Kookie Krums

Oh So Cute

Ok, so this has absolutely nothing to do with cookies. But I just had to share. I saw a little girl at a party last weekend wearing The. Cutest. Headband. Ever. So being the creative chick that I am, I asked her if I could borrow it for a second. A trip to Walmart and 45 minutes later, my girls have new headbands! And they LOVE them. So do I. They're a little on the crazy side, but my Hailey loves to be very girly, so these were right up her alley. And that's the fun of making them on your own. You can get as wild as you want, and they are still adorable and so much fun. Here's the scoop on how to make your own . . .

I bought the three pack of headbands at Walmart, for $2.97. They're the medium thickness ones, not really wide, not the thin ones. Then I bought three spools of ribbon, for $1.94 each, since I wanted three different designs. Then three large fake flowers, $.97 each. You want to look for the flowers that are kind of flat on the bottom. You can fix them if they're not, two of mine weren't, but it's easier if it's already done for you. Walmart is not my favorite place by any means, but I was already there (that's another story, it was late, and I really wanted to get out for a little while, and where's a girl to go?!). Plus, they have cheap ribbon and cheap fake flowers. Not a big selection, but sometimes you can get lucky.

Ok, so on with the instructions. You'll need about a yard and a half of ribbon. Wrap it around the headband, using hot glue to secure each wrap on the underside of the headband. You might have to glue a few times on the ends, to get the ends covered nicely so the headband itself isn't showing. Once you have the ribbon on it, hot glue the flower off to one side. And that's it, you're done! One fabulous headband, ready to rock!

A Hatbox with Style

Talk about giving a gift with flair! Joann and Mary from Your Mortgage Source just sent one of these as a thank you to a client, and WOW, it perfectly made the statement they wanted to send!

These new hatboxes are absolutely fabulous. Great designs. Great colors. Love them. Made up with bouquets or with loose cookies, you can't go wrong either way. There are some really fun designs in these boxes that just came out, and we have them! From polka dots, to swirls, to foliage, they can fit any occasion! And coming in different sizes, they can fit any budget too - even better!

You all know how much I love gifts that you can use every part of. With the sturdiness of these boxes and coordinating lids, these will make great storage containers when the cookies are gone! Pretty enough to leave sitting out on a counter or desk, no need to worry about hiding these!

A Different Kind of Project

We were excited to be asked by Creative Contractors to make some beautiful bows. I know what you're thinking, it's not cookies, but we are very multi-talented over here at Kookie Krums!! And we do make gorgeous bows!

Our new friends at Creative Contractors were doing a ground breaking ceremony, and wanted the bows to tie on the shovels. What ceremony goes on with ground breakings! Makes me want to get involved with one because it just sounds like a really fun event.

Below is a photo of the shovels - I love how the scoops are painted gold! The bows were beautiful, don't you think?!

 

The Great American Bake Sale

Have you heard of The Great American Bake Sale with Share our Strength? If not, you should know about it. Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale is a national campaign that mobilizes Americans to end childhood hunger by holding bake sales in their communities. Great American Bake Sale proceeds are granted to organizations in communities across America to help provide at-risk children with nutritious meals when they’re needed most during the summer, and afterschool.

We were very excited to be a part of this. Since some of the "rules" have changed, and there's more stipulations put on what's sold at the bake sales, more businesses are getting involved. We helped two high school students who wanted to make a difference in their community. They were not allowed to bake their own products for the sale, so they were dependant on donations from local bakeries to have items to sell. We were happy to step up with several packs of cookies. The girls' bake sale was held in downtown Safety Harbor during one of their events. A big shout out to these two amazing girls for getting involved in helping their community. See . . . I have high hopes that my daughters will become fabulous teenages, they are still out there!! 

I also have to note here that Duff from Ace of Cakes also participated in this event. Yep, we're right up there with the cool kids. Hope everyone who purchased our cookies enjoyed them thoroughly, and a big yummy thank you to each of you for supporting a great cause!!

Me & IKEA

So me and IKEA. We're officially going steady. It's true. I've been casually dating IKEA since the end of May, but haven't been wanting to really commit to IKEA. I just couldn't decide. I was intrigued by it, and then slightly infatuated with it. Now I'm in love. I had made a few small purchases on previous trips, but couldn't bring myself to do any big purchases. That all changed a few days ago.

First let me just say, there is no greater high than when you're checking out after finding something you love and having the check out guy say "Oh wow, they marked these down AGAIN?"  What?!? I LOVE THAT!! So these absolutely adorable flower pots that were marked at $4.99 suddenly became $.97 at the checkout. It doesn't get any better than that!!

So after I filled my cart, I made my way to the "as-is" section. If you haven't discovered this section, you really need to. There was a tall black shelf that completely caught my eye several weeks ago. It's going to make a wonderful display piece in the shop. Anyway, it was originally marked at $139. It was missing something, obviously, or it wouldn't have been in this section. It had been marked down to $89, but I passed it up, it wasn't low enough for me yet. When I went back a few days ago, it was still there. This time, it was missing the drawer at the bottom that hadn't been my favorite to begin with. I had already been planning to take out the drawer and remove the hardware, but I thought I would first let it work to my advantage.

After waiting ridiculously long for the manager to make up his mind about his best price, and checking a few times to see if I was just trying to buy a shelf or if I was actually buying a car, an employee came back with a new price tag. Thirty. Nine. Dollars. Are you kidding?! I was ecstatic!! And soon I will tell you that it's up in the store, fixed up and refurbished and ready to make its gorgeous debut.

In the meantime, I'm in love. Am I glowing?!

Atlanta Market

I was new to the Atlanta Market this year. I have dreamed of going for years, and have only just made it. A goal accomplished, check that off the list! And I can tell you with near certainty that I plan to return every year. My fabulous girlfriend Wendy lives in Kansas City, and she met me in Atlanta for four days of getting away. We had a plan. We really did. Two days of market. Two days of seeing Atlanta and relaxing by the pool at the hotel. We got back on our respective flights after four days of market. It happens to the best of us.

We found Curly Girl Designs, which we are now more than slightly obsessed with. Hammond's Candies makes absolutely gorgeous lollipops for everyday, and candy canes for the holidays. Natural Life has some great accessories, perfect for adding to your cookie gifts.

We fell in love with The Round Top Collection for all seasons, and The Universe Knows for great one liner mugs. And of course, Nancy's Candy is an old favorite for our decadent chocolate items. We added some new items from Nancy's, so if you're a fan of the chocolate covered pretzels we carry, come on in and see what you now have to pick from!!

We picked up some stunning frames from Demdaco, as well as a line by a new artist, Kelly Rae. We're also going to be offering personalized ornaments and tie on's from Rudolph and Me. Great keepsake pieces. As you can tell, we have a lot of great new products on the way. You simply must come in to see all of the new product and shop around. We truly have something for everyone, and things you just won't find everywhere else. And aren't those the best things?! I love finding things I know that nobody will have seen, but that everyone would fall in love with. That's just what we found in these new lines.

For those of you not familiar, Atlanta market happens twice a year. Vendors from all over come to display their products and sell to retailers. They have everything you can imagine, from jewelry to furniture. Floors upon floors of vendors and products and things that put stars in your eyes. Take a look.

 

Uh-huh. I told you so. And this is just one building, and only a few of the floors. And it goes all the way around behind where I'm taking the picture. I don't know how many miles we logged, but well above the daily recommended, that's for sure. In fact, look at this sign we passed on one of the floors.

You get the idea. I could not have done this with a more amazing friend. Wendy and I trekked miles around this place, looking for the perfect product lines, incredible boutique gifts, and the cutest accessories. And we found them! And they're on their way to the shop as I type. Atlanta Market has everything. I'm not kidding. Even Santa Claus.

   

Do I need to say I told you so again?!  Some of the floors, to our shopping bliss, were cash & carry. This means you can buy it on the spot and take it home with you. We got a little sidetracked on these floors. And had to go back. Again. And one more time. Thus the reason for this . . .

 

Yes, I had to buy an extra suitcase to get home. But it was well worth it. I will keep you posted as these amazing new products arrive. I know you'll fall in love. I did. And now I wait anxiously for the man in brown to bring me my boxes. As for Wendy and me, well, there's always another trip for relaxing by the pool!

Dreaming Giggles GiveAway

Ok, so remember the adorable bow holder I showed you from Dreaming Giggles Design?? Well, Patti is doing a give-away through another blog, and who wouldn't want to win something from this amazing girl?!  Click here to go to the blog, Everyday Snapshots, and leave a comment for your chance to win. There's actually three opportunities to get your name in the hat, and you can read about all of them on the blog post.  And then take some time to check out the rest of the blog while you're there. I am new to this one, but I am loving it!  Good luck - but I have to tell you, I'm hoping I win over you!!!

Free Cookie Winners!

The winners of our free cookie drawing on Facebook have just been posted! We randomly selected twenty five fans using Random.org to receive a half dozen assorted cookies for free . . . just for becoming a fan on Facebook! One of those lucky winners received a free cookie bouquet instead of the half dozen cookies.

If you haven't yet joined us, do it now, as we have another contest coming up soon, and you won't want to miss out!! Congratulations to all of our winners, and thank you to all of our fans!!

The Big PT Weekend.

I finally gave in. I will honestly admit that I have been putting off the looming potty training of K for as long as I possibly can. Not for good reasons, some would say. I will whisper here that it was purely selfish reasons that kept me from doing it before now. See, I figured, if K was going to leave us and go back to her biological parents, then it was only fair that they have the task of potty training. I mean, why should we as foster parents have to do all the hard things, all of the work, and then give back these happy, well-adjusted, fully potty trained children?? It just doesn't seem right. The hard work is much of what parenting is all about. And what Mom hasn't sat with a group of other Mom's and told the war stories of their own potty training endeavors? I just don't think these biological parents should get off that easy. Now, before you judge me too harshly, let me rush to tell you that our pediatrician completely agreed with our decision. When asked at her two year checkup if we were going to start potty training, I was a little quick in my defense of why I absolutely was not going to. But my wonderful pediatrician was quick to agree with my logic. I love him!! So we've been putting it of. Despite K's wandering into the bathroom and saying "potty??" Despite Hailey's constant reminders of "don't you want to go on the big potty like YaYa?" We stood strong. Until this past weekend.

Now that K's case is again undecided, we finally relented. I mean, the other kids in her preschool class are all entering the potty group at an astonishing rate. A girl's got to maintain her respect. So we caved, we gave in, we put her on the potty. I'm still miffed by the whole thing. I still think it's unfair. But K is so proud of herself, I can't help but be thrilled for her. She has joined the ranks, and stepped up to the task admirably. This is an awkward place to be, in the role of a foster parent. It's strange to be stomping your feet while at the same time jumping for joy. But then again, that's why we are here. To give these children normalcy, to teach them what they need to know, to let them keep up with their peers, and to do a silly dance for them when they go on the potty. Even if I want to throw a two year old fit while doing it.

Here's a shot of K keeping up with the gossip, and being a big girl . . . :)

100 Fans on Facebook.

We did it. Today. The first milestone. Reaching 100 fans on Facebook was our first goal, and we made it. Aaaahhh, the joy. I wonder if the creators of Facebook ever imagined how much happiness they could give me in one little three digit number.  And I wonder if they knew how obsessive one person can become over watching those numbers click by. Wow.

To celebrate, and to thank all of our fans, we're giving away FREE cookies! Yep. You read that correctly. Free cookies. 25 Random Fans. One lucky person is going to win a free cookie bouquet, and 24 other fans are going to win free cookies. The drawing isn't going to be done until Tuesday the 14th, since I am headed out of town for the weekend (insert happy dance here).  That means you still have time to get in on it if you haven't already!! Here's the link to our facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Dunedin-FL/Kookie-Krums/94983047992?ref=nf

Click on this link, then click on "Become a fan" and you'll be all set for the drawing. There's also a "suggest this page" button you can click to tell your friends about Kookie Krums. Spread the word. Share some delicious joy. Add to my number happiness.