Too much time on my hands??

Looking for something to do with all your random Happy Meal toys?? If you're like me and hate throwing anything away then I have just the thing!!!

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Make a toy wreath!!!

I decided to do this after I did some major cleaning of the playroom last week. I found tons of random junk toys that never get played with. I was about to throw them out when my little Bailey girl gave me the guilt trip of a lifetime.

Every toy she saw me place into the throw away pile caused a reaction...

"You CAN'T throw that toy out!! I love that toy...I promise I'll play with it!!"

So we compromised. The toy wreath was the solution...she gets to keep her toys and I get them up and out of the way. And I love the way it turned out. What a great way to bring new life to all those cast away toys!!! (so much more fun than tossing them out)

Do I have too much time on my hands? Perhaps.

So this is what I did.

I grabbed the box of "junk"...

Picked up a wreath at the Dollar Store.

And went to work. Just me and the hot glue gun...and Bailey to supervise.

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Warning: Your child is NOT going to want to let go of ANY toys...it may be best to do this while they are not sitting right next to you!!!

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I got A LOT of these looks!

"not that toy!!!" **the entire time w/ her hands on her hips**

So, after about 20 minutes of gluing and placing, and several conversations reminding B how she has a million other toys and never plays with any of these....it was finished.

Here is my helper Bailey with her new toy wreath...still not 100% convinced that she isn't going to miss these toys....

And I LOVE the way it turned out!!!!

Doesn't it make such a fun greeting for a playroom!!!!!

Oooh Ooooh Oooh... and since parties are always on my brain, wouldn't it make a cute decoration for a Toy Story Party!!?!?!?

Homemade Happy Hour

I just LOVE these Homemade Happy Hour printables!!! FREE!!! Found here.

They were originally used as cupcake toppers, but don't they make a cute packaging decoration! :)


















Today I used them to spice up a little box of cake balls for Bailey's teacher she had last year. We LOVE Bailey's teacher this year, but that doesn't mean we have forgotten about all the wonderful things Ms Michelle did for her last year !!


So first B wrote her a little note, complete with an illustration of herself with Ms Michelle...


Seriously, don't you just love 4 year old artwork!?!?! ;)



Attached it to the top of the box...

Yum Yum YUMMY!

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Wrapped it all up...

and sent her to school with it. She was so excited to stop by Ms Michelle's class and give her some cake balls to sweeten up her day! :)

I have a few friends that are teachers so I know all about the hard work and dedication they put into our children. So, if you get the chance, show your child's teacher some love!!! It doesn't have to be anything elaborate...just a simple note expressing your appreciation can go a long way.

An apple for the teacher

Today is my sweet baby Bailey's first day of Pre K. I wanted to win her a few brownie points for the school year so I sent her off with an "apple" for the teacher. Her teacher is going to need the sugar to get her through the days with this little monster. ;)

















I'm really funny about trying to recycle containers for other purposes. (remember this? and this one too) I guess its my little "going green" contribution. So I saved these little blueberry containers...perfect for a single cupcake!! I washed it, dried it and decorated it....

What do you call this???

What should I call this?? Technically speaking it is a cupcake (its a cake in a cup) so maybe thats just what I should call it. :)

My neighbor's daughter is going off to school (The University of Auburn) and I wanted to send a little good luck sweet thing along with her. I found these Auburn Tervis Tumblers and they got me thinking...how can I spice these up???

So this is what I did....

I got a couple of cupcakes...

Started off with a dolip of frosting at the bottom of the cup....

Cut one of the cupcakes in half and dropped it in...

Then I alternated between cake and icing until the cup was filled...

YUMMY right?

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You know you want to take your finger and swipe the top of that!! I know this b/c I had 2 little girls and 1 husband who wouldn't stop begging me to do just that! (and, I have to admit...maybe I wanted to as well) ;)

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Wrap it up and stick a fork in it!! (in this case, orange for Auburn)

And there you go...a "cup" cake!! (or cake in a cup, whatever you want to call it) :)

One for the college girl and another one for her baby sister who is NOT thrilled with the fact that big sister is leaving! :(

Cake Pops- Love this packaging!!!

Funny little story from last night.... We had some great friends over for dinner and while we were chatting my girlfriend Katie (who is basically my cake ball spokesperson) asked if I happened to have a couple of cake balls already made because her manager has been dying to try them. I said, sure I can make a couple of cake balls...but I don't have a box for two cake balls. What would we package them in???

The wheels start turning...........I have JUST the thing!!!

I once saw someone package lollipops similar to this design so I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I go outside to the garage and grab my random spare piece of 2 by 4 wood (I might be a hoarder), ask Brian to saw off a small piece for me, sand the wood, paint the wood, cover the wood with pretty paper (all while Katie is telling me "all I want is two cake balls!"), modgepodge it, drill two holes in the wood and stick on some letters to spell "Enjoy". (all this as I'm trying to carry on a conversation w/ my guests, entertain the babies and get dinner ready to be served). I seem to seek chaos!!

Gordons, if you're reading this I promise, the next time y'all come over I will not have restless baker/crafter's syndrome!!! I will sit down with you (without my drill) and relax with a beer. (just don't get my wheels turning!!!!!)

Its cute though huh?!

More options...

I started thinking the cupcake stands available for giveaway seemed a little...hmmmm...whats the word?? Gender biased? Girly maybe?

So tonight I added another option... Just wanted to give y'all a heads up. :)

It doesn't get more "male" than Superman!!!!!!!

Cupcake Stand Tutorial and GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Remember those cute little cupcake stands I posted a few weeks ago?? If not, click here.

Well, I promised a cupcake stand tutorial so here it is. :) These are easy to make that I feel silly even posting a tutorial for it!!!

OK, here goes...

Get yourself a wooden candle stick and paint it whatever color your heart desires. They come in all different heights. I found mine in the unfinished wood section at Hobby Lobby.

Then get a round platter. Again, I found this one at Hobby Lobby. Also, in the wood section they sell all different size wood rounds if you wanted to go w/ painted wood as your top.

For this stand I used a little porcelain platter and thread some ribbon through the holes around the edge. This one is a little different than the others I made. I love this top b/c you can switch out the ribbon to coordinate with whatever colors/theme you're using. :)

Grab some glue....

Apply glue to the top of the candle stick...

Flip the platter over and stick the candle stick to the back. Make sure to center the candle stick in the center of the round top.

Let the glue dry and VOILA!! You have yourself a cute little cupcake stand. :)

I want to give a special thanks to my assistant apprentice, 4 year old Bailey Marie Petronis, who made the adorable cupcake featured on today's cupcake stand. Thank you sweet baby.

Together, one day you and I are going to do big things!!! ;)

Sooooooo, DA DA DA DA, along with this tutorial I would like to announce a GIVEAWAY!!! I will be giving away a cupcake stand to one lucky reader of my blog, you choose which style!! :)

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your favorite cupcake stand photographed below. You have until the day I turn 29 to leave a comment...

(that day is also known as Monday July 26, 2010). :)

I will be randomly choosing the winner on my birthday. Good luck!!! :)

Elmo for dessert...

Lately our little Olivia (16 months old) has been getting more and more interested in books and its been great!! She is so fun to read to (its about the only time she'll cuddle) and I really think its starting to broaden her vocabulary. One of her new favorite pieces of literature features Elmo dancing to "If You're Happy and You Know It". ;)

So I decided to make our Sunday night a little special with a new dessert in honor of Olivia's latest love interest.

What did I come up with?????

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OREO SUCKERS!!! Elmo style :)

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Elmo is a furry little guy so I had to make him as "furry looking" as I could. ;) I was a little sloppy with these suckers, but in the end all that matters to my family is that there is sugar in them! ;)

YUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!

One happy girl....

Another very happy little girl.......

Wait....let me think about this for a minute. You want me to EAT Elmo??

Ok, fine. Whatever! I'll eat him. He'll forgive me!!

Brian kept asking her if he could have a bite...finally she was generous to "share". Thanks Liv. The stick is empty! You're so thoughful. ;)

"Where did it go?" she asks...