Bruschetta

Kids' Spa Day

Being girls, sometimes we need a bit o’ pampering ourselves. Here’s our to do list of a successful kids’ spa day.

1.     Turn on some spa jams and set out towels and bowls.

2.     Get dressed in play clothes--it can get messy. You could do robes for the full experience, or for spa parties.

3.     Make treatments

a.     Facials: We use what we have in the house, usually avocado, banana or mango mixed with yogurt or honey

b.     Scrubs: Brown sugar or raw oatmeal mixed with olive oil.

4.     Put on our face masks and scrub our hands and feet.

5.     Fill the soaking bowls with warm water and either powdered milk or peppermint soak. Add a few marbles to the bottom for an easy massage.

6.     Relax and soak for 6-10 minutes with cucumber eye masks.

7.     Take off masks and clean up the areas. (I’ve found this is an important time to do this, as otherwise the girls’ will be far too concerned about messing up their nails to help clean up.)

8.     Paint nails and add decals.

9.     Do something girly after, like have a little tea party.

We did a spa as part of Keely’s hotel-themed birthday last year, so after the girls came and sat in the “lobby,” we whisked them away to do these treatments. Afterwards they got their hair and makeup done and dressed up in costumes and my old dresses for an elegant dinner.

We love us a fancy menu. Chicken tenders and fries? Nope, panko-crusted chicken fillets accompanied by pomme frites and fresh seasonal fruit.

Corn, Arugula and Tomato Rice Salad

Make a Fairy House

Fairy houses, those magical dwellings hidden within the forest floor. If your kids get impatient waiting to find one on their own, keep them busy for an afternoon making a pre-fab shelter for any pixie who passes through. Constructed out of leaves, pine cones, acorns, flowers, rocks and sticks, they're super easy to make and remake.

Shrimp & Avocado Ceviche

Take a hike!

Burger, Potato Salad and Blackberry Peach Mini Cobbler

Renaissance Fair

Ye Olde Bungee and Trampoline

Granted, when you go to these things, you expect to see some visitors in...umm...character. This seemed a little extreme though.

Connecticut moments

"Corn"-on-the-Cob Cupcakes

Full disclosure: We made these cupcakes for a Fourth of July party, but they're super cute for any barbecue--hello Labor Day festivities--and so easy to make. We just frosted cupcakes with light yellow frosting, and topped with jelly bean "kernels" and a pat of yellow Starburst "butter." On the platter we lined them up in groups of threes and popped in some cob holders on the ends.

Keely has never been one to take a holiday lightly.

My first attempt at grilling

I started with something I could feel confident I wouldn't poison my family with if I didn't cook it properly.

Amia's Room

House and tree are just made with paper. I used spray adhesive on the back to make them stick.

$1 Butterfly chandelier. See how I made it here

Before, with the previous tenant.

Spring Pea Soup with Turkey, Swiss and Tomato Club Sandwich

Butterfly Chandelier for under $1

This one is meant to look like butterflies hovering around a light. I'm not sure that it is exactly consistent with butterfly behavior, but you know, it's pretty.

I used a butterfly punch on white paper, then tied the cut-outs to the clear monofilament. Next I tied the monofilament onto a metal ring I had spray painted white. I hung it on two hooks I had put into the ceiling.

See her whole room here

Salmon, Garlic Pearled Couscous and Haricots Verts