Snickers Caramel Shake

I was in the mood for a sweet treat the other day.  Sadly there were no cakes and cookies on hand. (I hate it when that happens!)  But we did have a little ice cream in the freezer, so this is what I decided to make.  Hope you enjoy!

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Lemon Pudding Pound Cake

Lemon is such an amazing flavor for summer time! As a kid, lemon desserts were always my favorite!  Since getting married I haven't tried many recipes of the lemon persuasion, as my hubby's not a fan.  But then several months ago, I had a slice of this lemon cake at a potluck, and I was totally wishing I could take the whole thing home with me!

Since then I've been on a search for the perfect lemon pound cake.  I decided to start with this recipe.  I've seen it on several sites but most recently over at Tidy Mom.  And I think I've already found my perfect lemon pound cake.  (Hubby even tried it and loved it! So...Hooray! We have a winner!)

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Summer Pinwheel and Burlap Wreath

I think pinwheels are so cute and fun for the summer!  Several weeks ago while making my flag wreath, I also put this little pinwheel wreath together.

Since it's made using the scrapbook paper of your choice, it's a very versatile project.  And I made fairly easy by using "flat pinwheels."  Hope you enjoy this tutorial.

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Orange Cream Shakes

It's super hot and humid here!  Lucky for me, I'm an indoor girl! hehe. But I still like to eat my cool summer snacks!  And I've had a super craving for ice cream lately.  Maybe it's because the ice cream man drives by our house every day!

This week I'm sharing a wonderfully yummy recipe that came to me via my lovely bloggy friend Chaya of Chaya's Comfy Cook Blog. Seriously, I made this almost immediately after I saw it!

If you love Orange Dreamsicles, Push-ups or anything like that, you're sure to love these Orange Cream Shakes!

Recipe for Orange Cream Shakes:

Ingredients:

4 cups vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
2 cups orange juice
4 tablespoons milk
6 tablespoons sugar or agave
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:  Place all ingredients in blender.  Blend until smooth.

I'm linking up at these parties.

It's An Ice Cream Social!

Don't you just love the blogosphere? One minute you're at a recipe party, and the next minute your at a craft party! And this weekend we can all go to an Ice Cream Social over at Kitchen Bouquet! With my husband on a no-dessert diet, and me busy with projects in the house this week, I didn't get a chance to make anything, so I'll be highlighting a few things that I found on some of my favorite sites instead!  Hope you enjoy!

Also, don't forget we'll be having Sweet Thursday here next week! Email your desserts to me by Tuesday if you'd like to be featured, or link up here on Thursday! Have a great weekend!

Coconut Ice Cream from Taste of Home

Easy Celebration Ice Cream Cake from Kraft

Berry Chocolae Ice Cream Loaf from Eagle Brand

S'mores Ice Cream Pie from Hershey's

French Silk Ice Cream Roll from Betty Crocker

-Jerri

Summer Star Garland

You may remember the Easter Garland I posted on back in March.  I actually kept it up through spring, and then finally I decided I needed something new for summer.  So the other day I used the same concept behind the Easter Garland and made some star garland for the summer. 

I would have liked to have done this in red, white, and blue, but I didn't have any  coordinating papers that I liked together, and I've decided I need to use some of the supplies I already have rather than going out and buying new stuff all the time, so I went with a red, green, and blue color scheme.

What You'll Need:

Scrapbook paper

Ribbon

Scissors

Tape

Cookie Cutters

Pencil/Pen

Garland Tutorial:

-Use cookie cutters or stencils to trace shapes onto the back of scrapbook paper. You can use a single shape or multiple shapes. (I used 3 different size stars, and I used 4 different paper designs.)

-Next take your scissors and cut out the shapes. (I made 24 cut outs for a seven and a half foot string of garland last time and this time.)

-Cut off a line of ribbon. Make the ribbon as long as you like. I suggest cutting off at least a foot more than the intended length. (I made a 7 1/2 foot garland, but I actually cut about 8 1/2 foot of ribbon off. I used the extra length on each end to wrap it around the "edging" on the top of the cabinets.)

-Now attach the shapes to the ribbon. (I placed them about an inch to an inch and a half apart from each other.)

-There are a few different methods you can use for this. Liz from Hoosier Homemade  actually sewed the cutouts to the ribbon. I, however, am not a seamstress and decided to use a short cut method. I used tape to attach the shapes. I used two small pieces of tape on each shape (making a t or x with the tape on the back of each shape.) I used two pieces to make sure it was secured, and put them on there cross-ways so that the garland would be more flexible/movable. For this step you could also mod podge or a glue gun if you prefer. (I just used tape because it's quicker, there's no mess, and it would allow me to make adjustments if I needed to.)

-Then hang your garland and enjoy!

-Jerri

I am happy to link up my posts each week to some awesome Linky Parties.

Best of SSH: Summer Fun Edition

Party Ideas:

Party Themes, Decorations, & Supplies

Lighting for Your Backyard Parties

Fun Outdoor Party Games & Activities for the Kids

Tips & Must Haves for the Perfect Summer Party,Part 1

Tips & Must Haves for the Perfect Summer Party, Part 2

Vacations & Activities:
Find Fun Right Around the Corner and Save (On Money & Gas)

Tips & Strategies for Vacation Savings, Part 1

Tips & Strategies for Vacation Savings,Part 2

Summer Safety:
Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke

Remedies for Insect Bites/Stings

Sun Burn Remedies

-Jerri

Best of SSH: Summer Food Edition

Just in time for the 4th of July, here is a special Summer Food Edition of Best of SSH, complete with an appetizer, some stuff for the grill, and plenty of yummy desserts!

I'm also going to be posting a Summer Fun edition which will include some posts on Summer Party Ideas, Activities, Vacation Stuff, and some Summer Safety Posts.

I'm doing two separate posts, because I was going through last summer's posts, and there were just too many links for one post. Plus, I have a lot more readers now than I did last year when I wrote these posts, and I want to give more people the opportunity to see them. Hope you enjoy!

Burgers on the Grill

Yummy Kabob Recipes for the Summer

Bacon Chive Potato Salad

Under the Sea Cake

Banana Cream Trifle

Orange Cream Cake

Flag Cake

Red, White, and Blue Shortcake

Pina Colada Plus

Strawberry Pie

Crab Appetizer Napoleons

-Jerri

Recipe of the Week: Strawberry Pie

Now here's a perfect recipe for this time of year: Strawberry Pie. My dad got this recipe several years ago from a coworker, and it remains one of his favorite summer time recipes. The only difference is that he uses a baked pie crust out of the freezer section as opposed to the graham cracker crust. He also uses frozen strawberries when strawberries are not in season, and these taste just as good as the fresh ones. If you're a strawberry lover, you should give this one a whirl!

Ingredients:
2 pints fresh strawberries, hulled
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1-1/2 cups cold water
1 package strawberry gelatin
3 tablespoons sugar
1 graham cracker crust (8 inches)
2 cups whipped topping

Directions: Set aside four whole berries for garnish. Slice remaining strawberries and set aside. In a large saucepan, combine cornstarch and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in gelatin and sugar until dissolved. Stir in sliced strawberries. Pour into the crust. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. Cut reserved strawberries in half. Garnish each serving with whipped topping and a berry half. Yield: 8 servings.

Here's a thought: For a little something different, instead of strawberry flavored, try blueberry or raspberry. I'm also curious as to how this would be if you use orange jellow and little mandarine orange slices. mmm...

I'm posting this for Recipe Exchange over at Life As Mom.

Summer Safety: Sunburn Remedies

As as kid, I got sunburned a lot. I was--ahem, am-- very fair complected, and some of the times even Water Babies couldn't save me. But as an adult I've learned to be more careful and reapply my sunscreen, but sometimes in the name trying to get a tan, I still little burned. After going to the beach several weeks ago, I looked up some sun burn cures/remedies on the net, and I thought I'd share some of these with you. I wish I'd had these years ago!

Showers - Right after coming in from the sun, take a warm to hot shower (before it actually starts burning. The hot water can help to open your pores, draw the heat out of your skin, and can help to ease the burn before it starts.

And after your skin actually starts to "burn", take cool showers (at least 2 a day) to moisturize the skin and ease pain & itching.

Aloe - One of the most popular cures for sunburn. Use actual aloe leaves, or buy it in a bottle at the store. Apply several times a day to keep skin moist.

After-Sun Lotion - I use Banana Boat Moisturizing After Sun Lotion. It contains aloe & vitamin E. It's designed to keep your skin moisturized and "extend" your tan.

Apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar) - Apply apple cider vinegar to the burn with a cottonball, or make a compress. This remedy should prevent peeling. **A few weeks ago, after a day at the beach I tried this one myself. I was unsure of the immediate effects of it, but I can tell you that I didn't peel--and my skin was burned worse than a previous beach trip where I did peel, so I think the ACV helped.)

Aspirin - this will relieve pain, reduce fever, and reduce inflammation. It should be taken within 24 hours of getting sunburned.

Ice packs - These can help to keep the skin cool & basically numb the skin. (very good, if you're itching!)

Baking soda - Dissolve some baking soda in water and make a compress using a clean cloth or add baking soda to bath water. Let the skin dry on its own. This should also help to keep skin moisturized.

Oatmeal Pack - Place some instant oatmeal in a bowl. Place a small amount of water in the bowl, just enough to moisten the oatmeal. Take a damp cloth and dip out some of the oatmeal on to the cloth. Place it on the burn for 15-20 minutes. (I actually tried this one; I placed a towel on the couch, then laid the oatmeal pack on top of it, and laid with my back on the oatmeal pack. It immediately relieved my itching.)

Milk - Before taking a bath, make a compress of cool milk. Apply it to the skin and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then wash off. The fat content is said to help cool the burns but it shouldn't clog your pores the way butter would.

Cucumbers - To soothe the burn, rub the sunburn with fresh cucumber slices.

Epsom salts - Dissolve epsom salts in water and make a compress using a clean cloth.

Potato -Grate a potato and apply it to the burned area to cool and soothe the burn.

Yogurt -apply plain yogurt with live cultures, let it stand for a few minutes, then rinse off under cool water.

Lavender - Mix 20-25 drops of lavender oil in one cup of water and bathe the sunburned area.

Lemon water - Mix the juice of three lemons into two cups of cold water and rub it on the burn with a rag or sponge. The lemon will cool the burn, act as a disinfectant, and will promote healing of the skin.

Recipe of the Week: Pina Colada Plus

For this week's recipe, I chose a non-alcoholic Pina Colada drink from BHG. It's fruity. It's sweet and smooth. And it'll help you beat the heat on a hot summer's day! Yum!

1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple (juice pack), chilled
1 medium banana, cut up
3/4 cup soy milk
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons bottled or canned pina colada mix, chilled
Ice cubes (optional)
Directions
1. In a blender container combine the undrained pineapple, banana, soy milk, orange juice, and pina colada mix. Cover and blend until nearly smooth. If desired, serve over ice. Makes 2 servings.

Works For Me Wednesday: Remedies for Insect Bites & Stings

I decided to participate in W4MW again this week, and in keeping with my Summer Safety theme, I came up with a list of treatments for wasp, yellow jacket, and bee stings. Shortly after I met my husband, we were outside walking, and I got stung. I had told him before that I was allergic to wasps & bees. And in the days following the sting, he admitted to me that he had kinda thought I was exaggerating a bit about how allergic I was, that is, until he saw how badly swollen my foot got. When he saw that my foot was still swollen after 4 or 5 days, he swore he'd be taking me to the hospital if I ever got stung again...and looking back, that's probably not a bad idea.

It's funny...as I think about all my topics for this week's posts, I'm reminded why I don't like the outdoors...because every time I go out there, something happens to me!

********

If you are highly allergic to wasp & bee stings, you should seek immediate medical attention. Don't wait for the the sting to swell, etc. At the emergency room they will remove the stinger & will most likely give you a shot to prevent pain, swelling, and itching.

Otherwise you can take care of the stings yourself through a number of techniques and treatments. Here are some which I have used to provide relief:

If stung by a bee, you should remove the stinger as soon as possible. It is said that using a credit card for the removal of the stinger, rather than using tweezers is best, as to prevent the stinger from breaking and/or releasing more poison in to your body. But the most important thing is to remove it.

Shortly after being stung, use tobacco on the sting. Use chewing tobacco or tobacco out of a cigarette. Place a few drops of water on the tobacco and then place it on the sting. Cover with a bandage or gauze. It doesn't feel good to have this one the sting. You'll feel a little pressure and a pounding/pulsating feeling. But this method is very effective at preventing some of the pain and swelling.

Take an antihistamine, such as a Benadryl.

As with other injuries, you should wash the sting with soap and water.

Ice may used to relieve itching and pain.

Use creams such as Cortizone or Benadryl.

Also, try Campho Phenique. I've never personally tried this for a wasp/bee sting, but Campho Phenique works wonders on mosquito bites (more so than the other creams), and I imagine that it would work better on stings as well.

Use a pain reliever such as Advil or Tylenol for the pain.

Keep the sting elevated if possible. Elevation is very important; this prevents a lot of blood flow from going down to the area of the sting, and will help with pain and itching. And if stung on the foot, avoid walking if possible, as this will cause more pain and swelling. You should also avoid writing, typing, or doing other work with your hands, if you are stung on the hand.

Lightly rub the sting, Don't Scratch!

What Has Worked for Others:
Here is a list of other items you can try. I've not used these personally, but on the around the internet, others have attested that these remedies work.

• applying meat tenderizer
• applying toothpaste
• applying tobacco
• applying chili paste
• applying mint leaves
• applying clay paste, and
• applying a copper coin
• applying hot water
• applying lavender oil
• baking soda
• vinegar

To view other Works for Me Wednesday posts, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Summer Safety: Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke

In planning for my posts for July & August, I've thought of a variety of topics having to do with safety. And since I try to make the posts relevant to the calendar and have the majority of the posts sort of build on one another or be on a common theme, I decided to make this week Summer Safety Week.

I'm starting with some information on heat stroke and heat exhaustion. As I child and as an adult, I've had heat exhaustion myself. As a kid, I wasn't aware of what it was. But basically whenever I went outside for a long period of time, whether we were at a park, a ball game, minature golf, or just anywhere, I would suddenly become ill, and as a result we'd all have to go home. Even now, my husband and I go outside and play disc golf, and I have to be very careful about what I eat before we go, I can never go on an empty stomach, and I have to stay hydrated. And unless we go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, (after 5pm or later) I won't be able to stay out for a long period of time without getting ill.

Luckily in the past I've come inside to rest before all the symptoms hit me, so I never actually had to go to the doctor, but a friend of my husband actually went to the hospital for this just last year. And with our humid climate and our heat index often being 100 degrees or higher in the middle of summer, we have a lot of heat exhaustion and heat stroke cases, some of which result in death. So it is definitely a topic to be informed about & to take seriously.

Who can get heat exhaustion or heat stroke? Anybody and everybody. But small children and the elderly are most likely to get it. And whenever you get it once, you are more susceptible to getting it again.

Symptoms:

Heat Exhaustion:
severe thirst
muscle weakness
nausea, sometimes vomiting
fast, shallow breathing
irritability
headache
increased sweating
cool, clammy skin
elevation of body temperature to more than 104 Fahrenheit (40 Celsius)

Heatstroke:
severe, throbbing headache
weakness, dizziness, or confusion
difficulty breathing
decreased responsiveness or loss of consciousness
may not be sweating
flushed, hot, dry skin
elevation of body temperature to 104 Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) or higher

Treatment:
Go indoors immediately. If you cannot go inside immediate have a seat in the shade.
If you are having heat exhaustion/stroke symptoms, don't drive. And don't let others who are experiencings the symptoms drive.
Take off clothing.
Lie down and elevate feet slightly.
Get into a bath of cool water or sponge yourself off. You may also apply cold rags or ice packs. In extreme cases, get in an ice bath.
If treating a child, place the child (if conscious) in a cool bath or sponge-bathe the child repeatedly. If outside, spray the child with mist from a garden hose.
Drink plenty of fluids. You should drink water, juice, or sports drinks. I also remember hearing that Pedialite was good because of the electrolytes it contains. (avoid drinks carbonated beverages, drinks containing caffiene, and alcohol.)
If you are treating a child who is vomiting, turn his or her body to the side to prevent choking.
Keep temperature monitored.
**If the person has a temperature of 104 degrees or higher, you could call 911 immediately. If you suspect the person has heat stroke, treat them while waiting for paramedics to arrive.


Prevention:
Avoid being out in the extreme heat, especially for an extended period of time.
Drink plenty of water and other fluids before going outside and while outside.
Wear clothing that is light in color and loose fitting. Wear hats.
If outside, stay in shaded areas.
Stay in an Air-Conditioned Environment if possible.
If you're home isn't air conditioned, go somewhere that is, and if you have air conditioning turn it on! (last year a woman in our area died from heat stroke in her home. She had air conditioning, but she didn't have it on b/c she didn't want her electric bill to go up.)
If you have an elderly relative, friend, or neighbor, check on them frequently, and make sure they are keeping their home cool and avoiding the heat.
Do all yard work in the early morning or at the very end of the day (after 5 pm) to avoid getting over heated.
If you work in the heat, take breaks often, and go inside for your breaks if possible.
Avoid running, bike riding, and other strenuous exercise in the middle of the day.
If outside in the middle of the day, pace yourself to preserve your energy. (Don't run when you can walk. Etc.)
Eat small meals, and eat frequently. Avoid eating foods high in protein, as this increases Metabolic Heat and increases Water Loss.
**At first sign of any of the symptoms of heat exhaustion, get out of the heat immediately. Don't try to wait it out. If you are outside with anyone else, let them know what is going on so that they can treat you if necessary.

Tips & Must Haves for the Perfect Summer Party, Part 2

As promised, here is a list of food and drink tips for your barbecues and backyard summer parties.

• Never underestimate the amount of time it will take to grill. If you are having a lot of people over, do the majority of the grilling early so that it will be ready as the guests arrive.
• If you're having a lot of guests, you may want to ask a friend to bring over an extra grill for you to use. (and if someone asks you if you need help grilling or cooking, don't be too proud to accept their assistance)
• Do your cooking the night before in order to avoid having a hot kitchen on the day of the event, and this way, on the day of the party you can focus on some last minute tidying and placing your food out to serve.
• Avoid making too many casseroles and heavy foods. Instead try salads, fresh fruit, and chips & veggies with dip.
• Also, try some simple side items like mac & cheese, baked beans, cole slaw, corn on the cob, and potato salad.
• For dessert, keep it light. Trifles are easy to make, and they look and taste great. Banana pudding is another great choice, or try a little key lime or lemon icebox pie. Homemade ice cream would also be a big hit.
• Be sure that you have plenty of ice on hand.
• You can never have enough drinks either. Be sure you have plenty of ice tea and bottled water. Also, have a good selection of regular and diet drinks. Lemonade or punch is also great for a hot summer day. And consider serving Kool Aid, Powerade, or juice boxes to the kids.
• Be sure that you have plenty of coolers so that you can keep the drinks on ice, so that they won't fill up your refrigerator, and so that everyone can grab a drink at his/her convenience.
• To save money, make it a potluck dinner.
• Decide ahead of time if you would like to serve alcohol at the party so that you can put it in your budget. I was reading a tip in a magazine that suggested to make one specialty drink for your guests like pina coladas or some other cocktail. Other than that, if you're having a backyard barbecue, most people will bring their alcohol if they desire.
• While you may be tempted to leave the food out so that people can come back for seconds, it would be better to put the food away in the fridge or in a cooler, in order to prevent spoiling. Just let your guests know what you're doing so that they can get seconds if they like. Also, consider having your buffet inside the house, to further prevent spoiling and to keep bugs out of the food.
• If you're going to serve outside. Salads, fruits, and dessert items should remain inside until time to serve so that they can maintain the proper temperature.
  If you're not much of a cook, try going to local resturant to have your party catered. You can get a large pan of pork barbecue, ribs, or wings & chicken fingers for everyone at a fairly good price. And you can sometimes get a good deal on side items too.
• Even if you're not doing a potluck, someone will most likely call and ask if they can bring something. While a simple "No thank you" is an okay response, most of the time these people will bring something anyway, so you may as well suggest something simple for them to bring, (ie - a dessert of their choice, chips, or a package of rolls) And if you're grilling out, don't be surprised if someone brings over some extra meat to put on the grill.

Tips & Must Haves for the Perfect Summer Party, Part 1

It takes proper planning and organization to have a successful party at any time of the year. But no matter how much planning we do, there's always a chance that we'll forget something. So I'm making a list of tips and must haves for your summer parties and backyard barbecues. Part one will have some general tips, and part 2 will having some tips concerning food and drinks.

• Try to place chairs in a shaded area under some trees, or set up a big tent, canopy, or an umbrella to provide shade.
• Make sure you have plenty of chairs. It's much better to have extra chairs than to not have enough. Consider renting some chairs, or check out the selection at the local dollar store. Or ask some of your guests to bring extra chairs to the party.
• If your party will be held outside, purchase a couple of electric fans to create a nice breeze.
• Be sure to turn on ceiling fans and turn the thermostat down in the house for people who want to sit inside. Homes are always hotter when there's a lot of people inside, especially if you've been cooking. Not to mention, people will be going in and out the door, letting the hot air in.
• Be sure to purchase plenty of ice and have plenty of drinks on hand, especially bottled water, tea, or lemonade/punch. I also recommend Kool Aid, Powerade, or juice boxes for the kids.
• Use Off candles, mosquito coils, and other repellants to keep bugs away.
• As the party host, it is your obligation to have things on hand that your guests may need. Make sure that you have the following: Off bug repellent, OTC pain relievers, sunscreen, band-aids and other first aid items, Benadryl/corizone cream for bug bites, and a sting kit.
• If you're having a family party, be sure that you have a kick ball or some other recreational equipment for the kids to play with so that the adults can talk.

Fun Outdoor Party Games & Activities for Kids

As of late, I've been making a lot of lists on here, and here's another. Summer time is such a great time for kids to have parties...think school field day, VBS recreation time, and the ever popular end of the year school party. Even if you're on a budget, you can still plan a fun party for your kids. There are a number of games and activities that you can plan that are cheap or cost nothing at all. Here's a list of ideas for you...

Volleyball
Badmitten
Softball/Baseball
Kickball
Soccer
Flag football
Capture the Flag
Scavenger Hunt
Horseshoes
Ring Toss
Croquet
Frisbee
Basketball
Flashlight tag or freeze tag
Dodge Ball
Four Square
Red Rover
Create a obstacle course
Hide & Seek
Red light green light
Mother, May I
Simon Says
Disc golf or Frisbee golf
Water balloon fight
Water gun fight
Watermelon seed spitting contest
Slip & Slide
Inflatable jump toys or mazes
Sack race
Three-legged race
Wheelbarrow race
Parachute
Tug of War
Potato & Spoon race
Jump the Brook
Chinese jump rope
Jump rope contest
Ladder golf
Bean bag toss
lawn bowling

And here's a few links for you....

Pool Games
Pool toys & games
Water Games
99 Days of Summer Games
Recreation & field day equipment

Recipe of the Week: Under the Sea Cake

Here's a really cute cake for summer from Kraft. They also have a recipe for video for a similar recipe called Dive On in Cake. Kids of all ages will love these.

1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix, any flavor
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, divided
3/4 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Brand Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin
2 cups ice cubes
10 NILLA Wafers, crushed
2 chewy fruit snack rolls
15 jelly beans
4 TEDDY GRAHAMS Honey Graham Snacks
decorating gel
7 bite-size fish-shaped chewy fruit snacks

PREPARE and bake cake batter in greased foil-lined 13x9-inch baking pan as directed on package. Cool completely. Invert cake onto large platter; remove pan and foil. Use a serrated knife to cut 1/2-inch-wide strip off each side of cake. Cut each strip in half lengthwise; set aside.
SPREAD cake with 1-1/2 cups of the whipped topping. Stack cake strips around outside edges of cake to make a rim. Spread rim with remaining 1/2 cup whipped topping. Refrigerate until ready to use.

STIR boiling water into dry gelatin mix in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add ice cubes; stir until gelatin begins to thicken. Remove any unmelted ice. Pour thickened gelatin into center of cake as shown in photo. Refrigerate 4 hours or until gelatin is set. Decorate with remaining ingredients to resemble an aquarium. Store in refrigerator.

Party Themes, Decorations, & Supplies

Summer is a great time for kid & adult parties and family reunions. Decorations, party favors, and a theme can make the party very fun, especially for kids.

Some popular themes include:

Patriotic
Hawaiin Luau
Under the Sea
Beach
Flip Flops
Safari/Jungle
Western/Cowboy
Fiesta/South of the Border
Pirates
Finding Nemo
Little Mermaid
Lion King
Olympics
Sports

You can buy party supplies & decorations for fairly cheap at party supply store, the dollar store, or online, and you can make great use of every day items for decorations, as well.

Consider decorating with the following:

Flowers

Palm Trees

Flower Leis

Beach Balls

"Donut"/"Lifesaver" Floats

Strings of lights

Balloons & streamers

Sand buckets & shovels

treasure chest

beaded curtains

Here a few links some summer party ideas & supplies:

Celebrate Express - They have supplies for various party themes, including Hula, Flip Flop Fun, Sunny Days, Luau, Ocean, etc.

MN International - Supplies for a variety of party themes from Patriotic to Luau, Safari, and Western Themes

Shindigzparty Blog - Party ideas & tips for just about any party theme

Oriental Trading - A ton of summer party supplies

Oriental Trading - Fourth of July Party supplies

Lighting for Your Backyard Parties

I've been looking up different party ideas when I found these really cool solar lanterns. These look very nice, and unlike a lot of alternatives, you don't have to deal with bunch of ugly wires, and you don't have to go through a huge installation process. You simply hang these outside in the sun so that they can charge, and when the sun goes down these handy little lanterns will give off a nice glow.

But if you live in a shaded area, or you're just looking for something of a different style,there are a lot of great choices when it comes to lighting for your outdoor party. Some popular choices include Candles, Flaming Torches, Strings of Christmas lights or novelty lights, Electric wall laterns & post lanterns, strings of paper lanterns, etc.

Here are a couple of cute choices, followed by some links:

Flower Lights

Flipflop Lights

Sunsetter Patio Lights

Colored Lights

Cherry Blossom Lanterns

If your in the market for some party lights, here a few links you may be interested in:

Ivillage - for more info on solar lights

lightingshowplace.com - for outdoor lighting

Offthedeepend.com - They have a fun variety of light strings

Outdoor Lights on Amazon

Nextag - cool lights here

Japanese Lantern lights

If you get creative with the lighting and decor, you can create a fun & unique atmosphere for your summer barbecue or pool party. And if you shop around, you can usually find some good deals on this stuff too! Have a good day!

Yummy Kabob Recipes for the Summer

With the summer grilling season in full swing, I wanted to features some recipe, links, and ideas for your cookouts. Today I'm starting with some Kabobs which I found on BHG. BHG has a lot of great recipe for burgers, kabobs, and other backyard barbecue recipes, as well as some great party ideas. Visit Quick & Easy Kabobs to view 22 different kabob recipes.

Lamb Kabobs

Spicy Grilled Shrimp

Top Sirloin Kabobs

Mustard-Glazed Pork Skewers

More cookout and summer party ideas coming up later! Have a great rest of the week!