Cute As a Fox

Carnival Party in the Party Party

2012-01-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

Every year Me and My Insanity throws a big linky party for parties to celebrate her blogiversary. I participated last year and it is really a lot of fun. This year I am entering my Carnival Birthday party that I threw back in January of 2011. I decided to put this in the budget party category, since I worked hard to stay frugal and make every dollar count! Here's my entry to the:

Carnival Party

To get everyone in on the theme, I made invitations in the shape of tickets.

The first thing guests saw when they drove up to the party was this carnival sign. I made it by freezer paper stenciling onto a clearance furniture cover I cut up from Ikea. The whole sign cost about $1 to make, as I had the paint and ribbon on hand!

The Dessert Table:

I have never done a display table like this before and I was happy with my first try. I had to convince the husband that I couldn't just set everything on the counter, I needed a whole table! I stayed up until 3am assembling things and trying to get everything just right.

Here's a run down of everything on the table:

1 Large popcorn "bowl" $1 from Dollar Tree (I used two other popcorn bowl for popcorn on tables)
Iridescent shred from Dollar Tree
3 large lollipops from Walmart Christmas Clearance. The two smaller ones were $1 each(50% off) and the bigger one was $.75(75% off)
I made some salt water taffy skewers.
The bowl is weighted down with some pinto beans and I stuck the lollipops and skewers into styrofoam from Dollar Tree.

Here is a post about theBig Top Cupcake and Cookie, as well as the cupcake stand, HERE

We also had some fun snacks to munch on

I got the popcorn containers from Dollar Tree for 2/$1
They were filled with licorice, red/white striped candy sticks, pixie sticks, Circus Animal crackers, some marshmallow poles(10/$1 at Dollar Tree), and some heart marshmallow skewers.
I found different flavors of yogurt dipped pretzels in the bulk section of the local farmers market type grocery story(Sunflower market) I liked that they were yogurt tipped instead of candy and they had some great flavors.

The cotton candy board was a foam board from the dollar store that I wrapped in Christmas wrap. I packaged the cotton candy myself from big containers of cotton candy I found in the Walmart Christmas clearance.

Here is a close up of the skewers.

I found some cute heart shaped marshmallows at Dollar Tree and so I skewered them with white and pink taffy. Some were just marshmallows and some were a mix.

If you want more information on the cotton candy board, you can find that post HERE.
The Ferris Wheel filled with Taffy, I talked about HERE

The whole thing one more time:

I am really happy that I was able to do a dessert table on a budget. Everything I bought was on clearance, on sale, or from Dollar Tree. That makes me happy!

Party Activities:

I made a big top pinata out of crepe paper and a hat box. Tutorial HERE.

I asked my sister in law to do some Face painting with dollar store brushes and some Hobby Lobby face paint(40% off of course!) ;) .

We had a fun photobooth set-up for everyone to monkey around in. It came from Hobby Lobby for about $7 after coupon.

Photo props, came from the Dollar store too.

Sticking with the carnival theme, I scoured Dollar Stores and Christmas clearance to come up with a good assortment of prizes for a prize booth. The most expensive item on the table cost only $1.

After a great party, you can't forgot to thank your guests. I took pictures of the guests in the photobooth and sent everyone a personalized photo thank you card. The photo cards were clearance in the Target Dollar spot.

This post was a compilation of about 5 different party posts I did back at the beginning of 2011. If you want more information, you can find all of the original posts here: http://www.cuteasafox.com/2011/01/carnival-party-table-of-contents.html

Winter Party: Penguin Jello w/ Download

2012-01-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

It has taken me nearly a week to get this post done mostly because I wasn't sure the best way to approach it. I learned a lot of things with this technique. So... I will tell you the best way to make it and at the end I will tell you the missteps I took on this first attempt. That way you don't have to make them yourself!

I saw this really cute penguin and polar bears party that really inspired me. You can see it here at Giggles Galore. That's also the place we got the idea for the cute snow globe cake. Giggles Galore had individual cups of jello and each had a penguin fishing on it. I decided it would be really fun to up-size the whole thing and make a big jello "lake" for some penguin fishing!

Ingredients:
2 - 1 ounce boxes of Knox gelatin (8 - 1/4 oz packets)
2 liter Lemon Lime Soda
Blue Food coloring
Swedish fish - I found mini swedish fish at my local candy store
Trifle Bowl

Directions:

Heat 6 cups of lemon-lime soda to boiling.
Sprinkle gelatin over 2 cups of cold lemon lime soda in a large bowl. Let stand 1 minute.
Add the hot juice to the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved. About 5 minutes.
Add a few drops of blue food coloring to get a nice shade of blue for the water
Pour the gelatin mixture into the trifle bowl and refrigerate until firm.
Prior to serving, cut a slit in the jello and slide the swedish fish in. The fish will soggy and liquify if left in the jello for too long. Serve the jello within 6 hours of inserting the fish. I focused on the perimeter of the bowl, for the best visual effect.

Fishing Penguin
Supplies:

Penguin Image

Right Click on the penguin you want, select View Image, and then save to your computer or print.
Lollipop Stick
Bakers twine, string
toothpick
hot glue
1 Swedish fish

Directions:

Print the penguin on white card stock and cut out. (I used a glitter card stock. I should have kept it on plain white to back the colors pop more) I am also including an SVG file if you want to cut and piece the penguin yourself with your personal cutting machine.You can download the SVG file here: http://www.4shared.com/file/J_HwWElC/PenguinScarf.html - See Important note at the bottom
Wrap your twine around the end of the lollipop stick a few time and secure with glue. I used tissue paper yarn because that is what I had on hand.
Use a toothpick to poke a hole through the Swedish fish and insert the other end of the twine through the fishes head. Note: It might take a bit of adjusting to figure out how long the twine should be. It all depends on where you put the fish in the jello lake.
Cut a shallow slit on the surface of your jello and insert half of the "hooked" Swedish fish
Glue the penguin on the slide of the trifle dish. I used hot glue and it came off just fine at the end of the party.
Glue the lollipop stick fishing pole so that it looks like the penguin is holding the pole. The pole is secured to the back of the penguin. You may need to trim the lollipop stick as well.

This post is getting long but I have to include the big mistakes I made.

I used a blue gatorade instead of Sprite and food coloring. Result: It was just nasty tasting. Poor judgement on my part I guess.
I made the whole thing the night before. The fish got all soggy and weird. When I went to serve it, it just didn't look so appetizing.
I tried to insert the fish as the jello was setting up. It actually worked okay, but that meant the fish were in the jello a long time. See #2 above.

Important: The Penguin image was created by me to be shared by me for FREE. Do not redistribute the image or SVG file without prior consent and without linking back to cuteasafox.com. Under no circumstances is this image to be sold.

Thanks for the cooperation. I think we have one or two more Penguin Party posts!

Special thanks to Vanessa for the pictures in this post. She is a lifesaver.
Vanessa also did a post about the cakes she made, in case you missed them: http://sewcakemake.blogspot.com/2012/01/winter-cake-anyone.html

Winter Party: Cake

2012-01-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

I mentioned it a lot on Facebook, but I think it barely got a mention here. Last weekend, I had a joint birthday party for my kids. My daughter's birthday is December 5, and my sons birthday is January 7. They are close enough together and then when you throw Christmas in the middle of it, it just makes sense to have a joint party.
This year I was trying to keep it simple. I'm not sure how successful I was with that. I think all that really meant was that I didn't make decorations and we had an extremely reduced guest list. I do have to say this, my parents offered their home for the party and it was a huge help. They did a lot of work before and at the party, and I am so grateful for their generosity.
I wasn't going to have a theme for the party, until the after Christmas clearance sort of picked it for me. A winter themed party with lots of penguins and snowmen.

First I want to show you the cakes. The cakes were made by the amazing Vanessa of The Sew-er, The Caker, The Copycat Maker. I have been coveting her cakes for quite some time, so I was really excited to finally have her make two for me. I told her I wanted two small cakes, mostly for blowing out the candles with. She totally delivered and then some. I loved them so much.

Here is a close-up of the snowman cake.

A super close-up of the snow globe on top. I love the snowflake buttons glues on top of wire. It is so stinkin cute.

The kids were totally fighting over the fondant lollipops. Oh and check out the details on the webbed feet. Everyone was seriously awed. I am amazed every time I see Vanessa's work. She is an artist.

Check out the inside of the cakes too. Vanessa did a zebra stripe technique in both of them that was really cute. Vanessa really knows how to go for the wow factor!

Here is the whole dessert table. We will be talking about the penguin fishing jello and the cupcake ball fondue in the next post!

Guac off Recipe Contest

2012-01-09T13:00:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Avocados from Mexico for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

The cowboy caviar with avocados recipe that I posted a while back seemed to be a pretty big hit. Today I will be sharing with you the recipe I submitted for the Avocados from Mexico Guac Off Recipe Contest.

First let me explain what the contest is all about. Avocadoes from Mexico is hosting a contest to find the ultimate guacamole recipe. There are some really great prizes you can win too. Three winners will receive an iPad 2 and autographed cookbook by Celebrity Chef Roberto Santibañez. Seven runners-up will receive a $200 grocery gift card and autographed cookbook by Celebrity Chef Roberto Santibañez. On top of that, there will be 10 random drawings for a $100 grocery gift card. So really there is no reason not to enter your best guacamole recipe.

How to enter:

Head over to Avocados from Mexico on Facebook and submit your recipe between now and January 20, 2012. Click on the "Guac Off" link to enter your recipe. Once you enter your recipe, you can share with all your friends.

Here is the recipe I submitted for Ranch Guacamole. I am a ranch-a-holic so this is perfect recipe for me. Not to mention that guacamole is the perfect party food.

Ranch Guacamole
3 large avocados, halved, pitted, and peeled
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 large Anaheim chile, diced
3 plum tomatoes, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 (1 ounce) package Ranch Seasoning Mix
Salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl, mash the avocados until chunky with a fork. Add in the cilantro and chile. In another bowl, combine the lime juice and ranch mix. Add to the avocado mixture along with the tomato. Salt and pepper to taste and stir gently. Serve at room temperature.

If you need some inspiration, you can check out Avocados from Mexico recipes. I hope you get inspired to create a delicious guacamole recipe. Don't forget to enter by 1/20/12 for your chance to win!

Rice Krispies Making Memories Challenge Grand Prize

2011-12-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas I got some great news. Team Phoenix won the Motherhood Rice Krispies Making Memories Challenge for the whole year! That means that when the scores from each challenge were totaled up, we had the most points. We were totally blown away, because we had some seriously tough competition. I thought it would be fun to recap the projects we made this year. You can click on the title of each project to go to the post with the full recipe.

Chewy Gooey Rice Krispie Chicks and Easter Display

Rice Krispies Easter Basket Tutorial: http://www.cuteasafox.com/2011/04/rice-krispies-easter-basket.html
Rice Krispies Treat Topiary Tutorial: http://www.cuteasafox.com/2011/04/rice-krispie-treat-topiary.html

Rice Krispies Stuffed Peanut Butter Pops

I created the Rice Krispies Treat Ice Cream cones for this challenge. It has been one of my most popular posts this year! Tutorial: http://www.cuteasafox.com/2011/07/kelloggs-rice-krispies-ice-cream-cones.html

Caramel Apple Rice Krispies Treats

Rice Krispies Treat Winter Wonderland featuring Swirly Peppermint Roll-Ups

Cocoa Krispies Reindeer: http://www.cuteasafox.com/2011/11/hot-cocoa-krispies-reindeer.html

I have really enjoyed working with all of my Team members:

Jax of Aly & Ash and Jacquilyn avery Photography
Kristyn of Lil Luna
Wendy of Around my Family Table and East Valley Mom Guide

Working with theMotherhood.com has been really so amazing too. I want to thank everyone that liked our pictures, or helped spread the word. It really meant so much to us.

You can check out all the different teams entries for the whole year over at the Rice Krispies Making Memories Circle on the Motherhood. It is pretty sad that the whole thing is over. I would love to do it again. I think it is a safe bet that I will continue to create Rice Krispies treat recipes just for the fun of it. I am officially hooked!

Mens BBQ Apron

2011-12-27T14:09:00.000-08:00

A while back my sister was on vacation in Maine and saw this men's BBQ apron that her boyfriend really liked. He went to school in Maine, and I guess residents of Maine really do like lobsters! The price tag however was $75. Yowsers! She asked if I could help her create something similar and so we got to work.

Inspiration Apron ($75):

Our apron (way less than $75): The best part was that when he opened the apron, he thought my sister had gone back and paid the money for the apron. Win!

Here is another shot of the apron:

To make the apron, we modified this apron pattern found at WeAllSew.com.
Modifications we made:

Add 6 inches to the length. We wanted it to hit right around the knee
For the neck strap, I added D-rings to one side instead of the grommets.
Added two pockets to the front for tools.

For the lobster, I created a lobster SVG file and made a freezer paper stencil. Here is the lobster silhouette as a JPEG.

You can download the file in SVG format here: http://www.4shared.com/file/mt5AYEbD/lobster_silhouette.html
Download Instructions: Click the Blue Download Link button. Wait for the 20 second clock to count down. Click the "Download File Now" link that will appear.

A BBQ apron makes a great present for the men in your life. Assuming they like to Barbecue of course! :)

I hope everyone had a great holiday! My family had a wonderful Christmas, but I am looking forward to getting back to the regular pace of life!

Glass Teacher Ornaments

2011-12-21T01:59:00.000-08:00

These ornaments are probably too late for teacher gifts this year, but you could always pin it for next year!

Before we talk about the teacher ornaments I made, here is a little back story. My Mom was looking for some ideas for little ornaments to give the women in her church and per usual, Vanessa from The Sew-er, The Caker, The Copycat Maker came to the rescue with these amazing glass ornaments.

Back in August, I helped my Mom make somewhere around 80 of these nativity ornaments. I was sworn to secrecy though, she didn't want any of the recipients seeing their present on my blog. To save a few steps we copied the nativity directly onto the transparencies and then cut out the ornament shape.

These nativity ornaments got the ball rolling and I thought it would would be fun to make some ornaments for my kids teachers using the same principal.

I designed the ornaments and printed them out on regular paper.
Then I headed over to Office Max and had them make color copies onto transparencies.
Cut out the ornament shape using this template.

Right click and select 'save image'
Roll the transparency up and insert into the ornament.
Using a funnel, insert snow. In these case I cut up metallic paper shred in school colors to make some fun confetti.
You will need to pull the transparency up slightly and trim the very top of that little rectangle.
Put the ornament top back on and you are all set!

If I have left something out, please feel free to ask me with questions. You could also check out Vanessa's amazing ornaments. She probably has it covered.

Snow Globe Gift Card

2011-12-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a short and sweet post. Last Thursday I came down with some sort of awful sickness and I still feel pretty terrible. I wanted to share a quick idea with you that you could still pull off before Christmas.

I give plenty of gift cards for Christmas, and I feel just fine about it. I thought it would be fun to spruce up the presentation just a bit though. I found these photo snow globes at CVS and put a printable Amazon gift card inside. My seventeen year old nephew seemed to like the idea and it got lots of oohs and ahhs from the family. If your gift card won't fit, you can make your own print with the store and dollar amount, and then tape the actually gift card to the bottom of the snow globe.

Here are the other ways, I spruced up my gift card presentation:

Attach a Gift card to the back of a lollipop
Buy an inexpensive pair of slipper socks and stick the card inside
Tape the gift card to the tag of a water bottle. I got my Brother-in-law a bottle featuring his favorite sports team and taped a gift card to the bottle.

Do you give gift cards? Share your ideas for sprucing up the presentation in the comments. I would love to hear how you do it!

Gift Card Weekend

2011-12-11T02:01:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gift Card Weekend for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know about you but we usually purchase a handful of gift cards each holiday season. From the hard to shop for to the people who prefer being able to pick out their own gifts. I am totally happy to oblige.

Have you ever heard of Gift Card Weekend? I hadn't until just recently myself. Let me tell you how it works. Purchase a gift card at participating retailers, then redeem them the weekend of January 6 - January 8, 2012 and get special deals. In essence, you are increasing the value of the gift card you purchased. This is great news in my opinion. I love stretching my dollars or helping someone else do the same thing.

Here are a list of all the participating retailers:

-JCPenny
-Regal Cinema
-Subway
-Sephora
-Applebee's
-Bass Pro Shops
-Adidas
-Buca di Beppo
-Lowe's
-Spa Finder
-Marriot
-Giant Eagle

You can check out the GiftCardWeekend.com for a list of the perks being offered by each retailer.

I have some even better news, in order to get everyone excited about Gift Card Weekend, Gilbert the Gift Card Machine is giving away gift cards everyday on Facebook. All month long, there will be giveaways to some of the participating retailers I listed above. For example, 12/10 - 12/18 the giveaway is for a $25 Applebee's gift card!

Entering is very simple. All you need to do is 'like' Gift Card Weekend on Facebook. Share with your Facebook friends and you can receive an extra chance to win for every 'like' you influence. Then you just need to keep an eye on the Gift Card Weekend Facebook page to see all the different giveaways for the month.

Good luck to everyone! I hope you win some gift cards!!

Christmas Ornament Cupcakes

2011-12-06T09:42:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There's no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.

My youngest just turned four and at her preschool, that means you get to bring cupcakes. Her birthday is so close to Christmas, I thought it would be fun to make some fun Christmas cupcakes. After much searching, I found some cute inspiration from Hello, Cupcake! over on the Duncan Hines website. Here are the Ornaments Cupcakes that I came up with.

These cupcakes were so fun and easy to make. They are really great for any kind of holiday entertaining you want to do. These would even be great for a girls night in. You just need to whip up some cupcakes from Duncan Hines cake-mix before the event and you and your girlfriends can decorate cupcakes while you sit and chit chat.

Christmas Ornament Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 box Duncan Hines cake mix - I used the Moist Deluxe Devil's Food
Water, Oil, Eggs
1 can Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle Classic Vanilla Frosting
Sanding Sugar - I used gold, silver, red, green
Spice or gum drops
Licorice laces
Toothpicks
Gel frosting writers
Assorted candies, and sprinkles for decorating

Directions:

Make your cupcakes according to the directions on your Duncan Hines cake mix box.
Let cupcakes cool completely.
Working with one cupcake at a time, frost with Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle Classic Vanilla Frosting and press the cupcake into a bowl of sanding sugar.
Add sprinkles, candies, licorice, or gel frosting to decorate your cupcake.

Time to make the ornament top. Use a toothpick to poke two holes in the top of the spice drop. Insert the licorice laces into the holes you just made. I used the toothpick to help me push the licorice in. put a small amount of frosting on the bottom of the spice drop and set on the cupcake.

I thought it was funny that one of the simplest ornaments was my personal favorite.

Have I persuaded you include these scrumptious cupcakes at your next holiday function? I sure hope. I really loved making them. There is something very relaxing about getting creative with your food. Whether they are eating them or decorating them, these cupcakes are sure to be a big hit with the kids and adults!

Remember to check out Duncan Hines' website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.

Simply Dressed Caesar Bacon Green Beans

2011-12-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

Growing up I thought I despised green beans. I was never going to eat them, and you couldn't make me. Turns out that I despise CANNED green beans. A few years ago a family member brought this green bean side dish made with fresh green beans to Thanksgiving and it was amazing! When I was given the chance to review Marzetti Simply Dressed, I knew that I wanted to revise this family favorite and incorporate some Simply Dressed Caesar dressing. I loved it and I can't wait to share it with you!

First I want to tell you a little bit about Simply Dressed dressings. Each dressing is all natural. I could pronounce and recognize each and every ingredient on the list. The dressings are kept in the refrigerated section of the produce section. I found it next to all of the bagged salads. I know that retail prices vary from store to store but I found the Marzetti Simply Dressed for $2.99 full retail price. That is definitely a price point that I can work into my budget.

Before I used the dressing in a recipe, I decided to give it a taste and see how it compared to other dressings that I have had. It is delicious! The taste and smell were wonderful. It had a great texture and you could differentiate the different ingredients as you ate them. It wasn't some big homogenous mixture that was Caesar "flavored." It had a depth of flavor that frankly I was surprised to find in a bottled salad dressing. It tasted like it belongs on a $15 caesar salad at a trendy restaurant.

Now that you're salivating, here is the recipe!

Simply Dressed Caesar Bacon Green Beans

Ingredients:

¾ lbs fresh green beans
6 slices of bacon (chopped)
Marzetti Simply Dressed Caesar dressing
2-3 cups of water

Directions:

Brown chopped bacon in a large skillet.
Drain the grease if necessary, but do not clean the pan.
Add the green beans, add enough water to cover the green beans.
Cook on low heat for 30 minutes or until the beans are cooked.
Use a slotted spoon to serve the bacon and green beans.
Drizzle the top with Marzetti Simply Caesar dressing.
Serve to the hungry masses!

Back at the beginning of this post I professed my love for fresh green beans. Well, adding the all natural Marzetti Simply Dressed Caesar was a no brainer. Seriously, this dish is awesome! It doesn't hurt that it has bacon in it either. Everything is better with bacon!

Marzetti Simply dressed comes in a variety of flavors including:

Balsamic
Blue Cheese
Caesar
Champagne
Coleslaw
Ginger Sesame
Greek Feta
Pomegranate
Ranch
Strawberry Poppyseed
Thousand Island

I am really interested in trying the Balsamic, Coleslaw, and Pomegranate varieties too. I will of course be having my Caesar dressing in a traditional salad too. Yum!
One last time, I am going to ~~demand~~ encourage you try out this green bean recipe or at least bookmark it for later. This would be a great one to take to your next holiday potlucks. I know that my cousin now has to bring her green beans to every family function because they are so good. I really think you would have everyone asking for your Caesar dressing recipe if you brought this dish. ;)

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

Minky Bear Hat

2011-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes I see an idea or a tutorial on a blog and I have to make it NOW. This was the case with this Bear-y Cute hat tutorial by Jessica at Happy Together. Not only was the cuteness factor through the roof, but it also seemed totally doable for my sewing level. I would probably call myself an advanced novice.

My in-laws do a Christmas gift rotation and this year I hit the jackpot because we give to my brother-in-law that just had a brand new baby. She is two weeks old, so she is super brand new.
I ran to Target and picked up a cute Baby's First Christmas sleeper, some socks, and then to the craft store for all the supplies for the hat.

Here is the hat I made! I followed the tutorial exactly and it came out perfect.

There are two things I would change. The first, I would make the flip up portion of the hat a little bigger. I made mine smaller than the tutorial, but I think maybe I should have stuck with what Jessica did. As for the other thing I would change, I would never photograph on a red background again. I am investing in a white foam board. Yikes!

Here is the whole set for my niece's first Christmas. That little green bow is in case my sister in law wants to change out the ribbon on the hat.

I asked my sister in law to take a picture of my cutie pie niece in her hat and here she is! I love sleeping babies. :)

There is one other thing that made me really excited about this project. I finally made something I was proud enough of to put my Cute as a Fox label in. My friend Julie, It's Sew Stinkin' Cute, bought them for me but I haven't done much sewing lately. I love them! Thanks Julie!

Here is the link to the tutorial over at Happy Together again: http://www.happytogethercreates.com/2011/11/beary-cute-hat-tutorial.html
Thanks for the great tutorial, Jessica!

CLOSED: $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

2011-11-29T21:18:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone that entered. The giveaway winner, picked by random.org was comment 163 from Amy of uTry.it. Congrats Amy!

It's time for the last $100 giveaway of the year. It's a little sad if you ask me. I have loved working on these projects and having opportunity to give away $100 each time.
To refresh your memory, here is the Rice Krispies Winter Wonderland that we built:

Featuring our Swirly Peppermint Roll-ups:

Here is how you can enter the $100 Visa gift card giveaway:

1. Visit Kellogg's Rice Krispies on Facebook and like them-1 entry-

2. Like Cute as a Fox on Facebook.

{Already do? Just remind me!}
-1 entry-

3. Follow me on Twitter (CuteAsAFoxBlog)
-1 entry-

4. Follow my Blog with Google Friend Connect.
Already do? Just remind me!
-1 entry-

5. Tweet, Facebook or Blog about this Giveaway.
-1 entry-

(tweet: I entered to #win a $100 #giveaway from #RiceKrispies with @cuteasafoxblog ends 12/06. Enter here: http://cuteasafox.com )

**Please leave a separate comment for each entry along with your email address. I will pick a new winner if I do not have an email address for you.**

Each member of the team will also be giving away $100, check out their blogs for more chances to win.
Ashley - Cute as a Fox
Jacqui - Aly & Ash
Kristyn - Lil Luna
Wendy - Around My Family Table

Giveaway ends at Midnight Eastern on December 6th. The winner will be announced on December 7th, 2011. Coming up on December 8th, 2011 you can head over to the Rice Krispies Making Memories Circle on The Motherhood for a special live chat.

Abbreviated Rules. No Purchase Necessary. Begins no earlier than 12:00:00 AM (ET) on 11/14/11 and ends no later than 11:59:59 PM (ET) on 12/20/11. For complete Official Rules, go to http://web.mediacdt.com/docs/RKBloggerHolidayRules.pdf

Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Subject to complete Official Rules. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: The Motherhood; www.TheMotherhood.com.

Gifts, a craft, and a giveaway

2011-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

The giveaway is CLOSED. Thanks to everyone that entered!
Today's post is an exciting one. We get to talk about some great and easy gift ideas, a quick and simple holiday craft, and a giveaway! Yep, it is another giveaway. This is the season of giving after all. Stick around to the bottom of the post for all the giveaway details.

I don't know about you, but right now I am in the midst of doing my holiday shopping. At this point I am left with the people that are just plain hard to shop for. One of those people is my sister. It's not that she is picky, she just seems to buy things when she needs them, so her Christmas wish list is usually small or nonexistant.
P&G gift sets to the rescue! P&G has put together a whole line of gift sets that are available in stores right now. They are thoughtful, useful, and convenient. With a suggested retail price of only $10, they are very budget friendly too.
One of the sets that I would personally like to see in my stocking is called Soothing Moments.

The gift set contains:

Olay Luscious Embrace Cleansing Bodywash 8.4 oz
Olay Luscious Embrace Body Lotion 8.4 oz
Febreze Lavender & Vanilla Comfort Candle
Olay Luscious Embrace Body Bar 4.25 oz
Bath/Shower Pouf
Bonus 1-year subscription included from choice of six magazine titles

I can just imagine the lavender and vanilla washing away all the stressful hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Please visit the P&G Beauty Facebook page or more information on the gift sets.

Now it is onto the easy holiday craft! I am going to tell you how to make these cute jingle bell napkin rings. Each ring takes less than 5 minutes to make! I love crafts that are quick and easy but deliver a big visual impact. That is some stress free holiday entertaining right there. :)

Jingle Bell Napkin Rings

Supplies:

24 gauge jewelry wire - or whatever you might have on hand
Small bells - approximately 18 bells per ring

Instructions:

Using wire cutters, cut about 6 inches of jewelry wire.
Loop the wire through the top of one on your bells. Make sure the end of the wire is pointed down inside the bell, to avoid getting poked later on.
String the bells on the wire, alternating colors.
Loop the wire through the last bell to hold it in place. To make this project more cost effective, the bells only cover the top half of the napkin.
You should have some wire left. Take the remaining wire and loop is around to the first bell. Once again, wrap it around the bell and make sure the wire is pointing down.

Now I am so excited to tell you about the giveaway. P&G is giving one lucky reader a gift basket with $90 worth of P&G products. The gift pack includes the
Olay Luscious Luxuries Set pictured here.

Also included are products from:

Crest
Covergirl
Clairol
Ivory

Giveaway requirements:The giveaway is now CLOSED!
Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment and share a tip or story about how you create simple, special holiday traditions in your home. I get to send in my two favorite tips and P&G will be making a top 10 list!

Optional Entries: You must do the mandatory entry in order for the optional entries to count:
1. Follow Cute as a Fox with Google Friend Connect. It's the "Join this Site" button the side bar
2. Follow Cute as a Fox on Twitter (Twitter handle: Cuteasafoxblog)
3. Like Cute as a Fox on Facebook. http://facebook.com/cutesafox

Leave me one comment for each entry. Make sure I have your email address in at least one entry. No email address, no winning. The giveaway ends Monday, December 5, 2011 at 10pm Arizona time(Midnight EST). I will notify the winner via email. Good luck everyone and try to keep your holidays stress free this year!

Official Rules: No purchase necessary. US Residents Only. Must be over 18. Giveaway will end on December 5, 2011 at 10 pm MST. One winner with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected.

Disclaimer: I received a gift and a stipend to tell you about keeping your holidays stress free. All thoughts, opinions, and craft ideas are solely mine.

Hot Cocoa Krispies Reindeer

2011-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

Since first revealing our Rice Kripies Winter Wonderland, I have gotten a lot of positive feedback about the reindeer. I thought I would give you all the details so you can make them too! Using hot cocoa in these treats give it an extra boost of chocolate flavor plus an enhanced brown color too!

Hot Cocoa Krispies Reindeer
Ingredients:
1.5 Tbsp butter or margarine
2 cups mini marshmallows (or 1/2 of a 10 ounce bag)
1 packet hot cocoa mix
3 cups Cocoa Krispies
Pretzel Twists - antlers
Pretzel sticks - legs
Optional Ingredients
Chocolate Almond Bark
Candy eyes
Black Gel icing
Candy for a nose

Prep Work

Cut pretzel twists in half to create antlers. I broke quite a few pretzels before I was able to get antlers I liked, so don't get frustrated. Using a sawing motion with a knife might help you get less breakage.
If desired, dip pretzel sticks in melted almond bark for legs. You can see in the pictures that two reindeer have dipped legs and one doesn't. I think they look cute either way.

Preparation Instructions

Melt the margarine over low heat on the stove top.
Add the marshmallows to the butter and stir the marshmallows melt to prevent burning
Once the marshmallows have melted completely, mix in the hot cocoa mix and stir until incorporated.
Remove from the heat and stir in the Coca Krispies.

Assembly Instructions

While your Hot Cocoa Rice Krispies are warm, form a small round ball for the head and a larger shape for the body.
Gently push the pretzel antlers into the side of the reindeer's head. If you are having trouble getting them to stay in, you can "glue" them in with some melted chocolate.
Using melted almond bark attach candy eyes and a nose of your choice. I used a mini juju bee, the end of a gingerbread candy corn, and some black glitter gel icing for my three noses.
Now take your reindeer body and insert the four legs. Each of the legs was about 1/2 to 2/3 of the pretzel stick length. You can always make them shorter or even them out if necessary.
Insert half a toothpick into the front of the reindeer body and slide the head on.

CLOSED: Black Friday Mystery Box Giveaway!

2011-11-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

The giveaway is now closed. Congrats to commenter #30, Gianna!

Is everyone getting their shopping on? I do love the shopping olympics, aka Black Friday. On this most wonderful holiday weekend I am teaming up for a mini giveaway hop with my other blog, East Valley Mom Guide and the contributors on that blog to bring you a bunch of cool giveaways. The giveaways run from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. At the bottom of this post you can see a list of all the blogs participating!

My giveaway here is going to be a bit of a mystery. Here is what I can tell you. I am going to take a Large Priority Mail Flat Rate box and STUFF it full of crafty goodness. I mean really jam pack that thing.

I am not telling exactly what is going in it, but there will likely be products from:

Mod Podge
Elmers
X-acto
DISChangers
Gorilla Glue
Crafty Chica
and whatever other fun prizes I can fit in the box.

Here are the entry requirements. Leave one comment for each entry.

1. Follow my Blog with Google Friend Connect. (It's the Join This Site button the side bar.)

- 1 entry -

2. Follow East Valley Mom Guide with Google Friend Connect. (Follow the link and follow that site too)

- 1 entry

3. Like Cute as a Fox on Facebook.

- 1 entry -

Giveaway Starts: 11/24 @ 10pm Arizona time Ends: 11/28 @ 10pm Arizona time. Make sure you include your email address in at least one entry. If I can't email you, I will pick a new winner.
Don't forget to go and checkout the other giveaways below!
Happy Shopping!

A Thanksgiving Song

2011-11-24T08:26:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to pop in and wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving! I thought I'd include a cute little video from my daughter's preschool class. She is on the far right.

I hope everyone gets to enjoy time with their families today.

Oh and make sure you come back and visit me this weekend. I'm having a fun Black Friday - Cyber Monday giveaway. It will be at 12am, Eastern.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rice Krispies Treat Winter Wonderland featuring Swirly Peppermint Roll-Ups

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

I could not be more excited to share our final Kelloggs Rice Krispies Challenge with you guys after what has been such a fun and creative year! For this last challenge we wanted once again to focus on the kids! During this time of year we all get to reclaim the magic, joy and excitement of the holidays so this project is really for everyone! May I present to you our Rice Krispies Treat Winter Wonderland featuring Swirly Peppermint Roll-Ups.

There is nothing more important than making memories with your kids and while making our project with your kiddos you will definitely do exactly that! So forget the gingerbread and whip up some Rice Krispies treats this year while you let your imagination run wild! From reindeer to penguins, houses to trees, there are no limits to what your very own Rice Krispies Winter Wonderland can hold!

Let’s not forget a yummy treat to snack on while you work! Featured in our Winter Wonderland as giant lollipop trees, you and your kids will love the taste of our Swirly Peppermint Roll-Ups! With only a few easy and kid friendly steps these versatile treats are perfect for parties, gifts and holiday snacks!

Swirly Peppermint Roll-Ups
yields: 1 large roll/6-8 Slices

Ingredients:

3 Tbs Margarine or Butter

6 Cups Kelloggs Rice Krispies

4 Cups Mini Marshmallows

Cream Cheese Frosting 6 Regular Candy Canes Crushed Red Food Coloring (Optional)

Directions:

1. Melt margarine or butter in a large sauce pan on low heat.

2. Add mini marshmallows and stir constantly to avoid burnt marshmallows.

3. Remove from heat and stir in 6 cups of Kelloggs Rice Krispies

4. Set aside for about 5 minutes or until the Rice Krispie treats are comfortable to handle. You want them to be warm so they are easy to work with.

5. Spray your hands with non-stick spray or coat with margarine. If the Rice Krispies start sticking to your hands, add some more non-stick spray to your hands.

6. Flatten Rice Krispies onto a greased baking sheet to create a thin flat layer of Rice Krispies Treats.

7. Evenly spread a thin layer of cream cheese frosting on the Rice Krispies and top with crushed candy cane.

8. Starting at one end, gently lift and begin rolling your rectangle long ways until you have a finished roll.

Tip: Allow roll set a few minutes in freezer or fridge before slicing.

We had so much fun getting together and creating such a delicious recipe and festive display this challenge! We are excited to share how we made the rest of our creations with you too!

Everything in our Winter Wonderland is edible and made out of Rice Krispies! We used only Rice Krispies and food safe materials when creating our display. From cotton candy snow to Rice Krispies presents with licorice ribbon, we really mean that it is ALL edible!

Each member of our team has agreed to share detailed instructions on how to make all of the projects in our Winter Wonderland. Stay tuned to all of our blogs over the two weeks so you can create a Rice Krispies winter wonderland of your own.

In the meantime, you can head over to the Rice Krispies Making Memories Circle on The Motherhood. Thursday, December 8th there will be a special live chat with all the different teams.

You can also show your support for “liking” our project on Kelloggs Rice Krispies Facebook page December 8^th-14th

And of course we will be giving away and other $100 Visa Card!!! The giveaway starts Tuesday, November 28^th! Each of our team members will be giving you a chance to win so stay tuned for details!!

Our whole team hopes that you are inspired to get in the kitchen with your kids and start making memories! Have a wonderful holiday season!

Disclosure: I am working with Rice Krispies and TheMotherhood and have received a stipend for participating in this project.

LiveOn Review

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

There is a brand new website called LiveOn, where you can create memories and time capsules and share them with your "tribe." Your tribe consists of people that you choose to let view your timeline. LiveOn is so unique because they promise to keep your memories forever. They have an intricate backup system of servers that will act as your personal vault, ensuring your stories are available for all future generations to enjoy. This idea of permanence is what stood out the most to me about LiveOn. Technology is changing so quickly I was quite surprised to hear this this company is dedicated to making sure these memories you create are available forever.

LiveOn is like a personal journal or scrapbook taken to the next level. Your LiveOn timeline is where all your memories are stored. A memory can consist of pictures, video, audio, a music soundtrack, text slides, or any combination of those things. You enter everything you want about your memory and LiveOn compiles everything into a video. One of my favorite features is that you can link your LiveOn account to Facebook and use photos from your Facebook albums in your memories. I upload a lot of pictures to Facebook and I really enjoyed this feature. You can of course upload pictures from your computer as well. After you create a memory you can also share on your Facebook page as well.

I decided to create a memory of the hot air balloon festival we attended last month. I pulled up my Facebook album, picked the pictures I wanted to use, picked a soundtrack and I was good to go.

This is the memory creation screen. The facebook album is on the right, the pics I chose on the left.

LiveOn has the option to create voice or text captions. I don't have a webcam or microphone but I would really like to try this feature out. I think it would be much more meaningful to record your voice and you can talk about the memory.


Add a text or audio caption for each picture if you like.

One of the other features I really thought was neat about LiveOn is the Time Capsule. You can have multiple pictures, LiveOn created videos, and webcam videos. You can pick when you want the Time Capsule delivered to someone. I keep thinking about what a neat birthday present this would make for a parent or grandparent. You could set up a time capsule and deliver it on your child's graduation day or wedding.

I feel like I have failed miserably at keeping a journal throughout my life, but I see LiveOn as a real chance to create my life story in a meaningful and lasting way. I also look forward to creating some nice multi-media time capsules as presents and keepsakes for my loved ones.

LiveOn has video tutorials and cheat sheets about each section of the website. I highly recommend that you watch the videos or at least read the cheat sheets. LiveOn is easy to navigate but since I have never seen another site like this, I found the additional help very useful.

The final verdict? I thought LiveOn was a unique and useful concept. Before I started using it I was expecting just another media sharing platform. I was wrong. It is new and unique and I plan to continue using LiveOn.

Thank you again to LiveOn for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about storing and sharing your most special memories. I was selected for this sponsorship by Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Learn From My Fail: Cornucopias

2011-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a reminder to go and enter the Shutterfly giveaway. It ends Saturday night and you can enter once a day!

I had big plans to show you a really cute food craft idea for Thanksgiving. I saw some cute cornucopia cake pops over HERE and thought I would put my own spin on them by using taffy to create the cornucopia. I found some caramel flavored taffy at the store and I thought that would be the perfect thing to roll out and wrap around my cake balls. Last night I made my treats and all was well. It was too dark for a photo shoot though, so I left it for today.

Here is what I found when I looked at my creations today. What on earth happened? The taffy started to slide off and ooze maybe? I don't even know what that little pile of liquid is.

Your food should never be described as "oozing"

Normally I would just write it off or revamp the idea and move on. However, I thought it might be fun to show you that not everything turns out fabulous on the first try.

I promise it did not look like this last night!

What do you think caused the problem? I'm guessing it was the moisture in the cake ball, but I don't know. How would you fix it? I loved the look before it all went sideways. I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Maybe you can regale me with a tale of one of your own craft fails. Sometimes you just need to laugh at yourself!

Cowboy Caviar

2011-11-17T18:01:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Avocados from Mexico for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Today I am sharing a recipe for cowboy caviar. I tried this recipe a few years back at a recipe exchange and boy is it delicious. My little girl is such a good eater and she loves this recipe. Really she loves anything she can call "salsa" and dip with a chip. I think she takes after her mama! :)

Ingredients:

1 can black eyed peas
1 1/2 cup petite white frozen corn
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch green onions, diced
1 small bunch cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. lime or lemon juice
1 can black beans
2 avocados, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 jalapeño, minced
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 tsp.cumin
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:
Rinse beans and drain, then mix with corn. Prepare tomato, cilantro, avocado, green onions, jalapeño, and garlic. Mix with beans and corn. In separate dish mix together oil, vinegar, juice, cumin, and salt and pepper. Toss with bean mixture. Serve with tortilla chips or serve as a main dish salad. Note: Sometimes I leave out the jalepeño for less heat.

Did you notice that the cowboy caviar has avocados in it? Did you know avocados have the vitamins and nutrients essential for child development and growth? That’s right; avocados aren’t just for adults and guacamole anymore. Just 3 slices of this creamy green fruit (yup, it’s a fruit!) packs potassium, fiber, folate, vitamin C, E and those B-complex vitamins that support memory and brain function. If they don’t love them already, the Avocados from Mexico Mini Chef Video Contest is a great way to introduce your kids to them!

CONTEST INFORMATION:

Starting November 14th, Avocados from Mexico is hosting a video contest for parents of children ages 5-15. Submit a 1-3 minute video of your child/children preparing an avocado dish and be sure to have them include why they love avocados and the catchy Avocados from Mexico jingle found on their website. Videos will be judged on the Mini Chef’s personality and the presence of avocado.

One grand prize winner gets $1,000 in cash plus an HD Camcorder (for future home videos!), a Nintendo 3DS, 2 games and a personalized Mini Chef jacket. Nine runners up win big too with an HD Camcorder, a Nintendo 3DS and a personalized Mini Chef jacket. Tons of great prizes and tons of chances to win – what’s not to love?

Get your video in by December 4th and check back on December 6th to see if your video is one of 10 finalists. Public voting will take place on YouTube December 6-11. The video with the most Likes wins and will be posted on the website December 12th.

Those are some great prizes! My five year old has an aversion to anything that is not a peanut butter sandwich so we probably won't be entering this contest, but I really encourage you to. Those prizes would make for some really great Christmas presents!

Holiday Cards Chat TONIGHT!

2011-11-15T07:51:00.001-08:00

Tonight I will be taking part in a chat with Kodak all about creating holiday cards. I hope you can join me tonight! Here are all the details.

What: A Facebook Chat called Holiday Cards 101 – How to design the best family cards. The chat is the first of a two-part series, sponsored by Kodak.

When: Tuesday, November 15, at 8 p.m. ET. It will last 1 hour.

Where: Kodak’s Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/Kodak

About the class: With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to think about creating the perfect holiday greeting card! If you’re planning to design your own this year, this Facebook chat is the place to be! Amazing creative mind and card designer Bonnie Marcus will be joining us to answer any and all questions you might have about how to make gorgeous family holiday cards. As a bonus, Bonnie will be telling us all about the cool new Kodak Picture Kiosks in Target and CVS stores, which use RSS technology to connect you directly to your Facebook albums – allowing you to retrieve your favorite pictures to use in your own photo creations!

The chat is sponsored by Kodak, moderated by Jenny Cisney, chief blogger at Kodak, and features talented card designer Bonnie Marcus.

A holiday card designed by Bonnie Marcus

I’ll be there with six other bloggers to co-host the class, and I hope you’ll join us! Here are all of the ladies that are co-hosting!

Ashley, Cute As A Fox Creations: http://www.cuteasafox.com
Jamielyn, I Heart Naptime: http://www.iheartnaptime.net
Jenn, SuperJenn: http://www.superjenn.com
Kristi & Kelli, Lolly Jane: http://lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com

Kristyn, Li'l Luna: http://www.lilluna.com
Rachel, Family Ever After: http://www.familyeverafterblog.com
Steph, Somewhat Simple: http://www.somewhatsimple.com

See you tonight on Facebook!

Shutterfly Giveaway

2011-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

I have had the opportunity to host a few House Parties and I always wish I could include my readers a little more. When I was chosen to host a Shutterfly house party, I saw my perfect opportunity! I am inviting you all to my virtual house party.

Here is the picture that I put on my Christmas card last year. I think this year we will be doing another photo with Santa. My kids are finally past the stage where Santa is terrifying, so I plan to take full advantage of these few golden years!

Here is how the virtual house party works. I am going to give away TEN prize packs. Each prize includes the following:

A code to get 15 free Holiday cards from Shutterfly
A code for 1 free photo calendar
a $10 Shopping card to Plum District (No minimum purchase required)

Shutterfly has some great tips for getting some good holiday pictures and I thought I would share those with you.
Get everyone comfortable - Make sure everyone (especially kids) are well rested and well fed.
Set the stage - A white or softly colored sheet provides a great background. Try a naturally textured background—brick walls, tall wood fences or ivy-covered outdoor walls. Make sure the space is well lit.
Shoot, Shoot, Shoot - It’s all about quantity. Don’t worry about taking the perfect photo. Just keep clicking away.
Try Props - They can really bring out your family’s personality. Musical instruments, sports equipment, hats and more can add an element of whimsy to a photo. Don’t worry about not having a “holiday” background. The card design will showcase your holiday spirit.

Get Close - Much closer than you think. Close-up shots look great in cards.
Get Your Family In Action - Skip the stiff poses. A picture of the kids playing in the snow or sand looks great in a holiday card. Let everyone have a chance with the camera. You’ll be surprised what a six-year-
old can do.
Try Different Angles - Portraits can sometimes look at, so sit, stand and kneel to energize the shot. Have parents sit and kids stand. Make a pyramid. Better yet, get the shot of the kids trying to make the pyramid. Or take a shot from a bird’s-eye view of your kids lying down.
Capture relationships, not just people - Get candid shots of your family talking to really showcase your relationships. And, make sure you take dozens of pictures to get the one shot where everyone is wide-eyed and happy.

Okay lets get back to the part about you winning some prizes. In case you forgot already, I am going to give away TEN prize packs. Each prize includes the following:

A code to get 15 free Holiday cards from Shutterfly.com (must redeem by 12/15/11)
A code for 1 free photo calendar (must redeem by 12/15/11)
a $10 Shopping card to Plum District (No minimum purchase required)

You can enter by leaving a comment for every entry:
1. Follow Cute as a Fox Creations with Google Friend Connect (It's the "Join this Site" button on the sidebar.)
2. "Like" Cute as a Fox on Facebook.

You can earn 1 entry each day for doing the following:
Vote for my Bowser and Princess Peach costume in the Dollar Tree Costume contest. http://apps.facebook.com/promotionshq/contests/150970/voteable_entries/35105404
Leave a comment for each day that you vote. You can only vote once every 24 hours.

This giveaway is special because if you enter multiple times, you can win multiple prizes. If random.org picks 3 of your entries, you will get 3 prize packages. Awesome right? So it really pays to vote everyday. :)
The giveaway will go until Midnight(AZ time) on Saturday, November 19.
Good luck everyone! Don't forget to enter everyday for your best chance to win!

Olive Oil Tasting

2011-11-11T07:01:00.001-08:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carapelli for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was recently sent a bottle of Carapelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil to taste and review. I had no idea that you have olive oil tastings much like you would have wine, coffee, or bourbon tasting. I have never invested in a good quality bottle of olive oil and I was pleased to learn so much about it.

I am going to tell you the proper way to taste olive oil. First, pour about a tablespoon of olive oil into a blue glass. Why a small stemless blue glass? The round shape fits in the palm of your hand so the oil warms and releases its aroma. The blue glass also conceals the color of the oil since color is never an indicator of quality. You can see the blue glass in the picture above. Next gently warm the olive oil by covering the glass with one hand and holding the bowl of the glass in the other.

There are four S's for tasting olive oil – Swirl, Sniff, Slurp and Swallow

1. Swirl – By swirling the olive oil in your glass, you release the oil’s esters, which are the molecules that
contain the aroma.
2. Sniff – Now inhale deeply. The aroma is the key to the fruitiness of the oil. Is it intense or is it
more subtle?
3. Slurp – Sip the oil while “sipping” in a bit of air. This slurping action emulsifies the oil and helps spread it
throughout your mouth. Take note of the various tastes and sensations. Is it fruity, peppery, smooth?
4. Swallow – Once you swallow the oil, it should leave your mouth with no aftertaste. Again, take note of
any peppery or stinging sensation in your throat.

Carapelli's line of Olive Oils have three varieties including:

Premium 100% Italian – made solely from the first cold pressing of the finest 100% Italian olives with an intense, robust flavor and aroma
Il Numerato – a supremely smooth and low acidity oil that is a result of a delicate cold pressing of olives
Organic – Obtained only from organically grown olives and produced according to organic farming standards; certified USDA organic

I had the pleasure to try the Premium 100% Italian variety. I have only really ever used olive oil in recipes and it was very interesting to taste it on its own. I was a little intimidated at first because I have never had an official "tasting" of anything. I was surprised that I really could taste the complex notes in the olive oil by following the four S's.

I have some good news for you. You can visit the Carapelli website and get a coupon so you can taste one of Carapelli's Olive Oils for yourself. You can find the $1.00 OFF coupon at www.CarapelliUSA.com

Cute As a Fox

Carnival Party in the Party Party

Winter Party: Penguin Jello w/ Download

Winter Party: Cake

Guac off Recipe Contest

Top posts of 2011

Rice Krispies Making Memories Challenge Grand Prize

Chewy Gooey Rice Krispie Chicks and Easter Display

Rice Krispies Stuffed Peanut Butter Pops

Caramel Apple Rice Krispies Treats

Rice Krispies Treat Winter Wonderland featuring Swirly Peppermint Roll-Ups

Mens BBQ Apron

Glass Teacher Ornaments

Snow Globe Gift Card

Gift Card Weekend

Christmas Ornament Cupcakes

Simply Dressed Caesar Bacon Green Beans

Minky Bear Hat

CLOSED: $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

Gifts, a craft, and a giveaway

Hot Cocoa Krispies Reindeer

CLOSED: Black Friday Mystery Box Giveaway!

A Thanksgiving Song

Rice Krispies Treat Winter Wonderland featuring Swirly Peppermint Roll-Ups

LiveOn Review

Learn From My Fail: Cornucopias

Cowboy Caviar

Holiday Cards Chat TONIGHT!

Shutterfly Giveaway

Olive Oil Tasting