Recipe // Barley Salad

June 27, 2013

I love to make a large batch of light salads during that summer that I can pack up for a picnic at a moments notice, or pull out of the fridge for a quick lunch!  I love pairing barely with some fresh vegetables including spring peas, and olives.  Drizzled with a light vinaigrette, it is the perfect summer salad!
{Barley salad with olives, spring peas, cucumbers and grape tomatoes}
serves 4
4 cups barley cooked according to package directions
1 red pepper, diced
1/2 cucumber, peeled and diced
3 stalks green onions, chopped
1 cup sliced olives
1 cup spring peas, fresh or frozen and thawed
1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Mix and place in fridge for 30 minutes then serve.
Enjoy!

passport to imagination craft class

June 24, 2013

Today I took the kids to a fun craft class at Michaels craft, part of the summer craft camps called Passport to Imagination.  It is going on now until August on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and they are only $2 for the 10am-noon craft session.  You can sign up at participating Michaels Craft!

The kids got to discover South America this week and sculpt and paint an ancient Moai head sculpture like the ones in the Easter Islands.

They also got to try their hand at weaving and make a woven pin!

They were some happy craft campers, and they are excited to go back for more!  And, it helps save me and them from summer bordeom, ha!

[Disclosure: Michaels will be sponsoring my children to attend the passport to imagination camps in exchange for a sponsored post.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

hd moment: the mountains were calling

June 21, 2013

Spending time in nature is a huge part of our family life.  We love it, we need it, we cherish it.    Lately, with our busy schedules we haven’t had as much time to get out into nature as much as we would like.  But, we could still hear them calling.  The mountains were calling, and we just couldn’t ignore it anymore.

We knew we didn’t have a lot of time, but we pack the kids in the car, and headed to one of our favorite spots.

We knew we only had a couple of hours of daylight left, but we just had to get out up there. We needed it.

If you’ve ever lived near the mountains, then perhaps you know what I’m talking about.  We lived away for many years without any mountains in sight, but I could still hear them calling my name.

I just love this little family of mine, and somehow that love intensifies when we remove our little family from distractions like TV’s, and other electronics, and it’s just us and nature.

Nature is truly good for the soul.  There’s just something about it!
Husband and I couldn’t be more happy than when we are lying on a blanket watching our children discover the world around them.  Building sandcastles, finding treasures (rocks), and digging for “buried treasures.” 
They were certain a pirate left his treasures here, they even claimed that there was an “X” to mark the spot!  I always say, nature is the best babysitter!
It was just what we needed!  We felt rejuvenated and ready to get back to the daily grind!
So, do you have a special place that helps rejuvenate your soul?  Do share!
And, be sure to share your special #HDmoments and tag it on your social media!  Haagen Dazs will be sharing their favorite moments over on their tumblr page!  
So, go on, get out there…. you know you need it too!
[Disclosure: Haagen Daz sent over product samples and gifts in exchange for me blogging about their “Moment’s for Me” campaign.  All thoughts and opinions are my own, all photos by me.]