The Last Days of Summer

Summer only has a little over a month left before it will be gone. In May, when school is coming to an end I always make a Summer Bucket List of all of the things that I want to do over the Summer. As I complete something on my list, I mark it off. Do you make a Summer Bucket List? What types of things do you put on your list? Some items are on my list every year because they are things I love and Summer is the perfect time of year to make them happen. I always have go swimming, have a picnic, and take summertime pictures on my list. But then some things are new each year and are related to events that are currently happening in my life. This year one new things I had on my list was to start back to school on my next degree (not really that fun, but will eventually get me a raise at work which is fun).

Usually, I pack my July with tons of Summer activities and fun from my list. This year though my July was filled with work related activities, so I still have lots of things on my Summer Bucket List that I would like to mark off before it ends. So, what still needs to be marked off my list?

ONE // Attend a local festival. Several local festivals have already passed this year and I haven't attended a single one yet! In the beginning of September is the Honey Bee Festival in my home town and I am definitely not missing it. Local music and a funnel cake here I come.

TWO // Go stargazing. Living in the country it is easy to take the gorgeous night sky for granted. Before Summer ends I want to spend and evening outside with friends and/or family enjoying the view and some late night snacks.

THREE // Watch some fireworks. The rainy weather hampered my 4th of July fireworks show, but I will still see fireworks before Summer ends courtesy of my brother!

FOUR // Create a signature milkshake recipe. Summer is the perfect time for ice cream. Who doesn't love a good milkshake? I definitely need to create my own and serve it for my next guests.

FIVE // Host a BBQ. Tracy and I love to host events and provide delicious food. A BBQ and cook out would be perfect for us. We will make all the sides and dessert and our brother can do all the grilling.

SIX // Make ice cream sandwiches. Ok, see number 4 for the reason this needs to happen.

SEVEN // Spend some time out enjoying the sun. Let's get all of those little summertime activities in like tossing a Frisbee around, blowing bubbles, having a water balloon fight, etc.

EIGHT // Spend some time poolside. Earlier in the Summer I went to the beach, but since I have been home there has been no pools and no swimming. Something has to change people.

NINE // Make strawberry shortcakes. This dessert just oozes Summer. Plus it will be delicious and refreshing.

TEN // Learn something new. Tracy and I still want to take that cake decorating class.


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Ice Cream Social

Tracy and I love to host fun evenings for our friends and family. Game nights, movie marathons, and parties of any sort are great for bringing people together and having fun. Last year we threw our first ever costume party at Halloween. It was a blast and we are already planning for this years Halloween party. We have decided that this Summer we should host our first ice cream social. We plan to invite a small group of friends over for this event so that we can enjoy some deliciously cool ice cream on a hot Summer day and socialize with each other. What's more enjoyable on a dreadfully hot day than cold ice cream?

Right now we are in the planning phase of this event. Tracy is definitely a planner and wants all of the details nailed down before we even invite anyone over. If it were just me throwing the ice cream things would definitely be last minute. I would probably end up running to the store on the morning of the get-together and grabbing stuff. Have you ever thrown an ice cream social before or attended one? Do you have any advice for throwing an ice cream social?


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Summer Tablescape Ideas

Summer is the perfect time for getting together with friends and family. Whether you are inviting them over for brunch, lunch, dinner, snacks, etc. you need to keep the tablescape in mind. If you are providing delicious food, don't you want to present it in beautiful surroundings? Summer is also the perfect time to make a table setting. All the fresh flowers, fruit, and produce can help make excellent centerpieces for the table.
When it comes to creating a table setting during the Summer I love to utilize certain things. While fresh fruit and produce are beautiful to display, I am a sucker for fresh flowers. They don't have to be bought, they can be beautiful wildflowers that you pick. I am also all for bright, bold colors on a Summer table. Add texture and layers with fabric, table runners, and place mats. Remember to keep everything from being flat by adding height to some of your features. Maybe have a tall vase of flowers or some tall candles. You do not want everything at the same height. What are your opinions on a Summer tablescape?

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The Perfect BBQ Complements

During the Summer we have a lot of family gatherings and cookouts and I am sure a lot of you do too. It is the perfect time of year for hanging out outside. A great barbecue with some of your closest relatives and friends equals a great time. Right? Planning your menu might be a little hard. Sure you are going to have whatever you throw on the grill but what else are you doing to round out the meal? Well, I want quick, easy, and tasty dishes. How about you? To me the perfect way to compliment your BBQ dishes are with the perfect sides.

Cheesy Seasoned Potato Wedges are so simple and so delicious. They will be perfect with whatever you are pulling off the grill. Once these babies are in the oven you don't have to do anything to them until you are ready to serve.

Simple Fruit Salad is a healthy and yummy dish. The chilled fruit is perfect for the Summer heat.

Every get-together should have the perfect drink, like the Sparkling Pink Punch. This is a cool, refreshing drink. Plus it is also so beautiful!

No meal is complete without dessert. The Delicious Smores Cake is a perfect recipe for Summer. What goes better than smores and Summer?

This Caesar Pasta Salad is so tasty! Everyone always eats this right up. It is so easy, yet we always receive numerous compliments when we make it.

Watering Hole

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I hope that everything is able to enjoy some water fun this summer. I would love to go to the ocean and go parasailing or snorkeling. While it doesn't look like I will be making it to the beach this year, you don't need the beach to have fun with water! As a kid I was able to have hours of enjoyment with my sisters out in the yard with the water hose, squirt guns, and water balloons or one of those special evenings when mom and dad would take us down to the river to go swimming. Sometimes I think that I forget how simple things can be. Just because I would like to cool off on those ninety degree days with some water doesn't mean I have to be at the beach. What's your favorite way to beat the heat that doesn't involve the beach?

Summer Needs

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We all have needs. Some of our needs depend on what season it is- on what the weather is like. As a kid I always looked forward to summer because that meant a break from school. By the time March I was just beginning to wish for summertime. By April began it just seemed like I had been back to school (since Christmas Break) for a LONG time. By May I was beginning to believe that summer was never going to come. And if we had a bad winter and were still in school in June, it was like some evil person had built a device to slow time down and just to torture us kids they were using it to keep summer break from coming. So if you are looking to have the perfect summer, remember your childhood and bring back some of your summer favorites. What would I suggest? Well I think back to going barefoot, hanging out with friends, enjoying an ice pop on a hot day...and what else?

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