Fun Baby Shower Ideas

My sister is having her first baby in a few months. Of course she needed a baby shower, and OF COURSE I wanted to throw it!! {Like, one of my favorite things to do in the world... yep, true!} It turned out so fun and cute that I had to tell y'all about it. I only wish that I could claim each and every one of these ideas as my own, but mostly, I used the creative brain power of others :)... and the help of my other amazing sister who's baby was 2 weeks old at the time!

There's definitely something about a great location that just makes showers SO much extra fun... especially when the weather cooperates and the party can ensue OUTSIDE. We lucked out. No amount of decorating can equal a pretty ivy vine growing in the background....

1. Diaper Cake

One of my favorite things to make for an expectant mommy is a diaper cake. 

 I learned the trick from the gals at Our Best Bites (who are basically my personal tutors in so many ways). The cake is super easy and fun to make. Although it can get a little spendy depending on how fancy and frilly it's accessorized :). If you want to make your own Diaper Cake Centerpiece check out the tutorial HERE .

FYI: I used target diapers here and rolled them face down, just because I like white, but colors would look cute too!

2. Diaper Castle Cake

A family friend made this Princess Diaper Castle and brought it to the shower. Definitely a hit!  I'll admit, um,  I even found myself getting jealous for how much praise it generated ;).

Check out all of these amazing and creative diaper cake tutorials at Living Locurto , including a super astonishing diaper castle!

3. Questionnaires 

This shower was open house style with no formal games. My sister just wanted advice, and so I put her in charge of that  {I know, maybe a little bit jerkish of me, but she got what she wanted!!}

She found questions like these, and used them to create her own questions which she liked even better.  Then she typed and printed them with some free borders she googled. She's having fun times while reading through all the answers.

 The one on the left, I saw on pinterest- but could not trace back to the original source. The one on the right is available on Etsy as a download at the store Chomping at the Bit for $5.

4.

Ok, now for my VERY FAVORITE PART.... an Italian Soda Bar {again from the life-changing blog, Our Best Bites}...

I'm so sad that I didn't snap a picture from this shower, but just take my word for it... this is SUPER FUN! In fact, I'm even doing a smaller version of an Italian Soda Bar tonight for some people we're having over for dinner.

An Italian Soda Bar is welcome at ANY event. When you've got some of the goods, there's no end to the fun. It's good clean fun for ANY age... my kids think it's great!

As a member of the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), I don't drink alcohol.   I've never understood what all the fuss with drinking was about... the only time I ever tasted alcohol was by accident on an airplane. "What happened?" you ask. Well...

I was lucky enough to get "bumped" up to first class just after my 18th birthday on a trip to Hawaii. The flight attendants were giving cute drinks decorated with a pineapple and mini umbrella to everyone who wanted one. Being the naive girl that I was, I took it with NO idea that any spike was included.

Needless to say, I fell asleep and woke up with a gigantic head ache. Then.. ding, ding, ding... it hit me... the drink must have been more than the rotten tasting orange juice I'd just chugged. I asked the flight attendant if the drink contained alcohol. She answered in the affirmative, and I cried.

I frantically called my dad as soon as I got to the airport confessing what had happened. With a stifled laugh, he told me that it was ok.  Whew... happy for that reaction. I knew FOR SURE that alcohol tasted nasty and gave me a headache. No desire at all to drink it. Ever. Again.

Therefore... one more great thing about an Italian Soda Bar - I am POSITIVE that it is every ounce as much fun as going to the "fully loaded" parties, but tastes TONS better, and you'll be able to safely drive home!

Ok, excuse that side track... now I just need someone else to throw a baby shower for {and a few bucks to do it!!}

**If you want to throw your own Italian Soda Bar, find out how HERE. Get the cute, free printables HERE .

XO,
Nancy

Teacher Appreciation Decorations

I had the opportunity to work with the PTA again this year for Teacher Appreciation Week.  We chose the theme of

 using a Jungle Theme to decorate. 

 

This was the invitation we put in the Teacher's and Staff Boxes

 to let them know what we would be feeding them each day.

 

 

FRONT ENTRANCE

We made Paper Vines to drape down the hall!!

 

 TREES IN FRONT ENTRANCE

 

 

TEACHER'S LOUNGE

TEACHER'S LOUNGE TABLES

 

TEACHER'S LOUNGE FOOD TABLE

 

Check out the blog next week for our Teacher's Doors!!

 

 

Jan

 

Placemat Craft for Kids

 

 
 
My daughter came home from school with these cute paper placemats that they had made for their Thanksgiving Celebration Lunch.

It got my creative side going and I realized that you could make placemats for any holiday or any kind of party theme.  It can also be a great craft for the kids to make and use to help set the table for family meal time.

I forgot to add if the strips are too long you can glue down the ends and cut off excess.  Add stickers or other cut outs to your place mat.

I also made a St. Patrick's Day placemat by cutting some shamrock with my cricut and glued them on. You could also let each child make one with their name on it.  The possible ideas are endless.  After decorating your paper placemat, laminate and your placemat will last through many meals and snacks. 

You can also add fun Napkin Rings for your placemats.

 

 

Happy Decorating!!

Jan

Feeding the Extended Family

 

There will probably be a time that you will be responsible for

FEEDING THE EXTENDED FAMILY.

 

Whether it is for a Birthday Party, Family Reunion, Baptism, Summer Party, Sunday Dinner, Graduation, Weddings and Baby Showers, feeding the extended family can feel overwhelming. 

 

Here are two simple rules that have help me.

 

1. Make it simple but Have Fun!: If you are the type to go overboard try to scale it back a little.  This doesn't mean you have to not have fun with it.  I am trying to find a balance.  I love to go overboard and have fun decorations that match everything we eat.  I love to create fun food to go along with a theme.  I love all the preparation part but sometimes when it is all over I am exhausted, my family is tired of my screaming and I realize that sometimes I don't even enjoy the party itself!!  OTHER TIMES though if I plan ahead and I try to scale it back just a little I usually end up enjoying the party just as much as I did planning it.

 

2. Include others to help.  We had a Waffle Bar for my daughter's baptism and I asked two of my sister-in-laws to be in charge of cooking the waffles so that I could focus on other things including the guest.  Ask others to bring part of the meal.  Consider having food Catered or Go Dutch treat and eat at a restaurant.  Make sure your spouse and kids are on board.  Have a little family meeting and explain what is going on and ways that they can help.  Help them understand what is important to you.

 

My favorite part is coming up with the food.  There are so many fun food ideas that can make feeding the family easy.  Try one of these......

 

 

 

 

So Enjoy FEEDING YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY!

Jan

 

 



Themed Meals

 

I have always loved to plan parties for my family.  I remember starting planning holiday fun when my two oldest were 5 and 2.  That was a magical age. I stayed at home all day with my girls and we didn't make a lot of money, so I remember trying to create Holiday Fun for us.  It started to become a tradition and my girls loved to see what would happen on holidays.  Even when I went back to work outside the home they still loved when I would create Holiday Fun for them, even if it was on a much smaller scale. 

Pinterest has so many ideas for themed meals, parties and activities. So if you feel in the mood to create some Themed Meal Time check out our pinterest board and some of these food ideas we have done in the past.

Holiday Parties.......

Heart Shape Party Food for Valentine's

14 Heart Shape Foods

Green Party- St. Patrick's Day

Breakfast

 Green Eggs and Ham, Green Oatmeal or Lucky Charms

Lunch

Picnic Lunch- Leprechaun Switch

One year we made a picnic lunch. Picture on the left. 

When we came back from running errands to go on our picnic

 our lunch had been turned green by the Leprechaun.

Rainbow Snack

 

Holidays are probably the easiest to create a Themed Meal for.

Have you heard of National Food Holiday Days.  Pick a day and check out this website and you can create your meal around the National Food Holiday.

Did you know.......

March 14th is National Potato Chip Day?

March 25th is National Waffle Day.

March 26th is National Spinach Day.

March 28th is Something on a Stick Day.

Themed Meals for PRESCHOOLERS

Preschoolers love themed meals and can be especially easy to create. 

Use a book for Inspiration:

Try using shapes to create lunch whether it is a orange for a circle, pizza for a triangle

or using a cookie cutter to cut heart shape PB and J's.  

Your PRESCHOOLER will love it!!! 

Pick a letter for the day and make a lunch using that letter. 

C: Carrots, Celery and Cucumbers, Crackers and Cheese, Clementine, Craisins,   

Themed Meals for

MOVIE NIGHT

Polar Express Movie Night

Teen Beach Movie Night

Beach Party

Themed Meals for

Sports

Football Party

The ideas are endless just think of a fun day you want to celebrate and then begin planning!!

Enjoy!
Jan

Teen Beach Movie Party

I have two girls that love to watch the Disney Channel and have been counting the days down to the

 

TEEN BEACH MOVIE

So at the last minute, I decided we might as well have a Beach Party and watch the show! We invited our cousins to come over and party with us. I am the kind of mom who either plans  for months for a party or we do it at the very last moment. (I blame my mom for that)  Here is our party!

Here is what we ate.....

Crab Sandwiches

 I got the idea from Be Different Act Normal

Here is how ours turned out.....

Pool Noodles:  Cheese Puffs

Beach Boats:  Deviled Eggs

Beach Cake

It was super fun to decorate a Beach cake.

Beach Party Mix

Gold Fish, Gummy Fish and Pool Noodles (Licorice)

Surf Up!!!

Jan  



Inside Camp Fire

We have made this inside Camp Fire for several different occasions: Date night while eating smores, under a homemade fort, and for a fun inside dinner centerpiece with Tin Foil Dinners.  It is super easy to create and fun to have for an inside camping party.  Gather a bunch of big rocks and make a circle pit.  Next add some logs to your circle, then stuff red, yellow and orange tissue paper around the logs.  Turn on small flashlights underneath and watch your tissue paper glow like a fire....

WARNING:  Be careful not to let your paper get too hot.  I always put my flashlight closer to the logs and away from the paper.

Happy Inside Camping!!
Jan 

Teacher Appreciation Week: All- Star Teachers

Welcome to this week's series of

Teacher Appreciation Week!!!

I had the fun opportunity this week to help with my girls school's Teacher Appreciation Week and asked some of the ladies at Potluck on the Porch to help.  I  helped decorate the teacher's lounge, halls, and ended up decorating a couple of doors at the last minute. (like the last 30 minutes of set up time)

The committee decided to set our theme around "All-Star Teachers and Staff" with a sports theme.  Here are the decorations we made:

Here is a great tutorial. We actually used paper napkins and it works great!!!!

This table is for the food we serve each day during Teacher Appreciation Week!

Each day we made up a fun name for the food we will be serving.

Monday: Breakfast of Champions: Muffins, Bagels and fruit

Tuesday: Concession Stand Snacks: Nachos and cheese, popcorn and other fun snacks

Wednesday: Tailgate Party: Crackers, meat and cheese trays, veggie trays and other party snacks

Thursday: Pep Rally Picnic: BBQ chicken sandwiches, chips, salads and drinks

Friday: "Time-Out" for Treats: Desserts



Table Decorations

For instructions click read more.... just below the pin it button.



Jan

Linking to: Uncommon Design

Creating my way to Success

Superbowl Sandwiches

Another great recipe from my husband's family cookbook. 

FYI:  My husband's family are amazing cooks. 

I am grateful they are willing to let me share family favorites with you. 

They call these Superbowl Sandwiches and have them every Superbowl for as long as I can remember.  Another great and simple recipe.  Don't let the ingredients stop you from trying it.  It was a little werid for me at first.  I asked my husband the best words to describe this sandwich. 

Is it tangy, sweet, creamy etc.  His answer was very direct,

 

"They are just DELICIOUS!!!"

Ingredients......

Sauce
1 small container of cool whip.
1 cup of Apricot jam
1 tsp mustard

Thin sliced ham
Soft Dinner Rolls like King's Hawaiian Rolls

Mix the sauce together in a bowl.  Spread on roll and add ham.

Jan