Pirate Birthday Party : Eye Patches

My sweet boy turned 3 and wanted a pirate birthday party. 4 of his closest friends came over for dessert and ice cream, Zane hates cake so I did something creative for that. I'm going to share the different things I made for the party over a few posts so that one post doesn't become too lengthy.
My overall goal was to not spend a lot of money, big surprise! But also to keep things simplistic..this is a 3 year old's birthday party after all.
Also I didn't want to buy plastic crap to fill a goody bag and junk up someone's toy box.

So let's start with the party favor: eye patches! Every pirate needs an eye patch. Also it's a great item to add to any child's dress up box.

First, I drew a pattern out and cut 2 patches of black cotton fabric for each patch. I also cut a piece of thick fabric stabilizer to make the eye patch stiff. With right sides facing each other I sewed around the patch leaving the top open. Turn the patch right side out and insert the fabric stabilizer and fold the top inside the patch. Sew around the entire patch again, this closes the opening and attaches the stabilizer so it stays in place. Next cut a 1/4" piece of black elastic to fit a child's head, I cut mine at 17". Sew each end of the elastic to the eye patch. And your are finished!

Say what you mean

Since many people don't understand what it means when we tell them that Logan is autistic, I thought I'd share a snippet of our life. We were leaving the post office and Logan reached the door before I did. Another customer, a middle aged man, wanted to pass us and get through the door first. As he approached Logan he said "beep beep". Logan just looked at him confused. The neuro-typical people reading this already know what this man was doing...he's trying to relate to a child by acting like a car. And with most kids this works. But for autistic kids it doesn't, you have to say what you mean. Because Logan didn't move the man then said, "excuse me young man". Logan then stated very matter of factly, "I'm not a man, I'm a boy!". The man then replied, "yes...well..beep beep." By that point I was at the door and helped Logan stand aside to let him through. Once outside Logan asked "Mommy, why that man acting like a car with beep beep?"
"Well Logan you know how I honk the horn on the car to get people to move? Well sometimes people do it too for fun."
"but mommy..it's not funny."
"yeah Logan I think you're right. It's not really that funny at all huh?"
The man that was in such a rush to get through the door has stood on the sidewalk eavesdropping on our conversation. As I stood up from knealing to talk with Logan the man then says, "you deserve a metal!". I know this man probably thought he was being nice with this comment but I thought it was pretty rude. Why do I deserve a metal for answering my child's question? As if children should be seen and not heard..which I kinda have the feeling he would like things that way.
Since nothing gets by Logan he asks, "why you get a metal mommy?". Speaking loud enough so the man could hear I replied, "oh that man wishes he was as smart and patient as mommy that's all."
And with that I unlocked the car while Logan pointed to him and stated...rather loudly... "he's just jealous, mommy!"
"yes Logan, as everyone should be because I have 2 of the smartest and cutest kids in town."

Wonton Wraps

I tried wonton wraps for the first time last night and it was a hit! And overall the cost of dinner was really cheap for 2 adults. First I sauteed 1/2 a green pepper, 1/2 an onion, 2 cloves of garlic chopped and 1/2 a package of firm tofu cubed. Cook until the peppers are tender and the onion is translucent. Near the end of the cooking time I added 2 Tablespoons of taco seasoning. Using only 1/2 a package of wonton wraps I added 1 1/2 teaspoons of tofu mixture into the center of the wrap. Using water to wet my fingers to press the wrap closed. I then fried the wontons in oil until brown and crispy. Make sure to make all the wontons before frying. This is the part of the meal where I'll have to practice because I burned a few, but I was also trying to fill and fry as I went along and it's clearly not the way to go. Try this easy dinner on your family tonight.

Corie would be proud!

My friend Corie came to visit in May from Seattle, WA and brought her scrapbook tote knowing we would be scrapping every night. Which I think we accomplished, ok one night slipped by to a bottle of wine.
I was totally shocked that this tiny tote is what she uses at home to scrapbook too...it wasn't just the travel bag.
This idea of reducing my scrapbook supplies has just hung with me since May. I just can't seem to get it out of my head. And Corie did make fun of me a bit when she saw my "scrap stash". I am not a pack rat except for scrapbook paper. I don't know why, I have every intention to use every last tiny piece but because I put this pressure on myself I then am not inspired to crop. So....I did a major paper purge. I listed it all on freecycle and now some other scrapper is enjoying her new stash. And I am enjoying the very minimalist look on my layouts. I'm totally into the white space right now with accents. I know it's a phase but I'm really digging it right now. Thanks Corie for always being such an inspiration!

Gyminee.com

Gyminee.com is the exercise and nutrition website I've been waiting for for years. Finally, a free easy to operate food tracking application that is smart and functional. Gyminee is based on the oh-so-popular social networking model complete with personal profile and photo. You can have gymbuddies and join motivational groups.

Sign up for a free gyminee.com and you can track your daily food intake and have it automatically generated into easy to read pie charts that allow you to translate your calories into carbs, fat, and protein. In the workout area you can create exactly the workout you do now and track them. You can also search other peoples workouts to do yourself. These workouts are genius because most exercises actually have not only a description of how to do the exercise but a handy video demostration. Print your workout out and take it with you to the gym.
Gyminee also allows you to set goals for specfic exercises and track them on beautiful easy to read charts. The charts are my favorite part of the site. You can track your weight-loss or muscle gain through weigh-ins or by measuring specific body parts like waist, hips, and thighs.

I love just about everything about it right down to being able to track my nutrition on the go with the use of the iphone application. I've read zillions of magazine and web articles over the years and know from personal experience that fad diets don't work as well as simply keeping track and being accountable for what you are eating. I can only speak for myself, but when I know I have to log it later I am less likely to even look at the donnuts that a co-worker has brought into the office.

Quinoa, The Super Grain!

We have taste tested every gluten free pasta product on the market and hands down the winning pasta is Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta Shells. Quinoa pasta has a higher protein count than regular pasta.
What is Quinoa?
Quinoa stands alone as a complete protein grain and it's great for vegans and vegetarians to boost your protein intake. It supplies all the essential amino acids in a balanced protein.
I picked up a bag of the tiny grain, found where the dry beans are, at Whole Foods for $1.89. We only used one cup and we had enough for 4 servings. You cook it like rice and in 15 minutes it's done. Use it in place of rice or cous cous in your next recipe. It's good for you and it's such an interesting taste and texture. I predict it to become a staple in our house.

Patchwork & Crochet Baby Hat

I love to crochet hats for new babies. This one is made of cotton with a fun little patch of fabric on the front from my fabric stash. I turned the edges of the fabric in and hand sewed it on with embroidery floss.
Hopefully it will keep sweet, baby River warm this winter in the Pacific Northwest.

Free Summer Kid's Movies!

Who doesn't love the sound of that...movies and FREE!!! Regal Entertainment Group has free movies for kids all summer long. Here is what they say from their website:

When school's out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It's a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it's FREE! Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

My boys and I have enjoyed a few already, all are older movies. Last week we saw The Bee Movie, for example. But for us it's just the experience of going to the movies, sitting quietly, and if they get too antsy it's no big deal to walk out of the movie since you didn't pay for it.

Craftster.org Ring Stacker Toy Lamp

Unlike Gretchen, I am not an actual Mom yet. Just a CocktailMom.

Anyway, if I did have kids I would definitely make one of these Fisher Price Toys into a lamp. Congrats to all those that are making and showing us how to make them at craftster.org.

What time is it?

After our friend,Carsen, came to visit I knew exactly what I'd make her for her 5th birthday. Many times throughout the trip Carsen would ask "what time is it?", "how much longer?". Questions like these are a sure sign that your child is ready to start learning how to tell time. So I made Carsen a clock, printed on cardstock and laminated with moveable arms. I then made her a book with a blank clock on each page that she can draw the hands on for the time of the activity, which is printed on the page for her to trace. Oh I love things that teach more than one thing at a time and the kids don't even notice.

Art and Crafts Table

My kids needed a new art and crafts table. They have outgrown their small ikea table that barely can hold one kid's art. I was waiting to see a deal on craigslist and then one day I passed this table on the side of the road. I new with a cosmetic facelift it could work for my boys, so I rescued it from the trash. It's an art table afterall, it's going to get painted on and glue spilled on so why spend a ton of money on a piece of furniture that is just going to get messy. As it should.

Now with a little paint and an oilcloth cover the boys have plenty of room to create their latest materpiece or have a dinosaur war where the dog won't eat the pieces.

My first quilt

My latest sewing obsession is quilts. I'd love to have a quilt on every bed in our house, I love that Bed and Breakfast feel a quilt can give to a room. But here's the deal...I don't want to buy any fabric to make them. I want to make quilts the way they were made during the depression era, using scraps of fabric from sewing projects and old clothes. I've scored some great fabrics on freecycle too. My first quilt was made for Dharma's crate. Now on to bigger ones!

"Slightly Lighter" Pittsburgh Salad

I have jokingly referred to the Pittsburgh region (my childhood stomping ground) as "The Beer-Gut above the Bible Belt". I love the food there, but it is not known for sprouts and avocados. In fact, one of the most famous restaurants in Pittsburgh is a sandwich shop called Primanti Brothers which is know for putting the coleslaw and french fries directly on the sandwich.

Another dish that I have only see in da 'Burgh is the Pittsburgh Salad. Traditionally, the Pittsburgh Salad is grilled flank steak, cheese, and hand-cut french fries served over a variety of greens and other sliced and diced veggies topped with a heavy French or Ranch dressing. Not exactly the healthiest salads.

At my house we have grilled chicken salad if not every week, then every other week. This is usually and a spiced grilled chicken breast served on whatever veggies we have in the house topped with fresh vinaigrette and served with whole wheat pita, rolls, or bread (whichever I have on hand). But this morning when I was taking a chicken breast out of the freezer to thaw, I noticed that I had some Alexia Sweet Potato Fries in the freezer as well and decided I needed to make a lighter version of the Pittsburgh Salad.

I started with a bed of Romaine lettuce and topped it with the following veggies carrot ribbons, diced green pepper, thinly slice red onion, sliced cucumber, and a hand full of canned chickpeas. Then I added the sliced grilled chicken and oven baked sweet potato fries. Finally, I dressed it with a simple white wine vinegar Dijon vinaigrette. Yum! OK, yes - I missed the hand-cut deep fried french fries a tiny bit. But this version of my basic chicken salad really jazzed up was could have been another ho-hum weeknight dinner.

Crafty Superheros!

I can not take credit for this idea. When I saw this post on Blue Yonder I knew I would have to try it. My sons' love of superheros meets mama's love for crafts! Sounds like a day in heaven for everyone. Many hours were spent flying around the living room and creating forts and tents out of blocks and scrap fabric. I love this organic type of play that doesn't involve character laden plastic toys. So on the next rainy-boring-kids are climbing the walls- day you have, pull out some wooden clothespins and create a whole new town of people.

Basic Blueberry Muffins

Now that blueberries are in season thought I'd share with you my favorite recipe for a basic blueberry muffin. This recipe will make 12 regular size muffins or 24 mini muffins.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Coat muffin tin with vegetable oil or butter.
In a large bowl combine everything except the blueberries until it is no longer lumpy. Gently fold the berries into the batter and stir. Fill each cup 3/4 full. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes.