Awesome Outdoor Water Toys You Can find on Amazon
Summer is coming up soon and it looks like many of us are going to need to stay safe at home. For that reason, I have been very focused on getting my yard ready for summer time. Here are some of the things that I have worked on:
Garden/Greenhouse – My family and I have a beautiful garden and a greenhouse that is doing very well! I’m so excited!
Fire Pit – We built a firepit out of concrete blocks that we already had from an old project. We bought some cute, inexpensive chairs to set up around it.
BBQ area – We already had a nice BBQ, so we just bought some new tools to go along with it! Our BBQ area sits near the fire pit.
Kids area – Okay, so here’s where it gets fun! I don’t want my kids feel like they are missing out on fun since we can’t travel this year so we are making it fun for them. Check out these awesome water toys you can find on Amazon (I bought 2 of them for my yard and we are so excited!)
Awesome Outdoor Water Toys You Can find on Amazon
Sprinkle & Splash Play Mat – Kids love splash pads and they are really going to love having one right in their own yard! This will provide endless hours of entertainment, and it will keep them cool!
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Water Table – Little ones that aren’t quite big enough for a pool will love this Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Water Table. It lets them stay cool by splashing in the water, having fun!
Tidal Storm Hydro Swirl Spinning Water Sprinkler – When I was young I spent a lot of time running in sprinklers and boy did I love it! So many awesome memories with my brother and cousins. Now, if only we had a sprinkler like this one!
Max Liquidator 6-Pack Water Blaster Set – A water blaster battle looks like so much fun! I’m willing to bet that I could get the entire family on board with that.
Redecorate on a Budget with these Tips
In my neck of the woods, we have been completely shut down for almost two months and I think people are getting bored! I keep seeing FB posts from my friends about redecorating. Either they have begun redecorating their space, or they are desperately wanting to.
If this is you, but you are looking for low-cost options to do so, check out how to redecorate on a budget with these tips:
Redecorate on a Budget
Check out FB Marketplace
With so many people stuck at home, there are a lot of closet cleanouts happening! There are so many people that are putting their stuff up for sale, and many more offering tons of stuff for free. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to find deals on decorative pieces for your house.
Amazon
Of course, Amazon is a wonderful place to find super good deals on decorative pieces. From new curtains to art pieces, to knick knacks and more.
Make sure to check many of the options available at Amazon and don’t forget to click the “other sellers” link, because you might be surprised to learn but you can often find the same item, shipped via prime for even lower prices! I bought something just the other day using the other sellers feature.
Check your Storage
If you are anything like me, you have lots of old linens and decor hidden in storage. You may be surprised to learn that you still love them! Why not just recycle them and use them again? It’s like you have something new all over again.
Check for Yard Sales
In some areas, yard sale season has begun! Yard sales are a wonderful place to find decor deals. I have bought several beautiful paintings at a yard sale and my favorite curtains were bought at a yard sale too!
Tips to Make the End of the School Year Special
This year has definitely not been a normal year. School kids are missing out on many fun activities and celebrations because of the pandemic and social distancing. With school cancelled for the last few months until the end of the year, most kids won’t be seeing their friends or teachers for the rest of the year. However, even with these differences, you can still make the end of this year special. Our kids deserve praise and recognition for the hard work they have been doing!
- Celebrate with their friends! Even though we aren’t getting together with big groups of friends, you could still find a way to celebrate with them. You can set up a virtual meeting with your kids and their friends, you could set a designated time and place to meet and do a social distancing meet up (although it does work better with older kids that really won’t go within 6 ft of each other). You could make cards and deliver them on the doorstep of special friends.
- The last day of school could be special by switching up your routine. I don’t know about your, but the last 8 weeks has been nothing but school work and surviving. We haven’t really switched up the routine at all. It’s kinda sad! But we did it! So, on the last day make a new breakfast, go on a picnic, do the last day of school celebrations with friends, take around your teacher/friends gifts, Face time family and friends, make or order out a yummy dinner. Just by switching up what you do on the last day of school can make a big difference.
- Gifts. I’m not normally a gift person. I like to do experiences over gifts. However, since this summer is looking like we will be staying home, I’ve thought of a few fun outdoor toys that I could get my kids for the last day of school. That way it’s an end of school year present AND a summertime stay busy present! I got my boys a RipStik which they have been wanting. My little kids have wanted scooters. You could also look at water toys or water guns.
- Decorate the house/rooms with banners, balloons and color. The minute the kiddos see the decorations, they know it’s a day to celebrate. Grab balloons from local businesses and hang them outside the house.
- Show your teachers how much you appreciate them with a simple, inexpensive gift. There is a good article here that gives some great ideas. Our teachers have worked so hard and have switched up their routines and teaching to help our kids succeed. Make their last week/day special.
- Make a 2020 Time Capsule. This year is one to remember. Have your kids make a capsule to capture the ups and downs of this year. There is a good article you can read here about how to make your own.
Check out These National Parks with Virtual Tours
Okay, truth be told I have been really feeling sorry for myself during the shutdown. I love my time at home with family, and I am so very thankful for our health, but I am silently wishing that we can be planning our vacations that we were so looking forward to this summer.
Since it looks like those vacations just aren’t going to happen, we’ve decided to work on making our yard a bit of a backyard oasis and learning together as a family. We have spent countless times learning all about our dream vacation destinations, and we have discovered that many of the National Parks that we want to go to have virtual tours available. If you have been wanting to check out these places too, look at these sites!
Check out These National Parks with Virtual Tours
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK
Have you ever visited Crater Lake? The country’s deepest lake has 3 webcams available to let you “visit.”
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Only 1 webcam is here, but honestly, that’s all you need. Grand Teton is amazing!
DENALI NATIONAL PARK
Denali is one of those parks that I have dreamed about visiting forever! You can go and visit Denali National Park via one of their 5 webcams!
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Not sure any park can top the 15 different webcams that you can watch at Glacier National Park.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
There is nothing quite like the scenery at Yosemite, my friends and eight webcams will help you check it out.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
I have been to Grand Canyon National Park and I loved it. The seven webcams here treat you to a wonderful view of this spectacular place.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Eight webcams are available to watch at Rocky Mountain National Park.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Use the nine webcams from Yellowstone National Park, to check out the amazing scenery and wildlife within the park.
Money Saving Tips for a Low Key BBQ
With the weather warming up, many of us love having our friends and loved ones over for BBQ and outdoor parties. This year is looking to be a little bit different though. That’s why we decided to talk about some money saving tips for a low key BBQ. For some areas, staying at home is staying, and for others, they are moving back to eased up social distancing (groups of 10 or less, etc), so whether you are having a neighborhood BBQ (with everyone grilling at their own home, social distancing of course) or with just your immediate family and a couple extras, there are some tips that you can follow to save money.
If you are looking for ideas on how to have a successful cookout, here are some money saving tips for a low key BBQ that will help you!
Money Saving Tips for a Low Key BBQ
Cook easy foods
C’mon, y’all. As much as a grilled steak makes our mouths water, it’s not necessary for a delicious meal. You can make burgers, hot dogs or chicken legs taste pretty amazing too! One look at the meat department will prove to you that these foods are way cheaper! In fact, I recently stocked up on chicken legs for just $0.69 per pound.
Don’t decorate
No need to decorate to have a great BBQ. It’s simply not necessary to have a wonderful time!
Look for coupons
While coupons aren’t exactly the same as they used to be, coupons are still great to use! You can still save a signficant amount of money by using them. Also, make sure to check out your club card or rewards account at your local store so that you can add any digital coupons that may be available.
Skip the Soda
Soda is extremely expensive and honestly, not very good for you. Why not skip it? You can swap it out for tasty and refreshing infused water.
5 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Mom & Grandma
Mother’s Day is coming fast, can you believe it? We’ve been a little preoccupied with this crazy pandemic. However, you still have time to do one or more of these awesome DIY Mother’s Day gifts for mom or Grandma…or both! Because mother’s deserve some praise.
- Mother’s Day pop-up card for either mom or grandma. There are so many options on Pinterest, but this is one of my favorites. Easy peasy for little kids to do as well. If you want a more intense one, check this out.
- DIY Mason Jar Herbs. Aren’t these cool? Pick a favorite herb and start an herb garden in your own home!
- Sugar Scrub for soft skin. This is a favorite for any woman. You can make different scents, but my favorite is this one– I mean coconut and pina colada. It’s a perfect combination to feel like you’re at the beach.
- Scavenger hunt for mom. Buy a few favorite things for mom for example; favorite candy bar, gum, soda, lotion, earrings, necklace, clothing, pictures. Then have the kids put together a scavenger hunt for her to find. This also works really well for Father’s Day too.
- Chocolate. Need something quick and easy? This is a great time to support your local chocolate companies. Grab a few favorites.
The Best Activities to Celebrate May 4th – Star Wars Day!
We’re coming up on May 4th – Star Wars day next week so I wanted to equip you with the best activities to help you celebrate! There’s lots of fun ideas out there that only require a little work if any at all and hopefully you have everything you need right at home!
Of coarse, Watch Star Wars Movies
If you’re lucky enough to already have Disney Plus, you’re all set! Otherwise now would be a great time to start your 7 day free trial. You’ll get it just in time to enjoy all the awesome Star Wars movies.
Play Star Wars Games
I mean this seems obvious but they have tons of Star Wars games out there for your gaming system as well as your iPhone or other device. If it will arrive on time, you can get the Star Wars: Batlefront for just $14.98 right now on Amazon. There’s also other options to checkout for your gaming day.
Make Darth Mual-ffles for Breakfast
I love the creativity of this breakfast! Your kids are sure to love eating these Darth Mual-ffles in the morning to get their Star Wars day starting off right!
Create an Ahsoka Tano-Inspired Bookmark
This would be fun for the creative kids you have! They’ll be able to make these Ahsoka Tano-Inspired bookmarks then settle down and read their favorite Star Wars books.
Read Graphic Novels
To go along with your Star Wars bookmarks, you can checkout the FREE Star Wars graphic novels eBook available on Amazon right now. I know it’s not the same, but with libraries still closed down this is a great alternative.
Build with LEGO’s
Another great way to put on your creativity cap is play with LEGO’s. You can build with some of the Star Wars Sets you already have or see what you can create with what you have. Either way it will be fun to recreate some of the scenes.
Enjoy Music
A simple way to fill your whole house with the spirit of Star Wars is to crank up the tunes. Ask your Alexa to play Disney Star Wars songs or see what you can find on iTunes. With all the different ways to listen to music, you’re sure to find lots to listen too.
DIY Mother’s Day Gifts
Mother’s Day is coming up soon and let’s face it, shopping for her just isn’t the same this year. That’s why we need to buckle down and make some amazing gifts for her!
I’m about to drop a little truth bomb on you. Moms really do love homemade gifts! Yes, they do. I have been a mother for 16 years and I have 3 children. I have loved every single gift that they have made for me over the years.
DIY Mother’s Day Gifts
If mom loves bath bombs, she will love these Funfetti Bath Bomb Cubes! The colors are just perfect, and they are gorgeous! Plus, these particular bath bombs are gluten free. We are a family that has to follow a gluten free protocol, so for us this is very important.
Okay, I know you have a mom in your life that loves coffee (me! me!). My daughter and I recently made this scrub and it is so awesome. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think that there is anything that smells better than coffee.
I love the look of pink lemonade and I love the taste of real pink lemonade. So, of course a sweet jar of pink lemonade sugar scrub would be just right for mom’s special day.
A lot of people relate peppermint to Christmas, but the reality is, you can give peppermint gifts any time of year! This peppermint foot soak will make moms feet feel amazing!
I particularly love these DIY gifts for Mother’s Day because every one of them will remind mom to slow down and take a little bit of time to focus on herself. We all know that moms just don’t do that often enough.
Happy Mother’s Day moms!
What to Look For When You Shop at a Yard Sale
Once things open up again and things become normal, are you planning to head out and check out all of those yard sales that you know will be coming up soon? Think about it. Everyone is at home right now cleaning out their closets and decluttering their spaces. It’s been a month and a half spring cleaning for many of the people in this country. You know that we are going to be seeing some yard sales!
I love yard sales, seriously love them. My favorite thing is to head out on a nice sunny day, find a great neighborhood yard sale and walk down the block to browse. Well, that and the thrill of finding a great deal. I always know what I am looking for when I hit up a yard sale and it’s just so much fun! How about you? Do you know what to look for when you shop at a yard sale?
What to Look For When You Shop at a Yard Sale
What you need
If there is something that you actually need, then of course that’s what you need to look for. Yard sale season is a great time to look for household goods, tools, etc.
Name Brand Clothing
If you are checking out yard sales in order to flip some items and make some money, name brand clothing is where it is at! I have found expensive, designer jeans at yard sales for next to nothing. Seriously, I once paid $1 for a pair of Miss Me jeans, took them home, put them up for sale for $25.
Watch for Damage
Regardless of what you are shopping for, be sure to look for any damage, before you pay for it. Here are some of the things you should watch for:
- If you are looking at clothing, watch for stains, rips (check the seams), or loose threads.
- If you are looking at housewares, check for cracks, breaks, or missing pieces.
- If you are looking at electronics, be sure that it comes with the right cord. Then plug it in and make sure it works.
- If you are looking at tools, make sure that all sets are together (if not, be sure to try and get a deal) and that they aren’t broken.
What do you watch for when you head out to shop at yard sales?
5 Fun Family Games You’ve Got to Try
Now that we are going on more than a couple weeks at home, you may be tired of your same old games. We have a good few games that we play non-stop, but we are antsy to get a few new ones for the coming weeks at home. Here are the game that we love playing over and over, hopefully they will become a new family favorite in your home!
- Grandpa Beck’s Games Skull King game. We were recently introduced to this game and the kids can’t get enough. It’s one of those that both kids and adults can play and enjoy together. Our kids 8+ were able to play it.
- Sleeping Queens Card Game. This is a good one for younger kids. We have a 5 year old boy that can play this one with the family. Super fun and easy to play.
- Play the game of spoons. If you guys haven’t played this then you’re missing out. This is a hit! Even my 5 year old learned it and loves it. Grab a deck of cards- you can even use Old Maid type of cards. You just need one full match set for each person that is playing. For example if I have 5 people playing I would grab out all of the Kings, Queens, Jacks, and 10s and 9s. So there are 4 cards of each, total of 20. You put in one LESS spoon on the table. So I would put 4 spoons on my table in the middle. Then you shuffle the cards and pass them out. Each person has 4 cards. You are trying to get a set of 4 of the same NUMBER. So you grab one card from your stack and pass it to the person to the left, everyone does that at the same time and you pick up the card from the person at your right. You pick up the card, look at it, keep it if you want, and then pass another card to the person to the left. You keep doing this until someone- or yourself, get 4 of the same NUMBER, then you grab a spoon. The last person won’t have a spoon and then has to have a letter. You can spell the word PIG or whatever you want. So that person then has a P. You shuffle the cards and start again. Now once you have mastered this, you can put the spoons in another room! This is a bit dangerous, but oh so fun. Give it a try.
- Jax Sequence Board Game. This is a fun game for everyone 7+. It takes about 30 minutes to play, but then you’ll want to play again. So fun!
Part 2: Are You Prepared to Evacuate Your Home?
We’re continuing on! If you’re just finding this article, make sure you read through part 1 first so it all makes since. Our goal is to grab the most important things first and make our way down the list with however much time we’re allotted. I recommend printing these lists out so if you don’t have your boxes together before you need to leave, you’ll have an idea of things you need to grab! Ok, here we go!
Box 6: The Camping Box
You could possibly be out of your home for awhile so camping could be your only option. If that’s the case you’ll be grateful you’re fully prepared to do so with this box! Note, your boxes can be used for more than just storing your items. This box could easily be used for (if built well and strong) a seat, stepping stool, counter and more. Here’s what you want inside:
- Fire Starting Supplies
- Flashlights, Lantern & Glow Sticks
- Small Shovel
- Tarp (to use as shelter from the weather)
- Rain Gear
- Hatchet or Axe
- Small backpacking store
As well as these additional items you’ll need to grab. I recommend keeping them together in one place but tape a list of these items to the outside of your box so you don’t forget to grab them.
- Sleeping Bags
- Small folding table
- Tent
Make sure you know how to use these items. It’s always fun to pull them out and camp even in your own backyard but be sure you can use them.
Box 7: Family First Aid Box
This box you can go all in if you plan on helping many or having your basics but depending on how much you have determines how big your “box” will be. We use something similar to a tackle box but you could get a duffel bag to fit all your items. If you remember, you do have a small first aid kit in your 72hr bags but this one goes a little more detailed. These are the different things you need to think about treating, the supplies you get to treat them with is up to you.
- Burns
- Cuts/Scrapes
- Foreign Objects (in eyes or skin)
- Tummy Troubles
- Blisters
- Pain
- Sprains
- Allergic Reactions
- CPR/Other (bandana, safety pins, gloves, etc)
Box 8: Wardrobe
We’re not talking about your favorite pair of heels or blouse. This is your essentials. Your 72 hr kits only really have one change of clothing. If you’re gone longer than 72hrs, you’re going to want more clothing. This one can be difficult to pack, especially if you have children. They’re always growing which makes it difficult. I recommend keeping the next size up handy to grab and go. We’ll buy these items second hand or use hand me downs. They’re also great for wearing while camping but they always go right back into the same bag so I can have everything together.
Box 9: The Kitchen Box
If your family does any sort of camping, this one will look familiar. These are items you’d use while out camping to feed your family and prep your food with. Remember, you only want items you NEED. It won’t have your electric can opener, your fancy china or breakables. You don’t even need multiple sets of things you can clean and reuse.
Paper Goods
Paper Towels
Aluminum Foil
Garbage Bags
Zipper Bags (Gallon, Quart & Sandwich)
Eating Utensils
Cooking Utensils
Cheese Grater
Cutting Board
Ladles
Measuring Cups and Spoons
Paring Knives
Carving Knives
Potato Peeler
Serving Sppons
Spatulas
Wooden Spoons
Wire Whisk
Strainer
Colander
Pair of Tongs
Pots & Pans
Clean Up
Dish Pans
Bottle of dish Soap
Dish Towels
Dish Clothes
Scouring Pads
Clorox Cleanup Wipes
Baby Wipes
Hand Soap
Hand Sanitizer
Misc Items
Can Openers
Seasonings (pepper, salt, etc)
Crescent Wrench
Strike Anywhere Matches
Oven Mitts (or welders gloves)
Flashlight
Set of Recipes
Box 10: Food Box
This will look different for every family so it hard to give you an exact list but when you’re thinking about grab and go, one option is to have empty totes or boxes you can just empty your shelf into. Have a shelf designated for evacuation items that way you’re not trying to sort through which items will be good to take.
If it’s in your budget, you can purchase the “just add water” meals you see. I’ve seen them at Sam’s Club and Costco (they’re a little difficult to find right now due to the circumstances) but they’re good and work well. Just make sure you have your food groups covered, protein, veggies, fruit, dairy and grains. Also, don’t forget your comfort food. This will be a high stress situation, you’re going to want something yummy (at least I will).
Box 11: Library & Treasures
These are going to be the last items you grab. I know that’s difficult to digest but you’re talking an emergency. These are things like diaries, genealogy, hobbies, heirlooms, etc. But remember, you only have so much room so you still need to be wise in what you can fit in your car. Luckily a lot of our stuff is digital, so we have all our photos loaded onto flash drives. Does that help if we don’t have computers, no. But hopefully we’ll be able to get back to our homes and access those again.
I hope this information is helpful for you and will help ease your mind. I know it’s a lot to think about but with the world the way it is and things happening all around us. It’s better to be prepared for those stressful events.
6 Things To Avoid Buying at Yard Sales
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The current situation we find ourselves in has many of us wondering if we will even see a yard sale season this year. I like to be the optimist though, so I am going to go ahead and assume that at some point later this spring or summer, we will, in fact, get a chance to get out there and visit some yard sales! As an extra special bonus, many people have been spending their time at home going through their stuff and purging their belongings which means that there will be some EPIC yard sales once the stay at home orders have been lifted.
I thought that I would sit down and chat a little bit about somethings you should never, ever buy at yard sales (even though they may be tempting). On the flip side, if you are the one having the yard sale, you should avoid trying to sell these particular items.
6 Things To Avoid Buying at Yard Sales
Baby Furniture / Gear
I am all about buying baby clothes and blankets, etc at yard sales, but never ever buy used car seats, cribs or other baby furniture from yard sales. These items often have recalls and as far as the car seat is concerned, you just never know when one has been involved in a wreck (which lowers its strength even if they look fine).
Mattresses
Bed bugs. Pee Stains. No thank you. .Hey..I’m all about spending money and doing what you can, but I would avoid buying a mattress at a yard sale. Instead, shop for a cheap one on Amazon, or other retailer. Or, see if your family or friends have one for sale.
Shoes
I avoid buying used shoes for two reasons. One: Foot fungus. EWWWW. Two: Many shoes form to your feet after wearing them for a while. This can cause foot problems for you if they are formed to someone else’s feet.
Undergarments
I shouldn’t need to put this on the list, but I feel like I need to anyway. YUCK! Go to a discount store and pay $1 for a pair of undies. It is absolutely not worth buying them used.
Swimsuits
Avoid swimsuits for the same reason that you would avoid buying underwear at a yard sale. The exception here is swimsuit tops. I will gladly buy these pre-owned.
Damaged Non-Stick Cookware
Never ever ever buy scratched non-stick cookware. It has been proven that it is dangerous to consume. If you have little money and absolutely need one, head to Walmart and buy a cheap one that will last you a little while until you can afford a high quality set.
My favorite Online Thrift Shops
Overall, I’m pretty okay with the stay at home situation. I needed more down time anyway and I love it when my family is home together. I do miss a couple of things though and one of those things is thrift shopping. I may love to shop at thrift stores a little too often, but hey…I love to save money…can you blame me?
Have you ever thrift shopped online? I have and I have had a great experience each time! My favorite online thrift shops are the ones that offer referral bonuses, free shipping, promo codes, or all of the above!
Part of how I have been spending my downtime is with lots of workouts, which is awesome, but I am sorely lacking in workout clothes. Since I’ve been making progress I wanted to reward myself with new workout clothes. But honestly, I hate paying full price for stuff and I HATE paying shipping, so I was really struggling to buy from typical online retailers, so I decided to do a little bit of thrift shopping today. I checked out all of my favorite thrift shops and boy, am I glad I did!
My favorite Online Thrift Shops
ThredUp
I ened up placing my biggest order on ThredUp. Since it has been forever and a day since I logged onto ThredUp I couldn’t remember my info and I just started a new account and as such got 50% off and FREE SHIPPING on my order.
I ordered myself 4 pairs of name brand workout leggings (one brand new with tags) and a super cute Old Navy dress for Summer, I also ordered some super cute American Eagle shorts for my daughter and my total price was just $30 shipped.
Poshmark
Poshmark is great for finding high quality clothing at thrift store prices. I love that you get a $5 referral bonus! I actually end up selling more on Poshmark than I do buying, but I love it for both!
EBTH
I only recently heard of Everything But the House and OMG I love it for high end housewares. Seriously, there is some beautiful stuff on here.
Goodwill (online)
Omg, you guys…how have I never been onto Goodwill online before now?! Literally, I’ve been checking it out over the last couple of days and I love it. If you are a fan of Goodwill, this is a great option for you! It has a very Ebay like feel to it, but there is some really good stuff.
In case you all are missing those thrift shops too…just do it online!
Disney Shares Their Famous Churro & Dole Whip Recipes: Check Out These Super Easy Recipes
Is anyone else day dreaming about being at Disneyland and enjoying all of the yummy food? I sure am! Thanks to Disney, we can now make their famous Churros Bites and Dole Whip at our own home. Each one requires little ingredients which is super nice. So have a Disney style party tonight by making these yummy treats.
Disney Parks Churro Bites you can check out the complete guide here
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 8 tablespoons butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 ½ cups vegetable or canola oil
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions:
- Combine water, butter, salt, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon in 1 ½-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring pot to rolling boil.
- Reduce heat to low.
- Add flour and stir vigorously until mix forms a ball. Remove from heat and let rest for 5-7 min.
- Add eggs, one at a time, and stir until combined. Set aside.
- Heat oil in medium skillet or 1-quart saucepan over medium-high heat or until temperature reaches 350˚.
- Spoon dough into piping bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe 1-inch strip of dough over saucepan, cut with knife, and drop into hot oil. Repeat until churro bites fill saucepan with room to fry.
- Fry churro bites until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon or mesh spider strainer.
- Drain churro bites on paper towel.
- Mix sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in medium bowl. Toss in churro bites until coated. Place on serving plate and serve with favorite dipping sauce.
Dole Whip Recipe: You can find the complete recipe when you use the Disney App.
(This is for a single serving)
Ingredients:
- 1 big scoop of ice cream
- 4 oz of pineapple juice
- 2 cups of frozen pineapple
Instructions:
Add all ingredients to a blender until it’s a thick drink.
Add your swirl and then you’re done! Enjoy!
Are You Prepared to Evacuate Your Home? Here’s How I Plan to Get Out Quickly With Our Essentials!
We’ve talked about 72 hour kits in the past and if you missed those you can still check them out over here. But what if you need to leave your home? What if you’re asked to evacuate and given a time limit to get out? What are you going to grab? Have you thought about what’s most important? How can the kids help? Will you ever return? Are you READY?
For years I’ve been working on our boxes. What do I mean by that? Well, I’ve put together lists of boxes that are numbered. Each box has a name and is ranked most important on down. So in an emergency I’ll start with box number 1 and make my way down the list until I’ve either grabbed everything we need or ran out of time. It really is that simple and although it seems overwhelming to think about, it will give you peace of mind with it comes it an emergency.
So what are these boxes you’re asking? Don’t worry I’ll get to the break down but first I want to you realize and think about each box. Use what you have right now and don’t worry to much about each box. BUT, everything needs to fit in your car or whatever vehicle you’ll be leaving with. If you only have a smaller car, make sure you pack tight, with smaller boxes or even combine boxes. Gather your boxes first, then while they’re still empty, make sure you can fit them all in the back. Over time you can purchase better quality boxes like those that are waterproof and have lockable lids because cardboard will break down. We also use boxes that are different in color than anything else we have. That way it’s quick to spot. So with all that said, here are my first 5 boxes!
Box 1: 72 Hour Kits
Hopefully you’ve been gathering your 72 hour kit items already and close to having this box done. While they might not be in boxes that’s OK! This should have all your essentials items and when you don’t have much time to grab stuff, these are the first things you should go for. For a great list of everything you should have in your 72 hour kits head here.
Box 2: The Office Binder
This is one of the most important to have with you and we keep ours close to our 72 hour kits but safe enough someone can’t break in and find it very easily because it has our whole life in there. I’ll link you to the binder we have, it’s perfect for organizing all our documents as well as has room for a few extra office items. Here’s what we have inside:
Vital Documents:
Birth Certificates
Passports
Immunization Records
CASH – in small bills
Copy of will, living trust, power of attorney etc
Medical Information (including prescriptions)
military & church papers
diplomas and transcripts
marriage certificates
adoption papers
proof of citizenship
current family photo
Pet records
Insurance Documents:
homeowners insurance policy
auto insurance policy
life insurance policy
medical insurance policy
pictures and lists of all your personal belongings for insurance (we also have a flash drive with a video of it all)
Financial Documents:
copies of your credit cards front and back
bank statements
retirement/social security statements
internet passwords (banking, personal work etc)
utility statements
work/tax documents that would be difficult to replace
deeds to properties
titles to cars, boats, etc
warranty information
There might be a lot to this “box” but it’s all important information you’ll want on hand and easy to find. Plus it shouldn’t cost you much to put this together. Just make your copies, print your documents and gather all your important information.
Box 3: The Car
This one is easy because really you should have a car kit in your car at all times. It’s everything you’d need to maintain your vehicle while on a long car ride. A lot of those car kits you see in-store carry your essentials but here’s a good list of things you should try to have in this box.
- Jumper cables
- Work Gloves
- Carpet Square (or foam pad)
- Milti-Tool/Knife
- Tire Guage
- Tire Inflator (make sure it’s good quality, ours broke once right out of the box)
- Breaker Bar
- Tow Rope or chain
- Flashlight
- Rags or paper towels
- 2 Quarts Oil
- Ice Scraper
- Cell Phone Charger
- Small Bills (hidden)
This is a simple list. You can get more advanced and have even more tools to fix problems that arise like pliers, impact driver, sockets and more. Start with your basics and grow from there. Also note, the change in weather may require additional equipment. If you have the room and can keep them in your car, I recommend have tire chains as well as something to help if you get stuck.
Box 4: Nuclear Box
This isn’t one I enjoy talking about and gives me the most anxiety but the more I study and read the more I feel prepared, just in case. There’s very little in this box but it’s close to the top for good reason. If you remember way back when the tsunami and nuclear power plants issues that happened in Japan you’ll remember the shortage and how difficult it was to find Potassium lodate (sort of like how it is to find toilet paper right now) So right now is a good time to stock up on this for your family. Other essentials in this box:
- Nuclear War Survival Skills this book is a good resource
- Potassium Lodate (make sure you have enough for your whole family)
- A battery-powered radio (I like the hand crank radios that don’t require batteries. You could look at getting a solar one as well)
- Radiation Meter
Box 5: Water Box
I hope you have some form of water in your 72 hour kits (we have those water bottles that purify water as we drink it) but if you have extra time to grab essentials, grab extra water. They recommend 5-10 gallons of water per person. This can get heavy so keep that in mind. I found I can life a 5 gallon jug by myself so that’s how we store ours. You can also get water bottle packs if that’s easier to store and move for you. Do what you can to get that water into your car.
Ok that’s all I’m going to leave you with right now. It will give you a good start and you’ll have plenty to do for this week! I promise I won’t leave you hanging though for to long. Next week I’ll post the rest of our boxes and let you know what the kids are responsible for.
**A big thanks to I Get Ready for a lot of the tips and ideas in this article.