10 Things to Do Before Summer Ends

Well folks, it’s almost here. The end of Summer.

Kids are school supply shopping and in some places school is already in session. The temperatures are back to comfortable and I have been in jeans, flip flops, and tee shirts again. Yay! However, there is still time to get in some summer fun before summer ends. Here is our top 10 list!

10. Nature Hike-  Venture to paths less traveled, bring a magnifying glass and a jar, snap some photos, explore the beauty of nature!

9. Have a picnic- Simple… whether you are a city dweller or a country family. Pack some yummy food like picnic on a sticks, salads in mason jars, and some fruit salad, plop a blanket somewhere, enjoy each other. (People watching is a big plus for picnics in my book!)

8. Stay up late- pitch some blankets and pillow forts, pop in a movie, make some awesome marshmallow popcorn, and let them stay up super late… fun fun fun!

7. Get some ice cream

6. Get wet- whether its a beach, canoeing, a waterpark, or a new pool… get there asap!

5. Find it fresh- go fruit picking or to a farmers market, make something fresh and delicious… then share the recipe with me, lol.

4. Get Messy- have a water fight, a mud war, dance in the rain… just get messy. My suggestion- take some washable paint, put it in a freezer baggie, add some baking powder and vinegar… stand back and watch it explode!!! =) (Making pop explode is fun as well!)

3. Find a Fest- There are tons of county fairs, city festivals, and other fun frollicking to be had. Ride some rides, eat some yummy and oh so bad for you food, and enjoy the sights and smells of a summer tradition. (The Cleveland Feast of Assumption is August 15-18th… whoo hoo!)

2. Pick a Park- Make a day of it and explore a whole bunch of new parks in one day…

1. Have a Party- throw together a last minute porch party… doesn’t have to be fancy, just grab a whole bunch of chairs, some friends, and have everyone bring something to share. Don’t think about it, just do it!

This Just Pinned

Hi there!!! It’s nice and cool out, all the girls are in wonderful moods… life is good!

Here are some things I just pinned, enjoy!

1. Mmmm… lasagna soup

2. We love nature crafts here!

3. I love red and aqua together, s0 pretty!

4. This outfit makes me think of my pretty garden…

5. No more holding up the veggies and dip line!

6. I am getting creative with pumpkins this year =)

7. Amelia thinks this bag is perfect for ballet class!

8. Gabby is all about foxes lately!

Have you pinned anything interesting lately?

 

Medieval Faire 2012

Summer is not my favorite season. It’s overly hot, bugs are everywhere, crowds invade my beloved zoo and museums… it’s just not my favorite. However, there are a few summer things that I look forward to that help me get through those hot and humid months- carnivals, festivals, and fairs! Mmmm, hand shaken lemonade and butter drenched corn, funnel cake and candy apples… not to mention animals, costumes, crafts, and rides. We love it all. And we were lucky enough to visit one of our most favorite fairs this past weekend- The Great Lakes Medieval Faire!

This is a wonderful event that happens every weekend in July and August, a magical place where the majority of visitors join the entertainers and don period themed costumes, fairies run amuck, and crafters show off their skills. When we got there we were greeted by some Musketeers and some of the Royal Court. Gabby’s fox costume drew a lot of lovely comments, which she loved discussing. Our friend Jenn and her daughter Morgan joined us which made the experience even more fun!

Because there is so much for the kids to see and do, plus many things to buy we made the rule a couple days beforehand that they were allowed to pick one thing or do one thing as a treat. AJ decided that she wanted her face painted like a butterfly so she could match the fairies that she saw.

We got to see an archery and siege weapon demonstration where the archer hot a target from a football field away! It was amazing and inspiring, especially to Gabby who has been asking for a bow and arrow set for her birthday. Lucky for us there was a crafter there who had just the right one for her, so Gabby got an extra special birthday gift! To say she loves it is an understatement!

Along with the weapons we watched a funny comedy show called the Washing Wenches, played with some fairies, ate delicious baked goods, and listened to a wide variety of medieval instruments. Everyone, including myself, was sad when it was time to go… in fact we are going to try to go again before the summer is over!

Here are some of our favorite moments:

AJ loved practicing her curtsy and got many comments and smiles! She was born to be a princess I think!

Thanks to this fair the girls are asking for books about castles, knights, history, and of course medieval weapons! I am going to be picking up a ton at the library now and learning new things with the girls, always a fun effect of going to the Faire!

Tropical Dinner

It may feel like 108 outside but I am not letting it spoil my mood!

I am definitely not a hot weather loving girl so I decided to make the most of it by making the family a tropics inspired dinner and oh my word did it turn out delicious!!!

For dinner I started out with this recipe but I made added a key ingredient- Cream of Coconut!

This lovely little can makes all the difference, it is sweet like the inside of an Almond Joy candybar… yummy!

I added the cream of coconut with the egg and coconut milk mixture. I also mixed a little in my sweet chile dipping sauce, which was also delicious.

I paired this chicken with some rice and the meal was set.

Finally, for dessert I made a tropical smoothie using frozen pineapple (I had cut up and frozen myself), coconut milk,

and more cream of coconut (about 1/4 cup). It was good enough that the girls were fighting over who got the last bits!

All in all a wonderful meal that will definitely be repeated!

What’s your favorite hot weather fare?

4th of July Yumminess!

Hello!!! So who is gearing up for the holiday on Wednesday? I know that we are looking forward to grilling out, eating some great food, and hopefully watching fireworks. This year, thanks to the magic of Pinterest, I am going to trying a whole bunch of new holiday recipes that are in the spirit of the 4th of July… here are just a few!

1. Red licorice wrapped in cute wrappers

2. Independence Sangria

3. Dipped Pretzels

4. Brownie fruit kebabs

5. Layered drink for kids

6. Flag Breakfast Toast

Yummy right?! I’m so excited for the layered drink and the brownie kebabs!!! Strawberries and blueberries make the perfect addition to any celebration I think. =)

Happy grilling and celebrating fellow Americans!