I'm bribing, any takers?

We don't have a pool because  I didn't want one when the kids were little. I was too scared of what could happen when they weren't good swimmers but now I long for a pool. No pool means we're at the mercy of our kind hearted friends and family. I will be calling begging for the brood to come over. I certainly don't want to wear out my welcome so we'll be the family bearing treats. Here are a few of the things that might be coming up this summer for pool bribery.

Any icy cocktail always works right? A libation will loosen anyone up even for my little crazies. I'll take on that challenge, I'l be the one who brings the good drinks! Mango Jalapeno Margs, Strawberry Rhubarb Sangria? Umm, hells yes.

Wanna keep things lively? Play Uno. I'm telling you to bring the cards! It fool proof.

Bocce works too but cards are more my style. The dudes seem to like it though.

If all else fails sweet treats! Homemade ice cream if possible. There is NOTHING better. I'm partial to Summer Peach but Mexican Chocolate (with Almonds OMG) also sounds amaze.

Summer motto : Be Prepared. 

Summer Syndromes

Most of the people where we live are already out of school. My kids are still slogging away at these last few days. There's been lots of end of the year activities so I don't know why they're just, "soooo tir-ed." in the morning. I guess its just the I'm ready for a break syndrome but then I need to prepare myself for the I'm bored syndrome that will probably follow. Normally I have a few camps lined up to keep them occupied but this year I haven't done it. I just can't bring myself to sign them up until we're all ready to go crazy in this house. Hopefully it's more than just a week or two. You know how you can tell that your kids are just ready for a break? Usually the first two weeks of summer are great for us and since we ended school later this year, we're headed on vacation shortly after our 2 week grace period hence the no plans. This is an experiment my friends, please don't kill me when I'm ready to go crazy in a few weeks.

How do you spend your summers? Is each week thoughtfully planned out or are you the more spontaneous type? 

White Sneaks

For some reason this summer all I can think about is clean white tennies. I get oh so tired of Havianas and sandals. 

What are you craving this summer?

From top left clockwise 1, 2, 3, 4

Summer Wants

This past weekend was the first weekend that the sun seemed brighter and my skin felt that certain glimmer of heat, a reminder of what's to come. I usually feel some sadness at the long, hot days waiting for me but this year I don't.  I'm feeling free and happy, what an upcoming summer should feel like. I can't wait. I wanted to do a post of my summer wants but these days I'm not feeling so fabulous and even though a new bauble or cover up might brighten my day for a moment my needs as of late are of a much more simple variety.  My summer wants are easy, how about a couple months of uneventful? 

Let's just say lazy, slower paced, with lots of friends, new recipes and maybe an easy trip or two.

{image via}

Love it :: Summer (kind of)

Did I mention that I broke my toe in Italy? Like the kind of fracture that was still so bad when I got home I'm still 6 more weeks in a hideous bootie/shoe thing. It's the world's ugliest footwear. I've decided I don't care and will wear my cute sandals anyway. Hopefully the one shoe won't look more worn than the other but who really cares right? It's not like I'm going to wear a tennis shoe on the opposite foot just to match the oversize clunker on the other foot. Ahh summer dressing with the hideous shoe...fun stuff my friends. I will take this on as a personal challenge.

{all links found here}

Do it :: Ping Pong

When my husband and I were dating we would battle it out with games like Trivial Pursuit and Sorry even leaving it ready to play if we had to go anywhere. Now there really isn't any of that but I sort of miss it. We have a patio table outside that rarely gets used, pretty much just gets dusty. I wonder if we could attach some sort of ping pong top to it and saddle up for Epic Battles Round 2? Fun times to be had at home for free! Kids optional of course.

Ping Pong anyone?

{1, 2}

I'm baaackk!

After a debacle at the Rome airport trying to get home we finally made it last night. We're officially in love with Italy. It was the trip of a lifetime. This isn't the best picture but it totally makes me laugh. This is how I will remember the kids on this trip. The kind of kids that surprise you with their patience, ability to just roll with it and still be totally silly.

Now I'm back home with pile of laundry and a very happy dog. How's your summer?

Eat it :: Rhubarb

Thank you Pinterest for coming to my rescue with summer recipes in my favorite flavor. RHUBARB!

Rhubarb Strawberry Meringue Pie

Rhubarb Macarons (with helpful macaron baking tips here)

Rhubarb Bars

Rhubarb Liqueur

Rhubarb Bitters

Looks like I'll be enjoying cocktails and treats only. Totally fine by me!

Almost here!

School's almost out, are you as happy as I am? No more rushed packed lunches in the morning. Woo hoo!

So now I'm in the midst of planning camps, etc. for the kids this summer. Not that I like to jam pack their days but it is nice to have a few things in the hopper for some of the weeks. Can't wait!!

Shine Free

The other day I was doing my weekly Target run and since I had other stops afterwards I decided in was in desperate need of blotting papers. Seriously folks while some of you are enjoying the inkling of Fall we are still being tortured with 109 degree heat, sorry I digress. Since I didn't want to look like a gross shiny mess I decided to see what they had (I usually fork out the dough for the Sheseido ones but I was out and it was hot) so while browsing the Boots selection I saw this

Boots No 7 Shine Free Makeup Base, it was like the heavens opened up. Why haven't I even looked there before?! It's like a miracle and it's only 10 bucks! So I did grab some papers too but wouldn't you know, I haven't needed them.

Take it outside

Don't you think outdoor lighting makes everything a little bit better?

Ok a lot better, it makes it magical.

{images via Target, Lonny, Pinterest}

Love it :: Yellow

Taking a gander at my pinboards I realized that I'm quite taken with yellow these days.

{all images and links found here}

Make it :: Friendship Bracelets

The summer between 7th and 8th grade all I did was make friendship bracelets. I did it at home, at my swim meets and probably in the car too, I couldn't get enough! I remember my friend's cousin had one that was about an inch and a half wide and I was completely in love with it.I think I spent a good portion of time trying to recreate it. I've been seeing them pop up in blogland and I particularly like them adorned with rhinestones.

Any takers for a bracelet making party? At least now that we're older we can have summer cocktails while we act crafty!

{via Honestly WTF}

Hello Summer

This Hello Summer print says it all doesn't it?

Swimming and popsicles are my favorites, how about you?

We're off!

Everything's packed so we're headed off to the beach!

I'm dying for some cool weather. Literally. The kids were so excited that they couldn't sleep last night and what I couldn't say to them when I was begging for them to get into bed was, "Me too!"

{Actually we're here but I couldn't post this yesterday morning because Blogger was being a temperamental b*%#h.  Arggh Blogger, get it together}

{image from Etsy}

Hello flowers

Nothing like cheery flowerboxes or flowering vines to welcome you home. Now if only summers would look like this in Arizona.

{images via Pinterest, Blueprint Bliss, Sixx Design}

It's summer and I'm not so ship shape

How's summer been treating you so far? I'm still getting used to the go-go-go of summer activities of two boys instead of just one. This summer Little has all sorts of things on his schedule which make for some juggling (which I'm not always the best at) with Big's stuff too. Seriously the weeks have flown by! The first month of summer I don't really mind the doing nothing because the kids really don't say I'm bored too much it's the last weeks that start to make me crazy.

I have done little to no summer cooking, my laundry looks like it's enough for five people (that's just my stuff) and I've been all about town looking like a no-makeup wearing ragamuffin. C'est la vie, next week I'll be better.

{images via Sunday Suppers and Pinterest}

Summer vacay is here

The kids are home....all day. It's summer vacation. (Cue scary, foreboding music). The first day of summer vacation was um, interesting. We shall see how the summer progresses with two crazy boys. None of the activities we have signed up for have started yet so we are just hanging out, unscheduled for now.

{We could try this while eating these. There's #1.}

I think I need to cook up some activities for when there's the lull and the "I'm bored" rears it's head. Actually it's usually just Little who's saying it. He's used to having his twin cousin with him most days and when his brother is doing his own I hear it often. So tell me what are you all doing this summer? Ideas, kids' activities?It doesn't at all have to be kid related I mean come on, we all want to live vicariously through someones fabulous plans.

{images via Pink Wallpaper and Country Living}

Warm fun

This time of year is bittersweet for those of us that live in Arizona. While we obviously like the heat our brief respite from it is almost over. We'll have the gorgeous days of spring here in the next several weeks and then the heat will set in. It actually doesn't get unbearable until about July (well at least to me) but I know the forecast will be warm and sunny for the months to come. So instead of whining about it I'll try to be positive...think happy thoughts.

{Images via Aurevoir Paris, Absolutely Beautiful Things, ianton flickr}