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To say my little man and I enjoyed Pennsylvania Shakespeare's production of Shakespeare for Kids is a HUGE understatement.

I wondered how they would not only fit the entire story of Hamlet into 45 minutes but also perform it in a way so that kids as young as 5 would be interested. I knew within 5 minutes of sitting in my seat.

The four actors were so kid-friendly and animated. They did Shakespeare but threw in stuff kids knew like when they were talking about Ophellia not being allowed to talk to Hamlet (not even on Facebook) and they explained the Shakespearian words so that even a 5 year old understood.

Audience participation also kept everyone interested from the word of the show that required everyone to yell when it was said to having a member of the audience come up on stage to help the show along. There was singing and words were given out but the lyrics were simple enough that even those not yet reading all that much could follow along rather easily.

Time flew and before we knew it the show had ended. We were able to meet a few cast members and get autographs which was cool. No photos were permitted during the show so you'll have to go for yourself to see all the fun.

It's a wonderful experience for kids and a great way to introduce them to the Bard and one of his works.

You can still win a family 4-pack of tickets to see the show thanks to the Lehigh Valley Kids's Guide and their giveaway. The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's FaceBook page also has FREE tickets available for tomorrow's performance. So enter the giveaway since  you could also win tickets to see Sleeping Beauty and get out and get cultured!

There's still time. . .

Did you enter yet? There's still time and you could win a family 4 pack of tickets to see Sleeping Beauty or Shakespear for Kids! Introduce your child to the world of theater and performance with these kid-friendly shows that are right in our backyards.

My first GIVEAWAY!!!

Lehigh Valley Family Fun is now listed in the Lehigh Valley Kids Guide Mom Connect Blog Directory. Thank you to that local edition of the US Family Guide for including us!

A great addition to our blog now is that we'll have the opportunity for some giveaways!

Thanks to the US Family Guide we'll be offering the chance for some readers/followers to win tickets to for Muhlenberg's Summer Music Theater production of Cinderella or a family four pack to the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival!

Thank you to the guide for giving us this opportunity to thank our readers/followers and for picking us up! :)

Temps Rise and Leaves Wilt - Protecting your outside investment

All is not lost when temps rise and the garden is out in the elements. The sight of all those fruits and veggies wilting in the sun is painful but there are ways to help them hold on. . .

1. Water - It's an obvious one but every morning before the sun hits the garden and every evening when it's setting you need to give those plants a drink. You need to get them a drink before the ground is dry and the water just runs off - that doesn't do much good.You need to be sure plants will dry before night comes to eliminate the chance of any fungus developing - I water with diluted milk at night which supposedly helps eliminate this problem...but I also do it leaving plenty of time for the plants to dry before the sun completely sets. I pour the water right at the bottom of the plants where they need it most so it soaks in.

2. Mulch - You can buy hay and straw for this purpose or do what I do - grab those 'free' grass clippings. I actually did this when I transplanted my tomatoes and the darn things are doing great so far in this current heat wave. Okay, one is looking very sad but I believe that to be my fault as when I was hammering the garden stakes in I think I damaged its roots. I gave it an extra drink and it's fighting so we'll see but in general approximately 5 inches of something to help lock in moisture will do wonders. You still need to water more in these high temps but the mulch will help lesson the amount that evaporates.

3. Snip off those flowers - Basil forms those pretty white flowers and mint has purple. Sure, they're nice to look at but they also take energy away from the plant. Snip them and you'll have healthier plants. I always do this with my basil so I have more yummy basil rather than some basil topped with flowers.

4. Weeds - You normally pick the weeds out anyway but when the temps rise there's even more reason - they're stealing water from your fruits and veggies! Try to do this early morning or early evening when it isn't as hot, drink fluids, wear sunscreen and take breaks if it's an intense job. I try to weed almost daily so it's not a huge endeavor but when it's a 'hot one' out there I get a little more into it trying to get rid of anything that would steal a drop of that precious moisture from my plants.

5. Shade - IF you have the ability to put up a tarp or canopy to help shade your area go for it. Some plants like tomatoes can handle it better than say, cucumbers (speaking from personal experience). Just be sure to remove it when/if it does finally rain so they get a good drink. I'm also guessing  you should at night so you're not trapping too much moisture as that may result in plant fungus growth.

More gardening tips from my Frugal Family column on Patch.com.

6 Weeks Left to WIN!

The US Family Guide wants to help families all over make some great 

family memories this Summer by giving away some amazing family vacations!

There are still 6 weeks left so enter today and win!

More details can be found on the giveaway website as well as coupons to the destinations so even if you don't win - you can still save.

Not interested in traveling to Colorado or California? 

Fear not - another giveaway will offer some tickets to LOCAL attractions for the family!  

What Summer means to me. . .

 

 

 

Let's Cook ~ Cucumber Spinach Sandwiches

My garden is doing rather well this year and the cucumbers are amazing! I'm thankful that we'll be getting some rain tonight because they could use it (as can the 10 tomato plants out there).


I'm trying to come up with new ideas for the cucumbers rather than the usual cucumber salad that I normally make. You can freeze them - they get limp but if you're making the salad they work just fine.

This is an adaptation of a recipe I found a while ago. I added spinach because I had some in the garden. You could probably also add celery finely chopped for more crispness or even shredded carrots for color!



Ingredients:

12 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped spinach
1/2 teaspoon fresh dill weed
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions:

1. Once the cucumber is peeled, seeded and finely chopped, use a paper towel (or cloth towel) to soak up as much of the cucumber juice as possible.
2. Blend the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a food processor until smooth.
3. Using a spatula, combine cream cheese and mayonnaise mixture in the bowl with the cucumber.
4. Add the spinach, dill and garlic salt and mix well.
5. Allow the mixture to chill for at least an hour before making sandwiches.

You can use a mini party loaf bread to make finger food-type sandwiches or regular-sized pieces of bread for a summertime lunch. If you prefer, you can also leave the mixture in a bowl and serve it as a dip!

Need something to do this weekend?

The Blueberry Festival returns to Burnside Plantation in Historic Bethlehem this weekend! It's the festival's 26th year with everything blueberry.

In the mood for freshly picked blueberries and raspberries? Head to Prydenjoy Farm or even George Schmidt Berry Farm for plenty of pick-your-own berry fun!

The Crayola Factory is celebrating its 15th Birthday with a day of festivities.

Easton's Farmer's Market is going on for another 45 minutes or so.

Need more ideas?

Lehigh Valley Family Fun in Mom Connect Directory

Lehigh Valley Family Fun is now part of the USFamilyGuide Network!
You can now find us in their "Moms Connect" area.

USFamilyGuide is a nationwide network of over 500 online family guides generating over 800,000 visitors each month. You can find us listed as a permanent feature in the Lehigh Valley edition. :)

Check out all that they have to offer! Do you have a business and want to advertise with them? Go for it!

Recycle & Reuse

This week's Frugal Familycolumn has some ideas on what to do with plastic bags and newspapers that always seem to collect. What's the best way to get rid of something - reuse it and extend it's purpose! Get 110% of your money out of your purchase or get ahead of the game if the item (such as a plastic bag)had no initial cost.

And for the family - check out Groupon and save at DaVinci Science Center. Admission for 2 for just $12!!! Toddlers up to age 3 get in for free, and regular admission for children and seniors is $8.95. Not a bad bit of savings AND they have a new Summer exhibit. I've heard it's a great place to take the kids and for $12...it's worth checking it out!

My Frugal Family Column

Each week I write a column for patch.com and it's posted to both SouthWhitehall.Patch.com and UpperMacungie.Patch.com. Last week I wrote about the great opportunity we have in this area with so many pick-your-own farms. You not only save money but have an opportunity for some family time.

This week's column will be about reusing items around the house - namely plastic bags and newspapers. After you unload groceries, when you're finished with the funnies - what becomes of bags and papers? Well...have I got ideas for you! Check out South Whitehall Patch on Wednesday, July 13th for the details!

Future columns will include stay-cation ideas for the family, making your own soap and other household items for less and canning basics. You never know what the topic but you can always find ways to save. :)

Let them eat eggs. . .

The incredible edible egg. The poor thing has gone from a breakfast staple to an avoided protein . . . or at least part of it. I love seeing people eat their scrambled eggs whites. How can they do it? They claim it's to help lower cholorestrol but honestly I'd just eat them less because I like to eat stuff that has flavor.

Happy news though - The latest research from the University of Alberta has found that egg yolks contain two powerful antioxidants that are thought to fight heart disease and cancer. The yolk actually contains more antioxidants than your typical apple! Hello healthy!

Past research has shown that the stomach and intestines convert egg protein into enzymes that act like ACE inhibitors to drop blood pressure. Eggs are also a rich source of carontenoids and lutein which are important for eye health.

Honestly I think as with anything - all good things in moderation.

Fun with Bread

I love reading Once a Month Mom. You get some great ideas on cooking and the idea of doing all your cooking for the month in just one day sounds like a great time saver. I've ever managed that BUT I do cook in bulk quite frequently and one of my favorite parts of this recipe is that you can make the dough and keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks! Fresh bread every night! And while it's not THAT difficult of a recipe it does save a little time which is always a Mom's BFF.

Thank you Once a Month Mom! :)

Artisan Bread
Author/Source:
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day
Ingredients:
3 cups warm water
1.5 tablespoons yeast
1.5 tablespoons kosher salt
6.5 cups all purpose, unbleached, unenriched flour

Directions:
In the large bowl, combine water, yeast, and salt. Stir together. No need to wait until yeast is bubbly. Add in flour all at once and stir together. All portions of the dough should be moistened so that no flour is left uncombined. Cover mixture with lid or plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for two hours, or until doubled in size. Place bowl of dough, still covered, in fridge overnight and up to 14 days.

How to make a loaf: Sprinkle pizza peel – or parchment paper, if you don’t own a peel – very generously with corn meal. You want to make sure your loaf doesn’t stick when you slide it off onto the pizza stone or cookie sheet. Remove bowl from refrigerator. Sprinkle a “cloak” of flour over the dough – you’re not trying to mix it in or make your dough less sticky. Cut off a grapefruit -sized piece of dough, and pull all four sides, one at a time, to the bottom to form a ball. Flour hands if dough is sticking to them. Don’t worry about making the bottom of the loaf look smooth.

Let loaf rest for 40 minutes (or more, if kitchen is drafty or cool). Most of the actual rising will take place in the oven. 20 minutes before baking, place pizza stone in oven on the second to bottom rack, and place broiler pan on the rack below that; preheat to 450. After 40 minutes have passed, sprinkle top of loaf with flour (to keep knife from sticking). Using a serrated knife, make two 1/4 inch cuts crosswise on the top of the loaf. Now, with a quick motion, flick the loaf onto the pizza stone, then pour a cup of hot water into the broiler pan. Shut oven as quickly as possible to retain steam. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until crust is browned and hardened. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack; don’t slice in until cooled because it will release essential moisture moisture.

Freezing Directions:
You can freeze dough after first rise in portions, wrap in parchment and store in freezer bag. You can also freeze the loaf after baking in a freezer bag.

Blogging from my phone. Isn't technology grand

Easton's Market makes top 5

I think everyone knows my love of Farmer's Markets. The fresh foods, the crafts, being outside in the Summer weather and there's always something for everyone. A few weeks back I posted a list of the areas ones and their information - today is a widget from the American Farmland Trust website where people vote on their favorite market. . .Easton's #5! Other area markets usually make the list so vote for your favorite and get out and shop local. :)