A Boys room to grow with... hopefully!

The boys room is finally to a point that I consider done!

I have been wanting to redo the boys' room since Jayden moved to his big boy bed. I bought the street scape bedding at Target and just couldn't decided where to go from there. I searched to internet for ideas. I thought I wanted to do a large city mural on one wall. I sat on that idea for almost 3 years, and boy am I glad I did! By piecing together ideas I saw on pinterest. I was able to create a room that I LOVE... seriously I think this might be my most favorite room in the house. Not only is it personal, but I think it will be able to grow with them a lot longer than a large mural. 

*I apologize, I can't seem to locate any before pictures.

 

 

The bedding is from Target, yes they don't match, that is what happens when you buy the one set on clearance before you know your having another boy! Anyway... The valance is made from license plates from previous cars of ours. It will be fun when they get older to explain the history behind them.

  

 

The numbers in the racing strips are the years the boys were born.... if you haven't guessed that already! The numbers came from Menards. I couldn't believe how hard it was to find wooden numbers. 

 

The pegboard is a work in progress, I hope to add to it as the years go on with different mementos from trips we take.

Funfetti Dip- aka Dunkaroo Dip

 

Do you remember Dunkaroos? I loved having them for a snack. It was delightful little kangaroo graham crackers that you could dip in a sprinkled vanilla frosting. There are several recipes circulating the pinterest/blogger world that replicate this wonderful treat. Funfetti dip tastes like something unhealthy, but it isn't too bad for you.

Funfetti Dip  

1 box of  Funfetti Cake Mix 

2 cups plain or vanilla yogurt 

1 heaping cup of Cool Whip

This makes a large batch. It about filled a 2qt bowl. You could used lite or lowfat yogurt and cool whip to make this treat a little lighter in calories.

  

You could also make these into a nice skinny ice cream sandwich, by spreading a thick layer between 2 graham cracker halves and freezing them.

Our Busy Weekend/ MPT

Saturday Morning....Watching the Parade

Saturday night... Cy made an appearance at a Friends wedding reception.

Sunday.... Adventrueland with the Family

 

We had a very busy weekend running around and making memories. These types of weekends maybe exhausting, but I hope they are ones that the kids will remember for years to come.

And finally, Meal Planning Tuesday!

Tuesday- BLT Salad and Cantalope

Wednesday- Pork Greek Kabobs w/ mushrooms, potatoes, and zucchini

Thursday- Veggie Mac and Cheese

Friday- Breakfast Grilled Cheese and Mini cinnamon rolls

New Restaurant in Town

Ankeny has a new restaurant, Number 7 Brewing Company it is the first brewpub in town. It moved into one of the oldest buildings in Ankeny, 302 SW Maple. The owner (Matt) used to work at Principal with Mike. Matt brews at least 2 beers right now, makes his own bbq sauce, and smokes his own meat.  

 

 

The appetizer...  soon to be the best wings in Ankeny! They are smoked then grilled. This combination made the outside a little crispy with a smoky undertone. We had the bbq and they were perfection in my opinion... sweet, but with a little spice.

 

 Mike ordered up the Shandy a beer brewed by Number 7. I even liked this beer, which says a lot! It was light, but had a bit of a fruitiness to it.

  

The kids had a round of rootbeer, doesn't Jayden look to be enjoying it?! The bottle says this was brewed in Amana, IA. That is another thing that is nice about Number 7, they use local ingredients and products. They have a saying that is on the waiters/waitresses shirts and on the menu... "Drink Local. Eat Fresh. Live Well."

 

Now for the main event.... the food. We had the Brisket, Smoked Meatloaf Sandwich, Hot dog, and BBQ Chicken Sandwich. I must say here that we are huge Hickory Park fans, so we always compare a bbq place to that unfortunately. Mike and I both agreed that the food here, or what we had anyway, was just as good! I still crave the bbq chicken. I just loved the bbq sauce that Matt makes. The meatloaf sandwich was really different. I had never heard of it, and Matt was explaining it to Mike a few days before we went and it sounded different and tasty. So naturally I had to try it. Unfortunately I can't really remember all about it, but I know it was smoked. Sorry I am horrible at describing food. The only thing we didn't try that I wish we would have, was the Sweet Potato Fry Pie. It is an appetizer that totes it could be a dessert with its sweet seasonings and marshmallow cream. 

 

 

 I loved that they brought extra napkins and condiments to the table in a beer box. As I looked around they were all different. It was really unique.

  

Dex was really excited to be there! Don't you just love that big barn door behind him, I do! I don't know the history behind it, but I guess most everything in this building has a story behind it. Like the tables are made from the bowling alley lanes from Ankeny Lanes. 

So, Please go try their food sometime! If you go let me know what you think.

Our long weekend... And MPM

The kids and I decided to start our weekend early with a little "stay-cation" at my parents house. It was full of sun, swimming, and celebrating. The highlight of our trip was the boys figuring out how to swim without their "sharks" and "jacket".



The menu this week...
Monday- bubble-up enchiladas
Tuesday- Hy-Vee kids night
Wednesday - Lasagna and salad
Thursday- build your own salad
Friday- Pork kabobs, & sweet corn

*I apologize for any funky formatting in this post as I am trying to write this on my phone!

Chocolate Chip No-Bake cookies

What's a girl got to do to get some cookies???

 I have been dying to bake cookies, but with heat index in the 100's I really don't want to turn on the oven. While searching through my Sweets Board on Pinterest, I found a recipe for Vanilla Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies. I really wanted Chocolate Chip cookies though. 

With a little conjuring I came up with..... 

 

Chocolate Chip No-Bake Cookies

1/2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. butter 

2/3 c. milk

1 (3.4 oz.) box instant vanilla flavor pudding mix 

(I used sugar free, because it is what I had on hand)

3 1/2 c. quick cooking oats

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

In a large pan, mix together the sugar, butter and the milk. Bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, add in the pudding mix, oats and baking soda. Let stand 5-10 minutes*, and stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoon onto wax paper and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

 

*This is a key step. I didn't let my mixture cool long enough so when I mixed in the chocolate chips, they melted instantly.

  

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Menu for the week

Monday- Hot Beef Sandwiches (I take a short cut and use beef lunch meat)

Tuesday- Eat out at Pizza Ranch

Wednesday- Lasagna

Thursday- Bubble-Up Enchiladas 

Friday- Left-overs