The Mom I Want to Be

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day celebrates and enjoys sweet, tasty chocolate chips. Chocolate chips are a great invention, and certainly deserve a little recognition. After all, where would chocolate chip cookies, cakes and muffins be without the chocolate chip!? Chocolate chips are popular in cooking and baking, for a wide variety of breads, cakes, and cookies. There is an almost endless number of recipes. They are also used in decorating. Have you ever had chocolate chip pancakes? How about chocolate chips in trail mix? If you’ve never had these, then you’re leading a sheltered life.  Rare is the leftover chocolate chip. If you don’t use the whole bag, you and/or your kids will likely eat them as a snack before they make it to the storage container. 

 

While there seems to be some discrepancy as to when to celebrate this yummy date – some say August 4th, others say May 15th — I say celebrate on both days, chocolate chip cookies are worth it!  

 

 

2)  Chocolate Cookies with White Chocolate Chips — It’s like a dessert photo negative.

 

3)  Pumpkin-Honey Chocolate Chip Cookies — Who needs to be seasonal?  They’re great!

 

4)  Cool Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies — We <3 Andes Candies

 

5)  Chocolate Chip Mousse Pie — If you can handle a microwave, you have this one in the bag.

 

6)  Liqueur-Laced Chocolate Chip Cookies — Cut us off.

 

7)  Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies — Sweet, sweet Nutella.

 

8)  Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies — PB & OCCC.  Perfect Match.

 

9)  Chocolate Chip Cookie and Cream Tart — If you want to take this holiday to the next level…

 

10)  Homemade Mint Chocolate Ice Cream — Fine.  It’s not a cookie but goes so well between two…

 

11) Rainbow Chocolate Chip Pizza — The word “pizza” makes it sound healthy.

 

12)  4-Ingredient Chocolate Chip Wontons — Bet you didn’t see that coming.

 

Seeking Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies?

 

Make the Old School Chocolate Chip Recipe and affix bacon on top via your favorite frosting or glaze.

 

Provide a worksheet with C’s for tracing across the top.  Provide a rectangle of aluminum foil to fit below the C line, 6 white circles cut from construction paper, markers and a glue stick.  Have your child glue down the foil as a cookie sheet, decorate the cookies and then attach them to the foil.

 

 

Stuffed Sewn Cookie Pillow

 

These directions are for a chocolate chip cookie about the size a child could share with their teddy bear.  However, once your child is comfortable sewing and wants a bigger project, you can repeat this project with a larger felt circle to make a chocolate chip pillow for your child’s bed.

 

Two 5″ square pieces of tan felt

Polyester Fiberfill (stuffing)

Needle & thread

2 Safety pins

One of the following in either dark brown or black: fabric paint in squeeze bottle, permanent marker or holes punched out of felt

 

Cut out two 4″ circles from the tan felt and pin them together with the safety pins. Using the overcast stitch* sew around the edge of the circle leaving an opening for stuffing. Stuff your cookie then sew the opening closed. Now make your chocolate chips on the cookie by either drawing them with the permanent marker or fabric paint or by using a hole punch to punch circles out of dark brown or black felt and glue them on the cookie.

 

 

Read “If you give a mouse a cookie” and do some crafts to extend the reading.

Every August 3rd is National Watermelon Day so go out and cut yourself a nice large slice of the dripping juicy fruit!

No other vegetable or fruit delivers more lycopene per serving than watermelon. Lycopene reduces the risks for certain cancers (prostate, uterine, gastrointestinal, lung), promotes cardiovascular health and male fertility, and prevents macular degeneration. Add to that the fact that watermelon is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6, and C. A cup of fresh watermelon delivers 24.3% of the daily recommended value for vitamin C and 11.1% of vitamin A. Vitamin A boosts the immune system and prevents night blindness. Vitamin C bolsters the immune system to protect against infections. Watermelon is also a significant source of vitamins B6 and B1 — necessary for producing energy. Vitamin B6 is used by the body to manufacture brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), such as serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine.

 

Collage Watermelon

 1/2 of a paper plate

Glue

Red and Green construction paper cut or torn into little squares

Black cut as the seeds

Scissors 

Cut the red and green construction paper into little mini squares ( or you can have the kids tear them). Cut the paper plate in half. Cover paper plate red squares by gluing down to paper plate. Glue green squares to the edge of paper plate. Glue on black construction paper to be the seeds!

Types of Watermelon

 

Picnic

These are your standard types of watermelons and consist of three main types. There’s the Allsweet – your standard watermelon – that is long and about 18-30 lbs. Next is Crimson Sweet which is smaller and can be round or oblong, weighing 16-35 lbs. And finally, the Jubilee type which is Oblong and large, weighing 20-45 lbs. Many different heirloom varieties fall in to this common category.

 

Seedless

Seedless watermelons are the product of cross-breeding plants. Although they are called “seedless” they generally have soft, pale seeds. The color of the flesh can range from pink to yellow.

 

Icebox

Icebox melons are generally smaller than regular melons and have been bred to be round (to fit in the icebox easily). These come in both red and yellow flesh, and can be seedless too.

 

Personal

Personal watermelons are smaller versions of the classic summer fruit, usually topping out at no more than five pounds (2.2 kilograms). The specially bred watermelons are sweeter than other watermelon varieties, and also have a thinner rind, making more of the overall weight of personal watermelons edible.

 

Yellow/Orange Flesh

There’s not much difference in flavor (depending on the variety and who you ask) between Red and Yellow/Orange/White/Pink flesh watermelons, however the flesh is surprisingly bright in color.

Mini Jell-o Watermelons

Watermelon Dessert:

 

Watermelon Cake – Who knew you could make a cake out of watermelon! This pretty dessert uses watermelon, whipped cream or frosting and berries. Simply divine!
 

Watermelon Beverages and Iced Goodies:

 

Watermelon Sorbet – This cool dessert from Rachael Ray, takes just about 30 minutes to make.

Watermelon Cooler – From Ms. Paula Deen, this simple dish uses lemon sorbet, lemon, watermelon and cold water and takes just 5 minutes to make. You’ll need a food processor to make it nice and smooth.

Melon and Banana Crush Smoothie – Melon, banana, vanilla ice-cream and a splash of cranberry juice!

Watermelon Ice Cubes

Watermelon Limeade – This recipe from David Lawrence, calls for watermelon, lime juice, sugar, ice and a few mint sprigs.

Watermelon Gazpacho Shooters – Besides watermelon, you’ll need cayenne pepper, lime, tomatillos and a few shot glasses to boot from the Hearty Boys.
  

Miscellaneous Fun:

 

Tomato, Watermelon and Basil Skewers – From the Food Network’s Giada De Laurentiis, you’ll need watermelon, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, and a vinaigrette for this 20-minute dish..

Watermelon Salsa – A little bit of sweet, a little bit of spicy – a whole lotta good!

Watermelon Pickles – Instead of cucumbers, you’ll use watermelon rind.

Watermelon Mobile – Print out this template and make a watermelon mobile!

 

 

Make a craft that looks like a slice of watermelon using a paper plate and real watermelon seeds. A fun craft for Summer!

 

Paper Plate

Green and Red Paint

Watermelon Seeds

Craft Glue

 

Paint about 1-inch of the outside edge of the paper plate green. Paint the rest of paper plate red. Let the glue dry. Glue the watermelon seeds all over the red circle to create a “slice” of watermelon!

 

 

 

More Crafts to Make:

 

Try making this watermelon art.

Make this watermelon beaded safety pin.

Here is a watermelon picture to print and color.

Make a watermelon collage by gluing red pieces of tissue paper on a round, green piece of construction paper.

Make one of these 3-D Fruit Mobiles.

Print out and color some of these watermelon pictures, crafts, and games.

 

Other Things To Do:

 

Go to the grocery store or a farmer’s market and pick out a watermelon.

Talk about the different textures of a watermelon.

Talk about the color green.

Talk about circles.

Have watermelon for snack.

Count the seeds in your piece of watermelon.

Have a watermelon seed spitting contest.

Learn more about the watermelon.

Check out these fun Watermelon Ideas!

 

The first week in August is National Clown Week!

This wonderful learning activity:  Fun with Clowns at Chateau Meddybemps addresses emotions/feelings, anticipation, counting and matching.

 

Clown Ruffle Collar

Need: coffee filters and food coloring

 

Have children color the coffee filters by dipping them into colored water. Lay flat to dry.  When dry fold the coffee filters in half and tape them together in a line. Wonderful clown collar for a child to wear.

 

Other Activities:

 

Make clowns out of clay.

Make collages by cutting circus characters and animals out of magazines.

Decorate paper plates to look like a clown face, complete with a red pom-pom nose. Make it into a mask if you want!

Find many related crafts and activities on my Circus Craft Projects page.

Paint your face to look like a clown.

Learn this Clown Song.

Have a parade.

Go to a circus or other place you can see a clown.

Plan to visit a circus if you can!

 

Click for full size image

August Flower of the month: Gladiolus & Poppy

Zodiac Signs:  Leo / The Lion, July 23 – Aug. 22        

Virgo / The Virgin, Aug. 23 – Sept. 22

The name for the Moon in August is called Grain Moon, Green Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Fruit Moon.

The Full Moon is: August 6, 2009 / 00:57 /Thursday

August Birthstone:  Sardonyx, peridot.

Meaning: Married Happiness

 

August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. August begins (astrologically) with the sun in the sign of Leo and ends in the sign of Virgo. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation of Cancer and ends in the constellation of Leo.

 

This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the ancient Roman calendar, which started in March about 750 BC under Romulus. It became the eighth month either when January and February were added to the beginning of the year by King Numa Pompilius about 700 BC or when those two months were moved from the end to the beginning of the year by the decemvirs about 450 BC (Roman writers disagree). It was renamed in honor of Augustus in 8 BC because several of the most significant events in his rise to power, culminating in the fall of Alexandria, which fell in this month. Lore claims August originally had 29 days in the Roman Republican calendar. Augustus took two days from February and gave it to August when Sextilis was renamed in his honor. This commonly believed lore was proven wrong.

 

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August is National Inventor’s Month.  A great website to look at is the Kid Inventor Challenge. This is an actual contest that kids can enter. Plus, their website has step by step directions for how to invent something new. You never know, you may be parenting the next Einstein! 

 

Secret Builders, a website to explore (mram)

 

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The first Sunday in August is Friendship Day is a day to nurture relationships, new and old. It’s a really easy and fun day to celebrate.

 

Start the day by getting in touch with some old friends. Start early. Chances are, they know it’s Friendship Day. You want to beat them to the punch, and contact them first. Phone calls, emails, Ecards, are great tools.  See if you can make plans for lunch today, or some other day (soon).

Then, catch up to some of your current pals and buddies. Make sure to do some interesting things with them before the day is through. As you go through the day, be ever vigilant to spot an opportunity to make a new friend. Finding new friends today, is a real feather in your cap.

One thing is for certain…… if you put your all into the spirit of Friendship Day, you will have a great, great day.

 

Happy Friendship Day to people all over the world!  

 

 

Crafts to Make:

 

Make a friendship poster by using your name and your friends’ names and decorating it.

Draw a picture of your best friend.

Make friendship bracelets.

Make some cards for your friends.

Make a Friendship Mobile.

Make this Friendship Gallery craft.

Go to this page and make these Fun Friend Paper Dolls!

Check out my Friendship Theme Page.

 

Other Things To Do:

 

Discuss what makes a good friend.

Discuss good ways to make friends.

What should you do to be a good friend?

Name all your friends.

Have a picnic with other kids and make new friends.

Find a pen-pal to be friends with.

Do this 101 Things Friends Do Activity.

Write some Friendly Poetry.

Try this Learning from Friends Activity.

2 cups Indian Corn

1 Sewing Needle

Thread (various colors)

School Glue

 

 

Necklace:  Soak Indian Corn overnight in water to soften.  Thread individual kernels on thread to make a necklace.  Earring / headband: You can also make accessorize other jewelry using corn. Glue pieces of corn to old earrings or plain headbands to make intricate designs. Tips:

Add a few drops of food coloring to water to color the corn.  If desired, add colorful turquoise beads to your strands.

 

 

1 Shoebox

1 Cardboard box to cut up (you can also use 6 sheets of heavy card stock available at craft stores)

Safety scissors

Craft glue

1 5×5-inch sheet of bubble wrap

1 5×5-inch sheet of sandpaper

1 5×5-inch sheet of felt

1 5×5-inch piece of fuzzy fabric

1 5×5-inch piece of aluminum foil

1 5×5-inch piece of burlap

 

Cut out one 5×5-inch piece of cardboard for each texture square. Cut 5×5-inch squares from each of the different textured materials you have chosen (bubble wrap, sandpaper, etc.) Using white craft glue, apply each of the materials to the cardboard squares. Let dry completely. To create the Texture Box, place all the finished texture squares into the shoebox.

 

Sit across from your toddler with the Texture Box between you. Have your toddler choose one of the texture squares and show her how to run her hand over the surface of the square. If it’s the sandpaper square, say “rough.” When she rubs her hand over the surface, ask her to say “rough.” After she feels all of the squares and you both have named each one, you can go back and ask your child to express which one she likes the best.  The Texture Box is a great activity to take along and play with your toddler while you are waiting for an appointment or sitting together in the car waiting to pick up an older sibling.

One of the best activities you can offer your toddler or preschooler is the opportunity to sort items into categories. Sorting encourages analytical thinking, and creativity, and is a basic math skill. All you need is some items to sort, a box to hold them, and a muffin tin to get started.

 

A shape sorting treasure box can be used by your toddler while other kids are working on homework, or while you are doing another activity. Keep the box out of reach, and only take it out when it is time to do a sorting activity, so the items are interesting to examine and sort. Add to the box as you find new items.

 

Big box or canister to hold treasures: Pick a box that is large enough to hold about 100 smallish items. A plastic bin with a lid will work, or you can use a cardboard box. You can let your child “decorate” a plain box with stickers, crayons, or markers, if you would like.

 

Treasures to sort: Accumulate about 100 small items. If you child is very young, or prone to putting things in his mouth, make sure the items are not choking hazards. Whenever you find a small item that you are not sure what to do with, add it to the box. Choose a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, using the list below as a starting point. Think about the ways your child can sort the items, and choose accordingly. The greater the variety, the more fun the project will be.

 

Items for sorting:

– Plastic mini animals

– Blocks

– Old keys

– Rocks

– Shells

– Small toys

– Leaves

– Dry beans (do not use if your child will eat them)

– Wrapped candy

– Leftover game pieces

– Dominoes

– Dice

– Playing card

– Beanbags

– Crayons

– Play food

– Kitchen items

 

Muffin tin for sorting: An inexpensive muffin tin works for sorting small items. If your items are larger, use a set of inexpensive plastic bowls instead.

 

Place your muffin tin or bowls on the table, and give your child the box. Pick the way you would like the items sorted, and take them out one by one, and sort them into categories. You may need to do the activity together a time or two, but most kids will pick it up pretty quickly. Begin with the easiest sorting-sorting items by color, and move on to more complex or intuitive things, like texture, use, or size.

 

Some suggested ways to sort items:

Sort by:

 Color

 Shape

 Size

 Living/Non living things

 Texture

 Hard/Soft

 Metal/plastic/fabric

 How items are used

 Beginning sounds

 

Obtain at least 2 clear plastic containers (35mm film canisters, herb jars, etc).  The two containers should be the same size.  Place a small pompom or other small object inside one of the containers.  It should be able to be dumped out easily without sticking.  Invert the second container on top with the open ends making the seam.  Glue the two ends together with a hot glue gun or seal firmly with colored tape.  Completely cover one container with colored contact paper or colored tape; leave the second container uncovered so that you can see the pompom.  Allow toddler to explore the peek-a-boo tubes.  Demonstrate how to flip the tube over to make the pompom appear (“peek-a-boo!”) and disappear (uh-oh!”).

 

Words to use: see, hidden, inside, turn, look, peek-a-boo, tube, where, pompom