Thursday, August 19, 2010

Forever Sunshine

In FULL summer, I'm all about the flip flops, water games, late nights, sun bleached hair, and sand on our skin. Summertime is always such a short peek-a-boo before it bows beneath the other seasons. However, AUGUST is still hot sunshine even though school has started again (why doesn't school start in September?!). So, don't stop enjoying it until its too cold for bare feet.




mmm...love the smell of suntan lotion...be safe and rub this stuff on {wink}

During the summer months we keep a basket of outdoor protection by our back door to remind us all to lather, spray, and cover. I'm not consistent every year SO thank you MamaHall for the motivation to do this!

Rolling the towels makes it easy for the boys to grab and go.

The most convenient thing about this summer basket is I can easily carry it to our car when we head to the beach or pool. Basically, we are ALWAYS ready to go because of our summer basket!


10 minutes later the basket is
on the sand instead of our hallway chair


Another super simple idea is to pack your kid's lunch in a sand bucket before you head out to the beach. The bucket can be used as a lunch box and when lunch is gone it's obviously the ideal sand toy.



I added their names with chalk ink that washes off in the water


and tied shovels to the buckets making bows out of thin baby ribbon.


Sand Bucket Lunches are served!

Kids love it!
and Mommas do too...
because how fun is it to watch your little ones explore the little delights of life?


After the apples and sandwiches are gone,
the crumbs are replaced with sand

as the lunch buckets become...
T O Y S


Wait a second, I thought he was a baby?

Summer Days are the BEST Days.

Bed in Summer
by Robert Louis Stevenson

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?




A couple more summer love ideas for your home
before I wrap this up:


A sweet friend of mine brought these beach treasures home after she visited Florida as a surprise treat for me! I think jars are such a FUN way to decorate. You can fill them with anything like I've done HERE or HERE.

I've mentioned before that I like to switch out framed photos for seasons. After you've had framed photos in your house for awhile you will eventually STOP noticing them! It keeps your home fresh if you change your photos for different seasons.


Photo frame courtesy of Well of Words
who provide extra kind service and beautiful work

A "Sun and Sand" candle?
Yes, it smells like sunscreen!

I get these Bath and Body Works trial lotions FREE (with coupon love) all the time and change them out for the seasons as I've shared before.

This lotion says it best:

F O R E V E R
S U N S H I N E.


This post is linked to: Centsational Girl, Friday Favorites, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Spotlight Yourself, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Motivate me Mondays, Inspired By, I'm Lovin It, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff Thursday, Be Inspired, Topsy Turvy Tuesdays, Making the World Cuter, Its so Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday,Get Your Craft On, Market Yourself Monday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday






26 comments:

caveman said...

I love this post; Smiled all the way through it. "Coupon Love" I got a good chuckle out of that, because with you I know how true it is!

Jane said...

I love the photos of the boys and water/buckets. They bring back memories of our water fights.

This time of year...with the beginning of school...we always had whipped cream fights with all the friends. I would buy dozens of cans of whipping cream and let the kids have fun...of course, the hoses would have to come out to rinse everyone off before the bugs arrived. And that was almost as much fun! It became a long-standing tradition...followed by end-of-school-year Jello wars.
Jane (artfully graced)

Rebecca said...

Mmmm, this is such a great relaxing summer-y post! Love it! And isnt sunscreen on little kids skin the best smell?!

Kathleen Grace said...

Here in Michigan school can't start until after Labor Day:>) And as for being too cold for bare feet, I have been known to go outside in December in bare tootsies. I don't stay out as long as in summer, lol, but I'm a barefoot kind of girl:>) Enjoy the rest of summer Lisa!

Abby Killam said...

extra love this post because how much I LOVE summer!!!!! I am always depressed to see it go so I am all for the things that keep it alive... be it candles, picture frames or whatever! super cute and lets me hold on just a little longer- us AZ girls are summer girls at heart
ps- my favorite thing about summer is how light it is longer... is it just me or is it depressing for things to be dark by 4:30?
happy continued summer!!! :o)

Jenna Marie said...

I came onto your website after looking for some ideas for a "campout party" theme. I am just amazed at your talent and creativity! I LOVE to throw parties, and have just kind of come onto the fact that it CAN be an art!! I have so much to learn! I'm truly in awe! Thanks for sharing so many fun ideas and being and inspiration!! :) Your kids are sure lucky!! :)

Renée said...

Love you beach pail lunches that make it easy for them to shovel it in! Very fun pictures of your oh so beautiful kids...

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Great summer ideas! I love that basket. I am so sad that summer's almost over. I really wish it was summer all year (or at least warm). Great pictures!

xoxo
Jen

Diana Ferguson said...

Cute photos!!

The Fajdich Times said...

Very cute post! I love your Sand Bucket Lunches:) Lucky kids!!

Tammy @ tinselshop.com said...

Hi Lisa,

LOVE the basket idea! I am going to put one at the door going out to the pool. I am constantly searching for everything...

Best wishes,
Tammy

Room to Inspire said...

Summer days are the best! Your lunch in the bucket idea is great. Have a great weekend.

Chelsea

Rebecca said...

i love going to the beach! you're never too old to make sandcastles (:

http://itscohen.blogspot.com/

b. said...

this is a fun summer post and i really love how those pictues turned out of the boys! please come by {our} blog when you can and answer a few questions i have for you!

Karen said...

I've come by way of Tickled Pink! :> Now, I want to head to the beach! What a fun way to enjoy a day at the beach AND to bring that fun, spirit, and a little bit of your surroundings home with you! :>

mama hall said...

:) FOREVER SUNSHINE sounds good to me! Lovely post...I want to go splash in the waves and eat lunch out of a sand pail! :)

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

Cute as can be!

I'm going to miss summer - we've been having such a good time with backyard campfires, making popsicles, catching bugs, picking garden-fresh produce...these lazy days of summer are all too short to suit me :(

Thankfully fall is right around the corner :) Almost makes up for it *wink*

Wish I could pick your brain for my son's upcoming party! Feeling not so inspired these days...

Judy@cutest-little-things

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I definitely want to get some more family beach days in before summer is up!

Kelly Miller said...

Love those sand bucket lunches!

Mrs. Sojourner said...

What fun! I think my kiddos would love the bucket lunch too. Great idea!

nic said...

LOVE the 70's-ish processing of those beach photos...makes me nostalgic for my childhood beach days. what bliss.

Liz said...

What a great idea! I bet that would be a great party favor idea too!

I hope you'll come participate in my link party today! It runs all week so come back and add more BOY projects! All About The Boy @ The Nifty Nest!

Liz

Holly Lefevre said...

Your photos are just gorgeous - they capture summer! We have only been to the beach 1 time this summer...however, it has been gorgeous the last 4 days, so I let the homework rules slide (a little) and we all went to the beach after school. We needed it!

The lunch box ideas are fabulous. You can never have enough buckets!

Ashlee Marie said...

I LOVE the beach and luckily my kids do too! Living inland we don't there often enough for me! I love the lunch box idea! I'll totally use it next summer! Thanks for linking up to Topsy Turvy Tuesday's!

Michelle Paige said...

Love the idea to put the lunch in the sand bucket!

Paula Parrish said...

Hello Lisa,
Thanks for all of the fun ideas to be ready for the beach in a snap. Love It! Our summer is filled with many trips to the beach. ;o)
Smiles, Paula