June 2017

SUMMER'S Sizzlin'
with
fun in the Sun...

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Summer is just around the corner & we can't wait to get out of the house to have some fun together...camping, hiking, biking, swimming, traveling, museums, exploring, etc.  

​The wild flowers along the country roads & highways are in full bloom.  The brilliant & abundant flowers create bursts of bright color that dapple the edges of the road as the cars zoom by making each flower wave goodbye every time a car passes.

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Decorating For Summer FUN...

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Do you want to hang out on the patio in the evening or late into the night having fun without all of the bugs that are drawn to the porch lights?  Add some lighting that won't attract every bug around without having to buy new items.  Reuse items you already have  by taking the old string lights you use for holidays & add some decoration to them that can be easily removed after the party's over. Paper cutouts are perfect for quickly adding detail to your patio or porch without spending tons of money.  This simple addition can enhance your theme or just add some interest to the space.   

These are icicle lights used for outdoor holiday lighting, but you can use simple string lights as well!

You can purchase paper cutouts or make them yourself. These flowers I cut out using the cricut machine.

The cricut made a hole in the center, but some of the smaller flowers didn't have a big enough hole to push the light through without ripping the paper.  I gently twisted a tapered stick through to make the hole wider.  You can use a bead reamer or hole punch if it will reach the center.

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Bend the petals upward & pop onto the light. You can have single layers or multiple layers depending on the time, energy, effort, & aesthetic that you're looking for in your decor.

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​There are a variety of ways to assemble & display your new decor by making a string of flowers.  You may like vertical or horizontal strands, or maybe both!

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Organizing FOR Summer FUN...

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We love to travel, so when it comes to packing, I feel confident that my toiletries won't ruin my clothing or get all over other items by using plastic baggies to sort, organize, & contain.  We also have a separate bag/luggage for toiletry items. The new hard case we purchased is nice because now we know items won't be affected by other items being thrown on top of the case or being thrown around by airline personnel.  Everyone's toiletries go into the same bag to make sure that everything is packed, but also to make sure that items can be found quickly & with ease.  

​We also have one bag/luggage to pack all of our shoes that can be bulky & heavy depending on the time of year.  This frees up space in our clothing bag/luggage to pack clothes without having to smoosh items together!  

I hate to iron...who doesn't right?  I like to pack items that fold easily & won't wrinkle a bunch.  I also unpack as soon as we get to our destination in order to hang the items that need hanging to avoid as much wrinkling as possible!

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FUN Summer art...

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How about making art with bubble time fun!  Everyone I know that has kids always keep bubbles around because they're cost effective & loads of fun for everyone.  Turn those bubbles into art...

You can purchase bubbles or make your own, just add either washable watercolor or tempera paint to the mix & voila...  What you don't want is to stain anything, so stay away from food coloring or acrylic paints.  Depending on how saturated you want the colors to be will determine how much paint is added.

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Summer's SIZZLIN' & grilLIN' with good Eats...

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Kebabs take center stage for us.  They're quick, easy, & best of all...tasty!
You can kebab anything from meats to fruits & everything in between.  You can add whatever your family eats to your kebabs.

​When making kebabs, remember to always soak your wooden skewers before putting them on the grill to keep them from catching on fire or burning up during the grilling process.  Sometimes flare-ups happen & burn them anyway, but you can minimize the complete char by spritzing water on the flare-ups.
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​When grilling up your favorite meats, don't forget about the fruits or veggies. Growing your own fruits & veggies is the best for flavor & variety, but when you can't grab them from the garden, go to the local farmers market for fresh, homegrown taste.  Support the local farmers in your area & get the best quality produce available, while improving your family's health & nutrition.  

Squash & zucchini are easy veggies to try grilling that taste great & are easy to grill. Also, grill up some pineapples or peaches before using them in salsas or sauces to add another layer of flavor.  

Slice the squash & zucchini into 1/4"-1/2" slices, then brush on some cooking oil. Sprinkle them with salt & pepper or any other spice you like.  Place them on the grill for a few minutes until fork tender.  Great sides that are quick & easy.  Enjoy!

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