SIMPLY MEIN

BBQ Fever!!

The kids are leaving the Phoenix heat for camp in the California Sierra Foothills at Waltons Grizzly Lodge, this is our oldest sons 5th year and our youngest's 3rd year. In a  nutshell Hubby and I met here when I was working as the camp nurse and he was visiting at the end of the summer (the first summer he missed since HE was 7 years old!) That was 16 years ago!!! Our nearest and dearest friends run this multi generational paradise and as much as I will miss them, they will hardly give mom or dad a second thought as they race thru dozens of activities and make lots of new friends in a very "COOL environment.

Having said all that, besides overseeing the finishing touches to our backyard project, hubby and I will be heading our own adventure for 4 days in North Carolina

        

We are flying into Raeleigh and then heading west along the North Carolina Historic BBQ trail eating a whole bunch of old fashioned BBQ recommeded by both these websites - NC BBQ musings. It sounds a little bit out there to a few of our friends but we cant wait.. B is a budding BBQ enthusiast who happens to make the best ribs ever!!. We are going to watch a Durham Bulls Baseball Game, see a local theatre production, walk around the Duke University Campus, eat a bunch-o-bbq and check out the historic district for a couple of days before heading west towards Ashville. After Raeleigh we will be flying by the seat of our pants in a rental car with the sole goal of hitting as many "mom and pop bbq" joints as possible in between!!!

                   

Hopefully we will bring back a fab. assortment of "secret sauces" like these!!

         

Will post some of our own yummy pics when we get back. I hope you and your families are having a lovely summer!!  Tamy xo

 

Rand McNally Happy

I have always loved vintage imagery - especially illustrations from the late 1940's thru the early 1960's, the use of bright and pastel colours and the style of illustration are so vivid, whimsical, charming and unique. I have recently started searching for and collecting  Rand McNally Elf books from this period. The joy and pleasure I recieve with each new addition to these (addicting) collections I think can only be really and truly understood by my fellow collectors/crafters and bloggers!!. In appreciation of being a part of the blogging community here are a few of my favourite images from my collection for you to enjoy!!

If you like these images go and want to see some more Rand McNally happiness check out the Flickr group I started here!!

 

Lovely!! Tamy xo

Cookie Pan Treats for Anyday!!

After seeing this sweet fabulousness on Dena's Sugar Shop .........

I scoured the internet (the best deal and  variety was available at SugarCraft...) for the pans to make these simple (?) treats!! How perfect for any celebration!! I am going to be making a whole bunch of these using store bought cookie dough instead of crispies for the kids to decorate during our July 4th get together!! An activity and dessert rolled into one!!

 I didn't stop there though, when I saw that Sugarcraft also had available the giant cookie pans so I can "whip" up a little something like this (from Mrs Fields!) too!?!?!?!

      

Yum, Tamy xo

Patriotic Decorations & Craft Projects!!

Wow summer only officially started yesterday but...... it seems to be flying by, July 4th is just around the corner! We are co-hosting a little neighbourhood get together in the morning after the annual parade which runs around the block past our house (the kids will also decorating their bikes the nite before in order to participate in the "best decorated bike" competition immediately following the end of the parade - it seems to get more and more competetive and creative every year!!!) Anyway, I have been working on a few little decorating and party favor projects to get ready - this has been alot of fun and great, because I had everything on hand!!

In order to make my "Cracker Favors" all I used were these........

   

You can use recycled paper towel/toilet rolls or just make your own. I used strips of cardstock cut into 2 1/2 wide x 5 inch pieces and stapled ends together. I filled each "tube" with 2 pieces of bubble gum and a patriotic tatoo before rolling/covering with patriotic coloured tissue paper and gluing edge with glue stick. I tied each end with ribbon streamer and embellished each "cracker" with r/w/b crepe streamer which I glued onto the outside centre.....voila! I only need to make about 40 more!!  Of course you can embellish these to your hearts content, but I am going for "simplicity quickly"

   

I am putting some old branches in a bucket of sand and hanging some "flashcard ornies" that I made, from the branches to use as the table centrepiece. The glitter I used on the edges was "handmade" using old and broken red christmas ornaments - I made about 14 of these with different words

         

I am a huge fan of Candice Carpenter and signed up for her party hat of the month club - This months kit arrived on Friday and I put this together today, I love it!! Go check out her site for some great ideas and supplies!

                       

I am also a huge fan of Jenny and Aaron from Everyday is a Holiday, and was thrilled when my order arrived - how fantastic is this!!

  

Click on this link to Artistic Bliss for a tutorial on a darling floral centrepiece!

Have a fantastic and creative week, I will post more patriotic projects and decorations soon!!  Tamy xo 

 

Summer Side

Simple Recipe from Country Home June 2008, super easy, fresh and really delicious! - all ingredients tapered to individual taste!!

         

Stir together x 1 15 ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained: diced red onion (about 1/2), quartered grape tomatoes (or  1 diced regular tomato!) 1/2 chopped sweet red pepper, one can of chopped green chillies (mild for us!) and @ 1/4 cup of chopped coriander/cilantro,  fresh lime juice (I used one), ground cumin (@ 1/2 teaspoon) and salt to taste..... I served this with fish tacos, but hubby said would love this as a "appetizer" with a big old bowl of corn chips....

Birds and Bonnets Beautiful!!

My gorgeous panels from Beth and Karla's Birds and Bonnets Vintage Workshop swap arrived today and I couldnt be more thrilled!! Thanks to both these very talented and generous ladies..

        

 

My panels looked like this prior to embellishing. I really toyed around with the whole digital collage process which turned out to have a bigger learning curve than I thought! I had ALOT of fun putting this all together!

 

 

Enjoy the rest of the week! xo

Simply Yummy!

Who would have thought I would have been able to be look at or be inspired by any more deliciousness after a week of birthday celebrations at our house!!

I got lost on Flickr (again!) and this is the very yummy result.....

         

Getting Organized!?!?!?

By the end of tomorrow the kids will be out of school for the summer!! Along with slow mornings, lazy days with friends, and a couple of family trips I am determined to get organized in readiness for the new school year. I say this every year and I do get a little bit better at it......

My Getting Organized This Summer for Fall List will start with this

1. Update all emergency phone numbers and contact information
2. Clean out and declutter all clothes closets - (yikes!) 
3. Order new uniforms and pick up school and classroom supplies EARLY!! 
4. Schedule all biannual and annual checkups
5. Attempt to discuss, review and implement with (not interested!) kids basic household chores and responsabilities and allowance - check out this site -  Active Allowance which sounds too good to be true!

That all being said - I couldnt have "survived" this last school year without my bible - my Mom Agenda will need to purchase and update another. Check out the new Kitchen Folio and downloadable forms from them as well!

             

Then there is this get organized for, and at school fabulousness from Buttoned Up which has a wealth of supplies for every organizational possibility and need.....

              

AHHH the idea of being organized and ready for the new school year after a hectic old school year sounds like heaven!! Fingers and toes crossed

Have a great week. Tamy xo

Birthday Central

Celebrating in our house on the 26th (#1 son) 27th (#1 hubby) and eventually on the 29th - mom!! With our wedding anniversary next week and fathers day around the corner!!! Yikes..... talking to friends it seems everyone has a "packed" celebratory month somewhere throughout the year!!! Busy, busy....

Remember

In rememberance of all the service men and women who have died in military service for any country we wish you and your families a safe and happy weekend!  Tamy xo