A Forest

Today is Arbor Day. It started 135 years ago, as a special day for tree planting. It has evolved into a chance to help balance our environment visually and more. It's the last Friday in April, and coming on the heels of earth day, it can be lost in the sauce. It's more than just planting trees, it's about a sense of community. The Arbor Day Foundation (www.aborday.org) has some great tips on promoting it in your community.

Right now, Arbor Day is a welcome holiday in Sioux Falls thanks to a freak, spring ice storm and subsequent blizzard (check out some great pictures here http://mommydomchronicles.blogspot.com/2013/04/ice-ice-baby.html). Many, many trees were damaged by inches of ice. Unfortunately, due to the fact that it snowed inches as recently as Monday, it's not a good time to plant since the ground still is partially frozen!

Since we can't plant, the boys and I will celebrate it other ways. The City parks department did cancel the official event at Great Bear due to weather, but that doesn't mean we can't hike! There are amazing trails at both Blood Run and the Outdoor Campus. We can also go to a local nursery and look at trees. Best bet for bedtime-read a book on trees.

You can even make a tree out of recycled materials. Using materials from Starbucks coffee sleeves, construction paper, glue and some pinking shears you can make your own (earth day approved) tree.

There are lots of ways to celebrate Arbor Day with your family.

Winter Wonderland

One final recycled Christmas project before I put the holidays to rest until November. I love making chocolate candies and am always looking for a creative container for them.
When I was about my son's age, my mother had a small cottage industry selling chocolate candies. In fact, on many occasions my aunt and I were caught eating various orders (it's so good!)brown (as in milk chocolate) handed!!
My mother taught me to make candies as well. I, in fact, gave them away as favors at my wedding.
They are really easy to make, too. All you need are candy melts, a microwave and a mold.
Microwave the chocolate until melted, pour into the mold and refrigerate until done.
I am always on the lookout for great gifting ideas when I saw the cute little canisters on Pinterest.
You need:
Crystal lite containers
Scrapbook paper
Embellishments
Glue
General craft supplies

Glue paper to canister. Let dry. Decorate. Fill with candies. Give.

Putting all our eggs into one basket

http://www.sfmvm.com/

Last night the Princess, the Little Man & I attended an Easter party at the Museum of Visual Materials. We decorated eggs, made bunny ears, egg carton flowers and Easter cards.
But the cutest idea were these egg baskets.
Basically, it is a Dixie cup, that you color with a marker, punch 2 holes and thread a pipe cleaner through. The "grass" was shredded paper.

The Princess and the egg basket

The Little Man dying his eggs

Ingenious.




Simple.



Creative


Green.


Easter.