Crafts & Activities
Spookalicious Spiders!
Posted on October 30, 2011 by Jacquie DanforthI use the Nutrition First Brownie Mix to create this fun and simple Halloween treat. The ones pictured here use thick black licorice cut into thin strips and Skittles™ Candy. They are much scarier using shoestring licorice ropes for legs and Red Hot™ candies for eyes!! 
- 1 package NF Brownie Mix – Prepare according to instructions on package (you need 3 eggs + 8 tbsp margarine);
- 4 Black Licorice shoestring ropes (cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces);
- Red Hot™ candies for eyes;
- Unsweetened strawberry or raspberry jam.
Prepare Nutrition First Brownie Mix according to instructions on package.
Using 3/4 oz scoop – deposit brownie batter onto lined baking sheet – flatten each dollop with the back of a spoon.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool and remove from baking sheet.
To make spiders, spread layer of jam onto the bottom surface of one brownie, place 4 licorice spider legs on each side and top with a second cookie. For eyes, use a dab of jam to affix two Red Hot candies to top of spider.
Makes about 15 to 18 brownie Spiders.
Halloween treats are everywhere! What do you do in the last week to prepare?
Posted on October 27, 2011 by Jacquie Danforth
With Halloween just around the corner, I was pretty sure we’d completed just about ALL the Halloween preparations possible: Carved Pumpkin…. Check…. Halloween themed baked goods in cupboard…. Check….. House Decorations…. Check……. Costumes….. check. And then my kids noticed the Haunted House gingerbread kit at the local supermarket as we ran in to pick up some bananas. I have to hand it to the guys that make up the seasonal marketing displays – they really know their audience. And so after much pleading, we left the supermarket this afternoon, not only with the bananas in hand, but the kit as well!
Add an impromptu invite to my best friend’s twins for some afternoon fun, and we were able to throw together a last minute Halloween Haunted House preparation party, complete with four little white ghosties working as a team to get the job done. Honestly, I think the four of them ate more of the decorations than they put on the walls of the house, but it did make for a great time… and my son was quick to point out that “eating the candy pieces was really the idea Mom!”.
Hope your last minute preparations go well no matter what’s on your calendar this week!
Keep Active in Fall and Winter Months With Indoor Activities
Posted on October 26, 2011 by Jacquie DanforthIt’s easy in the summer months to keep your kids active with so many outdoor activities to choose from, but what do you do when the weather turns wet or cool to keep your kids moving. In our house, each fall we pull out the schedule from the local recreation center and chose a program or two to keep us moving. For my son, its swimming and wall climbing. For my daughter, its swimming and dance. I also like to add in a Sunday skate whenever we can to be sure we also get moving as a family!
Keeping fit is easy when it’s fun. Teaching your kids to get moving early makes it easier for them to enjoy a lifetime of fitness through physical activities they’ve grown to love. Pretty soon they’ll be getting out and getting active all on their own, having adopted exercise as part of their daily lives. There’s no better way to prepare your kids for a lifetime of healthy habits.
It’s off to swimming tonight for us. A refreshing break from the pandemonium of a house ready and waiting for Halloween!
Another Rainy Day = Our First Family Library Trip!
Posted on October 24, 2011 by Jacquie DanforthWith my workout done early, and not much of a chance to get in outdoor activities with the rainy fall weather, I asked my kids for some ideas on what we should do. We all like to get out and about on the weekend whenever we can. 
I expected to hear requests for skating or swimming, two activities we do regularly in the fall and winter months, but was delighted when my son said, “at school, we’ve been learning about the library”.
And there it was, our afternoon plan. We suited up in our rain gear and off we went to the local library. It was going to be an especially fun trip for the kids who would receive their very first library cards.
As a child and teen I spent a lot of time in the local library. A voracious reader, it was the best way for me to have lots of material at low cost, and it gave me an appreciation for a vast array of literature, as well as a keen respect for books that I still hold today. It was also my first introduction to book clubs, a really enjoyable past-time which still makes up part of my social calendar. It’s wonderful to sit with a diverse group and share opinions on great stories of all topics. Next week’s discussion novel is “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” and I am already into the thick of this endearing love story.
We were lucky enough to arrive at the library just in time for a new members tour and the kids were amazed at the selection of books and activities. With their new library cards in hand, they set out to find the right books to bring home. It was a wonderful afternoon of learning and reading. As we all checked out of the library with our choices my kids asked me why I had not told them about the library before, and I could tell they were hooked.
With time left to make a special dinner we all agreed on “make your own pizza night!” It’s quick because I use my bread machine to make the dough and its fun because we each top our own shell. Add a salad or some fresh cut veggies and it’s one of my kids favorite high fiber meals!
1 Dollar Goes a Long Way on a Rainy Day!
Posted on October 20, 2011 by Jacquie DanforthWoke up this AM and it was raining and cold. A big change from the start of the week. No doubt, our planned trip to the zoo was off. I always love trips to the zoo with my kids. With all the walking, not only can I get a good workout, but it’s extremely entertaining each and every time for all of us.
When I told my kids the afternoon trip was a “no-go”, my son asked if we could go to the dollar store instead. He had been saving his weekly allowance, most of which goes into the bank, but he reminded me we had not yet deposited last week’s earnings. Taking it one step further, in an effort to persuade me to say yes, he even offered a dollar for his sister to spend. Who could say no to that?
So after school, off we went to the local dollar store. With so many things to choose from I was surprised when my son picked a set of clay animals to paint, and my daughter, a mosaic. No objections from Mom, and home we went.
I baked some Nutrition First brownie spiders (I’ll publish the recipe and a picture on the weekend!!) and the kids spent the rainy afternoon on their arts and crafts. Who knew a canceled trip to the zoo could be so much fun, and cost so little.
Whatever you do on your rainy days, keep the dollar store in mind for a quick craft fix!
Trick or Treat – Our Front Porch Pumpkin Carving
Posted on October 15, 2011 by Jacquie DanforthI had what I thought was bright idea after work today and asked my kids to pick out the stencil for our front porch pumpkin. Figuring it would be a fun way to spend the evening, I found some internet sites that had various stencils we could print out, and let the kids browse until they found something they liked. Unsure what to expect, I was surprised when they called me over to announce their choice. Immediately I knew I was in for more than I’d bargained for.
My son told me “It’s perfect Mom! Just in case someone forgets what to say when they ring our doorbell for candy”. The logic of a 5 1/2 year old.
So off I went to print out the stencil and I left the kids to prep the pumpkin. They washed and dried the pumpkin to be sure we had a clean working surface, and I set out a work area, covering the floor with garbage bags to keep the mess to a minimum. We got out our trusty pumpkin carving set, and after I’d cut an opening at the top, I let the kids scrape out the seeds and stringy stuff, saving the seeds to we could roast them later for a crunchy school snack.
Then I set to work, using my black marker to trace around the paper stencil I’d cut out and taped onto the surface of the pumpkin. (My daughter helped with the tape job just to be sure it was firmly in place.) I always scrape the surface area I’m going to carve on a bit thinner than the rest of the walls so that my utensils have an easier job cutting through the thick pumpkin shell. Makes it easier for the kids to help too. Once the design was on, the carving began. I let my son work on some of the larger cut-outs, using our little serrated pumpkin carving set. My daughter was “too tired” after scraping the insides and the massive tape job, so opted to act as the project foreman.
Little by little we completed the design and slowly but surely, our pumpkin transformed itself into something we could all be proud to display on our front porch.
Bed time was a bit later than usual as a result of the well-deserved round of milk and chocolate chip cookies, our prize for a job well done. As I was tucking my daughter into bed, she asked me if the kids would like our pumpkin even if they could not read what it said. Smart little thing… I wonder if we’ll have to carve another one!!
Autumn Crafts For The Kids!
Posted on October 8, 2011 by Jacquie DanforthBusy work for busy hands = simple autumn crafts!
The sun was shining brightly this morning without a cloud in the sky. The perfect day for a nature walk, followed with some autumn crafts. With my nephew also here this morning along with my own two little ones, at ages 3, 4 and 5, it always helps to combine some outdoor activity with busywork to keep little minds occupied and the house disaster free!
Our walk by the lake allowed us to gather some lovely fallen leaves – just right for creating pretty fall pictures to hang around the house.
Here is what you need:
- Large sheet of paper
- Brightly colored leaves
- Elmer’s clear glue, rubber cement or a glue gun
- Brown paint and brush
- Pencil
You can use one of two methods to create your tree trunk:
(1) Lay your arm flat on the paper from the elbow up and spread your fingers to create “branches” – then trace your arm with a pencil, and use the brown paint to fill in;
(2) Paint the inside of your arm and your hand (from the elbow up) with washable finger paint, and press onto paper to create the tree and branch impression.
Next – glue your freshly gathered leaves to the tree trunk using glue or a glue gun (adult supervision required) and voila! Instant fall art to brighten up your home.
Was a fun afternoon around here for everyone… hope you also get a chance to get out and enjoy the beauty of Fall!
Hold onto summer as long as possible!
Posted on September 15, 2011 by Jacquie DanforthThis past weekend, in honor of warmer than usual temperatures for September and a series of sunny days in the forecast, we decided to make one last excursion in our RV before the leaves start to turn in my neighborhood. It doesn’t take long once the days get cooler for fall to start creeping in… and with an unusually beautiful weekend in the forecast, the last minute trip to the mountains seemed like a good idea.
I won’t pretend to be an avid “outdoors-woman”. Sure, growing up I had my fair share of mountain climbing, nature hikes, wilderness camping trips and bicycle treks; packing in only what I could carry and coming out days later exhausted, hungry and looking for a hot shower! Those were great times and great experiences, but I’m older now and with two small kids, I thought we’d ease into the “campout” concept with our new RV.
So, we hurried to pack it up Friday, and off we went failing to consider that the rest of the RV-owning population might have exactly the same idea. Never-the-less we found a campsite and made camp, setting up what we’d need for meals cooked on the open fire, and checking local maps for short day excursions that the kids could manage. Even though we brought the RV, my kids were determined that I cook all our meals over a fire. It certainly made for some interesting menus!! After a couple days you run out of things you can cook on a stick! Kabobs are one super option if you prepare in advance.
It was a lovely weekend all in all with some short nature hikes, cycling up the trails and a few deliciously roasted marshmallows to top off the day’s efforts. Saturday morning I made Nutrition First pancakes on a griddle over the flames for breakfast, they actually tasted even better than usual because we ate them overlooking a lake and the mountains.
Already this morning the weather has turned quite a bit cooler so I’m happy we put in the effort to enjoy one more summer weekend. If fall is coming shortly your way, make sure to make the most of it too!
