March 7, 2013

Party planning ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ style

oz themed party planning ideas

 

Balloons and bubbles and baboons oh my!  If your family was off to see the Wizard and now are insisting on a pretty powerful party or celebration then Britney at Brit.co has some great ideas that she doesn’t mind me sharing.
Pictured above – Somewhere over the rainbow cupcakes, Light Bulb Hot Air Balloons and bottles of bubbles.   Perfect for parties and the bubbles and balloons could also work well for say a wedding or baby shower!

Don’t miss out on her Paper Lantern Hot Air Balloons, Glowing Cotton Candy, a Color Wheel Cake, and Paper Poppies just to name a few more party planning ideas.  I love the book purse – but you will just have to see it for yourself!

And of course, what’s a Oz inspired party without balloons?  That’s easy and inexpensive, not to mention colorful.

What’s some of your favorite ideas from here 15 DIY Oz Themed Party Plans?

 

 

 

 

 

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February 20, 2013

Green Sludge Punch

Okay sure it may sound “monsterous” but it’s actually a pretty perfect punch for just about any party.

INGREDIENTS:
2 (12 fluid ounces) cans frozen limeade concentrate
2 (12 fluid ounces) cans frozen lemonade concentrate
2 (2 liters) bottles lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage
2 quarts lime sherbert
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a large pot, combine limeade, lemonade & lemon-lime soda. Mix in lime sherbert
just before serving.

How easy is that?

 

 

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February 7, 2013

Over 50 Fabulous Valentine’s Day gift ideas, recipes, crafts and DIY greeting cards for kids

valentines4It is going to be a busy couple of weeks in our house. Valentine’s Day is one of our favorite holidays and the girls just LOVE (no pun intended) to make something for everyone they know. That’s why we need so many ideas to choose from!

Some portions of this list have been previously published on my Examiner.com Family column. . .

DIY Greeting Cards

These DIY Valentine’s Day Greeting Cards and Instructions are easy enough even the children can do them. Make greeting cards for grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins, not to mention classmates and teachers.

Kids can practice their handwriting skills with these greeting cards that feature glittery red heart stickers.

These easy to do it yourself Valentine’s Day Cards feature pastel colored hearts that kids will love creating. Share a secret messagewith these Valentine’s Day cards easily with paper and paints. Who will you surprise?

Crafts and Decor

Go green with these cute Valentine’s Day Hearts and Paper Bowls and these fun and easy Valentine’s Day crafts for kids using recyclable materials.

Cuddle up with your preschooler for some story time every night with these best Valentine’s Day Books.

Find out how to make your own Valentine’s Day Wreath, Friendship Necklaces, and turn your tissue paper pink.

Moms Madhouse offers up 42 Valentine’s Day crafts, cards, and gift ideas to choose from. Which one will you do?

Decorate your mantle with these beautiful Valentine’s Day decorations that the whole family can help create.

Get those scissors out and some red, white and pink paper for the basis of this holiday mantel decoration.

I love this Clothesline Valentine’s Sign - and I have everything I need except I frame.  Wonder what the dollar store has, of course there is always Hobby Lobby!

Recipes, Snacks and Gifts Continue Reading …

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October 6, 2011

Teen Tested Ghoulishly Good Halloween Recipes

Halloween Party Recipes:

Jack O’Lantern Pizzas

Ingredients: English muffin halves
Pesto or Marinara Sauce
Grated Cheddar cheese
Sliced Black Olives

Lightly spread sauce on the English Muffin halves. Cover with grated cheese. Make a jack-o-lantern face with olives. Place mini-pizzas on a cookie sheet and broil in oven until the cheese is melted.Approx. 5-7 Minutes.

Bloody Fingers: Continue Reading …

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September 17, 2011

“Wild” afternoon snack ideas

Kids want fast and easy, you want smart and nutritious. Everybody in the jungle can be happy with these smart zoo animal after school snacks.

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September 13, 2011

Kid friendly recipes: easy peach pocket pies

Try this kid friendly recipe in the kitchen with your kids. It looks and tastes like desert but you’ll see that it’s actually a whole grain and fruit smart treat. These easy fruit pocket pies start with soft whole grain bread and are fill with apples or peaches and berries can be added as well.

To create the fruit filling, peel, core and slice peaches or apples and cover with a half cup of water in a quart sauce pan.  Simmer covered for around 20 minutes until tender.  You can also cheat and simmer the apples or peaches in a slow cooker barely covered with water for an hour or more.  Either way, strain liquid and mash with a potato masher.  Now you have your fruit filling for the easy fruit pocket pies.

Four lbs. of fruit will make approximately 4 cups of fruit filling and each using about 6 tablespoons of filling.
Ingredients:

Fruit filling

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons of sugar

12 slices of whole wheat bread

¼ cup vegetable oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spoon fruit filling onto the centers of 6 slices of bread.

Top with second slices of bread and mash the edges with a fork.

Crust can be cut off of the edges.

Lightly brush each side of the pocket with oil.

Place pies on an ungreased baking sheet.

Sprinkle tops with cinnamon.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until lightly toasted and cool for 30 minutes.

Work and play together as a family. 

While the easy fruit pocket pies are cooking make sure the kids help wash and clean up the kitchen.  While the pies cool enjoy a game of cards or board game.

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August 21, 2011

Cool Summer Snacks for Kids

Kids really dig DIY snow cones.

Snow cone stands pop us across the country every summer but this sugary, sweet syrup isn’t the healthiest choice. Kids can make their own snow cones by crushing ice in a blender and adding fruit juice or sports drinks for flavor and color. Serve homemade snow cones in a fancy cup for sipping or with a teaspoon for digging in.

One yogurt plus one stick in the freezer equals a too cool treat.

Frozen yogurt dozen just have to come in a cone. We love to freeze individual yogurt and make yogurt pops. Simply make a slit in the top of a yogurt container and insert a craft stick. After about half an hour in the freezer, gently massage the container until the frozen yogurt separates. Remove the top and pull out a cool and refreshing homemade yogurt pop.

Fruit kabobs are the trick to a smart snack on a stick.

Any fruits you would add to a fruit salad are perfect for a frozen fruit kabob. Chunks of pineapple, grapes, strawberries, slices of kiwi can all be added to a wooden skewer kabob style. Place the fruit kabobs in a freezer bag and freeze for up to an hour. Kids love munching on this naturally sweet treat to beat the heat.

Get mellow with individual cups of Jell-O.

Sugar free Jell-O is made with water and it’s a fun way to stay hydrated. Have kids follow the recipe for Jell-O and then pour into individual cups. Kids can even add non-citrus fruits for mini gelatin salad. Place the cups and in the refrigerator according to directions for a sugar-free snack that is colorful and cool.

Everybody stops for homemade juice pops.

From dollar stores to grocery stores you can find sets of homemade popsicle makers. Use your favorite fruit juices or sports drinks for DIY popsicles. Most will freeze in about an hour. Submerge below the tops in warm water to help release the pops and kids can enjoy a refreshing homemade frozen treat.

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July 18, 2011

Summer Time Cheese and Crackers Snack

Summer Time Cheese and Crackers Snack
Purchase sliced cheeses, swiss, mozzarella, American, Cheddar, pepper jack as well as lunch meats and pepperoni slices. Pull out your Wheat Thins, Ritz or Trisquits, and layer meat and cheese on crackers. To add fun, place wax paper on counter, put cheese slices out and have them cut the cut with small sized cookie cutters in a variety of shapes and designs. You can also add spaghetti sauce to create pizzas, or simply melt for a few seconds in the toaster oven. Yummy!

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July 16, 2011

Summer Time Creepy Crawly Snacks

Summer Time Creepy Crawly Snacks
With summer comes bugs, as well as our children playing in dirt . . . so why not allow them to use this creativity to make a summer time snack. Place chocolate, cinnamon or regular graham crackers in a ziploc storage bag. If you want each child can have their own bag to crush. Pour the crushed crackers into a bowl (for dirt) and add chocolate sprinkles (ants), raisins (beatles) and gummy worms. Dig out servings with a children’s sand shovel.

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July 8, 2011

Summer Time Yogurt Cream Sandwiches Snack

Summer Time Yogurt Cream Sandwiches Snack
This is a variation on the yogurt pops and a lot easier to make. Place graham crackers in shallow baking pan, allow children to spread flavored yogurt over the bottom graham cracker and then top with another graham cracker. Using the “whipped” yogurt’s keeps it from being too messy. Freeze and serve.

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