Pretzel Cookie Dough Bites

I saw these on Pinterest and pinned them as fast as I could. 

I knew I'd make them based on the look, the name.. the ingredients.. 

They are so good. 

Sweet, salty and a bit of crunch.

I used butter waffle pretzels, but im sure the mini twists would work just fine.

Here is the full recipe:

1/2 cup unsalted butter softened

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/4 cup white sugar

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cups flour 

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 cup mini semi sweet choc chips

40-50 pretzels

8oz melting chocolate or choc chips  * I used melting wafers. - half milk chocolate and half dark.

1. line a sheet tray with parchment or wax paper

2. mix/beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add the milk and vanilla and mix

3. Add the flour and salt on medium speed. Dough will be thick,  keep mixing until it comes together. fold in choc chips.

4. Roll dough into small balls and press between two pretzel. Freeze for 20 minutes.

5. Melt the chocolate & dip half of the pretzel/dough bites. Place back on the sheet tray and place in the fridge 10 min. 

I ate way to many, and Im going to make more very soon ... this is your warning.. They are very very good!

Happy Hearts

Valentine's Day 2015

I set up some goodies for my loves after all were in bed.

Samantha got some erasers, chocolate, a mini gumball machine, pens, perler project and then I sent her on a little scavenger hunt throughout the house and the "treasure" at the end was a dry erase Frozen (of course) math board to practice her math problems, a new pair of gingham sneakers, and some heart shaped lollies. She had so much fun going from place to place.. I think the Easter bunny may have to go about this way for her to find her basket in a few weeks.

Andrew got some dino erasers, school bus, a max and ruby dvd, and some of his favorite heart shaped lollies. My sweet boy doesnt have that much of a sweet tooth... except for a few things.. He does love cake *... keep reading....

Daddy got some Guinness, some new sponges and a soft rag for cleaning floors... He does all the cleaning around here.. mostly... and I love him even more for that.. Oh, and I made him a batch of his favorite salted pecan chocolate ice cream.. mmmm

I also made my main squeeze this funny card (below) I found an image like this on instagram, and decided to draw it and make my own for my hubby. 

The kids thought it was Christmas .. screaming "presents!!" haha...

I like to make a big deal out of all the holidays for them. I know it is shaping their memories and childhood, and I LOVE LOVE doing it so much!

I made some PINK chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, and Sam (and I... ) scarfed them up they were soo good.

The weather round these parts is so so frigid 

Frigid, and snowy.
There is so much snow, theres no where to put it anymore. 

I have to inch out of my driveway because I cannot see above the snow mounds.

So.. we have been stuck inside for a while.

I think i went to the grocery store a few times just to get out ... 

But winter... meh.. We're so over it..

Back to our Happy Heart Day..

Lunch was served in heart shaped form and pink and red hues.. of course..

And my sweet hubby cooked a delicious pork tenderloin, roasted carrots and yummy fries.

Samantha set the table and gave everyone a little crayon heart favor on their napkins.. my little mini me hostess... I love that girl.

Since he doesnt eat ... hardly anything.. 

We had a lovely serenade from Andrew George while we ate as a family of three.

He was proud of his latest ballad. 

He's been working on it for weeks.

I started a tradition last year and made another cookie cake this year. 

It tastes JUST like the cookie cakes from Original Cookie Co. back in the day at the mall.

So we arent enjoying being trapped indoors..

But we sure had a warm and wonderful Valentines Day.

xoxo

Valentine Teacher Gifts

Gift giving time again! My favorite thing.. no really.

As I have been volunteering a lot at Samantha's school this year, I really have a better appreciation for her teachers and all that they do for the kids all year. 

A sweet little gift is what I had in mind. 

I painted the base of some wooden mixing spoons - 4 pack found at Walmart for $3.00

Martha Stewart glitter paint in Bubble Gum

Twine 

Tags

Lindt Truffle Chocolate bars - $1,00 each at Target

I painted the spoons 3-4 times to get a really sparkly look.

They turned out so pretty

I put the chocolate and the spoons in cello bags, tied them with a big ribbon and attached each tag with bakers twine.

Just a little something.

Hope they like it!

Winter Things

The days have been long, and cold.. and cold .... So we keep busy 

at playgroup...

he loves painting and washing the brushes.

Baking lots of goodies..

And this lovely Elsa got to go see Disney on Ice for the first time.

Gram took us both actually.

It was magical

I remember going as a kid, but I dont remember it being this good.

Bubbles and real snow falling from the sky...

The FROZEN part of the show was at the very end.

It was well worth waiting for. 

Samantha was in heaven, she loved every minute of it! And so did I!

Im still packing lunches in a bento style for her every day

Its become so easy and fun, and she still likes it and refuses to buy lunch.. haha.. Thats okay by me!

While sister is at school and the temps have been rediculously cold and/or blowing windy snow showers..Andrew and I have some good quality time together. We go shopping, we go for little Starbucks dates, playgroup, play dates.. and even the mall. He is so very well behaved.. well, I try to do something every day with him in the morning.. and he sometimes takes a little nap in the afternoon.

Im huge on organization.

I feel at peace when things are all in its place, or newly re-arranged/decorated.

I have a few planners floating around, but found a really nice small cheap one at Walmart! Then I found these colorful notebooks underneath the planner for $2,00 each. I just had to. 

Notebooks and lists, and forever to do's...

In January. I wrote down every meal we had on every day. 

Im trying to keep a log, so I can look back and get ideas for future meals when I get stale.

I do the same on Instagram with Sam's lunches. I use the hashtag #jjbentos so I can go back and see how I packed lunches and get ideas/inspiration.

One of our favorite meals we do not have nearly enough are these Vietnamese Spring rolls.

They are so so good. 

Just spring roll papers - then you roll up avocado, cucumber, carrots, lettuce, and I added cellophane/Rice Noodles this time and they were so much better with it!

So even though we are a little cooped up, 

We are having fun, and praying for spring to please make its appearance in a few weeks...

Now that he's three.. we saw his doctor yesterday.

The visit was like night and day compared to last year, or even 6 months ago.

Ever since he had tubes he has HATED all doctors, especially ENT's ... but something changed with his Pediatric Doc.. Last year we couldnt get any accurate weight, head, measurements, and we had to hold him down ... doc, me and the nurse to get him to do what you see in the pic below..

He let the doc do everything... eyes, nose, ears, chest, throat, weight, head... everything.. I took pics because I needed proof! ha! I needed to remember that this was the easiest visit EVER....

He is perfectly healthy and in the 90's for weight and BPHC and 75 for height. 

So, although I do miss having small babies.. I am glad that it is getting easier with this one.. Sweet as a lamb, and I hope he always will be.

DIY Manilla Tags --

Manila Tags are something I decorate a lot with.

I see such awesome ideas on Pinterest all the time and get inspired to run to Hobby Lobby and get another pack. But the packs only come with a certain amount, and I've been using these like crazy! So I decided to find a cheaper way to make them myself.

Supplies you will need:

Manila folders - Dollar Tree $1.00

Hole Punch - already had

Scissors

Old Manila Tag Template - I used a standard size one and a big one for some of my bigger stamps

Brown Kraft Reinforcement Stickers - I got these on Ebay 144 for $4.00 or so.

Step 1:

Line up the pre-cut tag over the manila and cut your die

Line up the two tags

And punch out the hole at the top

Adhere a kraft sticker on both sides, and voila!

The bigger tags now

And a few of the finished products

Bet you cant  tell the original from my diy?

They look so sharp on a pretty present 

Celebrating Andrew George

My big guy is three

The previous post was about how I felt about having a three year old now and reminiscing this day (below)

Its a chilly day today.. 15 degrees... It was 55 when he was born. 

So needless to say he had to pretty much stay indoors today.

We arranged his gifts on the table.. and he shouted "open presents now!" which I think is the FIRST time he was all excited to open presents.. He didnt even care that much at Christmas just a few weeks ago

He got right down to business...

A new garbage/recycling truck.

He was smitten. 

Played with that thing ALL day.

He also got new diecast car set, a Cuckoo Clock (hysterical) Tractor Set from Sister, A Backyardigans DVD, and a Delta Airlines Airport set 

Sam and I headed out to get a few things for his little party later in the day.

I love setting up party stuff.

No real theme, just blues and reds and yellows, But his truck cake ended up being Orange.. so .. 

I had leftover cake and homemade buttercream, so I froze about a dozen un-dipped cake pops (just the cake and frosting rolled) and then I made a few blue ones. 

Drink station ;)

And I had made these sugar cookie "3"'s about 2 weeks ago and froze them/forgot about them till the party almost was starting. 

We ordered some pizza, and had snacks. 

My homemade salsa/chips, carrots and dip and popcorn, chips

As soon as we were done eating, we mentioned presents again, and he ran and sat down so fast.. he was ready.. he likes this "present opening" thing...

Then cake... He was so excited too.

I know I keep saying he was so excited.. but i'll just preface that he was into NONE of these things when he turned 2. I made him a huge construction cake.. he took one bite and spit it out.. And Samantha opened all his presents last year.. (which is why she looks teary-eyed here... She had to accept that he FINALLY wanted to participate in his own party)

We were laughing so hard because he kept digging his fork right into the big cake.. He poked off all 3 Oreo wheels and went to town.. He had never had an oreo until yesterday.. so we were amazed.. haha..

He sat and ate and ate and ate frosting and cake and oreos... 

He was so happy ... We were so happy.. 

The party was so much fun.

and just like that, he's 3.

I have a 5 1/2 year old and a 3 year old.. with no plans of another baby... thats kind of sad... 

But then again, we're getting into the stage when its become a LOT easier, and Im grateful for that.

But if I could just blink myself back into the hospital room with him for a few hours.. That would be okay too..