sugar-confetti

Friday, May 23, 2014

ICE CREAM PARTY

What better way to celebrate Memorial Day and the start of summer than with an ice cream party.
Set up a some treats to make your own sundaes and let the fun begin!



For an easy dessert, add sprinkles and popsicle sticks to store ice cream sandwiches.



Dip cones in chocolate to make them extra special! 

Add sprinkles too!


Use Berry Baskets, Milk Glasses and Mason Jars to hold your toppings.

Welcome Summer!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Looking for the sweet chocolate chip cookie of your dreams? Believe me when I tell you that you have just found the last Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe you will ever need. I found this recipe in a Martha Stewart Magazine over 10 years ago and loved it because no mixer is required…easy for the kids to make! You can make them giant or small, just adjust your cooking time. I promise you will love them!



Ingredients:
2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. firmly packed dark brown sugar
½ cup granulated white sugar
1 large whole egg
1 large egg yolk
½ Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups chocolate chips (use the best quality chocolate you can find)
1 cup toasted walnuts, broken into large pieces (optional)
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. Melt butter in a large mixing bowl in the microwave and whisk in sugars. Let cool for a few minutes. Add whole egg and egg yolk, and vanilla; whisk well.
3. Add the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture until combined. Don't over mix. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts if using. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes to one hour.
4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Using an ice cream scoop, place mounds of dough on a baking sheet.  Bake until cookies no longer look wet on top, but are still shining about 10 to 12 minutes.  They should be lightly golden on the outside but still look gooey on the inside. Remove from oven and cool on the pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. 
Cookie Tips:
Use a high quality flour like Heckers or King Arthur. It has just a bit more protein (gluten) than other brands so your baked goods have more structure and will rise higher.
The secret to these cookies is keeping them a touch underbaked. I think that’s the secret to most good cookies.
Bake on parchment paper or a silpat to keep cookies from sticking to pans.  It is also easy to clean up. 
Chilling the dough helps the cookies bake up thick and they won't spread as much.
Use an ice cream or cookie scoop to portion out the dough. Your cookies will be the same size and look perfect.  
ENJOY!

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Mother's Day Pancakes with Heart Topper


Golden, fluffy buttermilk pancakes make the perfect Mother's Day morning breakfast. This simple recipe makes perfect light and fluffy pancakes, and they're delicious. 
Don't forget to make your pancakes special with this easy pancake topper.
You will surely be Mom's favorite!



We used a heart punch to cut our hearts for our pancake topper.  If you don't have a heart punch you can draw or trace one.  Punch 2 hearts out of glitter paper and glue together with a pipe cleaner or toothpick in the middle.  Easy and super cute!

Buttermilk Pancakes

1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
1 teaspoon baking power
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract (optional)

Put all ingredients in bowl and hand mix until smooth. Don't over mix. 
Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat. Pour 1/4 cup of batter on hot griddle. Cook pancake until puffed and dry around edges. Turn over and cook other side until golden brown.  Serve with butter and real maple syrup. 

Makes nine 4 inch pancakes.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Mother's Day Bloody Mary

Mother's Day is right around the corner (four days).  I am sure your mom deserves a break!  Why not let her rest and relax this Sunday.  You can make her a delicious Bloody Mary as she is relaxing in a lounge chair while reading a book.

Here is what you will need:

30 oz. Tomato Juice
15 oz. Vodka
Juice of 10 Lemons
5 Tablespoons of Horseradish
5 Teaspoons of Worcestershire
30 Drops of Tabasco Sauce
2.5 Teaspoons of Celery Salt
Salt and Pepper to taste
Celery and Ice


Mix all of the ingredients in a pretty pitcher.  Make sure the pitcher can hold all of the liquid.  Pour into a glass, and hand it to your mom so she can go relax! Don't forget some flowers too!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Mother's Day Party

Mother’s Day is this upcoming weekend and we have a sweet Mom and me spa party to share with you using some pretty party supplies from the shop. Christy from Itsy Belle created this Mother’s Day Spa Party filled with pretty floral and lots of sweets.   For more ideas and pictures of the party,  hop on over to Itsy Belle's blog http://itsybelle.net/2014/05/mothers-day-spa-party/#more-1308








Happy Mother's Day!

Monday, May 5, 2014

May Sponsor $100 Target Gift Card Giveaway




Hi friends! Today the sponsors and friends of A Night Owl (http://anightowlblog.com/2014/05/may-100-target-gift-card-giveaway.html) are joining up to bring you an amazing $100 Target Gift Card Giveaway! And we all KNOW you love Target, so what are you waiting for? Enter today via the Rafflecopter link below! 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MTMwYWRjNDA3OTgxZmM1OTk1ODIwMWEzZmMwMzM4OjE4Nw==/


TERMS & CONDITIONS: this giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents ages 18 and over and ends at 11:59pm EST on May 12th, 2014. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. Number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Approximate retail value is $100.00. One winner will be selected. This is a giveaway sponsored as a group buy, which means the bloggers pooled their money together to purchase this product for you. All liabilities and responsibilities with product is directly responsible by Target. Winner will drawn by random.org from all verified entries, contacted by email provided, and announced on this page at the end of the contest. Winner has 48 hours to respond or prize will be redrawn. Entrant is responsible for the email address they provide, whether through typing it directly or through the Facebook entry method. A Night Owl is not responsible for lost or misdirected emails. All prizes will be awarded. No prize substitutions allowed. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook and we hereby release Facebook of any liability. Information is provided to A Night Owl, not to Facebook and your information is never sold or shared. Facebook and Target are not a sponsor of this giveaway. Prize is mailed or emailed directly by Kimberly Sneed of A Night Owl and requires confirmation of delivery. Protected tweets do not count as an entry method for tweeting. Tweets must come from a public account. Bloggers in this group giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.



Thursday, May 1, 2014

CINCO DE MAYO PARTY IDEAS




We love Cinco de Mayo!  It’s the perfect excuse to have a party and not just any party, a party with Mexican food, pinatas and fake mustaches.
If you are thinking of throwing a Cinco de Mayo party, take a look at these amazing ideas we've pulled together from the web.

Stick your party invites on these Mini 4" Donkey Pinatas to get your party started.

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&categoryId=377320&BP=330&ms=cse&cm_mmc=destination-_-datafeed-_-datafeed-_-datafeed&sku=7/31&srccode=cii_10043468&cpncode=27-318368221-2

Whats a Cinco de Mayo party without a backdrop? Put it behind your dessert table, or use it as a photo booth.  Best of all, all you need is tissue paper, poster board, and tape to make it!

http://www.brit.co/fringe-backdrop/?utm_source=Brit+%2B+Co.+News&utm_campaign=b23568e287-Making_News_04_30_14_cinco_de_mayo&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_21457c6647-b23568e287-30615804

Check out this festive DIY Fringe Table Runner.  Perfect for your Fiesta. 
 http://www.hankandhunt.com/home/2013/4/17/easy-diy-fringe-runner-for-cinco-de-mayo.html

Make some Mini Tissue Paper Flowers and decorate everywhere with them!    

http://tikkido.com/node/734


How much fun are these props to go with your Photo Back Drop!
  
https://www.etsy.com/listing/97539442/cinco-de-mayo-photo-booth-props-9-piece?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=cinco+de+mayo&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all

So you don't have tissue paper to make garland, no worries, make garland out of taco shells.  Genius!

http://www.greygreydesigns.com/2012/03/my-parties-greysons-skippyjon-jones.html

Use Salsa cans as flower vases, very festive!

http://bridalguide.com/blogs/bridal-buzz/cinco-de-mayo-bachelorette-fiesta
Here are some free printables to use as your goodie bags.  Everyone loves a treat to go home with! 

http://camillestyles.com/entertaining-2/diy-fiesta-favor-bags/

This easy to make garland screams Cinco de Mayo party.  

http://www.marthastewart.com/910505/cinco-de-mayo-tissue-paper-decorations


Hand out these DIY treat bags for collecting all the goodies from the pinata. They are plain colored bags with fringed crepe paper and paper festooning glues on in rows. 


Pinata Cookies!  Your guests will love this fun and festive dessert.

http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/958083/cinco-de-mayo-pinata-cookies

These Mini Cactus Pinatas are so much fun!  The step by step instructions by Oh Happy Day make this an easy and affordable project.  Since you pull a string instead of smashing these pinatas, you can keep them up as decorations even after the candy has been eaten!

http://ohhappyday.com/?s=cactus

Don't forget the Pin the Tail On The Donkey game. Even the adults will love it!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!