thebarkleybabes

NINETEEN: DIY HOLIDAYS

This year I wanted to include the girls in making our holiday decor. They love to be helpful around the house, especially when it involves doing some sort of art that will be displayed in our house. I am pretty minimal when it comes to color so everything has a sort of nordic feel, but that makes everything even easier to make in my opinion.

We used air dry clay and cookie cutters to make our white star ornaments. I rolled out the clay on a piece of parchment and the girls stamped the star shapes. We let them dry on our radiator overnight and the next morning…TA DA! ornaments ready to go on the tree.

I used some clippings from our tree and attached them with floral tape to the bottom of an embroidery hoop for our wreath for our front door. The rest of the clippings are placed in vases through out the house.

Sienna Helped me with stringing our wooden bead garland. It was a great way to work on her fine motor skills and It kept her attention for quite a while.

We also HAD to write a letter to Santa! I hope that he will enjoy Lyla’s portrait of him…… and  I’m sure he won’t mind the hot coco stains 🙂

EIGHTEEN: field trip day

Lately Ive been feeling guilty about not having enough “special” time with Sienna. I am hope with her during the day, but I feel like we spend the whole day prepping for when her sister gets home from school and Poppa gets home from work. I recall when her sister was 2 we would go on all of these adventures together. Often to the park or zoo, but also out to lunch and museums.

Today, I ATTEMPTED to go to The Art Institute with a 2 year old….. My mother came with us and while I had a photoshoot in Millennium Park my mom and “the baby” as I still refer to her, had a picnic lunch in Grant Park. According to my mother she was so well behaved and happily ate her entire PB and J.

We entered the Modern wing and were able to leisurely walk through exactly 2 galleries of Modern Art before my darling angel starting trying to climb on platforms and SHRIEKING! Needless to say I picked her up and we hightailed it out of there.

We were able to sit in the garden just off of the Modern wing and enjoyed the day while sienna was able to explore. It was still a great day and Im not going to give up trying to expose her to art:)

SEVENTEEN: GRANOLA LOVE

GRANOLA-3I have honestly always been grossed out by granola. The stuff that you buy at the store has always seemed hard as a rock and not very flavorful. I have usually always avoided it.

BUT….

In an effort to clear out the pantry and make a dent in the enormous Costco sized box of rolled oats I decided to try to make some granola, and have another quick breakfast option before the school bus arrives in the morning.

GRANOLA-2I have been wrong my whole life!!!!!!! Granola is amazing, delicious, and makes the whole house smell amazing while it is baking. The first time I made granola it was gone in 2 days. I am converted to a granola lover! and it was SO crazy easy.

I have been serving it to the girls in the morning with yogurt and berries. Lyla ate one strawberry, but I’m calling that a success because one bite of a fruit is better than nothing. ( She is quite possible the pickiest eater on the planet)

GRANOLA RECIPIE

3 CUPS ROLLED OATS

1/2 CUP SLICED ALMONDS

1/2 CUP DRIED CRANBERRY

combine dry ingredients, and set aside. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl

1/2 CUP VEGATABLE OIL

2 TBLSP BROWN SUGAR

1/2 TEASPOON SALT

1/4 CUP ORGANIC HONEY

pour the wet mix into the dry ingredients and stir, then pour everything out onto a cookie sheet and place in a 300 degree oven for 25-40 minutes, depending on how toasted you would like it to be.

GRANOLA-4So easy right? Im really feeling dried cranberry right now, but you can literally throw any different nuts and dried fruit into the mix and it would be good. You can also substitute maple syrup for the honey as well. The possibilities are endless.

GRANOLA-1