Daisydots & Ladybugs

So busy gearing with graduations and promotion this time of year...haven't even had a chance to post! This LADYBUG here, just returned from a week with my sisters and family on the east coast for my nieces graduation from the university of William and Mary...now I must settle down and get to work....working on favors for a middle school promotion as well as three different high school graduation parties! I will post pictures as they become available! Deadlines......I love deadlines...this is a wonderful time of the year for a LadyBug...weddings, showers, and graduations! This is my beautiful Annie and an amazing picket gate that just inspired me and made me smile!

DaisyDots & LadyBugs would like to wish all of the Mama Bears, Grandma Bears, Future Momma Bears and all of the fabulous women who have touched our lives a very Happy and Healthy Mother's Day!

The is adorable.....so simple!

A girlfriend of mine asked me to make this for her sons 1st Birthday Party....any ideas for a clever idea to put the dips in. The styrofoam cups just don't do it for me after all of this work. What do you think? If I use your idea, I will send you a free gift!

I had so much fun making these adorable "Cookies and Milk" favors for a baby shower this past weekend...they matched the invitation and included a sweet treat to eat as well as a luxurious "oatmeal milk bath"! They were a real hit!

SPRING CLEANING SECRET! This LadyBug has a HOT TIP for you! Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) is not simply for meringue but it is also a very inexpensive cleaning agent. This pantry gem of a cleaning agent may be used with a little water or vinegar to lift even the most stubborn stains. Unattractive grout, mold and mildew s, burner pans and casserole dishes giving you a hard time? Cream of tartar is one of nature’s best bleaching agents. Use a few tablespoons of ...cream of tartar with hot water or hydrogen peroxide and clean any aluminum pans, any rusty drains, pans, or stains. Do you have copper kettles? Mix some cream of tarter with lemon juice and rub the copper with it. Rinse and be amazed! How about a porcelain sink, tub, commode? Rub the porcelain surfaces with cream of tartar and watch the stains disappear. Fabric stains? No prob. Mix a few teaspoons of cream of tartar with some glycerin and use like spray-and-wash. Just need a great nonabrasive cleaner? Mix 2 teaspoons of vinegar and 2 teaspoon of cream of tartar in a small dish (use 3 or 4 teaspoons of vinegar and 3 or 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar if you have more items to clean). Apply with your cleaning rag or scrub brush and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Scrub. Wash with hot soapy water. Cream of Tartar is your new best friend! Was this your mom's secret weapon? Is it yours? Are you going to try it? Please leave your comments and other spring cleaning ideas you may have. Share****Share****Share*****SHARE*****Share****Share****Share

I promise, NO LadyBugs were injured during the making of this soup! Also, there are NO ladybugs IN this soup! Here in Southern California I think our nearly nonexistent rainy season has come to an end. However, I think I have time to squeeze in a cozy soup recipe if I hurry. Don't forget to have a crusty loaf of Sour Dough bread on hand.... LadyBug Soup... Classic Pesto as follows: 4 oz fresh basil (Around 2 cups, packed; I bought two 2oz containers available at my store.) 1 cup pine nuts, toasted 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese 5 large cloves of garlic 2 tsp sea salt 1 cups pure olive oil Soup: cup (1 stick) butter 6 to 7 stalks celery, diced (around 2 cups) 1 large onion, diced (around 1 cups) 1 Tbsp. dried oregano 4 (28oz) cans whole tomatoes peeled with juices (do not drain) 1-quart half & half Salt, to taste Instructions For the Pesto: Wash and dry the fresh basil and blend it together with the other pesto ingredients in a food processor. For more tips and details, visit my post for Classic Pesto. For the Soup: In a large stock pot, melt the butter. Add diced celery and onions. Cook until translucent. Transfer to a 6-quart or 8-quart slow cooker. (I had to split mine into a 2-quart and 4-quart slow cooker since that's all I had.) Add the pesto, whole tomatoes with juices, and dried oregano. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or high for 4 to 6 hours. Using an immersion blender, blend soup until smooth. Stir in half & half and let it heat through, another 15 to 30 minutes, or serve immediately as is. Add salt to taste, if needed. Serve with orzo or your favorite rice! And a nice bit of cracked or course ground black pepper(Every LadyBug needs her "dots" and maybe even a dash or two of Tapatio or your favorite hot sauce!) **Consider halving the recipe if you're not feeding a crowd. This recipe makes A LOT! Twelve 2 cup servings!