Author: Kelsey

Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad

Kelsey Recipes, Salads, Side Dish , , , , 0 Comment

Sour Cream Cucumber And Onion Salad – Delicious! 
creamy cucumber salad

In our house we love this Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad, it is a nice twist from the classic cucumber and onion salad. I find it has a bit of a less bite to it, which is what I prefer. This one has sour cream, you can find some recipes that use mayonnaise, but I prefer the sour cream recipe! I like to make this every now and again!

My mother in law gave us some cucumber and onions from her garden, so I thought this would be a great time to whip this recipe up! It is really easy to make and doesn’t take many ingredients! This is great recipe for family gatherings, bbq’s, and potlucks! 

Sour Cream Cucumber Salad

Sour Cream Cucumber Salad

Like I said above it is so quick and easy to make this, and feel free to add a little dill if you like it. I am not a huge fan of fresh dill so I always skip it!

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Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Large Cucumbers - Peeled and Sliced Thin
  • 1 Large Red or White Onion Sliced thin
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • 2 tbs sugar (If you want more sweet do 1/4 cup)
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. Once you get your cucumber and onions sliced nice in thin you will set aside.
  2. In a bowl mix your sour cream, vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper together.
  3. Then mix in your veggies, and put in the fridge for at least 4 hours before serving. They taste better if they sit over night in fridge. It helps break them down a little.

Notes

I don't like my cucumber and onions to be that sweet, if you do add the 1/4 cup sugar like I said. You can always start at a little sugar taste, and then if you want more sweet add more later.

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As you can see it doesn’t take much to whip these up, it is just waiting for them to set in the fridge to do their magic! Letting them sit helps break down the cucumbers and onions so they soak up that delicious flavor and become a bit softer like they need to be. We always enjoy eating them the next day, but I know at times we just wait the 4 hours cause we have no will power! 

easy creamy cucumber salad

And there ya go, a delicious side the family will love! Also if you are looking for a classic cucumber and onion salad, click here for that recipe!

classic cucumber and onions

Infantino Compact Cart Cover – Comfort and Germ Protection!

Kelsey Birth and Up, Products We Tried 0 Comment

Can use for shopping cart or a high chair

cart cover

When Clay was born, I knew when he was no longer in his car seat, we would buy him an Infantino Compact Cart Cover, to protect him from germs! I found this one at Walmart, and it was reasonably priced.  Then after finding out of his condition, and making sure we are extra careful about germs, it became a must!

Infantino Cart Cover

The Infantino Compact 2-in-1 cart cover is great for carts or using for high chairs at restaurants! It helps add a little comfort to the baby as well as protecting from germs. It is easy to transport as it folds up and can be carried like a bag, as pictured above. We use it for shopping at any store that has a cart, and when we go out to eat.

cart coverIf you think about it hundreds of people touch carts everyday, and who knows how clean their hands are and what germs are on it. Clay puts everything in his mouth right now, so I want to ensure he isn’t touching a lot of dirty things, then sticking them in his mouth.  For me it is a no brainer that I want a little extra protection for him, and this cart cover fits our needs!

On the back side once it is down in the cart, it offers a pouch where you can store something if you want. When it is not in the cart, that is where it folds up in and can then be carried like a bag. It is pretty handy!

 

 

The Cart Cover Has A  Strap to Hold Sippy Cup and A Teething Toy Attached! 

infantino teal cart cover

This is a really nice cart cover, it is easy to put on the cart, has a built in teething toy, strap to attach a sippy cup, plus pockets. I highly recommend this as a gift for a parent or for you to use on your own child. It is machine washable, which is awesome!

SHOP: 

If you are interested in this cart cover, they do offer different colors and prints if you are interested. I picked mine up online at Walmart.com, if you want to shop for one today!

Simple Homemade Banana Bread

Kelsey Dessert, Recipes , , , 4 Comments

Calling all Banana Lovers, here is a great Simple Banana Bread Recipe
Simple Homemade Banana Bread

I am a huge banana lover, so I am always up for making a delicious and simple homemade banana bread when I get a chance! Adam, is not a fan of bananas, but it seems that Clay likes them, so we can enjoy all the banana bread together now! I had some bananas getting brown, so I thought what a perfect time to whip up some banana bread.

I am excited for later today at snack time, for Clay to try it and see if he likes it. He is really starting to experiment with foods now, so it will be his first time eating it. So far he really loves his breads, just like his mommy! I craved bread a ton when I was pregnant with him!

Easy Homemade Banana Bread

Easy Homemade Banana Bread

This is a really easy bread recipe, and you can also add in chocolate chips, nuts, or other dried fruits if you would like. I just did a basic recipe today, and maybe introduce chocolate to Clay at a later date! This does make a little bit of a smaller loaf, so it is great if you are not wanting a ton. It doesn’t rise incredibly high like some recipes do. 

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Simple Homemade Banana Bread

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe bananas (peeled and mashed)
  • 1/3 cup melted margarine
  • 1 cup sugar (you can do 3/4 cup if you want less sweet)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • OPTIONAL - NUTS or Chocolate Chips ( I would do 1/2 cup if you want to add them)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I used my KitchenAid Stand Mixer, peeled the bananas, and let the machine mash up my bananas on low. If you don't have a mixer, then take a fork and mash them really good.
  2. Then you will want to add in the melted butter, sugar, and beaten egg.
  3. In a small bowl, put your flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix that well, and then slowly add dry ingredients into the mixer with wet.
  4. Lastly add in your vanilla extract.
  5. Once it is well mixed, you can mix in nuts or chips if you want. Then pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for around 45-1 hour.
  6. You want the top to be golden brown, and when you stick a toothpick through it comes out clean, or with little crumbs.
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simple homemade banana bread

I really love how this is a nice moist bread. You just have to make sure not to over-bake it or that will make it dry. I hope if you make it you all enjoy it like we are!

 

Hope you all have a great rest of your week, and weekend!

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Click ‘n Learn Remote

Kelsey 6 months and up, Baby/Kid Toys, Products We Tried , , , , 0 Comment

New Toy = Lots of Fun In Our Household! Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Click 'n Learn Remote

The other day we bought Clay this, Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Click ‘n Learn Remote, and man he is loving this toy! He plays with it so much through out the days, it was a great toy to buy for him. It has buttons for them to be able to press to hear songs, music, and more. You can turn the volume up or down, switch channels to hear a new station and more with this little remote. Plus it lights up which really grabs Clay’s attention. 

fisher price remote toy

What I love about this fun toy is Clay enjoys playing with this toy remote, and in return he is learning about numbers, colors, opposites, greetings, first words and more. I know if you read my post, I say it all the time, I love toys that help children learn things! It offers more than 25 songs, phrases, songs and more, so it can keep him busy. I love that it doesn’t say just 3 things, as that gets old quick for the parents!

Laugh & Learn Click ‘n Learn Remote

fisher price remote

This toy right now is under $10, it makes a great toy for your own child, give as a gift for a birthday present, or holiday gift. As you can see the age range is 6 months to 36 months. I know for me I like to see an age range so I know how long I will probably use this toy, and if it fits where Clay is at in his learning abilities!

I am all about great toys that don’t break the bank and can help your child grow and learn when they use it! I hope you all like the post, and if you buy it, hope the special kiddo getting this enjoys it as much as Clay does! 

Classic Homemade Brownies – Can’t Beat A Good Ol’ Classic

Kelsey Dessert, Recipes , , , 0 Comment

Rich Ooey Gooey Brownies

classic homemade brownies

Nothing can beat a classic homemade brownie, it is for sure something I could eat all the time! I like boxed brownies too, but I like the taste that homemade have that can’t be copied from a box mix! These brownies are nice and ooey gooey and have a great chocolate flavor. You can also add in chocolate chips or nuts if you would like, I just did a basic brownie with no goodies added in. I like my brownies a little soft, so I just watch the baking time closely so that they don’t dry out and over cook. 

My Helper

It was fun baking because I had my little helper scooting around in his lil driver walker! He would just move around while I was mixing up stuff, and then I would take little breaks to play with him! Clay is at a really fun age, I love when he gets to giggling, and doing his fake coughing! Hopefully as he gets older he will want to help in the kitchen when I bake and cook, I think it is great for them to learn at a young age!

Classic Brownie Recipe 

kitchenaid

When I bake and sometimes even when I cook I use my KitchenAid Stand Mixer! I have always wanted one and a few years back Adam got it for me for a gift! It has been so nice to have, it really does the work for you! They are a little pricey for some people, but it is truly worth the investment if you enjoy being in the kitchen and cooking! You can even shred meats with this, it is very versatile.

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Classic Homemade Brownies – Can’t Beat A Good Ol’ Classic

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup cocoa (I like Special Dark)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup canola oil
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Great a 9x9 square baking pan, or if you prefer line with parchment paper..
  2. In a bowl (I used my KitchenAid Mixer) mix together sugar, oil, and eggs. Once it is mixed add in your vanilla extract.
  3. Then in a separate bowl, you will want to put the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa and mix it up.
  4. Slowly add your dry ingredients into your wet mixture till well incorporated.
  5. Pour into your pan and spread evenly.
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until you put toothpick in and it comes out pretty clean with just a few crumbs.

Notes

Depending on where you live and altitude can affect the cooking time for this recipe.

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I hope if you make this recipe, you all enjoy it! Hope you all have a blessed week! 

Personalization Mall- Custom Gifts! Mugs, Collages, Blankets and More!

Kelsey Home Decor, Products We Tried , , 2 Comments

Create Custom One of A Kind Gifts at Personalization Mall! Personalization Mall

I am a HUGE fan of Personalization Mall! I have used them for years, for creating wonderful gifts for loved ones, and creating personalized items to decorate our home with! I wanted to share the two collages I have from their, the first one my sister gave us at Christmas, and the second I had made with our Easter photos we took! They turned out so good, I truly couldn’t be happier!

collage

This collage is so special to me, my sister, Felicia got this for us this Christmas! Clay had just been born and she took pictures of him and added it to the collage! It was so sweet to be able to hang pictures of our little prince on the wall! I love that she has his first photo of him in the hospital on their, it always melts my heart to look at it! 

Photo Collage

This photo collage is 16×16, so good sized! I had this one made right after we did our Easter photo’s! It turned out awesome! It was pretty easy to create! You simply upload pictures you want, and then move them around till you have them in the order you want. Look over to ensure it is correct then order!

You can also buy many more items from their! They have gifts for any occasion or treat yourself! Custom mugs, graduation gifts, treasured keepsakes, photo decor, and so so much more!

Earn Cash Back on Your Order! 

Plus if you go through Ebates, you can earn Cash back on your order! Right now it is 7.5% cash back, but that does change with time, so you might have a different cash back offer. If you are new to Ebates, it is FREE to Join, and you can earn cash back from thousands of stores when you shop online! It is beyond awesome!

 

What Has Been Happening at the Apley Home!

Kelsey Life Updates , , 2 Comments

Whats Been Going On in Our Neck of the Woods Clay and Daddy

I thought it would be fun to do an update on what has been going on in the Apley household! Since this is a new blog, most won’t know our son was diagnosed at 1 week old with salt wasting congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is life threatening genetic disease. We were completely shocked when we found out  and we almost lost him, but now he is 7 months old and thriving! He is steroid dependent for life, in order to maintain a healthy life, and we are taking it day by day on how he will react to things as he gets older! We are so blessed that he is doing so well, and we can’t wait to see what happens with each new day! He truly is such a little blessing and we love watching his personality grow! 

Family Fun

Minnesota Family

We had family come down from Minnesota to meet Clay for the first time a few weeks back. It was nice to see them and have them stay with us for a few days. We did a lot of good eating while they were here, and I think I am still a little full from it! Haha, but it was a nice trip, and it was fun to meet baby Eli for the first time! 

Cousins

Then my cousin and her family came down last weekend, and we went over to my sisters house for a bbq, and family fun! It was such a beautiful day, we spent a lot of the time outside soaking up the sun!

I am so excited it is warmer weather and we can get out and enjoy things! Tomorrow we are off to Salina to do some shopping with Clay, it will be his first big outting!

Simple Shrimp Boil Foil Packets on The Grill Or Oven

Kelsey Recipes, Seafood , , , , 4 Comments

Simple Shrimp Boil Foil Packets

These Simple Shrimp Boil Foil Packets are to die for, they taste very similar to the classic shrimp boils! I have had a shrimp boil one time, and really loved it, my husband on the other hand grew up eating them every now and again! So his family introduced me to the new menu item!

These foil packets make creating a shrimp boil super easy, you can bake them in the oven or the grill! With warmer weather here we wanted to do the grill, that is my husbands favorite way to cook! They turned out amazing!

If you are on Facebook, right now they have video’s of how to create these beauties and it is going  viral! I was amazed we saw these, made them then the next day 3 different video tutorials were floating around becoming a sensation! I totally get it because they are delicious and way easier than the classic shrimp boil!

Prepping for Shrimp Boil Packets 

shrimp boil packets

We used the creole seasoning and it was delicious! My husband wanted a little more seasoning so he just sprinkled over the top once it was done! You can make as many packets of these as you want at a time, just assemble with more food in each. Their was only two of us, so we didn’t have a huge amount at once.

Like I had said above you can cook in the oven as well, just do 350 degrees, and cook until shrimp turns pink and is cooked through!


Simple Shrimp Boil Foil Packets on The Grill Or Oven

Ingredients:

  • Aluminum Foil (best if heavy duty)
  • Raw Shrimp (21-25 we used bigger sized ones)
  • Crab (Optional)
  • 1 Kielbasa Sausage
  • 2 Ears of Corn
  • 4-6 Red Potatoes Diced
  • Mushrooms (Optional)
  • Canola Oil
  • Creole Seasoning

Instructions:

  1. You can cook this either on the grill or the oven, we chose to do the grill. My husband prepped the grill and got it going, I started to prep the packets.
  2. I started by rolling out a little aluminum foil for the packets, then I placed a little bit of each item in the foil packet. It is best to have it in a thin layer so it all can cook evenly.
  3. I drizzled the oil over the meat and veggies in each pack, I did about a tablespoon of oil per packet. Then just sprinkle seasoning over the top to taste. I did a good amount and once done, I sprinkled a little more.
  4. Make sure to seal up your aluminum pretty well so nothing spills. If you cook in oven I recommend keeping a cookie sheet or something underneath it to help make it sturdy.
  5. Cook until the shrimp is nice and pink and cooked through.
  6. Serve and enjoy, make sure to grab a napkin or two!

Notes:

Depending on how many mouths you want to feed just add more of each item to compensate! Their is only two of us so we didn’t make a ton.

Shrimp Boil Packets

Here is a before picture, as you can see our shrimp was raw. We don’t have a store in our town that sells fresh shrimp, and it worked just as good. It added a little water that helped steam the food while it cooked which was nice!

 

Hope if you make this you all will enjoy this, it is great for parties! 

Simple Shrimp Boil Foil Packets on The Grill Or In The Oven

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Simple Shrimp Boil Foil Packets on The Grill Or Oven

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Serving Size: 3-4

Ingredients

  • Aluminum Foil (best if heavy duty)
  • Raw Shrimp (21-25 we used bigger sized ones)
  • Crab (Optional)
  • 1 Kielbasa Sausage
  • 2 Ears of Corn
  • 4-6 Red Potatoes Diced
  • Mushrooms (Optional)
  • Canola Oil
  • Creole Seasoning

Instructions

  1. You can cook this either on the grill or the oven, we chose to do the grill. My husband prepped the grill and got it going, I started to prep the packets.
  2. I started by rolling out a little aluminum foil for the packets, then I placed a little bit of each item in the foil packet. It is best to have it in a thin layer so it all can cook evenly.
  3. I drizzled the oil over the meat and veggies in each pack, I did about a tablespoon of oil per packet. Then just sprinkle seasoning over the top to taste. I did a good amount and once done, I sprinkled a little more.
  4. Make sure to seal up your aluminum pretty well so nothing spills. If you cook in oven I recommend keeping a cookie sheet or something underneath it to help make it sturdy.
  5. Cook until the shrimp is nice and pink and cooked through.
  6. Serve and enjoy, make sure to grab a napkin or two!

Notes

Depending on how many mouths you want to feed just add more of each item to compensate! Their is only two of us so we didn't make a ton.

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Infantino Spiral Activity Toy – Wraps Handle on Car Seat, Stroller and More

Kelsey Baby/Kid Toys, Birth and Up, Products We Tried , , , 0 Comment

Disclosure Affiliate

Spiral Includes Four Visually Delightful Hanging ToysInfantino Spiral Activity Toy

This Infantino Spiral Activity Toy is one of Clay’s favorites! He uses this in his stroller every time we go anywhere! It helps keep him entertained, as he is not the best at car rides! He hates being stopped, the car has to constantly be moving or he gets fussy.. moms should get to skip red lights I think!

You can hang it off the handle of the car seat or they can hold in lap and play, which is what we do often. That way he can grab it and chew on it better! This also works with most strollers and cribs if you want to coil it on, for entertainment!


Perfect Car Seat Toy!

car seat toy

I don’t know what it is about the bee but that is truly the one that he grabs for the most. He loves putting the fabric stinger in his mouth and munching on it, it’s so darn cute! The wings make a crinkle noise, which is something he has always enjoyed with any of his toys! The bee is fabric and nice and soft! You can wash this in the washer, so you don’t have to worry if he slobbers all over it!

BPA FREE Toy

infantino

It includes peek n’ see mirror,2-clacker rings, bird rattle, crinkle bug, textured fabrics and satin ribbons that will entertain the kiddo! Plus I love the fun fabrics they use, that makes it more appealing! It didn’t have an age range on when to buy but from what I have seen it is an item you can use from birth on! 

It is available for boy and girl! I do highly recommend a fun toy like this for a gift or for your baby! It really is fun for them and keeps them entertained when your out on the run! 

Infantino Spiral Activity Toy – Wraps Handle on Car Seat, Stroller and More

Lazy Girl’s Cookie Bars – Using Cake Mix!

Kelsey Dessert, Recipes , , , 0 Comment

Cookie Bars Made Easy 

lazy girls cookie bars

Sometimes I crave sweets and don’t want to spend a ton of time in the kitchen making it, that is when I decide to whip up these lazy girl’s cookie bars! They are so quick and easy to make, and you can toss whatever toppings you want in it! Whether you want nuts, butterscotch, peanut butter, m&m’s, or crunched up candy bars, the skies the limits! If you have never heard of this beautiful creation, today is your lucky day! These lazy girl’s cookie bars are made with cake mix and minimal ingredients making it so great for whipping it up quickly!

Cookie Bars Made with Cake Mix

cookie bars

When I made these I did half butterscotch and chocolate chip and the other half mini M&M’s and chocolate chips. I couldn’t decide which sounded better so I said let’s split it and make both! It turned out delicious and I am glad I decided to go for both flavor combos!

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Lazy Girl’s Cookie Bars – Using Cake Mix!

Ingredients

  • 1 box yellow mix
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 5 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
  • Mini M&M's and Butterscotch Chips (OPTIONAL)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. All you want to do is mix all the ingredients together, I used my KitchenAid Mixer for this, made it quick and then once well mixed pour into a 9x13 greased pan.
  3. Then if you have toppings like me sprinkle them on top, or if you want to do just one flavor mix it in the batter, it will taste better.
  4. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown and you can put a toothpick through or knife and comes out clean.
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See how easy these babies are!?!!? I mean you can’t get much easier than that, and they taste amazing! Like I said above you can add nuts, cut up candy bars or whatever else your heart desires! Anymore I am all about quick and easy but yet satisfyingly delicious! This recipe reaches both requirements so it is a winner in my book!

cookie bars using cake mix

I hope if you make these delicious bars you will enjoy them! Great for a potluck dinner or family bbq, or if you are like me just to treat yourself to some sweets!