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Friday Flair Link Party // Wood & Wire Edition

3 · Aug 16, 2013 · 12 Comments

Friday Flair Link Party // Hey, hey… It's Friday, Friday!! Time for Friday Flair. This week has been a whirl wind. I've been busy packing and getting ready for the move next week. The girls all started their new schools this last week and I headed out to Lexington, Kentucky yesterday to visit my friends at DecoArt!! So, needless to say, I've been busy. I didn't have time to really go through last week's Friday Flair in a way that I typically like, so… I decided to do a Friday Flair Light and pick one project that stood out to me for this week.

img source // diy wood & wire art display from liz marie blog

I just adore this diy wood & wire art display from Liz Marie!! She is one of my favorite bloggers. Her style is amazing and her projects are always divine!

Let's Get the Link Party Started!

The Best Homemade Strawberry Lemonade

2 · Aug 15, 2013 · 4 Comments

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade // Happy summer day Whipperberry friends, it’s me Jo-Anna from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs! I’m so happy to be over here again today sharing some summer love with you!

Since summer is not over yet, I’m keeping this sunny season alive as long as I can! (Trust me, in my part of the world where summer lasts 2 months, you hold on to the last, most desperate glimmer of summer hope!) But I hope you are enjoying some fantastic weather where you are too, so you can sip on this amazing summer drink!

For me, there’s just nothing quite like lemonade…and I mean the real kind. The fresh, homemade, squeezed from real lemons, lemonade. And to make this drink even better, I’m adding fresh strawberry puree! Ah. Maze. Ing. And simple. Totally worth the effort.

Ingredients

6 lemons, juiced
4 cups water
½ – ¾ cup sugar (depending on how sweet or tart you want it)
1/4 cup pureed fresh strawberries

Instructions

Juice your lemons. (I just use a hand juicer.)
Add the sugar to the lemon juice and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Once the sugar is dissolved, add the water and stir.
Stir in the strawberry puree.
Garnish with a slice of lemon and a slice of strawberry.
Serve & enjoy!

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How pretty! These are gorgeous for family & friend get togethers or lazy days on the porch. Sip & enjoy!

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If you get a chance, pop on over for more yumminess! I love friends! 😉

Cedar Planked Brie Bites | Butterscotch Oat Drops | Easy Camping Recipes

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Thanks so much for reading & have a delicious day!

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Striped Straw Jar with DecoArt Glass Paint Markers and Diet Coke

0 · Aug 14, 2013 · 5 Comments

This post brought to you by DecoArt Glass Paint // For the 2nd time in 10 months we are MOVING!! Needless to say, I am excited to finally be in a home that fits our family better, but the idea of packing up and moving again is not very appealing AT ALL! We knew this move was going to happen soon, so we didn't unpack a ton, so this move should be easier than last time.

One thing I did learn last time, is that you need to create a system that really works for you. A system that is productive, smart and provides yourself and your helpers with LOTS of rewards. For me, one of my favorite treats is a Diet Coke. I just LOVE the stuff! I would drink it like water if I could get away with it. I love the flavor, I love the bubbles and quite frankly there are times when there is nothing better on this planet than a good, cold Diet Coke. Because of that, it is a great motivating treat for me. More than almost any little treat. If I know that a Diet Coke is at the end of the chore, my git-up, gets a going.

That's why for this move I created a Diet Coke Station with a few fun little items to dress-up the station to motivate myself and all of my helpers during the drudgery of packing…

I used my handy chalkboard clipboard and then dressed-up a Ball jar with some red stripes for my straw jar with DecoArt Glass Paint Markers and then set-out to move mountains. The striped jar was super simple to make, here is what you will need to do…

Supplies for the Striped Straw Jar

Ball wide mouths 1 1/2 pt. jar
DecoArt Glass Paint Markers – Americana Glass Paints are available at Michaels, JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores, Pat Catan's Craft Centers, A.C. Moore, Beverly's, and other fine craft retailers. Click HERE for more information on Americana Glass Paints.
Tape – I used a thin washi tape but any type of washi or painters tape will do.

Instructions for Striped Straw Jar

Before you begin, you need to prepare your glass jar by cleaning it with alcohol and let dry. Then apply the tape to the jar to create your desired stripe look…

I wanted nice thick stripes but you may like a different style, so don't tie yourself down to my look. Next, the super easy part… Color on your paint using the DecoArt Glass Paint Markers. No mess, no fuss, they are perfect for this kind of project!!

Carefully remove the tape once you are finished and let dry for a few hours. Add your stylish straws to the jar (I found mine though Pick Your Plum) and voilá… Grabbing a Diet Coke has just been kicked up a few notches!

Looking for a great deal on Glass Paint? DecoArt has a rebate just for you guys!!

// Click on image to find full rebate offer //

Looking for some more inspiration? We have a whole slew of talented bloggers who have also come up with some fun DecoArt Glass Paint projects. Click through to find all kinds of Glass Paint love…

Disclaimer // I am part of the DecoArt Core Bloggers and have received payment for this post along with free product. I am also a Brand Ambassador for Diet Coke and have received free product. However, all thoughts, ideas and opinions are my very own!

12 Free Start of School Printables // Great Teacher Gift Ideas

141 · Aug 14, 2013 · 24 Comments

12 free back to school printables // It's here, it's here! Well for some of us anyway. It's back to school time! My kiddos actually started school yesterday, so we are already in full swing school mode. Some of you still have a couple more weeks before those school bells start ringing.

Today, I've teamed up with my talented Printable Club friends to share 12 fabulous back to school printables that are sure to make this year even more magical for your kiddos!

I created a fun printable tag, that when added to a stylish notebook along with some pencils or pens will make a great 1st day teacher gift. If you're feeling extra generous, you can add a Target gift card or something to really earn some extra brownie points.

I found my notebooks at Target along with the gold pencils that paired nicely with the gold accents on the notebooks…

I layered the printable tag with some gold vellum and then cut slits into the sides and fed a ribbon through to secure the tag to the book. I used glue dots on the back of the book to secure the ribbon in the back. It worked rather slick! If you would like to print a fun tag for your kiddo's new teachers this year, all you have to do is click on the arrow in the box below to download the printable tag from Box.com…

For even more printable fun, click through this blog hop to find 11 more free back to school printables from some pretty talented ladies!!

1 // The Dating Divas – A Back To School themed dinner for setting goals with your spouse AND the kids!
2 // Somewhat Simple – Fun and quirky Back To School Tic Tac Labels: Arm your kids this school year with cootie antibiotics, brain cell boosters, and more!
3 // Whipperberry – A great gift for your teacher to start the year off right!
4 // Crafting Chicks – Teacher Emergency Kit to wish them a great year!
5 // Tatertots & Jello – Instagram-ready "hashtag" first day of school photo props.
6 // L'il Luna – An adorable Back to School Teacher Gift!
7 // My Sister's Suitcase – Printable Keepsake to record first and last days of school memories!
8 // I Heart Nap Time – A small gift for the first day of school.
9 // The 36th Avenue – A weekly chart to help keep your kids on track.
10 // Paging Supermom – Free Printable Lunchbox Jokes to brighten your kiddo's school day.
11 // The TomKat Studio – A "Bright" Printable Gift Tag for Teachers!
12 // The Idea Room – DIY Back-to-School Homework "To-Do" Notepad

The Ultimate Ice Cream Social with International Delight

1 · Aug 12, 2013 ·

It is no secret that I am a huge fan of International Delight Coffee Creamer. I love it in my drinks, I love to bake with it, heck… I even craft with my empty bottles! So… When International Delight™ introduced their new line of Cold Stone Creamery™ Coffee Creamers you know I was first in line to give these new flavors a go!

They are sweet and luscious and summer in a bottle. Somehow they managed to bottle those special summer days in those Cold Stone Creamery™ bottles. Days that you look back and remember walking down the boardwalk at the beach with your favorite ice cream melting down the waffle cone with your best friends chasing after some cute boys. Catching fireflies in the back yard with a cold mason jar full of vanilla ice cream, topped with fresh chocolate chip cookie crumbles and another jar collecting those magical little bugs. Swapping stories with your grandpa on the front porch sharing a pint of Sweet Cream. You know… Those kind of summer days!

We have four new flavors to test out. Sweet Cream, Hot for Cookie, Founder's Favorite & Churro Caramel! Four new flavor combinations to inspire you as we wrap up this summer. Doesn't that just make you want to plan the ultimate ice cream social? We are hitting the home stretch and the summer is almost over. My kiddos actually head back to school today, wouldn't it be fun to send summer out with a bang with the best ice cream party on the block? I've pulled together a fun Pinterest Board with all kinds of ice cream social ideas, here's what I would love to create to celebrate the last few weeks of summer…

… Are you inspired? I know my taste buds are a buzzing! Want some more inspiration? You can check out International Delight's Boards for even more fun.

How would you like the chance to throw your very own Ultimate Ice Cream Social with the help of International Delight? FIVE lucky readers will get to do just that in International Delight's Pin to Win Sweeps! Here are the rules.

Love ice cream + coffee? This summer, International Delight is bringing your favorite Cold Stone Creamery ice cream flavors to coffee and they're celebrating by giving away five $400 grand prizes to throw this summer’s ultimate Ice Cream Social! To enter, visit the ID + Ice Cream Pinterest board and pin your favorite image using the #IScream4ID hashtag. Good luck!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Supplies for the Striped Straw Jar

​Instructions for Striped Straw Jar

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Instructions for Striped Straw Jar