So at the beginning of the summer we knew our yard needed some serious HELP!!

Take a look at these sad little befores….

See how we needed some serious help!!

So we ordered a TON of wood chips…

Found some pretty flowers and a firepit…

Added some bling to our pergola…

And I found some bright fun outdoor fabric to re-cover the old cushions from before…

Now we have a bright, colorful, FUN-ctional outdoor space:)

Wanna come over and play…

So I’m really terrible at gardening.  I’m just sayin.  I have to make up for my “brown thumb” in other ways you see.

The Mason Jar Lanterns helped a little bit…

But we needed more…

I saw this idea on Pinterest (love that site!!)

Fabric Streamers add such a whimsical, festive, touch!!

Add some lights, and what do we have… Magic!!

Makes me want to snuggle up with a cozy quilt and enjoy the night lights!!

Linking up HERE this week!

We have a boring ol pergola in our backyard.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my pergola, it just needed some ‘flava’, if you know what I mean…

So, we went from this…

to this!!

Would you like to make your own mason jar lanterns?

Here’s what you’ll need:

If you want to skip the “coloring” process and go right to the hanging part, go right ahead!!  I just like the “vintage” look that the blue gives to my plain old jars…

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

While you’re waiting for the jars to dry…

Step 4:

Step 5:

Glow baby, glow!!

This was the first of many projects, to spice up our backyard…

Can’t wait to show you some more:)

Linking up HERE this week!!

Including:

Who doesn’t love an ooey gooey melty marshamllow on top of CHOCOLATE and a crunchy sweet graham…

Pure heaven I tell ya!!

Well, now you can have your heaven in a bite sized bar!

S’Mores Bars (Once again, found this on pinterest courtesy of Sugar Cooking)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour

• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 2 king-sized milk chocolate bars (e.g. Hershey’s)

• 1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (not melted marshmallows)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan. (I put a sheet of tinfoil in the bottom, making it much easier to lift out and cut into bars).

2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined.

3. Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer no more than 1/4 inch thick. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small shingles and laying them together).

4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

I could seriously eat the whole pan, I’m sure I ate half of it by myself!! These taste the best nice and warm and gooey out of the oven, enjoy!!

Makes 16 cookie bars.

How is your summer!!  Ours has been so stinkin busy!!!

I was beginning to go crazy with all of our summer plans zooming around in my head…

I needed something to “display” our plans, for my husband everyone to refer to:)

I painted an old frame, wrapped some fabric around the inside cardboard, and stuck some vinyl on top!  (For a more detailed tutorial go HERE.)

Easy Peasy:)

Using a dry erase marker, update your “busy” summer every week!!

My head isn’t spinning (well, maybe a little) nearly as much!!

I can get through this summer, and so can you!!  Enjoy it:)

Linking up HERE this week!

Including:

This summer is flying by fast!!  Too fast!!  Thanks go out to all of our fabulous sponsors, and amazing readers for making our month of giveaways a success!!

PS.  We still have our last one open from AliLilly, so head over HERE to enter:)

So far we’ve soaked up as much summer fun as we possibly could…

“Our Summer Adventures”

at the zoo…

My mama and me…

Kissing cousins…

Isn’t my nephew yummy!!

“we made it to the top of the world…”

Cabin Buddies

Watermelon eating contest…

Phew!!  It’s been a super fun, super busy summer!!

We’re keeping it low key for the month of July due to family vacations, reunions, and plans, but we’ll surprise you here and there with some fun tutorials, recipes, and ideas.

SO DON’T YOU WORRY!!!

Enjoy your summer, we’ll catch ya later:)

Linking here:

So one of my kids’ favorites things about summer, is stopping by all the lemonade and treat stands in our little neighborhood.

Every once in awhile we pull out our over-sized tote, flip it over and use it for a makeshift table to contribute our own little goodies to the cause…

Last weekend we said good bye to the tote and hello to this cutie:)

When I saw this old desk at an estate sale a couple of weeks ago, it screamed “Lemonade Stand!!”

We painted chalkboard paint along the front (my new favorite craft supply) with some teal trim.  Added a little striped awning, colorful bunting banner, and vinyl to the front for the finishing touch!

We also added a strip of wood to the bottom of each side so we could attach some wheels.

Now we’re in business!!

Linking up HERE this week!

Including:

I have always loved the look of paper medallions.  They’re sooo festive.  Of course I had to tie them into my 4th of July decor, so I decided to make a banner!!

Would you like to make one for your next 4th of July get together!

Here’s what you’ll need to whip up your own little banner:

• 7 sheets of coordinating paper

• 2 or 3 sheets of coordinating cardstock

• printed letters (I found these on pinterest) go to At Second Street for a free printable

• twine

• ribbon for embellishing

• clothes pins

• cutting tool

• ruler

• hot glue gun

I lined up 3 pieces of paper, and used the ruler to draw lines across all three pieces at a time to create score marks

Now your going to fold the ends together, creating a circle shape.  Hot glue your ends closed, keeping the middle pinched.

I wish I had a mantel to hang this across, but my railing will have to do!!  Super easy fun banner for the 4th!!

Linking up HERE this week!

Including: 

***Remember to enter our giveaways still going on this week for your chance to win a 12 pack of handmade greeting cards, 3 patterns from Naptime Crafters, a sling purse from She Wears Flowers, or a necktie from Just Sew Sassy!!***

Giveaway now closed!!

I’m so excited to tell you about our next giveaway!!  Amy from Naptime Crafters is AMAZING!!  I LOVE her blog!

Have you been over there yet?  You will find new giveaways every week, oodles of fun tutorials,

She hosts American Crafter, (a chance to show off your creativity, and be inspired by the greatest crafters in blogland)

AND her Etsy shop, Peekaboo Pattern is DARLING!!

Check out some of my favs…

The 4 in 1 Sun Hat pattern would be perfect for summer…

I LOVE this plaid oxford hat, my boys would be stylin!!

And  these peep toe booties are yummy!!  Soo cute!

You’re in luck!!  Today Amy is giving away THREE winners each their choice of THREE patterns in her shop!!

Seriously, how generous is Amy, thanks so much!!!!

To enter this giveaway:

• Stop by Naptime Crafters and become a follower

• Check out Peekaboo Pattern Shop and tell us one of the patterns you would choose

• Add Peekaboo Pattern Shop to your favorites

• Follow or subscribe to Just Sew Sassy (1 entry each)

• Blog, tweet, or facebook about this giveaway (1 entry for each)

Lots and lots of chances to win!!  Please leave one comment for each entry completed.  Giveaway will be open for one week.  We will then use Random.org to select a winner.  Good luck everyone!!!

***Remember to check out our other giveaways happening this week!  It’s the last day to enter the Flower Frenzy Giveaway!!***

Patriotic Pinwheel Burlap Wreath.  That’s a lot of words!!  How else do I describe this thing though…

I had sooo much fun making this wreath.  It’s the first time I’ve ever used burlap (shhh, don’t tell anyone:) but I think I’m hooked!!  I’m kind of obsessed with pinwheels too… (did you see my last POST?)

So let’s get on with it!!  Would you like to make a ‘patriotic pinwheel burlap wreath’ of your very own, just in time for the 4th of July!!!

Here’s whatcha need!! (Not everything is pictured here, woops:)

As you can see, I didn’t bother to tape it off, it just kind of “flows” together:)

These strips are used for the main body of the wreath.

Now it’s time to make your pinwheels:)

Voila!!  You did it!!  What do you think:)

Linking up HERE this week…

Including:

***Don’t miss our HUGE month of giveaways.  We have several happening now, and lots more to come!  Come enter to win a $30 credit to Happy Potamus Designs, a darling Rosie headband, a custom onesie from Jack and Olive, and a Love Stitched gift certificate!!!***