M-I-C-K-E-Y..........you know the rest!

In just 1 month we will be taking a trip to one of my most favorite places on Earth......DISNEY WORLD!  I have been there more times than I can remember (as a child, as an adult and as a Mommy), but NEVER like this!    My husband's company won a trip to Disney World, and we all get to enjoy the festivities.  My husband is excited (though he'd never admit it), my kids have talked about it since Christmas Eve (when we found out), and me......well let's just say 8 days of sun, fun and lots of memories....I think I'm the most excited!    Olivia has been there a few times in her 6 years of life...and my little bean, Ava has only been once (well twice if you count the time I was 22 weeks pregnant and waddled around in the Florida heat looking like I was about to give birth right then and there).  She was only 9 months old on her 1st trip, and this time I can assure you will be our most memorable one!  My husband's whole family will be joining us....my mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, her husband (brother-in-law) and my 2 nieces, my other brother-in-law and his girlfriend.   And we are all staying at the Grand Floridian........I'm scared for the well-being of this hotel and Disney in general the week our family is there!   I'm sure there will be plenty of stories upon our return!  :)

In honor of our upcoming trip I have a tasty treat to share (of course).   A few weeks ago, Olivia's class had a party to celebrate a Reading For Miles goal.  Reading for Miles in short.....is a reading program her school does.  Each book or chapter the children read = a mile traveled in the USA.  They have certain destinations and once they reach these destinations they get to celebrate their accomplishment with a party. Their second destination was none other than Orlando, FL. (their first stop was Washington, DC).   CUTE...right?  I got to be in charge of this party.  We had Disney music, a trivia game with prizes, the kids made their own Mickey ear headbands, and there was food.  Mickey cheese, fruit salad and cupcakes made by yours truly.

I originally found the idea online (pinterest.com to be exact) and thought they were adorable and perfect for the occasion.     And boy, was I right.  The kids LOVED them!

Mickey Mouse Cupcakes
(makes 22-24 cupcakes)


1 box of plain yellow cake mix
1 package of vanilla instant pudding
1 cup whole milk
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
24 red paper liners


Place rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350F.  Line cupcake pans with liners and set aside.
Place cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in bowl.
Blend with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, stopping to scrape sides.
Increase speed to medium and beat 2 more minutes, scraping sides as needed -- until batter is well blended.
Scoop or spoon heaping 1/3 cup batter into each liner, filling it almost to the top of the cup.
You will get 22-24 cupcakes.  Remove empty liners.
Bake cupcakes until golden and spring back when lightly pressed with your finger.  20-25 minutes.
Cool on wire racks to cool.


To decorate:
Frosting
2 packages of Oreos
Toothpicks
White Paper or card stock
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun




Cut out small white ovals from white paper or card stock.
Hot glue the ovals onto the red liners.  I put the glue onto the ovals, let it cool for a few seconds and then pressed it onto the red liner.


Frost cupcakes with desired frosting.   I was short on time and used ready made (slacker than I am), but have some great butter cream recipes.


In food processor, crush about half of a package of Oreos until finely ground (no lumps) and put into a medium bowl.
Roll each cupcake in the ground cookie crumbs so the entire cupcake top is covered, with minimal frosting showing.
Gently slide a toothpick into the center of an Oreo (the cream) and then stick it into the top of the cupcake.   Then do the other ear.


ENJOY!!

Hey Mickey, SEE YOU REAL SOON!!!!

~Gianna~

Olivia's 6th Birthday Party -- Mock Sleepover

My 6 year old, Olivia asked for a sleepover for her 6th Birthday Party........and there was NO WAY she was getting that.....especially with her list of 13 girls.    I finally convinced her to go for a "Mock Sleepover"....with all the fun stuff of an actual sleepover...BUT everyone goes home to their own beds when the fun is over!  She loved the idea.....and I ran with it!

This was actually one of my favorite party ideas yet -- and we've had some great "home parties" in the past, which I will have to blog about some day.  I just love home parties and I lucked out with 2 girls born in the warmer months of the late Spring and Summer.   Don't get me wrong, we had a Cookie Party for Olivia last year out at a bakery/party place....and it was WONDERFUL and I didn't have to a thing except show up with Olivia, my camera and my money......but I really enjoy entertaining, so home parties are right up my alley! 

To set the theme of the party....I made THESE invitations.  I got so many raves about them.....and I think they turned out pretty cute, if I must say so myself.    They are sleeping bags made of felt with card stock pillows that slide out with all the info about the party.  I did them in Olivia's favorite colors and the colors I'd carry through the party -- pink, purple, turquoise, lime green and orange.   And threw a "stuffed animal" OWL on them......to go with "night owl" theme!

All the girls (Did I mention we had 15 girls -- including my own 2) were asked to wear their pajamas, bring a sleeping bag and favorite stuffed animal.  When they arrived all their stuff was laid out in the living room........and off they went to play on the bounce house and on the swing set (part of the day was beautiful) and get to work on the activities I had set up for them! 

They decorated pillowcases..which was a HUGE hit!  And each girl signed a separate pillow case for Olivia......I got a GREAT deal on Amazon....20 large white cases for $35!  SCORE!   And they used fabric markers!

They also decorated book marks.......I got the pre-cut bookmarks (in different colors) from Michael's and hole punched them and tied ribbon through the hole!  Then set them up with colored pencils!
Another HUGE hit!

And all the girls got their fingernails and toenails painted.  I got a TON of different nail polishes....in colors I didn't even know existed and everyone had a blast!   We also had some fun party games.....set up inside for when it started to get dark and rainy.   We played "Hot Stuffed Animal" -- Just like "Hot Potato" but using a stuffed animal instead....all the girls sit in a circle on their sleeping bags and pass a stuffed animal to music.  When the music stops whoever had the animal is OUT.......but they didn't mind....the kids who were out did a Conga Line around the girls still in!  :)

We also played...."Which Stuffed Animal is Mine?"  All the stuffed animals the girls brought got thrown into a pile in the middle of the sleeping bags and mixed together......each girl took a turn wearing a sleep mask (of course).....and they had to figure out which one was theirs, by feeling through the pile of fluffy friends!

I served pizza and juice boxes......and also had little bowls of Teddy Grahams (little teddy bear cookies)and teddy bear, moon and star lollipops all around for them to snack on!  

And of course I made cupcakes (recipe to come)!    And on the cupcakes I made cupcake toppers (post to come later), but they were very simple, I put them together the night before and it only took me like 30 minutes)!  Just some colored card stock, toothpicks, glue and owl stickers!  I would've made them so much better, but I literally threw them together!

After cake....we ended with popcorn and a movie "Gnomeo and Juliet" and some snuggling before the parents came to pick up! 

And we can't forget the favors!  At 8:30 when all the little angels went home....they each got a favor box!
I spent a WHOPPING $8 on each kid and they came out adorable!  I founds pencil boxes at Michael's for $1 each.....and I decorated them with each child's name on it (using Sharpie Paint Pens).  And then stuck an Owl sticker on each one!

Inside each girl got -- everything you'd need for a sleepover!   A flashlight ($1 from The Dollar Store), a toothbrush and travel toothpaste ($1 from The Dollar Store),  a Hello Kitty mirror compact that turns into a hairbrush ($1 from Target), chapstick (I got 5 for $2 at Target),  nail polish and a glittery key chain nail file (each .50 cents), nail separators for their pedicures ($1 from Harmon's) and ADORABLE personalized bottle cap necklaces which I had made by a friend of mine....with OWLS on them and the first letter of each little girl's name (these were $1 for me.....but they are normally a little more expensive, but sooo worth it).

Closeup of the necklaces.......TOOOOO CUTE!  I got some plain (non-personalized) in case I got some late RSVPers!

I have gotten so many compliments on this party......and was so glad we did this theme!  I am hoping to do it again for my little one when she gets older!  
HAPPY 6th Birthday, Olivia!!! (She obviously was on sensory overload!  HA HA)

~Gianna~

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes -- YES!!!!

I cannot remember where I stumbled upon this recipe.....so I apologize in advance to whomever it is.  I just know I C&Ped it as a word document and forgot to site a source!  I think I was just overly excited!

I actually made them with my kids.....for a Superbowl party we were going to.  I didn't give myself nearly enough time to make, bake, fill and frost them....so when you see the pictures...don't judge!   They are absolutely delicious...and the pictures DO NOT do these yummies any justice!  I promise, next time I make them.....I will fancify them, and post better pictures!  You have my word!

They do take some time to make, so make sure you give yourself enough time, unlike me....and they will be well worth the time.  They will have you at the smell of them cooking...then the taste of filling (you have to try it as you make it) and then the frosting (taste as you make..that's my motto!)....and then by the first bite, you will fall in love.....

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes


For the cupcakes:

3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1½ cups light brown sugar, packed

4 large eggs

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips (semisweet or bittersweet)

To make the cupcakes

preheat the oven to 350° F.

Line two cupcake pans with paper liners (24 total).

Using the paddle attachment on your mixer, combine the butter and brown sugar. Cream together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, approx 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.

Alternating add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl with the milk on low speed, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated.

Blend in the vanilla.

Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.

Divide the batter evenly between 24 cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cupcakes bake and cool, prepare your cookie dough filling.



For the cookie dough filling:

4 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature

6 tbsp. light brown sugar, packed

1 cup plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

7 oz. sweetened condensed milk

½ tsp. vanilla extract

¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

To Make the Filling
Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl on medium-high speed until light and fluffy(approx2 minutes).

Add flour, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla and beat until smooth.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the mixture has firmed up a bit, (approx1 hour).

After cupcakes have cooled, fill the cupcakes by cutting a cone-shaped portion out of the center of each cupcake. Fill each hole with a chunk of the chilled cookie dough mixture.

For the frosting:
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

¾ cup light brown sugar, packed

3½ cups confectioners’ sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

¾ tsp. salt

3 tbsp. milk

2½ tsp. vanilla extract

Directions to make icing

Beat butter and brown sugar with the paddle attachment on high speed until creamy and fluffy.

Mix in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth.

Beat in the flour and salt.

Mix in the milk and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.

Frost cupcakes using a pastry bag --which as you can see...I did not, but plan on doing that next time...so they look fancier!  I wasn't going for fancy this time around!  Decorate with mini chocolate chips and top with a mini cookie!


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Told you, NOT FANCY....BUT REALLY, DAMN GOOD!!!!!
~Gianna~