Making a Splash this Summer

Summer is here and it is HOT! 

Here are some fun Summer activities you can do in your backyard to make sure your summer is COOL!

SLIP AND SLIDE

Break out a slip in slide if you have one but if not do not worry, a camping tarp will work just as great!

WATER BALLOON TOSS

have your family pair up and toss a water balloon back and forth. Every five throws take a step back. Make a fun bracket and hang it on your back porch when you are done. Have fun prizes for the winner!

SPRINKLER TAG!

Turn on the Sprinklers and get ready for some fun! Play a round of Sprinkler tag where the kids once tagged have to stay frozen until  some one un-freezes them.

A cool sweet treat your family will LOVE!

Classic Chocolate Chippers Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup margarine, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon salt 

2 1/4 cups flour

1 (11 1/2-ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 carton of ice cream of your choosing

Cream butter, margarine and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well, then add dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. scoop into balls with a cookie scoop, bake on un-greased cookie sheet for 9 to 11 minutes at 375 degrees.

Once the cookies have cooled melt chocolate and spread on the bottom of the cookie, so that the ice cream wont make the cookie soggy. Place cookies upside down with the spreaded melted chocolate on the bottom in the refrigerator to harden for thirty minutes or until hard. Once the chocolate at the bottom of the cookie has hardened put your ice cream of choice in the middle of two of the cookies. Place sprinkles or tiny chocolate chips around the ice cream if desired! Keep in the freezer till ready to serve!

Mixing Things Up in your Home for a Design You will Love

When moving into our new home we often times contemplate traditional design or modern. It is time to break the rules! You can complement two design styles and have the best of both world if you do it right!

How to Mix Traditional and Modern Furniture Styles
Create a Home in Your Own Style
 By Abe Abbas, About.com Guide

When you mix traditional and modern furniture styles you can create an individualized, multilayered living space. Furnishing your home should be more about developing your own personal style rather than adhering to any single style unless you are truly passionate about it.

That said, combining modern furniture and accessories with traditional ones can result in chaos if not planned in advance. There are three major considerations to make before you decide to mix modern and traditional styles.

1.Modern or Traditional?

First of all you need to figure out if you want your space to be primarily modern or primarily traditional.

Figure out which style should dominate. It can be a modern space with antique accents or a traditional space with contemporary accents. Letting one style dominate is crucial, because you don’t want to create a space where everything is fighting for equal attention.

2.Why You Love it

Once you’ve figured out where your loyalties lie, find out why either style appeals to you. Look at the visual attributes of a piece of furniture. When you find yourself attracted to a piece is it because of its shape and lines, or do you admire it for its color and texture?

There is no wrong answer, so spend as much time as you need to. Whenever you see some furniture you like, note it down. Notice how you describe it to some one else. Do you talk about its sleek lines or rich texture? If you collect pictures of furniture you like, you will begin to see a pattern.

You can then begin to tie in pieces of different styles through their shapes, or material or color and texture.

3.Harmony or Contrast?

After figuring out what you like and why you like it, it is time to settle another important question. What kind of a look are you going for: harmony or contrast?

If you want to create harmony and a restful look, select furniture pieces that are more alike, or just a few degrees apart. For instance, for a harmonized look you may want to pair Hans Wegner chairs with a more traditional wood table. Although these chairs have a very modern sensibility, they are made of wood, which can harmonize with the table.

To create contrast and excitement, juxtapose colors and textures, such as Eames molded plywood chairs in different colorful stains, or the Tolix chaise in steel or colored metal with your traditional table.

4.Mix it Up

Now that you've figured out which elements are important to you, go ahead and start mixing it up.

Let one style dominate, and use the other one for accents.

Tie different styles together with the same color, texture, or shape.

Get different nuances by creating harmony or contrast when you mix different styles.

Sometimes all we need to have the home of our dreams is a little courage. Courage in buying the home, and courage in decorating to what ever our hearts content. Follow your interior instinct and don't hold back, your home will be all you, and oh so beautiful!

Catch up in the Kitchen: Designing your Perfect Kitchen

This is not your grandmother's kitchen. This is your kitchen, a place that screams out you and your family. A kitchen filled with life and your stories!

Have you ever noticed that no matter how hard you try, when you have guests over everyone ends up in the kitchen. Everyone is gathering around the kitchen island talking about life munching down on grapes and close enough to the fridge and pantry for extra snacks.

When it comes to designing your kitchen think:

Lighting

Space

Color

Appliances and Accessories

Lighting: A kitchen is a great place to use natural light. Take advantage of the windows in your kitchen. Also look into under the cabinet lighting, which looks fantastic when all you need is a few lights on when you are no cooking. The natural light brightens and will warm the feeling of your kitchen. Use windows as focus points and use lighting that eliminates the kitchen in a natural lighting effect. Stay away from fluorescent and dull lighting.

Spacing: Whether you have a large kitchen to work with or a small kitchen utilizing your space is a smart way is key to a great design. Kitchens are best when there is space to socialize, sit and chat while cooking and entertaining.

Color: Color your kitchen with fun wall paper prints and bright painted walls. For a bigger project, use bright tile squares and place in the nooks of your kitchen. Take advantage of your blank canvas of a kitchen if your kitchen is white and add dashes of reds with kitchen towels, vases, appliances, etc. Colors that pop with a white kitchen are reds, bright or dark blues, oranges, black, greens.

Appliances and Accessories: Your kitchen can become all your own with fun appliances and accessories! A colorful kitchen aide, chalkboard, brightly decorated canisters for your spoons and spatulas will add character to your kitchen.

Your kitchen will be a success! But the best accessory to a Kitchen is good people and good food!
Everyone will be in your kitchen when you make:

Tollhouse Pie!

19" unbaked pie shell

2 eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, melted and cooled

1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Beat eggs until foamy. Beat in flour and sugars until well blended. Add butter and blend. Stir in chips and nuts. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake 1 hour at 325 degrees. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Good Food, Good Friends, Good Company

Details Make the Difference

A house can be truly beautiful. Perfect floors, amazing use of paint and color. But what is it that when you walk into a home really make it stand out. It is the details. It is the wall of family photos, it is the use of your favorite colors, it is the tiny trinkets that you have gathered from your travels.

The details of you that are in your home, are what make your home the most amazing home of all! The best piece of advice when decorating your home, put yourself  and your families personality in your house.

Recently we were in a darling home where the families love of travel and the father's passion for flying was present on the walls and in the home. There were old fashioned photographs of air planes and family photos of the the family's travels.

Vases and trinkets that have been in your family for years can be a great vocal point of your room! The best way to make a house a home. Make the details personal and special to you.

Making your Home the Destination for Summer Memories

Your home is the new destination for summer memories! Clean up the back yard and break out the fire pit for s'mores and roasted starbusts. Starbursts?! Yes! Just as you would roast a marshmallow, put the starburst flavor of your choice on the roasting tool. Hold over fire and roast for three minutes or so. They are a treat your kids will love!

Have an outdoor concert in your backyard staring your talented musical friends. Set up a small stage and have blankets and treats for your guests.

All the neighborhood will be loving your home with your very own outdoor movie night. Set up a projector and a white sheet or screen. Project your favorite summer time movie. Sand Lot is a favorite for the summer and filmed right here in Utah!

Set up a hammock for your family to catch up on all their summer reading.

 Put up a couple tents in your back yard and have a sleep over for your family under the stars. Play cards and take photos for when your family has grown they can remember one of their favorite camping trips.

Ultimate Charades

Have every one write three names of people on tree separate pieces of paper. It can be anyone your brother's name, Justin Bieber, Oparh for example.

Put every ones folded pieces of paper into a bowl.

Split into two teams.

Have each person from the team be take turns acting out the names in the bowl, while being timed for two minutes.

first round the "actor" can talk and use actions.

second round can say one word

third round no words.

(The rounds end when you have gotten through everyone in the bowl. Then you put all the names back in the bowl and start again.)

How ever many people their group can guess gets that many points.

Take advantage of your backyard this summer, and before you know it your home will be a special place not just for your family but for your neighborhood and your friends.

Sweet Summer Dinner Party

Celebrate Summer at your home by having an under the stars dinner party. Break out your patio furniture and your BBQ, and invite family and friends over to celebrate those warm summer nights!

                                  

Ivoy's

"Favorite"

Wild Rice Salad

2 quarts plus 1 cup water

3 cups wild rice

1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, chopped

1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas

1 green pepper, chopped

 1 pint Cherry tomatoes, halved

1 (4-ounce) package slivered almonds toasted

Dressing:

1 1/3 cups vegetable oil

1/2 cup vinegar

1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon paprika

2 cloves garlic, minced

Combine all dressing ingredients  in jar and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to use. In large saucepan, heat water and rice to boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Drain any excess liquid from rice. Mix together rice, artichokes, peas, green pepper, green onions, tomatoes and half the dressing. Toss well. Cover and chill. Just before serving, toss again and taste. Add more dressing, if desired. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and serve.

Ivory's "Favorite"

Easy Barbequed Salmon

3 pounds of salmon fillets

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder



Place salmon, skin side down on grill-or place on sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil on grill. Mix remaining ingredients and use to baste salmon frequently. Cook until salmon changes color. Turn over and peel of skin. Baste frequently and cook until done, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Salmon should be cooked through, but just barely. As soon as the juices of the fish turn white, test salmon by poking it with a knife and peeking inside.

Celebrate Summer - Sun drenched days and starlit nights...--Gooseberry Patch

A Parade of Patterns!

Refresh your home with patterns and bright colors this summer season. A room can easily be awakened with patterned pillows, rugs, bedding, and furniture. Don't be afraid to mix patters and colors.

“Every room needs a slap in the face.”

—Dransfield and Ross co-owner Geoffrey Ross, Jan/Feb 06

Start with one thing you adore such as a color or pattern and then build off that. Patterns will draw attention to the room and bring out the colors present in the room as well.

I don’t think people have enough fun with decorating. It doesn’t always have to be so serious. Design isn’t like marriage. You don’t have to commit for life.”

—Designer Ross Cassidy, June 10

Matchy-matchy is not for me. I don’t want things to be too perfect. I want there to be relationships with texture and color, and sometimes it’s more about the contrast that chimes."

—Fashion designer Peter Som, September 05

A House Party for your Great Graduate!

Graduation is a fantastic reason to bring everyone to your home to celebrate all the hard work and accomplishments of those in your family who are graduating!

Have a celebration in honor of your graduate and their friends! Have pictures of your graduate from their educational experience around the house. Have their diploma on display!

Have Polaroid camera with cap and gown, other fun props, and costumes to take pictures of your guests and place the picture in a notebook with a good luck/ congrats message to leave for your graduate.

decorate your house with balloons and take jam jars and fill with tea lights to make your very own lanterns!

Chocolate Graduation Caps!

Turn Reese's Peanut Butter Cups upside down. Take a little frosting and attach a small chocolate square to the bottom of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Take frosting and attach a Sour Punch Straw for the tassel. Put chocolate graduation hat on a a white straw or stick for serving.

Serve your party delicious Mexican  Layer Dip

2 large avocados

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 package taco seasoning mix

1 (16-ounce) can refried beans

1/4 cup taco sauce
8 green onions, chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

1 (4 1/2-ounce) black olives, drained and chopped

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

tortilla chips

Peel, pit and mash avocados with lemon juice, salt and pepper; set aside. Combine sour cream and taco seasoning mix; set aside. Mix refriend beans and taco sauce.

To assemble, spread refried bean mixture on a large, shallow serving platter. Spread avocado mixture over beans. Spread sour cream mixture over avocado. Sprinkle chopped onion, tomatoes and olives over all. Cover with cheese. Serve chilled or at room temperature with tortilla chips.

Ivory Homes would Like to Congratulate all the graduates of the class of 2011!