Cake Mix Cookies {A Lazy Mom Recipe}

I never in a million years would have thought the  Lazy Cake Cookies recipe I posted back in 2011 would have taken off the way it did!  But boy howdy, did it!  As of tonight, it's had over 952,000 page views!  Wowie wow-wow!

Not too long ago I received another recipe in my little ol' lazy inbox that was similar to them there Lazy Cake Cookies.  Except this recipe is for individual cookies, not a whole 9x13 pan of cookie goodness.  So OF COURSE I had to share it with you!

This recipe was submitted by Glenda Miller and here's what she has to say about it:

Makes 2 dozen cookies and only takes about 30 minutes total time from start to ready to eat. I used butterscotch chips in the one pictured, but I have done dark chocolate with coconut, and regular chocolate chip as well. Enjoy!

Cake Mix Cookies
1 box of cake mix (pretty much any)
2 eggs
1/2 cup of oil (could probably do a little less and still get the right amount of moisture)
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, or whatever you prefer!

Preheat oven to 350º.  Mix ingredients together with about 1 cup of any chips you prefer. Glenda used butterscotch chips. Add 1 tsp vanilla for more of a homemade taste.

Make into 1" balls and bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Mm, mm! Thanks for sharing Glenda!

If you have a lazy recipe to share (five ingredients or less) be sure and send it in to me!  Lazy moms everywhere will thank you!

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I've Heard Rumors...

My lazy peoples.

Have you ever heard of a wonderful place where chocolate abounds and street lights are shaped like Hershey Kisses?  Where the scent of melted sweetness permeates an entire town?  Where moms can eat wonderful treats and not gain a single pound?

(Okay, maybe not that last one.)

I have heard rumors of such a place for about 10 years now.  It started when we first moved to Ohio....  A place people lovingly referred to as "Hershey PA."  And ever since the day Hershey PA became a place on the map not TOO terribly far from the state I am currently living in, I wanted to go to this magical place.  A place of chocolatey goodness.  A place that every lazy mom who wants to lay in a hot tub of chocolate can appreciate.

(Again, maybe not that last one.)

WELL GUESS WHAT?!  I'm finally going to live my dream!!!  AHHHH!

Yes, my dear lazy moms (and dads) the family and I are headed to Hershey Pennsylvania next week for a family vacay.  And I. Couldn't. Be. More. Excited.

I'm going to see if the rumors are true!  If Hershey Kisses fall from the sky when it rains... if the street cars are made out of Hershey Bars... if the door handles are made out of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

(Fine, maybe not any of those.)

But even if that's not the case, I'm super excited to check out all Hershey PA has to offer!  I hear there are museums, amusement parks, gardens and resorts!  

In fact, our family is going to be one of the first to stay in Hersheypark Camping Resort's new Deluxe Cabins that have just been built in honor of their 50th Anniversary!

I've been using the online trip planner to plan our stay.  But, if you've been to Hershey PA before, please leave a comment below to tell us what we should be sure and do!  (Oh, and do tell if the rumors I mentioned above are true!)

Oo! Oo!  And did you know that Hersheypark also has an app you can download to your phone?  I've been having TOO much fun playing around with it!

Seriously, how handy is this?

With a click you can see the ride information.

Um, this one is more my speed....

You can even view info for Hershey's other attractions in the app.  SCORE!

Want to know how many Hershey Kisses away something is from you?  No problem!

Please do leave a comment with your best Hershey PA advice! 

Love,

The Lazy Mom

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Deep In The Heart Of Texas

Prologue:

OH. MY. WORD.

I've been trying for WEEKS to put up this blog post! WEEKS I tell you! I finally got the whole, "my-pictures-wouldn't-upload-and-I-don't-know-why" problem solved.  GEESH.  So excuse me if this post is, like, SO old news.  Mkay?  Mkay.

--

I've been to Texas and back, people. Listening to my good ol' country music and wearing my cute cowgirl boots all the way!

Some things that made this particular trip wonderful?

1. BLUEBONNETS! I was hoping I'd get to see these little Texas beauties this trip, and I did!  I hit it just right and they were sprinkled all over the roadsides for me to see.

2. Family. Family is always good.

3. Quality time with my dad.  He had to tear the roads up to pick up and drop off and shuttle around my sister and I.  In hindsight, we probably shouldn't have flown in & out of two different towns on four different days.

Yes, that's right.  I flew into Dallas on Thursday, and my sister flew into Houston on Friday.  Then my sister flew out of Houston on Monday and I flew out of Dallas on Tuesday.

Needless to say my dad was glad to see us leave.

Just kidding!

I think.

4. Nobody on this planet finishes a prayer the way my 86 year old Granddaddy can.  Nobody.  It's good stuff.

Someone in my family needs to get this video taped before we can't video him anymore.

(You hear that family?)

5. Old friends are good friends.  Very good friends.  And seeing old friends is good.

6. Catching an Astros game at Minute Maid park with my dad.

I hadn't been to an Astros game since High School. And their new stadium is SO nice.

(*Fun fact alert!*  I've been going to Astros games since I was 6 months old!)

Incidentally, they also sell Blue Bell Ice Cream there. *swoon*

My favorite part of the night? Singing "Deep In The Heart of Texas" with a stadium full of Texans while looking at the Houston skyline at the 7th inning stretch.

Did my little pea-picking Texas heart good.

7. Seeing the newest statues around my hometown. (There were two additions since I'd been there in the Fall.)

The Nacogdoches Statue Trail provides visitors and townspeople alike with an understanding of some of the people and events that have played central roles in the city's history. (From the Visit Nacogodches website, mind you.)

The new Michael Boyett one blew my mind!

Totally captured the settler spirit.

The mother holding the baby was absolutely. amazing. (These pictures do it no justice.)

Nobody does statues as good as Michael Boyett.  Nuh-uh. No sir!

(And okay, I may have dated his oldest son at one point.)

(And okay, his youngest son may have threatened Lazy Dad the night he came home from our first date. They were roommates. And there were guns involved.)

Moving on!

8. Eating my Aunt's famous chicken and dressing.  You know she's right famous for it!

9. Seeing all my cousins again and meeting all their children at my Papa's 85th birthday celebration.  Up until my last Texas trip in the Fall, I had never met a single one of their sweet kiddos.

10.  Hearing my Papa share his salvation, baptism and wedding story in the very church it all happened in.

Priceless.

11.  SUNSHINE!!

12.  My Aunt's Texas-style birdhouse.

13.  Going through a tub of old keepsakes and stumbling across some old New Kids On the Block fan magazines!

Yup, all those things made this trip home to Texas extra special this time around.

That, and the fact I got to go alone!  (Shhh... don't tell Lazy Dad... or my kids.)

And when I was a little sad to have left God's Country when I got back to Toledo, Lazy Dad got me some yellow roses to cheer me up.

The Yellow Rose of Texas is the only girl for me!

Wait.  What?

Oh, never mind.

The Lazy Mom

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I Hate Gas Prices {Giveaway}

I don't know about you, but I HATE gas prices.  It gives me *angry eyes* when I see the prices go up the way they do.  *ANGRY EYES*, I tell you!

I figure the rest of you feel the way I do about gas prices, so when BlogHer sent me some info about the Fuel Rewards Network™ program, and the chance for one of my readers to win a $100 Shell Gift Card, I jumped on it for you!  Cause, you know, I love you and all.
Anyway!  The Fuel Rewards Network™ program - or FRN™ program - offers consumers a way to pay less for fuel at participating Shell stations nationwide by earning rewards on everyday purchases!  SCORE!!

Now, this isn't your grandma's rewards program... nope.  This program is unique because it allows you to combine multiple rewards offers (or cents per gallon rewards) together for potentially huge savings at the pump!  Woot!  I'm a total fan of huge savings! You?

And y'all, there are lots of ways to save by using your FRN Card! Check it out: 

• Shop Online: Access nearly 700 brand name online merchants offering at least 5¢/gal for every $50 you spend. Some may offer 2x, 5x, 10x rewards or more to multiply your savings! 
• Dine Out: Link a payment card to the Dining program and earn 10¢/gal for every $50 you spend at 10,000+ participating restaurants nationwide. 
• Buy Groceries: Depending on your location, you can link your local participating grocery store’s rewards card to your FRN Account and earn rewards on your grocery store purchases. 
• Get eCoupons: Select eCoupons at fuelrewards.com and earn Fuel Rewards® savings when the eCoupons items are subsequently purchased at participating grocery and drug stores. 
• Shop at Shell: Depending on your location, you can purchase specially marked products inside the convenience store as well as car washes or auto services at participating Shell stations to earn Fuel Rewards savings through the Shell® Fuel Rewards® program.

(All of the above is according to fuelrewards.com on 5/6/13.)

After perusing the Fuel Rewards Network program website, and armed with my new fuel rewards knowledge, I hightailed it over to a local Shell station to see what specially-marked convenience store products or services I could buy that would start to rack me up some rewards!

However, the store I walked into said they didn't have the special deals yet.  *sad face*

But they are supposed to be coming soon!  *happy face*

So instead, I took a picture of their store for you.

Because, seriously.  That's a clean looking store right there.  And I noticed their prices were lower than other convenience stores. I scored a 20oz bottle of water for 89 cents! And that's their regular price!

What? 

It's the little things in life.

Moving on!

If you aren't afraid of commitment and you're ready for a Shell relationship, then simply head over to the fuelrewards.com and click “Sign Up” to activate your FRN Card.  (You can also activate your FRN Card by downloading the FRN Mobile App for iPhone or Android.)

And FYI: The Fuel Rewards Network program is offered at Shell in addition to the existing grocer rewards programs with The Kroger Co. and Ahold. Consumers will redeem their Kroger Co. and Ahold rewards separately from Fuel Rewards savings issued through the Fuel Rewards Network program.

You can also learn more on the Fuel Rewards Network program Facebook page!

Now, to win that gift card!!

How would you benefit from the Fuel Rewards Network program? Enter to win a $100 Shell Gift Card.

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion, including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry" and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post.
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/6/2013-6/2/2013.

Be sure to visit the Fuel Rewards Network program page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

--
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Hi, I'm Lame. And You Are?

Peoples!

I'm SO excited.

Tomorrow I get to leave this frozen sunless land called Ohio and head to a warm, beautiful, God-filled place called Texas.

*snicker*

(Sorry, Ohio, I just couldn't help myself!)

Yes, today one of my Grandfather's turned 85, and I'm flying home tomorrow to be home for the weekend festivities!  Family I haven't seen in YEARS will all be there.  Should be an incredible time!

In preparation for my solo trip home (yup, the fam is staying here), I have been preparing a playlist of my all-time favorite country songs to keep me company.  These days I only listen to country when I'm in Texas (I mean, who goes to Texas and DOESN'T listen to country? I just can't do it!)

And in preparing my awesome playlist of old favs, I have come across some country music gold, my dear lazy people. GOLD! I tell you!

For instance, this old beauty of a song...

This was one of my favorites back in the day. It still makes me all gushy-like.

Speaking of gushy-like.... let's all swoon together over this other John Michael Montgomery hit:

Oh, I'm sorry, did you say something?  I was busy swooning.

*sniff* Such a good Trisha Yearwood one (sorry, LeAnne Rimes, Trisha's is better)!

And gosh, you can't go to Texas and NOT listen to these two guys....

 

Texas singing LEGENDS I tell you. 

Oh! I just about died when I ran across this one today. Love, love LOVE it....

What Might Have Been.  It KILLS me every time.

Another good one that causes more swooning....

Oh my!  SO many good ones.  I'm having too much fun making up playlists and reliving High School memories of me in my car belting these songs out to myself.

And just when you didn't think I could sink any lower into country gold playlists... I made an entire Texas inspired playlist.  These songs all involve the great state in some way.

I know, I know.  I'm beyond lame.

But this lame girl's excited!!!

Love,
The Lame Little Lazy Mom

P.S. What else should I add?!

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Photographic Evidence of My Frightening World-Changing Theory!

There's something strange happening around my house.

It's giving me great cause for alarm.

Panic.

Worry.

And yes, even a serious case of the the, *gulp*,  hibbie-jibbies.

Yup.  It's hibbie-jibbie serious.

I've slowly been noticing evidence of this alarming problem over the past several months.  It started off quietly.  Almost imperceptibly. 

But then BAM! It smacked me across the face.  Then another occurrence.  Then another!

Things were starting to get out of control.  My life wasn't making sense anymore.  My mind couldn't take in the mounting evidence I was stumbling upon!   *shudder*

I've taken the liberty to photograph the evidence so as to document the unfolding, world-changing, ramifications.  Take a look for yourselves.... if you dare.

Exhibit A: packages of lunch meat unsealed.

Exhibit B: Packages of cheese unsealed.

And just when you think there might be a recurring theme here, check out Exhibit C:

Yes, even bread bags weren't safe from this sweeping food-spoiling epidemic.

I was beginning to realize the source of this problem.  Yes, the light was starting to dawn.  But I needed more proof.  After all, how many people would believe me, would believe my theory, with just three picture documentations?

And then it happened.  Just when I was beginning to think this problem was contained within the confines of our refrigerator.  Poof!  More evidence!  NOT IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

Yes.  That was the final proof I needed to expose the source of my fear to the world!  I could now prove that...

that...

MY CHILDREN MUST NOT HAVE OPPOSABLE THUMBS!

Ahhhhhhhhh!

The horror!!!  The horror!!!!

Children with no opposable thumbs.  I have documented proof people.

And... and.... I think I know where they get it from...... Their father!

Noooooooo!

The horror!!!  Pray for me, people, PRAY FOR ME!!!!

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Kitchen Revamp Advice

Yesterday I got some really great advice on my whole kitchen revamp post. You all left comments, emailed me, left messages on Facebook.  I truly appreciated it!

(And okay, it made me feel a little loved.) *smile*

The resounding message I heard was "WHITE?! EEK! It shows everything!!"

And I hear you.  I share your concern on that.

I also heard from some of you that with my white appliances, my kitchen may look too sterile with white cabinets.

So I thought it best to show you what Lazy Dad and I are gunning for so you can see what we like about the ideas I tossed out yesterday.

For those of you who haven't stalked me, you don't know that my house has a very "cottagey" look to it.  It's small on the outside, but much bigger on the inside.  From the street it looks like a little green cottage.  Our family has affectionately dubbed it the green Monopoly house.

Actually, it was my friend Tami who mentioned our house had a cottage look to it when we first bought it.  And it was my friend Carrie who first called it a green Monopoly house.

At any rate, we thought we'd continue to run with the cottage feel our house seems to exude, by making the kitchen look more cottage-like.

For instance, in the cottage genre of kitchens, this is the look we like:

photo credit: ferncreekcottage.come

We LOVE the butcher block counters (I think I even prefer the dark finish like the one pictured). I also love the use of bead board as a backsplash.  Bead board is SOOOO cottagey, no?  In fact, it already graces our bathroom.

I also like the country feel of it.  Reminds me of living in the country and Texas and that homey feel.

Here's another one that caught my eye:

Photo credit: indulgy.com

I like how the white appliances blend in with the cabinets instead of sticking out like a sore thumb.  I also like the white tiled backsplash which is so making a comeback from the good ol' days.

Photo credit: dcdcabinets.com

Oh, how I wish I had a window over my kitchen sink!  I love this look.  I love the old-style door pulls.  I love the counters (again).

Another thing I love in these cottage style kitchens are the fun that can be had with pops of color.  For instance:

Photo credit: plainfancycabinetry.com

I don't know if I'm that bold, and I definitely don't have room for a lovely kitchen island, but I jut love how everything else is white and BAM! Color is thrown at you.

I love how this following one uses dishes to add that punch of color:

Photo credit: houzz.com

I also love the open shelving idea, but I have two realistic thoughts about that.

Thought #1: I would NEVER be able to keep it a cluttered-free heap of a mess.
Thought #2: Maybe if my shelves were that simple, I would HAVE to keep it a cluttered-free heap of a mess.

Now this picture gives a different appealing idea from the whole beadboard or white tile backsplash:

Photo credit: the inspiredroom.net

Marble!  I like it!  Easy to wipe down!

This one plays again off of the punch of color idea in cottage style kitchens.  I like it!

Photo credit: sherimhoward.com

But I keep coming back to the use of bead board, butcher block countertops and old-style drawer pulls.

Photo credit: homedreams.net

Not sure I like the off-white cabinets though?

Now, here's another take on the bead board... make it the punch of color!

Photo credit: elledecor.com

That's kind of fun!

I also love how cottage style kitchens often have freestanding hutches.  But I don't have room for that. *sad face*

So yeah... not sure what we're going to do.  But it's fun dreaming, isn't it?

What's your thoughts now that you see why we are heading into a cottage-type feel?

How do I turn this:

Into this:

Photo credit: pinterest.com

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