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Cursive Handwriting Practice Sheets

It’s no secret that it takes everyone in this house to keep things running smoothly. I would have to hire outside help to get it all done if it were not for the help from the kids. I would be lost without them for sure. But to make sure things don’t get forgotten I created this Chore Chart Checklist Template for them to follow. I love a good list, which is why I love to create Free Printable Checklist Templates. This keeps us all on a routine – which is crucial for my sanity.

We devised this chore chart system years ago that works really well for us. You see- we believe that one of the most important things we can do as parents is to prepare the kids for what it’s like in the real world as best we can. So we treat the chore chart like a time sheet at a job.

They fill in all their tasks they are assigned to do each week. Then they check them off. They each have a certain amount they earn each week for what they do. If they forget something one day – they get a deduction. If they do extras – they add it to the bottom & they get paid extra – like getting paid overtime at a job.

We even have them sign at the bottom. I add in the notes when they received their payment & how much it was. This is also the area they can fill in remarks like “didn’t do the nightly floor maintenance on Monday & Tuesday because we were on a trip” or something like that. This way I know how to allot the money accordingly. It works beautifully because they are accountable for what they do & don’t do & they see it on payday – just like a job.

So I have this free printable checklist template here for you to use too! Hope it helps with tracking the chores in your house.

Download here

Want more free printable checklist templates?

First Aid Kit and Printable Checklist

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup : Easy Family Dinner Ideas

Tuna Noodle Casserole

It’s no secret, I absolutely love Easy Family Dinner Ideas. Anything to make the dinner prep go faster is great. This way I can get back to work, or even better- have some family time on those rare evenings when I can walk away from the office. I’m sure you love those easy recipes too. So when I create something that I can throw together in a few minutes & just let it do it’s thing all day, I know I have to share it with you. This Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup is literally throw & go – you can’t beat it.

This made a huge amount. Like – filled my large cooker to the top. But I was happy it did because not only was there enough for seconds for the kids, but enough for leftovers the next night. That is always a plus for me because if I can take something so easy that already requires so little time to make & then cut that time in half – WIN! Easy in king in this house for dinners during the week & this enchilada soup definitely is easy.

Print Recipe

Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

Ingredients

6-7 pieces boneless skinless chicken breast (5-6 lbs)
4 cups chicken stock
2 10 oz cans enchilada sauce (I used green- but if you like it hotter - go with red)
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
2 4 oz cans diced green chilies
2 cups frozen whole kernel corn
2 14 oz cans black beans- drained (optional)
1 6 oz can pitted black olives- diced
3 cloves garlic- minced
1/2 white onion- peeled & diced
1 tsp gr. cumin
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Add all ingredients to slow cooker & cook on high 4-5 hours (on low 7-8 hours)
Stir occasionally
About 1 hour before serving - remove chicken into a large bowl & shred with 2 forks
Return chicken to crock pot & allow to continue cooking remaining hour
*Note - this FILLED my 4 qt. crock pot. If you have a smaller cooker- cut this recipe in half

Looking for more Easy Family Dinner Ideas?

Bacon Mac & Cheese

Simple Teriyaki Stir Fry

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Chocolate Almond Cake Mix Bars

Mint Irish Cream Bars

I sure love altering our favorite recipes. I make a whole lot of Yummy Bar Recipes for the family & so I’m always looking for ways to improve upon them or make them so we can enjoy them more often. I came up with these Chocolate Almond Biscotti Cake Mix Bars by substituting a higher calorie ingredient for a fat free & sugar free version that has less calories too. You can’t even tell they are lower calorie & the added flavor of Chocolate Almond Biscotti to these cake mix bars is just divine.

You know I’m all about moderation when it comes to the things I eat. I love to indulge – however I figure if I make little changes to my recipes to make them a little better for me, then I don’t have to feel so bad about enjoying some every now & then. So you see – I made one little switch in these cake mix bars & shaved off some calories. I removed the usual 51 calories in 1 tbsp of heavy cream I would have used in this recipe. I used International Delight Fat Free & Sugar Free Creamer in it’s place. The best part is it’s Chocolate Almond Biscotti flavor – you can’t get that from heavy cream.

Just look at all that wonderful chocolaty goodness topped with almonds.

Be sure to head over & play HAZELNUT BLITZ!

It’s a fun game where you play to WIN GREAT PRIZES – Daily packs will be awarded as well as coupons.

There are multiple ways to be entered into the sweepstakes.

Play the game – upload International Delight creamer receipts – answer delightful quiz questions & more!

PLAY HERE

For product availability – visit International Delight

For more information see International Delight’s creamer page

YUM-O! I’m telling you – these were just what I needed. The hubs had been asking for goodies for over a week – I think these took care of that. He was quite pleased. But really – I would have thought he was nuts if all this chocolate cakey heaven didn’t do the trick.

Print Recipe

Chocolate Almond Cake Mix Bars

Ingredients

1 1 pound box Devils Food Cake Mix (I used Duncan Hines)
5 ounces evaporated milk
1 tbsp International Delight Fat Free+Sugar Free Creamer Flavor Chocolate Almond Biscotti
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chunks
1/4 cup slivered almonds

Instructions

Spray 8x8 baking pan with cooking spray & set aside
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine cake mix, creamer, evaporated milk & butter in mixer bowl & beat until combined
Divide batter - spreading 3/4 of the batter in the bottom of the pan in an even, flat layer
Bake 9-10 minutes - remove
Top with chocolate chunks & almonds
Drop remaining batter on top - do not smooth out (you want it sort of in clumps as it will spread as it bakes
Return to oven & bake an additional 24-30 minutes
Cool completely on wire rack before cutting
Store at room temperature in airtight container

Looking for more Yummy Bar Recipes

Fig Crumble Bars

Blackberry Crumb Bars

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Marshmallow Popcorn Bars : Great for Family Movie Night

Heath Bar Popcorn Balls

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Universal Pictures, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BoxtrollsFamilyNite

I love family movie night. When we updated out media room we did so with family movie night in mind. My favorite thing to do is whip up one of my favorite Yummy Bar Recipes, like these Marshmallow Popcorn Bars & curl up on the chaise with the family all there with me & enjoy a good flick. I find that the more I spend time in the office, the more time I crave with the family – especially on the weekend. We try to cram so much into our days that it’s those times when we can really just enjoy each other’s company that I think we all cherish the most.

If you follow me on Instagram then you saw a while back I shared my most recent shopping pick for movie night- The Boxtrolls Movie DVD paired with the 10 count Pop Secret movie theater butter.

I love making some great popcorn mixes to enjoy during quality family time. This time I decided that I really wanted to do something a little different & make the popcorn into bars. I love marshmallow & popcorn together & so it seemed like a great idea to make it into a bar that we could all just grab one at a time – no bowl needed.

These were absolutely delish. I love the addition of trail mix – a little popcorn & nuts with some raisins & chocolate chips – you can’t beat that. I usually have plain popcorn for lunch everyday. It’s going to be really hard to not want to do this version instead.

My son was the first to dive in – look at all that gooey marshmallow!

We had a great time & enjoyed the movie. We are always looking for great ways to continue our conversations with our kids centering around making good choices no matter the circumstances. Boxtrolls was one of those movies that helped us do that & lead to some great family discussions.

I would love for you to pick up The Boxtrolls Movie DVD & some Pop Secret at Walmart & come on over & share your experience with me. (while supplies last)

Find out more about The Boxtrolls Movie DVD by connecting with them on Facebook |Twitter |Instagram & Pinterest

Print Recipe

Marshmallow Popcorn Bars : Great for Family Movie Night

Ingredients

3 tbsp butter
1 cup trail mix - preferably with chocolate of some sort
1 bag microwave popcorn- popped
4 cups mini marshmallows

Instructions

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray & set aside
Pop your popcorn & pour into a large bowl
In a medium saucepan combine marshmallows & butter
Heat over med-low until completely smooth- stirring constantly
Remove from heat & pour over prepared popcorn
Fold until all popcorn is coated with marshmallow
Add trail mix & continue folding until mixed in
Transfer to prepared dish & spread out into an even layer
Allow to set at least 10 minutes before cutting into bars

Looking for more great family movie night popcorn recipes

Minty Shamrock M&M Popcorn

White Chocolate M&M Popcorn

Coco Nutty Caramel Popcorn

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Chocolate Walnut Cookies

Valentine Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hello there all my wonderful friends! Are you in the mood for some cookies? How about some soft & chewy chocolate cookies with walnuts in them? Yeah- I thought so. I can always go for a super good cookie like these Chocolate Walnut Cookies. I tested this cookie recipe on the hubs who is very picky about cookies & he was blown away! All I heard was “WOW- now that’s a good cookie!” So I knew I had to share it with you all here so you can WOW everyone too.

Are you on the pudding cookie bandwagon? The first time I made cookies with pudding it turned me into a total convert. It definitely changes the whole cookie- for the better. I always find myself gravitating back to my pudding recipes.

I recommend making a double batch if you can. These lasted just under a day in our house.

Print Recipe

Chocolate Walnut Cookies

Ingredients

1 stick butter 1/2 cup softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar - packed
1 large egg - room temperature
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp instant chocolate pudding
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts
no need to chop the walnuts as they will break up when beating in with the mixer

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In mixer bowl - cream together butter & sugars.
Add egg & vanilla - beat 10 seconds to combine
Add in flour, pudding mix, baking soda & salt - beat well until fully combined
Beat in walnuts on low
Take tablespoon size pieces of dough & roll them between your hands to form a ball
Place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart to allow for spread
Bake 10-12 minutes
Let cool on cookie sheet 10 minutes before transferring to wire rack to finish cooling
*remember to only place uncooked dough on a room temperature cookie sheet & not on one that is still hot out of the oven. This changes your cookie.

Want more great cookie recipes?

Banana Macadamia Nut Cookies

Peanut Butter Nutella Salted Sandwich Cookies

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Cupid’s Valentine’s Day Card Holder

Red Velvet Bundt Cake w/ Kahlua Ganache

I wrote this post as part of a paid campaign with Plaid brands and Blueprint Social. The opinions in this post are my own.

Remember when we were kids? Valentine’s Day was so much fun. Passing out candy & cards. My kids are homeschooled & older now so those days are behind us. However I have heard that the thing to do now is create a Valentine Box that the kids can use to collect their Valentine Cards. So I decided to re-purpose a simple item into this Cupid’s Valentine Card Holder that is perfect for holding all those cards & candy gifts. So let’s get creating for Valentine’s Day with Plaid Crafts.

This is super simple to make with just a couple items. Let me show you how I did it.

I started with some paints, Mod Podge & a tube leftover from some chips. I was going to paint the tube but then found some marbled paper in an old scrapbook kit that I decided to use with Mod Podge instead.

I first coated the tube with Mod Podge & adheared the paper to it around the tube.

Next I gave the tube another coat of Mod Podge over the paper to seal it down.

I added some sparkly foam heart stickers all over – just for fun & added decoration once it dried.

I also used my Xacto knife to cut the slit in the top for the Valentines & a smaller hole for an arrow.

Then I created my arrows with some paper straws, heart shaped foam stickers & some paper.

I placed 2 foam stickers back to back -upside down on the straw to make the arrow point.

Then I used paper & cut my flags for the other end & used more Mod Podge to adhere them to the straws.

It’s easiest to place something heavy on the flags to hold them in place until they dry.

Then I stuck one in the lid – in that little slot I showed you before.

The other two are criss-crossed & tied with string to hold them in that formation. I used raffia for this & then wrapped it around the tube.

You can see here how the Valentines fit right on in there.

The final part – I poked holes in the top & bottom, poked a string through & tied a knot to secure inside on both ends to create a strap. This way it truly looks like a Cupid’s Arrow holder – perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Since I LOVE you – my readers, I also have this exclusive discount code for $10 off orders over $35, plus free shipping!

Save on Plaid brands like Apple Barrel, Mod Podge, FolkArt®, Martha Stewart Crafts® and more.

The code LOVE2015 is valid through 3/31/15. See site for details below.

I love celebrating Valentine’s Day with Plaid Crafts

Connect with Plaid on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram or through Apple Barrel & Mod Podge.

Looking for more great Valentine’s Day Ideas?

30 Handmade Valentine Gift Ideas

Valentine Red Velvet Brownies

Order $35 or more in craft supplies and receive $10 off your purchase, plus free shipping* Make sure promo code LOVE2015 is in your shopping cart when you check out. This promo can only be used once. *Free Shipping not available in areas where ground shipping is not offered. Please see our shipping policy for information to your location. Valid 2/1/2015 12:01 AM to 3/31/2015 11:59 PM.

Don’t miss these other great Valentine Boxes created by these AWESOME bloggers!

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Classic Cornbread

By Kleinworth & Co 11 Comments

This Classic Cornbread recipe is made with buttermilk & butter for an AMAZING buttery flavor that’s extra moist, with tender crumbs.

Do you all love a good piece of cornbread? It goes so well with so many dinner recipes. I grew up on Marie Callendar’s – we would go there all the time when I was growing up.

But when I was married & moved out but still living in the O.C. my mom & I would meet there to catch up.

Don’t miss our Mexican Cornbread Recipe!

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Hearts & Kisses Cream Cheese Mints

By Kleinworth & Co 2 Comments

I can’t believe I have yet to share these with you. Have you ever had Cream Cheese Mints? They are awfully good & just melt in your mouth. I decided that since it’s clicking down to Valentine’s Day I would make these in the shapes of hearts & kisses. So cute & perfect for a little Valentine’s Day party or a special little gift for your sweetheart. I know my hubs sure loves wintergreen. So whenever I can make treats with that flavor he’s sure happy.

You can shape them however you like with any piping tip that is your favorite. Normally I would use a star tip on my piping bag – but I thought making them in the shape of hearts & “kisses” would be cute.

Print Recipe

Hearts & Kisses Cream Cheese Mints

Ingredients

3 oz cream cheese- room temperature
1 tbsp butter – softened
3 cups confectioners sugar
¼ tsp Creme de Menthe candy flavoring
1-2 drops food color

Instructions

Lay out a large piece of parchment paper on the counter & tack it down to hold it in place.
Fit your pastry bag with a large round tip – set aside
In mixer bowl add cream cheese & butter- beat well until smooth.
Add in confectioners sugar – one cup at a time, beating in-between cups.
Your peaks should be stiff & not melt down when you stop beating.
Add in your food color & extract & beat well.
Transfer mixture to your piping bag & start piping onto your parchment in heart & kiss shapes.
Transfer parchment to baking sheet or large cutting board to make it easier to transport.
Place in refrigerator to firm up several hours before removing from parchment.
Store in airtight container in refrigerator or freezer for up to 4 months.

Looking for more great Valentine’s Day inspiration?

Red Hot Kisses & Hugs Cookies

Red Hot Dark Chocolate Fudge

Red Velvet Bundt Cake w/ Kahlua Ganache

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Dulce de Leche Shortbread Bars

Blueberry Cobbler Bars

I think I’m on a shortbread kick here. I mentioned before that I kept meaning to make some shortbread through the holidays but never got around to it. So I was whipping up some Yummy Bar Recipes & came across a jar of Dulce de Leche in the freezer that needed to be used. It was just calling for me to make these Dulce de Leche Shortbread Bars. The light buttery flavor of the shortbread combined with the richness of the dulce de leche. Heaven – absolute heaven.

Like I mentioned yesterday – shortbread is so easy to make. It takes just a couple ingredients & you are in business. I love that this recipe does call for an egg while my recipe I shared yesterday does not. So depending on your mood, ingredients on hand or a food allergy- you have something for everyone.

The hubs is always so amazed that I think of recipes that I want to make & I can just go in the kitchen & make them. I just tell him that it’s the benefit of having a well stocked pantry. I buy most everything in bulk so that when the mood strikes I always have whatever I could possibly need at that moment. He just thought I was hoarding food I guess. Now he understands why I do what I do. 🙂

Print Recipe

Dulce de Leche Shortbread Bars

Ingredients

1 egg
2 sticks butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1/2 Dulce de Leche
1/4 cup pumpkin spice candy melts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Spray 8x8 glass baking dish with cooking spray- set aside
Combine sugars, butter & vanilla in mixer & beat until combined
Stir in egg
Add flour - beat until well combined
Press 3/4 of the dough into prepared baking dish.
Place remaining dough in refrigerator until it's time to use it
Bake 20 minutes - remove & allow to cool about 15 minutes
Spread dulce de leche over the top in thin layer
Drop remaining dough in clumps on top of the dulce de leche - do not spread out or press down.
Return to oven & bake 25-30 minutes
Remove from oven & place on wire rack in pan.
Melt candy melts in small bowl for approx 1 minute to melt - stirring after 30 seconds
Take a fork & dip in melted chocolate & drizzle over the shortbread bars
Allow to cool completely before serving.

Want more Yummy Bar Recipes?

No Bake Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars

Mint Irish Cream Bars

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Valentine Shortbread Bars

By Kleinworth & Co 10 Comments

What do you think of shortbread cookies? I love their light buttery flavor. Add to that some chocolate – or how about some white chocolate too & maybe some M&M’s & then you have these super cute Valentine Shortbread Bars. Yup – that’s what I’m talking about. They definitely belong on my Yummy Bar Recipes list. Mmmmm mmmmm! Maybe you have a little Valentine gathering coming up for the kids. Or possibly a church pot luck. Or maybe you just like to surprise your family with a little treat on Valentine’s Day. These are perfect for that.

The ease of shortbread bars is fantastic. I mean – eggless is great. That means I can eat the dough- which I am known to do more often than not. Do you eat cookie dough too? The hubs gives me grief every single time. But I do it with every batch of dough I make – eggs or not. I can’t help myself – I grew up doing it. It was what my mom & I would do. Sort of like the little treat before the treat. I have very fond memories of those special times with my mom – many of them center around baking with her. More often than not those memories involve eating raw dough or batter. So it’s great with shortbread because I can just say “no eggs – no problem”. Hehehe – gotta love that.

Print Recipe

Valentine Shortbread Bars

Ingredients

1 cup 2 sticks butter - softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup red M&M's
1/8 cup heart sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper - set aside
Cream butter, sugar & salt in mixer on medium high until well blended & fluffy
Add in vanilla & then flour - beat until crumbly
Press 3/4 of the dough into a flat layer in bottom of prepared pan
Top with semi-sweet & white chocolate chips & M&M's
Sprinkle remaining dough over the top & lightly press down
Add hearts
Bake approx 45 minutes or until golden on top
Cool to room temperature on wire rack
Remove by lifting out by parchment
Cut unto squares & enjoy

Looking for more Yummy Bar Recipes?

Milky Way Crumble Bars

Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie Bars

Almond Joy Cream Delight Bars

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Red Hot Kisses & Hugs Cookies

Valentine Oreo Truffles

Hello everyone!!! Are you ready for February? Can you believe we are actually talking about February? WOW! So are you starting to think of a fun & cute little treat you can make for Valentine’s Day? I have just the thing…Red Hot Kisses & Hugs Cookies. These are so easy with a classic shortbread but then cut into x’s & o’s & sprinkled with red hots – well that makes them the perfect Valentine treat.

Do you love shortbread cookies? Oh I sure love them. I had them on my list of things to make all though the holiday season – I never had a chance to make them. So having them mixed with red hots for Valentine’s Day pretty much makes up for that- don’t you think?!

You could make these 2 – ways. Either mix the red hots into the dough & then they are inside the cookie – which I did here. Or you can place them in the top of the cookie once it’s done baking but still hot. Because I chose to mix in- it made the red hots melt & some of them oozed out onto the pan. This wasn’t all bad. It made the cinnamon flavor of the red hots disburse through the cookie more. But if you want a more uniform look- add them immediately after removing from the oven. That’s probably what I will do with these on future batches.

Print Recipe

Red Hot Kisses & Hugs Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup + 1 tbsp butter sticks softened
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup red hot candies

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees
Add butter & sugar to your mixer & beat on medium until well combined
Add flour - you can add additional butter by the tablespoon if the dough is too crumbly.
Add in red hots if mixing in- instead of placing after baking
Form dough into a ball & then flatten a little
Place on parchment & lay another piece of parchment on top
Roll with heavy rolling pin to flatten to about ½ inch
Use your cookie cutters to cut your x's & o's
Place on baking sheet - bake 20 minutes or until set.
Remove from oven- allow to cool on baking sheet completely before transferring to airtight container.
**If placing your candies on the cookies after baking to avoid melting- do so immediately after removing from oven.

Looking for more Valentine’s Day Ideas?

Red Velvet Bundt Cake w/ Kahlua Ganache

Valentine Red Velvet Brownies

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Desk Organizer DIY

Wasp Control with DIY Wasp Trap

Are you in organizing mode? We definitely are. I love keeping things tidy & clean. Clutter is not my friend. Not only does it physically fill up space but it clutters my mind as well. So I decided to take something that I have on hand all the time & make these little Desk Organizer’s for my daughter. They work perfectly for all her crafting supplies & make her tiny desk look clean. This project comes together quickly – which is great for you busy moms out there. Plus, repurposing things is something I absolutely love to do- so this project just makes me smile.

You see – since I really go through the coffee creamer I don’t like throwing out the bottles. Yes I can stick them in my recycle bin. But if I can make a good use for it- then it saves me from having to go buy something that would work just the same. So I save them & use them for things like making these desk organizers for my daughter’s room.

I picked up several of these International Delight Fat Free & Sugar Free creamers. I love it because given the new year I am trying to find new ways to eat a little healthier & do things that are better for me. But I never want to feel deprived. That’s a sure way to fail. So things like swapping out my regular International Delight Creamer with this Fat Free & Sugar Free versions is just what I am looking for. This Chocolate Almond Biscotti flavor was what was available in my store. However there are also flavors like Toasted Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Caramel Creme & Caramel Marshmallow too. I CAN’T WAIT for those to finally hit my store- they sound amazing. Knowing that they are all Fat Free & Sugar Free is really great.

So I started with cutting off the top of the bottle & the carton.

Then I used hot glue to attach the burlap to the bottle. I finished it off with a little sisal wrapped around. EASY!

As you can see I have some square ones. Those are from my Iced Coffee Cartons.

For the carton- I coated the outside with Mod Podge & then pressed the fabric firmly all around.

Then I folded in about 3/4 inch at the top to finish off the edge.

Finally I gave it another coat of Mod Podge over the top of the fabric to seal it all.

– Again – very simple & takes very little time.

These cartons work great for the larger things like the paint brushes.

She absolutely LOVES them. She has been begging me to use this fabric on something for her room.

Simple & useful. Can’t beat that.

The best part is that I’m always picking up new creamer – so I will have plenty more to make.

Be sure to head over & play HAZELNUT BLITZ!

It’s a fun game where you play to WIN GREAT PRIZES – Daily packs will be awarded as well as coupons.

There are multiple ways to be entered into the sweepstakes.

Play the game – upload International Delight creamer receipts – answer delightful quiz questions & more!

PLAY HERE

For product availability – visit International Delight

For more information see International Delight’s creamer page

Want more great repurposing projects?

First Aid Kit and Printable Checklist

Rag Wrapped Bracelets

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

Pages: 1 2

Chipotle Mayo

By Kleinworth & Co

I love appetizers & snacks. Those of you who have been with me for a long time know that I’m all about the game time dishes. I especially love it when the things I’m making can actually work as a meal as well.

I definitely love to put out a spread when we are watching the game or on race day. One thing that is a family favorite – José Olé® snacks & this Chipotle Mayo dipping sauce I made to go along. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas?

The kids & I really love these Taquitos. They are available in both chicken & beef. I always make both. I like that they are made with real meat & cheese & the tortillas are crunchy. To me that’s the perfect taquito. What an easy way to feed a crowd.

The chipotle mayo– my son’s new favorite spread. He fell in love with spicy food when he was less than a year old.

He was so thrilled to try this on more than just his taquitos. It is simple, versatile & not too spicy. It’s a mild initial flavor with a little afterburn.

Other Pepper-Inspired Recipes

Black Bean Jalapeno Pepper Queso

Simple Pepper Jelly

Jalapeno Artichoke Dip

Air Fryer Shishito Peppers

Print Recipe

Chipotle Mayo

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 chilies from 1 can of Chipotle Chilies in Adobo Sauce
1 tsp granulated garlic
1/4 tsp dried dill

Instructions

Chop chilies into very small pieces & transfer to a small bowl
Add remaining ingredients & whisk well
Cover & refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving

Looking for more ideas to dip in your Chipotle Mayo?

How about these Soft Pretzel Bites?

Maybe more sauces are what you are after…?

Fry Sauce

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jose Ole. The opinions and text are all mine.

Industrial Cart Coffee Table

By Kleinworth & Co 26 Comments

Have you ever sat in a space & it just hits you… this furniture is SO NOT ME anymore? Yeah- right before the holidays we were having our morning coffee & look at each other & said, “we need to update this space”. While we have a coastal feel going for the most part we also love the look of the industrial furniture. It’s quite popular & thus also quite expensive. So we decided to make our own Industrial Cart Coffee Table for a fraction of the cost. It wasn’t all that hard – let me show you how we did it.

We started with this giant pallet. This thing is the mother of all pallets. I think our siding was delivered on it during the construction of our house. It was left behind & I was MORE THAN THRILLED. This baby will be the key piece in a whole lot of projects coming up.

First thing we did was measure our space & decide where we wanted to make the first cut.

*Note – we had a completely different living room set when we started this project. You can see my first post on our Coastal Decor Living Room that I did about a month after we moved in to see what I’m talking about. So we initially cut this to be a square table. Then we decided one weekend that we would finally make the leap & buy the sectional we have been talking about for YEARS. Now that the kids are bigger we needed something we could all fit on comfortably for all our weekend homegating. Besides- we really had no seating if we had guests – so a change had to be made.

These are the wheels I chose. 8 Inch Swivel Caster

I wanted this table to be as tall as the seating – so I chose the largest wheels I could find.

While the hubs worked on cutting & lightly sanding the pallet, I decided to start painting the wheels with this paint.

Oil Rubbed Bronze to give them a nice worn look.

It was positively frigid outside so we then moved the pallet into the tandem part of the garage so I could start staining. I originally started with the leftover stain from our mantle, however I ran out after the top side. Did you know they really can’t match stain like they can paint? I never knew that. Sooooo – we had to find another one that was close to what we were already working with. I think this was Minwax Jamocha Bean or something like that. I brushed on & then rubbed off the excess with a paper towel. Afterwards we decided it needed to be darker & so I added another coat.

We knew we wanted the finished table to be higher than just the pallet & wheels together. So the hubs picked up this beam 2×4 – we cut 4 pieces off for the corners & used some wood glue & clamps to give it some grip.

Then we placed the wheels on each part to mark with a sharpie where we wanted to drill the holes to bolt it altogether.

You can see the marks where the holes for the casters will go. We drilled the holes & then added our giant bolts.

I then painted the ends of the bolts with a little brush & black chalk paint just sort of dabbing so it would look like old grease.

I added a little of this ultra matte finish varnish on just the top to make sure there wasn’t a shine.

Most of the house has a coastal feel since I grew up on the beaches of So Cal. It’s my taste of home. However – we have always had an eclectic feel because of all the antiques we have acquired from the family. So I like that the table fits well with all of that & has an imperfect look. It isn’t some mass produced piece I could find in 1000 other homes.

This table is sturdy & quite heavy due to the casters. That was really the most expensive part of the whole project. I am still in search for a less expensive place to pick those up. If I find a place- I will update this post to let you know.

My apologies – we didn’t get the curtains up before I snapped these images. We have been here 6 months & I there are more projects than there is time. I have a million & one things I plan to do before I consider this space done enough to take a breather. But with each little project I’m just that much closer.

As you can see – with the shape of the new sectional, we had to change the table to a rectangle. I was sort of bummed about that – but I think it all worked out. We like to roll it out & pop the ottoman in that space for movie nights so we can all lounge around.

Finding ways to blend my beachy vibe with the hubs love for rough & rugged pieces has been both a challenging & fun.

It was a really fun project. It’s great to be able to make an idea come to life.

Want to see more Easy DIY Projects from our home?

How to Build a Butcher Block

Grain Sack Curtain

Change Can Lights to Pendant Lights {in less than 10 minutes}

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Barbecue Tri-Tip Roast

Valentine Nuts for You Printables – Download here

Tender & juicy Barbecue Tri-Tip Roast – super easy, positively delicious – any time of year. Perfect for weeknight dinners, summer bbq’s & parties.

Do you grill in the winter? I grew up in the mild climate of So Cal – so I’m used to grilling year-round. So just because we now live in North Idaho there is snow on the ground that doesn’t mean that I pack my BBQ away.

Well- we do tuck it away in the garage for storage to protect it from the weather. However, nothing really stops us from shoveling the snow off the porch & moving the grill back out to make some amazing recipes.

One of our favorites – BBQ Tri-Tip Roast. It’s great right off the grill with a side of baked potatos. But my favorite is the leftovers that I can use for a delicious sandwich the next day.

Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe

View post

Nuts for You Valentine {Free Printable Valentines}

By Kleinworth & Co 3 Comments

Hello all my bloggy friends! I have a special Valentine’s Day themed hop for you all today. I have teamed up with an INCREDIBLE group of bloggers to bring you a one stop shop for all your Valentine Gift needs!! Yay – check out all these fabulous Valentine Ideas being shared by so many AMAZINGLY talented ladies. If you are looking for Valentine gifts – this is your place to be!

When I’m gearing up for Valentine’s Day – my thoughts are always on homemade gifts. Coming up with great Valentine Ideas is so much fun- especially when it comes to Valentine Gifts for Him. I know that my hubs appreciates thoughtful gifts that are useful, practical & budget conscious. We are not the sort of couple that spends a whole lot on holidays or gifts for one another. We prefer to cook together or do something sweet than spend a lot on something just for a specific occasion. So I decided to make him a little Nuts for You Valentine gift jar stuffed full of one of his favorite snacks – toffee covered peanuts.

I also created this free printable to go with it – so you all could create your own little Valentine gift too.

I can’t wait to give it to him. Simple & Sweet!

Check out all these other Valentine Ideas!!!!

[inlinkz_linkup id=487426 mode=1]

Want Even More fun Valentine Ideas?

Valentine Free Printable

Valentine Red Hots Votive

30 Valentine Desserts

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Carnitas Queso

By Kleinworth & Co 3 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of RO*TEL & VELVEETA . All opinions are 100% mine.

I know I have mentioned on more than occasion how much I’m obsessed with carnitas. If you know me on a more personal level then you really know how deep that love for carnitas is. Now add to that some delicious queso. I love queso. I could live on it pretty much all the time. Which is great because we make it for nearly every homegating event. It’s simple, takes only a couple ingredients & EVERYONE loves it. So it’s so easy to make it the “go-to” snack. Then I had the AMAZING idea to add a little bit of my leftover carnitas from my tacos to my queso & Carnitas Queso was born. It was a match made in heaven if I do say so myself. Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas?

Just these two ingredients & some of my favorite carnitas makes the most INCREDIBLE game day snack EVER!

The combination of RO*TEL and VELVEETA make a Queso dip that is so good it will be the star of your next tailgating party. Zesty, creamy, yummy, and easy – Queso made with RO*TEL and VELVEETA is a real crowd pleaser.

Queso is a quick, easy and zesty recipe with just two ingredients, VELVEETA and RO*TEL.

The recipe is the perfect addition to any occasion’s entertainment spread.

The family & I joke that if they want to see me during the game – then they need to head on over to the snack bar. That’s where I’ll be – which is why I set up our game time spread facing the media room. That way I can snack without missing a moment of the game.

This queso is great not just with chips & pretzels. I like to cut up some french bread & eat it like a fondue too.

You really can’t go wrong. It’s the perfect game day snack.

Be sure to check out the Queso For All page for more inspiration on creating the simple RO*TEL and VELVEETA Queso.

So many ideas to spice up your next tailgate or party.

Be inspired and get the latest ideas by following Ro*Tel Facebook and Velveeta Facebook pages too.

Print Recipe

Carnitas Queso

Ingredients

1 10 ounce can RO*TEL Original- undrained
1 16 ounce package VELVEETA - diced into cubes
1 cup Crock Pot Carnitas with a little juices from cooking about 1/8 cup

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan
Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted - stirring frequently
Serve warm with homemade parmesan tortilla chips , bread or pretzels.

So what will I be making to dip in my Carnitas Queso?

You know it’s great topped on a Gourmet Hot Dog

Parmesan Tortilla Chips

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

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Grain Sack Curtain

Antique Sewing Table Makeover

We moved in to this house about 6 months ago & I have been dragging my feet on a lot of projects for our home to make it complete. We have been far more deliberate with each & every hole we put in the walls. So we are taking our time when choosing what we will do for the finishing touches like curtains & art. Some walls are still bare. Some windows are too. I want to make sure I am taking my time & choosing things that I know I will love for a long time & that I won’t be changing out soon after putting it up. So before the holidays the hubs was traveling & I decided that the Grain Sack Curtain idea I had in mind for the kitchen window was a good project to whip together while he was gone. I love the vintage feel of old french grain sacks. So I used some of my stencils left over from another project along with some old scraps of muslin that my mom used to make rag dolls out of & it turned out perfectly.

It’s really quite simple. I measured my window & calculated how long I wanted it to hang down before I gathered it. Then I added another 3/4 inch on the bottom & sides for the rolled hem & 2 inches on the top for the casing. Then I stitched it all & was ready for paint. (please forgive the phone pics of the process. I tend to work on projects in the middle of the night when the hubs travels so lighting isn’t always great)

I obviously wanted the stripes to be center. So I folded the curtain in half & then measured a ruler’s width from the fold & placed my tape. Then I flipped it over & taped the other side so that when I opened it I would have the center stripe taped perfectly down the center of the curtain.

Then I used my ruler along the side of the tape to mark off for the other narrow stripes on each side.

I used Americana Decor chalk paint – color is called Vintage. It’s a gray/blue. I probably wouldn’t have used chalk paint for this – however I really love this particular color & it was the only tub I had of it. I need it by the gallon – I have so many things I would paint in this color.

I measured down from the top to where I wanted my letters & numbers so that they wouldn’t be too close to where I would place the gathers at the bottom. Then I used my stencil to paint the numbers & letters. Simple.

Once I hung it above the window I used some jute to just gather it up to the right length. That’s it.

This really didn’t take too long. The hardest part was waiting for the paint to dry so I could move on. I have very little patience when it comes to projects. They need to move quickly or I tend to lose interest & want to abandon it altogether. Fortunately I had that deadline of the hubs returning & I wanted it done before he walked in the door. Nothing like a little time constraint to push me to wrap it up quick.

Want to see more projects from our home?

DIY Pallet Console Table

Glitter Jars Tutorial

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Blog Birthday Bash {$500 GIVEAWAY}

By Kleinworth & Co 3 Comments

Hey there!! Did you know that this month I’m celebrating my blog birthday? Yep!! For the last 8 years I have been on this blogging journey. I can’t believe it’s been that long. But since it’s a milestone to celebrate I have joined up with some of MY FAVORITE bloggers who are also celebrating their blog birthday’s too to bring you this Blog Birthday Bash with a $500 Cash Giveaway!!!

Pages: 1 2

Parmesan Tortilla Chips

Grilled & Ready Kabobs

You may have noticed – I’m sort of in party food mode around here. It’s probably my favorite thing to make – other than treats of course. But with the playoffs happening & the big game right around the corner- it’s on my mind all the time. I find myself waking at 2am & having to get up to write down ideas that pop into my head. I love love love appetizers & snacks. One of my all time favorites that we have been making for at least the last 15 years are these Parmesan Tortilla Chips.

Making homemade tortilla chips is super simple & in my opinion- WAY better than anything you can buy in a bag. So when it comes to making homemade nachos or having something to dip into our favorite taco dip – these are my go-to thing. We like to use sea salt & popcorn salt & then parmesan cheese. I know it sounds strange. But many years ago we used to visit this little hole in the wall taco stand. They had the best food there & they added parmesan to their tortillas. So not only do we do that with our homemade taco shells – but with these chips too. SO GOOD!

Print Recipe

Parmesan Tortilla Chips ~ Game Day Snacks

Ingredients

10-20 corn tortillas
Peanut Oil
Powder Parmesan cheese
Popcorn Salt

Instructions

Fill stock pot with peanut oil about 1 inch deep
Cut tortillas into triangles or strips
Heat oil on medium high
When oil is ready drop a handful of triangles in & let brown for 45 seconds + depending on how crunchy you like them
Using a metal strainer or spoon- scoop out into bowl lined with paper towels
Immediately sprinkle with popcorn salt & Parmesan cheese.
Shake & toss to coat more evenly.
Enjoy! Will keep for about 24 hours in an airtight container.

Today I’m also participating in this Tailgate Party Hop!

Check out all these other amazing tailgating recipes!

Want to see more of the recipes we like to make for game day?

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cup Sundae

Fried Hot Dog Sliders

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Fry Sauce

By Kleinworth & Co 9 Comments

Fry Sauce is a simple dipping sauce blending the tangy flavors of ketchup and mayo. Commonly found in Utah, southern Idaho & rural Oregon- it’s a favorite!

It’s no secret that we love our Game Time Grub in this house. Homegating is a weekly occurrence & it almost always includes Fry Sauce.

Now- being that I grew up in So Cal – fry sauce wasn’t something that I grew up with. If it didn’t come from In & Out Burger – I didn’t really know it existed.

Then we moved here to North Idaho & we had a little place specific to the North West literally smell distance from our little rental at the time. The hubs picked up burgers, several tubs of fries & this stuff called fry sauce to feed our hungry crew while we unloaded the moving truck.

I reluctantly tried some- I’m just like that about new things. We all were absolutely amazed & it has become my “can’t live without” condiment. I used to be able to run on over & pick up a few tubs for our homegating events because it was literally so close to our house.

But now that we have bought this house & moved to a new town – the closest location is quite a little jaunt.

Fry Sauce Recipe

So – being that I love to find ways to make it myself, I decided to try my hand at it. 5 recipes later – THIS IS THE ONE! Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas?

I love it even more than the original. I have to admit- I add this stuff to everything- it’s not just for fries. It was great on these onion rings. I also love it on chicken tenders, hash browns, home fries, burgers, hot dogs & so much more.

homemade fry sauce

If you have never had fry sauce before- you HAVE TO give it a try. I think there is something similar in the South called comeback sauce. I can see why it’s called that. It’s definitely a regional thing.

I know that Utah is known for it. The family was happy about that during our trip to SLC last April. They didn’t have to go without their favorite dipping sauce while we traveled.

Here are some commonly asked questions

Can this be frozen?

Because of the mayo this won’t freeze well. But the portion that this makes is small enough that you could reasonably get through all of it within the 7 days that it should stay good for in the fridge. You can always cut the recipe in half if needed instead.

Can this recipe be doubled?

You can, and we do it often. In fact, a double or triple amount is perfect for a large family.

What is the best way to store leftover fry sauce?

Just keep it refrigerated for up to 7 days. As long as you don’t let it sit out at room temperature for too long, this should keep well when chilled.

how to make fry sauce

Ingredients for Fry Sauce

mayonnaise
ketchup
apple cider vinegar
granulated garlic
salt
Pappy’s Choice Seasoning
onion powder

What should I dip in fry sauce?

We love this fry sauce so much that we like to use it on just about everything. Here is a list of our favorites

french fries
sweet potato fries
onion rings
homefries
hashbrowns
hamburgers
hot dogs

HOW DO YOU MAKE FRY SAUCE?

Combine the mayo, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, granulated garlic, salt, Pappy’s, and onion powder in a small bowl & whisk to combine.
Refrigerate to set for at least 1 hour prior to serving.
Use for dipping french fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, home fries, hashbrowns, or added to hamburgers or hot dogs.

If you love this Easy Fry Sauce recipe, you’re going to love these other recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Veggie Dip Recipe

This Veggie Dip Recipe is simple to make with just 4 ingredients & 5 min of prep. Great appetizer or snack for game day, holidays & parties!

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip is a quick and easy appetizer that is perfect for snacking, holidays, game day, or any fun gathering!

Buckaroo BBQ Dipping Sauce

Buckaroo BBQ Dipping Sauce is an easy & delicious dipping sauce for chicken but also pairs well with corn dogs & more.

Best Burger Sauce on a Double Caramelized Onion Burger

Best Burger Sauce on a Double Caramelized Onion Burger is the best thing you’ll ever eat. Delicious over the top juicy burger loaded with all the good stuff.

Easy Bacon Guacamole

Easy Bacon Guacamole is the perfect snack to serve at all your big game day events. It’s loaded with crispy, salty bacon & takes a few minutes to make.

Simple Pepper Jelly – Stovetop or Pressure Cooker

Make your own Simple Pepper Jelly. It’s so delicious & only takes a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to make. Add to a cracker and cream cheese.

Crack Dip Recipe

Amazingly delicious Crack Dip Recipe, made with bacon crumbles, cheddar cheese & ranch seasoning is the perfect appetizer for parties!

Best 4-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe

This 4-Ingredient Tartar Sauce Recipe requires only a handful of ingredients but it's packed with so much flavor. Creamy mayonnaise is blended with bright lemon juice and crunchy pickles that makes for an amazing combination of flavors.

Deep Fried Tortellini

Print Recipe

Fry Sauce

Fry Sauce is a simple dipping sauce blending the tangy flavors of ketchup and mayo. Commonly found in Utah, southern Idaho & rural Oregon- it’s a favorite!

Prep Time3

Course: Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dip, fry, sauce

Servings: tbsp

Ingredients

⅓ cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp ketchup
½ tsp apple cider vinegar
⅛ tsp granulated garlic
⅛ tsp salt
⅛ tsp Pappy’s Choice Seasoning
⅛ tsp onion powder

Instructions

Combine the mayo, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, granulated garlic, salt, Pappy's and onion powder in small bowl & whisk to combine.
Refrigerate to set for at least 1 hour prior to serving.
Use for dipping french fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, home fries, hashbrowns, or added to hamburgers or hot dogs.

Peperoncini & Salami Appetizer

By Kleinworth & Co 2 Comments

Hello there my friends! Looking for Easy Family Dinner Ideas? Are you getting excited for the big game? We love this time of year – even if our team isn’t in the playoffs. We love football & we celebrate it each weekend with a spread of appetizers. Homegating is our thing & coming up with tasty new snacks is part of the fun. We like to let the kids help come up with these new snack ideas, which usually means they are centered around their favorite foods. For instance, this Peperoncini & Salami Appetizer is on top of their must make list.

You see – my son REALLY loves peperoncinis. When he was about a year old he would grab them out of the salad bowl when we would dine out & just munch on them whole. We would always wait for the heat to get to him & expected him to cry. But he never did – he just wanted more. Needless to say – all these years later & they are still a favorite snack of his. He will add them to just about anything – which is why he loves this appetizer so much.

Now my younger daughter – she loves salami. She loves it so much that she asked for her very own that she didn’t have to share. Yep – right on her Christmas list – a salami. I know- I thought it was strange too. She just had to write it on the grocery list. But she wanted her own. So when it comes to this snack – it’s hard to make enough for everyone. The kids just can’t get enough.

Print Recipe

Peperoncini & Salami Appetizer

Author: Gina Kleinworth

Ingredients

Butter Crackers
Goat Cheese about 8 ounces
1 tbsp chives
Summer Sausage/ Salami - cut into chunks
peperoncini slices

Instructions

Lay out your crackers on serving tray
In a small bowl combine goat cheese & chives & fold together with a fork until chives are mixed throughout
Spread a little of your goat cheese mixture on each cracker
Top with a piece of salami
Then top with a slice of peperoncini
Enjoy

Looking for more great party recipes?

Here are some SUPER YUMMY recipes we will be making on game day.

Anchovies & Olive Appetizer

Gourmet Hot Dogs

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

A Day in the Life of Kleinworth & Co. {Lifestyle Blogger Behind the Scenes}

No Bake Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars

A while back my friend Andi shared a peak into her day with her post A Day in the Life of The Weary Chef. I LOVED seeing how my friend spend their days & vowed to do a similar post here on Kleinworth & Co. Well – many months later, I’m finally getting around to sharing A Day in the Life of Kleinworth & Co. It’s just a little snippet into my lifestyle blogger life behind the scenes. Oddly enough this particular day didn’t involve recipe creation or recipe pics even though that is a huge part of my work here. But this day what I captured shows a whole lot of all the other things that I do here to keep things humming along. Then this week – in the midst of all this – we started back with school again too. So add in there homeschooling a 6th, 8th & 11th grader & all the teaching, checking & test giving among all the nuttiness of my day. So anyhow- here is just a little bit of what happens here at Kleinworth & Co.

The alarm goes off at 5am. By the time I got my sweater & socks on, pulled my hair back & checked my phone for anything urgent it was 5:12 & time to snap the first pic of the day. I headed downstairs with the hubs to grab some coffee & have a little couple time.

So the hubs & I spend each morning down in our pub room catching a little news & discussing our day ahead over a nice hot cup of coffee. It’s a great way to get my brain on the same page as my to-do list.

Then by 5:30 or so I’m up in my studio & ready to get to work. I take a look at my planner, check my task board & go through anything else that was dumped on my desk to deal with that day. This particular day the priority is to wrap up some edits on some client work & get those pics delivered to her.

So after checking my blog post of the day & promoting & doing all my social media I clean out the 100-200 emails in the inbox. Then I get started on processing 150+ images for my client who sells party & gift type products.

I take a break – get myself pulled together for the day & I’m back in the studio.

Next task – new session for more products from the same client. I get each product staged, captured & then I go through & pick the best images for the final shots to be delivered.

On a regular blogging day, this would normally be the time when I get in the kitchen & start creating. Then with the completion of each recipe I truck it all upstairs to the studio & capture it. Styling & props are the part when I usually call in the kids to help with things like holding a spoon or a reflector. Then depending on the recipe -they sometimes get to eat the “famous piece” as they put it.

Then I get back to processing more of the original images I started on earlier in the morning. I finally wrap them all up & send them on over to her. Now my head is clear & I can focus on blog stuff.

Like I mentioned – I didn’t spend this day doing any recipe creation or images. That’s because I did all that the day before & so I had a ton of things to process & get posted. So I started with edits.

By now I’m ready to really get going on writing. Unfortunately my internet had been spotty all day. After a call to find out what was going on – I found out that I was not the only one. It was a widespread issue. Not that it made it any better – since I had a ton I wanted to get done- but I did feel better that it wasn’t an internal issue & that I could expect things to be back to normal soon. So I just wrote out my posts in word while I waited so I could just copy & paste in when I was finally connected again.

Well – all that time not being wasted really paid off. I was able to get everything scheduled out in time. Since this was New Year’s Eve – I really wanted to get everything dialed out so I could walk away from the office on New Year’s Day – and potentially the rest of the weekend. I wasn’t sure if the hubs would be staying home or not – so I thought it was good to be prepared.

I decide to take a couple minutes to look for dinner ideas on Pinterest before the hubs gets home.

Now during this time the hubs came home & we made some dinner. Then all the clean up from that. Sometimes he comes home & we head to the gym for a few hours as a family. But since it was New Year’s Eve – they were closing early for the night. So we stayed in & made some yummies instead.

We try to have a policy of not picking up the phones during this time because it’s our time to go over everything that happened through the day. Plus – dinner time is so busy – I rarely even think to pick up the phone to take pics anyhow. So unless something urgent & work related comes through – we try to leave the phones alone.

In the evenings we like to have a little time relaxing/work between dinner & bed. I usually curl up on the chaise & go through messages & do a little planning on the editorial calendar. The hubs usually curls up next to me & gives me ideas on things he thinks I should post about. It’s his little contribution to what you all see here.

Then – just like that – a call comes through & he’s off to go help with whatever emergency is happening. This particular night – a possible structure fire. I was happy that we didn’t already head to bed. These sorts of things usually happen at 3am. So since he’s going to get called away from our evening- I would rather it happen during our down time. However – we can’t control when emergencies happen- it’s the nature of what he does.

The hubs finally comes home & we shut down the house & say goodnight to the dog who guards the entry.

Then it’s upstairs to get a little rest before we do it all again.

So there you have it- a little glimpse into a random day here.

Want to see more behind the scenes?

In My Camera Bag

Behind the Scenes

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Kit Kat Oat Bars

By Kleinworth & Co Leave a Comment

From the looks of things around here I have been on quite an oat kick lately. That’s okay. Oats are so versatile. You can make them super healthy or really go all out with them & make an amazing treat. I have mentioned before that I like to keep everything in moderation. That means that just because I’m sharing healthier recipes with you to kick off the new year – I’m not abandoning my favorite goodies. I’m just keeping them more for the weekends now. One of my favorite little things to make are these Kit Kat Oat Bars. No bake- whip together in minutes – well that has my name all over it.

These literally come together in just moments. I love that they are no bake – because it takes that big ol’ oven a while to heat up. So if I’m baking I try to make it worth my while & do a few things at a time when it’s on. But I don’t always have the time for that & that’s where these come in.

The hubs can mention that he’d like a treat while we are having dinner. I can whip these up before I do the after-dinner clean up & pop them in the freezer (instead of the fridge- to chill faster) while I wash dishes. They are set & ready to enjoy by the time I’m ready to relax.

Print Recipe

Kit Kat Oat Bars

Ingredients

1 cup 2 sticks butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
3 cups quick-cook oats
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup Kit-Kat candy – chopped

Instructions

Line a 9×9 glass baking dish with parchment & set aside
In a medium size saucepan- melt butter over medium
Add brown sugar & vanilla – stir until combined & brown sugar starts to melt
Add oats – stir to incorporate.
Cook on low 2-4 minutes
Remove from heat & transfer to prepared dish – pressing down into an even layer
Top with chopped Kit-Kat & press in slightly
Refrigerate at least 2 hours to set
Store at room temperature in an airtight container

Want more easy no-bake recipes?

Mixed Nut Bark

Banana Marshmallow Fudge Parfait

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Change Can Lights to Pendant Lights {in less than 10 minutes}

By Kleinworth & Co 8 Comments

Just because we went through the holidays doesn’t mean we weren’t going gangbusters around here behind the scenes doing projects for the house. I have something to share with you all. Way back in September we changed out some of our can lights in the kitchen to pendant lights on a whim. I wanted to share the super quick & easy process & the final result. But with all the holiday posts to share- I didn’t get to it. Until now. Today I’m going to share with you all How to Change Can Lights to Pendant Lights in less than 10 minutes because it was really just oh so simple.

Here is what it looked like before we got started.

We started out one weekend wanting to change out the light above the island & the two above the sink. We actually began with pulling out the cans & completely rewiring them with the kit lights that you purchase in pieces. I captured it all & was going to share it with you here. Unfortunately the lights we chose were all wonky & didn’t hang perfectly straight. We have a house full of people with OCD – so bent cords & lights not hanging perfectly straight just wasn’t an option for us. So we tore them out & put the old can lights back in while I waited for new lights to be delivered.

We decided to just give in & spend a little more & buy the handy “screw in a light bulb easy” kit instead.

About 10 days later we got home from the gym in the evening & there they were waiting for us on the front porch.

We couldn’t even wait until after we made dinner. We opened the box & got started.

We chose ones similar to these Bronze Pendant, CONVERSION KIT

The process was so quick. Just remove from packaging & determine how far down you want the pendant to hang. In our case we had to measure all 3 to be sure they were all exactly the same length. Then wrap the cord around the hook at the base of the socket screw.

Then take out your existing light bulb & screw in the new light.

Push the mount cover carefully up the cord & flush to the ceiling. Tighten the piece that keeps it all together.

Then add your light bulb & you are done. We then repeated the process for the other two lights above the sink. That simple. We chose the cool vintage style bulbs since they show in the open cage.

See – I told you it was so EASY! I love how it makes my new kitchen so much more personal than before.

Stay tuned through 2015! We have some great projects to share with you. Some already completed that I have been just dying to share. Others I’m just itching to get working on. I have so many things I want to do to this house or create for it. The hubs & I joke that I need a whole second blog just for projects because I could easily let them take over if I were to share them all here. So I will keep them sporadic for now until I figure out a better way of sharing it all.

Want more simple home projects?

Pallet Console Table

2nd Master Bath Vanity

How to Build a Butcher Block

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Raspberry Pretzel Parfait

Double Berry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt

Oh how I love a great healthy breakfast that tastes fabulous. Just a little cup of goodness that keeps me going all morning long. That’s what we all want right. Something that tastes so good that we look forward to having it when we wake up. Yep – this Raspberry Pretzel Parfait is just the thing. I find when creating things like this I have to be sure to make it in quantities of 3. If one of my little taste testers gets left out it’s no fun. They all really enjoyed this easy recipe & were definitely adding it to the menu board for future mornings.

We started with this new Yulu yogurt. It’s a new extra creamy, honest Australian yogurt. Then I decided to get creative with the mix ins. Typically I would start with some homemade granola & then top with some fruit. But I wanted something a little different. Adding fun things like pretzels & raw honey were the perfect little match made in parfait heaven.

Yulu is smoothed twice for extra creaminess. Unlike greek yogurt – Yulu lacks the too-sour quality some find. Just honest ingredients & real fruit. It has 9 grams of protein in every cup – so it’s healthy & delicious.

You can find Yulu in vanilla, strawberry, raspberry, honey & blueberry.

Connect on Twitter @YuluYogurt Find out more on their Website.

Print Recipe

Raspberry Pretzel Parfait

Ingredients

*Per serving
1 pretzel rod- crunched into bite sized pieces
1 personal serving sized container Yulu vanilla Yogurt
handful fresh or frozen raspberries
sprinkle of slivered almonds
drizzle of raw honey

Instructions

Add your pretzel pieces to the bottom of your jar
Top with raspberries & then yogurt
Sprinkle on your almonds
Drizzle honey & enjoy immediately

Want more great ideas for your yogurt?

Cherry Pie Parfait

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Yulu. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Homemade Granola Bars

Blackberry Whole Wheat Mini-Donuts

I think many couples are at opposite ends on various different things – some small, some huge & some really don’t matter. One thing for the hubs & I – granola bars. He absolutely LOVES those crunchy granola bars that come in the little 2 pack & are all filled with that sweet honey flavor. Me- I really could take them or leave them. I’m more of a “if I’m going to eat a granola bar – I want it to be soft & chewy & packed full of chocolate chips” sort of person. Well – in my little list of nice things I’d like to do for the hubs has been the task of making him Homemade Granola Bars. The plan- make them just like he loves & then toy with the recipe to figure out how to make my perfect granola bar later. So this past week – that’s exactly what I did. He was BEYOND THRILLED.

Once in a while I make something that has him so over the top excited that I can completely change his tune about the store bought version. These granola bars are one of those things. He was quite impressed that I was able to make them & in his words “make them better than the store bought ones” he loves so much.

The kids loved them too. I did have one- for quality control you know. Don’t tell him – but I was pretty impressed myself & will probably enjoy a few before they are all gone. Don’t get me wrong- I’m still on a mission to make my version of perfect. But these really are quite tasty.

Print Recipe

Homemade Granola Bars

Ingredients

3-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cups peanuts - rough chopped
1/2 cup raw honey
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment - I used 3/4 sheet pan
Combine the oats, oil and salt in a large bowl and mix until the oats are evenly coated.
Transfer the mixture to the baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
Bake 20-25 minutes- stirring every 10 minutes
Remove the oats and lower the oven temp to 300 degrees.
Place the rough cut nuts in large bowl with toasted oats
Combine the honey and brown sugar in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, to dissolve the sugar.
Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and cinnamon
Pour over oats & nuts and stir with a large rubber spatula until thoroughly coated with the honey mixture.
Line 9x13 baking sheet with foil & spray with cooking spray
Transfer the granola mixture to the prepared baking sheet and press into an even layer.
Bake until golden, about 30-35 minutes.
Cool in the baking sheet, on a wire rack, for 10-15 minutes before cutting into bars
Cut the bars and then allow them to completely cool.
Do not wait longer than 15 minutes before cutting the bars as they will crumble

Want more great snack ideas?

Monkey Muffins

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

To see where I am linking today- visit HERE

Peanut Butter & Banana Breakfast Cookies