Hi Patriotic Palsy-walsies,
Linking up today with the ladies for Red, White, Blue and YOU or in my case, make that Red, White, Blue and ME! Sharing some 4th inspiration in the form of decorations, dessert and the patriotic outfit I will be sporting to our Triple A ball team’s 3rd of July game and fireworks display. Hope you will be sure to stop by the blogs of our patriotic hostesses, Andrea, Lisa, Chrissy, Kellyann, Shelly and Laura for their very FIRST linkup.
Here’s how I have splashed a little red, white and blue around our world.
Decor
Almost skipped decorating for the 4th. Positively unpatriotic, I know. But I had just put my summer decorations in place and wasn’t sure I had the energy to replace it with red, white and blue. I put on my big girl panties, though, and got out my stars and stripes. Here’s how that looks.
Red, white and blue wheelbarrow.
Have enjoyed watching my patriotic pinwheels blow in the breeze. On the front porch, went with a baseball theme for my Prince. He painted the palette a few years ago at I Painted That! Not sure if the C represents his beloved Cincinnati Reds or our last name!
I filled my lantern with old baseballs, added a Texas Rangers ball cap, one of PC’s gloves, along with another painting he made last year at Art in the (Ball) Park. There’s that C again!
Sprinkled stars and stripes here and there inside the house, as well. First on my 2 tier tray.
Hung a flag garland on my mantel and mixed baseballs with faux succulents in my coffee table bowl.
Dessert
We are having such great results on Weight Watchers that we really don’t want to ‘blow’ it! Accidentally ate some crazy-high-calorie ice cream yesterday. Was not worth all of the guilt we felt the rest of the day. A spoonful would have been so much more satisfying than an over-indulgent bowlful. The kids were planning on coming down for a quick 24 hour trip on Wednesday and Thursday but something has come up keeping them in Albuquerque instead. Was going to make this apple pie so PC and I could enjoy a slice then send the rest home with the kids. Instead, mixed up this Weight Watcher’s friendly (red, white &) blueberry dessert. Going to add a few sliced strawberries and a dollop of lite whipped topping to make it red, white and blue.
We are going to a Chihuahuas Triple A baseball game on July 3rd, with fireworks afterward. Will probably grill something and spend time in the pool here at home on the 4th. Maybe Instapot ribs thrown on the grill for a few minutes before dinner.
Dress
Today was our 9th day of triple digit temps this year. Sounds hot but last year was hotter. By this time in 2018, we had had 25 days above 99*F. Dressing for the 4th, or 3rd when we go to the game, can be tricksy in El Paso. We are in the midst of our monsoon season – July and August are our wettest months. With the chance of rain pretty high, and the temperatures dropping quickly once the sun goes down, I might need a wardrobe change about time for the 7th inning stretch.
Here’s what I am planning to wear.
Old Navy tee, have always wanted one but in years past, they’ve sold out in record time at our outlet store. Snagged one a few weeks ago for $4. Loft Outlet raw hem white denim and red cardi. Target chambray flats. Bandanna bracelet. If it is just too toasty, I will switch out my white jeans for white denim shorts, and my flats for patriotic flip flops and ditch the cardi. Or carry it til the sun sets. The chihuahua ears are a must, either way.
Journaling in July
My friend Sue at Sizzling Toward Sixty & Beyond is hosting a Journaling in July series. I enjoy writing responses to prompts so will be adding this to my Morning Pages that I write during my quiet time most days. Sue reminds us that journal writing is a personal activity. There is no right response to any of these prompts. Your response to one prompt might be deeply personal. And just a simple sentence or two for one of the others. Here are the first week’s prompts. Enjoy!!
Day 1 – What makes me special?
Day 2 – Dreams & goals
Day 3 – What makes me feel happy?
Day 4 – Write about a special memory
Day 5 – What I did today
Day 6 – 3 things I’m grateful for
Day 7 – My favorite quote and why?
Your Turn
How are you sprinkling stars and stripes about in your life this week? If you celebrate the United States’ Independence Day, what will you be doing, wearing, eating? Inspire me with your plans in a comment below. And then be sure to visit some of the ladies hosting today’s link-up to be further inspired!
Thank you, ole chums, for spending a few moments here with me. Enjoy your first week of July!!
Hugs and kisses,
Dara
Love the outfit! I have been wanting to start a morning journaling practice. Do you use a blank journal or something with prompts in it?
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey, I have been using a blank lined spiral notebook for my morning journaling. And I was reading the book It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again by Julia Cameron for direction on what to contemplate and write about. Now that I have finished that book…which took forever…I am looking for a new devotional, too. But I think we could probably find a book of journaling prompts on Amazon. Or, I have heard of writing prayers. I like that idea, too.
Rebecca Jo
OK – I never thought about decorating a wheelbarrow before – that is a cute idea!!! I think we have one that the wheel broke from the barn that is sort of useless now & maybe I can use it for some sort of decorating!! HMMMM… you have my mind going now 🙂
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Dig that wheelbarrow out, girl. So fun to decorate…especially for the fall!! Think pumpkins, scarecrows!!
ShootingStarsMag
Fun post. As someone who lives right outside Cincinnati, I love all the Reds decor. 🙂 I’m actually going to their big 150th Concert Celebration this Friday night. I’m excited. Love your two tier tray, and that outfit is adorable.
-Lauren
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh my gosh, how was the 150th concert celebration for the Reds? PC would have LOVED to attend that. We are heading up that way in August and will be attending a game on Wednesday, 08.21. PC will be in pig heaven.
Kellyann Rohr
Well that wheelbarrow takes the cake! I love your yard decor and all the baseballs – so fun! You are killin it with the tiered tray too. I just love seeing all the red, white, and blue inspo! I am thinking of starting WW online next week – eek! I’m nervous about online, I’ve only ever done meetings but I need to get my act together.
Love the ears!!!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
We have been so pleased with WW this time. Just doing the online…no meetings. But we are sticking to it and have been for 2 months now. PC is down close to 15 pounds. He looks A-MAZING! I am down about 8 pounds. And we are both toning up.
Thank you for the sweet words about my holiday decor. I almost didn’t put the red, white and blue out this year. But glad I did. Thanks for hosting the link-up. Looking forward to more great things from you gals!
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
I overindulged so much at Disney, that I am trying to be really good until we leave for Maui on Friday! I even signed up for a Juice Cleanse before we go. Strawberries with whipped cream is my favorite somewhat healthy dessert!! I love your 4th of July tiered tray, SO cute!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
What better place to overindulge than the happiest place in the world. I know you will get back on track. Oh, my gosh, had forgotten you were going to Maui! What a fabulous summer you are having. No worries, come fall, when the kids are back in school, you can get back to your regular eating and workouts. Enjoy!!
Donna
What a fun post. Your creativity and enthusiasm is very inspiring!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are so sweet. Your energy and stick-with-it-ness are inspiring!!
laura
Thanks for linking up with us, Leslie! Hope you have a FABULOUS 4th of July!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thanks for hosting, Laura!!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
The decor looks nice! Nothing special going on here. I miss the days when the grandbabies were young. We’d take them out to watch the grand fireworks display then back home to shoot off our own! They sure loved holding sparklers back then ♥
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Oh, sparklers!! Dee, I haven’t thought of those in years. We can’t do fireworks in El Paso because it is so dry and the fire risk is too great. But my dad used to shoot off fireworks on our dead end street when we were kids. Had forgotten that. And we always had sparklers. Thank you for reminding me!!
Laura Bambrick
I’m glad you put your decorations up! You have some great patriotic decor! Your tiered tray turned out so well! That 4th of July outfit is very cute!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, sweet friend. Have to say, you rocked that striped jumpsuit look.
Jill
Love all of your festive decor! Your wheelbarrow is so cute! The weight watchers dessert looks delicious and the strawberries and whipped cream will make it festive! Enjoy your 4th Leslie!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
That blueberry WW dessert was truly good. And so easy to make. We felt like we were cheating!
Shugunna Alexander
All the decor is so cute, the baseball idea is really nice. I love the outfit as well.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, sweets. We are a baseball lovin’ fam over here. Some of us more than others!!