New Year's Tree

Hi All!,

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.  It can be such a joyous and magical time.  For those of you who celebrated Christmas,  DO NOT throw out that tree yet nor put away your tree.  It STILL has good use.  

Turn your Christmas tree into a NEW YEAR'S TREE!!!

Check out an old post that I posted.  It's super easy and super fun!  Click HERE.

As the new year is approaching, use this New Year's tree to reminisce about this past year while looking forward to the new one.

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

Reindeer Water

Parents were asked in my daughter's 1st grade class to bring something for the Christmas program, so I decided to sign up to bring waters.  I thought it was quick and easy.  But then I thought, "How can we jazz up these waters?"  I remembered that a few years back for my older daughter, I also signed up to bring water, and I decorated them like little reindeer.  I found similar posts on Pinterest, but I added a little twist by adding construction paper.

MATERIALS:

• Brown construction paper (cut into 2 x 9 inch strips) 
• Brown pipe cleaners
• Tacky glue
• Tape
• Permanent marker
• Red pom poms
• Googly eyes
• Water bottles (8 oz.)

STEPS:

1)  Tape the construction paper to the water bottle.  It will prevent the paper from sliding off. (NOTE:  No need to remove the label because the paper will cover it.)

2)  Wrap the paper around the bottle.  Then, glue the end with tacky glue.  Hold down a few seconds before letting go of the paper.  Also, laying the bottle down on the crease will help it to dry securely.

3)  Add three dots of glue to the paper, while adding a little more glue for the nose.

4)  Bend both ends of the pipe cleaner, roughly about 1/2 inch in length.  By tucking in the ends, it help the little ones from getting poked.

5)  Wrap the pipe cleaner around the neck of the water bottle.  Once connected, twist twice.

6)  Using a permanent marker, draw a smile onto the paper.  It can be a basic line or add some character to it.

TIPS:

Use a paper cutter to cut the strips of paper.  I took a full size (12 x 18) construction paper and cut it in half (9 x 12).  The length was 9 inches, and I cut them into 2 inch strips.  One full size construction paper will give you 12 (2 x9 inch) strips.

Number your water bottles (1-how many you have).  How many times have we put a water bottle down at a party and then wondered "Is this one mine?"  This is a quick and easy way to stay organized.  Also, if this is for the classroom, most classes have student numbers.  Each student can get their own number.  The little ones will remember which one is their bottle because they have had the same number all year.

Carry the waters in the same case they came in.  Angle the bottles so the noses don't get squished.

I hope you liked this post.  We can all turn a few simple water bottles into some adorable reindeer that will make any holiday party seem more festive.

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

I'm BACK!

Hi Everyone,

It's been quite some time since I've written a post and A LOT has happened!!!  I really wanted to start blogging again but wasn't sure when or how to start.  So of course, I picked the busiest time of the year...mid-December.  But then I thought, this time of the year is so INSPIRING as well.  The year is coming to an end.  It's time to reflect.  A new year and new possibilities are ahead.

I want this blog to be inspiring to both me and those individuals who read it.  It took some "reindeer water" (see post) to inspire me to write again.  Here are just a few topics that I will be writing about:

• Being a single mom
• Love again after divorce
• Teaching at a Trauma Informed School
• Volunteering in Juvenile Probation
• Being a skincare consultant for Rodan+Fields
• Starting Girl Scouts
• Learning and letting go of the past
• Living in the present
• Looking forward to the future
• My Faith Journey and Purpose in Life

Is there something in life that you have been putting off because you weren't sure when and how to start?  Well, there is no better time than the present.  It could just take a small thing, like "reindeer water," to inspire you.

Happy Holidays!  Thank you for reading.

Your Street Cred Mama,

Arlyn

Family Tree Hand Prints (Part1)

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a great night...be it if you got to bed early or was able to see the clock strike Midnight.  Both our girls actually stayed up.  :-)

Last year, our family started a New Year's Day tradition of creating a Family Tree using our hand prints.   We thought what a neat way to capture our little ones hands and see them grow throughout the year.

Materials You Will Need:

1)  Canvas Board

Last year, I bought mine on sale at Aaron Brothers.  It came in a pack of 3.

2)  Acrylic Paints

In the picture above, there is a lot of paint but you don't need this much paint.  Last year, we had a different color per person.  The picture came out colorful but didn't really match the living room.  So this year, I chose the same color (green to match our living room where it will be hanging again) but in different hues.  My husband had the darkest green, and then it went lighter as the person got younger.  ;-) I think I got this year's paints at Michael's.  They are just the small all-purpose acrylic paints that are about $0.99/bottle.  So chose whichever colors you like, but don't forget brown for the tree and a color for the year.

3)  Sponge Paint Brushes & Small Thin Brush

I just like how the sponge brushes cover the hand when being painted.  When I'm cleaning the paint out of the brush, I also use it to sponge away the paint from the hand.  Dual duty.  The small thin brush is for painting the tree and year.

4)  Tree Template (optional)

I hand drew the tree on the board, but I know not everyone can do that.  So I created a tree template for you to print out and use.

All I ask is if you do use it or share it,

please direct those you shared it with to my blog.

I would really appreciate that. :-)

How to Transfer Tree onto Board:

There are 2 ways that I will be showing you.

#1 TRACE it using the template

  

1)  PRINT out the TEMPLATE (preferably onto card stock paper)

2)  CUT it out

3)  PLACE (or use tape) the cut out template ONTO the BOARD.

Center the tree, but keep it low enough so the hands can fit on top while leaving enough room to add the year at the bottom.

4)  TRACE around the tree template.

#2 RUB the tree outline onto the board

1)  PRINT out the TEMPLATE onto regular copy paper.

2)  TRACE the outline of the tree using PERMANENT MARKER so it soaks through the paper.  Don't forget to put something under the paper so it doesn't soak through onto your table.

3)  FLIP the paper over.

You should be able to see the outline of the tree that soaked through with the marker.

4)  TRACE the outline with PENCIL using a somewhat thick line.

5)  FLIP the paper BACK to the front.

6) PLACE (or use tape) the template ONTO the BOARD.

Center the tree, but keep it low enough so the hands can fit on top while leaving enough room to add the year at the bottom.

7)  Using the bottom of the marker, TRACE and RUB the outline onto the board.

Press hard and go over it more than once.  This process kind of reminds me of those fake rub on tattoos. LOL

8)  REMOVE the paper and you should be left with an outline of the tree.

Whichever method you use, paint in the tree.  Also, paint the year at the bottom.  If you are unable to hand draw the year, then use a stencil.  Try to paint the tree and year at least a day before, so it has enough time to dry.  That way the brown won't mix with the hand color.

 

After the tree and year are dry, it's time to paint the hands onto the board.  

1)  Do a Dry Run.

Have each member place their hands onto the board WITHOUT PAINT to see the right placement.  See if the left/right hand would look better.  With little kids, it's hard for them to place their hands in weird positions.  If you want a clean print, move the board not the kid.

2)  Paint the hand with paint.

I usually do one coat of paint for coverage and then a second coat to actually transfer onto the board.

3)  Place the hand onto the board.

Tell the person to have their hand open like how they'd like it on the board and then tell them "DON'T MOVE!" :-)  You will place there hands.  Once the hand is down, gently press down on all parts of the hand.

4)  Have person lift their hand straight UP.

If the print is not to you're liking, you can always fix it.  If it needs more paint, add more paint onto the hand and place it in the same spot again.  If there are holes, which happens in the middle part of the hand, you can fill it in with the paint brush. 

It doesn't have to look PERFECT!  The imperfections make it have character. :-)

Here's a color comparison from our trees from last year and this year's:

Sorry this was a longer post, but I felt it was a "Longie but Goodie."  See my future post on how to hang your Family Tree Hand Prints.

Have a Happy Day,

Arlyn

Street Cred Mama

New Year's Day Breakfast

I probably should have posted this earlier, but better late than never.  Happy New Year already to my family throughout Asia and my USA east coast family and friends. We're still waiting here on the west coast. 

So what's for breakfast for New Year's Day?  Whip up a fun and easy breakfast with food you probably already have in your kitchen that will appeal to both the grown-ups and the kids.

Kids' Meal With the New YEAR:

What you need:

1) Your favorite Pancake Mix.

2) Eggs

3) Bacon

What to do:

1) For the "2" & "4,"

pipe the numbers on a grill or pan.

The picture above is from last New Year's breakfast, hence the "3." I filled a big Ziploc bag (gallon size) with the pancake mix. I also attached a piping tip because I wanted a cleaner piping, but you can just cut the tip off the plastic bag. You don't have to, but I actually piped the numbers backwards because it gave a cleaner look when flipped over. Before you think "that's too much effort"...remember you just only have to pipe enough per child and maybe a little extra in case you mess up. I know I did some "backup" numbers.

TIP#1:  Mix the pancake mix the night before and place it in a sealed container overnight in the fridge.  It will be one less thing to do in the morning.

TIP#2:  If you REALLY want to save time, make the numbers ahead of time, refrigerate/freeze (depending on how far in advance you make them), and just reheat in the microwave the morning of.

2)  For the "0,"

scramble some eggs.  Use a cookie cutter or something similar, like a glass/cup, to form the 0. If your child prefers, you could also do a "sunny-side-up" egg.

3)  For the "1,"

use a strip of bacon.  Eat...I mean, cut to size. ;-)  If you don't like regular bacon, then you can also use alternatives, like turkey bacon.  You just want a line.

Here's a closer look with it all together.

Super Easy Grown-up Meal:

"Bacon Cheese Pull-Aparts"

I found this recipe last year on Pinterest.  I like it because you can prep it the night before and just pop it in the oven in the morning.  Effortless but yummy.  Click here for the recipe.

Ingredients you will need:

1)  egg

2)  milk

3)  biscuit dough

4)  cooked bacon
5)  shredded cheese

6)  green onions

(I forgot to add the green onion last time.  See picture below.  And I forgot...again this time.  I thought it tasted just fine without it.)

Before

After

Super easy and yummy.  Happy New Year's!

Have a Happy Day,

Arlyn

Street Cred Mama

Milk & Cookies for New Year's Eve

Do you want to create a fun and simple treat that everyone can enjoy for New Year's Eve?  Try the following...cookies and milk in fun celebratory glasses.

What you need:

1)  Milk 

(whichever you prefer)

2) Chocolate Chip Cookies with M&Ms

You can make them from home or buy them from a store.  Last year, we had bought some frozen chocolate chip cookie dough with M&M's from a fundraiser.  This year I think I'll just buy them from the grocery store, like Albertson's, because I'm pressed for time.  Getting the M&M ones will be your pop of color for this treat.

3)  Plastic Wine Glasses

I suggest "wine" glasses opposed to "champagne" glasses because the diameter is smaller.  You want the cookies to sit and hang over the top.  You don't want to cookie to fall in.  You can also use real glass wine glasses, but I wouldn't if you're serving children and/or really intoxicated people. ;-)

I bought my plastic wine glasses last year at Smart & Final.  A lot came in a package, but I saved the unused ones for this year.  Dollar Tree also sells plastic wine glasses (6/pack) like the ones below:

4) Serving Tray

You can find an inexpensive, pretty silver one at the Dollar Tree or 99 Cent Store.

How & When to Serve Them:

It IS New Year's Eve, so you want to enjoy the party too!  

1)  Set-up the tray with the empty glasses beforehand and set it aside.  Place it somewhere where people won't take an empty glass to use for their drink for the night.

2)  Have the cookies ready.  Either bake them the day before or the morning of OR just BUY them!  Remember think...EASY!

3)  At about 11:30pm as the excitement is building for Midnight, fill up the glasses half way with milk.  Then, place a cookie on top each glass.  Last, serve them to your guests.  While guests are enjoying their goodies, pass out the noise makers and other favors.  Before you know it, it will be 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

Happy New Year!!!

For more fun New Year's Eve ideas, see my other posts:

Countdown Bags for New Year's

Keep Your Tree for New Year's

Have a Happy Day,

Arlyn

Street Cred Mama

Keep Your Tree for New Year's

It always seems like Christmas creeps up on us.  We're lucky to get our tree up long enough to enjoy it.  I think one year, we bought a tree on December 23rd!  I know some people who take down the decorations right after Christmas, but I like to enjoy them as long as possible.  So last year, we decided to keep our (real) Christmas tree up and decorate it for New Year's.

How to decorate your New Year's Tree:

1)  Take down (and store) all your Christmas decorations,

except for your tree topper and lights.

2)  Decorate using New Year's decorations

(hats, noise makers, glasses with the new year, etc.)

I just bought a New Year's party box of various items for 10 people.  There are 4 in my family, so I kept enough hats and things for us.  The rest went on the tree.

3)  My favorite part...add your "Year in Review" ornaments.

The year seems to go by so quickly, especially if you have kids.  Making "Year in Review" ornaments was a great way to reflect on all the GOOD stuff that happened.  Below, I made one that said "started 'pinning' on Pinterest." LOL

 

"Year in Review" Ornaments

I just made circles on a Word document.  Each circle had the year and each family member had their own color.  Then we had a color for "family" events.  Each member wrote down a special moment that happened to them this year.  I wrote about Pinterest (more of a joke since people thought I should have been pinning a LONG time ago).  My husband wrote about how he spent more time with his dad and took him to a baseball game.  My oldest wrote about how she started Kindergarten.  A family one was when we took a trip to Sea World.  We each wrote 3, but you can write as many as you want.  They can be sentimental or silly just meaningful to that person or the family.

See my future post on how to start "Year in Review" ornaments in January,

so they'll be ready for next New Year's.

How to make "Year in Review" ornaments:

1)  Print on card stock paper the circle ornaments.

2)  Cut them out.

I used a circle cutter, but you can cut by hand.  It just takes a little longer.

3)  Use a hole puncher to punch a hole on top.

4)  Tie string or ribbon to the ornament.

5)  Write your memorable moment and hang it on the tree.

So before you take down your Christmas tree, transform it to your New Year's tree. :-)

Have a happy day,

Arlyn

Street Cred Mama