Loaded Baked Potato Salad Recipe

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Our local Costco has the b.e.s.t. potato salad. Rather than go broke, I started fiddling around, trying to come up with a similar recipe.

Oh…the yumminess in all the attempts was much fun.

Want to taste the goodness too? You know you want to…

Loaded Baked Potato Salad Recipe

{makes as much as you are willing to share with others}

Ingredients

~ 3 pounds of small, red potatoes, washed and chunked

~ 1 1/2 cups of sour cream

~ 1/2 cup mayonnaise

~ 1 tsp. salt

~ 1/4 tsp. black pepper

~ 1/4 tsp. granulated garlic

~ 1/2 lb. bacon, cooked and chopped

~ 6 green onions, diced

~ 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

 

Directions

1. Cut red potatoes into chunks. Boil until potatoes are just shy of being cooked. Drain.

2. While potatoes are cooking, mix sour cream, mayonnaise, spices, green onions, and bacon together.

3. Mix potatoes in with sour cream mixture. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.

4. Add shredded cheese to cooled mixture and mix well.

5. Chill until ready to serve. Enjoy!

Like the recipe? Feel free to pin it and share with your friends!

The Bible in 90 Days…Again

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Yes. I have read the Bible in 90 Days before. With WONDERFUL success. Which is why when I saw a few tweets going around today I thought, “Why not?”

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, there’s a group reading through the Bible in 90 Days. If you thought about it before, can I just encourage you…

DO IT!!!

It has been an amazingly wonderful process for me ~ enough so that I honestly look forward to doing it again.

I’m splitting up the reading between my new Bible {so I can make some mark-ups in it} and keeping track of my reading using YouVersion {did you know they have a Bible in 90 Days reading plan?? If you don’t use YouVersion, you can also download this handy bookmark to print off and stick in your Bible.

Want to read along too?

Opportunity {Five Minute Friday}

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{go}

The total the cashier gave me at the register of Lowe’s made me gasp. Really? It didn’t seem like I had purchased that many flowers.

And then I realized there were bunches of window boxes still left to plant and fill. Yikes.

I stood at home a bit later and looked at the barren and pitiful looking boxes on my deck. Knowing how much it would cost to fill them made my heart hurt.

Especially after looking in the face of poverty, knowing the hope that a few dollars offers, and contemplating the true value of my money.

Yes, I want my home to look beautiful {and it’s ok to have it be pretty}. But this year {and maybe in years to come as well}, we’re going to take the opportunity to share the beauty with another family.

The flowers may not abound in the window boxes, but as I plant some herb seeds and leave one box barren, the new sprouts will be a daily be reminder of TRUE beauty and the opportunity to make an eternal difference in the life of a child.

{stop}

Five Minute Fridays is hosted by The Gypsy Mama and is a meme where we write for only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Join in here…

Camping at Natural Chimneys

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Although this wasn’t the first time we’ve gone camping this year, it was a trip we all enjoyed. And relaxed.

Natural Chimneys was beautiful and we had a PERFECT weekend. There were only a handful of campers on the grounds. The weather was truly amazing. While we didn’t have wifi, we did have electricity and somehow we all survived. 

With citronella candles handy to ward off hungry mosquitos.

Long hikes to see amazing and breathtaking views.

Moments realizing how little we are in the scope of things.

Near heart-attack moments as you watch your sons teeter on the brink of the fire pit. Sigh.

This momma is loving camping. Most of the time.

In Too Deep by Mary Connealy {Book Review}

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Colorado 1866.

Ethan Kincaide may not have planned to get married to Audra Gilliand, but somehow the proposal and marriage happened in what seemed like mere moments.

Literally.

The worlds rolled off his tongue. He was just trying to help in what was a dire situation. But now he has a wife and two children and finds himself in a place he never anticipated ~ a growing love.

His main concern his Audra’s safety and protection from the dangers that follow her and the family. He also wants to protect his heart. Others he’s loved have been hurt before and he is fearful the same will happen to Audra.

Audra hasn’t had the easiest life and has been mistreated by men for as long as she has been alive, so Ethan’s help is something she doubts. She believes she can care for herself and her children, but little by little she opens herself up to trusting again.

But will it be in time? 

My Thoughts

In Too Deep by Mary Connealy is the second book in the Kincaid Bride series, although it can easily be read as a stand-alone. Of course, after reading this one, I wanted to go back and find out more of the back story behind several of the other characters ~ and look forward to the final book in the series as well.

At times, Ethan comes across as a bit simple-minded, but as the story progresses, you realize the defenses that he has developed over the years because of hurts in his past. The characters will draw you in and make you want to know more about them.

Overall In Too Deep is an easy read, perfect for summer reading {ok, anytime reading and with a bit of mystery added in for good measure, it will leave you wanting the next book right away.

Or at least grabbing the first book in the series until you can get your hands on the last one!

 

Find Out More

~ Visit Mary Connealy’s website to find out more about her books and series.

~ Buy In Too Deep by Mary Connealy in paperback or Kindle format.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House. All opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Jet Lag and Tanzania

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This past week I’ve been in Tanzania with Compassion International and as much as I thought I would be posting little blurbs here all week, well….

I’ll admit that I forgot. Can I blame it on jet lag?

Please?

I cannot even begin to describe here {or we’d be here forever}, all that I have seen, absorbed and realized in this last week. But I can share with you a few posts and pictures to get you started until I have time to sit down and full process all that God has put on my heart this week. In the meantime, here’s some food for thought…

Sweet Songs of Praise {Day 1}

Hope and Vision {Day 2}

A Little Child Shall Lead Them {Day 2 part 2}

The Difference a Gift Can Make {Day 3}

In Which I Cry Again {Day 4}

The Hands and Feet of Jesus {Day 5}

Would you like to help make the difference in the life of a child? Sponsor a child through Compassion International and begin helping fight the poverty of others.

If you have sponsored a child this week {or before}, would you let me know? I would love to pray for you and your child too!