Supplies:

• Ninja SLUSHi Slushie Machine

Ingredients:

• Sunny D
• Strawberry Puree

Directions:

1. Pour in your Sunny D.
2. Turn on and choose the Slush mode. 
3. Once the Slush cycle is complete, dispense into your favorite cup.
4. Add Strawberry Puree. 
5. Enjoy!

I can’t think of a better way to head back to school than with a delicious orange SLUSHi. I don’t think you can get more nostalgic than a delicious frozen drink made with a drink that was part of most of our childhoods. This installment of Operation Brain Freeze will be sure to deliver straight A’s from your kiddos. Be sure to check back next month for another fun recipe that will ensure you continue your reign as the coolest parent!

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As a child, and if I’m being honest, as an adult I never get tired of Shark Week! I also love a good theme, and when I get a chance to combine the two, that’s when the magic really happens! I knew that I couldn’t share my love of Shark Week with my kiddos without a fun drink. So, what better way to use my Ninja SLUSHi Slushie Machine than by making a Chum Bucket Slush!

Supplies:

• Ninja SLUSHi Slushie Machine

Ingredients:

• Favorite Blue Sports Drink
• Strawberry Puree
• Gummy Sharks

Directions:

1. Pour your Blue Sports drink into your Ninja SLUSHi Slushie Machine.
2. Turn on and choose the Slush mode.
3. Once the Slush cycle is complete, dispense into your favorite cup.
4. Add Strawberry Puree.
5. Garnish with a Gummy Shark
6. Enjoy!

What better way to enjoy the ocean than a fun themed slushie!?! Best part of it all, no sunscreen or sand cleanup are required! I hope you enjoyed this slushie recipe as much as I did. I had so much fun with this that I will be creating a monthly recipe just for YOU! So follow along and get ready for Operation Brain Freeze! I think it’s safe to say our first mission was a success.

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Don’t worry, I’m not one of those moms who likes to gatekeep her secrets; I will share my favorite things to ensure you spend your Back to School time more than just surviving and maybe even thriving! My kids never complain when I pack their favorite Lunchables in their lunchbox! I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, only the coolest kids had those on the regular! Don’t tell my kids, but I still enjoy this nostalgic treat from time to time! Insert another nostalgic favorite with… OREO Minis. I don’t know why everything that is bite-sized just happens to taste better; this goes for both kids and adults! Now you’ll want a delicious drink to wash it down with, and you can’t ever go wrong with Capri Sun Roarin’ Waters. The sweetness of a juice and the hydration of a water, this is something both kids and adults love.

 Now that you have the perfect lunch packed, it’s time to feed those kiddos before, or often in my case, as you head out the door! I’ve got the perfect items to ensure you’re on time to the Drop Off Line! My oldest loves to grab Too Good: Strawberry Banana, and I love that he starts his day with 5 grams of protein! My two middle kids are always grabbing Danimals: Strawberry & Mixed Berry. They love these smoothies because they can continue to be on the go, and I love them because they’re made for growing kids! I can’t forget the littlest member of my crew, and for her, I’m always grabbing Happy Baby: Bananas, Raspberries & Oats. This is a favorite of hers, and they’re not kidding she’s one Happy Baby! I know that these favorites of ours will ensure you actually get to drink your coffee warm on the way to school! 

We did it! We survived drop off and we finally have a moment for ourselves. This is the perfect time to make a lunch that’s not only delicious but filled with fiber and protein that leaves us feeling great! What is on the menu you ask? Well I’m grabbing StarKist Chunk Light Tuna and another pantry staple, Bush’s Original Baked Beans. I always keep these items on hand because they’re the perfect quick lunch that I can feel good about! However, all this driving has left me quite parched. I love to treat myself to a Pink Lady Apple Health-Aid Kombucha. I know that this will help me better prepare for the calm before the storm…AKA School Pickup! 

The one thing that they don’t prepare you for in motherhood is all the germs that kids will bring home. Back to School time is a prime example of that, so before you head to get your favorite sidekicks, make sure you’re stocking your house, car, bathroom, purse, and their backpack with the tried and true favorite, Kleenex Facial Tissues. I love that these tissues are gentle enough for little noses, but still get the job done when sniffles enter the scene! 

I don’t know about you, but a practice run of my day sure does make me feel better about Back to School time looming on the horizon. Another thing that always makes me feel better is a good giveaway, so I’m excited to share that from July 13th through September 13th, five lucky winners will each receive a $100 Commissary Gift Card. Enter at MMSGiveaways.com. If that giveaway didn’t get you in the Back to School spirit, we’ll also be making a donation to the Fisher House Foundation Scholarship for Military Children Program. The program awards 500 scholarships of $2,000 each to military children at participating commissaries around the world every year.

So even though back-to-school time may feel a little chaotic with a trip to your favorite local Commissary, you will enter this era thriving and not just surviving! 

I recently bit the bullet and finally decided to purchase a Ninja SLUSHi Slushie Machine and I have to tell you I haven’t looked back since! I know there’s something so fun and nostalgic about a Slushie, but now I can enjoy them in about 30 minutes at my house! I am the queen of kitchen gadgets and appliances and I have to be honest when I tell you a lot of them end up in the dreaded appliance graveyard! However, that really hasn’t been the case with our SLUSHi machine! I know we’re in the middle of summer, so this machine is truly bringing all the kids to my house, but we’re having a blast. What better way to embrace summer than with a cold SLUSHi on a hot day!?!

If slushes aren’t your jam that’s okay because this machine has 5 preset features that are sure to deliver a frozen treat that everyone can enjoy! You can make spiked slushes. I haven’t tried this feature yet, but it looks like there are quite a few recipes ideas that are sure to please everyone! You can even make a Frappe! This is such a budget-friendly option when you don’t want to spend $8 on your favorite coffee treat. There’s an option for milkshakes and we’ve enjoyed coming up with fun recipes that taste better than the local ice cream shop! There’s also a preset for Frozen Juices. It doesn’t get much easier than throwing in your favorite beverage and pushing a button! It really is that simple. My family has had a blast coming up with fun recipe ideas that we can’t wait to share with you!

I was a little nervous about cleanup but seriously this machine practically cleans itself with the Rinse option! It comes apart nicely and truth be told clean up is a breeze. It’s good to know that you won’t dread those SLUSHi request because of a tedious clean up process. Ninja really thought of it all when they came up with this machine.

So, if you’re been on the fence about adding a SLUSHi machine to your appliance lineup let this be the sign from the universe that you’ve been waiting for! Not sure what you’re going to make in your machine? Well never fear because I’ve let my imagination run wild and I’ll be bringing you monthly themed SLUSHi ideas that are all kid tested and approved by my own family! So be on the lookout for the next installment of Operation Brain Freeze and we will be sure to keep that SLUSHi machine out of your appliance graveyard!

Want to make your own Mangonada at home? Here’s the super quick recipe that will have all your friends begging to come back over!

Ingredients:

• Mango Nectar
• Chamoy
• Tajin

Directions:

1. Pour in your Mango Nectar
2. Turn on and choose the Slush mode. 
3. Line your favorite cup with Tajin.
4. Glaze the inside of your glass with Chamoy.
5. Fill with that delicious Mango SLUSHi.
6. Enjoy!

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We have been investing in lots of interactive toys! There’s a great variety out there, but I can assure you that Macaroni has worn the batteries out a few times on his butterfly toy. He also has a toy that is basically a glorified cat version of whack a mole with a little feather and he greatly enjoys that. If you prefer something a little simpler you can’t go wrong with a traditional laser pointer. We all get a kick out him running all over the house trying to catch that annoying red light! We try to incorporate a variety of toys in his repertoire to prevent him from getting too bored. Just like with my kiddos, I also like to rotate toys with my kitties as well. This is a great way to keep things fresh and prevent boredom.

We’ve also purchased a few cat furniture pieces. This is a great way to give your pet a chance to utilize their natural instincts of climbing! We have a new cat tree that Macaroni can’t get enough of. We have a few cats in our household, so we do have multiple cat trees in our home. This is nice because Macaroni is a little much for my senior kitties at times. Everyone has their own space to explore and play! Don’t want to invest in a big cat tree? Try cutting a few holes in a cardboard box! I don’t think I’ve ever seen my cats turn down a new box to explore and play with. Crinkle up some packing paper and you will keep the entertained for at least a few hours!

Don’t be afraid to find some fun cat friendly videos online. Growing up, I vividly remember having a “Cat TV” VHS that I would put on for my kitties when I would be gone for extended periods during the day. Although I no longer have that video I have found similar videos on Youtube that my cats enjoy watching. This is a great way to stimulate their natural desire to hunt and observe wildlife! Depending on your location, you may be able to create the real thing for your pet with a window seat and a bird feeder.

I hope that some of these give your cat some great mental stimulation and ensure that you don’t suffer from too much boredom during these short winter days!

Join the Military Cat Club for savings and exclusive giveaways made just for military families and their PURR-fect cats and kittens.

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There’s nothing quite like a delicious Gingerbread cookies, but I have to be honest I don’t enjoy my cookies crunchy so when I found this soft Gingerbread recipe and I haven’t looked back! This one is fun enough that the kids can help with, but also easy enough that fancy decorations are required because it’s so good on it’s own!

Supplies:

• Cookie Cutters
• Cookie Sheet

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¾ tsp. baking soda
• 1 TBS ground cinnamon
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp. ground cloves
• 1 TBS ground ginger
• 2 TBS milk
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¾ cup softened butter
• ¾ cup unsulphured molasses

Directions:

1. Mix together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt until well combined.
2. Add softened butter and combine until mixture is “sandy”.
3. Add molasses and milk and mix until combined.
4. Divide dough in half. Refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours or overnight.
5. Preheat oven to 350.
6. Work with one section of dough at a time because it can become too soft. Roll out until about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutter of your choice.
7. Repeat until you’ve used up all dough.
8. Bake 9 minutes. Don’t overbake.
9. Move to wire rack to cool.
10. Decorate as desired.
11. Enjoy!

Notes:

This dough can become too soft if left out too long. It’s best to work in small batches. I cut all my cookies out and set aside on parchment paper until ready to bake. You could also pop into the fridge until you’re ready to bake them. These are honestly so good plain, but you may want to ice and decorate. The options are endless with this holiday classic. I hope your loved ones enjoy these delicious cookies as much as my family does!

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Ingredients:

• 3 (15 oz) cans drained green beans
• 1/2 lb of cooked bacon chopped
• 2/3 cup of your favorite brown sugar substitute or brown sugar
• 1/4 cup if melted butter
• 1/4 cup of coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce if you prefer
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook bacon until almost done. Remove from skillet and drain. Chop.
• Add green beans to 9×13 inch pan
• Stir together brown sugar substitute, melted butter, coconut aminos, and garlic powder.
• Pour mixture over green beans.
• Bake for 40 minutes
• Enjoy!

I know that this recipe will have everyone begging for seconds and that’s not always easy to do with a vegetable! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your family and that this recipe brings your family together too!

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As the temperatures start to drop and it starts to actually feel like fall, what better way to ring in the “ber” months than some delicious hot chocolate. I always like to add some flair to the basics so when I stumbled on the idea of doing a green hot chocolate, I knew that I could use this for all the upcoming holidays! If you’re like me and like to add a little fun to your get togethers this hot chocolate is for you as well!

Supplies:

• Crock-pot

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2 cups of Whole Milk
• 12 oz of White Chocolate Chips
• 14 oz of Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 Splash of Vanilla
• Green and Yellow Food Coloring

Directions:

1. Add milk, whipping cream, chocolate chips, and vanilla to crockpot.
2. Stir.
3. Set the crockpot for 2-3 hours on low setting.
4. Stir every 30 minutes until the chocolate chips are melted.
5. Add green and yellow food coloring a little at a time until desired effect is reached!
6. Add toppings.
7. Keep on warm setting, serve, and enjoy!

Notes:

• There are so many fun variations for this recipe. I made it for Halloween, Christmas, and even St. Patricks day.
• There’s a lot of ways to customize this with fun toppings, candy, and sprinkle options!
• The options are endless with this one.
• You could also change the coloring to match whatever “theme” you’re going with!
• The flavor is really good, but very rich. I would definitely stick with whole milk or 2% milk, because it helps bring out the full flavor. You can also double the recipe if serving a lot of people.
• I’m also a big fan of adding in homemade whipped cream as a topping for this one.

So stop by your local Commissary and grab the ingredients for your next holiday party!

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Supplies:

• Ninja Creami/Ninja Creami Swirl

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Peanut Butter
• 1 cup of Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1/2 of a Banana
• Milk
• Zukes Mini Naturals

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to Ninja container or freezer safe container if not using a Ninja Creami.
2. Freeze for 24 hours.
3. Add container to Ninja and spin.
4. Add a splash of milk and re-spin
5. Add to Ninja Creami dispenser and dispense into a bowl!
6. Add Zukes Mini Natural Treats to the top!
7. Share with your pup and enjoy!

Notes:

• When choosing your yogurt and peanut butter options make sure you avoid any with xylitol as it is toxic to dogs!
• If you don’t have a Ninja Creami as an option, I would recommend combining ingredients and blending to make a smoother texture before freezing.

This recipe was loved by both of my fluffy friends and we all had a great time including them in our family fun!

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As we all gear up to send our kiddos back to school, what better way to celebrate than a twist on a beloved classic! I always love looking for fun breakfast ideas for my kids and this one for sure hit the mark! So, grab your favorite pie crust and come along while we make our own version of the beloved toaster pastry!

Supplies:

• Parchment Paper
• Baking Sheet
• Sprinkles
• Rolling Pin/Glass

Ingredients:

• 2 Pie Crusts
• Strawberry Preserves
• 1 Egg
• Sprinkles of your choice
• 2 cups of Zero Calorie Powdered Sugar Substitute
• 3 Tbsp Milk
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Natural Food Coloring (Optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
2. Grab your parchment paper and roll out both of the pie crusts and cut into a rectangle. Place the bottom crust on your baking sheet.
3. Whisk an egg with 2 TBS of water. Brush on the outside edges of the pie crust.
4. Spread strawberry preserves on the bottom of the crust. Ensure you leave about an inch on all sides.
5. Cover the first pie crust with the second pie crust. Push down the edges with a fork. Also, poke the top of the pastry to allow air to escape while baking.
6. Brush with remaining egg white mixture.
7. Bake for about 20 minutes until pastry is golden brown.
8. Cool and make icing.
9. Combine 2 cups of powdered sugar substitute with 3 TBS of milk.
10. Add vanilla extract and Food Coloring (optional). Mix until smooth and well combined.
11. Pour over cooled pastry.
12. Add sprinkles!
13. Cut and enjoy!

Notes:

• You can use any kind of filling that you please! This would be fun to customize with different flavors of jams or preserves. You can also use Nutella or nut butters!
• I am currently in my PCS era so I used a glass/heavy metal tumbler to roll out the pie crust.
• My kids requested pink icing so I chose to use dye free food coloring to jazz the pastry up!
• You can also use regular powdered sugar if you don’t prefer the taste of the sugar free substitutes!

My kids had a blast with this recipe and I can’t wait to try it again with different flavors! This is a great way to close out summer with a back to school celebration or would make an amazing birthday breakfast for your breakfast pastry lover! Add some candles for extra fun! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did and have a lot of fun finding the perfect flavor combination!

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