Thursday, October 24, 2013
OCTOBER BABY: HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
I am ALWAYS the person to do things at the last minute....always! And Halloween costumes are no different. I know I planned on posting this much earlier in the month, but I've been looking for different pieces for our costumes all month long. This past weekend I was finally able to start Kensi's parrot costume and it had to be done this week because Mike is taking her to a Halloween party on Thursday night. Her costume isn't difficult at all. I used Martha Stewart's DIY tutorial {Click Here} as a guide to make our costumes this year, just as I did last year. Kensi's parrot costume is made of a onesie, safety pins and colored boas. Yes, that's it. This is a no sew costume for those out there who don't have a sewing machine or don't know how to sew. I picked up all her materials from the fabric store and bought her onesies from Carter's because they fit her so well.
When trying to figure out how I was going to arrange the boas on the onesie for a parrot, I knew I had to do it a little differently than what Martha Stewart shows on her video. Her video after all is for a chicken costume and I didn't want Kensi to be as puffy, so I bought baby feather boas that are more fuzzy than feathery for the front. I did buy the large feather boas to create the back tail. I also did NOT add batting in-between the two onesies, I didn’t even sew them together. All I did was put a sleeveless onesie on first and then added the costume on top just to protect her little body from the safety pins touching her little body. I did buy the large feather boas to create the back tail.
The great thing about this costume is there’s really no wrong way to make it. You can use whatever colors you’d like. I saw a photo where they used all red large feather boas and then lined the neckline with one multicolored boa. I chose to use several different colors, to each their own! I also made Kensi a headband instead of a hat just to make it a little more girly for her.
As for our pirate costumes…I tried to keep it pretty simple and the cost down, using items we already had and buying a few inexpensive props at the store. Again, I used Martha Stewart’s tutorial and it really couldn’t be easier. {Click Here}
The great thing about this costume is there’s really no wrong way to make it. You can use whatever colors you’d like. I saw a photo where they used all red large feather boas and then lined the neckline with one multicolored boa. I chose to use several different colors, to each their own! I also made Kensi a headband instead of a hat just to make it a little more girly for her.
As for our pirate costumes…I tried to keep it pretty simple and the cost down, using items we already had and buying a few inexpensive props at the store. Again, I used Martha Stewart’s tutorial and it really couldn’t be easier. {Click Here}
Monday, October 21, 2013
OCTOBER BABY: FOAM LEAVES
A few weeks ago I found a pack of multi-colored foam leaves at Target. There are dozens and dozens of uses for them. We've put them in the bathtub and Kensi sticks them to the sides of the wall. We also sort them by color and older kidlits can sort them by shape. They're also great for writing on with a sharpie. I would use these in so many ways in my classroom....matching numbers (numeral with quantity--one to one correspondence), match upper and lowercase letters.
Kensi pretending to be a tree, using her arms as branches blowing in the wind!
Today Kensi and I used them for pretend play. We pretended we were trees swaying in the wind and let the leaves fall from our branches. Your babies are never too little for these fun activities.
Kensi and I talked about how the weather changes in the fall to cooler temperatures and how the wind blows. She's not going to understand everything we talk about, but she knows what cold is and says 'brrrrr'. She also blows with her lips to make the wind. Not only she is having fun, building an imagination, but she's also learning and that's awesome!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
EDAMAME-ARUGULA SALAD
This recipe was published in Cooking Light a few years ago. My mom and sisters visited me in Maryland and we always try new recipes and this so happened to be one of our test recipes. We all still make this today, but we each do a few things differently. One of my sisters cuts out the pasta, one add less edamame and I add extra basil & lemon. This recipe is so good, you'll find yourself eating the entire bowl.
The arugula is divine in this salad with its peppery crunch alongside th burst of tomato and buttery edamame. Not to forget the delicsious blend of unexpected flavor from the fresh herbs.
This recipe is also very kid friendly!
Edamame Arugula Salad
8 oz uncooked Whole Wheat Penne pasta
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
2 cups frozen shelled Edamame, thawed
2 cups packed Baby Arugula
1 cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup fresh Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped
1/4 fresh Lemon juice
3 Tbsp fresh Basil, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh Thyme, chopped
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
2 oz fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, shaved
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain.
Heat oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium heat. Add edamame to pan; cook 2 minutes or until it's heated through, stirring occasionally. Combine pasta and edamame in a large bowl. Stir in arugula and next 6 ingredients, toss well. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.
Serves 4
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
OCTOBER BABY: HALLOWEEN BOOKS
Kensi's library is always growing. We are very grateful we can provide her with books to help her learn, imagine and eventually read. I rotate her books out every month or so to add new material and to avoid boredom. The last couple weeks her basket has been filled with Halloween related books. Last year she had two books in this category, but she was also four months old. This year we've added a few more, some new and some old.
Her favorite books to read over and over are Goodnight Goon by Michael Rex and The Haunted House by Walt Disney Productions. The Disney book was mine, wait....it was actually my brothers and sisters book when they were little, then it passed to me. I've read it so many times to my nieces and nephews and once Kensi found it I laughed because honestly, I'm kinda sick of reading it. But she loves it and if it helps her fall in love with books, then I don't have a problem reading it for the millionth time. I'm actually surprised our book is in as good of condition as it is because it's been used so much.
We did get Room on the Broom this year at Barnes and Noble because they had a deal going on with it, this book is seriously so STINKIN' cute! It's a little long, but Kensi actually sits and listens to the entire book and finds it hilarious when I try and read it super fast. It's all rhyme and she thinks its just so funny when I get tongue tied.
If you ask me which of her books are my favorite it would be The Monsters' Monster by Patrick McDonnell. I love the monster book because it shows not all monsters are scary, throws in some manners and the best part is that they eat donuts at the beach, which is what we do! So it pulled at a heartstring and I wasn't about to leave without our newly loved monster donut book.
Other books we have and/or recommend for toddlers...
5 Little Pumpkins
{No need to buy the book the poem is online}
Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds {better for 3 years +}
Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hill
Ghosts in the House by Kazuno Kohara
Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly
Halloween by Aaron Frisch
Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson
Little Goblins 10 by Pamela Jane
Ollie's Halloween by Olivier Dunrea
Spooky: Bright Baby Touch and Feel
The Spooky Smells of Halloween
The Spooky Wheels on the Bus by Ben Mantle
Where's My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi
Who's There Little Hoo? by Brenda Ponnay
{No need to buy the book the poem is online}
Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin & Betsy Lewin
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds {better for 3 years +}
Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hill
Ghosts in the House by Kazuno Kohara
Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberly
Halloween by Aaron Frisch
Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson
Little Goblins 10 by Pamela Jane
Ollie's Halloween by Olivier Dunrea
Spooky: Bright Baby Touch and Feel
The Spooky Smells of Halloween
The Spooky Wheels on the Bus by Ben Mantle
Where's My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi
Who's There Little Hoo? by Brenda Ponnay
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