Sweet Silly Sara

Kid Made Straw Necklaces

Bling; made for kids, by kids!

My kids really like to get crafty. They also like to peek in my jewelry box and beg to wear all of the pretty things! So we set out to see what we could create with things we already had at home. This is what we came up with. Straw Necklaces!

You will need:

*Straws

*Bakers twine or yarn
*Glue
*Scissors

Rolf was kind enough to cut the straws for both of the necklaces we made.

We simply added a bead of glue to one side of a straw, then pressed it onto another. Repeat until you are out of straws.

Thread your string, twine or yarn through one straw and tie to make the necklace.

This was a fun craft for both kids. Harp was pleased to have her own "bling" that she made by herself.

Blueberry Topped Rice Cakes

I have been on a journey to eat healthier. I frequently snack on rice cakes but they get rather boring. It is a good thing I have my pals at the Blueberry Council to keep me in yummy recipes and ideas for one of my favorite fruits.

When I saw this recipe for Blueberry Topped Rice Cakes I couldn't wait to try it. I think you are going to enjoy it if you want a flavorful, filling snack that is low in calories.

Ingredients

½ cup ricotta or cottage cheese
2 teaspoons apricot preserves
4 apple-cinnamon flavored rice cakes
1 cup thinly-sliced fresh fruit (such as apple, pear, nectarine or peach)
1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions

In a small bowl, stir together ricotta and preserves
Spoon an equal amount on each of the rice cakes almost to the edge
Arrange fruit slices in circles, on top of the ricotta mixture
Top each with ¼ cup of the blueberries
Serve immediately

To find even more fantastic recipes visit the Blueberry Council website.

Blueberry Whoopie Pies

One of my favorite things about summer is fresh blueberries. My family visits a local farmer every summer to pick blueberries. We have fun picking our own fruit and we love feasting on blueberries in a variety of ways.

On our to try list this summer with our freshly harvested fruit was Blueberry Whoopie Pies!

Ingredients

1 red velvet cake mix (18.25 ounces)
¼ cup flour
½ cup water
1⁄3 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1-½ cups marshmallow crème from a jar
1 cup fresh blueberries

Instructions

Heat oven to 350°F
Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper
In a large bowl combine cake mix, flour, water, oil and eggs
With an electric mixer, beat at medium speed until smooth, 2-3 minutes
Scoop the batter by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart, to make 24 cookies
Bake until puffed, 8-10 minutes
Let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets
With a spatula, remove to wire racks to cool completely
With a small spatula or knife, spread 1-½ teaspoons marshmallow crème onto the flat side of each cookie
Divide blueberries onto 12 of the cookies
Top with remaining cookies to make sandwiches
Serve immediately or store chilled in an airtight container layered between sheets of waxed paper

Number of servings (yield): 12

Thanks to my friends at the Blueberry Council for sharing this recipe!

Our Summer Bucket List

Summer is here and we are in full vacation mode! Having the kids and my husband home for 3 months leaves us a lot of time for fun and games; adventures and experiences and making a lot of memories!

This year we have a bucket list that involves something for all 4 of us! I can't wait to share these summer goals with you and hear what your family is going to get into this summer!

1) Camping

We took our first family camping trip last year. Somehow we had never done this with the kids, despite the reality that Adam and I were camping a ton before they were born. We are going to spend a few nights in the woods of the Hocking Hills, and a few nights by the Mohican River in Loudonville Ohio. We knew camping was a great goal because we can take our dog along with us, and he LOVES to go along on an adventure anytime!

2) Speaking of Dogs

We recently lost one of our dogs after an very brief illness. While the pain is still fresh, my heart won't allow me to stop loving dogs. Before the end of the summer we are going to adopt a shelter dog in honor of our beloved Fritzy. We couldn't save him, but in his memory we can give a dog another chance at a happy life with a loving family.

3) Make Life Better

My husband and I are going to donate blood together, to save a few lives and set a good example to our kids about ways you can make a difference in your community. My husband will volunteer at the food bank and the kids and I will be out picking up trash in our neighborhood when we walk our dog. We are also collecting purses, socks and puzzles to donate to an assisted living facility. When life is better for the people in our community, life feels better in our own home.

4) Go to the Casino Without the Kids

We need a night out, just the two of us, and I feel lucky! Adam and I think getting dressed up, going out to dinner and playing some slot machines sounds like a perfect kid free way to reconnect with each other! If you could use a date night without the kids check out https://www.spinit.com/en-eu/online-slots to get your game on!

5) Get Wet

Lake Erie is just a short drive away, and a couple of days on the lake would erase all tension and stress that adult life often has as. My son and I have always loved taking short trips to Kelley's Island and this year we are going to take the rest of the family along on our adventure.

What is on your bucket list this year? I would love to hear about your summer adventures and plans in a comment!

7 Sensational Slow Cooker Recipes

Guess what my favorite small appliance is?... Yep, my Crock-Pot! I am always looking for great recipes for my crock-pot, and I found 7 that I think you are going to love!

Crockpot Lemon Rice Soup from Simplee Thrifty