Jump Out Of Bed Snack

These were so delicious I personally delivered them to the sleeping ones in the house, who then jumped out of bed to get more! 

 

Peanut Butter/Banana Bears

 

 

 

+Recipe For Head

I found the recipe for the head at the above link, but I altered it a bit.

 

Ingredients:

1/3 Cup Smooth Peanut Butter

1/3 Cup Confectioners Sugar

1 1/3 Cup Rice Krispies Cereal

3 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (I used the unsalted stick butter)

 

Body & Decorations:

Vanilla Yogurt Covered Raisins

1 Banana

M&Ms

Black Writing Icing

 

Head Instructions:

Combine Peanut Butter and butter in a microwavable bowl

Microwave until mixture is smooth and the butter is melted(About 1 min.)

Mix Rice Krispies and Confectioners Sugar well.

Pour Peanut Butter/Butter mixture over the Krispies, and stir.

Form circle shaped Peanut Butter Krispie treats, and put them on a cookie sheet

Stick the treats in the fridge for 30 minutes before decorating

Add M&Ms for ears, and use writing icing for the nose and mouth

 

Body Instructions:

Cut a banana in half long ways

Take the middle part one half of the banana(or any part that is the most straight for the bear torso) and cut it out.

Cut the curved ends of the banana halves in half for the arms, and legs.

Add the Vanilla Yogurt Raisins to the torso for bear buttons. :)

 

Enjoy! I know my little ones did, although they were hesitant to eat the bears head. I guess it was too cute to be devoured, but once tasted it was gone.

 



Wine Glasses Up To A Brand Spankin' New Year

 

 

 

Okay, I lied it's just a soup bowl full of an ungodly amount of coffee(one of the many things I plan on attempting to kick with the coming of the New Year).

 

Before I get started with my post, I'd like to introduce you to

 

 

InboxDollars :)

For anyone who wants to make a few extra bucks while working, or stay-at-home parents who feel the need to contribute financially. I used to be an avid survey taker, and made above a reasonable amount of money online, and InboxDollars just happened to be one of the sites I used. They have grown a ton since I've used them, so I'm even checking out the new tasks they have to offer. Everyday a collection of available tasks are listed for you to complete for cash. The amount you will earn for the task, and the description of the task will be presented before you make the decision to complete it. Tasks could be identifying the content of a photo, translating phrases, or completing descriptions for products or services. The tasks are so easy, why not head in for a little extra cash? Plus, the 5 dollar Sign-Up bonus is worth a little more than a gallon of gas!;)

 

New Years Resolutions

 

The father of my children was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 3, so here I am trying to keep all my screws from getting loose with two mini very hyper children. I was diagnosed with anxiety at the age of 13 when I had my first anxiety attack, which the feeling I described they associated with my appendix bursting. Anxiety causes me to get hyper, especially now that I have two hyper little ones. I refuse to medicate something that I can learn to handle on my own, so my New Year's resolutions will be based around handling certain things that trigger my anxiety, and my childrens' hyper outbursts.

 

1. Most importantly, we are going to start eating/drinking healthier and becoming much more active(excercise-wise).

2. With hyperactive children, often times you will want to yell endlessly. There is constant running, non-stop figdeting when trying to complete a "sit-still" type activity, constant yelling and talking. You will know if you have a hyperactive child, it's not the normal hyper 2 and 3 year old behavior, it is constant, and on top of the long days, nights will be hard to. I have done my reading and this is what I found. I am going to try to start sticking to these methods without yelling. I do ALOT of yelling, and it is not effective, whatsoever. For 2013, I am going to learn how to effectively discipline hyperactive children.

3. On top of learning how to effectively discipline my little energizer bunnies, I want to learn how to calm them when things seem to be getting out of control. Instill a calm enviroment in your hyperactive little one here. My babies especially my three old like to watch TV when they are feeling tired or restless, this will stop. I have found that although they are calm during this time, it causes the hyperactive fits to worsen.

 

My list could go on and on about how I'm going to attempt to keep my children calm, all while having some anxiety myself, but I won't bore you. If you think your child seems to be more hyper than others, and by this I mean an EVERYDAY/ALL DAY type deal, go here.

 

Our Fun New Years Eve Activities

 

 

We made Chex Muddy Buddies. This recipe was found right on the back of the Rice Chex box, and you can get it here. All you need is Rice Chex, Peanut Butter, Semisweet Chocolate Morsels, Butter, and Vanilla. I know we had all of this stuff left over from Christmas cookie baking, so it worked out perfect. I still have sweet stuff left over, but we are cutting down on sweet treats this year! :)

 

 

Then we proceeded to make noisemakers! I used rice, because it's not as likely to give you a headache as dry beans. ;) We recycled our Dasani water bottles, put rice with a few drop of food coloring in, and duct taped the top with pink duct tape. The kids absolutely loved these, and carried them around most of the day. You can dress these bottles up alot more than I did, with glue and colored tissue paper, marker, colored cotton balls, ribbon, etc. My kids were perfectly happy with making noise with colored rice, so I just stopped at that point.

 

We also blew up ballons, with a piece of paper full of instructions on what to do every hour until midnight. One of the balloons was popped before 6 PM even hit. By 8:30 PM we were all ready for bed, and there was no making it until midnight. By the time I got both of them to sleep, I couldn't sleep. Ahh, a mothers life!

 

I do realize my New Years post is a couple days late, but bringing in the New Year was especially eventful for us. Happy New Year everyone!

 

 

 

 

Can You Say Sweet Tooth?

 

The Infamous Buckeyes!

 

 

We make these every year, as we once called the Buckeye State home. They are very sweet, but delish! They are always a hit, especially with the huge "sweet tooths" out there.

 

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 Cups of Peanut Butter

-1 Cup Butter(Softened)

-1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

-6 Cups of Confectioners Sugar

-4 Cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips

 

Cooking Instructions:

-Mix together peanut butter, vanilla, butter, and confectioners sugar.

-Roll into 1 inch balls & place on a wax-lined cookie sheet.

-Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler

-Dip peanut butter balls into the chocolate with a toothpick. (They say this is easier if the peanut butter balls are set in the freezer for 30 minutes, but I have always just dipped them in the chocolate right after.)

-Place the dipped buckeyes back on the wax-lined cookie sheet, and there you have it, BUCKEYES!

 

 

Cream Cheese Cut Outs

 

 

Ingredients:

-8 oz. of Cream Cheese(Softened)

-2 Cups Of Sugar

-1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla

-2 Cups of Butter(Softened)

-4 Cups of Flour

-Cookie Icing

 

Prepping Instructions:

-Soften the butter and cream cheese in the microwave

-Mix all of the ingredients together, minus the Cookie Icing of course;)

-Once thoroughly mixed, chill in the fridge for 2 hours in a covered container

-Once the dough is done chillin', it's ready to roll out(about 1/4 inch thick) and apply the cookie cutters.

 

Cooking Instructions:

Bake at 350 inbetween 10-12 minutes.

Sweet & Extra Cheesy Sausage Balls

 

 

 

 

You know I had to add another freezer meal, since these turned out to be so delicious.

 

Ingredients:

-1 lb. Jimmy Dean Maple Sausage

-2 Cups Taco Style Cheese, Mozarella, and Cheddar Cheese Mixed Up

-1/2 Can of Cream of Mushroom (I believe the size is 10 3/8 oz.)

-3 Cups Bisquick

Prepping Instructions:

-Thoroughly mix/beat all of the ingredients together.

-Make 1 inch balls out of the mixture.

Cooking Instructions:

-Bake at 350 for 25 minutes

-Let the item cool, and freeze or eat, whichever you prefer!

 

 

Today I felt as if the kids were literally hanging from my bra straps, so we had to throw in some sensory play to our day. I gave them sponges, cups, measuring cups, cookie cutters and eventually a dish brush to clean the cutters. Kids absolutely love imitating adults, so when I gave them the dish brush, they were head over heels with the kitchen sink.

 

On top of bra strap hanging, I pulled a mommy no-no today. I gave the little ones a bath with bath crayons, sponges, and growing bath gel caps and then sent them downstairs to cut out cookies. They were covered from head to toe in flour, and their fingers were caked with dough. Needless to say, we had a fun but eventful day.

 

Tonight, my (sarcastic voice chimes in here) generous brother is helping me prepare a marble run to occupy the kids tomorrow, stay posted for the outcome. :)

Don't forget to come back January 7th for my headband/hairband giveaway. They are too cute to pass up!

 

Also, don't forget to check out my sponsor! Connect with your facebook, and earn rewards towards shopping! The deals they have are amazing! If you love to shop this is definitely the place for you.

Christmas Eve Delights

Christmas Eve is nearing, and the air smells of freshly baked cookies. One of my families traditions that never fails, is a massive amount of cookie baking. When every other tradition fails to happen, the cookie bake-off still stands. Christmas music ringing in our ears, women dancing in the kitchen and deep, masculine voices floating in from the living room couches. With the excitement of little voices finally quiet, we bake. Time for some of my favorite Christmas recipes to appear.

Chocolate Holiday Pretzels

 

Ingredients:

-3(10 oz.) bags of Checkerboard Pretzels

-1 (17 5/8 oz.) bags of holiday M&M's (Red & Green)

-3 (13 oz.) bags of Hershey's Hugs Kisses

-3 (13 oz) bags of Hershey's Chocolate Kisses

 

Cooking Directions:

-Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

-Place unbroken pretzels on wax paper-lined cookie sheets in a single layer.

-Unwrap Hugs, and place one on each pretzel.

Tip: Only one type of Kiss per sheet. Hugs do not take as much time to soften.

-Place the hugs/pretzels in the oven. Hugs: 4 minutes Kisses:5-6 minutes.

-As soon as removed from oven, place M&M's on the top of each kiss/pretzel.

-Place cookie sheet in freezer for 8-10 minutes.

-Repeat until you have the desired amount.

 

Seven Layer Bars

 

Ingredients:

-1/2 Cup of butter(Melted)

-1 1/2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs

-1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

-1 Cup Butterscotch morsels

-1 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Morsels

-1 1/3 Cups Flaked Coconut

-1 Cup Chopped Walnuts

 

Cooking Directions:

-Heat oven to 350 degrees(325 for glass dishes).

-Coat 13X9-in. baking pan with Pam Spray.

-Combine Graham Cracker Crumbs and melted butter.

-Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan.

-Pour sweetened condensed milk on top of the graham cracker crumb/butter mixture.

-Layer chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and nuts evenly on top of the sweetened condensed milk.

-Press down firmly with a fork.

-Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

-Cool the layer bars, and then cut into bars or diamonds.

-Store at room temperature.

 

Rasberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 pouch Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix (1 lb 1.5 oz.)

-1/2 Cup Butter(Softened)

-1 Egg

-3 Tbsp. All-Purpose Flour

-1/3 Cup Seedless Rasberry Jam

-1 Cup White Vanilla Baking Chips

 

Cooking Directions:

-Heat oven to 375 degrees.

-In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg, and flour until dough forms.

-Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls.

-Place about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

-Using your thumb, make an indentation in the center of each cookie.

-Spoon 1/4 teaspoon jam(maybe a little more) into each indentation.

-Bake cookies 8 to 10 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes.

-In a small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips on High 1 to 2 minutes or until the chips have melted.

-Pour the melted chips into a small resealable plastic bag.

Cut a hole on one bottom corner of the bag, and squeeze gently onto the cooled cookies.

 

 

 

The kids are fast asleep, and Santa has already ate his cookies, drank his milk, and let his reindeer eat their food (Oats with red and green pellet sprinkles) that the children provided. He also wrote them a letter back, and he is now working on stockings, and placing the presents under the tree. Merry Christmas Eve everyone.