FALL FUN

Can you believe that fall is already upon us? It seems that every year it is here before we know it. Fall is such a beautiful time of the year, spent by enjoying football games carving pumpkins, and sipping cider with your loved ones by your side, and of course not yet having to stress about the hustle and bustle of the holidays that are approaching (Yikes!).

One of the most fun things about fall is the family activities and crafts. Although there is a never-ending list of possibilities for fall fun, here are a few that are worth setting aside the time to do.

1. Pumpkin Patch

Of course! What would fall be without a visit to the pumpkin patch? If you’re looking for a great time with the kids, this is the place to go. If you’re local to San Diego, the Bates Nut Farm is outstanding. Located in the Valley Center, this pumpkin patch is a way above average and worth the drive. The weekends are full of fun activities, but of course, more crowded. This place has it all, from tractor rides, to food trucks, and farm animals for the kids. Squeezing in a visit to the pumpkin patch is a must!

2. Ghost Tour

If your kids are past the pumpkin-picking stage and looking for a little more spooky Halloween tradition, a ghost tour is perfect! Located in Old Town, San Diego, this tour is filled with history of the area twisted with chilling details.

2754 2754 Calhoun St San Diego, CA 92110 (at Wallace St Old Town)

3. Apple Picking

Put on your favorite boots, grab the kids, and hop on the road! Typically, apple picking in Southern California is usually limited to the grocery store, but plucking a beautiful and juicy apple off of a tree brings a certain satisfaction that the grocery store shelves simply cannot supply. This is must-do of fall activities! A highly recommended place to go is the Volcan Valley Apple Farm located in Julian, California. It is definitely worth the drive!

1284 Julian Orchards Dr. Julian, CA 92036

4. Football Games!

Whether it be the Chargers or San Diego State, spending a fall night cheering on your favorite team is sure to be packed with fun. Friday night-lights with the family will be something that you won’t want to miss! Be sure to grab tickets online.

~Sarah Luckham,
Social Media Specialist, Seaside Staffing Company 2015

Tie Dye Technique With SHARPIES?!

We can't WAIT to try this one out :)

Super simple craft that would make a great gift too. Check out the full post HERE. 

Here is what you need to create this fun craft:

• a plastic vinegar jug
• Sharpie Fine-Tip Permanent Markers
• rubbing alcohol
• spray varnish
• medicine dropper or pipette
• ribbon, twine or cording
• button
• scissors, hole punch 

Cut out your bookmark:

To remove the label from the vinegar jug, I filled the jug with very hot water, and let it sit for 10 minutes.  The heat from the water softens the glue, and the label peels off easily.

To make our bookmarks, I traced one of my own bookmarks on the plastic with a pencil, and used a pair of sharp scissors to cut it out. I repeated the process, getting 4 bookmarks out of one vinegar jug.

Color your bookmark:

Next, we colored our bookmarks.  Using a variety of bright colors, cover your entire bookmark with your Sharpies.  There’s no right or wrong way to do this.  Just fill in the whole bookmark.

The Sharpie and rubbing alcohol tie-dye technique:

Fill a dropper/pipette with rubbing alcohol and drip small drops on to your bookmark.  You can tap your dropper against your bookmark – that will deposit tiny amounts  on to the plastic, or you can just drip the alcohol randomly over your art.

Then let it sit.  Do not move the bookmark, or tip it, or all of your colors will run together.  Just watch it, and you’ll see the colors start to blend and fuse together.  It’s so magical and beautiful.

You can experiment with the amount of alcohol you use.  If you’re not happy with the way things are going, you can swipe the bookmark clean and start again.  A paper towel is good for this.

Setting the color:

To prevent your Sharpie art from rubbing off, you need to give it a shot of spray varnish.  Do not brush on a liquid varnish as it will likely dissolve your art.

Lightly spray your bookmark with the varnish.  If you use too much, it will activate the Sharpie ink like the alcohol did, and your colors will start to bleed again.

Allow your varnish to dry, and spray with a second coat if you like.  You don’t have to be quite as careful with your second coat of varnish because your art has been protected by the first coat.

Once your varnish has dried, punch a hole in the top of your bookmark, thread a ribbon or some cording through, and if you like, embellish with a pretty button.