Life in Pajamas

10 Things To Do In Pajamas...Plus 2 More

Here are 10 things to do in Pajamas. What would you add to the list?

1,  Write a Blog Post

2.  Shop...online!

3.  Garden

4.  Cook

5.  Watch Seinfeld reruns

6.  Work all day

7.  Go on a date...a pajama date

8.  Take The SAT

9.  Dream

10.  Sleep

+1 Open presents on Christmas Morning

+2 Pose for Christmas Picture in Matching Family Pajamas

It's Bedtime - Let's Party!

If you’re like many women today, you have a core group of long-time friends that help you make it through the day. Away from husbands, children, jobs and the everyday chores of life, these friends sustain you, entertain you and keep you sane.

You’d like to show these women how much they have enriched your life. Hubby is out of town and Grandma’s willing to watch the kids. Why not treat your friends to a pajama sleepover?

Make it unique with stylized invitations, an unusual focal centerpiece with games and gifts galore! Grab some flannel from the yardage store and cut out cute little pajama pants. Draft your invite on the computer, cut and glue it to the flannel and you have a custom-made invitation that can be delivered or mailed.

Make your decorations unique and fun. We know it's summer but if you have an aluminum Christmas tree sitting down in the basement, haul it upstairs and decorate it for your sleepover. You can use toothbrushes, samples of shampoo, conditioner and soap, disposable razors, and mini-sized stuffed animals to decorate the tree. Use the biggest pair of slippers you can find as a tree topper. If you choose to put lights on the tree, choose a blue soothing color that can be used as a giant nightlight.

If Christmas in June is just a little too "out there," you can create a party theme around a single item like a teddy bear. Spread them around the room, use them as a centerpiece and have one ready for each of your guests to take home.

If you want an unusual activity, plan a game personalized for your guests. Play a game called Who Know Who Best? Make up a whole bunch of questions about your friends. The possibilities are endless.

What was the name of their secret crush?
Who had the first date?
If they were going to be an animal, what would they be?
Who was in labor the longest with their first child?

Divide the women into two teams, give them a piece of paper and a pen and grace the winning team with a prize. It’s a guaranteed crowd pleasersand one that brings back fond memories and lots of laughter.

Or you can plan a scrapbooking activity. Take pictures of everyone in their pajamas, add some old photos, make copies and let your friends go to town with mini-albums, loads of colorful trims and paper and everyone can create a special memento of the night.

If you would rather create an old time slumber party, have lots of drinks ready to serve along with popcorn and chick flicks. You can always play charades, the blindfolded makeup challenge or tell ghost stories before lights out.

Party gifts can range from a new set of pajamas to a fun-filled goodie basket of bath soaps and lotions. Personal items like manicure sets, vanity mirrors and mini-massagers are great as party favors too.

Whatever your plan, have a breakfast set up for your guests in the morning before they head out the door. It’s a pajama party that will go down in the annals of your friendship as one of the best nights ever!

Mom & Me Sleepovers

No activity better illustrates girlhood than the sleepover. The cornerstones of sleepover activities - microwaved S'mores, glam makeovers, movie marathons - are best enjoyed by happy kids in pajamas.  Today, however, we love the idea of the "Mom & Me" sleepover and we have a few ideas for the night.

Hotel Sleepover

Hotel sleepovers give kids a sense of adventure and fun. Packing a bag and heading on a mini trip is always exciting.  Whether you dress up and enjoy a special restaurant or put your pajamas on and order pizza, the fun of being at a hotel is a sure memory maker.  Kids love having Mom's undivided attention and a hotel sleepover is a great escape from all the distractions of home.

Spa Sleepover

The spa sleepover is a perfect party theme. Mom can be the "spa consultant,” and  apply makeup, nail polish and expertly wield the curling iron to glam up all the sleepover girls. For extra fun, take “glamor” photos and print them for the girls to take home. End the night with a pajama fashion show.

Baking Sleepover

Yummy, fun food is key to a great sleepover.  Rummage through some recipes and find cookies, cakes and breads that are easy to make. Have all the ingredients assembled beforehand and purchase a few extra sets of measuring cups and spoons. Pick up some chef's hats and aprons for all the sleepover guests.  Grab some pictures or video of the goodies straight from the oven.

Game Show Sleepover

Go a little "Retro" and become the old fashioned Game Show host.  Teach your sleepover kids how to play "Password" or "Concentration" or "Jeopardy." Have some fun little prizes for the winners.  Need a refresher on the rules? Not a problem, just head to you tube to see some old classics. 



        

Create The Perfect "Pajama Day"

Everyday life is extremely hectic. Between work, household duties, taking care of kids or pets and trying to squeeze in a little fun, it's easy to get worn out. As "on the go" as you're bound to be, it's nice to stop and take a breather every once in a while. What better way to do so than with a pajama day? A great pajama day involves a lot of lounging, pampering, eating and napping. You shouldn't do a stitch of work - you shouldn't even change out of your pajamas! Tips on enjoying the perfect pajama day are outlined below.

Pamper Yourself

You don't have to go to a spa to get pampered. A few quality hours in the tub, with some decadent bath salts and soaps, should do the trick nicely. Deck out your bathroom with a variety of aromatherapy candles and put on some soft, soothing music. While you soak, treat yourself to a nice facial peel. If you're up for it, give yourself a mani-pedi. When you're all finished, lather your body with rich, nice-smelling lotion.

Nap, Nap, Nap!

After being suitably pampered, you'll probably feel extremely relaxed. No pajama day is complete without a bona fide nap, so make sure to make time for one. Curl up in your bed, or on the sofa, with a good book. Turn off your phone and put a "do not disturb" sign on your door. Drift away for a few luxurious - and much-needed - hours. If possible, don't set an alarm - just wake up in your own good time. When you do, you'll feel completely rejuvenated!

Make Something Tasty

The night before your pajama day, you should whip up something tasty for snacking. If baking relaxes you, you could do so during pajama day itself. Either way, make some type of comfort food that is soothing and scrumptious. You can't go wrong with banana bread; Martha Stewart's banana bread is always a great option. There's just something about the warm, intoxicating smell of baking bread that is truly irresistible.

Lounge the Rest of the Day Away

Now that you have something to snack on, plant yourself on the couch and indulge in some good, old-fashioned daytime TV. Whether you opt for soaps or reality shows, you're sure to appreciate the mindlessness of zoning out in front of the tube. At the end of the perfect pajama day, you'll be pampered, rejuvenated, well-rested and well fed. In other words, you'll have had a much-needed break from the craziness of daily life - your health and well-being will thank you for it!

A Little "Happy Hour" Trivia...The 10 Most Popular Bar Drinks for Men and Women

Just a little Friday afternoon "Happy Hour" trivia.  Here according to radio station wbli.com are the top 10 most popular bar drinks for women and the top 10 most popular bar drinks for men. So put your pajamas on and settle in for a festive Friday.

The 10 Most Popular Drinks For Women

1- Cosmopolitan
2- Sangria
3- Apple Martini
4- Margarita
5- Mojito
6- Long Island Ice Tea
7- Amaretto Sour
8- Sex On The Beach
9- Mai Tai
10- Rum And Coke

The 10 Most Popular Bar Drinks For Men
1- Beer
2- Gin And Tonic
3- Whiskey And Coke
4- Rum And Coke
5- White Russian
6- Long Island Iced Tea
7- Vodka And Tonic
8- Margarita
9- Vodka And Cranberry
10- Good Scotch

It's Bedtime...Let's Party!

If you’re like many women today, you have a core group of long-time friends that help you make it through the day. Away from husbands, children, jobs and the everyday chores of life, these friends sustain you, entertain you and keep you sane.

You’d like to show these women how much they have enriched your life. Hubby is out of town and Grandma’s willing to watch the kids. Why not treat your friends to a pajama sleepover?

Make it unique with stylized invitations, an unusual focal centerpiece with games and gifts galore! Grab some flannel from the yardage store and cut out cute little pajama pants. Draft your invite on the computer, cut and glue it to the flannel and you have a custom-made invitation that can be delivered or mailed.

Make your decorations unique and fun. If you have an aluminum Christmas tree sitting down in the basement, haul it upstairs and decorate it for your sleepover. You can use toothbrushes, samples of shampoo, conditioner and soap, disposable razors, and mini-sized stuffed animals to decorate the tree. Use the biggest pair of slippers you can find as a tree topper. If you choose to put lights on the tree, choose a blue soothing color that can be used as a giant nightlight.

If that’s not possible, you can create a party theme around a single item like a teddy bear. Spread them around the room, use them as a centerpiece and have one ready for each of your guests to take home.

If you want an unusual activity, plan a game personalized for your guests. Play a game called Who Know Who Best? Make up a whole bunch of questions about your friends. The possibilities are endless.

What was the name of their secret crush?
Who had the first date?
If they were going to be an animal, what would they be?
Who was in labor the longest with their first child?

Divide the women into two teams, give them a piece of paper and a pen and grace the winning team with a prize. It’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser and one that brings back fond memories and lots of laughter.  Conversation Tins are ready made fun and also make a great gift for each of your guests.

Or you can plan a scrapbooking activity. Take pictures of everyone in their pajamas, add some old photos, make copies and let your friends go to town with mini-albums, loads of colorful trims and paper and everyone can create a special memento of the night.

If you would rather create an old time slumber party, have lots of hot chocolate, popcorn and chick flicks. You can always play charades, the blindfolded makeup challenge or tell ghost stories before lights out.

Party gifts can range from a new set of pajamas to a fun-filled goodie basket of bath soaps and lotions. Personal items like manicure sets, eye masks, mini-massagers are great as party favors too. Bloomsberry chocolate bars at $5 each put a smile on everyones face.

Whatever your plan, have a breakfast set up for your guests in the morning before they head out the door. It’s a pajama party that will go down in the annals of your friendship as one of the best nights ever!

I Love Coffee

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The good news for those of us who love coffee is that coffee actually has health benefits.  We know how nice it is to wrap cold hands around a warm mug and take in the aroma.  Coffee makes mornings bearable and gives that much needed afternoon boost but it can also fight free radicals in the body.  We know how important antioxidants are to our health and well being.  According to Nestle Research Centre in Switzerland,  coffee has 4x the number of antioxidants as compared to green tea. It also ranks above  herbal teas, cocoa, and red wine.  We love coffee for many reasons: 

1.  Coffee brings people together:  Coffee is social.  How many people have fallen in love over a cup of coffee?  Laughed, cried, talked together with friends? Received the best advice for life's toughest problems over a cup of coffee.  Brainstormed that best and brightest idea?  

2.  Coffee is soothing.  Coffee is relaxing.  Yes, it's social but it's also soothing and relaxing all on it's own.  Just you and your warm steamy mug.  The warmth of the mug can warm you inside and out.  Coffee can soothe the senses and the mere act of sitting down with a fresh cup is a chance to take a few deep breaths and regroup, even for a moment.

3.  Coffee is your morning wake up call.  Coffee starts your day.  That first cup of coffee is sometimes the only bright moment in the early morning rush.  That first cup jump starts the senses and helps focus for the tasks ahead.  Coffee sharpens our cognitive abilities and our concentration.  Some studies have actually shown a link to drinking coffee and the prevention of Alzheimer's

4.  Coffee is exotic.  Coffee is sophisticated.  Coffee is old fashioned, is trendy, is frantic, is lingering, is just your style.  Whether your favorite cup is sitting in your favorite booth at your favorite diner in an old fashioned cup and saucer (with a little sloshed onto the saucer) or a complicated trendy cup filled with "nonfat this" and "soy that" or a simply perfect little itty bitty cup of espresso.  Coffee creates a feeling, makes a moment.  For me...when I close my eyes and think coffee.  I want to be a few different places.  One is sitting at a French Cafe people watching over a large cappuccino and when it is finished, simply ordering another and lingering for the afternoon.  Another place I want to be is plopped on my couch or sitting at my desk in pajamas with a wonderful steamy mug of aromatic wonderful coffee.  We all have our coffee moments, just our style.

I'm off to pour myself another cup.

Let's Talk Cookies!

Time to take a break from holiday shopping, cards, decorating, work and just think Cookies! Doing a google search for "Christmas Cookies" took me straight to www.joyofbaking.com where the most beautiful, inviting cookies pop off the page in vivid Christmas colors.  We love the traditional sugar cookies in wonderful shapes and colors.  Most families make cookie baking part of their holiday celebrations.  Cookies just spread happiness.  Here is the recipe for this beauty.

Sugar Cookie Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup granulated white sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure extract

Directions

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.  Set aside.

Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 to 4 minutes).  Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.  Add the flour mixture and beat until you have a smooth dough.  Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for about one hour or until firm enough to roll.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place rack in center of oven.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Remove one half of the chilled dough from the refrigerator and, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch.  Cut out cookies using a lightly floured tree cookie cutter and transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheet. 

Place the baking sheets with the unbaked cookies in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to chill the dough which prevents the cookies from spreading and losing their shape while baking.   Bake cookies for about 10 minutes or until they begin to brown around the edges.  Remove them from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.  Frost with icing.   Makes about 20 cookies.

Royal Icing Using Egg Whites

1 large egg white

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

Directions

Beat the egg whites with the lemon juice.  Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth.  The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. 

Confectioners Frosting

2 cups confectioners sugar (icing or powdered sugar), sifted

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/3 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons milk

Directions

Cream the butter until smooth and well blended. Add the vanilla extract.  With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the sugar.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beater.  Add the milk and beat on high speed until frosting is nice and smooth.  

What are your cookie traditions? 

Spooky Halloween Sleepover Fun

Halloween is the perfect time for a spooky sleepover.  With decorations available everywhere it's easy to go all out inside and out.  Put pumpkins outside your door and fake spider webs inside with all the creepy decorations you love.  Be sure to add the spooky sound effects with a Halloween CD or download.  Halloween party food ideas are easy to find all over the internet.  We love the Ghoulish Halloween recipes found here, including chicken "fingers", "night eyes", "eyeball assortment", "bat wings" and "mad scientists".   Make your party complete with some perfect games.  Here are a few ideas:

• Pass The Pumpkin (Perfect for younger kids)  This musical chairs type game involves passing small pumpkins and gourds and when the music stops the person without a pumpkin is out. Play until there is a winner. Kids sit in a circle and you hand out one less pumpkin then children in the group. Then instruct the children to start passing the pumpkins when the music begins to play and continue passing until the music stops.  Once the music stops the child without a pumpkin is out of the game.  Now remove a pumpkin from the group and restart the music. This pattern continues until you have one pumpkin with one winner.

• Worm Bobbing Each player is given a bowl with 6-8 worms all mixed up (should be same amount for each person) in the whipped cream.  The worms can be gummy worms of course! Then with their hands behind their back they must bob with their heads into the bowl of whipped cream and  pull out the worms and place them on the plate. The first one to finish wins. Blindfolds make it even more of a challenge.
• Scary Stories is always a classic.  Everyone sits in a circle in a darkened room, each holding a flashlight.  One player starts the game by saying "Once there was...." and goes on to say one or two sentences.  The next player continues the story with another sentence or two.  Once everyone has added to the story one person in the circle can end it.  The scarier the better!
• Spider Web requires only a ball of black yarn.  Everyone stands or sits in a circle.  One person starts with a ball of black yarn and begins by holding the end piece and throwing the ball across the circle.  The person who catches the ball must say a halloween word, grab a bit of the yarn and then throw the ball across the circle.  Continue until the ball is nearly finished and a huge web is created.
• Mummy Wrap is always fun.  Teams are split into pairs with one person being the mummy and the other being the wrapper.  Each team gets one or two rolls of toilet paper.  When the game begins, the wrapper begins wrapping the mummy with toilet paper circling around and around covering as much as possible.  The best mummy wins!
• Memory Game is a fun twist on a popular game.  Find about 20 different Halloween items.  We love the bowl of cold spaghetti, rubber bats, ping pong ball eyeballs, skulls and more.  Place everything on a tray and cover with a cloth.  Each player gets a paper and pencil and has 60 seconds to look at all the items before they are covered.  Because it's a memory game each player then has to remember what spooky items were on the tray and write them down.  Of course, the one with the best memory wins!
• Monster Mash Freeze Dance is so much fun for kids and adults.  Put on this classic song full volume and have everyone dance, dance, dance but when the music stops everyone must freeze.  Whoever moves is eliminated.  The last one dancing is the winner.
• Witch Hunt involves picking up a bunch of cheap witches hat from your local discount store.  Hide them in random places around your house or yard.  Have your guests run around finding them and the one who finds the most wins.
• Worst Makeover Ever rewards the most disasterous makeover.  Divide your guests into teams and give each team a bag of makeup.  They are told to do the worst makeover ever.  Everyone votes on the biggest makeover disaster.

When everyone is settled in comfy pajamas choose one of these spooky movie classics keeping in mind what is best for the age group.

• Hocus Pocus
• Nightmare Before Christmas
• Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
• The Blob
• Rosemary's Baby
• Nightmare on Elm Street
• Saw

Tell us which horror classic films we missed and any other recommendations for a perfect kids sleepover.

Perfect Sleepover Games

Just stumbled upon www.party411.com which is packed with great suggestions for sleepover games and activities.  Here are a few I love:

No-Mirror Make-Over

One of the best themes for a sleepover party for teenage girls is a Makeover theme. Host a beauty contest in which the contestants have to apply all of their make-up without a mirror. This is a game in which the most hideous contestant wins the prize. Make sure to take some nice blackmail photos of all the contestants!

 

Ingredients

• Makeup

To Play

• On the invitation tell the girls to bring their makeup...all of it!

• Have everyone set it out.

• Then, set a five-minute timer.  Everyone has five minutes to put her makeup on without a mirror.

• The girl with the most hideous makeup on wins.

Junk Food Frenzy

This is a great game that will keep your tummy full and keep you laughing.

 

Ingredients

• Index Cards

• Dessert Recipes

• Ingredients to Make the Desserts

• Measuring Cups & Spoons

• Baking Dishes

• Bowls

To Play

• Dig out some of your favorite dessert recipes and copy the instructions on index cards.

• Buy ingredients for all the desserts and place them on the kitchen counter.

• Shuffle the cards and divide the guests into two teams.

• Have players take turns drawing cards.

• Each player reads the card and takes the listed ingredient.

• When all the ingredients have been distributed, give the teams thirty minutes to prepare a dish using the ingredients accumulated by the individual players.

• When the dishes are complete, have each player taste and eat the results, then vote on the best tasting dessert! For a fun variation, give both teams the same ingredients and see what different desserts they come up with (without using recipes).

Dance Off

If your party is at a restaurant or community center, a dance off is perfect to get everyone dancing.  Hire a D.J or band to provide entertainment all night.

 

Ingredients

• Dancefloor Light Up Jewelry

• Noisemakers

• Pink Glow Light Bracelet

• Poster Board

• Markers

To Play

• At a dance off people dance for as long as they can until the music stops.  And if they stop while the music is still playing they are disqualified.

• Coordinate a time when the music can start for the dance off. A good time would be after dinner.

• Make cards out of poster board and markers that say, “You Are Out.”  Ask a few of your relatives or your little brother or sister to keep score.

• Hand out glow bracelets; light up jewelry, and noisemakers to everyone who is going to dance.

• When the music starts grab all of your friends and start the rump shaking.

• As soon as someone stops dancing the scorekeeper raises the sign that says “You Are Out.”

• The last few people on the dance floor are the winners.

• You can play several rounds and also award prizes for best dance moves, most creative, or most ridiculous.  A great prize for this game is inflatable mircophones!

Check it out and share your favorite sleepover games here!