A Little Treat...Homemade Popsicles

Blog Post as seen on PinchingYourPennies.com

Summer, how I love you! Hot weather means cool treats! There is something so satisfying about making popsicles from scratch. Not only are they inexpensive – made from pretty much anything you can freeze into a popsicle, but they can be a healthy alternative to some of the more sugar-filled choices at the store. Here are a couple of healthy, delicious posicle recipes. Please post your favorites in the comments.

And, don’t you just love this cute “shooting star” mold from Amazon? I do!


Grapple Popsicles - Mix together 3 C applesauce with 1 C grape juice & freeze!

Layered Juicy Pops – Pour a favorite juice into 1/3 of the mold, put in freezer until just firm (about 30 minutes) then pour another fruit juice and let freeze, rinse repeat (make sure to put your stick in after your last layer)!

Melon Pops – Puree watermelon (good for those going a little mushy) mixed with white grape juice.

Green Popsicle – Combine 1 ripe banana, 2 C strawberries, 1 C almond milk, loose handful of baby spinach in blender. Freeze! You can’t even taste the spinach!

Jelly Juice Popsicle- When the jelly jar is running low, fill it 1/4 full of very hot water and swish around. Pour jelly water into popsicle mold.

Yogurt Popsicle- When yogurt begins to get a bit runny, pour into a greased mold (Pam spray before).

A Little...Evolution

I am so excited about the sun rising earlier and earlier each day as we make our way toward summer. Summer is the best!

And this morning I was thinking just that when another idea entered my mind. As much as I love summer (no school, warm weather, swimming, vacations, etc.), I find more satisfaction during the fall and spring. Perhaps you feel similarly.

As I started pondering why that was, I concluded it was because during fall and spring everything outside is changing. In the fall we see brilliant oranges, reds and yellows, while in the spring we see pinks, lavenders, and greens. There is so much beauty in the seasonal changes, and I believe therein lies a parallel to life.

Aren't we all evolving into something? Don't most (dare I say all?) of us hope to become something better than we are? Do we not hope to reach dreams and potentials yet unknown? And while there is great fulfillment in reaching our fondest desires, I believe there is also satisfaction, and even beauty, in the evolution of it all.

In change we are beautiful because we are seeking to discover what the Universe has in store for us. We are trying to ascertain what sort of strength and character we have within us. The many unnecessary and even unhealthy "leaves" of our character may die and fall to the ground, but in the process they are brilliantly green, then red . . . then discarded--just at the right time. Right when we are becoming better; evolving into the people we want to be.

I welcome the coming summer, and do so without ignoring the (necessary and beautiful) process of getting there.

by K Wrede

A Little...SUMMER FUN!

I am going crazy waiting for some warm temps.  We are all having major smell of sunscreen withdrawals around my house!  To make sure we make the most of our summer I always make a Summer To-Do List for our family. 

I like to organize mine by month and include fun local activities at the library, community center, church, movie theatres, etc.  I also included family specific activities like sports, weddings, reunions and visitors.

Ladybug Release Party at our community garden last summer

I make a final category of random things like go camping, look at the stars, go to the lake, or have a lemonade stand, you know, the things that really make summer THE BEST.


Swimming and Popsicles


I hang the list up in our kitchen, next to our calendar so I can easily keep track of what’s going on and so we don’t miss out on cool things to do!

Here are some examples from other moms:

eighteen25

whatever

Family Matters


What are your plans for summer?  And traditions you or your kids look forward to?

A Little Health... Ticks!

With summer in full force, people are headed to the mountains to hike, fish, camp, climb, etc.  It is important while you are out enjoying nature’s beauty to be mindful of certain dangers no matter how small.  Even as small as a tick.

Ticks are arthropods, like spiders, and have over 800 species worldwide.  Ticks are the leading carriers of diseases to humans in the United States and are second only to mosquitoes worldwide.  There are two main families of ticks, hard ticks and soft ticks.  Hard ticks have a hard plate and feed for hours to days.  Disease transmission occurs near the end of the meal.  Soft ticks have more rounded bodies and feed for less than an hour.  Disease transmission can occur within the first minute after the bite.  Their bites tend to be more painful.  The most common diseases transmitted by ticks include Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

How can you prevent tick bites?

• Avoid grassy areas and shrubs.
• Avoid tick season completely by staying away from the outdoors from April to September (not likely going to happen).
• Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can easily be seen.
• Tuck pants into boots or socks (sure to be a fantastic fashion statement)
• Apply insect repellant specifically designed to repel ticks. 
• Promptly check for ticks after spending time outdoors.
• Make sure to treat pets with flea and tick repellants.  

So, how will you know if a tick has bitten you?  You may see the tick.  However, often times you won’t see the tick at all.  Other things you may notice include itching, redness or burning at the site.  If disease transmission occurred, you will develop symptoms within a couple of days to weeks, which includes symptoms similar to the flu. 

Now, what should you do if a tick has bitten you?  If the tick is visible, you will want to attempt to remove it.  Long standing tradition has taught us to attempt to suffocate the tick using Vaseline, toothpaste, or other occlusive agent.  This can still be used with caution, because disease can still be transmitted while you are waiting for the tick to burrow out.  If you feel confident to do so, you may attempt to remove the tick with tweezers.  Using the tweezers, carefully flip the tick onto it’s back.  The key is then to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and apply gentle pressure until it comes free.  Avoid twisting and turning, as this could result in the head and mouthparts breaking off and remaining in your skin.  Once removed, flush it down a toilet, because crushing it could release disease.  When in doubt of your abilities to remove it carefully, seek a health care professionals help.  And, it is a good idea to consult a health care professional to discuss any treatment that may be needed.

So, what’s the good news?  The good news is most tick bites are probably harmless and won’t cause any problems.  But it is always better to be safe than sorry.

A Little Idea... Freezing Fruit

I love all the fresh berries in season right now. The blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries practically jump in my shopping cart, but just as berry season is slowing, ice cream season is starting. So, in order to have plenty of berries for summer pies, ice cream, and cobbler I freeze them. I freeze berries just like I freeze cookie dough

Start by washing the berries and laying them out to dry. You don't want extra ice with your berries.

 Once they are dry lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer. If you don't have a baking sheet the right size use a casserole pan or serving tray with a raised edge.

 After they have frozen separately, you can put them in a seal top bag or other container. Label the container and quickly return it to the freezer. By first freezing them flat you can remove as many as you need without having them stick together in one big clump.

A Little Beauty... Must-Have Products for Summer

Summer is so here!  I love the warm days and sunny rays.  However, the surf and sun can be less than kind to our skin and hair.  Here are a few of my personal favorite beauty products to help you get through the summer beautifully.

Tanwise Airbrush Tanning Spray... This stuff is similar to my pick for the Must-Have Product from Spring but the difference is that this is an actual self-tanning product.  I love it for an even, professional looking fake tan.  Different skin tint shades are available.  I found it at Sally Beauty Supply.

e.l.f. Shimmering Facial Whip... This very well may be my all-time fave cosmetic!  You will be amazed by the difference it makes!  It will make you look so summery and fresh!  And the best part is that it is only $1.  Seriously, I can't recommend it highly enough.  Availiable at eyeslipsface.com.

Aveda Exfoliant... I don't know about you but my skin can get pretty dry in the Summer.  This exfoliant is the best I have ever found.  It is super effective yet so mild that I even use it on my newborn baby.  Find it here or anywhere Aveda products are sold.

Origins Gloomaway Boby Soufle... I read about a study once that showed that citrus scents make women feel younger and more vibrant.  Well, this has to be true because this stuff makes me feel so good.  I think you will love it too!  Find it at origins.com or at some department stores.

Neutrogena Body Mist Sunblock... Skin Cancer is for the birds!  Hook yourself up with a really great sunblock and get your tan out of a can this summer.  You will thank me for it in 20 years.  Available at drugstores.

Avenno Nourish and Shine Conditioner... Here is a little trick to protect your hair from that nasty chlorine/salt water this summer.  Before you hit the pool/beach, wet your hair and apply conditioner, leave it in.  This way your hair is already saturated and won't be able to absorb the damaging stuff.  Go ahead, give it a try... available at drugstores.

OPI Nail Lacquer... available in a rainbow of colors, you are sure to find one that strikes your fancy.  Right now I am sporting Pamplona Purple.  Tip: to make your pedicure last longer this summer... purchase your shade of choice and take it with you to get your pedi.  This way you will be able to do your own touch-ups and your pedi will be able to withstand the sun and sand much longer.  Now available at Target.

I hope these items help you have a little more fun in the sun this Summer!

A Little Cuisine... Strawberry Citrus Salad

It's the summertime and you know what that means - a lot of food fests with friends where you are expected to bring a culinary contribution.  Does the thought of cooking make you panic?  Fear not!  I have your back.  You are going to look good.


Behold, straight from www.epicurious.com, feast your eyes on this:

Easy.  No cooking.  Gourmet-tasting.  Only four ingredients.

And, even easier than Epicurious did it…….no measuring.

Strawberry Citrus Salad

Strawberries, sliced

Oranges, peeled and sliced

Brown Sugar

Mint leaves, chopped fine

Use a trifle bowl or glass bowl if you have it.  It’s a gorgeously visual salad. 

Layer of strawberries, sprinkle of brown sugar, and mint.

Layer of oranges, sprinkle of brown sugar, and mint.

Berry-sugar-mint layer.

Orange-sugar-mint layer.

Keep going until you think you have enough.  Then make even more.  Trust me on this.  Any leftovers are wonderful over yogurt for your breakfast the next morning.  Or on top of waffles.  Or ice cream (yes, ice cream for breakfast.  You know you want to).

The good thing about this salad, is that when the strawberry season is over, it’s great with raspberries, blackberries, huckleberries....whatever berries you can find will work.

If you want to bake, make a sweet biscuit  and whip some cream.  This stuff makes for a great shortcake.

Yum!