And The Winner Is...

Thanks to everyone who entered to win the 8 year blogiversary drawing! I put everyones name on pieces of paper, threw them down on my desk and picked one - congrats goes to...

Drumroll please.........

NATALIE ELKINS!!! Woohoo for you!! 

9.18.22: 🔥 week 38

9.18.21: Crocheted Afghan for Brook

9.18.20: kid craft: painted mason jars

9.18.19: German chocolate poke cake

9.18.18: plant hanger

9.18.16: Steve’s Mac and cheese

9.18.15: laundry room tip

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 38)

Dear Campers ~

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

Posts ~

9/10: 🔥 week 37

9/11: how to make a hem guide

9/12: TT microwaving corn on the cob

9/13: sweet potato breakfast hash

9/14: MSTI tortilla pizza 

9/15: words

9/16: 8 years!

What's Cooking  ~

• grilled chicken, pasta with pink sauce, stuffed mushrooms
• meatloaf, mashed cauliflower, mixed veggies
• baked scallops, chili lime sauce, white rice, roasted green beans 
• steak, roasted baby potatoes, caesar salad
• zucchini lasagna, green salad

Hope you have a great week - and that you'll stop by often for more ideas. Bye!

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

9.17.22: and the winner is...

9.17.21: winner winner...

9.17.20: MSIH - Mexican jalapeno poppers

9.17.19: TT - apple chart

9.17.18: make a giant candy card

9.17.17: apricot, pine nut, goat cheese spread

9.17.16: german chocolate cake

9.17.15: organizing craft room

8 years. YEARS!

Every year I say something like 'I can't believe it's been (fill in the blank) years, but for real - I can't believe I've been doing this for 8 years! And you're still here - that's amazing!!

Do you remember the first blog post? It all started with some sprinkles...

There are SO many blogs out there and I'm grateful to everyone who takes the time to read mine. I haven't changed things up very much over the years - just a woman who likes to make things and share ideas, not trying to reinvent myself or MMDC hahah. I did add a couple categories this year like 'My Sis Tried It' and 'Words' that I think have been fun, hope you agree. Thanks to my sissy for all her posts, and anyone else who has contributed - I love when anyone sends me something I can post (and I take the day off LOL!). 

To date there are 2908 posts - they may not all be winners but thank you for reading them anyway (even the ones that I'm sure made you roll your eyes!); hopefully you've been inspired by the projects, crafts, recipes, tips, stories, and guest posts along the way - or at least entertained by it all! 

To thank everyone for joining me on my blog journey, and to celebrate 8 years, I'm giving away a $35 gift card (your choice of store as long as I have access to it,  but I'm partial to the crafty ones like Michaels, Joanns, and Hobby Lobby). 

There are a couple ways to enter to win:

• leave your name or a comment here on the blog, please include your name because most of the time it just says 'anonymous' for some reason
• like today's post or leave a comment on the blog facebook page
• text or email me 

You have until 10:00 a.m. EST tomorrow morning (9/17) to enter, I will randomly draw a name and let you know. On your mark, get set, GO!!! Good luck 🙂

PS: I've been getting lots of views from out of the country, probably automated phishing attempts, but just in case there are actual eyes on the blog haha I am limiting entry to the U.S. 

9.16.22: 7 years

9.16.21: blogiversary

9.16.20: 5 Year Anniversary

9.16.19: enter to win

9.16.18: 🔥 week 37

9.16.17: MMDC Turns 2

9.16.16: Celebrate!

9.16.15: first ever post: Sprinkles

9/15 ~ Words (and a heads-up)

Now for the heads-up - guess what tomorrow is? 

One clue: 8 - and I think you're going to want to come to camp 😉

9.15.22: 7 years later...

9.15.21: year 6!

9.15.20: strawberry cheesecake poke cake

9.15.19: 🔥week 37

9.15.18: when your sister blogs for you...

9.15.17: wall decoration by Brooke

9.15.16: first year blog anniversary 

My Sis Tried It: Tortilla Pizza

Well, I tried something. To be honest, it is probably something that everyone in the world has already tried, but not me! let me go back a little. 

I went to stay with Mickey when she had her baby and one day for lunch she got out all of the stuff to make tortilla pizza. She had healthy tortillas, sauce, fresh mozzarella, and spinach. I don’t know why I have never made this before, but it was delicious! I thought this would be a great thing for me to make at home especially with me working from home every day. This was something that I could easily make, was very cheap, and pretty darn healthy! So that said, I got back home, and I bought all of the ingredients and decided to make it myself. Again, I know everyone in the world has been making these, but I decided today to try it. 

I chose low-carb tortillas because they only had 70 cal and I did end up loving the way it crisped up. I got squeezable sauce to make it easy, feta cheese, spinach, turkey pepperoni (no idea why Mickey was missing such important ingredients. Lol.) I then added jalapeños and a little tiny bit of low-fat mozzarella on the top. I baked it for 10 minutes at 350 and have to say it was amazing. I’ll be definitely eating this again! (Catching up to the rest of the world apparently). Haha. If you are like me, give it a try! 

9.14.22: camping rag wreath

9.14.21: TT - truck bed organizer (short person solution!)

9.14.20: cake topper

9.14.19: 4th Anniversary

9.14.18: how to use a Big Shot 

9.14.17: road trip - S. Dakota

9.14.16: pina colada cupcakes

Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash

I don't love traditional breakfast foods and usually eat leftovers, sometimes a salad of arugula tossed with a little olive oil and a poached egg, or bread with cheese if I'm desperate hahaha. I was thinking this morning that I should find some actual breakfast ideas to have on hand (actually my thought was that I should eat more like a grown-up LOL), so I asked Mr. Google for some suggestions for healthy cereal or whatever and came across a recipe at Healthline for Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash and even tho it isn't traditional cereal I loved the idea and immediately made it. They suggest serving it with a fried egg and avocado slices, for today I just ate the hash alone - and it's great! I did not follow their exact recipe using hot paprika and garlic powder, and I didn't bake it as they directed (425' for 20 minutes, 500' for another 20) but my version turned out great so I'm sharing my way; click here to see the original video recipe. 

• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into small cubes (you can leave the skins on if you like)
• chopped sweet potatoes, cut into similar size of the potato cubes
• 1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• coarse salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 400'. Toss the sweet potato with a little olive oil and spread out on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Add the chopped peppers and garbanzo beans, drizzle with a little more oil, season with salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, stirring once, continue to bake until the peppers and potatoes are done to your liking. I'm not sure the potatoes needed the 10 minute head start, next time I'll cook everything together from the get-go.

This makes quite a bit, tomorrow I'll have it again with an egg on top and update with another picture. I'm also going to try it with a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar because I know it's amazing on the roasted peppers so I bet it'll be good with the sweet potatoes and garbanzo beans!

9.13.22: TT table covering

9.13.21: chocolate cola cupcakes

9.13.20: 🔥 week 37

9.13.19: MSIH - zucchini breads

9.13.18: card with gift holder 

9.13.17: road trip - Mt. Rushmore

9.13.16: wine cork keychain

Tip-sy Tuesday: Microwaving Corn

I usually microwave a couple/three ears of corn by removing the husks and silk, wrap individual ears in saran wrap and microwave for a couple minutes. At least I did it that way until Ginny told me about how she makes microwave corn and it's genius! I honestly have no idea why this works but it does.

Cut around stem end thru the husk (but don't cut off the stem). Leave the silk end and the husks on. Don't cover, microwave 4 minutes per ear. Remove from microwave, pull cob out by using the stem as a handle (use a paper towel or pot holder to hold if it's too hot to handle). The cob comes out of the husk clean and free of cornsilk. Amazing. 

Ginny sent me this picture that shows how to cut thru the husk right before the stem end (see the bottom ear of corn in this pic): 

9.12.22: dust if you must

9.12.21: 🔥 week 37

9.12.20: sausage and potato soup

9.12.19: lemon zucchini bread

9.12.18:  how to make 'perfect' cheesecake

9.12.17: road trip - eclipse hunting

9.12.16: wood canister holder (junkin' with Candy)

Make a Hem Guide

When making the bobble stitch and flannel blanket for Georgie I wanted to turn the flannel edges under before sewing it to the crocheted front, so made myself an easy 1/2" hem guide to make the hem even all the way around. They sell metal adjustable sliding hem guides but this was a spur-of-the-moment need and I figured I'd just make one quickly. 

For my project I figured turning under 1/2" would be enough, you can change the size of your guide accordingly if you want a deeper hem. I cut a 1/2" strip out of stiff cardboard, set it at the edge of the fabric and folded the edge over so it just covered the cardboard guide, ironed in place making a crisp fold line. Using the guide means the hem will be more consistent than how I usually do it...measure with a ruler and pin, measure a couple more inches and pin, repeat. This was much faster and neater!

 Here - these pics should explain it better than my words, 'cuz goodness knows I'm not always clear haha:

9.11.22: 🔥 week 37

9.11.21: 9/11 20 years

9.11.20: dill pickle dip

9.11.19: zucchini bread

9.11.18: blueberry sauce

9.11.17: "sweet" candy gift

9.11.16: 'where were you' lyrics

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 37)

Dear Campers ~

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

Posts ~

9/3: 🔥 week 36

9/4: happy labor day '23

9/5: TT cleaning an RV shower track

9/6: hot cream cheese dip

9/7: insect repelling sachets

9/8: philly cheesesteak inspired sandwiches

9/9: words

What's Cooking  ~

• chicken tortellini with mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes in alfredo sauce
• grilled bbq ribs, mashed potatoes, chopped kale salad (kit)
• marinated pork loin, gnocchi with tomatoes and parmesan, roasted asparagus
• steak, creamed spinach, baked steak fries
• baked salmon, parmesan couscous, roasted green beans

Miscellaneous stuff keeping me busy ~

• it's not the end of summer yet, but I planted 2 big black-eyed susan plants in the ground at the campground. For the past couple years I have 2 big pots that I plant with a perennial (last year was lavender, this year I combined black-eyed susans and lantana - lantana is an annual but I wanted something else in the container to compliment the black-eyed susans) and then transplant into the ground at the end of the season figuring I was going to throw them out in the fall so I'm giving them a chance to grow if they want to. The lavender is doing great and self-seeding, we'll see what the black-eyed susans do. I also cut back all the flowers that have done their thing.
• read 'People We Meet on Vacation' by Emily Henry, an easy and fun beach read about best friends who fall in love. Predictable, but I liked the characters and the story - and one of the main characters is named 'Poppy' which is what we called my great-niece Georgia before she was born so that made reading the book even more enjoyable hahaha. 

That's it for this week - hope you'll stop back next week for more projects, recipes, crafts, tips...whatever we think to make at camp! Bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor 

9.10.22: cinnamon roll waffles

9.10.21: flower seed wedding favors

9.10.20: organizing and defrosting the deep freezer

9.10.19: TT how to use a shredding disk 

9.19.18: arm knit afghan

9.10.17: salad in baked meat cups

9.10.16: pineapple upside-down cake cocktails

9/9 ~ Words

have to admit I was a little ditzy on this one - I know the saying is 'do or do not, there is no try'
but when I read this I didn't even get that it's a donut in place of 'do not' and even then I
kept saying it like 'doughnut' - but 'do or doughnut' just didn't make sense LOL. Duh. 

9.9.22: personalized phone case

9.9.21: window signs (paint on old windows)

9.9.20: croissant bread pudding with bourbon sauce

9.9.19: DIY no-sew tutu

9.9.18: 🔥 week 36

9.9.17: wine cork flower holder

9.9.16: chopped champion aprons