October 13, 2021

Are you looking for fun, STEAM projects to do with the family without it feeling like a boring class? Look no further than this science experiment, where you can grow your own salt crystals overnight using simple household ingredients! Supplies:•  Epsom salts•  Glass jars or cups•  Hot water•  Bowl or spoon•  1 pebble or small rock•  Food coloring (optional) Steps:1. Measure out an equal amount of water and Epsom salt and pour just the water into a glass jar or cup. Heat the water for 45 seconds in a microwave, then stir in the Epsom salt until the salt is mostly dissolved (don’t worry if a little salt remains unmixed.)2. Add a few...

Adults Children Learning Teens Tweens

September 2, 2021

You probaby didn't know this, but September 4 is National Hummingbird Day! Celebrated on the first Saturday of September, this is a great time to take notice of these beautiful, energetic birds before they migrate south.But even after they're gone for the year, you can still have hummingbirds around by crafting your own! Using some common household supplies, just follow the steps below and you'll soon have a charm of your own ("charm" is a term for a group of hummingbirds!) Supplies needed:2 Pom-poms1 toothpick or pipe cleaner1 cupcake liner or 3 craft feathersScissorsBlack markerGlueGoogly eyes (optional) Steps:1. If you have a toothpick, cut it in half. Using the marker, color it black and...

Adults Children

July 29, 2021

Are you a gardener, watching your harvest grow this summer? I am, and since the start of the pandemic, I've really enjoyed digging (literally) into my backyard and doing more projects than I ever have before. Weekends off with my husband (for the first time in the decade we’ve known each other) provided the perfect opportunity to work outside creating quite the sanctuary in our backyard! Not only did we expand our garden (again) and build more planting areas around the yard (again), we’ve created a winding path up to a woodland area where I can sit and read. We’ve also created new areas for wildlife and pollinators, including a wildflower patch, bee hotels, and my favorite addition: a pond...

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March 10, 2021

Spring is on the way, and you can add some brightness on a rainy day by making this simple (yet fun!) craft, no matter your age. To get started, you'll first need to gather a few common supplies: Umbrella Craft Supplies needed: Construction paper, in various colors (one must be blue) Scissors 1 pipe cleaner Glue Yarn or string   Steps: Cut out 10 circles in the colors of your choice. Fold each circle in half, then fold in half once more, so it’s folded into fourths. Once all of the circles have been folded, open each circle and glue the middle together, as shown in the example pictures. Do this with all of the folded circles. Now, connect...

Adults Children Tweens

February 2, 2021

Recently, I wrote an article on my favorite cozy mysteries to coincide with winter in Wisconsin. Although I’m a fan of cozy mysteries, my all-time favorite type of novel to read is an intriguing psychological thriller. I find them really engaging, atmospheric, and I love when I can never guess the twists and turns that pop up. I love to go back and forth between cozy mysteries and psychological thrillers (with a plethora of cookbooks sprinkled in), and below are a list of my all-time favorite novels and authors: Author: Clare Mackintosh Recommended Reads: I Let You Go, I See You, Let Me Lie Clare Mackintosh is the author who really made me realize I love a good thriller and mystery. The first book I...

Adults Books Reading Recommendations

January 13, 2021

Do you love cozy murder mysteries? Do you love books and libraries? I’ve compiled a list of my favorite cozy murder mysteries with a book or library theme, perfect for a relaxing reading session on a cold winter's night (or, really, any time of the year). If you’re like me and love a good psychological thriller too, these are great to read in between other genres, when your mind may need a bit of a break and craves a lighter read. Looking for other cozy mystery ideas? Click here to read another article I wrote about some of my other favorite cozy mystery series that don't have a specific library or book theme.

Adults Authors Books Reading Recommendations

January 6, 2021

As winter sets and days get shorter, I start focusing on making my surroundings at home more cozy (are there ever too many candles?). As it turns out, my reading choices tend to follow that pattern as well, and I turn to cozy mysteries. Cozy mysteries are also great to grab in between other genres you’re reading, such as psychological thrillers. They're my favorite type of novel, but I usually need a nice cozy mystery to sandwich in between them. Below are a list of some of my favorite cozy mystery series, all of which are available to request through MCPL's library catalog. Because there are so many great ones available, I’m writing a separate post on any that have a book or...

Adults Books Reading Recommendations

November 17, 2020

As winter approaches and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many folks are focusing on mental health. Journaling has been shown to have really positive mental health benefits, and can be a positive outlet for getting out your thoughts and feelings. Plus, with a new year approaching, it’s also a great time to get organized and think about goals going forward. Here are two options to make your own homemade journal or notebook, using common household materials:   Basic Homemade Journal: Supplies: Plain paper or cardstock Patterned scrapbook paper or cardstock Scissors or paper cutter Hole punch Twine, string, or yarn Steps: 1. Cut pieces of regular printer paper or cardstock...

Adults Arts and Crafts Teens Tweens

July 25, 2020

July 31st is Harry Potter’s Birthday, and if you’re a fan like me, it’s a great excuse to celebrate all things Harry Potter! Since I became the Mosinee Branch Coordinator, I’ve tried to bring my love of the Harry Potter series to our branch. At the end of the July, we typically host a week-long celebration of crafts and activities (with costumes very welcome!) including a crowd favorite, wand making! While we can’t do our usual in-person programming this year, below are instructions on how to make your very own wand at home, along with some links for other activities to celebrate! Instructions for Younger Children (No Hot Glue Involved!) Supplies needed: Short stick, chopstick or unsharpened...

Adults Children Teens Tweens

May 21, 2020

As many are during this time, I am cooking more homemade food than ever! I’ve always loved cooking and baking, but now that I have a bit more time at home and am trying to keep my immune system in tip-top shape, I’ve been focusing even more on healthy, homemade meals (but still as tasty as ever!) As someone born with food intolerances to soy, dairy, and egg, (who outgrew them, only to have them reappear after a semester abroad back in college), I’ve always had to be conscious of what I eat and learned early on how to cook most of my meals at home due to safety concerns at restaurants. A few years ago, I was researching nutrition while going through a severe case of mononucleosis and went plant-based to try...

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May 4, 2020

Do you love BB-8? You know, the round, adventurous droid from the latest trilogy of Star Wars films? Now you can make one at home - and he even rolls, just like the real one! Just follow the steps below and you'll soon have your own little companion to travel the galaxy with! Supplies: •  1 paper plate •  1 printable template •  1 paper fastener •  1 long piece of cardboard •  Masking tape •  Crayons, markers or colored pencils •  Hole punch   Steps: 1. Print out and color your template for the top of your BB-8. Make sure to print out a template that matches the size of the paper plates you have at home....

Arts and Crafts

April 28, 2020

Blustery spring days are here! When the wind starts to blow, why not take advantage of it and go fly a kite? If you don't have one on-hand, that's okay - you can easily make one using some common household supplies and craft supplies! Just follow the simple steps below to create your own paper bag kite. Then, get outside and test it out! Supplies: •  Brown paper lunch bags •  Yarn, ribbon or streamers •  Popsicle sticks or wooden tongue depressors •  Scissors •  Scotch tape •  Crayons, markers, stamps, stickers, paints or other supplies to decorate your kite   Steps: 1. Using crayons, markers stamps, stickers paints...

Arts and Crafts

January 26, 2017

Last week, we held a program for teens and adults at our Mosinee Branch focused on making two homemade relaxation products: a coconut oil salt scrub and a stress-relieving foot soak. If you missed that program, you can now make the items yourself using the provided instructions below!  Both items seemed to go over well to those who came to the event. The process of making both the salt scrub and the foot soak were a bit messy, and scented our library for a while (in a good way!) Everyone had a great time and appreciated the safe, homemade items they got to take home with them.  Homemade Coconut Oil Salt Scrub Ingredients: 2 cups coconut oil 1 cup Epsom salt 20 drops of...

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