Friday Favorites {February Fun}

Happy Friday!

Today I'm linking up with Friday Favorites!

 Hosted by: Andrea, Erika & Narci

 I am so excited it's Friday!

We have a mellow weekend, we were planning on heading to Tahoe but there is no snow.....it has been in the 70's & 80's here in the Bay Area the past 2 weeks & in the 60's in Tahoe.

The Groundhog said 6 more weeks of Winter...clearly that did not include California winter.

What happened to winter?!?! It decided to skip California this year! 

My kids wore shorts to school everyday this week! Crazy!

{ONE}

Need a planner for 2018? Still haven't gotten one yet?

 Erin Condren planners are on sale!
This is the one I got for 2018:

Click HERE to see all the planners!
So many cute designs. This is my 5th year getting one, they are the best.

{TWO}

Making Valentine's Treats is my Favorite.
 Chocolate Peanut Butter Heart Cookies  // Valentine Hugs & Kisses

Nutella Brownies // M&M cookies 

  Ritzies // Valentine Popcorn

Rice Krispy Valentine Pops //  White Chocolate Chip Valentine Sprinkle Cookies

Every year, we make a variety of goodies & deliver them to neighbors & friends.

 For the White Chocolate Valentine popcorn, we use THIS printable:

I give these to my girls teachers & the School office staff, custodian, crossing guard, etc.
 

Valentine Cookies in a Jar {HERE} 

As you can tell...I like A LOT of Valentine's treats :)

{THREE}

I keep mentioning them, but I can't stop and won't stop because they really are my favorite & I love that you guys love them also!

My light & fluffy pancakes. 

Recipe HERE.

I may or may not have bought this cute set...under $10 and just in time for Valentine's Day!

 Can't wait to make heart shaped pancakes this weekend :)

{FOUR}

RF February Specials are happening now!

 Valentine's Flash Sales are my favorite!

Get $60 gift with purchase, plus $20 cash back!

 

Any NEW Preferred Customer will receive your choice for FREE:
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Bright Eye Complex OR
 Anti Aging Lip Serum ($60 value)
You will also get a FREE 3 day supply of Active Hydration Serum. 
 Are you ready to get longer, darker, fuller looking lashes?

CURRENT CUSTOMERS: if you refer me to a friend/family member that becomes a customer
I'll GIFT one to you as well!!
Now is the time to hook up your friends and SCORE!!

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What's your biggest skin concern? I am here to help!

We have products for all skin types.

Take THIS quick 5 question survey to find out what products are best for your skin type.

Email me to place an order or if you have questions!

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{FIVE}

 My very favorite kitchen appliance is my Instant Pot.

I can't stop and won't stop talking about this either! LOL!

 It is way better than a crock pot because it can slow cook food, but it is also a pressure cooker. I can cook some of my slow cooker meals in the Instant Pot in under an hour! You need one in your life.

I have posted about 10 Instant Pot recipes so far...stay tuned for A LOT more!

My Top 5 favorite Instant Pot recipes that I make the most are:

Chicken Taco Soup

Korean Beef

Split Pea Soup

 Rosemary Beef Stew

Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Soup (I will be blogging this SOON!!!!)

The 5qt, 6 qt the 8qt are available & on sale! I have the 6 qt size.

{SIX}

 It's Girl Scout Cookie time!

This is Kate's 6th & final year being a Girl Scout & the cookie sales are her favorite.

The Samoa's & Thin Mints are my favorites.

I like to put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the thin mint and make a mini ice cream sandwich out of it. SOOOOO Good.

But my kryponite are Samoas....I have no self control over them. 

 They are my favorite all time Girl Scout cookie!

 What is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie?

 {SEVEN}

Tulips are my favorite. Forget Roses.....give me tulips!

 Once February arrives, I love having fresh tulips on our kitchen table.

 Trader Joe's has the best tulips!

Pink ones are my favorite....I love this bunch I got...they are ombre pink. So pretty!

{EIGHT}

I found this series called Sew Zoey and it is currently Kate's favorite book series right now (besides Harry Potter, of course...nothing will top that)

There are 14 books in the series. If you are looking for a book series for a 9-12 year old, these are really cute. 

Kate got a sewing machine for Christmas & is taking sewing lessons and she loves to read, so this series is perfect for her. 

You can get them HERE.

{NINE}

  Making Valentine Printable is my favorite...I seriously have a problem...I am obsessed with making them! Ha!

Here are some that I have made over the years....I can't pick a favorite :)

Ring Pop Valentine {HERE} // Goldfish Valentines {HERE}

Smores Valentine {HERE} // Valentine you are just Write!" & "You've got the Write stuff, Valentine" {HERE}

Valentine, You are Fun! {HERE} // Starburst {HERE}

I'm stuck on You & Let's Stick Together {HERE}  //  You make my heart Pop {HERE}

Sunglasses printables {HERE} //  You make my heart flip printable {HERE}

Sour Patch Kids {HERE} //  Valentine, I "chews" You {HERE}

All of the free printables can be found on my Printables tab {HERE}

And, all of the items for the Valentines were found at Target in the Valentine section.

Last week we picked out what the kids wanted to give this year.

Kate chose Sour Patch Kids/Sour Watermelon, Claire chose Fun Dip & Luke chose the Chewy Bars.

  {TEN}

 The Olympics are my favorite!
My parents took my sisters and I to the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics & it was amazing.
You can read about it HERE.

On my bucket list is to also attend the Winter Olympics.
The Winter Olympics started last night & we are looking forward to watching the Opening Ceremonies are tonight.

Watching the Olympics this year without Bob Costas hosting just isn't the same. He was the best & one of my favorite parts of the Olympics, I loved his commentary & his interviews.

Our favorite Winter Olympics events are Figure Skating, Speed Skating & the Downhill Skiing events.


What is your favorite event to watch?

So, there you have it. 10 of my Favorites so far this February.
Hope you have a great weekend!

Valentine, I "Chews" You {Free Printable}

Valentine's Day is a week from tomorrow....Do you have your Valentine's ready to go?
If not.... here is a Valentine idea for you if you don't want to give candy.

Luke saw these Chewy bars in the Valentine's isle at Target & he picked these out to give to his class. 

I mean...I have 10 other Valentine Printables, but nothing that would go with these Chewy bars, so it was time to make a new printable! 

You know how much I love making printables :)

For this Valentine, you need:

 - Chewy Valentine Mini Bars
(I got mine at Target)
- Scissors
-Stapler 

Pen
-  Printable (You can download at the end of this post)

I'm all about a play on words...I "chews" you for the Chewy bar ;)

 Print out the Printables on white paper or cardstock, cute them out & staple on the Chewy mini bars.

Super easy, super cute!

Luke's TK class was told to just leave the "To" spot blank & only write their name so it's easier for them to distribute Valentine cards.

And, look how cute the Chewy bars are...they have sprinkles on them:

 Sprinkles make everything better :)

 

{Click to download. Right click & then Save.}

Here are some that I have made over the years....

Ring Pop Valentine {HERE} // Goldfish Valentines {HERE}

Smores Valentine {HERE} // Valentine you are just Write!" & "You've got the Write stuff, Valentine" {HERE}

 

 

Valentine, You are Fun! {HERE} // Starburst {HERE}

I'm stuck on You & Let's Stick Together {HERE}  //  You make my heart Pop {HERE}

 

 

Sunglasses printables {HERE}

 Sour Patch Kids {HERE} //   You make my heart flip printable {HERE}

  

All of the free printables can be found on my Printables tab {HERE}
And, all of the items for the Valentines were found at Target in the Valentine section.
 

Last week we picked out what the kids wanted to give this year.
Kate chose Sour Patch Kids,  Claire chose Fun Dip & Luke chose the Chewy Bars :)

Hope these are useful for you!

Jalapeño Bacon Corn Dip

I don't know about you, but I love a good dip.

One of my favorite go-to dips is my Corn Dip. 

Everyone loves that dip! 

I decided to tweak that recipe a bit...add bacon & then make it a warm dip by baking it in the oven.

Everything is better with bacon :)

Since the Superbowl is this weekend, I thought I would share it with you in case you need to bring an appetizer to a Superbowl Party!

 Here is what you need:

Block of Cream Cheese, softened (I use 1/3 fat)
1/2 cup Sour Cream

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 can Yellow Corn 

1 can of diced green chilles
1 can of diced jalapenos

3 green onions, chopped

6 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
1 teaspoon Lawry's seasoned salt
Dash of cayenne pepper

 Directions:

I soften my cream cheese in the microwave for about a minute. In a bowl, add the cream cheese, 1/2 cup Sour Cream, 1 cup of shredded cheese, Lawry's & Cayenne Pepper:

 Mix with a hand mixer until it is all combined:

 Then add your drained can of corn, drained can of jalapenos, green chilies, chopped green onions & cooked/chopped bacon (I bake my bacon in a 400 degree oven for 15-18 minutes)

 Stir it all together:

Put in a baking dish:

 Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes (until it is heated through & the cheese is melty)

I set aside some extra green onions & chopped bacon to garnish with after I take it out of the oven.

If a bacon garnish is wrong, I don't want to be right ;)

  I usually serve it with Fritos:

 It also tastes delicious when served with Blue Corn Tortilla Chips (or Tostitos Scoops)

 This is such an easy dip to make & you can make the night before and then bake it right before you are going to serve it.

It tastes best when eaten warm, right out of the oven!

Enjoy & let me know if you make it!

++++++++++++++++

 

ALSO.....If you need other appetizer ideas to have for the Superbowl this weekend, here are some of my other favorites:

Baked Chicken Nachos {Recipe HERE} 

Cowboy Caviar/Cowboy Salad (So fresh & perfect to serve with Tortilla Chips!)

 7 layer Greek Humus {Recipe HERE}

7 layer Dip {Recipe HERE}

Corn Dip {Recipe HERE}

Perfect Potato Skins {Recipe HERE}

Jalapeno Poppers with Bacon {Recipe HERE}

Crock Pot/Instant Pot Sweet & Savory Teriyaki Meatballs

 

 I am rooting for the Eagles...sorry all you Patriots fans, you have won too many Superbowls lately....it's time for a new team to win :)

I do love the Superbowl & Football, but I must say this year I am most excited for Justin Timberlake's Halftime performance. Love me some JT.  Can I get an Amen? ;)

Who are you rooting for in the Superbowl?

If you don't care who wins,  do you just watch for the commercials, Halftime Show & the food?