not noted and slightly irked my perfectionist side– it’s subtle but it does exist) and sprinkle the sugary, nutty goodness into it, and then roll and cut it into the rolls, the buns must still sit for 1 hour in the pan. Then they bake for about 40 minutes (mine took about 45). If I was an early riser and was puttering around the house anyway, this wouldn’t matter much, because the hands on time is not long (rolling the dough etc took about 15 minutes), but with two kids those type of mornings are few and far between. However, I could see a recipe like this being used quite nicely, on say, Christmas morning.
Whatever my reservations about this recipe, it was delicious, and well worth the hours of wait time. Yummy, scrummy sugary goodness, all washed down with a cold glass of milk— for lunch. But don’t tell my kids– I’m making them wait until after.
The main problem I’m finding with making something for my kids that lasts year after year is that I have to start thinking of other things to make for them, because I do love sewing things for them that they will actually use. So while the lunchbags I made for them 2 years ago are still holding up well (used in alternation with their metal lunchboxes from Noni), I was ready to do a little back to school sewing. Lucky for me there is more I can supply them with!
About a year and half ago, when my son was attending a coop preschool, I was helping the children during their snack time on my workday for that week. One little girl had the most adorable placemat and napkin in her handmade lunch bag. Really, I was drooling over it. I sat with her a couple times over the next couple weeks so I could look at it closely (fortunately four year olds aren’t that concerned by adults inspecting their lunch gear). It wasn’t complicated, but perfect.
Later in the year I got to know the mother of that child (no, not just to get a pattern from her) and a couple sewing conversations later she turned me on to Japanese craft books, which were the inspiration for her lunch time crafting. While I haven’t been able to get my hands on the craft book she had, I have taken a first stab at replicating her nifty idea– perfect for my kids’ snack time, which is eaten in their classrooms.
I have only completed my daughter’s, but some for my son, and a couple more for her will follow. They are a two sided placemat, with a sewn on pocket to hold her utensils and napkin. It folds up to fit in her lunch bag, or box, and hopefully will have a snap or tie to keep it closed (although I haven’t gotten there yet, and not sure it is neccesary). Although I am not a germ-phobe, it is nice to know they can eat their snack off this instead of their desk. I also like that it will keep their utensils in one spot so I don’t have to root around their lunchbags for the sticky spoons.
Lunchmat Tutorial! (let me know if you use this tutorial if I can improve it in any way by leaving a comment)
If you would like to make your own you can follow these easy directions, or make it up as you go along.
1. Cut two rectangles from coordinating fabrics approximately 14 x 12 inches or 14 x 10 (or what ever size suits you!) At this point decide which fabric will be on the outside, and which fabric will be on the inside (where the pocket is); consider them fabric A and B respectively. Cut an additional small square from fabric A- approximately 4 x 4 inches. Cut another square from either fabric, or for a two sided napkin, 2 squares; I made my napkins approximately 6 x 6, but anything up to about 8 x 8 would work.
2. Iron the pocket square (square cut out of fabric A) folding over the edges on all for sides to create hemmed edges. Sew the top edge, leaving the others creased, but not sewn.
3. Pin it to fabric B about 3/4 of an inch from the bottom (raw edge) and 1 3/4 inches from the right (raw) edge; be sure to have the sewn edge on the top edge of the pocket. Starting at the top sew the two sides and bottom of the pocket to the fabric B rectangle.
4. Pin right sides together (pocket will be on the inside) of fabric rectangles A and B. Sew all around the rectangle leaving a small gap (maybe 2 inches). Inside out, pulling the fabric through the gap. Iron. Top stitch around all for edges closing the gap as you do.
5. Serge, or hem the edges of the napkin (or make a double sided napkin in the same fashion as the placemat). Fold the napkin and place in the pocket. Find the best way to fold your lunch kit. I fold mine in half longways (top comes down to bottom)- and then do a rolling fold. Iron it when it is folded to your liking to help it keep the folding creases.
As the mother of two school aged children we attend our fair share of birthday parties. My children both love visiting the toy store, or the book store to pick out presents, but sometimes it gets a bit tiresome to have to negotiate with them regarding a) the price or appropriateness of a gift and b) that it is not their birthday and they won’t be leaving with a toy for themselves as well.
It also can become quite a strain on the pocketbook, and so, as my time has allowed, I have been trying to think of alternative gifts that I can make at home that will have less of an impact on my budget. I have made thus far an apron and a couple sets of p.j.’s, which went over well at the parties and didn’t require too much of my time. My children also seemed quite content in giving these gifts so it has been a win-win all around.
This weekend we had two overlapping 5 year old boy birthday parties to attend and I had only a day to contruct suitable gifts. Flannel pajamas in the summer didn’t seem as appropriate, but I remembered some capes I had made for the preschool last winter. After a quick trip to the fabric store and about 2 hours at the sewing maching (which included about a half hour rethreading my serger; I’m hoping that will get easier soon!) I had two completed superhero capes!
I estimate that each reversible cape cost about $6, and could certainly be done for less, if you can find cheaper fabric. It takes approximately 2 yards of fabric (1 yard of each fabric, although for smaller children you could probably get away with using less), and I found some suitable ones for abut $3/yd. The only other materials needed are thread and velcro for the closure. I originally found the idea for these capes at puking pastilles. She has posted some awesome photos and templates with her tutorial. When I made these for the preschool, I wanted to speed up the process even more (I had 8 to make in one evening) and so instead of using her machine instructions, I used my serger. Using the serger saves some seam cutting time, and ironing, but even using the machine directions it should be a very quick cape. Once everything is cut out and ready to go (machines threaded) I think each cape only takes about 15 or 20 minutes, including the appliqué.
The applique superhero symbol is of course highly important to the child, so be sure you pick a good one! Puking pastilles has a Batman, Superman, and princess one. I also found some more at a Martha Stewart tutorial on towel capes that came up on my search for a template. For these capes I used a hand drawn lightening bolt (click for pdf template if you’d like to use it). 
Now my son is wanting his own cape, of course. I guess avoiding the toy store doesn’t really solve everything.
Ingenious bag made by a craftier mom than me.
Last spring we attended, or rather I carted my children (who were attending) to a birthday party. The very talented mother, instead of the usual plastic goodie bags had done something ingenious. That ingeniuity I, of course, quickly decided to copy ruthlessly. She made for the children fabric goodie bags with a ribbon drawstring. I had almost gotten there on my own with my son’s party; I made fabric bags, but mine were a rough set, with unfinished tops and certainly no drawstrings. As I said: Ingenious!
Well, as my children’s birthdays are clumped in January we haven’t made it back around yet for me to try these out for their parties, but I’ve been thinking of different ways I can use these little, inexpensive bags (really, they can be made for probably 50 cents each). After the party we repurposed those bags as toy holders. One is used to hold Hot Wheels on the go. When my son wants to bring toys in the car, to a friends, or on an errand, he is allowed to fill the little bag. Another has been used to corral our unruly gang of finger puppets, and they seem very happy there.
And now, today I found an excuse to make one of my own. The domino box, stepped on one too many times, was ferried off to the recycle. But what to do with the dominos, scattered here and there about the floor? A drawstring bag of course!
It was a quick job. I did however take it just one stop farther and sew some little awkward looking dominos on the front (no mistaking where they get cleaned up to now). I’m not one for handsewing so the domino dots, which probably could have been done very cutely and neatly with an embrodiery stich, I just put on with the machine. Crude, yes. But did the job in the little bit of time I alloted this bag.
The dominos are now at home in their little bag. Now what else could use its own bag?
I love baking. I love sharing things I love with my children. Not too far a leap to loving baking with my children. One recent afternoon my son had a friend over and we headed to the kitchen to do those things I love. My son loves chocolate. That lead us to this recipe from Linda Collister’s, Cooking with Kids for Double Chocolate Muffins. The recipe was from her aptly named section in the book, “baking afternoon”.
I got the boys suited up into aprons and away we went, mixing, stirring, cracking… and of course spilling. We made it through with only the barest of messes (one egg did miss the bowl completely but a quick swipe, a new egg, and we were back in business. 30 minutes later- cooling muffins. The interesting thing is that I think they enjoyed the process of baking more than those muffins. By the time they had come out of the oven they were onto another activity— but momma enjoyed them!
Here are a few tips when baking with children. The thing to always keep in mind is that baking with children will be a little bit messy. But there are some things you can do to minimize the mess and mishaps.
1. Have them crack eggs in a small separate bowl so if shell goes in with it all is not lost! I picked up this little trick from one of my favorite children’s cookbooks, Pretend Soup by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson.
2. Use nice large bowls. It helps when they pour in too quickly (slosh), too much at one time (large puff of flour in the air), or stir with the might of mighty mouse (flinging unincorporated flour or, even better, bits of batter, throughout the kitchen). It doesn’t solve the mess, but it does minimize it.
3. Read through the recipe before you invite them in the kitchen. Make sure you have all the ingredients and prepare what you can. 
3a. Be sure that if you are baking with more than one child that the recipe has more than one egg to crack. This is the highlight of baking for most children. You can also check to see if there might be a compensating step, but cracking the egg is hard to beat. To ensure equal egg breaking consider making scrambled eggs after or instead. All will be happy.
4. Choose a recipe that will be done today. Preferable within an hour. Patience is not common in children, especially when it comes to eating dessert.
Happy Baking with your children!
I think that my reference to Martha Stewart projects as sources of “inspiration” was spot on. I’m glad I saw their “Easy Beach Bag” project, but it really only served as inspiration for the final project as the directions did not end with the type of finished bag I wanted. If you followed their directions you would end with a drawstring backpack, but their pattern for it did not meet my standards (which I honestly hadn’t realized were terribly high). So I had to work it out on my own, based loosely on theirs, and pulling some tricks out from when I made lunch bags for my kids a couple years ago using this pattern. The main difference in the end is that I wanted the seams hidden on the inside of the bag, so that the lining is inserted rather than sewn together, and I wanted the holes where the drawstring comes out to be finished. A little tricker, but worth the effort.
Here is my tutorial on how to make this more finished version of a drawstring backpack. I’m working on some step-by-step pictures to go with this tutorial that I will get up soon. Let me know if you use this tutorial and if I can improve it in any way!
Materials Needed 1 14 x 32 inch piece of preshrunk cotton or other fabric (I used decorator weight fabric I had lying about)* 1 14x 32 inch piece of nylon or cotton (use nylon if you plan to put wet suits, waterbottle or other damp items in the backpack to prevent a soggy pack)* 2 4-inch lengths of cord 2 50-inch (+) lengths of cord
*You can customize the size of the back by changing the size of your rectangle, just be sure to remeber your bag will end up about 1/2 the size of your rectangle– so figure out your dimensions and double the length and add seam allowances. Also, don’t forget to change length of your cord if you lengthen the bag.
1. Fold each piece of fabric in half, width-wise. Iron to make a nice crease, then pin. For the interior fabric (the nylon lining) sew up the sides.
4 inch loop, as it should be set inside the folded exterior fabric
2. On the exterior fabric piece you will need to tuck in the loops before sewing. Fold one of the 4-inch cords in half; place inside one of the bottom corners, matching up the raw ends of the cord with the raw edge of the fabric, the loop tucked inside facing toward the center of the fabric. Pin in place as you see fit. I snuggled a pin very close to the loop so that the loop wouldn’t slide out of place.
loop inserted, pins holding it secure
Repeat on the opposite side. Sew up the sides sewing over the cording to lock the loop into place– I did a little back and forth over the loop to make sure it wouldn’t pull open the seam there. 3. After finishing your seams as you see fit (pinking
exterior & interior with finished seams. Mine have bottom seams because did not fold fabric but rather sewed two pieces together.
shears, zig-zag stitch, serging, etc) inside out the lining so that the seams are on the inside– Do not inside out the exterior fabric. Slip the lining inside the exterior so that right sides are facing. Pin the top raw edges to secure. You will be sewing around the top, but need to leave two gaps, one largish one (perhaps 2 inches) and one smaller one (perhaps 1 inch or 3/4 of an inch). These gaps should be evenly spaced from the side seams on one side of the bag– space them about 1/2 and inch from the side seams. 4. About 5/8 inch from the raw edge sew from one mark just behind one side seam around to the other mark on the other side of the opposite side seam. Now sew the interior from the end of one gap to the beginning of the next on the unsewn side.
The lining pulled through...
5. Through the larger gap pull the lining through, and inside out the exterior fabric. You should now have a long piece that looks like to right-sided bags sewn together. Tuck the lining inside and iron the joining seam to make the top edge crisp and defined, folding the fabric at the gaps in and ironing them to match the sewn parts. 6. Starting at the far edge of one gap topstich right near the top around to the beginning point of the other gap, crossing both side seams, sewing through both the lining and the exterior fabric. Start at the end point of the first gap and topstitch through the other gap until only 3/4 of an inch remains of the 2nd gap (it should match the first in location and size.
stitch completely around to create channel for cording
Now stitch completely around at the top about 3/4 of an inch from your top stitching. You should now have two evenly spaced and sized gaps at the top of the bag and a channel formed from the two series of stitching you have done. 7. Using the saftey pin method or one of those handy dandy threading tools, thread one 50 inch cord from one gap all the way around so that both ends come out. Working from the other gap and in the opposite direction thread the other cord through.
8. Pull one end of the cord down and through the small cord loop and back up tying the cord ends together. Repeat on the other side.
finished bag with strings tied
finished bag with lining
finished bag with strings pulled partially
Today was a day of little accomplished except enjoying summer. We swam, visited family and ate ice cream– twice. While I didn’t get much of anything done this afternoon, I did find time to see a few things I’d like to do this week.
First up is trying these banana crunch muffins from an issue of FamilyFun that I received last Fall but have just been able to crack open now. Hopefully for my son can munch on these on the way to his 1/2 day soccer camp this week. This recipe appealed to me as it didn’t have tons of sugar and did have whole wheat flour & bran. I’ve been making a poppyseed banana muffin for the last 2 years from one of my favorite cookbooks, Once Upon a Tart, but this one looks promising.
Next I’m hoping to try this cute little bag from Martha Stewart’s website for one of my daughter’s first sewing projects. Looks fairly straight forward, but will be a satisfying end result for her– I hope. It is something she can use right away, but we won’t get a chance to take a crack at it until next weekend as she is going to her first summer day camp this week.
All this thinking about actually doing things has made me quite tired. I think I’ll call it a day.
It seems i’ve been inundated by green awareness lately. I read this article in my local paper recently, retitled: “Green Confusion”, but it was originally published in the NY times as “Green Noise” and it has been echoing in my head ever since. This is something I got to thinking about last year when I first started working on this blog (which has been neglected this last year as I stressed my way through my first year of grad school) when I wrote about green living, or rather the contradictions of trying to do so. I identified with most of the people in this article. I try to buy glass milk as often as possible (the fact that we seem to alternate between 3 or 4 different grocery stores which don’t all carry glass bottled milk contributes to this problem), I get most of our produce from a CSA, we recycle, use long-life bulbs, but I too long for a cheat sheet for “green living” because my intention is there, but not always the full knowledge. What am I doing that I think is “helping”, that really isn’t? Or isn’t helping more than the alternate choice?
This was an issue I first visited in considering cloth diapers over disposable 8 years ago. How do you weigh, ecologically, the impact of detergent and transportation of a cloth diaper service, over the impact of disposables? Difficult to do is what I found after too many hours researching it. My decision? I started with the diaper service and switched to disposables after about 5 mos. or so. I wasn’t able to really defend either choice. That’s kind of how I feel about many so-called “green” choices I make.
To exasperate me even further I read later in the day (after reading about all this oversaturation of green awareness and the complexity of “doing the right thing”) another article, this one in Dwell magazine called Rethinking the Material World. The most upsetting element of this article?: the emissions figures for the USA compared to the REST OF THE WORLD. Our CO2 emissions are something like 5 times that of the rest of the world, and at least 2-3 times that of Europe, and yet we rejoice (or at least report) when nations make steps towards emulating our lifestyles. I find this all very depressing to say the least.
But what do I do when I’m feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem? Focus on the small things like detergent, turning off my lights, and perhaps…. deodorant? Angry Chicken has a nice blog on making your own deodorant and shampoo that I found diverting this evening. Shall I admit that I too have been on a natural deodorant search for many years with no avail? Since December I have been using Dr. Hauschka Floral Deodorant and it has been working better then others, and I am not itchy as I sometimes am with traditional deodorants. It is a little pricey though, however I justify that by averaging the cost to $5 per month– a small price to pay for social acceptance.
I also enjoyed reading about the “no shampoo” idea– which frightens me, but also addresses my main issue I have with shampoo– not so much the ingredients (although they bother me as well) but the fact that all the waste water goes down the drain. So, perhaps I will explore this– perhaps. But it does bring me full circle in my thinking. What good does it do to worry about these things? Why do I worry at all? I guess my main worry now, as a mother, is that my children won’t have the same world to live in that I do, or even the ability to fret over their “greenness” because the reality will be much harsher. And perhaps even that their children won’t be able to draw such pictures of our world as my daughter can still do now.
One of my favorite things about these summer days is the time to do art and crafts with my two kiddos, who are now at an age to really get into and take off on their own with just a little nudging. First up was this quick little 4th of July project— from this Martha Stewart idea. Now I don’t claim to be Martha, and my kids certainly don’t either, but she can’t be beat for inspiration! Ours didn’t turn out quite the same, but then, our budget and crafters were both a little smaller. 
I made a slightly sloppy, but very quick, table runner out of some cheap white muslin (1.99/yd) and about 4 minutes at my machine and serger. Then using some fabric paint and scrub brushes the kids went at it, making “fireworks” all over!
Next up were the paper fireworks to set on the table runner.
We used construction paper and straws instead of the vellum and skewers called for, mainly because of budgetary reasons, but also because they were to be had in our cupboards. Both kids loved it and were able, after the first one, to do them on their own.
To make a firework: 1) take a piece of colored construction paper or other colored paper (not cardstock– we tried some it is was a little too stiff) 2) fold it in half lengthwise 3) using that line as a guide, tear or cut it in to two skinny pieces 4) fold the smaller piece in half lengthwise again 5) make mall cuts along the length leaving the folded edge uncut (this is sometimes called fringing) 6) tape straw end to paper end 7) role paper around straw with fringe end pointing up 
tape to secure 9) roll some of the outer fringes down & squash others. Homemade fireworks!
Surprisingly, both of my kids declared that the paper fireworks (or pom-pom’s as Martha calls them) were more fun to make than the more expensive and labor intensive table runner! All in all this project, ringing in at about $6, was much cheaper then an art day camp for both of them! Plus, I got to have some fun with them and they got to see Momma doing something besides cleaning house!
I just wanted to post quickly about two firsts this week- ok three.
The first I am so excited, and I dare say, proud about. My very first grown in my garden hollyhock is blooming! And it was worth the wait. I actually must admit I did not grow these from seed but purchased them as small plants at a local hardware store. The fact that I didn’t plant them from seed is probably a good thing since my zinnia seeds did not come up this year; doubly disturbing because those are the type of seeds a child is supposed to be able to grow! [Just in case you're interested in gardening with children here is another cool link that doesn't mention zinnias (maybe with good reason!) but looks like an excellent resource for gardening with kids. I'll have to post another time about my experiences gardening with kids; hit and miss as is the norm with all my gardening!]
Ok, to come fully clean, I actually planted 3 or 4 of these starters and only one is blooming but I’m calling that as SUCCESS! It is shaped like an umbrella handle, goes straight down and then hooks to the left- I’m guessing the sun exposure directly over the plant wasn’t suffiecient and I’m more then willing to overlook such faults. To me, like my children, it is gorgeous and perfect! And such a wonderful color! Unlike my dahlias, which disappointed me greatly as out of the many many (many many many) I planted ONLY the white ones bloomed, this hollyhock is studpendous. I guess I should quickly explain why the white dahlias were not met with such rave reviews– I had bought the white ones mainly to offset the other colors, but as the other colors did not bloom it is a little blah…. Ah well.
Before I gush on too long about my hollyhock, I’ll move on to my other first. We are joining a CSA! I wrote briefly about this in my first or second post, inspired and reminded by another bloggers post and promptly emailed a local farm about joining theirs. I was initially a bit dissappointed as their CSA is actually so popular there is a waiting list!!! I guess that speaks volumes about the area I live in- which I will take as a good thing- but I was still a little let down. Meanwhile I joined their waiting list and expected a 3-4 month wait until either someone decided to drop out of the CSA or they expanded their plantings. But!!! (of course there is a but, otherwise why would I spend all this time writing about it!) An email!!!
They have an opening on the day I requested and I’ve repsonded that yes, yes we’d like it! So, hopefully starting next week- but I really have no particulars- we will begin picking up our year-round CSA veggies bin. There is also a fruit and/or bread option you can add. I had no idea there would be so many choices to make, but excited about the possiblities and yummy local organic produce we will be having from now on. The nicest thing is that the farm where I will be picking up is not too far from my children’s school so I will probably bring them with me after I pick them up and give them a little exposure to the rich agricultural world of our county.
Last first. (Love how that sounds.)
I finished teaching my first class as a grad student. I’d like to say it went fabulously, but… it went great! I didn’t connect as much as I would have liked to with the students but part of that is my personality and I’m just going to have to work with that. I did however stay fairly organized, on task and impart what I wanted the first day. Second day? No idea! I’ve got a “plan” but really need to look at it. And then there’s the issue of whether or not they will read their assignment. And what do I do about it if they don’t? And so on….. But for today I am feeling good. Glad I’m past the first day with only a couple minor clumsy mishaps in front of the students (rather good for me) and home with out tears (not so surprising since i”m not really a crier, but wouldn’t it have been terrible if I was in tears then?).
I guess today I’m just reveling in all the firsts I can still experience 30 odd years into life! So many experiences, oppurtunities, and plants out there to try. I don’t always feel this way but today I am in awe of all my options. Oh- and ready for a nap.
The kids and I are really revving up for school. We’ve previewed their classrooms, went shopping for school supplies and it’s time to start planning lunches and snacks. This has me thinking about what I really started thinking about last year- zero waste lunches.
In my many little “green living” things I do, this is one that I think will carry over in many ways to other people and their habits. First of all my children. As they get used to reusing their containers, lunch bag, water bottle, etc, instead of consuming and tossing the “remnants” into the garbage it will become second nature for them to do so. I’m hoping it will become strange for them to grab a juice box instead of pouring a cup of juice. I hope they will also make an impact on the children around them by making it more normal to not have the juicebox, prepackaged cracker snack and so on. Modeling behavior is very important at all ages, but especially at the younger ones.
If you are not familiar with the concept of a zero waste lunch check out this site or this one for general ideas and information. Or Google the term- trust me you’ll get tons of sites. I’ve done only part of the things I need to do so far to move in the direction of zero waste, but it is a journey.
First off, last year I made them cloth lunchbags that can be washed (shown above in the “ian-only” fashion of around the neck). I lined mine with nylon for easy wiping out and used a thermal layer to help keep in the cold as well, but neither step is necessary. I got the basic idea from this about.com article, but there’s another easier (unlined) idea at this site using oilcloth. Mine held up all last school year and are entering their second year. Thea (my first grader) is a bit peeved at not getting a new one, but it was a good conversation starter on why we don’t need to or should buy a new lunch bag every year. Or a backpack with rollers–no matter how much she wants one! Reuse, wear out!
I also got Thea a thermos last year and Ian and myself ones for this year (the style I got them are actually termed food jars). That will be used for soup in the winter and anything else I can think of to put in there. Double bonus- less waste and wholesome, nutrious and WARM lunches for my kiddos (and me at school)! Last year also marked the purchase of aluminum water bottles for both kids to eliminate the plastic water bottle problem. I was bothered by them because of leaching and germs (especially in the reuse of them) and mass quantities of recycling we would have. Now this summer I have seen multiple articles on the plastic consumption fueled by these. So a good switch all around! I had previously bought myself one a couple years ago at Target but they don’t seem to carry them anymore. I have seen them at REI and Whole Foods (I think they carry the cute but a little pricey Sigg brand), but we found some “cute” ones at Border’s that coordinate with their cutsy stationary (which we did not however purchase). You can also search them at Amazon and come up with too many choices.
Regarding packaging food for the lunch bags I had to make some changes. I’ve always used wax bags (since I was a child and my father who excels in zero waste living in general set the example– see I told you modeling worked) because they are biodegradable. Problem is they break down so easily that if your food is too “wet” it will make a hole in the bag by lunch time- which can be messy. I use to use the wax for “dry” foods (crackers and p.b.& J.) and ziplocs for the wet, but last year I got some smaller plastic containers, including one I really liked that is square that can hold a sandwich or has 4 little compartments you can add so it can hold say 1/2 a sandwich and some cherry tomatoes and crackers. I also used the teeny tiny ones for dipping sauce, small veggie and fruit cuts, yogurt and so one. Of course the plastic leaching thing is always a concern, but I couldn’t find anything else- of course I’ve found the stainless steel ones now courtesy of angry chicken’s blog (but you can read my delimina on that on my previous post on green living).
This year I’m making at least 3 additions to last years changes.
1. I purchased some juice box substitutes (albeit plastic ones). I had previously still used juice boxs in additon to the water bottles, but this year I will fill the reusable “juice boxes” from a large jug. Apparently juice boxes use excessive packaging (like everything else!).
2. I am going to cut down on other excessive packaging handy snacks like cheese sticks and yogurt tubes and perhaps even granola bars. While they make my mornings a lot faster they do create a lot of trash (hence all the wrapping/droppings in my van).
3. I have always tried to send a cloth napkin with my children (when I remember) but this year I’m improving on that. Inspired by one a fellow preschool mom, Carolina, made her daughter last year I ‘m going to make them a rolled placemat that will have slots for their reusable silverware (as needed) and a pocket for their cloth napkin. I’m hoping this will make it even more fun for them to use the cloth napkin and eliminate some germ contact (although I’m not really a germ-phobe).
One last note is that a good place to get ideas on zero waste lunches is this blog- veganlunchbox. Even though her focus is on vegan lunches, there are many good ideas to be “stolen” or used as inspiration.
As long as you leave no evidence behind.
I have been thinking, well overthinking (as I tend to do) about green living. About even as I try to make good choices and changes in my house, I’m really not doing as much as I’d like to think. What got me thinking about this was a post by angry chicken about some alternative sources and products for traditional plastic storage containers, sippy cups, plates, etc.
Having children is just not conducive to being as green as you can. The idea is to reduce your footprint- your impact on the earth and resources; having kids is an impact in and of itself so it is hard to escape from that point on. You start with the piles of diapers (even the green choices such as cloth and biodegradable have their impact on water use) and we continue on to the mountains of paper children must use to express their creativity, write their name, write term papers….. But we try. We do what we can.
Here is what really got me thinking though. I saw a link on angry chicken’s blog to stainless steel lunchbox containers. “Perfect!” I thought, a good consumer through and through. This could replace the plastic containers I use in my kids lunches (in my attempt at zero waste lunches[more on that in a later post]) and yet free my conscious from the plastic containments they might be absorbing through their food. I was all ready to order off line, add them to my shopping basket and check out, righteousness in hand.
Then I started to think about a conversation my friend Sarah and I had on travelers who purchase airline offsets to ease their conscience about the global impact of their flight. They are freed from feeling guilty and can actually instead feel righteous. Those travelers are still impacting the planet, their just paying for the right to do so. I could say the same about my purchase. First off my old plastics- where are they going? Into the landfills? To the Goodwill for someone else to use? They don’t just disappear when my new “eco” replacements arrive. Secondly, how do those shiny new containers get here? via plane? or truck? So much for my reduced impact.
Now I haven’t gone all through this thinking to just beat myself up about all the “green” choices I make everyday; but I certainly need to think about them. Even if I do end up ordering those containers like I think I will. Because honestly their just darn cute.
Each year my daughter’s school puts on a Nutcracker preformance by the kindergarten classes. Last year Thea participated in this charming event and even got to have a line!
I helped to make some costumes including the nightgown she wore in it (that we donated for future use) and the tin soldiers hats. I asked at the time if there was any other costume needs and the teacher’s mentioned that the Nutcracker’s cape was only a loan and they could use one for future years. I promised one by the end of the year.
Fast forward 8 months. Having promised this cape I have been plagued by guilt at not having delivered it. Holiday crazies led to the birthday months, then the flu and cold-ridden months, then Easter, spring break and end of the year crazies followed by summer vacation travels. So here I found myself in August still not having sewn the cape. Not even having bought the fabric for it. (But not having forgotten it for which I shall give myself a few gold stars.) So in this flurry of sewing I’ve been doing- newly inspried all around– I made the trip to JoAnn’s and bought the material. And sewed the cape. And folded it and set it near the door to deliver to the Kindergarten teachers next week when school starts.
But what to my wondering eyes should appear? But a miniature prince with no fear. He stole past me with a smirk and a giggle and dawned that cape in one little wriggle! It was love at first sight, and who am I to put up a fight!
Ian has truly been enjoying the cape. I had no idea he would like one so much. I had made him a Robin Hood one last year which got some play time but I think it is the gold lining that has really got him enamored with this one. So I guess it is back to the fabric store for me- quick before I lose my steam!
If only he were as quick to clean his room as he is to find new treasures!
Well all my creative juices must be flowing! Blogging and sewing! I can’t but help thank a fellow mom- Carolina- for getting me back into sewing and turning me onto blogging as well (and you too Sarah!). She shared with me some fantastic Japanese craft books this month. (Check out more on them here or buy a couple of them here.) I was so enamoured with them that I had to make a special trip on my birthday last month to by myself a few. I can’t recommend these enough for inpiration and for simple patterns for simple classic clothing and crafts for children and adults. The beautiful photography is a bonus as well.
Around the same time Carolina showed me those books we started talking about crafting and she shared with me the links to a few wonderful blogs written by fellow crafters (weewonderfuls, angry chicken, soulemama [I know, I know I already mentioned her] and posie gets cozy)– I’m hooked! We had a great discussion one day about blogging, journaling, sharing our projects and stories of our children- and well.. here I am.
The result of all that inspiration besides this blog? That skirt above- a project I’ve had sitting for about 6 months on my overflowing sewing table. It is just a simple circle skirt with contrasting waistband and pockets, but it promises to me so much more sewing to be had this year! I didn’t use a pattern- rather I looked online for simple pictorial instructions on how to cut out circle skirt and then found a way to use some cute contrasting fabric on the waistband and pockets. I’m all about details and those two simple additions did the trick for me this time. My little Thea wore it today (already broke it in with a few drops of spilled nail polish on it as well!) and loved it. “Look!” she said to me, all smiles as she twirled, “It spins out!” She has discovered the great joy of a “spin-out” skirt!
Is there really anything better?
