Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar were elected as the 2009 National Parents of the Year and if you’re oppressively thinking, “Great, we can hardly handle our one child, there’s no way we could ever be nominated for such a grand award.” Sulk no longer because there are plenty of other things you and your significant other can do to celebrate Parents Day without having to worry about such awards that don’t include an entire camera lens full of your 19 children. In fact, it seems on days such as this that the customary thing to do is get away from those progeny that you so love for a nice, well-deserved date night.

Date Night Ideas For Parents, Soon-To-Be Parents, and Aspirational Parents:
P.S. These are some great ideas to “treat” your parents to if you are those lovely little progeny mentioned previously.

•    Host a costumed Murder Mystery Dinner. Serve gourmet chocolate cookies, of course.
•    Get in some laughs at a Comedy Club.
•    Rustle up some grub at a Rodeo. Wranglers with large belt-buckles and tucked in shirts a must.
•    Take a Swing Dancing Class.
•    Enjoy peasant-fair at Medieval Times.
•    Check out the latest exhibit at your Museum.

Happy Parents Day!

♥ Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies (available for cookie delivery nationwide)

Photo by Parents Day

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1. Dessert: Gourmet Chocolate Cookies, available for cookie delivery nationwide.

2. Decorations: Red, white and blue pinwheels. Print off clip art here and here.

3. Games: Croquet (see rules)

4. More Games: Horseshoes (see rules)

And of course, for the evening’s finale: Fireworks…

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Have a wonderful (and safe) 4th of July!

♥ Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies

A few other goodies she may like:

1. Garden + Card = Postcarden (a little more interactive than your typical card!)
2. A Lovely Apron
3. Fine Handmade Jewelry: Elva Fields Earrings

Let the kids help:

1. Paper Blossoms
2. Wheel of Affection
3. Breakfast in Bed

Luckily, the easiest thing on the list is having the rich flavors of fresh baked homemade cookies arrive at your door just in time for the big day, without hours of baking on your part. Cookie delivery never tasted so good.

♥ Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies

Spring is rapidly approaching with another excuse to entertain: St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) and the “wearin’ of the green” is a fun day to celebrate for Irish and non-Irish alike!

Though the typical Irish meal for St. Patty’s Day was boiled bacon and potatoes, Irish immigrants in the U.S. would use cheap meat that was tenderized with brine (corned beef) and slow cooked with cabbage, which became the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal.

Serve the following to your guests with green embellishment and decorations:

• Corned Beef and Cabbage
• Irish Soda Bread
• Dessert is a cinch with a large festive tray of gourmet cookies like the Chocolate Mint Eclipse Cookies

Now, hire a bagpipe player and you’re set for a fabulously green party!

Fun Things To Do:

• Learn a little about the history of St. Patrick’s Day here and do a few crafts with your kids!
• Now if you’re really feeling like the luck of the Irish is on your side, go here to find an Irish Dancing School* near you and learn a jig to teach your party guests!

*Please post pictures if any of you decide to do this one!

Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

♥ Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies

[image source: Flickr]

Since not all of us can go to Mobile (where Mardi Gras started and the carnivals last a week!), we might as well try to recreate the spirit of ‘Fat Tuesday’ and the New Orleans parade on Bourbon Street in our respective parties wherever we may live. Here are a few tips to make for one exciting evening, February 16th!

Masked Ball Theme

• Decorate with vibrant colors and carnival stripes. Try to find images, balloons, lights, garland, ribbons, feathers, glitter, beads, and decor that resemble or give the essence of the Bourbon Street characters such as Medusa, Hydra, the Sphinx and Unicorn.

• Invite guests to dress up and wear brilliant colored and ornate costumes with masks. Mardi Gras official colors and symbolism: green (”faith”), gold (”power”) and purple (”justice”).
  

• Serve a table of hors d’oeuvres with gumbo, cornbread, jambalaya, red beans and rice, dips and vegetables, and, for the dessert bar, Gourmet Cookies.

We wish you all a very exciting and safe Mardi Gras party!

P.S. We’d LOVE to hear from you: Any fun stories, traditions or party tips you’d like to share? Email us at heidi@heidisheavenlycookies.com and tell us your favorite party tips!

♥ Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies

[image via Wiki + Wiki]