The Best Sandals For Summer

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Besides the warm sun, beaches and carefree days my favorite thing about summer has to be flip flops! They are so versatile, comfortable and come in many different colors. I wear my flip flops almost all year round even though I live in Michigan. After the snow starts flying and I can't wear them outside anymore, I grab a new pair and wear them around the house as house shoes. Then at the hint of spring I'm once again rearing to go full speed ahead into flip flop season!

Bring on summer!!

Sandals in general just make my feet feel free instead of being trapped  inside some clunky winter boot or suffocating tennis shoes. Yeah, I know my feet don't have a nose and can't actually breathe, but if they did I'm sure they would be gasping for air all fall and winter long!

I have fairly flat feet so there are times a cheap-o pair of flip flops from Old Navy just doesn't work especially if I plan on doing a lot of walking. Fortunately there are many great options with good support like Chacos! Just look at the variety of these durable support giving beauties! (affiliate links)

But what about those times when a dressy sandal is needed, like a spring/summer wedding? No problem! The choices are once again endless (thank goodness). Price range, heel height and color all play a part in choosing the best sandal for a dressy occasion and this list will not disappoint! Check out these lovely choices (affiliate links).

No matter what the occasion, there is a sandal for it! You can bet this summer my feel will be enjoying some wonderful sandal and flip flop time! I'm currently sporting my favorite AFFORDABLE Old Navy flip flops in black and chocolate brown.

Old Navy

So what kind of sandals do you love? Better yet, how many pairs of sandals do you have? I love that they take up so little room in the closet, don't you! More room for more sandals, right?

24 Summer Cocktail Recipes To Rock Your Home Bar

Summertime is the season for friends & family gatherings at the pool, beach or cottage with a cool drink in hand. Why not impress your friends with some tasty & easy cocktails?

Maybe you are a novice home bartender just learning how to make the perfect mixed drink and you want to expand your adult beverage recipe repertoire? You can do all that with this fabulous ebook Cold, Smooth & Tasty: 24 Cocktail Recipes! This great ebook contains 24 Amazing cocktail recipes in simple drawing format with the ingredients incorporated into the artwork making them easy to follow. 

Take your cocktail parties to the next level just by following these easy to follow simple cocktail recipes. Dust off the daiquiri glasses and get busy mixing!

But WAIT!!! Here is the best part!! I am currently offering this ebook FREE on Amazon Kindle from May 30, 2018 to June 3, 2018! You won't want to miss this opportunity especially since summer is the season of cocktails my friends! Amp up your BBQ and Beach Party and get mixin'!

Get Your Ebook HERE

Homeschoolers Review of The Doodle Crate Monthly Subscription Craft Box

Do you have a child who loves to craft? How about one who has insatiable curiosity or a love of science and building? If you answered yes to any of these questions I have an amazing solution for you and your child.

A monthly subscription box tailored to their interests!

Monthly Subscription Box - Doodle Crate by Kiwi Co.

**This post may contain affiliate links which means if you purchase an item I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer at the top for more information.

We discovered KiwiCo.'s Doodle Crate monthly subscription boxes this year and totally fell in love with them. Here is my honest review of what we experienced with the Doodle Crates. By the way, I did not receive any compensation for writing this review. I just wanted to share with you our experience.

The Doodle Crate is part of the KiwiCo.'s Kiwi Crate line of monthly subscription boxes specifically designed for girls ages 9-16. Each monthly box includes all of the materials and detailed instructions for the specified project like soap making, stained glass or paper lanterns.  The Crates encourage individual creativity while providing a new challenge to tackle resulting in a completed craft project.

Each project can easily be done in the comfort of your own home within a few hours of time (times will vary depending on the craft project). There is no need to run to the store to buy additional supplies because EVERYTHING you need is included in the box along with extra supplies!

The monthly cost is quite reasonable at $19.95/month or if you purchase an entire year (12 months) of Doodle Crate you get a discount bringing the monthly cost to $16.95/month.

My 10 year old daughter, who is an amazing crafter/artist was the one who did all of the Doodle Crate projects we received. She was able to work independently with little to no help from me. She is extremely proud of the final results from each of the Doodle Crates she completed and has even found new passion in various media she had not been previously exposed to like soap making and sumi-e painting.

Since we homeschool we incorporated these monthly art/craft boxes into her school work. She was required complete a written review with the following questions to answer as she worked on the project:

• What questions do you have about this kit before you started working on it? 
• Demonstrate a new skill you learned
• Tell me how your kit is used
• Show the finished project and how it can be used

What I liked best about the Doodle Crates are:

• high quality supplies
• well written detailed instructions to follow
• sturdy box to keep supplies stored in
• creative projects with lots of variety that expose kids to something new.
• allows you to add your own creative ideas to each project
• reasonable and affordable price 

If you have a Maker in your house this is a must have! The quality of the materials, the well written and easy to follow instructions and the introduction to new and interesting art media and projects are top notch!

Here is a collage and a complete list of the completed Doodle Crate projects my daughter did:

Paper lantern making kit with string lights
Sumi-e ink wash painting
Stained glass kit
Leather portfolio
Watercolor calendar
Felt slippers
Soap making kit
Plaster mold animal mask

I'm sure your tween / teen will enjoy Doodle Crate just as much as mine did! You can start your monthly subscription HERE. Currently if you sign up to get a kit you can save $10 on your first kit with the code: WEEKEND.

KiwiCo. has several different monthly subscription boxes for various ages and interests so check them out today!

Macy's Memorial Day Sale - The Best Deals For You and How to Save Money

* This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase of one of the items I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information click on my Disclaimer page at the top. Thanks.

Memorial Day is right around the corner and during this weekend many stores run HUGE sales. Macy's is one of them. I love Macy's because they have good quality, stylish clothing for everyone in the family as well as home goods like pots/pans, candles, bedding and much more!

photo credit: freepik.com

The Memorial Day Macy's is hosting their Star Money Days from May 23, 2018 - May 28, 2018! Here are the details:

If you aren't able to shop at the store you can shop online - while waiting for the Memorial Day parade to start!

I put together a collection of awesome summer must haves that I love and I wanted to share it with you. Take a look at this great collection all from Macy's! (includes affiliate links)

4 Relaxing Ideas To Do When You Get Time Alone

So my kids are gone with my husband for a few hours and I am home alone!

ALONE!

I actually can't remember the last time I had a few hours all to myself at home.

The big question now is - What should I do? The list is long and I find myself debating in my head what to do first. Ever have this happen?

I feel like a six year old in a candy store staring at the endless bins of sugary sweets trying to decide which one he wants. I just don't know. I can't decide, and I'm wasting precious time!

Panic, I am actually feeling a little anxiety over this whole dilemma. The clock is ticking people and I need to decide something soon otherwise before you know it the hubby will be pulling into the garage with the kids and I will once again resume the role of Mom.

OK, deep breath.

Here is my top five list of things to do when the rare occasion presents itself and the house is all mine!

1. Watch a TV show - uninterrupted, holding the remote because yes I am now queen of the remote control. Cooking show? Reality show? Movie? Yikes more decisions! My go to is the Pioneer Woman on Food Network. Love her recipes.

2. Pinterest and actually read the links I have pinned. Pinterest is sometimes my gap filler, you know those five minutes here or there that you fill scrolling through the eye candy on Pinterest. I have great intentions to click to visit the actual site but I don't always have the time to read the full text once I get to the site.

3. Home school planning. I have a high schooler next year for the first time so the anxiety to plan is always looming over me these days.

4. Sew or craft. I love to sew but hauling out the supplies, cutting up fabric and then having to put it all away seems a little more than I want to get into with these valuable hours of tranquility. I need days, people, yes, days to myself to tackle some of the sewing projects I want to try out.

5. Clean and organize something, anything. I could have a clean house for more than 5 minutes if I get right on this while the family is gone. Satisfying but short-lived.

Getting used to a break from a busy, noisy, full house is harder than I thought it would be. It is so rare that I don't exactly know what to do. But one thing for sure I know is by the time this moment comes to an end I will have a better appreciation for my kids, husband and our life. Like the cliche says - you don't know what your missing until it's gone.

Is it possible to miss them in such a short time? Yep, but I will cherish this quite house and enjoy it just a bit more than usual when it is once again filled with giggles, loud footsteps, tattling, crying, endless questions, and many "I love you"'s.

My family is precious to me and I love being with them. Sometimes stepping away (or having them leave for a few hours) allows you to regain your perspective and remember what a treasure each moment with those you love is.

Enjoy your Sunday friends! I know I am going to enjoy mine.

How To Make a Painted Brick Paver For Your Garden

Customize your garden with a personalized painted brick paver. Follow this tutorial to make your own custom paver.

Spring is here and with it comes that seemingly never ending “to-do” project list. One of the projects on my list is to plant a vegetable garden with the kids. We have a corner in our backyard that needs an overhaul and would make the perfect spot for a vegetable garden. This spot receives a lot of direct sunshine and is already framed in like a raised bed garden. Currently it is filled with various flowers with stones for the mulch. The stones will be removed so we can start planting.

Since this will be the kids vegetable garden I wanted it to have something special in it besides vegetables that reflect their own unique personalities. What I came up with was personalized painted brick pavers to add to the garden! We can use the pavers as stepping stones or even small borders within the garden.

The kids and I just finished studying the book of Genesis through our Community Bible Study (CBS) class and thought it would be cool to use this book as inspiration for our paver project. I challenged the kids to select either their favorite verse, an attribute of God or something they are thankful for to use while decorating their brick.

Here is how we painted and decorated our pavers:

Custom Painted Brick Paver Tutorial

SUPPLIES:

1.       Brick paver – we got our bricks from Home Depot for about $0.89/ea. We used the red pavers but you could use the gray ones too. Any size will do. Just select the paver size that will work best with your project.

2.       Interior / Exterior semi gloss enamel white paint

3.       Foam paint brush

4.       Sharpie markers

5.       Spray acrylic sealer (I used Aleene’s brand in matte finish)

6.       Newspaper

HOW TO TUTORIAL

The first step was to wipe off the bricks with a damp cloth getting all the dust and other debris off of the surface of the brick paver. After you wipe the paver clean put the brick on top of several pieces of newspaper and apply your first coat of paint to the brick.

I painted all sides of our brick except the bottom then waited for the paint to dry, flipped the brick over and painted the bottom side. It is important to let the paint cure according to the directions on the paint you use. 

Once the paint is good and dry you could sand the edges to give it a “rustic/antique” look or you can start decorating it.

Now it is time to decorate the bricks! We used sharpie markers in a variety of colors to decorate our bricks. I have a lot of cool plastic letter, number and shape templates I let the kids use while decorating their bricks. 

If you are brave and have a steady hand you could just free hand your design. The sky is truly the limit here! The best part is that there are 6 sides to each brick that can be decorated!

Be careful not to touch the bricks where you draw with the sharpie markers since the ink is probably still wet and will smudge.

Once the decorating is complete it is time to seal the brick along with the decorations and base paint coat. In a well ventilated area (outside is best) spray the acrylic sealer to all sides of the brick except the bottom. Once the sides you sprayed are dry flip the brick over and spray the bottom of the brick with the sealer. 

You may want to put two coats of the sealer on the brick to ensure it is weather proof if you intend to have your brick paver displayed outside.

Here is our finished project!

Go on, give this simple project a try! If you like this I’m sure you will love the ebook I wrote, Secret Garden Crafts: 10 Nature Inspired Craft Projects, that includes 10 simple and fun craft projects. You can get your copy on Amazon today! (affiliate)

 

Find it HERE on Amazon

Awesome Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

picture credit

I know all you mamma's out there would love a day of relaxation, reading your favorite book in a clean house after a good meal (not cooked by you). But this isn't the reality for most of us moms. There are no days off! Especially Mother's Day.

My husband is very capable of taking care of our family and making sure all the kids are fed, dressed and clean - and he does a good job, but he just isn't Mom.

"Mom" isn't just a name it is a badge of honor you earned over the years of caring for your dearest little treasures. Kissing boo-boo's, wiping snotty noses, hugging a hurting child or one who just needs a little TLC and whipping up a meal to feed your clan are all duties a mom willing and joyfully accepts.

Daily.

Momming isn't easy. Don't kid yourself, as your littles get less little the momming doesn't get easier, it gets harder, especially when teen hormones kick in. But you love them anyway because you are MOM.

So this Mother's Day let's spoil her rotten! Let's celebrate Mom! Shower her with gifts, do the dishes, make her a meal and give her a relaxing day. Or maybe just maybe let her use the bathroom for once in private - that ought to make her day. It sure would make mine!

Kidding!!

kind of?

I found some great Mother's Day gifts you might want to consider for your mom this year. If you see something you like click on the image and you will be directed to the website you can purchase it from. Super simple!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Feed Mom's Chocolate Obsession 

Oh, and don't forget mom's love for all things coffee & chocolate! No mom could survive without one of these (or both).

I'm a dark chocolate kind of mom. Apparently the love of chocolate is a genetic trait that can be passed down from one generation to the next. How do I know this you ask? Well each one of my four kids, especially my oldest daughter, LOVES chocolate and would do practically anything to get it.

Click HERE

I'm serious folks - it has become a real problem around here. At least for me it is a problem because they are eating my chocolate!

I have to hide chocolate in my house. I don't mean just tuck it in the corner of a cabinet, that is child's play here and no longer a viable hiding place since they all caught onto this trick long ago. I've had to get really creative and stash bars in all sorts of weird places like the laundry room cupboards, slipped next to books on our bookshelf, under cans of canned goods in the pantry and even in my sock drawer.

Chocolate is a serious obsession around here! Chocolate Trading Co. has a great assortment of chocolate gift boxes and other great chocolate products your mom would love.

Coffee Lovin' Mama!

Blue Bottle Coffee Co.

Coffee is another great gift for mom. A gourmet bag of the finest beans and a cute coffee mug make a good Mother's Day gift for your special mommy. You could even get a plain white coffee mug and let the kids decorate the mug with drawings using special Sharpie Markers. After they are done decorating you just pop the mug into the oven for a bit and the ink becomes permanent.

Popsugar.com has a great tutorial showing how to make your own custom decorated ceramic mug with Sharpie Markers!

Click here for Project Details

I found this cool coffee starter box gift set for mom. Inside this box is everything Mom needs to get started on delicious homemade coffee. Throw in a fresh bouquet of flowers, and there’s no better way to start off a lazy Sunday morning. Find this set at Blue Bottle Coffee.

click HERE Gift Set

No matter how you celebrate Mother's Day I'm sure it will be wonderful! Happy Mother's Day mama - kick your feet up and ignore those dust bunnies collecting under the couch, I guarantee they will be there waiting for you tomorrow.

DIY Faux Potted Cactus Craft Tutorial

A cactus craft project that is cute, easy, and fun to make!

My oldest daughter loves to decorate and redecorate her room to reflect her current style (which is continually changing). Currently, she is in love with all things southwestern, cactus, desert, and sand. Who can blame her? We had a long winter and the poor girl is dying for some hot sunny summer days! 

Decorating her room with a southwestern theme gives her a little escape from the cold and it looks pretty too.

Designed by Freepik

This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure on the Disclaimer page.

With a limited budget to spend on her ever-changing decor ideas and themes, the Dollar Tree store has become our BFF. A little imagination and some supplies are all you need to create some pretty amazing accessories. 

She made these adorable and super simple potted cacti in no time at all. Want to make one for yourself? Here are the supplies and instructions on how to make one.

Cactus Craft Project & Tutorial 

Supplies 

1. faux cactus succulent plant
2. small terra cotta pot
3. small & medium size polished stones 
4. hot glue sticks & hot glue gun
5. acrylic craft paint & brushes

6. dry floral craft foam

 

We already had craft paint, brushes, and a hot glue gun at home but I'm sure you could grab this at your local craft store or order them on Amazon if you didn't have any on hand.

Instructions:

Step 1

Lightly sketch out your design on the pot in pencil. When you are happy with your design start painting over your sketches. The decoration you make on the pot can reflect your style whether it is modern, contemporary, or like we did - southwestern.

Step 2

If your cactus does not come with an attached piece of craft foam no problem. Cut a piece of craft foam to down to the size of the inside diameter of the pot. Poke the cactus into the craft foam securing it with hot glue.  

Once the paint is dry it is time to add the cactus. If your cactus comes attached to craft foam just squeeze it into the pot. To ensure it wouldn't fall out of the pot run a bead of hot glue around the craft foam to secure it inside the terra cotta pot.

Step 3 

Next, hot glue the polished stones around the cactus filling the space and covering the craft foam. This will make the cactus appear to be planted in the stones as well as keep the stones from falling out if the pot gets bumped. If you don't have stones you could use glass beads or faux moss.

This was such a simple project that turned out so cute! My daughters did this project as a sleepover craft with one of their friends. Wouldn't it be a fun party craft to do with kids at a birthday party or even a fun project for a church social or Cinco de Mayo party?

I hope you enjoy making your own potted succulent! Comment below to tell me what you made or if you have any questions about this tutorial. 

More Easy Crafts You Will Love

Tissue Paper Stained Glass Star

Paper Mache Pinata

Mini Sock Snowman Craft

Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and here at Mommy Suburbia for more great craft projects and tutorials!