Bird Nest Cookies

These cookies are darling, delicious, and perfect for Easter. Or for Spring. I mean, who really needs an excuse to eat cookies?!

Peanut Butter Bird Nest Cookies

2 2/3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Additional sugar (for rolling)
Cadbury mini eggs (solid chocolate with a shell) or peanut M & Ms in pastel colors

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking soda. Add butter and peanut butter and mix until smooth. Add sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.

Make balls out of level tablespoon of dough -- add flour if needed. Roll in sugar.

Bake 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and press 3 chocolate candies into the center of each cookie. Return to the oven and bake for 2 more minutes.

Cool and enjoy!

All Ages Valentine

I love this project for creating Valentine cards because even younger kiddos can participate. Both my boys did this project this year and it was a hit with everyone (even me - I was so impressed with the end result!)

Supplies:

A roll of clear contact paper
Scraps of paper, tissue, light-weight fabric, foil, etc.
A variety of hearts (in different sizes)
Glitter and/or sequins
Scissors
Ribbon
Hole Punch
Masking or painter's tape

Cut out two pieces of contact paper in the same size. Peel off the backing of one sheet and place it on the workspace, sticky side up. Secure corners with tape to hold the contact paper in place. Let your child use the paper, scraps, glitter, etc. to decorate the entire sheet (if your child is older and can use scissors, have them help prepare the scraps by cutting and tearing them before they begin). When they've finished decorating, peel the backing off the second sheet of contact paper and cover the decorated sheet, sticky side to sticky side. Work from one side to the other making sure to smooth out the wrinkles as you go. Cut out heart shapes from the sheet, punch a hole in the top of each one and tie with a ribbon.

Check out the pictures from our project, including the finished product above.

Check Out One of Our Upcoming Shows: Part II

Holiday Shopping Soiree

Shop the hottest local boutiques while enjoying complimentary wine and appetizers! Fabulous swag, raffles, free gifts and event only sales.

Monday, December 7th, 6-8:30 pm
Me Too! Cafe
16755 Baseline Rd. #102
Beaverton, OR 97006

Get all the details by checking out the blog dedicated to this event:

www.holidaysoiree.blogspot.com

Check Out One of Our Upcoming Shows: Part I

Young Life Holiday Boutique

Please join us for the 4TH annual YOUNG LIFE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE! It will be an amazing afternoon of holiday shopping for handmade items made by local artisans! Don't forget -- 15% of all sales will be donated to Young Life in addition to the proceeds of some silent auction/raffle items provided by some of the artisans.

Sunday, December 6th, 2-6 pm
NLF Conference Room:
717 Tacoma Avenue South
Tacoma, WA 98402

ARTISTS THAT WILL BE SHOWING:
Hum Designs Jewelry (Semi-precious stones set in sterling silver & 14kt GF)
by Shannon Stewart
http://www.humdesigns.com

Plum Tot (Unique Baby Essentials)
by Ami Roberts
http://www.plumtot.com

Bow Dacious (Designer Hairbows and Headbands for Girls)
by Anna Petree

CandleDance (Handmade Soy Candles with Autumn, Christmas & Aromatherapy scents)
By Crystel Raines
http://www.candledance.com

Hand Maid Foot Prince (Baby Blankets & Spats)
By Linda Hannigan
http://www.handmaidfootprince.com

Lillibelle (Felted Purses, Scarves, Accessories & Children's Clothes)
By Abby Schuette

Whimsical Wireworks (Tea Light Lanterns & Fused Glass)
By Lisa Caldwell

Carol's Bakery Basket (Gourmet Treats & Retro Aprons)
By Carol Lockman

Petal Custom Floral Design Raffle
By Casie Swanson

Towne House Creations (Gift Items & Home Decor)
By Sheri Towne

Hand Made with Love (Hand crafted greeting cards, note cards, monogrammed cards, invitations, announcements and more)
by Sandra Kuharic and Joan Whitlock

Tiny House (Unique gift items such as pin cushions, crayon rolls, pouches, bobby pins for girls etc.)
by Jessie Keating
http://atinyhouse.blogspot.com/

Polka Dot Ink. (Handmade Earrings)
by Grace D and Sarah J-F

New Favorite Resource for Kid Crafts

I am creative. I am crafty. I also spent years in my former, pre-mama life as an elementary school teacher. Despite all this, I still seem to find that I need inspiration for projects and activities to do with my little guys. Crafty Crow to the rescue. I just stumbled on a wonderful blog for child craft projects that has so many lovely, inspiring ideas I can hardly stand it! The Crafty Crow has a huge archive of projects and so many different categories (age, event, medium just to name a few), you are bound to find something perfect for everyone. I also love that there are projects for even the littlest of hands. (Plus they have awesome giveaways.) Check them out!

P.S. --I know I've been absolutely terrible about updating this blog. I've got lots of posts from recent plum tot newsletters to add and some great post ideas that have just not made their way here...yet. Check back soon. They'll be here-I promise.

Hugs and Kisses for Mary Murphy

I Kissed the Baby! by Mary Murphy has been a favorite book of both my boys. It's got simple lyrical text, bold and contrasting illustrations, and a warm lovey feeling emanating from it's pages. A perfect shower gift (matched with a Plum Tot bib, perhaps?)

Check it out here.

Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

We do out best to buy local and organic produce whenever possible but I find there are times when I don't have that option. I'm often wondering about which types of produce to avoid and what is considered safer for my family and especially for my young children. The Environmental Working Group has created a Shopper's Guide to Pesticides that outlines "the Dirty Dozen" --the 12 most pesticide laden types of produce along with the "Clean 15" --the 15 kinds of produce with the lowest amount of pesticides. Click here for a wallet size print out and for more information about produce and pesticide use.

Here's the list:
Dirty Dozen (Produce with the most pesticides)

1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell Pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (Imported)
11. Carrot
12. Pear

Clean 15
(Lowest in pesticides--ranked with the very lowest first)

1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet Potato