How To Throw A Sunny Summer Picnic

Grab your family and friends and head to the backyard for a summer picnic! Picnics are the personification of summer fun with delicious food, refreshing drinks, and laid-back, warm sunshine. Turn it into a party with a few decor touches and picnic baskets for everyone! Below are my top tips for throwing a backyard summer picnic.

5 Homemade Summer Salad Dressings

I may have mentions on a few occasions [tongue-in-cheek] that I am slightly addicted to salads. From the crisp to the crunch and the bursts of flavor in between, summer is just not the same without salads made with fresh produce. Same goes for salad dressings. Why by store-bought brands when you can quickly and easily make your own dressings -- minus the additives, plus all of the fresh goodness. Find one on the list below and give it a try. You never know, you just might find a new favorite!

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL!

Barbecue, fireworks, parades, hot dogs, picnics, lemonade, concerts, home-made ice cream, grilled burgers, swimming and baseball games!  WHEW! From small towns to big cities and all across this beautiful nation of ours, these are just a few of the ways we will celebrate the 4th of July, America’s Independence Day. Red, white, & blue will be the colors of the day, and being with the ones we love will surely be the highlight of our long weekend. It is fitting that we stop and take the time to celebrate the independence of our great nation! Below [each picture is linked to it's original source] is a collection of recipes, decor and easy entertaining tips for the birthday of our nation! Let's CELEBRATE!

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Lemons & Limes

During the summer many recipes call for lemon or lime juice. Here are a few TIPS to keep in mind when you are buying and juicing your citrus.

DIY KITCHEN ISLAND WITH KEN

Give an Old Dresser new life by turning it into a Kitchen Island!

IT'S BLUEBERRY SEASON!

Blueberries are in season! This WONDER-fruit is sweet-tart and bursting with flavor. They have consistently been ranked among the top fruits and vegetables tested for antioxidant activity and several studies indicate that they are good for memory. Enjoy them now when they have the best flavor and are the least expensive!

The Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

Consuming lemon water on a daily basis can actually change your life –– for good! Not only does this citrus fruit alkalize your system (this is what I use it for, helping keep my tummy under control), it can also improve your overall health by preventing pathogen bacteria in your body. Lemons are packed like a clown car with nutrients, including vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber.

20 GREAT ESCAPES THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL SMALL

Immense landscapes, huge mountain ranges, vast forests and massive waterfalls are all things in nature that can make you feel small, in a good way. That’s why I've listed 20 great escapes that can make you feel small and let’s you fully absorb the surroundings of where you are standing.. pure solitude and peace..

10 WAYS WITH WATERMELON

June is upon us and our little family has already started eating our favorite Summer food –WATERMELON! Just one look at a watermelon and I begin to feel relaxed and stress-free. I'm sure many of you have great memories of watermelon – fireworks, parades, picnics, seed-spitting contests, thumps and such!

SHE SHEDS - the room you never knew you needed!

I love sheds, but this is no ordinary shed! 

It's the room you never knew you needed! 

Welcome to the world of SHE SHEDS!

Confessions of A College Student's Mom: Great Alternatives to Double Majors

So, child #2 is home from college and our home is bursting at the seams with her 'stuff'. You all will be glad to know that I'm holding my OCDness together surprisingly well. The most obvious reason for this is because I know when she leaves for college this fall we will not be seeing her on a regular basis. I'm a little sad about that. Nevertheless, birds gotta fly and Mamas gotta let them go. We went through the same thing with child #1. And as hard as it was, we made it just fine. In fact, Mr.P and I enjoy the nest when it's empty!

LIFE LESSONS FROM MOM

My mother has taught me many valuable lessons that have helped shape my life. The advice I received from her was not specifically contained in any one sentence or in a formal heart-to-heart conversation, but in many discussions throughout my life. My Mother is caring, giving, nurturing, ever so patient, quietly hopeful and above all loving. But her best quality was to teach by example. That is the kind of life my mother has lived. She has inspired me in all areas by being a living example of what it is to be a wife, mother and friend. Here are the top ten lessons about life and love my sweet mother graciously taught me that have touched every aspect of my life and affected the majority of decisions I've made.