Berry Lemonade Slush

I found this delicious looking and tasting drink for your summer enjoyment .

What you need:

Country Time Lemonade Flavor Drink Mix (dry)

1/2 cup water

3 cups ice cubes

1cup fresh or frozen strawberries

Make it:

Measure drink mix into cap to 1 qt line (1/2 cup)

Empty into blender

Add remaining ingredients: cover. Blend on high speed for 10 seconds. Turn off. Stir with spoon:cover. Blend an additional 5 sec or until smooth,using pulsing action

Serve immediately. Store leftover slush in freezer.

Smoky Cheese Ball

This smoky cheese ball will make a big hit at your next summer party . If you love cheese like my family does, you will love this.

Makes 3 1/2 cups

Ingredients:

2 8 oz package cream cheese

2 cups shredded smoked cheese(cheddar,swiss or Gouda)

1/2 cup margarine or butter

2 tablespoons milk

2 teaspoons steak sauce

1 cup finely shopped pecans or walnuts toasted

Assorted crackers

Directions:

1. Combine chesses and margarine in a medium mixing bowl : bring to room temperature . Add milk and steak sauce: beat until fluffy. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

Shape mixture into a ball. Roll into nuts.

Sounds Yummy!! Enjoy.

Prevent Home Burglaries

These are some tips from a security expert on how to reduce the chances of a break-in. With summer vacations coming up soon ,it might be a good idea to make a check list of these items. According to the Burglary Prevention Council, July is peak season for break-ins. This check list was published by Anndee Soderberg of ADT Security Services .

1. Put indoor lights on a timer(available at hardware stores) and install motion-detecting outdoor floodlights.
2. Trim bushes to make your house more visible.
3. Cut back tree branches near windows:thieves may climb them to gain access.
4. Have a neighbor get your mail and paper.
5. Keep your curtains slightly open so it appears as if someone's home.
6. Lock all windows and doors, especially the deadbolts.
7. Leave a car in the driveway.

Hope these tips help you have more peace of mind on your next vacation.

Food Covers

These are adorable and very functional also. Have you ever set food on your
picnic table only to find it covered in pesty flying objects. This will help keep you food covered and ready for you .

Materials:
Colored burlap
Wooden beads (2 colors)

Tools:
Scissors

1. Determine the bowl you would like to cover and measure its diameter.

2. Add 8 inched to your bowls diameter and cut the burlap into a square.

3. Fray the edges of the burlap about 1 1/2 inches up from the edges. Repeat on all four sides .

4. Spaced out every inch, thread approximately 5 strands of the burlap through your bead.

5. Knot these strands to secure the beads.

6. Repeat on all four sides.

Do them up in different colors to make your table scape.

Mexican Salad

This Mexican Salad is yummy!! Cool and refreshing on these hot summer days. It got very warm all of a sudden. This should help cool you down.

Dressing

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

3 cups raw or cooked fresh corn kernels

1 can black beans, rinsed

3 ripe tomatoes, cut in chunks

1 each green and red bell pepper, chopped

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

Preparation :

1. Mix oil , lime juice, salt and pepper in a 2 1/2 qt serving bowl

2.Add remaining ingredients:toss gently to mix and coat.

Serve with sour cream and taco chops, or roll up in a warmed flour tortillas.

Enjoy !!

Lighten Up Your Purse

I found this article to be very interesting. Hope you enjoy and find it useful .

According to Kelley Styring,author of In Your Purse, the average bag weighs 3-4 pounds and contains 67 objects.

Oh My could this be true!!!

All this heavy lifting is taking its toll. It can cause neck strain, headaches and aching shoulders. To shed weight,avoid purses with metal hardware, chain straps and thick leather. What about inside? Pare down to these essentials.

1. Money , ATM card and ID

2. Credit cards or a checkbook only if you plan to use them

3. Keys

4. Work badge

5. Sunglasses, reading glasses

6. Basic communication tools such as PDA, cell phone,day planner

7. Two core cosmetics, like a compact and lipstick

Hope this helps !!

Scented Bath Salts

Here's a way to pamper yourself with floral-scented bath salts. I'm sure that at the end of a day, we all look forward to pampering our selves. Hope this helps you find a way to do that .

What you need:
2 cups Epson salts
1 cup baking soda
large bowl
lavender scented oil
2x4 inch scrap of white cotton fabric
food coloring
cookie sheet
jar
ribbon baby spoon

How to Make it:

1. In a large bowl mix 2 cups Epson salts and 1 cup baking soda. Dab a few drops of lavender scented oil onto a 2x4 inch scrap of white cotton fabric and stir through mixture.Repeat with drops of food coloring. Continue mixing scented oil and food coloring until desired scent and color is achieved.
2. Spread salt mixture onto a cookie sheet for several hours stirring several times. Wash and dry the jar. Spoon salt mixture into jar.
3. Tie a baby spoon onto jar with ribbon
4. To use, dissolve several teaspoons of salt in bathwater.

"Peanut"

Is he not the cutest bunny you have ever seen!! Yes, his name is Peanut and he belongs to Jennifer. She bought Peanut when she moved out into her first apartment and has had him for 8 years. He is adorable and has become a part of our family. Yes ,he even receives Christmas presents.

Talented Daughter

My daughter Jennifer is drawing this picture of this lion by request of her husband Ben.

Jennifer has been pencil drawing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She has not had any formal training,I guess you'd say she was self taught. I find this so hard to imagine, (being able to draw like this ) when I can't even draw a straight line with a ruler.

She is very talented in many things, but I feel that she has out done herself on this one.

If you would like to see more of Jennifer's work she has a blog. jsjstudio.blogspot.com

Let me know what you think!! I would love to hear your comments.

5-Minute Birdbath

Create a splash with this easy to make birdbath. Birds will flock to this attractive birdbath. If you are anything like us we love to watch the birds. Have you ever watered your trees and watched the birds splash around in the wells? We have, that's why I think this is a good idea.

You will need :

1- 12" terra cotta pot

1- 16" terra cotta pot

1- saucer

Instructions:

Overturn two different size pots, stacking them in the garden. Set the saucer atop containers.Fill the basin with water and seat back and enjoy the birds.

Plastic Plate Cupcake and Cookie Stand

Just another idea for your 4th of July bash!! I am not real excited about the colors on this platter, but i think that it would look real darling in a red,white and blue theme. The dollar store always has ton's of plastic ware.

Materials needed : 2 large plastic serving plates

1 large plastic cup

Hot melt or craft glue

Instructions:

Take 1 large plastic plate and glue a large plastic cup to the plate as shown. Then glue the second plate(can be smaller) to the top of the cup to create a tiered platter.

You can also make these out of durable plastic disposable plates for easy cleanup.

Hope you enjoy these ideas and that it helps you create a pretty table scape for your summer outside fun.

Easy Wrapped Vase

Where did the month of June go !! i guess I'd better get busy and give you my July 4th craft suggestions.

Now I know that this vase is in yellow,pink, and orange but what I thought is it would look real festive done in red, white and blue.

What you need:

glass or plastic bottle

thick white craft glue

embroidery floss in desired colors

Instructions:

1. Wash bottle and let it dry

2. Place a dot of glue at the bottom of the bottle

3. Begin wrapping the embroidery floss around the bottle ,keeping the wraps close together and applying more dots of glue when needed.

4. To change colors, cut the floss and glue the end in place

5. Continue making stripes of color like this until entire bottle is covered with floss. Let the glue dry and insert flowers of choice .

You can customize this vase in any colors to match your occasion.

Hope you enjoy!!

Did you Know

I have collected a lot of "Did you Knows" over the years, just thought i would share a few with you from time to time.

Drinking 2 glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately

Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

Try chewing a couple of peppermint Altoids for a stuffy nose

Achy muscles from the flu- Mix 1 tablespoon horseradish in 1/2 cup of olive oil.Let stand for 30 minutes then apply as a massage oil.

Sore throat? Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1/4 cup honey and take 1 tablespoon 6 times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

Just thought some of these ideas might help you the next time you are bothered with any of these ailments

Talented Husband

Since we are on the subject of my husband,I thought that I would share some of his woodworking pieces with you. Are"nt they beautiful!!! He has only been doing this since he retired about a year ago,and i think that his work is outstanding. It is all done on a scroll saw. It's kind of like (in case you don't know what a scroll saw is) a sewing machine motion with a blade. I was never familiar with one until he took up this craft. He has a blog if you will care to look at some of his other things.

utahwoodworks.blogspot.com He also has a store on Etsy. He really enjoys making these works of art and stays at it for hours. Just thought I'd share if you have any questions just let me know.Will write soon .

Happy Father's Day

This is a picture of my husband Bill !! Bill and I have been married for 34 years. He is a wonderful husband and a great father. He is also retired and enjoying life. He has a incredible talent in woodworking. Someday soon i will share his talent with you.As you can tell he also loves to fish. We both enjoy fishing in Pine Valley.

But right now Jennifer and I would like to wish him a very "Happy Fathers Day."

Heaven on Earth

In my daughter's words this is "Heaven on Earth" Pine Valley Utah. This is where my family loves to camp in the summer. I even have my cousin Pat sold on this place. You need to visit if you get a chance. It's gorgeous and the climate is great in the summer.

Just thought I'd share a picture with you .

Eyeglass Necklace

Remember a few posts back I mentioned how talented my daughter Jennifer is, well this is one of her creations that she makes and sells on www.twocreativechicks.com. She has alot of darling necklaces and bracelets on that site , but this one is kind of unique. It serves as a beautiful 28" long necklace and a eyeglass holder.

You just put on the necklace, and then you slip the arms of your glasses thru the circle, and they hang there flat around your neck.

If your anything like me, i can never find my glasses, but this way you can never lose them.

Check out her site and let us know how you like it.

Hey, ladies have a nice weekend and enjoy the nice weather. !

Lace Edged Napkins

I thought these adorable napkins would add a nice touch to your summer dinners and special occasions

Materials needed :

13" square gingham or other fabric, or you can use plain finished napkins

1 1/2 yards of lace trim

Matching thread

Instructions:

1. Turn under edge of fabric 1/4". Press, turn under 1/4" again and topstitch and press

2. Pin lace header to right side over hem with lace outside. Start at a corner,folding small pleat to turn corners. Overlap and turn end under diagonally at last corner. Stitch around. Sew fold down.

I hope you enjoy these, they are so pretty done up. I think these would be real nice at a wedding or baby shower also.

A Treat for the Man in your life

With Father's Day just around the corner, I thought that I would give you an idea for his special dinner. I don't know too many men that don't like meat, even if it's on a salad. This dish only contains 9 grams of total fat , and 224 calories so it's healthy also .

You'll need :

1/2 teaspoon lime peel
1/3 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons water
4 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic minced
12 ounces beef flank steak
2 tablespoons powdered fruit pectin
2 tablespoons honey
6 cups salad greens
2 small tomatoes cut in wedges
1 small avocado

Directions:
1. In a jar combine lime peel, lime juice 3 tablespoons water and olive oil. Shake well. Pour half of the lime juice mixture into a small bowl;stir in onion and garlic. Reserve remaining lime juice mixture.
2. Score the beef and place in a plastic bag with the remaining lime juice mixture. Marinate in the frig for 24 hours
3. For dressing , in a small bowl gradually stir 3 tablespoons water in the fruit pectin;stir in reserved lime juice mixture and honey. Cover and chill for 24 hours
4. Drain beef and grill on the rack of an uncovered grill. Allow 12 to 14 minuted for medium.
5. To serve, thinly slice beef across grain. Arrange the greens,tomatoes, and avovado on a salad plate .. Top with beef.Drizzle each serving with about 2 tablespoons dressing .

This recipe will serve 4 people.

Hope he enjoys this !!!

Canning Jar Luminaries

I thought these luminarias were adorable for your spring and summer entertaining. Imagine them scattered on tables and decks for all your outside parties .

What You Need;

Canning jars without lids

Nonflammable items, such as buttons, unwrapped candies, marbles, or aquarium rocks

Votive candle cup

Votive candles

Ribbon, if desired

Scissors

Instructions

1. Remove the lid from the canning jar. Wash the jar. Let it dry.

2. Fill the jar approximately halfway with desired filler, such as buttons, unwrapped candies, marbles, aquarium rocks, or other nonflammable items.

3. Place the candle in the votive cup. Nestle the cup in the center of the filler.

4. If desired, tie a ribbon around the neck of the jar. Trim the ribbon ends.

Welcome to Helen's Corner

This is a new experience for me, so bear with me and i hope that i can bring you some useful and fun ideas.

I am recently retired and now have the opportunity to do something fun with my spare time. My daughter Jennifer, has been blogging and has a website(we'll get to that later on)and has been urging me to share my thoughts and ideas with others. So I thought that I would get into the 21st century and start my own blog.

My daughter designed this beautiful blog for me,(did'nt she do a great job),so i hope you will log on from time to time and check it out.

Let me know what you think !! Leave me some comments, i would love to hear from you .

Helen

Welcome !!!

Hi : Welcome to my blog !!!