Daily Party Dish

My Favorite Easter Ideas

Easter is usually a low key holiday for me. I don't decorate and plan for it as much as other holidays (maybe I am still recovering from Christmas) but I like to do a few special touches every year. This year I am definately doing these cute carrot cake pops and the egg shell candle holders (below). Here are the links to those and a few more of my favorite Easter ideas this year :)

Carrot Cake Pops from Paper, Plate and Plane

Peeps Easter Centerpiece from Mix Mingle Glow

More Peeps goodness :) Peeps Bunting from Favecraft

Egg Shell Candle Holders from Magic Onions

Peeps Sunflower Cake from Taste of Home

Little Lamb Cupcakes from the Food Network

 

Here are my favorite Easter DIY favors from last year. And don't forget to check out Party411.com for more Easter Ideas!

St. Patrick’s Day Kids Craft: Perler Bead Bowls

My kids and I discovered this fun craft the other day and decided it would be great for St. Patrick’s Day, or any holiday.  We created these great bowls out of Perler beads.  You can find them at any craft store.

All we needed was an oven proof bowl, the beads and cooking spray.  The project is simple.

Start by spraying the inside of your bowl with cooking spray.  This will keep the beads from sticking to the bowl.  Then put in a handful of beads in at a time.  We chose a mixture of greens for St. Patrick’s Day.  As you push the beads down, they will naturally rise up the sides of the bowl.

When you’ve filled your bowl with one layer of beads, put the bowl in the oven or toaster oven for 10-15 minutes at 400°.  We only did 10 minutes each but you can bake longer for a more melted look on your bowl.

After “cooking”, take the bowl out and let the beads cool in the bowl for a few minutes.  Don’t forget oven mitts when you take it out of the oven!  When it’s cooled, put the bowl in the sink and run cold water over the beads.  Then your bowl can easily be pulled out of the baking bowl.  They are great fun to make and a fun party decoration.  And, of course, they look great in any colors you can imagine!

Happy melting!

Celebrating Leap Day: An Extra Day in My Life

My life is busy. Seems like I never have time to do those “special” things I have on my to-do list.  Well this year will be different. I’m treating Leap Day as an extra day in my life. I get by with 365 days every other year.  So I figure I can get my work done in 365 days this. Bingo, one extra day in my life.

I’m pretty good at going on “dates” with my wife and hugging my kids so you won’t see that sort of thing on this list. I’m going for the things I never seem to have time for. I’ve got 7 to choose from. I figure I should be able to squeeze 4 or 5 of them into a one great day.

1. Go to an Ohio State basketball game. My son is getting his PhD. In Columbus and that 2 hour drive from Cleveland never seems to happen   I’ve cancelled on him twice already this year because other things have interfered. I figure with tickets in hand I would have to go and see my kid and a good game. Great fun.
2. Really watch a sunrise or a sunset. We used to live 3 houses from the lake and this would happen occasionally.  Since we moved many years ago it never happens.  Good for the soul and a good way to contemplate  your place in the universe.  I think this one has to happen.
3. Go for a walk in a creek in the Metroparks and catch salamanders.  I used to do this with the boys. It was fun. It was healthy. It was eye-opening.  They went off to school and I stopped doing it. I like this one a lot but it’s messy. Not sure I can fit it in.
4. Go watch WWE Monday Night Raw live or go to a Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival play. I know this doesn’t make sense but whenever I figure out what live entertainment to see these two always make the initial list but never make the final cut.  Today’s the day I finally fit one of them in!
5. Sit on my patio, with my very best friends, drink a few beers and talk about everything and nothing.  We used to do this always. Now there has to be a social event with plenty of people around and a theme of some sort.  I just want 3 or 4 of us to ramble into the early hours.
6. Go dancing. Enough said.
7. Go for a train ride.  I’m talking about going in style. With a drink car and a dinner car. There seems to be a romance to this but flying or driving always seems faster. Today I have the time.

Of course, if none of this happens Leap Day seems like a good idea for a party.

Just curious. What would you do with an extra day?

Last Minute Treat for Valentine’s Day: Heart Rice Krispies Treats

Holiday parties in elementary schools can sometimes feel like a grown up game of chicken; if you are really quiet, maybe someone will forget you’re there.  It’s not uncommon for the same group of parents or caregivers to plan all the festivities for school parties.  So, being one of those (over?) involved parents, I decided to just sit back and help my daughter make her valentines and not worry about anything else.  Well, what do they say?  “The best made plans…”  The afternoon before the annual Valentine’s Day party, I received a call from my daughter’s teacher saying the person in charge of the party snack had backed out and could I please help?  Did I really have a choice?  Of course not!  So I happily said I would love to help, all the while wondering how I was going to complete the other 12 tasks I had planned for the rest of the day. 

If I had to plan a snack at the last minute, it was going to be easy but I still had to make it “seasonal.”  Prowling the aisles of the grocery store looking for an inspiration it suddenly came to me – Rice Krispies Treats!  But I would tweak the recipe so they would be special for Valentine’s Day.  Fortunately, I only needed a few items.  My shopping list included:

• 1 box of Rice Krisipies
• 1 bag of strawberry flavored marshmallows
• Butter
• Pink, red and white m&ms
• Heart shaped cookie cutter

Making the treats was almost easier than buying the ingredients.

• Coat a 13x9x2 baking pan with cooking spray.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
• Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
• Remove from heat.
• Mix in 6 cups of Rice Krispies.
• Spread the mixture using waxed paper in baking pan.
• While the mixture is still warm, cut it into heart shapes using cookie cutter. 
• Remove from pan and gently push m&ms into warm treats.
• Allow to cool completely.

These are so tasty and simple to make.  And, the kids in my daughter’s class loved them.  Keep them in mind the next time the last minute ”please help!” call comes in.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

• Valentine's Day Party Ideas from Party411.com
• Valentine’s Day: A Mother’s Tale (and a Recipe!)
• My Easy Valentine's Day Decorations
• Valentine's Day Games For Couples
• History of Valentine's Day
• Romantic Valentine's Day Tips and Suggestions

Valentine’s Day: A Mother’s Tale (and a Recipe!)

Valentine’s Day serves two purposes.   First, it gives spouses and significant others an opportunity to show their love in a special way.  Second, it’s yet another opportunity for mothers or caregivers to purchase or make valentines with children and fill them with candy.  But then there’s a third purpose, to challenge the mothers of boys to share the holiday when clearly there is no interest in lace doilies and heart stickers.  It is this issue that I wish to address. 

As the mother of 5 boys and a lover of all holidays, Valentine’s Day has offered a real challenge over the years.  How can you acknowledge and participate in Valentine’s Day while at the same time not doing anything?  When my boys were little, they were ok with buying Valentines (creating your own ended with preschool) because there was always candy involved.  But as they got older, even the candy wasn’t enough of an incentive to wrap up Sponge Bob around a Krabby Pattie.  And, while I respected their choices, I just couldn’t let the holiday go.  So I came up with my own Valentine’s Day celebration which in 8 years, no one has opposed.

Needless to say, it focuses on food!  A week or so before the holiday, I indulge myself by purchasing this year’s festive Valentine’s Day tableware. Then I prepare the “traditional” Valentine’s Day dinner which is, you guessed it, a red meal.  It includes:

• Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce
• Large green salad with beets (they’re reddish in color)
• Big bowl of wonderfully ripe, whole strawberries
• Raspberry jello made in a heart shaped mold
• Delicious heart shaped sugar cookies with red and/or pink sprinkles (see recipe below)
• And to drink, pink lemonade of course

Now, if you knew the ages of my boys you would be shocked to discover that they actually look forward to this meal.  It’s silly yes, but they know I have fun doing it and they love to eat so it’s a win-win for everyone.   And while I don’t give them handmade Valentine’s with smelly stickers on them anymore, they do still receive a special candy treat, wrapped up in something red – a new sweatshirt, basketball shorts, socks or boxers.  And as “grown-up” as those boys are, they still love it!

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies for Valentine’s Day

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ cup sour cream

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

Additional colored sugar for decorating.

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease 2 baking sheets.

Beat the butter until smooth and creamy.  Add 1 cup of sugar and beat again. Add the egg and vanilla and beat again.  Stir in the sour cream.  Stir together the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder, stir into the dough.  Cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour.

Working with half of the dough, roll out the dough 3/16 inch thick.  Cut dough with a heart shaped cookie cutter and place on the baking sheets leaving 1 1/2 inches between them.

Sprinkle cookies lightly and evenly with colored sugar.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until browned on the edges.  Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Yield 2 dozen, 3 1/2 inch cookies.

 

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

• Valentine's Day Party Ideas from Party411.com
• Valentine's Day Games For Couples
• History of Valentine's Day
• Romantic Valentine's Day Tips and Suggestions

 

 

 

My Easy Valentine's Day Decorations

While I don't always celebrate Valentine's Day with a party, I do like like to mark the holiday. I usually put up some simple red and white decorations and bake some type of goodie (this year it is red velvet whoopie pies!)

Here are a few pics of my simple Valentine's Day decorations, and a few inspirations that I love!

I used white embroidery thread and red and white puff balls make a fun garland. I just threaded a needle and then skewered the little suckers until I had a long enough piece to decorate my mantle. This decoration cost me less then $2!

 

I love these yarn hearts. Perfect to hang in a window! via shelterness

I always set out my motley collection of red pots and plates. I also use sticky tack to place little button hearts on my picture frames!

 

Cute and simple! Clear votive holder + votive candle + nonpareils via Better Homes and Gardens

 

Simple painted letters adorn my bookshelves along with a wedding pic of me and the hubs :)

I enjoy Valentine's Day a lot more when I keep it simple. Do you decorate or not? Party or quiet night?

• Valentine's Day Party Ideas from Party411.com
• Valentine's Day Games For Couples
• History of Valentine's Day
• Romantic Valentine's Day Tips and Suggestions

The Do’s and Don’ts of Super Bowl Sunday

Let’s admit it. Super Bowl Sunday is a national holiday for Americans. The world stops for a day and everybody focuses on getting together with friends, eating too much, placing a friendly wager or two, watching the ads and maybe paying attention to the game.  This is Super Bowl XLVI and while I can’t read Latin I think that means the Super Bowl has been around long enough to learn some dos and don’ts that will help you have a great Super Bowl party.

Do get outside and get some exercise. The game starts late and running around can be fun (Turkey Bowl) and keeps you from getting too excited too soon.

Don’t overdo it. There’s no join watching the game from an emergency room or wrapped in Ice packs. 

 

Do start your party early. Not too many people stay after the game and if you want to chat with friends plan on doing it before the game.

Don’t spend the time watching the pre-gameshow. That 4 hour agony kills brain cells.

 

Do have plenty of food. People will be there for 6 hours so they’ll eat. Have food that will sit for awhile (Chili!).

Don’t try to make it all yourself. Encourage friends to bring a dish. No one minds.

 

Do have some friendly betting games. Vegas has an amazing number of prop bets. Use them or bet on silly things like the coin flip or who catches first pass.

Don’t make the stakes too high. People will have as much fun winning $20 as they will winning $200 and no one gets hurt.

 

Do have a place where “serious” fans can watch the game without interruption. It is the biggest game of the year and some people will be really into it.

Don’t assume that everyone will care about the game. There are millions (literally) of folks that don’t really care. We have a separate room for folks that don’t feel like watching every play. (It does have a TV for the ads.)

 

Pretty simple stuff but I’m pretty sure it is a winning combination for any Super Bowl host. Enjoy the game!

• Super Bowl XLVI Party Ideas
• Super Bowl Party and Betting Games 
• Super Bowl Party Menu
• Super Bowl Trivia

Are you celebrating Leap Day?

I’m a sucker for a good holiday party.  And to me, Leap Day is one of the coolest holidays out there.  (Is it technically a holiday?  I’m not sure, but it is to me!)  I mean, it only happen once every 4 years.  It’s an extra day to use however you like. So, I say, it’s a great day to host a party and the good news is, no matter how great the party is, no one will expect you to host it every year. 

I’ve hosted two Leap Day parties so far and my theme is always the same – Leaping frogs and lizards.  I’ve used inflatable frogs (who are coming out of storage soon for this year), plastic frogs and lizards and frog theme paper goods.  Check out the cute Leap Day party invitations we have for this year:

My approach has always been to have a fun and slightly silly party for Leap Day. But you could certainly play up the theme of “what could you do with an extra day?” and make the party more meaningful and serious.

My last party was a brunch since Leap Day was kind enough to land on a Sunday.  This year we’ll be having a dinner since it is on a Wednesday.  I love these cute frog cupcakes and will certainly try them at the party. 

I think it’s such a great holiday, that I wrote up an entire party plan.  Check out our Leap Day party ideas for more fun ways to make this Leap Day special!

10 Tips for an Easy New Year's Eve Party

Here are a few quick tips to make your New Year's Eve party planning easier this year.

1. Set your budget. This will help you when determining how many people to invite and what your party options are. Figure about 60 percent for drinks, 30 percent for food and 10 percent for decor.

2. Save money on your invites. Email or phone invites are your cheapest options, but can be lackluster. Save a stamp by including your New Year's Party invite in with your holiday cards.

3. Keep everything cohesive by choosing a theme. We have 15 different New Year's Party themes, from Western to Aliens! You can also go with a more subtle theme such as a color. Metallic colors are always fun, but we also love a white New Year's Eve theme party.

4. Make special plans for the kids. If your party will include children, make sure you have food appropriate for them as well as activities planned to keep them entertained. A quiet area where they can go to rest is always a smart idea for those who cannot make it until midnight. You can even arrange to let them have their own separate sleepover party and hire a babysitter to mind them for the night.

5. Save money by not serving dinner. Since a New Year's party will start later, guests will not expect a full meal. A variety of hors d'oeuvres is the best way to go. A dessert buffet and drinks is another great option.

6. Don't forget to have extra .... ice and food. Be prepared for the unexpected guests or extra-hungry, super-thirsty crowd. Add a couple of bags of quality chips, extra crackers and cheese, and even an extra roll of cookie dough. Make sure these items are something you will eat if you don't break them out for the party. Ice you may have to take a loss on, but it is better than having to little.

7. ... but don't overspend on the booze. Do the math and save on your drink budget. Guests will usually have 2 drinks in the first hour, and one drink each hour after that. Many places will allow you to return unopened alcohol, so you can overbuy and return the excess if you worry about running out.

8. Rent. Local rental companies are a great source for glassware, linens, flatware and more. I find this to be a great alternative to purchasing (and then storing) all of the extra items for entertaining.

9. Create a great soundtrack. Depending on your theme or personal tastes, you may have different ideas for music. Time is always a great theme for a New Year's playlist. Here are a few fun songs to get you started -

• The Times They Are A-Changing - Bob Dylan
• Turn, Turn, Turn (To Everything There is a Season) - The Byrds
• I Wanna Go Back - Eddie Money
• Reelin' In the Years - Steely Dan
• Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and His Comets
• Yesterday - The Beatles

10. Don't forget to have fun! Try to prepare food ahead of time and set up a self serve drink bar to cut down on the work you need to do throughout the party. That way you can have to time see your guests and be a good host or hostess! If you are planning on having more that 50 people, enlist a few close friends to lend a hand throughout the night. My parties always go more smoothly when I know I have a someone to back me up (and put out more dip).

• Save 15% on New Year’s Eve Party Favors
• New Year's Eve Party Ideas from Party411.com
• New Year's Eve Party Kits
• 18 Songs for Your New Year's Eve Party Playlist
• Fun Party Ideas from Party411.com

8 Days of Economical Hanukkah Presents

If you’re anything like me, the holidays inspire both excitement and fear.  I love the traditions of Hanukkah; lighting the menorah, making latkes (although cleaning the kitchen afterward is one tradition I could give up!) and just the general festive feel around the house. 

But…then there’s the fear I mentioned earlier. It’s not the kind of “oh no something terrible happened fear, but the what should I get him/her, is it the right kind of gift, how much should I spend fear!  And, regardless of religion, purchasing holiday gifts can be incredibly stressful.  So, let me offer you 8 economical gift ideas that maybe you haven’t considered.  And while you may not take this list as the “be all to end all” perhaps it will inspire you with some new, and not too expensive, ideas.

One way to approach the 8 days of Hanukkah is to have the cost of the gift correspond to the day of the holiday.  On the first day you spend $1, the second $2, etc., etc.  This sounds a little challenging but it’s really not and your kids will appreciate your creativity.  Please note: this list was designed with younger (7-11) year olds in mind although it can certainly be adapted for an older crowd, although it might cost you more!

Day 1 ($1) - a favorite candy bar, Hanukkah gelt, giant cookie or other sweet treat that you might not buy on a regular basis.

Day 2 ($2) - bubble gum, something most kids can never get enough of!  Don’t want to give food again?  How about stickers?  Silly putty?  Coloring or activity book?

Day 3 ($3) – funky pens or pencils – in wild colors, with sparkles or even holiday themed

Day 4 ($4) – socks, love them!  Warm fuzzy ones or colorful athletic ones – present them the right way and they will be received with cheers.

Day 5 ($5) – gift card to a local coffee shop, ice cream store, or sub shop. Nothing says “I am so very grown up” as having your own gift card to spend on what you want.

Day 6 ($6) – yoyos are one of the greatest toys ever!  Boys, girls, young, old, everyone has the best time playing with them!  And there are several different types to choose from; I know because I just bought two of them.

Day 7 ($7) – boxers or cute underwear.  No longer a lame gift from your grandmother; there are so many styles to choose from that this may take you more time to decide on than you think.

Day 8 ($8) – cold, hard cash!  Eight crisp one dollar bills are a real bonus for younger kids who don’t always have that much money of their own. 

Other ideas to consider…instead of giving a gift one night, decide as a family on an organization that’s important or meaningful to you and make a donation to it.  Or, make one night of Hanukkah a special family activity night and go bowling, to the movies or out to dinner.  The most important thing to remember is most of us is not millionaires and can’t buy tons of lavish gifts.  If you want to buy one large gift for everyone, do it!  If you want to give small presents every night, do it!  It’s your attitude and creativity that will make this a fun and successful holiday. Happy Hanukkah!

• Chanukah Party Ideas
• Chanukah Games
• Chaunkah Activities
• Make Your Own Menorah
• Fun Party Ideas from Party411.com