Eek! My friends over at mom.me interviewed me recently and it's live on the site now!
to read the whole article. Spoiler alert :: I love ice cream.
Summer fruit is ridiculously amazing right now - it seems like everything is ripe at the same time. Pair that with some fabby cheeses and a glass of rose wine and you're set for an amazing afternoon outside.
pitted cherries :: basil :: burratta
nectarines :: beechers flagship cheese {or white cheddar} :: basil
apricots :: blue cheese :: mint
A giant pitcher of cocktails may be the best way to usher in the weekend. And on a crazy hot weekend like this, a coconut sangria is perfection. Hope you have a fabby weekend! I can't wait to see you next week - I'm on Q13 FOX news on Tuesday morning with loads of summer entertaining ideas. See you then!
I can't tell you to do this project. It's crazy messy, not entirely kid-friendly, and it takes an eternity to dry. But I had the idea for this project and I became obsessed when it started not working the way I envisioned. Then it turned out cool. And maybe you are as crazy as I am?
I started with water based paint, water balloons, and a gang of willing kids to throw balloons at a tablecloth. But it didn't work.
So I tried a tennis ball dipped in paint.
And food coloring.
Finally, I broke down and bought oil paint. I did not want to use oil paint because I did not want my children anywhere near oil paint. And if I don't, I'm sure you don't either. After doing this project so many times with every other kind of paint, I knew it would get messy. And it did. My hands looked awful and it took forever to wash off.
But I finally got it to look the way I wanted and it's incredibly therapeutic to throw water balloons at a hard surface.
If you want to take the leap and create your own Firework Tablecloth for the Fourth of July, here's how to do it.
You'll need
1 white tablecloth
water balloons
water balloon filler
oil paint
plastic syringe {available at the drug store}
Step 1 :: Fill water balloons with ½ teaspoon paint and top off with water.
Step 2 :: Set tablecloth on a hard surface outside.
Step 3 :: Throw water balloons at the tablecloth until it looks the way you like.
Step 4 :: Let dry {takes about 72 hours}
This project is a part of
, a collaboration between Alexandra Hedin,
,
, and
to bring you fabulous summer projects for the whole family for the whole summer.
We took pictures of the first failed attempt, click through the jump to see them. It was really fun.
I think dressing up for the Fourth of July is mandatory. At least a shirt with starts and stripes on it. But then I started looking at the Statue of Liberty crown and I thought "There's something so fun and patriotic about this..." Then when I found glitter paper at the craft store - this crown was born. Pearl is ecstatic.
You'll need
1 sheet craft paper
hot glue + gun
plastic head band
Step 1 :: Print out template and trace onto the glitter paper
Step 2 :: Cut out of glitter paper
Step 3 :: Fold the bottom of the crown along the fold lines
Step 4 :: Glue folded bottom to the plastic headband.
BTW, in case I haven't told you, there's a video. It's awesome. And stay tuned for tomorrow because I have something really cool + I'm on Q13 FOX News in the morning at 8:45am! Tune in and I'll see you on the Fourth!
Printable Version of the Recipe
1 package puff pastry, defrosted
2 cups pitted and roughly chopped cherries
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons melted butter
sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
On a floured surface, roll puff pastry dough out to approximately 16”x14”.
In a mixing bowl toss together cherries, sugar, and cornstarch.
Spread cherries out on one side of the puff pastry.
Cut a handful of air vents out on the opposite side of the puff pastry using a cookie cutter.
Pick up the unfilled side of the puff pastry sheet and lay it over top the cherries enveloping them completely.
Pinch the edges tightly to close.
Brush the top of the pastry with melted butter, sprinkle with a bit of sugar and bake 20-25 minutes until bubbly and browned.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
Serve at room temperature.
Oh, hey! Don't forget to watch the video!
Oh my goodness I love the Fourth of July. My entire family gathers at the beach on Whidbey Island and celebrates for as long as we can. There's karaoke, cocktails, fireworks, bonfires and a whole lot of people. I can't imagine a more fun holiday - which is why I created a simple {and fool proof} way to celebrate. Hang out with me all week long because I have loads more ideas and recipes for the Fourth of July that are utterly simple and fabulous. Have a fabby Fourth!
