Camping Party Games & Activites

I think it's always best to start a kids party off with something that sort of a singular activity....that way they can work on it themselves and hang out instead of everyone sitting around waiting for that last kid to arrive so the games can start

That activity was to color drawstring bags with a camping scene

My sister bought these bags from Oriental Trading and a couple packs of fabric markers

And the backpacks served as their loot bag to take everything home


Next up we had a bug hunt.  We hid a bunch of fake bugs all around the backyard and gave each of them a mini tin can to collect as many as they could find

There were 2 "Super bugs" that we marked with red nail polish.  Who ever found those got a Snoopy camping coloring book as a prize

Next they played a modified version of cornhole (we only went up to 3) 

After they won they got to pick out 2 of these little camping duckies (also from oriental trading)

After cornhole they got to practice some archery

We made each kid a PVC bow that they could take home....(I promise I will post a tutorial on how we made them later....it's much too long for this post)

 

These kids were really good...much better than I expected.  Seems kids these days have a natural ability for stuff like that....I one the other hand took many many tries before I shot one correctly haha

Followed by some pretend play in the campsite

Being a group of 8 year old girls this of course included a ton of screaming......good thing this wasn't a sleepover party......geesh!

Next up....weenie roast!

We wanted to capture the fun of a weenie roast but without the open flames because A.) It was 80 degrees that day and B.) Big open flames didn't seem like a good idea

So here is what I came up with

I found these votive candles for 50c each at Walmart  (It had a sticker I peeled off)

I measured around the holder and made a flame template that would fit nicely around

Then cut out the flames in both red and orange...along with 6 logs for each candle

I used Mod Podge to glue down the flames and logs

This way each kid got their own personal campfire to roast their weenies

We used Lil Smokies

It was alot of fun.  We cooked those right before lunch so they could eat them with their big hot dogs and mini burgers

And last but not least.....the trail mix bar!

This was the last activity before they went home

We had allllll sorts of goodies.  M&Ms, cheesy popcorn, peanuts, raisin, cinnamon teddy grahams.......you name it!

Oh and I certainly can't forget the pictures

This backdrop was from Oriental Trading and matched the tablecloths and decorations 

That about sums it up

It was more than enough activities to fill up the time but nothing felt too forced...all the kids seemed to have fun

Camping Party Food

Luckily camping food tends to be pretty kid friendly

So we had Mac & cheese, beans, hot dogs

And little mini burgers

Of course chips was a must....what's a party without chips

These were cute in the dutch oven

Utensils were held in little tins and the napkins in a cast iron pan

We had a veggie tray and used christmas tree picks that were leftover along with fly picks I made....the same flies I made for the outhouse sign

Stuck them around in the buns too

It was good eats

Also....I wasn't sure what post topic to file this under....but since it is edible I guess I'm going with the food post

Since we were having smores flavored birthday cake (post to come) we didn't want to be overly redundant and have them make smores at the party 

Sooo.....

That meant giving out smore making kits to take home and eat

I had these little brown boxes with the window leftover from the cupcake favors from my wedding.

I've had them in a big bag all assembled for over a year....but I just couldn't throw them away.  I'm so glad they got put to good use

Since the boxes were sort of large in comparison to the ingreidnts, we put a little paper shred in the bottom to bump it up a little bit

Then just put in enough ingredients for a few smores

We just put them in a basket by the door so we wouldn't forget to give them out and told them to make it in the microwave

This way even after the party was over they still got one "smore" camping experience.......see what I did there?   

I crack myself up

Camping Themed Birthday Party Decorations

Does anybody else seem two have a couple of months in their life that EVERYTHING seems to happen?

For me it starts with Halloween, a few days later my anniversary....then Thanksgiving.  

Then in December it goes

   My birthday

  Brother inlaws birthday

  Sisters anniversary

  Christmas

  The Boys' birthday

New Years/ My sisters birthday.....then later in January it's my brother inlaws birthday

So that is an insane time of year for us

We get a short break and then March Madness begins....and I'm not referring to basketball

I have one neices' birthday on March 1, an the other on the 6th

So we always have back to back weekends of kid birthday madness

And since I love party planning I get pretty involved with the planning process....it keeps me occupied  and gets out my kid party ya yas until I decided to pop out a little darling of my own

First party up this year was Elsa's 8th.   She had a camping party....which was alot of fun to plan because it felt like you could do so  much with it

I'm going to be dividing the party into different posts so I don't have on long run on post that makes me want to shoot myself writing it....and probably to keep you from shooting yourself as well

I'm going to start with the decorations....

First up is signs

Just pieces of cardboard that I notched out with a box cutter and colored the edges for depth

I put it on the bathroom door along with some flys I made from construction paper

I also made some signs to put outside

Of course with the establishing date as her birth year

And since she was turning 8...

We set up a campsite outside complete with tent, camping chairs, picnic table

One table had a small pine tree (that I dug out of the xmas decorations) a camping stove, and old school kettle

No campsite is complete without a fire....too hot in AZ for one at this time of year so I had to make a fake on

All you need is toilet paper and paper towel rolls

Paint them brown and add some swirls with marker to make them look more wood like

Make your flames out of tissue paper...I twisted them together to create a sort of bouquet and wrapped it in tape.  Then I just set the bouquet in a yogurt container (ha!) and set it between the logs that had been hot glued together

I hot glued cotton balls onto skewers for roasting marshmallows

And here I am roasting my marshmallow

Come back for more Camping Party posts like food and games

Cheesy Eggplant Parm Stacks- Low Carb

While this recipe is low carb  (or low "carve" as my niece Elsa says)  I don't want all you carb eaters out there to turn up your  nose because "Low Carb" is in the title

This recipe....err....actually this "non recipe" is good for everyone

Because what makes this recipe lower in carbs, is also what makes it so daggone delicious!

The normal bread crumb breading of eggplant parm has been swapped out for a parmesan cheese crust

Just think about it for a sec......

When was the last time you just ate bread crumbs staright out of the container?  I'm guessing never right?  What makes it taste good as a breading is all the seasonings you add and then crisping it up later

But think of how delicious parmesan cheese is already on it's own.. Then add the same yummy seasonings and crisp it up nice and brown.  Mmmmmm. 

 I mean come on.....who doesn't love to pick off all the brown crusty cheese bits off the pan when you bake something....this dish is literally covered in those cheesy bits

Is your mouth watering yet?  Cuz mine is.   If I was anymore excited right now I would slide right off my chair ;)

Before I start let me explain....ya know how I called it a non recipe?  Well it's just as it sounds.  There is no measurements.  This is more of an idea and technique that leaves it up to you to make as much as you would like, seasoned to your exact tastes.   And that's how I think cooking should be anyway

Of course there are some recipes that need to be followed, like baking.  But I can't remember the last time I followed ANY recipe (including baking) to the T.  Recipes are great as a starting point but don't be afraid to tweak things 

So let's get started.....

Slice your eggplant into 1/2'' rounds 

Bread your eggplant by dipping it in egg, then into grated parmesan mixed with herbs and seasonings to your liking

I used  ALOT of dried basil (cuz I love it!) garlic powder, and pepper

I highly recommend using the fine grated parmesan, it creates a better crust than the shreds in my opinion.  You can see my recipe for Low Carb Mozzarella Sticks where I also use it as a crust

If you feel like you need a thicker coating you can redip it in the egg and roll it in the cheese again

Place them on a wax paper or parchment lined baking sheet and place in the freezer for at least an hour, or until they are frozen completely

The freezing is very important.  It helps adhere the coating and keeps the cheese from melting too quickly when you fry it and then falling off


Once they are frozen, begin frying.  Make sure you let the oil get nice and hot before you start dropping them in or they will stick and the coating will start to fall off.  I need to practice what I preach because I still do this....I just wanna cook them already!  Patience most definitely isn't one of my virtues

They will look delicious and golden brown and you will have a hard time resisting picking off all the breading.....at least I did

While you are frying, you can start mixing your filling

Mine was ricotta, salt, pepper, dried basil, italian seasoning, garlic powder,  more parmesan cheese, and one egg.  Just do it all to taste

After you have fried all the eggplant, spread some of the ricotta mix on top of a slice

Top it with another piece of your eggplant.  You'll have these cute little sammies that create the "stacks"

Repeat with all your eggplant

Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce in your baking dish.  I use Hunts brand Garlic & Herb

At 5g Net carbs for a 1/2 C. serving it's the lowest carb sauce I've seen.  And at most stores it's only a dollar a can so that's a bonus!  If any of you LCers out there know of any others I'm open for suggestions

You of course can use any sauce you prefer, this is just my go to low carb sauce 

Place all your stacks in the pan

Top with more sauce and mozzarella cheese

Bake at 350 until the cheese is brown and bubbly and everything is heated through

Not to go all Rachel Ray on ya.....but YUM-O

Not only is this low carb, yummier than the original (in my opinion) but it's also vegetarian

I think I need to make this again....like now