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Holidays

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Here in Portland the temps are teasing us with Summer and just in time for a fabulous three-day Memorial Day weekend. I’m planning on opening up the grill and having guests over for a laid-back cookout this weekend and have been planning my menu and supplies already. Food safety, deliciousness, and fun are all on my mind!

Also, because Memorial Day and Fourth of July are just around the corner I’d create some fun printables to make the party just a little bit more special. Each of the free printables are both pretty and functional! Scroll down to download your free printables!

 Don’t forget to stay safe while entertaining outdoors! 

Basic Food Safety Tips for Outdoor Entertaining:

  • Keep cold foods cold! Nest serving dishes on dishes of ice to keep cold. One cool trick is to put a little water in a large bowl and freeze. Once frozen fill the bowl with more water, place a smaller bowl inside and then freeze again. You’ll have a perfect ice bowl to keep your meal cool for the duration of the time outdoors. 
  • Keep hot food hot. Serve right off the grill or use a disposable chafing dish. 
  • Avoid foods that can go bad easily like mayo and eggs. 
  • Try not to keep food out more than 2 hours unless kept at safe heating or cooling temps. (Cold needs to be below 40 degrees, hot should be at 140 degrees or hotter.)

(Try my easy, 4-ingredient, no-mayo pasta salad at your next outdoor meal!) 

Printing Directions:

  • Print in full color on cardstock weight, white paper.

Drink Covers or Coasters:

  • Cut out circles around dark blue line – can use as coasters as is or continue to create drink covers
  • Punch a hole in the cover the size of your straw, place on glass with straw inserted

Red White and Blue Free Party Printables | A Well Crafted Party

 

DIY Food Trays:

  • Cut out around outline and then cut where there are dashed linees
  • Fold along all solid white folding lines
  • Glue or tape each small flap on the inside of the folded lip directly to the right of it.
  • Line with wax paper or napkins and it is ready for your hot dogs!

Free Red White and Blue Party Printables | A Well Crafted Party

Napkin Rings:

  • Cut along dark blue line.
  • Wrap around your napkins.
  • Glue or tape in place. Do not glue/tape to napkin but rather the other side of the printed ring.

Fourth of July Party Printables | A Well Crafted Party

 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Baby Boot Camp is a fitness, nutrition, and social resource designed for mothers. Baby Boot Camp Baby Boot Camp franchises can be found across the United States including  three Portland-area franchises Portland-area franchises covering several area locations. I was provided classes with purpose to review my experience.  All opinions are my own. You can get your own first class free by scheduling your first class!

Baby Bootcamp in Beaverton Oregon | A Well Crafted Party

Each mother is as unique as the kids she raises. As unique as they are, there is one thing that many—most even— have in common, they often put their kids before them in all things. For example, my sons both have been to the dentist every six months since their teeth all came in. Me? I haven’t been to the dentist in 10 YEARS. (No flack…scheduling appointment now.)

After some pretty rough bouts of postpartum depression I have truly been working—with the help of my partner in parenting—to spend some time focusing on ME a bit more than I have done in the past. I work a lot, and I love my work, and that is where the majority of my “me-time” is devoted. What I haven’t made time for is exercise. I have a gym membership at my work, but after working 8 hours a day and being gone with the commute, I just want to be home and spend some time with my kids before bed time and time for me to open up my computer to work some more.

Signing up for Baby Bootcamp was an opportunity for me to spend an hour on some serious self-care while still entertaining and engaging with my kiddo. I liked that he and the other babies were able to watch from the strollers and laugh at the mommies doing silly moves. It was much better than the guilt I’ve felt so many times when I get home late because I took an hour to go to the gym after work.

 

Baby Bootcamp in Beaverton Oregon | A Well Crafted Party

My Baby Boot Camp Experience

I’ve got to admit… I was NERVOUS about saying ‘yes’ to this experience. My fitness level is less than ideal at this moment in my life. I was not looking forward to being in a class with women who were at a fitness level much higher than my own. Honestly, if there were a ‘slow and fat getting back at it’ class out there then I’d sign up much more willingly than I did with this class. That said… I am SO glad I did say yes in the end. Not only was everyone super friendly and welcoming, the instructor gave options for different fitness levels. She also gave options for people who had wrist issues which was AMAZING because of past carpal tunnel issues my wrists really can’t handle my entire weight at this moment in time. I was thrilled to have options that still allowed me to get in a full workout without risking injury.

Someday I’ll be able to do the below… but, until then, I sure was glad to have a less stressful move!

Baby Bootcamp in Beaverton Oregon | A Well Crafted Party

What to expect from Baby Bootcamp

Baby Bootcamp here in Beaverton moves venues throughout the season so that they can really take advantage of the good weather in Beaverton when the summer comes around. I went during the early Spring and was able to do my workout both indoors and out. Here are a few things to expect if you join Baby Bootcamp:

  • You’ll meet other moms with fitness goals. I am always super hesitant meeting new people, but these moms were super nice and all focused on achieving their own goals more than they seemed worried about what the next lady was doing. I didn’t feel uncomfortable doing the modified moves because there were other women that used modified moves as needed.
  • You’ll want to bring your jogging stroller. The kiddos stayed in the strollers the entire time that I went. At times we worked out with the strollers and at other times the kiddos hung out chatting with each other and watching the moms workout. I’m sure another type of stroller would also work, but the jogging stroller was sure handy.
  • Most all of the exercises are using your own body power and not any fitness tools. Nearly the entire workout was a set of moves that could be done without any additional equipment which was awesome because I was in turn able to bring those moves home! We did use a yoga mat to help cushion the floor when we did moves that were on the ground. We also used resistance bands for a few moves.
  • You will feel it. I felt GREAT after the first class. I was so excited that I made it through and I had so much energy afterwards. However, the next day, I was sore. It was the first time in a long time that I had done a full workout and my body knew it. I think I started feeling normal again about two days before the second class began!
  • Classes to fit your needs. There were a few different class types available including Stroller Fit (which I did) and Restore the Core. There was even a 5K training course available.
  • Enrollment Fee & Affordable Plan Pricing. You can get your first class free. After that there is an enrollment fee of $59 that pays for all the equipment you will need. There are several different plans at affordable prices for the classes.

Baby Bootcamp in Beaverton Oregon | A Well Crafted Party

 

There are several different Baby Bootcamps across the US. The Beaverton class was not even the only one in the Portland area! Many classes were available throughout the week, but as a working mom there was only one class that would fit for my schedule. The Saturday class offered free attendance to significant others as well.

Overall I hope to continue using the skills I learned in the class and plan to attend more Baby Bootcamp classes in the future! If you are on the fence right now about devoting a little time to yourself and your fitness goals then please think about giving yourself a very much deserved Mother’s Day gift of classes with Baby Bootcamp!

Portland-Area Mommas: Join Baby Boot Camp’s Free Mother’s Day Event on Saturday, May 12th at 9 AM at THPRD Athletic Center in Beaverton. Hosted by Baby Boot Camp Beaverton. The first 80 moms in attendance get a SWAG Bag!

 

This Easter I decided to brighten things up with this Modern Geometric Easter party. I was asked back on KATU’s Afternoon Live to share my Easter party tips. It is always such a fun time hanging out with Afternoon Live host Tra’Renee. Check out my spot below:

 

Some screen shots from the show:

 

Mentioned in the show:

 

A Well Crafted Party
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