Friday, March 13, 2009

March Madness: California Coast

Congratulations to the California Golden Girls who will be coasting right into Highlowaha's March Madness Semi Finals. Yesterday was a picture perfect day with close to 60 people voting on the next best way to preserve our favorite photos - Animoto videos or Shutterfly's Photo Books. In the end the newer... and "free-er" Animoto won out (my dad would cringe at my use of a non-word).

Special thanks to the Derby City Darlings, who under Melanie's leadership put together a formidable line-up of creative ideas. Today we will peek inside the play book of the Derby City Darlings to see what else they had up their sleeves. Since it's Friday, we will also Free For All about other topics of interest.

Idea #2
Bottle/Sippy Cup Bands: You know those rubber “LiveStrong” bracelets that became oh-so popular a few years ago – it seemed like every cause had a different band for a while there and some people are still wearing them. Well some ingenious mother came up with the idea to create a similar product that fits around a child’s bottle or sippy cup with the child’s name. The band is dishwasher & microwave safe, won’t wear off like permanent marker or adhesive labels, and, can be used again and again on whatever bottle/cup is needed that day. I know of several church nursery helpers who are singing the praises of this product! http://www.littlepiddles.com/custombumpyname.html

Idea #3
Our Favorite Website: Flylady.com: Short on time and tired of the clutter in your home? Visit www.flylady.com . From the website, “FlyLady uses the Sidetracked Home Executive (SHE) system as a basis for organizing her home and her life. She adds humor, spunk, and a dose of common sense to her advice, but be prepared - FlyLady does not allow whining.”

Idea #4
Reusable Paper Towels: Striving to be green, but can’t live without the ease of a role of paper towels in your kitchen? Order these reusable paper towels, made from fabric to match your kitchen decor, that snap back onto a roll after being washed so they are ready to use again! http://hyenacart.com/prod_details.php?id+79973&vid+1898

Idea #5
A Bright Idea =’s a REALLY COOL Lamp: Do you have an item in your house that you have been hanging onto or that you just don’t know what to do with? Is there a room that needs a light fixture, but your tired of the same ole same ole lamps? Why not create a one of a kind original lamp. Stores such as hobby lobby, home depot, Lowe’s and many others sell various kits to create one of a kind lamps. Have a stack of old books, drill a hole down the middle and make a lamp How about a really cool mason jar, or vase? The sky is the limit, literally. This is an idea that Ray is sure to love! http://www.nationalartcraft.com/subcategory.asp?gid+1&cid+156&scid=226

Now some Free For All Topics...


Jack's Dog Party: Jack and his pack had fun at last Saturday's birthday party. Soon after guests arrived they used pom poms, glitter, foam cutouts, sequins, ribbons, flowers, and pipe cleaners to decorate party hats worthy of a Dog Party. Afterwards we read, "Go Dog Go," ate lunch out of dog bowls, played pin the dog tag on the dog collar, ate a dog bone shaped cake, played some more, and then sent guests on their way with a "doggie bag" in hand. Doggie bags included a small stuffed dog, a tennis ball for playing catch, dog bone shaped cookies, and dog stickers. The nicest surprise of the day? Richard found Scoobie Snacks - cinnamon cookies shaped liked dog bones. Final note: If the kids were a bit older I might have had them hunt for dog bones or play every dog's favorite game - BINGO! Brainstorming a future party of your own? Let us help.

St. Patrick's Day: Earlier this week, Erica suggested we generate ideas for celebrating St. Patrick's Day with our family and friends. If you were around last year at this time you might remember my telling you about Shamrock Shakes. Here's the Reader's Digest version. Every St. Patrick's Day, my mother gave me enough money to treat me and a friend to a green Shamrock Shake at McDonalds (I guess there are enough Irish people in New York to warrant this once-a-year specialty drink). Soon after meeting Richard and Ricky ten years ago I revived this favorite childhood memory. We make our own shakes using plenty of green dye (that's the fun part) and sipping them through (hoisted) McDonalds straws (all shakes are better when sipped through a McDonalds straw). How about you? What ideas to you have for making St. Patrick's Day extra fun for your family and friends?

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Almost one month into our new year and one or two of you have taken a second to share what you like and dislike about our new format. We want to hear from the rest of you. Tell us what you think.

Signing off until tomorrow...

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

For more pictures of Jack's birthday party visit our Theme Gallery using the link on the left...you'll see how the theme played out in every aspect.

Also don't forget if you have a great party filled with awesome theme ideas or other creative factors to send us pictures to add to the gallery.

Anonymous said...

OK, since its FFAF, I am enlisting everyone's help yet again with my mom's upcoming 40th!

I need fun invitation ideas, but CHEAP because we invited a lot of people (about 75). I know I asked this once before, but I do not remember the ideas I recieved, and I want LOTS of ideas this time. OH yea, the theme? 80's!!!

Kat said...

I really love all of today's bright ideas! I have been wanting to get Max one of those sippy cup bands for a while now. Reusable paper towels? Genius!!!

Since St. Patrick's Day is my husband's birthday, every year I make him a green cake. He loves lemon cake, so I make one with green food coloring, frost it with white icing and add green sugar sprinkles.

Kat said...

Oh, and Cassie! I have been wanting to do these cards for a long time now, but I haven't gotten around to it. I think they would be pretty inexpensive if you got more then one card out of each napkin.
http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-make-napkin-card-and-be-hit-of.html

Cheryl Houston said...

KAT!!! OMG!!! That is the best idea ever! I don't know if I've divulged this little secret about me but I am obsessed with cute cocktail napkins. I love them. But I like the expensive ones so I scout them out post holiday season and save them for next year unless I just really love them and then I throw down the 6 bucks for the 20 pack. Crazy. I know.

But this idea! I have to try this. Thanks for sharing!

Cassie & Erica- I will think today and get back with any ideas I come up with.

Katie said...

Good morning everyone! I love the pictures from Jack's birthday party- it looks like such doggone fun!

Speaking of Birthday parties- I receive a weekly/monthly coupon from Michael's and this week, this message was also part of the coupon, so I thought I'd share!

"Birthday Parties for Creative Kids:
Get a sneak peek at our new party program, It's My Birhtday!, between 10 am and 2 pm on Saturday, March 14th. While in the store, stop by the Wilton Brownie Make-It Take-It and decorate your own brownie to eat or take with you!"

Anonymous said...

Kat...that is the best idea I've seen in a long time!!! LOVE IT!

Cheryl Houston said...

Ok, Erica~ Here are some St. Patty's Day activities:

Pin the Shamrock on the Leprechaun. Get a picture of a Leprechaun and decide where the shamrock goes...on his hat, on his lapel,...

Make a leprechaun Hat out of construction paper...http://crafts.kaboose.com/stpathat3.html

Paint Rainbows

Find the Gold Game... make gold coins out of construction paper. Hide them around the house and have your kids collect them in their own pots.

Cheryl Houston said...

Cassie~

What if you use Animoto to create a birthday invitation using pics of your mom and text giving the details???

Cheryl Houston said...

or this pacman invitation looks easy to create and print at home...
http://www.party411.com/invite-80s01.jpg

Or make it in Valley Girl Speak... Like Oh My God, My mom is turning 40! That is like SO old!!! But we're having a totally tubular party for her anyway! Like, so come on. It will be totally awesome! Be there or be square. You can print on neon paper.

Anonymous said...

Erica,
You can do shamrocks out of green pom poms...very easy and you can glue onto a magnet or a pin.

How about listening to RiverDance music...wearing green of course,

We always had "green donuts" in corps (iced with green icing).

Put a dab of green food coloring in ANYTHING to make it festive (what is more fun than green mashed potatos?)

I'll keep thinking of all things green!

Cristine said...

I love the pictures of Jack's party - too cute.
As for the Shamrock shakes - I passed on that today, although tempting as the kids got Happy Meals for lunch - it's been that kind of week.
So, this Irish lass is going to have some green beer. And speaking of beer - I know that some of you out there like it - Here's a deal for you. Killians Irish Ale is offering FREE beer glasses to anyone who signs up - actually it's a whole beer tasting kit. Yes, this goes over big in our house.
Here's the deal:
# Visit the George Killian's Brewmaster site.
# Register and make sure to check that you want to be emailed when you kit is shipped.
# Click, I don't have a code yet.
# Use either P3W9L4T or M9N7K3K for the code.
Thanks to SweetiesSweeps.com for the info and look at my new site too - more4momsbuck.com for freebies and sweeps. I've got a free massage coming this week - boy do I need it.
Have a great day everyone!

Katie said...

Something that I plan to do in my residence hall on St. Patrick's day is to go around that morning and put green dye in all of the toilets...the residents should enjoy that for the day!

Don't forget- today is a free for all to give us your feedback on the site! We want to hear anything and everything you have to say!

Anonymous said...

Ditto what Katie said. We are too smart to assume no news is good news and that you have NO suggestions!

P.S. Tune in tomorrow for one more ST. Patrick's Day idea.

Anonymous said...

I'm totally bummed Cristine...TX prohibits George Killians from giving away the kits here so no free tumblers for me.