Friday, July 15, 2011

Cake pop stand

On top of the tigger tails for Skylas birthday I am making some Winnie the Pooh, and "Hunny" pot cake pops (ill post pics of those as I make them). I was trying to think of how to display the cake pops and tails when in the recipe it called for using a Styrofoam block to let them dry. I thought why not get a big one and use it as a stand.
I didn't want to spray paint it cause I was worried it would crack when I stuck the pops in so I opted to leave it white but got some ribbon to decorate it.
First I stapled the ribbon around the side.


Then I made a bow with some tails. This was the first time a made a bow and it was surprisingly easy.


I hot glued it to the front and fell in love with how simple and pretty it looks.


I cant wait till Monday to see it with all the cake pops and tigger tails on it.

Tigger Tails

 For those who don't know Tigger Tails are chocolaty, caramely, marshmellowy goodness on a stick sold at Pooh's Corner in Disneyland. These yummy treats are Skyla and Justin's favorite thing at Disneyland. We even have a tradition every time we go, we hit the candy shop first thing just to get one.

What beings them up is Skylas upcoming birthday and she has decided she wanted a Winnie the Pooh themed b-day. So I got the idea to make a few cute treats instead of a cake this year, one being Tigger Tails. It was fun and super easy to do so I thought I would share the "how too's"

What you need:
Jumbo Marshmallows
Lolly pop sticks
Orange colored candy melts
dark chocolate
Caramel (I did homemade, it was really easy)

You can ether by caramel candy's and melt them down or make it from scratch.
I made mine....

Caramel:
2 cups sugar
2 cups lite corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
2 cups evaporated milk
1 t-spoon Vanilla
Cook sugar and syrup on medium/ med-high heat till its at a nice boil.
Add the butter in small chunks and mix till melted.
Once melted, slowly add the milk making sure you keep the mix at a boil.
Boil wile stirring occasionally till a candy thermometer hits soft ball stage and its a nice golden brown.
Take it off the heat and add the vanilla. I let the caramel cool just a few min before i used it so it wouldn't melt the marshmallows.

Wile the caramel is cooking get the marshmallows ready. One Tail uses 3 marshmallows, 2 whole and 1 cut in half . This is what gives it a nice bumpy look.

Slowly slide one marshmallow at a time on the lolly pop stick. Make sure to alternate with a whole and then one of the half marshmallows.
When you have them all done stick them on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper and pop them in the freezer for about 10 min.

Once they are cold start covering them in the caramel, making sure to drip off as much of the caramel as you can. This is what gives them their nice smooth look.

When your done pop them back in the freezer for another 10min.
In the mean time melt the Orange colored chocolate melts (one pack does about 6 tails).
When its nice and smooth dip the tails in the chocolate.
Put them back in the freezer and melt your dark chocolate.
When the chocolate is ready you can ether put it in a decorating bag with a small round tip, or just use a spoon and slowly drizzle it over the tails using a long back and forth motion over them so the chocolate comes off in long lines.

I'm so excited about them, they came out super cute hope they are just as yummy.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Great America

Last weekend we finally took the kids to Great America. We have been waiting cause its fun, but allot more fun if your tall enough to ride the coasters. We have been to Disneyland so much the kids get really bummed out going to places like this and not being able to ride things. Luckily Justin was tall enough for most of the rides and Sky loved the rides she was able to go on.

Had to take pics in front of the 2 story carousel with Snoopy.

Mick and I each took a kid and split up for a bit. I got to go with Justin first and was so excited. I have been going to Great America since I was about 6. In Dance we used to dance here every year then spend the day. When I was about 15-17, my mom lived a short bus ride from here and I would spend everyday all summer long at the park. I have some good memories at Great America and it was fun to finally share it with the kids. The Demon was one of my favorite coasters when I was a kid and taking Justin for the first time was the best.
 We have however been spoiled by Disneyland and how smooth their coaster is. I forgot how bumpy this ride was and both of us hit our head on the head rest and had headaches when we got off, but we didn't let that spoil the fun.
A short wile later we met up with Mick and Sky and the kids got to drive Bumper cars.
 Then we got out of the sun for a bit and had some lunch.
 This girl can never take a normal pic hehe.
 Next I got to have Sky by myself as the boys hit the coasters and bigger rides. I had to take her to the top section of the carousel, everyone needs to ride the carousel at least once.
 Then on our way to the kid section of the park we ran in to my friend Star and her super cute daughter Neme. The girls were happy to be together and ride some rides.
 Their fave the swings :)
We caught back up with the boys, watched a dance show then headed home. It was a very fun day and I cant wait till next year when the kids will be a bit taller and can go on more. Sky is itching to go on a big coaster.

Summer time is fun time!

**Warning this is a hug post with lots of pics**

Right after Sky and Justin got out of school we took off to my Mom's house for a nice 8 day vacation.
My favorite place to be, on the east coast at my Mom and Mikes place enjoying the space and quite.



It was fun, relaxing, filled with laughs and family all rolled in to one. We had red eye flights both ways and the kids did really good. Going there they slept on the first flight which was 4 1/2 hours. They were way to excited to sleep on the second which was good cause it was only a hour and its much easier to have them carry their own suitcases when their awake.

Once we got to Mom and Mikes Justin had a chore to do........
He was so excited he got to drive the lawnmower all by himself. For a bit at least. The mower has a safety switch in the seat, if its not pushed down the engine shuts off. Well needless to say Justin didn't weight enough to keep it down all the time hehe. He still had a blast with Papa Mike mowing.
Sky however found my Mom's stash of dolls and was happily paying with them (my mom has a daycare so there are lots of cool toys around).

Both the kids LOVED having a huge back and front yard to play and roam in. Justin caught all kinds of things, some lighting bugs, huge moths, spiders, and frogs.

Skys favorite thing was playing on the big play scape in the backyard.

When I say the backyard is big I mean big check it out.

The kids also had fun playing with Maggie
and they just LOVED playing with their cousin Denny, he is quite the cutie.
One of the many fun things we did was the Science Center. It was really fun and had lots of hands on things for the kids to do.





We also got to go to the Dinosaur Place. They have a huge T-Rex out front named Monty, and inside the kids got to mine for rocks and minerals, and pan for gold (fools gold).




One of our favorite days was Denny's birthday party. We were so excited we got to be there for that. I got to help make his cake, and all of the family come over.

 Had to get him the biggest loudest Dino I could find hehe.
We also went on a Steam train ride and a river boat ride. It was fun, wile we waited to board the train the kids got to play in this little kids area.
When Justin was little he loved Thomas the train. This reminded me of when he had his own train table hehe

 She can never miss a chance to be on stage.

                                                         Walking around the Train yard.


                                                         
                                                       Getting ready for our train ride.


On to our river boat ride, Sky showing off her muscles.


 Wile on the river you get to see some amazing scenery. One thing I found was my Dream home right on the river. It has prime food stops..... This little boat is a floating Hot Dog stand (not kidding) Its a boat in the middle of the river and the guy turned it in to a hot dog stand. Pretty cool.
 My Dream home also has a amazing view of Gillette Castle.
 and it sits right on the river with its own privet dock and everything. Isn't it pretty.....if only right.
On our last day Me, Mom, and the kids headed out to Old Mystic Village. One thing I love about the East Coast is all the history of our county, and the first settlers. You can find and see the history everywhere, but first we need lunch mmm fish, clams and fry's :)
 See I was there too, hanging out with Mr Blue eyes.
 Then one of the things the kids have been waiting for. A trip to the beach, not just any beach a beach on the Atlantic Ocean. This was the fist time Justin and Sky have been to the Atlantic ocean and they thought it was so cool that they have now stepped in 2 different oceans. This was also Denny's first trip to the beach. One of my favorite pics of the whole trip. My mom with all 3 kids holding hands.
 Justin and Sky dug for shells and played in the water.
 I got Denny to stand with me for a bit with his feet in the water. He really liked it but was not a fan of the sand so mom and I took turns holding him.
 Justin, Papa, Nana, Skyla and Denny. We had such a good time and as always it was hard to say bye.
 The kids were troupers and even with our long flight delays getting home, they were really good.
Thanks Denny, Mom and "Dad" for everything. We had such a good time and miss you tons all ready. Love you 3 very much :) xoxoxo