Rainbow Party Cones & Time Out

Our family has a wonderful tradition; when someone goes on time out, the non-offending children get to do something really fun. This is very effective because the person in trouble is doubly punished and it helps them be mindful to not break the rules in the future. It all started years ago. My eldest is a pretty self-contained unit and he made the terrible mistake of asking me what was the big deal with time out. The way his six year old brain saw it, time out was an oasis of quiet and a break from his brothers. This would not do. The next time he was sent on time out, I popped popcorn with my younger two hoping that the smell of his favorite food wafting up to his room would make my point. The next infraction, we skipped school and watched a cartoon - suddenly the point was much clearer to him.

This message has been played out many times over the years and I think it's a good one. Sometimes doing the wrong thing doesn't just cause you to receive punishment (like being fired) it can also cause you to lose blessings (like a raise or an opportunity). My boys understand this through and through - as a mom, what more can I hope for.

Now what does this have to do with the pretty vanilla cone at the top of this post? Everything. My 13 and 12YO got into an argument last week. We don't allow quarreling in our house as a considerate exchange of ideas is a lot more effective way to get through life than say, punching someone in the nose. Since their conversation was escalating, I put them both on time out to think about how they could have handled things better. Now I had to find something AWESOME to do with my 11YO. He isn't a TV kid at all so movies and video games were out. I'd been wanting to make cupcake cones with him for at least six months so we got to it. Sorry, I completely spaced on getting a picture of my cute boy.

Step One: Place the cones in a muffin pan. I've tried cookie sheets and its been a tippy disaster. 9x13 pans work well too.

Step Two: Make your favorite cake batter, we used Vanilla Cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. Separate it into three bowls and color each batch of batter with food coloring. Be mindful of the batter color - yellow cake will turn blue dye green etc.

Step Three: Each cone holds about three tablespoons of  batter so gently layer one TBL of each color into the cones:

Now they're ready to bake. Afterwards they should look like this. Cool completely before frosting:

We frosted ours to mimic favorite ice cream flavors like chocolate chip mint. All this required was mint frosting and mini chocolate chips. They looked real enough that they fooled my husband :-)

As things inevitably go, Brayden and I got tired of making ice cream cones after about this many:

So we decided to try a multi-colored piping technique I'd seen on TV. All you need is a zip loc bag (or disposable pastry bag), paste food color and white frosting. 

Paint lines of food color up the sides of the bag:

Add frosting:

And pipe your heart out, cool 'eh?

Want to see these babies in action? I call the first one Psychedelic Chomp:

Thanks everyone for hanging out to the end of this tutorial. Hope you make these with your family (without someone needing to be on time out first).

Linking to:

Friday Fun Finds at Kojo Designs

Spotlight Yourself: Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas

cupcake , parenting

5 Dollar Craft Challenge Finalist Round-up

The local morning show, Studio 5, is hosting a 5 Dollar Craft Competition and I'm a finalist with my paper towel flower wreath (click for tutorial). The people from KSL chose the five finalists and now it is up to viewers, friends and family to vote for the best project and the winner will get a Silhouette.

*SQUEAL*

Since I felt really uncomfortable saying, "Vote for me" - when all the projects are truly awesome; I decided to share them with you. Then you can vote for the one that you like that best embodies the spirit of a 5 Dollar Craft Challenge (admittedly, I hope you pick mine).

You can VOTE HERE on the right hand side of the page - I'm #2 :-)

Now let me introduce the other finalists and their clever, creative and cost-effective projects:

Paige Hansen made these adorable felt baby booties. Look at all that embroidery and detail. Great job Paige! She's #1

Elizabeth Evans sewed up this sassy Hot Pink Tulle Skirt using tulle, broadcloth and a whole lot of layers. She's #3

Imagine this Chair Planter by Deborah Raymond in your garden or on your porch - so cute! She's #4

And  Kami Watson of Sweet Charli (I'm a fan) made these fashionable Ruffle Flip Flops, she's #5.

Now you've seen the great stuff these ladies and I have made - go and cast your vote.

Thanks in advance for helping make this contest such an exciting experience for me.

Whiteboard to Magnetic Blackboard

We had a very, very ugly whiteboard that was wonderfully magnetic but didn't erase at all. Whatever you wrote was stuck there for life. I had started this project during April Stash Busting but didn't get finished until now. All the supplies were stuff from around the house except for some corner fasteners we used to hold the frame together. Total cost to restore this old whiteboard: $1.23. If we hadn't had wood or paint on hand it would have been more expensive. The blackboard is hanging in a dark narrow hallway so please excuse the pictures.  Here's how we did it:

Start with an old broken whiteboard. If you don't have one, I see them at garage sales for under a dollar all the time. Here's mine:

Take it apart, dismantling frame and removing any hanging apparatus:

Wash thoroughly, allow to dry and then paint with blackboard paint. The one I used required several coats (about four I think) and a 24 hour curing period. Don't rush this or your finished results won't be their best.

Follow blackboard paint instructions (ours said to cover it in chalk and then wash off). Once the chalk board is ready to use you can stencil on a decorative image if desired. 

Add shading. For this, I dabbed on metallic yellow for the flames, the curve of the central piece of the chandelier and a few other spots:

Frame your magnetic blackboard. We had some wood from other projects and cut it to fit. I spray painted the pieces yellow and attached the frame directly to the wall studs trapping the blackboard against the wall. While doing this, we used my ATG gun to hold the blackboard to the wall temporarily.

 

Pin It

Add Magnets. These are rolled flowers made from scraps of my napkin fabric. I glued our old boring magnets to the back of them with Aleene's Tacky Glue.

And here's what it really looks like. By morning my fifth grader had found the sidewalk chalk and poured out a Mom-Love stream of consciousness extravaganza. I'm a lucky lady.

Linking Up With:

Making the World Cuter
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
It's So Very Creative Monday @ It's So Very Cheri
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
I Heart Naptime with Chocolate Sundaes
C.R.A.F.T.
Frugalicious Friday




"

The Stories of A to Z Chalkboard Paint Party

recycle , craft

We Have a Winner!

Good Morning Blogland :-)

Before I announce the winner of the sixty dollar gift certificate to CSN Stores, I wanted to thank them again for giving all of you the chance to win and have fun shopping.

If it were me, these would make my short list:

Fancy Marianne Bundt pan

Le Creuset 1.13-Quart Loaf Pan in Cherry

Yamazaki Aquatique Ice Beverage Spoons

And the winner is:

Ashley Nguyen Newell said...

I love everything you write on this blog, so I really have no suggestions. :)

MAY 1, 2010 1:11 PM

Thanks so much to everyone for entering the giveaway. Ashley, have fun shopping!

Arroz Con Pollo

This used to be one of our favorite dinners before we quit eating meat. Since we are currently not practicing vegans, I decided to cook up a batch. The combination of flavors in this recipe is flat-out amazing. We always make it with beer because I really like the complexity it adds, but wine or broth are good too.  If you are so inclined, serve whatever beverage you cooked into the rice alongside the dish - the perfect pairing really takes it over the top. This dinner is impressive enough for company but easy enough for everyday.

Don't forget, whether you're decorating a room or writing a novel, be sure to include a good mix of flavors, colors and contrasts; the synergy they create makes the final product so much better. And be sure to cook "company food" for your family sometimes. When it comes down to it, aren't they who you want to impress the most?

 Arroz con Pollo

2 Tbs. olive oil; more as needed

1-1/2 lb. chicken breast, seasoned with coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper (as backsliding vegans we used one breast, we used to use about three)

½ to 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage cut in pieces

1 small onion, chopped

1 medium green or red bell pepper cut in 1/2-inch dice

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. ground cumin

¼ tsp paprika

¼ tsp chili powder

½ tsp ground turmeric (optional)

pinch of saffron (optional)

½ C peeled, crushed tomatoes (we use mild Ro-tel)

½ C dry white wine or beer

1 bay leaf

2 Cs medium-grain rice 

2 ¼ C water

In a deep, heavy pot heat the oil on medium high. 

Sauté the chicken until golden on all sides, 7 to 10 min. Transfer to a platter. 

Sauté the sausage until browned, about 3 min. Transfer to the platter. 

Pour off excess oil, leaving about 1 Tbs. in the pan.

Reduce heat to medium and sauté the onion, pepper, and garlic until softened, about 5 min. 

Return the chicken and sausage to the pot. 

Add the cumin, paprika, chili powder, and turmeric, if using, stirring to distribute the spices. 

Cook for 1 min. and then add the tomatoes, wine (or beer), and bay leaf. Increase the heat to medium high, stir, and cook for 2 min. 

Add the rice and water. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to a simmer. 

(oops. Got excited by the good smells and forgot to take pictures. Sorry)

Cook 25 min. If the rice is done but still very soupy, remove the cover and cook very gently until the liquid evaporates, taking care not to burn the rice.

Toss rice and let sit for 5 min. before serving.

Top with cheese if you'd like. You can also serve this rolled up in tortillas, which makes it more casual and hides the "scary" vegetables.

High Altitude: Add the rest of the can of tomatoes and another cup to cup and a half of water. Cook an additional 15 minutes.

~~~~~~~~~

recipe , spanish