Maybe Monday Guard dog!

Maybe has never been a fan of other dogs on her lawn, mostly because she wants to play with them! Normally we do not encourage such behavior but it was too funny to not snap a photo.

Please Subscribe and have a Happy Monday!

5 Ingredient Baked Potato Soup

Since discovering the recipe a few years ago it has easily been our fall and winter favorite. It is so easy to make and makes you want to snuggle up with a book by the fire. While it is not the most healthy dish there are some substitutions that you can make to have it be a little kinder to your waistline.

Ingredients

2 - 103/4 ounce cans cream of potato soup

2 - 15 ounce cans sliced potatoes, drained

1 pint whipping cream (or substitute half and half)

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheddar

Toppings

I always add bacon bits and green onions!

Pour soup, potatoes, whipping cream and milk into a dutch oven or ungreased casserole dish. Mix well. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes. Ladle into serving bowls and top with cheese and other goodies!

Makes 6 servings

Good Luck!

Bacon the Easy Way

I am super clumsy and when it comes to cooking God's most precious food, bacon, I always splash the grease and get burned. So a while ago I started baking my bacon. It is way easier. The cleanup takes seconds and I no longer get burned. Here is how I do it. (Be sure to subscribe and find out what I put my bacon bits on)

I knew that I would be baking this for bacon bits so I bought a little lower quality package then I normally would, but it turned out great.

Maybe was very interested in what I was working on that day. This is the one bad thing about such a tall dog. It is all in plain sight.

Super easy... just cover a cookie sheet in foil and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes depending on your taste. 

Done!

Good Luck!

Maybe Monday... Irish Spring Fresh!

After a recent trip to Costco I was restocking out bathroom with goodies.. I finished up and came out of the bathroom to find my little soap thief. I guess she wanted to smell Irish Fresh... silly dog. 

Have a happy Monday. Don't forget to subscribe!

DIY Laundry Soap

I have tried a few different laundry soap recipes and this is by far the best. There is no boiling soap, it works great in HE Washers and a full batch is right around $15.  This is my second time using this recipe. In October 2012 I made a half batch and I just ran out this week. That is almost one year of laundry for under $8! It smells great and cleans really well.

Ingredients can all be found in your laundry aisle

1 - 4lb 12 ounce box of Borax 

1 - 3lb 7 ounce box of Arm and Hammer washing soda

1 - 3lb container of OxyClean

2 bars of Fles-Naptha soap (Zote soap works great too)

1 - 4lb Box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

2 Bottles of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener (this is mostly for the yummy scent. I like strongly scented laundry but if you are sensitive to scents you could use less or omit this ingredient) I chose the Fresh Spring Waters scent this time and I love it!

The strange thing about this recipe is grating the bar of soap. It looks just like cheese, but definitely is not. If you care about how it will look in the end use Zote soap. It is baby pink and has a less umm... cheddar-y appearance.

Then you just combine all of the ingredients and you are good to go!

(this is another half batch so you can only imagine how much a full batch makes!)

I put a few cups into a small cookie jar for a more manageable size and use the lid from the Purex as a cute scooper. For my HE washer I literally only use 2-3 Tablespoons of this stuff and it works great!

Happy washing! Don't forget to subscribe to my email posts and leave a comment down below. 

Good Luck!

Maybe Monday: Camping!

We went camping this weekend with our extended family and our great dane Maybe played so much that she has been asleep ever since. She loves running around and getting a lot of attention from our family ( and other campers).

Trying to steal my parents dog, Oakley's stick...

Caught in the act digging up our campsite.

It was a super fun weekend! Subscribe and come back soon!

How to Paint Furniture Without Sanding!

My living room has been feeling a little matchy-matchy since we moved in. Not having the money to buy new furniture has helped my be creative with what I have starting with an end table. It has a matching partner and a matching coffee table. Time to give it a little life.

This photo was my color inspiration. My house is primarily gray with pops of teal, so I was brave an decided to go for sunshine yellow.

This is my end table before. Pretty standard mission style end table.

And here are my supplies... notice NO SAND PAPER!

1. a small foam roller

2. Pain brush (not shown)

3. Behr Paint Sample in Citrus ($2.97)

4. Zinsser Primer

5. Polycrylic Top Coat

The primer is the most important step. I should have primed twice. Be sure that the surface is opaque white before painting, especially if it is going to be a light color.

 You can see here that after one coat it was not totally covered. I could have saved paint if I would have gone over it with another coat of primer, but hey... you live and learn. The primer did not bubble or peel at all. It was a huge time saver to not have to sand.

Next was painting! Behr samples only come in flat, but the protective clear coat at the end will give it some gloss and make it easy to wipe spills off of.

 After two coats of paint and two coats of topcoat this is what you get!

 I like the little pop it added to the room!

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Maybe Monday

Since I imagine most people talk about their kids are their blog I will too... The difference being most people's kids do not outweigh them by 30 pounds at age two... I therefore declare this Maybe Monday!

Maybe is a harlequin great dane and our first family dog.  She definitely lives up the great dane description of gentle giant.

We bought her this toy over a year ago and it is one of the few that has stood the test of time. Most toys only last about a week at the most. It is called the Everlasting Treat Ball and while it is a little pricey(I think I paid around $30), the flexible rubber does not flake into a million pieces. Plus when you are feeling extra generous to your pup you can fill it with treats and it keeps them happy and busy for a LONG time.

Have a great Monday and come back soon!

Mary Kay Haul

I recently received a box full of goodies from Mary Kay and while most of it was for my loyal customers, a good portion was for my own stash. Some of the products are brand new to me and some are my MK favorites.

So this is all of the things I bought for myself...

First off is one of my FAVORITES... MK Foundation Primer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF15 I cannot say enough good things about this primer. I have tried some drug store brands but nothing even comes close. It is a clear gel and has the silkiest texture that I love using. I put it on under all my makeup and it helps keep concealer from creasing and gives an airbrushed look to any foundation, mineral powder, or BB Cream. It also has sunscreen, so it is that extra layer of protection, which with my fair complexion is a must. You may be seeing this in a upcoming giveaway so be sure to check back soon.

One of the new products I am trying is the MK Makeup Finishing Spray made by Skindinavia (the same company that makes Urban Decays setting sprays. I have only used it a few times and so far so good. I primarily use mineral powder foundation and it seems to help it not look so powdery and just blend in with my skin's texture better.

 MK Brow Gel and Cream Eye Colors are a must. I love them both. This eye color is in Pale Blush... a nice subtle pink.

Below is MK Lash Primer... I have tried this once without much success but I love long lashes without falsies so I am going to experiment with it. My friends who use it swear by it so I think I just need to play some more.

I was in the market for a new cleanser so I decided to go more high end and try the TimeWise Repair volu-firm Foaming Cleaner. It is super luxurious feeling and promises to reverse signs of aging... while that is not a huge issue for me in my late twenties I do love the way it takes off all my makeup and leaves my skin super soft.

MK Mineral Foundation.... I love this. It works the same for me as Bare Minerals did at a fraction of the price. I actually bought two because I never want to be without it

Whew... last two are new things that I am liking so far but have only used for a few days. First the MK Oil Mattifer. I have developed very oily skin since moving to a new climate and will be trying this under my foundation to help me stay matte. And a new night time treatment/serum the TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol.

That is everything for now.Check out all these products and more at http://www.marykay.com/calynn.kelly. 

Calynn

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