What summer's made of.

I took an unexpected hiatus (not that I'd call 4 days a true hiatus) from this lil' blog of mine... all for a good cause.  The transition from school to summer is {surprisingly - even though it happens every year, it still comes as a surprise... each & every last day of school/first day of 'freedom'} a bit rocky.  The first few days are usually filled with grumpiness, tension, fighting, chaos... any or all of the above.  So I decided a short break was in order to get into the full 'summer groove'.  Evening chalk-art sessions, ice cream breaks, sign-making (these "summer-alert" signs have been posted on each & every bedroom door, nightstand- & more... in case we *forgot :)), tomato-pickin, and all sorts of garden-tending for that matter.  Of course, there's the usual chores, and a million 'non-summery' things in between the moments of bliss... car servicing, purging (aaaaalmost done. still), cleaning, hair-cuts... 

But all of this stuff isn't so bad when when speckled with library visits n' reading club check-ins, flashback movie viewings (so far, thanks to jacob's library rental choices- planet of the apes & clash of the titans... next up- flash gordon), late night pandora sessions, open windows at all hours of the day, new books to crack open- and old ones to finish, & possibly best of all~   

 popsicle-making.

{found via pinterest, and have been dying to make em' {and these!} ever since}

peach pie popsicles

*slightly adapted from i eat grass.

6 servings

1 cup almond milk (I used unsweetened vanilla)
1 frozen banana, peeled chopped
2 large peaches, seeded diced (I had white peaches, so I used both peaches & nectarines, for added color)
½ tsp vanilla (my helper accidentally poured in 1 tsp... & they were not too vanilla-y at all)
1 tbsp agave
pinch of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth or desired consistency. 

Pour into popsicle tray and freeze until set (3-6 hours).  If you don't have popsicle molds, just use a small paper cup & a popsicle stick.  Insert sticks into center of popsicles after they start to freeze.  When fully frozen & ready to enjoy, peel away the cup.

  

 

... and the best part~ a late-night 'slice of pie' on a stick.

Happy Friday everyone :).
 

p.s. 

Any favorite popsicle recipes??  Please share... can never have too many.  After all, it's what summer's made of.

  

Seasonal treasures.

                 

1)  A great deal on new outdoor furniture from Target... a gazebo, seating, & long-awaited string lights (had trouble finding exact items online... we purchased them in-store)!  {Since a new patio cover is not in our budget, this is a perfect solution.}

2)  Our new favorite BBQ sauce (don't have a picture, so I'm including one from yesterday- Anise & her cutie-pie kids, sprinklers, & a new slip n' slide :)).  {We've tried many homemade sauce recipes, and have been searching for just the right one... This is it (*note:  we used Sriracha, but not as much as the recipe calls for).}

3)  The best popsicle post ever (thanks Stephanie)!  {Here are the girls enjoying the peaches & cream variety, while we enjoyed the watermelon ones.}
          

4)  Looking forward to a "mojito" tonight...

5)  Strangely excited about this floor steamer- just ordered last night, thanks to Sarah.  {With  kids, & dog, a husband in & out all day- clean floors have been a challenge to say the least.  Hoping this 'magical mop' will solve my dilemma.}
 

6)  Letters from Jacob.  {He's coming home tomorrow!!}.
  

                                                   
7.)  A [moist] dry rub.  {served apple-wood smoked ribs with the above sauce & this rub for Hailey's party. HEAVEN)

image via

8.)  Slow-cooker pulled-pork w/ buttermilk coleslaw.  {served this last month for the book-club gals... a perfect way to barbecue without actually using the grill!}

Image via

9.)  Another perfect-for-summer slow-cooked meal- pork & beans stew. {less time in the kitchen = more time to play... win/win}

 image via

 
10.)  Special sauce.  {found @ Dinner: A Love Story, & brought this to a 4th of July party, and it was a great accompaniment, but ours looked a bit less "pretty" & much more orangey than theirs & BA's... need to work on that (so it could look "special" as opposed to just tasting special)}

 image via

            

HAPPY WEEKEND!

                          

My little firecracker.

Tomorrow, she’s turning 8. 

Perfectly fitting that she was born in the midst of sunshine & sparklers… of independence & high spirits… of block parties & parades.

 Self-determined.  Persistent.  Warm-hearted.  Open-hearted.  Happy.  Colorful.  Full of life.

 

...Looking forward to a weekend of your favorites- manicures, mac & cheese, popsicles, & parties.

 

{Tape & tag graphics, courtesy of Ana}               

Firm affirmations, & a loose plan.

                     

Image via

It was our first weekend with the kids out of school.  Yet after the initial Friday excitement, the anxiety slowly started to settle in.  The one that arrives right about the same time every year... at the start of summer.  

Our summers are always a little hectic- fun, but hectic. For one, Hailey's birthday is right around the corner, in early July.  And she is nothing like Jacob when it comes to birthdays.  She's been talking about her party for the past 6 months... how she wants a slumber party, who she wants to invite (his list was always a couple of friends, and the rest- family; hers seems to include all the girls in the 2nd grade, and then some), how she wants to go to Disneyland on her actual birthday- and stay in the money pit hotel.  So, even if I "go small" and accommodate only a few of her wishes, this always takes a little (or a lot of) extra mind share- the planning, and the recovery.  

Then we have our big summer camping trip.  Hands-down, our favorite part of summer- but definitely a lot of preparation and work- pre & post.  For these reasons, and many more- each summer seems to get overtaken a bit- rushed and incomplete, when it's all said and done.  Even though I'm not one to fill each and every moment with major activities & camps (sometimes, our "activity" of the day may be renting a movie, and getting frozen yogurt- and they're beyond okay with that)- the same thing happens each year.

In an effort to avert the madness & shred the stress, I'm starting this Monday- this summer- off with a few little vows.

1. Less electronics- more nature.
2. More time preparing meals in the morning (Crockpot!)- less time in the kitchen- more time to play.
3. Time with Ryan- without the kids (with their 'flex bedtime' this often gets squeezed out of the equation).
4. Lots of laziness and just enough structure.
5. Work, then play (let's face it- there's always stuff to get done- summer or otherwise, and when it comes to tasks & chores- my kids do a thousand times better if they know that FUN awaits).
6. Popsicles & iced coffee daily.

This morning, we'll conjure.  We'll plan.  We'll dream.  We'll record some 'summer to-do's'.   

And I'll keep my vows in mind.

         

The quintessential play date.

           

Since Jacob has been away at summer camp, this week has been full of 'Hailey activities.'  Yesterday, we invited a couple of her friends over for a "play date."  I will admit, I am a little late to join the play date party.  

And if I'm really being honest, I don't really like the term, play date.  Or for that matter, other similar terms such as, "ladies night out" or "date night" - that seem to be names that moms feel a need to create to have an excuse to take time for themselves... away from their children.  

My view?  Who needs an excuse??  I sure didn't need one before the kids, and if anything, being a mom alone IS an excuse to get away!  You know:  the whole, "Time apart makes the heart grow fonder" thing, right?

Back to the play date get-together.  One of the best parts of entertaining young ones (even Jacob's 12 year old friends) is feeding them.  Still getting my 'fix' of feeding others, but not having to marinate, or simmer, or caramelize.  

Yet it was not the small grilled cheese sandwiches, cut into fancy shapes, or the cute little raviolis, with little dishes of marinara and parmesan alongside, or the tiny cheese-filled crackers, or the mini watermelon wedges, or even the pink lemonade with the cool jewels ice, that impressed them the most.  No siree.

            

These tasty Raspberry & Vanilla Bean Bars, from Trader Joe's, were the real highlight.  The modern 50/50.  If you haven't yet tried them, well, you should. 

 Mango & latte flavors are also available @ TJ's.

Recipe for a delectable cooking party.

                                                  
A fancy recipe-card-maker, lots of bunting...

a collaborative effort with talented contributors... 

                         

{All images were taken by a photographer friend, Belinda Block.  If you live in the area and are interested in having your party photographed, reach out to me for her contact information.}

{The lovely aprons, inspired by Skip to my Lou, were generously hand-made by my sister-in-law Erin.}

old-fashioned sodas,  cheese & rosemary breadsticks...

              
a creative table setting...

salad-on-a-stick, individual lasagnas...

       

rainbow cupcakes, homemade popsicles, pink balloons...

                

super-cool gifts, party favors, & plenty of kisses from Grandma.

        

Honey-cherry yogurt popsicles.

                               

                                                                   

Popsicles and polka dots... 2 of my favorite things.

                

Hope your weekend is filled with some of your favorite summer things.  

                                         

Recipe from here; click image to enlarge.

*NOTE:  If you don't have popsicle molds, just use a small paper cup & a popsicle stick.  Insert sticks into center of popsicles after they start to freeze.  When fully frozen & ready to enjoy, peel away the cup.