These cupcakes were a hit at the bake sale at my boy’s school.  Sad to say they were almost too easy to make .  I think they’d be fun for a birthday party at the pool, a back yard BBQ, a pool party etc…  Here’s the Scoop:

YOU”LL NEED:

A recipe for your favorite cupcakes and frosting

Blue Food Coloring (I use Wilton) to make your frosting look like water

Gummy Rings or Peach Rings

Teddy Grahams

Drink Umbrella’s

***  So I guess if you live on a lake you could also make these with a darker frosting color .  At our lake house mid August that might be green

ENJOY!

Remember when I told you about my two pals Jen and Bethany?  They lost their very special MOM to breast cancer and to commemorate her they are putting together a book of her favorite recipes.  I know why this is one of her favorites…  Make this…  Make this NOW!  It’s so yummy… It is probably more of a special occasion drink, but today is a special occasion, right?  Think of what ever reason you can to make this, I promise you’ll LOVE it…  Here’s the scoop:

Denise’s Mock Pink Champagne

1 C Sugar

3 C Water

1 qt Cranberry Juice

2 C Pineapple Juice

1 C Orange Juice

14oz Ginger Ale

Boil water and sugar together until sugar dissolves. Cool then stir in cranberry, pineapple, and orange juices then chill. Add Ginger Ale just before serving.

AH, Teacher Appreciation WEEK!  I LOVE telling my boy’s teachers how special they are!  I have done a couple things this week to show our appreciation.  The boys made “stars” for their teachers, we made cards, and we helped provide lunch for the staff on Tuesday.  BUT—This is my super easy, don’t have a ton of extra time, the teacher got a ton of flowers already, my husband has been gone for 4 of the past 6 weeks, teacher gift .  I found these adorable bowls at Pier 1, some organic soup mix at the grocery store and a cute tag to tie it all together!  I also thought with the owl theme you could say something like “Who’s the Best Teacher” Easy and a little bit different! Click here for the printable soup-er teacher form!

ENJOY!

]]> http://mommyapolis.com/2013/05/08/teacher-appreciation-gift/feed/ 0 mommyapolis Screen Shot 2013-05-08 at 7.55.05 PM photo-97 http://mommyapolis.com/2013/05/02/cinco-de-mayo-project/ http://mommyapolis.com/2013/05/02/cinco-de-mayo-project/#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 14:28:35 +0000 mommyapolis http://mommyapolis.com/?p=2480 ]]>

The boys and I made these sombreros last year as a little craft for Cinco de Mayo.  We used them for centerpieces for our FIESTA!   So not only were they fun to make, but they served a purpose, as well….  They were also super easy to put together.  All you need is a paper plate, paper cup, some pipe cleaners, puff balls and glue!  I twisted the pipe cleaners around the bottom of each cup and cut off the ends for the boys.  They rest they were able to manage themselves…  We practiced patterns and counting while we were making them too!  The other idea I had was to punch a hole on either side of the cups and thread them with ribbon to make a cute banner…  What ever you choose I think they’ll be a hit at your fiesta too!

Today I’m going to make two versions of flower cupcakes, this is version 1.  These would make an awesome addition to your May Day Baskets and/or Mother’s Day Dessert!  Super Easy!

1.  Make your favorite flavor of cupcakes.  I had originally planned to make white cupcakes with white frosting, but my boys thought they should be brown like “the dirt” that flowers grow in…  Love their thinking!

2.  Basically we used green sprinkles for “grass”, suckers for flowers and I cut green Now and Laters for the leaves.  You could use jelly beans or peanut M&M’s for the leaves too… or if you are really adventurous you could make leaves out of melting chocolate.

3.  TADA, that’s it…  so easy and pretty cute!

Ode to Boston….  Me, circa early 80′s maybe???   My Mom is originally from Boston… It is where my Maternal side of the family still resides so I have spent a lot of time there over my 30+ years….  There is part of me that is proud to say I have a little “Boston” in me especially after seeing how strong they’ve been the past week!  My mom tells me this is her favorite picture of me as a child .  I’m enjoying some lunch at Regina Pizzeria either in the North End of Boston or at Faneuil Hall , THE BEST PIZZA EVER!  I think I look exhausted, it must have been a big day for us!  I think she loves it because Boston is her home, Regina’s is her favorite, and it reminds her of our trips there.   I noticed that there are lots of Regina’s around the city these days, but my Mother informs me that this was when there was just two…. The North End is one of my very favorite places to visit when I’m in the city.  There is such personality and history there and the food is scrumptious!   I really want to bring my boys there soon so they can enjoy some of my favorite places, as well!  Maybe I can replicate this photo…Any ways, I thought it was a fun picture for Throwback Thursday!  Now I’m hungry for pizza …  Regina’s Pizza- I wonder if they deliver to Vail, Colorado??????

May Day is just a few short days away and it’s such a fun time to bless a neighbor or friend!  These baskets are so easy and you can fill them with little treats and then “ding dong ditch” your neighbors/friends/family with a purpose!  SO FUN…  Here’s The Scoop:

You’ll Need

Construction Paper

Scissors

Glue

Stapler/Tape

Markers

Treats

Directions:

To Make the cone shaped basket you will need to cut a 9.5×11 sheet of paper into a half circle shape.  Depending on the insect you choose to make you might need to use two colors….

Once you’ve made your half circle shape you will just “roll” the paper into a cone shape and staple, tape or glue it into place…

Then you will need to trace a circle for the head (I used a one cup measuring cup)…  Draw some wings, antenna, eyes, etc.. We used glue stick to attach the head, antenna and eyes.  I stapled the wings to the back of each of the cones just to make sure they would stay!  We drew the spots and faces on with markers, but you could use google eyes and stickers too if you wanted.   I cut a one inch thick/11 inch long piece of paper for the handle of the basket.   The boys had a lot of fun with this!  You can really make them your own!   Add treats and gifts and TADA!

This is me… I’m thinking, based on chubby fingers, I’m about 2 and three quarters, opening my first lite brite…  I’m so glad that toy made a comeback because my boys love it!  I have no idea what those penguin things are, but they look like loads of fun too!  I dare you to #tbt soon too

The hardest job I’ll ever have is being a mom, but it’s also the most rewarding… There is this immense pressure to succeed, to prepare our young for the world, to help build our future- but how do I do that?  Honestly, I’m not sure.  I mean if I’m completely honest with myself I really don’t know how to be a mom.  I’ve read articles on parenting and blogs about discipline.  I’ve researched behavioral strategies, joined Mommy Book Clubs, and taken Love and Logic courses.  What I’ve learned in my short 7 years of parenting is that each of my children is different and what might work for one might not work for another.  I’ve learned to cut myself a little slack now and again.  I’ve learned that teachable moments are more powerful than any doctor’s recommendation.   I’ve learned to never judge what another parent does because until we’ve walked a day in their shoes we really have no idea what they are going through.   I’ve learned that conversations with friends and family help guide me in my decisions as a parent.  I watch myself with my third born and am sometimes shocked at how much easier it seems… Then I realize it’s because I’ve done this twice before!  I’m a work in progress and I’m OK with that!

I am always honored when people ask me for mommy advice because I think it means my kids are doing something honorable or respectful or kind.  My kids are just like any other kids, they have tantrums, they cry and pout, they make huge messes and poor choices.  But on a daily basis we try to teach them that kindness is what matters most.  Being generous is life giving.  We teach them to honor themselves, their friends and their family.  We try to demonstrate respect.  We teach them that everyone makes mistakes- just keep trying.  We try to be human around them.  We apologize for our mistakes as adults in their lives.  We spend as much time with them as possible.  We play games, read books, color pictures, ride bikes and build forts.  We give them responsibilities and chores.  We take turns.  We have a family schedule that we try to follow -but allow to be flexible.  We have traditions like “Monday Movie Night” and “Sundae’s on Sunday’s”.  We celebrate holiday’s and birthday’s with vigor!   We have rules and consequences- most of which are natural consequences based on our actions.  We live life day by day knowing that we are not perfect, mistakes will be made and forgiveness will be granted.  We  learn from those who have gone before us.  We ask advice.  We pray for our children.  We pray over our children.  We pray with our children.

I strongly believe we are on this journey of parenthood together.  We are all working towards the same goal.  I can name countless friends that have given me amazing amounts of advice.  If I know you – you’ve taught me something!  If I’ve read your book, blog, or article, you’ve taught me something.  I truly believe it takes a village and we are living right in the middle of a pretty fantastic village that spreads across cities, states and even country lines.  So if you feel alone – remember you are not.  We are in this together!  We can raise up the next generation – We can make this world a better place!  We’ll just take it one moment at a time!  And in the meantime I’d like to thank you!  Thank you for helping us to raise our boys!  Thank you * Thank you * Thank you!

All three boys and I whipped these up this morning to start decorating for Easter.  We also made some EGG shaped sun catchers and if you’re handy with the scissors you could even make BUNNIES…  For us, this was a great opportunity to talk about the meaning of Easter and the symbolism of the cross, eggs, bunnies, etc..

Here’s The Scoop:

You’ll need just a few things:  Clear contact paper, tissue paper cut into squares, scissors, a hole punch, and ribbon…

Directions:

1.  Cut two identical sized rectangles out of contact paper.  I cut a large one and let my kids all use it as one canvas, but you could also cut separate ones for each child.  You will need TWO identical size pieces per project.

2.  Lay one of the pieces of contact paper in front of your child sticky side up and let them stick tissue paper all over it.  If they are young you may need to fill in the empty spots when they are finished.

3.  Once the contact paper is covered with tissue take the identical sized piece of contact paper and lay it on the top of the tissue sticky side down.  You now have made a tissue sandwich!

4.  At this point you can cut out any shape you want.  Like I said we made two large crosses, two mini crosses and 4 eggs.

5.  Punch a hole in the top of each shape, tie it with a ribbon and hang it on your nearest window.

**  I think these are cute gifts for a Sunday School Teacher, neighbor, daycare provider etc…  Have fun!