Fun Fall Holidays!

Halloween is this Saturday! The kiddos are so excited for the school parties which will take place this Friday. They will be super energized and bursting with excitement this year since Halloween happens to fall on the weekend. There will be countless questions all day on "what time is it?" and "is it time to put on our costumes?" and "when can we start trick or treating?" A pot of chili will be simmering on the stove all afternoon and everyone will have a bowlful before we set out on our evening trick or treat adventure. Traditionally, Halloween evening ends with a bonfire for family and friends. We have a weenie roast and even though our bags are overflowing with candies we still make s'mores. In my book, you just can't have a bonfire without s'mores! The good news this year is that Halloween is also the last day of daylight savings. It officially ends in our Central Time Zone at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 1st. So that means we will set our clocks back one hour before we turn in for the night. Yes! That extra hour of sleep will definitely help when arousing the gang in the morning for Sunday church services!

Soon Halloween 2015 will just be a memory and we will move on to the Thanksgiving celebration. I love Thanksgiving! The evening before the holiday is busy, busy, busy! I like to set my holiday table and also prepare some of the dishes the night before so as to relieve some of the stress getting everything ready for the Thanksgiving meal. So by the time I turn in for the night on Wednesday the cheesy mashed potatoes, Swiss cheese vegetable medley, sweet potato casserole, and pumpkin and pecan pies have all been made and just need to be warmed prior to serving. In the early morning on Thanksgiving Day the turkey is placed in the roaster oven on the counter so there will be plenty of oven space to cook the side dishes before our feast. Also, in the morning the sage herb dressing is made and put in a slow cooker on a low setting for the day. Salad and dinner rolls are prepared just prior to serving. Besides the family togetherness on Thanksgiving Day, I especially love the aromas flowing from the kitchen into the family room while I sip coffee and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! My heart is full of thanks!

Teachers Are Awesome!

We interact with many teachers during our lifetime including our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. From the beginning, these treasured family members have been there to guide us along life's glorious and sometimes twisted and complicated paths. When the time comes for formal education, some parents may choose home schooling. Many others will make the decision to send their little ones to a traditional preschool and then off to grade school and high school, either public or private. As an adult you will partner with many teachers who will help you educate your child with the information and skills needed to ensure success, not only in present day activities but also in the future as a contributing member of society.

I owe everything to my teachers! Without a doubt my instructors have proven to be exemplary role models and have not only taught the essential reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also instilled the integrity and values required for a productive and satisfying existence. I am incredibly grateful to all the men and women whom have taught me with patience and kindness so many invaluable lessons. Thank you to my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Hamm, for your hugs and consoling words when I cried because I made my leaf man upside down. A grateful heart to Sister Perpetua for demanding I learn my multiplication tables with rapid fire. Special thanks to Sister John Kevin for letting me realize it is OK to be "me" especially during those awkward teen years. Many thanks, also, to Mr. Mullen for teaching me that there is good in everyone you encounter, even if you sometimes have to search for it. I could go on and on, but you get the point.... my awesome teachers over the years have in countless ways had a positive impact on my life, and I am so thankful for all they have done to help mold me into the person I am today!

So if you've had or currently have a teacher whom has helped you travel along life's special and intriguing journey, be sure to take time to say "thank you."  On that note, many thanks to all our teachers for making our LOVE baseball tee our all time number one best selling item! Everyone at Zoey's Attic is truly grateful for your support!

Thank You Awesome Teachers!

Family Fall Traditions

The Autumnal Equinox, aka the first day of Fall, arrives here in ten days! The celestial equator is the imaginary north to south line in the sky above the Earth's equator. Fall in the Northern Hemisphere begins at the moment the Sun crosses this line. In St. Louis, my home town, Fall arrives this year on September 23rd at precisely 3:22 a.m. CDT.

There is so much to love about this season that will soon enough usher us into the cold of winter. The cooler, but not yet frigid, days and evenings are so welcome following the extreme heat and humidity of summer. I so much love the color changes in the Fall foliage. I even enjoy raking all the fallen leaves! Fall fashions are my favorite too, especially wrapping up in a cozy warm sweater with a cup of coffee and a good read. I could go on and on proclaiming my praise of Autumn, but instead I'll share with you a few of our family traditions. Just as we have certain Holiday customs, we also have established certain family rituals that we observe year after year. On this list are family outings that include:

- An annual trip to the apple orchards is always at the top of the list for things to do in the Fall. Nearly everyone I know enjoys a weekend afternoon picking apples at Eckert's. The main farm and orchards are located in Belleville, IL, but our family prefers the orchards at Grafton Farm. They also have a Country Store offering family favorites such as apple and pumpkin butter and apple cider too.

- Of course it just wouldn't be Fall without a trip to the pumpkin patch for some Pumpkinland fun! The farms near our home all offer hay castles, hay rides, ziplines, play areas with large slides and farm animals for the children to pet and even sometimes feed. Our favorite pumpkin patch is at Thies Farm and everyone looks forward to our annual outing to select the perfect Halloween pumpkins for our home!

- Autumn is the perfect time of year for a day trip to a State Park for a picnic lunch and hike in the woods. A trip to Pere Marquette State Park, just outside of Grafton, IL, is always on our Fall agenda! The sites along the drive are magnificent. On one side of the road is the mighty Mississippi River and the opposite side are the river bluffs covered with trees, bushes, shrubs, and wild flowers all gloriously displaying brilliant Fall colors. Following a picnic lunch it's time to stop at the Visitor's Center. There are Park Interpreters available to guide you on a hike. They share a wealth of information about the vegetation and natural wildlife, history of the Park, and even stories about the native Americans who once inhabited the land that is now Pere Marquette State Park.

- Finally, a trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens, also known as Shaw's Garden, is a priority during each and every season of the year. The Gardens were originally the estate of businessman Henry Shaw and were opened to the public in 1859. The flowers are always spectacular and are breathtakingly beautiful during the Autumn season! There  is also a Children's Garden with play areas and educational exhibits. A stroll through the Botanical Gardens is definitely a highlight any day of the year!

Well, there you have it! So what are your favorite family traditions for Fall?

Let's Go Fly A Kite...NOT!

More wintery weather is on the way...so we won't be flying a kite anytime soon! The good news is we are expecting snow this time rather than ice, so that means we'll be able to go outside and play in the fluffy white snow. We've previously discussed fun indoor activities for those icy days and now here are 5 suggestions for outside fun on those cold snowy days:

1.) The #1 snow day activity on any wintertime list of course would be building a snowman. In fact, our family likes to build a snowman (or snowlady) for each member of the family. The kiddos then get to accessorize their very own snowkid with their own scarves, hats, mittens, sweaters, or whatever they choose. We like to be creative when adding the snowperson's eyes, nose, and mouth. Some ideas include using buttons, rocks, or pinecones for the eyes. Of course a carrot is the traditional snowman nose, but we've also used a charcoal briquette, a cookie, and even a sugar ice cream cone for a nose. A stick of licorice (red or black, whatever you have available) works nicely for the snowman's mouth. Also a line of raisins or gummy bears curved in a smiling arc make a super sweet mouth too. You can even choose to add sunglasses or a pipe for a different look for the snowman's face. Twigs or small limbs from a nearby tree or a broom stick are used for the snowman's arms. Be sure to take a selfie of the snowman you've created of yourself! What are some of the items you would use to decorate your snowman?

2.) Sleigh riding on a favorite hill is a must! We have a steep hill in our neighborhood where just about everyone meets for a day of sledding or tubing, and it's so much fun. However, the St. Louis tradition since I was a little girl is for families to meet at Art Hill. The Palace of Fine Arts was built for the 1904 World's Fair Exposition in St. Louis' Forest Park and is the current home of the Saint Louis Art Museum. Art Hill is the large hill located in front of the Art Museum. Warm bonfires glow and provide warmth for the cold hands and feet of the sledders. At the bottom of the hill is the Grand Basin with its elegantly flowing water fountains. Art Hill is beautiful any season of the year and a site filled with fond memories for many St. Louis families. The experience of sleigh riding on Art Hill is definitely a highlight for any youngster or adult alike. Do you have a special location for sledding near you?

St. Louis Art Hill
Courtesy of Explorestlouis.com

3.) In our neighborhood the kiddos play tag all summer long! And in the winter it's a special treat to make tracks in the snow and play snow tag. On a bed of freshly fallen snow you create a special inner circle which is the "free" zone in the game of tag. From the central zone tracks are made in a spoke like fashion creating a circular wheel pattern. Once the tracks have been made the person who is "it" stands in the "free" zone and counts to 10. The other players then disburse along the tracks and after the counting has reached 10, the "it"person then begins pursuing the other players in the hopes of tagging someone whom will then become "it." And then the game starts again with the new "it" counting in the central "free" zone.  If a player runs out of the tracks he or she automatically becomes "it." It's a fun game played until everyone is exhausted, and then it's time for hot chocolate!

Snow Tag
Courtesy of activekidsclub.com

4.) Almost every child has at one time or another created a snow angel. It's the easiest (and may be the coldest!) snow activity ever! Just lay on the ground and swing your arms up and down and your legs from side to side in a jumping jack motion. Be careful getting up so as not to disturb the freshly made snow angel design.

Snow Angel
Courtesy of Wikihow.com

5.) Lastly, another fun activity on those snowy days is to make snow ice cream. Be sure to put out a clean bowl or pot on the patio or in the yard at the beginning of the snowfall to catch a clean batch of freshly fallen snow. There is an easy recipe from Allrecipes.com which adds milk, vanilla extract, and white sugar to the fresh and clean snow to make a yummy snow ice cream. Variations include using chocolate milk or sprinkling in dry koolaid mix to create other flavors such as lime or orange snow ice cream. It really is a lot of fun to make with the kids!

Snow Ice Cream
Courtesy of Allrecipes.com

Lots of schools will be called off in the days ahead so please take some time to make special memories playing in the snow with the kiddos! You won't regret it!

Holiday Baking

Peppermint Bark

I finished the grocery shopping last evening and I'm ready for the annual Christmas cookie baking/candy making day! Mixing, baking, cookie decorating will begin in the early morning tomorrow and continue all day and into the evening! Of course, we'll start with the traditional chocolate chip cookies that are made and enjoyed year after year. I still use the Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe for this family favorite. It's the very same recipe my mom used when I was a little girl (oh so many years ago!). This classic and totally scrumptious cookie is perfect for the holidays, well perfect anytime, any day of the year! Next up will be the sugar cookie cut outs in festive holiday designs. I prefer the buttery cut out sugar cookie recipe from Food.com. The dough rolls out easily and I especially like the icing recipe for the cookies. While the sugar cookies are cooling we will make the powdered sugar snowballs. These mouth watering cookies are also called Russian Tea Cakes. I use Betty Crocker's recipe for these smooth and oh so delicious cookies. The recipe is so easy and the cookies are absolutely divine! They also look very festive with the other cookies and candies on the serving tray. After rolling the warm cookies twice in powdered sugar and the snowballs are placed on a rack to cool, it's now time to frost and decorate the sugar cookie cut outs. The sugar cookie shapes always include Christmas trees, candy canes, snowmen, Christmas stockings, and holiday bells. The kiddos love decorating these cookies and I love watching them! They are always so excited and of course always sneak a few cookie bites when I'm not looking! One of my favorite cookies is the Coconut Macaroon. The little ones don't like coconut and I have assured them that some day they will!  I really disliked these cookies when I was younger and my mom told me I would one day like and even crave them. Guess what? She was right again! So to this day I make a small batch of Macaroons because it just wouldn't be Christmas without them. Tasteofhome.com has a very simple recipe and they hardly take any time at all to make and bake. Thankfully no one in my family has a peanut allergy, so we also make a peanut butter cookie that is topped with a chocolate Hershey kiss. The recipe is from Hersheys.com, easy to make, and greatly enjoyed by all. Next we move on to the fudge! Yes, I'm a chocoholic and I freely admit it! I have always used the fudge recipe seen on the Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk can. It's so simple and the fudge is always perfect! You can find this foolproof chocolate fudge recipe online at Allrecipes.com. Finally, after a long day in the kitchen it's time to make the Chocolate Peppermint Bark and Food.com has a very easy recipe.  In years past I have used a double boiler to melt the chocolate, but now I've gotten used to melting it in the microwave oven which is so easy and less time consuming! The finished product is the most delicious chocolate peppermint bark ever! It really does melt in your mouth! So tomorrow evening all the baking and candy making will be done. Do you bake for the holidays? If so, what are your favorite recipes?

Family Fun!

Apple Tree Tote Bag

It's almost time to get the kiddo's apple picking shirts ready for the big event! One of the most anticipated family outings of the year is the annual trek to a local orchard for apple picking. Luckily there are several outstanding orchards in the St. Louis area offering a variety of apples including Jonathans, Green and Red Delicious, and even Granny Smith! The orchards also have several fun activities for the family to enjoy during your visit. Some offer face painting for the kiddos, sack races, and a petting zoo too.  The entire family loves the hayride to and from the orchards as well. The apples are amazingly big and so very tasty! The perfect ending to the perfect day is making an apple pie! I always make a mess of the pie crust, and since it frustrates me terribly I now use an already made refrigerated pie crust. The Pillsbury "perfect apple pie" recipe is my favorite.  It's very easy and kid friendly too. Here are some other super ideas for the bushels of apples you bring home: Bring one to your teacher. He or she will love it! Get a special family tree tote bag and fill it with apples for Grandparent's Day.  The adorable apple family tree tote from Zoey's Attic can be specially made for grandma and/or grandpa and it can also be personalized with all the grandkids' names. And, you can even get a sweet apple birthday shirt and have an "Apple Of My Eye" themed birthday party with one of the games being apple bobbing! The children will love it!  What does your family do with all the apples after a fun day at the orchard?

Apple Themed Shirts from Zoey's Attic

It's Tradition!

Angel Dear Bunny Pillow

When my husband and I married we each brought  family traditions that have passed from generation to  generation. Some of our Easter customs were similar  such as searching for our hidden Easter baskets  early on Easter morn followed by church services.  Then our immediate families ate a light brunch in anticipation of a larger family gathering later in the day.  The afternoon brought the annual Easter egg hunt with real dyed eggs along with plastic eggs filled with small toys or coins.  Dinner was always barbecued chicken, ribs and hamburgers and mom's potato salad.  An Easter barbecue was the perfect way to usher in Spring and the upcoming summer season. These were the Easter Day commonalities our families shared. We also had a few things our families did differently, and we have added them to our own unique family traditions. When I was a little girl my mom would make the most beautiful Easter bonnet for me, and it was always a  perfect match for my Easter dress. I can still remember how excited I was to see the Easter hat my mom had created just for me so I have continued this tradition with my daughter.  My mother-in-law always made sure everyone's basket in her family was filled with chocolate covered marshmallow eggs and had a huge solid chocolate Easter bunny as the centerpiece.  The bunny was always from a well known chocolatier and my husband reports it was divine! To everyone's benefit we have continued this tradition as well! Another difference between our family celebrations was that the Easter Bunny always left the kiddos in my family an Easter plush such as a bunny, lamb, or Easter chick in addition to our basket of candy.  It was a sweet keepsake year after year, many of which I still have and use currently as Easter decorations in my home.  This is a tradition I have especially loved and continue to this day.  So, if you are looking for a cuddly soft Easter gift for your little ones Zoey's Attic can help. Zoey offers adorable Angel Dear lamb lovies, bunny curved pillows, and a sweet ducky napping blanket.  All of these items can be personalized with an embroidered name making it an "egg"stra special Easter gift. Whatever your Easter traditions, these are the special gifts that link the generations.

Angel Dear Embroidered Lamb Blankie Lovies

Angel Dear Embroidered Ducky

Wee Bit Irish

Yes, I'm proud to say I'm Irish! Well, I think everyone is at least a "wee bit Irish" every year on March 17th! Also, I feel so very blessed to have visited the homeland...the Emerald Isle...my Ireland! Kissing the Blarney Stone was a dream come true (albeit a bit scary!). I actually had no idea the famous Blarney Stone was at the top of Blarney Castle and that I would have to lie down on my back and kiss it upside down! A rather traumatic moment, but as a result I was given the "gift of eloquence" or in other words the "gift of gab!" (Hmm... I thought I already had it!) A real treat was enjoying a Guinness while watching authentic Irish jig dancing at Ireland's oldest pub, The Brazen Head.  It was established in 1198, and just think we are Facebook friends today! While I can't be in Dublin to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year, family and friends will be living it up St. Louis style. If your clan is planning some St. Paddy's Day shenanigans then Zoey's Attic has just the shirt for you!  You will even find festive "wee bit Irish" shirts for your doggies here! And, if you're planning on making a special surprise announcement, Zoey's Attic can help too with a fun Big Sister or Big Brother to be tee! However you celebrate, just enjoy being Irish.. at least for a day!

Zoey's Attic St. Patrick's Day Collection

Final Christmas Shipping Schedule Update

Here's our last update on our Holiday shipping schedule:  ORDER TODAY (Dec. 20) and be sure to add EXPRESS shipping at checkout and you will still receive your order in time for Christmas (US ONLY)!!! If you order and do not add EXPRESS shipping, we will assume you know your order might not arrive by Christmas Day! We are no longer shipping international orders in time for Christmas delivery. Starting December 21st we will stop shipping Christmas orders so we can start enjoying a little downtime with our family (and start our shopping!!). Thanks so much for shopping Zoey's Attic and Merry Christmas! :)

Remembering Your Grandparents

 

My grandmother moved into her house in 1929,  and I have the most amazing memories of family times spent with her in this home. My Grandmother (everyone called her "Goggie") cared for all her grandchildren whenever asked whether it was watching over us when a new sibling arrived or squeezing fresh orange juice for us when we were sick and Mom had to work.  We celebrated birthdays and holidays year after year in her home on Hanley Rd. Now it has sadly been many, many years since Goggie's passing and the house was sold. My siblings and cousins often reminisce of those days so long ago and have always said how much we'd love to once again step into the home that was the site of so many joyous occasions.  Good news...our wish came true! Unbeknownst to any of us until recently, my niece is actually friends with the young man who currently lives in my Grandmother's home!  Although my niece has been in this home many times, she had absolutely no idea this was the house her own Grandmother and Great-Grandmother had lived in many years ago.  Her friend graciously invited us to visit and what an awesome visit it was!  The rooms were every bit as spacious as I had remembered.  It was almost surreal to step into the closet with the window as this was always a favorite spot for the girls to gather.  It contained a shelf full of Barbie dolls and trunks full of dress up clothes.  The light fixtures in the entry and also in the breakfast nook were the original ones that I remember as a child.  I had forgotten about the glass crystal door knobs on all the closet doors.  And here they were, and it made me think about how many of my relatives had actually turned these knobs in the years past. My Grandmother's home was a home filled with love and laughter, and these special memories I have will always be a part of me.  National Grandparents Day began in the United States in 1978, the year my Goggie passed away.  Even though we didn't have an official day to celebrate Grandparents back then, I hope she always felt our love and appreciation. Be sure to let your Grandparents know this year the special place they hold in your heart.  Zoey's Attic can help with a special Grandparent's Day gift designed just for your very own special Grandma and Grandpa.


Grandparent's Day Gifts from Zoey's Attic

Almost Fall!

The variety of colors and aromatic scents of the garden are some of life's most awesome gifts!  Gardening is a source of comfort, therapy if you will, for many people.  Personally, for me, it can be a major source of frustration as I definitely do not have a very "green" thumb.  I prefer to visit the magnificent Missouri Botanical Garden located here in St. Louis.  It is a National Historic Landmark and our nation's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation. Locals know the garden as Shaw's Garden. The land was owned by Henry Shaw, and his estate home from 1850 remains on the garden property and is open for tours. A recent brunch and casual walk through the Garden was exhilarating!  The English Woodlands were lovely and so peaceful. A stop at the pond in the beautifully understated Japanese Gardens to feed the carp is always a must.  Just watching the excitement of the children feeding these large and very colorful fish is a special treat! Then continuing along the path you eventually arrive at the experimental flower and vegetables gardens.  Staff is always present to offer helpful ideas and suggestions for the novice as well as the experienced gardener.  I was surprised to see so many pumpkins already popping out from beneath their large leaves... a sign Fall is not far away. It got me thinking about the months ahead and all the upcomimg fun activities like apple picking and the annual visit to the pumpkin patch. Autumn is perfect too for gathering family and friends for a hayride and roasting marshmallows around a bonfire. You'll want to check out Zoey's Attic for the perfect shirt for all your Fall activities.


Personalized Shirts for Fall from Zoey's Attic

Well, today is the unofficial beginning of summer!  It's also Memorial Day, a U.S. federal holiday to pay respect to America's servicemen and women whom died while preserving our freedoms. While families are gathering for the annual kick-off to summer barbeque, I truly hope everyone sets aside a few moments to remember and also to educate our children on the importance of this special day. So as the saying goes "Freedom is not free".... everyone from Zoey's Attic sends our thanks to all past and present service members and their families for defending our personal freedoms. Enjoy your summer!

The Hunt!



My First Easter Onesie

In less than three weeks it will be Easter. I'm so excited for the
traditional family egg hunt that always takes place following church services on Easter Sunday. It seems to rain every other Easter, so this year it should be a sunny day! The Easter Egg Hunt is so much fun whether it takes place in the yard or in the house due to inclement weather conditions. And, I love to mix the beautifully decorated 'real' hard boiled eggs with plastic artificial eggs filled with Easter treats for the kiddos and (and old!) alike! The day is topped off with a delicious family meal. Most families I know serve ham, but not this family. No matter what the weather is on Easter, we always have a family barbeque! It's not only Easter Sunday, but also the start of the Spring barbeque season for us.  Ribs, chicken, and hamburgers are on the menu along with Grandma's potato salad (best ever!) and corn on the cob. I'm salivating now just thinking about it!  So have lots of fun on Easter, and if you should need a custom shirt for the hunt or maybe for a special family announcement, Zoey's Attic can help.

Personalized Easter Shirts

Birth Announcement Pillows

Custom train birth announcement pillow

Custom birdie birth announcement pillow

Let's just be honest here. We all know as our families grow, our 
lives become ever more complicated, and yes it is easy to forget certain things we never imagined we wouldn't remember forever. Sadly, I'm referring to the details of certain life changing events like the births of our children. Of course we will always (let's hope!) recall the actual date of birth. But, if I'm going to be brutally honest here, it isn't always so easy to remember all the specifics including the actual time down to the minute, exact length, and exact weight of each child. Is it bad if I can only remember that my daughter was born in the early evening hours and need a reminder that the actual time was 5:28 p.m.?  You know, life is so hectic at times that I really can't beat up on myself over the fact that I am human and can't remember everything! So here's a solution (a cheat sheet, if you will), a birth announcement pillow for every new addition to the family. These adorably sentimental throw pillows from Zoey's Attic with all the pertinent facts make me look like a genius! They make great gifts too and can be custom made to match your nursery or child's room color and theme. Loving this great idea, the perfect keepsake!



Custom puppy birth announcement pillow

Custom owl birth announcement pillow