it's my girls' world

Days before our long weekend last weekend, D contacted his very distant but very close cousin growing up, from Cleveland to find out if they were free for a little visit from our little crew. They were so off we went on our totally unexpected road trip this summer... so unexpected, we planned it and then realised that C's new passport was being processed and we had to place a rush order! It was an amazing trip with some fantastic company and definitely one of our favourite weekends this summer...

These are just some pictures from a couple hours we spent in downtown Cleveland and the Great Lakes Science Center.

An outdoor concert at the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.

 Our awesome hostess and her beautiful boys. Her husband had some stuff to do so we joined him later on.

 #legogoals

Yes and yes! 

Happy Weekending, friends!

Linking up with
Andrea, Erika and Narci for Favourites on Friday

Yeah, hello lovelies! I've been a stranger here. Two kids at home equals lots of busy! We're loving the warm weather, the lack of schedules and the lots of outdoor time but I've missed my little space and you guys.

Anyways, although school is 3 long short weeks away, I thought I'd check in to share back to school essentials for Working it Wednesday with Shay and Erica as well as 10 things with Erin (a day early).

Our Canadian schools provide the basic school supplies for our kids like pencils, paper and stationary so that's a huge help. I do try however to get some good supplies for home here for when we do work at home or if C wants to take a few to school.

I love a good first day of school sign and I got this one a couple years back!

I can't seem to find mine but this one is similar.

Curriculum books and Brain Quest books are awesome for work at home after school or taking to an extra curricular activity for the unoccupied kid.

PBK back packs are our very favourites. C is onto her third year with hers and A on her 2nd. They're  still going strong. I just throw them in the wash a couple times a year and they are as good as new!

These bento box containers are awesome for the bigger kids and these for the smaller ones. I got a couple each. I've started packing my kids' lunches the day before when I'm doing dinner prep #lifechanging.

This year, I splurged and bought these insulated water bottles as well from PBK as let's face it, the ones from Costco are cheaper.The kids love the spout. Sidenote, I wait for a sale and free shipping with the PBK stuff to order it.

I really need an electric sharpener for the pencils. It's insane how the regular sharpeners have been eating our pencils!!

These cheap,  fun binders available everywhere, are wonderful for keeping loose papers at bay and C's planner undamaged.

A cute pencil case is always a good idea to keep a few cute supplies for the little ones.

And clothes-- too much to mention but around this time I start looking for fall clothes for the girls. I wait for a huge sale from Gap and Old Navy and get a bunch of tops, dresses and some light fall outer wear for the little ones.

What's on your must have list for school? Did I miss anything?

Ages ago, back in July 2016, my mom bought a set of party plates and napkins for A's birthday party. Not one to mix and match (her mama taught her well), little miss informed Grandma that she wouldn't be able to use them as it was a flamingo party she was having. So Grandma told her to have a watermelon party next year... and that she did.... Whenever anyone asked her what type of party she would be having she would inform them that it was going to be a watermelon party.

Here's what started it all... 

The invitations... without our information #becausereally

It was supposed to thunderstorm that day so the day before, I emailed everyone and asked them to come an hour earlier as the rain was supposed to start at 3 (the original start time of the party). Only one family wasn't able to make it for that time and the rain did hold out too after all.

A little backyard decorating

Sidenote if you are ever doing a watermelon party, there are so many different variations of pinks, reds and corals for the watermelon red. I mixed red and coral with some limegreen to create this look. These are some first world problems, friends!

 I brought some of the decorating inside in case we had to move the party in.

We invited 14 little friends of hers (it could have easily been 25!) to come splash and swim with her. 

Can you tell they didn't have too much fun at all?

Food:

There was some colour prejudice for the food choices- that's for sure.

I included:

guacamole

chicken and lamb samosas  from this awesome place in Toronto(thanks Petal)

veggies

a watermelon fruit bowl

caprese skewers

Turkey burgers

pasta salad 

cole slaw

Drinks included:

watermelon punch

watermelon spritzers

beer and wine

Dessert included ice cream cake, a small candy buffet and watermelon jello  (an eleven year old guest made it-- and it was a HIT!)

A sweet and simple celebration for my sweet, sassy and sometimes not so simple girl!!

Linking up with
Andrea, Erika and Narci for Favourites on Friday