Labor Day Weekend Round-up

Labor Day weekend means food, BBQs, swimming, music and fun!

It also means the end of summer. Maybe not the end of the heat but definitely the end of long days, swimming, and relaxed schedules. Growing up, it was the last weekend of swimming and BBQs before we went back to school. It also meant packing up all my white accessories – purses, shoes, etc. The weather starts to cool down. It's time to get back in a routine. Of course, it’s a little different now – my kids went back to school weeks ago, I don’t own a white purse, and I’m not sure if El Paso has gotten the “it’s time to cool down” memo yet – but Labor Day still symbolizes the end of summer. I plan to enjoy the last days of summer this weekend and indulge in all things summer.

If you’re headed to a BBQ or if you’re having one at home, here are some great recipes you might want to consider….

No BBQ is complete without hamburgers and hot dogs. If you’re looking to take your burger up a notch, I highly recommend this In-N-Out inspired hamburger recipe from Rachael Ray. I loooooove this hamburger recipe!

I’m in-charge of dessert (as usual) for the cookout we have planned with friends on Labor Day. I’m planning to bring this Lemon Freeze Pie. I doubled the recipe and made a tweek to the ice cream/lemonade concentrate ratio. I used one carton of vanilla ice cream mixed with one container of concentrated lemonade for two pies.

And I’ll be enjoying my favorite summertime drink for the last time (maybe) until next summer.

“Drunken Pink Lemonade” (Is what I call it!)

8 oz Lemonade (I use Simply Lemonade)

1 oz of vodka

1 oz of Chambord

Combine and stir the above in a glass over ice. So refreshing and delicious! But, be warned, these go down a little too easy…so be careful! 

And, of course, music! This weather makes me want to go on a long drive, roll down my windows and blast some tunes. Unfortunately, that won’t fly with my kids. Instead, I’ve been listening to happy and “breezy” music. I’ve been hooked to Regina Spektor lately. I like her music and voice anytime but there is something about it that really agrees with these last long evenings of summer. Here’s one of my favorite songs. For some odd reason, it just makes me feel summer. 

Hope you have a great and safe holiday weekend!

Teacher Survival Kits

Last weekend, the kids and I put together Teacher Survival Kits for their teachers. There are many ideas and options floating around on the Internet and Pinterest.

Here’s what our kits included:

Two Via instant coffee packs from Starbucks

Two tea bags of green tea

One package of dry erase markers

Post-it Flag-plug highlighter with post-it tabs

Post-it notes

Gum

Lipgloss

Some cookies and crackers

Custom-made bookmark, decorated by the kids

I used the templates for the bookmark and envelope note here. I printed them out, glued the note to the outside of the envelope, and had the kids decorate the bookmark. After they decorated the bookmark, I used self-laminating sheets to laminate the bookmark.

 

It’s a fun idea for the first day of school. Unfortunately, I was about two weeks late for Sienna’s first day of school. Still, early or late, the teachers seemed to really like it.

I like to be a blessing to teachers, especially those working in the public school system. Teaching is a tough job. I know I could never do it. And, unfortunately, it seems too many parents make the teacher’s job harder, instead of easier.

Plus, I like this idea because it gives the kids a chance to appreciate their teachers, too.

"Let us decide on the route that we wish to take to pass our life, and attempt to sow that route with flowers."

— Madame du Chatele

For the Dog Days of Summer

It’s been hot, very, very hot.

So hot that my children have been walking around the house with wet washcloths on their foreheads.

I’m only telling you this to justify why we’ve eaten about four gallons of ice cream in the past few weeks. I’ve been eating ice cream every day and a few times I had it twice. Hey, a girl has got to survive this heat somehow!

The other reason we’ve been eating so much ice cream is because I discovered the yummiest sundae topper. I can’t get enough of it. It’s a lot like Magic Shell but without the chemicals and scary stuff and tastes a whole lot better.

Homemade Dark Chocolate Shell

½ c of Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate

2 tablespoons of coconut oil

In a bowl, melt the chocolate and coconut oil in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and microwave for another 30 seconds. Pour over ice cream and let it harden for about 2 minutes. Add sprinkles and viola!

Makes enough for about four sundaes, half or double the recipe if you need more or less. Also, it keeps for a few days after you melt it, but don’t refrigerate it.

Last week, I made it with Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream and it tasted like an ice cream version of a YORK Peppermint Patty. It was so refreshing.

Hope this helps you stay cool through these "Dog Days" of summer. Fall is almost here!