Old Navy Finds

With Old navy's $2 Halloween Sale, I was hoping to score a costume for dress up/playtime for my daughter. But of course, there were no costumes in stock. Too bad!

But I did pick up a couple of things...pj's for her, pj bottoms for me, and a cute banana cloth trick or treat bucket. We use cute buckets to hold her little animals & small toys, so that was a cute find. And I am wearing my Candy Corn PJ's right now...pretty comfy - & only $2!

They had more tee shirts in all sizes, some baby outfits, and Old navy Halloween Socks & Underwear.

Did anyone else check them out?

Aloha Friday!

Woo Hoo! Finally Friday! Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday flew by, but Thursday draaagged.


So, according to Kailani from An Island Life, Friday is the day in Hawaii where everyone takes it easy! So I will post a simple question, and you can leave an answer! Can you guess what my question is this week?

What are Your Kids Dressing Up As For Halloween? Are you dressing up? What are your plans??

My daughter is going as Snow White! She is SO excited, and so am I! She has a Snow White Dress, Red Shoes, Red Cape (made by hubby) Red Velvet tirck-or-treat Bag (made by hubby) and a Snow White Wig LOL!!

I haven't decided if I will wear anything fun, maybe just one of her Princess crowns so I can go as her Princess Friend :) Just something small - it's fun for her to have everyone dressed up together!

I cannot wait for Halloween!

Old Navy 2 Dollar Costume/Halloween Sale Oct 30th & 31st

Just wanted to let everyone know about a Sale at Old Navy! On October 30th & 31st Old Navy is having costumes and 'goodies' on Sale for only $2!! I am planning on going there tomorrow to see what they have, and hopefully pick up something cute for my daughter for playing dress up!

I can't remember if Old Navy has toddler costumes, or if it's just for Baby. But even so they might have something cute for her! And $2 is my kind of price:)

You may want to call ahead to your local Old Navy to check if they are included in this offer! I just called mine, and luckily they are! I'll let you know what I find there tomorrow!

What We Did Today! Lollipops Made With Candy Melts - Princess Theme!

So last night we went to Jo-ann Fabrics. I need to STAY AWAY from that store, because I go there and want everything! I visit that place, and suddenly want to sew, bake, paint, and do pretty much everything else creative! That place makes me drool, I love it and hate it at the same time LOL! I hate that I don't OWN all of it, LOL!

So I settled for something small. I bought some Candy Melts, Molds, and Lollipop Sticks and made some yummy treats with my daughter today! I was really planning on finding something Halloween themed, but honestly didn't like any of the mold images. So since my daughter is being a Princess this year, I decided a Princess Theme Mold would work just fine :)


In this Mold was a Princess, Carriage, and castle. I decided to only buy red & white, to save money :) They didn't have blue for the dress, so I chose red....actually we mixed it and made a dark pink. I also had leftover milk chocolate from my Cake Pops, so that worked for a brown.


The hard (okay not hard, mostly tedious) part was adding in the first layer - for the small details that you want to be a certain color. I made the Princess' hair brown, with a white cape and face. The Carriage windows I made pink, the wheels brown. For the Castle I had brown doors, white flags. I worked with the colors I had :)


Once that sets, you add in the main base color, put your stick in there & make sure it's covered. Then I popped them in the freezer to they got nice and solid!

This is how they turned out! Not perfect, but still pretty cute! My daughter was thrilled of course, and I let her choose which one she wanted to eat. She chose the Castle!! I stored the rest in the fridge so they wouldn't melt.

They had an awesome selection of Molds there, from Sea Creatures to Baby Bibs! It would be a lot of fun for a party favor, just add one of those little colored bags & a pretty ribbon, and they are set to go home with a guest!

Wordless Wednesday - Oldie But Goodie

Since I started this blog one year ago, I haven't ever posted pictures of my daughter when she was a baby. So I thought I'd share a favorite of mine from when she was about a little less than 1 year old.


We used to have little mini 'photo shoots' when she was a baby, and I have so many great pictures of her. I loved this one, her little round cheeks and wild strands of hair :) It was almost Easter, hence the bunny ears :)

Now I still love taking pictures of her, it's just hard to get her to sit still! And outfit changes? Forget about it! She doesn't want to be bothered with that LOL!

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes For Mom!

Halloween Night - Tips on Keeping Germs Away!

Halloween is just around the corner! I don't know about you, but I am super excited! Maybe it's because this is the first time my daughter has been old enough to get it. She can say trick-or-treat. She can walk and hold her own bag. She gets excited about dressing up. Definitely makes it better!!

This year my little Princess will go as Snow White. Originally she wanted to go as Ariel. But my Mom bought her a cute Snow White Dress, and since we watch the Snow White DVD all the time, she quickly decided that she would love to be Snow White for Halloween! Which worked out well since I didn't feel like spending money on a new costume/dress LOL! I did however splurge on a kids Snow White Wig...it is quite possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen! She looks so cute, and loves to wear it! The red bow kinda started to slip, so I put it up high so it wouldn't get wrecked before she wear it on Halloween. Every time I see that black wig I think it's my cat, and I am about to tell her to get off the counter when I realize it is just the wig LOL!

So, of course we all know that the Germs & Flu are out in full force right now. I thought I would share with you all some tips from Parenting.com on how to help keep those things away from the kids this Halloween. There are only a few given, but if you have any of your own feel free to add them in the comments!

• Make sure your kids wash their hands before they eat their candy
• Avoid letting them touch their eyes, nose, and mouth
• If the costume requires make-up, apply with your own clean hands
• Wash your own hands before filling your trick-or-treat bucket
• Use a scoop so kids don't have to reach in with their own hands!
  
• If your kid is sick, don't send them out trick or treating to pass on their germs to every candy bowl in the neighborhood :) And don't let him pass out treats from your bowl either. Maybe have your own little Halloween party with them at home so they still can have some fun!
  
• Teach kids to cough into their elbow - not in their hands
  

MY ADD ONS:

• I also know that sharing masks is a way to spread germs - so don't let your kids try on a friends mask
  
• Bring the Hand Sanitizer Along! This way it will be easy to keep them clean if they cough into their hand or something

If you have heard other tips, feel free to share! I know we would all appreciate the ideas on keeping our kids healthy!

Some Winners (My Little Pony, Late July, Karen's Cookies)

Let's Post Some Winners! First up is for the My Little Pony:Twinkle Wish DVD

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

67

Timestamp: 2009-10-27 03:18:24 UTC

Congrats to AStarrA! I have emailed you, please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Next up...Late July Organic Cookies!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

16

Timestamp: 2009-10-27 03:31:42 UTC

Congrats to Jackie! I have emailed you, please reply within 72 hours to claim your yummy cookies :)

Lastly, we have the fun Karen's Cookies Decorating Kit!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

138

Timestamp: 2009-10-27 03:39:02 UTC

Congrats Nancye! You have been emailed, please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Thanks to everyone that entered! If you didn't win these, I have plenty more giveaways coming up, and 4 going on right now! Enter for:

Shrinky Dinks Art Kit

Campus Quilts Gift Card

Flirty Apron

The Pickled Pumpkin Hair Accessories

Good Luck!

The Pickled Pumpkin - Review & Giveaway

When it comes to style, having a little girl is the best kind of fun! You get to use the cute accessories like hair bows, clips, and headbands to accessorize and add some girliness to any outfit. And with the Holidays coming up, there are even more reasons to need some beautiful hair Bows & flowers for your little girls! Pretty party dresses and Holiday cards are the perfect excuse to dress them up!


If you are looking for some beautiful hair accessories for your little sweetie, look no further than The Pickled Pumpkin! The Pickled Pumpkin is an Etsy shop created by Shelly, that brings you all kinds of pretty pieces, like headbands, lace flowers, sequined headbands, hats, clips, and even earrings for us Moms! After all, we need a little something pretty too for a little pick-me-up!! And most are only $5 a pair, which makes them super budget friendly!

Shelly was kind enough to send my daughter and I some hair goodies to try out. My daughter has a ton of hair, always had since the day she was born :) It's also pretty long and I just don't have the guts to cut it yet. Because of this, it hangs in her face sometimes. So headbands are pretty much a daily must for us. She actually loves to wear them, which is part of the reason I can keep it longer. The headbands we received from The Pickled Pumpkin are beautiful! The colors are vibrant and cheerful, and match so many of my daughter's outfits. The flowers are interchangeable, so I can mix and match the headband / flower combination. This is a great way to match with multiple outfits and change up your child's look! Each flower is a different style, some have sequins, some have lace, others are bold colored or soft colored. There is a huge selection available at Pickled Pumpkin with all kinds of different looks available to you. I also received a pair of small green butterfly hair clips, which I LOVE! They are perfect to pull my daughter's sides up and out of her face, or to tame those flyaways when she wears a ponytail! All of the products I received were very well made and professional looking. I know they will hold up well!

(Side View...love the pretty sequins!)

(Front View)

(I also love to just pull her bangs back and secure it will a flower clip!)

(I LOVED this soft pink flower...so pretty! On a side note, I realized it is nearly impossible to get a close up of her because she is always moving. Always!! LOL)

Shelly was also generous in sending me a pair of her earrings...a little something just for me! They are cute little flowers, and are lightweight and so fashionable. I have already received compliments on them! The Pickled Pumpkin has a wonderful selection of earrings, with all kinds of colors and styles...including some shimmery ones!! Love that glamorous look! These earrings (below) are perfect for Fall...I am loving Orange this season!


The Pickled Pumpkin has something for all of your Accessory needs. Headbands fit newborn - adult. I especially love her Newborn/Infant Interchangeable Flower Headband Sets. These can grow right along with your child.....once she has outgrown the newborn headband style you can update with a new headband but keep your pretty flowers! And the Hats are perfect for the Fall weather that is upon us now! Add a little warmth and style to your daughters wardrobe!

TO BUY: You can purchase your adorable hair accessories from The Pickled Pumpkin's online Etsy Shop! Just click HERE!

DISCOUNT: Shelly has generously offered my readers free shipping until November 9th! Just mention Ladybug Soup when checking out!

GIVEAWAY: The Pickled Pumpkin would like offer a sweet giveaway to one lucky reader! One winner will receive a headband or flower AND a pair of earrings!

TO ENTER: Please visit The Pickled Pumpkin and take a look around at her great products! Then come back and leave a comment telling me the name of your favorite product!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every additional entry you complete!

1. Subscribe to My Blog
2. Follow My Blog
3. Blog about this Giveaway (leave the link)
   
4. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet about this Giveaway (leave the link)
5. Become a Facebook Fan of Ladybug Soup!
   
6. If you take my Demographic Survey (top right column) you get 2 extra entries into this giveaway...and ALL giveaways for October (& November when noted)
   

Giveaway will close on November 9th at 10pm CST. US Residents only. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 48 hours to respond to this email or another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: No payments were received for this post. I did receive hair accessories for review purposes. The Pickled Pumpkin also will supply products for giveaway winner. Opinions are my own and different people may have different experiences. As always, products given to me do not sway my posts or opinions given.

Are These Really The Best & Worst Halloween Candy? Tell me YOURS!

Here's a fun little article I found on MSNBC about Best & Worst Halloween Candies! It's a list of the 10 Best & 10 Worst Candies to give/get on Halloween. Here's the list!

BEST

1. Hershey's Krackel
2. Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkin
3. Take 5
   
4. Pop Rocks
5. Anything Sour or hot
6. Blue Razz Blow Pop
7. Whoppers
8. Snickers
9. Candy Corn
10. Anything Full Size

WORST

1. Candy Corn (yes it made both lists LOL)
2. Circus Peanuts
3. Raisins
4. Smarties
5. Necco Wafers
6. Werther's Original
7. Plain Hershey's
8. Dum Dum Pops
9. Milk Duds
10. Tootsie Rolls

How do you feel about the list? I think it really will vary for everyone, that's the great thing about getting different kinds of goodies on Halloween night. When I was younger I would just trade with a sibling for something I liked more/they liked more. It worked well!

The BEST list surprised me...I would add to that Butterfingers...come on those are great! I hate Whoppers so that would be scratched off. I have never had a 'Krackel' and don't remember much about 'Take 5" Didn't even know they still made them!

Reese's Peanut Butter ANYTHING goes on my top 10 for sure!

The WORST list did have some bad ones, but I personally like Tootsie Rolls & Smarties :) And what exactly is the difference between Whoppers and Milk Duds? LOL I don't like either, but I thought they were pretty much the same thing!

TELL ME! What are some things on your BEST & WORST List??

Aloha Friday!

I can't believe it's Friday already! For me this week went by so fast! How about you? Aloha Friday was created by Kailani from An Island Life! In Hawaii, Friday is a day to relax and take it easy before the weekend. So Friday is a great day to have a fun & easy post! I'll ask a question, and you can leave your answer in the comments. Then post your own question on your blog & link up to An Island Life!

My Question this week is:

Have you seen your first snow of the year? If you haven't, when do you normally see it? Or if you live somewhere warm (lucky!) Have you ever gotten snow?

MY ANSWER: We had our first snow maybe 2 weeks ago. It was pretty, and my daughter was SO excited to see it! this year she is actually old enough to really want to play in it, and recognize when it is snowing. Luckily it didn't hang around long - I am not quite ready for that!

I do love snow around the holidays though, it just brings some new exciting energy to the air :) After December though, I've had enough LOL!

Leave your answer in the comments & then post your own for a chance to mingle with some new blog friends!

(EDIT: After posting this, my daughter looked out the window and said "Look Mama, snow!" It is snowing HUGE, FLUFFY Snowflakes as I write this. Kinda pretty!)

Campus Quilt Company Review & Giveaway!

If you were to look in my closet right now, you would see a lot of clothes that just aren't getting used. You know the ones, even though you don't wear them anymore, they are just too sentimental to get rid of. Many people acquire many tee shirts over the years from traveling, sports, or gifts from family and friends. Sometimes those clothes can just sit and take up space. But they can also be made into something useful & unique...a quilt!

Campus Quilt Company specializes in creating quilts and pillows out of your clothes. They can create a wonderful keepsake quilt that can be used for years to come....and put those old tees to use in a whole new way! They offer plenty of different sizes and colors and can create something custom to fit your individual needs.

(See more Quilt Pictures HERE!)

When I was asked if I wanted to have a quilt made to review, I immediately thought of all of my daughter's baby clothes sitting in storage bin in a closet. I don't have a lot of tee shirts built up (yet) so I figured using my daughter's old clothes would be perfect. Not to mention she can always look back at that quilt and see just how tiny she used to be! I will admit to you that I was a little nervous at the idea of sending her baby clothes away...but after receiving all of the info from Campus Quilts my fears were put to rest. The unique thing about this company is that they keep you involved in every step of the process. Their customer service stands out over any company I have ordered from before.

Let me tell you how it works! You can place your order online or over the phone. Shortly after placing your order, you will receive an envelope in the mail from Campus Quilts. Inside will be everything you need to package up your shirts. You can choose which color of fabric you would like for your quilt (they even send some sample fabrics!) and there is space for any instructions you would like to leave for the person creating your quilt. I loved that they actually wanted to hear from me and get my specific instructions. After all, you are sending them your personal belongings, and you should get to say how you want them used. Next you use the provided numbered stickers to tell the them order you would like your tees to appear on the quilt. After that, you are all set to ship it back! They provide you with a large shipping bag and a UPS pre-paid shipping label so you won't have to worry about having you own shipping materials.

It was really an easy and smooth process! The only hard part was choosing which baby clothes I wanted to include in my quilt! After I shipped my bag of clothes back to Campus Quilt Company, I received an email saying that they had received my clothes. Remember what I said about customer service? Well you will receive an email when they receive your shirts, when they have completed your quilt, and when they have shipped your quilt to you (with UPS Tracking Numbers!) I really appreciated being kept in the loop, and knowing what day my quilt would arrive by using their provided tracking number.

(You can see the high quality stitching!)

Normally creating your quilt takes 2-4 weeks. When I received my Quilt, I was SO excited to see how it turned out. And I was completely blown away!! The craftsmanship is flawless...it is a beautifully made quilt! They did a wonderful job of displaying my daughter's baby clothes....it is just so special to me to see her tiny outfits sewn into the quilt. I love the Green color I chose against her (mostly) pink outfits. It is soft against our skin, but also is made strong and sturdy so I know it will last through the years. As soon as my daughter gets moved out of her crib into her big girl bed (which is happening soon!) this quilt will go on her bed and it will look beautiful! I cannot tell you how good it feels to actually be able to see her baby outfits everyday instead of having them packed up in storage. When I have my next child, I will definitely be having a quilt made for them as well...I know they will appreciate it so much and can even pass it down to their own kids someday!

(I loved these pajamas on my daughter...they were too worn to keep for the next baby or give away, so this is the perfect solution!)

Campus Quilts is sure to be able to create something amazing for you and your family as well! This would make a very special Holiday gift for someone you love.....maybe a husband who has tees piling up that just aren't worn anymore. This would also make very special gift for a beloved Grandparent or a kid going off to college! Whatever you can think of, Campus Quilts would be able to work with you on! You can even add things other than tee shirts like ties, swimsuits, hats, bibs, etc! They also make great art to hang on the wall, if you have a special outfit you'd like to display!

Campus Quilt Company can customize your Quilt with a Photo or with Personalized Embroidery for an extra fee. They also can create a Pillow with your clothing, which I think would make a great gift for a college kid! Take his favorite old tee, maybe a sport team or his old baseball uniform, and have it made into a pillow! Very cool!

Overall I am thrilled with my quilt that Campus Quilts created for me. As a Mom I will always treasure my daughter's baby clothes, and this gives me a great new way to enjoy them. And when I look at the Quilt, I can picture my daughter in each and every one of these outfits. They all have a story. Now I can relive those stories everyday, and that is truly a special and meaningful gift!

BUY IT: If you would like to purchase your own Campus Quilt, simply visit their website for ordering instructions and to see their great selection of sizes & styles! To guarantee your order before Christmas, you should order as soon as possible, and check out their Christmas Shipping Schedule for more details (located at the bottom of their FAQ's)

GIVEAWAY: Campus Quilt Company has given me the opportunity to give one reader a $150 Gift Card to Campus Quilts!!

TO ENTER: Please visit Campus Quilt Company and tell me what kind of quilt or pillow you would like to create!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every additional entry you complete.

1. Become a Fan of Campus Quilt Company on Facebook!
2. Subscribe to My Blog
3. Follow my Blog
4. Blog about this Giveaway (leave the link!)
   
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this giveaway (leave the link!)
6. If you take my Demographic Survey (top of Right column) remember you get 2 extra entries into this & all giveaways for October!
   

Contest will end on November 2nd at 10pm CST. US Residents only. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 48 hours to respond to this email or a new winner will be chosen. Thank you SO much to Campus Quilt
Company for this review & giveaway opportunity!

Disclaimer: I was provided a free Quilt from Campus Quilts in order to give you an honest review. No payment was provided for this post - just the product. Campus Quilts will also provide $150 gift card to giveaway winner.

New Costume Winner (Purple Witch)

I have never had to do this before, but I have to choose a new winner for one of the costumes. I haven't heard back from the first winner yet, and it's been over the 48 hour required time. And normally I would wait some more, but since it's Halloween, we want the prize to get there quickly. I feel bad, but at the same time rules are rules and someone needs to win it.

So here is the NEW winner of the Small Purple Light Up Witch

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

76

Timestamp: 2009-10-22 18:19:15 UTC

Congrats to Christy! (Davis) I have sent an email, please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize :)

Winner of Jacquard Sik Hoop Painting Fun Bag!

Here is the winner of the Jacquard Silk Hoop Bag Of Fun!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

53

Timestamp: 2009-10-21 18:54:11 UTC

Congrats to Terra H! I have emailed you, please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Winner of Creativity For Kids PreSchool Art Kit

Here is the winner of the Creativity For Kids PreSchool Art Kit!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

199

Timestamp: 2009-10-21 18:36:28 UTC

Congrats to Jennifer! I have emailed you, please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Thanks to Faber-Castell and to everyone that entered this giveaway! If you didn't win, be sure to check out the new Creativity For Kids Giveaway I just posted last night!

Flirty Apron Review & Giveaway

As you may know, I have been in a big baking mood lately, probably because of the Holiday season. It's just the perfect reason to start creating delicious meals and treats...the colder weather lets oven cooking become welcomed again, and family get-togethers are great reasons to share something tasty.

My new favorite kitchen accessory isn't a mixing spoon or crock pot, it's an Apron! It comes from Flirty Aprons, a company that creates the most adorable and stylish aprons for men, women, and children! The children's aprons are darling, and would be perfect for helping Parents cook in the kitchen or even for crafts & playing. They will protect their clothing while adding in some extra fun for the child by dressing up into something special!

(Kids Original Frosted Cupcake Apron)

My Flirty Apron is wonderful. Honestly, I don't know what I was doing all this time without one! I wear it when I bake and it protects my clothes from food - have you seen your clothes after working with flour? Exactly! Another great function I discovered is that it works great to wipe my hands on after I wash them. When cooking with different foods like eggs, messy cake batters, or meat, I tend to have to wash my hands numerous times. I found that I could just dry them on my apron & keep right on cooking....it was very handy!

(Me in my Flirty Apron....I always pose like that in front of my oven ;))

Another thing I love about my Apron is the style & cut. Just wearing it makes me feel a little more fancy, and makes what I am doing a little more fun! My style of apron is the Women's Original Chic Pink Apron, a stylish mix of black and pink. I love those two colors together, so this was a great choice for me. It is 100% Cotton and is very sturdy & thick, but still soft. The waist tie was pretty long...so I just wrapped it around me twice to make a cute belt. I see now that I was supposed to tie it in the front to make a cute bow...I'll remember that next time! It has two front pockets that you can use for accessories for kitchen work or garden work. I really felt great wearing it, and put it on even when things aren't going to be too messy just because I love the look of it!

(Another favorite - Women's Original Scarlet Blossom Apron)

Flirty Aprons would make a wonderful Holiday Gift for someone who enjoys baking, crafting, or gardening! And with all of the great reasons to cook these upcoming months, you are sure to get a lot of use out of them! You can even get matching Mother / Daughter Apron Designs!! I love that idea!

If you have a Husband who loves to Grill, they have a great selection of Mens Aprons! A lot of the sayings were pretty funny...I would check them out for a fun gift for your husband or Dad!

There are a couple of Apron Styles on Sale for only $19.95! The Purple Passion & Watermelon Twist are completely adorable - I love the soft colors - and they are only $19.95 each!

BUY IT: To purchase your own Flirty Apron, visit them at their website ! Remember they have them for Women, Men, and Children! And right now shipping is only $2.95 - that's a great price!

GIVEAWAY: Flirty Aprons has generously offered to give one reader their own Flirty Apron!

TO ENTER: Please visit Flirty Aprons and tell me the name of an Apron you like!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete.

1. Subscribe to My Blog
2. Follow My Blog
   
3. Blog About this Giveaway (leave me the link)
4. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet this Giveaway (leave the link)
5. For 2 extra Entries take my Demographic Survey - located at the top of the right column (click the word Survey). Take this survey only once, and you can have 2 extra entries into ALL giveaways in October!

Giveaway will end on November 4th at 10pm CST. Giveaway is open to US Residents only. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be announced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 72 hours to respond to that email or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: No payments were provided for this post. I received an apron for review and one will be given away. All opinions are my own and different people may have different experiences with products.

Wordless Wednesday - Disney Live!

Here are some pics of our recent visit to a Disney Live Show! (Mickey's Rockin Road Trip) This was a really fun show, lots of fun songs and great energy. It's was definitely a dance- along kind of show!

Mickey's Gang meeting up with Tigger!

My daughter's favorite (and mine too!) Cinderella :)

Making her Tinkerbell Toy Fly !!

Everyone on stage for the fun finale! At the end, they dropped TONS of paper confetti on the audience, that was my daughter's favorite part! We called it Paper Snow!

Creativity For Kids - Shrinky Dinks Review & Giveaway!

For all of your children's craft activities, Creativity For Kids has you covered...and the Holiday crafts bring even more fun to families everywhere! For Halloween fun, I was able to try their new kit called Shrinky Dinks Halloween Fun. This fun set comes with everything you need to create a Halloween Tree Decoration made of Shrinky Dinks! I am sure many of you have heard of Shrinky Dinks, maybe used them yourself before. They really are so much fun for children, they change size in the oven, and it is so cool to watch!

This set includes:

• 30 Shrinky Dinks in fun Halloween Designs
• 11X8 Sturdy Black Velvet Tree
• Colored Pencils
• Sharpener
• Hole Punch
• Extras needed for Display & Decoration

We started off by coloring the Halloween Designs on the Shrinky Dink Film. This was the easiest part for my toddler...she loves to color! I colored some too, which she loved. Once they were all colored, I cut them out with a scissors. Parents may want to do this even for children that are a little older, as the Shrinky Dink Film can get sharp if you cut it at an angle. Once the designs were cut out, I whole punched them & layed them out on tinfoil.

(Concentrating on coloring!)

(Some finished Shrinky Dinks - before cooking)

Then I placed them on a cookie sheet in a pre-heated oven. Again, Parents will want to do the baking. Once they were in, I let my daughter come back in the kitchen (I have her step into the living room whenever the oven is opening) and we turned on the oven light & watched the show! The Shrinky Dinks only took a minute to bake, and they curled up, shrunk, and straightened out again! It was really cool to see, and my daughter squeeled when she saw them moving around in the oven!

(Watching them 'dance' )

After they cool, you attach the provided rings and hang them on the tree. In the end you have a great looking Halloween tree, complete with hand colored decorations! This craft was so much fun, and really helps to get you in the Holiday spirit! I love that she colored some designs, because I will always be able to look at her little scribbles and remember how she was at this age. It makes it much more personal to every family & child!

I did however hang this tree in an out of reach spot, only because there are small pieces and I really don't want anything going in her mouth that she can choke on. So it's cute to look at - but not to play with for a young child.

(Finished Tree)

BUY IT: You can still order your own Shrinky Dinks Halloween Fun Kit at the Creativity For Kids Website for $16.99

WIN IT: One read will win their own Shrinky Dinks Kit - You can choose which Shrinky Dink Kit you'd like!

TO ENTER: Please visit Creativity For Kids and leave a comment telling me the name of which Shrinky Dink Product you would choose if you won (you can change your mind later if you DO win this)

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every additional entry you complete.

1. Subscribe to my blog
2. Follow my blog
3. Blog About this Giveaway
4. Take My Demographic Survey - you just have to take it once - doing so will get you 2 extra entries into this giveaway (and all giveaways for October)
5. Follow me on Twitter & Tweet about this Giveaway

Giveaway will end on November 1st at 10pm CST. Open to US & Canada. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be anounced here on Ladybug Soup & emailed directly. Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: No payment was received for this post. A product was provided to me for this review. All opinions are my own and different people may have different experiences with products.

You Must Try These!

It must be the colder weather, or maybe the Holiday season because I have been really into crafts & baking lately! My my newest baking adventure comes with help from the awesomely talented woman, Bakerella. She makes the most adorable desserts you have ever seen! I have drooled over her pictures for months now, until the day I found one that seemed like it was something I could create too.

The recipe I tried was for her Red Velvet Cake Balls, because honestly they look delicious and easy enough for a beginner like me. I will let you visit her site directly for the details...she gives great directions on how to create your own treats. But basically you will need red velvet cake (from a box is okay!) 1 can of cream cheese frosting, and melting chocolate.

At first I used white chocolate, which I quickly realized was not the best option for me. When you dip your cake ball into the white chocolate, some of the red from the cake gets into the chocolate, turning the white pink. Also the taste of the white chocolate was too sweet for me (yes, it's possible to have something be too sweet LOL!)

So last night I tried with milk chocolate, and it worked perfectly! You can't tell if any red goes into the melted chocolate when you are dipping. And they are DELICIOUS!! They look like little truffles that you would find in a box of candy, but when you bite into them there is cake inside! SO GOOD!

Here are some of my pictures! The cakes don't quite have the professional look, but I think I did pretty good for my first time!

Most of the Red Velvet Cake Balls!

A Close Up - Pretty Right? Looks like a chocolate from a box of candy!

Inside - Red Velvet Cake! Yummy!

To find this recipe, and SO many more wonderful ideas, please stop by Bakerella!! You will be happy you did! And this recipe is so easy and delicious, I would highly recommend it. I will definitely be making these closer to the Holidays, and putting them in some adorable little decorated boxes as sweet gifts! These would make great Hostess gifts if you are attending any Holiday parties!

Enjoy! And thanks Bakerella for sharing this with your readers!