For the Love of Food

Rainbow of Gratitude Basket and Cookies and Pampers Thank You to Nurses Campaign

74 Comments

I created this Rainbow of Gratitude Basket to give as a thank you gift to the Labor and Delivery and OB Nurses that were there for me when I had my daughters. 
It is inspired by all my friends who have had Rainbow Babies, which are babies born after a stillbirth or miscarriage.
Find the free Printable Thank You Cards here. 
Scroll down below to learn more about my favorite nurse, my Rainbow Swirl Cookie recipe, and how you can nominate your favorite nurse to win a Thank You Nurses Award from Pampers. 
Be sure to enter our $100 gift card and diaper giveaway below too! 
Before having both my daughters at our base hospital, BJACH, I made a goodie filled gift basket and thank you card for the nurses and doctors who would be taking care of my family and I. It’s a simple gesture that means so much. 
Stella and I presenting our nurses with a Rainbow of Gratitude Basket.
Nurses leave a deep, long-lasting impression on moms and form an important bond that transcends the hospital experience. Because of the nurses they trust, new moms can rest assured that everything is going to be okay. 
My nurses held my hands, made me laugh and relax during the most difficult time of my labor, and were there when both my babies entered this world! I will always be grateful for their knowledge, patience, kindness, and understanding during both my hospital stays.
In my hospital bag: I made onesies with the girls’ names on them and brought fabric markers for my nurses, doctors, and visiting family to sign. It makes a wonderful memento to hang in their room!
To celebrate National Nurse Practitioner Week this November, Pampers is launching the first annual Thank You Nurses Awards, in partnership with AWHONN (Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses), honoring nurses across three award categories: Labor & Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Postpartum.  
Pampers knows the essential role nurses play during the first few minutes, hours and days between newborns and their parents and they want to thank them!
 Pampers invites parents to share their stories of nurses who helped make life #betterforbaby by submitting a nurse nomination to the Pampers Swaddlers Thank You Nurses Awards at www.tongal.com/pampersnurses. 
Nurse nominations can be submitted between November 9th and December 14th. 
Three finalists, one in each category (Labor & Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Postpartum), will be announced in March and the grand prize honoree will be announced in May.
The three finalists will be honored with short documentary videos showcasing their unique and inspirational nursing stories.
Each of the three finalists will receive a one-year membership to the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), attendance at the 2016 AWHONN Convention, Procter & Gamble care packages, and more. 
In honor of these nurse winners, three Pampers Swaddlers scholarships will be made available to help nurses from underrepresented groups complete their studies toward a Master of Science in Nursing degree.
See details and official rules at spr.ly/6181BPvMF. 
Winner must be a resident of the US or Puerto Rico, 18 years or older. 
Nomination period ends 12/14/15 at 3PM EST. 
For Pampers Thank You Nurses Awards I nominated Mrs. Marilyn, 
my favorite nurse at our local hospital, BJACH, on Ft Polk.
She is the lactation consultant and has supported and encouraged throughout both my pregnancies and with both my girls. Without her, I would have been clueless about breastfeeding and most likely given up during the difficult first weeks. I owe her so much! she is not just my favorite nurse but also a wonderful friend. Thank You Mrs. Marilyn!
Nominate your favorite nurse here: www.tongal.com/pampersnurses. 
Stella, me, Ava, and my favorite nurse Mrs Marilyn.

The Pampers #ThankYouNurses Twitter Party

November 19 from 8-9pmCST 
 Prizes will include:
Prize 1: $50 AMEX plus diapers and wipes
Prize 2: $75 AMEX plus diapers and wipes
Prize 3: $125 AMEX plus diapers and wipes
Grand Prize: $350 AMEX plus diapers and wipes
RSVP: diapers and wipes

Rainbow Swirl Sugar Cookies

Ingredients: 

Makes approx 3 dozen
  • Boxed sugar cookie mix {or use my homemade cookie recipe here}
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 5 bright colors of food coloring {I recommend icing coloring}

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl combine cookie mix, butter, egg, and flour.
  2. Stir until a dough forms. It may appear dry at first but after 30 seconds it should come together.
  3. Divide dough into five equal pieces and place into individual bowls.
  4. Use a spoon or your finger to make a small indentation on top of each piece.
  5. Add food coloring, about 10 drops each, into the indentation of each dough. Use a different color for each bowl.
  6. Thoroughly stir coloring into the dough until it becomes a solid color.
  7. Wrap bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. 
  8. Remove from fridge and roll small 1/2 tsp size balls of dough from each bowl. 
  9. Position all 5 colored balls together {see pictures below} and squeeze together.
  10. Roll the dough into a rope about 8-10 inches long. 
  11. Coil the rope into a spiral shape, slightly twisting as you wind it around the center.
  12. Repeat steps for the remaining dough. 
  13. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  14. Place cookies 2 inches apart on a lined cookie sheet. 
  15.  While the first batch bakes, place the remaining cookie dough in the fridge so it does not become too soft.
  16. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  17. Cool slightly then remove from cooking sheet to cool completely. 
Recipe adapted from Charm City Cakes Sugar Cookie Mix.

I found this cookie mix at Kroger in the Halloween clearance. I used the directions from the box to make the swirl cookies but I used my own rainbow icing colors. 
You can also use homemade sugar cookie dough. Here is my recipe. 
In a large bowl combine cookie mix, butter, egg, and flour.
Stir until a dough forms.
 It may appear dry at first but after 30 seconds it should come together.
Divide dough into five equal pieces and place into individual bowls.
Use a spoon or your finger to make a small indentation on top of each piece.
Add food coloring, about 10 drops each, into the indentation of each dough. 
Use a different color for each bowl.
I decided to use icing food coloring, 
which is thicker and brighter than traditional food coloring.
These can be found in the baking/craft aisle.
Thoroughly stir coloring into the dough until it becomes a solid color.
Wrap bowls with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. 
Remove from fridge and roll small 1/2 tsp size balls of dough from each bowl. 
Position all 5 colored balls together and squeeze together.
 
Roll the dough into a rope about 8-10 inches long. 
Coil the rope into a spiral shape, slightly twisting as you wind it around the center.
Repeat steps for the remaining dough. 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place cookies 2 inches apart on a lined cookie sheet. 
 While the first batch bakes, place the remaining cookie dough in the fridge
 so it does not become too soft.
Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Cool slightly then remove from cooking sheet to cool completely. 
Store in a covered container. 
These cookies make great gifts.
I added them to a  pink basket lined with colorful tissue paper.

My little love and her pretty flowers!

I added neon colored cut flowers from the store along with a rainbow thank you card {you can print it free here}.

The end result was a fun, bright, and colorful gift for the nurses who I appreciate the most!

Inspired by all the amazing Rainbow Babies I know! 
Comment below and tell me what ideas you have for a Nurses Thank You Basket!

 

This review was made possible by iConnect and Pampers. I was provided compensation to facilitate this post, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa Brown

    I would nominate the nurses at our local cancer center who took such great can of my husband when they were treating him for cancer: they were positive, caring and empathetic.

    Reply

  7. Jessica To

    I would nominate one of my husband's nurses when he was in the hospital. She had her young daughter make cards for him.

    Reply

  13. The Smart Savvy Mama

    My favorite nurse that most stands out is Nurse Janet. When I had my first baby, everything was totally new to me and my milk wasn't coming in. She told me to start pumping (as well as having the baby suck on my breast like I was doing). After trying a couple of pumping sessions, my milk finally came in and I was so relieved. I wish I would have started pumping to help get the milk going right away, but am so thankful to her for her advice! Julie [email protected]

    Reply

  14. Natalie

    I would nominate Karen, who was my nurse when I had surgery in 1st grade. She gave me stickers everytime I got out of my hospital bed and walked down the hallway. I created a sticker book out of all my stickers she gave me!

    Reply

  18. Emily Smith

    I’ll never forget one particular nurse. Her name was Sophia. She helped me when I was in labor with my first son. She was so sweet and funny. I was so scared and stressed about giving birth, but she was very reassuring and motivating. She was very attentive and even stayed an hour past the end of her shift, because she wanted to be with me until I gave birth. I was pushing for almost three hours, the OBGYN told me that if I didn’t deliver after three hours, I would have to have a C-section. Sophia kept me going, I was exhausted after 14 hours of labor and not getting any sleep for the past 34+ hours. I’m sure that my baby boy would have been delivered safely if she wasn’t there, but she made it enjoyable, even when I was in pain. My son was in the NICU for the first couple days due to me having a fever when he was delivered (just a precaution). She was off for two days after I delivered, but she came to visit me and my baby. She really went above and beyond. Anyone to have her by their side during delivery is very lucky.

    Reply

  21. tannawings

    I would nomiinate the oncology nurses for sure. They see people scared to pieces both patient spouses and family, They amswer questions, the sit down, they stop what theey are doing. I wwould nominate Elaine at the U of I she was wonderful

    ellen beck on form

    Reply

  24. Kelly OMalley

    I would nominate a nurse named Billy, who took such wonderful care of me when I was injured in an accident. He treated me with such high levels of professionalism, care and compassion. It was not always easy for me and I am sure I made it hard on others too. However, he always made it fun, and I always knew he was there to help me. He was absolutely amazing.

    Reply

  29. Pam Gurganus

    I've had only a couple of personal experiences with nurses and that was a long time ago when I was a child, but if I were going to nominate a nurse, it would be my aunt. She loves her job as a nurse and is amazing at it!

    Reply

  33. Romeo

    I would nominate the nurses at my local hospital, even my mother – that of whom has taken care of me & my illnesses – and that of the medical staff (doctors, researchers etc) of whom are leading the way with some of the future generations (students)that have changed my life being my injuries resulting from an accident where the driver (found at fault) never paid a dime and I have been stuck with the bills. Each staff that has overlooked my care through the multi-operations has be positive, caring and uplifting…. unlike my peeers, teachers, principals and coaches that have always judged me and never gave me many opportunities as a child in my youth!

    [email protected]

    Reply

  36. Stacey Roberson

    When my husband and I were living abroad, we decided to have our expecting child in a local clinic in a developing country. I was terrified because many of the nurses didn't speak English. The project manager's wife was a nurse and decided to schedule to come visit when I was planning to give birth. She helped me through every step of the process, motivated and encouraged me when I wanted to give up. I want to thank her for her support and helping me make it through.

    Reply

  37. Amy P

    I would love to nominate the sweet nurse who helped my daughter out when she was really sick this last spring we took her primary children's and she was so sweet and so kind to her!

    Reply

  40. Lynne Hill, Australia.

    I can't nominate anyone because I live in Australia. I have made up the Thank you cards though, for my mother-in-law to give to her carers and nurses this Christmas – she has dementia and lives in a residential care facility, but still likes saying thank you to those she lives with. As soon as I figure out how, I will post a picture of the cards I made today. Thank you for sharing these.

    Reply

  48. LauraJJ

    Oh I would love to nominate my nieces nurse! My niece was born way early and weighed 1 pound 9 ounces. Her nurse was so wonderful with the whole family and had so much compassion. My niece is a healthy 7 year old today, and still in touch with her nurse!

    Reply

  49. ♥Heather Dawn♥

    I loved my lactation nurse, Melissa, She helped me after my youngest son. She sat and talked with me for about an hour. Most nurses and doctors rush out when you aren't a first time mom. Not her, though! She was a doll

    Reply

  55. Jen Haile

    I would nominate the night nurse who helped me one time when I was scared as a child in the hospital for the first time.

    Reply

  68. Elisabeth

    I would nominate the nurse that just showed my husband and I around the Labor & Delivery unit. I’m due in a month and a half and am very nervous! She was very reassuring and made us feel very comfortable!

    Reply

  70. Betsy Barnes

    Betsy Rubendall Barnes
    bbpinktaz60 (at) gmail (dot) com

    I would like to thank the many nurses who took care of me when I had a c-section. While my son was recovering in ICU, the nurses were so very supportive and encouraged me to focus on getting well to bring my son home.

    Reply

  71. infectiousizzie

    I would nominate the nurse who helped me through my labor. She was so caring and sweet, she went above and beyond for me. She even came to visit me in recovery. She was so wonderful, I think of her often.

    Reply

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