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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Refreshing drinks in Mason Jars

Nothing says summer better than cooling down with a cool refreshing drink on a hot sweltering day!
 How about cooling down with a light refreshing drink made from those sweet summer strawberries?
I love picking strawberries and blueberries from the local farms....and attending the strawberry festival in our town (forgot to take my camera so no pictures).It's so much fun and the kids love it!
From strawberry shortcakes, to milkshakes and Agua Frescas  (a very popular Mexican drink made from strawberries or any other fruits in season), there are so many ways to enjoy strawberries:


For this wonderful quick and easy summer drink you need:

2 cups of fresh strawberries
1 cup of sugar syrup
1 cup of water
Ice cubes or crushed ice

 Place the above ingredients in a blender ( I used a Smoothie maker, instead) and process it until smooth. If you prefer you can pour the liquid through a wire mesh strainer in order to remove the pulps and seeds. I prefer it pulpy, so I did not strain it.

The amount of sugar syrup can be adjusted depending on how sweet you want it. Garnish with mint sprigs or slices of lemon or strawberry. 


I spray painted this wicker tray in red after taping off the handles. Then I painted a white border (acrylic paint)  to go around the top edge of the tray. After that I removed the tape and painted gold acrylic paint on the handles.



 For the bottom of the tray I decided to cover a piece of cardboard with remnant fabric scrap from some other project. I measured the length and width of the tray bottom. Then I cut a cardboard piece and two pieces of the fruit printed fabric according to the dimension of the tray bottom. Next I used Spray Glue on the cardboard pieces on both sides and attached my fabric pieces. And there you have it, no muss no fuss easy serving tray for all your summer entertaining:
 
To embellish this candle I just made two knots on either end of a cord and added two small white bone beads and two wooden beads and then just tied the beaded cord around the candle. Now it looks perfect for my summer tablescape:


 Don't you just love Mason jars? They are so versatile and can be used in so many creative ways and they are found all over blogland. I just love 'em! Before I used to collect bags... all kinds from totes,satchels to clutches. But now I'm moved on to bottle collecting!  Click HERE to view other uses of Mason jars and bottles.


I added a slice of lemon and tied a cord around the neck of the bottle:



 I appreciate you stopping by and I always enjoy reading all your lovely comments. Thank you for visiting and have a lovely evening!
I'm joining Kathy and the others at: A Delightsome Life to celebrate SAVORING SUMMER





Please, click the links below and be inspired:
Partying with:





















~POPPY~

41 comments:

  1. What a great use of a mason jar. Everything looks terrific. Thanks so much for sharing at my Swing into Spring party.

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  2. Poppy, your posts are always so bright & cheery. I love what you did with the tray - beautiful colors. And, of course the drink looks so refreshing.

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  3. Hi Poppy,
    Your entire post is refreshing, and so is your blog. I'm so glad you stopped by to visit me, so that I could visit you. Thanks for your wonderful compliments. I'm your newest follower. Stop back any time.
    xoxoRosemary

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  4. I need strawberries, this looks so refreshing! I am going to keep this recipe! Thanks for stopping by refreshrestyle!
    Debbie(now I'm your newest follower!)

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  5. Hi lovely lady.
    I love strawberries and this Drink looks so good right now in your Mason Jars!!! My Girl Friend is sending me some Jars this week some time. I will be doing this Drink!!!. I just came in the house 93dgs. Hot !!! Thanks so much for your lovely comments. I hope you have a Great Week.
    XXOO Diane

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  6. Hi Poppy,
    I love strawberries and your drink looks wonderfully refreshing. I like mason jars too and I use them often for different things. In fact next week's tea post will be featuring a mason jar! Thank so much for sharing this with Tea Time. It's lovely having you. Enjoy your week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  7. Hello.
    Awe inspiring your works...

    Thank you for your love and sincerity.
    Have a good weekend.

    Greetings.
    From Saga, Japan.
    ruma

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  8. Love your colorful blog , look forward to reading more and I agree you just can't beat mason jars xx

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  9. What a wonderful arrangement, Poppy. The strawberry drink looks so goooood and refreshing. Your decorative touches look so inviting. Hugs, Kim

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  10. What a refreshing looking drink, and the mason jar idea is so fabulous. Loved visiting your blog!

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  11. Yum! That looks like a perfect beat the heat drink. Love it served in the mason jar, too! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. The strawberry drinks look so good and love your arrangements, very colourful and fun. Thanks for sharing at Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays.

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  13. Love strawberries, so this will be a real pleasure to make. Thanks so much!

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  14. I don't know why, but drinks always taste better in a mason jar. Especially lemonades and iced teas! Mmm...

    spinning-threads.blogspot.com

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  15. A lovely drink in a lovely mason jar! Everything looks ready for summer and we are so glad you shared it with us at Inspiration Friday this week!
    Vanessa

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  16. Poppy,
    That looks delicious! Love the tray and the mason jar. A perfect way to serve a drink in summer.
    Thanks for linking this up at HSH!
    Sherry

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  17. I love summer drinks. Your tray and candle works so beautiful with the season.

    Dee

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  18. Your post reminds me of so many wonderful summers spent with my grandmamas in my youth. Thank you for sharing your designs and for stopping by my post. Cherry Kay

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  19. Thanks for your visit and kind words. I love your blog. The colors are wonderful. You did a great job with the tray. It's all lovely!

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  20. Love that colorful basket. Red just says summer doesn't it? The drink mix looks and sounds so yummy and refreshing. It was sooooooo hot here earlier last week. I wish I had read this a bit earlier. :) Glad, though, that you shared it on Motivated Monday at BeColorful and hope you will visit again.
    Pam

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  21. Hi Poppy! You leave the sweetest comments on my blog and i wanted you to know that it totally makes my day!
    You are a detail person like me - from the tray with the fabric bottom, to the embellished candle. For me, it's always the details that makes a space stand out. You've done an awesome job - even making something as simple as a glass of juice, look so charming! Great job.
    Thanks again and have an awesome week!
    xoxo,
    Kim

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  22. I LOVE summer drinks in Mason jars. In fact, I've been saving up mine all winter just for that purpose. I also have a lot of citrus spritzer recipes to make to fill them. I love your addition of the paper umbrella, and the lemon tied to the side is genius!

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  23. It's hot on the prairie -- those drinks look sooo good!

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  24. Everything looks so perfect! Beautiful post! Thanks for sharing!
    Have a great week!

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  25. Wow! I can feel the pucker on that one! :) This looks yummmmmmy! :)

    ~Liz

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  26. I, too, like using mason jars and can't wait to try your recipe. Strawberries will soon be in season here and that will be a perfect use for them. I'm also going to remember to "fancy up" the mason jars.

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  27. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and I came over and followed you also thru GFC. I really appreciate each and every reader. Thank you for finding something that you felt was useful or helpful to you in any way. I try to muddle through with some advice every now and then hoping it helps someone or makes them smile. I sometimes have a sense of dry humor!

    Mary@http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com

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  28. This is such a perfect summer post! Everything looks just wonderful!

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  29. Hi Poppy...

    My friend, your summery strawberry drink looks and sounds FABULOUS!!! Oh yes...I so agree with you...using mason jars for summer refreshments totally rock! I have to tell you that I love how you tied the slice of lemon to the jar with twine...how cute! And...the cute little paper umbrella is like the icing on the cake!!! Love it! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe with us too! Now, aren't you the creative one! Love how you added the beautiful fabric to the bottom of your wicker tray...that's so pretty!

    I also wanted to thank you for coming by and taking a peek at my Tea Rose bedroom yesterday! I always enjoy your visits and sweet notes, my friend! Thank you!

    Warmest summery wishes...
    Chari

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  30. Hi Poppy,

    This is such a perfect summer post! Your strawberry smoothie looks so refreshing. I, too, love mason jars. I like to get bouquets of fresh flowers at the Farmer's Market and put them in mason jars; they always looks so cheerful.

    Thanks for visiting my blog and taking time to leave a comment. I'm glad you liked our roses :)

    Hugs,

    Denise

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  31. Such fun! It all looks so refreshing.Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  32. Hi Poppy, this drink looks so refreshing! yum! It would be great on a hot summer day.

    Thanks for your nice comments on the wildflower vignette. We have lots of queen ann's lace around here too. It really is pretty and delicate, when I worked at the flower shop we used it with pink roses, it was just beautiful. have a great night! Kristen

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  33. This looks so refreshing.Beautiful and colorful too.I enjoyed my visit to you blog. Hugs

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  34. Looks yummy! I have a bunch of strawberries, we may have to make this tonight!

    ~JamieS@ Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

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  35. Yum! Your drinks sound so good and look great in the Mason jars. Mason jars have so many wonderful uses and are so practical and fun!

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  36. Oh this looks so wonderful and refreshing!! Love your charming set up too~ thanks for sharing this at Feathered Nest Friday! :)

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  37. Hi Poppie! Thanks for stopping by and for your SWEET comment you left on my birdhouse post!

    Your strawberry drink looks SO yummy and refreshing, not to mention adorable in a mason jar and served up on your cute tray! A perfect way to cool off on a summer's day!

    I LOVE strawberries, and would have loved to tag along with you at the strawberry festival too!!

    Stay cool!
    ~Sherri:)

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  38. You are so sweet. Thank you for all of your kind comments and birthday wishes. I was shocked this morning when I read the post. I had no idea he had done it.

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  39. Your tray is beautiful and the Strawberry drink looks and sound delicious and refreshing.
    hugs, Cindy

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  40. this is a lovely post. I appreicate the drink recipe too! Great blog and happy summer to you.

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  41. I love it! I host "drinks in the driveway" on random summer nights with my neighbors and this will knock their socks off!
    Thanks!
    Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot.com

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Thanks for stopping by and for your loving thoughts. They make me smile!Hugs~Poppy