Catnip Toy GIVEAWAY!

National Feral Cat Day 2011 is only days away, on Sunday, October 16th, and people all across the nation are gearing up for it by hosting events to help raise awareness of feral cat issues. As most of you already know, I'm a huge TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) advocate and active volunteer, so have I decided to celebrate National Feral Cat Week by giving away a Handmade (by me) Halloween themed catnip filled cat toy EVERY DAY until Sunday, October 16th... National Feral Cat Day!

I have been making catnip toys for a few years now as a way to raise money to help cover the medical expenses, including spay/neuter surgeries for feral and homeless cats. I also donate these toys to local rescues and shelters.

Each catnip toy is approximately 6 inches in diameter, (keep in mind they are handmade so sizes may vary slightly), they are made out of polyester fleece, stuffed FULL of 1/4 cup of certified organic catnip grown in the USA, and polyester fluff. The colors I will be giving away will vary from orange/black, purple/black, and green/black. All toys are made in my smoke-free, animal friendly, vegan household. :)

Catnip Toy Give Away Entry Rules:

You can enter the contest once a day by following my blog and leaving me a comment telling me that you want a catnip toy, the names of your feline friends, and which of the below things you have done for your additional entries. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you are a winner. You can enter by commenting on any of this weeks posts.

You will receive (1) entry for each of the following things that you do:

• Follow my blog!

• Post this link on your Facebook Page!

• Post this link on Twitter!
• Had a Feral cat Spayed or Neutered!

Winners will be announced daily and cat toys will ship on Monday, October 17th, provided I have the winners addresses at that time.

Molly having fun with her Halloween catnip toy!

Don't be sad if you don't win, these toys and more are always available in my Etsy store.

I'm also always willing to donate to animal rescues and giveaways.

Find more cat toys here:

AmberMakesArt.etsy.com

Custom orders available!

Vegan MoFo, Pre-K Style!

Today I volunteered with the pre-kindergarden kids at a local elementary school as part

of their Community Helpers Program. I made about six dozen pumpkin shaped sugar cookies and four different colors of icing at home, all vegan of course. I also picked up some chocolate chips, gum drops, raisins, and different colored sprinkles to decorate

the cookies with.

There were three tables of children, so I gave each table four different colors of icing in piping bags, a bowl of raisins, chocolate chips, gum drops, and some sprinkles. I gave each child one large pumpkin cookie and three small ones. I showed them a quick example of how to use the piping bag and then let them go to town with their own creativity. The teachers and I supervised the process and help pass the piping bags and sprinkles around. Surprisingly there wasn't any fighting over supplies. The kids shared everything, helped each other out, and had a blast. I was very impressed at how well behaved they were.

I'm not sure about the proper etiquette of posting pictures of children online without their parents permission, so to be safe, I just put black bars to hide their identity. It kinda makes me laugh, like it's a collage of pre-k criminals. ;)

Vegan MoFo Pre-Kindergarden Style!

This little girl told me in great detail what she is going to be for Halloween, a Spider Witch!

In case you are wondering what a Spider Witch is, "she is a very scary witch who has a very scary pet spider that crawls up her arm... very very scary and spooky!"

This kid cracked me up with all the icing on his face.

Vegan Sugar Cookies are kid approved!

Icing... nom, nom, nom

I made a cookie collage of some of their work.

It makes me smile and wonder what my cookies would have looked like at this age, I'm thinking they would have been a beautiful disaster, just like these!

My favorite part of the day was when the kids surprised me with drawings of cats that they made for me for my birthday, which is Sunday. It totally made my day, the drawings are so cute. I can't wait to share them with you, but I need some time to scan them all, so hopefully I'll have them up for yall to see in a day or two.

Today was definitely a day to remember. :)

Have you ever done food projects with children?

And hey, while you're here, why not follow me... I'll follow you back. =D

There's a Vegan in my MOFO!

YAY! It's officially here, October that is, the most awesome month of them all, and for many reasons...

1. It's my birthday month! weeeeee!... and yes, even though my birthday is on the 9th, I claim the whole month. :)
2. It's Vegan MoFo month! drooool...
3. Pumpkins! I love me some pumpkins.
4. Time for our yearly trip to Savannah, GA... my favorite place in the universe. <3
5. HALLOWEENY TIME!!!

So let's get to it! Let the MoFoing begin. I'm going to start by giving you a super duper fast and easy, but crazy ooey gooey yummy recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Croissants. That was a mouth full. :)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Croissants

Oh Yeah!

Unroll your favorite *vegan* refrigerated crescent rolls

onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls are vegan and work great.

Spread on some peanut butter. Sprinkle on some *vegan* chocolate chips and marshmallows. I used Sweet & Sara's Vegan Mini Marshmallows because I had them on hand, but you could use the regular sized ones and cut them down or use Dandies Vegan Marshmallows, which are also a favorite of mine.

Lightly press down the chocolate chips and marshmallows.

Slowly roll the crescents up.

Put them in the oven at 375 degrees until they are golden brown and bubbly.

About 10 minutes *ish*

Attempt to wait for them to cool off.

Stuff them in your mouth while reciting nom, nom, nom.

Run outside and hide the rest of them in your tree house, if you don not have a tree house, promptly build one... because this is going to be a long month of MoFo goodness. :)

What did you make today?

~Amber