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We basically started watching Christmas movies when the kids were still wearing their Halloween costumes.  Thankfully the explosion of popularity in cheesy Christmas movies kept us entertained most of November.  When December hits, it’s time to pull out the classics and other family favorites.

Elf is hands-down my favorite Christmas movie.   Will Ferrell is genius as the adopted elf growing up in the North Pole who goes on a journey to find his birth father, who just so happens to be on Santa’s naughty list.  It’s filled with holiday spirit and so many quotable moments.

Best Elf Quotes

• Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?
• You sit on a throne of lies.
• SON OF A NUTCRACKER!
• You smell like beef and cheese.
• Deb, you have such a pretty face.  You should be on a Christmas card.
• I like to whisper too.
• I’m in a store, and I’m singing!
• I’m a cotton-headed ninny-muggins.

Buddy’s got a thing for sweets, and when asked what he loves to eat for breakfast he shares another classic quote: We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.

Inspired by Buddy the Elf’s favorite breakfast meal, these cupcakes are the perfect treat to share for an Elf movie night.

Buddy the Elf Inspired Cupcakes

With the busy holiday season, it can be a huge time savings to use a cake mix as the base for your cupcakes.  These are made with French Vanilla cake mix, and then topped with some of Buddy the Elf’s favorite breakfast foods: “spaghetti”, M&M’s, sprinkles, and marshmallows.

It’s not advised that you actually eat these for breakfast, but who am I to judge?

Any Elf fan will adore these sugar-filled treats.  We think they’re prefect for a family movie night or holiday Christmas party!

Looking for more Elf party ideas?

Want to make an Elf-themed movie night even more fun?

Try these Elf-inspired activities

• Make paper snowflakes to transform every room into a winter wonderland.
• Spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear.
• Dodge taxis.  Watch out for the yellow ones; they don’t stop.
• Read holiday stories.
• Play telephone since everyone likes to whisper!
• Throw snowballs.  If you live in a warm climate, like I do, you can use cotton balls and throw them in buckets.

I adore Elf and all its holiday cheer.  Do you have a favorite Christmas movie?  Share it in the comments!

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A few years back, my littles got all dressed up for New Year and were able to perform in a fashion show and dance presentation.  I just adore this photo of my sweet Harper.  You can barely see the rainbow tie dye cast from her broken elbow.  Roller skating is no joke, guys.

Growing up, my parents were really good about taking my siblings and me to various museums and events.  It fostered a love of learning in me that I hope to share with my girls.  Exposing them to different cultures is one way I’m doing that.  Holidays showcase values and what matters most to a people.  So by experiencing those holidays, the joy and celebrations, I think we learn a lot about others. Plus, it’s fun!

But this year, we didn’t have anything planned other than a few red envelopes for Chinese New Year.  I decided to take pre-made fortune cookies and fancy them up a little bit.  Because everything is better with chocolate, I dipped the fortune cookies in red chocolate and decorated with gold confetti sprinkles.

How to Make Chocolate-Covered Fortune Cookies

What You’ll Need:

• Fortune Cookies
• Red Candy Melts
• Gold Sprinkles
• Wax Paper

I’ve linked to similar products on Amazon. I choose foolishly to run around town picking up the supplies.  Although there are only three food items needed, I ended up at three different stores.  Let’s not get me started on that one.  Instead, nab the supplies & have them delivered straight to your door with Amazon Prime.

How to Make Them:

This busy mama loves all the hacks I can get my hands on.  So rather than making the fortune cookies from scratch, I picked them up from the store.  That left me with the fun part–decorating.

First, melt red candy melts according to package directions.  To cover 20 fortune cookies, I used 1 cup of candy melts.  I tend to work slowly as there are lots of “Mom…Mom…Mooooom” the impede my progress.  So I opted to do them 1/2 cup at a time.

Dip half of the fortune cookie into the melted chocolate.  Gently tap the cookie to shake off excess chocolate.  Lay on wax paper.

While the chocolate is still setting, add gold confetti.  Any yellow or gold sprinkles will add a little pizzazz to the cookie.

Let set, and that’s it!

Because I am a crafter which is synonymous with hoarder, I had some new Chinese food boxes.  Each box fit four fortune cookies.  Sharing little boxes filled with treats are a sweet way to start off the lunar new year.

Are you looking for other ways to celebrate Lunar New Year?

• Find local events to watch dragon dances
• Make dog themed crafts (2018 is the year of the dog)
• Give “lucky money” in red envelopes
• Decorate with red lanterns
• Eat a traditional meal

How do you celebrate Chinese New Year? 

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

The weeks before parties are kind of hectic.  Typically, I make a spreadsheet a few weeks in advance and start making decorations like this Easy Halloween Bat Wreath inspired by Oogie Boogie’s take-over of Disney’s California Adventure or this Nightmare Before Christmas Photo Booth.  But with treats, I’m normally making those at crunch time.

I was so grateful these rice krispies treats were so painless to make.

Nightmare Before Christmas Rice Krispies Treats

Ingredients:

• Store-bought Rice Krispies Treats
• Wax Paper
• Black Candy Melts
• White Candy Melts
• Decorating Bags
• Lollipop Sticks (optional)

Instructions:

You could totally make your own Rice Krispies.  I will high-five you if you do.  Oooooor, you could cut out a step and just buy them already made.  You can still get a high-five.

An optional step is to make the Rice Krispies be more like pops by inserting a lollipop stick into the end.  

Melt the black candy melts according to package directions.  I found that one package was enough to dip 24 treats halfway.  If you find your chocolate is too thick, add a little oil to thin it.  After melting, dip each treat halfway & place on wax paper to set.

Note: the chocolate looked as though it had a purple hue when it was setting.  They came out plenty dark. 

After dipping each treat in black chocolate, melt the white chocolate.  Approximately, 1/3 of the package will suffice.  Carefully transfer melted chocolate to a decorating bag and snip off the end. Draw thin white lines across the top and sides of the chocolate.

Once these have set again, you’re ready to party!

If you chose to make them into pops, a cute black and white ribbon is a nice touch.

Nightmare Before Christmas Returns to the Big Screen

Although I try to make our family movie nights special, there’s still something magical about seeing a movie on the big screen.  That’s why I’m elated that Nightmare Before Christmas is returning for a limited engagement this Halloween weekend, October 27th-31st at select Regal Cinemas nationwide.

Tickets are now on sale.  Check for locations and grab your tickets here.  We will be nibbling on these easy treats in preparation for the return of Jack, Sally, and all the other residents of HalloweenTown.

What treats do you have in store for Halloween?

I received complimentary admission to a screening of Cars 3.  This post may contain affiliate links.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so thrilled to be able to return to the racing world with Lightning McQueen in Cars 3.  It’s been over 10 years since rookie #95 took the track and the Piston Cup.  Now he’s being outpaced by the next generation of racers, including Jackson Storm, who rely on the latest technology and design.  Can McQueen keep pace with these young cars?  With the help of new trainer Cruz Ramirez and some old racers, he might have a chance.

To celebrate the release of the new Disney Pixar film, my girls and I made some Cars 3 Candy Bark.  As a mama of three daughters, I know two things: girls like Cars and chocolate.

What You’ll Need

• 3 cups red candy melts
• 1/4 cup white candy melts
• Lightning bolt sprinkles
• Mini Oreos

I had purchased the lightning bolt sprinkles to make Harry Potter Pretzel Rods for my lil’ Harry Potter obsessed Muggle.   Originally they came from Amazon, but I noticed they are currently unavailable.  If you can’t find them, I’d choose yellow sprinkles.  They’ll add the flash of color that Lightning McQueen wears.

How to Make Cars 3 Candy Bark

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.  Melt red candy melts according to package directions.  I normally microwave mine in short spurts, stirring in between.  Once the candy is melted, spread over waxed paper with a spatula.  My helpers tested me to see if can maintain the fun while baking by spreading chocolate suuuuper thin.  Ugh.  I told myself it’d be better to have more pieces anyway, but ideally 1/4 of an inch is ideal.

Next, melt the white candy melts.  We opted to make lines crossing the red chocolate.  Use a piping bag or even a Ziploc bag with the corner cut off.

Immediately add sprinkles for Lightning McQueen’s lightning bolt and Oreo cookies for the tires.

Once the candy has set, cut or break it into pieces.  You can store candy bark in an airtight containers, but I promise your kids will find and devour it.

My middle daughter and I have already seen Cars 3 and loved it.  As you’d expect from Disney movies there’s a strong moral throughout, tied with humor perfect for every member of the family.  While you’re waiting for your bark to set, check out this extended look “Lightning Strikes.”

More Cars 3 Fun

If you’re looking for some additional fun for a Cars 3 birthday party or the fast track to fun on a summer day, try these activity pages and games:

Cars 3 Piston Cup Race Maze

Cars 3 Spot the Difference

Cars 3 Memory Race

Cars 3 Finish the Race Board Game

Cars 3 Bulletin Board

Teacher friends, revvin’ up for a new school year?  Check out my “Cruz’n into a New Year” bulletin board here.

We are off to the drive-in (yes, they still exist) with our neighborhood this weekend to see Cars 3 again.  This super easy candy bark will be a fun treat to share with our friends while welcoming McQueen back to the top!

Cars 3 is now playing in theaters.  Have you seen it yet? Share your thoughts in the comments!

We’ve got a “book first, then movie” rule here and try to abide by it as much as possible. Harry Potter is no exception. As huge, Potterheads my husband and I were giddy as our oldest daughter delved deeper in the magical world written by JK Rowling. So when she finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, we wanted to do something fun to commemorate.  It included Harry Potter popcorn, homemade chocolate frogs, and every flavor jellybeans.

Now she’s finished five books, each completion celebrated with a movie viewing & themed treats. You guys, she reads faster than I can bake. That’s why I’m so excited about Harry Potter Pretzel Wands.

Using pretzel sticks, chocolate, and sprinkles, we were able to create a special treat faster than Harry can catch a golden snitch.  This is a  perfect project to do together; no incantations necessary!

How to Make Harry Potter Pretzel Wands

1. Melt white chocolate according to package instructions.
2. Dip pretzel halfway into melted chocolate, slowly spinning to shake off excess. Lay on wax paper to harden.
3. Melt red chocolate according to package instructions.
4. Fill pastry bag (or Ziploc with corner snipped off) carefully as it will be warm. Drizzle across dipped pretzels.
5. Sprinkle lightning bolts on pretzels immediately so they’ll stick. You can buy them here.

That’s it! Super simple, and so much fun. They’re salty, sweet, and perfect for your little wizard to help create.