Creative Kidstuff

Say goodbye to winter blahs!

This is the time of year we all begin to get the winter blahs! Visit Creative Kidstuff’s fun indoor events to warm up any cold winter day. Drop by every Thursday at 10:00am for story time and a fun craft. A staff favorite is the Friday Night Story Time on January 30th and February 27th at 7:00pm. Put on your warmest jammies and stop by your neighborhood Creative Kidstuff for a warm bed time story and a delicious cup of cocoa!
Creative Kidstuff is happy to welcome a true Minnesota favorite, Nancy Carlson. She will be reading from her new book Henry and the Valentine Surprise on Saturday January 31st at select locations. Listen to the story, talk with Nancy, and have your copy signed at this fun event! Click the above link for more information.
One way to fend off the winter blahs is to add excitement to your daily routine. Try bringing the outside in! Fill a small summer swimming pool with snow and place it in the middle of the kitchen floor. Use a variety of plastic containers and utensils to build wonderful mini snow sculptures while keeping your fingers and toes warm! A fun twist is to add food coloring to your snow creations!
Mixing up the routine can be as simple as having pizza for breakfast and pancakes for dinner. Make a winter-themed gingerbread house by using sugar cubes and white icing to create an ice castle. Have a beach party indoors- hang out in your summer shorts and flip flops! Crank the Beach Boys and drink some lemonade! Use your imagination! Winter can be filled with warm family time fun!! Please share your ideas in the comments below.

Cozy ideas for indoor fun!

When the weather outside is frightful, warm indoor fun is so delightful! Here are some fun activities to keep cabin fever at bay:
Homemade Hot Chocolate

Nothing helps warm you up like a warm cup of hot chocolate! Here is an easy recipe you can create in your own kitchen, and keep on hand for the whole season:
Ingredients:
* 3 1/2 cups sugar
* 2 1/4 cups cocoa
* 1 tablespoon table salt
* Whole milk for serving

Directions: In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, and salt, and whisk to combine well. Store the mixture in an airtight container. For individual servings, pour 1 cup whole milk into a microwave-safe mug, and microwave on high just until hot. Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa mix, and stir to dissolve. For a larger batch of cocoa, warm the milk in a saucepan set over medium-low heat, taking care not to let the milk boil; as it warms, stir in 2 tablespoons of mix for each cup of milk.

A fun addition to your Hot Chocolate is to make your own marshmallows:
Ingredients
* 1 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting
* 2 cups white sugar
* 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
* 1 1/4 cups water, divided
* 4 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
* 2 egg whites
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract<

Directions: Dust a 9x9 inch square dish with confectioners' sugar. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together white sugar, corn syrup and 3/4 cup water. Heat to 250 to 265 degrees F or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a rigid ball. While syrup is heating, place remaining water in a metal bowl and sprinkle gelatin over the surface. Place bowl over simmering water until gelatin has dissolved completely. Keep in a warm place until syrup has come to temperature. Remove syrup from heat and whisk gelatin mixture into hot syrup. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites to soft peaks. Continue to beat, pouring syrup mixture into egg whites in a thin stream, until the egg whites are very stiff. Stir in vanilla. Spread evenly in prepared pan and let rest 8 hours or overnight before cutting.

Grab your hot chocolate, plop in some homemade marshmallows, and make it a family night. Grab a great game like Spin Me A Rainbow or Hopla and spend some quality time together! Prepare for the First Ever Family Game Show Night at our Galleria location on February 20, 2009!

Take advantage of the slow pace of winter to create memories and spend time with your family and friends!