Mulberry Lime Soda

Mulberry Lime Soda is a perfect summer treat! Make with fresh berries for a mocktail the whole family will love. There is nothing like this fresh, and perfectly tart homemade soda!

Summer is here and my neighbor has a mulberry tree. Lucky for me, he doesn't eat them himself and he is gracious enough to let my family linger in his yard and pick as many as we like. I love to pick them daily at the peak of ripeness, take them home to clean them, then pop them in the freezer for my pet turtle who loves to eat them. They make a nice treat in the winter for her. But this time, I decided to use a few to make a total summer treat. This mulberry lime soda is perfect for sharing or sipping solo.

This is such an easy soda to make. 

Use club soda, sprite or a soda stream machine for the base of the drink. 

Supplies:

1 lime

1/2 cup of mulberries

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of water

Mesh Strainer

Directions:

Combine berries, water, juice from half of a lime and sugar in a saucepan.

Over medium heat bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and allow the fruit syrup to simmer for 20 minutes.

Pour through a mesh strainer.

Discard fruit (This is wonderful over ice cream if you are so inclined.)

Allow the syrup to cool then store it in a bottle or mason jar.

When you are ready to enjoy this mulberry lime soda fill a glass with ice. Add sprite or club soda, leave a little room at the top of the glass.

Add 1 to 2 ounces of syrup to the glass. 

Garnish with a lime wedge or a few fresh berries.

Enjoy.

You can find all of my homemade soda recipes here.

Reader favorites include:

Cherry Orange Soda

Strawberry Peach Soda

Christmas in July Gift Ideas

Last week, when I made a rare visit to the retail world, I found myself buying school supplies, Halloween decorations, and a few Christmas gifts, along with our groceries and supplies. My family thought that was a little crazy, but what hasn't been just a little crazy this year? With that in mind, I have latched onto Christmas in July. It is my newest obsession!I can't wait to share a few of these fun gift ideas that I think you might want to buy now, to take the stress out of the winter holidays. 

Affiliate links and samples were provided for consideration.

If you want to give a good clean gift for the holidays, check out these super effective cleaning products from Good Green Cleaner. These are so good! You fill with water, attach the cleaner pod, give it a shake, and add a nozzle. Adding the water at home, makes these easy to store, helps reduce plastic usage with the refill pods and they really smell good. Order online for about $13 a package.

Pink MahogHany Fragrances makes a really fantastic hand sanitizer for the males in your life who don't want to smell like a flower or fruit.  This hand sanitizer is called The Wood, and it has hints of vanilla, cedar and more for a fragrant way to keep clean  on the go.

Give the gift of smooth, beautiful skin with minimal additives this year. I love Stone & Tumble Smoothing Serum. This is packed with ingredients that promote healing of the skin, like sweet almond and sunflower seed oil. Order it online for all skin types at $42 a bottle.

Girls with long hair will love showering like a girl with short hair thanks to Pony Dry. This little wrap keeps the ponytail dry for an easy shower but lets you wash your roots for cleaner hair with less dry time. Order online for about $30.

If you are expecting a new addition to your family or circle this year around the holidays, get these Sleep sacks now. Swaddle Sack and Zip Me Sack by Swaddle Designs make wonderful ways to keep baby comfy and safe when it is time to sleep. Order these online, where prices start around $22.

Give the gift of great dental hygiene with Burst oral care. This electric tooth brush has been proven to remove ten times more plaque than manual brushing. Order for under $70, and take advantage of the brush replacement subscription while you are there.

If you need a gift for an athlete, someone who loves the beach, or anyone who might need a hiding spot that they can take with them, the Bindle Bottle makes a great and super useful gift. You can unscrew the bottom of the bottle to reveal a hiding place for cash, debit cards, or even your keys. Order online for about $39 for a 20 ounce slim bottle.

While most of our lives have gone digital, there is something classy about a manual watch. This year, polish a special ladies look with a understated watch from Eila Cherie. These are fantastic because they are great quality at a modest price. For about $48 you can get the Melinda in several colors to match her style. Order online.

Anyone who has a tablet or smartphone wants to keep it safe from the unexpected, but that doesn't always happen. With the temps getting higher, more people seek out the water, and that leads to the risk of getting a pricey phone wet. Absorb-Its are these handy little pouches that can dry out your phone or tablet should the worst happen. Get these starting at about $13 online to rescue your valuables if they ever get soaked.

If you need to find a useful gift for an active person, let me recommend the Nomader bottle. I dig these because you fill it with water, then you can collapse the bottle for easy carrying when empty.  They are leak-proof and stylish. Order them online for about $25.

Give the gift of a well protected and clean cell phone with Gadget Guard. The Black Ice Screen Protectors are incredibly durable and keep your phone scratch free. The Techtonic Cleaner they offer is a must have in this climate of cleanliness. Order screen protectors, cases and cleaners online. Prices start at about $25.

Give the gift of good dental health with some vitamin enriched toothpaste. Vitamin Paste has a formula for both kids and adults and makes a great addition to your daily routine. Order online for about $5 a tube and add up to 50% more vitamins to your day.

Which of these items do you feel like would make a great gift for someone in your life?

S'mores Charcuterie Board

A S'mores Charcuterie board is the perfect way to take your summer entertaining to the next level. Make one to wow your kids, or impress your friends with your incredibly creative tastes!

If you invite me to a party and it has a chartreuse board, I am instantly impressed. There is something about having an assortment of goodies to pick from at snack time that makes it feel special. Calling it a Charcuterie board instead of a platter of any sorts? Watch me swoon.

Well, we might not be doing a whole lot of entertaining these days, but I wanted to wow my kids over the 4th of July holiday. S'mores seem to be the key to their hearts this summer. So this s'mores Charcuterie board was the perfect way to make the day seem so much fancier.

I used an assortment of our favorites to create this board. That is the beauty of it. You can use what you like the most and make the offerings super special.

This post uses affiliate links.

In this Charcuterie board you see graham crackers, regular marshmallows, smash mallows, Oreo cookies and an assortment of chocolates and truffles. The key is to start in the center, working your way out and filling in all of the spots on a large dish. Offer this to your family or friends with an assortment of roasting sticks and a small campfire. You have an instant most memorable and delicious s'mores bar!

Pros and Cons of Moving to Singapore with Children

Singapore is listed among the world’s top economies, meaning that it is a country with many job opportunities. The Singaporean government is committed towards economic growth, giving major trade incentives for various industries. The finance industry is particularly doing well and over the recent years it has attracted expats from all over the world. 

There are a lot of reasons why foreign expats prefer staying and working in Singapore. First of all, the Singaporean government does not bar foreigners from rendering their professional services in Singapore. Moreover, Singapore boasts a tropical climate, attractive sites, and multicultural ethnicity. This makes Singapore a popular destination for holiday visits. 

If you are planning to move to Singapore with children, you have to factor in the quality of education, level of healthcare systems, and whether the children will adapt in a new environment. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of moving to Singapore with children. 

Pros

The advantages of moving to the city state with children include:

Family friendly

This is perhaps the main reason why Singapore is one of the top tourist-attracting countries. It boasts museums, shopping centers, and restaurants, all of which are welcoming to children. Your family can also visit the Singapore zoo, various parks, and educational centers for fun. If you want to move to Singapore, you can apply for your visa online at https://www.singapore-visa.net.

Quality education systems

The education level in Singapore is considered to be one of the best in the world. There are plenty of school offering an international curriculum. These schools will also enable your kids to quickly settle in and make new friends. 

International schools will help the children maintain consistency in their education. If your switch to Singapore is for a long period of time, then you can enroll your children in public schools, which are incredible and also require lower fees. 

Better healthcare systems

The Singaporean government has invested heavily in the healthcare sector. Once you are in Singapore, you will be assured that your family is in good hands in case a health issue arises. Once you become a permanent resident, you gain access to subsidized public healthcare.  Find top rated NDIS supported speech pathology in Singapore.

Cons

The following are some of the cons of moving to Singapore with children:

Cost of living

This is the greatest challenge that expats who move to Singapore face. A lot of things are costly, even basic stuff like groceries. On top of that, you receive high monthly bills and the luxury of consuming alcohol will not be available if your income is limited. 

For the past couple of years, Singapore has been constantly ranked as one of the most expensive countries to live in. This should be a major consideration before you decide to move to Singapore with a family. The majority of the income is spent on education and accommodation. 

Weather

Singapore boasts a tropical climate, but unfortunately, this does not last all year long. For the better part of the year, the weather is hot and humid, which can sometimes be unbearable. During the hottest months, stepping outside even becomes difficult. One of the major health risks that your family can face is sunburn and dehydration. 

Conclusion

Singapore is a family-friendly city. Once you move in, it is easy for your family to integrate with the residents. On top of that, you do not have to worry about the education of your children as there are a lot of reputable schools. You are, however, advised to start looking for a school for your children as soon as possible because of competition for places in the classroom.

Find more travel posts here.

Sheet Pan Shrimp, Potatoes, Carrots and Asparagus

Sheet Pan Shrimp, Potatoes, Carrots and Asparagus is the perfect easy summer meal. It is packed with veggies, only takes a moment to prep and the whole family will love it.

School has been out for well over 120 days now. It has been pretty cool having the whole family home for months on end. We have been swimming in the pool. Staying up late, sleeping in a little. Walking the dogs a lot. And eating every stinking meal at home, *almost* every day. 

Dishes are now the enemy. I have no shame in admitting I want to wash less! It feels like I am always washing dishes, and as soon as I finish, I find a few more here and there. The kids do this cool thing where they use every dish in the house. So, sheet pan meals have become my favorite dinner option.

This recipe couldn't be easier.  It is lightly seasoned and bakes to perfection in minimal time. I do want to note that depending upon the shrimp you use, your bake time will vary! Keep this in mind as you prep your meal. If your shrimp are thawed, or are smaller in size, you may need to adjust your temp and time.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed

2 cups of carrots, I used a colorful medley of organic carrots

1 pound of baby red potatoes, quartered

Peeled and de-veined shrimp

Garlic, crushed, to taste

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

*optional crab cakes as pictured

2 tablespoons of butter

Directions:

Layer trimmed asparagus on a sheet pan

Layer carrots on sheet pan, I cut the really round ones in half

Layer quartered baby red potatoes on the sheet pan.

Place shrimp and optional crab cakes on the sheet.

Drizzle carrots and asparagus with olive oil lightly.

Add a little crushed garlic all over the sheet pan.

Salt and Pepper as desired.

Place a few small pats of butter on the potatoes, shrimp and crab cakes.

Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until the veggies and shrimp are tender.