Check out this video about the Switch Witch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7mmlk-QdhWI

Reading The Switch Witch to little bro. To pass on the tale of Halloween

It was so cute to catch these two reading The Switch Witch before bed. Big Brother is make sure the little guys learn the tale and are ready for her big arrival.

Jack O'Lantern Soup from Wildly Affordable Organic

While reading Wildly Affordable Organic by Linda Watson, I came upon this recipe:

Jack O'Lanern Soup 

1 T. butter or oil

1/2 onion

4 cups pureed pumpkin

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. chipotle or cayenne

about 20 roasted pumpkin seeds or 1 T. chopped parsley, optional

1. Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Chop onion, put in pot, and cook until soft , about 5 mins.  stirring occasionally.

2. Add pumpkin, salt, and chipotle to pot, stirring to mix. Cook until warmed through, about 3 mins. Taste and adjust seasonings.

3. Serve hot, topped with roasted pumpkin seeds or chopped parsley, if desired. Refrigerate or freeze any extra. 

Note:

To use canned pumpkin instead of puree: use 2 cups pumpkin and 2 cups chickpea broth or water. The fall shopping list and price calculations assume you use canned pumpkin.

I really enjoyed reading this bok and finding all of the great ways to save money, "eat fabulous food, get health and save the planet" without breaking the bank. At the same time what a wonderful way to teach your kid to "recycle" and use everything. A pumpkin is food!

Healthy Easter Bunny

There are lots of other options to sugar coated hysteria on Easter morning. Try filling those plastic eggs with lost of other healthy options:

• flower bulbs or seeds
• dried cranberries, cinnamon almonds or yogurt covered raisins
• erasers or stickers... even stamps to write letters with
• a few coins or pennies
• make notes in the eggs that lead them on a treasure 

Last year I melted old crayons and filled candy molds with them. Let them cool and had Easter shaped crayons.

Gardening gloves, sunscreen, SPF lip balm, inflatable inner-tube for the beach, a little shovel. The list could go on and on....

Try making these adorable lamb out of cardboard, clothes pins and yarn. Recycle and make little playmates for your kiddos. 

http://www.pearlstudsandaviatorwings.com/2012/03/easter-lambs.html

Why not buy a Switch Witch book too :)

Ginger house revision...

Changed the Telephone pole with electric wires into a wind turbine.

Progressive Gingerbread House

Great place to use that candy....Gingerbread House!

So the Switch Witch makes the candy disappear... into plastic bags at the back of the cabinet. Out they come again now. On to the gingerbread house. And the best part is the kids have no interest in eating it when we break the house apart in 2 weeks because it is old and stale :)

Recycle Halloween Candy : S'mores in a jar Gift Idea for the holidays!

While searching for a Christmas gift idea for my kids teachers, I bumped into this: 

http://christmas.organizedhome.com/seasonal-gifts-crafts/thanksgiving/harvest-smores-in-a-jar-thanksgiving-treat

http://christmas.organizedhome.com/recipes/gifts-in-a-jar/smores-in-a-jar

Even with gift tags :) http://christmas.organizedhome.com/printable/gifts-in-a-jar/harvest-smores-gift-tag

 What a fantastic idea!