we all scream for {homemade} ice cream!

One of my favorite childhood memories is listening to the sound of the ice cream maker run out on the back patio. The picture below is not of our ice cream maker, but ours looked JUST like it! The rusted parts and wire hanger being used as a hook on the side. My mom would let us take turns pouring in the rock salt around the bucket, and we'd usually sneak a piece or two to munch on! :) I wonder if my mom still has that ice cream maker... good times!

Tons of great memories can be made while the ice cream maker is running. But now, you don't have to have the maker to make the memory!

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 Homemade Ice Cream

in a Can

Kaboose

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 Homemade Ice Cream

in a Bag

2 Little Hooligans

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Homemade Ice Cream
in a jar
City Cradle

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Check this out!
Homemade Ice Cream

in a ball!

CoolGadgets

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...and lastly, MY FAVORITE

Homemade Fried Ice Cream

Simply So Good

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...and let's just throw in an ice cream printable while we're at it!

This is super cute, from Homemade By Jill

 

What's your favorite

homemade ice cream flavor?

Red, White and Blue Topiaries

How cute are these patriotic topiaries from Simply Designing!Ashley made these cute 4th of July topiaries a few months ago and has been dying to share them with us. She says she couldn't wait until July, so she's calling them America Star Topiaries! It's always a good thing to have some red, white, and blue around your house year round!!

She used three 5" styrofoam balls, TONS of punched out stars, and lots of pearl straight pins. She painted the styrofoam balls just to make sure that there wouldn't be any bare spots. She found some scrapbook paper that was double sided. One side was matte and one side was shimmery, so it worked out perfect to use both sides!

 

 I will definitely be making some of these this summer! You could even get your kids involved in this project! One could punch the stars and one could assemble. I LOVE this!!

Melon Water Contains NO Watermelon!

I never knew...

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Melon Water

1 cantaloupe

8 cups water

1/2 cup sugar

Cut cantaloupe in half and scoop out seeds

and place them in the blender. Add 3 cups

chopped cantaloupe and 1 cup water. Puree. Strain into

a pitcher. Add 7 cups of water and 1/2 cup sugar.

Stir and Enjoy!

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AND! Did you know that this is National Watermelon Month?

It is.

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ANYWHO....

I love this time of year! The sun shines brighter, the water is warmer, and the watermelon tastes better! Here are some amazing ideas that SASSY, crafty blogs have done to celebrate the season of WATERMELON!!
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these watermelon, chocolate chip cookies were found @ Amanda's Cookin'

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these sweet baby bibs are found @ Crafty Avenue

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these adorable watermelon stars found @ No Biggie

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this watermelon fountain was found @ Our Life in a Click

go to her blog to find the recipe for the goodness that's inside!

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these summer stackables were found @ Sawdust Sanity

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this knit watermelon hat was found @Craftically

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this adorable wooden hanging watermelon was found @How Does She?

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this fun watermelon "cake" was found @ Living Fruity

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extra credit QUESTION:

how do you pick the perfect watermelon?

4th of July KiD cRaFts!

The Alpha Mom made these Popper Rockets out of toilet paper tubes.

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Skip To My Lou has a free printable

for the kids to make their own snack cups!

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Holiday Crafts and Creations made this felt flag using her sewing machine...I would just use glue! ;)

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These old fashioned patriotic clothespins from

All Things Related

are too cute!

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Martha Stewart has these adorable lanterns on her site.

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Plaid Kid Crafts has some ideas over at their site!

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Crafty Chica made this cute USA photo book out of paper sacks!

HAPPY 4TH!!!

Fun for the 4th!

FOOD, fireworks, family, and FUN!

These blogs know how to have some FUN:
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The Executive Homemaker

has lots of good ideas over at her site... including these

Tweedle Dee Designs free party printables.

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I found lots of fun HERE over at

An Altered State!

These are made with Lifesavers!

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I ALWAYS love this blog... The Crafty Crow

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Over at Living Locurto, you will find TONS of fun ideas!

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Skip To My Lou has these free printables to spruce up your 4th of July party!

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Country Living has lots of cute decorating ideas HERE!

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THIS is too cute! I found it over at Kraft Foods.

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Check out what Martha Stewart has in her craft department.

What fun things are YOU doing for the 4th?

Food for the 4th!

Pull out that checkered tablecloth and fire up the grill...

these sites have some yummy 4th of July recipes...

Pottery Barn

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These are yummy Strawberry, Blueberry Shortcake Ice cream Sandwiches from Southern Living

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How Does She? calls these beauties "Stars on a Stick"!

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Secrets of a Super Mommy had this very cute idea!

Who says food is just for eating?!

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The Buzz Critic has this on her site... so yummy!

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Country Living has 20+ Side Dish Recipes!

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Be Different, Act Normal made this adorable cake!

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Taste of Home has 10 fun recipes on their site today... check it out!

YUM!YUM!

YUM!

You're Invited to the...

Stars and Stripes Party!

the Centsational Girl is hosting a 4th of July Party today and she has TONS of cute ideas at her blog! Go HERE!

More 4th!

I can't get enough of this!

I just love the decor for this season!

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Let's kick it off with this:

Pottery Barn Knockoff flag!

Moody Girl does a fantastic job at recreating it!

Go to her site for a tutorial.

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THIS flag is made by Second Street using doilies!

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This is adorable! I found it HERE at Curly Q Crafts

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What a cute way to use styrofoam and bandanas, HERE at Naptime Journal.

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I found THIS over at Everyday Craft Endeavor

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THIS
is an easy way to display some

Red, White, and Blue around your house!

Thanks to The Crafting Chicks.

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THIS is a simple way to add some cuteness to the table!

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Something to get the kids excited about the 4th is THIS.
From Under The Table and Dreaming.

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...and last, but not least

THIS baby is too cute!

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TOMORROW... 4TH FOOD!