How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag {A Lazy Mom Recipe}

A couple of summer's ago I took the kids to a library event where they made their very own ice cream in a bag! 

I shared the recipe with you on my Lazy Mom Radio Show last summer, but seeing as I'm not doing the show anymore and most of you probably didn't hear it, I thought it was high time I shared this fun little Lazy KID recipe on my blog!

Ice Cream in a Bag

Ice cream ingredients:
1 Tbs sugar
1/2 cup milk or half and half
1/4 tsp vanilla

You will also need:
1/2 cup rock salt
quart size plastic bags
gallon size plastic bags
ice

Pour the ice cream ingredients (can you believe that's all ice cream is?) into a quart size plastic bag and seal.  (Side note: I'm sure the fattier the milk is, the better the ice cream will turn out.)

Then take a gallon plastic bag and fill it half way with ice.  Add in the rock salt.  Place the sealed quart size bag in the gallon bag and seal the gallon bag and shake!  Shake, shake, shake.... shake, shake, shake.... shake your booty! (Oh sorry, KC & The Sunshine Band moment there.) 

Shake the bag until you see the ingredients in the quart size bag looking like ice cream!  And viola'!  You've just made ice cream in a bag!

Open the quart size bag, let your kids throw in their favorite toppings and hand them a spoon!  Eating ice cream out of the bag is the Lazy Mom Way, after all. *wink*

Photo Credit: Craft Gossip

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In Case You Didn't Know

In case you didn't know the truth about Angry Birds. I've uncovered it for you.

You're welcome.

In case you didn't know that Disney sends us mixed messages, I thought you'd like to see a sign I stumbled upon in their park.

Wait.  I thought Disney WANTED us to feed the birds.  I'm so confused.

In case you didn't know that I'm Tom Hanks' cousin, I thought I'd remind you one more time.

I'm Tom Hanks' closest and dearest cousin. *ahem*

In case you didn't know it was Lazy Dad's birthday last week, it was Lazy Dad's birthday last week.

And yes, I made him that there cake.  It's my infamous chocolate birfday cake that I ONLY make on birfdays.  Cause I'm too lazy to make it the rest of the year.

In case you didn't know that I walked in a parade on Father's Day, I took this picture as proof.  You know, so you'd believe me.

Not that I'm in it.  Or that anyone else could have taken it.  Doh!

In case you didn't know that I saw the most glorious site on the interstate on our way home from Florida, I thought I'd share it with you.

Do you hear the angels singing?  Cause I can. 

I nearly begged this truck driver to follow me home.  But I figured that probably wasn't appropriate.

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Mm, mm, mm!

While we were in Florida we ate good, people.  As in REAL GOOD.

If you haven't been to Red Lobster in a while, then might I remind you of something?

This:

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!  Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits are reason enough to eat at your nearest location soon, but in case you needed more reasons, I caught wind (a nice garlicky, cheesy biscuit wind) that Red Lobster has a $14.99 deal that you won't want to miss!

Their Four Course Seafood Feast is back for a limited time and tempts you with such fabulous things as: soup, salad, one of 7 entree's, and a dessert, all for $14.99!  And don't forget those yummy biscuits!  Now that's a good deal!

HELLO GORGEOUS!

Jumbo Coconut and Pineapple-Grilled Shrimp

Not a seafood person?  Then let me just tempt you with somewhere else we ate on vacation.

Oh yes that's right, Olive Garden.

My brother's family and my family had a little room all to ourselves there and at GOOD.  Like family good.  (Well, technically we are family, but Olive Garden treated us like family too.)

Awww, yeah.....

And guess what y'all?

Olive Garden has a hot new special out for a limited time as well!  2 for $25 Italian Dinner!  Choose TWO entree's, TWO appetizers or one dessert made for sharing, unlimited soup or salad and bread sticks all for $25!  BAM!  That's some good eatin'!

So quick!  Visit your nearest Red Lobster or Olive Garden soon!

Disclosure: Olive Garden and Red Lobster were one of my June road trip sponsors. They did not ask me to write this post and all opinions expressed are my own.

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LEGOLAND Florida, how I love thee. (As you can see in my highlight video)

During our June road trip to Florida, we made a MAJOR stop at a place I was MOST excited about visiting.  In fact, I think I was more excited than the kids in the family!  I had been anticipating this visit since the opening of LEGOLAND® Florida in October of last year.

This LEGO® brand theme park is PERFECT for kids 12 and under. Which everyone in our group was, so it basically rocked their world. In fact, all the kids said that their favorite part of our road trip was LEGOLAND® Florida (even over other area theme parks)!

Some MAJOR highlights of our visit was the LEGOLAND® Miniland USA.  I can't even imagine how many thousands, or more than likely, millions of LEGO® bricks went in to making this whole entire area!

The LEGO® City Ford Driving School area was a HUGE hit with the kids.  They couldn't believe they really got to drive cars around!  And the parents thought it was such a good lesson for them!

Of course, the roller coasters were perfect for our kids as well.  Their favorite ended up being the LEGO® Technic™ Coaster. They road it over and over and over!

Another huge hit with the entire family was the Kid Power Towers.  Kids and adults alike couldn't get enough of it!

Also during our visit we noticed several notable things. 

First, how clean the park was, the several very large shady trees that made the park one of the prettiest I've seen, and also LEGOLAND's attention to the environment by spotting things like these on the trash cans and benches.

We also saw a couple of signs in their food venues that said they buy local produce.  Pretty cool!

Secondly, after several crowded days of being at other Central Florida theme parks, LEGOLAND® Florida wasn't nearly as overcrowded.  The lines were much shorter and we saw way fewer meltdowns from kids (and parents!) at this park because of it!

 

One more thing I really enjoyed was the "Island in the Sky" ride.  This ride is a 150-foot rotating platform that gives guests a 360° view of LEGOLAND® Florida.  It's been an icon in the sky over Winter Haven Florida for nearly 3 decades from it's previous park, Cypress Gardens.  I thought it was so cool that LEGOLAND® kept this as a part of their new park!

So okay, enough chit chat, check out our highlight video of our day and plan your trip to LEGOLAND® Florida today!

(video)
Disclosure: LEGOLAND Florida was one of our June road trip sponsors. They did not ask me to write this post and all opinions expressed are my own.

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These Aren't Your Typical Easter Portraits, Baby.

Each year at our church we offer free family portraits on Easter Sunday.  We figure that since everyone is already dressed up, and their family is all together anyway, it's the perfect Sunday to do it!

But the only reason we are able to pull this off is because we just happen to have one of the BEST professional photographers at our church, and she is generous enough to do this every year for us.  (Thanks Brenda!)

Yesterday I finally got around to looking at the Easter Photos she took of our family this year.  We were the first ones to go (let's call it a Pastor-has-got-to-preach-so-take-him-first perk) so as she did the lighting check, we sorta kinda had some fun with it.

We did take some good ones.

Eventually.

Everyone waiting to take their family portraits after us had a lot to live up to! But at least they had a bit of a show to watch to pass the time.

Big shout out to Memories Captured by Brenda! She ROCKS!

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Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings {A Lazy Mom Recipe}

So my sweet friend Charlotte gave me a great Lazy Mom Recipe that I've been meaning to share with you.  And BONUS! It's a crock pot recipe!!

I love crock pot recipes because, uh, their LAZY.  And that's the kind of cooking I do best.  Lazy cooking.

So here we go!

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
4 to 5 chicken breasts (boneless)
2 family size Campbell Cream of Chicken Soup
onion - diced fine (or use this Lazy Mom onion tip)
2 tablespoons butter
2 10 oz tube biscuits

Put first four ingredients in crock pot on high for 5 hours.  30 minutes before eating, tear biscuits up into small pieces and place on top and cover for last 30 minutes of cooking.

You could also add in a bag of frozen mixed veggies, or other veggies you may like in it. 

Photo Credit: All Recipes

It's that easy! 

Or should I say, lazy!

Have a Lazy Mom Recipe to share?  Find out what makes it lazy by clicking on the submit a recipe button that drops down under 'submit' at the top of this blog!

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Like the Fourth Child I Never Had. Er, uh, Something Like That. {Vlog}

It's a sad, sad day here at the Lazy Household.

Our family road trip has come to an end. NOOOOOOO!

We're all on vacation detox here people, and it ain't pretty.

But the saddest news of all is that today Chrysler is picking up their 2012 Grand Caravan R/T that they loaned us for our road trip.  *sniff*

I've grown to love it like another member of our family.  Like the fourth child I never had.  Except not.

Wait.  What?

Let's just say I've gotten attached.

Yes, I'm totally attached to the back-up camera (that would have been SO handy several years ago when I backed over my stroller leaving church. Don't worry, there wasn't a child in it.), and the remote car starter (be still my heart!), and the steering wheel warmer (yes, I did use it once even though we were in Florida).

I'm also seriously attached to the Sirius Satellite Radio in it. Let's just say I jammed out to the 90's on 9 to keep me awake during my leg of the driving. And then when Lazy Dad took over I said, "Buh-buh-but, their playing the top 40 count down of this week back in 1994 and I have to finish listening to it!"

And so I did.

Because I was in highschool in the 90's and I know all the songs from 1990 to 1996 by heart.

And I haven't heard them since 1996. So I jammed them out. Baby.

Anyway, because of my attachments to this car, I've made a video to say goodbye to it.  It's a music video.  Cause that seemed the best way for me to grieve this loss that was never really mine.  Or an actual fourth child.  But whatever.

Are you following this?

Me neither.

Just watch this video and hold me while I cry, mkay? 

(video)

I have more fun things to tell you about our trip, but until then, I must go sit and cry in this beautiful van until they come and haul me out of it.

With any luck they won't know how to get a crying woman who's duct taped herself to a vehicle that's not hers as she mumbles incoherently about some fourth child she never had when they get here.

Here's hoping!

Disclosure: Chrysler is one of our June road trip sponsors. They did not ask me to make this video and all opinions expressed are my own.

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What's that? You can drive a van and still be manly? {Vlog}

Uh, oh there's a new vlog in town, but this one doesn't star me, it stars LAZY DAD!

*gasp!*

Pop some popcorn....

Turn up the volume....

Schedule something girly to do....

Cause you've never seen such manliness before!

(video)

Disclosure: Chrysler is one of our June road trip sponsors. They did not ask me to make this video and all opinions expressed are my own.

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Speakeasies, Star Wars, Roller Coasters and Death Scenes!

We've been quite busy down here in Florida.  My sister and her family joined us for two days, so my parents kept all the grand kids while the "adult children," as we are now all known, went out for some fun!

We hit up Capone's Dinner and Show.  It's a gangster type "speak easy" where you have to tell the lady at the door the secret password to get into the joint.

Then we had to have our mug shot taken, which, wouldn't you know, made the front page of the paper.

Doesn't my brother-in-law in the middle look a bit "shady?"

It was fun adult entertainment, but I would not deem Capone's family friendly, so just an FYI, I wouldn't take kids there!

We've also been busy going to Disney World.  My brother and his wife are both school teachers and they pack up their family every summer and move to Orlando while my brother works at Disney.  It's for that reason that we've been fortunate enough to come here this year and last year to "do Disney." So thanks brother!!

This weekend was one of Disney's Hollywood Studios® Star Wars Weekends.  Look who was nice enough to greet us at the gate!

Wasn't that so nice of them?

And then we saw these guys around the park as well.

It was pretty freakin' awesome.

Also while we were there, my family talked me into riding the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster®.

You should know, I don't do roller coasters, unless they have no loops, corkscrews, drops, twists, turns or anything generally related to roller coasting.

But they assured me that if I could handle Universal Studios® Woody the Woodpecker kiddie coaster and Disney's Magic Kingdom® Big Thunder Mountain coaster (which I think may also be deemed a kiddie coaster) then I could totally handle the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster®.  So I trusted them.

And that was my first mistake.

This picture was taken right when I started crying out to Jesus.

Which, incidentally, is the VERY beginning of the ride.

I would also like to point out the fact that I am surrounded by children who are NOT feeling the need to cry out to Jesus.

After this picture I then started repeating over and over in my head, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me...."

What?

ALL things means ALL things, right?

I don't see where it says, "I can do all things, except roller coasters, through Christ who strengthens me" do you?!

So there!

Let's move on.

Now I know this will come as a big shock to you, but Lazy Dad was chosen to do the "death scene" in the Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular AGAIN this year.  Remember last year's performance?  This years was even better people.

At some point I'll have to put up the video of it.  It's some of his best work.

So that's what's been keeping us busy down here!  Tomorrow we hit LEGOLAND® Florida! I'm SUPER excited about that!

Oh! And I'm working on a new vlog that stars none other than LAZY DAD himself!! That will hopefully be up tomorrow for your viewing pleasure. So don't miss it!

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The Fun is Universal! (and we have video proof!)

Yesterday we hit Universal Orlando Resort. And we hit it hard. BAM!

Did you know that there are two parks there?  We were able to do Universal's Islands of Adventure® and Universal Studios® and both were equally fun!

I mean, where else can you see The Blues Brothers driving down the street people?!

There is so much to do at both parks, that trying to squeeze it all into one day was near impossible.  There were some things we just didn't get to.

But one of the best things we discovered at Universal was their Meal Deal!  I don't know of any other theme park that does this kind of thing.

We had packed sandwiches to eat out at the car between parks, but when we caught wind of their Meal Deal, we couldn't beat the value!

We bought the two-park meal deal for our family and were able to eat all day long at select restaurants in both parks!  It was amazing.  And the variety of food at each of the participating theme park restaurants was just enough to make it really worth it.

I would highly recommend it!

My 7yo loved the Suess Landing™ area of Universal's Islands of Adventure®!

Now something else you could purchase in the park was their Universal Express passes that let you bypass the regular lines at each ride and skip ahead.  We did not purchase the Universal Express passes and we ended up having mixed reviews on it. 

We found that the Universal Express passes would have only been worth purchasing if you wanted to do all the major rides - roller coasters, and anything in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ (the busiest part of the park!).  But we aren't Harry Potter people and only my boys like roller coasters, so we were A-OK without a Universal Express pass.  The majority of lines and waits weren't bad at all without them!  But again, it depends on what you are coming there to do and what time of year it is.

The SpongeBob store was full of funny signs!

Two other things we really enjoyed at the Universal Studios® park was their brand spankin' new daytime parade and nighttime show. 

Universal's Superstar Parade was really fun to watch go by (as you'll see in the video below!) and Universal's Cinematic Spectacular that celebrates 100 years of movie memories was a great end to the day! (Although, there is a short montage of horror movies in it, so our kids covered their eyes for that section of it.)

But before I show you our fun-filled video of our day, I have to mention one other hidden jewel we discovered in the Universal Studios® park - Woody Woodpecker's KidZone®!

We didn't get around to visitng this area of the park until almost closing time, and we were all amazed at the hidden fun back in this section!  Especially for families with younger kids, it's fabulous!

In the Fievel's Playland® there is a whole slip sliding ride your kids can sail down among the other slides and play area there.  The kids loved it!

And Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster® was perfect for little coaster riders in our family.  They rode it over and over and over!  I even rode it! (Kid coaster's are the only ones I'll do!)

And then next to that, is the Curious George Goes to Town splash area!  Pack your kids' swimsuits for this one!

I SO wish we had hit this part of the park earlier in the day.  Perfect for young kids!

But enough talk!  Check out our fun-filled day for yourself and then make plans to visit Universal Orlando Resort® soon!


(video)
Disclosure: Universal Orlando Resort is one of our June road trip sponsors, but all opinions expressed are my own.

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We Be Here!

After driving through the night on Saturday we arrived here in Kissimmee Florida Sunday afternoon!  That was a LOOOOONG drive people.  But we had our GPS in the Grand Caravan R/T to guide us along.  It has a "My Trips" feature that is really cool!

Lazy Dad rocking the "man van."

The kids did a lot of this on the drive down.

Having a DVD player in the car = pure "mouth-open-glazed-eyed" bliss.

But the kids also did other creative things on the drive down.  Like sleep.

What? Dreaming while you sleep is creative, isn't it?

But they also actively used Lazy Mom Tip #18 on the trip as well.  My daughter made me a necklace and matching bracelet to wear.

So see? Creativity was totally used.

Also on the way down, we stopped at a lot of Pilot Flying J's.

Talk about a nice chain of convenient stores.  Definitely family friendly!

And then lookie what we discovered once we arrived in Kissimmee... Jesus has truly smiled upon me!

*angels singing*

Disclosure: Chrysler and Pilot Flying J are two of our road trip sponsors, all opinions expressed are my own.

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