A Week of Thanksgiving Giveaways: Day 3

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday. Everyone in our family was sick at one point this week, but we pulled it together and were all feeling fine for Thanksgiving yesterday. Hooray!
Today is the last day of the Week of Thanksgiving Giveaways. Today's giveaway is once again from the Sheek Shindigs Etsy Shop. The winner of Day 3's giveaway will be able to choose one of the following party packages:

A Dinosaur Party Package: This fun dinosaur themed package includes some great party accessories to create a ROARING good party. Package includes a dinosaur cupcake kit, dinosaur party garland, a dinosaur party invitation and thank you set, and a package of dinosaur party hats (my favorite!).

A Princess Party Package: This pretty Princess Party Package includes an invitation and thank you set, a princess cupcake kit, a package of princess party plates, and a set of pretty princess party hats.

A 3D Robot/Space Cadet Party Package: What a fun party set for your little robot or space lover! This 3D party package includes a robot/space cadet invitation and thank you set and a complete 3D party set that includes 1 garland, 16 napkins, 12 plates, and 12 3D glasses.

A Fairy Party Package: This Fairy Wishes party package includes a fairy invitation and thank you set, fairy party plates, and a fairy cupcake kit.

To enter to win to, become a follower of Sheek Shindigs if you aren't already and leave a comment on this post telling me what party package you would choose if you won. Make sure that I will be able to contact you if you win. And, for a second entry, post about this giveaway on your facebook page and let me know. A random winner will be chosen and announced on Monday, November 28th. Good luck!

A Week of Thanksgiving Giveaways: Day 2

 Everyone loves a good cupcake! Whether you are making a couple dozen for your next shindig or a few to share on a rainy day, a good cupcake can brighten anyone's day.  Today's giveaway, sponsored by Sheek Shindigs and Sweet Mady Paper & Gifts , will help you to bake and decorate a good cupcake in style the next time that the mood hits you.

Today's Cupcake Giveaway Package includes:
- An American Era Mini Cupcake Maker: This electric American Era Mini Cupcake Maker, which was recently featured on Oprah.com, allows you to bake 7 cupcakes in 5 short minutes in the comfort of your home. In addition to cupcakes, you can also make muffins, cornbread, mini cakes, and other baked treats. This is perfect thing to have when you want a little treat to share with your family or friends without having to make an entire batch of cupcakes.
- A copy of the What's New, Cupcake? book: This book is an endless resource for fun and creative ways to dress up your cupcakes. It will show you, step by step, how to transform your plain little baked treat into a race-car, robot, or a ravishing piece of jewerly. So much fun!
- An adorable Apron from Sweet Mady Paper & Gifts: Your little one will love helping you bake with an adorbale, stylish apron from Sweet Maddy Paper & Gifts! Choose from one of the many designs that Sweet Mady offers, here, to create a custom apron for your little one. These would also make an awesome gift, don't you think? Here are just a few of the designs that you can choose from:

To enter to win to, beome a follower of Sheek Shindigs if you aren't already and leave a comment on this post. Make sure that I will be able to contact you if you win. And, for a second entry, post about this giveaway on your facebook page and let me know. A random winner will be chosen and announced on Monday, November 28th. Good luck!

A Week of Thanksgiving Giveaways: Day 1

This week is Thanksgiving Giveaway Week at Sheek Shindigs. Hooray! I am so thankful for all of my friends and followers. You have made my journey with Sheek Shindigs such an enjoyable one! Now, to celebrate, let's start the giveaways!

The first giveaway of the week comes from the Sheek Shindigs Etsy Shop: Push-Pop Containers! These fun little containers are so versitle. Whether you are serving mini cupcakes, cookies, pudding, or frozen treats, Push-Pop Containers are sure to make eating a sweet treat at your next shindig even more fun! Each container comes with a lid for easy transportation and storage and they are dishwasher safe (top rack), making them reusable. Here are a few examples of how you can use them:

{Images: My Cake School ; The Decorated Cookie ; Edible Crafts ;
Oh Goodie Designs ; Love From The Oven ; And Everything Sweet }

Today's Giveaway is for 20 Push-Pop Containers. To enter to win to, beome a follower of Sheek Shindigs if you aren't already and leave a comment on this post. Make sure that I will be able to contact you if you win. And, for a second entry, post about this giveaway on your facebook page and let me know. A random winner will be chosen and announced on Monday, November 28th. Good luck!

A Week of Thanksgiving Giveaways!

Only a few more days of our Thanksgiving Countdown and I am feeling extra thankful. I have a wonderful husband and children, a supportive family, great friends, and YOU. Thank you so much for your support and for allowing Sheek Shindigs to evolve into what it is today. To show my appreciation, I will be hosting serveral Sheek Shindigs Giveaways this coming week. Check back daily to see what fun items you can enter to win!

With Much Thanks and Love,

Sarah

Thanksgiving Countdown Ideas: Host A Giving Thanks Party

If you are looking for a last minute Thanksgiving celebration idea for a group of children, this Giving Thanks Party may be a good fit. I designed this party with preschool and younger school aged children in mind. I wanted to create a Thanksgiving shindig that would allow guests to celebrate the holiday as well as give thanks and support to others in the community.

I also wanted to create a design that was affordable and could easily be duplicated by YOU. This past week I offered some Thanksgiving Countdown Ideas (also here and here). I incorporated many of the suggestions from those post into the design and decoration of this Giving Thanks Party. Natural objects, such as pumpkins, pine cones, acorns, and leaves, were used throughout the decor. I transformed what is normally the kids' craft center into a dessert/party "buffet" so that everything was in one place and easily accessible. You can do the same by using a buffet table, bookcase, or a regular folding table that you already have in your home. Get creative!

When planning your party, you can save time by purchasing some pre-made dessert items (I bought these ready made leaf cookies and pumpkin cookie sandwiches from the Target bakery). You can inexpensively dress up brown favor bags by using mini wooden clothes pins and freshly fallen leaves from your yard. There are also many, many cute and FREE printable out there that you can use to add color and style to your party. I used a free printable mini banner from Paper & Pigtails and Kara's Party Ideas, here, to dress up my pumpkin and baskets. 

To help recognize the importance of giving thanks and supporting others less fortunate than ourselves during the holiday season (and any time, for that matter), ask guests to bring canned goods to donate to a local food pantry. Provide craft paper, food labels, and string/ribbon for children to "wrap" their donations and write a message of hope or thanks to be sent with the items. Share a favorite Thanksgiving story, play games, and of course, include lots of yummy treats!

** I apologize for the fuzziness of these photos. I am hoping that Santa brings me a new camera this year ;) **

Thanksgiving Countdown Ideas: Crafting Some Turkey Fun!

Today's Thanksgiving Countdown Idea will help add some Turkey Cheer to your celebration. Whether there is an assigned children's table, dessert buffet, or just a special place setting for the little ones, these turkeys are sure to be a hit.

Push Pops are a fun way to serve mini cupcakes, pudding, or even candy to your {little} guests. And, a push pop dressed up like a turkey is even more fun, don't you think!

No push pops? How about dressing up your pedestal bowls instead? Wouldn't these be cute to serve pudding, ice cream, or even a little fruit salad in.

These turkey "costumes" are easy to create. Using construction/craft paper, cut out different colored feathers, a turkey face, beak, gobbler, and hat. Using a 2" scalloped punch, punch out 3 or more scallops to attach feathers onto and to assemble turkey head.

Now you can attach your turkey to a push pop, pedestal bowl, or any other serving vessel of your choice. I used a hot glue gun but glue dots may also work. Have fun with this one. Gobble, gobble!

Thanksgiving Countdown Ideas: Create A Natural Setting

Image: Pottery Barn

Keep your Thanksgiving decorating simple this year and let the season's natural resources take center stage. Reuse your Halloween pumpkins and gourds to decorate your mantel, front entry, or dining room table. Place individual or grouped pumpkins and gourds on cake pedestals and stands down the center of your table. Hollow out pumpkins, squashs, or gourds to be used as serving vessels for soups or dessert. For a personal touch, embellish with your guests' initials and use them for place setting markers. Get creative!

Image: Design Concept Ideas

Take the kids on a nature walk to gather pine cones, acorns, and leaves to place in glass vases and bowls for a seasonal centerpiece. Just remember to gather leaves on the day of your celebration. Otherwise, they will dry out and curl up.

Image: All You

Fresh fruits and vegetables can add a great amount of color and visual interest to your holiday table.  Flowers, berries and leaves can also be used to add texture and fill in any empty spaces.

Image: Martha Stewart Weddings

There are so many natural possibilities. Have fun!

In Case You Were Wondering...

Just in case you were wondering, my little Charlotte and I did make our felt Thanksgiving dinner together. It turned out great and we had so much fun working on it (I did all of the sewing, she did all of the stuffing). I used the tutorial that I posted about last week from Smashed Peas and Carrots, here, to make the turkey. Maggie (Smashed Peas and Carrots) did not include a tutorial for the green beans and carrots so Charlotte and I came up with our own. I will share that in the next couple of days. Until then, get started on those turkeys. Your little ones will LOVE IT!

WARNING: Making these fun little felt foods may lead to a serious felt sewing/crafting addiction. I am already working on our next meal!

Thanksgiving Countdown Ideas: Easy Acorn Cookies

The Thanksgiving countdown is on. Only 9 more days until Turkey Day. Are you ready? Over the next couple of days I will be sharing some easy, last minute Thanksgiving decorating, crafting, and food ideas to help put the finishing touches on your Thanksgiving celebrations.

Today I am featuring these Easy Acorn Cookies that I made with the help of my master chefs, Charlotte, 2 and Wyatt, 5. They are super easy to put together, require no cooking, and the kiddos will love helping out.

Here is what you will need:

- Hershey's Kisses
- Mini Chocolate Morsels
- Nutter Butter Cookie Bites (Mini Nilla Wafers will also work)

Assembly is easy and fun:

1. If using the Nutter Butter Bites, take the sandwich cookies apart and remove the peanut butter filling. Place textured side down on a cookie sheet. If using Mini Nilla Wafers, place on cookie sheet with the flat side up.

2. Melt a small bowl of Mini Chocolate Morsels. Place a small amount of melted chocolate onto the bottom of a Hershey's Kiss and the stick the Hershey Kiss onto the flat side of a Nutter Butter Cookie. The melted chocolate is acting as your glue. You don't need a lot, just enough to make the kiss stick to the cookie. Let cookies set for a few minutes, allowing chocolate to harden.

3. Turn over the cookie and use the same chocolate "gluing" method to attach a Mini Chocolate Morsel to the top of the textured side of your Nutter Butter Cookie. Again, only a small amount of melted chocolate is needed to glue your mini morsel onto the cookie. Allow the chocolate to harden for a few minutes.

4. Place Acorn Cookies in a festive bowl, serve, and enjoy!

{Crafty Ideas} A Fun Felt Thanksgiving Dinner

Okay, all of my crafty friends....pay attention! Have I got a fun Thanksgiving craft for you. Gather your felt piles (or make a mad dash to your local craft store) and get ready to make one of the cutest things that I have seen in awhile: A Fun Felt Thanksgiving Dinner.

Seriously, isn't it the cutest thing ever. I was searching for some Thanksgiving craft ideas and came across Maggie of Smashed Peas and Carrots. Maggie made a complete Felt Thanksgiving Dinner for her son several years ago and was kind enough to post a tutorial along with her pictures. The drumsticks are even detachable for playtime!



While sewing is not my strong point, I think that I will be able to handle this one. I am headed out to the craft store this weekend to stock up on felt and get started. My little Charlotte is going to LOVE it!
Oh, and as if the turkey, carrots, and beans were not impressive enough, Maggie whipped up an entire felt-y Thanksgiving feast before everything was said and done, which included mashed potatoes, gravy, a removable pat of butter, crescent rolls and a huge slice of pumpkin pie with removable whipped cream. Love her.

Visit Maggie and Smashed Peas and Carrots here and here for the felt Thanksgiving tutorials. Have fun with this one!

A Guide For Planning Your Thanksgiving Table

Image: Southern Living

Now that Halloween is behind us, it is time to start planning for your Thanksgiving celebrations. This will be the first year that we are staying home for Thanksgiving and hosting a small dinner of our own. While I am looking forward to helping plan the menu (my husband and I will be sharing cooking duties), the thought of setting and decorating the table and our house is what really gets my heart fluttering. I have been looking for decoration ideas, inspiration, and tips to make our first Thanksgiving at home a memorable one. While I haven't made any final decorating decisions, I thought that I would share a few of my favorites tips and ideas for dressing your table this Thanksgiving.

To start off, I found this great diagram on how to properly set a formal dining table. It's always nice to have a reference to go to when you can't quite remember whether the soup spoon goes beside the dinner knife or on the other side of the teaspoon. Martha Stewart also offers some table setting tips, here.

Next, decide how you are going to dress your table.  Table linens serve as an important base for building the rest of your table on and offer an opportunity to introduce color. For a bold holiday table, vibrant reds, oranges, and browns can be used to create an autumn scene. If you prefer a more simple, understated table, select neutral linens (think browns and creams) as a base and add color with your accessories.

Image: Williams-Sonoma

Now it is time to accessorize, be creative, and add a personal touch to your table. Layer items (placemats, plates, napkins) to add depth to your table. Add color with natural items, such as flowers, pumpkins, leaves, and acorns and/or decorative items, such as candles, serving pieces, and sentimental pieces that reflect the season and add character to your table.

Image: Pottery Barn

Put your placecards to work. Not only do they add a personal touch, but they can serve a decorative purpose as well. This is another chance to be creative. Mini pumpkins, leaves, fruit, and acorns are just a few natural props that you can use to showcase your placecards and guide guest to their place at the table.

Image: Better Homes and Gardens

Image: Apron Strings Aflutter

Inspired yet? I hope so. Have any great Thanksgiving decorating ideas? I would love to hear from you.

{What's Cooking?} Pumpkin Spice Creme Brulee

I just couldn't hold out any longer. I started bringing out some of my fall decorations yesterday and I am now officially in "fall mode". Love it! There are so many wonderful things that I associate with the fall season: cooler weather, colorful leaves, watching football as a family (okay, I really have no interest in watching football, but I love cuddling with my family while they watch and making fun snacks for everyone to enjoy), and the smell and taste of anything pumpkin. Pumpkin just takes me to that comfy, cozy feeling that I associate with fall. The sight, the smell, the taste...even the thought of anything pumpkin. So, while on a quest today to find a new pumpkin recipe to help kick off this wonderful season, I came across this recipe from Better Homes and Gardens for Pumpkin Spice Creme Brulee. The recipe itself sounds great, but the presentation of the dessert is what got my attention. I love the idea of serving dessert in miniature pumpkins!

Image: Better Homes and Gardens

Wouldn't these dessert filled mini pumpkins be perfect on your Thanksgiving table. They are definitely going on my "possibilities list" for this year.

Pumpkin Spice Creme Brulee

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whipping cream (no substitutes)
• 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 10 baby pumpkins
• 1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium heat just until bubbly. Remove from heat; set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine egg yolks, eggs, the 1/2 cup sugar, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and cloves. Beat with a whisk or rotary beater just until combined. Slowly whisk the hot whipping cream into the egg mixture.
3. Use a small serrated knife to cut off the top 1/2-inch of the baby pumpkins. Discard the tops. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds.
4. Place the pumpkins in a roasting pan. Divide custard mixture evenly among the pumpkins. Place roasting pan on oven rack. Pour enough boiling water into the roasting pan to reach halfway up the sides of the pumpkins.
5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until centers appear nearly set when gently shaken. Carefully remove pan from oven. Remove pumpkins from water; cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
6. Before serving, let custards stand at room temperature for 20 minutes. **Meanwhile, for caramelized sugar: in a heavy 8-inch skillet, heat the 1/4 cup sugar over medium-high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking skillet occasionally to heat sugar evenly. Do not stir. Once sugar starts to melt, reduce heat to low; cook 3 to 5 minutes more or until all of the sugar is melted and golden brown, stirring as needed with a wooden spoon.
7. Quickly drizzle caramelized sugar over the custards. (If sugar starts to harden in the skillet, return to heat, stirring until melted.) Serve immediately. Makes 10 filled pumpkins or 6 custard cups.
* Instead of the pumpkins, you can use six 3/4-cup souffle dishes or 6-ounce custard cups. Place the souffle dishes or custard cups in a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
**Culinary Torch Method: Instead of caramelizing the sugar in the skillet as directed in steps 6 and 7, sprinkle sugar evenly over custards. Use a culinary torch to caramelize the sugar.

Thanksgiving: Box it up!

One of my favorite fellow party girls, Lindi of Love the Day, is sharing a wonderful free Thanksgiving printable just in time for your day of feasting. These adorable Pie Boxes will help you clear out some of the leftovers. Simply download here, print, cut, tape, and package leftover pie slices for your guests to take home and enjoy later. Easy, super cute, and FREE. Doesn't get much better than that!





Love the Day also offers a matching Happy Harvest collection that can be purchased here. Thank you for sharing this, Lindi.

Walnut-Stuffed Slow-Cooked Apples

I was browsing around the web this afternoon looking for a new dessert recipe to bring to Thanksgiving dinner this year. Someone in our family always brings the traditional apple and pumpkin pies but as yummy as they look and smell, I am just not a big pie fan. Sorry! So, I always try to come up with an alternative dessert option to bring to the table. I came across this Walnut-Stuffed Slow Cooked Apples recipe from Cooking Light, one of my all-time favortie recipe sources.

Not only is this recipe a great low-fat option for your Thanksgiving feast (not that anyone will really be keeping track....it's Thanksgiving!) but they look amazing. Top them off with a little whipped cream, frozen yogurt, or ice cream and you're good to go!

Want to give it a try? Here's the recipe:

Walnut-Stuffed Slow Cooked Apples
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 apple and 1/4 cup cooking liquid)

Ingredients
1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons dried currants
2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
4 medium Granny Smith apples, cored
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup apple cider

Preparation
Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl; add 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, stirring to combine. Peel top third of each apple; place apples in an electric slow cooker. Spoon walnut mixture into cavity of each apple.

Combine the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup brown sugar, and apple cider in a small bowl, stirring to combine. Pour over apples. Cover with lid; cook on LOW 2 3/4 hours. Remove the apples with a slotted spoon. Spoon 1/4 cup cooking liquid over each serving.

The Paper Bag Turkey

Want a fun and unique centerpiece for the Thanksgiving "kids table" this year? One Charming Party has one for you: the paper bag turkey.

Isn't it cute! I know that my kids would think that this was super cool and they would love the surprise inside (popcorn!).

No culinary skills needed for this turkey creation. Just 1 large brown grocery bag, 2 small brown lunch bags, a glue gun, scissors, white paper, and some popcorn! You can find the complete DIY instructions from One Charming Party here. Have fun with this one!

Fab Find: Free Thanksgiving Templates and Printables

This week's Fab Find is sure to get you in the mood for Thanksgiving. There are some great Thanksgiving templates and printables out there for FREE. Here are a few of my favorites:

These Paper Pilgrim Hats and Bonnets from Martha Stewart would be a great addition to the kids table on Thanksgiving or as a craft for your child's class. You can find the free templates here.


This Printable coloring page by PaperGlitter will help keep the kiddos busy while you prepare your Thanksgiving feast. Download here and check out their other great Thanksgiving printables here.



Need invitations, food and place card tags, or labels for Thanksgiving? Check out anna and blue paperie for some great FREE printables!





Happy planning!

Thanksgiving Inspiration, Part 2

Here are some fun, kid-friendly FOOD INSPIRATION ideas for Thanksgiving.

Want the recipes and DIY Instructions? You can find them here:

1. Corny Cookies Kids will love decorating these candy-topped treats to help prepare for the big feast! (Family Fun)
2. Gobble Me Up! Here's a healthy snack option from Family Fun that the kids can make themselves.
3. Gobbling-Good Cupcakes These tasty turkeys would be great for a classroom party. (Family Fun)
4. Acorn Dough Nuts Your kids will go nutty for these clever fall treats, which look like acorns but taste a whole lot sweeter. (Family Fun)
5. Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats Here's a treat that has an old-fashioned look but is made with two favorite modern-day treats: marshmallows and chocolate. (Family Fun)
6. Fruit Gobbler This fruity tribute to the real star of Thanksgiving is easy to assemble and delicious to take apart! (Family Fun)
7. Sweet T.O.M Turkeys Candy corn plumes and shortbread wings turn cupcakes into irresistible turkey sweets for Thanksgiving. (Family Fun)
8. Candy Corn Gourds Hollow out your left over gourds, fill them with candy corn and other treats, and create a festive display for your table. (Country Living)
9. Teeny Turkeys These bite-sized birds will help keep the kiddos appetite in check before the big feast.

DIY Thanksgiving Treat Holders

If you are a Pottery Barn Kids lover like myself, you have probably seen their adorable Thanksgiving Collection.


I love the traditional Thanksgiving elements, including Pilgrim Hats and Turkey Headpieces, turkey-shaped placemats, and a Mayflower inspired centerpiece. When I first got the fall catalogue and saw this collection, my eyes immediatley went to their Sailboat Treat Holders.



These treat holders are super cute and can be used a place cards as well. Wouldn't you know they are sold out. No problem. You can make your own! That's what I did. Here are the SUPER EASY DIY instructions:

You will need:

1 Piece of Brown Felt
1 Piece of Cream Felt
1 Wooden Dowel Rod (mine was cute to measure 9")
1 Piece of 1"x1" floral foam
Scissors
Glue Gun
Small Hole Punch

Step One:


Cut two pieces of brown felt into the shape of a boat. Cut the cream felt to resemble a sail (mine measured roughly 3 3/4" x 3 1/2", with the top of the sailing being slightly less narrow).

Step Two:


Using a hot glue gun, glue the sides and bottom of your brown boat pieces together. Do not glue the top portion, as this needs to be open for treats!

Step Three:


Using a small hole punch, punch a hole in the top middle and bottom middle of your sail. Thread your wooden rod through the holes.

Step Four:


Stick the bottom end of your wooden rod into a 1 x 1 piece of floral foam.

Step Five:


Secure the floral foam to the bottom of your boat using the glue gun.

You are done! Fill your Sailboat Treat Holder with the goodies of your choice and enjoy!



** If using as a place card, you can either use a heavy cardstock with names printed or written on them for the sails or you can write directly on the felt sails.