Pajama Party Sneak Peak!

This year when I asked Ava what kind of Birthday party she wanted she surprised me by picking a pajama party. Pajama Party!! Yes I can totally do that! 

I got started on searching my favourite place in the world for idea's because really I am inspired by all of you out there!
Of course I'm talking about Pintrest! 

I found some pretty cool idea's but didn't know what exactly I would do about the invitations. Last year I was pretty happy with the treasure maps so I knew this year had to be equally if not more epic. 

And then I looked down and saw my leftover fabric and an Idea formed...why not make the invitations look like beds???

And thus the Pajama Party invites were born:

Aren't you just dying? I have been waiting to share these forEVER it seems. It has been very hard to keep them a secret but to build anticipation up to the event I've somehow managed to keep quiet!

I created a tutorial on how to make these because I love you. I will also be (hopefully) offering this whole to do kit in my Etsy Store for you to customize and use in your own Pajama Party!!

Supplies:

Fabric (I used some I had lying around the house)

Needle and Thread (I purposely used contrasting colours)

Cotton balls

1/4 inch Balsa Wood

Paint

Hot Glue Gun and Glue

Scrapbook paper (for invite information) and glue dots

Pretty much lather rinse repeat for the blankets. I forgot to take pictures of these but I measured them out to be 5 1/4 inches and 4 1/2 inches. Fold a small portion of each side over and do the same staggered style of stitching. 

This was my favourite part. I LOVE that she got to be a part of this and she loved painting the wood all by herself! Don't you love her tongue out in concentration?

I hope you enjoy these invites as much as I enjoyed making them. If you have any questions about them please feel free to email me!
dingelhopperpartydesigns at gmail dot com 

Linking up with See Vanessa Craft's Do Something Crafty Friday!!

Pumpkin Waffles aka The best breakfast ever...

I know at this time of year all you hear is people saying "I love Fall" or "Fall is the best season in the world" or "I want to Marry my Pumpkin Spice Latte"...etc. 

Well, I love fall. :) Sorry I can't help it. The smells the colours the cooler weather? What's not to love?? 

So to celebrate over Labor day weekend we made these.

I know, I'm drooling too. 

Here's what you need Recipe adapted from Pumpkin Waffles Blog

1/4 cup light brown sugar

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg*

2 large eggs

1 cup Buttermilk

1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and warm

Optional: I made a homemade raspberry sauce to top off my waffles

2/3 Cup Raspberries (fresh or frozen)

2 Tbs sugar

1/2 Tbs corn starch

1/4 cup water

Gather all of your ingredients to get started! I melted the butter ahead of time to make sure it had time to cool and didn't scramble the eggs. 

Whisk the brown sugar and corn starch!

Have your ridiculously cute helper in her pj's grate the fresh nutmeg for you!

Add the Pumpkin and egg yolks to a bowl and then add the milk and melted butter.

Add the whites and a pinch of cream of tartar to another bowl to whip them until soft peaks form.

Add wet ingredients to dry and whisk.

Add your whites and fold in...

Gently.

Remember to strap three month old into his swing because if you do not and considering he has started turning over already he will manage to get out of his swing... :) 

Your batter is ready to go!

Pour 1/2 a cup of batter into each of the waffles.

Close lid and let the automatic waffle maker do his thing. 

No start your raspberry sauce...I know I said this was optional but it's really not. Trust me it's the best thing ever you won't regret it. Combine all ingredients into a sauce pan and simmer.

Whisk until some of the liquid has evaporated and you're left with a nice thick sauce. 

Strain the sauce into a bowl to get all of the seeds out and pop it in the freezer for 10 mins to cool down. 

Ding! Your first set of waffles is complete. Lather, Rinse, Repeat for your second batch!

When all of your waffles are ready and you are ready to eat transfer your raspberry sauce to a squeeze bottle to make it pretty.

And eat...I think I actually ended up eating three waffles. Man were they good!!

Please make these and let me know how tasty they were!!

Back to School Cookies

Life is so busy!!! We had our daughter starting Kindergarten last week (she also had her first wiggle tooth AND she will be 6 soon???) wasn't she just 2? How did this happen? 

Anyways, I asked her what kinds of things she wanted in her lunch each day and one of the things she mentioned was cookies. She loves cookies but she's very particular on what kind of cookies. So I knew rolled Sugar Cookies were going to be a hit. And the best part is if you use small cookie cutters you get more of them and these cookies will last for weeks in a sealed container/cookie jar. 

To make these you need:

Favourite Sugar Cookie Recipe (I use Bake @ 350's)

Small Cookie cutters

Sprinkles

That's it so easy!

Roll out your cookies and cut them out. I chose a small flower and heart cookie cutter. 

 Then I poured Non Pareills (use whatever you like!) into a jar and dropped the cut cookie into the sprinkles.

See! Nice coating of sprinkles AND when you bake them they will not fall off by dipping them in first. Once you have a sheet full of cookies ready to go pop em in the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes. Let them cool on a cooling rack for another 10 and pop em into a cookie jar.  

Look how colourful our cookie jar looks!! 

Here's our little princess ready for her first day. I almost lost it in the car on the way there but I held it together! LOL 

Busy Bee!

Ah So sorry it's been so crazy this past week. We've had our daughter starting Kindergarten, starting up our Sunday school class again, I had a wedding this weekend and a huge church picnic where I was in charge of the games and activities, PLUS my husband has been out of town a little this week. Frankly I'm beat!!

But I promise starting tomorrow I will have some good things to share including:
Easy Back to School Lunch Cookies
A great idea for teaching Moses crossing the Red Sea!
Fun game idea's for large groups!
I'll even share some tips and tricks to preparing food items for large groups. 

Thanks for staying with me I hope everyone is having a good week and it's not as stressful as mine!!

xo Sarah

Apple Tart

No, I swear I didn't just call you a tart. I just want you to make this tart! It's delicious and different. It has layers and layers of yummy sauteed apples and a unique crust. Try this, you won't be sad, I promise. 

Ingredients:
Filling:
6 Apples sliced thin - I used Granny Smith, I like a firmer texture and wanted some tartness but you can definitely substitute your favourite apple. Golden delicious maybe?
2 tbs unsalted butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
dash of cinnamon

Tart:
8 cups of crushed graham crackers
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 milk
4tbs butter

Powdered sugar for the top (optional)

Core your apples, then thinly slice them.

Add 2 tbs of butter to a large heavy pan.

Combine the sugars together to sprinkle on the apples in the sauce pan.

Like so! Cook these on a med-low heat for about 10 mins covered and then another 8-10 mins uncovered to allow all of the apple juices to evaporate.

Combine the butter and the milk in a small sauce pan, and heat just until the butter is melted. 

Combine the graham cracker crumbs and sugar together. 

Pour the warm milk/butter mixture into the graham crackers.

Mix the "dough" together, it will be kind of sticky let it sit for 15 mins to absorb the liquids. 

Mmmm can't you just smell the delicious apples? Almost caramelized! 

Press half of your dough into the bottom of a fluted tart pan. Take the rest of the dough and lay it on some saran wrap then press the dough flat and shape into a circle to fit on the top of the tart. Refrigerate top and bottom for 1 hour. 

Preheat your oven to 350, add the cooled and caramelized apples to the bottom of your tart. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! The smell alone sent the entire house into a frenzy. 

Add the top crust and bake in an oven for about 45 mins. Until the crust is golden and starts to pull away from the sides of the tart pan. 

Mmm it smelled so good. 

Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

I topped mine with a raspberry coulis. 

It was crazy good...so good my husband tried to play the it's not good so you probably shouldn't eat another piece deal on me. It would be AMAZING with some homemade vanilla ice cream! Serve this warm with ice cream. It's so good.