Friday Favorites- Easy Memorial Day Recipes

Wohoo for a three day weekend! The last thing you want to do is be stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is splashing in the pool. Try out some of these ideas to get you out of the kitchen and enjoying the great outdoors!

These roasted mustard potatoes would be a great compliment to any cook out.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing pan
• 1/2 cup dijon mustard (regular or whole-grain)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon sea or kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
• 5 cups potatoes, cut into 3/4 inch cubes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a large, rimmed, thin baking sheet with olive oil.
2. Whisk mustard, olive oil, butter, lemon juice, zest garlic, oregano, parmesan, salt and a few turns or pinches of black pepper. Add cubed potatoes and toss well.
3. Spread out on baking sheet and bake until crusty and golden brown - they can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on how well done you like them and how big you cut your potatoes, check every 10 minutes starting around the 30 minute mark.

Notes

Adapted from Epicurious

Source: Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice Blog

Jar your salads so they can be bug free!

Offer your drinks in an iced down baby pool.

For Dessert set out a Smore's bar!

Source: Martie Knows Parties

Everyone enjoy your weekend and be safe!!

Shortcake Bar

Nothing says memorial weekend... or summer in general more than strawberry shortcake. Set up a build your own shortcake station for your guests! Everyone will enjoy personalizing their own dessert!

For more great backyard cookout ideas and free printables go to the link below!

Celebrations at Home

DIY Growth Chart

When I was little every time we'd go to my grandparents house we'd measure how tall we were on a door and mark it. I was looking through our soon to be new house yesterday and saw that same chart. I love this idea of a cute growth chart that you can take with you so you don't have to leave behind your memories when you move.

Go over to Cozy Cottage Cute blog to get the step by step tutorial.

I'm back!

Sorry for the hiatus. I've had my hands full with my big 8 month old! She is crawling everywhere and starting to walk while holding on to something. Every floor lamp has become a climbing pole and nothing is safe around here :) Needless to say I've been very busy!

I know for most of you, school is almost out! Celebrate with your kiddos by making these confetti cookies! Yum yum.

Funfetti Cake Batter Cookies
    makes 30-32
1 box vanilla cake mix, 18.25 oz
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 C vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 C color sprinkles

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and baking powder. In a small bowl, mix together the eggs, oil and vanilla. Add the egg mixture to the cake mixture and stir to combine. Stir in the sprinkles. Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet or silpat.
Source: Cookin Cowgirl Blog

For all you over 21ers, celebrate your long weekend with these pop tails! Yes POPTAILS, popsicles and cocktails in one! Watermelon mojito popsicles.... YUM. i will be indulging at the lake this weekend.

Watermelon Mojito Popsicles

Makes 12 2.5 oz Popsicles

· 8oz. watermelon juice (2 ½ cups chopped watermelon)
· 2 oz fresh lime juice
· 1 oz. simple mint syrup (recipe follows)
· 8 oz. light rum
· 14 oz. club soda

Instructions:

1. Place chopped watermelon in a food processor or blender and process until watermelon is juiced (will be slightly pulpy).

2. Combine watermelon juice, lime juice, mint syrup and rum in a shaker and shake well. Fill popsicle mold 3/4 of the way up with mixture. Fill remaining popsicle mold with club soda and stir to combine.

3. Freeze for about 2 hours or until mixture starts to solidify enough to hold a popsicle stick upright. Insert popsicle sticks and finish freezing popsicles overnight. To release popsicles run hot water on the outside of popsicle molds for a 2-3 seconds.

Mint Syrup
(You will have more syrup than you need. Save for other cocktail uses)
· 1/2 cup water
· 1/2 cups sugar
· 1 cup mint leaves, loosely packed

Instructions:

1. Place sugar and water in a pot over heat until sugar dissolves. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature and place mint leaves in mixture and muddle. Allow mint leaves to steep for 20 minutes. Strain and discard leaves. (Depending on the fine-ness of the sieve tiny pieces may remain).

Also, for all you Midlanders. Our house is on the market for sale by owner. If you know anyone looking for a house out in North GreenTree let them know. You can email me at Ashley0233@yahoo.com for more info.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

My friends, if you only do one thing to celebrate Cinco De Mayo this Saturday, do this! Sopapilla cheesecake is always such a huge hit around my circle of friends. There is usually nothing left over, and everyone fights over the last piece. I'm not exaggerating here!

recipe from: My Yellow Umbrella

SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE

• 2 cans Pillsbury butter crescent rolls
• 2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup butter, meltedCinnamon & sugar

Unroll and spread 1 can crescent rolls on bottom of un-greased pan. Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Spread mixture over crescent rolls. Unroll and spread remaining crescent rolls over mixture. Spread melted butter over the top and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Friday Favorite- Its over 100 here!!

It is sweltering here. How did I survive this last year pregnant? I have no clue! 

Here some ideas to beat the heat in style.

I'm obsessed with this coverup. It looks easy enough to make. I will be sporting this pool side this year! I can't find the source, but it says to use a jersey knit fabric.

For your next outdoor party, use cupcake lines on mason jars to limit spills, and keep those bugs out!

Source: Setting the Mood blog

It is time to invest in some mason jars, there are just too many cute things you can do with them.

Whip up these raspberry beer cocktails!

Ingredients
1 cup of fresh raspberries or frozen
4 bottles of corona (12oz) beer, chilled
1 container frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate, thawed or pink lemonade
1/2 cup good quality vodka
Garnish: lemon slices, or raspberries.
adapted from Southern Living

Method
In a large container stir together the  first 4 ingredients. Serve over ice.
Garnish with raspberries.
To make ahead, stir together lemonade concentrate and vodka in a large container.    Stir in raspberries and beer just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

source: A Cup of Mai

For summer beach hair try this method to create waves!

Source: Oh So Pretty

Well we are off... my super smart and cute sister in law is graduating law school from Baylor tomorrow, so Waco here we come!

Have a great weekend! XOXO

Summer Style

I've been seeing colored shorts everywhere and all I can think about is teenager with spaghetti strap tops with them, which is just not my style anymore. But once I saw this board I know I'll give colored shorts a try this summer! Love it for evening entertaining on the patio, or to wear to a baseball game.

Relaxed by dixi3chik featuring fossil jewelry

source: Polyvore