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How To Build a Hot Dog Bar for Summer BBQs

“It’s no sin to get sauce on your chin.” – Bishop Tutu… As you’ve probably noticed lately, I love any excuse to entertain. As soon as the weather turns warmer, it’s time to spruce up the patio with some fun summer accessories, take the cover off of the pool and the grill, and get ready to party. Summer entertaining brings together all of my favorite things – spending time outdoors in the sun, relaxing and laughing with my favorite friends and family, and of course – great food! Everything tastes better when it’s cooked on a grill, right?

Grillin' Kosher Hot Dogs

“Give a man a barbecue, feed him for a day; Teach a man to barbecue and feed him for the summer.” – Unknown

At our house, we grill just about everything… From BBQ’d chicken and ribs, to foil packets of fresh veggies straight from my garden. And of course, a regular request at my house is for hot dogs – to me, a great grilled dog just tastes like summer, you know? So to celebrate the sunshine this weekend, we decided to do a full Hot Dog Bar, with loads of toppings and extras that everyone could add to our favorite dogs – Hebrew National. I’ve been on a mission for a couple of years now to help my family live a little cleaner, and a little greener, but making small changes. When Mike’s daughters visited a plant that makes and packages hot dogs for a school assignment last year – they came back refusing to eat them ever again after what they saw go into them. And after learning more, I had to agree. So I searched out a better option, and found it in Hebrew National – their products are so much better, without all of the yucky fillers and additives found in cheaper hot dogs. And I love it when a switch is not only better for my families health – but tastes better too!

how to build a hot dog bar

How to Build a Hot Dog Bar

For this little backyard shindig, we decided to build up a hot dog bar – my brother grilled up a ton of Hebrew National dogs in a few different varieties, and I put together enough toppings that everyone could make their own hot dog creation. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • The Italian {Pizza Dog}: Pour pizza sauce into a hot dog bun. Add shredded cheese, pepperoni slices, and olives. Top it with a freshly grilled dog, and enjoy. The kids love these!!
  • The Mexican: This is my favorite – Mix some taco seasoning into your mayo, to make it spicier. Schmear a bit on your bun, add your hot dog, then sprinkle with a mexican blend cheese, jalapenos, and salsa. Sooo good!
  • The Russian: This is always a favorite with the guys… Spread a  bit of cream cheese on a toasted bun, then add your hot dog. Smother it with a pile of sweet relish, and sauerkraut. It’s messy, but they tell me it’s good stuff!

In addition to the above ingredients, you’ll want to make sure to have basic condiments like mayo, ketchup, and a few types of mustard. We also like to have a big crock pot of chilli, bowls of olives, pickles, tomatoes, and grilled onions, and fun sauces like ranch, pesto, sour cream, and bbq sauce. We also like to get a few varieties of buns, since everyone has a different favorite style. The more there is to choose from, the more creative everyone gets. And to encourage creativity, we always give out a prize for the best hot dog creation of the day. Want to see this parties winner?

hot diggity dog

“No great barbecue was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Meet the winner – My little Hot Diggity Dog, made from Hebrew National Franks. Pretty cute, right? {Yep, this idea was all mine – I made him in secret, while everyone was outside grillin’ and chattin’}. All I did was cut up a couple of hot dogs, and put him together with toothpicks. His friendly eyes are a couple of tiny olive slices. And he’s frolicking around in the summer sun on a bed of lettuce. The kids thought this was the coolest thing…

summer grilling and kosher dogs

How do YOU enjoy Hebrew National?

Hebrew National is running a very cool promotion on their Facebook page – they want you to “Snap-and-Share” Hebrew National Franks. So, while you’re enjoying summer fun, watch for any time that Hebrew National’s are being served, and snap a pic to share! Photo contest participants will be entered to win a weekly grocery store gift card prize for all their summer BBQ needs, and there’s also a grand prize ball game trip to New York City for two! Here’s how you enter: Visit the Hebrew National Facebook page. Click on ‘Snap & Share’ and LIKE the page to enter the contest. Start the hunt for Hebrew National! Easy peasy.

weiner dogs

Hebrew Nationals look so good, even these dogs get jealous…. Lol.

100% Kosher Hot Dogs

Hebrew National tastes great because, for more than 100 years, we’ve adhered to the highest quality standards. Hebrew National all-beef franks contain no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no by-products, and no fillers. That’s our guarantee. They are made with premium cuts of 100% pure kosher beef and provide premium taste and high quality every time, for any occasion.

Share your favorite hot dog recipe with me in the comments!

{Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Hebrew National via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Hebrew National.}

 

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Get some wind in your sails…

“A lot of people ask me if I were shipwrecked, and could only have one book, what would it be? I always say ‘How to Build a Boat.” – Stephen Wright… Ah, boating. Just the thought of a day out on the water – cruising around on any type of boat, discovering new places you can only find while exploring out in the water, enjoying that feeling of the wind in your hair and the sunshine on your face – followed up by a refreshing dip in the lake. There is just not much in life that gets better than a day spent boating with good friends and family.

The joy of a boat on a lake

Discover Boating with Your Family

We don’t have a boat of our own, although it’s a serious goal of ours. I have so many amazing memories that are connected to boating… Being a little girl, out for a day of fishing on the boat with my dad and grandpa. Those crazy-fun weekends out on the water that I used to have with my friends, in our early 20’s. And I can’t wait for the chance to enjoy time out on the lake with my own family… Right now, we have to settle for good times with friends who invite us to join them when they go boating. And don’t get me wrong – I LOVE it. But I can’t wait until we’re able to find the perfect family boat to enjoy on our own. So – to help us along with that goal, I found a great site called DiscoverBoating.com. I love the tools and resources there, and think think that they might be super helpful to you busy mommas too. Let me tell ya a little more about what you’ll find there…

bunch of boats on the water

Planning Your Families Perfect Boating Adventure

A boat is a pretty major investment – but it’s the kind of investment that is accessible to just about everyone; with a little bit of research, a little bit of saving, and a lot of passion for the water, anyone can afford to give their family some super fun boating adventures. But – since it IS an investment, you want to make sure you know what to look for, right? And once you have a boat {or if you’re lucky enough to have one already!} you’ll want some great tips on boating, or maybe some super creative ways to preserve those fun memories. So – here are some of the cool tools and resources that I found on DiscoverBoating.com that you might like too:

  • Free Advice: Get a totally free “Getting Started in Boating DVD”. Just click the little tab to request it, and they’ll ship you out a free DVD packed with great advice to get your family excited about getting a new boat.
  • Just for Kids: Get a ton of super fun stuff to get your kiddos excited for boating, and to help teach them some great boat safety. There are also games and activities too – very cool. {Speaking of fun – Check out the sweet video maker on their Facebook page, to create your own summer fun videos.}
  • Marina and Ramp Finder: If you already have a boat, this can help you find some great new local places to enjoy it. And if you’re in the market for a new boat, this will help you ensure that you have enough places to bring it to. You can also research ways to get in the water without buying your own boat, by renting one to try out.
  • Boat Loan Calculator and Selector Tool: This can be super helpful – it’ll help you figure out how big of a boat you need, what style would be best for the lakes or oceans you plan to use it in, and give you tips on how to plan for one financially. Very cool.

So – we’re using these tools here to help us plan for next summer, and our first boat. I hope that if you’re in the same boat as we are {hahaha – pun intended, lol} that this great planning resource will help you too. I’d love to hear what type of boat your hoping to get, and your favorite memories out on the water too….

“Twenty years from now you will be more disppointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

{Dislaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Discover Boating and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. Photo Credit: Loowgren, and Phillie Casablanca on Flickr.}

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Summer Must-Haves Giveaway! #Mompact

“Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.” – William Stafford… I love that quote. It’s so true, isn’t it? Kids have such freedom – they haven’t had societies expectations of what they’re “supposed to do” drilled into them yet. So they’re able to just run free, play carefree, and live life as silly as they like. And this time of year is the best time for being a kid, right? Summer fun means playing outside all day – stomping in mud puddles, visiting the beach, climbing trees in the mountains, and enjoying all those great summer events and parties with your friends and family. So – Mompact has put together this awesome giveaway filled with some of my favorite products to help make summertimes just a little more fun, and a little more safe, for your family. Check it out …

Mompact summer summer fun giveaway

“A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm.” – Bill Vaughan

To help make your child’s summertime fun just a little brighter – one lucky winner will get this whole prize package of great mom-invented products!! How great is that? The Noblo is a perfect addition to any summer day at the beach. The SwimZip is one of my absolute must-haves even for days that we’re not swimming – it helps keep Abby from getting burned, and it’s as cute as can be. I LOVE the Koverz – and can’t wait to try one of these myself – great way to keep your drinks cold when you’re spending the whole day outdoors in the sun. And Connectz are super adorable little accessories to easily add a little sparkle to anyone’s wardrobe for fun summer parties. Ready to WIN the whole package??

Enter to Win – & Good Luck!!

[Read more…]

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Simple Family Taco Night Party – #JuneDairyMovies

Did you know June is Dairy Month?… You guys know how much I love to entertain, right? And with summer finally showing it’s bright, cheery face around here, my entertaining schedule goes into overdrive! We have a big patio, in ground pool, and a really great, fenced-in yard and field. So what I’m saying is, we’ve got the perfect gathering place for all of our friends and family to come and cool off when it’s hot out! We celebrated last weekend with a little #GrabSummerFun party, as we took the winter cover off of the pool, and started prepping it for summer. This week we’ve had little shindigs almost every evening… I just love an excuse to get the family outside and enjoying the weather together in the evenings. And, since June is Dairy Month at Safeway, which means you get free movie tickets to see the new Ice Age flick when you buy $40 bucks worth of participating dairy goodies, I planned a family night dinner around that, to take advantage of the freebie!

Safeway Just for U

“In summer, the song sings itself.” – William Carlos Williams

Have you checked out the new Safeway Just for U program yet? If you’ve ever shopped at Safeway, I’m sure you already have the Safeway Club Card – the cool red card you swipe at check out to get your extra savings. But now, Safeway has made it even easier to save when you stock up on your families summer favorites – Sign up for Safeway Just for U today, and you get personalized savings tips, you can add digital coupons right to your club card, and right now you get a special coupon for a free dozen eggs added to your card just for joining. Super simple, very smart. {There’s an even an app for your phone too!}

dairy month

June Dairy Month at Safeway = Free Ice Age Movie Tickets #JuneDairyMovies

To get this sweet deal that’s going on this month at Safeway, look for the Dairy Month signs around the store. You’ll see it explained in their weekly sales ad, in big display signs in the dairy aisles, and each participating item will be marked with a little sale tag, so you know for sure what qualifies. I decided to go with a fun Taco Night family get-together, since things like shredded Mexican blend cheese, Dairgold sour cream, and nacho cheese were included in the dairy promotion. Then, since we were inviting Grandma and Papa over too, I picked up supplies to make Root Beer Floats, since those are her favorite. {And the Tillamook ice cream is also part of the promo!} Love getting little freebies like this, just for buying stuff we would have needed anyway.

dairy month taco night

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” – Sam Keen

We loooooove us some Taco Night around here! And since we had a couple of extra friends over, plus Grandma, I made sure to stock up on lots of extra stuff – 3 types of chips to go with 3 different salsas {watch for my tropical salsa recipe tomorrow!}, cheese, sour cream, jalapenos and olives, lettuce, tomato, and onions, spanish rice and beans – and of course, FOUR pounds of taco meat!! Whew, I’m getting hungry again just thinking about it all….

fun with water

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James

While I cooked up this simple homemade dinner, the kids cooked up their own fun outside. Since we hit a snag getting the big pool opened up for summer {we have to replace the pump. Ugh.} the kids have to make do with the kiddie pool and slip n’ slide. I absolutely LOVE this shot of Abby… She just learned about the hose, and that she can wave it around to spray the water, and thinks it’s the funnest thing of all time. And while I wish her face was in this shot, I love the way it catches the movement of the water. Very cool.

Dairy Month Taco Night Collage

“When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.” – Joyce Brothers

Finally, dinner was ready – and everyone grabbed towels to gather up for dinner on the patio. Mmmm…. How can you not love a big double-decker taco, perfectly cheesy, topped with crisp lettuce and tangy salsa? So good! And the rootbeer floats were totally a hit – we haven’t had those in over a year. {The fact that I added glow-in-the-dark straws made them even cooler…}

free tickets for ice age

Have your own summertime family night!

Head to your local Safeway store anytime this month, {or any affiliate like Vons, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Pavillions or Carrs} and buy participating dairy items. You don’t have to spend the $40 all at once like I did – if you use your Safeway Club Card, it’ll automatically add up your purchases each time you shop, and let you know how close you are to getting your free tickets. You could have a fun Italian night, with a yummy baked ziti covered in cheeses, partnered with gelato, or BBQ up some burgers, and top ’em with some delicious Tillamook sliced cheese. Then, once you’ve spent $40 bucks, the register will print out a Catalina coupon like the one above, that you can redeem online for two free tickets to see the new Ice Age movie in theaters. That means you’ll get another fun family night, almost free.

“I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.” – Dan Wilcox

Collective BiasI am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Safeway #CBias #SocialFabric. All photos and opinions shared here are 100% my own. For more info on this June Dairy Month promotion visit JuneDairyMovies.com.

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5-in-1 Griddler Giveaway – Perfect for Picnics or Tailgaiting!

PVC Fittings Online is a national distributor of schedule 80 PVC fittings to homeowners across the U.S. and is giving you the chance to win this awesome product! The 5-in-1 Griddler is being given away until the end June so hurry and enter before time runs out.

(click here for more details)

Have fun & Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a PVCFittingsOnline.com giveaway powered by Rafflecopter

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How-to Guide to ‘Check Your Deck’ this Summer #Infographic

Deck Safety Infographic: Do you know how to tell if your outdoor living space is as safe as it should be? These simple to follow tips will help you ensure that your deck or porch is in tip-top shape, and ready for summer fun. {And it will offer a few ideas to help you fix any problems you find too!}

Fiberon

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Summer Savings: The best online coupon codes 6/19

Good morning ladies… Happy Monday! I know that many of you are well, not big fans of Monday, lol – so I’m here to brighten it for you just a bit. I’ve put together another round-up of the best new online coupon codes, partnered with the sweet free swag you earn from Coupon Cabin just by doing your shopping with them. Cool new summer gear, at big discounts with these shopping coupons, plus free rewards? Um, can you say “Ch-Ching?” Hope this makes your Monday morning just a little brighter!

summer savings with online coupon code

“In summer, the song sings itself.” – William Carlos Williams

Sears: From grills to patio accessories, or even fashions for the fam, you’ll get it all here with these great savings. Sears – $15 off $100 using the code HOTSAVINGS . (see all Sears coupons).

Cell Phone Accessories: Get a new waterproof phone cover for summer fun.  EverydaySource – 25% off – Cellphone Accessories using the code MES07ACE2012 . (see all EverydaySource coupons).

Home Depot: Update your outdoor living space, and save some bucks!  Home Depot – $10 off $100 using the code HDJUNE10 . (see all Home Depot coupons).

Kohls: Check out the sweet deals they have right now on summer entertaining gear – bright serving dishes, fun trays, and clever containers.   Kohl’s – 15% off $100 using the code CCABIN15 . (see all Kohl’s coupons).

FTD Floral: Have summer birthdays to celebrate?  FTD – 20% off – Birthday Gifts . (see all FTD coupons).

Beauty: This is a super sweet deal – stock up on waterproof mascara, sunscreen, and bronzer!  Beauty.com – $10 off $50 & free shipping . (see all Beauty.com coupons).

Angie’s List: If you’ve never used Angie’s List, you’re missing out. It’s an incredibly helpful resource that I use regularly.  Angie’s List – 40% off using the code COOL . (see all Angie’s List coupons).

Popcorn Factory: How fun for summer movie nights, right?  The Popcorn Factory – 15% off using the code CAMP15 . (see all The Popcorn Factory coupons).

If you love it, share it!

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