Road Trip to VA

We just got back from our road trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. On our way down, my IPhone was an intricate part of our ride down. After NINE long hours of sitting in the car, I wanted to kiss my phone for provided entertainment in many ways.
   

Let's look at the check list:

Waze App: This not only provided our route, but also alerted us when there was traffic, accidents, and road blocks.  The whole app runs off of client participation, so the more you post, the more points you get.  It's updated each time a person posts about the map, and it will reroute you once it recognizes too much traffic. 

Over: LOVE this app! Not only can you take pictures with it, but you can change the picture through this program and write captions on the photo. I spent hours captioning all our family photos on the way home.  For a limited time, you can download free in-house purchases that change the font and add clever phrases.

Untapped: This is the most under-rated app around.  Sometimes it freezes, but with the different and unique beers I drank throughout the week, it was great to log what I had.  Oftentimes, I have something and forget what if I enjoyed it or not, so with this app, I can write down my thoughts! I can even take pictures, make comments, and write down the location of the brew.  So fun!

Gas Buddy: Oh gas buddy. I am old enough to know say I remember when gas was only 80 cents when I first got my license. Now? It's 3.59 on a good day.  Gas Buddy helps me find a deal nearby.

Road Trippers: Though we didn't use this app on our way to Virginia, it was fun to see what crazy sites were on the way to our final destination. This is hands down one of my favorite apps because I can create any list and tailor the destinations.  If we are only driving up the Northeast coast, then I can create a route that hits the places on the way.  So fun! It gives you a little history and links you to any websites or articles about the places.  

Field Trip: This app alerts you of any locations worthy of a field trip - museums, historical sites, battle sites (right up our alley in Wlliamsburg!) You can customize your route based on "thumbs up" or "thumbs down." There's also an option to read the description aloud like as if you were on a guided tour!

All these apps are available for the Iphone, not so sure about other devices.  Thanks Apple for making our journey chalk-full of info! 

Drinks on me!

I'm a little behind in posting about our mail, and when I put it like that, it doesn't sound very fun at all.    BeSpoke Post caters to men, (but I say pshh), and allows the subscriber to pick from 2-3 types of themes each month.  They select one hip box, and at the end of the month,it is mailed to your doorstep.  I kinda fell in love with this after seeing some of the previous boxes.

This box, Slate, I sadly missed. But it came with a giant piece of slate to use as a cutting board, a knife, and some mustards and dips.  

Roast pretty much had Mr's name written all over it.  I knew I had to order this box for us (him, I meant him.)

Last month's shipment was entitled "Agave." Inspired by a classic drink, this box contains everything from the glasses, ice cube tray, lemon squeezer, and shaker. 

I'm not much of a mixed drinker, but I couldn't help but fall in love with the ice ball molds.  They are like mini baseball ice cubes.  And for someone who LOVES ice in drinks, I snatched these up and stuck them immediately in the freezer.  

After taking a peek at the merch, I love the embossed glasses the best.  Don Julio, premium tequila, put their logo on the bottom, but I think it adds something to it. 

Also included in this set: Juicer, Boston shaker, julep strainer, and a jigger. Jigga what? I think that's all a true gentleman needs - oh yeah, that and some actual liquor.  I guess shipping liquor through the mail would cost more than $45 of awesome. But regardless, we are loving our box! Till next month! 

Blog Par-tay!

Today is October 1st, which kicks off my very first blog mini series!   We go all out for Halloween, and I thought why not have a party to celebrate!? For the next 31 days, I will be posting spooktacular Halloween projects. recipes, and decorating ideas. I will happily feature anyone who wants to join the party and show off their cauldron of macabre ideas! Let's swap em! Some thoughts: Homemade costume ideas,  yard decorations, party treats and favors, fun food and drink concoctions!

<a href="http://oneplusoneequalslove.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww73/my1ange1/31DaysHalloweenButton.png" /></a>

How To Participate?

Please link up to my party and grab the "31 Spooktacular Projects" party button, and spread the word of this spooktacular event!   Add your link to Mr. Linky anytime between October 1st -31st. Please provide link to your Halloween post :)  If you don't have a blog, email me the pics or idea! I will gladly post for you!   

(Please keep your fingers crossed that it works, as I've never used McLinky - and I'm really excited/anxious of what to do!)

Halloween Fun using your printer

As a teacher I am obbessed  with printables - I use them as rewards for students who are finished with their work, or downtime activites.  The Python printable website has an array of Halloween games that are so neat for the classroom and home! I searched through their database of over 50 printable activities, and found games that span all age ranges. I used some of the "Kids' Halloween"  Activities (word searches,vocabulary sheets, puzzles) for my classroom -and then stumbled upon more "adult" games.

  We have an annual Halloween and plan on  incorporating some of the games.   My favorite is the scavenger hunt - the website gives you easy clues with simple household objects to locate.  We decided to make prizes (ranging from candy to wine!) for the winners.  This site seriously takes the  cake of finding fun  at parties.    

What I like the best about the site is it was fast to download and super easy to print off.  I'll be honest - at first when I saw the site, I was a little hesitate to even write about it, thinking how exciting can printables be?! But then I downloaded them, and they actually were quite cute!  What I like the best is how they are organized on the site - breaking the activities into : Kids',Teens, Adults, Party games, Trivia games, and word games. My son's favorite was the NFL printables, which included sports trivia , matching of  players to teams and a word search.  This kept him busy in the car as we searched the stores for additional Halloween decorations :)  

On their website, they advertise as followed:

Our printable Halloween party games pack is huge! We have over 50 printable items, including scavenger hunts, trivia, party games and craft activities suitable for Halloween, Fall Harvest and Thanksgiving.

The products are delivered by encrypted download. Once a customer pays, they receive an email link to their download page. This will allow us to send bloggers their review samples in moments, so this is not too close to the deadline for Halloween or the rest of Fall.

The price is $19.95 for over 50 games, which should make it very appealing!

To find out more about these games and what fun you could have,check it out! The site allows you to download a few Halloween coloring pages, and a coupon for $5.

  

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Alice in Wonderful-land

LOVED it. Alice in Wonderland directed by Tim Burton. I had my concerns, but it completely surpassed my expectations. And now I want to throw my own own tea parties.

How to do it and make it look mad? easy-peasy.

There are so many elements that you can pull together to make it look like you're in wonderland. Most of the time, Alice parties are for children, but it could also be a more adult function, if you allow. How much fun!

I can imagine my 30th birthday party following this theme! (yes, I am thinking about my own "surprise" birthday party. hehe) So, this post is for my husband's benefit, and those that will help plan (my best friends/family).

Centerpieces are a must, and how to pull it off? Bright flowers, grass, bright and bold colors, and playing
cards. 


 

I love the idea of paper lanterns, of all shapes and sizes hung from the ceiling. Jessica Claire, a photographer, photographed fantastic party pics that did exactly this!

Different websites sell inexpensive lanterns, that give a variety of choices. Luna Bazaar is fairly inexpensive, and I love all the options. There are over 50 color choices, and a 14 inch lantern runs about $5.

The Paperlantern Store is even cheaper (I think), as 20 inch lanterns are $6.25 - though it doesn't seem they have as many colors.

In addition to paper lanterns, why not paper blossoms?

You can hang them from ceiling, tables - and they are easy to make!

According to Lenny's Alice in Wonderland, there are thousands of different ideas for a wonder wonderland party.

On Etsy by VivaLaViolette

Party Invitations- Tell your guests not to be late for a very important date, like a birthday party (or UN-birthday party!)- Shape your invites like a teacup- Make a top hat card, cut the top and replace it with a 10/6 card containing the details of the party. 

 

From Entertainment Exchange

It would be cute to have long tables covered with all different kinds of teapots, mismatched teacups, and cover it with bright tablecloths. 


The lawn could have lawn flamingos and different signs....fill vases with white and red roses...

Games:Play lawn croquet: with hedgehog plush toys as balls, or perhaps hedgehogs painted on the balls. Attach colored and stuffed socks to the end of the mallets and sew on eyes, to represent flamingos, or use a plush flamingo. Create large cardboard playing cards for the arches.

From the BEST tea party

Food and Drink:  Attach labels with the words "eat me" and "drink me" to all kinds of things! 

Have cupcakes or cookies with the words "Eat me" on them!!!

There are so many ideas out there - my mind is spinning round and round!!

I just want my flamingo mallet so I can shout "Off with his/her head!" Haha. It's the little things....

Haunt My House

I can't believe the summer is over and I am posting about Halloween!  My brain can't wrap around the idea of projects, but I will gladly post what our house looks like!

My husband and I made haunted gates to welcome our guests throughout October. We took planks of wood making a pillar on either side of the fencing. Then we taped the sides and spray painted them gray and made it look like it was bricked.  We made a fence out of PVC piping and painted it black to resemble fencing in a graveyard.

Lastly, we put gargoyles on the top of the pillars. That is my favorite part of the display!  People actually thought we had them up all year round!!

The creepy spiders crawling up our house are my favorite!  We have over 8 spiders crawling up the house (they are HUGE!!!) and actually are quite frightening.

Each year we try to create an additional Halloween decoration.....any thoughts of what to add to our house?   

Shiver Me Timbers

The idea of a party tickles me pink. I love the thought of having a themed party. Today, I think all my ideas have been wrapped up in someone's blog.   Under the Table and Dreaming posted about her son's pirate party. After my own heart!!  I love all the little touches and the cupcakes are completely and utterly ADORABLE!  I believe she made them herself. When I showed Mr, he said that I could do that if I had all the time in the world - he is right, I have enough trouble doing my laundry, let alone making and decorating little pirate booty cupcakes. 

These cupcakes she decorated using fondant, something I am not too familiar with yet.  But after looking these over, I think I might have to try it out!

After checking out her website a bit more, she also fancied a Carnival party - seriously, I believe this woman may be my new hero. 

Check out her site and see what fun and creative ideas she has come up with!

Easter Goodies

Dressing the table is not like dressing yourself. I guess it kinda is, as you want your table to look neat and presentable for guests; you wouldn't want to wear a coffee stained shirt and tattered pants to a dinner party!

Steering away from the true meaning of Easter, and discussing only the party aspects - there are a ton of ways to dress your table. For example, folding your napkins to look like bunnies. Cute - heck yes! Unnecessary, definitely. If you have the extra time, or an extra pair of hands, I say go for it! Otherwise, napkins are napkins.

Bunny napkin folding

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/holiday-ideas/funny-bunny-folds-instructions

Flowers would definitely brighten up the table for the holiday - why not add a little sugar to the mix? Putting tulips in a square vase, surrounding by peeps (sugary goodness - that I'm not a fan of. WHAT?!) Found on MANY websites, but my favorite designs were the following:

How to make your peeps the center of attention:

You need 1 large clear glass vase, one thinner vase that fits inside larger vase (leaving at least an inch between the two), cut flowers, and 20 or so Peeps bunnies or chicks

1. Fill the smaller vase with water and place the little vase in the big vase. Arrange the flowers in the smaller vase.

2. Fill the space between the two vases with Peeps, so the inner vase does not show. It may be easier to add the flowers at the end, so you don't have them in the way.

At Pampered Princess Parties, this picture was listed - but I think it's actually from a magazine. Either way, super cute!

However you may decorate your table - as long as you have loved ones by your side, I don't think it matters how it looks :) xoxo. Happy Easter!

Iconic Cookies

It's Spring time! The flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing (particularly in my front lawn), and the girl scouts are going house to house selling crack (I mean their cookies). They are quite addicting! In fact, I have to hide (and I will not reveal where the hiding spot is!) all the cookies so my husband doesn't finish off the 17 boxes of cookies in one sitting. Anything is possible.

The power of the girl scout cookie. No matter when, or who - the girl scout cookies always always wins. The number-one seller is Thin Mints at 25 percent of the market. More Girl Scout Cookies are sold every year than Oreos and Chips Ahoy, making them the best-selling cookies in the US!!

You might think DESSERT only when you think of these cookies. However, LAtimes reported restaurants claim to use these delicious goodies in their main dishes! Since the months to buy cookies are only Jan -March, people have to jump on the wagon while they have a chance. On the Girl Scout website, there are a bunch of different ways to ingest this deliciousness (not just in cookie form!). This recipe got me at coconut shrimp.

FRIED SAMOAS SHRIMP
4 extra large shrimp, peeled and veins removed
5 Samoas Girl Scout cookies, finely chopped
2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
2 cups flour
1 cup coconut flakes
4 egg whites
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 lime for garnish
Vegetable or peanut oil for frying
Toss coconut flakes with bread crumbs, cayenne pepper and chopped Samoas Girl Scout cookies.Dredge shrimp through flour, followed by egg whites and Samoas Girl Scout cookies mixture.Fry shrimp in vegetable oil at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown.
Garnish with coconut flakes and lime wedges.

Combines a few of my favorite things! yum yum.

BERRY MUNCH CRANBERRY PECAN CHICKEN SALAD
For salad:
1 package mixed salad greens
6 ounces fully cooked chicken breast strips
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup dried mandarin oranges
1/2 cup Berry Munch salad topping (see recipe below)
Balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

For salad topping:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
11/2 cups pecans
10 Thank U Berry Munch cookies, broken into 1/2-inch pieces

Place salad greens in a serving bowl, scatter toppings on salad and serve with salad dressing.To make salad topping: In a four-cup bowl, stir together honey, oil and orange rind. Add pecans and stir to coat. Add cookie pieces and stir to coat. Spread mixture evenly in greased jelly roll pan or on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Cool.

Serving suggestions:
Serve with Ciabatta bread. Salad topping is tasty on any salad, and is also a great addition to any trail mix.

All these recipes sound so good, it makes me wish I ordered more cookies!!

To end your evening, who doesn't love Thin Mints? To add to that, who wouldn't love a Thin Mint with alcohol?

Dirty Girl Scout

1 oz vodka

1 oz Kahlua

1 oz Bailey's

1 oz white creme de menthe

Mix (though it looks gross!), tastes great! I'm sure this drink has a multitude of names, but since we are on the subject of girl scouts - I figured I would change it around.

I was a Brownie, then a Girl Scout - so I will end this with the Girl Scout Motto:

On my honor, I will try:

To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law. (and eat lots of cookies!)

**Thanks to Natalie Dee for the amusing Girl Scout cartoon**

Bake Me Pretty and Sweet

At work, there is a long list of things I should be doing. Key word - should. Instead, I am finding topics to blog about...all of which leave me feeling hungry or pained because I lack the finances to purchase all my findings.

To add to my themed "Tea Party" un-birthday, I have found Teacupcakes. They are adorable. The only problem I find is that the package comes in four, which wouldn't be enough for a party - you would need to spend hundred of dollars to buy enough to make tea with your dozen cupcakes. Nonetheless, this just may be my next purchase.

My new favorite website is Bake It Pretty - and if I could quit my day job (though I love teaching!) and run off to be a baker's assistant, I don't think I would hesitant (too much!).

My favorite Easter items from this website are the following:

Easter cupcake holders

Chicky cookie cutter

How cute!!!!!Though I am a little late in ordering these items, I think they would have been super adorable! Oh well, there is always next year!

Happy Spring! Happy Easter!

First Birthday Par-tay!

What do you do when you want a big blow out for a one year old?

To throw a proper party, you need the following:

Balloons

Party Banners

Cookies

Party Hats

and lastly....The birthday boy/girl!

Balloons

To celebrate a beautiful baby's first birthday, I am helping create a balloon arch. Who knew there were so many different designs?? If you wanted to be technical, here are some directions.

http://www.balloons-galore.net/balloon_arch_info.cfm

At Balloons Galore, they give you very specific directions how to create the arch of your dreams. The only arch I am familiar with his the golden arches of McDonald's.

Birthday Banner

I downloaded the font of Circus so it closely resembles that of a circus from the early 1920s - and I just love it! I plan on making a Happy Birthday sign out of paper. Hopefully, the end result will look something like this:

All you need is a printer, paper, scissors, and a creative mind!

Cookies

What screams a birthday more than a colorful cookie? nothing. This recipe below is sure to make all the kids at the party scream for more....

Directly from the M&M Baking website, here is the recipe that MMMars feels is worth your while.

Ingredients

1 cup butter

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup M&M’S® MINIS® Milk Chocolate Candies

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F. Beat sugars and butter until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well. Stir in 2/3 cup M&M’S® MINIS® Milk Chocolate Candies. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Press several additional M&M’S® MINIS® Milk Chocolate Candiesinto each cookie. Bake for 9-12 minutes or until golden brown.

According to the recipe, it makes about 5 dozen cookies 2 1/2 inches big.

yum yum!

Party outfits

So I don't really know how I feel about "birthday" shirts or outfits. However, I find this dress incredibely adorable. I think if they had one in size 12 women, I would wear this for my 30th.

I found it on Sophia's style.

I love this shirt for a boy - and whooo doesn't love owls? Though, I personally think the pants are a little too much for my taste.

Whatever your reason might be to throw a party, nothing is as fun as preparing for a kid's birthday party!! Happy Early Birthday Aiden!!

Fish eggs? Marshmallows? What?!

Wikipedia's definition of sushi:

Sushi (寿司, 鮨, or 鮓^?) is vinegar rice, topped with other ingredients, such as fish.

Kara's definition of sushi:

a ricey goodness that I unfortunately crave once every ten days.

Things you don't need but if you had a place for it would definitely find comfort in your home:

Sushi Service for Two: Adorable serving set for enjoying sushi at home

I think what wins me over with this set is the little men. They are adorable!

Sushi on my brain? Also found this clever recipe for cookies...

I stumbled upon this website Cake Batter and Bowl!

Ingredients

8 chewy fruit rolls

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 (10-ounce) package miniature marshmallows

6 cups crisp rice cereal

16 worm-shaped chewy candies or 24 fish-s

haped chewy candies

Preparation

Unroll fruit rolls, and place, with plastic sheet down, on cutting board.

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add marshmallows, stirring until melted; remove from heat. Stir in rice cereal until blended.

Spread about 1/2 cup cereal mixture quickly over each fruit roll, leav

ing a 1-inch border on 1 long side. Arrange 2 worm-shaped candies or 3 fish-shaped candies lengthwise down center of cereal mixture.

Roll up, starting at side without border. Press to seal securely. Repeat

procedure with remaining fruit rolls, cereal mixture, and candies.

Cut each roll into 4 slices. Serve with chopsticks, if desired.

Okay....so if you don't like sweets, this isn't the recipe for you :) But for me, its heaven! Though I still enjoy soy sauce and shrimp in my sushi!!!

As a student of mine says it- Sue-seeeeeeeeee!!!

In addition to candy sushi, real sushi men sets, there are also wooden sushi sets! How wonderful! Now you can introduce your little Mini Me to sushi at an infant age!

This wooden sushi set, created by Melissa & Doug (my favorite toy maker!), is absolutely adorable! Utilizing the magic of Velcro, the included chopsticks allow me er, I mean Baby, to pick up sliced off sushi roll pieces. The sushi roll pieces Velcro together to form a sushi log that Baby can chop using the included wooden knife (!). This is one way to raise a lil Foodie!