Random List

Random thoughts...

• I lost my original Kroger Plus Card. I had that thing since they first came out, maybe 10-11 years ago. It started shredding and I have been manually typing the code in for months,because it wouldn't even scan. When I handed my keys to the clerk today I got so sad it had fallen off. Mike says I hate change. Maybe it was some of that Depression era frugality that was passed down through grandparents. I was struck at how silly this all is. I was also struck that last week I reorganized my closet and saw I had 5 white sweaters. If you had asked me if I had a white sweater I would have said "no" before that spring cleaning. Now I have donated 3 of them. Weird this over composition and eagerness for all things and all things new... it makes me crazy sometimes.
  
• I have had a mix of Weird Al's "White and Nerdy" and Singing in the Rain's "Make Em Laugh" going through my head today. I don't really know what to do about this. I mean have you seen those two videos? Someone mash up those videos for me stat.
• D had her first crazy mixed up dream at age 4 where she said, "sometimes I loved it and then it was weird and then "so and so" was there but there were two of her there and one was nice and one was mean!" I love that. I am trying to slow down and be a more active listener. Eye contact, probing/thoughtful questions, clarifying her ideas...It is what I want from people, so why not give it to my kids. You all remind me of this, because we all get too busy and forget.
• Lastly. Look at Mag's sock above. I washed 1 with dark denim and the other with brights. Her favorite socks. Any advice? I guess I could google it, but wondered if anyone had ideas.
• I might have a problem with my inability to let go of butterfly socks and grocery store incentive cards...

List #6: Bubble Theme ideas

We are working on some themes this summer. This was/is my favorite way to teach early childhood. My gals are super intested in Dinosaurs, Bubbles, Super spys, Beauty and the Beast, and Gardening.

First up. Bubble ideas!

This idea of Bubble Refill Station is a great idea.

I keep seeing this Bubble Recipe popping on the interwebs.

Bubble Snake Maker

Bubble Machine, I recommend this so much. Toddlers for the life of them can't blow bubbles very well. Toddlers love bubbles though. This does it for them and their mamas. :)

We also got this Bump N Go Bubble Bug as a birthday present and it is equally fab. Must have a flat surface, kids love it.

For some bubble art, this eraser stamping in blue would be really fun.

Love the idea of this bubble art too.

We are going to also make a big B and a little b out of tagboard and use bubble wrap as a stamp to press onto the Bs for our summer alphabet book.

List #5: Hibernation activities

Hibernation: to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state
Torpid: having lost motion or the power of exertion or feeling

We are hibernating. In these cold months we have had colds, viruses, stomach flu, RA, back injuries, etc. We are in a resting state. We have lost motion. I think I am OK with that. Some of of our inside winter activities I had planned to do as Advent activities and round 1 and 2 of Mr. stomach flu pushed those back to January.

Here are some of the things we have been doing to keep the fun going around here while at home so much.

Muffin Tin Rainbow Lunch: Freeze dried Strawberries, Goldfish,
Barilla plus pasta, Peas, Blueberry juice, and an Oreo (see I totally break my own rules).

• Muffin tin lunches. Does your one to two year old only eat processed snack food to sustain herself and even then only a tiny bit a day. D did this at that age and Mags is on the same track. I think it is partly all the teething that takes place and partly the new found battle of wills, etc. I remembered reading about muffin tin lunches in the blogoshere and looked them up. Basically it is adding fun to eating, packaging your meal into muffin tins or other cute containers. Most grown ups and kids fall for something if it's presentation/packaging is pleasing to the eye. Dorothy prefers her muffin tin lunch to be rainbow colors. I try to have just 1 or 2 to be a processed snack and at that hopefully with no corn syrup, since I know it makes my RA flair up. I don't always follow this. To each his own. This really does not take me much extra time, I just use what bits of food we have and don't make this complicated. The green cup is almost always peas or green grapes because in the winter those are some of the only green food we ever have :) As they get older, I see us branching out into themes to go along with the season or a favorite book. For example, look at these great examples: Thanksgiving, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Book, Valentine's Day.

• D is working on writing her name. She use to hold her pencil naturally and then I think her teacher and I both made comments on holding the pencil properly and she got nervous and now questions how to hold it. Well we had a million character band aids around that never stayed on when the girls needed them so we began using them as stickers. I wrapped her pencils with a Dora or Mickey and now she knows to place her grip where the band aid is. It really seems to help.

• D also needed a boost in her confidence about writing in general, not just her grip. She told her Aunt Dawn and I separately that it was one of the hardest parts of preschool (Is that not adorable?). While sick, we didn't spend as much fun time doing art or drawing at home, so I have a writer's work shop basket where she can doodle, draw, and explore whenever. It doesn't seem like such a chore now at preschool or when I give her specific tasks, because she has lots of opportunities to do it on her terms just the way she likes it (This is our approach for reading/letters/phonics too). Right now we have just a basket that can be put out of Mag's reach. When Mag's can be trusted to have pencil access it will be on a lower level for both of them to use whenever they want. Here is a super inspiring Writer's Workshop for young writers. Love it.
  

• Mags is really into sorting and stacking. Sometimes I help and show her colors and sizes, but a lot of times I just let her do it her own way and have fun. In the picture above she is lining up our Mickeys and Minnies by size. No that is not even all of the ones we own. I guess we hoard -I mean collect Mickeys and Minnies :)

• Speaking of hoarding. I watched a couple episodes of Hoarders to kick start a much needed donation pile in our home. We are going to be in this house a couple more years and we need to get rid of about 1/4 of our things since there is no space or need for them anymore. I though that show would kick me in the pants and inspire a house purge. Then I watched Toy Story 3. Darn it if those two shows don't cancel each other out....sob. That Andy and Woody. House reorganization to. be. continued...sob.
  

List #4: My holiday cooking and baking list

Mike is our cook. I like to bake. We do a lot of it for fun in December, when he has a week or two off. I have been cleaning out the cabinets, drawers, and counters, trying to simplify and clean. Due to my RA, I just clean one appliance and one or two drawers a day. Even the first day on Monday, when I did the counters (moving unused things into long term storage, wiping everything down, and shining my pretty fridge) we were inspired to spend much more time in the kitchen.

This was 2 Christmases ago! Squeee!

Here are some of the things I hope to make in the next few weeks:

1. Maple Roasted Almonds Perhaps D and I can make these tomorrow if she has a snow day and then package them for her teachers Christmas baskets.
2. Sea-Salted Almond bark I think I will switch cashews for this, I'll roast them first and then sea salt them as well as sea salt the chocolate and perhaps put them in teachers baskets too.
3. Easiest Baked Mac and Cheese My Kids have eaten every kind of noodle in the world and Mike and I keep looking for homemade version we love that is quick to put together.
4. BUCKEYES Mike and I could eat these all. ALL of them!
5. Ginger Ice Cream This year I started trying flavored ice cream. I use to just have vanilla or cookies and cream, now I want every kind.
6. Cinna-nut Hot Chocolate I will have to try this with some chocolate what has a lower amount or no corn syrup. Corn syrup makes my joints ache. But, but, but, chocolate and peanut butter makes my stomach oh so happy.

List #3: Good excuses of where I have been, but also why I am back.

Good excuses of where I have been...

1. I'd rather be spending time with my kids, family, and friends. Best excuse ever.
   
2. I will always have ongoing health issues. This is how life is for me. No pity needed, it is just my reality. :)
   
3. It is quicker to stay connected through twitter and FaceBook. I originally used this blog to share with family near and far, but now FaceBook does that for me.

I always am more likely to read a post with a picture, so here is my Dad,
serving in the Navy during Vietnam. I originally posted this in honor of Veteran's day on FaceBook.

...but also why I am back.

1. I have been told this blog has been encouraging to others, so I'll keep it going. You can assume I'll be back in a few days or a few months unless I announce that I am done with blogging altogether.
   
2. Going back and rereading posts, I have been so thankful to have it as a way to remember the big and little moments of my life.
   
3. My sitereader system reminded me through email that 7-10 people still check this a day! So somebody is looking for me to write.
   

List #2: Things I don't like about this blog/blogging.

1. I have never liked my layout or banners. I use to think I needed to make my own, but now several years later there are enough free ones that it seems silly sometimes to work on one when I could sew or read to my girls instead. (I do like this layout I have right now!)
   
2. When I am physically sick this blog takes a back seat, which ultimately is fine, but I like the practice and benefits of blogging. (Creative outlet/online friendships/keeping up with family and friends)
3. It seems outdated to me to be on blogger, but it is free and comfy. And you all already know where it is.
4. Even with spell check, I often can make a mistake. This doesn't bother me that much, but I know there are some people that are very easily turned off by speelling errs and bad grammmer :)
5. One thing you always read from professional bloggers about blogging is not to complain or apologize about things you don't love about your blog or for not blogging in a while. I break this rule every now and then and don't even care, call me a bad blogger. This place is for me to share and create with you!
   
6. The wondering about what readers you have. Creepers? Other crafters? Other mamas? Friends? Family?

List #1: Things I learned as a theater kid that prepared me for my 30th birthday costume party.

1. A wig if not stored on a mannequin/head, should be stuffed with tissue paper, wrapped in hairnet, and kept in a gallon zip lock bag.
2. Not everyone likes to be the center of attention. Let them opt out of dressing up. Or let them wear regular clothes with dog tags and call themselves a GI Joe. (I love you Mike)
3. Eye liner always looks best the morning after a show. This is because you wear way too much on stage and then try to wash it all off and there is just a bit left the next morning and it almost looks natural and awesome.
4. Fabrics that need no hemming for quick costume fixes are netting/tulle, felt, t-shirt/jersey knit. (My apron is an XXL $5 t-shirt cut into the shape of an apron and decorated with Crayolas).

5. Socks can make or break the costume.



6. Junk food in excess will always make you stupid, annoying, and hyper. It will also make you feel lousy the next day. (See my above "Birthday Cake")


7. The friends you make in theater, just might be around 15 years later dressing as Care Bears or Sandi Patty for your birthday and being loyal best friends to you and your husband.

(My husband threw a "Sarah's favorite people from the 80s 30th birthday". In attendance we had Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, GI Joe, and Sandi Patty to name a few. I was very blessed by the whole amazing nonsense!)

Here are my cute babies at a favorite local fun restaurant. What you can't see, is that I am holding them both and hollering because I am about to drop them.

Any who.

While reading blogs I stumbled on this one, where the author is writing 52 lists. One a week. Here are the ones written so far. Love it.

I was thinking of some goal or theme to keep me motivated in blogging and I turn 30 tomorrow. So mulling this around I thought I'd make a goal to write 30 lists between my 30th and 31st birthday. I am great at setting goals. I am a planner. I make charts and lists. What I am not great at is reaching the high and lofty creative goals I set for myself. Here is to seeing how far I come!