Memorial Weekend Thoughts

Memorial Day Weekend. The name itself conjures up images of girls gone wild. A suitcase filled with fancy, going out… well basically slutty clothes, makeup, and bottles of pre game mixers and alcohol.

I can remember the outfit changes, fashion shows with the girls, the nights out, the drinks, the hook ups, the “list” on the kitchen fridge of beer goggled conquests. Oh the craziness that went on at the shore. What happens at the shore stays at the shore!

I remember the drive to the house, windows down, maybe smoking a cigarette (this was twenty years ago!) the excitement, the start of summer. The hope of meeting someone special if you were single, the looking forward to soaking up the sun by day, dancing the night away by night, and having a blast hanging with your housemates.

Weekends at the shore were a continuous series of laughs, drama, closeness, drinking, and late night pizza ( although that part was an ongoing problem. I think we all would set out saying, “I’m not going to eat pizza tonight!”

But come 2 am, someone would inevitably cave… Waking up to the telltale evidence of a late night pizza binge.

Seems like a distant memory. Those were fun days for sure. But these days, these types of weekends, when my husband is home for that extra day, and we get three days of family time and BBQs with friends, it’s pure bliss.

Hamburgers, pool parties, smiles and s’mores.

This memorial weekend I was happy to be home, hanging with my family, the thought of me in a bar, cocktails and cougars, sends a shiver of scariness down my spine.

Here’s a picture of my watermelon decorated sugar cookies I brought to a BBQ. Will be posting recipe and video soon.

I tried with those chips

I’m one of those “All heart,” “Tries really hard,” and “She has great team spirit” sort of a person. You know the type from your childhood. The skinny boy who always showed up for practice smiling but never got a hit ( ok actually that was me, I was the tiny girl who played softball for 8 years and struck out every time.)

According to the coaches I was “Such a joy to have on the team.”

I doubt that. But I will say that I tried.

To this day, I don’t quite get things exactly right. I have tried the occasional Pinterest attempt, running to the grocery store with excitement, a clear vision, and then later frowning in dismay.

My friend Allison coined it the “mom fail,” after I showed her my porcupine cupcakes. I don’t even remember why I made them. Porcupines?
porcupine

The thing I have learned is no one really cares about the presentation. It’s pleasing to the eye to look at beautiful cakes and creative creations online, but in real life, where you actually hang out with someone and use your lips to talk to them, not your fingers, your friends and family are happy to talk, connect, and have fun. They don’t expect Martha Stewart showing up to dinner.

I used to be an obsessive baker.
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THIS WAS INSANE!

But then I realized I was losing my mind. It took many friends along the way to tell me it was ok to buy store-bought.

I still bake but I also buy! Last week I went to a friend’s house and bought stuff to make S’mores. Look at this cutey! Didn’t get any complaints from her!
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So I got completely sidetracked but the point of this post is that I do believe it is important to be thoughtful and to do things for others.

Just do something with love and make someone’s day.

These are pictures of my thoughtful dip.

dip

chips

Copy this idea and write any sweet message on these paper chips and bring them round. I’m sure someone will love them! This bowl was for teachers as you can probably tell!

This is what I put in the dip if anyone was curious.

Bottom Layer – Refried Beans
Next Layer – Sour Cream
NextLayer – Avocado with lime juice and salt
NextLayer – Pico de Gallo
Top Layer – Cheddar Cheese

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO OF GIA AND I MAKING IT!
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Gia makes Mexican Layer Dip

Blue Berry Special Muffins

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO

This is a cute and easy idea to thank someone or just tell them that you love them or are thinking of them. And it’s super easy!

I made the labels on Microsoft Word. I stuck a blank label to the sticky back of a printed one.

Then I taped the label onto the toothpick and stuck them in!

Here is the recipe for the blueberry muffins.

Easy Blueberry Muffins

  • Servings: 12
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Delicious, easy blueberry muffins.


Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 – 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 6 to 8 ounces fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions

MAKE BATTER

• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add oil to a measuring cup that holds at least 1 cup. Add the egg and then fill the measuring cup with the milk. Add vanilla and whisk to combine. Add the milk mixture to the bowl with dry ingredients and then use a fork to combine. Do not over mix. (The muffin batter will be quite thick — see note below for more details). Fold in the blueberries.

Divide the batter between muffin cups. (If making big-topped muffins, the batter will come to the tops of the paper liners). Sprinkle a little sugar on top of each muffin.

Bake muffins 15 to 20 minutes or until tops are no longer wet and a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out with crumbs, not wet batter. Transfer to a cooling rack.