Swap a Recipe Saturday! Revolutionary Berries

Revolutionary Berries

Make your Fourth of July party berry nice with these easy treats.


Rally the kiddie corps to help with these fun-to-prep bites.

Ingredients:

12 ounces white chocolate chips
Strawberries
Blue sugar or edible glitter

Instructions:

Melt 12 ounces of white chocolate chips in a microwave according to the package directions (make sure the container and the berries are dry; even a little moisture will alter the texture of the candy).

One at a time, dip strawberries into the chocolate and then into blue sugar or edible glitter.

Set them to harden on waxed paper.

Makes 35 to 45 decorated berries.

I found this recipe on familyfun.com

What to do Wednesday? Write a Letter

Have we totally gone electronic these days? Remember those things called pen and paper? How about writing a letter to a family member or friend? Everything nowadays seems so impersonal, invites are even sent by Facebook Event. Sit down and take a breather, choose some stationary that makes you feel good, write a nice long letter of what has been going on in your life...there are still people in this world who are just tickled to get mail!

Tips Tuesday! Smart Ways to Use New Sponges!

Have a bag of new, clean sponges laying around? How about trying out some of these ideas.

1. Sprout Seeds! Start growing seeds indoors to delight kids! Soak a sponge in water, squeeze out excess and put on a plate. Fill holes with seeds, place in a window, mist every other day, then look for 'em to sprout! Once plants get to be about an inch tall, carefully lift out of the sponge and transplant into soil.

2. Swipe away lint! Forget a lint brush! Instead, brush your fuzz-covered garments or furniture with an unused cellulose sponge. The lint will practically jump off the fabric and onto the sponge.

3. Make your own gift wrap! Cut sponges into heart or star shapes, dip in paint and let you your kids decorate a brown grocery bag. When it's dry, you'll have unique wrapping paper for gifts!

4. Soften clothing! No need for a fabric softener ball! Dampen a sponge with fabric softener and toss into your washing machine. During the cycle, the sponge will slowly release the softener into your laundry for fresh, fluffy results!

5. Use up extra soap slivers! Cut a pocket through a sponge and slide small pieces of soap inside. Dampen the sponge and you'll have instant lather!

Great Idea! Keep your sponge fresh! Dampen your sponge and microwave it for two minutes. The heat will kill the germs and remove odors!

Must Have Monday! Just Basic Glitter Bobby Pins

Who doesn't love a little touch of bling?

I bought 2 different sets of these Just Basic brand bobby pins. All are glitter covered and come in a variety of colors. The first card has dark brown, light brown, black, blue and light blue. The second card has purple, Burgundy, yellow, orange, lime and turquoise. Wear one, wear a few, criss cross them in your hair! These are a definite must have on my accessories list :)

Things to Make Thursday! Camera Card for Father's Day

Camera Card

Total Time Needed:
1 Hour

This photogenic Father's Day card takes aim at the hearts of shutterbug fathers everywhere.

Materials:

Clean, wide jar lid
Black acrylic paint
Black card stock
Photo
Glue dots or double-sided tape
Silver paint marker

Instructions:

First, paint the inside and sides of a clean, wide jar lid (such as the lid from a peanut butter jar) with black acrylic paint and let it dry.

Cut a photo to fit the inside of the lid, and attach it with glue dots or double-sided tape.

Fold a half-sheet of black card stock in half, and cut two sections from the folded edge, as shown above.

Add simple camera details with silver paint marker, then adhere the jar lid to the front of the card.

Inside, write a camera-related message: "You're a picture perfect dad!" or "Dad, you always make us smile."

I found this awesome craft on familyfun.com

Must Have Monday! Clorox Sanitizing Wipes

Have a dirty house? How about just an untidy one? Either way you go, these are a must have! A quick swipe with a Clorox Sanitizing Wipes leaves your kitchen counters clean and smelling great! Tough bathroom? I love using them. One handed jobs work best for me especially when I have a child or 2 tugging on me! Quick and efficient...try them!

Swap a Recipe Saturday! Lawn Mower Cupcakes

Want Some Mower?

These sweet lawn mower cupcakes are a cut-above choice for Father's Day. I found these adorable cupcakes on familyfun.com.

Ingredients:

Chocolate-frosted cupcakes
Coconut, flaked
Green food coloring
Hershey's Nuggets
M&M's
Frosting
Black licorice laces

Instructions:

For each cupcake, mix a handful of flaked coconut with a few drops of green food coloring. Press a chocolate-frosted cupcake into the coconut to cover.

The mower is made with a dark chocolate Hershey's Nuggets body, brown M&M's wheels, and a red M&M's engine, held in place with dabs of frosting.

Shape the handle from a piece of black licorice lace, then insert the ends into the cupcake.

Tips Tuesday! Miscellaneous Window Cleanings

Here are some miscellaneous ways to get all of that window cleaning finished up!

Miscellaneous

Clean aluminum window frames with cream silver polish.

To clean sliding door tracks, either wrap a small cloth around an eraser and rub dirt away or use a toothbrush dipped in all-purpose cleaning solution.

Wax traverse or curtain rods before hanging to make sliding curtains easier.

Stick drapery hooks into a bar of soap to make insertion into fabric a snap.

To keep the corners of your windowsills free of dust and moisture, rub a white candle into each corner of the sill.

Louvered windows and doors are easy to clean with a 2-inch-wide paint brush dipped in a mild soap solution. Lightly towel dry.

Must Have Monday! Fresh Express Baby Spinach

Fresh Express Baby Spinach is a definite must have in this house. It gives you an awesome fresh taste instead of regular old lettuce. Match it with some red wine vinegar (no oil) and you have a great lunch filled with everything you need minus the fat and calories.

Eat as much as you want!!! I won't tell, but your waistline will ;)