Author name: aliciadowellAdmin

Adventure, Stories

When your life changes feed your soul.

I am sure you have noticed that I have not been on here for a little while. I am not going to say I have been busy living life, or things have been crazy lately (both true), instead I am about to get real with y’all while feeding my soul. Firstly, I have been deciding if I would continue to blog. When I started my blog, it was a way to share my little family. However, as Glitter Bug has gotten older, I have not been sharing her stories. I had to figure out what I wanted to blog about. I still had ideas, things I wanted to share but I was not sure if how to share them. Instead of tackling the hard subject of do I continue to blog or do I stop, I just stopped doing anything with my blog. Little did I know, my story wasn’t over just changing. My story has been mostly focused on my little family. For a long time, this made my heart happy until I realized I was trying to tell stories weren’t mine.  I had my identity shaped around being a Mom and let the other parts of me fade into the background. When all of this stuff hit, I shut down. It took a little while for me to find out who I am. I will always be a Mother but I am also working on who I am besides a mother. Slowly you will see changes with content and a logo soon. I hope you will stay and share the journey.

Adventure, Sponsored

Wild River Country: A place for Moms and Kids.

FTC DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Wild River Country. All opinions my own. Summer is one of the dreaded seasons in our house. My daughter is an only child and summer makes her miss her friends and seeing other people besides us and family. Vacations are limited because of the nature of Hubby’s job. Instead we hit up places right here in Arkansas. Wild River Country water park is one of our go to places. I remember going to this way back when I was in high school with our church group (y’all this was way back in the day). Now that Glitter is older she enjoys hanging around other people. This works out for me since it also means I get to hang with other moms. A couple of weeks ago I met up with several other moms to enjoy a little event at Wild River Country. I didn’t really know what to expect since it had been years since my last visit. I was not disappointed with what was there. We took advantage of the cabanas which was great. The cabanas have a huge locker to keep your items while you enjoy what the park has to offer. In addition to the locker you will get the use of lounge chairs and shade. This is a plus for me since I burn easy but really there is plenty of shade all over the park. The cabanas are located on the edge of the wave pool. Hands down this was the favorite of Glitter’s locations. She was able to go from just getting feet wet to sitting in a tube letting the waves bobbing her up and down. At first, I was a little worried about her being out there with all the people but the lifeguards are on full alert while on duty. On top of keeping their eyes moving, the training the lifeguards go through is amazing. So, one mom to the next, your little ones are safe. And if the wave pool is a little too much for your little one, there is a splash pad for the younger ones. Now if you child is a daredevil like mine, there are so many slides for them to try out. Glitter brought a friend with her to enjoy the wilder rides since those are not my cup of tea. She was so excited to try out the second red slide, which was just recently named Petit Jean Plummet. Her friend rode the first red one, Pinnacle Plunge. They both agreed this was their second favorite ride. Even a little scary for both of them. Another favorite were the open slides with a couple of covered places. Here is a video of one of their many rides. As they were on all the water rides together, I was able to hang out with one of my mom friends and her little man. This place really is just a great family outing. If you choose one of the cabana packages, food is in included with the rental. I highly recommend doing one of these packages and because it is just a day pass it is not super expensive. You can choose between hamburger and fries, pizza, chicken strips and fries or hot dog and fries. So, you are able to find something even for the picky eater in your group. Here are the tickets for the tickets packages for Wild River Country. Trust me with this heat, you are going to want to get planning your trip right away. Also, don’t forget your mom friends and make a day out of it.

Adventure, Stories

Year of Determine/Determination

Y’all I have been trying to figure out how to share my one word for 2018. I knew what it was just before the new year hit but I wanted to keep it for  myself for a little while.  Well, it seems I kept it a little longer than I first was planning. As 2017 was winding down, I begin thinking about all the good things which had happened and all the bad. Let’s face it, you have to take the bad with the good. As a whole, 2017 wasn’t a bad year for me personally. However, I felt there were things I could have done but let fall or not follow through. I was determined to not let things fall or not follow through in 2018. Then it was like a light bulb went off. 2018 was going to be my year of determine/determination. This means stepping out of my comfort zone, doing more work on my blog, learning how to get my SEO, and growing more.  Some of these scare me because of what will be required out of me. I am ready to take on the challange to make 2018 a great year. I am excited to share this journey with y’all and see what this year brings.    

Food, Sponsored

Cheesy Loaded Mashed Potatoes

FTC DISCLOSER: This post has been sponsored by Ricos Products. All opinions are mine.  We have been making some changes with supper these days. As our Glitter Bug gets older she has really developed a interest in cooking. She loves to do even the simple things like wash veggies or get everything set out to get started cooking. This week I thought it would neat to have her help decide what we were going to cook. She has been watching cooking videos on Facebook and found one she thought would be neat to try. After spending about thirty minutes looking for the video, she remembered it had lots of cheese, bacon and sour cream. I knew this was the perfect time to use Ricos cheese sauce. We have been using these products for a long time. I love how they can be found at my local Wal-Mart. This also means picking up a couple of cans to have in my pantry will not break the bank. Trust me, you are going to want to go grab a couple. On top of being a great price, the condensed cheddar cheese has 50% more product when mixed right. Who wouldn’t want to stretch your dollars?? Plus, I didn’t feel guilty about using this product since there is no hydrogenated oil and it is trans fat free.   We were on a mission to make some amazing Loaded Cheesy Mashed Potatoes. Glitter washed the potatoes while I got the water ready. Y’all, cooking with your child is amazing! Seeing her face light up and seeing her work so hard toward a goal made it all worth while. As the potatoes finished and got mashed, we added sour cream, bacon and of course cheese.   Once everything was mixed together the cheesy loaded mashed potatoes looked so much better. This was a home run at my house. Plus it was so simple to make.   Cheesy Loaded Mashed Potatoes; 6 potatoes, washed and peeled 8 ounces sour cream 1/2 cup to 1 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled 1 15 ounce can of condensed Ricos cheddar cheese sauce Boil potatoes until soft. As potatoes are boiling, follow directions on cheese to make the cheese sauce. Smash potatoes until all are mashed. Add the sour cream, bacon, salt, pepper and cheese sauce. Mix until blended well. Serve hot! I hope this is a hit like it was for us.  

Adventure, Stories

Top Five Podcasts for All Day Listening

I will be the first to admit I am behind when it comes to discovering new things but right now I am really enjoying Podcasts. I am sure you already know what those are but just in case, podcasts are a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.  Since starting my new job, I have found myself listening to podcasts more often. Most days, I listen to about four hours. This means there have been a few gems I have found. Boss Girl Creative: “. Its focus: to teach the whys, hows and whats of blogging, business and being a creative entrepreneur.” Y’all Taylor has helped out so much for so many people. She is the one to talk to if you are serious about getting your blog/website off the ground. And she is a wonderful SEO helper. https://www.bossgirlcreative.com/ Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories: “Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories is a podcast drama with a modern twist on old time radio that delves into the mystery of true cold cases and unsolved murders. ” https://www.parcast.com/unsolved/ Historical Figures: Big Lives. Little-known Facts. Great, unknown stories hide inside history—every Wednesday, we dig up what you don’t know about the icons you do know. https://www.parcast.com/history/ Myths and Legends: “This show brings you folklore that has shaped our world. Some are incredibly popular stories you think you know, but with surprising origins. Others are stories that might be new to you, but are definitely worth a listen.” https://www.mythpodcast.com/ Lore: “SOMETIMES THE TRUTH IS MORE FRIGHTENING THAN FICTION” http://www.lorepodcast.com/ These are my favorite right now. There are a couple of more worth mentioning. Fictional (by the same guy who does Myths and Legends), The Most Wonderful Wonder (I binged these until there were no more. They are taking a little break so there will not be more for a while.), True Crime Obsessed (if you are not one for language then steer clear but these two hosts are funny.), S-Town (LANGUAGE!! This podcast is from the same people who brought you Serial. This is about a guy from a small southern town and how he moves through life and what he shares about the crap town he lives in. )   Do you have any favorite podcasts? Please share with us!

Food, Stories

Baked Cheese Tortellini

Lately I have been a in funk with dinners. There are a few which are always a hit with us but after a while even they are getting a little stale. So off to Pinterest to try to find something new. After about ten minutes of scrolling one popped out: Baked Cheese Tortellini. If y’all know me, you know I find like three or four and end up making my own and this one was any different. So here we go with the recipe. Baked Cheese Tortellini 1 bag of frozen cheese tortellini 1 jar of marina (I used some I canned this summer) 1 yellow onion 1 can 15 oz can of crushed tomatoes (I used some I canned this summer) Mozzarella for topping Chop the onion and cook until softened. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small baking dish place the cheese tortellini, marina, onion, and crushed tomatoes and mix well.  Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 35 minutes. Serve hot. Y’all this was a HUGE hit with my family. I didn’t even get a picture before they dug in. I promise to make this again soon and get a picture. (It was requested again this week and I made a bigger pan to have left over.)  They enjoyed it so much. Next time I am thinking about adding some bacon because Hubby and Glitter are all about some meat. If you give this a try please let me know! Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Crafts, Stories

DYI Christmas Fabric Canvas

I have been discovering or I should say rediscovering my love of crafting. It has been fun to diving back in and the best part is Glitter Bug has been finding out she loves to craft as well. We recently made Christmas fabric covered canvas. This is such a simple craft and doesn’t take forever. Here is what you will need: Canvas (whatever size you want) Christmas Fabric Modpodge Scissors First you need to pick what fabric you want to use. I saw this blue and silver at my local store and knew it had to come with me. It is perfect because most of my Christmas decor is blue and silver. This goes all the way back to the first tree my Husband and I had together. We decided to go with our wedding colors and those colors have just stayed for the last 11 years. How cute is this fabric? Those reindeer just make me swoon.  I ironed the fabric to keep the lines out. The best way I found to cut this down to size was to lay on the wrong side of the fabric and cut a little extra.  Much easier to work with. This is were I painted the front side of the canvas with mod podge to get the fabric to stick. As you can see once you cut the fabric down, it is so easy to wrap around the canvas. The final product turned out pretty good. I went with the 8 by 10 canvas because I plan on doing several to make a little holiday display. Glitter Bug wanted to do one with me and picked out this fun gingerbread pattern. She has also decided to make one for our next door neighbor. (The only one who is not our family.) Are you planning any crafts for this Holiday Season? Share in the comments!

Crafts, Stories

Pumpkin Spice Crochet Lapgan

As September winds down, I am dreaming of fall. Which means I am crocheting more and always looking for a new pattern. Pinterest is where I find a lot of the patterns to keep my busy while still letting me have some creative time.  Some time last year, I found this great pattern. At first I was not too sure about making this because I have trouble reading patterns which are not super easy but continued to give it a try. I am sure glad I did. The lapgan is perfect to take hunting with me to keep the tops of my legs warm or even to cover my feet in the winter. Just ask Hubby my feet can get ice cold. This would also make a great gift since it doesn’t take too long to make.            Don’t forget to check out the pattern here.

Crafts, Stories

Three Little Pumpkins

Labor Day usually means Fall is just around the corner. If you have been in a craft store in the last couple of weeks, I can tell you the fall items are out as well as Christmas. However, the fall items make me so happy. I love the the cooler temperatures and the rapid approach of the holidays.  Also all the crafts which go with this season. (September through December) I recently got a chance to make some cute little pumpkins. I saw these on Pinterest and thought they were too cute not to try. The idea of painting the pumpkins was a little scary since I am not really a painter but really do like to paint. So I started out with three simple wine glasses from Dollar Tree. These were only $1 each so they didn’t break the bank. I painted bottom part orange to make the pumpkin. It took three coats to get the coverage I wanted.   The green part only took two coats to get the coverage I wanted but I added one more coat to make it even with the bottom part. I have issues with things not being even.    The final part was to paint the faces on the orange. I tried to draw the faces on but found out very quickly drawing would not work. This meant I had to just free style the faces. I will have to say not too shabby for my first time free styling faces.    Aren’t they cute?!?! I am happy how they turned out. I did end up sticking candles on top so they would work as a centerpiece. They also went to my county fair this past week and I won 2nd place out of Halloween centerpieces. Are you crafting anything?? Share in the comments!

Adventure, Camping, Stories

Lake Dardanelle and the Great Fish Escape

A couple of weeks ago we got to break away and go camping. This was the first time we were about to take Blue Rose (go check out the post about our new to us pop up camper) out just the three of us. With just the three of us the pop up camper was just the right size. We finally got a chance to go to Lake Dardanelle State Park after having to cancel once before when I broke my toe. Now we had no idea besides fishing and swimming there was to do at this park. When we checked in at the Visitor Center, the exhibits were very cool. Of course, Glitter Bug went straight the fish ones and got very excited to see all the different fish. We spent a good half hour looking at all the fish and trying to figure out what each fish was. There is a screen with one of the tanks telling you the differences between each fish. We also stumbled up the bees they have beside the indoor outlook where you can watch the birds. Both sides were open where you could watch the bees working hard.  I thought it was neat that they had an up-close picture of the Queen. We got lucky and found the Queen bee of this hive. As we turned to head to the camp site, Glitter Bug found the turtle exhibit. You are allowed to pick up the turtles if you stay over the water. This was fun to see Hubby and Glitter both get excited about playing with the turtles. We finally left to go get our home for the next couple of days set up.   Fishing was on tap for first thing in the morning before it got to too hot. No fishing for me, but Glitter Bug and Hubby were set to catch as many fish as they could. Glitter Bug was the first one to get a bite. I wish I had videoed her reaction. She was laid out just waiting and then all the sudden she got a fish to bite. She jumped up faster than I thought was possible on rocks and started freaking out because the fish almost snatched the pole out of her hands.   We got her to settle down and she started to work on getting the fish to shore. She kept telling us: “Grandpa says to keep the tip of the pole up. I have to keep it up.” I just about lost it laughing but managed to keep it together telling her to keep reeling the fish in. Finally, we get a glimpse of what kind of fish she is fighting and wouldn’t you know it was a good size catfish. Hubby reminded her to take your time so the fish won’t fight you. She told him to hurry up and get over to grab the fish and line. As he went to grab the line the fish gave one final jerk and was free. Glitter threw her pole down heading the grab the catfish only to have the fish flick his tail and swim out of reach. It wasn’t long after the great fish escape fishing was over and we were off to our next adventure.  However, that is another story for another time.

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