Month: July 2011

Make Up A Softball Cheer

There are a lot of elements that go into a good cheer or chant. Using words that are short and easy for a crowd to pick up is one part of it. Picking a chant rhythm that is catchy and easy to keep going is another part.

In the case of softball cheers, a third part is the need to make the funny softball chants contextual. In other words, watch the game and what is happening, and then lead the cheers based on what’s going on.

For example, if someone on your team just stole a base, then the following cheer might work:

Call the Cops! Call the Cops! We just stole your stinkin’ base! Here they come: Whooooooo! (imitate siren).

What’s funny about that? Well, it’s a play on words for one thing – the concept of “stealing” a base. Speaking of which, while using the word “stinkin'” might seem mean spirited, it’s really not, because you’re talking about the base, and bases don’t have feelings. Also, it gives the crowd a chance to make the siren whooping sound, which is always a fun way to make people smile as everyone makes ridiculous noises at each other.

Another way to make things funny is to use a parody or satire of a popular movie or song. Singing “There she goes, just a walkin’ to first base, singin’ doo wah diddy diddy…” when a player is walked will get the entire stadium singing to the chorus. Making up funny words to the songs (also known as “filking” a song) is a way to keep the music contextual and funny. Taking it from movie themes can also be funny. Consider this cheer based on the Oompa Loompa song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Oompa, loompa, doompadee doo,

I’ve got another curve ball for you.

Oompa, loompa, doompadee ding,

It goes so fast, you won’t even swing.

Another way to come up with a lot of funny softball cheers is to poke a little fun at yourself. Take a cue from the call-and-response cadences used by the military and create your own personal cheers filled with humorous references:

We don’t play with little dolls,

We hit hard with bats and balls,

We don’t got ribbons in our hair,

We slam that home run OUTTA there!

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Fire and Ice Candles

You Will Need:

  • Pillar Wax (IGI 4625 works great!)
  • Metal Candle Mold
  • Wick Screw
  • Mold Sealer
  • Wick Holder Bar
  • Pouring Pitcher
  • Double Boiler or Wax Melter
  • Crushed Ice
  • Bucket or Sink
1. Wick your mold and prepare your wax as usual. Refer to our Pillar Candle Instructions for help.

2. Crush up pieces of ice until they are about 3/4 inch in size. Spoon the ice into the mold until it is almost full. Leave some room beneath the rim of the mold so that the wax has room to completely cover the ice.

3. Quickly pour your wax over the ice and into the mold. Try to pour all over instead of in one spot so that you don’t melt a hole through the ice.
4. Allow the wax to cool and ice to melt completely. Then turn the mold upside down over a sink or bucket to dump out the melted ice water.

5. Remove the mold sealer and wick screw and gently remove the candle from the mold. Handle the finished candle carefully as it is very fragile.
6. Trim the wick to about 1/4″ and allow the candle to dry for at least a week before lighting. If you light the candle while the wick is still wet or damp, it can cause sputtering while it burns.

7. Enjoy watching the beautiful designs on the candle as it burns!

Flip Flop Cookies

Use oval shaped cookies, frosting, rope licorice and flattened gummy worms to make these cute flip flop cookies.

Present them on top of a tropical dish towel in a pan of graham cracker cumbs. Too cute!

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Brownie Pizza

Brownie Pizza 
Gooey and packed with chocolate, brownies are always a big hit with kids. This brownie pizza is so easy to make that even preschoolers can help stir the batter.
Ingredients
  • Your favorite Chewy brownie batter
  • 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
  • 2 1/2 tbsp. milk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • Red food coloring paste (available at kitchen and party supply stores)
  • 6 oz. white chocolate
  • Assorted candies
Instructions
  1. Prepare the brownie recipe, with one exception: Instead of pouring the mixture into a rectangular or square pan, pour it into a lightly greased (and clean!) 12-inch pizza pan.
  2. Bake, in an oven preheated to 350 degrees, for 20 to 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool.
  3. Meanwhile, mix up the red frosting “sauce.” In a large bowl, cream the confectioners’ sugar and butter.
  4. Adding the sauce Add the milk and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of red food coloring paste and mix until you have the desired shade (think tomato sauce). Use a spatula or knife to spread the sauce evenly over the cooled “pizza.”
  5. Now you’re ready to add the toppings. For white chocolate “cheese,” roughly chop or grate (adults only) white chocolate.
  6. Sprinkle it over the frosting (your kids may want to add extra cheese). For other toppings, add M&M’s, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or any other favorite candies.
  7. Use a pizza cutter to slice the brownie into 16 pieces. Present it in a pizza box (ask a local pizza parlor if you could have or buy one).
  8. Serve the Brownie Pizza at an after-school gathering, a pizza party, or–most fitting–a Brownie troop meeting. Serves 16.
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