By Susanne Myers
April Fool’s Day is the perfect day to have fun with the meals you serve. Surprise your family on April 1st with these fun meal ideas.
Fake Hot Dogs And French Fries
Your kids will love fake hot dogs and French fries for lunch this April fools day. Peel a banana and spread peanut butter all over it to give it the appearance of a hot dog. Serve it in a hot dog bun with some strawberry preserve drizzled over the hotdog to make it look like ketchup.
For the fries, peel some apples and cut them into sticks resembling fresh fries. Roll them in a cinnamon and sugar mixture and bake them for 8 to 10 minutes in a preheated 400 F oven. Serve with a side of strawberry preserve as fake ketchup. What a fun lunch.
Fool everyone in the family with these fun dinner and desert ideas. They won’t believe you are actually serving cake for dinner and spaghetti for dessert.
Cherry Cake Or Meatloaf?
Your Family will be in for a big surprise with this meatloaf cake. Prepare your favorite meatloaf and bake it in two 9-inch cake pans. Reduce the cooking time from what you would usually cook it since the meatloaf cake is thinner.
While the meatloaf cakes are baking, prepare some creamy mashed potatoes. Spread a layer of mashed potatoes on one of the cakes and top it with the second one. Use the remaining mashed potatoes to “frost” your cake. Cut a few cherry tomatoes in half and use them to decorate the top.
Serve Spaghetti As Desert
Since your serving cake for dinner, it only makes sense to eat spaghetti for dessert. Put a slice of pound cake on a plate. Spoon some softened ice cream in a pastry bag with a thin round tip. Pipe the ice cream over the pound cake in a swirly motion to resemble spaghetti noodles. Freeze for about 15-20 minutes to allow the ice cream to harden back up. Top with strawberry jam as tomato sauce and a few coconut flakes to resemble Parmesan cheese.
Don’t Forget The Drinks
Meals like these deserve a fun twist on a beverage as well. Prepare some lemon Jello and pour it into glasses. Add a straw and let it set. It will look just like a glass of lemonade. You can even decorate the glass with a slice of lemon.
Have fun with these creative April Fool’s recipes this April 1st. They are sure to make your family smile. Enjoy!
About the Author: Want more family friendly recipes and crafts ideas? Visit http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/info for a sample weekly menu plan your entire family will love and http://www.kinderinfo.com for tons of kids craft and activity ideas. Source: www.isnare.com
With candle making, there are hardly any limits. You can replicate lots of things with your creativity. Here are some delicious ‘Muffins’ that look very, very inviting. I cannot recall the number of times I have used them to play pranks on ‘unsuspecting targets’…lol.
Complete with chopped crayon bits for nuts and decorations, many people will mistake them for edible, freshly-baked, icing-topped muffins coming from your kitchen!
Materials Needed:
Candle Making Supplies (Wax, Dyes, Boiler, Wicks etc.)
Paper Muffin Cups (2-3 for one candle)
Whisk
Old Crayons (chopped into small pieces)
Directions:
1.Place 2-3 paper cups into each other for strength. Now, place them into individual muffin molds or a muffin tray for a string base. Grease them lightly if you wish, but it is not necessary.
2. Melt Wax, mix a dark or earthy colored dye for the muffin base. I used brown, but you can experiment. They are not real muffins after all!
3. Pour melted wax into the prepared ‘molds’. Allow to cool and set. You can use a wick at this point. I have not used one because I made these ‘muffins’ just as a show-piece.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the ‘frosting’. Melt wax and dye it a soft, creamy color. I used a pale, earthy brown again, but pinks, creams, blues, greens, yellows, peaches etc. look great for the icing. Be creative with your color combinations.
5. Cool the melted wax till you see a thin skin forming on it. Whip it with a whisk till it gets frothy. Quickly, spoon the froth over the muffin. If the wax solidifies before you are able to spoon enough froth, repeat the melting, cooling and whipping process.
6. While the frosting is still warm, sprinkle pieces of old crayons.
About the Author:
Lata Tokhi is the Founder and Editor of Dot Com Women, a premier women’s website and fast-growing online community, and Celebrating Christmas, a resource for celebrating Christmas in style. Visit her websites for lots of homemaking and business ideas, free downloads, free Ezines and message boards for women to network and share.
Tucked away on 2nd Street in downtown Fort Pierce, Florida is a unique store that qualifies as possibly the cutest store I have ever been to. The Barkery, This and That for Dogs and Cats, is an enchanting boutique specializing in products for pampered dogs and cats.
As I pulled my vehicle to the curb, I was immediatly taken by the adorable statute of a dog peeking quizzically out the window at me. A quick glance down had me chuckling at the “Bad Kitty” that is his companion.
The green and white striped awning and cheerful pink and black sign are welcoming and compelled me to step inside this charming little shop.
The interior of the shop is bright and airy, bathed in warm sunlight and brimming with what can only be described as a cornucopia of delights for dogs, cats and their owners.
I was greeted by the owner, Terri Ann Palumbo and her faithful sidekick, Sadie, a rescued pup that has come to live with her.
After waiting patiently while Ms. Palumbo helped a large black French Poodle try on life jackets for an upcoming boat ride, I had the pleasure of speaking with her about this delightful boutique, the trials and tribulations of owning a business and the wonderful products that are featured at The Barkery.
[Tamara] How did you come to own The Barkery?
[Terri Ann] I was a television producer/writer for many years, and while working on a show about animals, I did a story on The Barkery (in November 2003). I’d moved to Florida a few years earlier, and was tired of having to travel for 4 to 5 weeks at a time for television projects - so, in March of 2004, I stopped into The Barkery, spoke with the owner, and three weeks later the store was mine. Turns out she’d been planning an early retirement, so the timing was perfect.
[Tamara] What was the hardest thing that you had to overcome when making the transition to owning your own business?
[Terri Ann] I have to be honest - not much of it was hard for me. I was so thrilled to be creating something new (I’ve made many changes to The Barkery since its previous owner), and even more thrilled not to have to travel to work for someone else - so much so that I immediately and happily threw myself into revamping The Barkery and putting my own touch on the store’s concept and product lines, while getting to work on creating a website (BarkeryStore.com).
During my years in television, I used to joke “I just want a grocery store” when I was overwhelmed with deadlines and creative pressures. The Barkery is, in essence, my “grocery store” - it’s a return to my roots and I see it as a daily creative challenge, which I love.
[Tamara] What are the skills you learned prior to opening your store that you have found give you the most advantage in this business?
[Terri Ann] I grew up in retail and wholesale, both. My parents were in the food business at both ends of the spectrum. Thankfully, I paid a lot of attention to my father in terms of proper retailing techniques, customer service, merchandising, etc. I’m also very fortunate that my mother is a supreme bookkeeper and she keeps me straight with all the finances! My years in the media have come into play as well, since I’m able to write my own press releases and manage my own advertising budget without using an outside agency.
[Tamara] Are there any tips you would offer to someone who is hoping to open their own retail store, either online or in a brick and mortar location?
[Terri Ann] I think that first and foremost, one has to be willing to give it 100% of one’s energies. This can’t be a part-time job. It’s a myth to think that you can just get a license, find a location, throw on the lights and sit around all day making money..you can try that, but you won’t last long in business, either online or in-person, in my opinion. Customer service has to be constantly on your mind and part of your daily thought process. Keeping your approach fresh, really listening to your customers’ needs and doing your best to meet them can be a full-time job in itself.
I’ve heard many people say over the years, “I’d love to have my own shop”, because there’s a certain aspect of romance to the notion - lots of time on your own, being your own boss, etc. The being your own boss issue is more work than anything. It takes tremendous discipline and energy if you really want to be successful (which means you’ll have NO time on your own if you do it right!)
[Tamara] Did you have any difficulty developing your website?
[Terri Ann] I didn’t. I have a wonderful web designer, Guy Hoffman of Digital Fuel (http://www.digitalfuel.net) who spent a great deal of time with me in the store before I opened. I think he’s really captured the flavor of The Barkery in his design. He also provides my web-hosting and is my online marketing consultant. A good design is key - and the site must be easy to navigate, easy to shop, and interactive so that customers can ask questions and get quick responses. I manage the site myself in terms of product descriptions and selection (another full-time job, by the way). I try to have products that appeal to a broad base of customers, and spend a lot of time searching for unique products that don’t show up everywhere else. There will always be some crossover, but that’s where the two magic words, “customer service” come into play. If you care about your customers and are willing to go the extra mile for them, you’ll be the website they choose over the competition.
[Tamara] So tell us more about your store. How many different products do you carry?
[Terri Ann] I carry holistic and organic foods and treats, locally-baked bakery specialties, collars, bowls, clothing, travel accessories, carriers, breed-specific gifts for pet owners, toys, spa products and supplements, and birthday gear for dogs and cats.I pack a lot of product into less than 600 square feet of retail space!
[Tamara] How do you decide which products to include in your store or online storefront?
[Terri Ann] I have most of the same items in my store that I do online. I do have more high-priced items on the website than in the store, partly due to a lack of storage space in the brick-and-mortar Barkery. In both stores, however, I strive to have a large range of price-points. Every pet owner wants to pamper their special friend, but not everyone has the same expendable income - so I offer products ranging in price from $3.95 to $375 and above in order to provide a fun and healthy shopping experience for everyone. For instance, a customer can come into The Barkery and purchase a fashionable and durable collar for $6.95, or a custom-designed Swarovski crystal collar for $75 or more.
[Tamara] What are your favorite ‘independent designer’ items in the store?
[Terri Ann] One of the true joys of owning The Barkery is the opportunity to support and encourage local artisans.
At the top of my list would have to be the locally-baked treat specialties, soon to be launched nationally as Puppalicious™. Soon after purchasing The Barkery, I teamed up with a local baker and we began creating healthy, all-natural treats for dogs and cats. We also do birthday cakes in various flavors, special holiday cookies and other delicacies. It’s a great deal of fun and I love knowing exactly where the products come from as well as being able to have them delivered fresh each week to the store.
Needless to say, I’m very eager to launch Puppalicious™!
I have two wonderful local artists, Pamela Schwartz and Danielle Biglin, whose works hang in my store. Pamela does amazingly lifelike portraits of pets on everything from canvas to tiles to cigar-box purses, and Danielle does folk art portraits of pets on canvas. Both women are brilliantly talented and really capture the spirit of my customers’ beloved pets.
A new addition is the “Little Mimi” line, a line of dog apparel created by Genie Rosado, a young lady who just happened to walk into The Barkery one day with her little Yorkie. She asked if I’d be interested in seeing some of the designs she was working on, and when she came back a few days later with some absolutely adorable dresses, I was floored. Her work rivals that of the top dog-apparel designers, and I’m thrilled to feature her designs in my store (and will be adding them to my website very soon).
[Tamara] Are you accepting submissions of new product lines?
[Terri Ann] Yes, I’m always willing to take a look and keep an open mind. If a product doesn’t work for me I’ll do what I can to advise the person submitting a design or product - and pass on their information to other boutique owners as well. I participate in several independent pet boutique owner discussion groups, and we share information regularly. For instance, if someone who knits sweaters approaches me, I have to tell her (or him) that I have a very limited time window in which to sell sweaters, since I’m located in Florida - but I’ll happily place a small owner and then pass her or his information on to other retailers in colder climates, who are more likely to place orders on a more consistent basis.
Of course, if I really love a sweater line, I will place it on my website even if I can’t carry it for more than a couple of months in the brick-and-mortar store.
[Tamara] What do you expect to see from designers who want you to showcase their items in your store?
[Terri Ann] A passion for quality and a high level of integrity are the most important factors for me. I need to know that if a product ‘takes off’, orders can be reliably and expeditiously fulfilled.
Price-point is important, but if I don’t feel a particular product will be of interest to my in-store customers, I very often consider it for my website - as long as the quality and integrity are present. I’m always eager to be supportive of other entrepreneurs. I hold the bar a little high, perhaps, but I do it in a manner that will hopefully be encouraging and inspiring to others.
A large number of our readers are independent businesswomen. Do you have any advice for them on getting their products out to retail locations, or on generating press regarding their items?
First, don’t make a telephone call if you aren’t ready to send out samples and/or photos and other materials immediately. As an independent business owner, my time for sales pitches is extremely limited, so I usually will ask someone to either email, fax or send their material via regular mail. The sooner I receive it, the more likely I am to remember the call.
When making the call, don’t go on and on. Respect the fact that if you’re calling a boutique owner, he or she is more than likely alone in the store, and (if he or she is a good retailer), can’t ignore an in-store customer for a telephone call.
Keep your pitch friendly, short and to the point - the people who get the most interest from me are the ones who simply state that they’ve developed a new product and would like to send me more information.
Hopefully they already have written down my address and other contact information - I can’t tell you how annoying it is when someone says, “I saw your website and I’d like to send you something”, and then proceed to ask me for my address, fax or email, all of which is clearly stated on my website! Do your homework first. If I feel you’re really interested in me having your products in my store, I’m more likely to be interested in your products.
Follow up, but not too soon, and not obsessively. Understand that if I’m busy at the moment and say “I’ll get back to you”, it means I’ll get back to you - and if you don’t hear from me in three weeks, then call (or preferably email) to follow up again. Be persistent but not aggravatingly so.
If you get a “no thank you”, but come up with a different product later on, re-approach!
Always put yourself in the shoes of the person you’re pitching. Think how you’d like to be approached, and what would turn you off - then do the former and never do the latter! Send postcards as reminders by email or regular mail on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Do what you can to stay in the forefront of your prospective buyer’s mind without being a “noodge” about it.
As far as generating press, once you’ve placed product in a store, make a phone call or send an email after a month to see how well it’s selling, and ask if your retailer has any questions or concerns (and listen to his or her answer!)
If the product has been successful, ask for a testimonial. If you have your own website, list the retailer as a location where people can find your product, and link to the retailer’s website. Those are little things that can put you above your competition.
Independent retailers love independent manufa
turers who take a partnership approach rather than just trying to make a quick sale before moving on to the next person - and the flip-side is, we hate it when a manufacturer doesn’t tell us they’re also selling the same product to a ‘big-box’ retail chain!
I make it a point to ask manufacturers and designers whether they currently, or have plans to, sell to the huge retail chains. That doesn’t mean I won’t carry something that the large chains carry, but it is crucial to my decisions regarding whether or not to place a product on my website.
[Tamara] What do you love the most about what you do?
[Terri Ann] I think the customer interaction is the most rewarding for me, combined with my commitment to using the store as a vehicle to do some good in terms of fundraising for local charitable organizations. I really see The Barkery as more than a place where people come to shop. I see it as a conduit for communication and community involvement. I’m never too busy to put together a gift basket for a charity’s silent auction, or to put up a poster for a fundraising event, sell raffle tickets, whatever! Being a storyteller myself, I love to hear people’s stories about their lives and their pets, and I try to be more than just a shop-owner, but a friend and good neighbor as well.
I was instrumental in Paul Newman giving $10,000 of his after-tax royalties from Newman’s Own Organics pet foods to our local St. Lucie County Humane Society so that the shelter animals could be fed a consistent organic diet - and I give 100% of my profits from the sale of Newman’s Own Organic pet foods to the shelter as well.
Being an independent retailer has many rewards, and the ability to help others is something I take very seriously.
[Tamara] What makes you a revolutionary?
[Terri Ann] I’m not sure I can call myself a “revolutionary” really, but I do pride myself on being on a constant mission to educate myself so that I can educate my customers, to share as much information as I can, to help when my help is needed, and to make The Barkery a place that’s fun, comfortable and nurturing.
I truly do approach each day with questions to ask myself: “What can I learn today?” “How can I improve the shopping experience for my customers?” “Who can I help?” and “How can I further challenge myself creatively today?”
Those answers present themselves daily, I’m happy to report, so each day really is an adventure for me that I liken to producing and writing television - each day is like a mini-production, and that’s a joy for me. What sets store ownership apart from my years in television is the instant gratification of seeing a smile on a customer’s face, or a look of relief when I’ve offered a solution for them, or the hugs they get from their happy pets! Those little magic moments make it all worthwhile for me.
