Homemade Cinnamon and Sugar Banana Flavored Cookie Cutter Tortilla Crisps

I make my own Low Carb tortilla chips for myself, BUT using regular tortillas, melted butter, cinnamon/sugar, banana flavoring, and cookie cutters I also make L some very tasty (and fun!) tortilla crisps that are a fairly healthier snack alternative to cookies. The banana flavoring is optional but we are banana lovers in this house and the subtle banana flavoring on these is soo good! You could try other artificial flavorings though!

First I cut my tortillas with the cookie cutters and lay them on a baking sheet.

Then I combine melted butter with a few drops of artificial banana flavoring.

I use a brush to paint the mixture onto the tortillas.

THEN I sprinkle on a cinnamon and sugar mixture.



Bake at 350 until they start browning just a bit and are crispy. Its a fine line between a perfect browning and crispiness to totally burnt to a crisp SO you pretty much have to keep checking after 5 minutes or so.

They are pretty yummy!

They keep well in a ziplock bag or cookie jar.

 

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Pom Pom Magnet Buddies

I combined 3 of my favorite craft things (pom poms, googly eyes, and magnets) to make L some pom pom magnet buddies to play with on his magnetic dry erase board.

I just hot glued a magnet to the bottom of a pom pom and added googly eyes.

He also used them with his magnet wand to make them move on the table.

I made some for myself to use as fridge magnets.

 For these, I glued the googly eyes on the top of the pom poms instead of the side.

Seriously, if I could glue googly eyes to everything I would! lol

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The Children's Art Group: Puffy Paint

The Children's Art Group

Puffy Paint

After constantly wishing there was an alternative to the expensive art classes and camps, I decided to start a local Children's Art Group. With 30 members, some awesome little artists, and enthusiastic parents, we are having a BLAST focusing on process art and projects.

At our 5th meetup with Children's Art Group, we made PUFFY PAINT. We also brought lots of "accessories" such as rice, colored noodles, beans, shells, glitter, q-tips, squeeze bottles, etc.

The kids AND the adults loved it!

thats me! :)

Puffy paint is made by mixing equal parts Flour, Salt, and Water and adding food coloring or tempura paint in desired colors. You can also add glitter! The result is awesome and really fun for kids to work with! It will dry into a raised work of art! For an added element of fun, you can put the puffy paint into squeeze bottles, and because it is so thick, using utensils such as a fork to rake through it to make designs is fun too!

To see our previous art meetups visit The Children's Art Group page at the top of my blog.


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A Challenge: 30 Days to Hands on Play

I've decided to participate in the 30 Days to Hands on Play Challenge hosted by two blogs that I LOVE, The Imagination Tree, and Hands on: As we Grow.

A 30 day challenge to inspire you to play [at least] 15 minutes with your kids [no interuptions].

To become more involved with them.

To introduce yourself and your kids to new play ideas!

Learn More about the challenge HERE

I think i'm pretty good about really playing with my kids, but because I have a new baby, I feel that my oldest son "L" sometimes takes a backseat when it comes to mommy's full attention. Throughout the day I try to play one on one with him, but there are times when the day comes to an end and I think to myself.."Did I give L my FULL attention today?"

SO, I'm thinking this CHALLENGE will make me more accountable to try and balance my time more wisely and really put a huge focus on playtime with L. What kid doesn't need MORE playtime and one on one time anyway!?

Day One Challenge

Take mental note, or jot down, a simple mission statement of how you'd like to become more hands on with your kids. Also, jot down a few of their interests, or general behaviors that may be helpful for the upcoming challenges.

My Mission Statement

I want to better focus my time and energy to allow for MORE playtime with my son. I will try my best for this playtime to be soley focused on him, without the interruption of daily chores, phone or computer time. While playing, I want to really watch how my son plays and learn more about the amazing little person he is!

L's interests

cars and trucks

anything messy

intricate and detailed manipulatives

imaginary play

outside play

L is very kind and thoughtful and would rather pretend his army men are best friends going on an adventure rather than enemies at war.  He loves to be outside, and he really looks at the details of everything all around him. His imagination knows no bounds and he loves more than anything for me to be involved in his imaginary play.  He becomes bored easily at games that repeat the same process for too long. 

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Playing with Army Men Outdoors

With all the toys that zip, zoom, wizz and boom, army men have almost become a thing of the past.

I was suprised when I found them at Walmart and for the sheer "old schoolness" of it, I got some for L.

I had no idea he'd love them so much! He rarely plays shoot and kill with them, he usually makes up stories about heroes and protectors.

On a cool morning this past summer we took his army men and tree blocks outside, gathered some big rocks, leaves, and small branches and made an army man base camp.

See the bird hiding? The army men are protecting the bird and her eggs.

That's how my sweet hearted boy played with his army men.

:)

Baby Son napped peacefully on a picnic blanket

 

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