Well, here we are at day one! However, it is still not too late to join. Since this thing runs for two weeks, I'll have the sign-up linky at the top of the page for another week. Don't forget to tell your friends about this!
I am going to keep this post at the top until next Monday, so scroll down for newer posts. :-) [by the way, blogger has been causing us some problems, so Katie, who was supposed to post today, might be a little late in getting her post up.] The sign-up links for the next SEVEN days [not all the days!] are going to be above this...just enter the name of your post and the link to the POST, not the blog.
Have a great time! See you next week.
~Laura
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Swimming! ( Not quite a review)
First thing, I apologize for not posting a real review.. My family has mostly just been swimming and doing school work. Its really hot where I live at the moment, so swimming really cools us off :) Some of you might like swimming, so you don't have to read this post if you don't want to :)
I like swimming a lot, but I also like playing games in the water!
One of the games I like most is Dead man. ( Ignore the name, it has NOTHING to do with the game). In Dead Man ( Ignore) you pick one person to be it. The " It " goes underwater, and counts to ten with his/her eyes closed. The other people playing ( Make sure you have at least two other people playing) move around the pool quietly. After the " It" counts to ten, she or he comes up, still with their eyes closed, and tries to find the other people in the pool. You want to stay away from the " It ". Whoever the " It" touches first. Is it. IF the "It" can guess the person's name they touched correctly. ( " It" has to guess with his eyes closed.) and then the person that was tagged, is it!
Simple enough huh?
With more people, its more fun :)
Helpful Tip : If you have a pool with a ladder in it, make sure when your " It" that you don't crash into the ladder, and slam your head against it, or bust your lip!
Anyway, there is my post!
( If your wondering why I posted on Friday, Laura changed the schedule around, so I am now posting on Friday's with Pip :) ( Well, every other Friday.)
And so there you have it!
Its not really a review, though I suppose it could count as a game review :)
Have a blessed day!
God bless!
~Lauren
Monday, June 21, 2010
Mini-challenge.
Ah, the challenge within the challenge. Oh, that sounded...odd. *ahem*
Anyway, for those of you who read my blog, you may have noticed that I am doing a small series of posts in which I talk about each of my brothers. Having five of them, this is going to be interesting. But fun.
Why don't you do it too? So maybe you don't have an insane life quite like mine, meaning you don't have as many brothers as I do. Or maybe you're totally awesome and have MORE brothers than I do. [if that is the case, and if they are anything like my brothers, I suggest you seek sanity immediately.] Or you could even do this about your sisters. Anyway, just write at least one blogpost about each of your siblings, telling your reader[s] what you love most about them, what are some things you admire in them, what have your siblings told you they want to be when they grow up, etc. Come on, it'll be fun. Be creative, too! Maybe you want to have your posts so that it's an interview with your sibling. Or maybe even a vlog [video post].
So here's the deal. You write about your siblings. Let's have this stretch over two weeks, to give the ones with lots of siblings time. Then I chose my six favourite posts, three about sisters and three about brothers, and let everyone else vote on the two winners. Clear as mud?
This will start next week, June 28th, and end on July 12th. If you want to join, enter your name and blog address in the McLinky above. Feel free to email me with questions if you have any. :-) During this time, by the way, we will still have our regular Monday-Friday posts, but we may have other posts as well so keep an eye out for them.
Looking forward to doing this!
~Laura
Anyway, for those of you who read my blog, you may have noticed that I am doing a small series of posts in which I talk about each of my brothers. Having five of them, this is going to be interesting. But fun.
Why don't you do it too? So maybe you don't have an insane life quite like mine, meaning you don't have as many brothers as I do. Or maybe you're totally awesome and have MORE brothers than I do. [if that is the case, and if they are anything like my brothers, I suggest you seek sanity immediately.] Or you could even do this about your sisters. Anyway, just write at least one blogpost about each of your siblings, telling your reader[s] what you love most about them, what are some things you admire in them, what have your siblings told you they want to be when they grow up, etc. Come on, it'll be fun. Be creative, too! Maybe you want to have your posts so that it's an interview with your sibling. Or maybe even a vlog [video post].
So here's the deal. You write about your siblings. Let's have this stretch over two weeks, to give the ones with lots of siblings time. Then I chose my six favourite posts, three about sisters and three about brothers, and let everyone else vote on the two winners. Clear as mud?
This will start next week, June 28th, and end on July 12th. If you want to join, enter your name and blog address in the McLinky above. Feel free to email me with questions if you have any. :-) During this time, by the way, we will still have our regular Monday-Friday posts, but we may have other posts as well so keep an eye out for them.
Looking forward to doing this!
~Laura
Friday, June 18, 2010
Spot of Tea
There is something very homey and comfortable about a large cup of hot tea. Whether it is taken by yourself around the pages of a familiar book or with a friend while commenting on your favorites among the newest flavors lining the grocery store shelves, tea has been around for centuries and has affects ranging from soothing the frazzled nerves to exciting your senses. There's a saying here at my house: if tea or a Band-Aid won't fix it, then you can complain! But let's not keep tea boxes locked away in cupboards or bypass a cozy cup because we're too busy to heat a kettle or pop a cup in the microwave. A newer tradition that my Mom and two younger sisters and I have struck up is to organize a little tea party, every week if we can. I'll tell you "how we do it" and some suggestions on how to plan your own. Take my example as just that: an example. Tea parties are pleasant in that they are versatile. Make this your own!
When setting a table for tea, make sure that the tabletop is wiped clean and dried before putting on a pretty tablecloth if you have one, preferably some fabric like linen or artificial silk. Pay attention to the color; does it clash with the color of the surroundings walls? If you have very little siblings, a formal white tablecloth probably isn't the best idea, but with older "guests," white tablecloths gives the party a high, elegant feeling. If you want a casual look, angle the tablecloth off to one side. If you'd rather it be more formal or if you're throwing a high tea (see below under "Variations"), you might want to plug in an iron (be sure that the heat isn't so high as to damage the cloth you're using) and crisp out the cloth directly after putting it onto the tabletop.
Once you have your cloth in place and smooth nicely over the table, the edges hanging neatly with no unseemly snags in the fabric, begin decorating. This is perhaps the most entertaining part and a ripe opportunity to get your siblings to help. Our tea parties usually include a canning jar or vase of fresh flowers in clean water, a clean tablecloth, and pretty hot pads for the teapot. Be creative with this: confetti, a favor such as a personal spoon with a fancy handle or a flower at each place is always a nice touch, and if you have coasters, use them! Now is a great time. We once threw a French café au lait (coffee with milk) party and made use of some painted coasters that had pictures from France on them. We also play music for every tea party; it adds a nice touch and provides a soft hum in the background when we're all busy sipping. Pick something soothing or cheerful. I still remember one tea party when I was younger. We'd randomly decided to have one, out on the porch during a sunny afternoon, and we popped in a new CD only to find ourselves choking on our tea to the bleak crashing throb of some songs about the Titanic! Be sure you know what the tracks are before playing it at a party. Something gentle and upbeat such as jazz without lyrics or classics play well in the background. If you have permission, find Pandora.com and get a station there. Pandora gives you related tracks and plays your personalized station for long periods of time. (Warning: if you're using Pandora, do be aware that they have automatic ads that you aren't allowed to skip over, and several of these are promoting weight loss products.)
It's always fun to stroll down the coffee and tea aisle at Wal-Mart or some other store, picking out boxes that sound delicious. Have a variety of tea boxes laid out on the table for your guests to choose from, unless you're having a theme to your party (such as an herbal tea party or something related). My sisters always try to stack the boxes to see how high they'll go before they tumble. It's fun to experiment with flavors; you might even combine tea bags or exchange them so everyone has a wide palate. Some of our favorite brands are Twinings, Tetley, Good Earth, Tazo, Bigelow and STASH. Don't hesitate about trying a new flavor, but always have a box of standard peppermint and some decaf options available! You might find it necessary to provide sweeteners and milk or cream for chai or those who prefer their tea weakened. Plain old milk or 1/2&1/2/ works for us, and regular white sugar. For diabetics or sugar-conscious consumers, we usually use a stevia (naturally sweet herb product) supplement for sweetening. Avoid Splenda if possible.
You may decide to have treats with your party. This afternoon, for instance, I made little chocolate chip cookies to go with our tea party. Good treats include small finger sandwiches, trail mix in an attractive bowl, biscuits with jam or butter, toast cut into shapes, donuts, croissants, or cookies. You may experiment with different recipes (baking or preparing the treats is often the best part; again, let your siblings help out with this) or stick with one, to look forward to with every party. Place your treats on a plate or in a bowl that coordinates with the dishware.
Dishware varies greatly. You may each have a personal tea cup and plate, or you may use everyday dishware such as coffee cups and salad plates. Make sure that, whatever you use, it gives the party a special feeling. Tea parties can be a lovely break from the normal routine; make it feel that way!
A tip for those using a teapot at your party: depending on the teapot, yours may be cold material, so before you pour the boiling water into the teapot, run some increasingly heated water into the teapot and out the spout to gradually warm it up. That way, the hot water won't crack the cold china or related material.
Avoid raw conversation or bickering. Tea parties are relaxing, stimulating, regenerating. They're easy to plan for and throw, and great for birthdays or special occasions. Find ways to use your "tea party savvy" to bring people joy. Invite a neighbor or a friend; help a member of your family who might be stressed or going through a rough time; make a date and do one every week if possible.
On a final note, make tea parties personal. Let everyone contribute. You might also say a prayer before beginning your party. On a nice day, open a door if possible or at least a window and let in that delicious air. Enjoy yourselves!
Variations:
French Tea Party- Try your hand at a Frenchie accent and research Parisian cafes. Make Café au Lait by brewing one part strong black coffee and heating one part milk. Stir and serve in a "demitasse" (small cup) as a special treat
High Tea- This tea party is especially good for special occasions. Plan to iron the tablecloth, pick fresh flowers, dress up if you like, place namecards by the places, serve ice cream or slices of pound cake...go all out! The point of a high tea is to have a tea party with more flair and formality than usual. Make each guest feel extra special.
Themed Tea Party- Pick a type of tea and serve as many types of the same as you can find. The types are green, herbal, fruit, black, Oolong (partially oxidized) and white.
Surprise Tea- Pull the labels off the teabags and have the bags ready in the teacups or mugs when your guests arrive. They may discover a new favorite, but be considerate. No one wants to take a large sip of a tea they despise.
British Tea- Be distinctly British at this tea party, accent and everything. Serve scones with lemon zest, Devonshire cream (available at some Krogers), or marmalade. They are fond of light teas and soft music. You may also try a British/Indian tea; many British families settled in India from the early 1600s-mid 1700s, and brought their teas with them.
Tell us about your tea parties! Are you an avid tea drinker? Do you have any favorites? Are you planning on making a tradition out of regular tea parties? Do you have a variation you'd like to share? You might consider taking pictures of your party. If you do, we'd love to see them! Put them on your blog and post a link here. Give us some feedback; it's always appreciated.
--Pip
When setting a table for tea, make sure that the tabletop is wiped clean and dried before putting on a pretty tablecloth if you have one, preferably some fabric like linen or artificial silk. Pay attention to the color; does it clash with the color of the surroundings walls? If you have very little siblings, a formal white tablecloth probably isn't the best idea, but with older "guests," white tablecloths gives the party a high, elegant feeling. If you want a casual look, angle the tablecloth off to one side. If you'd rather it be more formal or if you're throwing a high tea (see below under "Variations"), you might want to plug in an iron (be sure that the heat isn't so high as to damage the cloth you're using) and crisp out the cloth directly after putting it onto the tabletop.
Once you have your cloth in place and smooth nicely over the table, the edges hanging neatly with no unseemly snags in the fabric, begin decorating. This is perhaps the most entertaining part and a ripe opportunity to get your siblings to help. Our tea parties usually include a canning jar or vase of fresh flowers in clean water, a clean tablecloth, and pretty hot pads for the teapot. Be creative with this: confetti, a favor such as a personal spoon with a fancy handle or a flower at each place is always a nice touch, and if you have coasters, use them! Now is a great time. We once threw a French café au lait (coffee with milk) party and made use of some painted coasters that had pictures from France on them. We also play music for every tea party; it adds a nice touch and provides a soft hum in the background when we're all busy sipping. Pick something soothing or cheerful. I still remember one tea party when I was younger. We'd randomly decided to have one, out on the porch during a sunny afternoon, and we popped in a new CD only to find ourselves choking on our tea to the bleak crashing throb of some songs about the Titanic! Be sure you know what the tracks are before playing it at a party. Something gentle and upbeat such as jazz without lyrics or classics play well in the background. If you have permission, find Pandora.com and get a station there. Pandora gives you related tracks and plays your personalized station for long periods of time. (Warning: if you're using Pandora, do be aware that they have automatic ads that you aren't allowed to skip over, and several of these are promoting weight loss products.)
It's always fun to stroll down the coffee and tea aisle at Wal-Mart or some other store, picking out boxes that sound delicious. Have a variety of tea boxes laid out on the table for your guests to choose from, unless you're having a theme to your party (such as an herbal tea party or something related). My sisters always try to stack the boxes to see how high they'll go before they tumble. It's fun to experiment with flavors; you might even combine tea bags or exchange them so everyone has a wide palate. Some of our favorite brands are Twinings, Tetley, Good Earth, Tazo, Bigelow and STASH. Don't hesitate about trying a new flavor, but always have a box of standard peppermint and some decaf options available! You might find it necessary to provide sweeteners and milk or cream for chai or those who prefer their tea weakened. Plain old milk or 1/2&1/2/ works for us, and regular white sugar. For diabetics or sugar-conscious consumers, we usually use a stevia (naturally sweet herb product) supplement for sweetening. Avoid Splenda if possible.
You may decide to have treats with your party. This afternoon, for instance, I made little chocolate chip cookies to go with our tea party. Good treats include small finger sandwiches, trail mix in an attractive bowl, biscuits with jam or butter, toast cut into shapes, donuts, croissants, or cookies. You may experiment with different recipes (baking or preparing the treats is often the best part; again, let your siblings help out with this) or stick with one, to look forward to with every party. Place your treats on a plate or in a bowl that coordinates with the dishware.
Dishware varies greatly. You may each have a personal tea cup and plate, or you may use everyday dishware such as coffee cups and salad plates. Make sure that, whatever you use, it gives the party a special feeling. Tea parties can be a lovely break from the normal routine; make it feel that way!
A tip for those using a teapot at your party: depending on the teapot, yours may be cold material, so before you pour the boiling water into the teapot, run some increasingly heated water into the teapot and out the spout to gradually warm it up. That way, the hot water won't crack the cold china or related material.
Avoid raw conversation or bickering. Tea parties are relaxing, stimulating, regenerating. They're easy to plan for and throw, and great for birthdays or special occasions. Find ways to use your "tea party savvy" to bring people joy. Invite a neighbor or a friend; help a member of your family who might be stressed or going through a rough time; make a date and do one every week if possible.
On a final note, make tea parties personal. Let everyone contribute. You might also say a prayer before beginning your party. On a nice day, open a door if possible or at least a window and let in that delicious air. Enjoy yourselves!
Variations:
French Tea Party- Try your hand at a Frenchie accent and research Parisian cafes. Make Café au Lait by brewing one part strong black coffee and heating one part milk. Stir and serve in a "demitasse" (small cup) as a special treat
High Tea- This tea party is especially good for special occasions. Plan to iron the tablecloth, pick fresh flowers, dress up if you like, place namecards by the places, serve ice cream or slices of pound cake...go all out! The point of a high tea is to have a tea party with more flair and formality than usual. Make each guest feel extra special.
Themed Tea Party- Pick a type of tea and serve as many types of the same as you can find. The types are green, herbal, fruit, black, Oolong (partially oxidized) and white.
Surprise Tea- Pull the labels off the teabags and have the bags ready in the teacups or mugs when your guests arrive. They may discover a new favorite, but be considerate. No one wants to take a large sip of a tea they despise.
British Tea- Be distinctly British at this tea party, accent and everything. Serve scones with lemon zest, Devonshire cream (available at some Krogers), or marmalade. They are fond of light teas and soft music. You may also try a British/Indian tea; many British families settled in India from the early 1600s-mid 1700s, and brought their teas with them.
Tell us about your tea parties! Are you an avid tea drinker? Do you have any favorites? Are you planning on making a tradition out of regular tea parties? Do you have a variation you'd like to share? You might consider taking pictures of your party. If you do, we'd love to see them! Put them on your blog and post a link here. Give us some feedback; it's always appreciated.
--Pip
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Movie Review - G-Force
Movie Name : G-Force
My Rating : * * * * Four stars out of Five stars.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
G-Force is a great family movie!
My family enjoyed it a lot!
Just to let you know, we used Clearplay with this video.
~~~~~~~~~~
Blaster: I'm pretty sure this is animal cruelty. *WOOOHOO!*
[jumps in RC car over toys]
Blaster: But I love it!
[jumps in RC car over toys]
Blaster: But I love it!
________________________
G-Force is a story about these 3 FBI trained Guinea Pigs, and also a Mole, along with a trained fly, and some cockroaches. Their Leader, a human named Ben, is wanting to impress his superiors. Ben orders a unauthorized search/attack at a home where the bad guy, ( As my family likes to call him) named Leonard Saber. Leonard Saber has been investigated by FBI for years. The team is able to successfully retrieve considerable sensitive information about a sinister scheme that is set to occur in 29 hours. But then the Guinea pigs find themselves in a pet shop, with another Guinea pig and a hamster. They get separated, but find themselves together again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speckles: We've got a worm to decipher.
Darwin: You're a genius.
Speckles: I'm a mole. I got a thing for worms.
[slurps a rainworm hanging from the ceiling]
Darwin: You're a genius.
Speckles: I'm a mole. I got a thing for worms.
[slurps a rainworm hanging from the ceiling]
________________________
One of the reason's my Family liked G-Force so much was because of the Team Work. How even though the Guinea Pigs got separated, betrayed, and hurt, they kept going as a team!
Walt Disney did a great job on this movie!
Out of all the characters, my favorite would have to be the Fly, Mooch. ( Definitely NOT the cockroaches ) I walked away with a fly sound buzzing in my ear. :)
The reason we used clearplay on this video, was because it had a small bit of language, and crude humor. And in one or two parts, the Guinea pigs would start talking about who they liked. But over all, it was a nice movie for a family night!
So there! My very first post on The Siblings Challenge.
Have a blessed day!
~Lauren
Monday, June 7, 2010
Well, we're back! With some changes!
Hello everyone!
First off, I would like to welcome two new writers: Katie and Lauren. With them came a slight change in the way we are going to be posting. While Pip and I will be posting article-type posts, Lauren and Katie will be posting reviews on family-friendly movies, books, and such. Here is the new posting schedule. While Katie and I will be posting this week [Katie on Friday], next week Lauren will be posting on Monday, and Pip on Friday. Week after that, Katie and I again, and so on and so forth. Make sense? ;-)
So, thank you Katie and Lauren for joining the team! Glad to have you here!
Also, I would like to say happy birthday to my little brother...he's ten years old today, and terribly excited. I might be posting pictures on my regular blog later.
Have a blessed week,
~Laura
[Ps: please be sure to take the poll on the sidebar. :-) Thanks!]
First off, I would like to welcome two new writers: Katie and Lauren. With them came a slight change in the way we are going to be posting. While Pip and I will be posting article-type posts, Lauren and Katie will be posting reviews on family-friendly movies, books, and such. Here is the new posting schedule. While Katie and I will be posting this week [Katie on Friday], next week Lauren will be posting on Monday, and Pip on Friday. Week after that, Katie and I again, and so on and so forth. Make sense? ;-)
So, thank you Katie and Lauren for joining the team! Glad to have you here!
Also, I would like to say happy birthday to my little brother...he's ten years old today, and terribly excited. I might be posting pictures on my regular blog later.
Have a blessed week,
~Laura
[Ps: please be sure to take the poll on the sidebar. :-) Thanks!]
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