Prep for Summer!

 

Nicole and I were recently asked to write another “Family Focus” article for our local community magazine! We are so excited to share it with you! The focus is on prepping for summer: getting organized, setting a summertime routine, planning activities, going on day trips, and adopting a few seasonal traditions for your family to enjoy and remember for years to come!

So, read on for a plethora of fresh summer ideas… and please feel free to add your own personal favorites in our comment section! We’d love to hear from you! Summer is right around the corner… We’re ready, are you?!!

 

 

It’s hard to believe that summer is right around the corner! Soon our children will be out of school and we will have the large task of keeping their minds and bodies busy in what we hope will be constructive play, quality time spent with friends and family, and educational outings.

Last summer, we sort of winged it… we hate to admit! Although we had every intention of having more structure during our time off, and sending our kids to a few summer camps, not all of our plans came to fruition. We did have our share of lazy beach days {which was great}, but we could have made a few minor adjustments that would have made a big difference in the functioning of our homes and the daily squabbles between siblings that ensued. We hope with a little more time spent on the planning and organizing phase, we will be able to execute a seamless summer spent enjoying each day with happy children! We hope to give you a few ideas on how you can do the same through setting time each day to get organized, having flexible routines and daily rituals, making a summer wish list of activities to do, and setting seasonal traditions to create memories that will last a lifetime {or, at the very least, will last until the beginning of next school year when they have to share what they did over the summer}!

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Key Lime Ice Cream Sandwiches

 :: Key Lime Ice Cream Sandwiches ::

I am dreaming of white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and quiet waves, but my reality is the kids are fighting and we need to do something to break up the day.  So off to the store we go to pick up a few items.  It was while cruising down the baking isle, that I discovered this magical find of Pillsbury’s Key Lime Cookie Mix.  Okay so it’s not the answer to my tropical dream, but key lime anything makes me happy.  A quick boxed cookie mix plus homemade vanilla ice cream = scrumptious ice cream sandwiches.

My Cusinart Ice Cream Maker has to be hands down one of the easiest appliances I own.  I keep the freezer bowl in my freezer so that it’s ready when I need it. Four ingredients, ten minutes of prep time, and a flip of a switch you are on your way to making ice cream. Paired with a yummy cookie, and your stomach will be doing the happy dance!  Once you make this easy homemade vanilla ice cream recipe, you too will want to create more ice cream concoctions. Okay so now it’s your turn, let us know what type of ice cream you like to make or your favorite ice cream sandwich.  Summer is just around the corner……. [Read more…]

Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding

 

:: Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding :: 

It really is simple. Use only the finest ingredients, pour some love into what you cook…. and the result is a rich, smooth, creamy dessert that will make your taste buds dance with delight!

You can adjust the sweetness of this particular dish by the amount of sugar that you add. It’s all a matter of personal preference. After allowing the pudding to chill in the fridge, dish it up and top with perfectly ripe banana slices & crunchy vanilla wafer cookies. The subtle hint of fresh banana combined with the tiny flecks of natural vanilla bean in the pudding makes this an old-fashioned dish you’ll remember!

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{weekend} lovelies

 

:: Weekend Lovelies ::

 

Happy Mother’s Day! It is a day of celebrating the joys of motherhood while being thankful for our own Mother’s, Grandmother’s, and not to mention Mother-in-laws. This Mother’s Day we are hopeful for a day of peace and quiet while enjoying some family time. We are sincerely hoping for a day of rest from the usual clean-up, so much like the quote from Tulips and Flight Suits. It is the perfect excuse to let the house duties go for the day. As mommies we sometimes need a little break and time to recoup. We am simply dreaming of a much needed getaway…..

 

**Glitter Guide // Jet Setter: Mrs. Lilien’s Palm Spring Essentials**

 

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House Cleaning Basics 101

 

 

Admittedly, this is not my favorite topic. Not my favorite thing to do for that matter either, but let’s face it…. it’s part of our life whether we like it or not. Cleaning. That’s right. Cleaning. Not very exciting…

I used to love to clean. It was rewarding! You could see the fruit of your labor within minutes of getting started. That was until I had kids…. 4 kids. I love a tidy house. In fact, it totally gives me heart palpitations when it’s a mess. But I don’t look forward to doing it anymore. I guess that’s because as soon as I clean one room, the next room is a disaster! The kids are like traveling tornadoes…. especially my two littlest!

I have realized that I’m not the most domestic woman out there. Perhaps surprising to some… I think I just pull off a good front. Take laundry for example. I don’t mind sorting it and throwing it into the wash… but actually folding it and putting it away…. oh no! I usually wait for Husby to be home to assist with that fun job! It’s just so boring… and relentless! There is always laundry to be done, right?!!

I’ve decided in an effort to get more organized and to stay on top of my cleaning, I should perhaps adopt a schedule. There are plenty of tools out there to help with this, especially if your look on Pinterest. For those of you that also need to get more organized in this area of your life, I’m hoping that I’ve done some of the busy work for you. I’ve sifted through what’s out there to find some of the best printable cleaning schedules, tips, and even recipes for homemade cleaners. Let’s get more organized and tidy together, shall we? 

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Boho Summer

 

:: Boho Summer ~ Style Inspiration ::

 

We love our Polyvore site! It allows us to be creative in piecing styles, products, and brands together. Have you tried it yet? You can use one of their fun templates, or just randomly put your favorite images together like I did below. Either way… it’s fun, and you can even pin your finished sets as we’ve done in our “Dream Closet” Pinterest Board so you can share with others! I’m loving the easy, flowing, Boho style … perfect for summer! Click on the image below to view the product details! Have a wonderful day! 

 

Boho Summer

 
                    
 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Polo

 :: Water Polo ::

 

If you asked me what water polo was as a high school senior, I wouldn’t have had the slightest clue.  Forward to my freshman year of college, and I lived next door to the boy’s water polo building. These boys became my friends through college and their connection is how I met Shane.  He played as a collegiate as well as reffing and plays to this day. We are continuing the experience with Mason.

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{weekend} lovelies

:: Weekend Lovelies ::

The weekend is here!  School is winding down, but our schedules seem busier than ever! Hope that you can take a few moments this weekend for yourself…. and maybe browse some of our favorite finds on the web this week over a cup of your favorite coffee or tea! We kept it short and sweet! Enjoy… and have a lovely weekend, friends! {xo}

 

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas // Hither & Thither

Mother’s Day is coming up quick! Here are a few gift ideas! Click the title link above to see even more classic ideas for your sweet moms…. or possibly a treat for yourself!

 

 

 

The Best Olive Oil Cake You’ve Ever Had // Cup of Jo

This recipe uses your finest olive oil, lemons, a touch of rum, and almond milk….. Mmmmmm! I personally can’t wait to make this recipe! Wouldn’t this be divine over a cup of hot coffee with the company of a close friend? Bliss… 

 

 

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Family Time

 

:: FAMILY TIME :: 

I’ve been having a hard time accepting how much time my family spends away from each other… whether it’s Husby at work for days at a time at the fire station, or just the kids weekly schedule with school and other activities. As much as I try to soak up quality time with my family during the week, it never seems like we get enough. Our schedule seems consumed by the runaround schedule of drop-offs, pick-ups, homework, and other obligations…. as I guess it would with four children.

So… just over a week ago, Husby and I decided to forget about the never ending to-do list at home and take our two youngest to the beach while our older boys were at school. It seemed horribly wrong to leave Ryan and Seth out of the fun…. but I reminded myself that they had this alone time with us when they were little, too {right?}! We packed up a picnic lunch and headed to one of our favorite secluded spots in Laguna Beach….  

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I Heart My Hot Rollers

** I Heart My Hot Rollers **

My friends and family know that I am addicted to hot rollers. I have been using them since my stepmom introduced me to her Con Air Rollers as a little girl.  My Mom, like most of you, would roll our hair up in sponge curlers the night before a special occasion so that we would have bouncy Shirley Temple curls for pictures.  I think that hot rollers are the easiest way to add a little volume while styling your hair.  I use them a minimum of three times a week and I have owned two sets of rollers since high school.  If you do the math, these things are indestructible.  Let’s just say if my house was on fire and you asked me to take a few beauty products with me, these would be one of the first things I would grab {wink}. [Read more…]