10 easy and fun things to do before summer ends {bucket list}

We are in our final two weeks of summer vacation, and we still have a few things left to check off our summer bucket list.  The great thing about this list is that they are all things you can do at home.  Here are 10 things to squeeze in before summer ends...
1. Cover the driveway (or sidewalk) in chalk pictures We tried really hard to fill in as much of the driveway as we could.  You'll need a lot of chalk for this one.  

2.  Finish a whole coloring book This one will be a bit of a challenge for my kids.  We've been working on a little bit each night.  
3.  Have fun with Glow Sticks This should be easy! One day we tried taping glow sticks to the ceiling fan. Another time we turned off the lights and used the glow sticks to spell out words.  Whatever makes you happy.

4. Blow bubbles Since my kids are getting older, this is something they wouldn't do unless it's on the list. Simple joys.

5.  Catch fire flies

What is summer without catching fireflies?!


6. Root beer floats A different kind of summer treat.


7. Picnic This one we will hopefully be checking off the list tomorrow!
8. Play in the rain This was one of my favorite things to do as a kid!
9. Run in the sprinkler We are all about playing in the pools, but you have run through sprinklers, too.  It's another summer must.
10. Make a Lemonade Stand This one takes a little more work, but its still fun. We are planning ours for this weekend.
All of these ideas came off of our summer bucket list.  We made our list of things that we knew for sure we would be doing, or could easily be done at home.  Our list is almost completed.  

What was on your summer bucket list?  What should we put on ours next year?

random bits and pieces of summer 2013

well hey there all!

the last half of this summer really flashed by.  there's been lots i've wanted to share here, but didn't have time.

  

so here's some random moments from our life the last month. =)

i can't find this version anymore, but they love this road tape!  they play on this for hours.  there are similar ones on amazon.

who knew throwing some googly eyes and chenille stems in the mix makes playdo even more fun ;)

i LOVE this picture.  they were waiting for a wave.  on this particular day the waves were huge, and a ton of fun.

so i love all holiday decor, but did anyone else notice that stores were full of fall decor in the middle of the summer?!  secretly, i don't mind...it's fun to look :)  on this day while browsing Michael's, the little lady tells my little guy, "you know those pumpkins they sell here?  well they grow in all these leaves, and then they take them out to sell."  of course, he had to check in there for growing pumpkins.  my little sillies.

mmm...zucchini bread.  i will have to share the recipe in a post soon.

the little lady had a sweet shop birthday party with family.  we used my chalkboard labels on the candy jars.

  

there was tons of serious furry bonding going on this summer.

the hubs had just gotten back from a weekend camping trip with guys.  so the little guy decided to play pretend camping by taking as much stuff as he could carry from his room, to the couch.  "what are you doing, Nate?"  "i'm camping on the couch."  oh, of course you are.  

it was sooooo exciting to watch them break ground on our new house.  

School for the little lady started mid August, while the little guy just began this week.

to celebrate going back to school we made edible chalkboard dessert.  delicious and crazy cute!  i found the idea in  Family Fun magazine.

this was a glimpse of our last month this summer.  tomorrow i'm posting something sweet that i'll be adding to my shop.  

happy creating ♥

sharing here:

free pretty things for you

sew much ado

summer beach memory jar

summer always goes by so fast. there's only a few weeks left before school starts up again.
we've managed to squeeze in a few trips to the beach, and we are hoping for one more.

two years ago i put together THIS beach memory jar.  this year i made another one, but different.

inside the jar:  1. sand from the beach 2. a sandcastle cut from sandpaper 3. a washi tape flag on the castle :) 4. a picture from our trip (printed on regular printer paper so that it bends in the jar easier. velum would work great too)

i love the picture inside.  they were standing at the waters edge waiting for a wave to come in.  once it did it was bigger than expected:

happy memory creating, friends :)

linking here: Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap up Party 504 Main Tickled Pink Link Up

Fairy Garden

every year we plant a fairy garden.   it's one of those must do 's on my list.  
even if the kids aren't as excited about it one year, i still do it.      it's an excuse for us grown up girls to enjoy a bit of that long since gone childhood magic.

the kids always get in to it at some point anyway, and they're always disappointed when the garden begins to fade away. 
i wish i could get them to thrive and last a little longer.

i do not have a green thumb.  i wish i did, but my plants almost always die sooner than they should.  

i feel bad when a pretty potted something comes in my home.  i know it's chances of survival aren't good.  

this year i tried succulents.  i thought they were supposed to be hardy and might survive me.  
Maybe?  Time will tell...

last year i was so bummed when our garden bit the dust.  i made a fake one with Styrofoam and sheet moss to last us all year.  

when our garden dies (as it inevitably will) we will have this back-up piece of happiness to pull out ;)
Linking up here: Tatertots and Jello ~ Weekend Wrap Up Lil' Luna Link Up Party Ginger Snap Crafts ~ Wow Me Wednesday

A Lemonade Stand Birthday Party

Remember those lemonade stand party invitations I shared last month? 

Well the party finally came along.  

And the party wouldn't be complete without a lemonade stand.

The hubs was kind enough to build this lemonade stand for us.  I've seen so many cute ones for sale, but all with a huge price tag.  
Mine cost $5.  Woo hoo!  
The bottom portion is a part of a cabinet from the "as is" section of Ikea for $5.  That's the spot to go!  


The frame around it was made with scrap wood we already had.
I put chalkboard paper on the front so we could personalize her stand.

 

Down the sides of the stand I added a string of these cute paper lemons from Wendolonia

The banner across the front was made front paint chips (gotta love paint chips) and doilies strung together with yellow baker's twine.

That super cute personalized lemonade stand tank she is wearing is from Cotton Laundry

We served regular and pink lemonade.  Guests could garnish their drinks with lemons, strawberries, or raspberries.   The drink wouldn't be complete without a pink or yellow striped straw.

The birthday girl loved serving lemonade to her guests.

The little guests took home small pails with goodies including pink lemonade gumballs.

The gumballs are in pretzel bags with a paint chip top.  The pink lemonade circle was a printable at Funkytime

These lemonade recipe cards came from Funkytime as well.

My mom made this adorable fruit salad.  She packaged it up to match the party decor.
{Thanks Mom!}

We had a small sweet table.  
Since the party was at a park, this was easier than having a cake to cut and melting ice cream.

This candy jar I made HERE and just added the lemonade gumballs.

I made the cupcake toppers to coordinate with the invitations.

The birthday girl had a blast.

Linking up at THESE link parties!

Beach Memory Jar

This memory jar came together this afternoon.
I had no idea what I was going to do beforehand, it just sort of fell together.
I like how it turned out.
It fits in nicely with our decor, and still preserves our summer beach memory.

I filled a mason jar with sand and beach rocks we collected on our trips to the beach.  

This is the ONLY picture I was able to get of the two of them together.
Cooperating for pictures is such a challenge sometimes!

Anyway, I headed over to Picnik with my picture, added the sepia effect, and added the text near the bottom: "Warren Dunes, MI Summer 2011"
I printed the the picture on sticker paper in wallet size and cut it out with an oval cutter.

For the lid I cut a circle out from a sheet of cork.
I think the look of the cork has that sand feel.
Then I used brown paint and a toothpick to make "footprints" in the sand.

It's a keeper. :)

Linking up to THESE awesome parties!