The fruit is on kabobs and pushed into pineapples. The “trees” are carrots with slits on the sides and a green bell pepper on top. Fruit is then filled in on the bottom, it was easy and turned out looking great

submitted by Mandy Hughes

The Lego Party was a huge hit. Mark had a great time and all his friends seemed to also. I had tons of fun putting it together and was really happy with how it all turned out. And let’s be honest, I’d much rather plan a party than clean house, pay bills, etc. So, it really was a great week. Although my bathrooms, floor and laundry may complain of neglect.

Here was the invitation Mark and I put together and delivered:

And here are some pics from the party:

(click to enlarge)

Each picture above is numbered and a coordinating number is below with a description/explaination:

1. We decorated in traditional Lego colors with balloons streamers, and different colored plates, cups, forks, etc.

2. One of the games we played I printed off of Lego.com, it had two similar pictures and the kids had to find and circle the 15 differences between the two pics. The winner got to pic a lego person keychain/bag charm as their prize.

3. For another contest we had everyone build anything they wanted to out of legos. We had spaceships, Star Wars ships, a house, and other things that I had no idea what they were, but everyone loved what they made and loved playing with all their creations together after this game. For this game everyone got a bag of Lego Brick candy that I got at the bulk candy store in the mall for a prize.

4. Here are the Lego Brick Candy prizes. We had one for the most colorful creation, one for the fastest looking one, one for the person that used the most people, etc.

5. These were the prizes for the other games. They are Lego figure keychains that the boys like to hook on their backpack zippers. I took Mark to the Lego store at the mall and he picked them out so of course they are all Star Wars.

6. These are the gift bags I put together for the boys. I found the idea online and just bought bags and coordinating cardstock and then used a craft punch to punch the circles out of the cardstock and then attached them with pop dots to the bags. Inside the bag was a lego poster again a download from Lego.com that I had printed on 8×10 photo paper at Fred Meyer, and a set of lego stickers (from Lego.com) that I printed on sticker paper from the office supply store.

7. The first game we did as the boys arrived was to have them guess how many Legos were in this jar. They all guessed super low, and I would have too if I didn’t know how many were in there. Can you believe there are 300? 

8. We had a tallest tower contest to see who could build the tallest tower in 2 minutes and it couldn’t fall over. 

MATERIALS NEEDED
Post-It notes (regular size)
Cardstock
Patterned paper (traditional or digitally created)
Bone folder, embossing stylus or scoring blade
Adhesive
Terrifically Tacky Tape
BasicGrey magnetic snaps or Velcro dots
Paper trimmer

Instructions:

1. Trim cardstock to an 8″ x 3 1/8″ rectangle.

2. Trim the patterned paper to an 8″ x 2 3/4″ rectangle, or create it digitally the same size. Adhere to the center of the cardstock.

3. Using the bone folder, embossing stylus, or scoring blade, make folding marks at 2”, 2-1/2”, 5-5/8” and 6-1/8”. Fold on the marks.

4. Use a strip of Terrifically Tacky Tape to stick the Post-It pad to the center of the inside of the cardstock.

5. Fold cover.

6. Place magnetic snaps on the center of the flap openings (if they won’t stay, use little pieces of the Terrifically Tacky Tape). If you don’t have magnetic snaps, Velcro dots will also work.

7. Add embellishments to the cover if desired.

At Calypso Studios you will find unique jewelry, keyfobs, wrap bracelets, & comfort crosses.

Calypso Studios debuted in January 2007 with a line of jewelry and accessories created from the earth’s natural elements: clay, shell, and glass. The new line was immediately embraced and praised for its unique designs and mediums.Calypso Studios’ designs are on-trend, spanning the ages in both technique and those choosing these distinctive and exclusive designs. More than just a conversation piece, Calypso Studios jewelry symbolizes good taste for an independent spirit.

Calypso Studios would like to give once lucky Gift Closet reader a necklace of their choice!

I had the opportunity to review this Comfort Cross Ring $ 8

this White Cocoa Wrap Bracelet $ 7.50 {24in.wrappable bracelet with cocoa beads and waxed linen cording}

and this Long Blue & Yellow Sundance Necklace $ 15

What I like about these products:
1. Handcrafted!
2. Reasonably priced.
3. Lots of gorgeous colors!
4. Unique!
5. Created using the earth’s natural elements….too cool!

What I didn’t like:
1. Nothing!

Want It? Click here to visit Calypso Studios.

http://writemamawrite.typepad.com/photos/dishtowel_tote_tutorial/index.html

And second,  your not going to like me unless you live in UT or in the vicinity of Yuma, AZ.  The Overnight French Toast Recipe comes from Kneaders Bakery and Cafe which has locations in the above mentioned places.  You use their Chunky Cinnamon Bread to make it.  And it is “what makes it”.  You could try it with a similar type bread from another bakery, but I don’t know how it would turn out.  The bread from Kneaders is a dense bread (fluffy wonder bread isn’t going to cut it) with cinnamon swirled throughout and then a white icing/glaze on top and also throughout the bread.  

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and wish to be informed whenever a new post is published, then make sure you sign up here to receive my posts via email. Super convenient cuz they come right to your inbox! ~wink~

My taco soup recipe is as follows:

1 lb. hamburger
1 med. onion chopped
1 clove garlic minced
– Combine, brown and drain.

In large (5 qt) pot combine the following:
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can pinto beans
1 can red kidney beans
1 lg can diced, stewed tomatoes
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 pkg Taco Seasoning Mix
1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
Add in meat mixture and water to cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for an hour. (Or, keep the water to a minimum and put it in the crock pot for all day.)

Serve over tortilla chips (or tamales). Garnish with sour cream, shredded cheeses, cubed avocado … or all three!

Cost is relatively cheap – quart jars, ribbon and then tortilla chips, if desired.

(oh… I delivered them warm and made sure to tell them they weren’t canned (processed), so they did need to be refrigerated until being eaten.)

Submitted by Hilary