Ladybug Party!

A friend of mine has been kind enough to gracefully allow me to all but commandeer her daughter's third birthday party!  Thanks again, Courtney!!  The birthday girl has requested a theme of "ladybugs & flowers & PINK", so she shall receive.

The Invitations:

Homemade with a couple sheets of craft paper.  You can embellish with "googley eyes" or sequins too!

The Cupcakes:

White cake with honeydew green tea frosting!  Let me know if you want the recipe!

The Cake: 

This one is just for the birthday girl, for her to blow her candles out!  

 

The Cake Pops: 

A scrap piece of hot pink tulle makes quite the impact!!

The Decorations: 

Pinwheels, metal buckets, and ladybug sun-catchers from the $1 section at a big box store; and lollipops tied with red & white polka dot ribbon.

My New Etsy Store!!!

Please take a moment to view my new 
Etsy store, Maiden & Moon!

Every item is handmade with love and whimsy!

So far, I've listed some Totally Skirts, like these Totally Minnies:

Coming soon:
I have plans for the following shop sections-

• Little Girls Clothes
• Little Boys Clothes
• Accessories
• Family Garden Soaps
• For Mommies

Lofty Inspiration: Ideas For Brilliant Bunks

My 3 year old son has been asking for bunk beds.  Of course, the bunk beds he wants are some fancy-pants design that is really more of a playground than a bed- with a major price tag to match.  Our budget is more of the hand-me-down, garage sale size.  I have the notion to design and create our own version of something unique and brilliant.  Here are son images that inspire the crafty fiend in me...

Image: http://ana-white.com/2012/03/plans/fire-truck-loft-bed

Image: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Micro-Bus-Bunk-Bed-and-Playhouse/

 Image: http://www.homedit.com/how-to-choose-the-perfect-bunk-bed/

 

Image: decoholic.org

Let the pallet hoarding begin!!

SNEAKY Chocolate Puddin' Pops!

A sweet treat with NO sugar or sweeteners- just yummy goodness straight from nature!!

What kid doesn't love to delight in a chocolate puddin' pop on a warm day??  And what mom won't delight in serving her kids a heaping helping of potassium power and omega-3's??

Feel good about dishing out SNEAKY 

Puddin' Pops all summer long!

Ingredients:

• 3-4 bananas, sliced 
• (this is where all of the pure, natural sweetness comes from, the more ripe the banana, the sweeter the pudding will be)
• 2 avocados, peeled & pitted 
• (yes, at first I couldn't wrap my head around this ingredient and the flavor combo either... but you really can't taste any avocado when all is said and done.  The avocado just gives the recipe the smooth pudding texture)
• 2 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
• (optional) 1 packet chocolate flavored Kidz Superfood powder 
• (I got mine at Sunflower Market, and I sneak it in whenever the kiddos request chocolate milk.  Take a gander at the label, there aren't many veggies that are missing in this drink!)

Step 1:
Scoop avocados into blender, add sliced bananas, cocoa and drink mix.  Blend on high until smooth, about a minute or two.

Step 2:
Spoon pudding into Popsicle molds and freeze for about 2 hours.

• You could stop here, if you just want to enjoy some chocolate pudding!

Step 3:
Hand 'em over and stand back- this could get messy!!

• It's okay to feel pleased as punch at this point as you watch happy kids devour delicious fruits and veggies!!

Spring is here!! Host a Seed Starting Party & play in the dirt!

Hosting a party for starting seeds is not only a fun get-together for those who love gardening, 

but also for those who just love to play in the dirt!  

Kids and adults alike!

Alright, I can admit, I just love  any excuse to have a party!  

Truthfully, I just love to play as much as the kids, and make 

things pretty, so if we can get a few families together 

and enjoy each others' company then I am all for it.

On the menu:  Keep it light and fresh- I tried to incorporate veggies to inspire the kids.  We want them to know that food comes from the ground (not the grocery store) and that they can grow what they eat.  

Cucumber, Cream Cheese & Sprout Sandwich Recipe: Spread one slice of bread with cream cheese, top with peeled cucumber slices and sprouts (I used radish sprouts)

  

Avocado-Green Pea & Radish Sandwich Recipe: Mash 2 avocados with about 1 cup thawed frozen peas.  Spread on bread and top with radish slices.  (This recipe is from the April 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens- they also suggest trying it as a dip!)

Sunflower-butter & Jelly Sandwich Recipe: A spin on the classic PB&J.  Sunflower-butter is just like peanut-butter, but it is made from sunflower seeds.  (I found ours in the 'Organic Condiments' section at my grocery store, and I imagine most health food stores would carry it too)

Fun Sunflower instructions: Cut sliced cheese in half diagonally, layer in a spiral pattern around a plate or platter and fill the center with berries.  I used blackberries, but blueberries would be great too!

Dessert was the biggest hit!  Ladybug Pops!  

(Get the super-easy recipe by clicking here.)

It's time to get our seeds started indoors so they'll have plenty of time to establish before we transplant them outdoor, which is usually around Mother's Day where we live.  Our family, as well as most of our friends, enjoys experimenting and adventuring in creating gardens and growing our own food. 

We made our own seed pots out of recycled newspaper (get similar instructions by clicking here), and we also used plastic and paper drinking cups with drainage holes poked in the bottom.

Making an event out of the annual seed starting helps prevent the seemingly inevitable procrastination- you know how the 'chores' that we enjoy the most some how get pushed to the bottom of the list and life get too busy, and before you know it, it's too late in the season to start seeds?  Somehow it's easier to work an afternoon with friends into the schedule...