The Doodlekins Cartoon Family Blog

Easy Easter Lamb Donut Hole Treats!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:52:00 +0000

We thought this would be the cutest thing for the kids - and you - this Easter! If you folllow our last steps, even your teenage boys are going to love this Easter treat! Now, that's a rare lamb!

This is so easy! Knowing most of our customers are moms, and moms have no time, the DoodleDees and I wanted something that would be really cute, but doesn't involve cooking or baking. They are also incredibly budget friendly, and you don't have to be especially artsy. ANYONE can do this, the kids can too!

You can add these donut lambs to a bento lunch, the top of a cake, or set one on top of cupcake. You'll come up with something really clever, I'm sure!

Shopping list:

Donut holes (powdered, preferably with rasberry jelly filling!)

Pretzel sticks (2 1/2 sticks per lamb)

Marshmallows (standard sized, 1/2 a piece per lamb)

You will also need a black edible ink marker or a few chocolate chips to melt in the microwave for the eyes. If you go with the chocolate, you can dab "eyes" on with a toothpick.

If you got a dozen donut holes, this is what you'd need for that many:

30 pretzel sticks

6 marshmallows

Optional upgrade, if you've got the time and skills:

~ If you want to fancy up these lambs, melt white chocolate and dip the pretzel "legs" in. Let the chocolate cool and harden before inserting into the donut holes.

~ Another option is to use plain donut holes instead, dunk them in melted white chocolate, and roll around in coconut shreds. The only drawback is these won't work as well for the scene towards the bottom of this post because they're not jelly-filled. (You'll see what I mean!)

Cover your eyes, lamb fans. It's about to get much worse. :) We don't know if the jelly massacre you're about to see is in good taste, but the cleanup sure tasted good! We meant for it to be fun and silly, and hope we didn't offend any vegetarians, or any black bear lovers. Whether you choose to create your own jelly massacre scene (if you use jelly filled donuts), let your kids create it, or just let your kids get a giggle when they bite into the lambs and see GUTS, we hope you have a lot of fun with these Easter treats!

If you make these cute donut hole lambs for Easter or anytime (how perfect for a farm or barn themed birthday party), please share them with us!

Happy Easter!

Megan, Doodle Director

www.doodlekins.com

Who Needs More Family Unity in Their Life? (Me!)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 03:55:00 +0000

"That's my toy."

"No, it's mine!"

"I had it first."

"But it's MINE!"

Sound familiar? This could be my sister or brother and I thirty years ago, or it could be my own children now. It seems whatever one has, the other wants. (I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same!)

As a child educator since 2000, and as a mother, I am always looking for new ways to develop problem solving skills in children. When I first saw pictures of the get along shirts on Pinterest, I thought "What a clever idea that is! Yes, that would be great!" But then, I was very disturbed by the genuine distress that the children wearing the shirt were always in. Observe...

(Photos found on the web, on Pinterest, etc. No photo credit is known.)

Sadness, anger, confusion, distress... even choking on a snug neckline! That is what I kept seeing in the children's faces wearing these shirts. In some cases the children were older and appeared humiliated, while in one picture the children appear too young to comprehend the lesson.

We know the parents were just trying to teach their children a lesson, and love them very much. But, were they really getting along any better? Tough to say. From the pictures, I'm guessing "no." Not in the long term, and not in a deeper sense. There may have been improvement in their behavior out of the threat of wearing the shirt, but the opportunity to bond the children with a positive approach, teaching them to recognize their love for each other as siblings, was totally lost.

And, was it their parents' fault that these "get along shirts" aren't the best idea?

No. They were probably desperate to find a solution to siblings' fighting,

and didn't know that guidance with the shirt was necessary.

Can a child educator show parents a better way, step-by-step? YES!

So I spoke with my talented friends at Doodlekins Cartoon Families™, and we worked together to come up with a program to make the clever "get along shirt" be a real success, with HAPPY siblings!

Doodlekins™ designed a logo for a very large, extra soft, scoop necked t-shirt that could be personalized for 2-5 children, aged 3-10 years. (Worn by two children at a time, of course! In larger families, any two kiddos can be placed in the shirt interchangeably.)

The focus is on smiles and loving, and in learning more than punishing.

The shirts are personalized with the names of the siblings, and slogan:

"Side by side, together we're tied; by more than a tee...we're FAMILY!"™

2-5 customized cartoon doodle children can be added to the heart:

Drawing on my experience as a sister, elementary teacher, and mother of two, I wrote a short story for parents to read to children while they were wearing the UniTEE™ . The story was to be used as an example for siblings- demonstrating a fight they could relate to, and how the UniTEE™ helped them solve that fight and grow closer together.

The story also shows Doodlekins™ colorfully illustrated "gems" of real-life situations where siblings resent each other or argue, and how they overcome those feelings.

Doodlekins™ and I then wrote the Family UniTEE™ program together, describing exactly how and when parents should use the UniTEE™ shirt with their children. We also explained how the siblings can EARN THE SHIRT'S REMOVAL (*important!*) and how they can begin to learn and show APPRECIATION of their sibling (*very important!*)

I tested this Family UniTEE™ program on my own children first, of course; catching them at a notoriously cranky time of day. The shirt is large and comfortable, with a wide neck that fit my kiddos nicely. I was amazed at how the Family UniTEE™ program really did help them settle down from their argument, and learn to "get along" better! Since then, my children have been much more tolerant and appreciative of each other too. WOW!

You can see the sequence of events below. From the children's fight, to UniTEE™ shirt, to sitting calmly and thoughtfully for the story, to making up and playing together. THAT is a "get along shirt" that truly works. I followed this program, and it gave my children real family unity (or UniTEE™ , as we called it!)

The Family UniTEE™ program even includes a free graduation kit that is mailed to you,

with a personalized certificate, stickers and perforated coupon/mini-cards.

These tools, and more on the website, help you through critical maintenance

for many happy years to come! (My children loooove seeing themselves pictured on stickers and mini-cards, and are very proud of their graduation certificate!)

Intrigued? Want to hear more details? Check out www.familyunitee.com for more information, and have fun personalizing your children's faces and shirt colors for their very own UniTEE™ get along shirt!

* Social media fan? You can visit us at www.facebook.com/FamilyUniTEE or twitter.com/FamilyUniTEE.

* We also have a Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/FamilyUniTEE, filled with sibling fun, activities for kids, family recipes, and laughs for moms!

Until next time, I hope you and your family can enjoy some TEES and harmony in your life too- with children who really DO get along!

"It's mine."

"No, it's MINE!"

"Actually, let's share! It's ours!"

That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:06:00 +0000

It's the holiday season! Which means it's time for lots of baking and COOKIES! Combine that with eggnog, and what could be better?

I have several great cookie recipes that I usually use for cookie exchanges, but I wanted to try something new this year. So I turned to my best buddy Pinterest to see what caught my eye.

Well, lookie lookie! Stained glass cookies! Made by dropping crushed up hard candies into the centers of sugar cookies, which then melt as they bake. I could do that! Let's see, which shapes and colors do I want to use...

Looking good!

Wow, so pretty!

OK, now they're just showing off...

"Yeah, I could make those!" I thought to myself. "They would impress the socks off my Mom's Group when I bring them for our cookie exchange!"

But I forgot the one big rule of baking - don't make something new for a cookie exchange without trying it out on your family ahead of time.

So here they are, all set to go into the oven and become beautiful stained glass cookies!

Though I followed the directions exactly, removing these cookies was not a success...

So I thought, "Maybe I need to try a different shape? Perhaps those pointy stars are doomed to snap apart?"

Nope. It's not the shape that's the problem!

Not willing to toss out a perfectly good dough AND all of my backbreaking work crushing those hard candies, I thought I'd try sprinkling the candies on top of the cookies before baking.

Great, now it looks like a murder scene on my cookie sheet. Both alien and human lives were lost...

Because I am ~~stubborn~~ brilliant, I finally just mixed the crushed hard candies straight into the dough and cut cookies out of that. You can see the little bits of candy sprinkled throughout the cookies below... They were "ok", but not spectacular.

Of course, everything looks (and tastes!) better with frosting! So a generous helping of cookie icing from the grocery store helped to finish these cookies off and kept them from being a complete embarrassment at my cookie exchange.

But what a far cry these were from the stained glass cookies they were supposed to be!

Needless to say, I will not be making these particular cookies when my in-laws visit in a few weeks. But I don't want to give up on them completely because I still think they're beautiful! I just need to figure out what to do differently. Which brings me to...

I followed the directions in the stained glass cookie recipe here perfectly, but they just didn't hold up. Those candy centers kept sticking straight to the pan, though it was very generously greased each time. Do you bakers out there have any suggestions?

So I'll be using a more tried-and-true cookie recipe for my in-laws' upcoming visit... these holiday CookieKins with their faces on the edible icing transfers! (Click HERE for my previous blog with CookieKins how-to directions). Ah yes, my never-fail sugar cookies with royal icing and a CookieKins edible transfer on top are guaranteed to please.

Oh my, these are almost too cute to eat! ALMOST...

Grandaddy and Grams IRL (In Real Life)

And really, how can I go possibly wrong with pre-made sugar cookie dough?

Oh dear, I just had to ask...

Doodlekins Tutorial Part II: Choosing Your Products!

noreply@blogger.com (The Salmon Family) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:28:00 +0000

You are well on your way to some amazing Doodlekins products! If you are anything like me, you had a great time creating your Doodles, and now have to figure out just which products to order... So, here's what you need to know:

Once your Doodle(s) are created, your shopping card should be similar to this:

It will list the details for all of your created Doodles.

Next, you'll want to click on "Step 2: Next, Order Products to Put Them On!" in the yellow link at the top of the page:

A drop down menu will appear. Choose the product you'd like. (I'm choosing "Gifts and Home Decor") A page will appear with each of the products in that category. Again, I am going to choose "Personalized Pitcher" (because I really, really want one!)

Once you click on the product of your choice, you will be brought to a page where you can add final personalization details (background colors, order of Doodles, etc) There are typically a few different pictures of some completed products. Be sure to check them out- these are often great inspiration pieces!

Fill in the information as clearly as possible. There is a line for special requests- Remember, Doodlekins is such a tremendous company which prides itself on it's outstanding customer service. They will work hard to make sure your product is exactly what you want! When you're happy with your choice, click "Add to Cart" at the bottom of the page.

Voila! You've made it! You can go ahead and shop and shop and shop. Add as many products as you wish! You can add all of your doodles or even just one of them to the products by assigning them on the product's order page. (Where it says "Assign Doodles".)

Hopefully this tutorial made the design and ordering process a bit easier... It's a whole lot of fun! And remember, if at any point the process becomes confusing or tricky, NEVER hesitate to ask for help! The Doodlekins team is a great support, whether it be choosing a

background, coordinating colors, or other general questions. Don't be afraid to ask! After all, my endless questions started up a great friendship with the staff... and here I am today... blogging for them!

Good luck... and happy shopping!

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Doodlekins Tutorial Part I: Creating your Doodles!

noreply@blogger.com (The Salmon Family) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:25:00 +0000

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

NOW is the time to place those orders. Have you seen all the AMAZING new products Doodlekins is offering? Every time I check out the website- there is something new and exciting to add to my personal wishlist! Pitchers, glasses, pillows, t-shirts… all in addition to the great stationery products and labels they’ve always offered!

Speaking of the website, if you are a long-time Doodlekins fan, you’ve probably already noticed the website has undergone quite the facelift. The ordering process is new (and much easier- I promise!) I thought it might be helpful to set up a quick tutorial, guiding you through the design and ordering process. So… grab yourself a snack… and settle in.

First and foremost, head over to the website:

www.doodlekins.com

On the homepage, the picture in the center changes, showing off LOTS of the awesome-ness that Doodlekins offers. If you haven’t been following along on Facebook, I encourage you to take a few seconds and check out some of the newest and coolest products!

When you’re ready, scroll over the yellow bar on top of photo.

When you bring your mouse over the “Step 1: First, customize the fun cartoon doodles!” a drop-down menu will appear. Choose the category of your first Doodle. I'm going to put my dear family on a product (don't worry -you don't need to decide which one JUST yet!) I'm going to start with myself, so I chose "Female Youth-Adult."

Now here comes the fun part....

You will be brought to a page with all the possible Doodle choices, features, etc.

As you roll your mouse over each of the little Doodle's heads, it pops up with a larger preview, so you can more clearly see hairstyles and facial features. Find the Doodle that you think most closely resembles you- and click on it. A small, blue box should appear around your chosen Doodle:

Next, you type in the name you want printed under your Doodle. Think about this one carefully. Depending on the product, your name selection may vary. If you're making address labels, you might just want to use your first name. If you are creating one of those cool pitcher and tumbler sets, you might want to use something more "family friendly" such as "mom." Heck, you might even be working on a lunch bag for your kid's teacher (a FANTASTIC teacher gift idea, by the way!) and Mrs. Salmon would be more appropriate. I'm going to play it safe, and just type in "mom." If I change my mind later, I am always given the opportunity to edit before placing my order...

OK. Here's my absolute favorite part: personalizing your Doodle. This is your opportunity to make sure that your Doodle(s) best represent you and your family and friends. Take your time here! Play with it. Have fun trying on different features, etc.

* First and foremost, you need to pick the size of your Doodle. Again, take time to think about the finished product. I know I plan to add my entire family to this project, and I also know I don't want to be represented as the LARGEST person in my family (we'll save that honor for my husband!) so I am going to select "Medium Adult" from the drop down menu.

* Skin Color: Doodlekins does an amazing job of including many, many skin tone choices. Pick the one that's closest to you! Again, your selection should appear with a blue box around it.

* Hair Color: Here's your chance to be the blonde bombshell you always wanted! OK, maybe now is not the time... but again, lots of choices... including "none," a great option for those without any hair!

* Head Accessory: Lots of fun choices here, too. Santa hats are a fun addition to Christmas projects. Headbands, hair bows, and flowers are a fun accessory to "dress" up a plain hairstyle. Please note, however, that hats do not fit hair styled in up-do's, pigtails, or ponytails. You CAN add bows, though! And again, a hair accessory is certainly not necessary. If you'd rather have a plain head, just select "none." **This might be a great time to point out that if/when you choose "none" for any of the accessory options, NO BLUE box appears around that choice. By NOT making a selection, it will default to "none." **

* Head Accessory Color: Any selected head accessory that reads "color me" when selected will need to be colored in. My favorite color is red, so I am choosing that for my headband.

* Neck Accessory: Again, Doodlekins gives you lots of fun choices here. I'm going with a pearl necklace!

* Neck Accessory Color: Any selected neck accessory that reads "color me" when selected will need to be colored in. Even if I want to leave my pearls white, I still need to choose that as a "color."

* Mouth Accessory: Big, full lips? Of course! Remember, if you want to change your "lip" color, you'll want to add the lips "accessory," even if your preview Doodle has lips on it.

* Mouth Accessory Color: Here's your chance! Pick your lip color. Please be conscious however, of the colors you have already chosen for your hair and/or neck accessory, especially if you are adding other family members or a background (that will come later!) The more colors you add, the "busier" your product will look. Try to limit the amount of colors, or at least chose colors that compliment one another.

* Eye Accessories: Do you wear glasses? Here's your chance to add them! I LOVE that Doodlekins gives us several shapes of glasses to choose from!

* Special Requests: If you've ever ordered before, you know that Doodlekins strives for 110% customer satisfaction. They are hard workers, bustling around in the Doodlekins factory in their little orange jumpsuits, working very hard to make sure your order is EXACTLY what you want. If there's something you want to see represented on your Doodle that doesn't appear in the options listed above, here's your chance to make that request!

* Once you've made all of your selections, click on "Add to Cart." It will bring you to a page that looks like this:

If you are like me, you are a little sad that you don't get to see a preview of your newly created Doodle, but don't fret. That part is coming up!

If you are using only this Doodle for project, you can go ahead and click on Step 2 at the top of the page. This will allow you to begin selecting products to add your Doodle to. If you need to create more Doodles, you will need to re-select "Step 1" at the top and choose the appropriate Doodle to add, following the steps outlined above.

Just a few things to point out here:

* While there is an option for baby/toddler Doodles, older children are created under the Female/Male Youth-Adult tab where we created the mom and dad Doodles. You can make them appear as "children" by selecting the appropriate size from the "Size" drop down menu. If you have several "small" children, there is also a "size" option in the baby/toddler Doodle option.

* Don't forget your pets! Doodlekins has TONS of animal options to add your furry family members to your products,too!

*Check out the "Storymaker Icons" options. These are fun pictures that help tell your family's "story." Flags, sports equipment, new house, party supplies. Have an idea that's not listed? Use the "special requests" box and watch Doodlekins work their magic!

When you are finished adding Doodles, your "cart" will look similar to the photo above, with details listed for each of your created Doodles. Although there still is not a "preview" of your created Doodles, this is a great time to look over the details, such as names, etc and check for spelling errors. Clicking on the "Edit Item Quantity and Details" link at the bottom of each summary will allow you to edit these details.

Hopefully this answered and/or helped you through the Doodle "creation" process. In the next step (blog post- part 2!) I will help you add these amazing Doodles to the project of your choice! And remember, the staff at Doodlekins is AMAZING! They are more than willing to help- don't ever be afraid to ask them for help along the way!

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Happy Thanksgiving! Black Friday through Cyber Monday Special!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 00:29:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving! We are so thankful for YOU!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Deal
10% off your entire order and free shipping with any purchase of $39.95 or more!*

Holiday, Wedding & Family Labels	Holiday, Wedding & Family Cards
Business Cards & Mommy Calling Cards	Personalized Kitchen Canisters
Personalized Acrylic Mugs	Personalized FULL COLOR Car Decals
Tshirts adult-infant, dog bandanas too!	Dry Erase Easels with changeable inserts
Personalized Totebags, Lunch Bags & Bottles

*Minimum purchase of $39.95 excludes shipping and tax. Use coupon THANKS2012. Economy shipping, within the USA.

For all other countries, the discount will work with the coupon, but we'll manually refund 50% of your shipping fee after order is placed.

Offer expires when the clock strikes midnight Eastern time, Tuesday 11/27/12! Not valid with other offers or prizes.

Thankful for Brunch!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:54:00 +0000

"BRUNCH - Breakfast without an alarm clock."

I love brunch.

And really, what's not to love? It's all the deliciousness of breakfast, but later in the morning!

However, because I have two small children who don't let me sleep past 6:30 a.m., I rarely get to enjoy a true brunch. You know- a morning meal that doesn't take place at 6:31 a.m.

But I recently had a visit from out-of-state family which spurred me on to actually make brunch at "brunch time". (I also took advantage of the opportunity to use some cool new Doodlekins products for my brunch!)

I began by stirring up the anticipation with Le Menu...

OK, I have to stop for a moment and tell you that this Doodlekins Family Dry Erase Easel is sweeeet. It comes with six different cards which display six different messages (of your choosing), and a dry erase marker that wipes off perfectly with even just a finger. (More info at http://www.doodlekins.com/personalized-dry-erase-easel/)
My Kindergarten son is in love with it too, writing notes to us constantly as he proudly checks off his name at the top. So I just couldn't resist using this adorable easel as a menu display for my special brunch!

My little daughter enjoyed preparing the main brunch dish with me the night before. We made French Toast Casserole! I rarely bake this dish because it makes a ton of food. And the leftovers are then staring at me in the refrigerator for the next several days, tempting me to eat them for every meal until they're gone. But if I've got extra people to feed, I jump at the chance to make this sweet excellence.

I probably have the biggest sweet tooth of anyone you've ever met, which is probably why I love the French Toast Casserole so much. But I also know that sweet should be balanced with salty in a brunch menu, so I cooked up some turkey sausages and eggs for my family too. Add some fresh fruits to the menu, and there were only empty plates with full bellies at the end of our big brunch!

Ah, I see you're admiring my Doodlekins glasses on the brunch spread too! Aren't they adorable? And no one fights over their glasses anymore! (More info at http://www.doodlekins.com/gifts-home-decor/)
My two year old daughter has fun playing with these sturdy acrylic family glasses in her dollhouse as well, which is just so hilariously cute! But really- who can blame her? ;)

And of course with any special meal, you need a little table decor to match the occasion. My children and I had collected pinecones from a local park, and we displayed our pumpkin patch treasures with them too. Yes- those were the perfect finishing touches for our post-Halloween/pre-Thanksgiving brunch, and will be easily altered for winter holiday brunches too!

So I have a question for YOU now...

You've learned about my insatiable sweet tooth, but what is YOUR favorite brunch dish to make? In anticipation of the upcoming holiday season and more brunches for more family, I would love to learn about a few new brunch dishes that are "tried and true" for you!

Until next time, enjoy sweet dreams of breakfast and lunch marrying into one delicious meal called BRUNCH.

And I hope you don't wake from that dream until 8:00 a.m. At the very earliest....

Happy Endings...

noreply@blogger.com (The Salmon Family) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 01:59:00 +0000

A few weekends ago, our family drove to Minnesota to celebrate my sister-in-law's baby shower. I wanted to do something special, but living over four hours away made it difficult to help with the planning. Then... it hit me. I had the most PERFECT idea!

COOKIEKINS personalized edible transfers, of course!

I filled out the order page for the baby cookie design I wanted, and within a day or two, they emailed me back my proof. They are simply AMAZING, I tell you (but you already knew that, didn't you?)

The transfers arrived within a few days by Priority Mail, and they were so cute! I got mine customized a little, this design normally has the baby's announcement info.

In the middle of the-week-from-you-know-where, I set to work. Put the kids to bed, pulled out my favorite sugar cookie recipe, and got ready to mix. My plan was to make the dough, chill it overnight, then roll it out, cut, bake, and frost the following evening. HA. HA. HA. First, I realized I didn't have enough butter for the recipe. No problem! I threw on some shoes, drove a few blocks to the grocery store, and.... realized butter is as expensive as gold. I stood there for a few moments... my head turning from the freakishly expensive butter to the almost-as-expensive-but-much-more-convenient pre-made cookie dough in the very next cooler. Hmmmm.... I love to bake. But it WAS after 8 pm on a weeknight. And heck, if pre-made cookie dough is good enough for our Teacha Rita, it's good enough for me!

A few dollars in pre-made dough later, I was back at home, rolling those cookies out and tossing them in the oven. I made the mistake of leaving the baking part to my husband while I took a quick spin on the treadmill. (I may or may not have had a tiny bit of guilt over all of the cookie dough I sampled while I was rolling out the cookies...) Up from the basement, I found several sheets of cookies cooling. HUGE cookies, I might add. Gah! I forgot to tell my darling husband that we had to re-cut the cookies before they cooled to attain that "perfect circle." (if you have no idea what I'm talking about, see Teacha Rita's incredible tutorial here )

At this point, it was after 9:30. I debated whether or not to start again, or just wait until the next evening, knowing I would have to do ALL the steps the next night in order for the cookies to be set up enough to package them before our drive to MN. I was tired from the treadmill... and did I mention it was in the middle of one of the craziest weeks of my life? I went to bed.

The next day, somewhere in the middle of my 12 hour work day (I was stuck at work until after 8pm for parent-teacher conferences) I remembered I still had cookies to buy. And bake. And frost. It was going to be a long night.

On the way home, I stopped at the grocery store, grabbed a few packages of "break-apart" pre-made cookie dough, and headed home. Before I even changed out of my work clothes, I had those babies on a cookie sheet and in the oven. Once again, I left hubby in charge of baking as I changed, kissed my sleeping babies, and checked my email. Once I got back to the kitchen, I knew we had a problem. While "break-apart" dough is exceptionally convenient, it makes teeny-tiny cookies. These just wouldn't work. It was about this point I *almost* had a nervous breakdown.

God bless my husband. Without hesitation, he threw on some shoes, and headed out to the grocery store... all decked out in a spit-up stained sweatshirt and his orange mermaid pajama pants that the girls bought him last year for Christmas. (That, in itself, was enough to bring a smile back to my face!) He returned with a few more rolls of cookie dough and a package of peanut butter cups. He's a good man, I tell you.

It was a long night.... but man, so worth it! The cookies turned out simply AMAZING. All craziness aside (which was all my fault..... ) the cookie decals really were simple and easy to use. You freeze the sheets of decals a day ahead, or as little as an hour if your kitchen is cold and low on humidity, and gently peel them off. (If they don't come up easy, you have to freeze them longer.) Just lay them down on the frosting, and adjust their positions really quick if you need to. That's it! Make sure your frosting area is wider than the decals so they adhere well. (They can't adhere to cookie, only frosting.)

The finished product? Well, I'll let you be the judge....

If you're not a baker, there is always the option of using the decals on store-bought cupcakes with frosting, or better yet, ordering your Cookiekins pre-baked and decorated! Check out all the Cookiekins awesomeness here.

Good luck and happy cookie- making!

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Falling Happily into FALL!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 00:09:00 +0000

Good-bye, sweet flowers!
Through bright Summer hours
You have filled our hearts with cheer.
We shall miss you so,
And yet you must go,
For this is the Fall of the year.
From "A Fall Song" by Ellen Robena Field

From new jackets to leaf piles, from fresh crunchy apples to Halloween candy, you know that Fall is here. And there are a handful of things that I simply MUST do each Fall! Let me just get out my checklist and red checking pen...

1) Pick Apples... Check!

2) Visit the Pumpkin Tower in my town... Check!

3) Drive through the neighborhoods to admire Fall leaves... Check!

4) Pick Pumpkins... Check!

5) Carve pumpkins (and use some for Fall decorations too)... Check!

6) Make or buy the children's Halloween costumes (and my own too!)... Check!

Bonus points if you know EXACTLY who this character is!

7) Host a Fall Party for friends... Check!

Because of all the warm, delicious foods and exciting decorating ideas, Fall is a great time to have a party! If you've ever peeked at my party blog (http://craftyparty.webs.com/) you know that I've had a lot of fun planning & hosting my children's birthday parties over the past five years. But I haven't hosted a dinner party for adults since having my children... So I'd say it's past time for that.

Woo hoo, where to begin! With decorations made of pumpkins and pinecones (who are "sweeping in they wittle bed", as my 2 yr old daughter likes to say)...

With the cute & easy Fall place settings, complete with "napkin rings" made of fall mini-cookie cutters...

With the warm, delicious Fall foods...

Yes, that is custard baked into a pie pumpkin! Got this recipe from Pinterest, and it was FANTASTIC!!

Or perhaps with the personalized Doodlekins goodie bags for each of my guests...

Those were what my book club guests noticed first at my dinner party, as these bags are so colorful. "Oh, aren't these cute. How nice that we each have one on our plates. What's in them?" Then they picked them up and started exclaiming, "Ohmygosh, RITA! I am ON here! How did you get ALL our heads on here! I love my hair! I have a headband! I love my glasses! So-and-so looks JUST like herself! How did you make this? You are so creative!!"

Well, I will take credit for the other ideas, but this one here is all Doodlekins! You can find personalized cello bag kits at http://www.doodlekins.com/cartoon-family-cello-bag-kits/. They come with personalized labels, choices of different label backgrounds and fonts, various colors of ribbons, and large or small cello bags (this is the small size).

I am definitely going to order these cello bag kits again for my Mom's Group Cookie Exchange this December, as well as for my son's next classroom party! They were such a hit, and my guests could even take them as "favors" to show off! Made it a dinner party to remember...

Yes, I do love Fall. The tastes, the smells, the sights, and sounds all delight me and my family. It's always a season to remember! (And a prelude to another exciting season that's peeking around the corner too!)

So here is my Fall Question of the Day for you...
(Those who have read my blog posts before knew this was coming, didn't you?!)

What is YOUR favorite Fall activity or recipe? There are so many to choose from, but which is YOUR favorite? I will reveal my fave at the end of the season, but first I want to hear from you!

Until then, I hope you are enjoying a colorful and wonderful Fall. If nothing else, be sure to take a walk through the leaves while sipping on a pumpkin spice latte or crunching on a honeycrisp apple! Ah, what's not to love about Fall?

Says the lady who doesn't have any big leafy trees in her yard...

First Day!

noreply@blogger.com (The Salmon Family) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 03:46:00 +0000

On Tuesday, my firstborn started Kindergarten. What. A. Day.

I'm not going to lie. I was an emotional mess for the entire weekend leading up to the "big day." I cried packing her first lunch. I cried helping her pick out her first day of school outfit. I cried when I tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight. I was not even sure WHY I was crying so much- I know it's normal to be a little sad when your kids go off to school (even though I heard rumors that in years to come I will be cheering when I drop them off on the first day... is this true?) but this was a bit much...

As I was getting ready for work on Tuesday, I overheard the radio DJs mention a little poem they read each year on the first day of school. As the DJ began, her voice cracked a bit. As she read, I cried...a bit. :)

(Here's a link if you'd like to read it for yourself! Have tissues ready!) http://www.scrapbook.com/poems/doc/9119/36.html

Listening to this, it hit me. This is the start of something HUGE. From this day forward, she was no longer going to be a carefree little girl. Her world to this point, consisted of dolls, cookie baking, and playing with her little sisters. Slowly, but surely, other "things" would start to creep into her life- some good. Some not so good. Friends. Homework. Bullies. Deadlines. Smiles. Learning. Disappointment. Boyfriends. Heartbreak.

This, I think, is the most difficult part of parenting. Having faith that you have done a "good enough" job to let go when it's time to let go. To walk away and trust that you have done your best to prepare your baby for what lies ahead. To send them out into a world where you KNOW they will get hurt, with the painful realization that you can't keep them safe and sheltered forever... but in the end, it's these experiences and journeys that will make them into the special, unique, amazing people they are meant to be.

With that, I leave you with a picture of my girl... on her first day of Kindergarten. :)

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

C is for COOKIE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:06:00 +0000

"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
"C" is for cookie, that's good enough for me
Oh! Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with "C"!

And what could be even better than a cookie? (No, BESIDES cheesecake...) A cookie with your picture on it! Or your friend's picture! Or your family's picture! Or your boss's picture! Or a bride's picture or baby's picture for their shower! Or, or, or... You get the idea.

Doodlekins has branched out to make CookieKins, which are literally "Your KIN, On a COOKIE"! Oh my, what a fun gift or unforgettable addition to a party! And lucky, lucky Doodlekins blogger that I am, I get to test out the CookieKins edible transfers in my own kitchen to tell all of you how easy (or difficult) it really is to use them.

So, hmmm, for whom should I create my CookieKins? I know! The hardworking staff at my school! And who better to put on their CookieKins than our fearless leader (the principal), along with our beloved mascot (a dolphin). Oops, I don't see those decorative options on the CookieKins order page... No problem! The folks at Doodlekins are geniuses at custom creating your own CookieKin! So let's get started. :)

Teacha Rita the Baker!
Actually, I was baking a "Bun in the Oven" for this Halloween costume a few years ago.
Today I am just baking cookies- nothing else!!!

NOTE: Before you start to make your cookies, pop your CookieKin transfer sheets onto a baking sheet into the freezer. You'll see why...

I decided to make sugar cookies for my CookieKins because I thought they'd look like a delicious, simple frame around the colorful picture. But you can put the CookieKin transfers on any kind of cookie! It just has to be the right sized circle and have white frosting on it.

Are you wondering what sugar cookie recipe I used? Well, never one to hold back a great recipe, here is how I make my sugar cookies...
1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Buy several rolls of sugar cookie dough. (I splurged on a name brand here, with double box tops! Oh yeah... nothing but the best for my friends- and my school.)

3. Slice each roll of cookie dough into 16 equal circles. You know- half, half, half, and half again...

4. Bake cookies according to directions, and enjoy!

CookieKin Transfers are 2.25" wide, so here is a BIG TIP FOR ALL CUT-OUT COOKIES: If you are getting frustrated by misshapen cookies that come out of the oven, don't throw them all away (or eat them all to hide the evidence!) Just grab a 3 inch cookie cutter (like a kids cup), and you can re-cut cookies again while they're still warm. Then they are perfectly shaped and sized for your CookieKins!

There you go. My "secret family recipe" for sugar cookies! Though I always make chocolate chip cookies from scratch, this is how I always make sugar cookies. Don't laugh. I know someone else out there does this too! Gives me more time for the really fun part- the decorating! (And the eating...)

Once those cookies are all cooled, you're ready to frost them. CookieKins cookies turn out best when frosted with royal icing. (*Or you could also make cupcakes for the CookieKin transfers, and frost those with buttercream frosting!*)

So all righty, it's time to pull out my favorite royal icing recipe now...
1. Go to the craft store.

2. Buy a box of Wilton royal icing mix. (1 box frosts about three dozen 3" cookies)

3. Mix the powdered icing and tablespoons of water according to the directions.

Are you seeing a pattern here? Mmm hmm... I am all about the "Semi-Homemade" whenever possible! Besides, using the box mix costs less than buying all that powered sugar AND meringue powder AND oil-free flavorings you would need to make royal icing from scratch. And it was much easier. :)

* Leave the icing white! The CookieKin transfers are so colorful as it is, and the colors will not show up as vibrant and true if the icing is colored. Colored cookies underneath the icing are fine! But white icing is best here.

Once your cookies are completely cooled and your royal icing is mixed, spread the icing onto the cookies. Don't be stingy! Spread that icing thick and smooth, and go slightly beyond where the transfers will reach. The CookieKin transfers won't be able to lay on the cookie by itself, or they'll just flake right off. Just frost a couple of cookies at a time, as the royal icing hardens pretty quickly. Then put the edible transfers on as you go...

* Royal Icing can be tough to frost with! Here is a helpful link which will help your frosted cookies look more polished and professional. http://sweetopia.net/2011/12/video-how-to-pipe-lines-with-royal-icing/

So it's time to pull the CookieKin transfers out of your freezer! They can just get peeled off with your fingers and placed onto the icing. (If you have trouble pulling the transfers off, just pop them back into the freezer for a minute to get hard again. Slide your fingernail carefully along the edge, and then they'll begin to pull off.)

You'll want to adjust the transfers immediately on the icing if they're not centered when you first touch them down onto the cookie. Once in place, press them down lightly to make sure they're smooth and stuck. Let the icing harden completely before moving the cookies to a tray. Royal icing hardens quickly, so it won't take long!

And that's it! Prepare for the compliments to roll in, and get your camera ready to take pictures of the "Cookie" with your "Kin"! With so many choices, you'll be able to create the perfect CookieKin to match your person and theme.

* If you will be bagging up your cookies or layering them on waxed paper, make sure to give them at least 24 hours drying time. Otherwise the transfers will stick to the bags or waxed paper, and will pull right off. Plan ahead, and you'll be quite happy with the results!

I have to say- the good folks at Doodlekins were so patient with adjusting my CookieKins picture to my individuality and requests. I wanted to make sure that my school staff had CookieKins that incorporated both my school mascot and my principal, so I sent Doodlekins the pictures below. I asked for a similar school font, and made sure to even point out the little earring in my principal's left ear.

Look at the font! The matching shades and colors! My principal's goatee, and his tiny customized EARRING, for crying out loud! CookieKins and Doodlekins certainly rose to my challenge, and my school staff got a big kick out of eating these amazing cookies as a Welcome Back to School gift. (And one coworker pointed out that this gave a whole new meaning to "biting someone's head off!")

Homebaked CookieKins Mission: Success.

They were easy to make and a big hit with everyone!
A+ from Teacha Rita

So now it's time for...

Who would YOU like to make your CookieKins for?

And would you use sugar cookie dough like I did, or a different kind of cookie?

(I just realized- a colored cookie would be stunning under the white icing and the CookieKin picture! That will be my next batch...)

Your own personalized CookieKins are available straight from their shop as well.
Professionally decorated just for you- in case you want someone else to do all the cookie work this time!

Visit http://www.cookiekins.com/ to personalize your own edible transfers or pre-made CookieKins.
I had so much FUN designing and creating these cookies for my staff! It was definitely the best "homework" this teacha ever received... And so exciting to see the reactions!

Now that's a delicious treat you can eat!

Just Call Me - The Little Red Hen

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:23:00 +0000

CONTEST! Win a free book shipped to you free within the US if Teach Rita selects your fun answer to her question of the day, located in this blog post. For a chance to win your very own children's book, "The Little Red Hen", leave a comment by Saturday, 8/25/12 11:59pm Pacific time. No purchase necessary!

I think I know just how The Little Red Hen felt.

You know... The Little Red Hen who asked for help to pick the wheat, grind the flour, mix the dough, and bake the bread. The Little Red Hen who received NO help until it was time to eat that delicious homemade bread!

That's me right now, only with CORN!

Yes, my family and I went to a local Sweet Corn Festival this weekend, and came back with a souvenir of- well, corn! I couldn't resist taking a bag full of this amazingly delicious sweet corn back with us, and managed to squeeze 32 ears of corn into the paper bag I bought there. ($8 for all the corn you could fit into the bag!) But now, I have corn coming out my ears...

I knew the clock would be ticking, as it always does on fresh ingredients. So after surveying my Facebook friends for their favorite freezer corn recipes, I turned to my two favorite helpers- my young children. "Who will help me shuck this corn?" I asked. After explaining to them what "shucking corn" actually was, and proceeding to demonstrate as well, my 5 year old informed me that he needed to go play with his "Star Wurst Legos" while my 2 year old stated "I go pway wif my kitchen!" Thanks, children.

So I shucked and shucked and shucked all 32 ears of corn, filling up my entire trash can with husks and silk. Then I asked those two sweet darlings, "Who will help me give this corn a nice bath?" Apparently the Star Wurst Legos were in the middle of an epic battle, while an epic mess was happening in the kitchen. (Thankfully, the FAKE kitchen with FAKE foods!) OK, off I go again to "bathe" the corn in the sink by myself.

The next step was to remove the kernels of corn from the cob in order to blanche them and freeze them. "Who will help me use this super-cool corn husking tool to take the kernels off the cob?" I asked my small helpers again. I demonstrated how easy it was to use, and how the corn just came right off. "Eww! Messy!" exclaimed my 2 year old daughter. "Um, no thanks, Mommy. Can I watch Scooby Doo?" asked my 5 year old son. Looks like it's up to me again! Removing the kernels, times 32 ears of corn... awesome.

Once the corn kernels were sitting comfortably in a pot, I dared to ask those children "Who will help me to measure out the sugar, water, butter, and salt? The corn needs some friends!" You can guess their answers, I'm sure.

I measured and stirred, cooked that corn just perfectly, and then was ready to put it into baggies. I paused, and thought I'd give those children one last chance to be the good helpers they usually are. "Who will help use the special measuring cup to scoop-scoop the corn into the bags?" This time, I was just met with silence. I repeated my question, and the 5 year old gave a muffled shout from the living room- "No thanks!" Since my 2 year old wants nothing more in life than to be just like him, she immediately shouted "No fanks!" as well. The task went back to me. (Turns out they were making a fort together now! Well, at least they were getting along and were polite with their responses. lol)

Now the corn is all bagged up, sitting prettily in the freezer, and is ready to be used as a delicious side dish for the months ahead. I can't wait to enjoy this corn, as it smells wonderful! (And the little tastes I took at the end were quite excellent!)

So now it's time for...

Can you guess what my two little "helpers" will say when I ask who will help eat the corn?

I can. And I'll bet that Little Red Hen can guess their answers too.

Pinterest Time

noreply@blogger.com (The Salmon Family) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 02:20:00 +0000

So.... there's this little thing out there on the internet called Pinterest. Maybe you've heard of it? ;)

Let me be honest. I jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon early... and jumped right back off. I begged and pleaded for a friend to send me an invitation, then created an account, quickly became overwhelmed, and quit. Yup- I quit Pinterest.

But.... not for long. I kept seeing my friends little "pins" pop up on their Facebook feeds and... well, I got kind of jealous. I wanted to be part of that club (again). All these fun recipes! Craft ideas for my kids! Teacher blogs! Hilarious little ecards! Amazing home decor ideas that I could never really afford... but could possibly make myself! So... I begged and pleaded once again and here I am- a Pinterest junkie. My kids are in bed and (usually) sound asleep by 8:00. Hubby stays up with me to watch the news- then hits the hay. Then...... it's PINTEREST TIME! Each night I pour myself a glass of wine, turn on 30 Rock reruns on Netflix, and promise myself that I am going to spend a half hour or so looking for ideas I can to use with my students (cough, cough). Then, somewhere between midnight and 1 am, I yawn and reluctantly close down the computer and fall into bed with visions of soft pretzel recipes and homemade bird houses dancing in my head....

Then came summer. Our big summer project? To remodel the basement. Before we could begin anything, we had to clear out boxes and boxes and more boxes of.... well, stuff. Once I got started, I went a little crazy. I went on a purging bender. I cleared out those boxes. I cleared out closets. I cleared out the garage. I cleared out the back of the minivan (yuck!) I even spent an entire afternoon deleting old pictures and files from our computer. The only thing left was... Pinterest. I know. I know. It's in cyberspace. It's not really clutter. But in my mind, all I could picture was this crazy, overcrowded bulletin board with little scraps of paper all over it.... and like, 70% of it was in all reality things I would never, ever begin to try.

I realize that everyone uses Pinterest in a different way. I was never one of those girls who had a "dream" box with clippings of my favorite prom dresses or wedding hairstyle ideas. I do, however, have a large basket on a shelf in my kitchen where I drop in recipes that I rip out of magazines. I have to try them, gauge my family's reaction to them, and then decide if they are worthy of an actual recipe card in the recipe box! That's what I wanted Pinterest to be for me- a little cyber "I'd like to try this someday" basket.

So, I started purging. If I clicked on the pin, and it let me to some weird place on the internet and not the actual website/blog post- I deleted (try this- you'll be amazed at how many of those "pins" are really nothing at all!) If it was a recipe I knew I'd never actually buy the ingredients for- I deleted. If it was a cool "home project" for a room I don't even have- I deleted. If it was a sewing project for the 10 year old, dust-covered sewing machine boxed up in my basement- I deleted.

Of the pins that were left, I vowed to try at least one a week. If I loved it, it stayed. If I hated it- it went. Getting rid of clutter.

ONE. PIN. AT. A. TIME.

So, you ask... what have a tried? Let me share some of my successes with you....

Found this monster cake on Pinterest. With 3 little girls, I foresee years of butterfly and princess cakes, so when my mom asked me to bake a cake for my dad's 65th birthday in July, I got to try THIS guy out. SUCCESS!

My 2 oldest daughters got really excited about Father's Day this year. I found this idea on Pinterest, tweaked it a bit to make it "our own" and this was the finished product. These now proudly sit on dad's desk at work. (Is it wrong that I really want them to make me one for Mother's Day?) SUCCESS!

And... my favorite project of the entire summer.... So many people had "pinned" this Pottery Barn growth chart knockoff- and when I really LOOKED at it- it was really easy! 3 hours later- Viola! I am so proud of this! (by the way- it's actually hanging in my kitchen now- I just propped it up next to the piano to take the picture!) SUCCESS!

So... what's my point? To summarize....

....have you???

Happy crafting!

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, It's back to school we go...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 21:21:00 +0000

In case you ever forget what part of the year it is, just walk into a store.

Really, any store will do.

Right now, you can't miss the giant "BACK TO SCHOOL" signs all over Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, OfficeMax, JCPenney's... everywhere! Signs that fill a child with sadness (and secret delight at seeing their friends again), and fill a tired parent with delight (and secret sadness at seeing how fast the child is growing.) Teachers scramble to take one last mini-vacation and finish up one final project before heading into school. Refreshed and ready to begin rebuilding their classroom again for another year, they will then start the days of lesson planning and staff inservices before the new school year starts.

Yes, take it from a teacher- we are there in your child's classroom for hours upon hours upon hours before you actually walk in! First, greeting each other with squeals of joy and comparing suntans (I always lose that contest.) Meeting the new teachers in the building, who you can see are trying desperately to remember everyone's names- along with the way to the copyroom, restroom, office, and their own classrooms. Then, reviewing any changes to the fire code to see what new limitations we have in decorating our classrooms this year...
* No candles- OK, understandable
* Nothing hanging from the ceilings- Drat, I used to do such cute things with the ceilings!
* Paper can only cover 20% of the walls... WHAT?! Is this a doctor's office or a teacher's classroom? Hmm, but they didn't say I couldn't cover the walls with other non-flammable things...!

In my classroom: Choices for Hopping out to recess (for those who need a plan); Hoppy Helpers!

We're always trying a few different ideas each year to keep things fresh for ourselves and to constantly improve the learning environment. Perhaps we'll try arranging the desks in different configurations, find a bright new rug for the Morning Meeting area, or use a different classroom theme-

Maybe this year instead of frogs "hopping on into 3rd Grade" I'll use owls wondering "whooo is in 3rd grade", or even popcorn to show who's "popping into 3rd Grade"! The possibilities are endless, and so fun to consider...

Then the days of staff inservices begin, and that's when you know the students are just around the corner, ready with freshly scrubbed faces and shy smiles!

Me in Third Grade
The grade which I now teach! Don't I look innocent? Yeah.... I was a talker. Big time!!
(Which I'm sure comes as a complete surprise to you.)

This year, I'm also seeing things from the parent's perspective as my own son starts KINDERGARTEN! What fun it was to go school supply shopping with him, and experience his joy at finding the perfect Star Wars Legos backpack (same as his recent birthday party theme! http://craftyparty.webs.com/star-wars), find the perfect Angry Birds lunchbox, see his delight at counting out the required 18 gluesticks...

Wait wait wait...18 GLUESTICKS?! What the heck does anyone do with 18 gluesticks? Not to mention, that's times 24 kids! Guess there'll be a whole lotta projects coming home this year...

Like a dutiful student, I followed the guidelines of the school supply list exactly- even purchasing brand names where they were requested (Crayola drawing supplies, Ticonderoga pencils, and of course the18 Elmer's gluesticks). I did buy "Great Value" brand ziploc bags and "facial tissue" instead Kleenex, saving a bit of money there. I don't know what I was expecting the school supply total to be, but certainly less than the $59.60 it turned out to be! I was astonished. But when I posted this total on Facebook, my friends were unsurprised. In fact, they began comparing equally expensive school supply costs, or even much higher. Wow! Guess I'm glad that my son doesn't need a calculator this year, or a special outfit for gym, or school uniforms, or more...

I wonder how many of these adorable Doodlekins property ID labels I'll need for all of his supplies?? Hmm... I'd better stock up!

But there is one more thing that I need to get for the start of school, and it's not for my classroom or for my son. It's for his TEACHER!

Which brings me to the new Question of the Day...

Knowing from my own personal experience how hard my son's Kindergarten teacher has already been working in the classroom, knowing how much of their own money they have already spent on the classroom, and knowing how much he/she will help my son this year, I'd like to give them a small present to start the year off. Occasionally a parent would do that for me, and it always touched me. So I am looking for suggestions for something small to bake, make, or buy for my son's Kindergarten teacher to start the year off right. What do you think??

I will tell you that my very favorite teacher presents that I've received are gift cards to my favorite places, personalized items for me, Christmas ornaments (which I label with the child's name and year, and display on my tree each year), and thoughtfully-made student gifts (like the clay pot on my desk and the beautifully decorated kleenex holder which I've had for over a decade.)

Doodlekins Cartoon Family notepads, plus new (coming mid-late August 2012) insulated lunch bags and water bottles.

BUT... I don't know what his teacher's favorite places are yet, I don't know if they collect something specific, and I don't even know my son's teacher's name! Otherwise I'd already be ordering a Doodlekins personalized note pad, coffee mug or water bottle, tote bag, or even some personalized cookies for his teacher. Because I adore all of the personalized gifts I've received from students over the years, and I use them still! (Except the cookies. Blink, and those are g-o-n-e.)

So... what do YOU think is a creative gift to start my son's Kindergarten teacher's year off right?

I hope to hear from you soon, and I hope your own back-to-school preparations are going well. And if school has already started in your area, then I hope those freshly scrubbed faces are coming home with big smiles each day!

With one last mini-vacation planned and one final project to finish up, I know that I will also enjoy every moment of the summer sun.

It's time for lunch!

noreply@blogger.com (The Salmon Family) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:33:00 +0000

(Note: If you don't follow us on Facebook®, you won't know what this is all about, but we hope you'll enjoy reading our lovely Sarah's post. You can also read more about this little exercise we had!)

Drum roll, please......

A big thank you to Darlene Perry Mortine for your caption "I don't carrot they say... I love you anyway!" was the perfect combination of witty, heartwarming and creative (just like me- ha!)

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who submitted captions. There were so many great ones... I even recruited my husband and 5 year old daughter to help me decide! This was so much fun- it brought me lots of smiles in the middle of one crazy week. More than anything, however, it showed what amazing and loyal fans Doodlekins has- and once again made me so proud to be part of such an amazing company!

Darlene- Enjoy your lunch on Doodlekins, just contact them with your mailing address to receive your $5 McDonald's® or Subway® gift card. I highly recommend the Chocolate Chip Frappe... just sayin. :)

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

(Facebook®, McDonald's® and Subway® are in no way affiliated with Doodlekins™ or this little event.)

HELLO, My name is...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:15:00 +0000

Hello! My name is Rita, and I am excited to be Doodlekins' newest blogger! I have been a big fan of Doodlekins since 2008, when I first ordered address labels to be put onto the thank-you notes for my son's first birthday. Now he has turned FIVE years old, and will be starting Kindergarten in a few weeks! Hard to believe. He is now signing his own thank-you notes (with a charming combination of both uppercase and lowercase letters), and our Doodlekins address labels now have a little sister's picture next to his. She is 2 years old, and tries as hard as she can to keep up with her big brother. Though her chubby little legs can't run as fast as his, I have been very impressed with how she has hit baby milestones (like sitting up and crawling) and toddler milestones (like walking and potty training) faster than him! You go, girl.

Let's see what else I should tell you... besides being a Doodlekins blogger, a Mommy, and a wife to my college sweetheart, I am also a teacher. I have taught first grade for 4 years and third grade for 8 years. If you do the math on that, it means that my first class of first graders just graduated from high school! Wowow. That actually might be harder to believe than my son heading off to Kindergarten, as I have a permanent picture of those children as little 6 year old cherubs in my head. I saw one of my first students driving in the SuperTarget parking lot the other day, and I almost swerved into a car in surprise! It was so surreal, but also so fun to see. :)

I enjoy teaching, reading, watching movies (both at the theater and sappy Lifetime Original Movies), crocheting, baking, and planning birthday parties for my children. Since my nearest family members live almost 12 hours away, I began my party blog "Crafty Party" in order to share pictures of my kids' party fun with those who could not attend them. www.craftyparty.webs.com I'm still catching my breath from my son's big "Star Wars (Clone Wars) Lego Birthday Party", which occurred about a week ago. Brown pillowcase Padawan robes, pool noodle lightsabers, homemade Lego cakes with Star Wars figures all around, Obi-Wan Kabobies, Droid Doritos, and much more! I haven't had the heart to take down the decorated black paper from my wall yet, and fortunately my husband understands. It's been fun to still look at while we eat meals and go through our days. Yes- "Five great years ago, In a galaxy not far away, A baby Jedi was born..."

Since I am a teacher, I may have a "Question of the Day" for you at times. ;) My first question is: How did you find out about Doodlekins, and what is your favorite product from them? (OK, that's a two-part question...!) As any good teacher will do, I will demonstrate my own thinking for you with my answer. You already know that I stumbled on Doodlekins products in 2008 with their address labels for my son's thank you notes, and I have to admit that those adorable personalized labels still hold a special place in my heart. But now I want the Doodlekins personalized COOKIES too! And a tote bag for my kids each to use for their swimming lessons! And I haven't decided if my son will take soccer lessons and my little daughter will take ballet- so maybe bags or shirts for them too? The possibilities are endless! My husband should be afraid, very afraid... ;)

I look forward to hearing from you, or at least just entertaining you while you listen quietly! Talk to you again soon,

Blog renovation and news

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 17:24:00 +0000

Our blog is being completely overhauled within the next few weeks! The tips section will be updated to reflect the new site's designer, for one. You'll find video tutorials there, to inspire and help you.

I'll be making regular posts along with our new guest contributors. Sarah Salmon, or "Stylin' Sarah" as we call her, is our very first customer author, and we're so happy to have her join us. If you're interested in being an author on the Doodlekins™ blog, please contact me at megan@doodlekins.com. We'd love to add information about food, crafts, weddings, travel, and more to the blog, and believe our customers have terrific ideas and information to share with each other!

Our news section will also be updated with exciting new products coming out, and you'll also be hearing about our Doodlekins Diva™ program. You'll be able to sell Doodlekins™ and make some extra money for yourself, your school, or your group. We'll keep you posted!

There will also be a section for contests. We're planning a really neat one on Pinterest, that will have hundreds of dollars worth of prizes we had been planning for the grand opening of our new site. Now that the site is working beautifully, we'll be getting on with the festivities!

We're also going to add a section for baby announcements! You'll be able to create a free design on our new site, and we'll add it to a special page for you, here on our blog. You can share the page with friends and family when the big day arrives!

On that note, we'd like to share one of our newest Doodlekins babies with you, born just last week! Congratulations to the DeStefanis, the "First Family" of Doodlekins. See them through a decade, in the display below.

If you have any suggestions for the blog, please let me know. If you're not subscribed, please do. It's so great to have the news and specials delivered straight to your mailbox so you don't miss anything. I love interacting with you on Facebook, and Twitter, but you this is a great way to get all the nitty gritty details if you're a big fan.

Thanks and enjoy your weekend!
Megan

We love you all. And we do mean, ALL.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:16:00 +0000

I wasn't the most popular kid in school. My band of quirky, creative, unique misfits and I did our best, but it wasn't always easy. I'm sure many of you can identify with similar experiences. This was back in the 70's-80's, before awareness about bullying. I guess that's why it's been important throughout my life, so many years past those school days, to be friendly, accepting and approachable to everyone I come across.

That's why I was deeply saddened to read about Chick-Fil-A®'s public statement about "families", today, and why I've decided to write this post. As a company that deals with the public, I've always felt that we should be open and accepting of all the diverse people that are kind enough to support our company. I personally feel that we have a responsibility to care for and respect all customers who walk through our doors. There are so many choices out there, and we know you work very hard for your money, so we are always grateful when you choose our company.

You aren't just a dollar sign to us. If you're a customer of ours, I hope you've always known that by the care in which we create your products, and the way we treat you. You create your families with our products, and share them with your friends and families. Most of you come back over and over to add new family members to your products, and have made us a tradition with your family. We are so grateful that you have accepted us, and we accept each and every one of our families. We wouldn't be here without you. ALL of you.

That's where Chick-Fil-A® really misses the boat. They made a public statement about their beliefs, and which particular customers they support, but, their customers, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation, have been supporting them, for many, many years. Chick-Fil-A® wouldn't be where they are today, if it weren't for some of the very people (and their friends and families) they have announced they don't stand behind. While I believe the owners of Chick-Fil-A® have the right to their opinions, I also believe that since companies take money without descrimination, they should also serve those customers without descrimination. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be a LGBT family walking into Chick-Fil-A® today. I also wonder how the employees feel at Chick-Fil-A®, whether they are LGBT, or have friends or family members that are.

So, I wanted everyone out there to know that we don't believe as Chick-Fil-A® does, and most companies don't. Much larger companies included, like Disney®, who has been extending employee benefits most companies only reserve for legally married spouses, to domestic partners too, before there were any laws governing it. Johnson and Johnson Family of Products® and Walgreens® have also partnered in an amazing organization we have provided a link to, below. Although we have posted photos and label examples of a few LGBT families, we haven't made an official statement. It's scary. I know that we'll alienate some of our customers, and that we can be hurt as smaller company by making public statements like this. But, I've wanted to be more supportive of the LGBT community for a very long time. I guess it's time to stop being afraid. If we don't stand up for our friends, family members and co-workers, who will? It's a lot more scary for a young LGBT to come out to their family, than it is for me to come out to you, so to speak. It's time. And, I trust and believe in our Doodlekins customers!

My husband and I are "Straight for Equality" in full support of same-sex marriage. Our staff is also, and we decided the very first time we received an order from a same-sex couple, to make them feel welcome. Maybe it's a little intimidating, creating family labels when you are LGBT, because you're revealing your private life to a company you don't know. Imagine the simple act of creating address labels; would you be worried the company's staff might be laughing at you, or making snide comments?

That very first time was an order for address labels with two brides. We sent a congratulations card, and wrote that we supported them. One of the gals sent an email when she received the order. She said that she and her partner had a beautiful wedding with friends, but didn't have the support of their families, so our card meant the world to them. A simple act of kindness by strangers can make such a big impact. You don't know how much people need you out there, everyone. Be kind as often as you can, to as many people as you can.

We have served all kinds of families for over a decade, including those that are headed by single moms and dads, those with adopted children from this country and others, those that are mixed families that find each other a little later in life, inter-racial families, newlyweds in every combination, those that are unmarried and living together, and families with two moms or two dads. You have used our products to tell your story, and we have been honored.

To our LGBT couples and families, we are allies and support you in our fight for equal rights in this great country. To all, I hope you understand my need to write this, and will continue your support of Doodlekins™ as you always have. I love you ALL.

Megan

Me, with our new Doodlekins NO H8 accessory - available Friday, July 20.

Resources for everyone:
Please find some of my favorite LGBT organizations, below. If you would like to share any with me and your fellow blog readers, please feel free to do so in the comments section.

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NO H8 Campaign

PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

Care with Pride

Straight for Equality

Get a free white knot at www.whiteknot.org and say "Everyone should have the right to tie the knot!"

True Colors Organization

It Gets Better gives hope to bullied teens.

Glaad.org

Hello Doodlekins Fans!

noreply@blogger.com (The Salmon Family) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:14:00 +0000

Hello! First of all, thanks so much for checking out the Doodlekins blog!

Doodlekins sure do rock, don't they?

I'd like to take a quick moment to introduce myself. My name is Sarah, and I am a recent first-time customer of Doodlekins AND their newest blog contributor! I am so excited about this new little venture. I have some amazing blog entries coming up (stay tuned!) but wanted to tell you a little bit about myself first!

(Look! It's me!)

Let's see...

* I'm a mom of three little girls under the age of five (and happily married to a man who has approximately 8 years to build a second bathroom in our house....)

* I have been a classroom teacher for the past 10 years, but will be working part-time as an "interventionist" this coming school year. While I'll miss having a classroom to call
"my own," I'm excited to have the opportunity to work with small groups of students.

* I have an eclectic mix on my iPod- everything from Josh Groban to Eminem to Neil Diamond to the "Annie" soundtrack. I need inspiring music for when I start jogging.... someday.

* I love ladybugs, Diet Coke, Target clearance, Ryan Gosling, and baking with my girls

(not necessarily in that order!)

*I'm completely freaked out by the Pillsbury crescent roll cans. I am a 30-something woman who cannot peel the can apart until it "pops." I just beat the darn thing on the countertop until it pops open.

* Four years ago, my parents built a new house. I was so devastated about them moving out of my childhood home, I talked my husband into buying it. I now live in the house I grew up in. And it's awesome.

* If I weren't a teacher (and a mom), I'd open a bakery. Totally my dream job!
(as long as there are no Pillsbury crescent rolls....)

Guess that's all for now... As I contribute to the blog, you will get to know me and get even more little "glimpses" into my crazy life.... I'm excited to meet all of you, too! Feel free to say "hi" and don't hesitate to ask me questions, give me suggestions, tell me jokes, whatever! I'm new at this, too.... and I want to make sure what I'm sharing is what you want to read!

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

So much to share with you!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 23:42:00 +0000

Oh my. I don't know where to begin!

First, the new site is rolling along, and doing great! What a relief that it's finally here and working well. It's fun to see what you all come up with, creating your own products now. We're still adding more products and doodles to it; you're going to love the new things in store for you. One thing we've learned. is that we don't want to carry items just for the sake of imprinting them. We're bringing in some really nice, useful things you'd want even if they weren't personalized. I'll keep you updated on our progress with that right here on the blog.

Then, we decided that Facebook is going to take a backseat to our blog from now on. The reason is, we have been told that the default for your news stream is "most popular" rather than "most recent", and you're missing a lot of our posts. Some poor folks told us they didn't see a special until after it was expired. So, it's much safer to have everything here, where you can subscribe and get it delivered to your mailbox, instead of having to be in the right place at the right time. There's the newsletter too, of course, but I'll likely be updating the blog more often than I'll create a newsletter. I'll still see you on Facebook so we can interact, which I love, but, I don't want you missing out on savings.

Next, CookieKins™ Personalized Cookies has launched! It's Doodlekins™ you can eat; "Your Kin, On A Cookie!" It's a joint venture between your favorite cartoon family label company (that's us!) and Standing Sun™, an incredible winery owned by our pals, John and Laura Wright. Laura is the Emmy winning actress who plays "Carly" on ABC'S General Hospital. She's chief wine taster, too! Winemaker John also offers unbelievable coffee and tea, so, we are working together to bring you yummy cookies for party favors, or, to give as gifts that can include Standing Sun's™ gourmet coffee and tea. The tea is so fresh and fragrant, and the coffee is roasted to-order. Really good stuff!

John connected us with Melissa Redell of the famous Solvang Bakery in California, and they are baking the cookies. It's pretty amazing. You're going to be getting cookies enjoyed by Hollywood stars like Kelly Ripa (Live with Kelly) and Tiffani Amber Thiessen (Beverly Hills 90210), and, the late Michael Jackson. We're so excited for you to have these great products, and give them to family and friends. Only the best for you and your "kin!"

Photos courtesy of Solvang Bakery

Today is a particularly exciting day because Soaps In Depth magazine has hit the newstands, and CookieKins™ is in it! Laura gave the cookies out at a special Emmy lunch she threw for the Lead Actress nominees. Here's what we did, below:

You can just see the top of the box in this photo (highlighted circle towards the bottom edge), but here's a sneak peek. We'll update the blog with the actual article when we get our hands on it; it's supposed to be in a national soap magazine!

Photo courtesy of Laura Wright

Lastly, it's really hard for me and the DoodleDees to blog with all the big things going on. We need some help! I've enlisted a few great customers to contribute; you'll see them on the blog in between their busy schedules too, and if you're interested, and have some great information to share with our readers about life and family, we'd love to have you join in too. We're looking for talented people who can bring something new and different to the table, instead of my posts about Doodlekins™. Something that can enhance our customers' lives! Please contact me and let me know what you'd like to write about! (megan at doodlekins dot com)

See you again soon!
Megan

Pet Model Search Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:35:00 +0000

We are so thankful to our great customers for participating in this fun Model Search. It was SO tough to make a choice, but, here are our winners! You'll see them from time to time in promotional materials in print and online, and they will also be (or have been) used as drawing models.

Winning pet parents, please email us the next time you're ready to place an order so we can issue your $10 prize code! Congratulations!

The Richter Family's cat, "Rex"
"The vet thinks he's about 8 years old (we adopted him from the ASPCA and they found him trying to cross I-70 in Kansas with no tags or microchip!!) and he's a male Maine Coon. We first saw him on TV when the ASPCA had a segment on the local news because they had so many cats, they were double their capacity. We drove out to the shelter in Lawrence, Kansas, to meet him. We were leery because adult cats are usually very unfriendly after living in a shelter, and we have two little boys. But the minute we walked into the cat room, this cat strutted right up to my sons (Tristan, 6, and Ean, 3) and started rubbing on their legs! We looked at all of the cats to be fair, but he followed us around, purring and trying to jump in our laps. We took him home that day and from the start he acted like he'd always been here. Right now he's taking a nap in the window, his favorite place after being locked up in a windowless shelter for over 6 months."

___________________________________________________________

Jessica Friedman's little Maltese, "Nani"

"She is a Maltese who turns 1 next month! I flew from CA to NY to get this little sweetheart!"

___________________________________________________________

Karen Jones' Red and White Boston Terrier, "Oliver"

"He is the happiest dog I have ever met. He makes me laugh everyday, he is so outgoing, smart and has a million different facial expressions. I'm proud to be his mom."

___________________________________________________________

Susan Morris with www.snootersforeverhome.com sent us a few amazing animals, from peacocks to chickens and pigs! Please visit their site, the sanctuary is really incredible.

Our Winner, "Katie" the Pug

"Katie came to us via Pug-a-lug rescue. She is 3 yrs old & has been through 4 homes.

This is her forever home now! "

Honorary mention...in memory of "Trixie" the Pig
Trixie was rescued from a factory farm as a piglet, born missing her front left leg.
She lived at the sanctuary until her passing, 3 years ago. We love you, Trixie!

___________________________________________________________

Suse Ferreira's "Charlotte", our model for the current Shih Tzu on the site!
She will never, EVER be seen without her signature pink bow, and that's THAT.

We love you, Fenway!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:52:00 +0000

I think I've said this a few times...we have the best customers on the planet. Some of you have been with us since we started over ten years ago, and we can't get over how good you've been to us. Things are going to be changing a lot at Doodlekins when the new site launches, but one thing I can promise is we will always give you the CARE in customer care. It's heartfelt, always will be.

Today, Jennifer D'Andrea, a longtime customer, wrote to us about a future label purchase. She and her husband lost Fenway, one of their three dogs. The story and photograph she shared reminded us that we can all do a little good for people, even with cartoon labels. She was kind enough to let us share this with you. (Click the photo below to enlarge.)

I wanted to make sure everyone has the opportunity to have an angel if they need one. The halo accessory isn't just for a doodle that has passed on. A lot of folks use them in conjunction with the Halloween devil horn headband on pets and children to show them as angels and devils. Really adorable; you guys are so creative, it amazes us every time!

So, if you want the halo to very clearly represent a doodle that has passed on, we can turn them into angels. It's not something we offer on the current site, although it will be on the new site someday, you just have to request it in the cart's special request box. We put a little blue sky and cloud background behind the doodle, and add hearts, too. Dogs get tiny bones around them as well.

We hope to continue improving our products so they fit your family's story and lifestyle. Never hesitate to ask for something special, or make a suggestion. We're here for you, whether you're newlyweds, unmarried, or married for decades, whether you're a family with one mom or two, whether you have human kids or fur-kids, or even fin-kids! (Yes, some of our families really love their fish, so, we love them too!)

We wish the D'Andreas all our best, and to all of you as well.
Megan

It's been awhile!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:15:00 +0000

I've been so caught up in getting the new site on it's feet this past year, there's been little time for much else. As a result, I've really neglected the blog, and will try to do better. I've missed seeing our family album pages grow -- let's work on that together!

Please email helpdesk@doodlekins.com with your amazing family photos, or, add them directly to our Pinterest Customer Board: http://pinterest.com/doodlekins/our-customers/

There are so many social networking places to keep up with these days, and I'm not sure you need so much information about Doodlekins, 24/7! I've broken it down so you understand what each is for, that way you can pick your favorite ways of being involved.

FACEBOOK - product/company news, special offers, polls, and other fun
If you want up-to-the-minute everything Doodlekins, this is your spot. We post anything happening here first. Although we do occasionally post non-Doodlekins things like holiday fun and charitable orgs, it's mostly all related to Doodlekins. The only downside is you may not always see us if you "Like" a lot of folks and/or aren't on it all the time. The newsletter comes to you, whereas you have to come to Facebook.

TWITTER - chat, tweets about food & misc, posts from Facebook are linked, special offers
This is the most relaxed, interactive place to be in touch with Doodlekins. When you follow us, you'll see any specials we have on Facebook because they are linked. We also tweet other things our followers are up to, so it's often off-topic in relation to Doodlekins. So, if you're a big Twitter person, you could skip Facebook, but, if you follow a lot of tweeps, it's easy to miss us, so you might want to pair this with our newsletter.

OUR BLOG - contests, customer photos, helpful tips, in-depth news and announcements
Kind of a little home-away-from-home at our dot com, a gathering place if you will. It's really for the most dedicated Doodlekinsers, true fans who love sharing their Doodlekins with other families. I post in-depth articles about the company, and we run contests here. It's a hub!

PINTEREST - customer photos and other fun
This is our latest, and rapidly becoming my favorite -- I really enjoy creating pins and boards! You have to go to Pinterest to know what I'm talking about. It's quick to learn, and so much fun. Add your family, wedding or new baby pics to the "Our Customers!" board, and repin to your heart's content. We Tweet any pertinent pins, as well as a lot of food and other fun pins. Highly recommend!

NEWSLETTER - delivered to you so you never miss a new product, important sale or special offer
I try not to send newsletters unless we have something really good to share. If you purchase Doodlekins, you need the newsletter, period. If you pair this with Facebook you'll have your essentials down! The Doodlekins Dish sign up is on the home page, to the left of the address label slideshow.

If you just want one, Facebook is probably the way to go, but if you're not always there, our newsletter ensures you never miss a big promotion because it's delivered straight to your e-mailbox!

The perfect combination is at least three: Facebook or Twitter PLUS Pinterest or our blog, PLUS our newsletter. Hope that makes it a little simpler for ya!

Thanks to all, see you again soon...in one of these fun places! :)
Megan

Lower prices, smaller pack sizes and military discount!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:16:00 +0000

I see bunnies bearing gifts!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:21:00 +0000

We're really excited about Easter this year because of our great new personalized treat and favor bags! They are brand new, and I have to say, one of the nicest products we offer. There were so many "oohs" and "aaahs" when we first saw them! It's hard to tell from the photograph, but the colors are so rich printed on these bags, and have such a nice gloss. The look and feel of these bags is delicious; I absolutely adore them and know you will too!

So many ways to decorate the bags, too. You can seal them by folding the top over and then punching two holes you can tie a ribbon through, or you can even do fancy edge and hole punches along the top and seal or not seal!

If you have friends and family coming over for Easter and want to hand out goodie bags, or perhaps you're a teacher and have some treats for your students, these are so unique because they're personalized. I can think of a million other uses for them after Easter, from birthday party and wedding favors to Halloween treats.

This is one product I'm especially proud of to introduce this year, looking forward to more as we wait for the new site's completion!

Megan

The bags will be on the site within a day or two, but as blog subscribers YOU will get a chance to receive them FREE, before they are available to the general public even has a chance to buy them! They will start at $14.95 for 12, so this is a really nice offer.

Free Gift with Purchase

Receive a pack of 12 Easter treat/favor bags FREE with any Doodlekins purchase through Thursday, 3/31!

Bags are aprox. 5" x 7", made of white paper with wax paper lining so it's safe to hold your cookies, brownies, etc. without damaging design. Glossy full color printing in choice of two "Happy Easter!" designs; stripes or bunnies

DETAILS: Let us know in the shopping cart's special request box that you want the Easter Free Gift and indicate your preference of Stripes or Bunnies design. Bags will be printed with the Doodlekins characters you create on the products you are purchasing. One free gift per household. Not valid with other offers or prize gift certificates/coupons, expires Thur 3/31/11.