Mommy Magic Too

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The Kentucky Derby is the perfect reason to throw a party! From food and drink to great décor, we’ll help you bring the fun and spectacle of the Derby home to your guests. So break out the mint juleps and put on your hat, it’s time to start planning your perfect Derby party.

Remember, you do not need to spend a lot of money.  A lot of these items I found at Party City, Michaels and Target.

1. Kentucky Derby Dessert Bar – Who doesn’t love a dessert bar?  Add all your favorite desserts from pie to derby themed cookies.  This is the perfect treat for adults and kiddos alike.  We found a lot of inspiration on Pinterest.

2.  Cocktails – It’s time for mint juleps!  To make the drinks fun for guests we suggest serving your cocktails out of mason jars.

3. Decorations – Try the above pictured “Run for Roses” centerpiece.  All you need is roses and spray paint a toy plastic horse gold and you have the perfect centerpiece for your party.

4. Games – We found these games on http://www.southernliving.com.  Since the actual race is so short these games were perfect for both kids and adults.

• Hat Contest
  Ask your guests to wear hats to your party and encourage creativity by offering a prize for best hat. Award the winner with a homemade Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie or a bottle of bourbon so they can take home a little taste of the Kentucky Derby.
• Game of Luck
  Let each guest draw a horse’s name out of a hat to cheer for during the race. The guest paired with the winning horse wins a prize. Up the ante by making the prize a Jockey Silks Scarf for women or the Off to the Races Bow Tie for men from Vineyard Vines, The Official Style of the Kentucky Derby.
• For the Kids
  Set up a game of horseshoes in the yard, or have the kids bring their own stick horses for their very own Run for the Roses. (game cred. Southernlivingmagazine.com)

Happy Spring!! It truly is a reminder that all things arerenewed! One of my very favorite things to do with my kiddos, ever since they were little, is have them help plant a garden! Not only is it fun to play in the dirt, but it teaches them an important lesson in responsibility. Typically, three things are needed to help you get ready to plant a garden- sunlight, good soil and water! There are many great websites out there that help with suggestions on these things.

I want to encourage you to have your kiddos “dig in” and help you with the family garden! Here are some tips how and reasons why! Happy Planting!

1.  Get them involved!  Kids love to dig in dirt & get there little hands dirty.   Get them involved right from the start. Let them help you select what your going to grow and actually plant the seeds in the dirt.  Lettuce, green beans, and tomatoes are all easy to grow and do not require a lot of maintenance. For flowers, marigolds are a good pick!

2.  Think small.  When gardening with kids think small.  Small tools, small in size, and small attention spans.  It’s important to encourage your child to be involved in the entire process.  Planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting. Make it doable for them.   Your garden can grow a little bit each year as your children get older.

3. Life Lessons.  Growing something will give your kiddos a sense of accomplishment.  It will also help you spend some quality time outside together. More importantly, if you let them help you harvest the vegetables they might even be tempted to eat them!  They did grow them themselves!

Here is a fun and easy way  celebrate this St Patrick’s Day !

1. Taste the rainbow with a colorful fruit platter.  This platter is healthy and cute you can’t go wrong with the Pot of Gold (chocolate coins!) at the end of the rainbow fruit platter.  It’s a super fun way to serve fruit and is a hit in my house year round.

For the colors of the rainbow

Red : Strawberries cut in bite size pieces.
Orange: oranges or mandarin oranges,

Yellow: cantaloupe, pineapple chunks, or banana slices

Green: honeydew melon, bite size pieces, or green grapes
Blue/purple: blueberries, purple grapes

White Marshmallows

Chocolate Coins

The wiping…the scrubbing…spring cleaning is almost here! But don’t worry…we’ve got hacks to help you with your housework. Thank you @angelaganote and @FOX59.

Indiana University’s, @IndianaUniv, first lady Laurie McRobbie has spent her career blazing the trail and reaching out to help other women achieve their goals.  In 2010 Laurie McRobbie found Women’s Philanthropy Council (@iuwomensphilmmb) at the IU Foundation (@IUFoundation).

Photo by Tyagan Miller

Since March is National Women’s History month I would like to celebrate Laurie McRobbie.  I am so excited for my daughter to attend Indiana University this fall.  I am thrilled she has women leaders ready to inspire her and all women.

The countdown to National Women’s history day has begun!  Today I would like to celebrate Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa was a Noble Peace prize winner who devoted her life to helping India’s poor.  Her love, kindness, sympathy is an inspiration.  Mother Teresa didn’t advertise or work to convince people to follow what she did, but through her actions, she inspired people to follow God’s call.

March 8th is National Women’s History Day.  Leading up until March 8th I would like to celebrate women who have accomplished important goals in their life.

Cheers to all the extraordinary women who make a difference in our world.

Today, I would like to recognize Chloe Kim.  At 17 years old, Chloe won the gold in the women’s half pipe event at the 2018 Winter Olympics.  Thanks for following your dreams Chloe and inspiring all athletes out there.  I admire your tremendous work ethic.  It is a joy to watch you.

Photo Credit: AFP / Getty Images / Loic Venance

Thank you @Fox59 & @RayCortopassi!!!  Your kids are sweet enough…they don’t need more candy! Mommy Magic’s Mary Susan shared her ideas for do it yourself Valentine’s Day ideas that are sugar free.

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Please tune in tomorrow to @Fox59 for non candy Valentine’s Day ideas.