Monday, March 16, 2015

6 Steps to Making Cooking & Clean Up FUN for Kids!

My take on The Adventure Generator.  I'm putting it in my Mom's old grinder, shredder thingy and planning on getting some adorable cupcakes out the other end!  Wouldn't that be cool?



My friend, Sarah from sarahshotts.com uses this graphic as her definition of the word ADVENTURE.  The second entry is her favorite and mine as well!  Oh, and her blog is called A Love Letter to Adventure . . . lovely, don't you agree?  

Sarah challenged me to try out The Adventure Generator and to make it my own, you know fix it up to suit me!  I love these challenges and can't say NO to a good one!  (find out more and get your own here!)


My friend, Cara, whom you might remember from The Practically Perfect Planner Challange!  Oh, man was that fun . . . I am still recovering!  It is not easy to outcute some people at all and she is about as cute as they come!! 

She said it "practically perfect" when she did her blog post about Sarah's very cool Adventure Generator!  NB See how Cara uses her Practically Perfect Planner, she is still rockin' it!

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Okay, so here's what me and Zami, my 11 year old grand, did this afternoon.  Our adventure was to "Photograph A Forgotten Recipe"  I took this at it's simplest and decided mini cupcakes would fit the bill, after all neither one of us could remember the last time we made cupcakes! A very sad state of affairs, indeed!

And remember too, this is 6 steps to making Cooking and Cleaning FUN for kids, which in itself is an adventure too!

Meet Zami.  Awesome, amazing, smart, cute, sweet, loving and my creative equal on many levels.  This little dude has an awesome eye for what looks good and what sounds good in writing. (and he spell checked me too!)  

He stayed with me a couple of weeks ago, when the hubs was back east.  I ran a lot of my creative work by him for his input and took his advice on numerous occasions!  Thanks again, Zami!


 Step #1  Make it an adventure!  







STEP #2:  Make it fun . . . duh!








STEP #3:  Don't worry about the mess as you go, too much anyway.  Have a "garbage bowl" or the sink handy to just toss stuff in, till it's over.  That way it's contained and cleanup will still be easier at the end of your adventure!



STEP #4:  Let them come up with ideas!  Zami is now convinced that since he came up with the "take a picture of me pouring the batter" AND since it turned out so AWESOME, he simply doesn't know what I would do without him as my assistant ALL the time!  I know I'll certainly use him more often, that's for sure!!




STEP #5:  Let them lick the spoon and the bowl and their fingers.  Make sure it's easy for them to wash their hands when needed, but lighten up on the germ phobias.  Let it be fun!  Note in a later photo, you will see Zami with his head actually in the bowl.  He has taken "licking the spoon and bowl" to a whole new level, one that I never even dreamed of as a kid! GOOD on YOU, ZAMI!!  Gross, but good. ;)














           
STEP #6:  MAKE IT A MEMORY!  Not a chore, not a yucky, stupid thing that a big person is forcing them to do.  

As my friend Sarah would say, as she did in this blog post here,  REFRAME IT!  She sums it up perfectly with this:  Remember how the world looked when you were a child? Everything was new and exciting! And somewhere along the way we stopped paying attention. We lost our sense of wonder.

 Now, look at the photo of Zami . . . It almost gives me tears looking at it now (I know, sappy) cause when I said, "Aren't you going to lick the bowl?", his face lit up and the dimples popped and he flippin', literally LICKED THE BOWL!  An awesome memory for us both.


Oh, here's one more very cool blog to check out!  My friend, Richelle of The Red Scorpio, also did the challenge and fixed a craft fail into a craft WOW!  A very cool technique that I'm looking forward to trying.  Also, Richelle has a book coming out soon called, Handmade Gifts That Don’t Suck, in which this technique will be featured!
Making Progress

So, click on the map, ladies and go on an adventure!  It's never too late and there is always one ready to take at a moment's notice! ENJOY! 

Thanks for joining me and Zami on our adventure!  Could you let Zami hear how much you enjoyed it too, in the comments below?  It would make his day, no actually it would probably making a lasting memory . . . as a part of this whole adventure!!  He thinks I'm famous!! :)  Come on guys, make me look good!! 


This is Zami and Zami's idea.  I LOVE this photo! 

Choose Your Own Adventure | www.lovelettertoadventure.com

CRAFT HAPPY!

NANCY

26 comments:

  1. Nancy! I love this in SO MANY WAYS. Making memories with your family in the kitchen! :) The photos! :) Linking to other adventures! :) Your and Zami's adorable-ness! :) That Pyrex bowl! :) Can't wait to share this when I announce my #WeeklyVenture link up! HUZZAH!

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    1. Hi, Sarah!

      I should be thanking you, instead, but I'm so glad you like it! Zami and I really had so much fun! We've promised each other not to wait so long to do it again!

      Oh, and next time I'll feature a smaller blue pyrex bowl that used to be my Mom's! It's gorgeous!! ♡

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY

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  2. Now I need a cupcake. Lovely idea, lovely pictures and what a great kid. My boys also believe the bowl has to be licked with there tongue and head in it. Makes for messy hair but messy fun. Wonderful post!

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    1. Hello, Heather!

      Did you get a cupcake yet? ;)

      Thanks for all your sweet words! Zami really is one in a gazillion and is totally digging this little bit of "fame"

      I wish I could see a picture of your boys going at the bowl! Man, I was cracking up!

      Thanks for stopping by Heather! ♡

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY

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  3. I know, I was gushing o er the Pyrex too! But the kid, too cute! I like the description of his eyes lighting up and it reminds me to embrace my own kids quircks more ...don't want to squash the good stuff out of them.

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    1. Hi, Vivayne!

      I love the old Pyrex too! But, yeah . . . the kid is even cuter!!

      The time goes by quick, and as you blink, it seems you've missed so much. Make those moments and savor them, they are indeed the best memories! Another reason I love to blog and being my own boss. I get to put it all together any way I want! ♡

      Thanks for popping in friend. Make yourself a private blog post of a buNch of your kid's cutest moments, write about them and save it. Then whenever they have pushed you to the proverbial edge, go sit down, take a breather and read your blog post. Maybe even invite them to read it with you! /worth a try, maybe? ♡

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY

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  4. Zami it looks like you are famous like your Nan now! Nancy I just love this post, family time is so important and here we can see the love between you two. You inspired me to go home this arv and make green paddy cakes for St Patricks day with my daughter so thank u.��

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    1. Hey, Jane!

      Zami LOVED your comment! We are already planning another adventure!! You gonna do a photo shoot too? Are green Paddy Cakes pancakes?

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY
      XOXOXO

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    2. Hey, Jane!

      Zami LOVED your comment! We are already planning another adventure!! You gonna do a photo shoot too? Are green Paddy Cakes pancakes?

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY
      XOXOXO

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  5. So cute...by the time we finished our kitchen adventure we were both exhausted and I don't think this kd will.ever actually make chicken and dumplings and Angel food cake from scratch again in her life.....but I love the photo documentation idea and if we make something easier I will think about doing that.

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    1. Hi, Glenda!

      Chicken and dumplings AND angel food cake? That is very ambitious and delicious sounding! ♡

      The photo shoot part of it was super fun for the both of us, as Zami loves photography as well as has quite a keen eye!!

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY
      XOXOXO

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    2. Hi, Glenda!

      Chicken and dumplings AND angel food cake? That is very ambitious and delicious sounding! ♡

      The photo shoot part of it was super fun for the both of us, as Zami loves photography as well as has quite a keen eye!!

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY
      XOXOXO

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  6. What a great post Nancy! Zami is adorable and looks like he is having such FUN! How proud you must be. The photos are so wonderfully colorful and look like you must be having fun behind the camera too. It would be super cool to see a selfie of your cute face in there with him too. ♡

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    1. Hi, Carol!

      Thanks so much on all counts! Zami is a cutie, huh? Looks a lot like Aisha, I think. It really such a cool adventure. It helps that it was just us two . . . no hubs, no other kids, it makes a dif, ya know?

      Selfie, huh? We'll see! Are you sick of my one eyeball photo? ;)

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY
      XOXOXO

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    2. Hi, Carol!

      Thanks so much on all counts! Zami is a cutie, huh? Looks a lot like Aisha, I think. It really such a cool adventure. It helps that it was just us two . . . no hubs, no other kids, it makes a dif, ya know?

      Selfie, huh? We'll see! Are you sick of my one eyeball photo? ;)

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY
      XOXOXO

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    3. He looks SO much like Aisha....adorable!
      I never tire of your pretty face and smile ♡ I was thinking a selfie of you and Zami cooking and creating together would be super cute! Guess that would be a twosie and not a selfie ;) XO

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  7. Zami is a kid after my own heart. Licking the bowl is NOT gross. It is the best way to get every bit of goodness,! What fun treats you made together! I love it. Makes me miss my own kiddo's so much!

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    1. Hi Dana :) I saw that you commented and I had to type to you real quick :) Yes, Licking the bowl is lovable! Have a wonderful day :) Type to ya later :)

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  8. Awwww, you & Zami make a great team!! I think you should make this a regular thing <3

    xo,
    rs

    PS: thanks for the shout out!!

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    1. Hi, Richelle!

      Thanks, I think we should do! They are too cute and somewhat entertaining to not let them "help" me. I'm totally going to do a newborn shoot when the babes comes in April! ♡ And totally my pleasure on the shout-out! Can't wait to get a hold of your upcoming book!

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY

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    2. Hi, Richelle!

      Thanks, I think we should do! They are too cute and somewhat entertaining to not let them "help" me. I'm totally going to do a newborn shoot when the babes comes in April! ♡ And totally my pleasure on the shout-out! Can't wait to get a hold of your upcoming book!

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY

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  9. Aslaamu alaikum Nancy and Zami! My little people and I are commenting to let you know that we LOVE this blog post. Your pics are wonderful, bright and beautiful. It looks like you two had a fun time :) I think my favorite pic was the inspirational apple at the end :) Type to ya later inshallah <3

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    1. Wa Alaikum Assalaam, Sis!

      I'm so glad you liked it! When I showed Zami your comments, he was very thrilled! That apple shot might be one of my all time favorites too! ♡ Give Salaams to your little people from Zami and me too! ♡

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY

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    2. Wa Alaikum Assalaam, Sis!

      I'm so glad you liked it! When I showed Zami your comments, he was very thrilled! That apple shot might be one of my all time favorites too! ♡ Give Salaams to your little people from Zami and me too! ♡

      CRAFT HAPPY!

      NANCY

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  10. What a happy post, Nancy! It's fun to see a memory in the making with you and Zami. How special is that?! I also love the photo grids you compose. Do you use an app or program for that? Loving your posts btw! :)

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  11. Hi, Ellen!

    Thanks, it was a lot of fun! We did another adventure yesterday for a guest blog post I did. It was such a blast again! With pancakes! ♡

    I am going to post the full blog post on Sunday the 5th.

    Oh, and I do the photo grids with A beautiful mess app. Love this app! Thanks for stopping by, Ellen! ♡

    CRAFT HAPPY!

    NANCY
    XOXOXO

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