Dare to Share #174

It is Friday night, and you know what that means.. 

It is time to Dare to Share!! 

This week I have made some progress back to my normal life.. I posted TWICE!  Next week it will be at least three times. :)  This week I posted Summer Fun 2015 about how it has been difficult to really enjoy this summer with everything going on.  We are going to try really hard to enjoy the month of August. Already this weekend (tonight) I saw a movie with my friend at a pretend Drive In at our church. (the little kids sat in box cars) while the grown ups sat in chairs.  I might also be going to the Art Fair in our town this weekend too. Will you be crossing anything off your summer to do list this weekend?  

I finally got a Dare to Share Feature of the Day posted, and have two more planned for the weekend.  Have you seen the Minions movie yet?  It is still on my to do list.  I really love the Minions and love Minion crafts which is why I had to feature Minion Crafts for Adults by The Jenny Evolution.  They would all be a lot of fun just because, or for a Minion themed party. 

 My co-host Kim from Kandy Kreations has a round up of all her Super Hero Party ideas to check out this week. Be sure to stop over and check them out if you are planning on a Super Hero party in the near future. 

Now it is time for this week's party. You are welcome to link up anything that you would like to share.  If you are chosen as a Dare to Share Feature of the Day, your post will be features on the blog and social media.  This party is also being seen on Kandy Kreations for double the exposure. Kim also selects features from the party to feature on her blog and social media.  

Link up and HAVE FUN!! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Minion Crafts for Adults - Feature of the Day

Some of you may know that I am a big fan of Minions. One of my very favorite craft posts I have ever done was How to Make Despicable Me Minions (see below for photo).   That is a big reason why I LOVED this post how 10 Minion Crafts for Adults  by The Jenny Evolution. I have not been able to go see the movie yet, but it is on my must do list for the next couple of weeks.  When I do, you just  might find me making some of these  super fun Minion crafts. 

Summer Fun 2015

 In years past, I would share a Summer Fun Challenge with lots of things we wanted to do during the summer.  This summer has been different than any other we have ever had.  We have some major changes that we have been taking care of, which took up the entire first part of the summer. I realized today that we are at just past the halfway point of our time off from school.  While some people in other areas of the country are busy preparing to go back in the next few weeks, we still have 5-6 weeks to go. (we go back Sept 8 this year)   I hope to still make memories this summer, as my kids are almost all grown up now. My youngest is starting high school in just a few weeks, so I know time is precious. 

Some of our high points so far this summer. 

On June 6, my oldest graduated from high school.  It was a surreal moment for me. Her four years of high school had a lot of ups and downs, and until I actually saw her walking out with her classmates, I did not feel like it was actually happening.  She is still adjusting to her time as an adult, and currently looking for a job. 

Kara celebrated her 12th year of dance, and her 11th recital. This was big feat for her.  As many of you know, she started having severe migraines about six months ago,and has not been 100% healthy for pretty much this entire year.  

This past weekend, I got a much needed break. I had the chance to spend four hours at a friends house, enjoying this beautiful view. 

Some other highlights that  I do not have pictures of..  my mom came to visit for two weeks. (she was helping me pack pretty much every day which is why no pictures)  We have made some new friends that we have been spending time a lot of time with the last several weeks. We had the chance to see Inside Out a few weeks ago, and thought it was an excellent movie. 

Some of the lower points this summer 

Between graduation, the recital, a garage sale, packing up the house, and the endless move we have not had any down time so far.  

Kara's special mouse Lucky unexpectedly died a week ago. She was doing great one day, and was gone the next. While she was getting up there in age, we were hopeful to have at least 3-4 months with her. She was the one we had fed as a teeny, tiny baby.  

Because the movers were coming right after the 4th of July, and we were very behind in packing, we did not get to celebrate the 4th or see any fireworks this summer. 

This was the first year that Kara did not have a birthday party.  With everything going on, she was just not into it this year. We still might do something small even though her birthday was almost a month ago.  My oldest has yet to have her graduation party. We were going to have it at a friends house, but my friend had some unexpected house repairs to take care of, and can no longer have it at her house. 

The free Saturday night movies at our area outlet mall are not being held this summer.  We were really looking forward to going again his year. 

So today is a new day, and from this point on, I am declaring we will be enjoying our summer!

Here are some of the things we hope to do between now and the start of school 

Go to Cedar Point 

Go to Lake Michigan 

Visit the beach 

Go to the zoo 

Pick some blueberries 

Go to the farmers market 

Go to the Art and Music Festival 

Do an Ikea run 

Go swimming 

Go for a boat ride 

See a concert 

Go to the Metropark 

See some movies (Minions, Pixels etc..) 

Have you been able to do everything you wanted to do this summer, or have you been too busy like us?   What do you still hope to do before your kids go back to school?  

Dare to Share #173

It is Friday night, and you know what that means.. 

It is time to Dare to Share! 

The big move is still going on, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have not been able to unpack everything in the new place. There are still a lot of things in boxes, that need to be put away.  I got most of my clothes and shoes put away, and about 60% of my baking stuff. (a blogging priority!)  

One thing I did not realize until I moved was how many cake and brownie mixes I actually had.  They had been stored in more than one place in my old house.  Now that I have them all together I realize how much baking I am going to need to do in the near future. Luckily a daughter of a good friend wants to coming over and bake with me.  

We have also been eating way too much McDonalds during these past couple of weeks. Part of that though is because it is right around the corner, and they have super cheap (and good!) cones.  

This week I had a post that was due for Smithfield Pork.  I agreed to do the post before I knew I was going to have the endless move.  It did work out great in the end.  Not only was it quick and easy to make, it made a memorable first meal at our new place.  You can read more about it on my post Quick and Easy Pork Filet Sandwiches. 

It is super hero week over at my co-hosts blog Kandy Kreations. She has a lot of great ideas for a super hero party, even this fun nail art. Be sure to stop over and see  all of her posts. 

Now it is time for this weeks party. You are welcome to link up anything you would like to share.  You post is seen on both my blog and Kandy Kreations for double the exposure. Now that I am almost done with the endless move, I will start doing features again.  If you are chosen as a Dare to Share Feature of the Day, your post will be featured on the blog and my social media.  Kim also chooses features to share on her blog and social media. 

Now link up and HAVE FUN! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Quick and Easy Smithfield Pork Filet Sandwiches

“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media®, Smithfield®, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #SummerSizzling http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH”

With busy teenagers, a crazy schedule, and our move this month, I am definitely looking for quick and easy meals to feed the family more than ever.  When I was asked to try a Smithfield Pork product recently, I was very happy to say yes.  My son really enjoys the taste of pork, and has even made a few pork recipes of his own when he was doing Cooking with Kyle. (hopefully I can get him to start that back up again this summer)   I went to our local Walmart, and was pleasantly surprised with the large selection of Smithfield pork products. 

There were several kinds that we want to try, but decided on Mesquite Pork Loin Filet as our first choice. The cost of the meat was already pretty good at regular price, but you can also currently save $2.00 on a Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork Product with this coupon, while supplies last.  

I love that the meat is already marinated, and ready to cook. It can not get much more simple than that.  It is perfect for summer cooking on the grill. If you do not have access to a grill, that's okay too, because it can also be cooked in the oven.

The  original plan was to shred the pork to make Mesquite Pork Sandwiches, but between my very impatient, hungry son, and a helping my daughter with the loss of a favorite pet this afternoon, I ended up just cutting the meat into small slices. 

I bought these big buns for our sandwiches.  They were the perfect size, and held several slices of the meat. It tasted exactly like it would have if I had the time to shred it, but only took a quarter of the time.   The meat  got the two thumbs up from the family, and I was asked to buy it again. We are also going to try a few of the other flavors like Garlic and Herb Pork Loin Filet, and Applewood Topped Bacon Pork Loin Filet in the near future. 

Nothing really went as planned today for this meal.  We were going to eat a full meal with shredded pork sandwiches, baked beans, corn, and salad out on our new patio.  We ended up not eating outside, because the temps were in mid 90s all weekend for the first time this summer.  We also found out that the evening sun is very bright on our patio around the time we were going to eat dinner.. I did not end up making the beans and corn, because half of our kitchen is still packed.  Hopefully we will find everything in the next few days, and things will  get back to normal. Luckily I had some potato salad and macaroni salad on hand in the fridge, which went great with the sandwiches.  We ended up having a picnic sitting on the floor of our living room surrounded by boxes.  While it was much more simple than expected, it was a memorable first family meal in our new place.  

Dare to Share #172

It's Friday night, and you know what that means... 

It is time to Dare to Share!  

We are still not quite done with the move, but I am starting to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  Maybe by the end of the summer, everything will finally be settled.. There is still a little bit more to bring over to my new place, and LOTS of unpacking to do!

I had agreed to do this pudding  post before I knew my move was going to take a couple of weeks. I have to do say though, this Strawberry Cinnamon Tapioca Pudding Treat really hit the spot the this week.. We have been living on fast food for several days, and a creamy, fruit dessert was just what I needed. 

My co-host Kim from Kandy Kreations shared Mom's Emergency Box When on the Go this week. This is actually a very smart, inexpensive idea that could be used for so many things.. like when you are moving..  

Now it is time for this week's party.  You can link up anything that you would like to share.  If you are chosen as a Dare to Share Feature of the Day, your post will be promoted on the blog and social media.  This party is also seen on Kandy Kreations for double the exposure. Kim also chooses features to share on her blog and social media.. 

Now link up and HAVE FUN!  

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Strawberry Cinnamon Tapioca Pudding Treat for the #SummerofPudding

As many of you know if you have been on the blog in the last couple of weeks, I have been in the middle of a pretty big move.  During our move, we have had to eat a lot of fast food, and other not so nutritious things.  The plan was to have the move done earlier in the month, but it has stretched much longer than planned.  

It had finally got to the point where I wanted to have a light, delicious treat, and not another fast food french fry. KozyShack® Tapioca Pudding   has simple, wholesome ingredients and is gluten free. I knew it tastes great with fruit, and to be honest I have not had nearly enough fruit during this move.  Our local store has strawberries on sale this week, so I picked up a container.  I also wanted something kind of crunchy in my pudding. I saw some cinnamon graham cracker sticks on sale as well, and knew they were just what I was looking for in my treat.  

I normally do not eat a lot of Tapioca pudding . Every time I do though, I think to myself I should eat it more often. I actually really enjoy it.  I love the tapioca pearls in the pudding that gives it a fun texture.  A lot of my kitchen is packed up, but I was determined to find something to eat my treat out of. I found a small mason jar that was the perfect serving size. I was also lucky enough to find one plastic knife so I could cut the strawberries. I filled the jar halfway, and then added a layer of strawberries.  On top there is a little more pudding, and some smashed cinnamon graham cracker sticks.  Leaving the sticks whole would have been great too, but I thought this way was prettier.   When it was time to take pictures of my treat, I realized everything that I normally use for pictures was already moved, so I had to get creative. Luckily porch railings are still available.  I could not wait to dig into to my pudding. I was definitely worth it, it tastes delicious! My daughter saw me eating it, and asked for some too. I said, of course, all we have to do is find another jar or cup to use. :) 

How do you like to eat your Tapioca pudding? 

Be sure to stop by KozyShack's®  Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter  pages for more pictures recipes, and fun summer giveaways.

Dare to Share #171

It is Friday night, and you know what that means.. 

It is time for the moving edition of Dare to Share! 

You may have noticed that I have not been online this week.  I am in the middle of my move, and I have just not had any time to be online. In fact, I am typing this on Thursday night while the movers load the truck, because I am not sure if I will have internet for a few days.  Hopefully it will not be too much longer, and everything will be back to normal.. I am ready to finally start my summer. 

I don't know about you, but I am really craving a Banana Split Pudding Parfait right now.  It is the #summerofpudding.  I will be sharing another new pudding post this upcoming week. I hope you like tapioca. 

Are you excited for the Minion movie? I really wish I could see it opening day. If you need any Minion party ideas, be sure to check out my co-host Kim's blog Kandy Kreations for a ton of ideas like these Minion Chocolate Covered Oreos. 

Now it is time for this week's party.  You are welcome to link up anything that you would like to share.  If you are chosen as a Dare to Share Feature of the Day, your post will be featured on the blog and social media. (I WILL be posting features again after the move, and will be using several Dare to Share parties.  This party is also seen on Kandy Kreations for double the exposure, and Kim also chooses features for her blog and social media. 

Now link up and HAVE FUN!  

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Dare to Share #170

It's Friday night and you know what that means... 

It is time for the 4th of July weekend Dare to Share! 

We are still busy packing for our move next week.  I wish it were not over a holiday weekend, because there is not a lot of time for celebrating. Once we get through this move,  we will finally get to celebrate the summer.  

In a flash back post I shared our Last Minute 4th of July Wreath Craft

One of the Dare to Share Features this week is this Italian Style Purple Potato Salad by Cute As A Fox based on the movie Inside Out.  Ashley and some blogging friends had a progressive dinner with many recipes tied with the different emotions. If you have not seen this movie yet, I highly recommend it! 

If you are looking for a fun, festive dessert, you will love this feature by BonBon Rose Girls. These Red, White, and Blue Ice  Cream Sandwiches will be the hit of your 4th of July party.  

My co-host Kim from Kandy Kreations shared some fun printables this week for the 4th of July like these that  to add  candy kisses. 

Now it is time for this week's party. You are welcome to link up anything you would like to share.  If you are chosen as a Date to Share Feature of the Day, your post will be featured on the blog and social media.  This part is also seen on Kandy Kreations for the double the exposure.  Kim also chooses features to share on her blog and social media.  

Now link up and HAVE FUN! 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Red, White and Blue Ice Cream Sandwiches - Feature of the Day

Tomorrow is the 4th of July..  Are you looking for any last minute treat ideas? These Red, White and Blue Ice Cream Sandwiches by BonBon Rose Girls is so simple, but yet so festive.  They definitely put you in a patriotic spirit.  You can use this idea for other special days such as a birthday as well, just change the color of the sprinkles.  Thanks so much Kristin and Megan for linking up this fun idea to Dare to Share!

Last Minute 4th of July Wreath Craft

We are still busy packing and getting ready for our move. Unfortunately we will not be able to enjoy leisure time on the 4th this year.  For those of you who are looking for fun ways to decorate for the 4th, I am posting this throwback post that my daughter shared on how to make Quick and Easy Patriotic Wreaths.  They take only minutes to make and are very festive.