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Monday
Dec042017

Keepsake Ornaments

How our tree has grown since the kids have come into our lives.  Each year, as we put up our tree, we take time to look at the ornaments that we have collected over the years.  There is the one we got for a wedding gift, our first home, baby’s first Christmas times two – one pink and one blue.  We have received some ornaments as gifts over the years as well.  There are ballerinas and Legos, drum sticks and running shoes.  Our tree tells a story of us, our family. 

Every time we visit a new or interesting place, we try to pick up a souvenir ornament in the gift shop. It is a great way to remember some of our adventures.  Some years, the kids have made beautiful keepsake ornaments at school.  I also like to make a few at home.  The salt dough handprints are my absolute favourite.  I try to do them every couple of years as the kids grow.   Last year we decorated shells from a trip to Mexico and this year we are making  time capsule ornaments for the year 2013! 

Time Capsule Ornament

You will need:

A clear plastic ornament (available at craft stores)

You child’s school picture

Paper

Small piece of ribbon

Modge Podge

Sponge Brush

I started by helping the kids to write out their memories and milestones from this year – what grade they are in, their teacher’s name, their best friend, favourite book and tv show, trips we took and what they did for their birthday are all  good things to record. You could also print these out on the computer.

I gently took the top off the ornament by squeezing the metal prongs. Then I cut the lines of printed memories into strips and slipped them into the ornament and replaced the top.

MITK Tip:  Buy more than one ornament.  You never know!

I cut the school picture into a circle and painted modge podge on the back to stick it to the ornament.  Then I brushed another layer of modge podge on the edges of the picture and smoothed it out with my fingers.  Once the edges dried, I brushed another coat of modge over the entire photo. 

I topped it off with a pretty ribbon hanger.

Salt Doug Hand Ornament

This is what you need:

4 cups of flour
1 cup salt

Food coloring
Large Mixing Bowl
Water to moisten
Cookie sheet
A little oil
Small rolling pin
A drinking straw
Ribbon
A plate for a guide
Paint to decorate

This recipe will make three ornaments.

In your mixing bowl ~ gradually blend in your flour & salt with water to make the dough. 

MITK tip *Remember to add gradually, because you can always add more water but it is hard to take it away.

Divide dough mixture into three parts, lightly oil the cookie sheet, form and roll out dough. Be sure to make the dough thick enough to form the handprint.

Use the drinking straw to put a hole in the top for the ribbon. 

The best part is letting the kids press their hands into the dough to make their prints.

Place in a 150* degree oven for an hour. Or you can air dry overnight  for 24 hours.

Once dry, paint or decorate as you like. 

Shell Keepsake Ornaments

This is a simple way to keep memories of your family vacations.

While away on vacation last year, we collected shells on the beach.  I tried to find ones with holes in the top to make it easy to hang them on the tree.  When we returned from our trip, I tucked the shells into the Christmas box. 

What you need:

Shells

Ribbon

Sharpie

Sparkly paints

All you need to do to make this holiday ornament is to write the name of the place where you collected the shells and the year.   With writing on the shell, I gave the kids some sparkly paint and had them decorate as they liked.  Last, I tied a pretty ribbon to the top to ready them for the tree.

I hope that you and your family will enjoy creating these ornaments for your tree and that you will continue to add stories as the years go buy.

 

Happy Holidays. 

Monday
Oct162017

Happy Halloween

  Halloween is one of my absolute favourite holidays of the year.  I just love the costumes, the parties, the decorating and pumpkin carving and best of all the little trick or treaters.   Over the years, I have written countless blogs and appeared on various shows sharing some of my best ideas and inspiration with you.  This year, I have assembled some of my favourite blogs and updated my annual lists of pumpkin patches and events.  Look for me on this year on CTV Morning Live and Rogers TV for this year’s latest Halloween tips and tricks.              

plan a party spooky events Mountain View Mountain View
Sunday
Oct082017

Thanksgiving Desserts

Wednesday
Jun282017

Summer Must Haves

School’s out and kids are looking forward to lazy days, action packed-adventures, summer sports, water play and exploration.  Mom in the Know has some tips on making this summer a fun one.  Make sure that you have this year’s must haves ready before the last school bell rings. 

Start with a bucket list

Work together to make a family summer bucket list using materials you have readily available at home.  It can be as simple as a pad and paper.  You could also use sand pails, clothes pins, popsicle sticks or jars and paper.  Post it notes also work well for this.  Leave the bucket in a place where everyone can see it and add to it as they please.

Make Active Easy

Make sure your kids stay active this summer by keeping outdoor sports and fun equipment close at hand.  I leave all of the essentials just outside my door in a big basket.  You could include

 

Mom in the Know’s Summer Must Haves

 

 

Cubby Cubes for Packing

Mables Labels

Sparkle Sunscreen

Buffs

Twiga Clothing

Floating Sunglasses

Dry Towels

 

 

 

 

Tuesday
May162017

Hacks to Prevent Bugs

 

The Basics

With the onset of the warm weather comes bug season.  Little pests of all kinds wreak havoc on our early summer outings, play dates and get togethers.  Don’t distress.  A few quick tips will help you to keep the bugs and bay and get you on your way to enjoying a glorious start to the summer season. 

Mosquitos love dark clothing and they love yoga style, tight pants.  To deter the bugs, wear long, light baggy clothing in light or white colours.  Choose long pants and long sleeves when you can. 

Did you know that blackflies gravitate to the highest point of your body – behind your ears and neck?  If you get caught in an area where there are quite a few blackflies buzzing around, put your hand in the air.  The flies will go to your hand where they are not likely to bite.

In the Yard

The best way to keep the inset population in check is to plant an organic garden and flowers to attract birds and other insects that will eat the bugs.  Songbirds feed loads of insects to their young and to themselves.  Woodpeckers and other cavity nesters such as nuthatches, and chickadees also eat insects.  Remember the  Basicstoads, snakes, bats, dragonflies and spiders and you have a great defense against the summertime bugs. 

*The best bloom to attract songbirds in cornflower.   Hummingbirds love coral bells.   Along with the organic garden, you may want to consider planting insect repelling herbs such as lavender, thyme, mint and citronella near the patios and use fresh plants as bug repellent in a pinch.    

Here are a couple of great recipes for natural bug repellents.

MOSQUITO YARD SPRAY

Big bottle Blue cheap mouthwash

3 cups of Epsom salts

3 stale 12 oz cheap beer

 

Mix those three ingredients together until salt is dissolved and spray anywhere you sit outside. It will not harm plants or flowers.

NATURAL BUG REPELLENT CANDLE

2 lemon wedges

2 lime wedges

Mason jar with water

fresh rosemary

7-10 drops of lavender essential oils

floating candle

Ticks have emerged as a real problem lately.  Kids love playing in the leaves and grasses that can be heavily populated with ticks which can cause Lyme disease.  Make sure your kids are covered up if they are out playing or walking in wooded areas.  If you think you have been exposed to ticks, be sure to check for tick bites on your scalp, ankles, armpits, , l and behind your ears and knees.  Wash yourself right away and launder your clothing including drying in a hot dryer.  Don’t forget to check your pets. 

Here's the recipe from Dr. Marie Matheson (Lyme Literate Naturopathic Doctor):

  http://hamptonwellnesscentre.com/dr-marie-matheson/

100ml spray bottle

30 drops Solvarome essential oil blend by Seroyal

10 drops Bergamot essential oil

Top up the rest of the bottle with water

Optional: 4 citronella essential oil for mosquitoes

To remove an attached tick use fine-tipped tweezers or tick remover (can be purchased at most pet stores) at the surface of the skin as soon as you notice it.  Pull upward with steady, even pressure.  If tweezers are not available use a tissue to protect your fingers as exposure to tick fluids may lead to transmission of disease.  Try not to twist the tick because you do not want to break it and leave any parts in the skin.  Do NOT burn the tick off with a match or lighter.  Do NOT try to suffocate the tick with petroleum jelly or oil – this will cause the tick to regurgitate its infected guts and saliva into your body increasing your chance of getting the disease

Let’s not forget the fruit flies.  The best way to avoid the flies or course is to keep fresh produce covered and sealed.  If you do happen to get a few in your kitchen, try this quick and easy recipe and can be left on the counter to collect the flies.

 ·         red wine vinegar or red wine

·         sugar

·         drop of dish soap

Add water to create bubbles. That is what traps the fruit flies.

Using pesticides is tempting to get rid of nasty bugs but you could also be killing the useful bugs.  Here are some planting tips from Canadian Wildlife Federation. http://cwf-fcf.org/en/explore-our-work/connecting-with-nature/in-the-garden/cwf-day.html