small + friendly

Family Fun // Quarryhill Botanical Gardens

Happy Autumn friends!!! Today Jude had the day off school so we decided to go on an adventure.

Handmade Halloween 2016

Well the day has passed, but the candy hasn't all been eaten, so I think it's still safe to post a few Halloween pictures before we all move on to turkey prep and Christmas crafts.

Free Knitting Pattern: Bear Beanie

Want to make an adorable hat in less than two hours? I've got the perfect super simple pattern for you! With the help of super bulky yarn this hat comes together lickety-split! If you are new to knitting I've included links to helpful YouTube videos, if you can knit and purl, you can make this hat!  And if you are an experienced knitter you can cast on and bind off in the time it takes to watch a couple episodes of your favorite show, might I recommend Stranger Things or Call the Midwife?

If the little bear ears aren't your thing you can simply opt for a single pom pom or leave them off all together. In the interest of simplicity this beanie has a very basic decrease and can be made smaller or larger with very little fuss.  The pattern is written for a toddler/little kid but at the end of this post you will find tips for making baby or big kid sizes.

Also, if you love hat patterns I've got two more free ones: Basic Knit Hat and Simple Ribbed Hat!

I hope you like this little hat pattern as much as I do!

Quick and Easy Bear Beanie

Materials:

Super Bulky Yarn (I used about yards of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick)

Size 13 (9mm) circular needles (16" or 36" if you prefer magic loop)

Directions:

Using a long tail cast on, cast on 40 stitches and join in the round (join in magic loop)

Knit 1, Purl 1 to create a simple rib until your work measures 8 inches

Knit 2 together (K2tog) for two rows until ten stitches remain (if not using magic loop you will need to pull your cable out at intervals and muscle it a bit, but I promise it will look good when you're done)

Cut the working yarn, leaving a long tail

Weave that tail through the remaining stitches as you remove them from the needle, pull tight and secure with one knot.

Make two pom poms by wrapping yarn around three fingers, tying it at the center with a piece of yarn, cutting the loops, and trimming.

Attach your pom poms to either side of the hat (about 3" measured from the center down along the curve of the hat with a flexible measuring tape). 

Weave in all your ends and try not to be blinded by the cuteness!

For a baby sized hat try casting on less stitches in multiples of 2, I would go with 34 and start your decreases at 6 inches.

For a larger hat cast on more stitches in multiples of 2, 48 should do it, and don't decrease until 9-10 inches.

Again, if you love hat patterns I've got two more free ones: Basic Knit Hat and Simple Ribbed Hat!

Happy Knitting!

Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude

The wants: they travel in the air, through the net, and into the mailbox.  Catalogues, pinterest boards, ads, instagram accounts, they all contribute to a false feeling of need.  A desire for more: more clothes, more travel, more toys, more time to create. The wants hit our house hard and fast recently.  

Instead of being grateful for two shows, Jude wanted a third.  He asked and begged for things at every store.  There didn't seem to be enough stuff, privileges, or attention to quench his desires.  And the grown ups weren't doing much better.  I found myself wanting to shop more.  Pining for the money to travel and expand our house.  Wanting more and appreciating less.  I noticed that focusing on want makes you more apt to complain.  It is a formula for dissatisfaction.  

Luckily, the anecdote is simple and free.  You can treat a case of the wants by cultivating an attitude of gratitude.  Once we started focusing on the haves instead of the have nots we all felt a whole lot better.  Let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with striving for more, but it also never hurts to appreciate what you already have.  If you'd like to try cultivating gratitude with your family, here are a few things that have worked for us.  

  

6 Tips for Cultivating An Gratitude

1. Keep a gratitude journal. This is a habit that I work hard to keep (I had fallen off the wagon big time).  Taking just a few minutes each day to list five things you are a grateful for can really help quell anxiety and place a spotlight on the things you cherish.  Any type of notepad will work but I've got a free printable if you'd like to make it extra special.

2. Play three best things.  At dinner each night we go around the table and share three highlights from our day.  This simple activity has been a lot of fun for us.  It allows us a special window into Jude's day at kindergarten and he helps us guess what Ronan would say which often hilarious and sweet.  Plus, my husband and I tend to vent to each other about our days so this is a great time to hear what went right!

3. Practice random acts of kindness.  This can be as simple as smiling at people as you pass them on the street.  Or striking up a friendly conversation in line at the grocery store.  Maybe you have enough cash to buy the person behind you a coffee.  Spreading happiness makes you feel glad to be alive.    

4. Be charitable.  Volunteer your time and give to those in need.  Nothing makes me more grateful for all I have than truly recognizing those who go without.  It can be painful to think about, but helping, even in small ways, is a great way to build thankfulness.              

5. Write thank you notes.  Do you ever think about that teacher who helped you see the world differently?  Do you appreciate how your parents are always there to lend a hand?  Does the continued support of your best friend put a smile on your face?  What if, out of the blue, you wrote them a thank you note?  I'll be honest, I haven't tried this one yet, but I plan on trying my best to write one once a week.  (If you'd like to join me, follow on instagram and look for the hashtag #52thankyous, coming soon!)   

6. Avoid your triggers.  Scale back your social media participation, put those catalogues straight in the recycling bin, go for a hike instead of a trip to the mall.  Try to recognize what sparks the wants for you and your family and do your best to avoid them.   

I hope these tips help you feel a little fuller and happier this holiday season and beyond.  I am so very grateful for my readers.  Thank you for visiting my little home on the web.  

P.S. - I created the above image as a free printable.  Simply save it to your computer, print, and enjoy.  (As always all free printable are for personal use only, thank you!)

Autumn Gliders: A Simple Fall Kid Craft

California isn't exactly known for it's fall foliage (although the vineyards put on a pretty gorgeous fall display), and this year has been extra strange with the drought and Indian summer weather, but autumn has finally reached us and the tress have stopped trying to bloom and decided to put on a different show instead.  To celebrate, the boys and I went a long walk around the neighborhood, enjoying the crisp air and loading the stroller with pretty leaves.  Just when I thought we had done just about everything there is to do with fall leaves, Jude came up with this awesome new idea (and a few others we will share soon) to create fairy planes.  This is such a great way to take the fun of throwing leaves and make it last long after the pile has been raked up.  This craft is easy, fun, and great for all ages! Keep reading to learn how to make your own as well as a fun list of other fall leaf crafts!    

How to Make Fall Leave Airplanes

All you need to make these fun fall gliders are a piece of paper, a collection of fall leaves, and a glue stick. 

Start by folding your paper into a simple airplane.  Next select pretty fall leaves that fit on your airplane.  Rub the back of each leaf and apply it to your plane.  Over lap makes for a pretty effect but be sure you don't weigh down your plane too much.  Your plane can be decorated as completely as you'd like.  Below are a few examples of what your finished product might look like depending on the age and enthusiasm of the crafter.  

Let your glue dry a bit and get throwing!  We were surprised at how well they flew!  Jude had a blast imaging little fairies and sprites going for a ride on their special gliders.  And when they land in a pile of leaves, they blend right in!  I hope you have as much fun making and playing with these as we did. 

Looking for more fun things to do with fall leaves?

Make a cool mask!

Press them into pumpkin spice playdough.

Preserve them the easy way!

Everything is better with glitter!

Make leaf stick puppets.

Wishing you a beautiful autumn!!

Handmade Halloween 2015

I know we've all moved on to talk of turkey and handmade holiday gifts but I HAD to share the boy's Halloween costumes and this is the first chance I've had!  

First a funny story.  Did you ever have a movie you watched when you were little that you were both obsessed with and terrified of?  For me it was The Never Ending Story.  Well, I accidentally introduced Jude to his version, Spiderwick.  We had enjoyed a Spiderwick book at the library and while I usually watch the movies before I share with him, I thought it would be okay.   Holy smokes, that's an intense film!  Anyway, fingers crossed he's not scarred for life, but he really enjoyed the movie even though I kept asking if he'd like to turn it off.  All this to say Jude knows I'm kinda anti-Spiderwick, but there is a huge cool gryphon in the film.  You need this back story for our costume conversation to make sense.

"Jude do you still want to be a polar bear for Halloween?"

"Yes!"

"Okay cool, maybe brother could be a snowy owl."

"I want to be an owl."

"Okay."

"Or how about an eagle?"

"Totally."

"I don't know why you won't let me be a gryphon!"

Challenge accepted.  

After seeing how cute Ronan looked in the Viking hat I had made years ago his costume concept was a no brainer.  And so this year we had a gryphon (griffin?) and a Viking.  Want all the DIY details?  Keep reading for the how-to's and lots more pictures!  

Spooky Eyeball Wreath

Jude and I love decorating for Halloween.  We count the days until we can hang our ghosts and mummy.  This year we decided our door needed some new spooky flair.  It all started with a giant bag of ping pong balls we've had for ages.  We spent several afternoons drawing weird eyeballs on them with Sharpies.  If you're looking for a great way to get your kiddo to open up, I highly recommend a project like this.  As we doodled we had great conversations; I learned more about his life at school and got a peek at the inner workings of his highly imaginative 5 year old brain.

In fact, it was such a fun way spend our afternoons we ended up making a ton of eyeballs!  So went I to the craft store and grabbed a big old wreath to festoon.  A little white fabric and hot glue later we had this spooktacular wreath.  I love how it's bright and modern from far away, it's only when you get close that you realize it's kinda creepy.  Want to make your own?  Read on for the complete DIY details.

To Make A Spooky Eyeball Wreath You'll Need:

• Lots of ping pong balls (affiliate link, these are a great deal!)
• Permentant markers
• Wreath (straw or styrofoam)
• White Fabric
• Hot Glue

How To Make A Spooky Eyeball Wreath:

1.  First draw spooky eyeballs on your ping pong balls.  I liked to make a basic eye and then add blood shoot red lines.  Creepy cat and owl shaped eyes work well too.  Let your kids get creative, Jude came up with really cool ones.  You will need 72 eyes for a large 17" wreath but a smaller wreath would look great too!

2.  Wrap your wreath in white fabric.  I had felt on hand but torn strips of muslin would look great.  Use a little hot glue to hold it tight.

3.  Attach your eyeballs to your wreath with hot glue.  Then hang and enjoy!    

Wishing you very Happy Halloween!! 

An Evening for The Books

 

Sometimes the stars align and you have a glorious old fashioned pumpkin patch all to yourself on the first evening that actually feels a little fallish.  The light is right and the kids are happy and you all just have so much fun.  There was something magical about that family outing, something I wish to hold in my heart forever and ever.

Here's to simple pleasures and magic moments.  Happy Fall!