THANK YOU

We reached 60,000 hits on this blog and I want to say THANK YOU to all my readers near and far! Growing up I always had journals and it is funny that this blog is like a journal for me. May it bring you some laughter and prospective and help guide you.

I write how I feel, I write because it relaxes me. Please feel free to email me with any feedback or suggestions!

Happy Holidays and Cheers to a Successful 2016!

Keep on reading!

J

Feel Good Holiday Song: Carol of the Bells by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Happy Holidays From My Family To Yours

Long Day? Think We All Could Use One Of These

True Spirit of Christmas: Do You Believe In Santa?

Everything You Do Has a Ripple Affect On Everyone Quote

How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

Past couple of months a lot of people my age and early 40's have passed away. I keep seeing beautiful messages and tributes about how amazing they were and how many life's they have touched. The marks they left on so many people is remarkable. 

Life is short and we need to start living our life the way we want to be remembered by. It kindof makes you think how people around you view you, your actions and the type of person you truly are. 

Take a step back. I mean we aren't perfect but if we really were to die tomorrow could we look back and say we tried our best and gave it our all? Have we loved all those around us and been good to people. If you don't like what you see then start making some changes. What marks have you left in people's lives?

You Need To Find Humor in Your Day To Stay Sane

As a parent it's so hard to control any situation let alone get all your kids to look and smile at the camera. I dressed them up so cute for a holiday party and attempted to get a picture. At least it made me laugh. Laughter is the key to getting by in life. I am lucky I have humor in my days. 

Being A Mom Is Not Easy!

Frosty the Snowman Humor

Cash Back For Shopping Yes Please!

I am addicted to this site. Ebates is awesome for shopping and getting cash back for it. All you do is create an account here for free http://www.ebates.com/rf.do? search the site you want to shop on and get a percentage back on your purchase. This holiday season I am getting $22 back already. They even list coupons to use on the site you are ordering from. 

Getting money back to shop sounds like a great deal to me! 

Happy Shopping!

Peanut Butter Cookie Cups Candy Bites

So here's my twist to these peanut butter candy bites. You normally fill them with Reese's Peanutbutter cups but this time I used the remaining Halloween candy and they came out oh so good!

I got the cookie recipe from browneyedbaker.com

Instead of using peanut butter cups I used my Halloween candy 

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?

Spray mini cupcake pans. Preheat oven 350. Mix flour salt and baking soda together. Set aside. Mix rest of ingredients. Slowly mix in flour mixture to wet ingredients. Make a little ball out of dough. Place in mini cupcake sheets. Bake at 350 until golden brown. Once out of oven stick whatever candy you want down in center. Amazing!

Three Emotions That Lead To Negativity

"According to Buddhism, there are three emotions that lead to negativity. They are delusion, hatred and greed. Most of our unhappiness is caused by these three poisons."

Source: Facebook The Spirit Science 

Read Full Article Here: http://thespiritscience.net/2015/12/08/6-life-changing-pieces-of-buddhist-wisdom/

Donate A Can Get A Can At Chez Ernies in Darien CT

How fun! My friend bartends Mondays and they are doing a deal: Donate A Can and Get A Can of Gansett. Check it out!

Silence The Mind

Making Gingerbread Houses

The left over Halloween candy came in handy yet again for this fun project. My daughter was home sick from school so I decided to do something fun with them prior to me working. It was actually really great to have all this fun Halloween candy to decorate with. All you need is candy. A tub of icing- I used store bought icing and a box graham crackers. I went through the pantry and also had them use mini marshmallows, sprinkles, mini Oreos and teddy Graham's to decorate with.

Use whatever candy you have 

Use the icing to hold the graham crackers together. Build a shape of a house. 

Give each child their own bowl of icing, and candy

It actually kept them occupied for a while and they really enjoyed it. 

Life...Things Will Always Go Wrong

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