Dear Eight-Year-Old Me #AmericanGirlMemories

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All comments and opinions are my own. 

Dear eight-year-old Julie,

Hey, it's me. I mean...it's YOU...twenty-some years in the future.  

I know that you've recently spent hours and hours poring over that mail order catalogue from Pleasant Company, featuring all those really amazing American Girl dolls. You know how you think you won't make it through another day unless you receive that magical "Molly" doll for your upcoming ninth birthday? I don't want to give anything away (so watch out because there are some major spoilers below), but I can't help it - I just have a feeling that you might want the inside scoop on how things are going to turn out. 

Sure enough, that beautiful doll is going to find its way into your arms when you turn nine. #BestBirthdayEver, right?! She's going to become the best friend you can imagine! You're going to bring her with you everywhere. You might have a panic attack when she's loved so well that her leg falls off - but don't worry! After a quick trip to the American Girl hospital, she'll be back with a shiny balloon and your adventures can continue. 

A few years after you turn nine, you're going to be absolutely thrilled to receive a Samantha doll, as well. She may not go on quite as many adventures with you as Molly did, but you're still going to love both of them with all your heart. You'll keep them long past childhood because you can't imagine giving them away. Besides...what if you have a daughter someday? 

But, that's a long way off. Between now and then, you'll continue channeling your love for American Girl by recommending the books wholeheartedly to every child who you encounter when you're working as a librarian. You'll be the founder of an "American Girl Book Club" and bring kids together routinely to share their thoughts about each of the different characters. Over time, you'll help many, many students learn how to use old-time skills to make crafts and keepsakes inspired by these characters. You'll host more American Girl themed tea parties than you can remember, and you'll smile every single time a child learns something through the eyes and experience of these girls you've always loved. And yes - your Molly and Samantha dolls will be along for the ride throughout all of this. 

Around ten years from now, you'll finally make it to New York City - where you'll excitedly take your girlfriends on your first EVER trip to American Girl Place. You'll spend more time there than anywhere else near 5th Avenue, and you'll be wishing you could bring home the entire collection! From that point on, anytime you are in New York, you'll make it a point to stop and visit the store. 

However, the best thing that's going to happen is even further down the road. In 2020, you're going to have your own little girl who's turning eight years old - and that's going to be even more special than you can dream right now. That little girl is going to wholeheartedly embrace your love for these dolls and their world, and together, you're going to live through the magic all over again. There is something incredibly special about passing on your treasured keepsakes to your kids. Don't believe me? Just you wait and see how spectacular it is when the only thing she wants for her eighth birthday is that Samantha doll of yours. 

She's going to read the books over and over again. She'll giggle when Samantha teases Eddie Ryland. She's going to make secret presents and sneak them under the tree on Christmas Eve so she can feel like a Christmas secret-keeper like Molly. She's going to say "Mom, do you know what Felicity and Elizabeth keep calling Elizabeth's sister?!" And after you reply "Bananabelle, of course!," you'll both laugh and laugh. 

Oh, and her Halloween costume that same year she turns eight? It's a matching Samantha dress from Pleasant Company (but don't get too jealous of your kid....even though I know you'd die of excitement if you had that dress in your collection).  

Eight-year-old self, there's a little something more that I think you should know. Those characters and their stories are going to become such a big part of who you are. They're going to help define how you see the world. You're going to remember Felicity's loyalty, Kirsten's pioneer spirit, Addy's quest for freedom, Samantha's hopes for justice and equality, and Molly's patriotism and spunk - and each of those things is going to contribute to the woman you grow up to be. But it won't stop there! You'll be able to share those same stories and so many more with your own daughter, and watch her form her own thoughts and opinions about how to tackle the world as she grows up...your very own little world-changing American Girl. 

It's going to be beyond beautiful.

If you are looking for a gift this year, consider an American Girl doll - it may end up becoming a family heirloom (like ours have). We had to add a Julie doll to our collection this year because...well, that's my name! And to those of you who might be wondering....no, my daughter Addie was not technically named after an American Girl character. But with both of our names represented in the historical character collection, we kinda think we're gonna be American Girl fans for the long haul. 

American Girl is offering free shipping on orders of $135+ this holiday season! Leave a comment and let me know which doll was your favorite growing up...and which one you would choose now! 

Thank you to Sivan Social for sponsoring this post. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical at Kansas City's Coterie Theatre (now through December 31)

Disclosure: I received press passes to attend this production at The Coterie Theatre. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own.

Two years ago, one of my favorite theaters in Kansas City - The Coterie - put on a joyous holiday production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. I saw it back then (read my review here) and was so excited to see it return to the Coterie stage for this holiday season as well. My kids enjoyed the show last time, but weren't really old enough to remember it after the fact. This time around? I don't think they will soon forget how magical the production was to watch!

Ron Lackey as Sam the Snowman in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical.
Photo by J. Robert Schraeder. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ® The Rudolph Co., L.P.
All elements under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved.

It's hard work bringing iconic characters to life, but the design and directing team at the Coterie has again done a spectacular job. It felt like we could have been watching the classic cartoon special!

Left to right: Drake Taylor, Hannah Thompson, Zoe London, and Allison Banks (as Elves),
Emily Nan Phillips (as Mrs. Claus), and Zachrey York (as Santa Claus) in Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Photo by J. Robert Schraeder. Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer ® The Rudolph Co., L.P. All elements under license to Character Arts, LLC.
All rights reserved.

My four year old daughter was a little nervous going into the show because she's not a big fan of the Abominable Snow Monster in the TV special. Happily, she made it through the production without any big complaints and said after "he wasn't as scary as I thought!" Kudos to the Coterie for making an impressive looking villain come to life onstage with staging that prevented the youngest audience members from being terrified!

Background: Tony Pulford (as Rudolph), Foreground
(Left to Right): Elise Campagna (as Clarice) and
Jacob Valle (as Puppeteer) in Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer: The Musical. Photo by J. Robert Schraeder.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ® The Rudolph Co., L.P.
All elements under license to Character Arts, LLC.
All rights reserved.

Even if it's been a few years since you've seen the original on TV, you will still be able to appreciate the very authentic characters portrayed on the stage this winter. The cast is strong all around, with each member completely immersing themselves in their role and making the most of it. The kids in the audience were all in stitches over the Boss Elf, Hermey, Yukon Cornelius, and of course, Rudolph himself. I wish we could have seen it several times!

Left to right:  Drake Taylor, Zoe London, Hannah Thompson, and Allison Banks (as Elves),
David LeVota (as Hermey), and Evan C. Phllips (as Boss Elf) in Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer: The Musical. Photo by J. Robert Schraeder. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ®
The Rudolph Co., L.P. All elements under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved.

With a 60-minute runtime, this show is the perfect introduction to theater for young kids - or just a delightful part of a day's adventure at Crown Center. I am so excited to live in Kansas City, where we have excellent children's theater in our own backyard. Put this entertaining show - and future Coterie productions - on your must-see list!

Left to right: Jake Walker (as Yukon Cornelius), Tony Pulford (as Rudolph), and David LeVota
(as Hermey) in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Photo by J. Robert Schraeder.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ® The Rudolph Co., L.P. All elements under license to
Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved.

If you're in Kansas City, you don't want to miss this heartwarming holiday production! Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer plays now through December 31at the Coterie. Contact The Coterie for more info!

Disclosure: I received press passes to attend this production at The Coterie Theatre. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own.

Kale and Spinach Vegan Green Muffins Recipe

Everyone likes muffins. There's no contest. A good muffin has it all. It's basically a cupcake, but you can eat it for breakfast and not even feel guilty because it's not technically cake. You can fill up muffins with fruit or nuts or chocolate, bake them to glorious perfection, then share with family and friends...or just keep them for yourself. The latter will probably be the case with these Kale and Spinach Vegan Green Muffins. If you decide to eat a whole batch of these on your own, I won't rat you out. They're super healthy, have minimal sugar, and give you the option to add some chocolate in case you're having one of those days. These are kind of similar to the Dairy and Egg Free Toddler Muffins I posted a couple years ago - but so much prettier.

Kale and Spinach Vegan Green Muffins
Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1/4 cup melted coconut oil (or another oil of your preference - see the end for a note on this)
3/4 cup almond milk (any milk will work if you prefer something different)
1 bag of baby kale & spinach mix (between 4oz and 6oz)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup banana, mashed
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips


You could use nuts instead of chocolate chips if you want it to be even healthier.

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with either silicone or paper liner. Or spray them with non-stick spray.

2. In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients until combined.

3. In the blender, add the coconut oil, milk and your green veggies. Blend well on high until completely pureed.  Next add the mashed banana and vanilla and blend again, just to mix, no longer.

4. Pour the veggie puree into the dry mixture and fold together until combined. Add the chocolate chips and and fold a few more times until evenly distributed.

5. Like any other muffins, fill the muffin cups 2/3 full and bake for 15 minutes. Do the toothpick test, if they are still moist, bake for an extra 3 or 4 minutes - or until the toothpick comes out clean.

** In my oven they were done in about 17 minutes.
** I have made these using canola oil and coconut oil. Both are really delicious, however - with the coconut oil you will notice a slight texture difference once they cool. You should be able to substitute without a problem!

What occasion will you invent to make these vegan green muffins? They're perfect for after-school snacks, St. Patrick's treats, or gifts for a health-conscious friend.

Pair them with a smoothie and they're perfect!

Shamrock Sun Catcher St. Patrick's Day Craft with Free Printable

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog and my family! 

We've had a few days of exceptionally warm weather for the month of February lately, which has made it even more difficult to be trapped inside when the temperatures are not so mild. Why not pass the time with a St. Patrick's Day Craft? This Shamrock Sun Catcher (with free printable) is a fun way to work on fine motor skills and enjoy the sunshine from inside your home!

Shamrock Sun Catcher Craft with Free Printable
Supplies Needed: 
-Wax Paper
-Shamrock Printable - download it HERE.
-Scissors
-Green Tissue Paper
-Mod Podge
-Paintbrush

1. Cut small pieces of the green tissue paper. I used multiple shades because I had them on hand, but you can do all one color or even throw in some white or gold! If your kids are learning how to use scissors, this is a great time for them to practice those fine motor skills. To make one shamrock, you won't need an exceptional amount of tissue paper - maybe cut up a square foot's worth of paper and see where you stand.

If you don't want to cut, you can also just rip the tissue into tiny pieces. I opted for scissors since that's something we are working on anyway.

Looks like salad - am I right?!

2. Print off the Shamrock Printable and cut it out. Trim around both black edges - inside and out. Cut a square of wax paper that is slightly larger than your shamrock outline.

3. Use a brush to spread Mod Podge all over the wax paper. The kids especially loved this part. Tip: tape down the edges of the wax paper to the table so it doesn't slide around while the kids are using a glue-covered brush.

4. Cover the Mod Podge with tissue paper pieces. It took my kids a few applications of Mod Podge before they had the whole thing covered in paper.

5. Once your wax paper is mostly covered, paint a layer of Mod Podge over the top of it all. Next, use Mod Podge or glue to add the shamrock on top of the green tissue paper pieces.

6. Allow the Mod Podge to dry, then trim around the outside black shamrock edge. Hang however you desire - punch a hole and hang with ribbon or just tape it to a window like we did!

This project was a lot of fun and kept us occupied on a cold afternoon! Have fun making your own Shamrock Sun Catcher!

How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

"Let It Glow" Frozen Valentines + Free Printable

Need a unique classroom Valentine idea? Wow the class and Let it GLOW with these easy DIY Frozen Glow Stick Valentines. They're like little magical snow queen wands! They only take a few minutes to put together and they're not expensive. Perfect for last-minute crafters like myself.

"Let It Glow" Frozen Valentines
Supplies Needed

-Blue Glow Stick Bracelets
-Snowflakes (I had wooden ones in my craft stash, but you could make them from paper or even buy stickers or foam pieces)
-Hole Punch
-Scissors
-Hot Glue Gun & Glue
-"Let It Glow" Printable - download it here.

Instructions

1. Print your valentines. There are six to a sheet.

2. Use hole punch to punch out the black circles. Place a glow stick through each valentine.

3. Use hot glue to attach the snowflakes to the top of each glow stick.

There you have it! This little fixer-upper project takes just a few minutes and will delight a whole classroom. It may also possibly cause your child's teacher some mental exhaustion from the subsequent belting of the entire soundtrack of a certain popular film beloved by children of all ages. Oh well. If you're volunteering in class that day, just make sure that you sing along! Or don't - depending on whether or not you value your relationship with the teacher.

My kids always love glow sticks, and I always hate holidays that only involve candy. This is a relatively inexpensive option for a candy-free valentine treat - and it's easy enough that kids can help put it together for their friends!

The snowflakes work well since Valentine's Day happens to fall in winter, but there's no reason why you couldn't make glow stick snowflake wands any time of the year! My kids loved playing with these.

What kind of valentines are your kids giving out this year? 

You're Awesomesauce, Valentine - Non-Candy Classroom Valentine Idea + Free Printable

I was told recently by some of my drama students who are teenagers that the word "awesomesauce" has gone out of fashion. I laughed. They can try to tell me what's hip, but I'm an almost-thirty-year-old mom. I'll probably be saying awesomesauce until the day I die (thanks a lot, Parks & Recreation). As a testament to how often I use this word, the other day my almost five-year-old declared something to be AWESOMESAUCE - and I laughed in glee that he has picked up such an epic (albeit apparently uncool) word.

Anyway - my kids will not be in a classroom setting for Valentine's Day this year, but that hasn't stopped me from coming up with some non-candy classroom valentine ideas, including this You're Awesomesauce, Valentine applesauce pouch. The tag is a free printable - keep reading for the instructions to make these easy and fun treats to pass out to friends, and to download the awesomesauce tags for yourself!

You're Awesomesauce, Valentine Non-Candy Classroom Valentine
Supplies Needed: 

-Free Printable "You're Awesomesauce, Valentine" Hearts - you can download it here.
-GoGo Squeez Applesauce (or any other kind of sauce) Pouches
-Scissors
-Twine
-Mini Hole Punch

Instructions: 

1. Print out the hearts and cut along the outside edge of the dark lines.

2. Punch two small holes beside each other, near the top center of each heart.

3. Cut twine or thread (mine was approximately 20" long but you could get away with less than that). Thread both sides of twine through holes to back of heart (see photo below).

4. Loop thread under pouch cap and tie half-knot at the back of the pouch.

5. Bring thread back to front and tie a bow. Trim ends as desired.

I used coordinating thread for each heart color, but you could use plain twine, yarn, or any other small string as desired. We love applesauce pouches in our home - especially because we have a lot of food allergies and limit sugar, so we can't have many of the traditional candy holiday treats.

Have an AWESOMESAUCE Valentine's Day, my friends!

Seriously, though - is the word out of vogue? Do I need to actually quit saying it? Sooooo not happening.