Operation Sunscreen

Every year, I do a campaign to raise money to provide sun care packages for our troops. Last year, about 15 packages were provided but my goal was 75. This year I am determined to get to 75 and when it happens, I am matching the donations to provide 150 soldiers with sun protection. I want to complete this in July, so the soldiers can have sun protection through the next few continually hot months overseas.
Please visit my Go Fund Me page and donate! www.gofundme.com/avb5is

#brunchinyummies

Ready for some Etsy Shop Love??
Go check out my new shop, BrunchinYummies- hence my favorite meal is Brunch and it best be yummy.

Get your own secret stash of my homemade granola and granola bars rich in yummy molasses.

www.etsy.com/shop/brunchinyummies


Granola bars available in Choco butterscotch and Molasses Nut.
Granola in Molasses Nut.

I hope to come out with new flavors soon! Mmmm Apples and Cinnamon, Cookies and Cream! Any suggestions?

get your own! #backawayfrommygranola

Easy Stovetop Granola

Who wants a fresh batch of granola at breakfast time? YOU!
Who's going to give it to you? ME!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but we don't all make time for it. Make yourself something quick and easy and kiddo friendly. You can definitely make this ahead, and in larger batches, but this fed my granola hunger a few mornings ago.

This is definitely healthy with only one tablespoon of honey and no other sugars, so you won't get a sugar crash after breakfast. Serve yourself up a big bowl of Greek yogurt, fruit and granola (and bacon if you're lucky)!

The recipe I got this idea from is at Being Frugal by Choice.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups old fashioned oats (not the microwave kind!)

3 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 cup sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, craisins, raisins blend

Chopped walnuts

Juice of half an orange

1 generous tbsp of honey

Little less than 1/4 cup Shredded coconut flakes

Melt your coconut oil in a heavy skillet (I prefer cast iron), over low heat.

 Add your oats and coat in the oil.

Add your honey and let melt over oats. Watch it closely so it doesn't start burning. 

Stir constantly so the honey coats the oats.

Your oats will start browning as you coat them in the honey. 

Squeeze the juice of your orange over the oats as you're stirring them.

Add your seeds, walnuts and dried fruits. Keep stirring because the dried fruit will burn really easily. Keep stirring for about 5 minutes or until browned to your liking.

When the oats are browned, add your shredded coconut. Stir for 2 more minutes. 

Don't burn your coconut!

All done!!

 From start to finish this should take 10 minutes max! Now that's a quick breakfast!

Yummmmm

 *HEY! You see me down here?? If you click on a link and purchase something I may earn a few dollas'. Thanks, youdabest!"

This app I love!

Do you watch Shark Tank??
Well, I don't. But I do love this app that was founded on Shark Tank. I went to a friends' and she had these super cute little books stacked full of great pictures. When I flipped to the back and saw that it was an app, I jumped right on it!

ain't it cute! every book has a different pattern

It's called GrooveBook. They are absolutely wonderful! You get great quality photos printed and shipped for a mere $2.99. The app is totally free, you just pay for the book. The photos are great quality and it has really pushed me to take more photos. How many of us won't have pictures to show our kids and grandkids? I know I absolutely love going through old family photos so I think it's a great 2014 spin on that old tradition. The best part is, all the photos can be separated from the book with the perforated edge that is provided. I have taken up to 15 photos out of a book and it still holds together. I have a quite a few framed and they look great! You get 100 pictures each month and you download them straight from your phone to the app. That's right, just one tool- your phone! I believe it is available on the Apple App Store and Google play.

GUESS WHAT!? You can get your first one for free!! Use the code MCWILLIAMS86, and your first book will be free.

use this coupon code to get your first book free!

a few photos from one of my books. this barely does it justice, but they're great quality prints. 

VISIT WWW.GROOVEBOOK.COM

This post was not sponsored, these are my own ideas and opinions and I am not receiving any form of payment for expressing them.

HAPPY TUESDAY!!

Sea salt caramel coffee

Best part of waking up, GET ME SOME COFFEE.
I do not play with my coffee. It is a necessary component to my day or I will be a zombie. Serious stuff.
I am, like many, a dedicated Starbucks drinker and fan of many delicious concoctions such as caramel lattes. Oh so good, yet oh so bad. Like serious I don't even want to know how many calories are in a Venti Caramel Latte. It's really a shame. Things that are a task to consume, like turnips, should be high calorie since I have to force myself to eat it. But fantastic beverages and sweets should be low calorie since they are so easy to gulp right down. It just makes sense. Who is in charge of this system? We need to talk.
Anyway, I'm about to save you a ton of money and I think calories. Not sure about the latter.

INGREDIENTS

-baking caramel squares (2 per cup of coffee) [if you are very fortunate you will find caramel baking chips which are a luxury in life but for whatever reason they are super hard to find and no one knows what you are talking about when you ask grocery store employees for them- you will get the blank faced whatchu talkin bout lady stare- ugh]

-strong brewed coffee (one generous tbsp of grinds per cup of water)

-milk

-whipped cream (homemade is best of course)

-evaporated cane juice (whatever sugar you use will do) <<that's a really good price 

-sea salt 

1. Put your coffee and caramel baking squares into a small pot on the stove on low heat. This will caramel flavor your coffee while also sweetening it, YUM. Stir this every few minutes

2. Put 2 tbsp of milk and 1 baking square into the microwave, stir every 15-20 seconds. Microwave on med heat. This is some dangerous stuff, make sure you monitor closely.

3. Add 1 cup of milk per 2 or 3 cups of coffee to your pot. This is open to taste preferences. Add about 1 tsp of sea salt. 

4. Once your caramel is completely melted in your coffee, as in you can no longer feel the squares when you stir the pot, turn it off and transfer it to your mugs.

5. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of the caramel& milk mixture from the microwave. 

6. Mix 1 tsp of sea salt with 1 tbsp of the evaporated cane juice. Sprinkle liberally over your coffee.  Enjoy this beauty!

a picture almost didn't exist because I drink them so fast. shameful, I know.

You could totally do this with hot chocolate too! It is freaking delicious. I haven't made an iced one yet, but I'm sure it is possible. 

 *HEY! You see me down here?? If you click on a link and purchase something I may earn a few dollas'. Thanks, youdabest!"

Spicy Black Bean and Avocado Dip

Ever been going somewhere/inviting people over... and you need an appetizer super fast? But you also want to look fancy? And healthy? Ahaa! Thus was born, spicy black bean and avocado dip.

This dip is a hit! My boyfriend enjoys it with Black Bean and Quinoa chips from Trader Joe's and all my lady friends enjoy it with fresh peppers. I'm sure you can be more creative with what you choose to dip.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 avocado

1 can black beans

2 tbsp Sesame Seed oil

4 tbsp Olive Oil

1 tbsp minced garlic

4 tbsp Crushed Red Pepper (adjust for how spicy you'd like it to be)

2 heaping tbsp tahini

1. Rinse and drain your black beans

2. Add all ingredients to food processor/blender/mortar and pestle, whatever floats your boat. Of course I used my Twister jar.

i was lazy and used pre minced garlic, no judging

unfortunately, not the most beautiful color

 *HEY! You see me down here?? If you click on a link and purchase something I may earn a few dollas'. Thanks, youdabest!"