Marshmallow Snowmen.

In honor of Northern Virginia's Last Snowfall of 2014 (hopefully), I wanted to share these cute little Marshmallow Snowmen.

Nye-Nye made them way back in December, but I never shared them. My Mama was visiting and had great fun making her own.

All you need is a bag of large marshmallows, tons of tooth-picks, pipe-cleaners, markers and some white glue. Cloves are optional.

We stuck a tooth-pick (or 2) connecting the head to the belly. Then another tooth-pick (or 2) from the bottom up to the belly. 

More tooth-picks became the arms. 

Cloves made nice eyes, noses and nipples (totally my then 2 1/2 year old's idea).

Nye-Nye had a terrific time wrapping the pipe-cleaners into scarves and adding details to each face. 

I twisted pipe-cleaners into a loop and stuck the on top of each head, so we could hang them from our Christmas Tree. 

They kept coming apart when we hung them, so I just added some glue between each marshmallow. Problem solved.

Can't wait to make another set next year!

U.S. Botanical Gardens. "Seasons Greenings" Ends Jan. 5th.

Photos don't do this Exhibit justice. It's phenomenal and jaw-dropping to see, no matter what your age. We went on perhaps the worse day to go (the Saturday before Christmas, on a gorgeous 70 degree kinda day). We ended up waiting in line for 45 minutes, but it was well worth it!

All of the building in the World's Fair Model Train Room and the National Mall Monuments Display are all constructed out of foam and then completely covered in plant material. Pine Cone Scales, Willow, Screw Pods, Grapevine Tendrils, Acorn Caps, Corn Husks, you name it...they used it. Wild!

Several parts of the Model Train Room reminded me of little Fairy Homes. Perfect for any families interested in the Waldorf Tradition.

If you hurry, you can still catch it. Closes on January 5th!

You can find out more information here.

The Most Popular Christmas Book at Our House

Cats and Christmas? Add an interactive Pop-Up Book and you have an unbeatable combination. At least, in the eyes of my 2 1/2 year old. 

Nye-Nye got this book as a Gift from her Auntie Julie and Cousin Nia last Christmas. She was too young to gently pull all the tabs last year. 

Now it's PERFECT.

It's getting LOTS of Love every single day. She's only torn one small section and that was easily repaired with some glue.

Neither of us have gotten tired at finding all the different ways this group of cats get into mischief. Knocking over stuff, hiding in boxes, pulling off ornaments...they remind me of my 7 month old.

The design is terrific, the illustrations charming. As someone who has hand-made several books, I am impressed with the quality of this book.

My favorite page is when the exterior of an entire house that Pops up...complete with a Santa diving into the chimney. Very cute.

There is only a sentence per 2 pages, so it doesn't take long to "read" the book, even when you spend a minute or two playing with the various tabs. (A must on some nights when Mommy and Daddy are tired and we don't want to spend 15 minutes reading ONE BOOK).

This book has now officially become part of our Family Christmas Tradition.

Thanks Julie and Nia!

Here is my Affiliate Link to The Curious Cats' Christmas A Pop-up Adventure!  

Gifts to Make. Infused Vodka.

What's a terrific adult present for that person who has EVERYTHING? A beautiful bottle of Infused Vodka.

(Thanks Elyse for the inspiration)!

Papa Bear and I experimented making several flavors this Summer. We both really like the taste of the "Lemon Verbena and Cinnamon Infused Vodka." With our first batch, we kept the Cinnamon Sticks in for 3 days (3 sticks in a large Ball Jar) and I think that was a little bit too long. I think two days is perfect.

We also have also made some Lemon Balm and Black Tea Infused Vodka. I love Black Tea, so this one was my favorite.

I'm thinking of making a "Cranberry and Lime Infused Rum" and maybe adding a little Black Tea. For Thanksgiving, my Mama always makes a Cranberry Punch with some Black Tea. A little Rum to it always takes it up a notch. 

Cranberries, Lime, Black Tea and Rum...sounds like a perfect combination to me. I've read that when infusing with Cranberries, the longer they sit the sweeter the drink. At least a week, maybe two. I better get cracking!!!

Gifts To Make. Play Silks. Ages 2-7.

If there is a Kiddo on your Christmas List who is really into Imaginary Play this be right up their alley.

It's one of the coolest Craft Ideas I've seen in awhile. Cheap, easy and encourages Open Ended Play. It's so worth making yourself and NOT buying.

Kool-Aid, White Vinegar and boiling water...how hard is that? The hardest thing for me was tracking down some Kool-Aid.

I bought several plain white silk scarves from Dharma Trading Company. The cheapest was about $2 and the largest one was $8. I don't even want to think about how much the large one would have cost, if I bought it from a Waldorf site.

It took less than an hour to "dye the Playsilks" and was very straight-forward. (The biggest issue was a whiny Toddler who wanted to stir the boiling water).

I would think this would work as a present for both Girls and Boys up to the age of 7 or so. Especially if you dyed a really large scarf or two. A cool tent, or curtains for a theater...the possibilities are unless!

This could also work as a gift for that person in your life who ADORES scarves as a fashion accessory. It would be a fun activity to do with an older child.

Nice tutorial here.

Wonderful photos with another tutorial here.

Happenings.

Sorry things have been a bit quiet around here.

I have had the best intentions. But, between committing to going to bed earlier. And, not having had a car to drive to the Gym (where I do most of my writing, while the girls are in Kids Club) has meant, I haven't had the time to write all the posts I've been planning.

Here is a post of some of my Gift Ideas from the past.

I spent the first week of December frantically organizing the house for a walk-through by our Landlord that never happened. The threat of somebody snooping through our closets and storage areas was enough of a push to get me to FINALLY go through all our boxes.

The Great News?

What was found?

A pair of rain pants, a pair of heavy SmartWool socks and an eye mask. All things I was going to ask for Christmas.

The missing wheel for a piece of furniture we had borrowed from my Mother.

A metal antique hand-washing station that we had borrowed from my Mother.

A photo of Nye nursing in the bath-tub.

Baby Indian clothes for Bright Eyes to wear.

We'll been battling the sniffles and a cough around these parts. So, I've been making some "Elderberry Kombucha" and my first batch of "Lacto-Fermented Cranberries" (packed full of Vitamin C).

I've been making tons of soups and made my first attempt at "Lacto-Fermented Green Beans" which were devoured by my Husband and my Eldest in a blink of an eye. Yummy!

Our Christmas Calendar has been a success and has helped even my Grinchy-self get more in the Holiday Spirit! Hope to share more soon!

A Post-Nap Surprise

It worked out well. The Christmas activity of the Day 2 was to buy a Christmas Tree.

Papa Bear came home early on Day 2 and brought home a tiny living Christmas Tree. He hid it in the Play-room. After waking up from her nap and giving her Daddy hugs and kisses, she opened up the Day 2 of the Advent Calendar. They went hunting for the tree. The excitement of her finding the tree was contagious. 

Our activity for Day 1 of the Advent Calendar was to "hang the Stockings." Unfortunately, only one Stocking could be found, so we hung some Ornaments instead.

The Christmas Tree with be decorated, a few Ornaments will be made and hung and maybe a Christmas Wreath and then I think that will be it for this year's decorations.

If you celebrate Christmas, are you finished decorating?



Our Homemade Christmas Calendar

 

December, already?

How did that happen?

This year I figured the Kiddo was old enough to understand an Advent Calendar. Of course, I remember that I wanted to do one the last night of November. Three or so hours later, this is what I had...

Not sure if it's going to survive all that daily handling required. But, it didn't cost any money, so I am pleased. Plus, I really like it's Handmade quality.

I was inspired by the blog Morning Creativity. Happy December! Can't wait to share my ideas for this Month's Theme.