Easy Super Bowl Snack Mix: Cute Last Minute Party Idea

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If you need a last minute snack idea for the super bowl, I've got you covered!

Need a last minute snack idea for the super bowl, but short on time, or maybe ambition?  I’m guilty of both this year!  Well then give this little shortcut a try!

 

It’s still creative and cute, and will impress your guests, but you won’t have to go to much fuss at all.  Yeah!  That’s just my style!

 

What you need:

  • Zip-Top Style Snack or Sandwich Baggies
  • Party Snack Mix (I picked up a couple of bags at ALDI for $1.99 each, they were delicious and just like the name brand)
  • Ribbon, String, Yarn, or Twine.  Just something to tie the tags on.
  • Card Stock & a Printer.
  • Hole Punch & a Scissors.

Not that you even need directions for this, but let me provide them real quick anyway.

First I dumped two bags of the party mix into a big bowl.

Then I measured 1 cup of mix into each baggie.  I should’ve used snack sized bags, but I didn’t have any on hand, so I used sandwich bags, zipped them, folded them in half, and put a small piece of tape on the back side to make it appear like it was totally intentional.

I made up these little tags (that you can download below), & cut them down to size with my favorite paper cutter (a scissors would absolutely work too).

Then I hole-punched them, and used the ribbon I had on hand to tie them onto the bags.  To be sure they didn’t slip off I added another small piece of tape to hold the ribbon onto the bag.  If you’re keeping them at your house on a platter or in a bowl, you could totally omit that last step.  We were taking some of ours to a bake sale, so I wanted to be sure the tags stayed on during transporting.

 

There are two sets of tags, one with allergy information, and one without.  Free for you to use for personal use only.  If you’d like to share this idea, please link back to my post here.  ENJOY!

Super Bowl Snack Mix ASBW

Super Bowl Snack Mix With Allergy Alert ASBW

 

What is Making YOU Smile Today?

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Disclosure

~What is Making YOU Smile Today?~

Last week I shared this image on my Facebook Page:

144 Pencil Pack

With the caption:

Is there anything more glorious than a brick of new pencils? Yes there is, getting to sharpen them! I’m a self-proclaimed office supply addict, so I get that you all may not be as excited as I am over this sight. I’m sharing anyway, because new pencils make me smile!

If you find yourself in need of 144 #2 pencils, click that link above and order yourself a box!

For 15 years I have thought the only pencils that performed well were the expensive name brand pencils that the popular kids carried in their book bags in high school.  I was wrong.  These are just as good!

I definitely think there are some cheap pencils out there that do not write as smooth, or show up as well on paper, but I can assure you you will not be disappointed by these.

I believe life is about Celebrating Absolutely Everything.  For me, that means I am smiling and finding joy in a brick of new pencils.  Yes it’s no big deal, I get that, really I’m not some crazy that thinks everything is perfect and life is a breeze.  I choose JOY though, because it’s a whole lot better than the alternative.

Dear Friends, would you please choose joy also?  It would mean so much to me!

 

Blog Reader Preview: I have a new website that will very slowly be launching (life is busy), and it will be all about celebrating the mundane moments of life.  Start looking at the ordinary as an opportunity to seek joy, and be on the look out for a place to share that joy here soon!

Happy Birthday, Dorothy. Life is Hard.

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Disclosure

My mother-in-law has been with Jesus for almost 9 years.  Cancer took her all too soon.  In August of 2007 we welcomed our first son into this world, within a week she and my father-in-law told us that the doctors had discovered she had cancer.  It was in her colon and pancreas.

What?  I thought we were celebrating new life?  How could it be that her life was being threatened at such a joyous time in ours?  I couldn’t process it and slipped into a phase of depression.  On the outside most people probably thought I was fine, but I most certainly wasn’t and it took me a little too long to realize it.

Never once did anyone say she wasn’t going to pull through it.  We thought it was caught early enough, we thought a little chemo would do the trick.  We were wrong.  Lots of treatments and a surgery later, she was laying in ICU for 3 weeks, taking her last breaths.

Today would’ve been her 76th birthday.  I don’t know how we would’ve celebrated, but I do know we would’ve done it together.  All the siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, kids, grand kids, everyone.  We would’ve been together, and that’s all that would’ve mattered.

Each year when January 20th rolls around we still choose to celebrate her birthday.  We don’t have to, we could sit in puddles instead, still pissed that life isn’t fair, but we just can’t do that to each other, or to ourselves.

We miss her like crazy.  We miss reading the sales flyers with her while swiveling in the chairs on the porch, we miss her frying bacon for BLTs, we miss her voice, her laugh, her mannerisms.

Sometimes I even miss the dumb arguments we’d get in over things that didn’t matter at all.  She could get so fired up over the little details, and so could I.

This afternoon one of my big brothers dropped off a package of double stuffed chocolate chip sandwich cookies, from the local bakery. We celebrate big, so we added them on the side of our already enormous banana splits.

We sang, we shared memories, and that was that.  We can’t stay in the sad places.  We can visit them briefly, and I believe we should, but we cannot stay there.
Friends, I know life is hard at times.  I haven’t even ever shared my greatest struggles here, because they’re still just too hard to relive.  But believe me when I say I GET IT.

You guys, sometimes it’s so hard that all you want to do is cry and honestly give up.  But don’t!  Oh please, don’t.  Because somewhere, sometimes years down the road, sometimes only a day away, you can make the choice to celebrate.

I am celebrating that I believe my beloved mother-in-law is resting safely, completely healed, in the arms of Jesus.  I cannot even begin to imagine what a feeling it is to be safe with Him.
Life is hard sometimes, but there are moments when it’s out-of-this-world beautiful too.  Like when you’re sitting around the table with your great big family scarfing down deluxe banana splits and feeling so blessed that your heart could just burst right open.
Whatever tough season you’re in, hang in there.  It will get easier.  I don’t know when, there’s no magic time frame, but I know that it will.
Might I suggest that you find something to celebrate?  Honestly, my greatest secret to happiness is always keeping something on the calendar that I have to look forward to.

xoxoxox,

Quincey B.

 

Go For Broke Day, I’m All In

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I’m a huge fan of bizarre holidays.  I look for a way to celebrate or put a theme to whatever I can.  I have so many dates to celebrate marked on my calendar it’s ridiculous… and awesome.

Did you know that today is “Go For Broke Day”?  It’s a day where you put it all out there, and take a risk.  I’m sure this occasion is a fun one to celebrate amongst the gambling crowd, “ALL IN!”, but why not relate it to other areas too?

What might that look like?

So if I’m going to “Go For Broke” with my children, it might mean:

  • I listen to every second of every far-fetched story that my son tells me.
  • I might give in to the request of reading the Elmo book for the 5th time today.
  • I may declare it a dessert night and whip up some banana splits after supper.
  • Singing an extra verse or two of Amazing Grace at bedtime.
  • Being extra patient.
  • Playing on the floor and giggling along with the kiddos as we make silly animal sounds and crawl around like chickens.
  • Writing each child a note or coloring a picture, then tucking it next to their bed for them to find in the morning.

What if I “Go For Broke” in my marriage?

  • Listen closely. Not just listen and respond, but really try to HEAR what my husband is saying, and what he isn’t saying. Taking extra time to understanding his side of things and appreciate his perspective.
  • Fix a nice dinner that I know my husband will love, rather than frantically just landing something that was once frozen onto the center of the table at 6pm and calling it good- all while I yell at the top of my lungs to get everyone in the room and sitting down at the same time to quietly say grace together. Don’t judge, these homeschooling days are long. Even though I’m home all day, I am often more exhausted by 5 pm than when I worked outside the home (It’s not even the kids necessarily, I’m just more charged up by big crowds).
  • Tidy up all the miscellaneous things that have been put into our bedroom but don’t belong there (I’m notorious for this scenario, and maybe you are too? Company is coming so I fill a laundry basket with random stuff from around the house. Shove it in the bedroom and shut the door. Company leaves, I do nothing about the basket. Oops, laundry is done and I need a basket, dump that basket of stuff on the dresser and never put it away). So this day I think I’ll create a romantic oasis- or I mean at least a clutter free bedroom zone. Who am I kidding? I’m probably just going to throw half that stuff away because it’s easier and probably mostly outdated at this point, but hey it will actually look a little better.
  • Be excited about what he’s excited about. I really have no idea what that is right now, maybe something to do with a basketball game, and a property project at church? I’ll ask him.
  • Pray fervently about my husband’s health and what concerns him.
  • Love fiercely.

Going “All In” as a friend:

  •  Taking a little time to text friends and check in with them, maybe set up coffee dates for next week.
  •  Offering to bring a meal to a friend, or babysit for a couple hours.

I know these all sound like baby steps, but you all know it’s been a demanding season here lately and this is just where I am and what I can do today to be “all in”. I’m totally okay with this, and I hope that wherever you are right now, that you’re okay in that season too.

Tea & Crumpets, or Whatever

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Tea & Crumpets, Donuts & Water. You do you, and I'll do me. Let's not compare.

It’s a Tea & crumpets kind of day.  Well okay, here it’s more like water and donuts.

I just wanted to give you another visual of my favorite soapbox, which is: “Do what works for you”.

God created us each unique with our own gifts, talents, and interests.

You do you, I’ll do me.  Together we’ll praise Jesus.

In short, this little saying means to me that although we are different, that doesn’t need to separate us.  We can all praise Jesus  for His perfect design within our lives and the gift of friendship despite diversities.

I have a wide community of homeschooling mom friends both in real life, and online.  I love each of them for their uniqueness and can learn something from every one of them.

Many of my HS momma friends do a tea time with their children and I really truly admire it.  It makes me smile to see the pictures they post of the read aloud they’re doing, and the fancy tea cups they’re sipping from.

I don’t beat myself up feeling envious or like I need to do better because I’m serving store bought donuts on the dishes I bought for myself at Target.  I’m okay with serving water when I’m not in the mood to fix tea (yes, I do know how easy it is to make).

I have a teenager now (along with an 8yr old and a toddler), and I understand that this sort of contentment I feel has come with age and experience, and above all, from Jesus.

I’ve had to pray for God to help my heart and mind find places where I can feel satisfied and content.

It’s my prayer that each of you may also feel satisfied wherever you are, and that you’d only feel the nudge to self-reflect and change if it comes from God alone.  Not from your Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest feeds, but only from Christ.

Be blessed my friends, and have a beautiful weekend!

My Top 3 Thoughts on Christmas Morning 2015

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xmas3

As we gathered around the tree to open presents, I was left with 3 strong thoughts in my head. This is the first year we have commercialized Christmas in our home in many years.  If you’ve been around a while or follow me on Social Media, you know I love Jesus and celebrating Christmas for two big reasons- First, for the miraculous birth of Jesus and the humbleness that it brings my heart,  and Second for the beautiful twinkling lights all over the place.  I love me some glitz.

Each year we explain to our kids how it isn’t about the gifts, and we focus fully on celebrating God and talking scripture.  They’ve never begged for a gift or whined about it even once, they’ve just known that’s how we do it.

Personally, I’ve truly hated the way the stores commercialize and capitalize on this holiday.

Then I prayed for a change of heart, because every shopping trip since Halloween has left me bitter. I wanted to enjoy this Christmas the way everyone else seemed to.

So we still talked scripture, we still explained what this day was about, but to be honest, I kind of felt like I was screwing my kids out of the kind of Christmas morning I remember as a kid. I remember waiting for Santa, being fully surprised by my gifts, and playing with whatever I got all year long.  There’s just something extra special about the gifts that were opened on Christmas morning versus gifts opened any other time of year.

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My top 3 thoughts after opening gifts.

1. Everyone needs a 3 year old in their house on Christmas morning. There were SO many great big bear hugs, so many THANK YOUs shouted, and so much excitement. The gratitude was genuine, folks.

2. 8 year old boys LOVE toys from the dollar store. Although I cringed as a mama because I was buying cheap toys knowing they wouldn’t last long, the excitement as he opened the gifts and the hours of play afterwards made it so worth it. Cheap dress up armor has been his favorite thing for years. He is the son of a warrior after all.

3. Once you have a teen in your house it is totally acceptable to hang prepaid phone cards from the tree as an ornament. It makes for the most practical gift and you can visibly see the burden lifted off their shoulders as they realize it’s another 3 months of cell phone charges they won’t have to pay for themselves. My teen’s second favorite gift may have been cotton candy. Don’t worry, she got many other amazing gifts, she’s just a simple girl like her mama and loves the ‘little things’.

You wouldn’t believe the things I bought in the name of Christmas this year. From homeschooling manipulatives to toys, to electronics, to skateboards, and more, I did alright.  This year I didn’t feel like I ripped my kids off, OR Jesus.  This year, I feel like I finally found some Christmas-season balance as a Christian wife and mom.

This year, I am grateful for the simple things like always, but now I am even able to be grateful for the big things too. All because I asked God to change my heart, and He did.

Giving materialistic things on Christmas can feel good, even as a Christian. In fact I think especially as a Christian.  We are blessed so that we may be a blessing.

I’m beginning to understand a tad of the commercialism (only just a tad though).

I’m praying that you too are finding a balance this Christmas season.

Ps.  We didn’t make our traditional sugar cookies for the first time in over 10 years, and I don’t even feel guilty about wiping that off my slate.  We all survived just fine!  My SIL brought some to Christmas at my father-in-law’s house, so that did help fill the void a little bit.

Too Many Words Wednesday: Christmas 2015

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I know the holidays are beautiful and fun and meaningful, as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas. I’m seeing “It” everywhere; the modern day Christmas cheer. My social media feeds show me perfectly decorated homes, happy moms baking with their kids, husbands buying their wives jewelry, big families gathered around the immaculately adorned tables, friends buying expensive and thoughtful gifts for each other, and the list goes on.

I’m not denying that this cheer is real. I’m just saying we may play it up to be a little bit more ‘perfect’ than it really is.

When I think of the mom snapping a picture of her magazine worthy Christmas tree with matching ornaments and garland (not a sentimental childhood ornament to be found), I have to wonder how many times she hollered at her little children to not touch her masterpiece. I’m not sure, the posts never say, and I don’t dare ask!

Full disclaimer: If I “nail it” with something this Christmas, whether it be perfect cookies, well dressed kids, whatever, I am going to post it. I’m sorry. Please don’t think that whatever I post is the whole story.

Example: Last weekend as we were getting ready for the Christmas program, my youngest insisted she was going to wear a puffy white tutu and her black yoga pants. I insisted she wasn’t. After some tears we compromised and she was able to wear it under her dress that I picked out. You can’t tell it in the pictures we snapped, but I promise you it’s there.

The internet doesn’t always tell you the whole story.  I know you moms already know this, I just think it’s worth being reminded of.

That doesn’t mean everyone is a fraud, it just means they aren’t as prefect as you’re imagining them to be, so don’t be so down on yourself!

I decided not to put up my BIG Christmas tree this year. I told my husband it was just too much for me right now. We have a pre-lit 5 foot tree that is taking its place, and although it isn’t as big and beautiful as our original tree, it’s doing the trick. I feel joy when I look at it, and that’s what I’m searching for this Christmas; for JOY.

It’s just that other tree is SO BIG. There’s no denying that it’s beautiful, but I feel like it’s all for show. It takes SO much work to set it up, it takes up so much space, and when two different people asked if I was going to put it in my window again, I knew I just couldn’t do it. That’s not what this season is about to me.   It’s about Jesus, and I get the way other people are honoring Him with their amazing trees and perfect homes, but that’s not how I’m doing it.

That doesn’t mean I’m right, or they’re right. It’s just how it is.

I know it’s easy to feel sad and depressed this time of year over absolutely anything and the reasons aren’t silly or unjustified; the loss of a loved one, family quarrels, money, too many people to buy for, no one to buy for, etc.

That first Christmas after my MIL passed away was R.O.U.G.H. It’s gotten easier, but my heart still breaks a little each time I see my husband missing his mom and her traditions.

Each gathering as we peel potatoes we laugh about his mom shoving 20 lbs of potato peels down the garbage disposal and needing to send a couple guys to go buy a clean plunger to unplug the sink. The house was full of about 20 people waiting to eat. Oh we laugh and laugh about it, and then we go silent and tear up.

To each of you who are hurting at Christmas, I want you to know that I’m praying you find a way to experience a cheerful heart. I am praying that God shows you JOY. I’m praying for a renewed spirit around what this season is all about. I’m praying you don’t feel alone, especially when you’re surrounded by people.

Please don’t feel like you have to out do anyone, or even yourself. If you need to take a time out, do it. If you need to buy your cookies rather than bake them, do it. If you don’t love doing crafts with your kids, don’t do it.

Do what works for you, and know that may not work for everyone.

Love,

Quincey B.

Thankful Thursday: Thoughts on Thanksgiving 2015

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A Slightly Better Wife. Peeling Potatoes

Today I am thankful for the ordinary, everyday things.  I’m thankful to have our oldest daughter in our care.  I’m thankful for the beautiful person she is, for her kindness and compassion.  I’m thankful for her desire to learn and for the joy of cooking (& adoration of kitchen gadgets) that we share.

I’m thankful for the sink full of dirty dishes, because it represents meals shared together.

I’m thankful for soap.  I know it sounds silly, but not only are we blessed to have it when so many don’t, but we even have options when picking out soap.

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I’m thankful for a little boy who is full of feelings.  From feelings of excitement to feelings of sadness he has them all and he’s in no way embarrassed to show them to us.  He prayers for people all the time.  Do your 8 year old boys do that?  I hope they do.  I just think it’s so special.  He’s adventurous and up for trying new things; like rinsing potatoes in the dishwasher.

Speaking of that: I’m thankful for Pinterest to find these crazy ideas.  I know they don’t always turn out, but that isn’t really the point.

The journey is fun.

I’m thankful for social media to share ideas, words, pictures, all of it.  I’m thankful for the sweet people I’ve met through the internet.

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I’m thankful for my youngest child who delights in the simple things.  She has never been overly entertained or impressed with fancy toys, but give this girl a couple bowls and a wooden spoon and she keeps busy for hours.  Truly, hours.  It amazes me.

I’m thankful for homeschooling and where it has brought our family.

I’m thankful for field trips, for curiosity they spark.  I’m also thankful for the good food we eat on field trips, and the friends we share it with.

I’m blessed with a few different groups of mama friends.  I’m thankful for the way we can encourage one another, and enjoy warm fellowship.  *Take note high school girls, the majority of your friendships now are nothing like what your adult friendships will be like.  You won’t understand this yet, but trust me when I say that you will be thankful for this some day.

I’m thankful for my very own husband.  I’m thankful for the work God has done in each of us to bring us to where we are.  I’m blessed by his carefree, fun personality.  I’m amazed at his strength, both physically and emotionally.  He’s been through so much pain and keeps pressing forward and blessing the socks off of everyone he can.

Broken and Beautiful.

I’m thankful for our extended family and our church family, which is all just an extension of our little family here at home.

I’m thankful for where I’ve been, and where I have yet to go.

I’m just all around so thankful.

I’m thankful for the boy who broke my heart after high school… because I found a lot of strength after that ugly mess.

I’m so glad I serve a God who can take our messes and turn them into something beautiful.

I am thankful for YOU!

Sweet Girly Scarecrow Make-up for Halloween

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Can you believe October is coming to an end already?  I swear it was just September like a week ago! Now we’re already being jolted straight into the busy holiday season (which I’m totally looking forward to)!

Fridays are what we call Fun Friday in our Homeschool.  We focus primarily on Reading, Math, and Art/Crafts.  It’s also my day to get caught up on the Social Media posting that I do for local businesses, and plan out our next week of schooling.  We don’t do this every Friday, because sometimes we’ve had other busy days within our week and we really need the catch up, but this week, we’ve all worked hard, so we’re celebrating!

Halloween is tomorrow, and in typical busy-mom style, I still don’t know if we’re going out trick-or-treating, staying home to hand out treats, or skipping it all together.  I have such conflicting, but passive, thoughts on the whole Halloween thing. But we do know this-  We will spend the night together as a family, and it will be another opportunity to make memories with our kiddos.

Today my oldest and I decided to try out a Scarecrow make-up pin that I saw HERE

(Sadly I cannot find a source for the original pin, so if this is you, let me know, I’d love to give you a shout out & see what other looks you’ve came up with).
Check out our little YouTube video:
Would you rather see that in print form?  Here it is:
We used just 5 cosmetics that I bet you even have at home:
Blush– Damp for cheeks, dry for eyes
Gold Eye Shadow*- Damp for the nose
Black Eye Liner: For the patchwork
Mascara: For some extra eye poppin’
Lip Balm: For some girly shine
*Another light color would work as well if you don’t have gold.
For clothing we pulled out a plaid shirt and bib overalls from her closet.
They were both found on clearance at Wal-Mart for just $3 each!

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