As summer approaches, I can’t help but get excited for all those summer parties AND the 4th of July. It’s seriously one of my favorite holidays. 

The 4th of July reminds me of family and friends. It’s a time to get together, eat delicious food, let the kids play, enjoy some time in the pool and of course celebrate the freedom of our amazing country. 

Easy 4th of July Cupcakes

To make these cupcakes, you’ll need to have the following:

White Cake Mix
Butter
Milk
Egg whites 
Creamy Homestyle Cream Cheese Frosting
Blue and Red Food Coloring
Holiday Sprinkles 
8oz Mason Jars

While this recipe is for the cupcakes in a jar, you can make them as a traditional cupcake. 

I like making them in a jar as it really adds another element and they look so pretty! 

The post 4th of July Cupcakes (In a Jar) appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

I love when any holiday rolls around and people have super cute cookies. The problem is, I can’t decorate cookies to save my life.

Yes, I’ve watched all those awesome Facebook videos where someone decorates amazing cookies in seconds. Not ever going to be a thing for me.

Just keeping it real.

Now, these 4th of July cookies are pretty awesome because they literally take zero decorating skills. As long as you can put some frosting on with a butter knife or spatula, you’re good to go.

My kids love this recipe. I mean who doesn’t love a good patriotic dessert, right?

4th of July Cookies

Keep in mind that in this recipe, I do make my own frosting. However, you can also just use store bought. Totally up to you!

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2

Combine butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer.

Step 3

Add sugar and mix well.

Step 4

Mix in the egg and the vanilla.

Step 5

Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Step 6

Mix well until the dough forms.

Step 7

Fold in holiday sprinkles (I used about ½ cup. You could do more or less).

Step 8

Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray.

Step 9

Bake for 30 – 35 minutes (time may depend on how thick your dough is).

Step 10

Remove from oven and let cool completely.

Step 11

While the cookie is cooling, make the frosting (directions below).

Step 12

Once the cookie is cooled, remove from baking dish and frost. Garnish with holiday sprinkles and cut into squares or bars.

Looking for another easy 4th of July Dessert? You HAVE to check out this Patriotic Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs recipe. 

4th of July Cookies

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 egg white
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• holiday sprinkles
• Frosting
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. 

3. Add sugar and mix well. 

4. Mix in the egg and the vanilla. 

5. Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt. 

6. Mix well until the dough forms.

7. Fold in holiday sprinkles (I used about ½ cup. You could do more or less).

8. Line a 9x13 baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray. 

9. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes (time may depend on how thick your dough is). 

10. Remove from oven and let cool completely. 

11. While the cookie is cooling, make the frosting (directions below). 

12. Once the cookie is cooled, remove from baking dish and frost.

    Garnish with holiday sprinkles and cut into squares or bars. 

Frosting

1. Cream together softened butter and vanilla. 

2. Add in powdered sugar and salt. 

3. Mix well with a fork or an electric mixer. 

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 581 Total Fat: 32g Saturated Fat: 19g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 11g Cholesterol: 112mg Sodium: 320mg Carbohydrates: 71g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 50g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 5g

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Christmas Bath Bombs

We used green and red for the holiday season but you can use any colors you’d like. Make these bath bombs for all the different holidays.

• Easy DIY Gifts
• DIY Body Butter

If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to check out some of my other homemade products!

Easy Body Scrub Recipes

Strawberry Face Scrub

The post Christmas Bath Bombs appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

I love seeing the kids faces light up when the fireworks go off. It’s truly a magical day!

One of my favorite desserts on 4th of July is anything with lots of fruit. It’s so hot on the 4th, so some refreshing fruit always hits the spot.

These Patriotic Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs are so easy to make and the kids will love them! I love that they are pretty much mess free.

They also hold up pretty good in the heat.

Patriotic Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs

Ingredients:

• 1 pint of Strawberries
• Angel Food Cake
• Wilton Chocolate Disc Melts, Blue and White
• Wooden Skewers

Directions

1. Cut the top off the strawberries and discard. Then cut the berries in half widthwise so the points are still intact. 
2.  Cut small squares of the cake, about 1 inch in size.
3. Melt the blue and white candy discs in separate bowls.
4. Put a piece of strawberry with a point on the skewer first. Follow with a piece of cake, then another strawberry piece with no point, then a piece of cake, and finally a strawberry with a point on it.
5. Drizzle the chocolate over the skewers.
6. Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite 4th of July dessert? Share in the comments!

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I have since moved away from the town I grew up in but I still celebrate the holiday with my own children. Besides the amazing food that comes along with Cinco De Mayo, we also like making fun Cinco De Mayo desserts. This one, in particular, is a lot of fun and also pretty tasty.

This dessert idea is a fun one to do with tweens and teens!

CHOCOLATE COVERED CACTUS PRETZELS

Yields: 6 cactus pretzels

INGREDIENTS:

6 pretzel rods
12 oz bag Wilton green candy melts
1/4 cup corn syrup
Dark green jimmies sprinkles
Light green jimmies sprinkles
12 Wilton candy eyes (small)
6 Wilton candy mustaches

DIRECTIONS:
1. Line a cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper and set aside.

2. In a microwave safe bowl, add the corn syrup and green candy melts. Microwave and stir in 30 second increments until the mixture becomes thick and slightly pliable (this took me about 4 increments).

3. Pour the melted green candy melts onto the lined cookie sheet and spread out evenly. Allow to cool for 5 minutes. The texture will turn into a taffy-like consistency.

4. Divide up your green chocolate “taffy” into 6 separate pieces. Each piece will be used to make one cactus pretzel. Set aside the lined cookie sheet for later use.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE A CACTUS PRETZEL

1. Divide your taffy piece in half. Flatten and roll out one of the half pieces and place the upper part of a pretzel rod on top of it. Roll the melted chocolate around the pretzel and over the top. Pinch and seal any openings and roll the pretzel back and forth to even the chocolate out.

2. Divide the remaining “taffy” piece in half. Roll each piece into the shape of a cactus arm and press firmly into the shaped pretzel rod. Place back on the lined cookie sheet.

3. Before the chocolate completely hardens on each cactus pretzel, sprinkle with the dark and light green jimmies sprinkles to represent the cactus spines.

4. Press 2 candy eyes into the middle of the pretzel and a candy mustache directly underneath the eyes. Allow the chocolate to completely harden (20-30 minutes).

5. ENJOY!!

TO MAKE CACTUS PRETZEL CENTERPIECES
1. Fill mini clay flowerpots ( I found at Dollar Tree 3/$1) with leftover green “taffy” at the bottom. If the chocolate has already hardened, microwave for 10 seconds to soften it back up.

2. Insert each pretzel rod into the chocolate taffy and fill the flower pot with graham cracker crumbs to look like sand.

NOTE: If you don’t need your centerpieces to be edible, you can also fill each flower pot with Playdoh to keep the cactus upright and then cover with graham cracker crumbs.

The post Chocolate Covered Cactus Pretzels – Cinco De Mayo Dessert appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

Mother’s Day Activities

Celebrate Mother’s Day this year by getting up and out of the house! Do something special for yourself or your mom.

Spa Day

This should go without saying. Splurging and getting the mom in your life a day at the spa is always a good idea. Whether it’s a simple mani/pedi or a more extensive massage and relaxation treatment, there’s no doubt she’ll appreciate the effort.

Go for a Picnic

Instead of going out for a fancy dinner, do something a little more personal. Put together some of her favorite foods and pick a favorite location and head out! This is a great way to get the kids involved, too. They can help pack the basket and even help prepare the food.

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Have a Staycation

If you don’t have the time, or budget, to take a vacation for Mother’s Day, bring the vacation home. Have a theme day, where everything is based on the culture of her favorite city or country. Base all the meals on food from that place and do some activities from that culture, too.

 Have a Small Getaway

If you do decide to take a trip, you don’t have to go very far. Visiting a nearby town or a different part of your own city can be just as exciting as going somewhere further away. You can go for the day or even a weekend.

 Revisit the Past

Put together a slideshow of pictures from the past or even video clips. This walk down memory lane will be fun for the kids, who will love to see how their parents looked when they were younger. But, seeing videos and photos of her wedding day and the birth of her children will touch the heart of the mother in your life.

Have an Experience

Do something different! If you’ve talked about doing something adventurous for a while, this is your chance to do it! Go rock climbing. Rent a boat. Visit the winery you’ve always talked about.

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Play Games

Spend some time together over a [easyazon_link identifier=”B00CV5PN2W” locale=”US” tag=”morbo-20″]board game[/easyazon_link] or even one of her favorite sports. A little activity never hurt anyone.

Do some Crafts

Create a memory book or do another craft that the whole family can be involved in. Then you’ll have lasting memories of the day!

Plant a Garden

Instead of buying her flowers that will die eventually, pick some of her favorite plants and find a place for them in your garden. They’ll be a lasting memory of this Mother’s Day.

Create a Memory

If you have time, prepare to have a portrait done or something else that will memorialize the family.

Need a fun craft idea for mom? Check out this easy DIY craft: Homemade Bath Salts

The post 10 Fun Mother’s Day Activities appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

Not only is this recipe so easy to make but it looks so pretty! Your kids, family members and guests will love this easy dessert recipe.

Easter Bark Recipe

Ingredients (Affiliate links below)

16 ounces vanilla candy coating
1/4 cup Macadamia nut pieces
1/4 cup mini Robin Eggs
1/4 cup Reese’s Pieces Eggs
2 drops food coloring

*If you don’t enjoy macadamia nuts you can easily omit these or swap them out for something else you’ll enjoy.

Directions

— Line a 13″x9″ dish or pan with wax paper overlapping the sides and set aside.
— Break apart vanilla candy coating and place in microwave-safe bowl.
— Cook in microwave for 30 seconds, stir and repeat until melted.
— Reserve 1/8 cup and pour the rest onto the lined dish, spread evenly.
— Add two drops of food coloring to the reserved vanilla candy coating and mix.
— Spoon the colored vanilla candy coating randomly over the white chocolate
— With the tip of a knife, swirl the two together.
— Sprinkle the nuts over the chocolate, followed by the candy.
— Lightly press everything down into the vanilla candy coating.
— Place in the refrigerator until firm (about 45 minutes).
— Lift out of the pan using the wax paper as handles and cut into pieces to serve or give as gifts. Remember your cuts don’t have to be perfect. Easter Bark is meant to look a little messy and unperfect. Have fun with this!

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If you are looking for more Easter recipes make sure to check out my 10 Delicious Easter Desserts post.

Do you have a favorite Easter recipe? If so tells us about it in the comments!

The post Chocolate Easter Bark Recipe | Easter Candy appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

My husband and I try to do Valentine’s Day on a budget and one of those ways is to stay home, watch a movie, have a nice dinner and drink.

Here are some awesome Valentine’s Day drink ideas to enjoy! Some of these do include alcohol but you can always make them non-alcoholic.
1. Cupids Broken Arrow from Practically Functional

2. Love Potion Cocktail from The Tip Toe Fairy

3. Raspberry Spritzer from MomDot

4. Love Potion Valentine’s Day Drink from This Girls Life Blog

5. Sweetheart Sunrise Drink from Who Needs A Cape

6. Mini Red Velvet Milkshake from Pizzazzerie

7. Strawberry Coconut Drink from Domestic Superhero

8. Grapefruit Martini from Nellie Bellie

9. Blackberry Gin Martini from Amanda’s Cookin’

10. Watermelon Martini from Baking Beauty

11. Starburst Martini from Who Needs A Cape

12. Strawberries & Champagne Margarita from Pizzazzerie

13. Cherry Whiskey Cocktail from Classy On A Dime

14. Watermelon Mint Martini from Plating Pixels

15. Strawberry Kiwi Lemonade from Classy On A Dime

16. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini from Who Needs A Cape

17. Strawberry Margarita Sherbet Float from The Gifted Gabber

18. Frozen Strawberry Martini from Baking Beauty

19. Cupid Floats from Some What Simple

20. Raspberry Pink Champagne Floats from The Cookie Rookie

21. Cherry Vodka Cocktail from Growing Up Gabel

The post Over 20 Valentine’s Day Drinks appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

Valentine’s Day On A Budget

1. As simple as it might sound, skip on buying your spouse a card for Valentine’s Day card. Those cards can easily cost $5 or more! Instead, write your spouse a heartfelt note.

2. It’s easy to go a little crazy on gifts when you want to show your spouse how much you love them. Make sure you discuss a budget before you start your Valentine’s Day shopping.

3. Skip going out to a restaurant and opt for a romantic home cooked meal. Not only is it cheaper but you’ll avoid the long waits at over-priced restaurants.

4. Rent a movie on Vudu, Google Play or Amazon instead of going out to the movies. Cuddle up on the couch and spend some quality time together.

5. Find a location far away from the city lights and do some stargazing together. I promise you this will be more romantic than any busy restaurant.

What tips do you have for saving money on Valentine’s Day?

The post 5 Ways To Have A Great Valentine’s Day On A Budget appeared first on The Classy Chapter.

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

1. This Strawberry Face Scrub is a simple homemade gift for any woman in your life.

2. These Love Cubes are sure to be a big hit! You can personalize them any way you’d like.

3. These Valentine’s Day Chocolate Spoons are a fun gift for kids & adults! Give these spoons along with some hot chocolate mix for a sweet gift.

4. Need a homemade Valentine’s Day gift idea? Give these DIY Heart Magnets a try!

5. If you have someone in your life that loves champagne, make these Confetti Champagne Glasses.

6. Have someone special in your life that loves to cook? Why not make these Wooden Spoons?

7. Here is a really cute Lollipop Frame Idea, perfect for pictures of the kids or grandkids.

8. This DIY Heart Journal is such an awesome and thoughtful gift.

9. Loving this Easy Valentine’s Day Jar Candle!

10. You can’t go wrong with this Glitter Jar Mug. What a cute gift idea!

The post 10 Valentine’s Gift Ideas appeared first on The Classy Chapter.