Cool coloring from best kid's magazine ever!

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Do you know about Anorak Magazine?  It is from the UK and it is awesome.  I stumbled across it at a Barnes and Noble a few years ago and pick it up whenever I see it, which isn't often.  The stories are clever and funny (and quirky thanks to English slang and terms that we aren't aware of) and the graphics are out of this world.  Its cool, kid appropriate and a great learning tool for teaching kids about other parts of the world.  

I came across this coloring page they did for H&M and thought it was rad.  The download is 3 pages of awesomeness and I'm sure that your kids will love it.  You can download it here.

And for sure check out their newer mag for younger kids, Ploc.  The graphics are vintage-inspired and totally drool worthy. 

Check out more fun stuff on their blog.

Subscribe to the magazine here.

Follow them on Twitter.

"Like" them on Facebook.  

Sharon

images via Anorak

The cutest cupcake topper printable ever and a yummy recipe too!

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How adorable are these cupcake picks!  After Lauren created the cutest contest graphic ever (I am in love with every font she used in the Sweets for Teats title image) I asked her to also create a free printable of cupcake toppers for you to use along with your baked treats.  I LOVE that these fit right in with the theme of the party but could also be used for so many other types of party/holidays too.  And in order to take pictures of them, I needed to make a dessert to put them in, obvs.  Here is one of my favorite desserts my mom made for us growing up.  It is called Strawberry Dessert (that is what is on the printed recipe from the cookbook my mom put together for me of all our fave family (stolen from somewhere) recipes.)    

It is not the prettiest dessert I've ever seen.  So it is great that the 1" cupcake toppers can also be made in to a super easy cake banner to cute-ify the final product. 

If you are a regular reader of my blog you know that I am a lazy tutorialist and don't get too crazy with my photo staging.  I am also a lazy cook.  This recipe and "craft" is perfect for me.  Super cute, totally easy.  What you may not know is that I sometimes lack focus in the kitchen.  Many a recipe has gone awry because I like to not read recipes all the way through before I start.  The day I made this was no exception.  What should have taken about ten minutes to make, took me about an hour.  You may also have noticed that there is a Bigfoot hanging out with the ingredients.  This is my youngest son's new toy.  He is scared to death of it.  And loves it at the same time.  It is creating quite the internal struggle for him.  He wants the toy turned on (Bigfoot is awesome.  He does tricks including somersaults and throwing tantrums.  Did I mention he's loud too?) but once its on, my son will not get anywhere near him and ask me to turn him back off.  His battery was being charged in the kitchen and so I found myself moving Bigfoot around as I was trying to get the stuff together for this recipe.  Finally I just decided he was easier to include.  All you need for the dessert is a pre-made Angel Food Cake, a container of Cool Whip, Frozen Strawberries and Strawberry Jello, Bigfoot is optional.  Boom. My kind of recipe. 

FULL RECIPE AT END OF POST FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WISH I WOULDN'T TALK SO MUCH. 

This is my houseguest/known since junior high friend, Kayla.  Oh and there is Bigfoot.  Kayla was highly offended by the fact that this dessert didn't have a more creative name.  She came up with Marilyn's (my mommy) Extraordinary Strawberry Parfait Casserole.  When my fancy friend, Taryn, saw the dessert she called it White Trash Strawberry Shortcake (since she makes her own shortcakes from scratch and may be a bit of a baking snob).  I decided to not punch her in the face and instead eat some dessert.  You decide which name you like better.     

First you take half of the Angel Food Cake and tear it in to chunks and put in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish.  Next you dissolve the strawberry jello in boiling water and add the strawberries...

Now I want to bring you in to my world for a minute.  I hate ants.  Like, for real.  I don't tolerate them anywhere in the house but especially in the kitchen.  And wouldn't you know that as I began making this recipe, I started finding ants in this cabinet.  Cooking had to be put on hold as I took every item out of the cupboard, ant-chalked the shit out of it and left it open so I could have an ant stake-out.  So much for whatever focus I started with.  To top it off, many of my mom's recipes lack instructions.  See, she has common sense in the kitchen so she knows what to do.  Me?  Not so much.  

Which is why this part of the dessert ended up looking a little bit awful.  I think I curdled the Cool Whip.  But I will let you know right now that with all the chemicals in the Cool Whip, the flavor is not affected negatively at all.  That's a solid product right there; one that can stand up to kitchen messes and still come out pretty much unaffected.  You pour this mixture over your first layer of angel food cake, put a second layer of torn angel food cake on and then pour the rest of this amazing strawberry goo on top.  Chill.  Eat.  Repeat.

Here is the finished, chilled dessert.  So you can see why it needs a little decorating.  

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 1" CUPCAKE TOPPERS

Here is all you need to make these adorable cupcake picks.  The download prints out a page of 48 one inch circles.  TomKat Studios suggest the EK Success punch so that is what I bought.  She wasn't kidding, best punch I've ever used! So run out and get one of those, use a punch you already have, or if all else fails, cut out the circle with scissors.  As you can see from the picture of the banner, I only used about 5 circles.  Not that time consuming.  And for the picks, you only need to cut out enough for each guest in attendance (or sometimes it is super cute to just have a few - adds pizazz, excites the guests and half the work!)

Cut the skewers with the scissors to whatever size you prefer.  Feel free to use toothpicks or some other type of stick.  I loved the thickness of the skewer with the proportion of the circle.  And I made these different heights to add visual interest.  I do stuff like that.  I'm all artsy.  Use your Glue Dots product of choice to adhere the cut out circle to the skewer.  I used both the Mini and Micro and both worked great.

I think they are so cute!!! Huge thanks to Lauren for creating them and letting me share them with you.  

To make the banner, all you would need is some ribbon, yarn, string, thread, you get the idea - as well as the above materials.  Simply tie the string to two uncut skewers and use the Glue Dots to adhere the circles right to the string.  

By the way, I am currently eating this dessert as my breakfast.  So. 

FULL RECIPE:

STRAWBERRY DESSERT AKA MARILYN'S EXTRAORDINARY STRAWBERRY PARFAIT CASSEROLE AKA WHITE TRASH STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Ingredients

-1 ring store bought Angel Food Cake

-1 large package strawberry Jello

-1 small container Cool Whip THAWED (not the jumbo sized - a nice normal sized Cool Whip)

-1 large package sweetened frozen strawberries - NOT THAWED (these will have sugar and liquid - not the whole berries frozen in a bag)

Break 1/2 angel food cake into chunks and put in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  Put Jello powder in a bowl, pour 2 cups boiling water on top and stir to dissolve.  Add frozen strawberries and stir to help thaw and cool down the Jello mixture.  Stir in spoonfuls of Cool Whip until mixed.  Spoon 1/2 mixture over cake. Repeat layers and set in fridge several hours to chill.  Cut in to squares to serve. 

Notes:  While the dessert holds its shape pretty well on a plate, it isn't quite stiff enough to use a knife to cut and serve. A spoon works much better.   

YOU HAVE UNTIL TONIGHT (TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2011 AT MIDNIGHT) TO ENTER TO WIN A PINK KITCHENAID MIXER SPONSORED BY DEL WEBB.  ENTER HERE!

Sharon

All pictures are mine.

Breast Cancer survivors are radical

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This story was shared with me by Jen of Blush Printables and is truly encouraging and inspiring.

photo by photojournalist Lynn Johnson

It is about a group of women who looked breast cancer in the face and said, I've got more to do, stop wasting my time.  Read the article here on Blush Printables. Jen's mother in law is a member of this group.  

And last October (October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, you know) Jen offered these free printables on her website for 'thank you' note cards (scroll down to below the Pink Steel story).  These would be awesome to send out to anyone who makes a donation at your dinner party (because I know you all are going to throw them...)

Don't forget to enter GEORGENE VEHE'S SWEETS FOR TEATS.  I KNOW you want to win the pink KitchenAid hand mixer sponsored by Del Webb.

Sharon  

Hank and Hunt has new goodies!

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Um.  Have you seen these new goodies from Hank and Hunt? Ridiculous.  Check out that metal cupcake stand!!!!!  What?!? And her printables...the ikat and confetti? Gingham! Sheer genius. Go buy them.  Right now.  Printies are like $5.  Less than Starbucks.  (ok, I never spend that much on a drink at Starbucks but I have to imagine that the big gulp size costs the same as a smart car).  So proud of Jenny and the products she is adding.  She is truly talented.  I want to be her when I grow up.

Sharon
image via Hank and Hunt.

A holiday post!!!

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I swore I wasn't going to do this, but I am posting about a holiday. Halloween, nonetheless. While I don't wholeheartedly support this holiday, I do enjoy cute decorations. And when they are free and cute...I embrace them. Check out Oliebollen's "fun stuff" section for downloadable party invitations, games and more. They have done similar designs for other holidays as well. Sign up for their email reminders and be the first to hear about their great sales (great brands of clothes and toys!). Sorry this is short. We got some boxes today and begin the great pack up tomorrow. Think of us on Halloween. That is the day we move!

S-

A Sweet 2nd Birthday!

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Next weekend is the big shindig. A double birthday party for my friend's 5 year old boy, E, and 2 year old darling little girl, K. But, K's actual birthday fell on this past Saturday. T wanted to do something small for her since all of the other extended family members were busy so I volunteered to put together a little party for her and a few of the neighbor kids. I sort of feel like I am cheating on Paper and Cake here, but I used another company's down loadable party!!! How could I!! But actually, the one that I used, from Happy Papers, was the very first downloaded table scape that I bought. I have been dying to use it and it turned out so cute. I thought it would be perfect with a little cupcake decorating. I purchased 6 unfrosted cupcakes from a new bakery I found, Layer Cake Bakery, as well as three different colors of frosting. I put the party hats together and made cupcake picks. I put two colors of frosting in to squeeze bottles that I purchased through Garnish and put out chocolate and butterscotch chips and pink sprinkles. The kids took turns using the frostings and decorated the cupcakes with a very heavy hand. Garnish has the greatest cardboard trays that worked perfect!!! for catching all the excess candy that fell off the cupcakes. I highly recommend them for your parties. It was a very short party as the kids enjoyed their creations just as soon as they were done decorating (or rather, the bowls of candy were empty). The few leftover cupcakes were put in to small white gable boxes (Garnish rocks!) to be sent home with the neighbor kids. This party was super easy to put together, really inexpensive and totally adorable. Happy Birthday K!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah Easter!!!

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So, my 3 month old has pink eye. We don't leave the house so I am not sure where it came from. And guess what folks? Today my eye is very irritated and I feel like tomorrow morning I will try to open my eye and will find a goopy mess. (sorry about the visual). Of course, this is all perfect timing since A's party for her son (my nephew) is this Saturday. I really hope O doesn't get the eye or else some/all of us won't be able to go. So that is adding a little stress to my life. What else is adding stress? The fact that in two weeks, I will be having house guests, O's super sweet 3 birthday party extravaganza, a small cupcake decorating party for my out of town niece and Easter (oh, did I mention that Easter also happens to be my birthday?). And I am planning all of these things (well except for anything for my birthday because quite frankly, I just don't have the energy!!!). So here is where I will now be a hypocrite and post about a holiday. I believe it was just last week when I told you that I would not do this. But this is too cool to pass up. For O's party, I am going all out (with some design help from A) and making all my own signs, stickers, labels etc., but for my nieces party, I knew I couldn't put too much time into it. But I still want it to be super special and cute. So via decor8, I found Happy Papers. I purchased the Little Red party decor sets (2 sets at $5.00 each - check back after Easter to see photos of both O's party and also the Little Red party) but saw that they also had some Easter decorations too!!!! Would I usually decorate for Easter? No. Do I feel like I have to now because I will have 2 extra little kids in my house that shouldn't have the fun of Easter robbed from them just because they are staying with me? Yes. Thank goodness for the Easter sets!!!!!! Amazing!!! And Happy Papers even has a special deal, purchase 3 download sets, which are usually $5 each for $10 total. And then since, it's not like I have enough parties to plan, I am also co-hosting a bridal shower as well as a bachelorette party. For the bridal shower, I am using the Damask Table for Two downloadable table scape from Paper and Cake. It is going to be so easy to through together (since the party is just two weeks after the party weekend from hell). And they also have an Easter download. So cute!!!! These downloads are also $5 each and couldn't be easier. For all the downloads, both companies are on Etsy, you pay, get the files via email and print and construct (which let me tell you, I am not crafty and these are easy to use and look amazing!). Check out all of the other great party scapes and stationery options. Not sure about customizing the Happy Papers sets (I imagine they would be willing), but I know that Paper and Cake will for sure work with you to meet your needs (at very reasonable prices). Partyscape downloads are my new favorite things and I will be using them for everything!!!!!!! There are a few other Etsy sellers with downloads but that will have to be for another post. I have to go shut my eye.

S-

Free awesomeness

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I forgot the name of my blog.  I was trying to log in to post and I couldn't get the log in name right.  Which is the name of our blog.  Does that tell you what kind of morning I am having?  I woke up with this crazy headache (which I can't tell if it is from wine or allergies) and one kid has a low grade fever and the other one smells, overwhelmingly, like spit up.  And all I want to do is shut my eyes again.  Since that can't happen, I'll post.  I know that you all like free downloads like A and I do and I recently came across the most fun stuff.  They are from 16 Sparrows, whose tag line is paper goods for the cynical.  They are speaking my language.  If you don't like profanity, these are not the goods for you, although you will still like their free downloads.  I love a card company with a good sense of humor and these people crack me up.  I love that the cards are beautifully designed but then say things like "Happy F***ing Birthday" or "Suck it up crybaby."  I am drawn to their fun Telegram Stationery and their "Get up off your ass" to do lists.  But you've got to see the rest of their stuff too!  Look around.  But now on to the free downloads which they have under the "Fun Stuff" tab.  First up is the "Valuable Document Envelope."  You print the document on paper and then cut and fold.  It is a great way to take your invitations to the next level.  It will set your envelope apart from the rest of that day's mail as it is really eye catching.  You could also use the template for thank you notes after a party or work these in to a secret agent spy party.  Along those same lines, you can download their "Private Eye ID Cards."  Check out their other mailing and blank labels, and notecard and greeting card.  I don't have the energy to list all the cool party uses these items have right now.  If you want me to elaborate, please comment or email.  I think I need to make more coffee.  Be sure to check out their blog too, it's got some other great free download links, and lots of vintage entertaining posts and pictures.    

S-

An easy idea for favors

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Good morning cupcakes! I am fresh off the tail of my kiddo's 6th birthday. And my work schedule is now officially out of control. My time card read 45 and 48 hours for the last two weeks at my part-time job. So you're frankly just going to have to cut me some slack for my missing posts. I can barely keep my eyes open these days no less put a post together. But I know you're thinking "cry me a river - that's every week for me". So I guess I should do less whining and more getting to the point of my post. You know, for S and I, party planning has always been somewhat of a creative outlet. When you have kids and a family and a job and everything that comes along with them, you often have less time for creativity so you've got to find it in different places. And I will be the first to admit that, at times, my need for a creative outlet has taken my parties to this totally out of control place where I was so busy "creating" that it totally took the fun out of it. With the last few soirees, I've learned to be selective about where I let my creativity flow and where I learn to rely on the creativity of others. Recently, S forwarded me something that I think is a great way to do just that. The next time you get a minute, take a look at einvite.com. The site has a ton of really cute, out of the norm invitation suites at pretty reasonable prices. But the thing that takes this site one step above the rest is their favor boxes. at einvite.com/favors you can browse through a bunch of FREE (you heard me right) printable favor boxes. They're cute, creative and coordinate with some of the invitations available on their site. So save your creative fix for special detail elsewhere in your party - the invitations and favor boxes are DONE!

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Just Real Quickly...

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I am deeply involved in planning for my little one's sixth birthday. Its a hard one this year - she still wants girly, but doesn't want "babyish". And that is complicated by the fact that most of the invitees were boys and the fact that she picked out "baby pink" paper that she wanted me to use for her invitations. We'll see what we come up with in the end. At any rate, here's just a little something I came across while I was online. This blog is called "A Print A Day" and that's basically what it is. Free downloads - tons of them. This one in particular is a scrapbooking download but use it to wrap around vases or create napkin rings, use in invitations, as cupcakes toppers, you name it. But be sure you check the site out for lots of other downloads. I've been downloading all morning! Enjoy!

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More Free Downloads!

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Christmas is the time for giving, right? I love it. Sites all over the place are chock full of free downloads. And let me tell you, there are some really cute ones out there. This morning I came across a new website and there are tons of super cute downloads. In their own words, lollychops.com is the place for all things crafty. But I find it to be the place for all things free and downloadable. They've got a TON of downloadable templates. And here's a secret - the downloadable notecards? You can fold them in half and they make great placecards as well. Plus they've got matching tags and a bunch of other cute stuff that you could definitely use for any soiree - large or small. So enjoy perusing their list of free downloads, pick your favorite one and get to planning!

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Borders - free entertaining downloads. Who would have thought?

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As always, this is gonna be quick.  We have a hospital tour to take in an hour, I am trying to get Oliver to take a quick nap before Grandma GG gets here and I still need to make my grocery list.  And let's do a quick prego tally.  I am 35 weeks and I had O at 36.5 weeks, so... this baby could be here any time.  AHHHHHH!!!!

Okay, so my post for today was going to be on something that I recently bought from Borders Books that I am in love with.  I bought it for T's baby sprinkle (which is this Saturday so photos should be up next week) which if she reads this without seeing the item, will thoroughly freak her out and I love that.  So, I bought a white tinsel Christmas tree.  From Borders Books.  I know, odd.  I had been thinking of doing an art and craft project with birch branches spray painted white and then some special decor (which I am not at liberty to discuss because it really needs to go along with a whole big picture to sound like it could be cool at all...).  But I am not all that art and crafty and was spending more and more money on this decoration that was really  just not turning out.  And then I stumbled upon this tree at Borders for $10.  Done.  And I am really excited to use it at home after the party too.  You may be thinking it must be something similar to Charlie Brown's poor pathetic tree, but it isn't.  At least to me.  I think it is wonderful and modern and gorgeous and has so many decorating possibilities!  But when I went on their site, I could not find it so forget everything I just said.  This post is not about the tree (I'll show you the picture from the shower next wee).  So now, what this post is about is the free downloads and entertaining resources available on Borders.com.  Not the first place I would think to look but they had some fun, helpful and quirky stuff nonetheless.  First I came across a section of free downloads.  Not only did it include coloring pages for the kiddies, it also has gift tags and placecards.  The designs are whimsical and pretty nontraditional so they might not be for everyone.  They are also done in black and white so you could have the kids color them to get them involved in the holiday planning.  What a neat little section.  But then my eyes were drawn to another section called "Plan a Festive Get Together."  Here they have several holiday recipes plus (of course) links to new cookbooks, they have a section to browse holiday music, an area to purchase wine (from a bookstore?  I know!) and you can even personalize the label!, there is even a link to buy the dvd that plays roaring fireplace scene over and over on your tv.    Wow.  So aside from the fact that they really do want you to buy their books, there are quite a few little tid bits for you to benefit from immediately.  Check it out.  Okay, back to the grocery list.  

s-

Tangarang Download

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Good morning. Well, maybe for you. I'm sick as a dog (thanks kids) AND the total of one other person in my office is in the hospital. I guess that qualifies me as healthier than her so I can't take the day off. Ugh. Anyway, in light of my work load and on account of the fever and whooping coughing, today's post is a short one. Awhile back I mentioned one of my new favorite bloggers - tangarang and her creative downloads....well, take a look at her cute Thanksgiving tags she's got posted. And its free! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to drown my sorrows in a bottle of dayquil and try to get my daughter to school on time.

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Rock the muzak

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So my son officially hates me. I am talking about the one that I already have. Although I imagine it is only a matter of time after the next one gets here for him to hate me too. My 2 1/2 year old has decided that he no longer naps. Neat. That is when I usually blog, do housework, relax on the couch, go the bathroom by myself, plan anything that I need to plan. But that is all gone. We are trying something called "quiet time" but as this all just happened last week, I was kind of caught off guard. Right now he is in his room, supposedly on his bed, reading books. But I'm hearing things. Noises, that don't sound like they are coming from his books or bed...So I imagine this will have an effect on my posts and their focus and length (I am really good with excuses aren't I?) So as I was quickly browsing online and checking my emails, I came across this post from Droolicious today. I thought it was perfect since I am deep in to planning T's sprinkle. Do I have the time to put together a personalized playlist? Gee, it's not looking good. So this Modern Baby Shower Playlist by the Vitamin Sting Quartet sounds like the perfect answer. The cd is available at Amazon for $12.95, but you should, for sure, peruse Droolicious as well. I have gotten some great Christmas present ideas from there, so family if you are reading this, do not go to the site until after the holidays...I am unclear how many tracks are on this cd, but who wouldn't want to hear "Sweet Child O' Mine" done by a sting quartet? This cd would work for so many other kinds of parties too. What a great way to reach a wider audience. Okay, it has suddenly gotten very quiet. Something must be up.

s-

FREE DOWNLOADS!!!!!

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I love holidays too. And actually, my love of holidays is what has inspired today's post. When I was younger, I always had visions in my head of these huge family holiday dinners where my kids and their cousins would be sitting at the table like little adults with their perfectly ironed outifts and their perfectly just-so hair with their freshly washed hands and faces. Clearly, this vision came way before the actual kids did. If you've ever tried to actually entertain with children, you know what a joke this is. I still consider myself pretty new to this whole parenting thing, but one thing I HAVE learned is that when I need my kids to sit still, I better have a few tricks up my sleeve. Which is one of the reasons I love the folks over at Family Fun. Did you realize they have a whole "downloads and printables" section on their website? If you are even thinking about entertaining with kids this holiday (or any other) you need to check it out. For Thanksgiving, they've got printable coloring pages, games and activities all totally cute and all with a "Thanksgiving" theme. Put these out on your kids table this year and you might be giving thanks for five more minutes of adult-conversation. And it doesn't stop there! There's even some downloads for you too! They've got recipe cards, shopping lists and party planning helps to download too. And its all free! By the way, don't just file this one under Thanksgiving, they've got printables for EVERYTHING! (If you are still searching for Halloween party ideas, their printables are super cute). No matter what the occassion, you can always count on them to have something to entertain the troops and make you look like you've got it all together! I won't tell if you won't!

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Tangarang!

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I do not consider myself to be very crafty. S insists that I have creative talent but what I haven't told her (so this is on the DL) is that I am not creative at all. What I AM good at, however, is copying other people's stuff. So naturally, when I first heard about Etsy I was like "Awesome" - a whole resource full of things I could copy and do myself. Only I could not have been more wrong. For the most part, the people at Etsy are so far out of my league I could not even begin to comprehend what they did to create the things they are selling. So far out of my league...and yet I can't seem to drag myself off of the site! I could literally write an entire blog just based around the coolness that is Etsy. And Etsy just happens to be where I found out about Tangarang. Kira Franz-Knight, the founder of Tangarang, is a girl after my own heart. Not content with the typical licensed party invitation kits, superhero solutions, or box-store frozen appetizers, Kira now creates and sells her own party kits. A sample of her work can be seen on her Etsy site (search for Tangarang), though she does custom work as well. But what is even cooler is that Kira has her own blog about parties and party-related items. And from time to time, she even posts free downloads! Her current download is for Halloween and is super cute. You should definitely check it out and come back often to see what's coming next. Kira, we love your work!

a-

Entertaining for a Cause

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We all have a cause that's close to our heart. But I think the fight against breast cancer is a universal cause for all women. I know that S is very passionate about breast cancer research and it is definitely a cause that I always wish I could do more for. And while most of us have been invovled with the Race for the Cure at some point, here is a fundraising effort you may not have heard about. Kitchenaid (maker of my favorite kitchen appliances and cooking utensils) has partnered with Susan G Komen to create a few unique and really fun ways to pull together with friends for a cause. For starters, there's the Cook for the Cure program. You can register online to download a free recipe booklet, donation cards, even customizable invitations to host your own appetizer, brunch or dinner benefit party! Or, for those of you who maybe don't have the space or the time to pull off a complete benefit, there's the "Pass the Plate" program. Available online starting today, you can purchase their dinner platter for $25. Cook dinner for your favorite friend and bring it to them on the platter. When they are through enjoying their meal, they register the platter online, then cook for someone they know and pass the plate again. Every time the plate is passed, Kitchenaid will donate $5 toward the cause. So even those of us who aren't morning (or running) people can do our part for this important cause.

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