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Happy Fathers Day In Heaven, til We Meet Again #fathersday2013

This is the 4th Fathers Day since my dad went to heaven and it still feels like yesterday. I celebrate a man who taught me so many lessons of life. His life was not an easy one, many struggles, disappointments and suffering. But he always made sure that his love shown thru for his wife and children.
One day we'll meet again, on those streets of gold beyond those pearly gates, at the foot of our Lord Jesus.
Until then, memories will be cherished and more Father's Days will be celebrated without you.

2 of my favorite photos: My dad at my brother's wedding acting silly as usual and a trip to the beach we found him sitting with my middle daughter on his lap in a rocking chair. Priceless memories.

Summer Camps We Would Like To Ship Our Kids Off To, But Won't #summercamps #NC

There are so many options for Summer Camps in NC, I know you would love to send your kids to summer camp and have them come home potty trained, doing chores with no argument, learning some awesome common sense and how to drop that lovely teenage attitude, but............summer camps these days are just plain fun instead........for the kids that is. There are many mommy worries that go along with sending your little darlings off to a camp with total strangers. Here are some great tips from Carolina Summer Camps 

How can parents save money when enrolling their child in a summer camp?
	• #1 Register early to take full advantage of all early-bird discounts!  • #2 ASK if they have scholarships, financial aid or a sliding scale.  • #3 Offer to volunteer at camp for a reduced or free camper registration.  • #4 Ask friends of your child(ren) to register together for a group discount.

How can parents prepare their children for attending their first summer camp?

• Day camps are more fun when children know at least one other camper who will be attending. Don't assume that they will be in the same group, let the camp director know your preferences when you initially register your child. • Take a tour of the facility. Let them view their website ahead of time. The more familiar they are with the environment, the less overwhelming they will feel. • For residential camps, make sure that this isn’t the first time your child will be sleeping away from home. Let them practice overcoming their separation anxiety with a couple of sleep-overs with friends or family before going to a residential camp.

How do parents find if a summer camp has had any complaints filed against them?
	• Look up the camp on the Better Business Bureau for any grievances. (BBB.org) • Ask your friends through social media (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.) if they have had any positive or negative experiences with the camp. Your friends will tell you!

When should teens start sending in their resumes to camp directors for summer jobs?

• Many Camp Directors start receiving resumes in January and February.  Don't wait. With the high levels of unemployment, there will be a tremendous  competition for jobs.  Send follow-up emails and make phone calls to show your interest.  • Camp Directors want fun camp counselors who campers will enjoy being around,  while also respecting and obeying them.  The more experience you have working with kids, the better.  Volunteer with your local schools, YMCA, churches, scouts, and other civic organizations  to build your experience levels. What qualities should parents look for in a great summer camp? • A high percentage of returning campers shows that the campers had fun last year. • A low camper-to-counselor ratio. 10:1 is good. 5:1 is great! • Staff trained in CPR, first aid skills, and conflict resolution techniques. • Low staff-turnover shows good experience. What different types of summer camps are there? • Arts Camps • Sports Camps • Academic Camps • Church Camps • Residential Camps • Specialty Camps If my child takes medication during the school year, should he/she take it for summer camp? • First, consult with your child's pediatrician before ever deciding to stop treating your child with any medication. • Most children with allergy, asthma, diabetes, attention and impulsivity  conditions are not "healed" during the summer months. Many times it can be worse with the heat, additional exercise, and being outside.  Children with medical issues usually need special treatment to help them enjoy their summer camp experience the most. • For children who take medication for their attention or impulsivity, it can be especially hard for them to listen to instructions, get along with peers, and control their impulses when they are not on medication. How are campers disciplined? Are refunds given if my child has behavior problems? • Ask the Camp Director for a copy of their discipline policy. If they don't have one, inquire how campers are disciplined for misbehaving, It can vary from Time Out to clean-up duty. • Most camps do not give refunds for campers who violate  camp rules and they are expelled, but ask the Camp Director  ahead of time for clarity if this is a concern.  How safe is the camp? • There are always accidents. How often do injuries happen? Ask the Camp Director if they have had any serious injuries in the past. Is there much turn-over in staff? Are there first aid kits easily accessible? • Be sure to let the camp know if your child has any severe allergies. Most day camps have a time for kids to play outside, so they need to know if your child is especially sensitive  to bee stings, sunburn, or accidents.   A Mom Can always Dream can't she............lol

Image credit to nickmom 

A much better option! Check out the Carolina Summer Camps site!

Find the Summer Camp in your area by clicking on the websites below

Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, Winston-Salem

History of National Donut Day and the Original Doughboy Donut Recipe #nationaldonutday

{EAV:59e04445f2935abd} Happy National Donut Day today!! June 7 is the 76th National Donut Day! This delicious holiday is a chance for us to remember the Salvation Army "Donut Lassies" who made and served donuts and coffee to the soldiers fighting on the frontlines of WWI.

Did you know that the iconic Salvation Army Donut Girl is based off a real person? 

Her name was Stella Mae Young.



The idea for Donut Day began on the battlefields of France during World War I when Salvation Army workers served coffee and doughnuts to soldiers in the trenches. Rations were poor so the doughnut idea was conceived as a means of bringing the soldiers cheer. Doughnuts were not the reason Salvation Army workers were in the fighting zones of France. Those men and women were there primarily to give spiritual aid and comfort to the American soldier and his allies. They were there to be a link with home and family. 

credit to : http://www.salarmychicago.org/donutday/donutDayHistory.htm

75th Annual National Donut Day Fun Facts:

Salvation Army:

• The Salvation Army started National Donut Day during the Great Depression as a way to raise funds and bring awareness to The Salvation Army’s social service programs.
•  National Donut Day commemorates the “donut lassies,” female Salvation Army volunteers who provided writing supplies, stamps, clothes-mending and home-cooked meals, and of course, donuts, for soldiers on the front lines.
•  Approximately 250 Salvation Army volunteers provided assistance to American soldiers in France starting in 1917 during WWI.
•  With limited resources, these treats were fried, only seven at a time. The Salvation Army’s Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance cleverly thought of frying donuts in soldiers’ helmets.
•  Last year, 30 million Americans received assistance from The Salvation Army’s 3,600 officers, 60,000 employees and 3.4 million volunteers.

Entenmann’s Bakery:

• Entenmann’s has made more than 4 billion donuts – if you laid them end-to-end, you could wrap them around the earth almost 9 times!
•  The Rich Frosted Donut has been the #1 seller since its introduction in 1972. (2012 marks the 40-Year Anniversary – that’s a sweet celebration.)
• Entenmann’s Donut Facility in Carlisle,Pennsylvania Is the largest Donut Plant in the United States, producing more than 40 million boxes of yummy delight each year.
•  Believing that people were more inclined to buy what they can see, the Entenmann’s brothers, William, Robert and Charles, and mother, Martha, invented the familiar “see-through” cake box for baked goods in 1959.
•  At one time, more than 168 million pounds of chocolate have been used for Entenmann’s Rich Frosted Donuts, enough to fill all of the Great Lakes.
• In the early ’50s, Frank Sinatra used to call the Bay Shore bakery to place weekly orders from Entenmann’s.

The Original Doughboy Donut Recipe

Yield: 4 doz. doughnuts

• 5 C flour
• 2 C sugar
• 5 tsp. baking powder
• 1 ‘saltspoon’ salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 C milk
• 1 Tub lard

DIRECTIONS

• Combine all ingredients (except for lard) to make dough.

• Thoroughly knead dough, roll smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (When finding items to cut out doughnut circles, be creative! Salvation Army doughnut girls used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)

• Drop the rings into the lard, making sure the fat is hot enough to brown the doughnuts gradually. Turn the doughnuts slowly several times.

• When browned, remove doughnuts and allow excess fat to drip off.

• Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and enjoy.

Enjoy a Donut today and teach your kiddos how they actually started! 

  

FunBites: Making Mealtime Fun #Giveaway

I told you all about Funbites, now you can win one for your house! all you have to do is enter! How simple is that! Enter the giveaway below, easy peasy!

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Ya'll is a proper noun here in North Carolina #NC

My Tea is Sweet here in North Carolina!

Lightnin Bugs

Some Beautiful reasons why I call North Carolina home....................Ya'll

Raspberry Mint Marshmallow Creme Fruit Dip

Summertime is the best time for making this wonderful fruity dip and sharing it with your friends and family. The perfect barbeque, baby shower or church picnic platter to take with you. The fresh mint makes it pop and the lemon yogurt added some zing to the fruit.

Ingredients:
4 oz cream cheese (from 8-oz package), softened
1 cup marshmallow creme (Fluff)
1 container (6 oz) 99% Fat Free lemon yogurt {I used Greek yogurt}
½ cup fresh raspberries
2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint leaves

{cut pretty for dipping}
15 fresh strawberries, stems removed, cut lengthwise in half
3 kiwifruit, each cut into 10 wedges
30 pieces (2-inch) fresh pineapple

In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, marshmallow creme, yogurt and raspberries with electric mixer on high speed until smooth. Stir in mint. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 12 hours.
Find a pretty bowl and dip tray to serve this on~
Serve dip  and enjoy

Happy Memorial Day: Thank You

Happy Memorial Day to all those who have served our country so bravely to keep us safe here at home.

We say thank you!

 

 

Here is some coloring page fun if you are studying Memorial Day this week.

 

 

 

Pillsbury Newsletter: Hottest #recipe ideas around

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