Tuesday, June 15, 2010

YOU TAKEOVER TUESDAY: Black & White & Fun All Over!

I've been getting quite a few e-mails about birthday parties and theme ideas lately, so for the next few weeks, I'm going to try to tackle all of them.  Up first, is a question from Jaime:

Dear AFOMFT, I'm throwing a penguin themed second birthday party for my twin boys Connor and Logan in July.  Any thoughts for me?

I love the idea of a penguin party!  There are so many fun things you can do with that theme, like this amazing ice igloo invitation that Mandy from Gourmet Mom On-the-Go made for her little one's birthday bash.


Yes, that's real ice!  Mandy took an igloo-shaped cake pan, filled it with blue water and put an invitation and toy penguin in a Ziploc bag inside before freezing it.  Then they delivered each of the ice blocks to friends' houses.  Talk about setting the tone for a party!  Guests must have had high expectations and from the pictures I've seen, there's no way they were disappointed.  Just look at like this fun igloo cake decorated with penguin cookies.   


Aren't those cookies adorable?  Well, guess what?  They're chocolate covered Oreos!  Get the scoop on how to make them here.


The party goers also feasted on penguin shaped sandwiches.


And "ice blocks" make from blue Jell-O.


There were so many darling details from this phenomenal party, so be sure to visit Gourmet Mom On-the-Go to see them all.

Mandy said she got a lot of inspiration from Betty Crocker, where you can find a bunch of great recipes for food inspired by the North Pole.  From cheese igloos guarded by olive birds. 


To meatball penguins.


You'll love all of these fun dishes.  {Download the recipes at Betty Crocker}

Another fabulous penguin party was thrown by Nicole from The Party Animal for her daughter.  Signs pointed the way to Antarctica and the Arctic Circle.


Black-and-white bird balloons decorated the yard.


And she came up with games galore! Love the ice fishing.


For this activity, Nicole cut out fish shapes from poster board and then had her kids color them in fun colors before attaching a paper clip to each one. She made a fishing pole by taping yarn with a magnet at the end to a stick she had lying around and added a piece of Styrofoam with a whole in the center to the top of a bucket to mimic ice. 


Kids then tried to catch fish from the ice hole and the one who caught the only catfish in the bucket won a prize.  Another great game was "feed the penguin."  Kids tossed this fish Nicole stuffed with popcorn kernels:


At this penguin she drew on a giant piece of poster board.


So fun! And I'm sure guests at this party loved their favors - chocolate covered Rice Crispie treats shaped like penguins!


The saying on the favor tag is so cute! You can see more of The Party Animal's penguin party here and buy the Rice Crispie favors in The Party Animal store.

Want more inspiration?  How about this igloo and penguin cake from Hostess?  Appropriately, it's made from Snoballs!



Martha Stewart has a cake for everything and penguins are no exception.  I love this sugar-coated confection!


Some other fun food options are these olive penguins from Once Upon a Plate.


And these cute cupcakes from Family Fun.


Since penguins love fish, why not offer some candy sushi?


Random Thoughts of a Supermom has a great tutorial on how to make it from Rice Crispie treats, gummy worms and fruit rollups.


And Gourmet Mom On-the-Go also served some with Swedish fish on top.


When it comes to decorations, take a page from Martha Stewart and make some of these super cute gelatin fish bowls for centerpieces.


And cut up some fish-shaped napkins. {Find the directions here}


A few of these pipe cleaner penguins to set up on Styrofoam ice floes would be another great option for your tabletops. {Learn how to make them here}


Some black and white polka dot balloons like these from Polka Dot Market would be perfect to put up throughout the party space.


And a few of these Portly Penguins from Family Fun would be so cute strung along a garland or sitting on your table.


Last, but not least, these Perky Penguin costumes are so cute and easy to make. 


You could craft one for each of the guests to wear while playing musical icebergs:


Both The Party Animal (above) and Gourmet Mom On-the-Go (below) played a version of this game by creating icebergs from pieces of foam that kids had to sit on when the music stopped.


So, Jaime, there you have a round-up of all things penguin! I hope this helps inspire you for some fun projects you can tackle for Connor and Logan's second birthday party.  Be sure to send us pictures of the bash once it's over!

If you'd like help from A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS or want to share something fabulous you've found, we want to hear from you!  Have a party theme but want help finding decorations?  Just redecorated your kid's room and want to show it off?  Shoot me an e-mail at afomft@gmail.com if you're on the hunt for the perfect product and just can't find it or if there's something you love and want to share. We'll do our best to help out and every reader featured on YOU TAKEOVER TUESDAY will receive a special gift from AFOMFT. What are you waiting for? Hit us up!

Images: Gourmet Mom On-the-Go, Betty Crocker, The Party Animal, Hostess, Martha Stewart, Once Upon a Plate, Family Fun, Random Thoughts of a Supermom & Polka Dot Market

Monday, June 14, 2010

MULTIPLES MONDAY: You Name It! {DISCOUNT}

Whether you have actual multiples or just multiple children, there's one thing that's certain - you have a lot of stuff. You know what I'm talking about - different sippies, snack cups, toys, pacis, etc. for each kid and usually more than one for each.  After a while, keeping track of what belongs to who becomes a nightmare.  So what's a mom to do?

Visit My Two Babes!  Started by Kristin, a mother of twins with a background in graphic design, My Two Babes makes adorable personalized labels that are perfect for keeping all of your stuff straight.  Made from vinyl that's waterproof and dishwasher safe, these labels work on anything from pacifiers:


And snack cups:


To art supplies:


And bottle parts:


You name it, you can label it!

My girls don't go to daycare but they're are always out and about with other children at the playground or the park so not a day goes by where their sippies and snack cups don't end up in someone else's hands, and often, their bags.  I tried writing their initials on things with permanent marker but after a few washes, that description proved to be false - it disappeared!  With labels from My Two Babes, not only will we always know what belongs to us, but I can also tell Gabrielle's sippy from Alaina's.  Finally!

The labels come in various sizes and shapes depending on your needs and you can customize them by choosing from four different fonts and colors.


The Daycare Package is a great value at $9 - you get more than 40 labels in two sizes.


And for my fellow twin mommies, there's a Twin Set too!


I'm sure the day will soon come where Gabrielle and Alaina will want to stick their names on everything but until then, I'll settle for personalizing things myself.  Come to think of it, a set of labels from My Two Babes would make a great gift for mothers and mothers-to-be.  Not only will you be giving something useful but also peace of mind - no more losing pacifiers or sippies at the park or daycare. Not bad for less than $10!


Kristin has generously offered readers of AFOMFT a $1 credit toward any purchase from My Two Babes.  Just enter code FAVORITE in the message to seller box at checkout and the discount will be refunded to you via Paypal. Enjoy!

Images: My Two Babes

Friday, June 11, 2010

FABULOUS FOR MOM FRIDAY: Banyan Hippo {DISCOUNT}

You may remember that last Friday, I posted about how I love to add color to my city girl black wardrobe when the warm weather rolls around.  Well, I've found a great new store to help me brighten up my closet - Banyan Hippo.  Handmade by a mother of twin girls (obviously a lady after my own heart!), this line of handbags is just perfect for summertime!

From the sunny color to the flirty ruffle, the Frilly style has my name written all over it.  


Then again, so does the Nagy.


And I love the grommet detailing on the Citrine tote.


How perfect would the over-sized Sailor be for a day at the beach? 


And if you need something smaller but still want that nautical feel, the Ahoy will be right up your alley.


If all this color is too much for you, Banyan Hippo has gorgeous neutral options too.  The Candy Bag in Vanilla Cream may not be bold but it will still add sass to any outfit.


My favorite part about this line is that you can choose your favorite style and have it made in any of these fun fabrics.

You can also convo Vildan, the lovely lady behind Banyan Hippo, to customize the strap, pockets or other details.  It's basically like creating your own bag.  So fun!

And while the Banyan Hippo bags look like designs you'd find at Anthropologie for $100+, everything in their store is less than $50!  Crazy right?  At prices like that, you might as well get two!

But before you go running off to Banyan Hippo to start building the bag of your dreams, there's one more important piece of information you need to know.


Vildan has generously offered readers of AFOMFT 10% off all purchases at Banyan Hippo by entering code AFOM in the message to seller box at checkout.  The discount will be refunded to you via Paypal and does not apply to shipping costs.  Enjoy!

Images: Banyan Hippo

AND THE WINNER IS....


Congratulations DOUBLY BLESSED!  You've won a $25 credit to Nookie Scooter!  You posted that you have a Bon Jovi t-shirt you'll send in to be transformed and I cannot wait to see the finished product.  If it's half as cute as these Nookie Scooter numbers, your little one is going to be the envy of the playground.


Please e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com by end of day Tuesday, June 16th to claim your prize. If I do not hear from you by then, a new winner will be chosen.  And a huge thank you to Nookie Scooter for this fantastic giveaway!


Thursday, June 10, 2010

A Bundle of Favorites {GIVEAWAY & DISCOUNT}

I can't remember how I first found The Baby's Bundle but I'm so glad I did.  This fabulous online boutique carries so many amazing goodies for "the pampered baby and loving mother," many of them made by mom-preneurs themselves.  Here are five of my favorite things from The Baby's Bundle.

#1: The Cold Seat


Do you have kids and live in a hot climate?  Then the "world’s first freezable seat cooler" is for you!  Keep the folded Cold Seat stored in your freezer until you head out for the day.  When you leave the car to run into a store, put the Cold Seat into your child's car seat so when you come back, the fabric and metal buckles will still be cool to the touch.  Is that a great idea or what?

#2. Piggy Paint


With two girls, I know the day will soon arrive when they'll want me to paint their nails and when it does, this is what we'll be using.  Made from a water based formula, Piggy Paint is non-toxic, low-odor and hypoallergenic.  It’s free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, Bisphenol A, ethyl acetate and acetone, and after seeing how it compares to regular polishes:


I may start using it myself!

#3. The Mini Moby Wrap

We all know how little ones like to play house, so what better toy for your mommy wannabe than her own Moby wrap?  I think it's the cutest thing ever!  And so perfect for older siblings who want to emulate carrying their "baby" like their mothers do. 

#4.  Stress Free Kids Books


If you watched the show Shark Tank (one of my guilty pleasures), you may remember Lori Lite who pitched her idea for a line of books and CDs to help children manage anxiety, stress, and anger while also promoting self-esteem and peaceful sleep.  I thought she had a great idea when I saw her episode, so I was really excited to find out that The Baby's Bundle carries five of her titles.

#5.  The Tiffany Initial Hairclip


Kandi from The Baby's Bundle generously sent a Tiffany Clip in silver for Gabrielle, and as soon I saw it, I instantly fell in love.  The packaging is adorable - our G clip arrived in a blue box sitting on a little minky bed.


The barrette itself is the perfect size with just the right amount of bling.  (Please excuse this picture of Gaby - she wasn't in a very cooperative mood when I tried to take her photo.  Such is life with toddlers!)


Trust me when I tell you that this combination of velvet and rhinestones is perfect for any little princess!  Even Giada De Laurentiis's daughter Jade rocks one!


Oh, and I forgot the best part.  They're just $6!  I love the Tiffany Initial clips so much that I'm giving them as gifts to every little girl whose birthday party we go to now. (Bet that'll get the invitations to start flying in, huh?) 

So there you have my five favorite things from The Baby's Bundle.  This list could have been lots longer but I thought my forty favorite things from The Baby's Bundle sounded a bit excessive!  Be sure to visit the site for more fun finds as well as some great bargains too.  The Cold Seat, Bebe au Lait Nursing Covers and more are on sale now! 


And I've got a treat for one lucky AFOMFT reader!  Kandi has graciously offered to give away one Tiffany Initial Hairclip.  To enter, visit The Baby's Bundle and post a comment here telling me what item (other than the five I posted here) you like most in the store (this is mandatory).  For additional entries:
  • Subscribe to AFOMFT or let us know you are a subscriber
  • "Like" AFOMFT on Facebook -- http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN
  • "Like" The Baby's Bundle on Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/thebabysbundle
  • Ask your friends to "like" AFOMFT on Facebook by sending them this link - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFTFBFAN - and post a comment here with the names of each one who does.  You'll earn one entry per new friend who "likes" our page and names will be cross-checked.  
  • Follow The Baby's Bundle & AFOMFT on Twitter (@thebabysbundle & @AFOMFT or click the birdie icon on the sidebar) and tweet this post by clicking the graphic above or this giveaway:  #Win a fabulous Tiffany Initial Hairclip for your little princess from @thebabysbundle @AFOMFT - http://tinyurl.com/AFOMFT
  • Click here to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs and post a comment here that you did - Vote For Us @ topbabyblogs.com Top Baby Blogs.  You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.
  • Grab our button and put it on your blog or website and post a link here showing us.
  • Blog about AFOMFT or this giveaway (worth 2 entries so please post two comments) and post a link to the post.
Please leave a separate comment for each entry (two if you've blogged about the giveaway) and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post.  Comments on Facebook will not count as entries.  This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada and ends June 17th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on June 18th. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!


And that's not all!  Readers of AFOMFT can get 15% off all purchases at The Baby's Bundle by entering code FAVS at checkout.  Happy shopping!

Please note that The Baby's Bundle sent me one Tiffany Hairclip for the purpose of this review.  The opinions I've shared of their products are my own.

Images: AFOMFT & The Baby's Bundle

AND THE WINNERS ARE....


Congratulations SAMANTHA, AMANDA31 GIFTS, APRIL V, CLAUDE & HARMSKILLS!  You've each won one set of personalized address labels from Pear Tree Greetings!  Good luck picking your favorite design - there are so many terrific choices, it's not going to be easy.


Please e-mail me at afomft@gmail.com by end of day Monday, June 14th to claim your prize. If I do not hear from you by then, a new winner will be chosen. 


If you weren't a winner, don't worry - you can still score some goodies from Pear Tree Greetings at a discount!  For the month of June, Pear Tree Greetings is offering readers of AFOMFT 10% off orders of $19 or more with code PEARJUN10.  Enjoy! 

Big thanks to Pear Tree Greetings for this fun giveaway and great discount.