Summer for me is always a weird mix of work and play since the kids are home.

I can't really dive into any work-related projects because my mind is distracted by my heartstrings - which are constant reminders to me to spend quality time with my girls while I can. Before we are sucked into the hustle and bustle of the new school year - followed by the back-to-back Fall months that inevitably whisk us away into holiday oblivion.

So…the other day…as I was thinking about this conundrum between Summer Work + Summer Play I was inspired to create the Endless Summer and Bottomless Ice Cream Sundaes art print. Pretty much in love with it - and as I said when I shared the initial inspiration on Instagram…it's FOR REAL who I am.

WANT THE ART PRINT?
If you love the print and want it for yourself you can find it HERE in my Etsy Shoppe as an INSTANT DOWNLOAD or you can have it turned into a Tote Bag, Shower Curtain, Duvet Cover, Framed Art, Stretched Canvas or Pillow by checking out my Sociey6 shoppe!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I'm on DAY 13 of another Whole30 - except I'm challenging myself this time to a Whole90.
The first time I attempted a Whole90 I made it to Day 76. This time…I'm not giving up or giving in.
In fact, the last day of my Whole90 will be my grandmother's birthday - October 17th. She and my grandfather are my motivating factors for this Whole90. Neither are still here on this Earth but they were both an inspiration to me. In fact, a friend asked me about the Whole90 on Facebook and I figured my response to her could be shared here too:

"I kept starting and stopping Whole30 for the last couple of months - never completing it 100% and I finally just decided to dedicate my efforts to my grandparents, (who are deceased), who were my heroes. If I couldn't find the strength right now to do it for ME…I decided to use the powerful examples they left behind to push me to do this. My grandpa was a P.O.W. in WWII for 6 months in Japan and my grandmother contracted MS in her early 30's so my memories of her was when she was confined to a wheelchair. I figured if my grandpa could live on fish eye balls and his leather flight jacket as a P.O.W. and my grandmother could endure the confinement of a wheelchair, I can certainly suck it up and do a Whole90. The motivation is working. Sounds crazy, I know - but it's what I needed. Both of their birthdays are in October too - my grandpa's is on the 4th and my grandmother's is on the 17th - which will be exactly when I finish my Whole90 journey. I look forward to celebrating my accomplishments as well as their legacy all at the same time."

SUGAR | Rainbow Sprinkle Surprise Pops

I'm excited to announce I'm one of the newest members of the The TomKat Studio Design Team!!
I couldn't be more thrilled to be able to share fun, creative ideas using the darling party supplies in the TKS Shop.

I'm sharing my first official post today, Rainbow Sprinkle Surprise Pops, over on The TomKat Studio Blog.  

Join me there to find out what the surprise is hidden inside each of these adorable frozen treats and what you'll need to recreate these simple desserts!

I really love how the Rainbow Dot wood spoons I shared earlier really finish these off!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I'm happy about joining the TKS Team.
Not only have I been working with Kim in different capacities over the years from designing custom silhouettes,  hosting Pinterest Parties and contributing to her Holiday Gift Guide...

I've also been using the cute party products and craft supplies from Kim's shop for some time and I love sharing what I create with them. This new collaboration was a no-brainer for me. Ha!!

Here's a quick round-up of just a few of the other TKS Party Supplies and ideas I've shared here:
Cupcake Sprinkles
Hot Cocoa Bar Preparations
Styled Hot Cocoa Bar
Sweet Treats
Valentine's Day Inspiration
Mini Banana Pudding Dessert Shooters
Simple Shirley Temples
Game Day Banner
Cookie Exchange/Bake Sale

SNAPSHOTS | Summer Ice Cream Cones

Making time for Ice Cream is top priority during the Summer...

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.

After Ella's playdate with her Build-A-Bears the other day...

my three girls and I headed out for some cones...

1. Ella with her upside-down chocolate ice cream cone in-a-cup (with sprinkles) - the only way for her to enjoy an ice cream cone without ending up wearing an "ice cream shirt"

2. Ema and Ella - a sweet "sister picture"

3. Clara with her usual chocolate swirl waffle cone - giving me the look of an irritated teenager that says "hurry and take the picture before it melts, MOM!"

4. Ella chowing down

5. Pretty Ice Cream Sprinkles

6. Clara can't keep up with the heat - it's dripping faster than she can lick

7. Ella finishing up.

8. Ema and Ella - all done with their frozen treats and ready to get out of the heat!

9. Ema's standard vanilla/chocolate swirl on a standard cone. (we thought it looked cool licked all the way down like that)!

Make some time this weekend to grab a frozen treat...

in any of these forms you love best...

Frozen Custard

Gelato 

Ice cream

Frozen Yogurt (fro yo)

Slurpie

Sorbet

Milkshake

Popsicles

Italian Ice

You get the idea...

Photograph your favorite, a new flavor you've tried or your even the "usual"picks of your loved ones.

KEEPiNG iT REAL

It's been soooo hot...

the girls were zapped of energy by the time their cones were finished!!

And for those of you who were wondering...

I did NOT partake of the ice cream...

on THIS particular day anyway! *wink*

LIFE| Snapshots

The Anchor Cake I shared last week has me reaching for my camera to capture more details from our every day...essentially the fabric of our life together as a family.

1. Ella pointing out her strategy for creating a moat around the sandcastle she's going to build in the "sandbox". (aka vacant flower bed off the back porch).

2. Herbs I'm attempting to revive after our week-long trip to North Carolina.

3. The inside of Ema's Chocolate and Vanilla Swirl Ice Cream Cone - after it's been licked down to the cone.

4. One of Ella's favorite past-times - getting sprayed with the hose while she plays on her swing set.

5. Water balloon Fights - a frequent after-dinner Summer activity.

6. Water balloon fight clean-up - thanks Ella!

7.  Abandoned bird nest we found in one of our fruit trees. The eggs are so beautiful.

     The girls and I check the nest every day hoping we're wrong about it being abandoned.

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I'm so much more centered the past week or two.

Just really focused on the important things in my life...my family!

GiVE | Sprinkles on my Sundae - Chalk Art Gift Idea

I've got a whammy of a post for you today!
Do you by chance remember the adorable "Sprinkles to my Cupcake" Chalkboard Valentine's Day Cards I created back in February for +Skip to my Lou? (Go Here to take a peek)

I received such wonderful feedback I decided to whip up another version...
specifically for Teacher Appreciation or Mother's Day!

"You are the Sprinkles on my SUNDAE" Gift Idea

There are several ways to present this gift to your child's favorite teacher or your sweet mom...

I'm going to start with the basics and then move up a couple of notches.

You pick the option that works for you and go with it!!

RECiPE RADAR | Kale Blueberry Ice Cream & Re-Fueling

I took last week off - if you didn't notice.
It wasn't planned...
it just sort of happened.

I needed to refuel...
and by that I mean in a variety of ways:
- mentally
- emotionally
- physically

We all need to do that every now and then.
A lot of times I feel guilty if I don't post here on the blog at least 3 times a week.
Although I'd love to post every day, I'm in a season of my life that doesn't really allow for that.
I used to be resentful about it.
But I'm learning to let that go.
Because ultimately...
I feel whole and complete and fulfilled...
when I'm focused on my family.
That's it.
Bottom line.
They are my world.
It's so easy to lose sight of that!
But it's also easy to regain the proper perspective when you step away for a bit.
I'm so glad I did.

So...
since it IS Recipe Radar day...
let's begin the week off with something in line with the physical aspect of the "refueling" I mentioned:

KALE BLUEBERRY ICE CREAM

photo from www.simplegreensmoothies.com

I'm on Day 8 of the 30-day challenge from Simple Green Smoothies...
and I'm doing awesome.
This recipe for Kale Blueberry Ice Cream was in one of the emails I received from Simple Green Smoothies.
It caught my attention for a couple of reasons:
- It sounds like the strangest combination ever! Doesn't it?!
- I'm looking for different ways to incorporate a little more Kale into my eating.

GO HERE for the recipe.

Since I'm also on Day 8 of the Whole30 Challenge...and staying strong
I look forward to trying out this recipe at the end of my 30 days.

If you try it before I do, PLEASE let me know what you think!
And if you have any other interesting Ice Cream Recipes you'd like to share...
leave a comment, share a link or email me at: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com

Here's to a week filled with moments of "re-fueling"...
We have to the MAKE those moments happen, by the way.
They aren't going to magically appear before our eyes you know! *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I seriously wanted to quit the Whole30 yesterday.
I was met with chocolate chip cookies and leftover pizza from the the girls having friends over on Saturday night.
I was exhausted from making Whole30 lunches for J every morning...
cooking Whole30 dinners for the family every night...
and eating eggs. Tons of eggs.
Egg omelettes in the morning...
Boiling hard-boiled eggs...
peeling hard-boiled eggs...
packing hard-boiled eggs.
But not eating hard-boiled eggs!
I don't like hard-boiled eggs.
Everyone else in my family does though!
And they are a very convenient way for J to get his protein in for his lunches during the week.
We went through SEVEN DOZEN EGGS last week! *gasp*
I just had a really bad attitude on Sunday.
I REALLY wanted to toss in the towel.
Luckily J pulled me through...encouraging me throughout the day.
just as I pulled him through the day/night before.
And here I am.
Day 8 of Whole30...
and I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing some changes to keep me motivated! Ha!

RECiPE RADAR | Irish Cream Desserts

With St. Patrick's Day approaching...
I've been fixated on finding a dessert to try out using Irish Cream.

Since I came across  a lot of different recipes that looked tempting to try...
Instead of picking just one of them to share for my "Recipe Radar" post today...
I decided to do a round up of Irish Cream desserts for you.
Just in case you too have been searching for something fun to try.

Nutty Chocolate Irish Cream Cookies

www.cakespy.com

Irish Cream Cupcakes

www.tidymom.com

For the complete list of 17 Irish Cream recipes...click the "Read More" button below...

GOOD THiNGS | Bananas over bananas

Over the Summer...
something happened.

In my search to reach for healthier snack alternatives...
I became obsessed with bananas.
I thought I'd share with you what I refer to as...
My "Banana Evolution"...

It all began with these...

Green Smoothies

After including  lots of green smoothies for my breakfast or lunch...

I started noticing my thirteen year old daughter snacking on something interesting...

The frozen banana halves I had stocked in the freezer for my smoothies.

She just wrapped some plastic around the cold, frozen banana and ate it like a popsicle.

She swore they tasted just like ice cream so I had to try it. YUM!

Which then inspired these...

Banana Popsicles

I decided to add a stick to fresh cut bananas and then freeze them...making them an official popsicle.

Shown here using rods from The Pastry Pedestal™

Which led to the ultimate treat

Soft Serve Banana Ice Cream

Frozen Bananas + Food Processor = Banana Ice Cream

Variations of this ultimate treat quickly evolved...

Soft Serve Banana Nut Ice Cream

Frozen Bananas + Blender  topped off with Honey + Walnuts = Banana Nut Ice Cream

(see how the blender creates more of a creamy outcome vs. the firmer version from the food processor).

Soft Serve Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

Frozen Bananas + Blender + Peanut Butter = Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

Topped off with a super simple homemade raw chocolate syrup:

2 TBSP Agave Nectar + 1 TBSP cocoa powder

Can it get any better than that?

A whole food, simply made yummier by freezing it.

I love it.

SUPPLIES NEEDED (Makes 1 large serving or 2 small servings)

• 2-3 frozen bananas (sliced or cut into chunks prior to freezing)

• Food processor or blender

Optional: Toppings 

INSTRUCTIONS

Using a blender or food processor, add 2-3 frozen bananas.

Blend for a few seconds until bananas reach a creamy, "soft serve" ice cream consistency.

Sprinkle with nuts, fruits or raw syrups to keep things nice & healthy. *wink*

Serve immediately.

TiPS:

Using a Blender - you may want to put the bananas in the blender and let them thaw for a few minutes prior to blending.

                                 Your results will be more creamy than "soft serve". Still delicious.

Using a Food Processor - I prefer the consistency of the ice cream I got using my super mini food processor.

                                               It's more of a true soft-serve ice cream. 

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to discover such a simple, healthy,  FUN snack alternative.

I hope you'll be inspired to try it out yourself.

I'm working on perfecting a "fall" flavored version.

I'll let you know what I come up with.

Make it a great week, friends!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

The Peanut Butter + Banana version is my absolute favorite.

But then again...we all know I have a weakness for peanut butter. *wink*

Lots of fun things coming up...

Including a FUN giveaway announcement!!