Holiday Ideas Sticky

[byknski]

Do you think we could start a 'NFL Holiday Ideas' sticky? It would be great to have one place to look for things like natural egg dyes for Easter, Halloween treat ideas, Christmas and Thanksgiving recipes, and Birthday cake alternatives. Can we do this?

[swannie]

Consider it done. :)

[wannaBmomma]

Wonderful idea!! Shall we start with "Green" gift wrapping? Useful for lots of holidays.

[byknski]

1st Birthday Cake Alternative:

For K's birthday I filled a plastic martini glass with blueberries, sliced bananas, and peaches (all her favorite fruits), then topped it with plain yogurt and a big "1st Birthday" candle. I let her dig through it on her own, so we still got the fun photos with yogurt all over her face instead of cake frosting. She loved it!

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae74/byknski/Ks%20Birthday/IMG_1625.jpg

[byknski]

For holiday gift wrapping I used to use paper grocery bags, but I don't have many around since I started using reusable bags. Any other ideas?

[byknski]

Natural Food Colorings
(http://www.surlatable.com/product/id/211098.do?affsrcid=Aff0001&mr:trackingCode=C23E8C44-34A5-DE11-93DB-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA)

Natural Sprinkles (http://www.edwardandsons.com/ld_shop_sprinkelz.itml)

[i.<3.cheesysmiles]

I have a friend who hates wrapping paper, so she would just bring over gifts for DS as they were. Well, this year, she bought a really cute dinosaur reusable shopping bag. That is something I will definitely be doing.

Except, i have saved every gift bag that I I ever got when I was pg. I plan on reusing those for every baby gift I have to give.

[prittinnpink]

DH came up with a good one. Use the holiday themed comics from the paper to wrap gifts. Not much to work with, but still cute and festive.

ETA: DH also said that they never wrapped gifts. Everyone would get a Santa sac (red velvet and all) with all their gifts inside. Big family and his mom got lazy once she had her 4th baby.


Except, i have saved every gift bag that I I ever got when I was pg. I plan on reusing those for every baby gift I have to give.

Oh and this. We (and I mean we as in my mother and I because DH can be wasteful sometimes :pokey:) ALWAYS save gift bags that we receive. I have tons and tons of birthday, holiday, and baby shower bags in the basement. Why throw them away if they're almost always in excellent shape. I even save the tissue paper too. It's supposed to crinkle any ways so who cares if there's some wrinkles in them?? I also reuse them to carry my breastmilk cooler to and from work.

[anonsouthernbell]

1st Birthday Cake Alternative:

For K's birthday I filled a plastic martini glass with blueberries, sliced bananas, and peaches (all her favorite fruits), then topped it with plain yogurt and a big "1st Birthday" candle. I let her dig through it on her own, so we still got the fun photos with yogurt all over her face instead of cake frosting. She loved it!

That's awesome. you should post pics in NM&MG.

[AugustMommy]

Easter Carrot Cake

Ingredients
2 cups fresh pineapple I shred it as much as possible with my grater
2 cups shredded carrots
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

FROSTING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

[AugustMommy]

Directions
Drain pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons juice (discard remaining juice or save for another use). In a large bowl, beat the carrots, eggs, sugars, oil, pineapple and reserved juice until well blended. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into pineapple mixture until blended. Stir in walnuts.
Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over cake. Yield: 12 servings

[byknski]

Here's (http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/How-To-Color-Easter-Eggs-Natural-Dyes.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=04.20.11+DIY&utm_campaign=DIY&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email) a tutorial on how to dye Easter eggs with blueberries, beets, and onion skins.