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

- 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.

Read more

Essential Ways to Use Your Smartphone This Summer

- Mama 1 Comment

This post about smartphone ideas for summer has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #SummerIsForSavings #CollectiveBias #WFM1

During the summer, it pays to stay connected. Here are some of my favorite ways to make it the BEST SUMMER EVER by using my smartphone. #WalmartFamilyMobile #WFM1 #SummerIsForSavings [ad]

No matter how much you might wish summer was for slowing down, in my experience, summer is just one insanely busy season for families. From soccer tryouts to summer vacations, it can be hard to unwind and to stay connected. But the thing is, I’ve learned a few ways to avoid summer stress by staying connected with my smartphone. Syncing schedules, sharing summer memories, and treating your ears to your favorite summer tunes are all great ways to use your smartphone for the best summer ever, and with Walmart Family Mobile, the data you need doesn’t have to break the bank, either.

Read more

Gulf Coast-Inspired Easy Shrimp Tacos

- 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.

Read more

Red, White, and Blue Slush Recipe for the 4th of July!

- Mama Leave a comment

This Red White and Blue Slush recipe may contain affiliate links.

Celebrate the 4th of July with these red, white, and blue slushes that are easy to make and super refreshing! They're the perfect Independence Day mocktail that the whole family will love! Get star-spangled and layer them, or enjoy the individual components. You can't go wrong with this patriotic drink!

The 4th of July pretty much always means family time for me. In our town, it’s legal to do fireworks, so for years, we’ve spent time watching the marvelous displays our neighbors create while lighting a few fountains of our own. It’s great watching it from the comfort of our own yard instead of going to a display because we can seriously enjoy food and drinks and each others’ company without worrying about bugging those nearby at the display. This year, though, we are totally looking forward to these Red, White, and Blue Slushes that are perfect for Independence Day. They’re not hard to make, either!

Read more

How To Make Your Playset Last for Decades

- Mama 1 Comment

We hope you enjoy this tutorial on how to make your Play Set last for decades. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoofedItMyself #CollectiveBias

When you invest in a playset, you want it to last-- that's not an investment to take lightly. With the right care, you can make your backyard play set last decades, through your kids AND grandchildren! Here's how to help make your playset last with some TLC and GAF Shingles. #RoofedItMyself [ad]

When buying a playset for your backyard, it’s honestly a pretty significant investment. I know that in our family, we really value outdoor, active, imaginative play, but honestly? Play sets can be a little bit spendy. That said, we’ve found some great ways to help make ours last over the years. A playset that was once my little brother’s playset is now my son’s because we’ve taken time each year to prepare it for the spring and summer season of play and make sure that it has what it needs to truly last. Little investments over time in maintaining your playset can make it a great destination for play for years to come, making your yard the prime spot for the neighborhood kids to gather. Read more

Fresh Berry Icebox Cake

- 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.

Read more

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

- 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.

Read more

Teriyaki Trail Mix

- 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

If you want plenty of Asian flavor on the go, I've got the #SimpleSecret. This trail mix is so easy to make using cereal, chow mein noodles, cashews, pineapple, coconut, and a little P.F. Chang's® Home Menu Teriyaki sauce. Your summer hikes, trips to the zoo, and road trips will never be the same because this fun snack tastes great and will keep you fueled for the journey ahead. [ad]

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).

Read more

DIY Play Dough Soap for Bathtime (with Only 3 Ingredients!)

- Mama Leave a comment

This DIY play dough soap tutorial has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #allessentials #allsulfatefree #CollectiveBias

This DIY Play Dough Soap is messy play that gets kids clean! It's homemade play dough made with soap, is tub-safe, and doesn't stain skin. Plus, it has only 3 ingredients you probably already have: sulfate free body wash, cornstarch, and water! Your kids will want bath time, ALL the time! Get your kids clean with this DIY soap recipe, then get your clothes clean with Sulfate-Free All Detergent. [ad] #allEssentials #allSulfateFree

Anyone who has been around the blog for awhile knows that I’ve got some favorite ways to keep things clean… like a favorite laundry soap that gets my clothes clean, and a favorite dish towel that gets my dishes clean. But I have found my all-time favorite way to get my kiddo clean, and that’s with a little bit of good, old-fashioned messy play. That’s right. I’m getting him messy to get him clean! The secret is something that’s one part sensory activity, one part bathtime hero: DIY Play Dough Soap. The best part? It’s only got 3 ingredients that you probably already have on hand.

Read more

Starbucks Cup Inspired DIY Spring Paintings

- Mama Leave a comment

This post on Starbucks Cup-inspired DIY spring paintings may contain affiliate links.

If you're obsessed with those super pretty spring Starbucks cups, you're going to love these beautiful spring paintings inspired by the designs! Plus, they're so easy to make that you can whip them up while watching your favorite TV show. | DIY Painting Idea |

I’m low-key obsessed with the spring cups that Starbucks has had in their stores all spring. Those bright, vibrant colors make me smile every time I see them, and the hand-drawn style of the doodles are so whimsical and fun. I may or may not have been swinging by to grab some coffee on the regular just because those cups are too cute. But since they’re limited edition, I totally wanted to re-create the look on canvases that I could display every spring! These DIY spring paintings are so easy to make, too, so you can snag this style for yourself.

Read more