Tuesday Tutorial: Getting your kids to eat

Tonight I had a struggle.  My husband made a wonderful roast in the Crockpot and then I could not get my kids to decide to eat it.  For some reason pizza goldfish sounded better to them.  So finally, I told my son we were having Angry Bird nests and he got really excited.  I put some shredded roast on top of a nest of rice and threw a few green bean “pigs” nearby and he ate his food right up.  Amazing what a fun name can do.  And, for dessert they just asked for popcorn.  I was ok with that…better than pizza gold fish tonight. 

I’m pretty sure she is way too cute to try and force her to eat and get mad.  She needs the calories like any growing kid, but she just gives me “the look” and it’s easy to want to give her and her brother Oreos instead of food (thanks for that one dad!)

So I did a little research from the experts and here is what I came up with.

Web MD has a great article about what to expect from your child at mealtimes and answers some of those questions we all seem to have.

Picky Eater battles at meals are also discussed here 

What else have I found that works?  Have them take as many bites as their age.  My 4-year-old will often end up taking a lot more.  Sometimes he just assumes he doesn’t like something and once he takes a few bites he realizes it was ok.  If they’ll let you, feed it to them.  For whatever reason, my kids sometimes are lazy and if I get them started on a bite, they’ll eat the rest on their own.  Sit down with them and don’t go to the next course (dessert) until they are all done.  Once eyes are on dessert, no one will focus on the meal.  My husband tends to be a horrible offender of that one!  I also like to let the kids help in mealtime, whether it be picking out the food or helping me make it, it always seems to go down better if they are involved.  And, make mealtime focused on mealtime.  Don’t have the TV on, and make sure you all sit down as a family.

Am I perfect at all of these things?  No, but we keep trying and eventually when they’re hungry, my kids just tend to eat!

YES, we are still crafting!

Yes, amidst all the Tuesday Tutorials, we want you to know that we are still crafting like crazy! Here are just a few of the things we've been busiest with lately, as well as a few new things we're trying! As always, let us know if you would like something and we'll work on the sizes, colors and pricing from there! Most items come sized infant through adult.  Please keep in mind, I am not a photographer.  Someday we really need to get a photographer friend though!  Any takers, let us know and we’ll get you some great props!

Animal hats!

 

 

These have been VERY popular this winter. Get everything from teddy bears, hippos, monkeys, zebras and koalas, to wolves, horses and cows. I'm probably even forgetting some, but you get the picture! You name it, we probably can figure it out! Yes, see the above beard and you'll know what I'm talking about. By the way, my son LOVES his beard when out scooping snow!

Brimmed hats!

 

Here are just two of our most popular this winter, but we have done a few with buttons and boy colors as well. Just let us know what you're thinking and we'll figure something out for you.

Hair flowers

These continue to be a popular thing and can be custom made for you. As you can see, we even custom made an entire weddings worth!

Leggings!

Just perfect for your little girl (or yourself!), and as you can see with this set, we did it to match the zebra hat that came with it!

Tag Rags:

These can be customized anyway you want.  I just got done with a Hawkeye one that had the name and Hawkeye ribbons on.  Why did I not take a picture!

Soon to come:

Right now I'm messing around with some slippers, booties, and I even just ordered a pattern for a Minnie Mouse hat with matching skirt and diaper cover (it even has a tail!) We also are starting to do cocoons also, they'll come in hungry caterpillar, ladybug and bumble bee and are they ever adorable (with matching hat!)

YOU ROCK Valentine

So, Not to early to start thinking about Valentine's day- Today I have a cute Valentine!

This Valentine was made using my Cricut... the cut is from Indie Art Cartridge.  If you don't have a Cricut or Diecut machine, think about using clipart, stickers, etc.

 Start with a 6x9 inch sheet of paper, score at 3.5 inches and 7 inches.  Fold on score lines.  Create an envelope using tape or adhesive to fold up the sides.

 Put a little treat in your pocket.  I'm using POP ROCKS to go with the "you rock" theme.  Use your creativity to come up with a fun treat!

Another idea would be to copy a picture off the internet of your child's favorite Pop/Rock band!  Have fun and enjoy!

Tuesday Tutorial: Flour Construction!

So the weather has been exceptionally nice here, but there have been a few days where it is just too cold to go outside.  My son loves to farm and dig in the dirt, so we came up with a cleaner version for in the house, which he has been begging for ever since I spilled a ton of flour on the flour and let him play in it awhile before cleaning it all up.

We found an empty smaller Rubbermaid type container with a lid, dumped in a bunch of flour and added some of his favorite diggers, bulldozers, tractors and wagons.  He has been having a ball!  And the best part, it’s fairly easy to clean!  Just use a dry towel on their hands and clothes and a sweep or hand vacuume for any flour spilled, which in his case is very little!  Later in the year we may switch the flour out for some soybeans or corn, but for now it’s all very entertaining to him.  Other bonus, all the diggers and equipment have made it safely through the dishwasher!

Diva Bling

 Happy Holidays!  Today we are going to add the bling to this adorable T-Shirt!  It is easy to do!

Supplies needed:

Plain T-shirt

Stencil

Iron On Gems (purchase at Craft Store... you can get generic ones to use with your I-Rock!)

I-Rock Gem Setter (optional)

Put some cardboard or paper under your shirt, as the glue from the gems might seep through the shirt onto the back, and stick your sides together!

 Center your stencil on your T-Shirt... I made my stencil using my cricut and some vinyl.  If you are going to use your iron instead of an I-rock or other such tool, I would suggest using something like freezer paper to make your stencil (freezer paper has a shiny side that can be ironed on and repositioned... you don't want to use vinyl with your iron!  I also used my stencil as an outline, but did not follow it exactly, mainly because it didint' quite fit.

Line up a few stones at a time, and apply heat using the I-rock tool or iron...  apply heat for 15-30 seconds, depending on how hot your tool is.  (Note, for the I-rock you can only set one gem at a time, for an iron, you can probably do a few at a time).  I found if I lined up too many gems at a time, if I bumped it they all got messed up.

Once I had all my gems set on the shirt, I did use my iron to go over the entire design for a few minutes, just to make sure it all set!  Please be aware that the i-rock and gems get REALLY HOT!  BE CAREFUL!!!!

What a great way to dress up a plain shirt!

By the way, we also sell these Koala hats!  Just email us at sistersassycrafts.gmail.com with size details!

Tuesday Tutorial: Dinner Rolls

I have found the recipe for the best dinner rolls ever, and if like me you still have 3 Christmas parties to go to yet on New Year’s weekend, you’re in luck!  These dinner rolls will make you the hero of your party!

Start out by mixing all your ingredients in a bowl, and let it raise until it gets nice and big, like that…

Next, roll them out, and I have found it works best to allow your 2 year old daughter to help, it’s more fun and entertaining that way!

See how neat and clean she makes it?  (yeah, it took daddy 2 tries in the wash machine to get those pants clean!)  Granted, that amount of flour is probably waaay too much for these rolls!

Then, smear on the butter, again allowing the 2 year old to help!

Those silicone brushes are the best…just like an art project! 

Cut out the rolls, roll them up and bake them, and despite the 2 year old help, they turn out beautiful!

Don’t forget to brush a little more butter on top when you’re done, because that is what really makes these rolls, the excessive amounts of butter we use.  Without it, why would we make New Year’s resolutions? :)

oh yeah, that one there, that’s the one my 2 year old made, it was great too!

Here’s the link to the Diner rolls.  That girl at How Does She is amazing!  Subscribe to her blog while you’re there!

And, Happy New Years, and thanks for a great year from the Sassy Sisters!

The YUMMIEST cookies I ever made...

These cookies are not the prettiest, I will admit.  But they are soooooooo good. Especially if you like German Chocolate Cake, and have an entire house of people who don't.  The best part about them is that they are QUICK and EASY (my two favorite words!

I found the recipe in 2010 Better Homes and Garden's Ultimate Cookeis and Bars magazine.
1 box German Chocolate cake mix
1/2 C butter (melted)
1/4 C milk
1 egg (lightly beaten)
3/4 cup rice crispies
1 /4 c flaked coconut
1 containter of German chocolate frosting (the kind with the pecans and coconuts)

Preheat oven to 350, combine mix, butter, milk and egg,beat on low unitl well mixed, then add the crispies and coconut.  Spoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes and then let stand for 1 minute on cookie sheet before transferring to wire rack/wax paper to cool completely.  Frost and enjoy!  If you are into presentation, you can garnish with toasted coconut or pecans.  You might also want to flatten cookies a bit before baking, it looks prettier that way!

The best part (for me) is that they are easy to freeze (BHG and recommends freezing unfrosted, by the way), and I can enjoy my favorite flavors whenever I want without having to eat an entire cake!