Create-Celebrate-Explore

Project 366: Week Three

 

 

January 15: Los Angeles - We took another drive along the coast up north to Los Angeles and enjoyed a lovely dinner with good friends. We were driving at sunset on a drizzly evening and I love the colors in the sky in this shot.

January 16: Decorating - Marisol loves her room.  It's almost finished.  We added decals to her walls, turning her light into a flower and adding mushrooms and grass to the base of it while her wise old owl looked on.

January 17: Taco Tuesday - Do you celebrate this each week too? We love Taco Tuesday.  Sometimes I'll make tacos and quesadillas at home, other weeks we will go out to eat, or pick up take out at our favorite little place Cotixan.

January 18: Reading - I have started reading again in the evenings.  It is on my 40 by 40 list to read 5 books in the next 6 months.  I finished my first book already, Special Delivery by Zoe Barnes.

January 19: Field Trip - We went on a field trip with the Kinder class to Souplantation, where the children were all encouraged to try a new vegetable, learned about the benefits of eating fruit and veggies, and made yummy pizzas (which had to include veggies) for lunch.

January 20: Walking - A friend started a little walking group for a few of us.  Our goal is to take 10,000 steps a day.  I'm not doing so well.   It's only been a week though so I won't be too hard on myself. 

January 21: My fortune - I was styling a table setting for Chinese New Year.  We ate a lot of fortune cookies.  This was my favorite message.  I would like a vacation.

Documenting our day.  For 366 days.

Photographs taken with a combination of Camera+ and Instagram iPhone apps.

You can view full-size images and keep up with my Project 366 on Flickr

Rusty and Rosy: Monster Fun

Do your kids love adorable monsters like mine do?  Come over to Rusty and Rosy where we are getting our monster groove on with some Dancing, Reading and Writing with the Boogie Monster.

Rusty and Rosy: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Looking for some fun activities to do that are inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar?  Come over to Rusty and Rosy where I'm sharing some fun crafts and activities you can do with the kids.

Make and Takes: Reindeer Ears

The kids and I made reindeer ears before decorating our Christmas tree today.   Aren't they adorable!

They are from my friend Marie's new book Make and Takes.

This book would make a wonderful holiday gift for your child.  Package it with some supplies to make some of the craft projects.  It also makes a wonderful teacher gift as there are 50 kid-friendly craft projects (and a sprinkling of food crafts) for every month, season and main holidays.

Make and Takes is available at all major book stores and online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Wiley.com. 

Take a look at some of these other fun crafts you'll find in there:

 

If you are looking for a wonderful creative resource, check out Wiley Craft and follow them on Twitter.

Disclosure: Marie had a copy of the book sent to me to review ... and my kids are very grateful.

Rusty and Rosy: Pinkalicious Crafts and Activities

Do you have a little girl who loves Pinkalicious? Pack up a copy of the book along with the crafts and activities I have put together over on Rusty and Rosy.  This will make a wonderful holiday gift that she is sure to love.  Don't forget the pink cake mix along wtih an apron and chefs hat too.

Use these ideas for a Pinkalicious birthday party too.

Rusty and Rosy: Book Inspired Crafts and Activities

Are you looking for activities and crafts to do with your child that are inspired by their favorite books?  Please let me know over on Rusty and Rosy where I will be sharing ideas.

Pumpkin Cake Pops

I've been wanting to try my hand at making cake pops for the longest time but had no idea how to even begin.  Coincidentally I was sent a copy of Crazy for Cake Pops recently to have a look at.

So I made these.

I think they turned out pretty cute, for my first try.  A couple of them developed cracks.  I'll have to master the art of how to prevent this.  The instructions in the book were so easy to follow though, and I think I may become slightly addicted to making these now that I know how.  I need to try a few more from the book though before I venture out on my own and come up with some new styles.

Title: Crazy for Cake Pops

By: Molly Bakes

Publisher: Ulysses Press

RRP: $14.95 (Amazon)

 

Disclosure: I received a copy of Crazy for Cake Pops from Ulysses Press

On my nightstand

Last year my reading list was, let's say, non-existant.  You see I posted a 'On my nightstand' book list in October 2009 and apparently that is all I read last year.  This year I vow to read and read and read.   There is nothing quite like curling up in bed and unwiding with a book and a glass of wine. 

Already this year I have read The Bookshop on Jacaranda Street by Marlish Glorie.  And I loved it.  It was such an easy read.  Next up:

Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster

See Mom Run by Beth Feldman

Special Delivery by Zoë Barnes

Shearwater by Andrea Mayes

Dune Road by Jane Green

And yes, I loved all of the books that I read on my last list.  It took me a while to get into both Cannery Row and A Million Little Pieces, but once I did, I couldn't put them down.

Do you have any suggestions for when I finish these?  I would love to know what you have been reading.

Key Lime and Graham Cracker Gelato

Savvy Sassy Moms hosted a fabulous Swanky After Hours Party at Blogher10.  It was in the penthouse suite at The London, which was absolutely amazing.  I could live there.  Really I could. 

The party was sponsored by Ciao Bella Gelato and Zulily (which has become my FAVORITE on-line place to find clothes for the twins - just this week I purchased a knit jumper for Flynn and ankle boots and a dress for Marisol.  A couple of weeks ago I bought her a gorgeous princess costume, but shhh, it's for her birthday).

But back to the event.  There was gelato in swanky martini glasses, a fun raffle, and lots of laughs with my San Diego friends.  And one of my favorite things, the spoon (see right).  You couldn't get into the party without it.

As we left the party, we were given a bag of goodies.  One of which being the Ciao Bella Book of Gelato and Sorbetto.  I've always wanted to make homemade gelato.  I made it my mission to do so.

I decided to try the Key Lime and Graham Cracker Gelato.

Oh. My. Goodness.  It was the BEST gelato I have ever tasted ... if I do say so myself.  Even the twins who normally only like chocolate or vanilla tried it and almost licked their bowls clean.

Next up. Rasperry Sorbetto.  If the kids would stop eating the raspberries as fast as I buy them.

Homemade ice-cream is such a fun idea for an ice-cream party, a dinner party, girls night or even a warm sunny day treat.  

Scholastic and the City

A visit to the Scholastic Headquarters and store proved to be quite the event for bloggers in New York City.

We were greeted by Ms. Frizzle and rode to the event in yellow school buses.

We met wonderful authors.

Raina Telgemeier and Elisha Cooper

And favorite characters.

Ms. Frizzle, WordGirl and Clifford

And caught up with our friends.

Marie (Make & Takes), Amy (Mom Spark), Cheryl (Twinfatuation)

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast.

We learned all about Scholastic.  The new books.  The favorites.  And how Scholastic benefits children, teachers and schools.

And we left with a big bag full of books.

If you pop over to the Scholastic blog you will also find their recap of the event, blogging tips from a few of us who attended (feel free to add your own in the comments) and view photographs on their Flickr page.