Flour children

One way to get a rise out of your child is to mix up a batch of craft dough he can turn into a family of stand-up dolls and pets. Once they're baked, he can outfit his collection by painting on features, clothes and accessories.

To make the dough, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of water in a mixing bowl. Knead the dough until it is smooth and rubbery.

For each doll, first form a head by rolling a piece of dough between your palms (it should be roughly the size of a Ping-Pong ball). Make a second, slightly larger ball for the torso. Or, if you want to dress the figure in a skirt, shape a triangular trunk. Press the head onto the torso, applying a few drops of water to make the dough sticky, if necessary.

Next, shape and attach cylindrical arms and legs. Pinch the lower ends of the legs to form feet. Attach ears and a nose, and use a toothpick to etch facial features. Bake the figures on a foil-lined cookie sheet for 1 hour in a 275-degree oven. Remove from the oven and set aside until cool enough to handle.

Now your child can fashion footwear for his dolls by flattening pieces of dough into thin circles and wrapping them around the feet. (Remember, the bottoms of the shoes will need to be level for the figure to stand up on its own.) Use the same method to craft a wig for the doll's head.

Bake the figures for an additional hour. Let them cool before painting (acrylics work best). Unbaked dough will keep in the refrigerator for about a week.

Find this article and more at http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf87project/famf87project.html

You can do what with baking soda?

You can do what with baking soda?
By Mandie Stevens

Of course you know you can bake with baking soda, and you probably know you can add it to your washing machine to give your laundry detergent an extra boost but here is a list of uses you may not know!
· Puts out fires in clothing, fuel, wood, upholstery and rugs.
· Adding baking soda to your laundry helps get out grease and oil!
· Baking soda removes stains from marble, Formica, and plastic surfaces when you make a paste by adding water.
· Add it to your kitty litter to help with stinky odors!
· Sprinkle in the bottom of your dishwasher to help with odor build up and also run a cycle with baking soda instead of soap to give your machine a good cleaning!
· Keep drains clean and free flowing by adding 4 tsps of baking soda in the each week. Flush it down with hot water.
· Soak your shower curtain in water and baking soda to clean them.
· Take ½ tsp of baking soda in ½ glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heart burn!

You can even use baking soda as a deodorant, to relieve canker sores, or to gargle with to freshen your breath and keep your mouth clean!

Mandie Stevens is a mother of 2 and owner of www.takingtimeformommy.com Be sure to sign up for the newsletter to receive new articles weekly!

Faux Fish Sticks

What's for dinner this April Fools' Day? Cookie fish sticks and tart taffy peas.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	Cornflakes
	Sugar wafer cookies
	Peanut butter
	Green taffy candy (we used green apple AirHeads)
	Seedless strawberry jam

1. For the fish sticks, place a couple of handfuls of cornflakes in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Cover 2 sugar wafer cookies with peanut butter, then toss them in the cornflake crumbs to coat.

2. For the peas, tear off and roll small pieces of the taffy candy into balls. If the taffy is too stiff to work with, microwave it for about 6 seconds.

3. For the ketchup, use a fork to stir a few teaspoons of the jam until it's smooth.

Find this fun recipe and more at http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=52139

They grow so fast

My one and only baby is 15 today. He is grown so much this past year especially the last 6 months. Not only is he taller than I am he is looking so grown. The hair above his lip is darkening, his voice is changing. He doesn't look like the boy I still see him as.

When you are with your children daily, you don't see the changes as clearly as others. Just suddenly one day you think my goodness you have grown. Sometimes it takes you back a bit when you suddenly realize they grew before your eyes and you didn't even notice. Doesn't make us a bad parent. We just want to harness those special years.

I think ahead to 1 year from now. In a year he will be driving, have a job, maybe a girlfriend. His 10th grade year will be coming to an end in 1 year and the decisions about his future will begin.

His time as my baby is coming to a close. In 3 years he will be a legal adult and ready to make decisions for himself. That day will come with great pride as well as great sadness. We spend 18 years teaching our children how to be the person they will one day become. We hope and pray we did all we could and hope not to look back in regret for what we were not able to do. We hope and pray they will understand why we said no to so many things. One day they will understand.

Backyard Bird Feeder

Spoon-feed your winged neighbors with this
homemade birdseed dispenser.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Clean 1-liter soda bottle
	Craft knife
	2 wooden spoons
	small eye screw
	Length of twine for hanging
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Start by drawing a 1/2-inch asterisk on the side of a clean 1-liter soda bottle, about 4 inches from the bottom. Rotate the bottle 90 degrees and draw another asterisk 2 inches from the bottom. Draw a 1-inch-wide circle opposite each asterisk, as shown.

2. Use a craft knife to slit the asterisk lines and cut out the circles (a parent's job). Insert a wooden spoon handle first through each hole and then through the opposite asterisk, as shown.

3. Remove the bottle cap and twist a small eye screw into the top of it for hanging.

4. Finally, fill your feeder with birdseed, recap it, and use a length of twine to hang it from a tree.

Find this and more at http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11737

NEW Message Board

I have opened a brand new message board - Liv's WAHM Blog Message Board. Come learn how to build your business and share your experiences. While other message boards for WAHMs are there to socialize and advertise, we are here to teach and network. While we have areas for you to socialize and interact with other WAHMs, our focus is coming together and learning what it takes to become a successful business. Find tips, articles, and support. If you are currently a work at home mother or looking to become a work at home mother, this is the place for you.

Come join us at http://livswahmblog.proboards.com/index.cgi

Spring No-Snow Globe

Here's a twist on the traditional snow globe: fabric flowers, plastic figures, and a pinch of glitter in a recycled jar celebrate the coming of the warmer season.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Clean jar with lid
	Fabric flowers
	Small plastic figures
	Hot glue gun
	Floral wire (optional)
	Glitter and confetti
	Teflon tape, also called plumber's tape, found in hardware stores
	Scissors
	Green paper
Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours

1. Turn the lid upside down. Loosely arrange the flowers and figures on it, periodically placing the jar over the items to check for fit.

2. Use the hot glue gun to adhere the flowers and figures to the lid. To attach the butterfly in our globe, we first hot-glued the figure to one end of a piece of floral wire, then hot-glued the wire's other end to the lid.

3. Fill the jar with water to within a half inch from the top and add the glitter and confetti.

4. Dry the rim of the jar and wrap one layer of Teflon tape around the threads to ensure a leak-proof seal. Immerse the decorations in the jar and tighten the lid.

5. Cut and fringe the green paper to make a decorative base and glue it around the lid.

Find this craft and more at http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12141

Refreshing water

As the summer approaches it is time to think about how to stay cool and refreshed. One way is water. While a glass of ice water on a hot day sounds wonderful, it can get boring. I like to add fresh fruit to flavor the water. Slices of strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, citrus, kiwi and strawberry, even grapes are wonderful. My all time favorite is pieces of watermelon leftover from the picnic. Just add as much or as little as you like. Add slices instead of chunks whenever possible. Do this the night before in a large pitcher allowing the flavor to infuse. For a light flavor this can be done with a single glass of water or a pitcher. No need to sweeten as the natural sugars of the fruit will take care of that. Mix different fruits for a variety of flavor combinations. Berries with citrus can be wonderful. Apples and melon can be very refreshing. Kids love it. Add a splash of club soda and you have a fresh and light flavored soda without all the calories and sugar. For a deeper infusion add hot water, not boiling, to approximately 4 cups of sliced fruit per gallon of water. Allow to cool before placing in refrigerator. Experiment on your own and find your perfect blend. Feel free to share with us.

Just had to share!

Maple Treats. I found this company last year and been purchasing for awhile. I love these! I especially love the moose heads from Maple Treats.

Click on the banner and take a look at Maple Treats. They have several treats even real maple syrup. This is no imitation. For years that is what I battled. Not with this company. This has the real maple flavor I was seeking. That is because they are made with real maple syrup. Maple Treats is based in Michigan and these treats are made in Michigan. Not a desert town in the southern US.

I highly and personally recommend the maple moose heads, maple taffy, and maple pops. These are my all time favorites.

Want to try a few? I recommend the moose-tery sampler.
You get:

1 - Bag Moose Droppings
1 - Bag of 32 Maple toffee, Maple Pops or Hard Candy
1 - Moose Head Maple Sugar

for only $11.48+ shipping. This is the best way to get a little taste of everything and you save about $5. You can find these in the gift bag section.

They also have a maple tastee set that includes:

1 bottle of Syrup
8 Maple Pops
12 Maple Flavored Toffees

for only $10

I am a true fan of Maple Treats and will stay a customer as long as they are around.

Click here to visit the Maple Treats site

Pampering the Goddess Within Give-away

Are you ready to pamper your goddess within? Luna Wolfs Mystical Essence has created a set just for you. This beautiful set goddess set.

You will receive:

4oz Lotion - Our Mystical Lotion is created using a soy base will soften and rejuvenate your skin.
Colored & Scented Bath Salts - We start with sea salt, color enough just to tint your bath water and not your skin for a relaxing, luxurious bath.
Celtic Knot Soap (Personal Size) - a wonderful handcrafted personal soap.
2 Soy Votive Candles - Our votive candles are hand poured using 100% soy wax to scent your entire room.

This entire set is divinely scented in Goddess. This set will surely tantalize and bring out the goddess in every woman.

Visit Luna Wolfs and order yours today for only $20.
http://www.lunawolfsmysticalessence.com/store/affiliate.asp?aff=28

You can also enter to win this fabulous set for FREE! Tell us why your inner goddess needs pampering.

Just visit Luna Wolfs Mystical Essence Blog at:
http://lunawolfs.blogspot.com/2009/02/pampering-goddess-within-give-away.html