“Unfried” Ice Cream (How to Get Fried Ice Cream Taste without the Fryer)

June 27, 2017June 27, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

This recipe for unfried ice cream has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and it’s advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SoHoppinGood #BlueBunny #BombPop #CollectiveBias

Fried Ice Cream can get messy... so here's all the fried ice cream flavor without the hassle of frying it! This unfried ice cream is easy to make, perfect for summer, and can be made with all of your favorite Blue Bunny ice cream flavors! #SoHoppinGood #BlueBunny #BombPop [ad]

I love fried ice cream. When I go out to eat and see it on the menu, there’s no way I can resist. But making it at home can get kind of sloppy. I’ve found the perfect hack for ice cream that tastes just like it’s been fried (but shhh… it hasn’t!) This unfried ice cream is a great treat on a summer day. And, you can make it with any of your favorite Blue Bunny® ice cream flavors.

Gulf Coast-Inspired Easy Shrimp Tacos

June 21, 2017June 20, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

This easy shrimp taco recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SoftsoapTouch #OurCaringHands #CollectiveBias

Be ready for summer with these easy Gulf Coast style Shrimp Tacos! They're so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Feel the Gulf Island flavor-- shrimp, taco shells, and plenty of flavor. #OurCaringHands [ad]

The clock is ticking, y’all. I am just weeks away from the event that I look forward to all year long. I’d say I’m practically packed, but we all know I’ll end up doing that the night before I leave. I’m talking about summer vacation, and for me, oh, it’s so much more than just a little break. See, for almost two decades now, summer vacation has meant something a little bit different for my family. It hasn’t just meant beach, and sand, and the sun, but it’s meant a whole lot of family time.

Every summer, we make the trek down to the Gulf Coast, to a tiny island called Dauphin Island, Alabama. If you’re a long-time reader, you’ve probably even seen me talk about it every summer for the past several years. This year we will be driving about 16 hours like we do every summer. Why? To enjoy the beach with our family, who live in another state.

To save money, we split condo costs. We also make sure to cook and eat meals family-style in the condo, rather than going out to eat a lot. That doesn’t mean we never visit local restaurants…. We totally do! There are so many great options for Gulf Coast flavor. Restaurants there serve up fried fish platters, po’boys, and of course, delicious shrimp tacos.

Fresh Berry Icebox Cake

May 29, 2017June 23, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

This Berry Icebox Cake Recipe may contain affiliate links.

Have fresh berries? Make this delicious berry icebox cake! Creamy and packed with berry flavor, it's the perfect treat for backyard barbecues and makes a great 4th of July dessert. Plus, it's a no-bake dessert so you don't have to worry about even heating up the kitchen to make it!

Summer is here, and that means a few things. A slew of patriotic holidays, way-too-warm for comfort weather, and fresh berries in season. Well, I’ve found a cake that’s going to hit all the right notes for summer. This berry icebox cake is no-bake, contains fresh berries in a few ways, and is beautiful in red, white, and blue! Plus it’s incredibly easy to make, so you’ll have it ready and chilling for your next backyard barbecue in no time.

Fajita Burrito Bowls in a Jar (Perfect for Play Date Picnics!)

May 26, 2017May 26, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

We hope you enjoy this recipe for Fajita Burrito Bowls in a Jar. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AquafinaSparkling #CollectiveBias

Pep up your park playdates. Instead of having boring crumbled crackers from the bottom of your hand bags, or squished PB&J, send the kids to the playground and enjoy these Fajita Burrito Bowls in a Jar with your BFF. Perfect for park playdates, and they pair great with #AquafinaSparkling [ad]

There is a horrible misconception going around, and I feel like I have to clear it up with y’all. There are people in this world… I can’t believe I even have to type this out… that think play dates are exclusively for kids. Shhh, don’t tell, but some of us know the real reason play dates exist. Sure, they’re great for kids, don’t get me wrong. I mean, as a homeschool mom, I love for my son to have play dates and get some socialization. But let’s be real.

Play dates are for moms.

Teriyaki Trail Mix

May 22, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

This post about Teriyaki Trail Mix has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Conagra Brands. All opinions are mine alone. #SimpleSecret #CollectiveBias

Our summer is booked with wall-to-wall travel this year. From our annual summer vacation to my kiddo’s birthday trip, we’re pretty much on-the-go all summer long this year. The one thing that I know we’re in for a lot of is road trip action, and when it comes to road trips, I really love a good snack to keep me focused on the path ahead. Trail mix is almost always a go-to snack of mine, but lately, I’ve been wanting to mix it up with different fruits, nuts, and crunchy items to keep me fueled up and satisfied during the long drive. Today, I’m sharing my new favorite way to shake up my trail mix game (and trust me, there’s a super, super simple secret to getting plenty of flavor without the effort).

The Truth About Home Chef (What I learned from one week of subscribing to their meal service)

May 8, 2017June 1, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

This post is not sponsored by Home Chef in any way. I personally purchased the products featured in this post, and all opinions are completely my own.

Have you thought about subscribing to the Home Chef meal subscription service but you weren't sure if it was worth it or not? Here's an HONEST opinion on the service (and the pros and cons of actually subscribing to Home Chef).

I’ve been toying with the idea of subscribing to a meal subscription service for awhile. After all, much of my life and career is wrapped up in food. As a busy mom, I don’t always have time to plan out meals perfectly (as much as I’d like to). When I plan so many recipes for this blog, I kind of experience a little “meal burn out.” My family is used to me struggling to come up with dinner ideas outside of work at times.

A meal subscription seemed like a decent solution. So, I recently dove headfirst into the world of Meal Subscription Services. After looking over the menu of multiple services, we decided to start with Home Chef. We looked over what each service offered for the week we were ordering. While different weeks vary, the particular week we were looking at put Home Chef in a good light. Here’s the full rundown from first impressions to final results.

Ham and Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups

May 2, 2017May 3, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

Ham and Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups are the perfect choice for a weeknight meal. They're easy to make and taste delicious, pairing your favorite ham and cheese sandwich with a delicious lasagna twist. | weeknight meal | lasagna roll up | ham and cheese | easy dinner idea |

It was 4 o’clock again, and I had forgotten to let any sort of meat thaw for dinner. Dinnertime was rapidly approaching, and my plans of any kind of decent meal were flying out of the window because… no meat, no dinner. I live with some total carnivores! But then I remembered I had ham in the fridge, and that’s when ham and cheese lasagna roll ups popped into my mind. They’re the perfect effortless weeknight meal.

Jose Peppers Copycat Espinaca

April 25, 2017March 31, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

This slow cooker spinach queso recipe/Jose Peppers Espinaca copycat may contain affiliate links.

Soccer season is back in full swing, and my family is, of course, cheering for Sporting Kansas City. Who else would we cheer for? They’re a force to be reckoned with, powerful and exciting to watch. But there’s just something about game day, especially an away game day, that calls for good food while watching the game. That’s why we’ve been loving this copycat of a Kansas favorite– Espinaca just like the kind at Jose Peppers, a local Mexican place that we adore. This is an almost identical copycat, the perfect spinach queso recipe!

Fruit flavored syrups made with REAL fruit to amp up your waffle and pancake game!

April 18, 2017April 14, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

This post for fruit flavored syrups for pancakes made with real fruit may contain affiliate links.

Literally the best part of going out to a pancake restaurant instead of having them at home is the fruit flavored syrups. See, I’m more of a homemade pancake girl, because I love mine extra fluffy and a little bit undercooked. But when it comes to those fruit flavored syrups, I always feel a little like I’m missing out when I’m eating pancakes and waffles at home. Luckily, they’re really not hard to make and they store in the fridge for weeks!

Electric Blue Kiwi Margarita (Virgin Style!)

April 11, 2017March 31, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

This post about a virgin kiwi margarita recipe may contain affiliate links.

If you want all of the margarita fun and flavor and none of the alcohol, you'll love this totally virgin electric blue kiwi margarita! Hello, spring and summer! This has plenty of flavor-- lime and kiwi, blue and bright green, it's party-ready in no time. Virgin margarita recipe made quickly in your blender! | Virgin Kiwi Margarita |

I cannot be the only non-drinker that loves watching Tipsy Bartender. He’s passionate about his work, and he always combines innovative, awesome flavors in his drinks. But I never get to try his fun recipes because, as I said, I don’t drink. But when I saw his Kiwi Margarita recipe, I knew I had to re-create it for all of my non-drinking friends! It’s too bright, too fun, and too delicious not to re-create, virgin-style! With Cinco de Mayo less than a month away, you’ll be all set with this delicious recipe.

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