FRIDAY FAVORITES....FAIR EDITION

Wow, the last day of July. NO!! You know what that means, time to start thinking about Fall, if you haven't already. You know, I love the sweet Summertime but Fall is my groove, so I'm a little excited. Tomorrow is the last day of the Fair and since this is pretty much where I lived and breathed this past week, much of this Friday favorites post is about the country life, primarily what I ate and wore. LOL 
Have a wonderful weekend soaking up the last few of Summer.


1. 4-H and THE KIDS
While the people watching, concerts and food are amazing, the thing that is most important about the Fair is the 4-H kids. They work so hard. They learn, grow and make new friends.
So proud of our guy and how he did.

 Steer Show: 2nd Place and showed for reserve champion

Swine Show: 3rd place out of 10 in his show group

 2. COTTON CANDY
I have loved cotton candy since I was a little girl. My friend Tami and I love it so much that we always get one of those cute lil themed buckets of it at every holiday for each other. There is no cotton candy like that at the Fair. I usually grab a bag on the very last day and enjoy tiny little pieces of sugary goodness throughout the next week.

The Sugar Spun Candle gives me that sweet smell without the calories. It's from Target and literally smells up the whole house so sweetly. It is my favorite candle for summer and in between seasons. Fall and Winter call for more cinnamon and harvest smells but this remains a goodie!! I need to stock pile before Target stops selling them
I have been wanting to try the one Yankee Candle has too.

3. CORN DOGS
So, call me crazy but hands down, my favorite food of the whole Fair are the corn dogs. It is the first thing I eat every time. And not just any Fair dog, it must be at this booth behind me. Photo bomb by the cute booth worker. I am not big on processed food but this week all bets are off. I enjoyed 2 of these puppies this week. Til next year BEST CORN DOG EVER.....

Express Barcelona polka dot Cami,  J.C. Penny Lime shorts, Target sandals, Coach cross body

I've made little mini corn dogs at home before so 

I thought I'd share a recipe for them you might enjoy. Kids love em'

Homemade Mini Corndog Recipe Here

4. FAIR ATTIRE
Oh kids, as you know with most of the country, this week has been sweltering. I feel so sorry for all the 4-H kids, the animals and fair workers. Let me tell ya, my main goal was not to see how many fried Oreos I could eat, but rather it was how to stay cool. 
My best defense was hair up, shirts and cool breezy tops.

Target top, Levi's shorts, Kohl's Sandals, Coach cross body

Cupid's Diary top, Kohl's shorts, Wal-Mart sandals, Old Navy fringe cross body

 5.COLE SWINDELL CONCERT & TWITTER REPLY
Finally, 6 months of tweeting this guy, one of my favorite country stars and he replied yesterday. My week, month, YEAR is complete!

Linking up with Fashion Friday // Meet At The Barre // High Five For Friday  // Charming Friday // Fab Favorites // Oh Hey..Friday
// Friday Favorites // A Lovely Little Link Up Ala Mode 

One more night at the Fair for Auction and then I think everyone including "y'all" needs to do lots of this:

xoxo

I'll be bucking it to the County Fair

~George Strait

BLUEBERRY STREUSEL MUFFINS

In honor off our county fair going on this week, I wanted to share another of my Sweepstakes winning baked goods. This won in 2011 in the overall muffin category. Blueberries are at their peak right now here and it was a very good, sweet and plump year for them. Yum

Linking up with Tasty Tuesday // Green Fashionista 
// Food Porn Thursday's

These muffins are extra large and yummy with the sugary-cinnamon crumb topping. I usually double the recipe and fill the muffin cups just to the top edge for a big ole' bakery style muffin. Add extra blueberries too, if you want. Eat warm out of the oven, cold or heat in microwave for 12-15 seconds.

 INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup canola oil

1 egg

1 tsp. Vanilla extract 

1/3 cup milk approximately 

1 cup fresh blueberries

1/3 cup white sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

 DIRECTIONS

1.      Preheat oven to 400 degree. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.

2.      Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 2/3 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg, vanilla and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.

3.      To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

4.    Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

 Double this recipe to get a dozen large muffins

So great right out of the oven!

Enjoy, sweet friends, enjoy!!

Now, if you'll excuse me , I'm off to get my cowboys boots, fringe crossover, and country dress on to sit stand FRONT ROW for this man's concert at our FAIR:

Cole Swindell, the next BIG thang...yep, he is one of my faves and did you know, not only did he used to sell t-shirts for his buddy, Luke Bryan, he wrote most of Luke's songs too!! Stud MUFFIN!!!

Linking up with Weekend Potluck
// Summer Family Fun // Thursday favorite Things Blog Hop // Totally Terrific Tuesday // Wonderful Wednesday Bloghop
Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop // Meal Plan Monday #113 // Delicious Dishes Recipe Party
xoxo

"Muffins are just ugly cupcakes!"
~unknown

9 REASONS TO GO TO A COUNTY FAIR

 Happy Monday! Well, our County Fair is in full swing. It has gotten me thinking that I wish all of you could attend our Fair at least once. While, I tire of it by about the 3rd outing; it is HUGE, with so much to see, do and eat. Next year is our son's last year showing animals in the fair, so I'll soak it up now and drink another lemonade shake-up. I am sure many of you went to the Fair as a kid, have a child in 4-H or have a county fair or carnival you attend.

 Here are 9 reasons you should go: 

1. People Watching! Oh the people. Where else can you see purple feather hair, women with giant stuffed dogs, Americana fashion to the hilt and a zillion cute kids with snow cones all in the same place?

2. Fried Imagination and Oh, the FOOD! Let's not get hung up on calories and nutritional value. Instead, let's concentrate on the imagination it takes to come up with deep fried Oreos, coffee balls and oh yeah, chocolate covered bacon. While those are not my cup of tea, I do have a few of my favorites which include a corn dog, white chocolate frappes, pork tenderloin sandwiches, elephant ears and tiny Tom Thumb doughnuts piping hot.

 Tiny Tom Thumb doughnuts

Elephant Ear

 

3. Tractors. Whether you bleed green, red, or blue, what kid doesn't love sitting on a big ole tractor? I'm sure some dads get a thrill too. Makes them want to trade in their Toyota for a tractor and their subdivision for a farm. The Tractor Pull Thursday garners more men in attendance than women but many love the roar of that supped up tractor. We happen to bleed green, John Deere, and here is a picture of the oldest 16 years ago sitting in a JD wheel. The JD tractors were his favorite exhibit for years!!

4. Midway "Step right up, let me guess your age, weight, and birth date" Ok, you are not guessing my weight after I ate a corn dog and spiral spuds in front of a hundred fair goers and friends and making me get on the big ole scale. Come on. I'll stick with the color game. I still have that 3" stuffed mouse I won in 1995.  

 Better yet, the Midway after dark is mesmerizing. At night, $10 Ferris Wheel ride...well, it just seems romantic...and worth it

5. Hot Roasted Corn There's more than corn in Indiana, but you're sure to see a corn field on any drive you take. Nothing says “County Fair” more than walking around with an ear of hot, roasted, buttered corn with the husk still attached. The Lions and Kiwanis Clubs and this girl do it right.

6. 4-H Fabulousness There is more to 4-H than farm animals. Duck into the air-conditioned 4-H buildings to be amazed at the handiwork and craftsmanship of our youth displayed in sewing, woodworking, cake decorating, electrical and photography projects and more. I used to be a judge for the scrapbookers too. Adults can enter too. Here is my winning fudge in the display case.

 

7. Animal Magnetism: Where else can you get up close and personal with the animals featured on the Fisher Price See-n-Say? Cows, horses, goats, pigs, chickens, sheep. Just watch your step or you’ll be saying more than “moo, oink and baa.” You may get lucky and witness the miracle of life as often babies are born while at the Fair.

8. I scream, you scream, we all scream for the Dairy Bar: Manned by members of the Indiana Dairy Council, the Dairy Bar serves up some of the best food, at the best prices, at the fair. Milkshakes, soft serve ice cream, $1 grilled cheese sandwiches and mozzarella sticks make the Dairy Bar a particular family-friendly stop. The ice cream is my husband's favorite of any food at the Fair. 

9. 5000 Women ages 3-75 in Cowboy Boots When I was 9 years old,, I saw my very first country concert at this Fair. It was the group Alabama, back when they were big and I remember it like it was yesterday. I had on jean shorts, a plaid shirt and a white cowboy hat. Wish I had a picture for ya. Our fair brings in some big names. Over the years, I've seem many country concerts here and plan on seeing more in the years to come from a seat on the dirt track including one tomorrow night!!!

 Besides the laughs, entertainment and plethora of yummy, not so good for you foods, 4-H is an amazing program and the fact that 4000 of our county youth enter projects every year is a testament to how awesome it is. It throws our community together in one place the way few other events do. We see old friends, talk face to face and sometimes the phone doesn't even come out of our pockets
 (unless it's a teenager who needs more ride money. ha ha).

Plus, the county fair, at the very least, stirs up our rural past and that sense of pride in working the land.

I'm hungry, time for a hot mini doughnut!! 

xoxo

Linking up with Biana 
Totally Terrific Tuesday // Saturday Sharefest 

FRIDAY FAVORITES

A gorgeous Summer week in the books! Thank goodness it went fast. I hope you enjoy a fun, happy, peaceful and yummy Summer weekend. Do something you love, do something for YOU and remember: you are AMAZING!!!!
 Here are some of my goodies from the week 
 

1. MUDSLIDE
This takes me back to Spring Break and the BEST Mudslides. Here is a recipe that comes close. Ahh, just makes me feel cooler just looking at it!

Recipe HERE

 2. BRACELETS from a BLOGGER 
 These beautiful bracelets were made by one of my favorite fashion bloggers 
Vanessa of What Would V Wear
She is absolutely beautiful inside and out; classic, elegant, fun, sweet as a button and sexy all rolled into one. Check out these stack-able beauties and other great finds HERE  
made with her loving hands.  

 3.WORK ATTIRE
Since the weather was hot this week, I opted for sleeveless dresses and cardigans. That way, the minute I got outta there, I could take that cardi off and enjoy the cool sleeveless style!

Short Sleeve Cardigan, The Loft. Dress, Meijer

 

Short Sleeve Cardigan, The Loft. Dress, oddly enough: Sears

3/4 Cardigan, J.C. Penny. Dress, Elder Beerman

4. RECIPE

"ZUCCHINI CORN MEDLEY"
Oh my, I can have this as my whole meal but it is the perfect Summer Side for sure!!!

  Ingredients 
4 slices bacon 
2 cups chopped zucchini 
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (I like to cut the corn off a couple of left over ears)
1/2 cup onion, chopped 
1 pinch pepper 
1/4 (or more) cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings. Crumble bacon and set aside.

Heat the bacon drippings in the skillet over medium heat. Saute the zucchini, corn, and onion until tender but still crisp, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top. When melted, sprinkle with crumbled bacon. 

5 servings/only 125 calories each.

 5.THE COUNTY FAIR
and my Steer & Swine showing son
Our county 4-H Fair starts today and runs for 9 days. It is one of the largest in the country. You'll probably be hearing a lot about the good ole' Fair as I will be out there numerous times! Our oldest is in his 9th year of 4-H and will be showing a Steer and a Pig. Proud of how he handles those animals in the arena, sad when thy have to be sold next Friday for hamburger and bacon...

 A scrapbook page I did for last year's Fair. Love!

Linking up with Meet At The Barre
Saturday Sharefest // High Five for Friday
xoxo
Again, have a great weekend! If you ask me, you ALL Rock!!