• Butter Cake Bars
    Dessert

    Butter Cake Bars

    October 5, 2018 - By 

    Recently we celebrated my Father-in-law’s birthday and I wanted to make a cake, but wanted something other than your typical chocolate cake. I hunted around my recipes and found a recipe for butter cake. I had all the ingredients and it didn’t seem complicated so I gave it a shot. With a couple tweaks it was one of the best desserts I’ve ever made. Servings: 15-18 depending on size Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups flour 1 cup sugar 1 tbs. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1/2 softened cup butter 3 eggs 8 oz. softened…

  • October Scripture-A-Week
    Life

    October Scripture-A-Week

    September 25, 2018 - By 

    I just realized this didn’t get posted on the 15th like its supposed to. September is probably my craziest month of the year and this year is worse. I take team and individual photos for the local travel soccer league and that eats up all my free time in August and September. I’m currently dealing with an issue with one of the companies that prints the Memory Mates. It’s always one thing after another! I’ve also had a lot going on with my job, which I’ll might share with you later. So with just these things, my stress meter is…

  • Life

    October To Do List

    October 1, 2017 - By 

    September To Do List Recap 1. Get to the gym at least twice a week. – did not happen 🙁 Hopefully will happen this month! 2. Start writing in my new journal. – I did do this. I also accomplished a goal I had awhile back and that was starting a bible study of some sort. October To Do List 1. Get to the gym at least twice a week. What’s on your list for this month? Here’s a few post that I loved… October 2017 Goals & Plans What I Read in September

  • Middle School Pep Rally
    Life

    Middle School Pep Rally

    October 26, 2016 - By 

    Last week, Alex’s school cheered on the football team as well as all the teams that are active this fall. I took the afternoon off to attend and at first was glad that it was being held outside, but then the temps rose to over 80°. This did not make me to happy standing out there for over an hour with sun blaring in my face. However, I did manage to make it through the whole thing and got lots of pics and video to share with you. I was glad I got there early, so I could stand in…

  • List of Encouraging Words - Free Printable Included
    Life

    List of Encouraging Words

    October 25, 2016 - By 

    This post includes a list of encouraging words. It dawned on me the other day how many times I’m googling lists of words to help me come up with word alternatives. I decided instead of continuing to have to google or go to a thesaurus that I would start writing some posts with lists of words. I love lists, so this is totally up my ally. I’m actually surprised I didn’t think of this sooner! Aren’t we all searching for words to use beside good, nice, and great? I know even these days I hear the words awesome, amazing, super,…

  • West Coast Trip - Day 3 - Travel along as we leave Yosemite to Cupertino (Apple HQ), Stanford U, Painted Ladies, and more.
    Travel

    West Coast Trip:Day 3

    October 22, 2016 - By 

    If you missed my 1st couple of posts about our West Coast Trip, you should check those out first. – Day 1 – Day 2 – So on Day 3 of our West Coast Trip we woke up in our tent in Yosemite’s Half Dome Village. I woke up a little chili and actually quite sore from the hike the day before, but the brisk fresh air was welcoming. We got dressed and jumped in the car. We wanted to stop and check out Yosemite Falls on our way out of the park. We took a short hike to the…

  • Breaded Chicken & Garlic Butter Sauce
    Chicken - Dinner - Recipes

    Breaded Chicken & Garlic Butter Sauce

    October 19, 2016 - By 

    Looking for a little fancier chicken recipe? Maybe for a nice date night just you and your sweetie. Or you’re just tired of the same old chicken recipes. My family adores this Breaded Chicken & Garlic Butter Sauce recipe. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: Breaded Chicken: 4 chicken breasts flour 1 egg 1/2 cup of milk 1 tsp. Tabasco sauce 1 tbs. garlic powder 1 tsp. pepper 1/4 cup season all 2 cups of canola oil Sauce: 2 sticks of butter 2 tbs. garlic powder 2 tsp. cajun seasoning or season all 1/3 cup…

  • West Coast Trip - Day 2 - Yosemite Day
    Travel

    West Coast Trip:Yosemite Day

    October 5, 2016 - By 

    If you missed my post from Day 1 of our West Coast Trip you can find it here. Here’s our jam packed day #2! I woke up totally discombobulated from very little sleep, but we still managed to be out of the hotel by 6:30 am. We were eager to get to Yosemite and begin our Yosemite Day before the crowds since we were there during the summer; peak season. The week before we were there President Obama and his family were at Yosemite. We had read that he had donuts from Donuts a Go Go down the street from…

  • Visit 5 Rivers #StayAlBeaches
    Travel

    Visit 5 Rivers #StayAlBeaches

    October 4, 2016 - By 

    I love sharing my travels with you even though I am so far behind. Today I’m looking back at when my family was in Daphne for my younger son’s soccer tournament. The Saturday we were there we didn’t have a game until that afternoon, so we had a decent block of time that we could do something fun. Rob had hard about 5 Rivers Delta Safari so we decided to check it out. While we were there we… strolled along the paths while enjoying the peacefulness and watching birds and learning about the trees that grow in that area. We…

  • Life

    Memories of the Month {9.2016}

    October 3, 2016 - By 

    This month I was happy about: getting to see Drew and Caitlyn march in the Auburn University Marching Band. I’ll probably wait till the end of the season to write a post and share pictures. In the meantime, you can follow pics on my Instagram. This year I’m going to rate the books & movies. Here’s my rating system: ♥ ♥ = Love it! A must read/see! ♥ = Really good! Highly recommend. ✓ ✓ = Good, not great ✓ = Not much to talk about X = Awful. Total waste of time Movies I watched were: Alice in Wonderland…

  • Life

    Memories of the Month {10.2015}

    October 31, 2015 - By 

    I can’t believe another month has FLOWN by. I guess that’s the story of my life. I feel like I’ve neglected my home away from home here, but it’s been a crazy, busy month. With Auburn Thunder Soccer league pictures to take, edit, and order on top of planning Drew’s Eagle Scout court of honor, I’m exhausted and stressed! Sunday is the court of honor and I’m so glad it’s almost here. It’s kind of like planning for a wedding, so many details and components to planning I’m just ready for it to be here. I have so many things…

  • Cookies - Dessert

    Butterscotch Apple Toffee Cookies

    October 22, 2015 - By 

    I’ve been wanting to try a pudding mix cookie. When I thought about mixing apples with a butterscotch flavor, I thought there was no better recipe to try it with. Cookies with pudding mix in the batter becoming quite soft and more cake like, so keep that in mind if you decide to do this recipe. Servings: 24 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 12 minutes Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups flour 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup light brown sugar 1 package of Instant Butterscotch Pudding 2 eggs 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1…

  • Travel

    Alabama Coast Activities for Guys #StayAlBeaches

    October 20, 2015 - By 

    Planning a mancation or Father-son trip to Alabama’s Gulf Coast? Here’s a list of fun activities for anyone of the male species. 1. Want to get away from it all and spend it on a green? Golfing is quite popular in the Gulf Shores/Orange beach area because there are countless golf courses. The options are unlimited when it comes to golfing in our great state of Alabama and there’s definitely not a shortage when your on the coast either. 2. Visit Fort Morgan & the U.S. Alabama are great spots to visit for those history/military buffs. 3. If fishing is…

  • Dinner - Pork - Recipes

    Low Fat Garlic Honey Marinade Recipe

    October 19, 2015 - By 

    This marinade is great for pork tenderloin, pork chops, chicken, or shrimp. Can’t wait to try it with shrimp! It is so easy just whip up the Low Fat Garlic Honey Marinade the night before and grill the next day. Servings: 1 cup (for 2 lbs. of meat) Prep Time: 5 minutes + marinade time Cooking Time: 0 minutes Ingredients: 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 1/2 cup honey 2 tbs. paprika 1 tbs. olive oil 2 crushed garlic cloves 1/2 tsp. dried crushed red pepper 1/2 tsp. salt Directions: Combine in ingredients and place in ziplock bag. Marinade for 8…

  • Beef - Dinner - Mexican - Recipes

    One-Pot Southwest Skillet Beef & Rice

    October 14, 2015 - By 

    If you haven’t figured it out by now, I love Mexican food of all kinds. Mexican, Baja, Southwest, Santa Fe…I adore it all! This Southwest Skillet Beef & Rice is a meal I’ve made for years, but I decided to try it as a one-pot meal. I was so glad I did. So easy and just as delicious. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Ingredients: 1 1/2 lb. ground beef 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice 1 can of chopped tomatoes and green chilies 1 can black beans (drain and rinse) 1 large onion, diced 1/4…

  • Life

    Homecoming 2015

    October 12, 2015 - By 

    This past weekend was Homecoming. It was just Drew and me and home. Drew got dressed and we went over to the Baird’s house for pictures and then dinner. I prepared Buffalo Chicken Meatballs for an appetizer that I served with ranch, celery, and carrots. I’ll be posting that recipe soon. Anyway, I got lots of great pictures. The guys looking quite dapper. And lovely ladies… Drew & Caitlyn Kyle & Hannah Brannen & Lindsay The homecoming dance theme was Masquerade, so a few of the kids brought masks. We had lots of fun taking these pics. Two of these…

  • Travel

    4th of July Trip 2015

    October 10, 2015 - By 

    4th of July Trip in 2015 was full of hiking and site-seeing LaFayette, GA, Chattanooga, TN, and surrounding areas. Day 1 – a Stop in Rome, GA Day 2 – DeSoto State Park Hike – Fort Payne, AL Hike at Cloudland Canyon – Rising Fawn, GA Day 3 – Tennessee Aquarium – Chattanooga Point Park – Lookout Mountain, TN We stopped at the Incline Railway to watch it come up. They do get some lovely views from the windows on the top. Rock City – Lookout Mountain, GA Day 4 – 4th of July – Chickamauga & Chattanooga It is…

  • Appetizers & Snacks

    Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

    October 9, 2015 - By 

    It’s the time of year when pumpkin patches are visited, jack-o-lanterns are carved, and pumpkin seeds are toasted. My kids always enjoy collecting the seeds from the pumpkin, getting all that ooey-gooey inards off the seeds, and toasting them. These always turn out great. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour Ingredients: Pumpkin seeds Cooking spray, olive oil, or butter Optional: Salt, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, or other seasoning of choice Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 250 F. Line a baking sheet with non-stick foil. 2. Rinse pumpkin seeds. Remove all the pulp. Drain pumpkin seeds and…

  • Life

    Memories of the Month {9.2015}

    October 8, 2015 - By 

    Y’all I’m a bit aggravated. Fall is always a busy time in my household, but this year has been craaaaa-zy! I’m just trying to keep my head above water. October is here and September was a breeze compared to how busy I am now. Planning Drew’s Eagle Court of Honor, taking pictures for Auburn Thunder soccer league, editing, ordering, and getting those delivered by Oct. 31, handling several blog campaigns, are just a few things that I’ve got going on this month. Sooo, I’m aggravated because with all of that going on I’m having a difficult time keeping up with…

  • Travel

    5 Reasons to Travel Alabama Beaches #StayALBeaches

    October 7, 2015 - By 

    Remember last week, I was giving away an awesome beach Swag Bag from #StayALbeaches. Yesterday I posted a SnapChat video with the winner. Follow me on SnapChat @cameraNcookbook to see the winner. The winner was Maria B! Having traveled to many different coasts, I always enjoy the shining seas of our gorgeous country. However, there is no more gorgeous beaches than those right here in my very own home state of Alabama. There are many reasons why you should travel to the Alabama coast besides the fact they are beautiful… 1. Less crowded Both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are…