The Bright Eyed Brunette

 Happy Tuesday, friends!  It seems like everyone is in a very busy season, so why not put an easy, yummy meal out there for you to try! This was a brand new one for us (Carl and I may have had it years ago, but my kids have never had it). This recipe for beef tip has the best gravy! It just takes a few ingredients, a little prep, and then let the slow cooker do its thing. The beef is tender, flavorful and easy to make! No Peek Beef Tips *2 pounds cubed beef stew meat (trimmed of large fat pieces) *1 package brown gravy *1 can cream of mushroom soup *1 envelope onion soup mix *1 can beef broth *8 oz. baby portabella mushrooms (This is completely optional: we do not add these!) 1. In a medium bowl, mix gravy, mushroom soup, onion soup, and beef broth until well mixed and pour into slow cooker. 2.  Add beef to the liquid mixture. Stir. 3.  Cook on high for 3 1/2 hours or 7 hours on low.  Meat should be very tender. Serve over mashed potatoes, egg noodles or rice. S...

 Happy 19th Birthday to my baby boy!  I promise I'm not one of those cringy TikTok mom's who have an unhealthy obsession with their sons!  He is just the baby :) This was also the first year that he didn't wake up on his birthday at my house (all be it, he was just down the road)! Of course, he had a dirt cake and of course he had Maggie! Make a wish! He wanted tacos for dinner and my mom found him a taco birthday card :) Happy Birthday, Trey! It was such a fun evening celebrating you!! Much Love, Mom (Beth)

Happy Wednesday! Today I am linking up with  Shay  and  Sheaffer  for a What's Up Wednesday.   It has been a while since I have done this particular link-up.   What We're Eating This Week... This week, we pulled out one of our very favorites: Ritz Cracker Chicken.  We all love this, but it is Trey's very favorite meal. Not only is this recipe super easy, it is also a quick meal with a simple ingredients list: Meat • 4 cups Chicken, cooked Produce • 1/4 tsp Garlic powder • 1/2 tsp Onion powder Canned Goods • 1 (10.5 ounce) can Cream of chicken soup Baking & Spices • 1/8 tsp Black pepper • 1/4 tsp Salt Snacks • 1 1/2 sleeves Ritz crackers Dairy • 1/2 cup Butter • 1 cup Sour cream Mix your chicken along with your other ingredients and spices and then pour them all in a baking dish.  Bake on 350 for about 15 minutes and viola! We usually eat ours wi...

  Happy Friday, friends! Today I'm linking up with  Andrea  and  Erika  for another Friday favorites. And here they are in no particular order: Last week our preacher told us that he had a surprise for us next week.  I had honestly forgotten about it until Carl mentioned at lunch on Sunday.  Trey said he knew what it was, but he wasn't telling.  It still didn't occur to me what it could be until we arrived at church on Sunday night, and I saw that Trey had a notebook along with his Bible sitting next to him on our pew.  It was him. Trey was the surprise.  He gave a short devotion before our Business Meeting.  He did well, considering it was his first time.  He said the congregation was a lot scarier when you are the one being stared at! This is a big deal because about 7 months ago he realized that he needed Jesus as his Savior.  And that came after about 7 months of me worrying about him, while he was trying to stretch hi...

We had a great weekend getaway to the Ozark Mountains in Missouri.  Branson, Missouri to be exact. With our two youngest kids working full-time now, we decided that a full-on vacation just wouldn't be in the cards.  Makena just started her job so she has no PTO or vacation as of now, and Trey is pretty busy at work right now trying to get a combine ready for a local farmer (rice harvest is right around the corner!).  This just worked best for this year. The mountains are beautiful, but I think I'm more of a flat-land girlie! It was also Makena's birthday weekend (so she got off on her birthday, which just happened to be on a Saturday!) Our birthday girl turned 22! On her birthday we spent the day at Silver Dollar City. If you know Makena, you know that she loves her a good rollercoaster! We rode them all!  And walked for miles and miles.  Family Fun at its finest! Had to get our picture with the World's Largest Soup Can :) She was wearing her birthday pin that t...

 Happy Independence Day, friends! We had a pretty great day even though it wasn't a typical 4th of July for us.  Carl worked first thing in the morning then mowed the yard. I packed our lunch and we went to the river (in 2 boats and 1 jet ski) for 3 people (insert eye roll) around 11.  Makena, aka Malibu Barbie on her jet ski Trey, aka Rowdy Rooster, with his boat Me and my love Makena just chillin' The sandbar was really crowded but we came early enough to find a good spot. Headed back to the landing so someone can go check rice water. Such a kill joy :( We actually had to go back home anyway so we could get ready for the party at our house. Makena, Wrenley, and Pop enjoying their yummy desserts! She loves dessert and her Aunt "Ky" Carlie and Caleb, ready to light fireworks! Me and Wrenley were counting down for them to light sparklers I know it wasn't dark, but she was getting tired and we were about to get eaten up by mosquitos. Carlie and Trey with their spark...