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!

Funtastic Friday Link Party 159 and Festive Food

 

 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.

 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.

• Sherry @ Olives & Okra | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+ | BL | SU |
• Donna @ Two Chicks and A Mom | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | BL |
• Lacie @ Easy Peasy Pleasy | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | BL |
• Heidi @ Building Our Hive | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |
• Debra @ Life Between the Kitchen and the Coop | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+ | BL | SU | YouTube |
• Cristy @ Happy Family Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |

MOST VIEWED

Peppermint Soaps and Bath Salts Gift in A Jar @ The Country Chic Cottage

HOST FAVORITES

Debra's favorite - Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe and Decorating Ideas @ The Jenny Evolution

Heidi's favorite - White Peppermint Hot Chocolate @ Dukes and Duchesses

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

Donna's favorite - Mint Chocolate Shortbread Snowflakes @ Dizzy Busy and Hungry

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): 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): 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

An InLinkz Link-up

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:

Features from Holiday Link Party 2017

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

Across the Boulevard

My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies

Two Chicks and a Mom

Sew Crafty Crochet

Dazzle While Frazzled

The Boondocks Blog

Stone Cottage Adventures

Purple Hues and Me
Olives-n-Okra 

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.

 

 

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!

 

 

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!

 
 

 

Thanks to all who joined us in our link party!  It is not easy to choose just a few favorites!

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY 158 AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

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.

• Sherry @ Olives & Okra | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+ | BL | SU |
• Donna @ Two Chicks and A Mom | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | BL |
• Lacie @ Easy Peasy Pleasy | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | BL |
• Heidi @ Building Our Hive | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |
• Debra @ Life Between the Kitchen and the Coop | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+ | BL | SU | YouTube |
• Cristy @ Happy Family Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |

MOST VIEWED

Now You See It Holiday Party Game @ Olives & Okra

HOST FAVORITES

Debra's favorite - Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies @ Bites of Wellness

Cristy's favorite - Cheesecake Christmas Trees @ Easy Peasy Pleasy

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

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): 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): 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

An InLinkz Link-up