There are so many spectacular fireworks shows to enjoy this coming holiday. What a great way to celebrate Independence Day! How can you make it even better? Try wearing 3-D glasses and see what it does to the show.

Click here - More fun 4th of July ideas from MOM Magazine.

Celebrate Independence Day with this cool and colorful ice cream float. They are delicious and colorful. Red for courage, white for purity and blue for justice.

Ingredients
Jones Brand Cream Soda (clear)
Blue liquid food coloring
Vanilla ice cream
Can of whipped cream
Marachino cherries
4th of July sprinkles

Directions
Pour several bottles or cans of cream soda into a large pitcher. Add several drops of blue food coloring and stir until food coloring is mixed in well. Set aside. Next, fill chilled glasses or clear plastic cups with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Pour the colored soda over the ice cream to the brim until ice cream is floating. Spray whipped cream to cover top. Garnish with a marachino cherry and sprinkles. Add a red straw and spoon. Click here to watch a video of how to make this recipe.

Tips
We chose the Jones brand cream soda because it's clear. This helps you get the right blue when the food coloring is added. Not all cream sodas are clear, so check for brands that are for best color results. If you aren't a fan of cream soda, you can use 7-UP or Sprite.

Flavors
For the adventurous, try flavored soda as well, such as Romano's creamy strawberry Italian soda. Check out more awesome Romano's recipes for your big bash.

Click here - More fun 4th of July ideas from MOM Magazine.

Do your kids like hot dogs? What about motorcycles? They're cool and loud--and when you get hundreds of them in one spot it's a sight to see!

MOM's Nite Out was a fantastic way to announce the June/July 2011 MOM
Magazine CoverMOM winner Suzie Murphy! A special thank you to Columbia
Center, KGH, mall retailers, modeling agency and all the vendors on a
fantastic event! Look for Suzie and read her story in the current issue of MOM Magazine!

Winner Suzie Murphy received the outfit that she wore in the last scene of the Fashion Show from Downeast Basics, complete hair makeover courtesy of Northwest Beauty, Gift sets from Perfumania, Starbucks & Regis, 2 PacLoot Cards from PacSun, a firefly necklace from Fuego, a gift basket from Macy's Cosmetics counters, permanent makeup procedure from Self Expressions, a Sierra Diamond Pendant valued at $300 from Harry Ritchie's Jewelers, and last but not least, an American Express Simon Giftcard to take shopping!

The runners up and all of the fashion show participants received:
Makeovers courtesy of the cosmetics counters at Macy's, hair styling courtesy of Northwest Beauty, Regis, Mastercuts & Strange Independence, Jelly Watch courtesy of Harry Ritchie's Jewelers and gifts from Regis.

A Big thanks to Kennewick General Hospital for its sponsorship of the event!  Additional thanks to our friends: Jennifer Ann Wilson with KEPR News, KVEW's Good Morning Northwest Team, Happy Money Saver and My 3 Little Kittens.

The tenured stylists at Northwest Beauty created trendy, easy to care for
looks for each of our top three cover mom contestants!  We've detailed out
each look complete with before and after photos so that you can visit a
Northwest Beauty stylist to recreate it for yourself or try out a few of the tips!

Shannon Hedlund focused on minimal maintenance when creating the look for
winner Suzie Murphy.  Suzie's very busy with a new baby and large family,
so Shannon simply nipped the ends of her hair to maintain the length and
versatility of her style.  Then, she added not only shorter but more layers to enhance movement.  Last, but not least, subtle, sun-kissed highlights over the existing base color serve to create a fun, bright look that won't give away growout.

Suzie stopped in Rana Deep's chair next for an updated eyebrow look.  She
started by waxing in a new shape, cleaning them up then adding an arch that
compliments the new hair style.  Don't forget the brow pencil to fill in, too!

Mom Melissa Abel visited two of the Northwest Beauty Stylists for her transformation from blond . . . to striking red!  Stylist Sarah McKinnon
described Melissa's original color as a warm, medium blond.  They noticed
immediately that it wasn't accenting Melissa's bright eyes or flawless peaches & cream complexion.  Melissa had considered red before, but jumped in with both feet for this event.  Sarah took the base color to a rich, coppery red then incorporated bright, blended blonde highlights.  Our after photos show how Melissa absolutely glows!

Rana Deep saw an opportunity to uplift Melissa's style!  She added long layers, framed around the face then cut in side swept bangs.  Runway ready was the instruction, so stylist Rana blew out Melissa's locks for volume and shine then curled and pinned half of her hair back as you see in the photo.

She hopped back in Sarah's chair for the finishing touch!  A quick eyebrow cleanup and enhancement to her natural arch.  This technique opens up the eyes, and it's a proven way to create a younger look.

Threading!  That's what Mom Peggy Steward experienced.  Rana Deep is an
experienced threading technician at Northwest Beauty.  With this technique,
the tech uses a length of thread to remove hair rather than wax or plucking.  It's a great option for those with skin sensitivities, and Rana used this to enhance Peggy's natural brow.

Stylist and trainer Melanie Petross created the hair style for Peggy. Peggy started with a proven style for her, so a quick half-inch trim created a healthy look.  Then, tinting took her hair back to her beautiful, natural color.

Thanks to the amazing team at Northwest Beauty for creating three beautiful looks for our top three 2011 moms!

On Saturday, June 25th, kids ages 8-17 will have the opportunity to fly for free with pilots during the 2011 Richland fly-in. Hosted by EAA Chapter 391, the event starts at 7 am with a pancake breakfast from 7-11 am. From 9 am to 1 pm, your Young Eagles can take a free airplane ride. This event falls during the same weekend as Cool Desert Nights and is a great activity for kids to not only meet pilots, but to experience the thrill of aviation.

For more information, contact Sundance Aviation at 946-2515.

Muffin tin meals prove that good things come in small packages.  Six different items are served in a muffin tin providing manageable portions and a ton of fun. It is a great way to encourage kids to try new foods, and also helps mom or dad ensure the meal provided is balanced. You can make these for any meal or snack of the day, and there are endless resources and ideas online for different combinations.  Muffin tin meals were made widely popular by the Muffin Tin MOM (www.muffintinmom .com), who posts a new muffin tin meal idea every Monday on her blog.

Prepare them for summer lunches on the back patio, dinner on the go, or participate in the Muffin Tin Mom's "Muffin tin Monday" by posting a photo of your own creation. If you find yourself in a rut over what to serve your child, or need help encouraging your child to eat different kinds of food, give muffin tin meals a try. Here are some muffin tin meals I've made recently for my kids.

1. Skim milk  2. Potato-Chip Frittatas*  3. Chocolate chip cookie  4. Apple sauce  5. Edamame  6. Carrot sticks

1. Skim milk  2. Broccoli cheddar biscuit muffins*  3. Mango  4. Celery and peanut butter  5. Tortilla scoop with bean and corn salad*  6. Fruit Leather

1. Chocolate soy milk  2. Strawberries  3. Cucumbers  4. Colby Jack cheese cubes  5.  Pita triangles  6. Garlic and artichoke hummus

1. Vanilla soy milk  2. Blackberries  3. Butterscotch cookie  4. Broccoli  5. Roasted red pepper tomato soup  6. Grilled cheese sticks

Potato-Chip Frittatas
Source: Cookie magazine, February 2009
5 eggs
1 ½ T. milk
Salt and pepper
1 T. olive oil
1 leek, sliced (about ½ cup)
½ onion, sliced (about ½ cup)
1 carrot shredded (about ½ cup)
4 T. shredded cheese (such as cheddar or smoked provolone)
Potato chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper; set aside. Heat the leek and onion with a pinch of salt Cook until tender, about five minutes. Add the carrot; cook for one minute more. Remove from heat. Grease silicon muffin cups. Divide the cheese among the cups, then the vegetables. Pour in the egg mixture until each cup is three-quarters full.  Add a few potato chips to each. Bake until cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.

Broccoli cheddar biscuit muffins
Source: www.cookingwithmykid.com
1 package ready to bake biscuits
2 cups broccoli florets (blanched + chopped)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease silicon muffin cups with cooking spray. Using one biscuit at a time, place a biscuit into a muffin cup and then press down to "dig a hole" in the middle. Plant your broccoli by dividing it evenly among all the biscuit cups. Sprinkle cheddar on top of each biscuit and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the biscuits are turning golden brown. Serve warm.

Bean and corn dip
1 can shoe peg corn
1 can white beans
1-2 tomatoes chopped
1 bunch of green onions chopped
1/2 bunch of cilantro chopped
2 avocados diced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. cumin
salt & pepper

Combine all ingredients and serve with tortilla scoop chips.

The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions are coming to the Tri-Cities, Friday June 10^th at the Toyota Center. Saddle up the family for a night of fun as the stallions perform spectacular leaps once used by riders in the battlefield. The current tour features 12 to 14 stallions performing selected maneuvers in an exciting presentation followed by six to eight stallions performing intricate, equine ballet, exhibiting maneuvers through the highest level of dressage. The Lipizzans prance, march and intricately weave their way across the floor to the music of the Masters in a spectacular ballet of four-footed white dancers.

You do not need to be a horse lover to enjoy the Equestrian Treat of the Century! Visit http://www.yourtoyotacenter.com/index.php/event/lipizzaner_stallions/ to purchase tickets or call the box office at 1-800-745-3000.

Have you seen the June/July issue of MOM Magazine in Tri-Cities?

You can find these articles and a lot more!

Cover MOM Makeover winner Suzie Murphy - How does she do it?

MOM's Night Out - Amazing moms on the runway!

Recipes - Muffin tin meals

SuperDAD

Events - 4th of July Fireworks

We'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and let us know.