Happy New Year!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday!

Sugar Cookie Cutout

Do you love sugar cookies?  Perfecting the best recipe might be a challenge for you.  Here is a great sugar cookie cut out recipe that will produce beautiful and tasty sugar cookies.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.


Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

2 to 3 dozen cookies, depending on size

1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for 1 hour
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), cream the butter and cream cheese with the sugar. Beat for several minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and lemon zest.

Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl then gradually add to the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.

At this point the dough can, and should be, chilled or frozen. If making cookies in the near future, divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness between large pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or freeze the dough balls, wrapped in plastic wrap and a freezer bag, for up to 1 month. To thaw, leave in the refrigerator overnight then proceed with the recipe.

To bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment or a Silpat. Cut cookies out of the rolled dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to a wire rack.

Cool completely before icing or decorating, and store in a tightly covered container.
Best Cut-Out Sugar Cookies (Large Batch) 8 to 12 dozen, depending on size

3 cups unsalted butter, softened at room temperature for 1 hour
6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons lemon zest
9 cups flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer), cream the butter and cream cheese with the sugar. Beat for several minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and almond extracts, and lemon zest.

Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl then gradually add to the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated and a soft dough is formed.

At this point the dough can, and should be, chilled or frozen. If making cookies in the near future, divide the dough into 2 balls and roll each out to 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness between large pieces of parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Or freeze the dough balls, wrapped in plastic wrap and a freezer bag, for up to 1 month. To thaw, leave in the refrigerator overnight then proceed with the recipe.

To bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment or a Silpat. Cut cookies out of the rolled dough and place on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove to a wire rack.

Cool completely before icing or decorating, and store in a tightly covered container.

Winter Treats for Your Family

I come from a generously-sized family, the sort that prompted wide eyes and under-the-breath counting from strangers who glimpsed our brood at the library or grocery store. I'll spare you the counting and say that I have five brothers and two sisters, so eight of us, plus parents, and now assorted spouses and in-laws. Christmas is an all-day affair for us, with stockings and enough presents to necessitate an intermission about halfway through unwrapping. But as we've grown up and gotten married, things have shifted; last year we did Christmas in the evening, instead of in the morning, and every holiday now has a marked absence of a sibling (or two) celebrating with someone else's family.

But there is one inviolable tradition that still binds our Christmases together, and that is my mother's cinnamon rolls.


My mother's cinnamon rolls are warm and yeasty, prepared ahead of time but baked Christmas morning, enticing people out of bed (since we're now mostly too old to spring out of bed at 4:30am, or camp under the tree). My brothers anticipate them eagerly and devour them instantly.

On Christmas I leave the roll duties to my mother, since, you know, tradition. But I love her recipe and use it too, especially when we have overnight guests, since these rolls are so easy to make ahead and bake off in a few minutes. This recipe makes two dozen rolls, and I like to make a full batch but freeze half of them for impromptu brunches.

I do add my own twists; I like to go beyond cinnamon and add a few extra spices for aroma and taste. Star anise, cardamom, coriander — they add a little something special.

These cinnamon rolls are sweet, spicy, and decadent, and they can satisfy those who want a crunchy sugar glaze on the bottom and creamy icing on top. All it takes (all it ever takes, really) is a little extra butter and a little extra sugar. These are not a breakfast for those on a diet; these are not to be made every weekend. But when you're making cinnamon rolls, in my opinion it's best to go all out — they're a generous treat for family mornings, a tradition from my family to yours. Par-baked cinnamon rolls about to go back in the oven.

Spicy Sticky Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

Makes 24 rolls For the dough:
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
1 1/4 cup milk, lightly warmed
1/2 cup sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 - 5 cups flour

For the filling:
4 small cinnamon sticks
1 star anise pod
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds or powder
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, very soft

For the icing:
4 ounces cream cheese, very soft
1/2 cup milk or cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar, plus more as desired

To make the dough, sprinkle the yeast over the warmed milk in a large bowl and set aside for 5 minutes until slightly bubbly. With a whisk or the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, beat in the sugar, softened butter, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Stir in the flour 1 cup at a time, until the dough is very thick.

Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth and warm, or switch to the dough hook and knead in the stand mixer. Knead for about 5 minutes in the mixer, or 7 minutes by hand, until the dough is taut and smooth.

Wipe out the bowl and spray lightly with vegetable oil. Shape the dough into a ball and place in greased bowl, turning it to make sure it's coated in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled — about 2 hours.

For the filling, grind the spices in a spice grinder until fine and mix with the brown sugar. (If you want to skip the extra spices or use powdered cinnamon instead of whole, substitute 3 to 4 tablespoons cinnamon for all the spices.) Cream the butter with the spices and sugar in a mixer or with hand beaters.

Lightly grease two 9-inch cake pans. On a floured surface roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 14 inches by 24 inches. When the dough is rolled out, slather it thickly with the creamed butter and sugar, making sure to spread it nearly to the edges. Roll up along the long side, stretching and pulling the dough into a taut and tight roll. Use a bench scraper or knife to cut into 24 individual rolls.

Divide the rolls among the prepared pans and let rise in a warm place until the rolls double in size — about 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Bake the rolls for about 20 minutes or until just beginning to brown.


Make-Ahead Instructions: To make the rolls ahead of time, follow the recipe up until baking. Par-bake the rolls for just 10 minutes. Remove the rolls and let them cool, then freeze them in their pans or in freezer bags. To finish baking, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw in the fridge overnight. Then bake in the morning at 350ºF for 10 to 15 minutes. Frost and serve warm.

For the icing, beat the cream cheese, milk, vanilla, and sugar together, adding more powdered sugar as necessary to get the consistency you prefer. Drizzle over hot rolls with a fork. Serve warm.
Christmas Cookies and Pies are famous in many households.  However, having warm cinnamon rolls could also be a great Christmas treat.  Check out this great recipe below.  This recipe is delicious and super easy to make for a lot of people.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving with friends and family!

A New Idea for your Thanksgiving Meal

This week we are giving you an idea for a new Thanksgiving side dish to try this year.  Have you ever thought about adding asparagus to your meal.  It is a pretty easy recipe, and it tastes delicious.  Keep reading and check out My Recipes for more information.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds fresh asparagus $
• 2 tablespoons olive oil $
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Preparation

1. Snap off and discard tough ends of asparagus; place asparagus on a lightly greased baking sheet. Drizzle evenly with olive oil; sprinkle evenly with garlic, salt, and pepper.
2. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or to desired degree of tenderness. Transfer asparagus to a serving dish; sprinkle with almonds.

Quick Dinner Recipe

Do you need a quick dinner recipe for when you are on the go?  Check out this great one from the Food Network.  This is great for the nights that you have errands to run, and you need a quick thirty minute meal!

Clean Your Apartment in 20 Minutes

Cleaning your apartment can be a hassle.  However, saving all the work to one day a  month is stressful.  There are ways that you can clean your apartment a little every day.  This leaves you with a clean apartment, and you can be stress free throughout the month.  Keep reading and check out apartment therapy for more details.
 

1) Dealing With What Comes Through The Door Set up a small area by the front door to act as a "landing strip" for incoming items into your home. If you're a long time reader this is nothing new to you. If this is the first time you've heard this phrase outside of reference to personal grooming habits, then make sure to check out Maxwell's latest Home Cure video on the topic.

2) Do Your Dishes After Every Meal This will help you stay on top of your kitchen instead of having it turn into a monster! No one really wants to do them (after all, you probably cooked dinner to boot). But waiting for another meal or until you have enough to fill the dishwasher just makes things feel overwhelming and easier to put off. The same goes for take out trash as well. If you need to take the trash out, place it by the front door to go out in the morning or dispose of it that night so it's over and done with.

3) Laundry If you have a washer and dryer at home, do a little bit each day. Spread things out so you don't feel bogged down by 200 towels and stinky socks. If you take things to a laundromat, sort clothes as you go so things are easier to load up into machines when you get there. Fold them before you come home so you aren't dumping baskets out on your sofa or bed and they can go straight into drawers and closets.

4) Whistle While You Work: Those who are happiest when cleaning are few and far between. Singing, humming, whistling or turning up the stereo are all great options to keep the beat in your feet and have fun while working. Here's a few past posts on killer cleaning soundtracks.

5) Set a Timer: Most items on the list below should take no more than 20 minutes total. It's easy to rationalize 20 minutes, but it's also easy to get distracted by phone calls, emails, children and other projects that call your name as you tackle each chore. Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes (which ever works best for you) and that way when it sounds you know exactly how much time you have left. If you find yourself off task it's easy to get back on track.

1. Surface clean living room and kitchen (pick up stray items, dust, sweep, vacuum)

2. Clean bathrooms (toilets, showers, floors, walls, mirrors)

3. Surface clean bedrooms (put away toys, clothes, dust)

4. Surface clean "extra" rooms (basement, office, play room)

5. Surface clean living room and kitchen

6. Clean bathrooms

7. Clean all interior windows (white vinegar and newspaper works great and is cheap!)

8. Sweep and vacuum all floors in the house (don't forget stairs)

9. Surface clean bedrooms

10. Deep clean living room (mirrors, baseboards, dust artwork)

11. Clean bathrooms

12. Clean out closets (hang up clothes, mittens, jackets, hats)

13. Surface clean "extra" rooms

14. Deep clean bedrooms (organize drawers, check under bed, tidy closet, dust artwork, fans, lights, mop)

15. Surface clean living room and kitchen

16. Deep clean bathrooms (clean inside drawers, inside of trash cans, tops of mirrors, tile, mop)

17. Clean all door knobs, phones, entertainment equipment (remote controls), switch plates, banisters and other things that are repeatedly touched.

18. Clean out the refrigerator, take stock of food, organize pantry

19. Clean entryway, sweep porch (if you have one), clean out car (because they're often our home away from home)

20. Surface clean living room and kitchen

21. Surface clean bathrooms

22. Surface clean bedrooms

23. Sweep and vacuum all floors in the house

24. Clean linen closet, straighten towels, sheets or regular closet if not applicable

25. Surface clean living room and kitchen

26. Deep clean kitchen (scrub appliances, wash trash cans, base boards, wipe down and straighten cabinets)

27. Surface clean bathrooms

28. Surfaces clean bedrooms

29. Clean one item you've been meaning to get to and haven't (deep clean your stove, wipe down all light fixtures, tackle a particularly unruly area)

30. Sweep and vacuum all floors in the house

Happy Halloween!

We hope everyone at Club Pacifica has a safe and happy Halloween! 

Halloween Activites for the Family

Halloween is quickly approaching. Do you have some creative costumes for your family yet?  Make sure to read about all of these great costume friendly events happening throughout Benicia.  These all take place from now until the end of the month.  You can learn more at visit Benicia.


Restaurant Sailor Jack's entry in the downtown Benicia Scarecrow Contest 2013 October symbolizes a cozy, family-oriented time of year, when folks are picking pumpkins and enjoying the bounty of local harvests, trick-or-treating and looking forward to the upcoming holidays. In the fall, Benicia is brimming with family-friendly, old-fashioned fun.

Do you enjoy the farmers market? Be sure not to miss the last of this Thursday night ritual. The last weeks of the market are here, winding down with a festive finale October 24 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Have you been meaning to see a play by the award-winning Benicia Old Town Theatre group? October 18 through November 9 is your chance to see this talented group in action during a performance of “The Sunshine Boys,” a Neil Simon play. There’s a “Dinner and a Play” ticket option for admission to the play and dinner at Lucca Bar & Grill before the show for only $40 per person. You can make a reservation early by calling (707) 745-7349.

Get your ghoul on at the Haunted Depot, 90 First Street at the Historic Railroad Depot. People of all ages will enjoy this eerie spook fest. The Haunted Depot runs Fridays, October 18 and 25, 6-9 p.m., Saturdays, October 19 and 26, 12-3 p.m. and 6-9 p.m.; Sundays, October 20 and 27, 12-4 p.m., and October 31, 6- 9 p.m. For the little kiddos, the more tame afternoon sessions are recommended.

By now, your kids have likely told you what they want to be for Halloween, and changed their minds repeatedly until you finally give up and just wrap them like mummies from head to toe in gauze and tape for the big day. October 26 starting at 10 a.m., take them to the Halloween Contest and Sidewalk Stroll in Benicia to show off your costume-making skills, and watch them gleefully trick-or-treat through First Street shops.

10 DIY Halloween Snacks

Do you need to make Halloween themed snacks for a party?  Check out these ten great recipes below. They are simple to make and come out perfect for any occasion.   What are you making this year?  Learn more at money crashers.

1. Witch Hat Cookies

Decorate your Halloween party table with fun Halloween-themed accessories. Attach plastic spiders to napkin rings, use black paper bats on top of cookie plates, and place orange votive candles around the table for a spooky good time.


Witch Hat cookies charm party guests and work well with your Halloween-themed decor. Even the most inexperienced chef can make these easy, no-bake cookies. A Hershey kiss is placed on top of a store-bought cookie, and wrapped with a little icing to create a tiny witch hat.
Ingredients

• 1 package of Hershey’s Kisses
• 1 package of round chocolate covered cookies
• 1 small container of chocolate icing
• red decorator’s gel icing pen

Directions

1. Lay one cookie on a flat cooking surface.
2. Unwrap a Hershey’s Kiss. Place a small amount of chocolate icing on the bottom of the Hershey’s Kiss and press it onto the center of the cookie.
3. Use the squeezable icing to create a ring around the kiss, like you would see around a hat. Repeat for each cookie.

Pro Tip: Run the icing tube back and forth in your hands for a few seconds to warm the icing. This makes the icing easier to apply to the cookies.

Witch Hat Cookies - Cheryl’s Crafty Jewelry

2. Spooky Chips and Dip

You can use Halloween cookie cutters for more than just making cookies. You can also use them to make tortilla chips, which you can pair with some red salsa for a festive snack. Create ghoulish notes describing your Halloween treats. Cut out paper jack o’ lanterns, bats, or skulls, and use them to display creepy goodies like Spooky Chips and Dip.
Ingredients

• 1 package of white flour tortillas
• cooking spray
• 1 jar of salsa

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place a tortilla on a flat cooking surface. Press the cookie cutter into the tortilla and gently pry the shape free.
3. Spray each side with cooking spray and place on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining tortillas.
4. Bake for six minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for an additional seven minutes, or until brown.
5. Season with salt to taste.
6. Serve alongside the salsa.

Pro Tip: If you have trouble getting the cookie cutter through the tortilla, heat the tortilla in the microwave for a few seconds. This makes the breading softer and easier to cut.

Spooky Tortilla Chips and Guacamoldy Dip - Veronica Benzing

3. Brain Punch

Grocery stores and hobby and craft retailers sell molds in the shape of brains during the Halloween season. Use these cheap molds to make an easy theme punch.
Serve the punch in ghostly cups that you make at home. Using ordinary paper, plastic, or Styrofoam cups, and use a black Sharpie marker to draw faces on each of the cups. You can also paste paper pumpkin cut-outs to the cups when serving brain punch to guests.
Ingredients

• 1 package of strawberry JELL-O
• 1 container of frozen fruit punch

Directions

1. Mix the JELL-O according to the package instructions.
2. Pour the JELL-O into the mold and allow it to chill completely.
3. Fill a punch bowl with the fruit punch mix and water. Place the fruit punch in the fridge and allow it to chill.
4. Immediately before serving, slowly lower the brain mold into the center of the fruit punch.

Pro Tip: Do not overfill the punch bowl. Make sure you allow for enough room for the top of the brain to rest on top of the punch.

Human Brain Dessert - Emma’s Thoughtful Spot

4. Severed Fingers

You can quickly turn a few almonds and some crescent roll dough into creepy severed fingers to serve at a Halloween party. Once baked, you can arrange these around a bowl of dip or piled onto a serving plate. They look pretty realistic.
Black, orange, and silver dishes all work well on your Halloween party table. During September and October you can also find Halloween-themed paper plates at party stores to display your Severed Fingers.
Ingredients

• 1 package of pre-cut crescent roll dough
• 1 6-ounce container of sliced almonds

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Unroll one crescent roll square onto a flat cooking surface.
3. Grab one of the longer ends and gently roll the dough into a finger shape.
4. Press a sliced almond into one end of the dough with the white side facing outward, to make a fingernail.
5. Use a butter knife to cut small lines slightly below the almond and across the middle of the dough, to create knuckles.
6. Place the dough on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining dough squares.
7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until slightly brown.

Pro Tip: You can use red food coloring to dye the almonds. The red food coloring makes the almond look like a painted fingernail.

Severed Finger Cookies - Living It At Home

5. Mini Mummies

With mini bagels and a few ingredients, you can create spooky toasted pizzas that look like mummy faces. Prepare Mini Mummies ahead of time, and then pop them into the stove to bake during the party. That way, everyone can enjoy the tasty treats right out of the oven.
Ingredients

• 1 package of mini bagels
• 1 jar of premade pizza sauce
• 6 to 10 mozzarella cheese sticks
• 1 jar of stuffed green olives

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Slice a mini bagel in half and lay the bagel on a flat cooking surface.
3. Spread one tablespoon of pizza sauce across the inside of the bagel half.
4. Pull a cheese stick into strings. Starting at the bottom, lay the pieces of cheese across 2/3 of the bagel to look like bandages.
5. Slice a green olive into flat pieces. Place two green olives near the top of the bagel to look like eyes.
6. Place a few more cheese sticks just above the eyes to look like head wrappings.
7. Place the bagel half on a cookie sheet. Repeat for the remaining bagel halves.
8. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly melted.

Pro Tip: Leave a small amount of space between each cheese strip. After the cheese melts, the tiny slits will look more like bandages.

Mini Mummy Pizzas - Busy Little Kitchen

6. Frozen Ghosts

Bananas, icing, and chocolate combine to make these frozen ghosts on sticks. Best of all, this no-bake recipe is kid-friendly, so your little ones can help out in the kitchen, too. Frozen Ghosts have to chill out for a total of five to six hours, so make them the night before the party.
Ingredients

• 6 ripe bananas
• 1 package of vanilla icing
• 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 12 Popsicle sticks

Directions

1. Peel the bananas and remove any excess strings.
2. Cut the banana in half and push a Popsicle stick through the cut end, being careful not to push the stick all the way through the banana.
3. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper and place the bananas on top.
4. Freeze the bananas until solid, about two and a half hours.
5. Remove the frozen bananas. Use a butter knife or spatula to cover each banana with vanilla icing. Add three chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth.
6. Place the bananas back on the cookie sheet and put them in the fridge until chilled, about three hours.
7. Serve cold.

Pro Tip: You can substitute brown decorator’s icing gel for the chocolate chips.

Frozen Ghosts - Teach Mama

7. Chocolate-Coated Spiders

These snacks are addicting and simple to make. All you need is chocolate, peanut butter, and pretzels to create these realistic looking spiders. Chocolate-coated spiders need to rest in the fridge for four hours before you can serve them, so make these the night before your party.
Ingredients

• 12-ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate baking squares
• 2/3 cup smooth peanut butter
• 8 cups of pretzel sticks

Directions

1. Combine half the chocolate baking squares and the peanut butter in a microwave-safe dish.
2. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until the chocolate and peanut butter melt and blend.
3. Break up 4 cups of the pretzel sticks and add them to the chocolate and peanut butter mix. Blend well.
4. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Drop a spoonful of the mixture onto the wax paper to create the spider body.
5. Microwave the remaining chocolate squares in a microwave safe dish until melted.
6. Dip one end of a pretzel stick into the chocolate. Gently press the coated end of the pretzel stick on to the body of the spider to create a leg. Repeat for the other seven legs.
7. Pop the finished cookies in the fridge until firm, about four hours.

Pro Tip: Sort the pretzel sticks before adding them to the chocolate and peanut butter mixture. Some of the pretzel sticks will break in the bag, so this way you can reserve the full sticks for the legs.

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Spiders - Not Just a Housewife

8. Dirt Pails

Pudding dirt and worm cups are a much beloved kid’s favorite, mostly because they look gross and a little creepy. However, they’re also a tasty theme snack for an adult’s Halloween party. Repurpose plastic cups into individual serving dishes for this recipe. Add googly eyes to the outside of the cups to up the level of creepiness in your Dirt Pails.
Ingredients

• 1 package of chocolate pudding mix
• 2 cups of milk
• 1 package of Oreo cookies
• 1 package of gummy worms
• 12 plastic cups

Directions

1. Mix the pudding mix and milk according to the package instructions. Set aside.
2. Use a food processor or a cooking mallet to crush the Oreo cookies into fine pieces that resemble dirt.
3. Mix one cup of the Oreo pieces into the pudding mixture.
4. Fill 3/4 of a plastic cup with pudding and top with crushed Oreo cookies.
5. Place 1-3 gummy worms on the top of the cup.
6. Place the cups in the fridge until chilled, about two hours.

Pro Tip: To make the gummy worms look more authentic, press half the gummy worm into the Oreo cookie mixture to give the appearance of a worm crawling out of the dirt, or hang a worm off the side of the cup.

Dirt Pails with Gummy Worms - Healthy Today, Healthy Tomorrows

9. All-Seeing Eye

You can create a quick and spooky centerpiece with a pie from your local bakery store. A bit of decorator’s icing turns the pie into a giant eye that follows your guests around the buffet table. The whipped topping needs to thaw and the pie needs to chill before serving, so make this All-Seeing Eye at least one hour before guests arrive.
Ingredients

• 1 banana cream pie
• 1 container of frozen whipped topping
• 1 kiwi
• 1 maraschino cherry
• 1 tube of red gel icing

Directions

1. Allow the whipped topping to thaw, about 30 minutes.
2. Cover the entire pie with the whipped topping to create the surface of the eye.
3. Peel and slice the kiwi.
4. Place one kiwi slice in the center of the pie.
5. Place the maraschino on top of the kiwi and hold in place with a toothpick, to look like an iris and pupil of the eye.
6. Using the red gel icing, draw squiggly lines from the kiwi out to the edge of the pie, to look like a bloodshot eye.
7. Serve chilled.

Pro Tip: Use a vegetable peeler to peel the kiwi. The peeler will allow you to keep most of the fruit intact and circular shaped, while a knife creates pointed edges.

Halloween Eyeball Cake - Cakefullness

10. Grave Robber Chili

A coffin made from cornbread and stuffed with chili makes up this perfectly themed Halloween dish. Begin making this Grave Robber Chili two hours before the party begins, then stow the dish in a warm oven to serve when guests arrive.
Ingredients

For coffin:

• 2 packages of cornbread mix
• 2/3 cup of milk
• 2 eggs
• black food coloring
• ketchup

For chili:

• 1/2 pound of hamburger
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup pinto beans
• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1 4-ounce can of tomato paste
• 1 packet of chili seasoning
• 2 cups of water

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Mix the cornbread mix, milk, eggs, and 3-4 drops of food coloring in a medium bowl until moist and sticky.
3. Pour the mixture into a 9 inch by 5 inch bread loaf pan.
4. Bake the cornbread for 30 minutes, or until cooked entirely.
5. Shred the hamburger into small pieces.
6. Cook the hamburger in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink.
7. Add in the onion, bell pepper, pinto beans, black beans, tomato paste, chili seasoning, and water. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
8. Allow the cornbread to cool for 15 minutes before cutting. Cut off the top of the corn bread loaf with a butter knife to create a coffin lid. Set it aside.
9. Scoop out the cornbread from the remaining loaf to create the main part of the coffin. Leave a 1/2 inch thick edge and bottom.
10. Drain any excess water from the chili. Pour the chili mixture into the coffin.
11. Use the ketchup to write “R.I.P” on the top of the coffin lid.
12. Place the coffin lid over the chili mixture. Serve warm.

Pro Tip: Use a toothpick to test the cornbread. If the toothpick pulls out clean, the cornbread has finished cooking.

Indoor Plant Hangers

Are you a fan of indoor plants?  Organizing them throughout your apartment can be a complicated process.  Check out these great indoor plant hangers from apartment therapy.  There are various costs and sizes to fit your needs and tastes.

I love indoor plants, and I love finding interesting vessels to put them in. Currently geometric hanging planters have been catching my eye. Here are 5 of my favorites.
 
1. Geometric Hanging Planter, $130 from MFEO: crafted from sustainably harvested maple Europly, finished with Danish oil and paired with brass hardware. Made in Los Angeles, California.
 
2. Geometric Pattern Design Black and White Carved Hanging Planter, $34 from Half Light Honey Studio: hand pinched and decorated earthenware hanging planter. Made in Asheville, North Carolina.

 

3. Brass Himmeli Hanging Planter, $87 from HRUSKAA: modern twist on the classic vintage macrame plant hanger. Features a delicate himmeli brass tubing accent which has been intricately strung into thin black cording. Made in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

4. Yellow Diamond Hanging Planter, $50 from Raw Dezign: individually cast by hand in a natural pigmented resin with an internal layer of white resin. Hung with leather cord. Made in Birmingham, UK.

5. Geometric Hanging Porcelain Planter with Leather Cord, $42 from Revisions Design: white geometric porcelain planter features a faceted surface and brown leather cord. Made in Marquette, Michigan.

Budget Saving Tips

Are you living on a budget?   Check out these great tips to save your budget week by week!  These tips will help you have a  great financial year.  You can learn more at Kiplinger.

--Keep your budget and your goals simple. What is the one thing that you most want to accomplish? See where your money is going? Pay off credit card debt? Find spare cash to start a college fund for the kids? Zeroing in on your main objective will help you stay on course.

--Know your plastic personality. Do you prefer using a debit card or a credit card? Each has its advantages (and disadvantages), and there’s no right or wrong answer for everyone, as long as you know which suits your spending habits.

--Don’t discount cash. Along with debit cards, hard currency has gained fans post-recession because it literally helps you stay in touch with your spending -- when it’s gone, it’s gone. In fact, studies show that when no physical currency changes hands, consumers are likely to spend more and have less sense of buyer’s remorse.

--Limit your trips to the ATM. To make sure you don’t lose track of all that cash, make just one ATM withdrawal per week, and make your money last till the next time. Another trick: Pay with the small bills first; it’s painful to break the big ones.

--Track your spending. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming, and you don’t have to do it indefinitely. Tracking it even for a month or two should be enlightening. Use your debit and credit card statements as guides, and toss cash receipts into a container in your kitchen or office.

--Pinpoint the one area where you’re leaking cash. Maybe it’s restaurant meals, the computer store or, as in the case of a friend of mine, something as mundane as dry-cleaning bills. My friend habitually neglected to hang up her suits after work, so she was racking up a big tab sending them to the cleaners to have them pressed.

--Use any budgeting tool that works for you. It could be one of the top budgeting Web sites, such as Mint.com, an Excel spreadsheet, or even paper and pencil. And don’t dismiss that old standby, the envelope system: Divvy up your cash, and put the amount for each expense into a separate envelope.

--Give yourself a grace period to pay your bills. This trick comes courtesy of the father of one of my co-workers, who makes it a habit to pay his bills ten days in advance of when they’re actually due. He’s always on time, and never incurs a late fee.

--Don’t shop alone. If you lack self-discipline, go with a list, a plan, a buddy -- anything that will make it tougher for you to spend impulsively. And leave the credit or debit card at home, or carry a limited amount of cash. I once interviewed a self-employed young woman who carried an American Express card that she paid off every month and left her other credit cards with her accountants. “If I want to use one, they ask me if I really want to spend the money. That makes me stop and think.”

--Be positive. Don’t think of a budget as a straitjacket that limits your spending and takes the joy out of life. Think of it as a way to control small expenses now so that you can buy bigger stuff -- and have more fun -- in the future. Allow yourself a little splurge. If you decide to brown-bag your lunch at work, treat yourself to a fast-food Friday.

Technology Moving Tips and Apps

Are you moving into Club Pacifica Apartments soon?  Check out these great resources for relocating to a new city. You can learn about the area, research public transportation, and find items on Craigslist.  Keep reading to learn more, and you can check out apartment therapy for more moving tips.

During my recent move across the country from one city to a new one, I can't count how many times a website or app totally saved my life...or at least made it significantly easier. I thought I'd share some of the tools that helped me get to my new home and get settled in, and exactly how I used them during my cross country trek...

• Google Maps: I have put every single feature of Google Maps to the test in my new city. The ability to switch between public transit, biking, and walking directions is a godsend. Google's biking and walking recommendations are smart enough to take into consideration bike paths, trails, busy streets, etc. — all the things you don't know about when you move to a new place. The public transit directions are also amazingly accurate, which can be hard to come by when you're dealing with unpredictable buses and trains.
  
  
• Getaround: I am car-less in my new city, but there are a few occasions that I've needed to move some suitcases or a piece of furniture I bought. Getaround allows car owners to make their cars available to rent by folks like me at whatever rate they choose. Getaround also handles insurance and all that stuff, and it's free to get started.
• Craigslist: Of course, Craigslist is a good old standby, but its value can't be oversold. I've used Craigslist to facilitate every part of my move, from selling furniture to finding a place to live to re-buying new furniture for my new home. Craigslist easily wins the "most essential" title.
• Forecast.io: As fall is starting to settle in, so has my anxiety over what the weather is going to be like and whether or not I'm prepared for it, since my new adopted city's weather is much different seasonally than where I used to live. Forecast.io looks great on my computer or phone, and helps me quickly figure out what's the current weather, what to expect in the coming hours/days, and if I should really be so worried about the clouds I'm staring at here in Portland.
• Local websites and apps. I find it's important to find some time getting familiar with a new city's culture and events. In my move to Portland, PDX Pipeline has been a must for finding out about events and concerts in the city. The PDX Bus has been a great app to help with transit planning, and Cart Compass has helped me find the best gourmet food out of a truck in the city. I found most of my Portland-specific websites and apps from googling or talking to locals, and I'd highly recommend anyone moving to a new place do the same (Jason's ongoing series of roundups of specific destination travel guide apps is a good place to start).

What are some of the first techie things you look for or set up in a new city?

5 Items You Need in Every Apartment

Is this your first apartment?  There are always a few things that you will want to have in every apartment.  Check out this list of five objects to keep with you through out all of your apartments that you will rent and own.  Keep reading to learn more.  There are more great apartment tips on apartment therapy.

If you're in the market for your first apartment, chances are you don't have a lot of cash to throw around. But remember, kids, buying the cheapest version of what you need isn't always the smartest budgeting strategy. Investing in quality classics that will last you through many moves is worth more than all the Lack dressers you'll abandon over the years.


1. Key rack — Congrats, you're officially an adult. From now on, you'll never be keyless again so do yourself a favor and get a system in place right now for keeping track of those pesky little buggers.

2. Good tools — Just ask your dad! You'll never regret money spent on basic, good quality, long lasting tools.

3. At least one good pot and one good knife — Go for classic, useful and portable. Owning a few great kitchen basics is better than a whole drawer of plastic gadgets. Take care of them and they'll outlive you.

4. Noise Machine — As you'll soon discover, apartment living gets noisy. The sooner you find a solution, the easier your transitions to each subsequent apartment will be. A soothing noise machine can go a long way toward solid mental health, not an area worth skimping on.

5. A piece of art you love — When you find something that you just have to have, go for it. Art grows with you; the longer you keep it, the more it reminds you of all the places you've been and how far you've come.

A Great Way to Organize Magazines

Do you have too many magazines? If you are having trouble getting rid of them, here is a great tip on a better way to organize them.  You can use file holders to organize your magazines up and out of the way. Keep reading and you can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

We have developed a bit of a magazine situation around here: the little one gets National Geographic Kids and LEGO Magazine (a freebie that I signed him up for), I get Wired and Vogue, and my partner gets Mother Earth News and Men's Health (which I sort of ordered for myself). They're great resources but we can't keep all of them! Enter: The All-Powerful Files of Restraint...

We each get two files to fill as we see fit: the little one likes to save magazines for long car trips and art/science projects, and the man of the house filled his files with invaluable issues of Mother Earth News, native seed catalogues, and a few commemorative issues of Sports Illustrated. I have new Wireds and Vogues I'm saving for plane trips, precious issues of Gourmet I scored for 25¢ at a thrift store, and any magazines that feature my or my friends' work.

Once the magazines we're hanging onto overflow the borders of our files, it's time to reconsider. We swap a few different issues into the car for the kid, only keep the most recent seed catalogues, and I rip out pages to add to my beloved and only somewhat obsessive inspiration binders.

When we're officially done with a magazine, provided we haven't ripped all the good stuff out, it can be donated to a doctor's office, laundromat, or school. We'll see how long this system works out for us (there's always one oversized issue to ruin the fun!), but I have high hopes!

Frozen Fruit Recipe

Wake up. Shower. Get dressed. Get moving! If your mornings are a hectic blur of hustling to get out the door then we've got something for you. Shave some minutes off your morning routine with "Recipe: Frozen Single-Serve Oatmeal with Almonds & Dried Cherries" to make your food grab-and-go!

Frozen Single-Serve Oatmeal with Almonds & Dried Cherries

Makes about twelve 1/3-cup pucks (4 to 6 servings)

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3 1/2 cups water
1/8 teaspoon salt
Honey, brown sugar, agave or other sweetener, to taste (optional)
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup almonds, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Lightly grease a standard muffin pan and set aside. (No need to grease if you are using a nonstick pan.)

Combine the oats, water and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently, until soft and ready to eat, 3 to 5 minutes. Mix in sweetener of choice, if using. Divide the oatmeal evenly into the cups of the muffin pan. Top with the cherries, almonds and pumpkin seeds, pressing lightly to make sure they are embedded in the oatmeal.

Place the muffin pan in the freezer until oatmeal is fully frozen, at least 3 hours. Remove and allow to thaw slightly, until the oatmeal can be popped out of the pan with an offset spatula or a thin butter knife. (You can dip the bottom of the pan in warm water to speed the process.) Wrap the oatmeal in freezer-safe packaging and freeze.

To eat, remove the desired number of pucks and warm in a bowl in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Steel cut oats can be used in place of rolled oats. Adjust the amount of water and cooking time according to package directions.
• Any combination of nuts, dried fruit or seeds can be used on top of the oatmeal.

(Images: Anjali Prasertong)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-frozen-singleserve-oatmeal-recipes-from-the-kitchn-193961

Back to School

Are you packing up to move back in?  Check out these great tips on how to make packing easier from home to college.  You can find out more  at College Fashion.

1. Keep Clothes on Hangers

You’ll save lots of time moving in if your hanging clothes stay on their hangers so all you have to do is fill your closet once you get there. I separate my clothes by type (short sleeve shirts, dresses, skirts, etc.), punch a small hole in the top of a garbage bag and slip the clothes into the bag with the hanger hooks coming through the top of the bag.

2. Pack Bedding in Your Pillowcase

Photo Credit

When you pack your bedding, it’s a great idea to slip the fitted sheet and top sheet inside the pillowcase so that you know everything is together and easy to grab when it’s time to change your sheets!

3. Pillows in Plastic Bags

Pack pillows in plastic bags in order to squeeze as much air out of them as possible. No need for vacuum bags — extra large Ziploc or other sturdy plastic bags will do just fine. Just make sure to squeeze the air out of your pillow then seal the bag.
On the other hand, if you have delicate furniture or boxes to pack, sometimes it’s best to leave the pillows fluffy and use them as natural padding.

4. Pack Your Purses and Luggage

Photo Credit

I find that it works best to pack as many things as I can into bags I’ll use during the semester. Keep in mind the fact that any boxes you take with you will need to be either stored or thrown away, so it’s a good idea to fill up as many everyday bags as you can. For instance, fill your backpack with all your school supplies, your suitcase with all your jeans, and a purse with all your makeup. Just make sure everything that can spill is tightly closed and put in a plastic bag first!

5. Secret Weapon: Cling Wrap

Cling Wrap is truly my packing secret weapon. Surprising, right? It works like a dream. Use it to:

• Keep DVDs neatly wrapped on a DVD stand or shelving unit. No unpacking required!
• Remember these jewelry storage ideas? Get everything organized at home and then wrap it up with Cling Wrap to keep it organized on the way to school.
• Shelving units that require assembly can be held together in transit with Cling Wrap. I use this for both my kitchen shelves and my closet shoe racks!

6. Be Smart About Packing the Car

Put heavy items on the bottom and build up from there. Once you have the big things in place, use softer items like clothes and bedding as cushioning between bulky items.

Announcements from Club Pacifica

Please remind residents to RSVP for our annual BBQ on 8/29.

Remind residents that we are replacing concrete on the property this week so please don’t park in the designated areas.

Tips to Help with a Move

 

1. Proper planning prevents problems. Be prepared with your vehicles (unless they are bringing them and that's why they got stuck helping you move!), boxes, tape, packing materials, blankets for car protection and maps to help them find your new home. The greatest goal when having friends take time out of their day to help you move is to make it easy on them, and show your gratitude as best as possible. Preparation helps this process.

2. Food! Have some fun snacks or meals on hand, depending on the duration of the move for your friends. Take into consideration what they like and will appreciate. (ie Don't buy pepperoni pizza for your vegan friends, etc.) Have beer for your drinking friends during the move, but be careful not to drink too much! Also, have plenty of water and cold, icy drinks for super hot days.

3. Don't expect them to be there all day. Some of your friends may be able to help you for just a little while and then will have to or even want to go about their day. Try to schedule friend-helping time to move large pieces of furniture that you won't be able to move without help.

4. Do a clean sweep before the move. You might not need a lot of those books you've been holding onto, and they are definitely heavy. It will help you and your friends in the long run if you donate some of the items you won't necessarily be using in your new home.

5. Let them know what to do during the actual move. No one wants to rifle through your things or assume which pieces go where. Help your friends know how to help you by giving them specific tasks to keep them busy and the move, well, moving!

6. Give them a token of your appreciation. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to buy them a gift—just return the favor. Take them to the airport a few times, or offer a babysitting date night, or organize a lovely dinner party at your new home when it's all set up! Remember your friends' acts of generosity and let them know you appreciate them.

Do you know someone who is moving soon?  Everyone needs to ask friends and family to help with the move.  Here are some tips on how to make the experience a bit more enjoyable for them.  You can find more great apartment tips on apartment therapy .

Easy Way to Remember Your Wifi Password

Do you have a really complicated wifi password? Check out this great idea to always have your wifi password handy?  You can learn more at apartment therapy.

Eve-Marie of Tixeretne came up with the brilliant idea of converting her wi-fi neywork password into a custom QR code, then framing it for display in a guest room. Guests can use a QR code reader on their smartphone or tablet to read the code and get the password in an easy copy-and-paste format.
Tongue planted firmly in cheek, Eve-Marie writes:

Now when we have people over, they don’t actually have to awkwardly talk to us to get the wi-fi password. They just scan it with their device and viola: internet access. You see, we have eliminated the last shred of one-on-one social interactions. Now we can all spend our time together ignoring each other and playing with out phones! Bliss.

Yes, in many cases it's easier to just quickly tell the guests your wi-fi password when they first ask, iPad-in-hand. But with a super-secure and hard-to-remember password, it's convenient to have the QR code displayed in the guests' room to call up at a moments notice, especially if the host is away.



Generate the CodeCreating a QR code is way easier than it looks, thanks to fool-proof QR Code generator websites. Check out The Super Simple Way to Make Your Own QR Code. Eve-Marie used a site called QRStuff.com, which lets you link your QR graphic to plain text instead of a link.

Print it OutThere's no wrong way to do this, really. Once you have a QR graphic, test it out to make sure it works, then drop it into a graphics editor like Photoshop or Paint (or even just a Word document) to size it up and print it out. Eve-Marie's made it foolproof, including a wi-fi graphic and detailed instructions on her site.

Cleaning the Dust off Electronics

Did you know that dust can hurt or damage all of your electronics?  The blog below has some great tips on how to keep your electronics dust free and running smoothly.  You can learn more about technology tricks by visiting apartment therapy.

Desktop Computer: Many towers have fans on the back and vents on the sides. At least once per year, perhaps more in dust ridden regions, use compressed air, then wipe down with an anti-static microfiber cloth. Start with the fan, then move to the vents to release any dust build up. You may be surprised what resides inside your computer's internal regions.

TVs: Wiping down the screen is pretty standard, but like computers, many large TVs also have a fan in the back helping to prevent the television from overheating. A little compressed air will help here too.

Keyboards: Keyboards won't overheat, but low profile keyboards will get "soft keys" (sticky) if there's too much built up gunk under a key. Unplug the keyboard and blow on it gently every once in a while, using that handy can of compressed air for bigger jobs, and a dollop of hand disinfectant on a paper towel to remove grime on top. 


Mouse with Rolling Balls on Top or Bottom: My old Mac had a mouse with a small rolling ball on the top. It was great for web browsing, but on a nearly monthly basis the ball would get stuck and would roll sporadically. Even small amounts of dust will cause a mouse with delicate parts to operate poorly. A little compressed air on a regular basis will go a long way, with an alcohol based cleaner to wipe the top and bottom from smoother scrolling.

Add an Air Purifier: protect your home electronics further by installing an air filtration system nearby to keep dust, pet fur, and other debris out of digital devices and appliances in the first place. 

Check out our How to Shop for an Air Purifier shopping guide, alongside Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping, and Consumer Search for recommendations.

Benicia Community Park

Have you been outside a lot this summer?  Benicia Community Park is a beautiful 50 acre facility that offers activities for all ages and interests.  There is a playground, baseball fields, an X-Park, and more in this community space.   It is the perfect place to relax for an afternoon with a picnic or you can host a cookout with your family.  Keep reading and check out Benicia Magazine for more information on this beautiful park.

On any given day, you can experience the smell of barbeques and fresh-mown grass, the laughter of children, roar of skateboards, a parent’s cheer for a child’s first at-bat and the smile of a stranger who might become a lifelong friend. It’s the joy of Benicia’s Community Park, and why, for many, the park is not only the perfect place for year-round fun, but also an ideal venue in which to build community.

The 50-acre, award-winning facility offers an extensive array of activities to suit anyone’s style. Rick Knight, the City’s Parks and Recreation Superintendent, says that the soccer and baseball fields are very busy with league games and tournaments. In 2012, over 11,000 soccer players and 400-500 baseball players used the fields. Then there’s the 2,000-square foot X-Park. A recent sunny afternoon found several skaters performing tricks, even midweek, and sharing their passion for extreme sports. An in-line hockey arena awaits those wanting something a bit more competitive; and there’s even a disc golf course, although fewer people have discovered that gem. The park’s two playgrounds provide classic options for parents and children to gather—one for children two to five, the other for those slightly older, from five to 12. The park also boasts 56 picnic tables that can be reserved for groups and activities.

Loree Tackmier, a preschool teacher, brought her class here for an end-of-the-year celebration, as they’ve done for the past thirteen years. “The children can get their energy out. They get to play and have a good time.” Even our four-footed friends can enjoy the park—the enclosed dog park is just about the only public place a dog can legally be off leash in town. For quieter fare, walking, biking, hiking, and running trails surround the park. According to Knight, all of these activities build a sense of community. “The park is a great place to get out and see your neighbors.”

For more info or to reserve picnic areas, visit ci.benicia.ca.us.

Saving for a Vacation

Did you want to go on a vacation this year, but you just did not have the money?  Check out these great vacation planning tips for next year.   Working through these steps will help you plan and go on the vacation of your dreams.  You can learn more by checking out Apartment Therapy.

I haven't been away on a proper vacation in years. So when it comes to planning the perfect getaway, I can't tell you much about the best hotels or airlines. I'm not the person to give advice about cruise lines and tour packages. But you know one arena where I have lots of experience that can be applied to planning that perfect vacation? Saving up for it!

It turns out that saving up for a major vacation is much like saving for other major expenses: a bathroom remodel, car purchase, or appliance updates. Some steps that can help to sock that money away:

• Plan early. Preparing a year or two ahead of a major trip is not at all too soon. This will allow you time to save up and plan thoroughly.
  
• Set a budget. As with any large purchase, setting a budget will give you a goal to work toward. There are lots of online calculators for helping to budget your travel.
  
• Open an account. Open a savings account dedicated solely to your vacation. Make sure there are no fees and assure that the account comes with a debit card, which will be handy when you begin to book flights and accommodations.
  
• Automatically transfer. Determine a percentage you can deduct from your paychecks and have it automatically transferred into your travel account. This way, you aren't tempted to spend this money on other items, and it takes absolutely no effort to move it from point A to point B.
  
• Identify savings here and there. Have a change jar? Take it to the bank and get all of that loose change into your travel fund. Do you and your family members receive birthday/anniversary gift money? Save it instead of buying yourselves something with it. Cull all of the unwanted items in your household and head to Craigslist or hold a yard sale. You'll reap the added benefit of decluttering while you save! If you have children who receive an allowance, encourage them to get on board with the saving and contribute to the travel fund, too. It can be fun seeing what you can save as a team in the course of a year. If you begin saving as much as two years ahead, consider at some point putting the bulk of your travel savings into a 1-year CD. Currently, this will accrue 1% interest, which will cover some of the incidentals during your trip.

Happy Fourth of July!

It is time for cookouts, fireworks, family, and friends!  What are you doing to celebrate Independence Day!

Alternatives for Fireworks

 

Safety is one of the most important things to observe on the Fourth of July. Fireworks are fun, but they are not great for all occasions. Check out these great alternatives for fireworks. They will be fun for you kids, but it will also keep them safe during your party.   You can find more information at The Examiner.


Purchase large bubble wand kits from any St. Louis Dollar Tree, Nagle’s in Florissant, or other retail outlets such as Target. These wands are typically a large circle, made up of smaller circles, and can be dipped in a bowl of bubbles and then twirled around to make tons of bubbles in various sizes. If you need extra bubble solution dishes, an upside down Frisbee works well. To add a little 4th of July spirit, put a few drops of red or blue food coloring into the bubble solution. You may also consider purchasing a bubble machine for large groups of kids.


Make your own streamers. Visit Michael’s Crafts or Hobby Lobby and pick up a few rolls of red, white and blue ribbon. Tie several ribbons to a dowel rod or empty paper towel tube and let the kids run through the yard or put on a parade for the adults. Turn on some patriotic music for more holiday spirit! You can also use patriotic colored pom poms.


Fill a small wading pool or swimming pool with red, white and blue confetti. Rather than buying small bags of confetti, cut costs by purchasing packages of tissue paper or metallic wrapping paper and run it through a shredder. Then, cut your shredded strands into smaller pieces. The children can throw the confetti up in the air and contain the mess inside the pool. Simply vacuum it out when they're done.


Instead of lighting fireworks, give children glo-sticks, fiber optic party wands, flashlights with red cellophane over the end or even a Star Wars light saber to play with in the dark.