Andra Weber Creative
Design & Creative Development
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Create & Change

Posts in July
Summertime Is Calling! Get Out And Enjoy Nature It With These 3 Creative Ideas.

Hi, Creative Friends,

Summer is a great time to get outside and see the world around us. It can feel like summer is calling us to see more, do more, and be more in nature. That’s why…

This week, here is how to get out and enjoy summer with these 3 creative ideas…

  1. Read About Hot Dog: Unexpected stories are all around us and if you are a bit like me, thinking about the story of how nature is healing is inspiring. This is where the 2023 Caldecott-winning story “Hot Dog” by Doug Salati makes its mark and is an excellent reminder that a day at the beach can make our lives better.

  2. Adventure Journal: Here is a sweet DIY project to help us get out and enjoy summer: The Adventure Journal from REI. Download and print your FREE Journal REI adventure journal here and go answer summer’s callings and explore the great outdoors.

  3. Paint & Send A Greeting: When was the last time we paused to take in nature? The colors, the scent, and the sounds nature creates are incredible! Sit quietly in a garden or park and then paint or draw something inspiring. Try creating a special greeting card for a friend on a postcard. Send your card out into the world to inspire a friend to get out and enjoy summertime too!

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how you answering the call of summer.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Latest Creative Posts

Let's Talk About 3 Ways To Make Peak Summertime Delicious And Beautiful!

Hi, Creative Friends,

Summer is such a wonderful time of year! The shimmery days, sweet bountiful produce, and moments of pure happiness make us feel alive. Breathing in the height of summer and making the most of this beautiful season can really get our creative ideas flowing.

This week, let’s chat about how to make the peak of summer delicious & beautiful:

  1. Garden Gone Wild: Are tomatoes and bunches of zucchini squash piling up from your garden? Here are two amazing recipes that create a fun summertime meal: Chunky Gazpacho Soup from Marin Magazine & Double Dark Chocolate Zucchini Muffins. Both recipes are as delicious and delightful as a cool breeze on a hot summer day!

  2. Beach Beautiful: Whether putting our feet up by the beach or just sitting in our backyard, cocktails make summer sing. Try one of the sunset-inspired beverages in this book Beach Cocktails From Coastal Living such as this Tropical Champagne Punch. Either drink is just the right combination of summertime fun & beautiful!

  3. Fruits Of Labor: The summer is filled with happy fruity treats including, Blackberries, Early Girl Tomatoes, and juicy Damson Plums. Long after summer fades, grab an art print from INPRNT as a reminder of summer’s delicious beautiful times.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how will you make the peak of your summer fun & beautiful.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Make This 4th Of July Joyful And Special With These 3 Creative Ideas.

Celebrating July 4th

Hi, Creative Friends,

America’s Birthday is this Tuesday, July 4th. If you are a bit like me, holidays can stir up lots of creative energy and a big walk down memory lane. For me, the 4th of July always includes clapping on the sidelines of a festive 4th of July parade, splashing in a local watering hole, and watching fireworks bloom in the sky. American’s birthday celebration can be a holiday filled with warm, summertime memories. That’s why…

This week, let’s make July 4th wonderful and special, with these 3 creative ideas.

  1. Many Good Characters: Movies are the backbone of American culture and there are a bunch of great films to watch together to celebrate the great American story. Here are 27 Best 4th Of July Movies from Good House Keeping. Pair one of these American tales with a big bowl of Patriotic Popcorn from Oh Sweet Basil and this recipe for Rasberry And Lemon Rosé Sparkler from Women’s Day and will make the day special.

  2. Hot Dog! Everyone Wins: What happens when one man eats 75 hot dogs? Let’s find out America! Watch in horror and amazement as Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest continues this year with Joey Chestnut defending his champion title. To extend the fun, let’s create a watermelon eating contest right in our own backyards and call 4th-Of-July done & fun!

  3. American Blue Splendor: Pie says America is grand so try this Blue Ribbon Blueberry Pie recipe from King Arthur Baking and watch everyone’s eyes light up like fireworks.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how will you make July 4th creative, wonderful, and special.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Let's Talk About 3 Ways To Make Peak Summertime Fun And Beautiful!

Hi, Creative Friends,

Summer is such a wonderful time of year! The shimmery long days, sweet bountiful produce, and moments of pure happiness can make us feel alive. Breathing in the height of summer and making the most of this beautiful season can really get our creative ideas flowing.

This week, let’s chat about how to make the peak of summer fun & beautiful:

  1. Garden Gone Wild: Are tomatoes and bunches of zucchini squash piling up from your garden? Here are two amazing recipes that will create a fun summertime meal: Chunky Gazpacho Soup from Marin Magazine & Double Dark Chocolate Zucchini Muffins. Both are recipes are as delicious and delightful as a cool breeze on a hot summer day!

  2. Beach Beautiful: Whether putting our feet up by the beach or just sitting in our backyard, cocktails have a way of making summer sing. Try one of the sunset-inspired beverages in this book Beach Cocktails From Coastal Living such as this Tropical Champagne Punch. Either drink is just the right combination of summertime fun & beautiful!

  3. Fruits Of Labor: The summer is filled with such juicy happy treats including these fun Fruit Collection art prints at Society 6. Long after summer fades any of these lovely prints are sure to create a reminder of summer’s happy times.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how will you make the peak of your summer fun & beautiful.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Summertime Is Calling! Get Out And Enjoy It With These 3 Creative Ideas.

Hi, Creative Friends,

Summer is a great time to get outside and see the world around us. It can feel like summer is calling us to see more, do more, and be more in nature. That’s why…

This week, here is how to get out and enjoy summer with these 3 creative ideas…

  1. Go Outside And See The Story In Nature: Trees are all around us and if you are a bit like me, thinking about the story of trees is not something that we think about when we are walking around our neighborhood. This is where the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Overstory” by Richard Powers becomes powerful. It’s an excellent read and fascinating in its perspective about humans as they relate to the natural world.

  2. Adventure Journal: Here is a sweet DIY project to help us get out and enjoy summer: The Adventure Journal from REI. Download and print your FREE Journal REI adventure journal here and go answer summer’s callings and explore the great outdoors.

  3. Paint & Send A Greeting: When was the last time we paused to take in nature? The colors, the scent, and the sounds nature creates are incredible! Sit quietly in a garden or park and then paint or draw something inspiring. Try creating a special greeting card for a friend on a postcard. Send your card out into the world to inspire a friend to get out and enjoy summertime too!

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how you answering the call of summer.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Make This 4th Of July Wonderful And Special With These 3 Creative Ideas.

Curling Up For A Good Nap After Celebrating July 4th

Hi, Creative Friends,

America’s Birthday is this Monday, July 4th. If you are a bit like me, holidays can stir up lots of creative energy and a big walk down memory lane. For me, the 4th of July always includes clapping on the sidelines of a long 4th of July parade, splashing in a local watering hole, and watching fireworks burst in the sky. American’s birthday celebration can be a holiday filled with warm, summertime memories. That’s why…

This week, let’s make July 4th wonderful and special, with these 3 creative ideas.

  1. Many Good Characters: Movies are the backbone of American culture and there are a bunch of great films to watch together to celebrate the great American story. Here are 27 Best 4th Of July Movies from Good House Keeping. Pair one of these American tales with a big bowl of Patriotic Popcorn from Oh Sweet Basil and this recipe for Rasberry And Lemon Rosé Sparkler from Women’s Day and will make the day special.

  2. Hot Dog! Everyone Wins: What happens when one man eats 75 hot dogs? Let’s find out America! Watch in horror and amazement as Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest continues this year with Joey Chestnut defending his champion title. To extend the fun, let’s create a watermelon eating contest right in our own backyards and call 4th-Of-July done & fun!

  3. American Blue Splendor: Pie says America is grand so try this Blue Ribbon Blueberry Pie recipe from King Arthur Baking and watch everyone’s eyes light up like fireworks. To mark the holiday, purchase this Blueberry Garden Art Print from Society 6, and make this holiday the most splendid one yet!

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how will you make July 4th creative, wonderful and special.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Here Are 3 Creative Ideas To Make The Peak Of Summer Happy.

Hi, Creative Friends,

Summer is such a wonderful time of year with its shimmery long days, sweet bountiful produce, and moments of pure happiness. Breathing in the height of summer and making the most of this beautiful season can really get our creative ideas flowing.

This week, let’s make the peak of summer happy with these 3 creative ideas:

  1. Garden Gone Wild: Are you finding yourself with oodles of tomatoes and bunches of zucchini squash right from the garden? I’ve got two secret amazing recipes that will create summer meal happiness: Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese & Double Dark Chocolate Zucchini Muffins. Both are recipes are as delicious and delightful as a cool breeze on a hot summer day!

  2. Bottoms Up Beautiful: Whether putting our feet up by the beach or just sitting in our backyard, cocktails have a way of making summer sing. Try this book “Beach Cocktails: Favorite Surfside Sips and Snacks” by The Editors Of Coastal Living. Start with creating a surfside sip in a Bormioli Rocco Bodega glass and top with these modern striped drink paper umbrellas. They are just the right combination of sturdy and sexy for summertime fun!

  3. Fruits Of Labor: The summer is filled with such juicy happy treats including these fun Fruit Collection art prints at Society 6 or try bathing a bottle of summer rosé in a beautiful Forest Flower Wine Cooler. Long after summer fades any of these lovely things are sure to create a reminder of summer’s happy times.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how will you make the peak of your summer happy.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Here Are 3 Creative Ideas To Make Summertime Travel Happy And Better.

Hi, Creative Friends,

Travel is a beautiful thing and can inspire creative leaps. It’s unfortunate that even now, after months of pandemic life, we may not be able to experience happy travel, or we may not be able to travel at all! If you are a bit like me, reminiscing about trips taken and things seen, like giant lemons, driving serpentine roads, and deep blue waters in Sorrento, Italy has eased the sadness of not being able to go someplace new. That’s why…

This week, let’s make summer travel better & happy, real or imagined, with these 3 creative ideas:

  1. Book It Across: Maybe leaving our home physically isn’t an option yet, but looking through rich, interesting travel books can transport us anywhere such as “Gray Malin: Italy” or “Parks: United States National Park Service Maps From The Collection Of Brian Kelley” can create a sense of happy travel in our imagination. These books show us, we don’t need to leave home to create happy travel.

  2. Accessories Are Key: Travel is can be incredibly stressful but having the right gear to create a trip worth enjoying is key. Try one of these great accessories: packable straw hat, international-sized suitcase, and fabulous carry-on tote. Keep all the moving parts organized with this set of three California All-Carry Pouches from Society 6.

  3. Find A Quiet Spot or Eat A New Dish: Inspiration can be just around the corner like at a local nature spot or in our own kitchen. Try tucking one of these lovely portable watercolor notebooks from Arteza in a bag with a Winsor & Newton travel watercolor set and hike out in your neighborhood to sketch up a landscape or try creating a new recipe such as this delicious looking Pasta Carbonara by Clan Kitchen. Either way can create a travel experience that is happy & better!

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how will you make your summer travel happy & better.

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

3 Creative Ways To Make This Summer Fun And Fantastic!

Hi, Creative Friends,

It’s official, we are smack dab in the middle of summer! If you are a bit like me, finding the best part of summer is about loving the simple things, like a warm summer day at the local pool, taking an hour to learn something new, or eating something of the season like a juicy, fruit galette.

This week, let’s make Summer fun and fantastic, with these 3 creative ideas:

  1. Say Peaches!: Creating summer fun can be as simple as looking at the local market for ripe, sweet fruit such as perfectly plump peaches. Whip up a Fruit Galette with this NYT cooking recipe or scoop up “French Pastry Made Easy” by Molly J. Wilk and make your summer sweet and fantastic with a perfect summer dessert. Here is a secret baking tip. Add this Heilala Vanilla Bean Paste to the crust of your fruit galette and make this galette the best dish enjoyed all summer long.

  2. Pool Time = Fun Times: Keeping everyone happy, especially little humans, during the summer can be daunting. Luckily, a long warm day at the local pool can make everyone fantastically joyful and worn out. Throw on a swimsuit such as this one, grab a water bottle like this one and pack a cooler full of drinks & snacks, and watch the summer memories spill over into fall!

  3. Dive Into Learning: It’s always good to expand our minds and Skillshare offers so many great classes to fill a few hours of each day learning something new such as Still Lifes Are Cool! Contemporary And Traditional Art In Acryla Gouache by Dylan Mierzwinski. With a notebook such as this Strathmore Soft Cover Mixed Media Art Journal and a small set of Acryla Gouache, this class teaches the fundamentals of building and mixing colors. If painting up cherries sounds like too much pressure for summer, try my Creative Magic Everyday: How To Unlock Your Creative Magic Now! class, it helps develop the simple art of finding creative ideas.

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how will you make your summer fun and fantastic!

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

Here Are 3 Ideas To Make The 4th Of July Creative And Fun!

Hi, Creative Friends,

America’s Birthday is this Sunday, July 4th. If you are a bit like me, holidays can stir up lots of creative energy and a big walk down memory lane. For me, the 4th-of-July use to include a parade ride in a cherry red Cadilac convertible!

This week, let’s make July 4th fun and memorable, with these 3 creative ideas.

  1. Many Good Characters: Movies are the backbone of American culture and there are a ton of great films to watch together to celebrate the great American story. Here are 27 Best 4th Of July Movies from Good House Keeping. Pair one of these American tales with a big bowl of Patriotic Popcorn from Oh Sweet Basil and call July 4th sweet and memorable.

  2. Hot Dog! Everyone Wins: What happens when a man eats 75 hot dogs? Come on, let’s find out America! Watch in horror and amazement as Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest continues this year with Joey Chestnut defending his champion title. To extend the fun, let’s create a watermelon eating contest right in our own backyards and call 4th-Of-July done & fun!

  3. American Blue Splendor: What is it about pie that says America is grand! Try this Blue Ribbon Blueberry Pie recipe from King Arthur Baking and watch everyone’s eyes light up like fireworks. To mark the holiday, purchase this Blueberry Garden Art Print which is 40% off through July 4th at Society 6, and make this holiday the most splendid one yet!

Drop me a message and let me know what you are working on or how will you make July 4th creative, memorable & fun!

Also, thanks for reading. This newsletter takes some time to pull together. Consider showing your support by forwarding it to someone who might need some inspiration or buying some of my artwork at INPRNT or Society 6.

If you are seeing this newsletter/blog for the first time and want to keep seeing content subscribe here.

Keep going, creative friends!

xoxo,

Andra

This Is Why On 4th Of July We Don't Need To Be Happy To Be Free.
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Happy 4th of July great Americans! It's been 242 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted. To celebrate this nation's birth, we should fire up the barbeque, spend our afternoon belly flopping in a pool, consume a truckload of hot dogs and end the day watching effervescent fireworks burst in the night sky.

Afterall that is what freedom is right? It's right to celebrate and be happy.

Or rather be happy because we are free. 

However, freedom is brilliant in that it has no constraints and offers no solution. It means different things to different people. Freedom is unparalleled in its diversity, and it gives us the luxury and personal choice to be happy today. It provides us with the option to pursue what it means to be happy.

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We get to choose what it means to be free, and that is phenomenal.

Let's raise our glasses today and say "Cheers to America!" 

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Until soon Great American friends.

 

 

 

JulyAndra Weber
The Love Fruit Makes Summer Dinners Happy.

This post contains affiliate links.

The sweltering summer heat brings about many things. We might find can find ourselves looking for comfort in a visit to a local watering hole, sopping up the sunshine as we road trip down a highway or swinging by a park to soak in the last few hours with our families. It's these moments that create the memories that make the juice worth the squeeze.

And then our stomachs rumble, and we realize we didn't plan dinner.

Here is the good news. It is a perfect time of year for something subtle, spicy, hearty, refreshing and bursting with the summer sun. Found at most supermarkets or farmer's markets, it can be big and fleshy or tiny and sweet. It has an identity crisis and often called a vegetable. No matter what, we can make it into a perfect portable dinner and keep pumping love right into our summer.

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Every year, about this time, I pull from my kitchen shelf "French Women Don't Get Fat. The secret of Eating For Pleasure" {affiliate link} by Mireille Guiliano. Yes, the title isn't a favorite but the recipes inside are simple and delicious.  A variation on one darling recipe made with a perfectly ripe seasonal tomato is below. When the warm days say goodbye, this recipe will make you miss summer. Let's take tonight and create an outdoor picnic that will fill our bellies and help us continue to soak in the delightfully long summer days.

Picnic Worthy Tomato Salad With Goat Cheese 

  • 4 large heirloom tomatoes
  • Jacobsen Sea Salt to taste {affiliate link}
  • 6 oz fresh sheep's feta or goat cheese
  • 2 tablespoons minced shallots
  • 1 teaspoon yellow or Dijon or yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 loaf crusty bread

Step 1: Slice the tomatoes to be about 1/2 inch thick. Place in a portable container with a seal- tight lid and sprinkle with salt and goat cheese. Close lid and set aside.

Step 2: Place shallots, mustard, vinegar, and olive oil in a small leak-proof container. Close the lid and shake until combined. Place the tomato, dressing, and bread in a cooler or picnic basket with some ice packs if eating later. Bring everything needed for a picnic. Once ready to eat, pour the dressing on top of tomatoes, serve a few slices to each tomato with dressing, rip off a hunk of bread and dig into the fruit that makes summertime amazing.

Enjoy the summer love and the happiness that comes with each bite.

Until soon friends!

 

 

 

 

 

JulyAndra Weberyet
Why The Summer Is A Great Time To Be A Failure.

Summertime can bring a slow down to our lives. It's a time when a daytime frisbee game calls to us more than the paper on our desks. Our task list gets longer as we throw water balloons on our hot concrete driveways. The e-mails that need our response sit unattended as we play ball in the park with our kids. The summer light hits the landscape just right, and we forget all about the meetings, obligations and need to keep doing. 

This pause in our commitments could be called a summer slowdown, and it can feel like we aren't moving forward, taking care of business and downright failing at making success happen.

However, when we force ourselves to slow down, do we start to create a sense of what is truly important to us?

I'm going to continue to say "Oh Hey!" to the summer slowdown and see where my summertime failure takes me.

How about you?

Soak up the summer rays, stare at the sunflowers and I'll see you soon friends.

JulyAndra Weberyet
This Is Super Saturday. What Will You Create Today?

Saturday is a great day to start somewhere on something that means something to us. Meaningful work brings joy and space in our lives, and Saturday can give us the time to build on what we need. Saturday helps provide a space where we can expand and do the things that make us whole. 

It doesn't matter what kind or work we do or it's perceived value to others. It's our contribution to the world, and it is important. What we create this Saturday can have an everlasting impact on our future which in turn changes the people and space around us.

So let's pick the strawberries, gather our supplies, prep the jars, measure the ingredients, make our jam and start filling our cupboards with our meaningful work.

We undoubtedly will need it for later. There will be a morning when we open our pantry and choose to slather something sweet on our toast. 

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Enjoy your Saturday and may we use today to create something satisfying for ourselves and the world around us. It's so important.

Until Tomorrow Friends.

JulyAndra Weberyet
Who Likes Art That Makes Us Happy & Uncomfortable?

The summer can do funny things to us. As we open ourselves up to the possibilities the season can provide, we can find ourselves skinny dipping into our lives. We are making ourselves vulnerable to something new, raw and real. We might travel to a new place to immerse ourselves in a new culture. We might find ourselves in the kitchen brewing up something new and fresh. We might take in an outdoor concert from a beloved band. We might find a canoe and drift lazily down the river.

Or we might take our kids on a summer morning to an Art Museum.

Sandwiched between "Please pick up your Legos!" and "What are we going to do today?" I had an insane plan to take my two small children to BAMPFA. BAMPFA is a real Art Museum filled with lots of interesting galleries, different mediums of art, lots of breakable stuff and complex exhibits. In other words, a great place to take two small kids!

Like an exhibit that contained clowns, lots of very uncomfortable clowns.

I have viewed some art in my lifetime but the UGO RONDINONE: THE WORLD JUST MAKES ME LAUGH exhibit made me unsettled, provoked lots of thought and downright gave me the creeps.

And without prompting the artwork had the same effect on my two little ones.

When we first set foot in the gallery, my daughter took a step back and tried to bolt out of the gallery. My son clung to my pants at the sight of shimmery, colorful, and playful clowns dressed in their clown attire. All of the figures were so realistic in their positioning the kids felt the artwork might "jump up and grab them." I asked each of my children questions. How the art made them feel? They both reported "uncomfortable and creepy." When we moved into the gallery that was also a part of the exhibit called "Rainbow Afternoon: Drawing Workshops for Kids" filled with hundreds and hundreds of children's drawings depicting rainbows the kids reported they felt "happy." 

When I asked them which gallery the preferred, they said "both." They said the clowns made them feel one way but the rainbows drawings made them feel a different way, and they liked having both emotions.

Isn't funny how art and creativity have a way of transforming us into feeling different things?

Until Sometime Soon Friends!

 

 

 

JulyAndra Weberyet
How To Celebrate The Perfect 4th-Of-July.

Summertime can roll by so fast. Memorial day pops up and then before we know it, Labor Day seals in and closes out the good times. Sandwiched in the middle is a holiday that just sparkles, the 4th-Of-July.

When I was a kid, there was something magical about the 4th. The red, white and blue banners that glimmered from porches made me happy. The summer humidity of the Midwest rolling down my back forced me to feel alive. The parades that marched brightly down the street were effervescent in their glory.

Then there was the flag cake. 

Wait there wasn't?

Nope. 

We never had flag cake!

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Let's make this 4th-Of-July perfect by creating a flag cake or rather a giant flag cookie, because nothing says, "We Love America!" more than one pound of butter and 3 cups sugar. It's America's Super Cookie, and nothing else could celebrate the birth of our nation better!

America's Super Cookie

  • 2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Frosting

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries thinly sliced

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a jelly roll half pan (approx 17.25" x 12.25") with baking spray. Line the jelly roll with parchment paper, so the paper overhangs the pan. In a stand-up mixer, whip the butter on medium speed for 3 min. Scrape the sides of the bowl and whip for 1 additional min. Add the sugar and mix for 3 min. Add the eggs one at a time and then add the vanilla. Mix well.

Step 2: In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture. Combine on a slow speed until smooth. Place the cookie dough on the jelly roll pan and spread until even and smooth. Bake for 15-20 min until the edges are golden and a toothpick comes out clean from the middle of the dough. Let the cookie cool completely.

Step 3: With a hand mixer, cream the butter and cream cheese. Add the salt and lemon and combine until smooth. On the completely cooled cookie spread the frosting evenly. Let chill for 1 hour. Add the blueberries and strawberries in a flag pattern right before serving. 

What could make the 4th-Of-July more perfect?

Until tomorrow Great Americans!

 

 

 

JulyAndra Weberyet
Day 214 - Mixtape.

Hello. Is it me you are looking for? Sorry, it was important to start Sunday morning with a dash of Lionel Richie. Yes, we are talking music today. Are we going to pull out the Karaoke machine and blast out a Jon Bon Jovi ballad together? Maybe, but while we consider showboating ourselves, let's talk mixtapes.

Remember the mixtape? If you don't remember, they were a "a compilation of favorite pieces of music, typically by different artists, recorded onto a cassette tape or other medium by an individual."

Back in the 1980's and 1990's, the mixtape was a calling card of cool. There was just something about hearing the plastic cassette click into the boombox, hitting play and hearing the hours of work stream through the speakers. It was pure magic. Mix tapes were generous, creative and thoughtful. With the invention of CDs, Pandora, Spotify and Google Play the art of the mix tape has become lost. A mixtape said a lot about the person receiving and the person giving the music. There was simple kind of humanity that was lost when the mixtape died.

Today, let's create a sudo mixtape. Think of someone special in your life and make a mixtape. Yes, all cassette tapes are most likely all in your Grandma's basement, in an unmarked box hidden under a pile of old Trivial Pursuit game pieces. However, consider using the library feature on YouTube to create a sudo mix tape for someone special in your life. Is there still magic from creating a musical collage?

You are super rad so I made a mix tape for you. I call it "Mixed." Let me know how you like it and hear you tomorrow cool kids!

JulyAndra Webermusic, yet
Day 213 - Easy Art.

This post contains an affiliate link.

Good day everyone. Yes! It's Saturday and it's a great time to make some art. Yes! Everyone can make art. Everyone! I'm going to hop right into todays project with a fast, fun and physical way to create easy art on this summer Saturday.

You will need a straw or two as this project is fun to do with a friend. Thick paper like watercolor, printmaking paper or card stock paper. Liquid watercolors {affiliate link} or food coloring will also be needed. That's it! Well, and maybe a place to let the paint fly and an apron might also help the process.

The history of making art by blowing pigment around dates back a long time. In fact, the earliest forms of art have been found in Spain, France and Indonesia and date back 32,000 - 40,000 years. You can read more about cave paintings and the history of blowing art via Live Science: "The Worlds Oldest Cave Art."

Now take a look at this video and watch how to create some super cool artwork of your own.

I hope you enjoyed the history lesson and enjoy making easy art today. See you tomorrow summer artists!

 

JulyAndra Weberart, yet
Day 212 - Create A Wish.

Hello Friday! Even with summer's sizzle in full swing, Friday nights are still the best night of the week in my book. They are great for playing ball at dusk, roasting s'mores and stargazing. As for the stargazing, I love to joke that I want nothing to do with space since there are plenty of problems here on earth. I, however, can't help but stare up at the night sky and wonder about the expanse of the universe. It's magnetic and magnificent isn't it? It makes everything seem inconsequential. In short, the sky is pretty awe inspiring even for a pessimist like me.

Tonight treat yourself to a meteor shower and some stargazing. If the sky is clear, grab a blanket, go to a safe dark spot tonight to view stars. Create a sense of awe by looking up. Take time to spot a meteor or two. Two fold, create a wish on any falling stars. Right now the Delta Aquarid meteor shower should be in full swing. It sounds like it won't be as breathtaking as the Perseid meteor shower which happens around August 11-12 but the Delta Aquarid should do for a summer wish. 

Well, I'm going to run and get my blanket ready and hope the clouds part so I can take in the universe. See you tomorrow twinkle twinkle little stars.

 

JulyAndra Weberspace
Day 211 - Bird Song.

Hey shhhhh. I'm listening today. I'm closing my eyes and hearing all the things around me. Especially the sweet song of birds. How can we go through entire days tuning out amazing, awe inspiring sounds such as the song of a bird? It's breathtaking what we learn when we close our eyes and just listen. When we listen to the world around us and listen to ourselves, we hear so many interesting stories.

Today, sit for a few minutes and close your eyes. Listen to the world around you. Create a sense of awareness with everything around you. Learn from what each sound has to say. I learned that birds create incredible vocal patterns, that I live by a super busy street and I can hear my own heart beat if I sit still enough, which frankly made me uncomfortable.

It was an amazing experience in creating awareness. I'm going to get back to closing my eyes and listening closely. Hear you tomorrow!

JulyAndra Webermusic, yet