ICE CREAM CONE SURPRISE BALLS

It's still summer and we are so happy it is! It's been a while since we had some surprise balls around here, so in the spirit of the best season, I present ice cream cone surprise balls! These would be so much fun to hand out as party favors and they are so very easy to make. Grab your favorite colors of folded crepe paper and follow these directions here. And to add the "sprinkles" I just covered the top half with double sided tape and rolled it in some confetti. Of course, after I saw how it turned out, I wanted to dip them all in "sprinkles"! For anyone who isn't familiar with a surprise ball, its like a bunch of gifts in one! You unravel it to reveal layer after layer of tiny gifts. Seriously, they are the best.

TOY GARAGE

Because the cars have to go somewhere! Elliott has never been super into cars, but he got this rad track and ever since we have had little toy cars underfoot EVER-Y-WHERE. I made him this little toy garage to help keep them stowed away and wouldn't you know it has worked like a charm! It's a lot of fun for him to use and my feet are thanking me. You can see all the details over here on Momtastic to make one of your own. Seriously easy and so worth it.

VACATION

Last week we were "out of the office" and in the pool. On vacation! It was last minute and so much fun. We rented a house with some of my extended family and the number one priority was that it have a pool. We literally didn't do anything else but swim and we wouldn't have it any other way. My ghost white boy is now semi-tan boy and he learned a few tricks while we were there! My goal last week was to get him to be less afraid of the water and maybe even swim. We didn't bring his float he normally wears and uses as a crutch in the water. You'll just have to see the rest of the post to see how he did! Here are a few highlights from our trip. We swam, made popsicles, ate watermelon, and played lots of games. It was a blast and we decided that a family vacation to a rental home is going to be an annual thing. Huzzah!

Floating flamingo coasters? Yes! I saw these on Amazon and knew I had to have them. I mean, just look at it. 

My nephew. He's 9. We couldn't get over how much he was looking like a surfer not to mention 15 years old! 

My niece and her mad style.

On the last night, we brought out some giant glow sticks and made a large glow hoop for the kids to play with. It was a blast! 

He swims! Not super well, and he still gets freaked out by the deep end, but I am one proud mama. I'd say this week was a total success. 

The road trip home is less fun. 

TOY POPSICLES

These might not help you beat the heat, but they sure are fun to play with! Elliott and I made these popsicles on a day so hot, we didn't dare venture outside. They are really easy (and fun!) to make. I am thinking about turning our puppet theater into a temporary popsicle stand. Wouldn't that be fun? To make them I just used poster-board and duct tape, cut out the shapes, decorated and added some jumbo popsicle sticks tot he backs. We've had a blast playing with them, but now Elliott wants to make real popsicles. These would be great gift toppers too. Just a thought. Have fun and stay cool, friends!

HAPPY WEEKEND + SOME TREATS

We are so excited for this weekend. Tonight we are going to a pool party - we seriously can't get enough pool time - and tomorrow we are having a much needed family day. In other words, I feel some overgramming coming on! I am also trying to figure out a way to go and see this with Preston. Anyone want to babysit? Ha! In other news, we recently teamed up with Nestlé over on Momtastic to do a little review of their line of Nestlé Crunch Girl Scout Candy Bars. If you haven't tried them, they are SO yummy! They have made for the perfect little treat this summer. 

Whatever you are up to this weekend, I hope it's a good one. We'll see you back here next week!