Make My Day Camp

This year pet poison prevention week is March 20-26; it's a good reminder to bone-up (see what I did there hahaha?) on potential things that might be harmful to our pets. I've posted in the past that AKC has some good info (click here for that website) and I found even more info at the pet poison helpline, they list medications and lots more if you ever wonder.

Are you like me and immediately Google to see if your pet can have something like asparagus? Which by the way, yes they can eat it, but AKC says there's really no point, doesn't provide many nutrients - but what about if you drop a piece and your dog grabs it before you can pick it up? Good to know it's not going to hurt him!

I've posted a couple different times about pet prevention week, sorry for the repeat and I'm not preaching I promise - just want to make sure you have this info and reminder if you need it!

3.19.21: flourless chocolate raspberry cake

3.19.20: TBT orange cranberry ice

3.19.19: TT sewing on vinyl

3.19.18: crocheted bunny

3.19.17: zucchini and quinoa cakes

3.19.16: vodka gimlet

Friday, March 18, 2022

Standing Computer Desk

New fave way to counter 'dead butt syndrome' - did you even know there's actually a condition called dead butt syndrome? Yikes. Like we don't have enough things to worry about. Standing computer desk to the rescue.

I ordered an inexpensive laptop stand from Amazon that is adjustable and just sits on top of my desk and raises the computer up a few inches - I can easily stand at my desk now and work on the computer without sitting on my potentially dead butt for hours at a time. You don't even have to order an actual stand - find something that can comfortably and securely raise your computer up high enough for you to be able to stand and work - I think a box or stack of books would work just as good!

Another plus that makes it even better is I can turn on music and dance while typing! Random dance party while working = fun 👍

I can't find the exact one I have, but it's similar to this:

3.18.21: corned beef grilled cheese

3.18.20: spaghetti squash mac & cheese

3.18.19: hanging jewelry holder

3.18.18: corned beef and cabbage soup (use those leftovers!)

3.18.17: wine bottle storage using ABS drain tiles or PVC pipe

3.18.16: duct tape pencil holder (kid craft)

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Pizza Pasta? Tac-za Pasta? by Jenny

How great is this - my sister, with only minimal nudging from me that I'd love guest bloggers, sent me this out of the blue thinking I'd like to blog it! Woohoo, heck yes I would. She doesn't give herself enough credit, this looks delish and even tho I probably wouldn't have thought to put these ingredients together I bet it tastes delish too - although she might need to work on the name of her new dish!

Here's her recipe, in her words (thanks again Sis!):

Hi there - non cooking sister here. So here was my dilemma. I took out frozen burger to make cheeseburgers, then the husband comes home and says he would like to go for burger night ... tomorrow. I do love cheeseburgers but 2 days in a row? Yikes. So, 20 minutes to dinner time and a pound of thawed burger.

He said “don’t you have hamburger helper”? Ummmm yuck. No. And my sister would mock me for making that crap. That said, I rummaged the cupboards to make my own “crap”! I have to say while this seems random it was in fact delicious. The husband loved it and we both had seconds. Yum.

1 lb burger browned with fresh mushrooms, 1/4 cup of pico de gallo, and 2 Tbs minced garlic
Drain the grease-
Add 1/2 cup light sour cream
1/4 cup light cream cheese
1 jar pizza sauce
1/4 cup Ortega taco sauce
1 cup shredded Colby jack

Cook all of the above together until warm and stir in a box of cooked rotini noodles.

I added some chili flakes to mine when done, the husband topped his with Parmesan cheese. It was delish.

Side note - they say pizza sauce is of course very similar to pasta sauce, minus the spices and seasonings- so definitely needed the taco sauce, chili flakes and garlic to jazz it up.

Give it a try- don’t mock it until you try it! (That was a note for my sister) :)

Jill here - it's true I'm not a fan of Hamburger Helper but I wouldn't mock her for eating it (ok, ok, I wouldn't mock her to her face LOL). Just kidding, I'm a fan of shortcuts as you all know - for instance, I've never turned down boxed Kraft Mac 'n Cheese :)

3.17.21: pot o'gold cupcakes

3.17.20: TT: marinated artichokes

3.17.19: 🔥week 11

3.17.18: shamrock plant

3.17.17: mini trash can by Brooke

3.17.16: photo class - landscapes

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Leprechaun Veggie Tray (Jen's version)

Last year I posted an inspiration picture from a magazine that my sis was planning to make for a party, forgot to show you how hers turned out - she did good! A year later I'm getting around to posting hers hahahah...

Magazine inspo:

Jen's leprechaun veggie tray:

3.16.21: TT steamer basket

3.16.19: St. Paddy's 2019 Plan

3.16.18: felt shamrocks

3.16.17: green tassel earrings

3.16.16: leprechaun coloring page

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Tip-sy Tuesday: Taco Salad

I'm calling this a 'Tip-sy Tuesday' recipe because it's beyond easy, and not a 'recipe' at all. More like a Wendy's fast-food-taco-salad-like hack!

I used to love Wendy's taco salad - I wonder, do they still sell it? Hmmm, I'll have to check...if they don't, or if you've never had one, it was a regular old lettuce, tomato, and cheese salad with sour cream, tortilla chips, and a cup of chili to pour over. Yum. Making myself lunch the other day and had the idea to recreate their salad by heating up a can of turkey chili (I like the no-bean version) and topping my salad with it, and I have to say - it was SO good!

My standard homemade chili is nowhere near as thick as the canned kind, I'm pretty sure putting my regular chili over salad would end up a big floating lettuce mess! If you, however, make a super thick chili then I would try it in place of the canned - homemade should be better than canned I would think hahah. But for now I'm sticking with my new hacked version of my good old favorite Wendy's taco salad using the canned stuff.

Ok, ok, not the prettiest salad - if you're concerned about that then just eat this alone with no-one looking at it or taking pictures to blog it hahahha. My base salad is lettuce, black beans, corn, tomatoes and avocado - not exactly like Wendy's but still pretty darn good.

PS: I posted yesterday making fun of Dave's made up lunch - and here I posted my own made up lunch LOL. Today I'm laughing at myself hahahha...

3.15.21: leprechaun veggie tray

3.15.20: 🔥week 11

3.15.19: stuffed zucchini

3.15.18: corned beef dinner

3.15.17: caramel chocolate chip cookies

3.15.16: Irish creme delights

Monday, March 14, 2022

Man-Day Monday: chicken salad

Dave made himself lunch the other day and was so proud of it he said to me "you should take a picture of this and blog it". First I laughed at him and said no one needs to see that, but then he seemed a little hurt so I said 'you know what, I should def blog the fact that you made yourself lunch using up leftover rotisserie chicken, celery, sliced olives, and mayo'.

It's been a long time since I've blogged a Man-Day Monday post, this seems like an appropriate time to share his creation :)

3.14.21: 🔥 week 11

3.14.20: bloody mary rim salt

3.14.19: Jen's Hello Fresh review

3.14.18: irish cream bundt cake

3.14.17: rope covered curtain rod (poll)

3.14.16: ribbon bracelet

Sunday, March 13, 2022

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 11)

Dear Campers ~

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

3/6: 🔥 week 10

3/7: peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

3/8: TT: freezing asparagus

3/9: shanghai salmon

3/10: MSIH: peanut butter dream bars

3/11: make the easiest earrings

3/12: pot o'gold cupcakes

What's Cooking ~

we are still camping and I did not buy a crockpot yet, so our meals are super basic this week - maybe you'll still get a couple ideas for dinner:

grilled steak, microwaved baby potatoes with olive oil and Italian seasoning, green beans
grilled pizzas , caesar salad
grilled marinated chicken breast, flavored rice packet, steamed broccoli
grilled bbq ribs, potato salad, sweet kale salad
shrimp tacos (corn tortillas, shredded cabbage, green salsa, sour cream mixed with lime juice)

I haven't had much time to read lately and have a few books checked out on my library app so need to make the time! I finished "The Killing Floor" by Lee Child (the first in the Jack Reacher series). I've read it before but we just watched the series and I couldn't remember how closely the tv showed tracked the book. Now I can't remember much about the show and will re-watch it to see if it tracks LOL it's a vicious circle having a bad memory! The book gets a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, I love Reacher.

Also read 'The Princess Bride", I saw the movie years ago but have never read the book. Hafta say, I laughed out loud numerous times - same as above, I need to watch the movie again and see how close it tracks the book! Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ winner. It's a classic for a reason.

That's it for me - we are in Florida and of course it's 'unseasonably warm' because I don't like to be warm hahaha. Actually it's not warm, it's down right hot. We've done some cool things - my favorite hands down is watching a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral. It was amazing, I literally had tears in my eyes it was so awesome. And the sound! Wow. No 'gator sightings but I'm watching for sure. Hope everyone had a great week - stop back often to see more crafts, recipes, projects, etc. that I think of to make (or get other people to make for me)! Bye!

no 'gators yet, but these lizards are everywhere!

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

3.13.21: pet poison prevention week

3.13.20: copycat shamrock shake

3.13.19: island cupcakes

3.13.18: shamrock sun catcher
3.13.17: shamrock butterflies and paper garland (why did I post two that day? hmmm...)
3.13.16: crock pot corned beef

Saturday, March 12, 2022

Pot O'Gold Cupcakes

I posted this on St. Patrick's Day last year, what good did that do you? Like you were going to have time to make them for dinner that night hahah? I wrote to file it away for next year but if you're anything like me that gem of non-useful advice wasn't helpful hahahah. These turned out SO good, everyone raved over them, so it deserves a re-run post a few days before the actual holiday so you actually have time to make them before day-of!

Here's the original post from 3/17/21:

Super last minute, I know - but maybe you're sitting there thinking you'd like to make a fun dessert for St. Patrick's Day but don't have any ideas and here I am to give you one hahaha! Or file this away for next year :) Or just switch out the shamrocks and gold sprinkles and change them to any other day of the year!

I started with a dark chocolate fudge cake mix and doctored it a bit - not as much as usual but still a few additions:

1 T. instant coffee granules
1 t. vanilla
1 small box of instant vanilla pudding
1/2 cup sour cream
big handful of mini chocolate chips

Bake as directed on the box - I made 48 mini cupcakes. Cool.

Once completely cool, insert the big end of a piping tip into the center of a cupcake, twist and pull out a small plug of cake (the tip is probably about 1/2" diameter, use anything you can think of you don't have a piping tip - even a small spoon to scoop some cake out will work). Spoon about 1/2 t. sprinkles into the hole and replace the cake plug back into the hole to smooth out the top of the cupcake. You might need to remove a smidge of cake from the underside of the plug if it won't fit back into the hole. Once you frost the top you won't see where you made the hole.

For the frosting ~ I made my standard buttercream but added a couple big spoonfuls of caramel ice cream topping. And let me tell you, it is SO good!!!

1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature

4-5 cups powdered sugar

5-6 T. cream or milk

1 t. vanilla

pinch of salt

caramel topping to taste

Cream the butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar (if you add it all at once it's gonna fly out of the bowl all over the place - trust me hahah) and the other ingredients, blend until everything is incorporated and is smooth and fluffy.

To finish the pot's of gold - sprinkle gold sprinkles on top of the caramel frosting, add a big gold chocolate ball if you can find them; if not I'd do maybe a candy gold coin or just do the gold sprinkles. Or do more of the shamrock sprinkles. Or heck, just leave them plain - they still taste great!

3.12.21: kid craft: paper leprechaun by Brooke

3.12.20: TBT: St. Patrick's day luncheon and Green Pea Soup recipe

3.12.19: TT: single cupcake container

3.12.18: make a layered paper shamrock using decorative patterned paper

3.12.17: blueberry chutney (delish with pork tenderloin!)

3.12.16: copycat shamrock shake

Friday, March 11, 2022

Leather Feather Earrings

Why do I feel like buying charms and beads already put together and attaching them to earring hooks is a craft-cheat? Hahahaha! Check out how easy it is to make your own super simple foolproof earrings!

I found these charms and hooks at Hobby Lobby but I see similar items everywhere (even Walmart!). Simply open the loop at the bottom of the earring hook, I use 2 tweezers to open it just enough to slip on the charm - push one end away and pull one end of the loop towards you, trying not to twist it out of shape; that way to close the loop back together you just reverse the movement with the tweezers. Done!

Tell me, do you feel like this is cheating at jewelry making? And if so, do we care? Cuz look how cute they turned out and it took me like 30 seconds to 'make' them.

3.11.21: shamrock pretzels