Celebrate TODAY!

There are days that get long....and days that are hard. There are days where sometimes you just need a pick me up.

So today I am encouraging you to CELEBRATE TODAY! Celebrate where you are at! Celebrate with people that make you feel special! Go out to dinner, make your favorite dessert, wear your favorite outfit, just CELEBRATE!

I know what I am going to make to celebrate today..... Cake balls:
(courtesy of bakerella.com)

Red Velvet Cake Balls
1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)
4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

 

You can also make little cake pops too:

CELEBRATE TODAY!!

Here comes Peter Cottontail....

I know I mentioned this near Valentine's Day, but I love holiday's! I love holiday marketing, holiday candy, drinks...you name it when applied to a holiday and I have it or want it! Marketer's LOVE me!

As I have mentioned in the past few posts, my birthday is in March. Luckily, I love pastel colors! Getting a bag of Hershey kisses and Cadbury eggs in the PINK and GREENS and BLUES of the spring make me happy. I think everything tastes better when it is in color for the season. Things just taste fresher!

Coming right around the corner is EASTER! I am a subscriber to many e-newsletters, and one of my favorite's is Hershey's Kitchen. As a child I did NOT like coconut! (My grandma bought me a coconut bunny cake for my birthday one year and it did not go over well...I ate the sugar face!) But here is my new favorite EASTER recipe from Hershey's Kitchen:

Coconut Marshmallow Nests

Ingredients:

• 1/2 teaspoon water
• 3 to 4 drops green or other food color
• 1-1/4 cups MOUNDS Sweetened Coconut Flakes
• 2/3 cup miniature marshmallows
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon butter
• HERSHEY'S Candy-Coated Milk Chocolate Eggs

Directions:

1. Combine water and food color in small bowl or small jar with cover or re-sealable plastic bag. Add coconut; toss with fork or shake closed jar or plastic bag until coconut is evenly coated.

2. Microwave marshmallows and butter in medium microwave-safe bowl 30 seconds at HIGH (100%); stir. If necessary, microwave an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until mixture is melted and smooth when stirred. Stir in tinted coconut.

3. Line tray or cookie sheet with wax paper. Drop coconut mixture in 12 equal mounds onto prepared tray. Shape coconut mounds with moistened fingers into small nest shapes. Cool completely. Allow to air dry until slightly hardened. Fill with milk chocolate eggs. 12 candies.

These are SO CUTE! So make them with kids, let them help form them and put the eggs inside! A great way to work together as a family!

Academy Awards - the oscars

When I was turning 17 I had a fabulous idea. Why not have my birthday party surrounding one of my favorite events - The Academy Awards! This party was so special and I had so much fun planning it!

I invited a bunch of friends and told them to dress in their favorite formal dress/attire. All the girls wore pretty Homecoming and Prom dresses and the boys all wore button down shirts with or without ties. As people came to my house, my dad and I had aligned the front walkway with RED Christmas lights! (It is a good thing my dad loved Christmas lights so we had the right thing!) I had my brother video taping people as they arrived at the party and then were interviewed by my friend, Tara, on the "Red carpet." Great, right? People were basically asked what their favorite thing was about me, and then we decided what celebrity they looked the most like!

Now, you can't have an Award show party without voting for "Best Actress" or "Most likely to be Prom Queen/King" etc! Everyone received a ballot, and with everyone in attendance we voted for each other. (No one was allowed to win 2 prizes). After tallying the votes, we had our own award show. I had spray painted plastic Easter bunnies from the dollar store in Gold to give out as prizes. Each person was given a die-cut star with the category and their name on the award as well, as the presentation envelope!

After our own Awards show, some people changed back into their normal clothes to get comfy to watch the Academy Awards. We had cake and appetizers, of course, to celebrate!

This Sunday marks the 82nd annual Academy Awards. I will be watching in the comfort of my own home probably in my pajamas this year! Here is the OSCARS OFFICIAL SITE!

Here are some great ideas for having a FABULOUS party! Also - check out the Food Network magazine as there are always fabulous ideas there! I think Bobby Flay is featured this year!
About Entertaining: Oscars
Top Party Ideas: Academy Awards
Academy Awards Party ideas

From Bakerella.com Fun with Films

HAVE FUN! And make sure you share if you do something fun for the Academy Awards!

Think Spring....

Who has Spring Fever??? Fun ideas from Family Fun and Disney! ENJOY!

Spring Parties for Kids

BIRTHDAY MONTH

March 24th is my birthday, and I am a big birthday celebration person! This post has less to do about planning a birthday party then all of the sweet deals you can get by becoming a member at different places to get free birthday things. Here is a list, it is not exhaustive by any means, of places that will send you a free birthday gift!

•  Red Robin - Free burger the week of your birthday
• Dairy Queen - Blizzard fan club - by one get one blizzard
• Cold Stone - Free "Like it" the week of your birthday
• DSW - $5 the month of your birthday
• Victoria's Secret - $10 off the month of your birthday
• Papa Murphy's - Free bucket of cookie dough with purchase of a pizza
• Caribou Coffee - Free drink any size on your birthday!
• Betty Crocker - Free Birthday party magazine
• Noodles & Company - Free noodle dish on your birthday
• Famous Daves - Free Dessert usually with coupon!

As I think of more I will list more! But sign up for some of these deals. They are WELL worth it!