{playdough fun}

image via google image search
image via www.sashasart.net
how long has it been since you played with playdough?
it's fun and therapeutic. whether you have kids or not. :)
you can make spaghetti or skinny worms with a garlic press or with a syringe.
you can hide little plastic bugs or some other trinkets or toys in the playdough for kids to find.
you can print a picture that kids "fill out" with playdough.
you can add beads or other decorations.
the sky is the limit.
so here's a great recipe for playdough (i got it from sienna's playschool).
playdough
5 cups flour (1,25 l)
1 cup salt (2,5 dl)
4 packages of Kool-Aid drink powder (to color the playdough)
1. mix these dry ingredients together.
6 cups boiling water (1,5 l)
1/2 cup oil (1,25 dl)
2. mix these wet ingredients together.
3. mix wet and dry ingredients together.
4. leave to cool.
5. knead when cool and put in airtight container.

{color quiz}

these were the colors selected for me after taking the color quiz. i don't like all of these colors but my colors have to be warm and earthy so this quiz seems to work. click on the image as usual to see it better.

to take your own quiz, go to:

www.prattandlambert.com

{that time of the year again}

microscopic picture of the H1N1 virus

(image found via google image search)

so - it's that time of the year again. many people have already been sick. lots of stuff going around. many of us are worried about the swine flu - H1N1. much debate has been going on about whether to get the vaccine or not. some are still confused about when to go to the doctor and when not.

to make it simple, here's a list of the differences between a cold and a flu.

a cold

• milder than the flu
• usually lasts for about a week
• contagious for the first 3 days (stay home!!!)
• usually begins with a sore throat, which usually goes away in a day or two
• runny nose and congestion comes next
• cough by the 4th and 5th day
• children might get slight fever, adults usually not
• if no improvement in a week, a bacterial infection a possibility, you need to see a doctor (possibly need antibiotics)
• to help cold symptoms: antihistamines, decongestants, anti-inflammatory medication

a flu

• similar symptoms as in a cold, but more severe
• sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion, cough
• swine flu especially - might get vomiting and diarrhea as well
• most symptoms gradually improve over 2-5 days but can take a week or more
• pneumonia is a common complication
• if you get shortness of breath or fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two - go to a doctor immediately
• to help flu symptoms: antihistamines, decongestants, analgesics (ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
• antiviral drugs should be started within the first 48 hours (tamiflu, relenza)
• stay home!!!

source for info: www.webmd.com

one tip most people don't know about:

the doctors here are recommening a salt water spray to clear the nose of bacteria. don't just mix salt with water. go to your pharmacist and ask about it. it works great for people with allergies as well. it clears the nose and helps runny nose and congestion. prevents illness as well by flushing bacteria out.

ps. i'm not a doctor. use this info with discretion. :)

{our halloween}

our halloween:

the cutest ever pirate girl

jello jigglers with worms

painted squash instead of carved pumpkins

our ward's fall party (great costumes, potluck supper, entertainment, jumping castle for kids...)

halloween party at the playschool (ghostie milk shakes, bat pinata...)

making sure sienna didn't go to any stores that had evil, nasty looking decorations/halloween products

sienna went trick or treating with daddy

robin handed out treats for trick or treaters

eating way too much sugary candy and chocolate as usual

{i can't wait, i can't wait, i can't wait!!!!}

{fun for halloween}

what a fun costume idea! :D

www.familyfun.com
if you haven't checked out family fun yet, you should. they always have fun stuff for kids.

siennalla edelleen nuhaa ja kotona siis vaan lorvitaan edelleen. alkaa kayda jo vahan kuivaksi mutta eikohan me jotain keksita ajankuluksi. sienna jo "meikkasi" minut ja mina sen. :)

mulla on hyva olo silla pystyin auttamaan kahta ystavaa viimeisen parin paivan aikana.

nyt kun viela kekkaisin miten auttaa jayta jolla on menossa kova stressi opiskelun kanssa. liikaa opiskeltavaa ja ei tarpeeksi aikaa. miten pystya venyttamaan paivat pidemmiksi?

{this is amazing!!!!}

ps. nyt vasta huomasin tuolta vanhan kommentin jossa kysyttiin minkalaista kameraa/linsseja kaytan. mulla on pikkuruinen, nappara kamera joka minusta ottaa tosi hyvanlaatuisia kuvia. panasonic dmc-zs3, lumix. en kayta mitaan erikoisia linsseja. simppeli. mahtuu helposti mukaan. isosiskollani on iso "upea" kamera ja minusta mun kamera otti ihan yhta hyvalaatuisia kuvia kuin sen kamera. kun vertailin siis kesalla meidan lomakuvia. ilman salamaa sisalla otetut kuvat ei aina onnistu taysin. riippuu kuinka paljon valoa. mun kamera ottaa myos videoita.

sitten usein kaytan vaan photoscapen bloom actionia joka tuo ihanan "valon" kuviin. (www.photoscape.com, ilmainen ohjelma!)

i noticed a comment asking about my camera. my camera is panasonic dmc-zs3, lumix. it's small but takes really good quality pictures. videos as well. i don't use special lenses. sometimes i like to take pictures through my sunglasses. :) i also use a program called photoscape (www.photoscape, it's free!) and use it's "bloom" action. it gives a nice glow to the pictures.

{my favorite cookies}

3/4 cup (175ml) butter (softened) or margarine

3/4 cup (175ml) brown sugar

1/2 cup (125ml) sugar

1 egg

2 TBSP (30ml) water

2 tsp (10ml) vanilla

3/4 cup (175ml) flour

3/4 tsp (3ml) baking soda

1 tsp (5ml) cinnamon

3 cups (7,5 dl) oats

1 1/2 cups (375ml) raisins or 1 cup (2,5 dl) chocolate chips

1. cream together the first six ingredients. use an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

2. add dry ingredients (use a sieve with the flour to prevent lumps).

3. stir in raisins or chocolate chips.

4. put parchment paper on two baking sheets.

5. drop dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet. leave space between each cookie.

6. press flat for crisp cookies, leave mounded for chewy cookies.

7. bake at 350F (180C) for 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. don't overbake.

{the help}

i read many books but only recommend the ones i really, really enjoy and have no garbage in them. this book has some mild bad language in it and quite a bit of taking God's name in vain. yet i still have to recommend it. i loved this book (minus the stuff i mentioned). i do cringe a bit while recommending it due to some of the language in it but i still have to tell people about this book. wonderfully written and a most interesting topic. i can't believe some people think they're better than others because of the color of their skin. there's still so much racism out there. books like these are poignant reminders of how things should not be. even though the topic is racism - this is not a depressing book to read. just so you know. ;)

this is kathryn stockett's first novel. she grew up in mississippi and her family has experience of "the help".

{mun kunniaksi}

just because
i am NOT allowed to buy house of brussels' hedgehogs from costco.

i am NOT allowed to buy house of brussels' hedgehogs from costco.

i am NOT allowed to buy house of brussels' hedgehogs from costco.

i am NOT allowed to buy house of brussels' hedgehogs from costco.

i am NOT allowed to...
and i'm NOT telling you how many of these i've eaten lately. oy oy oy!
needless to say these are my favorites.
tykkaan jopa enemman kuin fasun sinisesta! tuliko nyt sanottua jotain ihan kamalaa? jotain mita ei koskaan saisi kuulua suomalaisen suusta. :)

villa kanervaan paljon, paljon positiivista energiaa ja haleja. tanja lahetti mulle nain ihanan PIF:n ja viela extra kirjankin. nyt spice saa pitaa mulle seuraa kun lueskelen. Y
minun syntymavuoden kunniaksi :) tapahtui muun muuassa seuraavaa:
makkaratalo valmistui hesaan.

sibeliusmonumentti paljastettiin.
ruotsi vaihtoi oikeanpuoleiseen liikenteeseen.

ensimmaiset pankkiautomaatit asennettiin englannissa.

the beatles lauloi all you need is love.

nicole kidman ja julia roberts paattivat syntya samana vuonna kuin mina.
:)