You've been Egg'd

get your holiday Easter lunchis at http://www.lunchi.org

In March, we shamrock'd some neighbors and now in April we are going to egg them!  You're probably thinking, I'm glad you're not my neighbor.  Truthfully our antics really aren't as bad as they sound - unless you are on a diet and can't eat sweets.

In honor of the Easter holiday, I wrote two poems (below) and designed a Easter Holiday Lunchi to raise money for charity.  Our family packaged them up three ways and dellvered them to some special people in our life and even left some randomly throughout the city.  

If you enjoy giving to others in a creative way, download the graphically designed lunchi's and package them up for your friends and neighbors.  It is a great tradition to share with your kids and the $2 donation goes to charity. Or you can copy and paste my poem below.  Just make sure to put Lunchi.com after it as the intent is to give back to others =)

If you feel like baking instead of leaving candy, here is a fabulous sugar cookie recipe, otherwise jelly beans and traditional chocolate are great egg fillers.

LEAVE A BASKET FOR YOUR TEACHER WITH THIS POEM

(fill a basket of eggs and leave in the classroom for the teacher or on the doorstep of a family)

You've been Egg'd  

written by Tricia Cohn - graphically designed version is at http://www.lunchi.org/lunchistore.html

An easter bunny hopped along
looking for some treats,
over the hills and mountaintops
he tired his little feet.
It was then he stopped to take a rest
near some delicate painted  - rocks?
Some of them were striped real funny 
just like a pair of socks.
Some had dots and some had spots
that were green, blue and black
One of them even had, a tiny little crack. 
He peeked inside...
what did he find?
...so many treats to eat!!!
But he couldn’t eat them all you know
for his mom would blow a gasket...
so he gathered them up and left some for you
in this little easter basket.

FOR CHRISTIANS

(Add this poem inside a golden egg and leave it for your Christian friends and/or someone you would like to invite to know Jesus.)

You've been Blessed

written by Tricia Cohn - graphically designed version is at http://www.lunchi.org/lunchistore.html

 For three days a bunny hopped
searching for some relief.
He’d just overcome a treacherous event
which led him to your street.
It was here he found a special sign
and knew it was the right place -
your loving heart and unwavering faith
brought a smile to his face.
The bunny was happy and rose again
and started to hippity hop...
Hippity Hop, Hippity Hop,
Hippity Hop  - KerPlop!
Every time he jumped for joy
an egg would land - KerPlop!
it’s then he knew to share his love
with everyone nonstop!
So he left these eggs at your door
to say thanks for being faithful
and loving HIM evermore. 

HAPPY EASTER

Add this poem to a mason jar filled with Jelly Beans (see picture above)

Red is for the blood he gave

Green is for the grass he made

Yellow is for the sun so bright

orange is for the edge of night

Black is for the sins we made

White is for the grace he gave

Purple is for his hour of sorrow

Pink is for our new tomorrow.

- author unknown

Enjoying sharing the love!  I guarantee you will feel the love too.  If you would like to KNOW HIS love, you are invited to attend church services at Crossroads In Corona.  Consider yourself egg'd.

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Duct Tape Zebra Party Theme

Last month we redecorated a room from toddler to tween. The look was inspired by a zebra blanket. So when the birthday party approached the decor was easy: turquoise and zebra and a little Duct Tape.

Next we had to find a place for over 60 people to be entertained (translation - not get bored if the party didn't go as planned.) The answer - A roller skate rink (THE RINKS) would be the perfect place.

FOOD 

(must be easy, black, white, blue, or silver)

-Pizza

-Oreos

-Birthday girls favorite candy to match color scheme - Hershey kisses, cookies and cream kisses, almond joys and York peppermint patties

-Zebra cupcakes (very time consuming but well worth the end result - See tutorial below)

DECOR

Since my 12 year old is into making everything with duct tape these days, why not decorate a birthday party with duct tape? We made the words on the banner with duct tape, the flowers on the manzanita branch out of duct tape and even gave rolls of duct tape to the winners of the games. The duct tape came in most handy when the birthdays girls grandpa broke his ankle from skating. Of course only the pink polka dot pattern was left. 

The birthday girl donated a portion of her gifts to a charity of her choice - Christian Arts Theatre.

All in all it was a fun party she will remember forever. 

Want to host a turquoise zebra duct tape party theme of your own? Download these free printables to get started. (coming soon)

1. To make zebra cupcakes it is best to have a helping hand.  Otherwise give yourself alot of time and stock up on extra patience. 

2. Prepare white cake mix according to box

3. Split batter in half - add black Wilton Food Coloring to half the batter.

4. Dollop one white spoonful of batter in bottom

5. Dollop one black spoonful of batter directly on top of white dollop

6. Repeat the dolloping until the cupcake tin in half-way full.

7. Do NOT spread the batter out. When you continue to dollop the batter in the top circle the batter will continue to spread.  

8. Bake according to box directions and serve.

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You've been Egg'd with a Lunchi

This Easter, egg your neighbors to show them you care.  Make them these delicious sugar cookies and decorate them however you like. Then print up our new holiday lunchi's from Lunchi.org and surprise your neighbors, teachers, or friends with a sweet surprise at their door.  

Each Lunchi sheet comes with three sayings to choose from.  Two of them are written by me...You've been blessed and You've been egg'd.  100% of your $2 donation will benefit a children's charity listed on the site.  Here is how to make the cookies. Or fill plastic eggs with some goodies to make them smile.

EASTER EGG SUGAR COOKIE

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups butter, softened (must be softened, not melted in the microwave)
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I USE Pure Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste from SurLaTable)
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour. This is MANDATORY (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with the easter egg cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment paper or a clay cookie stone.
 

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.  

Decorate with your favorite vanilla frosting and green sugar sprinkles.  

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Bite-sized goodies

Traditions

Home Away Poem

Looking for love

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Shamrock Sugar Cookies

Cut out the shenanigans! Stop talking blarney and be sweet on St. Patrick's Day.  For it was the Irish who originally wanted us all to GO GREEN...and how can you not like tiny leprechauns?  Or are they now called little "green" people?    

So to honor all little "green" people we started a new tradition this St. Patrick's Day...we "shamrocked" the neighbors and the teacher. 

I baked the same sugar cookie recipe I do every month (great to freeze and cut up when the kids come over). I bought a shamrock cookie cutter and got my green on!  I was literally covered in green sparkle by the time it was over.  

While baking and cooling, I printed out my notecards with the You've Been Shamrocked poem written on it - written by ME.  These are available for a $2 donation at the website lunchi.org. All of the money raised at Lunchi.org is donated to charity...so your support is appreciated.  

Ready for the recipe?  Here is it!  

In the meantime, may the GOOD LORD take a liking to you...but not too soon!

I FOUND LOVE in the cookie dough! See it?

SHAMROCK SUGAR COOKIES 

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups butter, softened (must be softened, not melted in the microwave)
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I USE Pure Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste from SurLaTable)
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour. This is MANDATORY (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with the shamrock cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment paper or a clay cookie stone.
 

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.  

Decorate with your favorite vanilla frosting and green sugar sprinkles.  

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE 30daysof...

Bite-sized goodies

Traditions

Home Away Poem

Looking for love

And if you like this can you please share!  Or become a fan...Thanks.

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A "sweet" 40th Birthday Party Theme

If you have a friend who is turning 40 but doesn't want to make it a BIG DEAL...this party theme is a "sweet" idea. 

The "sweet" theme was inspired AFTER the invitations were sent and the rsvp's started coming in.  Over 10 people regretted they couldn't celebrate our friends 40th because they had other plans.  The adjective "sweet" preceded the birthday girls name in every one of these regrets.

So the party became an intimate gathering.  We booked a "suite" at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach (suite 1125 offer the following views.)  

In the hotel room I decorated a manzanita branch with the birthday girls favorite flower and used it as the centerpiece.  Sprinkles Cupcakes and Gelsons Market supplied her favorite sweets - cupcakes and french macaroons along with assorted platters of gourmet cheeses, meats, fruit, and crackers.  The cocktail of the evening, a Chief Lapu Lapu geared us up to dance the night away to the 80's tribute band FlashBack Heart Attack at the Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach.  Get an Imix of the songs here.

The birthday girl went home with a beautiful box of birthday wishes I typed on custom designed notecards as well as a set of beautiful bracelets from Brighton. Set up your wishlist for your party today!

This event turned out to be a great night in honor of a truly special and SWEET friend.

And if you have a friend who frets turning 40, here are 10 reasons why it is really NOT that bad! 

1. 40 is the new 30!!!

2. You're not 40, you are 18 with 22 yrs. experience!!

3. Enjoy the moment because when you are 50 or 60 you will wish you were 40.

4. Just think of all the wisdom you have, pass it on and make a difference in the world!

5. Turning 40 is better than the alternative.   

6. Look for balance in everyday of your life. Don't sign up to do things that will overwhelm you.

7. Like fine wine we get better with age! 

8. Best birthday ever, really! Life starts at 40!

9. It only gets better. What you have learned the first 40 years seems almost irrelevant as you develop into your new and spiritual self. You love deeper, appreciate life more and divine great pleasure in the little things and the world around you.

10. Depends are cheaper at Stater's   

Do you have a great 40th party theme to share? Please share below. 

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Lunchi's - Little Utterances Neatly Condensed Helping Impact Little Souls- A CONTEST!

A couple of months back I was inspired to focus on prayer in my life.  It was uncomfortable at first but as I did it more the 'fear' was lifted.   Prayer now has become a daily ritual in our families life.  


When I asked GOD to work through me so I may better serve others, I had the idea for http://www.lunchi.org.  


Lunchi's is an acronym for little utterances neatly condensed helping impact little souls. Parents can print them out and put thoughtful notes, bible verses, and jokes in their child's lunch.  They cost $2 and every penny will benefit the following charities as well as a child's mind, body, and soul.


EXPAND THEIR MINDS
School Supply Drive by DoSomething.org
One way to help a child achieve better results in school is by ensuring they own school supplies to complete the work.  This summer, Staples and DoSomething.org are hosting their third annual Do Something 101 School Supply Drive! You can help right now by holding school supply drives in your school and community or by purchasing a Lunchi.


NOURISH THEIR BODIES
Jaime Olivers Food Revolution by America Gives Back
Every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious food. A diet of processed food is undermining the nation’s health and essential cooking skills are being lost. If you care about your country and the health of your children please support Jamie’s Food Revolution with a donation. Your funding will help his campaign to change the way America eats and ensure the health of future generations.  


ENRICH THEIR SOULS
Children's Ministries at Crossroads 
In Kids House at Crossroads Christian Church it is our desire for children to fall deeply in love with Jesus and His Word which proclaims HIM.  It is my goal to use the money raised to donate to Crossroads so they may purchase bibles for children across the world.

PAY IT FORWARD
You can make a difference for people with Lunchinotes. 
Personalize them to fit the occasion.  I left a note for the people at church who count the money. I purchased the coffee for the person behind me in the drive thru and left this note.  (someone had done it for me awhile back so I wanted to pay it forward.)
Or just print out the following verses and stick it in your wallet when the server or cashier is doing great at their job.




ALSO ON THE WEBSITE...
We feature 30 fabulous lunch choices to pack for the kids.  I had a bad habit of packing the same thing every day.  That is not inspiring at all.  Browse through the album on the 30daysof facebook fan page to get inspiration on fabulous lunch's to nourish your child's body. Or you can view Laptop Lunch Ideas in their photo gallery.  There are over 30 different lunch's to choose from.

LAPTOP LUNCH
includes case, silverware, book,
and box with separators. $40 values

CONTEST
From now until October 1st, the 30daysof...blog will be giving away  a laptop lunchbox (similar to the one shown here) to a randomly selected comment answering the following question.  *If you purchase and download a lunchi from now until October 1st, 2010, you will also be entered to win.  


HOW DO YOU INSPIRE YOUR KIDS TO GIVE BACK?  
Leave your comment below or underneath this image on the 30daysof...facebook fan page HERE!

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