Best Picture Oscar Nominees: A Cocktail Guide

There are a whopping nine - NINE!!! - nominees for the 2017 Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. I thought it might be fun to vote via cocktail for your favorite movie. With that in mind, here is the list of nominated films, along with a brief summary of each, and a suggested cocktail to enjoy during the ceremony, based on your vote for the Best Picture winner.

La La Land

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Original Music Score, Best Film Editing, Best Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Sound Mixing

Synopsis: An aspiring actress and a jazz pianist who wants to open his own club fall in love and support each other's career aspirations, at the expense of their own relationship. This musical pays homage to a number of classic movie musicals.

Cocktail: With its wonderful jazzy score and retro feel, I had to pair this film with a jazzy and retro cocktail, the Gin Rickey, said to be a favorite of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Combine 2 oz. gin and 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice in an ice-filled highball glass; top with seltzer or soda water. Garnish with lime.

Arrival

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Director, Best Sound Editing, Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing

Synopsis: A dozen alien spacecraft land on earth and a team of experts, led by a linguist, attempt to decode their language in order to understand why they're here and what they want, before the paranoia of some of earth's governments start a war.

Cocktail: It doesn't get much more exotic than aliens, so for this film, I suggest a Caipirinha, which requires a Brazilian liquor similar to rum, called cachaca (rum is made from boiled sugarcane juice, or molasses; cachaca is made from fresh sugarcane juice). Cut half a lime into wedges and muddle in an old-fashioned glass along with 2 teaspoons of sugar (or a generous splash of simple syrup). Fill the glass with ice and add 2 oz. of cachaca. Stir and garnish with lime.

Lion

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Dev Patel), Best Cinematography, Best Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman), Best Original Music Score

Synopsis: A young boy in Calcutta becomes lost and is eventually adopted by an Australian family. He returns to India as a young adult looking for his birth family.

Cocktail: Naturally, an Indian cocktail is appropriate, so I chose the Tamarind Margarita, a recipe from Tabla, a "New Indian" restaurant in New York. The only exotic ingredient needed is the tamarind paste, which is available in the international section of most grocery stores. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 1-1/2 oz. tequila, 1 oz. triple sec, and 0.2 oz. tamarind paste, and shake until paste is dissolved. Add 2 oz. fresh lime juice, 1/2 oz. orange juice, and 1/2 oz. simple syrup. Shake well and pour into a salt-rimmed double rocks glass over ice. Garnish with lime.

Hell or High Water

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges), Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing

Synopsis: A ex-con and his brother scheme to save their family's Texas ranch.

Cocktail: The Texas setting calls for a "manly" Texas cocktail, so pair this film with a Texas Whiskey Revival. Obviously, Texas whiskey is best, but I won't tell if you use something else. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 3/4 oz. whiskey, 3/4 oz. St. Germain elderflower liqueur. 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice, and 1/4 oz. simple syrup and shake until well chilled. Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with candied orange peel and a cherry.

Hidden Figures

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Best Writing Adapted Screenplay

Synopsis: The story of the team of African-American female mathematicians, known as "human computers", who worked at NASA during the early years of the US space program and had a key role in sending John Glenn into orbit - and bringing him safely home.

Cocktail: The film is set in the early 1960s, so I have to go with one of the most classic 60s cocktails, the Manhattan. Combine 2 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. sweet vermouth, and two dashes of Angostura bitters in a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake well and serve in a chilled martini glass with a maraschino cherry garnish.

Moonlight

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Original Music Score, Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali), Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Naomie Harris), Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Film Editing

Synopsis: The story of a young black man growing up in a rough neighborhood in Miami and trying to find his place in the world.

Cocktail: The most classic Miami cocktail has to be the Papa Doble (also called a Hemingway Daiquiri), so this is the cocktail to pair with Moonlight. In a cocktail shaker of ice, combine 4 oz. white rum, the juice of 2 limes, the juice of half a grapefruit, and and 6 drops of maraschino liqueur. Serve in a chilled martini glass garnished with lime.

Hacksaw Ridge

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Sound Editing, Best Actor (Andrew Garfield), Best Sound Mixing, Best Director, Best Film Editing

Synopsis: An army medic in World War II refuses to kill anyone, and becomes the first man in American history to be awarded the Medal of Honor without firing a single shot.

Cocktail: The World Peace Cocktail. No explanation needed as to why. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 1-1/2 oz. gin, 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice, a splash of St. Germaine, 2 drop blue Curacao, and 2 drops orgeat syrup (or almond extract). Shake well and serve over ice in a rocks glass with a lemon twist.

Manchester by the Sea

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Casey Affleck), Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (Lucas Hedges), Best Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams)

Synopsis: A man is asked to take in his teenaged nephew when the boy's father dies.

Cocktail: I lived on Cape Ann for a number of years, and I can still smell the salt air. So the Salty Dog is the natural cocktail to pair with this film. Coat the rim of a cocktail glass with kosher salt, fill with ice, and add vodka (or gin) and grapefruit juice in a 2:3 ratio

Fences

Nominated for: Best Picture, Best Actor (Denzel Washington), Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Best Writing Adapted Screenplay

Synopsis: A working-class African-American father tries to raise his family in the 1950s, while coming to terms with the events of his life.

Cocktail: The film is set in Pittsburgh, so I checked out the cocktail menu of The Livermore in Pittsburgh, and the Redwood Spritz jumped out at me. It doesn't give a recipe, but based on a "standard" spritz and the listed ingredients, this is my version: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add 3 parts bourbon, 1 part sweet vermouth, and 1 part fresh lemon juice, and shake well. Serve in a chilled martini glass and garnish with a sprig or two of fresh rosemary.


The red carpet coverage has begun, so I'm off to make myself a cocktail and start commenting on the fashions! Good luck to all the nominees!

Oscar Fashion: The Best of All Time

No, you didn't miss it. The 2017 Oscar Awards Ceremony isn't until tomorrow, but in anticipation, I thought I'd post some of the most beautiful red carpet fashions ever worn to an Oscar ceremony. Here are some of my personal favorite Oscar looks of all time, in order by year. The bar has been set!

Audrey Hepburn, 1954

What better way to start this list than with one of the first fashion icons of the 20th century? And not only that, but a fashion icon who happened to have won the Best Leading Actress Oscar for Roman Holiday that year. This sleeveless white-on-white floral gown with its bateau neckline, narrow belt, and full skirt was designed for Hepburn by Givenchy and accentuated the actress's long, graceful neck and tiny waist. Hepburn had met the designer the previous year while filming Sabrina, and he became a personal friend as well as going on to design costumes for her in seven movies and many off-screen appearances. 

Grace Kelly, 1955

Perhaps one of the most recognizable Oscar gowns from the early years of the ceremony, Kelly's mint green satin with double spaghetti straps, fitted bodice, and gracefully draped skirt, paired with elbow-length white gloves was the epitome of Hollywood glamour. Edith Head commented about designing the gown for Kelly, "Some people need sequins, others don't." Kelly had actually worn the gown once before, to the New York premiere of The Country Girl, the movie for which she won the Best Leading Actress. She appeared on the cover of Life magazine wearing the gown two weeks later.

Doris Day, 1961

Day nearly always played sweet, girl-next-door types, and her two-piece, silver beaded column, paired with short white gloves, a small diamond bracelet, and topped by her signature pompadour, fits with that image. Many red carpet gowns during the 1960s were either hugely flared satin ballgowns with sharply pointed bustlines, or drab and prim jersey columns. Day's gown here is glamorous and flattering without being overbearing - much like the actress herself. The gown was designed by Irene, who had retired from costume design in 1950 to open her own fashion house, but had been convinced by Day to design costumes for Midnight Lace. Day's performance was not nominated, but Irene received a nomination for Best Costume Design for the film.

Elizabeth Taylor, 1970

Taylor wore many memorable red carpet gowns through the years, but this violet-blue satin creation by Edith Head may be the most memorable for showing off her, erm, assets. The A-line ballgown with broad v-neck and wrap belt showed off her impossibly tiny waist and generous bust, with a soft ruffle running diagonally across the skirt from waist to hem adding a feminine touch. Her trademark diamonds were here represented in a pair of small chandelier earrings and a y-shaped necklace with a large diamond pendant.

Nicole Kidman, 1997

Kidman was no newcomer to the Oscars in 1997, but she certainly made her sartorial mark when she appeared in this stunning chartreuse column with silver embroidery on the bodice and mink trim along the slit and hem, designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior. Her tall, slender, modelesque figure set off the simplicity of the gown and the unusual color set off her beautiful pale skin and blonde locks. This gown is one of the red-carpet gowns which first inspired the creation of designer knockoffs, as Alan B. Schwartz designed an acetate and rayon version (sans mink) in both chartreuse and burgundy, which was sold at Macy's for $250, along with knockoffs of Courtney Love's and Susan Sarandon's Oscar gowns from that year.

Julia Roberts, 2001

Yet another actress on this list to have added an Oscar statuette as an accessory, Roberts accepted her Best Leading Actress Oscar for Erin Brockovich in this vintage (1992) Valentino black-and-white velvet column with tulle train. Valentino himself called watching Roberts accept the Oscar wearing his design as the high point of his career. Like Kidman's 1997 Oscar gown, this gown inspired many copied versions, many of which appeared at high school proms over the next few years.

Halle Berry, 2002

Berry's gown is tame compared to many of the red carpet gowns we see 15+ years later, but at the time, the see-through bodice, with strategically-placed hand-painted flowers, was incredibly daring. The full burgundy satin train flared out from a narrow column skirt with an angled waist, highlighting Berry's slender curves. This is the first Oscar red carpet gown I ever remember noticing, and to me, it is the epitome of iconic: unusual, daring styling; gorgeous fabric and lines; and perfectly suited to the woman wearing it. Much more memorable than the gown, however, was Berry's being the first (and only, thus far) black woman to win a Best Leading Actress Oscar, for her role in Monster's Ball.

Hillary Swank, 2005

From the front, Swank's cobalt-blue gown featured beautiful criss-cross wrapping at the waist and a flared mermaid skirt with a small train. But it was the plunging back that put Guy Laroche's design on the red carpet map. The simple clinging lines of the gown accentuated Swank's decidedly feminine figure, providing an interesting contrast with her tough role in the movie for which she won the Best Leading Actress Oscar that year, Million Dollar Baby. Swank had been in discussions for several weeks with designer Francisco Costa of Calvin Klein (whose underwear she was advertising at the time) to dress her for the red carpet, but decided at the last minute to go with a completely different dress. She had made a similar last-minute switch in 2000, changing from a Christian Dior to a Randolph Duke design. She won the Oscar both times, so apparently it was the right call.

Helen Mirren, 2007

Mirren has always dressed well on the red carpet, but she really sets the bar for mature actresses on how to dress, and the Christian Lacroix gown she wore to the 2007 Oscars is a prime example. The bodice was made of beaded white lace, as was the crushed, fitted sash and the underskirt; the skirt itself was a slightly fuller overlay of white chiffon with metallic gold flowers. The gown clung to her curves and was sexy without being revealing. How very appropriate that the Queen of the Red Carpet won the Best Leading Actress Oscar for The Queen in this gown.

Nicole Kidman, 2007

Yes, Kidman makes this list twice, this time in a Balenciaga gown: a simple red column with halter neckline accented with a large fabric half-bow (the tail of which draped dramatically to the floor), and a short side-train, accessorized by diamond cuff bracelets, a small clutch bag, scarlet lips to match the gown, and long, straight hair. She didn't have any nominations that year, but she made a lot of both Best- and Worst-Dressed lists, so the publicity was worthwhile.

Anne Hathaway, 2009

Hathaway's stunning ivory column by Armani Prive had apparently appeared on the fashion runway without the jewel-encrusted band at the top of the bodice, but it was added for the red carpet. I love the diagonal bands of beading that flare at the hem into a short train, and the added band at the bodice mirrors the line of the jeweled belt beautifully. The simple lines of the gown are elegant and clean, and the tailoring is perfectly impeccable: fitted, but not tight. Hathaway's single diamond bracelet and small diamond drop earrings, along with her low chignon, are the perfect simple accessories for this gorgeous look. Her nomination as Best Actress for Rachel Getting Married did not turn into a win, but this gown certainly did.

Jennifer Lawrence, 2013

It's unfortunate that Lawrence's blush pink brocade, strapless, fitted to the hip ballgown is not remembered as much for its stunning design as it is for her fall up the stairs on her way to collect her Best Leading Actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook. You would think that the perfectly-fitted gown had been tailored multiple times, but the truth is that she tried it on that morning and it fit, so she wore it. Lawrence was representing Dior at the time, so she chose her gown from a number of options in the Christian Dior Couture collection by Raf Simons. Don't you wish you could just grab something from the closet and look like this?

Kate Hudson, 2014

Hudson's pure white, art deco-inspired gown by Atelier Versace had gorgeous criss-cross lines gathering in to the waist, a deeply plunging neckline, squared-off shoulders with a shawl-style capelet that fell just below the waist in back, and a flare from just above the knee that fell into a mid-length train. A hint of silvery beading added sparkle and emphasized the interesting geometric lines of the gown, and Hudson's simple wavy hair and smoky eyes were just enough detail to keep attention on her face. The gown was gorgeous from every direction, and moved beautifully. It was old-style Hollywood glamour with modern details, beautifully done.

Sandra Bullock, 2014

Bullock was nominated for her role in Gravity, and she defied a little of it in this stunning midnight blue satin gown by Alexander McQueen. The base was a strapless column with a sweetheart neckline, but the beauty of the gown was how the fabric draped from the top of one side of the bodice and the waist on the other side, crossing at the hip, then flaring at the front and cascading into a train at the side. The lines were graceful and elegant, and Bullock's long curls and simple diamond jewelry were all the accessories she needed. Not even the Oscar statuette could have improved this lovely gown.


By the way, just in case you noticed that the 1980s are not represented in this list, let you remind me that Marlee Matlin's win in 1986 represented the best of 1980s Oscar red carpet fashion...and Jessica Lange and Meryl Streep in 1983 did not represent the worst...

Let's see if the stars can do better than the 1980s this year - here's to another 2002, sartorially speaking!

February Vacation: Be Prepared!

How is next week already February school vacation? We just had a 5-day weekend last weekend, so I feel like I've already done vacation week. What on earth can I do with my kids this week, since I've already used up most of my fun ideas? 

If you're thinking this, never fear. I have a whole list of cool ideas you can do with your kids (or send your kids off to do on their own). Depending on whether your kids are into art, cooking, science, reading, or whatever, you can surely find a few things on this list to keep them busy and entertained (and out of your hair) this vacation. 

Art
If your kids are artistic, they probably do a lot of drawing and coloring. But sculpture can be really fun for a creative, artistic child - and even for children who don't enjoy drawing quite as much. Homemade moon sand and play dough both require ingredients you probably already have on hand (or can pick up at the local grocery or drug store), and are a wonderfully tactile way to enjoy artistic expression. Plus putting together the recipes is a great way to teach little ones to follow step-by-step directions and older ones to learn measurements, math, fractions, and chemistry. But shhhh - don't tell them they're learning!

Moon Sand

Moon sand feels like fine beach sand, but tends to clump together so a) you can sculpt with it, and b) it's easy to clean up. Two of the easiest recipes call for flour and baby oil, and cornstarch and vegetable oil. If you want to color your sand, divide the flour or cornstarch evenly into smaller bowls and mix in a few tablespoon or two of powdered chalk, powdered tempera paint, or even various flavors of Kool-Aid mix to each bowl. (Due to the oil base, water-based food coloring will not work well.) You can also add glitter, but I can't guarantee the glitter will clean up as easily as the sand. Then add the oil and work together unless well mixed. Keep it in an airtight container, and it will last for up to a month. If it seems a little dry, add a tablespoon or two of water to freshen it up. 

Homemade Play Dough

There are plenty of uncooked recipes for various kinds of play dough, but this cooked recipe results in a much smoother, softer, long-lasting dough. In a medium saucepan, mix together 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, and 1 tablespoon oil. Stir in 1 cup of water and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3-5 minutes, until the mixture begins to clump and pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat and knead for five minutes. Divide into as many parts as you want different colors, and knead a few drops of food coloring into each part. Store in an airtight plastic container (recycled single-serving yogurt cups work well) or ziploc sandwich bags. 

Cooking
Depending on how old your kids are and what types of things they like to cook, there are lots of interesting options for side dishes, appetizers, desserts, and main courses. Recipes for a few of our favorites are listed below. 

Naan

This slightly sweet, fried flatbread from India is delicious eaten alone as a snack, or can be topped with various sweet or savory ingredients. Experiment with peanut butter, jelly, pesto, hummus, or whatever else you have on hand. 

1 package active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup white sugar2 tsp salt1 egg, beaten3 tbsp milk4+ cups flour1/4 cup butter, melted

1 Tblsp butter or margarine 
¾ cup long grain rice (uncooked)
Juice of 2 fresh limes (~3 Tblsp)
3 Tblsp olive oil, divided
4 Tblsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
4 tsp minced garlic, divided
kosher salt
¼ tsp sugar
2 to 6 white fish fillets
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
In a shallow dish large enough for all the fillets, combine lime juice, 1 Tblsp olive oil, 2 Tblsp parsley or cilantro, and 1 tsp minced garlic. Marinade fillets for 15-30 minutes, flipping over halfway through.
Heat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet. Saute onion, pepper, and remaining garlic for 5 minutes, until tender. Add black beans, oregano, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for an additional 5 minutes until heated through, stirring occasionally.
1 cup butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg plus 1 yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2-3/4 cups flour
For the coating:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add in egg, yolk, and vanilla and beat for an additional minute, scraping sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Turn mixer to medium-low and add baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add flour with mixer on low, scraping bowl with spatula and mixing till just combined.
In a small, shallow bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon till well mixed and set aside.
Preheat oven to 325 and line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Scoop out two tablespoons of dough at a time and shape into balls, then roll in cinnamon sugar until well coated. Place on parchment, leaving about 2 inches between cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are slightly golden. If you prefer crisper cookies, bake for 2 additional minutes. Allow to cool on parchment.

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Add sugar, salt, egg, and milk and blend well. Gradually add enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 6-8 minutes on a lightly floured board (or in the mixing bowl) until smooth and elastic, adding flour if needed. Turn dough out into an oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch down dough, then pinch off golfball-sized handfuls of dough and form into smooth balls. Place balls on a cookie sheet lined with non-stick foil. Cover with a towel (or not) and allow to rise an additional 30 minutes.
Spray the grill with oil and preheat to high heat. Flatten each dough ball into a thin circle with rolling pin or hands. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned and puffy. Brush the uncooked side with butter and flip with tongs. Cook the second side for an additional 2-3 minutes, until browned, and remove from grill.


(For more complete directions, including photos of each step, see this blog entry.)

Costa Rican Dinner

The process for making this delicious dish of white fish with beans and rice includes more difficult steps like cutting up vegetables and juicing limes, which older kids can do, and easy ones, like rinsing beans and measuring ingredients, which younger kids can do. The recipe was originally designed for tilapia, but any white fish, such as haddock or cod, will work equally well. I like the kick added by the cayenne pepper, but this dish is perfectly flavorful without it, so feel free to omit if you prefer. 

1-1/2 cups water

Add ½ tsp salt and the butter to the water and bring to a boil. Add rice; reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, until water is fully absorbed. Keep warm until ready to use.

Place rice in baking dish large enough for fillets. Add bean mixture and blend together. Lay fillets on top and pour over excess marinade. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes, until fish is fully cooked (thicker fillets may take a few extra minutes). 

(For more complete directions and photos of each step, see this blog entry.)

Snickerdoodles

What's not to love about a recipe that starts with two sticks of butter and then adds a bunch of sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla? Nothing, that's what. These delicious cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good with a mug of tea or a glass of milk. Little ones can help forming the cookies into evenly-sized balls and rolling them in the cinnamon sugar; older ones can help measure and mix. 

For the cookies:

1 cup butter (room temperature)3/4 cup granulated sugar1/2 cup brown sugar1 egg plus 1 yolk1 tablespoon vanilla extract1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon cream of tartar1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon cinnamon2-3/4 cups flour


For the coating:1/4 cup granulated sugar1 tablespoon cinnamon


In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add in egg, yolk, and vanilla and beat for an additional minute, scraping sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Turn mixer to medium-low and add baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add flour with mixer on low, scraping bowl with spatula and mixing till just combined. 

In a small, shallow bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon till well mixed and set aside.


Preheat oven to 325 and line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Scoop out two tablespoons of dough at a time and shape into balls, then roll in cinnamon sugar until well coated. Place on parchment, leaving about 2 inches between cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are slightly golden. If you prefer crisper cookies, bake for 2 additional minutes. Allow to cool on parchment for 5 minutes before moving to wire racks to cool completely.

(For more complete directions and photos of each steps, see this blog entry.) 

Science
If your kids are all about experimenting and making things that stink or blow up or otherwise make a mess, here are some ideas that are fun and slightly messy without being actual biohazards. 

Marshmallow Catapult

Most kids, whether engineering-minded or not, are fascinated by catapults and trebuchets. We were fortunate that my husband's last employer sponsored an annual "Punkin Chunkin'" contest, where company engineers teamed up to build catapults, trebuchets, and ballistas, which they would then use to fling pumpkins across the parking lot toward the target, an inflatable castle. Points were scored for both distance and accuracy. Half the fun was watching the launch, and the other half was watching the satisfying SPLAT! when each pumpkin landed. Watching this inspired my son to want to make his own working catapult. Marshmallows may not be quite as impressive as pumpkins, but they're a lot less messy and still fun to shoot across the room. Plus, the ingredients are cheap so you can build a bunch and have contests!

See this website for complete directions. Supplies needed are bamboo skewers, a plastic spoon, a rubber band, masking tape, and full-sized marshmallows. You form a triangle of skewers, using marshmallows to hold them together at the corners, then build it up into a pyramid. Tape the spoon to the end of another skewer and insert it into one of the base marshmallows. Loop the rubber band over the top marshmallow and the spoon, then load the spoon with a marshmallow, pull it back, and let it fly! We discovered that it was often helpful for one person to hold the catapult steady while the other shot the marshmallow. The website also notes that the catapult is sturdier if you make it the day before and let the marshmallows get stale overnight. 

Melting Ice with Salt
If you live in a cold climate, like I do, take advantage of the huge built-in freezer outside your door for this fun experiment, which also let kids explore the science of why we throw ice on the steps when it's freezing out. Adding colored paint into the mix not only highlights the pattern of the ice melting, it also ups the messy factor, which is always a big positive for kids' projects.

See complete directions here. You'll need a bunch of small, shallow bowls (different shapes make it more interesting), some salt (preferably a few different kinds: table salt, rock salt, ice melt), a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with raised sides, food coloring or liquid watercolors and small jars to put them in, and some plastic eyedroppers (or just use measuring spoons, if you're careful). Fill the bowls with water and put them outside to freezer overnight. Bring them inside and invert them on the cookie sheet (good idea to place a towel underneath to protect the table from overflows). Sprinkle them with salt and watch as the ice starts to melt! Use the eyedroppers or measuring spoons to drizzle the colors over to highlight the ravines created by the salt. (If the tray gets too full of melted ice, you can use a turkey baster to take some out.)

Reading
If your kid is a reader, like mine is, school vacation is a great time to get him or her immersed in an exciting book series or read-aloud book. If they're younger, you can read to them; if they're older, they can read to you or take turns reading to each other. Here is a list of some of my family's favorite read-aloud books, most of which appeal to a wide range of ages.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series gets a little dark towards the end, but the early books can stand alone, so this is a great way to start getting young readers interested in the series, and they can go back and read the later books when they're a bit older. The books include some wonderfully positive themes, including love of family, loyalty to friends, knowing when to obey and when to defy authority, and young people working together to change their world for the better.

The Amazing Flight of Darius Frobischer by Bill Harley

I stumbled across this charming book by chance, and it turned out to be an absolute page-turner for my then 5-year-old son, but will still appeal to older readers. Kids will love the crazy, offbeat characters (both heroes and villains), and the mix of reality and magic will intrigue them. We had a lot of fun imagining the events in the book, and illustrating what we saw in our minds as we read. 

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

Another delightful mix of fantasy and reality, Banks creates a look back at early American history in a way that is interesting to even kids who aren't history buffs. It puts a real face on what it was like to live at the time when European settlers and second- and third-generation Americans were interacting with native Americans. Like Harry Potter, the subsequent books in the series get somewhat darker, so I recommend pre-reading them to make sure they're age-appropriate for your child. These books are also a great kickoff for more research and discussion about early American history. 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The books in Lewis' classic series, The Chronicles of Narnia, are arguably the best fantasy books for young readers ever written. They stand on their own as a surface story, but can also be taken as a Christian allegory. Whichever level you choose to read them at, the world Lewis creates is rich with detail, and full of fascinating characters and conflicts. Each of the seven books can stand alone, but there are enough overarching themes and through plots that reading them in the indicated order (which is not chronological, but is all the more intriguing for the flashback effect of reading in the sequence in which they were written) adds richness. The books are wonderful for kicking off discussions about government, faith, and family. 

The Rush Revere Series by Rush Limbaugh

Don't be turned off by the author's name - they were actually co-written by his daughter (and I suspect mainly written by her, with Rush only provided his name for the PR value). Rush Revere is a history teacher who owns a horse which happens to be able to talk - oh, yeah, and also travel through time. Rush brings his students back in history to learn firsthand what really happened, and why. We talk to historical characters like Paul Revere and George Washington to understand why they made their strategic decisions, and what they sacrificed to build this country. It's a creative twist on learning American history, and if your kids are intrigued by battles, they'll certainly be interested in this whole series. It's not high literature by any means, but the historical details seem sound, and if it gets kids interested in early American history, it's okay by me. 

Treasure Island by Robert Lewis Stevenson and Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

These two classics are both thrilling adventure tales that will enthrall most young readers. Treasure Island features pirates and a hunt for treasure (obviously); Swiss Family Robinson features a shipwreck and survival on a distant island. The latter includes some fascinating information on the kinds of skills that most people had at that time (the early 1700s), and can spark interesting conversations about how well (or not) most modern people would be able to survive under similar circumstances. In both books, young people are called upon to mature early and act as adults, which is an intriguing idea to most children. 

Whatever
Hey, I did include "whatever" as a category, right? So here are a few more random things to keep your kids entertained during the long week ahead. 

Plant Some Seeds

Stop by your local garden center and pick up some small plant pots or seed tray, a bag of dirt, and a collection of your favorite flower or herb or vegetable seeds, and look forward to spring by getting your garden started. Kids will love helping pick out what you plant, and watching (patiently or impatiently) for the seeds to start sprouting. Once the weather warms up they can help plant the seedlings outside in the garden, and you can look forward to enjoying the flowers and fruits of your labors all summer long. 

Go Camping Indoors

Set up a tent in the living room - or throw an old bedspread over the dining room table - and let the kids sleep in it in sleeping bags or on bedrolls. If you have a fireplace, cook dinner over the fire: hot dogs on sticks, s'mores, toast, pretty much anything that just needs to be heated a little. You can even carefully set an old pan of canned beans or soup on the fire if you build it carefully. Or have a cold picnic lunch with peanut butter sandwiches and juice boxes. Turn off all the lights and read stories or play games by the light of the fire or a battery-operated lantern. Listen to old-time radio. Tell ghost stories. 

Have a Dance Party

Ask your kids for their favorite songs and put together a playlist or upbeat tunes - and add a few of your own favorites. Then crank the tunes and let everybody jam out! Younger kids will love to add in scarves or ribbons and various rhythm instruments. Sing along if you know the words. Make them up if you don't. Teach the kids the words to your favorite songs from when you were their age. Mom and Dad joining in is half the fun. 

Theme Days

Pick a theme and go with it for the whole day. Pajama Day: Wear your pajamas all day long, eat only breakfast foods, listen to lullabies all day. Backwards Day: Wear your clothes backwards, eat meatloaf and mashed potatoes for breakfast and cereal for dinner, figure out what everyone's name is spelled backwards and call them that all day long, learn to recite the alphabet backwards. Literature Day: Pick a favorite book and assign everyone a character, then let them be that character all day long - eat what they would eat, talk the way they would talk, do the kinds of things they would do, dress like they would. Pirate Day: Add "aaarrrr!" to the end of every sentence, sing sea chanties, eat snacks like beef jerky and dried fruit. Country Day: Choose a country then eat foods that are popular there, research popular games and play them, try to put together an approximation of their traditional or current clothing from your own closet, learn a few phrases in their native language. 


Happy vacation!