I discovered an easy and addicting new snack recipe this weekend, while thumbing through a magazine featuring country singer Trisha Yearwood. She was sharing favorite family recipes from her cookbook.

Since I did not bring the recipe home with me, I was going from memory, so this is my version of the recipe. I'll do some homework and try to find the correct directions. Please forgive me if I forgot something, but they turned out entirely too good just like this.

Sweet and salty snacks
40 saltine crackers
1 stick of butter (half cup)
1 cup brown sugar
8 oz. chocolate chips

Directions:

Spread saltines on a cookie sheet. Melt butter and brown sugar in saucepan over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.

Drizzle over crackers and place in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, until bubbly. Remove from oven. Sprinke chocolate chips over hot mixture and spread as they melt. Cool and break into pieces.

I made the mistake of placing the pan back into the over to melt the chocolate, so it cooked a bit more. Don't do that. Just let the heat from the mapley goo melt the chocolate so you have a nice top layer. It didn't matter though, we devoured them in a matter of minutes and the kids loved them.

Oh, I should know better but I couldn't resist, and it is so addicting! The cool part is that it only takes four inexpensive ingredients that are almost guaranteed to be in your kitchen when that need for sweet and salty attacks.

So I am now initiated into mom-hood of broken bones. Delaney broke her wrist at school playing "sharks and minnows." Today was the big day and she's now sporting a bright blue cast. So, I guess all I can say is that it wasn't as scary as I thought it'd be and thank goodness she's not left-handed. And now I can sign her cast. Talk to me in eight weeks!

The doctor was so great. We're lucky to have such a great pediatric group here. He kept her smiling, even with the prospect of eight weeks without softball or riding her pony. Thanks doc!

I just received this message from a MOM reader and thought that we'd better share this recipe from MOM Magazine, Summer 2009 with everyone...

"Hey MOM - your summer issue last year had a recipe for lemon-blueberry squares and they were soooo good. I kept the recipe but can't find it. Do you think you could send the recipe?" Thanks for such a great magazine, Kristen

Blueberry Lemon Squares

• 2 cups rinsed Oregon blueberries
• 2¼ cups flour
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup (½ lb.) butter
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp. grated lemon peel
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ tsp. baking powder

Directions: Mix flour and powdered sugar until blended. Mix in butter, cut into small pieces with a large fork until dough holds together when squeezed. Press evenly over the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees until crust is golden brown, usually 20 to 25 minutes. While the crust is baking, whisk eggs together with sugar, lemon peel, lemon juice and baking powder. Stir in blueberries. Pour egg mixture over warm, baked crust. Return to the oven and bake until the filling is firm and does not move when gently shaken, usually 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and let cool at least 15 minutes. Serve warm or cool.

If it's out of season and you don't have blueberries in your freezer, try ordering frozen, dried or powdered blueberries from Sunset Valley Organics. They are delicious. With a recipe recomendation like this, I'm off to make some lemon-blueberry squares right now. Enjoy!

Summer Science Camps 2010

Hands-on daycamps for boys and girls grades K-5. Innovative activities and trained teachers engage your child in week-long adventures of learning and fun.

Gizmo's Robot Factory - BUILD A WALKING K'NEX ROBOT!
CAMP 1: June 21-25, CAMP 5: July 19-23
Build, customize and battle one of Gizmo's greatest inventions, the Buggy-Bot! Investigate what makes a robot tick as we take a robot's-eye view in 3-D, listen with electronic ears, and prepare to compete in the Robo-Olympics. Power up for fun and discover the secret lives of these extreme machines.

Space and Rocketry - BUILD AND LAUNCH GIZMO'S NEW HYDRO-ROCKET
CAMP 2: June 28-July 2, CAMP 6: July 26-30
Join Gizmo to build his brand new, state of the art hydro-rocket. And launch your very own rocket. Take a trip around the universe by building a light-up solar system and a model of your galactic address. Build you own motorized K'Nex motorized Lunar Rover!

Mystery of the Pharaoh's Treasure - SOLVE AN EGYPTIAN MYSTERY
CAMP 3: July 6-9, CAMP 7: August 2-6
Journey to the land of the pharaohs to help Gizmo solve a mystery and unearth two long-forgotten treasures! Full-Day campers become geologists and build a take-home rock collection as they help Gizabelle solve the riddle of the Sphinx and reveal a crystal treasure.

Go Wild! Awesome Animal Adventure - MEET LIVE ANIMALS!
CAMP 4: July 12-16, CAMP 8: August 9-13
Investigate extreme plants and amazing animals. Stay a full day to take part in the animal Olympics and make glowing fire flies, sticky octopus arms and more. Get ready to explore the world outside your door - it's time to Go Wild!

Visit WSU Summer Camps for more info and to register.

You've worked hard all week, it's time to leave the kids with someone else and treat yourself to a night out. We won't tell the kids… they'll think its Kids Night Out!

YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities offers Parents Night Out on the third Saturday of every month. Enjoy a grown-up evening while professional Y staff treat your kids to an evening of fun. Kids play games, meet new friends, watch movies, learn crafts, shoot hoops, share hobbies and more.

Saturday, March 20, from 6-10 p.m.
Cost is just $12 per child which includes all activities and a snack.

During the school year, Parent Night Out takes place at Ridge View Elementary. Kids are grouped for activities by age. Pre-registration is appreciated. Call the Y at 374-1908 to reserve your space prior to the Friday before.

In the spirit of MOM Makeover, I decided on a whim to have a little mini-makeover myself....I went from being a blonde to this:

If it wasn't for the beautiful and sunny weather we've been having, I would try to convince you that it was just a natural seasonal shift in my hair color, but I don't think I'm going to get away with that... :)  It's a couple shades darker than my natural, and I kinda like the change. I'll go lighter again I'm sure, but it's fun for now. Thank you to the lovely ladies at Epic Day Spa for doing such a great job!

Do you color your hair? Why or why not? Comment by 9 a.m. Monday March 8th and I'll pick one random person to win an awesome shampoo and conditioner set kindly donated by our MOM Makeover sponsors, Heartspring Wellness Center & Samaritan Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

My answer? I do (obviously) color my hair - my natural color is a mousey brown color, and all though I do have some natural blonde highlights, the overall color is pretty dull. I like having nice, fresh color - it makes me feel like a new person!

Don't forget to nominate a deserving MOM for our makeover HERE!