Tuesday Treats: Summer Essentials

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SANDALS // SUNSCREEN // QUESADILLA MAKER // SUNGLASSES // TOWEL CLIPS // STRAW BAG // FLAMINGO BAG // COOLER // DEEP CONDITIONER // PERFUME

Summer is almost here and I am counting the days… well, actually the minutes until school is out and we can enjoy some lazy days at the pool. Today I’m sharing my summer essentials to help you have the best summer ever!

Beauty & Sun

This sunscreen is my absolute favorite. It smells divine while protecting you from harmful rays. Grab a bottle or two so you’re ready to hit the pool, the park or the beach. I also love this perfume this time of year. It smells exactly like you hope you smell on a summer day… a mix of tropical scents and sun. Get a bottle for yourself or as a gift for the friend who shares their beach house with you! After all your fun in the sun, you’ll want a deep conditioner to revive your pool or beach hair. I discovered this one a few years ago… it’s technically “ethnic hair care” but I love it for my color-treated blonde. It smells great, too.

Lazy Lunch

I’m always thrilled to relinquish my lunch-packing duties at the end of the school year and then I remember… they still need lunch in the summer! Ha! This quesadilla maker is my go-to for quick and easy meals. You just need some tortillas and shredded cheese. I often throw in leftover chicken, too.

Summer Looks

Summer is all about taking it easy and getting out to see friends in the beautiful sunshine. These sandals are my absolute favorite to wear on a warm day. They go with everything. Seriously… everything. They are a great investment. Plus, they are on sale! I’ve owned these sunglasses for several years and I always get compliments on them. The pop of pink makes them extra cute… another thing you can wear every single day.

Bag It Up

It’s no small feat to pack up all the things you’ll need for a day at the pool or beach so you might as well love the bag you take along. I’m loving this flamingo tote (it’s less than $20!) and this monogrammed straw bag. Don’t forget to throw these flamingo towel clips in… they are a game-changer! Lastly, this cooler bag keeps a days’ worth of snacks and drinks chilled while looking fabulous.

Shop all these fun finds plus a few bonus items here.

Here’s to the arrival of sweet, sweet summer!

Movie Night: Secretariat

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It’s Derby weekend and this movie night goes full-speed with the horse racing theme. We truly enjoyed Secretariat and our down-home Kentucky feast!

This movie is based on the heart-warming true story of the record-setting racehorse, Secretariat and the family and team behind him. It’s available on Netflix.

We took a twist on derby day classics for this dinner and everyone gobbled them up. We enjoyed Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders (recipe here) and Mint Julep Fruit Salad (recipe here.) Both were completely delicious, and, bonus, I was able to make them ahead of time. These jockey silks napkins added the perfect touch.

The kids especially could not get enough of the Mint Julep Fruit Salad. Dessert was Kentucky Derby Pie (this recipe) and the guys in our house loved it the most.

A few little plastic horses raced across the buffet. My daughter played “Secretariat” with them the rest of the weekend!

This movie is heartwarming, exciting, touching and thrilling. It’s perfect to curl up and watch as a family on the eve of the Kentucky Derby.

The colors had us ready for spring and summer and the food was comforting and classically Kentucky.

I’ll be making these recipes again!

And they’re off!

Movie Night: Off to the Theater!

You know we LOVE movie night at home, but some recently new releases called for some trips to the movie theater! We still start the experience at home with some simple treats and that’s what I’m sharing today.

First up… Dumbo! Oh, what a beautiful, captivating film. We found this one to be enchanting and although it had sad parts, it was not nearly as gut-wrenching as the original. To announce our movie adventure, I set up our miniature marquee and some circus-worthy snacks.

These personal little packets of chocolate-covered peanuts from Trader Joe’s were just so fitting.

The next film to get us out of our pajamas and into the movie theater was Disneynature’s Penguins.  If you aren’t family with the Disneynature series, get on board!  They are educational and endlessly entertaining at the same time!  The latest one did not disappoint.  Penguins is hilarious and charming.  My daughter recently completed a school research project on penguins so she was enthralled!  We kicked off this fun evening with our darling little letterboard, a gingham runner, penguin plates and yummy penguin gummies!

These darling little penguin gummies are peach flavored and just as delicious as they are cute!

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to add a little home celebration to a night at the movies. The little bit of extra effort kicks off the fun and makes the experience last that much longer!

Happy Friday, friends!

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