FUNTASTIC FRIDAY LINK PARTY AND LATE SUMMER IDEAS

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY LINK PARTY AND AN EASY MEAL RECIPE

Welcome to Funtastic Friday #503. Let's get to LINKIN' UP!

How are your last few weeks of Summer going? School started here on the 19th so parents and kids are back into the swing of things. I liked it when I was a kid and we didn't go back till the day after Labor Day 😊

This week, I made another DIY Fall Wreath that I will take to the cemetery. I try to keep a seasonal wreath on our son's headstone all year. I also like to do various solar lights, too.

Onto our party! 

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Donna & Staci @ Two Chicks and A Mom

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Heidi @ Building Our Hive 

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Michele @ CoastalBohemian 

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Features from last week:

MOST VIEWED

Centerpieces Aren't Just Flowers by Thrifting Wonderland

Random Pick

Holding on to Summer by Calaypso in the Country

Heidi's Pick

Peanut Butter Cake Mix Cookies by Walking on Sunshine Recipes

Donna's Pick

Easy Beef Teriyaki Slow Cooker by Mommy Hates Cooking

Michele's Pick

47 Best Fall Crafts for Adults by Pillar Box Blue 

Congratulations to the Featured Bloggers!

 Make sure to grab a button to brag a bit!

ON TO THIS WEEK'S PARTY!

Party Rules

1.  Post up to 4 links.

2. Family-friendly posts only.

3. Old posts are welcome.

4. Comment on at least one post at the party.

5. Follow the hosts on as many platforms as you can.

We are your online friends. 

Let’s interact, comment, and enjoy one another while supporting each other.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

DIY FALL WREATH TUTORIAL 2024

Here I am again, making another easy, inexpensive wreath. I love to do that several times a year! I believe that I have mentioned before that we lost one of our twin boys when he was only a month old, many years ago. There isn't much that I can do for him on this Earth (live a good life so I can be with him again is one thing) but I do like to decorate his headstone with wreaths and also add solar lights around it.

I had the foam wreath already (from Dollar Tree) but the ribbons and wooden leaves/"Happy Fall" script I purchased at Hobby Lobby last time I was near one. Also, you will need straight sewing pins, scissors, hot glue gun, and glue sticks.

I will attach a link to the tutorial I have used to make these wreaths.

Here is one I made several years ago:

Here is the link to the WREATH TUTORIAL

Thanks for stopping by! Happy crafting!

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FUNTASTIC FRIDAY 502 AND PIZZA PINWHEELS

Welcome to Funtastic Friday #502! Has school started in your area? My Arizona grandkids went back in July! My granddaughter in Reno started back this week and the grandkids here in town begin next Monday. I remember when I was a kid, we got out the Friday before Memorial Day and started back to school the day after Labor Day. Things sure change. Let us know in the comments if summer is pretty much over with school starting where you live!

Our new blog post is A Fond Farewell and Simple Luncheon Ideas. My brother-in-law passed recently and I threw together some simple centerpieces and luncheon ideas for after the service.

Meet Your Hosts

PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Donna & Staci @ Two Chicks and A Mom

         | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | BL |

Heidi @ Building Our Hive 

| Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |

Michele @ CoastalBohemian 

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Features from last week:

MOST VIEWED

Sonata Home Design How to Make a Tabletop Mini Greenhouse

Random Pick

24 Hour Family Painted Frozen Dinosaur Egg Craft

Heidi's Pick

A Life Unfolding DIY Pumpkin Centerpiece

Donna's Pick

3 Boys and a Dog Pizza Pinwheels Recipe

Michele's Pick

Purple Hues and Me Restyle and Repurpose Pirouline Tin

Congratulations to the Featured Bloggers!

 Make sure to grab a button to brag a bit!

ON TO THIS WEEK'S PARTY!

Party Rules

1.  Post up to 4 links.

2. Family-friendly posts only.

3. Old posts are welcome.

4. Comment on at least one post at the party.

5. Follow the hosts on as many platforms as you can.

We are your online friends. 

Let’s interact, comment, and enjoy one another while supporting each other.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

A FOND FAREWELL AND SIMPLE LUNCHEON IDEAS

Recently, my husband's younger brother, who had been in care facilities for many years, passed away. My husband opted for a small graveside service, due to several reasons, and that is what we did. Some extended family traveled from out of town for the service and I put together a rather simple luncheon for after the service.

It was decided that sandwiches and salads would be the best way to go. We have a Port 'O Subs in our rural town and they do have good food. I went in about a week prior to the service and talked to one of the managers and she was so helpful and kind! This location does catering for larger groups and she went over the choices on that particular menu with me. Eventually, I ordered 2 large variety sub-sandwich trays, a variety wrap tray, fruit salad bowls with fresh red and green grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew, and a meat and cheese tray. I could have ordered cookies and chips but picked those up at the grocery store in bulk. We decided on a date and time for me to pick up the food and they accommodated me by coming in a little earlier to have it ready (I needed to pick up the food, take it to the church and put it all in the fridge before heading back to the cemetery for the graveside).  Don't worry, I gave the Port 'O Sub employees a nice tip for all their help 😊

The day before the service, I spent about an hour making place settings. I had bamboo utensils left over from Thanksgiving so used those up and then regular plastic utensils when needed.

I had jute/twine left over from a previous craft project.

I folded the lower edge over the bottom of the utensils.

Folded one side edge into the inside., then folded the other side in and tucked the "extra" behind the back.

Tied with a simple knot to finish!

All done!

The night before the service and luncheon, a group of us went to the church and used the multipurpose room to set up tables, chairs and put out centerpieces. We didn't see the need to spend money on fresh arrangements (we had already done that for the casket spray, etc.) so I used decor items I had at home

I had several faux succulent arrangements that I had ordered in 2020 for Ali's proposed wedding reception but then COVID happened. I did sell a few things but kept some of the arrangements. Mason jars came in handy with a few clear glass pieces (marbles?) in the bottom and LED candle lights.

Woodens trays add a nice touch, too.

I did buy a couple of inexpensive place mats in case we needed them.

It was nice to use my own decor so I didn't have to worry about anything getting broken or misplaced.

We used nicer paper plates so not much clean up!

Vegetable tray--I loved the ranch dip in the hollowed out purple cabbage!

Nice spread and no cooking! The Relief Society at our Church would have provided the luncheon for us but we didn't think it was big enough to warrant that. The RS has been very helpful over the years when there has been a need for our family and so many others, too. I try to do my part, as well. Funny story: when I had given birth to our sixth child (and son lol), women at church (the RS sisters) signed up to bring food to us for a week or so. Every single meal was tuna casserole. Now, I had grown up eating my share of tuna casseroles and even had made a few for my family. After that experience, however, I have never made another tuna casserole lol. I appreciated the work and care but that did it for me!

Nothing fancy (unless you consider my SIL lol) but worked for us.

We did take one of our coolers and place that on the floor, full of ice, soda, and water. I didn't take a photo of that because I figured you would know what a cooler full of beverages looks like 😏

All in all, there wasn't too terribly much preparation and we were able to use the facilities at our church. I ironed the tablecloths beforehand and took them home to wash/dry afterwards and returned them. 

I hope you enjoyed my info on how we handled the luncheon after saying goodbye to a family member.

Thanks for stopping by!

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