Thinking Cap

My oldest son just started kindergarten and really loves it. Everyday he tells me that everything is so much fun but when I ask him what he actually did he says he can’t remember. At least I’m getting a positive reaction! Although he likes it he is still trying to figure the whole thing out – I think!

I vividly remember my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Wilson, reminding us to put on our ‘thinking caps’ if we couldn’t remember something. I thought I might try the same tactic on my son so one day when he said he couldn’t remember what he did I said, “You should put on your ‘thinking cap’ and maybe you will remember!”

I didn’t exactly get the response that I was hoping for…..he very effectively stated the obvious and said, “I don’t have one Mommy.”

And so the thinking cap project began. There are so many ideas for caps but this thinking cap has a working light on the top for an extra great effect!

To see the complete instructions for this thinking cap visit my member page at: http://www.instructables.com/member/wold630/

Antiqued Wooden Snake Toys

This idea started when I took my boys to a show called 'Snakes Alive' where they had a blast learning about reptiles (mainly snakes and alligators) and even got to hold and touch them! Tom Kessenich the herpetologist was so fun and so good with all the kids! The show was great and I highly recommend it to anyone who has kids that love reptiles!

My older son has always been fascinated by snakes, other reptiles and anything creepy crawly! My younger son likes that stuff too but he isn't as much into it as my older son.

Anyway, they had a wooden snake toy there for the kids to play with and both my boys had a hard time putting it down when it was time to leave. It was solid unstained and unpainted wood but slithered, moved, had a tongue and looked antiqued! I looked at it and thought we should just try and make a few instead of hunting for hours trying to find two to buy.

The snake they played with looked weathered/antiqued. Whether it was like that from the start or like that from hours of play I don't know but I liked the look so we tried to replicate it in a painted version!

You can find the instructions on how to make your very own snake HERE on Instructables.

Cake Batter Popcorn

If you've been to any ice cream places lately I'm sure you have seen and maybe even tried cake batter ice cream. It's very popular and although we don't make outings to the ice cream parlor often I have to admit it is quite tasty.

I thought I was being really creative and inventive when I thought to make cake batter popcorn. Turns out there are already many recipes out there to follow to make this, however, all of them that I read used shortening (gross!) and white chocolate along with the cake mix. Since I can't bring myself to use shortening I knew I had to come up with something else.

My mom makes the most delicious caramel corn so I decided to modify her recipe to make it taste like cake batter but still be perfectly coated and crunchy!!

I have a serious problem with GMO (genetically modified organism) anything and since corn is something like 90% (don't quote me on the percentage) genetically modified these days I only buy organic non-GMO popcorn. You choose but be aware that unfortunately most corn is modified in some way.

Cake Batter Popcorn
1 stick butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 c. light corn syrup
1 c. yellow cake mix
1/2 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Pop 4 quarts (16 cups) of popcorn and divide equally between two lightly buttered 9 x 13 pans making sure there are no kernels left.  I use my hands after popping the corn and put it in the baking pans leaving the un-popped kernels in the bottom of the bowl. It's no fun to break your tooth on a popcorn kernel so take your time doing this! (I think using an air popper is the easiest way to make popcorn but if you don't have one you can make it on your stove in a large stock pot with a little oil.)

Combine the butter, sugar, salt and corn syrup (try to get corn syrup that does not have HFCS) in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend. Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 5 minutes on medium heat stirring constantly.

Remove from the heat, and stir in the baking soda, cake mix and vanilla. The mixture will become light and foamy.

Immediately pour cake batter sauce over the popcorn in the pans, and stir to coat.

Bake for 1 hour, removing the pans, and giving them each a good stir every 15 minutes. After 30 minutes shake on some sprinkles for added fun! If you do this any sooner the colors will run making a messy looking popcorn and who wants that?!

After one hour remove pans from the oven and continue to gently stir the popcorn until it cools enough so it doesn't stay in big clumps.

Serve to anyone who loves popcorn or cake batter!