Five Things

 {individual scoops of ice cream for the weekend}

Temperatures have been in the 90’s and yesterday it actually hit 100 degrees. With these temperatures it is clear that summer has arrived here in Michigan. I am excited for a relaxing holiday weekend filled with plenty of ice cream, bon fires and time on Lake Michigan. What are your plans for the weekend?

{current nail polish: Jessica Cosmetics "Tangerine Dreamz"}

 {the newest addition to the garden}

 {flower that resembles a firework}

 {first s'more of the season}

Need a weekend project? Make a red, white and blue statement necklace

{red, white and blue statement necklace}

Patriotic Pinwheel Pops

During the warmer months in Michigan weekends are spent at the beach, especially the Fourth of July. Patriotic items are an essential part of spending the Fourth of July on the lake. Usually I make sparklers aka chocolate covered pretzels with sprinkles. However this year I decided to get a little whimsical and make patriotic pinwheel pops using sugar cookie dough. 

Step 1: Make a batch of your favorite sugar cookie dough and separate into three equal parts. Color one red and one blue leaving one the sugar cookie dough color.

Step 2: Roll out the three colored doughs to 1/4 inch thick. Place the white dough on top of the red and the blue on top of the white. Roll the dough (it will be in a cylinder shape) and refrigerate until firm.

 Step 3: Begin to cut slices off the dough cylinder to your desired size. Mine were about half an inch thick.

 Step 4: Place a lollipop stick into each cookie, and bake as directed.

Step 5: Putting the cookie pops in a cellophane bag gives a completed look to your pinwheel cookies.

How To: No Crease Hair Ties

While I may start the day with my hair down by the afternoon it’s up in a ponytail. I detest the fact that traditional ponytail holders give a hideous dent and pull because my hair is so heavy. When my mum was in high school she started using bra straps as hair ties. They offered no crease and would not pull. I always refused to wear a bra strap in my hair, while I was in college the crease became too annoying and the pulling was out of control. So my mum sent me a care package filled with no crease hair ties that she made using satin elastic and Rit dye.

 {Satin elastic (bought at Joann's) cut to 11 inches}

 {Rit Dye in your desired hair tie color(s)}

Step 1: pour a dime-size amount of dye into a bowl, add hot water and stir

Note: the dye is toxic so use a wooden spoon and bowls (I used old Cool Whip containers) that you will either throw away or only use for creating hair ties.

Step 2: place your tie into the dye of your liking.

Note: the longer you let them sit in the dye the darker/brighter they will get.

Step 3: Once you remove the ties from the dye rinse them in cold water, and then place in a salt water bath to seal in the color for at least a half hour. Remove from the salt bath and rinse in cold water. Place on a towel and set out to dry.

Step 4: Once dry cut the hair ties at an angle and dip the edge into "Stop Fraying" to keep your hair ties looking chic and fabulous. Tie them into a knot, and enjoy no crease or pulling!

Crabby Cupcakes

This weekend I was invited to my first crab bake at the beach. Since I had never been to one before, and hate showing up to a get-together empty handed. I decided to make cutesy crab themed cupcake.

 {color your toothpicks by mixing water with red food coloring}

 {make up a batch of cupcakes, frost and sprinkle with crushed graham cracker}

 {red gum drops + cherry slices}

 {stick a toothpick through the first notch in the fruit slice}

 {stick two more tooth picks in as shown}

 {gum drop eyes and the corners of a fruit slice}

 {I used frosting to stick the eyes(bought from michaels) on}

Summer Hostess Gift: Freshly Squeezed Lemonade

Summer weekends have a tendency to be filled with parties, picnics and get-togethers. When attending one of these events it is always proper etiquette to bring the hostess a gift. Since nothing screams summer quite like an ice-cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade. Here is a simple hostess gift for under $10 that is perfect for any summer gathering.

You will need: 
• 1 pitcher (I bought this glass one for $5.00 at TJMaxx)
• 5-7 lemons (depending on size)
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• recipe card with the recipe on it
• wooden spoon
• optional: garnish I used lavender

Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
Ingredients
• 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (5-7 lemons depending on size)
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions
1. Creating a simple syrup: in a saucepan, combine the sugar and a 1/2 cup water.  Bring to a rolling boiling, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved: allow to cool. * while cooling add a slice or two of lemon to infused the syrup with flavor.
2. In a pitcher, combine the syrup, lemon juice and 3 cups of water. Serve over ice and enjoy!

Five Things: Summer Favorites Edition

{brightly colored scarves: perfect as a necklace, bracelet or hair accessory}

Summer officially arrived this week, and I thought it was only appropriate to share with you my five (current) summer favorites. What are a few of your summer favorites?

 

{false eyelashes}

I refuse to leave the house without mascara, but in the summer it literally melts off my face, so I always wear (expensive) falsies. I recently tried out Kiss Eyelashes and instantly fell in love. They are the same quality as the MAC ones that I have been buying but for a quarter of the price.  

 {playful polish} 


Beat the heat with brightly colored fingers and toes paired with equally charming nail art design.

 {press-on pedicure}


A french pedicure for under $7, yes please. I wore my imPRESS Press-On Pedicure by Broadway Nails for 13 days before I changed them.

{no-crease hair ties)


p.s. DIY hair ties coming next week

Strawberry Inspired

My love for strawberry season mixed with the cute and quirky character of Strawberry Shortcake had me mixing fashion and food at a young age. Creating simple berry inspired outfits such as; a pink top paired with a green belt and red shorts of course adding a tan clutch would complete the outfit.  Check out how cute this jewelry collection is that's inspired by the strawberries, perfectly ripe for any backyard BBQ, summer soiree or a simple trip to the grocery store. 

 {strawberry inspired necklaces: the perfect summer statement}

{the newest addition to the collection: torch-fired enameled strawberries}

{strawberry flower earrings paired with a colorfulberry}

What do you think about this strawberry collection? I am kind of in love with the idea of whimsical jewelry inspired by the season.

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

When summer arrives, and lazy days are spent on the beach you can’t help but sing along to “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”.  To greet the official start to summer I couldn’t help but make a batch of yellow polka dot bikini sugar cookies.  

{outline your cookies to keep the frosting spilling over the edge}

{I used a baggy with a small hole to create the polka dots}

Old-Fashioned Beer Batter Onion Rings

One of my favorite childhood memories was going to an old-fashioned soda shoppe in Romeo, Michigan with my mum and splitting a burger, onion rings and a cherry soda. While the soda shoppe may be long gone the memories are not. Since the weather was hot this past weekend it seemed only appropriate to eat an ice cream dinner. Once the soda jet was taken out for old-fashioned cherry soda indulgence, I immediately knew I had to pair it with my great grandma’s recipe for the best onion rings.   

Old-Fashioned Onion Rings
Ingredients
1 large white onion cut into ¼ inch rings; separated
1 twelve ounce bottle or can of cold beer
2 cups all-purpose flour; divided
1 teaspoon salt
cooking oil (vegetable oil) to cover the bottom of the pan ½- 1 inch

Directions
1. In a shallow dish, dust sliced onions with ½ cup flour and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine remaining flour (1.5 cups) and salt. Whisk in beer and stir until smooth.
3. Heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium-low heat until it sizzles if a drop of water is added.
4. Add the floured onions to the beer batter, turning to coat rings. Shake the excess batter from each ring, and add the rings individually to the hot oil.
5. Allow to fry until golden brown, turning once. Transfer fried onion rings to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat the frying process with remaining onions and enjoy!