Let's Cook: Ice Cream Cake

Each week, I try to make a treat for DJ's students & staff just as a way to say thank-you for all they do every week. Other than students, he has never had a professional staff working alongside him in the video department, and we are so grateful for their willingness to step in when he needs to leave to pick up a girl, or go in late. They can pick up the slack when family life happens, and we try to not let it get in the way as best as we can, but gosh, we are so thankful for those 3 people that work with him every day. And again, the students that come to film.

So far this year we've made brownies, chocolate chip cookies, rice krispy treats, or just brought in candy. 

This week, they're having ice cream cake! And this one was so fun to make!

Adalyn was a huge help in making this cake! She had so much fun and she requested it for her birthday! 

Here's what you'll need: 

2 bags of Reese's cups, or another candy of your choice. You could use chocolate chips, snickers, milky way... there are so many possibilities. 

1 jar of caramel sauce, and 1 jar of hot fudge. 

2 containers of Cool Whip

24 Ice Cream Sandwiches

Here's What You'll Do:

Open and chop the peanut butter cups. We used almost 2 bags, but had a few left over. 

In a rectangle baking dish, open and lay your ice cream sandwiches down. We broke them to fill in the gaps on the side. This does not have to e pretty. No one is going to see it at all! 

Spread 1 container of cool whip across the top of the ice cream sandwiches. 

Drizzle on the caramel and hot fudge sauce. I did have to heat up the fudge so it would drizzle. Then, sprinkle on the candy.

And repeat. We added another layer of sandwiches on top. 

More cool whip. 

More peanut butter cups. 

And more sauce!

You can cover with foil and place back in your freezer for a few hours or overnight to freeze everything together. 

It's literally the simplest dessert ever and so yummy too!

 

Friday Favorites

Today is a good day. The girls have a 4 day weekend, my parent's are coming to town, we have a gymnastics meet, and Texas takes on OU at the Red River Rivalry!

    

                                          

And just for a throw back..... here we are at the last 2 years Red River Rivalry games..... I decided last year that I wasn't going this year to the game, and it just so happened that Megan has a meet that weekend, so it would have been crazy to make it happen! But, we will be cheering big time from home while DJ works. 

Alright, let's get on to it. It's Friday Favorites! Where I link up with Andrea & Erika and we all share some favorites! 

First up, this gorgeous sunset. I mean, God sure does paint a beautiful picture. 

I ordered this lip gloss which is perfect for Fall if you like a darker lip color. 

I also ordered these nails and I am obsessed with them all! The little pumpkins are sold out, but there are so many cute options for Halloween like bats and ghosts! I also am loving the brush on nail glue! All of these nail sets are so easy to apply and you can reuse them over and over again! Heck yes! I've been wearing these nail sets off and on all year, and they're for sure a favorite! 

Gretchen and I went to see Dear Evan Hansen with DJ's aunt who just moved to town. Y'all, if you have teens, this is a great movie to watch together and have conversations with. Our teens are in serious crisis mode right now with all that's going on in the world, and gosh, we need to be talking to them. The songs were great, the story had your emotions all over the place, and the ending was great. It's just a great movie, to start those hard conversations. 

Football dinners on Sunday nights are always a favorite because we get to see daddy! 

I remember dressing all the girls up in matching clothes, and now they're too big and won't have it at all. So when Megan and Adalyn wore Halloween shirts, my heart skipped a little beat and reminded me that they're still my little girls. That little glimpse of raising toddler girls was a favorite reminder this week to slow down and enjoy every moment because it sure goes fast. 

I made a DIY pumpkin spice cleaner and oh my, it smells so good! I love all of the Fall oils for diffusing too! I put together a little bundle that you can grab here to get your home in the Fall spirit.

Some of the football support staff went out for dinner Monday night, and oh my gosh, it was so needed! Our husbands work long hours and are really the backbone of the team. It's a little different feel, when you're "behind the scenes" but gosh, we love the players, coaches, and our school just the same. So, getting together with ladies who get it, is just really good for the soul. 

I have been wearing Nickel & Suede earrings for at least 8 years, if not longer and they're by far my favorite earring brand. They're all made with leather and they're so lightweight. I just love them. The other week they had a BOGO sale, and I ordered 2 new earrings for myself. 

Sigh, and what's better than a clean kitchen before heading off to bed... well, not much! 

Follow all of our fun over on the gram. We'd love to see you there!

Happy Friday! 

Life Lately

Well, September was basically a bust for our family. Adalyn got sick and had to miss 10 days of school which meant that I had to take time off work.  I was super prepared to get "all the things" done, but I tend to forget that sick babies just want a ton of cuddles, and when sisters aren't home to play, that means, I get to entertain. 

We played a ton of Skipbo. So, much skipbo. 

After I sent her back to school, I had a few more days home, and made another loaf of Sourdough bread. Gosh, now that are family is switching to gluten free, I'm going to have to start the process over again from the beginning. 

Cuddles while sisters are at school. 

And after she went back to school, she would come home to more cuddles. This girl is the biggest cuddler. 

We dropped big sis off at church, and then headed to pick up Megan from gymnastics.... but first, we stopped at the park to see the ducks. 

I love this picture I snapped of her. 

Gretchen had Fall church camp, so it was just the little girls cheering on Texas as we took on Texas Tech. 

We bought pom poms and the girls had tons of fun with them. 

And my favorite part is always after the game when we get to hug daddy on the field. 

We also got to see Bevo! 

Right after the game, we headed to Megan's gymnastics meet. 

And DJ was able to finish up at work and meet us there! We are so thankful he was able to watch her compete! 

Last week, Gretchen and I went to the movies with DJ's aunt. She's recently moved to Austin and we are so thankful to have more extended family nearby! We went to see Dear Evan Hanson, and it was so good!

This past weekend, we traveled to San Antonio for another competition, while DJ traveled to Fort Worth for a game. Megan placed 3rd in floor, 5th in Beam, 7th on Bars, and 9th on Vault, and placed 7th all around! We were so proud of her! 

While we were cheering Megan on, we also cheered on our horns to a victory over TCU!

It was a pretty great weekend! 

 

Let's Cook: Mini Meatloaf

Ii am not a big cook, especially during football season, but, every once in a while I surprise myself and whip something up for dinner. 

Last week, Adalyn and I made mini-meatloaf for dinner, and I thought I'd share my recipe with y'all! 

Except, it's not a true recipe because I don't measure anything. I'm sorry.

What You'll Need:

1 lb Ground Beef

1 egg

Almond Crackers (because I wanted it to be gluten free) but you can use Saltine crackers or bread crumbs

Carrots

Bell Pepper

Spinach (optional)

Salt

Pepper

Garlic

I use my stand mixer to mix everything together because it's just easier.

Throw in your ground beef, and seasonings. I used a few that weren't mentioned above like turmeric and celery salt. 

We chopped a bunch of mini carrots and bell peppers. 

Then, I added it to the bowl, along with a handful of crackers and an egg. 

Turn on your stand mixer and mix it all together. 

Divide in to muffin tins. I found that this bakes way faster than making it a larger "loaf" and I don't have time to wait forever on dinner. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

They will shrink down, but that's fine.

Pull out of the oven and top with a large spoonful of spaghetti sauce. 

Throw back in the oven for 5 more minutes. 

So easy. Also, I know this isn't a traditional meatloaf recipe. I prefer spaghetti sauce on top over ketchup, and most meat loaf isn't full of veggies. My kids love this meal and they don't complain when I make it, so it's a total win for me.

Enjoy! 

 

October Freebies & Promos

Eeep!! October is finally here, and I'm not sure about y'all, but October officially kicks off Fall for me! It's way too hot in Austin, Tx to think about Fall in September, so I like to wait until October to get all cozy. This month, Young Living is spOILing us with so many goodies for Fall!!! In fact, I love some of these oils so much, I cashed in my Loyalty Reward points last month to make sure I was all stocked up for comfy diffuser blends for Fall!

Let's take a peek at everything you'll receive this month! 

Oh gosh, isn't that mug adorable! I can just envision, curling up on the sofa with the girls, Hocus Pocus on TV, and drinking a cup of tea in that mug. 

Hello Fall.

All 100 PV orders ship free all the time! 

Make sure you're hitting that pv level so you're not paying extra for shipping! I've seen several of you sitting at 95 pv and missing out! Add in a chapstick, bar soap, or vitality oil and bump up for free shipping! 

Clove

190 PV

This oil is the mOST concentrated antioxidant known with an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value of over 1,000,000. By comparision, the ORAC score for blueberries is only 2,400! Woah! We are talking serious immune support! Since it comes in a vitality, it's wonderful to dilte and rub on the gums for oral health. Aromatically, Clove encourages sleep, stimulates dreams, and creates a sense of protection and courage. It's also wonderful for the respiratory system! 

Cinnamon Bark

190 PV

So, aparently, the Cinnamon Bark aroma attracts wealth. I can't promise dollar bills coming at you, but it's worth a try! Also, a Vitality oil, Cinnamon Bark supports the circulatory system, cardiovascular system, and digestive system. It's also a heavy hitter for stabilizing blood sugar levels! I know it's too good to be true that something can smell like a cookie and be good for your digestion- but it's real friends! 

Nutmeg 

190 PV

Anthoer wonderful fall single we are receiving is Nutmeg. This oil is an adrenal support powerhouse! Around the holidays, our adrenals can g et taxed with later evenings, more sugar in the diet, and added stress. Place a drop under your tongue or swab a drop in the inside of your cheek and thank me later. This will give you some added energy for the day too! Nutmeg also supports the production of melatonin- the hormone of SLEEP! Good sleep = a good supported immune system! You can also use this in your holiday baking and diffuser blends! 

Patchouli

250 PV

Okay, if you don't have Patchouli, you're missing out and you're in for a treat! It's fabulous for your skin! I use this neat on my face every single night, and watch it do it's magic with those fine lines. This oil can also help with Sleep! A drop on the back of the neck, and I'm out! I also love diffusing this with Orange and Frankincense! Now, let's talk about EMOTIONS because we all have them. Patchouli allows for feelings of insecurities, jealousy, obsessions, to dissipate while it promotes clarity of the mind. 

Immupro

300 PV

Oh, I just took this one the other night! Lack of sleep can be a real issue for stress and is also a stress itself on your immune system. Take this nightly during the season of  needing extra support. With this chewable tablet you are getting melatonin, which is amazing for aiding in a good night of sleep. With powdered wolfberry, reishi mushroom, maitake mushroom, and minerals like zinc copper and selenium- this is a powerhouse of a chewable. You can split it in to halves or quarters and give it to your kiddos! 

Spiced Turmeric Herbal Team & YL Foundation Mug

400 PV

The perfect treat for all you tea loving peeps! Snuggle up with a warm cup & relax by the fire this winter. Features spiced Turmeric tea & an adorable mug. 

Log in to your account and grab these today!