Masshole Mommy

15+ Amazing and Delicious Homemade Ice Cream Recipes

Aug 152017

One of my favorite sweet treats is ice cream. I don’t care if it’s 20 degrees outside or 120 degrees – there is never a bad time for ice cream. When I was growing up, I had a bowl of ice cream for my bedtime snack every single night. While I don’t have ice cream quite that often anymore, I certainly enjoy a couple of bowls of ice cream every week. Lately I have discovered homemade ice cream and am so excited that I am not limited to what they sell in the grocery store. Not that I have ever bought an ice cream flavor that I didn’t like, but I do like freedom of creativity that I have when I make my own. I have been on the hunt for some great homemade ice cream recipes lately and today I’ve rounded them all up into once place for easy reference.

Check out these amazing homemade ice cream recipes:

Mint Chocolate Ice Cream
http://amandascookin.com/homemade-mint-chocolate-chip-ice-cream/

Banana Ice Cream
http://happyhooligans.ca/one-ingredient-banana-ice-cream/ Continue reading »

Top Homework Apps for Tween Boys

Aug 142017

School nowadays is fast paced, and you might find your tween boys come home with piles of homework! Well below are some great apps that are a great way to get organized and keep track of all the homework assignments!

These homework apps for tween boys will make the school year run a lot more smoother when they utilize these apps! They are parent approved apps, if you are concerned!

These apps can help keep their homework in order, use a calculator to help with math, create flash cards to study and more. I love each of these apps, they are great for students to have easy access to making learning and organization easier this school year!

5 Best Organizational and Tool Apps for Tween Boys

My Homework

For: iPhone, Android, Kindle, Web,
Price: Free

My Homework is a great app for your tween to keep track of their classes along with assignments. When you import an assignment it will allow you to put a due date. Then it will create a priority level (color coded) so your child knows what they need to do before other work! It is a really useful app to have. Continue reading »

Mind Blowing Fruity Pebbles Milkshake

Aug 132017

If you want a real treat, make a Fruity Pebbles Milkshake. The recipe literally couldn't be easier and this milkshake is oh so delicious.

There is a fantastic little donut shop in Middletown, Rhode Island that my husband and I frequent whenever we are in the area. One day not too long ago, we were there and I spotted a little sign out of the corner of my eye. It said “Fruity Pebbles Milkshake” and I knew that I had to have one. Fruity Pebbles are my all time favorite cereal and a Fruity Pebbles Milkshake sounded heavenly.

We each ordered one and heavenly doesn’t even begin to describe it. It was the best milkshake I had ever had in my entire life. I said to hubby that I need to try to recreate it at home so that we didn’t have to drive an hour every time we had a craving for one. I went home and got to work – and this is what I came up with. It was much easier to recreate than I thought and after a few tries, I had it. I am so happy that I can now have one every single day. Ok, not every day, but often.

If you want a real treat, make a Fruity Pebbles Milkshake. The recipe literally couldn't be easier and this milkshake is oh so delicious.

Fruity Pebbles Milkshake

Good Eats on the South Shore at the Quarry Hingham

Aug 072017

If you live on the south shore you may have heard of The Quarry Hingham. It’s a wonderful restaurant in Hingham that is quickly earning a reputation for fantastic food and outstanding service. Since earning Boston Magazine’s 2016, Best of Boston South Shore for General Excellence, The Quarry continues to get positive reviews. Chef Greg Jordan, graciously invited my husband, Christian, and myself to dine at The Quarry recently so that we could see for ourselves what all the buzz was about.

The first thing we noticed when we pulled up was the restaurant’s namesake. There is a big old water-filled quarry behind the restaurant, which is housed inside a gorgeous stone block building on the property.

With food made from scratch daily with locally soured ingredients, the Quarry Hingham is the restaurant for good eats on the South Shore.

The menu at The Quarry changes based on the region’s harvest cycles. All of their food is made from scratch daily with locally sourced ingredients and after eating there, I can definitely see why they are consistently getting positive reviews. Continue reading »

Easy Dessert Hack: Lemon Ice Cream Cake

Aug 062017

This Lemon Ice Cream Cake is an easy dessert hack that people will love! It's easy to make and will be a sure fire hit at your next get-together!

Do you ever find yourself needing something to bring to a cookout or party last minute? My mother always taught me to never show up to a gathering empty handed, so I refuse to walk in to a party without something. I’ve been a complete scatterbrain this summer and have been forgetting to mark events down on my calendar. Twice so far I have gotten a text from a family member saying how excited they are to see me and the family to such and such party today. And of course since I didn’t put such and such event into the calendar on my phone, I immediately go into panic mode. Not wanting to always be “that” person who brings the bag of ice, I decided that I was going to get a little creative and come up with something easy and delicious to bring with me when one of these events comes up last minute: Lemon Ice Cream Cake!

This Lemon Ice Cream Cake is an easy dessert hack that people will love! It's easy to make and will be a sure fire hit at your next get-together!

My Lemon Ice Cream Cake isn’t super fancy, but it’s better than showing up with a bag of ice, right? Continue reading »

Kettlebell Kitchen: Healthy Meal Solutions for Busy Lives

Aug 012017

We are all busy, right? I’m a mom of two tweens (one is almost a teen) and some days I feel like I am going non-stop. That’s probably because I am and I’m sure you have days like that, too. But just because we’re busy doesn’t mean we don’t want to eat well. I care about my health and the foods I put into my families bodies, but a lot of the time I am too busy to prepare meals the way I would like and eat the way we should. Thank goodness I found out about Kettlebell Kitchen! They do the hard work for me!

Kettlebell Kitchen: Healthy Meal Solutions for Busy Lives

What is Kettlebell Kitchen?

Kettlebell Kitchen is a new meal delivery service that offers a variety of fully-prepared, delicious meal plans catered to your dietary needs. Whether you are a professional athlete that requires the perfect balance of nutrients an on-the-go executive that wants a quick, healthy meal without sacrificing taste, or a busy mom like me who wants to eat healthy – Kettlebell Kitchen has you covered. Continue reading »

Your Guide to Whale’s Tale Waterpark in Lincoln, NH {And a Free Printable Waterpark Scavenger Hunt}

Aug 012017

Whale's Tale Waterpark is the best place in the White Mountains to slide, swim and splash!

Tucked into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Whale’s Tale Waterpark has been thrilling families for over 30 years. As a matter of fact, Whale’s Tale Waterpark was recently voted one of TripAdvisor’s Top 25 waterparks in America! It’s a great place to cool off, relax and spend some time with friends or family. A visit to Whale’s Tale is a definite wet and wild experience for the whole family.

Don’t worry if you’re not a thrill seeker – I’m not either. Whale’s Tale has something for everyone. My family recently spent the day at Whale’s Tale and we had a blast. Here’s everything you need to know to ensure you have the best possible time at Whale’s Tale.

Whale's Tale Waterpark is the best place in the White Mountains to slide, swim and splash!

Attractions at Whale’s Tale Waterpark:

Poseidon’s Voyage
Their most thrilling ride yet. Riders of Poseidon’s Voyage begin in the SkyBox; a nearly vertical launch capsule, which is the steepest drop in the industry, with a trap door on the bottom. Tension builds as you hear your heart pounding. Then adrenaline kicks in as the floor suddenly drops out and you accelerate to the top speed of 38 feet per second. Powerful G-Forces glue you to the wall the entire way around the tight 360° SuperLOOP. Continue reading »

Verizon Fios Tween Streaming Guide #FiosBoston #ad

Jul 312017

My family was recently on vacation up in New Hampshire when disaster struck. A big thunderstorm rolled through. Gasp! It was a major storm involving torrential downpours and ping-pong ball sized hail, so we were basically trapped inside of our condo (I’m just glad we were already inside when the sky opened up!!). Anyhow, not five minutes into it my boys both started with the “I’m bored” nonsense. Thankfully all of our devices were fully charged and ready to stream some some of their favorite shows on Fios.

Verizon Fios Tween Streaming Guide

Because I have two tween boys, I decided to round up some of their favorite go-to shows. If you have tween boys, check out this Verizon Fios Tween Streaming Guide because who knows – you might find a new show that you love! It’s super exciting that new areas in Boston are getting Fios service all the time and I am thrilled to be partnering with Verizon to bring you some information about their new service in the Boston area! I’ve had Verizon Fios for years and I have never been anything but happy with it!

1. American Ninja Warrior

From schoolteachers to firemen to police officers to social workers, this competition gives everyday men and women the chance to transform into fearless acrobatic competitors at the six regional qualifying competitions held throughout the U.S. 100 finalists will have a shot at a $500,000 cash prize and the chance to win the coveted “American Ninja Warrior” title at the national finals in Las Vegas. Continue reading »

Watermelon Cake Balls

Jul 302017

How cute are these Watermelon Cake Balls? They don’t taste like watermelon, so consider yourself warned before you bite into one! But they do look like watermelon and they make a really fun dessert to serve at summer parties and cookouts. These Watermelon Cake Balls are really easy to make (because you make them using a cake mix) and I just can’t get over how cute they are. Trust me, your guests are going to love them! And if you want to play a little joke on your guests, sit back and watch the look of confusion on their faces if you don’t warn them ahead of time that they don’t taste like watermelon! Ha! These Watermelon Cake Balls will be the hit of your summertime cookout!

These Watermelon Cake Balls will be the hit of your summertime cookout! They don't taste like watermelon, but look the part and are super easy to make

Watermelon Cake Balls

6 Tips For Visiting Water Country in Portsmouth, NH {And a Free Printable Checklist}

Jul 262017

If you're planning on visiting Water Country in Portsmouth, NH this summer, here are some things to know before you go. Plus there is a printable checklist!

If you are looking for some fun this summer, Water Country is the place to go! They have more slides, pools and attractions than any other water park in the area. There is definitely something for everyone when visiting Water Country. A day at the water park is just that – a full day. I always do my prep work before heading out for the day because I like to be prepared. In addition to packing up all the items I will need for the day, I take a few minutes to look over the website to make sure there are no surprises when I get there.

If you're planning on visiting Water Country in Portsmouth, NH this summer, here are some things to know before you go. Plus there is a printable checklist!

What you need to know before visiting Water Country

8 Best Board Games for Tweens

Jul 252017

Super fun games for pre-teens

Summer is here and you might have heard your kids say already a time or two they are getting bored! If that is the case in your house, consider buying some new games for them! I have gathered some board games for tweens! These games are for that in-between age, and can be harder to find ways to keep them entertained with games! I have found some, and I think you all might enjoy them! These games are for girls and boys, and perfect for a family game night as well!

I am a fan of family game nights, as it allows you to connect and unwind from a busy week. Share some laughs and these games will be a great one to toss into your game rotation! I think your tween will thank you if you bring home a new game for them. Let them play the game with their siblings, or have some friends over and they can hang out and play games!

Beat Summer Boredom With These Board Games for Tweens

Peaceable Kingdom This or That– This is a quick thinking game for your tween to choose between this or that. Chocolate or Vanilla? Text or Call? It is a fun way for them to answer questions and if you play with them, learn more things about what they would prefer! This is great for ages 10 and up, and you can have 2-8 players! Continue reading »

The Ghosts & Gravestones Tour is a Must-Do in Boston

Jul 242017

In a city nearly four hundred years old – troubled with war, murderers, strife and the occasional bout of stray molasses, it is hardly any wonder that Boston remains one of the most haunted cities in America and stories of the glory days of Colonial Boston only scratch the surface of Boston’s darker side. Boston has found itself plagued with some of history’s most nefarious figures – The Boston Strangler, Jolly Jane, Dr. John Webster, Cotton Mather, amongst a slew of other assorted characters. If you want to hear all about Boston’s dark history, the Ghost & Gravestones Tour is the place to hear about all of it.

Explore Boston’s most chilling murder sites, haunted places and spend time with the dead on the Ghosts & Gravestones tour.

I took this fun trolley tour in Boston a few years ago with my husband, but I recently had a chance to take it again with him, my sister and brother in law. Our tour guide was Ashton Burns and we really enjoyed the stories that he told us. Ashton was not only just great a storyteller, but he was also well-informed and ready to answer any questions asked of him. There were a few tours out that night and all of the guides are dressed up AND in character! As I mentioned, Ashton was our guide and sadly, all of the pictures I took of him came out blurry, but he was great and really authentic. The other guide out that night was Betty and our group met up with their group in one of the cemeteries we visited. Continue reading »

Ultimate Tater Tot Nachos

Jul 232017

One of the snacks we make most often in our house is our Ultimate Tater Tot Nachos. Tater tots you say? Why yes – tater tots are a favorite in our house and heck, sometimes we like to get creative with them. We make different variations of them, but this one here is the one we like the best. These tater tot nachos are extremely easy to make and are ready in about 30 minutes.

Ultimate Tater Tot Nachos

Here’s what you need:

A bag of your favorite Tater Tots
Bacon, chopped into small pieces
One tomato
2 cups of shredded cheese
About 1 cup of sour cream
1/4 cup of sliced black olives
1/2 cup of slices scallions

Fun DIY Sidewalk Chalk

Jul 172017

This easy jhomemade sidewalk chalk is a fun way to keep the kids busy this summer!

Summer vacation is in full swing and I am so happy to say that my boys have logged more hours outside than they have inside on their screens. That’s a win in my books. They spend countless hours on their scooters and bikes, playing wiffleball and running through the sprinkler. They always seem to have fun, but sometimes I like to throw something new into the mix. I found a recipe for some DIY Sidewalk Chalk and decided to try making some for the boys.

I love it when I run out on an errand and come home to a driveway filled with chalk drawings. So anyways, I had a go at making some sidewalk chalk and I think it came out awesome. The boys really liked using it and I was surprised at how easy it was to make. I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be making a lot more this summer.

DIY Sidewalk Chalk

Old Town Trolley Tours are the Best Way to See Boston {And a Free Printable Scavenger Hunt}

Jul 172017

It is no secret that I am a proud Bostonian. I have lived in the area all my life and love being from this part of the country. There is so much to see and do in Boston and sometimes I like to pay tourist in my own city. When I want to see the sights in Boston, I take the Boston Old Town Trolley Tour in Boston.

If you're planning on visiting Boston, spend a day on the Boston Old Town Trolley Tour. It's hop on/hop off and brings you to over 100 Boston attractions.

The Hop On Hop Off Boston Tour covers all the major areas of the city including Downtown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the Theater District, and the Waterfront District. On the trolley, the fun conductors narrate the tour with a fun mix of trivia and humorous stories. My husband and I took the trolley tour on a rainy day a couple of weeks back. Since we’re local, we decided to stay on for the whole tour and I am so glad we did. Lucia was our tour guide/driver and she was wonderful. She is a life-long Bostonian and she was full of stories and trivia about Boston. Continue reading »

Poop Emoji Fudge Poopsicles

Jul 162017

When you are the mom of all boys, there are poop references daily. I’m not kidding – there is poop talk all the time. And they get creative with it, too, always finding new ways to work it into conversations. Sigh….

As I was walking through Walmart the other day I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. Sure enough, it was a poop Popsicle mold. I literally gasped when I saw it and obviously, I bought one. How could I not? Of course, I was going to be making chocolate pops out of them, so I grabbed the rest of the ingredients when I was there and made the boys some Poop Emoji Fudge Poopsicles. Get it? Poopsicles!

Poop Emoji Fudge Poopsicles

10 MUST Read books for 10-Year-Old Boys

Jul 122017

Summer is around the corner and with that comes summer break! Summer break can be a blast if you have things for your kid to do, or else you might be consumed with hearing, I am bored twenty times a day! So I wanted to share 10 books for 10-year-old boys!

These books listed below are fit for their age group and can keep them interested and let their imagination take off! If you have a ten-year-old boy who likes to read, consider buying these or seeing if your local library has these to check out!

Summer Reading List for 10-Year-Old Boys

Hatchet: I had to read this when I was in school, and it is amazing! It is a survival story of a boy who gets stranded on an island and has to survive! It is such a great book, highly recommend.

Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja: Chase Cooper is a sixth grade ninja, and goes to his first day of school. Not knowing anyone but his cousin, can be a little scary. Then a group of ninjas invite him into their group. Continue reading »

Strawberry Kiwi Frozen Yogurt Dinosaur Bites

Jul 112017

Yummy Frozen Yogurt Snack will cook kids off this summer!

Summer is upon us and for some reason, when my kids are out of school for the summer they want a snack every 30 minutes. I try to keep it as healthy as possible, but I always want to make sure it’s a tasty snack that they will enjoy. These Strawberry Kiwi Frozen Yogurt Dinosaur Bites definitely fit the bill. You only need two ingredients to make them and they seriously could not be any more delicious. Whenever I make them, the kids gobble the whole batch of them up in one sitting.

Strawberry Kiwi Frozen Yogurt Dinosaur Bites

Here’s what you need:

Dinosaur Silicone Mold (You can purchase this from Walmart in their baking section or order a similar dinosaur silicone mold online)
Strawberry Yogurt
Kiwis

Summer Fun at Davis Farmland

Jul 102017

For a fun summer outing with the family, visit Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA

Located in Sterling, MA, Davis’ Farmland is super fun farm experience for families with children under 12. Davis Farmland has over 100 breeds of animals that can be petted and cuddled with as well as North America’s largest sanctuary of endangered farm animals. They don’t just have animals at Davis Farmland, they have several playgrounds, hay & pony rides and an awesome splash park, too. There is tons of summer fun at Davis Farmland!

For a fun summer outing with the family, visit Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA

There is so much summer fun at Davis Farmland

My boys were both really excited to spend the day at Davis Farmland – especially once I told them there was a splash park there. It was a hot day in July and they were happy about there being a way to cool off. We actually brought cousin Jonah, who was visiting with his dad, Uncle Keith, from San Diego with us for the day. All three of the boys had a blast exploring everything at Davis Farmland. Continue reading »

DIY Sponge Bombs

Jul 102017

Homemade Sponge Bombs are a great way to cool off on a hot summer day!

I am so thankful that my boys prefer playing outside than sitting around inside the house on their electronics all day. Maybe it’s because our summers are so short and they want to make the most of it. Or maybe they know I will yell at them to go outside and play. Either way, you will get no complaints from this mama about it. We have tons of yard toys (balls, Frisbees, etc), a wooden swing set and they each have bikes and scooters. There is enough out there for them to do to keep them busy for hours at a time. But sometimes it gets super hot out and even on those days, they don’t want to come in. That’s when I make them things like these DIY Sponge Bombs.

DIY Sponge Bombs are a great way to cool off on a hot summer day. Plus, they are wicked easy to make. Score. Try them this summer and your kids will be very happy that you did.

DIY Sponge Bombs

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