With Memorial Day, Labor Day, and summer right around the corner, it’s time to think picnic! On Sunday afternoon our homeschool group held its annual year-end shindig with a homey, old-fashioned theme. I helped coordinated the event, and a lot of thought went into the details.

Hopefully this will help you plan an event this summer!

Decorations

Mason Jars with Daisies, Ribbon, and Dollar Store Pinwheels (see top photo)
You’ve probably got a few Mason jars floating around your house. We do. Our pretty centerpieces consisted of Mason jars filled with yellow daisies and red, white, and blue pinwheels from the dollar store (3 per package) and tied with red and white ribbon.

Dollar Store Disposable Checkered Tablecloths
Our tablecloths were colorful, inexpensive, and disposable—perfect for a picnic!

Red, White, and Blue Paper Chains
Did you know that building paper chains can entertain children for long periods of time? I purchased individual packages of red and blue construction paper at Staples for $1.99 each and used printer paper for the white. The strips were 1-1/2″ wide and I recommend stapling them together; we tried tape and some of it came apart later.

The Menu

Because our picnic served such a large number of people, there was a $5 per family fee. We provided fried chicken and dessert and everyone brought a side item. Watermelon wedges (see dessert table picture two above) provide a naturally sweet treat and can be eaten with your hands. Just keep a bottle of hand sanitizer on the table and plenty of napkins for the juice!

{Isn’t the cake glorious? One of the girls on the committee made it.}

If you need recipes for a more modest crowd, on Wednesday I’ll link you to a virtual barbecue on Jen’s blog. Jen invited me and a few other bloggers to participate; we’ll each create an original recipe using one of the new Philadelphia Cooking Cremes. The blogger who gets the most comments on her recipe wins $500 and a year’s supply of Philadelphia Cooking Creme, so if you think mine sounds fabulous, leave a comment on Wednesday and help me win!

Tomorrow I’ll prepare an original recipe that I’ve only made in my head and take lots of photos. Then I’ll write it up and post it here on Wednesday. I don’t concoct a lot of original recipes so I’m a little nervous, but excited, too. My kids are ready to taste test! I bought all the ingredients today, including the Santa Fe Blend Cooking Creme.

Face Painting

A picnic isn’t a picnic without face painting! It’s fun whether you’re doing the painting or being painted on, ensures great photos, and just makes people happy.

Sometimes it branches out (no pun intended) beyond faces . . .

Get paints made especially for faces and don’t forget brushes. Print out a few sample designs to narrow the choices and give your artists something to follow.

Enjoy Yourself

Keep it simple: checkers, bubbles, frisbee, foursquare, face paint. Food and friends—that’s what it’s all about, right? Don’t bring stress to your picnic!

Do you picnic in the summer? What are your best tips for food, decorating, or activities?

Tips for an Old-Fashioned Picnic is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

1. My big little girls, 2. My girls,
3. All 10 kids plus grandparents. Happy Mother’s Day!, 4. Sleeping ukulele player,
5. Family outing, 6. Hello summer toes!

I‘ve certainly enjoyed the slower pace this week with no more outside classes for the school year! The weather here in Atlanta cooled down enough to turn off the AC and open the windows again this week. I love saving the money, and also the breezes and sounds from the outdoors.

My oldest daughter and I started a book club this week with other mothers and daughters using the book Every Young Woman’s Battle: Guarding Your Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World. Although it’s obviously a sensitive topic, we had an open and productive group discussion at our first meeting. It’s important to keep lines of communication open with your teens, and I think this study will also build a support system for the girls from among the other participants.

I’m on the committee for our homeschool group’s year-end picnic this weekend, so we’ll be making lots of red, white, and blue paper chains between now and then for decorations. Our theme is an old-fashioned picnic and I’ll be taking family photos when people arrive. I thought about vintage-style photo processing and and framing, like the following examples. Which do you prefer?

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Realistically, I may only be able to use one with a landscape (horizontal) orientation, unless I have a smaller family and can use the square. Then again, I may be creating a whole lot of extra work . . . but, maybe I could create a Photoshop action that would automate most of the process. (Just ignore me. I’m thinking.)

What are your plans for the weekend, and what did your camera phone capture this week?

Camera Phone Friday: Pick a Frame Edition is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

A day devoted—at least in theory—to honoring mom {me} sounded like a good excuse to plan big. Two years ago I requested a family outing to the High Museum and I seriously considered the same this year, until a conversation with a friend on Saturday night made me stop and think . . .

Iris asked what we’d planned for Mother’s Day and I told her my big museum idea. Then she pointed to the recliner behind her and said, “I want to sit in that chair and read my book while everyone cleans the house,” and I knew in that moment that she was the wiser.

Saturday we’d bounced from birthday party to ballpark to another birthday to a class party before that visit with my friend. Was it really necessary to head downtown after church and continue the same level of activity on Sunday?

Her words challenged me to think smaller, and so I printed the map of a new greenway that our family hasn’t walked, imagining a leisurely stroll with plenty of adult conversation and photographic moments.

But rain in the forecast forced me to think smaller still . . .

All ten of us attended church together—truly, that was the gift of the day—and then we ate Mexican with my dad and stepmom. The rest of my afternoon consisted of a nap followed by a walk with my husband and kids.

Before bedtime I curled up in my reading nook playing Words With Friends with Holley, and spoke my wish that Barnes and Noble stayed open 24/7. What’s not to love about books, hot tea, comfy chairs, and free wi-fi?

My husband pointed to the chair where I sat and said, “Let this spot be your Barnes and Noble.” Sure enough, all of the things I desire are right here, although the wi-fi isn’t exactly free since we pay the bill.

I’m not saying I’ll never runaway to B&N again, but should I always yearn for an oasis that requires a 25 minute drive when I can create one at home? It took all day for the message to sink in: sometimes I need to think small.

Sometimes I Need to Think Small is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

1. Sunny day baseball, 2. Yellow, 3. #cincodemoes @Moes_HQ, 4. Heading to the lake!

Life is starting to slow a bit this week now that we’ve wrapped all of our outside classes and one of our two baseball seasons. Yesterday the pollen got the best of me and I felt pretty lousy, so it seemed like a good day to start a new book. I actually restarted a book I bought about a year and a half ago, Saving Leonardo. It’s listed in the new Classical Conversations catalog as optional reading for the class I teach, but I think I’m going to recommend it for summer.

The most frugally clever thing I did this week was make homemade body wash based on the instructions from this post, which I originally found via Pinterest. It’s kind of ooey gooey, but I’m enjoying it, maybe because I’m tickled I made it myself.

What are you reading or making and what did your camera phone capture this week?

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Camera Phone Friday: Good Reading and Homemade Body Wash Edition is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Today started as an ordinary day, only better. I part-walked/part-jogged two miles in a light spring rain; so pleasant. I’m amazed how much my strength and endurance have improved because of the 30 Day Shred (I’m currently at 43 days). I returned home to find this sweet post at my friend Holley’s blog. Everyone needs a friend and cheerleader like Holley. I sure do.

And then I clicked over to my blog and it was gone—GONE—replaced by a page of advertising.

Apparently I’d missed the invoice for my domain name renewal and it expired. My blog wasn’t gone—I still had hosting—but I believed that I’d lost my domain name (the address you type in the URL field to get here) and that someone else had purchased it.

In the next hour and a half I shed many tears; sent a panicked email to my host; and envisioned a slew of unpleasant scenarios resulting from the fact that after nearly six years of blogging, my blog had effectively disappeared.

But oh, my goodness, my kids were sweet!

Their hugs and sympathy touched my heart. My 10-year-old son told me he would find a video on YouTube to show him how to make me a new blog. My 12-year-old daughter made me a cup of hot tea and then emptied the dishwasher without being asked (almost as mind-boggling as the fact that I let my domain expire).

I paid the overdue invoice, took a shower, and left for a hair appointment, hoping my eyes weren’t too swollen and I could remember what I’d wanted to do with my hair in the first place.

I’m glad I paid the invoice, although it seemed too little too late at the time. My domain name expired, but wasn’t taken, so the payment renewed it. My husband told me that our 8-year-old daughter had called him at work to tell him to pray for me, and when he and our 10-year-old son spoke a few minutes later about baseball practice, he said, “Did you hear what happened to mom?”

When I told the dishwasher story, he observed, “Wow! You must have been pitiful!” and we shared a good laugh. I almost didn’t want to tell the kids that all was well because their concern for me was so precious.

All day I felt like celebrating, although my domain name is exactly the same as it was yesterday, and the day before that, and the week before that, and the month before that. It was my outlook that changed, my perspective.

I stopped to give thanks for what I already had.

Is there something you take for granted that you might stop and give thanks for today?

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Because Sometimes You Need to Stop and Give Thanks for What You Already Have is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

My journey as a driver began in reverse, no pun intended. Most of us initially drive a modest, new-driver kind of a vehicle while our parents quake at home, praying we—and the car—make it back in one piece. As an adult, I more fully appreciate the generosity of my daddy, who let me drive his ’73 Mustang, a car he ordered when Ford decided to quit producing them as convertibles (thankfully they returned again in 1983).

All the boys wanted to know what kind of engine sat under the hood, so I asked Daddy. From that day forward I’d answer, “a 351 Cleveland” as if fully understanding what that meant. Which I didn’t. I just knew that when you really gave it the gas it pulled back for a split second before surging forward in a delicious sort of a way. Not that I ever did that, but in theory I think that’s exactly how it would happen.

One day I asked, “Daddy, is the Mustang a hot car?” His response? “You tell me.” Yeah, I knew the answer to that one.

Good times.

Fast forward to the mid-80s when motherhood initiated the progression from mini- to maxi-van, as I call the 15-passenger I now drive. My E350 packs a lot of horsepower, but let’s just say I haven’t experienced the primal thrill that only a muscle car can deliver in well over two decades.

Until my trip to BlissDom.

When Chevy told me they’d sponsor a vehicle, I had no idea they’d offer a 2012 Camaro Convertible. A 2012 Camaro Convertible.

We spent one week together and I wish I’d counted how many people took a spin in her with me or my husband: the car is irresistible. Kids lined up in a restaurant parking lot one night when some homeschool families ate out together after classes and my husband rode them around the parking lot a few at a time until everyone had their chance.

One night I cruised through Nashville in it with a bunch of girlfriends and honestly, it felt like high school again in the very best sort of way, laughter and music and smiles all around.

Sara Sophia made the trip home to Atlanta with me and then my husband and I drove to Birmingham to pick up our son who flew from Dallas, TX, that day. I’ve never owned a car with a stereo like this, or one that can play music from my iPhone. My phone isn’t overloaded with music; I prefer to add songs that are special in some way.

I don’t have words to describe the three and a half hour trip home from Birmingham—the feel of gliding along the interstate at night, eyes closed, accompanied by songs I love the most—but I felt the magic in it and knew it was a night to remember.

The last tune was Home (When Shadows Fall) from Paul McCartney’s newest album Kisses on the Bottom. That song holds the power to make me cry, especially poignant as we neared home returning one of our own to the flock.

I can honestly say that hardly a day goes by that I don’t think about that sweet car. Fondly. When I see one on the road I smile and sigh.

It’s one dreamy ride.

I’ve joked about driving a convertible again someday when the kids are grown and gone. It’s not a mid-life crisis if you’ve planned it for years, right?

Thank you Chevy, so much, for a dream come true week for this van-driving mother of eight.

Daddy, is this a hot car? is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

1. A big door prize winner! #inrl, 2. More goodies!! #inrl, 3. Had a wonderful time today at our #inrl meetup with @oohamanda @womanonajourney @momsmustardseeds, 4. Cruising down the road (see my hand?)

It’s testimony to just how busy we’ve been that I haven’t posted since last week’s Camera Phone Friday. Three of the photos above are from the (in)RL  that I hosted in our home last Saturday. Were you part of this wonderful event? If not and if the idea of going to an unfamiliar place and meeting up with a bunch of strangers gives you hives, please read this lovely post from my dear friend, Deidra.

The two ladies holding those big canvases won them as door prizes because they arrived at my doorstep in spite of the fact that they didn’t know anyone here. That’s really walking (in)courage, huh? (Bad pun, I know.)

Speaking of (in)RL, did you see the video of Sara’s Story? Sara was a fellow (in)courage author who passed away in September (I wrote about a conversation we had concerning the beauty in the mundane here). You might want to grab a Kleenex before you hit play, but seriously, even if you didn’t know Sara you’ll be blessed by this story of her example and the impact it made on others. I was already crying before we started filming my portion.

Our week has been packed with wrap-up activities including the last day of classes for our Classical Conversations community and our spring choir concert. A bunch of our CC crowd is camping at the lake this weekend. We don’t have camping equipment (in spite of our name) and a baseball game tomorrow, so we’re just going to pop in and out and hang out with the gang.

And of course, we’ll be at Moe’s Saturday for Cinco de Moe’s—$3 burritos! 

Speaking of Moe’s, did I tell y’all that I’ve been invited to be a Moe’s advisory board blogger? Unfortunately, the big kick-off for the program was here in Atlanta (Moe’s is based here) on the weekend when I went to Photoshop World in March. So I missed it.

Well, yesterday I got an invitation to lunch next month with Moe’s President and their Executive Chef. I’m nervously analyzing what Moe’s items I eat in the neatest way, cause I can make a serious mess. My mother joked about how fun it would be to hold a fancy dinner party and serve tacos, because you just can’t eat them neatly. Hopefully I won’t drop a blob of sour cream in my lap. That would be nice.

May’s Desktop Calendar, Take 4

Although I’ve managed to submit one version without the full verse, one labeled as April instead of May, and one where the zip file apparently was empty, you can now download an accurate desktop calendar at (in)courage. This month’s verse really speaks to me. Just look for the link that says Calendar (May) under the blog header at the top of page. Fourth time’s a charm!

I’ve missed you guys and the blog this week! What did your camera phone capture?

Camera Phone Friday: Wrapping Up the School Year Edition is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

It’s finally here! The (in)courage un-conference, (in)RL, starts today with four separate broadcasts of web content and then get-togethers held in hundreds of living rooms, churches, and coffee shops all over the world tomorrow. Will you be a part of it? It’s not too late!

Here’s a little history and background on that strange looking name, (in)RL: bloggers developed the abbreviation IRL for “in real life” as in my blog buddy Heather and I finally met IRL!  We used to take a bit of ribbing about the imaginary friends in our computers before blog conferences and local meetups became more prevalent. Now I’ve met lots of my blog buddies IRL.

However, all of us need day-to-day real life community right where we live. We’re wired that way.

So, who’s my community?

My church. These are the cannot-live-without people in my life. I’ve always told my kids that of all the friendships they’ll make, there’s nothing like those precious ones of like precious faith. These are the ones who know me best of all, my move-a-body girlfriends.

My homeschool friends. We didn’t know most of the families in our Classical Conversations community when it started, but now they’re some of our dearest friends. Although naturally the moms are friends with the moms and kids with the kids, by the very nature of the program and the tutor-student relationship, I now have lots of teen friends, too.

I get to talk art and philosophy with these kids one day a week and dissect things like cows’ eyes (that’s the inside of one there on the right). We’ve had a wonderful school year and I’ll be sad to graduate these kids from my class next week.

Neighbors. I’m the world’s worst neighbor. Seriously. I’ve always got so much going on in the house or away from home that I’m not an out-and-about in the neighborhood kind of girl. And then there’s what my husband and I call my “5 degree comfort zone.” Let’s just say I’m thankful to live in the days of heating and air conditioning.

I’m hoping to connect more with my neighbors at my (in)RL gathering tomorrow.

What about you? Who’s your community?

(And what did your camera phone capture this week? Link it below!)

Camera Phone Friday: Thinking about Community (in)RL Edition is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t post a Camera Phone Friday this week because there were no new Instagram photos!

Am I tired of the app? No. Unfortunately, I’ve just been too busy to stop and savor the moments.

And so today I used both my phone and my camera.

Treasures everywhere: health, sunshine, happy kids, baseball. If I don’t capture it, will I remember? Will they?

Will an image hold special meaning for one of my children . . .

a hidden gift that’s mine alone to give?

Have you used your camera lately? Do you print your photos or share them digitally?

Remember the Days is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

1. Happy :), 2. Easter Sunday, 3. My favorite little league coach :), 4. Way cool moth

Can you believe it’s only 2 weeks until (in)RL? I can hardly wait! In case you’re not familiar with it, (in)RL is a worldwide meetup day currently consisting of 458 different communities of women meeting in their local areas on April 28.

Are you participating?

Also, I wanted to tell you that I’m working on a set of nine new products for my shop! I’m very excited and should be posting them hopefully by late next week. I’m also dreaming and scheming another idea and I even bought a domain name to go along with it. You know you’re dreaming big when you buy a URL!

What have you been up to and what did your camera phone capture this week?

Link it below!

Camera Phone Friday: 2 Weeks to (in)RL Edition is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved