Goldfish Marshmallow Pop Tutorial

These marshmallow pops were the biggest hit at the party last week. The kids devoured them!

The idea is not original (although, amazingly, I did NOT find them through pinterest) & there was no tutorial on how to make them. These were easy enough to figure out, but, sometimes I find it nice to have a clear cut list of what was used to make something.

So, here's what you need:

-Lollipop sticks (easily found at craft stores)
-Wilton candy melts (also found at craft stores - baking/cake section)
-Large (but not the new jumbo size) marshmallows
-Graham Crackers
-Goldfish
-White nonpareils

My first step was to crush the graham crackers. You could use anything else that's crunchy & sweet & has a sand color to it - animal crackers, cookies. But, come on, marshmallows beg for graham crackers (s'mores, anyone?).

Once the graham crackers are crushed stick the marshmallows onto the lollipop sticks. make sure the stick is all the way to the bottom of the marshmallow, otherwise it may slip off when dipping in the candy.

The next step would be to melt the candy. I typically shy away from microwave use, but, I was too lazy for the double boiler on this day. I also forgot to take a picture of the candy melts so you'll have to use your imagination.

Get your goldfish and nonpareils ready! (How perfect for the pool party that I found a bag of goldfish with little beach ball crackers?!)

Take a lollipop stick & dip the marshmallow in the melted candy. I used a spoon to completely cover the marshmallow & then took a knife to slightly smooth out the sides. Notice I didn't completely smooth the candy off, instead leaving waves & swirls like water in the ocean.

Once the marshmallow is covered in candy dip it into the crushed graham crackers, making sure to cover the bottom & partially up the sides.

Next, place a goldfish on the marshmallow above the graham cracker line & then carefully put the white nonpareils on. Or, in my case, drop them onto the marshmallow & hope they land in the right place!

I'm still so pleased with these! I loved having a project that actually turned out as well as I imagined it! Try them, they're super cute, easy & yummy!

Pool Party!

Today we finally celebrated Clay's second birthday with a pool party! And, it wasn't a huge party, it was really one of our play dates & I declared it to be Clay's birthday party, too. There was also cake, so, that totally makes it a party.


Disclaimer: All photos of the food table were taken while holding a squirmy two-year-old!

The food table. In my head I had much grander ideas. However, I arrived at my parents house to set-up only 30 minutes before guests arrived, the command hooks that were holding up the paper lanterns kept falling & there was no time to blow up the balloons to make a balloon garland!

The cake was supposed to look like a beach ball - you can see it, right?! Our oven has been broken for two weeks so I bought a small cake from the bakery & then decorated the top with fruit.

Swim Fishy Goldfish Marshmallow Pops. These were by far my favorite thing that I made for the party! (okay, the only thing I made!) Seriously though, this is one of those few times where something I made actually turned out as well as I envisioned it. From the "sand" on the bottom to the swirly ocean water & waves of blue on the top.

My sister, Megan, made her most delicious gluten-free baked chicken nuggets with a homemade honey mustard sauce. So delicious!

Water gun party favors: 3/$1 at the Dollar Tree and they worked great. Perfect pool party favors!

The kids had a great time swimming...

Except for Clay who had a much greater time eating a plethora of marshmallow pops and guarding the rest of the food. It was a big job and perfectly handled by a two-year-old.

Everyone else eventually had to eat, too.

Me & my big boy!

It was a lovely morning & there is definitely something to be said for such a minimalist party! However, I would have loved if more of my vision had come together.

-The lanterns would be hanging differently above the food table.
-There was going to be bunting decorating the front of the food table.
-I've already mentioned the balloon garland, which, among other things, was going to decorate the top of the backdrop that I brought for us to take photos (I never even hung that up!)
-I had a large white board that I was going to have the number "2" on made with colorful pompoms. I completely forgot about it until I found the board at home tonight!
-There was a matching guestbook out that I forgot to have people sign

All that said & done I'm still pleased with the results & the important thing is that everyone had fun!