TUTORIAL: Easy Pom-Pom Firecracker Cupcake Toppers

Today I thought I would bring back a guest post I shared over at I Heat Naptime earlier this summer for Jamielyn's Hello Summer Event!

This tutorial makes a super easy and festive way to jazz up your cupcakes and although especially fun for the  4th of July, my Easy Pom-Pom Firecracker Cupcake Toppers would be great for any celebration by changing the pom-pom colors to coordinate with your theme and colors! So happy cupcake decorating for you all!

Easy Pom-Pom Firecracker Cupcake Toppers

Pom-Pom Maker (I used the Clover 1 3/4 inch and 1 5/8 inch)

Yarn

Scissors

Toothpicks

To make the pom-poms, I used the Clover brand pom-pom makers that you can buy at your local Jo-Anns store.  You can always check out the video I made HERE if you need help with your pom-pom makers.  They are pretty easy to work although I totally get that sometimes the first time using them can be tricky!

You will also need a pair of scissors, some fun yarn colors, and toothpicks!

1. Open up the Pom-Pom maker and wrap the yarn around both "rainbow" sections.
2. Close up the Pom-Pom maker so it is back to it's original look except now you will have yarn wrapped around the outer circle.

3. Take your scissors and cut along the middle of each wrapped section.  Then clip a small piece of yarn (about 6 inches or so) and slide it in between the groove in the middle of the Pom-Pom maker.  Pull it tight and tie it into a knot.

4. Pull the Pom-Pom maker apart.

5. Take out the Pom-Pom and use your scissors to shape it so it is nice and fluffy.

6. Push a toothpick into the center of the Pom-Pom. 

Now decorate your cupcakes or cakes with these sweet little Pom-Pom Firecracker Cupcake Toppers. The perfect decorations for any party!!

DIY Mason Jar Frogs  ::  Gluten Free/Dairy Free Lemon Bars  ::  Crossover Pinafore Pattern

**This post was originally published at I Heart Nap Time on June 25, 2013." See original post HERE.

XOXO,

RECIPE: Peaches n Cream Popsicles

We have been loving creating fun popsicle flavors this summer and one of our favorites has been using deliciously sweet peaches that we seem to find perfectly ripe in all the grocery stores right now.

There is just something about a perfectly ripe peach.  Biting into it and having that sticky sweet juice drip down your arm. They are even better in popsicle form when found in nice fleshy chunks mixed among some sweet cream...nom!

This recipe for Peaches n Cream Popsicles is a lovely one...and is a tried and true favorite because of  the fact that you can switch out the peaches in place of so many lovely fruits of summer.  Raspberries? Strawberries? Blackberries? Or hey, why not a mix of them all!

Peaches n Cream Popsicles (makes about 10 medium popsicles)

2 cups diced fresh peaches (you can remove the skin if you prefer)

1/2 cup evaporated cane sugar or white granulated sugar

1/2 cup water

12 oz plain Greek-style yogurt

To make a simple syrup which we will be using in this recipe, combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar has dissolved. Let the simple syrup cool before use. Set aside. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the yogurt and chilled simple syrup. Pour the yogurt mixture into each popsicle mold so that it is about 1/3 of the way full.  Place the molds into a freezer so the yogurt mixture can set, about 30 minutes. Add the diced peaches to the remaining yogurt mixture and mix well. Pour this mixture into the molds leaving a small amount of room at the top to allow for expansion. Place popsicle mold top and sticks into each molds and freeze for 4-5 hours.  Thaw molds and Enjoy!

Mmm....like I said, there is nothing like a sweet ripe summer peach, can you just smell that!  YUMMY!

Chop up your peaches so you have about 2 cups of sweet, drippy goodness and set aside.

Make your simple syrup by mixing together equal parts of water and sugar.  For this recipe I used 1/2 cups of each.  Cook in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until boiling and the sugar is dissolved.  Let the simple syrup cool.

Once the syrup is cool add all of the simple syrup to 12 oz of greek-style yogurt. Mix well. Pour the yogurt/syrup mixture into the bottom of each popsicle mold filling them about 1/3 of the way full.  Freeze for about 30 minutes so the yogurt can set.

Add the diced peaches to the remaining yogurt and mix well.

Once the yogurt has set, pull the molds back out and pour the peach/yogurt mixture into each mold leaving a small amount of space at the top of each mold to allow for expansion while freezing.

Place popsicle mold cap on top and sticks into your mold and freeze for 4-5 hours.

Then, run your molds under warm water and free your newly made and uber-delicious Peaches n Cream popsicles!

Happy Summer Eats to you!

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,

Picnic in the Park Date

I love a good picnic in the summer.  And even better, I love a good picnic with my husband...just us! It could be at a local park, in our backyard, or even on our screened in porch after the kids are in bed, it really doesn't matter.  With four little ones and no family close by it isn't the easiest thing for us to have date nights out often. Picnics are great because they can be easily put together and laid out anywhere so it makes sense for us most of the time.

I thought today I'd share a few of my picnic ideas with you in case you needed some inspiration or just a peek at what I've been doing lately that seems to really work for us :-)

You really don't need to go all out with the food, I mean you totally can (and I do sometimes) but I find that the simpler the foods are the more fun the picnic experience is since you are not stressing over making fancy foods and set up.  I also try to have foods that do not need to be refrigerated as I tend to freak out about food poisoning...you definitely don't want to make your husband/wife sick! And this way you won't need to load up on heavy ice packs, they can be such a pain to lug around!

Here is a look at some of my favorite things to pack...these items and variations on them work well for us!

We both love beef jerky, turkey jerky, bison jerky, etc. it's easy to transport, is really healthy and is a great protein. The Krave Jerky brand is gluten-free and nitrate-free and has lots of fun gourmet flavors so you can feel a little less hunting expedition and a lot more fancy picnic food! RealSticks are great too, they have a bunch of yummy flavors and are easy to pack as they are individually sealed.

I love having something crunchy like gluten-free pretzels or crackers and something to dip them in. Sweet dipping mustard is a must-have with pretzels in my opinion! We also like these DipIn to-go dips...just peel back the label and enjoy the simple and tasty ingredients. Obviously you could totally make your own dips, hummus, salsa, etc but these are a fun alternative.

Popcorn is an easy food to pack, you can make your own and spice it up with tabasco, parmesan shreds, or make it sweet and salty or just sweet! We also love our dark chocolate with raw almonds for something sweet to nibble on.  I especially love these extra dark chocolate wheels from Trader Joe's, highly recommend!

We buy all our raw nuts in bulk so I just repackage them in pretty glassine bags and close them up with Washi tape or some twine to up the presentation factor!

And if you are into wine, let me tell you I just found Stack wines recently...umm, how perfect for picnics are these!?!?  There are 4 pre-filled glasses of wine in each pack...just pop the top of and enjoy! So perfect, so perfect, so perfect I tell ya! I also love to bring fruit water too, so refreshing and easy to make.  Just chop up some fruit and add to nice cold water. Bam! Done!

I bought this sweet vintage-inspired metal picnic basket at World Market earlier this summer. I had been eyeing it since it came out.  I finally splurged (using a coupon, ha!) and could not be happier with it.  It fits perfectly on the back of my cruiser bike! (PS.  I saw online that they are now on sale!!)

Then I just lay out one of my vintage tablecloth pieces into my picnic basket first and then fill it with our goodies....presentation is key!

I add one of my vintage tablecloths on top (it fits perfectly in this basket...LOVE all the room!) so we have something to sit on and Voila! We are packed and ready to go! 

And even thought most of the food I tend to pack is easy finger foods, I still like to pack a little vase for fresh picked flowers and a plate or two so we can feel like we are eating a "fancy" meal.

Do you picnic with your significant other? I'd love to hear what some of your favorite things to bring are in the comments below..I am always up for adding some fun new things to our basket!

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,