Lillian Thomson - Dinker and Giggles

Things to Think About When Throwing a Green Baby Shower

Posted by Lillian Thomson on Aug 6, 2012 in Lifestyle

cloth diaper cake Planning a green baby shower can be quite simple and entertaining. You’d be surprised at the small things you can change which will jump the baby shower into the green category.

Choose the Theme.

The first thing that you’ll need to do is pick out a theme for the baby shower. There are many themes that are eco-friendly. You can always use earth tones to decorate the party like beige, white and brown. You don’t necessarily have to use earth tones though. Any animal can be used as the basis for the theme like turtles, jungle animals, monkeys or frogs. To the left is an an image of a monkey themed cloth diaper cake to give you some ideas for decorating.

“Green” Decorations

By the way I found a really comprehensive post with ideas for frog baby shower decorations if you decide on that theme. You can also have the baby shower outdoors. This will reduce the amount of decorations you’ll need which minimizes waste and saves some extra cash.

If you decide that outdoors isn’t possible for you, use natural decorations like organic, locally grown flowers, or eco-friendly cloth diaper cakes. Ask to reuse decorations from a friend that may have recently had a shower!

Recycling is the greenest thing you can do. Use china and cloth napkins instead of plastic plates and paper napkins. Use silverware instead of plastic utensils; for other eco-friendly décor do a little online research. With the mass movement of people ‘going green’ there are a lot of options to choose from.
Have your guests pitch in at minimizing the waste even more by suggesting that they wrap gifts using cloth gift bags. Other reusable resources that are great for gift wrapping include baby bibs or baby blankets.

diaper cake image credits by reactionphotography via live silver prices

Eco-friendly Invitations

One of the most obvious things you can do is send e-vites (emails) instead of traditional paper invitations. Choose some really cute cliparts that match the theme of your party and send out the emails. However, you will also need to call the guests just to remind them of the time and date of the party. If you really want paper invites you can always send out the ones that are made with recycled materials or natural fibers such as cotton or bamboo.

“Green” Savings

If you are coupon clipper, there is one thing you probably know: deals can be green as well. Coupon Sherpa has a wealth of green coupons in a variety of categories.

Take a look at this post of theirs for example promoting green coupons for kids. Their huge Eco-friendly frugal guide is worth a look as well!

Choose Organic Food.

Visit your local farmer’s market to shop for the party food. Buying locally grown food not only helps your community, but it also reduces the impact that we have on the planet because the food you bought didn’t need to be transported a very long distance. On top of the environmental advantage, buying at the farmer’s market is usually more cost effective.

Party Fun

For entertainment have everyone get together and choose some guests to share their best childhood story. You can also always play the name that candy bar baby shower game and instead of using disposable diapers you can simply use cloth. It will be a lot more of a mess to clean up afterwords but at least it’s green. Playing games together provides for hours of happy entertainment.

Giving out green party favors is also possible when you change your point of view from traditional to natural. Cloth napkins that match the parties theme, flower seeds, potted plants, or a glass with the baby’s initials on it makes for great party favors, and the perfect complement to your green baby shower.

With a few simple changes in the party planning agenda, you will be on your way to an amazing and green baby shower. For decorations, party games, and more check out Green Planet Parties for all of your supplies!! Here are some more baby shower themes ideas so your party will be a blast. Have fun and go green!

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Fried Banana Dessert Recipe

Posted by Lillian Thomson on Mar 16, 2012 in Lifestyle

Brazilian Fried Banana Fritters @DinkerGiggles #recipe When planning a party whether is be a baby shower or a birthday celebration, the menu is one of the most important aspects to consider. Having a diversified option of desserts and finger foods is always a good idea. If you want to save money then you should try some of these baby shower food ideas on a budget.

Here you’ll find instructions to make a fried banana dessert also known as banana fritters. This is a typical Brazilian treat that is amazing and I’m sure your guests will love it. You can also use this dessert recipe with a variety of other fruits, but I believe that the best option is to use organically grown bananas. Try out this banana fritters recipe a few weeks before the celebration just to make sure it comes out perfect. That way you won’t have to worry about making it for the first time on the day of your event.

Here’s a list of the ingredients you’ll need:

• 2-3 large organic bananas
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup organic milk
• 1 tbs. organic butter
• 2 cups sugar
• Pinch of salt
• Cinnamon to taste (optional)
• Canola Oil

What you need to do:

The first thing you will want to do is heat some oil to approximately 350 F. I usually use canola oil because it’s healthier, but peanut oil will work as well. Just try not to use oil that has a strong flavor to it. Heat enough oil to cover your fried banana dessert, about 2-2 ½ cups, depending on the size of your pan.

Next, we will work with the dry ingredients. Sift your flour into a bowl. To said flour, add the baking powder, sugar, salt, and cinnamon if you are using it. Combine it well. Now, since the dry ingredients are taken care of, it is time to show the wet ingredients some love. Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients and start adding all the wet ones. Beat it together; you will be looking for a consistency that’s similar to a pancake batter, maybe just a tad thicker.

In a separate bowl, peel (obviously) and mash bananas to add to the batter. If you would like, you can also chop them, whatever you prefer, but be warned, if you choose to mash them your fried banana dessert will be smoother (again, obviously). Now, add the bananas to your batter and mix. Note: Sometimes, I’ll add two eggs to this batter to make it heavier. If you wanted to do this, add about a half cup of flour to compensate. I usually leave the eggs out though, because I like how light this batter turns out without them.

To fry, grab a tablespoon and start dolloping the batter into the frying pan. Be careful not to over crowd the pan, because your oil will get cold, and your banana fritters will get all soggy and oily. Also, another thing to watch out for: Don’t make your oil too hot, because then your fried bananas will burn on the outside, and not cook all the way through. They are ready to be removed once they are golden brown on all sides. I usually start with two or three in the pot, and then take them out to see if they cooked all the way through. If they did, great, if not adjust your oil accordingly.

After frying, sprinkle cinnamon sugar over them while they are still hot. Let it cool just enough to not burn you, and enjoy. They are best served warm.

If you would like to find more recipes for your celebrations you might want to check out these fruit arrangements for baby shower, this strawberry banana blueberry smoothie recipe, and these healthy party food ideas.

Eco Friendly Birthday Party

Posted by Lillian Thomson on Jan 14, 2011 in Lifestyle

As a child, a birthday party is a sort of ‘rite of passage’. Unfortunately, traditional birthdays can be sometimes be very wasteful and, even worse, detrimental to the environment. So instead of sticking to tradition, let’s be a good example and throw a lovely green-inspired kids birthday party.

Simple Changes Make a Difference

There are small things that we can change in our plans to make the party more green. For example, serve whatever food you plan on having using your normal home dishes, and everyday utensils instead of plastic, disposable ones. Instead of paper napkins, use cloth. Instead of plastic decorations, use natural and/or reusable ones, like plants and candles.