Christmas in July Stocking ideas

I've been meaning to make stockings for my family for a few years now. However, when Christmas time rolls around there are a million other crafts going, and no time to make stockings. After last year I decided that if I was going to get them done, it would have to be long before Christmas time came. I bought clearance fabric after Christmas and am now getting around to making them. I'm so excited to show off my finished product...but I'm not there yet.... So...until then here are some very inspiring stockings to use for great ideas!   

GREAT STOCKING TUTORIAL:

 

Source: fabricworm.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

POLKA DOT STOCKING:

 

Source: barefeetonthedashboard.com via Emily on Pinterest

KNIT STOCKINGS ON MARTHA STEWART.COM

 

LOTS OF IDEAS ON FAMILY FUN.COM

Source: marthastewart.com via Emily on Pinterest

 

CUTE EMBELLISHED STOCKING

Source: familyfun.go.com via Emily on Pinterest

 

ELF STOCKINGS

Source: polkadotmom.com via Emily on Pinterest

 

STAR STOCKINGS (LOVE!)

Source: fulloffluff.com via Emily on Pinterest

 

BEADED STOCKING

Source: amyscreativeside.com via Emily on Pinterest

 

EXPANDABLE STOCKING

Source: thesemomentsofmine.com via Emily on Pinterest

 

VERY DETAILED TUTORIAL

Source: sewing.craftgossip.com via Emily on Pinterest

NAME STOCKING

Source: craftpassion.com via Emily on Pinterest

VELVET TOPPED WITH FULL TUTORIAL

Source: noodle-head.com via Emily on Pinterest

Source: fishsticksandfries.com via Emily on Pinterest

Linked to:
We did it Wednesday
Creations by Kara
Show off your stuff-Fireflies and JellyBeans
Somewhat Simple- Strut your stuff
Night Owl Crafting- Hoos Got Talent
T.G.I.F. on Craft Junkie

Indulging in the Summer and Tasty Tuesday Party

Ok, confession time first... I have no new recipes to share with you this week. I've been busy traveling around seeing friends and just relaxing at my parents this week, so no real cooking. BUT....I do love the food of summer. In Hong Kong we have very few restaurants that you would see here; McD's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are about it... none of those are my favorites. So... I always look forward to our summer visit to family... AND...some of my favorite foods! 

When I'm not grilling...

here's a peak into what I have been enjoying over that past several weeks

 

Onto the features for today... Last week I went a little crazy with the desserts, so today I'm trying to keep it a little less sweet. Be sure to grab a button if you are featured! 

Bacon Wrapped Chicken-For Such a Time as This

Zucchini Chips-Mostly Food and Crafts

Honey Seared Sesame Chicken-Permanent Posies

Ham and Cheese Potato Casserole- A Season for All Things

Oh baby!

I love when I get to make something for an upcoming baby shower! I have a few friends having babies this coming fall, so I'm working on some blankets this summer. I love the ease and flexibility of crocheting while we are traveling. Here's my first one finished. I really liked the pattern I used for the previous one I made, but this one turned out great too, the satin edging is a nice touch!

 I didn't use a pattern for this one, and the stitch is a simple half-double crochet for more lines. I did some single crochet in some places where I wanted a tighter stitch. I love the randomness of how the stripes turned out.

 

Shared here:
We Did it Wednesday- Sew Much Ado
Creations by Kara
Fireflies and Jelly Beans
Sugar and Spice 733
I'm Crafty Party #15 
Check me Out Saturday

Campfire FOOD! and Tasty Tuesday party

 This week I'm showing off two DELICIOUS treats that we have made over the campfire this summer.

Cinnamon roll in an orange and Banana split treat!

Cinnamon Rolls:

Place roll (from store tube) in a hollowed out orange(cut in half). Wrap tightly in HEAVY foil and place in the fire coals. Bake about 15 minutes. The orange protects the roll and adds a sweet orangy flavor to it. 

Another variation is to put cake mix (vanilla or chocolate) inside the orange, wrap tight and bake. The cake comes out SO moist and tasting like orange infused cake!

Banana Splits:

Cut a slit through the peel of the banana and spread open. Spread peanut butter in the middle, place chocolate bar pieces on top, as well as a few marshmallows. Wrap up tight with heavy foil, place in fire. When banana is soft, spoon out and place on graham crackers, oh yum!

What other sweet treats do you make on the grill or fire? We are always looking for new ideas.

On to the party for this week. I'm going all sweet for features this week, so many yummy ideas!!

Lady Behind the Curtain- Lemon Drop Cupcakes

The Cake Dish- Zucchini Bread

Jam Hands-Carrot Pineapple Cake

Talking Dollars and Cents-Whole Wheat Muffins

Family Game Extravaganza!

Since we've been a family of adult kids, we all gather back home in the summer for a weekend of super competitive games (at least we like to think we are hard core!) Its a great way to bring the whole family together and give us a common purpose. We spend the weekend together (not all off in separate activities) and have a blast along the way. My parents provide a cash prize for the winning couple, so we all get into it! Here are the games we play and a shot of our score sheet.

 

In action!

 

Bags (a shot of me throwing the bag)

 Tug of War (balancing on blocks) My husband and I were NOT good at this event!

 Golf Toss

 

Kubb: You may be the least familiar with this game. My brother played it at college and brought it back to our family. Its a very neanderthal type games, but loads of fun! Who doesn't like throwing wood clubs around! You can find the rules here.

 Badminton

 HORSE in the pool. We played a men's game and a women's game separate... lets face it, we just can't compete with the guys in basketball!

 Carpetball

 We even let the older little ones play a bit (as long as they don't get in the way of our real games!)

What games does your family like to play? Do you have summer traditions when everyone is together?

Meals in the freezer and Tasty Tuesday Party

A great idea for summer is to make meals ahead of time and keep them in the freezer until needed. This keeps meal prep to a minimum and allows for more time for summer fun!

 

All the food above was made in a four hour period... pretty good! 

4 pans of stuffed shells

6 pans of spaghetti pie

24 meatloaf muffins

A few dozen blueberry bran muffins

 

A few tips for making mass food in minutes:

• don't wash the dishes! just wipe out mixing bowls and spoons
• use a frosting bag for your cheese filling of the shells
• Make meatloaf (or other casserole type food) in muffin tins, freeze on cookie sheet, then place in bags in freezer. You can then pull out individual servings of food.

What tips do you have for making freezer meals? Any time saving techniques when cooking? I'd love more ideas as I try to perfect this idea.

Now my favorite!!! On to the features from last weeks party!
Greetings from the Asylum- Cheater Guacamole
Brandy's Baking- Lime Bars

Lady Behind the Curtain- Garden Macaroni Salad

Shugary Sweets- Cinnamon Frosted Zucchini Bars

Party TIME!!!!

Smiles, Frowns, and Crying

The title always seems to sum up what happens when we try to take a group picture of the cousins! I've been blogging this spring about the overalls and romper I've been making and we finally got the chance to try them on all the kids. It was almost a fun moment! I do love how they turned out though and they all fit. Not like last summer when the romper I made for my nephew had to be cut open to even get in on him (opps!) Here are the kids on my side of the family. 4, almost 3, 18 months and 9 months, oh boy! (and one girl)