We Built a Lemonade Stand Summer 2011

So I said it months ago that I wanted to build my daughter Kaitlyn and her cousin Garret a Lemonade Stand to use this summer. What is summer with out a lemonade stand. So the search was on. I found directions on building a pull apart Lemonade Stand from this Old House but it was going to cost a $$$ pretty penny to build. Then I ran across a few ideas on the web. But the one I loved the most was the $6.00 thrift store buy a wooden microwave stand converted Lemonade Stand. So me and the kids did some thrift store shopping last week and found this small wooden desk and the fireworks went off!!! The brain just went crazy w/ ideas. So by luck some yellow mess up paint from Sherwin Williams $2.00 and the desk $6.50 not so bad some supplies at Home Depot $15.00 bucks and a few free supplies from home and family. Hay free is good! So I let the kids go hog wild with the yellow paint to get them involved. I already new I was going to have to paint the stand a few times so what the heck...they had paint head to toe but they had a blast. Added MDF board and molding to the front. Removed the old corner shelf  for a larger shelf  that would run all the way across the inside to hold more supplies. Add some 2 x 4's for extra support. Caster to make it easy to move around and some wood on the sides and top to hold the fabric canopy I made. Well as of 7/10/11 this is how far I am. (see 2nd picture) I need to paint 1-2 more coats of yellow paint plus green stripes and to make my Lemonade sign. I also picked up packets of lemonade on this weeks grocery shopping trip and found straws to match and a straw holder. Now napkins, cups and a pitcher to dispense the lemonade and a few other cute accessories and the Lemonade Stand will be open for business. The Grand Opening is free Lemonade for all. I'm creative but when an idea from this crazy mind of mine turns out better then I had hoped I'm impressed. I hope my creativity/ madness inspires someone to give my creations a try.
The Kids had their grand opening on Thursday July 14th, 2011. Thanks to the neighbors for supporting the kids and coming for free Lemonade. It's hard to give Lemonade away when u do not live in a housing development but the few neighbors we have we're very supportive and the kids enjoyed hosting.

$6.50 Thrift store small desk. The kids put the first coat of yellow paint on it!

MDF on the front, molding and the wood for the side to hold the canopy. I did add some wood to the side at the top not shown here.

New shelf across the inside of the stand for supplies and casters (wheels) to move it around easily.



Open for Business. Here is the completed Lemonade Stand. Free Lemonade!



The kids made signs for their grand opening... free Lemonade!





Pillowcase Dresses

I ran across these cute Pillowcase Dresses online. I had to find out how to make this cute dress. To my surprise they are so easy to make and can be done/ made in less then a hour. They are called pillowcase dresses because the idea is to use a old pillowcase to make. I think of it like the poor girl's dress but their so darn cute. I'm sure at one time Mom's would take old pillowcases and turn them into clothes for their daughters. It would be cheap and cost affective and the dresses are light and cool for summer. Their was a time in life where everything was recycled in some way to save on money. I did search to see how of course these dresses came about with little results. Any way I just bought my material then using my pillowcase from the bed. How ever I did see some cute dresses made out of old lace pillow cases and I love the vintage look. So I wiped up this princess one and  I made Kaitlyn a patriotic one as well. Which I love because I like to dress Kaitlyn for the occasion or Holiday to show spirit and now that she is getting older it is hard to find clothes related to the holidays. Kaitlyn looked so cute on the 4th in her dress.

These are so easy to make and Kaitlyn loves her dress.

This is so CUTE!!! Lemonade Gift Bucket

I have to give credit were credit is deserved. I love this idea from Giggles Galore Blog!!! What a clever and so cute idea!! She did see something like this at a store while shopping and new she could make it for less and I must add so much cuter then the one she posted a pic of on her blog that she seen at the store.
 I am famous for things like this. I see it, I love it and know I can make it for less and much nicer!!!
So basically she took a $1.00 kids sand bucket (I seen these at Michael's today for $1 buck) and add some supplies/goodies everything need for a Lemonade Stand/ Party then wrapped them up in cellophane and gave to kids as a summer gift/ birthday!!! HOW CUTE!!!! Yellow Buckets w/ pink for a girl and Yellow buckets w/ light green items for a boy!! Did I mention HOW CUTE!!!



Used a Cricket to cut out vinyl lettering for bucket. Pink- girl, light green-boy.




She wrapped each bucket when packed full of items and attached this to the top of the cellophane.



Love it!!! How cute!!!

Need a cute idea for that next Birthday Party your attending or just make one for your kid, a friends kid and so on. Have a Lemonade Party!!! Straws, Napkins, cups, Lemonade, and paper w/ crayons to drawl up some signs! Sugar we all have that in the cupboard-free. Small old jar recycled- free. Dollar store finds 7 items + Lemonade packet 20 cents $7.20 plus tax. Use sticker letters if you do not have a cricket a buck or two at Pat Catan's. Under $10.00 for a bucket of Lemonade Sunshine Fun!!! Take your dollar store finds a step further by adding stickes and some decore to dress them up.
I love she even incorporated the shovel by using it to stir the lemonade!!! Super cute and super fun!!! Please check out her blog so cute and great ideas http://gigglesgalorenmore.blogspot.com/

Silverware Wind Chime

So last year my Mom brought over a huge bag of old silverware for my garage sale. Well I just new I wanted to use that silverware for something. Then... it hit me and the search on the web was on and after some helpful sites the wind chime was built. I even had the kids string up some silverware for their own wind chimes. The hardest part drilling the holes.

My family's Fourth of July weekend

So like always I love the long 4th of July weekend and all that goes on Family releated. So we started with Friday 1st going to the McDonald festive a few rides for Kaitlyn, good festival food and she won a snake playing a cheap u always win game. Then Saturday we finished the small brick patio for the fire pit. Went to Grandma Ross's swimmmig and Hubby helped my Dad work on the engine of one of the jet skies we have. Then off to McDonald to the firework display!

McDonald's Festival.

Swimming at Grandma Ross's.

McDonald Fairworks.

Then Sunday morning it was off to the Trumbull County Fair. Rides, food and animals.

Kaitlyn loved the animals and rides.

Then home for a small break and Family joined us for Hot Dogs and Marshmellows around the fire pit. Fireworks and sparklers. We had a blast...sorry no pic's. Then Monday the 4th up and to the 4th of July Parade in North Jackson.

Kaitlyn at the North Jackson 4th of July Parade.

Then off to Bob Evan's for breakfast and swimming at Grandma's house again. Then home where Family joined us for all those picnic favorites hot dogs, hamburgers, potato wedges, corn on the cob, bake beans, mac/ potato salad, chips, lots of good desserts and cold drinks. Then after everyone ate we gathered around the fire pit for laughs and then at dark sparklers and fireworks. We had a blast with the fun things to do and to show off our patriotism and celebrate the 4th. To have and do things fun w/ family that's a great weekend. God Bless Our Troops and everyone whom has served in the military for our Country!!!

The mess we had to clean up!!!! Totally worth every bit!!!

My Daughter's First Dance Recital

I'm glad dance is over and we are moving on with summer but she was great and did well at her first recital even though I know she was not feeling well. She got sick the night before but like a trooper she preformed.
Congrats Kaitlyn we love you!!!

Summer & Projects

Well it is here...Summer! I have not been posting lately because we finally have had some nice weather. For a while their we had nothing but rain in NE Ohio. So much rain I had to plant my garden late this year. Me & the Hubby's have been playing catch-up on all the outdoor projects we need to do or want to do this year! So bad we have not been out on the Jet skies once this year or even opened the pool yet! I usually have a garage sale at the end of May but not this year maybe mid July!! We did how ever get the play area moved and set up and mulched for the kids. We built a new brick patio and bought a gazebo to go over it. I love it and it's so I can sit and relax in the shade and watch the kids play. We also like to entertain others so it's nice to have extra sitting to gather. We did buy the same Gazebo and put it up on the large back deck we have. The deck is great to entertain on but gets sun most of the day and it was a hit the gazebo was so much better then a umbrella and we added a outdoor Chandelier which I just love. So we've had family and friends over several times and the gazebo is great. Now we have a second gathering area. We have started to build another smaller brick patio to use for a fire pit. Nothing says summer like a fire pit, marshmallows and hot dogs cooked over a fire. Now I'm hoping to have it completed buy Friday the July 1st or Saturday morning the 2nd so we can use this Forth of July weekend. Then we are going to build another flower bed and water feature a long the garage so when you sit on the deck or come through the gate you'll be greeted with beauty then blah!!! Maybe next year we can build the 2 gates we need, a small deck on the pool and always more flower beds. Well we did it we finished the small fire pit brick patio and we really enjoyed it over the fourth July weekend. Did I mention the bricks are 100 years old and older. Love the look. So by the time we get all the projects done, pool open and jet skies out the snow will be falling!!! LOL

New Play area. The new brick patio & Gazebo we built right in front.

New larger brick patio w/ new gazebo.

New smaller brick fire pit patio.

Gazebo we bought for the back deck.