It's all fun & games until someone loses an eye. Which didn't  happen. Even though sword-fighting was involved.  Kids wielding swords. It was great.

This all went down at the Koi Festival on Belle Isle. In it's second year, the fest was bigger and better than the inaugural event held last year. The Koi Festival celebrates Asian culture, specifically the traditions of Japan. The festival takes the place of the unique Detroit tradition of the Koi Transfer, which no longer exists because the fish have a heated pond now, stay tuned for their feature on Cribs, Aquatic Edition.

So no buckets required, but still a fun time. There were live performances courtesy of the Great Lakes Taiko Center Drum ensemble and an action-packed  demonstration of traditional combat-fighting styles from the Detroit Kendo Dojo Martial Arts.   Kids were invited to participate in a sword-fight, which was the highlight of the festival for my daughter. 

The Belle Isle Conservancy knocked themselves out this year, introducing a ton of traditional Japanese games that kept the kids busy for hours, no joke. The cool thing was that the games weren't too frustrating-- but they held the kids interest for a really long time, which is usually impossible! All ages looked like they were having a great time. 

The first game they tried was YoYo Tsuri. The yo-yo was a colorful water-filled balloon, that kids had to "catch" the balloon with a paperclip on a string made from tissue paper or some similar material. This was tricky and hard to "win" but I didn't see any tears from anyone because the kids were able to choose a balloon to play with. You just slip your finger into the looped rubber band at the end, and bounce it up and down like a yo-yo. All Day Fun. 

I loved when the girls played Daruma Otoshi, aka The Falling Buddha--- the traditional version of Jenga played for centuries in Japan. This was a tricky one. The object is to knock the center blocks of the Daruma out, with a tiny hammer, while still keeping the doll in tact. In three tries. Yeah, it was hard! 

The kids were surprisingly good at Kendama. Basically, toss a ball into the air and try to catch it on one of two cups or on the spike. Very tricky, but both girls managed to "win" after practicing for an eternity (like 20 minutes). I saw a patience I've never witnessed before-- I'm hoping to see it again, but def won't hold my breath. 

Kingyo Sukui, aka Goldfish Scooping was a blast for every kid I saw playing the game. Kids were given a paper scoop (yes- you read that right)! and had to life bouncy balls and tiny plastic fish from the pool of water. Was it tricky- Yes, was it so much fun- Yes! 

So although I'm kinda sad about no more scooping our  Koi friends in buckets and stuffing our faces with hawt dawgs to celebrate--- I am totally excited to visit the Koi in their permanent home and celebrate them at the Koi Festival. See ya next year!

Related: Buckets + Belle Isle = The Koi Transfer 

RockStar Tip: Belle Isle is getting packed on weekends, y'all! We used to mosey on in to the aquarium or the conservatory on a Saturday afternoon and we were the only ones there. Not anymore! So my advice to you, is pack up the fam after breakfast and get there as the gates open, at 10; it's a better experience and the kids aren't as tired and impossible to deal with! 

​Missed the event but don't want to miss out on the fun! Purchase your own Daruma Otoshi or Kendama on Amazon & let the games begin! 

 So. Now you've got a ton of hard-boiled eggs because y'know-- it's Easter. You're gonna be making Egg Salad sandwiches for days. To take some of those eggs off you're hands Right Now-- transform them into something everybody loves, Deviled Eggs. 

Only today you're going to make them Really Festive. Because it's Easter. I must be joking, right. Because it's April Fools Day too. Yeah I know you've got a milli+ things to do today. My list goes something like this: Prep Baskets. Check. Hide Eggs Outside. Check (just did that in the dark-- that was great, lemme tell ya. Hahahahah) Pop Open Champagne. Drink. Prep Crepes. Bake the Bunny. Assemble Subs. Make Crepes. Deviled Eggs. Decorate Bunny Cake. Crab Legs. Watch Jesus Christ Superstar. So, I got ya, as you can see I have some more stuff to do, (prob /def/! not as much as you-- I like it lo-fi around here). and I slid those Deviled Eggs in there. So it's no joke to make these today. They are impressive with minimal effort. Plus, the kids can do these themselves.

Really- they can do it themselves. I'm not joking about that part either. Last year I went a little strong on the food coloring. I L-O-V-E-D the final result, because it looks like a Technicolor Dream, (these photos are from last years Deviled Egg Experience-- get back at me next year to see how Easter '18 turned out) ) but this year I'm hoping to get some pretty pastels. 

That's where the kids come in. They are Waaaaaaaay better at crafts & cooking then me- no joke. Here's how you do it:

Ingredients>
-Hard-boiled Eggs
-Food Coloring
-Mayonaisse
-Dijon Mustard
-Horseradish
-Salt n' Pepa

Crack those eggs, Dah'lins. Slice 'em in half. Scoop out that yolk and set it aside in a dish. Grab some small bowls- like finger bowls or ramekins. You can even use a glass or cup. Fill them halfway up with water. Squeeze some drops of food coloring into the water. Drop the eggs in there. After they have achieved the desired color, remove them. Place them on a paper towel. Pat them dry before filling. 

Aaaaand- you're done. I mean, you still have to swirl that creamy yolk into the egg. But- you're basically finished. Easy, right! Told ya! No April Foolin' here. But if you DO want to play a trick on someone- here ya go. 

I have no measurements for the filling, because I always wing it. Plus, I was drinking. All Day. Like, from start to finish, hahahaha. So I really just mixed the ingredients up in a bowl and threw it into the egg. You can tell that's what I did if you look closely at the photos, hahaha. This year I'm hoping to try the piping tool I have-- we'll see how that goes. If the kids do it, it'll prob. be Great. Also, I'm planning on popping some champagne in the early mornin' again this year too, so who knows. 

My mom has been making these since I was little.  Though the methods (started using Real Eggs, no joke- now uses the pro system) have evolved throughout the years, one thing remains the same--- I love these things & so do my kids. 

I'm gonna take the most viable of these options- the "Grab some plastic easter eggs from the store & Hop to It"  Method. 

Ingredients>
-Jell-o (All the Colors of the Rainbow)
-2 Bags of Plastic Easter Eggs 
-Non-stick Spray or Oil 
-Empty Egg Carton 
-Butter Knife

Open the eggs and coat interior with non-stick spray or rub oil using a paper towel. Using scissors, carefully create a small opening at the top of the egg. Now make sure those eggs are snapped closed or you're gonna be sad. Place eggs upright into the egg carton. 

Make Jello according to "Jigglers" Instructions on box. Pour 1st color into upright egg. To make it really easy, grab a tea kettle, pitcher or anything with a spout and pour the Jello liquid from that. Repeat with every color.

Aaaaaaand you're done. Let them set for a few hours in the fridge. Now pop those babies out of the mold. (use  a butter knife). We like to store them in clear plastic egg cartons for full-effect; it looks really pretty. 

​Serve at the kids table or just put 'em out for a snack. Pretty much guaranteed they're gonna be gone in two shakes of a lamb's tail (or less). Hahahaha.

The Sea Life Aquarium recreates that "Under the Sea" vibe, and you don't even have to get wet. 

Located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, this aquarium features a vast collection of sea creatures under one roof. Walking from exhibit to exhibit, you'll find fish, seahorses,  sharks and more housed alongside jellyfish, manta rays and octopuses.

Although not one of the most expansive collections of sea-life I've ever seen, it was better than I expected. There are more than 200 different species encased behind spectacular aquariums. 

The Exhibits
The Jellyfish Exhibit was definitely my fave. With the push of a button, kids could change the color of the lights that illuminated the ghost-like figures behind a wall of glass. It was amazing (understatement). 

The oldest was partial to the Stingray Bay Exhibit. They are actually quite the characters and look like they are smiling at you as they glide by.  It was an awesome experience.

The littlest was drawn to the Doodle Reef. She liked coloring her own fish and loved watching it come to life in the interactive digitized aquarium. 

Walk under the tunnel of the Tropical Ocean Exhibit and you'll be transported again to another world. Filled with sharks, sea turtles and gigantic fish- you'll feel like you are truly underwater, swimming with the fishes. 

This aquarium really surprised me with the quality of the exhibition spaces and the quantity of sea creatures swimming around. You're kids will definitely love it; it's a great experience for a rainy day. You'll find lots of things to see and do and this experience will keep them busy but it's definitely not up to par with heavy-hitters we've visited like The National Aquarium in Baltimore and the Georgia Aquarium.

Added Bonus: Everyone had a fantastic time playing in the indoor playscape at the tail-end of the aquarium. Plan on spending a ton of time here. 

SEA LIFE Michigan
4316 Baldwin Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326

RockStar Tip: Buy your tickets in advance because the line is almost excruciatingly slow and those toddlers are Not Gonna Wanna Wait. We had the misfortune of not doing this--- learn from our mistake! Purchase Tickets here. 

Ingredients:
1 Canister Vanilla Frosting
1 Box of Cake Mix (any flavor)
Gold Nonpareils
Cupcake Liners
Food Coloring (Blue or Green)
Frosting Piping Set
Package of Rainbow Airheads
2 Rolls of Rolos

These cupcakes might look complicated, but they're not! For real. Let me break it down for you.

Make the cupcakes according to the instructions on the box. I used white cake mix and added some rainbow sprinkles for a double-dose of rainbow.

While the cupcakes cool, add a few drops of green or blue food coloring to a third of the frosting. You could also just leave it white for a cloud in full effect. Frost the cupcakes. 

Now you're gonna make the pot of gold. Grab those Rolos and a butter knife and spread a thin layer of frosting onto the larger end of the Rolo. I used black food coloring to dye the frosting, but it's totally unnecessary, white works great, or you can use chocolate if you have some. Dip the frosted Rolos into the gold nonpareils. Now you have what you've always wanted--- a pot o' gold.  Cha Ching. 

Here's the fun part:--- making rainbows! Get out those Airheads and cut them in half, I used kitchen shears, but you can prob use a knife. Place a rainbow behind the pot of gold, then position the other end into those puffy clouds you created. 

Here’s a low-fi way to collect sap from your own backyard!

Our family attended, with baby in tow-- a tree tapping demo at MOCAD years ago-- but my dreams were dashed because it seemed so involved + technical that I gave up all hope of collecting sap at home.

Earlier this month, my daughter attended a field trip at an Environmental Center.  They showed the kids how to collect sap IRL. So, armed with this newfound knowledge, my daughter told me how we could make a DIY Tree Tapping set-up in the backyard.

With the help of our newly-minted "Resident Tree Tap Expert" we got to work. I ordered the hook & spire from a place online, bought some buckets that the girls decorated with stickers (to make them ultra-festive). And that's about it! I knew I wanted to try the huge Black Walnut tree in our yard- so that’s where we headed.

First things First. Find a tree on your property to tap. And we’re not just talking’ Maples! Although the most popular, sugar maples aren’t the only trees that produce syrup. Sycamores, Birch and Walnut are great contenders for syrup. Any tree you tap must be healthy, with a diameter of 12” or greater.

Ingredients:
Buckets
Hammer
Drill + 7/16 Drill Bit
Spiles + Hooks
Stickers (optional- but highly recommended) 

Now you're ready for some tappin’ action!

The best time to tap trees depends upon where you live. Generally speaking, that time is from late February to the beginning of April. You’ll want to start when temps during the day are above freezing and night temps are still below freezing. The sweet spot here is usually sometime in March, but again- it varies by region.

Grab that drill and drill a 2” hole into the trunk at waist level. Our Expert Advisor made me reposition the drill before I dug in because she said I was doing it wrong. It was up too high. That's why we have experts, y'all-- to prevent us regular people from committing a grave mistake. Place the drill at an upwards angle to facilitate the flow of sap.

This Little Golden Book Belongs To…”  Music to a child’s ears. I remember writing my name on the inside covers, creating my own personal little library.

Now’s your chance to see the original artwork Live! as Little Golden Books celebrates their 75th anniversary by showcasing iconic illustrations pulled from the pages of childhood. The exhibition runs at The University of Michigan's Berkowitz Gallery until mid-December. 

This series has kept generations of little ones engaged with its imaginative illustrations and playful storylines.

The University of Michigan received an endowment of thousands upon thousands of children’s books, including hundreds of Little Golden Books form a private donor. Now it houses one of the most extensive collections of children’s books in the country.

The show itself features the work of illustrators everyone is certain to recognize. 65 pieces of art were selected for this exhibition, framed against a modern backdrop of wood panels.

“You can see the mistakes!” I stated incredulously. The illustrations were unbelievable- you can see eraser marks, re-touches of paint and even cut-outs the illustrators swapped in when they made a mistake. That’s probably the greatest part of the exhibit— the mistakes you can see with your own eyes on these magnificent pieces of richly-colored paper.

“This is the page from the book you have! The original illustration- look at it! “ I kept saying to the girls over and over (and over]) again. I was really excited. So were they--- just check out those pics; they were dancing with joy. 

We each selected our favorites and talked about why we liked them. The older one loved the artwork from "I am a Bunny" because she said that is the first book she could read by herself. The little one was partial to the horse illustration from "Indian Indian" because she has an affinity for horses and also liked a page from "I Can Fly"  because it featured a table with food splayed on it--- & she likes all things food-related. 

So pack up the kids and drag them to the U of M gallery- it's a great little stop for a weekend afternoon or a quick after-school jaunt. 

The Alfred Berkowitz Gallery
3rd Floor, Mardigian Library, UM-Dearborn
4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128
 313-593-5087

The Science Behind Pixar exhibit opened on October 14 at The Henry Ford Museum. The interactive exhibit showcases the science and technology that goes into making Pixar films. The museum focuses on STEM concepts used by computer scientists and artists at Pixar.

We went over to check it out; it was even better than we expected. I went with a reluctant child, but that changed within a few minutes of stepping inside.  By the end of our visit, she Did Not want to leave and I had to promise we'd be back again.
​
Grab your tickets at the front desk. You and your crew will then be directed into a theatre to watch a short behind-the-scenes look into Pixar Studios. It’s informative,  but assure the little ones it will be over soon or they will keep asking how much longer until its over, road-trip style, hahahaha. After five minutes spent watching the film, guests are ushered into the exhibition area.

And WOW! It’s A-Maze-ing. For REAL.

There are displays from Pixar films featuring characters we all know and love. Kids will go WILD— in a good way.

With over 40 interactive stations, there is so much for all ages to explore. The exhibits are broken-down into spaces using production terms used in filmmaking. Visitors can move from station to station, learning tons of different aspects about these movies along the way. Highlights include Rigging, Animation, Rendering and Lighting Design. At every turn, the displays make it easy for kids to explore and fun to learn some innovative techniques used in the industry. 

The Pixar Exhibit runs from now until March 18, 2018. Be sure to check it our before then! Tickets are available at the Admissions Desk.

The Science of Pixar | Henry Ford Museum
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124 
(313) 982-6001
www.thehenryford.org

The Henry Ford Museum stuns again with its latest exhibition, Mathematica, which opened today. The interactive exhibit- which your kids will L-O-V-E, is based on the work of design duo Ray and Charles Eames.

Best known for their timeless design sense encompassing modern textiles, architecture, furniture and graphics— the team also left their mark in the field of mathematics and computing.

The original Mathematica exhibit was created by the Eames' for the 1964 World Fair. The Henry Ford Museum’s Director of Historical Resources, Marc Greuther, acquired the exhibit in 2015 and has been working tirelessly to bring the exhibit to the museum for visitors to experience.

The size and breadth of Mathematica is more far-reaching than similar exhibitions seen in the past. There are numerous displays, most interactive- that are truly engaging audiences to explore without abandon. 

Walking around, it was easy to see everyone's (we're talking old, young and every age in between) excitement and wonder. At every display there was someone explaining a concept to active listeners. It was amazing to see this level of engagement and discussion going on between people that were viewing the exhibit. The displays really encourage active participation.

And that’s just it, the exhibit creates an excitement and free-flowing conversation. It also makes math cool. The girls each had their own favorite exhibit. The eleven year old was mesmerized with the concept of the ball bearings spinning in the “Celestial Mechanics’ piece. She attends a local STEM school and showed me many connections that I would have otherwise missed, hahaha.

So definitely bring your kids- because  they’ll break it down for you!

The six year old was really excited about the “Multiplication Machine,”  since she is just getting started with multiplication. The best part is, her eyes lit up and you could see her making the connection with multiplying at home and this machine that brought the idea behind it to life.

It is pretty amazing to see mathematical concepts illustrated through formal design. Every exhibit- from the “Projective Geometry” exhibit [one of my personal faves] to the “Topology,” was fabricated with a true artfulness. It truly is fascinating to see these concepts transformed into something concrete.

After our trip to the museum, we came home and the one in elementary school began working on math using Osmo- so believe me when I say this exhibit translates irl. It totally will get them excited about mathematic concepts. Pinkie-swear. 

*RockStar Tip* 
Plan a visit after school sometime, that is when we have found the museum is least crowded. Basically- we just hit the road right after school ends and have enough time to explore the exhibits for an hour after most of the crowds have left.