DIY Cooking at Home

Hi there! I want to share one of my family's favorite summertime traditions with you today: drive-in movies! If you're lucky enough to have a drive-in close to you ( here's a list ), I highly suggest this great family activity! But there are some things we've learned over the years that make it a LOT easier and more enjoyable. First off, put your kids in PJs. The movies typically don't start 'till about 9:30 EST and if your kids are young, they're probably gonna zonk out. One thing that makes me crazy is that they won't want to brush their teeth when you get home, and after all of the popcorn and sweet stuff they eat at a drive-in... well, it may seem like overkill, but I have them give their teeth a good brush before we leave home. If it makes you feel better, throw a bottle of mouthwash in the car! It's easy to skip brushings during the summer, but Aquafresh® toothpaste reminds us that sugar acids aren't good for our teeth, so it's impo...

Hey, hey, how was your holiday weekend? I know. It's Tuesday. I just had to have a day to recoup from our big Fourth of July party this year so I cleaned the house and took a break from blogging yesterday. I'm here today, though, to show you how easy it is to make these concrete leaf stepping stones. I was inspired by ones I found on Pinterest and featured in my roundup of DIY Concrete Projects . Although I couldn't find step by step directions, I figured it wouldn't be too hard, so I gave it go, and now I know...there's no need for step-by-step directions. It's so easy! My whole family got in on this project one rainy Sunday in the garage and it was a lot of fun. Concrete Leaf Stepping Stones Nap Rating = 1 nap (not including cure time) Tools and Materials Large leaves (ours were about the size of dinner plates) 2-3 bags of Quikcrete (we used 3 bags to make 7 stones) 5 gallon bucket Paint stirrer Large pieces of cardboard Trowel or handheld garden spa...

Hi there! Our family went to see Inside Out at the drive-in movie theater last weekend and it was so fun! Ok, there were a few hassles: it rained, so we all had to pile into our Subaru (cozy!) and we spilled snacks (more than once). But other than that, we had a great time. The next day, I made these snack trays out of cereal boxes to help with spillage the next time. Here are the instructions for how to make cardboard snack trays for the kiddos. I'm betting these things will be a lifesaver. It's really hard to keep track of everyone's drinks and avoid spills during a foray to the drive-in, so these should definitely help. Cereal Box Snack Trays Nap Rating = 1 nap Tools and Materials Empty cereal box Duct tape Scissors Ruler Red Sharpie Utility knife Paper lunch bag Chalkboard labels (optional) Steps Cover the cereal box with strips of duct tape. I wanted ours to resemble red and white striped popcorn containers, so I used white duct tape, but you could pick out ...

Hi there! Hope you had a great weekend! So if you follow me on Facebook, then you might have seen that our youngest broke her arm about a week ago. What a way to start the summer! We had big plans. Now I'm kinda scrambling to figure out how to help her have a great summer anyway. Doctor's orders are for her to keep 2 feet on the ground, meaning no swings, scooters, slides...sigh. She can swim (it's a waterproof cast) but only in chlorinated pools and only if it's just light splashing around. In her words, "all the boring stuff." So, I've been brainstorming for ways to fill our hours. If you have a child with a broken arm this summer, maybe you'll find it useful! Take a hike (a light one) and collect nature specimens. Look for wildflowers and press them in a book when you get home. Use the pressed wildflowers to make notecards, bookmarks or a suncatcher . Pack a picnic and go outside to eat. Can't do a playground? Go to a river or la...

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you get to enjoy a parade somewhere today to honor those who've fought for our freedom. I just want to spend time with my family today, so I'm keeping this short but sweet, with an emphasis on the sweet. Here is a reprint of two s'more recipes we've tried and loved. If you make either of these today, make sure you get the camera out...pictures of the kids eating s'mores are always keepers. Cinnamon Toast S'mores Cinnamon graham crackers Marshmallows (I burnt mine a little which just added to the toast-y flavor, I think) White chocolate chips Butterscotch chips ...and these... Peanut Butter Cup S'mores Graham crackers Marshmallows Mini Reeces' Peanut Butter Cups

Happy Labor Day, lovelies! I hope you've got some fun plans for the day. I think we're heading out after I write this post and finish my coffee...maybe for a hike, maybe to an antiques festival...and hopefully we'll stop for lunch for somewhere. Don't you just love a 3-day weekend? If you DON'T have plans for the day, might I suggest this fun family activity? Go for a walk and collect some leaves (they're getting ready to fall in our neck of the woods), and then make these pretty stepping stones that would make a great addition to your yard. Thanks to Garden Therapy for the inspiration and directions...I have just the spot for these!

We got a little crazy with the s'more-makin' while on vacation this year. I packed up a variety of chocolates for a little experimentation, and wow, did we hit on a coupla winners. Of course, we had the good ol' fashioned kind, and then we made these... Cinnamon Toast S'mores Cinnamon graham crackers Marshmallows (I burnt mine a little which just added to the toast-y flavor, I think) White chocolate chips Butterscotch chips ...and these... Peanut Butter Cup S'mores Graham crackers Marshmallows Mini Reeces' Peanut Butter Cups Although school has started for most of the country, it's not too late for a campfire and some end-of-summer fun with the kiddos. Make sure you get the camera out...pictures of the kids eating s'mores are always keepers.

We are on vacation at Lake Michigan this week, so I thought it only fitting that this week's craft be vacay-related. I posted about alternatives to scrapbooking and time capsules quite awhile ago, but stumbled upon this version of a vacation memory jar by Echoes of Laughter and thought the idea beared repeating. Creating one of these would give you and your family such a tangible memory of your time together, not to mention a grouping of them would look fab on display somewhere. We have our vacation pictures tucked away in albums or even (I should be ashamed) still on our camera; but, this idea would put happy reminders of our time away together right up front and center. This would be something our kids could enjoy helping with, too. Love it!

In our house, Easter is only one of the major holidays taking place this weekend. The Masters golf tournament is on, and this--not the resurrection of Christ our Lord--is the event that heralds spring around here. Oh, I jest. But seriously, it IS a big deal for my husband, and I have to admit, I enjoy watching it, too--especially on Sunday. The scenery of that course alone is worth it, like this one from the famous Amen Corner. One day Eric's gonna get to go down there to watch a round, but in the meantime, I'm going to keep making egg salad sandwiches, which are apparently quite famous as the go-to snack at Augusta National. Awhile back, I looked up the recipe and I've been making it like this ever since. Augusta Egg Salad 6 hard boiled eggs, peeled and sliced 1/2 c. mayonnaise 1/4 c. sweet relish 1/2 stalk celery, finely chopped 1 tsp. mustard onion salt to taste Mix well and season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar So who's going to get the green jacket? ...

Yes, we've had 80 degree days here in northern Ohio already this year, but call me crazy, that just felt a little freakish. I prefer seasons to feel like they should, thank you very much. This week, the wind is cold but the sun is shining, and all is as it should be in April. So, the girls and I pulled on some rain boots and jackets, and armed with scissors, my camera, and a basket, we trekked out to the back yard to cut some daffodils. As the girlies have gotten older, devoting time to my projects and pasttimes has gotten a little easier (in some ways.) That is, I no longer have to figure out how to do everything one-armed because I have a baby on my hip; however, I DO have to worry about their safety as they get braver and more independent, and I DO have to break up squabbles more often. (As in, "Mama! I sat on the counter the last time we baked. It's MY turn to stand on the chair!") But nevertheless, I love to involve them when I can, and turn my projects i...

Looking for ways to enjoy the Christmas season with your kids? I never seem to have a problem coming up with ideas, but it always seems we run short on time to fit it all in. So we started a new tradition this year: the Christmas Jar. I cleaned out an old olive jar and removed the label, tied a red ribbon around it, and cut up slips of scrapbooking paper on which to write activities. I let the girls draw a slip of paper from the jar on the mornings when I know we can devote some time to something fun and Christmas-y. I don't strive to fill each day with something, because sometimes we're busy enough with just regular tasks and appointments. So the night before, I stategically select 3 or 4 things I know we can accomplish. That way, whatever they pick will fit into our day instead of the other way around. This also lets me take into consideration things like weather. Anyway, here are the ideas I used: Have hot chocolate Take a drive to see Christmas lights Buy candy cane...

Now, that our Halloween hangover has passed and what's left of the candy has been stashed in the pantry, I'm ready to tackle the next holiday. We're hosting Thanksgiving for my husband's side of the family this year, which has spurred on a myriad of projects, not least of which is a built-in in our foyer to house coats and purses. More on that later. But for now, check out my Pinterest board for Thanksgiving table and craft inspiration. Here are some of the ideas: This table is more formal than what we'd do, but oh how gorgeous it is. I love the addition of blue to the fall-ish color scheme. This guy would be a great way to get the little ones involved in decorating the table. Love, love, love, brown transferware. These pictures would be nice year-round but are particularly nice for the dining room on Turkey Day. In case you can't read this, it says: "It's not having what you want. It's wanting what you have." A good reminder... Love this...