summer is here!!

summer is finally here! we are officially done with school! yay!! and we are celebrating with a 'doughnut party'!

here is the beginning of our summer list...

the summer 2012 list:


lemonade stand
library
trampoline sleepover
camping
movie party
bike rides
sno cones
water balloon fight
hike
swimming
museum
splash pad
zoo
make ice cream
plant flowers
fireworks
make forts
go to grandma's
write letters
make chalk paint
ice cream truck
barbeque
roast marshmallows and have smore's buffet
go to the beach
picnics
music at the park
farmers market
parades
carnival
aunt mali's wedding
and my personal favorite thing to do...
lay in my lawn chair, watching my kids play in the sprinklers while reading a book!


speaking of reading, here is what is on my summer reading list...


summer reading list:


the shoemakers wife by adriana trigiani

edenbrooke by julianne donaldson

olivia (the newport ladies book club series) by julie wright

daisy (the newport ladies book club series) by josi s. kilpack

the flight of gemma hardy by margot livesey

the peach keeper by sarah addison allen

turn of mind by alice laPlante

banana split by josi s. kilpack

(from nest of posies-doesn't it look yummy? definitely making this summer...)

summer is just around the corner...

so i got my lemonade concentrate canned! it's pretty tasty! i found the recipe over at the tasty kitchen! you could also use Ball's recipe for strawberry lemonade concentrate! i want to try that sometime...

 

also i can't believe summer is just around the corner! only two weeks of school left! yay!! i thought i'd share some of my favorite summer products...

1. Dove Limited Edition Summer Care Soap... lotus petal and sea grass scents makes it smell so yummy,  and it has extra moisturizers to "revive parched summer skin"!

2. Banana Boat After Sun Lotion...i have used this since i was a kid. after being in the sun, this feels heavenly and it smells nice too! utah has such dry air that not all moisturizers work, but this one is perfect, and you can even use it on your face!!

3. Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Sunscreen SPF 70-love this stuff! it sprays evenly, can be applied to wet skin and protects well!

                           

And with Mother's Day just around the corner, i am feeling especially grateful for the blessing of my children. and for a loving mother! thanks mom! here are some pics of my babies:)...

our journey to motherhood is different for everyone. for those who have suffered a loss of any type, and have to suffer through this holiday, my prayers are with you. you are not forgotton. thank you to all those, who have not been able to have their own children and who have loved, and mothered my children. they will be better people for it:)

happy weekend! what do you look forward to this summer??

chocolate-peanut-butter deliciousness!

ok, i have a confession to make...

when i am craving something naughty...it is usually made with chocolate OR peanut butter. but the ultimate combo of yumminess... chocolate AND peanut butter!! ahhhh! so here are some of my favorite new chocolate and pb treat recipes!

                            

first are these homemade nutter butters from cookies and cups! they are SOOOO good! the ones i made were gobbled up before they were even finished being put together!

(picture is from cookies and cups)

                           

next, are these no-bake peanut butter bars from six sisters' stuff!! (they have rad recipes! love them!) OR baker lady has a good recipe also!! and these were soooo good as well! my family gobbled a while 9x13 in a little over a day!

if you look at my pinterest food board you will see LOTS of chocolate peanut butter recipes i have yet to try;)

have a great weekend! mine will be filled with soccer games, sunshine, family, good BBQ food and my bountiful baskets!! (i got lots of fun goodies this time, including a 38 lb box of lemons which i plan on canning lemonade concentrate for SUMMER! yay! i'll share my canning adventures with you later:)

DIY upcycle in AQUA!

today i wanted to share a few easy diy projects i did over the weekend! they both involve spray paint! e-nuf said, right!?

the first project, i found on pinterest from stories of a&z, is a DIY earring upcycle. 

here's how you do it:

1. take you boring, old earrings and tape over the hooks/wire/posts.

2. spray a thin layer of primer spray paint

3. let dry

4. spray a thin layer of your color spray paint. maybe two. (the color i used was Krylon's Ocean Breeze)

5. let dry

6. when dry, remove the tape and you have an exciting, new, sassy pair of earrings!

next project...

i needed a little color by my front door. 

had a boring, white mailbox. kinda old, paint was chipping, little rusty.

primed, painted (same color) = awesome, new-to-me, mailbox!

you gotta love spray paint! the possibilities are endless!!

have a happy day!

the sunday can...

so just a quick post today. life has been crazy busy. but i wanted to share a project i recently completed, i call it 'our sunday can'!


basically, my kids were having a hard time coming up with good, Sunday activites. Sunday, or the Sabbath, is a special day for us, one that we refrain from shopping, eating out and sports. The Sabbath is the Lord's day, set apart each week for rest and worship. So I wanted to create something that would help my children know what activities they 'CAN' do on sunday:) see what i did there?
haha. moving on... here is what you do:


1. Find a container or can, or pull one out of the recycling bin!


2. Decorate it!! You can have the kids help! Be creative!

3. Come up with your own list of sunday activites for your family, or you are welcome to use my list below. Your children can help with this too!

4. Cut them out and put them in the can! And your creation is finished!!

ENJOY!


here is my list:


memorize an articles of faith

memorize a scripture

work on 'faith in god' booklet

make a 'journal jar'

write or draw in your journal

watch a family movie

make a family movie

put on a puppet show

cook- help prepare a meal or treat

be a 'reporter'- ask family members questions about their lives

make a family tree

build a fort inside using blankets, chairs, etc

make apostle flash cards

make a 'quiet book' for church

go for a walk

play quiet games

visit someone who is sick, elderly or our loved ones

read the 'ten commandments'

look through family photos- help record names, dates, and what you remember

write 10 things you are grateful for in your journal

play-doh

rest- take a little nap

listen to primary songs or hymns

read "the friend" magazine

watch a scripture movie

make a scripture movie {use legos, toys or real-live actors}

decorate tithing, savings, or mission jar

play 'go fish' or 'old maid'

sing or learn a primary song

make a flannel board

tell a flannel board story

read the scriptures/scripture stories

write a thank you letters to those who have helped you

draw pictures or write letters to family members or missionaries

help prepare family home evening

read books together while eating a big bowl of popcorn!

play 'monopoly', 'life', 'chutes and ladders', 'candy land', 'checkers', 'chess'...

play games on lds.org