Blog - Inside BruCrew Life

Salted Caramel Mocha Truffles

Salted caramel and mocha come together in a cute little truffle that you can enjoy any time of the day. You might want to double the batch...these Salted Caramel Mocha Truffles will not last very long.

These No Bake mocha cookie dough truffles with white chocolate, caramel, and sea salt are amazing!

Can I just tell you how happy I am that the Salted Caramel Mocha is back at Starbucks?

I wait all year for them to bring them back, and I had my first one this fall the other night after my son's soccer game. And I fell in love with it all over again!! I now have salted caramel mocha everything on my brain. I seriously couldn't rest until I recreated another yummy salted caramel treat...I didn't think you would mind 🙂

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Avocado Egg Sandwich

Enjoy this delicious Avocado Egg Sandwich for breakfast. The protein and healthy fats in the sandwich will keep you full until lunchtime!

An egg sandwich made with tomato, cheese, and avocado slices.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to see this Sandwich Maker from Hamilton Beach in action at the BlogHer conference. It is such a fun little appliance, and I knew my family would love making breakfast with it. I was so excited when they contacted me about reviewing one in my home.

When my husband saw the sandwich maker, he wasn't that impressed and didn't think it would work. Guess who uses this machine almost every single day now??? That's right. He had to take back all those things he said. He loves how easily this cooks an egg and toasts your muffin at the same time. Seriously, it gets used every day!

I love that this appliance is small enough to keep on the counter without taking up much space. With someone in the family using it every day, I didn't want to put it away, but it is also small enough that it wouldn't take up much room in a cabinet, either.

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Coconut Eclair Cake

Are high summer like temperatures keeping you from baking dessert lately? This Coconut Eclair Cake is just what you need to keep cool during this heat wave.

Last week we had some beautiful fall days here. It was slightly cool and just perfect for wearing jeans and sweatshirts with flip flops. Do you do that too? It is my favorite.

But that was just a teaser because this week has been crazy hot. Like hotter than the entire summer vacation! They even cancelled my son's soccer game because the heat index was supposed to reach 112*. That's crazy hot!

Now usually that kind of heat doesn't bother me because I stay inside with my air conditioner cranked down low. But our air conditioner was even having a hard time keeping the house cooler in these temperatures.

The other day I was at Meijer when I saw some new fun frostings from Betty Crocker. Of course the Almond Joy one caught my eye right away. I do love me some coconut. Have you seen these Coconut Muffin Tops or this Coconut Oreo Fudge? Putting coconut into everything is kind of my life long dream. Unfortunately not everyone in my house agrees with this mission, so I limit my coconut baking to here and there.

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Chocolate Spice Cookies

These Chocolate Spice Cookies are soft, fudgy, and loaded with chocolate candies. They are a delightful fall cookie.

Chocolate and pumpkin goes so well together in these rich, fudgy cookies.

You need to try a batch to see what I'm talking about! Right now!

Like run to your kitchen and start baking. You can thank me later when you are dying over how rich and fudgy these cookies are.

Now you can use any M&M candy on these cookies, but as soon as I saw there were Pumpkin Spice M&M's this year, I headed right to my Target and bought a bag. Ok, fine, I actually bought 2 bags.

You never know when pumpkin inspiration is going to hit.

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Best Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes Recipe

These Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes are a great copycat of the popular Starbucks fall drink. The pumpkin, coffee, and spices go together so well. And who can resist cute pumpkin cupcakes with a fun green straw?

So a few weeks ago, my family and I had a chance to go see Hillsong Live in concert. It was amazing being in a room with that many people just praising and worshiping our God.

I think my favorite part of the night was when the lead singer had them turn off all the lights in the room, and then he asked the audience to turn on their cell phone lights and hold them up.

That many lights together were able to shine out and make the room bright enough to see again. It was a great reminder to keep on being a light in the dark world that we live in.

It is easy to get discouraged by all the things that go on around us from day to day, but God is mighty to save and He has conquered the grave to give us a light to shine.

I know I am so thankful that God loves me know matter what failures and fears I have in this life. I mess up on a daily basis, but Jesus is always there to encourage me and love me without fail.

What an honor it is to be able to shine like a light to those around me. The song that Hillsong sang next was Mighty to Save. It is one of my favorite songs that we sing in our church. (You can click the name of the song to hear it, if you are interested.) I am so thankful for a mighty God!!! [Read more...]

Meat Lover's Crescent Braid

This crescent braid is full of 4 kinds of meats and 3 kinds of cheese...definitely a Meat Lover's dream come true.

Let's talk meat today. I know everyone else is going pumpkin crazy out there...who am I kidding? I have totally gone pumpkin crazy already too. I have 4 pumpkin recipes done and ready to share with you, and about 10 more I can't wait to bake up. Crazy for the orange stuff? Yup, I'm plain bonkers for it.

But today I have an easy after school snack to share with you. Here is the funny thing about this. I do not really like meat. You know how you usually have to bribe or convince your children to eat 3 bites of veggies before they can be finished?

That was me when I was younger, but with meat. I remember eating all my veggies no problem, but then having to sit there forever with the meat staring back at me.

To this day, I still don't like to eat meat. Give me a bowl of veggies...or a chocolate cupcake. I'll get my protein another way.

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BruCrew Top Ten

Here we are at Friday again. I'm telling you now that school is in, and we are busy every night with practices and games, the weeks are flying by. It has only been 3 weeks since school started, but for some reason it feels like 3 months. I guess that is good that we have gotten into a routine. Now if only I could get that meal time dinner schedule going better...any ideas for me are much appreciated. Now let's get to the Top 10 things for this week.

1. First Day of School Pics - yes, it was 3 weeks ago, but nobody saw it then because I'm a slacker and didn't do it on IG like everyone else....so I'm sharing my cute kiddos here today. I can't believe I have a 9th, 6th, and 4th grader already!

2. Hahahaha! Bring on all things pumpkin! I am so ready!!

3. I broke into the pumpkin last week...and I haven't looked back yet. My plan is to eat pumpkin every week for the next 4 months! Salted Caramel Pumpkin Lattes every day!!!

4. This Salted Caramel Pumpkin Bread is what caused me to begin pumpkin baking in August. I seriously want that whole loaf for myself!!

5. Bailey's Coffee Creamer...the best way to make your coffee happy. I was so excited to receive these three flavors in the mail. Coffee with a good creamer first thing in the morning helps get me going. I am slightly partial to the Mudslide.

6. I am seriously dying over this Pecan Crusted French Toast! It looks stinking amazing!!!

7. Two coffee dates in two weeks with two cute kiddos. Love!

8. I love accessories. I love accessories that are affordable even more. These necklaces came from Gordmans and each one was only around $10. Then my daughter and I were shopping at the mall and found these earrings at Icing for $2 a pack. Even if they only last a few months, it was totally worth it. Those teal feather ones are my absolute favs right now.

9. Sweet & Salty S'mores...s'mores made with Ritz crackers? Yes, please!

10. Throwback time!!! I was looking through some old scrapbooks and found this one of me with the very first pie I ever made. Baking is just a part of me I guess. And I am totally loving that my littlest guy looks just like me. He is definitely my little mini me.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend relaxing and enjoying your families.
We will be eating pizza, watching movies, and headed out to see family on Labor Day. It will be a good weekend.

Rustic Fruit Tart

This Rustic Fruit Tart is an easy dessert that makes a big impact at the table. It is perfect for those end of the season picnics and potlucks.

Let's talk about the weather for a minute. I love summer and everything about it. The beach, the sun, the tan lines, the fruit. But I really love fall. It is my absolute favorite season of the year. If I could find a place that was fall ¾th of the year and spring/summer for the other ¼th of the year, I would seriously pack our bags and move there.

There is something about this time of year that just gets me. I love the chilly days when I have to wear jeans and sweatshirts.. The smell of crispy leaves in the air coming in my open windows makes me so happy. Then there are the colors. Red, orange, and yellow leaves with the sun coming through. Best. Thing. Ever. [Read more...]

Warrior Dash 2013

Last weekend my husband and my oldest son and I joined some friends and ran the Warrior Dash in a town near ours.

Yes, I'm crazy 🙂

Seriously I am such a girlie girl. I love cute clothes and accessories. I don't leave my house without make up or real clothes on. No pajama pants or yoga pants leave my house unless I'm going to the gym. Now obviously there have been a few instances, but I can really only think of one or two where I did go in a store that way. So running a mud run is quite a stretch for me. But it actually isn't the first one I have done.

Two years ago my husband and I did and finished a Tough Mudder. 13 miles of running through the mud and water in 50* weather. Now that was crazy!!! [Read more...]

Raspberry Cream Cheese Danish

This Raspberry Cream Cheese Danish can double as breakfast or an after school snack. The sweet filling inside the crescent dough will have everyone reaching for more.

Chocolate chip cheesecake and raspberry pie filling baked inside a crescent roll makes a great breakfast or after school snack

I have been trying to convince our kids that breakfast is an important meal. That is a hard one to sell when I am not a morning person, and I have zero desire to get up early to make (or eat) hot pancakes or muffins that early in the morning.

I'm pretty sure I would burn anything I try to make because my eyes would still be closed. Closed eyes and hot griddles do not make a good combination.

I have found a way around that though. Lucky for me I am a night owl, and I don't mind making some sort of breakfast the afternoon or night before. In fact, the other night I made a double batch of pancakes and froze them all.

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