BBQ~ Pulled Pork {Boston Butt/Pork Shoulder}

Happy Memorial Day!

To celebrate Memorial Day

and WELCOME Summer we have a

yum, yum, yum!!!

 pulled pork BBQ is fantab.

It is tradition,

it is SUMMER!!

it is rubbed {twice}

it is smoked {all day}

it is delish!

I make my own Butt Rub {dry rub} and concoct my own version of a wet rub.

Start with your wet rub which I rub my pork with mustard, honey or molasses, sometimes just vinegar. Next, sprinkle with Butt Rub. Marinate over night, all day, as long as you can up to 3 days. Longer the better.

John starts the smoker in the wee hours of the morning and we enjoy this for dinner!!!

Or you can start it around midnight and have it perfect for a lunchtime bbq!

ENJOY!!

what else was on the menu?

Cowboy Beans

Tori Darlin’s Dill Potato Salad

Corn on the Cob

Deviled Eggs

Fruit Salad

I will be sharing all my favorite bbq sides this week!

What’s your fav bbq side?

Summer Crafts for kids {Ideas?}

What an awesome list The Long Thread has compiled of 50 Summer Crafts with kids. I am thinking that if I could get in 1 a week I would be ecstatic. I think we will attempt that. 1 a week and I will link you to the tutorial that inspired the craft and what we actually did! FUN times!!

Please feel free to leave your craft ideas in the comments. Jack is almost 4. I don’t mind if it’s messy and the more creative the better!!!

words of wisdom….

obsessed with pinterest 

and these words of wisdom….

life of kat…. {that’s me}

Just found this via pinterest

my newest obsession!!!

 

How freaking cute!!

Go SEE all the fantab stuff at kat’s (not me!) etsy shop!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Art in the Park {jack’s art}

Loving the Rainbow

Every Spring, 1st Pres Pre-school has

“Art in the Park” this is where the kids (really the teachers schlep all the stuff out and hang it via clothes pins in massive April winds!) display their lovely art work for all the school to see, along with the town!

This year was a little random, with pumpkins and snowmen but, still it was all cute. Here are a few highlights of my precious boy, Jack age 3. ART.

 

j’s is the 2nd from the left. The Halloween themed canvas!

Snowman (mulch) Graveyard

xoxo, Mama Bird

Fancy Nancy Birthday

This past week my neice, Ava Grace turned 4. Fancy 4, She is in love with Fancy Nancy and all things FANCY!! So I made her a really fancy cake. Filled with feathers, wands, jewels, it was blowing up PINK! All shades of pink, did I mention PINK?!

How about Jack, trying to blow out the candles?! Stinker!

Fancy Enough for ya?

ta-ta for now, Mama Bird

Preppy {pink & green} Birthday Cake

Sweet Ellie who loves all things pink & green and elephants celebrated her 13th Birthday this past weekend.

I think Lilly would be proud! This yummy chocolate cake with cream cheese butter cream with “pearl” gumballs and fondant elephants and flowers!

too cute!!

Mama Bird

Star Wars Birthday {cake}

Happy Birthday to Sweet Carson!

I am having a love affair with fondant.

I made Yoda myself!

Ta-ta for now! mama bird

Summer Bucket List

Thanks so much to Joni over at Six Cherries on Top for the fantab idea of a Summer Bucket List! I love this!! She even made this great image! LOVE

{PARTIES}

Plan j’s 4th Birthday

K’s Wedding Planning

Host a “camp-out”

Host a monthly family night pizza & pool party!!

Movie night once a month with the GIRLS

Date Night with Hubs once a month

{Day TRIPS/TRAVELS}

Go canoeing and/or rafting

Visit the mts at least once a month

Carowinds

Tweetsie

Discovery Place Kids

Beach trip

{HOUSE}

Paint shutters

plant more annuals

wash windows

new mailbox

{CRAFTS}

Make a great summer wreath for front door

and House Numbers for front door

Re-purpose, Re-cycle, Re-cycle,

USE, gift, donate or sell.

ELIMINATE clutter!!

{FOOD/COOKING}

Veggies ONLY 1 night a week

{FRESH from MY garden}

What is on YOUR “bucket list”

for Summer of 2011?

xoxo, mama bird

Gilbert {wedding cake}

Thanks to my dear friend, Jen from J Panache Photography for popping by and snapping some great shots of this wedding cake! What a happy cake!! The color scheme was obviously yellow and orange!

I was hesitant at first as I am not really a yellow girl but, this buttery yellow was just beautiful. All the flowers are fresh and everything, but the roses came from the Farmer’s Market.

 

Can you see the fantab fabric? The bride found this and I just LOVE the fun pattern and addition of colors. Her granddad made a wooden box and covered it with the fabric making  the cake an even bigger centerpiece!! I love the use of fabric and I love the square with the round cake!! 

What do you think?

xoxo, Mama Bird

Brass to Sass {mantel makeover}

A collection of “hand-me down” candle sticks that have great design, but icky brass! Thanks to a lovely can of gray primer and my fav creamy white, Hotel Churchill Vanilla from Lowes.

They went from brass to SASS!

These birds or maybe they are the pheasants? Sat on the entry way table at my Mimi’s house my entire life. She claimed I used to pet them as a little girl and talk about how I loved them and that when I got BIG and had a house of my own they would come live with me! Well, they did and of course I had to spruce them up a bit and as I am referring  to this spring/summer as my red & white phase.
I too gave these a dull coat of gray primer and a fresh coat of Churchill Vanilla.
I just love how they all turned out. A crisp fresh mantel. 

Sorry for the crummy cell phone pics!

Happy UPcycling!!

xoxo, mama bird

Happy Mother’s Day

I hope everyone has had a beautiful day! I am sharing with you a few of my favorite places.

I hope you all have a wonderful day! Full of peace and love wrapped in the warmth of of family and friends,

xoxo, mama bird

{Birdie} Baby Shower

What a sweet pink & brown Bird themed baby  shower! I did a small cake and cupcakes for the mommy-to-be to enjoy! You all know how I love a bird!

xoxo, mamabird

Mother’s Day {gift ideas}

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, mimis, aunts, sisiters, women who love! I thought I would share a few Mother’s Day gift ideas that I have “crushed” on!

The 1st one is one I pray I can get done! I Love, love, love this idea! I wanted to do it back at Christmas and I didn’t so Mother’s Day is PERFECT!! Thanks to Lolly Jane for sharing this beautiful Handprint Wall Hanging! Maybe I can do 1 for myself with Jack, Phoebe & Trixie!! How do you think the paw prints would look???

Great ART for ANY Mom!!

Fun, fun and FREE download HERE

Such a great idea!

Perfect for gran’s, aunt’s, friends, teachers!!

Hand Soap featuring YOUR child’s artwork!!

 Family heirloom wreath, love this one from from Rook #17

SO, wish I had the time to make on of these!!

Fantab FREE printables from

Diddles & Dumplings and Anna & Blue

What are YOUR plans for Mother’s Day?

Pop back by tomo to see what I am planning!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

MAY {poles}

I do hope the old saying “ April showers bring May flowers” is true! Let’s WELCOME MAY with an ode to the May Pole!!

Chris over at Celebrations at Home did a fantab post on Maypoles and all the fun, festive things you can do with them! I had to share that I created my very own “maypole” for my God daughter to carry in my wedding! I LOVED the idea of her waving beautiful ribbons as she walked down the isle!

SO, wish I had this still! Wonder if my sweet Olivia still has it hanging in her room?

Happy May Flowers!!

xoxo, Mama Bird