Showing posts with label dating at home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dating at home. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Christmas Traditions Box: Indoor Snowball Fight

8:58 PM 0 Comments


When we lived in California we dreamed of a typical white Christmas. But the only white Christmas we got was sand. I didn't complain and we still got some type of "snow" when we made our own snowballs for an indoor snowball fight. They were a "hit" if you know what I mean.

I posted the instructions on how to make these snowballs years ago. I am posting them again for you now.



You will need the following three things to make these:

1) Scissors

2) White or cream-colored nylons- I buy the cheap $1 pair at Walmart. (In the photo are knee-highs that I already had on hand. A full pair works better and you'll get a lot more out of them.) One knee-high can produce up to 5 snowballs. One leg of a full pair of nylons can produce about 10.)




3) Poly-fil to stuff the nylon.



What you're going to do:

1) Grab a handful of the Poly-fil and stuff your stocking (just enough for one snowball). Then make a knot.


2) Make ANOTHER knot after the one you JUST made, leaving a little space between the two knots.


3) Cut between the two knots.


4) Repeat steps 1-3. Below is something you can do but you MUST remember to do step 2 or else you will waste a whole snowball.


Here's what you'll have:


We made hundreds of these last year for a Christmas party we had.


HOW TO PLAY:

If you are going to have a snowball fight, divide the group of people into two teams and divide the snowballs equally between the two teams.

Create boundaries. You can either put some masking tape down on the carpet to divide the room in half, or play on an indoor basketball court, or anywhere that has a boundary line. The teams must stay on their side of the line and cannot cross it.

Set a timer. Let them fight for 5 minutes or however long you'd like the fight to go on. You can have "rounds" of fights if you'd like.

At your signal, the teams will begin to throw snowballs at the other team. When time is up, each team will count the remaining snowballs on their own territory. The team with the LEAST amount of snowballs on their side is deemed the WINNER! (I like this part because they have to clean up the snowballs to see who the winner is.)

This is a great game for preschool, play dates, Christmas parties, birthday parties, office parties, or at home with your own family.

Christmas Traditions Box: Gingerbread House + Recipe

7:36 PM 1 Comments
Each year we assemble a gingerbread house. We started with buying the gingerbread house kits at the store. A couple of years ago we wanted a house that reflected our family history. We came across a cute Swedish style gingerbread house template on the Martha Stewart website. So we made the gingerbread from scratch.


Last year's house.


This year's house. (100% decorated by the kids)

Click HERE for an awesome recipe for gingerbread houses and a royal icing for assembling your house.


Now, if you decide to do this, I have an important suggestion. Once you have baked your gingerbread and have cut out your pieces, let your pieces dry out for a week or more. You want those pieces nice and hard to keep them from breaking during assembly.


Icing suggestions:

* To fill your piping bag: place your piping bag or your gallon freezer bag in a tall glass or cup. Open the bag and fold the open edges over the rim of the glass. Spoon your icing into the open bag without the mess.

* When the icing is not being used, place the piping bag in a tall glass with a wet paper towel at the bottom. It will keep your icing tip from hardening.

Candy suggestions:

* Shop your local grocery store, Sprouts, or Winco to find candy in the bulk barrels. You can control how much candy you will need/use for your gingerbread house. There is often a greater selection for candy that you can't find prepackaged.


 Dating at Home: Get creative! Pick out a template online or create your own house. Build your dream house with your spouse. Don't forget the Christmas music. :)

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Indoor Date Idea: How to Massage

9:32 PM 0 Comments
Looking for a great indoor date night with your spouse? This one is sure to bring you together! Learn how to massage with THIS fantastic DVD set! I found this set on Amazon for less than $25.


I love these DVDs! They teach how to give a professional massage with proper technique so your hands don't ache or tire quickly. These DVDs are appropriate, easy to follow, and include 4 different massages: Luxury Facial, Indian Head, Back & Neck, and Full Body. This set also makes a great gift for your spouse. So, turn down the lights, relax, and enjoy being together.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Indoor Date Idea: Chocolate Milk Tasting

10:39 AM 0 Comments
When you've got kids and it's hard to get out and go on a date, check out my indoor date ideas.
You don't have to leave your house, spend lots of money, or do a ton of planning to date your spouse. 


 Last night, on a school night, my husband and I reconnected through chocolate milk. We had a CHOCOLATE MILK TASTING night and it was delicious! We probably drank our weight in chocolate milk but it was worth it. 

We put together a simple scoring chart and rated our local chocolate milks. Based on price, packaging, smell, consistency, texture, color and taste, we decided who was clearly the winner and the loser. 


We had fun being together and enjoyed our 4 servings of chocolate milk each. YIKES!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Fresh Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

6:33 PM 0 Comments
One of my favorite summertime treats is homemade ice cream! I love the way it tastes, the texture, the way it melts, and the memories. As a kid we would have gatherings with my extended family once a month at my great aunt's house behind a grove of orange trees in California. I loved being with family while smelling the sweet orange blossoms, and hearing the motors of the ice cream makers with their constant buzz in the background, ready to surprise us with a treat at any moment. As a kid it seemed like it took forever for the ice cream to be done but it was worth it when the adults would finally give us a paper cup filled with mint, lemon, or fresh banana ice cream. It was heaven! 

Now that I am older and we live far away from California and any extended family, I get to create new memories with my own family. This year I made FRESH HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM and it was delicious! I just might make it again for Date Night. 





Here's my recipe for Fresh Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream:

Ingredients:
4 c. sugar
2 (14.5 oz) cans evaporated milk
1 tsp. salt
3 quarts half & half
1 pint heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 pounds of fresh, washed strawberries, hulled and pureed 
3 bags ice
1 qt. rock salt


Directions:

  • In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, evaporated milk, and salt and heat until luke warm. Pour into large (6 qt.) ice cream freezer container. (I have a 4-qt. freezer and this recipe made 2 batches.)
  • Add the half & half, whipping cream, vanilla, and strawberry puree to freezer container.
  • Freeze in ice cream freezer by surrounding the container with ice until it reaches the top of the container. Generously sprinkle rock salt on the ice. As the ice melts, add more ice and salt. I end up using about 3 bags of ice and 1 quart rock salt for a large freezer. The freezer motor will stop when the ice cream is thick and ready. 
ENJOY!



Friday, June 22, 2012

Dating At Home: Free Online Book Samples

8:02 AM 0 Comments

Tonight is date night! 


One of my favorite things to do with my husband is go to the bookstore and browse the books and magazines. We will grab Caribbean magazines and dream about our next exotic escape from real life, which most likely won't happen until our kids move out of the house in 18+ years, since our youngest daughter is 1. But we love the torture of dreaming.


When we can't get out to go to the bookstore alone, we go to the bookstore online once the kids are in bed. We read a few free samples and then download a book to read together. 


The book sample that caught our attention most recently was Bossypants by Tina Fey. If you are a Tina Fey fan, I highly recommend this book. Here's an excerpt of her book to get a taste:


During the spring semester of kindergarten, I was slashed in the face by a stranger in the alley behind my house. Don’t worry. I’m not going to lay out the grisly details for you like a sweeps episode of Dateline. I only bring it up to explain why I’m not going to talk about it.

I’ve always been able to tell a lot about people by whether they ask me about my scar. Most people never ask, but if it comes up naturally somehow and I offer up the story, they are quite interested. Some people are just dumb: “Did a cat scratch you?” God bless. Those sweet dumdums I never mind. Sometimes it is a fun sociology litmus test, like when my friend Ricky asked me, “Did they ever catch the black guy that did that to you?” Hmmm. It was not a black guy, Ricky, and I never said it was.

"Then there’s another sort of person who thinks it makes them seem brave or sensitive or wonderfully direct to ask me about it right away. They ask with quiet, feigned empathy, “How did you get your scar?” The grossest move is when they say they’re only curious because “it’s so beautiful.” Ugh. Disgusting. They might as well walk up and say, “May I be amazing at you?” To these folks let me be clear. I’m not interested in acting out a TV movie with you where you befriend a girl with a scar. An Oscar-y Spielberg movie where I play a mean German with a scar? Yes.

We loved laughing together as we read about her personal experiences. 

Do you read with your spouse? If so, which book(s) do you recommend?

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Dating At Home: Soap Carving/Sculptures

6:48 AM 0 Comments


This week's "dating at home" idea is cheap and clean-
SOAP CARVING
(or sculpting)!

Grab a couple bars of Ivory soap and carve (or sculpt) away!

You can use any kind of bar soap but Ivory soap is extremely easy to carve than other bar soaps. AND, there's a surprise ending if you decide NOT to keep your masterpieces on display in your bathroom or use them.


Make your own rules like setting a time limit, or setting out only a few of tools that are allowed to create your carving or sculpture (i.e. wooden skewers, pumpkin carving set, etc.)

Surprise ending: If you use Ivory bar soap and don't plan on keeping your creations, you can blow up your soap into a cloud!
Here's a sneak peak:


To blow up your soap, put your soap on a microwave-safe plate and stick it in the microwave for 2 minutes. Don't open the microwave while it puffs. When the 2 minutes are up, be careful when removing the plate. The plate AND soap will be really hot! Let it cool before touching it.

*This is also a fun activity to do with your kids!

This post was part of The Shady Porch Rock 'N Share. Visit The Shady Porch for other fun ideas!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

I Love You Because... Chalkboard

1:05 PM 3 Comments


This past Christmas I received this cute homemade chalkboard from my sister and her husband. This is one of my favorite gifts. I especially love it around Valentine's Day when I'm thinking of all the reasons why I love my husband (and my kids).

Think of all the reasons you love your "loved one" and let them know! You don't need a fancy chalkboard (though it is super cute) to show your love. Use simple Post-it notes or Valentine Day cards.

What would you write today?


If you would like to make your own board, I can tell you that it is a thin piece of wood spray-painted with chalkboard spray. The border/frame is made also from wood trim. The letters are vinyl. The outcome is cute!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Valentine Mailboxes

7:13 AM 3 Comments


This year for Valentine's Day I'm doing something fun for my husband and 3-year old daughter.

I found these two mailboxes last year. This year I'm putting little cards and treats in them each day leading up to Valentine's Day. When the flag is up, my husband and daughter will know to check the mailbox.


I grabbed one simple box of Valentines per person and wrote a reason why I love my husband and my daughter on each card. I used up all the cards.



My husband is getting some of his favorite treats. You may notice the chocolate bars from our previous chocolate tasting date and the cute love coupons from yesterday.


My daughter is also getting some special treats (from the dollar store) that will fit in her mailbox.

I love Valentine's Day!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Darling Debit Cards

5:44 AM 0 Comments

I love Valentine's Day. I love the colors, decorations, candy, and all the lovey dovey stuff. I found these darling gift card-like love coupons at the dollar store. There are 4 cards in a pack and there are 4 different packs. What a fun find!

Usually when I see "love coupons" they usually entail a really expensive coupon like "a weekend getaway" or "day at the spa." And then there are the absurd coupons like "you win an argument" or "servant for a day." ??

Anyway, back to the love. I like these love coupons because they are easy to do and are fun to do! Pick the ones you are willing to do. If you don't have money for a night on the town, don't give that one. Maybe save up and give it for a birthday!


Or you can get really creative and create your own "night on the town" cheap-o style. My night on the town would probably be an In-N-Out picnic dinner, a walk at the harbor, and star-gazing with blankets on the beach. Let your creativity fly!

If anything, these are good ideas to create your own coupons or just little things you can do for your significant other.


Happy Valentine's Day!


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Family Night: Home Art Gallery

6:45 AM 0 Comments

For family night we painted with watercolors and created our own little gallery in our hallways.

My husband is a real artist and knows what he's doing. My daughter has inherited a lot of his skills. I have no idea what I'm doing but we had fun doing something different and together.

After hanging up all of our masterpieces my 3-year old daughter said, "Now our house looks cool!"

"TV"

"Between Heaven and Earth"

"Jungle"

If you want to try something different with your family, or even for a date night, grab some cheap watercolor paints and paint away! Hang up your pictures and make your house look "cool." Give your paintings a title or dedicate them to someone.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Dating At Home: Personalized Video From Santa

4:36 AM 0 Comments


This week's dating idea comes from the North Pole...and it's FREE!

We have a 3-year old daughter who loves Santa. For our date, we are going to make her a personalized video from Santa. It's extra easy and cute with Portable North Pole. The video is about 3 minutes long. Santa talks to your child and includes the child's name, age, where the child lives, pictures of the child, facts about the child, and what the child wants for Christmas. Santa then asks his elves to grab the child's file and enter it into the "naughty or nice" machine.

Click HERE to see a sample.


If you don't have children, make one for your spouse! Or maybe a friend. You decide whether the child (or adult) has been "naughty" or "nice."

Click HERE to get started.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Dating at Home: Letters to Santa & Wish List

4:16 AM 1 Comments
I love Christmas! I love everything about it! However, it can get very busy with gift shopping, meal planning, cooking, cleaning, visiting friends, families, neighbors, etc. Don't forget your spouse in all the hustle and bustle. Spend some time alone together and enjoy the holidays!

Here are a couple of date ideas that focus on just you and your spouse during this fabulous time of year.

1) Write a letter to Santa about how nice (or how naughty ;) your spouse has been. Brag to Santa about your spouse. Read your letters to each other when you're done writing.

For example:

Dear Santa,
My sweet husband has been extra nice this year. This year he...

Dear Santa
My super hot husband has been naughty this year. This year he...


Click HERE to print a blank Letter to Santa.


2) Create a wish list for your spouse. This isn't an actual Christmas list. It's more of a "dream" list. If you had all the resources in the world, what would you get for your spouse for Christmas? Clip pictures out of magazines or print some off the computer of specific things you would get for your spouse for Christmas. Think of your spouse's interests, hobbies, dreams, goals, etc. They could even be funny, unique gifts. Put all the pictures in a box. Take turns sharing your "gifts."

Here are a few things I would get my husband.



His own art studio in our dream home!


Grass blade bookmarks. Still waiting for these to be sold in the US.
Face mug. He loves milk with his cookies.

Happy dating!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

DIY: Scratch-Off Christmas Activities Advent Calendar

9:42 AM 1 Comments
I LOVE Christmas and I LOVE advent calendars! This year I decided to do something different for my 3-year old daughter. I made a scratch-off activities advent calendar with scratch-off stickers. I made it super simple, since it's going to be used by my 3-year old, and made it for only 12 days. Since I have circular scratch-off stickers, I am going with a Christmas tree theme to blend in like ornaments. You can order scratch-off stickers from multiple sites on the internet.

Create your calendar: I folded a large piece of construction paper in half and drew half a Christmas tree. (You could do whatever kind of picture you'd like. You could cut the stickers into any shape you'd like too.)


I opened my paper and then I actually ironed it out a bit because I don't like the fold down the middle. If I were a better artist I wouldn't have a fold at all. ;)


I used a stencil to plot out my activities that will be covered by the scratch-off stickers and wrote out the actual activities with a pen.



Cover the activities with scratch-off stickers. You could number the stickers if you have specific activities that you'd like to be revealed on certain days.


Decorate! I wanted to make this calendar super cute with decorative scrapbook paper and all sorts of cute embellishments but it's going to be used by my 3-year old.


We ended up with this simple tree using ornament stickers instead.


I can't wait to see what will be revealed!


Here are some activity ideas for kids:
  • Build a snowman
  • Watch a Christmas movie
  • Decorate gingerbread houses
  • Bake and decorate sugar cookies
  • Visit a neighbor or friend
  • Write a letter to Santa
  • Go sledding
  • Visit Santa at the mall or other location
  • Make an ornament or pick out a special ornament that represents a special occasion from this year
  • Sit by the fire and play a game
  • Have an indoor snowball fight
  • Do something nice for someone else
  • Reenact the nativity
  • Go to a Christmas tree lot and find the "perfect" tree
  • Read the Christmas story from Luke 2
  • Donate an old toy or book
  • Check out some Christmas books at the library
  • Make paper snowflakes
  • Send a special Christmas card to someone that might need some extra holiday cheer
  • Take a Christmas Train ride
  • Read your favorite Christmas book
  • Go see Christmas lights

You could also make a special advent calendar for your spouse to spice things up for the holidays. Along with other activities that you've already thought about, here are some extras:
  • Take a picture of yourselves together to remember this year
  • Make a Christmas wish list together (pretend that money doesn't matter)
  • Back massage
  • Watch an old Christmas classic
  • Bake your favorite holiday treat
  • Browse books at the bookstore (check out vacation spots in magazines)
  • Have an indoor snowball fight or outdoor snowball fight
  • Build a unique gingerbread house/building/landmark together
  • Relax in the tub with your favorite drink
  • Foot massage
  • Sit by the fireplace and sip hot chocolate or play a game
  • Send a Christmas card to each other
  • Sculpt something with snow
  • Send a letter to Santa about the other person
  • Go ice skating
  • Go sledding by sitting in large black trash bags instead of using a sled.
  • Go see a local performance of "The Nutcracker"
Have an activity idea? Please share!

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