Off to camp...the hard part

Today I took my daughter to sleep away camp for the first time and while it is hard to realize she is 10 and old enough to go, it was harder to iron on the name tags, since the instructions weren't clear on the temperature of the iron-- very, very hot for your knowledge. (The label company will remain nameless, but it will receive an email from me on this matter.)

"Snow" in summer

Every summer the Linden tree in front of house "snows" flowers and I sweep and sweep and sweep and this year our babysitter suggested using the snow shovel which was an excellent suggestion, since I refer to the flowers and "summer snow" and learned that thinking outside the season my help bring about a new solution.

Tuesday's Tip: Instant greenhouse

To protect plants and keep them moist while you are away on vacation, place them in clear plastic garbage bags and seal the tip with a bag clip; this creates a greenhouse effect allowing in light which creates a moisture environment inside the bag.

(P.S. I have tried this on many occasions and it works great. In fact I lost some plants last winter, because I didn't do it and they did not get enough water because the plant sitter came only once during the week.)

Tuesday's Tip: Better Plants

As I was walking down the street recently, a woman chatted with me in the drizzle and said she puts crushed egg shells in her plants as to help them grow and stay nourished.

Warm weather fashion...dont's

Why is it that as soon as the weather warms up the fashion don'ts—black bra under sheer top, backless top with bra and the one I saw the other day, toeless thigh-highs with flip flops, multiply exponentially? and now that I think about it winter coats cover them up.

In the kitchen on Thursday: Summer ritual

Every summer vacation, my daughter and I make ice cream. This year we made chocolate.

1 Large can sweetened condensed milk
1 pint of cream
3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

Whisk all ingredients in a bowl until the cocoa poweder is almost all incorporated. Pour into the bowl of an ice cream maker. Follow the maker's directions for churning. When this is done, put the ice cream in the freezer. If the bowl can go in the freezer do so with plastic wrap on top. If it can't, scrape the ice cream into plastic containers with lids. In 3-4 hours, it will be "soft serve" and in 7-8 hours it will be hard.

For Vanilla ice cream, swap out the cocoa powder for 2-3 tsp. Vanilla Extract.

This is similar to the one I have...Ice Cream Maker

 

In the Kitchen on Friday: Thursday night dinner

(Thursday night dinner)

Easy Ranch Dip

8 oz. container of Sour Cream
1/4 C. Mayo
1/4 C. Ranch dressing mix

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Serve with cut vegetables or  chips. I served mine with carrot and celery sticks and homemade Buffalo wings (and there were no leftovers).

Tuesday's Tip: Confidence Builder

Last week I had a client meeting and was worried I would smell from sweat, so I grabbed two scented panty-liners and stuck them in the armpits of my shirt (sticky side to the fabric) and instantly my confidence went up a few notches.

In the kitchen on Thursday: DIY Soda

1/4 C. Fruit juice
3/4 C. Seltzer

Mix ingredients in a glass. Add more juice if you want.

My daughter loves this because it is "refreshing" (to quote her).

In the kitchen on Thursday: Awesome summer salad

Asparagus and Bean Salad

1 lb. Asparagus
1 can (15 oz.) Cannellini beans

Dressing:
1/2 C. Olive Oil
Juice of one lemon
1 Tbsp. lemon zest
3 Tbsp. Dried Tarragon

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Break off the ends of the Asparagus and wash them. Add them to the pot with the heat off for 1.5 minutes. Immediately drain the Asparagus and place in a bowl with ice water. While the Asparagus is cooling, drain and rinse the can of beans and place in a salad bowl. Mix all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Add the Asparagus to the beans and toss in the dressing. Makes 4-6 servings.