March Madness is More Like March Insanity!

"The secret is to have eight great players and four others who will cheer like crazy."

- Jerry Tarkanian

Women are not big fans of March Madness! Husbands are constantly getting mad at the teams we pick for our Bracket, any great plays worth watching 3 hours for will be featured over and over on ESPN, and after the season when is the next time you can use Jimmer Fredettes stats without looking like a stalker. It used to be the only good thing that could come from March Madness is being able to go shopping with all your girlfriends and be home before your man even noticed.

I don’t know if it was the need to cheer for my old alma matter (GO AGGIES) or the ongoing hype over ball hog Jimmer Fredette I wanted to tune in and get involved this year. Amongst it all I discovered one important fact that is looked over by women. When was the last time you could eat all the junk food in the world, feel (and act) like you’re back in college again, and still look sexy. Unless you are haunted by memories of Super Bowl Night at the local Frat House and that one “brother” whom couldn’t handle spicy salsa, March Madness is our time!

March Madness Mania

Even if you have a team going to the NCAA Showdown or you don’t know the different between Offense and Defense March Madness is a great time to pick a team, invite friends over, and have some good food on top of good conversation.

Colors: Picking colors depends vastly on whether or not you have a team playing. If you don’t use the basic orange, black, and white colors for your theme, However if you do use your teams colors. For this example I will be going with my team, the Utah State Aggies: Black, White, and Blue!

Invitation: Give your guests admission to the game by giving them tickets to your viewing of the game at your house. Invite your guests over about 30 minutes before the game starts so the smack talking can begin and the food can be devoured before the attention turns to the big screen.

Write-Up:

March Madness Round ___ Viewing

Team

Vs.

Team

Date and Time

Address

Live From:

Stadium

City and State

Buffet Set-Up:

1. Water Jug
2. Water Bucket/Beer/Powerade
3. Cake
4. Cups
5. Cupcakes
6. Plates
7. Napkins
8. Chips
9. Salsa
10. Popcorn
11. Chicken
12. Pizza Rolls
13. Candy Bowl

For Decoration on your table show your team support by making a sign or a flag poster featuring your schools name or their mascot. Also a giant poster board basketball is a great centerpiece for your table; although it won’t be visible until you look down at the table it will add a fun flair to your table.

Cards: I have been and seen so many parties in which they label their food or make a themed twist on what they serve. It’s up to you if you want to go to this extreme, but it is also fun for your guests to read and laugh over the names.

Water- “Water Break”

Cake: “Blow Your Whistle”

Cupcakes: “Traveling Cupcakes”

Popcorn- “Air Pop”

Chicken- “That’s a Fowl!”

Pizza Rolls- “Pass the Pizza Rolls”

Candy Bowl- “All Hands In”

Other Decorations: Don’t be afraid to go a little crazy! A Basketball Hoop (Toy) over the garbage can, A Giant Poster Scoreboard over the T.V…get into the “Madness” of the sport.

Menu:

He Shoots, He Scores! Salsa!

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

2 lbs Ripe Tomatoes (Diced)

1 ½-2 cups Mexican Blend Cheese

1 Can Black Beans (Drained)

2-3 Green Onions (Chopped)

1 cup Italian Dressing

2-3 tablespoons Chopped Cilantro (Optional)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a Medium Serving Bowl.

Mix well and Cover.

Served Best Chilled after Over Night Refrigeration

Crunchy Chicken Fingers

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

1 large Egg

1 lb Chicken Tenders

1 cup Crushed Potato Chips

¾ teaspoons Paprika

¼ teaspoons Salt

Directions:

Heat oven 450 degrees. Line pan with aluminum foil.

In small mixing bowl beat egg until well blended, and then place to the side.

In a medium mixing bowl combine Crushed Potato Chips, Paprika, and Salt. Mix together well.

Take a piece of Chicken, place in egg bowl and cover the piece completely, then place in breading bowl and press the chicken into the potato mix covering the entire chicken tender. Then place on pan.

Repeat.

Bake for 10 minutes

Get off the Bench Pizza Pockets

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

Crescent Rolls (Your Favorite Brand from the Store)

Pizza Sauce

Blended Cheese

Pepperonis (I prefer Mini Pepperonis)

Directions:

Follow Preheat Preferences made by your Crescent Roll Brands.

Roll out all of the crescent rolls on wax paper or a really clean counter top.

Over half of the crescent roll spread pizza sauce thinly.

Top with cheese and pepperonis.

Fold Rolls in half, pinching to seal the ends and place on pan.

Bake according to time allotments on your crescent rolls.

Desserts:

Orange Ya Glad We Won Cupcake Frosting

Ingredients:

3 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 tablespoon Soft Butter

3 tablespoons Orange Juice

1 tablespoon Clear Vanilla Extract.

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and mix. Frost after cupcakes have cooled.

For favors have your guests take the cupcakes home with them. They will enjoy having something sweet to go with the taste of victory….or defeat.

Take a Time Out from Every day life and take a few hours to yell at bad calls, cheer over 3 pointers, and spend some time with your friends and family. Sure there’s only those few times when a day shopping with the girls is ignored, but hey March Madness is 3 weeks long…there will be plenty of time, of course until Baseball Playoffs!



Taste the Rainbow

Rainbow Cupcakes

Ingredients:

White Cake Mix                       Baking Cups

Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green Food Coloring

Directions:

Prepare your favorite white cake mix. The divide white cake batter evenly in 6 separate bowls. Following the chart below, dye each bowl of batter a rainbow color.

Color	Drops of Coloring
Purple	9 Red, 6 Blue
Blue	12 Drops
Green	12 Drops
Yellow	12 Drops
Orange	12 Yellow, 4 Red
Red	18 Drops

Line 12 muffin pan wells with baking cups. Evenly distribute the purple batter among the cups, then the blue, and so on following the order in the chart. Using the back side of a spoon smooth each layer before starting a new one.

Bake cupcakes according to your recipes directions.

Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

½ cup Vegetable Shortening                 ½ cup Butter or Margarine

4 cups Powdered Sugar                        2 Tablespoons of Milk

1 teaspoon Clear Vanilla Extract

Directions:

Mix in a large bowl, using a mixer.

Luck Be a Lady!

If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky? 

-Stanislaw J. Lee

St. Patricks Day was a day set aside in Ireland to celebrate the life and teachings of Saint Patrick, a Bishop in the Irish Church back in 461. It is said that he used a Three Leaf Clover (aka a Shamrock) to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, since then the Shamrock has become a symbol of the Irish Holiday. Of course, now St. Patrick’s Day has spread past the Ireland coast and has entered into our homes. St. Patrick’s Day is better known for the need to Wear Green in fear of being pinched, Drinking Green Beer, and Finding Pots of Gold at the End of the Rainbow. Perhaps even harder than finding a Pot of Gold or even catching a Rainbow is finding St. Patrick’s Decorations…at least a good selection of them.

St. Patricks Day is one of those holidays (a lot like Thanksgiving) were Store Vendors slightly skip over it in anticipation for the next greater holiday. Therefore finding cute decorations to lighten up your home becomes an adventure. This year
I searched high and low for some cute decorations for my small home and I ran up short, so I put on my thinking cap and went to work on some recycled bottles and flowers laying around the house.

Bottles O’Luck

Needed:

White Ribbon                                                   Green Ribbon

3 Long Stemmed Flowers                                 A Couple Decoration Flowers

Stickers                                                            Hot Glue Gun

Scissors                                                            Wire Cutters

1 Large Perrier Sparkling Water Bottle

1 Small Perrier Sparkling Water Bottle

         Don’t let the unfortunate amount of St. Patricks Day decorations out there be a damper on your Holiday Fun at home. Its not very often we get to be creative and make our own decorations. Use this time to “be Green” and find some recyclable goods around the house and work your magic.    

It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want to!

We’ve All Been There! School books are stored deep in the closet, Flirty Sundresses and Skimpy Bikinis are packed in your Suitcase, Snack Foods are stored carefully in your Purse, and Spring Break is right around the corner. Destination: Dull Dry Land.

A couple years ago I spent Spring Break chilling by my family pool for an hour, then going inside to play Rock-Band until my eyes hurt, and then back out in the sun. I did this all week long, to this day I can still vaguely smell Salt and Vinegar Chips when I wear that bikini. After the week was over and life resumed its normal schedule I soon found out that I wasn’t the only one at home hiding from the lack of vacation my break seemed to offer, most of my girlfriends were stuck doing the same thing and we were all too scared and ashamed to admit it beforehand. Since then I have learned my lesson. Instead of hiding behind a guitar for my Spring Break I have started to make my own Party Vacation.

The Spring Break Home Getaway

Summary:

Don’t be afraid to admit that your Spring Break Destination is no where special, when you are honest about your holiday plans, you will be surprised how many friends admit their lack of plans also. Take advantage of this week. No work, No School, New Clothes, and Warm Weather, why not plan a Backyard Party?!

For this Event you want to stick to bright pastels, fun fruity food, danceable music, and anything to make your Backyard feel like a Tropical Getaway. Whether or not you own a pool, this party will be perfect to entertain your friends and keep you sane during your break.

Colors: Lime Green, Pink, Baby Blue, and Yellow

Invitation:

What Better way to say Wish You Are Here than by Postcard! All you will need is an Internet Server, a Print Shop Program, a Glue Stick, White Cardstock, and a couple Stamps.

1. Get on Google.com and search Images for Tropical Beach. There are tons of images that come up. Pick one, and save it to your computer. If you own a photo printer, Print off your tropical picture on glossy picture and put to the side for later.
2. Get on your Print Shop Program and create your invitation. It is best to keep the Postcard Look for your Invitation. On the right write all your Party Information. The left side will be used for the address of your Party Attendee.
3. Print off your Invitation, make sure the measurements of the card are the same as your photo. Once the invitation is printed and cut to the size indicated. Glue/Scrapbook Tape the picture to the back of the invitation.
4. Once you add all the addresses you can smack a stamp on your invitation and mail it out.

Write-Up:

It’s a Spring Break Getaway!

Join us on Saturday March   th, 2011

2:00 pm

6789 East 2990 South Sandy, Ut

There will Be Fun in the Sun, Fresh Fruit By the Bowlful, and

 Fun to Brag About Until Next Year!

Table Seating:

You will need to sets of tables, one for a food buffet and the others for sitting areas. For the Food Table I would use long rectangular tables and for sitting I would use round tables.

Seating:

For a backyard party of this capacity you will only need a couple tables, Two or Three at the most. Seating 6-8 at each tableAlternate colors on the tablecloths, and place the centerpiece in the middle.

B
uffet:

Place a brightly colored tablecloth and finish off with a grass skirt around the table. Place this table to the side or out of the way so its easy to get to, but not a bother. Using two table centerpieces place one on each end of the table.

                                     Plates                                 Drink Bowls

 

                        Silverware                Cups

Centerpieces:

The goal of the centerpiece is to bring your tropical theme to the table…literally. The supplies needed for this centerpiece are easy to find and can eve be hidden around the house.

Fruity Details

Makes: 1 Centerpiece

Needed:

2 square vases (each one a different size)      5 Lemons

5 Limes                                                      2 White Floating Candles

Tap Water                                                 A Pineapple

In the Large Vase place 3 Lemons and 2 Limes altering between the two. After they are placed in fill the vase with water until it is 1.5 inches from the top. Place the floating candle at the top.

In the Smaller Vase place 2 Limes and 1 Lemon altering between the two. After they are placed in fill the case with water until it is 1.5 inches from the top. Place the floating candle at the top.

Place the vases next to each other on the table and then place the pineapple in the middle in front of the vase.

Music:

Music for Spring Break is a no brainer. Anything up beat, girly, and makes you want to dance would be perfect for the party. Here are some of my suggestions:

“California Girls” by Katy Perry

“Summer Love” by Justin Timberlake

“Raise Your Glass” by Pink

“We R Who We R” by Ke$ha

“Crazy in Love” by Beyonce

“The Scene is Dead” by Cobra Starship

“Your Love is a Drug” by Leighton Meester

“Everybody Loves Me” by OneRepublic

“I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz

Check Out Some of Our Featured Songs in our Blog Playlist

Food:

Keep things fruity! Nothing screams Spring Break like fruit and light food. Instead of just serving a bowl of cut up fruit, add a little bit of flavor by make a couple fruit dips and a fruit salad!

To Start you will need Fresh Strawberries, Apples, Pineapple, Peaches, Oranges, etc. First rinse your Fresh Fruit and Cut them up into Bite-size Pieces.

Tropical Fruit Dip

Ingredients:

½ cup Sour Cream                                                       1 Cup Milk

1 Small Package Instant French Vanilla Pudding            1/3 cup Coconut

1 8-ounce can Crushed Pineapple, undrained

Directions:

Blend Sour Cream, Milk, and Pudding together until smooth. Fold in Pineapple and Coconut. Refrigerate over night.

Refreshing Fruit Dip

Ingredients:

1 (16-ounce) Package Frozen Unsweetened Peach Slices, Thawed

1 (10-ounce) Package Frozen Sweetened Strawberries, Thawed

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice                           ¼ teaspoon Almond Extract

Directions:

In a blender mix in all ingredients, cover and process until smooth.

Layered Fruit Salad

Makes: 10-12 Servings

Ingredients:

Fruit:

2 cups Cubed Fresh Pineapple             

1 Pint Fresh Strawberries, Hulled and Sliced

2 Kiwi Fruit, Peeled and Sliced            

3 Medium Bananas, Sliced

2 Oranges, Peeled and Sectioned                     

1 Cup Seedless Grapes

1 Pint Blueberries

Sauce:

2/3 cup Fresh Orange Juice                             

1/3 cup Fresh Lemon Juice

1/3 cup Packed Brown Sugar                          

½ teaspoon Grated Orange Peel

1 teaspoon Grated Lemon Peel            

1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions:

In a sauce pan, bring to boil all ingredients for sauce except vanilla; simmer 5 minites. Add vanilla and cool. Meanwhile, in a large clear glass salad bowl, arrange fuit in layers in order listed. Pour sauce over fruit. Cover and refrigerate several hours.

Cocktails:

Spring Break is known for its cocktails, so bring those Tiki Bar Drinks to the Party.

Southern Serenity

Makes: 2

Ingredients:

2 Ripe Peaches, Pitted and Chopped                4 Ounces Straight Burbon

Peach Wedges or Diced Peaches, for Garnish

Directions:

Blend together the peaches and bourbon on high speed until the mixture is thoroughly pureed. Turn off the blender.

With the blender running, slowly add more ice cubes, no more than three at a time. Listen carefully to the sound of the machine. When the machine resumes its normal pitch rather than sounding gravelly, look at the drink. You will notice a vortex in the center of the mixture. Keep adding ice until the vortex disappears and the mixture looks smooth.

Turn off the blender and stir the mixture with a long spoon or a chopstick. Replace the lid and turn on the blender. The vortex will reappear. Keep adding ice cubes, two or three at a time, until it disappears.

Once again, turn off the blender, stir, replace the lid and blend for about 10 seconds, or until the sound of the motor tells you that all the ice has been thoroughly chopped. Spoon into a stemmed wineglass and garnish with the peach wedges

Golden Glow Punch

Makes: 2

Ingredients:

6 ounce Orange Juice Concentrate           6 Ounce Lemonade Concentrate

1 Quart Chilled Apple Juice                     2 Quarts Chilled Ginger Ale

1 Pint Lemon Sherbet                              Ice

Directions:

Pour the concentrate and the apple juice into the punch bowl. Stir the ginger ale into the bowl. Spoon in sherbet or add an ice ring. Serve immediately.

Dessert:

In one of my favorite movies a very vocal character tells his best friend, “You know what ELSE everybody likes? Parfaits! Have you ever met a person, you say, "Let's get some parfait," they say, "Hell no, I don't like no parfait"? Parfaits are delicious!” Donkey is right, everyone loves Parfaits! So to end your party on a positive note, serve a dessert they can eat there or eat on the run.

Parfait

Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients:

3 Cups Vanilla Nonfat Yogurt               1 Cup Good Quality Granola

1 Cup Fresh or Defrosted Frozen Strawberries in Juice

1 Pint Fresh Blackberries, Raspberries, or Blueberries

Directions:

Layer 1/3 cup vanilla yogurt into the bottom of your glass container, Combine defrosted strawberries and juice with fresh berries. Alternate layers of fruit and granola with yogurt until containers are filled to the top. Serve Parfaits immediately to keep granola crunchy.

Favors:

So the trip is over, its time to go home, or at least that’s how you want your guests to feel. So give them a treat to remind them of the good times!

Who Said Baggage was a Bad Thing

Needed:

1 Small bag (Similar to a Mini Make-up Bag)    A few Candies

Small Treat Items                                              Cardstock

Scrapbook Paper                                              Tape

Scissors                                                            Ribbon

1-Hole Punch

Directions:

Print off “Thank You” Note on White Cardstock Paper. Cut it out, mat on Scrapbook Paper, and cut and finish off the note.

Write-Up:

Thank You! Come Again!

Name

Spring Break 2011

Love,

Kari

Fill Your Small Bag with Candies and Treats. Once the bad is filled zip the bag close and using ribbon tie Thank You Note on the Bag.

Although I developed a crowd-stopping talent of playing “Eye of the Tiger” with my eyes shut and developed a killer tan, I still believe Spring Break is a time to get together with the people who mean the most to you. Friends and Family are a gift that are sometimes taken for granted. They are the ones who bring light to a dark time and who lift you up out of that deep hole you have found yourself in. It’s not everyday you can take time and Thank them for all they do. This spring break find those friends who are too scared to announce they are staying in for Spring Break and give them something to go back and brag about.