Jungle Party

I remember the first Jungle Party I did...it was my son Matt's 1st birthday. I don't have many pictures of that birthday party but boy did I work on it! As 5 years have gone by, I wish I had all the supplies I have now to recreate it again. In June I was asked if I could assist in making some things for little Caleb's first birthday party, when I said yes to the party, I was even more excited to know that it would be a Jungle theme. This was my opportuintiy to explore new ideas and put them together. Very soon after we got started on the birthday invitations, banner and centerpieces. This is what I was able to capture.
This past Saturday, The Castillo family celebrated Caleb's first birthday. Congrats to Mr. Caleb on his first year of life, may he and his family be filled with blessings from our heavenly father as they now enter his 2nd year of life. It was fun, adding my ideas in honor of your son's 1st year celebration.

Thank God for Girls...

...although I don't have any girls, I created the cutest little head bows/bands for almost every little girl I know. Ok, maybe not for all but for a good amount of the little girls in my life. I really got carried away this weekend, it was a fun little project. A big hand of applause to my little man Landon for being my head model, the reason he let me put them on his head was because I told him they had soccer balls. So, my readers here are a few samples of what I did. Place your orders now for that cute little girl or girls in your life.

Moose & Zee Banner

A simple and cute 1st birthday banner. The hardest thing was finding the pictures of Moose and Zee, the rest was pretty much a piece of cake!

I LOVE Girly Girl thingys!!

Hi, I just wanted to share my latest creation...it's a birthday card and envelope. Don't you just love the colors? They are just so calm and sweet... I love doing girly things and can only say, how I DREAM of actually one day going all out and doing such a cute birthday party for my little girl. PERO...reality hits me and that's a no no. I'll stick to just throwing my two boys birthday parties. A little girl would be nice but to be honest, I'm very happy with my two boys and just the fact of adding a THIRD child at the age of 31 is kinda crazy! So, back to the real life, aqui les dejo mi ultimo craft!

Decorated Stick Horse

They say stick horses are old fashion but they are still around, for about $30+ you can purchase one at a toy store. Two years ago, I was lucky to find some tiny ones at the dollar tree for Landon's 1st birthday, and my sister was able to get 2 big stick horses at a second hand store for about $6. My boys sure love those horses or horseys as they call them.
Recently, I was asked if I could make one for a little girl. Although I wish I had more time to work on neat projects and actually make a stick horse from scratch, I offered to decorate one that was already made. After much thinking and buying, I decided to make it a patriotic "tico" horse. Mr. Horse was a success at the Costa Rican festival, where it got 1st place for best looking horse!! Check him out, I hope you like the way he came out. In my to do list I have added a Stick Horse, since I now owe my boys a horsey.

Birdie Baby Shower

Babies were in this year...here is another baby shower I worked on. Mommy wanted a birdie theme and this what I came up. A banner with birdies holding it up, birdie clothespins to play a game, small birdies on nest that were done with the help of my cricut and finally I created these cute bird cages that were used to put on branches for the centerpieces.
I'd like to thank all those people who share great DIY tutorials online, from where I mainly get ideas to make neat things... like this bird cage. If anyone is interested in creating their own bird cage please go to The Birds Cafe where she shares this fabulous tutorial. Once again sorry for the bad pictures, I must invest in a good camera soon. Enjoy

Mickey Mouse & Heart Shaped Alfajores

If there is one thing I love to eat when I'm in Costa Rica it's those caramel, dulce de leche filled cookies. Although the Alfajores are more of a South American tradition there are certain places, in Tiquicia, where you can get them (Spoon & Automercado). Lately I've asked some of my tico contacts to send me some with people who are coming to Cali, but I have had zero luck...que pura vida! So I decided to make some with my boys.


You are more than welcome to use this recipe:

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Ingredients:
•12 tablespoons butter
•1 cup granulated sugar
•1 egg
•2 egg yolks
•2 tablespoons cognac
•2 1/2 cups cornstarch (corn flour)
•1 cup all-purpose flour
Preparation:
To make cookie dough:
Cream the butter and sugar together, then mix in the remaining ingredients except the dulce de leche and coconut until well blended. Knead on a floured work surface until the dough is smooth and let rest for 15 minutes.
Make the cookies:
Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1/4 inch and cut into 2-inch rounds. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 20 minutes. When cool, spread some dulce de leche on the bottom of half the cookies and press another cookie on top, allowing some of the dulce de leche to squeeze from the sides. Roll the sides in the coconut until the sides are covered.
Makes about 12 delicious, definitely non low calorie cookies!
You can buy the dulce de leche at most hispanic supermarkets or you can make it.
To make dulce de leche:
Method 1: Pour 1 can sweetened condensed milk into 9-inch pie plate. Cover with aluminum foil. Place the pie plate in a in larger shallow pan filled with hot water. Do not allow the water to cover the smaller pan. Bake at 425 degrees F for 1 hour or until thick and caramel-colored. Beat until smooth.
Method 2: Place unopened can sweetened condensed milk in a pot with enough water to cover the can. Bring slowly to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer and let cook for 4-5 hours until the milk is caramelized. Be careful! Keep the can covered and simmering slowly to avoid the risk of the can exploding. Cool the can before opening.

You can also check out blogger Matt Armendariz of mattbites.com. The alfajores he made look so yum yum yummy.
*If anyone decides to make them please share your experience.