No Need for a Doggy Bag

We finish up our week of puppy madness with a tempting feast for your litter! Whether you are doing a puppy birthday party or just want to fix a special lunch for your kids, this is a simple and fun lunch.

We used paper plates for easy cleanup, but I served out of dog food bowls. Check the Dollar Store for cheap bowls. 25 cents got me a bone-shaped cookie cutter which I used on PB&J sandwiches.

I also served - what else? - hot dogs! After the mommies (my best friends - aren't they beautiful?) got our kids set up with the finger food, we were able to sit down and eat up!

The centerpiece was a basket full of dollar store puppies. Simple, cute, and perfect for party favors.

Dog by Matthew Van Fleet

It doesn't get much cuter than this! A book full of adorable doggies, pull-out tabs, textured spots... what more could you ask for? Well, maybe an actual story, but the list of opposites is fun and instructive. The interactivity in the book is perfect for kids of all ages: clever enough for older kids to enjoy and sturdy enough to keep babies from destroying. I laughed out loud in the store when I got to the tab that lifts the doggy's leg (yes, so he can pee) - so apparently it's fun for adults as well... or I'm easily amused.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Get Your Paws Off My Cake!

We're reading doggy-themed books this week and reminiscing over E's 3rd birthday party. In our family, the cake is always the most anticipated part of the party... other than the presents, that is. Our little puppies drooled with anticipation over these delicious puppy paw-print cupcakes!

I used a boxed chocolate cake mix to make up a batch of cupcakes. I'm not a fan of canned frosting, so I found a great recipe for cream cheese frosting. (Unfortunately, I didn't think of saving that recipe, so I have no clue which of the 698,000 recipes out there I used. I'm sure they're all delicious; I mean, cream cheese and sugar? Got to be good.)

To assemble the cupcakes, I spooned the frosting into a ziplock bag and snipped off the corner to pipe the frosting onto the cupcake in a swirl pattern. One thin mint (stock up now - they freeze!) and four Jr. Mints placed on top created the paw print.

So easy and so yummy, our guests couldn't wait to dive in!

E picked off the minty portions of the cupcake, but the other kids (and the moms!) gobbled them up! You know what else we gobbled up (how's that for a transition?)...

You're A Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day

Have you seen the Good Dog, Carl books? These classics follow Carl, the Rottweiler every mother wishes she had. Carl looks after baby Madeline, getting her in and pulling her out of mischief in every adventure. I can only imagine what sort of danger A would get into with Miles as her nanny, but Carl is a dream babysitter. He keeps Madeline from danger while giving her the time of her life.

Alexandra Day tells her stories primarily through her gorgeous illustrations with very little narration. This allows even very young children to "read" and enjoy these books. They're a favorite of my little dog lovers!

Must Love Dogs

My girls love, LOVE, l-o-v-e dogs. When E was 2 she'd cry bloody murder if an ant crawled on her, but would run squealing toward a strange doberman. Our own dog Miles is a beloved, if beleaguered member of the family.

It's no surprise that when E turned 3 she wanted a Puppy Party. This week I'll be showing you how we celebrated her birthday puppy-style, as well as canine-themed books your own pups will love!

We greeted our guests with a stop at the groomers. Here they received their puppy ears and collars. The ears were easy and cheap! I bought a pack of neutral-colored kids headbands and glued felt floppy "ears" to them. A brown eyeliner supplied the whiskers and nose.

Once they were decked out, we sat them down at a table with pony beads, string, and little tags labeled with their initials.

Even the two-year-old was able to thread the beads with a little assistance.

Once the transformation was complete, they were sent to the dog house!

Isn't she the cutest puppy ever? Almost as cute as this little guy...

McDuff Books by Rosemary Wells

I grew up with a collie named McDuff, which may be one reason I am completely in love with these books. They are sweet, simple stories of the antics of one lovable terrier and his family. Geared towards preschoolers, these books are short enough to hold the attention of toddlers but so charming even school-aged children will enjoy them. In few words she captures moments that ring true for all dog-lovers. Anyone with a pup will appreciate how Susan Jeffers collaborates to bring McDuff to life with perfect canine expressions and positions.

If you get a chance, check out one of the McDuff books. Each of them is more delightful than the last!

Almost as delightful as my own dear children! ;)