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Sunday, December 31, 2017

Most Popular Posts of 2017

Happy New Year!  Wishing you a blessed 2018.  We appreciate your stopping by our little family blog and visiting us throughout the year.

  Also, we know each of you are busy with family, careers, responsibilities, etc. but if you would like to follow us on our social media accounts or even sign up for our newsletter (usually only 2 newsletters per month) Staci, Ali Rose, and I would sure be happy!


We want to share with you our Most Popular Posts of 2017. Those would be the ones that you, our readers, visited the most!

Reasons Why I Scrapbook.  This is our most popular post ever!  I love to scrapbook and Staci does, too.  I started this hobby when my oldest was a Senior in high school, as one of his graduation gifts.  I have made one for each child since and also have a family scrapbook.  It has great memories, photos, and is even part of our family history.  Staci has since begun scrapbooks for little Parker and will be making one for Oakli, once she makes her appearance anytime now.




This post is from a Halloween costume idea I had many years ago (and so is the photo).  Football Halloween Costumes were a great costume for our family of 5 boys and Staci as the cheerleader.  Not sure where the oldest 2 boys were when I took this photo....


Old-fashioned Thanksgiving Stuffing is a recipe from my husband's great-grandpa, who owned a diner in Payson, Utah many years ago.  The original recipe we were given had NO amounts for the ingredients so I just play it by ear..., um...taste?  It is very good!
  

Sugar cookies are so good and fun to make for holidays (Valentines, Easter, Halloween, Christmas) and we love this Bakery-style Sugar Cookie Icing recipe.  Tasty and easy!


Two Chicks and a Mom are Brand Ambassadors for Oriental Trading and Staci shared OT's products for her Christmas Decor this year.  They always have the cutest items.

















Our Most Popular post this week has been this recipe from Ali Rose.  We will be making this tonight for New Year's Eve--Make Your Own Orange Julius.



Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great 2018!


Thursday, December 28, 2017

Funtastic Friday Link Party 159 and Festive Food

 Funtastic-Friday-Poster 600

 How was your Christmas?  We had food, family, and fun!  Now, onto New Year's and 2018!  Do you make New Year's Resolutions?  I kinda, sorta do lol.  I will be finishing up my Master's degree by April so need to start looking for a faculty or Wellness RN position.  Ali Rose will be graduating from high school and starting college. Oh, but before any of that, Staci will bring a new little girl into our family--soon!  I guess those aren't really resolutions--most likely going to happen one way or another.

Funtastic Friday 159 Link PartyWe're looking for bloggers to help host the Funtastic Friday link party. If you're interested, get in touch with me or one of the other party hosts. 

I wanted to share a few recipes from last week's party that might be nice to try for your New Year's celebration:

Creamy Apple Mock-tini by Playdates to Parties.

The creamy apple mock-tini #recipe is the perfect easy green mocktail for #kids during the #holiday season. Kids love that this drink is full of surprising flavors, but would you drink it?

 Cooking on the Front Burners  shared a White Chocolate and Peppermint Popcorn recipe. 

               

Our very own Easy Peasy Pleasy shares a recipe for Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps--yum!   
                                        

 Ali Rose from Two Chicks and a Mom shared a Orange Julius recipe sure to please!
 

Cajun Shrimp Dip by Cooking with Carlee.

 

 Now onto our link party!

Meet the Funtastic Friday 159 Link Party Hosts

We would love it if you followed us on social media. Funtastic Friday Party Hosts
MOST VIEWED
Learn how to make homemade peppermint soap then add them to this pampering gift in a jar!
HOST FAVORITES
Snowman Sugar cookies
Debra's favorite - Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe and Decorating Ideas @ The Jenny Evolution
peppermint hot cocoa
Heidi's favorite - White Peppermint Hot Chocolate @ Dukes and Duchesses
Learn how to make homemade peppermint soap then add them to this pampering gift in a jar!
Sherry's favorite - Peppermint Soaps and Bath Salts Gift in A Jar @ The Country Chic Cottage

Cristy's favorite - Making Spirits Bright Holiday Gift Cart @ Giggles Galore
Mint Chocolate Shortbread Snowflakes | DizzyBusyandHungry.com - Delicious shortbread in snowflake shapes with a hint of mint flavor, drizzled with chocolate and garnished with crushed Cool Mint Oreos.
Donna's favorite - Mint Chocolate Shortbread Snowflakes @ Dizzy Busy and Hungry
Rich and creamy Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese is for dinner! © 2017 COOKING WITH CURLS
Lacie's favorite - Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese @ Cooking with Curls

If you’re linking up and joining the party, please grab a button or link back to Olives & Okra or one of the party hosts (right-click on the image and save the image to your computer): Funtastic-Friday-Link-Party-Thumbnail-150x If you’re a featured blogger, please grab a button to place on your blog (right-click on the image and save the image to your computer): Funtastic-Friday-Featured-Thumbnail1 All features are pinned to Olives & Okra’s Funtastic Friday board.
We will also share your post on social media if sharing buttons are readily available in your post. Help grow the Funtastic Friday link party. 
Disclaimer: By submitting a link to this blog hop, you are giving me permission to share and/or feature your blog post and image on social media and on my blog, Olives & Okra. All links shared will either link back to the blog hop (link party) or to your blog.

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY 159 LINK PARTY RULES

  1. Post as many links as you like
  2. Family friendly posts only
  3. Old posts are welcome
  4. Comments are greatly appreciated
  5. Show fellow bloggers link love




Make Your Own Orange Julius Recipe--Great for Celebrations and New Year's Eve

Hello and we hope that you had a Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a Happy New Year!




For as long as I can remember, my mom has made this recipe on New Years Eve. It's one of my absolute favorites and I think it's so special because we get it once a year! That's okay, though, I don't need this much sugar on a regular basis. I usually have company over for New Year's Eve and my mother makes batch after batch of this stuff for us. Hey, if you only get it once a year, you might as well indulge! Here's the recipe for Orange Julius and I hope you all try and enjoy it!
Great for a hot summer day, too!



Orange Julius--Make Your Own
 
1 six ounce can frozen Orange Juice
1 cup milk (we use 2% but don't know that it matters)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
10-12 ice cubes
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract
 
Place all ingredients in blender--blend on high till smooth.  Pour into glasses and enjoy.  
Thanks for stopping by!

FEATURED 1/24 BY:





Saturday, December 23, 2017

Features from Holiday Link Party 2017

Welcome to the our Features for the Holiday Link Party 2017!  


Make sure to stop by each blog as each hostess chose her own Features.

Keeping It Real shared such a cute printable for GIFT TAGS.

Reindeer Gift Tags - with free printable 
 
Do you, as I do, love the look of the "old" toy trucks in a small Christmas-scape?  Miss Kopy Kat shows us how to make a new toy vehicle look old!
 
 
DIY CHRISTMAS TREES by Laurie at My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies--so cute!
DIY Christmas Trees 
 
I love this!  The Crafty Lumberjacks made this cute Reindeer Nightlight and you can, too!
 

 


Let's face it--I like sweets.  I try to limit them but this time of year is no help.  I do believe I will be making these SNOWBALL PECAN COOKIES by Across the Boulevard.  YUM!
 
Snowball Pecan Cookies Across the Blvd 
 
Thanks to all who joined us in our link party!  It is not easy to choose just a few favorites!
 
MERRY CHRISTMAS!



Thursday, December 21, 2017

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY 158 AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

Funtastic-Friday-Poster 600

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY 158 LINK PARTY

Happy holidays bloggers! Is your shopping finished up?  I only have one gift to buy and that is a pair of pajamas so that will be easy.  I do have more wrapping to do..... We’re looking for a few more bloggers to help us host Funtastic Friday. If you’re interested, get in touch with me or one of the other hosts.


MEET THE FUNTASTIC FRIDAY 158 LINK PARTY HOSTS

We would love it if you followed us on social media. Funtastic Friday Hosts
MOST VIEWED
Christmas gift boxes
HOST FAVORITES
Chocolate combined with peanut butter, is there anything better? These dark chocolate peanut butter cup cookies are my new all time favorite and they will be yours too! #glutenfree #vegan | https://bitesofwellness.com
Debra's favorite - Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies @ Bites of Wellness
Easy 3 Ingredient Cheesecake Christmas Trees at www.easypeasypleasy.com
Cristy's favorite - Cheesecake Christmas Trees @ Easy Peasy Pleasy
Colorful and Festive Christmas Table in the Kitchen
Heidi's favorite - Colorful and Festive Christmas Table in the Kitchen @ Calypso in the Country

Lacie's favorite - Gingerbread Cookie Boxes @ Gluesticks

Donna's favorite - Paper Christmas Tree @ SimpleJoys
This delicious gingerbread hot chocolate is the perfect warm drink to celebrate the holiday season! So creamy and smooth, with a sweet gingerbread flavor!
Sherry's favorite - Gingerbread Hot Chocolate Recipe @ Somewhat Simple

If you’re linking up and joining the party, please grab a button or link back to Olives & Okra or one of the party hosts (right-click on the image and save the image to your computer): Funtastic-Friday-Link-Party-Thumbnail-150x If you’re a featured blogger, please grab a button to place on your blog (right-click on the image and save the image to your computer): Funtastic-Friday-Featured-Thumbnail1 All features are pinned to Olives & Okra’s Funtastic Friday board.
We will also share your post on social media if sharing buttons are readily available in your post. Help grow the Funtastic Friday link party.

Disclaimer: By submitting a link to this blog hop, you are giving me permission to share and/or feature your blog post and image on social media and on my blog, Olives & Okra. All links shared will either link back to the blog hop (link party) or to your blog.

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY 158 LINK PARTY RULES

  1. Post as many links as you like
  2. Family friendly posts only
  3. Old posts are welcome
  4. Comments are greatly appreciated
  5. Show fellow bloggers link love