When I was a girl, I had a pet cat who looked just like a black and white spotted cow. Naturally, I named her Bessie. Bessie lived to be an unprecedented nineteen years old…and just this past week, my parents had to put her to sleep.

By the time my own kids met Bessie, she was well into her “old lady” days—a gentle, fragile kitty who spent most of her days sleeping next to a heat register. But still, she was a cat…and to my kitty-loving daughter, that fact was enough to endear Bessie to her forever (she even named one of her own stuffed kitties “Bessie.”)

When my mom told me that Bessie was gone, I knew I had to prepare my daughter for the next time we visited Grammy’s house: she was sure to notice Bessie was missing. Death, however, can be a tricky topic to discuss with an almost-four-year-old. And, while death is not a new topic for her, this was a cat she’d actually known, and I expected a string of questions about what happens when we die and why people die and when will we see Bessie again?

So last week, with a trip to Grammy’s looming in the coming weekend, I took a deep breath, and told my daughter that Bessie had died. Bracing myself for the question barrage, I watched the wheels turn in her head.

And then my sweet, sweet girl said something that just blew me away. She said, after much thought, “Oh. Grammy must be sad. I bet she misses Bessie. But I’ll tell her it’s ok, because when I come and visit, she’s got me. And I can pretend to be Bessie for her.”

I just sat there, bursting with pride over her empathy and thoughtfulness…while snorting back laughter over her very simple solution to her Grammy’s problem.

And, believe it or not, she’s never yet asked a single question about why Bessie died.

Posted by Shannon, a Dot-arilla Blogger

Last week we had some gorgeous spring weather, and it got me itching to do some gardening. Unfortunately, in Wisconsin, balmy spring weather can turn to freezing in an instant, and it’s still too early to begin doing much planting outside. This time is for starting seeds indoors, and getting the gardens ready for when the weather truly warms up.

However, there are a few plants that thrive in, and even prefer, cooler temperatures…which is how my kids and I found ourselves perusing the lettuce seed section at the store.

I’ve been wanting to do some container gardening with my daughter for a while—containers are just the right size for a small-scale, child-sized garden, and are a bit easier to tend because they’re raised up (to perfect kid level!) I did a bit of research and found a list of vegetables that grow well in containers…and I was thrilled to discover lettuce was on the list!

So, with lots of day dreaming about the salads we’re going to make with our yummy crops, we spent a beautiful day out in the spring weather planting our small lettuce gardens. My daughter is so proud of her containers, and she’s watching them closely for any sign of growth…hopefully lettuce grows quickly!

If you’re itching to do a little spring planting yourself, and are interested in container gardening, here is a short list of vegetables that grow well in containers. You can buy pots or troughs to use as containers, or get creative and find something around your home—anything can work as a container, just be sure to add adequate drainage in the bottom!

Container-Friendly Veggies:
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Lettuce
• Lima Beans
• Onions
• Peppers
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Tomatoes

Posted by Shannon, a Dot-arilla Blogger

This Peas in a Pod Surprise Game Baby Shower Games and it is on clearance right now for under $10. You will get 10 pea pods per game package. These are easy yet fun baby shower games that all your guest will enjoy to play…even the young ones at your shower will enjoy playing this game. And every one loves a good shower game.

Simply Baby Stuff has a great promo code going on too where you can save big on your purchases!
$10 off a $100 order promo code “Good
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If you’re looking for a different twist on a baby shower menu, you might consider simply offering a buffet of appetizers. An appetizer menu is extremely versatile—you can make the dishes as light or heavy as you’d like, ranging from a few simple platters of cheese, crackers, and fruit to a table full of trays brimming with enough food to rival a five-course meal.

Whichever direction your appetizer menu takes, these delicious Tortellini Skewers will fit right in—and they’ll be among the first disappear. Think of them as bite-sized pasta salad—the perfect bite every single time.

Mini Tortellini Skewers
This is a wonderfully adaptable recipe—the amounts here will make a good-sized platter of skewers, but you can make more or less very simply. If you’ve got leftover ingredients, just throw it all together in a bowl for a yummy pasta salad. I like to include a leaf of basil or spinach on each skewer for some added flavor and color. Some hunks of fresh mozzarella would be delicious here as well—have fun customizing!

1 (9 oz) package cheese-filled tortellini
1/2-3/4 cup Italian dressing
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 small can whole black olives
1 (3.5 oz) package sliced pepperoni
Toothpicks

Cook the tortellini according to the package directions, subtracting a minute or two from the cook time. Drain the cooked pasta and toss it with the dressing. Cover the pasta (or place it in a ziplock bag), and let it marinate in the refrigerator overnight. To assemble the skewers, thread either a tomato or an olive onto a toothpick, follow this with a slice of pepperoni (fold it to fit, if necessary), and finally a tortellini. Arrange the skewers on a platter and serve. These can be made ahead of time, if you’d like, and stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve them.

Enjoy!

Posted by Shannon, a Dot-arilla Blogger

As her brother has been more and more mobile,  my daughter (Eva) has become increasingly concerned about her stuff. She spends a good amount of time moving her things out of her brother’s path, and putting small items (or what she deems to be small items) up on shelves and tables, “so he doesn’t eat them.”

Eva’s always been very specific about where she keeps her belongings and exactly how they should be organized…but having her brother (whom we lovingly refer to as The Wrecking Ball) around has driven those tendencies to new heights.

Case in point: the other day, as I was changing my son’s (poopy) diaper, I noticed something bright pink and shiny…um…mixed in. I did a huge double-take, and then discovered that he’d apparently found a sequin on the floor at some point. (Yummy.) I laughed out loud, which caught Eva’s attention, and she came running into the room to find out what was so funny. When I told her about the sequin, she giggled, but then got very concerned about why I wasn’t digging it out of his diaper.

She wanted to keep it. Because it was, after all, hers.

I think this may become a problem.

How do I explain to a three year old that there are certain material possessions you REALLY need to let go of?

Posted by Shannon, a Dot-arilla Blogger

I am a big fan of small details—especially when it comes to event planning. Little extra touches can make the difference between a “nice” occasion and a truly memorable one. And really, what mama-to-be doesn’t want her baby shower to be a memorable event?

I’ll be honest, putting together a baby shower can be nerve-wracking enough even if you’re not trying to plan out a bunch of little things in addition to the big stuff. But I’ve found that SimplyBabyStuff.com can make planning a special shower pretty easy—just choose your favorite theme,  and your work is practically done for you. You’ll find tableware, decorations, invitations, even party favors…all to match the theme you’ve chosen.

And the small details? SimplyBabyStuff.com has taken care of those, too! You can order personalized stickers and address labels to match your chosen theme. While you’re at it – tip alert! – order a few extra address labels and some matching thank you notes to give to Mama-to-be.Wrapped up with a roll of stamps tucked in, they’ll make a fantastic gift and be another “small detail” that will make her day unforgettable.

Posted by Shannon, a Dot-arilla Blogger

These Pink Sweet Feet Candy Bouquet – 18 adorable feet shaped lollipops inside a cute decorative box – Baby Shower Centerpiece and Baby Shower Decorations. For $19.99 you can get 18 of these very cute feet shaped lollipops that are inside an adorable decorative box. This makes for great centerpieces for your tables that can then be used as prizes for the games you will be playing.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on the baby shower decorations either. Just a few nice things here and there to dress up the room or hall you are in can really make all the difference in that baby atmosphere you are trying to create. Remember that you can take $25 off your $200 order by using the code “better”.

Send us pictures of your baby showers, birthday parties, baptisms, bridal showers and weddings, and we will post them on Facebook to share with everyone.

Pictures are great inspiration to other party planners. Send your event pictures to Smiles@BigDotOfHappiness.com!

Chicken salad is a main-stay on baby shower menus…and this recipe is a favorite among my family and friends. It’s a classic chicken salad, but it’s dressed up a bit with the addition of grapes and whipped heavy cream. It’s light and flavorful and perfect on a croissant!

Chicken Salad

This recipe can be made even easier if you use the meat from a cooked grocery store rotisserie chicken (or even canned chicken). You can use either red or green grapes—the sweeter, the better—and I’ve occasionally added in some chopped apple as well for a nice twist. Though the recipe calls for almonds, it’s equally delicious prepared with pecans or even cashews, if that’s what you have on hand. Also, this salad tastes even better if you make it a day ahead of time and let the flavors mingle overnight.

2 ½ cups diced cooked chicken, chilled
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced, seedless grapes
½ cup sliced almonds, toasted if desired
2 T chopped fresh parsley (or 1-2 tsp dried parsley)
2/3 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp salt

In a medium bowl, whip the cream to soft peaks, set aside. In a larger bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, except the salt. Mix everything together well, and fold in the whipped cream until everything is well-combined. Add the salt to taste, and chill the salad until you’re ready to serve it, overnight if possible. Serve on croissants, rolls, or even lettuce leaves.

Enjoy!

Posted by Shannon, a Dot-arilla Blogger