Try it out Tuesday - Marshmallow S'more Pops

My team at work has started "Treat Fridays" where one person is assigned to bring in treats for everyone one Friday.  For my treat day I decided to do s'more chocolate dipped marshmallow pops. I got the idea from another co-worker who made them and said they were incredibly easy. 

Ingredients
1 bag of marshmallows (the large size)
1 bag of milk chocolate chips
Graham crackers (or other topping finely chopped. I used Heath bits of brickle that I had in my cabinet)
Lollipop sticks or paper straws (I used paper straws)

Directions
1. Melt 1/2 the bag of chocolate chips in the microwave. Start with a minute and stir.  The chips won't look melted but once you start stirring the heat from the center starts to melt them.  If they aren't fully melted pop in the microwave for 20-30 secs longer.
2. Meanwhile, crumble the graham crackers in a food processor or blender.  Blend until very finely crumbled.
3. Take one marshmallow and one stick or straw.  If you are using paper straws cut them in half.
4. Roll the marshmallow in the chocolate covering all sides. You can also dip the top of the marshmallows, but I like chocolate so I wanted more chocolate on mine.
5. Roll the chocolate covered marshmallow in the crumbled graham crackers. 
6. Place on wax paper
7. Repeat until you have made the desired amount of marshmallows
8. Share and enjoy!

My verdict:  A bit time consuming, but a very yummy snack great for adults and kids. 
My team's verdict: Lots of compliments and members taking home extras for their kids.

Lots of love,

Hanging with Hattie is SnOw Fun!

Over the weekend Hattie and I had a girls day.  We met friends for lunch then headed to the busiest place on Earth - the American Girl store.  Hattie loves looking at the dolls and wants a "new baby" for Christmas.  It was fun watching her face light up looking at all the doll babies and hearing her sweet voice ask sweetly "Can I just hold this baby doll please mama" It was a fun afternoon, made even more fun with the snow that started falling as we arrived back home. Hattie loved it and wanted to build a snowman! It felt like winter had arrived and for the first time in years, I wasn't bummed out by it because winter and snow is such a wonder to kids it's hard not to enjoy it with them.

 

 

 Lots of love,
 

Be Thankful

Be thankful.  Two simple words, yet so many of us, including myself, struggle with the concept.  The desire for more seems to consume my life at all times.  My inbox is filled with marketing emails from my favorite stores urging my desires on and too often I succumb. Too often do I think to myself if only I had this, or this or this then I would be happier.  Rarely do I sit back and count my blessings and realize that I already have too much of this, and this, and this.  But what I don't have enough of is gratitude; gratitude for all of His blessings; gratitude for my loving family; gratitude for food on the table; gratitude for just being able to enjoy this crazy thing called life.  

As I sat and watched the tv show Celebrity House Hunting I came to realize that even when someone seemingly has it all, they still want more. I found myself asking "when is enough enough?"  The answer I came up with is simple.  Enough is enough when we count our blessings and stop to be thankful.

The month of November begins the holiday season that reminds us to give thanks, to be kind, and to love one another.  This year my wish for my family, friends, and all of mankind is to learn to be thankful for not only the things that The Lord has blessed us with, but also for the things we don't receive so that we may open our hearts to accept the plan He has for each of us.  

I leave you with a quote and a simple moderation prayer to say in times when our wants start to outweigh our thanks.

If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough.

– Meister Eckhart

Moderation Prayer
Bless me with the gift of moderation, ability to see clearly when enough is enough, willingness to take only what I need, use only what I must, live on Earth in awareness of my actions' impact. Bless me with a moderate spirit that does not waste.  Bless me with easy acceptance of this way of being.  Amen.

Share your joy with us, what makes you thankful?

Lots of love,

Starting a "BOOvement"

What's a BOOvement you ask?  It's an opportunity to feel like a kid again and share treats with your neighbors.  It's simple to start a BOOvement in your neighborhood, office, or apartment building.  Here is what you do:

1)  Create a bag or basket of Halloween treats and goodies.
2) Create or find a cute "We've Been Booed" sign accompanied by instructions.  I did a quick Google search and found this fun sign by Anders Ruff
3) Print a copy of the boo sign along with the instructions and add them to your goodie bag. 4) Now the fun part! Select one or two neighbors to get it started and drop your packages off on their porch.  Be sure not to let them see you!  
5) Enjoy seeing the "We've Been Booed" signs all over your neighborhood!

A great place to start is  the dollar section of your local Target store or even a Dollar Tree where you can find Halloween themed goodies.
Pencils/Pens
Notepads
Coloring books
Crayons
Reflector bracelets
Glow sticks
Glow-in-the dark fangs
Stickers
Pumpkin scented soap/lotion
Candles
Battery tea lights for pumpkins
Pumpkin carving kit
Halloween book
Halloween masks
Candy
Fruit Snacks
Individually packaged goldfish or pretzels
A package Halloween Oreos
Wine or Beer for the adults
Halloween notecards
Homemade goodies
Homemade Halloween game

Remember, the goodies can be as simple as a small bag of candy as the fun truly is in the act of booing and your neighbors will be excited to find a fun surprise at their door.

Hattie and Harper helped me get the booing started and we delivered goodies to two of our newest neighbors on Monday.  It was exciting to sneak up and deliver the goodies to our neighbors without them knowing. It was also equally as fun getting booed back tonight! The kids were so excited and Harper exclaimed "ooohhh it's Halloween!" when he saw the treat bag!  Our treat bag had eye masks, glow in the dark bracelets, fruit snacks and some yummy candy. The twins loved it!

What are you waiting for!?  Start your own BOOvement today! 


Happy Booing!





Why Hello

Just a few photos to say Hi!   Hope you enjoy.  Back soon with more posts!  

Lots of Love,

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Back To Work I Go

Well, we knew this day would come. Today is my first day back to work after maternity leave. I'm praying that the day goes by fast and that Wrenn and Parker have a fun day with our new nanny. I'm going to miss these two nuggets!! Wish me luck!

Lots of Love,

-Jessica

Birthday Celebrations and a Road Trip

Okay, so it's practically the middle of September already, but I wanted to capture these pics from August. 

August looked a little like this....Wrenn turned 2 years old, Parker turned 3 months old and I celebrated my 35th birthday! Crazy town! We had a couple parties to celebrate with family and friends and ate LOTS of cupcakes. Yum!

 2 Years Old 

3 Months Old 

We also went on our first road trip as a family of four. We drove to Lexington to visit Dan's family and then to West Virginia to see my Grams and Aunt Cheryl. Parker did awesome in the car and of course was a hit with everyone! Wrenn watched enough Bubble Guppies while on the road to turn into a Bubble Guppie. Oh well, you do what you gotta do. Ha!

 Parker and Great-Grammie 

Snuggles with Great Aunt Cheryl 

 Wrenn and Great Uncle Mark picking apples in Great-Grammie's backyard

 Parker sporting his new hoodie with Great Aunt Cindy

 Swimming with Daddy at Aunt Kim's 

Hope you have a great weekend!

Lots of Love,

-Jessica

Summer Travel Recap

You may have been wondering were I've been since it's been almost two months since my last blog post.  My summer is a little different than most others as it is my busy time at work when I clock numerous hours of overtime and spend way too much time away from my family.  Needless to say, not the most fun way to spend your summer.  Somehow in the mist of all the crazy work hours I was able to squeeze in a bit of fun.  Hattie and I took a road trip for a short, but fun filled girls weekend in Chicago visiting Jess and Wrenn.  One week later we were on the road again accompanied by little man Harper for an overnight stay in WV to visit some old high school friends.  Hattie and Harper had a blast spending the night at great grandma's house.  Shortly after, it was off to Seattle for my first work trip of the summer followed immediately by a trip to Traverse City, MI as I played the role of bridesmaid for one of my good friends.  The picturesque wedding took place in a beautiful MI vineyard.  As I write this,  I'm gearing up for my second and final work event and praying for an Indian summer so I can maybe enjoy our brand new patio (pictures to come soon!) before the cold weather seasons set in.   I hope your summer was a bit more relaxing than mine, but the one thing that I have learned through all the hustle and bustle that comes with my summer work schedule is that no matter where my travels take me, my heart is always at home with my family.

Lots of love,