Family life · Parenting

Finishing Out the Summer Without Boredom!

RefreshHer2 Comments

wpid-wp-1438041996527Maybe summer vacation is over for you, but if your children are still out of school, why not make sure these last few weeks are full of fun?! Don’t let the boredom bug bite them (or you!). Keep things hopping and full of great activities while they can enjoy the beauty of summertime!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Don’t forget some of the good ol’ standby summer fun things. Such as:

  1. Hopscotch on the driveway
  2. Hula hoops
  3. Sprinkler or water hose jump rope
  4. Cardboard boxes – find a refrigerator box and let the kids make a playhouse or puppet stage.
  5. Make Popsicles
  6. Play hide and seek just as it’s getting dark. Use flashlights to tag!
  7. Don’t forget the library. There are so many fun things to do there!
  8. Wash bicycles in the driveway. Spruce them up with crepe paper and           streamers!
  9. Bowl in the driveway with water bottles as the pins.
  10. Make a fort outside.
  11. Put a blanket out under a shady tree and have lunch.
  12. Go to Sonic for half price beverages from 2-4! Take a book to read while sipping!
  13. Have a late night “pajama run” to get ice cream. After the children have just gotten into bed, go through the house calling, “Pajama run! Pajama run! Everyone in the car!” Go through the drive through at Dairy Queen or McDonald’s and enjoy a sweet treat while everyone’s (well, the kids) in their p.j.’s!
  14. Go out and catch fireflies after dark.
  15. Go to the Farmer’s market and buy fresh produce.

Here’s another post with ideas and links.

What great ideas could you add to this list?

Loving summer,

Uncategorized

Olive Garden’s Salad at Home

RefreshHer8 Comments

Feeling like Italian for dinner tonight but don’t have the funds to make it out to Olive Garden? Too bad, especially because their salad is so delicious. Oh, but wait! I have found a copycat recipe that is “just as good!” (said my husband)! Now you can stay at home and enjoy that endless salad from the comfort of your own kitchen table!wpid-wp-1437854443311

I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone who hated Olive Garden’s Salad. If you’re that one person, I’m so sorry. What’s not to love? It has

  • Crispy Lettuce
  • Crunchy, garlic croutons
  • Black olives
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Italian Dressing!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I decided on tossed salad for our recent Apples of Gold class, I decided I’d go with making the copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s dressing. I found it where I find all good things…Pinterest! First, here’s how to  put the salad together

Olive Garden Salad

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce) bag Dole American Blend Salad
4 or 5 slices red onion (about 1/2 onion)
4 to 6 pitted black olives
2 to 4 pepperoncini (if you like sweet pepper, use banana peppers)
1/2 cup croutons
1 small tomato, quartered
Freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese (optional)
Copy Cat Olive Garden Salad Dressing (recipe to follow)
Instructions

Chill your salad bowl in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Empty the bag of salad into the bowl. Top the salad with the onion, olives, pepperoncini, croutons, and tomatoes, and croutons. Add some freshly grated cheese, if you like. Add dressing and serve immediately.

Olive Garden Salad Dressing (from Dessert Now Dinner Later)
Yield: 1½ cups dressing

Ingredients

1 packet Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix – I used the Wishbone because it was on sale, tasted great.
¾ cup oil (vegetable/canola)
¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp white vinegar
¼ cup water
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp garlic powder
½ Tbsp mayonnaise (not miracle whip)

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Whisk briskly so that there are no clumps of mayo. Keep refrigerated.

a

So here’s for staying home for an Italian dinner tonight!!!!!!

What’s been cooking in your kitchen this week?

With love from my country kitchen,

organization

The Easiest Way to Tidy a Drawer

RefreshHer11 Comments

wpid-wp-1437685518323

I have a confession. I have the hardest time keeping drawers neat and tidy! I mentioned it here in the “Meet Denise” section of my home page. It’s true and very sad. But I have recently found a simple solution for the drawers that have things made of fabric in them! I have to share this simple solution with you!

I have one drawer in my kitchen that is designated for kitchen linens – towels and dish cloths. However, the drawer I reserved for those linens isn’t very deep and when I folded them as I was accustomed to doing, I had trouble making room for them all without the drawer getting jammed! Do you ever deal with that? The towels wad up and then the drawer won’t open and you have to fish your hand up in there to retrieve the fabric that got hung. Grrr. I know I could have saved one of the deep drawers for that, but there are certain kitchen utensils that will only fit in those deep spaces.

Then one day when I was trying to come up with a solution, I remembered a picture I had seen for packing lots of clothes in a suitcase. They recommended rolling up your clothes. That doesn’t appeal to me when I’m traveling, because of wrinkles, but that would work just fine with towels! Sooooo, I started rolling up each one and when I was finished I had easily fit in fourteen towels, seven dish cloths and one extra drying mat!

wpid-wp-1437685523249Problem solved! The drawer now stays nice and tidy!!! I love it. I may even just walk in the kitchen and open the drawer and stare at its beauty!

This will also work in a drawer of underclothes, tee shirts or athletic clothing. You’ll have room for everything AND it will stay neat!

Perhaps I can now change that one fact about myself in my bio! I may have just made a life change! =)

Anyone else have a difficult time keeping drawers tidy? If so, try this and let me know how it works for you!

Stay refreshed,

grilling

A Peek from My Porch – What I’ve Been Up to this Week

RefreshHer5 Comments

Here’s a look at my week:

What I’m growing…
wpid-wp-1437508732852 - CopyWe have 7 cantaloupe growing in our raised beds! I’m so excited and am praying they keep growing until they’re ready to eat!

What I’m crafting…

wpid-wp-1437508898443 - CopyI got the green basket for $5 when we were on vacation in May and tucked it away, waiting until after the July 4th wreath was taken down to hang it. I purchased flowers when they were 50% off at Hobby Lobby and put the arrangement inside. I should have shut the inside door so you could see it better, but trust me, the coral door really makes the green pop!

What we celebrated…

wpid-wp-1437508752553

 

National Ice Cream Day was Sunday! We came home after church and dished up Vanilla Bean and topped it with fresh fruit and a cinnamon Crisp. It was so refreshing! I’m all for celebrating ice cream every day. Wish I could! It’s my favorite dessert!

What I’m grilling…wpid-wp-1437508742292

Among other things, we grilled my recipe for Herb and Cheese Stuffed Burgers; they’re my favorite hamburger recipe! I also cut a couple sweet potatoes into fries and roasted them in the oven with salt and a little brown sugar.

What made me smile and cry all at the same time…

wpid-wp-1437508792031

 

Hearing my son-in-law share about his call to the ministry. He was in the sixth grade and was at junior camp at The Wilds when he knew God wanted him to be a preacher. He never questioned God’s call on his life and began from that day on to prepare to serve the Lord full-time. As I sat and listened to him share that Sunday night, I thought about all the times I had prayed for my girls’ mates as they were growing up. God has answered that prayer and given them both godly men who love the Lord. My heart is full.

You moms of young ones, pray, pray, pray for the one your child will marry! Pray for their salvation, for their purity, for their protection and their submission to God’s will. There’s nothing better than seeing your children walking in Truth, is there?!

How’s your week been? Anyone else celebrate National Ice Cream Day? Whose gardens are growing and giving good things? Tell me all about it!

With love from my country porch,