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July 23, 2009

Hooked on… summer fun & giveaways!!

summer ndesign-studio

Yay, it’s Friday!! And that means it’s time for another Hooked on Fridays blog party hosted by the sunny and sensational Julia at Hooked on Houses :-)

And if that isn’t enough fun for a Friday, how about a fabulous Friday giveaway too!! More on that at the end of this post…

So far, this summer has been CRAPPY. I’m having major issues with Mother Nature — the woman is seriously evil. But, I’ve decided to stick it to her not let her ruin my summer fun. I swim in the lake at the cottage, even if my feet and hands go numb and I shiver for an hour after I get out. And who cares if it rains – I’m already wet, so why not keep swimming. Mother Nature can kiss my butt!!

So let’s get hooked on summer fun, and then we’ll have some giveaway fun!! Because we love having giveaways almost as much as much as we enjoy winning giveaways!! ;-)

This is the dock at the cottage, where I spend most of my time every weekend…

dock

Time to jump into the lake for a swim

jump skaneateles suites

After we swim,we can do some kayaking

kayaking-full1 dan 128 kayaking

Well, actually, this is more like the kind of kayaking I do, minus the awesome view!!

kayak oars com

Squirt likes to swim too…

squirt jumping 2_thumb

and she follows me as I kayak around the lake…

squirt swiming

Beautiful sunny blue summer skies…

blue sky thethunderdragon

Of course, we need a pair of cool shades to protect the peepers…

sunglasses sunglasshut

And don’t forget the sunblock!! ;-)

sunblock superlaugh

A fuzzy beach towel to dry off with after we’re done…

towels caymanmama

After all that action, we need to eat!! Ever have a BBQ in a donut?? :-)

bbq donut 2 elitechoice

The BBQ-Donut was designed and developed by German inventor and entrepreneur Sebastian Schmitt. This puppy is part lounge, part table, part BBQ, and part water floatation device :-) It comes with a sound system and travels at about 2.5mph.

bbq donut 1

But if you’re a landlubber, this BBQ might be more your speed… ;-)

nascar-bbq geekalerts

Once you’ve got this Nascar BBQ fired up, why not grill up a few racks of juicy succulent ribs (vegetarians, close your eyes!!)

bbq-ribs1 more cowns than people

OK, you can look again… mmmmmm, juicy succulent freshly-picked berries :-)

Fresh Berries candlefind.com

YUM!!!!!! And what’s better on a hot summer day than sipping an icy-cold strawberry daiquiri complete with fresh strawberries…

strawberrydaiquiri drinkinhabits com

The Best Strawberry Daiquiri EVER!

  • 1 can Bacardi's frozen strawberry daiquiri mix
  • 2 cups ice (crushed if you have it)
  • 1/2 cup Bailey’s Irish Cream
  • Handful washed & hulled fresh strawberries

Put first three ingredients in blender and blend till smooth. Add berries and blend for a few more seconds. Pour into glass and drink!

Warning: You’ll want to lick the glass clean. Don’t be shy, go ahead and do it!!

Or maybe a glass of freshly-squeezed lemonade is just what you need to refresh you…

lemonade-main_Full i ehow com

Easy Freshly Squeezed Lemonade

  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 cup water

Combine lemon juice and sugar in a glass till the sugar is mostly dissolved. Add water. If you add ice, reduce the water a bit to prevent the lemonade from becoming too diluted. If you like extra-tart lemonade, add more juice. Toss in a slice or two of lemon for a bit of extra flavour.

Of course, summer isn’t summer without ice cream!!

How cool is this SuperKid ice cream from Laura Secord?? :-)

SuperKid2 where ca

And check this out — Paul at Kitchen & Residential Design posted a recipe for making homemade ice cream in a Ziploc bag. I had to try it… and it really works!! The flavour could be stronger — I’ll try adding more vanilla next time…

vanillaicecreamistock z about Plastic Bag Ice Cream

What you'll need:

1 tablespoon sugar (I used icing sugar)

1/2 cup milk or half & half

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

6 tablespoons rock salt (table salt works too)

1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc)

1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag

Ice cubes

How to make it:

Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt.

Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.

Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal the large bag carefully.

Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes. (I recommend wearing over mitts to keep your hands from freezing!!)

Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

Tips:

A 1/2 cup milk will make about 1 scoop of ice cream, so double the recipe if you want more. But don't increase the proportions more that that.

Giveaway time!

So, now that we’ve gone swimming and kayaking and eaten ribs and drank daiquiris and made ice cream in a plastic bag, it’s time to announce our giveaway. Which actually has absolutely nothing to do with summer fun… except that it’s bright like the sun :-)

The prize is…

…an original abstract painting by Canadian artist Matt LeBlanc!!

matt 1 matt 3

A couple of close-ups that show the texture and detail…

matt 2 matt 4

How to enter

All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post with a one-word title for the painting. If you don’t have a blog account or if you have any trouble leaving a comment, you can send your entry by e-mail to designties@gmail.com

Everyone from everywhere can enter :-)

The winning name will be selected by three random people we find on the beach ;-)

The contest closes next Thursday at 5:00PM, and the winner will be announced in next Friday’s Hooked on Fridays post — which will be an interview with the artist himself, Matt LeBlanc.

So get your creative juices flowing!! And then get yourself back to Julia’s and keep the Hooked on Fridays blog party going :-)

sun kelly sig

41 comments:

Kat said...

YIPPEE!!! This is exactly what I need for that lonely space on the wall I'm staring at right now! I will call it "Jubilation" because it is such a happy, warm piece. And that's what my DH will be feeling when I tell him we don't have to hunt for something for that wall anymore lol. Kathy

Things That Inspire said...

Squirt is so cute - and love the name! Those ribs are not a good thing to see right now, I am pretty hungry!

Dumbwit Tellher said...

Love the BBQ Donut! Wish I was in it right now. I loved this post Kelly. We need to seriously send you some major sun& drought from TX.

Such a great painting. I would title it "Dante"

Sunshine ahead for you all,
Deb

Unknown said...

"Burst"

I love your summer post!

XOXO-

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

"Blister in the Sun"

Love your dog, Squirt's name too!!!

xo,
cristin

Daly Essentials said...

I'd call it "BBQ" it reminds me of flames on a grill when you inevitable pour too much lighter fluid! (and I'm obsessed with that BBQ donut!!)

Becky K. said...

I'm thinking..."Crayola Blast".

Now, I need to get the ingredients for that ice cream in a bag...

Have a great Friday!

Becky K.
Hospitality Lane

Maya@ompletely-coastal said...

How fun was that..., and you are very brave to act as if (we actually had summer). I'm listening to rain as I type... The name for the painting..., that burst of red: Lava.

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

Opps! Thanks so much for the email.

How about -

Fuego!

xo,
cristin

Love it ! said...

I love the red art.
I name it HEART BEAT.

E said...

Love it!
My one word is "fierce"

Feel free to check out my brand new craft blog at http://www.oopsicraftmypants.blogspot.com.

Jenny said...

I love your new blog design! Great pictures too! LOL about the suntan dude.

Flowers and Paint said...

"Apostatize"

Paul Anater said...

That painting reminds me of the roiling surface of the sun. At the same time though, I can see a flamenco dancer if I concentrate on t he center of the third photograph particularly. Flamenco dancers remind me of gypsies and they remind me of Georges Bizet's "Carmen." So for the name of the painting, let's try "Georges Bizet Contemplates the Roiling Surface of the Sun."

I have my ice cream ingredients together, or should I say gelato ingredients. On Saturday morning, I'm going to make my first batch of licorice gelato. You will be able to hear me shouting with joy from as far away as your cottage. If it's really good, Victoria will be able to hear me.

Sharon said...

"Fusion"

that photo of squirt following you around kayaking is so cute!!enjoy your summer:)

Susan said...

I love seeing a Lab enjoying the water-- what a great action shot off the dock!

I would call that piece of art 'Swelter'

It would warm up any room--even during the damp dreary Summer(and I use the term loosely) we're having on the East Coast.

Pam Kersting said...

Okay you sassy girls! Love the post and the look of your blog! It gets better each time I visit! Who cares what Mother Nature throws your way when you have that weekend retreat that appears to be a little slice of Heaven!! Love it and the big dog too! Also love the painting that would look just perfect in my contemporary home! It definitely is HOT, and reminds me of Heat in motion, so I'll name it "Thermodynamics." Crossing fingers, now!

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Your blog is looking so bright and colorful! Love the makeover. I need to get my act together and finish the makeover on mine!

Great summer post. It's been very cool here, too. This week I've been wearing sweatpants and long sleeves, which is just ridiculous for July.

What a fun giveaway. I enjoyed reading everyone's ideas for what it should be called. How about "Sunshine on a Cloudy Day"? Could use some of that right now. :-)

Paul Anater said...

Your one-word rule is stifling me girls. I feel like Ikaros (Romanized as Icarus) after he flew too close to the sun's heat and fell to his death in the sea. In honor of poor Ikaros, I'd like to name this painting after the Greek Island named for him, Ikaria. Even though I think "Georges Bizet Contemplates the Roiling Surface of the Sun" is the perfect name, I humbly submit "Ikaria" in its place.

Mrs. Petrie said...

I'd cal this painting "Inferno". Your pictures from the cottage are amazing. Sorry to hear Mother Nature is being fickle. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

FROM THE RIGHT BANK said...

I just wanted to say I'm so jealous of your place on the lake. The setting looks heavenly and it's just the kind of place I'm looking for! Have a great weekend!

amariaf2000 said...

Had to make sure no one took my name for the painting: "Passion"

Great blog! I need one of those bbq floaties! I also need another hole in my head! :)

By the way, the soy sticks...we may have to start working out some kind agreement...tassels for sticks...my container is almost gone!!

~angela @ peonypatch

Rona Fraser said...

How 'bout:

"Lust"

- Rona

Gayle said...

What a great post! It is really chocked full of summer wonderfulness! Name? How about "Fever"?

Puna said...

Ooohh...this should be fun.

My title for the painting is "Vim"
definition is: lively or energetic spirit; enthusiasm; vitality

And did you take that picture of that man on the beach?

I love your suggestions for my bedroom by the way. I love chartreuse and you were the first to suggest it. It gives me courage to do it now!

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Oops. I didn't play by the rules. Here's my one-word title for it (instead of the 5 words I used the first time): HEAT. How's that? :-)

Fifi Flowers said...

LOTS of summer FUN in your post... ENJOY your weekend! Fifi

Susan said...

Love your post and sense of humor. As I was reading about that BBQ-Donut unit,(which I truly would like to go on sometime) it immediately led to thinking about summer cocktails and Voila as I read further a delicious recipe for the ultimate summer strawberry cocktail. Read further and then the ice cream recipe... Absolutely perfect. I can't wait to try both as I now sit here listening to yet another downpour of rain coupled with mind bending humidity. Ahhh Summer in PEI. Good job Kelly. Have to go now the blender is suddenly calling my name. Afterall it is Friday night! cheers Susan

flutter said...

I think that "Aries" is a perfect name. That painting just screams fire!

MadeInCanarias said...

"Fire"

Anonymous said...

I'd name it Sunburn.
- Danielle

Cemaya said...

'Firestorm' That's one word, right? :)

mrsben said...

"INFERNO" is my choice. (Uncontrollable fire - Red, orange and char.)

Hasn't our weather really been 'the pits' Kelly!
Is summer ever going to arrive? This Spring mode is really becoming a-n-n-o-y-i-n-g.
-Brenda-

mrsben said...

Oooops I just noticed some one else has chosen that name so how about "VOLCAN". (French translation for the english word Volcano....but I feel 'inferno' suits it better.)
-Brenda-

Tricia said...

That all looks like the perfect summer to me!
Enjoy your lake weekend!
*Tricia

Donna @ Paisley and Perspective said...

Hey Kelly - love this post. Your dock looks very inviting and I think Squirt is enjoying her summer as much as you are!

I can't wait to try the ultimate Strawberry Daquiri and honestly, I'm afraid to try the ice cream recipe - it may work and then I'll be wearing oven mitts for the rest of the summer!

This piece of Matt's work reminds me of spicy food, warm countries and fire. Sooo, I'm going with the Italian word for flame - Fiamma.

I'm hoping that this post is read very closely by Mother Nature! She needs to clean up her act and bring us some sun and warmth and NO RAIN!!!

Marie said...

I don't feel sorry for your shaking and being cold...It's sooo HOT down here I can't even imagine that feeling. ;) Want to trade?

Your dog is adorable, woof!

And I must must must have that BBQ donut....I didn't realize you could drive it and eat at the same time, what a concept, ha!

In regards to the name for the painting, I don't have any that are as good as "Blister in the Sun" which Cristin submitted, actually they are all great names but that is my fav. :)

mrsben said...

Re a name for the painting....can you play twice? "MOLTEN" might also suit it. (Brilliantly glowing from intense heat.) The processing of Iron Ore comes to mind.
-Brenda-

MoOt - Modern Ottawa Blog said...

I love that shot of Squirt jumping on the water. Beautiful!

Love it ! said...

I name the art FEVER.

Tamara Jansen said...

I just LOVE that Donut BBQ! Gotta have one :)

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