Hmmm. Even The Princess, who is the pickiest eater in the world, will eat carrot cupcakes. She even knows there are carrots in there and she still eats them. She won't eat pineapple though, and so I have to leave the pineapple out of the carrot cake. Georgysmom is right, they'd rather have candy, so buy a bag of M&Ms or Hershey's and make the kids happy. No Snickers or Reeses, though, there's that pesky peanut thing going on. Actually, cookies and cupcakes get too beaten up on the trip to school, unless you're going to deliver them personally. The Princess likes to make her own "trail mix" with raisins and M&Ms and chocolate Cheerios, no nuts, package them into little snack bags and it's ready to go. If there isn't a peanut butter issue, she also really likes to take the rice krispie treats made with peanut butter with the chocolate topping, although we've managed to get away with making them with Cocoa Krispies and peanut butter and pressing a few M&Ms on the top and so there isn't the problem of melting chocolate if it's hot. Both the grandkids also like to take those rice krispie treats, make them into balls and roll them in sprinkles, or cut the treats into shapes with cookie cutters. Annie

Hi magpie, you could always fool around with some crafty stuff too. This is a $1 garage sale buy; it had an ugly picture print and a nasty brown frame. About eighteen years ago on a whim I poured a few shades of double pigment paint on Cling Wrap and zapped in an old microwave in the garage. After priming the picture I poured some metallic paints on and blended. I then glued on the Cling Wrap and stitched everything in with stitch craft paint. I wasn't actually expecting much out of the junk but I ended up liking it. The picture now lives in the game room; it took no time, money and little experience to make. Although this would not be exactly right for your space I hope I have inspired you to try and mock a few canvases like those cool panels in your inspiration picture. http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/?action=view&current=picture017.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/?action=view&current=picture015.jpg" target="_blank">

My Aunt Lil was famous for her elegant cooking. She died of cancer when I was a little girl. Here, in her memory, is one of our favorites of her recipes, very 1950s but still delicious. My mom gave me the recipe card in Aunt Lil's handwriting. She had written "EXCELLENT" at the top, and we agree. Good luck with your cookbook! Susan in Columbus (Ohio) Aunt LilÂs Chicken Cantonese 1 fryer-broiler chicken  disjointed, slightly salted 1/3 cup cornstarch 1 ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons paprika ¼ cup cooking oil 1 #2 can [20 oz.] pineapple chunks (drained - reserve sirup) 1 cup sliced diagonally celery 1 medium-size green pepper (cleaned & white membrane removed) cut into thin strips 2 Tablespoons brown sugar 2 ½ Tablespoons soy sauce 3 cups hot cooked rice 1. Coat chicken pieces with a mixture of the cornstarch, salt & paprika. Reserve 1 Tablespoon of the cornstarch mixture. 2. Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken, skin side down, in skillet. Turn pieces as necessary. When lightly browned remove & place in roaster. Bake, uncovered, at 325° until almost fork Âtender. [40-45 min.] 3. Add pineapple, celery, and green pepper, slipping them under the chicken. Cover and put back in oven for 15 minutes. 4. Mix together the reserved 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch mixture, ¼ cup reserved pineapple sirup, the brown sugar, and soy sauce. Pour over chicken & cover; continue baking another 20 minutes. 5. *Lightly toss the hot cooked rice with 1/3 cup dark seedless raisins & ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts. Serve with rice on bottom of platter, then chicken. *Raisins and nuts optional

Lilbit- I agree with you, Rina is Awesome! Luna- Take heed to what chefmomster told you: "No Roots, No Water." Use that as a rule of thumb with most succulents. Why? because the stem or rosette would have nothing to take in water. It would sit in wet soil and rot. Becci6 is telling us that we should try as closely as possible to provide our succulents with the same growing conditions they would get in their natural environment. That is something we should all strive to do. Knowing the weather conditions in your local area will help decide where you place your plants. For example, Sempervivums in my area of southern California can be grown outdoors all year long. there are others such as Lilbit and Rina that live in a much colder climate than me that would not be able to do that (unless of course you have your own private greenhouse like Lilbit (congrats!)). Most likely they bring their plants indoors or at least cover them to shield them from intense cold. Even where I am..i usually see them thrive outside when they're planted under or beside a larger plant or tree to shield them from intense sun. I have seen many that have gotten fried by they sun. If they're getting intense sunlight for too many hours each day, I would give them some shade. We are now entering the middle of July and I have watered mine only 3 times so far this year. I stop watering in November and continue again in April. You may not be able to use my watering regimen so again, get to know your local area weather and what would work best for your plants.