Parties — Page 4

Superbowl Food Idea: The Snack Mahal

Superbowl Party Food Idea

Ok, many of you guys have now seen my recent party food creation just in time for the biggest football party of the year –

Superbowl food idea – The Snackadium

And I’ve loved all of the comments telling me how cool it is. I was rather impressed with myself in putting it together – it was a ton of fun, much easier to figure out than I expected, and it turned out really cool.

Well, I was impressed with myself until today!

THIS video is the coolest darn thing ever. The iPhone is a completely amazing addition. What do you guys think??

Having a Superbowl Party?

Find more great party ideas on my Pinterest Football Party board. And get some great party food safety tips for your Superbowl party too. If you have some favorite Football party ideas – Leave comments! Do you have a Football board on Pinterest too – Leave comments with your link! And – Who do YOU want to win the Superbowl this year – Yep, leave comments!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on January 31, 2012 Filed Under: Holidays | No Comments

Super Bowl Party Food Idea: How to Build a Snackadium!

If you’re a football lover – or even just a party lover who looks for any reason to entertain, even when you don’t know a thing about football {*cough, cough* talking about me here! Lol.} – you’ll love this super fun, super impressive – yet I promise still super simple! – football party food. Check it out….

“The reason women don’t play football is because eleven of them would never wear the same outfit in public.” – Phyllis Diller

A couple weeks ago, I was searching Pinterest for some super cool Superbowl party food idea. And I came across a picture of a stadium made of snacks, which led me to the uh-MAY-zing Snackadium.com. The Snackadium site is filled to the top with fun food ideas – but it’s not filled with many instructions. So – I’ll show you how to build your own Snackadium! Awesome, right?

“Half this game is ninety percent mental.” – Danny Ozark, Philadelphia Phillies manager.

Start with either a cookie sheet, {ignore that I used our super duper old one for this project, lol} or a foil baking sheet if you want something disposable – this is going to become your field. You could also use a thicker baking pan, if you wanted to make a 7-layer dip, instead of just the basics like I did. I started with the center section – and used Wholly Guacamole {the best kind evah!} for the playing field. My secret to making the lines nice and even is to use kabob sticks – those type that you get at Walmart in the BBQ section. Outline your “field” with sticks, and fill in with guacamole. Once you have it full – fill your other sides with salsa, and then nacho cheese. You can cover the sticks with the dips, and you won’t even see them. To finish your field, scoop a bunch of sour cream into a plastic sandwich baggie, snip off a tiny end, and pipe it out like frosting to draw lines on your field. Now you’ve got your football field – Easy peasy, right?

“I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.” – Nancie J. Carmody

Next you want to build your goal posts. We used a package of pepperoni sticks – so good. As you can see in the picture, I used toothpicks to hold the pieces together. To get them to fit together tightly, you can push a spoon against the outside edge, to keep the toothpick from poking out through. Then cut a big square of cheese for the base, and attach it with another toothpick. Done!

“The NFL, like life, is full of idiots.” – Randy Cross

For the outside wall of the Snack Stadium we used Rice Krispies Treats cut into squares, and held together with more toothpicks. I tried using homemade ones, but they were too soft. The store bought type worked MUCH better! And just one treat sheet gave me enough pieces to go all the way around, with a bit leftover.

“I’ve been big ever since I was little.” – William Perry, Former Chicago Bears Defensive Tackle

Now you’re ready to assemble the stadium! You’ve got your playing field filled with dips, the Rice Krispies walls are ready to assemble, and your pepperoni goals are built. So – start putting together the wall all around your field, as large as you want to make it. Use a toothpick in between each Rice Krispies Square to keep it together. Then, fill the space in between the field and the wall with chips. {Another great idea that I saw was to add hot dogs all around that inside edge, to keep the chips from falling into the dips – so smart!} Then, put your goal posts in. You’re almost done!

“The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I’ve ever seen that I didn’t have to clean.” – Erma Bombeck

One last piece – You have to make the football players! We used hot dogs cut into little pieces, and topped them with tiny cheese helmets. I’ve also seen little smokies as players, and Fritos corn chips as helmets. You could get really creative and use those tubes of cookie decorating icing to color the helmets to match the teams too. Put your players on the field – and bam! You’ve just built yourself a Snackadium.

“I feel like I’m the best, but you’re not going to get me to say that.” – Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver

Totally fun, right? It was actually a lot simpler to build then I thought it would be. If you want to check out more fun football party ideas, check out my Football Party Ideas board on Pinterest. And for more Snack Stadium inspiration – visit Snackadium.com and check out the Snackopolis! Wow.

Do you have a fun football idea to share?

I’d LOVE to see your fun food ideas too – if you’ve posted a cool project, leave me a link in the comments so that I can check it out. Or stop by and visit me on Facebook, and post a picture of your creation! I love to see what you guys come up with! Also – See the sweet version: The Snickers Snackadium!

“You’ve got a goal in life. I’ve got a goal. Now all we need is a football team. ” – Groucho Marx

Posted by Meagan Paullin on January 25, 2012 Filed Under: Food | 58 Comments

Holiday Entertaining & Giving Back – with Hickory Farms!

I love the holidays… You’ve probably noticed. And I love entertaining! So – I throw a lot of holiday parties. A party can be a ton of work, but you don’t want to allow your holiday parties to become too stressful. The whole point of holiday entertaining is to have fun and enjoy the season with your favorite faces! So, read on for a few tips and tricks, and learn how Hickory Farms {ohmyheck, my favorite!!} can help you save a little time and money – and gives you an easy peasy way to support a great cause.

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie

Ok – so you’ve got a party to prepare for. You’ve picked the date. You’ve invited friends, family, and maybe a crazy neighbor or two. First thing – do a quick clean up of the house. When I’m entertaining last minute, this is what I do to speed clean: Grab a laundry basket, and go through the house picking up things that are out of place, then stick the basket in a closet. {Speaking of closets, make sure your coat closet has enough room for guest’s jackets!} Now, no need to clean everything, stick to the stuff that makes a difference:

-Grab a canister of glass-cleaning wipes to make all of your mirrors and surfaces shine!
– Do a quick vacuum of all areas people will see.
-Fluff up throw pillows, and add a pretty blanket to the couch.
– Dim the lights a bit, and set out bunches of candles. This makes any space more festive.
– Remember, it’s the little details that people remember. The picture above is from HGTV.com – you can find more simple ideas like this there too. No one will remember your semi-clean bathroom tile, but they WILL remember special little things like this!

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” –Calvin Coolidge

Now on to the most important part of any party – the food! Busy Mom Solution: Let Hickory Farm do some of the party prep for you this year! We all know that they have the best meats and cheeses, right? But they also have super yummy desserts, fruits and nuts, and more. Here are a few ideas on how Hickory Farm can come to your rescue for last minute parties –

Start with a great gift box like the Deluxe Smokehouse Collection. Now you’ve got 5 delicious meats, 5 cheese choices, and a couple of fun mustard jars for dipping! Start by using 2 of each, slice them, and arrange on a big holiday tray. Add some fruits like grapes or strawberries, and a few types of crackers. You’ve got a totally yummy appetizer tray!
Next, use your other 3 meats and 3 cheeses to make kabobs! These are super fun for kids, and easy for adults to eat while holding a drink and mingling. Just cut up your goodies into chunks, then thread them onto skewers – add cherry tomatoes for a pop of festive color if desired. Now spritz ’em with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with fresh herbs. Amazing, right?
Hickory Farms can even take care of your main dish! Have you ever tasted their Spiral Sliced Honeygold Ham? Mmmmm….. Now you’re ready to whip up a few desserts and side dishes of your own – or check out the Fruits & Sweets category on their site.

Now that was easy, right? For the selection, quality, and huge assortment of goodies that come in a Hickory Farms gift basket – they are so worth it! These also make the perfect hostess gifts, and they even ship to soldiers overseas. And I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Hickory Farms!

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” – Calvin Coolidge

Hickory Farms has partnered with NoKidHungry.org to make it incredibly easy for you to give back this season. No Kid Hungry is working to ensure that no kids in American have to miss meals, and it’s so easy to contribute – When you purchase the Signature Party Planner {shown in the pic}, Hickory Farms will donate $5 to the No Kid Hungry Campaign. You can also sign the No Kid Hungry pledge of support on Hickory Farms Facebook page. And make sure to tell your friends about Hickory Farms – they’re donating .10 cents for every new Facebook fan they get, until December 25th! Super easy way for you to help raise money for an important cause.

Learn more:

Use the store locator to find a Hickory Farms near you.

You can also shop online – they have an amazing $3 for 3-Day Shipping offer!

And don’t forget to visit them on Facebook to sign the pledge, and encourage your friends to “Like” their page to raise more donations!

{Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a product sample to facilitate my review.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 12, 2011 Filed Under: Holidays, Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Moms Meet Halloween Party with Kashi!

Moms Meet Halloween Party!

My latest Moms Meet sample party with my Mommy Group was a Halloween party – featuring the amazing Kashi TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars! These bars were seriously soooo good! The kids all loved them, and the moms loved that I didn’t load everyone up on sugary candy.

Alternative to candy:

I was super excited when I got my shipment of these great new Kashi bars, because I knew that they’d be just perfect for my Mommy Group’s Halloween party. I knew that most of the kids were having Halloween parties at school today – {why today? Monday would make more sense, right? But they had parties today. Weird.} – and I wanted to have snacks that were still sweet and fun, but healthier and more nutritious. Well, these Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars sure hit the spot!

Learn a little more about these Kashi Bars:

“Kashi’s all natural TLC^® Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars start with a chewy granola base made with peanut butter and peanut chunks for a nutty flavor. A thick layer of real soft fruit mixed with rich, dark chocolate tops the granola along with roasted runner peanuts and dark chocolate pieces for hearty, natural goodness you can see and taste.” Are you hungry yet?? They really are as good as they sound too – they’re a perfect combination of sweet and salty, crunchy and smooth. They almost taste like a candy bar, but much better – there’s not that artificial taste you get with a candy bar that’s filled with bad stuff. These are totally guilt free!

Abby Loves Kashi Too!

These layered granola bars are a great choice for everyone – the moms {and one dad!} loved ’em, the kids gobbled ’em up, and even my toddler wanted to eat more than one! Here are some reasons why I feel great serving these as her snacks:

They’re free of high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and unnatural preservatives. Meaning – no yucky stuff.
They’ve got 7 grams of whole grains, 4 grams of fiber, and 4 grams of protein from peanuts and soy crisps. Meaning – they’re full of good stuff!

We eat a lot of different types of bars in our house – from cereal bars {the Kashi fruit and grain Pumpkin Pie bars are another BIG favorite!}, to the trail mix style bars, and of course loads of chewy granola bars. But I’m really liking this new bar from Kashi – the texture is pretty unique, and I like that combination of sweet and salty. Perfect.

Abby LOVES Kashi’s Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bars!

This is the little wiggle she does to show her total approval of something. She’d already had one with the other kiddo’s. When I didn’t see her in the playroom, I went looking…. and found her in the kitchen, where she’d snuck away with another granola bar. So I asked her if it was yummy – and you can see her reaction! Make sure to watch for these at YOUR favorite local grocery store, and pick up a box to try with your family. And check out Moms Meet Mom Ambassador program for your chance to host great parties like this too!

{Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 28, 2011 Filed Under: Reviews | No Comments

Join Me As I Co-Host the #Spookamole Twitter Party!!

Join me for a Ton of fun!

I’m helping to co-host a super fun Twitter Party tomorrow – You don’t want to be the only one missing out! This is my FIRST time co-hosting a party, so I’d love to see you guys there – a party ain’t a party without you guys!

Remember my Spiderweb “Spookamole” Nachos that I shared with you guys a couple of weeks ago? Well, my entry wasn’t chosen as a finalist – But some other AMAZING recipes are now on the site and ready for you to vote on! So we’re having a party to celebrate the finalists, give you some fun Halloween recipe ideas, and give away some sweet Avocados from Mexico prizes!!

Your Party Invite:

Date: Thursday, October 13, 2011
Time: 3 – 4pm EST
Moderator: @MomCentral
Client: @guacgrl
Assistant Moderators: @DadCentral, @sunandsipcups, @kellysluckyyou, @fabfindfoodie
Topic/Focus: Talk about avocado-inspired Halloween party recipes, and the Avocados from Mexico Spookamole contest.
Hashtag: #Spookamole
Prizes: Six people will win $50 Amazon gift codes and an I Love Acodados reusable grocery bag, 2 pre-party winners will receive $50 gift codes and an I Love Acados reusable grocery bag.

Pre-tweet to Win!

Anyone who Tweets this from now until the Avocados from Mexico #Spookamole Twitter Party will be eligible to win one of two $50 Amazon gift codes!

About the party:

Halloween will be celebrated throughout October, with many chances for fun including pumpkin festivals, costume parades, parties, and of course trick-or-treating. Halloween itself is the third biggest party day in the country, behind New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl Sunday.

This fall, as we prepare to amuse little ghosts and goblins and entertain friends and family, festive Halloween snacks come to mind. Although candy may stand as the most popular option, there are lots of opportunities to get creative and offer treats that are wholesome, delicious and guaranteed to not provide an additional sugar rush! Everyone associates pumpkins with this time of year, but most people don’t know that avocados grow in their native land of Mexico all year long, and ripen in abundance during the fall and winter seasons.

Spookamole!!

To celebrate this, Avocados from Mexico created a fun recipe contest called “Spookamole”. Orange and black are the official colors of the holiday, but this year think “ghoulish green!” Participants whipped up a Halloween-themed recipe featuring avocados from Mexico. Avocados from Mexico chose five finalists, and the public voting is now open!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 12, 2011 Filed Under: Fun Stuff, Giveaways | No Comments

Free Party Planning Checklist and more!

Free Party Planning Checklist and SO much more!

Putting together a big party or event is a lot of work! I know this, since I love to entertain, and just recently hosted a few HUGE birthday parties over the summer. There is so much to plan, and it can be tough to keep it all organized. That’s where the FREE Party Planning Checklist saves the day!

Theme Party Queen

This helpful checklist is from a super fun party idea site that I refer to often, Theme Party Queen. She has tons of cool ideas, and loads of great printables! I’m loving her Super Bowl Party ideas – and am totally going to buy a couple of the NFL themed Lighted Mason Jars she mentions – these would be so fun at our party!

Get your copy today!

Head over to the site, and learn how to get the checklist ebook totally free – and make sure to check out some of her other fun ideas too!

{Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 6, 2011 Filed Under: Holidays, Fun Stuff, Reviews | No Comments

{OVER!} Win a Sesame Street Party Planning Kit! #giveaway #party

Have you entered to win yet?

The amazing Etsy shop elevencupakes has partnered with me to give away a FREE Sesame Street Party Planning Kit to ONE lucky Sunshine and Sippy Cups fan! You’ll win everything you need to put together a super fun, totally unique, personalized party for your little guy or girl. Who wouldn’t LOVE that, right?

Enter to win the Sesame Street Party Planning Kit today!

It’s an easy peasy Rafflecopter entry form- so it only takes a minute to enter. And this kit has SO much cute stuff- I’m totally in love, and can’t wait until I have an occasion to use it. {I’m thinking a big play-date needs to be set up soon, just for an excuse to throw a party, right?}

Good luck!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 19, 2011 Filed Under: Giveaways | No Comments