Savvy....Spooktacular Halloween Play Date

September 30, 2010

BOO!!!! Did we scare you? Didn't think so. Welcome to our first Halloween "Spooktacular"

Play date. We wanted the day to be nothing less than fabulous for our kiddos and friends so greeting them at the front door was this adorable Anders Ruff "Boo!" sign (a free printable) that set the Halloween mood right away.

It's not a Halloween play date without a little friendly Bewitching right? How cute is this little witch we had as our door greeter with another free printable "The Witch is in" sign we downloaded from Clickable Party.

As soon as our ghoulish guests came inside we started our lunch time recipe. What do you get when you pair hot dogs and crescent rolls? A yummy "Mummy Dog" for a delicious hands on snack. We gave each child their own crescent dough triangle and a hot dog and let them "dress" their own Mummy Dog to their liking. As soon as their Mummies were wrapped we popped them in the oven and let the kiddos outside where we had set up the rest of the Halloween Spooktacular day for them to enjoy!

When we were planning this play date, right away we knew it had to be at Bri's house. Her back yard alone is a canvas of possibilities. We had so much fun creating this table and are so excited to share our Amy Atlas inspired table. Here is what we came up with.....take a look!!!!

We of course used an amazing group of talented women to help pull this festive Play Date together. We found complimentary printables from Tweedle Dee Designs. The yummy Spooky Circles, Pumpkin Pops and Pumpkin cupcakes were provided by the wonderful Kolby Kakes. And the Savvy find that we think finished the table was the $3 bat garland that draped the front of the table from a local store here in CA called Tai Pan, every Savvy shoppers dream!!!!

This Spooktacular Play Date could not have happened without a trip to our local Dollar Tree where we found glittery spiders, googly eyes and plastic pumpkins (See craft). A recipe, we still have yet to perfect, is our version of a healthy candy corn treat made out of fruit. (Post to follow) Our Glamorous giveaway this week, a hand painted chandelier canvas with rhinestone detail, comes from Canvas by Kerry which we used to decorate our drink table. Bake it Pretty gave us inspiration to use cupcake liners as popcorn holders for everyone to snack on while the Mummy Dogs were baking.

So here is our kids version of Mummy Dogs. Yea, we know they are missing eyes and are halfway dressed, but that is the fun part right? Yet another Savvy find and FREE printable we found were these sweet candy corn cone holders from Skip to my Lou that we used as hangers filled with more popcorn.

With every Play Date as you all know, we incorporate a recipe, a story and a craft. For this craft we found plastic pumpkins from The Dollar Tree that the kids painted and decorated with pieces of felt, googly eyes, and glittery pom-poms. (Post to follow on how we did this). We wanted these pumpkins to be sort of like Mr. Potato Heads, where the kids can change around the eyes, nose and mouth by simply using Velcro.

We ended the Day with Kolby Kakes delicious Pumpkin Pops and a story. The kids intently listened to The Spooky Smells of Halloween A Scratch and Sniff Book by Mary Man-Kong. The kiddos loved the cute story and really enjoyed the Smells of the Spooky Season an Adorable Seasonal Read....

So the day was done. Their tummies were full and the craft was made. Ella B captured it all and even got the kiddos together for a group shot all dressed up in Sweet Things fashions and other homemade costumes. Aren't they too Cute??

Smiles,

Amy & Bri

Queen of Savviness

September 17, 2010
When it comes to Amy Locurto over at Living Locurto, we truly think she is the "Queen of Savviness"!!!! On Living Locurto you can find Amy’s original ideas and designs, hundreds of her favorite free printables from around the blog world, weekly menu plans, recipes, fun party ideas and DIY crafts. When you visit her site, you will no doubt leave inspired to go and create some colorful Holiday decor for your home or try out a weekly meal plan that saves you time and money.

Here is Amy's most recent FREE Halloween printable design. Yep, those are tomato soup cans covered to make a stylish and modern candle holder and vase for your table. When we saw these FREE printables we knew we would be using these on our Halloween Playdate. Stay tuned to see how Savvy we can be with the many uses of Living Locurto's printables!!!!

Smiles~

Amy & Bri

A Tasty Frontier Inspired Giveaway

UPDATE......

We have a winner!!!! Congratulations to Tina who is the winner of the Pioneer Woman Cookbook.

She says she is a huge fan of Savvy Moms Guide and am so delighted that they introduced me to The Pioneer Woman Cooks.
Please email us at thesavvymomsguide@yahoo.com with your contact information.

Happy Cooking. Smiles~

Do you know Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman? Neither do we. But we sure wish we did. We might not be able to speak if we were on her frontier, but we are certain over a Starbucks we would become the Best of Friends.

Anyways….Ree is a desperate housewife, who lives in the country, channels Lucille Ball, Vivien Leigh, and Ethel Merman. She is a witty writer. Phenomenal Photographer (she offers helpful tutorials). And an amazing Cook.

Do you have her cook book The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl?

Publishers weekly best explains the book as giveing readers a slice of frontier life in this likeable-enough collection of recipes and dispatches from the Oklahoma ranch she shares with her husband and children. Replicating the step-by-step photography that made her blog such a hit, Drummond walks readers through dishes ranging from simple-Guacamole, Chili, Artichoke Dip-to more complex, such as from-scratch Cinnamon Rolls and Sherried Tomato Soup. Drummond's careful coaching will help anyone intimidated by the kitchen fearlessly crank out favorites like Chicken Fried Steak, Meat Loaf and Rib Eye Steak with Whiskey Cream Sauce. While the recipes are reliable home cooking standards, relentless references to her husband, known as the Marlboro Man, range from distracting to juvenile, giving what could have been a comfort food classic the feel of a junior-high class project.

So do you want to run out and Buy it…Or order it? Or maybe you want to hop on a plane and fly to Oklahoma to meet her (ok so maybe that is what we want to do).

Oh yea, Back to the book. You don’t have to buy the book just yet because We are Giving it Away!! Enter to Win your very own copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl?

Here is how to enter to win!!!! Good Luck….

1) Head over to The Pioneer Woman and tell us your favorite Recipe here!
2) Become fans of both The Savvy Moms Guide and The Pioneer Woman- Ree Drummond on Face book. Leave your Savvy Smile here!
3) Suggest The Savvy Moms Guide to your Friends and Family and share that you did here!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

Winner will be chosen on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 10:00pm (PST). Any entries received after this time will not be considered. Winner will be chosen using random.org

Smiles,

Amy & Bri

Baked Apple Chip Recipe and Our 1st Giveaway!!!!

In each of our play dates we will have a yummy recipe to share with our followers. While for our “Apple of our Eye” play date we would have liked it to be Apple Fritters, Apple Pie, Apple Cookies or even Apple Pie Ice Cream (Have you tasted Dryers Apple Pie Ice Cream???? To die for) we again chose the healthy route thinking of our kids, and our thighs. So here is the Recipe for the

Baked Apple Chips….

You will need

Recipe calls for 2 apples….we recommend you double it and do 4 apples
Water
Sugar
Lemon

Apple Chips are a healthy snack that our kids love. These are so easy to make and a great alternative to running to the store and buying a bag of potato chips.
Not only do we try to be Savvy about cost and nutrition, we also think being “Savvy and Going Green go hand in hand”. So we started using snack bags…..do you use them???? If so great, you will love our giveaway. If not, we hope you enjoy these adorable snack bags from Sweet Things. There are so many benefits to snack bags, they are pennies compared to plastic bags. They are reusable, washable, they are stylish (since they can be made in several fun prints and colors) and earth friendly!!!

To enter our giveaway and receive 2 apple themed snack bags you need to do the following.

• Become a Fan on our Facebook Page. Comment on your “Savvy” Green Skills
• Become a Follower on our Blog. Comment on your favorite “Savvy” find from the Apple of my Eye Play Date.

Be sure to enter by Sunday. Who knows you may be the only one who enters!!!!

Smiles,

Amy & Bri

"Apple of my Eye" Back to School Play Date

Webster defines a play date as~an arranged appointment for children to get together for a few hours to play. While this is true, we wanted more…. Since every play date is a party!!!!

The Savvy Moms play date is one that is creative, interactive, educational, fun, healthy and delicious, all at the same time. With Back to School (or rather our kids 1st day of school) on our minds Apples were the perfect theme. We narrowed down the craft, the recipe, and a great story and were ready to add the Sass. With dessert tables all the rage these days (at least in our own little blogging world) we thought it would be perfect to have a table centered around our play date. A table that would mimic the Desserts of Amy Atlas, and the classy stylings of Martha Stewart; but all with our own Savvy Selections. These Savvy selections included a perfect canvas from Lucky Girl, Edible Creations from Kolby Kakes and adorable attire from Sweet Things. And of course capturing the details of our day; Ella B Photography.

Class....please be seated for your lesson on our First Savvy Moms Play Date!!!!

Class is in session!!!! Let’s begin with art…a subject every child (and adult) loves. Especially when allowed to paint on one’s body without getting in trouble.


Apple Hand Prints are an easy and fun way to capture the memory of your little ones hand print while allowing them to get a little messy.

To complete the craft you will need the following:

Apple Template printed on cardstock . We cut off the stem.
Red tissue paper cut into squares (or your child can tear the tissue in strips if they aren't yet using scissors)
Glue Sticks
Paint Brush
Green Washable Tempra Paint, so you don’t need to bust out the Shout
Black Construction paper
Chalk (Optional) for child to write their name

Step 1. Glue the cutout Apple Template to the Black Construction paper
Step 2. Encourage your child to glue the red squares onto their apple
Step 3. Paint the hand green (which leads to the desire to paint other things…so watch out)
Step 4. Press firmly onto the top of the Apple creating the stem

We will admit that we are the moms that like to feed our kids healthy foods. Unless we are bribing them to behave, entertain, or “smile for the camera” at which point M&M’s, suckers, candy cookie and any other treat are acceptable. But in the spirit of nutrition and even more important aesthetic appeal we found this great Apple boat recipe….. Adorable right! And the best part is that they are a healthy and interactive snack for your child to enjoy

You will need:

2 apples
Provolone Cheese
Lemon
Toothpicks
A paring knife or Peeler
Basting Brush
1 lemon

Step 1. Slice your apples. Then notch out the center of each slice using a paring knife or peeler.
Step 2. Puncture a medium size lemon with a hole and place in the microwave for 45 seconds to juice it. Then baste the juice onto the apple slices. This will keep the apples from turning brown.
Step 3. Slice your cheese into triangular pieces.
Step 4. Allow your child to assemble the boat, sticking the toothpick through the cheese and into the apple. Be prepared you might have some samplers of the cheese or apple before the project is complete.

Now enjoy your delicious and nutritious apple boat (that does in fact float)

This activity/recipe was a great way to let our kids be hands on, to take an EveryDay edible object and create a fun and flavorful treat.

While the kids enjoyed their apple boats we thought it best to read a Book. And what better selection than The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. A classic story on the importance and reward of giving. Both of which are qualities we are instilling in our children.

While we hoped that the days activities would be remembered....and that our monkeys would take away the educational and moral aspects of the play date, we were not at all surprised to find that in the end, the most memorable part of the day was the delicious Apple Pops created by Kolby Kakes. These ultimate cake pops were really the Apple of our Kids Eyes.

Class is dismissed!!!

Smiles,

Amy & Bri

Sneak Peak....

Tomorrow The Savvy Moms Guide will launch our first Play date. We are excited to unveil our Back to School series of Crafts, Recipes, and Savvy Details. Come back to play and enter our giveaway.

Smiles,
Amy & Bri