Over at Lemon Tree Creations

I am over at Lemon Tree Creations today. Erin invited me to share a gift idea for Momma and new baby...she just had her own sweet little girl. I made this for our newest niece (no Melissa, I have not mailed it to you...I am awesome like that).

Go over and check it my tutorial for the monogrammed diaper carry all caseI...hint it is made from a placemat.  Tomorrow I will have the tutorial for the coordinating change of clothes bag.

In a Nutshell: Splash Parks are Great

There is a new splash park downtown. Thanks to my always-in-the-know friend, we were invited to go. I packed up Middle and Littlest Little Men and we headed downtown...ps I am not a very good downtown navigator even with our GPS Thatcher...yes we named our GPS...and yes we have in on the British accent...I got lost quite a lot.

Anywho...

This park was awesome. We had a great time in the water and with friends.

This is my favorite moment...Littlest dodging the giant sprays in order to get some drinks.

Can you tell by this picture (thanks Ben for sending it to me...I am hardly ever in pictures) that I am excited Littlest handled getting his face drenched without crying. I know my face is SUH-weet.

Tons of sprinklers, giant misters, a geyser, lunch and sun. What more can you ask for??

I took TONS of pictures...obviously...but I did narrow it down for you. Yeah, yeah, you are welcome.

If you couldn't tell, this is his..."you're the best mom" face.

T-shirt Painters Smocks Tutorial

After our recent round of Suds Painting, I had one of those Momma "ah-hah" moments. You know the ones where you mentally slap yourself on the forehead and say "DUH".

While the boys were painting, I hovered quite intensely over them. Swooping in with a wash rag cleaning hands, elbows, faces, and table just so they wouldn't get the bubble paint on their clothes.

Then...forehead slap, a "DUH", and a more lady like "ah-hah".

Maybe I should make them something to cover up their clothes. Maybe I should make them a painters smock. Maybe I should raid Hubby's closets to find material for said smock.

AND that my friends is how the T-shirt Painters Smock was born.

Today I am sharing a tutorial how to make these really easy and super cute painters smocks.

First, you need to find some big and fun t-shirts.

I used three for the main part of the smocks and then scraps from other t-shirts to make the pockets.

Then all you need is thread. Told ya, easy.

Next I took one of Oldest's larger sports tees and roughly used is for a pattern.

I traced about an inch away from the outside of the shirt. I also made it slightly longer than the shirt. Then I folded my shirt in half, cut along my pattern line. I folded my shirt in half so I could just make one cut.

I cut a scrap from the bottom of another t-shirt. This way you can use the bottom hem as the top of your pocket...I LOVE a good short cut. The depth of my pockets varied with the different sized smock. You can determine the depth, but make sure you cut it the same width of the bottom of your smock front.

Next I folded 1/4", ironed, folded another 1/4" at the sleeve opening.

Sew. Repeat for the other sleeve opening.

Now I sewed on the pocket. I pinned it in place, and then marked where to sew the pocket lines.

I sewed three lines making four pockets. Do not sew at the sides or the bottom.

Fold the shirt inside out. Pin at the sides, and then sew up with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Then hem the bottom by folding up 1/4", iron, and fold up another 1/4" and iron again. Turn right side out and sew hem in place.

AND you are done. Simple. Easy.

Now they can have carefree painting fun, and the Momma doesn't have to worry about their clothes.

Anyone notice how the Superman smock is not pictured? Middle Little Man was not having a 

photo shoot this day. Hahaha.

Sharing this idea:

Friday Linky Party: Creation Corner

BBQ Chicken Salad

Super sweet and to the point today. I am about to lose my ever lovin' mind over here. We are about 8 days from packing it in and driving out of the great state of Ohio. AHHHH!

I am feeling the time crunch. I am feeling the rush. My heart is all a flutter, and not in the way me, myself and I a sixteen-year-old girl feels when she sees Robert Pattinson. The kind of flutter that leads to an anxiety attack. Ya' know...that kind of flutter.

The good news is...a girl still has to eat. So I might as well make something yummy.

Today I am sharing this pretty simple recipe I tweaked from one of my recipe pinterests. This recipe comes together quick. The only special ingredients you might need are in the dressing. You all know how I feel about salads for the Summer.

I hope you enjoy. I sure did. It was a bright spot in the crazy of my day.

BBQ Chicken Salad ...I know original name


ingredients
2 chicken breasts
1/2 cup your favorite BBQ sauce for marinating the chicken

1 head romaine lettuce
1 head green leaf lettuce

corn-black bean mixture:


1/2 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1 lime
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili pepper
1/2 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1/2-2/3 cup frozen corn, thawed
salt & pepper to taste

dressing:

2/3 cup mayonnaise1/3 cup buttermilk
2 Tablespoons milk
2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 to 1/3 cup BBQ sauce


extra sauce for grilling chicken


Marinate chicken for 4 hours. At the same time, make your corn-black bean mixture. Mix the first five corn-black bean ingredients in a bowl. Then stir in the beans and corn. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and let set in the refrigerator the same time as the chicken.


Combine all the ingredients for the dressing by either whisking vigorously or in a blender. Refrigerate until ready to serve.


When chicken is done marinating, grill. Brush with extra BBQ sauce.


Once chicken is done, let rest for five minutes. Then slice.


Combine lettuce and corn-black bean mixture. Then lay chicken over the top. Drizzle with dressing. 


Serve and say, "YUM". Okay so you don't actually need to say "YUM", but everyone will be thinking it.

Boredom Buster: Suds Painting

There are days during the summer where I want to rip my hair out playing outside isn't an option. Either it is rainy, the air quality is bad for Oldest, road in front of house is being paved, or I feel like staying in my jams. On those days I definitely need some help.

I had first seen this idea on Martha...gotta love her. I have seen it a couple of places since then. On a whim, I decided to give my sweet Little Men something to do one stay-inside-day.

I had everything on hand. Here is what you need-

 acrylic paint

some cups (i prefer disposable, but you can use regular cups) 

liquid dish detergent 

paper (water color paper or heavy craft paper is best...but in a pinch printer paper is just dandy) 

some water 

straws

All you have to do is pour some soap into the bottoms of each cup. I used about 2-3 Tablespoons. Then I squirted several big squirts of paint, different color in each cup. Then I poured 1/4-1/2 cup water. You don't want the solution too diluted. I had to do a trial run. The best way to test it is to blow into the cup, check the amount of bubbles...you want lots...and check the concentration of the color...again you want it darkish.

Once you have the ratio right, put in the straws.

Get a few washrags ready.

And then let your kids go to town.

They will LOVE blowing bubbles in the paint...I mean really it is all I can do to get them to not blow bubbles in their milk, so of course they love this.

Sometimes the blowing got a little carried away. This is where the washrag comes in handy.

One cup at a time is fun.

But if you've got real skills, then you can handle three.

Don't forget to actually have them make their art work. When the bubbles are all frothy at the top. Have the kiddos lightly press a white piece of paper on the bubbles.

They have creative license. They can use all one color. Just a few...or all of them. Once they are done with each sheet of paper. Set it in a flat place to dry.

Hang it in all its glory on the fridge. Your kids will feel like their art is hanging all fancy like in a art gallery, which will make them feel all fancy. You will feel a sense of accomplishment for the 20 minutes you fed their creativity and kept them from their beloved video games. It is pretty much a win-win.

Warning: This will be the gateway to them wanting to do any and every painting craft they can think of.