St. Pat's Day FABULOUS Ideas

WARNING:  This is one of those blogposts with TOO many ideas.  Couldn't help myself. 


1st--Kelli, you should make these for one of your parties you are always having.  Directions here (really quite simple):  http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2011/03/recipe-shamrock-chips.html

LOVE this next idea for the kids OR for teacher gifts OR friends or women you visit teach.  It's a little pot, filled with gold-wrapped Rolos, wrapped in a clear bag and tied with a ribbon and a free prinable.  There are free printables for labels for different people "I'm so lucky to have you... as my teacher, as my friend, to be in love with you"....etc.  

These are also FREE printable BINGO cards.  How cute is that? http://thecraftingchicks.com/2012/03/st-patricks-day-lucky-bingo-free-printables.html

Print this out and give it to the girls and they can teach themselves to draw shamrocks.  Maybe they can make a card for their teacher.  This came for a great blog called Art Projects For Kids: 

Here's a banner tutorial that makes making this banner seem super easy: 

Last but not least if you can't find the POTS for the pots of gold, these little boxes came from a Dollar Store. Fill them with gold-wrapped Rolos.  Still use the same free printables from above. 

Here's one that is really toooooo complicated to make, but too cute not to add to a St. Patrick's Day post. From the Hostess with the Mostess blog.  Tutorial on her blog if any of you feel this industrious.  

And finally, and Irish blessing: 

May your blessings outnumber

The shamrocks that grow,

And may trouble avoid you

Wherever you go!

Love you all.

Goin Fishin' and MORE Fun Food

I just thought this was a cute and fun food idea.....

Also, I made this for Kristin's kids around Halloween, but I'm guessing the kids would think it was fun ANY time of the year.  This snack was a BIG hit.  I just used the poppin' fresh breadsticks in the can and ties knots at both ends.  Served with marinara sauce out of a jar. 

...And finally, for a night when Cade has a game, this would be a fun dinner:

Oh...and one more, and then a link to a blog that talks about other very CREATIVE ideas for fun with food for kids. 

Here's a part of what she said on the blog...

• Layering – Let your child build their own healthy pizza on a piece of whole wheat pita, making sure to have lots of different veggies to choose from. Demonstrate how to build a sliced mushroom tower or use thinly sliced red and green peppers to make a train track across the pita. Try the My Favorite Mini-Pizza recipe; it’s perfect for stage 4 toddlers.
• Building – Building can be a fun way to help kids focus on the foods in front of them during meal and snack time. Try giving your child a few pieces of pretzel sticks and some cheese cubes and show them how to build a stick man and then eat him. You’d be surprised how quickly the stick people disappear. Another fun building activity is creating fruit skewers. Chop several different types of fruits and let your child build their own perfect fruit skewer. I like to use plastic drink stirrer as they don’t usually have a sharp pointy tip.  This is also a great way to get your toddler to try new fruits!

Here's the link to her blog:  http://www.designedtonourish.com/2011/09/fun-food-activities-that-turn-mom-into-a-magician/

Love you all!

Pregnancy Picture Idea

I have a tendency to want to inclue multiple pics and links in a post--and I'm TRYING to curb that tendency.  Here's what I want to know.....  Do you prefer a quick, one idea, 'get-in-get-out' type of post OR do you want me to include several ideas along the same theme?  For example....the post below is a 'get-in-get-out' type of post -- one shot that I loved and wanted to share.  I'm thinking that with your limited amount of time, I should do short posts.  Please let me know what you think.  


I saw this GREAT set of shots that incorporated an older sibling in the monthly pregnancy shots.  WHAT a CUTE idea (can't find link back to original....just came from Pinterest):

I love a lot of things about this series.  I love that the shots are so similar....same outfit, same cropping, she's standing the same way.  It makes for a great "set" of pictures.  I especially love that they included the "1 week old" picture.  How wonderful that the older sibling gets to be an important part of the journey. 


Shoot!  I just CAN'T do a 'get-in-get-out' post....


Here's one more pic of a great pregnancy triptych.  This woman also has great pregnancy style....

Again, part of what makes this picture great is that the background is simple and the same in all three pics.  Here's the link to her 'bump' pictures if you know anyone that needs to see cute maternity clothes.  http://www.babyspace.net.au/search/label/the%20bump