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Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

All You Need is Love...& It's Playtime


Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.  Tonight, I have to finish my 5 year old son's Valentines because his attention span is all of 1 minute.  He wrote his name on 1, that's right, 1 Valentine out of 24.  But this week on It's Playtime, all you need is.....

This fun Love Painting was shared by Seattle Area Lifestyle Photographer.  It's creative, messy, and perfect for sharing on Valentine's Day.

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."  


These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 
Now, on to this weeks play date! 
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :
* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.
* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!


* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.
* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)
* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.

Valentine's Day with a K.I.S.S.


*This post contains affiliate links

I see all over the web families who go crazy for every holiday.  While there is nothing wrong with that, after all, I've been known to do the same, something can be said for keeping it simple.  I've had a number of years where money was an issue.  I couldn't run out and buy my kids candy, cookies, stuffed animals, etc.  Pinterest wasn't popular and life was crazy busy.  Instead, I had to keep it simple.  Show my kids that Valentine's Day is about love, not about candy and stuffed bears.

Heart pancakes are incredibly easy, cheap, and what kid doesn't love a shaped pancake?  You don't need a fancy pancake maker to get them.  I use large cookie cutters.  You can use a pancake mix or you can make them from scratch (see below for my recipe), which is not as difficult as it sounds.  Once you are ready to cook, spray the cookie cutter(s) with cooking spray and place them on an oiled, hot pan. Then pour your mix into the molds.  Don't pour too much or they'll be really thick and take forever to cook.  When the first side is browned, gently slide the cookie cutter off the cakes and flip.  Beware, it will be hot!  Repete as necessary.

Simple Pancakes:
1 c all purpose flour
1 tbls sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 c milk
2 tbls oil
Red food coloring (optional for V-day)
Whip cream and holiday sprinkles (optional)

Combine all ingredients (except whip cream and sprinkles) in a mixing bowl, stirring until blended but still slightly lumpy.  Place heart-shaped cookie cutter on a hot, slightly oiled griddle or skillet.  Pour batter into mold.  Amount of batter will depend on size of cookie cutter.  Cook until surface of pancake is bubbly and the edges are dry.  Flip and finish browning.  Makes 8-10 standard-size pancakes.  Serve with syrup, fruit, or whip cream with sprinkles.        

What's a good pancake without a cold glass of milk?  Valentine it up a bit by serving pink milk.  You could buy strawberry milk or you could simply add red food coloring to the leche of your choice.

See?  Even on a budget, Valentine's Day can be fun.  And of course, don't forget the hugs and kisses!

XOXOXOXOXOX

 

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Heart Project: Sharing Our Hearts For the AHA



I've learned over the past year that blogging can create community.  And when you have a community, great things can happen.  The Heart Project is a great thing.

The Heart Project is a collaborative project created by Jamie @ hands on: as we grow  in support of her husband's 4 year old cousin, Ellie (read her story here), and realized by over 70+ bloggers from all over the world.


What is The Heart Project?
The Heart Project is a beautiful book of over 100 heart photos relating to projects with children in mind.  These projects were either developed for kids, created by kids, or made for kids and cover a wide range of subjects including art, crafts, cooking, and home decore.
Here is an official sneak peak:


See those waffles?  I am thrilled to be a part of this project!

So, What Can I Do?
You can donate of course!  The ebook is available with a $5 donation to the American Heart Association (AHA).  
Add to Cart
You'll have these wonderful projects right on your computer and can feel good you contributed to a worthy cause.  But you must hurry, this book is only available for donation through the month of February!  


Bonus Donation!!!!
For every book sold this month, craftprojectideas.com will donate $1 (up to $500).  So for your $5 donation, craftprojectideascom will also donate $1.  Isn't that awesome?  Don't forget to leave them a thank you note on their Facebook page!
craftprojectideas.com showing the love
BUT Maybe you'd rather have a printed copy of the book.  A book to share with your co-workers, family, friends, etc.  A book you can place on your coffee table and feel good about.  For $20 (+ $3.59 S/H) your can receive a beautifully printed, full color, 8.5"x 8.5" edition for your home, office, school, etc.  $5 of every book sold will be donated to the AHA. But you must hurry, this book is only available for donation through the month of February!  
US $20.00
Order the Printed Version

Of course, you can also make a donation without purchasing the book.  

And There is More!
Auctions and giveaways galore.  We want to thank Melissa & Doug as well as Fudoo Boards for the wonderful sponsorship!

Fundraiser Auctions:
♥  All proceeds of each auction will go to the AHA  ♥

Melissa & Doug -  4 Trunki with Teddy Bear Auctions!

  1. Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10
  2. Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10
  3. Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10
  4. Trunki with Teddy Bear, ends Feb 10


Fudoo Boards - 3 Fudoo Board Kits for Auction!
  1. Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10
  2. Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10
  3. Fudoo Board Kit, ends Feb 10

And check out these great daily giveaways!

Heart Project Participants
hands on : as we grow
♥
A Little Learning for Two♥ Among Many Blessings
Angelique Felix
♥
At Home with Ali♥ Broken Treasures
Busy at Home
♥
Busy Kids Happy Mom♥ Carrie Saindon's Photo Journey
Child Central Station
♥
Classified: Mom♥ Classroom Magic
Creative with Kids
♥
Creativity My Passion♥ Critters and Crayons
De Tout et de Rien
♥
Dilly-Dali Art♥ Dinosaurs & Octopuses
Excited 2 Learn
♥
Hand Over the Cookies♥ Handprint & Footprint Art
Happy Hooligans
♥
Heart Journey♥ Imagination Soup
Jamie's Jumble
♥
Kitchen Counter Chronicles♥ Kreative Resources
Let Kids Create
♥
Little Illuminationss♥ Living Montessori Now
Loudness of the Lambs
♥
Love and Lollipops ♥ Mama, hocemo nesto da pravimo
Mama Pea Pod
♥
Mama Smiles ♥ MemeTales
Messy Kids
♥
Mindful Meanderings ♥ Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Mommy Labs
♥
Mommy Perks ♥ Mum Paints Lives
Mummy Mummy Mum
♥
My Creative Family ♥ NurtureStore
One Artsy Mama
♥
Peace Love & Rainbows ♥ Play Dr Mom
Putti Prapancha
♥
Rainbows within Reach ♥ Reading Confetti
Ready. Set. Read!
♥
Red Ted Art ♥ Sense of Wonder
Share & Remember
♥
Stacy Molter ♥ Sun Hats & Wellie Boots
Teach Preschool
♥
The Artful Child ♥ The Chocolate Muffin Tree
The Craft Barn
♥
The Educators' Spin on It ♥ The Golden Gleam
The Imagination Tree
♥
The Iowa Farmer's Wife ♥ The Joy of My Life
The Kids Fun Review
♥
The Outlaw Mom Blog ♥ The Preschool Toolbox
The Seeds Network
♥
Toddler Approved

Our group goal is $1000!  Help us reach that!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

From the Heart Waffles


Breakfast is the favorite meal in our household, especially on weekends.  I make crepes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and waffles.  So this morning I asked my son what it was he wanted me to cook.  I suggested blueberry pancakes but he said, "no, blueberry waffles".  We haven't tried this before so it was worth a shot.

As I was making the waffles, I thought about how I could make them special.  My son, like most kids, loves when I make cut-outs of anything.  I remembered I had a great big heart cookie cutter in the cupboard, perfect for a big waffle.

Once the waffles were finished baking in the waffle maker, I carefully peeled them off, placed them on a flat surface, and pressed the cookie cutter down to create perfect heart-shaped waffles.  I set the trimmings aside because in my house, waffles are snacked upon all day long.

My son was thrilled with the fun shape, so much so he didn't want me to cut it into bite size pieces.  Unfortunately for him I had already covered them with syrup and didn't want him using his hands (which he did anyway).  He also wouldn't let me take a picture of him enjoying the yummy creation.


Here's what you'll need:
Waffle Maker
Bowl
Whisk
Wooden Spoon
Butter or Cooking Spray

For the Waffles:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups milk
1/2 cup cooking oil
1 cup or so blueberries (frozen or fresh)

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.  Stir mixture first with a wooden spoon, then with a whisk until all ingredients are well combined.  Do not overmix!  Batter should be slightly lumpy.  Fold in blueberries until well combined.

Coat waffle iron with butter or cooking spray.  A heavy coat will be needed because the blueberries stick!  The size of your waffle maker will determine the amount of batter you pour onto the grids.  I use about 1 cup (my maker is on the larger size)

Cook your waffle according to manufactures directions.  Use a fork to remove waffle off the grid.  Place on a flat surface and cut waffle with desired cookie cutter, in this case, a heart.  Serve with butter, syrup, blueberries, whip cream, or any other topping of choice.

And of course, serve with LOVE.

Recipe variation based upon:
"Waffles." Recipe. Better Homes and Gardens: New Cook Book. Iowa: Meredith Corporation, 1989. 152-3.

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