Everyday Celebrating

Kicking off the Super Bowl party!

Wow your Super Bowl party guests with these truffle football cupcakes.  They look complicated, but they aren't!  If you can roll a ball and use a toothpick, you can create the wow!

Full recipe at Taste of Home.

Host a Snow Day party!

That's my son, Keaton, about to nail me with a snowball on the snow day we enjoyed Monday.  We live in a neighborhood packed with children and yet he was the only out for most of the day.  I was really surprised.

And much later, while we were enjoying hot chocolate and drying out, I was thinking we should have knocked on doors and had a Snow Day party!

Of course, we knew a couple days before of the weather forecast and it would've been fun to put something together for the neighborhood children.

And it doesn't have to be complicated.  A few ideas:

• Start by serving a warm lunch.  A large pot of chicken noodle or vegetable soup would work well. A standard soup that many children will eat.  Add a grilled cheese sandwich and use a cookie cutter for fun shapes like a snowflake!
• Stock up on scarves, gloves, hats at places like the Dollar Tree.  The Dollar Tree frequently has 2 pairs of gloves for $1.  For next to nothing, you can fill a basket with extras for when it's time for a change from wet items.
• Stock up on supplies for a snowman.  Buttons, carrots, pull some sticks for arms, etc.  Also, clean out your closet and provide the children with some clothing for Frosty then donate when you're finished. 
• While you're at the Dollar store, stock up on squirt bottles.  Fill with water and a few drops of food coloring and children can "paint" the snow.
• When it's time for a break, how about these cute snowball cupcakes from Tidy Mom

• Of course, hot chocolate is essential!  Create a hot chocolate bar and let each child add toppings such as chocolate chips, colored marshmallows, sprinkles, or whipped cream!  

It doesn't have to be pefect or fancy to create snow day memories!  Don't forget your camera!

For this weekend: S'mores on the grill!

It's a fall weekend!   Time for two things:  football and camping!

What sweet treat is perfect for both?  S'MORES!

Just grab the necessary ingredients:  Hershey's Chocolate (because no one does it better!), graham crackers and marshmallows!

For outdoor gatherings, Smores are quick and easy.  Stack the S'mores like the photo above and wrap them in foil.

Depending on your fire, only grill for 2 minutes maximum.  Usually only 1 minute is fine.  The results is warm gooey chocolate goodness!!!  

Want to learn more about S'mores?  Visit the Hershey's Smores site for recipes and traditions and even built your own virtual S'more!

Still time to make: Easy Halloween snacks - BONES and FINGERS!

 

I love this idea for Bones and Blood shared by Our Best Bites.

Simply use breadstick dough (storebought or homemade). Cut into strips.  Use scissors to snip the ends in half. Roll back the ends to create the bone affect. Dip in "bloody" marinara!

These are great too!  Cheese fingers!

Cut string cheese in half.  Create knuckle marks with a knife. Attach slivered almond (nails) with a dab of cream cheese!

Hop on over to Our Best Bites for lots of adorable Halloween food ideas!  Fun and easy items that you can create last minute for your Halloween gatherings.

Candy Corn Cookies

A great recipe for these colorful swirled candy corn cookies can be found over at Red Couch Recipes.
Makes a wonderful treat to bring to your next Halloween gathering! 

Adult Halloween treats

Having an "adult" Halloween gathering?  Where you'd like a Halloween themed food, but not something too kiddie? 

Taste of Home magazine shows us these cute chocolate covered strawberries.  Just add a simple face and they fit in with your next Halloween gathering. A small touch of Halloween for an adult gathering.

Back to School celebrations!

Hey... C'mon over!

I'm over at Everything Mom talking about fun back to school celebration ideas!   Simple celebrations and easy food ideas to kick off the new year!

Everyday Events: Outdoor Smores buffet

I love this smores buffet from Moore Minutes.  Love the rustic outdoor setting, love the burlap and love the pine cone tag holders.

LOVE the jumbo marshmallows!

Love that she had different flavor options including peanut butter cup!

Love how she incorporated nature into the setting, even lining the trays with camo scrapbook paper.

Plus, bark, twig and stick balls...

Make sure to stop by Moore Minutes to see additional photos.  If you plan on camping this fall, put this idea in your file for a fun night around the fire.     

 

Everyday Events: Impromptu Picnic

Isn't it amazing how fresh flowers, ribbon, raffia and some baskets can make your everyday picnic look like it came out of a magazine?

Paula of Frog Prince Paperie had 3 hours notice of her guests arrival!  She threw together this perfect impromptu picnic with what she had on hand and it turned out beautifully!

See that beautiful pound cake?  She shares the Paula Deen recipe on her site!  AND, she sells those monogram circles in her etsy shop. 



Paula's impromptu picnic is exactly the type of occasion we celebrate here at EC.  Even with short notice, when you have a few basic extra touches on hand, you can make any gathering an occasion! 

 

Everyday Events: Little Man Tea Party

This is one of the cutest little themes I've ever seen! 

Cheri at I am Momma hear me Roar, threw a little man tea party for her son, Rex.  Rex is obsessed with everything mustache and told his mom he wanted a mustache party for his 3rd birthday.

Done!  And super cute!

So she made it like a tea party.  She made full sheets cakes and cut them into mustaches.  Drew faces on plates with Sharpies.

 

She cut sandwiches in the shapes of ties and drew shirts on the napkins!

and look at the mustaches on the cups!  And how cute are the boys in their ties??

Visit her blog to see more cute photos and a tutorial on making the 'stache cakes!

This party made my day!  So adorable! And easy!!