my new favorite dress

see this dress...

it's my new favorite one.  wanna know why?.............i made it!  yes, made it- as in yesterday it was fabric and today it's a dress, that can actually be worn! 

this summer i bought a sewing machine.  it's something i have wanted to learn for years.  i have taken three classes so far.  my teacher is so kind and so patient and i am SO thankful.  i'm like that kid in class with all of the questions........wonder where jack gets that?

i also made this last night for my newest niece, sweet drew-

here is miss drew hazel. of course better pictures of her can be found here, from aunt jen.

 i will keep you posted with my newest creations!  hope you are keeping cool on this HOT summer day!  

corn salsa

it seems like all i've been doing this summer is eating.  my sister-in-law made this super yummy salsa while we were at the beach.  i highly suggest that you make this for yourself.  seriously, i can't get enough of this!  thank you sharyn for sharing your recipe.

here it is: small can of corn, 1/2 red onion, tomato seeded and chopped, juice of one lime, cilantro,
avocado chopped.

 

it's really, really the yummiest salsa ever.  it tastes like summer.  you can serve it with your favorite chips and enjoy.  i really think it would be great in a fajita or over grilled chicken or fish too. 

frozen treats

i love ice cream.  while i think summer is the perfect season to treat myself and the kids- we can't have ice cream every day.  i came up with a quick alternative that i don't mind serving more often.  today we made yogurt pops!  they are easy-peasy:

you need little cups, fresh fruit and your favorite yogurt

layer the fruit of your choice and yogurt

my cups came with lids, you could also use plastic wrap or foil to cover them

add candy sticks or popsicle sticks.  place them in the freezer for a few hours.

this is what they look like once they are frozen.  run a knife around the edges and pull it out!

this is will's, he loves blueberries.

serve to your little sweets.....

i think she likes it :)

beach

i've been soaking up some serious family time.  we've been at the beach and it's been wonderful.  our first trip was with jordan's family.  here is a peek at our time together:

anna michael and cole- she is six days older then her best buddy.  they are quite the pair.

my three little loves

cousins....lots of them :)

when the summer comes to an end we have cover the ages of 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 1! 
These adorable shirts came from my friend, nikki at a very bright design!

we had beach dance parties

and super heroes running from the waves.

seriously......i love this face.

pirate will & katie j

grammy and papa with all of their grandbabies

the next trip started with the five of us

we watched a man catch this little fishy.......this people is why i don't like swimming in the ocean.  

the boys entered a hula hoop contest! 

we fed sea gulls

my mama joined us later in the trip.  grandma brought an endless supply of "slushy money"

and this guy and i got to go on a date.  a good friend of jordan's got married  ,
he was a groomsman in our wedding 8 years ago, tomorrow. 

so after that long vacation i'm feeling very grateful for this sweet family of mine.

burgers anyone?

chances are you'll be attending/hosting a cookout this weekend.  if so, here is a quick simple dessert make.  i've seen many versions of these over the years- we made ours the simple way:

ingredients: grasshopper cookies- (i froze the rest.......think thin mints!), nilla wafers, yellow and red frosting (i bought white and colored them with food coloring, coconut- again, add a drop or two of green food coloring and mix.

layer it all together to create your burger.  we put a dot of frosting to hold the bottom "bun" to the "burger"

happy 4th of july! 

i'm in love...

yes, it's safe to say i am having a summer fling with spray paint.  i have been painting everything i can get my hands on and i love it!  it is the easiest way to add little pops of color around your house.  the best part?  it's cheap and it's really easy.

my sister-in-law is also addicted to spray painting. she had an adorable yellow tray by her pool today- so you know what i did when i got home?  yea, you guessed it! 

here is how simple it is:

pick your favorite color- these are two of mine.  i am also totally in LOVE with watermelon pink.
 annie has a big girl bed in the works! 

grab something that needs a little love- i've had this tray since before jordan and i were married.  in a few weeks we'll celebrate 8 years.  it's time for something to happen to this tray!

follow the directions on your spray paint can.  notice the old sheet- you really should use something to protect your grass/driveway.  i may or may not have a blue stained driveway from another project........whoopsie!

give it plenty of time to dry...(that's the hardest part!)

i like the distressed look, so i gently sand the corners and edges.

it's my new sunblock caddy......

or another lemonade tray!