It's National Sunglasses Day!

Do I need to remind you again that it's summer?? Maybe one more time because today is National Sunglasses Day, and sunglasses are quite possibly the best, most used summer accessory.

Sunglasses are a great idea as a favor for a summer party, wedding, or backyard cookout. They're useful if you're outside and make for great pictures when you see everyone donning them. 

I love this image from a wedding where sunglasses were set out with a clever sign inviting guests to grab a pair. Some sights offer sunglasses at $14 for $12 in an array of colors, but I would probably head to my local DollarTree instead. This year I found a bunch of stylish frame shapes. Below is a picture of two pairs I bought for myself, but there were definitely more shapes and styles to choose from not pictured, and of course, styles for men and kids. I even found some cute heart shaped and flower print glasses for my girls. Stop in, it's worth the trip!

Image from Style Me Pretty. 

 image from my instagram

Image from bridefinds.com

Candy Sushi for the Summer

Summer is officially on and so is the heat. This weekend I am grabbing my bathing suit and a towel and hitting the pool.


Since this is the first Sunday I've been home this month, I want to do something special for my girls. I've wanted to try making some candy sushi for a while now. I think my girls would get a kick out of it, and it's a completely milk free snack - always a plus!

Here's one recipe: http://m.kraftrecipes.com/recipedetail.do?recipeid=120799&cn=US. I love that it's low on ingredients and steps, but high on final product cuteness!

This is great for hanging out poolside, a pool party snack or hostess gift, or even a rainy day idea for your kids.

Photo from kraftrecipies.com.

Reasons for Some Summer Lovin'

It is officially summer and I am thrilled! I've lived in both the north and the south, and I have to say that summer feels a little more special to me when the winter months are looming ahead. I know that there are only a few months, weeks, days away until the colder weather creeps in and then send me hibernating indoors for months. When summer hits, I can't wait to find reasons to be outside.


Here are my top 5 reasons why I love summer.


1. It is totally acceptable to use my jars as drink cups. For some reason, these just look appropriate in the summer. There is nothing better than a cup of lemonade from a jar with a straw. There is no need to make sure that all the jars are the same shape and size. In fact, I like it better when they're all different shapes and sizes. I save all my lids so I can fill and close each jar. Then I just stick them in my galvanized bucket filled with ice to keep them cool longer. You just can't do that with a glass!


image from http://yummyweddingfood.com 


2. Casual is the tone all season long. Summer is the best time to get together with friends and do nothing. I can spend the entire day from morning til the stars come out hanging around outside cooking, eating, drinking, and soaking up the good weather. There's no need to wear fancy clothes because I'll be in and out of my bathing suit all day. I don't need to worry about an over the top table settings, because easy and accessible is all that matters when you're soaking wet and starving.  


3. DIY frozen treats. Forget the ice cream man. My kids love to make their own pops more than buy his ice cream. It also gives us more options since my oldest daughter is allergic to milk. Making my own treats give us more freedom to make super yummy treats. And for after my kids are in bed, I love to sit outside and dig into some french vanilla ice cream mixed with anything I have lying around, especially grilled fruit. I can't wait to share our frozen treats with you all this summer. 

image from slashfood.com


4. Entertaining outside. My house not the largest around, but I absolutely love my backyard in the summer. My trees are in full bloom and give us the best privacy, I have a shaded hide away and the perfect sun basking patio. I can't wait for the warm weather to finally be able to have everyone over to BBQ and hang out. 


5. A tired mami always looks better with a tan. It's free in the summer, I have access to it even if I am running around with my girls or doing anything else!


Even if summer is not your favorite season, I hope you can find a few reasons to love the season while it's here!

Revelations From a Late Night

The night before my double birthday party for my girls' I came to the most unbelievable and freeing revelation that can only help me as I move forward with events and especially DIYing my own events.

I finally realized that I do NOT like baking cakes. In fact I would go as far as to say I despise it. I am speaking specifically of cakes here, so please note that I am in no way, shape, or form denouncing cupcake baking. Give me a cupcake, and I will gladly bake or decorate. But dealing with cakes is something I will no longer do.

It takes real patience to bake and decorate an entire cake, and that is not a trait of mine. I like instant gratification, the kind that comes after each cupcake is completed. My sister bakes and decorates with a patience that makes me wonder: where the hell did she get it from?!

All this came to me at 1AM in the morning as I was cursing out the sandcastle cake I was thrown into last minute. As I muddled through, all I could picture were the countless cupcake ideas I should have done that would have taken much less time and would have looked much better (not that I was setting high standards with this cake).

So from here on, I will no longer attempt to bake cakes. I will gladly surrender my credit card for a quality cake or put on my apron for some cupcakes, and you will not here a single complaint!

And for your amusement, a picture of the sandcastle cake, which despite its appearance actually taste pretty yummy.