Brrr...

I spent my day off outlet shopping with the girls and we had a blast, except for the part where it was 15 degrees and blowing snow. It was so cold today that I thought I would wish for some summer sunshine and show you one of Premier's new summery pieces - the Dakota necklace.

I love love love turquoise, and this piece is long and simple, and so easy to add to an already summery outfit. Here are photos of some great combinations!

This is how I spent my Friday...

It's not officially summer around here until we've had my husband's concession trailer out for some event or another, and I got to help on Friday. I have no problem being paid in ice cream and slushies!

Great American Pastime

I have not been to a baseball game in years, despite the fact that we have an award winning AA baseball field less than 20 minutes from our house, baseball is just not the sporting event that I would typically choose to watch, I'm more of an auto racing kind of girl - I need a little more energy in my sports!

But we were offered free tickets to a baseball game, and I am so glad we took advantage of them, we had a great time and got to spend the evening with my parents. We enjoyed some serious people watching, great ballpark food, and a couple of really good plays, not to mention fireworks after the game. There is not a better way to get into the summer spirit!

This weekend has been exactly what I needed after a really tough week, a Friday night with the girls and Saturday at the ballpark, now it's Sunday and I am poring my heart into getting one of my quilts done so that I can enter it in our county fair!

Mmmm ice cream

One of the best gifts that we received when we got married was the ice cream maker attachment for our Kitchen Aid mixer (thank you A&A!). We use this thing ALL the time, like tonight for example, I made ice cream for our Father's day BBQ at my parents'.

It is super easy to use. First, the bowl is in our freezer at all times so it is always ready to use. The night before I want to make the ice cream I mix up the base, simmer 1 quart half and half and 3/4 of a cup of sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. I let this mixture cool in the refrigerator overnight (this is super important, if the base isn't cold enough it will never freeze in the ice cream maker - I've tried and it was an epic fail).

The next day add half a cup of milk (the original recipe suggests whole milk, but I use skim to save on the calories and I think it tastes just fin, I swear my husband has never complained, and that man can be awfully picky about his ice cream), abd 1 to 2 tablespoons of vanilla, depending on how strong of a fLavor you want. Hook up the mixer attachment and turn the mixer to the slowest setting, pour in the ice cream mixture and run until the mixture has thickened - typically 20 minutes to half an hour.

This is the recipe that I use as the base for all of my ice cream favors. Sometimes I add extracts, candy pieces, fruit, you name it. The fun part is experimenting to see what works and what doesn't!

Summertime!

Memorial day weekend is commonly regarded as the unofficial start of summer, and it definitely feels like it today - the high is 94! So I pulled out my all-time favorite summer dresses.

This is the Victoria's Secret Beach dress. I originally bought it to take on our honeymoon, and it was a bit pricey, but has proven completely worth it. First off, it is one of their bra-top dresses, which I wouldn't recommend for everyone, but since I have next to nothing in that area it works for me, I've also found that if I remove the padding from one of my swimsuit tops and place them between the bra-top and the actual dress it helps out a little.

If you are looking for a great dress this Is your best bet, it is supima cotton and so soft, and the material is thick while still light weight, so it feels more like a dress and less like a bathing suit cover up! I love it!

Another go at it

Here we go again with the shorts... Still a bit ambivalent, but I am in love with this red tank. The color is definitely my favorite part, it's really bright - I'll call it "ripe tomato".

The necklace works great too. This isn't one that I wear often, but sometimes it's just the right statement - silverado with the stylin' enhancer. I went simple with the earrings, cute Laura studs, and glammed the whole thing up a bit with the Monte Carlo cuff bracelet.

It'll do for a morning shopping expedition with my mom and sister.

Ugh... Shorts

I have mixed feelings about shorts, this could possibly be due to the fact that most of mine from last year don't fit, but we won't go there.

While they are not my favorite article of clothing, there are times when I will give in and wear them, especially when it hits 90+ degrees, like it is supposed to today. So here I am, in my shorts, pretending to be confident. At least I have my cute Botanical necklace on, maybe my jewelry will take people's eyes away from my legs!

Bargain outfit

I believe this may be my favorite dress of the summer - I see myself living in this dress, and I am so proud of the fact that I picked it up at Walmart for $10!

I did have to make some alterations, the skirt was a little too full for my liking so I took that in, and the neckline was way too low to wear without a tank top underneath, so I stitched it up a bit, of course for work I would wear the tank anyway... Obviously.

I was excited to pair the brown dress with a necklace that I don't wear very often - Sand Dune, it's a genius necklace, the piece that hangs down in clips so you can wear the necklace with or without it, or you can add a different enhancer - who thinks of these things?! Genius!

I love my job

Today I am loving my job simply because I get to wear this outfit to work! I am so comfortable - you are going to be seeing skirts on me all summer long!

Jewelry - I'm wearing Urbanite and Runway, along with Sydney earrings (adorable studs!), Crimson, devotion, Firecracker, and sensational.

Have a good Monday!

Desperately Clinging to Summer

I am not ready for summer to end, it has gone way too fast, but unfortunately, today marks the symbolic last day of summer, so I thought I'd say goodbye by featuring some of my favorite summer themed items from Etsy sellers.

Enjoy these items and then get outside for a barbeque or something summery while you still can!

These adorable strawberry hair clips are by JoyfulJessica, ahh fresh strawberries...

Sea glass from westcoastseaglass, hmm maybe I can talk my sister into going to the lake with me today, I haven't made it over there all summer.

emmadreamstar has got it right, ice cream is fun!

Nothing says summer like a great road trip! These craft embellishments are available from endofthedaycrafting.