Costume TLC

I love dancing, and much like teaching, it is something I was born to do. There is nothing like putting on a beautiful costume, stepping on stage, and performing your best dance moves. LOVE IT!

For me, a costume is a huge part of dancing. When I put on a carnaval bikini and step on stage, I transform into my alter ego, Jessica (I secretly love the name and often use it at Starbuck's). For the past few year, however, I have not been very kind to my costumes. In fact, I completely neglected them. Remember, I became a mom and was working on a master's degree. Costumes, unfortunately, were the last thing on my mind.

Needless to say, my costumes are now a hot, outdated mess. I have mismatched and incomplete outfits, dilapidated backpacks, and featherless hats. It's not pretty and it's beyond sad.

Now that I'm near the end of my master's, I have decided to fix my costumes and get back to costume making and dancing.




To begin, I'm fixing up my black samba bikini. I love the hat but know that the bikini needs major help.






Wish me luck!

Bra and boot covers in serious need of a little TLC.

 

Glue for Kids

Glue

Growing up, I marveled at my mother's ability to make something out of nothing. In fact, I often think of her as the female version of MacGyver. Really! If you put her inside of a sinking ship, she will conjure up a lifeboat out of plastic spoons and a bra strap; she's that good.


Recently, MomGyver came to the rescue, again. While getting materials ready for a homemade pinata, I noticed that I was out of glue. After hearing me bitch about it, mom suggested I make my own. WHAT?! Yes, homemade glue. Here it is:

• 1 1/2 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of cold water
• 2 Tbs of flour
• 1 Tbs of white vinegar
• Food coloring (optional)

Mix 1/2 cup of cold water with the flour. In a small pan, bring the 1 1/2 of water to a boil. When the water begins to boil, reduce the heat to medium and add the flour mixture. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes. Remove the mixture from the stove and add vinegar. Finally, add food coloring to change the color of the glue. This is not necessary but Camila loves everything pink. Let it cool before using.

The glue really works and I love that my little girl will, too, think of me as MomGyver. Some of my fondest memories is of my mom building or sewing an amazing art project.

Mom, thanks for being my mom. Happy Mother's Day.

Christmas Hand-print Tree/Wall Art

Xmas is finally here!!


I love this time of the year. People pretend to like each other; I accrued major debt by buying more than I should; and winter, which I really don't like, becomes wonderful and bearable.

Feeling jolly and on a sugar high from the homemade banana-chocolate bread and shortbread cookies I made during Thanksgiving, I decided to finally craft something from Pinterest.

Check out the original wall art from Pinterest. Sorry, but I can't find the link.

Below, you will find what I did.

It was a collaborative effort. Hubby's hand prints are at the bottom of the tree, next are my prints, followed by Camila's prints, and Caio's. I made sure to use washable, kid-friendly paint, and outlined the star and trunk of the tree with a black Sharpie.

Cute and fun project.

Bath Paint for a 3-year Old

 Yes, I'm going for the Mom-of-the-Year award and think that the bath paint will get me there.

While searching the Internet for kid-friendly projects, I ran into a bath paint tutorial. Since Camila, as most kids, loves bath time, I decided to give it a try. 

Camila loves it! She spends a great amount of time coloring the bath walls, rinsing it, and coloring it again. To make it more interactive and help increase motor skills, I draw on the walls circles, stars, and letters with bath crayons. I then ask her to fill in the drawings with the paint. Love it!

Ingredient (I cut the tutorial recipe in half since I have kid-friendly containers that hold 1/2 paint)

• 1/2 cup of tear-free clear liquid soap
• 2 Tbs of corn starch
• Food coloring 

Directions

• Whisk together all the ingredients and pour it into a plastic, kid-friendly container. Done!

Personalized Story Book

Personalized Story Book

I strongly believe that by exposing Camila to a variety of texts she will grow to be an avid reader, good student, and successful individual. Well, to maintain my goal and add a little extra oomph to the reading materials we read, I composed a story book for my little girl. I combined my love for reading with a project--can't get better than that!Using Kodak Projects, I composed a fairy tale that blends text and photos. In the story, relatives and friends are transformed into magical characters who help Princess Camila along her journey. The end result is fabulous and we are having fun reading it.The photo book cost less than $30 and we love reading it :)

Art Projects for a 2-Year Old

Art Projects

With the birth of the baby fast approaching, hubby and I are trying to get Camila ready for the new addition to the family. As the only child, she now gets ALL the attention and we worry that she may have a difficult time accepting the baby. To combat this, we try to include the baby in our conversations and, when possible, activities.

We recently completed a few tasks that I must share :)

Belly Art:

Materials needed:
* Paint: We like Crayola but I'm sure any washable paint works.
* A pregnant belly: You can probably find one on eBay. They have everything!


Camila's bedroom wreath:
The purpose for this project was to keep Camila away from the television on a rainy day. It was such an easy and fun project.

Materials:

• Cardboard 12" round wreath
• Cupcake baking cups
• Elmer's glue
• Heart ornament
• 2 flower pins
• Ribbon
  

Together, Camila and I glued cupcake baking cups to a cardboard wreath. Later, I secured the heart and ribbon with flower pins. We had a great time and Camila was very proud of her work :)

Homemade Beer

Hubby making beer:
Yes, I am the self-proclaimed best wife ever! Last September, I gave my hubby a beer making kit. From there, he began reading beer-making books, recruiting friends, and making his own beer!

I find it all so hot and sexy that I feel like a groupie at a concert. I ask questions; I'm an official testers, though I know nothing about beer; and I encourage him as much as possible. Best of all, his concoction is really catching on. My hubby and his beer-making partner served homemade beer at the Christmas party and will serve their home brew at my baby shower!

Here are a few informative beer-making resources--just in case you want to make your own beer.

Beer Wars:

Great documentary on the beer-making industry. I thought dancers were catty!

Beer-making kit:

I purchased the starters kit from a local beer-making supply store. Everyone was extremely helpful and friendly. In fact, I have noticed that those involved with the beer or wine making process are normally great people to be around. I wonder why?

Beer Making for Dummies:

Those familiar with the series know that this is an easy to follow and informative source.

Brewing TV:

I found this while looking for Podcasts. The hosts are informative and entertaining.

Beer-making shops:

• Oak Barrel in Berkeley
  
• San Francisco Brewcraft in San Francisco
• More Beer in Concord and Los Altos
  

Hubby and partner at Trumer Beer Company:

I love that my hubby's partner brought his little baby to the tour :)

Camila's Tree--A Project for a 2-Year Old

At some point in my childhood, my brother and I couldn't watch television until a certain time. Consequently, my brother and I would sit around the house waiting for TV time. Since my husband had a similar experience, we decided that for Camila there is no TV during the week (we need to give her some reason to see a therapist later in life!). The rational behind our evil ways is that we hope our daughter, as she gets older, will learn to find fun and alternative forms of entertainment, like crafts, books, or sports. The challenge, though, is that we, as parents, need to help her find things to do. Since she is only 2, it is a challenge at times. But have no fear, grandma came up with a great idea. Camila's own Christmas tree.

This weekend, Camila and I decorated her own Christmas tree with handmade ornaments. It began with salt-starch ornaments (recipe from Paint Cut Paste) I made after decorating our tree. Later in the week, Camila, her cousin, and I used paint, glue, and glitter to decorate the ornaments. I then added pipe cleaners to the ornaments; this made it easier for Camila to hang. On a different day, I spray painted a tree branch from my father's backyard, which would later serve as the tree. Finally, Camila and I decorated the tree. This was a fun and easy project that I broke down over 2 weeks. Best of all, it was a great project to do on a cold Sunday afternoon.

Recipe for the salt-starch ornaments: You can find the recipe on the Paint Cut Paste blog

* Bring 1 cup of water to (barely) a boil

* Add 1 cup of salt, stir and dissolve for about a minute (not all of the salt dissolves).

* Pour salt and water over 1 cup of cornstarch and mix together

* Add 1/4 cup of cold water

* Add 2 tbsp oil (I used canola. you might want to go with 1.5 tbsp instead, in hindsight)

* Role it out to a 1/4 inch

* Cut into desired shape and back at 245 for 2 hours.

Christmas Cheer

I really don't like the cold, but I love the holiday season. Houses are decorated, streets have a myriad of lights, and people are in a happy and friendly mood.

Two weekends ago, the family and I went out for a little Christmas cheer and inspirations. Of course, we had to see the San Francisco Macy's Christmas tree.

The following weekend, inspiration kicked in and we began decorating the tree! I admit, this was the best tree-decorating session. My 2 1/2 year old daughter really got into it by singing, hanging ornaments, and giving us loads of kisses. Again, I love the holiday season.

The next day, while reading a few of my favorite blogs, I came across a great project from Paint Cut Paste --salt and starch ornaments. I cut the recipe in half (in retrospect, I wish I hadn't) and baked it for 2 hours. Now, I can't wait to decorated it with my little girl!