Cloudcroft, New Mexico!

Well, we made it! What a thrilling place to see. It was an amazing trip for sure. 

Cloudcroft Village is really something else. You have all these cute little shops. My youngest insisted on going to see the Tree-Rific Toys & Candy shop, that had a Fill-A-Bear & Friends Factory station in it. Which is where she ended up spending her money... The little ones where $20 and the larger ones were $27. They had a variety of models and other interesting toys. There were also candies of all kinds! 

We also stopped in at the Burro Street Bakery for some sweet treats. I really loved the Cream Cheese Danish. My husband and son both had the Bearclaw, but thought it was on the dry side. I'm thinking that may have been because it was getting closer to closing and also wasn't filled with cream. My other son had brownies (he was given 2 since it was close to closing) and he absolutely loved them! One daughter devoured her Apple Danish, while the other dug in to her Cinnamon Roll so fast, she made a mess of herself with it. I'd say they were all decently priced too. It was fun to eat and walk around the boardwalk. Honestly, you can probably walk everything in about 2 hours. And that is only if you are stopping to shop around too. If you were to just walk one end to the other, maybe 15 minutes? 

For dinner, we chose Dave's Cafe. It is inside one of the boardwalk locations. They have burgers and sandwiches mostly, but they offer other items too. I chose the Cordon Bleu Sandwich, which was superb. It came with kettle cooked chips. And was incredibly filling. I didn't hear any complaints from the rest of the table as we ate.

And even though it is almost February, there was still so much snow everywhere! We thought that with 40 degree weather, much of it would have melted. We were so wrong... But that was just more fun for us. 

As soon as we unloaded everything into the Airbnb, we were delighted to watch a family of deer come by and watch us, watching them through the windows. We also got to see a herd of horses wandering around. Before the sun had even set in town, we could gaze up at the full moon above. And the amount of stars definitely puts the town views we have had to shame.  

We learned a couple things too. First off, don't buy grocery items at the Allsup's convenience store if you can help it. There are Walmarts at Ruidoso Village (about an hour north) or Alamogordo (about 30 minutes west). The prices are what you'd expect for a gas station - high. However, if you are in a bind, they do have a decent grocery selection and even meats to buy. This was helpful for us to get something for the kids to have the next day as we can't be eating out the whole time we are here. There is also the Family Dollar where you have more of a selection. 

There are things that we saw and didn't expect. Like a ski area where you can go sledding too. They have built a park near the school area where kids can let loose and play. This is definitely a tourist-type stop. Unless you are visiting to say you have been there, the only real reasons I would say to go are for the hiking trails and for the camping experiences.  

Osha Trail wasn't as clearly marked as we had hoped and thought. So we went for maybe 2 hours before turning around and walking back the way we came.

Parking for the trailhead was also full so many times when we went by. But it was worth the wait, because the views were fantastic! Like seeing the Trestle Bridge from above. 

We did go to the Trestle Bridge observation point after our hike. It has information on the history and was fun to take pictures in front of. I do recommend this for one of your stops if you go. 

What do you think? Is this a place you'd want to visit? If so, what is the draw for you??

Cloudroft, New Mexico - The Packing Process

Any time we take a trip, even for just a couple of nights, there is a couple weeks of planning out what to pack. Once I know the where, have the when, have the accommodations and vehicle figured out (if we are renting a car), then I need to know what we all need to bring. 

For instance, there's the car ride. Snacks and waters are a must. With this many people (4 of whom are kids), we always need to have that purchased at the grocery store before leaving. Buying such at the convenience stores are insanely priced! Not to mention, my husband eats snacks to help himself stay awake during long drives. 

Speaking of long drives... 

But what to do during long rides? How do the kids stay calm and not want to punch each other? For that, we often bring handheld game devices. Some of them will even nap. However, I'm adding a new element this time around. I had these dry erase game boards in a 'travel' drawer that I was cleaning out. I had picked them up one summer at the Dollar Tree, but I wouldn't be surprised if you can find similar ones online. I found this one on Amazon. I talked to my husband about turning them into tools for a friendly car ride competition.

We agreed to offer a prize for the first one who gets a bingo. Then a second (much bigger) prize to the first one who gets a blackout. I didn't think the kids would jump on such a thing. Maybe the girls... but I was pleasantly surprised when at least one boy agreed to join in the fun. This should help with the car ride a bit. 

Then comes the place we are staying at. Once we arrive, there are things that are needed besides just clothes and toiletries. For instance, my husband doesn't sleep on bedding provided. Hotel, Airbnb - doesn't matter! So I have to pack an extra large blanket that we lay on top of. And a couple blankets we use to cover up with. Gave up on trying to bring pillows too. The joys of being a germaphobe in your older years, I suppose. 

This has led to us deciding to rent a vehicle for the trip. Well, that and the fact that we need an AWD vehicle due to possible ice and snow while we are there. Lots of hills where we are going. Our SUV wouldn't be able to handle that. But since we are renting, we are going for a bigger SUV while we are at it. Something with space for the kids to spread out. And to have room for the luggage. 

Lastly, I also have to pack a hiking bag. Not a big one, but one that can hold things we don't normally take on vacations. My husband surprised me with wanting to actually walk/hike the Osha Trail out there! He knows I like that sort of thing. So I'll be lugging a backpack with hiking things as well.  

What are things that you pack for trips, that others might not think of? 

The Ice Queen and Her Lair

What happens when your daughters no longer want a blue haired Rainbow High doll? For me, I see Ice Queen in the making! 

It started with a box actually. A shoebox. And an Elsa doll who needed her ice castle. So I started renovating it. But then Elsa changed her mind and moved into the mansion with the rest of the dolls. Yes, my daughter is quick to change her mind. So things get redesigned pretty often. It seemed like such a waste to just toss the box though. So I gave it some more love and way more details! 

Next came the doll. My girls weren't as excited about Rainbow High as they were about the made-to-move Barbie or Monster High dolls. Big heads or something like that. I love their jointed bodies and soft, vibrant hair though. I have a couple set aside for future projects. This one just screamed for a bit of a makeover in a cold way.  

I had thought about repainting her face, but then decided against it. I'm not as proficient with that type of project and she was just too pretty to do that with. So I swapped out her outfit. I trimmed her hair. 3D printed a crown that is jeweled with beads. And gave her some handmade bling.  

The box windows are from My Froggy Stuff printables. I printed out a marble pattern for the floor and part of the walls. Tried to make it look like her castle leads to the sparkling snow-covered world outside. Used an empty perfume bottle with fake plant pieces to give her frozen world some greenery.

The chandelier actually glows in the dark too, thanks to glow-in-the-dark filament from a printed piece. 

Cloudcroft, New Mexico - The Planning Process

My husband decided we should take a weekend trip for my birthday this year. Things have been crazy busy. And I don't see it slowing down any time soon. A week after my birthday, there will be one kid turning 16. Another week or two after that, I should have two high school graduates, both looking for jobs and planning out their next life steps. The stress has definitely taken a toll. Probably the biggest reason my husband suggested the trip to begin with. 

He had a friend at work that talked about amazing camping trips he would take to a village  called Cloudcroft in New Mexico. And yes, it is called a village. The spectacular views around it draw all kinds of people. Now... I'm not big on camping. We did it when I was a kid, on Nana's farm, in the tent that collapsed on my brother and I when the dew fell... then again as adults... both of those times in recent years were also fails when bed time came. So instead, we decided to take a different approach. We are going to stay in an Airbnb.

This is a huge first for us. Nothing against hotels we usually stay at, but these offer up so much more for a comparable price. First off, we will have access to a full kitchen. I plan to cook while we are there (at least some of our meals) to save on eating-out costs. We can also keep warm, as the area is still in some heavy winter weather with sporadic snows. The cabin we chose is near enough to get to hike the Osha Trail. 

My husband is not such a big outdoors guy, but for me, he is willing to occasionally walk or hike some trails with me. This one is a decent size at about 2.5 miles long. So I will be packing one of our backpacks to bring along simple things like water and snacks. And maybe a small first aid kit. In case someone trips and falls. Oh, and I won't forget the sunscreen! 

I have also started researching various places in Cloudcroft, as well as in the nearby village, Ruidoso. We want to visit the local Calvary Chapel in Ruidoso, too. 

From what my research of the area shows, we are going while winter is still fairly strong. And we will be high up in the mountains. So... winter gear is a must. We may actually get to use those coats we have! Crazy, huh? But here in Texas, that isn't a big possibility. Even during winter months. I think I used a heavy jacket once so far. Can you tell I'm excited for the wrong reasons? Yep! So here we go. Let's see what planning out ahead of time will do for our time in New Mexico! 

Summer Fun with a Pool?!

Yes, for some of us, winter is finally getting into gear. Some of you have been dealing with ice and snow for a little while. Not here in Texas. Some days, we are still looking at 70 degree weather. All while we were watching Christmas creeping ever closer. With weather like that, it feels wrong to have Christmas so close. But whatcha gonna do?  

How about get a pool? Yep, you heard that right. After all, we have the weather for it. So why not? Coleman's Pools partnered with me to share my latest product review - a giant pool! 

*Disclaimer - I was sent this product free in exchange for sharing my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are mine or others I shared the pool with.* 

I love getting to try stuff out and then let you know what my thoughts. So when they offered me a pool, I got really excited about it.  Not really for myself. This pool, I decided to share with some friends from church. I got her the biggest pool they had to offer. 

This bad boy is 22' in diameter! Talk about a monster size... It is above ground and comes with the pump. They had to deliver it via really big truck and a pallet jack. My sons barely managed to get it inside. Here is the box next to my tallest son who is just over 6' tall. 

I couldn't wait to let my friend know. This was going to revolutionize their summer fun next year. But we couldn't wait that long to show it off, now can we? After all, best to get the word out before sales see them flying off the shelves. 

So, after getting it to her house, they got it all set up and ready to bring on the fun in the summer! She said it was crazy easy to set up. A single person can do it. For them, it took about 2 hours, plus the filling time. It is deep enough that younger kids, maybe 4 years and under, will need flotation devices unless they are good swimmers. That is how deep this thing is! She and her family are so excited about the up-coming summer fun they will be having.  

Coleman has pools in various sizes, that also come in a variety of styles. This ones gives off the wood look, but you can find others to fit your preferences. 

Walmart.com has a lot to choose from. I found the one we got HERE. Looks like it is running about $1,200. You can go to the source at BestwayUSA.com. They are the parent company, I believe, of Coleman products. However, at the time of writing this review, their website says they are out of stock. So you might have to keep checking back. You might also sign up to receive updates and deals. 

What do you think? Are you a pool person? Let me know in the comments down below!  

Dangerously Good Whisky - Pendleton!

I'm not a big drinker. I sip occasionally, but it isn't something I do for any particular reasons. This time, it was to review! Pendleton Whisky partnered with me to try out their delicious (dangerously so!) whisky. Normally, whisky burns going down the throat. Leaves you feeling warm, but that initial sip can have new drinkers coughing all over the place. Pendleton is on a different level though. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent a party pack to host a review party. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

Normally when I drink, I'm leaning more towards something that tastes good. Like a vodka or cream. Or something that mixes well and goes down easy. My view on liquor is that one should not drink it if they have to "acquire" the taste for it. That, to me, is Stockholm Syndrome at its core. Whisky can be tricky. And I had my reservations about this one. But they cleared my views on theirs pretty quick. For this, we made a recipe they set me. And let me tell you... I've not had a whisky go down so smoothly! There was no burn. It was light and refreshing. Why do I call this dangerous? You almost don't realize it is an alcoholic beverage! THAT is why it is dangerously good. Only one other has come close to this kind of goodness for me. A certain Irish cream drink... 

These run about $30 a bottle. Stores well in the fridge, so no rush on getting it down!  

I could see this drink being something that is fun over those hot, summer nights. A few friends and a fire pit with some great talking and laughing moments. That is the kind of drink I think this one is. 

As with all beverages meant for adults, I don't suggest it for the purpose of getting drunk. As a Christian, I believe that drinking in moderation is okay. Getting drunk is where the problems come. So, if you are prone to drunkenness - this isn't for you. For everyone else, drink responsibly. After all, you don't enjoy it if you can't think clearly! Cheers! 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, my wonderful readers! I hope you all had a wonderful day. New posts coming soon! 

One Bad Apple...

As a Christian, I don't believe in karma. To some degree, the concept of 'what goes around, comes around' does exist for me. But to believe that you are repaid for the good or evil you do on a regular basis? Not so much. 

But let's say it did exist. How evil do I have to be to see my Little Free Library repeatedly vandalized? Broken door. Broken latch. Books and toys tossed around. I was encouraged to fix it. Clean it up. Refill it. But then this... two days in a row every book was removed. I found some of them. Know where? Come on, guess! My neighbors yards. Thrown in the yards like any other piece of trash. Want to talk about a rage-quit moment... Seeing red! Heck, I even cried in front of my kids. This was I-am-having-a-meltdown moment for me. My kids know that I don't cry. I see it as an upset in my hormonal balance of calm. Unless someone I truly loved died.  

Sadly, I thought this was the last time. We were already planning to pull it down to replace the box part when we had the money for new materials. The last repair wasn't strong enough to withstand the beating it takes from kids who yank and hang on it. But this time... this time my husband and kids all seemed to think I gave it a good enough run. And that it was time to move on. And I was inclined to agree. Reading is a passion for me. I love reading books. I love collecting books. And I have tried to instill that in my children. One of them is truly an avid reader like me. So I count that as a win. But outside, I see kids who think of books as junk. I see children who were not raised to show appreciation, but instead are given over to destructive actions. It hurts. And don't get me wrong, not everyone who checked it out were bad people. There was a grandma walking with the kids every so often. A dad who took his kids bike riding and would stop by. Neighbors who added books sometimes. 

But as the saying goes, 'One bad apple spoils the bunch'. In this case, spoils the good for others. I can't keep paying money to fix this box. Or keep having my heartbreak moments when they trash the books or the box. How about having to clean up the mess? I don't want to keep getting upset that someone didn't raise their kids to do the right thing. It lasted almost a year and a half. Not too shabby, right? But as I announced it to the community I'm a part of and was thinking that I would just donate books we don't want anymore to the local library, or to the bookstore that serves the library, I was encouraged by that community of mine. One of them gave me a camera system and made a sign to put in, announcing to anyone who opens the library that they are being recorded. The idea is, maybe that will deter the ne'er-do-wells to steer clear of mischief. The camera is old tech, so we thought we would see if we could get it running. If not, we planned to install it as if it works to still try to scare anyone out of bad ideas. 

As I was waiting for my husband to put the camera into use, someone came by and dropped off a bunch of books! I had been keeping it empty until the camera went in. I figured I would just let those be there. Not add anything else. Then I caught them red-handed. 2 young boys about 12-13 years old. Grabbing all the books (see above picture) and anything else that was in it. This time I took off, barefoot and hot blooded. I made them return all the books, save one each, into the box and lectured them about trashing my little library. I could only hope they would take it to heart since I mentioned the coming camera... Did it work? Nope. Most days, I was either outside or watching when they came by. Today... I wasn't. And what did I find when I went to the mailbox? 3 books had been shredded and thrown around my neighbors' yards and in the street! I cleaned up the mess. Didn't cry this time. Just felt anger. I stripped everything out of the box. Threw everything on the table and walked away. Why bother with a camera? Sure, I can report them. I can shame them online. But what good will that do in the long run? I still have to clean up the messes they make. 

This truly will be the last time. Time for the library to be permanently closed. A heart-wrenching moment for me. But a necessary one if this kind of behavior can't be stopped. People can only push my buttons for so long before I walk away. Dream or no dream, I have limitations. 

If you are a parent, do everyone else a favor - raise them to have respect. To live honorably. And to be someone the rest of the community can see as at least decent. If you don't have kids but think this kind of teaching is too hard - don't have kids. 

On the Road Again!

With my youngest turning nine years old, came the request to go to a Build-a-Bear store. A friend had recently given her a couple stuffed animals that were marked with their BaB. So questions came. And the showing of online pictures. That was when she knew what she wanted for her birthday. But here is the catch - there aren't any close by. The closest one is just a kiosk in the mall in a city a couple hours away. But my thinking is, if this is your first time, you need to go to an actual store. Get the whole experience. So that is what my husband and I decided to do. We decided to hit the road and go to the nearest actual store. Almost four hours drive away from us. We wanted to give her something to truly remember. 

Amarillo - Here we come!

We got a room at Home2 Suites in Amarillo. Talk about amazing service! We were checked in quickly, the room was spacious, and we even loved the indoor pool. They were shorter on options for the breakfast, but that was my kids only complaint. 

There were so many places to store things so we were not tripping over things. There was also a stocked kitchen - dishes, silverware, a cooking container, soap and new sponge to clean them up when done.

You can even request a cook top and pot. We brought our own bedding for the germophobes to make it more comfortable. 

If you need a stay for this many people that might be for more than one night, this is the place!

Build-A-Bear for the win!

My daughter loved going to BaB! The lady that was handling her experience did a fantastic job. She talked to my daughter like she was the only person there, making her feel super special. She gave tips on other places we should go to around town to make our stay better. And really just gave the stuffing process more pizazz than I expected. I was thrilled. My husband was so happy - saying that this was the best birthday for her. And she left with a stuff toy that is just going to be so well loved. I highly recommend their store if you are in the area!

There were other stores...

We were there for 2 nights, which is quite the rarity. My husband hates hotels and going on trips has to be planned so far in advanced or has to be saved for... It can just be too much of a hassle to him to bother with. So, had she not asked, this would never have been a thing. But since it was, he graced me with a mini vacation. I can't tell you how excited I had been to plan this out and how hard I worked to save up! And it was well worth it. I had made a list of places to hit up before hand. Some of them were such a hit - we will gladly go back if we are in Amarillo again!  

Back & Forth thrift store was a cute place to visit. And the owner was so friendly! We found this doll there that my youngest fell in love with. She is a Snapstar doll. My daughter is already looking to get more wigs and clothes for her. 

Game Quest was the biggest hit for every single one of us. They had games, they had trading cards, there were movies (I got an anime) and nostalgia for nerds in all kinds of other things! I even found this Barbie that is special in the face, but wearing a Spice Girls doll dress.

A friend clued me in that she is Posh Spice (aka Victoria Beckham). I love how her face looks. Though the nose has been a little smushed. 

My husband was able to get a cable for one of his original consoles. The boys both found cards for their trading games they love. My oldest daughter got a book from her favorite series. The youngest found toys from her favorite shows and movies.

We actually went twice before leaving. And it is on the list to return to the next time we head that way.

This one is along the Route 66 too, so there are plenty of other places you might enjoy visiting. Especially a lot of vintage and antique shops. 

Another game store we visited was Recycled Entertainment. This one is actually in the same strip mall as Back & Forth. You will know it by the throne out front, made of various old consoles. My husband found a game he loved for the Nintendo. 

We visited the Five Below while there. They had so many fun finds! And at the time, they were the only store open on Saturday morning from our list. I gotta say, I was wishing to find some of these at our local store later. For now, I grabbed the Teeny Tinies Gamer Essentials pack. That one was $5. 

We also stopped by one of the Goodwills, up there. I must admit, I was disappointed with their prices. Quite a bit higher than what we normally see in our town. But they did have books and movies that we have been looking for... I also grabbed this cute ornament that is a picture frame. I haven't decided if I will use it in a doll room or if I will put it on the Christmas tree. 

What would be your favorite part of this trip? What kind of places do you like to visit when you travel? Let me know! We are already thinking about the next trip we want to make. 

Holiday Baking with Fisher Nuts (Recipe Included!)

Thanksgiving was a feast in this house. My kids were all happy with the things I made. And one of the biggest parts of this meal? Pecan pie. Watergate salad was another favorite. And then, dateballs. All a must in this house. Know what they all have in common? Pecans! Each one had pecans in their making. Which is what made me glad to work with Fisher Nuts in doing a review. We needed A LOT of pecans! 

*Disclaimer: I was given these pecans in exchange for sharing my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are my own.*

Pecans are a tree nut that I have grown up eating, sometimes straight from the ground under a pecan tree. Out of all the kinds of nuts, it happens to be a favorite. They are best used in baking (in my humble opinion). Versatile even. Our Thanksgiving meal list always includes at least two recipes that need them. But one thing I have learned over the years, not every nut brand is equal. For cost efficiency, I had been getting the store brand. But they are often dryer in taste. Not dry in brittle-like composition, but just a dry taste. I find I don't like that in something such as a pecan pie. Another way to describe it is a slightly chalky taste. 

With these nuts, that did not seem to be a thing. And it was wonderful! I ended up making 2 test pies at first because I accidentally doubled the recipe. But the kids didn't mind that. I made another pie at Thanksgiving. Note - don't use a graham crust for this one! Then I started pouring nuts into the other recipes. 

There were smiles and no complaints. That tells me that we got the right kinds of nuts. Christmas will be here before I know it. And I plan to use more Fisher pecans in my recipes. What would you be making with them?