I just checked the calendar and realized that today is National Martini Day!  No kidding!!  King Triton and I have collected a certain pattern of Depression glass, Manhattan, and I have several martini glasses in Manhattan, but I’ve never made and served martinis in them.  Maybe it’s time to change that with some of these very intriguing recipes!! 

(Here’s what the Manhattan pattern looks like, just so you know what I’m talking about.  It’s a gorgeous design!)

Okay, now on to the recipes!  (And just to be clear, I am *not* in any way advocating irresponsible or underage drinking!!  I do occasionally enjoy an adult beverage, but would never suggest that a minor partake in adult beverages!)

Pecan Pie Martini from Everyday with Rachael Ray

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Martini from Daydreamer Desserts

Birthday Cake Martini from DrinkedIn

Cool As A Cucumber Martini from The Daily Meal

Blow Pop Martini from Taste for Adventure by tablespoon

Watermelon Martini from Gina’s Skinny Recipes

S’mores Martini from Tasty Trials

So now the only question is,

Which one to start with???

Gotta love a HOT giveaway during the summer!!  We’ve partnered with Blogging Mamas Network and a great group of bloggers to bring you a LOT of HOT giveaways to cool off your summer!!   We’re hosting a giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Code, which could be a COOL way for you to chill out and enjoy the summer heat!

What would you choose?  Sandals?  A water toy?  A beach read?  Well, you could be $25 closer to getting your summer chill on if you won this giveaway!

To enter, tell me something that you’d like to buy from Amazon that would make your summer fun-tastic!

If you’re in need of ideas, check out the Amazon Get Ready for Summer page!

It’s that easy!

Optional entries (be sure to leave a separate comment for each action so you’ll get counted!!):

• Subscribe to The Tween & Me e-mail newsletter. (1 entry)

• Subscribe to The Tween & Me RSS feed. (1 entry)

• Blog about the giveaway and link back to us.  Be sure to comment here with the link to your post. (5 entries)

• Add our button to your blogroll.  Be sure to comment here with a link to your blogroll. (5 entries)

• Follow The Tween & Me on Twitter.  Leave a comment here that you’re following us. (1 entry)

• Tweet “I want to #win $25 #Amazon #GiftCard from @TheTweenAndMe  #coolsummer #giveaway  http://ow.ly/lUbdP”  May be done once per day.  Leave a comment here with the link. (1 entry)

• May be done 10 times: leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway post (be sure to leave a comment below telling which one (s) you did!) (1 entry per comment)

Giveaway is open to US residents 18 and older. ONLY comments left on this post will count as entries. All entries will be verified. Any that are not verifiable will be deleted. Giveaway ends Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be notified via e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply to our e-mail. Please add thetweenandme (at) gmail (dot) com to your address book so you don’t miss our e-mail!

Disclosure:  This giveaway is sponsored by The Tween & Me.  Links in this post are our affiliate links to Amazon, which means we make a very small commission if you buy something from Amazon after clicking our link.  According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Keeping Cool in the Sun participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

AND……

After you’ve entered my giveaway, don’t forget to hop around to all the others in the linky below.  Be sure to enter to win the GRAND PRIZES for this Event too!  You have a chance to win…

In the KIDS package you could win:  a pair of Julbo USA looping sunglasses for baby, a trio of TruKids products including Sunny Days sunscreen and Hero Stick, a Hearthsong Camping Tent {chair not included}, a Swim Diaper from Red Barn Cloth Diapers, and a reusable snack tube SqueeZurts Starter Kit!

AND

A second prize package including a $100 Gift Certificate to Claudia Alan Eyewear and Winner’s Choice of any item from UV Skinz – makers of protective sunwear!

Enter the GRAND PRIZES HERE!

Another of Ariel’s beautiful Polyvore creations!!

I love that she put a bowtie on the german shepherd and filled the bookcase with loveys and nail polish!!

There must be a bazillion ways to cook corn on the cob—and they are all posted online!!

I found a method that really works for us, since I abhor all those darn silks…. and having to pull them all off makes me nuts and not want to serve fresh corn as much as I should.

Here’s Ken describing his super-easy method:

Isn’t that amazing?  And we just did it tonight!  IT REALLY WORKS!! I was so surprised that I hadn’t heard about it before now!

Meet Isabella Rose Taylor.

She’s the 12 year old designer who took Austin Fashion Week for a spin.  She’s the tween who was just named a “Rising Star” at the 5th Annual Austin Fashion Awards.  Yep, she’s one to be watching.

And her collection is one to be watching.  Check out these pieces from her current summer collection:

We love them all!!

Be sure to follow Isabella Rose Taylor at her website, on Facebook, on Pinterest, and on Twitter.  She’s going to accomplish great things!!

Yesterday we posted our best tips for enjoying the bounty of activities in Upstate South Carolina. Today, we’d like to showcase some of our favorite bloggers’ posts about their corners of the country! Enjoy!!

Mid Atlantic

NW (or all), Connecticut :: Parenting Miracles

Boston (or all), Massachusetts :: Maven of Savin

Central, New Jersey :: Our Good LIfe

Adirondak Mountains and Central, New York :: For This Season

Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York :: Ann’s Entitled Life

Syracuse, New York :: I am THAT lady

Erie, Pennsylvania :: Growing Kids Ministry

Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania :: Family Balance Sheet

Hershey, Pennsylvania :: Good Deal Mama

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania :: Beyond the Cover

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania :: The Coupon “High”

Poconos, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Scranton, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Midwest

Des Moines, Iowa :: Make the best of everything

Aurora, Illinois :: A Savings WOW!

Central, Illinois :: The Homeschool Scientist

Chicago, Illinois :: Chicagoland Homeschool Network

Naperville, Illinois :: The Sensible Mom

Schaumburg, Illinois :: Ravings By Rae

Fort Wayne, Indiana :: Simplified Saving

Indianapolis, Indiana (Metro Area) :: In Good Cents

Muncie, Indiana (Central IN) :: the daisyhead

Northern Indiana :: So Dough Savvy

Kansas City Area :: Kansas City Mamas

Metro Detroit, Michigan :: Saving Dollars and Sense

Grand Rapids, Michigan :: Give Me Neither

Oakland County, Michigan :: Bargain Shopper Mom

Minneapolis, Minnesota :: Creative Couponing

Rural Minnesota (either Southern our Lake Country) :: Mommysavers.com

St. Cloud, Minnesota :: Frugal Finders

Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas :: Kosher on a Budget

Springfield, Missouri :: Getting Freedom

Cincinnati, Ohio :: Family Friendly Cincinnati

Columbus, Ohio :: Cleverly Simple

Dayton, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle: Dayton

Mansfield, Ohio :: The Traveling Praters

NE Ohio :: Raising Lifelong Learners

Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) :: Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring

Black Hills, South Dakota :: Little House Living

South Dakota :: Moms Mustard Seeds

Oshkosh, Wisconsin :: Adventures of a Stay at Home Mom

Mountain

Phoenix, Arizona :: Mom Endeavors

Scottsdale, Arizona :: Saving For Someday

Tucson, Arizona :: Desert Chica Ramblings

Colorado Springs, Colorado :: The Greenbacks Gal

Denver, Colorado :: Bargain Blessings

Helena, Montana :: The WiC Project

Omaha, Nebraska :: Mom Endeavors

Reno, Nevada – Lake Tahoe (Northern Nevada) :: Saving in Nevada

Pacific

Fresno, California (Central Valley) :: NerdFamily Blog

Los Angeles, California :: Savings.com

San Diego, California :: Good Cheap Eats

San Diego, California :: Life as MOM

Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW

Seattle, Washington :: Thrifty NW Mom

South Atlantic

Arkansas :: Discovering Arkansas

Washington, DC :: Kidventurous

Clearwater Beach, Florida :: Bargain Briana

Jacksonville, Florida :: Saving The Family Money

Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers area) :: Chaos Is Bliss

St. Augustine, Florida :: Simply St. Augustine

Tallahassee, Florida :: SwagGrabber

Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: Hodgepodge

Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: The Couponing Couple

Annapolis, Maryland :: The Happy Housewife

Hagerstown, Maryland :: Cheryl Pitt

Asheville, North Carolina :: Paradise Praises

Charlotte, North Carolina :: from our front porch lookin’ in…

Raleigh/Southeastern, North Carolina :: Upside Down Homeschooling

Upstate South Carolina :: The Tween & Me

Charlottesville, Virginia :: How to Have it All

Richmond, Virginia :: Teachers of Good Things

Smithfield, Virginia :: Walking in High Cotton

Virginia Beach, Virginia :: The Coupon Challenge

South Central

Coastal Alabama :: Meet Penny

Huntsville, Alabama :: The Traveling Praters

Northern Kentucky :: Simply Sherryl

Chattanooga, Tennessee :: Living Chic on the Cheap

East Tennessee (Smoky Mountains, Knoxville) :: Finding Joy on the Journey

Nashville, Tennessee :: Montessori Tidbits

Arlington, Texas :: Grocery Shop For FREE

Austin, Texas (Hill Country) :: Ponder the Path

College Station, Texas :: How to Homeschool My Child

Dallas, Texas :: Surviving The Stores

East Dallas, Texas :: Funky Faith Girl

Fort Worth, Texas :: Coupons & Freebies Mom

Houston, Texas :: MomsToolbox

Houston, Texas :: MyLitter

Katy, Texas :: Moms Confession

McAllen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley) :: iLoveMy5Kids

San Antonio, Texas :: Melissa’s Bargains

Giveaway is open to US residents 18 and older. ONLY comments left on this post will count as entries. All entries will be verified. Any that are not verifiable will be deleted. Giveaway ends Monday, May 27, 2013, at 11:59 pm EDT. Winner will be notified via e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply to our e-mail. Please add thetweenandme (at) gmail (dot) com to your address book so you don’t miss our e-mail!

Other No Strings Attached Participants:

Welcome to our Staycation 2013 post!  Living in the Upstate of South Carolina, we’re lucky to have multiple free and low-cost attractions and family-friendly activities in our area, many of them within a short 1-2 hour drive.

Listed here are a few of our favorite places and spaces in the South Carolina Upcountry.

The Upstate of South Carolina can be defined in multiple ways, but I’m including six counties, based on the path of I-85 as it traverses South Carolina on its way from Atlanta, Georgia, to Charlotte, North Carolina.  Those six counties, listed alphabetically, are:  Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg.

This post focuses on Anderson County activities.  I’ll focus on a new county each day this week and will link them all together at the end of the week.  Stay tuned!!

Anderson County

Anderson County Museum

Discover Anderson County’s history with a trip through time at the Anderson County Museum.  Located in downtown Anderson, the museum hosts both permanent and temporary exhibits, as well as the historic Robert Anderson Memorial Fountain.

There’s also a South Carolina-themed gift shop for all your Palmetto product needs!

Details You’ll Need:  Admission is free.  The Anderson County Museum is located at 202 East Greenville Street, Anderson, South Carolina.  Phone:  864.260.4737.  Hours:  Tuesday 10 am – 7 pm; Wednesday-Saturday 10 am – 4 pm.

Anderson Arts Center

Filled with rotating exhibits and activities that promote the creation and appreciation of the arts in Anderson County, the Anderson Arts Center also hosts a series of arts classes and a dynamic arts camp that involve locals of all ages.

Details You’ll Need:  Admission is free.  The Anderson Arts Center is located at 110 Federal Street, Anderson, South Carolina.  Phone:  864.222.2787.  Hours:  Tuesday – Friday 9:30 am – 5:30 pm.

Downtown Anderson

What’s not to like about a quaint central shopping district replete with a variety of restaurants and family-friendly activities?  Locally owned coffee shops and charming bistros provide ample dining opportunities in downtown Anderson.

Fun for young and old alike, A Little Birdie Told Me is a Carolina wren-inspired scavenger hunt.  We had a great time searching for 22 bronze sculptures–some were much easier to find than others!  Download a brochure for your hunt here.

Be sure to take a slight detour off Main Street to visit Generator Park, where you can learn about Anderson’s nickname, “The Electric City,” and see a generator that once produced electricity for the Anderson area at the Portman Power Plant.

Details You’ll Need:  Admission is free.  Contact the City of Anderson for more details and more attractions.  Phone:  864.231.5933.  Downtown Anderson website here.

Town of Belton

The charming Anderson County town of Belton is home to the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, the Ruth Drake (local history) Museum, and the Belton Center for the Arts.

Details You’ll Need:  Admission is free for all three attractions.  The South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and the Ruth Drake Museum are located in the historic Belton Depot building at 100 North Main Street, Belton, South Carolina.  Phone for South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and Ruth Drake Museum:  864.338.7400.  Hours for South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and Ruth Drake Museum:  Wednesday and Thursday, 9 am – 2 pm; Friday, 9 am – 4 pm; Saturday, 9 am – 1 pm.  The Belton Center for the Arts is located at 306 City Square.  Phone:  864.338.8556.  Hours:  Tuesday – Friday, 10 am – 5:30 pm; Saturday, 10 am – 2 pm.

One of our favorite “refueling stations” in Belton is Callaham Orchards, where some sort of fruit or vegetable is almost always in season and ready to U-Pick.  And, ummm, the ice cream they serve there is really, really good too.  (yes, I know it isn’t free like most everything else listed here is, but supporting a local farmer is a good idea!)

Details You’ll Need:  Admission is free.  There are seasonal activities and product purchases that are available for a small fee.  Callaham Orchards is located at 559 Crawford Road, Belton, South Carolina.  Phone:  864.338.0810.  If you call ahead, there’s a message that will tell you special hours and product availability.  Hours: vary by season.  Call ahead for details and hours.

Town of Pendleton

The entire town of Pendleton is on the National Register of Historic Places and features a charming village green as its centerpiece.  Antique shops, boutiques, several excellent restaurants, and two historic house museums offer a delightful variety of activities.

Pendleton Historic Foundation owns and operates two beautiful historic house museums, Woodburn and Ashtabula.  Both are available for touring during regular hours as well as rental for special events and private tours.  Admission is charged, but it is reasonably priced.

Details You’ll Need:  Admission per house is $6 for adults; $2 for children 5-10 years old; free for those under 5 years old.  Woodburn Historic House is located at 130 History Lane, Pendleton, South Carolina.  Phone:  864.646.7249.  Hours:  Thursday – Friday, 10 am – 1 pm; Sunday, 2 pm – 5 pm.  Ashtabula Historic House is located at 2725 Old Greenville Hwy (SC 88), Central, South Carolina.  Phone:  864.646.7249.  Hours:  Thursday – Sunday, 1-4 pm.

WOW!  That’s just a sampling of the wealth of family friendly activities in Anderson County, in the SC Upstate!  Join us tomorrow as we feature other great Staycation  ideas from around the country… and later on this week as we continue our tour through the South Carolina Upcountry!