Cool Treat for Hot Summer Days (& A Giveaway)

I don't know about you, but we are having a major heat wave in NC this week. I have been trying to keep the twins entertained indoors, but we are getting a little stir crazy over here. I was given the opportunity to try out the new Ball book of Canning & Preserving and found an amazing recipe that combines the twin's two favorite summer fruits...Watermelon and Blackberries. They of course loved it and were signing "more".

And...because today is International Can It Forward Day I used a couple of my jars to serve the Watermelon-Blackberry Granita.

If you love canning, mason jar crafts, gifts or decorating with these beauties you can follow Ball  for giveaways and LIVE demonstrations going on throughout the day. You can see that all happening HERE (Facebook Live) starting at 10:00am EST. 
*Also, if you participate by asking questions, liking a recipe or make a pledge, a $1 donation will be made to charity. So it's a #winwin for all! 
*Have a question!? Use Twitter with hashtag #canitforward from 10am-5pm ET on July 22nd.  

That's Not All my friends! Ball is also giving ONE of my lucky readers the amazing goodies below!! 

 The All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving: From the makers of the iconic Ball® jars and Ball® canning products comes the first truly comprehensive canning guide created for today's home cooks. This modern handbook boasts more than 200 brand new recipes ranging from jams and jellies to pickles, salsas, and more. (Retail value: $22.95)

Case of Collection Elite Wide Mouth Pint Jars: For the first time, the Ball® brand has introduced a line of never-before released blue colored jars.  (Retail value: $8.99/case)

One $5 off coupon to be used on FreshPreservingStore.com

Follow the Rafflecopter below to enter! (U.S. Residents Only Please) Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


**A HUGE Thank you to Ball Jars for sending the above products for review and giveaway. As always all of the opinions are mine and only mine. **

It's Really been {SIX} Months!?!

Yes, you read that right. My last post was on January 26th. My how time flies when you are changing diapers, playing peek a boo and rocking babies to sleep. Can you believe the twins are now 15 months old!? My babies are now turning into toddlers. We have waited for these two miracles for so long and you better believe I have been soaking up the time being a mama to M & J. Time is fleeting and I must capture our moments together both in memory and pictures.

 I so have missed all of you and know that some of my long time readers are still there and if I hear crickets, well then so be it! This blog was meant to be a fun outlet from my days in the business world. I am in the mama world and need this blog just as much now, if not more. So I'm back! Will I post weekly? (Not Sure.) Do I have lots of great ideas up my sleeves? (Maybe). I am just going to post when I feel lead and have a moment of inspiration to share with you all. Thank you for sticking with me!

photo via Simply Genuine Photography