​Are you looking for a way to celebrate Independence Day around the office but are not quite sure how? Food. The answer is always food. Here's a quick--and one of my favorite family--recipes for success from Kraft Foods:

American Flag Cake

• 4 cups fresh strawberries
  
• 1 pkg. (12 oz.) frozen prepared pound cake, thawed, cut into 14 slices
  
• 1-1/3 cups blueberries, divided
  
• 1 tub (12 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
  

​Here's what you do:​

1. Slice 1 cup strawberries; halve remaining strawberries.
2. Cover bottom of 13x9-inch dish with cake slices; top with sliced strawberries and 1 cup blueberries.
3. Spread COOL WHIP over berries.
4. Arrange strawberry halves and remaining blueberries on COOL WHIP to resemble a US flag. Keep refrigerated.

It's great because it's easy to make (takes only about 15 minutes) and share with coworkers without too much hassle, but is obviously very festive. You'll be a huge hit! Happy Independence Day!

Why Americans Are Weird

I recently read an article about a list of things that are strangely--and solely American. Here are a few of my favorites from "93 Weird Things About The U.S. That Americans Don’t Realize Are Weird":

#35-Obsession with coffee.
#84-The lack of annual leave from work.
#89-Talking about work and asking what people do for a living in great detail at a social function.

If that tickled your fancy, you can check out the other 90 ways Americans are weird.

Tips for a Safer Fourth of July

July Fourth is on Friday and fireworks are on sale at most stores. Most of us have fond memories of fireworks and barbeques with the family. As we continue to create memories with our children we need to be mindful of fireworks safety so that we can have a fun Fourth of July season.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety works to track new fireworks and develop safety tips for families. Their fireworks safety tips are just general overall tips and they don't track what the local laws specific for families in their areas. To see what your local laws allow or require for safety please check your state or city website.  Fireworks and fun go hand in hand for many families on Fourth of July. Please keep these fireworks safety tips in mind when your family gets together so that you can have a fun filled holiday.  And don't assume that something like "sparklers" can be entrusted to a little child without supervision!  Most accidents are encountered through hand held fireworks.

Fireworks Safety Tips

The fireworks safety tips may seem like common sense yet every year people are injured by not following these simple tips. The National Council on Fireworks Safety estimates that there are more than 8,000 injuries per year due to fireworks. The number of injuries hit a ten year high in 2000 when an estimated 11,000 injuries were reported due to fireworks. The sad part of this is that 8,000 to 11,000 families each year do not have fond memories of their Fourth of July celebration. Most of these injuries could've been avoided if people took safety precautions when adding fireworks to their celebrations.

·       Only use fireworks outdoors and under supervision

·       Keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby when using fireworks

·       Use fireworks exactly as their instructions state; do not try to modify them

·       If a firework doesn't go off when you have lit it, do not attempt to relight it

·       Have a designated fireworks shooter who is not drinking alcohol

·       The fireworks shooter should wear safety glasses to protect their eyes

·       Do not shoot off any homemade fireworks

Sparklers Spark Most Fireworks Accidents :  Heed These Fireworks Safety Tips

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has also gotten involved with fireworks safety, particularly sparklers. They believe that 16 percent of all family fireworks injuries are actually fireworks sparkler burns. They report that one third of all injuries to children who are 5 years old or younger are because of sparklers. Due to the safety concerns that surround sparklers, they released their own list of sparkler safety tips.

·       Fireworks Sparklers should never be used by children without adult supervision

·       Children should only use sparklers when they are standing, never sitting

·       Do not hold a child while they are holding a sparkler

·       Children should not hold more than one sparkler at a time

·       Anyone holding sparklers should wear closed-toe shoes

·       Drop sparklers into a bucket of water after the fire has gone out to cool them

·       Don't pass lighted sparklers around-the pointed heated sparkler could accidently become an eye poker

·       Create a sparkler only area at least 6 feet away from everyone else

·       Don't throw sparklers lit or burned out

·       Teach children how to hold sparklers away from their bodies

·       Teach children to not run when they are holding a lit sparkler

·       Teach children to not wave a lit sparkler, I know but you can try.  Unless the child is standing alone other children could be endangered by the waving

Fireworks and fun go hand in hand for many families on Fourth of July. Please keep these fireworks safety tips in mind when your family gets together so that you can have a fun filled holiday.