My New Job...Volleyball Snack Mom

I know it is strange but I like being the 

"snack mom".

I love the challenge of making a seemingly boring task just a little more fun.

My daughter's High School Volleyball team, played their toughest opponent on Friday

 and I wanted to fill them up with a special snack before the big game...

They each got a "Go Bears" to-go bag, 

to eat in the car during the 45 minute drive.

I enclosed easy, healthy food-

apples, peanut butter, pretzels...

and pasta salad

(in Maroon and Gold school colors, of course!) 

SERVED in take out boxes...

 

 To make enough for 14 takeout boxes I combined

Two 16 oz boxes of cooked rotini pasta 

(spiral shaped to give the ball a little more SPIN)

grape tomatoes halved

1 red, 1 yellow and 1 orange diced bell pepper

one 12 oz block of mozzarella cheese diced

and my secret pasta salad weapon...

I whisked the entire bottle of Brianna's Vinaigrette with 1/2 cup mayonnaise

They played their hearts out and lost a very close match.

 The "Celebration Cookies" I made for the trip home,

quickly turned into "You played a Great Game" Cookies.

If you want to be a snack mom hero,

you have got to make these EASY Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.

They turn out perfectly for me every time...

I mean really, anything with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups makes people happy, right?

Until the next snack...

Go Bears!

I am trying to use my Head this Halloween - $1 Dollar Vases

I need more Halloween Decorations like I need "a hole in the head",

but for $1 I couldn't resist.

I don't think I have ever bought skulls before 

and I knew I wanted to give them a makeover...

With a quick stab with my scissors,

(and a little Halloween dramatic effect)

I made a hole in the top of the head

then a quick shot of spray paint,

they were ready for their close up...

one got a pretty hydrangea "hat"

(and the skull even held water inside!)

and one went for a more succulent look...

These pretty ladies are ready for display on my Dining Room Table...

also on Tatertots and Jello, Monday Funday, Under the Table and Dreaming,  Skip to my Lou, Project Inspired, Homework, Someday Crafts, Shabby Nest, Tidy Mom,  Eighteen25

Pumpkins are out...PumpKINGS are in- A no carve Halloween

Forget Pumpkins,

this Halloween its  all about 

PumpKINGs...

In an effort to uphold my no carve pumpkin oath,

I went a little Memphis with this King...

and quite regal with this one...

Don't believe what they tell you,

Elvis is alive...

"Thank you, Thank you very much"

Isn't it time you added some Royalty to your Halloween?

also on Bloom Designs, Tidy Mom, Shabby Nest, Tatertots and Jello, Be Different Act Normal, Monday Funday, Under the Table and Dreaming,  Skip to my Lou, Project Inspired,  Ginger Jamboree, I gotta create, Its Overflowing, Too Much Time, Pumpkin Parade,  Eighteen25 Made from Pinterest

Dinner is Served! Biscuit Grilled Cheese...

Summer seems like so long ago.

We have been back in school for over a month,

 and it seems like each day is busier than the next.

We are all coming and going at different times and dinner is a constant challenge. 

My daughter plays High School volleyball and when she is finished at night, 

she needs to eat quickly to get started on an evening of homework and studying.

She often gets home well after the rest of us have had dinner and 

while I try to keep her dinner warm,

 I feel like sometimes she needs to feel like she's not getting leftovers-
she needs something made just for her.

Well imagine my thrill when I saw this Pillsbury Recipe that combines her 2 favorite things,

Grilled Cheese and Biscuits!

Quick, easy and amazingly good.

All you need are Pillsbury Biscuits
(I used Pillsbury Grands! Jr.), cheese and vegetable oil...

I used a drinking glass to cut the cheese into circles...

and smashed the biscuits flat with my hand...

a few minutes on the stove and

dinner after Volleyball is SERVED!

Pillsbury has a ton fun dinner ideas, all ready in under 30 minutes.
The Grands! Grilled Cheese Recipe and many others are in their recipe booklet.
Unsloppy Joes, Chicken Pot Pie Puffs or Taco Bake, anyone?
Next time you are in a dinner rut, give one a try and let me know your favorite!

The Recipe Booklet can be downloaded here.

Follow Pillsbury on Twitter and Facebook for other great ideas.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of General Mills. Compensation was provided by General Mills via Clever Girls Collective.


also on Tidy Mom,  Shabby Nest, Monday Funday, Frugal Foodie Momma, Under the Table and Dreaming,  Skip to my Lou, Project Inspired

A California Engagement Party

Kristen and Andrew may live and work in Manhattan,

 but their engagement party was

all about The Golden State.

Parties and showers are being planned in New York,

 so their west coast family wanted to celebrate with a 

California Themed Party.

Casual, "citrusy" and festive,

loads of California fun...

Cutting board favors,

 will let everyone take a little slice of Cali home with them...

Guests were greeted with the signature drink,

The Gold Rush Sparkler

(lemonade and vodka, topped with a splash of champagne 

then garnished with tarragon and lemon peel)

Hydrangea and lavender flower arrangements,

some with whole oranges...

and some sliced...

A Decadent, 

California ONLY Cheese Display...

The Wine Tasting Game, 

matching the wines with places the couple had traveled...

you should have heard the debates!

Then the Pizza Oven arrived as a surprise for Kristen...

and a "slew" of Pizzas were made,

each named after a special place they had been or hope to go...

and a sweet 

Gelato and Sorbet Buffet to end the evening...

Orange you glad

California was the theme?

also on Ginger Jamboree, Homework, Oh My Creative, Someday Crafts, Bloom Designs, Tidy Mom,  Shabby Nest, Tatertots and Jello,  Be Different Act Normal, Monday Funday, Frugal Foodie Momma, Under the Table and Dreaming,  Skip to my Lou, Project Inspired