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