Childhood Magic and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Is there anything more magical and wonderful than childhood?  That all too short period of time when the biggest of the big dreams are possible.  Where your only plan for the day is FUN for the sake of fun?

Isn't there still a place for all of that in our life?

As we "grown-ups" know all too well, childhood has an expiration date.  As a parent, I want the expiration of my little princesses' childhood as far off in the distance as I can possibly push it.  I want the whimsy and wonderment of childhood to be a thread woven through my girls' childhood memories.

This summer is the last summer before the Tiny Teen starts kindergarten.  That's right, "big kid" school.  I feel consumed by making this summer fun and full of whimsy!  I want her to have wonderful, magic-filled moments to reflect on as she starts the next big chapter in her little life.  Each big step in life seems to leave behind a little more childhood.  Therefore, this is my small window of time to grant her as much childhood magic as I can muster.

So together with my friend D, we mustered up some childhood magic for our princesses in the form of...

 ...a quaint little backyard Red & Orange Party!!

The princesses had the BEST time dressing up, however they chose, 

in their red & orange outfits and accessories.  

 The Tiny Teen...

her good pal, let's call her "Panda" since that's her absolute favorite animal, and of course...

the Texas Tornado in all of her snazzy, sassy, toddler cuteness.

Everything that they enjoyed HAD to be red and orange.  The princesses munched on strawberries and orange slices, as they sipped on Simply Orange Juice's new Simply Cranberry Cocktail.  

Fingernails were red and orange, as were balloons, flowers, and yes...paper lanterns and boas.  

We took the red and orange theme and ran with it!

Lastly, let them eat cake!  That's right.  

The conclusion to their backyard party was red cake with orange frosting in a mason jar.

I whipped up a box of white cake mix (and I didn't even doctor it up this time!).  I dyed the cake mix with a very generous amount of red dye, and then I pour it into GREASED pint-size mason jars.  Only pour the batter about 1/3 of the way full to leave room for the frosting later.  Put the jars into a glass pan with water 1/4 inch deep, and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes.  Use a skewer for testing the cake's doneness.  Remove jars from water and allow to cool, at least an hour before frosting.  Again with the frosting, I just dyed white frosting orange.  I stored them in the refrigerator until about 30 minutes before the princesses were going to eat them.  They are FANTASTICALLY FUN!

As you can see, at first the girls weren't quite sure how to eat cake from a mason jar.  

They quickly figured it out!

These cute mason jar cakes brought big smiles and a BIG thumbs-up!

Whimsy, wonderment, and childhood magical moments were at that Red & Orange Party. 

 Can't you just see them?

If you're looking for a little whimsy and wonderment this summer, throw together your own color party either for your kids or even your grown-up friends.  It's amazing what fun a theme party can be at any age!  

Enjoy your summer, but first, please enter to win the giveaway from Simply Orange Juice Company!

In celebration of their spring release of Simply Cranberry Cocktail, Simply Orange Juice Company is providing you, my wonderful readers, with an amazing giveaway opportunity!  Upon entering the giveaway, one of you will win a fantastic prize package valued at $150 that includes the following:

• (2) Coupons redeemable for a  59 fl. oz. carafe of Simply Cranberry Cocktail
• (1) Coupon redeemable for a  13.5 fl. oz. carafe of Simply Cranberry Cocktail
• (1) Customizable Slate + Wood Serving Board from West Elm
• (6) Silver glass votive holders with unscented tea light candles from West Elm
• (1) One-year print subscription to Bon Appetit plus current issue
• (1) $25 Gift card to Stonewall Kitchen

To enter to win the Simply Orange Juice Company prize package:

• Follow the "Rach and Me" blog.  

• Be a fan of "Rach and Me" on facebook.

• Leave a comment on this post.  (When you leave your comment, check to see that it goes through.  You may also have to enter a code in order to protect the blog from spammers.)

• When you comment, please also leave an email address so that I may contact you if you win.

For extra entries: 

• Like Simply Orange Juice on Facebook.  Leave a separate comment telling me you did so.
• Follow @RachAndMeBlog on Twitter.  Leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

Entrants must be 18 or older and located in the U.S. only.  Winner to be chosen at random.

Giveaway ends Monday, June 4th at 9:00 p.m. EST.  I will announce the winner on this post on Tuesday, June 5th.  I will email the winner.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is closed.  The winner is Laura Emerson (laurasloves).  

Thank you everyone for participating & for following Rach and Me!

The prize was provided by Simply Orange Juice Company, but Simply Orange Juice Company is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway.  All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Simply Orange Juice Company.