Posts Tagged ‘summer’
Reporting from Craft & Hobby Association Summer Show 2010
There’s something to be said about freelance writing for Craft Critique. Not only am I able to see what’s up and coming in terms of crafting products, but I’m surrounded by all these creative people and it’s awesome feeding off of each other.
Hanging out with the ladies yesterday was so much fun: met a few fellow Critique-ers in person, laughed a lot, learned a lot. I came home after twelve hours of walking around 260 booths of amazing craft product and inspiration… talking to lots of movers and shakers, taking pictures (150+ pictures!) of incredible projects, booths and watching demonstrations and make-n-take projects. I also came home with much reading and creating to do, not to mention WRITING. If you wander over to Craft Critique, get ready for some eye candy! I’ll be covering a handful of manufacturers and products. My first CHA Summer Show article on Jillibean Soup is already posted.
I really enjoyed seeing Tim Holtz in person, and meeting Donna Downey! Like the geeky crafter that I am, I brought along my book in hopes I might meet her. She was so nice and approachable, like we’ve met before, and I hope we meet again.
Awesome. “Live a life inspired.”
I have every intention, Donna. Thank you.
Tags: craft and hobby association, craft show, crafts, summer
Life Lessons with Bubbles
I spent a good two hours outside with Ollie riding his tricycle, bicycle with training wheels, talking to the neighbors, playing hopscotch… and then he said, “Let’s blow some bubbles!” This was an exciting thing for him: I’m blowing bubbles until I nearly pass out and he’s chasing them all over the yard and driveway. There’s just something so innocent and lovely about watching your kid screeching with happiness as little round glass-like spheres float all around. Tell you what… you quickly learn how good or bad your lung capacity is!
You can find a ton of homemade bubble solutions online, but here’s a nice quick start.
- 1/2 c. dishwashing liquid
- 2 c. water
- 2 tsp. glycerin or corn syurp
Mix in a shallow pan. You can also refill your old bubble jars.
Don't eat the bubble liquid!
My “lessons learned” from bubbles that day:
- The most simplest of things are temporary
- Chase after your goal, big or small
- Time is fleeting, enjoy it while its here…
and, maybe a bubble machine would be a worthwhile purchase. *whew*
Happy Fourth of July everyone!
Visiting Long Grove
Every year, we like to visit Long Grove at least once. The biggest reason is for the brown bag apple pie from Apple Haus. It’s everything we want in an apple pie: flaky, buttery crust with a slight crunch, fresh apple chunks, not too sweet.
But before Apple Haus, we stopped by the Glunz Family Winery tasting room and I had this shot of raspberry wine in a chocolate cup. What a great idea for a party opener…
So many things to look at in Apple Haus. Just around the corner are the display cases with…
…pies! This cutey says it serves 1 or 2, but the lady behind the counter said it was good for one.
This is not a great picture of me at all. I was trying to make a “Mr. Egg” face. Talk about cute dish scraper. I ended up buying it and the kids played with it for a few days afterwards.
We do like going to the different stores around Long Grove, especially The Tuscan Table. Eastman is definitely scaring me with the muddler here.
They were so tired after walking around and having an apple donut and apple cider snack. It’s really amazing how much they look like each other. They’re so sweet.
At last, at home with our brown bag apple pie. There’s actually a good chance we’ll be attending the apple festival later this week. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Tags: apple pie, eating out, family, grocery, Long Grove, restaurants, summer, vacation
Eating Again, but where?
The pictures of food never stop, do they? Even Abby is getting into it. She loves taking close-up shots and she’s getting better every time. We were running errands and stopped for a snack… can you guess what this is and where it was taken?
Not that this is any help, but here’s another view. We love visiting this neighborhood place, which isn’t in our immediate suburb.
More California journals coming. They’re in the works along with more projects, too.
Tags: eating, eating out, family, restaurants, summer, vacation
Out in California
I haven’t made much time to blog about our trip to California. Maybe because there are so many destinations I want to write about, and I will! They revolve around food, surprised? But, it was fantastic to stay with my cousin and his family (they were the best hosts) near Sacramento. It was our one taste of REAL summer, because when we stepped off the plane it was over 100 degrees. Chicago has had a crazy bout of cold and rainy weather this year. Totally opposite of the hot and humid summers we usually have.
The trip was a change to our original plans of traveling to New Orleans without the kids. Basically, got a call, ill relative, not much time, that sort of thing. But, he’s doing okay now, not completely cured, but as good as he’s going to be at this stage. The kids were excited to go on an airplane. This came a few weeks after my daughter was asking me, “Mooooom, when are we going to take an airplane again? I like the airport, like when we have to take off our shoes.” And, we did get Ollie his own seat. So worth it! This was a much better ride than last year when he sat on my lap from Chicago to Los Angeles, and the L.A. to Hawaii, and back again.
We took a trip to Napa and San Francisco…I’ll have some more focused journals about where we went there. Fog, slight chill (got really chilly), ocean-bay air, See’s candies, fudge at Pier 39…Oh, I do love San Francisco.
Abby didn’t realize how much driving we would be doing. Essentially it takes an hour or more to get anywhere…
But really, the best parts of the trip: hanging out with my aunts, uncles, my cousins and their kids, reconnecting with another cousin whom I haven’t seen in years, Jelly Belly factory tour, playing in the local park, slip and slide during the hot afternoon. We don’t see them enough… wish we lived closer.
Tags: California, family, summer, vacation
Hosting the Bridal Shower
Shower Day was fun with an intimate crowd. It’s amazing how quickly it all happens after a few months of planning, but rest assured, we all enjoyed the afternoon. My sister-in-law’s maid of honor and friend, Megan, helped the night before.
Theme: Orange
Tabletop: Napkins had Gerbera daisies and stripes, drink umbrellas were perched in square vases with coffee beans, simple bouquet became three small arrangements.
Other decorations: pom-pom paper flowers and wire-edged ribbon
Menu: Vegetable pizza appetizer, veggie bites (aka crudites) with carrot-ginger dipping sauce, poached salmon sandwiches with orange wasabi mustard and asian pasta salad from All on the Road, chicken salad sandwiches, mac-n-cheese, fruit, marble cupcakes with edible flowers, candied orange peels with chocolate dipping sauce, and yellow cake.
Shower games: Who has the closest birthday to the wedding date? and Bridal Bingo
Shower Favor: individual, hand-packed tea bags (theme related) with personalized labels. In this case, we had Orange Orange Pekoe for the happy couple. Thank you, Sheila!
Another quick tip: decorate the gift box instead of wrapping it.
Tags: bridal shower, family, party, quick tip, summer
