Tips/Tricks

🧳 How to Pack for Salem, Massachusetts in Late October: A Midwest Traveler’s Guide

Packing for Salem, MA from Southwest Missouri? Here’s exactly what to wear, bring, and expect for your Halloween-season trip

🍁 From Southwest Missouri to Salem: Packing for Fall’s Witchy Wonderland

If you’re heading from Southwest Missouri to Salem, Massachusetts around Halloween, you’re in for a treat — and a temperature shock. While we’re still mowing lawns and wearing hoodies in the morning but shorts by afternoon back home, Salem’s already deep into sweater weather, with sea air, mist, and Halloween magic swirling through the streets.

I’m traveling from Southwest Missouri to Salem this fall, and after hours of researching “what to pack for Salem,” here’s everything I learned that’ll help you prepare without overpacking.

🌧️ 1. Know the Weather Before You Go

Late October and early November in Salem is nothing like Southwest Missouri’s fall days. Expect crisp mornings, damp air, and ocean winds that cut right through you. (more…)

🌴 What to Pack for a February Cruise to Costa Maya & Cozumel

A Missouri Girl’s Guide to Warm-Weather Adventures (and Escaping the Winter Blahs)

If you live in Southwest Missouri, you know February isn’t exactly “pool weather.” It’s that time of year when we’re all dreaming of sunshine, saltwater, and not scraping ice or snow off of our windshields.

So when a cruise to Costa Maya (hello, Mayan ruins!) and Cozumel (Playa Mia Beach Park, I see you) popped up on our radar, I started packing the same way I always do — with about five too many outfits and a weather app open on repeat.

Now, I have lost 30 plus pounds, so that required a whole new wardrobe.

Here’s everything I learned planning this trip — what to bring, what to skip, and how to actually enjoy the sun without overthinking your suitcase. (more…)

🌊 What to Pack for a 3-Day Trip to Niagara Falls (U.S. + Canadian Sides)

A Missouri Girl’s August Adventure: Staying Cute, Comfortable & (Mostly) Dry

If you’re heading from Southwest Missouri to Niagara Falls in August, get ready for one of the most breathtaking places in North America — and one of the wettest. It’s stunning, powerful, and a little chaotic (in the best way).

Between the U.S. side’s trails and lookout points and the Canadian side’s iconic skyline views, you’ll get the full experience — but you’ll also want to pack smart. Because the combination of humidity, waterfall mist, and 10,000 daily steps can humble even the most seasoned traveler.

Here’s exactly what to pack for three days in Niagara Falls during August — written by someone who knows Midwest heat and waterfall humidity all too well.

💧 1. What August in Niagara Falls Really Feels Like

August is warm — even hot at times — but the mist keeps things unpredictable.
One minute you’re basking in sunshine, the next your hair looks like it lost a fight with a spray bottle.

Average August temps:

  • Highs: mid- to upper-70s °F (24–26 °C)

  • Lows: around 60 °F (15 °C)

  • Feels like: a mix of pool day + wind tunnel

Evenings cool off near the water, so a light layer still comes in handy. (more…)

4 Tips for Pineapple Selection

Have you ever been faced with the daunting task of finding the best pineapple in the store? Never fear! About 6 years ago Mark and I went to Hawaii on our 1 year marriage anniversary. One of our trips was to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. We got to see where they grew pineapples, we watched them cut up a pineapple, plus the lady even gave us tips that I’d like to share with you today. Don’t worry, I know it was 6 years ago, but I take notes. Must be that studious part of me… Feel sorry for me or jump for joy that I can still share information with you… your choice!

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Decorator Icing – Large 7 cup batch

Over the weekend we decided to have a cake decorating day. Back in 2008 (or maybe 2007… I don’t remember) I didn’t have much better to do and really wanted to learn how to decorate cakes. It’s ironic because I’m not a huge icing fan… I prefer the cake without icing… Go figure.

So they wanted to put my knowledge to work over the weekend and I was willing to oblige. Kristi’s dad was having an 80th birthday celebration the next day so we decided to decorate a cake for him. Tracy has a 1st birthday cake in a few days, weeks, months… she never really told me that she’ll be doing. Deb wanted to learn too, so it was the perfect opportunity to mess up someone else’s kitchen because why mess up your own kitchen. Just saying 😜.

So when you make up icing, or this particular icing anyway, it starts out as thick icing. Then you thin it out with either water or milk to the consistency you want. Typically you add a tbsp of your liquid at a time until you get the desired consistency. There are really 3 types of consistencies that you look for in cake decorating, thick, medium, and thin and each has their place in the course of decorating a cake.

One thing to consider, thick icing requires the most strength to push out of the bag and you’re more likely to blow the tip out of the end of the bag. Just something to note. In my opinion the two hardest things to learn about cake decorating is how to get a smooth finish on your cake and learning the correct consistencies.

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No Bake Cookies

The other day my friend Jared asked if I knew how to make No Bake Cookies. That’s another one of those easy things that I’ve never really tried. That might be a partial lie… I tried one time but I was like 20… now I’m 33 (I think, I can’t ever remember my age, just my birthday).

A while back a girl I went to high school with posted pictures of No Bakes on Facebook and someone asked for the recipe. She said they were extremely easy and shared her recipe which I quickly snatched up. Then I forgot where I put it.

When Jared asked, I went on the hunt for that recipe. After about 10 minutes of searching my laptop and external drive (which won’t open now but that’s another story for another day) I finally found the recipe so I went into the kitchen and made some. Oh boy am I glad I did! They are awesome!!

I grabbed a pan and went to town. Now at the time I was at Deb and Grady’s and they drink 1% milk so that’s what I used. Let me tell you, you couldn’t tell a difference, they were that good!

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Roll-Out Sugar Cookie Tips/Tricks

Hello, happy Foodie Friday. I mentioned last week that my daughter’s birthday was in June and we did a Minnie Mouse theme. I made cake as well as cupcakes and cookies. The cupcakes and cookies were for one birthday party (at the lake, cupcakes make for easy transport and distribution) and the cake was for her other birthday party (with family at home).

I took cake decorating classes, but we never really worked with cookies. I had to do a little research on how to decorate cookies and I want to share some tips and tricks that I learned, plus my favorite recipe for making sugar cookies for decorating. I have a whole other favorite sugar cookie recipe if you aren’t decorating with icing!

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12 Tips to Baking Great Cakes

I wrote this blogpost a month ago for a guest blogpost on a website. They didn’t use it, they didn’t tell me they weren’t going to… so I’m posting it here since I did spend quite a bit of time writing it :). Hopefully you enjoy and maybe find a little useful information to boot!

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My daughter is huge in to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse right now, especially Minnie Mouse. Back in June for her 2nd birthday we decided to have a Minnie Mouse themed birthday party. I took cake decorating classes back in 2008 because I had nothing better to do with my time, so I learned all the techniques on decorating cakes. I might be a little rusty these days, but I still have all that arsenal in my back pocket to come in handy one of these days. Now I’m going to share some tips with you on how to decorate your own cake to look professional.
For my daughter’s birthday I decided we were going to have Minnie Mouse Cupcakes, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cookies, and then on her actual birthday a cake. Yes, she got two parties. Sometimes it happens.
So my tips on making the Cake… from get this… a box mix. Shhh don’t tell anyone!

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