Marie, Author at DIY Adulation

Summer is already halfway out the door, but chances are your schedule isn’t slowing down at all. Take some of the chaos out of your schedule with these awesome summer side dishes whether it’s getting a simple meal plan together or having the perfect recipe for an upcoming pitch-in!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t get caught without the perfect recipe for your next BBQ! These awesome summer side dishes have you covered from refreshingly light to hot and savory!” username=”diyadulation”]

I feel like summer is flying by. From vacation, finishing up doctor’s appointments before school starts, and everything else we have to do it seems like we are in a deluge. It makes you feel like that social media joke about Merry Christmas and Happy New Year is less of a joke and more of a portent into your future!

Luckily, we can plan ahead for the end-of-summer craziness with these super delicious and awesome summer side dishes. Let’s be fair, every little bit helps and when that help is crazy tasty too, it’s even better!

Smokey Ginger and Orange Salmon Salad (Mom Home Guide)

Keep your sides fresh and satisfying with this smokey ginger and orange salmon salad. It’s easy to throw together and, of course, a crowd-pleaser every time.

Spinach and Mandarin Orange Salad (My Family Thyme)

Want to skip the meat in your summer side dish? This salad mixes the freshness of fruits and veggies in a savory and satisfying way!

Easy Gluten-Free Mexican Pasta Salad (Strength and Sunshine)

Pasta salad is a summer BBQ staple! Try a new take on a classic with this Mexican flavored version is sure to be a new favorite with your friends and family this year!

Broccoli Slaw and Ramen Noodle Salad (Blessed Simplicity)

Raise your hand if you love broccoli slaw! Now, you’ll love it even more after giving this Ramen noodle version a try. Light, easy-to-make, and tasty… what more could you ask for?

Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe (Ann’s Entitled Life)

Caprese salad is a dish that always gets gobbled up at parties. Enjoy a fresh new take on it with this summer cucumber version!

Mexican Corn on the Cob (Comfort Spring)

Have you been dying to make your own Mexican corn on the cob?! Now you can wow guests at your next party (or simply surprise the family with awesomeness) when you try out this easy recipe for it.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (Delightful E Made)

My mom tried this on a girl’s trip a few weeks ago. Now she is hooked! If Caesar salads have always been your jam, you will go nuts for this awesome pasta salad version. It’s the perfect marriage of favorite flavors for a great summer side dish.

Homemade Macaroni and Tomatoes (DIY Adulation)

Of course, I couldn’t leave you without one of our family favorite side dishes for pitch-ins. Once you show up to the family reunion with this delicious dish, you’ll have to bring it again and again. Don’t worry, though. It’s deceptively easy to make!

Don’t get caught without the perfect recipe for your next BBQ or family meal. These awesome summer side dishes have you covered easily whether your family loves light and refreshing or hot and savory!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Can you imagine an activity that keeps the kiddos entertained for hours with little to no input from you? That’s exactly what these DIY beaded pipe cleaner bracelets do! Seriously, put all of the materials into a tray on the dining table and BOOM! You’ve got the perfect creative activity for them.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Are you ready for hours of quiet play for your kiddos? These DIY beaded pipe cleaner bracelets are an easy and creative activity for your kiddos!” username=”diyadulation”]

Okay, so I just wanted something fun for the kids to do because, honestly, they were driving me crazy. Then I thought about this awesome activity I’d seen from my friend Heather at Glitter on a Dime. True to form, I changed it up a bit because my kiddos’ ages range from 5 to 10 and I wanted all of them to do it.

I put string in addition to pipe cleaners on the tray but to my surprise they all wanted to create with the pipe cleaners. The oldest didn’t want any input from me but the youngest 2 had me create the secure ends before they made their designs.

I had only hoped for 20 minutes of peace… seriously, my bar was that low. Instead, this kept all 3 of my kiddos busy for hours! Talk about an awesome surprise. Even better, because they didn’t use up all of the materials the first day, they continued to go back and create every day for 3 days.

Beaded Pipe Cleaner Bracelets Materials

Chenille Stems (Pipe Cleaners)
Shaped Beads Set (This is the set I used)
Pony Beads Assortment
Scissors

Step 1

First, pull out a pipe cleaner and 2 pony beads.

Step 2

Next, slide the pony beads onto the end of the pipe cleaner. Leave a small amount of space between them.

Step 3

Then fold a small end section of pipe cleaner over the pony bead closest to it.

Step 4

Holding the pipe cleaner in place, slide the second pony bead up over the folded piece of pipe cleaner until it is right next to the first pony bead. This creates a secure end of the bracelet to hold the rest of your beads in place.

Step 5

Next, thread on your beads in the desired pattern. Don’t worry about the small holes of the shaped beads. The metal part of the pipe cleaner is very small and will fit through them.

Step 6

When you have all of your beads threaded, take the end of the pipe cleaner and thread it through the first secured bead on your pipe cleaner to create a bracelet.

Step 7

Then thread the pipe cleaner end from the opposite direction through the second pony bead you added to your pipe cleaner.

Step 8

Lastly, trim any excess pipe cleaner from your bracelet and enjoy!

Tip:

If the sharp edge of your pipe cleaner is poking your kiddo’s wrist when they put it on, wrap the end so that it is between the beads.

If your kiddos love getting creative at all then they will go nuts for these DIY beaded pipe cleaner bracelets! They are such an easy activity to put together and literally buy you hours of peace. Is there anything mom craves more than that in the throws of summer break? I don’t think so.

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Bring on the Crafts — A Craft & DIY Blog Hop

On the first Friday through Sunday of each month, a group of DIY and crafty bloggers join forces. Together Marie from The Inspiration Vault and Habiba from Craftify My Love they bring you the #BringontheCrafts blog hop. Each blogger creates a fun craft or DIY project to share that follows a monthly materials theme. July’s theme is Buttons & Beads! Each blogger chooses their own craft to make as long as they love it and it uses Buttons & Beads in the project.

Our July Co-hosts

Jenny at Cookies, Coffee and Crafts • Marie at DIY Adulation •
Beverly at Across the Blvd • Gail at Purple Hues & Me • Kim at Day To Day Adventures

Join in on the fun! If you’d like to participate next month, you can request to join our Bring on the Crafts Facebook Group. Next month’s theme is Cutting Machines!

Not a blogger, but a creative mind none the less!? Don’t worry, share your awesome creations in our Craft Cult Facebook Group. This is also a great place to ask craft & DIY related questions and find inspiration for your next project.

Now let’s see all of those amazing craft and DIY projects!

Got a Disney trip coming up? If so, give yourself a little peace of mind with these free printable “Call Mom” safety cards for kids. They make sure your phone number is always close if your kiddos need it for any reason at all during your trip! Check out the additional safety tips for your little one’s safety while you’re here too.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Stress less on your next trip! Give yourself a peace of mind and your kiddos a helpful tool with these free printable “Call Mom” safety cards for kids.” username=”diyadulation”]

Losing a child, even for a few minutes is a terrifying experience as a mom. I have totally been there and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Before we get to the tutorial, it’s important to know that these are a last resort in safety, especially for younger kids who are having difficulty remembering your phone number. It’s important to always talk to your kiddos about the rules and expectations for crowded places.

Things to Talk About with Your Kids:

Talk about what the appropriate distance is that they can be from you. Then be sure to practice that distance repeatedly before your trip. This helps the kids get a representation about what that distance actually looks like and remember it.
You also want to talk about who the appropriate people are for your child to go to if they do get lost. What do these people dress like and discuss any additional features/accessories to look for.
Lastly, make sure you discuss safety tactics for if someone, Heaven forbid, would try to take your kid. For example, they should start yelling “Fire” to get people’s attention and they should kick, scream, fight and make it as difficult as possible for the abductor. Most abductors who try to take children from public want a child they can take quickly an easily.