Spring on Ice

I'm really happy that it's officially spring. However, with that said mother nature hasn't gotten the memo yet (well, at least in New England).

How does one so excited to celebrate the spring, actually get a taste of it with all this rain and cold? Simply by going with the cold.

Make everyday drinks and get-togethers fun and springy by adding flowers!

How to make flower ice cubes

-Organic non-toxic flowers
-water
-ice cube tray
-freezer

Fill your ice cube tray half full of water and put in freezer. Once frozen pull out of the freezer and add a flower. Fill the tray with the rest of the water and re-freeze. Enjoy your pretty ice cubes in your favorite drink!

How to make a flower bowl

-two bowls (one larger than the other)
-organic non-toxic flowers
-water
-freezer
-weight

Fill the larger bowl with water and then place the smaller bowl inside the larger. The small bowl might float a bit, so add a small weight to the small bowl to push it down(and in turn push up the water in the larger bowl). Place the bowls in the freezer.

Remove the bowls when frozen and remove the small bowl. Press your flowers against the sides of the ice bowl and add some more water to the bowl (a much smaller amount this time). Put the small bowl back inside the larger one and add the weight. Re-freeze the bowls.
Now you should have an icy bowl that's pretty to display your punch or eat some treats from!

Elegant Easter Egg Party Favors

Elegant Easter egg party favors are fun and whimsical. You can customize them in any way your want, but the method is the same. Fill your elegant favors with candies and other goodies for your guests.

Things You’ll Need:

• Plastic Easter eggs
• Glue
• Finely ground glitter
• Candy
• Spray paint primer
• Antique white spray paint kit
• Newspaper
• Wood gel stain
• Clean white T-shirt or rag

Step 1:Lay out sheets of newspaper on a table outside or in a well ventilated area.

Step 2:Take your plastic Easter eggs apart and lay them out on the newspaper. Stand them on their flat side.

Step 3:Spray the outside of the eggs with primer. Let this dry. You may need to apply two coats to completely cover the eggs.

Step 4:Turn the eggs over and spray the insides with two coats of primer.

Step 5:Stand the eggs on their flat side and spray them with an antique white spray paint kit from the hardware store.

Step 6:Paint the inside of the Easter eggs with the white paint once the outside has dried.

Step 7:Rub a coat of a light wood gel stain onto the eggs once the white paint has dried. This will darken and antique them and is an optional step.

Step 8:Put the plastic Easter eggs back together.

Step 9:Create fine lines of detail with a fine-tipped white glue. You can create scrolls, hearts, flowers and more.

Step 10:Sprinkle a fine antique silver or gold glitter on the glue lines. Shake the excess glitter off the egg and onto newspaper. This will allow for easy clean-up.

Step 11:Let the glue dry on the eggs and load them with Easter candy for your party guests.

St. Patrick's Day Dinner

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up soon. Even though I’m not Irish, my mother always makes a traditional Irish dinner every year. I hate to say it, but I think it’s awful. Not her cooking so much, but the bland taste of Irish food. I’ve been scouring the web looking for Irish food that’s a little more exciting than the boiled cabbage, potatoes & corned beef I get every year. I hope that this makes your St. Patrick’s Day a bit yummier as well.

On the Menu

Beef and Guinness Pie

Fresh Ham with Cracklin and Pan Gravy

Potato and Cabbage Bundles

Country Rhubarb Pie

Irish Lace Cookies