Project 52 -- Week 52!! (And a New Weekly Photo Challenge)

We did it! I successfully took a photo of the kids every week for this entire year. There were plenty of times I forgot until post day, but we pulled it off. And looking back over all the photos, I'm so glad I did. The changes in the kids are subtle, but I see them. And I also see so, so much love. And happiness. And silliness. All between those two yahoos. They have plenty of not-so-friendly sibling moments, but I think these photos show that when you get down to it, they know how lucky they are to have each other.

This year's Project 52 was less of an actual photography challenge for me and more of a documentary of the kids. But I loved the results so much that I wanted to do a slightly different challenge for 2016. I'm no professional photographer, but I do enjoy trying new things so I put together a sort of themed list for each week (below this year's photos). My plan is to try and take a photo fitting each idea that also includes the kids, but we'll see how it goes. Anyone want to join me?! You can interpret it any way you want -- let me know ....

And Happy New Year!!

DIY Salty Brown Sugar + Vanilla Body Scrub

Despite the fact that the East Coast has been experiencing spring and summer-like weather this past week, winter skin conditions have settled in at our house. So we turned to our pantry's leftover holiday cooking ingredients to whip up a quick fix! We love making body scrubs -- it's such a simple DIY you can tailor to whatever you have on hand. And it makes a great gift too. In case you're unconvinced, Kane, who apparently is prepping for infomercial auditions, says: "Works like a dream! Immediate results."

Project 52 -- Week 51

Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Everything!!

2016 Winter Bucket List -- 60+ Ideas of Winter Fun!!

Despite not crossing everything off of our Fall Bucket List, the kids insisted on tackling a slightly larger set of cold weather activities this go around. Some we've rolled over from the fall, others we have no real shot at crossing off the list. But all were earnestly added by the kids in anticipation of the season. Bring it, winter.

Fall Bucket List Update!

Since the air in D.C. has finally dropped sufficiently low to warrant our winter gear and late tonight marks the Winter Solstice, we decided to call time on our Fall Bucket List and share what we accomplished this season. We ended up checking 30 activities off our list -- not too bad considering this fall was insanely busy with school and extracurricular activities! We're working hard on our winter aspirations and we'll have our Winter Bucket List up later this week, but, in the meantime, here's how the fall shook out!

1. felting -- we LOVED making felted rocks. I even went in and did the activity as a crafternoon in Cami's kindergarten class.

DIY Sparkle Soap Gems

We're in serious holiday prep mode over here and that includes lots of gift making! We've been making these sparkly soap gems for family members (shhh!!) and think they're fabulous. Plus they're incredibly easy for kids to make too. Head on over to Honest to Nod to check it out! 

Project 52 -- Week 50

For some reason, this seemed like a good idea.

Star Wars Party Ideas!

Are your kiddos Star Wars fans? The new 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' opens tomorrow (although there are some showings tonight) and even though my guys are too young for the new movie yet, we have started watching some of the earlier ones together and they are BIG fans. I'm certain a Star Wars party is imminent for one of them, so I've started gathering some celebratory ideas. There are so many insanely good DIYs out there, but I think this is where we'll start! May the force be with you.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

25 Favorite Holiday Cookies

Do you make holiday cookies in your family? We typically haven't in years past, but I kind of love the idea of trying out one or two new recipes every year and building up a family cookie cookbook. Our kids love to bake and cookies are generally a pretty easy way to get them involved without risking some sort of kitchen disaster. So we're adding the activity to our Winter Bucket List (stay tuned next week for that ....) and have already started perusing the endless options. I'm thinking we'll have to figure out how to throw together a cookie exchange to prevent me from eating all. the. cookies. though. From the classic to the kooky, here are some of our favorites!

p.s. I'm also vaguely toying with the idea of all of us signing up for this. Seems like a fun activity to do over the winter break!

1/ The Best Cutout Sugar Cookies 2/ Color Dipped Gingerbread Cookies 3/ Mom's Russian Tea Cakes
4/ Holiday Crinkles Cookies5/ Stained Glass Sugar Cookies 6/ Vanilla + Chocolate Pizzelles
7/ White Chocolate + Peppermint Christmas Wreath Cookies 8/ Old Fashioned Gingerbread Men
9/ Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies 10/ Chocolate Amaretti Cookies 11/ Everything Sweet Sugar Cookies
12/ Frosted Peppermint Brownie Cookies 13/ Chocolate Swirl Meringue 14/ Gingerbread Animals
15/ Gingerbread Donut Cookies 16/ Sprinkle Cookies 17/ Coconut Snowball Cookies
18/ Christmas Tree Shortbread Cookies 19/ Pot of Gold Truffle 20/ Ginger Spiced Sugar Cookies
21/ Amaretti Cookies 22/ Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Dark Chocolate + Sea Salt
23/ Lemony Slice + Bakes 24/ Ombre Rainbow Cookies 25/ Peppermint Pattie Cookies 

Little Loving Hands: Children's Craft Kits with a Philanthropic Cause

Every year around the holidays we struggle with what feels like the purchasing of endless gifts and the desire to engage our kids in helping others. We do a fairly good job of making sure the kids volunteer at a variety of activities throughout the year, but during the holidays, the disparity feels greater and we want to involve our kids in an age-appropriate way of giving back. We always sponsor several children through the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program and our kiddos help us shop for, organize, and drop off gifts for children who otherwise wouldn't receive them. We'd just finished that activity this year when I heard from another wonderful (and local!) program called Little Loving Hands (you might have spotted it in our gift guides we posted this week!)

Project 52 -- Week 49

My lovies helped me take a few more photos for the book I'm working on. These two have fun doing just about anything.

Apple Cranberry Turkey Meatballs + 30 Days of Dinner

With a ridiculous number of social events, holiday entertaining, travel, and just general activity busyness, I've struggled to keep a super clean menu this past month (and it's definitely not been strict Paleo). But we've done a fairly good job and all of it has me actually looking forward to another Whole30 (or 60) as soon as the holidays are over. In the meantime, we'll just stay the course and eat as healthy as we can!

Our favorite meal this month is one chock full of Thanksgiving flavor and everyone in the fam goes gaga for it. Not to mention that it gets the whole house smelling like the holidays, which is just so much fun. Give it a try!

2016 Holiday Gift Guides for Kiddos

I know that gift guides have been making the rounds since long before Thanksgiving, but I like to put mine together after I've had a good amount of time to actually shop and with enough time left for you to still purchase items. As I did last year, I've separated my suggestions into the categories in which I'm usually perusing for my own kiddos (although many could fit in more than one category). I've rounded up fifty fabulous gifts for you -- happy shopping!

The Little Art + Crafter:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

Weekend Makes

This Sunday night kicks off of Hanukkah. I'll be traveling this weekend, but I've got everything set up for the kiddos to have a fabulous first night. We'll see if Mr. Not-So-SAHM is feeling crafty while I'm gone, but if I were around, these are what we'd have cooking!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Project 52 -- Week 48

These two help me out with a little bit of shopping after school.

Wonder at the Renwick Gallery

It's been quite a while since the kids and I've been to a new art exhibit or museum. In fact, I don't think we've done any art exploring since our trip to Italy. We'd planned to head down to check out the recently re-opened Renwick Gallery over Thanksgiving weekend, but everyone was too stuffed to do much besides lounge around. So we took advantage of an early dismissal yesterday and took a buddy with us to see what we would find at the opening exhibition Wonder. It might have been the best art exhibit for kids we've ever seen.

Winter Coat Faves

It might all be in my head, but I swear that the air gets a distinct chill just after Thanksgiving each year. And I feel the need to make sure our kiddos are sufficiently prepped for the cold weather on its way. I already bought each a basic winter coat for the playground, but I can't help but swoon over all the other outerwear out there. Much like last year, I'm eyeing sporty, dress, and novelty options for both. If we can just all agree ....

Cam's Picks

1 / 2 / 3 

4 / 5 / 6

7 / 8 / 9

Kane's Picks

1 / 2 / 3

4 / 5 / 6

7 / 8 / 9 

Project 52 -- Week 47 + Thanksgivings

Happy Thanksgiving from our turkeys to yours!! We are incredibly grateful for so many things this year and, as I did last year, thought it would be nice to share our thanksgivings. I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday -- we're staying put and having a small dinner with some family at our new home today. The kids appear to be unwilling to get out of pajamas. And I'm so, so glad. It's been a wonderful year, but a tiring fall to say the least. Here's to good food, family, and a little rest this holiday!

Rebecca's List

Arts
- Serial podcast (and Serial again and again)
- Sweetlife Festival with the kids and good friends
- All of our Italy trip, but especially the Borghese Gallery + Vatican Museums
- Banshee on Cinemax -- so incredibly violent and over the top, but we can't stop watching
- Kane's Picasso portraits

Food
- Open City brinners with the kids
- Successfully eating the ginormous Brigantine Sundae as a family at the end of summer
- Two dinners at L'abside in Amalfi
- Come il Latte gelateria in Rome
- Making Momfuku's 5.10 eggs on repeat at home
- The kids adding watermelon agua fresca to sell at our lemonade stand
- ABC Kitchen's Butternut Squash Toast (gahhhh! so good!)
- Hosting four dinner parties in four weeks (including today's Thanksgiving!)
- Successfully completing a Whole60 this summer -- can't wait to get back to it!

Places
- Taking the kids to the Metropolitan Museum of Art 
- Hense Graffiti Church 
- Jazz n' Families Day at the Phillips Collection
- Fossil finding at Flag Ponds Nature Park 
- Spark!Lab at the Smithsonian 
- Sandy Springs Adventure Park with Kane for a birthday party

Things
- My beloved Nespresso machine
- A new garmin running watch
- Our new house!
- This fantastic spiralizer
- My jade bracelet Joel brought back from China
- Our family moccasins from Positano
- Finally getting a new refrigerator!!!

Etc.
- Completing the New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge as a family of penguins (including the kids!)
- Finishing the manuscript of my first book!!! Publishing takes forever, but it's currently slated to be out in the fall of 2016!
- Finding and becoming obsessed with [solidcore] -- so good it hurts (or it hurts so good, too). And getting Joel to go with me yesterday
- Having both kids in the same AMAZING school, which means expanding that community we love and having one drop-off and one pickup!
- Project 52 
- Family board game night
- Running with the kids in Rock Creek Park
- Whip Nae Nae kitchen dance parties
- Cam coming up with Patterned Jumpsuit Day
- Being featured on Design Mom's Living with Kids series yesterday!!!

Vacation
- Our staycation last Thanksgiving
- Last Christmas in New York
- Spending a long weekend in Oak Park with my parents by myself
- Brigantine vacation with my parents, siblings and their families
- ITALY (you can see all our posts here)

The Kids' Lists (for some reason, these two clam up when I ask them for what they are grateful. And leave it to Cam for initially citing instead to a previously compiled list)
- Kane: "my family, love, friends, my toys, my house, so many LEGOs from Nona, my mom and dad, and Cami and that's it."

- Cam: "everything that's in my {thankful} book I made at school, D-Rock, Daddy, my mommy and daddy, letting me go to Amalfi and Italy. Isn't that enough?"

Living with Kids on Design Mom!

I'm so incredibly excited to share that our family home was on Design Mom's Living with Kids feature yesterday. I've been such a big fan of Gabrielle Blair and all her work at the intersection of parenting and design. It's such a treat to get to share our home and approach to living with kids (among a few other topics), so head over to check us out. Hope you love it as much as we do!

Salted Caramel Italian Cream Sodas

When I used to live in Seattle, Italian Cream Sodas were a regular beverage at coffee carts. I have no idea why, but they were. And I LOVED them. I don't think I've had even one since I moved to the East Coast forever ago, but I was telling the kids all about them this past summer and we decided to try and make them ourselves. I thought it would actually be a fun holiday drink for the kids to have on Thanksgiving, especially once I spotted the very fall'ish Salted Caramel syrup. Kane and I mixed up a sample yesterday and they were deeeelish! And so easy for kids to make, too. The syrup is pretty chock full of sugar, but you get a good taste using just a little. Go ahead and add the ingredients to one of your what is sure to be many grocery trips in the next few days!

Weekend Makes

I can hardly believe that Turkey Day is almost here. November has been a total blur! But if there is any holiday that calls for taking time to handmake some celebratory items, Thanksgiving is it. I also feel like we've been dealing with a lot of heavy stuff lately and trying to impress upon the kids the importance of being grateful in a serious way. So I'm looking to add a little fun back into the holiday (while still keeping the thankful spirit of course). Here's what we'll be up to this weekend in preparation for the holiday.

1 / these turkey "Mr. Potato Heads" are amazing and free! I'm definitely printing and cutting these for the kids to do next Thursday. 2 / keep the kiddos busy and get a cute decoration out of it too with this color-in banner. 3 / I still love our silly hats ideas from last year! 4 / I like that the size of the 3-D leaves on this grateful tree are just big enough to fit one word -- easy for the kids! 5 / I love this bright, mixed media art lesson on drawing a turkey. 

Project 52 -- Week 46

Cam got to sub in for Kane's flag football team last week and they had a big win. Must practice, practice, practice ....

Gingerbread Playdough

We've been on a much slower pace than in the summer, but we're still getting after our Fall Bucket List. We tackled a new gingerbread playdough recipe yesterday that made the entire house smell deeeeelish. And the kids loved decorating "cookies" for the bulk of an afternoon -- they felt like they were getting in on the holiday cooking, but managed not to leave me with an entire plate of cookies to eat. An all around win.

Fave Travel Activities, Games + Toys

Anyone gearing up for a little holiday travel? We're staying put this year, but given how much traveling we've done recently, I've got a good handle on what to bring for the kiddos that will minimize the number of times you have to hear "are we there YET?!" Here are my favorite activities, games, and toys that travel well -- most we have or I've seen in person and are on our holiday lists. Some you might even recognize from your own youth traveling days. You've still got time to stock up before Thanksgiving hits -- happy traveling!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 

5 | 6 | 7 | 8 

9 | 10 | 11

12 | 13 | 14

15 | 16 | 17 | 18

19 | 20 | 21 | 22

23 | 24 | 25

Weekend Makes

Have the holiday catalogs started to arrive at your home yet? They've been coming in faster than I can recycle them without the kids seeing in our neck of the woods. Thus the kids have been reading and marking, with various writing instruments and symbols, to let us know what they want and in what ranked order.

Part of me wants to put the kibosh on such practice for the mere fact that I find it bratty and entitled, the other really wants to know what they want so I can pass along their wishes to inquiring minds. They've both had heavy hands at the art and crafts items though, which always makes me happy. Particularly that they've each starred (in pen and pencil!), circled, and x'd a child's potters wheel. I loved throwing pottery when I was young, but I'd rather get them in a studio than practice at home. But it got clay on my mind. And therefore into the Weekend Makes. Here's to keeping their creative (rather than commercial) spirit going!

1 / Kane has been studying Picasso at school lately and has become obsessed with drawing "Picasso faces." This tree ornament project is right up his alley. 2 / I love this idea of saving your kiddo's doodles by transferring them to polymer clay. 3 / these clay beads are so simple, but look so great! 4 / these gold place cards are just in time for the holidays 5 / a hedgehog with organizational capability!!

Project 52 -- Week 45

The weather in DC has been oscillating between warm spring sunshine and cold fall rain. This particular day, it rained all. day. long. We spent lots of time exploring art materials from the depths our arts and crafts cabinet.

DIY Jewelry Box

Between my clean eating attempts and the kids growing at a ridiculous speed, we've been chowing through eggs at our house. I keep saving the cartons, hoping we'll have time to do something with them (like our egg carton spin flowers -- look how little those two were!). Cam grabbed one a few weeks back and decided to paint it and make a jewelry box. It turned out so cute and works perfectly to keep her necklaces from getting tangled, so I thought I'd share. I love when they come up with their own project ideas!

My Top 5 Products for Managing Girls Hair (without tears!)

While Cameron will never be tall enough to play center for a basketball team, she somehow managed to get a combo of our genes to score some fantastic hair. And since I am not winning in the hair department, I feel like I can say that. It might change, but so far she's inherited highlights I beg my stylist for and just the perfect amount of wave. But she likes her hair long and worn down, and that requires some management. Management she likes to handle all on her own, of course. So we've had round after round of trying out various tools and products to get her there.

Several people have asked me lately how she manages, so I thought I'd share! Not all of these will work for every hair type, and I recognize that many of these cost more money than I actually spend on my own hair products. BUT they last forever and it means she actually does her own hair without tears and without me having to redo it. So, it works for us.

1 / the Wet and Shine brush duo is an absolute necessity. These magical brushes work on any hair (and I insist Cam uses them on mine when she does my hair too -- no pain!)

2 / Cam sprays a little of this on wet hair if she wants to keep it wavy. It smells good and it means one less brushing session after her hair dries.

3 / this leave in conditioner works better than those kiddie sprays and leaves a little sparkle too. We've been on the same bottle for about two years.

4 / this hair oil works outrageously well and smells amazing. And it should. Because it's outrageously expensive. Cam uses just a little bit each day on dry hair, but it's especially good after she brushes it. But we have been on the same bottle for Cami going on a year and a half, so it's worth it. Sephora also sells a less expensive travel size of this Bumble + Bumble oil, which is our second favorite.

5 / the key to avoiding frizz in our house is to simply not wash your hair every day. So some nights we skip the shampoo and do a spray of this great dry product (I love it for my hair too, so we share a bottle).

Weekend Makes

We're kicking of fall entertaining season this weekend and gearing up for three dinner parties in three weeks. These are no kiddos invited meals, but that won't stop mine from getting in on the prep and decor. What can I say -- they like to party. So it's celebratory makes this week -- for the parents, but in which the kids can partake.

1 / a super simple metallic garland 2 / these are so cute and my guys would love attaching the rosemary for me 3 / I'd love to send dinner guests home with these cute fall treats 4 /  the kids have been asking me about my candle making supplies, but this DIY is probably an easier place to start 5 / love these apple votive holders. plus, ombre!

Project 52 -- Week 44

I get a tour of the kids' fort and "traps" while Cam nervously balances on one of their "ships."

Peppercorn-Crusted Tenderloin with Gremolata + 30 Days of Dinner

 

Oof. These past 30 days have been a bit of a killer on my meal planning. We've spent a ton of evenings out at social events and our refrigerator/freezer has been kaput for the past almost two weeks! It was theoretically fixed Monday (after the repairman being 2 1/2 hours late for the appointment and showing up, of course, 20 minutes before I needed to leave and get the kids for school), but still is not working. Shocking. Fingers crossed for today's now "emergency" appointment. 

In annnnny event, all of this has meant lots of eating out, ordering in, and easily fixed meals at home. So there's not all that many actual "dinners" in this 30 Days of Dinner. But we're powering through .... And the featured recipe is an absolute family fave -- lots of flavor, not a lot of work. Which also means not a lot of leftovers -- a huge bonus when you are using two wine fridges as your family refrigerator. We loved it so much that I made it twice this month. Give it a go! 

Peppercorn-Crusted Tenderloin with Gremolata 

(slightly adapted from Cooking Light)

Ingredients

- 4 (4-ounce) beef tenderloin steaks, trimmed

- Olive oil cooking spray 

- 2 tsp cracked black pepper

- 1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided 

- 4 teaspoons olive oil 

- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

- 3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro 

- 1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic 

- 1 tsp chopped fresh oregano 

- 1/2 tsp grated lemon rind 

- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 

- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper 

Directions 

1. Coat each steak with olive oil cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil; swirl to coat. Add steaks to pan, and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. 

2. Combine remaining 1 tablespoon oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, parsley, and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Serve with steak. 

*          *          *

30 Days of Dinner

Day 1(M) -- brinner/leftovers.
Day 2 (T) -- Bimbimap Bowls with cauliflower rice -- everyone loved this (so thanks, Darcy!! If you don't follow No Monsters in My Bed, make sure to check out her Meal Plan posts -- lots of good ones!)
Day 3 (W) -- leftovers
Day 4 (Th) -- Chinese takeout -- a sick Cam requested won ton soup, so we obliged.
Day 5 (F) -- Chicken Stew with Green Olives -- awesome recipe and the kids found it hilariously funny to watch me watch youtube on repeat to learn how to properly quarter a whole chicken. Plus lots of homemade yummy stock from the leftovers.
Day 6 (Sat) -- dinner out.
Day 7 (Sun) -- dinner out.

Day 8 (M) -- Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Pulled Pork Tacos -- I used this recipe (minus the brown sugar) for the pulled pork and added cubed butternut squash. Kids got tortillas, I used collard greens to make a wrap.
Day 9 (T) -- dinner out with local blogger friends Darcy and Linda at Rasika -- not Paleo :)
Day 10 (W) -- Sirloin and Potatoes with Cornichon Pan Sauce; Kale and Delicata Squash Salad.
Day 11 (Th) -- dinner out at a pro bono shindig where Mr. Not-So-SAHM received a well-deserved award.
Day 12 (F) -- dinner out at Nando's Peri Peri (I'm obsessed with their Nutty Date Chicken Salad)
Day 13 (Sat) -- dinner out at a school progressive dinner.
Day 14 (Sun) -- Chicken Escalopes with Olive, Caper and Tomato Dressing; Carrot and Cauliflower Mash

Day 15 (M) -- Peppercorn-Crusted Tenderloin with Gremolata; roasted sweet potatoes and carrots.
Day 16 (T) -- brinner.
Day 17 (W) -- Muffuletta Chicken and leftover veggies -- delish.
Day 18 (Th) -- dinner out.
Day 19 (F) -- Steak with Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute (such an easy fix for meat); roasted veggies.
Day 20 (Sat) -- dinner out.
Day 21(Sun) -- Lemon Chicken with Red Onion (sans sugar); roasted potatoes.

Day 22 (M) -- Italian Baked Eggs (sans cheese and bread); Balsamic and Olive Oil Roasted Cauliflower.
Day 23 (T) -- Paleo Burgers; sweet potato fries; and green beans.
Day 24 (W) -- leftovers.
Day 25 (Th) -- Slow cooker Maple + Dijon Pot Roast; Twice Baked Potato Skins (with regular baking potatoes and minus the sweets); Orange-Glazed Carrots -- this whole meal just tastes like fall and everyone chowed!
Day 26 (F) -- dinner out.
Day 27 (Sat) -- dinner out.
Day 28 (Sun) -- dinner out.

Day 29 (M) -- Back Pocket Turkey Bolognese over Spaghetti Squash "noodles."
Day 30 (T) -- Peppercorn-Crusted Tenderloin with Gremolata and roasted potatoes 

Spark!Lab at the Smithsonian Museum of American History's Hall of Invention and Innovation

There was a time not too long ago when the kids and I would spend days exploring the D.C. museums. We knew what time public parking opened up outside each one, the exhibits backwards and forwards, and where to get the best coffee. But as school and scheduled activities have expanded to fill their days, it has been years since we've seen the inside of some of our favorite museums. So we decided to spend one of the kids' recent days off checking out the new Hall of Invention and Innovation at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, which opened just this past summer.

Art Prints for Kid Spaces

It's been almost 9 months since we moved into our "new house" (I think it will always be "new" to me). We did a lot of work before the move -- renovations, decorating, furnishing .... At some point a few months in, I just lost steam. The main things had all been done and I was sick of architects, designers, contractors, and people in the house generally. Between that and the fact that we like to collect art slowly, our walls have largely remained empty.

And now I'm OVER that. But instead of going out and dropping large sums of money on art that we make snap decisions on (cause that would never happen, right?), we've been purchasing reasonably-priced prints that we might some day replace when we find that perfect piece. And the kids' areas are no exception. I've been combing online art sources for prints that work well in kid spaces, but that still work with my overall aesthetic. I can't buy them all, so I thought I'd share my favorites with all of you! Some we have, some are on my to-buy list. But all I love. Happy decorating!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

5 | 6 | 7 | 8

9 | 10 | 11 | 12

13 | 14 | 15 + 16

17 | 18 | 19 | 20

Weekend Makes

I can proudly say that I held off on buying Halloween candy until just a few days ago and it's been deeply hidden away, waiting to see the light of day until tomorrow. But, between our recent move to a more residential neighborhood and the kids finally being old enough, I think we're set up for some serious trick or treating this year. Which means that I also need a plan to deal with all the candy that is going to flood in after I hand out our stash (other than me eating all of it). Thus, candy Weekend Makes. Happy Halloweening!!

1 / love this idea breaking down Wayne Thiebaud compositions -- maybe a little advanced, but I think we could try it.

2 / use a small candy box to make an instant comfort box like this! I know one little lady that would love to have something like that at school.

3 / you'll have to adjust based on your candy haul, but I love the idea of this edible cell for a good science lesson.

4 / paint with Skittles!

5 / a good science experiment for the younger set -- will the candy sink or float!?

Project 52 -- Week 43

The kids had school off last Friday for parent-teacher conferences so we set out adventuring like the good ol' days. We stopped for lunch at one of our faves, DGS in DuPont Circle, and then had a glorious sunny time at the fountain for a bit.

Spooky Oobleck!

My guys have been chomping at the bit to make a fall sensory project (see our favorites round up here) and I thought it would be fun to loop in a little science at the same time (it's on our Fall Bucket List after all!). So we decided to make a batch of spooky oobleck!

Pumpkin Picking at Sharp's at Waterford Farm

I generally love adventures to new places, but I have to say, in the past several years, visiting farms for "you pick {insert seasonal item}" have been among my least favorite trips. I think it's the tendency of some of these spots to charge expensive admission fees, and then additional money for mediocre activities (like feeding overfed animals) that the kids beg for. And that doesn't even include the price for whatever you actually pick. Plus, crowds.

Weekend Makes

We're continuing with more spooky makes this weekend! Last weekend's STEM projects were a hit, but we've rounded up some great art makes to keep your littles busy. Happy weekend!

1 / we loved these monster collages we made a few years ago (perfect for that deluge of catalogs that I'm sure you've been receiving this fall too!) 2 / I love these playdough monsters 3 / spooky halloween trees with blow painting 4 / our edible jack o'lanterns are still a fave of mine 5 / spiderweb resist art! 

Project 52 -- Week 42

Oy this week. As it always seems to happen, things break or go wrong in clusters. Both our washing machine and refrigerator/freezer have broken this week. And it's got everyone in a funk. Oh well, thank goodness for laundry service and wine fridges! In any event, I didn't get a great photo of these two this week. This is this morning at breakfast, where I encouraged a little robot dance party to get everyone in a good mood.

Marble Monoprints

We've been making slow but steady progress on our Fall Bucket List and Cam was so excited to try out a new kind of paint printing. Inspired by the balloons at Kane's 7th birthday party, we set out to make a set of swirly marble prints. LOVE! Head over to Honest to Nod to see what's what with the what.

DIY Kiddo Costumes

It's almost here!! Are you ready? We're doing another family costume this year and there was no way I was making four costumes, so we've already purchased ours. But in case you haven't or you're not finding anything you like, here's a roundup of my favorite DIYs this year. Some are more realistic than others, depending on your DIY skills. But I love each of them!

1.  Kane would love to help customize a robot costume!

2. I'm kind of obsessed with Iris Apfel (have you seen the documentary about her? It's on Netflix, do it) and I think Cam could pull this off no problem.

3. Kane is all about b-boys at the moment. He'd dig this.

4. I'm pretty sure Cam would lose her mind if I could get it together to make her a sushi costume.

5. This looks like a really wearable pineapple costume (if that's even a thing).

6. Cotton candy love.

7. Who wouldn't want to celebrate a birthday on Halloween?

8. E.T. Yesssssssss.

9. The only thing better than a DIY LEGO costume is a StarWars LEGO costume.

Healthy Pumpkin Pie Smoothie!

Our kids have been total snack monsters lately. From the moment I pick them up from school until dinner hits the table, they are asking for something to eat. And I try to use this opportunity to get them to eat healthy things they'd otherwise leave on their plate. When I spotted this low-sugar recipe, I knew it would fit the bill for our fall smoothie bucket list item. It's an easy recipe that kids can help with and a great snack option!

Weekend Makes

Our kiddos are deep into Halloween mode. We finally have a home with a front yard to decorate and they've been adding and adding to it all week long. I cut them off from purchasing any more pre-made decor, so they've been working wonders on cardboard. Needless to say, I'm in the mood for some different makes this weekend. These Halloween STEM activities should do the trick!

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Project 52 -- Week 41

Technological connection.