Turkey Cookies

 I have wanted to make this set of cookies for several years. It sat in my pins, and I was always going to make these for my table for Thanksgiving, but the people attending Thanksgiving this year would not appreciate the effort (minus about three), so....when I was assigned a task for a faux Thanksgiving table for a meeting at work-I signed on for cookies, and these were so easy, I might even make a set for people who don't appreciate the small details quite like me (they won't be offended by the comments).

 I used this recipe.  The cookies hold their shape, and the icing doesn't get as smooth as Royal, but it's so delicious.  I used a letter set of cookie cutters from the craft store I already had.  Next, I  dyed my icing brown, then got some heart and eye ball sprinkles from Wilton.  I was also feeling lazy and just bought some orange decorators icing (which I do a lot for reds and blacks if I don't need a lot of the color, b/c it can be a hassle to get the right color). I squeezed it from the tube and added about a teaspoon of Clear Karo Syrup to the 1/4 c. of icing.

 I piped the brown, then added the eyes and heart, and piped on the nose.  I let the icing harden over night and bagged them up.

There is about to be a lot more baking going down at my house this week b/c there are about 9 meals I'm attending in the next 7 days.  I have to bring a dish to most, and like any good blogger, I'm trying out things for the first time and making other people eat them.  Forget Grandma's Recipe.  I'm saving those for Thanksgiving for the fuddy duddies, who also won't be eating Turkey Cookies, but they will eat Grandmother's dressing.  And....so will I.  

Glamping Favors

One of my favorite people on planet earth is turning 'as old as me' in about a month. Due to travel and schedules, we are celebrating (with her first party) with a group of gal pals at a cabin in Broken Bow, OK.  I put together a bucket for each girl attending.

I embroidered a blanket for each girl (not knowing it would be 90 degrees), made wine glasses (or Diet Coke cups....knowing me) for each gal, and I bought some popcorn and had some cookies personalized for the party.  

Mermaid Favor Buckets

 The gals in my family headed to the beach a few weeks ago to celebrate my Mom's bday.  Just to make it a little more festive, I brought some decorations for the beach house we rented, and I made a bucket for each gal.

 I personalized the buckets, a water bottle, and a bag (to carry our phones to the beach).  I also put in some favorite snacks, a drink holder, cotton candy ("ocean foam"), everyone's favorite candy, and some mermaid cookies I bought at Cookies By Design.

Festive Popcorn

 I do this a lot for favors and gifts (Christmas, Showers), and it's so easy and tasty.  It hits the sweet and salty ratio just right.  This time I made it for an organization that was bringing in some guest speakers and their colors are yellow and this turquoise-ish blue.

 I bought some movie popcorn from Trader Joe's.  It makes 3 healthy size bags.

 I took about half of the chocolate and melted it.  I put mine in a ziplock and set it for a minute.

 I pull it out and start massaging it.  Then I put it back in the microwave for 30 second increments, massaging between each setting until it's liquid.

 I spread the popcorn out on wax paper so that it's one layer and snip the edge of the bag.  I then drizzle back and forth, tossing on sprinkles to the wet chocolate to adhere before it dries.

To get it even more chocolate-y, I toss it a bit when it dries and do more drizzles.  So easy, and a fun way to get any color going. I usually buy the chocolate already colored at the craft stores on sale, but you can also dye white chocolate with food dye to any color you want.

Graduation Words of Wisdom

 I made these last year for a pal who was hosting a graduation party for her nephew.  The idea was totally hers, I just brought it to fruition.  She was having the graduation celebration at a pasta restaurant and she wanted to give each guest a jar of pasta.  She wanted different pastas, and she wanted each one to have a quote they could read to the graduate.

 I found a bunch of different pastas (repeated some), and a bunch of quotes and words of wisdom.  I found the free tag printable online.  Here are all the quotes/tags I used.  I put each persons name on the tag to mark their place at the table...so the link is just for ideas.

I filled mason jars and put some clothe I found on top that I cut with pinking sheers.  I attached the tag with raffia.  I got a larger jar for the graduate.  Each person read their quote at dinner, added a personal message on the back and then gave them to him.  For the table, she used real basil plants she got at Trader Joe's to line down the center.  I thought it was a super cute idea and would be good for a bon voyage or rehearsal dinner, so...sharing just because.  :O)

Baseball Shower Favors

I recently helped host a bridal shower for one of my good friend's daughters.  I'll be posting all the details soon.  She met the groom at a Ranger's game and is an avid Ranger's fan...we kept that in mind while planning.
I found these adorable vintage style cracker jack boxes on Amazon-they cost less than a buck each when you buy them as packs of 24.  I added a sports tag and some tickets.  As a teacher...I hit up some of my nearby teacher friends so that I could get the right colors.  I found a baseball stamp and stamped it in the middle of the blue ticket (loved these blank tickets from US Toys).  Sooooo much easier than my original plan!  All the details coming soon!

Lemon Bath Salt

This past weekend I threw a little tea for a friend of  mine having her first little baby.  I'll post a few more details soon.  This was the little favor I put together.  I hosted it at a tea room, so decorations are a little limited since you are in the middle of everyone else's luncheon as well.
Nicole and her husband have decided not to find out their baby's gender until he or she arrives in May.  So, I went with a little duck theme.
I put together some little bath salts for each gal who attended the tea.  This are really easy...and might I add-useful favors.  At least, I think they are!  I mixed some Epsom salt and baking soda (3 parts Epsom to 1 part baking soda) and a few drops of lemon essential oil.  Depending on your oil, it should only take a few drops to infuse the scent.  I found these tiny little ducks at Party City I put in each bag, and some little yellow loofahs I attached to the back just to make the color pop a little more.  Stay tuned for 'the rest' of the details....and up next-a really fun vintage baseball bridal shower.

Hostess Gift Ideas

 I'm headed to Good Morning, Texas today some hostess gift ideas for the holidays.  I'll post the link later to facebook, but in the meantime....here are the how to's...some links to free printables, and grammatically incorrect sentences to house all the info.
First up (actually last in the line up) is this Cranberry Salsa.  My friend Jennifer brought it to a pot luck two years ago and was generous enough to share the recipe.  In Texas, I say....always say it with Salsa....and what says holidays better than Cranberries?  Here is a link to the free tag if you are interested in added them to your jars.  For the recipe:

Cranberry Salsa

PRINT HERE

Mix 12 oz of fresh cranberries (chopped in a food processor to smaller chunks), 1 c. roughly chopped cilantro, juice from two limes, 3 green onions (chopped), 1 c. sugar, 2 cloves of (chopped) garlic, 2 jalapenos (take out the seeds if you don't like it too hot). Mix and serve with tortilla chips. Chill and let it sit for a few hours/overnight to really let the flavors marinate.   It's also great over a block of cream cheese with crackers.  Makes about 3 cups of salsa.

 Another easy gift idea is flavored olive oils.  ALL you have to do is buy some regular olive oil and add herbs.  The key is to make sure your herbs are completely dry.  I bought some rosemary and let it sit out for a few days.  I then funneled some olive oil in a jar (1.50 from Hobby Lobby) and slipped in the dried rosemary.  The key is that you don't want fresh/wet herbs or your oil will need to be refrigerated and discarded within  weeks.  It can spoil with fresh herbs.  The longer your herbs 'live' in the jar, the stronger the oils are.  If you added lemon peels or garlic you might want to pull them out after a few weeks.  Rosemary is my personal favorite.  I use it to toss potatoes/chicken/bread etc.  This would be a cute 'set' to give as well-experiment with several flavors.

 I learned this trick for making caramel a few years ago from a friend named Marie.  She taught me that you can take a can of sweetened condensed milk (about 1.20) and put it in a pan (leave the can completed closed up, it will cook in the can) and boil it for 3 hours.  I just check it every 30 minutes or so and add more water.  After three hours.  Pull the can out and place it in the fridge for 4 hours.  You can add nuts and then serve it with apples....or just a spoon.  It's magic...and much cheaper than the 3+ dollar bag of caramels and 3+ mini carton of heavy cream.  Here's  link to the tag for this as well.  This would be cute to give with a basket of apples.

Last up, wine.  A little different idea for delivering the wine-find a seasonal tea towel and wrap it around the bottled.  Add a ribbon, I used a few pins to hold it closed in the back, but....little waste in this gift-it's a two part gift-tea towel and wine....you've covered a future holiday as well with this gift!!

Favor Cakes

My Mom turns sixty this month!  I've got quite a few festivities planned...including a tea with friends.  I'm going with variations of pink for each of the festivities, in this case...pink and black.  I'll post all the details later, but....these are the favors I made using mini cakes for each guest.  Again, once they are all done...more pics, but this was the test run.  

I found a free chalkboard background and downloaded some chalkboard fonts to make this tag.  

 I made these little poppies (which I posted instructions for making last week).

 I added a ribbon and ran the end product through inspections...approval granted.  

 Inside those little containers are baby bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cake.  I wish I got something for saying that, but I don't....but regardless....I heard these cakes!  I'm getting several different flavors.

My favorite is the chocolate chocolate chip....should anyone be near a store and want to please my pallet!

New Year's Eve: Mini Champagne Favors

 I've seen ideas like this floating around on the net, and I needed something a little different to give some of my friends last Christmas.  I've moved through my collection of cookie recipes and small gifts, and so....mini champagne with attached straws and poppers made the cut. 
It took me awhile, and some bad decisions before I found out they sell mini four packs of champagne at most grocery stores (found mine at super Target for the same price as one mini bottle at a gourmet grocery store).  In my defence, I'm not a drinker. 

 I'm sure the cellophane wasn't necessary, I was going to fill it with crinkle paper, but decided not and....really life is best served in cellophane. 

 Tag and tulle, my world, and my gifts were complete!

Gingerbread Turkey Cookies

Last year I found these gingerbread turkey cookies and I used them as my Thanksgiving place settings.  How easy and cute are these?  Here is a recipe for a great, soft gingerbread cookie.  Use a turkey cookie cutter, ice and enjoy.  Gobble 'em up. 

DIY Make Up Bags

 My friend showed me some bags like this for sale for bridal party gifts.  You can change the flowers out to match the dresses.  I loved the style, so simple and pretty, and I already had these little burlap bags from a previous project.  I found mine at Hobby Lobby and they came in various sizes.  All I had to do was add the flower.
I used some off white fabric I had and I snipped the edge and then ripped both sides so that it was frayed...I tied one end...

 I twisted the fabric and began wrapping it around the center in a circle.  I put a dab of hot glue every inch or so to hold it together.

 I added a pin to the back with my glue stick, and a little strip of fabric across the back to make it even more firmly 'stuck.'

 I glued a little pearl onto the front.

 ...then pinned it to the bag.  You could add some matching ribbon to the zipper pull too, but....I'll leave that for 'you' to do....I dig it.  Anything burlap and white is right up my crafting alley!