Thanksgiving Day Place Settings

I saw these made last year and I knew they were right up my alley so I made it a point to plan to make them for Thanksgiving this year, I'm using them for each place setting at turkey dinner.  They aren't too difficult to make, the kids can help and they are the cutest realistic turkey cupcakes I 've seen.

The making process~

 Step 1- Bake up a batch of cupcakes, while you are doing this- put those little ones who love to help in the kitchen to work unwrapping all of the caramels.  My two year old literally unwrapped each and every one of the caramels, she loved it but not as much as me...tedious things like that make me nutty.

 Step 2- Soften the caramels in the microwave for 5-10 seconds (I did four at a time in a bowl for about 9 seconds, you'll know when you've softened too long...just until they are mold able.  Then take one and wrap and mold it around a pretzel stick for each leg.)

 Step 3- Melt some white chocolate chips or candy melts, then dip in the end of each stick to make them look like those chicken leg bones.  Again, I used the microwave to melt my choc. chips, in intervals of 30 seconds, and stirring in between.

 Step 4- for the lettuce/relish around the turkey, tint some frosting green and then melt it in the microwave 1 min or so until thin and coat corn flakes, cool and dry on wax or parchment paper.  However, next time I will use green candy melts, I think they will harden up better and not turn the cornflakes as soft which will help when decorating.

Step 5- Roll out 3-4 soften camels for each body with rolling pin in between wax or parchment paper.  Use a circular cookie cutter to form the body and a smaller cutter to make way for the stuffing area.  Other alternatives are you could use a drinking glass for the larger circle and scissors for the smaller- to just cut it out.  I had the bigger circle cookie cutter but then I used a gingerbread man cookie cutter (the leg of the gingerbread man was just the right size for the smaller hole.)

 Step 6- Stuffing made out of cut up pieces of pound cake.  I used the Sara Lee brand found in the frozen dessert aisle at the grocery store.

Step 7- Lay the circular body forms on a frosted cupcake attaching the smaller circle ends, push edges down with a utensil if needed, there will be frosting around the edges but this is what you want so you can have frosting set to apply the relish/lettuce, then put a dab of water on each side where you will attach each leg.  (They stick quite well with that tiny dab of water.)

Step 8- Apply the stuffing, lettuce/relish and the fruit (I used Sixlets but you can really use any candy.)

Aren't these the cutest things? Check out the Cupcake Books, "Hello Cupcake" and "What's New Cupcake" for more great cupcake ideas.  Happy Thanksgiving and Count Those Many Blessings!

Spook Jars

It's time to put those old glass jars, canisters, vases, or even glass candle holders that we all have stored under the sink or on top of our cupboards to some good fun haunting use!  Spook your kids when they see your jarred up Vampire Fangs, Bat Eyes, Black Cat Tails, Moon Dried Spiders, Witches Poison, Graveyard Dust, Pumpkin Teeth, Headless Horsemen Heads...or better yet use your imaginations and let the kids help make up some of your own, they're so simple and a hit to spark that Halloween Feeling inside the home.   

Candy Bar Card

Do you ever need a quick no-brainer b-day present/card for that certain somebody who you have no clue what to buy for or for that person who already has everything?  Or I've even seen these used to ask that special someone out on a date or to brighten someone's day!  Well this is a no brainer and you can get as creative as your little heart desires with CANDY BARS and the candy aisle of your local grocery store.  Here's what we came up with for Dad aka Grandpa's 59th b-day.

OH HENRY, LOOK at that BIG HUNK!  Wait a second, U-NO that's just Grandpa.  We know because we are no NERDS, but we are a bunch of SMARTIES.  He's celebrating his WHOPPERS of a birthday because he's now 59!  This birthday packs a big PUNCH, enough to send one to the MILKY WAY.  But don't get too excited and go on a big shopping SPREE to buy yourself a new bike or a new hunting gun, that might put yourself in a big CRUNCH.  You should probably wait until next PAY DAY.  But that's okay because you already have a HOT TAMALE who thinks you're EXTRA special who loves you to PIECES through any ROCKY ROAD.  And we're not telling any COW TALES!  We too love you more than a CUP O GOLD.  Happy Birthday-

Love, all of your SWEET TARTS

Simply use Candy Bars, thicker poster board (we used the type with Styrofoam in the middle, don't know the exact name for it but you can pick it up at the Dollar Tree for a $1. or a bit more at any Walmart, Fred Meyer, Target, ect.)  Then decided for your fun script incorporating that candy and glue it all together with a hot glue gun.  It's best to lay it all out before you start the gluing, then you can kind of pase your script and candy so it will end up all fitting on the board.

Put those rotten bananas to use!

After my sister in law had made some banana muffins for a monkey-themed brunch for a baby shower awhile back, I haven't gone back to my loafed banana bread!  These little chocolate chip banana bread muffins are the perfect after school snack or "sweeter" breakfast fix on the go, no slicing the loaf of bread which eliminates some of the mess~ just quick and easy and the kids LOVE them.  The 24 muffins that one batch makes don't last too long around our home.  You can use any banana bread recipe (we love to add chocolate chips for a twist,  the mini ones actually work the best but we had none on hand this afternoon when we made them) just use a medium size melon scooper to fill your sprayed muffin tins and cook them up for a tastey and semi-healthy treat.

In case you don't have a family recipe of your own, here's ours or rather my mom's:

BANANA BREAD (or muffins in our case)

1/2 cup butter (one cube)

1 cup sugar (rounded)

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3-4 ripe bananas (you can pre-mash if you desire to make easier to mix)

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 1/2 cups flour

1 cup chocolate chips

Mix sugar with softened butter, add eggs, vanilla and bananas.  Mix well.  Add dry ingredients.  Grease/flour pans (I use the baking spray).  Makes 2 medium loaves or 24 muffins.  Bake at 350, I cooked my muffins for 15-16 minutes the sides will be brown with a lighter top until a toothpick inserts clean (besides melted choc chips.) If you are making loaves bake for 30-45 minutes depending on size of loaf pans.  They taste great fresh and warm out of the oven with a glass of milk or even better cover with plastic wrap or fill a ziplock bag and let the moisture do the work, the second day they are fantastic as well!

Flour Sack Towel Aprons

We needed a quick and easy cover-up for the girls attending my daughters art b-day party so we had to get a bit creative.  We used these flour sack towels and ribbon to make the girls painting aprons.

No cutting the towels required.  Just lie the towel flat (face down) fold two adjacent corners in to form two triangles kind of like you are making a paper airplane(so now it looks like an apron form- leaving approx 6-8 inches in between the folded triangles for the neck.)  Use white thread and sew the folded triangle corners down to the back side along with a piece of ribbon loop for the neck at the same time to each side.  Next sew the waist ribbon ties on each side (you'll need to approximate where the waist is depending on the height of your artist) for the apron tie in back.

 

A simple way to keep those pretty clothes clean when getting your creativity on!

Bandanna Coloring Boards

 Start by ironing an inexpensive white bandanna you can purchase any where ( we got ours at Walmart for .99 cents a piece.)

 Next use a 20X20 pre-cut piece of wood (we purchased our wood at Lowe's and the friendly Lowe's man cut all of ours at no extra charge to save us the hassle of doing it ourselves.) Next place your bandanna (front side up) on the wood front, turn both over- fold edges of bandanna back over sides and staple gun the edges around to the back side of the wood board making sure bandanna lies nice and flat on the front side.. 

And there we have it, a fun art board to color within or outside of the lines.  This is a large work of art so it can be a progressive time filler for your little artist.

 Use fabric markers and sharpies to color your big coloring page that doubles as a beautiful wall art piece after complete.

A group of happy artists.

Popcorn Analogy

     “The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ”

Just as a little kernel of corn when popped can grow into the tasty treat of popcorn for us to enjoy, our love for our Savior can grow if we learn of Him and His goodness from reading the Book of Mormon and scriptures. Yummy popcorn is so good that we want to share it with others just as we will want to share the happiness and joy of Jesus Christ we gain from reading the scriptures.　

2 Nephi 19:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Family Home Evening Carmel Corn Recipe:

(Adult supervision required)

1 Cup butter (2 cubes)

1 Cup light Karo syrup

2 Cups Brown Sugar, packed

1 Can Eagle Brand Condensed Milk

Pinch of Salt

1 1/2-2 Cups popcorn (measure un-popped popcorn, before popped)
* I ended up using quite a bit more popcorn as there was plenty of extra camel to go around.

Combine all ingredients except popcorn and cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly (this burns easily, so make sure you stir constantly) until it reaches a soft ball stage don't over-cook. (For a soft ball stage, Pour a half teaspoon caramel into a 1 cup measure with ice water and mold into a ball. When it holds it shape, but is still very soft, it's done). Pour over popped corn. Cool on 2 large parchment-lined cookie sheets (or lined counter top.) Pull apart and store in air-tight bags.

Enjoy!

Popping air-popped pop corn is always best with a helper and a taste tester!  I had been wanting to test out this Carmel corn recipe from a family relative Susanne for awhile and I found the perfect opportunity.  I incorporated it into my sharing time lesson and provided the kids with a little sample in a Dixie plastic cup, then encouraged them to go home and make it with their own families for FHE.  I brought the air popper and did a little demonstration and analogy (found above) with just the plain pop corn for sharing time with the kids, it went over well and kept their attention to the fullest, they were all so intrigued- it was cute.

The "BEE's" of Blogging

The "BEE" Hand Out

Step One: The goodies- Lemon drops, cheap coordinating ribbon, little Wilton baggies, address labels (with the theme printed on them) attached to scrap book paper (cut to size & hole punched.)

Step Two: assemble, as easy as pie! 

 Step Three: Handouts always look much cuter in an accommodating presentation bowl.

Wallah!

 The little BEE tidbit.

 For an added touch: little lemon cupcakes in honey-gold liners, topped with piped lemon frosting and a chocolate covered bee with slivered almond bee body and for the yellow stripes- piped yellow candy melts.

Since my class was in the middle of other classes (before lunch) I felt a bite sized bee treat would be a perfect snack to tie the ladies over until lunch was served.

Ten Reasons To Start a Blog:

1. To Express Your Thoughts and Opinions

2. To Market or Promote Something

3. To Help People

4. To Establish Yourself as an Expert

5. To Connect with People Like You

6. To Make a Difference

7. To Stay Active or Knowledgeable in a Field or Topic

8. To Stay Connected with Friends and Family

9. To Make Money

10. To Have Fun and Be Creative

Last Saturday I was asked to teach a Blogging class at our Stake's Womans Conference.  After touching on and showing what a Blog is all about and how to go about starting one, since Blogging starts with "B" I thought it would be a fun idea to incorporate the six "BEE's" of Blogging into the class. This way I was able to involve some of the class members which is always nice.  I used a volunteer for each of the six "BEE's" then I spotlighted six of the amazing blogs that I follow which are centered around or touch on each of the "BEE" topics, it went over real well and from the feedback I've been receiving, it sounds like the class inspired new blogs and motivated inactive bloggers so the "BEE's" were a success!

The six helpers got to take their wee little "BEE" souvineer home with them.

These bee's are all exactly the same, they are constantly copying each other in every way.  They need to learn to-

Be Yourself:

Your blog is your own and whatever you choose to make it, just be you and put what you have into it.

While this Bee isn't really for real it looks pretty real in comparison to the three copy-cat bees.

Be Real:

Most likely your blog will include your own feelings and opinions in text or commentary, being honest and true to yourself and others is always wise. Let your blog be a reflection of yourself in your own voice.

We aren't supposed to play with balls in the house and thanks to their dad, my kids do play with balls in our home so I am always telling them to be cautious not to break something.  So this Bee ball reminds us to-

Be Cautious:

While your blog is indefinitely your own, always be mindful of potential readers and feelings involved. Setting “official rules” of what to or not to blog about isn‘t necessary, just blog and see what feels comfortable to you.

If we came across a bee that was this gigantic, we would need to be very courageous that we would not get stung!

Be Courageous:

Don’t be shy or afraid to start a blog then likewise when blogging don’t be afraid to make a mistake or embarrass yourself . Take note that you can always go back and edit, change, undo or add to your blog.

This bee pot and these bee gardening tools leave our options wide open to what we might plant inside of the empty pot.

Be Open:

To learning, to gaining knowledge, to new ideas, to teaching, to being an example, to cultivating your talents and passions, to becoming a better you.

Bee's are hard working little creatures who are consistent and determined to make sweet yummy honey for us.

 Be Consistent:

Although there are countless blogs out there you can pull inspiration from, blogging is best learned from blogging. Blog often, even in times of “writers block.” Some of your best posts may stem from when you feel you have nothing to write about.

I had our four years of blogging 2007-2010 that I had bound into books on display to show how nice it is to be able to print your blog out into family history record books (or books pertaining to whatever ones blog may be about.) For myself, of course it's a journaling purpose and it's made journaling and digital photos so fun and easy for our busy lives these days!  So yes, just like a "BEE's" honey- sweet is the success of an active blogger!