This is one of my absolute favorite exercises to do with all kinds of teams. This exercise works as a fun energizer for well functioning long standing teams and can be made very silly and fun! This exercise may also be used to identify challenge areas in communication and trust within teams. Why is this important? Why should we engage in an activity where we are trying to highlight our perceived deficiencies? When building teams, whom are there to accomplish the same goals, it is important that we pay attention to areas that are weak. These areas will keep teams from functioning well and achieving their goals. So we need to acknowledge these deficiencies so we plan and implement changes or actions to correct them and improve them. Working with a team of people is not very different from a professional sports team. Coaches and players are constantly watching past game footage, finding mistakes and creating plans and strategies to constantly improve on their past performance. We as teams, can follow suit and become the best team that we can be!!! The full instructions are available below for download. As always please leave me a comment and let me know your opinion! Have a wonderful day!

The Marshmallow Challenge is a wonderful way to begin a meeting or an announcement. It will help your team mentally prepare for the meeting ahead. The game itself is fun and a wee bit sticky! It will help the team members "break" ties with previous tasks or preoccupations they have on their mind and even helps reduce stress or anxiety they may be feeling. The actions of the game providing to focus on a fun and challenging task. At the end of this short game, they will better prepared to focus on the new information or topic at hand. The instructions are included in this post as well as in a downloadable file. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think or better yet, what impact this game had on your team!
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​Thank you for joining me on my Facebook Live or Linked-In to watch the first installment of 52 Weeks of Team Building. This week I discussed the importance of building a culture of "Play" within your team. Remember, a team may be the people you work with, live with, friends, volunteer groups and more. You can use these concepts with any group you interact with regularly to develop a mind set and culture of "Play". Its about taking actions to help yourself and those around you more engaged, more active, less stressed, more focused and happier.  Whether you are starting with us today or you find this post 5 months from now, I want to hear from you! Tell me how you used the Declaration of "PLAY" and what were your results! If you have questions leave me a comment or feel free to email me at beth@creativelearningsociety.com
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/creativelearningsociety

The File for The Declaration of Play is Below. Please Click the File to view and save.

Thank you
Beth Ackerman-Ornelas
Chief Creative Officer

​Crock Pot Chocolate Peanut Clusters (simplyhappyfoodie.com)

I don't know about you but I love my Crock Pot! They are magical little devices where I can dump many ingredients...walk away and BAM! I get a meal. They are so magical that my friend's Husband calls her Crock Pot Witch Majic! I hope you enjoy this recipe. It is crazy easy and something that can easily be done with the family over the holidays. Maybe even make a tasty treat or gift for someone you appreciate.

Ingredients
2 lbs White Melting Chocolate (White Almond Bark or Candy Coating) 
4 oz Sweet Baking Chocolate (such as German by Baker's)
2 cups Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
16 oz Salted Dry Roasted Peanuts
8 oz Unsalted Dry Roasted Peanuts
8 oz Cocktail Peanuts
Instructions
1. Line your kitchen counter with parchment, or 3 baking sheets with parchment (this recipe makes a lot!).
2. In a 5 qt or larger slow cooker, add the white melting chocolate, sweet baking chocolate, and semi sweet chocolate chips. Put the lid on and set to LOW for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally (you will want to check it to make sure it is not burning). 
3. When the chocolates are all soft and melted enough, stir to combine them. 
4. Add all of the nuts to the crock pot and stir them in well. Put the lid on and switch to Warm, or turn off the slow cooker (but leave the crock in the housing to stay warm). 
5. Use an ice cream scoop or a Tablespoon, depending on how large you want your peanut clusters, to scoop small mounds onto the parchment paper. After you have used all of the mixture, Rinse your crock with hot water. 
6. The candies will take about an hour to really set. When they are set, transfer to an air tight container. These keep well for a week or so, and are wonderful to give as gifts! 

​The Best Ever Microwave Peanut Brittle 
The holidays and winter always have m running for the sticky sweet treats and peanut brittle is one of my all-time favorites! This recipe comes from Julie's Treats and is as tasty as it is easy to make. I hope you enjoy making this for you and your family!

Ingredients
1 c sugar
1/2 c. corn syrup
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 c. unsalted peanuts
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

Instructions
Combine sugar, syrup and salt in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 5 minutes on high. Stir in peanuts. Microwave 3 to 5 more minutes, stirring after 3 minutes. Microwave until syrup and peanuts are light brown. Stir in butter, vanilla and baking soda until light and foamy. Spread on buttered cookie sheet. Cool and break. 

I love any activity that brings people together and engages their creativity. Craft Socials are my way of doing just that! The purpose of the events is to have FUN! I tell everyone that these events are for the “Craft Misfits” and “Pinterest Failures”. If I can create an outlet for adults and children to exercise their inner creativity and give them a safe place to step out of their comfort zone all while meeting new people and hopefully making some friends....then I have fulfilled the purpose of a Craft Social!

Here are a few pictures of my recent craft socials. I hope you enjoy and Please Join is for our next Social or contact me to set up a Team Building or Private Event.

Weekly Team Builder! Here is a fun game for any size group or team! Are you ready for the DRAMA??
Paper Bag Drama
Supplies:
• Paper lunch bags 5
• Miscellaneous items at least 3 - 5 items per bag
• Camera – you won’t want to miss this!
Preparation:
Before your meeting, find and place 3-5 random objects into each paper bag. Items can be anything that fits inside the bag and is appropriate for your group. I have used items like glue sticks, cupcake sprinkles, scissors, paper, markers, earrings, q-tips, package of tea, coffee, sugar packets, string, lipstick and more.
Close the bags and bring them to your meeting
Instructions:
Break your group into teams of 3-4 people. Once the groups have assembled. Explain that they will be given a bag. In the bag they will find some random items. Their mission is to create a short “skit” using the items in the bag. If needed they may use any other items in the room to assist them with their “skit”, Each team will be given 5 minutes to prepare their skit. Once you have explained the rules and answered their questions…hand out the bags and start the timer!
I suggest handing out all of the bags at one time and allowing all groups to prep during the first 5 minutes. Then invite everyone to take their seats as the groups begin to perform their skits.
Keep this activity light and fun! You can have the entire team vote for their favorite “skit” and give the winning team a small prize. If you have time, you can shuffle the bags and have the teams perform another “skit”. You can also have separate prizes for best actor, actress, most enthusiastic, worst actor ect…

​Everything Fall means baking and I love me some soft and sweet Pumpkin Bread. This recipe is amazing and gives you a moist bread and includes a new twist with the Maple Cinnamon Butter. Add a cup of coffee and I am in heaven! Enjoy!

This recipe comes from Stuckonsweet.com:
Recipe type: Bread
Serves: 6

Ingredients
Pumpkin Bread
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
½ cup vegetable oil
⅓ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
½ of a 15 ounce can pure pumpkin. About 1 cup.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup water
1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
Maple Cinnamon Butter
Maple Cinnamon Butter
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon maple syrup
¼-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together; flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice and set aside.
3. In a stand-alone mixer fitted with a whisk attachment cream together the oil and sugars, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
4. Next, add eggs one at a time and vanilla, scraping down sides of the bowl.
5. Next, add pumpkin, maple syrup and water, again scraping down the sides of the bowl.
6. Lastly, add the bowl of dry ingredients a little at a time until just mixed together.
7. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan before turning the pan over to take it out.
8. To make the maple cinnamon butter, whisk all of the ingredient in a bowl and serve with bread.

It would not be Fall.....without the addition  of Pumpkin Pie Spice in absolutely everything we eat, drink and smell! Lucky for me, I happen to love this stuff! The recipe listed below can be used to flavor a multitude of Fall inspired beverages and tasty treats. So go ahead and put on your favorite Fall sweater and cozy up to a good book with a taste of this Pumpkin Spice. Read everything or skip to the end to see how you can use this recipe. This recipe is courtesy of Lexiscleankitchen.com

Ingredients
1/4 cup ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons cloves
Directions 
Place all ingredients in a jar and stir or shake to mix it up completely.
Close with a tight fitting lid and store for up to one year (see note).
Recipe Notes
Spices are best kept for one year, so if you are starting with older spices it may lose its potency sooner than one year.

Uses for Pumpkin Pie Spice 
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Pumpkin Spice Cornbread
Apple Pie Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
Maple Sauce
Strussel
Pumpkin Spice Pretzels
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin spice honey or syrup
Pumpkin Spice Candles
Pumpkin Spice Popcorn
Pumpkin Spice Donuts
And the list goes on and on! 

​Olive Oil and Lemon Lanterns

I love Fall and the change of the seasons give me the urge to become the Crafting Queen! Although I seriously doubt I deserve the title. I always like to give it a try. This week I found this awesome craft on The Kinnard Homestead and I just had to share! I will be making these babies on Facebook Live Wednesday evening so join me and lets make them together! 

What You Will Need
Olive or vegetable oil
Lantern wicks
Floral wire (or paper clip)
Container
Lid (optional)
Fruit or herb filler

STEP 1
Loosely twist your wire around the wick leaving a small portion at the top in order to light on fire.
STEP 2
Center the Wick in Jar
Center your wick inside your container then bend the wire over the side to anchor it into place.
STEP 3
Arrange Lemon Slices in Jar
Next, slice your lemons to your desired thickness and place them inside your container arranging them in a way to cover the sides without taking up the bulk of room inside the container. You will need to leave room to fill with as much oil as possible.
STEP 4
Fill Jar with Oil
After you’ve arranged your lemon slices the way you want, carefully fill the container with your oil. Let your wick soak up the oil for at least 15 minutes before you attempt to light it. Not only are the lemons pretty but they also help scent the oil so it will give off a soft lemon fragrance the longer they soak in the oil.