Cooling summer treats

Well yesterday I was talking about eating healthy snacks that keep you cool on a hot day.  Here are some of the regular snacks I like to make.  Hopefully there will be something here you haven't tried before that sounds good to you.  Most of these items contain fruits and veggies, so maybe one of these recipes will be a way to get a picky eater to eat healthier.

Waters
First things first, we all need water to live so why not mix it up and make water fun?  Sometimes just changing the ice can make it fun.  Used crushed ice and make it a water slushy.  You can also basically add any fruit or veggie to water to give it a flavor.  Let your kids pick what flavors they want to mix up and make.  Here are some of the foods to consider using: mint, watermelon, cucumber, strawberry, lemon, lime, blueberries and blackberries. 

Frozen fruit
This is so simple, but making fruit just a few degrees colder than just your fridge can make it yummy.  This works great for teething babies too, because not only does it soothe gums, but also gives them a serving of fruit.  My brother loved frozen grapes when he was little, but play around and try different fruits, they can make a yummy, healthy treat for those that are already sick of normal fruit.  You can freeze the fruit yourself either for the day or by the season, or you can buy frozen fruit at almost any supermarket. 

You can also throw the frozen fruit in a blender, add juice, yogurt and/or ice and blend it together making a smoothie.  Kids love cooling drinks and they are packed with vitamins.  They taste so good your kids usually don't even know they are eating something that's also good for them.  You can also slip in a veggie or two to the mix to add a little fiber and pack it full of even more vitamins. 

Popsicles
Take any kind of fruit or juice you want.  If it's fruit you're going to have to turn it into a juice first.  Then pour into a cup or Popsicle maker and put a stick in the cup.  Freeze the mixture and you have a Popsicle that has only ingredients you can pronounce.  You get to know exactly what your kids are eating and your kids get to eat dessert.  I used to love making these with the neighbor kids growing up.  You can also use an ice cream maker and make sorbet for a more mature dessert.  This way you can serve it to guests without having to peel off a cup first.  There is nothing I love to eat more than my home made strawberry sorbet in the summer. 

Fruit shapes
Using a cookie cutter, slice out shapes from a slice of melon.  Sometimes all it takes is putting fruit into a different shape to get kids to eat it.  Stars can be served for adults and kids alike.  You can even put them on a stick to make a "fancy" edible centerpiece at your summer bbq.  Honestly you can use any cookie cutter you want to make fun shapes.  Let your kids pick the shape, or even better let them cut the watermelon for you! 

Going Above and Beyond for Overnight Guests

This is part two of cleaning for guests.  You will have lots house guests over the course of your married life.  There are your in-laws, kids' friends and many other guests that will enjoy nights in your house if you are lucky.  In addition to just cleaning the house, there are a few special things you can do and provide for overnight guests to make sure they are comfortable and will stay with you again and again.

Before they come or right after they get there depending on how long they will be staying, ask them if they have any allergies or any special dietary needs.  It's polite to go shopping and stock your fridge and house with food and drink that the guests enjoy, especially if they will be staying for a couple of nights.  A small gesture like the brand of water they like to drink will make your guests feel more welcome than anything you can say. 

Review the guest bathroom.  Is there soap?  Extra tp?  Does your toilet have a tendency to clog?  If it does consider subtly adding a plunger somewhere in the bathroom.  Nothing is more humiliating than having to ask for a plunger when you're a guest.  Clean towels for body, hands and face?  Are all of the surfaces clean?  Make sure the shower/tub is clean too in case your guests would like to shower. I use an electric toothbrush so I store all of my freebies from the dentist in the guest bathroom just in case someone forgot a toothbrush and needs to borrow one. 

Freshen up the guest room.  I put clean sheets on the bed, open the windows and just dust all of the surfaces.  We don't use our guest room a lot so though it doesn't get too dirty, it's probably the stalest of the rooms.  If you can, invest in a comfortable guest bed.  You don't have to spend a lot of money since it doesn't have to be heavy duty, but find a bed that's comfortable.  I don't know how many times I've been miserable and exhausted while visiting people because my bed was so uncomfortable.  Make sure the sheets are comfortable too.  I like the jersey cotton ones on a guest bed because they work for summer and winter.  They are also only 20 dollars for a set, so they feel amazing considering you only dropped 20 dollars on the guest bed.  I also store an extra blanket in the room and a fan in the summer so the guests can pick the temperature of the room. 

Doing these things don't take much time, but you will be surprised what a little effort will do to make guests feel comfortable.  When your guests feel welcome they will visit again and again. 

Fake a Clean House for Last Minute Guests

Surprise!  You invited friends from a play date at the park over for dinner tonight, or your significant other called and is bringing home dinner guests.  You look around and realize your house looks like a scene from Hoarders (well maybe not that bad).  How are you going to possibly clean the house and make a meal in a matter of a few hours? 

Take a deep breath and relax.  See my post from earlier this month on roasts or consider something in the slow cooker so you have more time to clean, but don't worry.  I'll give you a few points on faking a clean house in less than an hour.

Before you start anything considering serving your guests outside.  If you have a nice, clean, patio and the weather is nice consider having a bbq.  Guests won't mind helping wipe down a table and chairs for dinner and the less time they are in the house, the less time they have to notice dirt. 

Before you start cleaning crack a few windows.  Fresh air will make your house smell less stale and get rid of whatever odors your house normally smells like.  The fresh air will also help take away the vinegar smell or whatever products you use to clean your house. 

Clean up the clutter first.  Make sure you remove the clutter from surfaces like counters, tables maybe even the floor depending on your house.  We keep a mail tub with all of the random papers we collect and when guests come over we just move it to the desk in the office.  Honestly, you just have to move the clutter to a bedroom or office, a room the guests won't be seeing.  You can easily close the door to a messy room.  Clutter makes the house look smaller than it is, it also makes the house look messier than it actually is.  Cleaning off the clutter is the fastest way to make a house look cleaner. 

After the clutter is put away clean off the surfaces of everything.  I run a quick duster over bookshelves and the tv.  I also use vinegar and a rag and clean off the table and counter tops.  The counters may get dirty again from dinner, but that's explainable and crusty dinner from last night is not.  While I'm doing this I also take a quick check of the walls and knock down any new cobwebs and scrub any big marks on the walls. 

Peek into your guest bathroom.  Make sure there is tp, soap and a clean hand towel.  Sweep the floor or wipe down the toilet or sink if they look dirty.  You can basically clean an entire bathroom in less than 15 minutes so it shouldn't take very much time at all to check and clean anything that needs to be fixed.

Lastly, I clean the floors.  I usually vacuum them and if I have extra time I'll steam mop or use a little mop and glow to make them extra clean.  I might also vacuum off my couches if they are full of dog hair and I have extra time. 

Your house is ready!  At least it looks clean even if the bedrooms are a disaster area.  Remember you are the harshest critic of your own house.  Guests just want to spend time with you, they don't care about your house.  As long as you make them feel welcome, have fun and maybe go the extra mile to serve something yummy, your guests will have a wonderful time.