Halloween Pumpkin Decorating ideas-Non-Carving #Pumpkin Carving Art

Pumpkins and hardware go together this Halloween season. Get creative and try this new way of carving pumpkins. Your children will enjoy working with tools, wires, washers and nut bolts to make an art piece. 

   

Field Trip Mom

This weekend we attended a very special art class hosted at the local grocerystore "Produce World" in the city of Orange. The art class was offered by "Dragonfly Shops and Garden". We arrived a little late to class, because my kids wanted to stay home to play the Wii. It was Saturday and they did not want to do anything. To get them in the car I promised them a fun time with pumpkins. As we drove to the class my kids asked many questions. What is non-carving pumpkin carving? Why do we have to go? Are we going to get candy? I answered the questions as best as I could. We finally arrived and I was ready for the kids to get curious.

We walked up to the table and noticed that there were no paint brushes or paint. The tools and decorations were from the hardware aisle of Home Depot or Lowes. There was a table full of  bailing wire, thumb-tacks, washers, nails, screws, bolts, pipe hangers and hammers. I am sure there might have been more hardware items on the table for decorating the pumpkins, but I was busy helping the kids to notice anymore. The instructor was Libby Williamson a soft spoken lady with a great smile. She quickly gave instructions and off we went to create our own "Non-Carving Pumpkin Carving" creation art piece.

In that second the kids forgot about the Wii and thought it was really great to use a hammer on a pumpkin. My (4) year old had the screw on the pumpkin in seconds and made it look like it was the pumpkins eyes. The (7) year old saw the fun in adding hair out of bailing wire.  Both kids wanted to make the pumpkins themselves. They used washer for eyeballs, screws for feet, paperclips for ears and pipe hanger for a nose. My kids were naturals at creating pumpkin art with nails and pipe hangers. I watched and held the pumpkins while the kids decorated the pumpkins with hardware. We all had so much fun.

Non-carving Pumpkin carving in a produce store with hardware as your paint. Who knew?

When we were done with our non-carving pumpkin, we walked over to see the other pumpkin creations. The little girls on the other side had made cat faces, princess and cute fun faces from the hardware. The pumpkins all seemed to have their own personalities. It was really a great class for the kids and adults. In that moment I saw that art is in all of us and in everything.

The pumpkins were fresh and came from "Produce World" in Orange, CA. The art class was held in front of  "Produce World". It was a rare event, because most classes are held at their location down the street from "Produce World". What a great idea! 

Inside produce world there was a 92 lb pumpkin waiting for someone to take it home. It is the biggest that they had in the whole store. If you are in the area stop by and  see for yourself. Maybe you will want to take it home. Make sure you visit the produce area as well as the selection of gourmet foods and coffees. Produce World has been in Orange, CA for 30 years. I was very grateful to them, Dragonfly Shops and Elite Social Management for inviting me to this great event. Thank you!

Produce World
1885 North Tustin Street
Orange, CA 92865
(714) 974-1830
The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens
260 North Glassell Street
Orange, CA 92866
Telephone: 714-289-4689
Disclaimer: This is not a paid post. All thoughts and ideas are all my own.

Mystery Reader

 I had the privilege to volunteer for Mystery Reader for my son's 2nd grade classroom. There were clues that were given to the kids about who the mystery reader might be. The classroom had to guess who would be reading that afternoon. To make things interesting, I decided to dress-up in a funny hat and funny glasses. The book was themed for the Halloween season. I had bought erasers, pencils and silly bands to give out after the read. In my head I had it all planned out. But it did not go as I had planned it. I am glad it did not.

My  husband had surprised me and took time off work to be the mystery reader and take my place.  I later realized that he knew I would be very nervous.  I became aware of my fear once I got there and all eyes were on us. In that moment, I was super glad I was not reading and that my husband had decided to take over.  I think what caught me so off guard was the surprise look from the substitute teacher, when we entered in with our disguises.  She looked almost in shock! The kids became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. As my husband sat there and read the book "The Three Bears Halloween", the kids began to breath again and smile. The kids in the classroom realized that we were there for them  to read stories and entertain them.  My husband read wearing big clown glasses and a cape becoming the Super Mystery Reader. He stayed in his character until the end. It was so successful that the kids asked for another book to be read by Super Mystery Reader. Mystery Reader was a huge success. I am glad my plans changed and my husband decided to read instead.  I hope I get to volunteer my husband again. :)

Get Inpsired and Decorate...

twotallgirls

Decorating for Fall  is a great way to get your family to feel inspired.  There are many ways you can decorate.  You don' t need to spend lots of money or go to a special store to find in season items.  Your house will be warm and inviting just by adding a few touches. 

Because in California we don't have much of a weather change, decorating for the fall is a great way to make your family feel inspired.  Visiting the pumpkin patches, fall festivals and other fun fall events add to getting inspired.

A few of the ways you can decorate is with food and plants. The grocery stores carry a variety of pumpkins, gourds, squash and flowers that are in the season's colors. Home Depot is another place you can find plants that are in season. Just by placing them in the kitchen or living room as decoration will help bring the feeling of Fall. You can place them outside your door as well to give your house a fun look.

Hot apple cider, soups and homemade breads are great ways to remind the sense of smell, why Fall is a great season to celebrate. Baking and cooking away will help make your house cozy and warm. Fall is a great season to celebrate and enjoy. Here is my favorite bread receipe to help you get started:

1 1/3

cups mashed very ripe bananas (2 large)

2/3

cup sugar

1/4

cup milk

3

tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2

teaspoon vanilla

3

eggs

2 2/3

cups Original Bisquick® mix

1/2

cup chopped nuts

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom of 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.

Stir bananas, sugar, milk, oil, vanilla and eggs in large bowl. Stir in Bisquick mix and nuts. Pour into pan.

Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaf from pan; remove from pan and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 day.

Betty Crocker Cookbook

I Love Fall......

It gives you so many more chances to turn over a new leaf.

Esty Pidgapeg Cottage

Other sources: http://www.halloween-stuff.net/halloween-decorations.htm

http://www.sixdifferentways.com/?tag=flowers

http://www.marthastewart.com/?xsc=goo_ms-brand-home-page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/PidgApeg-Cottage/126230314097761

Free Museum Days....

Southern California is a great place to live and visit. Several of our museums offer free days, which means that you can have fun without breaking the bank. This year try to visit at least one museum on free admission day. To help you with this plan, I have made a list of some of the most popular places in Southern California to visit.  To have the best experience I recommend that you contact the museum and confirm the dates of their admission free day. Happy Field Tripping! Disclaimer: Please contact the museum to ensure the times and dates are still valid. 

Free Museum Days

The Arboretum of Los Angeles County: Free admission on the Third Tuesday of each month

Autry National Center: Free admission on the Second Tuesday each month

California African American Museum: Free admission daily but parking is $8.

California Science Center: Free admission daily but parking is $8; some exhibits are an extra charge

Claremont Museum of Art: Free admission on the First Friday of the month from 5-8:30 pm

Craft and Folk Art Museum: Free on the First Wednesday of each month

Fowler Museum at UCLA: Free admission daily

Getty Center: Free admission daily but parking is $15

Getty Villa in Malibu: Free admission daily but parking is $15

George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tarpits: Free admission on the First Tuesday of each month

Griffith Park Observatory: Free admission daily

Hammer Museum: Free admission every Thursday

Huntington Library and Gardens: Free admission on the First Thursday of each month with prior reservation through their website.

Japanese American National Museum: Free general admission every Thursday from 5 to 8 pm and every third Thursday of the month. Also free one Saturday each month. This event is called Target Free Family Days and include entertainment, cooking projects and arts and crafts.

Kidspace Museum: Free Family Night is the first Tuesday of every month from 4 pm-8 pm.

La Habra Children’s Museum: Free admission on the first Saturday of each month.

LACMA: Free admission on the Second Tuesday each month, free after 5 pm daily and on several Holiday Mondays. LACMA also has program for free membership for children (and one free adult guest per child). Here is the link for the NextGen membership form.

Long Beach Museum of Art: Free admission each Friday

Los Angeles Fire Department Museum: Free admission on the only day it is open: Saturdays from 10 am -4 pm

MOCA: Free admission at all three MOCA locations on each Thursday from 5-8 pm

Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton: Free admission daily (Wednesday-Sunday)

Museum of Latin American Art: Free admission each Friday

Natural History Museum: Free admission on the First Tuesday of each month must reserve tickets. "Wells Fargo sponsored Free First Tuesdays
Event Date: This event occurs on multiple dates. Please check the calendar for more information.
Time: 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

"Wells Fargo Free First Tuesdays gives Museum visitors free general admission on the first Tuesday of every month (except July and August), and free Museum admission every Tuesday in September. We recommend reserving tickets in advance to guarantee Museum entry and to skip the line, as we experience high attendance on these days. Please note there is a maximum of 8 tickets per reservation."

The Nethercutt Museum: Free admission daily

Norton Simon Museum: Free admission on the First Friday of each month from 6-9 pm

Pacific Asia Museum: Free admission on the Fourth Friday of each month

The Paley Center for Media: Free admission daily

Pasadena Museum of California Art: Free admission on the First Friday of each month

Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont: Free admission each Wednesday 02/03/2017 update 

Skirball Cultural Center: Free admission each Thursday

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and ideas are all my own. 

Things to do in OC for free.

Your community is full of things to do with your kids for free. We want to share with you a few  fun free events that happen ever month.  Lake Shore Learning offers Free Craft Saturdays, Lowes Home 

Lake Shore Learning Free Craft Saturday from 11am to 3pm.  Kids love this place. It is so much fun to cut, glue and paste. You can find lots of great educational products for your favorite teacher.

Lowes Home Improvement - Twice a month on Saturday at 10am. Must sign-up in advance. Project changes every Saturday. 

Home Depot-  The first Saturday of the month Home Depot hosts a Kids Workshop. You will be using little hammers and nails to make this cute toy. Great way to teach your child how to follow directions. They will need your help to get this done.

Other places that host fun free events:

Toys R Us  - In-Store events

Stores change their times or supplies run out, please check before leaving.

Legoland California October 24th-30th

Lego is running a promotion for VIP Card holders. Two free tickets to Legoland and a $10.00 coupon for up to (6) additional tickets. To get a VIP Card you must go to the Lego Store near you. Then register your card online to get the coupon. The coupon will appear once you register.  Then take your coupon along with your card to redeem your free tickets. Here is the links to both:

How to get a VIP Card for Lego.

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Lego Mini Build

The LEGO Store Monthly Mini Model Build!One day each month you can learn how to build a cool LEGO mini model, and take it home – for free! Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. A new model will be available every month and will be specially themed to that month – ask a Store Associate for details! Models are not for sale and cannot be purchased. One free per child. Event is open to children aged 6 to 14 only. Check with your local LEGO Store for dates and times.

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Don't forget that the new series of Lego Mini's is out. My kids love them and they have a ton of fun playing with the characters. It is so much fun guessing which package has which character?

See you at Legoland!!!

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Here are some fun quotes to get you through life:


Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. quotes (American best selling writer, author of Life's Little Instruction Book)

“There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.”

Albert Einstein quote “If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin quote “Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” Gail Devers quotes “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” You may find more inspiring words on ThinkExist.com