The Tiki Lounge is Now Open!

It might be rainy outside but inside it's all coconuts and Mai Tai's! I thought it was only fitting after my "Sunny" post the other day, to officially open my Tiki Lounge and start serving some yummy drinks for the summer! Here is my Summer Fun upside down tree. I thought you would like to see some of my many favorite ornaments that show off my summer spirit!

Can't have a Tropical Tree without a Hula Frog!

And a Hula Flamingo!

The Beautiful Mermaid takes center stage!

She sells sea shells, by the seashore!

Deep Sea Diver!

A told b and b told c, I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree!

Flamingos like to lounge in a hammock instead of sticking their heads in the sand! Ha, actually that is only a myth. They do not stick their heads in the sand and nor do Ostrich!

Have you ever wondered what Santa did on his time off? Well, it looks like he is brushing up on his wind surfing!

And here is Mrs. Claus soaking up the rays! I sure hope she remembered her SPF!

If only you could see it in person. The pictures really don't do it justice!

My kind of sun bather....one with a book!

Cowabunga dude!

Umbrellas make any drink better, don't ya think?

I flip you flip we all flip for flip flops!

Can't forget the Weber for all your grilling needs!

Now that's were my coconut bra went!

Everyone's getting in on the Mai Tai action!

It can get pretty crazy around here, you might need to pull up a chair!

I found a great recipe I'll be trying soon!

MAI TAI TIKI RUM POPS!

Coconut Colada Layer Ingredients:

• 1 container (6 ounces) Yoplait Original 99 percent Fat Free piña colada or key lime pie yogurt
• 1/4 cup canned coconut milk, well stirred (not cream of coconut)
• 1 teaspoon dark rum

Mango Mai Tai Layer Ingredients:

• 1 fresh mango, peeled, pitted and cubed (about 1 cup)
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 cup mango nectar, chilled
• 2 tablespoons dark rum
• 2 tablespoons light rum
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon orange liqueur
• 1 teaspoon amaretto liqueur

1. In small bowl, beat coconut colada layer ingredients with whisk until smooth. Divide mixture among six 5-ounce paper cups. Cover with foil; insert craft stick (flat wooden stick with round ends) through foil into center of pop. Freeze two to three hours or until frozen.

2. Meanwhile, in blender, place mango mai tai layer ingredients. Cover; blend on medium speed about 45 seconds, stopping frequently to scrape sides, until smooth. Cover and refrigerate while waiting for first layer to freeze.

3. When first layer is frozen, remove foil from pops. Pour mango mixture over frozen layer. Return foil to pops to help support sticks. Freeze about eight hours or until frozen before serving. Store remaining pops covered in freezer.

Makes 6 tiki pops.

Photo and Recipe Courtesy of Betty Crocker

Let me know if anyone makes these yummy treats!

Enjoy the day!

Stick a Fork in Me....I'm done!

We spent the whole day at the pool and I think I'm done for the summer, maybe even for the next 3 summers! It's just too hot for my Irish/Italian skin! Don't you think?

I swear the sun looked like this and it felt about this close!

Ok, so that leathery skin "Woman" isn't me. Dear God no! I use SPF 100 and sit under the shade! But the sun did feel hot as Hades!

I get a kick out of people watching while I'm there, especially when they miss a spot or two of sun block or get fried and they end up looking like these people!

Poor kid didn't know what hit him, until he got home!

I think we've all done this before!

Ok you studly man!

So, you think they live in their hats? Love that the guy on the left wears his backwards, awesome!

Kim, Kim, Kim, did you forget that you can just pay for your tan?

I don't think I would have known this guy had a face except for his little white teeth and barely white eyes! This is seriously GROSS!

I'm sure this was a bet, right?

So, do you like to people watch at the pool too?

Etsy Love for Summer!

As I sit here enjoying the silence, OK it's not completely silent, but my 3 nieces are no longer my responsibility and we are back to being normal. Well, the jury might still be out on that one! Ha Ha, I heard you all laughing!

I finally have the time to sit here with my very large Keep Calm and Carry On filled coffee mug and peruse Etsy!

And speaking of Keep Calm and Carry On, I was not surprised one bit when I saw this summer version of Keep Calm. Gotta love it!

I don't even like boats, they make me sea sick but I'm loving this vintage looking anchor necklace! Go figure!

I laughed when I saw this cutie sporting his Summer Sailor striped shirt! The poor thing is shaking so much he's knocking knees! I think he hates boats as much as I do!

How about this paint your own Gnome to put in your garden. Looks like a fun summer project for the kiddos!

Nothing says summer like a lounging Mermaid for your shelf! I'm so loving her color!

When I see mermaids, my thoughts wander to the 1984 Movie Splash with Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah. Do you remember that movie? Such a great feel good flick. I'm thinking it's one for the summer movie list!

I may have shown you this last summer but I am still Loving this! I'm thinking it isn't appropriate for "Family" camping, but I really want them!

Risque Hot Dog Weenie Campfire Roaster Sticks -

Male and Female Set

I'm in love with burlap these days, and this Burlap pillow would be fun for the porch!

These would be so fun lighting up the backyard at night, don't you think?

Wine Bottle Tiki Torches - Set of 2

It looks like its going to be another gloomy day today. Despite the many "not again" comments from the kiddos about staying inside, I am loving the idea of curling up with a good book and another cup of coffee!

Hope your Hump day is a Happy One!

HaPpY fRiDaY!

I'm here, honest I am! I've just been a little busy this week with 3 extra kids.

My 2 nieces (sans parents) have been visiting since Sunday and my niece from CA (2) came in on Tuesday! Thank goodness my sister is here to help corral these kiddos!

Wow, having all these kids is exhausting! I admire all of you who do this on a daily basis and will never know how you do it every day without going crazy or looking like this!

They are all great kids, but the noise, oh boy is that noise deafening!

I'm off to consume copious amounts of coffee!

Canvas Make-Over!

I am so excited to show you my "Happy" canvas make-over for my front entry!

I'm using 2 ideas from 2 different wonderful bloggers. Please read on for details!

Dana at House Tweaking did a wonderful drop cloth piece of art with a verse from one of my daughter's favorite songs. I loved it so much I just knew I had to re-create it for myself. I had found this canvas at a garage sale last summer and figured this would be the back drop for my new art. I would have loved to use drop cloth like Dana had but since I like to re-use what I have I'll have to try drop cloth for something else! This is how is was before I did my magic!

I then saw this super cool technique from Ashley over at Lil Blue Boo. She did a cool canvas using phone book sheets and decoupage. I thought how perfect for giving texture to my canvas. Head on over to Ashley's blog for her step by step tutorial.

I ripped the black and white pages from an old phone book and just brushed some decoupage on each piece as I overlapped then on to each other.

After all the pieces of phone book were finished I brushed more Mod Podge over to seal it.

Then I painted the canvas yellow and arranged my stencils.

I painted the letters gray. I'm loving the yellow gray combo lately. After I painted each letter, it felt like it was missing something. So my husband came up with the idea of having each letter seem like the sun was hitting if from above.

And here it is hung in the entry!

I gave it another coat of Mod Podge to seal all the letters.

My daughter loves it and even my son thought it was pretty cool!

I'd love to hear what you all think!

Have a Happy One!

I'm linking up over at Funky Junk Interiors

Coffee Bag Upholstery Project!

I was so fortunate to receive a pile of burlap coffee sacks from my good friend

Mel over at Junkin Junky a while back. She had done a project with coffee sacks and I commented how jealous I was, and how I wasn't able to get any around here. Well that sweet thing just went ahead and sent me some. Love her!

I hope if you haven't already been to her blog, head on over and check her out. Wow, does she ever have some crazy talent! I still don't think that gal sleeps because she just cranks out project after project. Funny, she assures me she gets her shut-eye but I think she must be sleep walking and crafting at the same time!

I feel bad because they've pretty much been collecting dust. I came across them the other day and thought I should start putting these to use, so decided I would recover my black bench in the Dining Room.

Here is the before, a little boring!

And here is the after, voila!

I love the wording on it!

I think it goes well with my semi-burlap curtains!

Now I just need to tackle some pillows. Should I do them with the remaining sacks I have?

Or maybe I'll just make one big one, any thoughts?

I've decided to start tackling the many projects I have on my list this summer. So its nice to get this one checked off! I'm currently doing a fun art piece for my entry.

So stayed tuned!