Disney On Ice is back! I took my girl last year to Princesses on Ice and she absolutely loved it. I am a sucker for theatrical productions, even the big names such as Disney. We’ve seen two productions by Disney and both were worth the ticket price. Characters kids read about in books are brought to life in colorful costumes, over-the-top theatrics, and a variety of exciting scenes. My favorite part about going, I think, is watching my children’s reactions to seeing Snow White or Mickey Mouse “in real life.” To them, the characters are truly alive. My girl said to me last time, “I didn’t know Cinderella could ice skate!”

This year, the theme is Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic and will feature many of the Disney characters, such as: Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Jiminy Cricket, the Disney Princesses, some of the characters from The Lion King, and Mulan. Oh, how could I forget Buzz Lightyear and Jessie from Toy Story? My kids are going to flip. Performances will be held at Nationwide Arena February 1 – 5, 2012. For those that haven’t been to a Disney performance, many kids dress up in their princess gowns or Mickey Mouse ears (it is kind of fun to have your kids get dressed up) – the adults can too, but I just wear jeans.

Now that we got all the good-feely stuff out of the way, let’s talk cost. Shows like this can be pricey for families, especially for those with multiple children – and, you don’t want buyer’s remorse because your kid can’t sit still or freaks out because the music is too loud. The evening will consist of possibly $5 for parking your car, potentially giving into a $15 Tinker Bell cup with a flavorless icee (that one is from experience), or a magic light up wand that you know will break as soon as your child gets in the car (that one is *also* from experience). SO, what I’ve done is ask my gracious contact about how my readers could save on tickets. Here’s the deal:

1. Purchase your Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic tickets at http://www.ticketmaster.com/

2. When you check out plug in “MAGIC” in the promo code area

3. Now your tickets are $10 flat rate each

Please read this disclaimer:

Service charges and handling fees may apply. Valid on up to four discounted tickets. Not be used in conjunction with any other discount, premium or rebate offer.

Tickets for 100 years of Magic also available at the Nationwide Arena box office, at all Ticketmaster locations, select Kroger stores, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1.800.745.3000. Tickets are available at Chiller Dublin, Chiller Easton and Chiller North. All tickets are subject to service charges and facility fees.
Ticket prices range for $12-$45.

Thank you to Irvin PR  for graciously allowing me to share this discount with my readers and for the family of four tickets.

This is not a craft blog. This is not a craft blog. This is becoming a craft blog. In my defense, I am coming down off of Christmas crafting, and this is a really cool idea I need to share with you. My super awesome idea is a DIY picture puzzle I made for people as presents, and my gift recipients seemed to love them. My sister-in-law is to thank for this idea; I just tweaked it to make it my way.

The picture puzzles are made from 1 1/2″ wooden blocks, and when they are put together display a photo. There are six sides, so you get to choose six photos or pictures or even words for your special someone. Make one for a friend’s birthday or for your lovely Valentine, especially now in the winter months when Ohio is a cold dark bubble.  The puzzle is personal, fairly easy to make, and just plain cool.

Here are my easy-to-follow directions, as follows:

GATHER YOUR MATERIALS

• Wooden craft stick from Lowe’s that is 1 1/2″ by 1 1/2″ (ask the wood guy, he can help you). This will give you two puzzles and couple of extra blocks. *If you don’t want to cut the blocks, Michael’s and JoAnne’s sells wooden blocks. Just call to make sure they are in stock
• Table saw to cut the blocks
• Sander to sand the block edges and any parts that are pokey
• Six 5×7 photos (I got extra prints, and it was a good decision because I messed up cutting a few photos. Do one hour developing for clarity, and work on the contrast and brightness of your pictures, if possible. Clarity and contrast can be done when you drop off pictures or at home in photoshop or iPhoto.)
• Card stock paper cutter they use to make cards or in scrapbooking. Or an X-acto knife and soft board surface to cut the pictures up
• Ruler to measure out your picture for cuts if you are using a knife (Unless you can cut a straight line with scissors, which for me is impossible. I say use the knife!)
• Mod Podge
• Spongy paint brushes for applying Mod Podge
• Paper plate and parchment paper (plate for sitting your brush on while you work, and the parchment for putting your blocks on to dry)

SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS (Even I only messed up twice…)

BLOCKS

• Cut your blocks into 1 1/2″ by 1 1/2″ blocks. You will need 9 of them for each puzzle.
• Sand the blocks to make them smooth.

PICTURES

• Use the blank puzzle blocks put together in puzzle form to create a template on a piece of paper (should be one big square). Use this piece of paper to trace your square over the area of the photo you want to use. Cut the area away on the photo that isn’t being used.
• Cut up the photo a smidge below 1 1/2″ by 1 1/2″ squares (be sure to line up your picture properly, as in, don’t cut down edges in the middle because your picture will look weird. Be sure to cut extra off from around the edges and make it uniform so your picture lines up when you put it on the blocks.).
• Put the picture together like it will look on the block.

APPLYING THE PICTURE: YOU WILL BE DOING 6 SIDES

• Using your sponge brush, apply some Mod Podge to a blank puzzle block.
• Put a square of your photo on the block, and do this for all subsequent blocks until one of your puzzle faces is complete.
• Let the photo squares dry on the blocks before doing the next step (about 10 minutes).

MOD PODGE FRENZY

• Put three coats of Mod Podge on each side of each block. This seals the picture and protects it so it can live a long puzzle life.
• Let the Mod Podge dry between coats.

PRESENTATION

• The puzzle can be stood up so the picture is on display when it isn’t in play mode. Think about seasonal pictures so gift recipients can display the puzzle with a different picture at various times of year. I like to put an embarrassing or silly photo on there as well.

I found another person who created a picture puzzle. Check out how she did it here: What to Expect blog. I love that her idea is for Father’s Day and that she painted a few sides. My dad requested a puzzle with pictures of his antique cars. That will be my next craft endeavor. I may make him a second one of pictures of him with his grandkids.

*Note: The Oscar Meyer Weinermobile visited my house this summer. My friend came over thinking I was serving hot dogs. Little did she know she’d get to sit inside one!*

Magic Reindeer Food is another one of our traditions at Christmas. We were first introduced to Magic Reindeer Food when my daughter was in preschool. I thought it was the cutest idea, and immediately decided the kids would be feeding the reindeer and lighting the way for Santa on Christmas Eve. This year we also decided to give it as a gift to our little friends – great DIY gift idea!

It is so simple and fun. After your fun Christmas Eve festivities and right before you send the kids off to dream of sugar plums, send them outside to sprinkle “Reindeer Food” on the lawn. The idea is that the moon lights up the sparkly stuff (glitter or sugar crystals) and guides Santa’s sleigh to your home. Then the reindeer get oats as a treat.

Now, there are other ways to make this reindeer food, but I like to do it the *easy* way. Also, the kids can help you put the baggies together.

For “mine”, all you do is:

Put some glitter or red/green sugar crystals and a small handful of oats in a snack baggie.

Close the snack baggie and fold it in half. Staple a little poem to it. I found free clip art of a reindeer, typed the little poem, and printed it on colored construction paper. Here’s the poem (this is the one I made up, but you can google others):

Reindeer Food

 Sprinkle, sprinkle
Make it bright
Light the way on Christmas night
Santa’s sleigh will appear
With gifts, and joy, and Christmas cheer!

Having out of town guests? This is the perfect activity before bedtime on Christmas Eve. Let them take the kids out to sprinkle the reindeer food, and you stay inside where it is nice and warm! Grammies and Papas love that kind of stuff.

This year I am doing more DIY gifts than ever, and even my children are making little gifts for their friends. When I was young, I loved making salt dough figurines or ornaments. I totally forgot about this fun easy craft until my cousin told me I should make salt dough ghosts for my Halloween party. That didn’t happen, BUT the kids made salt dough ornaments for Christmas presents for their friends! My son helped me make the dough and cut out the shapes…and run his cars through the dough making “roads.” Then my girl helped us paint them. Here’s the easy…and a touch messy skinny:

All you need is:

Cheap flour, salt (I used plain old Morton), and the water you have on tap
Cookie cutters – I bought Christmas cookie cutters at Target
Mixing bowl
Rolling pin (optional – I just used my hands)
Jelly roll or cookie pan (for drying the ornaments)
Paint and paint brushes – preferably acrylic, but if you can stand it model paint is awesome because it dries shiny
String, ribbon, twine, yarn – whatever you have on hand that will look nice to hang the ornament on your tree

Directions:

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
3/4 to 1 cup water

Pour all the ingredients in the bowl and mix it up. Knead together to form a dough. Start with 3/4 cup water and add as you need it. Roll it out with your hands or a rolling pin to as thin as you can get it – about 1/4″ is what I did. Cut out your shapes and lay on a foil-lined jelly roll pan. This recipe made about twelve 3″ ornaments and fifteen 1″ ornaments (or super cute as gift tags!). Let them dry like that for a few days or put them in the oven at 200 degrees for a few hours. Just check every 30 minutes to make sure they are drying and not browning. Paint them and then string them up!

Now, we weren’t as fancy schmancy as Katy Elliott’s DIY: Salt Dough Ornaments (wow! beautiful!), but we aspire to get there!

We frequent the library about once a week for books and try to make it to story times and events as often as possible. We love the library! This holiday season, many of the Columbus Metropolitan Library branches have holiday-themed activities for families that look exciting AND are *free*! Check them out – especially if you have a ballerina or train-lover in your life, as follows:

Nutcracker Storytimes

Come hear the beautiful Nutcracker story and meet characters from the BalletMet performance.

Gahanna Branch, 310 Granville St.
Tuesday, Nov. 29
1 p.m.

Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.
Saturday, Dec. 3
11 a.m.

Hilliard Branch, 4772 Cemetery Road
Thursday, Dec. 8
7 p.m.

Polar Express

This program will be after the library closes at Main Library on Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. It will include holiday crafts, caroling, hot chocolate and cookies. Also, there will be a visit from a very special guest (who wears a red suit).

* Registration is required to attend.

Holiday Stories and Strings

Martin Luther King Branch, 1600 E. Long Street
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2-3:30 p.m.

Features Urban Strings, multicultural stories and crafts. Sponsored by Friends of Art for Community Enrichment (F.A.C.E.) and Friends of the Library

Celebrity Book Reading

Dublin Branch, 75 N. High Street

With Blue Jackets #14 Grant Clitsome and Mascot Stinger
Tuesday, Dec. 20
6:30-7:30 p.m.

The days following Thanksgiving were just gorgeous! We felt as if the weather was beckoning us outside, so we took a hike to see the bison at Battelle Darby Creek. The park is located in Galloway – about a twenty-five minute drive from I-270 and Sawmill Road…fyi, currently there is construction on the freeway. Just be prepared if you go during a regular weekend day or week day for construction hiccups. All in all, though, it was an easy drive out.

Once we arrived at the park we pulled in the first entrance called Cedar Ridge. The Greenway Trail was located to the right of the first set of playground equipment, and this trail led out to where the bison roam. The hike was a mile out and a mile back. I should have known better after hiking out to see the eagles earlier this year at Highbanks that my kids would complain. My little ones thought it was too long to be walking – they whined about being bored or that their legs hurt all the way back. We made lots of stops for water, snacks, and to play. Luckily, the sun during this time of year casts great shadows, and we played a bit of shadow tag. I also brought my daughter’s pedometer along (she won it at school, but I am sure you could find one at Target or online). I kept challenging her to get X number of steps and made a game out of hiking back. It helped…a little. I was not alone, though, I noticed a few families brought strollers and many dads were carrying kids back on their shoulders.

My children complaining I am used to and didn’t let it bother me, but I really wish the climax of seeing the bison was more mind-numbing. Instead, the big furry ladies were far away behind an electric fence, all sleeping. Now, I can’t blame them for being tired; but because the distance between us and them was so great, they looked like little specks. I was a bit disappointed. We brought our binoculars, but dangit, I wanted to see one up close and personal. Oh well, I know the bison weren’t there to put on a show for me. I should not have had high expectations…or maybe I need to ask for a telephoto lens for Christmas.

Anyhoo…being outside and playing with my kids was awesome. Plus, we love our Metro Parks!! Battelle Darby offers “bison” hikes with guides various times during the year. I wonder if you get to see a closer view of them?

Battelle Darby Creek
1775 Darby Creek Drive
Galloway, OH 43119

Learn from me:

• Take snacks and water.
• Carry a pack for the layers your children will peel off, especially if you go during the winter months.
• Think of ways to keep your kids occupied if they don’t do well on longer walks/hikes.
• Bathrooms located at Cedar Ridge area.
• Bring binoculars.
• Consider a stroller if your children are smaller and you don’t want to end up carrying them back.

Dr. Seuss characters, names and all related indicia are trademarks of the 1984 Ted Geisel Trust and © Turner Entertainment, Inc. 2011. Image courtesy of Chuck Jones Center for Creativity.

The Grinch has has invaded Franklin Park Conservatory this holiday season! I cannot wait to take the kids to check it out. If you have in-laws coming to visit, give them some cash and send them on their merry way with your children. You can get some peace and quiet, and they can have some festive fun! Check it out:

The Grinch display will join other time-honored traditions at the Conservatory, including the 15-foot poinsettia tree, a music box garden railway and a gingerbread competition.

“Merry & Bright” opened Saturday, November 19, and is open through January 4, 2012.

Activities that will be sure to put you in the holiday spirit:

• Sunday, December 4—Deadline for the Fifth Annual Gingerbread Competition. Creativity has no limits in this amateur competition for all ages. Celebrity judges select 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd prize winners in each age category, including youth category for 12 years and younger.

If your kids need practice, join Gingerbread Friday on Friday, November 25, 12 – 4 p.m. Create a miniature gingerbread house with graham crackers, frosting and candy. Supplies available on a first come, first served basis.

• Wednesday, December 7, 6 – 9 p.m. Family Fun!—Visit the Mrs. Claus’ kitchen! Mrs. Claus serves holiday cookies, courtesy of Cheryl’s Cookies, for kids to decorate. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or cider for $1, and watch for Santa and two of his live reindeer to make an appearance.

Last year, my husband took my daughter to decorate holiday cookies with Rachel Tayse (she is part of the Food Education team at FPC). They had a great time! I guess I need to add visiting the Conservatory during the holidays to my list of traditions.

• Wednesday, December 14, 6 – 9 p.m. Family Fun!—See the infamous Grinch and his little dog Max as you visit the Whoville Post Office to create holiday cards. Join in a sing-along, Whoville style, around the tree at 7 and 8 p.m., and taste Who Pudding and Roast Beast ($1).

• Wednesday, December 21, 6 – 9 p.m. Family Fun!—Enjoy holiday traditions celebrated in a bygone era. Sample a cup of wassail ($1) and try your hand at candle-making.

• Monday, December 26 – Friday, December 30 – Entertaining out-of-town visitors? Enjoy daily family entertainment at 11 a.m. through 2 p.m.

For a complete list of all “Merry & Bright” activities, please visit: http://www.fpconservatory.org/holidays.html

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1777 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43203
614-645-8733

Yes, the holidays are upon us…soon to crush my will to live. I am trying, though, each year to not be a total Scrooge. My husband loves Christmas, and it is seriously his favorite time of year…besides his birthday. I promised him five years ago that I would *try* to enjoy myself during the holiday season and not be a bah-humbug. I am doing fairly well. I think it is because I have started new traditions with my children. One of our little traditions is sending a letter to Santa that lists some of the items they’d like to see under the tree. (Some of our others are here: Huntington Holiday Train at the Main Library and Nativity Scene at State Auto Insurance Building.)

There are so many ways to drop a letter to Santa from your children. Mail a letter from your mailbox to the North Pole, some senior centers (thinking the Griswold in Worthington) have a Santa mailbox, or the mailbox I found at Macy’s! I found the Santa mailbox last year and can’t believe I remembered it existed. It is an over-sized red mailbox with slots for littles to mail their letters directly to the jolly old elf himself. Macy’s even provides a table with cute postcards that say “Dear Santa” and include lines for the kids to write their fondest wishes. Of course, littered around the writing area are toys to tantalize your children. I told mine to add the toy they were begging me to buy to their letter. I buy nothing after school supply shopping. Anything they want goes on their Christmas wish list. Even gum. I’m mean…well, not really.

You might ask why I had my kids write letters to Santa so early. Meaning, I haven’t even had MY birthday and Christmas decorations are out. It all started with a trip to the mall because I was out of my special soap. We entered the mall and there he was, decked out in red and white and doing pictures. My kids were pretty excited to see Santa working the mall, and I concluded that writing a letter BEFORE Thanksgiving seemed appropriate. I mean, if Santa is already doing pictures with the kids he MUST be taking mail. It was also a great way for my girl to practice her writing and reading, and I loved hearing my three year old boy recite to me.

If you want to find this mailbox please go to the Tuttle Mall, park near Sears, and go in the Macy’s door. Take the elevator or escalator to the bottom level, turn left into Macy’s, and it is sitting right there by the Clinique counter. Be sure to go during the week in the afternoon to avoid crowds.

What about you? How do you handle your children’s wish lists or sending off letters to Santa? Share your ideas in my comment section – I’d love to hear them!

Thank you for coming back into my life, frozen yogurt cafes. I have so missed places such as Yogurt Oasis and TCBY (I know TCBY is still around, but doesn’t count if it is in a gas station or airport).  The new cafes are even better, though, because I get to serve myself. Frozen yogurt could easily become an addiction for me…filling my cup with low fat goodness… Of course, I top it off with jimmies, marshmallow cream, peanut butter, AND hot fudge. Yes, a cup for me costs more than a Jeni’s pint…and I eat every last spoonful. I have frequented a few around town: Menchies, Groovy Spoon, and Orange Leaf (hubby’s fave), and they are a fun way to enjoy a treat with the whole family because each person gets to DIY.

Recently, my girl went to a birthday party at Menchies in Dublin (I’ll get to the birthday part later). We took that opportunity to enjoy an afternoon treat while she celebrated her friend turning 6. The first thing we did was grab a cup. Now, the cups are large so be careful because you pay by the ounce. The first time I went I filled my cup to the brim, and ended up having to charge it.  Next, we perused the flavors. “Tart” is a new type of yogurt Hollywoodians go crazy for, but I am more of a White Chocolate or Pistachio flavored girl. Menchies (and the others) offer little sample cups so you can try a flavor that sounds good. Once you’ve selected your flavor, fill up your cup. It is fun for kids because they can pour the yogurt themselves and add their own toppings – lots and lots of delicious toppings such as: coconut, fruit, Heath Bar pieces, chocolate chips, almonds, Gummie Bears…and the list goes on. My kids love creating their own dessert masterpieces.

Now, it ain’t cheap. FroYo places rank up there in price with the local ice cream shops, and you could pay even more if you don’t watch how much you pour. But, it is fun and tasty.

If you are looking for an indoor birthday party idea, this would be a great place for about 10 kids. I know Menchies offers birthday party service, but not sure of others. Menchies has a small room in the back where the party takes place. My daughter made a cute t-shirt, ate pizza, got to get her own yogurt, and then they celebrated the birthday girl with balloons and cake the family made. Believe it or not, my skinny-legs-and-all child ate every last bite. A Menchies employee ran the whole party from keeping the kids eating and crafting to serving the food. For the most part, my husband and I throw our own parties; but, having a birthday party someplace where I don’t have to clean to get ready, make the food, and clean up after is quite appealing. Menchies’ website states birthday party packages run from $4.40 – $16.75 per person. Call them for more details.

Menchie’s
7545 Sawmill Road
Dublin, OH 43016
614-339-5656

There's the random string "sleeping" on a pillow from another toy. And, a cotton ball.

Have you ever seen that show “Hoarders” on A & E? Friends had told me about it, and I didn’t understand why they talked in such horror about some of the stories until I watched it. Hoarders can be suffocated by their own stuff! Seriously, some hoarders save EVERYTHING…even their empty twinkie wrappers. Yes, if you aren’t sure, that is garbage to you and me.

This show made such an impact on me that I immediately went through my stuff and got rid of a box load. I also looked at my husband and told him that, “I don’t want to be like them! Do I have tendencies? I’m scared.” Because, solid fact, hoarding is a disease – just like asthma (which I have), depression, and ADHD, and you may not know you have it until it becomes problematic. Now, I am not a medical doctor – don’t wanna be and don’t try to be – but I may have diagnosed my daughter as a hoarder. Can children be hoarders? I wonder if hoarding can start as early as five? Maybe I need that medical degree, after all.

I’ve spoken with a few readers and friends, and it seems it may just be a developmental thing to “hoard” familiar items for the 10 and under

I caught her trash picking. Received a scowl for it.

crowd. The items may be sentimental or comforting; but, here’s the thing – I caught my daughter going through the trash today, because I threw away a fire safety brochure from school. Seriously, she can’t read it yet. Why does she need that brochure? (By the way, I didn’t throw it away willy nilly, I read it first – even though I already know my fire safety. C’mon, I’m 40.).

Anyhow, I just wanted to share a few things she is hoarding:

• A string from a couch cushion. She said it was a snake and freaked out when I said it was trash, and immediately hid it in her room.
• One of those plastic things that look like straws inside new shoes? Yes, she has one of those she calls a treasure.
• ALL of her preschool papers.
• A piece of yarn that had pictures from catalogs. She created it as a “Christmas wish list” from TWO years ago. I tried to take it down from her room and she cried.
• She has a drawer full of *stuff* – some old drawings, some household items I’ve wanted to throw away (like tags that hold the bread package?), boxes that held toys…

If I don’t get to some things immediately, like the boxes toys came in, she’ll take it and hide it in her room. “I need that,” she’ll say. “Why?” I’ll ask. “Because,” she’ll say, and then leave it at that. I let it go and try to talk her into getting rid of stuff, but she hasn’t been ready to part with anything. One thing my husband and I started doing was having the kids each box up a paper grocery bag of toys. If they get rid of a full grocery bag with books and toys, they are allowed to get one new toy in exchange. We’ve done this a couple of times, but lately, my girl will barely part with a McDonald’s Happy Meal toy – even if it is broken or missing parts because the dog chewed it up.

I am hoping it is a phase. Has anyone else experienced this with their children? If so, do you want to share how you handled it in my comment section? I know I could use a little guidance.