Super cute hats to serve after Thanksgiving dinner. The kids will go crazy for them.

Ingredients:

Fudge striped shortbread cookies
Mini Peanut butter cup
Chocolate frosting
Tube of yellow frosting

How to make them:

1. Turn the cookies over so the chocolate side is on top. Unwrap the peanut butter cups and use a dab of Chocolate frosting  to glue them on, top side down to the center of the cookie.

2. Use the tube of yellow frosting to make the ring around the base of your hat and to add a gold buckle.

I love, love, love this recipe! I first tried these a few years ago and have been making them almost every year since. There’s just something about the creamy pumpkin and chocolate combo thats addictive. Honestly i’m surprised that I haven’t already done this blog.

What you will need:
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

How to Make them:
1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg.

2. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in.

3. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.

4. Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.

5. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

I actually got this idea in my inbox this morning and it’s too cute to not share. They can be arranged in one big container or several containers for a Thanksgiving centerpiece that won’t be forgotten. After dinner is served they can be handed out for party favors.

What you will need:
(Parent supervision needed for young  or special need kids)
Artificial Sunflowers or Gerbera Daisy (enough for each guest to have one and maybe a few spares just in case)
Scissors
Cool melt glue gun
Plastic Google Eyes
Red Colored Card Stock for wattle
Orange Colored Card Stock for beak
Large Brown Buttons or Paper circles for turkey faces
Vase or containers of your choosing

How to make it:

1. Using an sunflower or gerbera daisy, trim the petals from one side of the flowers.

2. Make the turkey’s face by gluing two eyes and a colored card stock beak and wattle onto a large button or paper circle.

3. Glue the face to the flower center.

4. Arrange your beautiful flower turkeys in a container of your choosing, and admire.

This is such a cool idea, and I know the person that receives it would be thankful for it.

Candle Place Card

Write words of admiration or thanks, along with the recipient’s name, on a strip of paper and wrap it around a glass candle holder.

Or if your hand writing isn’t as great as you would like use your printer and just cut them to size.

Use double-sided tape to secure. Experiment with layering different papers to create a unique look.

Place a pillar candle inside the holder and light just before dinner. (Never leave a lit candle unattended.) If there will be a little kids around you might want to use the little flam-less battery tea candles.

Tip: If you’re making lots of these place cards, use a set of inexpensive juice glasses forcandleholders. They can often be bought in packs.

Tip: The dollar store is your friend.

It’s hard for kids to wait for dinner to be served, heres a quiet project for them to do while they wait.

Crayola Pages

Family Fun Pages

Better Homes and Gardens Pages

Amethyst – For baby girls born in February you might name them after the light purple birth stone.

Cameo – Old fashioned piece of jewelry, cute and playful.

Diamond – Very contemporary name for a baby girl.

Emerald – Dark Green stone, and you can call her Emmy for a nick name.

Goldie – Old School name, and inspires thoughts of the well known actress Goldie Hawn.

Ivory – Often used as a boys name, but can be shortened to Ivy for a cute girls name.

Jade – Cool gemstone, also the name of Mick Jaggers daughter.

Jewel – Jewel is another old school name, that has been made popular by the singer Jewel.

Opal – Reminds me of my Grandmas generation, but might be cute on a little girl.

Pearl – The name Pearl lost its glory 50-60 years ago. Maybe its time to pull it out of retirement.

Peridot – A combination of Peri and Dot that is pronounced like peri-Doe.

Ruby – Precious red stone; name thats bright and cute with some sparkle tossed in.

Sapphire – A little less common than Ruby, but still bright and full of vibe and great for girls born in September.

Silver – A precious metal; unique boys name.

Sterling – Sterling another old school name that holds a lot of class.

Topaz – Looking for a super unique name, Topaz would be perfect. Chances are great you wont find another kid with that one in your school district.

It’s been a year and a half since we’ve had family portraits done. So yesterday I got the kids cleaned and dressed and dragged everyone in to Emotions Photography. Kathryn Blunt also known as Kat did a super awesome job with the kids. She was patient and kind and wonderful with my hyper active monkeys. She let my 2 year old explore the studio and still got some award winning grins out of her, and my shy 7 year old didn’t mind posing for her at all. Can’t wait for the photos to come back, I’m thinking about doing Christmas Cards with them. The pricing is fair and there’s a great website to boot.

http://www.giventoshoot.com/

If you sign up with these clubs you can get free stuff your your birthday…

Sonic Birthday Club

Get a free Wacky Pack Kids Meal on kids birthday for kids 12 and younger, Sonic Birthday Club.

Boston Market

Each family member can be a part of this birthday club, Boston Market VIP Club.

Baskin Robbins

Get a 2.5 oz scoop free on your birthday, Baskin Robbins Birthday Club.

California Pizza Kitchen

Get a free CP Kids meal during your birthday month when you join California Pizza Kitchen CPKids Birthday Club. Kids 10 and under only.

Toys R Us

Your child can get a fun birthday card and gift in the mail, plus special in store treatment on their birthday. Kids 10 and under, Toys R Us Geoffreys Birthday Club.

Old Spaghetti Factory Kids Club

Kids can receive a free kids meal, kids 10 and under. Old Spaghetti Factory Kids Club.

Denver Zoo

Child gets free admission on their birthday. Denver Zoo birthday club

Red Robin

Get a free burger on your birthday. Red Robin eClub.

Cold Stone Creamery

Get a free ice cream on your birthday, yumm. Cold stone creamery birthday club.

Arvada: Flicks in the Square

Friday nights in August, enjoy family friendly outdoor movies in Town Square at Olde Town Arvada.

www.historicarvada.org

Highlands Ranch: Movie Madness

Friday night in August, 8:30ish. Recreation center at Southridge.

www.hrcaconline.org

Broomfield:  Movies in the Park

Saturday nights in July movies shown on a giant inflatable screen. Broomfield Commons Park.

www.yourlocalcreditunion.com/cfcu/movies.asp

Denver: Movies in the Park

Movies under the summer sky. Call the city services to find location at 311

www.denvergov.org

Littleton: Free family film Festival

Free outdoor showing of family favorites. Aspen Grove Shopping Center

www.shopaspengrove.com

Parker: Parker Chamber Picture show

O’Brien Park downtown Parker

www.parkerchamber.com

Thronton: Movies in the Park

Thornton Multipurpose fields near the Carpenter Recreation Center

www.yourlocalcreditunion.com

Golden: Movies & Music in the Park

Live music at 7 movie at dusk Parfet Park

www.goldengreat.org

I remember my mom making wheat berrys when I was growing up, we loved eating them. I can’t wait to try this salad.

4 cups water
1/2 cup dry wheat berries
1/2 of a 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup frozen, shelled edamame, thawed
1 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
2 Tbsp. Pompeian Red Wine Vinegar
3 Tbsp. Pompeian OlivExtra Plus (or Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Combine water and wheat berries in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 55 minutes or until wheat berries are just tender. Place in a fine mesh strainer and run under cold water to cool quickly, drain well. Combine the wheat berries with the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Serve immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 8 hours in advance.