It’s been a whirlwind around here.  Yesterday, I was making all sorts of appetizers and dips for my annual Ladies Night Out Open House.  With that being said, some of my favorites will be reflecting what my friends/vendors were selling last night at my open house.

1.  My Origami Owl locket – Until about a month ago, I had no idea what Origami Owl was. (For those of you wondering, no.  It’s not little owls made from savvy origami creators.  It’s a jewelry line with lots of great lockets and charms and the list goes on.)  So, my bestie started selling it and this is my locket that tells my story.

My locket…love this

I have:  the large silver living locket with crystals, 30″ silver custom box chain, a large plate that says family, the M and N for our boys’ names (Maxim and Nate), a cross to symbolize my love for Jesus, the word love, infinity because it has special meaning to me, the birthstones of Nate and Maxim, and the birthstone for June (the month we got married.  And because I wanted three colors.)  Add a dangle and a pearl and walllaaah!  I just love it.  Here is the party link if you’d like to order online…the party is open through Monday. http://scharesfrancy.origamiowl.com/parties/AngelaPatterson326180/collections.ashx

2.  My large utility tote – Yes, I sell Thirty-One.  I have many of their totes and bags.  And this bag is my all-time favorite/most used.  I have different colors and this new Navy Wave color is so nautical and summery looking.  (I had no idea that summery is actually a word, until now.  I just looked it up.  It is.)  I use the large utility tote for ball games (throw a blanket in, some snacks, a picnic thermal tote fits in it for juice boxes, take some toys along, & bug spray…I could live for a week out of the contents of that bag alone).  You can shop online under my name and the party link through Sunday night.  http://www.mythirtyone.com/AngelaPatterson

My Thirty-One bag…I love this large utility tote!

And now for some other things, that weren’t at my party last night.

3.  Bath & Body Works Foam Soap – these summertime scents are sooooo wonderful.  I love the coconut scents or the summer floral scents.  And, I am proud to say that our boys are fine hand-washers…probably because we always have these type of soaps at all of our sinks.

Bath & Body Works hand soaps…summer scents!

4.  ICED (skinny) White Chocolate Mocha – oh my.  I tried this about a week ago, while meeting my  preschool mom friends at Coffeesmiths.  I’ve gotta be honest.  I wasn’t so sure about getting the iced coffee thing.  Remember.  I just started liking coffee this past fall.  But I tried it.  And I liked it.  Really liked it.  So, this is a new fav of mine…

5.  Baseball – I love this sport.  (You may recall how I wanted to be a ball player’s wife when I grew up from a previous post.  http://http://angelabanae.com/a-dentist-a-football-player-and-a-singer-weve-all-got-dreams/)  Well, I love baseball and watching our boys is just such a delight.  (Though I’ll be honest with you.  Sometimes, it’s painful.  T-ball is fun, but that game can move SO. SLOW.  And even 3rd graders…when they play bigger kids that have a lot more experience than our team…it makes a mom’s heart droop a little.)    When we left t-ball practice the other night, Maxim was still all about being in uniform. Hence wearing the batter’s helmet.  In the car.  And no, I wasn’t driving reckless.  He just loves being a ball player.  Nate was pretty pumped up about getting to be the big kid at practice, too.  They were still ALL GAME twenty minutes after ball practice was over, even though we were in the Target parking lot when I snapped this picture.

Baseball anyone?

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6.  Bubble gum cigarettes – I know.

Bubble gum smokerettes anyone?

I am being so unpolitically correct here.  No, I don’t smoke.  No, I am not encouraging our kids to do so, but I remember these babies growing up.  Don’t you?  You’d get a bubble gum pack of cigs and puff on it like you were all BOSS.  Or Ponyboy from the Outsiders.  Well, last week when Nate and I had our date night so Maxim and Daddy could be at his preschool Father’s Night, we went to the candy store.  And Nate wanted the bubble gum cigarettes.  So, being the good mother that I am…I bought them for him.  And a pack for Maxim.  Of course, we had “the talk”.  I told them how he will never want to smoke or it’ll turn his lungs black.  And, I shared this with Maxim, too.  But it was kid fun and after the bubble gum was all chewed, Maxim informed us that “he wasn’t going to have smokerettes when he was older.  And he wasn’t going to have chewbacco either”.  Nate said he wasn’t going to smoke, either.  Good.  Because we’ve told them that they won’t be able to run fast and we all know that running fast is very important.  So is having healthy lungs.  We’ll just have bubble gum cigs and healthy lungs, please.

7.  Monster Cookie Dough Dip – Okay.  This stuff is super incredible.  Here are the ingredients you need to make a double batch.  (Note to self:  Unless you are feeding oh, say 583 people, don’t make a double batch.  Because it makes a lot.)

Ingredients for a double batch of Monster Cookie Dough Dip

Here is the recipe for a SINGLE batch, which will be plenty (unless you have all 583 of those people stopping by).

Monster Cookie Dough Dip

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 c. powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. oats (quick or regular)
1 c. miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. Reese’s Pieces (mini or regular size)

Mix cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in brown sugar and powdered sugar. Mix well. Fold in oats, mini chocolate chips, and Reese’s Pieces.

Serve with vanilla wafers or graham cracker sticks and enjoy!

The yummy Monster Cookie Dough Dip

That wraps up this week’s favorites!!  Hope you can make some yummy Monster Cookie Dough Dip.  Or take a trip back to the days of old and puff on a bubble gum cigarette.  Then, top it off with an iced coffee drink.  You’ll be thanking me for all of these great recommendations.  Or at least your lungs will.

Have a great weekend!