{Summer} wreath

I can cross another thing off my Summer Bucket List!! I got crafty the other night and made my summer wreath. I think it turned out pretty cute and for less than $10 I think it is even cuter!!

I found a wreath form at the dollar store. Already had the “G” initial that I picked up at Hobby Lobby 1/2 off for less than $2. Bought 3 spools of ribbon, also half off and the windmills were .49 cents!!

Pulled out my trusty glue gun and just started gluing! Took me about 15 mins and voila! my creation on the front door!! Fun & Easy!

what do you think?

xoxo, mamabird

linking up with:

Chalkboard Easel {up-cycling}

This week is VBS at church and our theme is Shake It Up Café. I am in charge of snacks and so I thought I would make a few decorations to add to the theme of the café!

I took this old train table top (it was in the recycling pile!) and spray painted it with krylon chalkboard paint.

It worked  perfect! It was already cut in half. Then I had Hubs drill 4 holes in the top of it and I threaded some cute ribbon through and tied tight!
That was it!! Isn’t that nifty?! I can use this for parties, in the kitchen all over!!

I LOVE my up-cycling!!

DO YOU???

xoxo, mamabird

Birdie Birthday {inspiration}

via Tipjunkie

I am helping plan a 1st Birthday party with a “bird” theme!! I am so in love, I am sure you can see why!! BIRDS!!!!

 flag, bird onesie

I found some wonderful inspiration via etsy, pinterest and various other sites all noted below the pics.

Birdie Birthday, bird outfit

Bird bloomers, cake via Pink Cake Box

tables cape via stationeryscoop.blogspot.com

love the outdoor elements brought in! IN LOVE with the tree trunk cake stand! via

Bird Nest flower basket

Can’t wait to celebrate baby Teagan’s 1st Birthday!!

xoxo, mama bird

Happy Father’s Day!

one of my favorite pics of jack and his daddy! we were at ocean isle and I took the pic myself with my little point and shoot camera! think I did a pretty good job!!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!

TO ALL THE DADS, STEP-DADS, GRANDDADS, FATHER-FIGURES OUT THERE!

xoxo, mama bird

Spongebob {Birthday} Cake

How cute is this cake? Wanna know how I made it? Leave me a comment if you want a step by step on how I did it!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Asparagus Salad

I just LOVE Asparagus! I picked up some fresh local asparagus at the Farmer’s Market yesterday. My favorite way to cook asparagus is to roast it at 350 for about 15mins. I just drizzle a little olive oil and some sea salt.

I remember my Mom used to serve canned {gasp!} asparagus with sliced hard boiled eggs and Good Season’s Italian dressing. It was good and with that little combo in the back of my head I “fancied” it up a bit!!

This is so simple takes less than 20mins from start to finish.

1 lb fresh asparagus

cherry or grape tomatoes

splash of olive oil

sea salt/cracked pepper to taste

Roast at 350 apx 15 mins

2 hard boiled eggs, chopped, diced, sliced (however you like em’)

splash of balsamic vinegar

Place asparagus, tomatoes, olive oil & balsamic vinegar on a plate, top with egg and serve. DELISH!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Family Farm Tour

Today was so much FUN!!

I really, really, really wanna live on a

FARM!!

Really, I do.

This is a very pic heavy post! I want to share all the fun stuff we did today!!

Our first stop was the Red Wolf Farm these 2 NC STATE Grads have done a fantab job and preserving their heritage by honoring their families. His great grandad owned the farm 100 yrs ago and sold it to her grandad 40 yrs ago and they are married NOW!! What a fun story.

kids checking out the goats

feeding the chickens

fresh eggs!

Next stop, Shady Oaks Farm

picking blackberries!!

j was super excited to see the bird’s nest!

last stop on our tour today was Sipe Angus

I have shared with you how much I am in LOVE with their beef. It is the best tasting beef I have ever had! They sell by the pound or you can buy a cow!

Randy and Regina are some of the kindest people I have met! They offered us a drink, pulled up a rocking chair, entertained the kids and told us all about their cattle!! It was awesome.

Before leaving I picked up some ground beef and placed my steak order for pick-up and next weekends Farmer’s Market!!

What an amazingly fun day!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

 

Jenga Guest Book

This is the most Fantab idea from Divine Party Concepts, I have seen in Ages!!

Jenga Guest Book!

In college we had a Jenga game, which I still have and played a few months ago!! That was a “drinking” version! Why or How I have not thought of using it for a guest book! It is genius! In place of the boring book that no one picks up again, ask all your guest to write a message! You could do this for a wedding, shower, even a baby shower with a game theme could have words of wisdom for mom and dad or what about the teenage child!! LOVE, love, love….

Now, who is getting married? Gotta get someone to do this!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Locally Grown Club {at Lowes Foods}

WOW! Thanks so much to Coupon Mom for introducing me to Lowe’s Foods newest way to support our community.  This is great!! Pop on over to Coupon Mom and read her full article!! And you can register at Lowes today.

Farm Day!! {Eat Local}

This Saturday, June 18th Catawba County is hosting a FREE Agri-Tourism Day! What an incredible way to share with children and adults alike not only where but how there food makes it to the table and how easy it is to eat locally!!!
Here are a few of my TOP PICKS on the Farm Tour!

Sipe Angus this is my favorite beef vendor by far! Check them out, fantab!!

Red Wolf Farm just looks like a wonderful place!! Can’t wait to see it.

via

Poovey Apiary as afraid as I am of bees I am in awe of them and have never seen a real beehive! I can’t wait!!

Windy Wool Wingdings 
For more info on the Catawba County Agricultural Family Farm Day visit Chickens on Camera. I hope to see you!!
xoxo, mama bird

Summer Reading

Last night A few weeks ago (forgot to post this!!) some girls came over for a Stella & Dot Party and we started talking about books and how fun it would be to start a book club. I am compiling a list of books that I am hoping to read and asking everyone to add their suggestions. I hope that we can get a monthly book club started, maybe this fall?!

Room Emma Donoghue

just started this and a tish uncomfortable with the fact that her son’s name is jack. Hope this doesn’t freak me out!! You know I don’t like coincidences.

The Book Thief  Markus Zusak

hear this is a great book, no virtually NOTHING about it.

Sarah’s Key Tatiana de Rosnay

good friend Bethany highly recommended this last summer. still haven’t picked it up!

Lamb Christopher Moore

another great friend Joy gives this 2 thumbs up she says it is has great whit and charm

Pop on over for another list HERE

WHAT IS ON YOUR SUMMER READING LIST?

 

Shake It Up Café {VBS Snack ideas}

This is the 3rd or 4th year I have been in charge of the snacks for VBS and I am excited to say that Cokesbury  has done a really good job with their suggestions for the snacks. Last year I had a lot of questions about amounts, so this year I will give you an idea of how much we buy. We typically have around 100 kids.

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I am trying to incorporate the daily theme, although we typically switch the days around a bit. Trail Mix is always a hit and it is best done on the 1st day (in my opinion)  Day 1 is always hectic and the ease of being able to dump all the bags into 1 big bowl is just perfect for that day

Harvest Trail Mix:
3 lg (costco-sam’s size bags) Chex Mix
3 bags pirate booty or cheddar popcorn
4 to 6 bags yogurt covered raisins
gummy worms (enough for each child to have 2 on their plate)
craisins
m&m’s
This is such a hit! You have the salty the sweet it’s yummy and the kids LOVE it!!
Flatbread Faces:
How cute is this idea? We will be doing pita bread or flatbread and the Shake It Up Café workers will spread cream cheese on the top of each round and we will have small cups of all the veggie and fruit toppings for the kids to create “faces”!
Toppings include, but not limited to:
salsa                               
olives
shredded cheese
grape tomatoes
carrot curls
shredded lettuce


                                                  via

Festival Fruit Kabobs:
various melons
grapes
pineapple
blueberries
strawberries
cheese cubes
I love kabobs!! We will serve them with yogurt sticks or crush cups on the side.
              

via

Jello Cups:
This too was a HUGE hit last year the kids thought they were the coolest thing. We just did jello in the cups, tossed in a few gummy worms. Let them set up and plop a dollop of cool whip. Place the clear cups on plates with goldfish & whales “swimming” around the outside. FUN!!

Pentecostal Pops:

via

Last and final day we always do popsicles. The kids love them, they are easy, quick to clean up and we meet them on the playground with the cool treat to enjoy!!
Do you have some creative ideas for VBS snacks? PLEASE SHARE!!
 

Perfect Peach Ice Cream

Peach Ice Cream
2 cups half and half
1 cup buttermilk

4 whole peaches, peeled and sliced
3/4 cups of sugar
4 mint leaves, chopped
2 t vanilla
2 T lemon juice
Toss peeled and sliced peaches with sugar and lemon juice, cover; refrigerate and let macerate at least for a couple of hours, preferably overnight or all day. Chop the peaches and mix with cream, buttermilk, mint and vanilla. Put in ice cream maker, turn on and ENJOY!!!!

I made a raspberry puree and drizzled over the top. And added a fresh mint leaf.

xoxo, Mama Bird