Marble Painting

Painting with marbles turns ordinary paper into a very cool, frame-worthy piece of preschooler art.

Supplies--

1 box lid
As much paint as you want/have
As many marbles as you want/have
3 sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper
Bucket and hose to wash of the marbles when done

Instructions--

1. Tape down the paper.

2. Pour in the paint:


3. Then the marbles:
4. Swish them all around:

5. Voila!

Catchin' Some (micro)Waves

image courtesy of Digest This blog, which includes facts about microwave safety

"Energy officials are urging the public to conserve power -- especially from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. when demand is highest. Cordova suggests people refrain from washing clothes or doing dishes during those times. Moreover, he recommends folks cook dinner in the microwave -- instead of their stove or oven -- to avoid filling their homes with heat."

This summer, Central Texas has been experiencing record heat and record energy usage. And this is what they come up with? "Use the microwave folks!" (Ironically, I left this post for a few minutes to get a cup of HOT coffee from HEAT-generating coffee maker and we had a brown out! Seriously?!)

Uplifting

I saw a commercial the other day that made me actually stop and rewind. It was for a shoe. For little girls. The Web site markets the shoe with:
"Give her look a lovely lift with the SKECHERS Pretty Talls-High Step shoe. Soft suede or smooth leather and mesh fabric upper in a zigzag strap casual sneaker with a wedge heel."
The commercial ends with a bizarre, jarring circus song. Appropriate considering how the whole idea of selling height (a la stilts) is a strange spectacle.

Alpha-Bits

Made by Girl

I can see this in Kennedy's room. Or mine with some random word thrown in: EAT or DREAM or TINTINNABULATION....

Oh my moomah

Moomah

I dreamt that I brought this wonderful place to Austin. I want to go to there. I also dreamt that I had a maid, who wanted to be called a home care assistant. I'd call someone who mopped my floors a Queen if she so desired....

Pillow Talk

Me (starting a pillow fight with Kennedy): schtk schtk schtk schtk.
Kennedy: It's not a gun, mommy.
Me: No, that's just my pillow fight noise....
Kennedy: This is a Weapon Free School.

(Wow they start drilling that in early, don't they?)

Taco Night Kitsch

My guacamole dish rounds out my collection of taco night accessories quite nicely. The first piece is a Mexican loteria tortilla dish. Both of these were found at our local grocery store. Gotta love Tejas!

Pencils and paper and pens, oh my!

School supplies always make me feel better. Walgreens has already begun their back-to-school, buy two get one free sale. Someone's going to have to restrain me when Kennedy needs school supplies for Kindergarten....

Jimmy Cracked Corn, and I Don't Care

My neighbor is a chef at our grocery store’s cooking demonstration area and he let me sample his dish du jour – chicken sausage with mozzarella and basil served with a Southwest black bean and corn salad. I’ve actually had both of these before, but they were never THIS good.

I had to make that salad. I took a short cut (at his suggestion) and bought the store’s freshly prepared pico de gayo to substitute for the tomato, onion, cilantro. It comes in a little tub in the prepared veggies section at HEB. Choose MILD, not hot. Also, I did not use 1/2 the bottle of the dressing. As a matter of fact, I don't think I even used 1/4 of the bottle. I drizzled enough that there was some pooling at the bottom of the bowl to marinade it. Next time, and there WILL be a next time, I'll have to measure.

WhiteLightnin'

WhiteLightnin' by coatsmel

1. Scrabble wall tiles
2. Faux-notebook paper dish towel - awesome!
3. Earrings
4. Owl umbrella stand - to scare away the grackles
5. K bag
6. Yogurt maker

Confession, 7/14/09

The loose end of the toilet paper in public restrooms freaks me out more than the toilet seat itself. NEVER USE IT.

Bubble Gum

We're running out of milestones! This is Kennedy's first bubble gum chewing experience. Enjoy!

Splash Day Hair

splashdayhair, originally uploaded by melissa.coats.

I had this this same hair style in high school. But I've never had those long lashes....