Bub's Daddy Bubblegum Memories

I'm leaving for a week of sunshine in Louisiana soon, so perhaps I'm feeling a little friskier than usual. Scary thought. Or maybe my coating of normal has finally worn down to the center of weird underneath. Scarier thought.

Whatever, the result is pawkish humor. I was trying to think of a cute nickname for Arvind, relative to Bubblews. CEO is nice, but formal. That's his "dress blues" if you will. He needs some basic fatigues for everyday wear. So I thought of Bubblews Godfather.

But that has unpleasant mob associations. I didn't think that fit. Then I thought of Bubble Daddy. Better. But not quite it. And then I lit on the best moniker of all (I think). Bub's Daddy.   This was a fabu gum back in the early 70s. Anyone remember it? Daddy Bubblews and Bubblegum Memories - News - Bubblews

Kids Love Helping With Holiday Preparations

Entertaining little ones during holiday preparations can be a real juggling act. I've been a teacher for almost 30 years and a mom for 25. Plus I was a hands-on (in the way) kid myself. I'm the little tot in the photo and even at 3, I loved helping adults. So I know about making things kid friendly. I say don't just entertain, put them to work helping. I love it, my kids loved it and your children will too.
Here are ways kids can help with Thanksgiving.

* Party decorations patrol. Bust out the craft stuff, print turkey, pilgrim, Native American or fall foliage crafts. Have children color, cut and paste to make neat table decor. Here are free printable Thanksgiving activities.  Ways Kids Can Help With Thanksgiving Preparations

Remember Decoder Rings and Secret Codes--Here are some

Secret decoder rings are enjoying a new vogue after a decades hiatus from kid-culture. Remember how we'd saved box tops and mail in for decoder rings? Or buy them from novelty shops? Adults are getting in on the the secret code fun. I've seen decoder marriage rings. It's Doctor Who and James Bond gone steampunk, oh frabjuous day! But I say why follow the herd? Make your own decoder ring. Here are secret code patterns to help.  Secret Codes to Print for Decoder Rings

DIY Bible Character, Saints Costumes for All Saints Day

When I was a kid, the word DIY wasn't invented. But everything we did was do it yourself. Like Halloween. Mom might buy you a cheap, plastic boxed costume, but usually you just whipped something up at home. I was protestant Christian then and made a lot of Bible character costumes for Sunday School, VBS and Christmas pageants.

I carried that tradition into my own family. I converted to Catholicism and we celebrate All Saints Eve more than Halloween. But I've made costumes for both. If you'd like to make a quick All Saints Day costume, here's a guide. Make saints and Bible character costumes easy with found and recycled Easy Bible Character and Saints Costumes for Halloween or All Saints Day
household stuff.

Easy Costumes for Twins: Pull-String Talking Toy Dolls

The Creation of the Halloween Costume was sacred tradition when I was a kid. Here are
fun costumes for couples or twins I invented. It won my husband and I Halloween costume prizes: pull-string talking dolls. Younger people may not remember pull-string toys and dolls, but those in my generation surely will. To activate the doll's mechanical voice box, there was a string with a plastic ring attached. When pulled, the string would unwind a mechanism that made sounds as it rewound. Do you remember the See 'n' Say toys? They had a pull-string sound box. Dolls in photo are Blythe dolls whose eyes changed color with a pull string. Anyone remember those? I loved mine! Couples Halloween Costume: Pull-String Talking Toy Doll Twins 

National Taco Day Insult Highlights Profiling Issues-What it is and isn't

 October 4 was "National Taco Day." An incident occurred which highlights American cultural ignorance and underscores how profiling stems from said ignorance. I subscribe to a Latino empowerment group, Presente.org. An update was sent which explains:

"Not all Latinos grow up eating tacos. The idea that we do is just another harmful stereotype of Latino people and cultures. But that stereotype was embraced, validated, and propagated by Fox News Channel host Brian Kilmeade. During a celebration of “National Taco Day” on the October 4 Fox and Friends broadcast, Kilmeade asked meteorologist Maria Molina, "So what are the tips we need to know? You grew up on tacos, correct?" But Molina was born in Nicaragua — tacos aren’t even commonly eaten in her country!" Read more on why I signed the petition but with reservations. National Taco Day Insult Underscores Racial, Ethnic, Religious Profiling Issues

Hectic, Eclectic, Body Electric, Pan-Genre Music Playlist--With Retro Flavour!

My husband works third shift, often weekends, too. Our treat on Saturday, if he has it off, is to go to dinner, stroll the beach, grab some local Shiraz from Lemon Creek and a craft brew assortment of IPA for him, then hit Youtube for music to enjoy. We've been on a retro kick, looking up songs of our youth. But we mix it up with new talent too. Neither of us was what you'd call a groupie (except me in junior high with Bay City Rollers--I took fan-girl to new, weird levels in my own obsessed mind. Thought, I never went to concerts or had a stereo. We found we both shared an incredible diversity of music tastes. Here are highlights from last Saturday's Mar-and-Big-Al-Playlist. Our Eclectic, Pan-Genre Music Playlist Last Saturday

Love People, Use Possessions, Like Grandparents Taught Me

Okay, yes this is a no-brainer, probably. But the best way to live minimalist, is to shop less. Buy less. Consume less. Try living life lite. Own your possessions, don't let them own you.

My grandparents were of the depression-World War 1 and WW2 era. They had little. They were not less happy, though. I think, sans the encumbrance of stuff, they were very much happier.

This is my kitchen now remodeled. I wrote an article about it. Some commenters said they hoped this was the before pic. Nope sorry. This is it. And you know what? I like it. It's cozy, user-friendly and has all I need to cook meals prepared in love for my family. Few people had big kitchens or even separate dining rooms when I was young. We made do and were happier (there's that word again). For more on that read Minimalist Lifestyle--Love People, Use Possessions

Free Printable Mother's Day Craft Activities

When I was seven, I saved my pennies (literally) and bought my mom a luxurious red plush washcloth. It cost .39--quite a lot back then. It was her favorite color and all I could afford, but I was very proud of that offering. I've always loved making and giving gifts. Mother's Day, celebrated the second Sunday of May, is a perfect holiday for children to enjoy making crafts, cards and presents for mom. Here's a whole list of free printable crafts, greeting cards, decorations, activities, games and presents for Mother's Day. Make cute crafts for moms, grandmothers, aunts, Godmothers, teachers, day care providers, any woman that you want to remember this Mother's Day. Moms will love the homemade, kid-created gifts of love.  Free Printable Mother's Day Craft Activities 

Arbor Day Memories, Earth Day Crafts from Recycled Jars

When I was a kid, crafts were made of trash and old stuff. We didn't call it recycling; I'm not sure that was a word then. My friend's parents did save old cans, washing, removing labels and flattening them. I always hated helping with dishes at her house (something we did then) because of the extra work. Trash companies didn't offer curbside recycling so her dad just saved the cans. A WWII throwback, I guess. But we did reuse trash. My mom was a Girl Scout leader for a season and we made washcloth pillows, bread bag rugs and pencil holders from old jars. Have you ever looked at pickle and jam jars? Some are really quite decorative. When I was putting together a hope chest 35 years ago, I saved little Kraft cheese jars (see photo left) and used them for juice glasses. Why not collect a set for Mother's Day gifts? Or save spaghetti sauce jars and make planters for Earth Day (my grandpa called it Arbor Day) on April 22. Plant kitchen herbs or lavender. Another good Mother's Day gift, too. Paint a Pot and Plant a Seed for Mother's Day, Arbor Day, Earth Day

Extreme Easter Egg Hunting Parents Far Cry From 60s Parents

The Associated Press story of gate-crashing Easter egg hunt parents in Colorado Springs, Colo., who got their event canceled for egg-snatching doesn't surprise me. I've been a mom for 23 years; those guerrilla parents were around then, too. They have no regard for each other, their kids or anyone else's. They set a horrible example, pushing and shoving and for what--to get a plastic egg with a piece of stale candy? It's embarassing. It's why I stopped taking the children to some kiddie-freebies.

Our community nixed Easter egg hunts, candy-tossing at parades and some Halloween giveaways for awhile.  because soldier-of-fortune parents couldn't leave hands-off kids' events. They were determined their kid would have his (and everyone else's) share of the loot. Woe be it to other participants if a grand prize was awarded for the one who got the most. It became an all-out bloodbath. I've seen grown adults plow down small children for candy.

And what a contrast to parents of the 60s, when I grew up! Parents cared about us, but in a very hands-off way. You complained of being bullied? Ignore them was the answer, as they sipped their after work highball. You needed a ride somewhere? Ha! We didn't even think to ask. We walked. Sometimes for miles. And Easter candy hunts? Never even heard of them. If there was one and I wanted to go, mom would have said, "you go, honey. Have a good time." Even at three years old! And I would have walked!  Parents did not take kids trick-or-treating. They didn't play with us (I preferred playing alone--grownups have very limited imaginations and it's awkward to have to teach them how to pretend).

We were the TV dinner generation. We lived before fears of transfat, preservatives and phthalates. Moms did not count our calories, limit our sugar or restrict dyes and additives (thought they probably should have, in my case). They happily medicated us without fear of alcohol cough syrup, liver damage or autism from mercury. A parent considered her job well done if the kids in school liked the cupcakes she baked (they did bake more back then.) She did not worry if they were too sugary or if the kids would get fat.

Parents did not walk kids to school. I walked alone in kindergarten. Okay yes, I did play hookey once. My friend whose house I was lunching at suggested we give the afternoon school session a miss. It sounded like a good plan. They had TV and her mom was working downstairs at the bar. We even babysat her three little siblings. And I managed to "lead her to salvation" (something I heard our minister say I should attempt with everyone.) And as my mother told the principal, I was perfectly alright.

60s parents expected us to have enough smarts to navigate and for the most part, I guess we did. I've managed in some pretty scary situations, thanks to that early self-reliance training.  Was it better then? It was less complicated, surely. Would I parent my kids that way? Yes and no. If I had to choose between that and assault parenting, like the egg hunters, absolutely. Extreme Easter Egg Hunting Parent-Style is Scary

Appel Kuchen Und Streusel Recipes for the KaffeeKlatsch

Schmalzy as it sounds, some of my happiest memories were spent in grandma's kitchen--both grandmas. My grandmothers loved to entertain and they were excellent cooks. Not gourmet. No weird concoctions passed off as haute cuisine. No diet, low-cal, low-fat, flavorless recipes. Just good, home-cooking in the Hollander style. Grampa called Grandma Kinney's womens' clubs, her 'kaffee klatsch'. 'Kaffee klatcsh' is an amalgem of Pig German, Yiddish and Dutch. It loosely translate to "coffee" plus 'talk' or 'gossip'. From kaffeeklatsch's we get delicious coffee cake recipes. Here are my favorite kaffeeklatsch recipes. Made with yummy Michigan apples, these recipes take me back to cozy fall days of childhood. And you'll pardon my mash up of German and Dutch in these recipes. I was raised by Hollanders and I'm married to a German.  Appel Kuchen Und Streusel Recipes for the Kaffee Klatsch 

Sunday School and Bible Coloring Books

Many of my happiest childhood memories involve the Bible stories and Sunday School activities I've enjoyed. Those who are my age (pushing 50) may remember dusty church basements, rummage sales, potlucks, Flannel-Graph stories, AWANA, stamps (precursor to stickers), Bible clubs, (that came around when I was older), wordless Bibles, memorizing verses and getting candy. Anyone remember globe and bread loaf shaped banks? You put coins in them to send to missionaries. Sunday school was simpler, but how I loved that big box of crayons and the pictures we'd color of all our Bible friends and heroes. Adam and Eve, Noah's ark, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and his coat of many colors, Moses, the Exodus, Samuel, Samson and Deliah, Gideon, Joshua, David and Goliath and so many others. And then all the New Testament friends: Zaccheus, St. John, the disciples, the parables, the miracles and of course, our Lord Jesus. Here are retro Sunday school coloring pages to bring back those days. Free Printable Bible Coloring Pages - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com

Free Printable Homemade Valentine Cards

Valentine's Day card exchanges are a rite of passage in preschool and elementary school. Remember the days when we made our own (well, you did if mom couldn't or wouldn't buy you any!) I remember Hallmark made an uber-expensive set of valentines in which you folded heart-shaped tabs over to enclose the message. How about making your own like that with free printable valentines? Use for homeschool groups, scout troops and religious education card exchanges, too. Make DIY valentines cheap. Your clever homemade valentines will be unique and completely different than everyone else's!  Free Printable DIY Valentine's Day Card Crafts for Children

Retro Valentine Crafts to Print

Remember as kids, looking forward to classroom parties? They seemed simpler then, but that was what made them so appealing. Looking to recreate a Valentine's Day party of yore (with candy hearts, valentine exchanges and paper crafts)? Here are printable craft activities and party decorations. Linked websites full of free printable crafts, games, party supplies, greeting cards, valentines and holiday activities. Perfect for classroom valentine exchanges and parties. There's a cute cut and paste folded paper candy box, similar to the Necco Sweethearts conversation candy hearts box. This craft prints in two pages, one with instructions and one page with the craft.  Free Printable Valentine's Day Craft Activities and Decorations

Free Hello Kitty Coloring Activities

Hello Kitty has been one of my favorite cartoon characters since she first came to the United States in 1976. Hello Kitty an anime cartoon, was born in Japan as Haro Kiti, of the Sanrio company in 1974. I had one of the first Hello Kitty products sold in the United States, a Hello Kitty plastic change purse. Of course, I've lost it decades since; and now I treasure the new Hello Kitty goodies more than ever. Here are Printable Hello Kitty Crafts