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- 4 Tips to Finding the Best Cakes on the Planet
  June 12, 2019All occasions, including weddings, birthdays, holidays and anniversaries, are incomplete without a cake. Whether you are getting a cake for an event or as a dessert, your choice will determine if it was a worthwhile investment. This is why some people predictably choose the same type of cake every time they are asked about their preferred option. Factors such as the theme, flavor, and design are vital when seeking the best birthday cakes. Choose a neutral flavor Unfortunately, it is difficult to find a flavor that everyone will agree is the best when used in cakes. For example, If you are to buy a flavor that is favored by everyone in a family of four, you may be forced to buy four different flavors to make everyone happy. This may not be a realistic approach if you are purchasing a birthday cake that will be eaten by several people. Some flavors are considered neutral and acceptable by most people. Consider vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, strawberry, butterscotch, coffee, and blueberry. If in doubt, ask the cakemaker for his or her opinion. You may also request for more than one flavor if you wish. If you have doubts about the flavors, you may sample some of the cakes to help you decide. Pick an ideal theme and shape Before anything else, a cake is always judged by its outward appearance. A cake may be tasty, but if it is not attractive, it will create a bias that will affect people’s perception of its taste. This is why a cake needs to be appealing before it is cut. Having a theme will help you appreciate the cake even more. For example, if you want a birthday cake for your son, friend, spouse, or even yourself, consider a theme that is telling of the person. You may pick a child’s favorite cartoon, a fashion theme for someone interested in fashion, or a sports theme for your favorite game. Pick the right size If a tasty cake is not enough for all your guests, it may not be considered the best, both by those who were lucky to have a bite and those that missed out. It is essential for you to review the number of guests when ordering a cake. Understandably, cake may not always be enough, especially if you are hosting cake lovers. However, everyone deserves a taste. Find out cake trends Cakes have changed significantly, especially in the recent past. A few years ago, cakes were pretty basic. All one needed to do was decide the flavor and size, and pick it up at an agreed time. The flavors were limited to a few choices, the icing and finish were left to the baker to decide, and creativity was not as it is today. Today, more options are available when it comes to cake decorations. If it has been a while since you last ordered a cake, it may be best to look at the current trends before deciding on the perfect cake for your birthday. It is always best to order your cake early. This will give you the time to get the best person to bake the cake, and also for you to scout for the best cake.... Read more...
- 6 Outdoor Crafts for Kids
  June 3, 2019I’m so excited about the beautiful weather we are having lately. I want to get outside and do fun educational things with the kids. Here are 6 Outdoor Crafts for kids! Warmer weather is coming, and with all the awesomeness of vacation come the inevitable whines. Create endless spring and summer fun with these 6 outdoor craft you can do with the kids. 1. Nature Collage To start, we squirted a few colours of paint onto a piece of white cardboard. We then placed the cardboard into a plastic bag and smooshed the paint to create a colourful “canvas.” As the paint dried, The Hooligans collected plants, seed pods, leaves and flowers from around the yard and garden. They then glued their garden treasures onto the canvas to create a beautiful work of art. I hope these ideas have inspired you to get outside and discover the joys of nature-play with your little ones. If you’d like more ideas for good, old-fashioned crafts and activities, pop over and visit us at Happy Hooligans! 2. Shaving Cream Twister Twister is already a hit, but add shaving cream to the mix and this feels like an instant party – good clean, messy fun. 3. Fairy Garden Fill a plant pot with gardening soil, and encourage kids to add pebbles, moss, small figurines, twigs and greens from the garden to create a miniature “fairy garden.” Succulent plants like hens and chicks and sedums work well, as they require very little maintenance, and will survive for quite some time in your small fairy garden. 4. Yard Yahtzee Just like Yahtzee – only bigger, more colorful and suitable for your yard. Also, this project only costs $5. 5. Activity Stones Activity stones can provide hours of open-ended play opportunities for your children. Take a stroll along the beach or lake or in the park and collect smooth rocks. Back home, decorate them with acrylic paints to create dominoes, letter and number stones, X’s and O’s or story stones. For a bit of shine, polish with bees wax or add a coat of craft varnish. 6. Gutter Canal You don’t need a fancy water table to make a splash with your kids. Try this trick using a piece of gutter and create an awesome water way for toy boats. Just be sure to protect wee ones from any sharp edges. ‘ ‘... Read more...
- 6 Baby Showers Themes
  June 1, 2019Should your baby shower have a theme? Here we’ll help you find the perfect theme to kick off your new life with your baby as you explore dozens of creative baby shower theme ideas. Picking a baby shower theme should reflect the personality and interests of the parents, but narrowing down all of the options can be a hassle. Depending on if your shower is a neighborhood potluck, a gender reveal or a simple Sunday brunch, we’ve gathered hundreds of baby shower theme ideas that will delight any parent-to-be. This gender neutral baby shower theme features vintage toys, sweet baby’s breath flowers, and white decorations. Elephants make great baby shower themes for girls that your guests will never forget! Your favorite iconic children’s toy is great inspiration for a baby boy shower theme, like the classic sock monkey. Skulls and cactii from the desert are the ultimate decor for a modern chic themed baby shower right now. An amazing boy baby shower always includes adorable decorations, sweet printable details, a delicious assortment of desserts (cake, cookies, and candy) and charming details. This yellow vintage baby shower features the cutest duck printables, old children’s books, gingham checks and vintage glassware. You will be smiling over all of the bright, cheerful details. A new baby definitely calls for tossing some confetti in celebration! This confetti baby shower is a unique theme and fun way to honor an expectant mother. Recreate the look by incorporating plenty of confetti inspired dots throughout the decorations and treats. You can DIY paper circle garlands by punching circles of varying sizes in party colors and sewing them into strings for hanging. Wrap boxes in polka dot paper to display a variety of delicious treats like cookies, cupcakes and cake pops. ... Read more...
- Planning a Garden for the Whole Family
  May 27, 2019Gardens are an excellent resource for families that can be used for many things, from providing food to bringing the family itself together. However, when you’re planning the design of the garden and what you’ll plant in it, you’ll want to pay special attention to including every family member in the functionality of the final design. In this article, we’ll teach you how to do just that. Interactive Structures If you’re designing your garden from scratch, you’ll probably want to consider adding some kinds of structures to it in the process, whether this structure ends up being a shed, a swing-set for the kids, or a deck of some sort. However, keep in mind that, if you plan to live in the home for many years, these buildings need to do double-duty. If you want to install a swing-set or jungle-gym, what will you put there when the kids grow too big for it? Can you add a slide to the side of the deck to help the kids enjoy it more? Maybe you can even add a water feature to the yard that an elderly parent or relative might enjoy. Family-Friendly Plants When planting your garden, you’ll want to be extra careful about what you plant in it if you plan to share it with the family. Certain types of plants (even common garden flowers!) can be toxic to children or pets. You should do some research into these plants before you plant anything, or you can request the help of an expert who knows more about them. Common picks like foxglove, morning glory and wild black cherry are all toxic to children and pets. These plants and others should be avoided in family gardens, and if you have some growing there already, you should think about disposing of them. You’ll also want to make sure that the plants you opt for don’t obstruct or clog up your gutters. In other words, to avoid water damage, regularly check that your gutters are well-maintained and clean. Include All Ages When you’re planting your garden, make sure to ask the opinions of all family members on what should be planted in different areas of the garden. If you plan to have a vegetable area in the garden, for example, let kids and other family members pick one or more vegetables to plant there that will be their responsibility to take care of. Not only does this include them, but it also teaches them responsibility and takes some of the weight of maintenance off your shoulders. You can apply this to flowers, fruit trees, and herbs, too.... Read more...
- Memorial Day Barbecue
  May 24, 2019Memorial Day is always the last Monday in May. It is of course the day to remember all the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to this great nation. But it is also marks the beginning of summer, Yay! Traditionally it’s the first day one can wear white colored pants (remember back in the day when wearing white pants was only acceptable between Memorial and Labor Days?). It’s a day of rest and relaxation; a day to spend with family and friends; and a day to barbecue! A Memorial Day barbecue was something I always looked forward to growing up in New York. It was the first day my dad would fire up the backyard grill and the women would bring out all sorts of meats to grill, tons of side dishes, and my favorite part all the dessert! Yes Memorial Day was a big deal at our humble home in Queens. I’m not too sure if it was a big deal because my grandfather was a Captain in the Philippine/American Army led by General MacArthur during WWII, or that my great uncle survived the forced march to Corrigedor with his fellow soldiers (American and Filipino) during that same war, or if we were just a house full of first generation immigrants thankful for the welcome we received from our newly adopted country and all the opportunities it offered. Whatever the reason my family took to celebrating Memorial Day (and all the other American holidays) with a gusto only grateful immigrants can muster. So for us a Memorial Day barbecue was a definite must! Now a Memorial Day barbecue doesn’t mean you’ll just throw some hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, although you can if you like, it can be so much more fun! You can decorate using a patriotic theme, grill all sorts of meats, have all types of sides, and whatever desserts your heart desires. Think of your Memorial Day Barbecue as a trial run for the big event…your 4th. of July Barbecue! Here are some ideas and recipes to get you started! Decorate the front door (or anywhere) with a basket of flags! Just grab a bunch of small flags from Walmart or Target and fill up a small basket and tack it to your door. Or if you prefer grab some larger flags and fill up a basket you can place on the table top or even on the ground. You can even stick the flags in potted plants! Wood Pallets Paint wooden pallets of any size in patriotic colors. You can add a wooden star, or not, or paint on the stars if you’re so inclined. You can get small pallets at craft stores or even Walmart’s craft department. They make great wall or door plaques. You can find larger pallets at home improvement stores or ask your local stores if they have any from their deliveries. They’ll more than likely be happy to give you a pallet or two just so they don’t have to throw them away. Mason Jars Paint mason jars in patriotic colors using acrylic paints. They make great vases and utensil caddies for your table. Painted Cans You can also paint cans to use as utensil caddies, napkin holders, vases, centerpieces, etc. This is a cute and inexpensive way to decorate for your Memorial Day Barbecue. Colored Water Vases Don’t want to paint? No problem turn clear jars or bowls into patriotic vases with food coloring. So simple yet so pretty! Of course the most important part of any Memorial Day Barbecue is the food! Here are some yummy recipes you can try for your Barbecue! Butter Burgers Try these Butter Burgers they are the best burgers ever! Click here for the recipe! Kalbi Beef Kebabs Looking for something other than burgers and dogs? Try these Kalbi Beef Kebabs, they are awesome! You can even use them to fill small corn tortillas. Add some shredded cabbage and sprinkle with chopped green onions and you’ve got the perfect Kalbi Street Tacos! Click here for the recipe! Chipotle Lime Corn On the Cob No barbecue is complete without some corn on the cob. Try these Chipotle Lime Corn on the Cob, they are super delish! Click here for the recipe! Skillet Frozen Corn Prefer your corn off the cob? Try this Skillet Corn dish using frozen corn. Use the same seasoned butter used in the Chipotle Lime Corn on the Cob (click here for that recipe) Melt the seasoned butter in a cast iron skillet. Add Frozen Corn Sprinkle with 1 Tbs. Smoked Paprika and 1 Tbs. Chipotle Pepper Powder Keep mixing the corn so it doesn’t burn and evenly distribute the seasoning. When the corn is cooked sprinkle with chopped cilantro and squeeze the juice of 1/2 of a lime over all before serving. Garlic Parmesan Asparagus Spears Take advantage of summer veggies like asparagus. These Garlic Parmesan Asparagus Spears are super easy to make in the oven. Just take 2 lbs. spears with bottom ends cut off and arrange them in a baking pan. Mix together: 1 Tbs. Lemon Pepper, 2 Tbs. Olive Oil, 1 Tbs. Minced Garlic and drizzle over asparagus spears. Sprinkle with 1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese. Bake in 425º oven for 15 -20 minutes. Click here for more Memorial Day Barbecue ideas and recipes!... Read more...

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