Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
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Food and Life

Craft Time: Rediscovering Spin Art

October 10, 2012 · Craft Ideas, Narrative

Spin Art
Payphones.

Beepers.

Cassette tapes.

Floppy disks.

Atari.

Long spiral telephone cords.

White-Out.

There are tons of things that were prevalent for us growing up that our kids today will not understand. And while a lot of it is likened to advancement in technology, it’s still a little sad that the items become so obsolete.

I remember the days of having to hunt for change to make a call from a payphone. Spending time down the shore with my family one summer, and having a bucket of quarters so I could have a long talk with a boy from the corner payphone. Nick saw a payphone some six months ago and I had to explain the concept. You know, that there was a time when everyone didn’t have a phone in their pants’ pocket.

Last week we were having a conversation about what I used to do as a kid. It was a different time back then, and there was a lot of “go outside and play until dinnertime.” It was a time when it was safe to do that. And when parents didn’t have to worry quite as much. I mentioned Atari and Nintendo and got quizzical looks. Luckily Pac-Man is still around, but I’m not sure if Donkey Kong and Space Invaders are. They were some of my favorites. Super Mario Brothers became popular later on and is reasonably available today. Nick plays it sometimes on his DSi and makes fun of how I say Mario. I heard something recently about people from different coasts saying Mario differently. Which would make sense, except, you know, Nick and I live on the same coast.

When it came to creativity, macrame bracelets, friendship bracelets, and Lite-Brite were all the rage. Friendship bracelets are still hot and heavy, though they’ve gotten much more complicated, and Lite-Brites? Still happily around, though really, really different.

When I was thinking about all the things that aren’t around anymore, I suddenly remembered Spin Art. Do you? Knowing how much the kids love art (see Exhibit A. And B. And C. And countless others), I set out to see if it was still around.

Thankfully, it is. It took a few phone calls to find it, and the younger the person was that answered the phone, the more I had to explain what Spin Art was. The more stores I called that didn’t have it, the more it turned into a fun challenge. I ended up finding it at Michael’s Arts & Crafts (Amazon also has it, by the way), and with a coupon, I ended up getting it for less than $15.

Which is a pretty reasonable price on reliving some fun moments of my own childhood, and introducing my kids to a new way to make art.

The kids had a blast. Art. Being allowed to make a contained mess. The element of surprise while wondering how their art is going to turn out. Something uniquely different that all their friends aren’t doing. Nothing better.

So while we can’t bring back floppy disks (and I’m not sure we’d want to) or twisty phone cords, we can still have our Spin Art. The actions to create Spin Art have actually been around since the last 1950s, how cool is that? If you’re looking to introduce your kids to a new retro way to be artistic, take a trip through the way back machine and make some Spin Art. It turned out to be a fun afternoon (which I’m sure many more to come), and we have some new colorful art for our walls to boot.

Tomorrow? Book review.

 

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Posted In: Craft Ideas, Narrative · Tagged: Atari, Donkey Kong, Marios Brothers, Nintendo, Pac-Man, payphones, Space Invaders, Spin Art

Comments

  1. Angie says

    October 10, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    Love it! Growing up Our mom wouldn’t buy us a spin art, as that was considered frivolous, but we did have an old suitcase record player, and as long as you didn’t mind a little hole punched in the middle of your masterpiece, it worked like a charm! Thanks for a fond memory. :)

    Reply
    • Cate O'Malley says

      October 11, 2012 at 8:20 am

      I love that alternative way to making spin art – how fun!
      Cate O’Malley recently posted..Craft Time: Rediscovering Spin Art

      Reply
  2. Lori says

    October 10, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    Wow! I love this post. Such fun memories! I just had a conversation with my kids about records. They thought they were just over sized cd’s. So much fun telling them what it was like to be a child from the 70’s and 80’s. And the hair and clothes…..oh my! They thought I was dressed for Halloween:0) Thank you for the Spin Art idea…..I had forgotten about that. I am definitely going to Michael’s tomorrow!

    Reply
    • Cate O'Malley says

      October 11, 2012 at 8:21 am

      I think the hair and clothes are a topic all on their own! Remember those “Madonna-era” rubber bracelets? Ugh, and hammer pants? A boyfriend I had then used to wear them everywhere, and even then I was embarassed for him. And his rat tail.
      Cate O’Malley recently posted..Craft Time: Rediscovering Spin Art

      Reply
  3. Joanne says

    October 11, 2012 at 6:24 am

    The.Boy and I are constantly talking about things from the past that don’t exist anymore and that kids today will have no idea about. My mom would never let us do spin art when I was a kid, sadly enough but I’m glad you brought it into nick and maddies lives!
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Buckwheat Harvest Tart

    Reply
    • Cate O'Malley says

      October 11, 2012 at 8:22 am

      Next time you hop a train, we’ll share!
      Cate O’Malley recently posted..Craft Time: Rediscovering Spin Art

      Reply
  4. paula says

    October 11, 2012 at 8:27 am

    Shrinky Dinks were my favorite childhood craft. They’re still made but I haven’t tried them recently.

    Just a few months ago I taught my Nick how to use a corded, push-button phone. I hadn’t realized it was such a foreign concept to him. When I told him we were getting rid of cable he had a fit but when I explained I had no sympathy for him considering that I only had 4 channels growing up, he was speechless.
    paula recently posted..This blog is not dead. It’s just in a coma.

    Reply
  5. paula says

    October 11, 2012 at 8:35 am

    You got me thinking about Shrinky Dinks and I found this blog on making homemade Shrinky Dinks. I thought it might be something you might want to try.

    http://www.curbly.com/users/chrisjob/posts/2252-diy-shrinky-dinks

    Reply
  6. Betsy says

    October 11, 2012 at 11:41 am

    Loved spin art — but don’t think I ever did it at home, but at camp and at art fairs. Sounds so fun.

    Also love Spirograph (man how do you spell that), and that weird thing when you would add some kind of mix to a mold and make these creepy little figures. Then you would paint it. Name escaping me.

    Reply

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Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!

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Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to ca Happy #NationalPuppyDay to these two. I used to call Clifford an asshat, because he basically was. But there’s a new asshat in town… 🙄 Clifford is now a freaking rockstar. His tumor and age have slowed him down a LOT and he virtually never misbehaves, and we are seriously so proud of him. Lola, on the other hand, is still full blown PUPPY. Tonight I’m assembling a gate to replace the wooden one she ate through. 😂 Berners love wood and she is OBSESSED with being in the kitchen. So one new metal gate coming right up as soon as I can figure out how to put it together.
Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.

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