Monday, July 26, 2021

A Quiet Anniversary Get Away At Peaks of Otter

 

 

My husband and I don’t usually do a whole lot for our anniversary.  We usually go out to dinner.  This year I decided we needed to do something different.  I didn’t want to go far, just do something out of the ordinary.  So I discussed it with my husband and we came up with an idea to only have it shot down because the facility I wanted to go to did not have food on a Wednesday night and they were booked for the weekend.


Where could we go for just the night that wouldn’t take a whole day of traveling. (That is if you are in Virginia already.) didn’t want to go just to a hotel.  I wanted something a little different.  Finally, we decided on Peaks of Otter.  We spent our 2nd night of our honeymoon at Peaks of Otter.  Why not?  It’s not that far away and it is a beautiful drive.  

Peaks of Otter Lodge85554 Blue Ridge Pkwy, Bedford, VA 24523


Peaks of Otter is on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the lodge, which has 63 rooms, was opened in 1964.  It has a beautifully constructed lake called Abbott Lake.  All the rooms have a view of the lake and Sharp Top Mountain.  It is very secluded.  Cell and internet is almost nonexistent.  So if you are ready to unplug for a day or two this is the place to be.  There is a restaurant and gift shop on site.   The rooms are rustic, but very comfortable with heat/air and even television.  The dining room has a view of the lake too.


We drove down in the afternoon, checked into our room and rested for a while.  Then we went to the restaurant to have dinner.   There were not many people there at the end of May and in the middle of the week.  That was just fine with us.  We had dinner then decided to stroll around the lake.  The lake has a path that meandered a mile all the way around it.  We got half way around the lake and a storm came out of nowhere and it started pouring. Fortunately, we were under thick trees at the time.  As we were waiting, a few drops fell on us.  It rained for quite awhile so we decided to keep going.  Needless to say we got wet.  Not drenched, but wet. So we went to our room so we could hang our clothes.  We were only there for one night, so we didn’t bring a lot of clothes with us.  Here are a few pictures I took with my phone.  


There were rhododendron bushes as high as the buildings.   
They were full and beautiful.


Polly Wood's Ordinary Cabin

Small island in the middle of the lake.



You can see the lodge from all around the pond.


Their website has packages to choose from, Peaks of OtterWe chose the bed and breakfast package. After a good nights rest, the next morning we headed to the dining room for a hot breakfast. 

 

If you want to get away from it all, I highly recommend Peaks of Otter.


Travels from the middle sister, 

Rhonda 

Sassy Silver Sisters

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Monday, July 19, 2021

Easy Homemade Popsicle Recipes

***UPDATED 7/14/23***

It’s been hot and sticky in Virginia lately. What would make it tolerable is a cold & refreshing treat. My grandkids love popsicles and I have them ready when they come over for a visit. You don’t have to have anything fancy to make popsicles. All you need is some fruit juice, fruit, and some sort of mold. I’ve made them in small cups with a popsicle stick and I’ve made them in a silicone mold. 

Here are some delicious recipes that you can make for your kids, grandkids, or just for yourself. 

The link to the recipes is highlighted in this post. Thanks to all those bloggers that share their love for food and family.

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At Live Eat Learn she has the most delectable popsicles using fruit, yogurt, coconut milk, and even veggies in some of them. Got to sneak in the veggies, they won't even know they are getting a healthy snack.


        Sneaky Spinach

1.5 cups milk, 1 cup fresh spinach, 1/4 cup honey, 2 bananas


Lemon Tree Dwelling has fruit smoothie popsicles. You make a smoothie and freeze it in molds. Super easy and delicious.


Eat on a Dime has a recipe using Jell-O. Who knew you could freeze Jell-O? The variety of flavors of Jell-O could make for interesting popsicles. 
  • Strawberry, Black Cherry, Lime, Lemon, Cherry, Peach, Raspberry, Watermelon, Apricot, Island, Pineapple, Strawberry-Banana, Grape, Orange, Cranberry & Tropical Fusion


Cooking Classy came up with the Neapolitan Popsicles. This particular recipe takes a bit more time because you have to wait between layers to freeze. But, they will be worth it. Do you like Neapolitan ice cream? Then you might like these popsicles. 


Don't Waste the Crumbs has the simplest ice pop recipe. All you need is fruit and a bit of liquid of your choice. I think you could easily make this an adult ice pop using your favorite wine or liquor. You can get the Zipzicle Ice Pop Pouch on Amazon.


Living on a Dime has a 2 ingredient Kiwi popsicle recipe. Kiwi is one of my favorite fruits and I think I just might make these myself.


2 Ingredient Kiwi Popsicles
4 kiwi, 1 1/2 cups juice (grape or pineapple), 1-3 tsp. sugar (optional)
Blend until smooth. 
Add sugar to taste. 
our into molds and freeze.


Do you happen to make homemade popsicles? We’d love to know what you use from the recipes to your molds. Please comment and share. 😊


Keep it sassy,
Kelly
Sassy Silver Sisters

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Thank you for reading our blog post. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our weekly blog post and Recipe of the Week, just click the SUBSCRIBE button on the right of the page and you will be the first to find out what's going on in our sassy brains. 😜

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FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Monday, July 12, 2021

My Trip to Lake Havasu City, Arizona 2021


One of the stops during our trip to Arizona this year was a placed called Lake Havasu City.  Our Mom loves to visit there and a matter of fact goes there every year.  I can’t say that I blame her.  It was pretty quiet when Leroy, Mom and I were there earlier this year.  Of course, we were not there in top tourist season.

We stayed at The Nautical Beachfront Resort.  The room faced the beautiful  lake. Some days there was plenty to watch, people on jet skis and small boats. It was a little too cool for swimming.

These were some of the decorative walls at the resort where we stayed.


The moon shown bright at night.  I couldn’t resist getting the picture of the palm trees in the moon light.


There are replica light houses from all over.  This one, which is one of many, is a replica of a lighthouse on Lake Superior.  You can boat around the lake or drive around to see them. Many people travel around the town and lake in four wheel drive buggies. 

Lighthouses of Lake Havasu



To get to the resort you have to cross The London Bridge. It was given to the Governor of Arizona in 1968.  It is interesting to see.  You can walk the bridge on top and underneath.  



There are lots of different locks attached to the bridge.  You can tell some are really old.



There is a small area around the bridge where you can walk with shops and eating places. You can rent boats and jet skis or take a boat ride around the beautiful lake.  There are some museums there too, but when we were there, they were closed due to COVID.  There are about 53,000 people who live there full time according to the 2010 census.  People also park their RVs in the outskirts of the city.  Lake Havasu is a tourist destination for those who love to be on the water.


Lake Havasu City is a great place to visit.  They do have an airport nearby if you are a jetsetter. 

We had a good couple of days there.  I highly recommend it for some water fun or just some slow down time.

Have you visited Lake Havasu? We'd love to hear from you and your experiences.

Travels from the middle sister, 

Rhonda 

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Thank you for following us and if you haven't already subscribed to receive our weekly blog post, just click on the SUBSCRIBE button on the left of this page and you will be the first to find out what's going on in our sassy brains. 😉


FTC DISCLAIMER: This blog post is NOT SPONSORED. All opinions are our own, honest opinions. The links are for easy access & if you choose to use these links we are in no way compensated.



Monday, July 5, 2021

Summer Craft Time Using Seashells - Sand and Sea Flower Pots



We girls recently made these on our YouTube LIVE. They are easy, quick, and a great use of seashells. I have a stash of seashells from all my beach trips so I shared them with my sisters. This craft is great for kids and a wonderful way to use the shells they have collected.

Here's what you will need:



Instructions:

  1. Get all your supplies ready to go. Hot glue on & sand in the tray.
  2. Cover your pot with glue then roll it in sand.
  3. When it’s dry you can use hot glue (for an inside pot) or a stronger adhesive like E600 (for an outdoor pot) to embellish your pot with shells.
  4. You can spray it with a clear sealant if you like.
NOTEBefore placing the shells on the pot, we decided to mark the pot first with a marker, then glued the sand on the pot.

Where to buy these products: The terracotta pot, glue gun & clear sealant you can find at Walmart, and the other items at Dollar Tree.

See how we made these on YouTube at around 23 minutes into the video.

Thanks to The V Spot for the idea!! 

We hope you enjoyed this post. Comment below and let us know what you think about this craft. Maybe even give us some ideas on using all those seashells.

Keep it sassy,
Kelly
Sassy Silver Sisters

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Thank you for reading our blog post. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our weekly blog post and Recipe of the Week, just click the SUBSCRIBE button on the right of the page and you will be the first to find out what's going on in our sassy brains. 😜

The Recipe of the Week is a bonus for our subscribers and goes out via email mid-week.
So, don't miss out, and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Monday, June 28, 2021

Ten All-American July 4th Dessert Recipes

***UPDATED 6/25/23***



We hope you spend your Independence Day celebrating with pride and great food. These all-American desserts make for a tasty Fourth of July celebration. 




No-Bake Berry Cheesecakes

Delish.com

Serving them in little dishes means everyone gets their own, and who doesn't love to dig their spoon into their own cute mini cheesecake?! To make for fewer dishes, use clear plastic cups.

 

Firecracker Strawberries

Delish.com

We all know there needs to be booze. These red, white, and blue strawberries are first soaked in vodka, then dunked in marshmallow fluff and sprinkles for the most patriotic look ever. Just make sure when serving children, you have an identifiable tray of RWB strawberries just for them ;)

 

Flag cake

FoodNetwork.com

Oh say, can you see...this delightful cake is all about the stars and strips and creamy icing! 

 

FROZEN CHOCOLATE-COVERED BANANAS



twosisterscrafting.com


Bananas & chocolate...OH MY! 


Foodnetwork.com


These are great treats not only for kids but adults too! 

 

Red, White, and Blueberry Trifle


Foodnetwork.com

A beautiful dessert to set on the table and oh-so scrumptious. 

Patriotic Ice Cream Cupcakes

Foodnetwork.com

These frosty cupcakes are practically a fireworks display on their own. The little treats feature red velvet cake, blue moon ice cream, a creamy white topping, and star-spangled sprinkles. 

Mixed Berry Tiramisu

Tasteofhome.com

Fresh softened berries star with crispy ladyfinger cookies and mascarpone cheese. Serve it in a glass bowl or in clear dishes to show off the luscious layers. 

Star Bangled Cookies

sugarspunrun.com

Festive red white and blue star-spangled cookies that are perfect as a patriotic 4th of July celebration dessert. Cathy makes super cute cookies, maybe she can make these too!

Easy 4th of July Ice Cream Cake


The setup on this patriotic dessert couldn’t be easier, and it all starts with a buttery store-bought pound cake that’s sliced into four layers to make room for all the ice cream. And here’s your chance to get creative! Pictured is raspberry sorbet to mimic the red and white stripes of the American flag, but you can use whatever flavor of ice cream that suits your taste buds. 

 

 If you happen to make any of these recipes, please share with us below in the comments and on social media using #sssrecipes. We'd love to hear from you. 

HAPPY 4TH!!

Keep it sassy,
Kelly
Sassy Silver Sisters

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Thank you for reading our blog post. If you haven't already subscribed to receive our weekly blog post and Recipe of the Week, just click the SUBSCRIBE button on the right of the page and you will be the first to find out what's going on in our sassy brains. 😜

The Recipe of the Week is a bonus for our subscribers and goes out via email mid-week.
So, don't miss out, and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

FTC DISCLAIMER:  This page informs you of our disclosure statement regarding the advertisements we use and disclosure of our Service and the choices we have associated with it. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third-party ad network or affiliates. Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements. The owner(s) of this website is not compensated to provide opinions on products, services, websites, and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this website are purely the owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This website does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Monday, June 21, 2021

Family Vacation to the Outer Banks of NC


Our annual trip to the OBX came in May this year. Typically the weather is super nice this time of year. But the ocean water is still to chilly for me. 

We stay at my husbands family vacation home in Rodanthe. Have you ever seen the movie Nights in Rodanthe? That house is just up the street. It's especially fun to look at that house and take pictures. Someone actually moved the house a few years ago from it's original beachfront property because it was getting ready to go into the ocean. I'm glad whoever bought the house saved it.

We stayed ten days this time around. The weather was perfect, in the mid 70s most of the time. Our daughter and grandson came along. We’ve been coming done as a family for over 30 years. My husband's family has been coming down for over 45 years. 

Day1: We usually stop at a rest area a couple hours into the trip. Virginia has these LOVE signs all around the state. The next stop is ALWAYS The Border Station. Half the store is in Virginia and the other in North Carolina. We fill up our gas tank and go inside the store to use the restroom and walk around to see what kind of snacks or treats we can find. 

We made it to the house with enough time left in the day to walk to the beach. We weren't planning on playing in the water, just go down to see the beach, but our grandson was so excited he couldn’t help to get soaked by the waves. 

Day 2: After getting groceries, we headed off to take a walk at a day camp in Salvo. We took our pup and grandson on this walk. He’s such a ham when it comes to picture taking. The sound access is there and while walking we saw all these tiny crabs under a wooden bridge. 

Sand play under the house is a must & reading that book you don’t have time to read is most relaxing. 

Baxter loves to sit with me and it doesn't really matter whether I'm on a hammock or not.


Day 3: Going to the NC Aquarium in Manteo is on the agenda. It's small but they have an outdoor area for the kiddos and you can spend an hour just hanging out there. 

Finding a Christmas ornament is always a blast at The Christmas Shop. They have rooms filled with ornaments and one room with just all Santa Clause. 

That afternoon we headed to the beach, the water was beautiful but still chilly. It really didn't matter to our grandson because for a solid hour he ran and jumped along the shore.


Day 4: Rodanthe has a community center with this awesome pirate ship playground. That is all our grandson could talk about, playing on the playground. 

That afternoon we headed off to the Village Conery for some ice cream. They had all kinds of flavors. Hubby decided on Key Lime Pie, tart and sweet all at the same time. There motto is "Rain or shine it's ice cream time".


Day 5: It was a bit chilly this day to go to the beach so we headed to the Dowdy Park in Nags Head. Dorian ran and played until he couldn't run and play any longer. 
The giant Adirondack chairs are all over the OBX. We had to a pic of Dorian sitting in the chair, he looks so tiny. 


Day 6: Dorian wanted to see the lighthouse, again, so we jetted down to Cape Hatteras. After the visit to the lighthouse we ordered our lunch at the Buxton Munch Co. We discovered it a couple of years ago and it's a must every year. Great food and service. Since COVID hit, they do not have indoor seating but they do have picnic table outside. We went back to Cape Hatteras Park and had a picnic at their picnic area under the live oak trees.

Day 7: In the morning, Jay and I went to the Beads & Beans OBX for their famous cinnamon rolls. Luckily we got there just in time to buy the last of them. Get there early folks. 

Rodanthe and the surrounding area has a feral cat problem and there seems to be a cat under the house every time we visit. Jay can't help it, he had to feed it and it came back every morning and evening to eat. 

Another afternoon at the beach and once again Dorian ran and played until he couldn't run and play any longer. 

It was takeout pizza for dinner from Lisa's Pizzeria in Rodanthe. They have been there for 35 years and every year we eat there or order from them.


Day 8: The end of our vacation is near and we spent time at the beach playing and collecting shells, in the hammock (my favorite spot) and cooking a low country boil for dinner. If you have never made this, you need to try it, it's easy and so very scrumptious. You can add any time of seafood you like or none at all. 

Day 9: Last day of relaxing. Can you tell by the multiple photos that I love the hammock? 

More play under the house in the sand for Dorian. 

Hopped in the shower and who did I see? Mr. Frog watching me. 

Can't help but mention the Brew Thru T-shirt. You drive through, order your beverage, snacks and tshirt and away you go.

The house was named BLESSINGS by my in-laws. It’s an appropriate name because sure enough, the house has brought us multiple blessings every year of enjoyment, relaxation and fun.


Day 10: It's clean up and get on the road. I must say, it's been awhile since I've enjoyed such a great vacation. 

The next vacay will be in Orlando, Disney World here we come!

I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you ever been to the OBX? We'd love to hear your experiences and some of your favorite things to do and restaurants you love. 
Do you have a favorite family vacation you'd like to share? Comment below :)

Stay safe & sassy!
Kelly

Sassy Silver Sisters 
Cathy, Rhonda & Kelly

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FTC DISCLAIMER: This blog post is NOT SPONSORED. All opinions are our own, honest opinions. The links are for easy access & if you choose to use these links we are in no way compensated.


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