How do your kiddos decorate their Easter eggs?

Happy Happy Friday ya'll. So so happy it's the weekend and very, VERY happy it's suppose to be a pretty one too. I guess I'm just happy all around. ^_^

Now the Chazman may have informed me that he is too old to take treat/goodie bags to school now but he definitely reminded me that he still loves and is young enough to decorate our Easter eggs. Thank goodness he hasn't outgrown everything all at one time....WHEW!!!

We have several ways we like to decorate our eggs and it kinda depends on the mood the Chazman is in with just the way we do them. Sometimes it's just dying them using the ever faithful Paas dye kit.

If we do them that way this year then I'm going to be trying out using my whisk instead of a spoon to do the dipping with. (Yeppers...found that nifty idea off of Pinterest) I think it will be a lot less messy that way but then again....I am talking about the Chazman...hehe  Boys do love to make a mess!!

One year, I totally forgot to buy any vinegar. Had the Paas kit but no vinegar....dang it all!!! No worries though because I thought of a different way to make them and a way I knew that Chaz would love doing. (yes, he takes after his momma....loves crafting) All it took was some glue....several different shades of glitter and lots of newspaper. (that was to capture all the glitter and yes, even young males love using glitter)

Here's one that I want to try out and I think it will be FUN FUN FUN and let the Chazman bring out the artist inside. Decorating using Sharpie pens. How awesome is that? Extremely AWESOME!! Found this on Craft Thyme's blog and OMGOSH...so many amazing projects can be found there. Go and take a peek!!

Talk about an easy way to decorate some eggs....what could be simpler than taking plastic eggs and some bracelet glow sticks? Not much as far as I'm concerned. When Chaz was really young (toddling around young) we would have loved this easy way. He would want to hide and hunt all day and these would have been perfect for the late afternoon or in the house.

There are so many ways out there to decorate and I hope that these few suggestions will give you some inspiration to try some new ways to do just that.

Now...we love to eat the eggs after we are finished hunting them. I'm sure some are saying "Ewww Regi" but I have been doing it since I was young and well....I'm old and still living..hehe  I would never be able to do the next two suggestions because....well....we all LOVE them right out of the shell. I might make some for a Easter gathering sometimes though. They are really cute.

Until next time..............Hugs,
Regi

New Years gift for teacher!!!

Well well well.....the Chazman comes home from school yesterday smiling up a storm. I mean I could see his big smile as soon as he walked through the back gate. OMGOSH.....yes, he is growing up...he walks home by himself in the afternoon..if it's not raining. I go up to the school with an umbrella if it is. ^_^ Yes I spoil him to the max!! Now, what were we talking about....oh yes, his big smile. It was from....well....you will never guess. Nooo...I'm telling you that you will NEVER guess from what. OK...go ahead...give it your best shot...guess. Still thinking...well....STOP and I will tell you what that huge smile was from. Not saying that you aren't smart enough or quirky enough (hehe) to figure it out on your own.. You just won't and I didn't guess right either when he asked me to guess what he was holding behind his back in his hands. I'm sure those of you that have boys or experience with 10 year boys knows that it could have been ANYTHING!!

The Chazman first tells me (before he will show me what he is holding) that Mr Hoffman had some awesome prizes he let them bid on. You see...he gives the kiddos tickets when they do good on their assignments, homework, projects or just because they were quiet when he needed them to be. It's a class of 4th graders remember. HAHA!! Normally the items are in a box and marked with how many tickets it will take to have it BUT this time he did a bidding on some of the cooler ones (Chazman's words). Chaz has been saving his tickets so he was ready when the bidding war began. He had to use 9 of his tickets to get it but he got it. The item was a bookmark. Yeah...I know you are sitting there laughing but you don't know just what kind of bookmark it was. Are you ready for this? Are you sure? It is a bookmark made from POOPOO. Yes, you read that right, POOPOO...elephant POOPOO in fact. Ohhhh, I kid you not...just look

There is NO smell or odor and I have to admit that it is pretty COOL!! I had never heard of anyone making bookmarks out of animal POOPOO but after I looked it up...well....it makes perfect sense. It's made by the POOPOO Paper company, of course, why not!!!! Chaz is thrilled that he has a unique and awesomely cool bookmark and that's what counts.

He also informed me while we were reading about the POOPOO (hehe) that he didn't take Mr Hoffman a Christmas gift and he really wanted to give him something to let him know he really enjoyed his class. He made learning FUN. He said that Mr Hoffman is an Alabama fan so he wanted me to make one of my little elephant desk sitters. So I did!!!

I even made a houndstooth print paper box for the elephant to go in. I mean if he is a BAMA fan then let's go all out.. ri iight?

It's not a late Christmas gift but a Happy New Year gift. Chaz was excited to take it to him this morning. I'm glad I could make something for him to take. Handmade is something from the heart and a teacher like Mr. H deserves something special. I mean really...how many teachers do you know that buy POOPOO!!!!

Until next time............Hugs,
Regi

Whodoo not voodoo...hehe

WOW......finally....I finished all my gifts for the Angel program. I hope that my small part helps make a child smile when they open a gift on Christmas morning. I have to admit that it was tough making them this year as the Chazman asked what I was making them for exactly!! I know that he had to have noticed that I broke out in a sweat when he asked me that question. What was I to do? I didn't want to lie to my baby so I just didn't answer with the complete explanation. I just told him that our sweet friend Ms Sue needed my help with making gifts for some children she knew. That wasn't a lie...it was actually the truth just not the whole truth. He stood there for a minute and then smiled and walked off. He later said that he was sad......I froze with fear.....fear that he was about to tell me the one thing I do not want to ever hear....that he didn't believe. Nope...that wasn't what he said at all. What he did say was that he was sad that some kids didn't have the magic inside them anymore and didn't believe in the magical realm...like Santa. I asked  (with a big gulp) if he still had the magic inside and he said "Well DUHHH MOM...of course I do". I'm glad that he does and I'm going to hope that he is like me (I NEVER told my parents that I didn't believe) and we can have the magic every year.

Now that I'm not frantically working on those gifts I can relax and work on the Chazman's gifts. Yes, I am making him some little gifts and I am going to be working my butt off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to get them all done because Thursday starts his Christmas break. He doesn't know that I'm making them. He asked me about a month ago if I thought I could make some of the little VooDoo string dolls that are popular. I told him that I probably could and would try as soon as we got through Christmas. He looked kinda sad faced but said alright. BOY...is he ever going to be surprised!!! I made one today and WOW it is time consuming but boy oh boy was it ever fun. I think I have a feline soul in me somewhere because I swanee I was purring like a kitten playing with that string!! ^_^   I already have several designs my muse has thrown at me to make that she knows the Chazman really wants. (yeah...she says that but I know she was just ease dropping when he and I were talking about them..hehe)  There's going to be a witch doctor....a one eyed monster, a googlie eyed monster, a vampire, a mohawk wearing warrior, and hopefully a cousin to Beetlejuice. Of course I won't call my little creatures VooDoo...they will be WhoDoo, as in Who Doo you be? ^_^  Here's the first little string guy.....be warned...he's NEKKID!! Hmmmmm...seems my characters like to run around the studio nekkid a good bit. Oh well.....keeps my muse hidden!!

Not to bad for my first one ever. I even gave him blue eyes like the Chazman. HA!! I'm hoping that I get them all finished before Thursday and get their own little boxes houses made and under the tree. I can't wait to see his little eyes light up when he opens his gifts Christmas eve from us.

I want to let all of you know that I am offering a 25% discount on purchases made in my Etsy shop...good through the 22nd. Just use code 2SANTABAG at check out to get it. Feel free to share the code with family, friends, neighbors, strangers, everyone..HAHA!!

Until next time............Hugs,
Regi


Oh yes...I'm working on two more Santa pieces too. I need to get my rump in gear dears!!! 

Lions and Tigers and Bearded Dragons???

What a great weekend!! I hope that YOU and yours had an awesome one as well. I know for most it was a much needed long one...one to have that extra day to have fun or rest or both. ^_^  and to celebrate Memorial Day. (Thank you to all of the men and women that put their lives in harms way to protect us....I do know that FREEDOM isn't free. Our thanks goes to all that have served, are serving and will serve in the future)

Our weekend started out with a much anticipated trip to our "Little Zoo that could". We promised the Chazman if he made A's and B's for the year overall then we would go and visit all the amazing creatures that live there. I do believe we have found a place to visit at least once a month from now on. I haven't been since it first opened in 1989. Yes...I can still remember back that far..HAHA!! It has definitively been through some changes since then. It's a wonderful place to visit....again and again. Please watch the video with the link below to see just why our Zoo became "The Little Zoo that could" and see just where it is headed in the near future.

http://vimeo.com/user6820298/amazing-green-zoo

Most of the animals at the Zoo are rescues or have been donated but I can assure you that each one is very loved and well cared for. Patti Hall is the director and she has done amazing things for the zoo...she had a dream and is making it come to life. If you watched the video then you know that there is a new and amazing  new zoo coming in 2013 and the Chazman is so excited about it. He said that he will always love the little zoo that could and wants to keep visiting until their big move....and we will!!!

Oops...I forgot I didn't have makeup on....

Oh well...it was to hot...it would have melted off.

The Chazman is going to be a tall one....he is only 9 and look at where he comes on me. I'm not short either...by any means. (5'8") Just look at that adorable face...my Li'l angel for sure.

Now those of you that come to visit under the old Southern Ooaks know how much we love our turtles and fish and ok ok all God's creatures. ^_^   These little guys swam right up to the edge of their pond to get some treats. Unfortunately, there were also some VERY greedy little fish that were much faster than the sweet turtles and they gobbled it up. Bad fish...BAD!!!

This handsome fella was just sitting in the shade (very SMART handsome fella) and seemed to be enjoying looking at all the folks walking by. Ever wonder just what the animals are thinking as they watch us watch them? If only they could talk or perhaps it's best they don't..hehe!! This guy did pop his big old bill for us as we were walking away. Chaz turned around and waved at him and I swear this guy nodded his head at him.

You know...it seems that these amazing creatures are much smarter than we are....they were all laying in the shade as we were "melting". It was worth the heat though....isn't this guy a true beauty? 

This lovely beauty was laying down and then slowly got up and walked to her water. Looks like she is looking into it and admiring her reflection....and she should. Big cats just fascinate the Chazman and me. 

OMGOSH...watch out..this is a very dangerous creature...NOT!!!! He was the cutest little bunny and he hopped right over to Chaz and sat looking at him. Chaz wanted to pick him up so badly but he respects all the signs hanging about that all the animals might bite. Might....that is the key word but he figured that might was close enough to may or will. Smart boy!!

I so need to get a video camera...hummmm...I think mine is a video camera...LOL!! I will try it out next time we go. These were the goofiest and most comical characters. They waddled up to the fence and saw that Chaz had a treat cup. Ohhh yess..they knew exactly what it was and what it contained. They started chattering at him and he gave them each one. They wanted another...and another and another. Chaz got tickled at them chattering and moved over a bit and they moved over a bit. He moved back to the other side and they moved back to the other side. They were copying him and so the dance began. I laughed til I cried.

The shadow knows!!! It does look like just a shadow, doesn't it? I so wish I could have gotten a better shot of this awesome creature. This was the only shady spot and he/she was NOT going to move. 

While we were walking around, we heard a siren far off in the distance. So did these lovely creatures. Wolves...I love them...always have!! They started singing with the sirens and what a lovely song it was. The Chazman and I just shut our eyes and listened until they stopped. 

Of course we have the comical little monkeys. This one was pacing all around and as soon as one of the keepers came by he immediately stopped pacing, sat and kept an eye on him. He even started reaching through the bars at him. You can tell that the folks that work at the zoo love these animals because you can see the affection the animals have for their humans in their actions.

The Chazman got a bit upset when we walked over to take a closer look at these two. He thought that the bird was pecking at this little furbaby. Come to find out that the bird was pecking at the flies that were hovering a bit to close to it. Can we say Mother Hen?  LOL

They have an area where at certain times of the day they will bring out some of the animals and tell you a bit about them. This guy is one that the Chazman has been saying that he wants. A bearded dragon. They say they make good family members so I "gulp" told the Chazman once he gets a little bit older and more responsible then we will check into getting him one. Maybe he will forget...ri iight??

I could show you so many more photos of our Little Zoo that Could (I took 96 of them) but I will end for now. We had a blast and the Chazman is ready to go back. I hope that if you are ever in our area that you will visit. I promise that it will be a day filled with owwww's, ahhhh's, giggles and smiles. 

Until next time.............Hugs,

Regi