LilSugar

Baked on the Fourth of July Cupcakes

babysugar — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:00:02 -0700

Come on mom... let them eat cake - and a colorful one at that! In the last few months I've discovered the fun to be had with cake mix and a box of food coloring. I'll still push strawberries and blueberries for a healthy dose of patriotism, but a lil red, white and blue cupcake love will be a welcome surprise to all guests at our Fourth of July dinner.

To see how to make them, read more.

Buy white cake mix and all necessary ingredients.
Get a box of Betty Crocker food dye gels.
Mix the batter as instructed.
Divide the mix into three separate bowls and add red to one and blue to the other leaving one as is.
If you want to achieve layers, pour a small amount of red, then the white, and top it off with the blue mix.
Bake as directed.
Allow them to cool, frost them with white icing and top 'em however you like.

Ask tots to help stir while baking and include them in the decorating. Satisfaction guaranteed. Happy Fourth everyone!

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What's Your Favorite Fourth of July Memory?

babysugar — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700

One of my favorite holidays has always been the Fourth of July. My family spent the red, white and blue occasion surrounded by family, fireworks and a feast fit for kings. As youngsters, we built sandcastles at the beach, water-skied on the lake and topped off the evening with countless Black Cat poppers and sparklers as we stared at the spectacle in the sky. As we've grown older and moved farther apart, most of us now spend the patriotic day with our own small families and close friends. But, I will always hold those carefree bottle rocket loving days close to my heart and hope to recreate the same fond memories for my own tiny tots. What's your favorite Fourth of July memory?

Budget Friendly Patriotic Looks For lil Firecrackers

LilSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Even the most dedicated lil fashionistas deck themselves and their tots out in red, white and blue for the Fourth of July. Patriotic duds have popped up all over the place, but given tots' fickle tastes, their excitement over a flag bikini may wane once the last firework cracks. Consider some of our more wallet-friendly options like this swimsuit and matching robe ($14) that can easily be used as separates and used for the rest of the Summer.

Family Ties: Happy Fourth of July

LilSugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:00:24 -0700

The Fourth of July brings out the kid in everyone. Growing up in San Francisco, we had our annual fireworks display. My grandparents would walk from their house next door armed with the biggest box of fireworks you could buy from a portable stand and extra sparklers for us kids. After dinner and a patriotic dessert, my dad, the master of ceremonies would line the edge of the lawn with collapsible chairs and organize our arsenal of pretty explosives. It was a chaotic, yet choreographed affair, with my father sporadically freaking out when my grandfather who loved his cocktails, would get close enough to ignite himself.

As my sisters and I sat holding our sparklers at safe distances, my brother, the eager apprentice watched my dad ignite towers, screamers and spinners, not knowing the practice would become illegal before he got a chance to light a wick. One after the other, we'd watch colorful fire shower above our heads and basketball hoop, believing that the small show in our backyard, interrupted by, "Dad, get out of the way," "Ooh" and "Ah" and the whooshing of the hose spraying down the greenery between explosions rivaled the big displays around the rest of the country.

Enjoy the holiday with your family!
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Delilicious: Red, White and Blue Kebabs

babysugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Very few children can resist a sugar temptation. I try to make my dessert treats healthy by offering fruit instead of candies. This Fourth of July, satisfy your tot's sweet tooth with a patriotic kebab that serves up fresh fruit, Vitamin C and antioxidants all in one. Pile strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peeled apples and bananas onto a skewer for a healthy dose of red, white and blue. If you want to bend the rules a tad, add in mini marshmallows. Serve them as a sweet or snack.

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Jon and Kate Plus 8 Celebrate the Fourth of July as a Family

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:09:55 -0700

While Jon and Kate Gosselin may be seeking independence from their marriage, the couple put their differences aside to throw some Fourth of July festivities for their children. Decked out in patriotic colors, but not the matching outfits the twins and sextuplets normally sport, the tensome enjoyed fireworks on their Reading, PA property. While the Gosselins may be a long way from where they were last year celebrating in North Carolina, we can't help but hope they will reconcile. Check out the adorable photos!

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Jon and Kate Plus 8 Quiz: "July Fourth Celebrations" Episode

LilSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:00:19 -0700

In last night's episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8, the Gosselins asserted their independence, experimented with sparklers, and watched fireworks wash the sky. Take this quiz and see how closely you watched the show.

Take the quiz

Jon and Kate Continue to Hang Out For the Sake of Their Eight

LilSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:50:49 -0700

Say what you will about mom and dad of multiples, Jon and Kate Gosselin, but it's pretty impressive that despite their differences, the soon-to-be former husband and wife are still seemingly amicable around their children. They both appeared to enjoy their home-thrown Fourth of July festivities with their twins and sextuplets. Then, Jon took a very public jaunt to France with girlfriend Hailey Glassman, and granted an interview to People despite the statement that the parents issued saying they would not be talking publicly again about their divorce. One might have suspected he'd receive a chilly reception upon his return, but that doesn't look like the case in these photos of the tensome hanging out together.

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Mommy Dearest: Parents Encouraged Beer Swigging Child

LilSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:00:09 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

On the Fourth of July we were sitting at the park waiting for the fireworks to begin when the families on a nearby blanket set up their picnic. One child who was no more than four-years-old started whining and said he wanted a beer instead of his juice box. His whimpers quickly became a full blown temper tantrum and though the mom refused to hand over the bottle, the dad gave in and opened the beverage! The boy took a few swigs and began screaming when his parents tried to take it away. To make matters worse, the father and his friends began snapping photos of the kid drinking, which undoubtedly egged him on. In the end, I think he drank about four or five ounces of the alcohol. I was in disbelief and wanted to call the police, but wasn't sure what to do. Am I overreacting?

– Teetotaling Mommy

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Teetotaling Mommy,

The drinking age in the United States is 21 so what you witnessed was against the law. While a child mistaking a beer for another beverage and taking an accidental sip is one thing, a father handing over a cold one for his preschooler to chug is quite another. Four or five ounces of alcohol is an awful lot for such a small child to drink. And, snapping photos and cheering the tot on is rather odd. I'm curious if the parents were also drinking? In any event, I think it's fair to step in and say something or contact authorities when you believe a child's well-being is in danger and this may have been such a case.

-Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

Celebaby Roundup

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:52 -0700

There was lots to celebrate thanks to the extra long Fourth of July weekend! Celeb families were out and about in full force and we got some good glimpses of what they were doing.

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