Sensory Crafting and Creative Fun

    If you've followed us for any length of time, you know that we love to craft. I think I was born with it because I come from a long line of crafters. So when the weather changes and gets rainy and gross, we head inside and to be creative Thanks to Craft City, I usually have fun kits on hands for yucky days.

Sensory Crafting and Creative Fun

    Liam loves to make slime. It not only gives him something to do, but it promotes STEM learning. You know what else it does? It fulfills his need for sensory input. So making slime is a huge winner in our book. We happen to love the DIY Slime Kit from Craft City. It has everything you need to make opaque and crystal slime.

    This kit even comes with tablets to color the slime. There's glitter to make it sparkle too. Oh, and for added sensory fun, there's glow powder, and water gel too. The glow powder makes slime shine so bright! (You can even use it in dyed slime too!) The water gel makes the slime more gooey which is wonderful for kids that seek out more sensory input.

Squishy Art

    Squishies are all the rage. We've always had them on hand because they're a great way for Liam to keep his hands busy while doing his lessons. Well Craft City just upped the ante on squishies. Their DIY Squishy Art kit comes with everything you need to make you own custom squishies. There are three of them inside for your kids to decorate. The kit comes with puffy paint and chalk to color them. When you're done, you can add some faux sprinkles on top too.

    It's a great way to let your kids' creative juices flow. While also making themselves a sensory tool for school, homework time and more. We had a blast decorating our squishies. I did the cupcake, while Liam did the doughnut and surprise squishy too. Then he gifted it to his cousin, since he too loves toys to fidget with.

    The holidays are right around the corner. So why not gift your kids some of Craft City's kits. That way you know they'll have something to keep them occupied on snow and ice days. Also, it's a great way to spend quality time with them, and keep their devices out of their hands (even if it is only for an hour.)

Let's Make a Fountain

Okay, let me preface this post so you all don't think we're slobs. We are currently in the process of moving over three hundred and fifty miles away. Therefore, my house looks like a tenement camp! With that being said, I want to share with you just how easy it is to make your own fountain.

Let's Make a Fountain

    I am a water baby, as is my son. Every spring when we're out shopping we're both drawn to the outdoor and indoor fountains. However, have you seen how much they cost??? I refuse to pay that much especially since it's more fun and waaaayyyy cheaper to create your own. I made mine for under twenty-five bucks, and depending on how you create yours, you can too.

The Pump

    The first and main thing you need to get started is a submersible pump. After all, it won't be a fountain if you don't have something to pull in the water, and push it back out. I got this one from Amazon for under twenty dollars. It works wonderfully! You can adjust the water flow to control your fountain, and it easily comes apart so you can keep it clean. This was huge for me because my cat likes to drink out of my fountains!

    This pump is super quiet which is a must. You want to hear your water running, not hear the pump motor.  (YuanHua even has a smaller version if you want to make a smaller scale water feature, or a bigger one for larger needs.)

Tubing

    Depending on what size pump you choose, you will need tubing. I found mine on Amazon, but you can grab it at your local hardware store too. Buy extra so you can replace it. With time, it will become yucky inside, and if you have pets drinking from your fountain, you will want that tube to be clean.

The Bowl or Pot  

    You're going to need something to contain all of your water. I chose an elongated planter, but you could use a flower pot, wash basin, or anything really. It just needs to be deep enough that the water inside will completely cover your pump.

  

    You will also need something for your water to pour over. In the past I have used rocks and created a mini waterfall. This is effective in a turtle habitat or for pet frogs too! This time however, I wanted to match our nautical theme. So I chose a bunch of whelk shells that my papa and babcia collected for us from Assateague Island. In the largest one, I drilled a hole to accommodate the tubing. Then all I did was put my pump inside my planter, and arrange my shells around it.

    When I first created it, I had the water pooling into the shells, and pouring into lower ones. However, I couldn't really see the water unless I was standing over it. I also couldn't hear it and that defeated the relaxing purpose of my new fountain. So I rearranged the shells, and just have the water pouring from the biggest one. Now I can hear the trickle and actually see the water falling from a room away. 

My Total

    For my seashell fountain I actually used the smaller pump from YuanHua because I knew my cat was going to drink from it. (The smaller pump is safer for pets current wise.) So that pump cost 10.99. I paid about five dollars for my tubing, and my planter was six dollars. My total was under 25 dollars.

Since we’re on a pumpkin spice kick, I want to share my other new recipe with you all. Again, I designed this recipe for my fur daughters, but it’s human friendly (and tasty) as well. With only 6 ingredients, it’s super easy too! So let’s get baking!

Puffy Pumpkin Cookies

I love creating new recipes for my entire family. One of my goals is to mak
them healthy, taste good, and use very little ingredients so they are easy to make
This recipe is no exception. You only need 6 ingredients and I’m willing to bet
you have most of them, if not all of them in your house. Like the other recipe,
this one calls for pureed pumpkin. I usually have this on hand for baking, but
make sure it’s just 100% pumpkin. (It’s better that way!) I’m ready to get started,
so let’s go!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• ¾ cup Kind Granola (you can use any brand, but we are partial to Kind)
• ¾ cup Pureed Pumpkin
• ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
• ¼ cup Coconut or Olive Oil (This is amazing for skin and heart health too!
• 1 ½ cups of Flour

Preheat your oven to 400°. Mix the first five ingredients well. Then slowly mix in flour.

Once you have it all mixed well, grease your cookie sheet. Drop your dough by rounded

teaspoons onto the pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool.

That’s all there is to it! Using teaspoon sized cookies, this recipe will yield about three dozen

tasty treats. Like I said, humans and fur babies will love them. But remember, because these

are all natural, there are no preservatives. Therefore you should store them in your fridge.

If you want to keep them more than a week, then freeze them. Just thaw when you’re ready to enjoy.

Pumpkin Spice Granola Bites

Fall is right around the corner. Since I just got my girls some pumpkin Spice Greenies, it got me thinking that I needed to create some autumn treats for them as well. This fall inspired granola recipe is easy, and best of all, since it’s made with all natural ingredients, it’s not just a dog treat. This recipe can double as human treats too.

Pumpkin Spice Granola Bites

Granola is super tasty and amazing for you as well. The oats are full of fiber, so they help lower cholesterol and can even prevent diabetes. The nuts and seeds in Granola are chock full of unsaturated fats which are good for your ticker too. It’s also good for your four legged family too! Which is why you’ll notice I incorporate it into almost all of our treat recipes. If you love all things pumpkin spice, then this recipe is for you! You can whip it up in no time, and your kids, as well as fur kids are going to love it! So let’s get started.

.First, preheat your oven to 375°. You’re going to toast your regular oats, and a few ingredients before you get into actually making the granola. Here’s what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups Oats
• ¼ cup of Coconut Oil (Olive or Vegetable Oil will work too)
• 1 ½ tsp of Cinnamon

Mix these three ingredients together, then spread them out into a baking pan. In total you will bake these are 375° degrees for 25 minutes. However, have your phone handy to set a timer. Stir them around every ten minutes so they don’t burn. After the full twenty five minutes, remove them from the oven and turn it down to 300°.

While your oats are toasting, gather and combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl. You will need:

• 1 cup Kind Granola
• ⅓ cup Pureed Pumpkin (canned works great, but make sure it’s JUST pumpkin.)
• ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
• ¼ cup Honey

Pour your toasted oats into the mix, and stir well. Next grab your bar pan. I use my handy silicone pan that makes little square bites. Press the mixture in, and bake at 300 for 30 minutes. (You can bake these longer if you want them crunchier, but keep an eye on them as noone wants burnt granola.

If you’re using a bar pan, let them cool for about ten minutes, then cut them into bars. Don’t wait too long or you will have a huge mess of crumbs!

That’s it. How easy is that? With only 7 ingredients, you just created a yummy and healthy treat for your loved ones! These Pumpkin Spice Granola Bites taste amazing. My sister and I and my dogs love them, and I know your family will too.

Yields 3 dozen in my square treat pan

(Side Note: Since this recipe does call for sugar, only give your dog a treat or two ((depending on their size)) per day. You don’t want to give them too much, no matter how much they love them.)

Chicken Chews for Your Furry Friend

    I created a new tasty recipe for my girls today. I have to tell you, they could barely wait for me to get them out of the oven and cooled! These Chicken Chews are a huge hit here and I know your fur baby is going to love them too!

Chicken Chews for Your Furry Friend

    My husband used to give me the weirdest looks when I was cleaning up from dinners. Any meat that wasn't super seasoned, I would grind up in my food processor. Then I would put it in containers and freeze it. I even do this when I'm packaging up bulk meat. I take all the scraps, and fattier parts, cook them, then blend the drippings and meat. When thawed, these ingredients make for amazing all natural pet cookies. And best yet, nothing is going to waste that you have spent your hard earned money on! 

    Today's recipe is Chicken Chews. The main ingredient is cooked chicken. I froze it in a baby food jar, and since it was packed so tight, that four ounces almost filled a one cup measuring cup. So that's going to be the bulk of these natural treats. Let's get the rest of our ingredients!

Ingredients:

• cooked and blended chicken
• 1 container of Apple Chicken Baby Food
• 2/3 cup of Kind Cinnamon Oat Granola Clusters
• 2/3 cup of Flour
• 2 tbsp Coconut Oil
• 2 tbsp Water

Let's Get Baking!

    Those are the only six ingredients you will need. Preheat your oven to 400°. Mix them all up in a bowl. Then spoon them out onto a greased cookie sheet. (I do about a teaspoon for each cookie.) Bake for ten minutes. I let mine cool and freeze them. Remember, there are NO preservatives in these natural treats, so their shelf life is short. You can store them in the fridge for a week, or months in the freezer. I just take two out each day for my girls.

Recipe yields about 3 dozen teaspoon sized cookies.

Back to School Sensory Style

    We're not a typical family. Which is why our back to school list always includes sensory items. Liam is home/cyber schooled and he needs things that can keep his hands busy so his brain can focus. We just got this awesome kit, check it out!

Back to School Sensory Style

    Explorer's Choice 2018 Slime Kit is amazing! It has twenty-four colors of crystal clear slime. There's also an egg packed full of Galaxy slime, and fruit slime as well. Tons of slimy fun to fulfill their sensory needs, and keep their hands busy. Keeping hands busy helps to keep people focused. It works wonders for my son, and we don't do lessons without something for him to fidget with.

    However, slime isn't just a sensory tool. It's an amazing stress reliever too. I often sit in my chair and stretch slime, or make bubbles in it an pop them. Believe it or not, it helps me unwind after an especially rough day.

Add Ins to Make it More Fun

    The Explorer's Choice kit even comes with add ins to make your slime even more sensory fun! There are six glitter jars to make your slime sparkle and shine. With six packs of foam balls your kids can add more texture to their slime. The different sizes of the foam will make slime bumpy and exciting to stretch in your hands! There are even some fruit slices that they can add into their slime!

    The creators of Explorer's Choice 2018 Slime Kit even included stuff to play with your slime! There's a three piece tool set to cut and smooth out your slime. With six animals, you can hide them in the slime and let little hands dig them out. There are even three straws to blow bubbles into your slime. (We love making bubbles in our slime because then you can pop them, and it really fulfills those sensory needs!)

Make it with Mica

    Before we know it, winter will be bearing down upon us. As much as I hate to think of that, I know it's coming. So I've already started thinking of crafts to keep Liam and I busy. Today we're going to talk about things we can make with Mica pigmented powder.

Make it with Mica

    If you're not familiar with Mica pigmented powder, you may be using it and not even realizing it. If you wear eyeshadow or lip gloss, it's colored with mica. Do you burn colored candles or wax tarts? Again, many people use mica to color them. It's even used in soaps. So let's talk about ways we can use it. But first, you may want to grab yourself some Mica. Liam and I got this awesome set from Evol Concept. It comes with twenty colors of pigmented powders.

Slime!

    Pigmented Mica Powder looks amazing in clear slime. It colors it and makes it shimmery. It's seriously the prettiest slime ever! So I want to give you our Crystal Clear Slime Recipe. All you do is make the slime, then put your slime on the table. Sprinkle a bit of mica on the slime, and knead it in. That's it. So here's the recipe:

Crystal Clear Slime

• 1/2 cup of Elmer's Clear Glue
• 1/4 teaspoon of Borax Powder
• 1/2 cup warm water

Put your glue in a bowl. In a separate cup, mix warm water and Borax powder until dissolved. Add to glue and mix well. Voila. Crystal Clear slime. Now roll the slime onto your table, and color with your Mica powder.

More with Mica

    Another fun craft is making melt and pour soap. It's so much nicer than store bought soaps, and super easy. You can create fun color by using your Mica powders in it. If you enjoy doing nails, you can use your mica for that too. 

    You can easily create eyeshadows and even lip gloss with mica powder. I want to share my favorite lip gloss recipe with you. It makes amazing Christmas gifts and kids can help too!

Lip Gloss

• 3 tbsp shea butter
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tbsp grated beeswax
• 2 drops of essential oil (optional) 
• mica pigment powder

    In the microwave, melt the beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter. (Or you can use a double boiler.) Once it's all melted, mix well, then add essential oil if you choose to. Next add in your mica. Mix well and pour into little lip gloss pots. That's it.

    If you want an easier version, grab some Vaseline. Melt it in the microwave, add a drop or two of essential oil and mix well. Then add your mica, and pour into pots. Voila! Lip gloss.

Easy DIY Pineapple Cheesecake Pops

    We're on a ice pop kick here in this house thanks to our new Lebice popsicle molds. Liam's bestie and I wanted to create an easy no bake cheesecake recipe, and in doing so, we came up with these Pineapple Cheesecake Pops. They are FANTABULOUS!

Easy DIY Pineapple Cheesecake Pops

    Abs was showing me Musical.ly videos where people were creating no bake cheesecake from scratch. I saw what they were using and decided we should give it a go. It was super easy, and only took a few ingredients. The following recipe filled all six of our popsicle molds with just a teeny bit left over. If you double it, you should have plenty of filling to fill a premade graham cracker crust. So let's get started!

What You'll Need

• Popsicle Molds or Pre Made Crust (We used these ones from Lebice.)
• 1 package (8 ounces) of cream cheese
• 1 envelope of Knox Unflavored Gelatin
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 can of pineapple

Let's Get Mixing!

    First, start your water to boil. While that is heating up, combine your Knox and sugar in a bowl. Mix it well. Pour in your boiling water and stir until all of the Knox and sugar is dissolved. In a separate bowl, beat your cream cheese and vanilla. Next, gradually add in the gelatin mix. In a blender or food processor, blend up your pineapple, and then fold it into your cream cheese mix.

     Fill your popsicle molds evenly with the top edge. Now put on the bottoms, and place them in the freezer. In a few hours, you will have perfect pineapple cheesecake pops. For added bougie goodness, roll them in some crushed up graham crackers before serving. (If you're having a problem removing them from the mold, let them set a bit longer, then run them under hot water to release.)

    If you're filling a pie, just pour the mixture into the crust, and put it in the fridge until firm. That's it. That's all there is to this recipe, and it's divine! 

Water Balloons Just Got an Upgrade

     Water balloons are great summer fun. However, they're messy, and really not great for the planet. But that's okay, because these water balloons just got an upgrade. They're quick and easy to make, and your kids are going to love them.

Water Balloons Just Got an Upgrade

    I've been wanting to crochet for years. As a kid, my great gran and gram taught us to make chains, but that was all I could ever do. This past March I finally decided it was time to learn. So for my birthday I got some hooks and a few skeins of yarn, turned to YouTube, and I've been "hooking" ever since. 

    A few days ago I discovered a tutorial for reusable water balloons. I was immediately hooked. Think about it. No filling balloons, no little pieces of breakage, and a fun project to crochet. I immediately went through my yarn stash and got started.

Why Crochet Water Balloons?

    I don't know about you, but I've long been discouraging my son from playing with water balloons. First of all, it takes me an hour to fill them, and takes the kids about five to ten minutes to break them all. That's not cool. Secondly, they leave little piece all over the yard. That's not good for our fur babies, our Earth. The kids never want to pick them up, and I sure as heck don't want to. Third, these reusable water balloons are so much better for our planet. So this tutorial is a win win.

How Do They Work?

    It's simple really. Get a bucket or two of water. (You can use them in the pool, the lake, or even the creek like us!) Place the crochet balloons in the bucket(s) and press them down in. Get them good and soaked. Now step back and let the kids have a blast. That's it! 

    When they're done, wring them out and hang to dry. You can wash and dry them in your machines too. Which makes them perfect for families. They would make a fantastic gift too! These balloons would be a wonderful way for kids to work on fine motor skills, while having fun at the same time! I love play therapy!

I'm Hooked, Let's Make Some

    I know by now you're just as hooked on this idea as I am. So grab your 9mm crochet hook, and some Bernat Blanket Yarn. This is key for a few reasons. It holds more water. They suck up the water, but don't retain it in their fibers. They also crochet up quickly. I made six for this post in just over an hour. 

    I only made six, because I used the Bernat Blanket Yarn I had on hand. However, we're headed to Walmart this week, and I will purchasing some bright and fun colors to make more. Now that I have you hooked on this amazing idea, here's the YouTube video by Left in Knots, that started it all! Enjoy! If you make some, come back and share some pics!

Pork and Beet Pup Cookies

    Yes, you read that right, pork and beets. Not beans! We don't want to encourage our four legged family members to fart! ;) Using leftovers, and a few ingredients from my cupboard, I just whipped up a delectable batch of cookies for my pups.

Pork and Beet Pup Cookies

    At some point, "everypawdy" has left overs. If I don't give them to my girls for dinner, I use them in some sort of baked goods. I love creating one of a kind treats for my girls because they're healthier for them, and I know what's in them. If you're like me and want to give your fur children the best, then read on for our newest recipe. It's "supaw" easy and your canine companions will love them.

Here's What You Need

• Pork, or even leftover ham will do. (I tend to go for pork because it has less salt content. (You're going to want to grind it up in your food processor, and will need 1 cup.)
• Beets (I use canned. Again, I break them up in my food processor and when done, you will need 1/3 of a cup.)
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/3 cup of honey (my girls and I love wildflower honey.)
• 1/3 cup of granola or oats
• 1/3 cups of oil (I use Coconut oil because it's beneficial for their skin and coats.)

Top left: Ground Pork
Top Right: Ground Beets
Bottom Left: All Ingredients
Bottom Right: How you want your dough to look

Let's Get Baking!

    Preheat your oven to 350°, and then prepare all of your ingredients. In a large bowl combine the ground pork, beets, flour, honey, oil, and granola (oats.) Mix well. You want it to stick together. If you feel it isn't sticking together enough, add in a bit more of the coconut oil. 

    Grease your cookie sheet, and then roll the dough in your hands. I make mine about the size of a nickel. Then I flatten them a bit on the tray. When you're done they should be between a quarter and fifty cent piece in size. Bake these bad boys for about fifteen minutes.

    Let them cool, and give your fur baby a taste. I promise you, they are going to love them! I freeze mine so they last longer. Since these cookies are all natural without preservatives, they can be kept in the fridge for about two weeks. To keep them longer, you will have to freeze them. I wouldn't recommend keeping them on the counter or in your cupboards as they can get moldy in a few days, due to the lack of preservatives. 

Spring Cleaning with Pets

    Believe it or not, it's actually Spring. (Super hard to believe since they're calling more plowable snow tomorrow!) I've already started my spring cleaning because with kids and pets, this house was in dire need!

Spring Cleaning with Pets

     Pets add so much love to our lives. They also add fur and messes to our homes. After a long and never ending Winter our homes are due for a good over haul! So let's talk cleaning with pets!

Using Safe Cleaners

    Having children and fur children made me rethink what I used to clean my home. I didn't want cleaners with harsh chemicals that could harm them. But I also wanted cleaners that actually work! Did you know that you can mix up your very own household cleaning sprays, and they work wonderfully?

     For my counters and kitchen cleaning, I use a mix of two tablespoons of baking soda and half of a cup of white vinegar. I add in a few drops of essential oils for scent, and top off my spray bottle with distilled water. That's it! It keeps my counters spotless and works great even in the nasty oven and microwave. Plus, it's pretty pet and kid safe (as long as they won't be drinking it!)

    If you're looking for a pet safe window cleaner, try mixing half a cup of white vinegar, and a teaspoon of dish soap. This will wipe grime from your windows while leaving a streak free shine!

     I also make my own furniture polish. I use two tablespoons of olive oil, a few drops of lemon essential oil, and a quarter of a cup of white vinegar. Using a funnel, pour it into your spray bottle. Shake well before each use. My wooden furniture has never looked better!

Cleaning Your Rugs

    As you know, kids and pets also do a pretty good job of messing up our carpets. For my everyday cleaning, I swear by my Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. I've had quite a few vacuums over the years, and none of them could compare to my Bissell. Our Shepherd is a hairy beast, and our Bissell is the bomb when it comes to cleaning up her fur!

    Speaking of fur. One way to keep your carpets clean is to brush your pets and remove their excess fur BEFORE they shed it onto your rugs. I brush Bayleigh daily with this pet brush. It takes off her loose fur, as well as getting right down to her under coat. I've never used a better brush, and you will love it too!

Will Work for Treats

     My Shepherd loves to help me around the house. And by help I mean follow me from room to room and insist on kisses while I clean. But she's cute, and she works for treats, so it's all good. She happens to be very fond of these Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Treats in Duck. They're grain free as well as gluten, corn, and soy free. With no artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors, they make a tasty AND healthy treat for your fur baby!

Tasty, Healthy and Easy Treats for Kids and Pets This Easter

    The final countdown to Easter is on! (Is it just me, or do you hear Europe singing that to you?) Anyway! The other day I was rummaging through my cupboards for what I could make my fur girls for Easter, when I stumbled upon the simplest idea! These tasty treats are not only easy to make but they're healthy, and safe for your kids, and your fur kids!

(Just in case you didn't hear Europe singing to you, here.... and you're welcome!)

Tasty, Healthy and Easy Treats for Kids and Pets This Easter

    Homemade yogurt bites! Simple, yet yummy! And your kids won't even realize they're good for them! You can make them in fun shapes with candy molds. If you don't have molds, or don't have time, you can make them as drops on a cookie sheet! 

    Not only will your children love them, but pets will gobble them up too! If you have both dogs and cats, then you'll be happy to know that these treats are safe for all of them. In moderation of course! (Especially if you use flavored fruit yogurt.) So let's make some!

What Do I Need?

    First and foremost, you need yogurt. Any flavor, any brand will do. I used strawberry banana, but I also make these by mixing plain yogurt with peanut butter. (We call it pup cream, and its what we treat our fur girls with on hot summer days.) 

One part plain yogurt, and one part peanut butter, makes these creamy snacks!

    Secondly you will either need candy molds, or a cookie sheet and parchment paper. If you're using candy molds, just grease them with a bit of olive or coconut oil. Then spoon in your yogurt, and put them in the freezer. Once frozen, pop them out of the molds, and place in a container, or some Easter treat bags, and put them back in the freezer until they're ready to be eaten.

    If you're using the cookie sheet method, first and foremost, MAKE SURE THE SHEET FITS IN YOUR FREEZER! Then line it with parchment paper. You can get as fancy as you'd like with these ones. If you want to be fancy, load your cake decorator with yogurt, and squeeze out your bites on the parchment paper. If you're pressed for time, or don't have a cake bag, no worries, just grab a sandwich bag. Fill it with yogurt, and snip off one corner. Pipe the yogurt onto the sheet, and place in the freezer. Voila, easy Easter treats that your entire family (fur or otherwise) will adore!