3 Recipes Featuring Blueberries to Eat, Drink, and Celebrate!

Blueberries might be the secret to my grandfathers' long lives.  And I've had the privilege of picking wild blueberries with one of my grandpas, who is now 97 years old, when I was young.  I think I might have even used a tin pail like in the book Blueberries for Sal.  Or perhaps I used an empty ice cream bucket.  In any case, the fresh berries were marvelous!

Here are three delicious recipes that feature blueberries, to inspire you to indulge in some blue goodness this weekend:

Blueberry Peach Clafoutis - Grain Free & Dairy Free 

@ Swirls and Spice

Sparkling Blueberry Punch

@ Roots of Simplicity

Blueberry English Muffin Toasting Bread

@ Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice

I share ideas here. 

This post contains an affiliate link.

Colorful Melted Candy Suncatcher

A burst of color is what we need as we await the beauty of spring that is still yet to come.  And with some Jolly Rancher candies and our oven, we made a lovely suncatcher in the shape of an Easter egg.  It now hangs in the window, catching rays of sunlight through the translucent colors to brighten up the kitchen.  It's easy to make your own suncatcher by melting hard candy.  Here's how.


Supplies needed:

• hard candy in assorted colors (we used Jolly Rancher candies)
• baking parchment
• baking tray
• metal skewer
• waxed dental floss or ribbon

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F (140 C).  Line the baking tray with parchment.
2. Arrange the candies on the parchment in an eye-pleasing roundish shape.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the center is melted flat.
4. Tilt the warm tray to swirl the colors a bit and to even out the shape.
5. Allow the disc formed to cool.  Trim the edges with a knife or break off small shards to even out the edges somewhat.
6. Heat the pointed end of the metal skewer over a stove top burner and puncture a hole near the top of the disc.  Allow the edges of the hole to harden before threading with floss or ribbon.  
7. Hang up your suncatcher near a window.

I might be sharing this idea here.

8 Ways to Welcome Spring, No Matter the Weather

The calendar says that spring is here.  Winter is reluctant to leave these parts, but we're going to welcome spring with some of these activities anyway.  Here's how you can join us:

1.  Plant some seeds, inside or outside.  A recent post at Simple Bites demonstrates how to start seeds indoors.

2.  Make some colorful springtime snacks.

Ladybugs on a Celery Stick

Vanilla Sprinkle Ice Cream Bites

Deviled Eggs with Greens

3.  Play a spring-inspired game.

Eco-Friendly Flower Game

 Ladybug Games

 4.  Create some watercolor cards to send.

Watercolor Easter Cards

5.  Sing songs or recite poems or rhymes (with actions) that celebrate spring, Easter, and/or Passover.
     
          Some possibilities:

• Round and Round the Garden
• Two Little Blackbirds
• Five Little Ducks
• 1-2-3 Jesus is Alive
• Three Days
• Chad Gadya (One Little Goat)

6. Add flowers to your table or home decor.  Gather them fresh from outside or craft them inside.

Tulip Napkin Rings

7. Make a pitcher of fresh lemonade and invite a friend over to enjoy it together.

Cherry Lemonade Mixer

8. Sort through clothes and have a spring fashion show.  In the process, decide ahead of time what to wear to events like Easter or spring concerts.

I'm sharing this post here.

March Holiday Activity Ideas

While three kids are at school and my one-year-old is napping, I am enjoying a quiet moment.  It's a good time to make plans for the rest of the week and beyond.  While the sub-zero temperatures (Celsius) here don't suggest that Easter is coming soon, the calendar says otherwise.  I collected some colorful ideas for St. Patrick's Day and Easter that I hope will inspire me to create and celebrate these holidays with my children.  Perhaps you will fancy one or more of these ideas too.

For St. Patrick's Day, March 17th:

Green Snacks for St. Pat's

Rainbow Swirl Cake with Natural Colors

at my new food blog!

Rainbow Games

Shamrock Door Hanging

Shamrock Garland

For Easter, March 31st:

12 Ideas for a Healthy and Meaningful Easter 

Source: Uploaded by user via Sheri on Pinterest

Easter Egg Paper Craft

Recycled Paper Easter Baskets

Watercolor Easter Cards

Are you planning any special holiday activities for March?

Watercolor Cross Cards for Easter

We enjoyed making these simple hand-painted cards
as we remember the cross of Jesus this week.

MATERIALS LIST:

• Paper
• Scissors
• Painter's tape (or masking tape)
• Paints (we used watercolors)
• Paintbrushes

Directions:  

1. Cut the tape and stick on the paper to form a cross.
2. Paint around the cross.
3. Remove tape carefully and allow paint to dry.

I'm sharing our project at Kids Get Crafty and the Strut Your Stuff Link Party this week.

Recycled Newspaper Easter Baskets

If bowls can be made out of magazine pages, why not make baskets for Easter?  Even kids can help fold the paper before an adult carefully glues the pieces together.  The small version of these eco-friendly Easter baskets can be completed in less than an hour (not including drying time).   Furthermore, it's the kind of simple project that can be done while you are watching T.V. or listening to a radio program.


MATERIALS LIST:

• Newspaper inserts (e.g. uncut coupon inserts)
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• Non-toxic paint, optional
• Paint brushes or cotton swabs for painting, optional
• Newspaper strips for paper mache, optional
• Flour and water paper mache paste, optional

Directions:

1.  Fold a single sheet of a newspaper insert in half lengthwise.  Then continue to fold each side in half or thirds again until you have a symmetrically folded strip that is the width you desire.  Most of our strips were about 1 centimeter wide.

 

 2.  Next, roll the strip up into tight concentric circles and secure with a thin line of hot glue as you go.  Be extremely careful not to burn your fingers!

3.  Continue to add and glue more folded strips until you form the desired size of bowl.  Then, take another strip and glue on a handle.  For larger baskets you will need to glue together two folded strips to make a handle.  I also wrapped another couple of strips around the main handle for strength and a spiral decorative effect.

Bigger baskets take at least an hour to construct.

This smaller basket was made from 10 insert sheets.

4.  OPTIONAL: Add paper mache and/or paint your baskets and let them dry.  Add ribbons when finished if you like.

5.  Fill baskets with eggs, candy, or healthy snacks (if you are anti-candy like me).

For more ideas on how to be resourceful with newspapers,

see this post at Money Saving Mom.

Can We Celebrate Easter without Loads of Candy?

Except for my husband's undying affection for jelly beans, I would love to escape the holiday with little to no Easter candy.   This means I will need to avoid the candy aisle and encourage grandparents to do the same.  Instead, we can offer Easter treats that spare my children's bodies from unhealthy sugar.   Here are twelve ideas for consideration, all of which aim to enrich their bodies, minds, and spirits.

For the body:

1. Fresh fruits and fruit juice
What could be healthier than a colorful medley of fresh fruit favorites?

2. Fruit and nut bars
I like to give snack bars that are naturally sweetened with dates (versus corn syrup). Larabar offers fun flavors like apple pie and gingerbread cookie, which are healthier alternatives to candy bars.

3. Whole wheat cheddar bunnies and chicks
No sugar is necessary to enjoy cute bunnies if I opt for whole grain snack crackers by Annie's. I recently also found some adorable Market Pantry brand chickadee crackers at Target.  Making and cutting out our own crackers is another option.


4. Flying disk (a.k.a. Frisbee)
Why not encourage the kids to get moving and have fun throwing, chasing, and catching a flying disc?

5. Jump rope
I could tuck in a traditional rope with handles, or give an elastic Chinese jump rope, which can be used outside or indoors on rainy days.

6. Binoculars
These could help spark a love of the outdoors when my kids are in the backyard or we could take the binoculars along on a nature walk.

For the mind:

7. Puppets
Puppets are great for imaginative play and for adding an interactive element to stories. Buying or making finger or hand puppets can provide hours of fun storytelling.

8. Magnifying glass
My kids are always excited to study the natural specimens they find outdoors; rocks, bugs, leaves, flowers, and more natural treasures await their inquisitive eyes.

9. Craft kit
We love to do crafts in our house.  I am all for encouraging creativity and the development of fine motor skills with an appealing project kit appropriate each child's age.

10. Markers or paint set
From oldest to youngest, I know my children will enjoy a fresh infusion of art supplies.

For the spirit:

11. Bible or Bible story book
What better occasion than Easter go to the Book and find the story of the first Resurrection Sunday?

12. Resurrection eggs
My children are always captivated by the 12 object lessons that illustrate the story of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.

There are a few more ideas for holiday gift and candy alternatives in these articles:

Simple Holiday Gift Ideas for Families with Kids
Beyond Candy...