Win A Ticket To SITS Bloggy Boot Camp In Boston, MA!!!

Before the holidays I posted about a wicked fun party hop called How Sweet It Is that I am co-hosting with Gina from the Mrs. Since then she has had a wonderful response and people have been signing up to participate daily..yay! Well if this party couldn't get any better...it just did!

 H♥W SWEET  IT I$!

to be loved  followed and LIKE'd by you...

Gina is offering the first 200 peeps that sign up to participate in How Sweet It Is the chance to win one free ticket to SITS Bloggy Boot Camp in Boston, MA!!!! I have always wanted to visit Boston and to be able to go to a SITS boot camp would be awesome! However of course I am not eligible to win but YOU are!

So if you want more Blog, Twitter or Facebook followers starting on Jan 14th as well as a chance to win $1000, sign up for How Sweet It Is today!

For more information on winning the SITS Bloggy Boot Camp ticket click HERE. Hurry, click it now!

Hot Chocolate Triple Chocolate Cookies - Oh My!

A few weeks back I came across a recipe that looked divine on one of the foodie blogs I follow. However use usual when I went to retrieve the recipe I lost track of which blog it came from. Google here I come and found the recipe her post originated from. You can find the original recipe HERE. 

INGREDIENTS:

2 sticks Salted Butter- At Room Temperature
1 cup White Granulated Sugar
⅔ cups Packed Light Brown Sugar
2 whole Large Eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 ¼ cups All-purpose Flour
4 packages (1 Oz. Packets, NOT Sugar-free) or 1/2 cup Hot Chocolate Mix
1 ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup Each White, Milk, And Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
Mini marshmallows, for garnish

Heat oven to 350. Cream butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. In a separate bowl, combine flour, hot chocolate mix, salt and baking soda. Add to wet ingredients in 3 to 4 parts, making sure all is incorporated. Fold in chips. Chill the dough for an hour or so.

Use a 1/4 cup as a scoop to scoop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper (I used an ice cream scoop).  Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. If you are adding mini marshmallows, I pressed them into the cookies about a minute before I was ready to take them out of the oven. Wait until they puff slightly, and remove the tray to a cooling rack. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

These cookies were a huge hit during Christmas and I even saved and froze some for my New Years Eve get together with friends. So simple and so decedent, a definite must have for the holidays with an ice cold glass of milk!


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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Happy Holidays everyone! It has been a few days since my last post as I am sure I am not alone. My mom and brother flew into town last Tuesday and of course we had more family come in on Christmas Eve for our big annual dinner and games. Christmas morning was a fun frenzy as always. Gorgeous bright colored paper, ribbons and bows filled my living room and were quickly shredded and left in heaping piles as soon as the girls were given the word.

Hubby went back to work today and family will slowly began leaving but the wonderful memories of this years Christmas will remain. This year was made even more special because it is our last season in California with our family. Next year we will be on the East Coast under fluffy blankets of snow and my dream of someday having a "white Christmas" will be a reality. Will it be as spectacular and magical as I always dreamed?  I am excited to find out :)

No Dairy Peanut Butter Bonbons

Picture courtesy cooking.com

One of the main things during Christmas I looked forward to growing up was when my grandmother would make a huge platter of cookies, candy and dessert bread. We would snack on that platter for days she made so much. As I got older and everyone moved away the tradition faded but I still every year long for it. So this year with everyone coming to my house for Christmas I decided to start up the tradition once again.

My only dilemma when deciding what to bake was to remember food restrictions for all my family members. One of my family members is allergic to dairy...all dairy no matter the mammal it comes, from so when I saw this recipe while on Twitter today I was stoked!

The recipe comes from Cooking.com and the original recipe can be found HERE.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup margarine, softened (I used Earth Balance found at Trader Joes)
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (I used creamy)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
One 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate pieces
2 teaspoons shortening

DIRECTIONS:

* In a large mixing bowl beat the butter or margarine and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar and baking soda; beat till combined. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls 1 1/2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

* Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or till cookies are set and lightly browned on the bottom. Remove cookies from pan and cool on a rack.

**Did I mention my fabulous sous chef C shaped the PB Balls all by herself. I am very proud :)

Note: This chocolate callets I got from Trader Joe's has no dairy but uses Cocoa Butter...perfect!

* In a medium, heavy saucepan heat chocolate and shortening over low heat till melted. Cool slightly. Using a fork, dip peanut butter balls, one at a time, into chocolate mixture to coat.

* Transfer to waxed paper lined cookie sheets. Chill till firm. Store in a cool place.

This recipe is so simple and delicious and I know for dairy eaters or not, it will be a huge hit!!


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CSN Stores Review Coming Soon!

It's almost time for another review for CSN Stores. I always get so giddy when I do a review or giveaway for CSN Stores because their stuff is so fabulous! With over 200 online stores they have everything! From a gorgeous leather briefcase, designer diaper bags, fun stuff for your four legged fur babies and my personal favorite store to shop from...cookware!


What oh what will I get to review this time? Well you'll just have to come back and find out :)

Snowman Pancakes

Today is day 2 of the girls vacation. Only 3 3/4 more weeks to go, gotta love the year round school system...lol Today I promised to make the girls pancakes. My sous chef C was by my side helping me flip the pancakes and M was laying out the bacon strips on a plate. Team work rocks! After the pancakes were made C asked if I could make my "smiley face" pancakes, I told her I would do one better and to have a seat. Remembering what I did for my Gobble Gobble Turkey Waffles I decide snowmen where perfect for todays pancakes breakfast. Needles to say the girls were over the moon and have already requested I change the menu for Christmas morning to include these pancakes.

We have blueberry pancakes with mini choco chip eyes and smile, butterscotch chip nose, bacon scarf, PB&choco chip buttons and to top (pun intended) it off a whip cream top hat!

Linking this post to Between 3 Sisters Holiday Recipe Party Linky!

Yes, Another New Lunch Box - Yubo Lunchbox

Side A

Side B

A few weeks ago I came across Mamapedia and their "Sweet Deals". If your familiar with The Daily Save or Living Social Deals, Mamapedia Sweet Deals is like that. I saw they were having an awesome deal on Yubo lunchboxes, pay $15 and get $30 Gift Cert...sweet! I had never heard of Yubo so of course I had to check it out. I was very impressed and had to buy the offer right away. Apparently like bento boxes, I can not collect enough lunch boxes...lol

I bought the Deluxe Lunchbox and C chose the "Peace" face plates. I love this lunchbox! Not only is it wicked cute but I love the 3 separate containers and the ice pack. In hindsight I should have bought the drink holder but I can always get it later when I buy M her own. This box is not bulky, it's actually very slim and super easy to open and close for the girls. Plus the handle is soft and flexible which makes it comfortable to carry around.

For C's lunch she had baby carrots and apples in each of the small round containers and in the larger container she had a PB&J sami, veggie straws and gingerbread men cookies. I should have taken pics of the containers open like I usually do, but trust me, you can pack a lot of food. So for my bento peeps and lunchbox addicts pop over to Yubo and check them out!

Christmas Bento #8 - Santa Kyaraben

Santa is made with provolone and bologna and sits on top of C's PB&J pocket sami. Baby carrots, wheat thins, cheesy trees and mallow tree's round out today's lunch. It has been a few days since I have posted so I really wanted to do something cute today and of course C thinks it is pretty awesome.

Linking to What's For Lunch Week 29

Goodbyn Lunchbox is Pretty Cool!

Thanks to Shannon at What's For Lunch I got an awesome deal on Goodbyn Lunchboxes, so of course I had to buy two. I have seen these around the blogs and thought it was pretty awesome and could not wait to get my hands on one. Mine came in the mail the other day and today C decided she wanted to try it out. Since we were running late we went with a very simple, no frills lunch.

PB&J pocket sami, frozen grapes, cherry tomatoes (I put some frozen grapes under the tomatoes to help keep them cold), apple slices, strawberry lemonade in the juice container (I froze the juice container so it will be melted yet still cold by lunch time), veggie sticks and gingerbread men cookies.

C decorated the lid of the lunchbox with the stickers that came with it. She has a whole story behind each section of stickers, it's hilarious how their mind works sometimes. The middle has her name and room number although I am pretty sure none of her classmates have this lunchbox so doubt there will be any confusion...lol

I really like the idea of everything all in one, no extra bags or containers to misplace. However I would be leary of putting anything that needs to stay cold in it because it is not insulated. All in all we think it is pretty cool and would also be perfect for our long road trips since it has deep wells to pack lots of snacks and is all in one.

Christmas Baking Fun - Candy Cane Cupcakes

Ever since C and I took that cooking class she loves to help in the kitchen and especially baking. While out shopping she saw this Candy Cane Cupcake kit and told me she wanted to make it (with "some" help from me). So after school yesterday while M was still in school we baked.

She did a really good job too. Cracked the eggs herself, added the milk, stirred the batter and helped me fill the cups. Making the frosting was a little more involved so I did that along with the pipping and she sprinkled the crushed candy canes on top,

I am glad she likes to be in the kitchen with me, it's something fun we can do daily together and of course I like the extra pair of hands :)

Christmas Bento #7 - Gingerbread Men

C's Lunch

M's Lunch

Mini gingerbread men pb&pumpkin spice sami's, frozen grapes, cookies and tomatoes or carrots with hummus. Lunches decorated with mini sugar gingerbread men.

Christmas Bento #6 - Hello Kitty Tree

C's Lunch

PB&Pumpkin spread sami, Wheat Thin Stix, 

Grapes and Tomatoes.

I have yet to buy any red or green color mist so when choosing between pink and black I went with pink. C asked why the tree was pink and I told her it was Hello Kitty's Christmas tree...lol Not only did she buy it but she thought it was so awesome and couldn't wait to show her friends. 

Awesome Kawaii Giveaway at Mama's A Mess!!!

Market Bag

Very Kawaii Fabric!!!

I have posted before about my BFF Sharon at Mama's A Mess. Not only about her blog but about her Etsy shop called Happy Hapa. Well as of this morning Happy Hapa has expanded to Facebook and with that comes and awesome giveaway on her blog. The winner gets the above pictured Market Bag! Is that fabric not just yummiest thing you have ever seen? Of course I am hoping to win it, but also wanted to let my super awesome followers know about this awesome prize (even if it decreases my chances..lol) So pop on over to the Giveaway at Mama's A Mess and enter today!!!

Muffin Tin Monday - Holiday

The theme this week is Holiday, and since our family celebrates Christmas that is what we did today. We have hot dog and cheesy snowflake skewers, PB&Nutella "mitten" sami's, peanuts and cranberry mix, wheat thins (not sure what those have to do with Christmas but the girls love them...lol) and of course gingerbread men.

For more yummy mummy holiday inspired Muffin Tin Monday's, pop on over to the original home of serving food tin tins, Muffin Tin Mom! 

Christmas Bento #5 - Snow Buddies

Snowman sami with nori, chocolate chip and fruit rollup details. Snowman mellows wheat thins, snowman and snowgirl with nori details and frozen grapes. I used peanut butter to stick my details on the snowmen and snowgirl.

I really wish I had some of those awesome hat picks, that totally would have made my snow Buddies. One of these days I will get some :)

Christmas Bento #4

M's Lunch

Candy cane PB&J sami's, baby carrots, wheat thins, cheesy snowflakes and gingerbread men

C's Lunch

C has the same as M except we swapped out the carrots for tomatoes.

Hello Kitty & Elmo Balloon Fun

Last Saturday we spent the day at Seaport Village. Surfin Santa arrived in a pirate ship accompanied by cannon fire that stunned the crowd. Later after shopping, eating, pictures with Santa and more we stood in line for almost an hour waiting for the balloon guy. I have to say the balloon guy was spectacular and well worth the wait, C got a Hello Kitty and M got Elmo. At only $3 a balloon creation is was a deal!

Christmas Bento #3

Today C has a stocking shaped sami with a "C" gummy and gingerbread man sprinkles, garlic parm pita chips, frozen grapes and tomatoes.