Are you still searching for the perfect gifts to give this holiday season?  Here are a few ideas that may be new to you that will bring smiles to all your friends and family.

FOR MEN

The Art of Shaving gift boxes – amazon.com or theartofshaving.com

Everything bacon – BaconFreak.com

Rubber mens ID bracelet – thingsremembered.com

Paracord bracelet – amazon.com

ROKU digital media streaming player – amazon.com

Wifi Sim Card – amazon.com

Why a Curveball Curves, Popular Mechanics – amazon.com

FOR WOMEN

Bootskins to accessories your Ugg boots

Pot Clip -  www.solutions.com

Slap Watches – www.solutions.com

Gift certificate for cooking or baking classes

All You magazine subscriptions

Photo Bracelet – pickturethat.com

Personalized cake pans – thecakepanlady.com

31 Gifts bags and organizing totes – Contact Carrie Askins

FOR KIDS

Hallmark recordable books

Fun Balloon Pets – myownpetballoon.com

Silicone Coin Purse -  www.solutions.com

FOR EVERYONE

Personalized IPad and Kindle cases -  Shopmyedge.com

Personalized License plate frame

Custom stationary and address labels – vistaprint.com

DIY Photo books, blurb.com

Storage Water bottle – Amazon.com

Piggies & Paws Artwork – Find a local consultant

Happy shopping and hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Cake Balls

Cake balls seem to be so popular right now and I know why…they are so fun to eat.  If you want to make these tasty treats make sure you have a few hours to spare.  These are so fun for kids, parties, and any holiday.  Here is how I make them, and I hope you will give them a try.

Materials:

Boxed cake mix

Canned frosting

Chocolate bark

Glass bowl

Parchment paper

Cookie Sheet

Optional:

Chocolate Dipping Tools, Scoop (for melon or cookie dough)

1. Bake the cake according to the directions on the box.  Let cool and crumble in large bowl.
2. Mix ¾ of the canned frosting into the cake crumbles.  If you like really gooey cake balls you can add the whole can.  Use a spatula or just get your hands in there and mix it up well.  Place in the refrigerator for an hour to set.
3. Take cake mixture and roll into a 2 tablespoon sized ball.  I highly recommend using a stainless steel scoop to make this part go faster.  Place the cake ball onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Make sure the cookie sheet can fit into the refrigerator.  Let sit over night or you can put them in the freezer for 2 hours.
4. Once the cake balls have set, place the chocolate bark in the glass bowl and microwave for 30 second intervals until melted.    I suggest having a second cookie sheet lined with parchment paper ready to place the chocolate covered cake balls on.
5. Drop a cold cake ball into the chocolate and roll around with two forks or use the dipping tools.  Once the cake ball is covered, tap the fork on the side of the bowl to smooth out the chocolate and let the excess drip off.  Place on parchment paper and add topping if desired.  Don’t wait too long to decorate or the chocolate will harden.
6. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to harden chocolate.
7. Make sure to display in a fun and cute way.  Enjoy.

Here are some yummy flavor combinations:

• Red Velvet Cake & Cream Cheese Frosting
• German Chocolate Cake & Pecan Coconut Frosting (top with coconut)
• Carrot Cake & Cream Cheese Frosting (chop nuts and add into frosting/cake mixture)
• Orange Cake & Butter Cream Frosting (tastes like a creamsicle bar)
• Triple Chocolate: Chocolate Cake & Chocolate Frosting topped with mini chocolate chips

This project makes the most adorable cupcakes.  You will need some patience to make all 24 cupcakes in this rainbow fashion.  Children over 6 may enjoy this project but don’t expect perfect cupcakes.  Seeing and eating the finished product is the most fun part of this project.

Materials:

Box of white cake mix (enough for 24 cupcakes)

Food coloring

Cupcake liners (I used reusable silicone liners)

Prepare your favorite white cake mix.  Divide the batter evenly among six small bowls, about 1 cup for each color.  Using the guide below, add food coloring to each bowl of cake batter and mix well.

Purple: 9 red and 6 blue drops

Blue: 12 drops

Green: 12 drops

Yellow: 12 drops

Orange: 2 yellow and 4 red drops

Red: 18 drops

Drop in the cupcake liners into the pan.  Using a small spoon add a ½ teaspoon of the purple batter and spread around the bottom of the liner.  Make sure the batter is level and touches all around the sides of the liner.  Next add a spoonful of blue batter.  Tilt the spoon on its side and pull the batter to the side of the liner being careful to not allow the purple to mix with the blue.  I found it easier to spin the pan instead of twisting my arm around (a little trick I learned from cake decorating class).  Continue adding each color in the following order: green, yellow, orange, and then red.  Bake as directed on the cake box (probably about 20 minutes).

Allow cupcakes to cool and the remove liner.  It is like magic to see the rainbow throughout the cupcake.  Top with frosting as you desire. You can also use this idea to make a fun and exciting birthday cake.  Be sure to only frost the top so the rainbow sides are displayed.

Here is a great way to celebrate a birthday: go to the happiest place on earth (Disneyland). There are so many ways to take your party to the princess’ palace and have a blast at any age.

Invitation:

I suggest using Evite as you can include so many more details that on paper.

Body of the invite:

We can hardly believe it’s true.

Our little girl is turning two!

Grab your mouse ears and save the date

We’re going to Disneyland to celebrate

Other messages:

“Oh, Toodles…Look who is turning (age). Join us for a fun celebration at Mickey’s Clubhouse.”

Join us for a Goofy good time with Mickey and all his clubhouse friends as we celebrate (Name’s) birthday!

Have fun with the main message. Brainstorm words that go with the person’s name and age along with characters from Disneyland.

You can also customize the guest responses in your Evite to the ones below:

Who’s coming?—>See ya soon!

Attending——->Oh boy!

Undecided——>Gosh!

Declined——–>Aw, gee.

If you want to mail or hand out invitations here are a few resources:

Downloadable templates

Customizable Invitations

Entertainment:

For younger kids it is important to plan in rest time and meals into your day. You might consider getting a hotel room near the park so you have a warm/cool place to take a nap and get bundled up for the evening. You might want to create a schedule so all the guests would know where the birthday girl would be throughout the day. This will encouraged guests to get the most out of the park, but also balanced with celebrating with a young child.

Sample Schedule:

Fantasyland – 9am to noon

Lunch at Tomorrowland Terrace –noon to 1pm

Toon Town – 1pm to 3pm

Tomorrowland – 3pm to 4pm

The Plaza Inn Birthday Party (details below) – 2pm to 3pm

Adventureland – 3pm to 5pm

Disneyland Railroad – 5pm to 6pm

Dinner and rest off site – 6pm to 8pm

Fantasmic – 9pm to 10pm

Make sure to look at the parade and show schedule for the specific date you will be at the park. Watching a show will allow your feet to rest and get away from all the crowds.

My Disneyland Birthday Party:

For reservations, information and pricing, please call (714) 781-DINE. Hosted by Pat E. Cake, a fun-filled celebration featuring music, merriment, laughter and cake decorating — with a special appearance by Mickey and Minnie Mouse. All Guests receive a party hat, souvenir sipper cup, mini birthday cake, icing and cake toppings., The Plaza Inn Birthday Party takes place Monday thru Friday at 2pm, and lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour. $15.99 per person.

Additional Resources for your Disneyland trip:

*Personal-Size Party Cake and Princess Jewelry Box ($15), can be ordered at any full service restaurant

*At City Hall ask for a Birthday Sticker. The birthday sticker entitles you to special treatment from the Disneyland Cast Members, who will always happily tell you Happy Birthday.

*Rider Swap: Take advantage of the Rider Swap policy, which lets adult Guests take turns waiting with youngsters too small or may not want to ride a certain attraction and then “swap” with another adult Guest from their party so both can experience the ride without standing in line twice.

*IPhone users can download apps to get attraction wait times, a park map and so much more. Visit ITunes and search Disneyland.

Mouse ears:

For a fun keepsake you can get mouse ears for guests to wear at the park or take home so the fun continues. Here are 2 ideas depending on the price range.

Mickey Cubhouse Ears

Personalized Mouse Ears, just like you get at the park

Dress Up:

I always love it when I see little girls at Disneyland wearing the princess dresses. If you decide to do this make sure your little one is comfortable and warm. Here are a few available from the Disney Store.

http://www.disneystore.com/kids-apparel-accessories/costumes/girls/c/57493/.