Living Tranquility

Summer Fun

2009-07-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and it's time to get out and soak up the sunshine! Here are a few inexpensive ideas to get out of the house and enjoy the weather.

Have a BBQ: Enjoy the great outdoors and have a BBQ at the park, beach, campground or in your backyard. Avoid spending too much money by having everyone bring something.

Go For a Hike: Head to a local park for a simple hike, or if you're ready for a challenge try hiking a mountain. Don't forget to bring water and some snacks!

Check Out Your Local Farmers Market: Always a good way to spend a summer evening, browse the fresh food, flowers, and fresh produce with some friends.

Find Free Concerts and Events: Search on the Web or check your local paper for free or inexpensive concerts, film festivals, or special events. There should be many of these going on throughout the summer.

Head to Your Local Pool: Escape from the heat and take a dip at your local pool. Admission prices are usually about $4, often much less for children.

Have a Water Fight: Break out those water-guns and water-balloons! Have a blast with your family or friends for only a few dollars.

Some ideas borrowed from brokegradstudent.com

Summer Decorating On a Budget

2009-06-25T15:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some adorable (and cheap) ideas to give your home a summertime makeover!

Flowers: Bring the outdoors in by adding some plants or flowers (fresh or fake) around your house. Single flowers such as daises, sweet peas, and sunflowers look fantastic in a narrow bottle. You can use a milk bottle, bubble bottle (well rinsed out), old spice bottle (with the label removed) or pick from a variety of darling vases from your local dollar store! Flowers help give a fresh bright feel to kitchen tables, coffee tables, mantels, nightstands, etc...
Fruit: Fresh or fake fruit adds some "flavor" to a boring table, book shelf, or even to your patio furniture! Try filling a large bowl or vase full of lemons to add some bright summery fun to a room, or maybe lemons and limes or oranges to accent your color scheme.
Watering Cans: A cute funky (non-plastic) watering can is another great way to lighten up your house. Find a watering can that fits your style at D.I, Walmart, or even try the dollar store, and use it to display some live flowers!
Pillows: Adding some brightly colored throw pillows to your bed or couch can really brighten up a room. I've found these at Walmart for as little as $5.
Candles: Candles can be found at very low prices, buy some of your favorite summer colors that match your home's color schemes and decorate away! Candles are great for adding color to your living room, bedroom, bathroom, just about anywhere.
Sheer Curtains: Another easy way to lighten your home. Replace your darkly colored curtains with sheer colored ones of the same color. If you have brown curtains, get sheer beige/tan curtains, if you have dark green get light green or sage.
Paint: Add a splash of color by painting just one wall in a room. It's simple and doesn't take too much time. Example: if your living room is decorated with brown and red then you could paint a wall tan or if your bedroom is decorated with mostly white and blue then you could paint a wall blue.

Fun Memorial Day Ideas!

2009-05-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple fun craft and recipe ideas for Memorial Day, so go have fun with your family and friends!

Red, White, and Blue Bracelets

You will need:

* Tape
* Red, white, and blue paper
* Glue

Directions:
Cut strips of paper that are about 2 inches wide (thinner if you want a smaller bracelet) and about 11 inches long. You will need 4 red, 4 blue, and 8 white strips. Glue a white strip to the back of each red and blue strip. Tape all the red strips together end to end (so you will have one long red strip,) do the same with the blue strips. Tape one corner of the long blue strip to one corner of the long red strip so it forms an "L". Fold over each other in alternating pattern, blue over red, red over blue, blue over red, red over blue etc. When you run out of paper trim the ends and tape. Roll it into a circle to form a bracelet and tape.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes and Brown Sugar Sticks

Ingredients:

* 6 sweet potatoes
* 1 tbsp butter
* 1/4 cup light brown sugar
* 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 1/4tsp allspice
* 1/4 tsp pepper
* 2 tbsp cider vinegar

Directions:
Pierce potatoes with a fork and place potatoes on a paper towel in microwave. Microwave 10 min. until partially cooked but still very firm. When potatoes are cool, cut each lengthwise into quarters.
In a skillet melt butter. Add walnuts, brown sugar, salt, pepper, allspice and vinegar, cook 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
Brush the cut sides of the potatoes with brown sugar glaze, leaving walnuts in skillet.
Grill the potatoes, cut side down, uncovered, 5 minutes. Keep grilling and turning potatoes and brushing with glaze until potatoes are tender.
Transfer potatoes to plate. Spoon remaining glaze with nuts over potato wedges.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!