Light up the night this 4th of July! – FREE EXCLUSIVE SPARKLER PRINTABLE

Free 4th of July Printables!

What better occasion than Independence Day to introduce some sparkling new 4th of July printables!?

Light up the night sky at your big shin dig with these charming black and white 4th of July printables that you can access right now!  Simply sign up for our newsletter and we’ll email you the password to this and all our hugely popular printable archive.

This FREE printable set, designed by Chickabug, comes with one set {black and white} of sparkler decor and one set of “Happy 4th of July” match box covers.

Sparklers and the 4th of July go together like burgers on a bun, like summer and lemonade!  

I remember many childhood 4th of July celebrations, and the excitement of bringing out the sparklers.  “Is it dark enough yet?  Is it dark enough now?” we begged over and over again until the sun finally went down.

4th of July BBQ time! 

How fun would it be to have these sparklers displayed at your 4th of July barbecue, just building excitement and anticipation for the moment they could be lit up!

One of the best scenes in the world is seeing swarms of kids dancing in the dark night, sparklers glowing, giggling, grinning, magic in their eyes.

After joining our newsletter family, which is tons of fun, we’ll send you one weekly email, alerting you to fabulous deals we come across, and all of our featured creative posts for the week.  It’s a win-win situation…you’ll love it!

 This printable set comes with one set {black and white} of sparkler printables, and one set {also black and white} of match box covers.  You can download them to your personal computer in an easy printable format.

They’ll look like this when you print them out.  Just cut along the lines and you’re ready to get going.  From start to finish, we’re talking a 15 minute project, tops!

 Once you print them out, assembly is super easy!  All you need is a small hole punch or exact-o knife.

For the sparklers, punch a small hole in both the top and bottom of the printable, then thread each sparkler through each printable.

 For the match boxes, simply wrap the printable around the match box and glue or tape to secure.

 These fun sparklers will be the hit of the party and will definitely kick off a very festive night!

So sign up right now, and get your cameras ready, ’cause there’s going to be plenty of happy kids running around.

*Make sure to remove paper from sparkler before lighting.  We obviously wouldn’t want the paper to catch on fire! 😉

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A special thanks to chickabug, who has created our entire exclusive printable collection.  She is an incredibly talented graphic designer whom we adore.  Make sure to check out her personalized party themed printables in her shop.  She has it all and she has you covered.  I promise.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

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by Shelley via Home And Garden

I remember being about eight years old, standing in front of my grandmother’s glass  case, mesmerized by her collection of bells. She had small, delicate bells with pictures of birds or states on them and larger brass bells that could barely fit in the palm of my hand when on special occasions she let me open the glass door and take out a few. Each had an individual ring that tickled my ears and the time flew by as I examined each one, wishing to hold them all and make them sing.

“Choose your favorite one,” she said. “It will be yours one day when I’m gone.”

Decades passed by, my grandma’s bell collection gathered dust in that glass case, and she got dementia in her later years. When she died, her children cleared the house and the bells were tossed in a box and donated. I never got the special bell that I picked out with her that day.

5 Reasons Death Cleaning is the Latest and Greatest Way To Live Your Life

Death cleaning sounds terribly morbid, but really it’s a wonderful way to organize your home and live your life.

Derived from the Swedish term dostadning (meaning death and cleaning), it’s a way to declutter your life and organize your home with your death in mind. Basically, what is important and what is not? What serves a purpose and what does not? It’s a way of living that saves your loved ones from having to rummage through your stuff, trying to determine what is special and what is junk. It’s a good mindset to adopt now because, after all, none of us knows when we will die. Here are five reasons death cleaning is pretty cool.

1. It discourages you from collecting things you don’t need.

For most of us, it’s a safe bet that we have too many things in our home. From kitchen gadgets, to over-flowing holiday decorations that only come out once a year, to clothing that we might wear again some day.

I recently visited an estate sale where the deceased owner had over 20 staplers. No one can use that many staplers! With the Swedish mindset of death cleaning, you stop buying in excess. Have what is needed and nothing more.

I’m sure the last thing that homeowner is thinking about right now are the staplers he left behind.

2. It encourages you to let go of things that aren’t important.

Along that same thread, death cleaning your home means going through each room thoroughly and eliminating things that aren’t important. Sort through your gadgets and winnow out the ones that don’t have a purpose or bring happiness. It’s very similar to Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. You can declutter your life by sorting through the things that spark joy and the ones that do not.

If you’re helping a loved one do this, be sensitive by suggesting that this type of decluttering will make the home more enjoyable for your loved one to live in and for family to come visit. Take the opportunity to share stories and memories and let them know that your memories aren’t tied to the objects they own.

3. Ask y0urself: Do I want my loved ones to deal with this?

The purpose of death cleaning is to save your loved ones the stress and difficulty of cleaning up your excess. No matter what age you are, ask yourself when facing a particular closet or bedroom: Would I want my loved ones to have to deal with this? If the answer is no, then make a plan to start eliminating/sorting/cleaning now.

This can get overwhelming, so tackle one space at a time, whether it’s one drawer or one shelf. Work methodically and consistently. Death cleaning isn’t a one-and-done thing; it’s an ongoing process, or rather, a frame of mind.

4. Don’t wait until you’re dead to pass on your special things.

I often wonder why my grandmother didn’t just give me my special bell then, in those few precious minutes we shared. It would have been the perfect moment.

The one thing I love most about Swedish dostadning is the idea that you give your special possessions to your loved ones while you are alive. Don’t wait. My grandmother’s bells brought her  the most joy when she shared them with other people. Other than that, they just sat on a shelf. Don’t wait until you are dead to pass on your special things—if the time is right, find happiness in sharing them now.

5. Death cleaning reduces stress and increases productivity.

A recent UCLA study found that women especially experience spiked stress hormones when a home is cluttered. Living in chaos affects your mood, outlook on life, and in some cases, your health. Elderly people can trip over clutter and injure themselves, sometimes with no way of contacting help.

Take a few notes from the Swedes and try death cleaning. It is a new way of looking at a normally banal chore that both young and old can benefit from.

For a good read on the subject, check out The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson.

The post 5 Reasons Death Cleaning is the Latest and Greatest Way To Live Your Life appeared first on How Does She.

by Nicolette via Home And Garden

Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes

Why are red, white, and blue so cute together?  I mean seriously,… I could put my kids in a 4th of July outfit every single day, all year long. Red, white, and blue food is equally as adorable.  With all of the fun 4th of July events this week, you are bound to be whipping something fun up in the kitchen!?  How about these adorable red, white, and blue patriotic cupcakes?

Delicious Patriotic Cupcakes for Your July 4th Festivities

This is one of my favorite summer desserts of all time…Jell-O poke cake (or cupcakes in this instance). I am sure most of you have had this delicious chilled cake, but here is a fun ‘Red, White, and Blue’ version that you can make for your summer festivities.

Simply bake a white cake mix into cupcakes, according to box instructions.  Or, if you are feeling extra domestic, try this homemade white cake recipe.  Once your cupcakes have cooled, poke small holes in the cake.  Use a sucker stick, fork, round handle,..whatever! 🙂

Boil 1 Cup of water.  Add a 3 oz Cherry or Strawberry gelatin packet to boiling water.  Stir it until it dissolves.  Pour or spoon the gelatin into the cupcake holes.  Chill the cupcakes in the refrigerator for 2 hours.‘Frost’ with whipped topping and add blueberries.  (I like to mix pre-made vanilla or cheesecake pudding with the whipped topping.  Extra-extra delicious.)
Take off the cupcake wrapper and you’ve got some really festive patriotic cupcakes.  Doesn’t it look like a flag?! 🙂  Love it! Want to know the best part?  They taste as good as they look!  And…you get accolades for going the extra mile with your dessert.
This ‘light’ summer dessert is sure to please.  What are you serving to celebrate the fourth? Do you have any favorite patriotic foods to share with us?

Print

Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 white cake mix, prepared as per instructions (as a cake, or as cupcakes)
• 1 Cup of water
• 1-3oz box red jello
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Bake cupcakes as directed on the box of white cake mix
2. Let cupcakes cool
3. Poke several small holes in the cupcakes using a sucker stick, fork, or chopstick
4. Boil 1 Cup of water. Add a 3 oz Cherry or Strawberry gelatin packet to boiling water. Stir it until it dissolves. Pour or spoon the gelatin into the cupcake holes. Chill the cupcakes in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
5. ‘Frost’ with whipped topping and add blueberries. {I like to mix pre-made vanilla or cheescake pudding with the whipped topping. Extra extra delicious.}
6. Take off the cupcake wrapper and you’ve got one festive little cupcake. Doesn’t it look like a flag?! 🙂 Love it

3.1

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by Shelley via Home And Garden

A bad Epoxy Job on Our DIY Live Edge Kitchen countertop ... how to do Epoxy repair Pt3 by Stanley "Dirt Monkey" Genadek

A bad Epoxy Job on Our DIY Live Edge Kitchen countertop ... how to do Epoxy repair Pt3
We were almost Done on our Kitchen renovation but then a bad epoxy job on our live edge woodworking project stopped us. Today we show you how to repair epoxy mistakes!

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Visit San Fran! The Best Things To Do in San Francisco

The West Coast has so many amazing gems—breathtaking coastline, historical landmarks, and culturally rich cities. After falling in love with the Oregon Coast and the unforgettable Redwood National Park, it seemed a natural progression to head south to San Francisco, the original Mecca for the 19th Century Gold Rush.

You can sense the hallowed history of the city in every building, every landmark, and every rocky hill and jutting peninsula. Ghosts of the city whisper tales of native Yelamu tribe, old miners, devastating earthquakes (including the great earthquake of 1906 that swallowed whole buildings, left 250,000 homeless, and caused practically the whole city to be rebuilt), and the hundreds of thousands of Chinese immigrants who made their homes there.

San Francisco has a fascinating history.

Perhaps that’s why it attracts so many visitors every year. If you’re going to San Francisco…be sure to wear flowers in your hair and hit up some of these favorite things to do.

The Best Things To Do in San Francisco

1. Tour each district.

The unique thing about the city of San Francisco is that is is comprised of around three dozen districts (or neighborhoods) and each has it’s own vibe, culture, and charm. If you have time on your visit, it really is worth it to drive through as many districts as you can. It helps to look at a map of San Francisco.

We took a Big Bus Tour that let us hop on and off different stops for two days. This was great because we didn’t rent a car. (Image via Google Maps)

You can get a feel of all the districts here, but some of the notable ones include:

• Union Square: incredible shopping
• Fisherman’s Wharf: great eats and eclectic shops
• Chinatown: Chinese food and merchants
• Civic Center: Arts, politics, and theater (The beautiful and famous City Hall shown below)

• Haight-Ashbury: where you’ll find all of the cool, Victorian houses that San Francisco is known for. It’s one of the most photographed streets in the city. It’s also home of the trendy Haight Street probably the “hippiest” street in the USA. (Literally, hippies everywhere.)

You’ll even find the house from Full House in this neighborhood!

• Nob Hill: Some of the best views in the city and where you’ll find the iconic San Francisco cable cars.
• Russian Hill: Home to the famous Lombard Street—the most zig-zagging street in the country.

2. Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is a desert sand dune turned 1,017-acre park oasis. It hosts the Japanese Tea Garden, California Academy of the Sciences, and Golden Gate Park Windmills and Tulips. If you have time, rent a bike or take a Segway tour of this immense natural beauty. You might even encounter a family of bison!

3. Walk or Bike across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Until you’ve seen it, you don’t truly comprehend the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge. Being near this bridge is an emotional experience you never forget. 

You can ride over the Golden Gate bridge on top of a double decker bus like we did, and feel the ocean wind in your face and sense the majesty of this landmark. Not wanting the magic to end, we decided to walk back across the Golden Gate bridge and I’m so glad we did. It’s 1.7 miles long, very windy, and a bit chilly, but it’s an experience that will stand out in my mind forever.

The view from the bridge is incredible.

Sausalito, California (above): a cool community on the shoreline where you can visit, eat, and shop.

Alcatraz (below)

Many people bike across the bridge as well, for another cool experience.

Fun fact: the total length of wire used in the main cables on the Golden Gate Bridge is 80,000 miles. That’s enough to make it around the Earth three times! 

After walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge, you can enjoy being in its shadow by walking/biking on several well-manicured paths in and near Fort Point National Historic Site.

4. Hit the beach.

There are several beaches in San Francisco, but while you’re at the Golden Gate Bridge, plan to stay a while and enjoy either Baker Beach or Fort Point National Historic Site. Both have great beaches and equally great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was cool to watch people fishing, wind surfing, and kite surfing.

5. Toss a Frisby at Crissy Field

Crissy Field used to be an abandoned military airfield. In 2001 it was transformed into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It’s a great place to bike, walk, picnic, enjoy the bay, and hang out with friends and family. When we were there, there was a lively kickball tournament going on which was hugely entertaining to watch.

6. Get chocolate and ice cream at Ghirardelli Square.

A beacon bayside landmark since 1862, Ghirardelli Square is a historic and delicious stop along your San Francisco trip. It was originally a chocolate factory built by Domenico Ghirardelli, born in 1817 in Rapallo, Italy. Ghirardelli was a confectioner’s apprentice who came to San Francisco where he and his friend James Lick fueled the California gold rush pioneers with coffee, spices, and of course, chocolate.

Today Ghirardelli square lures visitors in the same way as it originally did—with shopping and chocolate. At night the Ghirardelli sign lights up the bay front almost like a lighthouse. The old Woolen Mill building was converted into a chocolate heaven with all sorts of confections: drinkable chocolate, dipped chocolates, chocolate strawberries, ice cream sundaes, and more.

 

7. Take in the scenes at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Fisherman’s Wharf is near Crissy Field and Ghirardelli Square and is a vibrant hub of vendors and souvenir shops. You can get fresh shrimp rolls on a San Francisco sourdough bun or local crab and clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. It’s pretty much a culinary requirement while you’re in San Francisco to get one of the two.

Try Boudin Sourdough bakery at the Wharf. It’s their flagship location and home of the famous San Francisco sourdough. The building itself is worth the visit inside as you can watch the bakers at work through a 30-foot observation window. Stay and eat at their casual cafe.

8. Ride a cable car.

In San Francisco had a symbol, it would be the cable car. In fact, the cable car was invented in San Francisco in 1873 for mining transport and cable cars became ubiquitous around the city, allowing pedestrians to traverse the steep and crooked streets of San Francisco.

Although operational costs to run the fleet of cable car system became too high, you can still take a ride on a San Francisco cable car for $7 one way or a day pass for $17. You can find more information here.

9. Visit Alcatraz

Just like the rest of San Francisco’s history, Alcatraz has it’s own incredible story. Commonly called The Rock, Alcatraz was a federal prison from 1934-1963 and housed some of the most dangerous criminals like Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

No prisoner successfully escaped Alcatraz, though 36 tried, 23 were captured, six were shot and killed during their attempt, two drowned, and five went missing and were presumed drowned. Today you can visit the eerie Alcatraz Island and tour the prison, but you HAVE to plan ahead. Tickets for Alcatraz sell out months in advance so purchase them early.

10. Grab a bite at Pier 39.

For a lively attraction, you simply have to visit Pier 39. There is nearly every type of eatery including fresh seafood, Aunt Fanny’s hot pretzels, a cookie dough bar, and so much more. You could easily spend an entire afternoon here. There is a multi-level carousel, bay aquarium, and fun shows going on throughout the day.

11. Take a hike at Land’s End.

When you’re ready to get out of the city and take in some gorgeous scenery, head to Lands End Trail near the San Francisco Bay. You’ll get an incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy the most northwestern tip of San Fransisco with 365 degrees of stunning views.

12. Blow the bank at Union Square.

Finally, for me every trip needs to have a little shopping and Union Square with tons of cultural flavor and diverse shopping experiences. You can browse luxury retail like Louis Vuitton, Vera Wang, and Jimmy Choo. Or you can check out Saks 5th Avenue, Nordstrom, and tons of other shopper’s favorites. One of my favorite parts of Union Square was all of the colorful murals in the city.

 

This certainly isn’t all this city has to offer; San Francisco is full of endless possibilities. My husband and I are already planning a return trip where we hit up as many sporting events as possible: the San Francisco Giants, a Golden State Warriors game, and PGA golf at Harding Park. If you have any San Francisco travel tips, please share them below!

For more of our favorite spots to visit, right in the USA, check out these great travel destinations:

10 Cool Things To Do in Seattle on a Quick Trip

Things To Do in Hot Springs, Arkansas—A Fun Road Trip

Destin, Florida – A Perfect Getaway Trip

 

 

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by Nicolette via Home And Garden