Things to do with Kids this Summer | Parade of Fountains

Growing up, we would often do a parade of parks, visiting a few in a day.  Adalyn has recently been fascinated with water and after finding a penny the other day, shouted "fountain!"  I thought I would translate that idea into a parade of fountains where we would visit 5 fountains in a day.  It all started with a few pennies...

In Kansas City, we have a plethora of fountains and a website to map your tour.  Of course most cities have iconic fountains and waterfalls you can visit, along with shopping centers, businesses and city parks.

Adalyn could hardly contain her excitement as we visited the first fountain.

It's fun because each fountain has a little something different to offer.  Adalyn enjoyed chatting with the ducks.  We decided not to toss a penny in this one!

Adalyn ran anxiously to each fountain.  It's fun to see life through the eyes of your child and enjoy the simplest things.

For more things to do with your kids this summer, click here.

Mojito Bar

I enjoy serving signature cocktails with a few options to alter.  It's easy for guests to serve themselves while I finish preparing the meal.  Good friends of ours were visiting from out of town last night and I decided to make a mojito bar to kick summer off.  In fact, I planned the meal around it!

Club soda, simple syrup, light rum, limes, mint, and mango and apricot purees to flavor were offered.

I chose to make simple syrup rather than use sugar cubes because it's already dissolved.  I prefer it's taste.  It's really easy to prepare in advance, just 2 cups of sugar to one cup of water!

Prep work, like slicing limes, is done in advance for ease.

To alter the flavor, I chose mango and apricot purees.  Just add 2 tablespoons.

For a basic mojito, I muddle 2 mint leaves with 2 lime wedges, then add a shot of light rum, a half shot of simple syrup, any additives, then top with club soda and ice.

I created a little floral arrangement filled with roses, hydrangea, berries and added a little lime!

I created the simple syrup label with just a few simple steps!  For the tutorial, click here.

Happy Summer!

Things to Do with Children in the Summer

I was recently discussing with a friend what we planned to do with our kids this summer.  While we all "know" what there is to do in our respective cities, it's easy to forget or overlook some of the local gems.  I have created a comprehensive list of things to do in Kansas City this summer that can also relate to your own city!  Stacation, here we come!

Take a stadium tour:

Kauffman Stadium Tours
Livestrong Sporting Park Tours

Take a walk for a cause {below at KC Race for the Cure}:

Visit your local dairy farm:
Shatto Farms

Visit local businesses that offer tours:
Roasterie Tour

Harley Davidson Plant Tour {12 & up}

Take a cooking class at local grocery store:
Whole Foods
Hen House
A Thyme for Everything
Culinary Center of Kansas City

Visit an outdoor store:
For days where  it's raining or just too hot, consider visiting an outdoor store and playing "I Spy."  They are filled with animal displays and aquariums...at least 45 minutes of free fun!

Bass Pro Shop

Cabela's

Take a tour of parks:

Growing up, my mom and my best friend's mom would take us on a tour of parks.  We would visit 3 parks in a day, making it a little more interesting!  Sometimes we'd only spend 20 minutes at a park, but we were delightfully anxious to hop in the car and visit the next one!  Finish the day with a picnic!  {p.s. you're never too old to play!}

Parade of fountains:

Living in Kansas City, we have a plethora of fountains.  After all, it is called the City of Fountains.  However, you can find plenty of fountains in your city-consider parks, malls, and businesses in your search.  Maybe you'll even find a little luck!  Click here for more.

Find fun in the water:
Visit a local lake or beach {I just discovered a couple local lake beaches!}

Peddle boat

Local water features:
Crown Center
Spray Park at Loose Park

Check out local museums:
Miniature Toy Museum
Money Museum
Wonderscope
Steamboat Arabia {what kid doesn't love sunken treasure?}
Science City

College Basketball Experience

Explore Outdoors:
Powell Gardens
Overland Park Arboretum

Check out some animals:

Deanna Rose
Kansas City Zoo

In St Louis:

Lone Elk

St. Louis Zoo

Purina Farms
Butterfly House

Visit a dog park {your dog will thank you}

Story time at the library

Go to the movies:
Catch an outdoor movie night at your local shopping center, pool or city park!
Daytime specials at your local theatre {many offer free summer repeats}

Enjoy a round of miniature golf

Amusement Parks & Activity Centers:
Worlds of Fun
Lego Land
Sea Life Aquarium
Paradise Park
Monkey Business

More to come!  Please, if you have any ideas, add them to the comments below!

Things to do in KC | Overland Park Arboretum

Take a walk around the lake or the many paths at the Overland Park Arboretum.  It's free fun in and out of the sun.  I recently visited with my friend Rachel and Adalyn's friend Emily!  We spent an hour and a in the butterfly sanctuary, walking the trails, gazing at flowers and watching the koi.

Catch me if you can...

The girls enjoyed running through the woods and exploring!

It was a hot day, so plan to bring plenty of water!

The gardens are just beautiful.  I took note of several rose varieties that I will plant next year.

What a beautiful place to relax!

Emily particularly enjoyed the lake - I don't blame her!

For more ideas of things to do with your kids, click here!

Wedding Shower Gift | Glass Cloche

After spending hundreds of dollars and several hours designing the perfect bouquet, they are often tossed aside for lack of something to do with it.  One of the services I offer my clients is to dry their bouquets for them.  It's a sentimental and unique piece to grace your bedroom, daughter's bedroom or addition to your dining room.  You may remember this beautiful bouquet filled with peonies, anenomes and garden roses {created by Erin Volante Floral and photographed by RPM Photography}....

it would have been a shame to dispose it, so I dried the bouquet.

Drying Instructions:

Using dental floss, tie around just above the ribbon, then bring it through a few stems, again, just above the ribbon.  Tie the other end of dental floss around a hanger and hang so blooms are upside down in dark, dry closet {choose one that will have limited access due to the delicate nature of the bouquet}.  

To protect it, I recommend using a glass cloche or English bell jar.  It will protect the fragile flowers and eliminate any risk of dust.  As you may have noticed, a bouquet will shrink in width when dried and each bouquet will vary in size.  I recommend purchasing one at least 11" in diameter and 13" tall.  This fits most standard bouquets.

It's a gift that the bride can cherish forever in her home.

Homemade Peach Ice Cream Recipe

Summertime to me, is my mom's homemade ice cream! She would sit in the driveway or poolside and watch us play while the ice cream maker churned away, throwing salt in when needed.  With Memorial Day weekend ahead and my new KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment, I couldn't resist whipping up some peach ice cream.  I've always enjoyed such a treat, but after visiting friends, Jenny Steffens, in Concord, Massachusetts last year and having it at Bedford Farms, I was really craving it!

Ingredients:

6 peaches

3/4 c sugar

8 oz evaporated milk {3/4 can}

sweetened condensed milk {3/4 can}

3/4 package instant vanilla pudding

3 c half and half

Peel & pit peaches, combine with sugar and puree in food processor.

Blend all remaining ingredients, and add puree mix.

Allow ingredients to chill in the freezer for about 15 minutes.  Add to chilled ice cream bowl attachment or your ice cream maker and churn.  {25 minutes with attachment}.

Feel free to garnish with cinnamon or brown sugar.  For a unique twist, replace sugar in the recipe with brown sugar.

I like my ice cream a little lighter, which is why this recipe doesn't use eggs, but if you like a really rich ice cream, swap 2 cups of the half and half for heavy cream!

Yields 2 quarts ice cream

Hands on time: 10 minutes

Gift Ideas | Art of Gift Giving

The art of gift giving is giving something or doing something that the recipient will truly love and enjoy.  It has no monetary requirements or limits, it's about the thought put into it.  At Christmas dinner, my mother-in-law told us about how her grandparents, Grandpap and Tot, would rock her in an old wood rocking chair that they received as a wedding gift.  She shared her fond memories of the chair and we knew we needed to get it to Kansas City.  With the help of her brother in Williamsburg, Virginia, we arranged to have it shipped across the country...

and surprised her with it for Mother's Day.

Watching her being reuniting with such a sentimental piece of her past and reminiscing, it felt far better to give this gift, than it had ever to receive one.

Now, she can rock her grandchildren, {including our niece or nephew due in October}, just as her Grandpap and Tot did her.

Next time you're giving a gift, I encourage you to think outside of the box and monetary constraints we often set and follow your heart.

For more creative gift ideas, click here.