Fun Find at Oriental Trading

You know when you find a place where you LOVE to shop??  A place that always has what you're looking for, even if you don't know you're looking for it???  Oriental Trading is that place for me!

This past Summer, I was given the opportunity to review any products I chose!  What The What???

I was so SO excited.  Our neighborhood block party was coming up and I knew I wanted some fun things for the kids.  

I searched the site and had a 'mile-long' list of items I wanted!!  

I chose the Inflatable Mini Beach Ball Assortment. 

The weather was TERRIBLE that day, so there are no pictures (boo) but the kids had a GREAT time playing with the mini beach balls (yay)

We still have several of them & the kids were just playing with them the other day!  They are a great quality and the perfect size for little hands!

I ordered this cute set for the lizard & ladybug's classes to celebrate the "100th Day of School"

Oriental Trading is my first stop when I'm shopping for party supplies, crafts, etc...  and even better??

It's FREE SHIPPING (until midnight) on any purchase!!   

"This review is based strictly on my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. I was provided the sample free of charge by the company or PR agency and I provided my honest opinion. No other type of compensation was received for this review." 

 

Halloween play date

I had the great opportunity from Chinet to use items from their new Bakeware collection.  These awesome dishes can go right in the oven and then to the table!  Perfect for those nights when you'd rather not have lots of dishes (which is every night for me).

My BIG plan was to have several hot dishes ready for Halloween night.  The weather in Florida didn't care about that plan.  It's been pretty hot lately, so I decided to have a play date and use my Chinet Bakeware dishes as serving ware.  They worked perfectly!!!

Here are a few pictures from our very informal get together.

Of course, I had to have sweets.  Super simple!  Store bought cookies, icing and candy eyes/m&ms made perfect Mummy & mini-Mummy cookies!

I found some really cute pumpkin shaped cheese crunchies from Target.

The small oval Chinet Bakeware dish was the perfect size for these snacks!

Target also had orange & black tortilla chips that I just had to get.  

And all the kids love queso..

so a jar of store bought cheese dip topped with an olive spider made another spider-ific snack.

The large oval Chinet Bakeware dish held a TON of chips!!

We also had hot dogs for the kids..no pictures of those because they were eaten pretty quickly :)

I did use one of the square Chinet Bakeware dishes for the hot dogs.  

The Bakeware comes with a clear plastic lid, so the dogs would have stayed warm*

*if they had lasted that long :)

The kids played ball outside and had a good time drawing with chalk.

The kids each got goodie bags filled with candy, glow bracelets and a spiky ball.

And just to make sure the grown ups weren't left out, I whipped up a batch of sangria.

I was lucky to work with Chinet and I can't wait to use the rest of the Bakeware I have!!

Have you tried any of their new products?  I'd love to hear what you think of them!

And if you're looking for entertaining ideas, recipes and even crafts, 

check out MyChinet.com

Summer Recipe Blog Hop

Today I'm joining a Summer Recipe Blog Hop 

with some of my fave bloggers!!

I'm sharing my super simple summer 'recipe'..I should really call it an obsession.

Pineapple Blueberry Salad

Take some of this

 

and add some of these

  

 

 I added a few graham crackers for good measure..but that's totally up to you :)

Sit back and enjoy the deliciousness!

I have eaten this combo pretty much the entire summer!

Want more Summer Recipes from your favorite bloggers???

Check them out here!

Peaches and Cream Spritzer by www.theflairexchange.com

Cotton Candy Shooters by www.mypaperpinwheel.com

Grasshopper Ice Cream Brownie Sundae for adults by www.dandpcelebrations.com

Strawberry Sundae for adults by www.spaceshipsandlaserbeams.com

Summer Sip- Spiked Crystal Light by www.trulychicinspirations.com

4th of July {flashback}

I have been pretty busy with life...baseball, summer, baseball and more baseball.  I haven't done too much 4th of July 'crafting' this year but we are planning to have our neighborhood bike parade tomorrow, followed by our family cook-out, followed by baseball practice :)

I thought I'd share our 4th from last year.

enjoy!

_________________________________

Watermelon 5k (I'm the one with the pink laces)

The ladybug & lizard at the finish line..with sno cones, watermelon and painted face :)

last minute centerpiece

the kids thought this was the best idea EVER!

super easy treats

festive (and delicious) dessert

you know I had to do it :)

favors

goofballs

bike parade time

parade watchers (they may or may not have all been from our picnic)

certificates of participation

relaxing.  don't hate on the self-pedi!!

I hope you all had a great holiday!

Silly Splatter Shamrock Shindig (finally)

I know it's almost Easter

 BUT I wanted to share the fun party we had to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

a little background:  I've wanted to have a messy art party for the longest time.  

It just so happened that St. Patrick's Day was coming up 

- tada - 

the Silly Splatter Shamrock Shindig was born!

I whipped up a simple invitation on Word and emailed it all the lizard & ladybug's friends.  

Tacky??  Maybe, but it got the job done & it was free :)

The actual party plan was pretty simple.  

Get some paint.  Mix it with water.  Find things for the kids to paint with and on.  

Add kids and go!

To satisfy my need to 'create' a party, I got some white tees and goggles for the kids.  

And, of course, hung them on our fence with rainbow colored clothespins :)

Before the kids started playing, I made sure to have plenty of fun snacks for them.

 

skittles, lucky charms and rolos

candy dipped Oreos

rainbow licorice and sour strips

cupcakes  (printables from Amanda's Parties To Go)

and some Shamrock Soda (idea & printables from The Crafting Chicks)

Now onto the fun part!!!

Here's how it was all set up:

2 big canvas drop cloths were taped to our brick wall 

(ignore the fact the bricks need pressure washing)

a small dollop of paint and fill with water = paint spray!

A big table held blank canvases, foam brushes and ice cube trays filled with paint.

buckets filled with paint water & sponge balls.  

Nuff said!

And they're off!!

it was like this most of the day!!

all the artwork :)

Kiara, of Keaton Photography, took all of these pictures
and was able to get one group shot :)

I think (hope) they all had a good time!

I saved the goggles and tees so we can do it all over again....sometime soon!!!

(photo props from Eye Candy Event Details)

Pot O' Gold game (freebie)

I came up with this game last year & it was a big hit.  

Here's the original post - I hope you enjoy it!

_____________________________________

My game is inspired by the Turkey Feathers game by The Idea Room.  

The lizard & ladybug had such a blast
 playing the simple dice & clothespin game over Thanksgiving.  

I wanted to make a St. Patrick's Day version.

I already had the painted clothespins so a rainbow seemed like a no-brainer.

I found a free pot of gold graphic and created this fun little game.

The rules are pretty simple.  

Each player gets a card (click HERE for card & instructions) and 6 clothespins.  

Each player rolls a dice (or die, if you're proper).  

Add a clothespin to the corresponding number.

The first one with a Rainbow wins.

 

the ink in my printer is a little wonky...but you get the idea.  

I'd love to know if you like this game & if you use it, I'd love to hear how the kiddos like it!

ShamROCKS idea & freebie

While browsing the candy aisle, I spotted some green apple Pop Rocks (3/$1). 

 An idea was born!

It's so simple!!

take these

add one of these

(click HERE for the tags)

and you have

a cute and festive (and cost effective) treat for St. Patrick's Day!

Enjoy!