Advent Candle Art

I thought today we would have a go at decorating our own advent candles - we will need four, one for each advent weekend before Christmas.

I had a look on the net, go old google, and found some great ideas. I decided to follow this post from redtedart

Why don't you all a have a go you've go a few days to get ready!

Lets get ready for halloween....food ideas

There are loads of great halloween party food ideas around at the moment and whilst us adults might find some of them a little bit off putting (to say the least!) kids just love it - the more gruesome the better.......

so here are a few ideas I have found recently that you can make with your kids to have or take to a party this halloween....

l love this idea - here's the link 'banana ghosts'

and these worms are so easy to make just pour jelly into some bendy straws - let it set and yuck - wiggly worms.....

and how about this - so simple but effective......

for more ideas check out my halloween pinterests site

Lemon & Banana Ices

Wow it's really hot here at the moment and an quick ice would help to cool us all down.

This recipe for lemon & banana ice is really easy and requires only a couple of ingredients that I always have in the house - and you probably do to!

to make 8 ice lollies you will need

3 large bananas
Juice of a lemon
1 tablespoon icing sugar (optional)

Lolly mould & sticks
(loads of different moulds on Amazon & you can usually get some at the supermarket this time of year)

Blend the bananas with the lemon juice, check for sweetness if needed add the icing sugar & blend again.

Pour into moulds and freeze - will take a good 4 hours to freeze or leave over night.

This recipe is so easy and children just love to help make it.

We coated our with white chocolate to make an extra crunch.

Fruity Milk Shakes

These are really easy to make, healthy and fun to do with the kids - they can make it all themselves

First off get 500g of strawberries or raspberries (or a mixture) hull out the strawberries ( i.e. remove the stalk & the white core) and cut large ones in half. Peel 3 ripe bananas and break into pieces. Drop the fruit into a blender or large jug if using a stick blender. Add a litre of milk & 300ml of healthy bio yogurt and blend. 

Let the kids turn the dials but make sure they start off on a slow speed or it could get a bit messy.

If using a stick blender make sure they know to keep the stick down in the jug!! They all love seeing the milk turn pink! Pour out into glasses and serve cold.

 Quick Recipe
500g strawberries or raspberries
3 ripe bananas
1 litre milk
300ml bio yogurt.

You can also try blueberries or pineapple for other flavour ideas.

Egg Box Sea Life

This little guy is really cool

We love all things related to the sea in our family - especially rock pooling so these little creatures were a great fun project to do.

Really easy to make and it encouraged some fun pretend play

With a bit of imagination you can make a whole 'rock pool full' of little critters.....

Here's the link to make these at practical parenting

Soctopus

I love these little guys and so easy to make. I substituted wool for tentacles (it was all I had in the house!)

This is a great use for those odd socks we all have sitting in the sock draw!

Here's the link

Soctopus

Math Dice

This a really simple way of practicing maths.To play we just roll a pair of dice, put the two numbers in the box and then add them up - simple.

I have laminated ours so we can use it again & use our white board markers on.

Just go to the link below to download a printable of the above chart and then find two dice & 'let 'em roll'

Math Dice

paint pot idea

I love this simple but very effective idea.

I found it on pintrest and thought wow.

1 - it's such an easy way to dispense the paint into bowls

2 - you get to choose the volume of paint out and about in your house (you know what I mean)

3- You can mix up a big batch of poster paint and it will stay liquid & sealed in these squeezable

4 - you get a feel good factor for being recyclable (is that a word? it's a bit of a mouthful) and frugal.

All you do is clean out your used tomato ketchup bottles and refill with the paint of your choice. Just don't let the one with the red paint in end up in the fridge - your husband won't be amused with it on his bacon sandwich....... (although the kids might!)

Cork Boats

Another simple craft idea & a good use for all those left over wine corks stashed around the house.

follow this link below for the full SP

We have made them on a rainy day & had races in the tub; made them outdoors on a sunny day & had races in the stream and taken them to the beach for rock pool fun. Everyone can make a different colour sail & decorates them as well.

Cork Boats

Made by Joel Colouring sheet

Click on th link below to down load & print off this colouring sheet for free.


made by joel