Summer Cocktail - Mojito Slush

Even though the official start of summer isn't until another couple of days, it has been hot enough here to bring out the iced cocktails. I've always loved a good mojito so when I came across this recipe I knew I had to try it out. It was such a hit! I think it's the perfect summer cocktail.

Mojito Slush

Original recipe by Jessie Damuck via Martha Stewart Living

Makes 8 cups

In a blender, combine 1/2 cup each sugar and water. Blend until sugar dissolves, 1 minute. Fill with 10 cups crushed ice. Add 1/3 cup lemon juice (from about 3 lemons) and 1/3 cup lime juice (from about 5 limes), 1 cup white rum and 1 cup fresh mint leaves. 

Blend until smooth.

The only little change that I make is I use a white organic raw sugar. Obviously it's not anything "healthier" but I just prefer it to regular granulated sugar. Hey it's a cocktail after all!

The fresh mint smells amazing and gives this cocktail a gorgeous green color. It's just the right combination of sweet with a touch of sour from the lemon and lime juice. So good!

Do you have a favorite summer cocktail recipe?

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Staying Sane While Snowed In – With Help From The Library

Winter has not been kind to me over in MA.

The 1st blizzard of 2015 left us with 2 feet of snow.  Before that snow had a chance to melt, another foot of snow was dropped. Now, the news is reporting that Boston could see another 2 feet of snow over the next 10 days!

I was sick of winter before it began this year.  I’m a rare New England resident that has never skied.

As you may have guessed, I’ve been snowed in a few times already this winter.

I am not someone who enjoys being cooped up & I go stir crazy pretty quickly.

How have I kept my sanity so far?

With help from the OverDrive app! The library may be snowed in & closed, but I can still borrow e-books using the OverDrive app.  I highly recommend checking it out for your reading pleasure.  I mean – free ebooks?! Can’t beat that!

It's Danielle Kempe taking over the blog today. I'm your MA state rep and a blogger at Getting Fit in MA.

Have you ever heard of tried the OverDrive app?  What books are you reading this winter?

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Scary movies to watch!

I consider myself a movie buff, especially when it comes to the horror genre. Halloween/October is one of my favorite times of the year because there are so many great scary movie marathons on t.v. However, it's really hard to find a scary movie worth watching nowadays (at least for me, someone who has basically watched all the good ones!) I wanted to compile a somewhat short list of some of my favorite movies to watch during the Halloween season. I broke them down into categories and also put a (KF) next to the movies I consider kid friendly in case you want to make a family movie night out of it. Each is linked to their IMDB profile so you can read a brief summary of the movie and check out the ratings it got. Enjoy!

To get you in the Halloween Spirit
These movies either have a halloween theme going on throughout the movie or are the typical movies you find on t.v. during this time so they're sure to get you nostalgic!

Trick r’ Treat

Hocus Pocus (KF)

Halloween (original)

Halloween H20

Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask

Practical Magic (KF)

Casper (KF)

Ghostbusters (KF)

E.T. (KF)

The Classics
Ahh, classic scary movies. It's hard to beat some of these. There are plenty of "classic" horror movies out there, but these are a good selection! I included remakes of some of the originals because in my opinion they are more entertaining to watch.
The Shining

A Nightmare on Elm Street

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the remake)

The Hills Have Eyes (the remake)

The Amityville Horror

The Exorcist

28 Days Later
Poltergeist

Recent Scary Movies Worth Watching
These may not be considered "classics" just yet but I definitely feel some will make the list some day. A lot of scary movies that come out lately are pretty lame, but these recent ones are worth your time if you haven't seen them yet!

The Conjuring

Insidious

You’re Next

The Haunting in Connecticut (1 or 2)
Carrie (remake)

“Campy”/Ridiculous Movies
Who doesn't love a good campy scary movie? Some of these are almost so bad they make you want to laugh. But jokes aside, these movies have their moments! 

Freddy v. Jason

Satan’s Little Helper

The Cabin in the Woods

Sleepaway Camp II

Any of the Scream movies

Any of the Paranormal Activity movies

Halloween mixed with Christmas
For some reason there are movies out there that actually manage to mix the wonderful Christmas spirit with the creepy Halloween spirit. I guess it's the best of both worlds!

The Nightmare Before Christmas (KF)

Black Christmas

Gremlins (KF)

Feel free to share your favorite scary movies or the Halloween movies you have a tradition of watching every October!

This post brought to you by NJ state rep, Valerie, who blogs at In-Between Life.

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Friday Five Hop and 5 Things to Do In Maryland This Weekend

Welcome to the Friday Five!  We invite you to link up your Friday Five post with us each week- any post of five things is welcome!  This week's Friday Five comes from state rep, Christina, who writes Mom’s Messy Miracles.

The Steppingstone Museum Fall & Craft Festival

 

At The Steppingstone Museum’s Fall & Craft Festival in Harford County, you’ll find educational activities for kids and adults. You’ll learn about the farm experience and how to how apple butter and apple cider! Kids will enjoy pumpkin painting, apple bobbing, hay rides, a straw maze and more! For the adults, there are plenty of crafters and food vendors as well as tours of The Steppingstone Museum. The event happens rain or shine, but it looks like it will be a beautiful weekend.

Visit a Zoo

No matter where you are in Maryland, there’s likely a zoo nearby. Check out the Plumpton Park Zoo in Cecil County, the Salisbury Zoo in Wicomico County, and The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

9th Annual Maryland Microbrewery Festival

This year’s Microbrewery Festival looks like it will be a hit! Located in Westminster, MD at the Union Mills Homestead, this festival will showcase the best of Maryland’s handcrafted microbrews from 14 breweries with over 30 types of beer. You’ll find food vendors, crafters with unique gifts for sale, live entertainment, and seminars about brewing.
 

Tour Oriole Park at Camden Yards

This is the first year since 1997 that the Orioles have won the AL East. This is a huge deal for Baltimore baseball fans! It would be a great time to take a tour of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. While on the tour, you’ll be able to see the dugout, the Press Level, the scoreboard/jumbotron control room, and the executive suite level.

 

Calvert County Fair

 

County Fairs are always fun! This weekend you can attend the Calvert County Fair to see farm animals, tractor pulls, and a ton of entertainment. At the Calvert County Fair, you’re bound to find something for everyone!

We love going to our county fair and wandering around looking at all of the 4-H projects!

And now it's your turn!  Link up your Friday Five post below & be sure to hop around and visit a few others in the link up!


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Guest Post: The 24 Drinking Game!

Today's special guest post comes from Meg of the blog My Borrowed Heaven.  Meg loves the TV show 24 so much she created a drinking game to go along with the show!  Check out the first part of it here and then head to her blog to read the rest!

I really hope there are some other 24 fans out there in blogland besides me.  Over the last 3 months, we've re-watched every one of the last 8 seasons.  It doesn't sound like a lot, but that's just over 2 episodes every. single. day. for 3 months straight.  Well, now it's here: THE NEW SEASON.  A new season means new fun and my own 24 drinking game!!  I know that even Kiefer Sutherland knows about the 24 "damn it" drinking game, but Mike and I thought it'd be fun to make one that's more in depth and really keeps you watching. 

1 Drink - Every time Jack says, "I'm Jack Bauer..." - Every time something explodes or someone gets shot - Every time Chloe rolls her eyes or says something sarcastic - For every ticking clock count - For every shameless product plug [i.e. Sprint, Chrysler...] - For each "damn it" 2 Drinks - Every time the phrase "within the hour" is said - Every time someone is watching Fox News - Each time Jack says, "I need to speak with the president" - Every time they re-position the satellite  - Whenever there's a split screen - Each time Jack says something calmly and then yells the same thing  

Wonder what will have you taking 3 drinks or even finishing your drink?  Head over to Meg's blog to read the full post and the whole drinking game!

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