So this is my new favorite thing-- a fun hinged frame to display my kids' artwork in. It's SO easy to switch their art in and out, that my kids do it themselves.
My boys' bathroom gets decorated a bit each holiday, so I keep this frame in there and it's fun to see what cuteness the kids come up with. This is what's in there right now. Thanks, Chan-- I ♥ it!
I bought mine at Joann's, but you can order them here and in all different sizes and colors too!
We are in full blown summer vacation countdown around here! So much so, I didn't even check over Scarlet's homework last night. I mean, I know she did it, but does it look like heck??? Possibly and I don't care!!! (sorry Mrs. Bahr and Mrs. Walher!)
So to help us along with our countdown, I have a little spot in our family room designated to summer! I actually have a couple of spots, but I'll show you those later...
(as always, click on image above to enlarge)
I can't express how much I LOVE my countdown sign!!! I found it in a little boutique a couple of years ago in Cambria, CA and HAD to have it!!! It's so me! A lady who obviously has enjoyed a few good meals and has nothing better to do with her day than lounge at the seaside in her low cut dress with her lush of a BFF. lol!
THREE MORE DAYS!!!!
So, I had an idea... what if I made things a whole lot easier and a whole lot "funner" and a whole lot more colorful this summer in the food preparation area?
How? Well, Miss Scarlet is ALWAYS wanting to make fun treats and she is a decorating fool, but pulling down all the decorating doo daas always seems like such a pain, so I usually say the typical, "Sounds great, let's do that tomorrow" knowing she will forget for a few days giving me a break. LAME! I know. All the girl wants to do is throw a couple of sprinkles onto a cookie for the love of pete!
Okay, so here is what I came up with and it has ALREADY worked!!!
So I scoured my pantry for all fun things red, white and blue and added them to my popcorn box and now when Scarlet wants to add sprinkles to her ice cream or her oatmeal, I am set! I will just let her pick a bottle of sprinkles and a few seconds later she has a festive snack! It makes her VERY happy and I don't feel like a dead beat---- as much! ;)
Today I made the kids pancakes, sprinkled on some red, white and blue sprinkles and my little ones acted like I had presented them with a Sylvia Weinstock cake!
Add a candy star to the top of a small bowl of watermelon, dip the sides of a store bought ice cream sandwich into a bowl of dots, put a paper firecracker into the top of a stack of powdered donuts, add some sprinkles to a bowl of yogurt. Add some color to the ordinary and your kids will LOVE it!
So grab a festive bowl and add some red, white and blue bits and pieces to it and you have a party in a box ready for any kind of fun!
I try and buy candy that isn't tempting for me to eat (hard candy and gum) and my kids aren't huge candy nuts, so this candy stays put in the jars for a long time. When I buy any chocolate, it is gone so fast... by my own hands, so I have learned to stick with the other stuff! I love buying red, white and blue candy because I keep it up pretty much all summer long. Summer= red, white and blue to me!
To my table I added a yummy bowl of cherries and a 6 pack of IBC root beer. I alternated diet and regular root beer for the red and blue caps...
I LOVE edible decorating!
So, with Memorial Day just around the corner and Independence Day right after that, I have started to add some touches of Americana around the house.
I've set the table with my cute flag plates and a fun centerpiece...
Lit a patriotic candle...
Set out some summer cookbooks...
Added some flags outside...
I'll slowly start putting more out over the next few weeks. Stay tuned...
I have also started picking up red, white and blue candy when I go to the grocery store to fill my jars. Soda bottles too. Start picking some up for yourself next time you shop!
