THE FAIR

one of my favorite traditions from my childhood summers is going to the fair at my grandmas house. my whole family would make the four-hour drive in the heat of mid-july up to my grandma's in michigan. there, we'd meet up with our cousins and spend a day or two riding rides, eating (too much) funnel cake, and spending quality time with the best family. this past summer, we picked the tradition back up after being too busy the last few years. i documented our time with some photos and a short video! keep scrolling for all the images!
 

it was seriously such a nice day!

my cute cousin alicia^^

                   

 

                 

do you have any yearly tradition that you love? the fair is one of my favorites. until next year! -m

CONQUERING WEEKEND BOREDOM (AND AN AWESOME GIVEAWAY!)

it's not everyday that i find myself doing something really fun. with five days of school, then the weekend, then cross country meets, then homework, then blog work, it's hard to plan around my busy schedule. and in those rare moments when i find myself with a free day or two, a little bit of boredom kicks in. (usually leading to netflix! :)

this past weekend, I happened to have a saturday night free, and i wanted to stray away from my usual routine of binge-watching grey's and gossip girl. so with a little brainstorming, i put together a quick bonfire for a couple of my friends and i complete with snacks (like doritos, chex mix, and bunch a crunch®), s'mores, and good music.

it was a super last minute party with some awesome friends and good times. i can say that the weekend boredom was officially conquered. now it's YOUR turn! the amazingly kind folks at nestle® have offered a lucky reader $20 to try to conquer their own boredom! enter the giveaway below for your chance to win and purchase some amazingly yummy chocolate! how will you conquer your own boredom? let me know in the comments, or post to instagram or facebook using the hashtag #lifehacktoboredom! tag me in the picture too! i can't wait to see how you shake up your normal routine! and don't forget to enter! -m



a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLUEBERRY LEMONADE POPSICLES

lemon and blueberries. this fruity combo has been my favorite lately - and these popsicles sealed the deal! they're the perfect combo of sweet, sour, and refreshing, making them the best thing for the heat of summer! my siblings couldn't even wait for me to finish shooting the pops, they tasted so good! plus, they're so incredibly easy to make.

INREDIENTS

• one pitcher lemonade (either freshly squeezed or from a mix)
• one cup blueberry simple syrup (click here for a simple syrup recipe!)
• blueberries for garnish

SUPPLIES

• popsicle molds
• popsicle sticks

DIRECTIONS

1. fill a clean popsicle mold 3/4 of the way with lemonade
2. use a 1/4 simple syrup to fill the mold the rest of the way (you can switch up the ratios or lemon to blueberry depending on which flavor you'd like to be stronger)
3. add a few berries to the top
4. insert the popsicle sticks and freeze for about 4-5 hours
5. once frozen, run the molds nder hot water, remove the pops, and enjoy!

what combinations are your favorite? almost any can be made into popsicles. one of my all-times faves is chocolate peanut butter.... we may be on to something my friends. we'll see! -m