Where has the summer gone? It seems like my son just got out of school for the summer, I blinked, and it’s already back to school time. We’ve had a great summer, but it’s definitely flown by!

Here is a little fun reading to get you ready for the cooler mornings and back to school blues (hah!).

What to Do With an Extra Large Zucchini
Cherie talks about working with a zucchini the size of Chicago.

Eileen – The Artful Crafter
Are you looking for ribbon weaving or Homecoming Mum Chain directions? Look no further.

Beading Arts
After receiving a wonderful package of crystals from Auntie’s Beads, Cyndi set out to make a bracelet that would show them off!

Creative Dreamer
I made a mini journal, come see!

Flip Flop Craft, Cake and Cupcake Ideas
For your end of summer celebration party

We received a free Tropical Organic Sampler basket from Proflowers.com a couple weeks ago, for review. I was impressed with all their fresh fruit baskets, so it was hard to pick one to sample.

Here’s what we received:

I have to say the fruit was all delicious, I would love getting a basket like this in the mail for a special occasion, or just because. The bananas were on the verge of being too ripe for me, but I’m super picky about bananas, and really enjoy them in smoothies anyway. So they were chopped up, along with some of the mango and pineapple. Yum!

I was planning some guacamole with the avocados, but then ended up slicing it up and eating it straight up with some blue corn chips. I’m an avocado fan, so it was delish!

I used the rest of the pineapple, mango, and the kiwi to make a fresh fruit salad. It hit the spot perfectly on a hot July day!

What I loved about the organic fruit basket is, it would make the perfect gift for almost anyone. Who doesn’t love fruit, and we all like to eat, right? Even the person who has everything would enjoy a basket of delicious fruit delivered to their doorstep. I know I sure did!

We spent the week hanging out at the lake, so not much posting going on! I must say it was very relaxing. My son had a blast swimming and tubing. I read plenty of books, and did a little relaxing on the beach.

I hope you’re July is going well so far. I have a little weekend reading for you to check out.

Beading Arts~ Cyndi wants to know: what does your art work say about YOU?

The Artful Crafter~ Read an artist profile of our own Creative Dreamer, June Crawford. Take a peek into another artist’s creative world.

Tottie Talks Crafts~ Recently, Noreen was given a lot of her mother’s embroidery threads. As Noreen thought about how she could work with them, she discovered that magical beings were waiting to emerge from her mother’s treasures and she was inspired to design a crocheted mermaid scarf….

Twilight Eclipse Cupcake Idea~ We went to check out the movie last weekend at the drive in, and had a ton of fun until my battery decided to go dead! Are you a Team Edward or Team Jacob fan? I have to admit, I’m a Jacob fan! Warm and cuddly all the way for me!

I’m a really big rosemary fan. It’s one of my favorite herbs, I buy at least one rosemary plant every summer. Today I have a shortbread cookie infused with rosemary. I really love the citrusy woodsy flavor the rosemary adds to the shortbread, it’s a wonderful combination.

I got the basic recipe from a friend many years ago, and I’ve changed it a bit through the years and adapted it to my own taste.

I used the star cookie cutter to make these, since I made them last week for a 4th of July party, but you can make them any shape. They’re wonderful for Christmas cookies, since the rosemary gives them a wonderful scent and flavor for the holiday season.

Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large Tablespoon of chopped fresh or dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the vanilla, and the rosemary. Then slowly add the flour until the mixture forms a crumbly ball when you knead it.

Roll the mixture out on a floured board until it’s about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick, and cut into squares or use a cookie cutter to make shapes. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for about 1o minutes, or until the top just starts to turn a light golden brown.

Remove the cookies from the baking sheet, and let them cool on a cooling rack.

Enjoy!

I’m a little behind on my links this week! I think I just had too much 4th of July, and not enough worry about working! We had a wonderful weekend at the lake, with plenty of fireworks and swimming. Now it’s back to reality! Well at least a little more reality.

Here are some great artsy and crafty links for you to check out this week, with plenty of fun fresh ideas.

Baby teething necklace part 2
Last week, Noreen posted part 1 of the process (including some how NOT to’s) of making wonderful oversize wooden beads for a baby teething necklace for her grandbaby. This week, she shows how she put it all together.

Beading Arts
Do you like beaded beads? Cyndi shares a tubular peyote bead that takes center stage!

Creative Dreamer
I issued a creativity prompt for our Creativity Invitation at the beginning of June…”Let them eat cake!”…here is my own entry into the challenge!

Fun 4th of July Cake and Cupcake Ideas
A little last minute cake and cupcake inspiration for your 4th of July celebration.

Making an Art Pact
When life stresses you out and you don’t have time to do something creative, how about making a pact with a friend?

The Artful Crafter
Eileen shares step-by-step instructions for making a wooden country critter wall plaque.

Hope you have a good one!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

We’re big tortilla fans at our house! You can put anything in a tortilla and make it a meal, so I was super excited to see this fun contest from Mission Menus.

I’ve shared a few Mission Foods recipes here at Home and Garden Cafe. I also have several of my own recipes using tortillas. I I think I might tweak one or two of them to send in to the contest. Here are a few of the contest details.

Beginning June 28th 2010, Mission Foods is heating up summer with the Mission Menus Challenge!

The contest will feature Chef Sara Moulton encouraging you to submit your budget-friendly recipes to Mission at www.MissionMenusChallenge.com. Finalists will have the opportunity to compete in a cook-off in Los Angeles.

You’ll also have the opportunity to win a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover as well as several other weekly prizes. I don’t know about you, but I’d love to have a kitchen makeover!

The grand prize winner will win round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two to the Mission Menus Challenge Cook-off on September 10, 2010 at the Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles.
You can submit your recipe online between now and August 9th for your chance to win.

Your recipes must be original and include Mission Flour Tortillas. The recipe should also feed a family of 5 for less than $10.

Summer is officially here! Woot! 4th of July celebrations are coming up fast! It’s my favorite time of year for inviting over friends and neighbors for some grilling bbq fun.

Here’s a finger-lickin’ barbecue recipe for your next cookout. You don’t have to be a pitmaster to make this easy recipe for Chili-Glazed Beef Ribs courtesy of Tabasco.

The ribs get their kick from the combination of tangy chili sauce, sweet molasses and original Tabasco pepper sauce. Yum! Just the photo is enough to make my mouth water!

CHILI-GLAZED BEEF RIBS

4 pounds beef back ribs*
4 teaspoons original Tabasco® brand pepper sauce, divided
1/2 cup chili sauce
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325° F.

Brush ribs with 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce. Place in large roasting pan. Cover tightly with foil; bake 1 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, in small saucepan, combine chili sauce, molasses, vinegar, brown sugar, remaining 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce and salt. Heat to a boil, over high heat; reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered about 5 minutes to blend flavors.

Preheat grill to medium-low, over indirect heat. Brush ribs on both sides with sauce. Place ribs on grill; meat-side down. Cover and continue cooking 15 minutes. Turn ribs over; brush with more sauce. Cook 15 minutes longer, or until ribs are tender. Serve ribs with grilled bell peppers, if desired.

Serves 6.

*If you prefer, substitute one 4-pound slab pork spare ribs in place of beef ribs. Prepare as above.

I’ll be back with the recipe for my brother in law’s famous (at least in our family), and delicous bbq ribs!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

We’re heading down to Disney this winter to visit all the amusement parks with my sister and her family. While were there I think we’re going to plan a side trip to Kissimmee, so we can kick back and slow down from the hustle and bustle of the parks. I haven’t been there for several years, so it will be fun to check out what’s changed.

If you’ve never been there, Kissimmee is in Central Florida, and it’s close to several major attractions, including Kennedy Space Center, Disney, and it’s not a bad drive to the beach from there either. You can hop in your car and be to the Atlantic Ocean or the Golf of Mexico in about an hour on a warm sunny day.

Kissimmee has several activities to enjoy, from water parks, golf courses, horseback riding, and ice skating, to ghost tours, and more. I think I’d like to check out the shops in Old Town, and maybe stay for one of their Saturday night car cruises, then head out for a little horseback riding the next day. I’m sure my son and my husband would probably rather hit one of the golf courses, or the beach while we’re there.

If you’re planning a trip to Florida, why not check out all the fun things you can do in Kissimmee while you’re mapping out your trip?

It’s strawberry season! The strawberry season here in Ohio is starting to wind down, but you’ll continue to find good deals on strawberries at farmer’s markets and local groceries for several more weeks. If you’re looking for a way to use up all those yummy fresh strawberries, check out some of the ideas below.

1. Strawberry and blueberry cupcake flag
2. Strawberry pie
3. Quinoa Berry Salad
4. Chocolate Strawberry Trifle

5. Strawberry Ladybug Flower Cupcakes
6. Strawberry Blueberry Yogurt Parfait
7. Strawberry Shortcake
8. Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Fresh strawberries are sooo yummy! Especially when you add them to one of the dessert ideas above! They’ll be perfect to take to a last minute backyard barbecue, or Fourth of July celebration.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 1-800-Flowers. All opinions are 100% mine.

My grandma’s always loved the summer. She enjoys getting out in her garden, or heading out to a day on the beach. Whenever the days turn warm, I always think about her, and the smile on her face when she’s strolling along picking up shells in the sand.

I might just have to send her this bouquet from 1-800-Flowers.com, it reminds me of her cheery smiles and the happiness you can see on her face when the weather warms up. It would be fun to see it brighten her day.

I love the little seashell on the front with the raffia. I’m also a fan of delphiniums, and the contrast of the blue and orange, the whole thing says summer! This bouquet makes me think of my grandma strolling along the beach looking for shells.

1-800-Flowers has a large selection of flower arrangements to fit any occasion. If you have someone you’ve been thinking about, and you’d like to make their day, sending them flowers could be a great way to let them know you care.

Do you have someone you’re thinking about? Why not set up a flower delivery from 1-800-Flowers to let them know you’re thinking about them.