**The links you will find in this post are affiliate links. This means that I may possibly receive a small commission if you happen to make a purchase after clicking one of the links posted below. All profits go toward the upkeep of this blog.**
With summer running full speed and family trips being planned, Little Passports has decided to share some wonderful tips for traveling with your little ones. Are you dreading boarding that crammed flight or beginning that long 4 hour car ride? Worry mo more!! With a simple Little Passports' checklist featuring some amazing and helpful ideas, parents everywhere will soon be celebrating this once dreaded topic of discussion and maybe even looking forward to their next family vacation.
The help don't end there.......
Once you've made it to grandma's house or standing on that beachside balcony, Little Passports has made it 10x simpler to keep the kids entertained for hours, and possibly even days, with easy-to-do educational activities that are included within their subscriptions.
Disclaimer: This blog accepts compensation in the form of products and/or monetary for selected posts which will be labeled as sponsored. No matter the compensation, I only write about items and/or services that I have personal experience with and believe my readers will enjoy and/or benefit from. All opinions are my own and may differ from those of others.
Cleaning the microwave can be a tough job that noone wants to tackle. All of that dried on food can turn in to a smeared nightmare! I ran across some really nifty cleaning tips that are also very cheap as well! I couldn't help but share them because I know I'm not the only mom who struggles when cleaning the kitchen. These quick tips are time-savers and I know your gonna love them!
So, to start things off... Have a Splatter-Free Microwave: Food splatters left behind in the microwave can cause your machine to not work properly. An easy cleaning tip to fix that problem is to: Fill a microwave-safe bowl with two cups of water and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Place the bowl into the microwave and run it on High for five minutes. Take out the bowl and wipe the microwave down with a paper towel. Presto!! Your microwave is now sparkly, clean and smells great!! Keep a Fresh Refrigerator: To help keep odors at bay, there are two options: You can either keep an open box of baking soda in the back of the fridge for 6 months or leave a plate of freshly ground coffee inside for a few days. I've never tried the coffee grounds trick but the baking soda works wonders! Sanitize Your Sponge: Did you know that your kitchen sponge that you use to get everything clean, is the #1 source of germs in your home! Don't worry! There's a simple way to help get ride of those nasty little bacteria. Just pop a damp sponge in the microwave for two minutes. Let it cool for atleast one minute and then you're all set. Keep Teddy Sneeze Free: Dust mites love to hide in plush toys, which means that your little one's favorite “stuffed” friend could be home to some very unwelcome house-guests. There are a couple different ways to help get rid of mites: Throw the toy in the washing machine, using hot water, and dry on high heat, or put the stuffed animal in a freezer bag and leave it in the freezer overnight.
To find the above tips plus many more, visit ScottBrand.com
This blog accepts compensation in the form of products and/or monetary for some posts which will be labeled as sponsored reviews & sponsored posts. No matter the compensation, I only write about items and/or services that I have personal experience with and believe my readers will enjoy and benefit from. All opinions are my own.
“Are we there yet?” the family road trip! Ipads, hand-held video games and all of those other tech-toys may have some-what silenced backseat conversations (except the fighting over the tech-toys!), but spending time together while in the car can be a wonderful opportunity for family to spend some time together as well as throw in some learning as well. (I done a post on Learning on the Go a month or so back!)
Here are some tips from Little Passports that are sure to make the time fly by (or at least go by a bit faster):
Save your most recent Little Passports package (from Sam and Sofia) for your trip so your kids to learn and explore throughout the car ride.
Say goodbye to your handy little GPS! Take a step back in time and use an actual map! The day before your trip, buy a map (gas stations and truck stops always have maps). Show your intended route to your kids or take it a step further and photocopy the map! Hand the kids a highlighter so your kids can follow along – and maybe even let you know when you missed a turn. :)
Leave extra time in your travel schedule for pit stops – and if time allows, try and make short stops that include fun activities along the way. Everyone needs a bathroom break and some food, and if you happen to see a place near a playground or a neat attraction that's quick and exciting then it can be a wonderful experience for everyone! The kids can get fed as well as burn off some of that built up energy.
Reward for good travel behavior. - Pick up some small toys, coloring books and activities at the local dollar store, before you hit the road. Every hour or so, let your child choose a surprise. You can even wrap up the toys for an added element of surprise.
For more travel ideas, take a look at a my past post about Learning On The Go. You'll find many ideas for sneaking in some learning on your next road trip.
This blog accepts compensation in the form of products and/or monetary for some posts which will be labeled as sponsored reviews & sponsored posts. No matter the compensation, I only write about items and/or services that I have personal experience with and believe my readers will enjoy and benefit from. All opinions are my own.
I don't know about you, but there are days when I have serious problems when it comes to painting my nails. It never fails, that atleast one finger ends up painted on and some days they all have a dot or more of bright fingernail polish that couldn't stay on my nail. So what do I do? What every woman does... Use my thumb nail and get off the extra polish and just hope that I don't mess up my other nails.
While visiting one of my favorite facebook groups, I ran across an opportunity that had the possibility to solve my messy fingernail polish problem and I couldn't help myself but to try it out. They're called Nail Cones!
Nail Cones is a round sticker with a cut-out at the bottom to make the sticker look like a moon. A moon with an Ice Cream Cone design. Cindy, the creator or Nail Cones, was having the same troubles as me when it came to painting her nails and after noticing her daughters' nails looking similar to hers, she was determined to find a better solution then a Q-tip and finger nail polish remover. (I don't use that option often due to me removing some of the polish from my nails almost everytime I try!) After trying out a few different designs, Cindy finally found the perfect cut and sticker shape and started using her homemade creation herself. She ended up telling a few friends about her stickers and before she knew it, she had a business on her hands and came up with the name of Nail Cones!
Nail Cones come in 3 different size options on each sticker sheet so you can make sure each finger gets the best fit.
Once you decide your size:
Place the sticker under your nail (Ice Cream Cone up) and wrap the 2 pointed edges around your nail to hide the skin and leave just your fingernail exposed. (Make sure it's tightly fitted and stuck down.)
Simply paint your nails using any polish that you desire.
Keep the cones on until your nails are dry.
Finally, slowly and carefully remove the Nail Cones and admire your salon style paint job!!
They really work!
I was extremely surprised at how neat my nails turned out once I finished! I only found a small amount of polish on my finger and that was only because one of my stickers wasn't stuck down good enough and I forgot to fix it before I started painting.
It's so easy that I'm going to show my daughters how to use them and see how their nails turn out. Loran and Jade are only 7 and 6 but since they've been stealing my nail polish for years, they've figured out how to keep MOST of the polish on their nails but the skin is sure to wear a bit of polish as well. I believe that Nail Cones are great and super easy so I see no reason why my little ones can't use them as well. (With mommy watching over of course.) These little Ice Cream Cone stickers are so convenient and nifty that they would make wonderful stocking stuffers for Tweens and Teens this Holiday season! I guarantee that girls of all ages would be, and will be, head over heels for Nail Cones.
Each pack comes with 4 sticker sheets which totals to 60 Nail Cones for just $5.99! You'll be amazed at how simple it is to create your own salon perfect nails in just a matter of minutes!
Nail Cones - The Polish Perfector!
If you would like to purchase or learn more about Nail Cones visit them online at NailCones.com
Looking to save a bit of money this Holiday Season and save even more on next years shopping list? Don't start your Holiday shopping 1 month before it's time to celebrate... Shop for Holiday items year round and save hundreds of dollars! How? Simple - It's often that we find something that really catches our eye and would make the perfect gift for our loved ones but maybe it's Summer time and you decide to wait until November to purchase the item. What if the price ends up being higher once you return in the Fall... Or what if you happen to run out of budget and can't purchase the gift anymore? That's why I agree with The Binder Ladies when they say that having a Holiday Tote labeled and tucked away in your house is a wonderful idea! Fine something awesome and on sale... Snag it before someone else does and become everyone's favorite gifter!!
The Holiday's are knocking at our doors!
So don't just stand there...... Start shopping!
The Holiday's are knocking on our door!!
Disclaimer:
This blog accepts compensation in the form of products and/or monetary for some posts which will be labeled as sponsored reviews & sponsored posts. No matter the compensation, I only write about items and/or services that I have personal experience with and believe my readers will enjoy and benefit from. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.
So, you "liked" The Realm of Freebies Deals and Fun on Facebook (you have right!?), and you've "liked" many other awesome pages, too. Did you know you there's a good chance that you're not getting everything those pages are posting? Facebook lets SOME readers see SOME posts - but no where near all! But there is a way that you can be sure that you're getting everything that your favorite pages are posting and it only takes 2 simple clicks! Let me show you....
Go to the Facebook page that you would like to view all posts from.
Hover over the "Like" button and Click on "Settings"
(like photo above)
Click on "All Updates" as shown above
And... Your done!
Super Simple, Right?
Some of the deals, coupons and freebies that we post may have a time limit and/or run out quickly! By changing your Facebook settings to see all of our posts, you won't miss a thing!
Almost 7 million people moved into a new home during 2010.... And my family made up 4 of those people!
I have to admit that even though I DO NOT like packing up the whole house and unpacking it just days later, but I do enjoy the feeling of being in a new home. It's very relaxing and fun for me to sit in the middle of my new living room, looking out the windows... taking in our surroundings and dreaming about new adventures. Even though that joy doesn't last very long, the adventures are simply ordinary and your neighbors are strangers, I love it! I'm a quiet girl when I first meet someone and if I'm your new neighbor (or your my newly moved in neighbor) I'll watch you from a distance for a bit before I feel comfortable enough to talk to you. My daughters watch the kids for a bit as well but no where near as long as I do. If my neighbors have kids and my daughters enjoy playing with them... It makes things easier for conversation, but if my neighbors don't have any children and don't come knocking on my door, there's a good chance that I won't be hanging out with them any time soon.
Back to the moving ordeal... Ever since my daughters were born, my fiance and I have moved atleast once a year except this past year, we've been in the same home for just over 2 years and personally... I'm ready for a change! Some people don't agree with our way of living and say that we are doing things all wrong but it makes us happy. I know many people who have been living in the same home for many many years (like my aunt) and that perfectly fine as well. I'm pretty sure that I could enjoy living in one home for a while as long as it has plenty of room for growth... which is almost ALWAYS our problem. Needing more space is the main reason that I get antsy and begin wanting to move. I've always been a "collector" (maybe a mild hoarder haha j/k) and things get cluttered, messy and crowed when you have 2 growing girls living sharing a room and my step-sons coming and going. It's tough! Maybe I need to take some tips from Martha Stewart!!
Picking my brain for my earliest memories... I believe that I moved 9 times as a child... Between the ages of 3 and 16 years old.
My fiance only remembers moving once as a child! (That's just a tiny example of how different Alan's childhood was compared to mine!)
A close friend of mine over at MompreneurMogul.com did an interview with AOL and The Savings Experiment, about how to get free tickets to the family attractions in your town. You don't even have to have a blog to reap the savings and entertainment!!! You can offer to post a review on your social media pages, Yelp, or other sites that allows you to brag about the places you visit and enjoy! Google+ even has a reviewing area! To hear more of Lisa Cash Hanson's tips, watch her video review with AOL - Summer Entertaining Savings Tips and don't forget to visit her blog MompreneurMogul.com!
I have personally grew, not only my blog but myself as well, through Lisa's tips and encouragement. She's a wonderful woman who truly knows what she's talking about! Truthfully, I'm not sure how I ran across her but I know that it was near the beginning of 2013 and at the time that I was molding my forgotten about blog into the wonderful Family Oriented site that you see today. I'm am so thankful that I found Lisa when I did, without her and her encouragement, I wouldn't of been able to overcome some of those dream-crushers that everyone comes across at some point in life!
So many people suffer from those hard little patched of built up skin called calluses. When a body part continually rubs against something, the tender skin forms a protective barrier of hard skin to protect the area that it feels is in danger of an injury. The hands and feet are the most common place for calluses to form. You can get ride of them, but it does take time.
There are even a few inexpensive and natural homemade remedies to help get rid of calluses along with a few for corns as well.
Licorice Paste:
It is said that Licorice paste contains estrogen-like substances that have the ability to soften the hard skin of calluses and corns.
-- To make Licorice Paste - Grind up 2 or 3 licorice sticks and add ½ teaspoon of petroleum jelly to the licorice mixture and rub the paste onto your rough problem areas.
Sugar Scrubs:
Place ¾ cup of granulated sugar in a dry jar and start adding mineral oil, while mixing, until you have a loose paste. Once your paste mixture is made, you have the option to adding essential oils(Lavender, Lilac, Peppermint, etc.) Mix everything together very well.
-- Use the Sugar Scrub by gently massaging it onto your skin in the shower or bath. It does wonders if you add it to your weekly routine. Not only does it work to help soften and heal calluses but it makes your skin super smooth after uses!
(Massage it onto your legs before shaving for a relaxing experience with soft and smooth after effect)
Temporarily Relieve the sharp pains of corns:
Soak your foot/feet, in a solution of Epsom salt and warm water for a few minutes. Afterwards, apply a moisturizing cream and wrap the foot in a plastic bag to hold in the moisture. Keep the bag on for a couple hours. (While watching tv or reading, etc) Remove the bag and gently rub the corn in a sideways motion with a pumice stone Remember that this will only be a temporary solution and you will need to seek further care if the pain gets to bad to handle.
Chamomile Soak:
It is said that if you soak your feet in diluted Chamomile Tea that it can be very soothing and will temporarily change the pH of the skin to help dry out your feet. The tea will stain your feet, but it will easily wash off with soap and water.
I've never tried this before but a close friend told me that it really works! It's worth a try right?!
Pineapple Peel and Oils:
Cut strips of a pineapple peel and completely cover the callus. Tape the pineapple peel in place and leave it on for a couple hours. Repeat this step everyday for a week, changing when necessary. The Enzymes and Acid content of the fresh pineapple will help to remove the callus. You can also apply several oils to the callused area several times daily including; wheat germ oil, castor oil, sesame oil, coconut oil and olive oil onto the callused area.
Even though my blog is still a work in progress, I've gotten many questions and emails asking how I make money with my blog. I say the same thing each time.... It's not simple but if you work hard then you can do anything. Find the right programs and people that will help you grow. Leave the ones alone that want to hold you back.
If you set your blog up with the right widgets and programs, you'll be bringing in the dollars before you know it!
I've decided to post a few links to some of the programs that bring me the most money. Some are affiliate links and I may receive some sort of compensation if you sign up. Using my links is not required but is appreciated
If you would like any help or information, fell free to ask!
I love helping people and I have no problem giving out secrets!
Quitting is not an option! Success only comes to those who overcome their struggles and carries on!
If you don't make money right away... DON'T GIVE UP!!! It will come!! **Take Baby Steps and Grow Up Strong**
Below are a few of my top earning affiliate links from my Affiliate Programs. Affiliate links are tracking links from advertisers that are willing to pay you for sending business to them. Pay rate varies with each advertiser. Affiliate Programs give you an ID code that gets added to all of your affiliate links so you can get paid for the traffic that you bring to your approved advertisers.
Along with my affiliates, I also make money online in other ways. Surveys is a quick and easy way to make some extra cash. You can earn Gift Cards and much more! Swag Bucks is one of the best sites that I've found that's easy to earn with. You can earn Swag Bucks by watching videos, taking surveys, daily polls, playing games, shopping and so much more!!! If you haven't tried Swag Bucks yet, you really need to atleast check it out! Swag Bucks quickly became a part of my daily routine and I'm sure it will do the same with you!! After you start earning Swag Bucks, you can trade them in for Gift Cards, Local Deals or even enter their Swagstakes! Check it out at SwagBucks.com I hope the information that I have given you will help you grow and earn extra money for your and your family. If you continue on and never quit... You could be making a living while sitting in your living room and spending time with the ones who mean the most to you! *Remember*
Quitting is not an option! Success only comes to those who overcome their struggles and carries on! If you don't make money right away... DON'T GIVE UP!!! It will come!! **Take Baby Steps and Grow Up Strong**
All above information is from the opinions of myself at My Kind Of Introduction and may differ from yours. I was influenced by no-one and received no compensation for this post. This post contains affiliate links that may earn me some sort of compensation if used. Using the above links is not required.
A few people have asked me lately "How did you stay energized while you were pregnant? Is there anything out there safe for the baby that will keep me awake?" Since I had my girls so close together and worked through my first pregnancy, I was always tired and asked those same questions plenty of times. I wish I would known then what I know now!
Here are some tips on how to stay energized while pregnant.... Remember not to over work it though...Your pregnant, RELAX alittle bit. You won't be doing too much relaxing once that tiny little bundle of joy comes along.
Prenatal Vitamins ~ Make sure you take your vitamins! Not only are they a big part in the baby development but they have a big part in keeping your body energized. If you have trouble remembering when to take your Prenatal Vitamins then try keeping them beside your bed or on your bathroom counter. You can even set an alarm on your phone to remind you. (That's what I did)
Aromatherapy ~ Your environment has a large effect on how you feel. When you start feeling tired and wore out, how about try and fill the room with scents that are said to boost energy like Orange, Chocolate, Cucumber, Peppermint, Coffee, Lemon, Grapefruit, just to name a few.
Exercise ~ You don't want to over-work yourself but light exercise can have a big impact on your energy level. If you didn't exercise regularly before the pregnancy then make sure you start slow. A good walk is always a good simple choice for an energizing exercise along with swimming, yoga ans stretching It is said that exercise can make labor easier on the woman but make sure you consult your doctor before you start any kind of exercise routine.
Your Diet ~ Maintaining a healthy diet is crucial for your unborn child's growth and development, but what you eat also affects how much energy you have. Foods in rich fiber like wheat bread and oatmeal are great choices for breakfast due to the energy they give off being long-lasting. Fruits and berries are wonderful choices for snacks throughout a busy day. Being hydrated and drinking lots of water will help boost your energy. Try and drink 2 liters of water a day.
SLEEP ~ It is a must for you to get lots of sleeping while pregnant! If you find yourself with a crashing energy level then don't be ashamed to take a break and have yourself a nap or atleast try and get more sleep at night.
Being pregnant is a beautiful thing and it's important to keep yourself healthy and energized. These suggestions will help you maintain an energy full day just remember to relax and take care of yourself to help ensure a happy, healthy pregnancy!
To me, these balls look like the Bouncy Rock Balls you can buy for around $4 at stores but with a rainbow of colors instead of the gray color they normally come in and these are ALOT cheaper! Katey from Having Fun at Home posted this wonderful recipe on her blog on how to make your very own bouncy rock balls at home for very cheap! I'm going to try this with my daughters very soon....... as soon as I get to the store to buy some Borax and school glue!!!
All you need is:
Borax (found in laundry section of the grocery store)
Elmer’s Glue (clear)
Food Coloring
Craft sticks
Directions:
Pour 1 tablespoon of School glue into a small container and add 2 or 3 drops of food coloring and mix together.
Add 1 teaspoon Borax and wait fifteen seconds.
Mix with a craft
stick or something similar, until it’s too thick to stir anymore.
Knead and roll the dough into a ball with your hands. It'll be sticky at first, but will eventually turn rubbery and dry.
Once this happens....... Bounce!
These balls won't be perfectly round but that's what makes it more fun! They look like colored rocks and bounce a bit crazy!
It's best if you make sure that nothing breakable is close by and that your young child does NOT eat the balls.
Those packages of pre-sliced apples you can buy at stores are a great healthy snack for lunches and school snacks, but it can get pricy!
Make your own by slicing apples, soak in cold water for 3-5 minutes, then soak in a lemon-lime carbonated soda (such as 7-up or sprite) for 3-5 minutes. Divide into snack size portions and store in Ziploc bags in the fridge. The lemon-lime soda will keep the apples from browning and make them last longer
1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking
powder and salt into a large mixing bowl. Cut in the margarine with a
pastry cutter. Or use a vegetable grater to grate the stick into the
mixing bowl and let your kids take turns blending the margarine into the
dry ingredients with their fingertips. Once the dough is crumbly,
slowly stir in the milk.
2. Turn out the dough onto a floured working surface and gently roll or pat
the dough into a 1-inch-thick rectangle (it should measure about 6 x 8
inches). For the best results, handle the dough as little as possible.
3. Slice the rectangle into four 1-1/2- x 8-inch strips. Place the strips
on an ungreased baking sheet, then let your child mold and curve them
into S shapes that resemble snakes. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the
bottoms are golden brown. Transfer the baked shortcakes to a wire rack
(a parent's job) and let cool. Carefully slice the cooled shortcakes in
half lengthwise or split them with a fork and then set aside.
4. Wash the strawberries and let your kids select four to use for the
snakes' heads. Slice the rest of the berries lengthwise into a mixing
bowl. Toss with the confectioners' sugar and let stand while you prepare
the whipped cream.
5. Combine the whipping cream and confectioners' sugar in a chilled bowl
and beat with an electric or hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
6. Just before serving, arrange berries on the bottom half of each
shortcake, then cover with the shortcake top. Spread on whipped cream
and add a layer of sliced strawberry "scales."
7. For the snakes' heads, cut mouth openings in the tips of the whole
berries and place one at the end of each shortcake. Press a pair of mini
chocolate chip or M&M's eyes into the sides of each head and add a
forked tongue cut from green fruit leather. Serves 4.
Whats more fun than running around outside on a summer night chasing lightning bugs?? Catching them and putting them in jars for safe keeping! Most of the time you would use one of the gallon mason jars... I have a new idea for you. How about Mini Lightning Bug Jars? Easy to hold in small hands and not likely to be dropped when running thru the yard. These can be made by the child, with your help with the knife, or you can make them for your kids yourself. The choice is yours!!!!!!
All you need is :
Baby Food Jars
Knife (Adult help/supervision is needed for putting the holes in the lid with knife.)
Permanent Markers *I used black and orange for stars and fireflies*(optional)
Stickers (optional)
Instructions :
Step 1 -->Make sure the jars are clean and dry.
Step 2 --> Get an adult to poke holes in the top of the lid so the lightening bugs can breath.
**If you would like then your jar is finished. Or you can go on to Step 3**
Step 3 --> Write your name on your jar if you would like and decorate with stickers or draw fireflies with black and orange markers.
Colorful layers of flavored gelatin and whipped cream give our light and tasty dessert its banner good looks.
For four servings, make one
box each of red and blue gelatin according to the package directions. In
tall, clear glasses, alternate layers of red gelatin and whipped
topping (we used Cool Whip), as shown. Top with the blue gelatin. (For
the fruity version on our cover, substitute raspberries and
blueberries.) Finish with a slice of star fruit.
Create simple quacking noisemakers, and the kids can be ready for the fireworks or parade.
First, cup two 1 1/4-inch
lengths from a plastic drinking straw. Stretch a wide rubber band
lengthwise around a jumbo craft stick. Slide one straw piece beneath the
rubber band 1 1/4 inches from one end. Lay the other straw piece on top
of the rubber band 1 1/4 inches from the opposite end, as shown, then
sandwich it with another craft stick. Secure the sticks with more rubber
bands. Decorate the noisemaker with stickers if you like.
A spiked 4th of July Treat that will make anyone feel like a kid again! (Make sure that if you have kids at the party that you also make a kid friendly version also with water or juice instead of the alcohol ) You can also use others colors other than Red, White and Blue for other celebrations!
Ingredients
1 3 oz box strawberry gelatin dessert
1 3 oz box berry blue gelatin dessert
3 cups water
6 envelopes plain gelatin
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 1/2 cups ice cold fruit flavored vodka or rum
Directions
Pour each of the gelatin dessert mixes into a heat safe bowl and set aside.
Pour the water into a medium saucepan. Sprinkle with the 6 envelopes of plain gelatin. Allow to soak for a minute or two.
Heat over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin is fully dissolved (about 5 minutes).
Pour
one cup of the plain gelatin mixture into the bowl containing the
strawberry gelatin mix. Stir for two minutes, or until the red gelatin
is dissolved. Repeat process with the blue gelatin. Add one cup of
the liquor to each bowl, stir well.
Pour the
sweetened condensed milk into the saucepan containing the rest of the
clear gelatin mixture. Add 1/2 cup of the liquor and stir well to
combine.
Lightly spray 4 1 lb loaf pans (about 8" x 5") with cooking spray. Wipe out with a paper towel.
Pour
3/4 cup of the red gelatin mixture into one of the prepared loaf pans.
Repeat with 3/4 cup of the blue gelatin mixture. Divide the white
gelatin between the remaining two pans. Place all the pans in
refrigerator until the gelatin is set (at least an hour).
Cover the liquid gelatins and set aside.
When the pans of gelatin have set, dice the gelatin into small cubes. (You can cut the gelatin right in the pan).
Mix
the diced gelatin and divide as desired between two of the loaf pans.
(I had two pans that were predominantly blue, and two that were
predominantly red cubes.)
Grab the liquid gelatin
(if it is starting to set up, microwave for 10 to 15 seconds - just
long enough to soften, not warm the gelatin - and stir thoroughly).
Pour the liquid gelatin, red in one pan, and blue in the other, to fill
about 3/4 of the way up the gelatin cubes. (You may have a little
liquid gelatin left over.) Return pans to refrigerator and allow to set
for several hours or overnight.
Remove pans
from the fridge. Cut around the edges of the pan, and invert the
gelatin slabs onto a non-stick surface for cutting.
Cut
the gelatin into 3/4 to 1" strips, wiggling your knife to give an
uneven edge (like rock candy). If you cut the strips too thin, they
will break when skewered.
Skewer each strip
with a lollipop stick - hold the gelatin gently at the sides, and insert
the stick almost all the way to the top. Place on a non-stick cookie
sheet and chill until ready to serve!
The method for Star Piñata Sugar Cookies is so easy, and even easier if you start with Pillsbury refrigerated Sugar Cookie dough (I used three 16.5 oz tubes).
Open one package of cookie dough, add a bit of red gel food coloring to the dough.
I
found that it’s easiest to mix the coloring in with your hands,
kneading it gently, like bread dough. Add the food coloring a little at a
time, until the dough is a vibrant red color.
Next
place the dough ball in a bowl, and add 1/4 cup flour and mix until
combined. It seems a little backward, but I found the food coloring
mixed smoother this way. Repeat with another tube of dough and the blue
gel food coloring. For the last tube, just add the flour. (I added flour
because the Pillsbury dough is so chewy and delicious – a slightly
firmer dough is needed for these little guys.)
As
I colored the dough a couple days ahead of time, color bleeding was a
worry (there’s a fair amount of food coloring used!). So I just wrapped
each color tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated until I was ready to
proceed.
Remove
all three dough packages from the refrigerator. Split each into three
equal parts. Layer in alternating fashion, placing into a plastic wrap
lined loaf pan, and patting each layer out until the dough evenly fills
the pan. Top with another layer, again patting until even. Repeat with
remaining dough. Cover tightly and freeze for four hours or overnight.
Preheat
oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dough from the pan and unwrap. Cut thin
slices, approximately 1/4-inch wide. Place on a baking sheet lined with
a Silpat or parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes.
Immediately after the cookies are removed from the oven, use a star cookie cutter to cut the cookie shapes.
You
will need two side pieces, and one middle for each. Cut a round out of
the center of 1/3 of the cookies. Try to work quickly, as the cookies
set up very quickly and will be difficult to cut as they cool. Also, I
used a tiny cookie cutter to make adorable little stars from the scraps.
(Who wouldn’t want to nibble on these? And wouldn’t they be cute on an
ice cream cone?) Once you’ve cut all the shapes, allow the cookies to
cook on the baking sheet before moving.
To
assemble, take the first star cookie and lay it upside down so that the
baked bottom is facing up. Take the middle cookie (with the hole) and
dot some frosting on the center of each point. I used leftover white
cake frosting because I had it on hand, but you could also use a mixture
of 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and two teaspoons of milk.
Place the middle cookie on top of the frosting glue and add about a teaspoon of mini M&Ms to the open center.
Put
another outline of frosting glue on the middle cookie and place another
star cookie on top (so the top side is facing out). Let the cookies
harden for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Hope these cute little cookies add some delicious fireworks to your celebration!
12 filled cookies (and many small bite size cookies)
Ingredients
3 tubes 16.5 oz Pillsbury Sugar Cookie dough
red and blue gel food coloring
3/4 cup all purpose flour
white frosting, or a mixture of 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and two teaspoons of milk
red and blue mini m&ms - I bought a bag of mixed and separated out the colors
Directions
Open one package of cookie dough, add a bit of
red gel food coloring to the dough. I found that it’s easiest to mix
the coloring in with your hands, kneading it gently, like bread dough.
Add the food coloring a little at a time, until you have a vibrant red
dough.
Next place the dough ball in a bowl, and
add 1/4 cup flour and mix until combined. It seems a little backward,
but I found the food coloring mixed smoother this way. Repeat with
another tube of dough and the blue gel food coloring. For the last tube,
just add the flour. (I added flour because the Pillsbury dough is so
chewy and delicious – a slightly firmer dough is needed for these little
guys.)
Split each of the colors into three equal
parts. Layer in alternating fashion, placing into a plastic wrap lined
loaf pan, and patting each layer out until the dough evenly fills the
the pan. Top with another layer, again patting until even. Repeat with
remaining dough. Cover tightly and freeze for four hours or overnight.
Preheat
oven to 350 degrees. Remove the dough from the pan and unwrap. Cut thin
slices, approximately 1/4-inch wide. Place on a baking sheet lined with
a Silpat or parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes.
Immediately
after the cookies are removed from the oven, use the star cookie cutter
to cut the cookie shapes. You will need two side pieces, and one middle
for each. Cut a round out of the center of 1/3 of the cookies. Try to
work quickly, as the cookies set up very quickly and will be difficult
to cut as they cool. Also, I used a tiny cookie cutter to make adorable
little stars from the scraps. Once you’ve cut all the shapes, allow the
cookies to cook on the baking sheet before moving.
To
assemble, take the first star cookie and lay it upside down so that the
baked bottom is facing up. Take the middle cookie (with the hole) and
dot some frosting on the center of each point. I used leftover white
cake frosting because I had it on hand, but you could also use a mixture
of 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and two teaspoons of milk.
Place
the middle cookie on top of the frosting glue and add about a teaspoon
of mini M&Ms to the open center. Put another outline of frosting
glue on the middle cookie and place another star cookie on top (so that
top side side is facing out). Let the cookies harden for at least 30
minutes before serving.
