SOCIAL MEDIA

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Scarlett's 3 Year Old Update

It's been a while since I've done an update on Scarlett.  Now that she's been 3 for a few weeks, I felt now is a perfect time to fill you in on what Scarlett has been up to.

Scarlett was in speech therapy for close to a year in a program that was meant for kids from birth to age 3. Since she turned 3, she's aged out of the program.  We had our last session at the beginning of December.  Scarlett did well with services and really blossomed throughout the year! At the beginning of 2017 she wasn't talking much, now she's picking up new words constantly.  It's really incredible to see her progress and she is getting better all the time.  She's able to speak in sentences now and I'm sure her speech will continue to improve as she grows. 


We had a pizza themed birthday party for her 3rd birthday as well as took her to Disney.  She had a wonderful time at both and I have beautiful pictures to treasure, so it's a win-win for both of us.

Scarlett is usually an easy-going child, but has her moments as of late.  She is really testing boundaries lately and pushing limits and some days are really challenging.  I am doing the best I can but sometimes she doesn't listen to anyone.  This is not an easy age! She also is going through a phase where she thinks everything is hers no matter what.  Hopefully that will pass soon!

Food continues to be a love affair for my tiny tot.  Scarlett loves fruit and veggies as much as I love chocolate.  Of course she loves her fair share of junk food too, but she really is the healthiest eater I know.  She eats tomatoes and peppers and fruit all day long. I asked her if she wanted a piece of cake the other day and she said no, I want a red pepper! I hope she continues to love fruits and veggies for years to come.  


Scarlett's big into Disney movies right now and loves The Secret Life of Pets, Trolls, and Moana.  She also loves Mickey and Minnie Mouse as well as Doc McStuffins.  Play-Doh and arts and crafts are what she enjoys most.  You'll always find her making something with Play-Doh or drawing in a coloring book with her crayons. 

We're more than half-way potty trained.  Scarlett is out of diapers and has been in pull-ups solidly for about a month and a half.  She will tell me when she has to go and has had great progress but is still having accidents.  I'm not going to push her at all to disrupt how far she's come.  I know she'll get there on her own!



It's fun to see how Scarlett has changed and grown over the year.  She has two friends that she loves and talks about all the time.  One friend she met at school and Scarlett was so excited that she was able to come to her birthday party.  Her other friend is her best friend and she sees her on a regular basis.  I'm also good friends with the girl's mom.  It's fun to see how she interacts with her friends and I'm already mentally planning sleepovers in my head for them.  I can't wait for that! I know we're a ways away from that happening though.

Scarlett continues to impress me with how much she knows.  She listens and remembers everything and you really have to watch what you say around her.  It's safe to say she's my little parrot! She knows more and more on a daily basis and sometimes I'm shocked with how much she has picked up. Her personality is fun and silly but mixed with a caring side.  She feels bad if someone gets hurt and is crying.  


Scarlett continues to love school and her teachers.  She goes 3 days a week now and is aways upset when I have to pick her up.  I think she'd love to stay there full-time if given the opportunity! She never wants to go home.  I'm happy she loves school so much.

I can't wait to see where 2018 takes us!





Monday, December 25, 2017

Easy Mounds Fudge Made in the Microwave

Everyone is doing a lot of baking during this quarantine.  I feel like every week Scarlett and I are in the kitchen baking something tasty.  It's hard for me to resist any chocolate or sweet treat, especially fudge.  Fudge is a great end of year gift for your child's teacher too! There's nothing like a satisfying treat to make your tummy happy.

Many people don't realize that fudge isn't a complicated process to make.  You don't need candy thermometers or anything fancy to make it, and I bet you have all of the ingredients already in your kitchen pantry.  What I love about fudge is how versatile it is. You can do a plain fudge flavor like chocolate or peanut butter, or you can mix it up and make it your own in a creative way like with crushed pretzels.  However you choose to make it, I'm sure it'll be fabulous and tasty.

Since I'm a big lover of coconut and chocolate together, I chose to make Mounds fudge.  To make this yummy treat, all you need is a 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk, a bag of chocolate chips, and a bag of flaked coconut. Oh, and don't forget a microwave too! :) 


This is probably the easiest and fastest dessert to make.  You'll be amazed at how you can have it ready to go in just a few minutes!


If you're a fan of Mounds candy bars, you'll go absolutely nuts for this out of this world fudge.  There's nothing like the sweet taste of chocolate mixed with coconut.  The flavor is truly unbeatable.

  
The fudge makes a perfect holiday gift when put in a pretty holiday themed tin or even wrapped in a clear cello bag that's tied with a green or red ribbon.  Anyone with a sweet tooth would love to receive fudge any time of the year.


You'll be left with delicious fudge that your friends and family will gobble up in no time.  I can guarantee you'll be asked to make it time and time again.


Monday, December 18, 2017

Gourmet Gift Basket's Holiday Popcorn Will Make You Say Yum #HolidayGiftGuide

Gift baskets make the best presents.  I've given many gift baskets as birthday presents over the years and the recipients absolutely loved them.  What's not to love about a beautiful basket filled to the brim with items that you enjoy? The best part is how they are decorated.  Make sure you select a basket that's big enough to hold everything you want to give.  After that, put clear cellophane paper around the big and tie with a gorgeous bow.  It will be almost too pretty to open, but they won't be able to resist! It would be a smart idea to make some one's day extra special with a gift basket today.



Gourmet Gift Baskets is the mecca of gift baskets for any type of occasion.  A relative or loved one would enjoy a gift basket filled with tasty treats like candy, brownies or even popcorn.  There are so many gift basket choices like coffee, chocolate, tea, meat and cheese, and even sports themed! If gift baskets aren't on your radar, you can choose from dipped berries, popcorn tins, cheesecakes, and other delectable goodies to delight your taste buds with.  

How about care packages for your niece or nephew for Christmas? You can't forget about the gift towers that are filled with items that will make any one's belly smile.  A gift basket would be the perfect corporate gift to thank a client, not to mention they make ideal presents for anyone for Christmas.  Go ahead and order one for a friend or family member today, or maybe even yourself!

In my opinion, food brings people together.  Whether in good times or bad throughout life, food is always a main component.  Food comforts people and makes them happy.  Of course the holiday season wouldn't be complete without fantastic dishes and sweet treats. It's just not Christmas without dessert!

Some of my favorite holiday flavors include nutmeg, gingerbread, eggnog, cinnamon, and of course peppermint. With Gourmet Gift Basket's Holiday Popcorn Sampler you can have all of your favorite holiday dessert flavors all together in one box! The best part is that all of the popcorn comes in individual bags, which makes it ideal for sharing.


The list of 10 flavors include:

Dark Chocolate Peppermint
Cinnamon Bun
White Chocolate Peppermint
Gingerbread Spice
Candy Corn Kettle Corn
Eggnog
Himalayan Salted Caramel
Milk Chocolate Drizzled Kettle Corn
Dark Chocolate Orange
Holiday Anise Cookie


Since I'm a peppermint and chocolate lover, I was immediately drawn to the Dark Chocolate Peppermint.  The bag of popcorn is a very decent size and there's enough to have over a day or two.  If you have a big sweet tooth, you could potentially finish the bag in one sitting too.  The popcorn pieces are covered in dark chocolate with just a hint of peppermint.  I can guarantee that you won't be able to put the bag down, I know I wasn't able to! The chocolate isn't overly sweet since it's dark, but it's sweet enough to definitely curb your sugar cravings.  I can't say that I've previously had dark chocolate peppermint popcorn before, but I really loved it.

My husband tried the Himalayan Salted Caramel and enjoyed it immensely.  I'm not too much of a salted caramel lover, but he is.  Salted caramel is a very popular holiday flavor and the Himalayan salt really kicks up the popcorn flavor a notch.  The salt flavor was very noticeable and paired nicely with the crunch of the popcorn.  Jay thought the snack was delicious and finished off the bag in no time.

I look forward to trying  the other flavors soon, they all sound so tasty! Surely, they won't last too long in our house.

The holiday popcorn sampler would be an ideal gift to give a a friend, family member, or even a coworker.  You can never go wrong with a food gift.

Kids may even want to leave out a certain flavor for Santa on Christmas Eve instead of milk and cookies.  I wonder what his favorite kind would be?

If you're looking to make your taste buds happy, it's time to try Gourmet Gift Basket's Holiday Popcorn.

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Gourmet Gift Baskets for providing a product sample in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own.


Saturday, December 16, 2017

Upgrade Your Kitchen With KRUPS Products #HolidayGiftGuide

As a mom of a young child, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen making meals.  I use the toaster many times a week toasting up my daughter's favorite blueberry waffles for breakfast, while I make myself a cup of tea when I can get a minute.  It's essential to have reliable and high quality small appliances in your kitchen to make your life easier.  KRUPS is just the brand you need to make your kitchen smile.

KRUPS products belong in all kitchens around the world.  The German engineered kitchen appliances provide functional quality and fantastic performance.  The K brand is known for its coffee and espresso products, but did you know they also offer smaller appliances like waffle irons, blenders, kettles, and more? 

If you know someone who's buying a new house, why not gift them with a fabulous KRUPS coffee maker? They'll be able to enjoy a fabulous cup of coffee every morning.  Keep the brand in mind for not only housewarming gifts, but for Christmas presents too.  It's always an upgrade anytime you introduce KRUPS into your kitchen.

There are some small appliances that everyone should have and are essential in every kitchen.  Besides a coffee maker and a blender, an electric kettle and toaster go hand in hand especially for making breakfast every morning as well as holiday entertaining! 

My current toaster has seen better days.  It's about 15 years old and on its way to toaster heaven.  I've been thinking about upgrading it lately and when I came across the KRUPS 4-Slice toaster, I knew it was just the replacement I needed.  This sleek and stylish chrome toaster with push button display would look fabulous in kitchens across America.  Since it's a 4-slice, there's ample room to toast up toast or waffles for the whole family. Don't forget the strawberries on the side!


This lightweight toaster looks absolutely fabulous.  I love the beautiful chrome and it matches everything well.  When you push your food down in the toaster, the display lights up blue which is unique. There's a button for bagel, reheating, and defrosting.  With a 6 level adjustable browning control, your food will come out toasted to your liking and ready to meet your belly.



In the morning, most people reach right for their cup of liquid caffeine or herbal tea.  Wouldn't it be nice to not have to wait for the water to boil on a regular tea kettle? With the KRUPS cordless electric tea kettle, you can have a steaming cup of your favorite beverage practically instantly.  Since it's lightweight and cordless, you can bring it right to the breakfast table too. The entire unit is cool to the touch ensuring the water inside stays piping hot to please your taste buds.


You'll love the beautiful stainless steel exterior and the automatic shut off when the water boils too.  Pair your morning cup of chamomile tea with a fabulous chocolate chip muffin for the ultimate breakfast.

If it's time to upgrade your kitchen, it's time to turn to KRUPS.

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to KRUPS for providing product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own




Thursday, December 14, 2017

Does Your Child Have a VTech Toy on Their Christmas Wishlist? #HolidayGiftGuide

Christmas is practically here and I'm sure many of you are almost done with your holiday shopping. If you're like me, you have a young child to shop for who loves toys.  Since Scarlett is three years old, her interests are changing and growing all the time.  As a mom, it's important to me that my child have toys that disguise teaching through play.  VTech is a brand that I can rely on as a parent and feel good about.



VTech Toys is the world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children.  The brand focuses on toys that help children learn through play.  The brand line-up includes VTech learning toys, Go! Go! Smart Friends, Go! Go! Smart Animals, Go! Go! Smart Wheels, Baby Amaze, VTech Baby, Flipsies, and more.  All of VTech's toys are engaging and will hold your child's attention for hours.  You can guarantee that any small child has a certain VTech toy on their wish list this Christmas.

Scarlett's been very interested lately in castles, princesses, and dollhouses. They've been able to keep her busy and occupied for a long time and I'm happy that she's enjoying them.  The Go! Go! Smart Friends Enchanted Princess Castle is right up her alley and something I knew she'd enjoy.  Your little one can enjoy the castle from age 18 months all the way up to 5 years old.  They will love exploring each magical room with Princess Darla for tons of fun everyday.  Scarlett has many VTech toys in her toy box and plays with them on a regular basis. 

The beautiful palace expands to four feet long and has a variety of luxurious rooms including a ballroom, music room, kitchen, bedroom, and observation tower.  There's five MagicPoint locations that let kids experience Princess Darla's friendly personality, lights and more.  Children will love the light up buttons that introduce words, colors, letters and numbers, as well as magical melodies and sing-along songs.


This castle is not only adorable but very colorful too.  Children will be instantly attracted to the bright colors and will want to play with it right away.  It comes with a Princess Darla figurine, but you can buy separate figurines for it.  Scarlett was instantly interested in the castle and took to it right away. There is some assembly required.  Each room does something else and I was impressed at how much the toy offered her.  I even found myself playing with it alongside her! Scarlett loved the songs and smiled when she heard them.  I'm always interested in toys that teach colors, letters, and numbers such as this one because that's what she is currently learning.

The figurines are chunky and easy for her small hands to hold.  Scarlett has been playing with the toy a lot and it seems to be her current favorite.  I wish I had a toy like this when I was her age, I know I would have loved it.  What girl doesn't love a glamorous castle to play with?

There's no denying Scarlett's love of animals.  Dogs seem to be high on her list of animals and she gets excited whenever she sees them when we're out. She also loves our dog Lynnie and enjoys helping to feed her, walk her, and give her dog treats! Since she's wanting to have more responsibility,  the VTech Care for Me Learning Carrier would be an ideal pick for her.


This learning carrier is an interactive pet carrier that lets little ones take their adorable plush pet anywhere.  You can put the puppy inside the bright pink carrier or take her out to hear playful phrases when opening and closing the door.  The activity panel on the side is packed with learning fun that teachers colors, shapes, pet care and more.  Each button offers a new surprise that your child will love.  The carrier also includes four pet care accessories so toddlers can groom, feed, and play with the cuddly puppy.

If you have a small child in your home and own a dog, this really would be a perfect toy to help teach your child pet responsibility while having fun.  The plush, soft puppy has a sweet face and Scarlett enjoys hugging and smiling at her.  Scarlett has no trouble opening and closing the carrier and likes to put the puppy and the dog comb inside.  The large and colorful buttons are easy to push and she likes to hear the different sounds and songs that the toy broadcasts.


I like how the dog and all of the pieces store inside the carrier for easy storage.  We're always losing or misplacing pieces to Scarlett's toys so it's nice to have them all contained in one space.

The toy is really cute and Scarlett has been having fun playing with it.  Since the carrier is small, it can easily fit in a toy box or on a shelf when not being played with.

Scarlett is enthusiastic about both toys and I know will have fun playing with them for some time to come.

If you're looking for VTech toys for your child for Christmas, these two would be great options and would make them smile on Christmas morning.

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to VTech for providing me with product samples in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own. 

Get Up Close With Nature This Holiday Season #HolidayGiftGuide

I live right next to a forest and frequently see chipmunks, birds, squirrels, and rabbits in my backyard.  It's interesting to look outside and see some kind of wildlife at all times.  My daughter and dog love to watch the animals together all day long.  It would be nice to see the different bird species up close without scaring them away.  That dream can now be a reality for anyone!



Nature Anywhere offers a Birds-I-view Window Bird Feeder that will make your house their favorite feeding spot! Each feeder is made with high quality, anti-uv plastic glass which allow it to stay clear and beautiful for years.  Fill the feeder with a bird's favorite seed and it's ready to use right out of the box.  No assembly required, just stick it to the window and you're done.  The patent pending feeding tray allows you to slide it open and closed to fill and re-fill it.  You'll love watching the birds flock to the feeder all day long to eat.  


The Birds-I-View Window Bird Feeder makes a perfect gift for practically anyone in your family including hikers and those who enjoy nature.  An older retired person would find a lot of joy in the feeder and how it brings nature right to their windowsill.  Children would be enthusiastic to watch the birds and learn about wildlife and bird species too.  It's always nice to turn an everyday thing into an educational lesson!

Stick the feeder on your window and you'll attract beautiful Robin's, Cardinal's and who knows what else? Everyday will be a surprise! 

Keep the feeder in mind for Christmas presents both present and future.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Make This Holiday Season an Eco-Friendly One

MAKE ECO-FRIENDLY THE THEME 



I know you may not want to think about it, but the holiday season is rapidly approaching! This time of year is my absolute favorite. I love the Christmas trees and lights, all of the holiday buzz, and of course you can’t forget the baked goods! Baking is a big part of the holidays and pies, cakes and cookies are absolute necessities!

While baking can be fun and of course very delicious, it does have some cons. Think of all of the cupcake liners, the tin-foil and other items that get thrown away during the holidays. It might not seem like a lot at first, but it does create waste over time.
I have some very useful and eco-friendly baking tips that will keep your food tasty, but leaves the environmental guilt at the door!
1. Plan to bake several things at the same time. This way, you reduce the amount of times that your oven has to heat up. While it’s inconvenient, it also saves money on your electricity bill too.
2. If you’re planning on buying new baking pans or dishes, look for brands that use natural materials such as bamboo or recycled materials. These are much better for the environment and cook exactly as a normal baking dish would.
3. Instead of using a paper towel to clean up a mess or a spill, use a sponge. Scotch Brite makes a fabulous biodegradable sponge made from natural fibers that would be a great eco alternative to using paper towels. Or you can just use a regular towel or dishcloth that you wash and reuse.
4.  Forgo the muffin paper liners that you line your muffin pan with. They are discarded instantly and create a lot of waste. Instead of using the liners, spread a tiny amount of olive oil in the tins. The muffins will not stick and you’ll be able to easily take them out of the tin once they’ve cooled.
5. Instead of using cooking spray (which has a lot of chemicals) to grease your pans, use a small amount of olive oil. Just take a cloth and spread it around. Your food will come out easily and you won’t be having chemicals touch your food.
6. It’s important to look for ingredients that are organic and packaged in material that is recyclable or reusable.
These tips are very important in helping to make the world a better place. Even if you’ve never participated in any of these earth friendly tips before, it’s never too late to start.  Just making one of these smart choices will help you to know you’re making a great decision for the earth. 
Saturday, December 9, 2017

Scarlett's First Time At Disney World!

Today is Scarlett's actual 3rd birthday and she's surely had a birthday for the record books.  Between her school birthday, birthday party with friends and family, and now going to Disney for her birthday, it's certainly one to remember.

I went to Disney World a few times as a young child and have a few scattered memories from it.  The memories I have are of rides and events that are no longer featured.  I kept my research and planning to a minimum since I wanted it to be just as much as a surprise for me as it was for Scarlett.  In my opinion, it would be a lot more fun to experience everything together with no pre-planned thoughts or knowledge of what the park had to offer.

We just wrapped up our final day of Disney yesterday at Magic Kingdom.  Our first day was spent at Disney Studios. Disney Studios brought fantastic shows and character appearances.  Scarlett got to meet and hug such favorites as Doc McStuffins and Daisy Duck.  When she saw Doc McStuffins she ran as fast as lightening to the line to meet her. The show is one of her favorites and she was beyond excited to meet the Doc she loves so much.  Since we're visiting Disney at Christmas time, the park is beautifully decorated with tons of wreaths on lamp posts, poinsettias, and ornate Christmas trees.


All of the families were in such Disney spirit and sported either coordinated Disney family shirts or Mickey clothing.  It was really fun to see the magic and joy that Disney brings out in both young and old individuals. 

When we visited the Magic Kingdom, it was truly a wondrous place.  Honestly, you didn't know where to look first because there's so much to see! From the famous Magic Kingdom castle to all of the perfectly crafted store fronts, it's hard to not have a permanent smile throughout your visit.  The Fast Pass is the smartest idea and allows you to sign up for certain times to ride rides or shows and you are able to skip a potentially long line.  There are special Fast Pass machines throughout the park where you are able to use your park card to book the times you want.  I'm sure parents everywhere are so thankful to not have to wait on long lines with impatient children!


Scarlett had so much fun at Magic Kingdom and was able to ride the Dumbo ride, Little Mermaid ride, It's a Small World, and the Teacups.  She loved each one equally and it was fantastic to see how happy she was at Disney.  The joy in her eyes was something I'll always remember! Scarlett also loved meeting Rapunzel and took a picture with her too.


Magic Kingdom was also just as beautifully decorated as Disney Studios.  We spent many hours at each park and I took so many pictures that I'll enjoy looking back on with fond memories.  Disney World is truly a magical place and there's nothing else like it on earth.


Scarlett is so fortunate and lucky that she was able to have one of her best birthdays to date at such an amazing place.  We took a lot of family pictures that will certainly be printed and put in an album as soon as possible.

If you're looking for a family trip that you'll remember forever, it's time to book a Disney vacation. 



Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Christmas Treats That Belong On Your Holiday Table

If you're having a Christmas party in the next few weeks, I'm sure desserts are on your mind. Everyone loves a sweet treat or two during the holidays.  Wondering what to serve? Look no further.

These Christmas tree brownies are not only adorable but tasty too

Your kids will love helping to make these delicious reindeer cupcakes


Individual fruit pies are sure to be a big hit

There's so many tasty treats out there, I'm sure you'll find something delicious and crowd-pleasing for your Christmas parties!

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Celebrate Your Child's Birthday At California Pizza Kitchen

Scarlett is a pizza lover through and through.  My tiny girl can devour more slices in a single sitting than her mom can and it's pretty impressive!  Her favorite toppings are peppers and broccoli. If I allowed it, Scarlett would have pizza on a daily basis.  I understand her love for that triangular goodness though, it's impossible to resist cheese and tomato sauce!



My family makes fun of me for how far in advance I start to plan Scarlett's birthdays.  I start thinking of what I want to do for her next birthday virtually right after she has her current one.  I can't help it though, I really love birthdays! When you only have one a year, each one should be special and exciting.  When I realized that she could have a pizza themed birthday at California Pizza Kitchen, I knew that would be the ultimate choice for my pizza loving child.

California Pizza Kitchen is a chain eatery serving up pizza's, pasta,and salads in a modern setting.  If you haven't previously dined there, the food is fresh and delicious.  I've been going there for years and am partial to their salads.

A child's birthday party at California Pizza Kitchen is not an ordinary party by any means.  Each birthday party guest gets to make their own pizza and choose whatever toppings go on it, as well as getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen.  Once you're in the kitchen, the kids get to see their pizza's cooking in the big brick oven.   It's a really fun and unique experience that is different from any other child's party I've ever been to or seen.


On the day of Scarlett's party, I was able to go in ahead of time and bring the cake in and decorate.  Since the party started at 10:30 AM, the cool thing about that timeslot was that the restaurant was not yet open! So from 10:30-11, we had the restaurant to ourselves.


Once the children arrived, they were able to sit at a special table for themselves that had a chefs hat along with crayons for them to color.  When everyone got settled, our server came over and started taking drink orders.

I decided on sausage, pepperoni and broccoli for the toppings for the kids pizzas.  Our server brought out a plate of cooked dough with cups of marinara sauce and shredded cheese for each child.  There were enough toppings on the plate for the whole table to share  Some parents helped the child make the pizza, while others let their tiny tot do it themselves.  It was fun and interesting to see the thought process behind how each of the party guests chose to make their pizzas!

Once each child was content with their culinary creation, it was time to cook the pizzas in the huge brick oven! Everyone was allowed in the kitchen for a tour which was enjoyable for not only the kids, but the parents too.  I love to cook so it was interesting to see how a kitchen restaurant runs.  I loved seeing all of the equipment that makes CPK run as well as the big fridge, walk-in freezer, and prep area.  I had no prior knowledge of how a restaurant kitchen operates, so it was fun to learn.

The employee who gave the tour was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of insight and information as to how the kitchen works and what they do on a daily basis to prep it.  He kept the kids entertained by asking them questions.  I think all of the kids at the end loved catching the dough that was thrown up in the air!


When the kitchen staff put the pizza's in the brick oven, they cooked in practically no time.  The oven is extremely hot and you can see the huge flames inside cooking the pizza to perfection.

After the tour, it was time to eat! All of the children's pizzas were brought to the table with cups of lemonade so they could chow down.  Who doesn't love pizza? I know I could eat sauce, cheese, and dough every day of the week.  While the kids were enjoying their lunch, the pizza for the adults was brought to a separate table.  I selected a variety of pizza's to make everyone happy including sausage, pepperoni, veggie, mushroom and more.  The pizza was delicious, hot and fresh.  Most of the food was eaten fast, so it's safe to say that everyone enjoyed it!


Every meal needs to end with a sweet treat, don't you think? Before we served the cake, the kids were brought out mini vanilla ice cream sundaes that they got to decorate with cherries, candies, and hot fudge.  I'm pretty sure that was heaven for them! There was barely any noise or talking as the kids gobbled up the treats.  You can't blame them of course! Everyone loves ice cream.

The finale of the party was the cake.  Since the party was pizza themed, of course the cake had to match.  Everyone sang happy birthday to the birthday girl and both the kids and adults enjoyed the cake.

Once we finished doing the cake, the party wound down and guests began to leave.  It's safe to say that the party was a success and everyone had a wonderful time.  My friends told me that the pizza party was a great idea and they want to consider CPK for a future birthday party for their child!

I was very satisfied with the level of service provided by California Pizza Kitchen and thought the server was attentive and came back to check on us often.  The party ran smoothly and everyone left full and happy.  There's nothing more I could ask for than that.

If you're looking for a out-of-the-box party idea for your child's next birthday, it's time to give California Pizza Kitchen a call.

*DISCLOSURE* I received a complimentary party at California Pizza Kitchen in exchange for this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own.