Ice Cream-Trying a New Flavor at a New Ice Cream Parlor
One of my favorite desserts is ICE CREAM! So this BUCKET LIST item was so much fun to carry out. Trying a new flavor sounds easy, BUT we decided to carry out this BUCKET LIST item at a new Ice Cream Parlor in Folsom, called Handles. As you can see in the pictures….there were so many options of flavors I had never tried, it was really hard to decide what flavor to try. I sampled coffee chocolate chip, pumpkin cheesecake, graham central station, pumpkin ripple and chocoholic chunk. I went with a WINNER-Chocoholic Chunk and it was AMAZING!!! I can’t wait to go back to try another new flavor. Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, I will treat you to some of our fun pictures.
What fun tradition do you like to share with your family and friends? Mine is trying new ice cream parlors. Come along and join me next time, because ice cream shared with loved ones makes it taste SO MUCH BETTER!
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BOO!
Have you ever Boo’d a friend?
It is SO MUCH FUN. We LOVE putting together baskets for our friends and surprising them with goodies. It is such a fun way to spread Halloween cheer and do something kind for others. I really love watching my girls get so excited to give.
If you don’t know what it means to BOO someone, it is really simple and fun. You put together a bag or basket for a neighbor or friend. Depending on the person you pick items like activities, coloring books, treats or snacks, etc. We were able to make our baskets with things we found in the Target dollar bin (the dollar store is a great place to look too) and spent around $6 per bag. Leaving the bag is a secret. So knock on your friend’s door then get ready to run or drive away!
Do you BOO your friends? Do you have something you like to do for others in the Fall season?…
Read MoreLove to play
We love to play with friends! Especially at fun places like luv2play! It is so fun to be able to watch your kids play with friends but also get to play with them on all the toys. It’s like an adult sized playground too, the slide is super fun. I love when I get to engage with my kids in their world.
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Read MoreHostess with the Most-ess
Does hosting bring you joy or stress?
I’m somewhere in the middle of both. Unfortunately, sometimes I convince myself that I’m no good at hosting. So I don’t do it. The truth is, you don’t have to be an expert to open up your home to others. So often I find myself wishing to be invited to fun things. Can you relate? How about instead of wishing for that invite, WE INVITE!! It is such a gift to others to bring people together for fun and connection.
Here are a few tips to throw an un-perfect PERFECT party:
Remember: Your party or gathering does not have to be Pinterest worthy to be fun.
Focus on things that are fun for you. I have a lot of fun finding a theme drink recipe to offer to my guests and like to focus on that.
Keep things minimal. I think some of the anxiety and stress of having a party comes with trying to do too much. That definitely happens to me with decorating. I’m not an expert decorator, but I did have fun for this party because I kept things simple. I found a garland that I liked, then picked the rest of the items I need to match. Matching made everything look cohesive, fun, and simple.
Ask for help. You don’t have to do it all. Having a meal or a party potluck style not only takes all the work off your shoulders, it allows your guests to be involved. You can just be the one offering the space, and everyone can contribute to the fun. This also lets people share their talents with the group – maybe with a signature dish they make, or something fun they add to the theme!
Serve your guests, but also be part of …
Read MoreMatching Outfits
Matching outfits bring joy to my life- I just think it’s so fun, probably because it has been ingrained in me since birth!
Our mom was always putting us four girls in matching outfits, usually ones that she made herself! I don’t make my kids matching outfits but I sure love to find them or find the fabric to have my mom make something (Thanks Gammie :D)! I always think it looks so cute but I also always remember hearing Rachel say years ago,
“ It makes it easier to find your kids when you’re only looking for one outfit!” (GENIUS!)
Sophie LOVES matching with her siblings and cousins too! And it just makes the holiday seasons more fun!
So, this holiday season, wear matching outfits, make new holiday traditions, and allow simple things to bring you joy!
Kids play while moms hang
My oldest is doing gymnastics! Which was a blast our first class! It’s pretty fun, they are learning, having fun, getting instruction from someone else, which the teacher is amazing with kids, and getting to be with friends and cousins. And one of the great perks is if Garrett is with friends that means I am too! So I get to “hang” out with mom friends while they do class! And I say “hang” because it’s really us getting a few words in while we chase around other kids! But that’s the life as a mom. We do the best we can with whatever time we have!…
Read MoreBecoming a Gardener-on my Bucket List Forever
I grew up with a mom, grandma, and auntie who were all amazing gardeners. I thought it would be something that I would naturally inherit. Flower gardens, vegetable gardens and trees of all kinds bring me great JOY. I love being outdoors and I love gardening….BUT my life is VERY FULL of relationships that require my time. I therefore have not been very successful at keeping my garden as beautiful as I would like it to be.
God has graciously given me two friends who are FANTASTIC gardeners-one by training (she is a Master Gardener) and one by experience (she could literally run a nursery business out of her home). So I have been given the gift of consultation and time. Both of these amazing friends have offered to help me repent my borders and help me redesign my backyard. I couldn’t be more excited. I love watching talented people share their expertise and passions especially when they align with my interests and my passions.
We went to a spectacular Nursery to see many varieties of plants that would do well in my yard. We have had a few planning sessions and in a few weeks we will drive back up to a fabulous nursery and buy the plants. I am outrageously excited!!!
So if you have a dream and you have friends who have a gift for something you want to learn about….tap their resources, enjoy the blessing of friendship and you just may be able to have a dream Bucket List item come true!!!!
Here are some of the beautiful plants we plan to buy and plant in my backyard.
Here is my faithful friend who is helping me with my garden…
Here are my new pruning shears. 
Here is the back corner where we will begin our …
Brussels Sprouts Harvest Salad-try a new recipe on my Bucket List
One of the things I continually keep on my bucket list is trying new recipes. This one caught my eye because we love cruciferous vegetable like brussels sprouts and cauliflower. This recipe has both. I will serve this next time we have friends over. Picky Ricky gave this a 5 star rating! It is a keeper…..
Ingredients
1 rotisserie chicken deboned, skinned and shredded
2 sweet potatoes peeled and cut into ½ inch pieces
1 head cauliflower cut into small florets
1 pound brussels sprouts trimmed and shredded
½ cup toasted pecans
¼ cups dried cherries, raisins or cranberries
¼ cup olive oil
1-2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Dressing
6 Tablespoons olive oil
⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
2 Tablespoons grainy mustard
½ teaspoon each seas salt and ground pepper
½ teaspoon sriracha or your choice of hot sauce
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix cut up sweet potatoes and cauliflower with !/8 cup olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss and place on parchment lined baking sheet with sides. Mix shredded brussels sprouts with remaining ⅛ cup olive oil and salt and pepper. Place brussels sprouts on a separate baking sheet lined with parchment. Place vegetables in oven. Roast brussels sprouts for about 15 minutes until just barely cooked (still crunchy) and the roast the pan of sweet potatoes and cauliflower for 25-30 minutes. While vegetables roast debone and skin rotisserie chicken and cut into chunks of shred. Make dressing by mixing all ingredients together at the bottom of a large bowl. Put all shredded chicken into bowl and toss around. Place all roasted vegetables on top stir all together. Serve hot or cold. You can serve over rice or quinoa. We loved the flavors and the textures of the different vegetables. …
Read MoreHalloween Party Time
One of the activities we chose for our Fall Bucket List was a no-brainer – to go to as many Halloween dress up parties as possible!!
You can imagine our excitement when a party opportunity came up at Girl Scouts. I signed the girls up immediately and I’m so glad I did. These girls love to party and make new friends. Did I mention this was also a drop off event so the hubby and I had 2 full hours ALONE?!!! Worth it!!
Now, back to the party. This was the girls first opportunity to dress in their Hogwarts costumes and they looked adorable. We have been listening to all the Harry Potter books on Audible in the car and I am thrilled to have 3 super fans to share in my love of all things HP. (We are currently on Book 6!)
They have all sorts of fun accessories, but we decided to leave those at home for this event so they had hands free to dance, eat, and play at the event. The girls have a great assortment of Harry Potter gear, so they wore their favorite shirts and their HP Vans.
The girls had a blast and even won a costume contest with the other Girl Scouts dressed as Harry Potter!
What Halloween parties do you have planned?
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Slowing down and enjoying the park
My kids love the park! I teach a stroller strides class at a park every Friday and I have really been enjoying slowing down and actually playing with my kids at the park. My little girl just loves the swings and has now a new found love for slides. So while my little boy just runs around like crazy, I get to enjoy my little girl as I follow her around and make sure she doesn’t fall. But it is making me slow down, put my phone away, and enjoy her. And I love it! I’ll swing that cute little girl every day!…