IGGPPC Camp Activity: Jell-O Aquarium

Jell-O Aquariums are all the rage right now, especially since it's summer and something young and old alike can enjoy! I streamline the activity, because there are so many variables that can make it fail. Talk about trial and error on my end. I essentially had to get rid of the gravel at the bottom, because it always turned a horrible color. So let's get started with what I finally settled on.

Materials

• Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cup
• Something to Mix With
• Water
• Something to Boil Water with
• Wide-Mouthed Jar (or clear plastic cup... smaller is better and you'll make more than one)
• Blue Jell-O mix (can't find this? see below)
• Gummy sea creatures (Swedish Fish, Gummy Octopuses, Sharks, or other aquatic animals)
• Something to break the surface of the Jell-O/Gelatin
• Whipped Cream (optional)

Not Using Jell-O?

• Gelatin Packets
• Raspberry Extract 
• Blue Food Coloring
• Stevia
• Electric Whisk

Directions for Using Jell-O

1. Following the directions on the Jell-O box (you'll need the bowl, measuring cup, the Jell-O mix, something to boil water with and water).

2. Pour into your jar(s) or cup(s).

3. Chill until you are ready to serve (the color from the fish will bleed into your Jell-O if you do it too early).

If you have some like-colored or candy you're sure won't bleed, try it out!

4. Take a butterknife or knife or something else and gently break the surface of the Jell-O an slip in your gummy sea life! You can put them up along the side or in the middle. Depending on how deep your jar is, you could probably get some on the bottom.

5. Then decorate as you wish! Whipped cream for waves or fishing jumping out of the water, etc.

Note: The Jell-O is a bit darker than I'd like, but it tastes better and is easier to work with.

Directions for Using Gelatin

1. Follow the directions on the box for making Gelatin. Mine said boil 3 cups of water and keep one cold. Then pour your 4 packets of gelatin into the cold water for 1 minute to firm up.

2. Once the water is boiling, add it to the cold water gelatin. Then use an electric whisk for 5 minutes.

3. Once hat is done, at 2 drops of blue food coloring, 8 drops of Stevia, and a TBSP of Raspberry Extract.

4. Gently whisk together and then pour into the jar. 

5. Put the jar in the fridge and let it set until you are ready to serve.

6. Before you serve, use something to gently create a slit in the gelatin. Then take your favorite aquatic gummies and carefully push them down into the gelatin.

7. You can put whipped cream on top to create waves or add any of your favorite things to the jar. 

Note: The Gelatin doesn't taste as good, but the color is preferable so you can see everything easily. You have more freedom to play around and really make it your own, but I found it to be much more tedious. I also could not put candy in before it set like the Jell-O.

Don't forget to take pictures and hashtag them #IGGPPC and #IGGPPCAMP for Twitter and Instagram! Or @IGGPPCAMP on Twitter! 

Orlando or Bust: Day 1 & 2 - The Road and The Walking Dead

My mum is always wanting to go on family trips to Florida. In the previous years we've been to Sea World and Universal, but this year she was determined to finally take my daughter to Disney. Now, I'm being honest, my anxiety hits 11 at the thought of Disney World, especially in June, but I wanted my mom to have this YOLO moment with my daughter, who is 6yo.

Racing to leave right after school lets out is something I wish on no one. I had to have my classroom ready to close, all grades in, and check out in the office before I left. Then I had to get home and finish packing up the car. We left for Milwaukee at around 6PM.

Our first stop from Oshkosh to Orlando was Milwaukee. We stopped at my mum's house to pick up her bag (she was flying) and grab a few winks before we headed out for real. Then we were off through Illinois and down, down, down.

When we drive down to Florida, I usually make a point of doing some location spotting south of Atlanta. The other bonus is that a certain AMC show is occasionally shooting when we drive through. Now, I should probably point out that my husband doesn't get into this kind of thing. It's a meh activity and he gives in to my nerdy, fangirl whims. What shocked me was that on this trip he was excited to location sight-see for The Walking Dead.

Using this map (organized by season, too) over the course of 24 hours, here are the locations we visited. All of them were legal, except maybe one, but it's sketchy at best as to whether it was or not. I should note here that I had already visited The CDC (not CDC), Terminus, and Woodbury on a previous road trip, but I'll post them below, too.

Terminus Tracks

The hospital entrance where Beth is brought out by Daryl.

The daycare where Maggie and Daryl pick up supplies for Baby Judith.

The graveyard Daryl and Beth walk through after The Prison.

Title Credits!

Where Morgan was holed up.

Used for a few scenes.

Beyond is the factory where Andrea hides from The Governor.

The house where Daryl and Beth hide after The Prison.

The restaurant where Carl finds the pic of his mom and Michonne takes a cat.

Maggie left a message for Glenn along the tracks.

More Terminus tracks.

Hershel returns to drinking. Found by Rick and Glenn.

Hershel returns to drinking. Found by Rick and Glenn.

Where Maggie first propositions Glenn, while Glenn looks for a pregnancy test.

Burned down Moonshine house. Permission to look.

After the farms goes. Ricktatorship scene.

After the farms goes. Ricktatorship scene.

After the farms goes. Ricktatorship scene.

After the farms goes. Ricktatorship scene.

Merle's last stand!

Merle's last stand!

Meeting with the Governor (across from Merle's last stand).

18 miles out intersection.

Alexandria

Alexandria

Alexandria

Alexandria

Alexandria

Rick and Carl take shelter after The Prison.

Rick and Carl take shelter after The Prison.

Carl's pudding house!

Merle cranks up the radio and lures walkers.

The side road used for like EVERYTHING!

The studio lot.

Sorgum barn!

The barn with names and messages on it that the Governor passes.

Supposedly where Daryl is ambushed and Denise is shot.

The gas station where Daryl and Rick meet Jesus.

The CDC (not CDC) in Atlanta.

The site of Terminus.

Woodbury

Starbuck's Unicorn Frappucino

I bought into the hype! I was there at like 10AM to get mine (and one for my husband).

After some hesitation, I tried it and I really enjoyed it! It started out sort of like a dreamsicle - a mangoy dreamsicle. Then came the tart tart tart. It was really quite delicious! The sprinkles type topping was exceptionally tart. When I asked my husband he said "the pink syrup is mango, the pink powder is apple, cherry, radish, and sweet potato. The blue syrup is white chocolate mocha and the blue powder is sour."

Sadly, I feel Starbucks under-estimated the draw of the Unicorn Frapp, because my local Starbucks was sold out by the next day. I hope they bring it back. It was totally worth the splurge of sweetness. I was also disappointed that I went back the next day and they were out, because my daughter was really excited to have one and not ever did I think the drinks wouldn't make it to day 2. Ceste la vie.