Randomly Crazy Mom: Last minute 4th Of July ideas!

OH. MY. GOD!

Did anyone else forget that tomorrow is the 4th of July?!?! Well, I did! I have nothing planned...AT ALL!! What is sad is the 4th is my all time favorite holiday! Sad, I know!

Well, I can fix this and hopefully help some of the that forgot also! Here are some last minute ideas to save the day!

Red, White, and Blue Strawberries

Ingredients

16 ounces white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1 pound fresh strawberries with leaves
Blue sprinkles

Directions

Insert toothpicks into the tops of the strawberries.
In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by the toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture.
Dip the lower area of the chocolate into the blue sprinkles.
Turn the strawberries upside down and insert the toothpick into Styrofoam for the chocolate to cool.

Red, White, and Blue Jell-O Stars

Ingredients:

4 small (3 oz.) boxes of Jell-O or store brand “gelatin dessert” in different colors (I used two packages each of strawberry and blueberry)
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (such as Knox)

Directions

Make a double batch of each flavor of Jello (a double batch using the two boxes of strawberry, and a double batch using the two boxes of blueberry) according to package instructions in two 9×13-inch pans. Refrigerate until completely chilled.
Remove the jello and use a knife to cut each batch into small squares (mine were about 1/2-inch). Carefully remove all squares from the pans, then mix and layer the blocks into a new 9×13-inch pan.
In a separate bowl, sprinkle 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin into 1/2 cup cold water and let it sit for 3 minutes. After the gelatin blooms, add 1 1/2 cup boiling water and stir to dissolve. Stir in the can of condensed milk. Then refrigerate mixture for 20-30 minutes until cooled. Pour cooled milk mixture evenly over jello. If need be, use a toothpick to pop any bubbles that have arisen to the surface (just to make it look smooth). Chill overnight.
Use a knife to cut the jello into squares, or use cookie cutters to cut into fun shapes. Serve.

4th of July Layered Drinks

Ingredients

CranApple juice
Sobe Pina Colada flavored drink
G2 Gatorade
Ice

Directions

Fill your glass 1/3 of the way full with CranApple juice.
Fill to the top with ice.
Slowly pour the remaining drinks directly on top of a piece of ice.

4th of July Tins

Materials Needed

Empty vegetable or soup cans, cleaned out and labels removed
Water
Nail
Hammer
Scrap paper
Ruler
Tape
Spray paint in red, white, and blue

Directions

1. Begin the tin can luminaries by filling the cans up to the top with water, then place them in the freezer until the water is frozen solid. This will allow you to hammer a nail into the side of the can without the can denting.

2. Next, think about some designs you want to punch into the sides of the can. I chose to punch the letters USA, a star, and some fireworks. Cut out your templates, place on the can, and trace around them with a permanent marker (or draw freehand).

3. Continue making the tin can luminaries by using a nail and hammer to punch out the design. Start at one end of the pattern and place the nail along the line. Gently pound the nail in with a hammer. The nail will go through the can into the ice. Continue working around the pattern until the design is punched out.

4. Allow the ice in the can to melt, and dry the can completely.

5. Next, you can paint the cans if you wish although I think they look great plain silver too. Spray the bottom portion of the cans blue with the blue spray paint. Protect your work surface with newspapers and use good ventilation (preferably outdoors like I did).

6. When the cans are completely dry, cut a piece of scrap paper to wrap around the can. Make it 1/3 the height of the can. The cans I used were 4.5 inches high, so I made my first strip of paper 1.5 inches. Wrap the paper around the bottom part of the can, covering the blue painted area, and tape it closed.

7. Now take the cans outside again and this time give them a good spray of the white spray paint, and allow the cans to dry well. When they are dry you can remove the paper strip.

8. Next, make another paper strip 2/3 the height of the can. In my case, I made the strip of paper 3 inches wide. Secure around the blue and white portions of the can, leaving only the top portion exposed, and secure with tape. Take the cans outside again and this time spray the top section with the red spray paint, and allow to dry. Remove the paper strip and you will see the pretty red, white, and blue stripes.

9. If you want to further decorate the tin can luminaries, this is the time to do it. If you would like the designs you punched to show up better you can paint them a different color, such as black. When you are ready to illuminate, add a little sand to weigh down the cans and add a tea light candle. Your guests will love them!