Homemade Lemonade

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Quench your Thirst with Homemade Lemonade

On a hot day, there’s nothing better than quenching your thirst with a refreshing glass of homemade lemonade. Here in San Diego we’ve had 95 degree weather in May, which is very unusual for us this time of year. To beat the heat the kids and I whipped up a super delicious homemade lemonade.

My kids LOVE this recipe, a big hit for sure!

My daughter took one sip and declared this as the BEST lemonade EVER!!!

Luckily we have a friend with lemons, lemons, and more lemons galore, so of course, we scooped up a bunch and got squeezing.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of freshly squeezed lemons (about 8 lemons)

1 1/2 cup of white sugar

9 cups of water

Directions:

Cut and squeeze lemons to make 1 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice and set aside in a bowl.

This is great to get the kids involved, they can get those muscles working by helping you squeeze the lemons.

In a saucepan boil your water and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved.
Allow mixture to cool, then cover and put into refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Add your sugar water + lemon juice + 8 cups of water into a pitcher & mix together.
I like to add lots of ice cubes for a super thirst quenching flavor!

Enjoy a super refreshing glass of Homemade Lemonade

Got lemons? If so, it’s easy – just get squeezing and enjoy this yummy must-try recipe!

Must Read Books for Kids

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It’s Children’s Book Week

May 12 - May 18 is Children’s Book Week. What is Children’s Book Week, you ask - It is the annual celebration of books for young children and the lifelong joy of reading.

This program is the longest running national literacy program in the country. Every year to celebrate, events are held in many libraries, book-stores, schools and homes - anywhere a child can read and connect to the love of reading.

Check your local  libraries and major bookstores for their scheduled events this week or Click here to see the events happening in your neck of the woods this week.

Since Children’s Book Week is all about reading and sharing your favorite books, authors, and illustrators, enjoy a round-up of some fun books for young readers - a list of, Must Read Books for Kids. These are some great stories, illustrations, and even a few early chapter books.

My children and I plan to read some new chapter books my daughter has been enjoying: The Magic Tree House series. My son is really enjoying Pete the Cat, and both my kids LOVE the magical illustrations in “Dream Animals” by Emily Winfield Martin. Have you read any of these books with your kids? Or is your young reader enjoying any of these stories?

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Pete the Cat, The Wheels on the Bus by James Dean

Dream Animals by Emily Winfield Martin

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love by Nancy Tillman

Rancho Rabbit and the Coyote by Duncan Tonatiuh

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown

Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

Prince Puggly of Spud by Robert Paul Weston

If you’re like me, I’m always losing our bookmarks. Check out this fun & free bookmark for the kids, just download and print and you’re all set.

Click here for your free bookmark.

I hope you’re able to enjoy + encourage the love of reading this week with your family. A trip to the local library, bookstore, or just pick up some wonderful books in your home and read, read, read!
What books will you make sure to read this week with your kiddos?

Mothers Day Letter: What Were you Like as a Child

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Happy Mothers Day!

Today is a great time to look back, reflect, and see how far we’ve grown as parents, friends, sisters, wives, and as individuals.

Ask your mom this question…..
What was I like as a small child, am I still like that today as an adult?

 

After asking my mom that very question, here is her response:

“You were the sweetest, most charming child.
Shy, very soft spoken. Everyone loved you!”
“Today, you are a confident and very thoughtful woman. AND, everyone loves you!!!”

Now of course, I love my mom like a true friend. She made my heart smile when she replied with those thoughtful words.
If I asked myself the same question, here is my response about myself:

As a child: I was a shy young lady, somewhat fearful of the world, quiet, not the most athletic child on the block, but overall a happy child trying to find her way through this world. Making and keeping friends in my life was very important.

As an adult/present day: I am not shy at all, not as fearful of the world either. Instead I wake each day with a positive mind and soul ready to take on whatever adventures or challenges the day may bring with it. I’m still not the most athletic adult (actually not at all, it’s like don’t throw a ball at me - I probably won’t catch it) but overall, I’m a happy adult who is trying to find her way through this world. I’m a loving wife, mother, a daughter to a very special lady, a sister, and friend. I consider myself lucky.

Here is the letter I share with you, that I wrote this Mothers Day.

Dear Mom,

Thank you for all your love and support over the years. Thank you for being there for me no matter what I do or say. Thank you for always listening, not giving an opinion or judging me, but instead, just being by my side like a friend. For being such a generous woman in my life, I’m SO thankful to have you as my MOM by my side (or at least a plane ride away)! 

       If you were to ask your mom this same question: What was I like as a small child, am I still like that today as an adult? What do you think she’d say? What would your response be about yourself?  

Then have some fun and write a letter to your mom.

 

Blueberry Smoothie

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It’s Smoothie Saturday!

You ready for your Smoothie fix?

This week was challenging, trying to get my smoothie fix in each day, so this recipe came in handy. It was nice & quick + an easy one for on the go.

Savor the simple ingredients in this smoothie, it’s an easy recipe but satisfying too!

In honor of Mothers Day this weekend, my Blueberry Momberry Smoothie is what’s on the menu:

Ingredients for Blueberry Smoothie:

1 Cup of Blueberries
3 Strawberries, Sliced
1 Cup Almond Milk
1/4 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
1 Tsp Flaxseed
1 Tsp Honey
3 Ice Cubes

Add all ingredients into your blender, mix well, and you’ve got yourself a fantastic Blueberry Smoothie.

Perfect for on the go or as an afternoon snack!

Now, you’re fueled up and ready to make today a great one with your Blueberry Smoothie, yum! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Superhero Mothers Day Photos

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Grandma is our Superhero

You can’t forget to show your love to Grandma this Mothers Day! Get the kids out there, strike a pose + show some love to Grandma (and Mommy too). Try posing the kids for some fun pictures that’ll be sure to melt dear grandma’s heart.

To make these fun photos I used these printables, from Tatortots & Jello, then I added a few balloons, and 1 small rose (which is really hard to see, but I promise it’s there).

To make the photo collage you can go to Shutterfly and use one of their many templates, pop in your photos and you’ve got yourself a Mothers Day card, made with lots of extra special love! Of course,  you could always print out your photos individually and find a frame for them or pick n choose a few to print for grandma, either way Grandma is our Superhero!

Click here to download these fun printables

Mom is our Hero printable from Tatertots & Jello

♥Happy Mothers Day!♥

I hope it’s a day filled with remarkable memories.

Mothers Day Tissue Paper Vase

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Tissue Paper Vase using a Coffee Can

Can you believe Mothers Day is almost here? Seems like each year the months go by faster and faster. Doesn’t it seem that way?

Since I’m an avid coffee drinker I have an abundance of empty coffee cans in the house. Why not “be green” and recycle products we already have and make a fun Mothers Day Tissue Paper Vase. I used simple items at home:

Coffee Can, Crayola Paint & Brush, Tissue Paper, Scissors, and Mod Podge or Glue

First, I peeled the label off the coffee can. Then, I grabbed some scissors and cut assorted tissue paper into small squares. Next, I had my son paint the coffee can using yellow crayola paint. Once this dried (we waited overnight), I had my daughter roll Mod Podge all over the can using a paint brush. She then added tissue paper all over the vase the best she could. I wasn’t looking for perfection, I really wanted this to be fun for the kids, but also be their own tissue paper vase for mom.  The tissue paper sticks pretty instantly, so we just added water and flowers right away.

I have to admit, this made one precious piece of art work.

I hope you and your kids have fun making your masterpiece tissue paper vase!

Once your flowers are wilted and ready to say goodbye, you can dry out your vase and add pen and pencils to make a desktop accessory that mom can use all year long. How will you re-use your vase?

 

 

Easy Teacher Appreciation Gift

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It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!

Did we blink an eye and the school year is almost over? If you have a special teacher who happens to love coffee, why not stop over at Starbucks pick up this plastic re-usable coffee cup for $1.00 + add this free printable. Just print the tags on white paper, then tape them onto the lid. Easy and perfect for last minute! You could also add a gift card inside, candy, erasers, or anything your teacher might enjoy.

It’s an easy teacher appreciation gift, and works last minute. 

Check out the free printables here at Skip to my Lou

Just another way to say Thanks a Latte to all those fabulous teachers out there! 

Mothers Day Photo Ideas

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Fun Mothers Day Photo Ideas

Get your props out, smile big for the camera, and say I ♥ U Mom

Do you love a good photo opportunity with your kids? Why not try this fun photo booth idea which was done by using wooden letters to spell out a fun saying for mom (aka me). It’s super easy and fun.

My kids added their own spunky personality to each photo, which makes these even more precious to shoot. You could add props, or change the letters for another holiday or fun occasion.


Look for large wooden letters at most craft stores. They come in different colors. Mine were white but you could paint them if you wanted to add some color to your pictures. And yes, I will be printing these for myself this year. I’ll just pretend the kids printed it for me, why not, right?

 

Setting Goals for the Month of May

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♥Goals for May♥

Well it’s already May 4th - I think I blinked an eye and April was gone. How about you? Do you feel like the days just fly by? Except when it’s 6am and you have to get out of bed,  and really you’d rather just crawl back under the blankets and sleeeeeep. Otherwise I think it’s safe to say that the days fly by, next thing you know it’s a new month.

After reading a great post at And Babies Don’t Keep, I really got motivated to start some goal setting of my own. It helps to hear others out there striving to make and achieve new goals. Are you like me, where you might think of something you strive to change or do, but then a few days or weeks later you haven’t really stuck with it?

Join me in setting goals for the month of May.  We can do it together! 

♥ I’ll start by sharing my goals for May. ♥

♥  I am going to put my phone away

This is hard because my phone is aka my hand-held internet hub, aka a best-friend, aka an addiction to keep checking social media, texts, photos, you name it! I’ve gotten in the habit of looking at my phone a little too much in the evenings! Especially around dinner time to bedtime. It reflects in my presence with my kids. Honestly, my kids are growing up and I don’t want to miss a moment, so the phone needs to be away and out of site in the evenings. This way I can focus on settling down for the night with my kids. Uninterrupted  quality time with my family pays for itself. So if you call and get no answer this month, you’ll now know why! So far on day 4 of May I’m doing GREAT with this Goal!.

Next month I will follow up with how things go.

♥  Make a Date Night with Hubby 

Do you need to make time for a date night too? Join me in making this a goal! So we recently lost our babysitter, well in the sense that she is no longer working for our family. We had only used her a few times to watch the kids but she was a reliable gal, and suddenly we lost contact with her. It’s been at least 6 months since my husband and I went out on a “date night” for dinner and drinks. Again, the time seems to fly by and I haven’t made time to plan a date night. My goal for May, find a new and reliable babysitter, so my hubby and I can go out on the town and be adults for a few hours, no kids, no interruptions, just quality time being a married couple. After being married for 9 years, this goal is especially important for me!

Keeping our relationship strong with an occasional date.

♥ Stop Helicoptering my Kids as Much

Okay, I’ll admit it… I can sometimes, or maybe all the time, be overly cautious aka helicoptering to my children. This is not because I don’t trust my kids, it’s because I figure if I don’t watch them, who will? But, my kids have both reached an age where I know they need a little more independence. They are certainly capable of so much, so why not give them some more responsibility, while also helping them gain more self-confidence! Baby steps, baby steps on this one, but letting the kids have that extra independence is helpful for us all. So far, I’ve actually had a few parents see the positive changes I’ve made and tell me about it. (yes, I’m getting there, yeah!!!)

After hearing my goals for May has it sparked an idea or two in your mind of goals you want this month?

♥Join me in making goals together, we can do it! By setting goals it helps us all be more positive, productive people, and overall happy! What are yours going to be? ♥

♥ Check back in with me as you set your goals, hit challenges, or exceed your own expectations. I’d love to hear all about this month’s goals!♥