Keeping It Simple

I wanted to share a few details about the luau party we had on Sunday.  I didn't spend much money on this, but people thought I did.  Today I wanted to talk about my Tiki Huts.

They sell these umbrella huts at Party City for $25 each.  However, I thought this was a little expensive.  All I did was take two umbrellas and 8 adult sized hula skirts from the dollar store.  I put 4 on each umbrella.  So instead of $25 for one, I made TWO for $8.

Kelly-Pollack Luau

I had the pleasure of helping throw a Luau party for a very special little girl, named Harper.  It was a so much fun!

Luau Wreath

I am helping with a luau next week and I have several crafts that I am currently working on.  Thought I would share this simple, but festive wreath. 

Materials:
144 Parasol umbrellas - ($5 at Party City)
A Water Tube - ($1 at the Dollar Store)

Take the tube and tape the ends together to make a circle

Open all the parasols

Now, just stick them into the wreath.

Birthday Party Decisons

There are two big parties I host/throw every year.  One is the birthday party for the twins and the second is a Halloween party.  I know both are a few months away, but I really try to do a lot of crafts so I like to start early on ideas.  Maddie and Zack are turning three this year.  This means that I have about one or two years left of deciding the theme before they take over.  I think I have officially decided to have a Mickey & Minnie Mouse (Mickey Clubhouse) themed party.  Mickey is a H-U-G-E rock star in our house.  I think they will really enjoy this theme!

Teacher Apprecitation Day 5

Last day of Teacher Appreciation Inspiration.  Please make sure you appreciated our teachers!  I think they are underpaid and under-appreciated!!  Today's gift is my grand finale.  A beautiful flower arrangement with a hand painted flower pot.  Don't freak out on me when I say hand painted.  It isn't that bad, I promise!

Spray paint the bottom black.  Paint the top yellow and take a sharpie to draw the lines and numbers to make it look like a ruler.  Then take some white paint to write the message.  What teacher wouldn't love this?  I think this might be our gift for our teachers this year!

Teacher Appreciation Day 4

Day 4 on our MUCH deserved teacher appreciation week is another cute craft idea, but very inexpensive.  For this project you will need a Cricut or some sort of cutting machine (if not you will need a lot of paper flowers), a box of flowers, some styrofoam, and a container.

I have a cricut so I just cut out about 4 flowers of 5 different flowers.  Put them through the erasers and stick in to a Styrofoam and then into a container.  And tadah, a beautiful, sweet, handmade gift for some deserving teachers.

Day 3 Teacher Appreciation

Day 3 of getting crafty for our wonderful teachers.  I think they deserve to be appreciated, because I know that I could NEVER do their job!

Today's craft is all about becoming a smartie and a sharpie!

 Take a mason jar, or any clear container with a lid.  Fill it with some smarties.  Then tie some ribbon (don't forget your sharpie pens on top!) and attach this adorable sign.

Teacher Appreciation Gift

Day two of Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas.  You don't have to go out and spend a ton of money to have a great and memorable gift.  Here is an adorable gift that the kids can get involved in.

Just trace your child's hands on some craft paper, embellish with some cute stickers.  Just stick a tube of lotion or hand sanitizer in between the hands.  L-O-V-E!

Teacher Appreciation

Next week (May 7-11) is Teacher Appreciation week.  So I will be posting a few cute craft ideas (or you can purchase them).  The first one is an adorable flower arrangement with alphabet magnets in the bottom.    I think any teacher would love!

Cinco de May Wreath

Found this adorable wreath on pinterest today and I had to share.  This would be perfect for the Cinco de Mayo party.

Things you need:
Styrofoam wreath
Cocktail parasols
Hot Glue Gun
Ribbon for trimming (optional)

All you need to do is hot glue in the parasols.  Cute right?

Cinco de Mayo

Today's inspiration comes from The Party Dress, http://www.thepartydress.net/blog/.  I have been a fan for a few years now.  They have even started their own magazine that has wonderful party inspirations.  Today I wanted to post their Cinco de Mayo party.  It is absolutely stunning!!

Kentucky Derby Part 2

I wanted to post a couple of recipes for the most famous part of the Kentucky Derby, and that would be Mint Juleps. 

First is the classic Mint Julep provided by Michael Chiarello on the Food Network, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/mint-julep-recipe/index.html.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup water
• 2/3 cup sugar, plus more for garnish
• 3 bunches mint
• 1 bottle Southern whisky
• 1 egg white
• Mint or lavender sprigs, for garnish

Directions

Make a mint flavored simple syrup by boiling water and sugar with two bunches of roughly torn and bruised mint in large sauce pot. Boil just until the sugar dissolves completely. Cool and strain the mint out of mixture.

Add bottle of whisky to the infusion. Stuff the empty whisky bottle with last bunch of fresh mint leaves and fill with the simple syrup/whiskey mixture.

Cap and put in freezer overnight. It will freeze to a slushy consistency for serving.

Glasses: dip the rim of each glass in egg white, then in sugar for a frosted appearance and chill. Fill with mint julep mixture straight from the frozen bottle and garnish with a mint or lavender sprig.


Next up Mint Julep Sorbet.  Yum right?  Here is a recipe provided by Emeril Lagasse, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/mint-julep-sorbet-recipe/index.html.

 Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 1/4 cup club soda
• Mint sprigs for garnish

Directions

Combine sugar, water, and mint leaves in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.

Add the bourbon and club soda to the cooled syrup, stirring until combined. Freeze mixture according to manufacturer's directions in an ice cream freezer.
Place sorbet in a freezer-safe container and allow mixture to freeze for 4 hours before serving. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

And finally, here is Mint Julep Cupcakes, yes cupcakes.  This is provided by Jen on Hostess at http://blog.hwtm.com/2009/04/mint-julep-cupcakes-recipe/.

MINT JULEP CUPCAKES
{adapted from Cooking and Booking}
Ingredients:
Cupcakes
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon mint extract
4 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup bourbon (or whiskey)
1/2 cup Creme de Menthe
Icing
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mint extract
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
milk
*****
Directions:
Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350º F, and grease or line 30 cupcake cups.
Combine salt, baking powder, and 1 3/4 cups of the flour. Beat butter, sugar, eggs, and extracts in a large mixing bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Add the milk and liquors to the batter, then the rest of the flour (1 cup). Mix as little as possible, just until the batter comes together. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake cups. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let cool.
Icing
Combine the powdered sugar, salt, extracts and melted butter and beat until creamy. Gradually add milk until the texture is right for piping. When the cupcakes are completely cool, pipe or spread the icing on top. Garnish with cake sparkles or sprinkles, a straw (trimmed to size), and mint leaves.