5/30/12

Backyard Parties: Simple Summer Fun

We kicked off Memorial Day weekend with a family barbeque. Over the course of summer we usually host several backyard parties, as the Texas temperatures continue to rise, the only way to enjoy the outdoors is in the pool or with really cold drinks. So we had both! Although we have been in and out of the pool several times already, this was our first official backyard party of the year.

 When hosting friends and family for these little get-togethers, we keep it casual and relaxed. I don't do elaborate decor or themes. The food, fun and people are plenty. For this summer season, I did make a new wreath (tutorial will be up on Friday). And this color scheme will last through July.
 We had towels, sunscreen, and our Cutter spray on hand for the guests. I honestly have to say, since Jeff treated the backyard with the Cutter Backyard Bug Control a few days ago, no one has been bothered with bites.

 The kids swam and swam. We had watermelon and kool-aid for the little ones, swimming can make you hungry.

For dinner, Jeff grilled chicken skewers with onions and green bell peppers, drizzled with a sweet teriyaki sauce. He threw a few hot dogs on the grill for the kiddos too.  Then he made creamy crock-pot mac'n'cheese.  My mom brought over tender brisket and homemade barbeque sauce with rolls and her special potato salad. I made red velvet cupcakes for dessert.

Everyone had fun, ate lots of yummy food, and now we are officially ready for summer!


Did you cook-out this past weekend? What is your favorite summer recipe?  



Come on back for more ways to celebrate Summer- including a tutorial to make your own Patriotic Wreath and ways to keep you (and your kiddos) entertained once school is out!

**I received products and compensation from Cutter for this post. All opinions are my own. 

5/28/12

Cowgirl Up #17

Welcome to Week 17 of 
 Cowgirl Up! Link Party . . .
the party with a cowgirl can-do  spirit!
1 Party, 4 Blogs


Your host this week is
Amanda from The Ivy Cottage Blog!


Hey Y'all!  Hope y'all are settling in with something cool to drink, a large plate of food, and a great view of kiddos in the pool this Memorial Day . . . that's what I am doing!  I am serving Coca Cola Pulled Pork Sandwiches and will be posting that amazing recipe later this week, so be sure to stop by and check it out.

On to the party!  I have been having a toothache lately and will be heading to the dentist next week where I am sure they will say that I have a cavity and that I need to layoff the sweets . . . well, I figured that means I need to load up on them this week!  LOL!  The theme of this week's features is "Sweet Tooth."  Enjoy!

A "Berry Patriotic Pie" by Don't Mess With My Tutus!

A "90 Minute Sweet Party Platter" by With A Blast!


"Baker's Twine Cupcakes" by Oh Craft!


Katherine's "Sweet" Happy Place by Katherine's Corner!


A "Knotted Jute Vase Tutorial" by Twigg Studios!


A "Cottage Garden Tote" By Knick of Time!


A "Sweet Sunporch Transformation" by Decorate With A Little Bit!


Whew~ That was a lot of features, but everyone just got sweeter and sweeter!  Thanks so much for participating, but don't forget to read the rules and please LINK BACK!

If you were featured here, grab a Featured button.  Be sure to like our Facebook pages, since we also post many other favorites there too. If you got featured on Facebook, then feel free to grab a featured button also.  
Now about the party...
You link up on my blog and your link shows up on four blogs. 
 More exposure, less time. 
We are looking for the latest and greatest projects, tutorials, ideas, crafts, recipes, decor, and inspiring stories.  Anything that you are proud to show off.
Cowgirl Up! is the link party that saves you time and brings you inspiration.  Doesn't get any easier than that!
What blogs will your link appear on?  Check us out below!
Linsey with The Farmhouse Porch
Anita with Cedar Hill Ranch
Samantha with Crafty Texas Girls
The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up!  You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!
Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines:
(Please read the guidelines before participating)
*  When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs.  Awesome!
*  Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC (and if you have a linkyfollow account, then please follow that way too.)
*  You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.
*  You may link as many links as you want.
Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post,   (mine can be found on my sidebar.)  Mandatory to be featured!!
*  Be courteous and visit the two links before yours.  Please LIKE your favorite links!  Several projects will be featured each week!
* By linking up you are agreeing that we may use your photos to feature your project in a blog post, on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog of course.

Happy Memorial Day

Hope you all had a relaxing weekend. I am spending the day with my family, but I will be back later with some great posts for you this week-- lots of ideas for summer backyard parties and a new wreath tutorial.





A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. 
-Joseph Campbell

God Bless America and Happy Memorial Day.

--Don't forget, Cowgirl Up! Linky Party goes live at 9pm tonight, hope to see you there!

5/25/12

Enjoying the Great Outdoors

Now that the warm weather is here to stay, we have been spending most of our time outside.

Found this idea on Pinterest. Cupcake wrappers on a popsicle- genius!

As I have told you before, I am not a gardener. But happily, I have a husband who is! Jeff has been busy cleaning up the backyard and making our other living area comfortable. We are hosting a backyard summer party this weekend, so he wanted his yard to look its best :)



First,  we (he) started with some new potted plants. I love these succulents, they remind me of the ones I saw in Napa last summer.


Next on the list, re-painting our wooden patio furniture.


And finally it was onto the removal of bugs. We seem to live in an area with a lot of mosquitos. And my girls are so sweet, those bugs just won't leave them alone. Luckily, we have a great candle from Cutter that really helps on the patio.



Then I have been using the Cutter Dry spray and Cutter Natural spray directly on our skin.



Finally, Jeff treated the backyard with two different types of Cutter Backyard Bug Control. This has been such an effective way to prevent all those itchy bug bites!


What are you doing to get ready for summer?


   

**I received products and compensation from Cutter for this post. All opinions are my own.

5/23/12

Rubee Lane Winner & Summer Party Ideas

Two fun things to share today!

First, a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the Rubee Lane giveaway. I can't wait to see the fabulous boutique deals that Rubee Lane will bring right to our inboxes starting in June. 



I truly appreciate you all for supporting me and my newest sponsor Rubee Lane
Now on to the winner as chosen by random.org......
Liza Vlaydka
**Be on the look-out for an email from Rubee Lane for details on how to claim your prize!

_______________________________________________________


Second, since this weekend is Memorial Day and the 'unofficial' kick-off for summer, have a look at this adorable party inspiration from Bird's Party magazine styled by the talented Mindy Starr of Creative Juice. 

I had the pleasure of making the hair accessories for this party-- I loved working with Mindy and her entire team of talented women!

Patriotic Party 















For more details about this party, check out Bird's Party Magazine or stop by the Party Press to read her post about this adorable event.

CREDITS
Photography + Decor + Styling/Creative Juice, Printables/Bird’s Party, Cupcake Toppers/Lynlee’s Petite Cakes, Cakes/Traylor Made Treats, Cookies/Sweet Dough, Boy’s Tee + Girl’s Tank/Modern Frills, Girls Headbands/Samantha Conner Designs 

** Need a great summer headband? Click here to order!  
 

5/21/12

Cowgirl Up #16

Welcome to Week 16 of 
 Cowgirl Up! Link Party . . .

the party with a cowgirl can-do  spirit!

1 Party, 4 Blogs


Your host this week: Linsey from the Farmhouse Porch






Welcome to the party neighbors! The summer sun is starting to sizzle here in Houston. Is it warming up where you are? If you're anything like me, you've turned your attention to all things patio and garden. You've pulled out the shorts and flip flops and made a bee line for your local garden center to wander the isles. At home the patio furniture is getting fluffed and arranged in preparation for BBQ's and lazy days.


I was excited to see the change of seasons reflected in your links last week. I'd gladly spend an afternoon relaxing on these gorgeous porches...




Need to jazz up some patio furniture cushions? Re-cover them! Daisy Mae Belle shows you how HERE

 


I'm so in love with this ocean blue painted porch floor by Coastal Cottage Dreams





I could wile away the hours on this simple and sweet porch by Keeping It Cozy, where she shares how to construct these beautiful flower boxes...









Craving a fancier outdoor space? You might be inspired by the gardens surrounding this jaw-dropping castle home in a pictorial tour by 21 Rosemary Lane





I really enjoyed reading about life on a dairy farm on Hymns and Verses, where Doreen shared this cute "Farm Fresh Milk" sign







Leone Design adds time worn patina to a cute little side table. I think the chippy painted box is the icing on the cake, don't you?







Spice up your next summer supper on the patio with this delicious looking Thai Chicken Burger recipe by Desire Empire





and for dessert, via Carolina Country Living...





Thank you to each and every one of you! I seriously agonized over who to feature this week. I also fell in love with a few links that didn't link back to "Cowgirl Up!" and thus weren't eligible for a feature. It made me sad. :( 
If you weren't featured this week, I may have featured you on the Farmhouse Porch's Facebook page. Make sure you check there too!
Hugs and Happy Hunting,
Linsey

If you were featured here, grab a Featured button.  Be sure to like our Facebook pages, since we also post many other favorites there too. If you got featured on Facebook, then feel free to grab a featured button also.  

Now about the party...

You link up on my blog and your link shows up on four blogs. 
 More exposure, less time. 
We are looking for the latest and greatest projects, tutorials, ideas, crafts, recipes, decor, and inspiring stories.  Anything that you are proud to show off.
Cowgirl Up! is the link party that saves you time and brings you inspiration.  Doesn't get any easier than that!
What blogs will your link appear on?  Check us out below!



Linsey with The Farmhouse Porch
Anita with Cedar Hill Ranch
Samantha with Crafty Texas Girls

The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up!  You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!
Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines:
(Please read the guidelines before participating)
*  When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs.  Awesome!
*  Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC (and if you have a linkyfollow account, then please follow that way too.)
*  You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.
*  You may link as many links as you want.
Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post,   (mine can be found on my sidebar.)  Mandatory to be featured!!
*  Be courteous and visit the two links before yours.  Please LIKE your favorite links!  Several projects will be featured each week!
* By linking up you are agreeing that we may use your photos to feature your project in a blog post, on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog of course.   

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