CAMPING KIDS CRAFT - CREATE YOUR OWN S'MORES ROASTING STICKS

So happy to have you today!  Summer is going so fast and we are ready to do our annual family camping trip.  The food! The bike rides! The swimming! The campfires! The BUGS! 

Above all else though... S'MORES!  The gooey chocolate and toasty marshmallows... I am drooling as I type!  Last year, the kids and I decided to do something really special for our trip.  Our own s'mores sticks!  No more fighting over which one is theirs because this one dropped in the dirt.  

Here is what we used: oven-bake clay, metal roasting sticks, and fun sculpting skills!  I purchased these expandable roasting sticks from Target and then just slid the plastic covers off the bottom.  We decided what we each wanted to make and bought clay to make it happen.  (I also had clay left over from other projects, so we only spent about 8.00 on clay)

It was so fun to spend a few hours sitting and talking with our kids as we made our s'mores sticks.  My only suggestion is that you do not make anything too delicate - it can crack and break off with rough use, i.e. kids.  

Cover the bottom of the metal with the base color clay and design away!  Anything goes!  The Boo chose a "Frozen" theme, The Bug made a green light saber, a green and white football design (GO JETS!)for the hubs and a coffee cup for me.  We also used all of our play-doh rollers and plastic knives to cut things for the kiddos.  

Once they were complete, I followed the instructions on the clay and baked them in the oven.  This is why it was important to purchase all metal roasting sticks.  

We had a fun crafting time together and they worked perfect all summer.  I just pulled them out to use again for camping and they still look great, with the exception of the delicate snowflake.  It broke off a bit but, The Boo didn't even notice.  

If you and your family are planning a camping trip, I hope you try it out!  Also check out this post for the perfect camping snack mix!! 

Happy Camping! Cheryl

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MEMORIAL DAY POPPY PARTY - WITH PARTY CITY

Hey there!

Happy almost summer!  YAY! The temps are getting warmer, the sun is making days outside beautiful with blooms, and the pollen is killing us.  Am I right?  

The official start of summer is right around the corner - Memorial Day! It is a day we take to remember those we have lost in our military.  When I was a kid, I remember buying fabric poppies to signify this remembrance.  We had one hanging on our rear view mirror and we always put them in our pencil cups.  I wanted to use poppies this year to continue that honor.

Lucky for me, Party City has everything I need for party supplies.  I am a frequent visitor for the kids parties too.  They get very excited about the character party supplies.  

I started with this napkin as my inspiration and decided to use their new candy buffet line as a "build your own" bar instead.  These plastic bins and all of their candy line is inexpensive and can be used again and again!  Totally love it!

In a twist on the BBQ idea, we had grilled "build your own" pizzas!  I have done this before for parties, and everyone really enjoys making their own creation. Grilling the pizzas makes them taste fantastic!

Party City also has this super adorable picnic line out right now.... can I just say red gingham?! Love! The chalkboard sign is perfect to use for so many things.

For dessert I decided to use the gingham ice cream cups (they come with their own little spoon!) to make poppy flower dirt cups.  Pudding and Oreo goodness topped off with a fondant poppy.  I will have to show you how I made these soon.  

Drinks and sangria topped off the party - don't forget to add your poppies to the sangria with watermelon and red grapes!  

Ok, here is the most awesome thing about all of this though - tablecloths.  Plastic tablecloths. You cannot beat the quality of Party City compared to the dollar store ones and the truth is, you can use them for sooo many things.  I made a backdrop but cutting and connecting different colors and did the same thing for each of our posts on the gazebo.  They look fantastic and like a fabric swag.  Simple, inexpensive decorations! 

The hanging lanterns come in pack of three and I love them.  It really makes me happy to have all the colors match the plates, napkins, etc. and that is what is cool about going to Party City.  I did use their tissue paper to make a few red red poppies on the white lanterns.  Tied everything together for me.  

For the table, I added flowers (real and fake - can you guess which?) to my blue mason jars and used appetizer cups to add a flower place setting for my guests.  They can take it home to plant :).

These are a couple of our YUMMO grilled pizzas! I hope you have a wonderful day of remembrance for those who have served and lost their lives for our freedom.  Happy Memorial Day Y'all!

Disclaimer: All party supplies were provided to me by Party City.  All decor choices, party planning and opinions are all me.  They are awesome and you should visit http://www.partycity.com/ to help you with your next event!

Thanks to all who helped me make this possible. You know who you are - pat yourselves on the back!  Also, last note just for me... love you, j.  

XO, Cheryl

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Linking up with these great blogs:
Link Party Palooza - I Heart Naptime

EASY VALENTINE'S DAY SCHOOL TREATS

Hey there! Happy Valentine's Day!  

I thought I would share a couple of quick and simple ideas to make your Valentine's Day a little more heart shaped!

Every year since my kids have attended daycare, I have always made school treat snacks for almost every holiday.  I love to bake and create fun things for them to share with their friends. 

To be honest, I never think it is very creative or fancy.  It's just something I do.  A friend recently pointed out that I don't really share this fun stuff on the blog.  Ummm, she is right.  I have never thought any of it to be "good ideas." 

I want to do 2015 different.  I just want to be me. Little ol' Cheryl, just trying to be like my Mom.  That's really my goal - to just do me.  

This is what I made for the Boo's class this year.  I have been obsessed with clear cups and making fun treats in them.  

All I did is cut up strawberries and blueberries, add some to the bottom of the clear cup, top with cool whip (i piped it with a bag, but it not necessary) and add a heart shaped brownie and strawberry.  

The brownie is from a box mix.  No frills here.  Simple and quick is the way to go!  I also added some heart sprinkles I had on hand, but I would have added just regular sprinkles if I didn't have the hearts.  

I try to make things a little more healthy, but this time I did add a brownie.  I normally try to stick with fruit of some kind.  That way, you aren't pumping a whole mess of sugar into every one's kids.  Wink Wink.  

I hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day with the ones you love! Have some pink milk for a simple V-Day breakfast!

Much love,

Cheryl

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE VALENTINE'S DAY DECOR

Hi there! It's 2015... I can't believe it.  Colder temps and lots of snow can mean only 1 thing: It's almost time for Valentine's Day!  

There are some years that I totally miss the Valentine's Day decorating.  I really depends on how long it takes me to take down all the Christmas stuff.  I always end up putting off taking it down because it feels so homey and when it is gone, well, it feels so sad.  

This year I was on the ball.  I took everything down in a reasonable amount of time and was totally feeling the Valentine vibe.  I pulled down my Valentine box of decor, opened it and wrinkled my nose.  UGH.  Do you ever just feel "over" everything you have?

The thought of buying new stuff didn't make me feel happy.  I wanted something more neutral and romantic.  Y'all know what a sucker I am for Shakespeare.  I kept thinking of sonnets and loooovvveee.  Feather pens and flowers.... 

This is what I created- something that ended up only costing me 14.00.  (I only bought the roses and the feathers.) A Shakespeare in Love themed mantel. (technically hutch for me, but the only "mantel" I have)

I kinda love a hunt and gather decor mission.  I always forget about certain pieces I have as they get shoved to the back of the cabinet.  I still marvel at all the basic pieces I acquired when I worked for Bath and Body Works waaaayyy back in the day.   Yup, I got these pretty candle sticks from there. 

The roses are so beautiful and with the feathers...sigh no more, sigh no more.  Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite Shakespeare play.  I had to add a quote from there.  It's super romantic.

I purchased the roses at my favorite place - produce junction for super cheap and the feathers are from Joann's.  You could really recreate the entire thing without the feathers too.  I love the extra Shakespeare feeling it gives.  

The papers are sonnets I had that I just dipped the pages in coffee and let dry to give them a dated look.  They were really white originally.  I hope you love it as much as I do!  Now off to watch Much Ado!

Thanks so much for coming over to visit me today! 

If you have a minute would you look me up and follow over on Instagram @mycuprunnethover.cheryl Please please, pretty please?  I was finally able to get it going and would love to share with you!  

Happy Valentine's Day!

XO, Cheryl

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