Blog

  • Instapot Beef Vegetable Soup

    Instapot Beef Vegetable Soup

    It’s Soup Weather!

    This is literally one of my easiest soup recipes. I normally use this one on days that are exhausting at work so it doesn’t take much effort to get dinner on the table. Just a few ingredients and an Instapot, and dinner is ready in less that 30 minutes.

    Instapot Beef Vegetable Soup

    Ingredients:

    1.5lbs of Beef Stew Meat

    1 bag of frozen green beans

    1 bag of frozen peas

    2 cups of baby carrots

    1 medium onion, chopped

    5 garlic cloves, minced

    32oz of Beef Broth

    2 bay leaves

    1 tsp of Sage

    1 tsp of Chili Pepper

    1 tsp of salt

    1 tsp of black pepper

    1 tsp of Parsley

    Directions:

    In your instapot, add all ingredients. Give a stir. Place lid on top. Set your instapot to pressure cook for 25 mins. Once cook time is over, open your steam release valve or wait until steam/pressure has released naturally.

    And dinner is served! Nothing better on a cold evening than a yummy bowl of soup.

    What are your favorite soup recipes to make in the Fall and Winter? Leave a comment below!

  • Day of the Dead Celebration

    Day of the Dead Celebration

    Day of the Dead is such a fantastic celebration. We started to research, learn and celebrate this wonderful holiday a couple years ago. My boys had watched the movie “Coco” and then wanted to learn more about the Day of the Dead celebration.

    We did our research, understood the meanings of the celebration, learned the traditions and then found a recipe for Pan de Muetros (Day of the Dead Bread). As we have been celebrating and learning more each year, we have done more during the holiday to celebrate.

    Last year, my boys’ school made an Ofrienda that they could bring photos of their loved ones that had passed. My boys wanted to make our own Ofrienda at home this year so we did. It was decorated with colorful banners, marigolds, and the photos of all of our loved ones that have passed.

    It was such a fun day to put our Ofrienda together.

    Also, this year I found a Day of the Dead cookie kit at Wal-Mart. If you are able to find it, it is so fun. The kids had a blast painting sugar cookies. Below is the link to the one we found at Wal-Mart.

    Great Value Day of the Dead Paint-a-Sugar Cookie Kit, 13.68 oz

    Our next favorite part of Day of the Dead is Pan De Muerto.

    This recipe is absolutely fabulous. I have used it for a couple years and the bread has turned out fantastic everytime! Click the link below to check it out:

    Pan de Muerto (Mexican Day of the Dead Bread)

    By: Author Sarah – Curious Cuisiniere

    I hope you all had a beautiful celebration of Dia de Los Muertos. If there are traditions your family does, please comment below.

  • Halloween Fun!

    Halloween Fun!

    Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! There is always so much fun to be had during the Halloween Season and it’s like the kick off to Fall for me.

    Here is my family’s Top 10 list of things to do during the Halloween Season:

    1. Wear your favorite Halloween PJs as much as possible

    2. Decorate!

    3. Make Halloween Sugar Cookies

    4. Make Haunted Halloween Houses

    All you need for this afternoon of fun is a box of Cookies n Cream Pop Tarts, colorful icing, and candies to decorate.

    5. Check out local Fall Festivals

    6. Visit you local Pumpkin Patch

    7. Carve Pumpkins

    8. Make Homemade Pumpkin Purée

    9. Roast Pumpkin Seeds

    If you need a good pumpkin seed recipe, click link below!

    Bacon Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

    Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

    10. Trick or Treat in your Neighborhood or visit local Trunk n’ Treats

    Most of all, make a ton of memories with your family during this wonderful season! If you have any special things you do during Halloween, please share in the comments below. Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween Season!

  • Hocus Pocus Buns

    Hocus Pocus Buns

    This year was quite exciting for Halloween Movies! Hocus Pocus 2 released at the end of September. And of course we had to make a family movie night of it.

    While scrolling through Facebook one evening, I came across a photo. In the photo, it showed a recipe for Hocus Pocus Buns. I had to try it. Now granted not everything on Facebook is true or turns out as easy as a photo shows. It was simple recipe though. All you need are a tube of crescent rolls, large marshmellows, cinnamon sugar, and butter.

    The reasoning for the name of the recipe is quite simple. When you start the recipe, the marshmellow is in the middle of your crescent rolls. Once you bake your Hocus Pocus Buns, the marshmellow melts and disappears, yet leaves a delicious sugary taste. It’s like magic! Hence the name….Hocus Pocus Buns!

    Hocus Pocus Buns

    Ingredients:

    1 tube of crescent rolls

    1/2 stick of butter, melted

    8 large marshmellows

    Cinnamon Sugar

    Directions:

    Preheat oven to as directed on the crescent roll baking instructions. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Melt your butter in a small microwave safe bowl. Open your crescent rolls. Put your cinnamon sugar in a shallow bowl. Dip each marshmellow in the melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar. Wrap a crescent roll around each marshmellow.

    Once all crescent rolls are on the baking sheet, brush with remaining melted butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar on top. Put in oven for the time directed on the crescent rolls baking instructions.

    Once out of the oven, let cool for 5 minutes.

    I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I did. It sure made our Hocus Pocus Movie Night even more exciting!

  • Mom Security Tank Top

    Mom Security Tank Top

    Ok, who’s with me on this one? It is extremely hot in Yakima this week. Today is 105 and that’s just the middle of the temps we are hitting this week. It will be 109 by Friday. I wear a security tank top everyday regardless of the temps because without it I would feel naked. I also have security headbands too but that’s another story for another day…🤣

    Anyone else have a security clothing item or a mom security tank top that is just a necessity of your daily attire?

    Stay cool y’all!

  • Who’s Guilty?

    Who’s Guilty?

    Who’s guilty of the Mom Sway? 🙋🏻‍♀️

    I know I can’t be the only one. If I am just standing around somewhere, I always end up unconsciously swaying. It doesn’t matter how old my children get, it’s a habit that will stick with me.

    Is there a mom habit you are guilty of?

  • Coming Soon…

    Coming Soon…

    Today is Christmas in July and I have an announcement!

    Elf on the Shelf is always my all time excitement of the holiday season. I basically start crafting and planning in October as well as I don’t sleep much from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Is it worth you ask? Why would you do that?

    Yes absolutely it’s worth it and I do it for the Magic & Spirit of Christmas to be in my children’s minds and hearts.

    My hubby, @matthewthescribe, watches me every year plan and get so excited each day for the Elf to arrive. I share my ideas daily on social media during the season and have multiple people message me of how-tos. I’ve been doing this for 7 years now. Matt said to me last Christmas you need to write a book. Now that alone is terrifying. I’m not a writer, he’s the writer. I’m a blogger at most. But I started on this journey. My hope is to finish my book and have it published by October of this year.

    So that’s my announcement….I’m writing an Elf on the Shelf Ideas Book. Soon to be published. Fingers crossed! Happy Christmas in July!

    Like, Share, or Subscribe!
  • Explore the Night Sky!

    Explore the Night Sky!

    Check out the night sky tonight and tomorrow. There is a “Supermoon” tonight. It is the Buck Moon and is the biggest and brightest moon for 2022. Then, tomorrow night check out the K2 Comet flying in the sky. More details in the video below:

    Happy Space & Nature Exploring!