Don’t worry…I’m fully aware that it’s currently September and I’m over here posting snow cones. But, to plead my case, it was 91 degrees yesterday, so I don’t feel too bad about making these yummy treats instead of sipping on Pumpkin Spice Lattes at this point of the season. Trust me. I’ll have pleeeeenty of PSL time in my future, considering we won’t see warmer temps in Utah until May next year. So I’m just going to be over here enjoying the sun a little bit longer. If you’re like me and still embracing the warmth, these strawberry snow cone printables are the perfect way to turn a boring old snow cone into the cutest little frozen treat!
DIY Fruit Vases
I’m flying out to sunny LA today to celebrate my little sister’s birthday. She’s turning the big 3-0 and we’re celebrating with surf, sand, sips, and some fun adventures along the way (like a wine safari…who knew?!) Bring on the palm trees! Because I’m feeling a little tropical lately, I wanted to share an easy way to bring a little tropical flair to your next event. These DIY fruit vases make the prettiest little table centerpiece when lined up together, or a fun statement when displayed apart. However you choose to display them, they’re so much fun!
Lavender Lemonade Recipe
I’m not ready to come to terms with tomorrow being August. I don’t know where the Summer went this year, but I’m choosing to hold onto it for as long as possible. Sure, all the stores are prepping for back to school and even Halloween already, but I’m choosing to cherish these warm summer nights, and I plan to do it on my deck with a glass of this in my hands! This lavender lemonade recipe is the perfect way to enjoy the last month of Summer, before welcoming in the chill of fall and all things pumpkin! The recipe is simple to make and I love the subtle touch of lavender that lingers too! Cheers to homemade lemonade!
Find More from Let’s Mingle!
Do you guys ever have one of those days where a lot of thing seem to go wrong?
Last night was that way for me.
After a long and stressful week last week, I was amped up and ready to share some more content (and another yummy apple recipe from my orchard apples!) on the blog with you guys this week.
Apparently the universe had other plans for me instead. Can I blame the blood red moon from last night?
My SD card from my camera, the same one housing all of those amazing recipe pics on it, seemed to just up and vanish the moment I needed to post the images.
After a mad hunt for an hour or so, the dismanteling of my home office, and a frustrated and frazzled self later, I gave up the search.
Don’t worry, it will continue again tonight and I won’t stop until I find the darn thing, but in the meantime, I figured I’d just share a little reminder of the other fun ways you can connect with me and Let’s Mingle on other social media sites!
DIY Pool Noodle Photobooth Backdrop
September may be starting this week, but I’m refusing to give up on Summer yet.
There are still too many pool, beach, ice cream, sno-cone, and sunny related things on my to-do list and I need to cram them all into one week.
So, here’s to making this week as jam packed as ever with warm, swimsuit filled days!
Labor day is on Monday, and what better way to send off Summer than with one last pool party?
And, of course, a pool party is not complete without a fun photo booth! Am I right?!
At home photo booth’s are really easy to create and it can be fun to come up with an original idea to use for the actual “backdrop” supplies.
Take a cue from the pool and everything “floatie” related lately and create a fun and colorful pool noodle photo booth backdrop!
Let’s Mingle on Instagram
These days, there are SOOOO many forms of social media to keep up on. It can be like a separate job just updating your status’ on all of these networks. (And for some people it actually is a job!)
Alt Summit Recap
Last month, I had the opportunity to attend Alt Summit for the first time.
If you’ve never heard about it before, it’s a blogging/small business conference that takes place over 4 days and every single moment is jam packed!
I’m not sure why I’ve never attended before, considering it’s held at the Grand America hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, in my own state. I’ve definitely been missing out.
It was a whirlwind, but I really tried to soak up every opportunity I was given, from meeting other bloggers or business owners, networking with brands, or just learning from the talented and successful panel of speakers that were scheduled each day.
Alt does such a fantastic job with having the sponsors so available and waiting to meet with bloggers to work with in the future. It’s really casual and not intimidating at all. I’m not sure where else you would have the ability to network with so many fantastic brands all in one place.
The day sessions were fantastic. So many different topics were covered and it was really hard to choose just one at a time. I learned a lot and it will probably take me the next year to implement everything!
The fun didn’t stop when the day sessions ended either. Each night there were events planned for all of us.
The first night, I had the opportunity to attend a dinner that was hosted by one of the sponsors of the conference. I chose to attend the Joann’s Craft dinner and I was so glad I did.
The PR team from Joann’s was AWESOME. Seriously, the best girls. I can’t wait to work with them more in the future.
Alt hosted a really fun Downton Abbey themed party the next night. Everyone was dressed to the nine’s and we might have even snuck off to the hotel lounge after the party ended for an after-party!
One of my favorite nights was the Mini Party night. A handful of different themed rooms, all unique and uber creative, with fun waiting in each one. We were able to hop from room to room to mingle, dance, and have a blast. The “Cactus Makes Perfect” room was my favorite. Cactus temporary tattoos, little magnets, and that signage…? I was in love.
Overall, the whole experience was AMAZING. I am still trying to soak everything in. I learned so much over those 4 days and really made unforgettable memories with some of my favorite people.
I’m sure I’ll still be working on my to-do list this time next year, but for now, I think I’ll focus on going through all of those business cards I received! (There are a TON).
I really can’t wait to attend the next one, catch up with new friends that I met at the conference, and create new memories.
If any of you have the opportunity to go, I would HIGHLY recommend it. It’s definitely an unforgettable experience. Maybe I’ll see you there next time! 🙂
Purple Flower Arrangement DIY
Whether you want fresh flowers gracing your table, or you’re trying to create a fun centerpiece for a get-together, you can pick up some great options without having to make a run to the flower market. Just head to your local grocery store for some easy options that you can usually snag for under $20!
I picked up some Leather Leaf greenery, Alstroemeria, and Spider Mums, in different purple tones to give the arrangement a little dimension. The best thing about grocery store blooms…? Price! I picked up everything I needed to make the arrangement for $13.00. Doesn’t get much better than that.
The first thing you’ll need to do is pick up some waterproof floral tape. You can get this from most local craft stores.
Place two strips of the tape over the vase in a criss-cross shape and secure to the sides. This will help your floral stems stay in place and prevent them from popping out! (It’s ok to have a little bit of the tape stuck over the edges of the vase because your flowers will usually cover the area, once finished).
I like to start with the greenery to build a type of “base” around the edges of the vase. Cut the stems to fit your vase using sharp scissors and cut them at a 45 degree angle. This helps to make sure they suck up as much water as possible.
Pull off any leaves that will fall below the water line, since this can make your arrangement decay faster.
After you have the greenery around the edges, I start filling in the arrangement with one of the smaller flower varieties. In this case, I used the Alstroemeria.
When I add in the largest flower that I’m working with, I fill in space, but also make sure they are not all clumped together. Add them in at various heights to give the arrangement depth and make it interesting to look at. Also, having some flowers or greenery hanging over the edge of the vase helps to give it a more “wild” and natural appearance.
Don’t be afraid to move stems as you go. I like to continually turn the vase as I’m working to make sure I can see any bare spots and fill them in. Add in more greenery to empty spots that you notice. Make sure you remember to add water to your vase after you’ve finished making adjustments!
Flowers are such an easy way to add a pop to your table and one that costs only $13 and a quick trip to your local grocery store!