Monday, June 25, 2012
Here are some playful party and picnic treats that both kids and adults will love to eat and play with.
Go ahead; it’s OK to play with your food. Here are some unique summer treats sure to add some fun and smiles to your next backyard barbecue. My friend Mary gave me this recipe for easy to make Hamburger Cookies. My daughters and I made them this weekend for a family pool party. Not only did we enjoy assembling the cookies, they were a huge hit at the summer shindig. They are a snap to make and perfect for kids to participate in. You will need Nilla Wafers, Grasshopper Cookies and vanilla or white icing. Use a few drops of food coloring to transform the icing into mustard, cheese, ketchup or lettuce. To build your burger, take one Nilla Wafer and spread a little bit of lettuce colored icing on the flat part of the cookie, place the …
Monday, May 28, 2012
Don’t miss the ‘off the beaten track’ adventures on the way to your favorite shore destinations.
Summer has unofficially kicked off and it’s time to plan for some family fun. The Jersey Shore is and always has been a popular choice for family outings. Have you read Patch’s Summer Beach Guide for 2012? There’s some great information there to help plan your days by the sea. I love the beach, but did you know there are so many other attractions in and around the Jersey shore? So, don’t just head down the Parkway with sand and surf on your mind. You might miss taking a different path for some uncharted family fun. Here are some spots you might not know about that might make for a memorable day trip or an added bonus to your beach vacation. Cape May Zoo is not really "off the beaten track" but definitely a family-friendly outing. It’s …
Monday, April 2, 2012
Here are some ideas for family fun over spring break.
Spring break is days away. What are you planning? I’ve got some ideas that will keep the kids busy while school is out. Some ‘must dos’ on my family’s list include sleeping in, shopping, movies, and out to dinner! We’re easy to please. Here are some more interesting ideas you might enjoy. Local Holiday Jaunts Stay close and head to the Moorestown Mall for its 8th annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 7, sponsored by 98.1 WOGL. This free event starts at 11 a.m. in the Lord & Taylor Court. Go online for a Bunny Photo Fast Pass; you won’t have to stand in line and wait. Johnson’s Farm boasts egg hunt Hayrides and Easter Bunny visits on April 6 and 7. Hayrides run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Also enjoy Easter Cookie Decorating on …
Monday, December 12, 2011
In the swirl of holiday craziness, a great way to find joy is to slow down and bake some cookies with your kids.
I wasn’t feeling very joyful on Sunday morning when my husband woke me up to go to 7:30 Mass. He likes the early Mass because no one sings and it leaves the rest of the day open to do whatever we want. I wanted to sleep in. At church, the priest spoke about joy, so I thought it might do me some good to listen since I was not feeling especially joyful. He started off talking about how some doctor says that joy is something that helps people live longer even if they have less of everything. He went on to add that the doctor’s advice was to: have less, do less and say no. The priest went on to say that it is difficult to follow that advice during what has become, a season of excess. In the middle of the homily, my daughter turned to me and…
Monday, November 14, 2011
Crock pot cooking is a simple way for mom or dad to get dinner ready and get on with their day.
There’s nothing quite as easy as crock pot cooking, although my sister just made a whole chicken in the microwave in a Pampered Chef casserole pan and it was delicious! I was skeptical at first but it smelled and tasted perfect. My daughters asked for seconds and one wryly added that the chicken was not hard, like mine usually is. Aren’t they sweet? So, besides the miracle microwave chicken in the Pampered Chef casserole dish, slow cooking is this mom’s little helper. Autumn is the ideal time to take your crock pot out of hiding and start using it. Here are some of my favorite slow cooked meals that don’t require a huge amount of effort to cook or clean up. Pulled pork One recipe I use over and over again is slow cooked pulled pork and it’…
Monday, June 13, 2011
Road trips with kids can be enjoyable, memorable and educational if you plan accordingly.
Road trips were never my thing. My husband proposed on a car trip to Atlanta so that was a good one, but other than that, I hated driving for more than an hour or so. You can imagine my dismay when he suggested we drive to Disney World a few years back. I was pleasantly surprised with the whole experience. A little planning made a world of difference especially with two kids in tow. I’ve learned the journey is a big part of the experience. Instead of standing in security lines and taking our shoes on and off at the airport, we’ve had some memorable adventures on the road. We saved money as well and that is a huge plus! Here are some of my road trip tips: Organizing/Planning Plan, plan, plan. The Internet is an incredible resource. Map your…
Amy
9:08 pm on Monday, November 14, 2011
Thanks for the great recipes! I'm trying the pulled pork tomorrow :) more ›