Category — Blogroll

My friend Carmen, from Albuquerque, New Mexico shared this great idea with me about how she creates special memories with her grandchildren. After they have done something together, she writes about it in her “Remember When” book. For example, if they went to the zoo she might write: Remember when we went to the zoo and the bear roared so loud that it scared Angie and she spilled her drink. She also includes photos. When her grandchildren come to visit they love to look through the book. It is now a tradition so the grandchildren will often ask her “Are you going to write that in the Remember When book?” As the grandchildren get older they can write in the “Remember When” book or even start their own.

Munchkin Radio is an online radio station for kids 8 and younger. They play great kid’s music including lullabies. They have a birthday club and lots of other fun things and it’s free. Check it out. Go to Munchkin Radio

While we were on a family vacation at a lake, it was my grandson’s birthday. They love Star Wars so their mom made light sabers for all the kids. She bought a bunch of water noodles at the dollar store and wrapped black tape around one end for the handle. They were an inexpensive favor and the kids had so much fun pretending with them.

I love getting out my family memory serving tray when the family gathers together. It seems we never tire of looking at the photos and remembering the vacations we took to a favorite cabin several summers in a row. Even though the grandchildren are not in the photos they enjoy identifying all the people and find it hard to believe their parents were once as young as they are now. You can make your own memory serving tray.
You’ll need:
tray (I bought my metal tray at a thrift store for $.50 but you could use a plastic or wood tray)
photos or memorabilia
Mod Podge (you can get this at any craft store)
paint brush
clear acrylic sealer (find at any craft or home improvement store)
Directions:
1. Wash and dry tray.
2. Decide how you want to display your photos and trim to fit tray.
3. Spread Mod Podge on the tray with a brush and apply photos.
4. Brush Mod Podge over all your photos. It will dry clear. If you are going to use your tray for display only you can stop here. If you want to use it for serving I would suggested spraying a clear acrylic sealer. Follow the directions on the can. It has a very strong smell so do it outside.
Tip: I just use my tray for bread, rolls or chips. I’m not sure what will happen if it gets water or other moist food items on it and I don’t want to take the chance of ruining my photos.

Kids of all ages will love these.

Frozen Banana Pops
You will need: ¼ banana for each child
¾ c. chocolate chips
3 T. margarine
Optional – coconut, crushed nuts, graham crackers or sprinkles
1. Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper.
2. Peel each banana and cut into quarters.
3. Put a popscicle stick or skewer into each segment, place on a cookie sheet and freeze.
4. Melt chocolate chips and margarine over love heat.
5. Remove from heat and dip frozen bananas into chocolate mixture.
6. Optional – roll in coconut, crushed nuts, graham crackers, or sprinkles.
7. Put chocolate covered bananas on the cookie sheet and return to freezer.
8. After the bananas are refrozen, they are ready to eat.

My friend Jane told me about a cute and easy apron idea for your grandchildren. No sewing involved! It keeps them clean while you’re cooking and it can be washed and reused. You’ll need 1 dish towel for each child. Fold the towel in half then put ribbon or string across the inside fold. This becomes the waistband. Tie around the child’s waist. If you need your grandchild covered across the top just pin the towel at his shoulders and tie a ribbon or string at the waist.

When your grandbaby insists on stand-up soothing, but your back refuses, try this idea from a fellow grandma, Ronda Kay. She sits on her physioball. It soothes baby and saves her lower back. READ MORE
To find more grandparenting ideas from Ronda Kay go to GRANDGIFTING.
Do you have any grandparenting tips? Please share them.

Here’s a way to use those random buttons that you can’t bare to part with because you know you’ll need them someday. I bought some headbands at the dollar store and had my granddaughters create their own. Megan wanted hers to be simple but Kate wanted every button she could reach. I was in charge of the glue gun.

I received a message recently from a fellow grandma that really touched my heart. Senda gave me permission to share it.
My mom’s name was Anna Elizabeth…my kids called her Grandma Lizzie. We miss her dearly, and have days just talking and remembering her. They loved going to her house, “Grandma Lizzie’s”. You can see from the photo that it looked like a run down shack but to them it was the next best place to heaven. My daughter and I were talking about Grandma Lizzie a few days ago, and the games they use to play there…and we couldn’t remember how a game went, it was “Lemonade…something” we can’t remember…but imagine our shock when we found “Grandma Lizzie” right here on Facebook! Yes, it certainly looks like my kind of page. I have two grandsons and need all kinds of fun ideas and activities.
Thanks,
Senda

Thank you, Senda, for bringing back memories of my grandma’s.
Share a special memory you have of a parent or grandparent.
Liz

This is my kind of recipe, less than 10 ingredients and it sounds good.

Green Beans with Mint-Almond Pesto

Makes: 12 servings
Ingredients
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
2 pounds haricots verts (French green beans) or fresh thin green beans, trimmed
2-1/2 cups fresh mint leaves, plus additional for garnish
1/3 cup blanched almonds, toasted
Finely grated fresh lemon zest from 1 lemon
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 teaspoon salt. Add green beans and cook until bright green and crisp/tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. When cooled, drain and pat dry. (Can be made ahead. Place in a plastic storage bag and chill up to 1 day.) Transfer to a large bowl.

2. Combine mint, almonds, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the zest in a food processor. With motor running, add oil in a stream and blend until puréed, for pesto.

3. Add pesto to green beans and toss until coated well. Transfer to a large serving platter and garnish with mint leaves, if desired.

For nutrition facts and more recipes go to Ladies Home Journal