Sea Turtle Cookies
Shared with permission by Barbara Beery from her adorable “Mermaid Cookbook”

You’ll Need:1 ½ cups of pecan halves
24 caramels (unwrapped)
1 cup milk chocolate chips (melted according to package directions)
Your favorite candy decorations

Directions 1). Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line a cookie sheet with foil and spray foil with non stick cooking spray.

2). Break the pecan halves into 5 thin pieces lengthwise to create 4 legs and a tail for each sea turtle cookie. Use one pecan half as the sea turtles head.

3). Arrange thin pecan slices, flat side down, on prepared cookie sheet, in clusters of 5 to form the turtle’s 4 legs &tail. Place pecan half for the head. Put a caramel on top of each group of pecans.

4). Place cookie sheet in oven and heat until caramels soften, about 5 min.

5). Cool cookies on pan 10 min. Spoon about 1/2 tsp melted chocolate onto each turtle and sprinkle with candy.

6). Place in refrigerator to chill for 15 min. before serving.

Different colors can have various effects on a person and their mood.  Color can create feelings of calm, optimism and even hunger.  Check out the meaning of your favorite color and see what effect it can have on you.

Red: Shades of deep red like fire-engine, crimson and brick create a sense of warmth in a room.  In a nursery red is better used as an accent color since too much can make babies feel anxious. A good one to try: Cherry Tomato by Sherwin Williams.

Orange: Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow.  If you want a vibrant hue, you can’t go wrong with orange.  It can be warm, cozy, fun and lively.  Try selecting a complex shade of orange such as coral, persimmon or terra cotta and you’re likely to enjoy it for a long period of time. Try Flower Pot by Sherwin Williams.

Yellow: Yellow conveys warmth and optimism and is considered a cheerful color. It is thought to enhance concentration and stimulate learning.  It is, however, the most eye-fatiguing color and some people wonder if it can cause a baby to cry more often. In a nursery, go softer rather than brighter.

Green: The color options green provides are endless – chartreuse, pistachio, jade, green apple, grass green, lime green, etc. Green has more variations visible to the human eye over any other color. Try Celery by Sherwin Williams for a similar look.

Blue: Cobalt, periwinkle, navy, turquoise – blue is easily the most popular color and will never go out of style.  It’s a soothing shade that can be used to create a tranquil oasis, open up a room or give it a crisp look.

Purple: Purple is a versatile color that can appear both warm and cool. Plum, eggplant and cabernet are all varying shades of bright purple used to inspire and motivate.  Violet, indigo and lilac create calm, contemplative spaces and are frequently used in little girl’s rooms. For a tranquil effect in a nursery, try soft lavender.

Pink: Pink is a color traditionally associated with girls.  While lighter pinks are commonly used, don’t shy away from bolder colors. Magenta or hot pink can make a powerful statement. The secret is to use a bold color as an accent or in a combination with another color.  Consider options like salmon or rose for larger rooms.

For more paint color inspiration, visit Sherwin Williams and use the Color Visualizer to determine what affect your want to create in your child’s room.

With evolving opinions and changing preferences, you kid’s bedroom will need to grow right along with them.  The bedroom has many functions; it’s a quiet retreat for reading, a social zone for friends and comfortable place for play.  Give your teen a space to grow into by swapping out the rocking chair for a media unit to house a stereo.  Bring in a bookcase to showcase trophies and collectables and a vanity for brushes and nail polish.

Include your child in the process of updating their bedroom.  “They may not know paint chips from potato chips but kids know color”, says Mary Jane Johnson, an interior designer at Ingenue, Inc. with 36 years experience in the field.  Enlisting your child’s help gives them a sense of ownership and accomplishment.  Whatever their idea is, there is a way to make it work.

If your teens’ idea of a dream room encompasses every color in the rainbow, resist the urge to become overwhelmed.  Bright colors can create vibrant patterns and no one can resist cheerful charm.  A lively space encourages expression and allows the space to act as an outward reflection of who they are starting to become.

If your moody teens favorite color is black – work with her, not against her.  Instead of fighting it, earn ‘Cool Mom of the Year’ for encouraging her unique design taste and suggesting some design savvy solutions.  Stick with high contrast –  black and white with a bright pink duvet for example – to enhance the overall drama of the room.  Try Sherwin Williams Heartthrob for a hot pink accent wall.

Paint can be purchased in small pint sizes for less than $10 allowing you to test patches on your wall.  View the paint samples throughout the course of the day since the color may appear different in the morning light versus the evening.  Take paint chips outside to see them in natural light and view them under incandescent and fluorescent light as well.  When you start painting, keep in mind that wet paint looks different from dry paint.

Tip! Consider installing a dimmer switch in the nursery.  Softer lighting will make late night diaper changes easier on babys’ eyes.  If you don’t install a dimmer, try placing a small lamp with a 40 watt bulb by the changing table.  Make sure to watch out for the cord and avoid letting the light shine directly into your child’s eyes.

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Diaper Pail
• Diaper Cream
• Burp Cloths
• Aspirator
• Infant Thermometer
• Cotton Balls
• Nail Clippers
• Baby Lotion
• Brush
• A Change of Clothes

• Tape Measure
• Sponge
• Five-gallon Bucket
• Drop Cloths
• Spackle
• Screwdriver
• Painter’s Tape
• Primer
• Stirrer
• Pouring Spout
• Roller Tray
• Roller and Roller Cover
• Paintbrush