I cannot take credit for the amazing creativity in these Halloween Haunted Candy Houses! I was at Bunco the other night and our hostess had these displayed in her dining room – she is the creative one.

If you are looking for something different to take to your July 4th party this year, you should try these amazing Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers, or what the friend who introduced me to theses calls “Texas Firecrackers.”  These are so good that they are usually the first item on the table to disappear – you may want to make two batches!

Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers or Texas Firecrackers

• 8 large jalapenos
• 1 pkg (8 oz.) cream cheese
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• Dash of salt
• Dash of garlic powder
• 8 slices of bacon

Makes 8 servings

Prep time 15 minutes, total time 40 minutes.

Be sure to take care when removing the seeds and ribs from jalapenos. Do not touch your face, or eyes after handling them. Thoroughly wash your hands and the work surface after preparation.

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Split the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and ribs.
• In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, the cheddar, garlic & salt .
• Stuff the pepper halves generously with the mixture.
• Cut bacon slices in half, wrap a piece around each pepper, or place on top.
• Place peppers on a sided baking sheet and bake 15 to 20 minutes or until the bacon appears crisp and the cheese is bubbly.
• Remove from oven, and let cool slightly before serving.

Use this recipe as a guide – you can actually get creative it with it. Don’t have bacon? No problem, the stuffed peppers will still taste yummy. Try swapping the cheddar cheese for Monterey Jack or Colby. As long as you have the peppers and cream cheese you are good.

Enjoy!!

So, how long until Spring???

Get the details on these cute Groundhog Day cookies and other Groundhog Day activities at Celebrate-It.com.

Last night I was talking with my kids – who are now 13, 11 and 8 – about Easter. In the past we always have done an egg hunt at my parents’ farm with my brothers and their families. This year the cousins are not going to be there – it will just be my kids. So I asked them if we REALLLY need an egg hunt this year or not.

The looks of disgust I got were amazing. How could I dare suggest that we NOT have an egg hunt? Really Mom? Have you lost your mind?

So, while I was at Target today I found these awesome Wonka Hard 2 Find eggs…

HAHAHA! These eggs are meant to be hard to find. They are colored and textured like wood, bark, grass and stones. Guess who is getting the last laugh? Yep, that would be me! I also picked up a bag of the Wonka Zero Gravity eggs – they have suction cups on them and some have loops so you can hide them in places eggs normally just can’t go!

This should be fun!

Happy Birthday USA! With July 4th falling on a weekend this year, the parades, picnics and celebrations will be spread out over a full two days – and there will most likely be something for everyone. Here are some links to resources, ideas and activities to make your fourth of July weekend even more fun!

Get the party started with some free printable Fourth of July party invitations created by me for my new site, Celebrate It!

Then grab some of these July 4th printable activities to get the kids excited about the holiday

• Happy Birthday USA July 4th Coloring Page
• July 4th Word Search
• 4th of July Word Scramble
• 4th of July Animal Themed Coloring Pages
• More Fourth of July Printable Coloring Pages and Puzzles

Make some crafts

• July 4th Craft Projects from Kaboose (I love the Uncle Sam Treat Holders)
• The HP Activity Center has some creative July 4th Craft ideas
• Family Fun also has a large selection of patriotic craft project for Independence Day

Play some fun July 4th Picnic and summer party games

• Backyard Water Games
• Patriotic Games from Family Fun
• Patriotic Bingo
• Active Outdoor Games for Kids
• The Best Outdoor Games for Kids

And don’t forget to stay safe!!

• Tips from the National Council on Fireworks Safety
• Fireworks Safety Tips
• Summer Swim Safety Tips
• 10 Playground Safety Reminders
• American Academy of Pediatrics Summer Safety Tips for Kids
• Barbecue Safety
• Food Safety for Summer Parties and Picnics
• Safety Tips for Boaters, Waterskiiers and other water sports
• Supernanny’s Summer Camp Safety

Have a fantastic week and a safe July 4th weekend!!

Our National Parks are not only true gems of our country, but they make perfect backdrops for some of the most memorable family vacations. The U.S. National Park Service wants more of us to take time to enjoy our national parks, spend time together as families and save money in the process – they are lifting admission fees at 147 parks this summer on three separate weekends. And many of the parks do not charge admission fees any time of the year – which makes them great, affordable family destinations.

The weekends for free admission to the national parks will be:

• June 20-21
• July 18-19
• August 15-16

Most of us have at least one national park within a reasonable driving distance making them perfect for affordable day trips, camping trips or stops along vacation itineraries. Kids love hiking, exploring nature and visiting historical sites. Some of my best childhood memories include a trip to the Grand Canyon, Bryce National Park, Mount Vernon, and Mount Rushmore.

Among the parks included in the Free Weekend promotion are true landmarks such as:

• Grand Canyon National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
• Wright Brothers National Memorial
• George Washington Birthplace National Monument
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

For a complete listing of all the National Parks and Monuments included in this promotion, visit the U.S. National Park Service website.

Photo: Flickr

As families go, we are not really one that watches a lot of TV – we are just too busy, except for December. There is something about all the Christmas specials – the classics and the new that draw us in. Maybe it is the chance to relive childhood memories of Charlie Brown and Snoopy with the kids or the magic of the Winter Warlock taking those memorable steps – by putting one foot in front of the other! Regardless of the reason, I know my DVR was busy last night as I went through and Tivo-ed all our favorites so we can snuggle up on the couch and make a marathon of it when we get a few hours.

TVCrunch has compiled the complete listing for 2008 Christmas TV Specials and Movies so you can now set your DVR.

My favorites include:

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – 12/3 on CBS at 8 p.m.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas – 12/8 on ABC at 8 p.m.
• Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town – 12/10 on ABC Family at 8 p.m.
• Rudolph’s Shiny New Year – 12/10 on ABC Family at 9 p.m.
• Elf – 12/10 on USA at 10 p.m.
• A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa – 12/17 on NBC at 8:00 p.m.

Which Christmas shows do you consider must-sees? Which ones bring back the most childhood memories?