Oh, it has been one of those days...
not motivated to do anything...
it was super cold...
even with the heat cranking!
I am over the cold and snow!
It was nice and I have enjoyed all the wintery stuff...
but Spring can come now. [Read more...]

Oh, it has been one of those days...
not motivated to do anything...
it was super cold...
even with the heat cranking!
I am over the cold and snow!
It was nice and I have enjoyed all the wintery stuff...
but Spring can come now. [Read more...]

-played 4 rounds of Sorry...I wish you have heard
all the evil laughter as my kids knocked me back to start
time & time again.
-did loads and loads of laundry...
at least I am caught up for a day or two now
-made and ate HoHo cupcakes
**note to self...don't bake when you are super tired...
I didn't have any cocoa powder for the
frosting, so I just dumped in hot chocolate mix...
not a problem...IF you remember to dissolve the powder first.
I thought the frosting was a little gritty...
but it didn't stop me from eating them though**
-mailed out many fun Trendy Owl packages
-stayed up late watching a few Cupcake Wars episodes
-celebrated World Nutella Day by making
grilled PB and Nutella sandwiches...
yup, warm peanut butter & nutella...super yummy!
-laughed and laughed at our crazy dog catching ice balls

These fun Cookie Dough Brownie Bites are a delicious treat to share with friends. Everyone will love finding a hidden cookie dough center in these truffles.
Have you had a brookie before? What is a brookie you ask???
That my friend, is a brownie and chocolate chip cookie
that has joined forces to tempt you to cheat on that diet.
Sadly, it is true.
I ate way more of these little brownie bites than I probably should have.
But it is winter, and when blizzards and ice storms come blowing,
you need to eat to keep warm.
Now to get more time on the elliptical...such a vicious cycle!
Who cares how much exercise this treat will cost me!
I just had to try putting cookie dough inside a brownie bite after making these salted caramel brownie bites. Brownie bites might just be my new thing to make in the kitchen!
First you need to bake up your brownies...I usually use a box, just because it is so much easier (and lazier)
While the brownies are cooling, mix up your cookie dough. The cookie dough from these no bake cookie dough s'mores is great for treats like this.
Roll the cookie dough into 35 small bite-sized balls. Place them in the freezer and wait until they are frozen. It will be hard to do, but you can do it.
Then...yup, you got it. Place that frozen cookie dough in the center of a small brownie and start smushing it all around that cookie ball. Now here is the hardest part...you've got to freeze them AGAIN.
I know it's torture, but well worth it in the end. You can reward yourself by eating some of the brownie scraps to pass the time.
Once they are frozen enough, melt the chocolate in the microwave and dip away. Any sprinkles on top will do, but it is that time of year so hearts it is ♥

These fun Cookie Dough Brownie Bites a fun treat. The hidden cookie dough will make everyone fall in love with these easy truffles.
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You Wanted To Know About Me!
So here goes nothing...
1. I am a list maker...unfortunately I tend to lose most of the lists I make. So I usually make the same list 2 or 3 times before things get done. Or I make a grocery list and get to the store, only to realize the list is at home. And yes, I cannot remember for the life of me what was on the list.
2. I am not a morning person at all. I would much rather stay up late working on projects. Because even if I go to bed early, I will still sleep until the absolute last minute. (I even set my alarm for 30 minutes earlier, just so I can hit the snooze 3 more times before getting up...lazy I know)
3. I have the worst circulation in my feet during the winter...they are always freezing. Thank goodness for cute fuzzy slippers to wear around the house. And I always wear socks to bed (even in the summer)...I am not sure why, I just do.
4. I enjoy complete silence when I am working on a project or even when cleaning. For some reason music/tv seems to really distract me.
5. I have never ever achieved an exercise high while working out. For me the high comes when I am finished and realize that I don't have to do this again until tomorrow.
6. I always pick out and eat the folded chips first. Not sure why, but I think they taste better that way:-)
7. I am a container collector...which thrills my husband to pieces. LOL! I always think of something that I could repurpose it into...he sees it as clutter. I mean come on...think of the uses for crystal light containers and for velveeta cheese boxes.
8. I love to eat green bananas plain...they taste gross to me when they are actually ripe and taste like a real banana. But if I am going to use them in a slimfast/green shake, they have to be ripe. For some reason I don't like a green banana taste in with other things.
9. I once sprained or broke one of my fingers lifting a bag of dog food. Weak I tell you. I couldn't bend that finger for an entire year.
10. When my kids were babies, I used the book Baby Wise...wonderful for getting your kids on a schedule fast. I was very particular about it. Actually I was just down right anal about it. But I love my sleep at night and was willing to try anything to get my babies sleeping 12 hours at a time. I loved it and will always recommend it to any new moms.
11. I was braver in college than I am now. I actually got on and pulled the rip cord on a Sky Coaster. You know the thing that 2-3 people get strapped into, then they lift you up super high and then drop you! It was a blast, but I really don't know if I could get on one now.
12. Every toy and supply has its own home in my house. (now that doesn't mean it is always in that home) But it will drive me bonkers if I know that the kids cleaned up the toy room and put Polly Pockets in with Matchbox cars. I used to go in and fix it myself, but now that they are older, I just dump both boxes and make them do it again. Such a mean mom:-)
13. Creative clutter doesn't bother me...obviously if you could only see my scrapbook room now...but coats, backpacks, and whatnot just left around is another story.
14. One of my biggest pet peeves is people who go shopping in their pajama pants. I know I shouldn't care what others are wearing, but come on, your pjs at the grocery store? At least throw on sweats or something.
15. New shoes and accessories make me super happy. There is nothing like the feeling of happy feet on the day you get new shoes.
There you have it...15 useless facts about me, for you to not care about:-)
Layers of creamy chocolate, peanut butter, and Reese's candies make these Peanut Butter Parfaits disappear quickly. They are easy to make in minutes and are so rich and delicious.

I seriously am starting to think I am allergic to dust. Sorry, honey, I can't do any more house cleaning. As a SAHM, that is part of my job requirements, but you don't want me sneezing all the time, do you???
Maybe hiring it out is a good idea because I'm allergic. Last week, we added more shelves in our bedroom closet because I had finally dumped my sweater box out on the bed each time I wanted to find anything.
Having extra shelves to display the folded sweaters was my solution. My sweet husband bought all the shelves and installed them right away because he is the best.
[Read more...]
Do you have one word for the year?
Last year...can you believe 2010 is over already...
I had the word {PAUSE}.
I had 10 things I wanted to work on...
some I did great at, some were good half the year, and some,
well some I just plain didn't do or I kept putting off.
This past week I have been thinking through
what I wanted my word for 2011 to be.
I even thought I had it all figured out, but
then yesterday our pastor preached on resolutions
and what makes people break them.
One word in his message caught my attention and
I jotted it down quickly and then thought about it all day.
I was sure it would become the word for the year.
***CHANGE***
dictionary.com describes it as...
change - v. -to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc.,
of something different from what it would be if left alone;
to become different; to become altered or modified
How does that apply to me and my/our life?
Work on a change in patterns.
Begin to change bad habits.
Pray for a change in heart attitudes.
Have a change in priorities.
(God first, family second, everything else last)
Let God change circumstances that can't be controlled.
(also change in eating and exercise, but that is an every year battle)
One more thing our pastor said was this quote
(I don't remember who said it)
"It's not about how you got here, it's about what you do next."
So even if we fail/screw up at what we are doing,
we can all change what happens next in our lives.
Now I realize not everything can be physically changed, but
we can change how we respond to trials and temptations.
Does anyone else have a word for the year???

These fun beaded photo clips are a fun and easy gift item to handmake.
(I shared these a couple weeks ago on the Scrap Shoppe and am now sharing them with you here in case you missed it:-)
I saw something similar to these in a local store here in my town, but I decided it would be simple enough to figure out my own variation. My daughter has one hanging from her curtain rod, and she loves to switch out her friend's pictures. This particular one is one that we gave to her best friend as a birthday gift.
Here is a list of items that you will need to get started:
26 gauge wire
wire cutters
10 alligator clips with a hole in the top (I found mine at Hobby Lobby in the jewelry aisle)
1 key ring
beads
1 pendant
glue gun
fabric flowers of your choice
1. Cut 5 pieces of wire measuring 7 inches each.
Cut 1 piece measuring 4 inches.
2. For the 4 inch piece of wire, you will start by twisting the wire on the key ring,
add your beads until it is 2 inches long, and then add your alligator clip. Twist the wire tight.
These are so easy and cheap to make.
I was able to finish this up in under 1 hour and I think I spent under $10!
Gotta love that!


I had a vision the other night of
a vanilla cupcake with an Oreo truffle baked inside.
Make these I must!
(imagine that said in my best Yoda voice)
LOL!
First I googled it and YAY!!!!
This is an original idea...
I didn't find anyone else that had done this before!
Gotta love that when it happens!
(I have seen quite a few versions since I first made these now)
You should probably give away most of these
before you consume more than you should.
Believe me this is a sugar high waiting to happen 🙂

An Oreo truffle is baked into the bottom of these cupcakes and then topped with 2 kinds of frosting. They are amazing!
You may have extra Oreo truffles depending on how big you roll the balls. Dip any extras in chocolate and enjoy.
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

one.
I have officially started my holiday diet.
With all the yummy baking that goes on in my house,
and the lack of consistent working out...
I have managed to gain back most of the weight I lost this past spring.
soooo, I pulled out the taebo tapes today.
Billy and I have a pain filled date each morning for the next 4 weeks.
two.
The tooth fairy at our house is seriously slacking!
She even got a note last week for being so forgetful...
"Dear tooth fairy, I got my tooth out yesterday but you did not come
so you have to pay me extra. Please send a note back."
The tooth rates have already gone up since I was a kid,
the fairy better get on her job because I don't like paying
more than a dollar for a nasty gross tooth.
three.
I am afraid the Christmas light companies have a conspiracy going.
Because these lights were brand new last year
and were still working when I pulled them off the tree...
but last night only half the strands would light up.
So we are terrible...I am throwing these out and buying new ones...AGAIN.
We don't want to mess with testing every single light to fix them.
But if it happens again next year,
my tree will just have to deal with no lights.
four.
I was so excited about my awesomespice new raspberry tights
that I wore to church yesterday...
until half way through the service I looked down and saw a
large run right down the inside of my leg.
Tights are evil!
I don't even remember snagging them on anything.
five.
There are boxes of decorations everywhere and I am ok with it
because of the fun and excitement that I see in my kids faces
as we unpack each one. I can't wait to get it all up this week.