Ice Breaker Ball

This is a simple game for parties, family reunions and Young Women Activities. Grab a big bouncy ball, write questions all over it. Pass it around and what ever question your right hand pointer finger touches you have to answer. We call it an Ice Breaker Ball! Pretty easy and fun! You get to know A LOT about people! Check it out! 

I made this ball for a Young Woman activity a few weeks ago and the girls had a blast! Just after I made the ball with all the questions, I added little stars. If they "landed" on a small star they were allowed to ask anyone a question. It got pretty hilarious what they would come up with!

This game is perfect for all ages! 

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Watermelon & Lemon Jello Dessert

We loved this version of this jello dessert. It was creamy and divine! My husband said it tasted like a starburst! I sure don't mind that at all, who doesn't love starbursts?! This is going to be great for summer parties and BBQ's. Everyone we make this for always begs for the recipe. It's very simple, fresh, and delicious! Who doesn't love that? Check it out!

Watermelon & Lemon Jello Dessert

1 (3 oz) Lemon Cook & Serve Pudding & Pie Filling

1 (3 oz) Watermelon Jello Pkg

3 c. water

8x8 glass pan

Follow the directions at Lemon - Orange Creamsicle Jello

Cook Lemon cook & serve pudding and pie filling according to directions on the box. While that is cooking and you are stiring constantly, in a separate pan boil 3 c.water. Pour the watermelon jello powder into your 8x8 glass pan. Pour the boiling water into the glass pan. Mix thoroughly together. Add the cooked lemon pie filling  into the jello mix in the glass pan and mix thoroughly as shown in the pictures at Lemon-Orange Creamsicle Jello. Refrigerate for 2 hours and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate over night until set up.  Garnish with cool whip when ready to serve! DELISH!

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From Night Stand to Play Kitchen

We made this play kitchen last year for Christmas. Our little June has loved it, and countless others who have graced us with their presence. This is super sturdy, just the way we wanted it! It was a fun project for my husband and I to work on while she took naps. We were SO fortunate to find a cabinet that already had a folding door like an oven! We didn't have to turn anything into one, or make something different! It was PERFECT! Here is our road to a perfect play kitchen to last for years and years! Plus, its so much cuter than a plastic one and will last longer too!

The Night Stand - we got this amazing find at a yard sale for $25

We grabbed the metal bowl for the sink and traced around it, we then traced a line just inside the first circle, because there was a lip on the bowl and we wanted the bowl to rest on the wood, not fall through. We cut the hole, then primed the whole thing white.

We then got red spray paint and went to town

We installed the sink, faucet and "sprayer"

(See all the screws- that baby is in there TIGHT!)

We caulked the sink in first and let it dry. My husband didn't think that was enough so we broke 2 drill bits to make a hole in the metal bowl and screwed it into the wood! That is a very strong sink!

We didn't want the sprayer hose dangling in the oven! SO UN-REALISTIC! So we came up with a hidden space. We took a piece of scrap wood we had and made a space between the back of the night stand and the "oven" can you see the hose in the back? We screwed it in on the outside to stay in place. It works AMAZINGLY!

I also painted red "coils" on the bottom of the oven and placed a Dollar Store cooling rack over them! It's all in the details! 

This one took us a while to figure out. We wanted the stove to look like a round stove with coils, but a regular can lid was too small and we were worried about the edges being sharp! So we found 2- #10 cans and took the lids. My genius husband used the can opener upside down to keep a soft ridge. We also sanded them down just in case! We screwed it in 5 places. That stove top is going NO WHERE!

You're all going to laugh, but the handle for the oven is a towel rack! We couldn't find anything else! We changed out the hardware on drawer to match all the silver.

I purposely wanted a drawer for the kitchen. Boy was I lucky to find one! All her food storage is in it! I could actually SHUT the drawer and nothing would fall out. The kitchens with the material over a space for storage are super cute but I wanted a drawer to be able to shove things in and not have them spill out.

What a perfect little kitchen we will all enjoy for years to come!

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12 Super Summer Sides Round-Up

I love finding that perfect side dish to take to a BBQ or party in the summer. Some of the good ones are hard to find... well now our life is easier! Here are 12 amazing sides to wow your friends and family over this summer! Check them out!

1. Broccoli & Bacon Salad - Cook and Craft me Crazy

2. Pasta Salad - Nap-Time Creations

3. Greek Chicken Salad - Joyful Healthy Eats

4. Cranberry Applesauce - Made to be a Momma

5. Pistachio Pudding Salad - High Heels and Grills

6. Curry Ginger Salad - Dessert Now, Dinner Later

7. Jello Pretzel Salad - Ducks 'n' a Row

8. Mandarin Orange Salad - Yummy Healthy Easy

9. Chinese Cole Slaw - Sarah Lynn's Sweets

10. Black Bean Mango Salsa - Love and Laundry

11. Strawberry Cheesecake Salad - The Recipe Critic

12. Creamy Poppyseed Pasta Salad - Mommy on Demand

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Amos 'n' Andy - Grilled PB&J

All my life I have grown up with Amos 'n' Andy's for Lunch. I never questioned what they were. For you out there wondering, what in the world an Amos 'n' Andy is, it is a GRILLED Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. It's a family "delicacy" we've had FOREVER! I introduced it to my husband and he is in love with them. Everyone who tries it, can't believe what they ever did with out them. 

While making this post I hurried and looked up Amos 'n' Andy online because I just knew for sure the whole world knew what it was! Well did I get the surprise of life! Amos 'n' Andy is NOT a grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich to the world! ITS A RADIO SHOW running from 1928-1956! SAY WHAT?! So I hurried and called the one who has made this delicious sandwich all my life.... my dad. I asked, "Dad? Why is an Amos 'n' Andy called an Amos 'n' Andy?" He said, "Because that's what my grandparents called it." So I was thinking... this marvelous sandwich has been around since my GREAT-Grandparents?! Amazing! Well he continued to tell me it was a comedy radio show they enjoyed and just called the grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich "Amos 'n' Andy". And not to question it anymore! That's what it is, and that is that! Ha ha. I AGREE! To me, a grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich will always be an Amos 'n' Andy.

So after my little story of the origin of Amos 'n' Andy's has been told, this is for you! You and your children should try one today. The combination of the melty peanut butter and jelly with the crisp bread should make your mouth water! Your kids will love you forever and you will be wondering what you ever did with out these Amos 'n' Andy's. Have a FABULOUS Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich day!

2 pieces of sandwich bread

The top crust removed of course.

One side Peanut Butter

The other side grape Jelly - our family has always liked honey too!

Put the pieces together

Take a knife and grab some butter spread

coat the top of the sandwich with butter

pick up the sandwich and put it on the hot griddle butter side down to start grilling.

While the sandwich is cooking, grab the knife and butter, coat the other side while on the griddle.

When the first side is done, flip it over, and cook! Congratulations you have just seen how to make a successful Amos 'n' Andy!

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Potty Training Panties

These potty training panties have been a life saver over the past 2 weeks. My daughter June all of a sudden decided to use the potty! I had NO idea how to start or how to go about it, she just did it on her own! I am truly blessed. I had heard all about accidents and having to clean the "puddles" off your carpet and such. But I didn't want that to happen! YUCK! So I made these potty training "big girl" panties! A small bit of thin but strong batting and a plastic liner on the bottom to collect spills. They have been AMAZING! She has only had 1 accident and they worked like a charm! If you are potty training or know someone who is, tell them about these! They literally save you from A LOT of cleaning and oopsies! And best yet, they only cost me $6 total, panties and material! Talk about a good price as opposed to pull ups! 

The supplies: 5 Pairs of panties, 1/4 yard thin/strong "quilt" batting, and 1/4 yard decorative plastic like for table cloths. 

Grab a piece of paper to make your pattern.

Trace out the middle and bottom of the panties (like so) to make the accurate measurements - all panties are different.

It should look similar to a  feminine hygiene pad

Trace the pattern with a pencil onto the batting. I kept the batting folded so it was doubled. Then cut out the double layer.

Here is 5 doubled batting "inserts" ready to be sewn.

Do the same to the plastic liner- Trace with the paper pattern you made, and cut out.

Pin to the position you want on the panties and sew. 

* I had to cut down the batting a little bit to keep the plastic overlapping it. 

All sewn and ready to catch any accidents!

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Broccoli & Bacon Salad

I was given this recipe from my sister. She has made it a few times and I love it the more and more she makes it. Even though I have been married for almost 5 years this is 1 recipe I haven't gotten from her. I was determined to receive this recipe. I made it and it is DELICIOUS! I gave a baby shower for my dear friend Sarah over at High Heels and Grills this last Saturday. Everyone raved about this salad. I am pretty sure everyone there had at least 2 servings! It was so fun to see everyone enjoy the same thing! This is a wonderful salad for the summer! I can't wait to keep making it for parties and get-togethers all summer long. 

Broccoli & Bacon Salad

4 c. chopped broccoli florets

8-10 slices cooked bacon- diced

3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Dressing:

1 c. Light Mayo

(less than) 1/4 c. Sugar

2 T. White vinegar

Combine broccoli, bacon and cheddar cheese in a bowl. Combine mayo, sugar and vinegar in another bowl and pour over the broccoli and bacon mix. Refrigerate and serve. DELISH!

*I made this the night before the baby shower and it was perfect! It didn't change the texture of the salad at all! So this is GREAT to make ahead of time for parties or company. 

*If you like onion this is optional. You can mince 1/4 of a red onion and put that in the salad. I am not a fan of the red onion so I don't put it in our salad. The choice is up to you!

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