The Homemaking Party

It's been a fun week for the Collers as we've spent time with friends, joined a new homeschooling co-op and celebrated two birthdays! Summer is wrapping up around here and routines are setting in. 

My new literature blog, Belle's Library, debuted this week with a review of Geraldine Brooks', March, and its very own Facebook page! I'm still looking for more contributors. You can make a one time commitment, or sign on to submit regularly. I'm looking for any kind of writing on books. You can submit commentaries, essays, book reviews, book memes, quizzes, author fun facts...the options are endless! Visit the Writing Opportunity tab above for details.

Speaking of books, I'm participating in two reading challenges and am keeping a running list of what I've read here. Here's the info on the challenges I've joined---in case you're wanting to join too!

Since August 1st, I've finished these books:
French Lessons by Peter Mayle
Persuasion, Captain Wentworth, and Cracklin' Cornbread by Mary Jane Hathaway
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo
Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway
Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs by Mary Jane Hathaway

Current Read: Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence

Here are my plans for Simply Audra Marie's Friday "It Begins with SUMMER" challenge:

S---....unsure. The book I was reading wasn't good so I didn't finish.
U---Undone (will read in September)
M---Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart (done)
M---Motel of the Mysteries (will read in September) This book also counts for Audra's Not Your Typical Genre challenge)
E---Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili Slaw Dogs (done)
R---Recipes for Easy Living (will read in September)

I'm considering reading Beverly Lewis' October Song for Audra's, A Reader Is Born challenge in September. She's got another weekly challenge, Summer Title Waves, that I need to pick for, as well.

What are you reading?

Make Bake Create Party

Welcome to the Make Bake Create Party! 5 blogs-1 party-lots of fun!

Raspberry Razorback Lemonade for Game Day #TeamJello #shop #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TeamJello #shop #cbias

I've had my eye on these university-themed Jell-O mold kits for several weeks now and am so glad I snagged one for our game day food table! I had so much fun making little hog-shaped Jigglers, as well as some awesome raspberry Razorback cubes for lemonade. I came up with a great technique to get perfectly-shaped cubes and I'm sharing it here so you can do some of your own. 

I definitely learned my lesson about waiting until the last minute on stuff like this. Once I was ready to buy my kit, I looked all over Northwest Arkansas, but hog fans had already snatched them all up! Luckily, I found a few left at a Missouri Walmart, just over the border. Woo Hoo! Thanks for showing some dual-state loyalty in Jane, Missouri!

Jell-O made molds for 20 university teams, so be sure to find out if your favorite team can be represented in Jell-O, too. You can find them in their respective universities communities, or check out Walmart.com for a coupon and a bigger selection.

This is our first summer in Arkansas and we've just been having such a blast getting into the spirit of all it means to be Arkansans. (Even though I haven't yet learned how to say, "Arkansan"...) I thought these hog molds would just be so fun for celebrating our local team. 

To make this easy raspberry drink, first mix up a pitcher of lemonade. Set aside 1/3 c. and put the pitcher in the fridge.

Wash 6 oz. raspberries and crush in a bowl with a fork. Then add the 1/3 c. lemonade and stir.

Pour the raspberry and lemonade mixture into a clean, dry Jell-O mold. Use a spatula to evenly fill each spot, but don't worry if there's a little overflow. It's really easy to scrape the excess off the top before popping out your frozen hogs. Freeze for several hours, until firm. They'll pop right out of the tray like ice cubes and you can float them in your lemonade.

Look how awesome that turned out! I surprised even myself on that one! Adding the lemonade to the raspberry mix helped fill in all the fine details of the mold to give me the perfect Razorback shape. Totally love this.

Once all my little hogs were frozen, I served Jamie and I some raspberry lemonade and Jell-O Jigglers. This is definitely the most redneck thing I've done yet; but hey, I'm an Arkansan now! Woo Pig Sooie!

Linking with:

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Through Life

A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life 

Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home

Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios

Women Helping Women @ Teaching What Is Good 

(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife

The Scoop @Stone Gable