Aryn Henning Nichols

DIY Play Dough

2 cups water
1/2 c. salt
2 tbsp. cream of tartar
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cups flour
Food coloring
Essential oils (if desired)

Homemade play dough was something I heard about from other moms, but totally thought I’d never make myself. C’mon… “real” play dough comes in those cute little containers! But I really wanted to try to make glitter play dough, and, hey, I had all these awesome food coloring options from egg dying! So it was time to try it out.

Turns out, it really IS easy! It takes a bit of stirring, but the texture is just perfect!

1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a heavy pan on the stove. Pour in the water and cook on low.

2. Then stir. That’s really it. It will get smoother and thicker as it cooks. Keep scraping the edges in and folding the bottom up. Once it globs together (like the texture of play dough), it’s ready.

Note: It seems weird to be cooking without tasting. I wrote that down, and then immediately tasted it. Don’t do it! Because: Whoa, salt!

3. Put the dough on a cutting board that can handle a little food coloring. Roll it out and cut into as many balls as colors of dough you’re planning on making.

4. Squeeze a fair amount of food coloring on your first dough ball. Fold the ball over and over again, working the colors in. Add more color if needed. And if you’d like it to smell nice, add a drop of essential oil to it!

5. Repeat until all your dough balls are colored up! I tried glitter, but it took A LOT of glitter to show up, so I nixed it.

6. Store in plastic baggies or containers. It’s been weeks and the texture is still so great on this dough! I love it! Total convert here.

Fall seems like a good time for doing things. Days are still long, the weather is good and opportunities (necessities?) abound for fun, exercise, and taking care of da house and yarden. But that very fact often drives me into a funk. Because I’m all like, I don’t wanna do things! Mainly, I want to drink beer with friends and/or watch all the Netflix. But, ultimately, doing things helps you get out of pretty much any funk, so here I am, doing things. (Because, yes, even this crazy cheerleader-type lady who started a sun-shiny magazine about inspiration gets in some funky darn funks.)

So what things am I doing? Well, for starters, I’m writing! (I know; it may not seem like it just yet.) Taking the time to just write (Ha. As Hemingway said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do it sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”) is something I haven’t done in a long, long time. And that’s a damn shame.

My trouble is finding the motivation.

The ball we need to get rolling can feel like an 800-pound boulder. But if we can just get it rocking past the tipping point, we can watch that mother-flipping thing roll down the whole damn hill. Momentum, baby. It’s what we’re trying to harness here. I have a few tricks to make this work in my life and I thought I’d share them here today (spoiler alert: I’m a list fan).

1. Lists: Today, To-Do, Life

It’s fitting that the first thing on my list today is “make a list” (check that off the list, woot!). I have three lists: “today” and a general “to-do” one sitting next to me, and a “life list” on my computer. Let’s talk about today lists first.

A. Today lists:

Sometimes I look at the big (giant) general to-do list of things I need to get done and I feel over-freaking-whelmed. Give yourself a break –make a breakout list! Breakout lists are smaller – for me, usually just a quarter of an 8.5×11 page – and only have the things I need/want to get done on one day. Breakout lists also give me the chance to cross things off twice (on the to-do and today lists), which is so very, very satisfying (amIright?).

But still: how to get the motivation? Do the easy stuff first. I have been known to write, “take a shower” on my list. (Especially post-becoming-a-parent, because, damn, it can be hard to find the time!) We work from home, so my day list is a little unique in that I can include housework too. The thing that gets my ball rolling is laundry (that sounds a little dirty, ha)! That blessed machine does all the work, but somehow makes me feel like I’m getting sh*t done! I often do laundry first-thing in the morning. Sometimes I even shower WHILE the dryer is going…cause then we’re really getting somewhere! If you have a more traditional job, maybe you can write, “organize desk” or “make office coffee” or even “clean up computer desktop”. A tidy workspace can make the day seem so much brighter. And, look: You can cross something off your list already. Go, you!

B. To-do lists:

This is the stuff you need to get done – written down because you don’t want to forget, but know you can’t possibly get it done in one day (or month) – all in one place. This list is often long, and can freak me out. I sometimes hide this list and only look at what’s on for today.

C. Life lists:

What are your dreams? Your goals? Think this month, this year, the next five, and, ultimately, your entire life. Breakout lists can come handy here too! 🙂 My current life list is titled “35 Before 35” – I turn 35 next year, and made this list at age 30. Before that, I had “30 before 30” made at age 22. I had some “rollover” goals move from that list to current – NBD, folks. Just writing goals down is a motivator. If you’re making a life list like this, make sure to also include some easy stuff. (See 1A, re: motivation.)

2. No fun Internet until you get the most important thing on your list done.

Simple concept; big impact.

3. When you find yourself getting off track – trailing into your time-wasters – go do something else on your list. For me, it’s usually house stuff or prepping/cooking food. I recently starting making exercise the “hey, do something for yourself” thing I do too (hopefully that’s a new habit!).

None of this is to say you can’t spend a little time on Facebook or searching for vintage campers on Craigslist; just recognize when you’re doing those things to simply avoid other work.

4. Pat yourself on the back

Stop being so damn hard on yourself. Once you give yourself a break, you’ll realize you’re doing pretty well in this here life. Did you get one thing done today? Did you even slightly utilize your day in a way you wanted? Then give yourself a high five, friend, because this is LIFE! No guilt, no worry, no regret. Are there only five minutes left in the day and you didn’t get one thing done? Do one little thing, then plan to ride the momentum into tomorrow. And then pat yourself on your damn back. You got this.

One of the true signs of summer in the Midwest is Fair Season – and the 2015 Winneshiek County Fair is, literally, right around the corner from our house…right now through July 11! Grandstand shows, livestock judging, competitions, exhibits, demolition derbies, races, rides, auctions, dances, and the inevitable fair food – it’s enough to not only get the kids excited, but the kid-at-heart folks too. We go pretty much every day!

We’ve put together a list of 7 of our favorite things at our hometown (neighborhood, really) fair to get you started:

1. Animals! Right now (like as of yesterday, opening day of the fair), Roxie is enjoying the cow barns the best – other favorites: the sheep and goats, pigs, and, of course, the bunnies!

2. 4-H Projects Building! Aryn was in 4-H growing up, and loves seeing the sewing, craft, and photography projects that bring back memories of childhood summer fun.

3. Food! We usually head straight to the Luren Booth for pie, but surprisingly, haven’t gotten any pie yet (which is our favorite thing of this favorite thing), but yesterday we did grab a couple breakfast specials. Pancakes, eggs, yummy sausage, and coffee (or milk or juice if that’s your thing). Lunch at the Green Clover Cafe 4-H stand around the corner is a great spot too – Roxie is excited they have Gogurts (maybe your toddler will be too)! And don’t forget about ALL THE OTHER FOOD options (so many). Pork chop on a stick, hot beef sandwiches, the Moo Mobile…oh, and funnel cakes, nachos, pizza…better go with an empty stomach! (More food pics inevitably coming…)

4. Rides! Who doesn’t love a Ferris wheel ride? Well…we’ll see if our kid does (first-timer), but even if she doesn’t, there are lots of fun mild-to-wild rides to check out. $20 for 20 tickets! Wristband Days are Wednesday & Friday 6-10 pm, Saturday 2-6 pm.

5. Grandstand Events! Buying a button gets you in to all the events. Check out the schedule here.

6. Kids Activities! We hit up the petting zoo yesterday – entrance is free, and you can buy some food for $1. Be careful, though…those goats can get pretty excited when you’ve got food in hand (see below…sorry, Rox)! There’s also magic shows and bean bag contests!

7. Great Free Music! Although it’s great to buy a button and check out the larger entertainment acts, there are other fun options too – from the Buck Hollow barn dance to the Jim Busta Band, you’ll be happy you wore your dancin’ shoes.

Here in the tri-state area there are tons of county fairs that offer up great family entertainment at affordable prices. Here’s a list of a few of them you can still catch! Did we miss one you love? Let us know!

NE Iowa:

Winneshiek County Fair: July 7-11, 2015

Allamakee County Fair: July 15-19, 2015

Dubuque County Fair: July 28-August 2, 2015

Fayette County Fair: August 5-9, 2015

Clayton County Fair: August 5-10, 2015

SE Minnesota:

Winona County Fair: July 8-12, 2015

Wabasha County Fair: July 15-18, 2015

Fillmore County Fair: July 21-25, 2015

Olmsted County Fair: July 27-August 2, 2015

Houston County Fair: August 19-23, 2015

SW Wisconsin:

Trempeleau County Fair: July 23-26, 2015

Grant County Fair: August 16-23, 2015

Crawford County Fair: August 26-30, 2015

Vernon County Fair: September 16-20, 2015

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P.S. Don’t forget to make your plans to attend the Iowa State Fair August 13-23 in Des Moines! Since 1854 Iowans have enjoyed what has been rated one of the top summer attraction in the US by publications such as USA Weekend, Midwest Living, and the New York Times.

The Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines feature an incredible park-like 400-acres (the Fair’s home since 1886) and also adjoin 160 acres of Campgrounds – both parcels that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The fair has provided a place through history that has educated, informed, and entertained people from every walk of life. It is also host to “one of the world’s largest livestock shows,” as well as the largest art show in the state.

Entertainment is also high on the list at the Iowa State Fair with over $400,000 / year spent on bringing in top-notch acts. This year’s grandstand line-up includes performances by Casting Crowns, Justin Moore, Def Leppard (yes!), Reba, Carrie Underwood, YES & Toto, Alabama, The Fray, Meghan Trainor, Rock-A-Thon, and of course the excitement of the Grand Outlaw National tractor & truck pull, and more.

And as if that weren’t enough, don’t forget about the butter cow – hand crafted out of over 600lbs of butter by Norwalk sculptor and expert cake decorator Sarah Pratt. Not to mention the 50+ foods available… on a stick.

Fair time is fun time! See you there!