Elf on the Shelf Bows Down

Inspired by "Every Knee Shall Bow" http://www.portraitartistnc.com/GWsanta.html

If all the snowflakes were candy bars and milkshakes...

Click for larger image; more details on my public facebook album here:

https://www.facebook.com/dayna.chu/media_set?set=a.10153524346525607.1073741839.550600606&type=1

We {heart} Daddy Pinspiration Fail...

How to create a Facebook Timeline Cover Photo using Picasa

Basic Timeline Cover Photo using Picasa: assumes basic working knowledge of picasa.

1. Open Picasa and pin/"hold" the photos you'd like in your collage
2. Click "Collage" to create a collage (a new window will open)
3. Select the type of mosaic/collage you'd like and play with the grid spacing, colours, etc

Here's where the magic happens:

4. Under "page format," click the drop down menu and scroll the the very bottom of the list. Select "Add Custom Aspect Ratio" [a new window will open, shown as #5 in the image]

5. Change the numbers to 315 x 850; doesn't really matter which way you put them because you can play with orientation in the editing options.

You can continue to play until you get what you like; drag the photos around, or add and delete photos using the options on the left ("clips" tab), or use the "shuffle pictures" button below the collage. When you're ready, click create collage! **Note that the photo on the far left should have some space to accommodate your profile pic.

Then just head on over to your timeline and upload the new photo! You shouldn't even have to drag/adjust your cover photo.

Sometimes Picasa makes me "save to disk" before I get the photo that includes all edits including added text etc.

Happy Covering!

You don't have to wait for National Banana Split Day (Aug 25 supposedly?!) to whip up some healthy banana splits for dessert or even breakfast!

To make it healthy, use your favourite yogurt, fresh fruit, and top with fruit preserves or jam or even unsweetened chocolate. And what's a few sprinkles between friends to add a smile?

My original inspiration was here via pinterest: http://www.thekitchn.com/easy-breakfast-recipe-breakfas-154632

These are pinned to my YUM-O {sweet} board on pinterest, and currently in my freezer (I took this photo)... :) YUM-O!

Original idea source: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/coolest-easiest-yummiest-yogurt-pops.html

though, truth be told, many of us have been having SOME version of this since we were kids... I just love the jam-a-stick-in-the-single-serve-container idea.

Though next time, I will pre-peel (and replace) the paper lid, so that it freezes on as kind of a drip catcher for the kids. Without pre-peeling, it may be tricky to get off, out of the cup, and paper back on to catch drips.

A friend on facebook adds this tip: "two sticks either side, so when they are frozen you can cut them in half... :)"

1. Start with your favourite Buttermilk Pancake Recipe
2. Make some large circles and small circles (I keep things simple sometimes!)
3. Add whatever fruit you have around for eyes, ears, nose, and whiskers... I used pears for eyes, bananas for ears (you could pour pancakes for ears too I bet), and strawberries for noses and whiskers.
4. For an extra "treat" you can include your family's favourite treat on the side. These are Annie's graham crackers.

Smile and have fun with your kids at breakfast!

P.S. a quick buttermilk substitution: 1 TBSP vinegar to 1 cup milk (1 cup less 1 tbsp that is, so total liquid is still 1 cup)

PPS; don't be shy about celebrating a day early if things get kind of crazy on Sunday with church, family, egg hunt, etc

idea adapted from
http://www.barefootkitchenwitch.com/the_barefoot_kitchen_witc/2009/04/coloring-eggs.html

Busy Bag Bank

100+ Busy Bag Ideas
100+ Free Printables (many can be used as templates for busy bags)
2 free resources regarding how to host a busy-bag exchange party

1. intro to busy bags plus 5 ideas by Walking by the Way

2. 11 bags from the princess and the tot

3. 19 busy bag ideas from Second Story Window

4. 8 ideas from The Huntingtons

5. 12 ideas from Intrepid Murmurings

6. 21 more ideas (mostly links) from Intrepid Murmurings

7. 15 busy bags for 1-2yr olds

8. magnetic pompoms

9. shades of color

10. 7 ideas from Taming the Goblin (love the soap dish)

11. I Spy Bottle

12. 17 activity bag ideas (no tutorials or photos, just ideas listed) from The Sunny Patch

13. 5 tips for hosting a busy bag exchange from Second Story Window

14. How to coordinate a swap (free ebook)

15. 100+ free pdf printables; many can be used as templates for busy bags

Thing 1 and Thing 2

The cutest little "Things" you ever did see: my fraternal twin boys: Sam (Thing 1) and Toby (Thing 2)

Computerless Angry Birds...

Use any recycling items you may have around the house; help your children build any structure and knock it down!

Of course, you don't need "official" angry bird toys to do this.

Depending on the ages of your child(ren), they may be able to build and re-build the structure themselves. You can also add a scoring/star system, line to stand behind, etc... or keep it as simple as your kids will allow while still feeling things are fair.

This activity kept my kids (2.5yrs and 4.5yrs) busy for hours, literally.

Bonus! Builds hand-eye-coordination, balance, cooperation skills, motor skills, and more!

Have fun!

Easy Chai Spice Anything

Easy Chai Spice mix: perfect for a chai smoothie, waffles, muffins, vanilla meal-replacement drink, chex-mix, sugar cookies, cake, trail-mix, you name it and you can CHAI-ify it!

Equal Parts:
Ginger
Cloves
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Skim-Milk Powder (optional)

15 Easy Soup Recipes

From DisneyFamily.com:

Warm up from the inside out with a steaming bowl of soup. From chicken noodle to chowder, here are 15 easy soup recipes your family will slurp up!

back to blogging?

Pinterest has renewed my passion for blogging. I love networking, creating, communicating, and being resourceful. Facebook replaced my blogging for a couple of years, but Facebook restricts ... well it limits... well, it's just a different platform/medium and it's good for different things.

I've been into baking, but with 4 kids under 5yrs, that hobby presents a few problems, not the least of which being the inability to stop in the middle of any given "project," drop everything, and attend to a crying baby/toddler/preschooler. Not the second least of which being the inability to get out of the house to work off the inevitable pounds that are gained through "quality control."

So I bought a sewing machine.

Thank you Pinterest, for renewing my passion for blogging, providing an amazing centre of resource management, and giving me a potential new audience for blogging about my new hobby! Who knows, maybe next I'll have an etsy store?!

~D

pinterest

Some Albums of Aly

Two weeks worth of Aly photos :o) and some of big brother too!

Click the links below to view albums...

Alana Larissa Choi-Tung (彩曈) Chu ("Aly")

Pink is the new black
Week 2
August

Alana Larissa Choi-Tung (彩曈) Chu

July 18, 2009
7 lb 3 oz, 20.8 inches

Pretty long handle for a bitty baby girl that we call "Aly" ...

We're still figuring out which end is up, so not really uploading albums etc yet... but here are some pics and name info:

"Alana" is in honour of Karl's brother, Alan...

"Larissa" is in honour of my mother, Linda [L], and my step-mother, Mary [ar], and my sister, Melissa [issa];

Choi-Tung [pronounced kind of like Choy-Tone] translates: Choi: "colourful"; Tung: "light at dawn"... I will have the chinese characters up soon.

Update... 彩瞳

♥ ♡ ❤ εїз