 This was my first Carrot Day. I gathered all the orange clothes I could and even borrowed some orange jewelry from my girlfriend. I knew it would work and I was right. Color, of course is a big thing on most of my theme days so I would suggest getting a helium tank. I have a big one in my office and it is definitely worth it considering how much fun the balloons bring. They also have disposable ones at the local party chain stores for about $50 that would probably be enough for 50 balloons but investing and renting a large one is definitely the way to go if you are planning to have a lot of theme days. I also use it to give residents a special foil balloon on their birthday. I thought of carrot day while I was looking through a party planning catalogue.
There were carrot party hats that were a dozen for 10 bucks and I thought to myself, "I can make those" and I did! Very often, I make my own version of what I see in the catalogues and save myself tons of money. I have a tight budget and make whatever is possible. The shipping alone is expensive! Usually, I can use construction paper I already have to cover a cone hat and I can replicate most any simple craft found in the party places. I am in the process of writing an ebook with patterns for some of my designs, including the beloved carrot hat!
I made a few a day so by the time carrot day came, I had plenty to give out. I really got silly and had the residents say the "Carrot Pledge" when they put it on and promised them a chocolate bunny at the end of the day if they still had it on, and I paid up! (I had already bought chocolate bunnies for 88 cents each.) Hold up 2 fingers and repeat after me"
"I promise to wear the carrot hat all day long because carrots make me healthy and keep me strong!"
Everybody was into it because I was into it. Attitudes are catching, as I always say! It was really funny catching one woman coming out of the elevator in the middle of the day with an orange balloon tied to her walker and the carrot hat and she said “I feel so young"! There is nothing wrong with doing things that make you feel young! Yes, it is silly, but it is youthful and fun and gets everyone giggling and that is such an incredible thing to do to a group of 80 and 90 year olds. They were all laughing about wearing their carrot hats. When is the last time you giggled? Think about it. It was such a fun day for the residents who agreed to open up their imagination pocket. The only thing I bought for the day besides the bunnies were these little plastic carrot goodie bags that I filled with jelly beans for bingo prizes and a bag of baby carrots that everyone munched on throughout the day. I also had a great upcoming activity sign that I made with a piece of orange oaktag cut into the shape of a carrot with some green oaktag for the roots.
The highlight of the day was my carrot pudding recipe. Any carrot recipe would be fine. As I made the pudding in a room as orange as the sunset on a beautiful evening, I talked about the history of carrots and the nutritional benefits. When the pudding was done, guess what they watched while they ate this incredible edible? Bugs Bunny! Talk about feeling young! Carrot Day is a prime example of taking an ordinary day (cooking class, discussion group, bingo, movie,) and with the help of a little color, making it an extraordinary day. It's funny, I have never been fond of the color but after carrot day, I believe it’s now one of my favorites!
Happy Carrot Day!
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GINGER'S CREATIVE COSTUMES AND ACTIVITIES