Hawaiian Hot Dogs

My family went to Hawaii over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2015. We loved the flavors of the island and often duplicate them here at home.  This hot dog was born to bring back memories of Hawaii through our favorite summer food:  hot dogs!

What I Read in June #ourgoodlifebooklist

Thank you for the great response to my May booklist!  I had lots of visitors and I was happy to talk all things book to anyone who wanted to!  This month I was able to read

5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Home's Exterior

Is the exterior of your home looking a little worse for wear? Whether you’re hoping to sell your home or wanting to make the place look more cheerful, fixing your exteriors doesn’t have to be a chore. Here are some of the easiest ways to have the outside of your home looking as beautiful as the inside, in no time at all.

Travel Guide to Sedona, AZ

Sedona (Arizona, USA) is a gorgeous part of the United States, nestled between Pheonix and The Grand Canyon.  It is a popular tourist area due to its elevation and the scores of red rock formations that surround it, creating a scenic view wherever you are! While there are tons of wonderful things about Sedona, I am going to share with you five categories: Spiritual, Hiking and Nature, Eating, Where to Stay and Art.  These are the areas that my family found the most fascinating around Sedona.  My family consists of two 60+-year-olds and two 30+-year-olds!  What is mentioned here may be suitable for younger children, but please evaluate each recommendation to determine what is best for your child. Spiritual The red rocks around Sedona are inspirational to many.  Hollywood producers have filmed westerns here, Native Americans have spiritual connections to the area and many pilgrims come to the area to find renewal in their spiritual well-being.  The reason?  In the 1980s a w

5 Gorgeous Hikes in Sedona

Five gorgeous hikes to take in Sedona, Arizona for any level of hiker!  Read on to find out the hikes that are for more fit hikers and ones for those who might need assistance.  Read our Travel Guide to Sedona here! Written by Ashley Hasty

Secrets of Closing the Sale

Thank you, NetGalley for my free copy of this book. I provided this review in exchange.  When I had the opportunity to review Secrets of Closing the Sale Revised and Updated by Zig Ziglar, I knew immediately that I had to take it. It is part of a blog tour I was chosen to be a part of. This classic book is useful for people in any field. You read that right, any field. You do not have to be a salesperson (and I'm not!) to understand the value of this book on life in general.  Let me show you what I mean.

Travel Essentials (that people forget)

Vacation season is finally upon us, and many of us have started to count down the days until our big summer trip. You might have even begun to think about packing or preparing your family for your break, and you are almost certainly starting to think about time off work, getting some rest and relaxation and enjoying some time with your friends and family. Source -  https://pixabay.com/photos/luggage-suitcases-baggage-bags-933487/

Banana Split No Bake Ice Box Cake

I love making No Bake Ice Box Cakes. They are truly so simple and so tasty for the summer!  There are endless varieties, too, which is always fun. They are a perfect dish to bring to that summer picnic or BBQ, too.

A Reluctant Belle #ourgoodlifebooklist

Thank you to Revell Books for selecting me for the A Reluctant Belle Blog Party and for supplying me with a copy of the book for my review. My opinions here are my own.

Does Your Home Need A Facelift?

Is your home looking a little worse for wear? If so, you’re not alone. Every year, millions of people across the country look for ways to improve the appearance of their property. Doing so, however, is easier said than done. There’s a lot of work that goes into crafting something beautiful. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the ways you can transform the drab, decrepit exterior of your home into something truly stunning: perfect for drop-ins .

Classic Lemon Drop Martini #NationalMartiniDay

If you love a vodka martini dirty, extra olives please, then you are going to enjoy the martini drinks we are sharing below! We have all kinds of yummy drinks and I am sure you are going to find your perfect one.  I am making the Classic Lemon Drop Martini for you today.

Planting a Dish Cactus Garden

Planting a dish cactus garden is easy, fun and quick! As a girl who has lived her entire life in the midwest, I never thought I would be so in love with cacti! This spring my family vacationed in Arizona and I absolutely fell for these majestic plants. I'll be sharing some of my favorite cacti pictures with you, too! Since this is a Pinterest Challenge, I wanted you to know that I was inspired by Nell from Joy Us Gardens to create my garden. She has a special tip for keeping the needles out of your hands, but you will have to go to her site to find out what it is! 

Making Your Home Ready for Drop-Ins

Our homes are more than just places where we relax, unwind, and raise our families. They can also be social spaces, where we can spend time with friends and other loved ones. Indeed, there are a lot of advantages to socializing in your house, the biggest of which being that you will save a lot of money versus having to go out all the time. However, it’s true that not all homes are social-friendly. Some are the opposite, in fact! The good news is that there are always things you can to make your home better for spending time with friends and family. We take a look at a few options how below. Source: Pexels.com

Wooing Caddie McCaffrey #ourgoodlifebooklist

Thanks to Bethany Turner and Revell Books for my copy of Wooding Cadie McCaffrey! I didn't know the meaning of the phrase meet-cute until I read Wooing Cadie McCaffrey by Bethany Turner.  Read on to find out what this fun phrase means! This darling book should be on your summer reading list, especially if you like romantic comedies! Meet-cute is the phrase used by romantic comedy writers to describe the first meeting of a couple that leads to a romantic relationship between the two.  Will and Cadie's first meet up is so charming.  Will comes into Cadie's workplace on a job interview. The two of them feel the sparks right away, but Will isn't sure he will even get the job. When he does, a four-year relationship begins.  Will is all that anyone would want in a friend: kind, giving, and funny and for a partner: he's totally into Cadie! Cadie may have watched one too many rom-coms and is disappointed when Will doesn't meet up to her expectations. She get

Cucumber Mint Iced Tea

When I was a child, I did not like iced tea. At all.  As a grown-up, I have gradually learned to love iced tea and its goodness. I am sharing with you one of the greats: cucumber mint iced tea.

Vanilla Bourbon Bacon Cupcakes

Happy National Cupcake Day! What better way to celebrate but to toast the day with a vanilla cupcake enhanced with bourbon and bacon?  I don't think there is so here we go!

Avocado Toast with Lime Mayo #improvcookingchallenge

Welcome to our monthly edition of the Improv Cooking Challenge!  This month we are enticing you with avocados and lime. I love love love this combination and had the perfect recipe to share.  My family loves avocado toast and I thought I would share this simple version with you.

Rosemary Lemon Sparkler

It's time for another sensational summer cocktail! I am sharing this refreshing cocktail made with lemon and rosemary and my favorite cocktail base: vodka. I'm not a vodka snob, but I do like Tito's and Grey Goose. I'm also partial to one made in Indiana named Cardinal Spirits.

Pool Noodle Sprinkler Fun!

Wondering how to keep the kids occupied all summer long? See our list of Summer Activities for Kids of All Ages!

3 Easy Care Plants for the Home

There are a lot of great reasons to add some plants to your home. It’s one of the easiest ways to  make your home more beautiful by bringing the outdoors in, and it’s also great for your health. Studies show that plants in the home improve your mood and increase productivity. They also clean the air and get rid of pollutants, so if you don’t have plants in your home already, you should do.

Potato and Onion Kabobs

This month our Taste Creations bloggers are sharing kabobs with you! We've taken many routes on the road to Kabobland, so there should be a kabob with your name on it here!

Home Safety While You're Away

Traveling is truly a lifestyle choice and once you’ve got the bug, that’s it for you! We got the travel bug bad when we went to Cabo San Lucas for the first, second and third time !  We have another trip planned in December! But what happens to your home while you are away? Keeping your property safe and secure while you travel has to be amongst your top priorities. Leaving a property empty can be seen as an invitation to some people, but what about unexpected weather or accidents? Here are a few tips to get you started. Protecting Your Stuff While you’re home, it’s pretty easy to keep an eye on your belongings and make sure they’re safe. But when you’re away, you should definitely think about adding a few safety precautions, just to make sure nothing untoward will happen. Hiding your valuables in a safe place is a good idea and finding obscure places is actually a fun game. Wrapping valuables in foil and putting them in a freezer is a good start but you could also consider