Here are some great recipes for your next bonfire.  They come from Cooking in a Can – a book worth buying for alternative campfire recipes for kids, it even includes directions for making a fire and fire safety.  Confession: I haven’t actually made these recipes.  But I really, really want to, and they are perfect for that Labor Day bonfire you’re planning, so I’m jumping the gun and sharing them with you a little early.

Rise ‘n’ Shine Breakfast

Line the bottom of a paper lunch bag with 2-3 strips of bacon.  Crack two eggs on top of the bacon, and season with salt and pepper to taste.  I’m thinking you could add some chopped spinach if you want to make it healthier.  Fold the top of the bag down three or four turns, stopping before you reach your food. Spear through the folded part of the bag with a stick and dangle over the fire.  It will cook the bacon and eggs without catching the bag on fire (because the grease from the bacon coats the bag)!  Like magic!

Porcupine Cocoa

At home, butter four small bowls and lay a popsicle stick in each.  Melt 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate in the microwave, then pour in 1/3 cup of sugar.  Pour equal parts of the chocolate mix into each of the bowls over the sticks.  Add some marshmallows to the top, then put the bowls in the freezer.

When the chocolate is hard, you should be able to remove the stick, chocolate, and marshmallows (which should all stick together).  Keep your “chocolate-sicles” cool until ready to use.

At your bonfire, put some milk in an unwaxed paper cup.  The liquid will keep the cup from catching fire (my husband’s favorite party trick…)  When it is warm, stir in your chocolate-sicle and enjoy!

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The grocery store. Given the amount of time and money I spend there, it’s like my second home. The cashiers are like neighbors – they know me by name and can tell if I’ve gotten a haircut. My husband is convinced that it’s a time warp. He can’t comprehend how it can take me so long to navigate just 13 aisles, especially when I go in with a list and a spending limit. But groceries are complicated, right? They’re the one variable in our strict budget. And there’s so much to consider, from cost and nutrition to the tastes and preferences of each family member. Figuring it all out is about as close as I get to rocket science. So, I’d like to know:

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Since most of the reading I do happens during stolen moments and is often interrupted, I love books that are divided into small, succinct sections, like the one I just finished up – Love, Magic, and Mudpies: Raising Your Kids to Feel Loved, Be Kind, and Make a Difference by Bernie Siegel, M.D.

Here is a segment that only took a moment to read, but will stay with me for a long time.

“When our son Stephen was young, he often brought home some of his artwork that he had done at school. One piece I remember particularly well was a large canvas covered with the word words repeated endlessly with no space between the words so they became “swordswordswords.” That hit home for me, as a parent and a doctor, how powerful words can be to the self-esteem of a child. I realized you can harm or heal with words, as well as scalpels or swords.

And don’t forget to tell them as often as possible the most wonderful words of all – I love you.”

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This is a big one. Let’s start with the basic premise that both public and private schools can be a wonderful place for your children to learn.   And let’s confess that it’s going to be a tie… we’re not stupid enough to presume we know what’s best on such a divisive and conditional decision.  But we’d still like to throw our two cents in on this showdown, maybe offer you some new things to think about in the battle of public versus private.

Oh how I wish we could know.  Public schools offer certified teachers who receive higher pay and generally have more qualifications; private schools offer smaller class size, advanced curriculum, and teachers who tend to have an advanced degree in their field rather than an education degree.  Study after study has proven… nothing.  And more than anything it likely depends on the school.  One public school is not the same as another, likewise for private schools.  You’re going to have to go on the opinion of parents in the know to figure out the best fit for your child.  But as far as whether public or private is better over all?  Depends on your child. 

Okay, public is free.  Private school varies, from not-free to shockingly expensive.  My sister paid upwards of $7,000 a year for one child.  Yikes! Around here, however, the private schools are very reasonable and offer financial support on top of that.  Most private schools also have busing available, although it’s a little more complicated (such as your child getting bussed to the public school, and then catching a second bus to get to the private school).  The parents paying for school tend to be more involved and believe the school is worth every penny.

Public schools have a lot more of that going on.  But the private schools offer the basics, which is probably enough unless your child has some specialized interests.

Public schools have a responsibility to teach all students, but they are not known for flexibility.  There is red tape, and they have to follow it.  This is great for handicapped children who need extra help.  This is not great for other medical issues which might need something out of the ordinary- such as a child carrying his/her own medicine.  Additionally, public schools have a bigger bureaucracy which can make it harder for decisions to be made quickly while private schools have a leaner management structure.  There are also political and union issues that come along with public schools.  Private schools usually don’t have teacher unions to deal with.

Many parents are convinced that kids need to experience “the real world” as it can only be experienced in public schools.  Others are positive that a young child should be kept safe, and “the real world” can wait until it’s no longer possible to hide.

Like I warned you, we’re just doing a tie on this one.  But do you think one is better than the other? Let us know!

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Remember, these are kids jokes.  Try them out on your little ones before you judge them.  I’m betting you get a laugh.  After you explain them.

1. Why did the sun go back to school? To get brighter.
2. Did you hear about the man who lost his left side? He’s all right now!
3. Why did Tigger stick his head in the toilet? Because he was looking for Pooh!
4. There was a green house, a blue house, and a white house.  Where was the white house? In Washington D.C.!
5. Why was Cinderella bad at soccer? Because she ran away from the ball!
6. What’s a ghost’s favorite ride at the amusement park?  The roller ghoster!
7. Why did the girl tip-toe past the medicine cabinet?  She didn’t want to wake the sleeping pills.
8. Why did I take a prune to the dance? I couldn’t find a date.
9. What did the girl octopus say to the boy octopus? Can I hold your hand hand hand hand hand hand hand hand?
10. Why is 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9!

Check out http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/JokesAndRiddles/ for more!

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Okay, cleaning might never be fun, but making your own cleaners and using them is about as close as your can get.  There is something satisfying about mixing up a concoction and seeing something you make actually work (as opposed to last night’s dinner recipe). 

It’s a great way to get your kids working, too.  Mine love to mix up a cleaner, and I’m not afraid of using it.  I would never give my 3 year old a bottle of windex, but I have no problem giving her a spray bottle full of club soda and letting her clean the window- which she loves! Not only that, but the kids actually think making a cleaners is some sort of craft- the proportions don’t have to be perfect, so let them pour and measure and shake and mix. If they spill something, it’ll just make your house cleaner, for once!

 So save time, money, and harsh chemicals, and whip up one of these green cleaners for your family.

All Purpose Cleaner:  Clean House, Clean Planet author Karen Logan offers this recipe: Put 2 Tbsp. white vinegar and 1 tsp. borax into a spray bottle (I think the ones your current cleaners are in work the best- just clean them thoroughly). Fill the rest with very hot water and shake to blend until the borax is dissolved. Add 1/4 cup of liquid castile soap only after you’ve completed the above steps. If you want to scent your spray, also add 10–15 drops of an essential oil.  For an even simpler solution, try cleaning with two cups of club soda in a spray bottle.

Hard floor cleaner: Combine 1/4 liquid castile soap, up to 1/2 cup white vinegar or lemon juice, and 2 gallons of warm water in a large plastic bucket. Use with a mop or sponge.

Carpet cleaner:  Mix 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup cornmeal. Sprinkle mixture over rug and rub with a cloth. Let rest overnight, then vacuum.

Carpet stains:  Mix 1/4 cup liquid castile soap and 1/3 cup water in a blender until foamy. Spread the mixture on the carpet and let sit for a few minutes, then scrub the stain with a brush or clean rag. Also, club soda will remove many acidic stains, like coffee, wine, or juice. To deal with big carpet spills, pour cornmeal on the spill, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum.

Glass cleaner: To make your windows shine, simply use club soda in a spray bottle. Add 1 tsp. of lemon juice to increase its degreasing power.

Bathroom surface cleaners: You the all-purpose cleaners, and use baking soda or borax as a scouring powder.  Club soda works wonders on plumbing fixtures.

Toilet cleaner: Sprinkle baking soda or borax, or pour white vinegar into the toilet, and let sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a toilet brush.

Oven cleaner: Cover the oven floor with baking soda, spray with water until very damp, and let set overnight. Spray with water every few hours before you go to bed to keep damp. In the morning, clean out the baking soda, and the stuck-on gunk will be loosened and ready to scrub off.

Wood polish: To polish wood furniture, dab olive oil onto a soft cloth and rub.

Don’t-Have-Any-Of-This-Stuff Spray:  Don’t forget my own personal “lazy spray” recipe for an all purpose cleaner:  fill your bottle with water and a few drops of dish detergent.  It can clean anything!

For more green cleaning, stock up on these ingredients:

1. White vinegar: Kills germs and bacteria.
2. Baking soda: Eliminates odors and works as a gentle scouring powder.
3. Borax:  Eliminates odors, removes dirt, and acts as an antifungal and possible disinfectant. Use with care around children and pets, as it can be toxic if swallowed.
4. Hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration): A great nontoxic bleach and stain remover, as well as a proven disinfectant.
5. Club soda (fresh): A stain remover and polisher.
6. Lemon juice: A pleasant-smelling nontoxic bleach, grease-cutter, and stain remover.
7. Liquid castile soap: An all-purpose cleaner, grease-cutter, and disinfectant. “Castile” means the soap is vegetable-based, not animal-fat-based. You can get this on Amazon.
8. Corn meal: Great at picking up carpet spills.
9. Olive oil: Makes a wonderful furniture polish.
10. Pure essential oils: Not necessary, but awfully nice.  A few drops will make your house smell wonderful.  Get them for cheap at Boleks in Dover.  I like a few drop of peppermint and lavender.  Bonus: some oils- such as lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and tea tree oils—also may have antibacterial, antifungal, or insect-repelling properties.  Careful, though- some are considered dangerous for pregnant women (to be safe and simplify things, stick with eucalyptus, lemongrass, and tea tree oils for all recipes below if you’re pregnant). Don’t put the oil on your skin undiluted, and keep far away from kids.

For more great recipes on how to clean anything and everything, check out Clean House Clean Planet. It’s available online or at your library.

Have your own green cleaner recipe?  Let us know, we’d love to try it!

Filed under: OH! Dont Ya Know, OH! Says by My OH! Momma
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Showcasing your child’s work in your home sends a powerful and positive message. It tells her that what she does is valuable to you, that she is smart or creative and that a job done well is something to be proud of. So what do you do when you run out of space on the fridge? Hang a clothesline! You can place it flat against the wall or across a room. Since it isn’t permanent, you can try different locations around the house. The clothespins make it easy to rotate school and art work without damaging them with a hole or tape. You can even have your child personalize the clothespins to make it extra-special, like we did. Here’s what you’ll need:

Supplies:

• string
• clothespins (one for each letter in your child’s name)
• art supplies

Directions:

1. Decorate your clothespins. We used paint, because that’s what my kids like best, but you could also use markers, stickers, paper and glue or whatever you have on hand.

Tip: I fastened the clothespins around the edge of a paper plate and balanced them on top of a cup so the kids could decorate both sides at the same time (and without painting the clothespins closed).

2. Attach a letter to each clothespin to spell out your child’s name. We used pre-cut foam sticker letters, but you can easily cut out your own letters from the supplies you have and glue them on.

3. Hang your clothesline and display your child’s work.

The way you choose which pieces to display is up to you. You can choose them or ask your child which ones should go up on the line. You may be surprised at the things that make her the most proud!

How do you display your child’s work?

Filed under: OH! Kids Grow, OH! Says by My OH! Momma
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My kids adore breaded zucchini. It is such a pain to make though, having to dip a million little slices into egg then into breading while my one year old is hanging on my leg and the kids eat them faster than I can cook them! I made it so infrequently they thought it was a special treat.  So I came up with an easier way to make it that the kids think is fun, too.  The end result is not as pretty, but it tastes the same.  Let me know if your kids love it too, or if mine are just weird.

Crack a couple of eggs into a gallon-size plastic bag and let your kid squish them all up.

Look how yellow my egg yolks are!  They are so delicious and healthy!! I get strangely excited about them!!!   I buy them in Stone Creek from a friend, email me for the number. You want these eggs.

Drop in the sliced zucchini (you better do the slicing part). We used 2 medium zucchini.

Shake, shake, shake!

Time for the breading.  Pour it into the same bag for super lazy zucchini.  The breading won’t stick to it so great, but well enough.  Or put the breading into a new bag, then add the zucchini and shake.  I was super lazy (surprise surprise).

We’ll put in a handful each of wheat germ, whole wheat flour (use the white whole wheat so it’s not so dense) and a teaspoon or so of salt.  You can use straight up flour, bread crumbs, whatever you like/have.  Grated cheese and/or herbs are yummy too, but this is “lazy zucchini,” so if you want to get too fancy you’d better check a different recipe.

Shakey shakey!

Now you have to cook it, so send the kids off to scrub the floors.  Put a big pan on medium heat and melt a couple tablespoons of butter and olive oil.  Cook one side for a few minutes, flip the zucchini, and cook the other side for a few more minutes.  The breading should be golden and the zucchini soft through. However, I frequently burn mine.  As I did today and that’s why there isn’t a picture of the finished product.  The kids eat it anyway.

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“Mom, can I have a cell phone?” she asked hopefully. The question came much sooner than I expected and I wasn’t really ready for the conversation.

“Why do you need a cell phone?” I asked.

She began counting the points on her fingers, “Well, I could call you anytime. You’d always know where I am…”

“Honey, you’re six. I always know where you are.”

“Well, So-and-so* has one. And so does Whose-its* and What’s-its*!”

(* not real names. Obviously.)

I was sort of surprised. That many kids in her class have cell phones?

According to a recent American Kids Study, cell phone ownership has increased 68% among children over the past five years. Twenty percent of children age 6 – 8 own a cell phone in the U.S. today, compared to 11.9% in 2005.

So, OH! Wants to know:

Have more to say? Leave a comment!

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I just finished reading a fantastic book I checked out of the library called “Liberated Parents, Liberated Children: Your Guide to a Happier Family,” by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish.  It was a very quick read about a wonderful way to interact and discipline children of all ages.  Here is a favorite passage at the beginning of the book which answers the question:

What is our major role as parents?

“It seems to me that our large goal is to find the ways to help our children become humane and strong.

If, on the other hand, we use methods that are humane, then we’ve taught something much more important than a series of isolated virtues. We’ve shown the child how to be a person- a mensch, a human being who can conduct his life with strength and dignity.”

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