A Montana Summer

I've been listening to "Child"  by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros over and over again.  Each time I hear it I think of the place my husband and I grew up.  The place that, even though we are so many miles away from, will always be home.  The melody of this song carries a hypnotic state of total relaxation in the same way that the mountains, trees, lake, and sky carry.  If you're from Montana you understand what I'm saying.

So I decided to video our journey to Montana with a few bison, a reservoir, and amazing Mission Mountains along the way.  I also threw in a few pictures I've taken over the years of beautiful Flathead Lake.

The Perfect Summer Salad!

Looking for the perfect summer salad?  I found this recipe a few months ago on Pinterest and as I was strolling the aisles at the grocery store I decided to change a few of the ingredients to make my own version of this pesto pasta salad.  

Ingredients-

-True Story Organic Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage (found at Costco)

-Brussels Sprouts

-Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil

-Three Bridges Organic Spinach & Cheese Ravioli (found at local Albertsons)

-Sea Salt

-Pepper

Place a tablespoon of coconut oil in a large skillet and turn to low-medium heat.  When oil is melted, toss in sliced sausage.  Stir often to prevent burning.  

Boil water in a large pot for the ravioli.

Turn oven on to 400 degrees.

Cut brussels sprouts in half.

Melt a tablespoon of coconut oil.  Toss brussels sprouts, coconut oil, salt and pepper together.  Then place on a cookie sheet.  

Place brussels sprouts in oven for 8 minutes.  At 4 minutes throw ravioli in boiling water, stirring often. 

Everything will finish about the same time.  Throw cooked sausage, ravioli, brussels sprouts, and pesto into a large bowl and gently mix together.  

You can eat this warm or refrigerate to eat later.  Either way is delicious!!!

Enjoy!

There's No Summer Without Good Music!

Leaving on a jet plane early this morning, heading to one of the most anticipated summer festivals of the year!  Basilica Block Party kicks off tonight in Minneapolis, MN!  The best part is Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros are headlining!!!  OOOOooooooohhhhh!!!!  I.CAN'T.WAIT!!!!!!

This definitely seems to be the summer of concerts.  The hubs and I were just at Spokane's newest concert venue, The Bartlett, Monday night. Yellow Ostrich, a Brooklyn, NY band, opened up for The Antlers, also from Brooklyn, NY.  They both put on a fabulous performance!

In August we are attending the Festival In Sandpoint where The Head and the Heart will be performing!  So excited for that show!!!

This is what summer is all about!  Sun kissed skin, good music blasting, a micro brew in one hand, while the other is wavin' in the air like you just don't care (Sorry, couldn't help myself).

So if you get a chance to attend a summer concert, get out there and do so!  There's no summer without good music!

 Here is a beautiful performance of "Child" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.

Patriotic Attire

Summer is here and it's time to start dressing for it!  I was so excited to see Gap bring back their maxi dresses!  I was even more ecstatic when I saw they are on sale!!  You can dress these maxis up in so many different ways, whether it's fun jewelry, a jean jacket, flannel, the list goes on.  The white and blue stripe is perfect for this Fourth of July by adding a splash of red!  Gap also carries these in black, navy and lavender stripe.  

Cami Maxi Dress-Gap
Necklace-Forever 21
Bracelet-Forever 21

Ombre Cami Maxi Dress-Gap
Earrings-Target
Bracelet-Forever 21

Striped Cami Maxi Dress-Gap

Belt-American Eagle

Plaid Button Up Shirt-Old Navy

Sweater-H&M

Summer Playlist-Part 2

You may have thought I gave up the blogging life but let me assure you I did not.  I took a mini vacation from posting, and when I say vacation I mean it's been a crazy, busy schedule full of the kids' practices, games, plays, talent shows, Pre-K graduation, yard sale, and the list goes on!

We did actually take a fabulous vacation a month ago to Disney World that I can't wait to share with you! (will be posting that soon;)

First thing's first...it is officially summer and one cannot properly celebrate vacation until their playlist is complete.  So here is Part 2!
Enjoy!


1.  Got To My Head by Waters


2.  Cut It Out by Kitten


3.  High by Young Rising Sons


4.  Honey & I by HAIM


5.  Ways To Go by Grouplove


6.  Below My Feet by Mumford & Sons


7.  History's Door by Husky


8.  Bad Blood by Bastille


9.  Kill The Light by Kitten


10. Giants by Bear Hands


11.  Overdose by Little Daylight


12.  Welcome Home by Radical Faces


13. Rivers & Roads by The Head and the Heart

My Summer Playlist-Part 1

Spring has officially shifted into full gear, which can only mean summer is right around the corner! What better way to get through these April showers than to create an ultimate summer playlist.  There's a lot of new music that fits perfectly into this playlist, as well as songs that have been around for a while but I can't get enough of!

Here's to summer!

1.  Pumpin' Blood by NONONO

2.  Shark Attack by Grouplove






3.  Bridges by Broods






4.  Shake by The Head And The Heart






5.  The Wire by HAIM






6.  Unbelievers by Vampire Weekend






7.  The Way We Touch by WE ARE TWIN






8.  Pompeii by Bastille






9.  Recover by Chvrches






10.  Girls Like You by The Naked And Famous

TBT: All The Way Back To The '80's!

You feel old when.........the songs you grew up listening to in the '80's are being covered by artists only in their twenties.  You won't find me sulking over this issue being that my two favorite things have just collided creating brilliant music!  Who doesn't love the '80's???  So I say a big "THANK YOU" to these artists for bringing awesome back!

One of my favorite, thus far, is the cover "All Through The Night" by Sleeping At Last.  This song was one of Cyndi Lauper's greatest hits released in 1984.  While I absolutely love the original, Sleeping At Last provides a vulnerability to the song that might possibly leave one weeping...ok maybe that's just me.

Here is the original.



Here is the cover by Sleeping At Last










Next on the list is "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" covered by Lorde.  This song, which I'm sure many of you know, was a Tears For Fears hit, released in 1985.  This cover was on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack.  Lorde did an incredible job with this song making it, hands down, the best '80's cover in my book!

Tears For Fears original version:




Lorde's cover:









We all know this next song "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League.  This song was released back in 1981.  Young Summer recently recorded this cover and certainly did the song justice.

The Human League:




Young Summer Cover:









Bonnie Tyler's 1983 hit "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" was extremely popular in our household in the '80's so I was excited to have stumbled upon this cover by Sleeping At Last.  

Here is the original:




Sleeping At Last's cover:







Happy "Throw Back Thursday" everyone!!!

Throwin' A Frozen Party!

How does this Momma and 5 five year olds spend a rainy Friday afternoon?  We throw a Disney Frozen party!  As soon as the movie was available to purchase as digital copy I was on it!  I threw up a few fun decorations, whipped up some blue jello, pretzels for Olaf's arms and all the makings for a snowman, powdered sugar donuts for snowballs and blue punch!  So fun!

Next up, pin the carrot on Olaf!

Happy Friday everyone!

Lego Bedroom Makeover Reveal (Part 1)

Six weeks later and I am so happy for this project to be wrapping up!  What should have taken only a couple of weeks, carried out for far too long.  Right in the middle of this our five year old daughter became very sick, therefore everything was put on hold.  She ended up having an adenoidectomy and we feel very blessed to have our energetic little sweet pea back to good health!  

My son is extremely happy to have a brand new bedroom!  I cannot tell you how fun this makeover was!  I used to walk into his bedroom and want to walk right back out because of the unorganized chaos of Legos everywhere and the room itself did not flow.  Now when you walk in you feel an overwhelming sense of organization and color!  Lots of color!!!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Chevron Bedding-Target
Red Accent Pillows-Target

Clamp Lamp-Home Depot
Lego 3-Drawer Storage-Target
Lego 6-Drawer Storage-Target
Lego Table-Made By Grandma & Grandpa;)

I have yet to hang up any wall art.  I don't want to cover up all that hard work!  Really, I just can't make up my mind what goes where!  

The built-in book shelves with desk was the best part of this project!  My son's room lacked a showcase area for all of his Lego sets.  I came across this idea on Pinterest and fell in love with it!  

My husband and I drew up a plan, ordered the bookshelves from Home Depot and picked up the shelving at our local Home Depot store.  It was surprisingly easy and went up in one afternoon!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Bookshelves-Home Depot
Top Two Shelves-Home Depot
Desk-Home Depot
Brackets For Shelves-Home Depot
Brackets For Desk-Home Depot

I will post more pictures next week when the shelves are filled and wall art is placed.  

Until then, have a fabulous weekend everyone!!!  Can't wait to enjoy the spring weather forecasted for the next few days!!!  

A Little Sneak Peak....

Still lots of work to be done but here are the beginning stages of my son's room.  

Our little Boston terrier keeping an eye on me...

One stripe at a time...

There are only two more colors left to paint and it will be done!  I can't wait for the end result!!!  I better get back to work;)

Happy Friday Everyone!!!