National Popcorn Day!

Today is Laney’s 4th Birthday! It’s truly amazing how fast time goes once you have kids. I can remember her birth day like it was yesterday. Laney loves birthdays! She has been talking about this day since her birthday last year! After checking off a donut theme for her 3rd birthday, it took no time at all (the next day) for her to tell us she wanted a Target and Chick-fil-A birthday for her next birthday. Well here we are. Celebrating on Saturday with a Target themed party complete with Chick-fil-A kids meals. 

Since today will just be spent with family, we have a lot of fun surprises planned! Yard Signs came last night to put out a special birthday sign. I can’t wait to share pictures when I do a full birthday recap post next week. Then Nana & PawPaw will be coming over for Mickey Waffles and later on at lunch time, we are meeting Uncle TJ at the zoo!

My mom always made a big deal of our birthdays growing up and I have carried that on — decorating the kitchen in the requested theme, with matching paper products and a (most of the time) homemade cake. This year Laney wants to celebrate as a family with a Frozen theme, so I have a banner, plates, napkins and a Funfetti cake with Frozen Little People toy toppers ready to go!

More on all of this soon because today is also National Popcorn Day! To celebrate, here are two fun ways to have a sweet & salty snack. Enjoy these yummy popcorn bars or recreate something the girls and I love to do: put an ice cream sundae spin on it — make a popcorn bar, which is the perfect winter time alternative!

Popcorn Bars

10 Cups Plain Popcorn, popped
1 Cup Peanuts (plain, roasted, or salted)
1 ½ Cups mini M&M’s
½ Cup Butter
45 Large Marshmallows (10 ounce package + 5 marshmallows)

In a large bowl, combine the popcorn, peanuts, and chocolate candy, and butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Set aside.
In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and marshmallows, stirring frequently. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn mixture. Stir to combine.
With buttered hands, press the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Allow to cool for at least an hour before cutting into squares and serving.
Store covered at room temperature for up to 5 days.

 

DIY Popcorn Bar

The sky’s the limit with this one! Make your favorite popcorn — our family loves kettle corn —  and let cool to prevent melted candy. Then top with your favorites like nuts, chocolate or other flavored chips, skittles, M&M’s, gummy bears, mini peanut butter cups, sprinkles and anything else you can think of! Once you have made your perfect concoction, grab a blanket and turn on a movie!

 

Happy snacking!