Simple Summer Salad

Remember how I said July was super hot? Well, I wasn't kidding. And some nights I just didn't want to turn on the oven so the Farmer and I came up with a super yummy salad. The best part? The lettuce and cucumbers were from our garden!

The Recipe: Simple Summer Salad

What you need:
Lavash chips (or another type of cracker)
3 cups Fresh spring mix or lettuce
1 large carrot
1 stalk of celery
2 marinated artichoke hearts
2 small mushrooms
1 small cucumber
parmesan cheese
toasted sesame seeds

Chop mushrooms, carrot, celery, artichoke hearts and cucumber. Layer chips/crackers in a bowl and top with veggies. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and sesame seeds. Toss with dressing.

The Recipe: Olive Oil Dressing

What you need:
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
sprinkle of:
garlic salt
Weber's Kick N Chik'n
basil
paprika
oregano

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl with a whisk, pour on top of salad.

Both recipes make 2 servings.

Featured Crafter: Blair

As promised, today's featured crafter is my 11-year old cousin, Blair. She made these super cute flowers (among other super cute crafts) while she was here at the beginning of July. She made an orange one and one of the multi-colored ones for Sweet P and they are so dang cute!

She used a tutorial similar to this one at Lola Says What, but she doesn't use a cardboard backing and puts a rosette in the middle instead of a jeweled bead or button. Super cute!

They look time consuming, but she made them really quickly! They are attached to an alligator clip and she used a glue gun to make it all.

You want one dontcha?

Simple I Spy Bag

While cleaning out the kitchen cabinets a few weeks ago I found several bags of beans and grains we were never going to eat. You can use rice, beans or anything else you find. Our bag has red lentils, split peas and millet.

The Activity: Simple I Spy Bag

What you need:
Filler (beans, rice, etc.)
Plastic bag or plastic bottle
Small figurines, balls, letters, etc.

Fill the bag/bottle with the sensory item of your choice (rice, beans, etc.). Push small items into the bag and seal the bag. Glue the bag/bottle shut and tape over the seal (if using a bag) with packing tape.
We started with ours in a bag, then transferred to another bag when Sweet P bit a hole in the first one. Luckily I saw her do it and was able to confiscate it before the contents poured all over the kitchen! I'll be transferring it to a plastic bottle soon, since those don't tear quite as easily as plastic bags (even if she bites it!). In her defense, I think she really wanted to get the ball in there out.

She loved finding all the little knick knacks in the bag. This would be great for a car ride (not the plastic bag version! unless you fancy vacuuming up little tiny grains/beans).