Holiday Baking With a Leftover Halloween Candy

Have any leftover Halloween candy? Try baking with it!

I still have a good size bag of Halloween candy. I picked all the ones that had caramel in them. Cut them up. Put on a pretzel. Baked at 350 until melted and topped with a M&M. Was a great hit at a Christmas Party. 

Happy Monday

Once In A Lifetime Kind Of People

Holiday Baking: Easy and Fun Recipes

Every year I try to bake something new. I always do the shaped sugar cookies with my family- an all time favorite. But it's nice to mix it up. So whenever I see a yummy easy cookie recipe I always send to my mommy friends and set it aside on my recipe folder for when it's time to do some baking. 

Social Media is a great source for collecting and sharing recipes. Check out some I plan on doing this year and please share your favorite recipes in my comments section. 

Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups make with Pillsbury Sugar Cookie dough. Mold them in muffins tins. Fill with your favorite chocolate and add a pretzel handle. Fill with mini or extra mini marshmallows

Source: Instagram Foodydiy from thegunnysack

Reese's Peanutbutter Cookie Bites. Make or buy Peanutbutter cookie dough. Press in mini muffin tins. Place a Reese's Peanutbutter cup in middle. Yum

Source: Facebook Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons

I have done a similar recipe with pretzels. Place a Rolo on top and then top with a M&M or roasted Pecan. Here they added caramel on top.

Source: Instagram FoodNetwork by PioneerWoman 

Happy Baking!!!

Be Graceful Quote

Ladies Night Out Humor

See we all need a break once in a while! Love this!

Stop Holding a Grudge Quote

Places To See Santa in Fairfield County

What a great list! Check out these places to see Santa by Fairfield County Mom's Blog:

10 Places to See Santa in Fairfield County http://fairfieldcounty.citymomsblog.com/santa-in-fairfield-county/

I would also add Stew Leonard's on a regular day they have a great Santa there. The one in Norwalk is right in the Ice Cream area.  Check your local one for times.

Stew Leonard's in Norwalk.

Feel Good Song: Bang My Head Sia & David Guetta

Holiday Crafts For kids

Every year I try to give the grandparents a creative gift from my children on Christmas. Below are some really cute ideas

source: Facebook Mom's Got Ink

source: Instagram Mommy_scape

Source: Pinterest 

Elf On The Shelf From A Mom's Prospective

This concept was cute...and everyone I know has one. I had fun with it in the beginning but after day 5 my life turned into... Oh crap did we move the Elf?!

I have gotten out of bed many times to move this thing before my daughter woke up and there's nothing worse than waking up to "oh mom oh no why didn't Rosie our elf move?"  I have to reassure her she's been good and the Elf must have been tired.

Now I give 100% credit to all those creative parents out there who put more effort into it to have fun with it. I really do but being a mom of three I am lucky I remember to put my pajamas on before knocking out. 

Elf everyone year you come and make more work for me. I hope the day comes I have more time to be as creative as all my other mommy friends but I do have a strong following that do dread your presence. 

I did use a little creativity for a holiday party and made Elf on the Shelf Cupcakes. That is probably the most creative I have been in a while. 

Chocolate Eggnog Elf on a Shelf cupcakes 

source: Facebook 

The Ultimate List

Feel Good Holiday Song: Christmas Canon by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Every other radio station is playing Christmas music now and although I am not fully in the Christmas mood lately I must say this song gets me every time. It's magical.!

Don't let the Holidays bring you too much stress, try to find beauty in this season. So much stress surrounds us all everyday, try to embrace this Month as much as you can.

Not Perfect But Still Awesome

Wednesday Motivation:

"I may not be perfect but I'm pretty awesome" 

 

Lesson of Time- Karma

Feel Good Song: Confident by Demi Lovato

Essex Steam Train in Essex CT Santa Special

Every year we try to do something special on our daughter's birthday. Last year we got tickets to see Fresh Beat Band. This year we took all the kids to Essex Steam Train to meet Santa.

We decided to do the Santa Special since it took place during the day and would be easier for the younger ones.  The carts are all decorated. The whole platform is decorated. Everyone was so nice and it was so much fun!
 

 First Mrs. Claus came and visited us. 

Then Santa. 

Then Rudolph and the elf handed out bells for all the kids. 

Then Pablo the Pegiun Came around

Then the holiday Mouse came. 

Santa came back and the kids sang Jingle Bells and all rang their bells. All the characters came to each individual group and we were able to take pictures with the kids. There were a lot of people but they made sure to give everyone undivided attention. 

Coach Tickets were $20 a person. Children one and under are free. They had to stay on your lap. It was so worth it and so much fun. It really got me in the spirit for the Holiday Season!

Check it out!

Http://essextrain.com 

Celebrating Mom

We finally got to celebrate my Mom's birthday this weekend. This fire cracker taught me everything I know and even when I don't always want to admit it she's pretty brilliant at times. She's my best friend and I am grateful for all the strong "women" in my life and look forward to watching our next generation grow to be just as strong and even more successful!

Everyone We Meet is a Blessing or a Lesson Quote

Kids Holiday Programs 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Shows

 

 

https://d23.com/tune-abc-familys-25-days-christmas-programming-event/

Let Go and Live In The Present

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” Lao Tzu

I just read this great article about why we need to stop overthinking things and live happily in our current moment. We all hold on to somewhat of our past that then effects our future but most of the time it brings out the bad in us vs the good.  Great article I found on the thespiritscience.net that says. 

Take a deep breath, and let go.

What are you still holding onto? What hurts can you not forgive?  and can you forgive yourself? It’s time that you give yourself the keys to your own freedom.

1.Acceptance

What is, what was and what is still to come.

2.Forgiveness

For the hurts you have caused and hurts you have endured.

3.Gratitude

For everything and anything in your life that has value.

4.Humility

To humble yourself is to know that you are not above or beneath anyone else. Go easy on yourself, its o.k to not be perfect.

5.Patience

In time you will see, that you were exactly where you were supposed to be.

We dream of the future, to distract ourselves from the present, in order to forget the past. Heal the past, live in the present and don’t rush to the future. Life is a journey and it will all be over before you know it.

Read full article here: http://thespiritscience.net/2015/11/27/5-simple-ways-to-stop-overthinking-everything/

Life Is Too Short For Drama...Be Happy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving readers! Wishing you a great day. Give thanks to all the loved ones in your life. I hope you all seat around the table and be grateful you have people to share your meal with. I hope you are grateful for your full bellies and full hearts. 

It's this day that we are reminded how thankful we should be but really everyday we should reflect on how lucky we all are.

There's always something to be thankful for. 

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!! 

Life Is Way Too Short Live It To The Fullest

Write Your Own Story Quote

Minion Party

My daughter asked for a Minion theme for her birthday party. You would think would be easy to find decorations. Some places had none and others had minimum to pick from so I used what I could find and pulled off a Minion party for her. 

Cupcakes

I bought this at Stop and Shop to use as the icing. 

Party City had tooth picks with minion faces to put in them. I bought yellow and minion cupcake liners from Party City. The yellow ones worked better. 

Cake

I ordered the cake from Carvel. They didn't have the design but said if I brought in a picture they could scan in on the cake. It was a hit. 

Party City had minion candle to add to the cake 

Decorations

There was one style in the small ballons at Party City and hats. 

I used yellow table clothes for the dessert table and found minion favor bags for the party favors. 

I May Not Be Perfect But..

I may not be perfect. My house may not be as organized as I like. I may not always have raving fans or show my best side all the time but I got one thing right so far and that's being as good as a mom I can be to these three: Happy. Smart. Healthy. Fun. Loving. Loved by many three little girls. That alone is worth every second and effort I make!

Parenting Battles

What Are You Thankful For?

When It's One Of Those Days Quotes

Take Some Time This Week

This time of year is always a lot of work for me. It's my daughters birthday week so I have her family party and kid party to focus on. We usually take out our holiday decorations  and do our holiday cards. 

This year I am taking a little time out and focusing on enjoying this week. It's not easy to do. After Thanksgiving comes the rush of holiday shopping and holiday parties that are so much fun but have jammed up my weekends for the next month. 

Outfits for the kids and me and sitters and trying to get some down time in between it all adds up quickly. It's not easy. 

But we do have control over how our week will turn out- most of the time. 

Block out sometime this week and really focus on what and who is important in your life. Try to enjoy the moment before the holiday rush sucks us in. 

Take a little time to breath and meditate. It's amazing how it helps release stress. 

Beauty In CT

The Purpose of Life Is To Live

Fall Treats To Do With Your Kids

Perfect for Thanksgiving. So easy and cute!

Source: Instragram Foodydiy

I love doing arts and crafts with my girls. This is easy and super cute. Perfect for Fall.

Source: Instragram Mommy_scape