Party Activity- Kick The Can Ice Cream!

Over the next two weeks I will be showcasing the latest party I planned...An ICE CREAM SOCIAL! This party was so much fun to style and put together. I'm dreaming of ice cream all night long now! I'm starting off with the party activities {since I was invited to talk about neighborhood block party ideas on the Channel 2 Fresh Living Show tomorrow morning}.

This second party activity is similar to the ziplock bag activity {here}. It's just one more way for the kiddos to make ice cream! Either one is super fun and easy. 

KICK/ROLL THE CAN ICE CREAM

You will need:

- 1 pint half & half

- 1/3 cup granulated sugar

- 4 tablespoons of your favorite pudding mix

- 10 cups ice

- 1 1/2 cups rock salt {kosher salt or sea salt may be used too}

- 3-pound can, emptied and rinsed

- 1-pound can, emptied and rinsed

- Duct tape

Photography by Lyndsey Fagerlund

How to make:

1. In a medium bowl, combine half and half, sugar and pudding mix with a whisk until mixed.
2. Place the 1-pound can inside the 3 pound can and pour ice cream mixture into the smaller can.
3. Cover the smaller can with it's lid and seal with duct tape.
4. Surround the smaller can with ice and salt by layering 5 cups of ice with 3/4 cup of salt, etc.
5. Cover the 3-pound can with it's lid and seal with duct tape.

6. Have the kids kick the can around! They can also roll the can back and forth on its side. Do this for 10 minutes.

7. After 10 minutes, open up the cans and check the ice cream. The mixture on the sides of the smaller can will set up faster than the center so use a rubber spatula to quickly scrape down the sides and give the ice cream one big stir. Replace the lid on the smaller can and reseal with duct tape.

8. Dump out the melted ice and place the smaller can back into the larger one. Surround the small can with new ice and salt and put the lid back on and seal with duct tape.

9. Ask the kids to roll or kick the can for 10 more minutes.

10. Once they're done, open the cans and serve the ice cream to your little guests!

*Use your favorite flavor of pudding to change the ice cream flavor.
*After the first 10 minutes of kicking the can, mix in some nuts, chocolate chips, or cookie crumbles to enhance the flavor of your ice cream.

Party Activity- Ziplock Bag Ice Cream

Over the next two weeks I will be showcasing the latest party I planned....An ICE CREAM SOCIAL! This party was so much fun to style and put together. I am dreaming about ice cream all night long now! I'm starting off with the party activities {since I was invited to talk about neighborhood block party ideas on the Channel 2 Fresh Living Show tomorrow morning}.

The first activity- ZIPLOCK BAG ICE CREAM

Have the kids make their own ice cream in about 5 minutes with ziplock bags and simple ingredients!

What you will need:

- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup half & half
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 6 tablespoons rock salt
- 1 quart-size ziplock bag
- 1 gallon-size ziplock bag
- Ice cubes

How to make it:

1. Fill the large bag half full of ice and add the rock salt. Set aside.
2. Put half & half, vanilla and sugar into the small bag and seal it.
3. Place the small bag inside the large one and seal it again carefully.
4. Shake the bag until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
5. Wipe off the top of the small bag and open it carefully. Eat it!

*Makes about 2 scoops of ice cream, so double the recipe if you want more. Don't increase the proportions too much though-- a large amount could be too heavy for kids to pick up.*



Photography by
Lyndsey Fagerlund

Bright As The Sun 1st Birthday Party!

And now, the cherry on top! This BRIGHT AS THE SUN 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY will surely lighten your day!  Wendy Updegraff Photography did it again...these photos are just lovely. I adore the anthropologie inspired invites and wall banner. And how adorable is that fabric sun behind the dessert table? The kid friendly food is just darling {cheerios and milk, doughnuts on a stick, etc}! Oh, and you have to check out the 1st birthday capsule...such a fun idea. Swoon. I hope you enjoy this party as much as I did. Thanks again for your submissions, Wendy! I've loved featuring these amazing parties today!

Hi Ya! Ninja Birthday Party!

This weekends winning party feature goes to this awesome NINJA BIRTHDAY PARTY submitted by Donna Baxman and Kim Queen of Monkey Moo Moo Parties! What a fun party! All kids received headbands, black belts and foam swords and were sent off to "warrior training". They kicked and karate chopped wood boards and more! Super creative. A perfect party theme for a nine year old! All the printables for this party can be purchased here.

Thanks for your submission Kim and Donna! Congratulations on being chosen as a winning feature!

water fight "wars" birthday party!

Like I said earlier, today I am featuring a few parties that were photographed by the talented Wendy Updegraff. This WATER FIGHT or WATER WARS BIRTHDAY PARTY she threw for her son's 11th birthday was a huge success! A dunking tank?! I'm sure all the kids at the party talked about that one for weeks. This party just looks like so much fun...the kind of party that makes you want to be a kid again! Thanks for your submission, Wendy!

All party printables were designed by Wendy. Custom birthday banner ordered from etsy shop, Cardboard Sheek. Tattoos printed by etsy shop, Buttonhead.

Circus Time Birthday Party!

Today I am featuring some amazing parties that were photographed by Wendy Updegraff. The first one up...this over the BIG top CIRCUS BIRTHDAY PARTY by Oriana Hetsler! These photos will make your jaw drop. SO much planning must have gone into this party! Everything is absolutely amazing. Every. Single. Detail. Is. Perfect. I love the tags, banners, ribbon, signs, lions, colors, kids, FERRIS WHEEL, rosette's...and on, and on! Amazing job, Oriana! Congratulations on being today's winning party feature!