PuRpLe CoWs

Thanks to our midwestern friends. 

They showed us how to make Purple Cows!

Crush Grape Pop

 (That's what they call soda...so weird, I know!)

Pour the Grape Pop over Vanilla Ice Cream!

I super love my Irish Coffee Mugs...

they make everything taste better.

We watched the movie Dolphin Tale after our Purple Cows!

Summer Bucket List:

 

Grill Pizza on the BBQ

Newport Dunes

Make S'mores

Dirve-in Movie: Here

Bowling

John's Incredible Pizza

Camping with Dad

New Spiderman Movie 7.3.12

Night Swimming

Beach Days

Backyard Movie Night

Hot Air Balloon Ride: Here 

Ice Blocking

Lawn Twister

Water Pinatas

Outdoor Movie @ Dos Lagos 

Blueberry Picking 

Cow Appreciation Day 7.13.12

Free Slurpee Day 7-11

Adventure Playground

Bagel Date with Mom

Pizza Date With Dad

VBS

Late Night Sonic Run

(Shakes 1/2 off after 8pm, all summer)

Make Ice Cream

See a Storm Game

Ice Skating

Orange County Fair

Beachcomber

4th of July Celebration

Events we are hosting:

Watermelon Olympics

Bingo Night

Ice Cream Social

Places we are visiting:

San Francisco

Palm Springs

Las Vegas

Winslow

Grapevine

Mom's Personal Bucket List:

Make Rice Krispy Treats

Hit some Happy Hours w/ friends

Take pics of our feet everywhere we go.

Drink out of Mason jars & paper straws

Serve food on sticks!

See Magic Mike

See Snow White and the Huntsman

Watch True Blood Season 5

Go to a Spa

Late Night Pinkberry Trips

Make some desserts off Pinterest 

Mom Dance Party on the Patio

Book Club

Meal Exchange

Learn to Sew...something

Reread Christian Grey

See how many books I can read on my Kindle!

 

 

Vintage Picnic

A few months ago, my family and I planned an outing to go apple picking. We didn't end up getting to pick apples, but we had a fun "Vintage" style picnic! We got sodas and chip bags from Trader Joe's. My mom made homemade cole slaw and potato salad. We also munched on sandwiches and dessert we saved for later in the day....apple cider donuts we bought at an apple farm. It was a fun day and got a lot of family pics in!

Mud Room

I've always wanted a Mud Room!
We bought a new house this summer and it came with this odd, extra closet.
It is 6.5 feet deep and 3.5 feet across.
My first inspiration was the three cubbie hole shelf.
It's from Pottery Barn, bought at a garage sale of course.
I wanted hooks galore.
Three boys require lots of hooks!
Ten double hooks.
Belts, backpacks, hats, shoes, & jackets now have a home!
I'm so excited it's finally finished, I may just sleep in there tonight!

Cookies on a Stick

Monday was my son's birthday.
He wanted to take a treat in to school.
I was over making cupcakes.
We love Funfetti Cookies.
The Funfetti Cake Mix has the cookie recipe on the side of the box!
I had a bunch of lollipop sticks!
I used a cookie scoop and once the mound was on the cookie sheet,
I inserted the sticks and then baked them to the directions!
They were a huge hit!
Bonus: No napkins required....no mess!
Love it!!!

Dessert Bar

I am in love with Dessert Bars right now!

I super love creating them.
My best friend was planning a baby shower for her sister.
I volunteered to do the dessert bar.
She wanted bright colors, ie: turqoise, lime, purple, yellow.
She also wanted cake pops....holla!
Here's what she got:

Pretzel Rods, Button Lollipops, Cake Pops...oh my!

Mike & Ike's, Lemon Heads, Skittles, Twizzlers
& Sour Patch Kids!

Homemade Kettle Corn

I love Trader Joe's bags of Kettle Corn...especially at $1.99 a bag!

However, the closest Trader Joe's is 20 minutes down the freeway!

When we were out of T.J.'s we decided to make our own.

I googled many recipes and then found the one that sounded the best.

I found it here.

I tweeked the recipe, since I don't buy corn syrup.

I read somewhere that you can substitute 100% pure maple syrup for corn syrup.

Pop 1/2 cup of popcorn

Bring to a boil:

1/4 cup of maple syrup

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Once boiling...continue on medium heat for one more minute.

Pour over and coat popcorn.

Sprinkle with salt.

Super yummy and a little sticky.

Would make great popcorn balls!