Five on Friday - June 20, 2025

Happy Friday! I’m popping in today from a little getaway with my son and two awesome great-nephews! Each summer, we usually have our niece and nephews come stay with us for a few days, but this year we decided to switch things up and take the fun on the road. So this week, we’re in Branson, Missouri, soaking up all kinds of adventures! While I’m off making memories, let’s jump into my Five on Friday for the week ~

1.  Lay's New Flavor

After a seven-year break, Lay's brought back their "Do Us A Flavor" contest and awarded the winner $1 million dollars!  And the winning flavor is...Bacon Grilled Cheese!  Yes, please!  This flavor was chosen from the over 700,000 submissions.  The lucky winner is Paula George of Sapulpa, Oklahoma.  I can't wait to try this chip that claims to have perfectly captures the flavors of smoky bacon and gooey grilled cheese.  They are on the shelves now!

2.  Elio

Load up the whole family and head to the theater!  Disney Pixar has a new movie opening this weekend - Elio.  Here's the summary ~

For centuries, people have called out to the universe looking for answers--in Disney and Pixar's all-new movie "Elio," the universe calls back! The original feature film introduces Elio, an underdog with an active imagination who finds himself inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, an interplanetary organization with representatives from galaxies far and wide. Mistakenly identified as Earth's ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.

3.  USB Charging Cube

Something that’s saving my life right now? My USB charging cubes! These little lifesavers are a staple in my travel bag. Being able to plug in four cords while only taking up one outlet is a total game-changer. Hotel rooms never seem to have enough plug-ins, and this handy gadget makes it easy to keep all our devices charged without the outlet scramble.

Available HERE

4.  Portable Air Pump

We recently visited our friends’ pool, and this little gadget came in so handy! I brought along my favorite raft, which needed inflating—and that’s where this portable air pump saved the day. In just a few minutes, the raft was fully inflated and I was happily floating around the pool. We actually packed this pump in our suitcase for our beach trip last year too, and it was a total win. Bonus: it’s rechargeable, so no need to mess with batteries. Super convenient and definitely travel-friendly!

5.  Hmmm...

Now I’m back to having fun on vacation! We’re staying at a resort with a water park, and the kids are absolutely LOVING it. I have a feeling we might need a vacation after the vacation just to recover!  See you next week!

Let's Make Honey Bleu Munchies

Hi there—welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! This is my little corner to share what’s on my mind and invite you to link up and share your thoughts too. Today, I’m thinking about the easiest (and tastiest!) appetizer I whipped up over the weekend, and I’m so excited to tell you all about it!

Last week at work, a few friends and I were swapping favorite recipes, and my friend Elizabeth shared one that instantly caught my attention. It was a super simple appetizer, and I knew right away I had to try it. So when we had friends over for a game night on Saturday, it was the perfect opportunity to make it!

Here's What You Need

Bag of Kruncher Potato Chips

Blue Cheese Crumbles

Honey

Here's What You Do

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Start by spreading a layer of chips across the bottom of a cast iron skillet.

Next, sprinkle a generous layer of blue cheese crumbles over the chips.

Repeat the process by adding another layer of chips, making sure they’re evenly spread out to cover the first layer. Then sprinkle another layer of blue cheese crumbles over the top, letting them fall into the nooks and crannies for maximum flavor in every bite. This second layer really builds the flavor and gives the dish a nice, hearty feel.

Pop in the oven for 8-10 minutes.  When you remove it from the oven, drizzle honey over the top.  If you want to spice it up a bit, use hot honey!

Place the warm, melty skillet right in the center of the table and let everyone dig in! It’s the perfect casual, shareable appetizer that’s sure to disappear fast.

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking about today?  Link up and share!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 18, 2025

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

MEET THE HOSTS

1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

How to Make the Creamiest Red, White and Blue Triffle

Lemon Curd Cream Cheese Puff Pastry

Easy Air Fryer Cheeseburgers

No-Bake Strawberry Cream Pie

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries 

will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Five on Friday - June 13, 2025

Happy Friday! We’re heading into the weekend with lots of fun on the agenda, and I’m really looking forward to it. One of the highlights will be celebrating Eric for Father’s Day. He does so much for our family, and it’s always nice to take a moment to show him how appreciated he is.  Now, let's get on with my five for today ~

1.  National Movie Night

It’s National Movie Night – the perfect excuse to gather the family and pop some popcorn! Whether you head to the theater, find a drive-in, or cozy up on the couch, watching a movie together is a fun way to start a meaningful tradition with family and friends. When our son was younger, we’d set up a projector in the backyard and play movies on the side of the house—some of our very favorite memories!

2.  How to Train Your Dragon

Speaking of movies, the much anticipated How to Train Your Dragon movie opens today!  It's rated PG and is getting rave reviews.  Here's the summary ~

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village's quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

3.  The River is Waiting

Wally Lamb is back with a new book - The River is Waiting.   His new book is a powerful, emotionally gripping novel that explores guilt, grief, redemption—and the complexity of forgiveness.  Here's the summary ~

Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?

Available HERE

4.  Qwixx Mixx Score Pads

If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you know I’m a big fan of the game Qwixx—we take it just about everywhere! On my recent trip to Gatlinburg, my friend TW introduced me to these new score pads that give the game a fresh twist, and they are so much fun. If you already love Qwixx, you’ll definitely want to try it with these cards. And if you haven’t played before, now’s the perfect time to check it out! You can grab the game HERE.

Available HERE

5.  Here's a thought...

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with fun, relaxation, and a little something that makes you smile. We'll see you back here next week—take care until then!

Let’s Make Homemade Ice Cream

Hello and welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday!  Today I'm sharing something on my mind and then inviting you to link up and do the same!  Last weekend I welcomed summer by making some homemade ice cream.  I realized it had been 10 years ago when I first shared the recipe on the blog, so I decided to reshare it today for all the people didn't see it the first time around!

Now that we've turned the calendar page and it says June, I'm thinking it's summer.  Summer makes me think of ice cream and my favorite flavor is my great grandmother's vanilla.  So you can enjoy it too, I'm sharing her recipe today.

Here's What You Need

6 eggs, beaten

3 cups sugar

2 cans evaporated milk

3 tablespoons vanilla

4 cups whole milk

Here's What You Do

1.  Crack the eggs in a large bowl and beat.  Add in the sugar and beat again.  I just use a whisk and a little wrist action.

2.  Add in the evaporated milk, vanilla and milk.  Whisk again.

3.  If using the Cuisinart Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker (pictured below), pour half the mixture into the frozen bowl.  Turn on and wait patiently for about 20 minutes until your liquid turns into the amazing frozen delight.

Click HERE to purchase

I actually purchased an extra bowl, so when my first batch is frozen I just repeat the pouring and waiting 20 minutes for my second batch to become ice cream.

This is a great ice cream base.  You can really add anything like fruit or chocolate chips to enhance this already wonderful recipe.

Now it's your turn - what are you thinking out loud about today?  Link up and share!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop - June 11, 2025

 

Welcome to the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!  We are so glad that you stopped by.

Here you will find inspiration from dozens of bloggers, including recipes, home DIY, gardening, decor, family fun, traveling, fitness, and so much more.

A friendly reminder to our guests that, as a courtesy to the hosts, we ask that you follow every host on at least one social media channel.

If you are a blogger, then be sure to link up below. You may be our next feature! 

Before we get this party started, let’s meet the hosts and check out this week’s featured favorites.

MEET THE HOSTS

1. Bev – ECLECTIC RED BARN | FB | IG | PINTEREST
2. Penny – PENNY’S PASSION | FB | IG | PINTEREST
3. Sinea – DUCKS ‘N A ROW | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X
4. Tammy – MY LIFE ABUNDANT | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE
5. Denise – THIS IS MY EVERYBODY | FB | IG | PINTEREST | X | YOUTUBE

HIGHLIGHT LINKS FROM LAST WEEK

15 Minute Birdbath Fountain Refresh

Smoked Cream Cheese Dip with Corn, Black Beans and Bacon

10 Ways Christians Can Grow Spiritually While Traveling

Free License Plate Game Printable

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Please follow all hosts on AT LEAST 1 of their social channels.

Add as many family-friendly posts as you would like to. NO Etsy shops, adult sites, or blog parties please.  Visit others. Caring is sharing. Like, comment, and pin posts.

Party entries appear in REVERSE. This way your entries 

will be seen no matter when you arrive. Please TWEET our party and invite others to join.

Let’s Party! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter