Lollipops and Family

What opportunities are there for learning and teaching in the home?

A couple Sundays ago I taught a lesson to our youth Sunday School class to go along with the August theme of Marriage and Family.  

I started the lesson with writing "How to be a good friend:" on the board.  I asked the class what they think makes a good friend, qualities or characteristics of their closest friends.  After having the board full of ideas I crossed out the word friend and wrote brother or sister.  Which was met with a lot of groans from the class. haha!

I talked about how important family is and how my siblings are my closest friends and I'm pretty sure they always will be.  We talked about memories that they had of their siblings (which weren't always good) and we talked about how they could learn and teach in those instances.  We also talked about how they could change the negative experiences so they could act differently or learn from them.

The role of the family in God's plan is "to bring us happiness, to help us learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and to prepare us for eternal life."  I asked the youth if they feel this way at home and if they help make home life sweet.  

We then talked about how it would be if they were parents and had children to take care of.  What would be their responsibilities toward their children?  We then read Mosiah 4:14-15.  I then asked if they respect their parents and help them fulfill those responsibilities.

We watched the video "A Heaven-Inspired Program", and talked about the importance of learning the gospel with our families through family scripture study, prayer and family home evening.  

L. Tom Perry said, "Family is the center of life."  Do we treat our family like they are the most important thing?

I asked the youth if they had ever seen the process of a lollipop being made.  I showed them THIS video, and told them that our family is kind of like that.  We each come from the same batch but are individual people.  Sometimes we go through hard times and are pulled and stretched and it can get heated, but at the end of the day we are put together and never separated.  We need to value the different colors and flavors that our siblings and parents bring to the mix of each family.

I challenged the youth to think about a family member that they can serve some way this week.  It didn't have to be a big thing, something little would be perfect.  

For the handout I gave everyone a small lollipop to remind them that they can make life at home sweet by being a good family member!  You can find the lollipops HERE!

If you'd like the free printable of "Family is the center of life." you can find it HERE!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway I have going on this week.  It's a movie night giveaway full of movie, candy and a popcorn machine!  Enter HERE!

This post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are my own. 

Movie Night Giveaway

It's been quite some time since I hosted a giveaway so I thought it was about time to have another!  No matter the season  I am always up for a movie night.  I have a love/hate relationship with the movie theater, but movies at home-I am ALWAYS up for!  

Cuddling up with your sweetie or friends and watching a movie with good popcorn and lots of candy has always been my way of unwinding and unplugging!

A few weeks ago we watched an outdoor movie with our neighbors and they made the BEST popcorn.  Like popped it and everything and it was incredible!  With this giveaway in mind I knew I had to include a popcorn machine.  With lots of my favorite candy perfect for snacking and sharing I'm also including 3 movies!  The Greatest Showman is a must, a love story Safe Haven, and a Star Wars movie for some fantasy and sci fi! 

I'm hoping that no matter what your likes of candy or movie preferences, you'll find something you like in this movie night pack.

 This would also be an awesome date night or girls/guys night in!

Here's how to enter:

-Comment on this post with your favorite treat to eat while watching a movie 

or comment your favorite movie.  

-Please leave your Instagram handle or email address so I can notify you if you win!

It's just that simple!  If you'd like more chances to win:

-Follow me on Instagram, find this picture and tag some friends! 

-Follow me on Pinterest and repin one of my pins.

-Follow me on my Facebook page.

Comment on this post once you've completed any of these for an additional entry.

The more entries the better your chance of winning!

Giveaway will end September 1, 2018 at 8:00 PM MST.  

Winner will be announced September 2,2018.

Must be a US resident to win.

Good Luck!!

This post may contain affiliate links but all opinions are-as always my own.  

I just love to share things I love!

Cake Decorating Day

As you've probably noticed I have been really into baking and decorating cakes.  I have always thought it would be SO fun to have a kids baking camp where I teach how to bake different things and a cake decorating day would just fit perfectly in the schedule.  

Luckily I have the cutest little nieces and nephews that let me throw little parties and humor me. 

It was so fun, even the set up!  Olivia was biting her fingers in anticipation. :)

I made sure to have:  lots of candy, plenty of buttercream, mini cakes pre chilled, paper plates, icing spatulas, aprons, and of course sprinkles.  I asked the kids what their favorite kind of cake was and they insisted on chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.  I made lots of 4 inch cake rounds and used THESE cake pans.

The little bakers did amazing.  

 I started by showing them my tips and techniques then let them take it away.  

Brittany brought some fondant that everyone just loved!

Even though you might say the cakes turned out a bit decorated the kids had so much fun.

Even adorable little Evie got in to it!

She LOVED the sprinkles and putting all her decorations right on the side of the cake.

Brittany made the cutest certificates that I was able to sign and give to each little baker.

Even though Evie doesn't look thrilled in this picture I swear she had fun!

Everyones cake turned out great!

I love how their personalities came out on their cakes.  Adam made a dinosaur cake complete with rocks.  Can you see the dinosaur pushing the fondant rock on the top of his cake?  Genius!

I cut the cake that I decorated for everyone to have a taste and the kids took theirs home to eat with their families later on! 

With the leftover layers of cake I got a little creative!  First I made a Milky Way Cake.

With a perfect caramel drizzle and caramel and Milky Way candy pieces in the center. 

Then I did my favorite a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cake.

I tried the drip method using a spoon and it turned 

out a little thicker then I would've liked but that's ok!

Dallin was laughing so hard at this drip that ran a little too far!  It just goes to show everyone and every cake has it's good side!

This one was by far my favorite.  The chocolate layers with peanut butter frosting, chocolate ganache and peanut butter cup pieces in the middle could not be beat.

Can't wait to have more baking camp days with these cuties!

Coconut Lime Cupcakes

Coconut and lime is an unexpected, but super sweet flavor combination!  The inspiration for this cake comes from the lovely Cake by Courtney and her Coconut Key Lime Pie Cake.  It's a bomb recipe, I just wanted to see if I could make it a tad bit easier.  And to me that means a cake mix!

Baking can already be so tricky and time consuming.  I love to take simple steps to make baking easier and faster.  I've always been known to doctor up cake mixes and make a pretty stellar cake, but I've always followed others recipes.  Until now!

I created this recipe! I'm so grateful for awesome bakers that share their talents and hopefully I can do the same.  Without further ado lets dig in!

I started with a base of a boxed white cake mix and added all the lovely ingredients that made Courtney's cake so fabulous.  I tweaked the amounts, and added a few more things to make sure it would work out just right.  I even added the graham cracker crust and lime curd filling to wow the guests at the baby shower I took these to.  Boy did they wow!  Topped with the most smooth coconut cream frosting and toasted coconut, these rosette cupcakes were a show stopper (and incredibly easy from the cake to the decorating... Shhh!).

I made the lime curd a couple days before so I had one less thing to do on party day.  I'm all about party prepping!

Coconut Lime Cupcakes

Graham Craker Crust

1 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs

1/4 C. and 2 T. unsalted butter, melted

1/4 C. granulated sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners.  Crush graham crackers well then mix with butter, sugar and salt.  Place about 2 teaspoons in the base of each cupcake liner.  Press with the back of the measuring spoon.  Bake for 5 to 7 minutes.  Let cool while making cake.

Coconut Lime Cake

3/4 C. cream of coconut

2-3 tsp. coconut emulsion

2/3 C. sour cream

4 egg whites

1/3 C. coconut oil

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box white cake mix

1 1/2 T. flour

2 tsp. lime zest

Combine wet ingredients.  Once combined add cake mix, flour and lime zest, just until combined.  Fill over graham cracker crust using a small cupcake scoop.  Bake for about 17-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.  Let cool before you frost.  

I then toasted about 1 C. sweetened coconut in the oven while watching continuously.  Let cool.  After the cupcakes and coconut were cool, I cut a cone shape out of the middle of each cupcake (this is on my wish list now though!!), and cut off the tip of the cone.  Don't cut too far because you will hit the crust.  I then filled the hole with THIS lime curd and put the rest of the cake on top.  I then topped each cupcake with a simple rosette design using a 1M Wilton tip and THIS delicious frosting.  It's just like a regular cupcake swirl just think reverse and start in the middle while working your way out.  

I just had to share the cake that I made as well for the baby sprinkle.  

This technique is also super easy to complete.  Make a vertical row of frosting dots.  Use the back tip of a icing spatula to gently pull the middle of the frosting.  Continue with the complete row of dots.  Then just keep piping rows and rows and keep pulling.  The last row can just be dots. 

This post may contain affiliate links but all opinions are my own.  

Aloha Date Night In Box Review

I received another fun Date Night In Box and I just had to share! 

This month was all about enjoying a romantic night of Hawaiian spirit.  

The box included:  multiple games, our favorite Hawaiian Sweet Maui Onion potato chips, a candle to set the mood, and a make your own drink set.  Unfortunately our cups broke from the candle and wax, but boy did our box smell fabulous!

One of the reasons why I love these Date Night In Boxes is because it's SO easy to play one of their games during Olivia's nap time.  Date night doesn't just have to be for night time anymore.  

We decided to play Konane, one of the most popular Hawaiian games and a variation of checkers.  It was so easy to learn and everything we needed came right in the box.  

We snacked on our favorite potato chips while enjoying each others company and the beautiful smell of the Plum Orchid & Dahlia candle from Northern Lights Candles.  

Another thing I love about Date Night In Boxes is it gives us a reason to connect with each other.  It's so easy to get caught up in what we are doing during our free time.  While Olivia is sleeping, I'm usually working on some kind of handout, baking or blogging and Dallin is usually doing something around the house.  This box makes it easy for us to remember to be together and enjoy each other while we have time alone.

Because all too quickly Olivia is done with napping and then we have to save the games for another day.  Just look at this picture below!! She looks like I'm intruding on a daddy daughter date.  haha!

I love that Olivia is a daddy's girl but I'm also grateful she's willing to share! :) 

If you'd like to find out more about Date Night In Boxes you can go HERE!  

I did receive this box for free for reviewing purposes, 

I'm grateful and excited to share things I love with you!