Thursday, March 31, 2016

10 Easy Recipes to Make with Leftover Ham

Easter was such a fun day and hosting was even more fun. Even though it rained this year and our egg hunt was largely inside, it was still a blast. One of my favorite things about hosting is that usually we make waaaaay too much food, and often have a refrigerator full of leftovers to munch on over the course of the next few days. Any excuse this mama can get out of not cooking she will take! 

This year we had a variety of main courses - turkey, ham, and even London Broil (more on this later because it was absolutely scrumptious!) - and thus, ended up with way more leftovers than we can possibly ever eat. 

I decided to get a little creative and see what we could do with all those leftovers. Luckily, I became a little pinspired and found a ton of absolutely tasty recipes to choose from. 


Sharing my inspiration HERE for ten easy recipes to make with left over ham. Several are even freezable to save for later and one even involves a crockpot. Now that is winning. :) 

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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Hollywood Studios

If you missed my posts about the first two days of our surprise trip you can go back and read them.  Day one is HERE and day two is HERE.

For our last day in Orlando we decided to give Hollywood Studios a try.  We had never been there before and were excited to see what it was all about.  I had heard mixed reviews, but since we had gotten to ride most of the rides the kids wanted to the day before, we figured it couldn't hurt to see something new and different.

We were all so tired from the past two day that I decided to let everyone sleep in a bit and so we got off to a later start, but for everyone's moods, I think it was the best choice. We still got to Hollywood Studios fairly early.  The girls and the Mr. went off to ride the Rock n Roller coaster while Boo-Boo and I got familiar with the lay of the land.  We hopped on The Great Movie Ride while we were waiting on them. The whole time I just keep thinking about how my dad would love it. He loves watching old movies and he would have really appreciated the walk down memory lane with the classic, popular movies.  My little ride partner just kept pointing out the fact that this was a slow ride and he wanted to go faster.

After meeting back up we also ran into some familiar faces.  One thing I will say about Hollywood Studios is that opportunities for pictures with characters are way easier to come by here.  And there were practically no lines!



Next we went to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area and our kids LOVED it.  It's basically a playground that is set up to look like the set of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. I realized two things while we were here.  1- My kids had absolutely no idea what that movie was, making me feel really old and 2- we could have just gone to a playground at home and they would have been happy.  Seriously though we spent about 45 minutes in this play area and they did not want to leave.  We weren't the only ones there either. Tons of kids were running around and having the best time.

There were slides, tunnels, climbing nets, etc.  Every time I tried to get the kids to head on to do something else they would run off and say they wanted to play more.


And this little guy kept telling me he had more adventures and secret hide outs to find.


The only thing I didn't love about this area is that it is kind of hard to keep up with your kids and it made me little nervous.  There are just so many tunnels and hiding places that you can't really keep your eyes on them at all times. I kept urging them to at least all stay together so that helped. I'm usually a pretty laid back mom, but somewhere super busy and public like this had me a little freaked out.


Next up we had fast passes for the Star Tours experience and we weren't really sure what to expect. It was a super fun "ride" that was actually just a 3D experience.  We wore 3D glasses and you feel like you are actually going on a ride through space and under water. It was super neat, very realistic, and we all enjoyed it!

By this time it was lunchtime so we were just trying to find somewhere close by to eat. We literally walked up to the closest place and were told we were lucky because we got the last spot without having a reservation for lunch.  We had no idea we'd need one, but after being taken down a long hallway and finally into the main dining area we understood.  We were at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.
The entire place was set up like an old-time drive-in theater.


You actually sat in cars with tables in them!  How fun is that?!?  My kids asked if this is what cars were really like back in the "old days" and if they had tables in them?  It was dark in the dining area and there was a big movie screen playing cartoons and shows the whole time.  The Mr. thought it was super cheesy, but the kids LOVED it.  They thought it was the neatest restaurants ever and so did I!  I'm so happy we stumbled across this place and I would definitely recommend it. If you have the chance though, make a reservation!  We saw so many people turned away because they didn't have reservations.

After lunch it was sadly time for us to go.  We had to get back to our hotel to get our things and get to the airport.  We made a quick stop by a souvenir shop to let the girls pick out their treat (Boo-Boo had picked something the day before) and then we were off.  I do wish we could have stayed longer because there were a lot of really neat shows and things we would have liked if we had more time.

It was time to head back to reality and get ready to face our Monday and the week ahead.  The girls and I were in the very last row of the plane!


Thankfully, the kids were all really tired so the flight was pretty uneventful and we got home just in time to have dinner and get everyone to bed at a decent hour.  It was a jam-packed weekend with lots of fun squeezed in to a few short days.  We enjoyed the time together as a family though and I just love being able to have the kids experience the magic of Disney any chance we get.

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Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Orlando Trip {Day 2}

If you missed the first part of our surprise trip to Orlando, you can read all about it HERE.  

We woke up bright and early on Saturday morning because we wanted to make the most of our day.  We got dressed, had a quick breakfast, and then made our way to the Magic Kingdom.  We arrived just before the park opened, which was a first for us! It was SO worth getting up early because in that first hour we rode so many rides and many of them we rode twice!  After riding once the kids would be so excited and want to go again.  With practically no line, we were able to hop right back in line for a second ride.  

Little Boo-Boo loved the Buzz Lightyear ride and he had so much fun trying to shoot the aliens.  


We of course did the classic rides like the teacups and Dumbo, but the kids wanted more speed.




They are all little daredevils and thrill seekers so we spent the next few rides trying to go as fast as possible.  They love the roller coasters, so that is what we rode!


We ended our day at Disney riding the "race cars" as my kids like to call them.  Little Mama was old enough to ride by herself and that made me just a little nervous to see her driving off alone, but she did great.  Blondie and I rode together and she was laughing the whole time!  



And little Boo-Boo was LOVING getting to steer and drive his car with the Mr.'s help.  He could hardly see over the steering wheel though! 


We had to leave just after lunchtime to get back and have a little down time before the Braves game that evening.  They kids were having so much fun, but Boo-Boo kept asking my why I didn't bring a stroller because his legs were so tired from all of the walking.  Last year I did bring a stroller and none of them wanted to sit in it so I decided to leave it at home this trip.  Go figure.  You can tell he was tired and over the idea of pictures at this point.


The girls shirts say "If the shoe fits..." and they got so many compliments on them. I got the Cinderella shirts last year at Kohl's, but did y'all know Kohl's has a whole Disney line?  They have some really cute stuff for kids and adults.  Definitely check out what they have to offer if you are planning a Disney trip anytime soon!  Look at all of this cute theme wear!




After a short, but much needed rest back at our hotel we got changed and ready for the Braves game that night.  The kids were excited to get to meet some of the players and get their autographs up close and personal.




Then we enjoyed ballpark food and snacks (including Mickey shaped ice cream bars) and watched the game from our seats.  The kids were all having a blast and were really into the game.  They didn't want to leave, but we took a shuttle bus back about half way through because we were all beat.



Be sure to check back tomorrow for pictures and details from our last day in Orlando! 

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Monday, March 28, 2016

Surprise Trip {Orlando}

Happy  Monday everyone!  We hope you all had a wonderful Easter Sunday yesterday.  Ours was great, but a little cool and misty, so today I'm reminiscing about warmer days.  A few weeks ago we surprised the kids with a quick little weekend getaway to Orlando for the Braves spring training and we even going to squeeze in some time at Disney, too! The weather was perfect and we had the best time.

I packed Friday morning while the girls were at school and we went to check them out of school just before lunch time. They were so confused and wondered why we were there, but then we shared the fun news!!!  We were heading straight to the airport and they were so excited!

Since our ski trip to Colorado was fresh in our minds, they did great at the airport and on the plane.  They are becoming quite the little travelers. One thing that was different for this trip though, was that we all had carry on luggage instead of checking bags since it was such a quick trip.  We did this last year on the same trip and it was a major mistake.  What a difference a year makes though!  They did great this time and everyone was responsible for their own bags.  I posted this picture on Instagram and had several people asking about the kids' suitcases.  All three of my kids have THESE bags from from Pottery Barn Kids and we love them!  They come in such fun patterns and designs and they have different sizes, but the small size is perfect for a weekend trip.  The girls have had theirs for years and they have held up great.


Random fact...we also have the backpacks and lunch boxes from Pottery Barn Kids. In my opinion, they are the BEST and hold up so great, too!  



Back to our trip...when we arrived in Orlando we made our way to our hotel for the weekend.  As we were checking in I looked over and saw the kids all grabbing for brochures. I started cracking up because my brothers and I used to do the VERY same thing every time we stopped at a rest area on our road trips.  Back in the day, there was no iPads or DVD's in the car, so these brochures kept us entertained.  I had to snap a pic and send it to my family letting them know the kids were keeping up with the family tradition.


We had just a little bit of time to rest before we needed to get changed and ready for the big welcome party that evening.  Because the kids didn't know we were going on this trip, I got to pack and pick out everyone's clothes.  After getting dressed they all looked at each other and said, "Hey, we are all matching in green."  If y'all know anything about me, you know that was not a coincidence.


The girls were also very excited to learn I had packed their new shoes.  More on this next week when I share my favorite shoes for girls, but don't dare call them sandals around my girls. According to Blondie these are high-heels.  :-)


It was fun to be in the warm sunshine state and we were very excited to be able to wear our colorful Lilly dresses!


The entire weekend is super kid friendly and this welcome party is no exception.  They had a fun DJ, a lady on stilts making balloon animals, stations to paint nails and put on temporary tattoos and even a caricature artist.


I was so excited and so impressed with the artist and was happy that each of the kids agreed to sit still long enough to have them done. I can't wait to frame and hang them in the playroom!



The kids wrapped up the night by doing a little swimming and then we all hit the hay. It had been a very long and busy day and we had lots of fun planned for the next morning.  Be sure to check back tomorrow to read about day 2 of our trip!

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Sunday, March 27, 2016

Happy Easter!



From our families to yours, we hope you have a 
blessed and happy Easter!

With Love, 
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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Coconut Carrot Cake Trifle

All these yummy Easter treats are going to get the best of me. I don't know what is tougher - Making all these yummy treats and trying to keep them from being eaten before the big day? Or making all these yummy treats and not being able to eat a single one? That dairy allergy is really putting a cramp in my treat eating game.

Especially treats that involve coconut. Mmmm....

I might have had to sneak at least one spoon lick on this next one. I was praying it was like drinking a glass of wine at night...out of my system before it hits Baby Cute's. Although the diaper repercussions aren't nearly as bad with wine...


I love a good trifle, and while my cooking skills aren't Top Chef worthy, I like to think this little concoction that I came up with isn't so bad at all.


This Coconut Carrot Cake Trifle rarely lasts very long in my house, and is the perfect addition if you are looking for something a little different for your Easter dessert table. I am sharing the recipe over on Savvy Sassy Moms today and you can find the post HERE.



Make the hop and enjoy!
(See what I did there?)

Friday, March 25, 2016

Friday Favorites: Easter Edition

This week has been such a fun one! As the week leading up to Easter we have had egg hunts, school parties, and just general spring time fun. We are so excited for the fun weekend we have planned ahead and then the count down begins for Spring Break!

I've had a ton of favorite moments this week! 

ONE
This moment is technically from last week, but happened after my last Friday Favorite post


Our week's are so crazy, it is hard getting in girlfriend time. Luckily, last Friday Carrie Beth and I both were able to adjust some things and squeeze in some girl time for a fun lunch. 

I chose a local favorite burger restaurant and afterwards we let the kids play in a field close by just to get their wiggles out. They had the best time picking flowers to give to us, and Carrie Beth put this little flower behind Little Cute's ear and L.C. wore it all day until bath time. So precious!


CB gave me my birthday gift and it was full of Lilly fun, and this super cute monogrammed floppy hat for summer. I can't wait to wear it, but I had to show her it fit! 

Getting bestie time and colorful gifts will always be my favorite. 

TWO
Sunday kicked off the official start to Spring. Even though it was freezing cold, we hit the ground running first thing in the morning with lots of fun adventures. We visited a yummy new to us breakfast place, and even though we had to wait for a good half an hour, the kids were excellent and the food was so yummy. 



If you are ever in the Atlanta area, the Original Pancake House should be on your must eat breakfast list. Coconut waffles. Apple pie pancakes. Need I say more?


After breakfast, I figured we needed to work off some of the yumminess we consumed and we took our little party of five (plus pup) to the park. 


I saw this little Magnolia reminder. :)
The kids had a blast checking everything out, and were at their flower gathering best again. 


This might be my new favorite photo of L.C. 

THREE
You guys know I love a good reason to coordinate the kids, and Easter is always one of my favorites to do. For Easter Sunday, I went with my favorite theme - seersucker!

Baby Cute's Dress | Cute's Shorts | Little Cute's Dress
I was actually super excited to find coordinating outfits for everyone for relatively inexpensively. And the girls dresses come in a few different colors. I am so tempted to order them as well. 

And since it is a major holiday, that means I get reprieve to coordinate the rest of the family without too much grief. I plan on wearing this super cute romper with a navy cardi over it if it's cool. I haven't tried it on just yet post baby...I feel like ignorance is bliss in some cases, and in this case I'm still not ready to face the "mommy ate too many donuts during pregnancy and can't fit in her romper" reality until it's absolutely the last possible moment. At least I am hosting this year, and since it's my house I will allow yoga pants if necessary. Nice stretchy yoga pants. 

FOUR
We have been Easter treat making fools around here lately. Treats will always be my favorite...well, at least eating the treats. ;) 


On one of my many trips to the grocery store this week, I found this cute little cookie kit. Everything was pre-made and packaged up for you to decorate. I thought it was perfect for the Cutes to do, and then they can share their creations on Sunday. 


Cute was super into it at first. Then he asked me to do one with him. His concentration for it lasted about ten seconds. More candy and frosting went into his mouth than on his cookie. I can't say I blame him - so yummy! 


FIVE
On Wednesday this week, we celebrate Easter at The Cute's school. It was so much fun and it was so interesting to see how they each did their own plan of attack when it came to the egg hunt. Let's just say you might not want to get in between L.C. and a treat. Girl will throw down. 

SIX
A random favorite of mine this week is this cup


My husband (and every other male I know), has become obsessed with Yeti Coolers. That includes all of the Yeti drinkware. After months of him raving about them, I decided to claim one as my own and see what the big deal was. 


I'm not gonna lie. It actually was nice coming back to my hot car sometimes, or sitting out by the soccer fields, and realize my drink was still cold and refreshing. The true test will come in summer time - mommy likes her cocktails drinks cold. 

SEVEN
My absolute favorite Easter candy is the jelly beans. I am almost worse than the kids when it comes to eating them. I stumbled upon this yummy Jelly Belly pack and OMG! 


I can't stop eating them!


I sat down for a brief minute this week to give myself five minutes of down time, and sent this pic to a friend that heard my obsession over these earlier in the week with the caption "Can't stop, won't stop." I literally can't stop! I might have stockpile some. 

EIGHT
We've had a ton of fun on the blog this week with Easter too, and I absolutely love all the yummy treats that we've been making. Good thing this mama owns a treadmill. 


Check out all this fun Easter fun we've had going on...

And we had a little fun on Pinterest last night with some of our favorite blogger friends, and the board is just darling. So many fun Easter ideas!! I already can't wait until next year when I have a little more time to prep and really have fun with it! 



That wraps up this week's favorites! What were some of your favorites this week? 

Have a great Easter weekend everyone!
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