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Scarecrows

I’ve written a lot about scarecrows recently. My son has been infatuated with them ever since we visited an organic apple orchard a few months back. I didn’t think much of it at the time. This was around the time when our son started telling stories. He was remembering things and retelling the tales. He fell down one day and proceeded to tell us the story of how “I fell down!” over and over and over again. After we visited the apple orchard our son began to tell us all about how he “saw scarecrows” at the orchard. It entered … Continue reading →

Apples and Scarecrows

Apples and scarecrows. It’s an addiction that I can’t entirely explain. When we were in Texas we found our way to organic apple orchards as frequently as possible. It was a nice reprieve from the sparse fields of cotton and generally treeless landscapes that populated most of our vision in that part of the state. What were we to do? The organic apple orchard gave our vision (and, incidentally, our taste buds) a thrilling sensation unfelt in other aspects of our life there. Now that we’ve moved back to more fertile ground we’ve found ourselves more frequently trekking to outdoor … Continue reading →

Countdown to Halloween

Tomorrow we officially begin decorating our home for Halloween. Despite the fact that Target and Wal-Mart started selling Halloween merchandise the day after Labor Day, I refuse to display a single pumpkin, bat or scarecrow until October first. I just cleared off the kitchen table and emptied the craft closet, so bright and early tomorrow morning my daughter and I can get cracking on these homemade Halloween decorations: CARAMEL APPLE CRAFT Materials: Wooden apples Styrofoam plates Caramel colored paint Craft sticks Mod Podge Chopped nuts Wax paper Cellophane Ribbon Directions: Paint wooden apples with caramel-colored paint. Be sure to be … Continue reading →

Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes for Boys

Part of the reason I allow my 5-year-old to attend so many Halloween-related events is that I want to get the most out of the money I dropped paying for her overpriced costume. However, if your son is content with using a costume simply to trick-or-treat, then you might consider making your own. After all, why should you drain your bank account if your little guy is only going to dress up for a couple of hours on Halloween night? Save your money, and instead, rummage through your home for the materials needed to make these simple, yet creative costumes: … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Halloween Costumes

Are you that mom? My fellow blogger Andrea is not. At least not when it comes to Halloween costumes. Interestingly, I was not raised by that mom. My mom is extremely crafty, and throughout my childhood her exceptional creativity gave birth to many homemade Halloween costumes. Like Andrea, my mom designed dozens of funny, scary, cute and crazy getups for her children each October. The following costume ideas are oldies but goodies and are just as easy to make today as they were decades ago. What’s more, they are a lot cheaper than the overpriced store versions: Clown: Dig around … Continue reading →

Home Blog Month in Review: October

As I sit here looking out my window at the backyard, the birds are hovering in the pine tree against a strong wind and steady rain. The temperature is chilly today, and the calendar reminds me that we have left October behind. October 1st Buy a Home for $1.75 It seems that the housing crisis has made some interesting news lately. Home Month in Review: September 2008 Has the weather turned cooler now that September has passed? Pretty soon, it will be time to get that heat turned back on! Meanwhile, check out all of the articles that were posted … Continue reading →

How to Make Your Own Scarecrow

Thank goodness for scarecrows and pumpkins. As I mentioned in a previous blog they are some of the only seasonal decorations my young daughter can stand to be around without having a full-blown meltdown. Given that she is petrified of gory Halloween décor our home has turned into a haven for happy homemade scarecrows and our porch is a virtual pumpkin patch. If you are looking to add tame seasonal décor to your home (either because your own children are deathly afraid of fake bloody limbs and screeching plastic bats or you simply want to make your house a welcome … Continue reading →

Lucky as the Tin Man

  We’ve all seen the classic tale of the Wizard of Oz. The cowardly lion is desperate for courage, the scarecrow is in need of a brain, and our dear friend the tin man wants nothing more than heart to fill his empty chest. After my divorce I would have given anything to be the tin man. My heart was aching. I was feeling such an intense pain I would have done anything to make it stop. Nothing brought relief. I wasn’t ready to be divorced. I wasn’t ready to be on my own again, but I had no choice … Continue reading →

Cheap and Simple Fall Fun for Kids

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to have fun with kids. Sure, a trip to a fancy amusement park can be a real memory maker, but when it comes down to it, children relish simple moments with loved ones who shower them with attention and affection. You can do that and more by taking your kids on an outdoor adventure. Make the most of fall’s gorgeous weather by trekking around the block, to a park, or on the trails of a local arboretum. Most young children have extra energy to burn, so keep them busy by having … Continue reading →

Two Tips for DIY Fall Decor

Have fun this fall by creating your own autumn-themed decorations. If the final product doesn’t excite you, the money you save handcrafting your seasonal masterpieces certainly will. However, if you are not exactly a Martha Stewart prodigy, but want to take a stab at making affordable fall decor, consider these simple starters: Twig Candles: Take a stroll around your neighborhood or a local park and collect small twigs. You will also need a medium to large size candle in a glass holder, scissors, glue and twine. To make the decorative candles, cut the twigs to three-inch lengths. Next, stand the … Continue reading →