Today, Kenzi, Sammi, Maddi, and I gave Mallorie her first baby shower. It was a GREAT day!!
Our theme was "Mallorie's about to POP!" We centered everything on "POP" with POPcorn, LolliPOPs, POPcorn cupcakes, Oreo POPpers, and little water bottles with cute labels on them that matched the theme. It really was fun and was a total hit with those who came!!
We had six different flavors of popcorn (recipes to follow), cupcakes, homemade Oreos, and the lollipop topiary. It was really fun!
These popcorn cupcakes were a huge hit!
We set up the dining room with her big gifts and then surprised her with them.
High chair and swing from Uncle Zack and Aunt Kenzi;
stroller and car seat from Grandpa and Grammy.
Maddi made a great blindfold-er!
SURPRISE!!!
Checking out all the tunes the swing plays.
Peeking under the car seat cover.
The diaper cake has a mere 222 diapers in it!! HUGE!
First books from Grandpa and Grammy! :)
Just the beginning of the gifts!
We had a TON of guests!!!! It was great and Mal got some amazing gifts!! We have THE. BEST. FAMILY. and FRIENDS!!!
And the fun begins!!
Kenzi, Mal, Michelle, Julie Denson, Chris Cannon
So many cute outfits!! This is going to be one well-dressed baby! :)
Pack n' Play from Grandma Forbes, Great Grandma Forbes, and Nicole
Seriously, the funniest story every about "bubble wrap"...Ann Sampson called to see where Mal is registered. She wanted to make sure she got her something Mal wanted instead of something she didn't need. I told her Mal was easy to please; she'd like anything. In the background, Mal said, "Give me bubble wrap and I'll be happy!" So...Ann bought her some super cute gifts and then...BUBBLE WRAP! It was hilarious!
Great Grandma Bunn and the afghan she made for Mal.
Aunt Sherrie made a cute dinosaur quilt with minky!
Rosalie Millard and Ann Sampson...GREAT neighbors!
Great Grandma Forbes and Nicole.
Diaper bag from Aunt Maddi...(made by Mom)
Cute quilt from Aunt Joan and cousins.
Sammi and adorable Evie Monette
Aunt Chris, Kate, Great Grandma Denson
Kenzi with Evie, Maddi-Lou, and Mal
CUTE quilt Auntie Sammi made.
So adorable!!
Mal, Sammi, and cousin Megan Denson
Great Grandma Forbes, Mal, and Lillie.
(Lillie LOVES her "Mal-Mal")
WHAT A HAUL!!!!!!!!
It was so much fun! We can't wait to have him here to see him use all the stuff she got.
THANKS EVERYONE!!!
POPCORN RECIPES
WHITE CHOCOLATE FRITO POPCORN
from YourHomeBasedMom
8 cups of popped popcorn
1 lb. (16 ounces) white chocolate or almond bark
2 cups Frito's, crushed
M&Ms
Pop corn according to package directions. I used 2 bags of microwave popcorn. Put popped corn and crushed Fritos into a large bowl. Make sure to get all of the unpopped kernels ("grannies") out or someone will break their tooth. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted. Pour melted chocolate over popcorn mixture and stir to coat completely. Pour onto a wax paper or parchment paper lined cookie sheet and sprinkle with M&Ms. Allow to cool and dry.
2 cups Frito's, crushed
M&Ms
Pop corn according to package directions. I used 2 bags of microwave popcorn. Put popped corn and crushed Fritos into a large bowl. Make sure to get all of the unpopped kernels ("grannies") out or someone will break their tooth. Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until melted. Pour melted chocolate over popcorn mixture and stir to coat completely. Pour onto a wax paper or parchment paper lined cookie sheet and sprinkle with M&Ms. Allow to cool and dry.
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn or 16 cups popped popcorn (I used 2 bags of microwavable popcorn)
1 1/2 cups dry-roasted peanuts
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pop corn and remove any unpopped kernels. Place in a large bowl and stir in peanuts. (Jennifer pops hers in a 9X13 pan and keeps it warm in a 250 degree oven)
In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, honey and corn syrup. Bring mixture to boiling, continue boiling for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not boil too long or your popcorn will be rock hard. Remove from heat.
Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir to coat. Serve warm or at room temperature.
3 bags microwave popcorn, popped (NOTE: We used 3-1/2 to 4 bags...it wasn't as gooey as 3)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (I like to use salted butter since the rest of the popcorn is so sweet)
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Pop popcorn according to package directions and make sure you get rid of any unpopped kernels. Kim prefers the movie theater popcorn but it's good with really any kind of popcorn. This seems like a lot of popcorn but trust me it will get eaten! Place popcorn in a large bowl...larger than you think you will need.
In a large saucepan melt together the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Bring mixture to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce to medium heat and add the can of sweetened condensed milk. With the rubber spatula, stir constantly for 5 minutes scraping the sides and especially the bottom of the pan to
prevent any burning. The longer you cook it the firmer the caramel will be. I like mine a little on the soft side so I like to cook it shy of 5 minutes...around 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
Pour caramel over popcorn and stir until coated. This will take a lot of stirring to get it all incorporated. It's great warm or at room temperature. Feel free to add in M&Ms, nuts, or drizzle it with chocolate. I like it plain and classic. Enjoy!
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (I like to use salted butter since the rest of the popcorn is so sweet)
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Pop popcorn according to package directions and make sure you get rid of any unpopped kernels. Kim prefers the movie theater popcorn but it's good with really any kind of popcorn. This seems like a lot of popcorn but trust me it will get eaten! Place popcorn in a large bowl...larger than you think you will need.
In a large saucepan melt together the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Bring mixture to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce to medium heat and add the can of sweetened condensed milk. With the rubber spatula, stir constantly for 5 minutes scraping the sides and especially the bottom of the pan to
prevent any burning. The longer you cook it the firmer the caramel will be. I like mine a little on the soft side so I like to cook it shy of 5 minutes...around 4 minutes and 30 seconds.
Pour caramel over popcorn and stir until coated. This will take a lot of stirring to get it all incorporated. It's great warm or at room temperature. Feel free to add in M&Ms, nuts, or drizzle it with chocolate. I like it plain and classic. Enjoy!
CINNABON POPCORN
by Our Best Bites
12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels or around 1 1/2 bags of microwave popcorn for me)
1 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
1 stick real butter (1/2 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 squares almond bark (about 4 oz) (NOTE: Evidently Almond Bark is "seasonal." Melting white chocolate from Winco is pretty much the same thing. It worked great for us!)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
*You can use air popped or microwave popcorn.
Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside. *Use a bigger bowl than you think you need.
Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more. *If you microwave it too much your popcorn will turn out really hard.
Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. *STIR MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED TOO.
Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil.
Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!
by Our Best Bites
12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels or around 1 1/2 bags of microwave popcorn for me)
1 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
1 stick real butter (1/2 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 squares almond bark (about 4 oz) (NOTE: Evidently Almond Bark is "seasonal." Melting white chocolate from Winco is pretty much the same thing. It worked great for us!)
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
*You can use air popped or microwave popcorn.
Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside. *Use a bigger bowl than you think you need.
Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more. *If you microwave it too much your popcorn will turn out really hard.
Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. *STIR MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED TOO.
Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil.
Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!
POPCORN CUPCAKES
These were so fun and pretty easy to make; just time-consuming! We made regular cupcakes (courtesy of Betty Crocker Golden Vanilla). We frosted them with Betty's Whipped Whipped Cream frosting (quite heavily). Then take miniature marshmallows and cut a cross in the top (don't go all the way through the bottom). Actually, they look a lot like molars. :) Press the marshmallows into the frosting covering the top of the cupcake. Squirt a little water on the marshmallows (we used a squirt bottle) and then shake yellow sprinkles on top. Looks just like butter on popcorn!!
