Victorian Circassian Beauties

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In the 1860s P. T. Barnum exhibited women as Circassian beauties. They wore a distinctive hair style, which had no precedent in earlier portrayals of Circassians, but was soon copied by other performers, known as moss haired girls.

These were typically presented Turkish sexual slaves who had escaped the harem for freedom in America.

Their distinctive hairstyle was held in place by the use of beer.

For some reason I am compelled to share this with you – it is something I have never heard about before and am going to be reading more about it. If I find more information about this I will update this post.

 

St. Patrick’s Day “Lucky Charms” Cupcakes

537551_451625448243934_1125038107_nFound on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/HolidayCentral

Lucky Charms Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 box white cake mix
3 eggs
¾ cup sour cream
¾ cup milk
1/3 vegetable oil
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup finely crushed Lucky Charms
(cereal pieces only, no marshmallows)
25 drops green food coloring

Marshmallow Buttercream
4 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup room temperature unsalted butter
1 (13 oz) container marshmallow fluff

Optional: Green sprinkles
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pans with liners.
In a large bowl blend cake mix, eggs, sour cream, milk, oil, and vanilla extract.

Mix in drops of green food coloring until desired color is achieved.
Mix in finely crushed Lucky Charms crumbs until combined.
Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full with batter and bake 18-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.
Take cupcakes out and let cool completely.

In a medium bowl beat room temperature butter with an electric mixer.

Add two cups of the powdered sugar, the vanilla, and the marshmallow fluff and mix until smooth. Continue to add the powdered sugar, a half cup at a time, mixing between each addition.
Pipe onto each cooled cupcake. Top with green sprinkles and a Lucky Charms marshmallow
(do not top with Lucky Charm marshmallow until ready to eat).

Tip: Marshmallow buttercream may become difficult to mix.
If it becomes too stiff, stop adding powdered sugar and finish mixing by hand.
–The Lucky Charms will get mushy and loose their crispness if they remain on top of the frosting too long before eating.

Magic Jelly Beans

555114_478480305534822_1906957858_nAs the weather gets nicer outside I am dieing to get out and garden. I found this great little planting treat on Face Book on $5-10 Dollar Meals- Cheap Eats. Grab a handful of Jelly Beans and plant them in the garden with your children. Have them water them thoroughly and talk to them about planting and how something that starts from seeds can grow and provide us with food to eat. Do tell them though that these Jelly Beans are a fun magical experiment and that if they plant them and nourish them carefully something might grow that they will love. In a couple of days after you see them watering and caring for their magical beans – when they are not looking – take the beans out and “plant” a huge lollipop. They learn something about the process of gardening, doing a little work pays off and may want to help more in the garden.

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Paint Sample Easter Garland

625430_340437909390575_924655536_nThis is such a creative idea for a use of paint samples. You will need a string or ribbon the length you wish your garland to be. You will also need to get paint samples from a paint department. Hole punch or cut egg shapes in these paint samples. Punch two small holes to the top of each “egg” and pull a string through. You can also add letters amongst these that say Happy Easter. You could also do this same project but using or  mixing in wrapping paper, eggs decorated by your children, construction paper or other flat left-over craft supplies you might have.

St Patricks Day Strawberries

14947_446774388729040_2129367802_nDip a perfect strawberry into white or dark chocolate and use candy sprinkles to decorate or use green and white stripes of vanilla sugar icing. Refrigerate and give as a gift or have them for that romantic after dinner time. These could be made to look playful or very elegant depending upon recipient.