Christmas 2014

Banana, Egg and Oatmeal Pancakes

 

        Ingredients

 

              1 banana

              2 eggs

              1 pack instant oatmeal 

 

        Instructions

                   

             Mix ingredients in a blender or food processor

             Heat a large skillet over medium heat

             Lightly coat skillet with cooking spray or vegetable oil

             Pour about 1/4 cupfuls on to hot skillet
             Cook until edges are dry and flip with a spatula 
             Cook other side until golden brown
             Makes 6-8 pancakes

 

 

 

 

Halloween Books for Kids

Summer is officially over and Fall has now begun! With only six days till October, Halloween will be here before you know it. While you wait for its arrival, you can build anticipation with some fun Halloween movies and books...I have put together a list of a few favorite Halloween books that are sure to get the kids excited for the upcoming holiday!

 

The Night Before Halloween by Natasha Wing

 

Where's my Mummy? by Carolyn Crimi

 

Wee Witches Halloween by Jerry Smath

 

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

 

Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson

 

The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat by Stan Berenstain

 

The Bones of Fred McFee by Eve Bunting

 

Goodnight Goon by Michael Rex

 

Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell

 

Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting

 

Trick -or- Treat: A Happy Haunter's Halloween by Debbie Leppanen

 

H is for Haunted House: A Halloween Alphabet Book by Tanya Lee Stone

 

Halloween Night by Marjorie Dennis Murray

 

Dracula and Frankenstein Are Friends by Katherine Tegen

 

Just Say Boo! by Susan Hood

 

The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt and Tony DiTerlizzi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall books for kids

 

Summer is almost over, and there's no better way to welcome the new season than snuggling up on the couch and reading fun, fall-themed books! We have been visiting the library weekly scouring the shelves for good reads. I have put together a list of our favorites so far.

 

 

(This book was not in the list originally because it was just recently released but we were able to order it from the Scholastic Reading Club flyers)

 

 

Pippa the pumpkin fairy by Tim Bugbird

 

 How many seeds in a pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara

 

Let it fall by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

 

Leaf trouble by Jonathan Emmett

 

The very best pumpkin by Mark Kimball Moulton

 

How big could your pumpkin grow by Wendell Minor

 

Fancy Nancy and the Fall foliage by Jane O'Connor

 

When the leaf blew in by Steve Metzger

 

A friend for all seasons by Julia Hubery

 

I know it's Autumn by Eileen Spinelli

 

Patty's pumpkin patch by Teri Sloat

 

Fletcher and the falling leaves by Julia Rawlinson

 

Pumpkin pumpkin by Jeanne Titherington

 

 

Fall Decorating

The temperature is still in the hundreds here in Arizona but that's not keeping me from preparing for fall. I hope I am not the only crazy one trying to make my place all cozy and autumn-y even though its 110 degrees outside. If the stores already put out the Fall/Halloween stuff then its okay to start decorating, right? Some small stuff we've done so far...

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Fall Activities (Fall Bucket List)

1. Visit a pumpkin patch 

 

2. Go on a hay ride

 

3. Get lost in a corn maze  

 

4. Make a fall dessert

 

 

5. Carve a pumpkin...or two...or three 

 

6. Make pumpkin spice white chocolate

 

7. Have a Halloween movie marathon

(list of family Halloween movies)

 

8. Make s'mores

 

9. Go to the park and enjoy the autumn weather

 

10. Make Fall/Halloween crafts

 

 

11. Make warm apple cider

 

12. Make or pick out Halloween costumes

 

13. Treat yourself to a Starbucks seasonal drink

 

14. Go Fall clothes shopping

 

15. Put up Fall/Halloween decorations

 

16. Make a pumpkin spice body scrub

 

17. Buy seasonal candy/treats

(orange cream oreos, candy corn, pumpkin spice m&m's) 

 

18. Go to the library and find fall themed books

(list of fall books for kids)

 

19. Have a Halloween breakfast

 

20. Go to a local fall festival/event

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Dry Shampoo

 

 

So far all of my attempts to go no 'poo have been unsuccessful. I can't seem to make it past the first couple of days. My hair becomes an oily mess and it looks like I haven't showered in weeks. I recently came across a dry shampoo recipe on Pinterest and wanted to give it a try. I have never used dry shampoo but I thought if it works well, it could help with my no-pooing. This is the recipe I used for my dark brown hair.

 

2  Tbsp cornstarch

2  Tbsp cocoa powder

1  tsp cinnamon

 

I mixed the ingredients in a small bowl and emptied the final product into a clean e.l.f. powder container. You can store it in a mason jar, salt shaker, empty spice bottle... I just like the convenience of using a loose powder makeup container and a makeup brush to apply it. So far it has been working very well, I can go about 5 days with out washing my hair and my daughter says my hair smells delicious!