SNACK/LUNCH: Cool in the Pool!!

This lunch was in honor of my daughter finishing up her swim class this past week!  Good job, honey!!  :)  (Sorry parts of it are perhaps a little sloppy - I was in a hurry - busy week!)
BTW - apparently some people are having trouble viewing/becoming followers.  I am not sure why the following thing shows up sometimes and not others - I am not that technically savvy.  :)  HOWEVER, I have noticed that on my computer, there is a "follow" button at the very top of the page next to some other buttons and that seems to work.  So if you were wanting to become a follower (which is so sweet - I am honored), you might try that.  :)  If that fails - let me know and I will see what else I can find out.  :)

Snack Details:

Girl in pool floating on her back:  peanut butter sandwich with strawberry cream cheese on top.  Chocolate chip sunglasses, fruit roll-up mouth and hair and swimsuit flowers.  Chocolate used for hand and feet details.

Water:  blueberries.

Muffin Cup 1: organic blueberry yogurt with chocolate heart details.


Muffin Cup 2: "pool noodles" - carrots and sugar snap peas.


Muffin Cup 3:  orange life jackets with chocolate detailing.
 
Muffin Cup 4: life preserver mini bagel with fruit roll-up stripes.


Garnishes:  melted chocolate lettering.

For more cool snack ideas - check the out the muffin tin mom website or Jill Dubien's blog.

Items used to make this snack (muffin cup link should take you to a place where you can order the different colors):


Linking up to:
http://www.makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/
www.tearosehome.blogspot.com
www.smilemontsers.blogspot.com

Back To School Countdown Can!

The beginning of (home)school is just around the corner for us so we made a back to school countdown can!  Simple, inexpensive, and adds to the anticipation as we count our way down to the first day of school!  Each day we unwrap the numbered flag and read what is written inside - activities for my daughter to do to help prepare for school and even some fun little treat ones - like "eat a chocolate chip".

(BTW - if the "following" area is not showing up on your computer - not sure why this is happening on and off - and you wanted to become a follower - check the top of the page.  On my computer there is a "follow" button at the very top and that seems to work.  If it does not work for you, let me know and I will see what else I can do.  Sorry for the inconvenience for those who have been trying to follow the blog. )

If you want to make a Countdown Can, you will need:  a package of pencils, a can, hot glue gun, one piece of paper (decorative or otherwise), optional paint and decorative ribbon.

1.  Decide when to start the countdown and get that many pencils for the can.  

2.  OPTIONAL:  paint your can.

3.  Cut one large strip of decorative paper (our apple paper came from Hobby Lobby, and I only used one sheet) to glue around the can and smaller strips for the tops of the pencils.   

4.  On the inside of each strip, write something for your kids to do each day of the countdown (picking out a "first day" outfit, cleaning, going shopping for school supplies, or it could be as fun and simple as eating a chocolate chip)!  

5.  On one end of the outside of the strip, paste a number - or you could just write a number on it.  Hot glue the opposite end to the pencil, roll it around the pencil leaving the numbered part free to make a small "flag" and add another small dot of hot glue to keep it from completely unrolling.   

6.  OPTIONAL:  Tie a decorative ribbon around the middle of your can.

7.  Toss the pencils in the can and begin your countdown!  :)

Linking to: www.whipperberry.com
                   www.shabbynest.blogspot.com
                   www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com
                   http://www.ladybirdln.com/

How to Throw a Virtual Baby Shower (also possibly known as an Online Baby Shower or Web Baby Shower)...

This past week I had the honor of hosting a virtual baby shower for my SIL and her hubby and new little one. There are many ways to do this but, for the sake of time, I will mainly write about what I did.  :) BTW, the photos are of decoration items I made and then sent to the expecting couple (theme was eclectic).

ONLINE LOCATION:
I decided to host the online baby shower at www.babyjellybeans.com! They are actually a baby website, but their features work well for virtual baby showers too. I LOVE this site - why? They are soooo easy to use and have so many options when it comes to types of pages and colors and accents and floaties and music, etc.  And just so you know, babyjellybeans did not pay me to say all that. :)
Here is the link: http://www.babyjellybeans.com/


WHAT DID I HAVE ON THE BABY SHOWER WEBSITE?
*ultrasound photos
*photos of mommy's belly and photos of mommy, daddy, and baby
*photos of the decorations I made and sent to the expecting couple prior to the shower day
*game pages
*polls (another cool option that www.babyjellybeans.com offers - you can make your own fun polls for people to answer)
*registry page
*guestbook



 
SETTING A TIME AND DATE:
We set an actual date for the virtual baby shower so people would have a deadline for sending gifts and messages. Prior to the shower, I sent out an email with details and an invitation letting people know the website address and password so they could leave comments for the parents-to-be during the days prior to the shower date. Then the day of the shower, I sent the website link and password to my SIL and her hubby so they could log on and see all the fun photos and comments posted and polls (I had kept the website address a secret until then). BTW - setting a time is a good idea if you are planning to have a webcam (I did not have the webcam option, but I believe others have done this).
I also sent out reminders regarding gifts, encouraging people to take into account shipping times when ordering gifts so that the items would arrive at the expecting couple's house by the shower date.  I had instructed the couple to not open shower packages until the actual shower date as well - building the fun and anticipation as packages began to arrive many days before then.



 
DECORATIONS:
I chose to actually make some eclectic type of decorations and sent them to the couple prior to the shower (nonperishable types of things: pinwheels, paper wreath, etc.). If you don't have time for this though - consider searching online for showers with photographs that go along with your own theme for the couple. The day of the shower, send them those links or post them on a "shower decorations" page on their website (making sure you give appropriate credit, of course) for everyone to see, letting others know that this is what you would have liked to have been able to do had you been able to throw a "real" baby shower.




FOOD: 
Like the above suggestion regarding decorations, you might provide links to food items you would have liked to serve for the baby shower if you had been able to be there. You could also be a little more elaborate if you wish and actually find a bakery or caterer in the expecting couple's area to make and deliver a surprise shower "spread" the day of the virtual baby shower.
What I chose to do was to send some money in a "treat" envelope so that the parents-to-be could go out a day or so before the shower and pick out whatever yummy edibles they might like. They were then to wait until the day of the shower to eat them.




 
GAMES:
Even at a distance, games are possible. Just use your imagination! Here are some games I posted to the online baby shower I hosted:
**Guess mommy's girth:  I posted a picture of the pregnant mommy on a special page dedicated to just that game.
**Guess the number of baby blocks in the basket:  I took a picture of a pile of baby blocks in a basket and posted that to its own page as well.
**Guess what is under diaper #1:  I hid baby items under a cloth diaper and took pictures of each one under the diaper. I then posted those pictures on a separate game page and gave a song clue along with each item to help people figure out what might be under the diaper (example: pacifier and the song clue was "hush little baby, don't say a word").


 
GIFTS:
Because my SIL had found so many different items at different stores online - she chose to use www.myregistry.com to register. Basically - this is a really, really cool website that lets you easily link to any item you want from any store (even Etsy) and post it as part of an online registry list. When a person wants to buy the item - they click on it in the registry and it takes them to the store as well as opening a window which allows them to check whether they purchased the item at the online store, at a different online location, or at a real store. It then marks the item as received or fulfilled. Very easy to use in my opinion and so convenient!



So there you have it - the makings of a real virtual baby shower (or web baby shower or online baby shower or whatever you wish to call it)!  :)

Linking up to:
www.makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com
www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com
www.thegirlcreative.blogspot.com

Throwing an (Eclectic) Virtual Baby Shower...

My sister-in-law and her hubby are expecting a baby soon but had to move far away from many friends and a good chunk of family recently. Thus, as we could not be there to throw a real shower for them - I decided to throw a virtual one instead!

There are many ways to do this, but for the sake of time I will just focus in on what I did in hopes that it will inspire and encourage others out there who might find themselves in the same boat! I will be posting the details in a week or so - check back often! :)

SNACK: Munch Your Lunch!

This was actually more of a snack than a lunch, but the words "MUNCH YOUR LUNCH" just seemed to fit.  :) 
Snack Details:

*Alligator:  Cucumber with skin on (yes, we eat our cucumbers that way sometimes!  Just wash well!) and a chocolate chip eye.  Blueberries for water.

*Sun:  American cheese.

*Muffin Cup Flowers:  Carrots.  Stems are made from cucumbers.  Leaves are snow peas.

*Muffin Cup Sky/Cloud #1:  Mayo for dipping.

*Muffin Cup Sky/Cloud #2:  String cheese circles.

*Words:  Melted chocolate.

NOTE:  The link below will take you to a site where you can purchase red, blue, or other colored muffin cups.  I would have posted a direct link to blue ones as well but could not find a direct link showing the blue color.

For more neat snack ideas, visit Jill Dubien's blog and the muffin tin mom blog!



Linking up to:
www.sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com
www.makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com
www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com
www.dittledattle.blogspot.com
http://nap-timecreations.blogspot.com/
http://allthingzrelated.blogspot.com/
http://whipperberry.com/

Snapshot Cookie Favors

So, this is one of those instances when you should do as I say and not as I do. The photo you see above was a picture of the survivors of a venture:  my snapshot cookie idea venture, that is. 

What is a "snapshot cookie" you may ask? Well, the IDEA of it was to make a design (or more than one design - I made two different ones) from color flow icing to look like a snapshot photo of the happy couple (stick figure-like) on a sugar cookie. I believe my designs were 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 (photo size). You then wrap them up and place a little sign nearby that says something to the effect of "Please take a snapshot cookie of the happy couple by which to remember this joyous occasion (at least until you eat it)."

I made these for a wedding shower, but I think the concept could easily work for birthdays, baby showers, etc. Using stick figures makes it cute, simple and a little different than the norm. You can even make them extra special by including something unique about the people or person you are honoring (example: stick figure cycling or camping for outdoor lovers, couple with baby in their arms or pregnant stick figure for baby shower with baby's first initial on the tummy, etc.).

So what went wrong with my first attempt? Well, never having used color flow icing before was a start. Making the pattern too big for a first try didn't help either. But it was such a fun idea, and had I known a bit more about color flow consistency (or what it was supposed to look like) and drying times, it might have all turned out "swell".

For those of you out there who ARE experienced with color flow icing and sugar cookie making, this should be a pretty easy and cute party favor.  For those who have not worked with color flow icing before, I HIGHLY recommend experimenting once or twice with it before giving these a shot. AND wait several hours in between switching colors so the colors don't bleed together (as they did a bit on my cookies - sigh).

Simple directions:
(Tip:  make extras because if it is your first time trying to remove the design from wax paper, you might not be used to the technique and find many of your designs breaking until you get the hang of it.)

1.  Draw your design on paper.

2.  Tape wax paper over your design.

3.  Pipe first color icing outline onto wax paper, following the design taped underneath.  Let outline dry for a few hours.

4.  If you are switching colors to fill in the outline - MAKE SURE YOUR OUTLINE IS DRY, otherwise your colors might bleed.

5.  Fill in outlines, working quickly because color flow seems to set rapidly.

6.  Let completed design dry for at least a couple of days (in my opinion). 

7.  CAREFULLY remove your design from the paper.  I believe I placed mine on the edge of the table and carefully held it as I peeled the paper back at the same time as I was sliding it gently off the table and onto a very large metal plate/spatula.  Use royal icing to "glue" your design to your sugar cookie. 

8.  Breathe a sigh of relief and smile.  :)

Remember, if your attempts fail and you find all your designs cracking or bleeding - just turn your "lemons into lemonade" as I did.  I eventually cut the broken ones into pieces and packaged them up individually as cookie puzzle favors for the kids.  They enjoyed putting the cookies back together and eating them at the shower!  :)  Once again, remember, "lemons into lemonade"....  :)

Linking up to:

http://paisleypassions.blogspot.com/2011/07/thrilling-thursday-linky-party_20.html

http://www.thirtysixthavenue.com/

Decorate Your Own Wedding "Cake" (a.k.a. english muffin) Snack!

With all the wedding shower craziness still on my mind, I remembered how much my daughter had wanted to help with the shower cakes - so I decided to make her a little "cake" of her own which she could decorate for her snack.  The "cake" was three layers of english muffin and her decorating bag was filled with strawberry cream cheese.  I should have taken a picture of the final masterpiece because she really did do a lovely job!  :)

Snack Details:

Wedding Cake:  english muffins (top two circles I made using circle cookie cutters).

Muffin Cup #1 (top):  cucumber flowers

Muffin Cup #2 (3 o'clock):  raspberry jam/preserves

Muffin Cup #3 (bottom):  kiwi flowers

Muffin Cup #4 (9 o'clock):  apple flowers

Garnishes:  blueberries and strawberry cream cheese swirls/flowers

Not Shown but part of snack:

Muffin Cup #5:  string cheese bows

Disposable decorating bag with tip cut off and filled with strawberry cream cheese.  (Could also do something similar with jam or peanut butter.)

For more amazing snack ideas - check out the muffin tin mom website or Jill Dubien's blog!  :)


Linking to:


http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
http://www.craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/
http://delicateconstruction.blogspot.com/