Sunday, March 28, 2010

Come Fly With Me

Yesterday we went to Beczak Environmental Center for a class called Come Fly WIth Me. After talking a bit about the Hudson River, Ms. Doreen talked to the kids about migration. She talked about the birds coming back into the Hudson River Valley after spending the winter in Florida or even parts further South. After discussing why the birds fly South for the Winter, (Lack of food, lack of shelter, cold weather,) Ms. Doreen helped the kids make a bird feeder using a small plastic plate, a water bottle, a piece of rope, and a stick. Then the kids painted their bird feeders. Next everyone went outside to play a game about migration. Each child was given a picture of a bird. Each bird was labeled as an early migrator, February and March; a middle migrator, March and April; or a late migrator, May and June. Once they all knew when their birds would migrate, the early migrators took off for their flight North. They were soon followed by the middle migrators and the late migrators. At each station along the way the little birds had to do something before continuing to the North. Sometimes they had to rub their tummies or pat their head. Sometimes they had to hop on one foot. As they made their journey North, some of the birds encounter bad weather, tornadoes, rain, and floods. Some couldn't find food so they either turned around and went South again or some of them died. The little birdies who died got a red sticker on their foreheads and then they went out to help the others. Eventually all of the birds either made it back to the Hudson Valley or well, unfortunately some didn't. Everyone came back inside to discuss what things kept some of the birds from making it back and what things helped others make the trip. It was a very educational day for everyone. Even the birds who died had a good time. As the children were leaving, they were each given a bag of birdseed to put in their bird feeders.
When we got home Dakota hung is birdfeeder in a tree. He filled it with bird seed. Well, he covered the ground with bird seed and got a few grains in the feeder. We'll have to get more from the Peapod man on Thursday.Our next class to Beczak is a hunt For Hatchlings.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Check out this Handmade Shop

Handmade Shop of the Week: The Enchanted Cupboard

Beccijo, of The Enchanted Cupboard, is the creator of wooden toys, dolls, minutures, and wedding cake toppers. She has been filling her shop with these simple pleasures since Oct. 08, 2008. Hard work and great ideas have brought her to the etsy front page as well as nick's parent's choice.

Why did you decide to open your handmade shop?
I wanted a creative outlet. Something that belonged to me. A place to share my art of toy making!

Has your inventory changed much since you first opened?
I had a few other items in the begining but the dolls have taken over.

Who are the majority of your customers? How did they find you?
Mom's wanting great toys that are natural. Toys that are good for the imagination and inspire!

What inspires you to create?
My kids and my imagination. Inside I never grew up!

What is your favorite item in your shop currently? Your most popular item?
My Mushroom Stacker is my favorite right now but the fairies are diffrent little girls in my life (some are no longer little but are mommies themselves but to me they will always be my little girls). My big sellers lately have been Fairy Kitchen Set and Fairy Doll Acorn Stacker

What has been your greatest resource to make your shop successful?
Research and understanding marketing. Seeking help when I needed it. Reinvesting my profits back into my shop for more supplies or advertising.

Any changes coming to your shop in the future?
Always more designs, more playboxes but also some limited addition items. All coming out this Spring, it seems the right time to launch new things.

How else can we find you online? Any team affiliations?
http://www.beccijo.com/
http://www.theenchantedcupboard.etsy.com/
http://www.theenchantedcupboard.1000markets.com/
EtsyNJ Team,
SHEteam,
NaturalKids Team, I am the Team Leader
Child's Play Market (1KM), I am the Market Manager

LETS DO A GIVEAWAY!
Seen on Etsy Front Page
Woodland Fairy Forest Accessory Set
Here in Fairyland the woods are full of Pretty little mushrooms and rich with little trees. The fairies have collected a few just for you. This forest accessory set is a lovely addition to any fairy playset or all on their own. Each set is hand painted. This set is for 3 mushrooms and two pine trees.

Here is how to enter: 1) comment on this article below 2) share this article on facebook/twitter 3) heart her shop and or your favorite item 4) blog about her shop and/or this giveaway

If you want to enter this giveaway, you need to go to the original article at:

Handmade Shop of the Week: The Enchanted Cupboard

Beccijo, of The Enchanted Cupboard, is the creator of wooden toys, dolls, minutures, and wedding cake toppers. She has been filling her shop with these simple pleasures since Oct. 08, 2008. Hard work and great ideas have brought her to the etsy front page as well as nick's parent's choice.

Why did you decide to open your handmade shop?
I wanted a creative outlet. Something that belonged to me. A place to share my art of toy making!

Has your inventory changed much since you first opened?
I had a few other items in the begining but the dolls have taken over.

Who are the majority of your customers? How did they find you?
Mom's wanting great toys that are natural. Toys that are good for the imagination and inspire!

What inspires you to create?
My kids and my imagination. Inside I never grew up!

What is your favorite item in your shop currently? Your most popular item?
My Mushroom Stacker is my favorite right now but the fairies are diffrent little girls in my life (some are no longer little but are mommies themselves but to me they will always be my little girls). My big sellers lately have been Fairy Kitchen Set and Fairy Doll Acorn Stacker

What has been your greatest resource to make your shop successful?
Research and understanding marketing. Seeking help when I needed it. Reinvesting my profits back into my shop for more supplies or advertising.

Any changes coming to your shop in the future?
Always more designs, more playboxes but also some limited addition items. All coming out this Spring, it seems the right time to launch new things.

How else can we find you online? Any team affiliations?
http://www.beccijo.com/
http://www.theenchantedcupboard.etsy.com/
http://www.theenchantedcupboard.1000markets.com/
EtsyNJ Team,
SHEteam,
NaturalKids Team, I am the Team Leader
Child's Play Market (1KM), I am the Market Manager

LETS DO A GIVEAWAY!
Seen on Etsy Front Page
Woodland Fairy Forest Accessory Set
Here in Fairyland the woods are full of Pretty little mushrooms and rich with little trees. The fairies have collected a few just for you. This forest accessory set is a lovely addition to any fairy playset or all on their own. Each set is hand painted. This set is for 3 mushrooms and two pine trees.

Here is how to enter: 1) comment on this article below 2) share this article on facebook/twitter 3) heart her shop and or your favorite item 4) blog about her shop and/or this giveaway

Handmade Shop of the Week: The Enchanted Cupboard

Beccijo, of The Enchanted Cupboard, is the creator of wooden toys, dolls, minutures, and wedding cake toppers. She has been filling her shop with these simple pleasures since Oct. 08, 2008. Hard work and great ideas have brought her to the etsy front page as well as nick's parent's choice.

Why did you decide to open your handmade shop?
I wanted a creative outlet. Something that belonged to me. A place to share my art of toy making!

Has your inventory changed much since you first opened?
I had a few other items in the begining but the dolls have taken over.

Who are the majority of your customers? How did they find you?
Mom's wanting great toys that are natural. Toys that are good for the imagination and inspire!

What inspires you to create?
My kids and my imagination. Inside I never grew up!

What is your favorite item in your shop currently? Your most popular item?
My Mushroom Stacker is my favorite right now but the fairies are diffrent little girls in my life (some are no longer little but are mommies themselves but to me they will always be my little girls). My big sellers lately have been Fairy Kitchen Set and Fairy Doll Acorn Stacker

What has been your greatest resource to make your shop successful?
Research and understanding marketing. Seeking help when I needed it. Reinvesting my profits back into my shop for more supplies or advertising.

Any changes coming to your shop in the future?
Always more designs, more playboxes but also some limited addition items. All coming out this Spring, it seems the right time to launch new things.

How else can we find you online? Any team affiliations?
http://www.beccijo.com/
http://www.theenchantedcupboard.etsy.com/
http://www.theenchantedcupboard.1000markets.com/
EtsyNJ Team,
SHEteam,
NaturalKids Team, I am the Team Leader
Child's Play Market (1KM), I am the Market Manager

LETS DO A GIVEAWAY!
Seen on Etsy Front Page
Woodland Fairy Forest Accessory Set
Here in Fairyland the woods are full of Pretty little mushrooms and rich with little trees. The fairies have collected a few just for you. This forest accessory set is a lovely addition to any fairy playset or all on their own. Each set is hand painted. This set is for 3 mushrooms and two pine trees.

Here is how to enter: 1) comment on this article below 2) share this article on facebook/twitter 3) heart her shop and or your favorite item 4) blog about her shop and/or this giveaway

If you want to enter this giveaway you need to go to the original article at:

http://www.traceyknits.com/2010/03/handmade-shop-of-week-enchanted.html

Kathi

Friday, February 26, 2010

Chocolate Cover Cherries

I made chocolate covered cherry candles today. This is the first time I have made candles with two different colors. I think they are really cute and they smell soooooooo good. One of my favorite things is chocolate covered cherries.This is before the chocolate layer is added.

Finished candles. They just need to have the wicks trimmed.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Dakota's First Snow Man

Dakota built his first snowman today. He tried before and built a tiny little snow family. But today's snowman looked great. He was complete with sweet gum ball eyes, stick arms, and a Thomas the Tank hat.

Love Your Hudson River

One of our favorite places to go is the Beczak Environmental Center. On Saturday they had a program called "Love Your Hudson River". Ms. Doreen talked to the kids about the river. We learned that it starts at Lake Tear of the Clouds and ends at the Atlantic Ocean. We Tear of the Clouds the water is fresh water. At the Atlantic Ocean it is salt water. And in Yonkers, the water is "Brackish", a mix of fresh and salt water. And we learned that the Hudson River is 315 (I think) miles long. After talking about the river for a while. Everyone went outside and walked out to the banks of the river. I think Ms. Doreen had planned a few activities out there but couldn't do them under a foot of snow. When everyone was back inside we did an activity where the kids thought of words to describe the Hudson River using the letters in the words "Hudson River". Then they made valentines. Some made valentines for the river. Others made valentines for each other. Dakota made a valentine for our family.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Snow, SNOW, and MORE SNOW


I know you're probably tired of hearing about how much I hate winter. But I really do. I hate the ice and the snow and the cold. I can't wait until May or June when I don't have to wear 18 layers to keep warm. But even I have to admit that it sure is pretty out there. So for those of you who don't have to deal with all the yuck, I thought I would share a few pictures of the white fluffy stuff. I can hardly keep my son in the house. He loves being out in it. As you can see from some of the pictures, all the neighborhood kids were having a great time yesterday with a day off of school and lots of snow to play in. The hill in front of our apartment makes a perfect place for the kids to go sledding. Even a few moms and dads were out there. Dakota is the one with the round blue sled.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Give Away Winner

Congratulations Kate. You are the winner of my blog give away. I hope you enjoy your new candles. For those of us who do not have a fireplace, the fireside candles fill your home with the scent of a crackling burning fire. I love the smell.

So it looks like we are going to get some snow now. We were lucky enough to miss the last storm, but it looks like we will be right in the middle of this one. We are right on the line between 6 to 12 inches and 12 to 18 inches of snow. Sounds like it's going to be a bad week here in New Jersey.

I think I will make more candles. Maybe do a little baking. And try to find some time to work on my quilt. I finally got all the triangles cut out over the weekend. Now I just have to sew everything together again.

We went to see Charlotte's Web today. It was a really cute play. It pretty much followed the story. The place was pretty packed. There were nearly 40 people from our homeschool group there. It's great to go to things like this with all of our friends. Dakota talked about it all the way home.

Well, I'm just rambling now so I think I'll sign off here and go check on the weather report.