Just a Swingin'

This is my lovely Mommy on the swing at my sisters house! It was taken awhile ago, but when I read what the theme was (twirl or swing) this week it immediately came to mind! 

With Laughter and Love,

KatySue

Water

This weeks theme is water and I was despairing of what on earth I could take a picture of considering the most exciting water related thing that happened to me this week was the potties in my classroom finally flushing correctly because they took them out and put them back in to put the awesome new floors in my room!!! 

Before old, scratched linoleum....

.....after beautiful wood, well fake wood, but still, it's a vast improvement, makes the classroom feel much more homey and it make me smile every time I look at the floor!

Anywhoodle, back to the reason for this post, my Mom and I were out and about and stopped for an iced coffee in our adorable town square, then we sat right in front of this fountain, and you were all saved from a picture of a tiny toilet flushing! ;-)

With love and laughter,

KatySue

Worth the Hype?

Alrighty ladies, let's talk about something ubber exciting, shall we?

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You ready?

(on a side note, am super sad that this show is over, but really did like the ending!)

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Lets talk oatmeal!! 

More specifically the creamy, wonderful magic that is overnight oats! I had been seeing recipes for it around Pinterest for awhile now, and the idea of a healthy, on the go meal was intriguing. But not being  a yogurt fan none of them caught my attention, yogurt being the main ingredient besides oats. Then I saw a few that took soy/coconut/almond milk and the wheels in my head started turning!

I combined and experimented and came with a basic recipe and some flavor combos that I and my whole family love!

Basic Overnight Oats

3/4 cup old fashioned oats

1/2 cup milk of your choice

1-2 Tablespoons honey

1 splash vanilla

Pinch of salt

Put all of the above in a pint mason jar, put the lid on and shake, shake, shake, until well combined then let it sit in the fridge overnight and get ready for a fantastic on the go breakfast!

*White Chocolate Chai

Add the following to the basic recipe:

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon cloves

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cardamom

1 Tablespoon white chocolate chips

*Peanut Butter Cherry

Add the following to the basic recipe:

1 Tablespoon nut butter of your choice

Splash almond extract

Chopped fresh cherries

Add the cherries after you've shaken the oats, or even the next morning!

*Triple Berry

Add the following to the basic recipe:

1 tablespoon white chocolate chips

1 tablespoon raspberry jammy bits (buy here)

Fresh blueberries and blackberries

Add everything but the fresh fruit in before you shake then top with the berries!

Notes

*Old fashioned oats are best, the steel cut stay to hard (like eating birdseed, yuck!) and the quick oats turn to mush.

*I use whole milk, but fat free woks as well, the finished product just isn't as creamy and chocolate milk is pretty fantastic as well!

*I've let these sit anywhere from 5-14 hours and they are good. just as long as you use the old fashioned oats!

*Not just for breakfast, I've been taking them to work for lunch!

*The flavor combos are pretty endless, pear or peaches in the chai would be good. Or I'm already planning on a pumpkin spice for fall and an eggnog version for Christmas!

Let me know how your oats turn out and I'd love to hear about any fun flavors you come up with!

With love and laughter,

KatySue

Colorful!

Week three of the challenge is colorful and I think this picture fits the bill pretty well!

Wednesday was my two year anniversary at work and that called for a celebratory stop at Target for some sparkly nail polish, a cake pop and a black tea-mango-lemonade, which was pretty good! Plus, how cute are the summer Starbucks cups?

With laughter and love,

KatySue

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Our town had it's first 4th of July parade this year and while it was small, it was still pretty neat!

We had Uncle Sam.....

which also is my picture of the week as the theme was patriotic!

James K. Polk, who lived in our town for a few years when he was collage age!

I love our downtown, and would not mind at all living in a place like this one day!

Mmm, fresh peaches from the farmers market, we also got some cherry lime and spicy caramel popcorn! 10lbs may not seem like much to carry, but the awkward way I had to carry the basket and the 1/2 mile back to the car it I'm pretty sure the basket gained a few pounds.....

My patriotic manicure!

Us kids got to set off some smoke bombs during a break in the rain midafternoon

Colleens first time lighting fireworks!

I told them to stand like cool ninjas.....

Megan, Shawn, Hannah and Lizzie got here around 1pm and I told Hannah to smile and she said, "Aunt TayTay, I make cheeeese!"

Brownie pie with toasted marshmallow icecream, it the perfect summer dessert!

The local fireworks show was still on in spite of the rain and it was a great show!

Hope your 4th of July went well and it was filled with food, friends, family and fun!

With laughter and love,

KatySue