A tribute to the stache

The moustache...Fads come and go, but the moustache has stood the test of time and still stands strong today!  It's a fun word to say and a fun thing to draw on pictures of people.  Come on, who doesn't love a good stache?  Especially a monster with a moustache!  That's right!  You can now get your monster with a moustache at my online boutique, Two Zany Zebras!

Monsters! Monsters! Everywhere!

I wanted to give a big thank you to Jaclyn-Kate-Photography for taking these adorable pictures of my Zany creations! I also wanted to thank While you sleep, I crochet for making the adorable matching hats!  See her shop for ordering information.  You can order your own Zany Monster shirt in my baby boutique, Two Zany Zebras.

Happy Easter!

May your eggs be filled with jelly beans and your Chocolate Bunnies be hollow!

Celebrating Dr. Seuss

“Look at me!
Look at me!

Look at me NOW!

It is fun to have fun

But you have

to know how.”

~The Cat in the Hat

Dr. Seuss

We are big fans of Dr. Seuss.  When I was younger I collected Dr. Seuss books and now enjoy sharing them with my kids.  In honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday we went to the Public Library where they had a Birthday Bash honoring Dr. Seuss.  Zany Janie and Silly Jilly dressed up in these adorable dresses from Aunt Ju Ju:

At the party they got to make hats and go fishing:

Play pin the green egg on the ham and make fun creations:

And of course read and have fun with Dr. Seuss books:

All the fun inspired me to make some new things for my baby boutique, Two Zany Zebras.  Currently my shop has six fun new Dr. Seuss Hot/Cold OUCHY BAGS for when you have a monster owie:

I also made six sets of ZANY MUCUS WIPES for runny noses or drooly pools of goo:

Zany thought of the day:  What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Hot off the sewing machine!

They are back in my baby boutique, Two Zany Zebras!  Hot off the sewing machine!!!!

This cute Hot/Cold Ouchy Bag is perfect for when your little one feels they have a monster owie! These Hot/Cold Ouchy Bags are great for bruises, bumps, muscle aches, headaches, ear aches, bug bites, bee stings, sunburns, fever relief, or just to cool down from a hard day of playing. Don’t limit these little monsters for just the kids! Adults can use them too for sinus headaches, backaches, muscle tension, and even to help reduce soreness and clogged milk ducts for the breast feeding mama.

Because these Ouchy Bags are fun and zany monsters they are appealing to children and you have more of a chance of them actually keeping the Ouchy Bag on the owie! I have three young children and I have found that these Hot/Cold Ouchy Bags calm them almost immediately after they get a monster owie!

Monster cakes!

 

Wacky Zacky wanted to take cupcakes into his PreK class to celebrate his birthday.  We decided instead of "normal" cupcakes, we would make each classmate a unique Monster cupcake.  We used marshmallows, twizzlers, M&Ms, and jelly life savers to make the monster faces.  Wacky Zacky had a fun time creating each silly face and they were a big hit with his class. 

Run! Run! As fast as you can! You can't catch me-CHOMP!

This Zany tall tale starts back in 2010!  I know, such a long time ago!  Actually it was only a few weeks ago, it's just something that's too good not to share.

The Zany family has started a tradition of making Gingerbread houses around Christmas time.  Last year Wacky Zacky and Zany Janie did a good job of sharing the Gingerbread house, but with them being a year older (3 1/2 and 4) and fighting like cats and dogs most of the time, we thought we'd be smart and get a Gingerbread Mini Village Kit so they could have their own house to decorate. 

The night before we were going to make the house I pulled out the directions to scan them, just to make sure it was similar to the one I've done in the past.  I put the directions back in the box and noticed a few minutes later Zany Janie carrying them around the house.  I asked her to put them back in the box for the next day.

The following day I started to get all the parts out of the box and wouldn't you know the directions were no where to be seen!  We searched the house and came up with nothing.  Zany Janie still promises she put them back in the box and it was someone else that lost them...Hmmm....

Papa Z decided to check the computer for directions, but unfortunately didn't find anything but a bunch of negative reviews on Wilton's Gingerbread Mini Village.  They basically complained that the houses were impossible to put together, the icing wouldn't hold the parts in place, and the houses were too tiny to work with.  Not the news I was hoping to hear as I looked at the 50+ pieces laying in front of me with no directions to guide me.  I did what any crazy mom would do to avoid having to go back out into the Christmas shopping madness to buy a new kit-I started putting the little pieces together like a puzzle.  All I can say is thank goodness my Dad is an engineer, I have somehow inherited a small portion of his analytical thinking and was easily able to put those little shacks together.

Once the houses were ready we each picked one and began the fun but serious business of decorating them. 

Wacky Zacky even decided to decorate himself!

Once they were finished we felt a sense of accomplishment.  Each one was special and unique in it's own way.

Papa Z, who is typically not so artsy, got into the spirit and really got crafty using green sprinkles as grass around his house-(For those of you who are puzzled, he grew up in California and has never had a white Christmas).

I don't want to toot my own horn, but I think I should have won the prize for the best house!

The whole family had so much fun decorating the houses and we proudly displayed our village on the table for all to see and adore. 

The following day there was a tragic mishap...Papa Z went upstairs to get something and when he returned five minutes later the gingerbread village was gone!  Avalanche?  No.  Tsunami?  No.  Kids?  No.  Big black dog with a full belly?  Ding Ding you are right!  Scoozoo had devoured our whole village in five minutes flat.  He had even licked the bases clean! 

I guess the old saying isn't true-Run!  Run!  As fast as you can!  You can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread man!

Fun and Funky ornaments

This year marks the second year of a handmade ornament exchange I am involved in.  This year I decided to make felt ornaments.  They ended up being really easy to make and I think they came out super cute.  You too can easily make these ornaments!  To download a free pattern go to Fantastic Toys.

Zany thought of the day:  When it comes to Christmas decorations would you say you tend to be more traditional, sticking to red and green, or do you take a ride on the wild side and incorporate some funky colors into the mix?

Frightfully fun!

It's almost October and the ghosts and goblins will soon be scurrying about!  To help ward off those scary creatures, you might want to check out the spooky Frankenstein shirt from my baby boutique, Two Zany Zebras.

You may also need Wanda the Witch, Dracula, or Frankenstein to help guard all of your Halloween loot.  With them on your trick-or-treat bag no one will dare attempt to steal your candy!

Peek-a-Boo fun!

Pocket Blankies are back in stock in my baby boutique, Two Zany Zebras! The Pocket blankie is a zany and unique concept. The blanket is adorned with a pocket which allows for hours of peek-a-boo entertainment. Just slip a few toys into the pocket and watch as baby is entertained and works on his hand-eye coordination. These blankets are made with cotton and super soft and plush minky making them wonderful for nap time.

Run, run as fast as you can...

The Zany family made their first ever Gingerbread House! The kids loved icing the roof of the house and made sure to lick the spoon every chance they got. They also made sure to divide the candy between their little mouths and the Gingerbread House! Their motto was, "Two for me, one for the house..."

They are very proud of the end product:

And no, they were not nice and loving to each other as they decorated the house...I think Wacky Zacky's sugar high is kicking in in this picture because he can hardly hold up his head.

The kids were warned NOT to eat the treats off the Gingerbread house...It's a fun decoration to look at-not touch! As you can see by Zany Janie's mischievious smile she plans to heed this warning!

And Wacky Zacky will give you a little wink as he plucks a piece of candy off the house!

Every morning I find the kids quickly running away from the Gingerbread house pretending nothing is in their mouths. And every time this line goes through my head:

Run, run as fast as you can!
Mommy can't catch us because she's too slow from the baby in her tummy!

Zany thought of the day: Many of you may be planning on playing games with family over the Holidays. So here's a little tidbit of information that may help you win the game: The Gingerbread Boy first appeared in 1875 in the St. Nicholas Magazine. The original version was about a childless old woman bakes a gingerbread boy who leaps from her oven and runs away. The woman and her husband try to catch him, but fail to do so. The gingerbread boy then outruns several farm workers and farm animals while taunting them with the phrase:

I've run away from a little old woman,

A little old man,

And I can run away from you, I can!

Unfortunately the tale ends with a fox catching and eating the gingerbread boy who cries as he's devoured, "I'm quarter gone...I'm half gone...I'm three-quarters gone...I'm all gone!"

Dieter's nightmare-Chocolate lovers dream!

A few of my friends came over to my house and we had the best type of party I can think of-a CHOCOLATE making party! One of our friends is an old pro at using candy molds, dipping things in chocolate, and making chocolate bark so she showed us the way to creating wonderful yummy gifts!

We spent several hours making turtles,

painting candy molds and filling them with chocolate,

And dipping pretzels in chocolate!

By the time we were done the house was filled with the aroma of chocolate and we had what appeared to be enough chocolate to last a lifetime!


All the chocolate goodies were split among the five of us with the intention to save it until closer to Christmas when we could give the goodies as gifts...

That was the plan, however in the Zany house those naughty bites of chocolate try to lure me in every time I open the refrigerator door! They are very sneaky that way!

Gobble these up!

It's so much fun to do crafts with the kids, especially around the Holidays! Zany Janie and Wacky Zacky were super excited to work with paint to make these adorable turkey hand prints. All you need is a few different colors of paint, a paint brush, paper, markers, and the knowledge that this craft could possibly make a HUGE mess!

These turkeys would make great decorations for a Thanksgiving party! They can also be great keepsakes to show how much your little one has grown year after year!

Monster Mania!

On different occasions I've been asked, "What is the most successful product in your Etsy shop, Two Zany Zebras?" I try to come up with several designs and various products such as monster clothes, Zarkles (whimsical creatures), monster bags, blankets, monster burp cloths, mucus monsters, hot/cold ouchy bags, and bibs. I have numerous monsters to choose from, but for some reason it seems like people gravitate to the monster design pictured above. Some say he reminds them of cookie monster, others say he looks friendly, regardless of the reason people seem to love him. You can't help but smile when you see the silly monster grinning at you. Kids love to feel the super soft texture of the monster and proudly keep their shirts on! These monsters can come in any color imaginable! If you'd like to order one of these unique monsters, please go to my Etsy shop, Two Zany Zebras, for further information!

Frankenstein Treats

The other day I was flipping through a magazine and found these adorable treats and couldn't resist making them! Even though Halloween is over for the year, I thought I'd share this easy recipe with you because it could be adapted to work for other holidays! They are guaranteed to be gobbled up in the blink of an eye!

FRANKENSTEIN TREATS

INGREDIENTS:
Instant vanilla pudding
Green food coloring
Chocolate chips/melting chips
Oreo cookies-crushed
Clear cups
Paint brush

DIRECTIONS:
Melt chocolate chips. Paint faces on the inside of the cup with the melted chocolate using paint brush. Place cups in refrigerator to let chocolate harden. Make instant vanilla pudding according to directions. Add green food coloring to desired intensity of color. Divide pudding among the cups. Add crushed Oreo cookies to the top of the cups. Enjoy!

Zany thought of the day: Why is Frankenstein's skin green?

MUCUS MONSTERS for runny noses or drooly pools of goo

There's a new creation in my Etsy shop, Two Zany Zebras!!! They are called Mucus Monsters. These zany Mucus Monsters are sure to be a favorite friend for the little monster in your life. Instead of running away from you the second they see a tissue come their way, they will come to you asking to use the Mucus Monster! They are so much more fun to use than tissues and they are better for the environment since they are reusable. Mucus Monsters are made with super soft fabric to help ease the soreness, rawness, and redness that occur when using tissues.

Mucus monsters can multitask and function as a cuddly lovie or toy, a wash cloth to help your little one learn to love baths, or a fun mini burp cloth. The horns are great for curious hands to explore.

With cold and flu season approaching us you may want to stock up now!

Hot/cold ouchy bags for when you have a monster owie

Here's the newest zany creation!!!!

These cute Hot/Cold Ouchy Bags are perfect for when your little one feels they have a monster owie! They are great for bruises, bumps, muscle aches, headaches, ear aches, bug bites, bee stings, sunburns, fever relief, or just to cool down from a hard day of playing. Don’t limit these little monsters for just the kids! Adults can use them too for sinus headaches, backaches, muscle tension, and even to help reduce soreness and clogged milk ducts for the breast feeding mama.

These Hot/Cold Ouchy Bags measure approximately 5 inches X 4 inches for the body of the monster (excluding the arms and legs) making it the perfect size to put on all those monster owies! Because these Ouchy Bags are fun and zany monsters they are appealing to children and you have more of a chance of them actually keeping the Ouchy Bag on the owie!

To get your very own Monster Ouchy Bag go to my Etsy shop: Two Zany Zebras!

Newest Zany Creation!!!

These zany burp clothes are sure to be a favorite for the little monster in your life. They are all made out of super soft minky fabric. They are lined with a super absorbent batting sure to soak up messes from even the juiciest babies. The burp clothes measure approximately 14 X 6 inches making it the perfect size. Edges are top stitched for a nice finished look and extra durability. These unique items can also double as a fun lovey for your baby. The arms and legs are great for curious hands to explore.

I can do custom orders in these monsters for lovies, blankets, stuffed animals, or onesies. I can also do custom orders for this item in other colors of fabric.

So check out my Etsy shop at Two Zany Zebras to purchase your Zarkle Burp Cloth / Lovey today!

Samu-what? Samu-who? Samurai!

A few days ago a couple of strange fellows appeared in the Zany backyard. These two unique characters are long lost relatives of the Zarkle family. The red monster is named Samurai Kaiju Zarkle which means "Monster" in Japanese. The blue monster's name is Samurai Mizu which means "water" in Japanese. The Samurai Zarkles are protectors and keep a watchful eye over all. These fierce Samurai can be found for adoption in my Etsy shop Two Zany Zebras. I can also do custom orders for them and make them in any color of your hearts desire.

Zany thought of the day: Never forget the wise words of an old Samurai: "Petting scorpions with a compassionate hand will only get you stung."

Think Pink!

I just finished a custom order for a friend. She, much like myself, didn't really like pink before having a baby girl. I think we both pictured having all boys and were a little shocked when we both found out our second child was going to be a girl! I had Zany Janie a year before her little girl was born and I warned her she would become a closet lover of pink! Lo and behold she asked me to make something for her in PINK!

If you are looking for a unique shower gift or something fun and funky for your baby please visit my online etsy shop: Two Zany Zebras. I also love to do custom orders!

Zany thought of the day: Who decided that baby girls should wear pink and baby boys should wear blue? How did they determine the colors? When Zany Janie was a baby we would dress her in all pink when we were out shopping, people would still tell me I had a handsome little boy! Go figure...