Five Find Friday

Here are my favorite things of the week:

1. Check out these yummy cookies over at Two Peas and their Pod.


2.  Ruche is a clothing website specializing in vintage-inspired fashions.  I love that they have plus-sized options because I'm a curvy girl and it's often hard to find vintage styles in my size.


3.  DIY jet pak for your child.  I am so making this for Jax.  Head over to Doodle Craft for the tutorial.


4.  I wish I were more handy because I would totally build this outdoor movie screen. (no directions, but those of you who are super handy probably don't need any, unlike me)  This one was built by John Martin and is extremely cool.


5.  This one is just eye-candy.  I love Maroon 5 and Adam Levine.  My son loves to dance and I always tell him he has The Moves Like Jagger.


Well, I hope you have a great weekend and if it's hot where you're at (it's supposed to be 106 degrees in my neck of the woods), try to stay cool.

Thanks for stopping by,
Natosha

Pinterest Round-up: 4th of July

If you haven't already started planning your 4th of July party, you better get started.  Here are some of my favorite ideas, decorations and recipes found via Pinterest.

First, the food:

allrecipes.com

Cupcakes Kisses 'n' Crumbs

Living Locurto

Recipe Girl

Wenderly

image credit

Now, on to the drinks:

via Pillsbury

via The Wicked Noodle

via Simply Stated

Now for the decor:

via Tip Junkie

via landeeseelandeedo

via The Money Pit

via I Heart Naptime

via Hostess with the Mostess

via The Crafted Sparrow

via Disney's Family Fun

 Finish off with some games:

via One Charming Party

via Disney Family Fun

via Sassy Style

The only thing left to do, is sit back and watch the fireworks.

source

Thanks for stopping by,

Natosha

First Day of Summer

Today is the official start of Summer.  And I believe it.  Our forecast shows a temp of 98 degrees for this Saturday and Sunday.  Yes, I know it's probably hotter than that in some places, but I don't care where you live, 98 degrees of humid, wet, moist heat is Hot.  It makes me daydream about the cool Northern California nights  I was enjoying this time two years ago.  Oh well, it could be worse.  We could be without air conditioning and we aren't, so all is good.

Because of the nearing heat-wave, I have been trying to find ways to stay cool.  Here's what I have come up with:

Zoku popsicle maker:

found on Amazon.com

So, apparently this little gizmo allows you to make ice pops in as little as 7 minutes with no electricity.  You put the Zoku in the freezer for 24 hours and then it's ready for you to get creative.  The Zoku blog website, found here, has some really cool recipes.




Yep, I'm gonna need to get one.


Summer dresses.  I'm seriously thinking of trying my hand at sewing again because I really like this pattern and it's only $4.29 at the Simplicity website or your local fabric store.


And you can actually purchase the pattern and print it from the website!  I like the cute bag too.


Grill up your dinner to keep your kitchen cool.  I love to grill and I actually do it all year.  Currently I do not have a covered porch, so I can't grill in the rain (well, unless I want to get wet), but I have been known to grill in rain, snow and shine.  I found this grilled sirloin salad at Cooking Light's website.  You can find the recipe here.


Doesn't that look yummy?  You can barely see them, but there is corn in the salad.  Wouldn't it be extra yummy to grill the corn before adding it to the salad, or you could serve it on the side.


I love to use a fan in the summer.  We have air-conditioning (thank goodness), but I love the sound of the fan at night, it helps me sleep.  Right now, I have an inexpensive box fan borrowed from my mom and dad, but I would LOVE to have a retro look fan like one of these.

by Restoration Hardware $119-$149

A little pricey for my budget though.

Etsy has LOTS of sellers with LOTS of vintage fans

These are more in my price-range, but look a little dangerous to use in the vicinity of my 2 1/2 year old.

Probably my favorite and least expensive way to keep cool is with a tall glass of good old Southern sweet tea, which, according to Southern Living, is considered the house wine of the South.  And I agree.  Southerner's like it sweet, really sweet.  At my house we also like it strong.  We use 3 family-sized tea bags, 10-12 cups of water and 3/4 to 1 1/2 cups of sugar (depending on who's making it, myself or my hubby).  Growing up, my mom would bring the cold water and tea bags to a boil and let them steep for a while.  My hubby and I make the tea in our coffee maker.  While it is hot, we add the sugar, pour it into our gallon-sized pitcher and add cold water to the top.  Pour over ice and enjoy!  And yes, we sometimes drink it out of a Mason jar!

photo credit

So, how do you stay cool?

Thanks for stopping by and Happy 1st day of Summer!

Natosha

Five Find Friday - Nail Art for Manicure Inspiration

These are my favorite manicures at the moment.

1.  I love this black gloss on black matte.  Go to Haute Macabre to learn how to do it.


2.  Use your inkjet/laser printer to do this manicure by the hybrid chick.


3.  This one by Tuto Tee's uses desk tape.


4.  Just one example of using Konad products for a manicure.  Go here for several Konad manicures by Nihrida.


5.  This mustache manicure by The Beauty Department, found here, is just one version of many floating around the internet.


Have a great weekend!
Natosha

Manic Monday

Oh dear!  Father's Day is almost here and I haven't even thought of what to do for my husband and dad.  Here's a quick round-up of ideas.

Photo collage by Counting On Me found here.


Free printable for a coke can by oopsey daisy found here.


Go over to Animoto and make a video photo montage for your dad.


Here's their sample:


Make dad a "back-rub" T-Shirt.  Learn how here at the Blue Basket.


Get this free printable here by Persnickety Prints.


Make dad a coffee (or tea) mug like this one by Kaboose found here.


What are doing for the father(s) in your life?

Thanks for stopping by,
Natosha

Five Find Friday

Here are some of the places I've been hanging out this week.

1.  I just discovered the website PassiveAggressiveNotes.com.  Oh my gosh, some of the signs and notes are hilarious.  If your need a good laugh or just want to kill some time, definitely visit.

2. I LOVE Calvin and Hobbes.  Well, check out Calvin and Bacon, based on, or maybe more of a fan's continuation of Calvin and Hobbes.  There are only 4 strips by Pants are Overrated, but I love them and hope there are more in the near future.  Click on the link and after you read the comic, go to the bottom of the page and click on newer entries to read the rest.

Find it here

3.  I absolutely love Elsie Larson's blog A Beautiful Mess.  She always has such fun outfits and the photography is beautiful.  Plus she has projects, decor and beauty tips.  Here is a sampling (all images belong to her):




4.  I bought my son a bento box to carry his lunch to daycare.  He refuses to eat his lunch on most days, even if it's something he loves at home.  I love the ideas on Parent Map.  Below are some of my favs which can be found here.




5.  Speaking of my son, I just found the coolest thing I want to do with him.  All it takes is a bar of Ivory soap and a microwave and you get this:


Go here to find it on Our Best Bites (photo belongs to them).

Well, that's my five finds for this friday.  I hope you have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by,

Natosha