Summer time is here and what better way to refresh than with zesty, simple refreshments to offer family, friends, or neighbors when they stop by. Anything lemon or lime is a huge hit in my family and is always a welcome treat!

Here is a <strong>“Two Ingredient Lemon Bar”</strong> recipe that came from my church newsletter. The note at the bottom states <em>“It’s like you cut yourself a slice right out of the middle of a lemon pie.”</em> How luxurious is that? And the recipe is so simple!

<strong>Ingredients – </strong>
One box angel food cake mix
Two 21 oz cans lemon pie filling

<strong>Directions – </strong>
Mix dry cake mix and cans of pie filling together in large bowl (may be mixed by hand)
Pour into greased 9 x 13” baking dish
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until top is starting to brown slightly
Cool on wire rack then sprinkle with powdered sugar

<em>So simple and delicious, so easy to have on hand for guests!</em>

Found this fruit pizza idea on Pinterest and am making one for my son’s first birthday party. Its super cute and a great alternative to other sweets, candies, and even cake. This fun and easy to make summery treat took only 20 minutes to make. Has anyone made a fruit pizza and did your party goers enjoy it? I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Fingers crossed for success!

If your life includes pets, then you know that making travel plans (whether for business or pleasure) includes deciding whether to take them with you or leave them in the care of a sitter or boarding facility. Like many pet owners, you’d like to take your pet with you but don’t know to prepare for pet-friendly travel. Here is a checklist of ten tips on preparing to travel with your pet.

#10 Identification Tags

No matter how you choose travel, it is vital to outfit your pets with proper identification prior to setting out. After all, if you should become separated from your pet, their identification is the surest way they’ll find their way back to you.

#9 Permanent Identification for your Pet

In addition to fitting your pets with I.D. tags, your veterinarian may recommend fitting them with a microchip. You can also have your pet tattooed with the National Dog Registry. But, if you decide to use this method to I.D. your pet, register the number or you will not be able to find your pet.

#8 Train Them Young

Our article, Training a Puppy for Car Travel provides many useful tips on how to acclimate your new addition to car travel. Train your puppy to remain calm and focused on your commands with practice sessions in the car, and a reward system. If you have more than one dog, train them separately.

#7 Secure Your Pet for Their Safety

Now that you’ve trained your pet to behave in a car, you may think it’s okay to let them roam freely in the vehicle. Not so. Just like people, pets can become injured if the car makes a sudden movement, say to avoid an accident. For safety, it is always recommended to crate your pet.

#6 Best Travel Crate for your Pet

Fabric carriers are a good way to transport your dog or cat, but a hard plastic carrier is more versatile. If you want to travel with your pet, invest in a plastic carrier, they’re safer for different modes of travel, such as transporting your pet via air.

#5 Pets and Cars

Dogs and cats are quick and agile, and they will put all those talents (and more) to use if they feel their safety is threatened. If you leave your pet loose in a moving vehicle and they become startled, they’ll panic, and go into attack mode seeking out the safest spot.

#4 Consider Sedating your Pet

Initially, the idea of calming your frightened pet with medication prior to transporting them may seem like a bit much. But if your pet experiences extreme anxiety in an unfamiliar setting (such as an older pet) giving them a sedative could save them from trauma, not to mention a fear-induced potty accident.

#3 First Aid Pet Kit

When you prepare a pet travel kit that includes a copy of their current medical records, consider your pet may need first aid during travel. The Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) can provide information on the nearest animal hospital. Also make sure to pack a simple first aid kit, including gauze, bandages, and hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting if necessary. Always take steps to contact an animal healthcare professional first, before personally treating a pet for possible toxin exposure.

#2 Pet Food and Water

Unexpected turns and delays are a part of traveling, so when your plans include your pets, take along extra food for them. A travel delay (or getting lost en route to your destination) could result in your pet waiting an undetermined amount of time for food or clean water. Be prepared ahead of time.

#1 Be Extra Vigilant

No matter how well you think you may know your pet, you never know how they’ll react if they’re startled by a loud noise or unfamiliar stimuli. A cat left loose in a car, for example, may seek safety under your legs… while you’re driving. An irresistible urge to chase down a tantalizing smell could inspire your uncrated dog to jump out of a half-open window. Keep your pet safe and secure at all times.

All the rules of traveling with your pet focus and maximize on keeping them safe and happy. Taking extra precaution prior to leaving your home with them will keep everyone safe and sound.

Happy Travels!

Did you know that today, July 15, is Rembrandt’s birthday. If he were alive today he would be 407 years old. In honor of this celebrated Dutch artist visit your local art museum today.

Portland has a wonderful art museum located in the heart of the city. The current exhibit is Shangaa: Art of Tanzania. A little far removed from the works of Rembrandt but fascinating I’m sure.

If you are close to the Boston area a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts is a must. I spent many weekends in college just wandering this beautiful museum. It didn’t hurt a poor college student that it was free to get in either! My favorite part was the French Impressionists. Did you know that at one point the MFA had the largest collection of work by Monet outside of Paris. Who is your favorite artist?

I recently took a trip to the New England Aquarium in Boston with my family.  We were on vacation and it was a rainy day so we figured it would be a nice indoor activity to do.  I loved the aquarium as a child and have been since as an adult.  It was a good trip overall and I loved showing my kids all the different fish and other animals like the sea lions.  My son loved the sea lions the most and everytime we’d leave where they were he’d point and want to go back to see them.  Since it was his first visit my husband went back 4 times to show him them.  I do wish I had checked out their website though before we went because I didn’t know that they were reconstructing the penguin habitat and were working on the main giant tank where all the fish swim around.  They had little signs up which were cute that said that the penguins were on vacation and that we could see the baby penguins over by the sea lion exhibit.  The baby penguins were cute but I definitely want to go back when they finish the reconstruction of the penguin habitat.  It just wasn’t the same to me without them, even though my kids didn’t mind I want them to get the whole experience as I did when I was younger.  I am hoping the penguins come back from vacation soon so we can take another trip to the aquarium!

Today is the perfect day for a glass of this! Try out this recipe this summer when going to a BBQ!

Peachy White Wine Sangria:

• 1 Bottle of white wine (Riesling, Albarino, Chablis, Gewurztraminer, Rioja, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc)
• 1/2 cup Peach Schnapps
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you prefer your Sangria)
• 2 sliced peaches (frozen peach slices work well)
• 1 sliced orange
• 1/2 mango peeled and sliced
• 1/2 liter of ginger ale
Preparation:Pour wine and Schnapps in the pitcher and add sliced peach, orange, and mango. Next add sugar and stir gently. Chill mixture for at least one hour. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.
If you’d like to serve your Sangria right away, use chilled white wine and ginger ale and serve over lots of ice.
Addition ideas: sliced strawberries, a handful of fresh raspberries, kiwi slices, a shot or two of triple sec, a cup of citrus soda pop.

I hate to admit it, but I’m sort of already sick of all of the grilled chicken, burgers on the grill, hot dogs, etc. that come with the summer weather. So last weekend I tried the following recipe. Although I’ve never had the Wendy’s version, I think this home-made twist on the classic grilled cheese is a keeper! If you feel adventurous and try it, let me know how you like it…
BACON PRETZEL GRILLED CHEESE

Ingredients:
1 frozen pretzel, thawed and sliced
1 thick slice harvarti cheese
2-3 sliced of bacon, cooked
1-2 thin slices of tomato
2 tbsp butter

Just assemble the bacon, harvarti and tomato onto the pretzel, and fry each side in the butter until crisp. Enjoy!

No Bake Cheese Cake Stuffed Strawberries

Ingredients:
1 Packet Strawberries
1 Large Packet extra creamy whipped cream
1 packet cream cheese (softened)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 packet cheesecake flavored pudding
Freezer bag

To make:
Wash strawberries, cut an X in the top, allow to dry, chill in fridge for 2-3 minutes.
Fold together whipped cream and pudding till blended. Slowly add cream cheese and vanilla extract. Place into freezer bag (zip locked) and chill for 30-35 minutes.
Remove bag from fridge, snip a corner off and pipe into the strawberries. Enjoy!

Watch the video below for instructions on how to make quick and easy utensil holder for your 4th of July BBQ!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acL-keeVx4I&w=420&h=315]

Reading <em>still</em> seems to be something I’m telling myself to do more of instead of actually just doing. Now that we’re officially in the throes of a lazy, hazy summer, though, I’m thinking it’s about the perfect time to take action. Now, I know that summer reading may bring back memories of school days when we were forced to work our way through what seemed like a wicked long list of books…but we’re older & wiser (hopefully) now and there’s nothing wrong with grabbing a good book and spending some quality time lost in another world. I’m currently devouring <a href=”http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Life-Marilyn-Monroe/dp/0446198188″>The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe</a> by J. Randy Taraborrelli. (Talk about a crazy world to get lost in! Marilyn’s fascinating; I definitely recommend this book.) Need a little help making your selections? Check out what the <a href=”http://libraries.state.ma.us/pages/2013summer”>Massachusetts Libraries</a> have going on! Their “summer reading programs for readers of all ages” offer great resources – and they even partnered with the <a href=”http://bruins.nhl.com/”>Boston Bruins</a> for some awesome prizes. So whether you’re in it for the prizes, you want to encourage your kids to read more, or you just want to keep the ol’ brain nice & sharp, grab a book and start reading! What’s on your list for this summer?