Celebrating Earth Day

Happy Earth Day! We try to do our part in our home to be kind to Mother Earth, but I know we can do more. It’s not like we’re the Begley family, hehe, but we’re learning. Conserving water and recycling are considered typical now. Last year, I brought the little ones to our local Earth Day celebration, but this year we missed it since we were celebrating First Communion.

So to combine efforts, I transplanted spider plants for last Saturday’s favors. Spider plants are so easy to take care of and have been known to actually help purify the air! I’ve started plantlets by rooting them in water and had good luck with planting them direct into soil which it what I did this time around. To dress it up for centerpieces, I used squares of plastic wrap (to keep water from spilling out, not-so-earth-friendly, sorry) and gift wrapping paper to cover up the plastic pots I saved from last year’s gardening. Reusing is good, no? They look like little Chinese take-out boxes, and looked cute on the tables. Even Martha’s doing it – check here.

Other earth-friendly projects to try out can be found below! Check them out! Let me know which ones you’re trying. You know me, I’ll try everything I can.

Earth Day Carnival at Craft Critique (my latest review is also here)

Gift Bow from a magazine at How About Orange

T-shirt necklace from chictopia.com (saw something similar on Martha Stewart recently)

Tags: crafts, earth day, earth-friendly, party favor, party ideas, recycled

Birthday Favor Ideas

Birthday parties have always been a fun and memorable event growing up. When we were really young, opening presents and goody/loot bags were the best things ever… I remember getting dot candy on paper strips, the fortune fish you’d hold in your hand that curls up, stickers, tattoos and the plastic trinkets and jewelry that my parents hated so. What a treasure it was to us but was so easily forgotten.

After last year’s Webkinz party at home, we went the other way and hosted a few friends outside and went simple on a take-home gift: One of Abby’s favorite things to eat, dark chocolate. She prefers Scharffen Berger (she’s such a foodie already), but also loves Trader Joe’s dark chocolate. So, we bought a few bars and to dress it up, I took some scrapbook paper and die-cut shapes that coordinated with her favor colors and wrapped the bars. Very simple and cute, just like my kid.

Other thoughtful ideas:

• Giant, decorated sugar cookie that ties into the party theme (i.e. Butterfly cookies from a local bakery for an outdoor or spring themed party or these cookies)
• Small cellophane bag of a favorite candy (M&M’s), tied with curling ribbon
• Thank you cards with a picture of the guest of honor along with friends.
• Picture CD’s of the party
• Small bud vases with seasonal flowers

Tags: birthday, favorite things, gifts, kids, party, party favor, party ideas

Bachelorette Party Cookies

I was inspired by a friend and thought these would be a great addition to my sister-in-law’s bachelorette party. The first pair are probably my favorites. Black patent leather via gel icing, and the pink one is my attempt at funky lace.

These yellow ones are really fun. Just get creative with royal icing, or ready-made icing and gel icing from the grocery store. I tried to use a few sprinkles here and there, too.

Needless to say, they were well received, and they tasted pretty good too!

Tags: bachelorette party, baking, cookies, cooking, party, party favor, sugar