We Miss "The Good Night Show" on Sprout

When Big Sister was much smaller, she loved a lot of things, but most of all she loved (not including her family of course) Elmo and Sprout's "The Good Night Show" with Star and Nina.  It makes me very sad to think that a) she has lost interest (mostly) in Elmo and b) that we don't get Sprout with our new cable provider.  Baby Genius will have to love it online.

But...  we did a craft for my husband's birthday and I found the instructions on The Good Night Show website!  And bonus, there's a great list of other crafts to do with young 'uns!  Click here for a link to a very easy Stained Glass jar craft from Nina and Star.  (Note:  the picture isn't of the one we did but it looked very similar.)

Big Sister and I had several suggestions/variations:

1) In the spirit of Reuse/Recycle, we used a clean baby food jar!  It's a great size for something like holding a tea light, spare change in the laundry room, paper clips on a desk, etc.

2) We did a 1/2, 1/2 water and glue mixture... it was easier for Big Sister to "paint" on the jar.

Enjoy!

Pedicure in Winter

[Originally my blog was called "Pedicure in Winter" but I have sinced changed it to "Clip Clop Mama."

So why, "pedicure in winter"?  Well let me tell you a little about pedicures and me.  I discovered pedicures a few years ago with a good friend of mine.  If you haven't, I highly recommend you visit a nail salon near you for a pedicure A.S.A.P.  A pedicure delivers all sorts of luxurious, delicious things for your mind and body in a short period of time for relatively little cost ($20-$30 typically).  If the salon does not have the spa massage chairs, find a new salon.  While you get massaged by the chair, your feet and legs get massaged and pampered by another person; all the grime and grit is removed from your toes (ick!), and you leave with pretty, pink toes feeling revived and refreshed.
    But wait.  One of the best things about a pedicure is getting to show off your pedicure during the Spring and Summer in pretty, open-toed shoes... right?!  Pretty flip-flops or sandals, preferably.  One might even ask - why even bother with a pedicure in winter?  In the winter (unless you live in year-round summer type places), you get your lovely pedicure just to cover it up with socks and boots.  Nobody sees it.  What a bummer.
     Transition to my life.  As a new wife (of 5 1/2 years) and mother (of a 2 1/2-year-old beautiful girl and 10-month-old simply adorable boy), this is sometimes how I feel - like I have a "pedicure" (all these lovely little things I used to enjoy like poetry and writing and painting and making collages and pottery) that get covered up and pushed aside by daily life.  Understand that my priorities have changed; I have other needs that occupy my time (read:  changing diapers, playing with play-doh, grocery shopping, giving baths, paying bills - the usual!).  And I love those needs!  I love my family with every bit of my heart!  Don't misunderstand me:  my kids and my husband and family are my life.
         On the other hand, I really miss my creative self.  Not that I was every very good or professional at any of my creative endeavors, but they made me *feel better*.  By returning to them and doing a better job at integrating creativity into my everyday life, I feel I will be a better  wife and mother and, bonus, happier with myself! 
         Friends, I have gotten lost in the "Why Get a Pedicure in Winter?" mistake.  Just like there are perfectly wonderful reasons to get a pedicure in the winter (Reasons to Get a Pedicure in Winter), there are wonderful, great, awesome reasons why I - as a full-time mother and wife (at least this one!)  - need to find creative outlets and let my 'pink toes' shine.  I need to return closer to a feeling of 'self' and 'centeredness,' and I have several goals to get me back to the enjoyment and fulfillment I once felt (on occasion any way) from expressing creativity.  Yes I am busy.  I am a mom and wife trying my best to raise two kids and be a good partner and responsible adult and upstanding citizen.  But I dream of making the most of my time on this planet; we all only live once unless reincarnation turns out to be real.
         I've read that the best way to accomlish goals is to begin by writing them down (How To Accomplish Your Goals in Life).  So here we go.  I will  hold myself accountable through this Blog. 
1.  To do a weekly art craft with my children.  (This is my 'low hanging fruit'!)
2.  To make a quilt from fabric I brought home from Africa that I've had for 10 years, within 2 years
3.  To write and publish a children's book or other e-book during the coming year.
4.  To compile and publish a book of poetry during the coming 2 years.
5.  To write and publish a book based on my Peace Corps experience within 5 years.
I look forward to gaining readers on my journey who will hold me accountable....  and I am excited to hear your thoughts, opinions, comments and hope to have a lot of fun along the way!